In light of yesterday's lengthy and exhaustive post, I would've been pleased with a definition of planet which would've expanded the known solar system to twelve planets. Positively tickled. Besides myself with happiness.
The current IAU definition of what constitutes a planet only serves to exclude rather than promote inclusiveness.
Why make such a specious argument? The current definition of a planet was rushed to a vote and is incomplete especially regarding clearing the neighborhood of an object's orbit. Since heptapod.org is considered fringe journalism using the most liberal definition of journalism, it is the considered opinion of heptapod.org's small staff that the motivation for this definition was political in nature. See the first few paragraphs of the prior entry.
If you brought Pluto close to the sun, like where Mercury is, it would have a tail like a comet and in a few millennia, it would volatize. It would just disappear into space. ... I mean, is that worthy of a planet — a planet that just evaporates?
Well hot fucking shit Mr. Provincial where all planets should be made of nickel and iron. Fancy that, something made of ice melting when exposed to vast amounts of heat. Who knew that science was the simple application of reductio ad absurdum! Shit, spivak's razor has tremendous potential if that's the case. Since heptapod.org is fringe journalism using the most liberal definition of journalism then heptapod.org has absolutely no compunction against using ad hominem attacks. Bill Nye is just a television scientist not a real scientist. Heck, he's a cromulent scientician. Oho, zing!
Apparently Mr. Nye wasn't able to grasp the complete IAU definition of a planet.
A "planet" is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.
At no point does the definition state anything about the composition of the body.
Being a bit more reasonable, it was merely a soundbite meant to excite the dulled imagination of the Republic's proletariat but it accomplished nothing save providing material for heptapod.org.
There's a new Heinlein book! Variable Star. It comes out September 19th, 2006. I know that I'll have something to read on the flight back if the DHS/TSA follows Glorious Leader Bush's decree that all books except his particular holy book are verboten on flights.
In New Jersey it's against the law to pump your own gas. Back in 2004, I was frustrated by the situation. Ever since living in Colorado I've realized it's pretty convenient to pump one's own gas.
I don't recall a single grocery store that employed baggers. It seems to be commonplace out here and presumably the rest of the country. Since Oregon doesn't allow people to pump their own gas I wonder if they lack baggers.
Thing I like about bagging my own groceries is that I know where everything goes and I can do it quickly and when I get back home everything gets put away in an expedient fashion.
Recently I attempted to bag my own groceries and the cashier was upset at me. Sure I said "Doesn't hurt to help" and "My arms aren't broken". Is it the fact that the revelation anyone can bag their own groceries will cause chaos and rioting in the streets? Must we maintain the secret that there are jobs out in the world which are for unskilled labor to maintain single-digit unemployment statistics?
I'm tired and every day I feel tired but I push myself to do more and more because I feel like I don't have enough time.
