Reproductive riddle unscrambled [Fossilized eggs found inside dinosaur supports a link with birds]

The Globe and Mail ^ | 4/15/05 | By DAWN WALTON

[AntiGuv]

Interesting link: The Three Solutions to Flight.

Also neat: The Development of Insect Flight.

PS. Some of the 'transitional' forms are still alive. The trixy mutations are poised for a fifth emergence of true flight..

[Verginius Rufus]

One of those Orioles is not long gone--he was on TV yesterday managing the Nationals to their victory in their home opener (Frank Robinson--Orioles player 1966-1971, and Orioles manager 1988-91).

[ValenB4]

I know. All forms are transitional forms. Just trying to stir it up.

[doc30]

excellent posting! I own two parrots, and I swear one has the attitude of a T. rex. Little quaker (ok. a type of parakeet) but it tries to attack the cats and the dog.

[Wuli]

I repeat myself here again, I know, but as the ancient Jewish sages told us, the truth in the Bible is not in the story, but in the spiritual and moral truth embeded in the story. No one should need the literal seven day account to accept, and have faith in knowing, that all creation is the work of God. Thinking you can and need to figure out the mystery, in order to retain the faith, is simply eating from the tree of knowledge (Good and Evil) and not the tree of life (faith through experience and experience guided by faith).

[doc30]

I didn't think Satan had the power of creation. I thought God created the universe with the appearance of age, including fossils. But wouldn't that make him a liar?

[Vaquero]

"? It would seem to me that this proves that dinosaurs were not reptiles but really GIANT FLIGHTLESS BIRDS, and warm-blooded to boot....... " Yes in fact here is one viewing the reverse Gondwanaland global map.......and pointing to its home in Keokuk, Gondwanaland

[frgoff]

Well he certainly seems the chap to go to to find out about the evolution of birds.

What part of D.Sc. in mathematics and B.S. in applied mathematics did you not understand?

Considering evolution is nothing if not a grand study in the mathematics of probability, I think he's eminently qualified to comment on the mathematical probabilities involved in various evolutionary just-so stories biologists bandy about.

[Mikey_1962]

Bravo! Nice reply.

People who try use science to explain Religious beliefs are wasting their time.

[doc30]

The guy is a mathematician, not a biologist. How can you apply mathematics to any problem if you have no contect of the problem? You can't. For example, what is the product of these two numbers? Is it greater than or less than 10?

[jbloedow]

Thanks.

The most accepted theory ... suggests ... may have ... would have ... perhaps ... would have ...

I've got another good theory for you.

P.S. I deliberately omitted "flying" squirrels. If they ain't transitioned yet, they ain't transitional.

[Ichneumon]

People who try use science to explain Religious beliefs are wasting their time.

I don't have a problem with that. What I do mind is when they try to use religious beliefs to "explain away" science.

[AntiGuv]

The most accepted theory ... suggests ... may have ... would have ... perhaps ... would have ...

A children's game, for children minds.

[Ichneumon]

[Well he certainly seems the chap to go to to find out about the evolution of birds.]

What part of D.Sc. in mathematics and B.S. in applied mathematics did you not understand?

The part where he knows squat about biology or paleontology -- the fields he was bloviating about.

Considering evolution is nothing if not a grand study in the mathematics of probability, I think he's eminently qualified to comment on the mathematical probabilities involved in various evolutionary just-so stories biologists bandy about.

...and if he ever comments on the *math*, maybe he'll have a chance of saying something relevant (although I wouldn't hold my breath). However, he's not commenting on the *math* in the pronouncement he was making which bvw quoted. He was making ignorant and incorrect comments about the *fossil record*.

Care to try again?

[b_sharp]

Thank you for posting this. More transitional evidence.

[Old Professer]

I don't suppose the oviraptorid could have died before it laid any subsequent eggs during the same gestation period, or had already deposited a pair some distance away, could it?

[crail]

The part where he knows squat about biology or paleontology...

I'm finishing a Ph.D. in applied mathematics. I'm a little offended you think I must know nothing about everything aside from mathematics. There are mathematicians in our department who study evolution. By the way, what is it that you do exactly, and how does knowing nothing outside your specialty qualify you to evaluate this research so quickly?

[Doctor Stochastic]

Fish and flying squirrels.

[Old Professer]

We should have had you write the article.

[Ichneumon]

[No no, Satan left those bones there to trick you. Which begs the question... if God is all powerful, then God LET satan leave the bones to decieve you - making Him complicit in your deception by evil forces! ]

I didn't think Satan had the power of creation. I thought God created the universe with the appearance of age, including fossils. But wouldn't that make him a liar?

You see, it's actually all the work of Loki, the Norse trickster god, who has not only planted all this bogus "evidence" of evolution, but also has carried on a millennia-long hoax posing as "Jehovah" and "Lucifer" -- including dictating a long book detailing their fictitious activities -- in order to confuse and divert mankind from following Odin, the All-Father..