Hey, I've safely arrived here in Quito, Ecuador…and of course, I beat Phil Plait here, getting through customs and to the hotel long before he did. He's got to be getting used to second place by now.
I see the guestbloggers have come through and are doing a bang-up job, so I don't need to say much at all. We'll be touring the city tomorrow and won't have much time to write then, either — so don't expect too much from me in the near future. Not even in reply to Matt Nisbet.
Speaking of slanderous, self-serving frauds, Ray Comfort has been claiming that I "chickened out" of our debate on WDAY radio. This is not true, and it's unfair to the radio station. They actually changed the format on their own initiative because they felt that 20-30 minutes would not let us do justice to our positions if we had to split the time. I have a formal statement from the producer that they've asked me to post:
For why we decided to change formats, we came to the conclusion that being we are a caller driven show, while having both Mr. Comfort and Dr. Myers on at the same time would be entertaining, neither would have been able to fully develop their respective positions, or take many questions from callers. We decided this Monday afternoon. We attempted contacting Mr. Comfort, with no success, and when I spoke to Dr. Myers he was gracious enough to move his interview to Wednesday morning. We sent several emails to Mr. Comfort (actually his assistant) with the changes to the format, and the emails were eventually responded to.
It is possible, however, that the information in the emails to Mr. Comfort's assistant was not passed in full to Mr. Comfort. It is also possible that one of the emails we sent to Mr. Comfort's assistant was lost due to the problems we've experienced with our email server this week (which has been an absolute nightmare). This could account for the misinformation that Mr. Comfort is stating on his blog. I will email his assistant this afternoon and try to straighten this out.
Feel free to reproduce this email on any blogs where this discussion is taking place (I'm guessing on Pharyngula and Comfort Food). If there are any further questions, feel free to email me at benandjim@wday.com
Thanks again,
Erik Matson
Producer, Ben and Jim in the Morning
WDAY Radio
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Hi PZ! I hope you have a great tour of Quito tomorrow. That sounds like a fantastic way to spend a day.
Yeah, Ray Comfort's a dumbass. But you know, he's definitely not known to lie, so I'm sure his assistant just forgot to tell him all the details.
First Post?
Anyway this what we've come to expect from creationists.
I've pointed this out to Ray but he, it seems almost unconsciously, fills the role of stoner whatever guy.
Ray is a hypocrite of astounding measure. He epitomizes why people are critical of self serving Christians. He can not tell the truth if the truth is contrary to his goals.
Speaking of slanderous, self-serving frauds...
O snap!
And...Comfort's blog is "Comfort Food?" Does it have banana wallpaper?
Actually Ray has changed it to "Atheist Central" as some sort of an attempt at a lame joke / play on words. He even has the "Rules for a new atheist". It's all very very fucking lame.
Hi PZ! I wave a newly sprouted tentacle (the emergence of which was definitely not disclosed in the contract I signed) in your general direction.
Have a fantastic trip!
Figured here was a good spot to say that I think the guest bloggers are doing a great job.
@LisaJ:
"Yeah, Ray Comfort's a dumbass. But you know, he's definitely not known to lie, so I'm sure his assistant just forgot to tell him all the details."
You must not be all that familiar with Ray Comfort. He really is a dishonest idiot; he doesn't just play one on TV.
In my blog, DisComforting Ignorance (get it? :-D), I've been keeping a running, documented tab of Ray's dishonesty here.
Ray has not only been claiming that PZ chickened out -- even after his readers posted the producer's comments -- he's done all sorts of things, such as claim Einstein believed the Bible was the Word of God. I think he's part of the "it's okay to lie for Jesus" crowd.
I just checked *shudder* and Ray Comfort did post some of the producer's explanation on his site. Excuse me while I go and try to scrub the icky feeling off...
"Actually Ray has changed it to "Atheist Central" as some sort of an attempt at a lame joke / play on words. He even has the "Rules for a new atheist". It's all very very fucking lame."
He must really be upset that we didn't let him into our treehouse.
DisComforting Ignorance @ #8.
Sorry for the confusion, I was being sarcastic. I meant exactly the opposite of what I said, in that he's very dishonest, and I wouldn't be surprised if he went along with the suggested possibility that his assistant just didn't give him all of the correct info (and I'm sure this statement on the part of the radio station was just something they had to say to keep the peace, and not something they actually believe it).
Psst...Lisa, it helps if you use the 'sarcasm' and '/sarcasm' tags. Most of the readership is knee-walking drunk by this time on a Friday night, after all.
I don't know. Ray's become so unhinged and mismanaged, I'm almost to the point of calling Poe on the nut.
I mean, when Christians lie (which is quite often), they're a little more subtle and discrete about it. But, Ray comes out with the most blatantly obvious dishonesty, that I think even the most dishonest of Christians would look at him and cringe.
Ahh, I love the group think environment here, I guess that what everyone at ray's blog says is true, you are PZ's zombies... how sad.
"Ahh, I love the group think environment here, I guess that what everyone at ray's blog says is true, you are PZ's zombies... how sad."
Irony meter go boom.
Why don't you both go on the Infidel Guy's show and do a debate? I could call Reg and set it up in a flash. That would shut that arrogant, lying shithead up.
Oh, I don't know, Danio (#12). Those of us in the European time zones ought to have sobered up by now. <big grin>
Oh...My...Thor! Ray Comfort lives in bloody backwards land! He's completely mental! I feel scared...someone hold me?
"This could account for the misinformation that Mr. Comfort is stating on his blog.
... that and the fact he's a lying sack of shit.
"Those of us in the European time zones ought to have sobered up by now.
.. whilst those of us who are Antipodeans are just getting started all over again.
Comfort misrepresented a truth on his blog?
Say it isnt so !!
//"Those of us in the European time zones ought to have sobered up by now.
.. whilst those of us who are Antipodeans are just getting started all over again.//
*Looks lovingly to fridge*
Zombie . . . must have brains . . . none at Ray Comforts blog . . . will come to Pharyngula instead . . .
I hope PZ is wearing a locally produced Panama hat by now. "They're from Ecuador!" as I was repeatedly told.
I think it was gracious of Erik Matson to take the trouble to sort that out.
"Anyone who claims not to believe in evolution is either wicked, ignorant or insane." Richard Dawkins
I think Comfort is a mixture of all three.
Hi PZ. Enjoy the time away!
Care to tell us where we are wrong?
When I hear Quito, I think of the game Chocolatier, in which Quito plays an important role. :) Enjoy the trip, PZ!
Did Mr. Comfort lie? Fairly likely. But there is a simple test. If he quickly posts an explicate retraction and apology to Dr. Myers in the same web site without trying to obscure it (or taking it down a little bit later) then I would be more than willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. If he fails that test, then he has proven himself a complete and total liar. I would use harsher language for what he would be but there might be minors reading. And of course countless creationist presenters have failed their own versions of this test.
Hola PZ!
On PZ's spot on the Jim & Ben show the other day, the host presented the question - "Now do you have any observed examples of evolution? I would like to get some actual science that would explain this. Something we could sink our teeth into. The common man..."
PZ responded with evidence of observed speciation of lizards in the Mediterranean.
Ray Comfort, in his typical fashion, brushes this off with a wave of his hand saying - This is the best you got? This is the best science has come up with? (even though PZ was not specificallly asked for the "best" example)
Pharyngulites, how would you have answered, and what did you think of PZ's response?
What is the best, most convincing scientific evidence supporting the theory of evolution?
He posted a retraction. However that doesn't make him honest. He is dishonest about sooo many other things.
Well, I know what I'd do if I were in South America: I'd go find me a viscacha. It might even get you more in touch with your "spiritual" side; the Internet told me this:
The viscacha is the wisest animal in existence - that you can easily tell from the pictures on google.com/images?q=viscacha.
Capybaras may also have a thing or two to teach you.
Hey PZ. Hope you enjoy your pilgrimage to Darwin's Mecca! :-)
Christians give Satan the nickname "Prince of Lies"
...which puts Ray Comfort in a completely new light.
Yep. Outstanding job guys! My invite must have gotten lost in the mail. Yeah, that's it.
By the way, kudos to Erik Matson and Ben and Jim for their commitment to integrity. It's great to see so many members of the media (including all the reviewers that didn't fall for Expelled's crap) standing up and calling BS when they see it.
I keep forgetting to say that I like the "PZminion" tag.
Danio,
Does the tentacles sprout in addition to any previous limbs, or is it more of a metamorphosis thing?
Brownian,
I think it's more of an issue of your already having your own blog. Mustn't be greedy now.
Hola PZ!
Watch out, Latin America is predominantly Catholic. If you hear "Ese gringo, él profanó la Galleta Santa!" RUN!
Oh, Sili, I'm just being, er, silly. ;-)
Actually, it's more an issue of feeling a little intimidated by the quality of the posts and posters PZ got to fill in.
But that's why I love this blog. It's a big pond with some pretty hefty fish; a great place to spread your fins and swim.
@#25
It was a proxied comment, echoed towards anyone who supports PZ at Ray Comfort's blog. And, I think nabian was right about the irony meter.
Thank you Danio :) I am making a mental note right now!
Bienvenido, PZ¡
And while you stay in Ecuador, don´t worry about "curuchupas"(ultra-catholics), they are noisy, but not a large part of the population(on Quito)
saludos desde Ecuador¡
"What is the best, most convincing scientific evidence supporting the theory of evolution?"
Gee. Haven't you guys seen this?