Bad Astronomy

Around the Weird Wide Web

I’ve been getting a spate of emails lately with links to other sites of interest, so I thought a link dump might be in order.

First, a real science site: ReducedMass is a new science blog that the author described to me as a Gizmodo for science, and I’d agree. it’s not snarky, but it is funny and cute.

Second, a marginally sciencey page on Religious Tolerance that lists many end-of-the-world predictions that have failed to come to pass, from 30CE to 1990. They could easily double the length of the list by bringing it up to 2008. The thing about EotW predictions is, they will all be wrong… until one isn’t.

The third is, well, I think someone who is saying that NASA is lying and planets are hollow and they all have life, based on a Hindu religious text. I don’t care what your religion is, if your holy book contradicts everything we know about reality, I pick reality.

The fourth is a video from some guy who is claiming… wait for it… Columbia was shot down by aliens! What is it about reality and evidence some people find so alarming? Not that you’ll make it through the first vid, but here’s a link to Part II as well. I accept no responsibility for melted brains.

Fifth, an Indian skeptic challenged a practitioner of black magic to kill him using his powers (Randi mentioned this as well in his weekly newsletter). Needless to say, reality won yet again. That reality! You just can’t wish it away!

Sixth, Senators Sam Brownback (R-Middle Ages) and Joe Lieberman (XXOO-McCain) want the U.S. Senate to take off from such ridiculous time-wasting things as government oversight and the tanking economy to recognize “the importance the Ten Commandments have in our nation”, because, I assume, we are all totally worshipping false idols. And of course no one in the Senate would steal, or lie, or covet their neighbor’s ass. I guess there are already enough asses in the Senate.

I think that’s it for now. Read those sites and enjoy or experience schadenfreude to your heart’s content.

Tip o’ the tin foil beanie to all the BABloggees who are obviously trying to get me to lose weight due to an upset stomach.