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Comment by Joan Denoo on April 14, 2012 at 2:12pm

Sarah, isn't that a familiar story! There is an old saying that one is who he/she was when ten years old. I don't believe that, most of us can incorporate new beliefs and styles; on the other hand, have you noticed the generational differences in how one fixes his/her hair or trims fingernails. So many of the generation older than I still wear hair styles and nail trims as that generation. I know, it is a stereotype; just saying ....  

Add to that the beliefs taught children from the day they are born about faith and belief and we can begin to understand the formidable challenges change creates

Comment by Joan Denoo on April 14, 2012 at 2:05pm

@ chris tidman How does 

"I couldn't find The Flying Atheist at LinkedIn.  You are obviously a fake." 

How does not finding  him in LinkedIn make The Flying Atheist a fake? 

I am in LinkedIn; does that make me not a fake? 

What has LinkedIn got to do with making one fake or not fake? 

I have been invited into many Who's Who directories; does that make me not a fake? Does the fact that I decline the "honor" make me fake or not fake? 

Comment by Sarah Walton on April 14, 2012 at 2:00pm

Joan: Tell me about it! I'm especially interested in astronomy and I am amazed daily by new developments in the field.

I took an earth science class in university, and my professor told us that when he was going to university there were several geology professors who refused to teach plate tectonics, stubbornly refusing to see the preponderance of evidence. My professor observed that they probably knew damn well that the theory was right, but hen they'd have to back down on a lifetime of professional science work!

Comment by Joan Denoo on April 14, 2012 at 1:55pm

@Sarah, what a great idea! And the great thing about having these sciences as a hobby means you never run out of material to read or experience and there are new discoveries daily.

My Dad did not "believe" in tectonic plates of the planet and we had some really stupid arguments. But it was a generational thing. He had a lot to teach me, but not about geology. 

Kind of like religion. There may be some aspects that enrich one's life, such as community, but it is not a history or science tradition.

The difference is, geology, biology, and astronomy are based on observable facts and those facts change often, not to diminish the science, but to make it more accurate.

Religion is a failed social paradigm because it bases its "facts" on stories, myths, wishful thinking, and the desire to be dependent. Too bad the dependence exists as a dream, not a reality. 

Comment by Sarah Walton on April 14, 2012 at 1:34pm

Chantal & Joan: I've been watching a lot of geology documentaries lately, getting me interested in a topic I wasn't previously interested in. Maybe I'll look into some geo classes as well; I was considering auditing biology and astronomy classes just so I can play with their lab equipment!

Comment by The Flying Atheist on April 14, 2012 at 1:32pm

Chris, paying monthly to be in a club such as the Stanford Who's Who doesn't give you a credible reputation, it just provides you with PR marketing exposure.  

Comment by Joan Denoo on April 14, 2012 at 12:31pm

@Chantal Wallace I am sure there are classes still. I lived there in 1970-75 when the Community College at Killeen first opened. We were stationed at Fort Hood. Our classes went on some wonderful excursions all around central Texas looking for different features. I've forgotten the details, but a good geology map will show you where to look for different geologic zones. Chantal, I envy you the opportunity to explore these places. 
In those days, we had a truck that held a motorcycle for my husband, smaller motor bikes for each of our three children, and a little putt-putt that I rode up and down the river cuts looking for fossils. We pulled our little Starcraft trailer along behind and loaded both the truck and trailer with fossils. Over the years I have given them away most or they got left behind. However, I still have a nice collection of fossils of central Texas. 

One of the really great things about fossil hunting is you meet some very interesting people. One day, our three children and I were at an old mission that was built by Indians for a catholic priest that travelled with explorers. The mission grounds were built on an ancient burial sight of pre-European Indians.
I discovered information about it in the stacks of a college library in Georgetown. Searching out the site, we had to go through open ranch land, through barbed wire fences, drive up and down river cuts. It wasn't a road to the mission, it was an ancient native trail.
At the site, we found archeologists digging up an old native burial ground. The kids and I watched them separate the bones and artifacts out of the ground.
My three 10-year olds went off by themselves and I stayed with the archeologists. One of the archeologists went over to see what the kids were doing ... they had dug a hole, gathered small sticks and arranged them in the ground as though they were a human burial, covered it up, and then "discovered" their "burial". We all laughed. 

Happy hunting Chantal. 

Comment by Chantal Wallace on April 14, 2012 at 8:08am

That was beautiful Joan! I live in Texas. Is there anyway I could take those classes? :)

Comment by Greg LeGore on April 14, 2012 at 6:26am

@Sarah:  LOL - great to start a Saturday AM with a bit of humor, thanks.

@Joan:  Thank you for sharing that important point; the Dakotas have similar outcroppings which provide similar insights.

Comment by Joan Denoo on April 14, 2012 at 2:14am

Cretaceous period animals and plants images 

https://www.google.com/search?q=Cretaceous+period+animals+and+plant...

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