Does this image offend you?

I saw this image of Michelle Obama and a chimp on the news last week and heard about the uproar it caused and immediately I wondered why? After all, how many times have we seen those images of President Bush being compared to a chimp? The media didn't seem to be too upset about that. If the image of Bush didn't offend you then the image of Michelle Obama shouldn't either, right?. After all, they are only making fun of an uncanny resemblance aren't they? If you ARE offended by the Michelle Obama comparison and not by the Bush comparison then I argue that you should be just as offended by the theory of evolution. After all, isn't that what you're upset about? The comparison is saying that Michelle looks more like a chimp; that she's not quite as evolved. I know most people wouldn't know this (because the media today has been in a love affair with the theory of evolution) but Charles Darwin was a renowned racist and his theory is a product of it. He is essentially saying that people of darker skin (like Michelle Obama) are not as evolved as those with lighter skin (like Bush). Instead of getting upset with the image of Michelle and the chimp, you should be absolutely livid about the fact that such a racist theory is being taught in our public schools uncontested. Darwin and his racist theory is being force-fed to our society because it explains away God. If you don't believe me go rent Ben Stein's documentary "Expelled". The next time you see Darwin on another magazine cover just think about how aghast he would be today at the fact that we have a black president! Fair and balanced? I think not.

John's finest basketball game

Went to see John play basketball on Friday evening and he had the absolute best game he's ever had in all his years playing! At the beginning of the game he scored the first 8 points as the Spurs jumped out to an 8-0 lead. He showed a new aggressiveness around the hoop and took advantage of his rebounding ability by putting back several of his teammates' missed shots. He also took the ball to the hoop strong as well as sinking 3 of his 4 free-throw attempts. The Spurs ended up losing the game but John was clearly the star of the evening. He's come a long long way since making his first 2 baskets in the wrong hoop back when he was 6 years old!

Practice

February is not too early to get a head start on the 2009 baseball season. We've secured a secret empty warehouse and have set up a batting cage so that the Boone County Bandits can practice no matter the weather. The cage is very nice and comes with an L-screen so that I won't get pegged by line drives from these boys. They are getting a bit to big to be throwing batting practice unprotected! While Spring may not be in the air outside, it certainly is inside...just don't tell anyone about our secret Bandits training facility!!!
---

It was 40 years ago today...

I don't feel a day over 39...

2008-09 Upward Cards

Just finished the Upward basketball cards for the kids. This is Katie Grace's 1st year on a card!
---

Urbane Planning

(click on cartoon to enlarge)

My latest column

Take a deep breath folks. Now is not the time to panic. It’s not all gloom and doom. If history can teach us anything it is that we always rebound from economic mayhem. I was always told growing up that when hard times hit you have to take advantage of them. In this case we have the perfect planning opportunity staring us right in the face. Picture yourself going back in time 20 years just prior to the big housing boom in Kentucky that hit us like a tsunami. In hindsight what would you do differently? We are in another lull if you will; the proverbial calm before another storm of economic stimulus. Now is the time and now is the hour. In 2029 we don’t want to look back to 2009 and say, “man, I wish we would have planned for the growth we’ve seen the past 2 decades.” Borrowing a staple of every planning conference PowerPoint presentation, we need to examine very closely the ‘lessons learned’ of the past 15 years and retool for the future. Sure, the zoning permits are down right now but that shouldn’t mean that we stop “planning”. To the contrary, we should be doing more planning than ever! We need to refocus from the short-term and start preparing for the long-term planning horizon. What a perfect time to update your Comprehensive Plan! Anyone up for a small town plan? Why putt off that corridor study any longer? You’ve got the time now Mr. Planner. No excuses Ms. Planner. The possibilities are endless and the impact will be immense. The worst thing we planners and planning commissions can do right now is to sit around waiting and hoping for the economy to get back up to speed. Plan for it and they will come. Don’t plan for it and they’ll still come...

Protestors prove Ben Stein's point without realizing it!

Doesn't this just prove Ben Stein's point even more?

Comedian Ben Stein Cancels Speech Over Evolution Controversy
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 - Associated Press

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Comedian Ben Stein has withdrawn as the University of Vermont's commencement speaker because of complaints about his critical views on evolution in favor of intelligent design.

UVM President Daniel Fogel said he chose Stein based on the warm response to a lecture he gave on campus last spring. Fogel said, however, he was deluged with e-mail messages from people offended by Stein's views of science.

When told about the criticism, Stein — who was to be paid $7,500 — backed out of the May 17 commencement, Fogel said. "I did not ask him not to come," he said. "I was not going to let him be blind-sided by controversy."

The former host of Comedy Central's "Win Ben Stein's Money" quiz show, Stein has drawn fire previously for criticizing evolutionary theory and speaking in favor of intelligent design. That view holds that life is too complex to have developed through evolution alone, implying that a higher power must have had a hand in creation. Stein told the Burlington Free Press that he was not "anti-science" as some critics have labeled him. "I am far more pro-science than the Darwinists," Stein wrote in an e-mail to the newspaper. "I want all scientific inquiry to happen not just what the ruling clique calls science."

He said the controversy over him as commencement choice was "laughable" and "pathetic."
Fogel said he was sorry that he did not anticipate the extent and intensity of the concerns expressed about Stein.

Stein, 64, a graduate of Yale Law School, worked as a Federal Trade Commission lawyer and wrote speeches for presidents Nixon and Ford. As an actor, he is best known by some as the droll teacher in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

In a 2008 documentary entitled "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," he asserted that scientists are afraid to challenge the theory of evolution because they fear they'll be ostracized or fired.

Super Bowl/Chili cook-off party

We went to a Super Bowl/Chili cook-off party Sunday night and had a blast. The chili was great as I had 4 bowls of 4 different kinds of chili and they were all great! The game was very exciting too all the way to the end. Unfortunately, the Steelers won and thus giving their weirdo fanbase cause to annoy us to no end with another 12 months of their idol worship. Can you tell I am not looking forward to this? Seriously, we had a great time and I am still as full as a tick. Good times.