Now on ScienceBlogs: Casual Fridays: What makes a good writer, and what motivates them?
You will notice that it lacks definiteness; that it lacks purpose; that it lacks coherence; that it lacks a subject to talk about; that it is loose and wabbly; that it wanders around; that it loses itself early and does not find itself any more. --Mark Twain
Joshua Rosenau spends his days defending the teaching of evolution at the National Center for Science Education. He is also a graduate student at the University of Kansas, completing a doctorate in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When not modeling species distributions or battling creationists, he writes about developments in progressive politics and the sciences.
The opinions expressed here are his own, do not reflect the official position of the NCSE. Indeed, older posts may no longer reflect his own official position.
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The Birth of Intelligent Falling
A failure of Intelligent Design
Why it's called Intelligent Design Creationism
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March 30, 2009
Category: Policy and Politics
American auto manufacturing is on death's door, the economy is in the shitter, and creationism is about to be forced into textbooks across the nation. Thus, it makes sense that Larry King wants his viewers' opinions on Madonna's adoption plans....
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 9:51 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Creationism
For those in Canadia, you might stop by the Redpath Museum auditorium tomorrow for any of the events in McGill University's symposium on Islam and Evolution. I'll be presenting at 11, and it promises to be a fascinating day of talks and discussion among panelists....
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 3:00 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Creationism
John West is gloating about the new Texas science standards, and in doing so, he's lost track of the truth: Evolutionists typically cast themselves as the champions of secular reason against superstition, but in Texas they tried to inject religion into the debate at every turn. Indeed, this past week it seemed that they couldn't stop talking about religion. They boasted about their credentials as Sunday School teachers and church elders. They quoted the Bible and appealed to theology. And, of course, they attacked the religious beliefs of their opponents, branding them religious fundamentalists. By contrast, supporters of teaching the...
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 2:59 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
March 28, 2009
Category: Creationism
Berlanga and Nuñez voted against the final TEKS, the other 13 voted to approve them. Texas has new science standards. Those standards are better than the old ones, but those old standards really did suck. As the Fordham Institute put it, giving the standards an F in 2005, "Thematic unities, so persuasively urged in the national guides, have an effect here opposite to that advertised. They produce breadth of assertion instead of depth of understanding. … In the science discipline content here reviewed, Texas provides, by way of scant substance or careless writing or plain errors, something not really adequate....
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 9:16 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
March 27, 2009
Category: Creationism
Craig offers to amend ESS 4: Earth in Space and Time. The student knows how Earth-based and space-based astronomical observations reveal differing theories about the structure, scale, composition, origin, and history of the universe.to read: 4) Earth in Space and Time. The student knows how Earth-based and space-based astronomical observations reveal information about the structure, scale, composition, origin, and history of the universe.This was the recommendation of the ESS writing committee. Motion fails, 7-8. Agosto breaks with the good guys. Dunbar offers an amendment to 8(A), which currently reads: Evaluate a variety of fossil types, proposed transitional fossils, fossil lineages,...
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 12:52 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Creationism
Dunbar jumped in line, and is trying to reinsert a new 7(B), slightly varied from the one just stricken. "analyze and evaluate the sufficiency of scientific explanations concerning any data of sudden appearance, stasis, and the sequential nature of groups in the fossil record."Allen likes it better, but won't support it, because he hasn't had a chance to vet it with his experts. Mercer wants it, because he wants to talk about sudden appearance. Craig is generally supportive, but offers an amendment. Wants to strike "the sufficiency of." Dunbar supports the amendment, so this'll pass. Craig is in a tough...
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 12:15 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Creationism
Lawrence Allen proposes to strike the noxious 7B from Biology standards. That standard states: "analyze and evaluate the sufficiency or insufficiency of common ancestry to explain the sudden appearance, stasis, and sequential nature of groups in the fossil record." McLeroy claims that evolution can't explain stasis or sudden appearance. Must I observe that stabilizing selection is kinda well-documented? McLeroy would've brought his evidence had he known he had he'd face this again: "I have the Time magazine cover." "It's not complicated! I disagree with these experts." "Yes, it's hard to stand up to these brilliant, wonderful people." All the standard...
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 11:01 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Policy and Politics
Gail Lowe: "I think you need to use your brain." Delivered to Mavis Knight who objects to a large amendment offered with no particular background. Now we're slowly working through the grades. 6th grade right now....
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 10:20 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Creationism
Dunbar offers a new amendment to the fraught 3A, formerly the "strengths and weaknesses" language. It would now read: analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations in all fields of science by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning and experimental and observational testing, by examining scientific evidence that is supportive and not supportive of those explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.She cites bogus claims about any change in the language possibly creating a legal cause of action based on "legislative intent." This isn't a legislature, and no one wants to ask the Board's lawyer whether that is true....
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 2:53 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
March 26, 2009
Category: Creationism
Bob Craig is proposing amendments to Earth and Space Science. These largely track recommendations from a panel of the ESS writers, in response to amendments offered by the Board last January. The first strikes "differing theories" and replaces it with "information about," in: 4) Earth in Space and Time. The student knows how Earth-based and space-based astronomical observations reveal information about the structure, scale, composition, origin, and history of the universe.Dunbar asks who proposed it, and Craig points out that Kyle Lewallen presented it to the Board yesterday, and that he was Cargill's appointee to the committee. Cargill is whinging...
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 1:17 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
