tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post7410048168969869236..comments2024-03-28T10:08:38.560-04:00Comments on The Adventures of Roberta X: Astrophyics Made StupidRoberta Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-467607448858677402010-12-21T01:29:16.499-05:002010-12-21T01:29:16.499-05:00Let's see. . . all three of the Apollo 11 astr...Let's see. . . all three of the Apollo 11 astronauts were born in 1930. Not exactly the "yearbook pictures with a mullet" crowd. In fact, all slightly older than my dad -- a Korean War vet.<br /><br />IIRC, the Mercury (non=space-happy types should keep in mind the very short period between Mercury and Apollo) astronauts ALL wore uniforms during WWII, even if several of them didn't finish training in time to fight in that one. That would make them "the Greatest Generation" -- two generational cohorts prior to Gen X.Geodkythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328915597574377444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-65844194056372905392010-12-20T20:53:55.886-05:002010-12-20T20:53:55.886-05:00They're all human, aren't they?
The ...They're all human, aren't they?<br /><br /> The various and sundry faiths, I would argue, are not all equivalent from a "public utility"/"plays well with others" standpoint, nor is their behavior uniform from one individual to another or invariant over time. But as long as they will leave the others be, I'm okay with 'em. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg, as Mr. Jefferson put it.Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-57677677111526382882010-12-20T20:40:58.071-05:002010-12-20T20:40:58.071-05:00Bad Fenris! *gigglesnort* classic. As for the re...Bad Fenris! *gigglesnort* classic. As for the religious discussion in the comments, I gotta say that in the broad expanse of humanity each religion has had its adherants which makes everyone else look bad. Whether one is blowing up kids for Allah or burning witches for Jesus, you are a powerhungry jackass who I doubt your deity of choice will back up when you meet him. Though lest any athiest think they get a free pass in this discussion, religion with all its repressions,pogroms, and massacres is still way ahead versus the 150+ million killed by athiests of the communists and national socialist stripe in the 20th century alone. -DanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-86828734126015853112010-12-20T20:27:23.745-05:002010-12-20T20:27:23.745-05:00"To each his ever-lovin' blue-eyed own&qu..."To each his ever-lovin' blue-eyed own"<br /><br />I couldn't resist, I'm just an old Pogo fan.Blackwing1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-49547523439863285952010-12-20T20:09:58.124-05:002010-12-20T20:09:58.124-05:00Gen X put a man on the Moon? Okay, that clears up...<i>Gen X</i> put a man on the Moon? Okay, that clears up any question I might've had about Wiccans being teetotal or not. What a relief; we have more than enough of that sort already. (In re the space program, a hint: the people were mostly was the older sibs of Baby Boomers. Some of the bigger names were born before WW I).<br /><br /> Look, I don't really mind if people wanna slather some human-centered mystical stuff on the marvelous workings of the universe, but it strikes me as remarkably obtuse. It doesn't need any symbolic meaning; it is wonderful in and of itself.<br /><br /> But t'each his own.Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-32195571120606618042010-12-20T19:53:57.064-05:002010-12-20T19:53:57.064-05:00I see the moon as a symbol of the great Goddess, o...I see the moon as a symbol of the great Goddess, of female divinity. Not the Goddess, but a shining symbol of divinity in my daily life. Viewing the moon is a joyful experience for me. <br /><br />I also know that Generation X put a man on the moon, and repeated. The Me generation wanted to feed the world and end poverty. We all see how well that came out.<br /><br />I see an eclipse as the earth passing between the sun and the moon.<br /><br />But that is just my own Wiccan view.Brad K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18378344866487206569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-14183964038845759032010-12-20T18:37:35.259-05:002010-12-20T18:37:35.259-05:00Back when I was a kid in grade school there weren&...Back when I was a kid in grade school there weren't any such popular thing as "Wiccans". Somebody started watching Dark Shadows and then this Twilight twinkle-toes crap shows up all over again. If it won't just die, is it a zombie?NotClauswitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14358707844087117280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-40334617540908858892010-12-20T18:03:21.246-05:002010-12-20T18:03:21.246-05:00I don't know about you, but I was born in the ...I don't know about you, but I was born in the year of the Cock!<br /><br />WV = ditsi<br /><br />How apropo.Timmeehhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473249796933057572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-19582877905561891102010-12-20T16:36:17.685-05:002010-12-20T16:36:17.685-05:00Marko beat me to it, and said it better than I wou...Marko beat me to it, and said it better than I would have.Loki1776https://www.blogger.com/profile/13853962658466345401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-6066109811552723952010-12-20T16:05:11.966-05:002010-12-20T16:05:11.966-05:00Marko, don't forget the months being named for...Marko, don't forget the months being named for assorted gods, titans, and emperors...Cybrluditehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02222195374935367060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-42784650596696898792010-12-20T13:47:51.794-05:002010-12-20T13:47:51.794-05:00And isn't it wonderful we can all (mostly) get...And isn't it wonderful we can all (mostly) get along -- the majority belief and all the others, even the ones that aren't beliefs so much as they are a lack thereof.<br /><br /> This general time of the is a religious holiday for a lot of faiths and a secular holiday, too, and most of 'em share some sense of huddlin' toether against the dark; and in that sense, even the ones I think are silly are onto something. It is the shortest day; get through that, you're halfway to the good part of the year again.<br /> <br /><br />VW: "Canes" Don't say you weren't warned!Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-88792442953420248932010-12-20T12:38:25.980-05:002010-12-20T12:38:25.980-05:00Og,
I know of several festivals around Austin TX a...Og,<br />I know of several festivals around Austin TX and other cities that celebrate Chinese new years and the way things are going it just might be come the norm.Josh Kruschkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09288700371539530398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-29047551096303151662010-12-20T12:02:48.485-05:002010-12-20T12:02:48.485-05:00The "civilized world" also observes days...The "civilized world" also observes days of the week named after Thor, Freya, Odin and Saturnin. That has no bearing on the reality (or lack thereof) of the Roman or Norse pantheon, does it?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05796690368588471378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-47165297854688448832010-12-20T12:00:56.395-05:002010-12-20T12:00:56.395-05:00Og,
"The point that in the civilized world.....Og,<br /><br />"<i>The point that in the civilized world...</i>"<br /><br />Which civilized world is that?<br /><br />"Pardon him, Theodotus, he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature."<br /><br />"<i>You can disagree with how it's been done. You can dislike how it was handled. You can even rail against the evvil crool papist criminals that did it.</i>"<br /><br />Og, I know you're not a f$cking simpleton, so quit acting like one.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-70324248605486094792010-12-20T11:46:38.495-05:002010-12-20T11:46:38.495-05:00Crom laughs at The Four Winds, laughs from His mou...Crom laughs at The Four Winds, laughs from His mountain!TBeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996700909201966666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-62430770726916200482010-12-20T11:30:24.744-05:002010-12-20T11:30:24.744-05:00"...And why is it that every conversation abo..."...And why is it that every conversation about religion is somehow a conversation about your religion?"<br /><br />It isn't. But every conversation about religion IS somehow about how all religions are bad. And equally bad. And some are more equally bad than others. <br /><br />I'm very happy for you that you are certain you have The Answer; When you cast aspersions on Christians because of the ill conceived actiona of people who refer to themselves as Christians (Who, by definition, are, in fact, not very Christian) you have missed the point in ways that can only be described as heroic, and willful. Hint: Operating an inquisition or extermination is by definition not Christian behavior; No Christians ever engaged in it, ever do engage in it, or ever will engage in it. You can do those things and call yourself a Christian, but you can also do those things and call yourself a billygoat, assigning a label to yourself does not make the label true. <br /><br />I pointed out an observable fact, and an undeniable one. It then, and ONLY then, became a discussion of how eevil religion is and all the things it's done. <br /><br />I don't care what anyone believes- for myself, I have no beliefs, I only have faith which is beyond the power of the assembled to effect. I will have it no matter what anyone says or does, and my point was never about Christianity or religion, only about the demonstrable existance of a human being. <br /><br />I'm surrounded by people who are anxious to remonstrate me, at all times, for associating myself with such a bunch of eevildoers. Not one is ever even remotely interested in exploring the idea that their preconceptions might be less than accurate. If anyone here is so convinced of their superiority to me, come to my blog and have a reasoned discussion. or remain cowards hiding in your own ignorance. <br /><br />I began this comment thread with a lighthearted joke. No intention to have this discussion at all, so ms X, if you'd like, please delete ALL my comments so all the enlightened people who are not me can go on being correct as they are assured they are. It matters to me not at all.oghttp://www.neanderpundit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-12550104168472830212010-12-20T11:18:34.420-05:002010-12-20T11:18:34.420-05:00Hoping to move this away from the religious discus...Hoping to move this away from the religious discussion, all I've got to say is that up here in Minnesnowta we're supposed to get another 6" to 8" of that fluffy white stuff...on top of the last foot-and-a-half that crippled us a week ago, and collapsed the Hump.<br /><br />I'm guessing that spotting a lunar eclipse through the clouds and flurries is gonna be a little hard. Anybody wants to see a nice storm up here, just watch the feet-ball game tonight. They'll be playing on a surface like concrete, and there should be about a 1/2" per hour falling.Blackwing1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-5877279283678521342010-12-20T10:55:35.450-05:002010-12-20T10:55:35.450-05:00And we're supposed to be surprised that Wester...And we're supposed to be surprised that Western culture is dominant?<br /><br /> ...And why is it that every conversation about religion is somehow a conversation about <i>your</i> religion? I'm very happy for you that you are certain you have The Answer; I am damn pleased that, after a pretty wretched, dirty Dark Ages, Western Civ. was clever enough to pick up quite a few things (sadly, not bathing) from the Moors they threw outta Spain and start up a Renaissance; but I'll not be overlooking the Church's role in hampering the study of anatomy nor their pesercuting Galileo over observable fact, either. It acted both good and bad. (Hey, who ran the Jews out of Spain, the wicked intolerant Muslims or the loving, gentle arms of the Church?r) I kinda like our shared culture. Of course, I was lucky enough to skip the witch-hunting and Inquistion and religious wars.<br /><br /> There are reasons why we got separation of Church and State in this country.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-38699528958055362522010-12-20T10:22:56.963-05:002010-12-20T10:22:56.963-05:00"Which was what?"
The point that in the..."Which was what?"<br /><br />The point that in the civilized world, time is marked on the birth of Jesus Christ. You can aregue till you're blue in the face, but there it is, at the bottom of your computer screen, on your datebook, on your dentist's appointment calendar, etc..<br /><br />You can disagree with how it's been done. You can dislike how it was handled. You can even rail against the evvil crool papist criminals that did it. It won't make it any other date than 2010. <br /><br />I'm not offended by the way, nor am I trying to be contentious. I'm just pointing out an easily observable fact.oghttp://www.neanderpundit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-64026290890346359642010-12-20T08:29:02.381-05:002010-12-20T08:29:02.381-05:00Og,
"My point stands."
Which was what?...Og,<br /><br />"<i>My point stands.</i>"<br /><br />Which was what? That western European Christians used to love gunpowder and so made everybody use their calendar (at least when doing business with them) but don't like making babies anymore and so had better start learning to calculate dates in the <i>anno Hegirae</i>? (It's easy: Your OS will just subtract 622.)Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-41227018004695048392010-12-20T07:43:08.894-05:002010-12-20T07:43:08.894-05:00"because that gets complicated..."
yep,..."because that gets complicated..."<br /><br />yep, You can't imagine how hard it is to get everyone on board using the Indian calendar in my Day Timer. No, wait, that doesn't happen, because <i>everywhere that matters</i> uses the calculations (However flawed) of Dennis the Short.<br /><br />My point stands. When Apple Computers and Microsoft Windows default to the date of anything other than the birth of Christ, it'll be a different story; for the present, even the woman who calls from Bangalore whining that I owe American Express money wished me a Merry Christmasoghttp://www.neanderpundit.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-5248690668073969922010-12-20T05:55:34.377-05:002010-12-20T05:55:34.377-05:00Well done, D.W.! Well done!
...It's jus...Well done, D.W.! Well done!<br /><br /> ...It's just backlash against The Lightbringer, you know, and probably Bush's fault.Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-52239654859496466752010-12-20T05:21:05.060-05:002010-12-20T05:21:05.060-05:00Called it!
FWIW, our pagan friends see it as an i...<a href="http://thecluemeter.blogspot.com/2010/12/interesting-coincidence.html" rel="nofollow">Called it!</a><br /><br />FWIW, our pagan friends see it as an interesting coincidence.Dranghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08082177597135236652noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-40426472060952939852010-12-19T23:03:28.561-05:002010-12-19T23:03:28.561-05:00Vinnie, duuude, no menhirs unless you brought enou...Vinnie, duuude, no menhirs unless you brought enough for everyone!Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5837660608809488753.post-6268650558446154252010-12-19T23:02:43.961-05:002010-12-19T23:02:43.961-05:00Joe: Amen!
Og: In case you missed it, this isn...Joe: Amen!<br /><br />Og: In case you missed it, this isn't a dig at your religion; it's not even meant as a dig at the Wiccans in general, only the one quoted. I'm somewhat agog at people still wanting to lay a supernatural reading on a natural event, especially a purported nature-religion that otta be plain okay with the turning of the seasons. <br /><br /> OTOH, virgin birth? Not what you'd call a natural event among humans -- and the famous one to which you refer was only assigned a date near the solstice to preempt the heathens. The text suggests a different season. I'm not gonna argue the historicity or lack thereof of the event <i>because that isn't the topic.</i> <br /><br /> (And also 'cos it's not my field, as I have explained over and over. I'm not wired up for it. Certainly pleased by all the ways in which your religion has been a positive influence on folks).Roberta Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09956807794520627885noreply@blogger.com