Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for May 25, 2009
Transcript:
Danae: What's that thing, Jeffrey? Jeffrey: An anti-gravity transport...But I'm on a tight deadline, so I can't talk right now. Danae: A deadline for what? Jeffrey: Well, as you know, Mars will be closer to Earth in August than in all of recorded history, so close that it will appear as large as the moon! This may not occur again for another 60,000 years... Making this the optimal time for travel between the two plants. Lucy: Um... he lost me after, "As you know..." Danae: He says we're gonna be invaded by martians. Jeffrey: That's not what I said!!
bmonk over 15 years ago
That’s what he and H.G.Wells said, I think….
margueritem over 15 years ago
BMONK, you’re back! How was your trip?
bald over 15 years ago
you know jeffrey… when you try to come back the martians will sneak onboard
ARF2 over 15 years ago
Jeffrey, that deadline was six years ago! And, if Mars ever appears as large as the Moon as seen from Earth, DUCK!!!
TheInquisitor over 15 years ago
That’s a level of stupid almost up there with the episode of Heroes where they described an eclipse as a global event. That’s when I couldn’t bear to watch it any more.
Anthony Moats Premium Member over 15 years ago
As large as the moon? Who started this ridiculous astro-urban legend? Isn’t the Jeffery character supposed to be smart or something?
ScatteringBliss over 15 years ago
Inquisitor, Heroes has gotten much better this season, give it another go!
It sounds like Mars is going to be invaded by Terrestrians, actually.
cdward over 15 years ago
C’mon, they are kids after all.
Desultourist over 15 years ago
“Every year. Every fracking year.” (Phil Plait, astronomer)
August 13, 2003 - “That’s silly!” August 24, 2005 - “Don’t believe everything you read. The email is wrong.” August 8, 2006 - “I can’t believe I’m writing this, again!” July 27th, 2007 - “Mars won’t be as big as the Moon! Get over it!” August 19th, 2008 - “It’s baloney, wrong, a lie, a con, a hoax, a joke, a falsehood.”
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/08/19/mars-as-big-as-the-moon-its-baaaaack/ etc.
Someone, please! In the name of astronomers’ blood pressure all over the world. Make it stop already.
dgholstein over 15 years ago
I can handle “as big as the moon”, oddly enough. It’s the “may not occur” that gets me, you’d think Jeffrey would have the confidence with exact astronomical calculations that he’d say “won’t occur” instead.
ninmas over 15 years ago
hi bmonk!
shelly over 15 years ago
Please - stomp out this urban legend! Wait - I hear it being dusted off again as we speak……
Wiley creator over 15 years ago
Relax, folks. It’s just using this internet myth as a storyline. Let it play out.
bobpeters61 over 15 years ago
I thought he was saying that he intended to invade Mars, not that Martians were going to invade us.
Hookoa over 15 years ago
A) As BRIGHT as the moon, not as LARGE as the moon AND B) That event happened in August of 2003, as has been pointed out. AND It was VERY spectacular, and lasted for several weeks.
GuntotingLiberal over 15 years ago
Hard to believe that was almost 6 years ago now. Where does the time go?
I wonder if Jeffrey’s going to find out that men are indeed from Mars: a planet of aging white politicians, shows of machismo and socks with sandals?
Nighthawks Premium Member over 15 years ago
READ wiley’s comment!—-its a storyline! be patient!!!!!!!!!
Desultourist over 15 years ago
Ah, the so strangely out-of-character scientific incorrectness is but a guise, to dupe the gullible. It was probably Jeffrey himself who circulated the myth, all to culminate in this clever mastermind scheme, yet to witness. Okay, that’s plausible enough. Disbelief suspended.
RayPendergast over 15 years ago
Okay, let’s remember it’s just a comic strip. Ideas have to come from somewhere. If you want the real scoop on the situation, go here http://www.snopes.com/science/astronomy/brightmars.asp
Have a great day.
TheWildSow over 15 years ago
Hahahahahaha! I can’t believe Jeffrey of all people would fall for that! Yes, it was 6 years ago, folks.
And it was a poorly worded sentence in the first place. “At a modest 75-power magnification, Mars will look as large as the full Moon (looks!) to the naked eye…..”
Clear and dark skies (and small Mars!) to you all :-)
Wildmustang1262 over 15 years ago
UFO is such a bleeping fake!
Northwoodser over 15 years ago
Brings to mind what Ernie Kovacs once said.”Even though the moon is only one seventh the size of the earth, it’s further away.
David_J Premium Member over 15 years ago
Crickey… seems that some folks have forgotten their sense of humor!
And besides, everyone knows that Martians have already been to earth… who do you think helped the Egyptians build those pyramids?
MIYY4U over 15 years ago
Ernie Kovacs? Wasn’t he a writer for Yogi Berra? Good one Northwoodser.
lazygrazer over 15 years ago
IT’S TRUE!!—-NASA astronomers predict Mars will definately be as big as the moon this coming August for sure this time!
~Now pass this information along to at least ten others within the hour or something bad will happen to you.
peterkeenan over 15 years ago
Oh, Grazer, NASA couldn’t possibly have said that - for one thing they spelt definitely wrong!
Bender_Sastre over 15 years ago
That’s what she said.
Terry1844 over 15 years ago
on the day where the planet Mars appears as BIG as the Earth’s Moon is the day that you can place your head between your legs and kiss your sweet @$$ good-bye
3hourtour Premium Member over 15 years ago
How is Star Trek like toilet paper…they both circle Uranus and whip out Klingons…
bmonk over 15 years ago
Trip was pretty tiring, but good. Seeing the family was great, and the funeral was good, if you have a reason to have a funeral.
MurphyHerself over 15 years ago
It’s all in the interpretation, Jeff :)