Off again…

I should be flying through the air right now, on my way to Los Angeles for another long travel weekend. I was also out of town last week, and to my shame was too busy to post a Friday Cephalopod. I will not make that mistake this time: in recompense, tomorrow I will post THREE (3) Friday Cephalopods and recite 10 Hail Cthulhus while lashing myself with a wet tentacle. The latter will, of course, be done in private, but look for my public penance on Friday.

More like this

Slightly OT: Thought you guys might get a laugh out of this...
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2008/09/24/russia-tv2x2-renewed.html

Pastor Konstantin Bendas asks "If Christian communion is compared to eating feces, is that funny?" in reference to an Episode of South Park.

Answer: Yes, actually, it is. Especially when South Park compared communion to cannibalism, not feces. But feces is funny too. Good one Pastor Bendas.

Actually, aren't only 3 Hail Cthulhus all that's required?

By Parris Hughes (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

I say take the wet tentacles, dredge them in panko and the LASH them into a deep frying.

Paying homage to the calimari god is always in order. Its like eating the body of Cthulu, WAY better than eating a crappy transfatsubstantiated cracker

By The Petey (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

I'm looking forward to meeting PZ and others at the AAI this weekend in Long Beach. I hope some of you can make it. I plan on taking pictures.

By Alan Chapman (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

I'm looking forward to meeting PZ and others at the AAI this weekend in Long Beach. I hope some of you can make it. I plan on taking pictures.

So much for private lashings.

Hail Dagon! May you and yours be eaten first.

Not "Hail Cthulhu"; "Cthulhu fhtagn."

If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right.

By ShadowWalkyr (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

OT, but good:

Royal Society is considering casting out God
25 September 2008

By Zoë Corbyn

All references to "God" would be removed from the founding charter of the Royal Society under an idea mooted by some of its senior figures, Times Higher Education understands.

The society has three charters, drafted between 1662 and 1669, that set out its aims and that are used today. The 1662 charter refers to fellows' "uprightness of character and piety". The 1669 document requires the society's president and deputies to take an oath "upon the holy Gospels of God" to faithfully execute matters of office.

The suggestion to remove the God references comes amid an ongoing dispute among fellows of the society, the UK's national academy for science, over its stance on religion, and conflicts between religious beliefs and science.

www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=40369…

Not that anything much would change, but it's obviously an anti-atheist charter that has outlived its quaint beginnings.

Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7

I should be flying through the air right now, on my way to Los Angeles

whilst Chuck Norris, I can't help but think, would need a plane (:

Glen Davidson@12,
While they're at it, it would make sense to remove the "Royal": AFAIK, the last British royal (and probably the only one since Charles II) to show the slightest interest in science was Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. Mostly they prefer killing things for fun.

By Nick Gotts (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

"While lashing myself with a wet tentacle"

This sacrilegious abuse is bound to send Donohue round the bend again.

Only anointed members of the Cthulhic League are allowed to wield the Secular Arm.

Royal Society is considering casting out God 25 September 2008

Considering removing god! What's to consider? Why would an organization that promotes science, especially at such a level as the R S, pay lip service to stupid superstition? They should get rid of the nonsense immediately.

Science & religion, especially the theistic religions, are in fundamental conflict. Science should distance itself from the vestiges of magical thinking.

By Richard Harris (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

While they're at it, it would make sense to remove the "Royal": AFAIK, the last British royal (and probably the only one since Charles II) to show the slightest interest in science was Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. Mostly they prefer killing things for fun.

Doesn't help that the whole "divine right of kings" stuff isn't believable today, either.

Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7

I will post THREE (3) Friday Cephalopods and recite 10 Hail Cthulhus while lashing myself with a wet tentacle.

Is everyone else having trouble getting the image of a naked PZ covered in octopuses out of their minds, or is it just me?

Nick Gotts, not to mention Charlie and his ma's fondness and very public support for things anti-science, homeopathy being just one example. All things considered, I would be ashamed to have the present royals associated with any science based organisation I belonged to. Assuming that is that there ever was a time not to be ashamed of having the crooks royal associated with an organisation, science based or otherwise. With Albert, as you say, being the one possible exception.

By John Phillips, FCD (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

OT, but I thought that we should do our best to save a word from extinction.

Apodeictic: Unquestionably true by virtue of demonstration. (Collins)
Apodictic: Clearly demonstrated or established.
(Oxford Canadian)

We know just the application!

By Richard Harris (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

John, in my village is a cousin, (according to my wife), of the Queen. The first time that I saw him, my daughter & I thought it was Charlie walking towards us.

Anyway, he's a successful (gentleman) farmer, & none of that organic nonsense. Unfortunately, all the heavy plant used in his fields tracks out enormous quantities of mud onto the lane. Unless it hasn't rained for a week, it makes cycling down the lane very unpleasant. I don't know how he gets away with obstructing the highway. Ohhhh, yes, I guess I do.

By Richard Harris (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

With who's tentacle will you lash yourself? As anyone knows, there are differences among tentacles. If you lash yourself with a tentacle from Taningia danae we'll know you're truly repentant; Octopus vulgaris not so much.

Strider @25, Taningia? Are you nuts? That would do some serious damage... Will he be chanting "mea culpa" also?

He should have to sit through two hours of Vogon poetry and the national anthem as sung by the Klingon Gay Men's Choir...er, perhaps that is a bit harsh... OK, one hour.

Here's hoping that his large intestine will save him from this fate.

By Janine ID AKA … (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

Patricia, given PZ's woes last week you should see it in your heart to half the penalty. After all, nothing is sacred, not the Friday cephal......(ducks and runs for cover). ;-)

By Nerd of Redhead (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

Nerd! Be careful! Those tentacles can slip into the deepest covers.

Mena, may you and yours be the first devoured!

By Janine ID AKA … (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

Thanks Janine, you and yours as well.

Sorry Nerd - the mighty one suggested he had to do penance. A cosmic cockup like forgetting cephlopod Friday calls for stern measures. ;o)

He should have to sit through two hours of Vogon poetry

Aren't you the sadistic one? Though two hours of Vogon poetry would be more tolerable than 30 seconds of Ken Ham talking science.

Ken Ham talking science.

aha! that was a trick, right?

Ken Ham NEVER talks science, only bullshit.

"Uprightness of character and piety"? swearing "upon the holy Gospels of God"? How'd Dick to the Dawk to the Ph.D. ever get in?

Just askin'. :-)

By themadlolscien… (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

(raises white flag.....waves white flag....sticks up head)
Isn't the Klingon choir enough? But Vogon poetry? There are millions of people in the LA area. Think of the collateral damage.

By Nerd of Redhead (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

Ken Ham talking science.aha! that was a trick, right?Ken Ham NEVER talks science, only bullshit.

Not a trick, but that was the point. He *tries* to talk science, the people who he preaches to thinks it's science, to us it's worse than a vogon poetry recital and on a par with "ode to my flatulance".

Not a trick, but that was the point. He *tries* to talk science, the people who he preaches to thinks it's science, to us it's worse than a vogon poetry recital and on a par with "ode to my flatulance".

No need to be polite on our account.

By Nerd of Redhead (not verified) on 25 Sep 2008 #permalink

No need to be polite on our account.

Actually there is a need. Turns out you yanks have a bid aversion to the use of profanity, so when I'm on a group with a lot of aussies I can be very profane and no-one will bat an eyelid. On here, I've got to at least be somewhat civil for while it's a progressive crowd and an informal situation, there's still going to be those would get uneasy if I laced my posts with explicit profanity.

On an aussie forum my current signature is: "There are things far more offensive than the word cunt. Try watching your average commercial", and that doesn't make anyone there even slightly uncomfortable.

Kel, that's not too bad, actually; at least it doesn't bother me. Then again, I've been saturated in profanity since birth...

Looking forward to meeting many of you fine folks this weekend. I'll be at a table pimping my Bill of Rights cards and other swag.

Rock on!

Personally, I'd love to see the Klingon gay men's choir. I'm honestly surprised they can muster more than a barbershop - particularly with those Klingons for Jebus gaining ground.

@ Jared #9:

(for me, anyway) you could post a Friday anuran also!

I have some - eg this one. I never finished uploading all my (best) pictures to that set though.