…and this is a 
Who made the "Beware the Believers" video?
Category: Creationism • Entertainment
Posted on: April 21, 2008 11:32 AM, by PZ Myers
We have a confession! It was made by Michael Edmondson, and it was produced by the people behind Expelled. He wrote to me, and says, "The intent of the video has been questioned a lot…I suppose the answer is that I tried to make something that was funny to me and It's not really meant to convince anyone of anything." That's how I felt about it: it's amusing, and that's all that matters — it's vague enough that it can be read any way you want.
Edmondson has also made a brief sequel.
Note that Stein is wearing a t-shirt that says "Poe's Law".
Comments
Nice. Expelled producers get pwned yet again.
Posted by: Carlie | April 21, 2008 11:43 AM
Tee hee! He said "Assprod"!
Posted by: Blake Stacey | April 21, 2008 11:46 AM
If the whole film was done in the same style it might even be worth paying to see. As it is I'm waiting for it to appear online - and even thats going pretty slow compared to almost every other release. I guess when 90% of your audience are Ned Flander clones you are less likely to have someone trying to pirate the thing.
Posted by: Sigmund | April 21, 2008 11:51 AM
Nice flip of the finger in the credits to "assprod" Mathis. I'll presume this was released after the check cleared, although I doubt Edmonson's clients would get the jokes even if they were explained to them.
Posted by: Ken Cope | April 21, 2008 11:51 AM
Like I said from the get go, funny is funny. This makes it even better.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 21, 2008 11:53 AM
Well, this is the single best thing anyone affiliated with ID crowd has ever produced, and that includes all of the non-peer reviewed "scientific literature" put out by the DI. I salute Mr. Edmondson.
It makes me think that Edmondson just likes being contrary and challenging authority, sort of in the David Berlinski mode. Now if they'd realize the true damage they're doing and stick to comedy....
Posted by: James F | April 21, 2008 11:54 AM
Wait.
Seriously?
Poe's Law, indeed....
Posted by: Etha Williams | April 21, 2008 11:55 AM
LOL, I like Michael Edmondson's style. If we had a whip-round, do you think he'd do us a Farty Dembski animation? ;-)
Does he have a site?
Posted by: MH | April 21, 2008 11:56 AM
Sigmund:
"As it is I'm waiting for it to appear online"
Be careful--I spent a couple of hours yesterday downloading something that claimed to be a cam capture of Expelled, and it ended up being the preview over and over again.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | April 21, 2008 11:57 AM
ERV (blog crush) covered Mike some as well.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 21, 2008 11:57 AM
Well, he had to come out of the woodwork sometime. This video is just too brilliant to leave of his CV!
To be fair, Edmondson was outed in this post on ERV's blog and in the subsequent comments.
Posted by: NP | April 21, 2008 11:59 AM
"Dick Dawkins" cracks me up!
Posted by: Steven | April 21, 2008 12:06 PM
I'm beginning to wonder whether or not the original intent of the Expelled film was, in fact, to shine a light on the utter stupidity of ID and the tactics of its proponents.
Posted by: Dan | April 21, 2008 12:10 PM
So it was straight satire instead of meta-satire. I'm reminded of a couple of other things of unclear intent.
The 'It's Raining McCain' video: For weeks it was unknown whether it was a sincere (though humorous) endorsement of McCain or a joke. It was a joke.
Right wing cartoonist 'Kelly,' whose work is regularly featured in The Onion, is actually a parody of conservative cartoonists created by Ward Sutton. The Onion has gotten emails demanding Kelly be fired because of his reactionary views.
Posted by: Colugo | April 21, 2008 12:12 PM
Regardless of the motivations of the creators, "Beware the Believers" is analogous to many Holy Texts, in that the ambiguity allows people of opposite worldviews to see validation for their own outlook. Fortunately, the video diverges from typical sacred writings, and exhibits humor, irony, originality and relevance to current life. If the authors intended to create an artifact that people may perceive in opposite ways, then they have succeeded - as a rationalist I see nothing but support for reason and science. The image of arrogant scientists crushing freedom of speech is a patina that rubs through very quickly. It seems like an ironic mirror of the persecution complex so dear to people of faith. Also, I have a new interest in hip-hop music.
Posted by: MicroZealous | April 21, 2008 12:13 PM
http://copache.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/a-fundamental-problem/
That is all. Worth a read based out of all those making fun of this movie, not realizing how much of a problem it could actually be.
Posted by: Copache | April 21, 2008 12:13 PM
If anybody is reading The Onion and taking it seriously I would like to find them so that I may brain them.
Posted by: Monsignor Henry Clay | April 21, 2008 12:15 PM
@#14 Colugo:
Raining McCain was a joke? Really? Awww...I was kind of hoping it was serious. That would have been so much funnier....
Posted by: Etha Williams | April 21, 2008 12:18 PM
A better question is who made the XVIVO knockoff copy? This is a violation of the Digital Millennium copyright act and legal letters have been flying.
Violations of the DMCA can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Someone might go to jail for that.
Posted by: raven | April 21, 2008 12:19 PM
Dan "I'm beginning to wonder whether or not the original intent of the Expelled film was, in fact, to shine a light on the utter stupidity of ID and the tactics of its proponents."
You're not the only one. I said it before Mr Establishment himself Ben Stien as a rebel against The Man?
Posted by: Bob L | April 21, 2008 12:21 PM
Acutually it's not who MADE the copy - it's who published it for use in, or for promoting a commercial product.
But congrats to Edmondson, that was a great clip - it was indeed able to be iunterpreted in many ways - and I think it was an excellent parody of the eXpelled theme. That the eXpelled team PAID for it is icing.
I've said it before, but if that had talent like that available, why didn't they use Michael Edmondson to produce the movie*. It would have been a lot more entertaining.
*I think I know the reason, he's intelligent and has some integrity which disqualifies him.
Posted by: Quidam | April 21, 2008 12:25 PM
"I'm beginning to wonder whether or not the original intent of the Expelled film was, in fact, to shine a light on the utter stupidity of ID and the tactics of its proponents."
Yes, now if Ben Stein would only launch the second part of his most elegant and brilliant plan to promote science literacy...
Posted by: RamblinDude | April 21, 2008 12:33 PM
Song sure is catchy, I'd buy it. When's the single gonna be released?
Posted by: Biochemist | April 21, 2008 12:33 PM
Something you're all missing here is that Edmondson is as much a part of the Expelled team as Nathan Frankowski. Do you think he acted independently? The project was overseen by the Premise producers. He didn't punk Premise at all. They obviously approved every stage of this video's development. So if you're going to give credit to Edmondson (and don't forget Matt Chandler, the writer), you'll have to give credit to the producers of Expelled as well.
Posted by: PLuS | April 21, 2008 12:35 PM
There's a subliminal message at 27 seconds, the line "in vino veritas" appears in the lower left corner first, and a few frames later in the center of the screen.
Posted by: Sven | April 21, 2008 12:41 PM
This is off topic, but you do need to see today's Cectic: Aspirin Versus Prayer
http://cectic.com/138.html
Posted by: Ted Powell | April 21, 2008 12:47 PM
I still don't get it.
Posted by: Spinoza | April 21, 2008 12:48 PM
That's "in vitro veritas," Sven, but nice catch!
Posted by: Aaron Golas | April 21, 2008 12:52 PM
"That's "in vitro veritas," Sven, but nice catch!"
I stand corrected :)
Posted by: Sven | April 21, 2008 12:57 PM
So wait... the team behind Expelled made what is singularly the best meta-satire of ID/Creationism ever... while intending it to be straight satire of "Big Science". If there was ever proof that Intelligent Design is bogus this is it. They couldn't even intelligently design a decent dis-track without it evolving into one of the online atheist community's favorite songs.
Posted by: HumanisticJones | April 21, 2008 12:58 PM
I still think it's the best thing ever.
You see, the Expelled! *jazz hands* folks made one fatal mistake--they hired somebody with actual talent, who came up with an hilarious parody of the whole mess rather than the nasty propaganda piece they were no doubt expecting. Since they clearly lack the critical faculties to tell the difference, I can only imagine their horror when the pro-science side reacted by pissing their pants with *laughter* and not fear...
Posted by: jim | April 21, 2008 1:04 PM
Brilliant. Watch Premise media try to sue Float on films now for their "security breach" now!
Posted by: Inoculated Mind | April 21, 2008 1:04 PM
By the way, here's an update on their opening weekend from Rotten Tomatoes, where they were the ninth highest grossing film:
"$3.2M total, averaging $2,997 from 1,052 locations. Expelled was the only film in the top ten to see Saturday sales drop from Friday so a long life in theaters is not likely."
Posted by: Fire Ant | April 21, 2008 1:07 PM
...ninth highest grossing film of the weekend....
Posted by: Fire Ant | April 21, 2008 1:10 PM
In a way, Expelled is the farcical sequel to Dover, with the Framing Wars and New Atheism as side plots. The whole saga would make for a great book, or at least a five minute humorous YouTube short.
It's interesting that the Framing Wars were concluded with the majority siding with Dawkins-Myers in the wake of the 'Expelled expulsion' and Nisbet, Mooney and Olson increasingly isolated with their dire warnings about the persuasive power of creationists and the ineptness of atheists. Meanwhile, the Dawkins majority mastered 'framing' through humor; namely, the excellent Sexpelled parody.
I've defended Mooney against the attacks against his motivations. But Mooney aside, it looks like the creationists fell on their ass again.
Rest assured that the creationists will re-emerge; perhaps with creationism/ID re-branded as "front loaded potentiality" or some such thing and a strategy of infiltrating and establishing bases in philosophy and sociology departments in order to get around the establishment claus.
Posted by: Colugo | April 21, 2008 1:16 PM
Quidam:
"Acutually it's not who MADE the copy - it's who published it for use in, or for promoting a commercial product"
Maybe for the civil liability-though I doubt it. But for the criminal, he's on the hook-so is everybody else involved. Otherwise, hit men would go free and only their bosses go to jail (or vice-versa depending on what concept of accountability you want to use). The Nuremberg Defense doesn't hold water. The animators best chance is to roll over on his client.
Posted by: Dale Austin | April 21, 2008 1:17 PM
Some more specific credits would be interesting; like who wrote it (it's pretty witty stuff, loaded with references) and does Mr Edmondson ...er perform his own choreography?
Posted by: Muz | April 21, 2008 1:24 PM
I don't mind in the least giving credit to the producers of Expelled *jazzhands* for finding and funding such a talented young man.
Even the blind hen may find a grain from time to time.
Kudos to mr. Edmondson.
Posted by: Sili | April 21, 2008 1:39 PM
He didn't punk Premise at all. They obviously approved every stage of this video's development.
Which makes it even more hilarious, because they didn't realize that they were being made fun of. Look up Poe's Law and ponder why it would be emblazoned on the shirt of Ben Stein in Edmonson's follow-up.
Posted by: Carlie | April 21, 2008 1:41 PM
The updated 'more info' section of the original clip hosted by RandomSlice may answer a few of those questions Muz...
Posted by: The Droids You Were Looking For | April 21, 2008 1:42 PM
I fucking knew it!
I knew it, I knew it! Scott if your reading this, "I TOLD YOU SO!"
This video was made by creationists!
And why am I gloating, because this video supports the point that we are way behind in the communication war!
I disagree with Nisbet, that New Atheism is hurting science, in fact I think that it is actually popularizing science.
I never heard about science so much in the marketplace as now that its actually perceived as dangerous and rebellious.
But the time has come for our side to make good, wonderful, and even edgy art to promote science.
Carl Sagan died, it sucks, he aint comming back like some messiah.
Its up to us now!
Kudos to PZ for being a spearhead in this movement and doing much to mobilize us all.
Posted by: Mindcore | April 21, 2008 1:44 PM
"There's a subliminal message at 27 seconds, the line "in vino veritas" appears in the lower left corner first, and a few frames later in the center of the screen."
"in vitro veritas" - "in glass lies the truth" - 'in glass lies the truth' or 'the proof is in the pudding'
What do you suppose this means?
There's also something near the top at 28 seconds. Very small, couldn't read it.
Posted by: Copernic | April 21, 2008 1:45 PM
I give them credit for poking fun at all sides and making an entertaining song and video.
Are creationists trying to build bridges to to the scientific world!? ;)
Posted by: Castaa | April 21, 2008 1:46 PM
Yes, I did perform all the character dancing... My wife says she throws up in her mouth a little every time she sees me as Eugenie Scott.
These are the credits (below) for the Beware The Believers video (that now appear in the description of the video on youtube). I think Matt Chandler deserves a lot of credit for having written the lyrics to the song and the guys who created/ recorded the song.
Created (and Danced) by
Michael Edmondson (Float On Films)
Lyrics and Dialogue
Matt Chandler
Music
A Twits Production (featuring Chip Kendall & DJ Optix)
Produced by
John Sullivan, Walt Ruloff & Logan Craft
Additional Photoshop Work
Ephraim Risho
Posted by: Michael Edmondson | April 21, 2008 1:46 PM
For myself, this has provided me with a valuable glimpse into my own psychology. I knew that Premise most likely produced the video as a viral to market Expelled -- who else would have made the video and not taken credit -- but the quality of the satire, as compared to the movie itself, was such that I just couldn't accept that. I was utterly convinced that the video had to be independent.
When you think about it, that attitude shares a lot in common with many of the IDiots. I knew the evidence about the video's origin, but I refused to believe.
I still love the video, regardless of who produced it.
Posted by: Ian | April 21, 2008 1:54 PM
Copernic @42,
Read it again. "In vino veritas", not "in vitro". "Truth in wine".
Posted by: Ian | April 21, 2008 1:56 PM
That folks was the sound of hundreds of blog commenters trying to find the edit button to erase their
comments.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 21, 2008 1:58 PM
Uh, thirty-seconds Googling finds out that Edmonson runs a one-man business doing animation work for various clients, which rather suggests he is not "part of the Expelled team" as you say but a third-party operator contracted to do some work for them.
Uh, do you know how independent contractors operate? They receive a brief from the client, produce work that meets that brief, and scoot to the bank to cash the cheque as soon as the client signs off on it, thankyewverymuch.
Depending on how detailed the brief is, you can often get quite creative while still satisfying the client's requirements. And as for Premise approving the result... well, IDers aren't exactly notorious for being the sharpest knives in the drawer.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the biggest challenge was persuading this particular client that, no, additional fart sounds would not make it even more amusing.
Posted by: has | April 21, 2008 1:59 PM
Oops, never mind me. I missed the correction at #28.
Posted by: Ian | April 21, 2008 1:59 PM
speaking of edit buttons
damn...
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | April 21, 2008 2:05 PM
Understand, this video really is just as funny to the expelled producers as it is to us: We like the clever references and the wit; they like the silly dancing atheists in funny costumes.
Its a win all around.
Congrats, Michael
Posted by: JRQ | April 21, 2008 2:07 PM
After thinking it over my guess is that "in vitro veritas" means "the truth is in the test tube" ;)
Posted by: Sven | April 21, 2008 2:09 PM
This video was made by creationists!
fuck, you're an idiot.
NO IT WASN'T.
It was PAID for by Premise Studios.
It wasn't MADE by them.
as to the rest of your post, you really don't understand satire, do you?
Posted by: Ichthyic | April 21, 2008 2:09 PM
Poe's law? Wouldn't Godwin's law have been more appropriate? =) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_Law
Posted by: SMgr | April 21, 2008 2:11 PM
Just put wine in the test tube, and both interpretations will be correct.
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | April 21, 2008 2:16 PM
I made a little reply video, I wonder if randomslice accepts it as a reply video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SRB7BpfoM0
Posted by: Sven | April 21, 2008 2:16 PM
Nice work Michael Edmondson. I still think it's great.
I can't help thinking that the Expelled producers slipped on the soap of their own slippery slope commissioning this.
Question: Are the faces in the audience at 18 seconds in anyone in particular, or just random people?
Posted by: Physicalist | April 21, 2008 2:21 PM
@ #44:
Thanks for posting the info, Michael.
Posted by: Deepsix | April 21, 2008 2:21 PM
Exactly. I worked in advertising photography and graphic design as an independent contractor. Every job that comes over the transom is an opportunity for a portfolio piece, if you can get away with it.
Bingo.
Posted by: foldedpath | April 21, 2008 2:24 PM
Yeah, the video is funny and intelligent. Now if Expelled had been made by Michael also, it could have been a box office success..
;)
Posted by: student_b | April 21, 2008 2:26 PM
Droids @#40 ah, so it does. Cheers (was bandwidth capped earlier. avoiding youtube links)
Michael Edmondson @ #44
Oh she's not the only one. ;) It's the navel bit that really....
Anywho, quality production all 'round
Posted by: Muz | April 21, 2008 2:30 PM
Read it again. "In vino veritas", not "in vitro". "Truth in wine".
-------------------------------
Nope, when you look closely
http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/9840/invitrohe0.jpg
it's "In vitro veritas"
Dunno why. It's either some feindishly clever and significant in-joke, or a mistake.
Posted by: Quidam | April 21, 2008 2:36 PM
Brilliant work, Mr. Edmonson. As one commenter already mentioned, you scored a true coup: you managed to entertain many people on both sides of a very contentious issue.
Posted by: Adrienne | April 21, 2008 2:48 PM
In vitro veritas
It's imho (as someone said above) a clever joke.
Vitro as meant as test tube. So truth in test tube. You can interpret it either as pro ID (vitro as in artificial insemination, ie. creationism/ID) or pro science, as test tubes are usually used in science.
Either way, it's miles above the level of your usual creationist, so I conclude, Michael Edmondson is a stealth Evilutionist. ;)
Posted by: student_b | April 21, 2008 2:49 PM
Hey, the guy sitting next to Ben Stein is "Little Tool" in the first video, isn't he?
Posted by: JRQ | April 21, 2008 2:50 PM
@#51:
Yeah, I'm guessing they REALLY liked the gangsta Hitchens smoking a cigarette with an "I love booze" headband.
Posted by: Adrienne | April 21, 2008 2:50 PM
I agree completely. To the creationists, the video shows atheists/scientists as preening and arrogant; to us, it shows them as clever, smooth, and oh-so-stylish, which is a nice change from the "stuffy and nerdy" stereotype.
Posted by: Screechy Monkey | April 21, 2008 2:50 PM
Michael, my two kids watched "Beware the Believers" three times in a row. You're very talented!
Posted by: Lenora | April 21, 2008 2:50 PM
I knew it was funded by the people from Expelled. It was so hard to figure out what it promoted and so professionally produced it was the only scenario that fit...and anonymously? Yeah right... I still loved it all the same. Stuck in my head for days...
Posted by: Graham | April 21, 2008 2:51 PM
How is "in vitro veritas" an in joke? "In life there is truth"=study biology and the truth about this "controversy" will be apparent.
Posted by: Mark | April 21, 2008 2:51 PM
@#33
So is Expelled still edging ahead of Zombie Strippers?
Posted by: Don | April 21, 2008 2:51 PM
Well, hey, I'm on the pro-science/evolution side, and even *I* liked the silly dancing atheists in funny costumes.
Posted by: Adrienne | April 21, 2008 2:54 PM
"in vitro veritas"
Being a behavioral ecologist, I've always prefered:
in situ veritas
myself.
;)
Posted by: Ichthyic | April 21, 2008 2:56 PM
I should have written that Beware The Believers was commissioned as straight satire but created (and best appreciated) as meta-satire.
A follow-up animated gif on the unfunny creationist 'Brites' parody site gloatingly reference BTB. They probably won't admit that they've been punk'd.
Posted by: Colugo | April 21, 2008 2:58 PM
"In life there is truth" would be "in vivo veritas"
But perhaps we are over analysing it. I suspect that ig Mike included a clip saying "Darwin Sucks" we'd be here saying things like "Aha - this is obviously a clever allusion to Darwin sucking at the teat of knowledge. Clearly he's saying stay in school and learn Biology"
Posted by: Quidam | April 21, 2008 2:59 PM
Copernic@42 said "There's also something near the top at 28 seconds. Very small, couldn't read it".
It says the same thing, in vitro veritas.
Posted by: Sven | April 21, 2008 2:59 PM
Congratulations to Mr Edmondson and the rest of the team for a most excellent clip.
Posted by: blf | April 21, 2008 3:00 PM
Yes, I did perform all the character dancing... My wife says she throws up in her mouth a little every time she sees me as Eugenie Scott.
*ROFL ROFL ROFL*
Thanks for clearing up the mystery.
I gave it five stars. :-D
Posted by: Cheezits | April 21, 2008 3:01 PM
That's a nice sentiment, but "vitro" means "glass" -- you may be thinking of "vita" or "vivo", both which mean (essentially) "life". "In vitro" means "in glass", and described biological/medical procedures that are done in a test tube rather than "in vivo" or "in the organism". So "in vitro fertilization" is done in glassware rather than the good old-fashioned way.
Posted by: Tulse | April 21, 2008 3:02 PM
I'd say, considering that the video was funnier, smarter, more insightful, and more entertaining than the movie, that *we* got *their* money's worth for it!
Posted by: llanitedave | April 21, 2008 3:04 PM
"...and it was produced by the people behind Expelled..."
The Expelled crew managed to undermine the cause in spite of themselves.
Typical.
Posted by: CalGeorge | April 21, 2008 3:09 PM
Tempting as it is to ascribe motive to all the twists this plot has taken (if this was a movie I would be buying a ticket since I love it when the director messes with my head while dropping clues), I am inclined to buy into the "confession". If I am reading this right - and it is hard to while laughing so hard, one option is that this clever and entertaining video, source of much merriment and debate, full of unintentional (??) insight and fashionable headgear was paid for by the Expelled team? Came out of their budget? Cost money that would otherwise have been spent doing evil? :P
Well if so then, wheee! I didn't even have to pay to see it! And it's *still* entertaining and wickedly satirical. If it was intended by its backers as a put-down of the evil scientific methodists, then I am not sure that its creators got (or paid attention to) the memo. If that was the intent, it calls to mind the events of April 30, 1986 and June 6, 2007.
On the other hand, if the "confession" is truthful and the animator and friends did this on the side (?) with the only intent being to make something funny (I thought at the time it was a clever and well-researched April Fool's joke and am not yet convinced that it was anything else) then it worked for me. I am both entertained and convinced that it is possible to work on Expelled and retain both sly wit and style (though how they retained their lunches is a mystery).
How likely is it that the powers-that-be behind Expelled should have developed both a sense of humour and enough wit (and do enough research!)to make the video but not enough to realize that it could backfire on them, if only by showing that they themselves don't believe the tripe that they are peddling? These towering intellects, known for their skills at debate, their subtle yet persuasive arguments and their capacity for gentle humour and self-mockery?
Sometimes is difficult for clever people to forget that not everyone is clever, that not everyone is capable of subtlety and, unfortunately, that not every audience can be reached through moderation and an appeal to reason. A great pity, for if the makers of Expelled were reasonable and clever, there might be hopes of reaching them, assuming that they aren't just cynics out to make a fast buck by appealing to the preconceived notions of their target audience. Hmmm. >
In the meantime:
Dick to the DAWK and cephalopod hats!
(?? unintentional by whom, hmm. Mr. Edmondson, I salute you, you twisty left-coast creature)
Posted by: JCE | April 21, 2008 3:13 PM
#79 You're right, I should have known that, but got confused somehow. Probably because it made so much sense that way. It wouldn't surprise me if the guys who made the video made the same error, and intended to say what I heard.
Posted by: Mark | April 21, 2008 3:14 PM
Well, I was right about Mr. Edmondson, though wrong about the clip's ultimate provenance. Still rules the fucking roost, in any case. I have to wonder, though, what the hell the Expelled guys were thinking. You commission an epically hilarious video and never take the step of explicitly linking it to your movie. Wait, nevermind. Totally consistent with every other gratuitous display of incompetent jackassery these guys have made in their brilliant marketing campaign.
Oh, and for the few of you playing up the notion that Mr. Edmondson is "one of the Expelled people", let it be noted that when the plagiarism issue came up, he had himself removed from the credits. BTW, Mike, besides helping to create one of the funniest things I've ever seen, you're a pretty damn good photographer to boot.
So the moral is: Mike may not have a science degree, but he's a damn sight smarter than the rest of the Expelled crew.
Anyone who hires him in the future will almost certainly get their money's worth if they actually make some real use of his work.
Posted by: Thomas S. Howard | April 21, 2008 3:21 PM
Oh, one quick addition: "Edmondson, you magnificent bastard!!!"
Posted by: Thomas S. Howard | April 21, 2008 3:25 PM
#57 The audience members are all random people.
Posted by: Michael Edmondson | April 21, 2008 3:26 PM
Please forgive my forgetfulness, but I have no idea of what events you're referring to.
Posted by: Ian | April 21, 2008 3:27 PM
That's a nice sentiment, but "vitro" means "glass"
exactly, but you get the usage slightly wrong. The application of the term "in vitro" applies best to the translation:
In the glass
which is always applied to the idea that if an experiment is done "in vitro" it means it was done in a lab (or even literally in a test tube), or excised from the normal environment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro
the counter is "in situ" with the essential usage applying to "in the field", meaning that as applied to an experiment, it is done with the subject in it's "natural" environment.
Posted by: Ichthyic | April 21, 2008 3:35 PM
it'sitsI hate that fucking rule.
:p
Posted by: Ichthyic | April 21, 2008 3:36 PM
eh, nevermind, I see you really got that anyway
still, I rather think that it could entirely be the joke itself:
taking a poke at the idea that scientists think all of life is testable in a test tube.
again, it fits right with Edmonson's style of satirizing the very absurd notions that are promulgated by the creationists themselves.
Posted by: Ichthyic | April 21, 2008 3:40 PM
@Sigmund -- regarding I guess when 90% of your audience are Ned Flander clones you are less likely to have someone trying to pirate the thing.
Perhaps not -- I have a friend whose family owned a bookstore in the bible belt of TX (which could be just about anywhere in the entire state) and their #1 most shoplifted book was the bible! Go figure.
And has everyone seen "Sexpelled"? -- you can find it on richarddawkins.net or youtube.
Posted by: susanbrown | April 21, 2008 3:40 PM
It was paid for by the Expelled team? Seems like every time they score, it's an "own goal."
Posted by: Curt Cameron | April 21, 2008 3:42 PM
Interesting, Ichthyic -- I've always heard "in vitro" contrasted with "in vivo", contrasting a lab preparation with a procedure or study done directly in/on the organism (e.g., a drug tested on cultured cells versus the living organism). I've never heard the "in situ" usage before, but then again, I'm not directly in the discipline.
(And upon looking it up in that most-reliable of resources, Wikipedia contrasts "in vitro", "in situ", and "in vivo". My medievalist spouse would be proud of all the Latin I'm using today.)
Posted by: Tulse | April 21, 2008 3:51 PM
@Ian (87):
Probably referring to own goals :
(1986) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DbP7wqCwq8
(There was one in the cup finals last year as well, which is probably the 2007 date).
Posted by: strech | April 21, 2008 3:58 PM
Like many others I was solidly convinced this vid had nothing to do with Expelled and wasn't made by creationists or anyone even on their payroll.
I was wrong.
What convinced me were the references in the video that no one in the target audience of Expelled would likely understand or recognize.
Its still a great video, well made, absolutely hilarious (because I can't help but see it as a parody of the creationist persecution complex and their various strawmen arguments).
Well done Michael Edmondson, well done indeed sir.
Posted by: Dude | April 21, 2008 4:17 PM
This has to be the best money the DI (or whoever funded Expelled - has anyone got a handle on that?) has ever spent. Toppermost congrats to Michael, Son of Edmond and the rest of the team. The music was great, the dancing - oh, Eugenie! - spot on, and the script to die for. I hope the check cleared.
At the risk of sounding like a humourless clod myself (I'm getting me one of 'em I Heart Booze headbands. Merch site?), the day we l