Pluto celebrates anniversary

Washington Times ^ | Monday, February 14, 2005

[JohnHuang2]

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — It's been 75 years since the discovery of the planet Pluto, but it remains a mystery. Perhaps in 10 more years, when a space probe gets close enough for a good look, some of its secrets will be revealed. Pluto was heralded as the ninth planet in the solar system when it was spotted Feb. 18, 1930, by Clyde Tombaugh, a young amateur astronomer at Lowell Observatory. It still holds that title — planet — today, if somewhat tenuously. "It's a misbehaved planet, if you want to think about it as a planet," said Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of New York's Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. Mr. Tyson provocatively removed Pluto from his exhibit of planets five years ago, lumping it instead with a belt of comets at the edge of the solar system.

[NaughtiusMaximus]

There are a million good reasons to stay the hell away from Flagstaff, AZ. Unrestricted development of stripmalls has polluted the skys to the point where astronomy here is really lousy (unlike Lowell's and Tombaugh's time.) A 15% "bed, board, and booze" tax skewers tourists. Local prices are comparable to Washington D.C. Panhandlers abound, especially in sumer, and use doorways and building entrances as public restrooms (watch your step). There are lots of bikepaths, which the locals refer to as wino freeways. Stay off them at night or you stnd a good chance of "loosing your lycra." Forest service controlled burns fill up the plce with dark brown smoke for a couple of weeks every year. Smoking is forbidden most places (to protect the vacationing street people from sidestrem smoke as they "do their business" in shop doors).

You'll see dozens of Kerry Stickers as the town is heavily DemonRat. Chains and franchises have pushed out most of the mom and pop restaurants and bars which used to give the place some character. Two of my friends died in the same bed in the local hospital of "undiagnosable" septicemic infections. Aother went 4 days without a shower or spongebath because "he was on the fourth floor." (Your guess is as good as mine on this.)

With luck, you'll arrive in time to watch the local lesbians conduct a "take back the night parade." This will give you a good impression of what a Nazi rally in Munich might have looked like if the Nazi's had been overweight, ugly, rattily dressed, Birkenstock sporting, female professors. In a few months, the Amtrack won't stop here anymore so there goes the rest of the nightlife. The countryside is beautiful but the developments are pretty much sucking up the public access. I saw a bumper sticker the other day which read "Have you been rude to a tourist today?"

And that about sums up the town. Oh, and no Super Walmart, because of a big box ordinance to "preserve the character of the town and protect small business." The small businesses vanished about 15 years ago when he stripmalls spread along the freeway. They don't like Republicans either and that goes for you and especially me.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

I got a question: If Pluto and Goofy were both dogs then how come Pluto couldn't talk? Oh, Pluto the planet! Never mind! :-)

[mollynme]

Here he is at an earlier celebration.

[Maceman]

[Safetgiver]

"he was on the fourth floor." (Your guess is as good as mine on this.)
Patients used to be, maybe still are, ranked by severity of their illness and chances of living. Fire evacuation order: first floor, second floor, third floor and then, if the building wasn't down by then push the beds, wheelchairs etc. of the top floor.