Scopes and fluffier topics

It was just announced on the news that Boise, Idaho and Austin, Texas were some of the best places to find a career. New graduates, take note - Austin is an especially hip city to live in - if you can handle the humidity. NPR's Morning Edition program is doing a segment on Christianity in politics. Today, they are focusing on Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, two of the more extreme representations of Christianity doctrine. It would be nice to have some of the moderate voices start appearing out of the woodwork. Just goes to show you how similar Muslim and Christian religions are in terms of their political clout in their own regions; both have a way of suppressing the more moderate voices in favor of the more dynamic/extreme voices. Speaking of religion, this week marks the anniversary where John Scopes was arrested for teaching evolution in a classroom. Coincidentally, Kansas is currently rehashing this trial at this very moment. The argument is basically to let other viewpoints be taught and put the focus on categorizing evolution as a theory. Ok - but why is this one specific theory being attacked? When the theory of relativity is taught, it's usually not given a disclaimer. While I agree that Darwin's theory is still a theory and not a fact, it's as close to a fact as I can imagine in the science world. Horses originally had toes. We grew thumbs. Even the former Pope said that evolution could very well be in God's plan. Just like the argument that social conservatives have about judicial activism (would James Dobson label a judge 'activist' if he or she used their authority to put the Ten Commandments on the steps of a state court?), it appears that those who argue against the filibuster and against having Darwin's theory be one of the primary cornerstones of biology are not necessarily concerned with judicial activism or scientific theory at all. It's just a veiled attack against anyone who doesn't share their beliefs that the Earth is about 12,000 years old and a holy war is imminent because people watch "Desperate Housewives" and "Sex in the City." Anway - different, lighter topic... I know these albums were made while Green Day was making American Idiot, but it seems like the concept album is making quite the comeback. True, The Flaming Lips sort of got the ball rolling with The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, but artists who you generally wouldn't associate with big concept albums have released their own - namely The Eels Blinking Lights and Other Revelations and Aimee Mann's The Forgotten Arm. Out of all the new/big releases this past month (Springsteen, NIN, Garbage, Aimee Mann), The Eels has been receiving the most glowing reviews. Blinking Lights... is a beauty of an album; sad, morose and with 33 tracks - bloated. Not an album to listen to during a workout or if you are already in the throws of a deep depression (unless you like listening to depressing music). Aimee Mann's release is more focused and catchier. Both are worthy investments. Current listening selections: Aimee Mann - The Forgotten Arm The Eels - Blinking Lights and Other Revelations Radiohead - OK Computer NIN - With Teeth