Zinnia Jones. The past few years of my life have featured various events that repeatedly force me to update significant parts of how I understand myself. I used to see little purpose in life and no path forward for myself, until I created an ongoing open-ended project to direct my energies toward, and coincidentally slid into utter femininity in a matter of months.
I’ve gone from coasting on the decades-long assumption that I was still a guy – just an extremely femme one – to realizing that no part of me bristles against womanhood. I thought I didn’t have any gender dysphoria, and medically transitioning was simply a matter of taking things from “good” to “even better”. Then I started HRT and gained the perspective to see just how awful, how suffocating, how unbearable things were before – and how it brought me to a place where I was finally a happy, functional person who truly loved life. About that last one… You’d think, after all this, I’d understand that things are always going to keep changing. This Week in Christian Nationalism » Just another Freethought Blogs site. I initially started writing this post with the intent of posting it on Christmas, but since we lost the war on Christmas once again this year, I had to do all that stupid Christmas stuff like buying presents and spending time with family and friends and didn’t have time to finish what I was writing.
Not wanting to abandon my half-written Christmas post, I decided to finish it anyway and post it as an end of year “Worst of 2013″ piece. So, I hereby give my brand new “Worst Historical Hogwash of the Year” award to Mike Huckabee’s “Learn Our History” video series. The “Learn Our History” video series is Mike Huckabee’s new vehicle for indoctrinating children. The videos are cartoons in which five kids with a time machine “travel together to learn the truth about the past.”
One of these fine DVDs, received just before Christmas, was, of course, a Christmas episode, titled “Christmas In America.” Addison: “Reverend Gallagher? Rev. Simon to the chaplain: “You’re a chaplain? Ulysses S. The Indelible Stamp » Ethics, outrage and evidence. A new campaign on crowd-funding site, IndieGogo, seems to be doing well. From March 19 until today (March 31), it has managed to raise $8,171 (US), which is eight times the original goal. What is this important project people are furiously throwing money at? It’s none other than a creepy little camera device to take pictures of non-consenting adults (i.e. without their knowledge), who are more than likely in vulnerable positions! Please welcome the Spy Cam Peek-I! You know how you’ve always wanted to take pictures of people, but were afraid they’d get angry because you didn’t ask their permission? Yes: apparently “discreet” is cool, not creepy or potentially harmful. Let’s examine what this item is doing exactly. no one will ever know you were the ONE who took THAT picture or film THAT video!!!
Sweet. Good thing it can’t be used to look at people entering passwords, pins, etc., too. Do I feel like James Bond? I already hate it when they do that. Er, people seem very willing to ask others. The Digital Cuttlefish » Since the music plays so briefly... Can you blame me if I dance? There’s a piece decrying atheists— “Contain them!” It opines— But it’s quite a different story If you read between the lines… There’s a very strange article in the Saudi Gazette. On the face of it, atheism is a problem which must be contained: A number of academics and experts have underlined the need for serious efforts to contain atheism in the Kingdom. Claiming that there is a link between the spread of atheism and extreme religious views, the experts said a moderate image of Islam must be promoted and any doubts youths may have about religion must be addressed in a convincing manner, Al-Madinah Arabic daily reported.
Yes, there is a connection between atheism and extreme religious views, therefore we must do our best to limit… atheism. Now, I’d have thought extreme religion leads to atheism, but of course I’d be wrong: Ghazi Al-Maghlouth, professor of Islamic culture at Al-Ahsa University’s Faculty of Shariah, said atheism is not at all linked with religious discourse. Yes. So… wait. The Atheist Experience » The official blog for the live call-in show in Austin, Texas.
Richard Carrier Blogs » Announcing appearances, publications, and occasional thoughts on natural philosophy and ancient history by philosopher, historian, and author Richard Carrier. Back by popular demand, I am teaching my online course on naturalism as a philosophy and worldview this May (just a few weeks away). Learn about all aspects of naturalism as a philosophy of life, and how to use it in practical ways and improve on it. In the process you will learn many of the basics of college-level philosophy. The course begins May 1 and ends May 31. You study and participate at your own pace, as much or as little as you like, and you get to ask me any questions you want about the course topics all month long, and read and participate in online discussions with me and other students. I will direct and comment on readings each week and give weekly course assignments which consist of answering questions about what you’ve learned and what you think about it.
The course text you have to buy is Sense and Goodness without God. All other readings and media will be provided to students free of charge (all you have to provide is access to the internet). Tuition: $59 Like this: Reasonable Doubts » Your Skeptical Guide to Religion. Does Religion Make Us Better People? An Empirical Critique of the Religious Prosociality Hypothesis. Does religion make us happier, healthier and more helpful? A number of popular psychology books and articles argue that religion is a positive force for enhancing the health and well-being of both individuals and whole communities. A careful examination of the social psychological literature, however, reveals a complicated relationship between religion and “pro-social” traits that defies such a simple characterization.
Download RD Extra Or subscribe and listen in iTunes or any podcast client: Podcast Episode Links: Research Report: Does Religion Really Make Us Better People? Does religious belief promote prosociality? Galen, Luke W. Pharyngula » Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal. As anyone who has ever raised aquarium fish knows, they’re all different. Maybe you think a fish is just a fish, not very different from one another and all rather stupid, but I spent years sitting next to tanks of zebrafish, and I can tell you you’re wrong. I’d watch them gamboling about, and you’d quickly realize that oh, that one is aggressive, that one likes to hid, that one gets the zoomies and darts about the tank.
You can learn to recognize individual fish by their behavior. I always wondered about that. These were highly inbred animals, with only slight genetic differences between them, but could those little genetic variations account for strong differences in behavior? Then I acquired a new line of zebrafish, one that was the product of hybridization between our inbred lines and wild-caught native stocks, and oh boy, their behavior was radically different, instantly distinguishable.
To cut to the conclusion, Amazon mollies differ on Day One, with all that implies. No Country for Women » Humanism, Secularism, Feminism. These are erotic sculptures of medieval Hindu temples. The temples at Khajuraho were built during the Chandella dynasty, which reached its apogee between 950 and 1050. Some say erotic sculptures were made to please Indra, the king of gods.
Some say more bizarre things. But I get somehow convinced when I hear that the Chandella monarchs built these temples under the influence of tantrism and devadasi tradition. Whatever the reason, erotic temples look strikingly beautiful. Whenever I look at these erotic art, two things come to my mind. Lousy Canuck » ... Because I don't watch enough hockey, drink enough beer, or eat enough bacon. I hail from New Brunswick originally. I left for university, and by the end of my degree, I had decided to remain. At the time, the government was growing more conservative, and one of their great bugaboos was the number of people moving out — their population was essentially in free-fall. Granted, the population wasn’t exactly huge to begin with. It had declined from 738,133 in 1996, to 729,498 in 2001 — a loss of 1.2%. It stagnated through 2006 — 729,997. The government started making noises about enticing emigrants, about stabilizing the job market and doing something about its flagging tech sector; there was a big to-do about this decline, to be sure.
And the population began to swell again, to 751,171 in 2011. In late 2013, another population decline — a mere 1000 person shortfall — caused another huge stir, such that the “Progressive” Conservative legislature under leader David Alward lamented the possibility of only seeing his grandchildren through Skype. Dispatches from the Culture Wars » Thoughts from the interface of science, religion, law and culture. Comradde PhysioProffe » Powered By Motherfucken Towari. Butterflies and Wheels » Gnu atheism, women's rights, internationalism, universalism, and gossip. Heyup, there’s a new conference on the horizon. Here are details via Ed Brayton: Foundation Beyond Belief, the nation’s largest humanist charitable organization, is holding its first national conference, “Humanism at Work,” July 18-20, 2014 at the Hilton Rosemont in Chicago, Illinois.
This conference, the first of its kind in the freethought community, centers on how nontheists can put their compassionate humanism to work for a better world. It will include TED-style presentations on philanthropy, volunteering, and community building, as well as practical workshops, panels, and hands-on volunteer opportunities. Speakers include: Evidence-based giving expert CAROLINE FIENNESNigerian humanist and human rights activist LEO IGWEAtheist homelessness activist SERAH BLAINHEMLEY GONZALEZ, a humanist at work with the poor in CalcuttaAtheist authors HEMANT MEHTA and GRETA CHRISTINASocial psychologist DR.
To register, go to the Humanism at Work website. Brute Reason » Ruining your fun since 2009! [Content note: rape, torture; spoilers for Perdido Street Station] After reading almost nothing but nonfiction for years, I finally decided to check out China Mieville’s work and have developed a bit of an obsession. As in, five books of his in a row in the past few weeks. Mieville has a talent for incorporating contemporary social issues into settings as fantastical as you can imagine (or can’t, in some cases). His novel Perdido Street Station tackles rape at the end, when the main character learns that the friend he is trying to help is a rapist. Some background for those who haven’t read it: Early on in the novel, the main character, Isaac, receives a visit from a mysterious man seeking his help.
Yagharek has traveled to the city of New Crobuzon to see Isaac because Isaac is a rogue scientist who researches arcane and experimental forms of physics, and might be the only one who can help Yagharek fly again. But then, Isaac receives another garuda visitor, Kar’uchai. Liked this post? Black Skeptics » Commentary and criticism from, by and about African American freethinkers, atheists, humanists and other muckrakers. This special report by Kenyan Humanist Association chair Moses Alusala summarizes the Third Annual IHEYO regional working group. All of the presenters at the conference were male. According to Moses “one woman presenter invited cited domestic responsibility and instead sent a male representative”, underscoring the difficulties African women in the continent’s humanist movement face.
By Moses Alusala The group meeting was convened by the Kenyan Humanist Association and brought together East African humanist youth from diverse backgrounds and regions, from suburbs and townships, as well as those from economically advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds, who have been witnesses to the reality of marginalization, poverty and oppression. There were 22 attendees in total. The opening plenary commenced with an encouraging welcome address from Moses Alusala, Chair, Kenyan Humanist Association. The forming of a regional network was one of the Agenda items. Biodork » Just another Freethought Blogs site. Saturday was a rough one at the abortion clinic. The crowds are getting might holy, what with Zombie Jesus Day just around the corner. The morning started out fairly easy; it was gray and drizzly and we thought that the weather might keep most of the protesters away. It seemed like that was going to be the case for most of the four-hour shift.
Then, about two and a half hours in, a crowd arrived from a local church. A handful of the random visiting protesters who, in all likelihood, won’t be seen again until next Easter-time. The teenagers seemed bored to be there, and had to be coaxed from their little huddle into walking down the sidewalk with their signs. This gentleman stood right at the property line and read teh bible at us for about 45 minutes, although he went off script a couple of times because those parts about Jesus condemning abortion…I don’t remember those parts (‘cuz they don’t exist – get it?). Just…engaging never gets you anything but more frothy-mouthed engagement. Ashley Miller. I wrote yesterday about why neutral was an illogical response to Dylan’s accusations, but today I’d like to spend some time with Allen’s response to the allegations.
For the tl;drs out there, the summary is this: Allen spends 2000 words trying to make Mia Farrow sound like a crazy bitch, presenting incomplete and false information, and showing disrespect to his children, especially Dylan. For those who’d like a point-by-point breakdown, you are in luck. (EDIT: Here are two excellent statement analyses of Dylan’s letter and Allen’s letter) TWENTY-ONE years ago, when I first heard Mia Farrow had accused me of child molestation, I found the idea so ludicrous I didn’t give it a second thought.
In the first sentence there are two things that are a bit disturbing. The first is that Mia Farrow never accused him of child molestation, Dylan Farrow did. Mia did not even go to the police with it, she went to a pediatrician, who by law was required to contact the police. Mr. To which Allen says: No. Almost Diamonds » Politics. Sex. Science. Art. You know, the good stuff. Alethian Worldview » If it's not reality, it's not the truth. Matthew 7 records Jesus as saying, “every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
So then, you will know them by their fruits.” In context, it’s a reference to how believers are supposed to judge the difference between “true” prophets and false ones. With that in mind, I thought it might be interesting to take a tour through the Bible and compare the actual deeds attributed to God with the actual deeds attributed to Satan, so that we can know which one is indeed “the good tree.” Genesis: God kills every man, woman, child, baby, and animal on earth except for 8 people and a few thousand pairs of animals on the ark. Exodus: God sends a violent hailstorm to kill every man, woman, child, or beast in Egypt unless they heed Moses’ warning and take shelter indoors. Well, I think I’m sensing a trend here. Ace of Clades » Just another Freethought Blogs site. A Million Gods » One in a Billion.
Blag Hag » Atheism, feminism, geekery.