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Dumb and Dumber

I don't know who's dumber. Brian Benson, an eighth-grade student who won first place in his school's "Science Fair", or the morons running this so-called "Science Fair".

According to the Georgetown Times, students at the "Pawley's Island Christian Academy" engaged in a Science Fair.

(That's right, I used "Christian Academy" and "Science Fair" in the same sentence)

[Benson] who won first place in the Life Science/Biology category for his project "Creation Wins!!!," says he disproved part of the theory of evolution.

Ooo! This is going to be good! An 8th grader disproves the masterpiece of Darwin's life's work!

As a quick summary, a simple definition of evolution is "a process that results in heritable changes in a population spread over many generations."

Let's see what Brian, who won the blue ribbon in the Life Science/Biology category was able to prove:

Using a rolled-up paper towel suspended between two glasses of water with Epsom Salts, the paper towel formed stalactites. He states that the theory that they take millions of years to develop is incorrect.

"Scientists say it takes millions of years to form stalactites," Benson said. "However, in only a couple of hours, I have formed stalactites just by using paper towel and Epsom Salts."

Stalactites are not formed using epsom salts, they are formed with calcium carbonate. This is akin to suggesting that a volcanic eruption is caused by deep pockets of vinegar, red food coloring, and baking powder deep beneath the crust. "Look, the lava on my scale model mountain does not burn the skin, so let's all go to Mona Kilauea in Hawaii and soak in the lava!"

Oh, and by the way, last time I checked, Geology was an Earth Science, not a "Life Science/Biology" science.

While this "science project" didn't disprove any part of evolution, nor did it prove any element of creationism, it did prove that religious conservative ignorance is not limited to three Republican candidates for President (Brownback, Huckabee, and Tancredo), but it is alive and well in this "Christian Academy".

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