New Browsing Category: Weight Management

Hi, all. I’m back from my trip, and will be ready to start blogging again soon. In the meantime, I’ve made a slight change to my blog that I wanted to let you know about.

Scale
As regular readers know, I’ve been doing a lot of blogging lately about weight management. For a while, I was just putting those posts in my “Food and Drink” category, along with recipes and weird food dreams and musings on the parallels between food and sex and such. But since I’ve been doing so much writing about weight management, and it seems to be a topic that’s of particular interest to a lot of people, I decided to give my posts about it their own category.

So from now on, if you want to find my posts about weight management — the strategies, the politics, the weird emotional stuff, etc. — you’ll be able to find them in my new “Weight Management” category, without having to dig through the weird food dreams and so on. Happy reading!

New Browsing Category: Weight Management
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Greta's Pics for Skepticon Calendar 2012

Wanna see some atheist dirty pictures?

When I was at Skepticon 3 earlier this month, I got to do a photo shoot for the 2012 Skepticon pin-up calendar. I prepared for the shoot for weeks; I agonized over what to wear and what props to bring; I even bought a new Dark Garden corset and rushed the order so I could have it in time. (I had to keep reminding myself that this was, in fact, a speaking engagement/ conference at which I was incidentally going to be doing a photo shoot, not a photo shoot at which I was incidentally going to be speaking at a conference.)

All the planning was totally worth it. The shoot was hugely fun: the photographer was professional and friendly and really knew his stuff, the Skepticon volunteers were helpful and supportive, and I have never in my life had so much fun being underdressed in a freezing basement.

And I think the photos turned out incredible. It is now confirmed: I am officially, at age 48, hotter than I have ever been in my life. I’m just sayin’, is all.

The 2012 calendars won’t be available until next year… but you can still get calendars for 2011, featuring either dudes or dudettes. (If you get both, you get the special bisexual fencesitter’s discount.) All proceeds go to support Skepticon and help keep it going and free of charge.

And in the meantime, enjoy this preview! Click photos to enlarge.

Greta Skepticon 2012 calendar 1

Greta Skepticon 2012 calendar 2

Greta Skepticon 2012 calendar 3

Do not fuck with me. This basement is where I take people who try to tell me about Pascal’s Wager.

Greta's Pics for Skepticon Calendar 2012

Greta Speaking at Skepticon 3, Nov. 19-21 – and Brief Blog Break

SkepticonIII

One last reminder: I’m going to be speaking at Skepticon — the totally awesome, free- of- charge atheism/ skepticism conference — this weekend, November 19-21 in Springfield, Missouri. I’ll be speaking on Saturday, November 20, at 10:30 am, on Atheism and Sexuality. (“The sexual morality of traditional religion tends to be based, not on solid ethical principles, but on a set of taboos about what kinds of sex God does and doesn’t want people to have. And while the sex-positive community offers a more thoughtful view of sexual morality, it still often frames sexuality as positive by seeing it as a spiritual experience. What are some atheist alternatives to these views? How can atheists view sexual ethics without a belief in God? And how can atheists view sexual transcendence without a belief in the supernatural?”)

While I’m gone, I’m probably going to be pretty slammed with conference stuff, not to mention keeping up with deadlines, so I probably won’t be blogging again until I get back. (Today is going to be especially bonkers: I’m getting up at 3:30 am, flying to St. Louis at 6:30 am, driving to Springfield, getting into a corset and stiletto heels for the 2012 Skepticon pin-up calendar photo shoot, and then going to the Springfield Freethinker meetup for a Q&A. I know. I am out of my mind.)

Spaces are still available for this FREE conference. However, they’re filling up fast, so if you want to go, you should register now. Cheap lodging is available, and if you go to the Skepticon Forum, you might even be able to find a nice local who will put you up. Hosted by the MSU Chapter of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Skepticon 3 is happening Friday November 19 through Sunday November 21, at the Springfield Expo Center in Springfield, Missouri. Other speakers include PZ Myers, Amanda Marcotte, James Randi, Debbie Goddard, Dan Barker, D.J. Grothe, Rebecca Watson, Victor Stenger, Joe Nickell, Richard Carrier, David Fitzgerald, John Corvino, J.T. Eberhard, and Brother Sam Singleton. I am so freaking proud to be on that list and in that company, I can’t even tell you.

So come to the buckle of the bible belt, and raise some non-existent hell with me and your fellow non-believers! And if you’re there, be sure to find me and say howdy!

And yes, Skepticon’s fundraising pin-up calendars, the Skepchick and Skepdude calendars for 2011, are still available! Chock-full of yummy photos of scrumptious skeptics of both genders! (intelligence is so sexy…) Sales help fund the Skepticon conference… which, as I mentioned, is being put on entirely free of charge, to make it accessible to folks who normally can’t go to these sorts of conferences. So support the cause, and drool over sexy pics of near-naked skeptics. Here are some images to tempt you.

Womens - APR Medium

Men - JAN Medium

Womens - DEC Medium

Men - DEC Medium

Womens - FEB Medium

Men - JUN Medium

Womens - AUG Medium

Men - NOV Medium

So help keep Skepticon going, and buy your Skepchick and/or Skepdude calendar today. Order both, and get the special “bisexual fence-sitter’s” rate of $2.00 off!

Greta Speaking at Skepticon 3, Nov. 19-21 – and Brief Blog Break

PZ Myers on "Can Atheism Be Proven Wrong?"

Pz myers
And now PZ Myers, of Pharyngula fame, has put up a post, They’re all still arguing against me!, commenting on my recent AlterNet piece, Can Atheism Be Proven Wrong? That’s the piece about whether atheism could hypothetically be proven wrong… and about how religion needs to provide, not only good evidence for its hypothesis, but a coherent hypothesis in the first place.

I still don’t agree with PZ. And I still think he’s missing the point. It’s not about whether any currently existing religion could persuade me that my atheism is mistaken — obviously not, if they could have done so, they would have — but about whether any hypothetical religion could persuade me. But I’m glad that he’s linked to my post — and has provided a forum for discussing it on his eminently lively blog. Check it out!

PZ Myers on "Can Atheism Be Proven Wrong?"

Jerry Coyne on "Can Atheism Be Proven Wrong?"

JerryCoyne
Jerry Coyne, of Why Evolution Is True fame (the book and the blog), has put up a post today, Greta Christina on The Controversy, citing and discussing my recent AlterNet piece, Can Atheism Be Proven Wrong? You know, the one on whether atheism can be proven wrong… and how religion needs to provide, not only good evidence for its hypothesis, but a coherent hypothesis in the first place. (We’ve been talking about it here in this blog, too.)

Since he’s one of the two main participants in the debate I’m exploring in this piece, I’m really tickled that he’s talking about it. And the comment discussion is interesting and thoughtful. Check it out!

Jerry Coyne on "Can Atheism Be Proven Wrong?"

Greta Speaking at Skepticon 3, Nov. 19-21 – and Skepticon Pin-Up Calendars Now Available!

SkepticonIII

Just a reminder, y’all: I’m going to be speaking at Skepticon — the totally awesome, free- of- charge atheism/ skepticism conference, happening November 19-21 in Springfield, Missouri. I’ll be speaking on Saturday, November 20, at 10:30 am, on Atheism and Sexuality. (“The sexual morality of traditional religion tends to be based, not on solid ethical principles, but on a set of taboos about what kinds of sex God does and doesn’t want people to have. And while the sex-positive community offers a more thoughtful view of sexual morality, it still often frames sexuality as positive by seeing it as a spiritual experience. What are some atheist alternatives to these views? How can atheists view sexual ethics without a belief in God? And how can atheists view sexual transcendence without a belief in the supernatural?”)

Hosted by the MSU Chapter of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, Skepticon 3 is happening Friday November 19 through Sunday November 21, at the Springfield Expo Center in Springfield, Missouri. Other speakers include PZ Myers, Amanda Marcotte, James Randi, Debbie Goddard, Dan Barker, D.J. Grothe, Rebecca Watson, Victor Stenger, Joe Nickell, Richard Carrier, David Fitzgerald, John Corvino, J.T. Eberhard, and Brother Sam Singleton. I am so freaking proud to be on that list and in that company, I can’t even tell you.

And yes, the conference is free — I mentioned that, right? You have to cover your travel and hotel expenses (or else hitchhike and sleep in the park or something), but the conference itself is entirely free of charge. You are advised to register in advance, since it may be a full house. There’s pretty cheap lodging available as well, in the Holiday Inn Express right near the conference center, at the special Skeptical Rate of just $89 a night, or $104 for suites at the University Plaza (also right at the conference center). In case you don’t want to sleep in the park.

So come to the buckle of the bible belt, and raise some non-existent hell with me and your fellow non-believers! And if you’re there, be sure to find me and say howdy!

What’s more: Skepticon’s fundraising pin-up calendars, the Skepchick and Skepdude calendars for 2011, are now available! Chock-full of yummy photos of scrumptious skeptics of both genders (intelligence is so sexy!), nearly nude but for strategically-placed clothing and bits of iconography (or what PZ refers to as “Feng Shy”), the Skepchick and Skepdude calendars make a tasty and tasteful way to express both your skepticism and your pervery. As a fence-sitting bisexual, my only problem is that I can’t decide which one to get. (Clearly I should just get both…) And you’ll be helping fund the Skepticon conference… which, as I mentioned, is being put on entirely free of charge, to make it accessible to folks who normally can’t go to these sorts of conferences. If you think that’s a worthy cause — or if you just want a hot pin-up calendar with smart sexy near-naked skeptics on it — be sure to get yours today! Here are some images to tempt you. Drool….

Womens - APR Medium

Men - JAN Medium

Womens - DEC Medium

Men - DEC Medium

Womens - FEB Medium

Men - JUN Medium

Womens - AUG Medium

Men - NOV Medium

So help keep Skepticon going, and buy your Skepchick and/or Skepdude calendar today. Order both and get $2.00 off!

Greta Speaking at Skepticon 3, Nov. 19-21 – and Skepticon Pin-Up Calendars Now Available!

Brief Blog Break/ Speaking Tour, NE Ohio and Western PA, Oct. 13-15

Hi, all. I’m going to be out of town this week, on a speaking tour of Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, with stops in Cleveland, Kent, Youngstown, and Pittsburgh. It’s a pretty packed schedule — five talks in three days — and I think it’s unlikely that I’ll be blogging until I get back.

And if you live in Northeastern Ohio or Western Pennsylvania — or if you’re going to be there next week — come hear me speak! I’ll be speaking on three different topics: Atheism and Sexuality, Atheist Philosophies of Death, and What The Atheist Movement Can Learn From the LGBT Movement. So come hear me more than once, if you like! I’ll be doing Q&A at every talk, so come with questions if you have any. And if you do come, please introduce yourself and say howdy. Here, one last time, are the details:

LOCATION: Kent State University, Kent, OH
KSU Student Center, Rm 317
TIME: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
SPONSOR: KSU Freethinkers
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheist Philosophies of Death

LOCATION: Brecksville Public Library, Brecksville, OH (near Cleveland)
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
SPONSOR: Center for Inquiry, Cleveland chapter
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheist Philosophies of Death

LOCATION: Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Ohio Room
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
SPONSORS: YSU, Dr. James Dale Ethics Center
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheism and Sexuality

LOCATION: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Spartan Room in Thwing Center (Case’s Student Union) (map here)
TIME: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
SPONSORS: Case Center for Inquiry and Spectrum
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheism and Sexuality

LOCATION: Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA
One North Shore Drive, on Pittsburgh’s North Shore next to Heinz Field, on the Science Stage
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
EVENT: Associated with Drinking Skeptically – Pittsburgh
SPONSORS: Center for Inquiry Pittsburgh; co-sponsored by Steel City Skeptics and Drinking Skeptically – Pittsburgh
ADMISSION: $6 to non-CFI members, free to FOC. Parking $5 , $3 for Carnegie members.
TOPIC: What The Atheist Movement Can Learn From the LGBT Movement

Hope to see you there! And if you’re not in Ohio or Pennsylvania, I’ll see you here in the blog when I get back!

Brief Blog Break/ Speaking Tour, NE Ohio and Western PA, Oct. 13-15

Greta's Speaking Tour, NE Ohio and Western PA, Oct. 13-15

Greta
If you live in Northeastern Ohio or Western Pennsylvania — or if you’re going to be there next week — come hear me speak! I’m going to be doing a whirlwind speaking tour of the area, October 13-15, with stops in Cleveland, Kent, Youngstown, and Pittsburgh.

I’ll be speaking on three different topics, no less: Atheism and Sexuality, Atheist Philosophies of Death, and What The Atheist Movement Can Learn From the LGBT Movement. So come hear me more than once, if you like! I’ll be doing Q&A at every talk, so come with questions if you have any. And if you do come, please introduce yourself and say howdy. Here are the details:

LOCATION: Kent State University, Kent, OH
KSU Student Center, Rm 317
TIME: 3:00pm – 5:00pm
SPONSOR: KSU Freethinkers
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheist Philosophies of Death

LOCATION: Brecksville Public Library, Brecksville, OH (near Cleveland)
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
SPONSOR: Center for Inquiry, Cleveland chapter
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheist Philosophies of Death

LOCATION: Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH
Ohio Room
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
SPONSORS: YSU, Dr. James Dale Ethics Center
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheism and Sexuality

LOCATION: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
Spartan Room in Thwing Center (Case’s Student Union) (map here)
TIME: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
SPONSORS: Case Center for Inquiry and Spectrum
ADMISSION: Free
TOPIC: Atheism and Sexuality

LOCATION: Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA
One North Shore Drive, on Pittsburgh’s North Shore next to Heinz Field, on the Science Stage
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
EVENT: Associated with Drinking Skeptically – Pittsburgh
SPONSORS: Center for Inquiry Pittsburgh; co-sponsored by Steel City Skeptics and Drinking Skeptically – Pittsburgh
ADMISSION: $6 to non-CFI members, free to FOC. Parking $5 , $3 for Carnegie members.
TOPIC: What The Atheist Movement Can Learn From the LGBT Movement

Hope to see you there!

Greta's Speaking Tour, NE Ohio and Western PA, Oct. 13-15

Greta's TV Interview on "Ask An Atheist"

Ask an atheist

My television interview with “Ask an Atheist” is up!

“Ask An Atheist” is a local cable access TV show in Seattle, which also broadcasts (and archives its shows) on the Internet. When I was on my Pacific Northwest speaking tour earlier this month, I had the fun and privilege of being interviewed for their show. (Usually they do their shows live: but because I happened to be there on Sept. 12, when they really wanted to air their 9/11 conspiracy theory segment, they decided to go ahead with that program and record their interview with me for a later date.)

We got into some really interesting topics in this interview — parallels between the atheist movement and the LGBT movement, what sparked the so-called “new atheist” movement into its current activist incarnation, how atheists can create empathy and forge alliances with other social change movements, the importance of coming out, how atheists can fight myths and misconceptions about us, the limits of our ability to make common cause with believers, anti-atheist bigotry among progressive believers, the atheist alternative to ecumenicalism, why there’s no such thing as “atheist fundamentalism,” whether it’s worth debating with hard-core believers, making atheism a safer place for people to come into when they do leave religion, and more.

Video below the fold, since putting it above the fold mucks up my archives. Or you can watch it on the Ask an Atheist website.

Continue reading “Greta's TV Interview on "Ask An Atheist"”

Greta's TV Interview on "Ask An Atheist"

Greta Reading at Perverts Put Out, Sat. 9/25

Perverts put out
If you’re going to be in SF this weekend, come hear me read! I’m going to be doing a reading this Saturday, Sept. 25, at Perverts Put Out, the legendary series of local Bay Area sex writers and performers. On the eve of the Folsom Street Fair, Perverts Put Out! takes kinky spoken word to the next level with the “SM 201” show. It’ll be me plus Meliza Bañales, Robert Lawrence, Thomas Roche, Stephen Elliot, Lori Selke, horehound stillpoint, and fabulous co-hosts Carol Queen and Simon Sheppard.

Important note: This episode of Perverts Put Out will not be at the usual place. It’ll be at The Center for Sex and Culture, 1519 Mission St., near South Van Ness, in the beautiful and historic South of Market district of San Francisco. Sliding scale of $10-$15. Start time is 7:30, and it tends to fill up and begin more or less on time, so don’t arrive fashionably late. If you’re in San Francisco, come by and say howdy!

Greta Reading at Perverts Put Out, Sat. 9/25