Blogging About Schools

I don't want to put you into too much shock here on a nice Saturday, but I'm actually blogging on my other blog, Lone Star Schools. Yeah, it's been awhile. I have a couple of posts up about Education Secretary Arne Duncan's ideas for a longer school day, longer school year, teacher incentives and getting rid of underperforming teachers. I'm going to try and do a little more care and feeding of that blog, even if it's only on weekends. President Obama has made education a priority and schools are poised to be stimulated in a pretty big way, so things should get interesting. I'll be following some education bills from the Texas Lege, also. LoneStarSchools is on twitter, and if I set up twitterfeed correctly, all blog posts will post on twitter . . . . starting soon?

A Glimpse At What It Will Be Like To Get A Voter ID In Texas

If Eileen's experience with renewing her Texas driver's license is any indication, folks are in for a fun time getting an ID to vote in Texas:

The woman asked me for my license, social security number, and current address, then told me to look into that weird telescope-y thing and read the fourth row of numbers and letters. Squinting, I did the best I could, given that the letters were about as legible as those Facebook partial-word confirmation messages. Apparently I missed two, but she shrugged, as if to say, oh well, the state needs your $24, Meemaw.

I was almost done. Until she looked at her computer screen, then looked at me. “Are you a U.S. citizen?” I stared back at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

Her: “No. It says here that your lawful status has not been verified.” Me: “Look at me.” Her: “You’re going to need to bring in your birth certificate as proof of citizenship.” Me: “My birth certificate. Do you know what my birth certificate says?” Her: (blank stare) Me: “It says my name is Baby Girl Smith. First name, Baby. Middle name, Girl. Last name, Smith.” Lady: “Uh-huh.” Me: “My parents couldn’t decide on a name because they thought I was going to be a boy.” Her: “Ma’am…” Me: “They were going to name me Bernie.” Her: “You could also bring in your passport.” Me: “Trust me, I’m American.” Her: “No.” Me: “I can’t speak Spanish for shit!” Her: (looking over my shoulder) “Next?” Me: “BUT I’M BLOND!” Her: “NO NOT REALLY!”

DAMMIT.

And then treehugger in the comments says:

Treehugger says:

Spouse of Treehugger’s name on her SS card did not exactly match her name on her DL. Talk about a pain…local, state, AND federal government. The holy trinity of BOB (burden of bureacracy)

So, when our precious legislators wave the voter ID flag all around the Texas Capitol this session, envision the above experiences being repeated over and over again as folks try to get the required ID to vote. Picture senior citizens going through this. If you don't think it will be one huge city/state/federal/homeland security clusterf%*#, then you haven't been to your local DPS recently.

This brings back REALLY BAD MEMORIES of standing in a ridiculously long line to get the son's first driver's license. All the while hoping, hoping, hoping you are clutching all of the correct papers in your hands.

I'd like to see a resolution that all House and Senate members have to go to the DPS and stand in that line for a couple of hours prior to the vote on Voter ID.

Seriously. And then they can explain why they want to put Texans through that for a non-existent problem.

Will Bunning Gift Us With The 60th Seat?

Bunning's already threatened to sue the NRC and chase the non-English speaking John Cornyn across the border. Now he's talking about taking his toys and going home, giving D's 60 seats in the Senate:

Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) told a room full of lobbyists this week that he'd resign his Senate seat early if he doesn't get campaign money from national Republicans, according to three sources with knowledge of the situation. [---] According to the sources, Bunning suggested at a campaign fundraiser in Washington that his resignation would be politically damaging for the GOP, since the Kentucky's governor, Steve Beshear, is a Democrat and would presumably select a Democrat to fill the seat — potentially giving the Democrats the 60 votes they need to overcome Republican filibusters. Republicans have grown increasingly concerned that Bunning will lose reelection in 2010, given his streak of erratic behavior and his poor fundraising.

I wonder which is causing The Junior Senator to lose more sleep - the Bunning route to 60 seats or the possible KBH resignation, triggering a special election in The Great State. Either way, it's fun to watch Cornyn and his cronies squirm. BOR has more. It appears Bunning really did say he would resign, even though he is denying it.

Science Got Stimulated

Looks like we are back in the business of science. So, another round of clapping that Bush is long gone would be appropriate at this time. According to Wired:

Environmental Protection Agency: $7 billion stimulus. $2.7 billion increase in new budget, which is a 35% increase, and a total budget of $10.5 billion National Science Foundation: $3 billion stimulus. 8.5% increase in budget for a total budget of $10 billion. NASA: $1 billion stimulus. $700 million added to its $18 billion budget. Department of Energy: $39 billion stimulus. $2.4 billion added to budget.

A budget is a document of priorities, and it's good to see science get some much needed attention. Any NASA people out there think NASA came out well, or did you hope for a lot more?

How To Save $1771 RIGHT NOW

My (young) friend and fellow TexBlog PAC board member, Matt Glazer, turned all of 27 today. It's hard for me to remember what it was like to be 27. But, I digress. Matt's got a fundraising challenge out, asking folks to help him celebrate his birthday by giving $27 to TexBlog PAC today. Our PAC gave lotsa money to five Texas House candidates in 2008 and four out of five of them won - because of the generousity of many donors around the state. We want to get a head start on continuing our success for 2010. For those of you who want to REALLY make Matt a happy birthday boy, he's asking for a gift to TexBlog PAC of $27 over 27 months.

You can contribute $27 by clicking here now!

So, how does this save you $1771? That'a a great question! If you procrastinate, it's going to be November before you know it - my birthday month - and it's going to cost you QUITE A BIT MORE to help me celebrate my birthday by donating to TexBlog PAC. If you give today in honor of Matt, I'll forgive you if you don't party with me in November. Treat this as a 9th grade Math TAKS question. If it's going to cost you $1777 more over "x" months, what is the value of "x" if it costs you only $27 over 27 months to celebrate today with (young) Matt. Yeah, it's a big number. Go ahead. After you laugh yourself silly over my advancing age, click here and get busy with your $27. Because come November, you are going to hope Obama has stimulated you in a big way if you are going to celebrate with me.

Cornyn Corner: Bunning Declares War

The Junior Senator from The Great State has displayed his remarkable lack of leadership again, ticking off one of his fellow senators:

Sen. Jim Bunning all but declared war this morning on his own party’s Senate campaign committee chairman and threatened to sue the GOP if committee officials recruited an opponent to run against him in Kentucky’s 2010 Republican primary. The Kentucky Republican, who has said he is running for re-election next year, made his comments in a conference call with reporters this morning. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, confirmed to The Washington Post Monday that Kentucky Senate President David Williams had met with officials at the committee last week. Cornyn called it “a courtesy visit.” “Just to clear up any potential confusion, the NRSC supports Sen. Bunning,” Cornyn said. Asked if he was happy with Cornyn’s comments, Bunning said today: “I don’t believe anything John Cornyn says. I’ve had miscommunications with John Cornyn from, I guess, the first week of this current session of the Senate. He either doesn’t understand English or he doesn’t understand direct: ‘I’m going to run,’ which I said to him in the cloakroom of our chamber.” Bunning also said that if a candidate was recruited by the committee to run against him in a primary, he would file a lawsuit. “I would have a suit against the NRSC if they did that,” he warned. “Support of incumbents is the only reason for (the NRSC’s) existence,” Bunning added. “So if they recruited someone and supported them in a primary against me, I would be able to sue them because they’re not following their bylaws.”

What a statesman is our John Cornyn! When he's not talking marriage between a man and a box turtle, he's alienating one of the senators he's sworn to protect in his "leadership" position. He's got one of his own declaring war and accusing him of not understanding English. A suggestion to Senator Bunning: pass some sort of English Only rule in the Senate, chase Cornyn across the border, and lock the big giant fence gate behind him.

League of Women Voters Fundraiser

A Repast With Political Pioneers VIII

Houston City Council Members Melissa Noriega and Ann Clutterbuck Invite you to a League of Women Voters fundraiser Honoring Houston City Secretary Anna Russell Thursday, March 5, 2009 11 AM to 1 PM Omni Houston Hotel Four Riverway

Your attendance directly benefits the League's education fund, which enables the LWV to continue its vital activities such as the publication of the Voters Guide, sponsorship of political debates and timely research on civic and political issues.

Table Sponsors (tables of 8): $5000 Underwriter $2500 Leader $1800 Partner Individual Tickets (open seating): $75 General Public (10% discount for groups of 10 or more) $60 LWV Members

For reservations and information, you must contact the League of Women Voters at 713-784-2923 or visit www.lwvhouston.org. To guarantee your reservation, please RSVP by Monday, March 2, 2009.

Read more about Anna Russell here in this Chronicle blog posting. Russell started working at City Hall in 1950 and has served under 11 administrations.

What Do My Dinner Plates and the Milky Way Have in Common?

They are looking quite a bit alike to me, except that they are very different. Here's the scoop on the Milky Way photo:

The Milky Way galaxy, as viewed from Earth, itself situated on one of the spiral arms of the galaxy, appears as a hazy band of white light in the night sky arching across the entire celestial sphere and originating from stars and other material that lie within the galactic plane.

Just give me some time and I'll get a big crack down the middle of one of the plates and they will look EXACTLY alike. I know I am right about this.

Yeah, That's Me. On TV Talking About Coffee!

Haha! Even I'm amazed that one person could mention coffee, free wifi, twitter and strokes in one breath. Extremely amusing that it was me! Waves to the nice guys from Ch. 39:

Jessica Farrar Elected Chair of House Democratic Caucus

Go, Jessica! Where is the button where I can favorite this state rep? :)

Rep. Farrar Elected Chair of House Democratic Caucus

(AUSTIN) -- On Thursday, February 19, 2009, the Democratic Caucus of the Texas House of Representatives elected State Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) Chair for the 2009-10 term.

Rep. Farrar stated that, "I am honored that my colleagues have demonstrated such faith in my leadership by electing me Democratic Caucus Chair. I pledge to continue to work with all members of the Texas House to protect and promote Democratic values by organizing efforts that deliver what Texans need in these hard economic times — health care, child care, an educated workforce produced by solid public schools and universities, all of which build a stronger economy."

First on Rep. Farrar's agenda as Chair is to immediately ask all Democratic Caucus members to participate in developing an agenda for the 81^st Legislative Session that addresses the state's most pressing needs. "It is our responsibility to listen to our constituents and act on their concerns. Many times, the most crucial needs of everyday Texans are overlooked and overrun by misguided political agendas that cater to everyone but our constituents. I am committed to ensuring that the Democratic Caucus continues to put people before politics."

Given that a recent Gallup poll demonstrated that slightly more Texans identify themselves as Democrats rather than as Republicans (43.4% to 41%), Rep. Farrar believes that Texans across the state are ready for a new kind of leadership in the Texas House. "It is clear to me and my colleagues that more than ever, the House Democratic Caucus is in a position to serve as the voice of the majority of Texans that view issues such as education, health care, child care, emergency preparedness, and economic stability as the topics that the Texas Legislature should be addressing in place of the divisive and polarizing political agendas that have dominated for so long," she stated.

Rep. Farrar is in her 8th term as state representative of District 148.

TX SB 875 Would Allow College Students Say In Class Start Times

My son starts college in the fall. No need to do a survey. Start all classes after noon and end them by 2 PM. Make them 20 minutes long. There you go. I just saved the higher ed world $$ on conducting a survey.

By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 875 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to consideration of students' preferred class times in establishing course schedules at public institutions of higher education. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.976 to read as follows: Sec. 51.976. COURSE SCHEDULE TO CONSIDER STUDENTS' PREFERRED CLASS TIMES. (a) In this section, "governing board" and "institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. (b) The governing board of each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy requiring the office or division responsible for creating the institution's course schedule to: (1) periodically survey enrolled students concerning the students' preferred class times; and (2) consider the survey results in establishing class times for future semesters or other academic terms. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

Men Are Tools

Breaking news from Princeton University:

Men use the "tool part" of their brain when they see women in bikinis. And they don't think with their brains.

In addition, research shows that when men even THINK of a scantily clad woman, they run - at warp speed - to their outdoor barbeque contraptions to smoke some meat. Because women are attracted to smoking meat.

At Houston Latino Summit

Lots of people here. They are saying 300 in attendance and I believe
it. Rick Noriega speaking.

We are at Minute Maid Park. Thanks to the organizers for a yummy
breakfast!

Twogetherness With Warren Chisum

OK. I've been wondering about this. Remember how Warren Chisum injected government into people's private lives last session with his "Twogetherness in Texas" law? (yes, it really is called that). Here's an update (from startlegram, emphasis mine):

The program with the atrocious spelling doubled the state fee for a marriage license from $30 to $60 starting on Sept. 1. Couples that take an eight-hour premarital counseling class get the fee waived but still pay the local fee, which in Tarrant County is $11. [---]

Even with the higher license fee, few are bothering with the classes so far. In Tarrant County, of roughly 5,000 couples that filed for wedding licenses since September, about 140 received the discount, according to the local clerk's office.

Statewide, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission reports 602 licenses that received the waiver as of Thursday, according to a spokesperson.

Oh, man. Warren can't get a break. He learned he's out as Appropriations Chair and now this? People are just not showing WC the love! And, with Valentine's Day tomorrow. The day all divorced people shout "hallelujah!, I'm not married to that jerk anymore!"

But that's not stopping our Caped "My Morality is Better Than Your Morality" Crusader:

But Chisum isn't done with his campaign for couples counseling. He's filed another bill this session that would require most married couples with a child take a "crisis marriage education course" before a judge could approve a divorce.

This is just plain silly as a parenting course is ALREADY REQUIRED in most Texas counties before you can get a divorce in Texas.

I'd be a little more sympathetic to his concerns, if he'd get on his pretty pony and champion children's health care, education, and lower cost of living for families. It's not like there are not burning issues in front of the Legislature and everyone has the luxury of twiddling thumbs and making stuff up to keep themselves busy.

I've written about what a dumb idea the "Twogetherness" legislation was. I asked that it have some accountability built in - a requirement that it be reviewed based on data. Looks like the data is in, and Texans have soundly rejected Chisum getting involved in private, adult (painful) decisions.

Culberson: Twanger Management?

It's been amusing following Congressman John Culberson's bursting aneurysm on Twitter over the stimulus bill. I'm recommending twanger (twitter anger) management. Some excerpts from the last 24 hours. Note his love of the word tyranny in all it's forms:

@wildbill Thank you ! no matter who you voted for you should be outraged at total lack of transparency &accountability on this massive bill @frivmo thanks - good advice - I will do my best to restrain my temper & avoid any trace of troll like behavior @blwarren you & entire nation have been shut out as biggest spending bill in history written & approved;that is tyranny & it is unacceptable Dem staff still writing the bill this afternoon AFTER Conf Com approved text - TOTALLY ILLEGAL; they have NO RESPECT FOR YOU or the law! @anaJay It also makes me physically ill; their arrogance & utter disrespect for us & the great heritage they have been entrusted with (muse note: this is my personal favorite) You got change, America; we are now ruled by arrogant tyrants who are hypocritical, smug elitists; will you lie down & take it? NOT ME!!! (muse note: my second personal favorite. He asks D's how he should vote?) @compujeramey There are many Ds I trust who also assured me Patriot Act could only be used overseas against foreigners using cell phones @vedo go to http://www.rules.house.gov/; they only posted the text at 10:45PM; WE VOTE TOMORROW; open your eyes; they DO NOT RESPECT YOU @DCSas Arrogance: they really don't care what you think & Dem leadership also think they are much smarter than ignorant masses so why bother Truth now empirically obvious: new Dem Congress & Pres could care less what the public thinks - they have no respect for you or your opinion (muse note: I think the only thing to really fear is Culberson's out of control temper) If all 6,523 of you will RT to each one of your followers & urge them to RT etc ASAP we can strike real fear into the hearts of Cong leaders Tonight is a vitally important moment in American history - lets try together tonight to slow down Nancy Pelosi's freight train RT: Never before have so few people spent so much money in so little time with so much secrecy & done so much damage to the next generation (muse note: while plane was crashing outside Buffalo, NY) @frivmo So you're OK w you & your NY Congressman being totally shut out of writing the biggest spending bill in American history? @blwarren you & entire nation have been shut out as biggest spending bill in history written & approved;that is tyranny & it is unacceptable @boonyboy This is how tyrants rule; arrogant disregard of public will'opinion; utter contempt for the law - plz help expose them w new media

I'm curious if he remembers the tyranny of the Bush administration or did he just sleep through that?

Shock and Awe, Obama Style

President Obama just used the word bellicose at his press conference. Make a plan for vocabulary improvement, boys and girls. Not all of y'all are going to be able to keep up with 44! That is all. Go back to clapping hands over W being gone.

Evolution News, Doggy Style

I found this to be interesting. While everyone knows (except seven Texas SBOE members) that dogs descended from wolves, there's a new finding that dogs have provided a gene for darker coats to North American wolves, giving them selective advantage. So, dogs have made wolves more dog-like. What's the selective advantage? Up to 70% of the gray wolves in North America have this darker coat. Here's an intriguing possibility:

. . . it turns out [the same] gene is involved in humans in helping bolster the immune system to fight off infection," Barsh said.

Wow! Evidence of evolution is everywhere! We share genes with dogs and wolves! Let's be sure our school kids in Texas are aware of this.

Governor Flip Flop: Rick Perry is now Pro-Evolution

Texas Governor Rick "39%" Perry is a political genius of the most fraudulent kind. Do one thing, say another. Right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. Pander to the base. Say anything to get re-elected. Do any other opposite thing to get re-elected. Rick Casey has the latest evidence. The flip:

During his last re-election campaign, Perry came out boldly for public schools teaching “intelligent design” alongside evolutionary theory. Perry’s spokeswoman called intelligent design “a valid scientific theory,” an analysis disputed by the scientific establishment and overruled by at least one federal judge.

wait for it . . . wait for it . . . here comes the flop:

He came to Houston Thursday to announce the awarding of a $5.5 million grant from his office to the University of Houston to persuade one of Europe’s top scientists and his team of 15 researchers to set up shop here.

Dr. Jan-Åke Gustafsson will use the money to establish a Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling. It has nothing to do with weapons, but with a process through which activities inside living cells can “activate” and “de-activate” genes, a concept that falls squarely within evolutionary theory.

Looks like Perry is now squarely in the evolutionary camp! This is a flip flop I can believe in.

Human Evolution Speeding Up!

The LA Times has a great article on Charles Darwin. There's lots of evidence that human evolution is speeding up, not slowing down:

Until recently, conventional wisdom held that human beings had mastered their environment so thoroughly that the imperative to evolve in many ways diminished about 10,000 years ago, when agriculture gave rise to more-stable societies. "People thought that with technology and culture, there'd be no reason for physical things to make any difference," said Milford Wolpoff, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Michigan. "If you can ride a horse, it doesn't matter if you can run fast." That turned out to be wrong. As it happens, the pace of evolution has been speeding up -- not slowing down -- in the 40,000 years since our ancestors fanned out from Ethiopia to populate the globe. And in the 5,000 to 10,000 years since agriculture triggered the growth of large societies, the pace has accelerated to 100 times historical levels. "When there's more people, there are more mutations," Wolpoff said. "And when there are more mutations, there's more selection."

Here's an interesting example. Increased sex drive = ADD?:

...they found a number of genes involved in brain development, including a version of a dopamine receptor gene called DRD4 that is sweeping through the European population. Some think it is a novelty-seeking variant, others that it affects libido. What they do know is that having two copies increases the odds of having attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Genetic mutations that help prevent malaria and that help adults digest milk, as well as to prevent Type 2 diabetes are other examples of recent human evolution. Blue eyes are a recent development. It was only 6000-10,000 years ago that the first human with blue eyes was born somewhere near the Black Sea. Darwin suggested that the genetic mutation for blue eyes might have made humans more sexually desirable (I'm seeing a theme here), but there is research being done to see if pale skin and light colored eyes gave Northern Europeans an advantage in absorbing more vitamin D in weaker sunlight conditions. Those of you who are blue-eyed and don't "believe in" the scientific fact of evolution might want to look in the mirror and ask yourselves how you got to be such an oddity.

"I Love Jesus, But I Drink A Little"

This is perhaps the funniest thing I've ever seen. The really hysterical part is at 4 minutes, so hang on until then. Even before that, there's some funny stuff about Austin and an ice storm. I just had to post it, so I know where to find it whenever I want a good laugh! Also, the part about Listerine and the cops. Enjoy!

Saint Olson

Wow. This is quite glowing and also, amusing. A gushing love letter to Pete Olson can be found here, at Campaigns and Elections. You know, I was battling it out right in the heart of TX-22 last election cycle and Olsen was not exactly Mr. Nice Guy. No. Indeed, his mail and TV were quite nasty against Lampson, taking things out of context to paint Lampson as a Nancy Pelosi liberal, which he is not. Olsen's appearance at a candidate forum with Lampson in Clear Lake is still being talked about because of how surly Olsen was. I give him credit for this:

Olson’s emphasis on a grassroots, neighbor-to-neighbor effort propelled Team Olson to knock on more than 150,000 doors during the 2008 cycle, hold more than 100 meet-and-greet events and build a network of supporters across the district. Team Olson took nothing for granted. No precinct was ruled out in the primary because conventional wisdom viewed it as “out of reach.” Indeed, Olson devoted extra time to areas seen as tougher for his candidacy, making personal and repeated contact with voters. Another key element in the strategy was message discipline: Know who you are and stick to your message.

But, Lampson did the same and more. No need to tell a fairy tale to the cute, small children in TX-22 over how this race was won. C&E might have wanted to flesh this out a bit about the fear mongering that went on in 22 over the black, Muslim man running for President. Because that worked against Lampson in a big way.

Fossil Evidence of Evolution: Whale Edition

Those darn fossils keeping popping up, filling in the gaps of what we know about how animals evolved. This deal about the whale fetus is pretty interesting. It was positioned head down, indicating it was born on land and needed to come out breathing. The flipper-like legs were not conducive to spending much time on land, so it's probable these whales mated and gave birth on land, but lived mostly in the ocean.

"They clearly were tied to shore," Gingerich said. "They were living at the land-sea interface and going back and forth."

He said the Maiacetus fossils appear to represent an intermediate whale form, showing the evolution from land-dwelling to aquatic creatures.

Now, Texas SBOE, do the right thing and make it clear that evolution is the backbone of biology - day in and day out. Fossil evidence, molecular evidence - almost beside the point. The theory of evolution is used to validate and predict scientific phenomena, so we are beyond the point of trying to "prove" evolution all the time.

More photos here.

Tom Daschle in "This Old Pontiac"

Y'all seen this? In 1986, when Daschle was running his first Senate campaign, he had a 30-second ad showing how he'd be a change agent - not one of those Washington elite guys driving a BMW or a limo. No, he would drive to Washington in his 15-year old, 238,000 mile Pontiac. In light of recent revelations, it's rather startling, to be honest. So, moving on. Where's the change agent we can believe in for Secretary of Health and Human Services? Ideas, anyone?

SBOE Forum: Saturday, Feb. 7th in Austin

Okey dokey, folks. For those of you who have been wanting to see Cynthia Dunbar - MY SBOE member (God bless your good luck if she's not yours) - in action, here's your big chance. It's this coming Saturday, in Austin - be there. Of course, the notice I got says that only one of the two speakers is confirmed. Let's hope it's Dunbar so we can do some scientific observations on nuttery in action. Saturday, February 7, 2009

11:45am-1:15pm

Yarborough Public Library, 2200 Hancock Dr.

Focus on K-12 Science: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills(TEKS) as Determined by our elected Representatives

Guest Speaker(s) [we hope for both, one confirmed so far]:

Mrs. Cynthia Dunbar, attorney, and teacher of anatomy and physiology to high school age students, elected member of the State Board of Education from SBOE District 10, including all of Travis county north of the Colorado River, plus Bastrop, Williamson, and other counties [not yet confirmed].

Dr. Lorenzo Sadun, PhD (University of California at Berkeley), professor of mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin, and parent of children currently in the public schools, who has testified before the State Board of Education on the science standards for K-12 [confirmed].

This forum, like everything at the Austin Public Libraries, is open to all without charge

For more information: John Keohane, 371-3853, keohane@prodigy.net

Got Flu? Blame Evolution

I got a series of texts this morning from a friend who has been AWOL for a few days due to the flu. It sounds like it's going to be a long, protracted thing. The flu virus' DNA evolves very quickly to survive and avoid a massive attack by the latest flu vaccine. So, scientists use what they know about evolution to stay one step ahead and create vaccines that fight the majority of the ever mutating flu strains each year. Of course, if you don't get the vaccine, you are extremely vulnerable, but you can still get hit by it if you are unlucky enough to be exposed to a strain that has figured out a work around. The Chron has an excellent article about how scientists use evolution to create new technologies:

using DNA evidence to free or convict people accused of crimes (don't believe in evolution? don't agree to DNA analysis if you are falsely accused) create antibiotics and vaccines (don't "believe" in evolution? don't partake of modern medicine) treat diseases such as wet macular degeneration (don't "believe" in evolution? go blind and quit complaining) improve detergents (don't "believe" in evolution? don't wash your clothes)

This year is the 150th anniversary of the writing of The Origin of Species, and the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth. For a list of events that mark these occasions, go to www.darwin2009houston.org