Nice try. But all the evidence of common descent can also be used, even more successfully, to demonstrate a common designer. It is far from true the statement made by the American NCSE, that "similarities and differences among living things on Earth over time and space display a pattern that is best explained by evolutionary theory". But even if the NCSE statement was true today, that isn't reason enough to prevent the development of new research programs that in the future may prove superior to evolutionary theory. Intelligent design is one of such paradigms. To say the contrary is to favour the retarding of scientific progress in the name of "unscientific protectionism" of prevailing academic vested interests and dogmas. For instance, the fact that broadcasters and most of the audience are content at some point with analogue terrestrial television should not prevent the development of cable or digital TV, although we know that even here "the powers that are" often try to prevent the emergence of new competitors thus retarding structural and technological innovation. We must notice that, as Jonathan Wells puts it, "the claim that evolution is a fact, like the claim that humans evolved from ape-like ancestors, owes more to materialistic philosophy than to empirical science". According to this Berkeley Professor, "Homology (defined by modern Darwinists as similarity due to common ancestry) is not evidence of common ancestry". Well remarks that "At the level of the animal phyla, common ancestry is not inferred from "sources of information" such as fossils, molecules or embryos; instead, it is assumed on theoretical grounds." In this light, homology can be plausibly interpreted as an evidence of a common designer, of different aplications of the same basic "life-operating-system" produced by an intelligent agent. As far as Windows, Word, WordPerfct, Excel, Power Point, Netscape, etc, are concerned, homology is not a sign of common descent but of a common designer. Although some "bugs" actually appear here and there, they cannot be used to deny intelligent design. They must be explained without denying intelligent design. I don't see why it can't be any different in biology. Nothing, apart from naturalistic bias, determines that the common designer hypothesis should be ruled out in advance. On one hand, common descent is far from proven beyond reasonable doubt. In fact, it is even doubtful that one can come up with a "preponderance of evidence" case for common descent without a little help from a piori naturalistic assumptions. Microevolution is not macroevolution, and macroevolution in a limited scale is not the same thing as macroevolution at a large scale. On the other hand, mathmatics, information, design and complexity theories all point to the empirical possibility of detecting and measuring intelligent design in nature.

For those of us who are not well-informed about Christianity on the Continent of Africa, this collection of theologians are a must read. The diversity of religious backgrounds, nationhood and engagement with traditional African religion is thought provoking and informative.

College-level and reference collections with strong drama sections will want to include this resource in their libraries: Reader's Encyclopedia Of World Drama reprints a 1969 classic, with entries on national drama, playwrights, plays and genres providing country listings and historical surveys alike. Complete coverage of major dramatic genres and many minor styles are included in this comprehensive work.

I think this book is great for all ages even though the reading level is not very difficult. An adult could have fun with it because it is exciting and keeps you on the edge of your chair. I would reccomend this book as a good book for a class. They could share their insights and tell each other if they thought that they figured out the mystery. This book is great for a discussion. This is an imaginative and literate mystery that I have fully enjoyed. It really makes you think and explore your mind.

read quite a few!) Just a great, plain-language explanation of the rise of life on Earth. How bacteria evolved, how fish evolved, how we evolved. The illustrations really make the book too, with gorgeous scenes of prehistoric life. Mr. Reader weaves the last 3.5 billion years into a smooth flowing narrative that really made me want to continue reading. I've never had that effect from a "scientific" book before! I can't believe it's out of print. Get this book back in print for the next generation!

Hayek wrote the original 'Road to Serfdom' which appeared in 1944 and which still, today, is a salutory reminder of the fate which awaits us should we put too much faith in the state under whichever political persuasion.

This little book, a reprint of the version which appeared in the Reader's Digest, deserves five stars for a number of reasons.

Firstly for the central message which it contains about the dangers of the collectivist state and the concentration of powers that such a state holds unto itself. Hayek dedicated his book to the socialists of all parties by which he meant that in all political parties, and indeed in the minds of many who hold no party affiliation, there are those who hold that the only way to achive a particular end is through the power of the state. He shows however, that the state which accumulates power eventually will turn that power onto the people and in the process dehumanizes those that wield power such that any revolting activity becomes justifiable. This book contains the central tenents of his arguments which are laid out in full in the unabridged version. Hayek abhors the development of the state in modern societies seeing the entity which is the state as a sort of evil empire and cautions people to be watchful and on their guard so that they maintain a healthy suspicion of the state and act to keep it from becoming too powerful. Yet, ironically, Hayek sees the tendency for such states to flourish in the so-called free societies of England and the United States. Here in New Jersey, earlier in 2002, the city of Morristown passed an ordinance which limits the number of pets which can be held in an individual household. Clearly the state intervenes too much in our lives already.

Secondly, the original Reader's Digest version, reflecting consumer demand, published this reprint at the front of it's magazine instead of at the end which was it's normal practice as well as exceeding it's normal print run many times over.

Thirdly, the editing down of the original to the condensed size is a marvel given that none of the essential essence of the original is not lost.

Hayek was originally writing in the face of the existing totalitarian regimes which existed in a number of European countries in the early 1940's and the growing strength and power of the USSR. He cautions the free nations of the West to beware the growth of the state and to fight against it. The book has a real contemporary relevance too with the world's attention being foccussed mainly on Iraq but also increasingly on the nations of Africa. Clearly the terrible and dramatic series of events unfolding in Zimbabwe are a horrific reminder of what can happen if the state and it's servants become too powerful.

For anyone believing in freedom this is a must read book.

You should read this book. It is all about a racehorse, how he got lost and how they found him. It is a really cool story. You should read it sometime.
I'm 8 years old, my name is Lizzy, and this book is just the right level for me.
And I'm not going to give away the whole book to you, but it wasn't too scary that I didn't want to read it. It was just the right amount of scariness.

This book is a very well-written and illustrated introduction to the epic story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance in their struggle to survive the loss of their ship in the ice. If you know a child who feels put-upon because they don't have the latest model gaming system or the right type of monsters in their card decks, get them to read this, and perhaps it will prove a useful antidote to the ennervating softness of "modern" civilization.

Not quite as wonderful as the first John McPhee reader. But that may be because the first collection inspired me as I was beginning my career as a reporter. Objectively, the second "Reader" is every bit as inspiring in its lucid, meticulous prose and McPhees ability to convey the details about a person or a place that make them come alive on the page.

Times are difficult on the ranch so Slim decides to leave and find a new job. Hank & Drover see an opportunity to go for a ride and jump in Slim's pick-up...no knowing that Slim doesn't plan to come back. Can't reveal the ending, but this one will entertain you as all of the series does. John Erickson does it again.