In a rare moment of intellectual honesty, the 34% of Americans who believe the Bible presents the literal truth of creation agreed that in addition banning evolutionary teaching in schools, all other creation stories should be given equal time and weight in the science classroom. "I am not at all proposing that we exclude any information from the classroom. I want to open up the floodgates," said parent Marjorie Rogers.

The 35% of Americans who believe evolution is supported by evidence were not impressed.

The Cobb County disclaimer sticker, which currently reads "This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered" will be retained. Students will be asked to carefully study and critically consider whether:

Hawaii was created by the goddess Pele with her magic stick Pa'oa. Pele won the island after a fire ball fight with `Ailaau.

Whether dry land was fixed into place by Raven, an Inuit child god depicted as a man with a raven's beak. Night and day were created when Raven broke a bladder and allowed light to escape.

Whether the winds were created when Ite, daughter of Waziya and Wakanka, gave birth to them, according to Dakota beliefs.

Whether the moon and stars are the offspring of Coatlique, according to Aztec belief, after Caotlique was impregnated by an obsidian knife.

Whether all life derives from Nu, bubbling, chaotic waters fundamental to Egyptian belief.

Whether all human were carved with stone knives by the Ungambikula, according to Australian Aboriginal belief.

Whether human life comes from the giant Ymir feeding off the cow Audhumla, according to Norse belief.

Thanks to Magic Tails for a number of good links.

The quote from Ms. Rogers is taken out of context. She was arguing specifically for the inclusion of intelligent design instruction.

Study: Learning to Run Propelled Evolution

AP, November 18, 2004

New research suggests that developing the ability to -- run long thought to be a byproduct of walking for early man -- was actually an instrumental step in the evolution of people from ape-like creatures into what we know today as humans.

In a study published in Thursday's edition of the journal Nature, University of Utah biology professor Dennis Bramble and Harvard anthropologist Daniel Lieberman conclude that natural selection favored early humans who had genetic mutations that accommodated running.

Over time, that included a narrowed waist, shorter forearms, larger buttocks and skull modifications allowing the body to cool itself.

The research suggests that primitive man's evolution from walking to running was fundamental to human evolution -- forsaking the capacity to live in trees, but vastly improving the species' ability to find food and ultimately becoming anatomically similar to the way we are today.

They also hypothesize that running preceded brain enlargement -- and may have precipitated brain development by allowing primitive man to locate and consume more protein.

"The structure of specializations required for hunting are sort of counter to those that are useful for climbing," Bramble said. "We sort of favor the notion that humans may have evolved running initially to increase their intake. But not through hunting -- probably through scavenging."

Bramble estimates early man walked for 2.5 million to 3 million years before finally developing running ability.

Free Republic forums

oh brother and this is the kind of science you get when you start from a faulty premise to begin with. how about that human beings were perfectly designed to work...six days a week. (link)

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I am an engineer and I look at this stuff through those glasses. The premise is that evolution changes things over time and improves them yes? So why are we not covered with fur? Fur provides a natural covering so that we do not need to develop clothing, etc. Did evolution know that we could learn to make cloths?

Also, what is the basis of balding. As I see it, keeping the head warm has been proven to be instrumental since a huge amount of body heat is loss through the head. Did evolution know that we would be smart enough to make hats?(link)

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Living in aquatic environment is another strong possibility. Even primates walk on two feet when they cross a body of water.(link)