HAPPY AGNOSTICA!

What, pray tell, is Agnostica?

Agnostica is the only truly secular winter celebration. It is a celebration for the scientist in all of us, celebrating not some contrived story written thousands of years ago and translated seventeen times over until the Hebrew word for "rope" gets turned into "camel," and then inexplicably the whole deal is replaced by consumer-frenzy dictated to us by a fat child-labor mogul in a fur-lined red suit, but rather of ourselves, the perfect self-defining nature of the universe, and of being proud of the human intellect.

You can read about the Origin of Agnostica by the stately King Luca, or follow King Luca's progress as he explains the Traditions and Decorations associated with Agnostica. Or, you might enjoy a typical Agnostica Party. Finally, you can read a heartwarming Agnostica story, entitled, "Danny's First Annual Agnostica Miracle", which is one of nine stories by some of the internet's most popular cartoonists in the Plan 9 Christmas 2000 Annual (I will likely post that story here in the near future since Plan 9 doesn't seem to list it on their pages anymore despite not having anywhere near sold out as far as I've heard).

Also, Melannen was kind enough to compile all the Agnostica information she could find into one page.

Happy Agnostica 2007!

Last year, there were no new changes to the Agnostica website for the second year in a row. This year, I'll be adding a page on Agnostica decorations. Unfortunately, QM Day finds me smack dab in the middle of a big experiment at the cyclotron (where I work). So creation of that page will have to wait until next week.

To tide you all over, here's an animation (based on the Nukees comic from this year's QM Day) detailing schematically how you can make your own construction-paper atomic orbitals.

Of course, these are stylized orbitals. To make real orbitals, you would probably be better off just crumpling up the paper, setting fire to it, then not observing it.

And/or, you can participate in the FOURTH ANNUAL RANDOM BAG OF FUN!!
Participation is the same as years past, with a few differences:
Simple. Just send a cool, groovy, hopefully educational unwrapped gift to:

RANDOM BAG OF FUN
c/o Dr. Darren Bleuel
P.O. Box 4735
Berkeley, CA 94704-4735

Do this before December 21 and it will be added to the Bag. You will then in late December or early January receive one random selection from the Bag! Send it in as early as possible, as I will send out two waves of gifts: One for contributions received before December 21 and one after.

What kind of gift, you may ask? It should be:

about $10-$20
non-perishable (no food, drinks, pets, etc.)
something you might like yourself
accompanied by your name and address (see IMPORTANT notice below)

Optionally, the exceedingly lazy among you can also receive a gift from t he Random Bag with a $20 donation via PAYPAL. Paypal cash is preferred over credit card donations, so that all of your donation will go towards better gifts for the bag and not to Paypal fees. Since Paypal takes fees out of all transactions on their business accounts (which are required to accept credit card payments), I've set up two addresses.

For donating Paypal CASH, send it to randombag (at) nukees (dot) com.

For donating via a credit card, send it to randombag (at) agnostica (dot) com.

I'll go shopping for you and find nifty gifts myself to add to the bag. Be sure to tell me your shipping address and phone number (for FedEx if I choose to use them). All money received will go towards buying items for the bag. None ends up in my pocket. In fact, I usually shell out extra money each year myself.

IMPORTANT: If you send me something directly from an online company like Amazon.com, BE SURE YOUR ADDRESS IS INCLUDED IN THE SHIPMENT!!! Amazon.com does not include your return address in its shipments. I cannot stress this enough. You can add your name/address to a "Gift message" at places like Amazon.

In years past, I've gotten presents for the bag directly from Amazon and other places and not known who to send a return gift too. DO NOT EMAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS INSTEAD! It's too complicated to coordinate and never works.

Happy Agnostica 2007! In 2005, there were no new changes to the Agnostica website. We continued that trend in 2006, which I suppose made it officially a tradition. The establishment of an Agnostica tradition, then, was a signficant change. Chew on that paradox for a while.

Agnostica news (2004)

In 2004, we also presented:

The Random Bag of Fun!

How can you be a part of the Random Bag?

[Instructions revised and moved to the top of the page]

In 2003, we saw the Nukees gang throw an AGNOSTICA PARTY with King Luca as host
Send me photos of your Agnostica Party and I'll post them here!
(And I'll link to the website of your choice here and on the Nukees homepage).
What do you need to throw an Agnostica Party?


It's up to you, of course, but the following help:
  • A theme of dressing as your favorite scientist of yore
  • Glögi
  • A Schrödinger Box
  • Mobius Chains
  • Mystery Punch
  • A Random Bag of Fun
  • Tell me: What made your Agnostica Party special?


In 2002, a holiday tradition was stolen from the Finnish.
It's Glögi!

Actually, "mulled wine" of many varieties is a
common tradition in many countries and is growing
in popularity in this one as well. But for Agnostica,
we still called it "Glögi," because it's fun!

More Info Coming Soon...

Or not...

Ask Heisenberg.




Expected additions to this site some day:



Visit the place where it all started at the atomic comic, Nukees!