What is Digg?121 Comments
- Ribbys, on 07/06/2008, -3/+78Poor headline. University of Toronto is doing this.
- jburka, on 07/07/2008, -3/+67This is crap. The Dunlop observatory used to be well outside the lights of Toronto and at that point was useful for astronomy students. It is now obsolete and is in the middle of a light-rich suburbia. Get the whole story before feeling too sorry for this fellow. It isn't like he's being fired. U of T shares many good astronomy facilities in good research locations. Let's be realistic when you can sell the site for millions and use the profits productively for faculty and students. If the profits weren't used for this, then you would have something to complain about!
- Redraf, on 07/08/2008, -2/+32It's hardly all of Canada doing this, its one University.
- spartan777, on 07/08/2008, -2/+21also, this does not compare to the sacking of the Library of Alexandria, no information is lost with this U of T deal, however sad it may be.
submitter is full of *****. - Zuwxiv, on 07/08/2008, -0/+17The loss of much of the Library of Alexandria was a loss of thousands of years of human history and culture, and most likely the greatest single loss in one event that humanity has ever suffered.
To compare it to one sad story is a grave disrespect to history. This does not compare at all.
Seriously, diggers - can you at least try to be a bit realistic? "Greedy real-estate interests?" - moo113, on 07/08/2008, -3/+15So one governing board of the UofT is all of Canada? Buried as inaccurate.
- shig, on 07/08/2008, -0/+9"An act that ranks with the sacking of the library of Alexandria."
Columbus would have sailed to the moon with the knowledge contained there. It's nothing like sacking THAT library. Perhaps one of the smaller inner-city libraries... It's just a bad analogy. - shawnanigans, on 07/08/2008, -0/+9Toronto: The city everyone in Canada loves to hate.
- Kanele, on 07/06/2008, -5/+14sick
- LiarGame, on 07/08/2008, -1/+9to the author: What's wrong with you?
- paradigmxx, on 07/08/2008, -1/+8The University of Toronto has a sub-par administration with crooked thinking - then again, so do many Ontario Universities such as Western.
- WilliamAdama, on 07/06/2008, -5/+11:'( I'm glad I didn't go there now, that's horrible.
- bmdubya, on 07/07/2008, -4/+10That is a very touching photo. It shows how much people like him (and myself) admire space and studying it. Yet the general public only gives a ***** about themselves and what other people think about them. So they don't care about advancing the study of space, which I think is one area that could evolve humanity greatly.
- trispear, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6Only in the back room, behind a curtain. Those heiroglyphs could get really XXX.
- NSoklofske, on 07/08/2008, -0/+6Indeed. I'm somewhat offended at the headline, to tell you the truth.
That said, it's pretty inconsiderate to provide him with only 10 days' notice. At the same time, I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult for him to find more work with that on his resume, and it's not like the university's taking the money for profit; they're using it for further astronomical research by the sounds of it. - LinuxGalore, on 07/08/2008, -3/+8So an astronomical observatory that is hardly functional for the task due to city lights is being sold by U of T and the funds raised are being used for more functional projects. If they didn't sell it one could question the faculty for not doing their jobs. As for comparing this to the sacking of the "OLD" library of Alexandria (I say "OLD" because there is a new library of Alexander that is actually way bigger in existence in Egypt) I find that way of base because the library of Alexandria was still functional when it was destroyed.
- davidrools, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5And no doubt he'll be able to find a research position elsewhere if he's at all as sharp as he once was.
- SuperMoses, on 07/08/2008, -0/+5It's not ego if it's turned into a public park to inspire young astronauts. It serves a purpose you tard. Do you think historical museums are big ego boosting buildings?
- znicket, on 07/08/2008, -5/+10Ah come on! The guy has to move to a newer observatory - hardly heartbreaking.
Things change, neighborhoods change. Mr. Bolton simply has to move on. - blindhammer, on 07/08/2008, -1/+5Comparing this to the destruction of the Library of Alexandria is insulting.
There are ancient works of science and engineering such as the Antikythera Mechanism that took civilization well over a thousand years to duplicate after the destruction of the Library. The Ancients had a vast understanding of engineering and scientific principles, many of which were "reinvented" during the Enlightenment and the Industrial Age. A good example is steam power.
Were the Library never have been burned down by religious zealots, there is a good possibility that the Dark Ages would never have occurred and our civilization would be over eight-hundred year's more advanced. - Dromeciomimus, on 07/08/2008, -3/+7The U of T administration does not represent over thirty million people.
- strictnein, on 07/08/2008, -1/+5No, every single Canadian is taking part in this. Along with all of your damn geese.
- urbandistrict, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4I wonder which looks better on a student brochure....
"We sell our landmarks for $$$$ and pass the savings on to you"
or
"Visit the site in which esteemed researcher Dr. Charles Thomas Bolton solidified black hole theory"
Trust me, it's a management issue. Unis have a knack for fund raising especially to save historical landmarks with any kind of significance. I'm willing to bet the right hands were shook and the wheels were turned in the interest of the dollar and not the student. - MrNexus, on 07/08/2008, -0/+4I think you meant the US.
- nevetando, on 07/08/2008, -4/+8Uh, seems to me like they are selling off outdated equipment and real estate in order to invest in new equipment and real estate... exactly why am I crying a river?
Isn't that called progress? don't you need that in science? - SuperMoses, on 07/08/2008, -2/+6They didn't want it to continue doing research.
"Fortunately, Dr. Bolton and the Richmond Hill Naturalists are attempting to take over the site and turn it into a public park, where people could have the opportunity to enjoy the scenery, the deer that wander through the woods, plus experience the rare opportunity to look through a large astronomical instrument. They just need the funds to do it.
The sad part of this story is how Canadian science is not celebrated in this country. Most of our best brains are unknown to the public and now we have a case where one of our academic institutions isn’t interested in preserving the site of its own historic accomplishment.
Let’s hope common sense prevails."
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/quirks-blog/2008/04/b ... - fearlessfx, on 07/08/2008, -2/+6Over-react much? So this guy has to move to a new observatory, its not like the UofT administration murdered the man in his sleep. I agree that this is somewhat unfortunate, as this person is clearly a scientific genius and they could pay him a bit more respect, but on a scale of 10 from no big deal to complete travesty, i'd rank this about a 4. The ***** going down in Iraq would be about a 8, darfur a 9, and Roger's iphone dataplan would probably be a 10.
- whitecranberry, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3UofT not CANADA ... Terrible Title.
TO UofT .. As an ex-Torontonian, your treatment of this gentlemen and his contribution to the field is simply SHAMEFUL. This is unacceptable period. You do not send a 10 day notice via email to a guy who has put in 35 years, and I don't give a rats ass who or what.
I expect the public backlash from this will ensure that karma hits your ass hard. I most certainly will be passing this story around to my Toronto friends.
SHAME - Taiyoryu, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3Typo. I think they meant "37 years" as referenced later in the article.
- craighoxton, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3"One in the Sphinx; One in the stink"
- urbandistrict, on 07/08/2008, -0/+3"Look guys it doesn't work...let's just scrap it."
http://www.ualberta.ca/~aizen/events/Philadelphia/ ... - SonicRift, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I think it's the other way around.
- urbandistrict, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Not sure why someone would digg you down...
I think it would be better served as a public educational site. It's already built and functional- a rare opportunity.
Barcelona is a prime example of a modernized city yet holding to it's public assets and historical landmarks. - supermanred, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2*****' Rush rocks!!!!!!!
- sporg, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2The new library of Alexandria can not replace all the books/records lost when the original was destroyed. I'm sure this observatory was still useful for some research. Giving someone ten days to vacate a facility they have been using for decades is callous no matter how you look at it. I can not say I am surprised though as most universities are run like businesses these days and not like centers of learning.
- p3ngwin, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2another case of an educational institute needing funds and the science departments getting hit 1st, because you know, it's not like science is the future or anything.
- falstaff, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2At least this is posted at the right domain. "Fanboy" is, if anything, an understatement. Seriously, comparing this to Alexandria? No knowledge is lost, no architectural wonder is being destroyed. It's a barely useful telescope, that has one huge discovery under its belt. If people really cared about the progress of knowledge, they'd have no problem reallocating resources to more useful endeavors.
- drguerra, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2I just graduated from U of T. This is ***** shameful. I'm going to send this to my friends and we'll have a nerd protest. If they are using the money from the sale to put back into the astronomy program, why the hell would they fire all the staff? Disgusting!
- studdenfadden, on 07/08/2008, -2/+4If he is 65 then how could he have worked there for 73 years?
"So why is one of the best astronomers in the world — a grown man who is 65 years old — crying on the steps of his observatory? After 73 years the University of Toronto sent Bolton..." - AndeyM, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2lol, you are awful... but i find that funny...
- da_bradler, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2you should have read the story it ends with Stephen Harper taking a ***** in a pile of moon dust.
- krogothwolf, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Spineless for protesting? so its Brave to dend over an accept price gouging then?
All he is mentioning is that the Board of Directors did it, not canada in general, and that the anger should be directed to them. No one in Canada is saying the government should do something about the iPhone, they are saying rogers should do something about its pricing plan cause its gouging the customers. Well its more like, go buy elsewhere and not from rogers.
I don't see how that makes us Spineless or Ignorant....or even he as spineless or ignorant.
And CptCoolguy, people who think their Nation Is the greatest on earth aren't ignorant, just have overwhelming pride in their Country, thats not a bad thing really, it can be if the person gets carried away, but most americans aren't like the idiots you hear about in the News and humoursly portrayed on TV. Smackin someone cause they smacked you doesn;t make things better.
Can't we all just get along? - giveer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2...especially the people who have never been there. :)
- MooNinja, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Welcome to what America has been going through since Digg Day1. Oh some private corporation, that has bases in many nations is doing something evil, lets label it America!
- giveer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2..hmm... and yet, toronto has the attitude problem, correct?
Just checking. - kmesp86, on 07/08/2008, -0/+2Rush made a song about Charles Thomas Bolton's Cygnus-1 black hole. It was about flying into the black hole and coming out the other side on top of Mount Olympus.
- chamberlanderic, on 07/08/2008, -6/+8Toronto is evil, everybody outside Toronto knows that ;)
- krogothwolf, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1I guess it clearly ranks up their with an invasion that killed and maimed people...yes, getting evicted is just as bad!
- giveer, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Well, it must be because you were with the visiting tour group from the National Spelling Vocational School - UofT's well known rival.
I'd consider re-examining your personality if you think every single person you've met out of a group of 51,000 people from all over the world (and that's just one campus) is an *****. - urbandistrict, on 07/08/2008, -0/+1Luckily we have nevetando as a resource to think things thoroughly through for a full 15 seconds and give us his analysis.
I think we now know why the American divorce rate is so high. We live in a microwave throw-away society.
We should turn the Alamo into a parking lot. -
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