Killer insects and intelligent design

Norbert Smith, who was quoted here earlier about bison (which attracted the attention of a number of publicly funded Canadian Darwinbots), also writes to introduce me to a wasp called the cicada killer:

Growing up poor in western Oklahoma I did not have a lot of toys and enjoyed watching cicada killers. This is our largest North American wasp and they are amazing to watch. They capture a cicada several times larger them themselves and carefully sting the nerve ganglia that control the wings of the "locust" first. Next, one by one, they paralyze the ganglia that control each of the insect’s legs. The process often takes several minutes. Once the cicada is totally disabled they drag it up the nearest tree or fence post and fly toward their already prepared burrow. The prey is much to large for them to sustain flight and upon hitting the ground they again climb up any nearby structure and repeat this process until finally they have carried the cicada to its burrow. They then bury it and deposit a single egg. The larva carefully eats around the vital organs and finally eats the remainder of the prey and pupates. For this to have evolved by mutational error has always seemed impossible to this simple minded farm boy.

Well, of course it didn’t evolve by mutational error (= it just so happened) or by Darwinian evolution (= each and every step secured a selection advantage). From a human perspective, insects eating each other is all pretty nasty (think of the wings, for example).

But do we know that anyone except us actually cares? I got into quite a discussion with my e-mail friends on that very topic, and replied,

One thing that has always troubled me about the “evil in nature” schtick (and it so often does seem like a schtick) is the idea that the human perspective rules even though we don’t know that the life forms involved have any similar perspective.

I once saw a photo in National Geographic of praying mantises mating. The female had chewed off the male’s head. Apparently, he didn’t react to this insult, and simply continued mating. Both will die anyway soon after mating, but neither knows it. That’s just how insect life is.

Should God have given insects three score years and ten? Minds like human beings? Would the world be a better or worse place if he had?

Do insects suffer? So much of the kvetching I hear about insects (including Darwin’s) strikes me as a convenient confusion between aesthetics and morality.

Look, if I wanted a way to adjust the population of caterpillars and cicadas to prevent catastrophic vegetation loss in those years that favour insects, I would recycle the caterpillars through another insect and then through an animal life form - so as to keep the biota as varied as possible - rather than just giving the caterpillars a disease and turning them into bio compost.

So I might work out a system that does pretty much what Norbert describes. It’s quiet and convenient. The insect that is looking for a caterpillar does all the work with no further interventions needed.

If someone complains that it isn’t “nice”, I will offer them a 70-year lifespan insect, capable of a human level of thought, that breeds like flies - and has human rights in Spain!

Then I would ship him and the bug to Spain ...

THEN I would say, “Shuddup already and for good, Buster, or I am sending along its mate by a fast courier! And then welcome to the Garden of Breedin’ ”

Basically, I entirely agree that there IS a genuine moral question - around the suffering of animals that have a unitary consciousness. I mean animals that can feel pain as a locus of consciousness. Dogs, cats, horses, and apes are certainly animals of that type.

However, the caterpillar who munches along just as contentedly as he is himself munched is not a subject of such suffering and should not detain those who consider the question of suffering. Saint Charles Darwin was simply wrong about that.

(Note: The image is from Texas A & M Extension. Yeah extension! I love extension courses! Courses for the rest of us.)

Intellectual freedom in Canada: Charged comedian Guy Earle kindly writes to say,

In response to this post, hoping that the comedians at the laugh-in against the "human rights" commissions have the courage to be funny, Guy writes

I defend my comedy from the stage. If people think I'm unfunny, shouldn't they see me perform before they pass judgement

I have been part of and seen HUNDREDS of amazing shows form coast to coast where REAL social commentary is being traded like precious stones. I haven't seen more ignorant hatred and unqualified statements than the ones that come from my detractors! they don't even know me or have seen me!

Losers, the whole whack of 'em

They don't know the first thing about comedy and should go f themselves!

But that's just me

Guy, for once it isn't just you. Lots of people are sick of the nanny monsters. Canadians are converging on that!

- breaking breaking breaking breaking breaking breaking -

Syed Soharwardy, complainant against Ezra Levant, has told Pete Vere of Soo Today (July 11, 2008):

Response to recent human rights decisions

by Syed Soharwardy

When I initiated my complaint against Mr. Levant, I saw human rights commissions as a non-violent means of resolving differences among Canadians.

I was not aware of the controversies between the commissions and Canada's faith communities. I am thinking specifically of my friend Fred Henry, the Roman Catholic bishop of Calgary.

Upon learning about the difficulties he and other faith communities have encountered with the commissions, I withdrew my complaint against Mr. Levant.

Read more here. Good stuff.

We need far more Canadians like Rev. Soyarwardy, wo see the light, and far fewer like the population of our “human rights” commissions.

The latter should be looking for useful jobs soon, and it won't be my fault if they are not.

- breaking breaking breaking breaking breaking breaking -

(Resume regularly scheduled news ... )

And in a followup note, Guy adds:

You gotta love people who criticize something they know nothing about. I think that has got to be my favorite ignorant thing.

I ain't no Carrottop. I do my blogging from the stage in real life.

In 3-D reality I express my opinions and I fight for a country that allows me to do it. I invite naysayers and skeptics but please be informed in your slander.

Come to my show, let me prove to you how unfunny I am. And while you are counting your bullets, waiting for me to get on the stage and be lame, take a look around the crowd and the performers... see a love of freedom that can only be felt in a Comedy Club (which doesn't exist in anywhere but the free world), feel proud that we can all be together despite our diversity and differences of opinions... If you feel it for one heartbeat, I have done my job.

Guy, in my view, you are doing a great job, making comedy relevant to our real problems in Canada. I look forward to your show.

All I ask of all the comics is, be both funny and relevant. Guy obviously is - otherwise he would not have been charged - now let's see what the rest of them do ...

By the way, I myself will sooner go to jail than become a snack for the nanny monsters. I am not asking you or anybody to do something I wouldn't do myself.

(Note: The image is from Dave Thomas's Instant Cast.)

Also: Blazing Cat Fur writes to say:

CHRC [The Canadian Human Rights Commission] is looking for tickets

kinda scary they visit so frequently they come straight to my blog now

VISITOR ANALYSIS
Referring Link
http://blazingcatfur.blogspot.com/2008/07/comics-rally-for-freedom-lets-laugh.html
Host Name
ns.ccdp-chrc.ca
IP Address
198.103.143.130 CHRC [Edit Label]
Country
Canada
Region
Ontario
City
Ottawa
ISP
Gtis

Well, they can bloody PAY for 'em. Guy, make sure they do, and be sure to ANNOUNCE which government sneaks and snitches are there and where they are seated.

Remember, a fundamental rule in North America has been "No soldiers shall be quartered upon the people." Let alone snitches!

Intellectual freedom in Canada: Friends fear the comics won't dare be funny in ways that matter

Friends have warned me not to expect too much from Canada's comics' rally for freedom next Saturday night (in connection with late nite comic Guy Earle being charged by the BC Human Rights Tribunal because persons who heckled him claim to be "offended" by his response):

Key update:

Intellectual freedom in Canada: Charged comedian Guy Earle defends comics - but CHRC is watching him ...

One said, "Late nite comedy is nothing but oral sex jokes!

What? In a country with our politicians and bureaucrats?

If my friend turns out to be right, I am going to conclude that the comics in question get money from the government in return for not sending up anything that matters.

Another friend said, "It'll just be a bunch of Chimpy McBushitler jokes, one after another."

Again, if so, too bad. Chimpy McBushitler is NOT responsible for the decline in freedom of expression in Canada. He would be as likely as anyone to tell our nanny monsters to go do something interesting with themselves and not come back to tell the rest of us the details*.

If we can fix our local problems, we can say what we like about Chimpy. Otherwise, well, can we all spell L-A-M-E together?

Most worrying was the person who stated flatly, "They will not have the nerve to actually provoke the Commissions. Most are washed up lefties with a chip on their shoulder who take themselves way too seriously to be really funny."

Ah but friend, consider: Once the government is turning on the screws, comics have a good reason to take themselves seriously. Some of the world's best jokes originate in opposition to oppressive regimes. And the regime never has any comparable jokes to respond with either.

So I am hopeful and encourage all who can make it to pack the place:

COMICS FOR FREEDOM RALLY to be held at The Comedy Bar (945B Bloor West) on Saturday, July 19 in Toronto. Canadian Comic, Guy Earle, is holding a benefit show, celebrating 40 years of stand-up comedy, to raise money for his impending Human Rights Tribunal. Guy is being taken before the Human Rights Tribunal based on his comebacks to a heckler during a Vancouver comedy night back in May 2007.

The show is UNIQUE in its format. 40 comics will hit the stage for one minute of raw, uncensored social commentary. Stand-up is the embodiment of FREE SPEECH and this show personifies our right to speak while we still can. The show, on July 19th, starts at 9pm and tickets will be available before the show and at the door for 20$. Comics are invited to register for the show at www.guyearle.ca. Supporters for the cause are invited to come to the show or donate at the same homepage. Come one, Come all, but REMEMBER there WILL BE offensive language!

Policies I hope will be in place:

1. Talent scouts get priority seating. Forty comics. One show. Hey ...

2. Self-identified government sneaks and snitches get in free but their names and locations will be announced periodically.

3. Persons who suffer from chronic offendedness syndrome will be given special forms to complete, which will be mailed to the grievance agency of their choice, courtesy of the house - unless the washroom runs out of sanitary paper, in which case, ...

(*If the nanny monsters can't get anything else right, they won't get that right either, will they? And we can be absolutely sure, if they are involved, it won't be very funny either.)

Update:

Intellectual freedom in Canada: Charged comedian Guy Earle kindly writes to say,

In response to this post, hoping that the comedians at the laugh-in against the "human rights" commissions have the courage to be funny,

I defend my comedy from the stage. If people think I'm unfunny, shouldn't they see me perform before they pass judgement

I have been part of and seen HUNDREDS of amazing shows form coast to coast where REAL social commentary is being traded like precious stones. I haven't seen more ignorant hatred and unqualified statements than the ones that come from my detractors! they don't even know me or have seen me!

Losers, the whole whack of 'em

They don't know the first thing about comedy and should go f themselves!

But that's just me

Guy, for once it isn't just you. Lots of people are sick of the nanny monsters. Canadians are converging on that!

And in a followup note, Guy adds:

You gotta love people who criticize something they know nothing about. I think that has got to be my favorite ignorant thing.

I ain't no Carrottop. I do my blogging from the stage in real life.

In 3-D reality I express my opinions and I fight for a country that allows me to do it. I invite naysayers and skeptics but please be informed in your slander.

Come to my show, let me prove to you how unfunny I am. And while you are counting your bullets, waiting for me to get on the stage and be lame, take a look around the crowd and the performers... see a love of freedom that can only be felt in a Comedy Club (which doesn't exist in anywhere but the free world), feel proud that we can all be together despite our diversity and differences of opinions... If you feel it for one heartbeat, I have done my job.

Guy, in my view, you are doing a great job, making comedy relevant to our real problems in Canada. I look forward to your show.
All I ask of all the comics is, be both funny and relevant. Guy obviously is - otherwise he would not have been charged - now let's see what the rest of them do ...

By the way, I myself will sooner go to jail than become a snack for the nanny monsters. I am not asking you or anybody to do something I wouldn't do myself.

(Note: The image is from Dave Thomas's Instant Cast.)

See also: Let's LAUGH Canada's "human rights" commissions out of existence!

Open letter to comedian Guy Earle ... the latest to be charged by a Canadian "human rights"commission

Louisiana Academic Freedom Bill: White lab coats to take refuge behind black law robes?

Here’s patent attorney Roddy Bullock on the nerve of the Bayou swamp monsters daring to question Darwin:

Professor Barbara Forrest, an unflagging mouthpiece for Darwinian hegemony, tried to mobilize a "huge network of e-mails" to Gov. Jindal's office to stop the act's supporters from "boldly introducing religion into public education." Alan Leshner of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, proclaimed the act "would unleash an assault against scientific integrity." And, of course, the sky would fall.

Oh, so that’s what all that crap is, over the way! The sky falling. And here I thought someone nearby was doing an under-the-radar home reno .... Silly me, it’s the sky falling after all.

Seriously, Bullock says,

Louisiana may see the next court battle over the teaching of evolution. But making white lab coats subservient to black law robes is the business of scientific cowards – mainstream science has become sadly dependent upon federally protected and subsidized truth. But history shows that science-by-robed-decree, whether by Papal Bull or judicial bunk, is rarely sustainable against contrary evidence. The fine citizens of Louisiana sense this, and simply wish for their children to have science taught fully and honestly in an environment of academic freedom.

Well, I hope academic freedom is reflected in better grades. Louisiana is not a high performing state academically, though it is said to be improving.

(Note: I take assessments like the one linked with a large helping of salt because they often obscure critical information. For example, the parishes of New Orleans, like New York’s inner city schools, may be appallingly bad, but upriver the standards could well be more like those of upstate New York. Let's think before we freak.)

See also:

Governor Bobby Jindal passes Louisiana bill to permit critical thinking about Darwin, and such (But is this a good idea?)

Evolve already, huffingtons ... the alligators are laughing at you

What happens if Darwinism is subjected to natural selection in the Louisiana bayou?

Was the bison’s peculiar chest a design feature ... to help Native North Americans survive?

Some of my friends are creationist biologists, and one, Norbert Smith (now retired), writes to say,

One of the neatest evidences I see of God in Creation is the bison...with an incompletely divided mediastinum. As far as I know, it is the ONLY mammal like this and enabled native Americans to feed their families with one arrow anyplace in the chest...collapsing BOTH lungs. This obviously has NO selective advantage and should have been eliminated by natural selection. God created them special to feed a people. See here.

Norbert was not one of the “official” Expelled, but he was in fact expelled from his university, despite an excellent publication record. For many, the idea that there is no design in nature is a dogma, enforced despite, not because of, evidence.

As I noted in By Design or by Chance?, there is a tradition of Native American creationism (not to be confused with Western monotheistic creationism). It accepts as a commonplace the idea that Native Americans were specially helped to survive for tens of thousands of years, isolated from other human communities.

By the way, there are other reasons why the bison does not fit comfortably with classical Darwinian biology: See, for example, "The Tree of Life and speciation: The odd case of the beefalo" (January 19, 2008) from The Design of Life blog.

(Note: The bison is usually called a “buffalo” in North America, but it is not the “buffalo” of Asia. That’s this animal, courtesy Freefotos.com. The image of the bison is from Parks Canada.)

Animation of life inside the cell as high art?

Here’s another great animation of life inside the body and the cell, from Hybrid Medical Animations.

They enter the realm of high art, achieving a combination of Truth and Beauty ...

- from an unidentified endorsement

The music is well suited too.

I wrote to the friend who drew it to my attention,

Medical animations are quite helpful because many people still believe the “brick theory of the cell.” = that the body is built out of cells as a wall is of bricks, with the brick being less organized than the wall. But the cell is something between a factory and a supercomputer.

The remarkable thing is that the wretched caterpillar I found on a rosebud and threw to the wolf spider was like that. As is the spider itself.

One realizes that Darwin’s explanation for how all this came to be is not even relevant.

Darwin argued that it all happened because the stronger life form survives to breed. That, of course, is doubtless true, but it is not going to give you a supercomputer! – d.

(Note: The video starts a couple of seconds after you access the page.)