Geez, it looks like our traffic stats are really taking a beating lately, so I am compelled to assume that this has something to do with the whole Pluto thing.
I mean this isn't too much of a stretch is it? Well, o.k. maybe it is.
Actually, the day it was announced, I ended up hanging out and going for drinks with a group of bioinformaticians and one science philosopher. To be honest, it didn't seem to be a big deal to any of them, which I found really surprising. In fact, one of my conversations that day (thursday I think) went like the following:
ME: Dammit, Pluto is no longer a planet!
BIOINFORMATICIAN: Really? That's cool!
ME: Cool? It's not cool! It's horrible! (and so on).
Furthermore, the science philosopher also seem rather non-chalant about it, and even went into describing how some of his philosophy colleagues, the ones who specialize in the philosophy of "naming things," would be having a field day in the office. All of which was rather academic and not indicative of any remorse what-so-ever. (Although who even knew that there was this whole field of Philosophy of Language)
I suppose that even though I knew Pluto was an effect of culture, I still thought sentimentality would count for at least something. At least I can still find comfort in knowing that there are definitely two other folks who are probably not too pleased about this predicament either - these two folk being Venetia Phair and Michael Brown.
Venetia, whom I'm not even entirely sure is alive right now, would also, I'll warrant, be a bit pensive. I mean, it was she, who as a child of eleven, first suggested the name Pluto.
And Dr. Brown, of course, is the fellow who found Xena, the putative 10th planet, which ironically set this whole thing in motion. That is, the "need" for a definitive in the word "planet." I know I would be most upset if I were him, not necessarily for the loss of Pluto, but rather the fact that he so narrowly missed what I would call an immortal moment - whereby Xena (or whatever folks decided to call it) as well as his name, would have become part of iconic lexicon. I mean, how cool would that have been? And how devastating would it be for it not to pan out?
Anyway, Dr. Brown once wisely suggested a small but notable societal nuance should Pluto lose out. This being the idea that the yearning to discover new planets (for the amateur astonomist and the common layman) would be lost with such empirical definitions. And I think he's right - why would anyone be impassioned to look for planet IX (as it were) or planet X, with such challenging and essentially impossible criteria?
Which is to say, that all in all, the reason for this post is to simply say "Ms. Phair, and Dr. Brown, I feel for you." And for now, the only small thing I can do is lay a subtle tribute to this sorrowful event at the Science Creative Quarterly. I hope, Ms. Phair, that you're o.k. with the picture - it was the only one I could find.
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The slow web traffic? Just blame it on how many of us are languishing in our inability to solve Puzzle Fanastica #1...
As for Pluto, maybe it is a demographic thing. As a kid, reading a biography of Clyde Tombaugh and his search for Planet X was very inspiring. I will always think of Pluto as a very special planet indeed.
In fact, as you can tell by my moniker, I live in Southern California, and I just visited Disneyland. I greeted the character Pluto by exclaiming that I still thought Pluto was a planet. This definitely cheered him up and he extended his paw out for a high five.
You should know that a press release was issued a few days ago (found via www.mouseplanet.com), as excerpted below:
Despite Planetary Downgrade, Pluto Is Still Disney's "Dog Star"
BURBANK, CALIF (Thursday, August 24, 2006) -- In reaction to news today that Pluto was demoted to the status of "dwarf planet," the Seven Dwarfs issued their own short statement:
"Although we think it's DOPEY that Pluto has been downgraded to a dwarf planet, which has made some people GRUMPY and others just SLEEPY, we are not BASHFUL in saying we would be HAPPY if Disney's Pluto would join us as an 8th dwarf. We think this is just what the DOC ordered and is nothing to SNEEZE at."
As Mickey Mouse's faithful companion, Pluto made his debut in 1930?the same year that scientists discovered what they believed was a ninth planet.
i blame kodos.
Well, speaking as representative of the class of people who like science but who are not learned (the 2-syllable 'learned'), I do have a theory other than Pluto:
People can't understand what you write. It's dense and obscure, or alternatively, perhaps I'm dense. But, for instance, I can't really make heads or tails out of "Spirit v. Matter." Or the Psyche Strainer.
It looks like you have great fun writing. But if you want more traffic, you might consider dialling down the complexity so that the less sophisticated folks don't feel like we're reading a textbook replete with inside jokes and mysterious references, as opposed to something entertaining or easily illuminating.
If I sound critical, it's only because I've been frustrated...looking at your home page, grimly trying to comprehend post after post, questioning my IQ, and wondering whether the site is unnecessarily obscure, or simply beyond my grasp.
Ouch! Double ouch as a science communicator type... But point taken... Although I must admit, the Pluto angle was lighter on my stomach.