I'm just catching up on some of my old Discover magazines (the perfect quick, at-my-desk lunch) and just read an article on Pluto's removal from our galaxy's list of planets, and placement into the nebulous realm of "dwarf planet." ("Dwarf," coincidentally, is never a flattering term, unless you happen to be in the middle of some Tolkien-like role playing game. I'm informed that people with dwarfism actually prefer the term "little person." Just one of many reasons why "The Wizard of Oz" is evil - slighting of the little persons by calling them "munchkins." Glinda was a naughty, politically incorrect valley girl.)
Inquiring minds want to know - are any of you really upset about this re-classification? I, for one, was not particularly, if only because I had crossed off Pluto on my list of "Planets To Visit" as a child due to it's rather icy and cold climate. Brr.
I am very upset, however, that the drive to re-name 2003 UB313 (the other "dwarf planet") to "Xena" (and the moon orbiting it "Gabrielle") failed. Where is the romance these days, I ask you? You can't very well call out the name "2003 UB313" in bed, now can you?
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