A brief post from Santa Cruz on Lake Atitlan, where I’m installed in a backpacker’s hotel on this most beautiful lake. I have seen my quetzal (a juvenile male flying) and have been embraced (four limbs and a tail) by a spider monkey. Despite the deforestation, Guatemala remains a gorgeous country and a traveller’s paradise.
I see that the blog kerfuffle about Dawkins continues, and that the Unholy Trio continue their furious backpedaling, even trying to make blog hay from their mistake. Here, far from the madding crowd, it seems laughable and a bit pathetic.
Thanks to Matthew and Greg for their guest hosting. I’ll return to the fray about October 18.
Guess who came to dinner?
I think the guy who ate with Rosenau and other NCSE people did well in that.
Glen Davidson
IOW, there is something to be said for getting along.
Glen Davidson
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
The guest hosting has been superb.
Tell us more about Santa Cruz, Lake Atitlan and Guatemala.
Just a short reminder that PZ has an appropriately mocking post up on Pharyngula about the kerfuffle, with some sad puppies thrown in. The title almost says it all: My regrets on your traumatic brain damage!
Josh Rosenau is up to the now usual philosophically illiterate inanities, only now adding personal insult to the mix. I guess it’s officially okay now to call him an idiot.
I think Rosenau has lost it, big time.
I notice that Kwok and McCarthy are now in full rapid-fire comment mode on Josh’s blog. Based on prior experience, that’s a pretty reliable indicator of a blogger (or bloggers) having lost it.
“… even trying to make blog hay from their mistake.”
This is a job for Nikki Finke! Just wait until “Deadline” gets word of the trio.
Oh yeah, and Chac is Not great.
You’ve seen a quetzal already? You lucky bastard!
(OK, I don’t know you well enough to insult you, but I’m still jealous.)
Have fun down there.
One of the most interesting animals I’ve seen in nearby countries (Panama, Costa Rica) are the leafcutter ants. Always “beavering” away.
I hope they’re feeding you well!
Josh had two points in that rather rambling response to Jerry that I wholeheartedly agree with:
1.) “I’ve never been clear what “accommodationist” means, it seems to adapt itself in perfect Calvinball style to suit whatever enemy someone might have.” Beautiful. That’s exactly what Jerry and friends do – shift the definition around to fit the opponent of the hour.
2.) “I think that intentionally vague definitions do a lot of the work in this debate.”
Oh yes, #2 is very much true. Both sides pose vague definitions, wait for a retort, and demonize the other side while redefining the term for themselves in light of the opposition’s context. It’s wonderful, wonderful stupidity. And both 1 and 2 make for the illusion that oen is NEVER wrong.
Where has Jerry, for example, redifined ‘compatibility’ or ‘accommodationist’?
And which parts exactly of his definitions, e.g. in this post, do you find wanting?
CAN U PLIS COME TO UNIVERSIDAD DEL VALLE DE GUATEMALA?? there’s a lot of biology students who have lot’s of questions that involves evolutionary process. PLIS!
Im sorry its please, not plis.