If you thought for a moment that public schools are not engrained in the psyche and culture of the nation, take a look at the fight in Sacramento, California, over proposed closings of a few schools. From the Sacramento Bee.
Even when schools fail, they can form the heart of a community.
2 Comments | 
Education, Education reform, Education spending | Tagged: California, Closing Schools, Education, Education spending, Failing Schools, Sacramento | 
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Posted by Ed Darrell
As Joe Nick Patoski put it on his blog, and I have been remiss in failing to mention, Patoski’s book on Willie Nelson won the TCU Texas Book Award. The book is Willie Nelson, an epic life.
Friends and neighbors, please click on the letter and it’ll make it big enough so you can actually read what it says.
Woo hoo and Yee haw!
Good news! Now, can we get Willie’s houses in Fort Worth noted on some tour?
Resources:
Leave a Comment » | Biography, Books, History, Music, Texas, Texas history, Texas Music | Tagged: Biography, Books, Country Music, Joe Nick Patoski, Music, Texas, Texas Music, Willie Nelson | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Do you have to know geology to get the title of that blog?
Four Stone Hearth 64 is hosted by Quiche Moraine. Lots of good stuff. F’rinstance:
With a few hours, an ambitious teacher could get 20 or 30 good bell-ringers out of FSH. Bell ringers based on real research — what a concept.
A modern version of an ancient hearth - State Cooking Pot of Utah, the Dutch oven - photo by Jason Slemons
1 Comment | Ancient history, Anthropology, Archaeology, History, History and art, Paleontology, Prehistory, Research, Science | Tagged: Ancient history, Anthropology, Archaeology, Blog Carnival, Four Stone Hearth, History, Linguistics, Paleontology, Prehistory, Research, Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
It’s spring, and nutcase fancies turn to thoughts of slandering Rachel Carson and making unholy noises toward environmentalists.
Here’s one nutcase who engages in that peculiar nutcase practice of completely rewriting posts of commenters — claims to be Graeme Bird; is he really running for office? His claim is that lack of DDT is causing the spread of dengue in Queensland, Australia. He won’t be swayed by reason or fact (of course — his avatar is a photo of confirmed liar Joe McCarthy). He asks “how many have died,” but is unhappy with the official answer (one, but that’s not clear — an older woman in poor health). Nor does he appear to have any sense of irony that drought-stricken Australia has a plague of mosquitoes due to recent rains. Nor does he appear to understand that dengue is an imported disease in Australia, imported by a traveler, it appears.
Australian officials ask people to drain water from pots, old tires (“tyres” downunder), rain gutters, or any other small pool, which is where the vector mosquitoes breed and mature. The nutcase appears unfamiliar with the concept of simply preventing the mosquitoes from breeding, in his rush to poison Australia. Nor do alternative effective techniques for fighting the disease appear to be on his radar.
Alas, there are a lot of these lone nutcases loose. Watch for updates here for a week or so.
I wonder if it’s a virus that makes them censor any fact or opinion contrary to their own, or whether they simply are complete cranks. I mean, even Bush’s Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne got DDT right.
(Bird’s blog is on WordPress, which will automatically post a link from this post to his blog. Anyone want to wager on whether he has enough cojones to let the trackback stand?)
203 Comments | DDT, Disease, Geography - Physical, Rachel Carson, Rampant stupidity, Science | Tagged: Australia, DDT, dengue, mosquitoes, Queensland, Rachel Carson, Rampant stupidity | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
One of the great attempted slams on Rachel Carson is the false and scurrilous claim that “population growth opponents” or environmentalists were overheard saying that with DDT, population growth would continue. Generally this canard is accompanied by an observation that France is now Islamic, since only Moslems have babies in France.
Where is Bob Park when you need a whiff of sanity?
Oh, there he is, at his blog and his newsletter (I’ve added the links):
4. POPULATION: ARE THEY SURE THEY HAVE THE THEORY RIGHT?
Demographic experts warn that population decline in Russia could have serious economic consequences. It’s the same growth-is-good bull shit that always comes from the Chamber of Commerce. Russia’s neighbors, Norway, Finland and Sweden, have the highest standards of living in the world and small populations. Afghanistan, on the other hand, which is not exactly a tourist Mecca, has a fertility rate above 7, the highest in the world.
Leave a Comment » | Accuracy, DDT, Rachel Carson, Reason, Science | Tagged: DDT, Population, Rachel Carson, Rampant stupidity, Reason, Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Why is this an issue again?
Here’s the encore post of the original 2006 post quoting Jefferson on the topic of religious freedom, and what it means.
Can we lay off Obama now? It’s no slam on America that he knows U.S. history better than most of us. It’s encouraging.
34 Comments | America's founding, Barack Obama, Bill of Rights, Civil Rights, First Amendment, History, Religion, Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson | Tagged: Barack Obama, Bill of Rights, Christian nation, First Amendment, History, Religion, Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Pastors appear to be much better informed than Christians generally, especially among mainstream Christian denominations, and particularly on issues of science. They understand better that creationism shouldn’t be taught in public school science classes.
On a broad range of issues, mainline clergy affirm equality for gay and lesbian Americans. Roughly two‐thirds of mainline clergy support some legal recognition for same‐sex couples (65%), passing hate crime laws (67%) and employment nondiscrimination protections for gay and lesbian people (66%). A majority (55%) of mainline clergy support adoption rights for gay and lesbian people. Mainline Protestant clergy are strong advocates of church state separation.
A majority (65%) of mainline clergy agree that the U.S. should “maintain a strict separation of church and state.” Mainline clergy are more worried about public officials who are too close to religious leaders (59%) than about public officials who do not pay enough attention to religion (41%).
Mainline clergy are more likely to publicly address hunger and poverty and family issues than controversial social issues. More than 8‐in‐10 clergy say they publicly expressed their views about hunger and poverty often in the last year, and three‐quarters say they addressed marriage and family issues often. Only about one‐quarter (26%) say they often discussed the issues of abortion and capital punishment.
But where is the Methodist church falling down in getting clergy who understand science? If 54% of Methodist pastors don’t think evolution is the best explanation for diversity of life (the question got muddled in the questionnaire, alas), no wonder their congregations are so misinformed. You’d think they’d know better. You’d think the denomination would be truer to its roots of making the minister the best-informed guy in town.
I’m looking at Clergy Voices: Findings from the 2008 Mainline Protestant Clergy Voices Survey, released in March. Public Religion Research conducted the poll. More details from PRR, here.
Mainline clergy views of evolution and its place in public school curriculum are complex. On the one hand, the majority of mainline clergy (54%) do not support the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in public school biology classes. On the other hand, mainline clergy are more evenly divided in their views about the theory of evolution itself. Forty‐four percent of mainline ministers say that evolution is the best explanation for the origins of life on earth, and a similar number disagrees (43%). United Methodist clergy and American Baptist clergy are most likely to disagree. Seven‐in‐ten American Baptist clergy (70%) and a majority (53%) of United Methodist clergy say that evolution is not the best explanation for the origins of life on earth.
One question glaringly missing: Should Christians stick to the facts about science?
Tip of the old scrub brush to Bruce Tomaso at the Dallas Morning News Religionblog.
Leave a Comment » | Creationism, Education, Evolution, Politics, Reason, Religion, Science | Tagged: Church, Creationism, Education, Evolution, Mainline Christianity, Politics, Reason, Religion, Science | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
From the same people who brought us Goodnight Bush, some of the attractions at the theme park that is planned for the campus of Southern Methodist University; or attractions that might be planned, if the litigation ever ends.
In a more serious vein:
Leave a Comment » | History, Humor, Libraries, Museums, Politics, Presidents, Texas | Tagged: Books, Humor, Libraries, Library, Politics, President George W. Bush, Satire, Texas | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Heck, while we’re looking at Cuba, take a read of Fidel Castro’s comments on Sen. Richard Lugar’s proposal to talk to Cuba.
Leave a Comment » | foreign affairs, Geography - Physical, Geography - Political, History, Politics | Tagged: Castro, Cuba, Embargo, Foreign Relations, geography, History | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Here’s a very odd news item. It’s odd because, first, the disaster at Chernobyl is widely dismissed, and certainly out of the news, so it’s unusual to see any news item that suggests it remains a big problem, or that hints at what a big problem it was (especially from a nominally communist view); and second, who would have predicted Cuba would play a role at all?
I found this at a blog dedicated to news from and about Cuba, Nacho’s Blog/El Blog de Nacho. I’m guessing “acn” is a Cuban news agency:
(acn) – Havana – Over 20,000 children suffering from different diseases have been seen in Cuba as part of the Cuban Medical Program for Children of Chernobyl, marking last Wednesday the 19th anniversary of its creation. The plan began in 1990, when children and their relatives began to arrive en masse from Russia, the Ukraine, Byelorussia, Moldavia and Armenia to the former Pioneer Children’s Camp in Tarará, east of this city. Dr. Julio Medina, coordinator of the Program, explained that from 700 to 800 children arrive in Cuba annually to be treated by multidisciplinary teams of Cuban specialists. So far, patients with blood diseases have been treated, especially with different variants of leukemia; bone marrow and kidney transplants have been done, as well as cardiovascular surgery due to congenital malformations.
Ukrainian Dr. Nadiezhda Guerazimenko, coordinator of the Program in that country, highlighted the professionalism of Cuban doctors. She added that the best example of this statement lies in the high figure of patients who have returned to their respective countries cured of their ailments. The Program has a significant impact in the health and recovery of children and their families. In its almost two decades of existence, it has treated more than 16,000 Ukrainians, almost 3,000 Russians, and 671 Byelorussians. Some 40,000 people died immediately and millions were contaminated as a result of the nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, which at first hit the Ukraine, and then extended to Russia, Belarus and different parts of Europe and Asia. The event caused several types of diseases, like leukemia, tumors, heart malformations, kidney problems, psoriasis, vitiligo and alopecia. Many of the children and youngsters seen today in Cuba weren’t even born when the disaster occurred. However, their parents were affected by the radiation.
______________
Yes, it turns out “acn” is the Cuban News Agency.
1 Comment | Disasters, Geography - Physical, Geography - Political, Health care, History, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear power, Science | Tagged: Chernobyl, Cuba, disaster, geography, Health care, History, Nuclear power, Nuclear Safety | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Hurry, teachers, get your workshops before the State Board of Education declares science workshops to be illegal:
FREE upcoming teacher training workshops at the Texas Natural Science Center — sign up now!
Change Over Time workshop — 2 sessions (1 for elementary; 1 for middle school) on Saturday, May 2, 2009.
Enjoy inquiry-based, hands-on activities using the Change Over Time kit containing TEKS-based geological science instructional materials for grades K-8! This workshop is designed to help students master Earth Science concepts tested on the TAKS (Grade 5 and/or Grade 8). Conducted in conjunction with Sargent-Welch, Science Kit, and Ward’s. For information and registration, visit http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/education/profdev/cot/index.htmlTexas: Past, Present and Future — 4 one-day workshops: June 30, July 14, July 22, and July 30.
Learn more about geology, paleontology and Texas biodiversity! Participating teachers will explore how animals are adapted to varying environments, investigate how paleontologists use fundamental principles to recreate what life was like in Texas’ past, and learn how to integrate these concepts into the classroom. Workshop participants will receive curriculum guides and be able to check out a Texas Fish and Mammals Loaner Kit for use in their classrooms. For information and registration, visit http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/education/profdev/txppf/index.html
Leave a Comment » | Education, Evolution, geology, Paleontology, professional development, Science, Texas | Tagged: continuing education, Earth Science, Education, Evolution, geology, Paleontology, Science, Texas | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
First e-mail of the day, from an early-riser friend:
A short while ago I caught a replay, on C-SPAN, of President Obama’s speech in Hradcany Square in Prague. I tuned in so as to catch almost all of it — practically all I missed were the introductory remarks. And they were cheering, I tell you. Can you say, “Ich bin ein Berliner” ??This guy isn’t fooling around. He’s no Bush. He’s a “people’s President.” He’s charismatic. He’s exactly who we need and when we need him.
Obama talked about reducing and eliminating nuclear weapons. Some people still dream of peace.
See also these sites:
President Barack Obama and wife Michelle, in Prague - photo via Politico
The printed version of Obama’s remarks, below the fold.
3 Comments | History, International law, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear weapons, Peace, President Obama, Presidents | Tagged: Europe, History, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear weapons, Peace, Prague, President Barack Obama, War | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Why isn’t it open-minded to teach intelligent design in science classes? Here, maybe one more explanation might help people understand.
From some film project that goes by the name Qualia Soup, via Pharyngula and Phil Plait at JREF:
8 Comments | Creationism, Education, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Reason, Science, Texas, Woo | Tagged: Creationism, Education, Evolution, Intelligent Design, Open-mindedness, Qualia Soup, Reason, Science, Texas | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
The FDR Library in Hyde Park has an exhibit on FDR’s legendary First 100 Days. Accompanying the exhibit is a flyer, available on-line in .pdf, that is tailor made for a quick PowerPoint on the events.
Cover of the .pdf flyer on the FDR Libraray's exhibit on the First 100 Days
A 24-page guide to the exhibit is also available, with even more details — though a lot of the images would be more difficult to put into a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation.
For government classes, these guides might offer a project on comparing Roosevelt’s first three or four months to Obama’s first months in office.
I’m wondering about printing at least a class set of the guide . . .
Resources:
Leave a Comment » | Cartoons, Classroom technology, FDR, Great Depression, History, History images, History museums, Political cartoons, President Obama | Tagged: FDR, First 100 Days, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Great Depression, Obama, President Obama, Roosevelt Library | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
Reformed Covenanter is a Rushdooney-loving blogger in Northern Ireland. Here, in comments he accepts the bizarre story that Darwin was a nasty man, an atheist groomed from birth by his grandfather, Erasmus, to hate the church.
Great trick, or a miracle: Darwin’s grandfather Erasmus died in 1802. Charles Darwin was born seven years later, in 1809. For people who believe in miracles, this is no problem, I suppose. But I worry that they attribute such astounding miracles to Darwin. That departs a bit from Christian theology, it seems to me.
(It’s a classic wingnut site — comments closed, don’t ask, not no way, not no how.)
5 Comments | Darwin, Rampant stupidity, Religion | Tagged: Darwin, Impossible Things, Rampant stupidity, Religion, Rushdooney | Permalink
Posted by Ed Darrell
You are currently browsing the Millard Fillmore's Bathtub blog archives for April, 2009.
Ed Darrell on Texas's Colorado River
Come on in, the water's fine. Come often: Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Millard Fillmore's Bathtub 