Rand Paul Won’t Say How Old the Earth Is

Wingnuts • Views: 8,075

From PageOneKentucky.com, here’s a video of GOP candidate Rand Paul addressing a convention of Christian homeschoolers, and dodging a question about the age of the Earth.

Youtube Video

The questions asked by the homeschoolers in the video: 1) are you a Christian, 2) how old is the Earth, and 3) will you let the UN take our children. Yep, really. And these are the teachers asking these questions. They’re raising a generation of kids who are ignorant anti-science fanatics, afraid that the United Nations is going to come and kidnap them. Good grief.

Did he dodge the question because he’s a creationist and he knows that he shouldn’t reveal it for political reasons, or because he’s not a creationist and he knows he shouldn’t reveal it for political reasons? Either way, this is very sleazy behavior.

My opinion: I think he probably is a creationist, just like his father Ron Paul, because his world view matches the creationist world view in every respect.

(Hat tip: freetoken.)

Jump to bottom

227 comments
1 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:24:06pm

Come on, Rand…everyone knows the earth is 6,000 years old. One year older than the book of Genesis, which Adam wrote with god’s help.

2 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:24:51pm

Sounds pretty anti-science to me.

3 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:25:08pm

/what does the UN do with all those kids anyway?

4 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:25:57pm

re: #3 brookly red

/what does the UN do with all those kids anyway?

Sells them to atheists for $3.99/lb

5 _RememberTonyC  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:26:26pm

re: #3 brookly red

/what does the UN do with all those kids anyway?

makes them watch soccer

6 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:27:05pm

re: #4 b_sharp

re: #5 _RememberTonyC

I don’t know which is worse…

7 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:27:09pm

re: #3 brookly red

/what does the UN do with all those kids anyway?

Scientific experiments
Youtube Video

8 _RememberTonyC  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:28:27pm

re: #6 brookly red

re: #5 _RememberTonyC

I don’t know which is worse…

making them watch soccer with atheists?

9 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:28:48pm

re: #7 darthstar

Scientific experiments

[Video]

I always was suspicious of kinderwurst…

10 TampaKnight  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:30:49pm

Charles, just so I’m clear- you don’t look down on all home schooling right? My nephew is home schooled for time being (1st grade) because he has severe and fatal food allergies.

If this is a dumb question, I apologize.

11 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:34:15pm

Once again the lunatic spawn of Paul opens his mouth and spews his nonsense, and soon everyone will be ringing the alarm that he “speaks for all Libertarians” even though he is as far from a Libertarian as I am from a nightclub in the Roppongi district. (I live in Pennsylvania, BTW).

12 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:34:33pm

re: #10 TampaKnight

Charles, just so I’m clear- you don’t look down on all home schooling right? My nephew is home schooled for time being (1st grade) because he has severe and fatal food allergies.

If this is a dumb question, I apologize.

If they’re being homeschooled with genuine textbooks that teach real science, I don’t have a problem.

But the vast majority of homeschoolers in America are being taught fanatical religious nonsense, with textbooks from places like Bob Jones University. And that kind of homeschooling I have a really big problem with.

13 Gus  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:34:56pm

You think these people would get a clue already. Ask them how old oil, gas and coal are or how long it took for their formation. Millions of years.

14 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:35:04pm

re: #3 brookly red

/what does the UN do with all those kids anyway?

Teach them how to do nothing and still get public accolades? (Hi-yo!)

15 steve_davis  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:35:11pm

“The Earth was created in 4000 B.C., and the Great Deluge therefore occurred in 2,000 B.C., or thereabouts. This shocked the living hell out of the Egyptians who already had a thriving civilization going at the time. It pissed them off so badly that within a few years of the flood’s having receded, they’d completely rebuilt their civilization and pretended that the whole thing had never happened.”

That would be the proper answer.

16 Professor Chaos  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:36:09pm

There’s nothing wrong with home schooling children if you so choose, but anyone who needs to ask a Senate candidate how old the Earth is or if the UN is going to take their children is clearly unqualified to do so.

17 TampaKnight  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:36:24pm

re: #12 Charles

If they’re being homeschooled with genuine textbooks that teach real science, I don’t have a problem.

But the vast majority of homeschoolers in America are being taught fanatical religious nonsense, with textbooks from places like Bob Jones University. And that kind of homeschooling I have a really big problem with.

He’s going through a webinar course that is ranked very high (and costly) and to my knowledge non-religious. My sister is Catholic but as I do, believes in evolution. I doubt she’d teach him the earth is 6,000 years old, or let anyone else.

18 Summer Seale  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:36:39pm

re: #10 TampaKnight

Charles, just so I’m clear- you don’t look down on all home schooling right? My nephew is home schooled for time being (1st grade) because he has severe and fatal food allergies.

If this is a dumb question, I apologize.

I’m not Charles, but I’m not against homeschooling in certain cases. I just think that homeschooling kids to teach them fundamentalist creation tripe and other anti-science crap is a really, really, bad idea.

Home schooling for legitimate reasons and not extremist religious ones isn’t something I can disagree with. There are exceptions to every rule, regardless. And lots of kids grow up home schooled with fine educations - when they’re given fine educations and not extremist and anti-scientific lesson plans.

19 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:36:42pm

re: #12 Charles

If they’re being homeschooled with genuine textbooks that teach real science, I don’t have a problem.

But the vast majority of homeschoolers in America are being taught fanatical religious nonsense, with textbooks from places like Bob Jones University. And that kind of homeschooling I have a really big problem with.

I agree with you fully that there is a problem if the kids are being taught lies and junk science, but how do you know that it’s the “vast majority” of homeschoolers that are being improperly educated? Where did you get this information.

20 zora  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:36:48pm

re: #13 Gus 802

and just where did you get this figure from? satan? ( in the church lady voice)
/

21 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:37:05pm

re: #13 Gus 802

You think these people would get a clue already. Ask them how old oil, gas and coal are or how long it took for their formation. Millions of years.

gwad I am old… I remember the Superman show episode where he squeezed a lump of coal into a diamond.

22 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:37:05pm

re: #15 steve_davis

“The Earth was created in 4000 B.C., and the Great Deluge therefore occurred in 2,000 B.C., or thereabouts. This shocked the living hell out of the Egyptians who already had a thriving civilization going at the time. It pissed them off so badly that within a few years of the flood’s having receded, they’d completely rebuilt their civilization and pretended that the whole thing had never happened.”

That would be the proper answer.

Fortunately for the Egyptians, the only people on the Ark were Jews, so they had a steady labor supply to help them rebuild their civilization…then the frogs came and everything went to shit.

23 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:37:19pm

re: #10 TampaKnight

Charles, just so I’m clear- you don’t look down on all home schooling right? My nephew is home schooled for time being (1st grade) because he has severe and fatal food allergies.

If this is a dumb question, I apologize.

Spacejesus is the only one who’s showed an in principle objection with homeschooling.

24 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:37:44pm

re: #13 Gus 802

You think these people would get a clue already. Ask them how old oil, gas and coal are or how long it took for their formation. Millions of years.

Made in place.

They have all sorts of ‘experiments’ that show everything from fossils to the Grand Canyon can be made in mere decades or at most centuries.

25 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:38:03pm

re: #10 TampaKnight

Charles, just so I’m clear- you don’t look down on all home schooling right? My nephew is home schooled for time being (1st grade) because he has severe and fatal food allergies.

If this is a dumb question, I apologize.

It’s the Christian anti-science paranoid tribalist home-schooler monoculture which is the problem. I knew a couple of mega-geek homeschooled kids, with parents who had masters degrees, and who weren’t homeschooling because of religious tribal convictions or to protect their kids from secular culture or whatever, it was because they were brilliant and they wanted their kids to be brilliant. And sure enough, they were programming computers (in the days of Apple IIs and commodore Vic-20s) before their peers were using computers.

26 TampaKnight  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:38:09pm

Totally different topic, but food allergies including peanut allergies need much more awareness. And compassion. My sister reads horror stories daily about people on planes who request a “buffer zone” to not eat fucking peanuts, and some asshole passenger refuses.

27 Ryan King  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:38:30pm

The earth is 6013 years old. What’s the big deal?

28 Spare O'Lake  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:38:55pm

Why did the very real distinction between YEC’s and other creationists get dropped? I would be obliged if someone could please recap that for me because I always thought it was a useful distinction for those who wished to reconcile this aspect of faith with science.
Ooops, never mind, I think I just answered my own question.

29 Irenicum  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:38:59pm

I used to work in a Christian retail bookstore and we sold quite a bit of homeschooling material and it’s not just the science that’s bad, but the history textbooks are absolutely abysmal. There are good materials out for homeschooling parents, but you have to look really hard to find good science and good history material.

30 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:39:09pm

re: #26 TampaKnight

Totally different topic, but food allergies including peanut allergies need much more awareness. And compassion. My sister reads horror stories daily about people on planes who request a “buffer zone” to not eat fucking peanuts, and some asshole passenger refuses.

I’ll put down the peanuts if they let me light up… (sounds like a fair trade)

31 lawhawk  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:39:18pm

re: #26 TampaKnight

Some airlines are actually giving up distributing nuts for that very reason - to avoid any kind of allergic reactions among nearby passengers.

32 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:39:49pm

re: #23 Dark_Falcon

Spacejesus is the only one who’s showed an in principle objection with homeschooling.

I’m fine with it as long as it’s not anti-science and the parents have the ability.

33 TampaKnight  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:40:03pm

re: #31 lawhawk

Some airlines are actually giving up distributing nuts for that very reason - to avoid any kind of allergic reactions among nearby passengers.

And thank God! 100 people opening a bag of peanuts in a pressurized cabin can kill someone with allergies.

34 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:40:10pm

re: #29 Irenicum

I used to work in a Christian retail bookstore and we sold quite a bit of homeschooling material and it’s not just the science that’s bad, but the history textbooks are absolutely abysmal. There are good materials out for homeschooling parents, but you have to look really hard to find good science and good history material.

There needs to be some system in place where homeschool parents can have easy access to the textbooks and resources companies provide to accredited schools.

35 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:40:14pm

re: #27 BigPapa

The earth is 6013 years old. What’s the big deal?

I have underwear older than that.

36 TampaKnight  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:40:41pm

The real “bitch” is that my nephew loves baseball but can’t attend a Rays game because peanuts are a staple at ball games.

37 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:41:08pm

re: #35 b_sharp

I have underwear older than that on right now.


ftfy

38 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:41:38pm

re: #36 TampaKnight

The real “bitch” is that my nephew loves baseball but can’t attend a Rays game because peanuts are a staple at ball games.

The 7th inning stretch can be a killer.

39 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:41:47pm

re: #34 pharmmajor

There needs to be some system in place where homeschool parents can have easy access to the textbooks and resources companies provide to accredited schools.

Problem is, if you’re home schooling for reactionary Christian reasons, you want the opposite of accredited material. Attacking accredited material is the very reason for homeschooling in the first place.

40 lawhawk  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:42:28pm

As bad as public schools can be around the country, there’s no excuse to peddle pseudo-science and creationist babble on science. You are doing these kids such a tremendous disservice that it will put them at a disadvantage in school. It goes against fundamental scientific principles - physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, etc.

If such a significant portion of the population goes and buys into this, it puts the entire nation at a competitive disadvantage and regions where this is more prevalent at an even greater disadvantage when it comes to tech jobs and other industries that rely on such scientific principles.

41 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:42:47pm

re: #39 WindUpBird

Problem is, if you’re home schooling for reactionary Christian reasons, you want the opposite of accredited material. Attacking accredited material is the very reason for homeschooling in the first place.

Witness the Texas education board. it’s like reactionary homeschoolers wagging the dog, inflicting their crazy on the entire state.

42 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:43:01pm

re: #39 WindUpBird

Problem is, if you’re home schooling for reactionary Christian reasons, you want the opposite of accredited material. Attacking accredited material is the very reason for homeschooling in the first place.

I think you’re mistaken on that. Some homeschoolers want to give their children a proper education that they think they can provide in a better manner than a public school. not all homeschoolers are rabid religious nuts.

43 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:43:03pm

re: #37 darthstar

ftfy

Have you been talking to my wife again?

44 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:43:19pm

How do homeschoolers do when it comes to getting into college?

45 TampaKnight  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:43:29pm

re: #39 WindUpBird

Problem is, if you’re home schooling for reactionary Christian reasons, you want the opposite of accredited material. Attacking accredited material is the very reason for homeschooling in the first place.

The very reason? I’m pretty sure I just gave you a reason that my nephew is home schooled, and it has nothing to do with discrediting anything. My sister is a nurse practitioner who was offered a job at the CDC. Her life is science.

Can you stop with the bullshit lies?

46 Irenicum  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:44:02pm

re: #44 JasonA

On average quite well.

47 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:44:46pm

Oh, dear…Montana feeling left out by the idiotic behavior of Texas, Alabama, Arizona, etc…

towleroad.com

Not a good time to take my dog to Montana…he’s a humper (male white labs are his favorite).

48 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:45:24pm

re: #45 TampaKnight

The very reason? I’m pretty sure I just gave you a reason that my nephew is home schooled, and it has nothing to do with discrediting anything. My sister is a nurse practitioner who was offered a job at the CDC. Her life is science.

Can you stop with the bullshit lies?

I don’t think he will; for some people bullshit lies are all they have to cling on to their foolish beliefs. What a coincidence this is being brought up in a thread about people clinging to foolish beliefs.

49 Ryan King  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:45:26pm

re: #40 lawhawk


If such a significant portion of the population goes and buys into this, it puts the entire nation at a competitive disadvantage and regions where this is more prevalent at an even greater disadvantage when it comes to tech jobs and other industries that rely on such scientific principles.

No problem. Question ‘heritage’ and the ‘American experiences’ of those other educated peoples. Ignorance of one kind easily fits in with the others.

50 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:45:51pm

If I did have kids I would homeschool. I don’t think public education is rigorous enough in any aspect: Math, science even the arts are not taught properly and with enough intensity. We, as a culture, expect far too little from out children.

However, much of the homeschooling movement is driven by people who want to raise their children without the influence of modern American society. That’s just plain bad for our future as a country.

51 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:46:07pm

re: #32 WindUpBird

I’m fine with it as long as it’s not anti-science and the parents have the ability.

Quite Concur.

52 Irenicum  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:46:10pm

If I had gotten married and had kids I would have probably homeschooled my kids, not because of some fear of the outside secular world, but just because I wasn’t at all satisfied with the public school system in NYC.

53 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:46:10pm

re: #42 pharmmajor

I think you’re mistaken on that. Some homeschoolers want to give their children a proper education that they think they can provide in a better manner than a public school. not all homeschoolers are rabid religious nuts.

I just said above I *knew* nerdy secular homeschooled kids growing up. :)

My comments are directed at people who are homeschooling for cultural reasons, people who don’t just think they can do better, but who disagree with the science being taught. Very critical distinction here!

And some homeschoolers believe that rejecting science IS providing education in a better manner. And they’re being reinforced in their beliefs by an entire political movement, and an entire cottage industry. I can turn on the TV any hour, day or night, and find a religious channel that is pushing young earth creationism. There’s an entire stream of it in our country, an entire culture.

54 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:46:16pm

re: #33 TampaKnight

And thank God! 100 people opening a bag of peanuts in a pressurized cabin can kill someone with allergies.

Has there ever been a case of an airline passenger dying from exposure to peanut vapor?

55 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:46:36pm

re: #44 JasonA

How do homeschoolers do when it comes to getting into college?

Grandma U has pretty loose administration requirements.
///

Xian homeschoolers go to Liberty University, where they finish reading the same book they have been studying since they were five.

Secular homeschoolers do quite well on the SATs and can get into college rather easily. Don’t have any numbers on this…only friends.

56 Gus  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:46:41pm

Had to stop at the parental rights amendment question. He managed to throw in the usual UN conspiracies in his answer.

57 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:46:59pm

re: #45 TampaKnight

The very reason? I’m pretty sure I just gave you a reason that my nephew is home schooled, and it has nothing to do with discrediting anything. My sister is a nurse practitioner who was offered a job at the CDC. Her life is science.

Dude, I just posted that I KNEW HOMESCHOOLED KIDS GROWING UP

Please read all my posts, not just the one out of context that makes you a grumpus 9_9

58 Spare O'Lake  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:47:36pm

It would be the rare parent indeed who would have the education, skills and disposition to provide excellent home schooling to their own child past about Grade 3. IMO.

59 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:47:41pm

BTW, how does this fuckwad expect to win elections when he can’t answer a simple question from a 8th grade science test because it’s too complicated. Just image what the MSM (with the exception of Fox) would ask him.

60 KingKenrod  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:47:52pm

re: #44 JasonA

How do homeschoolers do when it comes to getting into college?

I’ve always read they do quite well, but it seems to me many kids are home schooled in tightly controlled religious circles and would be under-counted in any survey.

61 TampaKnight  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:47:56pm

re: #57 WindUpBird

When you make blanket statements like “the very reason”, I tend to respond to what you write.

And your last statement is absolutely idiotic. That’s like a racist saying “But I have 2 black friends!”

62 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:48:37pm

re: #59 Killgore Trout

BTW, how does this fuckwad expect to win elections when he can’t answer a simple question from a 8th grade science test because it’s too complicated. Just image what the MSM (with the exception of Fox) would ask him.

Oh, the dreaded “What newspapers do you read?” question!

63 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:48:41pm

re: #53 WindUpBird

I just said above I *knew* nerdy secular homeschooled kids growing up. :)

My comments are directed at people who are homeschooling for cultural reasons, people who don’t just think they can do better, but who disagree with the science being taught. Very critical distinction here!

And some homeschoolers believe that rejecting science IS providing education in a better manner. And they’re being reinforced in their beliefs by an entire political movement, and an entire cottage industry. I can turn on the TV any hour, day or night, and find a religious channel that is pushing young earth creationism. There’s an entire stream of it in our country, an entire culture.

I’m sorry, but I didn’t see that distinction being made. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

64 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:49:19pm

re: #48 pharmmajor

I don’t think he will; for some people bullshit lies are all they have to cling on to their foolish beliefs. What a coincidence this is being brought up in a thread about people clinging to foolish beliefs.

It’s like you guys are reading every third word I write, then playing refrigerator poetry with the results until you come up with something that resembles nothing whatsoever that I believe.

Which you know, do whatever you want! Claim that I’m the Wendigo if you want. But I’ve made myself clear, that I’m opposed to YEC/anti-science homeschooling, which is its own culture with its own industry, and it’s your job to read what I’m writing.

65 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:49:25pm

re: #62 JasonA

Oh, the dreaded “What newspapers do you read?” question!

Oh the humanity!

66 Racer X  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:49:26pm

re: #59 Killgore Trout

BTW, how does this fuckwad expect to win elections when he can’t answer a simple question from a 8th grade science test because it’s too complicated. Just image what the MSM (with the exception of Fox) would ask him.

Heh. Politicians should be forced to go on “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader” as part of the election process.

67 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:50:06pm

re: #60 KingKenrod

I’ve always read they do quite well, but it seems to me many kids are home schooled in tightly controlled religious circles and would be under-counted in any survey.

I tried to date a fairly devout Xian gal in my senior year of high school. When I told her father about my college plans, he said, “She won’t have to worry about that. She’ll marry a local boy and have a family.” That was the end of my interest in her, though I did wish her well.

68 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:50:09pm

re: #59 Killgore Trout

BTW, how does this fuckwad expect to win elections when he can’t answer a simple question from a 8th grade science test because it’s too complicated. Just image what the MSM (with the exception of Fox) would ask him.

It’s Kentucky. He has a very good chance of being elected no matter how crazy he is.

69 Irenicum  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:50:09pm

re: #55 darthstar

Actually I knew quite a few Christian homeschoolers who got accepted to good secular state schools in Michigan.

70 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:50:09pm

re: #61 TampaKnight

When you make blanket statements like “the very reason”, I tend to respond to what you write.

And your last statement is absolutely idiotic. That’s like a racist saying “But I have 2 black friends!”

I think he was trying to say he has personal experience with how well home schooled people can do as long as they aren’t taught creationist facts.

71 Just never mind.  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:50:28pm

re: #50 Killgore Trout

Exactly why my Sister has homeschooled her 4 kids. They’ve entered High School in public schools, and done very well.

72 Racer X  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:50:33pm

re: #64 WindUpBird

Heh. Use a broad brush, get smacked with a broad brush.

73 Bubblehead II  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:50:58pm

Well my brain cells are burning out. Coming up on 24 hrs being awake. The only thing I have to comment on about this very painful video is, that like his Father, Rand Paul is a media whore who will say anything to his his followers (or their Children) to score a point. That said. Lizards, may you all have a good night.

We are so F**king screwed.

74 Just never mind.  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:51:13pm

re: #58 Spare O’Lake

Not true, at ALL. IMHO, and experience.

75 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:51:15pm

re: #68 Charles

It’s Kentucky. He has a very good chance of being elected no matter how crazy he is.

Unless the Kentucky Libertarian Party can run a sane candidate against Paul and the Democratic nominee.

BTW, please don’t disparage all of Kentucky just because of a couple of loons.

76 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:51:58pm

re: #58 Spare O’Lake

It would be the rare parent indeed who would have the education, skills and disposition to provide excellent home schooling to their own child past about Grade 3. IMO.

I think a parent with a masters’ degree and the time can do just fine. Which may indeed be rare, I don’t know. I couldn’t teach my hypothetical kid calc, but I could certainly do algebra, I could do high school lit, and I could definitely teach collegiate art, hah. Just don’t ask me to teach wood shop, I still have scars o_o

77 Racer X  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:52:00pm

Krazy Gun Guy Karaoke

Youtube Video

Truly, odd.

78 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:52:08pm

re: #72 Racer X

Heh. Use a broad brush, get smacked with a broad brush.

The point is, WUB tried to narrow the brush substantially.

79 Jaerik  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:52:32pm

I wonder what the reckoning will be for this generation of creationist home-schooled kids once they grow up and hit the increasingly international labor market. Their possibilities for professional success are going to be increasingly hampered. It’s almost impossible to get a higher-paying job these days without critical thinking skills, some passing acceptance of basic scientific facts, etc.

Oh well. Could always run for Congress I guess.

80 Racer X  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:53:15pm

re: #78 b_sharp

The point is, WUB tried to narrow the brush substantially.

Lesson learned: use a smaller brush.

81 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:53:16pm

re: #59 Killgore Trout

BTW, how does this fuckwad expect to win elections when he can’t answer a simple question from a 8th grade science test because it’s too complicated. Just image what the MSM (with the exception of Fox) would ask him.

He likely intends to avoid them, and Kentucky is conservative enough that it might work. Besides, even if he got asked the same question by a reporter, what could an opponent do with his answer. The worst they could do is call him a creationist. The problem is that in the Bluegrass State such an accusation would most likely rebound against the person who made. They’d be branded as a Darwinist (as if that’s a bad thing to be when it comes to science) and then attacked as the enemy of Christianity.

82 Boogberg  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:53:35pm

I didn’t see anything too controversial in this particular video. He actually defended the separation of church and state.

83 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:53:43pm

re: #79 Jaerik

I wonder what the reckoning will be for this generation of creationist home-schooled kids once they grow up and hit the increasingly international labor market. Their possibilities for professional success are going to be increasingly hampered. It’s almost impossible to get a higher-paying job these days without critical thinking skills, some passing acceptance of basic scientific facts, etc.

Oh well. Could always run for Congress I guess.

If the anti-Science nuts do take such high power, then overthrowing the government will be the only solution.

84 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:54:04pm

And … Rand Paul and his father Ron Paul have done a very good job of crossing party lines, and appealing to those who agree with his libertarian positions on both the right and left, but are too lazy and/or stupid to learn what they actually believe and espouse. Even Dave Weigel, who’s otherwise a pretty smart guy, voted for Ron Paul and constantly makes excuses for Rand Paul.

This kind of insanity is going to get a lot worse before it gets better (if it ever does get better).

85 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:54:11pm

re: #82 Boogberg

I didn’t see anything too controversial in this particular video. He actually defended the separation of church and state.

You have to look for the subtext.

86 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:54:38pm

re: #72 Racer X

Heh. Use a broad brush, get smacked with a broad brush.

Only I wasn’t using a broad brush at all, I was making myself clear about a very specific culture of homeschooling that is reactionary, and I’m getting dipshit pushback on things I never ever actually said, that are actually pretty much exactly in line with Charles’ opinions.

More examples of the conservatives picking on the liberal who agrees with Charles because there’s no guts, wheee!

87 SpaceJesus  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:54:41pm

this is why the second people my age hear, “so and so is or was homeschooled” it’s always followed by “oh, that’s why she or she is so weird”

88 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:54:59pm

re: #83 pharmmajor

I am thinking not so much.

89 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:54:59pm

re: #78 b_sharp

The point is, WUB tried to narrow the brush substantially.

Man, I wish people would read what I write sometimes :D

90 SpaceJesus  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:55:04pm

*he

91 Spare O'Lake  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:55:08pm

re: #74 Floral Giraffe

Not true, at ALL. IMHO, and experience.

I doff my cap to you. You must be one of the very rare ones I was referring to.

92 Just never mind.  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:55:21pm

re: #76 WindUpBird

With good curriculum workbooks, and teachers books, you could teach anything you had learned in the past.

93 What, me worry?  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:55:21pm

re: #29 Irenicum

I used to work in a Christian retail bookstore and we sold quite a bit of homeschooling material and it’s not just the science that’s bad, but the history textbooks are absolutely abysmal. There are good materials out for homeschooling parents, but you have to look really hard to find good science and good history material.

When my g/f homeschooled her 2nd child, the only material she could get was from Christian book outlets. This was in the late 80’s, early 90’s. She was ok with the majority of the curriculum. In fact, she said it was quite good, but whatever she saw was religious, she skipped over. I’ll have to ask her about that again.

94 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:55:22pm

re: #88 brookly red

I am thinking not so much.

Okay, then when should we start the revolution?

95 zora  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:55:26pm

re: #58 Spare O’Lake

i’ve seen it done, and well. lots of home schooled kids in my area belong to coops for the very reason you mention. there are some subjects where a parent is lacking. that’s where other parents step in with lesson plans and instruction for groups of kids at a time. local museums, science centers, and libraries have programs for home-schooled kids as well . it’s a lot of work that these parents do and it is unfortunately diminished by those whose children would better be classified as “unschooled” instead of home-schooled.

96 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:56:24pm

re: #87 spacejesus

this is why the second people my age hear, “so and so is or was homeschooled” it’s always followed by “oh, that’s why she or she is so weird”

hahaha it is true, my homeschooled friends were a little weird, but they were weird in the listen-to-a-lot-of-Weird-Al and enter-national-lego-building-competitions weird.

And now one of them is an architect, and the other I lost track of, but in college he had a double major (computer science and something I don’t remember) and was still a gigantic megabrain

97 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:56:32pm

re: #92 Floral Giraffe

With good curriculum workbooks, and teachers books, you could teach anything you had learned in the past.

yep!

98 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:56:44pm

re: #89 WindUpBird

Man, I wish people would read what I write sometimes :D

It would be different.

99 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:56:57pm

re: #94 pharmmajor

what is this we you speak of?

100 What, me worry?  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:57:15pm

re: #40 lawhawk

As bad as public schools can be around the country, there’s no excuse to peddle pseudo-science and creationist babble on science. You are doing these kids such a tremendous disservice that it will put them at a disadvantage in school. It goes against fundamental scientific principles - physics, chemistry, biology, genetics, etc.

If such a significant portion of the population goes and buys into this, it puts the entire nation at a competitive disadvantage and regions where this is more prevalent at an even greater disadvantage when it comes to tech jobs and other industries that rely on such scientific principles.

Absolutely.

Poor Rand is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He knows now that everyone is listening to his every word. He doesn’t know what to say.

At this point, Rand is as much of a contender as Gary Hart.

101 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:57:20pm

re: #92 Floral Giraffe

With good curriculum workbooks, and teachers books, you could teach anything you had learned in the past.

I never really learned Calc. I passed Calc…but I learned nothing. I was lucky to escape with my life.

I suppose I could teach the skill of passing a class through total bullshit :D

102 rwdflynavy  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:57:23pm

re: #87 spacejesus

this is why the second people my age hear, “so and so is or was homeschooled” it’s always followed by “oh, that’s why she or she is so weird”

I think Jesus was home-schooled. Hmmmm…..

103 freetoken  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:57:36pm

re: #50 Killgore Trout

We, as a culture, expect far too little from out children.

Amen.

I think homeschooling would be preferable for some children, whether especially fast learners or those who need (for emotional or mental reasons) more hands on with an adult. At least up to a certain age.

Anyway, you make a good point out of expecting more from children.

In the current homeschooling movement what I fear is that homeschooling is becoming a sort of anti-social movement, with the very religious fundamentalists becoming increasingly cultic and withdrawn from the mainstream of society. And I’m very wary that tax money will someday be allocated which could further that.

104 Boogberg  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:57:53pm

re: #85 pharmmajor

You have to look for the subtext.

Ok. Let’s look at it.

105 What, me worry?  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:57:56pm

re: #102 rwdflynavy

I think Jesus was home-schooled. Hmmm…

He probably went to a Yeshiva actually.

106 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:58:20pm

re: #75 pharmmajor

BTW, please don’t disparage all of Kentucky just because of a couple of loons.

I’m not disparaging “all of Kentucky.” But Rand Paul won the GOP nomination in Kentucky, despite his long record of insane positions.

107 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:58:30pm

back to the grind, anyone who has a problem with my opinions about homeschooling, I implore them to hit control-F on their browser and type Windup in the little box and read all my comments on this thread

108 SpaceJesus  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:58:49pm

re: #96 WindUpBird


the most outstanding one i’ve met is a guy who is a few years older than i am (we used to be roommates) and was really brilliant in chemistry. unfortunately the only reason he wanted to learn chemistry was to build explosives and use them on live animals he caught.

109 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:58:58pm

re: #77 Racer X

Krazy Gun Guy Karaoke


[Video]Truly, odd.

Mmm, a Barret Light 50. Great weapon.

110 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:59:14pm

re: #75 pharmmajor

Unless the Kentucky Libertarian Party can run a sane candidate against Paul and the Democratic nominee.

BTW, please don’t disparage all of Kentucky just because of a couple of loons.

Are we allowed to disparage Republican voters who vote for Rand Paul? Because they’re voting for that crazy!

111 rwdflynavy  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:59:16pm

re: #105 marjoriemoon

He probably went to a Yeshiva actually.

So Space Jesus was educated in a Space-Yeshiva?
//

112 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 6:59:47pm

re: #26 TampaKnight

Totally different topic, but food allergies including peanut allergies need much more awareness. And compassion. My sister reads horror stories daily about people on planes who request a “buffer zone” to not eat fucking peanuts, and some asshole passenger refuses.

People can be really, clueless. As though nut allergies were just something people did to attract attention, or out of superstition. “Come on! Have a bag of honey-roasted! I’m sure you won’t really go into anaphylactic shock! That’s a myth!”

113 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:00:10pm

re: #108 spacejesus

the most outstanding one i’ve met is a guy who is a few years older than i am (we used to be roommates) and was really brilliant in chemistry. unfortunately the only reason he wanted to learn chemistry was to build explosives and use them on live animals he caught.

Holy crap o_o

114 Charles Johnson  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:00:11pm

And I am not the only one who’s trying to point this out: Rand Paul has long history of controversial views.

115 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:00:11pm

re: #102 rwdflynavy

I think Jesus was home-schooled. Hmmm…

No, He was professionally trained. I should know, He built my hot-rod.

116 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:00:14pm

re: #27 BigPapa

The earth is 6013 years old. What’s the big deal?

Always has been! Always will be!

117 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:00:51pm

re: #29 Irenicum

I used to work in a Christian retail bookstore and we sold quite a bit of homeschooling material and it’s not just the science that’s bad, but the history textbooks are absolutely abysmal. There are good materials out for homeschooling parents, but you have to look really hard to find good science and good history material.

If I were to homeschool, I think I’d probably just use the textbooks the local Catholic school uses, except for religion of course.

118 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:01:02pm

re: #103 freetoken

Amen.

I think homeschooling would be preferable for some children, whether especially fast learners or those who need (for emotional or mental reasons) more hands on with an adult. At least up to a certain age.

Anyway, you make a good point out of expecting more from children.

In the current homeschooling movement what I fear is that homeschooling is becoming a sort of anti-social movement, with the very religious fundamentalists becoming increasingly cultic and withdrawn from the mainstream of society. And I’m very wary that tax money will someday be allocated which could further that.

In a class where the slowest, or even the median determines the speed of learning, the brighter ones can end up bored out of their minds and cease listening to the teacher.

119 What, me worry?  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:01:02pm

re: #111 rwdflynavy

So Space Jesus was educated in a Space-Yeshiva?
//

Yes, Jews in space. They’re sailing along to save the human race!

120 Spare O'Lake  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:01:05pm

re: #95 zora

i’ve seen it done, and well. lots of home schooled kids in my area belong to coops for the very reason you mention. there are some subjects where a parent is lacking. that’s where other parents step in with lesson plans and instruction for groups of kids at a time. local museums, science centers, and libraries have programs for home-schooled kids as well . it’s a lot of work that these parents do and it is unfortunately diminished by those whose children would better be classified as “unschooled” instead of home-schooled.

That sounds more like like a small private school than home schooling, which I guess makes a lot of sense if you’re going to do it.

121 pharmmajor  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:01:22pm

re: #110 WindUpBird

Are we allowed to disparage Republican voters who vote for Rand Paul? Because they’re voting for that crazy!

Go right ahead.

122 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:01:58pm

re: #36 TampaKnight

The real “bitch” is that my nephew loves baseball but can’t attend a Rays game because peanuts are a staple at ball games.

Huh. I wonder if they’d be willing to do a ‘no peanuts’ fundraiser day for kids with allergies. Or is the stuff just soaked so deep into the ballpark that nothing will help?

123 Irenicum  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:01:59pm

re: #119 marjoriemoon

Why do I have an image of Mel Brooks suddenly in my head?

124 HoosierHoops  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:02:13pm

re: #106 Charles

I’m not disparaging “all of Kentucky.” But Rand Paul won the GOP nomination in Kentucky, despite his long record of insane positions.

I’d hate to disparage the good people of Kentucky..
But I can drive for 90 minutes south and hang out in a church speaking tongues and handling rattlesnakes on Sunday…

125 reine.de.tout  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:03:16pm

re: #110 WindUpBird

Are we allowed to disparage Republican voters who vote for Rand Paul? Because they’re voting for that crazy!

What do we do with any Democrats or Independents who vote for Rand Paul?
they get a pass?

Why don’t we just disparage any voters in general who vote for Rand Paul?

126 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:03:24pm

re: #45 TampaKnight

The very reason? I’m pretty sure I just gave you a reason that my nephew is home schooled, and it has nothing to do with discrediting anything. My sister is a nurse practitioner who was offered a job at the CDC. Her life is science.

Can you stop with the bullshit lies?

“…if you’re homeschooling for reactionary Christian reasons…”

127 freetoken  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:03:25pm

Here’s another thing that is so ironic. In this little game of dodgeball that Paul is playing he is acting like the usual politician.

And yet the Tea Partiers, who back Paul, keep screaming about how bad politicians in DC are, etc.

The dissonance is overwhelming.

128 teleskiguy  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:04:04pm

[Reposted from a while back, something about Alabama’s Governor Race]

Me no believe in evolution. Me think evolution Communist idea. Me go find woman now, make little me.
/≈∞

129 Irenicum  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:04:09pm

re: #127 freetoken

That’s an excellent point!

130 Killgore Trout  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:04:41pm

re: #68 Charles

It’s Kentucky. He has a very good chance of being elected no matter how crazy he is.

Good point.

131 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:04:42pm

re: #108 spacejesus

the most outstanding one i’ve met is a guy who is a few years older than i am (we used to be roommates) and was really brilliant in chemistry. unfortunately the only reason he wanted to learn chemistry was to build explosives and use them on live animals he caught.

That’s someone to stay away from. Someone like that is liable to commit murder sooner or later.

132 Spare O'Lake  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:05:08pm

re: #107 WindUpBird

back to the grind, anyone who has a problem with my opinions about homeschooling, I implore them to hit control-F on their browser and type Windup in the little box and read all my comments on this thread

No way I’m gonna fall for that Control-F trick…nice try, though.

133 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:07:47pm

re: #122 SanFranciscoZionist

Huh. I wonder if they’d be willing to do a ‘no peanuts’ fundraiser day for kids with allergies. Or is the stuff just soaked so deep into the ballpark that nothing will help?

I think powerwashing a part of the park would do it. The problem is that the peanuts are part of the baseball culture and trying to do all it would take to accommodate someone with a severe nut allergy would alienate more people than it would win over.

134 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:08:31pm

re: #132 Spare O’Lake

No way I’m gonna fall for that Control-F trick…nice try, though.

I fell for it and it formatted my brain’s boot partition.

135 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:08:32pm

re: #101 WindUpBird

I never really learned Calc. I passed Calc…but I learned nothing. I was lucky to escape with my life.

I suppose I could teach the skill of passing a class through total bullshit :D

I do try to make that part of the curriculum when I teach high schoolers.

“For God’s sake, child, don’t write “IDK”. Pad! Prevaricate! Gamble that I’ll get to your paper late at night when my husband is wandering naked through the living room for the third time!”

136 SteveMcGazi  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:08:54pm

I was playing golf with an old guy in Virginia this weekend. While we were waiting we were looking at some kids playing soccer, and he said to me “There’s something Communist in that game.” Huh? “Well, they all play with one ball.” It was either him or the drunken waitress in the other cart. She was carrying two six packs and kept getting peppermint schnapps from the beer cart. At one point she was smoking a cigarette AND a cigar. So he was the conversation of choice.

137 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:09:47pm

re: #135 SanFranciscoZionist

I do try to make that part of the curriculum when I teach high schoolers.

“For God’s sake, child, don’t write “IDK”. Pad! Prevaricate! Gamble that I’ll get to your paper late at night when my husband is wandering naked through the living room for the third time!”

After the second time you should probably consider that he might be trying to tell you something…

138 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:10:33pm

re: #102 rwdflynavy

I think Jesus was home-schooled. Hmmm…

Probably not, actually. At least as a small boy he would have attended school. Learned a trade at home, most likely.

My mother was having some chat with some random woman who informed her that all the founding fathers were homeschooled. Not true at all.

139 Aceofwhat?  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:11:29pm

re: #75 pharmmajor

Unless the Kentucky Libertarian Party can run a sane candidate against Paul and the Democratic nominee.

BTW, please don’t disparage all of Kentucky just because of a couple of loons.

Can i disparage Kentucky because i lived in Cincinnati for a bit?

/half

140 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:11:32pm

re: #138 SanFranciscoZionist

Probably not, actually. At least as a small boy he would have attended school. Learned a trade at home, most likely.

My mother was having some chat with some random woman who informed her that all the founding fathers were homeschooled. Not true at all.

That’s okay as long as you realize they were all fierce Christians…

141 Boogberg  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:12:09pm

How many Kentucky lizards do we have? Raise your hands.

142 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:12:42pm

re: #141 Boogberg

How many Kentucky lizards do we have? Raise your hands.

I would, but my sister’s holding it right now.
//

143 Spare O'Lake  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:12:52pm

re: #135 SanFranciscoZionist

I do try to make that part of the curriculum when I teach high schoolers.

“For God’s sake, child, don’t write “IDK”. Pad! Prevaricate! Gamble that I’ll get to your paper late at night when my husband is wandering naked through the living room for the third time!”

Just flunk the little fuckers and come to bed already!

144 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:13:12pm

re: #141 Boogberg

How many Kentucky lizards do we have? Raise your hands.

I flew over it a few times?

145 Political Atheist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:13:21pm

Paging Stanley Sea, Paging Stanley Sea…

re: #125 reine.de.tout

The prints are in!

146 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:13:48pm

re: #111 rwdflynavy

So Space Jesus was educated in a Space-Yeshiva?
//

I took a class once from a charming old German Jewish professor who was the world’s worst name-dropper. He’d been buddies with Franco Zeffirelli, and apparently when Zeffirelli was filming “Jesus of Nazareth”, he called my prof up to ask him to come and help out with the bar mitzvah scene. Professor hopped on a plane immediately, and didn’t mention that the bar mitzvah, per se, is a medieval custom, until he was off the plane in Rome.

Anyway, they have the whole thing set up, and the boy playing the teenage Christ starts to read, stumbles, stops, and Zeffirelli screams “CUT!” and looks mightily upset.

Professor, trying to calm things down, says, “Now, now, Franco, every Jewish boy stumbles over his bar mitzvah portion.”

Zeffirelli glares at him and shoots back, “Not the Son of God!”

147 zora  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:13:53pm

re: #114 Charles

And I am not the only one who’s trying to point this out: Rand Paul has long history of controversial views.

He has branded President George W. Bush’s faith-based initiatives “a horrible mistake,” condemned torture of terror suspects, called for cutting the defense budget and defended his father’s proposal to reduce the number of U.S. military bases overseas.

this alone could win the election for any democrat that deserves to win. the democrat will get a chance to be the hawk and the real christian. i would bet that most kentuckians (if that’s what they’re called) support faith based initiatives.

148 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:14:09pm

re: #102 rwdflynavy

I think Jesus was home-schooled. Hmmm…

He spent a lot of time in shul.

149 Gus  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:14:20pm

I know one thing. When I reached a certain age on or about 7th grade I was glad to be in school and away from the folks. I love my parents but I couldn’t imagine being a teenager and having to be around one of them all day long.

150 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:14:34pm

re: #140 JasonA

That’s okay as long as you realize they were all fierce Christians…

…. who regularly smoked weed and patronized brothels…

/Hey, this revisionist history stuff is fun!

… and they saved America from a communist zombie invasion while gettin’ stoned and boinking hookers!

151 Ryan King  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:15:10pm

re: #138 SanFranciscoZionist


My mother was having some chat with some random woman who informed her that all the founding fathers were homeschooled. Not true at all.

Watched a fascinating show a few years ago, NatGeo or something, about and excavation of site close to a pyramid. Where all the real people lived and worked. Some of the information didn’t jibe with the ‘slave labor’ idea that pyramids were entirely built by slaves, which may have been the case for different rulers at other times.

Summary: most of the comfortable and upper middle class workers were masons and lawyers. A sign of success at that time was the ability to afford school, and many lawyers and masons did send their kids to school. They actually had homework. They also sued each other a lot LOL.

Ironic that nowadays some aspire to not send their kids to public school.

152 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:15:21pm

re: #150 Slumbering Behemoth

… who regularly smoked weed and patronized brothels…

/Hey, this revisionist history stuff is fun!

… and they saved America from a communist zombie invasion while gettin’ stoned and boinking hookers!

You’re making me sound like a Christian…stop.
//

153 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:16:11pm

re: #141 Boogberg

How many Kentucky lizards do we have? Raise your hands.

UofL, UK, wife is from E’Town.

154 HoosierHoops  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:17:01pm

re: #136 SteveMcG

I was playing golf with an old guy in Virginia this weekend. While we were waiting we were looking at some kids playing soccer, and he said to me “There’s something Communist in that game.” Huh? “Well, they all play with one ball.” It was either him or the drunken waitress in the other cart. She was carrying two six packs and kept getting peppermint schnapps from the beer cart. At one point she was smoking a cigarette AND a cigar. So he was the conversation of choice.

That’s why golf is so fun..You may end up matched with somebody that is just great and exchange cell numbers with..Or by the back 9 you are looking for places to dump a body…You swear if he says one more word I’ll bury him the sandtrap and nobody will know..( Especially if i rake it out real nice)
*wink*
Golf is fun!

155 Spare O'Lake  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:17:05pm

re: #149 Gus 802

I know one thing. When I reached a certain age on or about 7th grade I was glad to be in school and away from the folks. I love my parents but I couldn’t imagine being a teenager and having to be around one of them all day long.

Child abuse for sure…and parent abuse, too!

156 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:17:37pm

re: #150 Slumbering Behemoth

… who regularly smoked weed and patronized brothels…

/Hey, this revisionist history stuff is fun!

… and they saved America from a communist zombie invasion while gettin’ stoned and boinking hookers!

Courtesans, my friend. They were boinking courtesans.

157 ausador  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:18:46pm

Well, the young earth creationist version of God is just a extreme prankster, thats all it is. When you get up to heaven and God says “You didn’t believe in me because you didn’t believe that the earth was only 6004 years old.” *Pause* “Ha ha! Fooled your ass didn’t I? I made that planet look billions of years old, in every way you could test, and you fell for it!”

“I’m awfully sorry for tricking you like that but of course now that you fell for it I am going to have burn you alive in hell for all eternity, yeah I know it was kinda a dirty trick, but rules are rules after all.”

/sigh…what happens to a theology after 2000 years of willful mis-translation…

158 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:19:46pm

re: #157 ausador

Well, the young earth creationist version of God is just a extreme prankster, thats all it is. When you get up to heaven and God says “You didn’t believe in me because you didn’t believe that the earth was only 6004 years old.” *Pause* “Ha ha! Fooled your ass didn’t I? I made that planet look billions of years old, in every way you could test, and you fell for it!”

“I’m awfully sorry for tricking you like that but of course now that you fell for it I am going to have burn you alive in hell for all eternity, yeah I know it was kinda a dirty trick, but rules are rules after all.”

/sigh…what happens to a theology after 2000 years of willful mis-translation…

Bill Hicks said the same thing, only better. :P

159 Boogberg  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:20:26pm

re: #153 Decatur Deb

UofL, UK, wife is from E’Town.

Alright. Is Kentucky as ass-backwards as portrayed?

160 SteveMcGazi  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:20:33pm

My favorite “gotcha” question for a literalist is to ask where all the water went after the flood. It had to drain somewhere, didn’t it? Or maybe it spilled over the edges of the Earth.

161 Just never mind.  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:21:03pm

re: #156 JasonA

Courtesans, my friend. They were boinking courtesans.

LOL!

162 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:21:11pm

re: #156 JasonA

Don’t you tell me how to revise history! :)

163 brookly red  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:21:37pm

re: #160 SteveMcG

My favorite “gotcha” question for a literalist is to ask where all the water went after the flood. It had to drain somewhere, didn’t it? Or maybe it spilled over the edges of the Earth.

/no it all froze, but now it’s melting…

164 Aceofwhat?  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:21:44pm

re: #157 ausador

Well, the young earth creationist version of God is just a extreme prankster, thats all it is. When you get up to heaven and God says “You didn’t believe in me because you didn’t believe that the earth was only 6004 years old.” *Pause* “Ha ha! Fooled your ass didn’t I? I made that planet look billions of years old, in every way you could test, and you fell for it!”

“I’m awfully sorry for tricking you like that but of course now that you fell for it I am going to have burn you alive in hell for all eternity, yeah I know it was kinda a dirty trick, but rules are rules after all.”

/sigh…what happens to a theology after 2000 years of willful mis-translation…

funny and true. these people are calling God a liar, and they’re not bright enough to realize it…it stings the nostrils…

165 Stanley Sea  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:21:46pm

re: #145 Rightwingconspirator

Paging Stanley Sea, Paging Stanley Sea…

The prints are in!

I’m here!!!! Yay!

166 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:22:10pm

re: #162 Slumbering Behemoth

Don’t you tell me how to revise history! :)

You will show proper respect, good sir!

167 reine.de.tout  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:22:13pm

re: #145 Rightwingconspirator

Paging Stanley Sea, Paging Stanley Sea…

The prints are in!

Hey!
I heard from the guy at the place today, via e-mail. I answered him. Can’t wait!

168 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:23:45pm

re: #159 Boogberg

Alright. Is Kentucky as ass-backwards as portrayed?

Of all the places I’ve lived, it is the Middle Place.

169 brownbagj  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:24:41pm

We homeschool our kids and it is WORK. We are not doing it out of religious reasons, but mainly because we feel that two dedicated, college educated parents can do a really good job AND provide more opportunities for learning critical thinking which in our opinion is no longer taught in the majority of public schools.

We belong to a co-op of other parents where each parent has to teach a subject with agreed upon text - we go to these “classes” all day once a week. We then have school in our home every day. We go to the zoo every week and have classes there, at the aquarium etc. Our kids are already excelling well beyond their public school peers academically. But, we also work extremely hard on getting them experience in the real world - construction sites, vet clinics etc - things public school just cannot do.

Done correctly, homeschooling is a TON of work but I can already see the benefits to my kids - and this is why we do it.

170 Stanley Sea  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:24:54pm

re: #167 reine.de.tout

Hey!
I heard from the guy at the place today, via e-mail. I answered him. Can’t wait!

I’m actually house sitting this week at the beach, so maybe will have to stop home to check the mail!!

171 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:24:58pm

re: #160 SteveMcG

My favorite “gotcha” question for a literalist is to ask where all the water went after the flood. It had to drain somewhere, didn’t it? Or maybe it spilled over the edges of the Earth.

There is an easy answer for that. Care to hear their rationalization?

172 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:25:11pm

re: #157 ausador

Well, the young earth creationist version of God is just a extreme prankster, thats all it is. When you get up to heaven and God says “You didn’t believe in me because you didn’t believe that the earth was only 6004 years old.” *Pause* “Ha ha! Fooled your ass didn’t I? I made that planet look billions of years old, in every way you could test, and you fell for it!”

“I’m awfully sorry for tricking you like that but of course now that you fell for it I am going to have burn you alive in hell for all eternity, yeah I know it was kinda a dirty trick, but rules are rules after all.”

/sigh…what happens to a theology after 2000 years of willful mis-translation…

It’s really more like 500 years. The literalist position YEC’s take on the Bible is a Protestant trait, Catholicism has always embraced interpretation to some degree. Part of the reason why some Protestants did and still do embrace literalism is the Catholic clergy’s willingness to use interpretation as a hammer against those they dislike or see as a threat.

173 Political Atheist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:25:26pm

re: #165 Stanley Sea
Hi
Whats up?
I signed your print this evening, but CC does not have your address. Could you call them? Ask for Kevin, and give him your shipping address. Sorry, the lab was behind, lots of vacation pictures I guess.

174 SteveMcGazi  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:25:35pm

re: #171 b_sharp

Sure.

175 HoosierHoops  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:25:53pm

re: #160 SteveMcG

My favorite “gotcha” question for a literalist is to ask where all the water went after the flood. It had to drain somewhere, didn’t it? Or maybe it spilled over the edges of the Earth.

After the flood..For the first time in 4.6 Billion years light refracted through water particles and created a rainbow…
The Bible is not a scientific book and only a fool thinks it is..

176 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:26:55pm

re: #160 SteveMcG

My favorite “gotcha” question for a literalist is to ask where all the water went after the flood. It had to drain somewhere, didn’t it? Or maybe it spilled over the edges of the Earth.

It was shot into outer space. Or something.

177 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:27:28pm

re: #171 b_sharp

There is an easy answer for that. Care to hear their rationalization?

Yes, please.

178 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:27:38pm

re: #3 brookly red

/what does the UN do with all those kids anyway?

It teaches them to pilot black helicopters.

/Yes, late, but I couldn’t resist.

William

179 Political Atheist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:27:55pm

re: #167 reine.de.tout

Hi
I’ll sign your prints tomorrow, ummm black pen, black background not so good… Little snag. So off to get one of those silver sharpies… And your 2 prints will be on the way.

180 Boogberg  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:28:56pm

re: #168 Decatur Deb

Of all the places I’ve lived, it is the Middle Place.

Care to share what you consider the most backwards?

181 reine.de.tout  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:29:30pm

re: #179 Rightwingconspirator

Hi
I’ll sign your prints tomorrow, ummm black pen, black background not so good… Little snag. So off to get one of those silver sharpies… And your 2 prints will be on the way.

yay!
check your e-mails.

182 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:29:40pm

re: #166 JasonA

If I say they were boinking hookers, then by Jove they were boinking hookers! Besides only liberal elitists boink courtesans, and our Founding Fathers were definitely not liberal elitists!

183 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:30:22pm

re: #180 Boogberg

Care to share what you consider the most backwards?

Nah, it would offend some Lizards to no purpose.

184 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:30:40pm

re: #174 SteveMcG

Sure.

The original continent originally floated on water and the land was extremely flat, no mountains, no deep oceans. As the water beneath the continents was released, the continent dropped, broke apart and rapidly moved into current positions, creating the mountain ranges and the deep ocean. All the water is still here.

Walter Brown’s hydroplate theory.

185 darthstar  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:30:44pm

re: #182 Slumbering Behemoth

If I say they were boinking hookers, then by Jove they were boinking hookers! Besides only liberal elitists boink courtesans, and our Founding Fathers were definitely not liberal elitists!

The founding fathers boinked slaves.

186 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:31:32pm

re: #185 darthstar

Don’t you tell me how to revise history!

187 teleskiguy  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:31:49pm

About schooling:
I’ve met quite a few young adults in and around the ski area over the last decade. Most of the smartest people I met went to Jesuit schools, parochial schools, what have you, mostly from the south and midwest. A friend of mine who went to Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, KY and graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia informed me recently that they had to read One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for 8th grade literature! That’s something else, I thought.

Truth be old, education varies widely in this country. I went to a public school (and one year of Charter School) near a large busy ski area in Colorado, I received a more-than-decent education, as most public schools I guess are funded with property taxes. I suppose with the failings of poorer public schools, parents are righteously trying to find a way to teach their children properly, home schooling is one such way. Home schoolers miss out on institutional education and its supposed benefits (more interaction with other children, etc.).

But these home schoolers teaching that dinosaurs lived alongside humans? That should be against the law.

188 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:32:17pm

re: #184 b_sharp

Wow.

189 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:32:29pm

re: #185 darthstar

The founding fathers boinked slaves.

Like many politicos, they boinked anything that walked upright and had two breasts.

190 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:33:01pm

re: #188 Slumbering Behemoth

Wow.

Over the years, I’ve heard them all.

191 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:33:04pm

re: #182 Slumbering Behemoth

If I say they were boinking hookers, then by Jove they were boinking hookers! Besides only liberal elitists boink courtesans, and our Founding Fathers were definitely not liberal elitists!

What kind of liberals were they then?

192 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:34:36pm

re: #184 b_sharp

The original continent originally floated on water and the land was extremely flat, no mountains, no deep oceans. As the water beneath the continents was released, the continent dropped, broke apart and rapidly moved into current positions, creating the mountain ranges and the deep ocean. All the water is still here.

Walter Brown’s hydroplate theory.

Oh
my
God.

193 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:34:49pm

re: #187 teleskiguy

About schooling:
I’ve met quite a few young adults in and around the ski area over the last decade. Most of the smartest people I met went to Jesuit schools, parochial schools, what have you, mostly from the south and midwest. A friend of mine who went to Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, KY and graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia informed me recently that they had to read One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez for 8th grade literature! That’s something else, I thought.

Truth be old, education varies widely in this country. I went to a public school (and one year of Charter School) near a large busy ski area in Colorado, I received a more-than-decent education, as most public schools I guess are funded with property taxes. I suppose with the failings of poorer public schools, parents are righteously trying to find a way to teach their children properly, home schooling is one such way. Home schoolers miss out on institutional education and its supposed benefits (more interaction with other children, etc.).

But these home schoolers teaching that dinosaurs lived alongside humans? That should be against the law.

Hey, teach the controversy. It’s only fair to hear both sides.

194 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:35:35pm

re: #169 brownbagj

We homeschool our kids and it is WORK. We are not doing it out of religious reasons, but mainly because we feel that two dedicated, college educated parents can do a really good job AND provide more opportunities for learning critical thinking which in our opinion is no longer taught in the majority of public schools.

We belong to a co-op of other parents where each parent has to teach a subject with agreed upon text - we go to these “classes” all day once a week. We then have school in our home every day. We go to the zoo every week and have classes there, at the aquarium etc. Our kids are already excelling well beyond their public school peers academically. But, we also work extremely hard on getting them experience in the real world - construction sites, vet clinics etc - things public school just cannot do.

Done correctly, homeschooling is a TON of work but I can already see the benefits to my kids - and this is why we do it.

If I can ask, how does this work financially? The thing that’s always made homeschooling seem impossible to me is how you manage to free up an adult to do this.

195 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:35:59pm

re: #191 JasonA

They weren’t liberals at all, you dirty commie. They were upright, god-fearing, staunch conservatives.

/I’m considering revising out the “weed and hookers” thing…

196 Racer X  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:36:16pm

AT-AT day afternoon

Vimeo

I like the little Jabba cameo at the end.

197 SanFranciscoZionist  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:37:48pm

re: #185 darthstar

The founding fathers boinked slaves.

Not all of ‘em. And Sam Adams would have punched you if you suggested he would do such!

His cousin John would just have given you a very dirty look and then lectured you for two hours.

198 Decatur Deb  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:37:51pm

re: #195 Slumbering Behemoth

They weren’t liberals at all, you dirty commie. They were upright, god-fearing, staunch conservatives.

/I’m considering revising out the “weed and hookers” thing…

Global replace with “madiera and cigars”.

199 Four More Tears  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:38:53pm

re: #195 Slumbering Behemoth

They weren’t liberals at all, you dirty commie. They were upright, god-fearing, staunch conservatives.

/I’m considering revising out the “weed and hookers” thing…

Opium and mistresses then?

200 SteveMcGazi  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:39:01pm

Somebody earlier had posed the question of the millions of years required to form oil. I always believed the perfect Creationist’ answer was simply that God put the oil there when he made the Earth. And as far as all those radioactive dating techniques that prove such and such a rock formation is a billion years old, all they have to say is that God made the Earth look like it was billions of years old. Just like when you make the new copybook with all your expenses recorded in it look like it was three years old for the IRS auditor. And you have a half dozen different pens to write in it. And you drip coffee on some of the pages.

201 Stanley Sea  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:39:08pm

re: #173 Rightwingconspirator

Hi
Whats up?
I signed your print this evening, but CC does not have your address. Could you call them? Ask for Kevin, and give him your shipping address. Sorry, the lab was behind, lots of vacation pictures I guess.

No prob! I emailed them, but there wasn’t a specific email, just info@——

I’ll call tomorrow.

202 SteveMcGazi  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:40:22pm

Perhaps people may differ on what historical things are taught to home schoolers, but you can’t deny that they sure can spell.

203 Bear  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:41:17pm

re: #187 teleskiguy

Don’t tell me that Alley Oop did not ride dinney the dinosaur?

204 Uncle Obdicut  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:41:48pm

re: #61 TampaKnight

He very clearly said that he was talking about people who homeschool because they disagree with the science.

You’re attacking him based on a false premise.

205 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:42:00pm

re: #196 Racer X

Nice work on that video, quite funny. This one is more of an improv skit, but funny none the less.

206 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:42:33pm

Anybody familiar with the comet that struck the Earth, flash freezing Mammoths in Siberia, complete with undigested food in their stomachs and causing the Earth’s tilt and the 4 seasons? (courtesy of Kent Hovind)

207 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:45:13pm

re: #200 SteveMcG

Somebody earlier had posed the question of the millions of years required to form oil. I always believed the perfect Creationist’ answer was simply that God put the oil there when he made the Earth. And as far as all those radioactive dating techniques that prove such and such a rock formation is a billion years old, all they have to say is that God made the Earth look like it was billions of years old. Just like when you make the new copybook with all your expenses recorded in it look like it was three years old for the IRS auditor. And you have a half dozen different pens to write in it. And you drip coffee on some of the pages.

Here you go.

208 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:45:15pm

re: #194 SanFranciscoZionist

If I can ask, how does this work financially? The thing that’s always made homeschooling seem impossible to me is how you manage to free up an adult to do this.

You already have an adult staying home. I haven’t been employed since the birth of my oldest, fifteen years ago. I’m from a long line of educated stay at home mothers. (Well, back to my great-grandmother, who went to business school in the early 1900’s, but few women were educated before that.)

209 Racer X  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:46:00pm

re: #205 Slumbering Behemoth

Nice work on that video, quite funny. This one is more of an improv skit, but funny none the less.

Nice! My weird-o-meter went up to 7.

210 elizajane  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:46:41pm

re: #13 Gus 802

You think these people would get a clue already. Ask them how old oil, gas and coal are or how long it took for their formation. Millions of years.

But don’t you see how useful it is NOT to believe that oil and coal took millions of years to form? If they’re just a few thousand years old, and all the geologists are wrong about that, maybe they are actually renewable resources! Maybe God will just top up the supplies if we use them all. Maybe it’s just what He always intended. Why doesn’t somebody suggest that to Sarah Palin—I’m sure she’d run with it.

211 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:47:17pm

re: #199 JasonA

Hmm… I think I need to pick an ultimate end goal (or “teaching moment”) so that I can focus my narrative a bit more tightly for maximum indoctrination.

Jeez, revisionist history is harder than I thought.

212 Mostly sane, most of the time.  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:47:19pm

I was at OMSI today, in the little kiddies section for the first time. A little boy looked at the pipe that was blowing air, suspending a foam ball above the pipe in the air stream.

“Look Dad, it’s magic!”

I couldn’t stop myself. “No, sweetie, that’s not magic, that’s science. Why don’t you ask your father?”

But Dad was too far away to hear me. Oh well, I doubt he’ll stay confused. He was only four.

213 SteveMcGazi  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:47:22pm

re: #207 b_sharp

Who do I see to get my IQ points back?

214 Racer X  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:48:26pm

Dino-Sex!

Image: zwW2w.jpg

215 b_sharp  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:48:54pm

re: #213 SteveMcG

Who do I see to get my IQ points back?

Sorry, there is a strict no return policy.

216 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 7:49:23pm

re: #209 Racer X

Ah, good. I was so traumatized by that last one you hit me with I was afraid I might have lost my touch. ;)

217 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 8:20:29pm

re: #101 WindUpBird

I never really learned Calc. I passed Calc…but I learned nothing. I was lucky to escape with my life.

I suppose I could teach the skill of passing a class through total bullshit :D

Four years of Algebra I, baby.

218 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 8:27:54pm

re: #217 Fat Bastard Vegetarian

Four years of Algebra I, baby.

Aaagh :( Some of it really is the teacher. I had a great teacher for Trig, Algebra, algebra 3/4, and a terrible teacher for Calc. My grades were such: A, A, A, D-.

219 WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.]  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 8:30:10pm

re: #194 SanFranciscoZionist

If I can ask, how does this work financially? The thing that’s always made homeschooling seem impossible to me is how you manage to free up an adult to do this.

I always forget how cheap rent/owning a home is in the middle of the country, so there’s that. If you buy a car with cash and your house was like 60K, and it’s paid off, that’s a lot of room to maneuver.

220 webevintage  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 9:06:36pm

“The questions asked by the homeschoolers in the video: 1) are you a Christian, 2) how old is the Earth, and 3) will you let the UN take our children. Yep, really. And these are the teachers asking these questions. They’re raising a generation of kids who are ignorant anti-science fanatics, afraid that the United Nations is going to come and kidnap them. Good grief.”

This is why we have a very small circle of homechooling friends. When the teen was young we hung out with folks like that but it got harder and harder to keep a straight face year after year.

221 ReamWorks SKG  Mon, Jun 28, 2010 9:07:13pm

re: #1 darthstar

Don’t exaggerate! It’s only 5770 years old. Today is Tammuz 16, 5770. According to “This Day in Jewish History,” it’s the day the golden calf was made (arround the year 2440).

222 Bob Levin  Tue, Jun 29, 2010 3:17:36am

re: #221 reuven

17th of Tammuz.

There are a couple of threads in this discussion: 1) the hoops that candidates have to jump through, willingly or unwillingly to get elected. 2) they seem happy to jump through the hoops, which says a lot about their character and 3) they even take part in designing the hoops. But we have a pretty good idea how broken our political system is when the only people who run for office are the very people you wouldn’t want living next door to you. Anyone want to live next door to the Pauls?

The other thread has to do with the education system. This is how bad it is—the public schools simply cannot do the job of helping children to become well informed, critical thinking, heading towards expertise, adults. But this terrible system is being squeezed by the economy and might be falling apart all by itself—there are possibilities that some school districts in this state will be forced to close. One of the problems is that curricula are designed backwards, from the standardized tests back to the texts.

The big problem is that the public education is not qualitatively better than even the Neanderthal home school paradigm that some are holding up as the model for home schooling.

The bottom line is that if you are a concerned parent, you know the kind of math skills the kids in Singapore are getting, and it’s up to you to make sure your kid can compete. I have a math kid, loves it, and I have to make sure he accelerates beyond the school curriculum, which is designed to hold him back. I know this because I read the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade textbooks.

The public schools will not teach any critical thinking skills, none. You can’t teach critical thinking when answers to questions take the form of True/False, multiple choice.

So the reality is, there are no really good educational choices for parents in contemporary America. There are parents who feel it’s their duty to keep their kids in a state of blissful ignorance. What’s new? But scientific advancement, the ability to create patents, comes from families and children who are focused on that dream—not just having their kids going to college, but going there an contributing something important to the world.

This latter group was never a majority, but it exists in sufficient strength to lead a country, a civilization to solve important problems and move on. And it gets down to families, their values, their problem solving skills, their ability to become properly involved in their kids lives, and their ability to teach. That is, whether they can embrace the task of being parents, in the first place.

223 amrafel  Tue, Jun 29, 2010 3:21:29am

If Rand Paul were smart, he’d answer the question as Gerald Schroeder (PhD from MIT) answers it: It’s both 15 billion years old AND 6000 years old. “Among other things, Schroeder attempts to reconcile a Biblical view with the scientific model of a world that is billions of years old using the idea that the perceived flow of time for a given event in an expanding universe varies with the observer’s perspective of that event. He attempts to reconcile the two perspectives numerically, calculating the effect of the stretching of space-time, based on Einstein’s theory of general relativity.”

224 Bob Levin  Tue, Jun 29, 2010 3:34:50am

re: #223 amrafel

He’s not that smart.

225 dadaist  Tue, Jun 29, 2010 9:38:05am

re: #17 TampaKnight

He’s going through a wesbinar course that is ranked very high (and costly) and to my knowledge non-religious. My sister is Catholic but as I do, believes in evolution. I doubt she’d teach him the earth is 6,000 years old, or let anyone else.

The Catholic Church is really, very, vigorous in its pro-evolution point of view.

It does not believe that Genesis is a literal, historical, account of the origin of the world, nor that the Earth is 6,000 years old, nor does it have any truck with the “intelligent design” trojan horse. In general, the Catholic Church is very good on science issues and has been for a very long time (although it was not always so, as Galileo could tell you, or rather couldn’t because he’s dead).

In fact the originator of the Big Bang theory, George Lemaitre, was a Catholic Priest, as well as an astronomer and physicist. Countless Priests and Nuns have been eminent scientists, and they will often get a bit tetchy when someone assumes that they are anti-science idiots because they are also religious.

It’s worth remembering that Catholics account for a large majority of all Christians worldwide. Along with the other not anti-science Christian Churches, including in rough order of magnitude the Eastern Orthodox, the Oriental Orthodox, the Anglican/Episcopalians, the Methodists, and all of the other mainstream, non Biblical-literalist Churches, they account for all but a vanishingly small minority of Christians. Biblical literalists are a tiny minority of Protestants, and Protestantism itself is a relatively small minority subset of Christianity.

The US is just unfortunate in having these oddballs be disproportionately over-represented on our religious scene and even more disproportionately loud. To some extent they set some of the general tone for the public perception of Christianity in America and even influence a lot of people who are followers of mainstream Christian denominations into thinking that Young Earth Creationism and other insanity is a central part of Christianity. Much to the irritation of those mainstream denominations.

226 I Am Kreniigh!  Tue, Jun 29, 2010 1:39:15pm

re: #114 Charles

And I am not the only one who’s trying to point this out: Rand Paul has long history of controversial views.

I hope the comments on that article aren’t representative of the voting population in KY.

“I read the first sentence of this pro-socialist piece and that was all I needed. You folks at the CJ must stay up nights trying to stop freedom.”

“You socialists are a sad bunch. Most of you don’t have a clue who you are or what you represent. You try so hard to hate America and the principles of freedom that have made us great.”

What kind of cartoon world do these people live in, that they need to characterize people that disagree with them as Lex Luthors, sitting around the table at the League of Doom, cackling about how much they hate freedom?

This was inadvertently amusing, though:

“Once again Wolfson doesn’t let a good story get in the way of objective reporting OR the truth.”

227 im_gumby_damnit  Tue, Jun 29, 2010 6:28:00pm

Dead giveaway. Dude’s a creationist.


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
The Pandemic Cost 7 Million Lives, but Talks to Prevent a Repeat Stall In late 2021, as the world reeled from the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, representatives of almost 200 countries met - some online, some in-person in Geneva - hoping to forestall a future worldwide ...
Cheechako
4 days ago
Views: 129 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
2 weeks ago
Views: 294 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1