Procrastination...

Procrastinating packing by doing tax return.
Procrastinating tax return by cataloging books (final count 679 books, though about 3 or 4 are still on loan to people - 1 to a geologist and 3? to a Danish astronomer who is translating Danish stuff on medieval seige weapons and sex).
Packing of books is successfully procrastinated by having run out of the good heavy duty computer boxes. You know you may be going too far when you start mapping where on campus the departments with the good computer boxes and easily accessable cardboard recycling are: Earth Science and Physics Research Schools were good.

Back to needing something to procrastinate the tax returns with... Possibly packing papers from under a bookcase...

And a reminder for those who didn't see basal_surge's post re going away BBQ etc.
Going away BBQ and party on Sat 19 August, at our place. BBQ being fired up from 4pm and we will endeavour to provide lots of heat sources. Please bring a plate (or bowl) of salad, desert type stuff or whatever, and we will supply BBQables.

Leaving Canberra Mon 21 Aug (Z's birthday...), destination: currently Brisbaneish.

Sigh...

Some of you may have noticed the hyped up news articles that "Astronomers are gathering in the Czech capital, Prague, hoping to define exactly what counts as a planet". I'd link the the NZ Herald one but it will bugger off shortly.

Reality check time.

Yes there is a large group of astronomers gathered in Prague for the next 2 weeks. It's called the IAU General Assembly. It's held every 3 years (the last one was in Sydney - I just missed it). It has at least 2500 attendees and lasts for 10 days with numerous parallel sessions. There will be a lot of talks and a lot of people arguing... and drinking and eating. The social program looks to be quite packed. You can download the 142 page program book off the astronomy 2006 website should you wish.

The planet definition discussion is for an hour on Tues 22 Aug (page 31 of the booklet).

In contrast (from the same page of the booklet) the Women in Astronomy discussion and lunch is over 3 hours.

But we know what the publicity heads after. I'm sure there will be all sorts of press releases closer to the time.

But in the mean time I well see what actual info there is in the booklet... There is some interesting looking stuff.