1. A New Step In Evolution

Comment #188160 by jhegg on June 3, 2008 at 9:34 am

Wow! This is really incredible research. I must be a scientist if my heartrate increases when I read about an elegant and important piece of research. Or mabye it is the pavlovian response to any piece of research with the ability to metaphorically clobber a creationist into a pile of argumentative jelly.

Seriously though, this is awesome. I worked with a company for a while attempting to evolve a xylose eating Sacchromyces from bioengineered and wild type strains (Dax @ 7, I have heard about the attempt in the Netherlands as well). It isn't an easy thing to do even when you prime the pump by adding the nessecary genes and trying to optimize them through evolution. It is impressive to see how adaptable the little buggers are, even without evolving novel membrane protiens.

To see a strain evolve something so drastic is a bit magical and makes me all weak in the knees.

2. Car dealership advert tells atheists to 'shut up'

Comment #185641 by jhegg on May 28, 2008 at 8:52 am

This may be the most offensive, but definitely not the least dangerous God Cars = Money scheme from my good 'ol US of A.

Take a look at the "God, Guns and Gas" promotion from MAX motors.

http://tinyurl.com/5saq2h

This got plenty of play around the world last week but none of the major networks picked up on the blatant Christian propaganda associated with the ad and the website.

Nice to know that God condones giving away guns to put in the glove compartment of your car. Funny how this loving god works ain't it?