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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We no longer have to resort to superstition when faced with the deep problems: Is there a meaning to life? What are we for? What is man?
Today the theory of evolution is about as much open to doubt as the theory that the earth goes round the sun
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« Madison details | Main | Say…what about Molly? »
Category: Personal
Posted on: September 5, 2008 3:57 PM, by PZ Myers
We have a time and a place for the big millionth comment party in Minneapolis in less than two weeks. Attendees: get the full scoop from Greg Laden's Blog.
I'll be bringing my big pink furry octopus and Skatje. You don't want to miss it.
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
Posted by: Paul Lamb | September 5, 2008 4:01 PM
Okay I'm going to go for 1,000,000.
This election we have the chance either to make history, or to repeat it!
Posted by: Patricia | September 5, 2008 4:20 PM
Oh goody! I hope the comment was mine, and something saucy.
Posted by: Ray | September 5, 2008 4:30 PM
Patricia, Good luck and I enjoy the saucy comments I've seen from you. Keep up the good work!
Wish that I were anywhere near enough to attend, but tis not to be. A hearty "Have fun!" to all who can make it.
Cheers,
Ray
Posted by: Screechy Monkey | September 5, 2008 5:12 PM
Wait, I thought the comment party in Minneapolis was going on these last few days? I've been hanging around the Excel Center where I saw all these balloons and stuff.
Come to think of it, people did keep giving me funny looks when I said "who wants to talk evolutionary biology?"
Posted by: JackC | September 5, 2008 5:17 PM
You are right - I do NOT want to miss it.
But I can't justify a trip from NY to go to it. Nothing exciting ever happens when I am around - or around where I am.
Sigh. Have a GREAT time!
JC
Posted by: flo | September 5, 2008 5:21 PM
Hey everybody, maybe check out ObamaTaxCut.com , they try to calculate how much less taxes one might have to pay if Obama is elected.
Posted by: Donnie B. | September 5, 2008 5:51 PM
You have a big pink furry Skatje?
Posted by: canidae | September 5, 2008 6:06 PM
Evening Myers, you have some readers even here in atheist Norway (I love that comic, Hell is just about 40 minutes drive from here, and I've been there many times).
However, even though most of us are not raving lunatics there are still laws supporting Christianity in this country. For example, there are laws against blasphemy as well as half the Norwegian Council of State must be Christian (sorry, both these links are in Norwegian). There are a bunch more of these ridiculous laws, although we are fighting the insanity and we got some progress (for example, they removed the law about brainwashing young children with this lunacy earlier this year).
Now for my intention behind this post.
I still find myself discussing a lot with Christian people, and seemingly even the most simple form of logic does not work very well. Being a typical geek I confront them with the omnipotence paradox or the problem of evil, and they always respond with something that makes no sense.
As noted, I'm a geek and I don't read a lot of fiction unless it's humorous (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) or it's mocking idiocy (His Dark Materials). What I'd really like is more insight in religious books, but I find myself either falling asleep or losing focus due to the sheer illogical and contradicting stories just in the first pages of the bible.
Do anyone know of some geek-friendly resources for fighting Christianity by using the bible against them?
Perhaps this would bite more than logic the next time someone attempts to push this wicked view of life on me, my family or my friends.
Note: I do respect religious people, they can believe whatever they want to believe. What I do not respect is when they force their beliefs on other people or when they receive benefits from the government for believing in a magic man.
Posted by: Patricia | September 5, 2008 6:49 PM
Why thank you Ray! ;)
Posted by: steve_h | September 5, 2008 6:49 PM
Seed should remove the comment count from the RSS page (above in the header). Otherwise comments from approx 999900 to 1500000 are going to be not so saucy variations on M1LLYUNF!!!ONE!
Posted by: themadlolscientist, FCD | September 5, 2008 7:24 PM
HEY! that was my line!
M1LLYUNF!!!ONE!
Posted by: King Aardvark | September 5, 2008 8:51 PM
I don't want to miss it, but it's not my choice being in Canada and all. And your Toronto talk is on the complete worst day. Halloween, geez, I've got fundie Christians to annoy.
Posted by: shonny | September 5, 2008 11:02 PM
canidae:
Hva faen?
Respect religious people? Why??
Posted by: shonny | September 5, 2008 11:19 PM
canidae:
Robert G. Ingersoll is the man for you, from reading the rest of your posting. Check him out on Amazon.
He is more to the point, with in-depth knowledge of the bible, and not such a self-centered waffler as Hitchens.
Posted by: Horwood BeerMaster | September 6, 2008 10:24 AM
So has this millionth comment happened yet, or is yet to happen?
Or is the whole point that we don't know?
Posted by: scotth | September 6, 2008 12:36 PM
These things never seem to be schedule in the North Texas area. (cries)
I'll get up there one of these days.