I was really excited to start blogging about some serious astronomy stuff in my second post. But, due to the controversy generated by my first post, I will interrupt my blogging schedule and bring you:
BLOG TITLE WARS
cheering from very large audience
I need your help in deciding what the title of my blog should be! Below you will find a few options, along with the origin of the title (to me), and pros and cons. Also, thank you to all of you who made suggestions!
Your assignment, if you choose to accept it (and actually care), is to choose your favorite – and tell me why too! You may also point out if there are other blogs, movies, books, radio programs, elementary schools, or anything else of that name, so that I don’t make the same mistake as last time (though I have Google’d these options, so I hope it won’t be too much of a problem).
Please only vote for one option (or rank your favorites), only vote once, and new entries will not be considered (unless they are really good).
1) Waste of Space
This is based on a quote from the book Contact, by Carl Sagan, where the main character says “The universe is a pretty big place. It’s bigger than anything anyone has ever dreamed of before. So if it’s just us… seems like an awful waste of space.”
Pros: it’s completely relevant; I find it funny as a blog title; Contact is my favorite book (and movie)
Cons: it may give my blog a negative connotation; there is a blog called A Criminal Waste of Space (about the justice system), and another one called An Awful Waste of Space (about astronomy – hasn’t been updated since May). Man – all my favorite options are letting me down :(
b) Magnificent Desolation
It’s a homage to Buzz Aldrin, who used these words to describe the Moon.
Pros: very relevant to astronomy; it sounds cool and really intelligent (oooh….big words!); there do not seem to be any blogs of that name (but a lot of people use it for titles of specific posts for some reason)
Cons: There is a movie by the same name; might not turn up easily in Google
c) Comet Chameleon
This is an entry from Cath Ennis!
Pros: It’s funny; it plays on a song from the 80s; I study comets; funny enough, there is a forum of a similar name, but no blogs
Cons: I might not be continuing my study on comets; it plays on a song from the 80s
d) Way Oort West
An entry from Richard Grant!
Pros: relevant on two levels (Astronomy/comets and I live in the “West” – compared to most people on the NN, anyway); it’s really witty; it doesn’t even register on Google (wow!)
Cons: not sure how many people would know who Oort is?
e) Lost in the Milky Way
This didn’t really come from anywhere specific, just my head.
Pros: it’s astronomy related, and I often feel lost when I think about my career; no blogs of that name
Cons: Not sure about the originality
f) Daytime Astronomer
Again, just from my head.
Pros: I’m an astronomer but I work during the day.
Cons: Meh.
g) Written in the Stars
Apparently a song by Elton John, but is also a well-known phrase used to describe fate
Pros: Has a nice, classy, ring to it; is relevant to astronomy
Cons: Not super original
h) Children of the Stars
Along the theme of g), but a reference to how all the elements are created from the nuclear reactions and explosions of stars (and therefore everything on Earth is as well)
Pros: poetic feel, but very relevant to astronomy
Cons: not sure about the feel of it
i) Title Under Construction
This was done as a literal thing, but it’s growing on me!
Pros: it’s funny…maybe even witty; my life feels this way
Cons: there is a similarly titled blog on the NN (Title to Be Announced); doesn’t relate to astronomy content
j) Keep original title (It’s Not Rocket Science)
Again, I chose this because of several reasons, all of which are pretty good.
Pros: it’s relevant at many levels, and is funny too
Cons: I think we all know what those are (but if you missed it, there is another blog – actually 2 – that have similar titles)
Alright – here’s your chance to have your say! Polls will close on Saturday, September 5th, at midnight (EST). I will post the results and unveil the new title by Monday!
Disclaimer: Of course, I have the ability to veto the vote – after all, this isn’t a democracy, it’s a blog-ocracy! (if you got that reference, then kudos for you for knowing something about cheerleading pop culture!).
Hey, what about “Not Exactly Brain Surgery”?
I do like Way Oort West and Comet Chameleon. But that’s my sense of humour. And if you work on something other than comets, you would be even more of a comet chameleon.
I also like “Title Under Construction”, although you might want to get Dr. Curry’s opinion.
Magnificent Desolation would be a great title for a book about the moon, don’t you think?
Oh, and after this little to-do, I’m even more looking forward to reading your “proper” posts.
Hey! What a title dilemma you ended up in – great how you turned it into such a fun thing! I like Daytime Astronomer, I think it kind of grows on you. I also like Way Oort West although I had to google Oort in order to really get it. But then educating your readers might just be a good thing. Comet Chameleon flows of the tongue easily but it has a distinct 80’s ring to me (that is not a bad thing though, as long as you like that). But all your options are good titles!
Way Oort West!
I had to Google Oort too, but once I did, I really liked Way Oort West (although you’re waaaaaaay to the East, from my perspective!)
Yes, I’m also favouring Way Oort West. I love a good pub, especially only one that nerds understand.
Your beery proclivities were your undoing, Matt. I presume you meant pun!
Title-wise, what about ‘gAs-tronomy’?
I like Way Oort West (although, technically, it should be Way Opik-Oort West, which is not as funny). I agree that some folks may not catch the meaning, but you can edumaficate them :)
Stephen – thank you for clarifying Matt’s pub/pun mistake – I just assumed it was some British pub thing he was talking about!
As for gAs-tronomy – that would be absolutely perfect for someone who loves astronomy AND cooking! In fact, there already are a couple different blogs with that title.
Looks like Way Oort West is in the lead!
I like “Way Oort West”, but it’s kind of difficult to say in conversation. Thus, I vote “Daytime Astronomer”.
You don’t say blog names, you numpty. You just type them.
Really? So what do you lot talk about at these Science Blogging thingies you go to, then?
You know, Richard W., when I read your comment it immediately made me think of what the acronym would be (sometimes those are easier to say):
W.O.W
Haha! Looks like Richard G. thought of everything with his suggestion!
Both of my blog titles are kinda hard to convey verbally. My NN blog is easier than the other one, which required a FAQ entry to help some people “get it” in writing too!
@RW: Beer.
Pub/pun – I often mix the two, but rarely mix them up!
@RPG: silly me.