Hmmm...It appears as if Sen. McCain's pick for veep may be a creationist. This link, http://scienceblogs.com/afarensis/2006/10/27/intelligent_design_and_the_ala/, was received from Jason Grill (who we saw last night at the Obama watch party at O'Dowd's in Zona Rosa). Check it out, and please post your comments here. We'd like to hear what you have to say.

Jason Grill and Evolution

A notice from state representative Jason Grill was received via e-mail today. In it he states he is hosting a town hall-style meeting at Park University this coming Wednesday July 16th. It is to be at 7:00 pm at Park University's McCoy Meetin' House (8700 Northwest River Park Drive, Parkville, MO 64152). I will try to be there.

Earlier this year, the actor Ben Stein presented a screening of his anti-science movie Expelled to the state's governor and some state legislators, mostly Republicans, in the capitol building. Stein's purpose was to boost his view that evolution should not be taught in the state's schools. By Stein's own admission, he doesn't fully understand evolution. I hope to convince Rep. Grill that events such as these are real threats and that he needs to display a stiff backbone when challenged by some Republicans' desires to officially water down the teaching of science in Missouri schools and insert the teaching of supernaturalism. Specifically, he needs to be encouraged to stand up against those in the House who want to bring in the teaching of creationism/intelligent design instead of the scientific theory of natural selection. I have specifically offered to assist him and his staff in preparing for the expected onslaught against reason and logic by the superstitious.

To help you understand the issue, it is always a good idea to understand the scientific side. There are so many misconceptions out there that they can be likened to a whack-a-mole game. As soon as one is hammered down another pops up elsewhere. A customer came in the Beagle yesterday and saw an Astronomy magazine cover about the Big Bang. He turned around and said, "the Big Bang, huh?, That's about evolution right?" I informed him that the Big Bang theory had nothing to do with evolution and quickly explained how the former was a theory about how the early universe formed and the later was about how life on earth has changed over time and that neither theory was about how life on earth began.

On our website you can find the paper "Some facts about evolution" that may be useful to those wanting to learn more on the subject.