The Panda's Thumb Legacy Archive — pandasthumb.net

Send Prof. Steve Steve to Antarctica!

Posted 2 July 2009 by Prof. Steve Steve

The marketing people at Quark Expeditions have a contest going to send a blogger on one of their Antarctic expeditions next year. They will send a blogger along simply based on votes, a straight-up popularity contest. This seems like an opportunity that I shouldn't miss. I'm eager to compare my sartorial style with the resident penguin colonies down there, and I'm sure that dodging crabeater or Weddell seals should simply add a certain zest to the adventure for someone of my diminutive stature. Unfortunately, there is some speciesism involved, and I'll have to make do with using my designated Sherpa for the trip, Wesley Elsberry, as my proxy in the voting process. We're still discussing which one of us gets smuggled along in the luggage. I've told him that that is what duffel bags are for. Wesley makes for a pretty good Sherpa, what with his interdisciplinary background in marine biology and computer science. He's also handy with a camera and acoustics gear, and does some wicked blogging himself. Of course, it's not a patch on my own set of qualifications, including the B. Amboo Chair in Creatoinformatics at the University of Ediacara, a J.D.-M.D.-quintuple Ph.D., and being a seven-time Nobel nominee. As the Izaak Walton of information theory and the Ulysses S. Grant of drinking contests, I can recognize talent for myself and exploit it. Sorry, the new word is collaboration, isn't it? We did well working together at the 2005 Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial, and I'm looking forward to some more, er, collaboration in the cold. So, Freeze Me, Please! Voting runs through September 30th, so please pass this on. Here's an 88x31 pixel badge you can use by copying the code below:

25 Comments

Michael J · 2 July 2009

Good luck Wesley

Wesley R. Elsberry · 2 July 2009

Michael J,

Thanks kindly. If I do get talked into taking the duffel bag, I hope someone gets a photo of Prof. Steve Steve lugging it into the airport.

Frank J · 2 July 2009

You got my vote, Professor. You might have to check Wesley, though. He looks too big for the overhead compartment.

fnxtr · 3 July 2009

Here's how Wesley and Steve can decide who gets the duffel bag:

Thumb wrestle.

Wesley R. Elsberry · 3 July 2009

Pitting the primate thumb versus the panda's thumb... that's an interesting approach.

John Kwok · 3 July 2009

Since I'm not voting for Casey Luskin's "I Kissed Bill Dembski (and I liked it)", then sure, you can have my vote.

Stanton · 3 July 2009

John Kwok said: Since I'm not voting for Casey Luskin's "I Kissed Bill Dembski (and I liked it)"...
I'd sooner add live scorpions wrapped in live Tubifex to my diet that even contemplate voting for that.

John Kwok · 3 July 2009

Well I heard that Casey finally found himself some gainful employment, by singing backup vocals in the Katy Perry band (Her rock and rolling parents are a pair of West Coast Xian ministers.). Maybe she'll let him sing that unauthorized version of "I Kissed A Girl" (unless he subsitutes it with "I Kissed Abbie Smith".....):
Stanton said:
John Kwok said: Since I'm not voting for Casey Luskin's "I Kissed Bill Dembski (and I liked it)"...
I'd sooner add live scorpions wrapped in live Tubifex to my diet that even contemplate voting for that.

Rilke's granddaughter · 4 July 2009

Still obsessed with Abbie, I see, John.
John Kwok said: Well I heard that Casey finally found himself some gainful employment, by singing backup vocals in the Katy Perry band (Her rock and rolling parents are a pair of West Coast Xian ministers.). Maybe she'll let him sing that unauthorized version of "I Kissed A Girl" (unless he subsitutes it with "I Kissed Abbie Smith".....):
Stanton said:
John Kwok said: Since I'm not voting for Casey Luskin's "I Kissed Bill Dembski (and I liked it)"...
I'd sooner add live scorpions wrapped in live Tubifex to my diet that even contemplate voting for that.

John Kwok · 4 July 2009

Who me? Anyway, I think Luskin has been the topic du jour on her website at least three times, and I believe that they had a debate in person, when he visited her campus:
Rilke's granddaughter said: Still obsessed with Abbie, I see, John.
John Kwok said: Well I heard that Casey finally found himself some gainful employment, by singing backup vocals in the Katy Perry band (Her rock and rolling parents are a pair of West Coast Xian ministers.). Maybe she'll let him sing that unauthorized version of "I Kissed A Girl" (unless he subsitutes it with "I Kissed Abbie Smith".....):
Stanton said:
John Kwok said: Since I'm not voting for Casey Luskin's "I Kissed Bill Dembski (and I liked it)"...
I'd sooner add live scorpions wrapped in live Tubifex to my diet that even contemplate voting for that.
If anyone has an obsession, RG, it's you for bringing it up not only here but at least two other websites online. Have a happy Fourth of July, if you can manage it....

John Kwok · 4 July 2009

RG, if Luskin is infatuated with Abbie Smith, then he could have her. Personally I think I'd find Katy Perry far more appealing company......
John Kwok said: Who me? Anyway, I think Luskin has been the topic du jour on her website at least three times, and I believe that they had a debate in person, when he visited her campus:
Rilke's granddaughter said: Still obsessed with Abbie, I see, John.
John Kwok said: Well I heard that Casey finally found himself some gainful employment, by singing backup vocals in the Katy Perry band (Her rock and rolling parents are a pair of West Coast Xian ministers.). Maybe she'll let him sing that unauthorized version of "I Kissed A Girl" (unless he subsitutes it with "I Kissed Abbie Smith".....):
Stanton said:
John Kwok said: Since I'm not voting for Casey Luskin's "I Kissed Bill Dembski (and I liked it)"...
I'd sooner add live scorpions wrapped in live Tubifex to my diet that even contemplate voting for that.
If anyone has an obsession, RG, it's you for bringing it up not only here but at least two other websites online. Have a happy Fourth of July, if you can manage it....

fnxtr · 4 July 2009

John Kwok said: Personally I think I'd find Katy Perry far more appealing company......
I guess, if Emily Deschanel isn't available.

John Kwok · 4 July 2009

She'd also rank high on my personal pecking list, and way ahead of Ms. Smith:
fnxtr said:
John Kwok said: Personally I think I'd find Katy Perry far more appealing company......
I guess, if Emily Deschanel isn't available.

Wesley R. Elsberry · 4 July 2009

Ahem. Am I likely to encounter any of them on the ice of the Antarctic Peninsula?

Rilke's Granddaughter · 4 July 2009

This comment has been moved to The Bathroom Wall.

Rilke's Granddaughter · 4 July 2009

Wesley R. Elsberry said: Ahem. Am I likely to encounter any of them on the ice of the Antarctic Peninsula?
Depends on how lucky you are.... Dr. Steve Steve does have a certain attraction for the ladies.

John Kwok · 4 July 2009

This comment has been moved to The Bathroom Wall.

John Kwok · 4 July 2009

Well, Zooey Deschanel was in the "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (MEMO to fnxtr, I actually meant Zooey, not her sister Emily, but I sitll endorse your sentiment) and I could have sworn they had a scene set in Antarctica (Just kidding of course.):
Wesley R. Elsberry said: Ahem. Am I likely to encounter any of them on the ice of the Antarctic Peninsula?
On a semi-serious note, you might stumble upon actress Amanda Tapping (who was the brilliant Air Force Colonel with a Ph. D. in Astrophysics in both "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis".). I heard that the producers of both series did film either a few episodes or a made for television movie either in Greenland or Antarctica.

John Kwok · 5 July 2009

I just voted. Perhaps we can ask Katy Perry to film her next video there:
Wesley R. Elsberry said: Ahem. Am I likely to encounter any of them on the ice of the Antarctic Peninsula?

John Kwok · 5 July 2009

And of course Professor Steve Steve ought to have a prominent role in her next video:
John Kwok said: I just voted. Perhaps we can ask Katy Perry to film her next video there:
Wesley R. Elsberry said: Ahem. Am I likely to encounter any of them on the ice of the Antarctic Peninsula?

Frank J · 6 July 2009

I just voted. Perhaps we can ask Katy Perry to film her next video there:

— John Kwok
"Cold and Colder"?

fnxtr · 6 July 2009

"I Kissed A Panda (And I Liked It)"

fnxtr · 6 July 2009

Yeah, I meant Zooey. She and Katy could be twins.
Here endeth the digression.

John Kwok · 6 July 2009

My thoughts exactly:
fnxtr said: "I Kissed A Panda (And I Liked It)"
Am thinking of seeing her next New York City performance and if I have the good fortune to meet her, I might suggest it.