books ordered

[The Bad Astronomer]

Well, it's official for me at least: I ordered 40 copies of my book, and had them sent directly to the hotel. So I have to go to the meeting. Now all I need to do is find 40 suckers^h^h^h^h discerning individuals to buy them at the meeting.

[Girl 6]

Um, I don't think that's going to be enough... ;)

[renata]

<==========Sucker :D

[Doubt]

Lets see here.

If I don’t buy the book, then I am not a sucker.
If I do buy the book, then I am a sucker.

But since I am a skeptic, I would have to prove to myself that I am a sucker. So the only way to prove it one way or the other is to read the book. So that means that I have to buy the book to find out if I am a sucker or not.

If I don’t get the book and read it, then I may be a sucker. It may be a good book and I would be a sucker for being ignorant of it just to avoid finding out if I really am sucker or not.

If I buy the book to prove to myself that I am not a sucker, then I may be a sucker for trying to prove to myself that I am not a sucker when I really am one.

I could hedge my bets. If I buy two copies of the book and only read one of them then I cannot be a sucker because I did not read “that” book. I also could not be a sucker because I did read the other copy of the same book.

So the only way to not be a sucker is to buy two copies of the book. Maybe you should have ordered more books BA?

:D

( All……Or at least most fallacies in this post are intentional.)

[The Bad Astronomer]

Originally posted by Girl 6
Um, I don't think that's going to be enough... ;)

In my case, it's better to run out than be stuck with extra copies. If I run out, people can order them online. :-)

[CFLarsen]

Phil,

Are you going to correct the mistake about how the yolk in the egg stays centered? :)

I showed your book to Mogens Winther, of Randi/Swift fame, Danish Skeptic Supreme, and the only high school teacher in the Kingdom of Denmark to teach a class in astronomy. His students have won many awards, and they have a simply awesome collection of space images (http://www.amtsgym-sdbg.dk/as/gallery.htm) from their very own telescope.

He loved your book. I am pounding him to get his sorry butt to TAM2... Perhaps an email from you to Mogens (MW@posthus.amtsgym-sdbg.dk) would get him to sign up...? :)

[exarch]

I'm hoping to buy a few books at TAM2.

(I was born one minute after Renata :D)

[kittynh]

I bought 2 copies of this book.

I gave one to my kids school, and everyone loves it. This makes a great gift for an older child, or a school library.

I'll probably have to buy another copy for my brother. ]

Of course, we are all waiting for VolII "How to Tell Uranus From a BLack Hole" (I just love that title....)

[TruthSeeker]

Hey Phil,

George Noorey (sp?) and a caller on Coast to Coast were saying good things about you the other night. The caller called you the best guest he'd ever heard.

Thought I'd pass it on.

I won't be at TAM2, but I will be getting your book.

[The Bad Astronomer]

Before being on that show, I figured the audience for C2C was all of the woowoo persuasion. I quickly learned that that is not true; many listen for entertainment, others as skeptics to find out what "the other side" is saying (I listen for that reason), and still others for when "legitimate" guests are on.

So that's cool about the call! I really like doing the show, and I figure there are still hundreds of thousands if not millions of non-skeptics out here listening who could use a dose of reality. :D

Do you remember what the topic for the night was? Just curious.

[TruthSeeker]

I agree. I listen partly for entertainment and partly to keep up with the woo-woos.

It was open lines but with a focus on ghost stories. This guy called to say basically enough with the woo-woo, more about "real" stuff like astronomy. The host encouraged him to call back on Friday night. Not sure why.

[The Bad Astronomer]

Friday night is open line night. They can talk about whatever they want. It sounds like that guy was bucking the ghost topic.

[TruthSeeker]

You're absolutely right...the caller started the discussion by asking whether G.N. really believes all that stuff. There was the most delicious hemming and hawing as George came up with his "regardless of what I believe, everyone has the right to express themselves" The caller then went on to sing your praises.

I get the days of the show mixed up as we get a rebroadcast. Fridays show airs on Mondays.

Since I've completely highjacked this thread, have you heard that George is going to undergo a time travel test? I'm looking forward to hearing about that.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Originally posted by The Bad Astronomer
Before being on that show, I figured the audience for C2C was all of the woowoo persuasion. I quickly learned that that is not true; many listen for entertainment, others as skeptics to find out what "the other side" is saying (I listen for that reason), and still others for when "legitimate" guests are on.

So that's cool about the call! I really like doing the show, and I figure there are still hundreds of thousands if not millions of non-skeptics out here listening who could use a dose of reality. :D

Do you remember what the topic for the night was? Just curious.

I've been a Coast to Coast addict for years. I roll my eyes so much I get headaches, but it's the best radio on from midnight to 5am CT.

[The Bad Astronomer]

Originally posted by TruthSeeker
have you heard that George is going to undergo a time travel test? I'm looking forward to hearing about that.

That's odd. I'm looking backward to it.

[TruthSeeker]

Originally posted by The Bad Astronomer


That's odd. I'm looking backward to it.


:D :D :D

One of the funniest things I've heard in ages on the show was the discussion of "where" in time he should go.

There was concern that he might change history and the present (a la "Back to the Future"). Another concern was that he'd be stuck wherever he went, so he shouldn't go to far back or forward. Should he relive a great moment in his life or in history? etc. etc.

It was great.