The Brits Require Darwin in Their Schools

(science) / (myth + religion) = anti-intellectualism

In a pro-scientific move, the Brits have declared that Darwin is to be taught in all public schools across their country beginning in 2011. Thiw move makes a great deal of sense in that the theory of evolution is one of the greatest scientific achievements of the past two centuries, influencing almost all other intellectual disciplines in a way few other theories ever have.

Three cheers for the British educators realizing the value of a science-based. evidence-based education. Perhaps educational leaders on this side of the Atlantic who bemoan our dwindling science skills should consider a similar move. After all, weren't we the ones who fought so hard for a division between church and state?

Oh, on a related note; I am finally catching up with the Nova series Becoming Human. If you want the latest science on how we became the sophisticated (in some way too sophisticated?) animal that we are. here is the link.

Read the story on Darwin in British schools here.

Did Sarah Palin's Kids Ever Take a Virginity Pledge?

I just skimmed the papers on-line and found out that congratulations are in order! Congrats to Grandma Sarah Palin on bringing another lil' right winger-to-be into the world. She seems to think it is fine that her out of wedlock daughter gives birth to a child whose father, while pretty darn cute, is not exactly ideal husband material (seeing as he has not married his baby's mama and has recently dropped out of high school to insure a minimum wage life for he and his child).

This blessed occurrence happened on the same day that that liberal rag, The New York Times, reported something that has been proven before--virginity pledges absolutely do not work.

People don't like that fact; many are in love with the idea that oaths and Bibles and promises and curfews can keep a hymen in tact. But it does not. The human sex drive is a basic one and far more powerful than the Good Book (or any book for that matter). When it comes down to a duel between the scriptures and hormones, one will beat the other time after time.

We have to teach children about sex. It is hard, I know it is. But anything worth having is hard to get. And a parent who does not do so is in most cases selfish, fearful of their own discomfort so they keep quiet until it is too late for all involved.

Good luck to the parents and most of all the little baby with the big name, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston.