related_results_labels_thumbs({"version":"1.0","encoding":"UTF-8","feed":{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom","xmlns$openSearch":"http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/","xmlns$georss":"http://www.georss.org/georss","xmlns$thr":"http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0","id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977309212311534399"},"updated":{"$t":"2010-09-06T13:16:32.901-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Mad Skeptic"},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":"Straddling the line between ivory tower and blue collar.  \nThe notes, comments, and general ramblings of a Gen-X Scientist and Skeptic."},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.themadskeptic.com/feeds/posts/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4977309212311534399/posts/default/-/evolution?alt\u003djson-in-script\u0026max-results\u003d6"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.themadskeptic.com/search/label/evolution"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Baron Army"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07476349695309049940"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"3"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"6"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977309212311534399.post-433441640055778762"},"published":{"$t":"2009-12-01T01:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-12-09T13:14:06.596-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"misinformation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"internet"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"religion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"evolution"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"science"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Ignorance is Evil"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003cdiv xmlns\u003d'http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'\u003e\u003cstyle type\u003d'text/css'\u003e \t \t\u003c/style\u003e  \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\t\u003cimg style\u003d'max-width: 800px; float: right; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;' src\u003d'http://lh5.ggpht.com/_PqiPgKVm1uI/SxSrY2IlifI/AAAAAAAABHc/VXhYM-xeMDc/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax\u003d800'/\u003eIgnorance is killing us.  I don't mean in the extermination of our species kind of a way.  I'm referring to the proverbial lead pipes and plates killing Rome kind of a way.  The darkness of ignorance will forever doom us to a world inhabited by all knowing soothsayers and priests who hand down their rulings and condemn us to a reality of war, divisiveness, and subjugation.  Like some dethroned ruler, they seek to have their absolute power restored.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\tAs I grow older (and I'm only 38) I've seen a lot of ridiculous nonsense coming from the forces which, through the control of the transmittal of knowledge on its most basic levels, kept humanity in a slave-like or outright enslaved state.  They desire, with a lust previously only reserved for their most hated anti-deities, the ability to control what others think.  They disregard evidence and in its place substitute blind faith with the expectation that everyone should be as they are and do as they say.  Is this because of some sort of supposed moral good?  Certainly not although they justify it as such.  One can argue and make a solid case that to deny anyone of education and true knowledge (not of the philosophical variety mind you) is the greatest crime any entity can impose upon any person or people regardless of their creed, race, or characteristic which makes them “different”.  It is an abomination upon the human spirit.  It is a disgrace to continually observe this happening in this day and age of the internet, nanotechnology, and advanced computer systems.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\tI occasionally question whether the true age of reason has passed us by.  While we have made amazing leaps in science and our knowledge of Nature, the World, and of the Universe, the forces of darkness, no, evil (yes, evil because evil is a human creation), have remained and tried to force their mind muddling anti-science view upon the populace.  What has been happening?  Sure, there are a lot of people who have a better understanding of science but, how many people out there really understand science and its basic tenets of the scientific method, evidence, and education?  We live in a world where a very high percentage of the population of the United States does not accept the Theory of Evolution.  I've heard some reports of as many as 50% do not accept, or outright reject Darwin's fundamental discovery and theory.  I would argue that 1% would be too great a number yet we, as a culture seem willing to sit in our own intellectual filth while these poor people continue to be fed outright lies and misinformation by those who have a clear agenda to subjugate the minds of others.  What's worse is that this evil predates upon the most vulnerable who have the most to gain through education.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\tI won't mince words, I am talking mainly about religion but, having said that, there are sects out there which have no problem in accepting aspects of scientific education but they still believe in something which can not be proved and which requires blind acceptance of doctrine.  I somehow managed to make it through that maze but I think that has more to do with me, my parents, and the good fortune of a good education than with much else.  There are others out there who might have the spark to be the next Einstein or Darwin yet they are shackled to fanatical thinking given to them by horrible and demonstrably false teachings.  Carl Sagan wrote in \u003ca href\u003d'http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345409469?ie\u003dUTF8\u0026amp;tag\u003dthemadskeptic-20\u0026amp;linkCode\u003das2\u0026amp;camp\u003d1789\u0026amp;creative\u003d9325\u0026amp;creativeASIN\u003d0345409469'\u003eThe Demon-Haunted World\u003c/a\u003e\u003cimg width\u003d'1' height\u003d'1' border\u003d'0' class\u003d' momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta' src\u003d'http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t\u003dthemadskeptic-20\u0026amp;l\u003das2\u0026amp;o\u003d1\u0026amp;a\u003d0345409469' alt\u003d'' style\u003d'border: medium none  ! important; margin: 0px ! important;'/\u003e that if one was to take the Bible literally, the Earth is flat.  The fundamentalist believe the Bible is infallible and is the word of god.  We know the Earth is anything but flat and we have the pictures to prove it.  Not only that, the ancient Greeks proved it with basic mathematics and geometry.  If you know the Earth isn't flat, are you not going against the will of god?  And, if that is the case, does the evidential proof of this spheroid planet which we call home cast serious doubt upon what many call the “god hypothesis”.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\tThe 150\u003csup\u003eth\u003c/sup\u003e anniversary of the publication Darwin's \u003ca href\u003d'http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451529065?ie\u003dUTF8\u0026amp;tag\u003dthemadskeptic-20\u0026amp;linkCode\u003das2\u0026amp;camp\u003d1789\u0026amp;creative\u003d9325\u0026amp;creativeASIN\u003d0451529065'\u003eThe Origin Of Species\u003c/a\u003e\u003cimg width\u003d'1' height\u003d'1' border\u003d'0' class\u003d' momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta momiyihsdvxbyltqiqta' src\u003d'http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t\u003dthemadskeptic-20\u0026amp;l\u003das2\u0026amp;o\u003d1\u0026amp;a\u003d0451529065' alt\u003d'' style\u003d'border: medium none  ! important; margin: 0px ! important;'/\u003e has just past us by and the forces of darkness, again, were out trying to enslave us all. Idiots like Kirk Cameron were handing out modified versions of Origin of the Species which included a highly anti-scientific preface which, amongst other things, claimed Hitler was one of Darwin's greatest students.  Garbage.  Pure and simply put, this preface is undiluted propaganda with only one intention – to confuse the innocent who may not know any better.  To top it off, they also removed chapters from the book.  Not only are they intellectually devoid of any reason, they lie through their censorship for, you see, they removed the salient portions of the book which explained how Darwin came to his conclusions.  This practice  is commonplace to these people and it has been seen in the past.  When anyone tells you that they have divine knowledge or you need to follow them for any reason – question their motives.  Examine their evidence – not their conviction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\tScience allows us to challenge those in authority and their beliefs – the very things which they fear the most and yet the science education in the United States is becoming an enormous joke.  Children and college students alike are taught to memorize facts and not to think critically.  The very fundamental underpinning of science – the scientific method – is only another fact to memorize.  Which comes first theory or hypothesis?  For this, I fear, we are doomed to more superstition and more mindless strawman arguments like that for the “\u003ca target\u003d'_blank' href\u003d'http://cdn3.knowyourmeme.com/i/18351/original/crocoduck.jpg?1252808820'\u003ecrocoduck\u003c/a\u003e” or the \u003ca target\u003d'_blank' href\u003d'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v\u003d2z-OLG0KyR4'\u003ebanana as the “perfect” food for humans \u003c/a\u003e(because it fits so conveniently in one's hand).  Have Mr. Cameron and Ray Comfort (the other idiot involved in the Origin of the Species scheme) ever entertained that the banana is the perfect vegetative sex toy?  Something in me thinks not.  I doubt they'd want the idea that the angle of the penis to the body is strangely similar to that of a banana held a certain way if a woman wanted to masturbate with it.  Regardless, both arguments are equally specious.  The difference is that the yellow dildo theory is only made in jest.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\tI have a very young daughter and she will be taught to think for herself and to question those around her. If not enough parents teach their children likewise, we certainly will slip backwards to a time where the church or some other authoritarian regime rules our lives.  There is hope but I think it will come from outside the United States.  There are pockets of us here and there and some of us are louder than others but we also have the Pentecostal and Fundamentalist religions to deal with.  They will continue to try to snake their way into our Boards of Education to dilute science and, therefore, critical thought.  No, I think the forces of good will come from the countries with robust science education programs.   For a country that saw the likes of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and Carl Sagan and opened its arms to Albert Einstein and Nicoli Tesla I fear we are regressing away from reason.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp style\u003d'margin-bottom: 0in;'\u003e\tThere is hope and I believe it lays within the internet and its associated mediums.  Critical thinkers, Atheists, and Skeptics are coming together like never before.  Information wants to be free and the truth, regardless of how hard the forces of evil want it stamped out, will never disappear.  We will continue to work and I believe it should be every Skeptic's goal to educate those around them.  We may take knocks and the insults of the ignorant but not speaking up implies acquiescence and those who would wish to enslave us yet again need our silence.  We must dedicate ourselves to let it be known that there is dissent and that there are facts – not beliefs – which back it up.  We must fight for science education at every opportunity we get.  We must never tire because to do so means we have given up.  Future generations depend upon us and we upon them. \u003c/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003csmall\u003e\u003cbr/\u003ePhoto by \u003ca target\u003d'_blank' href\u003d'http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/'\u003ewallyg\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/small\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class\u003d\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003e\u003cimg width\u003d'1' height\u003d'1' src\u003d'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4977309212311534399-433441640055778762?l\u003dwww.themadskeptic.com' alt\u003d'' /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.themadskeptic.com/feeds/433441640055778762/comments/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID\u003d4977309212311534399\u0026postID\u003d433441640055778762\u0026isPopup\u003dtrue","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4977309212311534399/posts/default/433441640055778762"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4977309212311534399/posts/default/433441640055778762"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.themadskeptic.com/2009/12/ignorance-is-evil.html","title":"Ignorance is Evil"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Baron Army"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07476349695309049940"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"17303909186244852468"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977309212311534399.post-4557948862914154694"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-08T00:00:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-08T10:13:13.492-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"CAM"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"misinformation"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"homeopathy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"ufos"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"skeptics' circle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"vaccines"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"religion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"evolution"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"media"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"science"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"politics"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"ghosts"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Live at Five! The 121st Skeptics' Circle"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003cdiv xmlns\u003d\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://lh5.ggpht.com/_PqiPgKVm1uI/Ss1UpWuG7WI/AAAAAAAABEk/0SmJCrQ8j7c/%5BUNSET%5D.jpg?imgmax\u003d800\" style\u003d\"float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 800px;\" /\u003eGood evening and thank you for watching W.E.B.S., your Fox news-alternative.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eHere at W.E.B.S., we've been closely following a story many of you may not be aware of.\u0026nbsp; Tonight we will go into detail as we examine the Skeptic Threat!\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eAlready, some have been made aware of Skeptics and their condescending, know-it-all-ism.\u0026nbsp; The way they make the rest of us feel stupid for taking our over-the-counter Dr. Mbeki's homeopathic A.I.D.S. remedies.\u0026nbsp; They also seem to mingle with another crowd -- the Atheists.\u0026nbsp; A recent article by recognized Skeptic, Karen Stollznow even addresses \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/show/when_the_beatles_were_bigger_than_jesus_christ/\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eWhen the Beatles were Bigger than Jesus Christ\u003c/a\u003e!\u0026nbsp; Can this scourge be stopped?\u0026nbsp; It's as if there are rationalists around every corner!\u0026nbsp; They even challenge the very foundations of our country by suggesting that the socially unacceptable practice of Atheism is tenable.\u0026nbsp; A writer called \"One Brow\" has even gone so far as to challenge the logic of \u003cu\u003eThe Last Superstition\u003c/u\u003e in a post entitled \u003ca href\u003d\"http://lifetheuniverseandonebrow.blogspot.com/2009/10/review-of-tls-preface.html\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eReview of TLS -- a preface\u003c/a\u003e.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThe Skeptics -- as they willingly call themselves, will challenge all manners of concepts regardless of how many of us know them to be true.\u0026nbsp; The recent scientific study finally proving the violent dangers of giving sugar to children has even been challenged by Andrew Bernardin who published a post entitled \u003ca href\u003d\"http://evolvingmind.info/blog/2009/10/dangerous-science-threat-level-cherry-red/\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eDangerous Science Threat Level:\u0026nbsp; Cherry Red\u003c/a\u003e.\u0026nbsp; Not only does he mock the very alt-science he worships, he mocks our gracious benefactor Emperor Bush.\u0026nbsp; Next, these people will be doubting the maquaque study linking Hep B vaccines to autism!\u0026nbsp; It doesn't stop there.\u0026nbsp; Mattus Maximus even questions the recognised medical genius of the heretic Bill Maher in an article he's written called \u003ca href\u003d\"http://skepticalteacher.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/blasphemy-day-bill-maher-and-free-inquiry/\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eBlasphemy Day, Bill Maher, and Free Inquiry\u003c/a\u003e.\u0026nbsp; In a time where truth is just a click away at Conservapedia, these Skeptics even have the gall to suggest that newspapers still have a place in the media market place.\u0026nbsp; Socratic Gadfly suggests they have a role left to play in \u003ca href\u003d\"http://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2009/10/no-newspapers-arent-dead-yet-and-they.html\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eNo, newspapers aren't dead yet, and they probably aren't that close\u003c/a\u003e.\u0026nbsp; Hopefully this doesn't suggest the reappearance of the peer-reviewed journal!\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eWhat else do Skeptics believe.\u0026nbsp; You might be surprized.\u0026nbsp; Stay tuned after the break.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eWelcome back.\u0026nbsp; We here at W.E.B.S., your Fox news-alternative, take your family's welfare very seriously.\u0026nbsp; We recommend that, if there are children in the room, you take them out for the next 10 minutes.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eWe all know and love ghosts.\u0026nbsp; Whispy, fun-loving and adorable.\u0026nbsp; They're a part of our lives.\u0026nbsp; How would your children take it if someone was to walk up to them and claim there might not be ghosts after all.\u0026nbsp; The looks on their faces would break any mother's heart.\u0026nbsp; Two Skeptics seem to claim that there might not be ghosts!\u0026nbsp; One Skeptic called \"Bing McGhandi\" openly mocks the very types of evidence used to prove the existence of ghosts in an entry entitled \u003ca href\u003d\"http://hjhop.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-ghost-hunt.html\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eMy Ghost Hunt...\u003c/a\u003e.\u0026nbsp; Mockery is one thing when it comes from someone claiming to be a hypno-toad but it is another coming from a human being.\u0026nbsp; Cubic's Rube writes an article purporting to explain how some things, like evidence of ghosts, are discovered -- \u003ca href\u003d\"http://cubiksrube.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/anomaly-hunting/\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eAnomaly Hunting\u003c/a\u003e.\u0026nbsp; This article even questions the existence of UFOs!\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThe science of Creationism has been widely accepted for years now.\u0026nbsp; Thanks to Emperor Bush and the brave souls in the Texas Board of Education and their kindred spirits, the heretic teachings of Charles Darwin are all but forgotten -- unless you're a Skeptic.\u0026nbsp; In his post \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.theexaminingroom.com/2009/10/dialogues-with-darwin-exhibit/\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eDialogues with Darwin Exhibit\u003c/a\u003e, Dr. Charles waxes on about just how valuable Charles Darwin was to science.\u0026nbsp; Funny.\u0026nbsp; Even though we all know the world was created in 6 days, these people still hold on to these out-moded beliefs.\u0026nbsp; Evolutionists!\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eThink this threat is a small one.\u0026nbsp; Think again.\u0026nbsp; They are meeting up and using our technology.\u0026nbsp; They might even be sitting right next to you.\u0026nbsp; PodBlack is sending recommendations to skeptical bloggers in her post \u003ca href\u003d\"http://podblack.com/2009/09/the-process-of-skeptical-blogging-the-bridge/\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eThe Process of Skeptical Blogging -- The Bridge\u003c/a\u003e.\u0026nbsp; These radicals are using technology to their advantage.\u0026nbsp; Not only that, they are organizing and having meetings.\u0026nbsp; A character called \"TechSkeptic\" brazenly writes about his attendance at a Skeptic conference right in New York City!\u0026nbsp; \u003ca href\u003d\"http://techskeptic.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-weekend-at-necss.html\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003eMy weekend at NECSS\u003c/a\u003e tells of an event with numerous Skeptics in attendence.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003cbr /\u003eSo, how can you keep your kids from growing up and dabbling in Skepticism?\u0026nbsp; The process is as simple as it is traditional.\u0026nbsp; Keep going to church.\u0026nbsp; Lend a steady hand when they falter and actually ask questions.\u0026nbsp; Make sure they take the Bible with them to science class every day and take their homeopathic medications.\u0026nbsp; Most importantly, stay tuned, here, to W.E.B.S. -- your Fox news-alternative.\u003cbr /\u003e\u003csmall\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr /\u003ePhoto by \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.flickr.com/photos/dhammza/\" target\u003d\"_blank\"\u003edhammza\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/small\u003e\u003cbr /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class\u003d\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003e\u003cimg width\u003d'1' height\u003d'1' src\u003d'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4977309212311534399-4557948862914154694?l\u003dwww.themadskeptic.com' alt\u003d'' /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.themadskeptic.com/feeds/4557948862914154694/comments/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID\u003d4977309212311534399\u0026postID\u003d4557948862914154694\u0026isPopup\u003dtrue","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4977309212311534399/posts/default/4557948862914154694"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.blogger.com/feeds/4977309212311534399/posts/default/4557948862914154694"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"http://www.themadskeptic.com/2009/10/alive-at-five-121st-skeptics-circle.html","title":"Live at Five! The 121st Skeptics\u0026#39; Circle"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Baron Army"},"uri":{"$t":"http://www.blogger.com/profile/07476349695309049940"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$extendedProperty":{"xmlns$gd":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005","name":"OpenSocialUserId","value":"17303909186244852468"}}],"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4977309212311534399.post-8696464007947419447"},"published":{"$t":"2009-10-06T11:57:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2009-10-06T11:57:53.188-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"dinosaurs"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"evolution"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"science"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Dinosaurs and Our Feathered Friends"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003cdiv xmlns\u003d'http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d'http://lh6.ggpht.com/_PqiPgKVm1uI/SstopJxCV7I/AAAAAAAABEc/SkXImOSSTxA/3475835661_7f9b3605ab.jpg' style\u003d'max-width: 800px; float: right; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;'/\u003eRecently, there has been a lot of attention paid to paleontology in the media.  While we're all waiting to see \u003ca href\u003d'http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/ardipithecus/ardipithecus.html' target\u003d'_blank'\u003ethe \"Ardi\" special on the Discovery Channel\u003c/a\u003e, another equally fascinating discovery was made public.  In a recent Letters to Nature, the discovery of a feathered bird/dinosaur from the Jurassic was discussed.  While \u003ca href\u003d'http://www.theness.com/neurologicablog/?p\u003d971' target\u003d'_blank'\u003eit has been previously discussed\u003c/a\u003e, there have been other recent discoveries which continue to cement the evolutionary relationship between Dinosaurs and birds.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eEveryone knows about \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx\u003c/span\u003e and its set of characteristics which both resemble therapod dinosaurs and modern birds.  Not only did \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx \u003c/span\u003ehave feathers like modern birds, it had teeth like dinosaurs and its skeleton shared characteristics between both birds and dinosaurs.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThis new discovery shares many similarities with \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx.  Anchiornis huxleyi\u003c/span\u003e is a member of the troodontids -- dinosaurs which have long been held to be most closely related to modern birds.  What makes this discovery exciting is that it is a transitional fossil from the Jurassic which contains the features one would expect to find.  Don't get confused, however, \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAnchiornis\u003c/span\u003e is not an ancestor of \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx\u003c/span\u003e and modern birds.  Instead \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAnchiornis\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx\u003c/span\u003e shared a common ancestor in the Middle Jurassic (~170 Myr).  \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eSo, we can add \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAnchiornis\u003c/span\u003e to the growing list of feathered dinosaurs and toothed birds which link modern birds to dinosaurs and, therefore, continue to effectively illustrate Evolution.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eWhile this most recent discovery is exciting, there are two other recent discoveries which also demonstrate the heritage between birds and dinosaurs.  One of these is the discovery of a theropod from Argentina.  Although the description was published over a year ago, the discovery didn't get much general coverage and it still is just as exciting.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAerosteon riocoloradensis\u003c/span\u003e is a member of the Allosauroidae and, as such, shares characteristics with its popular cousin -- Allosaurus.  However, \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAerosteon\u003c/span\u003e (as its name suggests) has evidence of a distinctive bird trait -- air sacs in the bone.  These air sacs facilitate the respiration of the animal and reduce the mass of the animals skeleton.  What makes the discovery of \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAerosteon\u003c/span\u003e so exciting is that this is from a big dinosaur.  \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAerosteon\u003c/span\u003e was up to 30 feet (10 meters) long!  Not something you would like to run into anywhere at any time.  It's teeth were nasty and exhibited the serrated steak-knife edge associated with \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAllosaurus\u003c/span\u003e.  This animal was definitely not a chickenosaurus!\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAnother fascinating discovery involves the perennial favorite -- \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eTyrannosaurus rex\u003c/span\u003e.  Heck, this even includes one of the most famous \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eT. rex\u003c/span\u003e of all times -- Sue!\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eIt appears as if poor old Sue had a serious problem when she died.  She had abscesses and lesions in her lower jaw which may have caused her to die from starvation.  An examination of those lesions has lead researchers to conclude Sue, as well as other Tyrannosaurids suffered from a disease called trichomonosis.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eTrichomonosis is a disease caused by a parasitic protozoan called \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eTrichomonas gallinae\u003c/span\u003e and, here's the catch, it infects modern birds.  Picked up from drinking infected water or eating infected prey,\u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003e \u003c/span\u003eT. gallinae\u003c/span\u003e infects animals and creates errosive lesions in the lower jaw and necrotic ulcers in the upper digestive track.  That is to say, it makes it very, very painful to eat.  Animals die from predation (due to weakness), a secondary infection, or starvation and their carcasses are then consumed by other carnosaurs -- passing the infection along.  Poor Sue!\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eSo, there you have it.  More evidence of the dinosaur and bird heritage.  Not only do we have the new four winged dinosaur \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eAnchiornis\u003c/span\u003e and also our old pal \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx\u003c/span\u003e, we also are now seeing evidence of air sacs in large theropod dinosaurs and a modern avian disease infecting Tyrannosaurids.  The evidence just keeps piling up.  Birds evolved from dinosaurs so, when you're filling your bird feeder this winter, stop and think about poor old Sue just what she had to go through.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003chr width\u003d'50%'/\u003eReferences:\u003cbr/\u003e\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href\u003d'http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v461/n7264/full/nature08322.html' target\u003d'_blank'\u003eHu, D., Hou, L., Zhang, L. \u0026amp; Xu, X.  (2009)\u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003e  \u003c/span\u003eA pre-\u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx \u003c/span\u003etroodontid theropod from China with long feathers on the metatarsus.\u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003e  \u003c/span\u003eNature, 461: \u003cspan style\u003d'font-weight: bold;'\u003e \u003c/span\u003e640-643.  doi:10.1038/nature08322\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003eOstrom, J.H.  (1976)  \u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eArchaeopteryx \u003c/span\u003eand the origin of birds.  Biol J Linn Soc, 8:  91-182\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href\u003d'http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0003303' target\u003d'_blank'\u003eSereno, P.C, Martinez, R.N., Wilson, J.A., Varricchio, D.J., et al.  (2008)  Evidence for Avian Intrathoracic Air Sacs in a New Predatory Dinosaur from Argentina.  PLoS ONE 3(9):  e3303.  doi:10.1371/journal.pone.003303\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href\u003d'http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0007288' target\u003d'_blank'\u003eWolff, E.D.S., Salisbury, S.W., Horner, J.R., Varriccio, D.J.,  (2009)  Common Avian Infection Plagued the Tyrant Dinosaurs.  PLoS ONE 4(9):  e7288.  doi:10.1371/journal.pone0007288\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href\u003d'http://www.springerlink.com/content/p5k5310462451jq3/' target\u003d'_blank'\u003eXing, X., Zhao, Q., Norell, M., Sullivan, C., et al.  (2009).  A new feathered maniraptoran dinosaur fossil that fills a morphological gap in avian origin.  Chinese Science Bulletin, 54(3):  430-435.  doi:10.1007/s11434-009-0009-6\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e\u003csmall\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003ephoto by \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href\u003d'http://www.flickr.com/photos/delkarm/' target\u003d'_blank' style\u003d'font-style: italic;'\u003eDelkarm\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/small\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class\u003d\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003e\u003cimg width\u003d'1' height\u003d'1' src\u003d'https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4977309212311534399-8696464007947419447?l\u003dwww.themadskeptic.com' alt\u003d'' /\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"http://www.themadskeptic.com/feeds/8696464007947419447/comments/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID\u003d4977309212311534399\u0026postID\u003d8696464007947419447\u0026isPopup\u003dtrue","title":"0 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