On this day in 1609, Galileo went before the Venetian Senate to present his telescope. Although he presented this as his own invention, he did get some inspiration from Dutch spectacle makers who, earlier had combined lenses to create…erm, well…. the telescope. (To be fair, Galileo’s telescope was an improvement on the original.) (And he rocked even harder and used it to change the world.)
Regardless, Galileo’s presentation to the Senate was very successful: he garnered a lifelong appointment to the University of Padua, and with his telescope he was able to see three moons of Jupiter, observe the phases of Venus, prove heliocentrism, and, well, you know, change the world. (Rocking harder, like I said.)
On this day in 2008 I’m on my way across the country, stopping first in Boulder, and then on to Dragon*Con on Thursday. I will rock as hard as I can, but I’m not promising anything world changing.
Oh, I’m bringing 2009 Skepchick and Skepdude Calendars to D*C, don’t you know, and they’ll be for sale through out the weekend. If you want to have them signed, this is the last chance this year. Ben Radford, D.J. Grothe, Richard Saunders, Alison Smith, and my own self will be there with Sharpies. Same pricing as ever: $20 for one, $35 for two.
One more thing: so many people have asked me when the 2010 applications will be up. Although it is not yet even 2009, if you’re ready, I’m ready. Click here if you’re interested in applying, and be on your merry way!
Your apply link doesn’t work!
To be fair, Galileo’s telescope would have probably merited some patents in his day. I wouldn’t say that the Very Large Telescope is devoid of novel inventions compared to the original telescope from hundreds of years ago. :D
Hmmm…I see.
sethmanapio Thanks! Fixed now.
Yoo I totally agree. I was being a little snarky. I’m going to blame the very late hour I was drafting this post.
When will you be in Boulder? Want to have drinks or something?
To be fair (yet again), I was being snarky, too. ;) (“Pedantic” might be a better way to put it …)
Writerdd,
I was looking for monster sunday and it wasn’t there. I was crushed just crushed. Please resurect monster sunday from the dead.
I am planning to restart Monster Sundays next week. I even have something really cool (I think) for the first post.
Hurray for Writterdd. I so look forward to it.
One more chance to not get my calendars signed… such is life, I suppose. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to you before you left, I got kidnapped again last night… for some reason, people are making a big deal out of this birthday. Like I haven’t had one every year around this time for several years now, right?