Are we not allowed to say the D word or something?

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Apparently, it's just sitting there. He's not teaching from it.

A Mount Vernon science teacher said yesterday that he will refuse to remove a Bible from his classroom desk, despite his school district's order.

"Thousands of citizens in this community have built their lives on deeply held religious convictions, and it is for them that I stand today," John Freshwater, 51, who teaches at Mount Vernon Middle School, said in a news release.

The religious activist Dave Daubenmire, Freshwater's friend, acted as his spokesman yesterday. "This is not a religion issue; this is a free-speech issue," Daubenmire said. "He didn't take the Bible to read to anybody."

Mount Vernon Superintendent Steve Short said Freshwater's characterization of the events leading to the district order that he remove religious items from his classroom was "not entirely accurate," but Short wouldn't elaborate.

The district later released a one-paragraph statement saying that district officials don't oppose religion but are required "under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution to protect against the establishment of religion in the schools. As a public school system the district cannot teach, promote or favor any religion or religious beliefs."

Freshwater and Daubenmire believe that separation of church and state "is a fraud" and that the framers of the Constitution never intended it to be practiced the way it is today, Daubenmire said.

The district asked Freshwater last week to remove the Ten Commandments from the door to his classroom and remove the Bible from the view of students. About 3,900 students attend Mount Vernon schools. Mount Vernon is about 52 miles northeast of Columbus.

Freshwater took down the Ten Commandments but decided that being prevented from taking a Bible into the classroom was going too far.

In the past, Freshwater has taught his students about the "holes in evolution" and intelligent design, the theory that a supernatural power created complex forms of life, Daubenmire said.

"Would our government ask a follower of Islam to remove her burqa in order to teach school?" Freshwater said in his written statement. "Would we ask a science teacher to remove The Origin of Species from his desk merely because the origin of man has never been proven?

"I cannot with a clear conscience follow a directive that makes religion and the religious viewpoint any less credible by those who deem themselves more enlightened."

Freshwater wouldn't answer questions directly because of the likelihood he will file a lawsuit charging "viewpoint discrimination," Daubenmire said.

Daubenmire is the former London High School football coach whose district was sued in 1999 by the American Civil Liberties Union because he led his players in prayer at games, practices and meetings. The district settled out of court, and its insurance company paid the ACLU $18,000 for court costs.

Pit bulls are either not allowed in Miami-Dade County in Florida but I heard something about having $600,000 insurance if you own one.....but that COULD be Broward County where they are allowed. I'm in Miami.

March 14, 2007� Dozens packed the Belmont (California) city council chambers tonight for the first public airing of a new smoking ban proposal.

The law would give Belmont the toughest smoking ban in the nation � possibly in the world.

The crackdown aims to curb the harmful effects of second-hand smoke by preventing puffs not just in parks and around public buildings � but in private apartments and city streets as well. If the law passes, the only places left in Belmont to smoke would be single family homes and private cars.

Mayor Coralin Feierbach says the proposal was made to protect residents who suffer from health problems aggravated by smoke.The council didn't take action tonight. It's just the first of several meetings to discuss the proposal.

Please pass the word along .... This toy, the Pimple Ball, has a single hole and a bell inside. It is made in 3 sizes. The dog gets the toy in the mouth, a vacuum effect is created because there is only 1 hole. If the vacuum is not broken immediately, vascular flow to the tongue starts to be impacted. The more force applied to remove the ball, the more stuck it becomes. If unsupervised while playing, the dog can reach a major state of distress before anyone realizes what has happened. The dog featured in this heartbreaking story is not the only animal that has been injured by this toy.

If you have a vet that you frequent, make his office aware (I emailed the info to mine). I also called our largest doy supply distributor locally, and he pulled the toy off the racks as we spoke.

I know as of 2 weeks ago there was a petition started on the web asking Four Paws Inc to recall this toy until they correct the single hole issue.

I can have such a potty mouth sometimes...I swear, sometimes I sound like a sailor!

Anyway, back on subject here...I did ask my brother and sister in law about that and they told me she had been on the pill since she was 13!! Again, rendered me just about speechless except for the F bomb, which was all I could really manage. No apparent worries of STDs or just plain 'ol self-esteem and self-respect.

They (the parents) completely lost my respect years ago. At least the youngest out of the 3 has a chance. She sees how messed up the whole situation is and knows the key to success isn't what's in her pants. She's just staying low, staying on the honor roll, and has her sites set on pre-Vet, which is oh so totally too cool for school. She's the only one of the 3 that ever liked hanging out with me, so I take that as a HUGE compliment....either that or she really is "not right."