Comments on: I’m at Gnomedex! http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:14:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: What Happened at Gnomedex 9.0? | Chris Pirillo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-210178 What Happened at Gnomedex 9.0? | Chris Pirillo Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:36:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-210178 [...] I’m at Gnomedex! By Phil Plait [...] [...] I’m at Gnomedex! By Phil Plait [...]

]]> By: Roen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208326 Roen Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:31:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208326 Ah, that makes sense. Thanks, man. Ah, that makes sense. Thanks, man.

]]> By: Brian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208301 Brian Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:18:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208301 Roen, that's an old math puzzle. The secret to it is hinted at by the unusually thick black outlines around the pieces -- The truth is that the pieces on the right don't quite fit together smoothly, just enough to introduce extra area equal to a single square. The error is spread out well enough among all the joints that it's hard to see. It's even possible to make a version of that puzzle out of wood. Since we tend to automatically grant a bit of error to handmade wooden objects, you can effectively pull the same trick when the person is holding the actual shapes in their hands. (Of course it's not as effective if you use high-precision power tools to make the pieces.) Roen, that’s an old math puzzle. The secret to it is hinted at by the unusually thick black outlines around the pieces –

The truth is that the pieces on the right don’t quite fit together smoothly, just enough to introduce extra area equal to a single square. The error is spread out well enough among all the joints that it’s hard to see.

It’s even possible to make a version of that puzzle out of wood. Since we tend to automatically grant a bit of error to handmade wooden objects, you can effectively pull the same trick when the person is holding the actual shapes in their hands. (Of course it’s not as effective if you use high-precision power tools to make the pieces.)

]]> By: Roen http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208217 Roen Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:01:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208217 Okay! Time for an off-topic question. I'm at work, working away... like reading BA etc, and I get an email with this link. http://photos1.blogger.com/photoInclude/x/blogger/5639/2020/1600/446839/GAMA.gif So, it only took a moment to say WTH!? I'm no mathematician but can someone who is please explain to be why the area of the two rectangles do not equate? I mean, it was my understanding that math did not lie. Yeah, so my poor brain goes boom. Okay! Time for an off-topic question. I’m at work, working away… like reading BA etc, and I get an email with this link.

http://photos1.blogger.com/photoInclude/x/blogger/5639/2020/1600/446839/GAMA.gif

So, it only took a moment to say WTH!? I’m no mathematician but can someone who is please explain to be why the area of the two rectangles do not equate? I mean, it was my understanding that math did not lie. Yeah, so my poor brain goes boom.

]]> By: Plutonium being from Pluto http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208115 Plutonium being from Pluto Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:45:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208115 <i>I wish I had a time machine so I could go back to me minus one year, walk out, and slap myself). </i> Oh come on - what good would that do you? There are far better and more helpful things you could do with a time machine than that! Like make yourself more time for instance .. ;-) I wish I had a time machine too ... <I> (I had some nice comments on my talk, though some folks hated the font I used, which made me laugh).</i> Well ppl have got to complain about <i>something</i> after all! Sadly, some ppl just live to whinge about things. :roll: BTW. What font was it? Wingdings? Script? Japanese Kanjii? Cyrillic? Hmm .. a few suggestions for next time in an FU Orionis* type mode? ---- * Not being rude - its a real variable star similar to T-Tauri but brighter and more massive, a 'nebular variable' ... or am I pushing my luck again? ;-) PS. D'oh using another computer, mistyped my own email address & so might have ended up with a double post. Moderators please note - I'd delete that first comment myself if I could. Sorry mea culpa. :-( One day I'll actually get things right first time & surprise myself. ;-) I wish I had a time machine so I could go back to me minus one year, walk out, and slap myself).

Oh come on – what good would that do you? There are far better and more helpful things you could do with a time machine than that! Like make yourself more time for instance ..
;-)

I wish I had a time machine too …

(I had some nice comments on my talk, though some folks hated the font I used, which made me laugh).

Well ppl have got to complain about something after all!
Sadly, some ppl just live to whinge about things. :roll:

BTW. What font was it? Wingdings? Script? Japanese Kanjii? Cyrillic? Hmm .. a few suggestions for next time in an FU Orionis* type mode?
—-

* Not being rude – its a real variable star similar to T-Tauri but brighter and more massive, a ‘nebular variable’ … or am I pushing my luck again? ;-)

PS. D’oh using another computer, mistyped my own email address & so might have ended up with a double post. Moderators please note – I’d delete that first comment myself if I could. Sorry mea culpa. :-(

One day I’ll actually get things right first time & surprise myself. ;-)

]]> By: Plutonium being from Pluto http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208113 Plutonium being from Pluto Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:42:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208113 <i>I wish I had a time machine so I could go back to me minus one year, walk out, and slap myself). </i> Oh come on - what good would that do you? There are far better and more helpful things you could do with a time machine than that! Like make more time for instance .. ;-) I wish I had a time machine too ... <I> (I had some nice comments on my talk, though some folks hated the font I used, which made me laugh).</i> Well ppl have got to complain about <i>something</i> after all! Some ppl just live to whinge about things. :roll: BTW. What font was it? Wingdings? Script? Japanese Kanjii? Cryillic? Hmm .. afe suggestions for next time in an FU Orionis type mode? ;-) I wish I had a time machine so I could go back to me minus one year, walk out, and slap myself).

Oh come on – what good would that do you? There are far better and more helpful things you could do with a time machine than that! Like make more time for instance .. ;-)

I wish I had a time machine too …

(I had some nice comments on my talk, though some folks hated the font I used, which made me laugh).

Well ppl have got to complain about something after all! Some ppl just live to whinge about things. :roll:

BTW. What font was it? Wingdings? Script? Japanese Kanjii? Cryillic? Hmm .. afe suggestions for next time in an FU Orionis type mode? ;-)

]]> By: Phil Plait http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208108 Phil Plait Sat, 22 Aug 2009 06:40:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208108 Joym, come find me at the convention tomorrow and I can point you toward the Skepchicks! Or go to http://www.skepchick.org. Joym, come find me at the convention tomorrow and I can point you toward the Skepchicks! Or go to http://www.skepchick.org.

]]> By: Joym http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208085 Joym Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:45:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208085 Loved Phil's skeptic talk! I wanna be a skeptic chick! Loved Phil’s skeptic talk! I wanna be a skeptic chick!

]]> By: Joseph http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208079 Joseph Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:21:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208079 Can I be a member of the order of the Fez? Phil Plait, you got a pillow or you told when to stop? Can I be a member of the order of the Fez?

Phil Plait, you got a pillow or you told when to stop?

]]> By: Cory http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208044 Cory Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:29:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208044 Sometimes I am sort of sad that nerds are a group of people who actually regularly live up to their stereotype(s). Sometimes I am sort of sad that nerds are a group of people who actually regularly live up to their stereotype(s).

]]> By: Kevin F. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208033 Kevin F. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:01:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208033 Gnomedex? Geez, Phil - for a second I thought you were at Blizzcon. :D Gnomedex? Geez, Phil – for a second I thought you were at Blizzcon. :D

]]> By: Dave k http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208032 Dave k Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:00:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208032 Is there going to be a place where one could stop by to meet and have beer with a lofty individual like yourself? That is place that is not conference you are at. Is there going to be a place where one could stop by to meet and have beer with a lofty individual like yourself? That is place that is not conference you are at.

]]> By: Brian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208030 Brian Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:56:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208030 Phil, if you're going to be doing anything social while you're here in Seattle, let us know. Phil, if you’re going to be doing anything social while you’re here in Seattle, let us know.

]]> By: Naked Bunny with a Whip http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208027 Naked Bunny with a Whip Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:52:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208027 I guess we could say that Phil has fallen through an event horizon, then? I guess we could say that Phil has fallen through an event horizon, then?

]]> By: Ken B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208021 Ken B Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:44:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208021 So you're probably too busy to have seen this yet: "LOIRP and LRO Confirm That Humans Walked on the Moon" http://www.moonviews.com/archives/2009/08/loirp_and_lro_confirm_that_hum.html So you’re probably too busy to have seen this yet:

“LOIRP and LRO Confirm That Humans Walked on the Moon”

http://www.moonviews.com/archives/2009/08/loirp_and_lro_confirm_that_hum.html

]]> By: The Chemist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/comment-page-1/#comment-208011 The Chemist Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:30:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/08/21/im-at-gnomedex/#comment-208011 Damn, and I could have watched you live from just about anywhere since I've been working on my laptop all day. Would have been a nice break. Do post the video when it turns up. I hope you had some thoughts about rumor mongering on the net as well as the skeptical presence. Too often skepticism is a response and the myth or misconception has already been widely propagated. After all, we can't challenge myths that don't already exist! Unless the psychics are right... Hmm... Damn, and I could have watched you live from just about anywhere since I’ve been working on my laptop all day. Would have been a nice break.

Do post the video when it turns up. I hope you had some thoughts about rumor mongering on the net as well as the skeptical presence. Too often skepticism is a response and the myth or misconception has already been widely propagated. After all, we can’t challenge myths that don’t already exist!

Unless the psychics are right… Hmm…

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