Ben Stein and… Muddy Waters?
We’ve grown accustomed to cdesign proponentsists saying stupid things. Whether it’s DaveScot falling for an Urban Legend, Casey Luskin pretending to be a lawyer, or Denyse O’Leary simply typing anything at all, Intelligent Design has become a perpetual motion machine, producing an endless stream of embarrassing statements.
I was dicking around the web the other day, and found a post about the trailer for Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed. Nothing special, really… but in the comments, Kyle Latino (who’s apparently some sort of comic artist) had this to say:
No, I really love the “Mannish Boy” depiction of Ben Stein, for surly [sic] he is the vision of what Muddy Waters had when he wrote that song.
Riiiiiiight. Muddy Waters was thinking about a fucking Nixon speech writer and game show host when he penned his classic, “Mannish Boy“.
Shit, if Ben Stein had walked into the Chess studios in 1955, Muddy Waters would have held him down while Sonny Boy Williamson stabbed him and Howlin’ Wolf planted his size 16 foot in Stein’s ribcage.
If Ben Stein ever inspired a song, it would probably be something like The Monks’ “Shut Up“, or Run-DMC’s “You Talk Too Much“.
I’m running out of naming options for these increasingly sick people. I started out a month ago with Church Burners. Then I had to add Ebola Boys. Church Burning Ebola Boys. Now what - Church Burning Baby Butchering Ebola Boys? That’s too long. Too unwieldy. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (Source: 
March 20th, 2008 at 8:02 am
He must be joking though. There’s no way anybody could really say that. Or has he maybe not heard Mannish Boy?
March 20th, 2008 at 9:10 am
“mannish boy”, ben stein
…..and we unpacked our adjectives
http://www.school-house-rock.com/Adj.html
(sound starts when you click the link)
March 20th, 2008 at 11:31 am
This films’ main thesis, that anyone in the science community who believes in God, or is a Darwin dissenter is being “expelled” is false at its core.
In a New York Times interview, Walter Ruloff (producer of Expelled) said that researchers, who had studied cellular mechanisms, made findings suggestive of an intelligent designer. “But they are afraid to report them”.
Mr. Ruloff also cited Dr. Francis S. Collins, a geneticist who directs the National Human Genome Research Institute and whose book, “The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief”, explains how he came to embrace his Christian faith. Mr. Ruloff said that Dr. Collins separates his religious beliefs from his scientific work only because “he is toeing the party line”.
That’s “just ludicrous,” Dr. Collins said in a telephone interview. While many of his scientific colleagues are not religious and some are “a bit puzzled” by his faith, he said, “they are generally very respectful.” He said that if the problem Mr. Ruloff describes existed, he is certain he would know about it.
Similarly, Dr. Ken Miller is a professed Christian who wrote “Finding Darwin’s God” (which I suggest you read). Dr. Miller has not been “expelled” in any fashion for his belief in God.
The movie tries to make the case that “Big Science” is nothing but a huge atheist conspiracy out to silence believers, but only presents a very one-sided look at some of the Discovery Institute’s “martyrs”.
Carolyn Crocker “expelled”? - No.
Her annual teaching contract was not renewed. Was she “fired” for daring to bring God into research? - No. She was hired to teach Cell Biology, and she decided to ignore the schools’ curriculum and substitute her own curriculum.
Guillermo Gonzalez “expelled”? - No.
He was not granted tenure. The film doesn’t bring up the fact that in all his years at ISU he had only brought in only a miniscule amount of grant money. Nor does it bring up the fact that in all his years at ISU he failed to mentor a single student through to their PhD. Nor does it mention that in his career at ISU, his previous excellent record of publication had dropped precipitously.
Richard von Sternberg “expelled”? - No.
Sternberg continues to work for NIH in the same capacity. Of course the movie doesn’t bring up his underhanded tactics in getting Meyers work published.
This movie attempts to influence it’s viewers with dishonesty, half-truths, and by a completely one-sided presentation of the facts.
If a scientists’ research is not accepted by the scientific community, it isn’t because the scientist either believes or doesn’t believe in God or Darwin, it is usually because they are producing bad science. Like the idea of Intelligent Design.
March 20th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Corey, it could be that he’s joking, but you never know. He did qualify his idiocy with:
You had me at “I’m a creationist”, Mr. Latino.
March 20th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
And all this time I thought that Muddy Waters was goofing on Bo Diddly”s I’m A Man.
The Monks song that comes to my mind is Complication.
March 20th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
There is Ben Stein, he is going to Tell The Lie. But he will never be as cool as the Bellrays.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
“Complication” is my all-time favorite Monks song. Have you seen Transatlantic Feedback yet, Janine? It looks like I’m going to have to wait for the DVD.
Thanks for that Bellrays clip; I’m going to have to find some of their stuff…
March 21st, 2008 at 10:26 am
For some reason, I first read your statement as “Intelligent Design has become a perpetual moron machine…” and it sounded right that way.