PZ Myers. 2005 Nov 07. Is that a sea monster in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?. <http://pharyngula.org/index/weblog/is_that_a_sea_monster_in_your_pocket_or_are_you_just_happy_to_see_me/>. Accessed 2008 Nov 20.
Posted on M00o93H7pQ09L8X1t49cHY01Z5j4TT91fGfr on Monday, November 07, 2005
Is that a sea monster in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
We have a new explanation for sea serpent sightings: whale flashers. The photo is impressive.
Creationists have a thing about sea monsters, part of their hangup with finding living dinosaurs. I'd like to be there when some church group actually spots one.
Posted by PZ Myers on 11/07 at 03:34 PM
Creationism • Weirdness • 1 Trackbacks • Other weblogs • Permalink
Creationism • Weirdness • 1 Trackbacks • Other weblogs • Permalink
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Manipogo is actually a fresh water monster, so probably not penile in nature. Just another big sturgeon...
#: Posted by on 11/07 at 04:03 PM
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Oy, preserve your sanity and don't look at their ideas for home schooling science fairs.
http://www.tccsa.tc/adventure/fair_ideas.html
Some ideas are good, but some are just plain god-awful.
eg:
"71. How does soap clean?"
(good topic)
"72. What is God made of?"
(brain explodes - how is that science?)
and some ideas strike me as sadistic to the point of Goodwin's law provoking
"8. How much voltage or current can a human take before he is killed? Could do experiments on a plant."
(Suggested sub experiment - does it take more to kill a Jew, Christan, or Heathen?)#: Posted by on 11/07 at 04:47 PM -
There is a name for this amongst whale researchers: Pink Floyd.
Thought some might enjoy knowing that.#: Posted by on 11/07 at 05:10 PM -
here's a pic i got via email with several others -- for jobs you don't really want. seems maybe they've actually caught a sea monster. couple with the snagging of a giant squid, what's left to discover?
http://milkriver.blogspot.com/2005/10/env-some-jobs-you-dont-really-want.html
tg -
Creationists have a thing about sea monsters, part of their hangup with finding living dinosaurs.
I realize I'm mostly ignorant (by choice) of the intricacies of creationist thought, but how in the heck would a living dinosaur prove them right? Wouldn't it just prove that, hey, the world is really old and some animals were so well-adapted to their niche that they didn't evolve much?
And what does a coeleocanth taste like, anyway?#: Posted by on 11/07 at 05:20 PM -
Mnemosyne: According to the NOVA rerun I saw the other night, not very good. Very, very oily.
#: Posted by protected static on 11/07 at 05:23 PM
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What is God made of? You could always quote Pullman (1997) and say `dark matter'.
(Warning, quoting Pullman to a fundie is liable to result in explosions.)#: Posted by on 11/07 at 06:25 PM -
The hard part about finding what God is made of is getting Him him into the mass spectrometer.
#: Posted by on 11/07 at 06:37 PM
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I realize I'm mostly ignorant (by choice) of the intricacies of creationist thought, but how in the heck would a living dinosaur prove them right?
Everything proves them right--once you assume what you're trying to prove, and get rid of that pesky falsifiability, both an assertion and its opposite can simultaneously be "valid" creationist "proofs". -
...but how in the heck would a living dinosaur prove them right?
These people think in monolithic terms. Anything that shows the Mainstream View to be wrong, even in the slightest detail, is evidence that it's all wrong, the gawdless evilutionists are wilfully stupid, etc. "Evolution" says that dinosaurs (except the avians) have been gone for 65My. Find a living dino, and "Evolution" is wrong, QED.
About the site ref'd by PZ: I note they don't seem to realize that neither plesiosaurus nor basilosaurus were dinosaurs. And someone should tell them that the latter is an early whale -- you know, one of those transitional forms they say don't exist?#: Posted by on 11/07 at 07:14 PM - Do you really think these creationists are at all concerned about the niceties of taxonomy, fact, and science?
- Speaking of Pullman , I just bought the trilogy, but it will have to wait until Lemony Snicket is done...
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I note they don't seem to realize that neither plesiosaurus nor basilosaurus were dinosaurs. And someone should tell them that the latter is an early whale -- you know, one of those transitional forms they say don't exist?
Nonsense: Basilosaurus is a lizard. Just look at the name: -saurus means lizard. Q.E.D.
(Apologies. Having seen too many claims along the lines of "Australopithecus couldn't be a human ancestor because the name means 'southern ape,' and is therefore only an ape," I couldn't resist.)#: Posted by on 11/07 at 07:34 PM -
Yeah, I've seen some shots of Manipogo, and since we're talking sea monster endowments, I can tell ya they don't call that frisky devil MANipogo for nuthin'. The surgin' sturgeon, indeed.
http://www.frinktank.com/blogs/index.php?title=ol_nessie_and_jesus_kind_of_keep_it_real&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 -
Myers: I'd like to be there when some church group actually spots one.
Myers: Do you really think these creationists are at all concerned about the niceties of taxonomy, fact, and science?
Yet, the "church group" cited is obviously very careful not to make premature assertions of fact:
[near top of page] Note: There Will Probably NOT Be A Search for Manipogo In 2004
[near bottom of page]This document was last modified on Fri Oct 28 2005#: Posted by on 11/07 at 09:14 PM - Interesting how the Creationist version of Manipogo looks like a short-necked pleiosaur....they just can't give up the dinosaurs, can they?
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<ahem>
Moby Dick anyone?
(Well, somebody had to say it)#: Posted by on 11/08 at 12:18 PM -
The "sea monster" in the old picture at the link is an oarfish. Take a look:
http://www.thejump.net/id/oarfish.htm
These things are, as the site says, the source of most of the sea monster sightings. The reason: well, a crested, multi-colored fish that's 50 feet or so long IS a sea monster.#: Posted by on 11/08 at 05:53 PM -
Good day my friend, im not the type to argue, im a man of few words and yes i believe in God, and believe he is the creator of all things just a Genesis says, please hear me out. Here's something to think about... We're living in the end times my friend... Does it not speak of sea monster(s) in revelations? Hmmmmm Plus EVOLUTION!!! HAHA!!! Why dont I have wings? Why dont I have gills? Why isn't my skin fire proof? If there were still a dinosaur or sea serpent obviously there's not such thing as evolution cuz...it wouldn't be a sea monster after these many years, now would it? Start praying to the Lord God while u still have time. God loves us all. Try prayer, you'll see a change for the better.
#: Posted by on 11/22 at 01:37 AM