Pharyngula is about to add a co-blogger
Are you ready for this? Chris Clarke now has authorship privileges on Pharyngula.
Those of you who know his work will be awestruck. Chris is a phenomenal writer, a true progressive, and a committed environmentalist. I’d been thinking about bringing in an additional contributor, because let me tell you, this semester is going to kick my butt and I am already stressing out, and when I thought about who I would just dream of partnering with, Chris was right at the top of the list…so it was a tremendous honor when he accepted.
This is going to be awesome.
susan:
September 6th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Very cool! I love Chris’ writing and I’m glad he accepted. I’m looking forward to lots of photos of pretty desert sunsets.
ImaginesABeach:
September 6th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Will he tell us if the jeep has been replaced? And will he have rules barring the awarding of internets?
Ms. Daisy Cutter, Vile Human Being:
September 6th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
Cool. I’ve long been impressed with Clarke’s writing and his low tolerance for bullshit.
Tony •King of the Hellmouth•:
September 6th, 2012 at 8:56 pm
PZ:
I’m not terribly familiar with Chris. After reading your post, I had to check him out. I’m impressed. I think he’s a good fit for Pharyngula.
I really like the following:
I think I’m going to check out more of his blog.
Welcome Chris!
geocatherder:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Chris is one of my heroes! I’m so jazzed!
Improbable Joe:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
But but but… environmentalism has nothing to do with atheism!
raven:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Smart and about time.
DELEGATE DELEGATE DELEGATE
It really helps people from burning out.
Menyambal --- Sambal's Little Helper:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
This IS going to be awesome.
Congratulations, PZ.
Welcome, Chris.
Good luck to all.
Chris Clarke:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Thank you all!
ImaginesABeach, I’m working on a “who the hell is Chris Clarke” post which will contain that update, but since you asked? 1) I haven’t yet replaced the Jeep, but 2) everyone’s incredibly kind donations put me a hell of a lot closer to doing so and I’m saving to make up the difference and 3) I am unforgivably late on the relevant thank you notes.
reneerp:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Chris Clarke is one of the best writers on the internets and off. It’s great to see him getting a larger venue.
carlie:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
I love Chris’ writing!
Just please, for the love of all that is good with the world, make sure that the authorship of each post is prominently displayed somehow right at the top – no more of that tiny name text in the time stamp. I hate when there are multiple authors on a blog and it’s easy to miss who said what.
Amblebury, I doesn't afraid of NOTHING!:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Bodes well.
Susannah:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:38 pm
… … I can’t think of anything to say, but to repeat, Awesome! Awesome, awesome! (For good measure.)
SC (Salty Current), OM:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Tremendous.
Makes me very happy.
(And thanks to Chas for initially introducing me to him and his activism.)
Dick the Damned:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
I sure do hope he’s a fully qualified & committed antitheist. But i guess we can train him up, eh.
PZ Myers:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Anti-theism has never been a major topic for him. I’m happy for him to just be himself.
ChasCPeterson:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
*big grin*
I guess I first got to Chris’s blog via PZ in the pre-Sb daze. I’ve said it before: best writing on the fucking Internetz. (And the defendant in the bizarre Show Trial at Berube’s (that and Chris’s Graphic Novel version of What’s Liberal About the Liberal Arts? (now, seemingly, sadly, not online) hooked me into teh blogosphere for good))
[aside: Chris, wtf? I sent you my bio months ago.]
Markita Lynda—damn climate change!:
September 6th, 2012 at 9:52 pm
This should be an interesting combination, making Pharyngula richer and its topic stream wider.
ilex:
September 6th, 2012 at 10:33 pm
This is a great idea, I look forward to his posts.
Chris, since you’re in Joshua tree now, maybe you could take over a Botanical Wednesday or two? There really are some strange beauties out there!
Utakata:
September 6th, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Oh right, he’s the jeep guy…
…welcome, Chris! :)
eddarrell:
September 6th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
No, I wasn’t ready at all — until I saw it was Chris. Context is everything, isn’t it? Not sure why, but don’t care.
Caine, Fleur du mal:
September 6th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Awesome! Wonderful news. I look forward to reading.
Dick the Damned:
September 6th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
PZ, we’ll give the guy a chance, but it’s too bad if the blog loses some of its anti-theist bite. It looks like your contribution will be diluted, or am i too jet-lagged to understand the situation? (We’ve just moved back to Canada from the UK.)
The bathroom is now vacant, so i’m off to bed. (What hours do you keep? [Rhetorical question])
Rey Fox:
September 6th, 2012 at 11:41 pm
How can I serve two poopyhead overlords?
Chris Clarke:
September 6th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
Dick, the line for my antitheist bites forms to the left. Please to roll up your pant leg, and fill out this consent form in triplicate.
consciousness razor:
September 6th, 2012 at 11:53 pm
Your antitheist bites better be made of real baby, or I’m taking my business elsewhere.
Kristjan Wager:
September 7th, 2012 at 12:17 am
I will freely admit that I was a bit unhappy when seeing the headline. All too often I have seen a great blog get diluted by adding a co-blogger. The I saw that the co-blogger is Chris Clarke, and now I am happily anticipating being able to read more of his stuff!
For those who don’t know Chris’ writing, I just can say that you have something to look forward to. As an example of one of his most memorable pieces, I point you to life and death (if you read it, make sure to also read the comments.
Tony •King of the Hellmouth•:
September 7th, 2012 at 1:01 am
Chris @25:
Golly, what could you *possibly* be referring to here?
I like that you have a sense of humor :)
Chris Clarke:
September 7th, 2012 at 1:32 am
I’d answer you, Tony, were it not for this damn butter freezing solid in my mouth.
StevoR:
September 7th, 2012 at 2:52 am
@4. Tony •King of the Hellmouth :
Good quote selection there. Must admit I hadn’t heard of Chris Clarke before but liking what I’m reading. Best wishes & raised beer salute.
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 3:26 am
Woot! Chris, I’m so thrilled that it’s you, old mate.
Nah, Chris is one of the Meanyhead tribe, not the Poopyhead tribe.
Different coloured goats entirely.
John Morales:
September 7th, 2012 at 4:23 am
Chris Clarke?
(Never heard of this person)
The rest of us will have to wait and see, I guess.
I’m not easily awed, and this hyperbolic encomium ain’t helping.
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 4:36 am
Crikey John, allergic to a bit of enthusiasm?
Some of us have been running into Chris Clarke in various places online for nigh on 20 years. Whenever I’ve seen his byline, I click through to read what he’s saying. There are very few other people online for whom I do the same.
That’s why I’m glad to see him here.
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 4:39 am
In fact, PZ is just about the only other person I was reading regularly on USENet back then who I still read regularly today. That’s why I see this as such a natural pairing.
John Morales:
September 7th, 2012 at 4:54 am
tigtog,
Bloody oath!
It functions very well as negative priming for me and predisposes me to be critical — over the years I have painfully learnt to lower my expectations inversely according to the degree of enthusiasm others exhibit over something I’m supposed to like.
(Minimises disappointment, one of the saddest emotions)
–
I’ve been checking out some of the provided links, and I’m thoroughly unimpressed, so far.
(But then, the comments are where it’s at, for me)
blf:
September 7th, 2012 at 5:08 am
The mildly deranged penguin can give lessons (plural) on developing and using multiple minds. Reasonable rates, provided lots of cheese and MUSHROOMS! are involved. And it doesn’t take much time: All of the lessons will be delivered simultaneously, one or more for each mind. At the end you will be gibbering and know that having just one poopyhead is a fiendish creationista plot in league with the peas and horses — it’ll be obvious…
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 5:15 am
Ah well John, if Chris ends up not being your cup of tea, you can always just skip his posts.
rorschach:
September 7th, 2012 at 5:51 am
Not happy. I don’t care how good Chris Clarke is, never heard of him and it doesn’t really matter. Pharyngula is PZ’s brand, and I see problems in having it diluted, because especially now we need this blog to be a blinding beacon and a fortress of reason and equality. Anyway, I’ll cope I guess.
PZ Myers:
September 7th, 2012 at 6:36 am
Nah, don’t worry. It’s still me writing exactly the same stuff, with Chris increasing the breadth with his contributions.
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 6:54 am
I even see it as very much within the spirit of Atheism+ – Chris always has been a passionate social justice advocate, but his areas of special interest are different from yours, so this simply better displays another aspect of breadth of issues within Atheism+’s ambit.
David Marjanović:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:08 am
Pharyngula+?
rorschach:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:18 am
Oh snap….
;)
John Morales:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:24 am
Well, I always thought of this place as PZ’s personal* blog (though I know there have been guest posts before), and would have no issue with Chris getting his own blog here on FTB — but that is not what has happened.
–
From the Rules:
(Evidently, this is outdated — there is now another with the power of authorship)
–
*Clearly, it no longer is that, now it’s a shared blog.
SC (Salty Current), OM:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:38 am
Has it occurred to you guys that this is impolite and unkind?
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:44 am
John, there’s a difference in blogging software between giving a user “author” privileges and giving them “admin” privileges. Given that PZ is very aware of this difference after all his years running various forms of blogging software, and his careful description of giving Chris “authorship privileges”, I’m going to presume that he means exactly what he’s written.
Users with “author” privileges on WordPress installations can moderate their own posts only. Users with “editor” privileges can moderate the thread attached to any post, but they cannot place people into the moderation or oblivion filters. Only those with “admin” privileges can place people in moderation or bannination.
It’s not hard to find this stuff out, you know.
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:45 am
Also? What SC said.
John Morales:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:45 am
[meta]
SC, no, but at least those comments were on topic — unlike yours.
John Morales:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:51 am
tigtog, are you telling me that my claim that “there is now another with the power of authorship” is incorrect?
rorschach:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:58 am
No not really, because I don’t think it is.
As I said, I’ll cope. But I do think that the Pharyngula brand is what it is because of PZ.
Ye Olde Blacksmith - Spocktopus cuddler:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:58 am
Aaaahhhh! Change! Change bad!
/snark
Two interesting bloggers with one bookmark. :)
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 7:58 am
No, I’m pointing out that “power of authorship” has very little to do with PZ’s quote about being THE BOSS that you chose to use.
tigtog:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:00 am
oops – the Horde on the other side of the planet has obviously woken up again – my #51 was in response to John Morales at #48
Wowbagger, Antipodean Dervish:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:01 am
Remember what happened not that long ago when PZ got really pissed off with people expressing entitlement regarding what he did or didn’t do with his blog?
It’s probably worth keeping in mind.
consciousness razor:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:02 am
If you think that’s a problem, I hope it bothers you enough to make you leave or shut up.
Ye Olde Blacksmith - Spocktopus cuddler:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:05 am
Better a co-blogger brought on than a burned out PZ, IMO.
rorschach:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:07 am
I’ll take my coat…
ChasCPeterson:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:11 am
Morales, please shut up. Please?
Because I can assure you that not one person reading this gives even a single flying shit about what you find unimpressive.
dude. It’s a blog.
A blog. Not a ‘brand’.
And not a beacon of shining light.
blog.
consciousness razor:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:14 am
I forgot to add that I have filled out my consent forms.
*hands crumpled papers*
However, I haven’t seen any evidence that your brand of antitheist bites are an effective homeopathic remedy. I will buy ten cartons, but be warned! I will remain skeptical until I know they’re working.
Ms. Daisy Cutter, Vile Human Being:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:20 am
Rorschach:
You are really not the best judge of such things.
John Morales:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:22 am
[meta]
Chas, I very much doubt that had I (as others have) claimed to be impressed by his writing, you’d have felt the need to tell me to shut up because no-one gave a shit about my opinion.
(So little shit you give, that you give me shit over it)
–
And yes, I shall now shut up since I’m posting too much too quickly and testing PZ’s patience (and that I’m responding to others is no excuse).
rorschach:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:23 am
But you must be then, by appointment or something.
No worries.
consciousness razor:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:32 am
Since PZ and Chris are the ones who get to make this decision, I move that we put it to a vote. Who gets to be them for a day? I nominate PZ and Chris. Are there any objections?
rorschach:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:35 am
Jebus. You want to play strawman and chief moron, knock yourself out.
Antiochus Epiphanes:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:36 am
It’ll be fine. We have daily co-bloggers writing a segment called “Why I’m an Atheist” and the place hasn’t blown up.
We’re going to be OK.
consciousness razor:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:40 am
When Ms. Daisy said you aren’t the best judge, were you just playing, or did you really think she was appointing herself?
rorschach:
September 7th, 2012 at 8:46 am
Why not? As opposed to who, her? Or anyone else? Who’s judging? On what authority? It’s a ridiculous argument, more of a slur really. I don’t mind, she can insult me all she likes, but I have the right to question and object. Actually, never mind, it’s not important really. Have your little token victories.
Julien Rousseau:
September 7th, 2012 at 9:40 am
You’ve been here 2 minutes and there’s already a line for you?
Hopefully it moves faster than Brownian’s line, we get enough complaint of how slow it is already.
Oh, and welcome :)
howardpeirce:
September 7th, 2012 at 10:45 am
Does it strike anyone else that this is really not the venue in which to display ignorance as a badge of valor?
jymdyer:
September 7th, 2012 at 11:32 am
=v= I never heard of this person calling hirself @rorschach, but that, too, doesn’t really matter. This being the Internet, we can just project what we want onto what we see.
Speaking of the Internet and its ad hominem bent, I do think the antitheist lobby is sufficiently loud, quite possibly at the expense of antitheism. Chris has a way of getting substantive issues across without dragging in a lot of blather. Read and learn.
morgan:
September 7th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
A huge warm welcome to you Chris. I’m an admirer of your writing and thinking and am overjoyed that you are joining us here.
PZ Myers:
September 7th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
You know what, people? There’s no point in arguing over it. This is my blog and I’ve made the decision.
This will in no way change my blogging habits or make a difference in how I write (although I do have hopes that sharing the space with a better writer will engage my competitive nature and force me to up my game.) It also plays into my long-term goals: I want to drift towards a more environmental focus — not exclusively but as a part of this place — both because it’s important and because I also think it should be the next big battle for atheism to take a stand on…and Chris has impeccable credentials as an advocate for the environment.
If having him here helps raise consciousness about the politics and perils of our ecology, I’m satisfied.
As for other concerns, you don’t have to read me, you don’t have to read Chris. I’m going to be making some input into the site redesign, and given that lots of us have co-bloggers, I’d like to make the authorship more prominent, for instance. I would not be surprised or disappointed to see him develop a somewhat independent following…and that I would hope we’d see some cross-fertilization of ideas between our two readerships.
John Phillips, FCD:
September 8th, 2012 at 9:46 am
Yay, two for the price of one., I’ve always liked a bargain.