Bad Astronomy » Humor

xkcd skepicizes the skeptics

Phil Plait — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:51:05 +0000

So, check out the latest xkcd web comic (or click the picture to see the rest). I have to admit, he’s got a good point. And it’s so crazy it just might work. Hardware stores near Michael Shermer’s house better start keeping track of who buys what.

And is the number of this particular comic coincidence? I have a hard time believing it is.

NASA wants your junk

Phil Plait — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:31:17 +0000

While driving in Los Angeles recently, I was surprised to see this out my passenger window:

Wow. I know NASA’s budget is small, but this seems a bit unnecessary. I wonder if Harry Broderick was driving?

Hippo critic

Phil Plait — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:00:37 +0000

Will I be able to use this picture sometime in the future?

Yes. Yes, I think I will.

Tip o’ the lens cap to franki_.

PRECIPITATE! PRECIPITATE!

Phil Plait — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:00:32 +0000

I am the king of all nerds. There can be no other.

What else is a guy supposed to do after a big snowfall and while waiting for "Waters of Mars" to air here in the States? And of course TLA helped, sawing the snowballs in half and shaping the body.

And hmmmm. Dalek and dork both start and end with the same letters. Coincidence?

[More pictures are in my Flickr Snow Dalek set.]

Why we fight

Phil Plait — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:00:13 +0000

Lack of skepticism can kill.

[NSFW language and some effects.]

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Some jabs are deeper than others

Phil Plait — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:00:17 +0000

I wouldn’t be surprised at all that, if Jenny McCarthy were impaled on a unicorn’s horn, she’d blame vaccines. After all, her organization Generation Rescue has shamefully blamed them on totally unrelated things before, and no doubt will again.

This is a serious topic, since the antivaxxers are a public health menace, and the rise of preventable diseases can in many cases be traced back to their propaganda. But sometimes, just sometimes, mocking them is the way to go.

Craig Ferguson takes on the Apollo deniers

Phil Plait — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:03 +0000

Last week I posted about Adam and Jamie on Craig Ferguson’s TV show. I also found this little gem, where he talks about Apollo deniers. The whole thing is funny, but the space stuff starts at 3:00.

I love that guy.