new conferences?

[Ralph Turner]

This "new planets debate" actually goes back to 1930 when the National Cosmological and Astronomical Association admitted Pluto as the ninth planet.

Over the next few decades, the National Cosmological Accreditation Commission began to object to Pluto's behavior.  They cited the fact that Pluto's orbit was elliptical, which sometimes brought the planet inside Neptune's orbit.  To you football fans, this is an infraction that is worse than "red-shirting".  Basically, the NCAC is trying to restrict the definition of a planet to such criteria that effectively places a moratorium on admitting new planets to the Planetoid Division of the NCAA.  

The opposite side of the argument comes from those astronomical bodies that are in the Kuiper Belt, and a few major asteroids between Mars and Jupiter.  These have been identified by the National Astronomical Investigative Association.  The current debate has been prompted by the desire to call 2003 UB313 a planet.  2003 UB313, affectionately known as Xena, has stronger criteria to be defined as a planet in the NCAA than Pluto.  Xena has a bigger, rounder shape than Pluto and has more gravity and a really neat orbit.

I guess that the real issue is emotional.  If the NCAA lets in bodies such as Xena, then the NCAA just won't be the same as what the NCAC and other factions would like it to be. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Is there a way somehow for Pat to add like 50 karma points for that one?  Just an absolutely ingenious, incredible waste of time, yet totally entertaining.

[Pat Coleman]

I went +10 on it.

[Pat Coleman]

Because I really appreciate a good satire.

[diehardfan]

Haha... this is why we love you Greg.

Venus and Mars are alreadly travelling partners... there's a book about it.   I guess that leaves Earth with Mercury.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Haha... this is why we love you Greg.

Is there some awesome post farther back that I missed or are you giving Ralph's credit to Sager? (Not that I would ever mix anyone up on here).

[Ralph Turner]

Haha... this is why we love you Greg.

Venus and Mars are alreadly travelling partners... there's a book about it.   I guess that leaves Earth with Mercury.

Actually, diehardfan's innocent eyes probably should not read any further, but the classic little diddy from the Renaissance went...

"A nighttime with Venus, a lifetime with Mercury."

[Ralph Turner]

Thanks for the karma, Pat!

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

the classic little diddy from the Renaissance

And he knows, he was there.

[diehardfan]

Haha... this is why we love you Greg.

Venus and Mars are alreadly travelling partners... there's a book about it.   I guess that leaves Earth with Mercury.

Actually, diehardfan's innocent eyes probably should not read any further, but the classic little diddy from the Renaissance went...

"A nighttime with Venus, a lifetime with Mercury."

Actually, I've totally been blinded by my occasional peak at the LLPU board. 

I'm not sure if I understand this quote... cause Venus was female, and mercury was m... oh wow... 

[Warren Thompson]

As a physician who knows his medical history, Ralph is merely pointing out that mercury was at one time accepted as a curative for ... er, um ... what one might refer to as a "social disease" transmitted by close --very, very close -- socializing with the "wrong" sort of people, usually, though not always, of the opposite gender.

[diehardfan]

Considering that we're talking about an element that's under tight restrictions due to birth defects and other craziness... that's really... sad. 

Very, very, close socializing... lol... what a great phrase. 

[Warren Thompson]

Very, very, close socializing... lol... what a great phrase. 

Well, that was the nicest way I could put it .... 

[frank uible]

The Brits claimed the Frogs had it, and the Frogs claimed the Brits had it. Kind of like the OAC and the NCAC.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Brits claimed the Frogs had it, and the Frogs claimed the Brits had it. Kind of like the OAC and the NCAC.

While the Brits called it the "French disease", I believe the French called it the "Italian disease" (and, if I recall correctly, the Germans called it the "Slavik disease").  Who gets blamed for which maladies could be quite a history lesson on international relations at various times!