No Better Than Bacteria

Well. That's that, then. Actually, two things struck me about this article. First is the reaction of the people in attendance; not just the enthusiastic applause but this comment during the question and answer session:

After noting that the audience did not represent the general population, a questioner asked, "What kind of reception have you received as you have presented these ideas to other audiences that are not representative of us?"

Pianka replied, "I speak to the converted!"

I was also reminded of the scene in The Matrix, when Agent Smith tells Morpheus that humans are really not mammals at all, but rather a virus - a virus that Smith desperately wants to purge.

As for the good Doctor Pianka, the University of Texas evolutionary ecologist and lizard expert who the Academy named the 2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist - who, it appears may have spent a little too much by himself - all I can say is, if you really feel that 90% of the people have to die so that the earth may survive, start with yourself and the "converted".

We'll take care of things from there. (h/t James Taranto)