and Journal of Omniology #1 Sept.-Oct. 2010
Several years ago I have the privilege of working for Joe Taylor a West Texas Creationary field paleontologist and fossil restorer. During that time and before Joe spoke of producing a magazine devoted to his discoveries and views on paleontology and other issues that interest him. After many years of intellectual gestation the first issue of the magazine is now available. The issue begins with a lengthy article about the "Big Yellow Phytosaur" a huge narrow jawed fossil crocodile from the Triassic strata of West Texas. Taylor details his discovery, excavation and restoration (including techniques) of these amazing complex ancient creations. Taylor gives personal details on how he became interested in these animals as well some historical background of scientists who have worked on these creatures. The article is crammed with numerous helpful photos.
The next major article is one that deals with the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology's (SVP) war on creationists and creation science. Taylor and several others attended the 2007 SVP Annual meeting where notable fossil hunters like Paul Serrano and Kevin Padian launched into rants— "a full frontal attack on Creationists". Taylor's conclusion, "There are those in secular paleontology who are trying to redefine what science is. What we saw were radical evolutionists who will not tolerate being challenged in their belief in evolutionism."
Next up is a well written article called "A Bear in the Constellations?!" Andrew V. Ste Marie, 16 year old home school scholar makes a comparison between the long-tailed bear constellation Ursa Major and the extinct bear dog Amphicyon. While the similarities are intriguing Ste. Marie admits his "premise is definitely speculative." However this hypothesis is definitely worth placing in the public forum. The feature articles are rounded out by Taylor's evaluation and reminiscences about "The Jesus Movement" of the 1960s and 1970s.
The magazine has short columns like Hugh Miller's C-14 dating of Triceratops and hadrosaur bones that gave dates in the thousands and not the tens of millions of years old as conventional secular Paleontology ascribes them to. Also T.P. Beh's humorous look at many fossil stories which emanate from the evolutionary establishment, a review of Michael Oard's "Frozen in Time" book (Mammoths and the Ice Age should be explored in greater depth in future issues), "Important Politics" by Cathie Adams that centers on the misdeeds of the NEA and David Bump's "A Creationist Comments" dealing with Kenneth Miller's silly objections to Intelligent Design, Bigger Galaxies and flying lemurs.
Perhaps the most important feature is opening editorial "Letter from the Editor" which details Taylor's future direction for the magazine. Taylor lists numerous fascinating fossil and geology questions that he and the magazines contributors will address in upcoming issues. Questions like, "Why are the Oligocene mammals of the White River Badlands of South Dakota more petrified than the Cretaceous dinosaurs below them?" and "Why do the white bones buried in red sand of the mammal beds of rhino and saber-toothed cats in the Gobi desert of China look just like the velociraptors and T-rexes of the Gobi desert if they were separated by millions of years?" If Taylor is successful in bringing these issues out and providing reasonable solutions he will be providing a great service to the creation science cause.
(for subscription information call 800-763-7454 or e-mail mtblancofossilnews@aol.com)
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