… it might be due at least in part to the need to cover the rising incidence of teen pregnancy and STDs under the auspices of the Bush/Republican/right-wing/holier-than-thou “abstinence only” sex education programs.

Yes, it seems that in 2005, just about the time when effects of the Bush-era policies of enforced ignorance might start to be seen, there was a sharp reversal of a long downward trend in the very kinds of teen issues that sex ed classes are supposed to help prevent:

According to the CDC, birth rates among teenagers aged 15 or older had been in decline since 1991 but are up sharply in more than half of American states since 2005. The study also revealed that the number of teenage females with syphilis has risen by nearly half after a significant decrease while a two-decade fall in the gonorrhea infection rate is being reversed. The number of Aids cases in adolescent boys has nearly doubled.

The report becomes more interesting when we take a look at where in the country the biggest upswings in these statistics have happened:

The CDC says that southern states, where there is often the greatest emphasis on abstinence and religion, tend to have the highest rates of teenage pregnancy and STDs.

Now of course correlation is not proof of causation. Just because teens seem more likely to have unprotected nookie in communities where “sex before marriage makes the baby Jesus cry” is deemed a superior alternative to… oh, let’s call it… “reality” – doesn’t mean they’re boinking in large numbers simply because they’re uninformed. But those who might tout the effectiveness or righteousness or whatever of the ignorance-only plan need to give us some evidence that it actually works, and based on this study, that’s clearly not the case.

“Oh”, one might argue, if one was an evangelical nutcase, “the problem is that our abstinence-only efforts aren’t widespread enough to counter the effects of our sinful society!” And, in fact, that’s exactly the argument being made against these statistics:

Kristi Hamrick, a spokeswoman for American Values, which describes itself as a supporter of traditional marriage and “against liberal education and cultural forces”, said the abstinence message is overwhelmed by a culture obsessed with sex.

If there was some truth to this statement, wouldn’t we expect to see significantly higher pregnancy and STD numbers outside Sarah Palin’s “real America”? You know, all those cities packed with them thar commie-lovin’ godless islamo-fascist America-hatin’ inneleck’shul libruls, those places where Christianity is illegal and gay sex is mandated by law and the president isn’t really a Kenyan spy bent on dictatorship?

Aren’t those the folks God is supposed to be punishing with AIDS?

Right way to express disapproval of a culture, tradtion, religion, etc:
Orally or in writing in an appropriate venue, inviting discussion and criticism, and using the interplay as means to refine or revise your argument.

Wrong way:
Murder practitioners of the offending creed. Human beings can sink to some very low depths in the name of glorified tribalism, and the deliberate murder of a pregnant woman and her husband simply because you don’t like the implications of her clothing is a few fathoms down on that scale. (Not so bad as, for instance, killing and/or displacing millions through a misguided invasion of an entire country, just to pick a theoretical example, but a horrible crime nonetheless.)

Muslims are justified in their outrage, in this case, both over the crime itself and the tepid media response to it. They are correct in saying that had a Muslim attacked a member of some other ethnic or religious group, news tickers on every TV news network would have reported the killing over and over at the bottom of the screen during the 24 hour Michael Jackson coverage.

Based on recent history, though, it should be pointed out to the more radical among the Muslim community: justifiable outrage is not an excuse to riot in the streets. Do that and you’re just lending credence to the lunatic fringe that might be inclined to support this man’s actions. Do that and you continue to perpetuate a justifiable-outrage circle-jerk that will keep on begetting violence and distrust on both sides long after you’ve gone off to meet your version of the invisible sky wizard. (Besides, it’s not as if the guy drew a picture of Mohammed or something…)

I should also point out that this man’s vile actions and the seeming lack of western interest in said actions are in no way a repudiation or validation of your repressive, misogynistic traditions. Your head scarves and burqas are the symptoms of a belief system in which women are little more than property, subject to beatings and execution if they, willingly or not, step outside the narrow, puritanical set of behaviors you have defined for them.

Ensign and Sanford are the latest in the GOP (your) Family (not mine) Values crowd to be embroiled in sex scandals. (Who will be next? These things always happen in threes, you know!) These latest are particularly interesting – in Ensign’s case, because it appears he may have used his position to arrange for financial reward and punishment for his mistress, and in Sanford’s case, because he apparently spontaneously abdicated his duties in pursuit of his South American love interest.

Maybe Sanford is smarter than we think – he left the country to have his affair, so he probably can’t be charged under South Carolina’s archaic anti-adultery law. However, that alleged higher law he brought up during his speech reserves a harsher punishment for him than the fine and/or prison time prescribed by state legislation:

The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Leviticus 10:20)

Governor, are you sure it’s a good idea to be bringing up “God’s Law” right now, in a state that’s part of the literalist-leaning Bible Belt?

Well, it’s that time of year again: the annual Easter weekend Blog Against Theocracy, to which I’ve intended to contribute for the past two years, but for which my record of actual participation has been… limited.

I had grandiose ideas this year about doing some actual research on current or past theocratic societies – pointing out some of the abuses of power that came with, say, the Church’s domination of European life through the middle ages, or perhaps a cautionary tale of what life is like under the theo-tyranny of Kim Jong Il today.

But time passed, other business took precedence, and it became clear there wasn’t going to be time for research. So, I thought to myself, why don’t I do something a little more light-hearted? I could find one of those fear-mongering “what if atheists ruled the world” type screeds that are not uncommon on theistic web sites, and write a parody of it (as if those things aren’t self-parodies by their very nature).

But now, as I sit here during the brief lull after the morning egg hunt and traditional devouring of candy and before the afternoon dash to visit a bunch of relatives, I’m guessing even that intention will have to be put aside.

I felt obligated to post something, though, however short and pointless it might be. I felt this way because I think the Blog Against Theo is a great idea that deserves that extra little bit of linkage I can give it. More importantly, though: I had to get that naked picture of Christopher Hitchens scrolled down off the screen.

Science man Myers try say science people more handsomer than orcish not-people? Kerschplat begging difference. In spirit of reason argument, he present contrariness evidence, exhibit A: Christopher Hitchens.

‘Nuff being said.

Yeah, it’s been a few months since the last time I put up a blog post promising it wouldn’t be a few months before my next one, but today while reading a blog I normally enjoy, I read something so horrendous that I was inspired to finally try to remember my password to log on to this here site and post something to express my outrage.

PZ Myers, biologist and outspoken opponent of things superstitious, today for the first time since I’ve been reading his blog made a statement that deeply offended me. I am thoroughly outraged.

He writes:

Not only are the paladins of evolution handsomer, wittier, more charming, and with a deeper grasp of the truth than the orc-like hordes of creationism, but even our ancillary skills are wielded with more effortless panache than our opponents’ primary talents.

Yes, he actually wrote that, and apparently stands by it since it’s still right there for anyone to read. I thought long and hard about just how to reply to this… this disgusting piece, and finally realized that I’m just not qualified to address it in the way it truly deserves.

But I know someone who is.

I mailed a link to Prof. Myers’ screed to an acquaintance. As this screen grab from our webcam chat shows, he was quite visibly disturbed upon reading it.

After he composed himself, I offered to let him use my highly trafficked (my wife looked at it at least twice in 2008… once without me leaving it up on her screen!) blog to issue a reply. So without further ado, please welcome my first ever guest blogger, Kerschplat the Uruk Blackarrow.

Thank to Don for letting use of blog space. Apologize for bad human words – Kerschplat usually eat people, not talk them.

Kerschplat angry today when read hairy science man compare orcs to creationists. Angry long time, then hurt – even cry little – then angry again. Angry feel more natural.

Orcs not have problem with Theory of Evolution. Easy to believe complex organism crawl out of slime – Kerschplat himself crawl out of slime every morning, then go looking for complex organism to squash and eat. Kerschplat live simple and honest life – he disagree someone, he not make up fact or ignore evidence to support argument – he shoot opponent in back, fair and square.

Kerschplat still too angry for eloquent waxiness in reply, so simply say this: Me demand PZ Myers to issue public apologizing to orc kind – included goblins – for slanderous remark. If no say sorry, Kerschplat not afraid to call on evil forces from darkest depths of underworld: lawyers. If PZ not sorrying, Kerschplat take legal action. Maybe get free camera.

Since have attention, Kerschplat do little self-promotion. Am something of artist – squeeze fluids from fallen foes for paint colors – and make picture of early aquatic life frolick near shoreline before emerge onto land. Attach below – please to give feedback in comments. Kerschplat open to critcism so for people who say bad things, Kerschplat do honorable thing and not use slow, painful kill method.

Thank muchness,
Kerschplat

There you have it, an emotional reply from someone to whom this grievous insult was directly… uh… directed. Stick that wafer into your fiery pit of despair and smoke it, Myers!

(Yes, I truly am a master of Photoshop!)

Those African Christians sure do seem to be a devout bunch, making a name for themselves through amusing escapades such as getting lost at sea on a balloon chair for God or the persecution of accused child witches.

Not to be outdone by Balloon Boy, one Franck Kabele, apparent recipient of a vision from God informing him it was time to go out and perform a miracle, led his congregation to a beach and told them he was going to walk on water.

Astute readers will probably already see where this is going.

So Mr. Kabele strolled out into an estuary, brimming with his love and faith in Christ… and drowned.

(This piece of news dates back to 2006, but for some reason has been making the rounds in the last week or so. Maybe his followers have finally tired of waiting for him to come back from the dead?)

Want something a little more recent? Check out http://www.paliban.org, a new site spoofing those whose belief system might be frighteningly similar to that of our former potential vice-president.

I’ve taken the core code from the WordPress SkeptiQuote plugin and used it to build a simple Drupal block module. Like its predecessor, it picks a random quote from The Skeptic’s Annotated Bible and displays it on your page.

SkeptiQuote for Drupal ZIP

SkeptiQuote for Drupal tarball

Forget the War on Christmas(tm)… we as a society have forgotten the true meaning of Halloween!

(Yeah, so I’m a day late.)

I’ve noticed lately after looking at a lot of blog and content management packages that random Bible quote plugins are widely available, but I couldn’t find anything equivalent for skeptical sorts like me – so I made my own.

It’s called SkepiQuote, and it’s currently available as a simple WordPress widget, though versions for other packages are planned. It picks randomly from a selection of quotes stolen borrowed with permission from The Skeptic’s Annotated Bible.

From the readme file (typos and all… grrr):

SkeptiQuote Wordpress Plugin
@2008 by Don Lloyd
Version 1.0

Updates and variations will be found at http://www.drl2.com/blog/?cat=8

Tested on WordPress 2.5 and 2.6.3

————-

I’ve been tinkering with various blog and CMS packages lately and noticed that almost every one of them has an available plugin that displays random quotes from the Bible and/or other holy books. Unfortunately there was nothing for those of us of a more skeptical bent, so I decided to create one to exercise some long-atrophied PHP muscles (I’ve been stuck in the .NET world since PHP 3 was new) and to get a little familiar with the world of plugin creation.

The included quote file is built from a collection gathered from the Bible, the Quran, and the Book of Mormon by Steve Wells of The Skeptic’s Annotated Bible (http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/) and highlight some of the… let’s call them unsavory aspects of those tomes.

————-

INSTALLATION: Just put the SkeptiQuote directory into your WordPress plugins folder, then activate the plugin and place the widget via the WP management console just as you would any other widget. Check the WordPress site for widget install instructions if you’re unfamiliar with the process.

————-

This software comes with no warranty, guarantee, assurance, promise, or suggestion of stability, functionality, or magical powers. It comes only with the statement that it’s worked for me so far.

Feel free to use and abuse SkeptiQuote any way you want. Setting it up as a generic random quote engine is easy – just follow the instructions in quotes.php to add your own text.

I do have a couple of requests of anyone who uses this:

- If you keep the supplied quotes, please keep the links to http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/ intact – Steve undoubtedly put a lot more work into collecting those quotes than I did in stealing them (with premission) from javascript files on his site.

- If your site is related to skepticism, atheism, etc., a link to my blog (http://www.drl2.com/blog) would be a nice gesture… I don’t have nearly enough people showing up to batter my fragile ego by disagreeing with me!

————-

TO(possibly sometime eventually if the mood strikes)DO list:

- Implement some more advanced formatting capabilities such as optional category/source name display (quotes.php is built with separate sources already in anticipation of this)
- It strikes me as rather inefficient to load in a huge list of quotes every time the code is run; would be better to pick a number then randomly access the quotes file to find the corresponding line. Need to think about how to do this without compromising easy end-user quote editability.
- Add an optional refresh or “next quote” type button and Ajax-ify the refresh.

————-

Versions of SkeptiQuote for other CMS., etc. packages are planned. Check http://www.drl2.com/blog/?cat=8 for the latest.

Download SkeptiQuote here in whichever file format you prefer:

SkeptiQuote Widget .tar.gz file

SkeptiQuote Widget ZIP file

Look up in the top right corner of this page to see the widget in action!