Pluto's Wake

So by now you've heard that Pluto got demoted to "dwarf planet", mostly because of the nebulous and contentious part of the definition that a planet has "cleared the neighborhood of its orbit." The whole attempt to make a consistent definition of a planet has been fraught with peril, and resulted in things no one ever thought of as a planet being included (Ceres) or the current result. The whole definition thing is mostly for public consumption anyway.

This doesn't mean that grad students can't make it into a party, because let's face it, we can make anything into a party.

The place was Helene's apartment, the time was nine last night. Amanda, our formerly pro and well trained bartender, took up the challenge to create mixed alcoholic beverages to simulate the eight "classical" planets. I can say that she did very well. Display models were produced and lined up in correct order if not distance, pictures were taken, and if I had one and the competence to put it on here I would. It was a very pretty bunch, layered blue and green for Earth, more layers for Jupiter, colors closely approximating Uranus and Neptune (although Amanda had them switched in the recipes). All eight were drunk by several people (not me, I don't drink alcohol) while we listened to the Holst composition (yes, that one). Later on a few people had some non-standard planet drinks (Xena for one). We had some interesting conversation, and a good time was had by all.

KDM (Pluto was always a strange duck)