Poor Little Guy Got Dumped.

While not marketing related, it is historical. I even let out a girly "aawww" when I caught the newscast. Our galaxy is now 8 planets, no longer 9. It's not that Pluto doesn't exist anymore, it's just no longer classified as a planet. It's been demoted to 'dwarf planet'. So size matters in the milky way, too.

Some scientists are taking this pretty hard. I understand that the decision triggered factions and combative debates (I would have loved to have been a fly on that wall). Kids have cried "it isn't fair". To my knowledge, Disney has no official comment.

Not sure how this affects my daily horoscope. Bad enough the divorce rate is so high on earth, now we're dumping long-term planets. Pluto, you'll always be my 9th planet.

UPDATE (8/30): Worth checking out is Vaspers' "Ode to Pluto" post. Especially the videocast where he channels Pluto and sets Earthlings straight. I'm especially keen on how he explains we humans' need for control (there are more than just 9 planets in our galaxy, we just found more than that number to be, well, unruly). Good, shocking stuff! You owe it to Pluto to tune in.

Comments

[vaspers the grate]

I suspect that the astronomy textbook publishers had no breakthroughs lately, so had to manufacture a reason for schools to update their curriculum material.

OR: the scientists who didn't get to participate in the space probe to Pluto have decided, via sour grapes syndrome, that it's "no big deal, it's not even a planet, really..."???

Why aren't more people questioning and challenging this? It is not unanimous. Bloggers will uncover the politics and irrational motivations behind this outrage.

Just another woe to drive people to pills and booze and television talent shows.

Who are these scientists to judge Pluto "not a planet" just because it's small? The little, small schoolchildren should riot and protest and stage hunger strikes or Harry Potter boycotts.

I am visibly shaken by the cosmos being flippantly re-arranged above my head. I like those methane ice cliffs.

[CK]

I'm taken back by it as well. Pluto was part of the family. Now it's the red-headed stepchild. I guess we needed to feel we rule the heavens (?). Yep, it's a power-play againt Pluto.

But watch, Pluto will get even more love now.

[vaspers the grate]

The astrologers, are they debunked, or revised, or mutinying?

[vaspers the grate aka Pluto the Planet]

Thanks for the link and the compliments. Aw shucks.