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As well as criticizing ] claims such as intelligent design creationism and other forms of ],<ref>National Science Teachers Association, a professional association of 55,000 science teachers and administrators in a 2005 press release: "We stand with the nation's leading scientific organizations and scientists, including Dr. John Marburger, the president's top science advisor, in stating that intelligent design is not science.…It is simply not fair to present pseudoscience to students in the science classroom." National Science Teachers Association Press Release ] ] </ref> , Pharyngula includes posts on a very broad variety of topics that interest Myers. These include ]s (creatures that Myers finds most fascinating); science; religion; politics; local, national and international politics, particularly those involving science and education; superstition; the ]; evolutionary developmental biology; and more. As well as criticizing ] claims such as intelligent design creationism and other forms of ],<ref>National Science Teachers Association, a professional association of 55,000 science teachers and administrators in a 2005 press release: "We stand with the nation's leading scientific organizations and scientists, including Dr. John Marburger, the president's top science advisor, in stating that intelligent design is not science.…It is simply not fair to present pseudoscience to students in the science classroom." National Science Teachers Association Press Release ] ] </ref> , Pharyngula includes posts on a very broad variety of topics that interest Myers. These include ]s (creatures that Myers finds most fascinating); science; religion; politics; local, national and international politics, particularly those involving science and education; superstition; the ]; evolutionary developmental biology; and more.

⚫ ==PYGMIES + DWARFS arguments==

'''PYGMIES + DWARFS arguments''' (the term is generally capitalized as per the original comic book) are satirical references to a special subset of arguments employed by ], particularly as these apply to ]{{fact}}.

The phrase is used by some bloggers and other internet users, to ridicule creationist and other arguments (see ]).
It has appeared occasionally amongst comments on ] in this manner also.

===Origin===
'PYGMIES + DWARFS' is a reference to a ] entitled ''A Creationist's View of Dinosaurs and the Theory of Evolution'' by ] ]. It was satirically adopted by the scientist and blogger ] and has since become familiar in online debates involving creationism and evolution{{fact}}.

The original context for the phrase was in a ] advanced in support of the literal interpretation of the phrase "there were giants in the earth in those days" (Genesis 6:4). In ''A Creationist's View of ] and the Theory of Evolution'', Pinkoski points out that since many ] are smaller than their ] ancestors were, it is not absurd to assume that humans have likewise reduced in stature. This, he argues, explains why ] was 15 feet tall, ] 12 feet, and modern man just 6 feet in height; for those remaining unconvinced, he adds:

<blockquote>"If you doubt this is possible, how is it there are '''PYGMIES + DWARFS??'''"</blockquote>

Myers refutation was:
<blockquote>Man, the existence of pygmies and dwarfs has nothing to do with whether men were 15 feet tall 6000 years ago, and I had to laugh out loud. It's an incredibly useful phrase that's going to come in handy.</blockquote>

===External links===
*
*]'

====Example usage====
=====Commentary on evolution critics=====
# Panda's Thumb:
## http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/04/latest_fossil_f.html#comment-96276
## http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2005/07/super-mutant_ki.html#comment-39593
## http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/03/finally_someone.html#comment-90893
## http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/03/ky_governor_kno.html#comment-84534
## http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/01/intelligent_des_19.html#comment-70604
## http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/06/antievolution_n.html#comment-105360
# Badscience - http://www.badscience.net/?a=xdforum&xdforum_action=viewthread&xf_id=1&xt_id=265
# The Tangled Bank -
# Making Light - http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/007399.html#119560
# The Loom - http://www.corante.com/loom/archives/2005/06/23/evidence_and_exasperation.php#56330
# Pooflingers Anonymous - http://pooflingers.blogspot.com/2006/08/monday-crap-and-open-trollbecue.html#c115559213796301673
# Devil's Robot - http://blog.munge.net/2006/08/04/on-technicality/
# The Big Picture - http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2006/08/variant_percept.html
# Daily Kos - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/1/75340/35560#c159
# EndCreationism - http://community.livejournal.com/endcreationism/128333.html#t1165133
# Fundies say the dardest things -
## http://www.fstdt.com/comments.asp?id=10711
## http://www.fstdt.com/comments.asp?id=10298
# Mister Neil - http://mister-neil.livejournal.com/232412.html
# Cinematical - http://www.cinematical.com/2006/03/15/paramount-takes-on-intelligent-design/3#c1316371
# talk.origins Google Groups - http://groups.google.com.sg/group/talk.origins/browse_thread/thread/c0a30704f4ef2a5d/d6033cb3802174a4
# Naked Under my Lab Coat - http://joolya.blogspot.com/2005/10/larry-king-all-right-hold-on.html

=====Commentary on general science or pseudo-science=====
# The Mosquito Eater - http://jimandco.hofer.us/1120
# Bad Astronomy - http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2006/08/15/congratulations-its-a-planet/#comment-43453
# Majikthise - http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/06/esp_most_popula.html
# Immunoblogging - http://immunoblogging.blogspot.com/2005/06/my-future-answer-to-any-question.html

=====Politics, religion and social commentary=====
# Philosophy, etc.:
## http://pixnaps.blogspot.com/2005/09/but-that-would-justify-sodomy.html
## http://pixnaps.blogspot.com/2005/06/blogging-gems.html
# The Gospel of Unbelief: http://www.gatago.com/talk/origins/9411173.html
# Randi Forums - http://www.randi.org/forumlive/showpost.php?s=a0cc9cb4c153bc129baf801b45b2369f&p=1537466&postcount=91
# Gatago - http://www.gatago.com/talk/origins/17185292.html
# The Poor Man - http://www.thepoorman.net/2006/02/16/i-feel-like-going-drunk-hunting-with-cheney/#comment-15166
# Fundies say the darndest things - http://www.fstdt.com/comments.asp?id=9416


==See also== ==See also==
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*] *]
*] *]
⚫ *]


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 17:53, 13 September 2006

Paul Zachary Myers (who prefers to be called PZ) is a biology professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris and a prolific science blogger via his weblog, Pharyngula (previously Pharyngula.org). He is currently an associate professor of biology at Morris, works in the rapidly expanding field of evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo), and has a particular interest in cephalopods. A self-avowed "godless liberal" and outspoken atheist, he is a public critic of intelligent design (ID) creationism and a key activist in the American controversy surrounding the teaching of evolution. He is a vocal skeptic of all forms of religion, superstition, spirituality and pseudoscience. He is quoted as having "nothing but contempt for ID" and its followers.

Background

Myers was born March 9, 1957, the eldest of six children in Kent, Washington. He was named "Paul Zachary", after his grandfather, but preferred the initials PZ to being called "Little Paul."

He claims to have been a "science geek" from an early age, gaining an interest in zoology and marine biology from studying the insides of fish while on fishing trips with his father.

Though now an atheist, Myers was raised as a Christian. Prior to his confirmation, Myers experienced an awakening: "I started thinking, you know, I don't believe a word of this." He says he does not harbor any bad feelings concerning his upbringing. Despite this statement, Myers has been known to make inflammatory statements about Christians and religious believers, saying, for example, "I'm hostile to evangelical Christianity, and I think it is a blight upon the earth.".

Education

In 1975, Myers set off to DePauw University in Indiana on a full scholarship. However, he returned the next year after his father suffered a heart attack. He then attended University of Washington in 1979 to receive a Bachelor of Science in oceanography. He drifted away from this field toward evolutionary developmental biology and obtained a PhD in Biology from the University of Oregon.

Post-graduate career

Myers has taught and researched at the University of Oregon, the University of Utah and Temple University. He is currently an associate professor of biology at the University of Minnesota's Morris, Minnesota, campus.

Internet involvement and criticism of Intelligent Design

Myers was an early convert to Internet technology. On user groups, forums and Web sites such as talk.origins, he became involved in scientific debates, particularly those surrounding the growing creationist movement in the United States. He was a founding member of The Panda's Thumb, and in June 2002 he created his own Web site and blog, Pharyngula.org.

Pharyngula.org

Pharyngula is Myers' personal weblog. The topics Myers covers are eclectic, delving into the non-scientific as well as scientific. It has become particularly well-known for Myers' writing style (characterized by polished and biting sarcasm) and criticism of intelligent design creationism and has been ranked as the third-most-read blog maintained by a Minnesotan. Pharyngula won the 2005 Koufax Award for Best Expert Blog. The science journal Nature listed Pharyngula as the top-ranked blog written by a scientist.

According to Alexa.com, Pharyngula.org was started on 19 June, 2002. It started out as an experiment in writing instruction for a class. Students were required to submit mini-essays to be published online. After the project was finished, Myers still had the web-publishing software, and started to use it personally. The weblog is named after his favourite stage in embryonic development, the pharyngula stage. Pharyngula moved to hosting at scienceblogs in 2005.

On Pharyngula, Myers has been prolific in criticizing the Discovery Institute, Answers in Genesis and other creationist websites. He has, for example, written at length criticising Jim Pinkoski's creationist comic books. Pinkoski's books provide an illustrated personal interpretation of the Bible, amongst his stories are a hypothetical situation of a fire breathing Tyrannosaurus rex besieging Noah's ark, and another which uses the argument "If you doubt this is possible, how is it there are PYGMIES + DWARFS??".

As well as criticizing pseudoscientific claims such as intelligent design creationism and other forms of pseudoscience, , Pharyngula includes posts on a very broad variety of topics that interest Myers. These include cephalopods (creatures that Myers finds most fascinating); science; religion; politics; local, national and international politics, particularly those involving science and education; superstition; the Flying Spaghetti Monster; evolutionary developmental biology; and more.

PYGMIES + DWARFS arguments

PYGMIES + DWARFS arguments (the term is generally capitalized as per the original comic book) are satirical references to a special subset of arguments employed by Creationists, particularly as these apply to evolution.

The phrase is used by some bloggers and other internet users, to ridicule creationist and other arguments (see Example usage). It has appeared occasionally amongst comments on The Panda's Thumb in this manner also.

Origin

'PYGMIES + DWARFS' is a reference to a comic book entitled A Creationist's View of Dinosaurs and the Theory of Evolution by biblical literalist Jim Pinkoski. It was satirically adopted by the scientist and blogger PZ Myers and has since become familiar in online debates involving creationism and evolution.

The original context for the phrase was in a rhetorical question advanced in support of the literal interpretation of the phrase "there were giants in the earth in those days" (Genesis 6:4). In A Creationist's View of Dinosaurs and the Theory of Evolution, Pinkoski points out that since many insects are smaller than their prehistoric ancestors were, it is not absurd to assume that humans have likewise reduced in stature. This, he argues, explains why Adam was 15 feet tall, Noah 12 feet, and modern man just 6 feet in height; for those remaining unconvinced, he adds:

"If you doubt this is possible, how is it there are PYGMIES + DWARFS??"

Myers refutation was:

Man, the existence of pygmies and dwarfs has nothing to do with whether men were 15 feet tall 6000 years ago, and I had to laugh out loud. It's an incredibly useful phrase that's going to come in handy.

External links

Example usage

Commentary on evolution critics
  1. Panda's Thumb:
    1. http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/04/latest_fossil_f.html#comment-96276
    2. http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2005/07/super-mutant_ki.html#comment-39593
    3. http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/03/finally_someone.html#comment-90893
    4. http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/03/ky_governor_kno.html#comment-84534
    5. http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/01/intelligent_des_19.html#comment-70604
    6. http://www.pandasthumb.org/archives/2006/06/antievolution_n.html#comment-105360
  2. Badscience - http://www.badscience.net/?a=xdforum&xdforum_action=viewthread&xf_id=1&xt_id=265
  3. The Tangled Bank - Google cache, server down
  4. Making Light - http://nielsenhayden.com/makinglight/archives/007399.html#119560
  5. The Loom - http://www.corante.com/loom/archives/2005/06/23/evidence_and_exasperation.php#56330
  6. Pooflingers Anonymous - http://pooflingers.blogspot.com/2006/08/monday-crap-and-open-trollbecue.html#c115559213796301673
  7. Devil's Robot - http://blog.munge.net/2006/08/04/on-technicality/
  8. The Big Picture - http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2006/08/variant_percept.html
  9. Daily Kos - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/4/1/75340/35560#c159
  10. EndCreationism - http://community.livejournal.com/endcreationism/128333.html#t1165133
  11. Fundies say the dardest things -
    1. http://www.fstdt.com/comments.asp?id=10711
    2. http://www.fstdt.com/comments.asp?id=10298
  12. Mister Neil - http://mister-neil.livejournal.com/232412.html
  13. Cinematical - http://www.cinematical.com/2006/03/15/paramount-takes-on-intelligent-design/3#c1316371
  14. talk.origins Google Groups - http://groups.google.com.sg/group/talk.origins/browse_thread/thread/c0a30704f4ef2a5d/d6033cb3802174a4
  15. Naked Under my Lab Coat - http://joolya.blogspot.com/2005/10/larry-king-all-right-hold-on.html
Commentary on general science or pseudo-science
  1. The Mosquito Eater - http://jimandco.hofer.us/1120
  2. Bad Astronomy - http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2006/08/15/congratulations-its-a-planet/#comment-43453
  3. Majikthise - http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2005/06/esp_most_popula.html
  4. Immunoblogging - http://immunoblogging.blogspot.com/2005/06/my-future-answer-to-any-question.html
Politics, religion and social commentary
  1. Philosophy, etc.:
    1. http://pixnaps.blogspot.com/2005/09/but-that-would-justify-sodomy.html
    2. http://pixnaps.blogspot.com/2005/06/blogging-gems.html
  2. The Gospel of Unbelief: http://www.gatago.com/talk/origins/9411173.html
  3. Randi Forums - http://www.randi.org/forumlive/showpost.php?s=a0cc9cb4c153bc129baf801b45b2369f&p=1537466&postcount=91
  4. Gatago - http://www.gatago.com/talk/origins/17185292.html
  5. The Poor Man - http://www.thepoorman.net/2006/02/16/i-feel-like-going-drunk-hunting-with-cheney/#comment-15166
  6. Fundies say the darndest things - http://www.fstdt.com/comments.asp?id=9416

See also

References

  1. Left or Right, religion and politics don't mix--PZ Myers
  2. Top five science blogs. 5 July 2006. Accessed 3 September 2006.
  3. Related Info for: pharyngula.org/ Accessed 3 September 2006.
  4. If you doubt this is possible...--PZ Myers
  5. National Science Teachers Association, a professional association of 55,000 science teachers and administrators in a 2005 press release: "We stand with the nation's leading scientific organizations and scientists, including Dr. John Marburger, the president's top science advisor, in stating that intelligent design is not science.…It is simply not fair to present pseudoscience to students in the science classroom." National Science Teachers Association Disappointed About Intelligent Design Comments Made by President Bush National Science Teachers Association Press Release August 3 2005

External links

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