…and this is a 
Isn't this just the perfect theme song for recent events?
The strike is over. We had a productive discussion with the Seed Overlords, and I think we've clarified issues, got some ideas for further progress, and will be working for a Better World in the Future. Don't expect any sudden changes here, though — we've got a Plan, but it will take time to implement, and the most important thing is that we're going to be holding certain people's feet to the fire on a regular basis. We could still explode and send little fragments of Scienceblogs hurtling outward into the greater blogoverse…but we've also got ideas to keep it all together. Stay tuned.
People who have been concerned about the financial stability of Scienceblogs should rest easier, too. We talked with the CFO, and Sb has its own organizational structure and is largely independent of other enterprises within Seed Media Group, and we're doing OK. We could be more profitable, but I think every CFO would say that.
We will be getting more tech support, starting next week. The only problem there is that we have a long list of stuff we want done, so it needs to be sorted and prioritized…but we should see steady progress on that front in the coming months.
Mainly, though, I'm just glad to have this nonsense over with. I've got things to do. That said, though, there will be a substantial slowdown in posting here for a while, not out of spite, but just because I'm going off to Seattle to hide in seclusion in my mother's basement and finish the damned book. You can still expect regular updates of stuff to battle over, though, never fear.
Oh, also, I might like this version of the song up top, too.
Comments
Posted by: Tiki_Idyll
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July 22, 2010 4:35 PM
Hooray! Now I can start wasting my workday again!
Posted by: Jennifurret
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July 22, 2010 4:36 PM
Oh good, I can go back to constantly refreshing Google Reader again :D
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/vGzNhvhsx9G9.GKs8q1Ud3fHFmXJHL7a#9809b
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July 22, 2010 4:36 PM
Praise Jeebus! I couldn't take that strike much longer.
Posted by: Craig
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July 22, 2010 4:37 PM
Thank the FSM! My life is no longer devoid of meaning and logic.
Seriously glad it's worked out PZ. I was going into serious Pharyngula withdrawals.
Posted by: Kaessa
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July 22, 2010 4:37 PM
Whew! I was starting to get the shakes.
Posted by: Glen Davidson
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July 22, 2010 4:38 PM
Yes!
The evilution conspiracy lives, and all dissenters will live in constant fear.
Or so they say.
Glen Davidson
Posted by: Ibis3, féministe avec un titre française de fantaisie
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July 22, 2010 4:39 PM
Whew! That was quicker than I thought. Good to have Pharyngula back. Any news on the "bringing bloggers back into the fold" front?
Posted by: Tulse
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July 22, 2010 4:39 PM
Praise be to Cthulhu! I really don't want to go through another "down tools" from PZ.
Posted by: Jud
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July 22, 2010 4:41 PM
Look, I'm really glad if the whole kerfuffle is over, but statements like the following don't fill me with confidence:
Really? Independent enough that if SMG went belly-up, you folks would just paddle on independently of SMG's creditors? Independent enough that Sb's resources for the types of changes that are promised won't be constrained by financial problems at SMG?
No answer necessary, just that if the pronouncements re independence really were that bland, it doesn't sound particularly reassuring to me.
But I'm not the one who matters, and as long as you're satisfied FTM, then great. Go finish "the damned book," which I'm looking forward to reading (please ask the publisher to make it available on Kindle).
Posted by: Cerberus, unnatural product of en-OMnomnom-ification
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July 22, 2010 4:41 PM
Yay! Long live Pharyngula.
Now I can post again without crossing picket-lines.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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July 22, 2010 4:42 PM
Great news. Mother's basement? She'll probably throw you out in a week since you will be cramping her style...
Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe
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July 22, 2010 4:42 PM
Yay! Oh, thank the Great Octopus it's over.
Another yay! I'm looking forward to reading it.
Posted by: Classical Cipher
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July 22, 2010 4:43 PM
PZ! I missed you!!! I accidentally came back a few times - it's habit to open this tab immediately.
Posted by: ashleyfmiller
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July 22, 2010 4:43 PM
Thank the squid!
I also can't wait for your book to be a real thing and not just a cover :)
Posted by: First Approximation, L'esprit de l'escalier
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July 22, 2010 4:43 PM
Where's my burrito?
Where's my burrito?
Where's my burrito?
Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau
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July 22, 2010 4:44 PM
I'm spinning in my office chair with joy!
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee :D
Posted by: Cuttlefish, OM, CR
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July 22, 2010 4:46 PM
Too late! Too late! You tempted fate,
And now you'll pay the piper!
You're dead and gone--we've all moved on,
You Eden-spoiling viper!
A day or so, and now we know
What life is like without you;
No more a horde! We're gone! We're bored!
We've even learned to doubt you!
We've filled our days with better ways
To live, you godless hack!
We've learned to see! We're free! We're free!
... oh, what the hell... we're back.
Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau
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July 22, 2010 4:47 PM
To express my appreciation I just clicked on all the ads on this page and messed around on the site. Since I already have an Ideeli, Ebay, and Netflix acct it was completely useless. But I hope it mattered :P
Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
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July 22, 2010 4:49 PM
Way to bust the stereotype of the science-lover wide open, PZ. Be sure to bring a tube of Clearasil and a DM's screen while you're at it.
Anyways, welcome back, ya big lug. Bacon all around!
Some of us went on Facebook and talked to...each other. I've never been so scared in my life.
Posted by: SteveV, Death's Pissant Haberdasher
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July 22, 2010 4:49 PM
YeeeHaaaa!
Is that right?
Posted by: Marshal Beak
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July 22, 2010 4:52 PM
Huzzah!
(Long time lurker, first time poster.)
Posted by: Noddin
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July 22, 2010 4:53 PM
I would like to say thank you to each person throughout this situation. About two days ago I was worried about this. Today I don't care. I think this is a good thing.
When I think about this matter, I can only smile brightly. We are in a World of people far beyond our wild dreams. When you solve small problems, you can work your way up. You cannot solve big problems by focusing only on them. We are like small animals.
What I mean by this would maybe take a new blog. But I don't want to work for Science Blogs. I will work on my meaning for you. When I am done I will let you know.
Thank you.
Posted by: Thebear, just an agent of peas
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July 22, 2010 4:54 PM
Happy days!
I would bake cake, if I could, but my baking project isn't ready for at least another week.
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/PSizxO88s8C._DsKZG0eqia3mwAZ_A--#2a49e
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July 22, 2010 4:56 PM
Any chance that they will add comment threading?
It would be nice if the comment section were bit more sophisticated than USENET News circa 1989.
Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger
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July 22, 2010 4:56 PM
1. Yay.
2. I prefer this version.
Posted by: DLC
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July 22, 2010 4:56 PM
but, will there be Cake?
Posted by: Mr.Nerdz
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July 22, 2010 4:57 PM
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction. At least there was a coolish thread on the (thankfully Real name free) wow forums to keep me interested, so I didn't get the shakes too badly, but that I had to step away from real world forums was kinda jarring. Ah well. At least what you did is for the good of all of us.
Except the ones who died of withdrawal.
Posted by: gettingfree
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July 22, 2010 4:57 PM
Yay!!
I found out via twitter...
...having been strict with myself about crossing the picket line.
Count me yet another who is back and ready to click "Reload current page" throughout the day!!
Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger
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July 22, 2010 4:58 PM
(Maybe you'll find someone else to help you.
Maybe Discover.
That was a joke. Ha ha. Fat chance.)
Posted by: Dania
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July 22, 2010 4:58 PM
Yay!
Alright now, everyone, come back and start commenting again, okay? I was getting tired of refreshing the page only to see that no new comments had been posted.
*sigh*
And then I thought we had gotten a new chew toy to entertain us but apparently it was just a drive-by-troll.
You know, I was so desperate that for a moment I even considered getting a life. :P
Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger
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July 22, 2010 5:04 PM
(Meh. That line is easier to misinterpret than I intended. Fat chance of PZ stooping to ask to join Phil Plait's hangout, I meant.)
Posted by: cicely (Inadvertent Phytocidal Maniac)
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July 22, 2010 5:04 PM
*dance dance dance*
Or, reality being as it is...
*lurch-step lurch-step lurch-step*
Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline.
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July 22, 2010 5:05 PM
Remember to bring your pyjamas to write in. (And shoot an elephant.)Welcome back! It's been hell.
I wouldn't recommend them try making us hate them even more.Posted by: JacobCH
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July 22, 2010 5:06 PM
Good on ya, PZed. I don't think you could have chosen a better way to handle that.
Posted by: 朴競花/박경화 (Gyeong Hwa)
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July 22, 2010 5:10 PM
Oh goodie. I've resorted to blogging on ancient swedish dildos while you were on strike.
Posted by: TCC
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July 22, 2010 5:12 PM
Happy Monkey!
Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
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July 22, 2010 5:14 PM
Dog, the contents of that baggie were for all of us to share when this was all over, and now I see you've clearly smoked all of it.
Posted by: PZ Myers
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July 22, 2010 5:14 PM
Tech details weren't worked out. We're having another meeting next week with the tech guy to talk about priorities. Threading is somewhere on our last (don't panic! optional threading!). I'm sort of hounding them for mobile CSS as a bigger priority.
Posted by: The Science Pundit
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July 22, 2010 5:14 PM
Any post with a Jonathan Coulton song is automatically a good post.
Posted by: Tulse
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July 22, 2010 5:18 PM
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! I would love to be able to use Pharyngula more easily on my iPhone.
Posted by: Kaessa
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July 22, 2010 5:18 PM
Brownian, thank you for confirming that it *wasn't* my pain meds that made Dog's post completely incoherent.
I was a bit concerned.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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July 22, 2010 5:19 PM
Hunkers down in economic wait-and-see mode.
Posted by: Travis
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July 22, 2010 5:20 PM
I really do hope any threading is completely optional. I like Why Evolution is True but those comments are unreadable to me and it actually makes me avoid reading them sometimes, especially if I come to the party late.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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July 22, 2010 5:21 PM
Please, oh random fluctuations of the space-time continuum, no threading.
Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau
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July 22, 2010 5:22 PM
Yes yes, give us an app. Most of us would gladly pay for it.
Cha-ching!
Posted by: Cobolt
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July 22, 2010 5:24 PM
Yay, welcome Back PZ. Big ups for holding the powers to account.
Enjoyed the vids btw.
Posted by: Nebula99
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July 22, 2010 5:25 PM
Huzzah! Thank Cthulu you're back. I was getting withdrawal. There's nothing better getting your favorite blog back, except getting your favorite blog back with a free Portal reference thrown in.
I found out via twitter...having been strict with myself about crossing the picket line.
Quoted for truth and for making me laugh far too hard.Count me as another one who resisted.
Posted by: Travis
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July 22, 2010 5:27 PM
On another note, I am glad this place is back up and running. I was indeed feeling the withdrawal. Wasting time was so much more difficult.
Posted by: jbowen42
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July 22, 2010 5:27 PM
Woohoo! So glad you're back.
Based on your elegant writing on Pharyngula, I'm really looking forward to your book, PZ.
Posted by: Dania
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July 22, 2010 5:28 PM
Hm. I hope it's completely optional and made in such a way that it's totally clear who is responding to who to those of us who choose the flat comments option.
Yep. That's the kind of thing I missed. :D
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp
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July 22, 2010 5:29 PM
Free Leicas for everyone!!
Posted by: Kaessa
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July 22, 2010 5:29 PM
Mobile CSS would rock. An Android app would be even better.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp
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July 22, 2010 5:30 PM
So would an iPhone app.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp
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July 22, 2010 5:33 PM
uh oh, posts are flying
Blogsplosion
Posted by: lmayne
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July 22, 2010 5:39 PM
The cake is a lie!!
Posted by: Thebear, just an agent of peas
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July 22, 2010 5:40 PM
Second that a good iphone app would be paid for.
Posted by: bcdurden
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July 22, 2010 5:43 PM
Welcome back PZ. I was pretty worried there for a bit. I pretty much use your daily writings as a newshub into other linked blogs; so you actually generate a lot of traffic for others from me. :)
As for the 2nd vid, thanks for linking; that was awesome.
Posted by: Aratina Cage
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July 22, 2010 5:46 PM
It's good to have you back! Just in time, too. Nearly died from withdrawal over here.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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July 22, 2010 5:47 PM
Both videos were good, the second one was better but you had to see and hear the first to appreciate the second.
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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July 22, 2010 5:53 PM
I beat Portal for the 3rd time recently. It's a fun little game for those who haven't played it.
Posted by: Mattir-ritated
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July 22, 2010 5:56 PM
Thank the FSM that the strike is over. Facebook is fun, but it's really just a supplement to the Real Pharyngula Experience™.
Scienceblogs is definitely something I would pay for, and I'd contribute even more if it were a non-profit.
Comment threading is evil.
Posted by: bcdurden
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July 22, 2010 5:56 PM
Kel, agreed. Too bad it is so short in duration :/
Posted by: Aquaria
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July 22, 2010 5:58 PM
I admit I checked to see what the next move would be.
Other than that, I wasted a lot of time watching baseball via MLB.TV, and the Lovely Complex anime. I also managed a trip out of the house, thanks to someone giving me a ride to some art stores. It was nice to get out of here for a while, but I overdid it. :(
P.S. The videos aren't showing up for me.
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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July 22, 2010 6:00 PM
Loved the parody version of the song, brilliant.
Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD)
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July 22, 2010 6:01 PM
Woohoo!!
Posted by: Aquaria
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July 22, 2010 6:02 PM
Oh--and no threading!
Ugh. It's an eyesore and a bore.
Posted by: Dae
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July 22, 2010 6:04 PM
Hurray!!!!
And the song parody is freaking awesome.
Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe
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July 22, 2010 6:08 PM
'Tis:
I'll add my please to no threading.
Posted by: Nebula99
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July 22, 2010 6:08 PM
Arrgh, blockquote fail. Everything from "Yay!" to "picket line" was supposed to be in there.
From the ON STRIKE thread on Tuesday:
And now, TWO days later, the prophecy is fulfilled. Jesus has been officially one-upped. Praise be to St. Squid!
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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July 22, 2010 6:12 PM
Aquaria,
Here's the first video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxTNqYAWISs
and here's the second one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY8iPJwztys
Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies
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July 22, 2010 6:12 PM
FUCK YEAH!
I'm not someone who comments on many blogs-- in fact, this is the only place I do comment. I got so desperate that I created a user name for...
...
... Wonkette.
Then I quickly learned that I am not nearly snarky enough to keep up there.
I will say that the solidarity amongst the regulars is really wonderful. You can't keep us apart, PZ!
Posted by: F
|
July 22, 2010 6:15 PM
Excellent, excellent.
Truthfully, I'd rather not see Sb implode, regardless of some of the things I've read which make me question SMG.
On a more baggie-related note, I'm not sure if baggie contents (hilarious) can foot all the blame. I think there are loosely defined but expansive ego-boundary issues involved here. Or is it just mania?
Posted by: Sal Bro
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July 22, 2010 6:15 PM
Add one more YAY to the chorus of drones.
Posted by: PZ Myers
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July 22, 2010 6:16 PM
You know, Jesus was only dead for a day and a half. Friday night to Sunday morning.
Posted by: Dania
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July 22, 2010 6:17 PM
No, no, no. It was exactly like Jesus. We had Good
FridayTuesday, HolySaturdayWednesday, and today is Resurrection Day!Posted by: Mattir-ritated
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July 22, 2010 6:20 PM
So the main thing I want to know from the strike interlude is this: who did ban Mr. Leica Rangefinder from the FB group?
Posted by: Dania
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July 22, 2010 6:21 PM
Well, except Tuesday wasn't that Good, and no day is Holy around here. ;)
Posted by: ronsullivan
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July 22, 2010 6:23 PM
#57, I think: I pretty much use your daily writings as a newshub into other linked blogs; so you actually generate a lot of traffic for others from me
Me too. Just FTR.
I'm for keeping the Fb group viable by way of lifeboat, and just because. It got weird, though, spending that much time there. I also had to unearth my Twitter password. Hitting the Pharyngula button on my window seems to be a reflex, right after reading my mail.
Another vote against threading. Someday someone will invent a better way to track conversations—fonts? color-codes? automatic jump-there widgets? I dunno— but threaded threads just seem so crosseyed to me.
Glad to be back; glad you're back; and say Hi to your mother for us, hey?
Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
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July 22, 2010 6:29 PM
Oh, shit: I forgot about that!
It was me. I did it for shits 'n' giggles and was going to mention it to the group, but then it started to seem to me to be a little mean spirited, especially since it's not like he requested to join or anything.
I guess I forgot to unblock him, though.
Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe
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July 22, 2010 6:35 PM
Dania:
Someone had better mark the Holy Days on the Calender.
Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies
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July 22, 2010 6:36 PM
The fb group illustrates one thing quite well-- we are a smokin' hot group of people.
:P
Posted by: Mattir-ritated
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July 22, 2010 6:38 PM
Brownian - don't. I made you a moderator because of your meanspiritedness and because you show such good judgment in your application thereof.
Plus you promised to share the squid porn and the stuff in the bag. Do you have more, after Dog smoked it all?
Posted by: kijibaji
|
July 22, 2010 6:39 PM
I actually got some of my thesis work done during the strike. But now it's time to put that away and go back to being a procrastinating-loving grad student... *happy sigh*
Posted by: Janey Mack
|
July 22, 2010 6:47 PM
So glad to see you are back! The withdrawals were starting to get pretty bad, over here in my corner.
I'm going to throw in my vote for not changing the way the comments work. The squid porn may have tempted me here, but the comments are a big part of what keeps bringing me back, and I would really hate to see that screwed up in any way. (I don't care about the whole mobile thing because I am too impoverished to own a fancy phone of any kind--I have a $13 Wal-Mart special so my kids can find me if they need me--but if it will keep the tech guys away from the comments, they can knock themselves out on that one.)
I am also looking forward to the legendary book, but I hope you are going to have our mom lock you into that basement or you are not going to get much done! The weather in Seattle at the moment is beautiful. You should be out here in the hinterlands towards the coast where it is non-stop clouds for most of the day, not mention cold and windy. Not much else to do except stay in and write.
Posted by: SC OM
|
July 22, 2010 6:53 PM
Passing along:
http://scienceblogs.com/drugmonkey/2010/07/iowebora_do_you.php
Posted by: NovaC
|
July 22, 2010 6:56 PM
Sneakin' a peek from work and......WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Glad you're back!
ODS
You're right..All that beauty is likely the blow that FB page to pieces!
Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
|
July 22, 2010 6:59 PM
Hell yeah, baby! Don't you worry; Brownie's gonna hook you right up.
Posted by: Form&Function
|
July 22, 2010 6:59 PM
Welcome back! The withdrawals were getting painful.
And you'll be spending some time in Seattle? Dare we hope there might be some Seattle-area Pharygulite get-togethers in our near future, or will you be spending ALL your time in your mother's basement?
Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline.
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July 22, 2010 7:00 PM
FTFY.As it happens Good Friday is Long Friday in Danish, and gently caress was Wednesday ever loooooooong.
Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage
|
July 22, 2010 7:02 PM
Glad things are back!
I was enjoying the FB activity, but most of my browsing time comes at work, while my computer is chewing on other tasks (e.g., making PDFs from FrameMaker files), and that's when I get my Pharyngulizing in. FB is blocked from work, so not a real viable alternative.
Anyway, welcome back!
Posted by: MarleysGh0st
|
July 22, 2010 7:06 PM
Welcome back, PZ!
I'm basically a lurker, here, but it was hard staying away.
Posted by: Dania
|
July 22, 2010 7:07 PM
Thanks, Sili. ReThursection is perfect.
Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites
|
July 22, 2010 7:12 PM
[Ding-dong!]
Mrs. Myers: "Hello?"
Seattle Pharyngulites: "PZ's mum, can PZ come out and play?"
Mrs. Myers: "Paul, your friends are here!"
PZ: "Hey gang, what's up?"
Seattle Pharyngulites: "Can you come out?"
PZ: "I'd love to, but I can't. My book's due, and I'm not supposed to leave until I finish it."
Seattle Pharyngulites: "That's too bad. We're gonna go to the park and explode some cracke—"
PZ: "I'll get my jacket."
Posted by: Peter Magellan
|
July 22, 2010 7:13 PM
What the HELL is that song?? I've just played it five times, I'm crying with laughter, and I've no idea what it's even about! I have to get a copy.
Surreal. Wonderful. Life-affirming. In a weird, twisted sort of way.
Religious version is sorta good too, but the original... I'll be chair-dancing and beaming like a loon for the rest of the week. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Now what's this about a strike?
Posted by: AJ Milne OM
|
July 22, 2010 7:16 PM
It has that effect. It's even funnier in context. Which is at the end of Portal, a very cool first-person puzzler thing bundled in the orange box.
(/And GLaDOS, who sings it, has long been my hero. Or heroine. Whichever.)
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/Y8KcBdRgv_rc99mMmBRdxUH_aaOKNaJK.Q--#a9af0
|
July 22, 2010 7:29 PM
It's good to know that the "last 24 hours" feed will soon be repopulated with aimless Youtube videos and links to week-old news stories. You go, noise!
Posted by: gadow
|
July 22, 2010 7:34 PM
For the hardcore geek, there is a video with John Coulton (the author of the song) singing it with a video taken from World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.
Still Alive
It give a rather different sense to the song.
Posted by: MrFire
|
July 22, 2010 7:46 PM
WELCOME BACK EVERYONE.
Now, back to your stations. Get out your truth cannons. You know the rest.
Posted by: Andromeda
|
July 22, 2010 7:54 PM
Woo hoo! And so many blog posts already!
So you are writing a book eh? Will it be on biology or religion - related?
Posted by: Perspexo
|
July 22, 2010 8:01 PM
Ahhh, that's better, hands not shaking anymore. Got my fix again.
Good to have you back PZ.
Posted by: Mattir-ritated
|
July 22, 2010 8:01 PM
The other serious almost-consequence of the strike and the temporary move to FB was when I noticed that KOPD had a new friend named Patricia. I had come quite close to sending a message asking if she was our own Ignorant Slut, when I thought I should ask KOPD first.
Turns out it was KOPD's aunt. Not sure if she'd have been amused with a random stranger asking if she was an Ignorant Slut.
Posted by: Shala
|
July 22, 2010 8:07 PM
Hail PZ!
Posted by: Marella
|
July 22, 2010 8:22 PM
Well praise Ceiling Cat for that! Now let's hope it stays over!
Love the song.
Go finish "the damned book," which I'm looking forward to reading (please ask the publisher to make it available on Kindle).
And I second the Kindle request, I do not want to buy hard copies of books unless absolutely necessary.
Posted by: Wowbagger, Man-Hating Man of Pharyngula
|
July 22, 2010 8:39 PM
Yay! Good that you're back PZ. And I've now got a dozen or so new Facebook friends to entertain with random status updates, links to wacky crap and ruminations on bands/films/plays.
Posted by: Kaessa
|
July 22, 2010 8:43 PM
I would like to second (and third, fourth and fifth) the call for no threading. Ew. EwwEww Ewwww.
Pagination would be good, though. Especially if we could customize the number of posts per page. If not, 100 is a good number.
Kae realizes that the scotch has made her talkative and skitters back to the shadows...
Posted by: iamjustme
|
July 22, 2010 8:52 PM
If I didn't already know what Portal was, that sentence would really confuse me.
So, for Peter - it's a computer game that was released almost as an afterthrough, packaged with a couple of other (also very good) games, the package being titled "the Orange Box". I think you can get it by itself on Steam these days.
Portal looks like a first person shooter but it's a puzzle game.
It is darkly funny and very very fun to play, and far too short but Portal 2 is coming out Real Soon Now™.
Have I ever lied to you? I mean, in this room?
Posted by: Deiloh
|
July 22, 2010 9:09 PM
Wow, that was a lot shorter than I expected. So happy, twitter reading is just not the same.
Posted by: iamjustme
|
July 22, 2010 9:20 PM
afterthrough? I think i meant afterthought
Posted by: Rorschach
|
July 22, 2010 9:35 PM
Enough with the threading BS already, none of the regulars wants that shit, check out Slashdot for what it does to comment coherence.
Good on you PZ for being back, I was having minor breakdowns at work the last 2 days trying to fumble with my phone to load facebook for some sort of connection to the hive, nothing I want to be doing ever again !
I am still a bit sceptical wrt Seed and their business model for Scienceblogs tho, keep in mind, this here, when done properly, should be a blooming shining hub for science journalism/science blogging on the net.And it isn't, instead we have close to a quarter of all bloggers leaving, and banners with Scientology ads.
Posted by: Muskiet
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July 22, 2010 10:03 PM
Been I while since I played Portal.
This song is the best.
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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July 22, 2010 10:22 PM
Indeed, it's a hell of a lot of fun as a game and as others have said the song makes much more sense in the context of the events of the game. And if you haven't worked out "the cake is a lie" meme, then this game is for you. To say "released almost as an afterthought" is a bit unfair to the game. Even if it was bundled with other games, it's still a fully fledged game in its own right. I think it feels a bit short because of the sudden ending, but if it dragged on any longer it would have just gotten repetitive. It did what it could with the mechanics in-game.I've spent more time playing Team Fortress 2 and Portal (especially TF-2) than I have spent on Half-Life 2. If I want a tech-demo corridor shooter I'll just wait for the next Id release.
Posted by: crowepps
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July 22, 2010 10:27 PM
If somebody would please explain? There was a comment above about clicking on the ads to generate revenue -- I thought the advertiser had to pay just to be here even though they were ignored. Could somebody clue me in -- is the idea to click on ads we like to encourage more of the same type or do we click on ads from places we loathe to cost them money or how does this work?
Full disclosure: I think the only ad I've ever clicked here was the current "#1 Ripped" and that was solely in hopes the picture might be better. Artistically speaking, of course.
Posted by: gillt
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July 22, 2010 10:43 PM
Seattle!?
Will you be coming up for air while your here? Pub perhaps?
Posted by: bcdurden
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July 22, 2010 10:53 PM
Here's another good one, though I dunno if anyone's seen this and its not a Portal spoof. (or a song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSLkQnCurgs
That's one long introduction for a debate
Posted by: Emmet, OM
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July 22, 2010 10:54 PM
I finally get a bit of time to read Pharyngula again, and PZ goes on f**king strike!
:o)
Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe
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July 22, 2010 11:07 PM
Emmet, OM, no, no, the strike is over! You aren't here often enough, don't go and disappear now.
Posted by: Benjamin
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July 22, 2010 11:19 PM
PZ,
Your mother lives in Seattle? I just moved out here less than a week ago; I don't know anyone and do not have a place to stay. Does your mother have a couch I could crash on for a few weeks while I look for work and an apartment?
Posted by: SC OM
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July 22, 2010 11:24 PM
Emmet,
Just sent you an email.
Posted by: Tigger_the_Wing
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July 22, 2010 11:27 PM
I would like to add my voice to all who are relieved at the strike ending. I, too, had to attempt to get a life (and, like Aquaria, I overdid it. Still, that means I get a day in bed to read Pharyngula. Yay!)
Peter Magellan @ #94
I had the same reaction when I first heard it last year. In fact, I decided then and there that I wanted it played at my funeral (despite the fact that I know I won't be there to appreciate it!). Preferably from a speaker hidden in my coffin's architecture. Even when I found out what it was about, it still remains at the top of my list for funeral songs. (As a motorcyclist, I particularly like the above version's Triumph motorcycle logo at the beginning. I might get a video screen hung on my coffin!)
I want "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" too, of course. Plus any other inspiring and irreverent secular songs. If you have any suggestions, I would be grateful!
While I'm still very much alive, I shall be plugging that second video above ("Still a Lie") to everyone I know. Brilliant!
Posted by: iamjustme
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July 22, 2010 11:35 PM
Ok, "afterthought" was probably a bit harsh.
I agree that any added length might have gotten repetitive, but I think Valve made the right decision in not releasing it on its own - it's just not long enough to be a full priced console game. As a downloadable it is perfect.
Here's hoping all the new toys in Portal 2 allow for a longer game.
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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July 23, 2010 12:05 AM
I think that's the great thing about Steam and the whole download distribution model. It means that smaller games can be appropriately priced from the outset. If a game can work as a medium-sized game but not a big one, then I'd honestly prefer to play it that way.One good medium-priced game that's currently out is called Torchlight. It's basically a Diablo-clone, and in-fact is made by some of the same people. But it's priced in that medium category and it fits because the game doesn't need all those bells and whistles. It's fun enough on its own and works as that; it sells quite well too.
Indeed. The teasers and gameplay videos gave me a lot of hope for the game. As long as it keeps that dark sense of humour throughout as well as physics-based puzzle solving then I'll be happy.Posted by: Anna Tambour
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July 23, 2010 2:36 AM
A perfect way to celebrate such victory. Your networking certainly is efficient. So onwards, I hope, to saving the Vavilov fruit and berry collection
Within days the need will end, unless any of you can time-travel.
Posted by: Gruzum
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July 23, 2010 4:57 AM
Glad you like this piece of Portal considering you've said games aren't art.
Posted by: abb3w
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July 23, 2010 6:10 AM
Aside from the detail that the tech support sounds more "We're headed out of beta", perhaps.
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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July 23, 2010 6:21 AM
While it's a nice song, isn't it a bit weird that so much of the song is in-game references? I suppose the cake thing transcends the game[1], but the reference to Black Mesa?[1] - We all keep trying until we run out of cake.
Posted by: irenedelse
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July 23, 2010 8:13 AM
@ Kel, OM: I'm not a gamer, but Wikipedia tells me that Black Mesa is the name of the research facility in Half-Life, another game released by Valve, the publisher of Portal.
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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July 23, 2010 8:17 AM
Indeed.
Posted by: bcdurden
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July 23, 2010 9:02 AM
@Kel,Om
The cake thing is a part of Portal itself, you definitely need to play it. It's a meme of sorts and can be very funny (there's even tshirts!)
Portal takes place in Aperture Science Laboratories, a competing company with Black Mesa. I have an office polo with Aperture's logo on it :)
Posted by: lomifeh
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July 23, 2010 9:06 AM
Glad to see you are back! And hopefully the song is not a hint that you are a psychotic, stalkerish AI. Also glad to see that progress is being made.
Portal is a lot of fun, and that song is great. I recall am interview with Gabe Newell from Valve about Portal. It came about from a group of college kids who impressed him. He wanted to keep their group mojo going and hired them all and Portsl was the result. IMHO the game is the perfect length.
Posted by: azumahazuki
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July 23, 2010 11:48 AM
PZ, you know Still Alive is about how utterly screwed the world is and how insane and sadistic and evil the AI that was guiding you through the game was, right?
Or was this a subtle, coded message to Seed? "Don't piss off the squid man!"
Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip
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July 23, 2010 12:49 PM
We have strong evidence that PZ is not an AI.
Posted by: Thomas Allen
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July 23, 2010 12:56 PM
My prayers have been answered!!! Oh, wait...
Posted by: Hekuni Cat, Champion of Oriana
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July 23, 2010 12:59 PM
Welcome back, PZ! And no threading.
I second Kel's Torchlight recommendation.
Posted by: theshortearedowl
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July 23, 2010 2:08 PM
The enrichment center reminds you that the Weighted Companion Cube will never threaten to stab you and, in fact, cannot speak.
In the event that the Weighted Companion Cube does speak, the enrichment center urges you to disregard its advice.
Posted by: dahduh
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July 23, 2010 3:01 PM
Hooray, still alive!
And here's a version by the song's author himself, accompanied by Felica Day in a nerdy sing-along - they all knew the words! Don't you wish you were there?
Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/K2PNji0at.txAjzTShOlxwLuFcVVFwbnng--#bd813
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July 23, 2010 10:42 PM
Very happy that things are back to normal(if that word is applicable.)
Gaypaganaunitarianagnostic
Posted by: albatros183
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July 24, 2010 3:18 AM
Glad things are sorted out, and I want to apologize for the cheese thing in a previous thread.
Cheese is very important to me, but I shouldn't spread my madness to others.
but I have to ask
"...we're going to be holding certain people's feet to the fire on a regular basis."
Will there be video? :)
Posted by: Kel, The Privileged View From Nowhere
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July 24, 2010 4:11 AM
I was using the cake as a metaphor for life itself, you know just keep on trying until you run out of what makes life worth living.Posted by: John Phillips, FCD
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July 24, 2010 5:00 PM
For various reasons I don't visit as often as I used to, keeping it for a splurge one or twice a week, so I was late seeing your strike notice but glad it looks sorted. And definitely no threading or at the very least, if it must be added, make no threading the default.