We next defined 3 categories, which we called, somewhat loosely, animal, vegetable, and mineral. Mineral was intended to include geology, paleontology, cosmology, and anything that was not biology. Fossils are minerals, and so are stars. Bacteria (you should forgive us) are vegetables, partly because they are not animals and partly because they were vegetables when I was in high school.
Sorry if it seems a little odd, but we thought that astronomy or cosmology should be legitimate categories and had nowhere else to put them. "Mineral" seemed nicer than "non-biology"; who wants to be defined by what he is not?
Flint · 12 August 2009
Hopefully, we all understand that we can't see the center of the galaxy from here. The plane of the galaxy is filled with dust, and we're in the plane. If we were to take this picture from perhaps 10,000 light years above the plane, we'd get a better view.
As it is, it's a nice picture of dust clouds taken with the camera pointed in the direction of the center of the galaxy.
Wheels · 12 August 2009
Matt Young said:
"Mineral" seemed nicer than "non-biology"; who wants to be defined by what he is not?
Oooo, oooo, I know! *raises hand*
Henry J · 12 August 2009
Sorry if it seems a little odd, but we thought that astronomy or cosmology should be legitimate categories and had nowhere else to put them. “Mineral” seemed nicer than “non-biology”;
Considering that most of the universe is vacuum, and most of the rest is occupied by gas or plasma, calling pictures of those "mineral" does indeed seem odd!
Henry
Stuart Weinstein · 12 August 2009
Center of the Galaxy eh?
Funny. I don't see no black hole.
John Kwok · 13 August 2009
This has my vote in the "Minerals" category.
Henry J · 13 August 2009
The plane of the galaxy is filled with dust, and we’re in the plane.
If space is a vacuum, how come it hasn't vacuumed up all that dust already?
Henry J · 13 August 2009
Funny. I don’t see no black hole.
What, you can't see black against a black background? Huh. :D
Mike Elzinga · 13 August 2009
Henry J said:
The plane of the galaxy is filled with dust, and we’re in the plane.
If space is a vacuum, how come it hasn't vacuumed up all that dust already?
Because, as a vacuum clearner, it really sucks. (Isn't English great?)
fnxtr · 13 August 2009
Nice drive-by from The Sphinx, there. He's terribly mysterious. :-)
fnxtr · 13 August 2009
truthspeaker said:
Is this really supposed to be in the "Minerals" category?
Are you suggesting space is a vegetable?
Kevin B · 13 August 2009
fnxtr said:
truthspeaker said:
Is this really supposed to be in the "Minerals" category?
Are you suggesting space is a vegetable?
Do the "conscious universe" people think it's an animal? Or is that just the "final front ear" LOT?
Kevin B · 13 August 2009
How many of the British contingent here looked at the photograph and thought of a piece of music by Sibelius? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZF4qyOPrcU
And if it comes to that, who else thinks that "Dr Evolution" looks as if he's about to be interrogated by Magnus Magnusson?
15 Comments
truthspeaker · 12 August 2009
Is this really supposed to be in the "Minerals" category?
Henry J · 12 August 2009
With only three categories to pick from, there's not much other choice. (i.e., it isn't animal or vegetable.)
Now maybe if the Pisces constellation was in the picture they could call it animal? Or maybe not... :p
Matt Young · 12 August 2009
Flint · 12 August 2009
Hopefully, we all understand that we can't see the center of the galaxy from here. The plane of the galaxy is filled with dust, and we're in the plane. If we were to take this picture from perhaps 10,000 light years above the plane, we'd get a better view.
As it is, it's a nice picture of dust clouds taken with the camera pointed in the direction of the center of the galaxy.
Wheels · 12 August 2009
Henry J · 12 August 2009
Stuart Weinstein · 12 August 2009
Center of the Galaxy eh?
Funny. I don't see no black hole.
John Kwok · 13 August 2009
This has my vote in the "Minerals" category.
Henry J · 13 August 2009
Henry J · 13 August 2009
Mike Elzinga · 13 August 2009
fnxtr · 13 August 2009
Nice drive-by from The Sphinx, there. He's terribly mysterious. :-)
fnxtr · 13 August 2009
Kevin B · 13 August 2009
Kevin B · 13 August 2009
How many of the British contingent here looked at the photograph and thought of a piece of music by Sibelius? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZF4qyOPrcU
And if it comes to that, who else thinks that "Dr Evolution" looks as if he's about to be interrogated by Magnus Magnusson?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZZc4zA7Lsg