The International Astronomical Union shook up the solar system Thursday when it declared that Pluto was no longer part of the cosmic club -- the first time the solar system was altered since Pluto was spotted in 1930. Under new guidelines, Pluto was downgraded to a "dwarf planet," a new category that also includes the asteroid Ceres, the newly discovered object 2003 UB313, and possibly dozens of others.
On Cafepress.com, a San Francisco-area Internet company that prints T-shirts and other merchandise, an explosion of Pluto inventory popped up within 24 hours of the news. By Friday morning, the site featured 200 designs on more than 1,500 products. Many items and slogans fretted Pluto's demise and pined for the return of the obsolete nine-planet solar system. T-shirts screamed "Save Pluto" and "Stop Planetary Discrimination" while bumper stickers rallied "PLUTO 2006: Running as an Independent Candidate" and "Vote for Pluto."
Others were more wistful. "Pluto, we hardly knew ye ... 1930-2006" was available in adult and kid's apparel as well as caps and bags.
My own favorite, First they came for Pluto, but I was not a Plutan. Then they came for Uranus. |