One man's struggle against impermanence
John Wilkins is an aged, eternal student, who thinks philosophy of biology is at least as interesting as politics or sport and twice as important. He has a PhD from the University of Melbourne and a position as a Postdoctoral Fellow Sessional Lecturer at the University of Queensland, in Australia. After a varied career, involving factories, gardening, civil service, publishing, graphics, public relations but not, unfortunately for the CV, driving a truck, John finally completed his thesis on species concepts in 2004, which he has worked into two books. Species Definitions: A Sourcebook (Peter Lang) will come out in 2008; Species: A History of an Idea (University of California Press) will appear, it is hoped, in early 2009. He is also interested in cultural evolution, philosophy of religion, Macintosh computers and his kids.
If anyone knows of a tenurable, or even medium term, job in philosophy of biology, let me know. Have library, will travel. The contract ran out ...
This blog is designed to host any random thoughts that happen to be passing through my forebrain at a given moment. So there will be errors...
Foundations of Systematics and Biogeography
Re-Engineering Philosophy for Limited Beings: Piecewise Approximations to Reality
Adaptive Thinking: Rationality in the Real World (Evolution and Cognition Series)
Conceptual Issues in Evolutionary Biology, 3rd Edition (Bradford Books)
My personal page is here:
The previous instantiation of this blog is accessible here.
« *sigh* More Haneef farce | Main | Desecration, blasphemy in public, and manners »
Category: Humor • Race and politics
Posted on: July 10, 2008 10:52 PM, by John S. Wilkins
If a black hole is where common sense is lost, is a white hole where we spew out absurdities? To say so seems like blackmail, which only yellow dogs employ, with a niggardly vocabulary. It's a red flag, I tell you! I'm completely browned off. Don't let the MSM whitewash this.
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Comments
Oh bloody hell.
On one hand, it's ridiculous, still on the other hand, given the history of discrimination in the US it's understandable, and with the grasping hand I don't think the US public is reknown for its science literacy.
Posted by: Darkling | July 10, 2008 11:52 PM
That's hillarious! Though the comments at that link are depressing.
Posted by: tincture | July 11, 2008 1:14 AM
Here's a video of the event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc1zGRUPztc
I hear the guy demanding an apology saying 'black ho', so maybe he misheard.
Posted by: Flaky | July 11, 2008 2:19 AM
Watchingt hat video, the first thing i thought of was an english show called Balls of Steel.
Specifically, Toju The Militant Black Guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crM_AmZxhmQ
The whole bit is funny but the part at 2:08 is spookily prescient.
Posted by: tincture | July 11, 2008 4:07 AM
John,
I hope you didnt miss the culture wars while you were enjoying the wind and rain in my home town lol...Everything you ever wanted to know about crackers !! Or catholics,for that matter(im typing this while 50000 swallowers march towards Telstra Stadium)
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/fresh_crackers.php
Posted by: clinteas | July 11, 2008 7:53 AM
Make that Telstra Dome,of course...
Posted by: clinteas | July 11, 2008 8:33 AM
The comments at that are disturbing to say the least. Why is it if one bit of idiocy happens that can be labelled politically correct hundreds of idiots pop up to say something like "see, any oposition to racism is equally stupid so lets all be as racist as possible".
Posted by: Matty | July 11, 2008 11:14 AM
I wonder if the gentleman gets offended when asked to a company picnic, I recollect that being considered a naughty word by somme illiterates along with niggardly.
For some reason no offence is taken at being in the black
Better edjumakation that'll help solve it.
I don't think that is the aim and the cause of eliminating racism is not well served by ignorant people using their mis-understanding (possibly deliberate) to try and make political capital and claim the oppression label at every turn.
Posted by: Chris' Wills | July 11, 2008 11:58 AM
I wonder if the gentleman gets offended when asked to a company picnic, I recollect that being considered a naughty word by some illiterates along with niggardly.
For some reason no offence is taken when being in the black is used.
Better edjumakation that'll help solve it, though it is a useful political weapon for some.
I don't think that is the aim and the cause of eliminating racism is not well served by ignorant people using their mis-understanding (possibly deliberate) to try and make political capital and claim the oppressed people label at every turn.
Posted by: Chris' Wills | July 11, 2008 11:59 AM
I thought I had reached my "people are blanking evil and should be in jail" limit today, http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/11/135110/836/169/550038, but then I just had to come here. Oh, wait, this is Stupid People, Evil is down the hall.
Posted by: Susan Silberstein | July 11, 2008 5:05 PM