"Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science."
-Charles Darwin

"…it is infuriating to be quoted again and again by creationists—whether through design or stupidity, I do not know—as admitting the fossil record includes no transitional forms.”

I've been informed that this week is banned books week. I read a list of the most challenged books over the past few years at the ALA site. Most don't really surprise me, but some were a little out of place, but then again, my opinions are a little out of place. The thing that boggled me was the reasoning for some of them... nudity? I'm confused. Reading about nudity... I can understand qualms with graphic sexual content, but if I briefly mentioned in a book that I stripped to bathe, would it be challenged? On top of that, IT'S JUST A FUCKING BOOK!!! You aren't seeing boobs, you're reading about them, briefly. And what's wrong with that? Pull that stick out of your ass.

Intelligent design is going on trial. Finally. I have high hopes for this and that's why, if they are shattered, I will weep. You can catch the story here. This Eugenie Scott character is a good one. I've read some of her writings for evolution and against creationism and attended her symposium when she came by CSU. Unfortunately, when I saw her, I didn't realize how involved she was in the movement. Now I do, and I wish I did at the time.

Anyway, I assume that the scientific community will continue to avoid a direct attack on ID, preferring instead not to flatter the competition with the idea that they might even be bad science, much less good science. I wish they would challenge them to display any sort of scientific evidence, but that's just me. But I guess I'll just have to be happy if the verdict rules in our favor, ID ridicule or not. But a man can hope, can't he?

This quote in particular from the Discovery Institute (the spearhead of ID) bothers me...

"Judges should not be telling scientists 'what is legitimate scientific inquiry and what is not.'"

Who are they to criticize who's capable of determining "legitimate scientific inquiry" when their understanding of it is surprisingly nonexistant. Coming from a third-year biology student... that should mean something.

"Organized Christianity has probably done more to retard the ideas that were its founder's than any other agency in the world." - Richard Le Gallienne

"I abhor the Jesus of American Christianity, I'm afraid. If the real Jesus was a great philosopher, it's even more of a tragedy what Christianity has done to him." - PZ Myers

How about that Y chromosome? It's been said that the penis was a little chunk of flesh God had left over and decided to just stick on. An interesting observation if you're inclined to such things. The Y chromosome also seems to be an afterthought. Genetically, it contributes to, well, the penis, and some other male characteristics. Other than that, it's a boring chromosome... just hanging out on the couch, eating chips, watching the game. It doesn't even have any known genetic disorders (unless you consider maleness to be a disorder). Now the X chromosome on the other hand, that's a fucked up chromosome. Its genes can contribute to everything from colorblindness to hemophilia. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned from all this...

I've taken this test three times, hoping each time that maybe I've gotten better and made it to the virtuous nonbelievers. At least to the lustful. But no, I'm just a heretic.

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Sixth Level of Hell - The City of Dis!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	High
Level 2 (Lustful)	High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Moderate
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Moderate
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very High
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	High
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test