|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 12/02/2010 : 05:08:14
|
As we all know by now, the charlatans at AiG have teamed up with something called "Ark Encounter" and are soon to be building a theme park. It promises to be a holy hoot. They've even got the governor of KY (a Dimocrat) on the band wagon -- I don't know if he's serious or just sucking up to get the jobs & money into the state. Nor do I care. It's just delusion on the one hand and hypocrisy on the other. Politicians are well noted for both.
Anyhow, this potentially botched abortion is coming in the form of Noah's Ark. It's interesting in that the Ark nonsense is the most difficult Bible story to defend -- I myself, have torn it apart a time or two. That makes it a pretty smart move on their part. They can't defend it, so they must thrust it into everyone's face, shouting "Glory!" The hoards of the non-sentient will flock to it like pismires to a picnic whilst skeptics sneer bitterly in the background. Or so it is hoped and predicted.
Kentucky Governor, Ark Encounter LLC, and AiG Announce Plans to Build a Full-Scale Noah’s Ark
December 1, 2010LaymanKeywords
creation-museumnews-releasenoahs-ark“
"Ark Encounter” expected to draw 1.6 million visitors in first year
Frankfort, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2010)—Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today joined the Ark Encounter LLC to announce the planned construction of a full-scale Noah’s Ark tourist attraction in northern Kentucky. Partnering with the Ark Encounter is Answers in Genesis, which is most widely known for its high-tech and popular Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.
“We are excited to join with the Ark Encounter group as it seeks to provide this unique, family friendly tourist attraction to the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Beshear. “Bringing new jobs to Kentucky is my top priority, and with the estimated 900 jobs this project will create, I am happy about the economic impact this project will have on the Northern Kentucky region.”
The Ark Encounter is scheduled to open in spring 2014 in northern Kentucky. Multiple sites are being considered, although property in Grant County off I-75 is at the top of the list. A feasibility study conducted by the renowned America’s Research Group has indicated that the Ark Encounter may attract 1.6 million visitors in the first year and is expected to employ up to 900 full- and part-time staff.
The for-profit Ark Encounter project will be privately funded at an estimated cost of $150 million. The final site selection for the Ark Encounter is subject to the ability to acquire all of the land needed for the project, and the approval of certain state and local incentives and other assistance for the project.
“We are very pleased to be a part of this new project,” said Ken Ham, president and founder of AiG and the Creation Museum. “AiG has been blessed to see the Creation Museum host over one million guests in three years. Based on our experience and success operating the large, state-of-the-art Creation Museum, our board believes the time is right to partner with the Ark Encounter in building a full-scale Noah's Ark. We hope that this fun and educational complex called the Ark Encounter will become another popular tourist destination for the state.”
In addition to the full-size Ark, the complex will include a walled city much like those found in ancient times, live animal shows, a children’s interactive play area, a replica of the Tower of Babel with exhibits, a 500-seat 5-D special effects theater, an aviary, and a first-century Middle Eastern village.
|
The long and short of it is that they are going to despoil a great tract of perfectly good land in order to perpetuate a ridiculous and long-running myth -- in the hands of Ham, et al., it's an outright lie.
But I wonder; is it going to be too much in too small a space? It could be pretty exhausting to visit both the "museum" and the Ark, and, as we're talking "for profit," here (as if AiG wasn't  ), the non-sentient could return to consciousness at the cost and decide to give the whole, preposterous thing a miss.
It wouldn't be so bad if they featured a couple of go-for-five-minutes-and-puke rides and maybe a burlesque show. 
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2010 : 12:52:15 [Permalink]
|
The plot coagulates:
Kentucky may subsidize creation theme park
By Eric W. Dolan
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 -- 10:27 am
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced Wednesday that Ark Encounter LLC and Answers in Genesis (AiG), which is widely known for its Creation Museum, will begin construction of a Noah's Ark tourist attraction in his state.
And according to reports coming out of the state, Kentucky taxpayers may end up subsidizing the park |
Why is no one surprised?
Answers in Genesis, who will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the whole park, is seeking performance-based tax incentives for the park.
"We have reviewed this from a legal standpoint and the application complies with our laws," Gov. Beshear said. "There is nothing even remotely unconstitutional about a for-profit organization coming in and investing $150 million to create jobs in Kentucky and bring tourism to Kentucky."
|
I have a question: Will the some 900 future employees have to sign the AiG Statement of Faith? It's a gigantic crock but if the AiG employees want to keep their gigs, they'll accept it. Will it be the same for the Ark Asininity?
Section 1: Priorities
1.The scientific aspects of creation are important, but are secondary in importance to the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ as Sovereign, Creator, Redeemer, and Judge.
2.The doctrines of Creator and Creation cannot ultimately be divorced from the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Section 2: Basics
1.The 66 books of the Bible are the written Word of God. The Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant throughout. Its assertions are factually true in all the original autographs. It is the supreme authority in everything it teaches. Its authority is not limited to spiritual, religious, or redemptive themes but includes its assertions in such fields as history and science.
2.The final guide to the interpretation of Scripture is Scripture itself.
3.The account of origins presented in Genesis is a simple but factual presentation of actual events and therefore provides a reliable framework for scientific research into the question of the origin and history of life, mankind, the earth and the universe.
4.The various original life forms (kinds), including mankind, were made by direct creative acts of God. The living descendants of any of the original kinds (apart from man) may represent more than one species today, reflecting the genetic potential within the original kind. Only limited biological changes (including mutational deterioration) have occurred naturally within each kind since creation.
5.The great Flood of Genesis was an actual historic event, worldwide (global) in its extent and effect.
|
And so forth.
They'll accept it, of course. There is no limit as to what people will walk into with eyes wide open, brains in neutral, and bullshit ringing in their ears.
Edited to add this link:
Hooo-weeee! Look what the state of Kaintucky is gittin' for $37 million!
Category: Creationism
Posted on: December 2, 2010 10:44 AM, by PZ Myers
This ain't gonna be free: the state guvmint is kickin' in $37 million in tax incentives to help a gang of Bible-totin' theocrats build a fancy Disneyland for ignoramuses. This is what it's gonna look like, they think:
|
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
| Edited by - filthy on 12/02/2010 13:43:56 |
 |
|
|
podcat
Skeptic Friend
435 Posts |
|
|
Hawks
SFN Regular
Canada
1383 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2010 : 23:40:46 [Permalink]
|
| The for-profit Ark Encounter project will be privately funded at an estimated cost of $150 million. |
Maybe they should hire someone like Noah to build the thing. That would surely be a lot cheaper. |
METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden! |
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2010 : 03:33:24 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by Hawks
| The for-profit Ark Encounter project will be privately funded at an estimated cost of $150 million. |
Maybe they should hire someone like Noah to build the thing. That would surely be a lot cheaper.
|
Hmm, yes. And build it with Bronze Age technology and design to give it that faint air of faux authenticity.
It would float about as well as the tub in the story -- not at all.
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 12/03/2010 : 04:29:02 [Permalink]
|
On a related matter:
Another reason to avoid visiting Answers in Genesis
Category: Creationism • Gadgets
Posted on: December 2, 2010 10:13 PM, by PZ Myers
Those porn sites you've been browsing? They've been slurping in more of your private data than you think. A paper has been published documenting the invasive practices of many websites. They're doing something called history hijacking, using code that grabs your entire browsing history so they can monitor every site you've visited. Cute, huh? There are tools you can use to block this behavior if you're using Firefox, at least.
Several people have written to me about this because of Table 1 on page 9 of the paper. There among the porn and gaming and commercial sites one stands out as unusual. It's the only site with the category of "religion".
It's Answers in Genesis.
Yep, don't be surprised. Answers in Genesis wants to know where you've been.
Even better, a reader named Ivan extracted the sleazy history hijacking code from the AiG site. Wanna see it? It's actually rather amusing. I've put it below the fold.
Here's what's funny. They categorize users.
|
I didn't know that AiG is trying to become a branch of the CIA. They're even a bigger bunch of scumbags than I'd thought, and I'd thought big.
I doubt if there's anything illegal about this; Ham's pretty good at keeping his ass (ask Creation Ministries International about that) protected and anyway, it seems to be common practice. But, to my mind, it raises some moral questions, not to mention the ethical ones.
I wonder what the SFN denizen's category is, those of us who visit their site regularly -- UNSPEAKABLE HERETIC, perhaps?
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 12/04/2010 : 04:51:35 [Permalink]
|
Like a bucket of horse piss quietly simmering in the sunlight, the plot thickens. PZ, who has been on Ham's case almost as long as I have, has found that the America's Research Group, they who did the feasability study that so impresseed Gov. Beshear, are, if not a part of AiG, at least busom buddies.
Christ and Corruption
Category: Creationism
Posted on: December 3, 2010 8:36 PM, by PZ Myers
Ken Ham commissioned a company named "America's Research Group" to produce a feasibility study for the construction of his theme park for biblical literalists — I'm sure its conclusion that the park would bring in 1.5 million visitors and $200 million in revenue was a factor in convincing the Governor of Kentucky to embrace the idea.
Only there's a catch. America's Research Group is run by Britt Beemer. Who is Britt Beemer? Oh, look: the feasibility study was written by Ken Ham's personal friend, coauthor, and fellow fundagelical kook.
This wasn't an independent study at all. It was by a personal ally with multiple ties to Ken Ham.
I don't know about you, but I smell something rotten.
|
Another link
Oh, such fine, upstanding folks we have with AiG. They play conservative politics so very well. Now I begin to wonder how much the gov knew and when did he know it? And what his personal piece of the action might be.
If I were a Christian, I'd be ashamed.
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
|
|
|
Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 10:55:04 [Permalink]
|
| Well darn. I guess I placed this post in the wrong thread. |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 13:06:46 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by Kil
Well darn. I guess I placed this post in the wrong thread.
|
Heh, ain't no big deal; it's out there and that's what's important. Ham & AiG-bashing should be a spectator sport.
Here's Ham on Facebook. I got the link from PZ, who is having a lot of fun with it. As am I.
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
|
|
|
Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 13:27:55 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by filthy
Originally posted by Kil
Well darn. I guess I placed this post in the wrong thread.
|
Heh, ain't no big deal; it's out there and that's what's important. Ham & AiG-bashing should be a spectator sport.
Here's Ham on Facebook. I got the link from PZ, who is having a lot of fun with it. As am I.
|
filthy. How are you able to see Hams facebook page? Are you on facebook? |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
|
|
|
podcat
Skeptic Friend
435 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 17:56:34 [Permalink]
|
Anybody know about updated versions of these programs? My updated Firefox won't accept them.
|
“In a modern...society, everybody has the absolute right to believe whatever they damn well please, but they don't have the same right to be taken seriously”.
-Barry Williams, co-founder, Australian Skeptics |
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 19:06:26 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by Kil
Originally posted by filthy
Originally posted by Kil
Well darn. I guess I placed this post in the wrong thread.
|
Heh, ain't no big deal; it's out there and that's what's important. Ham & AiG-bashing should be a spectator sport.
Here's Ham on Facebook. I got the link from PZ, who is having a lot of fun with it. As am I.
|
filthy. How are you able to see Hams facebook page? Are you on facebook?
|
Nope, not a member. It must be magic, eh? 
Actually, the link to Ham's page was in PZ's post. Not as good as magic, but a lot more likely.
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
|
|
|
Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
 Posted - 12/04/2010 : 19:15:27 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by filthy
Nope, not a member. It must be magic, eh?
Actually, the link to Ham's page was in PZ's post. Not as good as magic, but a lot more likely.
|
How strange. Because you have to sign in or not sign out to view a page on facebook. Even your own page. |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
|
|
|
filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 19:23:59 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by Kil
Originally posted by filthy
Nope, not a member. It must be magic, eh?
Actually, the link to Ham's page was in PZ's post. Not as good as magic, but a lot more likely.
|
How strange. Because you have to sign in or not sign out to view a page on facebook. Even your own page.
|
Hmm, Then we must conclude that this is magic after all. What other choice is there?
|
"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
|
|
|
|
Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2010 : 19:53:47 [Permalink]
|
Originally posted by filthy
Originally posted by Kil
Originally posted by filthy
Nope, not a member. It must be magic, eh?
Actually, the link to Ham's page was in PZ's post. Not as good as magic, but a lot more likely.
|
How strange. Because you have to sign in or not sign out to view a page on facebook. Even your own page.
|
Hmm, Then we must conclude that this is magic after all. What other choice is there?
|
Okay. I'm cool with that... |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
|
|
|
Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2010 : 03:32:55 [Permalink]
|
There's really nothing interesting at Ken Ham's facebook page. Him blogging the standard compilation of anti-evolution and persecusion stuff. His commenters are just the run-of-the-mill religious sycophants. And not that many of them, either.
|
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Yeah, but will it float?
