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03-11-2009, 09:44 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rochelle, Illinois | | | Pluto regains status as "planet" (in Illinois)
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Our state senate here in Illinois, just a few weeks after stripping the governor of his status, apparently felt the need to restore something to it's former glory.
Pluto restored to original status of official "planet": http://www.astromart.com/news/news.asp?news_id=916
I'm fascinated by how something so seemingly arbitrary and non relevant to daily life as the "official" status of a solar system body in the books of the International Astronomical Union has become the subject of intense passion, feuding and name-calling since it was first debated and then decided to reclassify Pluto as a "dwarf planet".
There are a lot of people who really care about this and have a lot invested in it.
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Purple is a fruit.- H. Simpson
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03-11-2009, 09:49 PM
|  | OVNIFX
EXAR pedals rep for North & Central America | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: PDX, OR | | Quote:
Originally Posted by hbarcat  intense passion, feuding and name-calling since it was first debated and then decided to reclassify Pluto as a "dwarf planet". | I find this use of the phrase "dwarf planet" terribly ignorant and offensive.
It's clearly a midget planet. |
03-11-2009, 09:52 PM
|  | Registered User
Lead Designer: Redline Electronics | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Central Illinois | | Just when I thought Illinois couldn't get anymore ridiculous... 
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Originally Posted by bobbass4k: I'd ask how a topic about electronics descended into a BSG discussion, but i already know the answer
| Redline Electronics new site up soon! |
03-11-2009, 09:54 PM
|  | A Hard Rockin Lover of GREENBURST Moderator | | Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Where I lay my head is home | | It better have, astrologically my blood is pure pluto. 
__________________ If its not green, its not for me!!!  |
03-11-2009, 10:01 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: COLORADO | | | I wonder how much stimulus money THAT is going to end up costing? |
03-11-2009, 10:12 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York, NY | | | I would much prefer "munchkin" |
03-11-2009, 10:16 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: an ignore list near you | | Quote:
Originally Posted by bongomania I find this use of the phrase "dwarf planet" terribly ignorant and offensive.
It's clearly a midget planet. | I think "L.P." is the current politically correct term.
Mike |
03-11-2009, 10:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: an ignore list near you | | Quote:
Originally Posted by hbarcat I'm fascinated by how something so seemingly arbitrary and non relevant to daily life as the "official" status of a solar system body in the books of the International Astronomical Union has become the subject of intense passion, feuding and name-calling since it was first debated and then decided to reclassify Pluto as a "dwarf planet". | Haha!!!! Well, me too. Sorta.
Mike |
03-11-2009, 10:40 PM
|  | I'm a tumbler, born under punches | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Northern California | | | Rumor has it that the Kansas state school board is pushing for that state to officially reinstate the geocentric model of the universe. . . |
03-11-2009, 11:13 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Finland (Northern Europe) | | Hi.
Hooray...
I think. Quote:
Originally Posted by hbarcat I'm fascinated by how something so seemingly arbitrary and non relevant to daily life as the "official" status of a solar system body in the books of the International Astronomical Union has become the subject of intense passion, feuding and name-calling since it was first debated and then decided to reclassify Pluto as a "dwarf planet".
There are a lot of people who really care about this and have a lot invested in it. | The leading (at least the most visible) astronomer here in Finland, Esko Valtaoja, explained the fuzz about the situation a bit like this when asked about it when the plantary status was taken away from Pluto.
Not an exact quote, it was a while ago:
" We astronomers are a bit anti-social, dull and quiet sort of people. We are tucked away in our offices and in our towers and there's really not that much to be exited about and certainly nothing much to argue about, at least not in public. When the general public notices us at last and we make the headline news, we are sure as heck going to enjoy it as much as we can  "
Now I'm no astronomer, nor have I ever been somewhere where there's more than one or two at the same time, so I'm no expert on this, but generally I think that Esko pretty much nails it  .
Just my 0.02€
Sam |
03-11-2009, 11:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rochelle, Illinois | | Quote:
Originally Posted by TheBigO Rumor has it that the Kansas state school board is pushing for that state to officially reinstate the geocentric model of the universe. . . |
Are they the ones who redefined the value of pi to be exactly 3 ?
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Purple is a fruit.- H. Simpson
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03-11-2009, 11:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rochelle, Illinois | | Quote:
Originally Posted by T-Bird The leading (at least the most visible) astronomer here in Finland, Esko Valtaoja, explained the fuzz about the situation a bit like this when asked about it when the plantary status was taken away from Pluto.
Not an exact quote, it was a while ago:
" We astronomers are a bit anti-social, dull and quiet sort of people. We are tucked away in our offices and in our towers and there's really not that much to be exited about and certainly nothing much to argue about, at least not in public. When the general public notices us at last and we make the headline news, we are sure as heck going to enjoy it as much as we can "
Now I'm no astronomer, nor have I ever been somewhere where there's more than one or two at the same time, so I'm no expert on this, but generally I think that Esko pretty much nails it .
Just my 0.02€
Sam |
When I was in high school I had the opportunity to take some physics and other science classes at Fermilab which were taught by some of the scientists working there. We students were frequently mingling with some of the world's leading physicists, not just while they were lecturing on physics, but also when they were hanging out for lunch or playing chess or discussing the latest music, books, art and popular events.
I decided that they were, with few exceptions, not very passionate when it came to discussing typical issues that most people care about. But they would get all reved up when they started talking about the latest theories about particle interactions. 
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Purple is a fruit.- H. Simpson
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03-12-2009, 07:15 AM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New York, NY | | | |
03-12-2009, 07:27 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by hbarcat Are they the ones who redefined the value of pi to be exactly 3 ? | No, but they were contemplating repealing the law of gravity. |
03-12-2009, 07:32 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: (M)a$$hole. | | little planet
little pluto
lilliputian...
see a trend?
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03-12-2009, 07:53 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Edwardsville, IL | | | Pluto's new gig
Everyone-
Pluto is doing fine. Since being relieved of it's planetary status, Pluto has been enjoying an extended 15 minutes of fame. This includes commercial endorsements, the late night talk show circuit and a book and movie deal.
Perhaps our state government is nothing to write home about, but we're pretty dang proud of Pluto. 
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Official Ampeg Club Member |
03-12-2009, 08:03 AM
|  | That's the way uh huh uh huh I like it.. | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Robbinsville, NJ | | I got yer pluto RIGHT HERE: 
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Originally Posted by 6jase5 Cleavage heals. | Quote:
Originally Posted by machine gewehr I happened to have a better experience, a peegasm. | |
03-12-2009, 08:17 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada | | Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_v_s I think "L.P." is the current politically correct term.
Mike | "Little person" may be politically correct, but it's not as pants-peeingly hilarious as "midget".
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Originally Posted by MatticusMania Im slightly turned on by your cleaver stroking anime girl avatar. | |
03-12-2009, 08:21 AM
|  | Eat at Joe's | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: J-Actionville, NC | | | What a relief! I mean as much as you all may hate, is anyone considering Pluto's feelings on the matter? I have been on Pluto's side all along. And lets not forget the styrofoam ball companies can expect to see a 1/9th increase in sales for elemntary school science fair mobiles this spring. It is really a form of economic stimulus.
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Originally Posted by jive1 .....It's sorta like a man complaining that a tampon doesn't fit him. | |
03-12-2009, 08:49 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia | | | It disappoints me to know that the invasion base of my people is such a hot issue. I mean, we did select it as the perfect place to stage the Invasion of Earth because it was so small and out-of-the-way.
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