South Dakota SB 112

No, Senator Monroe, it isn’t a societal debate. It’s about teaching science vs. teaching religious based pseudoscience in public schools. 

http://notdistrictdialogue.tumblr.com/post/75182557892/intelligent-design-bill-coming-soon

South Dakota SB 112

South Dakota legislators introduced a new bill this week, SB 112 which will protect teachers that choose to teach intelligent design in their classrooms.

SB 112: An Act to prohibit schools from preventing the instruction of intelligent design.

Bill Text: BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:

Section 1. That chapter 13-33 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows: No school board or school administrator may prohibit a teacher in public or nonpublic school from providing instruction on intelligent design or other related topics.

If this bill passes, it is a gross church-state violation. Let’s be honest - intelligent design is teaching creationism, which is teaching Christianity in public schools. 

Intelligent design is also not science. The theory of evolution is based on sound evidence, intelligent design is not. 

The bill sponsors also obviously didn’t put a lot of time into writing the bill, which is one somewhat vague sentence. They probably didn’t realize that the way SB 112 is worded, it is also opening it up for teachers to not be prohibited from teaching that intelligent design is pseudoscience. I’m also guessing they didn’t spend any time reviewing the case of Kitzmiller v. Dover, where a federal judge ruled that it is unconstitutional to teach intelligent design in public schools. 

There’s also the very vague “or other related topics” tacked onto the end of the bill - what does that mean? Teaching the Bible would be a “related topic,” but it would be a definite no-no to preach the gospel in public schools.

My fellow South Dakotans, you need to contact your legislators and let them know that this bill is unconstitutional. Right now, it is in the Senate Education Committee. Listed below is the contact information for the bill’s sponsors as well as the members of the Senate Education Committee. Be polite, but let them know that this is wrong.

SENATE SPONSORS:
Monroe, Jeff 605-222-7829 
Jensen, Phil 605-343-1335 
Lederman, Dan 605-232-0050 
Otten, Ernie 605-368-5716 
Rampelberg, Bruce 605-390-2165 
Van Gerpen, Bill 605-589-3064 

HOUSE SPONSORS:
Greenfield, Brock 605-773-3851
Craig, Scott 605-342-0999
Haggar, Don 605-360-8130
Haggar, Jenna 605-610-9779
Schoenfish, Kyle 605-660-6468
Steele, Manny 605-335-7036
Wick, Hal 605-332-1360

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 
Soholt, Deb 605-321-5931 sen.soholt@state.sd.us
Maher, Ryan 605-466-2371 sen.maher@state.sd.us
Curd, Blake 605-339-8918 sen.curd@state.sd.us
Jensen, Phil 605-343-1335 sen.jensen@state.sd.us
Jones, Chuck 605-997-3510 sen.jones@state.sd.us
Rampelberg, Bruce 605-390-2165  sen.rampleberg@state.sd.us
Welke, Chuck 605-229-1467 sen.welke@state.sdu.us

Greek Salad

I need, need, need to get back into the habit of blogging daily. I don't know what it is, but I've been extremely unmotivated in this area, but extra motivated in other areas. I guess it all evens out.

I had the Mediterranean Salad at Old Chicago last weekend, and it was yummy. It inspired me to whip together a Greek Salad of my own. This is a super easy and tasty meal for those busy weeknights.

Here's what you'll need...

• Lettuce (whatever kinds, blends you desire)
• A tomato, chopped
• 1/2 a cucumber, sliced
• croutons
• parmesan cheese
• 2 oz. feta cheese
• black olives
• 1 chicken breast 
• garlic
• black pepper
• sea salt
• olive oil
• Kraft Greek Vinaigrette dressing

Put a small amount of olive oil in a fry pan and fry the chicken breast. Season with garlic, sea salt, and pepper. Once cooked, cut into thin strips.

Combine other ingredients. Most of these ingredients, how much you'll add just depends on your personal preference. Add chicken and toss. Top with Kraft Greek Vinaigrette dressing.

Super simple, but a super tasty combination. 

<3 M

Crazy. Busy. Hectic. Life!

I've been absolutely awful about blogging as of late. Life has been crazy - I had thought that everything would calm down after the holidays, but instead everything seems to have gone into hyperdrive. And honestly, February is looking busier than January! I'm busy, busy, busy with work and planning my campaign for President of my secular group. I'm not going to be able to piece together much more for coherent thoughts tonight due to sleep deprivation, but I thought I'd drop by and say hi.

Hi.

<3 M

Go Away MRAs

I came across a particularly vile blog post today:

http://www.returnofkings.com/2099/the-9-ugliest-american-feminists

This piece of utter crap is from the blog Return of Kings, which of course, is referring to the return of traditional gender roles where the male is the "king" and the woman is subservient. And who brings us this blog overflowing with the sewage of the earth? MRAs of course.

If you're not familiar with MRAs, it stands for Mens Rights Activists. However, what these fools call rights are actually just them being sexist pigs. They basically argue that women should stay in the kitchen, pop out endless offspring, and of course, look really pretty for their man. Men, meanwhile, should sit atop their thrones, being waited on, and having sex with whichever women they choose. Feminists are their sworn enemy, and they despise any female with an education and less than 4 inch stilettos. They have a couple of "issues" that they really push - like sexism in regards to custody battles, but for the most part they just really wish they were Don Draper.

Well, fuck you MRAs.

Kitchen Aid Garlic Mozzarella Loaf

Ever since I got my amazing Kitchen Aid stand mixer for Christmas, I just want to use it all the time. Like every single day. I can't help it - that thing is a rock star. I really can't sing its praises enough. If you don't have one, I'm sorry. I mean, I really am sorry. It does everything - mixes perfectly, so many speeds, shreds meats, kneads bread... the list goes on. One of the many fantastic things you can do with your Kitchen Aid is make Garlic Mozzarella Loaf.

This stuff is dangerous!

You'll need...

• 1 envelope active dry yeast
• 3 cups bread flour
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1 tbsp. honey
• salt (I used about 3 grinds from my grinder. Probably around 1 teaspoon)
• olive oil 
• mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 stick butter
• garlic
• oregano
• basil
• parsley 

Stir together yeast, 1 cup warm water, and honey. I just put this right into the Kitchen Aid bowl. Let yeast proof for 5 minutes - the honey gives the yeast something to munch on. A bubbly foam should form on the surface of the water. If it does, your yeast is good to go. Add flour, salt, and remaining 1/4 cup water in, mixing on low speed (I used the dough hook for this). The dough is thoroughly mixed once it is clinging to the hook and not sticking to the sides of the bowl. Let the Kitchen Aid knead the dough for an additional 5 minutes. Grease a mixing bowl and put the dough in it. Cover with a dish towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

1 hour later, punch that bitch down (I'm talking about the dough). This is really the best part of making bread. Feeling mad, sad, angry... make some bread, punch some dough. :) Separate dough into two portions and form each one into a long loaf. You could make one big loaf, but as I'm usually only cooking for me and the hubs, I like to freeze one loaf. Put these loaves on a cookie sheet, cover, and let raise for 45 minutes. 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake for 20 minutes. 

While it's baking, you're going to want to whip up your garlic butter sauce. This part is a bit sketch, because I don't ever measure spices. I just throw stuff in until it looks/smells/tastes good. This always works for me, but I realize it may be a little nerve-wracking for those of you who don't trust your 6th spice adding sense. Melt the butter down to a liquid in the microwave and add a generous amount of garlic, basil, oregano, and parsley. Also, slice your mozzarella into thin slices.

Once you've removed the bread from the oven, brush with the garlic butter sauce. Really slather that on - this is no time to count calories. Return to oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool long enough that you can slice it without it deflating. 

Once the bread has cooled enough, make slice marks half way through the loaf, horizontally about 1 inch apart (don't cut all the way through). Slather with garlic butter sauce (making sure to let it drizzle down into those cuts) and place mozzarella slices in the incisions. Put in oven until cheese melts. Serve warm.

This stuff is tasty, and goes great with pasta. It also tastes fantastic with an olive oil/herb drizzle. 

Happy baking!

<3 M

On the Crest of a New Wave

I thought I'd just ad a quick blurb, since it's been a few days and I feel like I should write something. This blog had 78 views today - that's crazy! I really didn't think that anyone would ever read anything that I wrote here. Thank-you, if you've checked any of it out.

I feel like I'm on the crest of a new wave in my life. This seems to happen to me periodically, but I think it has usually been for the best. I started the job that I'm at 5 1/2 years ago. Prior to that, I worked for an awful greasy fast food chain - I was an assistant manager there. I was treated poorly, overworked, underpaid, and unappreciated. Due to that kind of treatment, I had a terrible nasty attitude and it made me into a negative person 24/7, not just when I was at work. When I started at the job I'm currently at, I vowed to turn over a new leaf in all aspects of my life, and I have. However, along with being a nicer, friendlier person, I also became a person that was afraid to make waves in all aspects of life. I entirely let people walk all over me. Until yesterday...

Yesterday I hit my tipping point. You can only take so much before you break or you make a change. I opted for the later. It's funny because I've put up with a lot... and one little email was what did it. And I raged and was upset and frustrated yesterday...

But today I woke up ready to change things. Today I woke up ready to take on the world. Today I woke up ready to get shit done. Today I became one of the motherfucking blower uppers (House of Lies reference :) ).

Let's do this.

<3 M