Pharyngula

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 7:18 AM

You all probably thought I'd be too distracted to close the portcullis. Hah!

I think Sven was secretly hoping...

All the best today, to you, Mary and the kids and make sure you all indulge in much swearing, it really does work wonders! I damn well swear by it!

Posted by: irenedelse | August 24, 2010 7:23 AM

No end of best wishes, then. And thanks for thinking of your readers' endless need of all things Pharyngula, even in the face of surgical knives. That's a mighty good heart you have in your chest, sir. And may it keep beating there long!

Posted by: Antiochus Epiphanes | August 24, 2010 7:27 AM

OK...so we shouldn't use up comments unneccessarily. I mean, every comment has to count.

Fuck. I'm out.

Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM | August 24, 2010 7:30 AM

Well, since PZ will be MIA for a while, we'll just have to fill this up quickly. Sven can get his longest subthread yet.

Since this thread was posted, Pharyngula has been very slow to load at home. I hate to see what it is like at work.

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | August 24, 2010 7:32 AM

You all probably thought I'd be too distracted to close the portcullis. Hah! Think again!

Damn you and your otherworldly strength, PZ! *shakes fist*

Now best of wishes to you and the Trophy Wife, and enjoy the thought of others dealing with your students for awhile.

Posted by: Fred The Hun | August 24, 2010 7:34 AM

Mark Twain and the Art of Swearing

http://homepage.smc.edu/larsen_lyle/mark_twain_and_the_art_of_sweari.htm

Lyle Larsen

Mark Twain sagely observed that under certain trying circumstances swearing provides relief denied even to prayer. Most people, of course, unlike Mark Twain, never acquire proficiency in this field, but remain amateurs all their lives. They seek relief in trying circumstances by uttering a series of flat and commonplace vulgarities that fail to solace themselves or to inspire others. These people--that is to say, most of us--would do better to stick with prayer and leave swearing to the masters.
...The best indication we have of Mark Twain's talents in this area comes from a letter in which he refers to an editor as a "quadrilateral astronomical incandescent son of a bitch."

Said Mark Twain towards the end of his life, "If I cannot swear in heaven I shall not stay there."

Prayer, by the way, is worth considerably less, than a steaming pile of the most rancid and fetid yak dung that has ever spewed forth from the arse of any a long-haired bovine.

This of course, being merely my most humble opinion.

Posted by: backwardsbuddhist | August 24, 2010 7:39 AM

Looking forward to your speedy return. Your days may be considerably more painful in the interim, but the rest of us will be enduring the excruciating agony of boredom without the physical aspects to keep us occupied. Encouragement to you and your family on this somewhat necessary but unlooked for adventure.

Posted by: Greg Laden | August 24, 2010 7:40 AM

It is going to be interesting to watch you blog under the influence for a few weeks.

Posted by: Wowbagger, Man-Hating Man of Pharyngula | August 24, 2010 7:46 AM

On an unrelated note, I'm home from seeing Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, which I really enjoyed - though it did get a bit same-same after a while. Still, it was very impressive stylistically, and the cuts from scene to scene were just brilliant.

Posted by: KG | August 24, 2010 7:56 AM

Child rape is not the only priestly crime that the Catholic hierarchy covers up:

The police, the Catholic Church and the state conspired to cover up a priest's likely role in one of the worst atrocities of the Northern Ireland Troubles, an investigation has found.

Posted by: bbgunn071679 | August 24, 2010 8:00 AM

To Dr. Myers and Mary, the Trophy Wife:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmHeP9Sve48

Posted by: KG | August 24, 2010 8:08 AM

These survivors are now thriving in a laboratory in Milton Keynes - Ring Tailed Lemurian, quoting a story on the bacteria that survived months on the outside of the ISS.

Having lived (or at least, existed) for a time in Milton Keynes, I'm not sure it's much less of a hostile environment than outer space!

Posted by: Cannabinaceae | August 24, 2010 8:08 AM

One word:

"Shitfuckdamn!"

Recover or attain health, PZ. That's my recommendation.

I revel in swearing, as has been attested by W.U.'s sister, who recently called me vis-a-vis organizing Family Pizza Night (which, for me, usually involves ravioli instead). The phone devices chose to partially break mid conversation, such that I could not hear her, but she could hear me. Therefore I indulged, fiddling with the phone, the base station, etc. trying to correct the situation. To the tune of "Shit fuck! God fuck! Mother fuck! What the fuck! God fuck it!" etc.

This became a topic of conversation later that evening, once the kidlings were up in the child ghetto.

Posted by: Zeno | August 24, 2010 8:18 AM

I'm joining in on the good wishes, but I'll pass on the swearing. (It's just the way that I am, with my Plaitian adversion.)

Don't imagine that we didn't notice, PZ, that you said you're taking Fry's advice "to heart." Humor in the face of adversity. Ha! (And we'll see you on the other side of this necessary medical unpleasantness.)

Posted by: BillMetrey | August 24, 2010 8:20 AM

Hey PZ, don't believe the guy who says, "I am going to give you something to help you relax."

He is the guy who is going to knock you out until you wake up in recovery. He lies like a rug!

Here's for a speedy recovery!

Posted by: ophelia.benson | August 24, 2010 8:24 AM

An intelligent designer would have made the whole thing out of durable plastic so yaboosucks!

Best of luck; float like a butterfly, sting like a bee; fuck pain; get well soonest.

Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/IFR2b_p5o8kZ3YV1mrRajqve6Rsg#061e6 | August 24, 2010 8:29 AM

A lurker here, de-lurking to say "You better fucking get better fast!"

Afterall, I need something to do at work in the mornings.

Seriously, though. Get well soon!

Posted by: Mattir-ritated | August 24, 2010 8:31 AM

Well, that was a lovely way to start the day before heading off to work. I hope everything goes well - despite Rorschach's assurance that heart surgery is a routine medical procedure, it still sounds pretty hairy to me. That's why I'm glad that there are doctors - they view heart surgery as routine so that I don't have to...

Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline. | August 24, 2010 8:36 AM

But, listen..........can you just FORGET that we are here for awhile? We'll be fine. It's okay.

I can assure that there's nothing more important in life (/The Thread) than MEEEEEE, and I demand PeeZed devote all his attention to MEEEE!

Posted by: Andyo | August 24, 2010 8:36 AM

Oh and I didn't mean to imply that in Spanish there isn't any of this puritanical bullshit, it's just it's not as pronounced. And as Fry pointed out too, it seems the people with the least linguistic skills are the ones that complain the most. It's amazing how spot-on he is. I have friends tell me not to swear so much on the bus or at the supermarket, not because of them (of course, they're as potty-mouthed as me) but because of others. Fuck others. If anyone gets offended by some generic word someone says out loud, it's their problem, methinks.

Posted by: Multicellular | August 24, 2010 8:44 AM

A speedy recovery to you PZ.

As we wait for the news of your recuperation we'll wait in the shadows, counting the beads of scientific discovery and innovation that will, unlike a god, preserve and protect your mortal frame.

Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline. | August 24, 2010 8:48 AM

the US is the prudest place in the Western world (apart from the Vatican I suppose

I'm O-neg, but being hopped up on antidepressants, noöne wants it.

Posted by: No One | August 24, 2010 8:49 AM

fuck

Posted by: Andyo | August 24, 2010 8:52 AM

It's funny that "hostia" ("host", as in that Goddamn Cracker) is a swear word in Spain.

Posted by: Dianne | August 24, 2010 8:54 AM

I hope everything goes well - despite Rorschach's assurance that heart surgery is a routine medical procedure, it still sounds pretty hairy to me.

I'm not certain what procedure exactly PZ is having, but if it's a CABG then, yes, it's got definite risks and has a (low but higher than we'd like) mortality. Cardiac surgery, when one's heart is in bad shape is kind of like democracy: it ain't pretty but it probably beats the alternatives.

Posted by: Julie Stahlhut | August 24, 2010 8:54 AM

Best wishes for a successful set of repairs and a stress-free recovery, PZ!

Posted by: Andyo | August 24, 2010 9:01 AM

I have it on good authority that the Vat has a collection of marble penes in a cupboard somewhere.

Posted by: podblack | August 24, 2010 9:14 AM

@ Rorschach #39:

:p :p :p :)

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | August 24, 2010 9:19 AM

I'm O-neg, but being hopped up on antidepressants, noöne wants it.

A blood transfusion with antidepressants built in? Sounds like a feature rather than a bug to me.

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 24, 2010 9:29 AM

David M:

Gah, you're exactly right. I said "antigens" and meant "antibodies".

Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort | August 24, 2010 9:33 AM

@Sili:

I don't know what my blood type is, but I'm blacklisted because I lived in Germany from 1988 to 1992 (see Creutzfeldt-Jakob blood donor restrictions)

Posted by: Dianne | August 24, 2010 9:36 AM

I don't know what my blood type is, but I'm blacklisted because I lived in Germany from 1988 to 1992

Really? Germany? I thought there were like 5 cases of nvCJD is cows and none in humans in Germany. The UK on the other hand...nvCJD is definitely passed through blood so it's probably a reasonable precaution.

OTOH, it might be time to dump the restriction on gay men now that we've got reasonable tests for HIV.

Posted by: gawdmail | August 24, 2010 9:39 AM

Best of lock, PZ... er, even though luck is just a constructed concept.

Posted by: irenedelse | August 24, 2010 9:42 AM

While we wait for good news from the hospital, I'll add my voice to send good thought to the Myers family, and especially the Trophy Wife a.k.a. Mystress of Mercy (TM). Take good care of yourself, too! PZ is fortunate to have you. And so are we all.

Posted by: Stephen Wells | August 24, 2010 9:49 AM

I just got a call from the NHS blood transfusion service this morning, telling me there's a session next month. I was off donating for a few months because of travel restrictions.

But the vampires know where I live and they're coming for my precious fluids!

O+, if you were wondering.

Posted by: TGAP Dad | August 24, 2010 9:56 AM

BTW: It's Stephen Fry's 53rd birthday today!

Posted by: Ring Tailed Lemurian | August 24, 2010 10:04 AM

KG #20
I loved how the Catholic Church responded in the only way it knows of how to deal with "problem" priests (same story, from the Guardian) -

"The cardinal said that he knew that the priest was a very bad man and would see what could be done. The cardinal mentioned the possibility of transferring him to Donegal."

Re Milton *spit* Keynes - It's no surprise that the only good thing to ever come out of M*s*K (the Open University) was a distance learning project. Ideal, because it's the last place anyone would want to actually go, and the further one stays away from it the better.

Posted by: SteveV, Death's Pissant Haberdasher | August 24, 2010 10:08 AM

Not keyne on MK then?

Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM | August 24, 2010 10:12 AM

PZ or Mary, if anyone prays over PZ, take names. Patricia and the Pullet Patrol™ are on the case, and rude surprise may be waiting when they leave the hospital...

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 24, 2010 10:19 AM

I can be quite certain I didn't! First, the time is wrong (I lived there in 1977). Second, throughout that time, I remained in that condition of... inexperience which said law grad assures us he still maintains!

Ah! Perhaps he's listening. I suggest that chronic virginity correlates to proximity to MK. Maybe should try living in Manchester. :P

BTW: It's Stephen Fry's 53rd birthday today!

Oh I'll have to tell my mom. She's obsessed with his TV show.

Posted by: Lynna, OM | August 24, 2010 10:23 AM

Ah, yes, cursing. One of the mormon members of Great Rift Writers told me that if I "dropped the F bomb" in her house, I had to put $5 in the Swearing Jar. I don't have that much fucking money.

My brother's once-upon-a-time mormon girlfriend told me that saying "that word" [meaning, "goddamn"] was an insult to her Heavenly Father. [cue tears springing to eyes, and cue chin rising to indicate a goddamn intolerable shitload of self righteousness]

This will be a a repeat for some who have heard the tale before, but I was told while still in college that "there's nothing worse than a foul-mouthed woman." And so began my lifelong career as a foul-mouthed woman, as the pinnacle of evil.

From fellow judges of a writing competition: "Cursing coarsens the language and creates an atmosphere unsuitable for younger writers." "It shows a lack of creativity." [Oh, would that I had the Stephen Fry video then!] Swag-bellied, mewling, clay-brained, lace-trimmed, complacent fuckless harpies.

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 24, 2010 10:25 AM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11063939

Those first two sentences are the most egregiously stupid straw-manning of Darwin I have ever seen. And the final sentence, a quote from Stearns, is just exactly spot on what I was thinking throughout. Now I'll have to track down the original to find out if it's just the usual dumbass press release/reporter problem or if the actual study is really that stupid.

So about the Rh blood factor.
What always gets lost in these immunological discussions is that the Rh+ protein has a physiological function-it's not just an 'antigen'. According to 'kipedia, its sequence suggests it is an ion channel or pump (possibly for NH₃^- or (they must mean) HCO₃^-).

So the Rh-negative phenotype does involve a loss of (largely unknown) function (of some kind). Apparently its loss is largely compensatable physiologically.

Importantly, that protein may serve as part of the mechanism for certain parasite infections. That 'kipedia article goes on to discuss a possible advantage for Rh- and heterozygotes vs. toxoplasmosis infection; and here is another hypothesis (rather quaintly translated from the Italian) involving another malaria-like blood parasite.

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 24, 2010 10:34 AM

harpies

oo, I think that one actually is frowned on around here.
That'll be $5 in the beer-&-bacon-fund Casual Misogyny Vat Jar, please.

Posted by: Part-Time Insomniac, Zombie Porcupine Nox Arcana Fan | August 24, 2010 10:37 AM

I've tried donating blood twice in my life. The first time I got rejected because I'd been to Costa Rica over spring break and was thus at risk for having gotten malaria. The second time my iron levels were too low. That time I swore silently as I left, although every time I've told the story since, I've always added, "Well bloody fucking hell, what next, they'll tell me I can't donate because my iron levels are too high? I can't fucking get a break!"

Also, I don't know my blood type, so I'm doing my best to not get into a situation where that knowledge will be very necessary.

Posted by: Lynna, OM | August 24, 2010 10:42 AM

From Rorschach's link @39:

PZ is strident but he is not a dick. Half the regular readers on his site are total dicks because they think the [sic] see PZ doing this and go along. PZ could do a better job reining them in.

I put the [sic] in so I could be counted among the dicks.

Now, to imagining PZ reining us in...

As for "harpies" being frowned upon, yes you are quite right. But the ladies of such dimity convictions were the real thing, not a general category of women, but real life religious harpies. I take refuge in limiting the description to two harpies.

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 24, 2010 10:45 AM

Re Milton *spit* Keynes - It's no surprise that the only good thing to ever come out of M*s*K (the Open University) was a distance learning project. Ideal, because it's the last place anyone would want to actually go, and the further one stays away from it the better.

Hey RTL, this clueless American Idiot wants to know what you hate about that place so much? Bad memories, evil corruption, did they burn down a better city to build it? I googled it but didn't see anything interesting. Looks, frankly, like a boring suburban city or maybe a Jersey City to NYC kind of thing?

Do you know the reason for your anemia?

Not really. But I've had a problem with anemia for most of my life, including childhood.

Posted by: sj3364 | August 24, 2010 10:50 AM

Best wishes for a full and fast recovery.

Posted by: nigelTheBold, Minister of Spankings | August 24, 2010 10:51 AM

When faced by the big questions that draw people to faith, all too often the self-righteous atheists' defence is to decline to enter into debates with the religious, by turning their own lack of reflection on such matters into a hallmark of maturity.

"Hah!" I say, and "Pish-tosh!"

I can reflect on the nature of Klingon nose ridges with the best-educated Klingon-study-person in the world. I can contemplate the universes held within a single atom. I can ponder the wispiest of wisps, the largest and most perfect being that can be, the Tolkienest of elves or hobbits or other such nonsuch.

And in the end, I have meditated upon nothing of consequence outside my own brain.

And so I ask in my smuggiest of atheist voices (I have several, including Donald Duck, which is a party favorite among 5-year-olds), "Why do we have to take metaphysics seriously, if all it's going to do is ruminate on fantasy?"

"Gah," I say, and "Fuck you, you self-satisfied navel-gazing twit."

Posted by: Peter Henderson | August 24, 2010 10:55 AM

Hope all goes well P.Z.

If it's any comfort my dad had a tripple by-pass 4 years ago and he's never looked back. He's now 80.

I know what heavy surgery is like too. I've ulerative colitis with a permanent ileostomy and I've more to come as well.

All the best for today.

Posted by: Dianne | August 24, 2010 10:55 AM

Not really. But I've had a problem with anemia for most of my life, including childhood.

My through the intertubes guess would be some sort of thalassemia, but you should probably get it checked out sometime to be sure. (Bearing in mind that this is free advice: worth every penny you pay for it.)

Posted by: Lynna, OM | August 24, 2010 10:57 AM

this attitude of renouncing the will to know is much like the dogmatic, religious attitude towards understanding the natural world, only inverted against metaphysical speculation.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 10:59 AM

Lynna:

Now, to imagining PZ reining us in...

Yeah, I saw that. It seems Laden has found his niche, being the gossiphole of sciblogs.

Nigel:

"Gah," I say, and "Fuck you, you self-satisfied navel-gazing twit."

You and me both, my smuggy brother.

Posted by: Ewan R | August 24, 2010 11:01 AM

Also, I don't know my blood type, so I'm doing my best to not get into a situation where that knowledge will be very necessary.

Thankfully they work it out pretty damn fast should the situation arise - and in the meantime you get to be thankful for all the O neg CMV negs out there (At least in the UK I believe that's what goes to unknowns - was always on standing order for ambulances and whatnot)

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 24, 2010 11:06 AM

I got thread-copped.

you gotta watch for the sidekick over there

Posted by: recovering catholic | August 24, 2010 11:09 AM

The little puppy with the heart brought me to tears and made me think of the stories you've told about how you and Mary met, PZ, and how happy you've been together since then.

You will have many more decades to enjoy together! Thinking about you both with fondness.

Posted by: Dude... Real Men Watch Ponies! | August 24, 2010 11:14 AM

I think there should be a tax on "metaphysical speculation.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 11:20 AM

UberFubar:

how would you apply that tax?

A good start would be taking tax exemption away from all religions and their organizations. You want to navel gaze, fine. You don't get a reward for it.

Posted by: nigelTheBold, Minister of Spankings | August 24, 2010 11:22 AM

The whole damned thing was painful, but the "renouncing the will to know" paragraph made me bite my tongue.

"The will to know." Yeah. As if his metaphysical playtime had anything to do with knowledge. As if there is an epistemology that can glean anything useful from the supposedly-enlightened questions he was asking.

I have not renounced the will to know. I have renounced muddling knowledge with idle flights of fantasy.

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 24, 2010 11:27 AM

I've only donated blood once. I lied about my weight so I could do it. I was 108 lbs, which I figured was close enough. I figured wrong (either that, or my blood sugar issues kicked my ass). I fainted just as the phone rang, so there was no one around to catch me. I split my eyebrow open on the tile and bled even more. I almost got to get free stitches, but I come from a mutant family with Wolverine-like healing properties, and though they were certain at the blood donation center I'd need the stitches, by the time I got to the (very handsome) doctor's office, it was neatly closed up. I thought about slipping in the shower so I could see the doc again, but decided worsening the scar wasn't worth flirting (especially when I was a little loopy from the blood donation).

My blood type is A+. I found that out in college. I asked Mom what her blood type was. She said O+. I asked her what Dad's was. She said B+. I informed her that that wasn't really possible. He didn't know for sure, but he said B+ as well. My sibs are all O+ (or didn't know). Now, I could've just written this off as neither of them remembering, which is what I mostly did, but the thing is that my entire life people have made the stupid milkman joke because I look nothing like anyone else in my family. I'm half the size of my sibs, and both parents and all sibs have really dark hair and dark brown eyes. I'm the redheaded, blue-eyed, tiny one (I'm not actually tiny--just compared to them). So, it sort of stuck in my mind as a little bit of a mystery that I wasn't really sure I wanted to solve.

Fast forward 5 years, and Dad goes into the hospital for the last time. His blood pressure had been dangerously low, and he needed a transfusion. They tested his blood type and solved the mystery. Turns out Mom was half-right, which made her all the way wrong. He was AB+. It doesn't prove that there was no hanky-panky surrounding my conception, but it squashed any doubts I had. It's a little thing, because as I said, I didn't really think there was funny business going on, but it was really nice to put it to rest.

Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD) | August 24, 2010 11:36 AM

Mullet Magnet

<headdesk>

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 11:39 AM

Susan:

I'm banned for catching mononucleosis in the 70's. Man. Who didn't?!

No kidding. I had a bout in the '70s m'self.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 11:42 AM

Nigel:

I have not renounced the will to know. I have renounced muddling knowledge with idle flights of fantasy.

Excellently stated. Wouldn't get anywhere with meta-idjit though. We'd all be consigned to smug status unless we're willing to sit around pondering the fit of puddles in potholes.

Posted by: Dude... Real Men Watch Ponies! | August 24, 2010 11:50 AM

That's perfectly OK with me. Call me Captain Smug of the Smugetty-Smug Division. I specialize in smug! Only the finest grade-A smug from me.

Would you like your order of smug with a side of crisp-fried smug? I mean, who wouldn't?!

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 24, 2010 11:50 AM

Coincidentally, I've just been working on my pilot for a retro muscle-car cop show featuring Jim "Mullet" Magnet, Tulsa PD.

Ad copy: "MAGNET! How does he work?!"

He refers to his '85 IROC as "Roxie" and it's treated as a character.

That's pretty much as far as I've gotten. I guess he'll need a sidekick...

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 24, 2010 11:53 AM

got to keep those Precious Bodily Fluids pure

Posted by: Randomfactor | August 24, 2010 11:53 AM

I'm *HOPING* to have a bout with mono in my 70's.

Oh, in *THE* 70's?

Never mind.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 11:56 AM

Nigel:

Only the finest grade-A smug from me.

Oh yes. Personally, my gloat is full of smug. Or my smug is full of gloat.

Posted by: Hurin, Nattering Nabob of Negativism. | August 24, 2010 11:56 AM

Good luck and stay strong. Remember: Lord Cthulhu eats the strong ones first.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 12:00 PM

Ol'Greg:

Hehe... well if we're basing opinions on people we know from there then MK must be almost as cool as Dallas

:D :D Nah, I don't know much about MK, just that it's not worth going on and on and on and on and on about.

Posted by: lose_the_woo | August 24, 2010 12:01 PM

A fucking swearing thread PZ?! You leave us with a goddamn swearing thread? Well piss. That's just fucking rich. How 'bout this - get your ass back to slaggging on this blog with something better than a frggin' thread about foul-mouthed fulminations. Jebus fucking christ.

Feel better PZ. Best wishes to you, your wife, and family. We wait patiently. May the great skill of the doctors and good luck be with you.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 12:04 PM

RTL:

Aww, I quite like you, and always read your posts, time permitting.

Oh, I like you too, I just prefer you when you aren't in 'bitch about everything' mode. ;)

Posted by: KG | August 24, 2010 12:08 PM

this clueless American Idiot wants to know what you hate about that place so much? Bad memories, evil corruption, did they burn down a better city to build it? I googled it but didn't see anything interesting. Looks, frankly, like a boring suburban city

You've got part of it: it is a boring suburban city - they are not so common in the UK as in the US. It was built on the assumption of 95% car ownership, and I didn't have one. It was criss-crossed by long, straight, flat roads that all look the same, so it was easy to get lost. It had something called an "infrastructure park". It was run by the MKDC - the Milton Keynes Development Corporation - not an elected council. The MKDC had caused to be erected drab estates with daft things like flat roofs, and heating elements embedded in the ceilings (apparently, the architect didn't know about rain, or that heat rises). It may have improved since I last visited, around 30 years ago, I suppose.

Posted by: Ewan R | August 24, 2010 12:09 PM

KG:-

but they are always complaining about a shortage of blood!

Meh, don't believe 'em! (well, do, as the odd time there isn't enough is way worse than having to chuck blood on occasion) I worked for the NBS for 6 months, the only time blood was in a short supply was directly following the London bombings - we had to shift a lot of blood around the country quickly (I think in preparation for more attacks - perhaps it's just the NE of England that has an abundance of blood), most the time we had two massive walk in fridges full of blood (one fridge for CMV+ one for CMV-) A massive walk in freezer full of fresh frozen plasma and a couple of 36 degree shakers of platelets - if anything people should donate regularly just to keep the platelet supply good - iirc red blood cells have a shelf life of about a month, ffp is good for something like a year, but platelets are only good for a week or so. Oh and whole blood is fuggin disgusting - at 4C all the fat coagulates out and is totally vomit inducing.

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 24, 2010 12:15 PM

oo oo oo I know:
The car's bum electrical system causes the radio to cut in unpredictably with not-really-random-seeming but often-extremely-oblique commentary via song lyrics and talk-radio fragments.
An ostensibly stochastic synchronicity sidekick.

And of course the occasional failure of the car to start can offer many a fraught moment while we cut to commercial.

ok. Now about the quirkily adorable and whipsmart girlfriend-or-is-she?
single mom, obv (a funny kid or 2 is always good for ratings)
Trailer park (sorry, this is TV)
Good-for-nothing comic-relief ex-husband
cocktail waitress or is that OTT?

Posted by: Alan B | August 24, 2010 12:16 PM

"Share and Enjoy" - Chalk Edition, Part 1.

The paper I want to talk about, or use to lead into further thoughts, goes by the catchy title:

Chalk and “Upper Cretaceous” Deposits are Part of the Noachian Flood

(The scare quotes are because of the unwillingness of the author (and many, but not all, YEC geologists) to accept the scientific nomenclature because they are concerned about the implications it carries with it.)

The paper is available on the Internet (a definite plus in my mind - at least we can get hold of the technical basis of their approach):

http://www.answersingenesis.org/contents/379/arj/v2/Chalk_Part_of_Flood.pdf

This is the pdf version (2.58 Mb) of an article in Answers Research Journal 2 (2009): 29–51. This, in turn, is described as:

Cutting-edge creation research. Free. Answers Research Journal (ARJ) is a professional, peer-reviewed technical journal for the publication of interdisciplinary scientific and other relevant research from the perspective of the recent Creation and the global Flood within a biblical framework.

This would appear to be the apex of YEC scientific reporting. The Call for Papers starts with:

High-quality papers for Answers Research Journal, sponsored by Answers in Genesis, are now invited for submission.

The author is John D. Matthews. We know nothing about him except that he lives local to the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. Is he a professional geologist? Does he belong to a professional or senior amateur society? Is this paper a revised version of a project required to earn a qualification?

The author makes no statement that he has discussed the contents with anyone and no acknowledgements to others. All that we know is that it is "Cutting-edge creation research" and has been "peer-reviewed"

I'll leave those who are interested to flick through the paper if you wish. My suggestion is that you don't waste too much time on a detailed study unless the thought of studying "cutting-edge", "peer-reviewed" YEC research appeals to you. And, oh yes, I'd almost forgotten, it is published and presumably endorsed by that influential scientific organisation, Answers in Genesis.

More to follow ...

Footnote:

Since chalk is rare in the US it might help if I explain what it is. Chalk is a pure and comparatively soft form of limestone laid down in the Cretaceous in England and across mush of NW Europe. In England it is divided into the Lower, Middle and Upper Chalk and these are the youngest rocks exposed in the Cretaceous. As noted before, the K/T (or K/Pg) boundary ("Death of Dinosaurs") is not present in England.

Chalk is formed from the accumulation of microscopic fragments of calcareous algae called coccoliths. These form a significant proportion of modern deep-water carbonate oozes.

"The Chalk" is a term used in England for the formations made out of this soft white limestone.
Blackboard chalk is made from calcium sulfate rather than calcium carbonate.

Posted by: Ing: PhD Trollologist | August 24, 2010 12:19 PM

Get better....damn it

Posted by: Ring Tailed Lemurian | August 24, 2010 12:21 PM

I don't know much about MK, just that it's not worth going on and on and on and on and on about.

So Ayatollah Caine's declaring a fatwah on running themes/jokes* in the Undying Thread?

* in this case, a self-deprecating "joke" that is partly directed at myself, and a football fan's ludicrously obsessive loyalty to his/her club.

"Never forget. Never forgive".
;)

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 12:24 PM

RTL:

So Ayatollah Caine's declaring a fatwah on running themes/jokes* in the Undying Thread?

I'm an ayatollah now? Oh, why not, I seem to be every other type of evil. As for your running jokes, run on, my man. I'm done, just had to do a bit of bitchin' myself, it's out of the system now. ;)

Posted by: Pareidolius | August 24, 2010 12:30 PM

Swag-bellied, mewling, clay-brained, lace-trimmed, complacent fuckless harpies.

That's some thrilling invective. There's a reason for that OM Lynna.

Countess, children are such dicks. I grew up with Kernan for a first name. You can imagine the ration of non-creative shit I got called for not being named John or Bruce.

I'm totally stealing Horsey Petunia, it's quite Shakespearean for grade school . . . "away, thou clodweasel, thou Horsey Petunia! Thy presence doth offend the very air in which we dwell."

Now Willie-the-Shake, he could write a get well card . . .

Gentle P-Zed, if good-will doth in thy bosom the bloom of health most manifest, then surely is thy speedy return, and thus, thy myriad minion's dearest desire assured.

Too much Darjeeling this morning . . .

Posted by: Alan B | August 24, 2010 12:33 PM

Lynna

I haven't forgotten your message in the last incarnation about your owh trip but I would like to get my current sub-thread sorted and then I'll enjoy your beautiful photos!

Posted by: AlisonS | August 24, 2010 12:35 PM

Bring on the fucking drugs!! Just make sure not to swear directly at the nurses.

How can one drive without a few, or maybe a lot, of very blue words? Or, for that matter, deal with fucking idiots?

I'm A+ too and can't give blood. Not because I have any dread condition but because my veins collapse around the needle and nothing but drips come out. And it hurts like hell.

Rest, relax and get well bloody soon.

Posted by: dnebdal.myopenid.com | August 24, 2010 12:36 PM

cicely:
I thought both sides reported is as done by the other side, which would be far fainter praise?

Hm, I'd forgotten that Stross story for a moment - odd, since it's a good one.

Posted by: Alan B | August 24, 2010 12:37 PM

#131 & 135

Sorry about the double post. Once was more than enough!

Posted by: KG | August 24, 2010 12:42 PM

What was there before they built MK? Anything interesting?

Small towns, villages, and fields. To be fair, the towns and villages were not bulldozed. It was planned as a "New city" mainly for people previously in London slums, but was actually occupied mostly by middle-class families, including many commuters to London and Birmingham.

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | August 24, 2010 12:51 PM

Oh great. I had "lurching" all italicized like the word itself was physically lurching, and was all proud of myself for being clever, and then I botched the tags.
*mutter*

Posted by: GordonOKC | August 24, 2010 12:57 PM

In the same tone used by Daniel Dennett may I say "Thank Goodness" you are receiving proper evidenced based care by a qualified team of health care professionals. I also hope you and your family find comfort in knowing there are thousands of people anxiously waiting and hoping for your complete recovery not to mention the countless numbers of cephalopods. May this procedure ensure many more years of PZ Myers.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 1:01 PM

PZ Status Update.

Posted by: onkundig | August 24, 2010 1:17 PM

Caine @ 153

Please, for once, go against type. No sprogs, give her a weapon she's terribly fond of and has named or something

A Callahan full-bore auto-lock. Customized trigger, double cartridge thorough gauge

Let's call her Vera.

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 24, 2010 1:26 PM

Sven
I like how Roxie has that everycar fallibility that makes her more approachable to the average viewer.

On the gf:
Can't do the cocktail waitress thing--definitely OTT.

Can't do PA thing--there's already a cop show with a pseudo-girlfriend who's a PA (it may be RN or CNP, but I think she's a PA).

Can't do the gf with a love of weapons, as I think Burn Notice covers that pretty effectively.

The only solution is to make Magnet a woman, and give her a pseudo-boyfriend who's a farmer or meth cooker (depending on what kind of conflict you want Magnet to face).

What? Women can have mullets, too.

cicely
Was that just a show of support, or have you had personal experience with TPD?

Posted by: Steve LaBonne | August 24, 2010 1:29 PM

Good news re PZ! Stents seem to be popular again lately- a friend of my ex's just got 5. And clearly the short recovery time is a big plus. But I thought the data showed they didn't increase survival as much as a bypass, nor any better then purely medical treatment? Am I out of date on that?

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 1:31 PM

On second thought, Onkundig, maybe that should be Vera Jayne. ;)

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 24, 2010 1:37 PM

Woman with a love of a particular weapon works fine, it's nowhere near as done as woman with sprogs.

Fair enough. Can we still have Magnet be a woman (which is my primary goal)? White trash lesbian love rarely gets much play either.

Posted by: ophelia.benson | August 24, 2010 1:43 PM

Yay! Just a stent. Less boredom, less wasted time, less all around tsuris.

Posted by: https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkqQXrl7yEsdEmCGIJY6e4vK85szmL2lf8 | August 24, 2010 1:45 PM

"Father Jack" speaks...

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/user/neanderthaler/20080617163547.jpg

Posted by: mikefoxtrothow | August 24, 2010 1:48 PM

Sort of wandering from topic, but if the experiences of various family members is typical, even if everything goes perfectly for PZ in hospital.

The bastards will have stolen his beard before he gets out, in fact before surgery.

PZ will be beardless, for possibly the first time since puberty. (OK, i am guessing on that last part, based on my own experiences with facial hair.)

Posted by: Joffan | August 24, 2010 1:52 PM

yahoo_rndm @34
"You better fucking get better fast!"

NOnononono. Fuck no. Fucking get it right:

"You fucking better get better fucking fast!" (Adding "you feeble fucker" is optional.)

I'm bloody sure though that the bastard sentiment was fucking appreciated.

Posted by: blf | August 24, 2010 2:10 PM

I never did figure out what they [concrete cows in Milton Keynes] do resemble.

Spherical cows by someone who didn't get the joke.

Posted by: KG | August 24, 2010 2:16 PM

Yay! Good news about both PZ and JeffreyD!

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 2:25 PM

Spherical cows by someone who didn't get the joke.

I don't know, blf. They're closer to deflated cows. Well, semi-deflated cows, with distortions which look like they were done by a child attempting to imitate Dali. Or somethin'.

Posted by: DominEditrix | August 24, 2010 2:28 PM

I have it on good authority that the Vat has a collection of marble penes in a cupboard somewhere.

They lopped them off the classical statuary, lest anyone be exposed to pron.

Blood donation - I rate too low on iron to give to anyone else, and the only time I gave an autologous donation for my own surgery, the surgery had to be cancelled because I failed the pre-op; apparently, I barely produce enough red blood cells to live. When the hospital later tried to give me a transfusion, I promptly developped a high fever. After much lab work it was determined that my blood "contained undeterminable antigens making it hostile to transfusions". I fucking told you I was from another planet.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 2:36 PM

mikefoxtrothow:

I am tempted to offer up a prayer for PZ just to be a smart ass, but i can't think of any deities I would trust enough to pray to even if i did believe in them.

I'm sure a quietly whispered thank you to the Great Cephalopod of the Deep would be okay.

Posted by: Fred The Hun | August 24, 2010 2:41 PM

This some how seems rather appropriate and it even contains a poll...

http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2010/08/24/lunchtime-poll-achin-bacon/?hpt=C2

There was a disturbance in the Force this morning. We felt it deep within our souls, but could not identify the cause until our boss, a woman comprised of 67% bacon and 23% really good beer, sent us this link in an e-mail with the subject line, "BACON PRICES INCREASE!"

Before you trot on over to get the FULL STORY from our colleagues at CNN Money, we wanna know:
Will increased bacon prices affect your consumption?
There is no price I will not pay for bacon.
I may consume it less, but will enjoy it all the more for it.
It will be an occasional treat -- much less frequent than before.
It will be off the menu, but I long for a comeback.
I don't eat bacon for religious reasons.
I don't eat meat.
I don't care for bacon.
I seriously do not get the whole bacon fascination. It's fine, but I'll live without.
Other (share the sizzling details below)

Posted by: Dianne | August 24, 2010 2:43 PM

But I thought the data showed they didn't increase survival as much as a bypass, nor any better then purely medical treatment? Am I out of date on that?

It's not my area, but IIRC, that depends on how many vessels need to be bypassed: one or two you may be better off with a stent, 3 or more, it's still bypass time. But that may also be out of date.

A quick wander through medline suggests that for left main disease (which I suspect PZ of having), CABG and stent are pretty equivalent. Want refs?

Posted by: DominEditrix | August 24, 2010 2:43 PM

I apologise for the above assault on your aesthetics, but, damn it, Jim, someone had to do it.

Posted by: 朴競花/박경화 (Gyeong Hwa) | August 24, 2010 2:44 PM

While PZ is in the hospital, I think it's time for another pie:

Guava Pie

3 tablespoons flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Pastry for a 9-inch 2-crust pie
4 cups Florida guava, peeled, seeded and sliced
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons cold butter, cut in small pieces

Mix together the flour, sugar, and salt; set aside. Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry; fill with sliced guava, slightly mounding in the center. Sprinkle the flour and sugar mixture evenly over the guavas. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and dot with butter. Cover with the top pastry and flute edge. Cut several vents into top crust to let steam escape. Bake in a preheated 450° oven for 10 minutes, then reduce to 350° and bake 30 to 40 minutes longer.

I'd give you some PZ, but you need to ask the doc if it's okay.

Posted by: truthspeaker | August 24, 2010 2:45 PM

Heading home?!?! But the state fair starts the day after tomorrow! Of course, almost all the food there is deep fried...

Posted by: mikefoxtrothow | August 24, 2010 2:47 PM

I'm sure a quietly whispered thank you to the Great Cephalopod of the Deep would be okay.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Don't want to get that ones attention, best case, I will have a very expensive underwater camera stolen, worst case, it will turn out that Lovecraft was right.

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 24, 2010 2:48 PM

Don't know if it's been seen before but here's something people can practice swearing about. http://objectiveministries.org/kidz/ Try moving your mouse over the lamb. These fundies are a whole different category of stupid and insanity all mixed up into one bundle

What was that poem about Ravens quothing and such?

Posted by: otrame | August 24, 2010 2:49 PM

Don't have time to check if anyone else linked this.

This, my friends, the the definition of PWNED.

Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline. | August 24, 2010 2:49 PM

I don't eat bacon for religious reasons.

Oh ... this is The Thread. Nevermind then.

Posted by: blf | August 24, 2010 2:55 PM

They're closer to deflated cows.

Inflate them and they're spherical. Or shrapnel.

Posted by: Peter Ashby | August 24, 2010 2:55 PM

If it is swearing you want then the British TV Show The Thick of It is the one for you if you can find it. The British political references might go past you but the character of Malcolm Tucker is just absofuckinglutely stupendous.

Note that it went out on free to air public broadcast TV at prime time in the evening. It was after 9pm (the designated watershed) though.

Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM | August 24, 2010 2:58 PM

Those MK cows are ugly. I much prefer the Chicago style concrete cows.

Posted by: Julie Stahlhut | August 24, 2010 3:02 PM

Yay! Glad PZ's okay. (My 84-year-old aunt recently got a stent and did just fine. So a young whippersnapper like PZ should be back on his feet in no time.)

Hugs to Mary too. It's scary when your squid-nificant other gets sick.

Posted by: Jadehawk, cascadeuse féministe | August 24, 2010 3:09 PM

You are probably already through with your university studies, but if your Spawn (or your younger siblings) want to study, -and like to be in a country that is virtually free of fundamentalists and creationists- this might be something for them (NB you pay for your own rent and food, the education is free). PS no human sacrifice to Elder Gods permitted!

You wouldn't, by any chance, have spawned a future Oxford law grad that would have many political debates online with you while there, would you?

Oh my heavens! Milton Keynes? Summer of 1989 or the winter of 1988? Walton, please tell me your Mother's name is not Stella, or Anne, or Barbara.

"The will to know." Yeah. As if his metaphysical playtime had anything to do with knowledge. As if there is an epistemology that can glean anything useful from the supposedly-enlightened questions he was asking.

I have not renounced the will to know. I have renounced muddling knowledge with idle flights of fantasy.

Posted by: Josh, "Raquel Dommage," Porte-parole Gay Official | August 24, 2010 3:11 PM

Le Dauphin:

Try a shit ton of baking soda in the wash with the clothes, using hot water. If that doesn't work, try Borax.

Posted by: boxmaker | August 24, 2010 3:13 PM

Unfortunately, as I understand it, the pain does not end with the PTCA and stent:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mba/lowres/mban187l.jpg

Get well, soon. You're missed already!

Posted by: blf | August 24, 2010 3:18 PM

[a] what special industrial-strenght cleaning protocol can I undertake to fix this and [b] how in the <Obligatory_Swearing>fucking hell</Obligatory_Swearing> can I tell it's fixed?

Options:

[a] Incinerator.
[b] Look for ashes.

or:

[a] Mail them to Ken “piglet rapist” Ham.
[b] Creation “Museum” meltsdown and heads towards China.^†

 †  They only recently grasped the idea the Earth maybe isn't flat. Antipodes are a bit beyond them. Well, rather a lot beyond them, actually.

Posted by: danow | August 24, 2010 3:29 PM

PZ, hope you make a rapid recovery. I had heart surgery at 42 and it took me a good 6weeks to recover, hope you do better.

Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD) | August 24, 2010 3:29 PM

[vent mode=on]
Some days I hate my job. I've been all over other people's tasks today because apparently my priority project is less important than everybody else's. Fine. May they are. Then I get a call from one of the bosses who is over at a school where I went and tried to fix something a couple weeks ago. Of course, if I'm going on site that means nobody else is available, so it's a crazy day. I've been here about 7 months and am always left out of the loop on everything, so when I have to fix something, I'm usually trying to learn it for the first time as I go. So, as I said, I tried to fix something a couple weeks ago. It went like this:
Client won't reach the server? Let's see the settings. There's no server with that address in your server room. What's it supposed to be set to? Well, this sheet here has a different address, let's try that. Oh hey, it's working now.
Well, apparently that sheet was out of date and somewhere in the building there is now a server with that IP address, and it took the boss a while to get it straightened out. Still have no idea where the hell that server is. Apparently it was just turned off that day a couple weeks ago, but it's on now.
So the boss asks me, "What could possibly make you think somebody had changed the IP address the client was looking for?"
"My insane distrust for users."
"Nobody there is smart enough to know how to do that!"
"It's really easy to do. And besides, I've seen users do some really amazing fuckups."
"Well none of them could do that."

Then he went into details about how all the other machines that connect to that server are set the same way. Oh, there are other machines that connect to that server? Gee, that might have been useful information to give me two weeks ago. Might have influenced my judgement a bit, doncha think?

I'm so sick of being left out of everything and then being judged harshly for making the wrong decision based on that lack of knowledge.
[vent mode=off]

Posted by: Adamvs Maximvs | August 24, 2010 3:35 PM

Toooooo many posts to read the whole thread and catch up on it... so here's my contribution to what I did read.

A+ for this regular Canadian donor. My first couple times giving blood were pretty bad though. First time was in a high school blood drive. I was 18 and in reasonable shape. The nurse first tried to take blood from the left arm, the vein collapsed and she couldn't get blood.
No biggie, I say I don't mind if she tries the right arm. She puts the needle in the vein, nothing again. She moves the needle further in and back a few times because she thought she must not have hit the vein or something. Not a particularly pleasant experience, not helped by the fact I was staring at the whole process and should have probably looked away.
She finally says, I'm going to pull it out and try again. She starts to pull it out but the needle is sticking (still in my arm). Not sure why or how, but it was. She decides to give it a quick tug and.... instant unconscious. It felt like I was asleep for days (but was really just a half minute or so) and I'm not sure if I fainted from being a moron and watching or she poked a nerve or what. I decided to shoot up and was about to throw myself out of the chair (in a boyish 'See! I'm fine!' action and quickly fell back into the chair feeling rather woozy. Either way was a big fuss and they said that I wasn't going to be able to give that day.

Second time was in University, first vein collapsed again. Second one starts to draw blood, but the needle is in a very uncomfortable angle. About half-way through, I start sweating a lot and the nurses noticed a very pale palor to my skin. A cool cloth to the forehead and after a while I manage to finish (strongly resisting the urge to go to the bathroom the whole time strangely enough). I had to sit in the chair for 15 mins to be observed and then in the refreshment area for a while.

Now, I try to go regularly, though work makes it tough. I'm somewhere in the high-teens low twentys (which isn't too bad considering I'm still in my 20s). It goes very smoothly now, and it seems the more I'm working out at the time I go, the better the process is. (plus I like to see what my resting heart rate is everytime I go and hope it keeps getting lower lol).

So if you know someone who has one bad experience and quits tell them to suck it up and try again :D

That's all for my, most probably, boring little tale of sanguinary experience

Posted by: Birger Johansson | August 24, 2010 3:39 PM

Replace the beard with nanotube whisker antennae tuned into the spacetime manifold. It should also be able to be used as a transmitter; that way P Z can use a collimated beam to explode the head of anyone he does not like.

Kw*k alert: I logged into Amazon.com and ordered a graphic novel for PZM.
"Lobo: Holiday Hell" by Keith Giffin, an extended version of "Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special", where the Easter Bunny hires Lobo to take out Santa. The level of gratitous violence -lovingly depicted by Simon Bisley- is just ridicilous. (This is the kind of stuff I would want to read if I was confined to bed at home when everyone else is away having a good time)

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 3:48 PM

Not to be left out of the Ugly Cow sweepstakes, Norf Dakota has Salem Sue, the World's largest Holstein Cow. Sue is fiberglass, not concrete.

I see Salem Sue about once a week, she resides in New Salem, which is about 22 miles from us.

Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage | August 24, 2010 3:52 PM

Birger (@244):

Did you by any chance check to see if PZ has a public wishlist on amazon?

Posted by: Alan B | August 24, 2010 4:00 PM

Great news for PZ!!

Pity about the face fungus!! Is it time for a change? How about:

PZZ Myers
http://www.aeroforceone.com/af1/cms/Phoenix2.jpg

PZ 'Bulldog' Myers
http://www.evolutionvfact.com/Im02346.jpg
(Forget the beard - look at those sideburns ...)

Da Vinci Jones Myers
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/11/2/128701550123696842.jpg
Choose either - or are they the same man? I've never seen them together ...

PZ Mc Myers
http://www.partywigs.com/acatalog/21359.jpg
Is there a hairy Scotsman waiting to come out?

All the best.

Posted by: blf | August 24, 2010 4:01 PM

Poopyhead is having a sooper secreet gadget installed and everyone developed a cow fetish?!

Posted by: Chgo_Liz | August 24, 2010 4:02 PM

Bill Dauphin @ #245:

I feel obliged to comment, both to back up Nerd's post and to represent for my town: Cows On Parade STARTED in Chicago and then became an international phenomenon.

Cause/effect? I think so.

Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD) | August 24, 2010 4:04 PM

Since we're talking about blood...
I'm O+. About 70% of the US population could accept a donation from me. But I've been disqualified as a donor because I managed to get two separate false positives on their HepB antibody test. First time, they throw out your blood and send you a letter. Second time, they throw it out and disqualify you. I've never been exposed to it (to my knowledge), never been vaccinated for it (which is beside the point, as it was a hit for core antibodies, and the vaccine gives you surface antibodies), and a more thorough blood screening showed that I do not have the antibodies. However, until that more thorough test is approved (by whatever governing body that was), I still can't donate. I had finally gotten over my needle issue sufficiently in order to go through with the donation process, and they go and throw away half my donations and tell me I can't do it anymore. Go figure.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 4:09 PM

blf, the sooper secreet gadget has already been installed. PZ should just be blissing out on good drugs now.

Posted by: Xenithrys | August 24, 2010 4:11 PM

In New Zealand our cows, like everything else, are made of corrugated iron:
http://tpo.tepapa.govt.nz/ViewTopicExhibitDetail.asp?TopicFileID=0x000a3cfc

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 4:12 PM

As a proud possesser of two of the damn things, I can say with certainty that his face ain't the part they would have shaved.

I'm sure the Trophy Wife™ won't mind, although she might giggle a lot.

Posted by: Birger Johansson | August 24, 2010 4:13 PM

Bill Dauphin, OM
I could not find a public whishlist for him, I have sent a query through Amazon.com in case P Z wants to set one up.
--- --- --- --- ---
Other significant stuff today: "Richest planetary system discovered (w/ Video)"
http://www.physorg.com/news201850291.html

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 24, 2010 4:15 PM

You you guys with your five or six cattle.

Here in Dallas we have 50 steers!

http://www.dallasphotoworks.com/my_weblog/2010/03/cattle-drive-sculpture-dallas-texas-pioneer-plaza-worlds-largest-bronze-sculputure-cowboys-steer-longhorns-robert-summers-sh.html

No really, this city loves public sculpture. And it fucking seriously loves cows.

Posted by: casey.oneill.is | August 24, 2010 4:17 PM

Hope everything works out for ya PZ.

Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage | August 24, 2010 4:21 PM

Ol'Greg:

Amy's Ice Cream in Austin

Is that the same crew that also has a location in San Antonio, where they occasionally dance on the countertop? Many years ago, I had Shiner Bock ice cream there, and it was fucking awesome! Thanks for the memory!

Posted by: Birger Johansson | August 24, 2010 4:27 PM

I prefer Gary Larson´s style of cows; carnivorous and howling at the moon.

"Hunting the successful psychopath" http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2010/08/hunting-successful-psychopath.html I think we have found Dexter Morgan.

Posted by: Dianne | August 24, 2010 4:32 PM

May you have the most skilled surgeons!

In the end, he didn't need any surgeons after all, just cardiologists. Highly skilled cardiologists hopefully. Ideally, highly skilled cardiologists who are bored because PZ is such a typical case and has no interesting complications at all.

Posted by: First Approximation, L'esprit de l'escalier | August 24, 2010 4:41 PM

I'm not sure this virus would change PZ's hard drive significantly.

Japanese virus replaces files with pictures of squid

It's believed that somewhere between 20,000 and 50,000 computers have been infected by the Ika-tako virus, which translates to "Squid-octopus". It spread through the Winny filesharing network, disguised as a music file, and once run the malware works through the files of the hard disk, replacing each with an image of a marine invertebrate.

Posted by: Jessie | August 24, 2010 4:42 PM

Bill #229 inter alia re washing
This sounds like mildew.
You could try one or two cups of clear vinegar on the hottest wash suitable for that fabric. Don't add anything else to the wash. This will also clean the machine if the smell has transferred. Rewash using normal washing powder but not too much of it and no fabric softener and then dry the clothes thoroughly, preferably by tumble-drying.

Posted by: SteveV, Death's Pissant Haberdasher | August 24, 2010 4:44 PM

These aint Cows

Posted by: KG | August 24, 2010 4:49 PM

Not to mention that, as it's a planned city with a grid system, the traffic is far less bad than in many British towns. - Walton

I think that's the first time you've had anything good to say about central planning, Walton :-p

Posted by: Birger Johansson | August 24, 2010 4:53 PM

(Off-topic, but I am forwarding it because the topic is relevant to outgroup hostility): Ed Brayton found an interesting article:
From Allahpundit, a (honest) conservative, on the phenomenon of people thinking Obama is a Muslim:

"It's all very lame and obnoxious, especially given the testimony from pastors that Obama takes his Christian faith seriously, but much like the Birther thing, there's virtually nothing you can say to convince someone who's sure that O is what he thinks he is. I recommend re-reading Karl's post from earlier this month on the phenomenon of polling Birthers, as it holds plenty of applicable wisdom in this case too. Essentially, when polling people who dislike candidate X, the specifics of the questions are almost irrelevant. As long as they're negatively inclined -- e.g., "Is Obama a werewolf?" -- you'll get a certain core percentage willing to say yes.
-----
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/08/19/pew-poll-18-think-obama-is-a-muslim/

The comments get almost universally toxic. It is as if people don´t like getting called out on being bigoted, or getting their view of Obama challenged. Some comments are unintentionally funny. A candidate for Pharyngulation?

Posted by: Badjuggler | August 24, 2010 5:00 PM

Damn! This is not what I expected when I (finally) checked in today. Get well, PZ!!

Posted by: cicely (Inadvertent Phytocidal Maniac) | August 24, 2010 5:03 PM

Bill Dauphin, may I ask a favor? Will you post the sucess/failure results of your laundering experiments? I've got some towels that behave just like you describe your clothes; initially smell okay, but when dampened, not so much. I'd hate to have to toss them.

Posted by: KG | August 24, 2010 5:06 PM

As long as they're negatively inclined -- e.g., "Is Obama a werewolf?" -- you'll get a certain core percentage willing to say yes. - Birgir Johansson

Well, is he ever seen during nights when there's a full moon? Is he????

Posted by: jaranath | August 24, 2010 5:19 PM

Who said lycanthropy was a bad thing? I can think of worse ways to spend moonlit nights...

Ooh! Or cephalo-anthropy! I'd move to the coast for that!

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 24, 2010 5:21 PM

"All y'all dumb motherfuckers don't even know my opinion on shit."

Classic.

PS: Chicago and Dallas have cows, ND has buffalo, and Lakeland has swans.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 5:27 PM

KG:

Well, is he ever seen during nights when there's a full moon? Is he????

The Prez is not a werewolf, he's just morphologically gifted.

Posted by: lose_the_woo | August 24, 2010 5:34 PM

The Prez is not a werewolf, he's just morphologically gifted.

Posted by: Dae | August 24, 2010 5:44 PM

Who said lycanthropy was a bad thing? I can think of worse ways to spend moonlit nights...

As long as he's not a Black Spiral Dancer, all is well.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 5:57 PM

I let the monster dogs outside for a bit. Went out on the back deck to call them in, and my 120 lb monster came around the side of the house at a dead run, cleared the steps and power slid/slammed into me. My left ankle is now swelling up nicely, there's a huge scratch on my foot and my back is serious cranky from being slammed into the deck railing.

Frelling damn monster huge frakkin' dog. *Grumbles and hobbles off for ice*

Posted by: Dhorvath, OM | August 24, 2010 6:05 PM

Werewolves are also good for the local purveyors of garments and footwear. Economic benefit and pest control.

Posted by: Andyo | August 24, 2010 6:08 PM

From Caine's #87 link:

"Unlike you, a believer," the smug atheist boasts, "I don't need to know everything, and I lack the hubristic will to know about life, the universe, and everything."

Posted by: Birger Johansson | August 24, 2010 6:10 PM

The stupid...it hurts...(Jon Stewart points out more inconsistencies)
Fox News: Evil or stupid?
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-august-23-2010/the-parent-company-trap
They guy they accuse of being an evil terror enabler is also a part owner of their own company, so they "accidentally" did not mention his name...

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 24, 2010 6:17 PM

my 120 lb monster

meh, small taters...

http://webtrickz.com/giant-george-new-worlds-tallest-dog/

*gulp*

pooper scooper? Hell, that thing would need a pooper back-loader!

Humm. I'm can almost guarantee I know an Irish Wolfhound from a few years ago bigger than that.

Sweetest dog ever, but god damn that boy was HUGE.

Posted by: Part-Time Insomniac, Zombie Porcupine Nox Arcana Fan | August 24, 2010 6:22 PM

I beg to differ on being smug simply because I call people lunatics when they are. I prefer the term "realistic." More than once I've saved Mom the trouble of wasting money and time because I dared to find out the facts instead of swallowing bilge water as though it is soda.

Countess, children are such dicks. I grew up with Kernan for a first name. You can imagine the ration of non-creative shit I got called for not being named John or Bruce.

I think that's a nice name. Beats being named Aquanet or Shithead (note: that's to be pronounced "Shi-tee-ed" or something like that). Some people really are out to lunch when they pick names for their kids.

As long as he's not a Black Spiral Dancer, all is well.

I'm not sure how any of the other tribes would take to having the Tentacled Overlord in their midst (why do you lot call him that anyway?)

Posted by: Birger Johansson | August 24, 2010 6:26 PM

Tis Himself, Dhorvath; "In my town attacks by grizzly bears are unknown ever since the werewolves came in. Night time assaults and robbery is at an all-time low because the vampires deal with muggers hiding in alleys. What more could you ask for?"

-See the Cal Leandros novels by Rob Thurman
http://www.amazon.com/Nightlife-Cal-Leandros-Book-1/dp/0451460758/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282688217&sr=1-3
A boggle in Central Park eats muggers and would-be rapists, a troll under the Brooklyn Bridge provides similar services, and you have werewolves and ghouls keeping the population down. I was not at all surprised to find that Robin Goodfellow (the most sex-crazed of faeries) also lives in New York nowadays.

Posted by: joltster | August 24, 2010 6:36 PM

Dear PZ:
Good luck with the surgery, and have the TW run interference for you. With any luck, you'll have a minimally invasive procedure and you'll have a good team of people taking care of you(Surgeons, Physician Assistants-probably what you called the doctor's assistant- who are very highly trained, capable and caring. How do I know this? I'm a PA myself) Looking forward to reading and hearing you in all your crankiness again. Given, the current situation in the world today, we need more science and crankiness and engagement and not less. Good luck to you and regards to your family.

Posted by: 朴競花/박경화 (Gyeong Hwa) | August 24, 2010 6:42 PM

Was there a whole thread on Seadragons that just disappeared? Or am I going crazy?

Amazingly enough, a whole lot of the regulars here are members of the LGBT community and are aware of the issues with various types of bans in regard to giving blood

I was surprised to find out that my sexuality banned me from giving blood. I still think it's unfair.
I'm still a bone marrow donor though.

Posted by: mrmonist | August 24, 2010 6:45 PM

I'm soooooo glad that none of you pharyngulites have not said "Oh wow, that guy is Doctor House!"

Thank you very much... and, like Stevie Wonder, I mean it from the bottom of my heart....

Posted by: 朴競花/박경화 (Gyeong Hwa) | August 24, 2010 6:51 PM

I dated a girl in HS named Dustin Hoffman.

parents can be bloody cruel.

Some folks from High School named their child ESPN, because they loved it that much.

the latter.

Ah, that explains why my reflection has been talking to me. lol

(It hasn't btw. And if it did, it's probably cause friends are planning to slip something into my drink.)

Posted by: Antiochus Epiphanes | August 24, 2010 7:01 PM

I had a baby-sitter once named Tampon .

*I didn't really*

Posted by: Sandra Porter | August 24, 2010 7:08 PM

I wish you a speedy recovery! And hope your time in the hospital won't be too awful.

Posted by: Antiochus Epiphanes | August 24, 2010 7:14 PM

I'll start giving blood again as soon as my Sub-Saharan Africa Probationary Death Period is over. Next year, I think.

Posted by: Ichthyic | August 24, 2010 7:21 PM

Did a Catholic priest assist an IRA murder in Northern Ireland?

yes.

It has been a bad year for the Roman Catholic church in Ireland. Already reeling from child abuse scandals, the church now stands accused of protecting a priest suspected of killing nine people on behalf of the Irish Republican Army in 1972.

Posted by: SteveV, Death's Pissant Haberdasher | August 24, 2010 7:38 PM

Used to know a girl who worked for The Vampires. She would hear references to this about every half hour. Drove her insane. Yes Peggy C******n, it's you I mean!

Posted by: Dhorvath, OM | August 24, 2010 7:40 PM

And I've lived in fucking Paris for crying out loud. :-D
Talking about virgins? That's awesome.

Posted by: sandihj | August 24, 2010 7:46 PM

Bill Dauphin, late to the thread with this, but I have had excellent success with Clorox 2 Free powder. It has removed mildew odor as well as cat pee odor from clothing for us -- both things that often seem gone and come back at the worst times. I mean, imagine going to work and then smelling cat pee arising from your clothes.

I take about half a scoop of the powder and dissolve it in the hottest water that is safe for the particular fabric. Warm will do if need be. Then soak the item for at least half an hour in the solution. After that you can wash and dry as usual. I use the Free version because it has no scent of its own and you can tell if the bad smell is gone.

Good luck if you try it, and let me know if it works for you.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 7:53 PM

For fun, creative cussing, there's always Firefly Pinyin: http://www.browncoats.com/index.php?ContentID=42e83b412a309

I use a lot of that when I'm out and about.

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | August 24, 2010 7:59 PM

David M (from the end of the last thread):

Reminds me... I still havent watched Gold Member. How funny is it?

Hm. It's the same old recycled jokes from the first two. If you're okay with that, it's worth the rental. I didn't really care for it, but I'm not really a huge Austin Powers fan. Or a Mike Myers fan, for that matter.

Goldmember does get bonus points for Michael Caine, however.

*fingers crossed for PZ*

Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage | August 24, 2010 8:04 PM

I dated a girl in HS named Dustin Hoffman.

I can't help wondering if folks called her Tootsie as a nickname? ;^)

Posted by: Ichthyic | August 24, 2010 8:06 PM

I can't help wondering if folks called her Tootsie as a nickname? ;^)

actually, that came out a year AFTER we dated.

which rather dates ME, I'm afraid.

Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage | August 24, 2010 8:12 PM

I can't help wondering if folks called her Tootsie as a nickname? ;^)

actually, that came out a year AFTER we dated.

So she was Benjamin instead? I hope you were Elaine, rather than Mrs. Robinson!

Jesus loves you more than you could know...

Posted by: cicely (Inadvertent Phytocidal Maniac) | August 24, 2010 8:12 PM

Mattir, I've shot you an email; Octofail is finished.

Posted by: Ichthyic | August 24, 2010 8:13 PM

I would assuredly like to be a fly at that pub.

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 24, 2010 8:26 PM

The Word of the Night is

Mudshark

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | August 24, 2010 8:28 PM

Wowbagger:

... there's the problem that Austin's character is subverted in that he's completely uninterested (by his standards) in the female lead...

I was so bored with Goldmember that I didn't even pick up on the disinterest.

Related note: Apparently, there's a 4th Austin Powers movie in the works.

*sigh*

If anyone is wondering why I'm so goddamn picky about the movies I watch, I present Austin Powers #4 as exhibit A. Christ on a cracker, do we really need (or want) another one of those movies??

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | August 24, 2010 8:35 PM

Unrelated to Michael Caine, Madness, and Austin Powers:

I finished up Packing For Mars today. The last few chapters were GENIUS-- I was laughing out loud and educated at the same time. Definitely worth the read*.

*Although, I would not give it to anyone who wants to be an astronaut. Space exploration is cool and all, but no one ever thinks about the little things like turds escaping the toilet and floating around the cabin.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 8:43 PM

Cicely:

What was Monster Dog fleeing from?

Nothing. He was running to me. He's not the sharpest crayon; he is, however, exceedingly enthusiastic.

Posted by: Wowbagger, Man-Hating Man of Pharyngula | August 24, 2010 8:59 PM

ODS wrote:

If anyone is wondering why I'm so goddamn picky about the movies I watch, I present Austin Powers #4 as exhibit A. Christ on a cracker, do we really need (or want) another one of those movies??

I'm pretty picky, too - though, like everyone, I have my shlocky guilty pleasure films. As for sequels, I once wrote a blog post about the tendency for later ones to suck.

Posted by: JeffreyD | August 24, 2010 9:10 PM

Caine - Our baby is only 95 pounds (yellow Lab) and I am a big guy, he can still rock me back.

However, and apologies if I have mentioned this before, he is very sweet. He sleeps with several stuffed toys, either with his head on them or clutched between his front legs and held against his chest. His most favourite toy is a stuffed duck. Once, when my foot was very painful, he stomped on it in his eagerness to get close. I yelled, he slunk off. Five minutes later he walked by with duck in his mouth, put it gently on my lap, and walked over to his bed. I got down on the floor with him and gave him a thorough scratching and stroking. What else could I do? He gives lessons in being cute and adorable.

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | August 24, 2010 9:19 PM

Andyo:

... anyone else really liked Death to Smoochy?

I didn't hate it, if that counts.

Wowbagger:

As for sequels, I once wrote a blog post about the tendency for later ones to suck.

I haven't read your blog post yet, but for the most part, they suck (and the further out you go, the worse they get).

There are some notable exceptions (especially when the first movie is more like "proof of concept" [See Alien vs Aliens for example]), but as a general rule I avoid them like the plague.

And now I'm off to do some dishes and maybe squeeze in some time on the 360 before bed.

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 24, 2010 9:33 PM

ODS, MoD and Wowbagger
When people ask me what* movies I like, I usually just say that I don't like movies. It's easier that way. It's not entirely accurate, but it's close enough. I'm a theater lover, through and through. I've had people treat my plays as stepping stones to film. Fuck that, says I. They are very different artistic forms. My biggest problem with film is that it is an often abused genre. Folks use it for shit that it doesn't really have any business being used for. This is one of my favorite film scenes of all time. I think it capitalizes on exactly what great film has to offer (not that it's comprehensive; film has a couple of special features).

In other news: I got a new puppy! Sort of. She's my brother and sister-in-law's pup, and they were living in the house here until two weeks ago. I missed the girl, and she's running a little too wild out on their country lot, so they're letting me take her. Her name is Wicket, and she is half-bloodhound, half-chow chow. Basically, she looks like an all-black bloodhound. And I loves her.

In other other news: I'm sick. It sucks.

*The first reaction is to suppress the urge to correct them by saying which.

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | August 24, 2010 9:48 PM

Jules:
There's plenty of movies that I like and when I love a movie, I love it hard. All that I want is to be treated like I've got an iota of intelligence. I do not like to be pandered to and I will not see a movie simply because it's a box-office hit, especially if it doesn't have any other redeeming qualities. (Yeah, I'm looking at you, Avatar*).

Shorter me: I hate having my time wasted and my intelligence insulted.

On that note, no video games for me tonight. Mr ODS (who has an amazing tolerance for schlock) found Drag Me To Hell on one of the HBO channels.

Me: Why are we watching this?
Mr ODS: Because you love Sam Raimi!
Me: *confused face*

Also, yay for puppies! Is there any way you can post pictures?

*If there are any fans kicking around Teh Thread&trade don't even bother. I'm not going to see it.

Posted by: JeffreyD | August 24, 2010 9:54 PM

Movies - I tend to like quirky, weird, odd movies. Loved Wristcutters and Dr. Parnassus and think Lebanon is superb (high nightmare quotient for me with that one - fair warning). Also loved La Horde; [REC] and [REC2] - ODS, two movies for you. Also love most of the Marx Brothers movies and, as stated before, Zombie films, the schlockier the better. A perennial favourite is Lifeboat because I adore Tallulah Bankhead.

Posted by: JeffreyD | August 24, 2010 10:04 PM

ODS - Rec the second was not as good as the first, but still first rate Zombie fare. I am sure you will like La Horde, you do not even need subtitles, the French is easy to follow.

Posted by: MrFire | August 24, 2010 10:17 PM

The second Godfather is, in many peoples' minds, better than the first

I daresay I always preferred the first, myself. I just loved Michael Corleone's arc from boy-scout-with-misplaced-loyalty to Macchiavellian don. In the second, he pretty much already starts out like Richard III, and just goes downhill from there.

and the third sequel isn't bad either.

Wait - there's a Godfather IV?

Posted by: Plainfieldrob | August 24, 2010 10:20 PM

Best wishes to you PZ.

Get well soon.

Posted by: Ichthyic | August 24, 2010 10:21 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtf_Gxy9ZRY

GF 4: Freddo's Revenge

Posted by: Part-Time Insomniac, Zombie Porcupine Nox Arcana Fan | August 24, 2010 10:31 PM

Mr ODS (who has an amazing tolerance for schlock) found Drag Me To Hell on one of the HBO channels.

Jesus Christ, that movie SUCKS. I watched it on an evening when I had nothing planned and was tired of playing games online. I'd have been better off staring at the wall all night.

Posted by: MrFire | August 24, 2010 10:37 PM

I just had the most awesome image ever.

PZ with an artificial heart.

A steampunk artificial heart.

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | August 24, 2010 10:42 PM

Part-Time Insomniac:
Yeah, I'm feeling that. It's like Sam Raimi tried to remake Army of Darkness with a bigger budget.

This is another one for the list of "movies that didn't need to be made".

:( I just want my teevee back.

Speaking of zombies: here's the new trailer for AMC's adaptation of The Walking Dead. Wooo! (Although the hospital and the "going home to an empty house" bits look an awful lot like 28 Days Later.)

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 10:42 PM

Pygmy Loris:

Caine, sorry to hear your big guy body slammed you. That hurts. Take it easy. I've learned to dodge pretty well since the boyfriend's dog weighs in at 20 lbs. more than me, but he also moves way faster than I do.

Thanks, my ankle is borked. Generally, I can manage to dodge Matoska, as he's huge (taller than me if he puts his front paws on my shoulders) and outweighs me by 4 lbs. My goofy monster.

Posted by: Mattir-ritated | August 24, 2010 10:49 PM

Re cave-bear teeth - I have a molar in the box of knitting supplies that I carry in my knitting bag. Every knitter should have one. If I wanted to be really odd, then I'd stick the wheeler shale trilobite, the stromatolite, and the cross-section of meteorite (gift from an astronomer friend) in there as well. Just having the cave bear tooth makes for interesting conversations around the yarn table...

Barack Obama couldn't be more of a disappointment if he actually were a werewolf. This might even be an improvement. His administration's behavior on AGW is beyond appalling. Perhaps not as far beyond appalling as previous administrations, but still pretty far beyond...

Posted by: nigelTheBold, Minister of Spankings | August 24, 2010 10:51 PM

Bubba Ho-Tep.

It is quite possibly one of the best movies every made.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 10:56 PM

Captain Smug:

It [Bubba Ho-Tep] is quite possibly one of the best movies every made.

Oh yes, absolutely.

Posted by: Frank b | August 24, 2010 10:57 PM

Ewan R #106 That's interesting that UK ambulances carried CMV neg blood. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)is only a concern for severely immunocompromised people, it would seem a waste for trauma patients. We used to test our donors for CMV all the time, but now we don't. Leukoreducing our units of blood renders them CMV neg. CMV reside in the White Cells of infected donors, so removing the White Cells removes the CMV.

Domin #200 The antigens of a patient don't affect how a patient tolerates a transfusions, so I am guessing that you had an indeterminate antibody. Those are a blood banker's nightmare, especially if they cause a transfusion reaction. If your plasma reacts with all the donors during testing, you are up sh*t creek. The doctors can try to control the reactions with drugs, or try other treatments.

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | August 24, 2010 10:58 PM

To amend my # 389:
I only speak two languages: English and bad English.

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 24, 2010 11:01 PM

Mudshark

big fan of the arpeggio

Posted by: Ichthyic | August 24, 2010 11:06 PM

How much French do you need

cerveau!

Posted by: Pygmy Loris | August 24, 2010 11:09 PM

Ooooo, youtube fun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpClbQCjF38

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTwAaP4dNWI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wA3If87UhA

Warning, all are silent and in black and white.

cicely,

OTOH, I can't hardly stand to look at most movies conventionally labelled "Classics", particularly if they are in black and white.

I like the now campy special effects of really old movies. I have not seen the overwhelming majority of the "classics because I just don't have the desire to. The only things besides silent films that I watch in black and white are Twilight Zone episodes and sci-fi B-movies.

Posted by: First Approximation, L'esprit de l'escalier | August 24, 2010 11:14 PM

Worst movie ever made: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

From the title you'd think there at least be some camp value to it. No. It's past so-bad-it's-good and well into unenjoyably bad terrority. Even with the witty commentary from MST3K I couldn't sit through the entire thing.

Posted by: Pygmy Loris | August 24, 2010 11:21 PM

OMFSM! Isabella Rossellini's bug sex vids (the bed bug one) were on The Daily Show.

I'm trying my best to pad the Thread, but it's hard. How many youtube videos of stuff that's only cool 'cause it's old can I link to?

Posted by: Markita Lynda: Healthcare is a damn right | August 24, 2010 11:27 PM

SteveV, maybe its time for a new motto: "I might be growing older, but I refuse to grow up!"

Posted by: Rorschach | August 24, 2010 11:29 PM

5 stents in my experience is highly unusual, I don't think I've ever seen that before.Was this to save a few years before finally grafting those lesions ? I've really never seen this done before, not in the worst triple-vessel-disease-diffuse-plaque-everywhere diabetics.No wonder they did that under sedation.

Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe | August 24, 2010 11:37 PM

Rorschach, I expect we'll just have to wait for all the details. Right now, I'm glad to see PZ posting with tone.

Posted by: Markita Lynda: Healthcare is a damn right | August 25, 2010 12:21 AM

Conversely, the reason that prayed-for people are more likely to die is not, of course, that prayer is harmful, but that when told that everyone is praying madly for them, some people feel, "OMG I must be sicker than I thought!" and so panic, stress out, and interfere with their own healing. It's the religious equivalent of a careless curse.

Posted by: Ichthyic | August 25, 2010 12:25 AM

and so panic, stress out, and interfere with their own healing. It's the religious equivalent of a careless curse.

actually, that very thing was a primary concern of those who reviewed the previous STEP study from Templeton. I recall a note response that was published in one of the medical journals to such effect.

there was indeed a barely significant correlation that suggested to the reviewers that these kinds of studies might not be ethical in and of themselves; in that it might be exposing patients to unnecessary risk.

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 25, 2010 12:34 AM

5 stents in my experience is highly unusual, I don't think I've ever seen that before.Was this to save a few years before finally grafting those lesions ? I've really never seen this done before, not in the worst triple-vessel-disease-diffuse-plaque-everywhere diabetics.No wonder they did that under sedation.

I know some one who has five stents (maybe more, or maybe those were replacements).

However this person is a man over 50 with juvenile diabetes and a lifetime of heart disease. It's more or less a keep you going as best we can thing because of the danger of surgery for him. He has, however, kept going.

So maybe it is something they're doing now, or doing here? Perhaps to delay surgery, as you kind of suggest there, either for financial or health reasons?

Posted by: Part-Time Insomniac, Zombie Porcupine Nox Arcana Fan | August 25, 2010 1:13 AM

Watching Mythbusters episodes on YouTube. I think I've learned more by watching those guys than I did in school.

Posted by: blf | August 25, 2010 1:31 AM

Why watch silent films in a class that was supposed to be teaching us a spoken language?

That also happened in my German class. Whilst the teacher (a great guy and one of those amazing people who can speak five or six languages fluently) very probably did like silent films, as I recall the rationale was to learn a bit of the history, cultural, and cultural influences on history. Or something like that. (And, as I recall, we had to write a criticism of, or at least an essay about, the films in German.)

Posted by: boygenius | August 25, 2010 1:41 AM

it reminds me of 'frond' for some reason

Which reminds me of frood.

Which reminds me of frop.

Posted by: monado | August 25, 2010 2:20 AM

Philosophy: intellectual cotton candy.

Posted by: SteveV, Death's Pissant Haberdasher | August 25, 2010 2:33 AM

Has any re-make been better than the original?

IMHO

Posted by: monado | August 25, 2010 3:04 AM

I'd keep the peace in the family and switch to alternatives and sound-alikes.

My mum taught us to say 'Sacramento, San Juan, San Francisco," will maximum feeling, rolling the r's.

"Rusty tin can" for a car that's acting up. Or "son of a rusty tin can."

Mumbled crowd noises: "Rabble-frashus!"

Posted by: Janine, The Little Top Of Venom, OM | August 25, 2010 3:21 AM

Has any re-make been better than the original?

The Fly. That was easy.

Oh, and The Maltese Falcon (1941) was made two times before. There was The Maltese Falcon (1931) and Satan Met A Lady (1936).

And that was also easy.

Posted by: Usagichan | August 25, 2010 3:35 AM

Has any re-make been better than the original?

Cheating perhaps, but LoTR was originally made into an appalling animated movie version with a deservedly forgotten 'sequal'

Posted by: Andyo | August 25, 2010 3:59 AM

I think the problem with most remakes is that Hollywood does them. As such, they cut out all the good parts that made the movie great. Even a good director like Cameron Crowe (loved Almost Famous) could not get it right with Vanilla Sky. There is a certain sort of grittiness in most "foreign" movies that is lost when Hollywood cleans up and "polishes" the movie (both script and photography) for mass consumption.

Posted by: Rorschach | August 25, 2010 4:27 AM

podblack @ 56,

:p :p :p :)

You see, I only asked because I have information that other attractive intelligent males were rather smitten with you at an unnamed recent global atheist event.....:-)

Not me, mind you.I prefer football these days.

I think I'll wait until the drugs have worn off before I trust any competitive statement from PZ about how many stents he has.

Good point I guess..:-)
If it was indeed 5, as I wrote at Mrs Benson's place, maybe the cardiothoracic team there is on annual leave ?

Posted by: Dianne | August 25, 2010 4:58 AM

Or...maybe not.

Ten year BARI outcomes.

Twenty year outcomes of early CABG and PTCA

Interesting. Anyone seen any other large studies that might support or refute the above?

Posted by: Dianne | August 25, 2010 5:14 AM

Roschah, I agree. (I put in a comment to that effect originally, but took it out as prejudicial to anyone else reading.) However, the BARI study was originally what people were using to support CABG over PTCA so considering the long term outcomes from it seems reasonable. Have you seen other data supporting continued preference of CABG? (Note also that both studies support CABG over PTCA in diabetics.)

Posted by: Dianne | August 25, 2010 5:27 AM

On the other hand...

Posted by: David Marjanović | August 25, 2010 5:32 AM

Good sequels: Conan the Destroyer, Terminator 2, Hot Shots 2. Terminator 3 is watchable, except I hate the basic idea behind it too much.

No idea of my blood type. If I tried to donate, they probably wouldn't let me because of my high bilirubin levels. (No detectable liver problems; I just seem to make more of that antioxidant.)

'Mummy? Aren't you gonna call him a asshole?'

^_^

Oh, and Scott Evil is totally ruined in it.

Ouch. I must never watch it.

You mean like this?

Basically, yes, only without the girl. :o)

Related note: Apparently, there's a 4th Austin Powers movie in the works.

How good is the evidence? We've been promised Jurassic Park 4 every few months since before JP3 came out. The rumors have now ended, but that took a long time.

(Never trust aintitcoolnews.com.)

Obama may or may not be a werewolf, but at least he doesn't ****sparkle****.

ROTFL!

I am sure you will like La Horde, you do not even need subtitles, the French is easy to follow.

Reminds me of an anecdote about a famous historical linguist (I think Eric Hamp): he had given students a list of papers to read, and some of those were in French. One student came to him and said "...well... actually... I don't... speak French" or something along those lines. Reply? "Oh, just learn it, it's easy".

We watched them in German class back in high school. Weird now that I think of it. Why watch silent films in a class that was supposed to be teaching us a spoken language?

X-)

The review for Bright-Sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America points out that the positive thinking movement is massively funded in the U.S. by the Conservative Right.

<facepalm>

<headdesk>
<headdesk>
<headdesk>

my left-hand shift key is dying.

Maybe there's just dust under it?

Posted by: David Marjanović | August 25, 2010 6:19 AM

Beck's recent sign of sanity seems to have indicated a temporary condition at best. He now preaches Mormon "history" on his show and, of course, the ongoing conspiracy to suppress it.

Have a look at comments 24 and 25. And 31, though I didn't click on the link in it.

Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline. | August 25, 2010 7:43 AM

Sorry, David,

But I've been told that Beck is not a reliable witness as to Mormon doctrine, and not all Mormons agree with him.

/snark

Posted by: SteveV, Death's Pissant Haberdasher | August 25, 2010 7:56 AM

I post this without comment
Just don't know what to say.

Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort | August 25, 2010 8:04 AM

@my 453:

Sorry - sociopathic.

Posted by: SteveV, Death's Pissant Haberdasher | August 25, 2010 8:09 AM

@Kevin:
I'm at acomplete loss - no clue.


Blind link - can't see ytube at work.

Kate

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 25, 2010 8:15 AM

Usagichan:

I preferred the remake of the remake...

... wait for it...

A Bug's Life.

Seriously.

Posted by: https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawk8nuEGr2AboPw3B5JlVHLruh87cSf2gi4 | August 25, 2010 8:41 AM

Thank you all for your feedback...

Carlie@297: I am familiar with code-switching as I come from a polyglot family (both parents were foreign language teachers as well). After considering your comment for a bit, I think my MIL's objection is definitely more about control than preference, which immediately raises my contrarian hackles. I would have cleaned up my language for my mother, because I loved her dearly, but I don't have much respect for my MIL.

DominEditrix@337: Oh, do start swearing in Geek. It will annoy your MiL because she'll know you're swearing, but she won't be able to chastise you.
I'm not sure it would have that effect, which is why I posed the question in the first place. Would she feel vindicated that I switched "frak" for "fuck," or would she still be annoyed that I was "swearing" at all? She would not in any case recognize Geek; she'd think it was just random syllables.

Now, I could combine both these suggestions with that of ask-who-knows@397 and switch to other languages. I can snarl about hating meatballs and comparing her earlobes to fish heads (™ Bloom County) and just sound rude, or I could use the genuine insults Nonna taught me. (My Sicilian grandmother swears like a sailor. When she and my grandfather squabbled, the paint would peel off the walls.)

This would have a bonus effect: my MIL is not very educated, and is resentful that I am (she thinks I was being "snotty" and "showing off" when I pointed out that she got the date of her son's birthday wrong. A son she BORE, mind you), so deliberately speaking in another language in front of her would annoy her.

And there is my sprog to consider. I would rather hear "figghio di putana!" chirped from the back seat than "sonofawhore!"

sounds like I have to spend some quality time with Nonna and a laptop...

--Lauren Ipsum

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 25, 2010 9:26 AM

I'm really wishing I'd found a doctor before I got sick. Ugh. This process is annoying. Every place I call opens at 8:30 or 9, closes for 2 hours midday, and closes at 5. I need drugs, dammit! I've got deadlines.

Posted by: Ewan R | August 25, 2010 9:50 AM

Frank @ #394 - This was ~5 years ago so it might have changed - we had a whole fridge full of CMV- blood so I guess it was just a precautionary thing - you're not going to know if an emergency patient is immunocompromised when you pull 'em out of a car wreck - if I remember right we also had to use CMV- blood products for post-natal transfusions - which is odd because we'd nuke the crap out of that stuff(and put it in cutesy little blood bags - 1 adult unit --> 4 post natal units) so any CMV in there would be completely useless - again, I guess just precautionary measures. Generally that was one of the few uses for the massive quantities of CMV- blood we actually had - we'd often send CMV- blood in place of CMV+ just because it would otherwise expire and have to be chucked.

Posted by: Ogvorbis, Parenthetical Death | August 25, 2010 9:57 AM

Happy Monday.

Happy United States National Park Service Founder's Day -- August 26, 1916. Thank you Stephen Mather and Horace Albright (they (basically) told President Wilson he was doing a lousy job running America's National Parks and Monuments and the President, brilliant man that he was, said (basically), "You are right. Come up with a plan to run them." And they came up with the NPS. (Extremely shortened and simplified (obviously))).

And today, I need to design (and make proofs thereof) two 11 by 17 inch schedule posters, temporary parking signs, a 24 by 36 inch fall excursion poster, and two informational brochures with the schedule for the 4th and 5th of September at the park. I also need to move all of our exhibit materials (our arts and crafts area) to a new part of the office (foam core, plastic overlay, PMA, flexible adhesive magnets, cutting boards, etc.). And what am I doing on the thread?

Errrr. I'm, uh, planning. Yeah, that's it. Planning.

------------

Beck was showing signs of sanity?

Great. Now I have to start watching for the giant winged porcupines which will soon be flying out of my arse. Backwards.

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 25, 2010 10:05 AM

Good plan, Billy.

the BARI study was originally what people were using to support CABG over PTCA

I concur.

(no idea what it means, but it seemed like a good chance to 'concur')

Hokay. Off to battle the denizens of the Belt Parkway and Verrezano Bridge a couple of times. Hope there's no orcs today.

Posted by: Ogvorbis, Parenthetical Death | August 25, 2010 10:15 AM

Rev. BDC:

Steamtown NHS in beautiful downtown Scranton, PA (and I know most of you have heard of Scranton -- The Office is set there (And I've never been able to watch The Office. The few times I have, I find myself wishing that my office was that normal.

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 25, 2010 10:19 AM

Steamtown NH

Cool. My Bro in Law and my nephew are big into trains. I wonder if they've ever been through there.

Posted by: Ogvorbis, Parenthetical Death | August 25, 2010 10:27 AM

Rev. BDC:

You don't even really have to be into trains to get a lot out of Steamtown. Rail history is a useful way to explain industrial history in America -- including labour, management, government regulation, technology, industry, finance, etc.

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 25, 2010 10:33 AM

You don't even really have to be into trains to get a lot out of Steamtown. Rail history is a useful way to explain industrial history in America -- including labour, management, government regulation, technology, industry, finance, etc

Yeah looks really cool. Not sure when / if I'll be in Scranton but definitely somewhere I'd check out.

Posted by: David Marjanović | August 25, 2010 10:49 AM

Backwards.

Oh PLEASE NO!

X-D

Posted by: Aaron Baker | August 25, 2010 10:52 AM

I like trains, too. I'll keep Steamtown in mind.

On a completely unrelated matter:

The trial proper of Gregory Koger (victim of the Chicago Ethical Humanist Society) begins today. Yesterday was completely taken up with pretrial motions and jury selection. The mills of justice grinding extremely fine and all that.

I'm sure Greg would appreciate people's good wishes.

Something else that's worthy of good wishes: my daughter is taking a kind of pre-course at Mercyhurst College--she has significant learning disabilities (she was born very prematurely), and this course will determine a great deal about whether she can flourish in college or not. It's one of those times when the uselessness of prayer, and the sheer, cussed unfairness of the world, is borne in on me especially keenly. She's very tough, and very hard-working, but moral support has always put her in a good frame of mind. That's all.

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 25, 2010 11:00 AM

A coworker of mine just sided with the "it's just a cat" philosophy and doesn't see how it's any different than putting it in a cage with food.

Access to air is a big factor. Like with bongkitty, enclosing an animal in a box with limited airflow (and I'm told this was even on a hot day) is pretty much a death sentence, although it may well be a sloooow death sentence. Dying over a period of 30 or so hours vs. dying over 30 or so seconds is actually a lot worse IMO.

Same goes with locked inside a car, especially with the windows rolled up.

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 25, 2010 11:06 AM

All that being said I think the front end nature of technology and the increased visibility of everyday people is going to make us face a lot of hard realities about...

people.

Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD) | August 25, 2010 11:18 AM

Sometimes I prefer animals over people. Especially non-primates. It's a lot less frequent that you see an animal do something we'd call dickish or insensitive "just because". Animals at least will often have an understandable (if selfish) reason, or can at least be called unintelligent enough to not be accountable. I'm aware I'm oversimplifying this, but surely you get my point.

Posted by: Ewan R | August 25, 2010 11:25 AM

Cheating perhaps, but LoTR was originally made into an appalling animated movie version with a deservedly forgotten 'sequal'.

I may be misinformed on this, and it's also been a long time since I've seen the animated version but...

I remember it being stylistically pretty impressive - looked like live action which then had animation done over it, and the orcs and whatnot were scary as all hell (again, if memory serves)

Also it was misnamed (shoulda had a part I) because it ended with Gandalf saving the day at Helm's deep without actually resolving the story whatsoever. Dunno if the 2nd part was ever made.

Awesomely Tom Bombadil was completely skipped - which I love because that's exactly how I read the books.

Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD) | August 25, 2010 11:48 AM

Wow. I was just looking at the cover of the 1980 version of RotK. The first thing that came to mind was "magically delicious".

Posted by: chigau (◦_◦) | August 25, 2010 11:53 AM

#465 Jadehawk OM

Cats are the gods of internet, and Anonymous are their holy warriors

Posted by: Jadehawk, cascadeuse féministe | August 25, 2010 12:05 PM

(Someone once told us he had seen a "link" near his cabin. It was puzzling only for a short time because he was emphatic that he had seen only one.)

anyway, Anonymous with capital A seems like it should be used the same way legion is...

Posted by: chigau (◦_◦) | August 25, 2010 12:09 PM

Fritz the Cat and Wizards were pretty good but Bakshi's Lord of the Rings was a bleeding, back-alley, coathanger abortion of a movie.

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 25, 2010 12:11 PM

Isn't "we are legion" that way because of the KJ english though?

Or am I out of my depth here?

Cause I don't feel the bottom and if I don't feel the bottom I'm usually out of my depth. Either that or lying down.

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 25, 2010 12:24 PM

Don't understand all the hatin' of The Return of the King. I grew up on that cartoon. My sibs and I used to play "Where There's a Whip, There's a Way" all the time. No, I don't mean we used to play the song. I mean we used to play it as a game. It mostly involved singing the song and hitting each other with towels until Mom came in and ruined the funrescued whoever got ganged up on.

Posted by: Part-Time Insomniac, Zombie Porcupine Nox Arcana Fan | August 25, 2010 12:39 PM

That cat video is one reason why I'm protective of my pets. You never know who in the neighborhood is most likely to pull a stunt like that and not really care what could happen. (I've also read The Sociopath Next Door, so unfortunately I've made myself just this side of paranoid about that kind of shit.)

Debating whether to see the tennis matches this evening or just stay home.

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 25, 2010 12:56 PM

Re: Sociopathic Cat-Hater
It's reminiscent of Gummo, albeit a far less severe version of it. The town in that film is extremely similar to the one I lived in before we moved to Alabama. I had cousins who pulled crap like that (stuff in Gummo and cat-hater lady) with cats and dogs. They shot my dog full of rock salt for kicks. I also heard stories of them throwing cats over the cliff into the river, though I never witnessed it myself.

I miss many aspects of rural living, but being surrounded by psychos* is not one of them.

*This is not a claim that all rural living involves psychos. It's a claim that the particular rural community I lived in had a lot of them.

Posted by: windy | August 25, 2010 12:57 PM

"Cow with 310 million tits"? Sounds kind of Lovecraftian.

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 25, 2010 1:01 PM

That cat video is one reason why I'm protective of my pets. You never know who in the neighborhood is most likely to pull a stunt like that and not really care what could happen. (I've also read The Sociopath Next Door, so unfortunately I've made myself just this side of paranoid about that kind of shit.) Debating whether to see the tennis matches this evening or just stay home.

Two of Mrs. BigDumbChimp and my best friends had (they're fairly certian) a fuckheaded psychopath of a neighbor slit the throat of their 10 year old lab that had been with them through various moves across the country and their courtship, marriage etc..

Yes, slit the dog's throat. They found him dead in their driveway.

It was devastating. I can't even imagine how I'd react / feel.

I'm very protective of my dogs now.

Posted by: Dhorvath, OM | August 25, 2010 1:06 PM

Thanks cicely,
Now I have Efreets on the brain.

Posted by: Ogvorbis, Parenthetical Death | August 25, 2010 1:25 PM

"we are legion"

And, in my little liberal arts mind, I pictured cheerleaders (dressed in black with a squid on the front (of course)) chanting either:

WE ARE clap, clap LE-GION clap, clap, WE ARE clap, clap LE-GION clap, clap, WE ARE clap, clap LE-GION clap, clap, WE ARE clap, clap LE-GION clap, clap, etc, ad nauseum

or:

WE are LEgion clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, WE are LEgion clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, WE are LEgion clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, WE are LEgion clap, clap, clap-clap-clap, etc, ad nauseum.

And you know that you will wake up at 3:00am with one of those chants going through your mind and will then spend the next hour trying to remember what my moniker is. You need not thank me.

Posted by: blf | August 25, 2010 1:37 PM

Now this is cool: Early Mesolithic Blubber Concrete

Perhaps the concrete cows are a modern version?

Posted by: blf | August 25, 2010 1:52 PM

"Somethin' normal people think about at 3 AM, I guess."

Only if you define normal as a Park Ranger whose been run over a few too many times by steam engines.  ;-)

Posted by: Katherine Lorraine, Chaton de la Mort | August 25, 2010 2:06 PM

@MrFire:

Haha! That's great.

Posted by: Dhorvath, OM | August 25, 2010 2:14 PM

@MrFire,
Now I wish I would have some cause to use that approach. Pure awesome!

Posted by: MrFire | August 25, 2010 2:28 PM

Oh, looky. Ground Zero controversy chickens might be coming home to roost:

Cab Driver Stabbed by Passenger who Asked: "Are You Muslim?"

A city cab driver is in the hospital after being stabbed by a passenger who allegedly asked if he was Muslim, police tell NY1.

Investigators with the New York City Police Department say it all began Monday night when a 21-year-old man hailed a cab at 24th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan.

Police say the passenger asked the driver, "Are you Muslim?" When the driver said yes the passenger pulled a knife and slashed him in the throat, arm and lip.

The 43-year-old driver was able to lock the passenger in the back of the cab and call 911.

Happy that the victim survived, though.

Posted by: DominEditrix | August 25, 2010 3:00 PM

He says he can read and write English "very well", but he "excels" in French, which seems "more subtle" to him (because he knows it better, duh). :-)

No, because his language is obviously superior to English, what with English being spoken by those who are not French. I suspect his English is a wee bit tortured, hence his decision to eschew it for his native tongue, lest he look more like an idiot than he does now.

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | August 25, 2010 3:06 PM

The cat was apparently familiar with Mary and 'trusted' her. Mary played on that trust and then violated it. That sounds a bit sociopath-y to me. What's her next trick? Setting fire to the neighbour's lawn? Cutting the brake-line? /paranoia

I don't think it's paranoia. I don't remember if I read it somewhere reputable or not, but I've heard that just about every person who tortures people started off torturing animals. At the minimum, it shows a callous attitude towards life and suffering in general.

Posted by: DominEditrix | August 25, 2010 3:08 PM

Lauren -

Perhaps, the next time you are called upon to introduce her to someone, you could begin with 'Non è una strega; è la mia suocera'.

Actually, uttering some commonplace in another language, in just those tones one uses for swearing, is generally effective wrt annoying people. [As is cuddling one's teething child and cooing 'If this doesn't end soon, Mummy is going to throttle you and bury you under the roses'.] Tone of voice is so much fun; it's what I miss most about written communication.

Posted by: MinnieTheFinn, kaamea ateistifeministinarttu | August 25, 2010 3:17 PM

Evening (European time), all.

I've been very busy with all sorts of things, and have given up on even trying to read through any of the threads apart from cursory glancing, so I have very little to contribute on any of the subjects.

Except that cows are cool - concrete, bronze, fiberglass or styrofoam =)

Re donating blood: unfortunately I can't do it. My blood pressure is very low (which isn't a bad thing), so even one measly pint is too much volume to lose. Last I tried, I couldn't get up for more than an hour without blacking out. So the nurses told me not to bother, they have more important things to do than babysitting the likes of me.

Also, went out today to meet an old and dear friend who's been abroad for a few years. He told me he's been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Not the kind of news I wanted to hear, but I trust that he's in good hands. Still, a bummer. Shit seems to happen a lot to all the wrong people nowadays. =(

Posted by: David Marjanović | August 25, 2010 3:18 PM

I wrote two important e-mails that might one day advance the bureaucracy !! But the limiting factor on getting a date for my thesis defense is how fast the external reviewers can read.

first, I pictured a hyperlink floating out in the wild; then I pictured a green-hatted elf. Only then did it dawn on me WTF you're talking about :-p

And WTF are you talking about?

anyway, Anonymous with capital A seems like it should be used the same way legion is...

"We are Anonymous. Resistance is amusing at best. Your Intarwebz will be hacked"...?

BTW, Jadehawk, just out of curiosity, when was the last time you slept? ~:-|

It is a great blessing to the seed of Adam to have the seed of Cain for servants

Erm... Cain and his seed are part of the seed of Adam. Why not "the seed of Seth"???

Funnier still because Young repeated that mistake later in the same text.

and all the elders of Isreal

It's remarkable how many right-wingers seem to make this mistake. I wonder if it's a Freudian slip and they can't come to terms with the fact that Israel is real.

Re: Sociopathic Cat-Hater

It's pretty clear to me that she doesn't hate cats at all. She just can't tell the difference between a cat and a plush cat. Let's hope she knows how to distinguish between a human and a doll!

Hey, Threadites. I would like to submit an anecdote that might give some a chuckle:

:-D

No, because his language is obviously superior to English, what with English being spoken by those who are not French. I suspect his English is a wee bit tortured, hence his decision to eschew it for his native tongue, lest he look more like an idiot than he does now.

Well, of course. I only supplied the obvious real reason for why he thinks French is more subtle.

"Man, that's so Texan!"

Dallas is not in Texas anymore. :-)

Posted by: Brownian, Most Vicious & Petty of Pharyngulites | August 25, 2010 3:22 PM

I don't recall that one myself, but in any case I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that a Brownian Story™ never gets old.

Oh, but they do. You guys are lucky; in RL I can't use the search function to see whether I've mentioned the time I got kidnapped in Boston before.

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 25, 2010 3:28 PM

One of my brothers consistently uses "that's so gay." It's pretty frustrating to me because he does it in front of our sister, who is gay.

Although, come to think of it, Sister's two boys* do the same exact thing. Moms are constantly having talks with them about it (unless their sister gets to them first--she lets her fists do the talking).

Brother claims he isn't homophobic because he still has a relationship with Sister and her wife (though he would never call her that), but I've explained to him that not disowning his sister is not exactly the same thing as truly being accepting.

*The younger one informed us that at his school, they also say things are "so Michael Jackson" to mean that they are lame. Of course, this is the same kid who regaled me with tales of a poisonous banana spider in Africa that has 6 inch long fangs that kill you instantly if they come into contact with your bones, but a man survived a bite to the head, although neon green gas came out of his nose and mouth. He totally saw it on Discovery. He's not making it up.

Posted by: Sven DiMilo | August 25, 2010 3:34 PM

tales of a poisonous banana spider in Africa that has 6 inch long fangs that kill you instantly if they come into contact with your bones

Makes 2 reminders of The In-Laws in one day, and that wins you the clip!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhfFwLewgmc

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 25, 2010 3:39 PM

...in RL I can't use the search function to see whether I've mentioned the time I got kidnapped in Boston before.

A. That sounds like an interesting story.
B. Don't people just tell you if you're repeating yourself? I do. It doesn't stop my mother from telling the same stories over and over again (I know every detail surrounding my birth and the births of my siblings), but sometimes it makes her mix it up a bit, which can be fun.

I had a friend who would repeat conversations verbatim every time she got drunk. She'd come up to me and start the exact same conversation repeatedly, and at first I had fun with it, seeing how many times she'd do it. Then, it got pretty tedious, so I told her we'd already talked about it. Unfortunately, whatever it was that made her forget that we'd had the conversation also made her forget that I'd told her so. It was very Beckett. I stopped going to her parties.

Posted by: Erulóra (formerly KOPD) | August 25, 2010 3:47 PM

"That's so gay!"
"OMG: that's so homosexual!"

My coworkers/bosses say both of these constantly. I think I'm the only one here who doesn't. Drives me nuts. I wish I had the gumption to say something about it. Knowing that their response would be "are you a fag?" (or sim) doesn't help. Name an "ism" and I'm sure it's represented here. Makes me glad I spend most of my days being left the hell alone.

Posted by: chigau (◦_◦) | August 25, 2010 3:52 PM

David M
There is a species of wild cat called "lynx", the plural is also "lynx". pronounced like "links". The person telling the story did some kind of back-construction to 'singularize' "links" to "link". i think.
And my shift-key does not have "dust" under it. Like the whole keyboard, it contains several grams of dirt, cat hair, human hair, crumbs, ashes, etc.

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 25, 2010 3:54 PM

I *love* being secure in my sexuality.

"That's so gay!"
"Dude. Not cool."
"What, are you some kinda fag?"
"I'm whatever you want me to be, honey! *air-kiss*"

Posted by: Jules, Bride of Death | August 25, 2010 3:54 PM

Part-Time Insomniac
The main reason it grabbed my attention so much is that I'm pretty sure my ex-husband is a sociopath. I've had more difficult relationships than that one, but none have been as disturbing. People who don't know him well think I'm just an angry ex, but people who have known him for a while tend to agree that the guy has issues. They think I'm going overboard with I say psychopath, but none of them were married to him. They all think it implies that he's violent. He's not. He just doesn't have a conscience, as far as I can tell, and it often manifests itself in ways similar to Cat lady--casual nonchalance in the face of real damage to another being, damage that was often done for little more than entertainment. I'd like to have some way to articulate exactly what it is about him that distinguishes him from just being an asshole (which, oddly enough, is only some of the time; he's often quite charming).

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 25, 2010 3:57 PM

What's your take on the Penn & Teller shows?

Extremely hit or miss.

Extremely.

However they can be entertaining. To me they are kind of like Bill Maher. They have some of their own pet issues.

Posted by: MrFire | August 25, 2010 3:58 PM

You guys are lucky; in RL I can't use the search function to see whether I've mentioned the time I got kidnapped in Boston before.

*raises eyebrow*

You've told a story about being kidnapped in Boston? Do you have a link to that, perchance?

Keep in mind, though: if the story doesn't involve you in a gimp suit at some point, I'm going to be quite put out.

Posted by: MinnieTheFinn, kaamea ateistifeministinarttu | August 25, 2010 4:02 PM

Jules:

It doesn't stop my mother from telling the same stories over and over again

I think I'm turning into your mother =) Most of the times I do know I'm repeating myself, but I just don't care. I like telling 'em stories, it is the lads' duty to listen to them (until they can afford to move out).

Posted by: MinnieTheFinn, kaamea ateistifeministinarttu | August 25, 2010 4:16 PM

Cicely:

you're right, reality just happens to random people (well, all people), as it always does. I merely commented on it because for the past few weeks there has been a lot of bad shit happening around me.

If there was such a thing as karma, this particular guy would most definitely NOT get a cancer =)

I just wish there was some good news in my life one of these days for a change (as there most definitely will be, sooner or later).

Oh, wait.

There was =)

Posted by: David Marjanović | August 25, 2010 4:20 PM

lynx

Oh. I suck at getting this kind of pun.

The person telling the story did some kind of back-construction to 'singularize' "links" to "link". i think.

That's incidentally where skunk comes from: the original ends in -s, which was misinterpreted as the English plural ending.

And my shift-key does not have "dust" under it. Like the whole keyboard, it contains several grams of dirt, cat hair, human hair, crumbs, ashes, etc.

That's what I thought. Turn your keyboard around and beat it a little, preferably not right after you've vacuumed the floor.

"I'm whatever you want me to be, honey! *air-kiss*"

Perfect!!! I'm too phobic of misunderstandings to pull that off. Congratulations to you!

I managed "I'm whatever threatens you"* on Pharyngula once, but I don't remember what the question actually was...

* Not original, of course.

"We are Anonymous. Resistance is amusing at best. All ur Intarweebz are belong to us."

You win. :-)

Posted by: KG | August 25, 2010 4:21 PM

I just noticed "Anonymous" was used as a plural. I think that should be correct and will use it that way from now on.

Surely the plural of anonymous is anonymice?

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 25, 2010 4:34 PM

anonymouses

Posted by: Algernon, elle sans chapeau | August 25, 2010 4:37 PM

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/08/25/nyc-cabbie-slashed-a.html#comment-869698

Wow.

Disturbing.

Sorry this is turning into the boingboing thread.

Posted by: cicely (Inadvertent Phytocidal Maniac) | August 25, 2010 4:42 PM

Surely the plural of anonymous is anonymice?

It's whatever they say it is. Unless you really, really, really have a hankering for pizza? :P

Posted by: Paul | August 25, 2010 4:45 PM

@543

Keep in mind that Penn and Teller are big-L Libertarians. Their conclusions in that case follow from that premise.

people eat it a lot, way more than is necessary and don't exercise nearly enough.

This is true, but not any different than if people were doing the same with large portions of Betty Crocker potatoes Au Gratin. The issue is people being aware of caloric intake, nutritional value, and exercise levels. Not fast food per se. And some people do have an irrational bias when it comes to fast food, so it's helpful to have people like P&T* point out where those biases are ill-founded or ridiculous.

*I'm not unconditionally supporting the episode or anything, as I have not seen it. They do sometimes get the facts horribly wrong, and sometimes they even admit it. But I can see where Fast Food would be good Bullshit! red meat.

Posted by: KG | August 25, 2010 4:50 PM

proper nouns generally(?) don't have plurals - blf

I must tell my friends the Smiths. They're going on a continental tour soon, so they can tell the Germans, Poles, Hungarians and Italians! :-p

Posted by: Patricia, OM | August 25, 2010 5:00 PM

Dallas is in Oregon. So is Rome, Drain and Crack-in-the-Ground.

Posted by: KG | August 25, 2010 5:00 PM

This is true, but not any different than if people were doing the same with large portions of Betty Crocker potatoes Au Gratin. The issue is people being aware of caloric intake, nutritional value, and exercise levels. Not fast food per se. - Paul

Nonsense. Why do you think the fast food purveyors advertise? Do you think they would do that if it made no difference to their sales? Fast food is high calorie, high fat, high salt, high refined carbohydrates, highly addictive, and very, very profitable. Basically, they are killing people for profit, like the tobacco companies.

Posted by: Rutee, Shrieking Harpy of Dooooom | August 25, 2010 5:03 PM

At least, that's what I always thought. Am I wrong here? Or are Penn and Teller being irrational for some reason? What's your take on the Penn & Teller shows?

They're funny, and they /can/ be right. The PETA episode debunks a lot of the "Animal testing is wrong, both ethically and scientifically" nonsense, but take whatever they say with a big grain of salt. You should probably do your own research.

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 25, 2010 5:04 PM

That brings to mind the unit of measure of beauty:

The milliHelen.

It's the amount of beauty required to launch one ship.

Posted by: Ogvorbis, Parenthetical Death | August 25, 2010 5:06 PM

Dallas is also in Pennsylvania. Not too far from Wilkes-Barre (which is (as far as I know) the only hyphenated town in the US (and if I am wrong (which happens frequently) someone will point out my idiocy (as also happens frequently)) which is close to, you guessed it, SCRANTON!!

Though there is also a Scranton in North Dakota. A railroad town, actually.

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 25, 2010 5:09 PM

From a coworker who just read my comment at #578:

"Going by mass, that joke is about a picoHelen. It's enough to launch one guy *off* a boat."

Posted by: David Marjanović | August 25, 2010 5:11 PM

I am inclined to doubt

Abenaki? Isn't that a bit far away geographically? I've read that a language in... Virginia or somewhere had skõks.

That would also fit the qu in the attestation from 1634 better (I didn't know that, BTW).

Posted by: Haruhiist | August 25, 2010 5:14 PM

Ahh ok yeah that all does seem to explain rather much :) Strange how they hammer on evidence in one episode and then ignore evidence altogether in another.

@Paul, 568:
I agree, didn't mean to pick on fast food per se, excessive amounts of high-fat food will obviously make you fat. The point is, that they're saying we shouldn't point out fast food is often too high in calories to eat it daily.

It just ticks me off a bit, those people who go:
"I can be big and still beautiful" - beauty is not the point. The point is, in extreme cases it's unhealthy and a burden on society. (Personally I think a lot of people would be prettier if they were less fat, but for some the reverse is true.)
Also, the people who follow silly unfounded diets to stay thin, but end up doing no exercise and switching back and forth between eating whatever they want and dieting. Not really useful either..

(I once had a very heated discussion with some friends who insisted that olive oil was much less fat than butter. I'm not very familiar with the chemistry here, but I doubt it makes much difference that can't be offset by using a tiny bit less. It might be a bit healthier (different kinds of fatty acids), but again, not if you use large amounts of it where you would only have used a small amount of butter. They were Italian and Spanish, so they used _plenty_ of olive oil)

Posted by: blf | August 25, 2010 5:15 PM

They probably should never leave the United States. Unless they're looking for a Dallas in a Bahama.

Waddles off to fix dinner and throw peas out of the lair…

Posted by: cicely (Inadvertent Phytocidal Maniac) | August 25, 2010 5:17 PM

JeffreyD, *applause* for your eldest. I can see the fundies floundering now! "But...but...but...she's doing it wrong!" "Oh, really? In what way?" "Um...ur...ahhh....."

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 25, 2010 5:18 PM

Patricia:

No such luck. First, it was a male coworker, and second, he was reading over my shoulder.

And on the subject of Penn and Teller: I second the comparison with Bill Maher. Neither (and I consider Penn and Teller to be one entity for the purpose of this discussion) pulls any punches, though both of them can be misguided. (Maher is a woo-ster, Penn and Teller are glibertarians.) That means that when they're right, they're excellent, and when they're wrong, they're annoying.

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 25, 2010 5:24 PM

'Tis:

Or Howey-in-the-Hills, FL.

Posted by: blf | August 25, 2010 5:28 PM

Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Posted by: Rey Fox, Bird Caller Guy | August 25, 2010 5:34 PM

"Dallas is in Oregon. So is Rome, Drain and Crack-in-the-Ground."

Don't forget Boring. Also, Milton-Freewater, what I'm sure will be the first of many counterexamples to comment #580.

Meanwhile, if you want to see America, you can do it without leaving the state of Missouri. See California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland (Heights), Oakland, Pomona, Houston (in Texas County), or for a little south-of-the-border flair, you can travel to Mexico and Cuba. You can even hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach.

And we also have more saints that you can shake a censer at.

Posted by: CJO | August 25, 2010 5:39 PM

Mel and Mike tend to do their homework

In this case they appear to have taken the etymology straight from the Online Etymology Dictionary (or they got it from the same source.), and other online dictionaries do the same. The Oxford concurs but notes that cognates occur in many Native North American languages.

Posted by: Lynna, OM | August 25, 2010 5:46 PM

I think we should just start saying, "That's so Beckett" as a replacement for the offensive "That's so gay."

'Tis Himself, as I was speed reading through bits of the endless thread, I passed a comment about Woodrow Wilson. Didn't see your name, but knew it was you immediately.

Posted by: Alan B | August 25, 2010 5:52 PM

"Share and Enjoy" - Chalk Edition, Part III.

Right, now onto the 'meat'.
This paper [assume when I refer to it that it is contained in "scare quotes"] occupies pages 29-51 or 23 sides of A4. The Abstract is about half the first page (while looking less, it is in smaller type size). This is followed by numerous sections with no numbering nor any clear indication how they fit together. I have tried to get the upper/lower case distinctions correct. The headings are:

Introduction
Uniformitarianism
Comparison of the "Upper Cretaceous" Period with the Noachian Flood
Extinctions
Other major extinctions
Tectonic sedimentation
The amount of land submerged
The quiet phase
The basic premise of this paper
Chalk
The nature and location of chalk
The origin of chalk
A uniformitarian viewpoint
Towards a young-earth creationist model
Explaining Chalk Deposition
Capturing coccoliths
Support details for the model
Chalk slumping
Monoclines
Smectite coating
Flow at basin edges
Flow within the basins
Rate of lift of land
The Scratchy Bottom* Dry Valley
Groundwater flow
Dish structures
"Pipes"
The presence of hydrocarbons
Diagenesis
Fluid pressures
Hydraulic isolation
Breachings of cap rock
Example details from Ekofisk
Implications for Flood Models
Dealing with Uniformitarian Geological Questions
The common ordering of fossils
Hardgrounds
The Geological Column
The Ballard Down Unconformity
The map of the "Upper Cretaceous" landscape
Other issues
The ages of the rocks
Warping
Origin of coccoliths
Circular arguments
Summary-Coming to a Conclusion
Decision-making
Bringing matters to a head
The MUA system
Implications for Decision-Making
The final decision
Implications
References [73]**

* Yes. This is the real name. It may have come from 'Scratchey's Bottom' where Scratchey was the owner's name and 'bottom' referred to low-lying land.

** Just a few comments about references.

1) There a lots of them!

2) Many of the References are to whole books or major articles. For example, I have the book referenced as House (1989), Geology of the Dorset Coast. It is not the easiest of books to follow without a reasonable background of geology and knowledge of the coast: essentially, it is notes describing 26 itineraries along the Dorset coast. It has 164 pages, 43 Figures and 32 Plate pages. The Plate pages often have several pictures. To what, exactly, is the author referring when he calls up House (1989). No doubt the point could/might be located but why should anyone bother?

3) Since it is difficult to see how references refer to his argument, I am driven to the assumption that the author does not intend the reader to follow them up.

4) I know that some of the references are available on the Internet. The paper is dated 2009 yet not a single link is given. With a bit of effort the author could have directed us to easily available material. Otherwise, it is Google or Google Scholar and hope that the paper is not behind a paywall.

5) Professor Ian West is not referenced. I know I have a bee in the bonnet about this guy but he has a giant site that describes the area being discussed in detail with excellent annotated photographs.

I make this 53 sections - I may have miscounted. There is no numbering, lettering or sub-division. Some have all the major words beginning with an upper case letter, some are in italics, some are on a line of their own while in other situations they are the merely the first word(s) of a new line. With enough effort the reader could probably put some structure into the paper (maybe).

My First Impression? If this had been written by a member of my Section I would have sent it back for a major rewrite. To have signed it off would have been close to committing professional suicide. I don't expect a piece of "peer reviewed", "cutting-edge", research to be written like a stream of consciousness. I cannot remember a paper (outside of creationist writings) that is so badly constructed and hence so difficult to read. What were the "peer reviewers" and the Editors doing? Why did the Senior Editor of this professional technical journal allow this to be published? Remember how it was described:

Cutting-edge creation research. Free. Answers Research Journal (ARJ) is a professional, peer-reviewed technical journal for the publication of interdisciplinary scientific and other relevant research from the perspective of the recent Creation and the global Flood within a biblical framework.

There is no way I can comment on all 23 sides of un-structured material with 73 references other than to call it disgraceful. They will not impress anyone who is not already convinced. Indeed, as a YEC scientist or technologist, I would probably have had my confidence shaken!

I have yet to think how much further to take the commenting on this "paper" ...

Why should I bother if the author, peer-reviewers and Editors aren't prepared to do a professional job to start with?

Posted by: Carlie of the lacy, gently wafting adjectives | August 25, 2010 6:04 PM

There is an entire ad campaign dedicated to getting rid of "that's so gay". Unfortunately, they have an open area to suggest alternatives and one of the most popular is "that's so lame". Disability fail, anyone?

But I do like the Wanda Sykes commercial. "That's so 16 year old boy with a cheesy moustache."

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | August 25, 2010 6:12 PM

Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

hey my home town

Posted by: Bill Dauphin, avec fromage | August 25, 2010 6:17 PM

Between the return of my wandering spawn and a busy patch at work, I'm almost entirely unfamiliar with the current ebb and/or flow of the Thread©, but I thought I'd share a link. I loooooove me some public radio, but some of the NPR shows are a skosh too tolerant of religion to suit my current condition. Thus it was with great pleasure that I listened, today, to the podcast of this edition of To the Best of Our Knowldege. Enjoy!

Posted by: AJ Milne OM | August 25, 2010 6:24 PM

While I fucking love 'So Beckett, and expect it to be somewhat useful in my life, it strikes me that it's not really generally much of a synonym for what is generally meant by 'so lame' or 'so gay'...

So me, I think I'd like to see this latter category of pathetic things referred to as being 'So Beck'...

As this is both more suggestive of the actual meaning, methinks, and also far more richly deserved.

(/Cf. 'Santorum')

Posted by: Benjamin "pardon my French" Geiger | August 25, 2010 6:35 PM

Divide and Conquer: a video from 1947 that is even more relevant today.