What about the fact that the moon is moving away from us at the same rate that our fingernails grow? That’s scary. Because when the moon is far enough away that its gravity doesn’t exert a balancing effect (or even a braking effect, cause it’s ALSO slowing the earth’s spinning down) the earth is likely to go *flomp* and spin over onto its side so that the poles are at the equator.
Was wondering if that would spark a debate. I don’t think it’s even a contest; Blazing Saddles is just better than Spaceballs. Watched a few clips of Blazing Saddles last night and laughed my butt off. Spaceballs has one good joke: The opening shot with the starship that just keeps going on and on.
I dunno. Both movies make me pee a little. To this very day, I still chuckle every time I see hear or think of the word “Cuisanart”. I just find it easier to make spaceball themed references in my day to day life. There’s only so many times I can say things like “where the white women at”
My grandaughter is five, loves the Science Channel, usually watches a show a day. One day she watches a show on the sun and learns that the sun will eventually expand into a red giant and then envelope the earth.
Being five and not understanding the difference between 4 billion years and next Tuesday, she had nightmares because she though the sun was going to gobble up the earth any minute.
Strangely, telling her thant, “you shouldn’t worry honey, by the time that happens, you and everyone you know, in fact the entire human species, will be long dead,” didn’t help.
We should really find all the others who were deeply emotionally scarred like us and file a class action lawsuit against World Book Encyclopedia!
I mean, thanks to them telling me all life was destined to die when i was like seven I grew up wearing eyeliner and listening to depressing music!
I read this too and it fascinated me. I would think about it for hours and hours. I bought my son a set of these books specifically because of that story. But lo and behold the editors removed that entry. Sad!
Pfft, if you think that’s bad try to ponder WHAT YOU’RE STANDING ON. Take a moment, let it really soak in. The molten metal ocean endlessly churning under your feet. The fact that you’re sitting on a sphere that’s spinning through space, which is revolving around a star, which is hurtling around the galaxy, which is soaring across the universe, all at unimaginable speeds.
The sun will blow up eventually, but the earth is tumbling RIGHT NOW.
You’ve got a couple billion years before the sun goes kablooie, so you can enjoy Spaceballs *and* Blazing Saddles.
Do we have time to watch Men in Tights as well?
There will always be time for Men in Tights
Of course, given the transit time from Sun to Earth we could all be dead in another 8 to 10 minutes. It’d be briefly interesting.
The sun could have blown up seven minutes ago and we’d have no way of knowing. We could all be dead mere seconds from now.
Hypothetically speaking.
The Sun doesn’t worry me so much as the Earth itself. I don’t want to be around when the magnetic poles flip. We’re overdue.
What about the fact that the moon is moving away from us at the same rate that our fingernails grow? That’s scary. Because when the moon is far enough away that its gravity doesn’t exert a balancing effect (or even a braking effect, cause it’s ALSO slowing the earth’s spinning down) the earth is likely to go *flomp* and spin over onto its side so that the poles are at the equator.
Yep. Blazing Saddles > Spaceballs.
Let the debate begin.
Was wondering if that would spark a debate. I don’t think it’s even a contest; Blazing Saddles is just better than Spaceballs. Watched a few clips of Blazing Saddles last night and laughed my butt off. Spaceballs has one good joke: The opening shot with the starship that just keeps going on and on.
I dunno. Both movies make me pee a little. To this very day, I still chuckle every time I see hear or think of the word “Cuisanart”. I just find it easier to make spaceball themed references in my day to day life. There’s only so many times I can say things like “where the white women at”
Top marks for the Mel Brooks reference; he’s a comedy genius. In a Spaceballs vs Blazing Saddles competition, there is no loser. 🙂
Throw in Robin Hood: Men In Tights for a three way brawl!
Mel Brooks saves the day yet again! Personally I always thought “To Be or Not to Be” was hugely underrated. Brooks makes a damn good Hitler.
Young Frankenstein, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Blazing Saddles, Spaceballs…just get all Mel Brooks up in’ere.
My grandaughter is five, loves the Science Channel, usually watches a show a day. One day she watches a show on the sun and learns that the sun will eventually expand into a red giant and then envelope the earth.
Being five and not understanding the difference between 4 billion years and next Tuesday, she had nightmares because she though the sun was going to gobble up the earth any minute.
Strangely, telling her thant, “you shouldn’t worry honey, by the time that happens, you and everyone you know, in fact the entire human species, will be long dead,” didn’t help.
Not necessarily “everyone”…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9vrfEoc8_g
*there was a storyline way back [in a ‘What if?’, maybe] that Krypton was actually Earth and Kal-El was actually sent back in time.
Yeah, that was Red Son.
That happened to me when I was about her age and reading some Childcraft book about the eventual death of our sun. Did not sleep well for weeks.
We should really find all the others who were deeply emotionally scarred like us and file a class action lawsuit against World Book Encyclopedia!
I mean, thanks to them telling me all life was destined to die when i was like seven I grew up wearing eyeliner and listening to depressing music!
Hello,
I’m here to register as a victim of infantile mental disorder caused by solar themed education.
Where do I sign?
(I heard you have cookies?)
I read this too and it fascinated me. I would think about it for hours and hours. I bought my son a set of these books specifically because of that story. But lo and behold the editors removed that entry. Sad!
I’m with the guy who’d rather watch Blazing Saddles.
Pfft, if you think that’s bad try to ponder WHAT YOU’RE STANDING ON. Take a moment, let it really soak in. The molten metal ocean endlessly churning under your feet. The fact that you’re sitting on a sphere that’s spinning through space, which is revolving around a star, which is hurtling around the galaxy, which is soaring across the universe, all at unimaginable speeds.
The sun will blow up eventually, but the earth is tumbling RIGHT NOW.
Shut your mouth.