Why Evolution is True is a blog written by Jerry Coyne, centered on evolution and biology but also dealing with diverse topics like politics, culture, and cats.
Burrowing Owls usually have bright yellow irises, but a small percentage of owls found in Florida have dark brown or spangled yellow and brown irises which could be the result of a recessive gene being expressed. https://t.co/EW8YhJs6tHpic.twitter.com/3DULVFLik2
The Pecksniff/Grinches are busy ruining Christmas by minutely scrutinizing every favorite Christmas movie or song for signs of moral failure. Gone is the song “Baby, it’s cold outside” (sexual predation), and with it now goes the movie Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer—at least according to the HuffPo (“All the News that’s Fit to Pecksniff”) video below (click on screenshot to go there):
Here are some of the ideological crimes committed by the movie (and I’m not kidding you, nor are they!):
Child abuse:
Bullying!
Bigotry!
Marginalization!
Sexism!
And, HuffPo’s ultimate take:
This would seem like a parody of “Social Justice Warriorism” if it weren’t serious. But it is serious.
These are not college students who have yet to mature; these are graduates who publish a widely-read website. So don’t suggest that some day these people will grow out of this: it’s simply too late. They are grown, except emotionally.
In what way will this Pecksniffery help our world? Will we all realize that Rudolph is a parable of bigotry and abuse, and become more woke? I doubt it. The world these people want to create is Orwellian, and the Pecksniffs are creating it not by helping people, but by petty tests of ideological purity.
Enjoy your holiday, including watching Rudolph. And god help us, every one!
UPDATE: Reader Pliny the in Between has contributed this cartoon:
Garry Wills is one of those smart people—one of those prolific and thoughtful intellectuals—who baffles me because he’s an observant Catholic. I can never fully understand how people who are smart and reality-oriented, and whose lives are prosperous and well ordered, can nevertheless go to church and pray to a being for whom there’s no evidence. If he believes in the Transubstantiation and Resurrection, so much the worse.
In one way all religions occupy the same boat: that vessel floating on the sea of supernatural belief. And so it’s common for believers in one sect to defend those in others, even if those other sects fosters dangerous extremism.
And so we have scholar and author Garry Wills pulling a Karen Armstrong/Reza Aslan tactic: writing a book about the Qu’ran and telling us that we’ve all misunderstood it—that’s it’s not only not that bad, but actually a wonderful book about the love of God for humans, and about how humans should love each other.
The review notes that Wills claims that the Qu’ran is basicially a document of concordat, of love, and even of respect for women. And of course “jihad” doesn’t mean crusade, but something nice:
In fact, [Wills[ points out, jihad does not mean “holy war.” It means “striving” — as in striving to lead a moral life. The main point of the Quran’s discussion of violence is to establish limitations on its use, and to “abstain from violence to the degree that that is possible.” While a few endlessly cited verses have to do with violence, “the overall tenor is one of mercy and forgiveness, which are evoked everywhere, almost obsessively.” This is what is striven for in the Quran, not war.
Well, I’ve read the Qur’an, and this is not the Quran I find—the one that’s filled with threats of hell and calls to smite unbelievers and apostates. Yes, there is no explicit call in the Qur’an for women to cover their bodies, and yes, jihad has several meanings, but for some sects of Islam that doctrine has been turned even more violent through interpretation. This is the opposite of Christianity, in which secular morality has tamed the more violent behavior of its adherents. Islam has yet to undergo such a reformation, and is less likely to do so because because its words are taken more literally.
What Wills has done, apparently (and I will read his book to check) is construe the Qur’an in as favorable a light as possible, just as Karen Armstrong has done. Why? I can only guess that because he’s religious, he has a propensity to see only the good in other religions and in their gods. And you don’t make yourself popular by writing a book showing that the Qur’an is filled with threats, violence, and hatred.
I urge you to read the Qur’an for yourself (be sure to get a translation that is generally approved by scholars) and see if you can find the benignity, love, and peace that Wills sees. Judge for yourselves.
But I wonder how Wills would excuse the god of the Old Testament, who is explicitly genocidal, judgmental, and thoroughly nasty. And how does he deal with the fact that some branches of Islam, using the very words of the Qur’an, have used their faith to justify horrible acts. Does he know more about what it means than do the imams?
UPDATE: Oct. 6, 2018. Here’s an interesting discussion of the Qu’ran at the podcast site Made You Think. Go here to hear it. Some topics:
The different writing styles of the Quran at the beginning and the end
Interpretation of Arabic and context at the time of Muhammad
Strategies to build and spread virally a set of beliefs
This heartwarming tail of cat rescue was sent by reader Diane G.; it’s called “A Christmas Cat” and recently appeared at the Daily Kos.
Read for yourself the tale of Greta, the twice-abandoned but rescued tabby. But then don’t linger on this website: there are presents to open, foods to eat, and, if you’re that sort, Baby Jesuses to worship.
Happy holidays as I’m in the air to Bangalore.
Greta the rescue cat
Oh, and read some of the cat stories in the comments section of this one.
Yep, I saw Father Christmas in the Pune Airport while waiting for my flight to Bengaluru. All of a sudden he was there, dispensing candies from his bag to all the waiting passengers—except me! Why was the American left out? Well, I went up to Santa and asked him if I could have a present, too. He smiled and obliged, and then I asked for a photo. So here I am with an Indian Santa.
I expect he’s a vegetarian as he’s noticeably lacking in avoirdupois. And check out those shades!
There’s a Google Christmas Doodle today; click on the screenshot below and then advance to see the four panels. NDTV explains:
Christmas is here and Google announced the beginning of merriment with a four picture series of Doodles. December is synonymous with spending time with our family, friends and loved ones. And what’s better than a vacation with the family!
This is the thought behind the Christmas Google Doodle which shows a family of penguins – a “pair of slippery-footed siblings” – preparing for the season – packing their bags and suitcases for a vacation.
This continuous series which started on 18th December will unfold a complete story that would reach its conclusion on 1st January.
The illustrations show four calendar dates – 18th December, 25th December, 31st December and 1st January. One of the illustrations in the series has a photo frame with a picture of the penguin and parrot families and four wrapped gift boxes.
On the first day, which was 18th December – when the series debuted, the pair of penguins, inside an igloo at the South Pole, is seen packing their bags for a vacation with the family. They are visibly excited to be reunited with their parrot friends up north in a warmer region.
Today, on the 25th of December, the penguins are seen with their warm-weather relatives. While the family of parrots has tropical fruits, the penguins have come prepared with frozen fish. The two families come together on Christmas day to share a delicious feast and the spirit of Christmas.
Reader pyers sent a photo of the most efficient way to protect your holiday tree from the depredations of moggies:
Gus got a catnip mouse for Christmas.
Out in Winnipeg, Gus got not only a catnip mouse for Christmas (see above) but some PORKCHOP, a treat that I told him he might get from Santa if he was a good cat. And he wrote his “Onkel Jerry” (he spells in Cat) to report this, sending a video. Note that he licks the chair!
Merreee Krizmess Onkel!!! Het werked! U letterz te Santa werked! I gotz de pokchopz!!! I wuz e bit spishus et furst, but het wuz delishus, jest lik u sed het wuz bee. I likked de plate cleen.
Tankz fur heppin Santa te find mee. I hev hed a furry gud dey. Hev a gud fly tday.
Neffu Gus
A holiday cartoon from reader Pliny the in Between:
And finally, our raison d’être.
Hili: I’m observing it carefully.
A: And?
Hili: And absolutely nothing.
In Polish:
Hili: Przyglądam się z uwagą.
Ja: I co?
Hili: No właśnie nic.
(No photos here as I packed my camera). This was my lunch, ergo my big daily meal, in the IISER guesthouse canteen. I leave for the airport and Bengaluru (Bangalore) in a hour.
Daal (lentils)
Rice
Chappatis
Dahi (yogurt)
Paneer (Indian cheese) curry
Aloo saag (spinach and potatoes)
Fruit: cut-up apples and papayas
Box of mango drink
That’s pretty much a middle-class Indian meal. To those leisure fascists who think I shouldn’t be eating fancy noms, is that acceptable?
