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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It seems to me that it could simply be denied that it is appropriate to describe the universe as an entity which 'pops into existence' or which 'begins to exist' even if it is true that the universe is temporally finite. Suppose we think of the universe as a distribution of properties over an at-least-four-dimensional finite manifold. (So we shall be B-series theorists and substantivalists.) Among the questions we need to answer, there are the following: (i) does the manifold in question have any boundaries?; (ii) if the manifold does have boundaries, are these boundaries open or closed?; (iii) if the universe does have boundaries, does time extend all the way to these boundaries (or is it a local phenomenon, restricted to some sub-portion of the manifold)? Suppose—to consider just one epistemically possible option—that the universe is bounded and closed, but that time is a local phenomenon. Then it could surely turn out to be the case that there is nothing which begins to exist which does not have a cause, and yet that the universe—which is not itself an entity in time—does not begin to exist (and hence does not need a cause to explain how it 'pops into existence'). Even in a temporally finite universe, there needn't be any uncaused events—for the time-series might be appropriately modelled by an open interval on the real number line.
Graham Oppy, "Reply to Professor Craig" (1995)
Pufferfish and ancestral genomes
Chance and regularity in the development of the fly eye
Patterning the nervous system with Bmp
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Category: Administrative
Posted on: June 29, 2008 10:17 AM, by PZ Myers
Like the title says, this is your thread to tell me who deserves the Molly award for June. I'll aim to announce the winner on 1 July.
YES! Send me a free issue of Seed.
If I like what I see, I'll receive 5 more issues (6 in all) for just $14.95. That's 50% off the cover price! If I'm not completely satisfied, I'll simply write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The free issue is mine to keep.
(Non-U.S. subscribers, click here.)
Comments
frog
windy
Posted by: negentropyeater | June 29, 2008 10:31 AM
If I could, I'd nominate Richard Lenski. Too bad
that what I enjoyed about his writing was not actually
from a post here on Pharyngula.
By the way, PZ, I still think there's a small mistake
in the second colored diagram of your post "Basics: synteny".
See me comments there.
Posted by: Pierre | June 29, 2008 10:33 AM
Moses. No doubt about it.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | June 29, 2008 10:34 AM
Nick Gotts
frog
Posted by: SC | June 29, 2008 10:34 AM
I agree with Pierre, Richard Lenski, seconded.
Posted by: CosmicTeapot | June 29, 2008 10:46 AM
windy
frog
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | June 29, 2008 10:50 AM
Before I vote : Where is Etha Williams,OM ???? U ok babe??
I like Nick Gotts,windy always has good comments,Kseniya is a legend of course,and my fellow aussie Wowbagger makes a lot of sense too most of the time ! So there lol...
Posted by: clinteas | June 29, 2008 10:55 AM
I'll secong/third Richard Lenski too. Nowt like a good pwning.
Posted by: Bob O'H | June 29, 2008 11:13 AM
windy, definitely.
Posted by: thalarctos | June 29, 2008 11:18 AM
Everyone knows it's Windy.
Posted by: Kseniya | June 29, 2008 11:24 AM
Nick Gotts
Posted by: Emmet Caulfield | June 29, 2008 11:40 AM
clinteas #7 "Before I vote : Where is Etha Williams,OM ???? U ok babe??"
It's the curse of the Molly! We seemed to have lost broken soldier, too! Or maybe, it being summer, everyone's on holiday?
My nomination is for negentropyeater.
Posted by: MH | June 29, 2008 11:43 AM
Speaking of Molly Awards, the Texas Observer gave out its second Molly journalism prize this past June. Guests received WWMD? bracelets, which, I understand, the Observer is selling for $5 a pop, if anyone just has to have one.
Posted by: Laura | June 29, 2008 11:50 AM
I must break with the current consensus and submit a minority vote (although Windy is more than worthy and Nick Gotts is a good read and Dr. Lenski is only too, too deserving).
Traffic Demon
for sheer poetry and a stunning command of the language in the face of utter pomposity. (In Which I Have Hurt Ken Ham's Feelings, post 158)
with honorable mention for Kerovan (same thread, post 192) and the quote from the Ultimate Flame.
Posted by: The MadPanda | June 29, 2008 11:50 AM
Oy! PZ! The second Carnival of the Elitist Bastards is up!
Posted by: RandomElitistBastard | June 29, 2008 12:06 PM
Why not give it to me? I'm an all-round great guy.
Posted by: PatrickHenry | June 29, 2008 12:07 PM
Many worthy commenters - among those who haven't won one already, I can't decide between frog, SC, negentropyeater
Posted by: Nick Gotts | June 29, 2008 12:16 PM
windy
Posted by: oaksterdam | June 29, 2008 12:22 PM
I'll support Nick Potts, because he is a fussbudget and grumpy. :)
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | June 29, 2008 12:23 PM
If windy hasn't already received it, it's high time she did.
Posted by: Kristjan Wager | June 29, 2008 12:36 PM
Molly for Bride of Shrek.
Posted by: ThirtyFiveUp | June 29, 2008 12:41 PM
@ ThirtyFiveUp :
Thats : DNA of famous clever scientist for Bride of Shrek.
Fixed that for you...:-)
(Since she doesnt want mine LOL)
Posted by: clinteas | June 29, 2008 12:46 PM
Tough one this month...
I'll go with Bride of Shrek
Posted by: MikeG | June 29, 2008 12:59 PM
If nominated, I will type.
If elected, I will serve.
Posted by: Benjamin Franklin | June 29, 2008 1:04 PM
For weeks now, I've thought that windy deserved recognition for a level-headed discussion about the evolution-of-altruism question, and in particular for pointing to the literature which argues that (some of the things called) group selection are mathematically equivalent to (some of the things called) kin selection. (OK, so I think the theoretical ecologists made the point more clearly, but still, I appreciate the references.) So, yes: a Molly for windy!
We also need an Honored Guest award of some kind, the first two recipients of which are Peter Irons and Richard Lenski.
Posted by: Blake Stacey | June 29, 2008 1:32 PM
I second Nick Gotts or Frog
Posted by: protocol | June 29, 2008 2:08 PM
Oops I should not have said second; it's a vote then for Nick Gotts or Frog
Posted by: protocol | June 29, 2008 2:12 PM
The slut.
Posted by: Sili | June 29, 2008 2:29 PM
Owlmirror.
Posted by: Rey Fox | June 29, 2008 2:43 PM
There's been lots of good comments and commenters, some by newcomers, some by those already of the Order...
But windy is overdue for induction, for comments both witty and wise.
Posted by: Owlmirror | June 29, 2008 2:43 PM
Hey, wow, I summoned someone.
*ahem* Etha Williams.
Posted by: Rey Fox | June 29, 2008 2:45 PM
Nick Gotts and a Prometheus for Lenski.
Ciao
Posted by: JeffreyD | June 29, 2008 2:57 PM
PZ Myers. Myers does not comment much, but when he does he often and in a most uncanny way elucidates and drives home the point a Pharyngula post is making. It is quite amazing!
Posted by: Logicel | June 29, 2008 3:15 PM
Bride of Shrek, definitely. I always catch myself nodding at her posts even when I don't agree! (Not nodding off... just nodding like "Yeah, yeah, I can see that.") And frequently entertaining, too. And intelligent! We should all be so intelligent!
Posted by: speedwell | June 29, 2008 3:20 PM
Bride of Shrek and windy.
What can I say? I gotta go with two. I'm a Gemini.
*Ducks for Muscover, er cover.*
Posted by: Brownian, OM | June 29, 2008 3:23 PM
WMD! WMD!
Sorry, bad joke, but I'm bad at resisting...
Look it up.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | June 29, 2008 3:34 PM
I would second a nomination for either Bride of Shrek or Windy. They have made some great comments.
I would also add Paul W to the list. He has had a couple comments lately that expressed with wit and eloquence what I had been thinking.
Posted by: Grendels Dad | June 29, 2008 3:35 PM
wowbagger
Posted by: bybelknap, FCD | June 29, 2008 3:48 PM
One day I aspire to such lofty status. For now, not so much.
Enjoy.
Posted by: Tim Fuller | June 29, 2008 3:53 PM
How nice to see so many people being recognized. I keep thinking "Oh, yeah, I love her comments! Hers, too!"
Grendels Dad - I agree. Paul W. deserves a special mention for intelligence and civility (especially on the "Sorry, Vox,..." thread) and, more recently, chivalry :).
Posted by: SC | June 29, 2008 4:06 PM
The slut in a billabong covered in chooks deserves something... ;)
Posted by: Patricia | June 29, 2008 4:11 PM
I think Bride of Shrek deserves it for consistently witty and intelligent posts.
Posted by: maxi | June 29, 2008 4:33 PM
Viva España !
Posted by: negentropyeater | June 29, 2008 4:36 PM
Fuck you Neg
LOL
Posted by: clinteas | June 29, 2008 4:39 PM
First of all, I'll join the windy bandwagon. I've voted for her several times recently, anyway. A good pick, well deserved.
And, a second choice: I've been reading Pharyngula for years, and a long time ago there was someone whose comments I secretly saved once or twice. Erudite and eloquent, he seemed to have disappeared by the time the Molly came along, though he was the first commenter I thought of.
But he is back now.
So:
Paul W.
Posted by: Sastra | June 29, 2008 4:46 PM
Richard Lenski.
Posted by: Arnosium Upinarum | June 29, 2008 4:46 PM
OkOk,
before anyone gets upset,Neg was referring to the result of the European Soccer final,which was,shall we say,disappointing from a German perspective LOL.
And I thought you were French Sir !!
Posted by: clinteas | June 29, 2008 4:47 PM
¡Viva! Congratulations. Enjoy the 8-day puente ;)!
Posted by: SC | June 29, 2008 4:57 PM
They played very well...
and I live in Spain, so right now, it's kind of difficult to forget that they won with the noise and fireworks that are exploding all over the city ;-)
Posted by: negentropyeater | June 29, 2008 5:07 PM
I formally nominate Matthew Nesbit for the June Molly.
Posted by: Scholar | June 29, 2008 5:25 PM
What.
Were you for Germany?!?
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | June 29, 2008 5:27 PM
Bride of Shrek. I always smile at her posts.
Posted by: waterrocks | June 29, 2008 5:47 PM
Gah! How did this get on to Euro 2008!? I tivo'd it to watch later and have been avoiding news of it and I find out the winner HERE?! GAH!!! I hate you guys!
Posted by: bybelknap, FCD | June 29, 2008 7:34 PM
I'm honoured to be nominated.
First nominations from me goes to Bride of Shrek for her humour and for helping Queenslanders everywhere to fight the negative publicity attracted to our home state by that idiot Ken Ham.
Second goes to Kseniya for combining awe-inspiring knowledge, vicious invective and Shaksepeare to vanquish trolls.
Posted by: Wowbagger | June 29, 2008 7:57 PM
I think it should go to Emmet Caulfield. I am still laughing my ass off at his "abbatoir for lettuce" comment, and that was weeks ago.
Posted by: Longtime Lurker | June 29, 2008 8:13 PM
I think Dr. Lenski should be considered for, at the very least, a special or honorary Molly.
Posted by: Julie Stahlhut | June 29, 2008 8:27 PM
Windy. Or Traffic Demon. Or Lenski.
Posted by: steve s | June 29, 2008 9:35 PM
The smoking cross trophy should go to Holbach for leaving no christian uncrucified.
Posted by: Patricia | June 29, 2008 10:21 PM
The smoking cross trophy should go to Holbach for leaving no christian uncrucified.
Perhaps the "Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition" award, I've seen as many false positives from him as solid hits...
Posted by: pcarini | June 29, 2008 10:55 PM
Top 3:
negentropyeater
Wowbagger
SC
As always, so many others, I don't wanna slight anyone!
external Molly to Dr. Lenski
Posted by: Dennis N | June 29, 2008 11:37 PM
It should be Bride of Shrek's turn this month. (It would have been her turn earlier except for Etha Williams blowing everyone away, including myself. I, too, wonder where Etha got off to, and hope she's OK.)
Posted by: Hairy Doctor Professor | June 29, 2008 11:57 PM
One more vote for Bride of Shrek... er... we are voting on the Slutty yes? ;-)
I believe Etha mentioned a while back she was making herself scarce for a while - studying or something.
Posted by: shane | June 30, 2008 1:19 AM
#59 - Be careful there. I have an 18 hand high horse to get up on in solidarity with brother Holbach... or should I say 'the Baron'?
Can't speak in anyway for Holbach - but when it comes to the religious - 'gut em or nut em' works for me. :)
Posted by: Patricia | June 30, 2008 1:48 AM
And just where the hell has wOO+ got off to - at the same time?
Dirty minds want to know!
Posted by: Patricia | June 30, 2008 1:55 AM
I also support a Bride of Shrek OM. I think it's time that we start paying attention to raven's posts, which are consistently thoughtful, but can be vitriolic when needed.
Posted by: pcarini | June 30, 2008 2:23 AM
Many, Many great posts this month:
For sheer ripping the shreds off an idiot I nominate Patricia for her part in the great "Brenda" thread of '08 ( who would have though the words "Dear Sir/Madam" would invoke such amusement on our behalf for so long.) Must admit though I love Wowbagger and Clinteas ( showing my Antipodean bias there) and the gorgeous Rey Fox also gets my nomination. (what can I say- I love everyone- I'm a slut)
Posted by: Bride of Shrek | June 30, 2008 3:03 AM
I thank Patricia for her complimentary remarks and our unequivocal purpose to ridicule with blatant reason the forces of religious and superstitious crap that is spreading ever more so in society. As far as I'm concerned, and from reading Patricia's comments, our methods may be impolite to many posters, but the spread of insanity by many of the deranged as evinced on Pharyngula, calls for our direct and unhindered message to these retards that they will not be handled gently in their insane frames of mind. Since Patricia appears to be the only one who exhibits and approves of my direct mentods, I nominate her for the deserved Molly. Patricia, don't quit even if the Molly eludes your deserving status.
Posted by: Holbach | June 30, 2008 8:48 AM
Since football has already been mentioned on this thread...did anyone notice that the EM finale was between Spain, which has legal gay marriage and Germany, which has a domestic partnership law for gays that is exactly the same as marriage in every way(because the Greens went through the legal code, line by line and made sure, ja wohl!) except for adoption purposes (because they had to hand the CDU some compromise) and that the Spanish, who have true equality, are the ones that won? What will the fundies say? God hates football and therefore doesn't bother punishing countries that legalize gay marriage with bad luck in it? It's Decadent Europe, what do you expect? The Netherlands losing to Russia makes up for it all? So difficult when reality doesn't conform to your mythology.
Incidently, I'm sad that Germany lost, but Spain deserved to win. They played brilliantly throughout the tournament while everyone else slacked off at least once.
Posted by: Dianne | June 30, 2008 9:05 AM
Speaking of the Brendathon, one of the biggest chuckles I got was from Patricia's worried speculation about how life must be for "poor Mr. von Hysteria."
(I believe you have me confused with the truth machine - on both counts.)
:-)
Posted by: Kseniya | June 30, 2008 9:11 AM
Kseniya, #69, wrote:
Awe-inspiring - not eye-watering...
Posted by: Wowbagger | June 30, 2008 9:19 AM
Moses and raven always seem to add new information/insight to the discussions. Molly 'em!
Posted by: ennui | June 30, 2008 9:20 AM
No, the fundies know that God is a true American, and therefore loves real football but doesn't give a rat's ass about that soccer stuff. ;^)
As for the Molly, I can't fail to name negentropyeater, who absolutely had my back vs. Phaedrus in the recent Obama thread. Of course, so did truth machine, but of course, s/he is already OM.
Kseniya's been fierce lately, but then when isn't she? And she's already OM as well.
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | June 30, 2008 10:28 AM
*Blush*
Posted by: Patricia | June 30, 2008 12:23 PM
Patricia @ 73 "Blush" and "Twirl" all you want; you earned it!
Posted by: Holbach | June 30, 2008 2:06 PM
Nah, I'm still here, but I've been spending a little extra time in white rooms with crappy TVs and no internet here lately. When I do get a chance to get on, I barely have time to read the posts and comments, which makes it hard to try to add something intelligent to the discussion, especially with the recent posts.
As for this month, I think windy and Bride of Shrek are both quite deserving.
Posted by: brokensoldier, OM | June 30, 2008 2:19 PM
Lenski, but if the rules can't be tweaked for his benefit then it has to be Bride Of Shrek.
Posted by: John Phillips, FCD | June 30, 2008 3:59 PM
Mrs Tilton plaese!! Thanks.
Posted by: 386sx | June 30, 2008 4:22 PM
Fierceness has its place, particularly in defense of what one thinks needs defending, but I've never been a vicious person, in either word or deed. If I'm making that impression, maybe I need to do something else for a while.
Posted by: Kseniya | June 30, 2008 5:53 PM
No, wait, don't do anything rash on my say-so: I didn't mean "fierce" as anything other than a compliment! Having recently (on another thread) declared myself to be the polar opposite of "hyper-masculine," I guess I'm not outing myself too much to say that I meant "fierce" in the way that Tyra Banks uses the term on America's Next Top Model, which is to say, it means strong, but not at all vicious.
Posted by: Bill Dauphin | June 30, 2008 6:07 PM
No, Bill, it's not what you said. Not at all. I agree that "fierce" is good. However, it seems that ever since my Shakespearean outburst of a few months ago, I'm gained some kind of reputation as an accomplished insulter, which has apparently developed into full-blown "vicious invective," which makes me feel... weird about myself. (See the otherwise unjustifiably complimentary #54, for which I thank the Wowbagger.)
No big deal, I guess, but it may be time to indulge in some introspection. Silently. I think I've already said to much.
Heh.
Onward and upward. :-)
Posted by: Kseniya | June 30, 2008 6:24 PM
Gah - if I take it back does that mean you won't do a disappearing act?
I don't think you're abusive; that suggests doing more than is necessary. The 'viciousness' to which I refer was the most practical, appropriate response to the recalcitrance of the poster you were aiming it at - mostly that blathering idiot, Kenny. And it was perfectly justified in the face of such excruciating stupidity.
A well-placed dagger, not a broadsword. If I was applauding brute strength...let's just say I'd have selected another name.
Plus it's a lot about the Shakespeare. One is a thespian, after all.
Posted by: Wowbagger | June 30, 2008 6:56 PM
"the gorgeous Rey Fox also gets my nomination"
The what?
Posted by: Rey Fox | June 30, 2008 7:03 PM
windy.
Posted by: Ichthyic | June 30, 2008 7:07 PM
Wowbagger: Ah. Ok. So it's the fear. The fear and surprise. And the ruthless efficiency.
Thanks, I feel better already. 8-D
Posted by: Kseniya | July 1, 2008 12:39 AM
Doctor Lenski FTW.
Posted by: Stephen Couchman | July 1, 2008 4:17 AM