15 Minutes a Day

Archive for the ‘Interesting Questions’ Category

My husband and I paid a visit to the Sacramento Zoo today. Neither of us has been there in a very very long time. It’s a lovely little zoo and is part of a park complex with lots of family entertainment. If you are planning to visit Sacramento, CA I encourage you to pay a visit to this nice little zoo.

As I look at the giraffes I could not help but wonder how anyone could doubt the Theory of Evolution in favor of “Intelligent Design”? Evolution is based on sound science and keen observation of geographical and biological evidence by thousands of scientists over hundreds of years. “Intelligent Design” is based on Judeo-Christian mythology and has no basis in scientific fact. Also, look at the photo of the giraffe at the right. What is intelligent about the design of this creature? What kind of reason would an intelligent designer have in creating this creature? What part does it play in the environment in which it lives that adds to the environment?

However, if we look at the giraffe from the evolutionary point of view…

• Giraffes have long legs to help them run from predators and to make them tall in order to make them more difficult to take down by predators that are lower to the ground.
• Giraffes have their characteristic long necks that enables them to reach higher sources of food than other animals
• The spots on the skins of giraffes provide them with natural camouflage in their savanna environment.

From the view of “Intelligent Design” the giraffe is nothing but a whimsical joke. From the evolutionary point of view the giraffe is a marvel.

I’d rather believe in the marvel than in the joke. Wouldn’t you? What is your opinion and why?

I seem to be picking up lots of books lately. I find the variety amusing. Perhaps you will too. Each book has a different reason for interesting me.

• Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by Cokie Roberts – This is a look at the lives and times of the women behind the Founding Fathers. Not only the wives, but also mothers, sisters, and daughters. I’m only part way through this book, but I’m planning to buy copies for all of the women in my family. This is an often overlooked side of our history and Cokie Roberts does a good job of examining it.
• Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales - Have you ever had books you just thought you should read? That’s why I’m reading this one. So far I’m pretty disappointed. I like the ones you’d expect – Cinderella, Rapunzel, and a few others. Mostly however, I’m left scratching my head and wondering how most of these fairy tales survived to the present. It’s a very pretty book though – Green leather cover with gold lettering and gold edges on the pages.
• The Assault on Reason by Al Gore – This is a good book for those who embrace reason and wonder why more people don’t. Mr. Gore does a good job of explaining how the Right Wing is using fear to influence Americans rather than allowing reason and facts to be the guide that the Founding Fathers wanted it to be. I’m only part way through this book and will write a book review when I’m done.
• Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business by Eric Qualman – This is a fantastic book for anyone diving into social media and is concerned about how to use it and how it can positively or negatively affect your business. Again, I’m only part way through this book and will write a book review when I’m done.

On my waiting list:

• The Pillars of the Earth (Deluxe Edition) (Oprah’s Book Club) (Paperback)
  
• Lean Six Sigma Demystified: A Self-Teaching Guide
• Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot
  
• Ethics, the Heart of Leadership
  
• Truth and Consequences: Special Comments on the Bush Administration’s War on American Values
  

What are you reading right now? Is there anything you can recommend to me? I’m open to just about anything. Please post your recommendations in the comments below…