Friday, April 22, 2011
The date of its resurrection cannot be foretold, but its inevitable.
After all, Tennessee is where John Scopes was convicted of teaching
Darwin's theory of evolution 86 years ago. Had it been enacted, Senate
Bill 893, would have required state and local educational authorities
to "assist teachers to find effective ways to present the science
curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers
to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective
manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing
scientific theories covered in the course being taught." Hmm! I could do
that, depending on exactly what theories were talking about, and what is
meant by "an objective manner," and I wouldn't need any help. The only
theories the bill mentions are biological evolution, the chemical origins
of life, global warming and human cloning. I could certainly teach those
in an objective manner. What's more, the bill says it would protect
teachers from discipline if they "help students understand, analyze,
critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and
scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the
course." Hey, I'm a perfect fit.
First awarded to Mother Theresa in 1972, the Templeton prize is awarded
annually to a living person for "affirming life's spiritual dimension.
Winners were typically well-known religious figures such as Billy Graham.
The prize was established by Sir John Templeton, an American-born British
investor who moved to Bermuda to avoid the income tax. He was knighted by
Queen Elizabeth II in 1987 for his philanthropic efforts. Currently at
1,000,000, it is the largest annual financial award to an individual for
intellectual accomplishment. Templeton, who specified only that it be
larger than the Nobel Prize, apparently had an epiphany in 1999 when the
prize went to physicist Ian Barbour. Almost every recipient of the prize
since has been a physicist or an astronomer. Templeton died in 2008. There
was speculation that his son would return to more conventional religious
figures, but it continues to go almost entirely to physicists and
astronomers. The winner this year is astrophysicist, Martin Rees, Baron of
Ludlow, and President of the Royal Society. But Rees takes the prize one
step further, describing himself as "not-religious." Others describe him
as an atheist.
Julius Genachowski made that assertion to the Economic Club of Washington
when asked whether he was worried about health risks from close contact
with cell phones. Although the Wireless Association also insists that
mobile phones are safe, the major cellular carriers continue to warn
consumers of possible risks. This is known as "covering your ass." Even
Deborah Davis, author of "Disconnect", acknowledges in the last page that
there is "no epidemic of brain tumors", but insists more research is
needed. As an experimental physicist I would never argue against more
research, but neither would I write a book on the risk in the absence of
any evidence.
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