…and this is a 
There is a Seventh Day Adventist college, La Sierra University, which has horrified church leaders because their biology department is infested with evolutionists. It just goes to show: educate an intelligent person in biology, and they can't help but accept evolutionary theory as the idea best supported by the evidence.
This has caused much anguish among the SDAs, and a website that moans about the problem is running a poll. As we all know, an internet poll is obviously the very best way to resolve scientific issues…so how about if you go help them out? They seem to be riven with dissent right now.
Yes 49%
No 51%
Comments
Posted by: Kilre | November 25, 2009 10:50 AM
Done my part here.
Posted by: bevo/devo | November 25, 2009 10:51 AM
Yes 38 (36%)
No 68 (64%)
This one shouldn't be hard.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
|
November 25, 2009 10:53 AM
This one is too easy. Still fun.
Posted by: zer0 | November 25, 2009 10:55 AM
Yes 40 (7%)
No 523 (93%
What's the record around here for quickest poll smashing?!
Posted by: lordshipmayhem | November 25, 2009 10:56 AM
And now north of 90% "No".
Pharyngulated, thoroughly. Teach the truth, not the superstition.
Posted by: Zmidponk | November 25, 2009 10:56 AM
Now at:
Yes 40 (6%)
No 600 (94%)
Unfortunately, they've set it up so that, if you block cookies, you can just refresh the page you get taken to after you've voted to vote the same way again.
Posted by: Antiochus Epiphanes | November 25, 2009 11:00 AM
I'd rather post-doc for 1 million years* than take a job at a place that would dictate curricula based on religulous principles.
Actually, I'd rather be a post-doc than any other occupation, now that I think of it. I'd rather take a job at McDonalds**.
**I would quickly rise to the rank of manager.
Posted by: Joel | November 25, 2009 11:01 AM
I have no problem with them teaching what ever they like. I do have a problem with their accreditation if they choose to teach creationism, sorry ID, as science.
Posted by: Crystal Joyrider | November 25, 2009 11:01 AM
95% against? Wow, that was quick. =P
Posted by: Steve_C | November 25, 2009 11:09 AM
I'm sorry. How do people not see how pathetic and insane it is to insist in a 6000 year old earth?
It's stupid.
Posted by: bevo/devo | November 25, 2009 11:16 AM
The professors sure have their head on straight:
Unfortunately, the board of trustees are a bunch of fools:
Posted by: Gus Snarp | November 25, 2009 11:17 AM
Now up to 97% no. Brilliant.
Posted by: Galactic Atom | November 25, 2009 11:17 AM
Yes 3%, No 97%
I love these polls :-)
Posted by: middlekk | November 25, 2009 11:19 AM
Still 97% no.
Brightens my dreary, dreary day.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 11:25 AM
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 11:27 AM
I sincerely doubt that La Sierra or Loma Linda want to lose their WASC accreditation. Can you stay accredited if you stop teaching all science? I know you don't get to teach religious dogma that has been shown to be false by science in the place of science if you want to remain accredited by one of the regional (real) accrediting associations.
The religious nuts will just have to swallow the fact that they have doctrines that are shown to be contrary to reality.
Posted by: SplendidMonkey | November 25, 2009 11:28 AM
I think you guys have got this one wrong. Employees of the SDA should be required to teach what the SDA says they should teach, no exceptions. 100% of the B.S. dogma and no less.
Posted by: D_Mendes | November 25, 2009 11:30 AM
Yes 45 (3%)
No 1631 (97%)
Don't think "yes" has any chance of making a comeback.
gotta love crashing polls
Posted by: Cay | November 25, 2009 11:32 AM
That website was a typical example of a religious institution using 21st century communications technology to bash science. The Kirk Cameron / Ray Comfort YouTube videos are another.
Posted by: Michael | November 25, 2009 11:32 AM
I never feel justified in voting more then once in these polls They are asking for an opinion and I see it as a disservice to over state the numbers of our side.
That being said, I am sure they will ignore this poll and do whatever they want, much to the disservice of their students.
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 11:33 AM
The SDA may have odd doctrines, SplendidMonkey, but they aren't so out of touch that they are willing to destroy their colleges' reputations. The SDA will fight over it, but nothing will change in the classroom. They will continue to teach science in science classes.
Schools that have chosen to be accredited by the regional accrediting associations take education seriously. Students, faculty and alumni do not want their school to be downgraded to a Bible college.
Posted by: Lilith | November 25, 2009 11:36 AM
Still at 97%
That was a fast Pharyngulation.
Either there are many other sensible people out there, or some of you voted multiple times.
Posted by: Halbatross
|
November 25, 2009 11:39 AM
These Pharyngulation of internet polls always cracks me up. I can't help but imagine the wedged undies consternation of any of the associated powers that be. It's funny on so many levels.
Posted by: Zmidponk | November 25, 2009 11:41 AM
Michael #20:
Actually, most polls like these are looking for a particular answer by placing it somewhere where, without the intervention of this blog, only people who would mostly vote a particular way would likely see it.
They're not just 'asking for an opinion' - they're asking for an opinion from a biased subset of people. We're biasing it the other way, and, in the process, showing how utterly pointless such polls are.
Posted by: SplendidMonkey | November 25, 2009 11:42 AM
@freelunch, by backing down wouldn't the SDA have to admit that the the church doctrine is false? It seems to me that their choices are:
1. Get out of the college business
2. Require that college teachings agree with SDA doctrine.
3. Admit that SDA doctrine is false
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 11:45 AM
SplendidMonkey -
As someone who grew up in a similarly conservative body, I can say that the answer is:
4. Continue to teach good science in science class and doctrines that are inconsistent with that science in religion class (generally with a nod and a wink and the attitude that "we know better than scientists what happened").
Posted by: jolly | November 25, 2009 11:45 AM
That would be quite a course, very tough homework. Class begins, professor stands in front of class and says, "God did it. There will be a test on this later." They should teach the truth, the universe was created at 10:00 this morning. God just makes us think we were here yesterday.
Posted by: AJ Milne
|
November 25, 2009 11:46 AM
I don't see the poll anymore. Did they hide/close it, or have I just gone blind?
Posted by: Zernk | November 25, 2009 11:47 AM
Oops. They didn't like they way the poll was going, so they removed it. The Truth (tm) can be so elusive...
Posted by: Jeff Hope | November 25, 2009 11:49 AM
Has the poll been taken down? I don't see it.
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 11:49 AM
Zernk,
Isn't it sad when an attempt to create a propaganda victory blows up in the faces of the propagandists.
Posted by: Mu
|
November 25, 2009 11:51 AM
I don't think they want to upset all the alumni who are busy donating money back to their school by blowing their accreditation. Very hard to get someone in a giving mood if they suddenly have to start to explain that back when they got their degree, the school was indeed better than Orel Roberts and Liberty U.
Posted by: Zernk | November 25, 2009 11:53 AM
Yep - there ain't no free lunch! Especially with PZ in line at the buffet.
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 25, 2009 11:55 AM
It says halfway down the front page, "Some say La Sierra’s biology classes are guided by Satan". Well, if that's true, it's disgraceful: after all, what has he published in the relevant journals? What teaching experience does he have. Does he even have a degree?
Posted by: brenth | November 25, 2009 11:55 AM
I just got my vote in. After trolling around this website, I can't find the poll now.
There are some incredible displays of stupidity here. I just saw a video where the speaker calls "Richard Dawkins the Muhammed Atta of evolutionist". Wow???!!!
Posted by: Janice in Toronto | November 25, 2009 11:58 AM
The poll seems to be gone...
Posted by: Swulf | November 25, 2009 12:02 PM
Yup, no sign of the poll.
Posted by: daveau
|
November 25, 2009 12:03 PM
Poll all gone. Bye bye.
Posted by: Peptron | November 25, 2009 12:04 PM
They can't handle the truth.
Posted by: Sesoron | November 25, 2009 12:05 PM
Looks like we Pharyngulated it to dust.
Posted by: HappyHead | November 25, 2009 12:06 PM
They've replaced it with a link to a petition that they're filtering - you have to email them for a password first, so that nobody will post "inappropriate" (ie: Pro-reality) messages in the petition.
Posted by: Isherwood
|
November 25, 2009 12:06 PM
Cowardly shits only want to hear their version of the truth.
Posted by: Jim Linville | November 25, 2009 12:07 PM
I blogged about this when the story first hit the news a few weeks ago. I got a couple of good comments from LSU students who were most certainly on the side of the professors and didn't like the looney fringe dictating their education to them. THey claimed to be in the distinct majority among the students (I hope they are right). Yet, the admin is cratering to the nutbars who pay the bills, as if it is only the content of science that is open to revision and not religious beliefs. It think they should teach mandatory classes on the evolution of christian beliefs..
I did get this one great comment, however..
"First, La Sierra is an adventist UNIVERSITY. It is not a community college.
Second, since it is an adventist college, everything should be based off of the adventist teachings and culture.
It’s really a no-brainer."
"No brainer" is not the nickname of the author, but could be...
Posted by: Lilith | November 25, 2009 12:07 PM
Knockgoats @ 34 FTW!
Posted by: Stuart | November 25, 2009 12:12 PM
Oh no not another bloomin poll...
Posted by: Mumon | November 25, 2009 12:18 PM
I know this is off topic, but I really hope Prof. Myers sees this and answers it:
Is there an animal that evolved to be eaten by other mammals?
...
Wed, November 25, 2009 9:16:38 AM
From:
John Kowalski [Chat now]
...
View Contact
To: pzmyers@gmail.com
Dear Prof. Myers:
There was a recent article in they NY Times by Gary Steiner (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/opinion/22steiner.html) a vegan, outlining what he thought were the moral considerations for his dietary and sartorial choices. It occurred to me (and at least one other reader, see http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/opinion/l24vegan.html?_r=1&emc=eta1 ) that of course domesticated animals wouldn't have survived if we hadn't domesticated them, and therefore the issue of eating animals = killing animals is murkier than Steiner puts forth.
But it also led me to think: there are fruit plants that evolved so animals could eat them (peaches, cherries, etc.) . Is there a similar case with animals? Has an animal species actually evolved (yet) to the point where the animal has created a survival advantage by being eaten by another species? Clearly of course, cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, etc. are on track to do precisely that. But does this exist for other species that are generally not eaten by humans? Is there cases where speciation has occurred, specifically, are there specific species related to other species that depend on being eaten for the survival of their species? Is there an aquatic precedent for this?
I'd greatly appreciate an answer, especially a) since in my world I encounter lots of vegetarians and this would be a viewpoint not normally explored, and b) it's an interesting question.
Posted by: Randy
|
November 25, 2009 12:19 PM
Damn, the poll's already gone!?
Posted by: kevin gallagher | November 25, 2009 12:19 PM
@knockgoats
LMFAO. An yeah they've probably seen the poll not going the way they expected. Although it'll take some real twistin for them to de-pharyngulafy it now >.
Posted by: JScarry | November 25, 2009 12:22 PM
I mis-read the first paragraph on the website. I though it said.
In a recent effort to step up its PR campaign against allegations that _education_ is being promoted in the biology department...
Or maybe I didn't.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 12:25 PM
That the link to the poll is no longer there doesn't mean the poll is no longer there. I had kept the results page open and just clicked on Refresh.
Netscape* asked if I want to repeat sending the information I just gave to that online form. Harr! It almost certainly wasn't counted because I haven't bothered turning cookies off or anything – but some of you have…
* Safari 3 for Mac is too stupid to display the main page correctly. Clicking on the words "Vote" or "Results" made them disappear.
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 12:27 PM
Knockgoats,
Exhaustive study (three seconds on Wikipedia) shows that Satan did not go to college because he was drafted as a kid by the Oilers.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 12:28 PM
And the poll itself, of course, is here.
Posted by: Zmidponk | November 25, 2009 12:28 PM
Yep, the poll is still there - they just removed the link from the main page. If anyone still wants to Pharyngulate it, you could try this link:
http://educatetruth.com/tinc?key=QIyWDGug
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 12:33 PM
Hmmm.
Posted by: Atom Weaver | November 25, 2009 12:47 PM
I'd bet there are quite a few people associated with The Real LSU; http://www.lsu.edu, who would object to Crank website's use of "LSU" to refer to La Sierra... Yet another variant on creationist manufacturing of false bona fides?
Posted by: monimonika
|
November 25, 2009 12:54 PM
To Mumon(#46):
http://crawling-insects.suite101.com/article.cfm/ants_tightly_control_their_aphids
Well, ants and aphids are animals.
Now, if the question is about mammals (other than humans) contributing to the survival of another species of mammal (other than humans) by eating them, then I'd need to do bunch more searching (which I may not follow through with).
Posted by: Jim | November 25, 2009 12:59 PM
Mumon Does Trichinella spiralis count? i.e. Trichinosis?
Posted by: Michael Suttkus, II | November 25, 2009 12:59 PM
@#46
Reading the question as "Has there been an animal that has evolved to be eaten by other animals", the answer is yes. LOTS of parasites have evolved to be eaten by other animals, or even to have their hosts be eaten. There are ant parasites that make the ant climb up to the top of a flower or blade of grass and hang on to the edge, this maximizes the ants chance to be eaten by a larger animal, that the parasite can then infect.
An even more impressive example is a group of snail/bird parasitic worms. When the parasite has completed it's lifecycle in the snail, it needs to infest a bird, so it crawls into one of the snails antenna, and sticks a massive, colorful egg case into the antenna. It then pulsates the egg case. The result is highly visible and a passing bird will swoop down and snap up the egg case and antenna, thus becoming infected with eggs!
Many, many parasites have less dramatic ways of infection that depend on being eaten. Fireworm parasites depend on being drunk by humans, of course.
I can't think of any organisms actually try to be messily devoured, though. The closest I can think of is creatures like arrow poison frogs. Their poison is primarily meant to make an animal that eats them sick, and their bright colors reinforce the identification. The idea being that a predator eats one frog, realizes this is a bad idea, and doesn't eat anymore. Still, the system depends on them being eaten once, so maybe that would count.
Posted by: ellindsey
|
November 25, 2009 1:00 PM
Mumon:
There do exist many species of parasites which can only reproduce if their host is eaten by another creature. Some of these parasites modify their host's behavior and/or appearance to make it more likely to be eaten. Arguably, when the host is eaten, the parasite is also eaten, but it (or its eggs) survive the process to infect another host.
Not quite what you asked, but the closest I can think of.
Posted by: Woof
|
November 25, 2009 1:01 PM
There's quite a headfacepalmdesk article on that site about a woman who's son was taught that gasp! atmospheric O2 levels used to be different than they are now, thus theistic evolution:
http://www.educatetruth.com/articles/parent-tells-story-of-withdrawing-son-from-lsu/
Unfortunately, it continues...
I can't speak to current conditions, but 30 years ago the University of Central Arkansas was the only public college or university in the state that did not require that applicants have a "C" average in high school.
Posted by: Polly Chembleleck | November 25, 2009 1:05 PM
They've just deleted all the votes. Which ironically means that 100% of the votes are now cast by Pharyngulators.
Posted by: Woof
|
November 25, 2009 1:10 PM
Actually, no. You can see the results at http://educatetruth.com/tinc?key=QIyWDGug and, bizarrely, the no votes keep increasing! Currently it's 48/2252 y/n.Posted by: Xenithrys | November 25, 2009 1:14 PM
Once again, "religious university" is an oxymoron. It'd be interesting to see a table of how many there are in each country in the world. I'd predict most are in the US and Islamic countries.
Posted by: Quatguy | November 25, 2009 1:14 PM
It looks like the poll is back but has been reset, now 85 no votes and 0 yes votes!
Posted by: John | November 25, 2009 1:15 PM
lol, poll header now says
"Oops! Did your fun just disappear?"
i love Pharyngulating
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 1:15 PM
I am not making this up. This is what going to http://educatetruth.com/tinc?key=QIyWDGug and trying to vote now results in. It also is what just going there and refreshing now results in.
So priceless that 2 more votes were being cast while the poll was getting removed. So priceless… :-D :-D :-D
Posted by: Moggie
|
November 25, 2009 1:16 PM
Guys, they're using prayer against the university! Your puny voting efforts are no match for a campaign of organised mumbling!
Posted by: Harmless Eccentric
|
November 25, 2009 1:17 PM
The link now says, "Oops! Did your fun just disappear?"
Amusingly, the answer "no" appears to be still in the lead.
Posted by: nichole | November 25, 2009 1:18 PM
Did anybody check out the break-down of respondents from their state? 1 person voted from Connecticut (me!) and the pie chart was 99% "no," 1% "yes."
WUWT? Is there really a margin of error when counting to "1?" I mean, most people can get that far.
Posted by: MikeTheInfidel
|
November 25, 2009 1:19 PM
These Liars For Jesus have changed the poll question without resetting the votes. It now asks, "Should university and college employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church teach the theory of evolution as the best explanation?"
Posted by: Woof
|
November 25, 2009 1:19 PM
OH NOES!
The poll result page has been replaced with one with the title Oops! Did your fun just disappear? Score: Yes 1, No 2.
Posted by: John C. Welch | November 25, 2009 1:19 PM
Poll Schmoll, none of that matters compared to the glory that is the name of some SDA muckety-muck:
DAVID ASSCHERICK
http://www.educatetruth.com/articles/letters/david-asscherick-email-to-the-general-conference/
The irony, she is strong in this one.
Posted by: Draken
|
November 25, 2009 1:20 PM
They've reset the votes on the main page:
2 Yes
150 No
LOL!
Posted by: Jarred C.
|
November 25, 2009 1:20 PM
ATTENTION!
Poll is back up!
Yes: 2
No: 185
http://www.educatetruth.com/
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | November 25, 2009 1:23 PM
Frankly I'm a little torn on this. If they were informed what they had to teach, as stupid as it is, I think I would have to say yes.
This isn't a public school. I have sympathy for the professors, I really do, but I can see where the school has some leg to stand on. Knowing what I do about where I'm saying this, I have no doubt I'll be told why I am wrong in many colorful ways.
I'm cool with that. In fact I enjoy that.
I mean it just will continue to discredit the school anyway. If they want to continue to shoot the credibility of their diploma in the foot, let 'em.
I think I might have to don my Acme Flame Retardant suit.
/flame on
Posted by: rcpilot | November 25, 2009 1:24 PM
I hope we're not blindly voting no. The question has changed, and with it the scientific answer.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 1:25 PM
Oh noes!
Posted by: Madrigalia | November 25, 2009 1:27 PM
The poll (survey) currently asks: "Should university and college employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church teach the theory of evolution as the best explanation?" Currently results:
Yes: 43
No: 193
We can fix that.
Posted by: John D Stackpole | November 25, 2009 1:27 PM
Yes - the question appears to have changed from that quoted in PZ's comments.
Changing a question in mid-poll is an interesting way to skew the results.
Posted by: the PC apeman | November 25, 2009 1:28 PM
They've changed the question: "Should university and college employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church teach the theory of evolution as the best explanation?" A reversal of sorts.
Yes 38
No 192
Seems to be going the wrong way now.
Posted by: Luka V | November 25, 2009 1:31 PM
NEW QUESTION ALERT Should university and college employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church teach the theory of evolution as the best explanation?
The "correct" answer changed as well!
Posted by: Phodopus | November 25, 2009 1:32 PM
The question now reads
"Oops! Did your fun just disappear?"
that's LAME
Posted by: Purple-Turtle | November 25, 2009 1:32 PM
Link to poll changed;
Should university and college employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church teach the theory of evolution as the best explanation?
Yes
38%127
No
62%209
Posted by: Lithified Detritus | November 25, 2009 1:33 PM
They've changed it. It now says:
They probably think that the horde will vote no without reading it.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 1:35 PM
Had to type this by hand, it cannot be copied, even though it can be highlighted. ~:-|
Well, how am I polling?
… Apparently Netscape can't deal with the javascript, so I can't find out how both of me are polling ("Total votes : 2") – strange I was counted twice, though.
Posted by: hedrick | November 25, 2009 1:36 PM
Someone should really lobby for DDoS as a protected religious freedom.
Posted by: K. Signal Eingang | November 25, 2009 1:37 PM
Don't know if the poll is hidden for anybody else, for me it only shows up if I disable JavaScript for educatetruth.com
You can get to it directly at http://www.micropoll.com/akira/mpview/742901-218563
Guessing they'll just keep changing the question around until they like the answers they've got. Seems almost like there's a metaphor in there somewhere.
Posted by: Lithified Detritus | November 25, 2009 1:37 PM
Purple-Turtle must type faster than I do. ;-)
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 1:38 PM
Rev. BDC -
This is not a hick Bible college that can say whatever it wants and get TRACS to sign off on it so they can continue to get federal student aid funding. This college has sought real accreditation from WASC, their regional accrediting association. When they do that, they agree to meet generally recognized standards in their teaching, even in science. WASC does not have an asterisk for religiously-affiliated colleges who don't want to teach science that conflicts with their religious dogma.
Posted by: Jim | November 25, 2009 1:49 PM
The poll is now titled: "Oops. Did your fun just disappear"? Apparently, they don't like the wrong answer.
Posted by: Ricardo | November 25, 2009 1:49 PM
Ha! They changed the text of the poll. It now says "Should university and college employees of the Seventh-day Adventist Church teach the theory of evolution as the best explanation?"
It seems they didn't like the results they were getting.
Posted by: Lithified Detritus | November 25, 2009 1:50 PM
Now the poll seems to be completely gone.
Posted by: Qwerty
|
November 25, 2009 1:54 PM
Yes, I looked a little while ago and the poll was gone. Also gone was the comments for one of the articles. I guess they don't like it when someone tries to pull their heads out of the proverbial sand.
Posted by: Lithified Detritus | November 25, 2009 1:57 PM
K. Signal Eingang @87
I should have read that before I posted @92. The direct link still works.
Posted by: MikeTheInfidel
|
November 25, 2009 2:01 PM
What a pathetically transparent bit of deception.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | November 25, 2009 2:03 PM
See. I love being corrected.
That being said... then they should have to live up to the accreditation standards just like the rest of the reality based world who seeks accreditation.
Posted by: littlejohn | November 25, 2009 2:11 PM
They've moved it again.
Fortunately, you can find it here:
http://www.micropoll.com/akira/mpresult/742901-218563
There are only a few hundred votes so far on this one, and it's evenly split. Read carefully!
Posted by: Phodopus | November 25, 2009 2:12 PM
"[..] evolution as the best explanation"
duh. They forgot to say the best explanation for what it is supposed to be... It's not a good explanation at all for Kepler's laws.
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 2:13 PM
I'm only speculating, but I'm willing to bet that the university president is a very busy man right now, trying to get the board to back off without actually telling them that they will destroy the university if they start interfering with educational standards.
I have no idea who is on the board, but if it's like the average board for a not-for-profit, the folks are on the board thanks to their proven
willingness to be shaken downsupport for the university and the president thereof. No matter what the articles of incorporation say, they are not there to tell the school what to do.Posted by: Harmless Eccentric
|
November 25, 2009 2:15 PM
Evolution is not a very good explanation for how awesome my holiday hash brown casserole is. That's all intelligent design.
Posted by: Phodopus | November 25, 2009 2:18 PM
@Harmless Exxentric#100,
no no you got it all wrong! The casserole is simply a part of your extended phenotype (TM)!
Posted by: gb | November 25, 2009 2:22 PM
Change locations .... change the question .... Reset the allocations ....
dishonesty all around me thinks
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | November 25, 2009 2:26 PM
I was thinking the same thing about my Truffled Three Cheese Mac and Cheese just last night.
Posted by: SQB
|
November 25, 2009 2:27 PM
Opera: Right click -> Reload every: 5 seconds.(Yes, I know the poll is no longer there. Just a reminder for the next one. Automated Pharyngulation FTW!)
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 2:38 PM
Still 2 voters from Île-de-France (Paris region), 446 total votes.
Posted by: SQB
|
November 25, 2009 2:45 PM
A recent Dutch custody case, where a boy sued his SDA parents, who where homeschooling him, to be removed from their custody so he could attend gymnasium.
Posted by: Mike Daniels | November 25, 2009 2:46 PM
@#66: This is why PZ should NOT provide an active hyperlink. Any website with an admin with 1/4 of a functioning brain can see that there are a whole lot more votes than usual . . . and then look to see where they're coming from.
Until PZ stops posting active links, it's best to right click, copy, open a new browser window, paste.
@#46: Let's not forget parasitic wasps. They haven't evolved to be eaten; rather, they have evolved to lay their eggs in the backs of caterpillars and other insects. The larvae hatch and eat the caterpillar alive from the inside.
Posted by: Marcus Ranum | November 25, 2009 2:46 PM
"Some say La Sierra’s biology classes are guided by Satan". Well, if that's true, it's disgraceful: after all, what has he published in the relevant journals? What teaching experience does he have. Does he even have a degree?
I'm sure he's got a JD.
Posted by: Lithified Detritus | November 25, 2009 2:50 PM
It seems to be well and truly gone now:
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 25, 2009 2:57 PM
Why so complicated? Just right-click and select "open in a new tab". This, too, is enough to erase all information on what website you visited before.
On a Mac where you can't right-click, just use + click.
Posted by: freelunch | November 25, 2009 3:17 PM
As Stephen Vincent Benét reported in his carefully researched The Devil and Daniel Webster, the lawyer bested Satan. No analysis of integrity was done.
Posted by: F
|
November 25, 2009 3:36 PM
http://www.educatetruth.com/articles/la-sierras-misleading-pr-campaign/Teh Lulz
Posted by: justin | November 25, 2009 3:40 PM
I got through, but the poll seems to have vanished
Posted by: F
|
November 25, 2009 3:46 PM
Math for asshats.
http://www.educatetruth.com/articles/la-sierras-misleading-pr-campaign/comment-page-3/#comment-6620
Posted by: Lars | November 25, 2009 3:52 PM
So now they've posted two polls, and pulled them both. I'm impressed by their skills in failing.
Posted by: lbbhecht
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November 25, 2009 4:39 PM
I was raised SDA, and I personally know the president of this university. He's really a decent guy, but the rabid creationists have been calling for his resignation and slandering him all of the place.
Of course, I'm no longer SDA. (why else would I be here)
PS: Shane Hilde is an asshat. I've had many conversations with him. He actually thinks that the earth would still be staying in place and spinning if the sun weren't here (it must have, since Jesus waited four 24-hour days to make the sun!).
Posted by: Danish
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November 25, 2009 4:51 PM
Not necessarily. It depends entirely on what the browser implementer has chosen to do in this case. You may be right that some browsers do that. But there is no guarantee. Have you tested it?
In any case, I don't think it's worth trying to hide the source of the link. As I understand it, the "pharyngulation" is not about cheating or deceiving but more about making a statement that online polls are non-scientific. In fact, the message becomes even more clear if it is "discovered" that the poll was deliberately skewed by PZ's readers.
Posted by: raven | November 25, 2009 5:38 PM
WITCH HUNT!!!! WITCH HUNT!!!
This is simply a good old fashioned xian past time. The witch hunt. They love to hunt down heretics, apostates, unbelievers, and witches.
Must be really boring being an SDA. Either that or they haven't figured out it is the 21st century.
The fun part will be when they
burn them at the stakefire them. These biology professors are in real danger of being fired and that is the goal of the SDA fundies. There are 15 SDA universities and they are going after them all.Posted by: raven | November 25, 2009 5:45 PM
The SDA is famous for its schisms. Among them are such famous products as the Branch Davidians and Armstrong's Hellhole of god.
Looks like it is time for another schism. They haven't produced another weird, malevolent cult in a while and the last two are all but gone. The Branch Davidians shot it out with the feds and Armstrong's cult split into 300 or so pieces.
Some current and former SDA's claim they are having a hard time keeping their young people interested and going to church. I wouldn't know but it seems likely. Anyone educated is going to have a hard time saying the earth is 6,000 years old without laughing.
Oh well, another xian sect shakes itself to pieces. I don't think I'll be joining this one very soon.
Posted by: F
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November 25, 2009 5:52 PM
Witch hunt is right. If you read the "articles" at the site in question, reality, science, educators, and sensible students and other humans are under attack. Already, the defense has apologists who claim, "Oh, no, we don't really believe in evolution, and the profs aren't teaching it as fact."
How sad is that?
Posted by: wadeus
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November 25, 2009 6:13 PM
New lurker, new poster...
The failed "poll's" petition password is "create."
I signed it with this comment:
"I reaffirm my belief that young earth, six-day creationist philosophy seems to be growing weaker by the year, thankfully. I hope your Adventist colleges teach only 'Christ-based' science, so fewer students will attend. So, I agree with the petition."
Posted by: Katrina | November 25, 2009 7:36 PM
I get a 403 "forbidden" error at the site. Did they take down all of educatetruth.com?
Posted by: Rick R | November 25, 2009 7:48 PM
Rev.- "I was thinking the same thing about my Truffled Three Cheese Mac and Cheese just last night."
Mmmmmmmmmmm. Ina Garten's "grownup mac and cheese".
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/grown-up-mac-and-cheese-recipe/index.html
With bacon.
Posted by: Woof | November 25, 2009 9:30 PM
Nope, it's still there. It appears that they've just blocked access for links from here. Copy/paste the URL and it's fine.Posted by: eckenheimer | November 25, 2009 11:23 PM
Now theres a new poll right here: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_lasierra06.47b3990.html
as part of an article on the La Sierra mess, in the Press-Enterprise from Loma Linda U Med Center.
Posted by: Mobius | November 25, 2009 11:28 PM
#124
Thanx Woof. I was having the same problem.
Posted by: Mac | November 26, 2009 2:49 AM
On the La Sierra site it's:
Error 403 - Forbidden
You tried to access a document for which you don't have privileges.
The poll in PE.com is still available and in need of Pharyngulae...
Read your Bible! God created Adam and Eve and the rest of humanity is descended from them. It's right there in black and white. 13% (129 votes)
If man is evolved from apes, why do we still have apes? Why didn't they all become people? 4% (38 votes)
If you believe the real truth of the Bible is not in a literal interpretation of scripture, but rather, in the meaning God intended, you can believe in both evolution and creationism. 10% (105 votes)
Myths are wonderful ways to explain the unexplainable, but they are no substitute for real science and facts. 29% (293 votes)
Religious fanaticism should have no place in the classroom, even in a school linked to a church. Stick to the textbooks. 45% (454 votes)
Total Votes: 1,019
Posted by: ⌘ | November 26, 2009 5:27 AM
David Marjanović wrote:
”right-click and select "open in a new tab" ... is enough to erase all information on what website you visited before.”
Not with my Firefox. And why should it be?
”On a Mac ... just use + click.”
My new Mac doesn't have an (apple) key. The Command key is marked "cmd ⌘".
Posted by: davej
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November 26, 2009 12:11 PM
freelunch wrote:
"Schools that have chosen to be accredited by the regional accrediting associations take education seriously. Students, faculty and alumni do not want their school to be downgraded to a Bible college."
Apparently the LSU board of trustees doesn't feel this way. They want to be downgraded.
Posted by: tus | November 30, 2009 3:43 AM
lulz, they have it forbidden if your referer is this site...you have to copy it and paste it into a new tab, just doing "open in new tab" doesnt work because it keeps the referer.
but i cant find the poll...
Posted by: baju
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February 1, 2010 11:28 AM
hey will continue to teach science in science classes.