# So how will \*you\* celebrate Darwin's birthday this Sunday? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818 "2006-02-10T04:38:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/1 "2006-02-10T04:38:29Z")
Yeah _you_ Mr. and Ms. [Homo Sapiens](http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/humanorigins/ha/sap.htm)! What have you got planned for this Sunday to celebrate? I’m thinking [spaghetti and meatball dinners will be popular.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Spaghetti_Monster) [Darwin’s birthday evolves into holiday - Amid challenges, supporters stick up for evolution on Sunday](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11258227/) > [@](#): > > PHILADELPHIA - Thanks to the “intelligent design” movement, Charles Darwin’s birthday is evolving into everything from a badminton party to church sermons this weekend. > > Defenders of Darwin’s theory of natural selection are planning hundreds of events around the world Sunday, the 197th anniversary of his birth, saying recent challenges to the teaching of evolution have re-emphasized the need to promote his work. > > “The people who believe in evolution … really just sort of need to stand up and be counted,” said Richard Leventhal, director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. “Evolution is the model that drives science. It’s time to recognize that.” > > The museum’s celebration will include birthday cake, a little badminton (reportedly a favorite game of Darwin’s) and a reading of his masterwork, “The Origin of Species,” by Penn junior Bill Wames, who volunteered to dress up as the 19th-century naturalist. > > “Come to my party!” Wames, in costume, bellowed Wednesday while handing out fliers around campus. “Sunday at 1 o’clock!” > > At the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, philosophy students will get a jump-start on Darwin Day on campus Friday by singing Darwin carols they composed. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/2 "2006-02-10T04:52:23Z")
Wow! I’m gonna go the zoo and have lunch in front of some relatives! No. Seriously. I just decided. That’s what I’m doing. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/3 "2006-02-10T04:55:15Z")
I have to work in the afternoon, but I’m hoping that that night, I can have a quiet dinner followed by a little punctuated equilibrium. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/4 "2006-02-10T04:59:40Z")
I’m going to the Galapagos to kill some finches. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/5 "2006-02-10T08:38:58Z")
I have one son born on Darwin’s birthday, and one son born on Galileo’s birthday 😃 That is to say, one on the 12th and one on the 15th. This means we’ll be having a common extended-family-type birthday party for them on Sunday. Coincidentally, spaghetti and meatballs will feature on the menu, though I hadn’t realized the connection until just now… Now who’s going to put on a fake beard and carry a stuffed beagle around, hmm? ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/6 "2006-02-10T14:29:38Z")
I’ll evolve! ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/7 "2006-02-10T14:44:34Z")
I can hope that I can have our baby on Sunday then. I’d rather not today since it’s Iris’ Grandmother’s birthday, I really don’t want a Vanetine’s day baby, and the 15th is Iris’ mother’s birthday. I can’t say I’d be unhappy with a Darwin baby, maybe she’ll come out a bit smarter then the rest! ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/8 "2006-02-10T14:55:19Z")
I will kill the unfit and mate with their women. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/9 "2006-02-10T15:38:50Z")
I’ll get out the mirror and admire my vestigial wings. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/10 "2006-02-10T15:44:52Z")
> [@Neurotik](#): > > I will kill the unfit and mate with their women. (a most sapient remark) Ooh, cave man tactics…I _like_ that, Og! Come on up to my cave and see me sometime. I’ll be at work, monitoring unevolved people cope with the results of their faulty gene pool. Or something. If I were off, I would do something fun. Not sure what, but something. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/11 "2006-02-10T16:22:19Z")
Yeah, the zoo sound like a good idea, if it’s not too cold, or else the Oak Park Conservatory and their carnivorous plant collection. We might as well start celebrating his bicentennial early, because you know that in 2009, it’s all gonna be about Lincoln. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/12 "2006-02-10T17:14:46Z")
Damn… is it too late to send out [Darwin cards?](http://www.philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=Product_Detail&item=0478) Gift the childrens with [Darwin dolls?](http://www.philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=Product_Detail&item=0030) Holidays get _so_ commercialized these days… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/13 "2006-02-10T18:08:49Z")
I love those! I Mom-I wanna Darwin doll! I bookmarked that site–thanks! ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/14 "2006-02-10T19:06:47Z")
Knowing me, I’ll probably do something stupid and end up killing myself. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/15 "2006-02-10T19:11:44Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I love those! I Mom-I wanna Darwin doll! I want [this one](http://www.philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=Product_Detail&item=0289) to match my Buddha beanie. (WWID-love it!) ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/16 "2006-02-10T19:15:58Z")
I will get really smashed, because I want to ensure the survival of the fittest brain cells… ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/17 "2006-02-10T19:27:55Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I love those! I Mom-I wanna Darwin doll! Another little thinker: > **[The Unemployed Philosophers Guild](https://philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=Product_Detail&item=0122)** > > Part of every purchase you make goes to philosophically profound causes. The other part goes to extra gold plated faucets in the Ivory Tower bathrooms. > [@](#): > > Van Gogh with removeable ear! Pull it off, velcro it back! Hours of fun! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/18 "2006-02-10T19:30:25Z")
I’m going to: 1. Move around, because I’m an animal. 2. Stiffen my spine, because I’m a chordate. 3. Show a little backbone, because I’m a vertebrate. 4. Breath the air, because I’m a tetrapod. 5. Lay a shelled egg, because I’m an amniote. 6. Lactate, because I’m a mammal. 7. Cross my eyes, because I’m a primate. 8. Craft a tool, because I’m anthropoid. And finally . . . 9. Cogitate on deep and profound thoughts, because I’m human. Does that cover it? Actually, I can’t do (5) and (6), because I’m not female. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/19 "2006-02-10T19:46:10Z")
> [@Annie](#): > > Damn… is it too late to send out [Darwin cards?](http://www.philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=Product_Detail&item=0478) Gift the childrens with [Darwin dolls?](http://www.philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=Product_Detail&item=0030) Holidays get _so_ commercialized these days… 😉 Looking at that site again, I must mention this: > **[The Unemployed Philosophers Guild](https://philosophersguild.com/index.lasso?page_mode=Product_Detail&item=0477)** > > Part of every purchase you make goes to philosophically profound causes. The other part goes to extra gold plated faucets in the Ivory Tower bathrooms. > [@](#): > > Calvin & Hobbes T-Shirt > > Its’ the real Calvin and Hobbes! John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes. I want one! ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818/20 "2006-02-10T19:51:15Z")
Um, I was planning on going to church… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-how-will-you-celebrate-darwins-birthday-this-sunday/343818.md?page=2)