Skatje, who is living far, far away in Wisconsin, has just turned 21. You know what that means? There’s no way we have to take her back … she’s all on her own now. We’ve managed to shoo three kids into independent adulthood, and I think we’re all done with that now.
I usually try to post a few pictures with these kinds of announcements, but of course she has no use for us any more either, so you’ll have to settle for some oldies from her 16th birthday.
Oh, OK, one slightly more recent photo.
Now I have a Life Before the Dinosaurs t-shirt, and you probably don’t. So there.
This is the science blog by a 7-year-old kid. One of the networks ought to snap him up, he’s good … I wonder if we should draft him for Freethought Blogs.
(Also on FtB)
Now I have a Life Before the Dinosaurs t-shirt, and you probably don’t. So there.
This is the science blog by a 7-year-old kid. One of the networks ought to snap him up, he’s good … I wonder if we should draft him for Freethought Blogs.
(Also on Sb)
Since I just made a defense of humanism, I should be upfront about my stake, since I did get recognized a few weeks ago by the International Humanist and Ethical Union. And as long as I’m mentioning my own award, I should also name all the other people who were also commended by the IHEU.
The Nordic Rainbow Humanists award was given to George Thindwa, who has been fighting for LGBT rights in Malawi against unbelievable bigotry and hatred.
There were several 2011 IHEU awards.
The Distinguished Service award was given to:
VB Rawat, who has been a leader in India fighting for social justice, working to bring aid to the poor and those afflicted by catastrophe, and who has been opposing the caste system.
Narendra Nayak, a tireless promoter of skepticism and science in India, who has worked to expose psychics and magic workers.
David Pollock has been an active secularist and editor of the New Humanist magazine, and has been a leader in the British Humanist Association in working for humanist social policies.
The International Humanist award was given to:
Sophie in’t Veld is the vice-chair of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, who has been a great supporter of women’s and LGBT rights.
PZ Myers, some guy with a blog.
One of these things is not like the others…
Today is the day I get together with all of my new advisees and tell them how to survive the next four years.
Tomorrow, the new semester begins — once again, I’ve got an 8am course to teach on developmental neurobiology.
The madness begins.
But at least this year I’ve got a new tie!
(Also on FtB)
Today is the day I get together with all of my new advisees and tell them how to survive the next four years.
Tomorrow, the new semester begins — once again, I’ve got an 8am course to teach on developmental neurobiology.
The madness begins.
But at least this year I’ve got a new tie!
(Also on Sb)
I guess you lazy people who didn’t travel to Oslo still get to see me: here’s my talk at the World Humanist Congress.
(Also on FtB)
I guess you lazy people who didn’t travel to Oslo still get to see me: here’s my talk at the World Humanist Congress.
(Also on Sb)
So I’m at this humanist conference in Oslo, and I’m having a good time at the delicious dinner with musical accompaniment at the Oslo Opera House, when they start giving out awards to all these fabulously accomplished people who have don so much to advance the cause, when they name me. It was a complete surprise and for a moment I was sure this was a joke, but there it is, it’s even got my name etched on it.
I’m the International Humanist of 2011.
How unexpected!
Now if only I were somewhat less discombobulated right now…the several glasses of wine at dinner didn’t help, either.
I married one, after all. But do they have to flaunt it so? This is the monumental statuary in front of my hotel here in Oslo.
I wonder how long a similar statue would last in the US?
And yes, I have arrived, I’m ensconced in a nice hotel, I even had time to go to dinner with an international cast of humanist heroes, which was awesome. But now it’s sinking in that I haven’t slept in about 30 hours. I should do something about that right now. I have to give a talk tomorrow!
