Pharyngula

Posted by: SC OM | March 14, 2010 7:18 AM

What a nice picture!

Posted by: Rorschach | March 14, 2010 7:28 AM

We feel your pain PZ, we had to retire as well...:-)

Posted by: Jadehawk, cascadeuse féministe | March 14, 2010 7:37 AM

None of you look the way I thought you would. clearly, I suck at guessing these things. :-p

Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere | March 14, 2010 7:42 AM

What's a yob?

The opposite of a wanker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxwg5UQWTHs

Posted by: hznfrst | March 14, 2010 7:56 AM

Gotta love the Urban Dictionary:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=yob

Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere | March 14, 2010 8:00 AM

Kel looks slightly nauseated. Did he drink too much?

Too much is such a subjective term. Can't it just be put down to camera shyness without having to blame it on an intoxicant? (in other words, yes)

Posted by: Ray Moscow | March 14, 2010 8:05 AM

It sounds -- and now looks -- like you guys had a great time.

I'm disappointed with the lack of wrestling video, though.

Posted by: recovering catholic | March 14, 2010 8:22 AM

So nice to have faces to put with some of the names I've been seeing for so long! @Sili--either PZ has several of those shirts of that peculiar shade of blue, or he washes them with his dainties at night and hangs them up to dry.

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | March 14, 2010 8:31 AM

Sili--either PZ has several of those shirts of that peculiar shade of blue, or he washes them with his dainties at night and hangs them up to dry.

Maybe he's like David Attenborough, with several identical outfits so all the pictures and video grade seamlessly into each other.

Posted by: AdamK | March 14, 2010 8:32 AM

Those disguises make them look almost...normal.

Posted by: Andreas Johansson | March 14, 2010 8:35 AM

I may have remarked on this before, but PZ looks rather suspiciously like my dad.

Posted by: david.utidjian | March 14, 2010 8:42 AM

I certainly didn't picture PZ Myers as having a pot belly.

'Tis a wise man that builds a shed over his tools.

-DU-

Posted by: ursulamajor | March 14, 2010 9:38 AM

Lovely group. I'm jealous of you all.

Happy Pi Day!

Posted by: Kubush | March 14, 2010 9:54 AM

I know this is completely off topic but I don't know how else to get PZ's attention. Have you guys heard about this girl Desiree Jennings that supposedly came down with dystonia after taking a vaccination shot? Well, as it turns out it was a hoax. Interestingly, she also went to see an alternative med doctor that "cured" her in a day.

Check it out:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwlRwGQl5x4

*Hopefully PZ will comment on it!

Posted by: Charlie Foxtrot | March 14, 2010 10:02 AM

ummmmm
Probably to tired to comment on this report from the GAC, I'll leave it to clearer minds for now.

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | March 14, 2010 10:06 AM

For pete's sake. Have a convention, go to talks, socialize, and it's characterized as "mysterious rituals"??? Sheesh.

Posted by: Charlie Foxtrot | March 14, 2010 10:15 AM

Hi Kubush, kinda old news isn't it?
Phil Plait covered that...ummm...ok found it...
here back on Feb 16th.

Posted by: atheistinwa | March 14, 2010 10:33 AM

Of course it would help if I used the correct html for the link. It should be working now.

Posted by: nigelTheBold, Minister of Spankings | March 14, 2010 10:43 AM

From the Barney Zwartz article:

Melbourne atheist philosopher Tamas Pataki attracted little applause for suggesting the organised atheist movement was taking on the appearance of a religion "with its priests, apostles and disciples, and this is the worst that could happen".

If that's the worst that can happen, Tamas Pataki, we are in good shape.

I really hope this was just a single quote from an otherwise-excellent presentation. Even so, this is great stuff for concern trolls everywhere.

I really wonder why Tamas Pataki can't tell the difference between a theocracy and a meritocracy? Is it really that hard to grasp the subtle differences?

Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip | March 14, 2010 11:01 AM

@nigelTheBold: Pataki seems to hold an incredibly low threshold for what constitutes the appearance of a religion. Seems like it could encompass most organized fandoms.

Now I'm curious to hear what Pataki actually said, in context.

Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM | March 14, 2010 11:11 AM

Looks like BoS missed the perfect time to give Particia's goose to Wowbagger...

Posted by: Hank Fox | March 14, 2010 11:27 AM

I like the nice downward slope of heights from right to left. You could almost be data points in a graph titled "Percentage of World Population Professing Religious Belief, by Year."

Posted by: Hank Fox | March 14, 2010 11:44 AM

Totally off topic, but it's a relief to make a comment to an online site and have it actually APPEAR.

I take periodic whacks at ABC News online about their practice of posting the "Freak of the Week," and they invariably delete my comments.

Every week, there's a picture of a deformed baby or somebody horribly disfigured, and an associated story that tries to frame the pic in some sort of compassionate human interest story. But it's really a disgusting circus freak sideshow, with this giant "news" corporation working to titillate its viewers by USING these people who are already struggling in life.

A few weeks back, it was some baby in China with "scales." This week it's a couple of conjoined twins. Then there was that woman who'd had her face torn off by a chimp.

I keep joking in my comments that I'm just waiting to see ABC post a story featuring a Basket of Deformed Puppies. So far, no luck.

And, heck, sorry about the off-topic rant. Just had to vent to someone.

Posted by: Matt "Nora" Penfold | March 14, 2010 12:15 PM

I must admit to be surprised.

If one is too believe Sheril Kirshenbaum surely all the people in that photo should have been wielding rusty knives and have malevolent glints in their eye that suggests that are about to assault someone with those knives, sideways.

Posted by: Aratina Cage | March 14, 2010 12:55 PM

Looking good, gang! I'm most surprised by Wowbagger because I don't think you, Wowbagger, look anything like the image you had built up for us as resembling Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) or Christopher Walken. And where is Rorschach's mask that I was expecting to see? Anyway, thanks for sharing. :)

Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | March 14, 2010 1:08 PM

nigelTheBold @ # 37: ... the organised atheist movement was taking on the appearance of a religion "with its priests, apostles and disciples...

Which reminds me, zealously faithful acolyte that I am: how did the Great Dawkins.net Debacle Schism play out once a critical mass of True Unbelievers came within morningstar range of each other?

Posted by: Patricia, OM | March 14, 2010 1:49 PM

Hey, did Wowbagger get my goose?

He turned out to be much cuter than he admits. Dammit, BOS probably goosed him for herself. *snort*

Posted by: Utakata | March 14, 2010 2:40 PM

Why do I keep thinking Wowbagger got his name from playing too much World of Warcrack...I mean Warcraft (WoW)? Or is it maybe I play too much WoW and I'm making some bizarre Freudian association? :(

Posted by: Pareidolius | March 14, 2010 2:52 PM

Now my vision of them as omniscient, glowing, antipodean brains in jars is ruined, ruined I tell you!

Posted by: FordPrefect | March 14, 2010 2:59 PM

As if insulting every living thing in the universe is work enough he decided to do it in alphabetical order.

Posted by: Athena | March 14, 2010 3:16 PM

Now THAT'S what atheists look like: friendly, good-humored, intelligent, slightly hung-over...oh, wait.

Posted by: Utakata | March 14, 2010 3:39 PM

I really swear, I thought I saw a Wowbagger post comments over at WoW.com once a few times. Maybe that was a different Wowbagger...

...but thanks for clarifying that Walton of #58 and Caine, Fleur du mal of #62. :)

Posted by: echidna | March 14, 2010 3:46 PM

It was great to meet Pharyngulites in person - not only the familiar pseudonyms and less frequent posters, but also many lurkers.

Posted by: DominEditrix | March 14, 2010 4:25 PM

'Tis Himself, OM @4: Don't be silly; that's not a pot belly - PZ is just very, very full of beer.

Posted by: iamtheonlyjosie | March 14, 2010 5:08 PM

nigelTheBold:

If that's the worst that can happen, Tamas Pataki, we are in good shape.

I really hope this was just a single quote from an otherwise-excellent presentation. Even so, this is great stuff for concern trolls everywhere.

I really wonder why Tamas Pataki can't tell the difference between a theocracy and a meritocracy? Is it really that hard to grasp the subtle differences?

The quote you gave is a fairly extreme simplification of what was a really interesting topic. Tamas really argued the possibility of religion being a psychological need and expressed concern that although religion wasn't real, it's removal was not necessarily going to solve anything and might cause harm. He also did briefly discuss his concern with atheism becoming "religion" and what that meant for the anti-theistic movement.

I disagree with his main points but the talk was interesting and not simply "atheism = religion" like it is being reported.

Posted by: iamtheonlyjosie | March 14, 2010 5:32 PM

Cath:

I'm afraid I can't remember much of what Pataki said, because I was having trouble keeping awake.

Yeah. It was, I'm told, fairly indicative of a philosophy conference presentation. Read paper verbatim. Take questions. Leave. Rinse and repeat.

Unfortunate though, because the bits I managed to follow were really interesting.

Posted by: Rorschach | March 14, 2010 5:58 PM

*drags sorry self in front of computer bleary-eyed*

Ah Barney, Barney, Barney.....
Had to get the cliches out while they were still fresh, I guess.
And I note commenting isn't enabled for his post incoherent rambling other then on Twitter, maybe even the SMH guys thought it too embarrassing to allow people to comment.

So yeah, the weekend started out with the first ever Aussie Pharyngufest that BoSOM had organised for us, about 80-100 people came to the Y&J pub, it looked like every single attendee paid PZ a beer, when he already had one in his hands they just slipped them in his pockets, and it ended with him groping a famous young lady's naked breast. There is photographic evidence, PZ can post it sometime if he likes...:-)

Then there was the light-hearted comedy opening of the convention, with talks fromSue-Ann Post and Catherine Deveny *swoon* , and was moderated by Dan Barker. Then we went and drank some more...

Saturday I missed all but the last 2 speakers due to Spawn's birthday, but was back for the business end with AC Grayling and PZ's talks.

That man Grayling is far too clever for my conceptually muddled brain, what stuck in my mind was his idea that religion and science are not so much non-overlapping magisteria, but have a "common ancestor" in ignorance and not-knowing what the phenomena around you were caused by.

PZ's talk was one big party, but he also is a great speaker and communicator, what could not be said for all the speakers there, so the crowd appreciated that a lot.He started off with that Mr Deity clip, and then spoke about how religious scientists, about the fact that plenty religious people are intelligent and even brilliant, but still trying to insert their god into some gap gap( the name "Miller" and the word "quantum" might have come up)
Best talk of the whole weekend IMO.
Then we went to the dinner, spoke to famous people, swooned some more at Catherine Deveny, and went on to drink too much....

From the Sunday I remember mostly trying to stay awake, the talks I saw were from Dan Barker giving a very personal account of his own process of getting away from religion and how a fundie preacher became an atheist, with some interesting insights into the fundie way of thinking and the "binary brain" of the fundamentalists and creationists, and then Richard Dawkins gave his talk, he wasn't wearing the Crocoduck tie ! Good kindof routinish talk with a long Q&A.
Religious woman asked him what DNA was, people shouted "read a book" and stuff, but he let her repeat her question and then gave her, and the audience, a 10 minute biology lesson that was awesome.
There was also a comedian type guy on speed on for 10 minutes at some point, and Robyn Williams made a joke that to be a member of the Royal Society, your prostate has to be bigger then your brain.He also kwo*ked a little.
Then we went and drank some more....

All I can think of for now....

(tl;dr, I know.....)

Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM | March 14, 2010 6:14 PM

Kel looks so young. I wonder how much he aged over the last few days.

Posted by: Rorschach | March 14, 2010 6:45 PM

I guess that depends on how much grief when he gets home...

Rumours of him getting any grief when he gets home are vastly overstated.

I think.

Posted by: Charlie Foxtrot | March 14, 2010 6:56 PM

Commenting is open on this befuddled attempt, just saying...
Mysterious Rituals of the Atheists

Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM | March 14, 2010 7:09 PM

UNBELIEVERS from across the world met in Melbourne at the weekend for the 2010 Global Atheist Convention. They were undoubtedly in a jubilant mood, and they have every right to be. Atheism, as you've probably noticed, is in vogue.

Hey, I was an atheist when atheism wasn't cool. Except I still do not feel cool or in vogue now. Methinks they are mistaking people speaking up about their lake of religious belief with actually being in. Maybe I will believe it is in vogue when there is an atheist reality show.

But I will not watch that show because I do not watch reality shows at all.

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | March 14, 2010 7:26 PM

From Rorschach's link:

The crowd was hardcore. Few gasped when comedians - lesbian former Mormon Sue-Ann Post, ex-Catholic columnist Catherine Deveny and the New York writer, radio host and stand-up comic Jamie Kilstein - blasphemed without restraint.

Few gasped when comedians blasphemed. And this is considered "hardcore"???? Has this writer never before listened to any comedian, ever?

Posted by: Bastion Of Sass | March 14, 2010 8:14 PM

I think they all look fairly young as well. At least, they look younger than the pictures of some of my high school friends I saw recently.

When I run into people I haven't seen for years, or see them on TV or in photos, I think, "They're old. How is that possible? I'm not old."

Posted by: Patricia, OM | March 14, 2010 8:33 PM

Oh jeez a swooning Nerd, quick someone get the bacon frying!

Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere | March 15, 2010 6:36 AM

and Kel... ~:-|

ummmm

Kel looks so young.

Everything is relative.

I guess that depends on how much grief when he gets home...

There was the odd comment about how much money I spent on beer, but it's not my fault Melbourne's beer prices are so high... but seriously, no grief. A few questions about how the conference went and what was talked about; though I think she's just glad that the photo of me wasn't so bad.

Rumours of him getting any grief when he gets home are vastly overstated.

Indeed, thanks for the couch to crash on and I hope your back gets better.

Going to write a summary in the next few days. Had a lecture to attend first thing back in Canberra, so I only got home an hour ago. Completely buggered.

Posted by: JBlilie | March 15, 2010 8:34 AM

... put faces ...

Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere | March 15, 2010 8:30 PM

After the big weekend, I finally get home and I seem to have come down with mild food poisoning.

Posted by: Wowbagger, Man-Hating Man of Pharyngula | March 15, 2010 8:48 PM

After the big weekend, I finally get home and I seem to have come down with mild food poisoning.

Must have been something you at other than at the convention or that pub we went to on Sunday; I haven't suffered any ill effects.

Am still bloody exhausted, though. I had to go to rehearsal last night so didn't get to bed as early as I'd intended - tonight, though, if I'm still up at 10pm I'll be annoyed.

Posted by: Rorschach | March 15, 2010 9:56 PM

Am still bloody exhausted, though.

Had 8 hours sleep, that side of it is better now.But brain still working in safe mode, with most drivers disabled.