Slouching Toward Austin

I'm horrified by the recent vote by the Texas Board of Education to include language in their teaching standards that encourages the teaching of creationism/ID. My "favorite" part of the article I've linked to is the Board Chair's statement that "Someone has to stand up to experts," presumably because experts don't know what they are talking about. I don't think this guy knows what "expert" means.

Happy Birthday, Darwin

Today is the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth.  It's impossible to overstate Darwin's contribution to modern biology.  Happy birthday, Chuckie D.

The Black Wolf

Here's an interesting article on the origin of gene for black coats in wolves.  It turns out the gene comes from hybridization with domesticated dogs millennia ago, and it may confer survival advantages to some wolves.

Lithopanspermia

There's some good news for Lithopanspermists in the readershop.

Thar She Blows, Indeed!

Longtime readers of this blog may recall my article on a proposed explanation for the narwhal's tusk. Well, uber-cool blogger and paleontologist Darren Naish recently summed up the research on this animal oddity on Tetrapod Zoology. Check it out.

ScienceBlogs or Bust

Everyone's favorite zoological blog, Tetrapod Zoology, has moved to ScienceBlogs just one year after its founding. Be sure to check it out at its new web address.

Darwin's Beard vs. Spock's Beard

Darren Naish has recently posted a rantish entry to Tetrapod Zoology about how scientists are stereotyped. Scientists, engineers, and doctors in the audience---pretty much all of you---may choose to check it out. Also, please take note of the three witty and insightful comments from the guy calling himself "Skeeler."

I'm Converting to Pastafarianism

Somehow, I've only today learned about the Flying Spaghetti Monster, the deity at the center of Pastarainism, a parody religion created in 2005 to protest the teaching of Intelligent Design in public schools. I'm completely entranced by this belief system. I mean, not only is it just as firmly based on evidence as the traditional major religions, but its adherents can be more holy by talking like pirates. And you won't believe the rewards that await the faithful in the afterlife. RAmen, brother! The sacred text should be on its way to me soon.

What Makes Us Human?

I've just watched a couple of episodes of a series called What Makes us Human? on the Science Channel. It's a fascinating look at what distinguishes humans from our nearest relatives, and I encourage you to check it out.

Wolf or Woof?

After watching Nova's Dogs and More Dogs, I found this very informative blog entry. The author presents some compelling evidence that dogs are not descended directly from wolves, as is commonly claimed, but rather from a now-extinct species of pariah-like wild dogs. Check it out.

Kansas Outlaws Practice of Evolution

At least, according to The Onion. Hah!

Dr. Dino

Speaking of creationists, two of my blogging buddies, BriBreakfast and Evil Monkey, have recently posted about Young-Earth Creationist and criminal, Kent Hovind. So I just have to join in their reindeer games.

Take That, Creationists!

Check it out: evolution caught in the act.

RNA Strikes Back

Yesterday, Dr. E. Monkey over at Neurotopia pointed out a neat article showing that RNA may be inherited and may be expressed in later generations. (Click on his title to see the article.)

Less Squirrelly Squirels

Do you think that, by systematically running over squirrels that try to out-maneuver automobiles, we are breeding squirrels that can distinguish between autos and predators? If so, then, given the short length of a squirrel generation, shouldn't we have seen significant improvement by now?

The Fish that Walks

Animals like this "walking" catfish, as well as transitional fossils such as Archaeopteryx and Australopithecus, make me wonder how people can doubt that evolution occurs.

Human Evolution Ongoing?

You might be interested in this Wired article discussing published evidence that humans are still subject to selection , and "not just for things like disease resistance but [also] for cognitive abilities." Check it out.

Michael is an Idea Stealer

I navigated my way over to the blog today to post a "Yay!" post for the anti-ID ruling and look who stole my idea! Hmph!

Anyway, "Yay!". There, I said it.

Thank goodness people won't have to buy these for their kids now!

Take that, Creationists!

This story is all over the net (and even the non-net media) today, so I won't rehash all the details. Suffice it to say that the judge in the Dover intelligent design/creationism case has ruled that teaching ID in public schools is unconstitutional.

Apparently, God is a Pouty Preschooler

I'm sorry to make my first post such a negative rant, but I simply can't help myself. Pat Robertson is quite possibly the most irritating Christian fundamentalist I can think of. I thought he was crazy when he ran for President and now I know I was right. He has now told an entire town in Pennsylvania (he said this on TV!) that they have turned their backs on God because they voted their school board out of office for supporting teaching Intelligent Design in their schools. Apparently, they should not be surprised if a disaster strikes their town and they should not turn to God for help in the event that said disaster occurs because they turned their backs on him. Huh? Is God not going to invite Dover, PA to his birthday party either? Perhaps when this looming disaster occurs, it will be accompanied by a booming voice from the heavens saying, "I hate you, you're all poopyheads!". That's it, Dover! God is taking his ball and going home!