More on the planet kerfuffle:
Astronomers continue to wrangle over a proposal to define the term “planet,” one they can at least agree to vote on Thursday at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Prague.
But the latest rendition, a third try that seems to be a melding of the first two and which would demote Pluto to dwarf status, was presented earlier today and “shot down in flames again,” a source tells me. “The IAU is now working on a [another] version that may be much more acceptable to the majority of astronomers,” the source said.
Just to illustrate how crazed the effort has become, the latest (and apparently defeated) proposal suggests various possible terms for defining a new class of dwarf planets, which would not be real planets and would include Pluto. The suggestions: plutons (suggested in the initial controversial proposal), plutoids, plutonids, plutonoids, plutinos (already used to describe known comet-like objects in the outer solar system), Tombaugh Objects (after Clyde, who discovered Pluto), Tombaugh Planets, plutians.
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See, on occasion, I *still* lurk in Certain Places Not Here, or did (I started TT lurking in early '01), until SWSNBN went even MORE craxxxy than ever.
It's a bad habit, but oh, the train wreck.
speaking of train wrecks, BB:AS people-- who do you think
Boogie is going to put up for eviction tonight, other than Janelle?
Does it matter?
I don't know who the hell he can -- doesn't he have more or less "secret" deals with everyone left in the house?
Not
Chicken George, I think.
Dude! I was there...but I can't remember. I'm thinking a name...but I dunno.
Someone e-me. My NosyNose of CraXy is driving me NUTS.
On Sunday,
wasn't George all, "Well, what Mike Boogie said made sense, so I'm going to listen to him." Not that that's necessarily a DEAL-deal, but that would be ultimate shitty, and more Will Style than Boogie, I think.
Astronomers continue to wrangle over a proposal to define the term “planet,” one they can at least agree to vote on Thursday at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Prague. [..] Just to illustrate how crazed the effort has become,
I'm telling you, the real force causing the continuation of this is BEER! Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Budvar, a bunch I forget and all that. Followed closely by an infection some here may be familiar with known as
bureaucraxitis.
Rarely fatal, but oddly invigorating.
I've decided to deal with the pathologically whackos by doing my best to not spend any brain cells on them. Unless I'm really bored and am in the mood for a train wreck.
Looking for it, Brenda. Grazie.
