A Quote for the Afternoon – doing the RIGHT thing…

“New Rule, the Pentagon must apologize to Native Americans for giving such a universally reviled character as Osama bin Laden the code name “Geronimo”… and admit they should have gone with their second choice, The Donald.”

– Bill Maher

If you’re going to make a joke, take someone who IS a joke.

Here’s my podcast for today on BlogTalkRadio:

Still learning how to do this right… and this was my first time with a guest over the telephone. My biggest problem was the couple of seconds delay between asking questions and getting answers, so the guest and I kept stepping on each other.

I also had a music opening, which did not work… I’ll have to find out why… there are however 2 clicks in empty time when I thought I was turning the music on. Oh well, as I said last week, it will get better (just as this week was better than last week.)

To hear today’s show, with poet Tom Donlin reading his fine work, click here:

Listen to internet radio with BillTchakirides on Blog Talk Radio

My thanks to Tom Donlin for being my guest this morning.

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I get more and more angry at the stupidity of conservatives… take Louisiana…

The State of Louisiana says there’s no such thing as evolution. There’s no such thing as climate change. And that’s the law.

Outrageous as it sounds, this is the situation that thousands of science teachers find themselves in as more and more states pass radical laws promoting the teaching of creationism and climate-change denial in public classrooms.

On April 15, Sen. Karen Carter Peterson introduced SB 70 to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act.

From MoveOn.org:

Teaching creationism, which is a religious belief, is in clear violation of Supreme Court rulings on the subject (one of which, Edwards v. Aguillard, originated in Louisiana).  

The young people of Louisiana deserve the best possible scientific education. Creationism is not science, and teaching it as science leaves our students at a disadvantage when competing in the global economy. 

The teaching of Evolution is sound science and is also compatible with religious faith, a position that is supported by all mainstream religious denominations.

The Louisiana Science Education Act costs jobs. The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology cancelled its 2011 convention in New Orleans to protest this law.  How many others will do the same?  How many businesses will locate elsewhere because they want well trained scientists?  How many researchers will take their talents elsewhere or never come to Louisiana because of this anti-science law?

The bill is already producing its intended result. The Livingston Parish School Board is taking steps to act on the legislation’s goals. According to an account in the July 24, 2010, Baton Rouge Advocate, board member David Tate said: “We let them teach evolution to our children, but I think all of us sitting up here on this School Board believe in Creationism. Why can’t we get someone with religious beliefs to teach Creationism?”  Fellow board member Clint Mitchell responded, “I agree … Teachers should have the freedom to look at creationism and find a way to get it into the classroom.”

Louisiana Capital at Baton Rouge

12 day ago, Louisiana high school student Zack Kopplin organized a march on the state capital and wa joined by High School students seeking a meaningful civil education. They protested the Louisiana Science Education Act. Quite the opposite of its name, the bill, passed in 2008, gives public school teachers the ability to teach creationism in their science classes.

You can join the students in protesting this barbaric religious law.

I just signed the petition “Tell Louisiana to teach real science in public schools, not creationism and climate change denial” and I hope you will add your name. The goal is to reach 50,000 signatures and more support is needed. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-louisiana-to-teach-real-science-in-public-schools-

Thanks, Bill.