Someone once said that no one's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. I'd extend that observation to note that no one's intelligence or education is safe when the SBOE is in session. For those who want the gory details of today's farce hearings, I'll point you to the Texas Freedom Network's exhaustive liveblogging of the proceedings:

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

Vince has some background as well. You have to admire their fortitude - as Elise Hu said, "SBOE meetings really sap the life out of me."

What all this comes down to is whether or not Texas will acquire a reputation for being hostile to science and research, and thus an unattractive place for high-tech companies to locate. Not really what you want to happen, especially in tough economic times, is it? If it does, you can thank the loony fringe of the Texas GOP for it.

UPDATE: Hair Balls is also on this - one, two, three.