Quickies: 101 Dalmations

• Pennsylvania Clean Sweep now has 101 candidates running for election against Pennsylvania state legislators. Coming in November: 101 losing candidates for PA Clean Sweep. [Bucks County Courier Times]

• Guess what the contrarian broadsheet — my former employer, &c. &c. — in this town has run an op-ed piece on: Global warming isn’t real! Really, really, I’m shocked that the conservative paper in town would run a column that says that. What’s next? “Teach the controversy” on evolution? Bingo! [The Evening Bulletin]

• In the interest of fairness: The climate is crashing and global warming is to blame. Why the crisis hit so soon — and what we can do about it. I don’t think I’m all that nervous — I’ve stocked up on sunscreen — but it’s a good read nonetheless. [Time Magazine via Attytood]

• And two senators lied before the Supreme Court? Again, recent events cannot shock me any more. [Slate]

Democracy by Internet poll

A poll from the front page of CBS 3:

Oh, better reverse that court ruling, then.

CBS 3
Yesterday: State beats Church in blowout

State beats Church in blowout

In a not-so-stunning decision, a district court judge has decided that, hey, this intelligent design stuff doesn’t quite make any sense. Let the teeth-gnashing and celebrating begin.

The whole intelligent design thing kind of confuses me. If you believe in God and think that God created the world, why do you need a “scientific theory” to make you feel better about it? I always thought the point of religion — uhh, among others, and “in a perfect world” — was that you have faith and don’t need to worry about what others may think of you. I don’t necessarily see why you need a scientific theory to believe in God.

I think you can have religion class and learn about Jesus or Moses or Buddha or whoever — and, more importantly, learn, “hey it’s good to be a good person” — and also have science class where you learn about evolution, which is about as proven as gravity at this point. Maybe moreso.

Okay, semi-sanctimonious rant over. Let’s get to my favorite part of the trial. Lehigh Professor Michael Behe, an advocate of intelligent design, testified for the defense. An excerpt from the ruling:

In fact, on cross-examination, Professor Behe was questioned concerning his 1996 claim that science would never find an evolutionary explanation for the immune system. He was presented with fifty-eight peer-reviewed publications, nine books, and several immunology textbook chapters about the evolution of the immune system; however, he simply insisted that this was still not sufficient evidence of evolution, and that it was not ‘good enough.’

Ha! That’s awesome on so many levels.

Editor’s Note: The logo was borrowed from CBS 3’s logo on their story about the ruling. I have no idea what it is. Update: KYW 1060’s is even better.

Federal judge: Intelligent design unconstitutional [Inky]
‘Intelligent Design’ Barred From Biology Class [AP via CBS 3]
Full text: Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District [Inky]

Only Darwin can save him now

Because, really, what would Jesus do?

Professor beaten for evolution views [AP via KYW 3]