Kooks are like stray cats: give them a little bit of attention, and they end up following you everywhere, making annoying squalling noises and clawing at your door. A perfect example is David Mabus aka Dennis Markuze aka That Insane Prat, who, now that registration is a barrier to posting his little kook-droppings here, has taken to trying to flood my mailbox. Ha ha, the laugh is on him, my mailbox is already flooded! Also, I’ve got filters up the wazoo there, anyway.
There a whole lot of skeptics (and the entire faculty of the University of Minnesota Morris, too, who have marveled and laughed at is output) who have been getting these lunatic emails, but I just filter them and delete them. However, Rebecca Watson has pointed out one felicitous random phrase from his recent eruption: GOATS ON FIRE! It’s just sitting there. I have no idea what he’s talking about. But it does seem to me to be a useful term for flagging weird stuff, so I’ve added it to my email filters to highlight any comments that use the phrase. It’ll be handy for bringing the crazy to my attention…as long as you don’t abuse it.
And again, the stray cat effect: crazy David Cumming, author of the God Equation, really wants my attention, and sent me a four page summary of his reasoning. It was too long and too stupid, so I only skimmed it, but in case anyone else wants to add it to their cracked pot collection, I’ve scanned it in. No, don’t thank me. I’m just hoping one of you will shred it apart so that Cumming will follow you home.
It’s very GOATS ON FIRE! There is a section that asks, “Where is the science?”, but when I looked, there isn’t any there.
Hank Fox says
Hey! One of my former blogging personas was GoatOnFire. I even had a burning goat logo.
I’m not sure how I feel about someone snaking it for nefarious purposes. I was very attached to GoatOnFire.
Gyeong Hwa Pak, the Pikachu of Anthropology says
IT’S TIME TO END THIS LITTLE BLASPHEMY CALLED PHARYNGULA!!!!one hundred one!!!
BWAHAHAHA
What? Why are you looking at me like I’m crazy.
John Morales says
Wow, just looked at the scan.
Irresistibly reminds me of numerological pyramidology.
Greg F. says
I took a look at the paper. It’s numerology plain and simple…
http://worldofweirdthings.com/2009/12/06/deconstructing-the-god-equation/
The fact that the Cumming is amazed that he can jumble random numbers together, multiply them by random things and make a pattern out of them with daydreaming about what they mean should be a sign that he needs a vacation.
Feynmaniac says
Did the Montreal police ever pay him a visit for those death threats he sent you?
MadScientist says
Is that a religious thing, like burning sheep or burning witches (what a waste of sheep and witches)? Burnt goat is no good, but a well-made goat stew – yummy! I just don’t know why the gardener can’t understand why I lick my lips when his pet goat trundles by.
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
If your mem’ry serves you well
We were goin’ to meet again and wait
So I’m goin’ to unpack all my things And sit before it gets too late
No man alive will come to you
With another tale to tell
And you know that we shall meet again
If your mem’ry serves you well
This goat’s on fire
Rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This goat shall explode!
If your mem’ry serves you well
I was goin’ to confiscate your face
And wrap it up in a sailor’s knot
And hide it in your case
If I knew for sure that it was yours …
But it was oh so hard to tell
And you knew that we would meet again
If your mem’ry serves you well
This goat’s on fire
Rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This goat shall explode!
If your mem’ry serves you well
You’ll remember you’re the one
That called on me to call on them
To get you your favors done
And after ev’ry plan had failed
And there was nothing more to tell
You knew that we would meet again
If your mem’ry serves you well
This goat’s on fire
Rolling down the road
Best notify my next of kin
This goat shall explode!
The Science Pundit says
Excellent! We now have an answer to the question
WHAT ABOUT PYGMIES AND DWARFS?
GOATS ON FIRE!
I love it!
Feynmaniac says
GOATS ON FIRE…..awesome band name.
SmartLX says
The goats, the goats, the goats are on fire…
Probably a devil reference using outdated iconography, originally, but it’s your catchphrase now. Go with it.
SC OM says
Don’t tell them!:
Caine says
Goats on fire would make a great expression – “Goats on fire, did I ever have a fucked up day!” It’s too good to waste. Besides, that will piss on Markuze’s prophecy parade lunacy a bit.
rixaeton says
Hmm… Goats on Fire! Poor goats – their coats are not asbestos.
Cummings Sloppy formula: It is poor evidence for a creator when Cummings insists on using an accuracy of 10 decimal places in the equation, and it only agrees to three or four decimal places. So the Earth, Moon and Sun (and the rest of the universe) were created with a fudge factor of +/- 0.001%?
Heh: The transit of Venus is used to measure the Thom – doesn’t Venus occasionally stop and go backwards?
John Morales says
Caprifraglantiae?
Feynmaniac says
It seems like every Squidmas Cthulhu blesses us with a new phrase. Last year it was Happy Monkey. This year it’s GOATS ON FIRE.
~Pharyngulette~ says
I love it. It can be this year’s holiday phrase:
“Goats on fire, sir!”
“And a very Happy Monkey to you, lad.”
Pyrrhonic says
Even if there is a pattern, it doesn’t imply design. Why is this so hard to understand? Let the equation be accurate. All it means is that there’s a pattern. Any other conclusions remain speculative until positive evidence can be adduced to support it. Appearance does not necessarily imply truth.
/mini-rant
SEF says
Perhaps it’s an anagram. Eg:
ROASTING FOE
FEASTING ROO
FIRST ONE AGO
GO, FAIR STONE
etc
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
Take you high and higher to the world you belong
GOATS ON FIRE creates love desire
High and higher to your place on the throne
~Pharyngulette~ says
Please note, I was clearly 4 minutes slow in typing my comment – not merely aping the fine mind of Feynmaniac.
'Tis Himself, OM says
The Cumming “God Equation” was deconstructed on the God Equation thread and again on the David Cumming replies thread.
Essentially he’s taken arbitrary numbers, mashed them together, and determined that frequency × wavelength = C. Therefore God.
Gregory Greenwood says
*Sigh* Is that short sighted sociopath in the sky smiting random animals again? I swear, if it’s not setting up snakes as fall guys, causing amphibians to fall to a messy death from the clouds or killing off millions of fish with red algal blooms in the Nile, it’s burning ruminants alive.
What is that bloke’s problem? PETA are going to be pissed.
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
And a freight train running through the
Middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
GOATS ON FIRE
calladus says
Speed = distance x time. Frequency != time.
Mr. Cumming seems to have confused the relationship of T = 1/f as meaning that frequency and time are the same, missing that the relationship indicates the period of an individual waveform versus the number of waves per second.
Whoever his “scientists working in Edinburgh and Yorkshire” happen to be… they’re rubbish.
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
I was born in this town
Live here my whole life
Probably come to die in this town
Live here my whole life
Never anything to do in this town
Live here my whole life
Never anything to do in this town
Live here my whole life
Probably learn to die in this town
Live here my whole life
Nothing to do, sit around at home
Sit around at home, stare at the walls
Stare at each other and wait till we die
Stare at each other and wait till we die
Probably come to die in this town
Live here my whole life
There’s Kerosene around, something to do
There’s Kerosene around, she’s something to do
There’s Kerosene around, she’s something to do
There’s Kerosene around, we’ll find something to do
Kerosene around, she’s something to do
Kerosene around, set GOATS ON FIRE
Set GOATS ON FIRE, Kerosene
Set GOATS ON FIRE, Kerosene
Set GOATS ON FIRE, Kerosene
Set GOATS ON FIRE, Kerosene
Set GOATS ON FIRE
rixaeton says
#22: Emotional blackmail.
“Ok, I have had it with you guys – I’ve tried to get you to get along using snakes, frogs and fish – if you guys are not going to play nice I’ll… I’ll set fire to the goat! Really, I will! I know how much you like goats (being omnipotent and all that) so don’t pretend it won’t hurt you.”
Blake Stacey says
Mabus/Markuze has been spamming my blag, too, along with a few others I read (he’s showed up at EvolutionBlog and Respectful Insolence, for example). The fact that I delete his comments before they get out of moderation never seems to discourage the fellow.
We also have a new crop of Cthulhu carols.
destlund says
Janine for OM. Oh, wait.
Sven DiMilo says
As I noted earlier on The Thread Everlasting, Cr*zy M*bus left one of his li’l comment-turds over at Michael B
Brian says
Oh sorry, my bad. I found the science lying around on the floor, so I put it away. If you need it, it’s over there, just behind that burning goat.
vitreosity says
It’s happened too many times.
Next time I find one on tippy-toes atop the car, reaching for pecan leaves it’ll be…
GOATS ON FIRE!
kopd says
I have a new catchphrase. I still like “keep fucking that chicken” but “goats on fire” certainly looks useful.
llewelly says
It does. But that’s not the difficult part. The difficult part is when Venus gets vomited out of Jupiter.
Dust says
Goats on Fire but that PZ Myers is a poopey head!
cicely says
“Goats on fire, dogs and cats living together….mass hysteria!”
AJ Milne says
Oh, won’t someone please think of the Caprinae!
eddie says
Setting goats on fire is a kinda unofficial tradfition this time o’year;
http://www.fusion.com.au/blog/archive/2009/12/03/Surprise03.aspx
pcarini says
Enough is ENOUGH!
I’ve had it with these motherfucking goats on motherfucking fire!
(also bonus points to Janine for the Dylan)
Ignescent says
AJ is right. Think of Caprinae!
Don Smith says
If you check out the last section, he seems to think 366 degrees make up a full circle.
Gyeong Hwa Pak, the Pikachu of Anthropology says
Oh boy what type of p0rn do you watch?
CunningLingus says
Personally. i’m “boggled” this retard (Cummings, too close to my nic for comfort) can even breathe without the aid of an iron lung !
'Tis Himself, OM says
What is the temperature of a burning goat expressed in centiThoms per megahurts?
RichVR says
Pardon the threadjack:
Kent Hovind’s “doctoral dissertation” is available for perusal and ridicule here:
http://wikileaks.org/wiki/Young-earth_creationist_Kent_Hovind%27s_doctoral_dissertation
'Tis Himself, OM says
RichVR
If you wander over to the Kent Hovind’s Doctoral Dissertation thread you’ll find a discussion of the very topic you linked to.
RichVR says
Oops. Sorry.
pcarini says
Everywhere I look I see exclusive huddled uninviting
Shelter is a privilege of the sane and competent
GOATS ON FIRE keep me warm
I’m alone to watch them burn
GOATS ON FIRE
Exposure is a pitiful
and pointless way of dying
Before it gets me,
I’ll build a funeral pyre
GOATS ON FIRE keep me warm
I’m alone to watch them burn
GOATS ON FIRE
I’m a man and my dignity won’t wave
Tonight buildings rage!
GOATS ON FIRE keep me warm
Feels so good to watch them burn
GOATS ON FIRE
GOATS ON FIRE keep me warm
I’m alone to watch them burn
GOATS ON FIRE
GOATS ON FIRE keep me warm
Feels so good to watch them burn
GOATS ON FIRE
RichVR says
I am reminded of the Ira Levin anagram riddle about ROAST MULES.
Does anyone else recall this?
What single ten letter word can you get from ROAST MULES that any child might use?
Rev. BigDumbChimp says
I’m still waiting for my FINISHED
Rev. BigDumbChimp says
Janine with the Big Black entry.
/hat tip
Yoritomo says
calladus @24:
Actually that’s speed = distance / time. His equation of speed = frequency * wavelength is correct. But unfortunately there are several other errors:
* 1/81 does not equal 0.0123456789 as claimed, but rather 0.012345679012345679… This doesn’t really get better if one instead directly takes the quotient of the moon’s and the earth’s mass. I could find their masses only up to five digits, but the quotient seems to be 0.012300… rather than 0.0123456789. The difference is greater than rounding can account for.
* His hydrogen-alpha frequency is off a little: He claims 1,420,405,750 Hz, where Wikipedia gives 1,420,405,751.77 Hz.
* Whether I take his numbers or the precise ones, I arrive at a “speed of light” of 361,449,241 Thoms/sec (plus/minus one, depending on whose numbers I use) for the speed of light, not at his claimed value of 361,437,469.8. Multiplication fail? Also note that he claimed on page 1 that the result would be 361,448.
* Thus, using the correct multiplication and his factor of 0.82945 m/Thom, the speed of light becomes 299,804,073 +- 1 m/s instead of his value of 299,794,309.8 m/s – c equals 299,792,458 m/s. That’s a precision of about 99,996%. Things will only get worse if we use the “second, completely independent” value for a Thom (that apparently even he doesn’t know what a Thom really is makes all this rather pointless – but apparently we’re supposed to take this equation as the definition of the Thom anyway. He does note that then reasoning becomes circular, but that doesn’t dissuade him).
That’s about the first three pages. Then it truly goes off the deep end, with numbers pulled form thin air despite his claims that they’re somehow significant.
Seems to have been a rather incompetent designer. Human engineering is more precise than that.
RagingBullwinkle says
(sung to the tune of Girls on Film by Duran Duran)
Goats on Fire, Goats on Fire, Goats on Fire, Goats on Fire
Lipstick on a pig and hisreasoning is falling
In miles of stupidity where Cummings Fails
…
vitreosity says
Randy nanny flips her tail in his face as billy anoints himself. If only the fence weren’t there. The young kids are curious but don’t really understand… Goats on Fire!
Ben in Texas says
It’s been several hours. Is there not a T-shirt design yet? You people are slackers.
F says
Dammit Janine.
First thing I thought of, and you were there.
(You rock.)
F says
No friggin way! Dylan and Big Black?
You’re killin’ me.
MAJeff, OM says
Janine nailed what I was thinking of, with Dylan. But, I actually know it as the theme for Absolutely Fabulous. In a way, the goats make more sense in the AbFab context.
F says
LOL. AbFab!
I’d forgotten that was used as the theme.
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Maaa-aaaa-aaaa.
Maa-aaaa-aaaa.
That is all.
P.S. – Oops, forgot – I have your FINISHED, Rev. Please come pick it up; my back porch is too cluttered.
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Oh, hell yes. The best sitcom. Ever.
“If the models get any younger, Pats, they’ll be chucking fetuses down the catwalk.”
“It’s all cracks and flaps dangling under the crepe de chine.”
– Magda
F says
OORT GEAS FIN?
MAJeff, OM says
Patsy is my role model for life.
Mr T says
Is this sorta like SHEEP ON ICE?
Caine says
Well, the village idiot showed up at my photography gallery and left me the standard nonsense, including this little line:
I had copied and pasted the whole mess, but it’s rightly hung up in moderation now. Looks like he plans on hitting everyone who has a link attached to their name.
Midnight Rambler says
Apparently, the Swedes are very into setting goats on fire this time of year.
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Oh, yes, oh yes.
“Abort Eddie, abort!”
“Mum, she burned me with her cigarette!”
“Accident.”
nixscripter says
Skimmming Kent Hovind’s doctoral dissertation, dangerous though that is, I think I have a pretty good summary:
1. The Bible is morally right.
2. Atheists are “morally wicked”.
3. The two ways to look at the universe are (a) a some big, aimless, pointless machine or (b) construction from God.
4. ID concurrs with 3b.
5. Therefore, ID is correct.
Who gave him his PhD, again?
Owlmirror says
Men Who Stare at GOATS ON FIRE.
Shub-Niggurath, The Black GOAT ON FIRE of the Woods with a Thousand Young GOATS ON FIRE.
GOATSE.cx ON FIRE
But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the GOATS ON FIRE.
Respectively, 1d8 SAN LOSS, 1d10 SAN LOSS, 2d20 SAN LOSS, and 1d30 SAN LOSS
F says
No save?
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
What?
Aaron Golas says
Relevant line at 3:16
F says
I’m through with illusions just delusions for now
I’ve took a step to the edge but I’ve been walking for miles
It was a very temporary waste of time
Is there really sucha thing as a waste of time?
Can’t let myself be restrained
Let perceptions be so torn
Kill confusion by killing options
GOATS ON FIRE to stay warm
Can’t keep running from the rain
Can’t live my life on the edge of the storm
Kill confusion by killing options
GOATS ON FIRE to stay warm.
I’m sick of emotions always tearing the inside
Watching things crumble,letting all things slide,
very temporary waste of time,
is there really such a thing as a waste of time?
Can’t let myself be restrained
Can’t live my life on the edge of the storm
Kill confusion by killing options
GOATS ON FIRE to stay warm
Can’t keep running from the rain,
let perceptions be so torn,
kill confusion by killing options,
GOATS ON FIRE to stay warm
Can’t let myself be restrained
I can’t live my life on the edge of the storm
Kill confusion by killing options
GOATS ON FIRE to stay warm
Can’t let myself be restrained
Can’t live my life on the edge of the storm
Kill confusion by killing options
GOATS ON FIRE to stay warm
I’m through with illusions delusions for now
I’ve stepped to the edge
I’ve been walking for miles
It was a very temporary waste of time
Is this really such a thing as a waste of time?
Can’t let myself be restrained
I can’t live my life on the edge of the storm
Kill confusion by killing options
GOATS ON FIRE to stay warm
Can’t let myself be restrained
I can’t live my life on the edge of the storm
kill confusion by killing options
GOATS ON FIRE TO STAY WARM!
Owlmirror says
No saving throw against SAN LOSS. This is SRS BIZNESS.
RickR says
Eddy- “You can drop the attitude, you only work in a shop.”
Aaron Golas says
Or, y’know, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bar3GOzDNzg (rackin’ frackin’…)
Leland says
Here’s the t-shirt:
http://www.zazzle.com/goats_on_fire_t_shirt-235502007143750714
Sorry for the delay.
(Also, I realize that there is only one goat, not “goats.” Multiple burning goats just made the shirt too busy.)
F says
Owlmirror is not having any luck with saving throws.
1d8 SAN LOSS = Roll 1 8-sided die to determine loss of sanity damage taken from a Men Who Stare at GOATS ON FIRE attack.
RPG stuff. (No, not rocket-propelled grenades.)
;)
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
New Age Lady: The flow from my essential oils are passing into you! Yes – they’re flowing. Can you feel them?
Eddie: No, but I can smell them.
F says
Er, that was for Josh, Official SpokesGay.
And I stand corrected. There are no saving throws for this. Automatic damage!
Now I just need to know what the critical hit chart looks like for this SRS BIZNESS, assuming this isn’t just an automatic hit. (I sure hope the latter damage rolls are for criticals, or GOATS ON FIRE!
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
I confess – I’m totally lost. No idea what anyone’s talking about. The SpokesGay is silenced.
F says
I’m not so sure the New Age Lady can tell the difference between essential oils and GOATS ON FIRE.
Eddy: “Soon I’ll be bendy like Madonna, darling. Then I’ll be able to kiss my own ass from both directions.”
RickR says
Patsy: “Darling, if you want to talk bollocks and discover the meaning of life, you’re better off downing a bottle of whiskey. At least that way, you’re unconscious by the time you start to take yourself seriously.”
F says
Oi, Josh. I don’t intend to be obtuse.
Thing is, if you’ve never played Role Playing Games (think: Dungeons and Dragons), then you’ll not have a point of reference.
Most actions are determined to have varying degrees of success or failure by rolling dice. There are a variety of geometric solids used for these dice. d20 is a 20-sided die.
Characters have attributes with associated numerical values, like DEX, INT, WIS (dexterity, intelligence, wisdom), and this is where we get SAN (sanity).
Please forgive geek-out.
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
No, it’s I who’s obtuse:) I suspected it was about RP. The only RP language I speak is WoW.
/hangs head in shame
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Rick and F, please. . .you’re instigating me to keep going!
Sapphie: “MP in drug-crazed sex romp with fash mag slag.”
Rorschach says
Who’s Patsy ? She sounds wise…:)
F says
Oh, crap. Now what was that one from Hospital?
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
F:
Jamaican nurse: “Oh hello, dear, I thought I recognized you!”
White nurse whispering to Jamaican nurse: “It’s that slag from the newspapers!”
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Rorschach, behold the perfection that is Patsy Stone .
F says
“LOCAL Anaesthetic?! LOCAL Anaesthetic?! What is this, Eastern Europe?! I want total sensory deprivation and BACK-up drugs!”
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Fa, LOL!!
Nurse, wheeling cart: “Benson and Hedges or Marlboro?”
Pats: “Both! And bring me a wine list.”
F says
Josh, tease us not with faux links! (No URL in page source, either.)
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
GOATS Is A Burning Thing
And It Makes A Fiery Ring
Bound By Wild Desire
I Fell Into GOATS ON FIRE
I Fell Into A Burning GOATS ON FIRE
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The GOATS ON FIRE
The GOATS ON FIRE
I Fell Into A Burning GOATS ON FIRE
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The GOATS ON FIRE
The GOATS ON FIRE
The Taste Of Love Is Sweet
When Hearts Like Ours Meet
I Fell For You Like A Child
Oh, But The Fire Went Wild
I Fell Into A Burning GOATS ON FIRE
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The GOATS ON FIRE
The GOATS ON FIRE
I Fell Into A Burning GOATS OF FIRE
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The GOATS ON FIRE
The GOATS ON FIRE
And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The GOATS ON FIRE
The GOATS ON FIRE
Years ago, on an other forun, I used Patsy Stone as my icon. Sadly, not many knew who she was.
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Oh, shoot! Sorry about that. Lemme try again. Welcome to my gracious drawing room.
jsplegge.myopenid.com says
NO GOATS, NO GLORY
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
Loved the flashback scene in Morocco. Patsy was wearing a Sargent Pepper’s era suit and a cheesy mustache. Saffie says that she did not know that Patsy was a man. Eddie said that it fell off.
Josh, Official SpokesGay says
Janine, yes! “Nothing’s certain Eddie, not for any of us.”
Gyeong Hwa Pak, the Pikachu of Anthropology says
OMG Janine, loved the remake of the ring of fire!
aumtattoo says
Some art that might appeal to you, PZ: http://www.audrey-kawasaki.com/galleries.php?g=1&p_id=73&page=4
jschmeau says
OK. I’ve got more mathematical proof…
1 + 2 = 3 The exact number of entities in the Holy Trinity. God exists. Jesus is the Son of God. The Holy Ghost is the is the shiznit. It’s right there in the maths. Why bother with such confusing maths when there are much simpler equations that can be conjured to support your delusion and many that most Christians can understand easily? How about any number divided by the number of true Gods equals that very same number? It’s so obvious.
Policy Merchant says
The Men Who Stare At Goats…..
Because their on fire.
windy says
Feel my heat takin’ you higher, burn with me, GOATS ON FIRE
Paint the sky with desire, angel fly, GOATS ON FIRE
Leland says
I added a T-shirt version with just the words for anyone who doesn’t want a picture of a burning goat:
http://www.zazzle.com/goats_on_fire_t_shirt-235087080147628224?rf=238234461969567321
Richard Healy says
He’s over on Atheists Nexus too.
Screaming about how Atheism is dead because of Nostrodamus or something.
Sili says
I can’t find it on YouTube, but I think the goats on fire is a Ken “Piglet Fucker” Ham thing.
Jo Brand used to do a routine about the internet, observing how noöne was ever alone in their kinks anymore: “Google ‘I want to have sex with goats on fire’ and the search will reply with ‘specify breed and gender of goat’.”
scooterKPFT says
OMG, he copyrighted that shit? Wouldn’t want anybody stealing away with that pile while it is still steaming.
OT
The Wait is OVAR !!!11!
War on XMASS ’09 !!!11!
Let the Carnage BEGIN !!!11!
PLAY
ScooterMix: Liberals Lie, Chipmunks Die
Patton Oswald critiques Christmas Shoes by New Song
Theological Lingo by Bible Launch
Beginning to blah blah blah by Dean Martin
Christma-Hanu-Rama-Ka-Dana-Kwanza by Roy Zimmerman
Patton Oswald demystifies Sky Cake
Inspirational thoughts, feeling the Love with Pat Condell
Pouring Poison by Bible Launch
New Hit Single: Liberals Lie, Chipmunks DIE
pcarini says
This is my new explanation for everything from here on out.
(except for GOATS ON FIRE which need no explanation)
Aquaria says
Goats on fire?
Cabrito all around!
Woo-hoo!
Dave Dell says
Matthew Chapter 25. The blessed ones are traditionally sheep. The accursed ones are traditionally goats.
At first I thought it might be a reference to the Trinity. You know, the Farter, Song and Holy Goat.
Aquaria says
My favorite AbFab:
Eddie: Thank God for Grozny. Honestly. Well, darling, if it wasn’t for that lovely little Russian army advancing, thrashing out all those gorgeous little heirlooms in my direction, I don’t know what I’d do. Oh, you should see, darling, in the shop I’ve got at the moment this fabulous little samovar with a little old woman still attached to it, sweetie. Clinging on for dear life. Having to lure her off with dry bread crumbs so that I could get a decent price.
dannystevens.myopenid.com says
Low men in Yellow Coats
come with GOATS ON FIRE..
Ia Shub Nigrath,
but the fire is Azathoth’s.
(Actually a save negates half the SAN loss,
and we all know about Elder Sign, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWT07iRvI9M)
SEF says
… and do people want goats that can be fitted nasally?
'Tis Himself, OM says
Bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the goat but the goat was on fire
Them good ole goats were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing “This’ll be the day that I die,
This’ll be the day that I die.”
shonny says
This burning goat business reminds me that I am still convinced that Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire is really just describing particularly itchy and sore haemorrhoids.
Yeah, talking from experience!
NoFear says
Reminds me of a Bruce Springsteen song:
“Hey little kid is your daddy home
did he go away and leave you all alone?
I got a bad desire
Ooh Ooh Ooh goats on fire”
Ben in Texas says
Well done, Leland!
Ben in Texas says
WTF? Those GOF really made me say OMG.
Ben in Texas says
Come on baby, goats on fire.
Come on baby, goats on fire.
Try to set the goat on fire.
Try to set the goat on fiyyyyyyeeeeeerrrrrrrr.
'Tis Himself, OM says
Whose goat’s on fire I think I know
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his goat fill up with flame.
(With apologies to Robert Frost)
IanKoro says
This is my favorite quote from David Cumming’s nonsense: “As a side note, the values 100 and 40,000 used above in calculations of circumference, are not arbitrary numbers, but are very significant values in the large volume of
research about the message embedded in the characteristcs of the Solar system. The larger body of research does not feature in this short review and explanation of the Equation of Creation.”
Thanks… that totally convinces me those aren’t totally arbitrary numbers pulled from your ass. What makes them significant values in research about the “message embedded in the Solar System” (obviously a very important and active field of research)? Why are they applicable here? I’m not even going to give the vaguest of explanations in this four page paper intended to convince scientists of my credibility.
devnull73.myopenid.com says
10 point if you guess the artist/title/album
1000000000002 points if you own it on vinyl :)
I look at you and my blood boils hot,
I feel my temperature rise
I want it all, give me what you got,
there’s hunger in your eyes
I’m getting closer, baby hear me breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you’ll never leave
Chorus:
Feel my heat takin’ you higher,
burn with me, goats are on fire
Paint the sky with desire,
angel fly, goats are on fire
I got a fever ragin’ in my heart,
you make me shiver and shake
Baby don’t stop,
take it to the top, eat it like a piece of cake
You’re comin’ closer, I can hear you breathe
You drive me crazy when you start to tease
You could bring the devil to his knees
chorus
Oho goats are on fire, oho goats are on fire, oho
I’m getting closer, baby hear me breathe
You know the way to give me what I need
Just let me love you and you’ll never leave
chorus repeats out
dutchdoc says
I have a tip for David Cumming:
Start your paper with:
“Hello, my name is David Cumming”
.. and send it to Patriot University.
They will give you a PhD for it!
negentropyeater says
Video of Goat on fire in Sweden :
Gävlebocken
(caution… AbbA soundtrack may not be everybody’s taste)
negentropyeater says
Gävlebocken
creating trons says
GOATS ON FIRE = Cabrito
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabrito
http://everystockphoto.s3.amazonaws.com/Monterrey_Mexico_Cabrito_259297_l.jpg
Cabrito, yum.
How do I hyperlink the above?
creating trons says
ooh, it does it by itself.
much smarter than I…
SEF says
GOATS ON FIRE = FEARING SOOT!
dutchdoc says
Regarding David Cumming’s “God Equation”:
For people who can read Dutch: here’s a link to a humorous parody on deriving the weirdest formula’s and ‘proofs’ from some simple measurements in ones own house, by astronomer and former chairman of the Dutch Skeptic Society “Skepsis”, Kees de Jager:
http://www.skepsis.nl/schemerlamp.html
(Wish someone would translate this: it’s hilarious!)
monado says
The only “goats on fire” reference that I remember was a comment made by my SO that there are discussion groups for everything you can think of, e.g. if you’re interested in sex with goats on fire, you can find a discussion group for like-minded people.
OurDeadSelves says
Jo Brand used to do a routine about the internet, observing how noöne was ever alone in their kinks anymore: “Google ‘I want to have sex with goats on fire’ and the search will reply with ‘specify breed and gender of goat’.”
Also known as Rule 34.
Dust says
@Dave Dell
Raaaaa-men!
Dust says
I am the Goat hell fire and I bring you…
Fire, I’ll take you to burn.
Fire, I’ll take you to learn.
I’ll see you burn!
You fought hard and you saved and learned,
But all of it’s gonna burn.
And your mind, your tiny mind,
You know you’ve really been so blind.
Now’s your time burn your mind.
You’re falling far too far behind.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, you gonna burn!
Fire, to destroy all you’ve done.
Fire, to end all you’ve become.
I’ll feel you burn!
Vashti says
I love Saturday mornings: Car Talk, Wait Wait… Don’t tell me, and Goats on Fire!
F says
devnull73
That can only be the ragin sounds of teh Kiss.
F says
And even though this was already covered, I am compelled to post my version of the chorus:
This GOATS ON FIRE
Strollin’ down the road
Best notify my nest of kids
This goat shall explode
Draken says
My goatee’s on fire.
Bone Oboe says
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM @ #93, that’s the one I was waiting for.
Who’s Big Black?
Acronym Jim says
But Leland, multiple burning goats could create a new internet meme. Think “three wolf moon” (Google for giggles).
On a side note, I think I remember my grandfather exclaiming “GOATSAFIRE!” on occasion.
Sven DiMilo says
Easily the most disjointed and puzzling comment thread for some time.
I do recognize Arthur Brown (and his Crazy World) there @#132, though.
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
Big Black was a hard core band from the eighties. With the use of a drum machine and guitars pushed into the extreme treble edge, Steve Albini maded some of the most off putting music of that time . Needless to say, I loved it. They released only two proper albums, Atomizer and Songs About Fucking.
Kerosene
You can find more of their stuff on YouTube. Look up Jordan, Minnesota.
SC OM says
Great blazing goats! I just checked my blog, and I got one!
I may have to save it…
SC OM says
Ah, so he went there from this thread and the Molly page, and then proceeded to click on all of my links. Ay. What will Amy Goodman make of him, I wonder?
Sven DiMilo says
A connectivity diagram of the pattern of his commenting activity would be fascinating. There’s probably a doctoral dissertation in Internet Psychology in it for somebody.
curiosity says
The goat stood on the burning deck
Whence all but he had fled;
The flame that lit his hairy neck
Shone round him o’er the dead.
Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
As born to blaze in flame;
A ruminant of the Capra blood,
A proud, though goat-like name.
yes, I’m ashamed of myself.
Sili says
I’m not a filker, I fear, but I’ll ask anyway. ‘Tis the Season, so has anyone done this one yet?
Thanks, OurDeadSelves, I know rule 34 well enough. This just struck me as subtly different. ::goes to check OneManga::
Sven DiMilo says
Started reading the Cumming document. I love how the bylined author refers to himself throughout in the third person, even quoting himself.
But here’s the part I wanted to share:
nejishiki says
This looks like a goat on fire:
http://www.southern.com/southern/band/JESLZ/pics/17768L.jpg
Rey Fox says
Yoooooouuuu, your goats are on fi-re.
MAJeff, OM says
AbFab and goats?
“Eddie, who is this?”
MAJeff, OM says
And AbFab’s take on televangelism.
Bo: “We were merely trying to release the poor from the burden of what little they have.”
F says
Joffan says
RichVR
ROAST MULES ~~ SOMERSAULT
nice one.
“Goats on fire” is a bit too agragrian for my tastes. Not something a pirate is likely to say. I can see Homer Simpson doing a food dream about the, though… “Mmmm, goats on fire.”
ktesibios says
Goats on fire
My love for you brought only misery
Goats on fire
Put out the flames and set this cold goat free.
Janine, She Wolf Of Pharyngula, OM says
Too bad, Joffan. GOATS ON FIRE is something that an obsessive and insane man has to say. It has nothing to do with your tastes.
F says
Oops.
http://syllannibal.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/big-black-atomizer.jpg
Earth
Atomizer
Let’s go
TheBlackCat says
The distance between my subwoofer and my TV stand is 235 mm. If you multiply that by the first 3 digits of e (2.72, to keep consistent significant figures), then add 28 (the length of a lunar month), you get 667, which is the value of the gravitational constant in nm^3/(dg*microsec^2) using the same number of significant figures.
F says
Whoa!
Newfie says
Flaming Goat
Ingredients:
* 1/4 oz Vodka
* 1/4 oz Gin
* 1/4 oz Rum
* 1/4 oz Tequila
* 1/4 oz Triple sec
* 1/4 oz Blue Curacao
* 1 splash Sour mix
* Cranberry juice
* Ice cubes
* Bacardi 151 proof rum
Mixing instructions:
Mix vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec and curacao. Add sour mix. Add Curacao until it’s dark purple. Fill glass with ice cubes and fload Bacardi 151 rum on top. Have the flame blown out before drinking add a straw.
'Tis Himself, OM says
12 is a more convenient number base than ten. For that matter, so is 60.
Tom Lehrer had some thoughts about different number bases:
SQB says
(Sorry, Bruce…)
I’m down on the farm
I turn on the Internet
I didn’t notice
My burning cigarette
I thought it wouldn’t matter
But it’s looking dire
‘Cause my goats… on… Fire
(da-du-du-duh)
SmartLX says
Looks like Mabus is using Goats on Fire to brag about his own notoriety.
http://asktheatheist.com/?p=197&cpage=1#comment-324
SEF says
“Holy sacrificial animals, Batman!”
Pareidolius says
Pharyngulites, your Goat on Fire shirt is ready (bad Latin at no extra charge) . . .
http://hellsnewsstand.blogspot.com/2009/12/goat-on-fire-shirt.html
Did I mention you’ll have to print it yourself? Hey, whatta ya want for free . . .
eddie says
“Want some whisky in your water?
Sugar in your tea?
What’s all these crazy questions they keep askin’ me?
This is the strangest party I ever did see,
Don’t set GOATS ALIGHT, I don’t wanna see.”
Sorry, it is a stretch, but Acronym Jim’s Three Wolf Moon led me inexorably to Three Dog Night.
Another obscure but cool reference in in You Little Shits.
Also, thanks, Joffan @154. I was teh stumped.
Leland says
Pareidolius @165:
Great design!
For anyone who is interested, it is possible to make it into a t-shirt here:
http://www.zazzle.com/design_your_own_shirt-235200855528356796?rf=238234461969567321
Just click on the “Customize it!” button and upload the design.
Pareidolius says
My pleasure Leland . . .
I can’t rhyme as well as Cuttlefish
or reason well like Sastra
so a shirt’s my contribution
though my Latin’s a disastra.
(I told you)
Calton says
Yeah, I can sympathize about being bothered by kooks when you make the mistake of giving them any attention whatsoever. I myself have picked one up, a physics*/UFO/ESP crank named Jack Sarfatti, despite the fact I don’t really have a blog, readership, or even a background in science**. Apparently I’m the ringleader of a conspiracy to keep his groundbreaking and revolutionary ideas out of the public eye, and he and few of his nutty friend have been bombarding me with incoherent e-mails. Short of putting up e-mail filters, I can’t think of what else can be done, since the Dunning-Kruger Effect pretty much guarantees that arguing with these sorts is useless.
*He seems to have actually managed to get a Ph.d from Cornell, though for all the use he’s made of it he might just as well have gotten it out of a Crackerjack box.
**I started out in college as a chemistry major, but I switched.
PZ Myers says
Oh, man, I remember Sarfatti. He’s a usenet legend, and is completely bonkers.
SC OM says
But you say it’s/he’s/she’s just a friend
But you say it’s/he’s/she’s just a friend
Oh, baby, Yoooooouuuu…
Dust says
So he has an equation to prove God, eh? Well, ppsstt, lots of other nuts, crackpots and zealots ad nauseum have their own equtions to prove God. So what, but where, oh where, is the One. True. Equation. that proves GOATS ON FIRE?
Ha! Some so called mathematicians….
aharleygyrl says
The goat is burning (bocken brinner)
aharleygyrl says
Child/Lamb Baptised To Escape From kids/Goats’ Hell Fire
religious people are nuts!
aharleygyrl says
Goat Starts Fire; Cat Saves the Day
http://blogs.catster.com/the-cats-meow-a-cat-and-kitten-blog/goat-starts-fire-cat-saves-the-day/2009/01/16/
Peter McKellar says
All these burning goats and no-one has suggested frying bacon?
Aquaria says
The taste of love is sweet
When hearts like ours meet
I fell for you like a child
Oh, Goats on Fire went wild
I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down, down
And the flames went higher
And it burns, burns, burns
The Goats on Fire
The Goats on Fire
BTW, can’t believe someone hasn’t done this one yet:
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn’t get much higher
Come on baby, Goats on Fire
Come on baby, Goats on Fire
Try to see the Goats on Fire
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on baby, Goats on Fire
Come on baby, Goats on Fire
Try to see the Goats on Fire, yeah
Ragutis says
I AM THE GOAT OF HELLFIRE! AND I BRING YOU…*
*props to Arthur Brown
Sauceress says
My posts are disappearing!
TEST
Sauceress says
OK…
Interesting. Whilst wandering aimlessly off on a winding tangent, spiked off by a global warming denialist conspiracy post somewhere in the ether, I came across this post imediately prior to reading PZ’s post.
http://www.conspiracycafe.net/forum/index.php?/topic/25104-atheist-apocalypse/page__pid__117856__st__0&
…feeling bravely masochistic and following the link provided, in amongst the rest (towards the end) of his many, many disturbed incoherent mental masturbations on that page, I found…
Which is of no help whatsoeva!
Sauceress says
FFS! Checks blockquote tags in original…they’re fine!
Grrrr..
John Morales says
Sauceress, it’s the blank line and SB’s excellent system at work. Use a break tag <br> on empty lines to continue the quote span.
Leland says
I made a GOF necktie (for wearing to church and funerals and whatnot):
http://www.zazzle.com/goats_on_fire_tie-151127639495521358?gl=lelandashtray&rf=238234461969567321
Sauceress says
John Morales
Noted. Thanks for the heads up. :) My HTML tag skills are rather rusty.
blf says
I recommend stuffing the goat with babies before setting it fire. The trick is to extinguish the flames at just that moment when the meats are lightly cooked, still juicy, and the skin lightly charred, before it begins to burn and leaves a bad charcoal taste. It takes a bit of practice, but once learnt it’s a skill you’ll never forget, and one which comes in very handy at weekend BBQs and festive parties. Rice pilaf and a selection of fresh seasonal vegetables are good side dishes.
Cuttlefish, OM says
I was trying to combine both the goats and the Cummings, but badgersdaughter was faster and better… no, perfect:
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/12/why_havent_i_seen_this_before.php#comment-2141840
just in the wrong thread.
'Tis Himself, OM says
This only works with slaughtered, gutted goats. The true connoisseur starts with a live goat. Put the goat into a 55 gallon/200 litre drum and fill the drum with 190 proof/95% alcohol Everclear. Toss a lighted match into the drum. When the flames die down remove the goat, skin it and gut it. Then it’s ready for stuffing.
badgersdaughter says
Cuttlefish is a true gentleman. Fortunately the works of ee are open to his craft; that was one of my very least favorite poems by William Carlos Williams.
Seriously, I once parodied the original poem itself with something approaching, “I peed in your bed, in the sheets you keep for company. Forgive me, I was too comfortable to get up.”
And “that” in the first stanza and “which” in the second? I suppose I could make up some malarkey about Williams personifying the plums and thus transferring a feeling of guilt to them as well as to his wife, but honestly, even I can’t sustain that level of bullshit. :)
badgersdaughter says
And as for gourmet recipes, there’s the adaptation of the ancient Hungarian wedding feast; take your eviscerated goat, stuff it with a vulture previously marinated in cognac and rosemary (DON’T skip the marinade), stuff that with a buttered baby that you’ve previously stuffed with a well-seasoned squab stuffed with a hardboiled egg in pastry. Ram a stout stake through the goat’s accursed arse and rotisserie the whole thing over an open bonfire, basting frequently with the rendered fat of Christian martyrs.
Serve with braised Belgian endives and mesclun salad with a bleu cheese dressing, for thirteen.
Vashti says
This light, this flame that devours.
This brόmos that surrounds me.
This torment from a single idea.
This anguish of heaven, goats on fire.
This lament of blood that adorns
Capra with no pulse, slippery torch.
The weight of Gävle Goat strikes me.
This satyr that lives inside my heart.
It is love’s garland, a bed of pain,
where without sleep, I dream of goats on fire
amid the ruins of my sundered breast.
And though I seek the summit of prudence
give me your heart, a spread out valley
of hemlock and desire for goats on fire
Esta luz, este fuego que devora.
Este brόmos que me rodea.
Este dolor por una sola idea.
Esta angustia de cielo, cabras en fuego.
Este llanto de sangre que decora
Capra sin pulso ya, lúbrica tea.
Este peso del Gävle Goat que me golpea.
Este sátiro que por mi pecho mora.
Son guirnaldas de amor, cama de herido,
donde sin sueño, sueño cabras en fuego
entre las ruinas de mi pecho hundido.
Y aunque busco la cumbre de prudencia
me da tu corazón valle tendido
con cicuta y pasión de cabras en fuego
Calton says
You know, y’all are reminding me that I never made the chance to sample the barbequed goat at Doug’s BBQ in Emeryville, California when I lived in the area. Is it too late?
Wman, where’s a little barbequed goat when you need it?
geekysteven says
This is clearly the work of someone familiar with Brad Neely’s cartoons.
http://www.creasedcomics.com/video_page.php?id=30
Joke’s on them though, Neely is an atheist.
Bone Oboe says
Janine, She Wolf etc.
Thanks, I now dimly recall seeing a “Songs About Fucking” cassette in a friends tape collection, way back. I foresee some Googling, down-loading and head phones time.
Aquaria @175:
Ben in Texas hit that one on the noggin up at #118 otherwise I’d have given it a go.
I was thinking of using “Liar” by Henry Rollins, owing to the easy rhyme with “Fire.”
Doug Little says
e to the i times pi equals -1, therefore god exists!
Did I do it right?
eddie says
Rage Against The Machine -Sleep Now Goats In Teh Fire
Please, if you are in UKland, help out our campaign to get RATM – Killing In The Name to xmas number 1. See the facebook groups dedicated to this worthy cause which, as a side-effect of breaking syco’s stranglehold on our culture, has so-far raised over £20,000 for the homeless charity Shelter.
pzidead says
skptc.z.rg/gnrl-skptcsm/thsm-s-dd!/
y’r FNSHD, pz…