I can't figure it

I took my bunny to the bar and….they all kept laughing at me.

BTW, you can use this as an open thread.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, March 18th, 2007 at 2:55 pm and is filed under The Rabbit. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. The trackback link is: http://telicthoughts.com/i-cant-figure-it/trackback/

27 Responses to “I can't figure it”

Douglas Says:
March 18th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Two words: Fabric softener.

Comment by Douglas — March 18, 2007 @ 8:05 pm

Doug Says:
March 19th, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Open thread eh?????

Why is electron shielding (lack of it) usually looked over when one is explaining the characteristics of carbon that makes it suitable for biological life?

Comment by Doug — March 19, 2007 @ 5:03 pm

Salvador T. Cordova Says:
March 19th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Open thread! YAY!!!

A few months back, atheist Richard Dawkins likened himself to Winston Churchill. This was a highly misplaced comparison since Churchill himself said:

The Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, "This was their finest hour."

- WINSTON CHURCHILL, JUNE 18, 1940

Given this, and Hitler's love of Darwinism, a more apt comparison is that the Creationists are the defenders of Christian civilization and Dawkins is in the camp opposed to Christian civilization, thus on historical grounds alone, Dawkins should not liken himself to Churhill….:mrgreen:

Speaking of the Battle of Britain here is a dramatization of Churhill's "defenders of Christian civilization" in action.

Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — March 19, 2007 @ 8:03 pm

Douglas Says:
March 19th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
I need to cut my toenails.

Comment by Douglas — March 19, 2007 @ 8:10 pm

endoplasmicMessenger Says:
March 19th, 2007 at 10:30 pm
OK. For all you Linux hacks, I just stumbled upon this:

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/c...

Now we know who designed the designer!

Comment by endoplasmicMessenger — March 19, 2007 @ 10:30 pm

Jehu Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 3:30 am
Does Darwinism lead to mad science?

In an effort to reduce Malaria, researchers have created genetically engineered mosiquitoes that are resistant to being infected with Malaria. Tests have shown that these genetically engineered mosquitoes out-breed normal mosquitoes. The idea is to release them in the wild to out compete the natural malaria vulnerable mosquitoes Darwin style!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200...

Is that crazy? Won't that just lead to more mosquitoes? I doubt that the limiting factor in mosquitoe populations is competition from other mosquitoes.

Comment by Jehu — March 20, 2007 @ 3:30 am

KC Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 6:53 am
Is that crazy? Won't that just lead to more mosquitoes? I doubt that the limiting factor in mosquitoe populations is competition from other mosquitoes

No, it's not crazy. The idea is to eventually produce a population of mosquitoes that primarily consists of individuals that don't carry malaria, thereby reducing the probability of humans contracting malaria through mosquito bites.

Comment by KC — March 20, 2007 @ 6:53 am

chunkdz Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Since this is an open thread by Mike Gene…

When The Design Matrix was made available for pre-orders, I was among the first to send in my credit card number and order one. Being a big Mike Gene fan, I was excited to see his thesis layed out logically, and I hoped to score an autographed copy as well.

As fall 2006 arrived I waited with anticipation that my signed copy would arrive any day in the mail. I was devouring ID literature at the time and was really excited about this book.
As fall came and went, excitement turned to disappointment. As Winter came and went, disappointment turned to dismay. Now spring approaches and there is no explanation forthcoming.

I am left with the same feeling that I had when I waited three hours in the rain with my son to meet Laker point guard Derek Fisher at a K-Mart opening. Fisher showed up an hour and a half late, and split an hour early. No explanation. My son was crestfallen. I could only shake my head and sigh.

It's not the fact that I paid for a book that never came that bugs me. I know it will come, and I'm sure it will be worth the wait. But I think rather than appease us with funny bunny moments and contests, I think an explanation, or an answer, or an apology would be more in order. In my line of work, when we don't meet a customer's timeline, we explain why, and we tell them when they can reasonably expect their product.

I hope I don't sound bitter about this - I'm definitely not. :)I've made some light hearted jabs about it, but still have the highest respect for Mike. But maybe it's because spring is around the corner, and there's friggin' bunnies everywhere, (real ones and the chocolate variety), that I think it's time that Arbor Vitae address their customers and be a little more forthcoming about their delays.

Comment by chunkdz — March 20, 2007 @ 12:26 pm

Salvador T. Cordova Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
More scenes in Churchill's war for the preservation of Christian civilization:

Battle of Britain: Adlertag

and

Plane War Pearl Harbor

Crying shame war is so costly to lives and inflicts such great suffering. If all pilots could survive dog fights just like football players playing football on Sunday afternoon it would not be so heart breaking to think of their plight. That was some spectacular flying by guys on both sides, crying shame it was mortal combat and not a friendly rivalry….

Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — March 20, 2007 @ 12:49 pm

Jehu Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
No, it's not crazy. The idea is to eventually produce a population of mosquitoes that primarily consists of individuals that don't carry malaria, thereby reducing the probability of humans contracting malaria through mosquito bites.

No kidding. It is obvious what they are trying to do. My point is that they are assuming that they can do this because the "more fit" engineered mosquitoes will out compete the natural mosquitoes. I doubt that will work because the natural mosquitos are plenty fit. It seems to me what might work is if the natural and engineered mosquitoes interbreed and the malaria resistant mosquitoe's genes are dominant.

If they try it, it will be interesting to see how natural selection works in the real world.

Comment by Jehu — March 20, 2007 @ 1:01 pm

Doug Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Anyone familiar with follicular lymphoma?
A good friend was just told that he has this….
There's alot of stuff on-line - some make it out to seem incurable, some make it out to seem as if it's not cancer cancer.

Thanks.

Comment by Doug — March 20, 2007 @ 3:13 pm

Krauze Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Nimoy once again shows his musical side.

Comment by Krauze — March 20, 2007 @ 5:08 pm

Douglas Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Phooey. I still have to cut my toenails.

Comment by Douglas — March 20, 2007 @ 6:59 pm

keiths Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Douglas needs to cut his toenails.

Comment by keiths — March 20, 2007 @ 7:29 pm

Salvador T. Cordova Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Krauze!!!!

Whoa!!!! Where do you find this good stuff.

Any way, here is my favorite Nimoy episode: This Side of Paradise

Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — March 20, 2007 @ 10:25 pm

Salvador T. Cordova Says:
March 20th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
A bit late for Saint Patrick's day, but here is what Darwin had to say about rabbits and Irishmen:

Thus the reckless, degraded, and often vicious members of society, tend to increase at a quicker rate than the provident and generally virtuous members. Or as Mr. Greg puts the case: "The careless, squalid, unaspiring Irishman multiplies like rabbits…"

- Charles Robert Darwin in The Descent of Man, Great Minds Edition, 123.

I sure Darwin didn't endear himself to Irishmen with that comment.

Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — March 20, 2007 @ 10:42 pm

KC Says:
March 21st, 2007 at 10:22 pm
No kidding. It is obvious what they are trying to do. My point is that they are assuming that they can do this because the "more fit" engineered mosquitoes will out compete the natural mosquitoes. I doubt that will work because the natural mosquitos are plenty fit.

What makes you think they are as fit as the genetically-engineered ones? Do you think the researchers didn't test that?

Comment by KC — March 21, 2007 @ 10:22 pm

keiths Says:
March 21st, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Salvador,

You've been caught quote-mining yet again.

Why do you persist in destroying your credibility this way? What do you think you are achieving?

The truth is that even if Charles Darwin were the worst unregenerate puppy-beater who had ever lived, it would have no bearing on the truth or falsehood of his theory. You know this as well as I do, but you hope to scare people who might otherwise be persuaded by the strength of the theory into believing that it's an evil idea promoted by an evil man.

Your attempts at a posthumous smear campaign are despicable.

Comment by keiths — March 21, 2007 @ 11:11 pm

Douglas Says:
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:16 am
keith,

Salvador did not quote-mine Darwin. Darwin did, according to his own words, in context, beat a puppy from "enjoying the sense of power". While it may be true that Darwin had a change of heart, it is relevant to know that Darwin at least at one time found enjoyment and a "sense of power" in beating helpless creatures - not many people do, even as little children with an underdeveloped conscience. At no time in my life, for example, would I ever have found any sense of enjoyment from beating a puppy or other animal.

Comment by Douglas — March 22, 2007 @ 1:16 am

Douglas Says:
March 22nd, 2007 at 1:17 am
My toenails are now cut. I'd like to thank everyone here for their encouragement, concern, and support.

Comment by Douglas — March 22, 2007 @ 1:17 am

keiths Says:
March 22nd, 2007 at 2:23 am
Douglas,

What Salvador did is classic quote-mining. He presented a quote, out of context, in an effort to convey an impression entirely different from the one conveyed by the quote when taken in context.

Here was the quote Salvador supplied:

I beat a puppy, I believe, simply from enjoying the sense of power

Here is the full quote:

Once as a very little boy whilst at the day school, or before that time, I acted cruelly, for I beat a puppy, I believe, simply from enjoying the sense of power; but the beating could not have been severe, for the puppy did not howl, of which I feel sure, as the spot was near the house. This act lay heavily on my conscience, as is shown by my remembering the exact spot where the crime was committed. It probably lay all the heavier from my love of dogs being then, and for a long time afterwards, a passion. Dogs seemed to know this, for I was an adept in robbing their love from their masters.

Do those two quotes convey the same impression? Do you really think it is coincidental that Salvador chose to end his quote where he did, mid-sentence?

Every mitigating factor in the full quote, without exception, is missing from Salvador's hatchet job:

a) the fact that Darwin was a "very little boy" when the beating occurred;
b) the fact that the beating was not severe, and the dog didn't howl;
c) the fact that he was remorseful;
d) the fact that he loved dogs passionately;
e) the fact that he was able to win dogs over from their masters.

I'll let you draw the design inference. Don't let the fact that Salvador is "on your side" cloud your judgment; quote-mining is still quote-mining, and it is a long-standing habit with Salvador.

Comment by keiths — March 22, 2007 @ 2:23 am

MikeGene Says:
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:39 am
Hi chunkdz,

I just saw your comment (I've been busy). I'll simply repeat what I've said before. The timing is out of my hands and no one is more impatient about this that I am. However, I can not get too upset, as I am partly to blame with the delay. As just one example, several significant edits were made during the final proof-reading stage (and I guess that gunks up the process). Nevertheless, I'll pass on your concerns.

Comment by MikeGene — March 22, 2007 @ 7:39 am

Douglas Says:
March 22nd, 2007 at 3:25 pm
keith,

I'll repeat part of what I said just before I rejoiced in finally having cut my toenails:

While it may be true that Darwin had a change of heart, it is relevant to know that Darwin at least at one time found enjoyment and a "sense of power" in beating helpless creatures - not many people do, even as little children with an underdeveloped conscience. At no time in my life, for example, would I ever have found any sense of enjoyment from beating a puppy or other animal.

I guess, though, that Salvador was trying to give the impression that Darwin continued to have that kind of a heart, in which case Salvador was being misleading. And, don't think I am particularly enamored of Salvador - I am not.

Comment by Douglas — March 22, 2007 @ 3:25 pm

Salvador T. Cordova Says:
March 22nd, 2007 at 7:17 pm
Keiths,

You failed to point out something PZ got wrong about my up bringing. In his thread he said (referring to me):

Why do creationists lie so? It must be something in their upbringing.

For the record, I was brought up as a Darwinist in a Roman Catholic home because I attended public schools which taught Darwinism (even though mom was creationist, and Dad didn't care).

So if one wishes to suggest argue I had moral and mental deficiencies because of my childhood beliefs, one could argue it came from my public school upbringing in a Darwinist public school.

Salvador
PS
For the record, I am no longer a Roman Catholic, but a member of the Presbyterian Church of America.

Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — March 22, 2007 @ 7:17 pm

keiths Says:
March 23rd, 2007 at 5:45 am
Salvador,

I'm less interested in how you got to be so dishonest, and more interested in why you persist in your dishonesty.

Besides being immoral by your own supposedly Christian standards, your lying has tarnished your reputation and hurt the cause of ID.

Is it just that you're unable to resist the temptation, or do you actually believe that your dishonesty helps your cause in some fashion?

Comment by keiths — March 23, 2007 @ 5:45 am

Mark Frank Says:
March 23rd, 2007 at 8:17 am
Incidentally Salvador's other quote (which is of course itself extracted from William Dembsk's quote on UD) is also a bit out of context:

Thus the reckless, degraded, and often vicious members of society, tend to increase at a quicker rate than the provident and generally virtuous members. Or as Mr. Greg puts the case: "The careless, squalid, unaspiring Irishman multiplies like rabbits"¦"

See http://redstaterabble.blogspot... and page down to Dembski Channeling Colbert?

Comment by Mark Frank — March 23, 2007 @ 8:17 am

Doug Says:
March 23rd, 2007 at 10:22 am
any chance that the format of TT might change?

There's just too much stuff going on on the main page. Book covers to click on to inquire about a particular book, links, trackbacks, endless comments…..

Great site, just maybe there could be some re-configuring of the layout.

Comment by Doug — March 23, 2007 @ 10:22 am

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I can't figure it

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