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No Admission for Evolutionary Biologist at Creationist Film
by New York Times, Cornelia Dean
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/science/21expelledw.html
Two evolutionary biologists — P. Z. Myers of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and Richard Dawkins of Oxford — tried to go to the movies at the Mall of America in Minneapolis Thursday evening. Dr. Dawkins got in. Dr. Myers did not.
On those facts, everybody agrees. After that, things break down.
The movie the two scientists wanted to see was "Expelled," whose online trailer asserts that people in academia who see evidence of supernatural intelligence in biological processes — an idea called "intelligent design" — have unfairly lost their jobs, been denied tenure or suffered other penalties as part of a scientific conspiracy to keep God out of the nation's laboratories and classrooms.
Dr. Myers asserts that he was unfairly barred from the film, in which both he and Dr. Dawkins appear, and that Dr. Dawkins would have been, too, if people running the screening had realized who he was — a world leader in the field of evolutionary biology.
But Walt Ruloff, a partner in Premise Media, the film's producer, said the screening was one of a series the producers have organized for the film, which opens April 18, in hopes of building favorable word-of-mouth among people likely to be sympathetic to its message. People like Dr. Myers and Dr. Dawkins would not have been invited, he said.
Mark Mathis, a producer of the film who attended the screening, said that "of course" he had recognized Dr. Dawkins, but allowed him to attend because "he has handled himself fairly honorably, he is a guest in our country and I had to presume he had flown a long way to see the film."
Actually, Dr. Myers and Dr. Dawkins said in interviews that they had long planned to be in Minneapolis this week to attend a convention of atheists. Dr. Dawkins, an vocal critic of religion, is on the convention program.
And both had earlier complained that they originally agreed to appear in the movie — then called "Crossroads" — because producers told them it would be an examination of religion and science, not a defense of intelligent design, an ideological cousin of creationism. People who have seen the movie say it also suggests that there is a link between the theory of evolution and ideas like Nazism, something Dr. Dawkins called "a major outrage."
In an interview, Dr. Myers said he registered himself and "guests" on a Web site for the film's screening. A security guard pulled him out of the line but admitted his wife, daughter and guests — including Dr. Dawkins, who, Dr. Myers said, no one seemed to recognize. Dr. Dawkins, who like everyone was asked to present identification, said he offered his British passport, which lists him as Clinton Richard Dawkins.
Mr. Mathis said in an interview that he had confronted Dr. Dawkins in the question and answer period after the screening and that Dr. Dawkins withered. "These people who own the academic establishment and who have great friends in the media — they are not accustomed to having a level, open playing field," Mr. Mathis said. "I watched a man who has been a large figure, an imposing figure, I watched this man shrink in front of my eyes."
That is not how Dr. Dawkins recalls it. He said Mr. Mathis said "enemies" were attempting to interfere with the film.
"It is impossible to imagine what Mathis is afraid of," Dr. Dawkins said. "It is impossible to credit such bungling and inept public relations."
Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education, a group that opposes the teaching of creationist ideas in public school classrooms, said in an interview that her organization was setting up a Web site to counter the arguments made in the film.
Dr. Scott said she and other supporters of the teaching of evolution have been having "a horselaugh" over the events as Dr. Myers recounted them, immediately, on his blog, Pharyngula.
She said it was "just tacky" that the producers barred Dr. Myers from the screening, but added, "I don't think it's inappropriate for us to have a good laugh at the creationists' expense."
Dr. Dawkins said the hoopla has been "a gift" to those who oppose creationism. "We could not ask for anything better," he said.
Two evolutionary biologists — P. Z. Myers of the University of Minnesota, Morris, and Richard Dawkins of Oxford — tried to go to the movies at the Mall of America in Minneapolis Thursday evening. Dr. Dawkins got in. Dr. Myers did not.
On those facts, everybody agrees. After that, things break down.
The movie the two scientists wanted to see was "Expelled," whose online trailer asserts that people in academia who see evidence of supernatural intelligence in biological processes — an idea called "intelligent design" — have unfairly lost their jobs, been denied tenure or suffered other penalties as part of a scientific conspiracy to keep God out of the nation's laboratories and classrooms.
Dr. Myers asserts that he was unfairly barred from the film, in which both he and Dr. Dawkins appear, and that Dr. Dawkins would have been, too, if people running the screening had realized who he was — a world leader in the field of evolutionary biology.
But Walt Ruloff, a partner in Premise Media, the film's producer, said the screening was one of a series the producers have organized for the film, which opens April 18, in hopes of building favorable word-of-mouth among people likely to be sympathetic to its message. People like Dr. Myers and Dr. Dawkins would not have been invited, he said.
Mark Mathis, a producer of the film who attended the screening, said that "of course" he had recognized Dr. Dawkins, but allowed him to attend because "he has handled himself fairly honorably, he is a guest in our country and I had to presume he had flown a long way to see the film."
Actually, Dr. Myers and Dr. Dawkins said in interviews that they had long planned to be in Minneapolis this week to attend a convention of atheists. Dr. Dawkins, an vocal critic of religion, is on the convention program.
And both had earlier complained that they originally agreed to appear in the movie — then called "Crossroads" — because producers told them it would be an examination of religion and science, not a defense of intelligent design, an ideological cousin of creationism. People who have seen the movie say it also suggests that there is a link between the theory of evolution and ideas like Nazism, something Dr. Dawkins called "a major outrage."
In an interview, Dr. Myers said he registered himself and "guests" on a Web site for the film's screening. A security guard pulled him out of the line but admitted his wife, daughter and guests — including Dr. Dawkins, who, Dr. Myers said, no one seemed to recognize. Dr. Dawkins, who like everyone was asked to present identification, said he offered his British passport, which lists him as Clinton Richard Dawkins.
Mr. Mathis said in an interview that he had confronted Dr. Dawkins in the question and answer period after the screening and that Dr. Dawkins withered. "These people who own the academic establishment and who have great friends in the media — they are not accustomed to having a level, open playing field," Mr. Mathis said. "I watched a man who has been a large figure, an imposing figure, I watched this man shrink in front of my eyes."
That is not how Dr. Dawkins recalls it. He said Mr. Mathis said "enemies" were attempting to interfere with the film.
"It is impossible to imagine what Mathis is afraid of," Dr. Dawkins said. "It is impossible to credit such bungling and inept public relations."
Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education, a group that opposes the teaching of creationist ideas in public school classrooms, said in an interview that her organization was setting up a Web site to counter the arguments made in the film.
Dr. Scott said she and other supporters of the teaching of evolution have been having "a horselaugh" over the events as Dr. Myers recounted them, immediately, on his blog, Pharyngula.
She said it was "just tacky" that the producers barred Dr. Myers from the screening, but added, "I don't think it's inappropriate for us to have a good laugh at the creationists' expense."
Dr. Dawkins said the hoopla has been "a gift" to those who oppose creationism. "We could not ask for anything better," he said.
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Posted: Friday, March 21, 2008 | PermalinkComments 1 - 48 of 48 |
Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers2. Comment #148000 by Dr Benway on March 21, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Don't we stand to end up looking like Fleas through all of this?Never really worried much about how I look. But thanks for caring, Mr. Concern Troll.
I added a bit on "breaking the irony meter" to the Wikipedia entry on irony:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irony
Other Comments by Dr Benway
3. Comment #148003 by LordSummerisle on March 21, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I'm afraid this is all mostly just free publicity for the film, but at least the NYT correctly refers to Expelled as a Creationist film, instead of going for some softerm more fundie-friendly term. Other Comments by LordSummerisle
4. Comment #148004 by Luminaree on March 21, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Seems to me the "fleas" would be the ones using the names of great scientists to make their film seem legitimate. Other Comments by Luminaree
5. Comment #148006 by Arturo on March 21, 2008 at 7:04 pm
It's big enough to be on the NYT someone digg this article :)Other Comments by Arturo
6. Comment #148009 by CanadAdam on March 21, 2008 at 7:12 pm
http://digg.com/general_sciences/No_Admission_for_Evolutionary_Biologist_at_Creationist_FilmOther Comments by CanadAdam
7. Comment #148011 by Duffman6 on March 21, 2008 at 7:14 pm
4 articles on the same subject- 3 being on the same day, and one on the day just before; 1 article from The New York Times?
"Explosive" might be an overstatement. But I would say it's somewhere in the ballpark.
Other Comments by Duffman6
8. Comment #148013 by Tea Q on March 21, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Good job, Dr Benway :)Other Comments by Tea Q
9. Comment #148015 by Double Bass Atheist on March 21, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Comment #148011 by Duffman6
4 articles on the same subject- 3 being on the same day, and one on the day just before; 1 article from The New York Times?
"Explosive" might be an overstatement. But I would say it's somewhere in the ballpark
Anyone else feel that we might be getting a little carried away this? After all, these articles are about the same the thing...
Other Comments by Double Bass Atheist
10. Comment #148016 by Hawker on March 21, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I think the most frustrating element about this event is the reason certain types were invited. "But Walt Ruloff, a partner in Premise Media, the film's producer, said the screening was one of a series the producers have organized for the film, which opens April 18, in hopes of building favorable word-of-mouth among people likely to be sympathetic to its message. People like Dr. Myers and Dr. Dawkins would not have been invited, he said."
Why is there never a position of searching for TRUTH in the creationist message? The creationist position was intellectually killed about two hundred years ago, it is amazing it is still festering and in the U.S. being taken seriously. When is the sympathetic movement for those who believe the world flat going to raise it's ugly head?
Other Comments by Hawker
11. Comment #148017 by the_ultimate_samurai on March 21, 2008 at 7:37 pm
I'm afraid this is all mostly just free publicity for the film, but at least the NYT correctly refers to Expelled as a Creationist film, instead of going for some softerm more fundie-friendly term.
well according to kitzmiller vs dover you can legaly call intelegent design creationism as much as you want, wherever you want, and they cant do anything about it. (previously they may have had a case for slander, but the dover case ruled officialy intelegent design = creationism. which makes one of his points moot anyways (that ID isnt creationism, few years too late on that one))
this movie is a relic, ID has sunk, it doesnt have a chance to win any court cases, it doesnt have a chance to make it into schools (unless that one last sane judge on the supreme court thats protecting us from a fundie majority retires...and bush assigns a new one) the old ID people have jumped ship, like they did when creationism sunk, now its critical analysis of evolution (how is that for your irony metre, the people most lacking any critical analysis of their dogma asking critical analysis of evolution, though the irony is just as thick with INTELEGENT design)
Other Comments by the_ultimate_samurai
12. Comment #148018 by Atheist_from_Hell on March 21, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I find it rather surprising that Richard Dawkins got in to see the movie when P.Z. Myers did not, considering that Richard Dawkins is a lot more famous than P.Z. Myers (although P.Z. Myers is a local in that area).
Well, Professor Dawkins, if you managed to crash the screening, good going.
Other Comments by Atheist_from_Hell
13. Comment #148019 by Dr Benway on March 21, 2008 at 7:55 pm
I find it rather surprising that Richard Dawkins got in to see the movie when P.Z. Myers did not, considering that Richard Dawkins is a lot more famous than P.Z. MyersSeems their telgent plan to keep critics out of moovie bout mean scientists suppressin criticism not so telgent.
O noes! Mai irony meter jes sploded again!
Other Comments by Dr Benway
14. Comment #148020 by notsobad on March 21, 2008 at 8:03 pm
The story was already on digg's front page:http://digg.com/general_sciences/Expelled_from_Expelled
Other Comments by notsobad
15. Comment #148022 by robotaholic on March 21, 2008 at 8:33 pm
They srsly wasted ther time by going if you asks me- but I gess expelled at expelled wouldn't have happened in dat caseOther Comments by robotaholic
16. Comment #148026 by FightingFalcon on March 21, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Dr. Dawkins, who like everyone was asked to present identification, said he offered his British passport, which lists him as Clinton Richard Dawkins.O how I wish Mr. Dawkins would go the way of Mr. Hitchens and become an American citizen :-)
Other Comments by FightingFalcon
17. Comment #148036 by Jack Rawlinson on March 21, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Don't we stand to end up looking like Fleas through all of this?
I have NO idea what this commenter is talking about. The IDiots made a huge, huge gaff and we're ripping them a new one because of it. We're celebrating. We're rubbing their stupid noses in their mistake. How, in the most twisted viewpoint conceivable, is that comparable with what the "fleas" are doing? Why don't you stop being so damned negative and relish what is undoubtedly a big win for the good guys? Jesus.
Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson
18. Comment #148039 by Affront on March 21, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I wonder if my fellow countryman, Professor Dawkins, (who I sincerely hope remains a British citizen, Mr Falcon) was at all miffed about not being recognised while Myers was! The organisers say that they did recognise Dawkins and decided to let him in, to which the only response must be 'Duh?!'.I realise that you fellows are keen on free speech, as are we here in the Mother Country. But surely it's time that you amended your famous constitution to limit the freedom of dishonest people, like those behind this film, to twist scientific facts and corrupt young and impressionable minds. There is something truly evil about these creationists, isn't there?
Other Comments by Affront
19. Comment #148040 by Gymnopedie on March 21, 2008 at 9:43 pm
I'm greatly entertained by the flush of news stories about this event. The Creationists need to be exposed over and over for the disgusting and malicious liars they are. Look at each story posted here, they are popping up in different places visited by different people. All this site is doing is posting them for us to view and laugh at. What in the world is bad about that? I hope this story keeps circulating in different publications.Dr Benway - Classic Wikipedia entry. I lol'ed.
Other Comments by Gymnopedie
20. Comment #148042 by Dr Benway on March 21, 2008 at 9:45 pm
But surely it's time that you amended your famous constitution to limit the freedom of dishonest people, like those behind this film, to twist scientific facts and corrupt young and impressionable minds.The cure for bad speech is more speech.
Other Comments by Dr Benway
21. Comment #148062 by Roy_H on March 21, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Maybe the the guy at the door looked at Richard's Passport, read the name and said "Well you go right in there Mr. Clinton!"Other Comments by Roy_H
22. Comment #148067 by Animavore on March 22, 2008 at 12:37 am
The first 2 reviews of this movie are on IMDB. I'm not gonna add one without seeing it but at the moment the reviews are favourable. Hopefully the rebuttal will be swift to follow. Other Comments by Animavore
23. Comment #148069 by Animavore on March 22, 2008 at 12:51 am
This article gives a very different view of the situation.
http://www.evolutionnews.org/2008/03/richard_dawkins_worlds_most_fa.html
Shit is heating up, this film WILL be big whether you like it or not. I predict protests, court-cases and even riots. Be realistic, the Bible-belt loves starting shit and evolutionists (most of which are religious, why weren't they in the film?) will have to retaliate.
I'm just glad it will be ignored mainly here in Ireland and I presume the rest of Europe too (hopefully).
Other Comments by Animavore
24. Comment #148071 by Logicel on March 22, 2008 at 12:57 am
As I suspected when I first read Dr Benway's wikipedia entry regarding breaking the irony meter, the entry was eventually deleted. Reason given that it belongs here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expelled:_No_Intelligence_Allowed
Check under the subtopic: Screenings.
Other Comments by Logicel
25. Comment #148084 by mikejswalker on March 22, 2008 at 2:09 am
'listen boys we got r-selves a chance here. We gotta get dis publicity see? we needs it see? We gotta be de tark a de town see?How bout when dees two shmucks Dyers and Mawkins turn up we give em de hi-hat uh? yeah we slap one o' dare scrawny ate-eeistic asses outta here.
waddya say you creeps? are ya WID me?"
'YEAH!!'
'ARE YA WID ME FOR JESUS BOYS? SAY YEAH!!'
'YEAH!!'
'well alright den, dat dares a big amen'.
Regards.
Other Comments by mikejswalker
26. Comment #148099 by Buddha on March 22, 2008 at 4:04 am
Dr. Dawkins, who like everyone was asked to present identification, said he offered his British passport, which lists him as Clinton Richard Dawkins.
Clinton!?!?
Clint sounds much better. Suggests an enigmatic cigar chewing outlaw - diddley-doo-wah-wah-wah...
Other Comments by Buddha
27. Comment #148105 by NormanDoering on March 22, 2008 at 4:58 am
steve8282 asked:Don't we stand to end up looking like Fleas through all of this?
Only if the movie is a hit. Remember, Dawkins' fleas were trying to cash in on a share of his sales. Odds are that will not happen.
http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2008/03/and-never-ending-freak-show-just-goes.html
Other Comments by NormanDoering
28. Comment #148110 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 5:29 am
GymnopedieThe Creationists need to be exposed over and over...Yes... "over and over".
Because today's scandal in the media is forgotten tomorrow. And we mustn't forget that.
Other Comments by Richard Morgan
29. Comment #148116 by phasmagigas on March 22, 2008 at 6:02 am
Dr. Dawkins, who like everyone was asked to present identification, said he offered his British passport, which lists him as Clinton Richard Dawkins.
OMG, so dickie is really a clinton!! so hes hidden his first name from us, thats deception, so therefore god must exist right??
some fundie somewheres going to say that so i best them to it.
Other Comments by phasmagigas
30. Comment #148117 by phasmagigas on March 22, 2008 at 6:07 am
US documentaries are arguably weak in comparison to their UK counterparts so this one is going to be awful as it style AND content will likely be flawed. (i say likely as ive not seen it, im sure our library will get it in like they also have the priveleged planet, not seen that either) Other Comments by phasmagigas
31. Comment #148123 by steve8282 on March 22, 2008 at 6:35 am
steve8282 asked:Don't we stand to end up looking like Fleas through all of this?
Only if the movie is a hit. Remember, Dawkins' fleas were trying to cash in on a share of his sales. Odds are that will not happen.
http://normdoering.blogspot.com/2008/03/and-never-ending-freak-show-just-goes.html
Thanks for the answer.
I figured I would have to take a few hits before I got an answer.
Other Comments by steve8282
32. Comment #148124 by Animavore on March 22, 2008 at 6:35 am
Scratch what I said earlier about this film going to be big in America..
In light of recent evidence
http://mattcbr.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/expelled-no-intelligence-allowed-why-its-a-load-of-bunk/
Other Comments by Animavore
33. Comment #148130 by RichardPrins on March 22, 2008 at 6:53 am
http://www.expelledexposed.com/ Other Comments by RichardPrins
34. Comment #148132 by Geoff on March 22, 2008 at 6:58 am
That one's not been updated yet, as far as I can see? Other Comments by Geoff
35. Comment #148202 by Christopher Davis on March 22, 2008 at 10:23 am
Personally, I can't wait to see this movie. Unfortunately, I'll probably have to. I'm a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and I'm currently in Afghanistan.Yes, I'm in the Army and I'm an atheist...and that's one of the reasons that I can't wait to see this movie. The religious right continues to pander to the military and probably for good reason. While not everyone wearing a uniform is a Bible-thumping, young earth creationist, most are religious. Furthermore, an increasing number of servicemen/women have college degrees...mine is in anthropology. Unfortunately, when I tell people that my main area of interest is 'human origins', I as often as not get someone telling me that they don't believe in evolution and providing me with one of ID's specious arguments to back up their position.
When this happens what I prefer to do, instead of countering with a truly evidence based argument of my own, is deconstruct their argument. I can't do this if I haven't read/seen the other sides propaganda.
Other Comments by Christopher Davis
36. Comment #148205 by Teratornis on March 22, 2008 at 10:26 am
In reply to comment #148039 by Affront:
I realise that you fellows are keen on free speech, as are we here in the Mother Country. But surely it's time that you amended your famous constitution to limit the freedom of dishonest people, like those behind this film, to twist scientific facts and corrupt young and impressionable minds. There is something truly evil about these creationists, isn't there?
I'm with Dr. Benway on this one. The cure for bad speech is more speech.
Censorship, to be effective, must be backed up with a credible threat of police state violence. When people resort to violence to get their way, they implicitly declare that their arguments are not persuasive.
Religious arguments are not persuasive; therefore, religious people throughout history have resorted to violence and censorship to impose their beliefs on others.
If we must resort to the tactics of religious people, then our arguments must be as lame as theirs.
Perhaps I am unduly optimistic, or perhaps I just look at the historical record and draw the inescapable conclusion, but I believe the arguments of reason are more persuasive than the arguments of unreason, and therefore a sufficiently free marketplace of ideas must in the long run favor the arguments of reason.
Before getting too worked up about the ID people as they fight their futile rearguard action against the progress of reason, consider where we were 500 years ago. It's easy to lose sight of that while in the thick of a particular skirmish.
When the Wehrmacht began its long retreat before the Red Army in 1943, after the massive Nazi defeats at Stalingrad and Kursk, the eventual outcome was obvious to everyone. Nevertheless, millions more on both sides had to die before the Reichstag finally fell.
Other Comments by Teratornis
37. Comment #148236 by Kubenzi on March 22, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Any real scientist who dont speak out loudly against this are true cowards. Other Comments by Kubenzi
38. Comment #148245 by Geoff on March 22, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Christopher, welcome to the madhouse!From what I understand of "Expelled", I'm not sure you'll get much of the cretinist arguments in it; most of it seems to be about the perceived unfair treatment of creationist scientists (by which I mean, of course, scientists who are creationists, not people doing oxymoronic "creation sciencs").
Somewhere like http://www.talkorigins.org/ is a good resource for you, giving typical cretinist claims, with their real-world explanations.
Other Comments by Geoff
39. Comment #148259 by JamesR on March 22, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Mr. Mathis said. "I watched a man who has been a large figure, an imposing figure, I watched this man shrink in front of my eyes."OK then. So is this a trick Richard does frequently? Is it a symptom of Mathis's delusion? Or is it a delusion all its own? By the way how tall was Richard when he finally stopped shrinking. Just asking.
By the way I've been laughing over this for days now.
Other Comments by JamesR
40. Comment #148265 by Dr Benway on March 22, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hi Christopher Davis. Thank science for the Internet that lets us hear from you guys so far away and in harm's way for the sake of the rest of us back home.
My husband's brother was in the army a few years ago. He came out of the service a conservative Christian, and has remained so. His wife sent us an email last week, one circulating the web for a couple of years, showing a group of soldiers praying and a caption stating, "What's wrong with this picture?" At the bottom it says, "Nothing!" then goes on to explain how the ACLU is trying to put a stop to group prayer... blah blah blah.
I immediately checked snopes and saw it was a hoax. Liars for Jesus again. I googled and found a seargent's blog posting the same email. Someone had alerted him to the fact it was a hoax. His response, I kid you not, "Well, there's a grain of truth in everything."
What a crazy world we live in.
Other Comments by Dr Benway
41. Comment #148368 by Christopher Davis on March 22, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Dr. Benway,I can beleive it. The military actively pushes religion down soldiers throats. In addition to the "all users" e-mails that constantly go out advising soldiers when church services will be held, and the countless religious based info-bulletins on AFN, the advice that the military gives soldiers on coping with being separated from their families and in a combat zone often centers around maintaining their faith.
Furthermore, if a person was really in need of help, most commands don't have a counselor other than the chaplain. He or she would have to be referred to real psychological counseling by a physician, and then fly several hours to get it. Plus,they would then have to bear the stigma of "needing to see a shrink".
Other Comments by Christopher Davis
42. Comment #148391 by Richard Morgan on March 22, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Excuse me for interrupting this thread.MUSIC UPDATE
For PZMyers : "EXPELLED : another hole in the sock."
The Myspace dedicated player :
1. We saw the comet.
In "Climbing Mount Improbable", Richard Dawkins mentioned taking his baby daughter out one night to see a comet. He explained that she was probably too young to know what was going on, but since she would live to see it again (and he would not) he wanted her to be able to say, later in her life, that she'd seen it twice. I was very touched by this idea, and so composed this piece of music for Richard and his daughter.
2. Paula Kirby : TNT Truth, not Tales.
Well, it all started with Paula KIRBY, didn't it, this "Fleabytes" business!
3. MPhil : Emfill Rox!
An amazing young philosophical mind. (I asked my son Anthony to compose this piece, being a little unwell myself at the time.)
4. Past Fleas.
RD asked this question :
What would music inspired by the fleas sound like?This composition is my answer.
http://richarddawkins.net/article,2303,Add-another-flea-to-the-list,RichardDawkinsnet
Something to make them seem ridiculous, pathetic, desperate?
5. Cartomancer : Gunshots and a Wobbly.
I'm chronically tone-deaf to the point where I didn't know what all the fuss was about when Jemini were the UK entry to the Eurovision Song Contest. My beloved teases me mercilessly about it. I tried to come up with some praise beyond "That sounds nice", or "I liked the wobbly bit with all those notes in it" but my abilities fail me utterly when it comes to describing my appreciation of music..But Cartomancer is one of our most remarkable contributors, and deserved an, er, shall we say, appropriate musical portrait, with recognisable sounds.
6. Steve Zara : Simply SteveZ.
Enough said. Steve has a fine mind, and is totally lovable.
Standalone player (right column)
1. EXPELLED, another hole in the sock.
For PZ Myers
2. Sock on the Stair Reel : Bullshit!
3. Past Fleas.
4. Fleabytes : a thredley.
This is a medley of themes which expresses my impression of this everlasting thread.
5. Fingerprints, past time. (from The Lava Lizard's Tale.) (Voice : Richard Dawkins)
6. Broken Rings (from The Salamander's Tale) (Voice : Lalla Ward)
7. DIACANU.
(Mike told me himself that he felt that this portrait was pretty accurate. If you don't believe, read his comments!)
8. Bryan English : Bryan of OZ.
One of Australia's finest rock musicians.
9. Hitchindebate.
I composed a spontaneous impression of Christopher Hitches in debate with, well, just about anybody really.
10. The Quote Miner's lament.
11. Weeflea's always right.
Guess who this is?
12. Call me "Richard".
And guess who this is?
Standalone player (left column)
Sound track : Fingerprints, past time. (without the voice)
http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes
Other Comments by Richard Morgan
43. Comment #148957 by emmet on March 24, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I'm just glad it will be ignored mainly here in Ireland and I presume the rest of Europe too (hopefully).
Undoubtedly. I'll be hat-eatingly surprised if it ever makes it to Filmstaden in "downtown Uppsala". I'll probably end up watching a low-quality rip off somebody's laptop... like Richard.
Other Comments by emmet
44. Comment #148964 by Richard Morgan on March 24, 2008 at 7:06 pm
People have talked about this film so much now, I woke up after my afternoon siesta today, convinced I had seen the fuckin' film!There's no way I'm going to deliberately try to see it. It could never match up to the book we're writing about it on the Blogosphere.
Other Comments by Richard Morgan
45. Comment #151157 by Amused Muse on March 28, 2008 at 8:07 am
Well, this is what happens when you are "invited" to see the film!
You get to plop down $10 to see a trailer for the movie, hear Ben Stein try to pop a blood vessel, and watch him receive the "Phillip E. Johnson Award for Liberty and Truth." :) Three standing ovations for Ben! Well, that's Texas for you. In Minnesota that means, "We're too polite to ask the windbag at the microphone to sod off now so's we can visit the w.c." ;)
Other Comments by Amused Muse
46. Comment #151221 by Richard Morgan on March 28, 2008 at 9:25 am
MUSIC (???) UPDATE"A Major Modern Atheist"
Words : Cartomancer;
Music : Some other guy.
(standalone player Number 1)
http://www.myspace.com/fleabytes
Other Comments by Richard Morgan
47. Comment #153098 by Colonel Molerat on April 1, 2008 at 3:15 am
I didn't read all the posts, but did anybody else notice
"he offered his British passport, which lists him as Clinton Richard Dawkins."?
"Clinton"?
Wow!
That's a rather glamourous name!
"Clinton Dawkins"
Cool...
Don't get me wrong, I like "Richard Dawkins" too, but you know which he'd choose if he was a Hollywood star...
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48. Comment #155746 by Kylyssa Shay on April 5, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Clinton Dawkins?That's just dead sexy. However, I am partial to the Richards of the world.
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1. Comment #147999 by steve8282 on March 21, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Don't we stand to end up looking like Fleas through all of this?Other Comments by steve8282