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  • THURSDAY AUGUST 24 2006 1:30 PM

Pluto Kicked Out of Planetary Clubhouse

As if a million nerds cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced, astronomers meeting in Prague this week voted to reclassify Pluto -- formerly our solar system's ninth planet -- as a "dwarf planet," removing Pluto from the already-exclusive Group of Nine Planets.

The decision by the prestigious international group spells out the basic tests that celestial objects will have to meet before they can be considered for admission to the elite cosmic club.

For now, membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Much-maligned Pluto -- named for the God of the underworld -- doesn't make the grade under the new rules for a planet: "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."

Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.

The astronomers anticipated the inevitable nerd backlash, and attempted to head off any d20 riots with some crazy talk.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell -- a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings in Prague -- urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side.

"It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called 'planet' under which the dwarf planets exist," she said, drawing laughter by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella. Later, she hugged the doll as she stood at the dais.

After affirming that Pluto was no longer a planet, the astronomers re-affirmed that Mickey was still a mouse. The meeting was adjourned before debate could begin on the appropriate classification for Goofy.

 

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Comments
ThisIsWhoWeAre

ThisIsWhoWeAre

Oakland, CA
July 2004

AUG 24, 2006 01:34 PM

What the hell IS Goofy anyway?

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

AUG 24, 2006 01:37 PM

The Whisperers in the Darkness will not be amused.

MschfMayhemSoap

MschfMayhemSoap

Phoenix, AZ
April 2006

AUG 24, 2006 01:37 PM

ThisIsWhoWeAre said:
What the hell IS Goofy anyway?



An unholy Alliance, envisioned by Walt Disney, of Dog and Jew... tongue

J24U

J24U

Danvers, MA
February 2006

AUG 24, 2006 01:37 PM

WilWheaton said:
The meeting was adjourned before debate could begin on the appropriate classification for Goofy.



This made the entire story. Thank you.
biggrin

turin

turin

Denver, CO
October 2003

AUG 24, 2006 01:38 PM

weak.

Dead_Ringer

Dead_Ringer

I'm lost
September 2004

AUG 24, 2006 01:38 PM

J24U

J24U

Danvers, MA
February 2006

AUG 24, 2006 01:39 PM

Subrosa said:
The Whisperers in the Darkness will not be amused.



Burzum

Burzum

San Juan Capistrano, CA
July 2004

AUG 24, 2006 01:45 PM

I think nerds will be happy about this, actually. We're now getting several "new" planets that are in the same classification as Pluto, but only 8 of our already established planets will be "real" planets.

Oh yeah, and Goofy is a dog.

13Jack

13Jack

USA
September 2004

AUG 24, 2006 01:53 PM

Goofy is a horse.

PatrickY

PatrickY

Vancouver, WA
December 2003

AUG 24, 2006 01:54 PM

Burzum said:
Oh yeah, and Goofy is a dog.



Which makes me wonder if Goofy ever feels uncomfortable around Pluto. I mean, when the whole gang gets together, are there awkward moments when Donald and Mickey discreetly refuse to meet Goofy's eyes while Pluto humps legs, chases his tail, or eats a bunch of grass and horks up something steaming on the lawn?

When Pluto shits on the floor, does Goofy turn away, a single tear in his eye?

When Pluto begs for a treat, does Goofy rage against the welfare state?

I mean, Christ, can you imagine? It would be like Flowers for Algernon, except instead of imagining your retarded self is lurking in the depths of your subconscious, he's actually sitting there on the couch next to you, licking his ballsack.

8stars

8stars

Portland, OR
January 2005

AUG 24, 2006 02:00 PM

screw them, planet pluto will always exist as far as i'm concerned. the only thing that matters is our own perception of reality and faith of truth. i believe pluto's a planet just as much as i believe it's up there in the first place... even though i've actually never seen it or been there myself.

Horrorflick

Horrorflick

Detroit, MI
February 2003

AUG 24, 2006 02:01 PM

Yeah, the fungi are gonna be pissed. Yuggoth is no longer a planet! (I wonder if they're still going to mine that ore the cylinders are made of.)

Bastardo

Bastardo

Boston, MA
January 2005

AUG 24, 2006 02:04 PM

Subrosa said:
The Whisperers in the Darkness will not be amused.



Dark City, right?

ApostropheNow

ApostropheNow

Skull Valley, AZ
April 2004

AUG 24, 2006 02:05 PM

As a nerd, I feel confused and betrayed.

Subrosa

Subrosa

San Francisco, CA
July 2004

AUG 24, 2006 02:07 PM

The_Bastard said:

Subrosa said:
The Whisperers in the Darkness will not be amused.



Dark City, right?



Lovecraft.

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