Researchers Haven’t Found A Single Endangered Right Whale Calf Yet This Season “The right whales are at a point where more are dying than are being born,” biologist Clay George says. “That’s just not sustainable long-term.” cross-posted on Facebook
Category: and other ramblings
Stop Drinking Bottled Water
There are few things on this planet I hate more than bottled water. Just the crinkling sound of someone wrapping their mouth around one of those squeaky garbage accordions fills me with rage. I stopped drinking it a long time ago—and you should stop drinking it, too. Read more on Gizmodo – Stop Drinking Bottled …
Bellingham poet Robert Lashley awarded writing honor
Robert Lashley is awesome.Bellingham poet Robert Lashley awarded writing honor Bellingham poet Robert Lashley was recently appointed a Jack Straw Writing Fellow, and shares his work May 6 at the Jack Straw Cultural Center in Seattle. cross-posted on Facebook
The 1704 French and Indian Raid on Deerfield – A Personal Connection
I have been doing a lot of genealogical research recently. I’ve always been interested, but recently I’ve had lots of inspiration after attending the dedication of a historical marker for my 3rd great grandfather, Joel Perkins, on the 17th of April in the town he founded, Lafayette, Oregon. Joel has his own interesting story. Today …
Ted Cruz domain hilariously wrong
Someone got the the tedcruz.com domain before the presidential hopeful… Ted Cruz supports Obama? cross-posted on Facebook
Racist Mystery Tortillas
Recently on the local radio talk show The Joe Show Rosalinda Guillen and Edgar Franx from Community to Community Development (C2C) were interviewed about recent issues of diversity, racism and response in the Bellingham and Whatcom County communities. It was a great interview and I encourage you to go listen to the podcast. During the interview …
The power of vulnerability
Amazing talk. The power of vulnerability Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share. (Filmed at TEDxHouston.) …
Response to Op-Ed in the Badger Herald: ‘Rape culture’ does not exist
I would welcome a legitimate debate on a concept well established and defined in the peer reviewed literature. But don’t bother reading this piece from the Badger Herald which tries to refute the whole discussion with 629 words. If the comments section is to be believed the piece’s aim is to prompt lively debate. The piece of …
On Germany’s new intersex law and the dangers of our gender-obsessed culture
Just a few good snippets from the article On Germany’s new intersex law and the dangers of our gender-obsessed culture: Germany has become the first European country to pass a law that lets a birth certificate to be left blank in cases where the child is neither obviously male nor female, but it will take …
The problem with millennials
There is no problem. The term and the dialog are symptomatic of the human experience. Labels and stereotypes are what we do best. In popular culture the term millennials is a new label for a dated trope. In the scientific literature, which is so happily referenced but not actually analyzed, the term has only the narrowest of …
Why I took my clothes off on national television
My friend Denise Jolly has prompted a really amazing and wonderful dialogue about body image across the world. She has had several interviews about her project, but I really appreciated this interview. The host and crew of The Morning Show participate in the conversation by taking their clothes off and talking about the experience. Why …
Republicans block science laureate vote over climate change stance fear | theguardian.com
This is so ridiculous I just have to laugh. It seemed entirely harmless: the creation of an honorary and unpaid position of science laureate of the United States to travel around the country and inspire children to be future scientists. But Republicans in Congress last week quashed the initiative, which had gained rare bipartisan support, …
Thomas Thwaites: How I built a toaster — from scratch | Video on TED.com
I really appreciate this project and the dialogue that has surrounded it. The best reactions are the people posing the very questions that the project illustrates who then suggest it’s a waste of time or “self indulgent art.” Without directly asking questions about modern civilization the project very clearly illustrates how specialized nearly every facet …
The Capitalist’s Case for a $15 Minimum Wage
Maybe it’s time to give “trickle-up” a try…The Capitalist’s Case for a $15 Minimum Wage The fundamental law of capitalism is that if workers have no money, businesses have no customers. That’s why the extreme, and widening, wealth gap in our economy presents not just a moral challenge, but an economic one, too. In a …
White Women Teaching White Women about White Privilege, Race Cognizance and Social Action: toward…
In the process of researching bus sitting behavior and male privilege I stumbled on this paper which I found very interesting. The authors suggest that even in an academic environment where there is a presumption of openness, educating people about their privilege is a challenging task. “Three themes emerged from our analysis of our stories …
Daily Kos: Are Chechens Really White? Racial Formation Theory and the Boston Marathon Bombing
A quote from the article: I joked on Twitter that Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokar Tsarnaev are putting the status of Chechens as full members of the “white race” in jeopardy. I was only half-kidding. Conservatives and others are already trying to reconcile how Tamerlan Tsarnaev and Dzhokar Tsarnaev can be Muslim, “white,” “terrorists,” American, and …
Prop 8 Transcript
I like Sotomayor a little more now. Listening to the oral arguments for the Prop 8 case I caught an interesting exchange where the proponent, Mr. Cooper, started to reiterate an earlier point where he said, “the marital norm, which imposes the obligations of fidelity and monogamy, Your Honor, advances the interests in responsible procreation.” …
Slamming poems with Weston Renoud
I got featured in the Brunswickan for poetry! I gave shout-outs for Poetry is my bread & bananas and Open Mic at the Grad House.Slamming poems with Weston Renoud Renoud and a couple of his friends would frequently drive up to Vancouver or down to Seattle to attend poetry slam venues. Now living in Fredericton, …
Starbucks CEO: If You Don’t Like Our Support For Marriage Equality “Buy Shares In Another Company”
I usually feel awkward when companies back social issues. But when I know it’s a civil right they’re backing it makes me smile.Starbucks CEO: If You Don’t Like Our Support For Marriage Equality “Buy Shares In Another Company” If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38 percent you got …
‘Don’t Be That Guy’ ad campaign cuts Vancouver sex assaults by 10 per cent in 2011
After several years of increases in sexual assault crime rates (opposite the decrease in total crime rates) Vancouver, BC tried something crazy: a poster campaign that targeted perpetrators instead of victim-blaming. In 6 months they saw a decrease in sexual assault rates.‘Don’t Be That Guy’ ad campaign cuts Vancouver sex assaults by 10 per cent …