Clipmarks | JohnWaterman's Evolution/creationism collection

The Genius of Charles Darwin

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:23:04 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

It's on the internets. The opening is something that I can't imagine flying by on American television: he simply says that evolution is a vastly superior explanation to anything religion has ever provided.

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Tags: science, biology, evolution, darwin, dawkins

Whale Evolution and Intelligent Design

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:12:27 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.youtube.com

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'Missing link' flatfish has eye that's moved halfway across its head

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:30:21 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

Imagine watching a movie where every now and then, key frames have been cut out. The film seems stilted and disjointed and you have to rely on logic to fill in the gaps in the plots. Evolutionary biologists face a similar obstacle when trying to piece together how living species arose from their common ancestors. It's like watching a film with a minimum of footage; the species alive today are just a few frames at the very end, and the fossil record represents a smattering of moments throughout the film's length.

the gaps

are being slowly filled in

With amazing regularity, new fossils are being unearthed that bridge the gap between existing specimens

"transitional fossils" are always greeted with great relish

They act as handy visual aids for explaining the story of evolution to those with a dearth of imagination

a new transitional fossil that is one of the most dramatic yet. Its name is Heteronectes (meaning "different swimmer") and it's a flatfish, but not as you know it

Science leads to killing people

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:23:33 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

What a vile little man. I sincerely hope that his career is dead now … and that the rest of his life will be spent eking out speaking fees at Christian fundamentalist conventions, before audiences who will cheer him while dreaming of the day the Jews are exterminated or converted, bringing on Armageddon.

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Two tales of whale evolution

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:27:16 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

a nice illustration of the evidence behind our understanding of the evolution of whales, all in 7 minutes

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Now watch a creationist explain whale evolution.

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Ouch. He complains that those wicked scientists are trying to turn the bible into a great big joke…but I think this clown does an even better job of that. Try counting the misconceptions — he goes on and on with this story about an animal crawling out of the primordial ooze onto the land and not liking it, and then wishing it could go back into the ocean, where it sucks in its hindlimbs and turns into a whale…and then he calls that story stupid and ridiculous. Guess what: it is! Of course, this ignorant nitwit is the person who made up the story, and it has nothing at all to do with what the evidence actually says

This is what we have to deal with: morons who think their caricatures are evidence, and this bozo is probably voting for school board members based on how closely they approximate his level of idiocy.

On The Origin of Species: 150 years old

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:02:44 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

150 years ago, Charles Darwin unveiled his theory of natural selection. To mark this anniversary we bring you the definitive guide to the naturalist's great book, with extracts from key chapters and essays from leading scientists and thinkers

Why Darwin matters

The proof's in our genes

Keeping faith with natural selection

Extracts

Where do new species come from?

The struggle for existence

The driving force behind evolution

Why is the fossil record gappy?

At home with the Darwins

It ain't necessarily so ...

Feb 9 2008:

Everyone has heard of Charles Darwin. Yet a good part of what most people think and believe about the man is wrong. John van Wyhe clears up some of the myths

The book that changed the world

Feb 9 2008:

On the Origin of Species, an instant bestseller, drew both applause and fury, writes Tim Radford

How Darwin anticipated the "intelligent design" argument

PZ mauls another creationist.

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:26:44 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

That radio debate was a hoot and a half, but I can't take credit. All the joy came straight from the mouth and brain of my lovely opponent

His other book, What Darwin Didn't Know, needs to be retitled in a new edition, What Geoffrey Simmons Doesn't Know. It will be a very large book

I have to share a few tidbits with you from that hilarious book. It has a chapter titled "Purposeful Design" which purports to list 81 examples of design. He has very low standards. Basically, anything that works is evidence of design.

The mouth, vagina, urethra, and anus are sealed by mucus when not in use and yet can open and close in controlled ways as needs arise.

This is a man who thinks the fact that he isn't drooling and feces aren't dribbling down his leg is a miracle from god. After reading his book, I kind of agree.

Texas may sanction creationism "degree"

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:07:04 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: blog.newhumanist.org.uk

Buried in the middle of a story about attendances at Kentucky's Creation Museum is something even more shocking – the state of Texas may be about to approve an online master's degree in science education provided by the Texas-based Institute for Creation Research. The "degree", which has already been given preliminary approval by a Texas state advisory group, is now awaiting the final go-ahead from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Approval of this sort of nonsense as science in Texas will have a significant negative impact on our ability to attract the best minds to the state. How can Texas simultaneously launch a war on cancer and approve educational platforms that submit that the universe is 10,000 years old?

one could certainly present a case for just ignoring these people in future in order to avoid giving them and their nonsensical ideas any free publicity. However, as far as we're concerned we find them far too amusing to stop

Islam's forgotten geniuses

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:39:33 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

The untold story of Arabic brilliance should be a timely reminder of a proud heritage

what if Darwin was beaten to the punch? Approximately 1,000 years before the British naturalist published his theory of evolution, a scientist working in Baghdad was thinking along similar lines

In the Book of Animals, abu Uthman al-Jahith (781-869), an intellectual of East African descent, was the first to speculate on the influence of the environment on species. He wrote: "Animals engage in a struggle for existence; for resources, to avoid being eaten and to breed. Environmental factors influence organisms to develop new characteristics to ensure survival, thus transforming into new species. Animals that survive to breed can pass on their successful characteristics to offspring."

based on a mixture of theology and rational thinking, produced wonderful advances in philosophy, astronomy, medicine and mathematics, in particular the emergence of algebra and trigonometry

Clip Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Ibn al-Natis

Ibn Shatir

Ibn al-Haythem

Evolution in Action on Remote Scottish Islands

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:31:34 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The mysterious case of St Kilda's vanishing black sheep, animals whose ancesters were roaming the group of remote Scottish islands more than 4,000 years ago, has been solved by geneticists.

The small, horned, Soay sheep arrived before the Vikings with the first human settlers in this area of north-west Scotland. Deriving from the earliest domestic flocks, they are mostly black or brown, but some have a light sandy coat. In the past few decades the numbers of black animals in the flocks have declined

why, since the darker sheep are larger so more resilient to the severe winters that regularly kill off the more frail animals

the study began with a scan of the sheep's genes

the tests revealed a remarkable demonstration of evolution in action

black sheep get their dark coats from a single gene

inherited alongside another gene for bulkiness

But the lighter coloured sheep

seemed to have evolved as the fitter form, inheriting also genes for extra toughness and reproductive ability

How does evolution impact my life?

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:06:32 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: evolution.berkeley.edu

Relevance of evolution: Agriculture
Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us secure and improve the world's crops. Genetic diversity, disease resistance and pest control are highlighted

Relevance of evolution: Conservation
Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us form conservation strategies

Relevance of evolution: Medicine
Explore just a few of the many cases in which evolutionary theory helps us understand and treat disease. Bacterial infections, HIV, and Huntington's disease are highlighted

From the origin of life to the future of biotech: The work of Andy Ellington

Evolutionary biology: Technology for the 21st century

Evo in the news: Evolution at the scene of the crime

Evo in the news: Evolutionary evidence takes the stand

Evo in the news: Genealogy enthusiasts mine DNA for clues to evolutionary history

Interview: Massimo Pigliucci on evolution's importance to society

Well, fly fishing is a science

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:28:11 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

Well, fly fishing is a science

This is hilarious. That wacky Islamic creationist, Harun Yahya, sent all those copies of his great big expensive book, Atlas of Creation, to biologists all around the country, and darned few of us have actually bothered to look at it in any detail. The general pattern of the book is repetitious and predictable: the book shows a picture of a fossil and a photo of a living animal, and declares that they haven't changed a bit, therefore evolution is false. Over and over. It gets old fast, and it's usually wrong (they have changed!) and the photography, while lovely, is entirely stolen.

Here's the latest funny part: someone did scrutinize the photos a little more carefully, and discovered a few of the photos are actually of fishing lures, hook and all. That's the level of competence we're talking about in this book.

Clip Source: forbiddenmusic.wordpress.com

He stole the image from Graham Owen

which he believes is a living spider

look at Graham Owen’s fishing lures, they’re worth it

Tags: creationism, religion, evolution, fraud

Creationist holds fossil to ransom.

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 09:24:51 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: scienceblogs.com

How depressing

Category: Creationism
Posted on: January 6, 2008 9:03 PM, by PZ Myers

Creationist can actively impede science. One of the largest mastodon fossils ever found was discovered on a ranch in Texas owned by a fellow named Joe Taylor — an infamous creationist who runs the Mt. Blanco Fossil "Museum", a wacky little place that peddles fossils while claiming they support a 6,000 year old earth. Now he's putting it up for auction, and you can buy the skull for something north of $60,000.

We can't win this one. Even if it's bought by a reputable museum and studied scientifically, it still means that this creationist is going to get a huge chunk of change to use in promoting more lies.

Tags: creationism, religion, stupid religious fuckwits

Growing up in the Universe - Richard Dawkins

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:06:49 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman
clipper's remarks: Lectures for Children from a young Richard Dawkins

Clip Source: richarddawkins.net

Richard Dawkins presents a series of lectures on life, the universe, and our place in it. With brilliance and clarity, Dawkins unravels an educational gem that will mesmerize young and old alike. Illuminating demonstrations, wildlife, virtual reality, and special guests (including Douglas Adams) all combine to make this collection a timeless classic

Episode 1: Waking Up in the Universe

Episode 2: Designed and Designoid Objects

Episode 3: Climbing Mount Improbable

Episode 4: The Ultraviolet Garden

Episode 5: The Genesis of Purpose

Praise for 'Growing Up in the Universe':

"Science as epiphany! An instinctive teacher, Richard Dawkins increases our understanding of the universe and provokes our wonder at it in equal measure." - The Most Reverend Richard Holloway, former Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Church of Scotland.

Dawkins's capacity for clear explanation, assisted by excellent and often beautiful illustrations, is formidable."

- Quentin de la Bédoyère, Catholic Herald.

Tags: evolution, science, richard dawkins

The Complete Works of Charles Darwin

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:20:09 GMT

clipped by: thisnamecantbetaken

Clip Source: darwin-online.org.uk

This site contains Darwin's complete publications, thousands of handwritten manuscripts and the largest Darwin bibliography and manuscript catalogue ever published; also hundreds of supplementary works: biographies, obituaries, reviews, reference works and more.

Almost all is online only here: such as 1st editions of Voyage of the Beagle, Zoology, Descent of man, all editions of Origin of species (1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th & 6th); important manuscripts: Beagle diary & field notebooks, Journal, transmutation notebooks and Autobiography.

Forthcoming: more editions, translations, introductions & manuscripts.

Tags: darwin, evolution, manuscripts, autobiography