HOLY SMOKERS!!

Someone at Iowa State is seriousy fired up! It seems that Hector Avalos, the religion professor at Iowa State who started a petition against Guillermo Gonzalez due to his connection with ID, has started another petition against the football coach at Iowa State University. The writer of the article lets 'ol Hector have it with both barrels. Just WOW!!

See, this is the type of thing that really worries me. I understand the importance of church and state issues, but when we have a guy like Avalos storming the halls making sure that everyone tows the line and adheres to his particular view of what religion should be, there is going to be a backlash. There has to be a happy middle ground here folks. The hatred is growing....and I hate that.

Okay, I have a plan...

I'm gonna charter a bus and make my way to the new Creation Museum.

I was going to fire up the hippy van to make the trip, but then decided I need something much bigger to make room for a whole bunch of evilutionists!

We need something very unique to traipse across the nation in, and I think I've found the perfect vehicle that would be enticing to the inner souls of my atheist/evolutionist friends. Check it out!




I’ll load the back of that sucker with a variety of yummy alcoholic beverages and keep the gang lit the entire time so they stay happy and don’t cry mutiny or have a change of heart about the tour and attempt to jump ship.

Richard Hughes and Kristine are definitely on the A list of atheist evilutionists to invite along mainly for entertainment.

Kristine’s an accomplished belly dancer and a witch to boot! She even recently hung out with Richard Dawkin’s on her trip the Galapagos Islands...check it out!



Richard Hughes is a DaveScot impersonator and evidently a warlock in his spare time. I like his sense of humor so he gets to ride up top with me and keep me laughing rather than thinking about the insanity of driving across the nation with a bus full of evilutionists.

If KSU Dave goes along for the ride, I’ll have to keep him hooked up with some sedatives cuz he’s so darn mean. He’s one of those who feels that the only way to deal with “creationists” is to “ridicule, or perhaps pity" them. Nice guy, that one. If Jeremy is still around, he can certainly go...he’s cool.

Hmmm...who else? I guess we could make a special cage for PZ Myers and let him tag along, but I don’t want him milling around the bus on his own because he might get carried away with the pirate theme and unleash on me.

Oh, and Wesley Elsberry can come along for the ride and play his guitar...



Hopefully, he’ll play some soothing hymns about creation to keep us all calm...whoops, that may not be appropriate for this particular trip. Does the Flying Spaghetti Monster have a theme song?

Hey! Christopher Hitchens would certainly be an appropriate choice for the bus bartender....



And, I have the perfect captain/driver for the trip...DaveScot! Dave & PZ on the same trip together...it just doesn’t get better than that. Dave will also be the keeper of the key to PZ's cage. But, just in case Kristine decides to put a spell on Dave or lure him away from his duties with her feminine wiles, we better be sure he brings his dogs! That way, while Kristine is springing PZ free and Dave is under her spell, I'll call out the dogs to fetch back my key and chase PZ back to his cage!

Gosh, I better have a few other backup plans in case that occurs because if he escapes, I’m sure mutiny will occur and I’ll be walking the plank.

I know none of you will want to miss out on the ride, so sign up soon while there are still seats available!!!

[Note to PZ just in case you ever get a glimmer of this post: I'm totally joking around, and I actually love you to death so I wouldn't put you in a cage. Promise...so don't hurt me. Please.]

Museum Pictures

The more I read about the Creation Museum, the more curious I become. PZ et. al. have absolutely worked themselves into a frothing frenzy about the joint. I’ve seen quite a few pictures floating around now, and it actually looks and sounds like an interesting place to visit. Here are a few pictures I found while surfing around various blogs:

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The latest on the Creation Museum

Here's an interesting report:

First time visitors to Creation Museum say they're impressed with the attention to detail and God-honoring exhibits. The 60,000 square foot museum features animatronic displays, a replica of a portion of Noah's Ark and a planetarium, all designed to bring the Bible to life.

Ohio resident Nancy Mary said the museum exceeded her expectations. "I like the way they wove the quotes from the Bible through the exhibits. And the exhibits just illustrate what is stated so plainly in Scripture. That's what really stood out to me," she said.

Michigan residents Ray Ogden and his son Alex were also impressed. "Mainly I think what was impressive was the extreme focus on the Gospel message as the core meaning of the whole operation and not just meant to wow you with special effects, but to get across the message that the Bible is God's Word and there's a purpose for existence."

"It's probably the best place I've been to in my entire life," 10-year-old Alex Ogden said. "The animatronic dinosaurs looked really real."

Ministry officials expect more than 250 thousand visitors annually to the Creation Museum.

Road trip anyone??? Darwinists invited!!

Weigh-in week 19, May 28

We've completed week 18, with our total weight loss at 110 lbs..


Dieters, please use the comment section to post how much you lost (or gained) this week, and your ~total~ weight loss since day 1 of dieting. When everyone has done so, I’ll post the results.

Answers in Genesis Creation Museum

The Grand Opening of Ken Ham's Creation Museum is tomorrow. Gotta wonder how many evolutionists will be waiting out front with picket signs.

It would be quite interesting to see what they've put together, but I think it would REALLY be a blast to take a tour of it with about a half dozen die-hard evolutionists (atheist evolutionists would be even better).

Yes, I have a sick sense of humor, but it would be an absolute riot. Some of them have so much pent up hatred for anything that puts their philosophical position at risk that I'm afraid a few of them might actually go postal if they decide to take a little tour.

I can just imagine PZ Myers making his way through the museum. He'd probably run up to small children squealing at them and calling them "creationist kooks" or "IDiots" (two of his favorite labels).

I hope they have lots of security...

Another strike against dino to bird evolution

Are dino “feathers” a farce?

But a new study, published by a team led by South African academic Theagarten Lingham-Soliar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, sweeps away the proto-feathers claim.

The two-branched structures, called rachis with barbs, that were proclaimed as early feathers are quite simply the remains of a frill of collagen fibres that ran down the dinosaur's back from head to tail, they say.

The evidence comes from a recently discovered specimen of Sinoauropteryx, also found in the same Yixian Formation at Liaoning, that Lingham-Soliar put to the scrutiny of a high-powered microscope.

And then, of course, there is that dratted problem with all those missing links...

What is missing are the links between Archaeopteryx and other species that would show how it evolved. But fossil record is frustratingly small and incomplete and this is why debate has been so fierce.

But, we must not question the evolutionary “fact” that birds evolved from dinos...

Lingham-Soliar's team do not take issue with the [dino-to-bird] theory itself.

LOL, yeah, they better not or the Darwin police will come down on them with hell's fury.

Recent reports have also found that the early history of birds was much more diverse than previously thought.

Weigh-in week 18, May 21

We've completed week 17, with our total weight loss at 108 lbs..


Last week we didn't post our loss/gain because we were considering whether we want to stop posting our results for the summer, but there are still three of us who are trying to lose or maintain so we're going to keep working on it for a while.

Dieters, please use the comment section to post how much you lost (or gained) this week, and your ~total~ weight loss since day 1 of dieting. When everyone has done so, I’ll post the results.

UPDATE

Joe is going to join us in our quest to take off the pounds.

Davescot -2 this week, -44 total
Starving -0, -19
Ftk +2, -10
Joe -0, -6

Unbelievable

From here:

A distinguished science professor at a major American university has weighed in on Iowa State University's denial of tenure to pro-ID astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez, expressing astonishment at the result. According to Dr. Robert J. Marks, Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Baylor University:

I went to the Web of Science citation index which is the authority on citations. Only journal papers, not conference papers, are indexed. There are lots of Prof. Gonzalez's papers listed. My jaw dropped when I saw one of his papers has 153 citations and 139 on another. I have sat on oodles of tenure committees at both a large private university and a state research university, chaired the university tenure committee, and have seen more tenure cases than the Pope has Cardinals. This is a LOT of citations for an assistant professor up for tenure. The number of citations varies with discipline and autocitations are included in the tally, but this is a LOT of citations for an Assistant Professor. A lot.

The Iowa State U. Astronomy department is here. Their big star is Lee Anne Willson, University Professor. A University Professor is a rank more prestigious than a full Professor. She is their star. Her top two papers are cited 99 and 86 times. And she has been at this for 33 years.

And then there's Steven D. Kawaler, a full Professor who is the Current Program Coordinator for astronomy. He has a nice citation record with tops of 243 and 178.

There may be reasons I don't understand for denying Prof. Gonzalez tenure, but scholarship is absolutely not one of them.[my emphasis]

Just Wow...there is only one reason why Gonzalez was denied tenure, and I think Wesley Elsberry, who was at one time employed by the Darwin police, pretty much sums that up right here:

"A tenure committee should take note of someone advocating a scam as if it were legitimate science."

Elsberry et. al. intend to preach that everyone who questions the evolutionary paradigm is religiously motivated and a threat to science as well as a threat to the nation due to what they insist is a nation wide conspiracy among "fundamentalists" (and ID supporters) to establish a "Christian theocracy".

They also intend to lead the public into thinking that scientists, like Gonzalez, who are interested in further examination of the controversial issues surrounding the ToE and ID, are liars and con men.

There is also another tactic which anti-ID professors are going to eventually start using in order to put a stop to ID. "Dr.GH" puts it quite succinctly right here:

"Faculty have a proper concern about the reputation of the school and the consequent effect this has on their students. I would be more likely to accept a student from schools without creationists teaching than schools where they do."

Academic freedom be damned, the Darwinists have made it clear that those who dare consider the quite logical inference that a designer may, in fact, be responsible for the "illusion" of design we find in nature will be persecuted for following the evidence wherever it may lead.

Interesting, really, that Darwinists have go to these extremes...stifling academic freedom because their theory can't take the heat is pretty telling.

The Exodus from Homosexuality

I was surfing around yesterday and fell upon some interesting blogs. One in particular, Randy Thomas, Everyday Thoughts Collected, stood out.

Randy is the Executive Vice President of Exodus International, which is an organization that addresses same sex struggles and evidently provides help for those who are looking to make an “exodus” from the lifestyle.

After following a few links, I came upon his testimony. It’s really worth the read.

Statement by Dr. Gonzalez

From a 2005 transcript:

My name is Guillermo Gonzalez. I’m an assistant professor of astronomy at Iowa State University. Also at Iowa State is an outspoken atheist and religion professor named Hector Avalos. Imagine if a Christian professor at the university began circulating a petition targeting Avalos, a petition stating that atheism is not a proper part of a religion program and that, moreover, any professor who offers scientific or philosophical evidence for atheism taints the university and, by implication, should be prevented from doing so?

Would any of you sign the petition? I would never sign it. It was Voltaire who said, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.” I, however, was targeted by such a petition, and it all occurred shortly before I am scheduled to come up for tenure.

Another ISU professor, John Patterson, also campaigned against me. In a letter to the Ames Tribune he pointed to a funder of Discovery Institute to argue that I was plotting to establish a theocracy. He even implied that I am linked to the Taliban.

When I was a child, my family and I fled Cuba with little more than the clothes on our backs. We came to the United States in search of freedom, so I find Patterson’s slander that I’m plotting with others to establish a totalitarian government deeply offensive.

What did I do to evoke these attacks on my career? Jay Richards and I wrote a book entitled The Privileged Planet, in which we build a case for design in the cosmos from scientific evidence, not by appeals to Scripture or some private mystical experience. Our argument is also testable. While the notion of a cosmic creator isn’t falsifiable, our particular design argument is, subject to the river of data about extrasolar planets, galaxies, and the larger universe now flowing in from scientific research. But I've never taught this design argument in the classroom, because it's too new for undergraduate astronomy students.

So I have done nothing in my role as a teacher to warrant the attacks on me. I ask only for the freedom to follow the scientific evidence where I think it leads, and to offer arguments for my conclusions in the public square.

I notice the "theocracy" card has been used against Gonzalez in the past. I don't know how many times I've been accused of supporting a Christian "theocracy" due to my support of ID. The fact is that a "theocracy" is the very last thing in the world that I would ever support. Christian or otherwise, it sounds absolutely dangerous. This is one accusation that has got to stop because it is completely off target.

This link provides information on how you can voice your support for Gonzalez and his application for tenure. You can also read more about his accomplishments.

It would be nice if the Darwin crowd would step forth and do the right thing by providing support for someone who is deserving of his tenure. Academic freedom should be something that is allowed for all, and denial of tenure will certainly be looked upon as a threat to those who support ID in the future. If this is what it takes to silence ID advocates, the science supporting Darwinism must not be strong enough to stand on it's own merit.

It is interesting that an atheist religion professor has been giving Gonzalez grief. Gosh, where have I heard that scenario before?

Jerry Falwell dies at age 73

I'm not sure I've ever even heard the man speak, but I've certainly heard a lot about him. Evidently he had a history of heart problems.

My prayers go out to those who mourn the loss, and I hope that the anti-Falwell crowd have the decency to hold their tongues.

More on Gonzalez

Gonzalez situation in the WCFCourier...

"I knew it would be controversial, but I didn't expect this level of opposition," Gonzalez said. "I recognize it's a minority position, but that doesn't mean it's wrong."

Interesting how ID absolutely inflames some scientists like no other topic. I’m sure it has absolutely nothing to do with their philosophical beliefs [note sarcasm].

Gonzalez maintains he's never taught intelligent design in the classroom. He said his work on the subject is limited to his book and some lectures he's given on the topic away from the university.

Did you read that? He’s NEVER taught ID in the classroom, yet he’s taking a beating for supporting it outside of the university.

"None of my (68) published papers are about intelligent design," he said.

Again, there is no reason why he should be denied tenure due to his support of the ID movement. The “scientific community” just wants to scare the crap out of others who might decide that ID is something to seriously consider. If they deny tenure, more scientists will be cautious not to support it.

Academic Freedom Alive and Well....[NOT]

I’m behind on posting the latest, but if you haven’t heard, Guillermo Gonzalez of Privileged Planet fame, and astronomer, has been denied tenure.

I have no idea why anyone would be surprised by this. It’s been no secret that the more militant Darwinists have stated numerous times that they would deny tenure to ID supporters. Academic freedom is apparently reserved for those who toe the line of the evolutionary paradigm.

Gag. It’s just gets more nauseating all the time.

It makes no difference how educated or published you are if you question the Dawkins revelation that the world is but a mere accidental occurrence, and we are the product of chance. No purpose, no design...just the byproduct of some freak accident.

Shame on you Guillermo! After all those years of evolutionary brainwashing at the university, you shouldn’t have the audacity to question authority!

For more information, go here, here, and here.

[Edited: I'm removing a portion of what I wrote. I'm giving someone the benefit of the doubt and not refering to their post on this subject.]

Weigh-in week 17, May 8

We've completed week 17, with our total weight loss at 108 lbs..


Dieters, please use the comment section to post how much you lost (or gained) this week, and your ~total~ weight loss since day 1 of dieting. When everyone has done so, I’ll post the results.

Kansas Weather

As most readers probably already know, Greensburg, KS was literally wiped off the map this weekend.

This picture gives you an idea of what I mean by "wiped off the map"...



It was an F5 tornado that wiped out 95% of the town and killed 9 people.

Topeka got about 6 inches of rain, and all the schools were closed today due to so many roads being flooded.

We spent the day pumping water out of our basement. Fun times...

Poor babies!

April 28, 2007—Amateur sumo wrestlers try their hardest to make babies cry during the Nakizumo, or "crying sumo" competition at Sensoji Temple. With a priest taunting and tormenting the infants, the winner is the first one who cries. In the case of a tie, the louder wailer wins.

The belief in Japan is that crying is good for babies, so the ceremony is meant to bestow wishes of health.

Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs

We had a big discussion about compact fluorescent light bulbs during our recent Easter celebration. My Mother informed me that the bulbs contained mercury, and I thought she had been misinformed.

Evidently, she’s right.



We’ve had several of these bulbs in our home for over a year, and I’m not terribly concerned about it. But, my boys are still at that age where we go through a few broken light bulbs each year.

Of course, PZ informs us to there is nothing to fear (he‘s only skeptical of all forms of religion and anyone who doesn‘t strictly adhere to every belief of the “scientific community“), yet here are the warnings he passes on from the Environment Protection Agency:

While CFLs for your home are not legally considered hazardous waste according to federal solid waste rules, it is still best for the environment to dispose of your CFL properly upon burnout. Only large commercial users of tubular fluorescent lamps are required to recycle. If recycling is not an option in your area (see below on how to find out), place the CFL in a sealed plastic bag and dispose the same way you would batteries, oil-based paint and motor oil at your local Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Site. If your local HHW Collection Site cannot accept CFLs (check Earth911.org to find out), seal the CFL in a plastic bag and place with your regular trash.

...If a CFL breaks in your home, open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape, carefully sweep up the fragments (do not use your hands) and wipe the area with a disposable paper towel to remove all glass fragments. Do not use a vacuum. Place all fragments in a sealed plastic bag and follow disposal instructions above.

I honestly think I remember breaking one once, but I had no idea they contained mercury. Yuck, I can feel the mercury poisoning rushing through my body...

I think to be cautious, I’ll strategically place those suckers around the house so we don’t have another mercury spill!!

Where do they come up with this crap?

Take a gander at these two 30,000 year-old ancient artifacts:




From those two artifacts, some nutcake has put forth the idea that "stone age humans" were involved in a wide range of sex acts: “bondage to group sex, transvestism and the use of sex toys were widespread in primitive societies as a way of building up cultural ties“.

Wait...there's more:

“The widespread lay belief that sex in the past was predominantly heterosexual and reproductive can be challenged,” said Taylor.

He argues that monogamy only became established as hunter-gatherer societies took up agriculture and settled in houses, allowing the social roles of men and women to become more fixed.

Experts believe research such as Taylor’s may help overturn false assumptions that sex for the purposes of reproduction is the form closest to nature.

Petra Boynton, a relationship counsellor and health lecturer at University College, London, found the study “refreshing”.

“So much evolutionary theory promotes the idea that humans, particularly women, are preprogrammed for monogamy, but that is often simply overlaying science on a preexisting view of society,” she said.

Yup, Fred and Wilma were serious swingers.

They’ll come up with just about anything to try to justify an immoral lifestyle.

By the looks of that ancient statue, obesity must have been a real turn on for our stone age ancestors.