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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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More articles by PZ Myers can be found on Freethoughtblogs at the new Pharyngula!
Posted on: July 5, 2009 5:55 PM, by PZ Myers
A young man with muscular dystrophy, who by all accounts is of good character and even exceptional attitude, is in a contest to win a beach vacation. All you have to do is go to this site and click to improve his odds of winning a well-deserved break.
(via Ctrl-Alt-Del)
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/114197
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Tim Lambert 02.01.2012
Orac 02.14.2012
Jason Rosenhouse 02.12.2012
Orac 12.12.2011
ERV 11.26.2011
Comments
Posted by: littlejohn | July 5, 2009 6:15 PM
I voted. Then I cried a little.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
|
July 5, 2009 6:18 PM
The next time I whine about having arthritis, remind me about Christian.
Posted by: BaldySlaphead | July 5, 2009 6:20 PM
Can't believe you've got us voting for Christians now...
Posted by: Daretoslack | July 5, 2009 6:34 PM
My hate for Tim B^Uckley and his horrible horrible comic is only slightly overpowered by my love of charity.
Posted by: Dallas | July 5, 2009 6:53 PM
I am sorry, but I am not having anything to do with that talentless hack.
Posted by: Isherwood | July 5, 2009 6:54 PM
I did it, not because I'm a compassionate or moral person (how could I be, as an atheist?), but because my overlord commands that it be so.
Posted by: Isherwood | July 5, 2009 6:56 PM
That was a command, right?
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | July 5, 2009 7:15 PM
Ah, the irony of PZ helping a Christian...
At any rate, a very worthy cause to get the young lad a break at the seaside. I hope he wins it and has a wonderful and memorable time with his family.
Posted by: Kerlyssa | July 5, 2009 7:26 PM
Get over yourself, Dallas (#5). As horrible as his taste in comics may be, help the kid get a trip to the beach.
Posted by: MadScientist | July 5, 2009 7:45 PM
Don't forget that grrlscientist still needs votes to send her to the frozen wastelands of the south. It looks like she needs over 100 new votes so far (and polls close 30 Sep). So those who haven't registered on the tour site and voted, go check out her blog.
Posted by: eddie | July 5, 2009 7:52 PM
OK. I refreshed a few times and even went to another page for a bit, but I never clicked my heels 3 times or said "there's no place..."
Resubmitting.
Who're the other contenders? Maybe there's a daniel hauser or someone with comparable troubles but less influential friends.
And what if there's a mix-up, and grrlScientist goes to the seaside...
/concern
Posted by: Mike | July 5, 2009 8:20 PM
Thanks PZ! You da' best. Not sure why the hatin' on CAD from some of the posters, though. Hope it doesn't influence the clickies too awfully much.
Posted by: Michael | July 5, 2009 8:21 PM
I came into this thread to warn about the impending tide of people who will bitch about Tim Buckley, but seems I'm too late.
Posted by: Karl | July 5, 2009 8:22 PM
Ctrl-Alt-Del is such a terrible web comic.
I miss "The Perry Bible Fellowship" Now that was a web comic!.
Posted by: Dallas | July 5, 2009 8:41 PM
I think this sums up my feelings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlzKXMHKkDg
Posted by: Monado | July 5, 2009 8:44 PM
Voted; and I hope that Christian gets his vacation and his mother gets a break or at least a change of scene.
Posted by: arachnophilia
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July 5, 2009 9:20 PM
karl, we all miss the perry bible fellowship. i still check it semi-regularly, just in case.
Posted by: cyan
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July 5, 2009 9:35 PM
I read all the other rationales for why the contestants should win a vacation, and then voted for Christian and for a few others, too.
Most entrants seemed to just want a break (which most of us would appreciate), but some entrants' reasons seemed much more justified than others.
Maybe if you read through all of them, you'll get a better perspective on your own situation compared with those who have web-access and then entered this contest.
Posted by: CJ :) | July 5, 2009 11:16 PM
Cyan, you beat me to it...I just read through the entries and there were a few who truly deserved to win. Hard to choose, so I voted for all of them.
However, it looks like Christian will win....
Posted by: Tom S. Fox | July 5, 2009 11:19 PM
Hei, gaiz! Lookatme! I hate Tim Buckley ’coz it makes me cool!
Posted by: Interrobang | July 5, 2009 11:24 PM
I voted, but I also vote for a moratorium on the phrase "special needs mom." It ain't you that has the special needs, dimbulb, it's your kid. Speaking as a former "special needs" kid myself, that is. Sheesh. Mommy Culture rides again.
I do this because I love you, PZ, but honestly, that site made me want to puke on my shoes.
Posted by: IST | July 5, 2009 11:25 PM
Sunset Beach is pretty too.. once you get past the inland areas infested with rednecks.
Posted by: Marcus | July 5, 2009 11:30 PM
Voted too.
I actually like CAD. So all you Tim Buckley haters can just go back to worshiping Jesus, or whatever you do with the rest of your time. :)
Prefer http://www.reallifecomics.com/ though.
Posted by: Kerlyssa | July 5, 2009 11:42 PM
Spoken as someone who has never had to be a medical caregiver for a family member for a long period of time, Interrobang.
Posted by: daretoslack | July 6, 2009 12:43 AM
Actually, most of us hate Tim Buckley for perfectly valid reasons. For starters, he's an untalented artist who copies and pastes the vast majority of his comic, he's a total dick to his fans, he craves attention while refusing negative criticism (see: him vandalizing his own Wikipedia page then impersonating fans to "tell off" the vandal), he's a huuuuge misogynist (see: his comic), and he sent pictures of his penis to a 15 year old girl. For more Buckley exploits and/or examples of his awful awful "art", see here, here, here, and here.
Posted by: Angel Kaida | July 6, 2009 12:53 AM
Erm... I might just be kind of sleepy, but what is it I'm clicking? :( I don't know how to vote!
Posted by: Angel Kaida | July 6, 2009 12:55 AM
Never mind, my boyfriend pointed it out to me. Clearly I was sleepy...
Posted by: Rey Fox | July 6, 2009 1:13 AM
I read a few CAD comics from checking the link, and it didn't strike me as being as bad as, say, College Roommates From Hell. But are people really trashing the artist for copying his own art? In a webcomic?
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 3:11 AM
The only problem I have with CAD is that a few months ago it started laying the romance plot on thick and I hate romance (even moreso when you have soap opera bullshit in a web comic marketed to people who know more about video games than how relationships work).
There's also a lot of bullshit drama and some claims that Buckley showed his penis to an underage girl and shit. I don't know if that's true, and have yet to see any convincing evidence, but that is why a lot of people dislike CAD.
As for the young man's vacation, who cares if he's a Christian you cocks? You can't let another person's religious beliefs make you into a discriminatory douchebag. Not saying that this has happened yet, but you might want to remain cognizant of your thoughts and keep yourself in check so you don't go down the same path that many evangelical employers have been known to go.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | July 6, 2009 3:30 AM
Uh, Kobra
His NAME is Christian. Get it, the iroy? His religious beliefs, orr otherwise are not even mentioned on his mom's request/nomination. Before you go off ranting and calling people cocks maybe you should read the site a little better and get that people are having a little light hearted humour with PZ.
Posted by: Karl | July 6, 2009 3:35 AM
Arachnophilia
I bought the PBF book off Amazon, it was only $16.
Its a hardcover and really nice.
There are a heap of missing strips in the back too!
daretoslack
Thanks for that link to Tim Buckleys Penis
You goon.
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 4:01 AM
@30:
Ah, my mistake.
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 4:04 AM
@30:
Ah, my mistake.
Posted by: Troy
|
July 6, 2009 4:07 AM
I don't want to come out as crass, but what that guy really needs is EUTHANASIA.
At least in a rational, compassionate and merciful society that would be the default.
Just something to think about instead of this lousy fakery we got going on here.
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 4:59 AM
@35: Er, no. Euthanasia should only be used when a person WANTS TO DIE IMMEDIATELY. This young man has a short life, but he clearly wants to enjoy it.
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 5:02 AM
Clearly, my previous comment is meant to point @34, not itself.
Posted by: Troy
|
July 6, 2009 5:05 AM
No, he clearly is a victim of nonsensical, compassionless society which constructs such delusions.
I would like to know if he or his mother are superstitious.
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 5:18 AM
@37:
What the hell are you blathering about? You might want to start with a premise or two and throw in some inferences if you want anyone to understand what you're trying to say.
Euthanasia should only be used, for the purposes of alleviating suffering, on people who are going to die and want to die sooner.
Explain yourself, please.
Posted by: Troy
|
July 6, 2009 5:20 AM
It's not my fault you are functionally illiterate...
Posted by: Stephen Wells | July 6, 2009 5:24 AM
Actually, Troy, it _is_ your fault that you are functionally illiterate :)
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 5:29 AM
@39: I'm not illiterate, you're just failing to communicate your ideas.
You need to start with premises, and include inferences to show that the premises support your claims (the conclusions). ASSUME NO KNOWLEDGE. Explain yourself thoroughly.
If you don't do that, then other people will not understand your reasoning because you have not shown any signs of reasoning. Calling people "functionally illiterate" because you suck at communicating is the purest example of FAIL and butthurt I've seen in a Pharyngula comment thread since Crackergate.
Posted by: Cosmic Teapot | July 6, 2009 5:34 AM
Troy the crass idiot.
No, he is a victim [sic] of several major illnesses, which he is overcoming with bravery and a smile.
Obviously you don't know what a rational, compassionate and merciful society is.
YOU don't get to choose who should live or die, you contemptible prat.
Posted by: Troy
|
July 6, 2009 5:34 AM
Don't hurt yourself with so much overstretching...
Posted by: Kobra | July 6, 2009 5:42 AM
Okay, since Troy refuses to explain his position, I think we can safely say he is either trolling or just remarkably stupid. Either way, I nominate him for the dungeon.
Posted by: Troy
|
July 6, 2009 6:20 AM
You just LOVE to be contrarians without a cause, don't you?
Posted by: B^U | July 6, 2009 6:38 AM
I have only one thing to say about this...
B^U
and also
B^U
B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U B^U
Posted by: Troy
|
July 6, 2009 6:44 AM
Sorry, I'm not smart enough to figure out what that means.
Posted by: Citizen Z | July 6, 2009 7:17 AM
Troy is what is known in some circles as a "moby". It's similar to a concern troll, but with a different tone. A concern troll would imply that their "fellow" atheists/leftist/right wingers are behaving badly. A moby would behave badly themselves. Both are an attempt to make people holding that point of view look bad, a moby just does it in a more ham handed way. Basically a moby is a less intelligent version of a concern troll.
Posted by: Assover Teakettle | July 6, 2009 7:56 AM
My guess is that Troy is trying to wave a red flag
with Eugenics, Nazis & Robber Barons appliqued on it
in a roomful of scary atheist Darwinists, just for
the adrenalin rush. You go, Troy!
Posted by: Chgo_Liz
|
July 6, 2009 10:17 AM
Interrobang @ #21:
Clearly you have never been a parent, let alone a 24/7 unpaid caregiver for a child/family member with multiple medical issues.
_____
Can I just say how refreshing it was to read a plea for help, followed by a comment thread, in which religion was never once mentioned?
Discombobulating, though, to read the guy's name.
Posted by: Watchman | July 6, 2009 10:28 AM
Troy:
I believe you are mistaken.
Muscular Dystrophy killed my cousin when he was sixteen. He was well-loved, and his life, though challenging, was full and worthwhile. Neither he, nor anyone who knew him, would have said otherwise.
Posted by: littlejohn | July 6, 2009 1:49 PM
Have we really become this hard-hearted? Do you understand that we are acting like the assholes Christians call us?
Good lord, give this kid a break. This isn't political.
Euthenasia? Are you a Poe?
Posted by: Snoof | July 6, 2009 11:57 PM
@52, littlejohn:
No, he's an insultingly blatant troll. There's no Poe about it.
Is it just nostalgia talking, or were trolls better in the Old Days? Nowadays there's no subtlety, no finesse. It used to be a troll would insinuate themselves into an online community and gently manipulate it, polarising it into factions and steering it towards a gigantic implosion of flames and hurt feelings. It took _skill_, it took _talent_.
Or at very least, they were creative when it came to being pointlessly insulting.
Most modern trolls are one-trick ponies. Except for the ones which can't even manage one trick, and just spew bile everywhere.