I am not a scientist but have been an interested observer of the Intelligent Design movement. I have read the following books by ID types: Evolution: a theory in Crisis by Micheal Denton, Signature in the Cell by Stephen Meyer, The Edge of Evolution by Michael Behe, and Intelligent Design, No Free Lunch, and The Design Revolution all by William Dembski.  I have not encountered the assertion that the earth is only 6000 years old in any of these works. I wonder whether Brian Watt has read any of the arguments made by ID theorists or just read about them. 

I wonder what Muslim men across the world think about American men allowing their women and children to be seen naked and/or groped in order to fly on an airplane? 

My children's favorite recipe comes from one of my husband's employees and is not for those watching their waistlines.

Violet's Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups mashed cooked sweet potato

one cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

3 eggs

1/3 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

topping:

one cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup melted butter

one cup chopped pecans

combine mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, 1/2 cup butter, eggs, milk and vanilla. spoon into baking dish. mix topping ingredients and spread over sweet potatoes. bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

I have begun trying to make every checker/retail worker I interact with feel that I have seen them as an individual especially at Walmart. Imagine how boring it must be to say over and over "Did you find everything you need? Would you like to apply for a Walmart credit card?" It is amazing what you can learn about a person in a very short time. For instance, I know that Ludmilla is from Estonia and Z is the local Walmart champion for getting people to apply for Walmart credit cards. I actually look forward to shopping at Walmart now!

As a child I remember a great-aunt telling me about buying roasted chestnuts from a street vendor in Buffalo at night and eating them on the way home. When she arrived home, every last chestnut she peeled was full of worms. I think I will pass on eating in the dark.

Because we are pattern recognizing and story telling creatures by nature, we all have a worldview or pattern into which we fit the data from reality we encounter. CS Lewis wrote about that phenomenon. He recommended reading one "old" book for every contemporary book one reads in order to better recognize one's ideological presumptions. I am reading The Gulag Archipelago now (only starting part III) and it is amazing how resilient the Marxist-Leninist ideology was even for those imprisoned in the Gulag for years. Apparently it takes an awful of reality before most people question their ideologies.

I agree. My home district, Alabama District 5, just elected its first Republican Congressman since 1870 (although Parker Griffith changed parties after being elected as a Dem). I should be happier but the Senate results are very disappointing overall.

Claire,

Thank you for your kind invitation. Because I am rarely at the computer, I generally find myself late to the party as now. Greetings from beautiful North Alabama.