somehow, i missed it that lane is now unemployed. poor lane.
i decided to make a list of things for him to do while he has some freedom:
local things i might or might not do if i were free like lane
- hang out at a friend's band's recording session
- go looking for the wild parrots of telegraph hill
- walk around the metreon drinking the biggest coke they have
- buy something at compusa, and walk out the door without showing the security guard the receipt
- get a gourmet burger at pearl's, then ride up-and-down the glass elevators in the st. francis (at night, because of the holiday decorations)
- take your wife to toy boat and enjoy a sundae
- read "why we buy",
and then go windowshopping at bloomie's in the new westfield san francisco centre
- walk around the city for a whole day without opening your wallet once
- print out transmetropolitan #1 and read it at a cafe
- download a shitload more music
that's it for now. what would you do?
What's your favorite drink or cocktail? What's in it?
Question submitted by charm.vox.com
this is sad.
my first favorite would be a vodka gimlet. simple. clean. alcoholic. (the drink, not me)
but alas, i've developed a nasty stomach problem that makes alcohol even more poisonous. so, no more gimlets.
what then?
how about an arnold palmer?! half-iced tea, half-lemonade. (it's one of the ways i gage someone's b.q.)
but alas, again! my nasty stomach says, "no lemonade! no caffeine!"
ok, well there's got to be something else.
coke! yes! straight-up, all american, historically narcotic, coca-cola.
but, uber-alas! i can't even drink carbonated beverages anymore!
next question, please.
The Discovery Institute just launched Stand Up for Science, a sham campaign to erode the teaching of evolution in Kansas public schools. Working under the guise of strengthening Kansas' science standards through open inquiry.
It looks like Bill Dembski, et. al. stole a key play from Ken Miller's
playbook on this one. The new campaign feigns concern for the integrity
of scientific standards, suggesting that it is in fact evolutionists
who are trying to undermine true objectivity in science education. Take the petition on the site at face value:
"YES! I want to stand up in support of the Kansas science standards. I agree that teachers should equip students to critically analyze evolutionary theory by presenting them with the scientific evidence both for and against Darwinian evolution"
I'm sure Dr. Miller agrees with
the above statement wholeheartedly. He thrives on critical analysis of
scientific evidence. Just watch one of his lectures,
and you will appreciate how cogently he presents compelling scientific
evidence for Darwinian evolution. And, at the same time enjoy how he
obliterates many of the pseudo-scientific arguments from the ID
movement that masquerade as science. (And don't miss Dr. Miller on this
clip from The Colbert Report).
This new strategy from the ID community is culture jamming at its finest. Consider the irony: evolution is an established scientific theory supported by mounds of evidence. "Intelligent Design," on the other hand, is not science. Nonetheless, Discovery Insititute's Center for Science and Culture
has managed to invert the formula, suggesting the theory of evolution
would buckle under true scientific scrutiny, when it is in fact one of
the most scrutinized and peer-reviewed disciplines in the scientific
world. Also note that "Intelligent Design" is conspicuously absent in
this new campaign; there is no way it could survive the criteria that
is suggesting be applied to evolution.
I would also like to
point out that trusting the integrity and direction of evolutionary
science is a valid choice for people of faith. Creation myths,
both biblical and extra-biblical are explanations drawn from the
earliest memories of human conciousness, they are a testament of our
awe for the gift of life we experience everyday. Evolution is an
intellectual extension of that sense of awe, a scientific expression of
our desire to know and describe as much about our origins as possible.
While creation myths feed the soul, evolution feeds the mind. Evolution
and faith are not mutally exclusive.
Why are fundamentalists threatened by evolution? Most assume it is some sort of aversion to the concept that we share biological lineage with the rest of the creative order. Regardless of this aversion, humans are intimately and inextricably woven into the fabric of all of creation. Isaiah 40 contextualizes this the complexity of our elemental nature beautifully. Ken Miller suggests that a true appreciation of the complexity of evolution gives us "a higher opinion of God." I couldn't agree more.
Additional links on evolution and "Intelligent Design":Evolution 101 (UC Berkeley) GO BEARS!
Evolution (PBS)
The Panda's Thumb
Talk Origins
The Clergy Letter Project
An Index of Creationist Claims
The (Infamous) Wedge Strategy Document
My del.icio.us evolution links:
http://del.icio.us/johnfromberkeley/evolution
http://del.icio.us/johnfromberkeley/creationism
http://del.icio.us/johnfromberkeley/ID
awww. but i suspect i'll probably just start another company! still, we should go grab a sundae @ toy boat... read more
on unemployed (not me!)