Same thing, though. The host wasn’t saying anything about how ridiculous it all was, but was asking about what the candidates’ birth dates said about their personalities. (Guess what?! Hillary doesn’t like to quit!)

I ask the crowd, “According to astrology, these two babies are going to grow up having remarkably similar lives. Would you want to bet any money on that happening?” The murmur of understanding in the room is very satisfying to me.

But, Richard, you know the answer to that one. They’ll just say something vague, like “Astrology shows us possibilities, but can’t predict with absolute certainty … human free will, blah, blah… .” Plus, most of them are on board with the New Age belief system, which incorporates variations on ideas they’ve stolen appropriated from Asian religions, such as karma, rebirth, etc. – so people have different karmic potentials, etc. They just make it all up as they go along.

NPR and PBS have lost a lot of credibility over the years with their Depak Chopra and the like.

Don’t forget Wayne Dwyer.

“Astrology, like any art or science that has lasted thousands of years, creates its own history of evolution. Some fundamental assumptions and precepts remain constant—others change radically in order for the practice to remain viable. With the discoveries of planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, for example, astrology was challenged to integrate new symbolism into its seemingly closed system.”

http://www.evolvingjourney.com/ArticleonEvolutionaryAstrology.html

Then there are the superstitious in the business world who actually hire asstrologists to “help” them in hiring.

http://www.amanita.at/e/reading/e-01-recruiting.htm

Even they recognize some problems with their method.

“# Reactance problems: resistance from applicants (and stakeholders), negative effects on the corporate image because of the negative reputation of astrology
# Lack of scientific proof, wrong decisions:
Almost no evidence from empirical research supporting astrology as a selection tool is available. Wrong decisions are costly and unfair to the falsely rejected applicants.”

Why they say “almost no” is beyond me.

Many great thinkers and writers, such as Shakespeare, have accepted astrology and used it in their literature. If it’s good enough for them, shouldn’t it be good enough for you?

You mean like Adolph Hitler? He was a big fan. Had his own staff astrologist who helped him predict the Allied landing at Calais. Too bad it was really in Normandy.

-Albert Einstein

Whenever I’m confronted by such inanity, I repeat this to myself 10 times.

We don’t believe it either.

Who was it who made that wonderful distinction between “believe” and “believe in” just recently? Was that you? Kudos to whoever.

I ask the crowd, “According to astrology, these two babies are going to grow up having remarkably similar lives. Would you want to bet any money on that happening?” The murmur of understanding in the room is very satisfying to me.

Clever. I like it.

Many great thinkers and writers, such as Shakespeare, have accepted astrology and used it in their literature. If it’s good enough for them, shouldn’t it be good enough for you?

Yeah and that other guy, what’s his name used it. ‘Course he didn’t do so well in the end. (Godwin’s law alert!)

Great satire, Polly. I hope.

I give lectures on astronomy for the general public and there is a tremendous hunger for accurate science presented in easy to understand layman’s terms. The misconceptions are many but they are usually innocent, caused by a poorly funded public education system. People often ask me if there is any validity to astrology. My favorite responses are based on Carl Sagan’s arguments, including the one about two babies born in the same hospital at the same moment. Their horoscopes, no matter how complex or simply they are cast, are absolutely identical. One baby is black the other is white, one is male the other is female, one is healthy the other has spina bifida, the mother of one drank and used drugs during pregnancy, the other’s mother ingested only healthy things, one has poor parents and the other has rich parents.

I ask the crowd, “According to astrology, these two babies are going to grow up having remarkably similar lives. Would you want to bet any money on that happening?” The murmur of understanding in the room is very satisfying to me.