Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
…and this is a pharyngula stage embryo.
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Colfax, Placer County. Yesterday's crowd of pilgrims, some of whom arrived at midnight, saw a blue-gray light form over the right shoulder of a five- foot statue of Jesus near the altar of the 40-year-old Catholic church. For some, the shimmering light that turned green-pink bore the shape of a shawl covering a woman's head and shoulders. Sometimes the image was sharp; other times it was fuzzy. The eerie image appeared about 9:30 a.m., as it has every day since Thanksgiving, and remained for about an hour. At one point, a second light gold in color and resembling the shape of a crown or halo briefly appeared directly above the first image. At the moment the gold light appeared, many people in the line outside said they spotted a rainbow over the church. Inside the 200-seat church, pilgrims gasped, prayed, wept and stared at the image. …According to James Phelps, a physics professor at Sacramento State University, the image is a phenomenon caused by natural light refracting through a stained-glass window and then bouncing off a light fixture and onto the wall. 'There's nothing exotic, nothing esoteric about it,' said the optics expert, who observed the image at the request of a local newspaper.
[Martin Halstuk, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 December 1990]
Modules and the promise of the evo-devo research program
I think I despise anti-environmentalists as much as I do anti-evolutionists
The Cambrian as an evolutionary exemplar
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Category: Skepticism
Posted on: December 8, 2006 12:00 PM, by PZ Myers
Via Byzantium's Shores, I have learned that there will be a Carl Sagan memorial blog-a-thon on 20 December, the anniversary of his death. I notice there's also a Skeptics' Circle scheduled for the 21st at Humbug! Online…there are opportunities for some synergy here!
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Comments
Posted by: Sagan Fan | December 8, 2006 12:20 PM
If all atheists were as talented and articuate and caring as Carl Sagan, theists would be in deep shit.
Fortunately, they have Dawkins, PZ Myers and Harris fighting the atheist cause.
Carry on!
Posted by: XPM | December 8, 2006 12:33 PM
Here is a rather good 1995 radio interview of Sagan.
Posted by: toomanytribbles | December 8, 2006 12:54 PM
i was moved to start my blog when i started reading 'a demon haunted world'. i never had the luck to see sagan up close but i consider him to be my favorite teacher.
Posted by: Bro. Bartleby | December 8, 2006 1:21 PM
Of course in the monastery we normally do not post quotes from atheists, but this is one that has been push-pinned on the cork board for a very long time, and it still brings a smile to my face, for of all that dear Carl uttered, it was here that I believe he came closest to Truth:
"If you wish to make an apple pie truly from scratch, you must first invent the universe."
-- Carl Sagan
Posted by: Kristine | December 8, 2006 1:54 PM
Oh, thanks. I was wondering what people were going to do for this anniversary. I owe him a lot.
Posted by: knobody | December 8, 2006 2:24 PM
i have an ongoing tribute to the man. my project has been in effect for just over five years now. i am reminded of Carl on a daily basis. i named my first born child Sagan in his honour.
Posted by: davis | December 8, 2006 4:11 PM
He is on the cover of the current issue of Skeptical Inquirer as well. Yes, toomanytribbles, Demon Haunted World, along with Dawkins's Unweaving the Rainbow, is inspirational.
Posted by: toomanytribbles | December 8, 2006 4:39 PM
i bought a copy of 'the dragons of eden' when i was a kid. i've read it and reread it about once every five years -- the poor book's a mess!
Posted by: Keith Douglas | December 8, 2006 4:43 PM
I don't know what do - I want to contribute, but don't have a blog ...
Posted by: Inoculated Mind | December 8, 2006 4:59 PM
December 20th is also the anniversary of the Kitzmiller v Dover decision. The day ID died.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | December 8, 2006 5:01 PM
I'm in the same fix as Keith Douglas. Maybe we could both write really good comments on somebody else's blog and show up as guest posters?
Posted by: Kristine | December 8, 2006 5:39 PM
You can be a guest on mine. If you want to. ;-)
Posted by: Kadin | December 9, 2006 3:49 AM
OmiFSM! That's my birthday!
I win!