Monthly Archives: February 2008

Mammals and the KT Event

A very important and truly wonderful paper in Nature described a tour-de-force analysis of the Mammalian Evolutionary Record, and draws the following two important conclusions:

  1. The diversification of the major groups of mammals occurred millions of years prior to the KT boundary event; and
  2. The further diversification of these groups into the modern pattern of mammalian diversity occurred millions of years later than the KT boundary event.

Continue reading Mammals and the KT Event

Ken Ham is “tearing evolution to pieces” … claims British Cab Driver

After the Sunday service in Westminster Chapel, where worshippers were exhorted to wage “the culture war” in the Second World World War spirit of Sir Winston Churchill, cabbie James McLean delivered his verdict on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.

“Evolution is a lie, and it’s being taught in schools as fact, and it’s leading our kids in the wrong direction,” said McLean, chatting outside the chapel. “But now people like Ken Ham are tearing evolution to pieces.”

This is a short piece in the Barrie Examiner updating the growing American-like trend of creationism in Britain.

Ken Ham is”tearing evolution to pieces”… claims British Cab Driver

After the Sunday service in Westminster Chapel, where worshippers were exhorted to wage “the culture war” in the Second World World War spirit of Sir Winston Churchill, cabbie James McLean delivered his verdict on Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.”Evolution is a lie, and it’s being taught in schools as fact, and it’s leading our kids in the wrong direction,” said McLean, chatting outside the chapel. “But now people like Ken Ham are tearing evolution to pieces.”

This is a short piece in the Barrie Examiner updating the growing American-like trend of creationism in Britain.

On the Origin of Species

… is a book by Charles Darwin. But it is also a web page at The Guardian (UK).

150 years ago, Charles Darwin unveiled his theory of natural selection. To mark this anniversary we bring you the definitive guide to the naturalist’s great book, with extracts from key chapters and essays from leading scientists and thinkers

Here

Jaime Lerner: Sing a song of sustainable cities

With maverick flair and a strategist’s disdain for accepted wisdom, Jaime Lerner re-invented urban space in his native Curitiba, Brazil. Along the way he managed to revolutionize bus transit, awaken green consciousness in a populace accustomed to litter and blight, and change the way city planners and bureaucrats world-wide conceive what’s possible within the tangled structure of the metropolitan landscape. Continue reading Jaime Lerner: Sing a song of sustainable cities

Evolution and Creationism in Texas

The Texas Acadamy of Science has come out with a statement about creationism in Texas schools science classes, called “Texas Academy of Science Position Against the Inclusion of Creationism and Design Concepts in the Science Curricula in Texas Schools”You can get the PDF here.Among other things, the document states:

Texas science teachers have a finite amount of class time and textbook space in which to teach the many valid and foundational scientific concepts that enable students to become knowledgeable consumers, decision makers and voters. Inclusion of creationist or intelligent design concepts in science curricula would seriously diminish the effectiveness of science education by distracting teachers from covering an already overwhelming body of knowledge, and would consequently dilute student’s understanding of scientifically valid concepts and theories. Therefore, it is the position of the Texas Academy of Science that, through their policies and decisions, the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board should ensure that neither “creationism” nor “intelligent design” is added to the state’s scientific curricula.

Continue reading Evolution and Creationism in Texas

Madagascar Reptiles In Trouble

From the Wildlife Conservation Society:

Unless major conservation measure are enacted, Madagascar’s turtles and tortoises will continue to crawl steadily toward extinction, according to a recent assessment by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and other groups. With their habitat shrinking and illegal hunting worsening, these reptiles now rank among the most endangered on Earth.

Continue reading Madagascar Reptiles In Trouble

David Macaulay: All roads lead to Rome Antics

Despite a love and fascination for Rome dating to his days as an architecture student, David Macaulay found the path to his book Rome Antics took some unusual (and frustrating) turns. Through failed pop-up designs, scribbled out title possibilities, surreal sketchbook pages (think “Piranesi meets Escher”), and rambling story lines, MacAulay details each step of his winding journey towards completion of his illustrated homage to the city. Continue reading David Macaulay: All roads lead to Rome Antics