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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The sense of spiritual relief which comes from rejecting the idea of God as a supernatural being is enormous.
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« This must be some kind of race | Main | Somebody want these? »
Category: Weirdness
Posted on: December 5, 2007 12:52 PM, by PZ Myers
This is some tree:
An important point of clarification. Some have objected to the diversity of terms used for this holiday: Cephalopodmas, Squidmas, Cuttlemas, Cthulhumas, Octopusmas, Nautilmas, etc. Do not be intolerant! This is a thoroughly ecumenical, non-sectarian holiday, and we gladly embrace all of our molluscan brethren. You can just call it 'podmas for short.
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Comments
Or just piss off Bill O'Riely and say, "Happy Holidays!"
Posted by: Cappy | December 5, 2007 12:57 PM
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | December 5, 2007 1:04 PM
'podmas -- it's the new Festivus!
Posted by: Susan | December 5, 2007 1:05 PM
They're adorable and menacing at the same time. That's a tree for doing a re-make of "The Birds" ...
Posted by: SEF | December 5, 2007 1:09 PM
Wow! Another tree octopus sighting! (see http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ for details)
Surely this is a seldom-witnessed mating swarm; what a lovely, heartwarming presence in a middle-class livingroom.
Posted by: MarkF | December 5, 2007 1:11 PM
I didn't know that squids grew on christmas trees!
Posted by: Kris Verburgh | December 5, 2007 1:13 PM
I'm celebrating Formicidmas this year. I've dug a nest of tunnels in the backyard, and I'm tending the aphids for my famous Holiday Honeydew Nog. I'm looking forward to those long winter nights grooming antennae with my loved ones.
And if any of the Queens on this blog wanna get together and click mandibles, I'll be under the mistletoe.
Posted by: Brownian, OM | December 5, 2007 1:23 PM
Is there a podmas podcast? What's the URL?
Posted by: arensb | December 5, 2007 1:39 PM
As an Asquid (geddit?) I'm looking forward to celebrating irrationally with a plate of deep-fried golden brown (but not burnt) offerings of Oktapodi rings. Yum-yum
Posted by: Samphire | December 5, 2007 1:53 PM
As long as the -mas is there, your cryptoreligious instincts are intact! I am sure there is a Mass for all cytota which Benedict XVI will happily celebrate on request.
Posted by: BadeMart | December 5, 2007 1:56 PM
I'm waiting for one of the 'pods to manifest stigmata before I'm convinced.
Posted by: fyreflye | December 5, 2007 1:56 PM
"I'm waiting for one of the 'pods to manifest stigmata before I'm convinced."
Let me get my shrimp fork and some cocktail sauce...
Posted by: Jsn | December 5, 2007 2:03 PM
While I understand why it's this way, I would have preferred a tree with more biodiversity.
Posted by: arensb | December 5, 2007 2:07 PM
Aren't monoplacophorans extinct?
{leaves quietly and closes the door before the inevitable explosion...}
Posted by: Arnaud | December 5, 2007 2:09 PM
It is not asquidic to partake of calamari, and it's even encouraged.
This isn't exactly worship, either. Followers of 'podmas are supposed to keep sharp blades around; if you see tentacles reaching down your chimney on 'podmas eve, you should feel free to attack them savagely. It is considered very good form to leave signs of a struggle and blood and strange ichor splattered on the walls for others to ponder when they discover your mysterious disappearance.
Posted by: PZ Myers | December 5, 2007 2:19 PM
PS @#15: yes, there are some advantages to worshiping a predator, they don't need symbolic cover-ups for their meta-cannibalistic rituals....
Posted by: David Harmon | December 5, 2007 2:49 PM
It's just... so... beautiful. I find myself filled with the spirit of the season and remembering the true meaning of Squidmas. By the way, if anyone knows what that is, feel free to clue me in.
Posted by: Scooty Puff Jr. | December 5, 2007 2:50 PM
"It is not asquidic to partake of calamari, and it's even encouraged."
So how should I eat it? With some fava beans and a nice chianti?
Posted by: Squiddly Diddly | December 5, 2007 2:54 PM
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNooooo !
It's a WAR on STARMAS !!!!
You'll burn !!!
Kidding folks,nice tree !
Posted by: astrolieber | December 5, 2007 3:08 PM
Lovecraft sez it best:
Read the rest here.
Posted by: Haakon | December 5, 2007 3:12 PM
Christmas Sing Along with Gnat King Cruel:
Heretics Roasting On An Open Fire,
Jack Ketch Stringing Up Some Jews,
Pull The Muslim's Tongue Out With Some Red Hot Pliers,
'Cause It's Christmas, Merry Christmas,
And We Hate You.
.
Posted by: Jaycubed | December 5, 2007 4:00 PM
I love the smell of ichor on 'podmas morning...
Come on everybody... let's all sing "Grandma Got Devoured By a Deep One"!
Posted by: Ted D | December 5, 2007 4:20 PM
"The Carol of Cthulhu"
Eldritch night, gibbous night,
Jibb'ring madness at first sight
'Round yon Elder God devotees wild
Sacrificing both virgin and child
Sleep in R'lyeh's dank keep
Sleep in R'lyeh's dank keep.
---
"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh"
In his house in old R'lyeh
Dead Cthulhu lies dreamin'
Amid angles hard and bright
And non-Euclidean.
Gibbous waxed the moon that night
Though the seas were choppy
Someday when the stars are right
Cthulhu will get stroppy.
Posted by: HP | December 5, 2007 5:21 PM
For anyone who wants some great 'podmas music, I recommend the H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society's two CDs "A Very Scary Solstice" and "An Even Scarier Solstice". They're simply awesome. With 'podmas songs such as "Freddy the Red Brained Mi-Go", " I Saw Mommy Kissing Yog Sothoth", " Silent Night, Blasphemous Night" and "It's the Most Horrible Time of the Year". I never get tired of listening to them.
Oh, and the link: http://www.cthulhulives.org/store/store.lasso?1=product&2=122
Posted by: Ted D | December 5, 2007 5:56 PM
This is deeply freaky. My friends and I are set to celebrate what we call "Podmas" next weekend. (This being the Christmas celebration of the people known as the Pod.)
And I so want that tree.
Posted by: Zarkonnen | December 5, 2007 6:17 PM
DMN!!!
PZ, y Jws rlly ht Chrstns gts, dn't y?
Posted by: Goy Boy | December 5, 2007 6:40 PM
Here's another interesting tree, made out of Grolsch beer bottles.
Posted by: Jason Spaceman | December 5, 2007 7:09 PM
Hey, I thought the angle of the axis was the reason for the season.
Cheers,
Ray
Posted by: Ray | December 5, 2007 7:59 PM
Hey! I found an old Monoplacophoranmas card !
(where "old" = as old as I am)
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | December 5, 2007 8:12 PM
PZ, do they light up? You have to make them light up!
Posted by: Different Ted | December 5, 2007 8:27 PM
Course they do. They're bioluminescent.
Followers of 'podmas are supposed to keep sharp blades around; if you see tentacles reaching down your chimney on 'podmas eve, you should feel free to attack them savagely. It is considered very good form to leave signs of a struggle and blood and strange ichor splattered on the walls for others to ponder when they discover your mysterious disappearance.
"Well, I'm as confused as you are, officer. When we woke up this morning, the living room was a mess, there was soot all over the carpet and a sack of toys by the fireplace, and these reindeer were just standing around on the roof."
"Any sign of the intruder?"
"No, not at all."
"Sir? Look at this. Beard residue on the mantelpiece. And sucker marks."
"Well, I guess he made it into the house..."
"But he didn't make it out again."
-- CSI: Arkham
Posted by: ajay | December 6, 2007 6:04 AM
I think someone should create a Squidmas ('podmas, etc) event on facebook to counter the "Christmas" event I keep getting invited to.
Posted by: Robert Ward | December 6, 2007 8:57 AM
Cthulhu Santa Doesn't Really Care
Posted by: SteveM | December 6, 2007 11:43 PM
At last! Photographic evidence of a Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus infestation!
Posted by: dogmantis | December 7, 2007 10:07 AM