About Chris McCoy’s review of the television series Cosmos …
McCoy writes: “Tyson opts to tell the specific story of the evolution of the eye (which even Darwin said was the biggest hole in his theory) as a way to both educate the audience about the nuts and bolts of natural selection and to preempt a common counter-argument.”
The sentence on the whole is true, but the parenthetical is not. Darwin never said that the evolution of the eye was the biggest hole in his theory. In On the Origin of Species, Darwin said that it “seems” to be a problem and then goes on to explain how it isn’t, the way Tyson did in Cosmos, except without as much detail.
Creationists have repeated the sentence with the word “seems” in it so may times that people often believe that Darwin thought it was a problem. He did not; he nailed it.
Bill Runyan
About early school times for Shelby County high-schoolers …
I am a senior at White Station High School. As many parents, students, and early work go-ers know, the school times of Shelby County Schools have shifted. No longer does every school start at the same time, which in theory sounds convenient. In reality, the changed school times are just the opposite.
High schoolers are late by 7 a.m. In my first period, I seldom see a day when the morning’s first lessons are anying but a joke. The struggle for a full night’s sleep was already a challenge from homework, extracurricular activities, family time, etc. Now, it’s futile. Frustratingly enough, elementary schools start at a fantastic 9 a.m. These are usually the kids who are awake and running around at 6 a.m. anyway. Couldn’t SCS switch the school times for elementary and high schools?
Not only is a successful sleep pattern now harder to attain, but this new system proves to be more expensive for parents of multiple children. Many parents have complained that they now have to enroll their younger children in a before- or after-care program in order to get their older children to school on time.
Sasha Braus
About Jackson Baker’s recounting of the Judge Joe Brown brouhaha and arrest …
That mugshot deserves a caption: “We don’t need no stinking badges!”
Poots
About Frank Murtaugh’s story on the Tigers, “Who Was This Team?”…
Josh actually isnt that bad of an Xs and Os coach. His problem is his stubborness and arrogance. He’s prepared for this his entire life. Even Ray Charles can see the adjustments that he needs to make on a game-by-game basis. I think he over-committed to this senior class, and he rode with them come hell or high water.
KD’edrick Lewis
About a 2012 Flyer cover story “Wild Memphis,” which somehow resurfaced as a topic for our commenters …
To all the naysayers here, Shelby Forest has a breeding population of cougars and has had for years. Even some of the TWRA folks will admit to it.
Doug Webb
About Greg Akers’ post “When American Pickers Met Prince Mongo …”
Excuse me, while somebody is in the Mongo warehouse, would they mind looking for the chimpanzee skeleton …
CL Mullins
