slackerastro ([info]slackerastro) wrote,
@ 2005-04-11 22:38:00
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The Big Bad Astronomer - Show #5
Nature created him.
Science perfected him.
Powerful men feared him.
Women loved him.

He puts the BAAAAADDDD in Bad Astronomer.
What you say?
I'm just talkin' about the Bad Astronomer, baby.
I can dig it.



"Tall and tan and young and lovely,
The girl from Ipanema goes walking,
And when she passes
each one she passes goes a-a-ah!

When she walks she's like a samba that,
Swings so cool and sways so gentle,
That when she passes
each one she passes goes a-a-ah!..."

...oops, sorry about that. It's summer time and I'm getting carried away. Back to the Show Notes.

Show #5
Title: The Big Bad Astronomer
Subject: Skepticism, interview
CastDate: 050412
Written By: Slacker Astronomy & The Bad Astronomer
Disembodied Voices: Pamela, Aaron and Phil Plait
Engineered: Pamela Gay




Don't forget that the entire unedited interview is available on the Slacker Astronomy Extra Feed.


Pamela und Phil:









(Post a new comment)

rock on
(Anonymous)
2005-04-12 08:35 pm UTC (link)
It's true. I do rock.

... but maybe I'd better listen to the show first.

XXOO
The Bad Astronomer

(Reply to this)

igneous, baby
(Anonymous)
2005-04-12 10:31 pm UTC (link)
I have now listened to the podcast, and have confirmed my rockability.

That was fun! We should do it again, and you should pay me.

As always, I remain,

XXOO
The Bad Astronomer

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: igneous, baby
(Anonymous)
2005-04-13 12:30 pm UTC (link)
I have now listened to the podcast, and have confirmed my rockability.

That was fun! We should do it again, and you should pay me.

----------
We (the audience) pay you in love, man. We pay you in love.

GreyArea
--
Lost: Moon. Last seen in the care of John Koenig. Small reward offered if found.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Pamela...... and Phil
(Anonymous)
2005-04-14 06:56 pm UTC (link)
For Pam: Plate..... Fill Plate!

For Phil: uh, uh, uh, uh....... after your blog on the subject, calling Pamela by a disparaging last name is a real no no. :) :) :)

Too funny guys!!!!

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Mr. Podcast now?
(Anonymous)
2005-04-12 10:38 pm UTC (link)
Okay, so this may be the first recorded Bad Astronomer podcast interview ... but let's remember who made him a podcasting STAR! ;)

We love the show ... with or without Dr. Phil. Nice job!

Just Pete & NASA Janet
Illinoise!

(Reply to this)

I like it
(Anonymous)
2005-04-13 03:19 am UTC (link)
I liked the interview, but I think the long version is better than the short version. The banter - and Pamela's opening "issues" - make it much more interesting than the short version.

So, my vote is for more long versions.

(Reply to this)

Long vs. short
(Anonymous)
2005-04-13 10:13 am UTC (link)
Much preferred the longer podcast - very entertaining.

Nice one guys.

GreyArea
--
Lost: Moon. Last seen in the care of John Koenig. Small reward offered if found.

(Reply to this)

On creationism
(Anonymous)
2005-04-13 11:34 am UTC (link)
just a quick rant on the whole creationism thingy:
In science, every theory can potentially be disproven. Creationism is based on the idea of an almighty creator. Existence of an almighty creator can *not* be disproven. therefore a system based on the belief in an almighty creator cannot be disproven. therefore this system is not science.
period. end of discussion.
-- g.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: On creationism
[info]808
2005-04-13 03:29 pm UTC (link)
But what scares me is that I see scientists coming at the debate with the same sort of absolute certainty and moral superiority that the creationists have been using. This is bad, very bad. Such attitudes won't convince the undecided and will turn the debate into a rhetorical mish mash of nonsense and anger ad infinitum.

My response is: "All current scientific evidence points away from the classic definition of creationism. So believing in creationism must be based on faith alone. It is not scientific, it is religious or philosophical. But everyone has the right to believe in something on religious or philosophical grounds just as long as we treat it as such (ie leave it out of the secular government and schools). But in the conversation scientists need to treat religion with respect and not talk down to it or we will lose the public debate."

And having a sense of humor about it couldn't hurt either. :)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: On creationism
(Anonymous)
2005-04-14 08:18 pm UTC (link)
Thanks, Aaron for bringing some balance to the debate. I think it's counter-productive to broad brush evangelical Christians with belittling statements. There are many Christians (and people of other faiths) who do not subscribe to the ideas of 'Creationism' while still believing in a Creator.

I really think that conservative Christians are doing damage by pushing the pseudo-science of Creationism.

I also believe it's wrong to dismiss the idea that a creator exists and had a hand in all of this. Belief in the chance that all the matter and energy in the Universe just existed without a creator is a fairly large leap of faith.

And you're right that sense of humour is vital.

Randy

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: On creationism
(Anonymous)
2006-03-28 03:26 pm UTC (link)
Drop it all.......Ask for comments on my [& no doubt others ]great disapointment that no otherworldly artifacts have yet been found on the far side of the moon......"professor" Carlton.......

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: On creationism
[info]suitti
2005-04-16 04:06 pm UTC (link)

As I recall, the ancient greek word, generally translated as "day" can also mean "era" or "time period". So, six of these could be a long time. My problem with Creationism, or even the more modern "Intelligent Design" version, is that it's inspired by really poor reasoning on top of a poor translation. Pointing out argument flaws typically goes nowhere. Fundamentalism often chooses a specific translation, for example, the King James, which while highly available (it's public domain), is harder to read properly. The evidence suggests that all this is deliberate. But perhaps this is just me seeing a conspiracy where there is none.

Even the Biblical record suggests that the Earth is older than 6,000 years. To say otherwise gives all of Christianity a bad name. It is quite offensive.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: On creationism
[info]hmoulding
2005-04-22 01:02 am UTC (link)
I'm unclear why you think that there's no evidence for intelligent design or creation. If you suppose that a superpowerful being is behind it all, then anything is possible. The universe could have been created last Thursday, with all the evidence for its earlier existence (including our memories and the light travelling to us from distant stars).

No, the reason why I have no truck with creationism or intelligent design is that they are both terribly uninteresting theories. Interesting theories attempt to explain the universe as we observe it. They are testable (as someone else pointed out). Creationism or intelligent design don't attempt to explain anything, and they certainly cannot be tested unless the creator decides to make a personal appearance.

So it has nothing to do with "absolute certainty and moral superiority." It's to do with what theory gets us somewhere. Creationism and intelligent design don't get us anywhere. Period.

As for treating religion with respect, eh. There is a psychological need to believe shit, sure, and we need to face up to that. People get excited and unreasonable when they're denied the opportunity to believe shit. Doesn't matter if it's astrology, trinitarian theology, or easterbunnies. People also have a psychological tendency to want to kill those who piss them off, and to be nasty to people who are different. Doesn't make any of that right. I think it's time for religion to treat a rational examination of the universe around us with respect. To the extent that most scientists have some kind of religious belief, I'd say that would be a reasonable compromise.

So there's this priest, this rabbi, and this physicist, all walking on a beautiful sunny day. As it happened, they're talking philosophy, and the subject of a deity comes up. "I gather you believe in God, Moshe," says the priest. "Yes, Pat, I do," the rabbi replies. They both turn to the physicist. "What about you, Werner?" "I don't believe in god," he says. "In fact, I'm pretty certain that such a being can't exist." At that a bolt of lightning comes out of the clear blue sky and turns the priest into a fryer. Both of the remaining men stand there for a moment. Then the physicist declares, "That doesn't matter. I still don't believe in any gods!" Another bolt splits the air. Then a voice comes from the sky, addressing the physicist who's now standing alone by the rabbi's smoking boots. "Dammit, Werner, you and your stupid Principle!"

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: On creationism
[info]808
2005-04-22 02:10 am UTC (link)
I think you missed the point of my statement. I said there is no scientific evidence which, by definition, means evidence that can be independently tested by a 3rd party. If you know of some, let me know. :) Also, my "moral superiority" statement was referring to how people are approaching this debate from both sides.


(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: On creationism
[info]hmoulding
2005-04-22 10:26 pm UTC (link)
I think you missed the point of my statement.


Maybe. But you may be missing the point of my comments. :-)

I said there is no scientific evidence which, by definition, means evidence that can be independently tested by a 3rd party. If you know of some, let me know. :)


Actually, you wrote, "believing in creationism must be based on faith alone." That's an assertion that a) isn't correct, and b) isn't the same as saying that there's no scientific evidence for it. The tricky part is, and one which you - and most other people debating this issue - gloss over is what constitutes scientific evidence for intelligent design or creation?

Also, my "moral superiority" statement was referring to how people are approaching this debate from both sides.


I gather then that you're not referring to scientists, but to the ordinary schmoes who get into the fray. Shrug. I think that you'll find that anytime you get up on a high horse, there'll be people around you looking for one that's at least as high. It's sorta unavoidable, and not really amenable to the sort of rational response you proposed.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
The BA is my hero!
[info]aiabx
2005-04-14 05:00 pm UTC (link)
I was talking to one of my neighbours a few years back and he brought up the subject of the moon hoax. I was confronted with "evidence", and of course, not having seen the show, I didn't have a good explanation for any of these bizarre claims. But thanks to the Bad Astronomer, I was able to go back the next day and explain the funny crosshairs and strange tricks of perspective on the moon. Since then, he and his kids have been over a few times to look at planets through my telescope, and I feel I have played a small part in bringing reason to the world. Thanks, Phil.

If I had known that AAVSO membership included hanging out with internet celebrities, I'd have found the money years ago.
-Andy B (BWX)

(Reply to this)

Wow.
[info]kebernet
2005-04-16 03:24 am UTC (link)
That was really great. Really. I posted about it over here, but the "Astronomy is a gateway drug" but was really really insightful.

You guys are impressing the hell out of me with every show, BTW. Keep up the good work.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Wow.
[info]808
2005-04-16 06:03 pm UTC (link)

That is rapidly becoming an SA motto. It originated a month ago in a grant I wrote to try and get funding for this show:

"Astronomy is a gateway to critical thinking and imagination. Through these podcasts we plan to expose the listener to concepts such as skepticism and wonder."

Pamela took it, slackerized it and apprently it has stuck! Personally, I like:

"Astronomy - it's a helluva drug."

With apologies to the late Rick James. If anyone can do a good Rick James impersonation of that line and send us an MP3 of it, we'll use it!

-aaron

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Wow.
(Anonymous)
2005-04-17 07:18 am UTC (link)
Astronomy - visual heroin.

-- Jim
Lost: Moon. Last seen in the care of John Koenig. Small reward offered if found.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Wow.
(Anonymous)
2005-04-18 02:18 am UTC (link)
I was thinking of the old Roxy Music song, "Love is a Drug." Too bad "astronomy" has more syllables that "Love." Perhaps someone can adapt that song?:)

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