Religion and Science

I've always found it interesting that theories of early man's descendants can correlate with the idea of a first man/Adam and woman/Eve. Many also have speculated that the Eden of the Judeo-Christian story could be in the Fertile Crescent between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers -- in Africa. This article from a notable tech blog just reminded me of something I always take for granted, but sadly some people fail to recognize: religion and science do not have to be at odds and pitted against each other, but instead can both point towards truth.

The article subtly highlights the connection in its first paragraph, which states, "Some time in humanity’s past, a small group of Homo sapiens migrated out of Africa before spreading out to every possible corner of the Earth. All the women of that group carried DNA inherited from just one woman, commonly known as mitochondrial Eve, whose DNA was inherited by all humans alive today."

For some who might suddenly raise issues with the creation happening within six days, there are also explanations that could help the two explanations of Earth's development to not be at odds. Some say the word "day" in scripture is also used for "age" elsewhere. Others have looked at how time may have shifted as the universe expanded. However, the point is that the two camps' explanations do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Go read the whole article via the link below.

Fossil DNA used to reset humanity's clock
http://arstechnica.com/science/2013/03/fossil-dna-used-to-reset-humanitys-clock/

Arguments Without Facts or Credentials

I've been grading my students' argument essays on education and noticed a disturbing trend. Several of the essays seem as flimsy and empty as a cicada skin -- transparent shells of arguments weakly supported by references to other authors' opinions, blatantly lacking in the meaty substance of facts -- data, studies, statistics -- or, at the very least, details about their sources' credentials to give their referenced authors' opinions more weight. Strangely, this happened despite my painstaking efforts to show positive examples and repeatedly stress the importance of supporting an argument with the Greek persuasive strategies of logos, ethos, and pathos. The benefit of seeing this trend, however, is that I can use it as a learning experience for them -- make it a teachable moment. I'm actually a bit excited to make some humorous hook to that lesson -- perhaps starting a class by making outrageous claims supported by quotes from random, unknown people.

However, as I reflect on this, I wonder whether this trend is a sign of the times. Might this tendency to make baseless claims stem from today's Internet era, where faceless bloggers spew out random ideas without any backing? As Jehoshaphat Jones once said, "students who write education essays and have their teacher read them on March 16th, 2013 clearly have been negatively impacted and transformed by technology and the blogosphere." Thanks, Jehoshaphat. Thanks ;)

Hilarious Spelling Error: Cafe brazenly risks citation from department of sanitation

Cafe brazenly risks citation from department of sanitation
http://boingboing.net/2013/03/15/cafe-brazenly-risks-citation-f.html

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Well, this is both gross and fascinating. A frog gives birth from its mouth.

Extinct frog that gives birth from its mouth nearly brought back to life
http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/16/4110702/extinct-frog-that-gives-birth-from-its-mouth-nearly-brought-back-to

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