Akin To Ignorance

Cartoon credit – http://www.mattbors.com

We all have heard the recent news about Rep. Todd Akin over the past two days. In an interview, he opined about pregnancies caused by rape:

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

It’s Just A Theory

In about two weeks we will be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of one of the most famous  naturalists the world has produced – Charles Darwin. As anyone with a little education knows, he is famous for articulating what we now call the Theory of Evolution. And while he doesn’t have exclusive rights to the distinction (Alfred Russel Wallace stumbled upon it at about the same time) he is the one who put flesh on the skeleton of the theory.

The theory has proven to be quite controversial, from the moment Darwin published his book, On the Origin of Species. To this day, it evokes incredulity, vituperation, and pure ignorance from people of a religious bent who find that it conflicts with their precious scriptures. Whole movements have arisen dedicated to obliterating the theory from public discourse. Creationism is just such a movement, and is still alive and well despite being repeatedly discredited by one court decision after another, most recently in the Kitzmiller v. Dover decision in Pennsylvania.

Happy Birthday, Sarge!!!

I know this is supposed to be the birthday of baby Jesus, and I know Bill O’Reilly expects me to wish HIM a Merry Birthday, but dammit, I’d rather wish YOU a Happy Birthday, today, Sarge. So…