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 must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes.
Gene Roddenberry.
Transcription factors and morphogens
Ancient rules for Bilaterian development
Generic bumps and recycled genetic cascades
The evolution of deuterostome gastrulation
Upstream plasticity and downstream robustness in evolution of molecular networks
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« Friday Cephalopod: Beautiful body plan | Main | Short takes from the mailbag »
Category: Personal
Posted on: October 10, 2008 11:35 AM, by PZ Myers
Richard Carrier and I will be speaking in Springfield on Saturday afternoon, in an event that has been blessed by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. If you're in the neighborhood, you won't want to miss it!
And now I get to spend my afternoon sitting in an airplane. Ho hum.
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: Glen Davidson | October 10, 2008 12:13 PM
You could pray to Cthulu that cephalopod amputees will regrow their tentacles.
Always helps to know what will happen before you pray, of course.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Posted by: Hanes | October 10, 2008 12:19 PM
I look forward to it.
Posted by: RobertMadewell | October 10, 2008 12:26 PM
See you there.
Posted by: Patricia | October 10, 2008 12:36 PM
Good luck PZ!
I'm skeerit to fly. :o(
Posted by: «bønez_brigade» | October 10, 2008 1:02 PM
My attendance (and that of a few fellow godless heathens) is a possibility. We're only a few hours away from said city.
Posted by: BobC | October 10, 2008 1:10 PM
PZ, please let us know when the YouTube video becomes available.
OFF-TOPIC: Poll requires Pharyngulization. PZ, you might want to make this poll a separate thread.
From Tupelo, Mississippi:
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Poll.aspx?ekfrm=282864
Should topics such as creationism or intelligent design be taught in
public schools alongside the theory of evolution? (related article)
Yes 86.21%
No 13.03%
Unsure 0.77%
261 responses
I voted NO.
Related article: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Education/Default.aspx?id=280120
Darwinists in denial? The Discovery Institute says a group of
Darwinists who are opposing efforts by the Texas State Board of
Education to allow evolution to be debated in the classroom are
clinging to 19th century science in the 21st century.
Posted by: cicely | October 10, 2008 1:24 PM
I expect to be there, even though it means waking up before noon on a Saturday! :D
Posted by: Emanuel Goldstein | October 10, 2008 1:32 PM
The Kansas Trolls will be there!
Posted by: cicely | October 10, 2008 1:34 PM
I expect to be there, even though it means waking up before noon on a Saturday! :D
Posted by: Jonathan Cahill | October 10, 2008 1:56 PM
From being "touched" by caphalopod appendanges to, now, 'His Noodly Appendage' - you, Dr. Myers, are truly BLESSED!!!
Posted by: Jonathan Cahill | October 10, 2008 2:00 PM
From being "touched" by caphalopod appendanges and, at tomorrow's event, by 'His Noodly Appendage' - you, Dr. Myers, will truly be BLESSED!!!
Posted by: Fred Mounts | October 10, 2008 2:15 PM
I assume that this is something of an open thread; if not, feel free to tell me where to go...
I just returned to the office after spending a little over an hour at the Obama campaign rally in Columbus. It was my first such event, and may well be my last. I didn't seem to like rallies in high school either, so I suppose that I'm just not cut out for them.
On the way to the event, I was approached by people wanting to tell me that everything we do is for Christ. I laughed and told one guy to get real; he assured me that he is real. The actual event started with a convocation prayer, immediately telling me that I didn't belong there. Afterwards, every Democratic star in the state firmament was introduced, talked to us for a while, and was sure to mention God's (which one???) greatness. I believe it was the governor (though it could have been the state treasurer) who assured us that we overcame religious bigotry in 1960 by electing JFK. If that's the case, Barack should be able to come out as a muslim, Biden should be replaced by an atheist, and the Dems should still lead in the polls. Riiiiiiiiiiiight.
I signed up to canvas on Sunday and Monday, but I've considered backing out and telling the person who calls about my dissatisfaction. However, as is constantly pointed out, the perfect is the enemy of the good. I'll most likely still volunteer, but still express my disgust.
Posted by: Zeekster | October 10, 2008 2:15 PM
Missouri loves company! (I couldn't resist)
Posted by: Jonathan Smith | October 10, 2008 2:24 PM
I have just heard that PZ is coming to Orlando in November, can anyone verify this?
Posted by: Limey Bastard | October 10, 2008 2:27 PM
I have just heard that PZ is coming to Orlando in November, can anyone verify this?
Posted by: Zeekster | October 10, 2008 2:28 PM
I heard a rumor that he was coming here (Orlando) in December. I'm at a loss for verification.
Posted by: Evan | October 10, 2008 2:34 PM
Haha I just sent PZ that OneNewsNow poll, too.
It's down to 84% for the yes-es.
Posted by: Genetic_Mishap | October 10, 2008 2:51 PM
Just checking-- is there ANYONE going that lives in Joplin? Or anywhere closer to Joplin than Springfield?
We could, y'know, hang out 'n stuff.
Posted by: spgreenlaw | October 10, 2008 3:30 PM
So, since this is something of an open thread, I thought you all might like to know that Connecticut (my home state) is now allowing same sex marriage! This is really awesome news. 3 down, 47 to go!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/nyregio/11marriage.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Posted by: spgreenlaw | October 10, 2008 3:35 PM
Oh dear, forget a bit of the url.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/nyregion/11marriage.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Hopefully that works better?
Posted by: Badjuggler | October 10, 2008 3:41 PM
Say hi to Homer & Marge for us.
Posted by: DrFrank | October 10, 2008 3:46 PM
In PZ's description:
and also cultivates an interest in cephalopods
Now there the understatement of the century. I guess "rampant octo-fetishist" wouldn't have fitted with the tone, though.
Posted by: SASnSA | October 10, 2008 3:46 PM
Good luck, have fun, and don't desecrate the spaghetti. :)
Posted by: PZ Myers | October 10, 2008 4:17 PM
Yes, I will be in Florida on Dec 5-6, to give talks at Rollins and UCF.
Posted by: ipu4me | October 10, 2008 5:31 PM
PZ, I am shocked you choose to reference the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Please realize that the TRUE WORD can only be found in the Reformed Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster!
Posted by: ipu4me | October 10, 2008 5:33 PM
PZ, I am shocked you choose to reference the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Please realize that the TRUE WORD can only be found in the Reformed Church of The Flying Spaghetti Monster!
Posted by: Don Smith, FCD | October 10, 2008 6:35 PM
Ah, so you'll be able to visit the Church of the Wayward Cracker while at UCF. I wonder if they'd even let you in? And would being expelled from a church be as much of an accomplishment as the movie?
Posted by: Jeff | October 10, 2008 9:28 PM
Clearly he will have no need after tasting the chocolate covered goodness that is Chocolate Covered Jesus Wafers.
Posted by: tresmal | October 10, 2008 11:16 PM
I thought PZ was an aflyingspaghettimonsterist.
Posted by: Amber Culbertson-Faegre | October 11, 2008 3:09 AM
Super excited!!!
Posted by: Sili | October 11, 2008 6:55 AM
Derek Lowe just had a very nifty post about molecular staining in development.
This follows on from the GFP Nobel Prize, of course.
Lowe is well worth reading for anyone interested in the insides of 'Big Pharma'. His latest posts rejoices in a recent legal skewering of a Kevin Trudeau woo-meister with ties to the Elron Cupboardists.
Too bad he's a AGW denier, but one can't have it all in one package, I guess.