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Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
…and this is a pharyngula stage embryo.
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As an active Humanist for almost fifty years, I am astonished at the wild statements of LaHaye and Wine. Humanists have unfortunately remained a minority in the United States. The American Humanist Association has never had more than 6,000 members, and that number at present is approximately 3,000. The AHA has no more than half a hundred small chapters throughout the country. Of course, there is quite a large number of Humanists who do not belong to the AHA, and multitudes more who do not realize they are Humanists and multitudes more who do not even know the word. Our philosophy (or religion) does wield considerable does wield considerable influence throughout the civilized world; Humanists would indeed rejoice if it possessed the powers ascribed to it by the Moral Majority.
Corliss Lamont, The Philosophy of Humanism (Seventh ed., New York: Continuum, 1990), p. x.
Category: Skepticism
Today is Carl Sagan Day — I think that means you are officially expected to be filled with awe of the cosmos all day long, while also being thoroughly skeptical of the supernatural. Hang on…I think that means I celebrate...
Posted by PZ Myers at 8:33 AM • 54 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Religion
This is Ali, a six month old baby in Southern Russia. It's a miracle! Every Monday and Thursday, fresh quotations from the Quran 'magically' appear on his legs, belly, or arms when he's home alone with his mommy and daddy,...
Posted by PZ Myers at 11:06 AM • 95 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Skepticism
The authors of Freakonomics have a new book out, called Superfreakonomics. It doesn't look promising: a couple of reports have it promoting climate change denialism, which is unfortunate. There are risks in having skepticism with the status quo (which is...
Posted by PZ Myers at 10:51 AM • 215 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Skepticism
Sorry, there's another piece there that really irritated me. Maher reads the data selectively: he quotes the CDC's list of possible contaminants of vaccines, like aluminum, insect repellant, formaldehyde, etc. But that is simple honesty in advertising! Everything you put...
Posted by PZ Myers at 2:34 PM • 121 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Skepticism
Once again, Maher sticks his foot in his mouth and gnaws on it for a while. The most telling moment for me was when he compares vaccination to global warming and evolution; global warming and evolution, he says, are settled...
Posted by PZ Myers at 12:35 PM • 102 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Skepticism
I've recently made arrangements to come speak at the University of Ireland in Galway in early February. Hooray! I've been looking forward to visiting Ireland for some time, so it's going to be great. And then I discover that not...
Posted by PZ Myers at 11:26 AM • 51 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Skepticism
Bill Maher doesn't believe in vaccines at all? Man, you've have got to be utterly nuts to make Bill Frist look good. The first part is pretty good, where Frist gives Maher a lesson in vaccines; the last bit is...
Posted by PZ Myers at 2:32 PM • 198 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Pointless polls
There is a poll in Germany that will determine who will win a "Dedication Award" for service to the community. You can vote on it! In fact, you better vote on it! Here are the top 5 leaders in the...
Posted by PZ Myers at 11:17 AM • 91 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Skepticism
Oh, boy. As many of you already know, the big AAI conference is taking place in LA at the end of this week — I'll be there! — and they are giving Bill Maher an award. This is a problem....
Posted by PZ Myers at 3:51 PM • 208 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Skepticism
In 2002, Thomas and Manju Sam had a very sick child: their daughter Gloria was suffering from a life-threatening case of eczema, and essentially screamed herself to death by painful suppuration. That's a ghastly tragedy, and we'd normally feel for...
Posted by PZ Myers at 10:11 AM • 72 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
PZ Myers 11.08.2009
PZ Myers 11.08.2009
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