From the BBC:

A court in the US has ruled against the teaching of “intelligent design” alongside Darwin’s theory of evolution.

The headline speaks for itself.

The White House sent The Onion a cease-and-desist letter regarding the parody site’s use of the presidential seal. From the NYT:

“It is inconceivable that anyone would think that, by using the seal, The Onion intends to ‘convey… sponsorship or approval’ by the president,” wrote Rochelle H. Klaskin, the paper’s lawyer, who went on to note that a headline in the current issue made the point: “Bush to Appoint Someone to Be in Charge of Country.”

From New Scientist:

Astrology would be considered a scientific theory if judged by the same criteria used by a well-known advocate of Intelligent Design to justify his claim that ID is science, a landmark US trial heard on Tuesday.

Under cross examination, ID proponent Michael Behe , a biochemist at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, admitted his definition of “theory” was so broad it would also include astrology.

Rothschild (plaintiffs’ attorney) suggested that Behe’s definition was so loose that astrology would come under this definition as well. He also pointed out that Behe’s definition of theory was almost identical to the NAS’s definition of a hypothesis. Behe agreed with both assertions.

And Behe doesn’t see anything wrong with that.

Great peanut gallery quote:

“You’ve got to admire the guy. It’s Daniel in the lion’s den,” says Robert Slade, a local retiree who has been attending the trial because he is interested in science. “But I can’t believe he teaches a college biology class.”

From an article:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation on Friday to outlaw the sale to teenagers of electronic games featuring reckless mayhem and explicit sexuality.

An interesting move for someone who, were it not for the easy access for teenagers to violent media, would not have the fame, wealth, and political position he now enjoys.

When I was 11 I remember going to the theater and buying a ticket to Commando. Terrible movie, but I liked it at the time. When he embedded the circular sawblade into some nameless guard’s head, I wonder if I thought back then, “Hey. This guy would make a great state governor.”

Most online quizzes suck, but this one has a good premise. You’re given a quote and you have to attribute to the right person who said it. The choices are Falwell, Robertson, or Bin Laden.

From the BBC article:

President George W. Bush told Palestinian ministers that God had told him to invade Afghanistan and Iraq – and create a Palestinian State.

Abu Mazen, Palestinian Prime Minister, and Nabil Shaath, his Foreign Minister, describe their first meeting with President Bush in June 2003.

Nabil Shaath says: “President Bush said to all of us: ‘I’m driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, “George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.” And I did, and then God would tell me, “George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq …” And I did. And now, again, I feel God’s words coming to me, “Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East.” And by God I’m gonna do it.'”

Abu Mazen was at the same meeting and recounts how President Bush told him: “I have a moral and religious obligation. So I will get you a Palestinian state.”

Where have I heard that before? Let’s see… man kills people on the direct instruction of a supernatural entity… for one, David Berkowitz.

Alabama state senator joins noted meteorologists Al Qaeda, Pat Robertson… blames Gulf storms on gambling. From here:

Hurricane Katrina and other storms that battered the Gulf Coast were God’s judgment of sin, according to state Sen. Hank Erwin, R-Montevallo.

“New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast have always been known for gambling, sin and wickedness,” Erwin wrote this week in a column he distributes to news outlets. “It is the kind of behavior that ultimately brings the judgment of God.”

After touring Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss., and Bayou La Batre, Erwin said he was awed and humbled by the power of the storm. But he wasn’t surprised.

“Warnings year after year by godly evangelists and preachers went unheeded. So why were we surprised when finally the hand of judgment fell?” Erwin wrote.