Pharyngula

Posted by: SaraJ | June 25, 2009 11:35 AM

Well, I feel accomplished now. I guess I can take the rest of the day off work!

Posted by: Ouchimoo | June 25, 2009 11:37 AM

ROLF! F#cking awesome!

Posted by: steve | June 25, 2009 11:38 AM

I wonder how long before one of the creationist shills who hang around here pass the word back to Ham, and if he'll then try to disqualify PZ from winning.

Posted by: Glen Davidson | June 25, 2009 11:38 AM

And he misspelled (wrote the wrong word, etc.) "compliments."

Way to go, PZ and all. I only hope that this teaches you to appreciate the wonders of magic and of wishful thinking.

Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/6mb592

Posted by: Stanton | June 25, 2009 11:43 AM

Eric Hovind will renege on the deal.

Posted by: Ric | June 25, 2009 11:43 AM

Feel the power of the atheist hordes!

Posted by: mikeg | June 25, 2009 11:43 AM

you're welcome

Posted by: Happy Tentacles | June 25, 2009 11:44 AM

Do we all get to play with it?

Posted by: J. D. | June 25, 2009 11:45 AM

This is fantabulous.

Posted by: Carl Troein | June 25, 2009 11:45 AM

Congratulations PZ!
And: WTF? I don't believe for a second that they'd allow you to win if they knew it was you, but how can they not know? Even if you registered with an anonymous email address, surely they would've seen that the traffic was coming from here, or did they just not think that far? It'll be very interesting to see whether they'll back out or send you your well-earned creationist videos iPod.

Posted by: Nessa | June 25, 2009 11:47 AM

Woo-hoo, Glad I could help.

Posted by: SunMoron | June 25, 2009 11:48 AM

...and when you go to the museum it will be filmed and edited to make a creationist propaganda film.

Posted by: Sastra | June 25, 2009 11:49 AM

Oh, my. Well, isn't that lovely!

Now I hope you sent him a nice thank you with your complements compliments. We must always encourage these little signs of honesty in Creationists. You never know.

Posted by: newbrain | June 25, 2009 11:50 AM

As a faithful lurker of this wonderful blog, I'll just state that I'm happy for you, and that my clicks were to some avail.

Can't wait to read about the upcoming "Museum" visit!

Posted by: Lance | June 25, 2009 11:50 AM

They'll send it. PZ might just convert.

Posted by: Porco Dio | June 25, 2009 11:55 AM

you are a true genius!

Posted by: littlejohn | June 25, 2009 11:56 AM

"complements of...": creationist spelling.

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | June 25, 2009 11:57 AM

can I have your old iPod?

Posted by: Bill Dauphin, OM | June 25, 2009 11:58 AM

Do we all get to play with it?

Of course you do; who could stop you? Oh, wait... you meant the iPod.... <litella>never mind<litella>

Posted by: Marshall | June 25, 2009 11:58 AM

Victory!

Posted by: rrt | June 25, 2009 11:59 AM

No. Way. Ham agreed? Despite some people's concerns, I think this is sweeeeet.

Do you think we could get 'em to close the museum for a private showing? Y'know, so the Pharyngulite Horde could pack the place? I guess we could invite others, too...well, everyone but that Plait guy. :)

Posted by: Dahan | June 25, 2009 12:01 PM

Done and done.

Posted by: Tom | June 25, 2009 12:03 PM

Off topic, but the Cincinnati Enquirer did a puff piece about a group of scientists visiting the creation "museum."

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090624/NEWS01/306240055/Scientists+tour+Museum

It's sad really, that our local paper of record won't take a stronger stand against Ken Ham, and his cash cow.

Posted by: MikeTheInfidel | June 25, 2009 12:03 PM

PZFTW.

Posted by: James F | June 25, 2009 12:06 PM

Usually when one wins the internets, it doesn't come with a physical prize. Well done!

Posted by: Eliza | June 25, 2009 12:07 PM

*squeals* Well done PZ!

Posted by: John | June 25, 2009 12:08 PM

I think they will bug and GPS the device. After he gets it you will see preemptive posts on there blogs already knowing what PZ's up to and where he is. LOL, good job all and good luck PZ.

Posted by: toomanytribbles | June 25, 2009 12:10 PM

congrats

Posted by: Ron Sullivan | June 25, 2009 12:10 PM

A short preview from the inimitable Jacob Kreci, chronicler of all things American, roadside, and weird.

Posted by: Qwerty | June 25, 2009 12:12 PM

Wow, like the little girl said in the initial Shake & Bake commercial, "And I helped."

Now, after listening to this, you can write the book "Everything I Never Wanted to Know about Creationism."

Posted by: Matt H. | June 25, 2009 12:13 PM

Congratulations, PZ. I'm glad all those visits to that site from this blog weren't for nought. Do go to Ham's Creation Museum, I'd love to read your take on it. Oh, and perhaps take a photo of yourself in your cephalopod balaclava standing outside? Heck, take Richard Dawkins with you the next time he visits the States and see if he gets 'Expelled' from the queue!

Posted by: Alpinist | June 25, 2009 12:17 PM

Congratulations, PZ!

Posted by: Doc Bill | June 25, 2009 12:17 PM

When you receive the iPod Touch (in this life or next) check to make sure the tax has been paid.

Posted by: ThirtyFiveUp | June 25, 2009 12:20 PM

You should soak it in bleach before you touch it.

Cooties could be lurking.

Posted by: pyramus | June 25, 2009 12:22 PM

Congratulations! I voted (seems as good a word as any) as often as I could, which is to say "as often as I remembered to", and every time, I would think, "Well, that's them Pharyngulated for another day."

Whether you will actually get to hold the device in your hands is another question. We want pictures!

Posted by: RJSJR | June 25, 2009 12:25 PM

If you bring your own saddle, do you think he'd let you ride the T-Rex?

Posted by: Arwen | June 25, 2009 12:27 PM

I've never been so proud!

Posted by: Rick020200 | June 25, 2009 12:29 PM

No, Ham did not agree. We're working on the "Museum" trip from a different angle.

Nah, nevermind. That would be just as awesome!

Posted by: ChrisG | June 25, 2009 12:32 PM

Thank dog that worked out. Despite the pain of watching pure stupidity on public display, I am honoured that I was able to offer my small efforts to the great tentacled one for his victory!

Be careful if you wear your squid balaclava to the "museum". That lot are likely to think you're a new form of life "miraculously" created by...whatever it is they think creates things. That, or they'll think you're a demon from the underworld and try to poke you with pointed sticks.

In any event, post lots of pictures! Including the iPod, when it arrives (I remain an optimist).

Posted by: lose_the_woo | June 25, 2009 12:35 PM

PZ,

Make sure to bring an audio capture device. You may have to be sly about it. They may not want you to video anything. Hopefully they won't mind you capturing any discussions. I just think it's a good chance to document any inane commentary that may occur, giving you (or others) the opportunity to unravel it at a later time. Oh what joy it would be to see the creation myth deconstructed at their own party.

Posted by: Hairhead | June 25, 2009 12:45 PM

PZ, your upcoming trip to the "museum" makes me anxious. I worry that one of the following might happen:

1) The stupidity and cognitive dissonance will seep past your intellectual defenses and you will have a fit of apoplexy and crash to the floor of their museum, twitching and gabbling.

2) They'll surround you with a bunch of godbots who will physically drown out any of your comments with yelling and shrieking.

3) You will become so enraged at the perfidy exposed that you will start to drag children out of the museum, claiming that you are saving them from child abuse.

In all seriousness, at any "Spy Store" for $300 you can purchase a nice clip-on pen which contains a colour camera and an audio device which will record up to 2 hours of video on a 4GB chip. I suggest you wear one in the front pocket of your jacket to protect yourself against the post facto lies they will tell about you in response to your written evisceration of their godwalloping heap of dung.

Good luck!

Posted by: Tiki Idyll | June 25, 2009 12:50 PM

I just realized who Ken Ham reminds me of — Evil Lincoln!

Posted by: Bob O'H | June 25, 2009 12:51 PM

Now how about helping another Science Blogger to win a prize? Vote for Grrlscientist to go on a trip to Antarctica!

She hasn't realised yet that there aren't any parrots that far south. Don't tell her, though.

Posted by: maddogdelta | June 25, 2009 12:53 PM

I wonder if the videos could be sent to thunderf00t on youtube, so that he will have enough material for his next 30 "why do people laugh at creationists" videos.

Posted by: Chris | June 25, 2009 12:56 PM

I saw the word Victory, and I instantly knew. Congrats, now hopefully it doesn't persuade you and you start spouting creationist crap.

Posted by: Arr Jay | June 25, 2009 1:00 PM

#61 Funny and disturbing at the same time. Would be interesting to see PZ do the wheelchair...

Posted by: dNorrisM | June 25, 2009 1:02 PM

There was a 15 second soundbite on NPR yesterday about a group of paleontologists touring Ham's museum. That should give them something to chuckle over down in Cincinnati this weekend. Nary a peep about the incident at PT.

In other news I saw (for the first time) a TV ad for the museum. It was very well done. I was watching it admiringly, wondering what it was advertising for. My jaw dropped through amusement when I fount out.

Posted by: maddogdelta | June 25, 2009 1:09 PM

@pz #46

Those Groucho Marx glasses are always a good disguise...

Posted by: Cookie | June 25, 2009 1:14 PM

Congratulations. I am happy to have made a small contribution to this achievement.
I wonder if Hovind will announce the winner on his site and, if so, what kind of spin he will try to use.

Posted by: Hank | June 25, 2009 1:17 PM

Hmmm, "complements"?

Posted by: js | June 25, 2009 1:20 PM

I've got one non-word for you: iBomb.

Posted by: Mel N | June 25, 2009 1:24 PM

Congrats PZ. Your winning is surely a sign with appropriate wink and a nod.

Posted by: Chris L | June 25, 2009 1:25 PM

CONGRATULATIONS

Posted by: Marc | June 25, 2009 1:32 PM

Baahahaha victory!

Posted by: Daneel | June 25, 2009 1:33 PM

You should sell it on eBay and donate the money to charity. If you want to...

Posted by: Paul Lundgren | June 25, 2009 1:40 PM

Dr. Myers,

No, Ham did not agree. We're working on the "Museum" trip from a different angle.

Posted by: sasqwatch | June 25, 2009 1:44 PM

It's a miracle!

Posted by: David Reid | June 25, 2009 1:46 PM

This is clearly the work of a very just and loving god. I hope now that you have witnessed this god's miraculous powers for your self you will truly open your heart to him.
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So that he may rip the steal beating heart from your chest and and devour it whole, while listening to _HIS_ new iPod Touch. All Hail Cthullu!

Posted by: James Sweet | June 25, 2009 1:49 PM

hahahahahahahahahahaha...

So now the question is, does Mr. Hovind realize who he is giving the iPod to and he is just playing it cool, or did he just fire off an e-mail without looking at the To: address?

If the former, that actually earns him the tiniest modicum of respect in my eyes. He could have just taken his ball and gone home, but if he's aware, then he is manning up and following through on his word. Good for him, if so.

Now, if only he would stop quote-mining, we could at least call him "honest"...

Posted by: Greg Laden | June 25, 2009 2:02 PM

Bring it to the convention in Bloomington this July!

Posted by: KeithB | June 25, 2009 2:12 PM

MikeyM@27:
That should be Duct tape, not masking tape to cover the inscription, way geekier!

Posted by: Blondin | June 25, 2009 2:28 PM

If you go to the Flintstone Museum will you be taking the Trophy Wife? You should see if you can get Jeff Goldblum to go along, too. That would be cool!

Just imagine... against all odds a disgruntled museum employee picks that particular day to sabotage the park, I mean museum, and inserts a computer virus into the animatronic control system. Just while you and the Trophy Wife and Malcolm, I mean Jeff, are watching the touching scene of children feeding an albertosaurus it suddenly goes berserk and bites off the childrens' heads! Then it turns menacingly and begins advancing towards you and your entourage! You turn to flee, only to find your path blocked by a giant sparking and spasming tyrannosaurus rex. People are screaming and running around like headless chickens because the albertosaurus is rampaging through the crowd now, biting off heads as it goes.

Meanwhile, Ken Ham and his senior staff are forming a prayer circle in the board room while the concession kiosk girl valiantly battles her way through maniac animatronic apostles to the main broom closet where the circuit breakers are. Just when she reaches the door the berserk apostles all attack at once. It's more than she can handle and she succumbs to the horde and is consumed in a Dawn-of-the-Dead-like feast of gore. Then they turn toward the administration building where they can see Ham and company on their knees, in a circle with their heads bowed.

The scene cuts back to PZ and friends dodging berserk velociraptors and albertosauruses. Suddenly something explodes in the lumbering t-rex's head. A shower of sparks spews out of its earholes as it stiffens, shudders and then falls lifelessly on top of the velociraptors and albertosauruses just as they were crouching to pounce.

PZ and friends waste no time making for the exit. Suddenly the sound of smashing glass draws their attention towards the administration area. The apostle-zombies have broken the windows and are climbing into the board room where Ken Ham and his staff are huddled. Ham spots PZ and his friends running for the exit and begins yelling and waving his arms furiously.

PZ and his friends have reached their car in the parking lot and when PZ turns to look back he sees Ken Ham waving and yelling through the window. PZ cups his hands around his mouth and calls to Ken Ham, "Mister Ham, after careful consideration, I have decided NOT to endorse your museum!"

Okay, I might have got a little carried away but I really think that when you leave the Creation Museum you should say, "Mister Ham, I have decided NOT to endorse your museum!"

Posted by: Your Name's Not Bruce? | June 25, 2009 2:53 PM

Congrats on the iPod (even though it is an IDfected one full of cooties. Ew.)

Maybe you could have a contest on Pharyngula for a reader-suggested question for Mr. Ham when you visit his edifice/complex?

(Puts up hand, eagerly waving it to get attention)

OOH ME! ME! I HAVE ONE! (though it might need more elegant and streamlined wording).

Why would an omnipotent divinity choose to destroy all life on earth (except for one family and all the animals they could fit on their boat) by way of an indiscriminate flood because of the wickedness of only one species (which said divinity had itself supposedly created) when this divinity (who is omnipotent, remember) could have turned all humans into pillars of salt or simply struck them down dead?
If it is evil to cause unnecessary suffering, should this divinity not be considered evil because of the unnecessary misery, suffering and death brought about through such universal destruction of life when more precisely targeted means were possible (omnipotent!)?

Posted by: Objection! | June 25, 2009 3:18 PM

PZ coming to the Creation Museum? In August? Coincidentally the very month I'm moving a mere 40 minutes from the Creation Museum to begin studying Biology. Huzzah!!! Chtulhu Akbar!

Posted by: The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge | June 25, 2009 3:27 PM

Congratulations, P. Z.! And I'll take my small share of credit, too.

If and when you do get the iPod, could you please ask Hovind what he's doing giving away an iPod in the first place? Aren't all good Christian 'Murkins supposed to be boycotting Apple because they donated $100,000 to the "No on 8" campaign?*

Certainly every Apple laptop you see on TV for the last year (which as usual is at least 95% of them) has a sticker hiding the Apple logo, in order to avoid a blizzard of hate mail. Is it all right to patronize Apple again? I'm so confused!

*Of course, Google gave at least as much, but like so many other things in the tech world, it's only wrong if Apple does it.

Posted by: a lurker | June 25, 2009 3:44 PM

Wow he actually have you the prize? He certainly has to know who you are and even if he did not simply checking your URL would have given it away anyways. So yes congrats for the win the congrats to Eric for not rigging it (so far at least).

Of course he might not have minded it. After all he want to convert us. And in his mind he might think he can out reason your readers on matters of science. Not very bloody likely. I doubt he converted a single one. Sorry Eric, but your lines will only work with those who know pretty much nothing about science.

Posted by: Quidam | June 25, 2009 3:58 PM

Thank goodness. Now I can take that link out of my logon script.

Posted by: OctoberMermaid | June 25, 2009 4:27 PM

"Do we all get to play with it?"

It belongs to all of us in the same way that the US Constitution or the first flag belongs to all Americans.. which is to say, no, you do not get to play with it.

Posted by: Asa | June 25, 2009 4:51 PM

I hope you really do go to go to the creation museum. It would be nice if you could have someone make a mostly uncut video of it too.

I would also like to see you have a discussion with Mr. Ham. I believe your reaction to his claims that your entire field is a lie is appropriate, but I hope that you find enough patience and kindness to make it clear that you have actually come and considered the controversial 'evidence' for his claims.

Posted by: Cowcakes | June 25, 2009 7:33 PM

dahduh | June 25, 2009 4:08 PM #137

Good idea, and it could be filled with videos from Dawkins, Hitchens, Pat Condell etc.

Posted by: WordNerd | June 25, 2009 9:45 PM

I might be going myself in a couple of weeks--my friends and I want to see this monument to willful ignorance for ourselves. I'll be so pissed if that saddled dinosaur is still out for repairs, though.

Posted by: Philip1978 | June 26, 2009 3:01 AM

Oh wow!

HAPPY MONKEY!

To all those who persevered, those whose eyes may never be the same after having seen that site and the bullshit that was on it, some may even be mentally scarred for life - fear not and have hope good people for this iPOD is your victory against the forces of bollocks!

I salute you all, you brave men and women, this Tea Fuelled lunatic Englishman is very proud of you indeed.

PZ should you ever need my help again, count me in sir, it was an honour serving amongst such courageous heroes of the intertubes!

:)

Posted by: Jorg Willekens | June 26, 2009 10:30 AM

Glad I could help (with my daily clicks). I can now finally remove the bookmark called "Click Me!" from my firefox bookmark bar. (It is astonishing how well that technique works for clicking something every day...)

Anyway: congratulations on your Epic Victory!

Posted by: wendgio1 | June 26, 2009 12:30 PM

I wonder if he had a "Holy Crap!!" moment when he saw just how many clicks you got. Well done, sir.