Quickies
Skepchick Quickies 9.17
- Nova Scotia garlic farmer wards off high speed internet – He’s afraid that a microwave tower for high speed wireless internet will “shake up the molecules” of his garlic and change its DNA. From Shawn and Craig.
- Interview with Hemant Mehta – That Hemant, he’s so friendly. And he’s got great taste in blogs, too.
- Man vs. God – Karen Armstrong and Richard Dawkins give their answers to “Where does evolution leave God?” in the WSJ. From Kaylia.
- Boob-adolia? – I have no idea whether to tag this safe for work or not. I promise it’s 100% free of actual boobs, though. From Pete.
I think I’m going to write a book – ‘Boob-adolia for Dummies’. I’ll probably never have to work again.
@Skepotter: ‘Boob-adolia for Dummies’.
You’d save me a small fortune in porn charges.
“Change it’s DNA?” This is serious WTF!?! territory.
@QuestionAuthority: Just think of the horror of mutant garlic! And you know there’s got to be spiders on garlic plants, too, so Nova Scotia could end up overrun with mutant web-slinging garlic bulbs wearing weird spandex outfits and filled with emo angst.
@Amanda: Can we alter garlic’s DNA so that all the bulbs look like little boobs?
@Amanda: I think his biggest concern is that the consumers of his organic garlic might no longer view his product as unsullied.
Or, he might be worried that the mutant garlic will no longer ward off vampires. Mind you, spandex wearing spiders probably would.
Haaa ! from Jenny, she’s my wife’s bff’s cohort on GoodMom/BadMom blog here in Houston. Comparatively mild post for her :)
If only we could make mutant garlic that would look like fun boy parts to go along with the Titshroom, then we would have it all!
@Kaylia_Marie: COTW.
@Kaylia_Marie: 2nding the COTW.
This sounding like a veggie salad at Larry Flynt’s house…
That “Man vs. God” piece was absolutely fascinating and, dare I say it, inspiring.
All pages on Wikipedia covering spectroscopy from NMR to rotational (microwove) to infrared (vibrational) need to carry, in big letter, the statement;
“THE ENERGIES INVOLVED IN THE LIGHT OF THESE WAVELENGTHS IS FAR TOO LITTLE TO ALTER MOLECULES IN ANY PERMANENT OR DISCERNIBLE WAY.”
As they sure as hell aren’t going to magically stumble onto the Ionizing Radiation page (much less grok that a sunburn is caused by ionizing radiation) before they go off spouting nonsense.
Pet Peeve: I HATE the phrase “X times lower.” You mean “1/xth” the amount, but you say X times lower because you are interested in NOT MAKING ANY GODDAMN SENSE.
@Amanda: @MiddleMan:
My first COTW Noms!!!
@FFFearlesss: Indeed. We talked a bit about it at the Skeptics Without A Cause dinner last night. Even though Armstrong tends to oversimplify the way those old timey peoples thought about religion, her concept (the God as concept rather than literal dude with beard) is interesting.
The group talked about what roles religion and God (gods) play n the lives of people… and whether or not they are still needed to do so. this led to a conversation about superstition… is the average person more of less superstitious than they used to be (say a hundred years ago) or just superstitious about different things and in different ways…
At least Lenny Levine believes in DNA. It’s a start.
Did someone mention boobies?
If only they had the internet, then they could look it up and see that the towers are harmless. As of now my “neighbours” here in Kings County are still stuck with obsolete dial-up.
@Amanda: We’re already overrun with ignorance, apparently.
@Amanda: I just spit out my milk! I must offer one suggestion, tho:
How about mutant web-slinging garlic bulbs wearing weird spandex outfits filled with BOOBS?!?
Magical .boobie. mushroom
he he he
@QuestionAuthority: “Change it’s DNA?†This is serious WTF!?! territory.
—
Sounds like Paris Hilton science.
@Kaylia_Marie: I think this one already goes very well with the titshroom though …
Add my COTW to Kaylia…Good one! LOL
I think the boob is the garlic farmer, personally. ;-)