creationism isn't a theory.
it kills me when they say 'teach facts' when in fact they don't want to teach facts.

the scotus ruled that they can't teach religion in science class, but some continue to try to find clever ways to get around that ruling.
and then we wonder why other countries are passing us in science. probably because we have too many school districts who don't understand what a scientific Theory is-so how can they teach what they don't understand? or what they deny, when evolution is as proven as something can be.
besides, evolution explains the diversity of life-not how it began. creationism isn't science, the bible isn't a science book. when someone says 'we didn't descend from no monkeys', they're right. but they don't know why they're right.
these school people are entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. it's too bad they refuse to teach science in science. the law should be repealed.
this is one of the things i do have an issue with regarding religion. it's one thing to wish to go to church, to worship as you choose...but quite another to force your beliefs on an entire school full of other peoples children, and break the law in the process...and then they get angry when they get called out for it, because they think they're doing nothing wrong.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...x-tourism.html

WTF?:zz:

As a member of PETA and other animal rights organizations, I certainly agree with the new law. The fact that it's a new law is astonishing to say the least but bestiality is unfortunately nothing new and is practiced throughout the world.

Eh, I clicked through and read the actual thing put out by the university, and I don't see the big deal. Ask people what they want to be called and then call them that. Big deal. I had a boss who HATED being called "Jon" as his name was Jonathan. Like, he'd stop and correct you. So, we called him Jonathan.

"They" was used to describe someone in third person singular by Chaucer. That's hardly a new innovation.

:tro:

yeah...i don't see what the big deal is about that. it's common courtesy to call someone by the name they prefer, isn't it? i guess the only 'facepalm' that would be needed, is to find that people have to be told to use someone's preferred moniker!

Yeah, I would find the future requirement to refer to any of the republican clones running for the Presidency as "Mr President".

One suggestion is to ask “students to write down preferred names and pronouns” on the first day while also keeping in mind that just because a student wanted a particular pronoun on the first day doesn’t mean that he/she/they/zi/zie will always want that pronoun because “a person’s gender identity may change over time.”

Right. Because I feel my gender changing daily. Hell, hourly. And you need to respect that and consider my feelings each time you address me.

“Some genders include masculine, feminine, genderqueer (queer, fluid, or non-binary gender identity), agender (neutral or non-existent gender identity and/or expression), cisgender (gender identity and/or expression that is “cis,” or “on the same side as,” assigned sex category), and transgender (any gender identity or expression that differs from sex assignment). Trans refers to a range of non-cisgender identities, including transgender and transsexual.”

Don't offend me, bro!

hyperbole....

hy·per·bo·le


/hīˈpərbəlē/


noun

noun: hyperbole; plural noun: hyperboles





exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.




synonyms:

exaggeration, overstatement, magnification, embroidery, embellishment, excess, overkill, rhetoric; More



em·pa·thy


/ˈempəTHē/


noun

noun: empathy





the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

I'm offended. You don't respect me, my feelings or my viewpoint. Boo hoo.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bobby-jin...t-gay-marriage


talk about a disingenuous argument. he says we shouldn't 'discriminate' against people who don't want to do their job for some customers. so, he is arguing that a religious right is a greater right than the right of a human being to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. that someone's right to use religion is a greater right than a person to be given the same civil rights as everyone else. religious belief isn't a greater right. one can dislike gay marriage, hold opinions against it, but at the end of the day, if you're a businessperson, open to the public, you must follow th law. all are granted equal protection under the law-no one is granted greater protection under the law.
a business doesn't hold a religious belief. and god forbid public servants can stop doing their job due to their private beliefs.
render unto god what is gods, render unto ceasar what is ceasars...and all that.
one can deny an individual a service based on clothing (no shoes, no shirt, no service) or drunkeness (bars witholding because you've had too much) bu no one can discriminate against an entire class of people.
good lord, people could have used this argument when it was segregation-actually some did...just like religion was used to defend slavery.

ob·tuse


/əbˈt(y)o͞os,äbˈt(y)o͞os/


adjective

adjective: obtuse



1.



annoyingly insensitive or slow to understand.

"he wondered if the doctor was being deliberately obtuse"




synonyms:

stupid, slow-witted, slow, dull-witted, unintelligent, ignorant, simpleminded, witless;

Have you ever been called by a name or gender that you don’t identify with? Misgendering someone is disrespectful and dismissive. One way to misgender is to assume you know someone’s gender via their appearance and to call them a name or pronoun that they don’t identify with. Misgendering can also occur when you teach as if your entire class is male. The best practice is to use words daily with intention and care.

To avoid unintentionally creating a sexist and homophobic classroom environment, during discussions do not limit yourself to male examples or heterosexual examples. Teachers can and should honor the breadth of experience and potential in students’ lives by discussing women, gender non-conforming, and LGBT-identified people. For example, avoid giving examples that assume that all doctors are men.

The first day of class can be stressful for both teachers and students. Rather than beginning class by calling roll and potentially addressing a student by a name or pronoun that they do not use, here are some strategies for being inclusive on the first day: 1) Ask students to introduce themselves or 2) Ask students to write down preferred names and pronouns. Also consider including the Gender-Inclusive/Non-Sexist Language Syllabi Statement in your syllabi to let students know that you want your classroom to be an inclusive space.

Keep in mind that the University of Pittsburgh provides an option for students to provide their Preferred Name in Courseweb and on 28 pages in PeopleSoft. The Preferred Name will only display on these 28 pages if a student has taken steps to add a Preferred Name. In this way, students can and should be proactive about making changes. However, faculty and staff should be cognizant that they might see a discrepancy between names throughout University systems.

Here are a few strategies to keep in mind when meeting regularly with a group of people for a class or event: If you are not sure what name or pronoun someone uses, ask! Respect a person’s identity by calling them by the name and pronouns that they use. Keep in mind that a person’s gender identity may change over time. Be open to changes in gender pronouns.

You may slip up and use the wrong gender pronoun when referring to another person. This is okay. However, don't pretend you didn't use the incorrect pronoun. If you make a mistake, take accountability for your error by correcting yourself before continuing your conversation. Everyone in the space will appreciate your effort.

We hope to foster a culture of inclusivity throughout the University of Pittsburgh. The best way to keep up with all of this information is to stay educated. Check out some of the resources below if you have questions or want to learn more.



TOOLS FOR WRITING

Terms to Use to Avoid Sexist Language

Language to Use
Language Not to Use

humankind
mankind

chair or chairperson
chairman

first year student
freshman

firefighter
fireman

flight attendant
stewardess

police officer
policeman

congressperson
congressman




How to Use Gender-Inclusive Pronouns for Third Person Singular

subject
object
possessive adjective
possessive pronoun
reflexive

they
them
their
theirs
themselves

ze/zie
zim
zir
zirs
zirself




Example Sentences:

they (subject):

They love coffee!

ze (subject):

Ze loves coffee!



them (object):

I asked them to meet me in the library.

zim (object):

I asked zim to meet me in the library.



their (possessive adjective):

I read their book in my composition class.

zir (possessive adjective):

I read zir book in my composition class.



themselves (reflexive):

They taught themselves to play the guitar.

zirself (reflexive):

Ze taught zirself to play the guitar.


Small wonder that so many grads of the moral relativist idealist ultramodernist campus carnival find themselves ill prepared to make their way in the world.

This morning my preferred pronoun is Yum Yum.

Refusing someone a job, meal or drink because of sexuality, using religion as the reason is pure and simple discrimination.

Forcing an individual to partake in a gay marriage ceremony ignoring their religious rights is the same thing, discrimination.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_a...gerprints.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...310_story.html

Absolutely sickening and appalling
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...c97_story.html

Note the second paragraph!! The FBI was troubled by their findings...so they stopped reviewing! They had to be forced to resume

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...c97_story.html

Other than that how bout this heartwarming story..on ABC news tonite.

I read the story...dont see how they ever thought they could make her reimburse.
however.......a place i worked at years ago was robbed, and that employee on shift, like this one in the story, didnt keep her drawer at a low level. We had a drop safe...soon as you were handed a 20, you were to drop it. Convenience stores and the like have a rule where you keep 35 or less in your drawer, so that you dont become even more of a target for robbers...c stores are so often a target, so they dont want to become known as a place with easily accessible high amounts of cash.

She wasn't fired for not reimbursing the company but rather for not following company policy. She was 'afforded' a chance to get her job back if she paid back the stolen money (that was not supposed to be in the drawer).

Poor publicity move IMO for Popeyes but I hate their chicken.

She should seek work at Chick fil A, much better product. ;)

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...ic-charities-/

Utterly ridiculous, and time for the Church to get out of the illegal care business. Illegals be damned as far as the heartless ACLU is concerned.

She is just unlucky to be working for the wrong company. Had she been working for AIG and didn't follow policy causing the company to lose Billions she would have been rewarded with a huge bonus

http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2009/03/1...he-passengers/