Samia’s at It Again

Blogging things that make me vaguely uncomfortable, that is. I do believe she’s requiring me to think.

I don’t get this unspoken idea in the white West that Muslim (esp brown) women are somehow more lost/mindless/submissive/in-need-of-saving than women of other faiths. It seems the bodies, sexuality, and general suffering of many Muslim women are just fine to trot out when they serve the interests of various Western war machines or the egos of some feminists. But there’s almost no respect for the personal agency and intelligence of women who choose to practice Islam in certain ways. It’s too much for people to try and listen before deciding they Care More and Know Better.

No, if a woman is Muslim, then it’s Islam holding her down– class, cultural, familial, racial, colonial*, layers are blotted out completely. And don’t let her tell you different! Even if she identifies as feminist!

Ugh.

Catch the rest of her post on the complexities of restrictive religions and how they are reported. Don’t miss the comments, either.

Samia also posts links to writing she finds thought-provoking. This last set is particularly good, so good that even while I strongly suggest you go read the rest, I’m stealing this video. Note that it applies very well to discussing behavior in general, not just in the context of race.

Samia’s at It Again
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Atheists in Love

I turned back to the conversation between PZ and the very earnest young man sitting across from me. He had come to atheism relatively recently and with great relief, and he wanted to give something back. He was shy, though, and diffident, and didn’t know what he could do to help. He asked PZ.

Now, I’m not a big talker. It takes some wind up for me to get to the point of even opening my mouth. However, this time, I interrupted before PZ could answer.

“Be happy.”

He looked confused.

“One of the best things you can do to promote a positive view of atheism is to live a happy, healthy life as an out atheist.”

More at Quiche Moraine.

Atheists in Love

Today’s Reading in Science Communication

[E]leven years ago after hearing Kent Hovind on the radio making a complete ass of himself on the radio, and worse hearing a bunch of “Coast to Coast” listeners call in to agree with him, not only confirmed for me that creationism is just another version of UFO’ism supported because it kind of fits with the Bible and they really don’t have to learn much more about it than they can get in church. Salvation granted, Satan thwarted, let’s eat! My problem was that if called on to defend my position I would be the one who was a fool, I really didn’t know all that much about how it all works together.

So, I decided to learn.

Mike is taking his turn at diagnosing the cause of science illiteracy at Tangled Up in Blue Guy. It’s well worth a read.

Today’s Reading in Science Communication

Hollywood, Science, and Unscientific America

I’m a bit busy at the moment, having a very important house guest this week and just having taken on a new and very exciting project that I’m only going to tease you with for a while. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll lack for continued criticisms of the new Mooney/Kirshenbaum book.

Peggy got herself a copy of the book and dug into the chapter on science in Hollywood much more thoroughly at Biology in Science Fiction than I did at Quiche Moraine working from just one quote. She’s not entirely thrilled.

I’m disappointed that Unscientifc America indulges in the same sort of negative stereotyping of scientists that pop culture does. And maybe I’m misunderstanding, but the suggestion seems to be that scientists should not comment on or complain about “minor” scientific inaccuracies, because, well, just because:

Sound familiar? That’s not the only thing that chapter appears to have in common (in a negative way) with the rest of the book. Go find out how Dawkins is taken out of context again.

Also, while we’re still talking about the book, Jason would like your help with a little poll.

Hollywood, Science, and Unscientific America

Mere Factual Accuracy

Now, having said that, I’ll admit up front that I haven’t read the book that’s raising so many hackles. However, in PZ Myers’ general review, he pulled a quote that I have to address:

Dawkins and some other scientists fail to grasp that in Hollywood, the story is paramount—that narrative, drama, and character development will trump mere factual accuracy every time, and by a very long shot.

I write science fiction. I read science fiction. I watch it on television and in the theater. I read and write and watch in other genres too. This statement is one of those gross oversimplifications that makes me cringe. Maybe it’s better in context, covered in caveats, but an awful lot of people aren’t seeing it in context right now.

Go find out why I’m cringing at Quiche Moraine.

Mere Factual Accuracy

Still Running

Um, yeah. Hi. So, I was going to post some con report today, talking about what went on at CONvergence and SkepchickCon. Then Skepchick carr2d2, otherwise known as Carrie, sent me a note about dinner. Then dinner lasted for four hours, ending just as an apologetic server came up to say we were sitting where the stage would be in about 15 minutes. So con reports will have to wait for tomorrow. I have sleep debt to repay.

In the meantime, Greg is posting analysis of the con in general and panel reports. Bug Girl is giving her own con report and posting pictures. And Rebecca is telling me I went to bed too early Saturday night.

Enjoy. I certainly did.

Still Running

The Full Proposal Trail

Due to WordPress issues this morning, a couple of links got crushed out of the conspiracy that was Jodi’s proposal to Jason. Here’s the full list:

Almost Diamonds
Skepchick
Relatively Unrelated
FreeDOS blog at Source Forge
Greg Laden’s Blog
Whitecoat Underground
Traumatized By Truth
My Fair Scientist
Neurotopia
A Blog Around the Clock
Pharyngula

Some additional words to, from and about the newly engaged:

Jodi and Jason–Pharyngula
Marriage: Why and how? And an Update on Jason and Jodi–Greg Laden’s Blog
Happy for Jason–Tangled Up in Blue Guy
There’s something weird on the internet–Lousy Canuck
Happy monkey! (a poll)–Lousy Canuck
The ring, my precioussss!–Lousy Canuck
Seriously, these Damned Canadians!!!1!11!!!1!–Traumatized By Truth
The internets get crazier every day–CyberLizard’s Collection
True romance–Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub
Regarding Jason’s Impending Nuptials–Anthroslug
The second geekiest wedding proposal ever–NotKieran
PalCast #12—finally–White Coat Underground
“GRAAAHHHHHH”–Neurotopia
Blogtrothed–Bad Astronomy
For the Geeks out there–Neurotopia

Much thanks to everyone who made this work.

Update: I’ve added a few more well wishes above. Let me know if I’ve missed any.

The Full Proposal Trail

In the Trees

For someone with acrophobia, I spent an awful lot of time as a child a story or more off the ground in trees. We had a treehouse for a few years that was worth the climb up the rope ladder. I spent uncounted hours reading in weeping willows, having juggled a book and usually an apple in my climb. I’d ignore the discomforts of my irregular perch for the privilege of reading uninterrupted, just me and the tree. No one ever looked up.

I have another post up at Quiche Moraine today, back to my usual Friday schedule. This one ended in a place I didn’t expect when I started it. I really should have. I know me better than that. It just never occurred to me. Anyway, you can read it for yourself.

In the Trees