The Best of PZ Myers on Pharyngula

[Random Mutant]

This thread was moved from Science, Technology & Environment to General Serious Discussion & Philosophy, because PZ writes about both science, atheism, and sociopolitical issues. -- Ronja


I'm constantly impressed by PZ's various blog entries, and was going to begin bookmarking my favourites. However, I realised that I could harness the power of Web 2.0 and get all of you to help me instead of trawling through years of writings... In this thread, feel free to post links to your favourite PZ entries, with a brief description of what it's about.

To start, today we have:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010 ... eption.php: A discussion of eye structure and its limitations in various clades (human, avian, cephalopod) with a slant to rebutting a creationist's willful misunderstanding.

[Animavore]

I remember that one fondly

[normal]

What is web 2.0?

[Pappa]

What is web 2.0?

It's the idea that the users of the web become part of its creation. So by interaction they create the content itself. YouTube and Facebook are prime examples, but the concept can be applied to many things (like comments on news articles). It's not a technical change in web infrastructure, but an ideological change in ownership and usage of web content.

Web 1.0 is about information retrieval. Web 2.0 is about user interaction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

[quisquose]

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009 ... common.php

Not science exactly, but my favourite is the one where Calilasseia demolishes any idea that evolution was a significant factor in guiding Nazi thought.

As a bonus, we are also given the answer to the question "Can natural processes produce an increase in complexity?"

[Horwood Beer-Master]

What is web 2.0?

It's a silly fucking buzzword. Ignore it.

[Ronja]

"Sunday Sacrilege" - PZ shares some scary childhood memories and shoots down the central aspects of afterlife according to the Abrahamic religions.

Longish, but well worth the effort.

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010 ... _no_he.php

[Pappa]

What is web 2.0?

It's a silly fucking buzzword. Ignore it.

Its' not, it actually describes something specific and useful.

[Random Mutant]

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2010 ... f_life.php

A link to large Radial Tree Of Life images, suitable for large-format printing.

[Ronja]

PZ

Decent Human Beings' Guide to Getting Laid at Atheist Conferences

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011 ... _guide.php

[Gawdzilla Sama]

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011 ... _tired.php

[Ronja]

PZ's letter to Emma B, a kid who is proud to go to scientists with the "questions" that Ken Ham has taught her...

I'd like to teach you a different easy question, one that is far, far more useful than Ken Ham's silly "Were you there?" The question you can always ask is, "How do you know that?"

Right away, you should be able to see the difference. You already knew the answer to the "Were you there?" question, but you don't know the answer to the "How do you know that?" question. That means the person answering it will tell you something you don't know, and you will learn something new. And that is the coolest thing ever.

More here: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011 ... emma_b.php

Hat tip to GFL for pointing me in this direction.

[Ronja]

Topic splits and moves have now been done twice.

1. The Watson/Dawkins derail went here http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... 38&t=29887

2. The Greetings to PZ derail went here http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... =2&t=29902

3. Zilla and Seth's pointless and not playing particularly nice bickering went here http://www.rationalia.com/forum/viewtop ... 86&t=29903

Do continue, preferably without derails from now on, OK? From the OP: "In this thread, feel free to post links to your favourite PZ entries, with a brief description of what it's about."

[Ronja]

FYI: PZ has moved Pharyngula (sort of, there still is a partially updating copy at the old address) - I only saw this today:

...NatGeo and I have worked out an acceptable compromise. This site on Freethoughtblogs is mine and only mine, and none of the content is in any way associated with National Geographic. Yay freedom! I can say whatever I want here! At the same time, whatever I write that I feel is compatible with the more conservative ethos of National Geographic will also appear over there — so less liberal, more religious readers can read the sciencey stuff without getting their staid world rocked. One qualifier: anti-creationism is well within the NatGeo brief, so young-earth creationists and intelligent design cretins aren’t going to like either site. There are limits, you know...

More here: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/ ... -new-digs/