It’s exponentially worse than that. Latest work indicates that there is something like 2 trillion [sic] galaxies in the observable universe. That leads to the calculation that there are far more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on the Planet Earth. Let THAT sink in… https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/hubble-reveals-observable-universe-contains-10-times-more-galaxies-than-previously-thought
“Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow Sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly 90 Million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea!”
I’ve never seen this universal perspective thing as a reason for sadness. Why would you want to be important on such a large scale? And after all, ultimately you’re in the same boat as every other individual, known to you, or hypothetically “out there somewhere”.
Our one small planet is not in such an insignificant solar system. After all, the one planet in this solar system is the only place in the universe where life is known to exist. Whatever anyone believes about life elsewhere, as of now Earth is unique.
Way to go Bob, maybe he had a broken child hood, and this award is his only measure of success as a person, and of course Rat needs a filter sometimes before he speaks. To be or not to be, that is the question? A lot of great comments on this strip today.
Perspective is important. For example, worrying about things which have no effect on your life, and on which you can have no effect, is a waste. All you can do is try to impact your own pond. And be thankful no Vogons have dropped by.
amount of universes and the age of things are at best “assumptions” they CANNOT PROVE IT.it is one loose bit of itheory on another on another on another.
We have absolutely no reliable way to know how long our sun has been burning, the age of our earth etc, it is “models” and because they appear in a certain fashion, we assume it has always been this way, so therefore it must be X age.
Radiometric dating is guesstimation based on a specific rate of decay, how do we know it has always been EXACTLY the same rate.
IMO would be like a computer game made real fancy like 100 years ago with modern tech or one made today, you cannot tell the difference, so therefore “science” could say “it is 1000000 years old” type deal.
It is unreliable assumptions based on work by many “paid for scientists” just like global warming tends to be very overrated numbers and methods…ulterior motives for nothing more than $$$$$$$$$$$$
How do WE know what we see in fancy telescopes is not “staged” we do not, because we cannot prove it, simple as that.
I wonder if the people who apply the physical perspective point of view in order to humble others are inclined to do the same to people close to them. “Daddy, look at this picture I drew!” “Well, honey…considering the vastness of the universe and the Drake equation, and adding the possibility of a multiverse and/or trillions of parallel universes, not to mention all the kids on this planet who can draw much better than you, you and your lousy picture are worth approximately nothing!”
Actually, we’re pretty special, to be honest. The Milky Way is in the top few percent of galaxies by size and mass. Our sun is a single star in a galaxy that is mostly populated by binary stars and/or red giants. Those two types are not exclusive. While it doesn’t help the joke at all, the rest is reasonably true.
BE THIS GUY over 6 years ago
Bob kind of deserves it for walking around with that award.
Adiraiju over 6 years ago
Ya do what you can with what you’ve got.
Alexander the Good Enough over 6 years ago
It’s exponentially worse than that. Latest work indicates that there is something like 2 trillion [sic] galaxies in the observable universe. That leads to the calculation that there are far more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on the Planet Earth. Let THAT sink in… https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2016/hubble-reveals-observable-universe-contains-10-times-more-galaxies-than-previously-thought
Walrus Gumbo Premium Member over 6 years ago
I always knew the Miss Universe contest is fake. I’ve never seen a Miss Mars, Miss Jupiter, Miss Neptune…
Troglodyte over 6 years ago
Perspective is usually humbling. It’s Rat who’s cruel. Where’s his list of achievements, and how does it compare to obnoxious Bob’s list?
Gent over 6 years ago
Good job, Rat. You put him in his place.
blunebottle over 6 years ago
I’d have hit Rat with the Emmy.
whiteheron over 6 years ago
Well,here comes another “movement” " Oh joy!
whiteheron over 6 years ago
Well,here comes another celebrity” " Oh joy!
whiteheron over 6 years ago
Well,here comes another celebrity” " Oh joy!
Say What Now‽ Premium Member over 6 years ago
Sigh, that means my most improved student award doesn’t mean anything.
Masterskrain over 6 years ago
“Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow Sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly 90 Million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet, whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea!”
Douglas Adams said it first…
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 6 years ago
It gives me hope that there is INTELLIGENCE somewhere in the universe!
Kaputnik over 6 years ago
I’ve never seen this universal perspective thing as a reason for sadness. Why would you want to be important on such a large scale? And after all, ultimately you’re in the same boat as every other individual, known to you, or hypothetically “out there somewhere”.
chris_weaver over 6 years ago
On the positive side, his Emmy makes a good doorstop!
Brass Orchid Premium Member over 6 years ago
And he did it better than most of his peers.
LeoDaSavage over 6 years ago
Everyone, like this if you want the Eagles to win, and comment for the Patriots.
mjb515 over 6 years ago
The alternative is not striving to achieve anything, and what good is that?
Cameron1988 Premium Member over 6 years ago
Well, damn, Rat
joegee over 6 years ago
IT never bothered Ford Prefect. Now there was a guy who always knew where his towel was.
Red Centipede over 6 years ago
Our one small planet is not in such an insignificant solar system. After all, the one planet in this solar system is the only place in the universe where life is known to exist. Whatever anyone believes about life elsewhere, as of now Earth is unique.
TerBer over 6 years ago
It is easy to get lost in the vastness of the universe and feel our isignificance. So help your neighbor that is significant in it self.
tripwire45 over 6 years ago
Relative to that, all of our lives are insignificant and useless, however we still keep plugging along one day at a time.
Packratjohn Premium Member over 6 years ago
I’m totally happy with my Participant Award…
Packratjohn Premium Member over 6 years ago
I’m totally happy with my Participant Award…
Radish the wordsmith over 6 years ago
Rat is a waste of space.
F-Flash over 6 years ago
Way to go Bob, maybe he had a broken child hood, and this award is his only measure of success as a person, and of course Rat needs a filter sometimes before he speaks. To be or not to be, that is the question? A lot of great comments on this strip today.
mommadillo over 6 years ago
I love Rat. He may be my favorite cartoon character of all time.
Nathan Daniels Premium Member over 6 years ago
… if that’s the case with television show, what does it say about a three panel comic strip?
Cerabooge over 6 years ago
Perspective is important. For example, worrying about things which have no effect on your life, and on which you can have no effect, is a waste. All you can do is try to impact your own pond. And be thankful no Vogons have dropped by.
Fan o’ Lio. over 6 years ago
Our trying to understand the Universe is like an ant trying to understand a 747.
(If you are religious substitute God for the Universe.)
Dragonsotngue over 6 years ago
amount of universes and the age of things are at best “assumptions” they CANNOT PROVE IT.it is one loose bit of itheory on another on another on another.
We have absolutely no reliable way to know how long our sun has been burning, the age of our earth etc, it is “models” and because they appear in a certain fashion, we assume it has always been this way, so therefore it must be X age.
Radiometric dating is guesstimation based on a specific rate of decay, how do we know it has always been EXACTLY the same rate.
IMO would be like a computer game made real fancy like 100 years ago with modern tech or one made today, you cannot tell the difference, so therefore “science” could say “it is 1000000 years old” type deal.
It is unreliable assumptions based on work by many “paid for scientists” just like global warming tends to be very overrated numbers and methods…ulterior motives for nothing more than $$$$$$$$$$$$
How do WE know what we see in fancy telescopes is not “staged” we do not, because we cannot prove it, simple as that.
d_odds over 6 years ago
Wait until Rat tries that on Zaphod Beeblebrox…
JoeMartinFan Premium Member over 6 years ago
I wonder if the people who apply the physical perspective point of view in order to humble others are inclined to do the same to people close to them. “Daddy, look at this picture I drew!” “Well, honey…considering the vastness of the universe and the Drake equation, and adding the possibility of a multiverse and/or trillions of parallel universes, not to mention all the kids on this planet who can draw much better than you, you and your lousy picture are worth approximately nothing!”
Mentor397 over 6 years ago
Actually, we’re pretty special, to be honest. The Milky Way is in the top few percent of galaxies by size and mass. Our sun is a single star in a galaxy that is mostly populated by binary stars and/or red giants. Those two types are not exclusive. While it doesn’t help the joke at all, the rest is reasonably true.
Sisyphos over 6 years ago
Yes, it is a matter of perspective, and Rat’s is wrong. Profoundly so. Congratulations, friend Bob.
And I will continue to congratulate my local news anchor on every local Emmy she wins, even if she did go to a rival high school….
That’s perspective.
Nobody_Important over 6 years ago
It is one of those strips where Rat actually says/does something I can agree with! Any more these celebrities are nothing to me.
ttenchantr over 6 years ago
A little harsh there, Rat. It’s not like he won a Grammy.
ttenchantr over 6 years ago
A little harsh there, Rat. It’s not like he won a Grammy.
ttenchantr over 6 years ago
A little harsh there, Rat. It’s not like he won a Grammy.
awgiedawgie Premium Member over 6 years ago
No, Rat… perspective is revealing. You’re cruel.
ND Cool Z over 6 years ago
That’s just cruel. Poor Bob..