Month: April 2012

Welcome Taslima Nasrin to Freethought Blogs

Brianne Bilyeu, 424 Comments

When I began exploring atheism, I did so from a place of privilege. I live in a country where my right to not believe in a religion is guaranteed. I have lived in larger, progressive cities for much of my life, areas that have their share of religious diversity, and as such have developed a laissez faire attitude to the beliefs of others. I have support in the form of atheist gatherings, organized groups, books, online blogs and even other friends locally who believe the way I do.

Taslima Nasrin does not come from such a place.

She is a physician, a poet, essayist and writer of great notoriety. She has earned numerous awards for her bravery and her fight for women’s rights. This courageous, intelligent, persistent woman has had numerous fatwa called upon her by those who fear her message. Five of her books have been been banned: Lajja (Shame), Amar Meyebela (My Girlhood), Utol Haowa (The Tempest), Dwikhondito (Split in Two), and Sei Sob Andhokar (All Those Darkness). She has remained steadfast in her atheism, even though it cost her her home, family and security.

It is with much pride and awe that I announce that Taslima Nasrin is now blogging here on the Freethought Blogs network. Please go explore her new site and welcome her.

Welcome Taslima Nasrin to Freethought Blogs
{advertisement}

Happy Good Friday!

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , 528 Comments

For the second year in a row I will be celebrating the holiday at Planned Parenthood , countering this kind of dumbz:

I’m pretty sure the “Chicken Strip” sign was for the DQ next door, and not an anti-choice protest sign. Poor framing of the shot. Mea culpa. *hehehe*

Our side had WAY more fun:

Plus we raised a crap-ton of money for Planned Parenthood through the Pledge-A-Protester effort.

Why is everyone out walking in circles in front of a doctor’s office? Let’s ask the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis:

Join with us to pray in front of Planned Parenthood on Good Friday. Fifteen area pastors will lead in scripture and prayer each half hour throughout the day. A life-sized cross will be our only sign as we carry the cross of abortion. An area will be cordoned off for a family-safe day of prayer. Last Good Friday, more than 2,500 Christians joined in prayer throughout the day at this vigil. Help us double those numbers on April 6! Invite your whole church.

One of the church congregations that attended last year had this to say about the event:
Pro-Life Action Ministry’s annual all-day Good Friday Prayer Vigil is quickly approaching. This is one of the most moving events you could attend to commemorate the passion and death of our Lord Jesus. This event will bring for you a deepened awareness and spiritual understanding of Jesus’ suffering and death which won our salvation. And it will greatly enhance the Good Friday services at your own church.

I don’t even…oww…it…so many irrelevant non-arguments…my head!

There’s still time to join in the fun today.  If you’re in the Twin Cities are, these are two way can get involved:

1) Come on down to the St. Paul Planned Parenthood Health Center (671 Vandalia Street) any time from 8am to 4pm today. Organizers will have signs that you can carry. Just jump in the march line and add your voice and presence to those of us who will be out to show that Minnesotans stand with Planned Parenthood!

2) Pledge a Protester – Over 1000 protesters are expected at the St. Paul Planned Parenthood today. For $10 you can “Pledge a Protester”, the idea being that the more protesters who show up, the more money they raise for Planned Parenthood. You know you want to: Click here to Pledge A Protester.

One more cup of coffee and then I’m out of here. Photos of the rally to follow in the next day or so. Happy Good Friday!

Happy Good Friday!

Y U NO TELL ME?

Brianne Bilyeu, , 187 Comments

I was at a Minnesota Skeptics Drinking Skeptically last night and we moseyed into the topics of religion and the bible. Someone mentioned that there are two creation stories in the book of Genesis, and I was a little bemused to realize I didn’t know what they were talking about. I read the bible in its entirety back in college, but it’s been a while. I looked at the group and said, “I hate to say this, but I think I’m going to have to read the bible again.” One of the guys got a huge grin on his face and told me that he had the perfect version for me:

Of all that is unholy, Y U NO TELL ME THIS EXISTED?

The book contains some of the more better-known biblical stories, but the LOL Cat Bible Translation Project that started in 2007 has translated everything into lolcat.

Here’s an example of Adam wussing out before God (Ceiling Cat, of course) and blaming Eve for his decision eat the apple:

*sniff* I love my life.

Y U NO TELL ME?

Ringing Tattoos

Brianne Bilyeu, , , 554 Comments

Seen in the Star Tribune by Kristin Tillotson:

Sometimes, you feel a little tingle of anticipation when your cellphone rings. What if it happened every time?

Nokia has taken out a U.S. patent on technology used to create special tattoos that can pick up phone signals and send a “perceivable impulse” to your skin via magnetic waves from the ink, which contains iron. According to the patent, the tattoos could even allow you to customize sensations as if they were ring tones (a tickle if it’s your sweetie, a pinch if it’s your ex?). The patent also includes a temporary, stick-on tattoo option for those who aren’t too sure about the idea.

I’m in. I like tattoos, and I don’t like missing calls. But this is just an intermediate step. I’ll holding out for the brain chip that lets me control the internet and all of my media with my thoughts.

Ringing Tattoos

Being Wrong

Brianne Bilyeu, , 109 Comments

Last weekend I attended the Midwest Science of Origins Conference at the University of Minnesota-Morris. It was a good conference, and I’m writing a longer article about my impressions of the event. But I sat down yesterday and this came out, so I thought I’d put it up now.

Last weekend I was at the Midwest Science of Origins Conference, and I was wrong quite a few times. Not in flashy, obvious, foot-in-mouth ways, but in a myriad of little ways. And I’m not talking about having those enlightening “Hmmm…I’d never considered that before” moments. I’m talking about having ideas and preconceptions challenged in conversations with other people and in the lectures.

Continue reading “Being Wrong” →

Being Wrong

Pro-Choice Kittehs

Brianne Bilyeu, , , , , 794 Comments

Do you want to help fund abortions for women and families who can’t afford them? Do you like cats?

Okay…I KNOW the second question is the more controversial statement in this crowd, but just say yes to both.

Say yes?

Every year the NNAF – National Network of Abortion Funds – hosts a bowl-a-thon fundraiser. This is a series of bowl-a-thons that take place all over the country. Individual teams form up and raise money that go directly into abortion funds. Why are abortion funds important? Continue reading “Pro-Choice Kittehs” →

Pro-Choice Kittehs

Washington D.C. Day 2 – Reason Rally

Brianne Bilyeu, , , 3,766 Comments

Day 2 of our Washington D.C. vacation was completely devoted to the Reason Rally. Heck, we even went to bed early and sober on Friday night so we’d be well rested for a LONG day of walking around the mall, meeting lots of people and spending a good deal of time standing in the rain.

We woke up to a rain-free morning – gray and overcast, but rain-free for the moment. We made sure we had our ponchos, some extra bags to sit on or use to cover the backpack, a collapsable umbrella, and our “lunch” – two bags of trail mix, cliff bars, apples we had grabbed from the hotel continental breakfast and a bottle of water.

Continue reading “Washington D.C. Day 2 – Reason Rally” →

Washington D.C. Day 2 – Reason Rally

Cross-Country Connections: Geometric

Brianne Bilyeu, 303 Comments

Cross-Country Connections is a Biodork weekly blog entry dedicated to telling stories in pictures of three family members – me, my sister and Mom – living in very different locations across the country. Every week we choose a different theme and then take or contribute a personal photo that fits the theme. This week’s theme is Geometric.

From me in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

This sculpture is located outside of the National Building Museum in Washington D.C.

From Erin in Bellingham, Washington:

This is geometric, right? All those layers unfolding, a new leaf from a weird Hosta plant that seems to thrive in our apartment, in direct contrast to the Tricky post from 2 weeks ago.
From Mom in Carbondale, Illinois:
This is entitled Av-Yellow Lozenger, 1977 by Ernest Trova of cor-ten steel.  It is one of the pieces in the Southern Illinois Museum Sculpture Garden. 
Cross-Country Connections: Geometric