Award winning SF writer John Scalzi, who lives within driving distance of the Creation Museum, has accepted a challenge to visit the 'museum' and write a snark-filled review of the place.
When he first wrote about the 'museum', he felt "no need to spend $20 on an admission ticket just to mock them up close." But after goading by a few of his regular readers, John has decided to go after all. On one condition though:
I will go to the Creation Museum and file a full, detailed and delightfully snarklicious report of the trip IF AND ONLY IF I receive at least $250 in donations via PayPal by 11:59pm NEXT FRIDAY, June 15, 2007. ALL the proceeds (minus PayPal's processing bite) will then be donated to Americans United for Separation of Church and State, an organization which for sixty years has striven to keep the chunky peanut butter of religion out of the dusky chocolate of good government.
Bear in mind that $250 is the absolute minimum that I will accept to drag my heathen ass to that place for you people; I'd much rather all y'all donate more. A lot more. Because, damn. In fact, I'll sweeten the deal by saying that if I get $1,000 in donations, everyone who donates will get two special extras from me: an appropriately-themed short fiction piece and something else that I'll think up of later but which will probably be ridiculous and stupid and hopefully a little funny. So there you have it -- a reason (two, actually) to donate beyond making me haul my carcass out to this travesty of science.
His rationale is, if he has to subsidize these IDiots in order to entertain his readers, he wants to give even more money to someone fighting their creationist crap. Judging by the number of comments pledging support (in less than one day) he's most likely already over the $250 threshold.
Someone in the comments suggested he wear "one of those I went to the Creation Museum and all I got is stupider! T-shirts."
Somehow I don't think they would be amused. And if they don't let him in, how will he ever get to ride the Jesus Horse?
So, if you feel like contributing to this worthy cause, stop by John's blog for details (and while you're there, check out his previous blog entries -- there's a reason he's an award-winning author). Or if you prefer not to encourage visitors to the 'museum', you can donate directly to Americans United for Separation of Church and State. I'll post additional diaries after John announces the total raised and again after he visits the 'museum'.