Comments on: Texas talks OF DEATH

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:24:59 +0000

You should come to North Carolina! wink wink

By: UTPA Planetarium

UTPA Planetarium — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:35:52 +0000

Everyone is excited at UTPA for your talk! Hopefully you can stick around after for our night observing session! See you tomorrow!

By: Ben H.

Ben H. — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 01:47:45 +0000

Phil,
Thanks for your fun and enthusiastic talk! I am really glad you visited Houston and am grateful to you and Rice University for putting the lecture on for free (not to mention the reception after. Free wine, what?). You were very graceful when dealing with some of our local crazies who spoke up during Q&A. I was impressed how you handled them. I think you are a great advocate for science, space exploration, and rational thought. I hope you stick around the blogosphere for a long time!

Anyone who doubts Phil’s sincerity or pure awesomeness needs to see him talk or hang out with him in person!

Thanks again,
- Ben H.
Mission Control, Houston, TX

By: Travis Brown

Travis Brown — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:36:00 +0000

Hey Phil,
Thanks for coming down and doing the talk at Rice. It was way more awesome than I expected, and I really love what you are doing. I teach high school physics and my students grades are lower than they should be because we spend too much time talking about black holes, supernovas, giant killer asteroids and all sorts of things. I’d be lying if I said I haven’t taught over a dozen lessons with info straight from the blog…. Thanks a lot for doing such a great job bringing science to the masses and promoting critical thinking!

P.S: I want to apologize on behalf of everyone for how weird it got after the talk during the Q&A.. Not all Texans are THAT crazy…

By: Jordan Yaron

Jordan Yaron — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:18:32 +0000

Arizona State University could use a good dose of science realism!

By: AutoJim Crider

AutoJim Crider — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:12:05 +0000

Drat. Would love to get to Rice, but the 4PM thing means I’ll be chained to my desk on the NW side of town, slaving away in the CAD mines to make shiny subsea ROV tools. An engineer’s work is never done (’cause they pile more on you just as soon as they think you might finish one project… )

By: Brian Barringer

Brian Barringer — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:47:25 +0000

I’m skipping calculus to come see you, but it’ll be worth it. It’s a test review day, but I have an A right now and the prof drops the lowest grade.

By: Jonatan Gíslason

Jonatan Gíslason — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:04:15 +0000

come to Iceland and talk some astronomical DEATH there, We relly need some of that!!

By: danny

danny — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:26:17 +0000

someone please connect me with HOW to register for the UTPA event. I will go, but where/how to register. Thanks.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:45:59 +0000

I was completely stocked when I got the circulating email at UTPA! Here’s to hoping you’ll be sticking around to sign a few copies of Death from the Skies? ? I’ve also been encouraging my students to attend as a handful are interested about the extent of writing in the sciences. I can’t wait!

By: Ben H.

Ben H. — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:49:08 +0000

Phil,
I hope to come out to Rice and see your talk! I have a couple questions:

Will you have time for book signing?

Are you hanging around town afterwards or do you have to hit the road right away? there are some great places to get a drink in “Rice Village” and it would be awesome if you went to hang out with your fans in a more casual setting, TAM style.

- Ben H.
Mission Control, Houston, TX

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:17:56 +0000

You really should drop by Fort Worth and visit TCU — we have a few UVA alumns on faculty in various departments, including Astronomy.

By: Scott Rivers

Scott Rivers — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:30:10 +0000

Enjoy your stay, Mr. Plait, and sample some of the local cuisine when you can. And don’t worry about us – we’ve got our sciencey types here, too. But nonetheless, we’ll treat you right.

By: solitha

solitha — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:00:47 +0000

Drat, drat, drat. I don’t wake up till an hour after you’ll be starting at UH, and my husband doesn’t get home till shortly after I wake up.

Drat you day owls.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:00:49 +0000

You ever make it to eastern Washington/north Idaho? I would love to have you talk to our club some time next year.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:00:49 +0000

You ever make it to eastern Washington/north Idaho? I would love to have you talk to our club some time next year.

By: Phil Plait

Phil Plait — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:27:51 +0000

I’ll add I’ll be at SXSW in Austin next year, and I lived in Houston for a summer.

By: shawn

shawn — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:59:09 +0000

Don’t forget the speed limit is 70 at night but the signs still say 65.

By: VinceRN

VinceRN — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:04:35 +0000

Texas? You should be speaking in Washington, maybe at UW.

But since everyone is dissing Texas, remember that Texas is very nearly the home of the space program.

Johnson Space Center
UTA is pretty well regarded as an aerospace engineering school.
UTMB Aerospace Medicine – one of the few places doctors can study thins field.

Sure there are some wackos in Texas, but I don’t think there are more wackos per capita there then we have here in Washington, or in that other Washington. The fact that our wackos here in Washington vote the same way you do doesn’t make them any less wacko.

You shouldn’t define a state by it’s wackos. Except California. And maybe Georgia.

By: Meskine

Meskine — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:54:16 +0000

Just south of Texarkana here. Sadly, I’d be closer to your lectures if I was on an asteroid hurtling toward Earth with deadly intentions.

By: Ohio Mike

Ohio Mike — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:01:24 +0000

Despite my user name, I’m in Texas…sadly too far away and too short of notice to come. Come to San Antonio or Austin, BA!

(Cheers to Chris, post #13!)

By: Jess Tauber

Jess Tauber — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:58:14 +0000

You’re lucky to be going down there now- I went during giant alien mosquito season. You haven’t lived until you’ve been chased indoors by these things.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:14:26 +0000

Texas NOT Doomed. (Yet)

By: Victoria

Victoria — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:13:12 +0000

I’m a PhD student here at Rice who attended UTPA as an undergraduate. I am absolutely delighted that you will be here and can’t wait! PS: You will not be “booed” at Rice or at UTPA. Looking forward to seeing you.

By: George

George — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:10:25 +0000

Enjoy the Valley. The folks there are nice.

Eats:
BBQ – Rudys on Nolana just off Hwy 281. (cream corn is great)
Steaks (upscale) – Santa Fe Steak House and Cantina. (Just S. on 10th street in Mcallen)
Steaks (quaint) – Old Edinburg Livestock barn
Seafood – (Nothing better than Red Lobster unless you go to S. Padre Island)
Mexican – No place is bad down there.

General hangout : Shopping area on 83 north of McAllen. Great chain restraunts, big Barnes & Noble, etc.

There is a cool looking planetarium at a high school on Hwy 83 in Mercedes(?).