I call bullshit! You love these discussions--always have. You get frustrated, sure, but you're a passionate guy and it comes with the territory. Speaking as one myself, of course.

And John, maybe you're right. I wouldn't laugh at a schizophrenic who heard voices, hallucinated, or believed things that weren't true. Of course, there's treatment available for them. I don't think they'd let us treat creationists. There's not yet a treatment for the authoritarian mindset.

In response to John's recent posts in this thread, I will reiterate my own position regarding creationist beliefs here:


And I will add two observations:

1) There are some statements made by creationists (a few are embodied among Jeanne's photos) that simply invite ridicule with a red carpet, and

2) Most creationists I have read (and I've read many -- "know thine enemy" is a longstanding personal principle of mine) often assume a ridiculing tone themselves when speaking of the beliefs of those who subscribe to evolution.

LOL Keith.... "I keep my friends close..."

Agreed Keith. And it bugs me to no end as well. "Two wrongs" I suppose...

Troy, it is, indeed, a message board. Hopefully one where people of different backgrounds and beliefs can gather to talk about all things OtR or even cycling without getting ridiculed for what they may believe about creation/evolution (and, for the most part, is!).

And Bill, I'll own the "more of a debate about who expresses the opinion and how the opinion was expressed rather than the opinion that has been expressed" thing. I have a history of calling for civility in these matters and probably always will. Anna, on the other hand...

You just gotta quit flashing all that creamy white underbelly, John. I'm just an animal in my mind.

I read through this whole thread last night. Then the coincidence fairy dropped something in my mail today.

Along with the bills and coupons I got a tri-fold color pamphlet promoting a 3 day seminar that is coming to my town. The title of the seminar is "Did Darwin Murder God?"

Much of it looks similar to the info I saw on the museum. Except that next to the event listings for the third night I saw a picture of... Adolph Hitler. The 7pm event is "If Darwin Was Right, Hitler Wasn't Wrong!-- Evolution is at odds with Biblical morality. Without God there is no right or wrong. Was Hitler just the Alpha male who destroyed those he felt to be inferior? How did belief in evolution contribute to the philosophy of one of the greatest monsters of all history?"

Hmmm... did somebody say something about inviting ridicule?

yikes.

I don't have much else to say. jumping to extremes to prove a point usually just backfires, but it's something that continues to happen.... let's just say i won't be attending the seminar. and I think Hitler was a monster. and I think evolution is real. and I think God got the ball rolling. Darwin was one sharp tack. hmm... did I leave anything out?

Not to mention contempt. So I guess they'll be omitting how [a similarly twisted and self-serving] belief in Christianity also contributed to Hitler's philosophy?

Not from the museum... but it wouldn't surprise me if it were...



~fff - np: night passages jazz podcast - #38

Snake wife makes grand eggs-it

Friday, April 25, 2008


UDON THANI: The peculiar story of a man who married a python said to be a 600-year-old spirit from his past has taken yet another bizarre twist.

Satien Kenkudlung’s python wife (pictured, right, with her husband) slithered away last week, after a short marriage. The volume of curious visitors has dried up, but K. Satien has kept the interest of the public sated with the discovery of an egg, supposedly laid by his now-departed wife.

K. Satien hit the headlines in early April when his marriage ceremony to the python was publicized. It was said the snake had been his soul mate for six centuries.

The egg development seems “well planned”, said Udon Thani Governor Supoj Laowansiri. Gov Supoj suspects the snake was hidden when the “charlatans” heard experts were on the way. He suspects a “grand return” at some stage, too. If the snake comes back by the end of the month, the governor and his subordinates will be ready to pounce.

Experts have debunked a theory that the egg is the fruit of Satien’s union with the snake, as the gestation period for a python is 80 days. The marriage was just a fortnight long. Plus, snakes usually lay a nest of up to 50 eggs. A mother never abandons her eggs.


[To see the pic, click on the title above]

Wow.
Now I'm just gonna do the smart thing and roll on the floor laughing instead of getting in hot water with this discussion.

*blink*

Okay, who are you and what have you done with the REAL D.M., eh?