Have you heard of Twitter? Think of it as microblogging. You have 140 characters you can use per entry and it’s based on the question “What are you doing?” You could be standing in line at the bank, having lunch with friends or just standing in the sunlight and looking at the grass. Any little detail of your life you can share with the world via Twitter.

What if you are on a different world though? Can you still use Twitter? Yes you can! Just ask the Phoenix Lander on Mars. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out how the lander Tweeting from Mars. Check out the feed though, it’s pretty cool.

I haven’t written about this even though I’ve known about it for a few months now. A friend at work has breast cancer for the second time. The first time around she received radiation treatment. Almost three years to the day later she was diagnosed with it again.

I’ve tried to make her smile at work when I’ve seen it get her down. It’s not always easy. One day she broke down crying and I told her “I really can’t say that I know what you are going through but I am thinking positive thoughts and I’m sure you’ll come through this ok.” A couple of weeks later she found out what the surgeon wanted to do and explained it to me. To cure her this time she is having her left breast removed and part of the flesh & muscle from her stomach used to replace the breast. Ouch. She’s a nervous wreck about the procedure. You can learn more about the TRAM flap procedure by clicking here.

Today was her last day at work before the operation. On Monday, April 21st, she’ll spend seven hours in the operating room going through the procedures. Then she’ll be out until the beginning of July to heal.

If you have some spare time on Monday, maybe a minute here or a minute there, try to think some positive thoughts for Sylvia. She needs all the positive thoughts she can get. Thanks.

It was 10 years ago today that Viagra was made available to the public.
We haven’t cured cancer or aids or even stopped the common cold, but loss of erections are no longer a problem.

Happy V-Day!

The Florida State Board of Education has mandated that evolution be presented as theory. While there doesn’t seem to be a problem with the term at first glance we need to look closer.

What does the term Evolution mean? The change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift. Source: Dictionary.com

What does Intelligent Design mean? The assertion or belief that physical and biological systems observed in the universe result from purposeful design by an intelligent being rather than from chance or undirected natural processes. Source: Dictionary.com

See how the two clash? One proposes that nature finds it’s own way while the other proposes that an intelligent entity choses the way of life. We can look back through the fossil record and find facts that point to evolution as fact. We cannot do the same with intelligent design.

I can hear you out there. You are asking “But Tony, what difference does it make?” I’ll tell you. Intelligent Design asserts there is a greater being that designed everything. You can call this being God, Jehovah, Allah or whatever you chose. Intelligent Design is the teaching of religion.

“So what’s wrong with that” you ask? In the United States public schools are funded by tax dollars. Public schools are government run not privately held. The First Amendment provides separation of church and state. Separation of church and state means that no religion shall be given preferential treatment over any other religion or non-religion in any government run institution. In private schools any theory can be taught that the school wishes because they are not funded by tax dollars.

“Wait wait wait,” you say. “We haven’t said anything about adding Intelligent Design to the schools!” No, you haven’t and I would like to keep it that way. Sadly there is a problem. By enforcing the term “theory of evolution” we open the door to the term “theory of intelligent design.” Don’t take my word for it though. If you do a little research you will find that there are school districts (public schools not private) across the country that now require intelligent design to be taught along with evolution. Creationism (aka: religion) is now being taught in public schools.

“But teaching various theories encourages growth of the mind” you say. I will admit I am inclined to agree with that statement except for one thing. How many theories can point to fact? Not biblical fact but scientific fact. “Because the Bible says so” is not fact nor is it scientific method. Why use the term “scientific method”? Because we are talking about science classes.

Let’s say that all theories should be presented in schools. Are you willing to support all of them or do you feel that some should be left out? Let’s take a glance at a few.

The theory of Intelligent Design is that there is a supernatural being that has planned and designed everything in the universe and that natural selection does not take place.

The theory of Evolution is that natural selection determines the path of life.

The theory of Scientology is that Xenu (galactic ruler) brought billions of beings to Earth millions of years ago and placed them around volcanoes. He then blew these people up with hydrogen bombs. The souls of these beings have attached themselves to people and we should isolate the souls of these beings and neutralize their effects on us.

The theory of Ralien is the same as intelligent design with one difference. The supernatural being is actually a collection of aliens that have designed the planet and directed the forms of life on it.

The theory of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is that there is an invisible and undetectable Flying Spaghetti Monster(FSM) that created the universe. The FSM planted false evidence of evolution as a way to test the faithful.

There are more theories out there you are welcome to discover for yourself.  Of the five I listed here though which would you not allow in your public school? After all, they are all considered to be “theories.”

Have you seen the comet yet? Comet Holmes has become visible in the Northern sky. This is a unique comet because you can see it without a telescope or binoculars even in city lights! There is a map of the night sky that will give you an idea of where to look in the sky to see it by clicking here. Spaceweather.com also has some great photos of the comet here.

Another great page showing how to find the comet is available by clicking here. As you’ll see Sky & Telescope provides some great viewing tips.

There is one thing that may confuse people. When you think of comets you probably picture a long tail streaming out behind the comet. Comet Holmes does not have a visible tail though! How is this possible? The comet is pointed towards Earth which means the tail is pointed away from Earth. It’s there but we can’t see it from where we are.