I was recently sent this article:

5 REASONS WHY THE CHURCH FAILED YESTERDAY

It is really an incredible story about the Chick-fil-A mess, but the ONE thing in the article that stands out is this:

People felt hate and we ignored that. At the end of the day, regardless of whether or not your Christian understanding of scripture harbors hate or not, a large group of people felt hated. Again, we can debate this point all day long, but that does not change the fact that people felt hatred because of what happened yesterday. Whether or not hate actually existed is not the point, people felt hated. And rather than acknowledging those feelings or trying to understand or engage them in any way, Christians everywhere marched off to their local CFA like it was a cross to bear, a necessity, a battle cry of some sort, the waffle fry’s last stand.

Yes, we felt hated and that is just wrong.  Even if you only "hate" this sin (which I've never believed anyway).  Hate the sin, love the sinner?  Yeah, right.

You Know You are A Liberal If...A Rebuttal

A particular article on another blog caught my eye today ( http://patriotpost.us/opinion/burt-prelutsky/2012/04/16/you-know-youre-a-liberal-if/)

Let me make it really clear that I am an independent.  I can not call myself a democrat or a republican currently, but I will say that I have voted both ways in the past.

The premise of the article was the supposition that you can know if you are a "liberal" based on the following items.  I am going to try to dismiss and prove the hypocrisy of these items.  It really demonstrates the problem the "right" has right now.  They just don't get that there isn't a "voter" mold we all fit in.

Item #1 from the article - If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one; if a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants them outlawed.

I think republicans get this wrong because most "liberals" I know, don't want to completely ban guns.  The fact is that gun ownership is a right in the constitution and I have no intention of banning guns.  However, I think that it is the right of society to demand that you know how to use a gun and that you are not a criminal.  Also I think it should put in place to restrict your access to military weapons such as machine guns, etc.

Item #2 from the article - If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat; if a Democrat is a vegetarian, he expects the federal government to ban meat products, along with salt, sugar and chocolate.

The author is just wrong.  I totally agree that there are some liberals that go too far wanting to ban everything under the sun.  However, a lot of people don't.  Do we, as Americans have a problem with obesity?  Of course we do.  I certainly don't want the government to be involved in banning certain foods.  I think the author is just trying to be insulting with this point.  It is a gross generalization just like saying all republicans want to ban birth control.  It isn't true and it just works to alienate and divide people.

Item #3 from the article - If a Republican is a homosexual, he quietly leads his life; if a Democrat is homosexual, he demands that marriage be turned into a free-for-all.

What a statement?  It is an outrage that someone would say, "Oh, your life would be all good if you'd just sit down and shut up."  How insulting is that?  The author doesn't describe what he means by a marriage "free-for-all," but I suspect it goes back to the silly argument about marrying your pets, siblings, or inanimate objects.  Perhaps he needs to remember that pets and inanimate objects can not sign legal contracts, like marriage contracts.  I could easily make the statement that republicans believe that everyone would be happy if they just did what the GOP leadership said and just "quietly lead my life" regardless of the injustice around me or the pain that my LGBTQ brothers and sisters are having to endure.  This was the line that ultimately led me to write this article.  It is just the ultimate insult to be told to just take it and do what we say.  Talk about an elite mentality.

Item #4 from the article - If a Republican is poor, he thinks about how to best improve his situation; a Democrat demands a hand-out.

The problem with this statement is almost self explanatory.  "Thinking" about the best way to improve your situation is entirely noble and I would hope that anyone would try to think of a way out of a difficult situation like poverty.  However, "thinking" about how to improve and actually having the tools to improve are two completely different things.  Are there people that abuse the system?  Absolutely and those should handle appropriately.  Personally I have no problem with making sure people have a basic safety net to make sure we don't have poor people dying in the street.  I do believe the government perhaps over spends on these programs, but I feel that they are a vital part of a civilized society.  

Item #5 from the article - If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches stations; Democrats demand that he be tossed off the air.

Another lie.  Ever heard of Bill Maher?  Sure you have.  Because nearly every day he is mentioned by talk radio as a "Million Dollar Obama supporter."  I listen to talk radio nearly every day and I can tell you for a fact that Hannity has mentioned him every day for the last two weeks.  There is even a Fox News article on the front page right now!  (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/16/bill-maher-facing-bipartisan-criticism-over-ann-romney-comments/?test=latestnews?test=latestnews).  The moral of the story is that not only does the right want you off the air, they want you to not be able to donate to political campaigns!  

Item #6 from the article - If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't attend church; an agnostic Democrat wants all references to God, Jesus and Christmas, to be banished from the land and will lie about the First Amendment to help him get his way.

I don't know if there is anything to this point, but I think it is interesting that the author says non-believer in one part of the statement and then agnostic (rather than the more correct term "atheist" according to his premise).  I'm not sure if it means anything, but I found it interesting.  I think you'll find, if you do any real research, that most atheists, agnostics, or non-believers (whichever one you want to use) just want to live free of religious influence and free of being "preached" to.  I know people of various faiths (and indeed of no faith) and none of them want to ban god(s), Jesus, or Christmas.  They even take a Christmas holiday, Christmas pay, or even give and receive Christmas presents!  There are extremists in any view point - even atheists.  Some of them perhaps do want to ban all those things, but the majority don't.  Just another lie to "scare" the masses into submission.  The first amendment to the constitution makes is very clear that 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof

The founding fathers knew the dangers of entangling religion and government.  They were visionaries.  The amendment protects all religions, not just Christianity.  It is such a vital part of our country, I can't believe that anyone would argue that it says something other than what it says.  Congress can't endorse one religion over the other.  You can't pray in public schools that are government run.  You can't have only Christian displays on government property.  Put yourself in the position of the minority.  If your religion was a minority, how would you feel if your children were taught that they are praying to the wrong god and forced to pray to Horus when they are at school?  How would you feel if people showed up at your door unannounced trying to convince you to come to the temple of Apollo?  Then imagine what is it like for the millions who are not Christians and those that are agnostic/atheists.  How can you claim a religion of peace when you have nothing but hate for those of other religions?


The article goes on and on and I encourage you to read it for yourself, but I have to say that - even as a moderate - I was insulted.  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.  Also feel free to go to the original article and let him know what you think to!  

Great Site for Content Delivery - Schoology

Once again, I have to recommend a great CDS (content delivery system) for your classroom. I've been an online educator for nearly 10 years. I have taught using Desire2Learn, Blackboard, and Moodle. While each of these have positive and negative aspects, I've recently found a website that does EXACTLY what I need it to do and best of all IT IS FREE!!!

That is right! No high costs like Desire2Learn or Blackboard and no server knowledge needed like installing Moodle on your web server. The website I'm talking about is Schoology!

I can design lessons, post assignments, have students submit assignments, do discussion boards, post links, do webquests, take tests and do entire learning modules on Schoology!!! It is one of the best finds EVER. Every teacher should use this.

Once of the best things about it is that it has a social network like feel - very "facebook" like. The kids can customize their profile and it gives them several options. The site is private and kids must sign up for an account and then have to get a code from you to join. I just can't say enough about how much I enjoy this site. Check it out!

The Walking Dead - WOW

What a night!? AMC's The Walking Dead is probably one of the best shows of all time. I didn't know a show could get any better than HBO's True Blood.

WARNING: SPOILERS!

Shane dies. Not only does he die, he turns into a walker first. The initial reaction to these events was complete surprise. I couldn't believe that Shane had done this for the sole purpose of killing Rick. Then it struck me. Perhaps, rather than wanting to kill Rick, he wanted Rick to kill him. Shane knew, after his conversation with Lori by the windmill, that he had no chance with her. He has permanently damaged his relationship with the entire group and just perhaps, Dale's death pushed him over the edge.

The other curious even that has been building over the last few episodes is the fact that now, apparently just dying makes you a walker. I can see where this could lead to some very interesting events. Herschel is pretty old. If he dies while they are all boarded up in the house, will he become a walker among them? Does this mean the pathogen that causes walkers is mutating. If it mutates, what could be the next mutation? Affecting animals? Is sure is an interesting twist.

I've always known I was into TV WAY too much, but after watching an episode of The Walking Dead, you start to put together a plan on how to keep yourself safe in a zombie apocalypse and THAT makes for good TV. When you can get people thinking that walkers could happen, you've probably achieved success. If you haven't been watching The Walking Dead, you are really missing out on good television. What are you waiting for?!

UCCP Open Access

Since I am a Biology teacher and have been for 14 years, lots of people ask me about my favorite site for Biology resources. My first answer is always, "Hey, what about MY site?" (http://www.pisgahscience.com) or "Hey, what about my YouTube channel?" (http://www.youtube.com/pisgahscience)

Of course, I'd love for you to enjoy those sites because, after all, that is the reason I created them. I wanted to make a resource to use with interactive white boards and that was my goal in creating my Biology Online Site (http://pisgahscience.com/bioonline/)

However, I have to say, one of my very favorite Biology websites for a variety of reasons is UCCP Open Access. According to their site:

Welcome to UC College Prep's open resource for students and teachers. This content is brought to you by the University of California and is assembled from UC-approved college prep courses. It is intended as supplemental material only.

Although most of the content of our college prep courses can be accessed here, assessments are not posted. Courses presented in Open Access are not credit-bearing. Credit-bearing courses with assessments may be licensed to California schools directly from UC College Prep.

Please note that there is no enrollment in Open Access courses and no teaching, grades or credit are provided.

The most exciting item on the page is the Biology Section and then Online LABS they offer. Not only are there labs for basic biology, but for AP Biology as well. I've used their materials in nearly all of my classes from basic biology all the way up to my adjunct classes at a community college. The best part is there are other classes on the website BESIDES science! It is definitely work checking out!

Intolerance of Intolerance?

Today I was accused of being intolerant on Facebook. The article I was commenting on involved a recent interview with the famous Christian evangelical Kirk Cameron. In this interview he goes on to say:

"I think that it's unnatural. I think that it's detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."

I posted the link to Facebook with the comment that I can't stand him and wonder how he could be so wrong on so many issues. Now keep in mind that I also take issue with the bad science he and his colleagues keep promoting including misrepresenting the theory of evolution.

A person my friend's list posted the following comment:

And yet, he is entitled to his opinion. If people want tolerance they need to give tolerance. Now, he had a national audience that most people will never have.....and he was cornered into answering those questions.....and he answered with his beliefs

My question to the general audience is, is it ok to be intolerant of intolerance? Personally, I think if a person spreads lies, misinformation, and completely distorts real science then I have the perfectly legitimate right to call BS. If you watch the video, he stumbles around each question he gets asked because I honestly believe even HE knows he is wrong to discriminate. I can honestly say that I am SO glad he is not MY father. And besides, I like Mike Seaver better!

A Little Bit of Everything Else

Welcome to the Blog.

I've toyed many years with starting a blog and in the end it always seemed like something that I WANTED to do, but finding time always seemed to be a problem. Hopefully, now that I've actually started one, I'll do my best to post as much as possible and keep up with the writing.

I think I've always secretly wanted to be a writer, but I've never been very good at writing despite actually writing my own Star Trek series (http://www.stlost.com). Like this blog, it is still a work in progress. I started writing that series in 1986 and so far I have over 100 episodes written. I haven't written anything new in a while because I'm busying "digitizing" those episodes. They are really getting old in the binders I have them in. In either case, it is interesting to go back and look at how the 17 year old Wesley wrote compared to how I would write it now. I'm tweaking certain things, but trying to maintain the idea that was at the heart of the story. It is taking a lot more time that I imagined it would, but it is worth it.

To those that don't know, my partner and I just moved to Maryland from Mississippi. I have to say it has been an awesome move. I love being this close to Washington, DC and I love the new environment. Sometimes I do miss my friends and family in Mississippi, but I get to keep in touch with them with Facebook. It has definitely been an experience for a small town Mississippi boy moving to the big city.

Hopefully, you will enjoy the things I have to say. If not, maybe we can discuss it.

Needless to say, please subscribe and follow the blog. While you are at it, go to my youtube channel . Make sure to favorite, subscribe, and like all my videos!