Ace of Spades HQ

December 09, 2012

Eccentric Broadcaster, Astronomer Sir Patrick Moore Dead at 89
— rdbrewer

I hadn't heard of Sir Patrick, but after seeing a couple of his videos, I'm going to have to see more. He's saucy, and provocative, and prodding, and fast. A wry sense of humor. Imagine John McLaughlin doing astronomy instead of politics.

From the Brisbane Times:

Tributes have been paid to the "irreplaceable" British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore who has died aged 89.
The eccentric broadcaster passed away peacefully on Sunday at his home in Selsey, West Sussex, after being struck down by an infection.
His friend, Queen guitarist Brian May, said the world had "lost a priceless treasure that can never be replaced".
Sir Patrick inspired successive generations of stargazers with his television series The Sky At Night and wrote more than 60 books on astronomy.
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He celebrated the 55th anniversary of the BBC program in April, with it becoming the longest running television series with the same presenter.
Sir Patrick only missed one episode since it began in 1957, when he suffered a severe bout of food poisoning in 2004 which nearly killed him.
The last program was broadcast on December 3.

More from Sky & Telescope, the BBC and BoingBoing, including the videos embedded below. Interview with Carl Sagan.

The Sky at Night (2007) with Queen guitarist Brian May.

Quite a personality.

Sidenote: Yes, the video said Dr. Brian May. He's an astrophysicist. I did not know that. I did know he was an engineering-musical genius, though. When I was a kid, I fixed guitars in a music store. We knew May would build the circuits for his guitars and wind his own pickups (the electrical devices that pick up the vibration of the strings). We found that quite impressive. That odd, extremely out-of-phase sound of his guitar? Totally original.

Follow me on Twitter.

Posted by: rdbrewer at 12:37 PM | Comments (149)
Post contains 316 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Dr. Brian May isn't just an astrophysicist, he's quite a good one from what I understand.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Helping it burn. at December 09, 2012 12:40 PM (Gk3SS)

2 who the fu-

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 12:40 PM (uaJ2E)

3 Nerds.

Posted by: Ogre at December 09, 2012 12:41 PM (g8WYH)

4 Oh shit.

Now all the hipsters are going to wear monocles.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at December 09, 2012 12:41 PM (08zV/)

5 Is this the BBC guy who diddled kids?

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 12:43 PM (FC8Yl)

6 I miss these titans of science.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 12:44 PM (d/5qf)

7 What does this have to do with astrology???

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 12:46 PM (aLLUm)

8 The Solar System? Never heard of it. (And how does it benefit Sandra Fluke's vagina?)

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 12:46 PM (aLLUm)

9 He did the same show for 55 years and is a legend. He has not yet been accused of fiddling with kids. Yet.

Posted by: Stephen Potter at December 09, 2012 12:47 PM (pv5J7)

10 "5 Is this the BBC guy who diddled kids? Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 04:43 PM (FC8Yl) " Oh, for fuck's sake...

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 12:48 PM (aLLUm)

11 This is why I come to AoSHQ. Eclectic shit lives. Next to the Good Shit Blog, really it's name, the HQ has the best original shit.

And of course, when the head ewok is on crack, we have 5,000 word posts.

You got to love the morons.

Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at December 09, 2012 12:48 PM (wR+pz)

12 Space exploration is the one part of big government which I can get sentimental about.

I wouldn't be *so* upset with a $16 trillion debt if it meant we also had a robust space exploration program. But we don't. We can only send Lego Robots to Mars.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 12:49 PM (d/5qf)

13 Another great post. What day is it?

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 12:51 PM (LpQbZ)

14 I sport a tophat with my monocle.

The 47% can kiss my ass.

Posted by: Herbert Hymenhopper at December 09, 2012 12:53 PM (vjq6E)

15 This post and the Panthers won? WTF only 12 days left till the end of the world.

Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at December 09, 2012 12:54 PM (wR+pz)

16 "12 Space exploration is the one part of big government which I can get sentimental about. I wouldn't be *so* upset with a $16 trillion debt if it meant we also had a robust space exploration program. But we don't. We can only send Lego Robots to Mars. Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 04:49 PM (d/5qf) " Space exploration is sort of scientific, and science is racist, since some people are better at it than others... (Also, Military-Industrial Complex, Fascism, Spacial Imperialism, Homophobia, Vagina, etc) (Also, the government must, in no way, ever do anything which might sort of benefit Western Civilization.) (But less sarcastically, I'm not really a fan of NASA, even during its heyday.)

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 12:54 PM (aLLUm)

17 I read somewhere that he was UKIP. Cool guy..

Posted by: Armando on the Armandophone at December 09, 2012 12:55 PM (xA/18)

18 "Is this the BBC guy who diddled kids?"

Hardly. As James Delingpole indicates, Sir Patrick would never have gotten a job with the modern day BBC:

http://tinyurl.com/b4p46nk

Cheers

Posted by: Russtovich at December 09, 2012 12:58 PM (3Nxuh)

19 speaking of armandos... anyone watch the real estate shows on AE and HGTV? Flip This House is stupid. The fat in the overalls is stupid. But I like Property Brothers. Armando Montelegeowhatever is half scam artist, half entrepreneur, and wheeler-dealer.

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 01:01 PM (1WM2H)

20 "18 "Is this the BBC guy who diddled kids?" Hardly. As James Delingpole indicates, Sir Patrick would never have gotten a job with the modern day BBC: http://tinyurl.com/b4p46nk Cheers Posted by: Russtovich at December 09, 2012 04:58 PM (3Nxuh) " The BBC never made all that much sense. The government is surely not the source from which one wishes to get his news. That said, since Britain was an overtly-imperialistic state, the BBC always made more sense than PBS/NPR.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:01 PM (aLLUm)

21 Was this the guy who thought that bunny was just a harmless bunny?

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:02 PM (ZOf1l)

22 Armando Montelegeowhatever is half scam artist, half entrepreneur, and wheeler-dealer.

Yup - I knew he was a scammer when I would see ads for some course that you could buy that illustrated his "proven house-flipping technique"... in the middle of 2009

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:02 PM (d/5qf)

23 He resembles an ancient Donald Trump. Not that it amounts to anything.

Posted by: sTevo at December 09, 2012 01:03 PM (L7std)

24 Was he related to the Monopoly guy?

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:04 PM (ZOf1l)

25 repost from dead thread: Just saw an ad for this, coming Christmas Day Django Unchained With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Director: Quentin Tarantino Writer: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Jamie Foxx, Don Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/ Doesn't seem like a Christmas Day movie...

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 01:04 PM (LpQbZ)

26 Doesn't seem like a Christmas Day movie...

yeah that's what I was thinking too.

but you can't have Jesus movies on Christmas Day, that would be all like hateful 'n' stuff

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:06 PM (d/5qf)

27 "25 repost from dead thread: Just saw an ad for this, coming Christmas Day Django Unchained With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. Director: Quentin Tarantino Writer: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Jamie Foxx, Don Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1853728/ Doesn't seem like a Christmas Day movie... Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 05:04 PM (LpQbZ) " Quentin Tarantino is one of the stupidest animals alive today.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:07 PM (aLLUm)

28 @ 25 - Wow, that sounds really, really shitty.

Posted by: ErikW on the damned phone at December 09, 2012 01:08 PM (LPShR)

29 One of my eyes is completely crappy; one is damn near normal. It's a shame that 1) chicks don't wear monocles and 2) the technology never caught on.

Posted by: Palandine[/i] at December 09, 2012 01:08 PM (g7D8V)

30 People who sell their get rich secrets are fascinating. Fascinating to me because they attract new suckers with their ancient and transparent scams.

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 01:09 PM (BUcLz)

31 In the 90's I had given Tarantino a break because of some avant-garde shit, but man he really sucks. Any director, producer, half-wit, nit-wit, or Methodist that gives Jamie Foxx a job deserves to be shot, drawn and quartered, and publicly humiliated.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:09 PM (ZOf1l)

32 "29 One of my eyes is completely crappy; one is damn near normal. It's a shame that 1) chicks don't wear monocles and 2) the technology never caught on. Posted by: Palandine at December 09, 2012 05:08 PM (g7D8V) " Conformism is overrated. And it's never too late.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:10 PM (aLLUm)

33 But, this sounds good: Dec. 21 release date. Tom Cruise Six shots. Five dead. One heartland city thrown into a state of terror. But within hours the cops have it solved: a slam-dunk case. Except for one thing. The accused man says: You got the wrong guy. Then he says: Get Reacher for me. And sure enough, ex-military investigator Jack Reacher is coming. He knows this shooter-a trained military sniper who never should have missed a shot. Reacher is certain something is not right-and soon the slam-dunk case explodes. Now Reacher is teamed with a beautiful young defense lawyer, moving closer to the unseen enemy who is pulling the strings. Reacher knows that no two opponents are created equal. This one has come to the heartland from his own kind of hell. And Reacher knows that the only way to take him down is to match his ruthlessness and cunning-and then beat him shot for shot. -- (C) Official Site http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jack_reacher/ People sure love ex-military/special ops/seal/CIA, etc movies... Shorty, Tom Cruise; he's fun to watch.

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 01:11 PM (LpQbZ)

34 Christmas is a big day for the box office. I went to see Godfather Part III when it was released on Christmas 1991.

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 01:13 PM (Ba6aP)

35 but you can't have Jesus movies on Christmas Day, that would be all like hateful 'n' stuff

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 05:06 PM (d/5qf)

No, the people who are way more tolerant than us knuckle-dragging teabaggers prefer to say "Axial tilt is the reason for the season" to recognize Christendom's second-most important holy day. I haven't yet noticed what piece of snark they've come up with to celebrate Eid or Diwali, however...

Part of me is looking forward to the upcoming persecution of Christians. It may strip away a lot of the decadence and softness that's been built up over the years.

Posted by: Palandine[/i] at December 09, 2012 01:13 PM (g7D8V)

36 "34 Christmas is a big day for the box office. I went to see Godfather Part III when it was released on Christmas 1991. Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 05:13 PM (Ba6aP) " I think chemjeff's right. Perhaps the Holidays (if one insists on calling them that) should actually be holy. (And perhaps have something to do with Christ, but that's probably asking too much...)

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:15 PM (aLLUm)

37 Shorty, Tom Cruise; he's fun to watch.

I'd fuck him!

Posted by: John Travolta at December 09, 2012 01:16 PM (ZOf1l)

38
But my beloved Cowboys won, so the world will live one more week.

Posted by: irongrampa at December 09, 2012 01:18 PM (SAMxH)

39 There's a verse in Eccelesiastes I think about there being "nothing new under the Sun." Charles Mackay wrote Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds in 1841. Read it and you'll discover nothing really changes in human nature -- or, rather, people never learn from the mistakes of others.

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 01:18 PM (gDIwW)

40 They seem to have made a pin out of Moore's face: gold, diamonds... http://tinyurl.com/cf4jxdu

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 01:19 PM (LpQbZ)

41 Posted by: irongrampa at December 09, 2012 05:18 PM (SAMxH)

Yes they did! If I'm not mistaken they now have only 4 or 5 uninjured defensive starters. And yes, Romo is an elite QB.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:20 PM (ZOf1l)

42 "39 There's a verse in Eccelesiastes I think about there being "nothing new under the Sun." Charles Mackay wrote Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds in 1841. Read it and you'll discover nothing really changes in human nature -- or, rather, people never learn from the mistakes of others. Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 05:18 PM (gDIwW) " Yep.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:21 PM (aLLUm)

43 oof, another Giants TD

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 01:22 PM (LpQbZ)

44 Has anyone read the top post over at Hot Air? Some faction of the Syrian resistance has posted a video on youtube of bunnies being gassed with the threat of doing the same to the Alawites.

So, both sides of a civil war have chemical weapons.

Posted by: Methos at December 09, 2012 01:22 PM (hO9ad)

45 So, both sides of a civil war have chemical weapons.

well duh, they are not hard to make

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:23 PM (d/5qf)

46 "44 Has anyone read the top post over at Hot Air? Some faction of the Syrian resistance has posted a video on youtube of bunnies being gassed with the threat of doing the same to the Alawites. So, both sides of a civil war have chemical weapons. Posted by: Methos at December 09, 2012 05:22 PM (hO9ad) " WMDs? In the Middle East? Hmmm.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:24 PM (aLLUm)

47 So, both sides of a civil war have chemical weapons.

Posted by: Methos at December 09, 2012 05:22 PM (hO9ad)

Never fear. I was sitting at Firestone today having the water pump replaced on my Jeep and being forced to listen to CNN. Fareed Zakaria informed me that the tyrant ought to unilaterally end the war on terror because peace is so obviously breaking out all over.

Funny, I hadn't noticed that the tyrant was still fighting a war on terror.

Posted by: Palandine[/i] at December 09, 2012 01:25 PM (g7D8V)

48 "45 So, both sides of a civil war have chemical weapons. well duh, they are not hard to make Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 05:23 PM (d/5qf) " Well, using biological or nuclear weapons in a civil war would be even stupider...

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:26 PM (aLLUm)

49
From Breitbart's site :

On Saturday Night Live, guest host Jamie Foxx told the amped-up crowd now in his new movie, Django Unchained, he gets to "kill all the white people ... How GREAT is that?" The live audience erupted in cheers and laughter. Foxx, who recently described President Obama as "our lord and savior," then launched into a jaw-dropping monologue about the glories of President Obama and his newly-minted second term.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 09, 2012 01:26 PM (8VAP0)

50
One has to hope that this man at least imbued some young ones with enough interest in astronomy to make a career of it.

That is a fine legacy, no matter the occupation.

Posted by: irongrampa at December 09, 2012 01:26 PM (SAMxH)

51 Has anyone read the top post over at Hot Air? Some faction of the Syrian resistance has posted a video on youtube of bunnies being gassed with the threat of doing the same to the Alawites.

So, both sides of a civil war have chemical weapons.

Posted by: Methos at December 09, 2012 05:22 PM (hO9ad)

Does that mean that everyone in Syria will die? Wishful fucking thinking.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:28 PM (ZOf1l)

52 well duh, they are not hard to make

Okay, I suppose what I'm more alarmed by is that A) they seem to want people to know they have them and B) muslim, duh.

Posted by: Methos at December 09, 2012 01:29 PM (hO9ad)

53 seriously, you could make your own "chemical weapon" in your basement, just mix bleach and ammonia. (NOT recommended)

Showing them gassing a bunch of bunnies is not proof of anything really.

Theh hard part is transporting chemical weapons via missile or rocket.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:31 PM (d/5qf)

54 Well it is proof that they hate bunnies.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:31 PM (d/5qf)

55 Tarantino made a film where the Jews got to kill Nazi bastards so this new one is no big surprise.

Posted by: Herbert Hymenhopper at December 09, 2012 01:32 PM (vjq6E)

56 "53 seriously, you could make your own "chemical weapon" in your basement, just mix bleach and ammonia. (NOT recommended) Showing them gassing a bunch of bunnies is not proof of anything really. Theh hard part is transporting chemical weapons via missile or rocket. Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 05:31 PM (d/5qf) " You can transport them by wind. Or jihad bomber.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:32 PM (aLLUm)

57 Has anyone read the top post over at Hot Air? Some
faction of the Syrian resistance has posted a video on youtube of
bunnies being gassed with the threat of doing the same to the Alawites.

Those sick FUCKS!

Posted by: Peter Rabbit at December 09, 2012 01:33 PM (IDypm)

>>One of my eyes is completely crappy; one is damn near normal. It's a shame that 1) chicks don't wear monocles and 2) the technology never caught on.

My mom has something with her eyes that led her to need one contact lens.

Or, as she said, one contact len.

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 09, 2012 01:35 PM (SUKHu)

59 Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 09, 2012 05:26 PM (8VAP0) another movie on the DO NOT WATCH list

Posted by: beach weekend at December 09, 2012 01:35 PM (LpQbZ)

60 You can transport them by wind. Or jihad bomber.

Wind - well, WW1 showed that that is a very fickle way of doing it

Jihad bomber - yeah, possibly, but it is probably harder to get recruits to volunteer to die an agonizing slow painful death, than to die in one sudden explodey death

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:36 PM (d/5qf)

61 incidentally, I am now Jacksonville's biggest fan, I want them to win out so that KC gets the first draft pick next year

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:36 PM (d/5qf)

62 Accorfing to WSJ a couple days ago, Hillary will be meeting in Morocco to form some sort of rump Government/proxy Army of Syrian rebels. I wonder if "we" will be the first ones to use WMD's? That would be about right the way history is going these days.

Posted by: Lincolntf at December 09, 2012 01:36 PM (tkoGU)

63 Mrs. Witchfinder was saddened to hear this news earlier today. She is English and told me that he was quite the beloved character. He served in the RAF during WWII - he lied about his age so he could enlist. His fiance was killed during the Blitz and, as a result, he never married.

Posted by: Witchfinder at December 09, 2012 01:37 PM (s/PhC)

Posted by: Lincolntf at December 09, 2012 05:36 PM (tkoGU)

yup - government doesn't pick winners and losers, they pick the losers

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:37 PM (d/5qf)

65 "60 You can transport them by wind. Or jihad bomber. Wind - well, WW1 showed that that is a very fickle way of doing it Jihad bomber - yeah, possibly, but it is probably harder to get recruits to volunteer to die an agonizing slow painful death, than to die in one sudden explodey death Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 05:36 PM (d/5qf) " How would they know what sort of death it would be?

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:38 PM (aLLUm)

66 Well, using biological or nuclear weapons in a civil war would be even stupider...

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 05:26 PM (aLLUm)

You want weapons-grade stupid, Arab muslims are the go-to guys.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 09, 2012 01:38 PM (29+x5)

67 Sending humans on long trips is a real problem, but only if you need to return them home. Humans need to eat, sleep, breathe, poop, exercise, and they make mistakes. Robots don't need any of these things.

Posted by: navybrat at December 09, 2012 01:39 PM (Ty7ja)

68 Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 05:36 PM (d/5qf)

I must apologize for my earlier prognostication that the Chiefs would go 10-6. I never took into account that Romeo Crennel is the worst fucking coach in the history of the NFL.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:41 PM (ZOf1l)

69 How would they know what sort of death it would be?

well that's true. they could also just lie and say you get twice the number of virgins in heaven if you die via chemical poisoning or something.

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:42 PM (d/5qf)

70 "66 Well, using biological or nuclear weapons in a civil war would be even stupider... Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 05:26 PM (aLLUm) You want weapons-grade stupid, Arab muslims are the go-to guys. Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 09, 2012 05:38 PM (29+x5) " As opposed to Nonarab Muslims (or people in general) who are savants? (The advantage that Nonarab Muslims might have is that they can't understand Arabic, so they are more insulated from the wretched stupidity that is Islam.) (Also, Islam wouldn't have all the ethnonationalistic connotations that it does for "Arab" Muslims.)

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:43 PM (aLLUm)

71 Another part of Brian May's sound is he uses an old English sixpence coin as his pick. He keeps a bag of them around for when he loses his current one.

Brian was just months from completing his PhD when Queen took off as a band.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 09, 2012 01:43 PM (ccXZP)

72 Games on days in which KC player kills people: 1-0
Games on days in which KC player doesn't kill people: 1-11

YOU DO THE MATH

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:44 PM (d/5qf)

73 oh, and I denounce myself

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:44 PM (d/5qf)

74 but it is probably harder to get recruits to volunteer to die an agonizing slow painful death, than to die in one sudden explodey death

As if the mentally disabled girls they strap the shit onto really have a choice.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ at December 09, 2012 01:44 PM (hO8IJ)

Well, time to take the kid out caroling during a thunderstorm...

What?

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 09, 2012 01:44 PM (SUKHu)

76 I had almost forgotten what a blowhard Carl Sagan was.

Posted by: somebody else, not me at December 09, 2012 01:45 PM (nZvGM)

77 YOU DO THE MATH

There's a second murderer on the Chefs? AFIAK, Belcher only killed one person.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ at December 09, 2012 01:45 PM (hO8IJ)

78 HeatherRadish, he killed himself too

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:45 PM (d/5qf)

79 68- hell yeah, I agree!

Posted by: Norv Turner at December 09, 2012 01:46 PM (FUo3j)

80 Eh. Suicide's different from murder.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ at December 09, 2012 01:46 PM (hO8IJ)

81 okay, I denounce myself even further

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 01:48 PM (d/5qf)

82 Hey Chemjeff...... You're on to something. But the murderer also needs to commit suicide at the training facility. Pretty quick way to deplete the team.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at December 09, 2012 01:49 PM (jucos)

83 Games on days in which KC player kills people: 1-0
Games on days in which KC player doesn't kill people: 1-11

YOU DO THE MATH

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 05:44 PM (d/5qf)

Oh well, we're 1-0 on the post Jerry Brown era. Wait, who?

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:50 PM (ZOf1l)

84 Oh man, I can't follow this thread at all. I think I'll just make **** up.

Posted by: JDTAY at December 09, 2012 01:51 PM (a0nis)

85 Yargle blargle argle argle arrrr!!

Posted by: Joe Biden at December 09, 2012 01:51 PM (z9HTb)

86 Sorry, I am hereby denounced as well.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:51 PM (ZOf1l)

87 Is this how threads die?

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 01:54 PM (aLLUm)

88 I denounce myself too...... For no Particular reason.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at December 09, 2012 01:54 PM (jucos)

89 @87 No, don't give up on me, damn you! *pounds fists on thread's chest*

Posted by: JDTAY at December 09, 2012 01:57 PM (a0nis)

90 I don't know how "breaking" this news really is because I've been oofline all day, but I just saw a Twitter alert that one Special Forces soldier was killed today in a rescue attempt of a US citizen. No details.

Posted by: Lincolntf at December 09, 2012 01:57 PM (tkoGU)

91 "...what a blowhards Carl Sagan was." I watched him, once. Mr billions and billions of years. Mr life emerging from primordial ooze and evolving into all the diverse life forms with coded information in their DNA that we have on the planet today. Said to myself, this guy thinks he's a real brain but the critical thinking skills are really lacking. Like I said, I watched him once.

Posted by: In Cognito at December 09, 2012 01:58 PM (tWBKX)

92 Since we are obviously off-topic from the original topic of some monacled Monty Python looking guy, I think that the best possible BCS game has to be the Fiesta Bowl featuring K-State and Oregon. Think about it, Alabama is going to win by at least 40. The rest of the games are "who the fuck cares" with the possible exception of the Cotton Bowl.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 01:59 PM (ZOf1l)

93 Is this how threads die?

Old threads never die. They just fade away.

Posted by: Methos at December 09, 2012 01:59 PM (hO9ad)

94 We could have a sockpuppet contest. Just let me finish off these 400 assorted hobos and sailors first. It's hard to get your money's worth from birth control when you don't pay for it.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 09, 2012 02:00 PM (a0nis)

95 Don't forget the Capital One Bowl

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 02:00 PM (d/5qf)

96 Old threads never die. They just fade away.

Some historians say that you did not need to retake the Phillipines. How do you answer that Doug?

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 02:01 PM (ZOf1l)

97 Any time I start feeling like a smarty pants, I come here and get blown away. How horrible must the Obama voter feel?

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:02 PM (S+/pH)

98 My department's admin assistant is a huge fan for Notre Dame, I'm hoping they win only so to preserve good spirits in the department

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 02:02 PM (d/5qf)

99 Never-mind. I know Obama voters don't think.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:03 PM (S+/pH)

100 100?

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 02:04 PM (aLLUm)

101 okay so since we're at comment #100 anyway:
any good tips on how to reduce anxiety?

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 02:04 PM (d/5qf)

102 Yep.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 02:04 PM (aLLUm)

103 Whenever I want to feel completely puny and meaningless, I contemplate things astronomical. It is enough to humble the most arrogant among us.

Posted by: navybrat at December 09, 2012 02:05 PM (Ty7ja)

104 Valium

and jacking off.

Mostly jacking off.

Posted by: Lurking Flaneur at December 09, 2012 02:05 PM (FZEtg)

105 "101 okay so since we're at comment #100 anyway: any good tips on how to reduce anxiety? Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 06:04 PM (d/5qf) " Try to reason about whatever is making you anxious.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 02:06 PM (aLLUm)

106 Moore was the inspiration for the scientist character Quatermass, who wandered through assorted BBC TV miniseries and three Hammer feature films.

I just saw Five Million Years to Earth. IMDB: "While digging a new subway line in London, a construction crew discovers first: a skeleton, then what they think is an unexploded WWII German missile. Upon closer examination the "missile" appears to be not of this earth! This movie examines the age-old question of how we came to be on this planet. It is suprisingly scary."

Posted by: little miss spellcheck at December 09, 2012 02:06 PM (a5ljo)

107 Why does there have to be an either/or about science and God? The two can totally, and should, go together, right? That's the way I've always understood it, even in Sunday school as a child! There was never a prohibition on science! The left made that whole shit up. (Not news, I know.)

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:08 PM (S+/pH)

108

okay so since we're at comment #100 anyway:
any good tips on how to reduce anxiety?

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 06:04 PM (d/5qf

-------------------------------

Drinking and helping your fellow man, but mostly drinking.

Posted by: Truck Monkey at December 09, 2012 02:09 PM (jucos)

109 Are all tv weather girls and anchorettes doing this now? by 'this' I mean dressing to the nines in sleaky dresses as if theyre going out for a night on ths town sequin dresses just to give the weather update? hair-dos and the jewelry! theyre wearing earrings and necklaces women wear at the Oscars

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 02:10 PM (BUcLz)

110 Wow Drew Brees just threw another INT. That makes 6 in the last 2 games.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 02:10 PM (ZOf1l)

111 29 One of my eyes is completely crappy; one is damn near normal. ------ Me too. Given that my insurance covers one pair of glasses every X years, do you suppose they would pay for two monocles?

Posted by: Citizen Anachronda at December 09, 2012 02:12 PM (2pFDN)

112 Whenever I want to feel completely puny and meaningless, I contemplate things astronomical. It is enough to humble the most arrogant among us.
Posted by: navybrat at December 09, 2012 06:05 PM

As we fly screaming through the inky blackness of the cosmos at tens of thousands of miles an hour, barely warmed enough by a temperamental star to keep from freezing solid, out pathetic fire building is destroying the planet.

mother fuckers, please

Posted by: Dept. of Accuracy Dept. at December 09, 2012 02:12 PM (BAnPT)

113 "It is enough to humble the most arrogant among us." Heh. Around here? I've read some people around here who have obviously bought into the serpents bite the apple lie. The smartest ones, like chemjeff for example, aren't like that. But there are a good number who think they're so above everyone else that it's laughable.

Posted by: In Cognito at December 09, 2012 02:13 PM (Op+RR)

114

any good tips on how to reduce anxiety?

Posted by: chemjeff at December 09, 2012 06:04 PM (d/5qf)

I have resorted to drinking more than usual, and visiting a lot more entertainment sites and watching mindless shit on TV (within reason). Prolly obvious by the quality control around here, lately.

BTW. chem, how did the gym thing go today? (Or maybe that was yesterday.) Did you snort and do the hoof thing?

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:13 PM (S+/pH)

115 out = our

Posted by: Dept. of Accuracy Dept. at December 09, 2012 02:14 PM (BAnPT)

116 "107 Why does there have to be an either/or about science and God? The two can totally, and should, go together, right? That's the way I've always understood it, even in Sunday school as a child! There was never a prohibition on science! The left made that whole shit up. (Not news, I know.) Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 06:08 PM (S+/pH) " Physics doesn't "disprove" God. Chemistry doesn't "disprove" God. (And Math doesn't "disprove" God.) A lot of biologists seem to think that biology "disproves" God, but that's mostly due to the fact that the people who go into biology are the dumb fucks who couldn't get into Physics or Chemistry, but still wanted "scientist" on their business card. Also: "Our program necessarily includes the propaganda of atheism." -- Vladimir Lenin

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 02:14 PM (aLLUm)

117 for anxiety, I think St John's Wort Rhodiola rosea is another one

Posted by: soothsayer at December 09, 2012 02:15 PM (HhVFr)

118 chemjeff, seriously Zanax. My daughter used to get performance anxiety so bad that she would hyperventilate and pass out, puking, the whole nine yards.

So before an important solo, or even just a critical test she would take one.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 09, 2012 02:15 PM (ccXZP)

119 for anxiety, I think St John's Wort

really great stuff. keeps me out of the penitentiary.

Posted by: Dept. of Accuracy Dept. at December 09, 2012 02:16 PM (BAnPT)

120 @ kalneva, I believe they go together. God is not stupid, he knows his shit. A good read is "The Language of God" by Francis Collins who headed up The Human Genome Project.

Posted by: ErikW on the damned phone at December 09, 2012 02:16 PM (LPShR)

121 Zanax is the answer.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 09, 2012 02:20 PM (ZOf1l)

122 Of course, what we never hear about is how "antiscience" the Soviet Union and other Communist states were, including a fanatical opposition to Mendelian (i.e. actual) genetics. But that's in large part because "moderate" Leftists are also fanatically opposed to Mendelian genetics. And devoted to covering absolutely all of Communism's crimes up.

Posted by: Mirror-Universe Mitt Romney at December 09, 2012 02:20 PM (aLLUm)

123 I, also, like to think about the cosmos. Or whatever. Not in a hippy-dippy way. But it soothes the soul to know that we are specks. Obamster is also a speck. So, there ya go. I pity the ones who feel nothing about higher "powers" or whatever. It's a pitiable existence to have no beliefs. And that's what gives us eco-nazis, nutrition-nazis, femi-nazis, et. al.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:20 PM (S+/pH)

124 chemjeff, I've read your comments for quite some time. I'm pretty sure you know you don't need Xanax or anything like it. Just spend as much time as you can doing things you truly love.

Posted by: In Cognito at December 09, 2012 02:21 PM (tWBKX)

125 xanax can be horribly addicting.but great for an occasional bout of anxiousness

Posted by: ette at December 09, 2012 02:24 PM (nqBYe)

126 Chemjeff, they do have relaxation tapes c/d? that may be bought, they show you how to relax groups of muscles etc..

unfortunately i had such anxiety as soon as i would lay down to listen and do techniques i'd go into full anxiety attack mode.

haha

i doubt that is mos people experience however.

Posted by: ette at December 09, 2012 02:26 PM (nqBYe)

127 ThankS, ErikW, I love reading that sort of thing. I have a big prob, nowadays, wherein I spend way too much time reading blogs (ahem) and it cuts into the time I spend reading actual books, no matter whether on Kindle or paper. I must remedy this. Now I view reading books like working out. Used to enjoy very much. Now, not so much. Both are hindering me. Need to grow a pair and get busy!

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:27 PM (S+/pH)

128 124 >> chemjeff, I've read your comments for quite some time. I'm pretty sure you know you don't need Xanax or anything like it.

Luddite. Better living through chemistry.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 09, 2012 02:29 PM (ccXZP)

129 "Why does there have to be an either/or about science and God? The two can totally, and should, go together, right?"

Of course they should. Christian fundies have made a laughingstock of themselves in this regard, with stupid assertions that the earth is 6000 years old and such. Infallibility of the Bible, etc.

For starters, we Christians borrowed the Old Testament from the Jews, and not even the strictest Talmudic scholar asserts that the book of Genesis is anything but metaphorical.

For seconds, the Bible has been (by now) translated how many times? From how many languages? This is all the work of humans, who can and do err.

Posted by: navybrat at December 09, 2012 02:29 PM (Ty7ja)

130 I am so afeared of Xanax or Prozac or what-have-you. I can't even imagine I'd ever get off that shit if I started.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:30 PM (S+/pH)

131 When I first discovered Queen in the 70s I remember reading that May had dropped out of college just shy of his degree to concentrate on the band.

Posted by: rickl at December 09, 2012 02:32 PM (sdi6R)

132 I am so afeared of Xanax or Prozac or what-have-you. I can't even imagine I'd ever get off that shit if I started.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 06:30 PM (S+/pH)

You can't go wrong with grain alcohol!

Posted by: LiLo at December 09, 2012 02:34 PM (Cnqmv)

133

Christian fundies have made a laughingstock of themselves in this regard, with stupid assertions that the earth is 6000 years old and such. Infallibility of the Bible, etc.

Uggh. Why are the left's weirdos never made pariahs like the right's weirdos are? Instead, they're made heroes. It's almost like the media is biased, or something.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:35 PM (S+/pH)

134 Ah, there's one of em now.

Posted by: In Cognito at December 09, 2012 02:35 PM (yrHcy)

135 Lilo! Barley and hops forevah!

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:36 PM (S+/pH)

136 Kalneva, it's all a journey. No one person knows more about the nature of God than another. What matters is the pursuit.

Posted by: ErikW on the damned phone at December 09, 2012 02:36 PM (LPShR)

137

136 ErikW

Yep.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:38 PM (S+/pH)

138 130 kalneva, the difference between the 2 is that Xanax can be taken occasionally and situationally for anxiety attacks. Prozac (and other anti-depressants) requires time to build up in your system and is intended to be taken daily to get its effect. There is a weaning off period for Prozac.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 09, 2012 02:39 PM (ccXZP)

139 Thanks, GnuBreed. I did not know that. Maybe I could take Xanax, then. I will inquire. Still askeert, though.

Posted by: kalneva at December 09, 2012 02:47 PM (S+/pH)

140 Inquisitiveness and continuing revelation. That is all.

Posted by: navybrat at December 09, 2012 03:08 PM (Ty7ja)

141 Dead thread update: Brian May is not "just' an astrophysicist. He is the chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University.

Then kew.

Posted by: comatus at December 09, 2012 04:01 PM (qaVK+)

142 I remember a little note on all of Queens albums. "No Synthesizers'.

Posted by: deepred at December 09, 2012 04:32 PM (YmACv)

143 Patrick Moore was a prolific writer, the astronomy book I checked out from my school library in elementary school was one of his, and I'd recommend his 'Fireside Asronomy' and 'Armchair Astronomy' for browsing. I would imagine that readers of this blog should appreciate a character who wrote 'The Bureaucrats and How to Annoy Them.' And let's not forget that this was a WW II vet who flew as a navigatore with the RAF.

Posted by: James Stephens at December 09, 2012 05:18 PM (fGQup)

144 Patrick Moore was a prolific writer, the astronomy book I checked out from my school library in elementary school was one of his, and I'd recommend his 'Fireside Asronomy' and 'Armchair Astronomy' for browsing. I would imagine that readers of this blog should appreciate a character who wrote 'The Bureaucrats and How to Annoy Them.' And let's not forget that this was a WW II vet who flew as a navigator with the RAF.

Posted by: James Stephens at December 09, 2012 05:19 PM (fGQup)

145 133 Christian fundies have made a laughingstock of themselves in this regard, with stupid assertions that the earth is 6000 years old and such. Infallibility of the Bible, etc.
Uggh. Why are the left's weirdos never made pariahs like the right's weirdos are? Instead, they're made heroes. It's almost like the media is biased, or something.
&&&&&&&&&&

Wot?

Are you saying that aromatherapy, chiropractic, auras, pyramid power, colonics, feng shui, homeopathy, "alternative medicine", "organic" food , and scientific socialism are just unscientific stupid assertions??

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at December 09, 2012 05:42 PM (riIMi)

146 91 "...what a blowhards Carl Sagan was."

I watched him, once. Mr billions and billions of years. Mr life emerging from primordial ooze and evolving into all the diverse life forms with coded information in their DNA that we have on the planet today.
Said to myself, this guy thinks he's a real brain but the critical thinking skills are really lacking.

Like I said, I watched him once.

********

You seem to be alluding to Intelligent Design and Dembski's claim that evolution could not create informational complexity.

Sorry, but DNA could easily have started as uncoded information and then, after billions of years of additions, replication, mutation and selection, become encoded.

Have you ever heard of Thomas Schneider's software program called "ev"? It simulates evolution of DNA bases and selects for those that offer better fit to protein binding sites.

Over time poor and sporadic binding leads to tight binding at many sites. Informational complexity thus increases over time and with selection.

Check it out. http://schneider.ncifcrf.gov/paper/ev/

Posted by: Jim Sonweed at December 09, 2012 05:55 PM (riIMi)

147 dude's cat was named Ptolemy.

Posted by: MikeD at December 09, 2012 07:39 PM (p8QOg)

148 Very excellent post and RIP Sir Patrick.

Posted by: MikeD at December 09, 2012 07:48 PM (p8QOg)

149
Hardly. As James Delingpole indicates, Sir Patrick would never have gotten a job with the modern day BBC:

http://tinyurl.com/b4p46nk

Posted by: Ben at December 29, 2012 01:24 PM (ZQGED)

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