New Fossil Links Four-legged Land Animals To Ancient Fish

National Science Foundation ^ | 01 April 2004 | Staff

[RadioAstronomer]

Irrelevant, as we Piltdowns have all evolved.

Whoohoo! Evolved is right. :-)

[Junior]

...but I only have two legs...

You have four, just like all the other tetrapods. Your forelegs are simply modified for purposes other than locomotion, now.

[VadeRetro]

Further comparing notes, vpintheak is in the lead for "fastest unraveling."

[PatrickHenry]

Late-breaking science news that may interest you, from Nature:
Size does matter: Prominent penis gives cold-dwelling mammals an edge.

My customary good taste prevents me from posting it as a stand-alone thread.

[VadeRetro]

I'm glad Senator Schumer (D-NY) is doing something for the cold-dwelling mammals.

[fish hawk]

You are right, teach both evolution and creationism. Let's be fair here. Either both or neither. You can't have it all your way.

[js1138]

Actually we can, because one is science and the other is religion.

[fish hawk]

No, they both are religion. Evolution is the god to many on this thread.

[VadeRetro]

You are right, teach both evolution and creationism. Let's be fair here. Either both or neither. You can't have it all your way.

Fairness is what matters. What is truth, anyway, right?

Holy Warrior Syndrome.

You may say that something is wrong, but who is to say you're right? You may say that the evidence excludes a thing, but who is to say what is evidence? Is your reality any more valid than anyone else's?

Liberals and creationists! You got it bad.

[js1138]

And if you were king of the world you pathetic bleatings would be tthe law, and you could imprison anyone who disagreed. But, alas for you, you are not, and no one cares about your attempts to redefine reality.

[fish hawk]

Then why do you keep writing me? You just like to argue?

[fish hawk]

You are right about Creationist, but Liberal? I guess you have to label everyone. The best Conservatives I know are Christians. Without us you would be a lost minority.

[VadeRetro]

My impression is that most Christians are not creationists. At any rate, I tend to notice commonalities between how liberals and creationists argue. From the other side, it tends to look like this:

• Your opponent is working for a better world to come (in this life and/or the next).
• You are evil and dumb for disagreeing.
• You do not deserve honest answers. You deserve facile, smirking dismissals, patent dishonesty, or simple shouting down.
• If you protest at your treatment, you will be told that "your side" has been equally dishonest, so all is fair. This logical fallacy of tu quoque--"You're another!"--is applied even if, quite unlike your antagonist, you personally have done nothing but try to honestly explain what you believe and why.
• Even if you're absolutely right, arguments against your position are entitled to consideration on "fairness" and "intellectual diversity" grounds.

A recent post of yours reminded me of the last point in particular.

[VadeRetro]

I guess you have to label everyone.

Exactly how John Kerry answers when asked "Are you a liberal?"

[fish hawk]

Your "impression" is that evolution is fact. You are an Impressionist. This is really fun, but I have to go to work now. Oh, I forgot to SHOUT this. LOL

[vpintheak]

As per my previous post. It is obvious that you think myself and other Christians are morons because we don't have so much faith in human scientific knowledge. Yes I have run up against nothing but people patronizing me whenever I do have these types of discussions. I really don't care if you aren't as nice. I will continue to pray for all of us. Did I misspell any words this time? I sure hope not, I would hate to make a mistake once in a while. No further correspondence necessary, goodbye.

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

Did I misspell any words this time? I sure hope not, I would hate to make a mistake once in a while.

The funny thing is, RA made a spelling mistake in the post prior to yours and she must not have noticed. Course, evo's would never criticize a scientist.

[Right Wing Professor]

At last, we've explained what 'I am the walrus' means!

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

Course, evo's would never criticize a scientist.

Scientists criticizing scientists is a good thing, however, for that is how we advance our knowledge. Here is a recent example.

Molecular timescales of evolution are imprecise

[Junior]

Walruses (Odobenus), however, which live in the frozen Arctic, weigh less, at up to 1,700 kilograms, but have a baculum that can reach up to 60 centimetres in length - one of the largest members of any mammal in both absolute and relative terms.

Brings up the old joke -- Why do Walruses have two feet?