Two theories on magnetism and other letters to the editors

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Two theories on magnetism

Current news on ultimate origins is reminiscent of the same Scopes question of 1925 and in the same place: Dayton, Tenn. One way to sift through competing ideas on a subject is to see how they do in predicting future events. Consider the field of magnetism. Competing evolutionary and creationist theories exist. Both are quantitative and based on the same mathematical theory of electricity and magnetism. Both theories made numerical predictions in 1984 as to what the magnetic fields of the outer planets Uranus and Neptune would be when space vehicles reached them that could make appropriate measurements. These two planets are of particular interest because the magnetic field measurements predicted by the two theories differed by a huge factor of approximately 100,000. Voyager 2 reached Uranus in 1986 and Neptune in 1989 and made the relevant measurements. The creationist predictions were exactly correct. The evolutionary predictions were very wrong, indeed. The age of the solar system is implicit in both planetary magnetism theories at about 6,000 years for creation and 4.5 billion for evolution. The correctness of the creationist position on planetary magnetism then points a powerful finger at the creationist young age position for origin as being the correct one.

KER C. THOMSON D.Sc., Dayton, Tenn.


Fleenor for Chancery Court

I'm writing to express my support for Pam McNutt Fleenor for Chancery Court judge, Part I. I met Pam playing tennis mixed doubles several years ago, and I have maintained a friendship with her and her husband since that time. Pam is a class act both on and off the tennis court. I have learned so much about the true side of people over the years from sports. Pam is very competitive but fair, honest and a good sport. I am proud to call Pam my friend. I ask all of my family, friends and colleagues to vote for Pam Fleenor for Chancery Court judge, Part I, on May 6 in the Republican primary.

RANDY JOHNSTON


Questioning news selection

I like your newspaper, but why have an article about a woman of ill repute on page 1, but the holy father (pope) on page 6? Just wondered.

KATHLEEN DOHERTY, Hixson


ACA works for good

Despite the 50-plus failed Affordable Care Act repeal votes, this Congress has been so fixated on destroying Obamacare it has had no inclination to offer solutions. The only solution offered so far is a health savings account with option to cross state lines to purchase insurance. This savings account "solution" is a cruel joke for the minimum wage worker trying to survive and support a family on $7.25 an hour. Not surprising, the bunch offering the "solution" is the same bunch opposed to raising the minimum wage -- $7.25 works just fine as long as it does not apply to them. This should be a nonpartisan issue. No one should suffer an avoidable death because they can't afford to see a doctor, yet Gov. Bill Haslam's refusal of expanded Medicaid coverage has left thousands of Tennesseans in this needless vulnerable state.

VIVIAN ERVIN, Lynchburg, Tenn.