No, Ted Haggard Ken Ham Larry Craig Kent Hovind, not in the way you’re hoping.
The lawsuit has been withdrawn. Kinda.
But it couldn’t possibly have anything to do with the fact that Pivar, the classic crackpot in question, is being made to look like a fool on the ‘net?
Naaaah.
If you went to BadAstronomy.com and found yourself here, never fear: the BA Blog has moved to its new home at Discover Blogs. The original BA site (with the Moon Hoax debunking and all that) is still online, too.
Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He has written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic, and fights misuses of science as well as praising the wonder of real science.
Contact me: The Bad Astronomer "at" gmail "dot" com
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August 29th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
I still think PZ should send the Classic Crackpot a fruit basket with some balloon animals.
The weird thing (or weirder thing) is that Pivar went from a frivolous lawsuit against PZ to a really freakin’ batty one against Peter Irons.
August 29th, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Congratulations, Phil. I think.
It’s good to know you won’t have to waste a bunch of money on court costs, at least. I also know this won’t stop you from speaking your mind on issues that matter. Keep up the good fight against antiscience!
August 29th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Re Dan
Actually, it appears that it is Pivars’ lawyer, Mr. Little, who is threatening to sue Mr. Irons. As Ed Brayton says in a thread comment on Prof. Myers blog, bring it on!
August 29th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I think he’ll be suing TEH INTERWEBS or Network Solutions or something next.
Fruit Loop, thy name is Pivar.
Kisses
August 29th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
“So, Ben, what do you say we go public- blast this story all over the Internet? Of course, that won’t scare Ian away, but…”
-Riley Poole, National Treasure
No, but it sure works on other bad guys.
That’s my favorite non-animated, non-science fiction movie!
August 29th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
There are some wonderful “reviews” of Pivar’s book on Amazon. They were all posted after the lawsuit was filed.
August 29th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
What an ambiguous remark. Does that mean
“I had my attorney withdraw the suit today, because I realized I was on poor legal ground”,
or
“My attorney, that traitorous louse, withdrew my suit today! I should sue!”
As for Little threatening action against Irons, I wonder on what grounds. Was it because Irons revealed in a comment on a blog that he had a conversation with Little and Little admitted the case was unfounded? Does he think the conversation was a legal consultation, and thus merited privilege? Or does he contend that Irons misrepresented what was said, and the result is giving Little an unfair negative reputation?
It seems to me he shouldn’t have revealed any misgivings about the case to an outside party, attorney or otherwise, and if he intended privilege to stand he should certainly have confirmed that Irons was aware of that condition. Of course I don’t know the legalities.
August 29th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Maybe PZ could send him an assortment of Crockpot Classics. I hear that they are rather yummy.
August 29th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I think it’s wrong to say Pivar is being made to look like a fool because that kinda implies that he isn’t actually a fool.
August 29th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Well, he only made himself look like a fool. Perhaps he should sue himself…
August 30th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Yeah, pehaps “revealed as the fool he is” would be putting it better.
August 30th, 2007 at 3:41 am
Pivar: verb. To publish flagrant crackpottery then cry “foul!” and/or attempt to sue anyone who points out and criticizes said flagrant crackpottery.
Yep, we definitely need a word for that…
–
August 30th, 2007 at 5:15 am
Go squids!
August 30th, 2007 at 6:14 am
>>There are some wonderful “reviews†of Pivar’s book on Amazon. They were all posted after the lawsuit was filed.>>
And I was one of the reviewers!
Unfortunately, the threatened lawsuit may have worked as Pivar planned – the book is “currently unavailable.” I doubt that Amazon would have pulled the book, so it is more likely that it sold out.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:30 am
I always thought God was synonymous with truth and the Devil was the Great Liar. Seems to me that most of the ID/Creationists crowd are in the Great Liar camp,.,,with Pivar in the front ranks. Ah, NOW we know the True Battle,,,Evil, lying, despotic (read: Demonic) IDers vs. Truth seeking, freedom loving scientists (read: Angels of Light).
Finally, we have drawn the line in the sand and find,,,,we’re on the Right Side,,,
Gee, I bet scientists didn’t know that,,,
(Darn, satire is a LOT harder than it appears).
Gary 7
August 30th, 2007 at 8:49 am
You can hear DJ Grothe interview Peter Irons about his book “God on Trial” at the Point of Inquiry podcast website.
http://libsyn.com/media/pointofinquiry/POI_2007_07_27_Peter_Irons.mp3
If the link doesn’t work just google “pointofinquiry.org”.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:55 am
PZ:
> Peter Irons, who did such good work on my behalf, is now being
> threatened with legal action by Stuart Pivar’s lawyer, Michael Little.
I wonder if he’s suing for “tortious interference with his business”? (Or whatever the phrase is.) Perhaps Pivar told him to withdraw the suit, because of all the comments sent to them by Mr. Irons, and so Mr. Little has now lost a client and associated income?
Perhaps it’s for defamation of character, for publicly posting his tearing down of Mr. Little’s work?
(BTW, how do you get that nice quote around quoted material?)
August 30th, 2007 at 11:07 am
So, does this mean that Stuart Pivar now officially acknowledges his status to be a classic crackpot?
August 30th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
To get the quote, use the blockquote tag.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:25 am
Ken B, put the word “blockquote” in angle brackets .
August 31st, 2007 at 8:29 am
Is it just me or does the name Pivar make any of you think of grasshoppers? Some little insect like that, maybe locusts or praying mantises. Not trying to insult, just saying that that’s the mental picture I get.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
hgjghjgj
September 5th, 2007 at 10:25 am
The lawsuit against PZ was well reported. What about this assult against Irons? I personally have my lawn chair and drink, but haven’t been able to find where to watch the fireworks.
Anyone have anything on that?
I bought “God on Trial” and it is interesting, detailed reading. I would like to see what Mr. Irons is doing to turn Little into a small pile of mulch.
JC