The reptiles are trying to confuse us by working towards giving birth to live offspring:
A variety of Australian skink – like snake but with four tiny legs – is slowly starting abandon egg laying and beginning to give birth to live offspring like a mammal does.
Skinks in the mountainous region of New South Wales have almost entirely moved to live birth. But the same species living in the lowlands along the coast are far more likely to lay eggs containing their young.
According to a 1999 study that looked at the transition that some lizards are known to make from egg-laying to live-birth, the evolutionary step only travels in one direction. Once a species begins giving live births, it never goes back to egg-laying.
If I could choose between live birth and egg laying, I’d be an egg layer. Just sayin’.
Very cool. Here’s another case where evolution seems to be rapid:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090505111702.htm
Holy sh*tballs! But evolution is supposed to be just a theory!
Bah, this is just microevolution. The skink didn’t turn into a beagle.
Has anyone seen a human turn into a t-rex? Checkmate.
They used to ride them, didn’t they?
Checkmate indeed.
Just a note. Many snakes have been giving live birth for millions of years, so it’s not a reptile first.
Indeed, as indicated by the fact that in 1999 a study was done on “the transition that some lizards are known to make from egg-laying to live-birth”.
Another win for evolution and another nail in the coffin for creationism. Now if creationism would just die that constant scratching on the coffin lid is annoying. “Let em out! Let me out! Let me out!” No! I value my brain and I don’t want you eating it.
That assumes that the point of creationism is to provide an explanation for the world. It’s not – the point of creationism is to shore up an intellectually bankrupt faith in divine creation. As long as people still believe in the inerrancy of scripture, the creationism zombie will continue to munch on brains.
Seriously, at this point, there’s more nail than coffin. The last three billion pieces of evidence we showed them didn’t convince them, this one won’t either.
“As long as people still believe in the inerrancy of scripture…”
There’s a nice discussion here about that “inerrancy”. The discussion is not related to evolution, but if it’s not inerrant, then I guess it’s, er, errant :-) http://blog.evangelicalrealism.com/
Wait! Wait just one minute!!1! That picture isn’t of an Australian lizard… it’s the reptile thingy that Captain Kirk fought in The Worst Choreographed TV Fight Evah (TM)!!!
Quit trying to fool us, Daniel!!!!
Gorn.
Lorst and Gorn
WELL!….there goes the Garden of Eden and all of humanity calling Adam and Eve our first parents! That would have meant that their children would have had to marry each other and their children marrying each other too……eeks….that’s..that’s…..INCEST! And god didn’t mind? Some gene pool! It’s no wonder the fundies are idiots.
Fundies aren’t idiots. You underestimate the power of emotional blackmail and need for security that drives them. Perhaps if you addressed those issues, you’d find more deconverts! My own journey out of fundamentalism did not occur because of fundamental liberals or egotistical nerds sarcastically derriding faith based ideologies. It happened when I was in a safe enough place to actually listen to my curiosity and explore other views. It happened because of gentle questions and people who cared enough to support me in my journey.
It is important to learn, but the root issues of belief are not scientific evidence. The root issues are security based. If you can address those, there should be little problem in accepting science.
By the way, I love nerds. That label was not meant to be derrogatory.
I think we discussed the topic about how to deconvert people in other threats, maybe it’s time to do it again. Just a pair of comments.
1.- I like some fun from time to time, and I suppose most of us do. So there will be derogatory comments making fun of funny things like, for example, fundies. As someone said (more or less, quoting out of memory) “If you don’t want me to laugh at your beliefs you shouldn’t have so funny beliefs”.
2.- You are not the only one who deconverted in the blog. It’s not my case but a lot of people here have a similar background. They don’t underestimate the power of emotional blackmail, neither do I. Particularly I would appreciate to know which is the way, according to your experience- to adress those issues. At the moment I think the best way is to make fun about what they are afraid of (i.e.Eternal Oven).
3.- Humor and sarcasm may be practical dealing with people which are not fundies, just to avoid them to convert.
4.- There is not such a thing as fundamental liberals or military intelligence (sorry for the soldiers out there, I know, I just couldn’t avoid the pun).
5.- I don’t have any problem with the term “nerd”. It’s “egotistical” the one I find derogatory.
6.- If you don’t feel safe enough to “explore other views” you have a problem. How is it that suddenly it becomes my attitude problem?
7.- Each person is different and what worked with you may not work with everyone.
8.- Don’t underestimate the power of idiocy.
I know that fundies are not really idiots but lets face it…..creating a sustainable society with a gene pool based on just two people in just not viable. Surely fundies understand that or are they willing to admit that man has “de-evolved” into dumbness.
haha- I’ve just done the very thing I accused michael of doing: attacking someone without understanding where they are coming from :)
I must admit, I took that line “fundies are idiots” as a personal attack against myself and my family. I assume the context is more attacking the belief system and it is more awkward to say “fundies believe idiotic things” than “fundies are idiots”. I know that you need a safe place to vent, but it the little clarification does help. I can’t hear the tone of the text.
1. I don’t take issue with making fun of fundy beliefs- you’re right- they should be made fun of!
It was the label that those people were idiots that got me. Probably some of them are. People everywhere are good at doing/believing/saying stupid things.
The majority of my family is very fundy. Some of them are very quick to say “liberals are … (insert insult)” and so I am very sensitive to name calling. There is no dialog there, just bullying. I hope that helps explain my reaction.
2. Again, I think it is good to make fun of silly beliefs. Mocking the person who holds them isn’t usually the best way to get them to listen to you.
3. The tactic of sarcastically deriding a belief system in order to deter people from getting close to it is the favourite one of my conservative family a la Anne Coulter. It is effective.
4. What I meant by ‘fundamental liberals’ are those people who are dedicated to political liberal ideals but refuse to listen or dialog with any other. My in-laws have a few of those. (The same attitude of “my beliefs are superior and you are stupid for not agreeing 100% with me) I would describe Richard Dawkins as a fundamental athiest. Do you have a better word?
5. Just reread what I wrote. I apologize. I am guilty of doing what I accused others of. The rant was not directed at anyone here, but towards those previously encountered and what I am afraid of becoming- but it sure doesn’t come across that way.
6. Yeah, I had a problem. I didn’t choose to be born into a cult-like church group, but I was. It took me a long time to get out for various reasons. I’m not sure what you are referring to as your problem in this comment.
7. It wasn’t personal insults from outside that group that helped me leave it. Perhaps it has helped others? I realize the comment wasn’t meant to be a personal insult, but again- it felt that way. Perhaps this has more to do with me than the commentor.
8. Good point. Willful ignorance has caused too much harm.