Comments

  1. says

    PZ,
    So that explains the lack of posts! I’m dying here at work of boredom, waiting for PZ to entertain with his wit.
    Stu

  3. Antiochus Epiphanes says

    I have been reading about yellow fever. It seems flu like enough– at first. Then, this happens.

    But you probably don’t have yellow fever.

    Feel better soon!

  8. Allen L. says

    No PZ posts. I had to talk to my students about science today instead of having read the best blog on their smart phones. Thank FSM that I have a long weekend to recover from the strenuous, stressful activity of my job.

  9. Gord O'Mitey says

    No, I didn’t smite him. I wish him well, so there. Get well soon, PZ.

    Doesn’t the occurrence of bacterial & viral infection suggest, (what the heck, doesn’t it prove), evolution, rather than that some feckin’ god did it?

  11. Don1 says

    You have a bug? I’ll pray for you.

    If you are not better in four or five days let me know and I’ll call in support.

    If you are, it proves prayer works.

  13. onion girl, OM (Social Worker, tips appreciated) says

    Please do take care of yourself, PZ, and feel better. I hope the long weekend gives you some time to recuperate–and have time to relax as well–nothing worse that being sick on a holiday weekend.

  14. Brother Ogvorbis, Fully Defenestrated Emperor of Steam, Fire and Absurdity says

    I got the same thing every year at the beginning of the school year. Not to worry, PZ, it’ll clear up by late May/early June.

  15. Mattir-ritated says

    Feel better – I could recommend some homeopathic remedies and moxibustion/accupuncture if you’d like. The rage might yank you back into health pronto.

    For those looking for thought provoking stuff, try Greta Christina’s post on fashion as language. (Although she’s on vacation, approving comments via cellphone, so that’s probably not much better than looking at pictures of squids.)

  16. Allen L. says

    Sick? Cancel classes but don’t cancel posting! Who is more important, students or your addicted following? New students arrive every fall, we are forever!

  18. F says

    Mattir-ritated

    that’s probably not much better than looking at pictures of squids

    The rage might yank you back into health pronto.

    I see what you did there. ;)

  21. Dr. Strabismus (WGP) of Utrecht says

    Antiochus Epiphanes:

    I had malaria once. It was kinda like the flu too, only you got better the next day, then three days later you were sick again, then better – lather, rinse, repeat.

    It was great! I lost thirty pounds before they cured it.

  22. Lynn Wilhelm says

    Feel better soon, PZ. I hope we’ll get an anti-caturday post tomorrow. But if you are feeling too badly, don’t worry about it.

  25. Brownian says

    Flu-like bug?

    Nice. Keep it short and simple. The mistake most people make is giving away too many details in an attempt to be believable.

    A headache and nausea is sufficient. Maybe tell ’em you’ve got an upset stomach too. Those are consistent with a lot of legitimate ailments.

    It’s when you go on to say that you’ve got a craving for greasy food and the last thing you remember before waking up next to a complete stranger is telling a totally different stranger that he’s the only person that really knows you and then crying behind a dumpster that you risk tipping them off that your ‘flu’ is more related to Mexican agave than anything Spanish.

  28. Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says

    *dons bartenders apron at Pharyngula Saloon and Spanking Parlor*

    PZ, your Pharyngula Labs beta test transporter reports as being operational, so we can supply you with libations and organic veggies until the Trophy Wife gets home. E-mail us the order, but any grog over seven days old can’t be guaranteed.

  31. chigau (™) says

    Hot Rum Toddy
    (good for whatever ails you)
    Make a pot of strong tea,
    Add lemon and honey,
    Set aside.
    Drink Rum

  32. Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says

    but does any atheist here want to debate Vox Day on the Existence of gods?

    Why debate? Either the abject fool has the conclusive physical evidence, evidence that will pass muster with scientists, magicians, and professional debunkers, as being of divine, and not natural (scientifically explained), origin. Which can be presented to the world without debate. Here it is, here’s what to look for, go to it.

    Or he has nothing but bullshit, better known as philosophical sophistry, and must use something more than just point to make his case. It appears to be latter, where he has nothing but bullshit, and needs wiggle room to not be seen as a total and abject fool in his own mind. Show me the evidence, don’t talk about it…

  34. cicely, Inadvertent Phytocidal Maniac says

    You could at least tell us what sort of critter that is. Maybe a platysquid? Crocopus?

    Platy’Pod?
    –
    Adding my entirely-ineffective best wishes for a rapid recovery.
    –

  37. niftyatheist says

    I second the hot rum toddy for flu! It eases aches and pains (OK, it really just dulls one’s awareness of aches and pains but who cares?) and it really clears up sniffles and so on (well, actually, you lose concern about your running nose until you pass out for 8-9 hours of restorative sleep, after which the nasal passages have..ahem…cleared on their own and you wake up feeling much better!).

    Seriously, the hot rum toddy is my go-to curative (comfort drink) when flu-like symptoms descend. Chigau’s recipe is classic – about an ounce of rum, a big teaspoon of honey and either lemon or (my personal fave) an ounce of OJ with hot decaf black tea. Unlike chigau, I mix ’em all together, though. Drink up!

    Feel better soon, PZ!

  38. EB says

    “Show me the evidence, don’t talk about it…”
    If you debate him, then he will present whatever he has. And if he really does spout nothing but BS, then you should have no problem demonstrating in front of everyone that is a moron.

  41. Xenithrys says

    Aaargh, sorry (hangs head). That never happened to me on the old Pharyngula. I’ll wait 15 minutes next time.

  42. Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says

    If you debate him, then he will present whatever he has.

    If he has the solid and conclusive physical evidence, why doesn’t he present it and avoid any potential of loss of face in a debate? That tells me all I need to know about VD’s integrity, honesty, and intelligence. If he needs to debate, he has none of the above, just utter and total bullshit. And you know it. So, take your fuckwittery elsewhere. We have your, and VD’s number.

  43. Moggie says

    niftyatheist:

    Seriously, the hot rum toddy is my go-to curative (comfort drink) when flu-like symptoms descend. Chigau’s recipe is classic – about an ounce of rum, a big teaspoon of honey and either lemon or (my personal fave) an ounce of OJ with hot decaf black tea. Unlike chigau, I mix ‘em all together, though. Drink up!

    Anything involving honey and lemon is incomplete without some root ginger squeezed into it.

  44. Sili says

    You do look rather pale, yes.

    I’d send you a manatee – I’ve just bought a handful – but S&H are murder.

  46. Patricia, OM says

    Vox Day? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

    *gasps for breath*

    HAhahahahahahahahahahaha. Pox runs mouth = gawd.

  47. niftyatheist says

    Moggie #43 – ooh ginger! I never thought of that! If only I had flu-like…

    Hang on, methinks my dear old dad also made these for Granny when the rheumatism was acting up and I did kind of sleep on my elbow funny last night…

  48. Ant Allan says

    Regarding Vox Day’s challenge, hasn’t he shot himself in the foot?

    The assertion is, “that there is not only substantial evidence for the existence of gods, but that the logic and the evidence in support of the existence of gods is superior to the logic and the evidence for the nonexistence of them”.

    So, VD has to show: (a) that there is substantial evidence for the existence of gods (plural!), and (b) that the logic and the evidence in support of the existence of gods is superior to the logic and the evidence for the nonexistence of them.

    Whereas his opponent need only show either not-(a) or not-(b).

    As (a) talks about “gods”, a possible argument against (a) (and thus the whole assertion) might be to show that whatever evidence there is supports the existence of a single God more or as strongly as it supports the existence of multiple gods; if the evidence favours a single God or is insufficient to distinguish between the One and the many, (a) is falsified and thus also the whole assertion.

    Thus, the person who opposes VD needn’t be an atheist. A Christian might contend in good faith that the evidence favours a single God rather than many and so falsify the assertion.

    /@

    (cross-posted, m.m.)

  51. AussieMike says

    You probably got it from me. Clearly your antivirus isn’t updated. Does your shirt feel like sandpaper? Every lump in the bed feels like rocks? Unconscious is a prefered state of being? Yep, thats the one. It does get better though.

  52. Ragutis says

    Get well soon, PZ! I’ll pray for you!

    (Hey, I’m in Florida. It’s not like there’s anything useful I could do)

  53. 'Tis Himself, pour encourager les autres says

    Pox Day has been trying to get someone to debate him since forever. Apparently his sycophants aren’t giving him the validation he thinks he deserves.

  55. grumps says

    *sniffle*
    get well soon PZ

    but at least I’ve got all these wonderful FtB blogs to explore now. No shortage of reading matter.

  56. mythusmage says

    Illness is nature’s way of making you take a break. Hope you get to feeling better soon, and luxiuriate in the lassitude.

  57. Caek Noms says

    Reminds me of a platypus. Hmm.. with 8 arms. Let’s call it… an octopus!!

    Nope that’s not quite right.

  58. Xenithrys says

    Vox Day? Is he deliberately trying to claim to be Vox Dei (a homophone, or maybe bad spelling?), and wouldn’t that be a bit arrogant, even for a christian?

  59. Patricia, OM says

    Xenithrys – Pox Day is an idiot with an ego equal to jehovahs. I sashayed over and read his PZ challenge thread, pure drivel. Why would anyone want to debate a delusional wanker?

  60. StevoR says

    Translucent half platypus, half tadpole discovered – despite great camoflage.

    Hope you feel better soon PZ.

  61. StevoR says

    @chigau (™) : 2 September 2011 at 3:45 pm

    Hot Rum Toddy
    (good for whatever ails you)
    Make a pot of strong tea,
    Add lemon and honey,
    Set aside.
    Drink Rum

    Honey and lemon helps for sore throats and coldy-fluey things for me – warm sake or mead may be good too. Rum’s fine as well. Eucalyptus oil is good for clearing the sinuses – and smells nice – plus mustard, horseradish sauce and wasabi.

    Probably not all taken together though. ;-)