[Heartlander]

OK Jenny, maybe pictures will help…

FIG A: Philosophical naturalism as exemplified in the Hard Facts Wall from the California Academy of Sciences exhibit in San Francisco, CA Life Through Time: The Evidence for Evolution

FIG B: Fossil data applied to the philosophical framework of Fig A. (Hard Facts Wall from the California Academy of Sciences exhibit in San Francisco, CA Life Through Time: The Evidence for Evolution)

FIG C: Empirical data of the Hard Facts Wall after removal of materialistic philosophy with Occam's razor.

FIG D: LIFE THROUGH TIME: Framework for theory of Macrostasis based upon the pervasive patterns of natural history. "Stasis is data." -- Stephen Jay Gould, "Opus 200," Natural History, August 1991, p. 16

FIG I: The origin of the phyla: the fossil evidence

Contrary to both Darwinian gradualism and punctuated equilibria theory, the vast majority of phyla appear abruptly with low species diversity. The disparity of the higher taxa precedes the diversity of the lower taxa.

[Poser]

Contrary to both Darwinian gradualism and punctuated equilibria theory, the vast majority of phyla appear abruptly with low species diversity. The disparity of the higher taxa precedes the diversity of the lower taxa.

But the earth is only 4,000 years old. How can any of that be true???

[cookcounty]

Thanks for the charts, Heartlander. Imagine finding THAT in your kids bio-text!! Not a chance. Strictly Verboten. Only ask NICE questions (i.e., ones that make THEM look SCHMMART!!)

[jennyp]

Contrary to both Darwinian gradualism and punctuated equilibria theory, the vast majority of phyla appear abruptly with low species diversity. The disparity of the higher taxa precedes the diversity of the lower taxa.

Huh??? That's not even wrong, it's nonsensical. Maybe you want to rephrase the paragraph?

[Ahban]

Good graphs!