Comments on: Comic Con, baby!

By: Julio Vannini

Julio Vannini — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:54:38 +0000

dear Doctor: please say “Hi!” to the guys of PhD Comics! XD

Enjoy!

By: Blake P

Blake P — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:52:49 +0000

Speaking of TV, I’m looking forward to “Bad Universe” on Discovery!

By: Jack Mitcham

Jack Mitcham — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:28:12 +0000

Did you get a chance to see the counter-protest of Fred Phelps by the Comic-Con attendees?

By: jaranath

jaranath — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:23:43 +0000

Well, my speculation was wrong…not SyFy. But what I can’t understand is how the Tentacled One scooped Phil on his own announcement…

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:42:33 +0000

@9. Zucchi Says:

Phil, I respect you as a scientist and a writer. But for the love of God, will you stop saying “squee”? You’re not a twelve-year-old girl.

Seconded by me.

By: Julie in Austin

Julie in Austin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:54:39 +0000

If you have time, check out my husband’s new game: DC Universe Online (Sony Online Entertainment). He and his team have been working on it for FIVE years and it is looking AMAZING! (Do I sound like a proud spouse? I TOTALLY AM!) John and my 15 year old son Sean are having a BLAST at Comic-Con this year, Sean got to meet Brent Spiner last night (his favorite actor ever, tied with Leonard Nimoy), and is in NERDVANA with all that is on offer at the Con. I am jealous beyond belief, but I am holding down the fort here with my 3 younger sons. Have a great weekend! Good luck at Comic-Con!

By: olderwithmoreinsurance

olderwithmoreinsurance — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:29:04 +0000

Of course that’s not true about SF, that “complaining about the science in them is like complaining that the Enterprise can move faster than light”. Getting the science we know NOW right is the difference between good sf and crappy sf, as no less an authority than John Scalzi has said on several occasions. FTL is just an accepted convention in some, but certainly not all, good SF. See the Big Bang Theory for one good example on how this (getting the science right) can be done, in a hilariously entertaining manner.

By: Ken B

Ken B — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:54:37 +0000

But these shows are not documentaries; complaining about the science in them is like complaining that the Enterprise can move faster than light.

I don’t have a problem with that part of Star Trek. Without FTL travel, interstellar stories would play out pretty slowly. (Though I never did understand how “subspace radio” allows instantaneous communication across the galaxy.)

My problem (even when I was a kid) was things like requiring propulsion to remain in orbit. (Someone shut down the engines? Sorry, we only have 30 minutes before we burn up in the atmosphere. And it takes 60 minutes to restart them.) Or having stars zoom by in the “window”, even if you’re only traveling to another planet in the same star system.

By: Phil Plait

Phil Plait — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:26:30 +0000

Eureka has a science advisor because they do like to get in real science amidst the fiction. A lot of shows are like that; they let real science give them ideas. But these shows are not documentaries; complaining about the science in them is like complaining that the Enterprise can move faster than light.

By: QuietDesperation

QuietDesperation — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:01:13 +0000

“Eureka” has a science advisor?

Cripes, I forgot all about that show. I was watching it on DVD via Netflix. Not even sure what season I’m on. I finished one and the next season wasn’t due out for months, so I lost track. I could check my rental history, I guess.

Science adviser? No need. Eureka is a “crazy super science” type of show. Strictly for fun.

By: Ken B

Ken B — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:32:14 +0000

According to their Facebook page, The Big Bang Theory’s cast will be there, too.

Stop by the autograph signing with Big Bang Theory’s Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg & Kaley Cuoco at CBS Booth #4129 3:30–4:30pm TODAY

I already have an autographed Season 2 DVD set (thanks again, Bill), so I guess I don’t need to go?

Well, that, and the fact that I’m about 2,400 miles away on the other coast.

By: olderwithmoreinsurance

olderwithmoreinsurance — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:22:13 +0000

@Zuchhi tha’s hilarous. I think we’re going to be waiting a LONG time to see Phil bite the hands that have begun feeding him at SciFi. Time will tell.

By: Zucchi

Zucchi — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:04:11 +0000

“Eureka” has a science advisor? Do they ever listen to him?

Phil, I respect you as a scientist and a writer. But for the love of God, will you stop saying “squee”? You’re not a twelve-year-old girl.

By: QuietDesperation

QuietDesperation — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:47:50 +0000

Every year I plan to go (I’m in Los Angeles area), but every year I get all “Meh…”

Dunno why. I love SF, fantasy, horror- all of it. I have more videogaming power in my living room than most GameStops. My library has four shelves of nothing but graphic novels. It’s just… meh…

Watch for the Westboro Baptist Church to be out picketing from 1:15 – 2:00. Their schedule says they’ll be there picketing you godless sinners for worshiping false idols like spiderman.

You sure it’s not another Electronic Arts attempt at viral advertising?

I guess I could just stop watching them…oh, wait, I did that.

I’m enjoying SG-Universe, but that’s about it. Nearly got into Warehouse 13, but not quite. Got tired of Sanctuary in spite of Amanda Tapping with long, raven black tresses. Mmm hmm.

I miss stuff like Sci-Fi Buzz where they’d even talk about SF *books* and authors. Harlan Ellison would occasionally rouse himself from his crypt and do an Andy Rooney-like commentary.

By: Todd W.

Todd W. — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:58:10 +0000

If you talk to anyone with decision-making authority at SciFi (I refuse to use their stupid new name), could you maybe suggest that they instill a little more reality into “Fact or Faked”? Maybe get some real skeptics on the team instead of the lip-service “skeptics” they have? Saw the first episode and was not very impressed. Probably won’t watch more, unless they get more critical about their evaluations.

By: Astronomynut

Astronomynut — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:11:12 +0000

Watch for the Westboro Baptist Church to be out picketing from 1:15 – 2:00. Their schedule says they’ll be there picketing you godless sinners for worshiping false idols like spiderman.

By: PsyberDave

PsyberDave — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:03:00 +0000

Can you get them to change the dumb name SyFy? It’s dumb, m’kay?

sihfee

By: Daffy

Daffy — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 14:35:16 +0000

Hey, Phil, maybe you could use your new influence with SyFy to get them to stop destroying literary classics? Just a thought.

I guess I could just stop watching them…oh, wait, I did that. Never mind.

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:45:13 +0000

Dancing with Felicia Day … Now there’s a wonderfully superluminous thought!

For those who don’t already know Felicia Day has produced this :

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/10/26/felicia-day-collides-galaxies/

one of my all-time favourite BA blog posts – among much, *much* more and is an absolute science and astronomy goddess!

Not that I believe in gods and goddesses .. usually, but in her case I make the exception! (Why yes, I do have a bit of a crush on her, does it show?)

By: jaranath

jaranath — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:23:06 +0000

Lotta SyFy in there.

Hmmm…

By: Larian LeQuella

Larian LeQuella — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:17:57 +0000

Jealous…