Ask me anything!

I'm going to be doing an interview with Reddit later today, and they've opened a thread to collect questions for me. I'm already a-scared. Hold me, Mommy.

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I've been spending the past week or two trying to get my groove on with respect to work. I scared myself quite badly with how overwhelmed I got at the end of last semester, and how quickly. I vowed to myself not to let myself get sucked into such unhealthy patterns, and then beat myself up over…

What the fuck is wrong with you, man?

I've always wondered that one.

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Does this look infected?

By Brownian, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Leave the question at the reddit site, maybe they'll ask it!

You know I just ignore everyone here.

Why is the proton so much larger than the electron, and yet they have the same magnitude of electric charge, only opposite?

'Bout time you answered that question.

Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p

By Glen Davidson (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Sven and Brownian need to conduct the interview. I don't think I'd survive.

If we evolved from communion wafers, how come monkeys don't violate the second law of carbon dating?

Oh boy. So yeah, no questions like:

- why do you hate god?
- can you disprove god?
- why are there still monkeys?
- were your there?
- how can something come from nothing?
- how does evolution explain gravity then?
- why do we die?
- have you actually looked at a banana?

This ought to be interesting.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How many root beer floats does it take before you can't get out of bed the next morning?

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a tootsie pop?

When will I see you again?

Don't be nervous about your interview. It's Reddit, not Red State.

Enjoy.

By The Tim Channel (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

If we made communion wafers from Soylent Green, would it turn regular people into Jesus?

Re: The Tim Channel #9,

Yeah, that comic strip was damn near close to being a hate crime. You also have to see the appalling blog entry the comic authors made (it has been cached here) that shows how mindlessly such violence was allowed into the paper.

By aratina cage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How longer before pusatbelanja the spambot/blogwhore is deleted/banned?

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Patty-O @#10:Thrrrrree.

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Answer: When a mummy and a daddy love each other very much somtimes they give each other a special hug.

What is the question?

Louis

Why is the proton so much larger than the electron, and yet they have the same magnitude of electric charge, only opposite?

Easy: because the electron really is elementary, while the proton consists of three quarks (two u quarks, charged +2/3 each, and one d quark with a charge of -1/3) and all the gluons between them.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Which Sid and Marty Croft show was the best

Sigmud and the Seamonsters, Land of the Lost or H.R. Puffinstuff?

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

A couple of questions -When and how did you come out to your parents/family that you were an atheist?
And secondly, what is atheist fundamentalism and why do you think that the term does not apply to what is being called New Atheism?

By bunnycatcher (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Follow up question:

Why?

(If the answer is unsatisfactory question will be repeated with a nasal whine until suicide or homicide occur, whichever comes first)

Louis

pusatbelanja the spambot/blogwhore

It uses the Turkish spambot method – copying something (anything) and adding an URL –, but the name is not Turkish. Signs and wonders.

Clearly a spambot rather than a blogwhore.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

More on the Catholic anti-gay comic:

Coincidentally, one of the professors at Notre Dame shares PZ's last name, and Professor Dan Myers has posted an opinion-piece/blog entry about the comic:

Getting a cheap laugh at the expense of the abused, bashed, disabled and even murdered not only belittles these horrific experiences but encourages more violence.
By aratina cage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

David @ 18

(two u quarks, charged +2/3 each, and one d quark with a charge of -1/3)

Just curious about doing a sum of charge there. Does that apply? Should it not sum up to +1?

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Why do fools fall in love?

Do these jeans make my ass look fat?

By lagunatic (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

@18: But what about the gluinos, man? What about the gluinos?

Sorry. Ahem, questions, questions...

1. What/who is the biggest single threat to rational, quality science education today?
2. What the hell happened to college freshman science textbooks over the last ten years?
3. When are you moving somewhere closer to civilization, Dr. Myers? ;o)

By Givesgoodemail (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Q1: What's your favorite colour???

Q2: What's the airspeed of a laden swallow???

Sigmud and the Seamonsters, Land of the Lost or H.R. Puffinstuff?

Nothing tops Enoch and the Sleestak IMO! Plus, I had a little bit of a crush on Holly.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Can you tell what it is?
Does it hurt you when I do this?

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Can you take a look at this rash?

Does it really look just like a telefunken U47?

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

@ lagunatic #26:

No dear.

@ Janine #30:

You need to add:

"Is it in yet?" and "Are you sure that's not just your finger?"

Or perhaps you don't!

Louis

2. What the hell happened to college freshman science textbooks over the last ten years?

This question has been asked, with about the same wording, for the last hundred years.

More specific to physics, but try the following:

================
Service RF. 1994. Assault on the Lesson Plan. Science, New Series.
266: 856-858.

Franklin WS. 1921. What is the Matter with Physics Teaching?
Science, New Series. 54: 475-479.

Freeman FN. 1931. Scientific and Philosophical Methods in
Education. Science, New Series. 73: 54-59.

Guthe KE. 1910. Some Reforms Needed in the Teaching of Physics.
Science, New Series. 31: 1-7.

Mann CR. 1910. Physics and Education. Science, New Series. 32: 1-5.

Rutherford FJ. 1997. Sputnik and Science Education. Reflecting on
Sputnik: Linking the Past, Present, and Future of Educational Reform
[Internet]. http://www.nas.edu/sputnik/rutherford.doc. Accessed 2005
Nov. 16.

Sagan C. 1990. ’Croesus and Cassandra: Policy response to global
warming,’ Carl Sagan's acceptance speech for the 1990 Oersted Medal
presented by the American Association of Physics Teachers, 23 January
1990. The American Journal of Physics. 58: 721 – 730.

Thompson JJ. 1931. The Growth in Opportunities for Education and
Research in Physics during the Past Fifty Years. Science, New
Series. 74: 317-324.

Crew H. 1904. Recent Advances in the Teaching of Physics. Science,
New Series. 19: 481-488.

Gray A. 1919. Scientific Education and the Teaching of Physics.
Science, New Series. 50: 377-383.

Hauser EA. 1951. The Importance of Science in American Education.
Science, New Series. 113: 643-646.

Magruder WT. 1913. The Good Engineering Teacher, His Personality
and Training. Science, New Series. 38: 137-143.

[Anonymous] 1958. National Defense Education Act (1958) United
States Statutes at Large, Public Law 85-864 [Internet]. http://www.fofweb.com/History/Reference.asp?ID=9703
. p. 1580-1605. Accessed 2005 Nov. 18.

Taylor LW. 1940. Science in General Education at the College Level.
Science, New Series. 91: 560-565.

Trytten MH. 1941. Colleges and the Changing High Schools. Science,
New Series. 94: 387-389.

================

How did someone manage to breed a clear zebrafish?

By Richard H. (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

David @ 18

Me @ #24.

Next time I'll read better.

2(+2/3) + (-1/3) = +1.

Got it.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hold you? Come now, PZ, it's only Reddit. It's not as if it were 4chan.

*skibbles off to leave a question*

By pixelfish (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

If evolution is true, then why are creationists so stupid?

A related question, why doesn't evolution make things better? For example: ridding us of creationist thought.

Also, why does love hurt emotionally and no just physically, like good love should?

By Pastor Farm (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Can you turn your head and cough?

I was particularly amused by the question on "weekly beard maintenance" and am on tenterhooks to find out the answer :-)

By neon-elf.myope… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Do cats and dogs go to heaven?

Why?

Because.

Do these jeans make my ass look fat?

No, it's not the jeans that make your ass look fat.

Does it really look just like a telefunken U47?

With leather?

Q2: What's the airspeed of a laden swallow???

African or European?

The IT Nazis here at work block Reddit, so:

What has it got in its pocketses?

and

Paul! Paul! Why do you persecute me?

By lurker_above (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

I had trouble signing in a reddit, so here's my question:
To what do you attribute your enormous sex appeal?
How many "sexiest atheist" or "sexiest scientist" polls have you won?

By Lynna, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What happens if you moon a werewolf?

Love that posting software - yeeeeech!

That'll come back to bite you on the ass, Hank.

Hank:

What happens if you moon a werewolf?

It's probably similar to screwing a vampire.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

@ Tsg #43:

[nasal whine]

But whhhyyyyyyyyyyy?

[/nasal whine]

Louis

PZ
Are you going to be lecturing anywhere near MA some time in the foreseeable future?

By philzombi (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Do you seriously believe this war on stupidity can be won?

Hank:

What happens if you moon a werewolf?

It's probably similar to screwing a vampire.

I hope you're not looking into the old vampire bj trick.

Hope the vamp is only a quart low...

When did your science blog officially become an anti religion blog? I'm not a big fan of any religion either, but sometimes it seems like you're fighting the "christian right" more than you're elightening folks to facts. Just wondered.....

Kris, I can answer that one:

If the kitchen is on fire, sometimes you gotta realize that cooking breakfast isn't your only priority.

sometimes it seems like you're fighting the "christian right" more than you're elightening folks to facts [...]

And the difference is...?

When did your science blog officially become an anti religion blog? I'm not a big fan of any religion either, but sometimes it seems like you're fighting the "christian right" more than you're elightening folks to facts. Just wondered.....

ycin

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

1. When Trophy Wife learns whatever it is you've been up to, does she most frequently respond with:
A. An incredulous stare
B. A sigh
C. An eyeroll
D. Yelling "Goat on Fire!" and locking herself in her quiet room yet again.

2. Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

3. Did you know that there were now 54 Baltimore Pharyngula Fans?

By bastion of sass (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

"Is it through your grandmother or your grandfather that you consider yourself descended from an ape?"

David Horton

By justagreenie (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

@49:

It's probably similar to screwing a vampire.

Or nailing Jesus.

In the spirit of Luker_above@44, "It's sticky. What is it?"

"It's sticky. What is it?" - Stogoe

Duh. A stick.

By Knockgoats (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What is your secret to time management???

Who do you think is hotter, Dawkins or Mehta?

Q1: What's your favorite colour???

Blue. No, yellow AAAAAH!!!!! <pause> I'M COLOURBLIIIIIIND!!!!!

Q2: What's the airspeed of a laden swallow???

A Laden swallow?

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Do you still have that glow in the dark speculum and can you bring it to the Australian convention?

By Bride of Shrek OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Bah, I'm too lazy to go to the other site so I'll post my questions here:

1. If humans evolved from other apes, why is there still a Ray Comfort?

2. Which sidekick should Ray retain: Kirk Cameron or the Banana?

By MadScientist (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck - if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

After they make Styrofoam, what do they ship it in? -- (Steven Wright)

and

What would be the speed of lightning be if it didn't zigzag?

I'll wait...

By creating trons (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Who put the ram in the ram-a-lam-a-ding-dong?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

If god is all-powerful, can he make a rock so big even he can't lift it?

By Bill Dauphin, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

#68 - what if it's a Woodchuck Norris?

Badger3k

By https://me.yah… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

As a follow-up question to Bill Dauphin's query in #71: Can god microwave a burrito so hot that he himself could not eat it?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

When's the Rapture?

Why when we send something by ship it's called cargo yet when we send it by truck it's called shipping?

Why has fucking Clairol discontinued colour #76 forcing me to admit to all my friends that for the last 20 years I haven't been a natural redehead?

By Bride of Shrek OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Where the fuck is Waldo?

Who won the Molly for November and December?

By nejishiki (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

It uses the Turkish spambot method – copying something (anything) and adding an URL –, but the name is not Turkish. Signs and wonders.

Clearly a spambot rather than a blogwhore.

It's Indonesian. Or at least it is if the monkier is two words.

Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Concern troll:

When did your science blog officially become an anti religion blog? I'm not a big fan of any religion either, but sometimes it seems like you're fighting the "christian right" more than you're elightening folks to facts. Just wondered.....

Extra credit for PZ:

Why are passive-aggressive concern trolls always so vapid, boring, and dumb?

Which level of hell are they going to?

#60

"Is it through your grandmother or your grandfather that you consider yourself descended from an ape?"

If this is a serious question, then I would offer the following response:

Dumb-dumb, Humans are apes.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

I have several questions about your commenters:

Why are your sick, hateful, and demented commenters so mean?

Why can't the going-to-hell blasphermers be nicer, more respectful?

Why must those assholes use so damn fucking much bad language?

Thank you.
God bless you.
Jesus loves you.
I will pray for you.

By bastion of sass (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

is the answer to the question I am asking you right now the same answer I would get if I were to ask you if you were secretly believed in God, and were putting this act on purely because you just like sinning so much?

By stealthdonkey (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Which commenters (Mollys?) would you add to your harem?

Which wouldn't you?

Where did you put the crocducks?
And is it true they make good goat igniters?

When did your science blog officially become an anti religion blog?

Point 1:
From the tag-line in the header of the blog page, I read: Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal.
(emphasis mine)

Point 2:
Religion and the religious love challenging the validity of evolution not only at this blog, but our school-boards, courtrooms, and political discourse. They're the ones who are intruding by making false and misleading claims about science. It's not PZ's fault if they're frequently handed their ass in those discussions.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Also, how much shots of 151 can you take PZ?

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

I'm not exactly sure what to say. Intellectually, I see the problem with that cartoon - but I was still amused. Presumably it's a question of context.

Why did kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
Why are there interstate highways in Hawai'i?

How do you break it to your PI, as a graduate student, that you don't htink you want to pursue an academic career?

In re "Is it through your grandmother or your grandfather that you consider yourself descended from an ape?":

lose_the_woo, Wilberforce posed that question to Huxley at their debate. I don't think justagreenie seriously meant it.

By pickwickthesecond (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? In your neigh-bor-hood? Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? The people that you meet each day.

By Pastor Farm (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Which commenters (Mollys?) would you add to your harem?

Which wouldn't you?

*looks around nervously

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Which commenters (Mollys?) would you add to your harem?

Which wouldn't you?

Can I have the leftovers?

Ask me anything!

OK.

So... Wht's th ptml tmprtr f th plnt? :P

Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?

'Tis (@73):

Credit where credit is due: #71 was me channeling my inner Carlin.

By Bill Dauphin, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Why must I feel like that?
Why must I chase the cat?

Nothin' but the dog in ya

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

#94: Wht's th ptml tmprtr f th plnt?

svnt-tw?

By creating trons (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

pickwickthesecond @ 90 (and justagreenie):

lose_the_woo, Wilberforce posed that question to Huxley at their debate. I don't think justagreenie seriously meant it.

Outstanding. Knowledge gained. Thanks for that to both.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Why do fools fall in love?

Who put the bomp in the bomp-ba-bomp-ba-bomp?

Where did I put my car keys?

What's on your iPod?

By Ted Zissou (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Will I ever find true love?

***

Thanks for this fun thread, everyone.

There's only one question that really matters.
WHEN WILL YOUR FUCKING BOOK BE DONE?

What?

(From Pulp Fiction)

I'm also very amused that there's someone on reddit whose handle is ICommentonYourName who comments on people's names.

Why was I born?

Oh, wait, I think that's Helen Morgan's question.

Why does it hurt when I pee?

What question is it that you think should be asked?

</simpering sycophant>

By John Morales (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

So, the egg came first. Can you explain that again?

By Ted Zissou (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

#94: Wht's th ptml tmprtr f th plnt?

svnt-tw?

Crp. Nw cn rd dsmvwld psts. Thnks gys.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Will the Cubs ever win a World Series in Janine's lifetime?

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

I don't remember seeing any Dr. Seuss. Can't have that, so:

Do you like green eggs and ham?

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Oh, sure. Blame the gys. Fckng hmphb.

SC @ #113

Y'v mssplld gys. t's splld gys, nt gys.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Boxers or Briefs.... wait, I don't actually want to know.

How many roads must a man walk down before he can be called a man?
How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand?
How many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?
etc. . .

h, s nw t's th nn-Jws' flt? sshl.

Y'v mssplld gys. t's splld gys, nt gys.

f y cnsdr tht "y" hr s trtd lk vwl, bcs t's dpthng, thn t's tchnclly spllt "gs" whn dismld.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

#118

K, y wn. gv p.

nd t's splld "dsmvlwd"...

By creating trons (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How is a raven like a writing-desk?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

h, s nw t's th nn-Jws' flt? sshl.

D y vn spk nglsh mn? Wht plnt r y frm nywy?

f y cnsdr tht "y" hr s trtd lk vwl, bcs t's dpthng, thn t's tchnclly spllt "gs" whn dismld.

Y my b crrct. My spllng sms t b ff tdy.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

#119

dmn t, fl t spllng whn t's dsmvlwd t!

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Oh, what have I done...

Fck.

Oh oh oh, I just thought of a vitally important question:

When is Rev. BDC going to get his FINISHED?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Oh, what have I done...

I think it's called having fun. That's why we're here...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How many roads must a man walk down before someone calls him a cab?

Ron Sullivan

By https://www.go… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

f y cnsdr tht "y" hr s trtd lk vwl, bcs t's dpthng, thn t's tchnclly spllt "gs" whn dismld [sc].

[cttn ndd] (dn't dbt t, bt m crs.)

D y vn spk nglsh mn? Wht plnt r y frm nywy?

Ths n. Bgt. :P

@122

simple bash script for disemvoweling oneself.
....................................................

#! /usr/bin/env bash
echo "Insert text."
read VOW
echo $VOW | sed 's/[AEIOUaeiou]//g'

.................................................

By nejishiki (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How many roads must a man walk down before someone calls him a cab?

Ok, you're a cab.

BS

By Blind Squirrel FCD (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What is the color of wind?

simple bash script for disemvoweling oneself. ...

What a nerd.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

David, 18

Funny, I heard it was two up quarks with a positive charge plus one down with a negative, thus given the proton it's positive electromagnetic charge.. The gluons evidently serve to keep the whole thing together, overcoming the strength of the electromagnetic repulsion

By mythusmage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Will this be on the test?

Funny, I heard it was two up quarks with a positive charge plus one down with a negative...

That's how Wikipedia describes it. Perhaps there are additional ways to describe them (the quarks).

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Glen Davidson | January 15, 2010 1:27 PM:

Why is the proton so much larger than the electron, and yet they have the same magnitude of electric charge, only opposite?

If the masses of the proton or the electron were significantly different, chemistry would be radically different. Any life which evolved in such a universe would therefor be radically different from the life in our universe.
Earth would almost certainly not be populated with a species of upright bipedal tetrapods. This implies that the development of the cross as an instrument of torture and execution would most likely not have occurred, as it would not be a convenient shape for the torture and execution of any likely sentient species. In such a universe, God would never have been able to send His Son, Jesus Christ, down to Earth to die on the cross to redeem your sins. You would have no chance to repent and be saved. You would be doomed to spend your life wallowing in homosexual hedonism, and your afterlife burning in Hell!

If God did create everything all by his lonesome what's the first thing you'd critique?

Would you trust any God who planted false evidence?

When are you coming to San Diego? (You've got free time in February I know a science fiction con you could attend, and it's cheap.)

By mythusmage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

One more,

Have you ever wondered about the true ages of a few pharyngulites?

By mythusmage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Is there a price at which you would sell your crocoduck tie?

By Michelle B (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Is there a price at which you would sell your crocoduck tie?

"Best joke about prostitution ever done was by Bernard Shaw. He was at a party once and he told this woman that everyone would agree to do anything for money, if the price was high enough. `Surely not, she said.' `Oh yes,' he said. `Well, I wouldn't,' she said. `Oh yes you would,' he said. `For instance,' he said, `would you sleep with me for... for a million pounds?' `Well,' she said, `maybe for a million I would, yes.' `Would you do it for ten shillings?' said Bernard Shaw. `Certainly not!' said the woman `What do you take me for? A prostitute?' `We've established that already,' said Bernard Shaw. `We're just trying to fix your price now!' "

I hope it doesn't come down to the GBS quote...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

lose_the_woo | January 15, 2010 2:08 PM:

David @ 18

(two u quarks, charged +2/3 each, and one d quark with a charge of -1/3)

Just curious about doing a sum of charge there. Does that apply? Should it not sum up to +1?

Unless something has gone terribly wrong with my 3l33t math skillz, +2/3 + +2/3 + -1/3 == +4/3 + -1/3 == +1 .

mythusmage | January 15, 2010 7:12 PM:

Funny, I heard it was two up quarks with a positive charge plus one down with a negative, thus given the proton it's positive electromagnetic charge..

That's almost equivalent, except that it neglects to mention the relative strengths of the charges.

Do you love me, now that I can dance?

llewelly,

For sure. I corrected myself at #36.

Reading fail on my account.

By lose_the_woo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Will I ever find true love?

Is this love?

And how will I know?

Nerd, wasn't that Churchill and Lady Astor?

@131

Scene from Alice in the Internet:

Alice: But I don't want to go among nerdy people.
The Cat: Oh, you can't help that. We're all nerdy here. I'm a nerd. You're a nerd.
Alice: How do you know I'm a nerd?
The Cat: You must be. Or you wouldn't have come here.

By nejishiki (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Subbie, I think Shaw predates Churchill, but I'll allow myself to be corrected. Toe jam tastes awful...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hey Wowbagger at #84.
Thanks for the excellent song link,
though I was afraid that they
were going to set that
GOAT ON FIRE!

By ursulamajor (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Nerd, I can't find an authoritative source giving a definitive answer anywhere.

If only there were some widely respected internet sage currently soliciting questions whom we could ask.

*sigh*

Oh wowbagger I love that song.

Hip-ness is
what it is

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Whr dd ll my fckng vwls g??

(Is "Y" a vowel?)

I i ieooaio i a oe a ieoei.

By John Morales (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

PZ? Can I crash on your couch for a couple of days? A week tops?

Okay, fine. No more than a month. Promise.

By Capital Dan (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

John Morales (@157):

Disemconsonanted? Really?

By Bill Dauphin, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Bill, you're one smart cookie.

Yeah, I first wrote "I think disenconsonation is far worse than disemvoweling".

Why isn't it on the repertoire for higher-level offenses? :)

(The result is more pronounceable, and far more comic IMO.)

By John Morales (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

The answer is 42, but what was the question ?

*looks at disemvoweling, and disenconsonanting. Bangs head on desk until all appears doubled*

Subbie, gotta love a place where people can admit they might be wrong. After I heard you say Churchill, I realized that I've heard it attributed to both men. Who's our resident expert in English quotations?

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Sometimes.

That was, um, very sweet.

When is Rev. BDC going to get his FINISHED?

Thank the cosmic muffin someone is still concerned about my FINISHED

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hip-ness is
what it is

Emilio Castillo knows

Rick Stevens thought he knew, but he was wrong.

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

I can't believe no one has asked this yet.
Pirates or ninjas?
Show your work.

By blasphemoose (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What is the question to which the answer is: "Dr. Livingston I Presume."?

What is your full name, Doctor Presume?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Red-shirted Ensigns or Imperial Storm Troopers?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

When the fuck did we get ice cream?!

...
@Wowbagger:
Do you miss me, miss misery, like you used to do?

[goes away for a while to cry for Elliott]

Love that song! LOVE THAT SONG! The video? Not so much.

By OurDeadSelves (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

When I take fewer socks out of the dryer than I put in, does that explain dark matter?

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?

Nerd, wasn't that Churchill and Lady Astor?

Lady Astor: If you were my husband, I would put poison in your tea.

Churchill: If you were my wife, I would drink it.

Also apocryphal.

tsg:

Why does it hurt when I pee?

You probably got the gono-ca-ca-cacus.
Do your balls feel like a pair of maracas?

Dude, where's my car?
And is the pope Catholic?

By blasphemoose (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How many Bothans died to bring us this information?

You probably got the gono-ca-ca-cacus.
Do your balls feel like a pair of maracas?

Probably got it from the toilet seat

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Also apocryphal:

Lady Astor: Winston, you're drunk.

Churchill: Nancy, you're ugly. But tomorrow I'll be sober.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Did somebody set us up the bomb?

Do all your base are belong to us?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Are you allowed to buy anything specific at a general store?

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How many Bothans died to bring us this information?

Hey whaddya think: a princess and a guy like me...?

When didn't you say we couldn't punish you?

When you have your bagel with cream cheese in the morning, do you like your cream cheese to have fruit in it or no fruit?

By Palmtreez101 (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

PZ Myers...poopiehead, or poopeyhead?

If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

By Rev. BigDumbChimp (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Oh yeah, one other thing, the question that slacker Einstein never even bothered to ask: Just what is the speed of dark?

That is all.

What is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

By Bone Oboe (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What's love got to do with it? What's love, but a second hand emotion? Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?

By Pastor Farm (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Do you have any recommendations for books that do an excellent job of supporting/defending/providing easy-to-understand-evidence for evolution that one could give to smart children (or dumb adults)?

By Rex Mundi (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What's the stupidest question you've ever been asked?

By speedweasel (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

And I misread your handle...
I quit.

By Bone Oboe (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Did you in a quiet, secret moment ever, even for a tiny nanosecond, consider sending Kw*k the camera?

By Bride of Shrek OM (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

This question is a bit frivolous, so I'm not going to ask it on Reddit (wouldn't get upvoted enough to be asked anyway), but perhaps PZ or someone else can answer it here:

I might go to see PZ when he speaks in Berkeley soon. If there's an opportunity to meet him afterward, is it acceptable to hug him?

I want to hug him.

By https://www.go… (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Llewelly, 141

I believe the point is that each quark brings either a positive charge, a negative, or none. Up quarks each bring a positive charge, while the down quark brings a negative charge. The down quark negates one of the up quarks, thus giving the proton a net charge of one. I have been known to be wrong.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

John Morales, 157

You speak Tahitian!

By mythusmage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Who's on first?

Why do squid suddenly appear every time you are near?

Professor Myers would you read my blog, it's just some crap that I want to flog. It's the word of a nutjob in a mental fog and I wanna be a blogosphere writer.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

Thank the cosmic muffin…

Is there more than one of them? I had the—or at least I think it was the—cosmic muffin for breakfast the other day. Wasn't too good. Bloody thing was frozen solid from floating around in space for a couple zillion millennia, and very stale. The dust covering gave it an interesting texture, but is not something you'd want to eat very often. Like never again. But worse of all, it had sesame seeds. Yuck! A tasteless stale frozen lump with sesame seeds hiding under the dust leaves a bit to be desired as a meal…

When you eat your Smarties, do you eat the red ones last?

To which, all but Canadians of a certain age reply "Uh ... wha?"

βPer

Rev. BDC wondered aloud:

If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

It's because Holland has two l's in it! D'uh!

What are the 39 steps?

#130

What is the color of wind?

Ice

By scooterKPFT (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

How is babby formed?????

By mad scientist … (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What would be the answer to the answer man?

By scooterKPFT (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

good one scoot

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 15 Jan 2010 #permalink

What can change the nature of a man ?

Here's an honest question:

When will people in America stop reffering to themselves as evolutionists! It makes this well founded scientific theory sound like a political movement. In England we use the term 'biologist', the not being a religious looney is implied.

B

Bribase, normally you see that term employed by creationists. Who have you seen referring to his or her self as an evolutionist?

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Sven

I've heard Dan Dennet, of all people use the term. I'm pretty sure it was invented as part of the creationist movement but it's seemed have spread.

B

RSEVANS @226, you fail at punctuation.

Hartman's Law of Prescriptivist Retaliation is validated once again. :)

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Beatles or Stones?
Original or Extra Crispy?
Do you want fries with that?

If I don't like it, why do I have to eat it?

By Sioux Laris (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Are we there yet?

By Sioux Laris (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

What is reality?

213 up votes 59 down votes

Who the hell are these 59?

Creationists. Because they are afraid of what the answers will be.

By MetzO'Magic (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Well, how did I get here?

Wht's th ptml tmprtr f th plnt?

svnt-tw?

Spcfy nts, pls.

By MetzO'Magic (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

How do I work this?

Where is that large automobile?

subbie @ 145

Nerd, wasn't that Churchill and Lady Astor?

And that reminded me of this classic from Churchill:

Bessie Braddock: Winston, you are drunk, and what's more, you are disgustingly drunk.

Churchill: Bessie, my dear, you are ugly, and what's more, you are disgustingly ugly. But tomorrow I shall be sober and you will still be disgustingly ugly.

By MetzO'Magic (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Am I blue?

Can you hear me now?

By aratina cage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Must. read. whole. thread. before. posting. 'Tis Himself beat me to the Churchill quote :-/

By MetzO'Magic (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Why do the heathen rage?

What can change the nature of a man ?

I'm afraid only the Nameless One can answer that question.

By MetzO'Magic (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

@Dust #190

Negative 186,000 m/s

<whiny voice> Are we almost there yet? </whiny voice>

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

RSEVANS @226

Care to qualify that?

I'm a little too hung over to see my mistake short of Referring.

B

Would you consider yourself a philosopher? /しつもんがありました

By claire-chan (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink
Wht's th ptml tmprtr f th plnt?

svnt-tw?

Spcfy nts, pls.

sspct t's Klvn. r Clss.

Something I wanted to ask for a long time:
Do you think an understanding of religion and religious contexts is necessary - even for an atheist - for a complete appreciation of cultural functions such as art and music?

Whatever is your answer, would that hold true for all religions, even those such as Hinduism, where classical artistic and musical expressions have traditionally been enmeshed with devotional themes?

By Kausik Datta (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Sioux @230:

Didn't your mom answer that one? You have to eat it because it's good for you, and because I'm your mother. That's why.

(My mom still uses the "because I'm your mother" one on me, never have figured out a retort that gets me out of whatever she wants me to do.)

Daveau, 228

The Moody Blues

Church's

I'll have a salad.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

OFF TOPIC:

Expelled is going to be shown at 'Imperial College London' feb 27, 2.30

www3 imperial ac uk

Wonder if the college is happy about that ?

By ihedenius (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

How many years can a mountain exist before it is washed to the sea?

Depends on the tectonics – on for how long the mountain keeps growing.

Funny, I heard it was two up quarks with a positive charge plus one down with a negative, thus given the proton it's positive electromagnetic charge..

In that case the neutron (1 u, 2 d) would have one negative charge. But because the u quark has only 2/3 of a positive charge and the d quark only 1/3 of a negative one, the neutron is neutral.

You must have misread or misremembered.

The gluons evidently serve to keep the whole thing together, overcoming the strength of the electromagnetic repulsion

Exactly. They are the bosons that the strong nuclear force is.

(Is "Y" a vowel?)

For the purposes of disemvoweling, no.

Did somebody set us up the bomb?

UP US!!!

Engrish grammar is like German (sometimes).

If I don't like it, why do I have to eat it?

Just say "no".

Are we not men?

Tickle us, do we not laugh?
Prick us, do we not bleed?
Wrong us, shall we not seek revenge?
Klingon proverb

Would you consider yourself a philosopher?

Sidebar quote...

It is the man of science, eager to have his every opinion regenerated, his every idea rationalized, by drinking at the fountain of fact, and devoting all the energies of his life to the cult of truth, not as he understands it, but as he does not yet understand it, that ought properly to be called a philosopher.
– Charles Pierce

I don't know what "rationalized" means here, though.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

If I don't like it, why do I have to eat it?

Broccoli is f*cking delicious!

Why does my girlfriend need constant reassurance that I love her?

By TheCalmOne (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

mythusmage@253-

Beatles or Stones?

The Moody Blues

Bzzzt! I'm sorry, our judges were looking for The Who. The Who. Half points for thinking outside the box, though.

Bonus question: Who are the brain police?

And why on earth would an atheist eat at a place called PopeYes?

I've heard Dan Dennet, of all people use the term.

Ah, well, a philostopher. They love to label things precisely, don't they.

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hey, here's Kucinich.
More like him, please!
Keeping good company, PZ.

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

@ Dania #250: sspct t's Klvn. r Clss.

Dania t's wtts.

By creating trons (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Blind Squirrel @ 129:

How many roads must a man walk down before someone calls him a cab?

Ok, you're a cab.

Good 'un but doesn't count; I'm not a man.

Instead of "evolutionists" we could call ourselves "evolutionaries."

By https://www.go… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

What's loove got to do, got to do with it?
If Kenny has three bananas, and PZ has started summoning Cthulu at 12:00, how long, on average, do expect to live?
How much is that cephalopod in the window?
(squelch squelch!)

By blasphemoose (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

What are their names?
lyrics in full:

I wonder who they are
The men who really run this land
And I wonder why they run it
With such a thoughtless hand.
Tell me what are their names,
And on what street do they live?
I'd like to ride right over
This afternoon and give
Them a piece of my mind
About peace for mankind
Peace is not
An awful lot
To ask.

backed by the Planet Earth Rock & Roll Orchestra (inc. J. Garcia, N. Young, G. Slick et al.)

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Broccoli is f*cking delicious!

Yes, when you make a soup of it and put it in a blender before you eat it.

Why does my girlfriend need constant reassurance that I love her?

Perhaps she simply needs to be cuddled more?

Or she thinks she's so inadequate she can hardly believe anyone would love her?

Warning: I am not speaking from experience.

David, stop challenging Nancy. Bad nerd!

Who cares about Nancy Raygun? It works for me. Took a couple of years, but I haven't had that kind of problem since.

Diminished susceptibility to peer or other such pressure is very nerdy. <vehement nodding> It even appears to be a symptom of Asperger's "syndrome".

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

What the hell kinda website is Reddit? Finally to a look, and it looks like someone tried to make a blog with 1960s technology.

Why are the innocent dead and the guilty alive?
Where is justice?
Where is punishment?

Why is it the postal service will deliver and pick up mail from your house for free but if you pick up your mail from the post office they charge you a hefty fee for the p.o.box?

By bullofthewoods (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

"Why is it the postal service will deliver and pick up mail from your house for free"

If only. I live in a fairly new housing development in a suburb of Phoenix, so I have to drive to my mailbox to pick up my mail.

How I miss those little slots in my front door...:(

If a butcher is 5'10" tall, an aquarius, with blue eyes and blonde hair, what does he weigh?

Why can't you take a picture of a man with a wooden leg in Arizona?

tsg:

Meat.

Wooden legs aren't cameras.

In that order.

Yawn, banned loser idjit troll is back with his inane and irrelevant question. What a waste of bandwidth. His idiocy will by gone when PZ finds and deletes his ass with one mouse click. What a loser asshat.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser banned troll is showing us nothing but attitude. Never any evidence. What a loser. Maybe with ten years of study he can be toilet trained. Maybe he will begin to understand what evidence is with a hundred years of study, including what banning his loser ass means...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

OptTempOfPlanet wrote:

Nerdy redhead is projecting again.

Unlike you he is not a banned troll and his post won't be deleted by PZ.

How, then, is he projecting?

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Don't feed the one-note banned troll.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Still no evidence, especially peer reviewed scientific evidence from our loser banned loser troll. Only losers would waste the effort he is putting in here, knowing he will be deleted. Only idjits would repeatedly do such stupidity. And he continues to show his losership. And why he belongs in the nursery with other crybabies.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

OptTempOfPlanet wrote:

Cowbuggerer is projecting again.

You don't actually know what the word 'projecting' means, do you? Perhaps you should try looking it up before you use it again.

Oh, and 'again' implies I've projected before. Please cite the number of the post where this occurred. Or are you also ignorant of what 'again' means? Try and answer quickly so we can laugh at you some more before PZ deletes your posts again.

See? I know what 'again' means...

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Yawn, loser can't say simply "this is what I believe, and this is the peer reviewed scientific literature to back up my opinion". That is what a real person would do. Losers ask inane and irrelevant questions time and time again, and never, ever, supply the needed citations to back up whatever inanity they think. And his losership keeps showing us why he was banned. What a idjit.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Who are the brain police?

Frankie Z and the Mothers of I?

Hey Red, how about some peer reviewed evidence that I am a loser?

It's PZ's site and according to him you're a loser - and the peers (the posters here) agree wholeheartedly; ergo, we have peer-reviewed evidence you are, in fact, a loser.

That was too easy. Would you like to try again, pissant? Please be quick before you're shown the door.

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Wow, what a loser troll this is.

It keeps making new IDs for the dubious privilege of polluting a thread for the few hours until PZ notices, whenceupon its droppings vanish into the bitbucket.

Its postings are evanescent, its infamy ain't.

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hah. So the troll we were mocking above showed up, after all. What a boring, predictable troll...

Hey CB, how do you explain the Medieval Warming Period?

How do you explain posting (temporarily) on a site you're banned from?

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hey, troll, started evacuating Bangladesh yet?

And last time you crept up from the Dungeon Dimensions, Jadehawk slapped you about the ears with data showing that there wasn't any global MWP; in some places it was warm from 600 to 800 CE, in others from 1000 to 1200... The global average temperature is considerably higher now than any time in the last several thousand years. We'll feed you troll till you explode and leave stinky green goo all over the place.

Where is justice?

In hell. In heaven there's mercy.

</Catholic dogma>

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Got any peer-reviewed evidence in recognized journals to support that "hypothesis", CB?

What hypothesis? That was a question.

Got any peer-reviewed evidence in recognized journals to support that "hypothesis", CB?

Got a way to explain how you being repeatedly banned from this site (and mocked for your ignorance and inanity in the intervals) is science requiring peer-review?

That's what I thought.

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

And the planet has been cooling since 1998.

O RLY?

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser troll still has nothing to say. Loser seven ways from Sunday. Doesn't understand the difference between climate and weather. Just like a loser. Doesn't present any peer reviewed evidence to back up inane and insane claims, just like any delusional loser. Nothing to indicate he has any cogency. Just like a loser. Loser loser loser... What more needs to be said about his lack of anything, especially morals and intelligence.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

That's rich! Linking to Warmis+@ extremist Timothy Lamebrain. By the way, where did he get his PhD in climate science?

Oyyyyy. An argumentum ad hominem! No, two! How cute! :-}

Lovely.

I burp in your general direction, moron. Put up or shut up.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Yawn, loser troll is drooling over his keyboard with stupidity, idiocy, insipidity, and just plain losership. After all, he got his insipid ass banned because he could never present a cogent argument. But that requires at least toilet training, and passing of pre-school. Just a waste of his time, for my amusement. My troll teeth need some tartar removal. Losers like loser troll provide the necessary cleaning, be they AGW or evolution deniers, or godbots...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Still the intellectual loser. No citations to the peer reviewed scientific literature, the only thing that will get the attention of this bunch. Also, is loser troll was really trying to get us over to his side he wouldn't be so insulting, especially without any evidence. Loser. Nothing says his inabilities to understand better than total abject loser.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

@ OptTempofPlanet

How many threads can a blog troll foul up, before he becomes history.
How much bile can a blog troll spew, till he knows we all laugh at his scree?
Yes and how many posts will it take till he finds, that he has been banned by PZ?
The answer my friends is on the intertubes, the answer is on the intertubes.

How many words can a blog troll type, before his keyboard dies?
How many topics will he hijack, corrupting with all of his lies?
Yes and how many posts will it take till he finds, we're all simply splitting our sides.
The answer my friends is on the intertubes, the answer is on the intertubes.

What single note does a blog troll produce, in perfect 'monophony?'
Yes, his thoughts cannot wander- they've always been lost, his moral compass has an apogee!
Finally how many posts, till he knows he a joke, humored internationally!
The answer my friends in on the intertubes, the answer is on the intertubes.

This from someone who calls another a moron. How cute!

You are a moron. A moron who apparently doesn't know what an ad hominem is.

And now he thinks he can insult me by calling me the son of a moron! :-D :-D :-D

But I shall taunt you again anyway, troll. Not only am I still laughing at "extremist"; I also note that you still haven't offered any evidence for cooling since 1998.

Science. Put up, or shut up. Or be a doo-doo head unworthy of anything more than playground insults.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

"And the planet has been cooling since 1998."
- GWIAS the banned troll moron

Liar.

By Knockgoats (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Me thinks he doth protest to much!

Liar.

He's not necessarily lying, he's bullshitting – as a troll, he just wants to infuriate us, so he says whatever might make us angry (like "religionist" for example). He doesn't care whether it's true what he says. He doesn't even try to find out. He might, accidentally, know it's not true; he might actually believe it because he's too stupid to read for understanding and suffers from the Dunning-Kruger effect; it doesn't matter, it all amounts to the same thing.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Evidence?

There's plenty of evidence on this thread alone.

Now, of course you could prove me wrong by offering evidence that the planet has been cooling since 1998, as you claimed...

Yawn, loser troll still can't say anything cogent. He's doing a piss poor job of convincing us of anything other than he is an abject loser. All ways around. No intelligence. No evidence. No morals. No ethics. No cogency. No salesmanship. Nada, nothing, zilch, zip. Nothing put putting his losership out for all to see. Can't even feel sorry for his loser ass, since he could at any time stop posting...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Ooh. The poopy-headed troll has noticed that it's not nice to accuse someone of suffering from the Dunning-Kruger effect.

I forgot to add a link to what the philosophical term bullshit means.

Incidentally, the Redhead is the Nerd's wife.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

It takes a certain level of sad to keep coming back to a place one was banned from, and just to repeat the same nonsense mantra? Let's just hope its insanity as opposed to being truly pathetic.

Loser troll is losing it. As would be expected from someone with minimal intelligence, who can't even say "this is what I believe, and this is peer reviewed literature to back me up". Loserville all around. No intelligence, no ethics, no morals, no evidence. Just insipidity and idjitcy. No way we can believe anything he says. He's nothing but our chew toy, to keep our coats sniny and our teeth tartar free...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hey, Kel, what is the "optimal" temperature of the planet?

Optimal temperature for "what"? What are you trying to do here? Do you want the optimal temperature for which large bodies of ice will melt and rise sea temperatures? The optimal temperature for which the ice shelf will encroach on large bodies of mass? The optimal temperature on which you can cook a steak merely by leaving it out in the sun? Just what do you want? Are you sure that it's wise to apply absolute figures to what is a relative scale?

How about you answer your own question, what is the "optimal" temperature of the planet? Or is the question merely a rhetorical device to launch into an anti-scientific tirade? See, I'm betting that's the case. You have nothing, nothing at all to contribute. You ask an unanswerable question and from there you point to whatever comes next and validate your position that it's weak. Not that your question is irrelevant...

Loser troll keeps showing his losership. Otherwise, he would be saying "this is what I believe, and this is the peer reviewed literature to back me up". But it never, ever comes. And that folks, is why this troll is a loser. If he doesn't like the term abject loser, he can quit being one and stop posting at any time. That is under his control. But then, any non-toilet trained two-year-olds like to throw tantrums...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Nothing but idiocy from the loser troll. Proving he is a loser. All he needs to do to start rehabilitating himself is to stop posting where he is banned. But that meager of an idea is beyond his loser mind...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Yes, yes, we all know that you don't actually know what the word "projecting" means. You can crawl back to the Dungeon now, you ridiculously porphyritic granitoid.

Kel is right. This is just sad. GWIAS, go back to Azkaban.

Was it ever conclusively shown that Global Warming is a Scam was really African Genesis?

By Feynmaniac (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Seeing as he had a go at both NoR and Dania while ignoring my post before it, I can only assume he's going to finally answer the question that he's been asking for months.

I'm reminded of a Hindu holy man who claimed to know the meaning of life, and for decades he's had people coming to them and will only give the answer if the right question is asked. So far, no-one has asked the right question. In that situation it's only fair to conclude that he's bullshitting. So GWIAS, show that you aren't bullshitting and stop playing this game of revere-Jeopardy.

*yawn*

Why are you so boringly repetitive, banned troll?

I don't think GWIAS is AG. AG tried to argue the facts, and even cited the literature, but was pulling the usual quotemining, etc., that creobots do. ARIDS did a good job of exposing his idiocy (and has earned a spot on my Molly lists because of it). GWIAS keeps trying this inane, but what he thinks is a gottcha question, so we evade the question and just ridicule simpleminded approach. After all, if he could have presented the proper scientific evidence, he would have done it months ago. And his failure to do it even tonight shows his losership...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

The sad result of when a disingenuous shit tosser gets in a room full of people suffering from SIWOTI syndrome. The regulars know better but they just cannot help themselves. The shit tosser is too stupid to utter a truthful statement.

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

ou warmmongers are the ones claiming the planet is too hot.

No asshole, you are claiming that AGW isn't occuring. Either provide the peer reviewed literature refernces, or shut the fuck up. Those are what men of integrity and honesty, and non-losership do. Then there is you. Who can't prove his point, but can't shut the fuck up. Just like a loser...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Aw, PZ deleted the idjit. Just like I said. Just like he knew what would happen. Just like a loser forces other people to clean up his messes by not taking responsibility for his actions.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser still asking his loser question. Losers are so stupid, so unthinking, and so banned. Bye-bye loser troll.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser troll, explain why you aren't a banned loser troll. Cite the peer reviewed scientific literature to back your explanation...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Ta ta for now, dumb fuck. I guess you need to wait for an other time when PZ is busy elsewhere.

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

We now resume our normally scheduled thread topic.

What is the "ideal" temperature of planet earth?

Who said that? I must be hearing things.

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

GWIAS asks an inane question that he thinks somehow refutes global warming. Other than that he insults people and whines when he's insulted back.

The sad result of when a disingenuous shit tosser gets in a room full of people suffering from SIWOTI syndrome.

Yep.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Annoying. I wanted to find the average global temp from before the industrial revolution to give a facetious one word answer to the bloody troll.

But all the graphs are given as anomalies relative to the mean - without giving that mean!

Bugger.

Why, isn't it just 'speshul' that WTT/OTP can has mastered two (count 'em) TWO whole words. In only another 15,000 or so, he might be able to contribute to a conversation. Nelson/ Ha HAAA /Nelson.

Still nothing, as expected, from the loser troll. Hey loser troll, notice how I'm not promoting your insipid, inane, and unscientific ideas. But I am promoting your losership. But then, given you lack of intelligence, lack of evidence, and lack of anything other than attitude, isn't that hard to do. So loser soon to be deleted troll, what are you truly accomplishing? Nothing that I can see, except temporarily showing the world your losership...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Well I thought GWIAS was AG because GWIAS showed up on the thread where AG was banned not long after it happened and started whining about censorship. He also defended AG. Both were denialists and not quite sane. But who knows? Maybe they were two separate nuts. In any case, I think we just ignore it. All its comments will eventually be deleted.

By Feynmaniac (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Can anyone hear that? It's a kind of pissant whining sound, but when I look for the source it's not there. Weird.

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Yawn, still nothing from the banned loser troll. Who keeps proving his losership with continued posts. Of course, the way out of losership is to stop posting at a site where one is banned. But losers don't have the cogency of a two-year-old, so they think they are welcome even where they aren't. That puts a big loser sign over everything he says. If he isn't a loser, he can prove it by ceasing his inane, insane, and insipid loser posts...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Still hasn't bothered to engage in the discussion of the very question he asked. Man what a pathetic loser. If I were such a loser like that, I think I'd engage in a trolling campaign. Because, you know, if others won't like you then the best you can do to get their attention is to be an annoying fuck.

Loser banned troll appears to be upset about being called a loser banned troll. Why is telling the TRUTH about him so insulting? Unless, of course, the loser banned troll is so stupid he thinks he isn't banned, isn't a troll, and thinks he actually has proved something. Which, given his lack of evidence, shows he is a loser. So loser troll, if you don't want to be considered a loser, stop trolling here by ceasing your posts. After all, that might actually show some cogency...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Comment by WhatIsTheTemp blocked. [unkill][show comment]

Nope. Still nothing. Maybe I should get my ears checked.

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Feynmaniac, troll are able to interact and comment about each other. One day, Mabius was having yet an other of his shit throwing tantrums and PZ was busy cleaning up a few hours worth of crap. As a result, PZ was in Hulk Smash mode. The Rookie commented about the the deleted posts and suggested that perhaps the insane man had something worth while to say and should pay attention to him. That is when the Rookie got banned.

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I am struggling to see how this thread is anything more than tangentally related to climate change (and that is being generous), and yet the last few dozen poists have been taken up with the debating equivilent of the sound of one hand clapping.

OptTempOfPlanet, many other contributors appear to believe that you are the banned commenter Global Warming is a Scam who also goes by the pseudonym Glaobal Warming is a Religion. I cannot be certain that this is the case, and I would be prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt and hear out your argument, but I do not find posts that do nothing other than repeat the claim that another commentator is 'projecting' particularly edifying.

If you have a case, then make it. Upthread you mentioned the period of medieval warming.

...how do you explain the Medieval Warming Period?

I am no climatologist, but so far as I know the current generation of climate models take into account the idea that the climate was not completely thermally stable before the advent of mass industrialization. Global temperatures have varied throughout the history of the planet, with weather patterns leading to cooling and warming during various historical periods.

The difference is that we have not seen so great a change over so small a time frame in the past and, bearing in mind that correlation is not causation, it is still interesting to note that the contemporary warming appears to closely follow the level of greenhouse gas emission into the atmosphere by our civilisation.

If I may preempt a common counter-argument to the importance of such gasses, that they are also produced in substantial quantities by volcanic activity, I would point out that the planet has acheived equilibrium between the output of volcanoes and other such factors and countervailling factors such as the evolution of plankton and the development large forested areas of the planet over millions of years. This balance, however, is surprisingly fragile.

All of a sudden (a matter of a few moments ago in the scale of geological time) along come humans, a species of upstart apes who, over the course of a few short centuries, go from producing negligible CO2 to pumping vast quantities of the stuff into the atmosphere every year. At the same time, we engage in massive global deforestation and pollute the oceans. We created a 'perfect storm' of factors to disrupt the established balance of the global climate. You cannot effect such massive change over such a (geologically) short time span and expect zero consequences.

These consequences are not simple, however, which leads me onto your next point;

...warming causes cooling, which causes more warming, which is the same as cooling because it was caused by cooling.

If global temperatures rise by a degree or two, this interferes with the global processes that lead to the formation of weather patterns. While overall the planet warms, in some local areas it can actually cool. The UK is case in point. We actually share the same lattitude as Siberia. The reason why our climate is temperate maritime is because the North Atlantic drift, a major warm transatlantic current, passes just off our western coast.

I am operating at the limit of my understanding here, but bear with me. This current, it is believed, operates on a salinity and temperature 'conveyor belt' mechanism. High salinity cold water is 'heavier' than low salinity warm water and so sinks, this process causes the current to form. If, however, global temperatures rise and fresh water sequestered in ice caps is released into the oceans then the salinity balance is affected, and consequently the current is weakened and less warm water reaches the UK and so our average temperature drops even as the overall global temperature rises.

In short; yes, in certain circumstances global level warming can lead to regional level cooling.

What is the "ideal" temperature of planet earth?

The temperature of the planet has varied significantly between geological periods. There is, as I think you are trying to argue here, no singular, eternal 'ideal' temperature. However, the geological and fossil record has clearly demonstrated that periods of rapid temperature shift almost invariably lead to severe climatalogical anomalies. These have in the past been so dramatic as to function as mass extinction events. If, as the evidence seems to indicate, human activity is directly contributing to the current changes in global temperature then we cannot afford to be complacent. There are already countries that are suffering due to an increased incidence of extreme weather brought about be temperature shifts. If no action is taken the situation will probably worsen.

Current thinking is that the world stands on the cusp of a 'tipping point'. In other words, we may have as little as ten years to take drastic action before massive climate shifts become unavoidable.

If the vast majority of the world's best brains in the field of climate science are wrong and you and those who think like you are right, then any action we take will be unecessary. Money will be wasted and some economic harm will be caused. This will be unfortunate, but hardly an insurmountable global catastrophe. There will also still be benefits, especially in the field of alternative energy sources reducing our dependency on fossil fuels. The West's vast appetite for oil is a well recognised strategic achilles' heel.

If, however, the global scientific community is validated. If the enormous body of evidence collected has been correctly interpreted and global warming is indeed not only happening but happening far faster than anyone realised. If all the warnings are juistified and yet we do nothing, then we will be facing a global catastrophe of unprecedented scale. Countless people will lose their lives. Ecological damage will be inflicted world wide that may well be irreparable by any technological means and will endure for thousands of years. The economic harm will be incalculable.

So, in a cost/benefit analysis we must weigh the potential for unfortunate but manageable economic harm agaisnt the worst humanitarian, ecological and finacial disaster in world history. In this light, playing it safe and taking all possible measures against global warming seems to be the only prudent, indeed the only sane, option.

If I may, I will rely on my fellow Pharyngulites to correct any gross scientific mistakes I may have made.

By Gregory Greenwood (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser troll is still showing he is loser by still posting. What a loser. All he has to do is to shut the fuck up like a banned troll should. But then, he has to remember that tomorrow all will be seen is our comments about his losership. That makes him a bigger loser...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

What is the Optimal Temperature of the Planet,

You warmmongers are the ones claiming the planet is too hot.

Nobody here is claiming "the planet is too hot".

What is claimed by the immense majority of qualified scientists in the relevant fields, is that if we want to avoid catastrophic consequences for the inhabitants of this planet (humans and other species), the global average surface temperature should not rise by more than 2°C within a the next 100 years (an extremely rapid climate change event when compared with all other historical climate change events).

What counts is the speed of change, not the absolute value of the temperature (as long as it stays within a relatively wide range).

Do you now understand why asking "what is the optimal temperature of the planet" is a completely stupid question ? (I expect an answer)

Also, in case you hadn't thought about it, our capacity to adapt to rapid climate change is greatly reduced by the fact that we are no longer a few tens of thousands hunter gatherers spread around the world, but will soon be more than 9 billion with very serious critical resources constraints.

By negentropyeater (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser banned troll can't prove his claim. He never did over months of people asking him to. So, he got his ass banned for never, ever, proving himself (insipidity). Now he just proves himself to be loser by repeating his insipidity. And he wonders why he is treated like a a loser? To stop being a loser, he needs to stop posting. Life, and lack of losership, is easy. It only takes a two-year-old mind throwing a temper tantrum not to do what is necessary. And he can't do it. His toilet training failed, as his loser shit is all over everything...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

negentropyeater;

I find it annoying that you managed to express what I was trying to say so much more succinctly that I did.

I envy your capacity for getting to the point.

*grumble*

By Gregory Greenwood (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser banned troll just can't stop himself from proving to the world he is a loser. All it requires is one simple act. Stop posting here. Until he does, he continues to show the world his loshership, and does it in spades. What a fuckwitted asshat loser.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

OptTempOfPlanet or WhatIsTheTemp;

I have a sneaking suspicion that I am not going to be able to open any kind of meaningful discussion with you if my post goes unanswered. Which is a pity since I spent quite a while composing it.

I do not know what I did wrong. I presented my position reasonably coherently and invited you to present your counter arguments. I was not confrontational, insulting or sarcastic. As usual, I studiously avoided the use of invective.

What is the point of posting a comment on a discussion blog if you do not want to discuss anything? All you appear to be trying to do at the moment is disrupt the thread and annoy certain other commentators until such time as PZ removes you from the site. To be honest, I fail to see how such activity can be considerd productive.

By Gregory Greenwood (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Gregory,

yours is better argumented. Like this OptTemp or whatever his name is can get the long and the short version.

This stupid question seems to be one of the preferred ones amongst the millions of know_nothing_but_I_know_better_than_the_most_emminent_scientists.

By negentropyeater (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

negentropyeater;

Thank you for your kind words. I do not know about 'better argumented'. I just have a tendency to rabbit on until someone stops me.

I do not think that I will be able to acheive anything more tonight.

It is gone 1:00am here in Blighty, so I will bid you all a goodnight (feel free to make as many jokes as you like about me being a lightweight or taking some really rather desperately needed beauty sleep).

By Gregory Greenwood (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Since what had been a fun thread has been derailed by the AGW denial troll, I think I'll play some Civ 4.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Comment by WhatIsTheTemp blocked. [unkill][show comment]

Hee hee hee. Dance, pissant!

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Daveau, 259

I'd say psychiatrists, but they're not really all that perceptive.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

SQB, 271

Where is the love?

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Do you now understand why asking "what is the optimal temperature of the planet" is a completely stupid question ?

It's not a stupid question. It's a PR talking point. It seeks to manipulate someone who accepts the reality of AGW into giving a complicated answer that can be quote mined or portrayed as evasive. It takes advantage of the fact that most people have little knowledge of climate science. It is a display of the essential dishonesty of the denialist movement.

David, 291

The planet has been cooling since formation. The climate is another matter.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Kel is projecting.

I tried to engage you on the very question you asked, instead you just taunted people. What else am I meant to include from someone who is disliked, banned repeatedly and considered a moron by learned men and women on here? If you had a point, then you'd be willing to engage. But you don't, you've had several opportunities and people who were willing to argue with you and all you could do was ask the same inane question over and over and over and over again and label anyone who thought otherwise to you religious.

So what else can I conclude? Not only do you refuse to engage in discussion, but you've been banned. You're not wanted around here, you don't contribute anything positive around here, people routinely make fun of you around here. All it points to is you being a total pathetic loser that you prefer the negative antagonistic feedback to being ignored. Pathetic loser, isn't there a street corner you could rant on instead?

Since what had been a fun thread has been derailed by the AGW denial troll, I think I'll play some Civ 4.

if anyone cares, the damnable thing still doesn't work on my computers.

I'm about to just buy the mac version and be done with it :-p

By Jadehawk, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I do not know what I did wrong.

You expected a pathetic loser to actually be interested in having an intellectual discussion. Notice he ignored me engaging his question to and focused on me attacking him? He's not intellectually honest, and hasn't been for the months he's been trolling here. He's just a pathetic loser seeking negative feedback because negative feedback is better than no feedback at all.

negentropyeater (#247)

Nobody here is claiming "the planet is too hot".

Assuming the vapid little ass-pustule even believes what he's saying, isn't it fascinating how it's not just the creationists who rail against a facile fabrication of their own devising? And no amount of correction will help either see they're not objecting to the right thing.

WhatIsTheTemp,

Your father was a creationist and your mother smelt of baptismal oil.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Jadehawk, 362

Do you have a G5 or mactel machine, with Leopard or later? If not you might as well stick with Civ3.

BTW (rare blatant site whoring) the folks at Civ Fanatics have gigs of stuff you can use with your copy of Civ 3 or 4, plus updates.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Idiot Troll,

How are any of the regulars here projecting? How is their calling you out on your ban, a projection of their own feelings on being banned, if they are not banned?

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Jadehawk, hi,

if anyone cares, the damnable thing still doesn't work on my computers.

So which OS (and service pack) are you running, and which graphics card do you have? (note: pop me an e-mail to take this off-line. I'm hitting the hay soon, as it's late here in Dublin, and this thread has been derailed enough as it is. You can find my addy on the About page at metzomagic.com)

By MetzO'Magic (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I do not know what I did wrong. I presented my position reasonably coherently and invited you to present your counter arguments. I was not confrontational, insulting or sarcastic. As usual, I studiously avoided the use of invective.

Gregory, you get a "A" for your efforts, but the banned loser troll never engaged in intellectual or scientific debate on the matter in the months prior to his banning. Either we agreed with his wrong ideas or he spat insults at us, like today. That was the limit of his arguments, except, like the creobots, to try to put the onus on us to prove the already proven against his constant and extreme skepticism. I would suggest you give up your efforts, as he has no intention of honestly debating, and just use him as a chew toy to keep your coat sniny and your teeth clean.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

367 Update

They may even be able to help you get your copy of Civ IV (PC) working.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

SC,

[cttn ndd] (dn't dbt t, bt m crs.)

V Dctnry.cm,

guy1  /gaɪ/

aɪ̯ (IP)s dpthng fnd n nglsh ccrdng t Wkpd.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

guys, don't try to help figure out why the CIV4 isn't playing. It's not playing on the laptop simply because the specs aren't quite enough; the desktop OTOH is a mac with ubuntu on it, and my resident ubuntu-geek (AKA boyfriend) was supposed to get it sorted out when I was on vacation. He didn't get around to it though, and now I'm hogging the computer because I need to catch up on work. So I might just give up on it altogether and by my own version for mac (stoopid game works juuuuust fine on boyfriend's computer, or course)

By Jadehawk, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

aɪ̯ (IP)s dpthng [sc] fnd n nglsh ccrdng t Wkpd.

Hh? Y s vwl? nwy, tht wsn't m rdng f th wrd. :) Bt cttn ndd fr y s vwl n ll f ths wrds.

f GHP s rght, m ntl ntrprttn ws crrct, thnk. :)

Hh? Y s vwl? nwy, tht wsn't m rdng f th wrd. :) Bt cttn ndd fr y s vwl n ll f ths wrds.

hd hrd tm rdng ths n. ll XD

but,

Old English borrowed Latin Y to write the native Old English sound /y/. When the letter came to be analyzed as a V atop an I (First Grammatical Treatise), it was renamed VI (/uː iː/),[citation needed] which was simplified to one syllable (/wiː/), and by the Great Vowel Shift became Modern English wy (/waɪ/).

By the time of Middle English, /y/ had lost its roundedness and became identical to I (/iː/ and /ɪ/). Therefore, many words that originally had I were spelled with Y, and vice-versa. A similar substitution occurred in Latin words: original silva "wood" is spelled with Y in Pennsylvania.

The consonantal use of Y for /j/ (year, German Jahr) is probably unrelated to vocalic use. Perhaps it was a typesetters' substitution for the Middle English letter yogh (Ȝȝ) where it represented /j/. Yogh representing the letter's other sound, /ɣ/, came to be written gh in Modern English.

ll!!! Cttn ndd ndd! ll :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Oh, for fuck's sake, stop disemvoweling yourselves. Or are you all also into self flagellation? If so, is it The Seventh Seal style or The Holy Grail style?

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

'm ttll cnfsd, tbh. :/ n whch f ths wrds s t vwl, nd wh?

M...rj...n...v...ć!!! :)

Oh, for fuck's sake, stop disemvoweling yourselves.

I was trying to avoid spelling everything out...so to speak, but that seems difficult at this point. For which I blame GHP.

:)

Or are you all also into self flagellation?

*clears throat*

You ask this, of us, after the past 100 posts?

And yet I must ask...again. The Seventh Seal style or The Holy Grail style?

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Or are you all also into self flagellation?

Snc y wn't d t t s, w hv t d t t rslvs.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Snc y wn't d t t s, w hv t d t t rslvs.

Ys, tht.

Wht's th mttr hr?

Or are you all also into self flagellation?

Is the Naked Lapin around?

Or are you all also into self flagellation?

Depends on when and whom. . .

I was trying to avoid spelling everything out...so to speak, but that seems difficult at this point. For which I blame GHP.

[Mr. Burns]Excellent[/Mr. Burns]

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Barkeep!?
Vowels for everybody. On me.

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink
Or are you all also into self flagellation?

Depends on when and whom. . .

MPD?

Or are you all also into self flagellation?

Depends on when and whom. . .

MPD?

Damn it, reading comprehension fail on my part. X(

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

blockquote>Barkeep!?
Vowels for everybody. On me.

Proost!

Vowels for everybody. On me.

Aa gaarooogeee.
*Daang, thee baarkeeepe eneedes aa leightar hanad.*

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

It would seem that Nerd cannot handle his vowels very well. Hand your keeys over, some one will have to drive you home.

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hand your keeys over,

OK, B♭, G♯

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

With all the hot air that troll farted out, how could global warming not be real?

I'll get me coat.

Loser still asking loser questions. Nothing but losership. In order to stop being a loser, he must cease to post here. After all, banned loser trolls who post must first acknowledge that they are banned in order to tell the truth about anything. Otherwise, what else will they lie about. Right loser liar troll?

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

How do you explain the recent warming on Mars?

Springtime.

What has Mars got to do with AGW on the Earth? (And don't say the Sun, that hoary old chestnut rotted long ago.)

Loser banned troll is showing why everything he says is a lie. It start with his banning. And like a loser, he can't accept his banning. He is such a stupid lying loser that he has to continually circumvent his banning to continue his lies. Like the loser he is. After all, if he wasn't a loser he would have ceased posting here the day of his ban. Right banned loser liar troll?

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser troll latches on to stupid claim that, though global warming is not real, it's occurring not just on Earth but other planets and hence is solar-induced. Because loser troll is clueless, as well as banned (and its posts will soon vanish).

Not like I could be bothered to link to sources refuting this silly and contradictory claim.

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I have yet to see one solitary piece of science (yes, science, what a crazy notion) that supports AGW. Quite simply, there is none.

See, the loser liar banned troll lies. It is found the peer reviewed scientific literature. Which banned loser troll could never understand, with big words like climate and temperature. His losership continues unabated. His lying continues unabated. His deceptions continue unabated. Loser behavior all. His start at redemption is to stop posting here.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Idiot troll doesn't even understand the meaning of projection.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

LOL. blf:

(And don't say the Sun, that hoary old chestnut rotted long ago.)

Troll: The sun.

Too funny!

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Isn’t there a street corner for you to go to, so you can start ranting while people jeer at you, idiot troll? I would argue that you’ve out done even Mabus.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser liar troll has attitude. Film at 11. Guess what loser. You are banned. You are wrong and a loser to circumvent that ban. You are a loser if you think you can play like you are an authoritative voice in the AGW debate without showing your scientific credentials. Nothing to date, so I have to presume you are a scientifically ignorant ideologue. Another loser ploy. Nothing here with a winning hand. Your presence screams "I am a loser". So, to gain any credibility, you have to go and stay away. Your loser ways convince nobody, and you are a chew toy for our amusement. You could find better places for your insipid mind.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

You really are funny, loser troll, especially when you stick your appendages into your orifices.

Dance for us, troll! I'll be a while before PZ logs in and swats you... might as well have fun.

Hey, why not tell us again how there's no such thing as global warming, and how it's furthermore caused by the Sun!

That was a good one. :)

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

What was Sven doing up at 5:36 this morning?

Read a fucking dictionary you insane loon. I can possibly be projecting about my feelings of being banned because I'm not banned, imbecile. And get a better hobby other than trolling sites and posting nonsense after nonsense.

AND TAKE YOUR MEDICATIONS.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser behaving like an illogical loser. All he needs to do to stop being a loser is to stop posting here. He can't do that. Why? He is a LOSER. No evidence, banned, back door sock puppeting. What a list of crimes. And what do we call criminals? It begins with an L.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I don't care so much if the troll learns anything about climate, global warming, or even basic science. I just wish he'd learn what projection is.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I'm still curious what the seasons on Mars have to do with AGW on Earth. Neither is caused by the Sun.

I'm surprise PZ hasn't resorted to an IP ban. Unless, of course, he's using multiple computers (e.g. jumping from cafe to cafe). If so, he's even more of a loser than this drivel indicates.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Hey loser, lets review your crimes against Pharyngula, and humanity.

1. Ask insipid, inane, and irrelevant question over and over, boring us to tears.
2. Never presented any scientific evidence for his ideas.
3. Never fully presented any ideas.
4. When banned for his behavior, he couldn't accept the ban.
5. Continues to post in spite of the banning and immediate deletion of his posts.
6. Still can't make a cogent point or present scientific evidence.
7. Still thinks his questions are meaningful compared to evidence.
8. Deliberately lies about the scientific evidence.
9. Think his abuse of others is an argument.
10. Too much a loser to understand all the above.

No projection involved. You are a loser based on your bad behavior. Prove otherwise by ceasing your posts here.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Not only can you possibly be doing it (by your own admission), you are doing it.

Grammatical error and still not doing it 'cus I ain't banned. But do continue to dance, clown. Dance I say.

Sorry folks but Darwinism is dead, only supported by dogmatism, and materialist idolatry!

Lies. Idolatry really? Is that some lame OT attack. Get an education.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

RSEVANS the liar and bullshitter, and butt boy for JAD.

Sorry folks but Darwinism is dead, only supported by dogmatism, and materialist idolatry!

Then you shouldn't have any trouble citing the peer reviewed scientific literature to back up your inane and so wrong it isn't even wrong claim. A million or so scientific papers beg to differ.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Sorry folks but Darwinism is dead, only supported by dogmatism, and materialist idolatry!

What's "Darwinism"? Is it some cult practiced in a city in Northern Australia?

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Loser saying loser things. Loser can stop being a loser any time. That does require him to acknowledge his banning, and ceasing his bad behavior by never posting her again. But he is too much of a LOSER to do so. His crime streak continues unabated, along with his insipidity, lack of evidence, his idjitcy, and his peeing on the floor like any non-toilet trained two-year-old throwing a tantrum.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Projection anyone?

Projection does not mean what you think it means.

And I am still curious what the connection is between seasons on Mars and AGW on Earth. The Sun causes neither.

See, next he'll give another (failed) insulting names to another member, then he'll either say projection or "blah" then ask the same question again. Keep running around in a circle clown.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

My, it uses big words! Too bad it doesn't know what they mean. And cannot explain what the connection is between the seasons on Mars and AGW on the Earth. It's one attempt—"the Sun"—was given without explanation. Which is unsurprising, as the Sun does not cause either.

Projection! Projection! The Clown is projecting!

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Dunning-Kruger at its finest.

Yep, that is you all over, and you know it. Unlike you, I have a scientific education. I smell unscientific bullshit like yours from a long ways away, it stinks that badly. And you present it so badly. All crimes against Pharyngula. Then there is your anti-social behavior by not accepting your proper banning. Who made you god? PZ's name is on the blog, and his contract with SB gives him the right to ban your sorry ass. You should know that you aren't going to change our minds with your present loser approach. Which makes you an even bigger LOSER. So stop being one. Stop posting here.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I think I am going to pout. Was no one amused by my use of Bowie?

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Was no one amused by my use of Bowie?

I dunno. Has he recovered yet?

See, look clown name WITT is projecting again. (Don't think I'm not willing to play this insipid game. If PZ bans me being insipid, I'd just move on. What a loser)

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

If PZ bans me being insipid…

Seems like a good ban. Of course, if Professional Poopyhead Little Pee Zed banned you from posting for being insipid…

blf, in my defense, I'm multitasking. lol

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Comment by WhatIsTheTemp blocked. [unkill][show comment]

Troll? What troll? I see no evidence of any troll.

By WowbaggerOM (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Janine, you sure it was Bowie? I'm pretty familiar with his discography, and can't recall this one.

Looking it up, did you mean Harry Bowens?

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Shorter WITT:

I know you are but what am I?

Projection.

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Projection.

And no typos.  ;-)

Go back to 404. (Though that will change when PZ finally cleans up. The line Oh man, look at those cavemen go. is from Life On Mars?. And I checked the link.

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Bowie? Lame.

(I like it when Janine pouts. ;))

Methinks comparing cavepersons to Miss "confused about the Sun" Troll is insulting to all organic life.

Janine, d'oh. #404, not #426.

One of my most favourite — ever — songs, that one.

(PS When I was a teenager, I looped Sorrow into a 60-minute tape and annoyed the hell outta my peers by playing it at my place. I'm embarrassed by it now.)

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

Sorry folks but Darwinism is dead, only supported by dogmatism, and materialist idolatry!

When you phrase it like that, you make it sound really absurd. Of course the reality doesn't match the implications of the statement, making such a pronouncement misguided at best.

Meanwhile in reality, "Darwinism" is not dead, and that it has changed so much in the last 150 years ago shows that it isn't supported only by Dogma. Rather it's the 150 years of scientific and philosophical inquiry leading to paradigms in thought such as the modern synthesis, the introduction of genetic drift and neutral theory, evo-devo, lateral gene transfer, just to name a few. Meanwhile in 150 years not a single piece of evidence has shown evolution to be false, while inquiry into many different lines of evidence all points to the same conclusion.

This is not a materialist dogma, it's not a materialist ideology - it's just where the evidence points to. You have been poorly served by those telling you otherwise and if you are honest about wanting to learn the evidence behind the science (as opposed to just believing that none exists) then you would do yourself well to read Evolution: What The Fossils Say And Why It Matters by Don Prothero, Why Evolution Is True by Jerry Coyne, and Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin.

If your conviction is evolution is just supported by materialist dogma, then it should be no problem for you to read the popular accounts by these trained scientists to see for yourself. Otherwise you're the one who is being dogmatic in rejecting an idea without actually knowing why it is the cornerstone of modern biology.

John, #426 (for now) is Was(Not Was).

By Janine, Mistre… (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

That there are many different lines of evidence is important, it's not only that the fossil record supports evolution or the existence of vestigial structures in morphology or the geographic distribution of life. It's that all the different lines of evidence all point to the same conclusion. And not only is it in evidence that was around in Darwin's time, but evidence that Darwin couldn't even conceive of. The discovery of DNA and subsequent look into the genetic code of things could have shown evolution to be false, instead it confirmed that evolution happened. Not only does it show how variation is copied down, but how new variation emerges. It has precise markers that again show common descent, markers that would have been inconceivable 50 years ago, let alone 150.

So many different lines of inquiry, so much accumulated evidence, so many chances to invalidate evolution that have failed and instead confirmed the theory's validity. Yet it's all dismissed as "materialist dogma" by those who don't consider the evidence, let alone whether the evidence exists. That they don't consider for more than a microsecond that there might be a reason why evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology and that almost every biologist who lives supports evolutionary theory. It's just easier to dismiss it all as some ideologically-driven absurdity, forgetting the irony of doing in the process.

Quoth the banned one:

What is the "ideal" temperature of planet earth?

For the current way live and grow food?

The current temperature.

That's why we live and grow food when, where, and how we currently do, because of the current temperature.

If the temperature changes substantially, then when, where, and how we live and grow food will have to change substantially.

Next question please.

RSEVANS, pray do tell.

In your own words, what is this purported mechanism that is "more scientifically fulfilling" than the evolutionary biology?

(PS "Darwinian evolution" is 150 years out-of-date, there've been some advances since then, much as in the other sciences.)

By John Morales (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

If only.

By Bone Oboe (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

I take it the troll is back after an absence. From his behavior I get the feeling that until recently Mr. Lackwit was housed in a special place where knives, belts, and shoes are banned, and medicine is doled out on a regular schedule; and is now considered stable enough to make it on his own.

Sadly, he has again gone off his meds, and the hallucinations are picking up where they left off. He continues to deteriorate at his apparent rate he'll be back in the hospital again pretty dang soon.

By mythusmage (not verified) on 16 Jan 2010 #permalink

For Darwinian evolution can never explain the appearance of the formation of new information in the cell thus we need a more scientifically fulfilling mechanism to be considered.

What are you talking about? Randomness + selection = information.

RSEVANS the liar and bullshitter, and butt boy for JAD.

It's amazing that you can pick 'em like that. All of them sound the same to me, it's the same loaded language and the same irrelevant or misguided assertions.

While the Darwinist fiddles with the mechanics of life and does a two step over the obvious we are not forced into a material reality.

Can you demonstrate the immaterial, and how it acts with the material? The problem of positing dualism of course is the explanation of how the non-material and material interact. It's all well and good to use it sophistic rhetoric, but when it comes to substance it breaks down like a post-modern critique of anything.

Darwinism cannot define life, or existence, or thought.

Of course not, that's a category error.

So they lash out against scientist that can. If you want to get into a good honest debate I welcome your participation at the originator of one alternative theory jadavison site.

jadavidson is committing a category error and you're complaining about scientists who aren't?

See, I'm looking at your posts here. And all you've done is make grave assertions that you won't back up. Surely if there's no evidence you can demonstrate all the evidence and all the lines of evidence that "Darwinists" hold up as supporting modern evolutionary theory, but you didn't do that. Next you made the assertion that Darwinism cannot create information, again without showing how all the mechanisms that are put forth by evolutionary biologists who study the matter put forth. Now you're shifting away from that and talking about definitions? How about you actually back your assertions instead of putting forth one cliché attack after another?

Kel.Om look at the evidence.

He has. That's why he's not a creationist.

Ohhhhhhhh I bet that hurt.

Yes, it did. Just not for the reasons you imagine.

The stupid, it hurts!

Kel.Om look at the evidence.

I have

Darwinism has been seized by an atheist secularist agenda which takes the evidence and observations, no matter how definable or inconclusive and manipulates any data towards material ideologies.

Now see I'd like to respond by listing several scientists and theologians who both support evolution and believe in God, that there are those who put science and religion into different categories... but I can't get passed your non sequitur. Do you think that if something is hijacked by an ideology that it is invalid? That's just silly.

If there were an atheist materialist ideology surrounding gravity, it wouldn't invalidate the science of gravitation. Just as for evolution, if someone made a church around evolutionary theory, it wouldn't say anything about whether the ideas were true or not. The scientific evidence for evolution is external to any ideology that uses it.

The problem with your statement aside from the non sequitur is that you're using a lot of rhetoric that ultimately says nothing of value. You're in effect using buzzwords as if you can win a battle of the intellect through definition. What you're saying is meaningless gibberish, it's jargon that has no substance behind it. Yet you think that enough to dismiss 150 years of peer reviewed research from millions of scientists working in multiple disciplines all because you can point to some ideologically-driven agendum which not only is irrelevant to the facts you speak but is most likely a creation of your mind.

Darwinism is a dead end or as Professor Davison has quoted saying a "Blind Alley".

Yet, almost every biologist in the world (who by majority are religious in some form or another) support evolution by natural selection. Your statement again doesn't reflect reality.

But thanks to molecular biology, quantum physics, information theory and more and more serious students in the engineering fields of nanotechnology are realizing that the cell is just too complicated a machine to have not been engineered.

Again, another recycled creationist argument. Show me the engineer, therwise this is nothing but special pleading. Why is it that its no problem in 600 million years to make all the different complicated structures we see in the macroscopic world, but in the 2.5 billion years before true cells that evolution couldn't possibly build something complex?

orry to say it boys your theory isn't the only one on the block.

It isn't? Great. Show me the new theory that is capable of explaining all the evidence that current evolutionary theory can explain, but also makes predictions distinct from modern evolutionary theory that would lead to results showing that it has the adequate capacity to explain where "Darwinism" doesn't. Please show it, I'd be interested in seeing it.

But thanks to molecular biology, quantum physics, information theory and more and more serious students in the engineering fields of nanotechnology are realizing that the cell is just too complicated a machine to have not been engineered.

I know you're bullshitting, but it would indeed be sad if "more and more serious students" were taking seriously that argument from personal incredulity.

Sorry to say it boys your theory isn't the only one on the block.

Please, do tell us about this other scientific theory you speak of. Falsifiable, is it?

@RSEVANS

From John A. Davison's blog (UncommonDescent):

Materialistic ideology has subverted the study of biological and cosmological origins so that the actual content of these sciences has become corrupted. The problem, therefore, is not merely that science is being used illegitimately to promote a materialistic worldview, but that this worldview is actively undermining scientific inquiry, leading to incorrect and unsupported conclusions about biological and cosmological origins. At the same time, intelligent design (ID) offers a promising scientific alternative to materialistic theories of biological and cosmological evolution — an alternative that is finding increasing theoretical and empirical support. Hence, ID needs to be vigorously developed as a scientific, intellectual, and cultural project.

Obviously, he's confusing 'materialistic ideology' with reality. Just another 'irreducible complexity therefore goddidit' crank. See the ruling on Kitzmiller vs. Dover 2005 to see why we don't allow ID to be taught in the classroom. Because it's religion trying to masquerade as science. Liars for jebus caught lying again *yawn*

By MetzO'Magic (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

I welcome your participation at the originator of one alternative theory jadavison site.

This is not the first time rsevans has mentioned davison. For instance @225:

Why do you continue to ignore John A. Davison's challenges? He certainly doesn't ignore you.

Professional Poopyhead Little Pee Zed put both davidson and a morphing sycophant originally known as vmartin in the dungeon.

Yawn, butt boy for JAD presents no scientific evidence for his claim. What an asshat. Only science can refute science. And that science has to appear in the peer reviewed scientific literature. And no conclusive physical evidence for his imaginary creator presented. All presupposition. What a feeble attempt to refute hundreds of years of science. You can feel the ineptitude and ignorance radiating the claims. And he simply cannot understand why JAD is a crank without evidence.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

Shorter RSEVANS: "Darwinism" is atheist therefore GODDIDIT! So there, you poopyheads.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

RSEVANS @ 422;

Sorry folks but Darwinism is dead, only supported by dogmatism, and materialist idolatry!

and @ 468;

...look at the evidence. Darwinism has been seized by an atheist secularist agenda which takes the evidence and observations, no matter how definable or inconclusive and manipulates any data towards material ideologies.

I feel that I must point out that your apparent contention that evolutionary theory has the status of some kind of dogmatic 'article of faith' among scientists is in error.

The evolutionary theory is simply the best available explanation of the available evidence. It goes in the direction the facts indicate, nothing more. Evolutionary biologists, like atheists, are not specifically invested in this theory as part of some evil conspiracy against some revealed 'truth'. We accept evolution becuase the evidence supports it. Ideas like Intelligent Design, on the other hand, can present no vigorous scientific support. Instead their proponents rely on arguments long since debunked and attempts to redefine established terminology, rendering it into meaningless drivel.

You talk of a 'materialist agenda'. I say that no such 'agenda' exists. All that materilaism espouses is that we deal with quantifiable reality. We have no interest im hypotheticals like how many mythical creatures can dance on the head of apin. If the creatures in question are by definition unquantifiable then the question holds nho scientific value. It may be of interest to theologians, but not to scientists.

Also, 'idolatry' refers to the worship of idols. We do not worship anything. Not idols, not theories, and not your concept of god. Atheism is fundamentally incompatible with religious worship of anything. 'Materialist idolaty' is an oxymoron.

Your accusation of the widespread manipulation of data by the greater part of the biological arm of the scientific community in pursuit of ideological goals is grave indeed. Don't you think you should present some evidence to back up what is, on the face of it, a wild and defamitory claim?

Darwinian evolution can never explain the appearance of the formation of new information in the cell thus we need a more scientifically fulfilling mechanism to be considered.

As has been explained above by another commentator, random mutation creates small alterations to the genome of a species. If these changes are beneficial they are passed on by the process of natural selection pressures. Over evolutionary timeframes of millions of years, large changes accrue due to the accumulation of many such small mutations. I am not a biologists, but this idea seems rational and reasonable enough to me. I fail to see why you contest it.

But thanks to molecular biology, quantum physics, information theory and more and more serious students in the engineering fields of nanotechnology are realizing that the cell is just too complicated a machine to have not been engineered. Sorry to say it boys your theory isn't the only one on the block.

If you look at a modern cell it is indeed complex. Far from perfect (which is odd if the putative designer was supposedly omnipotent and omniscient), but certainly complex.

You argue that this complexity is 'proof' of its design. I fear I must disagree. This cell developed by a series of evolutionary iterations over billions of years. While each individual change was minor, the sheer number of iterations that can take place over the course of 3.5 billion years is, to put it mildly, substantial.

The timeframe which is available for random mutation to create new data and evolutioanry natural selection pressures to select advantageous mutations is vast. The sheer span of time is mind-boggling, and dwarfs the period of time that human civilisation has existed. I see no problem in accepting that such a span of time is sufficient for evolution to have developed a structure as complex as the cell or the eye or any other observed bioloogical form.

Taking all this into account, what is left behind your argument? It is not atheists and biologists who are dogmatically promoting an ideology with an agenda. I would submit that it is people like yourself who are so invested in a religion that is being challenged by the march of scientific knowledge, that you would rather cling to the frankly ridiculous than accept that your faith bears little resemblence to reality.

By Gregory Greenwood (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

It seems moronic banned morphing trolls, like birds of a feather, flock together.

By Knockgoats (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

It seems moronic banned morphing trolls, like birds of a feather, flock together.

And leave their shit all over your clean car...

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

Quick quiz for RSEVANS abd his ilk:

1) God 'The Designer' is/was alive (Y/N)

2) God 'The Designer' was designed (Y/N)

3) All living things must be designed (Y/N)

Please show your work.
Thanks in advance.

engaging with one of Martin's sockpuppets?
(unless...and the thought is slighly chilling--JAD has another disciple??? nah.)
= a waste of time.
Ask him about mimicry.

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

Gregory Greenwood #479

Note to self: Greenwood for January OM.

By 'Tis Himself, OM (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

...more and more serious students in the engineering fields of nanotechnology are realizing that the cell is just too complicated a machine to have not been engineered.

what about the frivolous students of nanotechnology? what do they think?

engineers projecting engineering...

shocker.

which one of these engineers actually understands the theory they critique, eh?

not yourself, that's clear. Not a one. that's also clear.

I feel sorry for Davison, he cracked years ago.

I feel no empathy at all for fools such as yourself however.

merely... amusement.

Projection anyone?

irony anyone?

go take your meds.

Ick! Good to virtually smell see you.
Drop by The Thread!

By Sven DiMilo (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

'Tis Himself, OM @ 484;

Thank you. I am honoured that anyone would think that I deserve to be counted amongst so august a company. I am most gratified that my humble (and often only semi-literate) scribblings have been of interest to someone.

If I dare have the presumption to aspire to be so elevated one day, then I would be most interested to hear more about the orgy that Janine mentioned was part of the initiation ceremony on another thread...

By Gregory Greenwood (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

You know how AGW denialists are sometimes mocked as saying "there is no warming, and it's not our fault, and it's actually a good thing, and doing anything against it would destroy the economy, and it's too late to do anything about it anyway"?

As if self-parodying, our dear temperature troll comes in and literally says there is no warming and it's caused by the sun.

The planet has been cooling since formation.

It stopped cooling a long time ago – radioactivity is keeping the internal temperature of the Earth more or less constant.

'm ttll cnfsd, tbh. :/ n whch f ths wrds s t vwl, nd wh?

M...rj...n...v...ć!!! :)

<raised index finger, O-shaped mouth>

The terms "vowel" and "consonant" apply to sounds, not to letters.

Except that the disemvoweling script doesn't care and removes the letters a e i o u.

For Darwinian evolution can never explain the appearance of the formation of new information in the cell thus we need a more scientifically fulfilling mechanism to be considered.

Gene duplication followed by mutation of at least one of the copies.

...And selection. :-)

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

It seems moronic banned morphing trolls, like birds of a feather, flock together.

Why do you think banned trolls morphs and come back here? Is there really no better place for them to be?

By Gyeong Hwa Pak… (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

SC, I bet Sili is serious. And I think you'd fit pretty well together.

<ducking to avoid thrown frying pan>

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

Why do you think banned trolls morphs and come back here?

Some of them, like the temperature troll, really are trolls. They derive excitement from hurling deliberately crafted infuriating statements into discussions and laughing at the angry reactions. So, whenever they feel like they need a fix, they come back.

Others are obsessive-compulsive and simply must tell us all about how wrong we are, no matter the costs. The most extreme example is the insane Mr. Markuze.

By David Marjanović (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

When you eat your Smarties, do you eat the red ones last?

To which, all but Canadians of a certain age reply "Uh ... wha?"

No, there will be a fair few Aussies that that get that reference too. Damn Commonwealth.

By speedweasel (not verified) on 17 Jan 2010 #permalink

ID needs to be vigorously developed as a scientific, intellectual, and cultural project.

scientific?

unpossible. period.

intellectual?

I'd say that's gone as far as it could have already, and not far beyond what Paley had to say.

cultural project?

ahhhh, now we're talking!

let's make a institute to shovel propaganda disguised as "scientific critique"!

oh.. wait...

Marry me.

(I have public health insurance.)

:D!

(But unfortunately fairly rigid immigration rules.)

:(!

Except that the disemvoweling script doesn't care and removes the letters a e i o u.

So should the y have been removed from all of those words? (No, I will not spell them out. I simply refuse to ruin my own joke, even if it is too late and it wasn't very funny to begin with.)

RPEVANS,

Let's talk about your faith in Darwin's evolution shall we?

Let's.

I've looked at the time-line.

Have you looked at this one?

Way too many holes, assumptions and gaps in it.

Name one. Just one.

Then perhaps you can defend that single claim.

Sorry Professor Myers but you did entitle this ask you anything?

What was your question?
I didn't see one — it seemed to me but an incoherent rant with an incongruous summons.

I openly invite you to post at Professor Davison's blog.

That's not a question!

Sorry Professor Myers but you did entitle this ask you anything?

So, what was your question?

Pose it already.

By John Morales (not verified) on 18 Jan 2010 #permalink

[Specimen]:

STILL Darwin's worst nightmare

LOL.

Darwin is long-dead, FYI. No nightmares.

By John Morales (not verified) on 18 Jan 2010 #permalink

Let's talk about your faith in Darwin's evolution shall we?

Let's talk about your lack of scientific thought and scientific evidence for your inane ideas. Your deity/creator/designer doesn't exist. If such an inane and incompetent being exists, put up the conclusive physical evidence for one, or shut the fuck up. Welcome to science.

Oh, yes, you have a million or so scientific papers to refute. Evidence, What science uses and scientists admire. You have none. A web site by a demented fool like JAD is worthless as evidence, and is rightly ignored by science.

The burden of proof is upon you, not science, to prove your ideas. Put up (cite the peer reviewed scientific literature) or shut up. Which means, you need to shut the fuck up as an incompetent evidenceless fool.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 19 Jan 2010 #permalink

RPEvans. You presented no evidence, no citation to the peer reviewed literature. That makes you a fool. Someone who doesn't understand the scientific process, so anything you believe is unscientific. Only more science, published in the peer reviewed scientific literature, can refute science. Cite those papers, or shut the fuck up. Welcome to real science. I'll bet you can't put up, and can't shut up. Liars and bullshitters like you and JAD occupy that territory.

Abiogenesis is not covered by evolution. Including it shows your stupidity. Steps are identified, but not tied together. But it doesn't invalidate evolution. The rest is explained by evolution. Try reading the literature. You have nothing but your delusions. Your deity/creator/designer doesn't exist, you have present no evidence for said creature. Crawl back to you hole of idiocy.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 19 Jan 2010 #permalink

Still nothing in the two posts beyond what I refuted. You present no science. I know, I'm a scientist with 30+ years work experience. You are a loudmouthed evidenceless idjit. You meanderings are meaningless, and questions irrelevant. And you still have presented no evidence for your imaginary deity, evidence that would pass muster with scientists, magicians, and professional debunkers as being of divine, and not natural, origin. Because there is no evidence for your deity. That makes you a delusional fool.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 19 Jan 2010 #permalink

RPEVANS, all of that in #467 and #468 is your own ignorance from not taking (or having?) the time to be educated on the subject of evolution. You also might want to consider how foolish you are being by proudly displaying your ignorance on the blog of a biologist with many biologist readers and commenters. And actually, your list of unexplained items really stands out as uneducated rubbish even to non-biologists.

By aratina cage o… (not verified) on 19 Jan 2010 #permalink

RPEvans, still no evidence for your imaginary deity. You are nothing but mindless blather. Evidence. You have none. Attitude, in spades. Which is meaningless in an evidence based debate. Your failure to put up or shut up, shows you are nothing but a con man, liar and bullshitter, Liar for Jebus™. A common idjit.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 19 Jan 2010 #permalink

Darwinism... maintains its validity on the premise that the less one knows the less one wants to know. -RPEVANS

No, that would be how your mind apparently works, not how the biological sciences work.

The fact is that Darwinism is a "future" science its gaps filled with expectations, "HOPE", rather than provable, repeatable experimentation. -RPEVANS

What? *blink—blink* Have you been living in a hole in the ground for the last couple of centuries? You desperately need to crack open an elementary textbook on biology.

By aratina cage o… (not verified) on 19 Jan 2010 #permalink

RPEVANS, you still haven't asked anything. :)

PS Blogwhoring a kook's effluvia ain't particularly enlightened.

PPS ... or stay blinded to your religious doctrine by cardinal Dawkins.

Too funny!

By John Morales (not verified) on 19 Jan 2010 #permalink

You know what RSEVENS, I argued all your points when you were previously here. All you did was go onto some new creationist rhetoric, and now you're back making the same recycled arguments you already made before. Talk about a broken record, when are you actually going to address the substance in replies instead of just arguing the same debunked nonsense over and over?

If you want to be enlightened please visit Professor John A. Davison's blog, or stay blinded to your religious doctrine by cardinal Dawkins.

Honestly, on the topic of evolution I prefer the likes of Cardinal Coyne, Cardinal Prothero, Cardinal Shubin, Cardinal Orr, Cardinal Miller and Cardinal Pigliucci to Cardinal Dawkins. Though Cardinal doesn't seem the right word...

Are you actually going to address the substance put forth against you, or are you happy to continue to argue this non sequitur?

OK, here's a vote for tossing RPEvans as a sycophant of JAD.

Isn't that reason enough? aside from blogwhoring?

I believe this person is also VMartin, myself, which would also make him a sockpuppet.

see the entry for VMartin in the dungeon.

Is it PZee or PZed

I noticed our fishy friend's post, and came to investigate. The posts of RPEvans have magically disappeared! All that insipidity gone. The average IQ of the thread went up at least 20 points. I suspect Ichthyic was right. We had a sockpuppet. Bravo!

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 20 Jan 2010 #permalink

Is it PZee or PZed

Where do you live? In the US, it is PZee. In England, and some of their Commonwealth, Z is called zed, so it is PZed. The regulars, and PZ himself, aren't confused since they go with the flow.

By Nerd of Redhead, OM (not verified) on 20 Jan 2010 #permalink