# Very Big Things happening to our Bad Astronomer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926 "2008-07-01T17:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/1 "2008-07-01T17:24:58Z")
Many of you may remember when Phil Plait used to post here as The Bad Astronomer. Many of you may follow his blog. I had the honor of meeting him at The Amaz!ng Meeting 6 last weekend and I gotta tell you, the man is pure, distilled awesome. Today, against all odds, he has just gotten that much more awesome. [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/) His blog is on Discover Magazine’s website! Everyone go there right now! And then go to Facebook and friend him. (ps: I told him that the boards are back to free posting, so maybe he’ll come back. He’s a totally busy man tho, what with his new book _[Death From The Sies!](http://www.amazon.com/Death-Skies-These-Ways-World/dp/0670019976)_, his blog, and his general being awesome, so who knows) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/2 "2008-07-01T17:47:53Z")
There’s an article about him in this month’s Geek magazine as well. I was gonna post about it, but figured everyone here would have already seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/3 "2008-07-01T17:53:58Z")
[QUOTE=Little Bird] [http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/) [/QUOTE] Your link leads to this text: Blogs Registration has been disabled. A search for badastronomy only gives a tip to visit his own website… ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/4 "2008-07-01T18:09:17Z")
It works fine for me… (But what about that free posting thing, I thought that was one of those things perpetually two months away? I don’t suppose I get a refund?) ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/5 "2008-07-01T18:10:19Z")
It was up briefly earlier today, but now the URL goes to his old blog site. I think they’re still working out the technical stuff. ETA: for a while the [badastronomy.com](http://badastronomy.com) URL was re-directed to the Discover site, but now it isn’t (?) I hope they’ll still let him post about anything and everything (Doctor Who, religion vs. science, pareidolia, etc.) on the Discover site, and won’t insist he stick to astronomy. I doubt he would have agreed otherwise, but you never know. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/6 "2008-07-01T18:52:19Z")
I love the Bad Astronomer! I had no idea he was a Doper, although it comes as no surprise really. The Straight Dope and Bad Astronomy are both in the business of fighting ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/7 "2008-07-01T19:03:51Z")
[QUOTE=Half Man Half Wit] It works fine for me… (But what about that free posting thing, I thought that was one of those things perpetually two months away? I don’t suppose I get a refund?) [/QUOTE] You can now post for free, with lots of ads on the site, or you can pay, and be limited only to the small Google ads at the bottom of each thread. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/8 "2008-07-01T20:45:45Z")
[QUOTE=Speaker for the Dead] You can now post for free, with lots of ads on the site, or you can pay, and be limited only to the small Google ads at the bottom of each thread. [/QUOTE] Wait, free posting started? When? There’s nothing about it in ATMB and there are still tons of guests running around. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/9 "2008-07-01T20:55:27Z")
Guests are the ones who get all the ads. If they decide to pay to just get the Google ads, they’ll become members. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/10 "2008-07-02T00:30:04Z")
Somebody invite the guy home. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/11 "2008-07-02T02:41:31Z")
OK, enough talking about posting whatzits, more talking about Phil being awesome! I checked the blog and it’s up and working, even the RSS is working. [QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] Somebody invite the guy home. [/QUOTE] I already did! In _person_! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/12 "2008-07-02T02:47:12Z")
Oh, how much awesomeness is THIS?!? I didn’t know he was a Doper! I love that site, and recommend it to my friends and students often. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/13 "2008-07-02T06:15:16Z")
You all might also want to check out his specials on [hulu](http://www.hulu.com/bad-astronomy). ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/14 "2008-07-02T06:44:12Z")
I paid in April after finding I couldn’t post, and I don’t even have the Google ads. Could Ad Block Plus in Firefox be responsible? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/15 "2008-07-02T12:37:39Z")
[QUOTE=Cardinal] I paid in April after finding I couldn’t post, and I don’t even have the Google ads. Could Ad Block Plus in Firefox be responsible? [/QUOTE] That does kill the Google ads. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/16 "2008-08-04T15:02:52Z")
Phil Plait has just been made [President of the JREF](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/08/04/randis-big-shoes-to-phil/). Wowsers! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/17 "2008-08-04T15:47:20Z")
[QUOTE=GuanoLad] Phil Plait has just been made [President of the JREF](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/08/04/randis-big-shoes-to-phil/). Wowsers! [/QUOTE] Wow! If he’s still reading the site, big congrats to him! ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/18 "2008-08-04T16:43:18Z")
That’s very cool. I used to harbor some small worries about who would carry on the mission after Randi either retired or expired. No more. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/19 "2008-08-04T17:07:00Z")
Wow! Very cool indeed. Congratulations, Mr. Plait. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926/20 "2008-08-04T17:21:26Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] Wait, free posting started? When? There’s nothing about it in ATMB and there are still tons of guests running around. 😕 [/QUOTE] Yes, cite please, someone? -FrL- [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/very-big-things-happening-to-our-bad-astronomer/454926.md?page=2)