Brian Likes His Evolution Spicy (A Response to "Kung Pao Evolution" by Kevin)

"The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal law of increasing entropy, stating that the entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium." - A loose definition from the "scholarly" Wikipedia.

Some creationists state evolution cannot exist due to the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. This is my favorite argument. They argue things should devolve over time in our closed system...so god must be the giver and designer of life. The key to the 2nd Law is the "isolated system" tidbit. Remember the huge, glowing orb that heats and lights the Earth? Yeah...it's called the Sun.

Also, I have a quibble with people who believe the Universe is not in chaos. Sure, some portions have some order. In a place as vast as the Universe, given enough time & due to natural laws...some order is bound to occur. They seem to forget the fact just about everything seems to be expanding at an increasing rate, stars are exploding, galaxies are colliding with on another and black holes are swallowing star systems like I down a bag of M&M's.

Let's narrow the focus, however, and just think about Earth. Our planet is periodically bombarded (on a geological time scale) by large objects from space. Tons and tons of new debris falls to the Earth every year. Our planet is blasted by X-rays & Gamma rays...even Stevie Ray, Ray Charles and Charlotte Rhea. And this is just a small example of what goes on on this "pale blue dot."

Yep...this is one orderly closed system he "created."

2nd Grader Commits to Kentucky

Heard this at work the other day...pretty funny.

http://wkdzsports.typepad.com/sportsbytes/2008/05/second-grader-c.html

"That's My Dad's Shootin' Car" - West Virginia voter

West Virginia's primary is tomorrow. An article on the Financial Times website yesterday about the state's voters proved Barack Obama to be correct. I have not decided on my vote as of yet, but this may help lead me in a certain direction.

West Virginia is seen as a major challenge, if not an impossiblity, for Obama to win on Tuesday because it has few African-Americans & few college-educated whites. "The state has the lowest college graduation rate in the U.S., the second lowest median household income, and one of the highest proportions of white residents, at 96 percent." After interviewing several democratic voters in the small town of Williamson, none of them said they would vote for Obama.

“I heard that Obama is a Muslim and his wife’s an atheist,” said Mr
Simpson [not to beconfused with Homer Simpson, who joined the NRA in 1998], drawing on a cigarette outside the fire station in Williamson, a
coalmining town of 3,400 people surrounded by lush wooded
hillsides.'

Several weeks ago while campaigning in Pennsylvania, Barack Obama made a comment about "bitter" small town people who "cling to guns or religion." Looking at Williamson, "[w]ith a gun shop on its main street and churches dotted throughout the town," Williamson is that kind of community referenced by Obama.

'"If he is the nominee, the Democrats have no chance of winning West
Virginia,” said Missy Endicott, a 40- year-old school administrator. “He doesn’t
understand ordinary Americans.”'

Aaaah, my dear Missy...I think he understands ordinary Americans very well.

quotes from :W Virginia keeps distance from Obama
By Andrew Ward
Published: May 11
2008 20:13

How Do You Spell Relief? Not I-s-r-i-n-g-h-a-u-s-e-n.

Just a quick post. The St. Louis Cardinals have been on a small winning streak despite giving up plenty of runs in the 8th & 9th innings the last few games. It finally caught up to them tonight. Izzy gave up 4 in the 8th to lose 4-3. This bullpen will not get us very far. Please hurry back Carpenter & Mulder...we need your stitched-upped, gnarled arms!

Where Art Thou, Dr. Zeus?

Was there ever a "Twilight Zone" episode where everyone, except the unsuspecting businessman in the fedora, seemed to regress, or de-evolve (devolve?) and before he knew it neanderthals were roaming the streets devouring stray dogs, looting butcher shops & doing Geico commercials? I feel like that guy(minus the snazzy fedora). Recently several states have started looking to pass "academic freedom" legislation that would encourage, or force, teachers in public schools to raise doubts about Darwin's theories & evolutionary biology as it pertains to human origins. Never mind there is no credible scientific evidence to the contrary(I am well aware Darwinian evolution is pretty much gone the way of the Dodo. Darwin wouldn't recognize modern evolutionary biology. He was simply the "father" of the theory of natural selection. Evolutionary Biology grew from this foundation, however most creationists miss this point). Will we start teaching alternative geographical "theories"? You never know...the whole damn earth just may be flat! How about alternative Mathematical theories? "2 + 2 = 4 is all well and good, but I feel I would be slapping God in the face if I didn't say it equals 7."

Most recent surveys across the United States show the majority of people don't believe in evolution (which tells me they do not understand it) and a god created us very much the way we are now. This includes people who are not really that religious. Is this the education system letting us down or the unfortunate, disgusting & powerful influence of theistic willful ignorance taught in the home? My guess is the latter. Whatever the problem, it scares the hell out of me. I think I'll go back to my cave before the dark swallows me, wonder where the sun went and throw feces at the wall until I feel better.