As we do every year on this occasion, we have duly decorated the Palace’s hallowed shrine to PZ Myers, Patron Saint of Perry Street Palace, to celebrate his successful completion of yet another complete orbit around our sun. This year saw the release of The Great Tentacled One’s first book, The Happy Atheist (which we reviewed for The Feminist Hivemind), as well as gems like this scat-themed reworking of his classic post, The Courtier’s Reply. As usual, there were also some quotable nuggets we shamelessly stole for our quote collection:

There’s no such thing as political neutrality. Silence is an argument in favor of the status quo. –PZ Myers

I’ve got to tell you — church services are goddamned boring. I think that’s how the tediously dull game of football got to be such a big sport in this country — they only had to be less boring than church. –PZ Myers

First they came for the Mormons…And then, we hope, they go after the rest. –PZ Myers

Keep opening your mouths, you privileged coddled rich fuckwads. Marie Antoinette had nothing on the American upper class. If there is a revolution, what’s going to drive it is the arrogance of these parasites. –PZ Myers

Any set of values that limits the potential of half the population, that reduces the health and happiness of one gender, or race, or class, is empirically detrimental to the long-term viability of the whole. –PZ Myers

I could just go read the Wall Street Journal, I suppose, but guzzling a potent emetic would have the same effect, and be less painful to my brain. –PZ Myers

So Australia is pumping hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up creationism? I’m not buying beer for any Australians ever again, until you stop. –PZ Myers

Children brought up in a dark box learn to live in a dark box. Children brought up in the light learn to illuminate the world. –PZ Myers

The beer’s on us today. Even if you’re Australian.

Happy birthday, PZ. Long may you mock.