Via John Rennie (who seems to be blogging at Scientific American now) comes this sad story about "Dr. Dino" (aka Kent Hovind) and his dinosaur Bible park:

Escambia County authorities this week locked up a museum building at the theme park on North Palafox Street in Pensacola after Circuit Judge Michael Allen ruled the owners were in contempt of court.

Owners of the park, which shows how dinosaurs may have roamed the Earth just a few thousand years ago, did not obtain a building permit before constructing the building in 2002. They have argued in and out of court that it violates their "deeply held" religious beliefs, and that the church-run facility does not have to obtain permits.

Did I say sad? I meant hilarious. What a bunch of scam artists.

I don't believe anything Kent Hovind says about creation, evolution or if the sun will come up tomorrow. I've seen several videos he has made debunking evolution, it's not just bad science, it's horrendously full of holes and half-truths.

Hovind should have to get permits, like anyone else. He forgot that part about rendering unto Caesar.

He makes those of us who claim Christianity look foolish, because he gets the press. So did Koresh and Jim Jones. The media, as we of course know, has no bias against Christians or our beliefs. Why don't they ever go to a neighborhood church and talk to the leaders or members. Because we look normal and we are no fun to see in the light of day.

Growing up "Yupe" (i.e., MI's Upper Peninsula) I can confirm the "party store" thing and the "pop" thing. The "bubbler" thing never made it across the WI border, though, and - at least back in my day - that "Devil's Night" thing was unknown as well. I think the reason "Devil's Night" may have gained traction in the meantime is because of the now well-established habit of our dusky brethren in Detroit of setting fire to derelict buildings on this particular night - said tradition having sprung up in the wake of the Detroit race riots of 1967 and having reached something of a high water mark in the 80's.

Drat! Previous comment belongs on previous post. My bad.