Comments on: Horror scoped

By: Brian Too

Brian Too — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 01:17:19 +0000

Experimental proposal for the astrologers:

Have the clients describe their personalities, then have the astrologers predict their sign. Hypothesis: The astrologers will do no better than random chance.

Meta-prediction: Only the most flawed, profoundly broken astrologers will accept the experiment. If the astrologer wins they earn nothing. If astrologer loses they earn nothing. The experiment only appeals to people who are not in the astrologers target market!

By: Peter Gluck

Peter Gluck — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 09:07:29 +0000

Once, when working for a magazine and writing the scientific column, the astrologer lady quit and I was asked to write temporary her column too. I accepted and I have used exclusively
my imagination to compose the daily horroscopes. Nobody has observed the change from professional astrology to a fake one- the number of readers raised. All I had to take care was
to respect a specific Pareto Rule: 80% positive predictions, 20% slightly bad, nothing really bad.
Astrology is actually the most stupid shortcut to the Interestingness of the world, see please
my paper “My favorite I-word” in my blog http://egooutpeters.blogspot.com
But it is an excellent business.

By: Merle

Merle — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:38:25 +0000

John Paradox wrote: I remember years ago, I read an astrology book that insisted that there should be 14 (?) signs, adding both Ophiuchus and Cetus, The Whale.

Don’t tell anybody… but yes. according to the Starry Night planetarium software I use, the Sun grazes Cetus for about 13.5 hours on March 27th – 28th each year. The Sun is also VERY close to Orion on June 19-21 (less than the moons diameter). According to the software, by 4300AD the Sun will begin grazing Orion and around 6500AD the Sun will be “officially” within the constellation Orion between Aug. 18 – 21. Now, by that time, Polaris would have long since vacated the north celestial pole and will reside nearly 24 degrees from it’s current prominent position. I’d love to be around when the 15 signs of the zodiac are “announced”

Now, from the “devil’s advocate” position… simply change the constellation boundaries and it will be 12 zodiac constellations forever.

Clear Skies, Merle

By: WJM

WJM — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 05:57:45 +0000

Well, they obviously did this wrong, because I’m an Ophiuchus now, and they don’t even have Ophiuchus on their thingie. Us Ophiachans can see through methodological errors like that, what with our attention to detail and all.

By: Gary Ansorge

Gary Ansorge — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:05:51 +0000

51. Keith Bowden

Oops! Bit bucket overflow error,,,

Thanks!(for the memory)

Gary 7

By: Gunnar

Gunnar — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:31:01 +0000

Unfortunately, astrology has one frustrating advantage that is quite difficult to overcome. The late Isaac Asimov, perhaps, stated it best. “The advantage of mysticiscm is that having no logical content to begin with, it cannot be further damaged by any further increase in nonsense–no matter how great.”

I wonder, though–when Cosmos Gal admitted that astrology was a pseudoscience, was she also admitting that it is all bunk, or was she implying that pseudoscience deserves to be seriously considered as equal or superior to real science as a valid source of truth?

By: Lila

Lila — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:23:46 +0000

I LOVE this website. Awesome. Thanks Phil.

By: Astrologers keep feeling sure « Cubik's Rube

Astrologers keep feeling sure « Cubik's Rube — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:05:37 +0000

[...] Phil Plait‘s write-up of this points to this article on astrology.com, which offers some revealing advice (just before happily admitting that astrology is pseudoscience) to readers who, while happy to base their life choices around some imaginary pictures in the sky, are worried that they’ve been using the wrong ones: If it’s always been easy to link predictions to actual events using your sun sign, continue to follow that. If you’ve been reading your rising sign like me, and it works, continue that. If you feel your “new” zodiac sign coincides more. You just may even want to give that a whirl! [...]

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:55:15 +0000

Bianca (50) said:

I think astrology is a funny thing.

What, you think it’s funny that people demand money for making stuff up and pretending it’s real?

I don’t care if it is considered a pseudoscience or not.

It’s not a question of what it is considered to be – it’s a question of whether or not it does what it claims. And astrology really doesn’t do what it claims.

The article is pointless.

Why?

The predictions are almost the same for all signs because there are the same planets and possible relative positions between them!

Nope. The predictions are almost the same for all signs because astrologers just recycle the same words over and over again. The predictions of actual astrologers are almost the same for all signs – you only have to look in half a dozen newspapers on the same day, or the same newspaper several times over the course of a month to see this.

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 12:33:14 +0000

@ Other Paul (16) -
WIN!

Where do I sign up?

By: Tom Cowell

Tom Cowell — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:09:45 +0000

Heather the Cosmos Gal does not know what “in lieu” means.

Cheers
Tom

By: Keith Bowden

Keith Bowden — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:16:15 +0000

“I guess I wouldn’t believe in anything anymore if it weren’t for my Lucky Astrology Mood Watch.” – Steve Martin

By: Keith Bowden

Keith Bowden — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 23:13:41 +0000

@Gary 7 – Not to take away from the comedy of Steven Wright, but “Reality, What a Concept” is from Robin Williams (1979 album of that name).

By: Bianca

Bianca — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:41:12 +0000

I think astrology is a funny thing. I don’t care if it is considered a pseudoscience or not.
The article is pointless. The predictions are almost the same for all signs because there are the same planets and possible relative positions between them!

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:59:54 +0000

Reminds me of all the SPAM I get offering me free ‘palm readings’ or ‘astrological forecast’…. if their talents really work, wouldn’t they know I won’t respond?

By: Gary Ansorge

Gary Ansorge — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 15:16:46 +0000

Astrology vs cold readings,,,eh, about the same.

Gee, I wonder, if I’m no longer a Libran, does that mean I’m now slow, short and lacking in all charm?,,,and I guess I no longer have to seek balance,,,

Astrology. Something for everyone , just not something that’s fraking real.

Gary 7
PS. “Wow! Reality. What a concept.”
Thank you, Steven Wright,,,

By: mike burkhart

mike burkhart — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:34:21 +0000

21 Tom ,No Astrolger predicted 9/11 but all of them claimed after the attacks that they did .This is the way they opperate ,it’s only after a major event they claim to have forseen it not before ,thats how they get people to beleve(,,or so they think).

By: sHx

sHx — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:59:57 +0000

Re: “cherry”

According to the urban dictionary, that’s a bad joke. Sorry. As Big Arnie would say, “Arrrgh! My English!”

Cosmos Gal, of course, couldn’t possibly have any cherry left to bite. But she’s gorgeous. I wish she were my facebook friend, too.

Indeed, I’d be delighted to free fall into her arms, without any possibility ever of bouncing off her bosom.

Did I say she is a great astrologer, too? And that I am really interested in her mind? Just because I don’t use similies doesn’t mean I am serious.

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:25:28 +0000

@ 42. sHx : And all because she is an Aquarius.

All because she’s gorgeous you mean!

As a mere male, I know a gorgeous girl can be forgiven almost anything.

As for “cherry” .. nah, I’m NOT going there!

By: Diederick

Diederick — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 12:24:48 +0000

Hi Phil,

I really hate to go off-topic here, but I use a feed reader to read your (awesome) blog, which is very convenient. Since a few days however the feed only has the first few paragraphs of every post, so I have to click and load the actual page to read it all. Could you please correct this, or is this something Discover magazine is in charge of?

By: sHx

sHx — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:25:24 +0000

Now now, MTU! You may like gorgeous girls but you don’t get to bite the cherry without bending a knee.

BTW, have you read Cosmos Gal’s latest article?

“It’s probably no coincidence that three of my exes are now trying to befriend me on Facebook all in the same week. I’m a Water Bearer, of course, and with the love planet lounging out in my 11th house of friends, this makes complete sense to me!”

The competition is intense. And all because she is an Aquarius.

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:33:14 +0000

@ ^ sHx : Well, I don’t believe in astrology but I do belive in gorgeous girls!

@1. Sir Chaos :

I predict that believers are not going to agree with you. It´s written in the stars.

Or human nature more like!

@32. Agustín :

Great article, as usual, Phil. But… you are neglecting your cats… I have not seen a Caturday post for ages. I am sort of addict to cats, sorry.

Seconded by me. No need to apologise either.

By: sHx

sHx — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:31:08 +0000

The astronomy of Phil Plait is old hat. I’d much prefer to go with the sexy boots of Astrologers, since they are the ones that set the trends.

See why here:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/12/15/comic-takedown-of-global-warming-denial/

By: sHx

sHx — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 10:19:27 +0000

CosmosGal is a such a gorgeous girl that I can’t help but believe in astrology.

By: DLC

DLC — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 08:47:43 +0000

I think it was Isaac Asimov who lamented that there were some 22 magazines about Astrology and only 2 on Astronomy. He was right.
Oh, and :
Don’t forget to take your Homeopathic Pills on 10 23.