A friend of the boyfriend sent on this Salt Lake Tribune article, with the comment "I'm actually impressed with something the state of Utah did! Stunning."

Unlike the Kansas School Board, which earlier this summer approved allowing educators to teach theories in addition to evolution that explain life on Earth, the Utah Board of Education on Friday unanimously approved a position statement supporting the continued exclusive teaching of evolution in state classrooms.

So a hearty congratulations are in order for the Utah Board of Education.

Testifying in the cause of science were scientists and teachers from a variety of disciplines; most impressively, faculty from the rival schools at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University put aside their differences to testify in favor of evolution. BYU biology professor Duane Jeffery compared intelligent design to astrology, and U of U bioengineering professor Gregory Clark boiled down the scientists effectively: "Invoking the supernatural can explain anything, and hence explains nothing."

Anyone with a passing familiarity with Utah politics will recognize the gentleman at left, state Senator Christ Buttars, Utah's resident nut-bar and national embarrassment. In an August 8th editorial in USA Today, Buttars informs us that "there has not been any scientific fossil evidence linking apes to man.

"I realize that is a dramatic statement, so to be clear, let me restate: There is zero scientific fossil evidence that demonstrates organic evolutionary linkage between primates and man."

During the fight last year over Utah's anti-gay marriage amendment, Sen. Buttars complained when the Attorney General admitted the amendment could affect common law marriages. Buttars didn't buy such argument because, as he put it, "there is no common law marriage in Utah."

Buttars had previously worked with the same Attorney General, Mark Shurtleff, on SB175, a bill to help corrupt cops steal the property of people without bothering to charge them with a crime first.

Remarkably, Buttars' "what fossils?" remark was topped by Casey Luskin (right) of the Discovery Institute for Science & Culture (official site here, debunking here) who cited SETI as an example of evidence for Intelligent Design. That's right. SETI, as in the radio telescopes searching for signs of extraterrestrial life.

"SETI is an attempt to identify intelligent design in radio signals from outer space, signals with an intelligent origin rather than a natural origin," [Luskin] said. "If we can try to detect intelligent design in signals we receive from outer space, why can't we detect intelligent design in genetic codes we see in biology?"

Ow. As Marvin would say, "My brain!"

Buttars intends to introduce legislation or a ballot initiative to over-rule the school board, and "issue legislation" is a persistent problem in the Utah legislature, so there's no chance we've seen the last of this craziness. For now, though, let's toast a victory for the good guys.

Utah - State law does not recognize mail order or Internet ordinations.
looking for loop holes..

Posted by  Anonymous @ 4:07 PM

 

Hard to see how intelligent design led to the creation "Gilligans Island." Nonetheless, its sad to note the passing of Bob Denver, who portrayed Gilligan. Also Maynard G Krebs, the first hippie character on TV (in "The Many Loves of Dobbie Gillis"). - Sail on Gilligan

Posted by  Anonymous @ 9:25 PM

 

The idea that humans and apes are related is extremely offensive.....to the apes. I can't figure out however what Sen. Buttars is bitching about. - Ape Man in UT

Posted by  Anonymous @ 11:29 AM

 

I support creationism, but Butterball is a nutcase (to use a common term). He uses big government to push his political vendettas and loves to get his name in the paper. He considers himself an expert on everything, especially ID.

Buttars might be the missing link though. He bears a passing resemblance to an aging chimpanzee. Really, compare the jawbone structure and you will see. There is one difference--the chimpanzee is capable of rational thought.

Can't we find any better spokesman than a liberal like Butterball?

Why can't there be a spokesman for ID

Posted by  Anonymous @ 4:06 PM

 

oops continued--Why can't there be a spokesman for ID other than Butterball?

Posted by  Anonymous @ 4:07 PM

 

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