Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Cretin of the moment
Florida state Senator Stephen R. Wise (R-5th), for introducing yet another identikit anti-evolution bill (Senate Bill 1854) in yet another state legislature. Also, expect him to be a repeat performer as a legislative circus seal since he also introduced SB 2396 back in February 2009.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Cretin of the moment
Tennessee state Senator Bo Watson, for joining House member Bill Dunn in sponsoring another attempt to reproduce Scopes in the 21st century. And lo and behold, look at the similarities - no, exactly identical wording at times - in language between this bill and another one from Oklahoma (emphasis mine):
Tennessee Senate Bill 893:
The bill would, if enacted, would require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." The only examples provided of "controversial" theories are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
Oklahoma Senate Bill 320 (similar to House Bill 1554):
SB 320 would, if enacted, require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." The only topics specifically mentioned as controversial are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
They're not even bothering to rewrite the script to this tiresome movie, for crying out loud.
Tennessee Senate Bill 893:
The bill would, if enacted, would require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." The only examples provided of "controversial" theories are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
Oklahoma Senate Bill 320 (similar to House Bill 1554):
SB 320 would, if enacted, require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." The only topics specifically mentioned as controversial are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
They're not even bothering to rewrite the script to this tiresome movie, for crying out loud.
Where woo and military "intelligence" intersect
James Randi details how an Iraqi general managed to both duck the JREF Challenge and land on the "Go to Jail" square in his own personal game of Monopoly. Tres amusing.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Stark's Darwin Day idea
Granted, this has next to no chance passing in a House dominated by soi-disant "Christians" like Bachmann or Shimkus, but it's a nice way of tweaking anti-science zealots in Congress and recognizing the importance of a central figure in the history of biology at the same time:
Stark told the San Jose Mercury (February 11, 2011) that he was "just trying to get people to understand that we're trying to get our kids to be scientists, were pushing for green jobs and green development, and you can't stick your head in the sand and not recognize that we're in a modern age. To get there, it seems to me, we have to understand that science is all part of what we're doing."
Stark told the San Jose Mercury (February 11, 2011) that he was "just trying to get people to understand that we're trying to get our kids to be scientists, were pushing for green jobs and green development, and you can't stick your head in the sand and not recognize that we're in a modern age. To get there, it seems to me, we have to understand that science is all part of what we're doing."
Cretin of the moment
Tennessee state representative Bill Dunn (R-16th), who seems to be under the impression that it's still 1925 down there. Given that this is the sixth anti-evolution bill introduced in state legislatures since the beginning of the year, there are a lot of people who are just as confused about the date as he is.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Cretin(s) of the moment
State Senator Josh Brecheen (R-6th) and Representatve Sally Kerns (R-84th) of Oklahoma, for sponsoring yet two more predictable "teach the nonexistent controversy" bills opposed to teaching of the theory of evolution.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sun sign, Schmun sign
You might find it odd that a web site devoted to evolutionary biology such as The Panda's Thumb would add their $0.02 to the current "problem" in astrology concerning the proper dating of sun signs (in my opinion, it's only a "problem" if you actually consider this steaming pile of a glorified hobby an actual method of predicting the future; chances are that you shouldn't be reading this blog if you do), but they do here, and as Ian Musgrave says it's for a good reason:
So, basically Tropical Astrologers are complaining that, err, scientists are accurately describing astrology at the same time demonstrating ignorance of fundamental aspects of the sky (and their own discipline). Again, does that sound familiar?
It could be worse, of course. You could be dealing with a practitioner of this pap who waxes threatening every time someone mentions what sort of a thoroughly despicable twit he is, but I'm sure he'll continue to soldier on in his efforts to gain the same "immortality" the thoroughly dead Earl Gordon Curley has established for himself in terms of woo-promoting idiocy.
So, basically Tropical Astrologers are complaining that, err, scientists are accurately describing astrology at the same time demonstrating ignorance of fundamental aspects of the sky (and their own discipline). Again, does that sound familiar?
It could be worse, of course. You could be dealing with a practitioner of this pap who waxes threatening every time someone mentions what sort of a thoroughly despicable twit he is, but I'm sure he'll continue to soldier on in his efforts to gain the same "immortality" the thoroughly dead Earl Gordon Curley has established for himself in terms of woo-promoting idiocy.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Ohio: the cost of firing a dangerous lunatic
Well, former Ohio "science teacher" John Freshwater has been effectively given the boot by his school board, and it's for reasons that are all too clear to anyone with an IQ higher than their shoe size as to why:
On January 10, 2011, the Mount Vernon City Schools Board of Education voted 4-1 to terminate the employment of John Freshwater. A middle school science teacher in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Freshwater was accused of inappropriate religious activity in the classroom — including displaying posters with the Ten Commandments and Bible verses, branding crosses on the arms of his students with a high-voltage electrical device, and teaching creationism. After a local family sued Freshwater and the district in 2008, the board voted to begin proceedings to terminate his employment in the district. Finally, after administrative hearings that proceeded sporadically over two years, the referee presiding over the hearings issued his recommendation that the board terminate his employment with the district.
It's not just the fact that Freshwater is yet another YEC hack who used his science classes to push his religious views in a public school district; as stated above and by Ed Brayton previously, he engaged in behavior that would be considered criminal assault in practically any other environment:
The now-infamous incident where Freshwater burned crosses into the arms of two students, including the plaintiff in this case, took place on Dec. 6, 2007. On December 7, 2007, the parents notified the superintendent of schools, Stephen Short. of what had happened.
Here's the stunning part: Freshwater was not disciplined at all for it. The principal wrote a letter to Freshwater telling him not to do it again, but didn't even place a copy of that letter in his personnel file (he told the parents that if Freshwater disobeyed the letter, then they would place the letter in his file). That was it, the sum total of the school's reaction to Freshwater's actions.
Remember, this cross was 6 inches long on the kid's arm and it was made with a device that comes with a warning never to bring it in contact with human skin. It raised welts and blisters and was a serious burn that will likely leave a scar. A science teacher used a high voltage device to burn that cross into an 8th grader's arm, for crying out loud. Not only should he have been fired on the spot, the case should have been referred to the prosecutor's office.
Since this case dragged on for over two years, it's unsurprising that the Mount Vernon school board will have to pay a heavy sum in order to have this idiot fired even before a possible appeal gets filed:
The largest component of the $902,765 bill that the Mount Vernon board must pay is to the school's attorney, David Millstone, a Cleveland lawyer with Squires Sanders and Dempsey who specializes in employment law. His firm will be paid at least $813,628.
Referee R. Lee Shepherd, who oversaw 38 days of hearing testimony, will be paid $35,749.
Court reporting costs for the hearing will be $45,747, along with security costs of $7,641 paid to the Knox County sheriff's office.
The hearing is among the most costly and lengthy that education experts can recall. Records, however, are not kept.
And all of this in order to fire a man who thought it actually would be a good idea to burn children with an electrical device in order to instill religious beliefs he wasn't supposed to be promoting in the first place.
The mind reels.
On January 10, 2011, the Mount Vernon City Schools Board of Education voted 4-1 to terminate the employment of John Freshwater. A middle school science teacher in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Freshwater was accused of inappropriate religious activity in the classroom — including displaying posters with the Ten Commandments and Bible verses, branding crosses on the arms of his students with a high-voltage electrical device, and teaching creationism. After a local family sued Freshwater and the district in 2008, the board voted to begin proceedings to terminate his employment in the district. Finally, after administrative hearings that proceeded sporadically over two years, the referee presiding over the hearings issued his recommendation that the board terminate his employment with the district.
It's not just the fact that Freshwater is yet another YEC hack who used his science classes to push his religious views in a public school district; as stated above and by Ed Brayton previously, he engaged in behavior that would be considered criminal assault in practically any other environment:
The now-infamous incident where Freshwater burned crosses into the arms of two students, including the plaintiff in this case, took place on Dec. 6, 2007. On December 7, 2007, the parents notified the superintendent of schools, Stephen Short. of what had happened.
Here's the stunning part: Freshwater was not disciplined at all for it. The principal wrote a letter to Freshwater telling him not to do it again, but didn't even place a copy of that letter in his personnel file (he told the parents that if Freshwater disobeyed the letter, then they would place the letter in his file). That was it, the sum total of the school's reaction to Freshwater's actions.
Remember, this cross was 6 inches long on the kid's arm and it was made with a device that comes with a warning never to bring it in contact with human skin. It raised welts and blisters and was a serious burn that will likely leave a scar. A science teacher used a high voltage device to burn that cross into an 8th grader's arm, for crying out loud. Not only should he have been fired on the spot, the case should have been referred to the prosecutor's office.
Since this case dragged on for over two years, it's unsurprising that the Mount Vernon school board will have to pay a heavy sum in order to have this idiot fired even before a possible appeal gets filed:
The largest component of the $902,765 bill that the Mount Vernon board must pay is to the school's attorney, David Millstone, a Cleveland lawyer with Squires Sanders and Dempsey who specializes in employment law. His firm will be paid at least $813,628.
Referee R. Lee Shepherd, who oversaw 38 days of hearing testimony, will be paid $35,749.
Court reporting costs for the hearing will be $45,747, along with security costs of $7,641 paid to the Knox County sheriff's office.
The hearing is among the most costly and lengthy that education experts can recall. Records, however, are not kept.
And all of this in order to fire a man who thought it actually would be a good idea to burn children with an electrical device in order to instill religious beliefs he wasn't supposed to be promoting in the first place.
The mind reels.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
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