My Tribute to Nelson Mandela
I’m sure everyone has heard by now, but Nelson Mandela, former South African president, has died at age 95. I lived in South Africa for half a year while studying at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. The program was entirely focused on human rights, and in every single class I took, he was talked about. My South African friends spoke about him with reverence. I mean, his n... »
Guest Post: Queen Christina, Anna Maria van Schurman, and the Not-Quite-Yetness of Seventeenth Century Feminism
Today’s guest post is by Dale DeBakcsy and combines an interesting story about independent women in history with a comic at the end. Basically, everything about this piece is wonderful, and you are missing something if you don’t take a minute to read through this. ——————- A former monarch seeking adventure. A brilliant polymath repenting of her world... »
Skepchick Quickies 12.5
Is Revlon filled with cancer-causing crap? – Fighting scary claims with science. (And I generally recommend the Brightest Bulb blog if you like to see this sort of article.) Twenty tips for interpreting scientific claims – Useful or non-scientists who want to evaluate the claims made by a study. From Markis. Woman-as-cat in anti-suffragette propaganda – “Cats and dogs are g... »
On Readings and Misreading: My First Psychic Experience
When I learned that my first experience with a psychic would occur at a work function, I got as uncomfortable––and incensed––as if we’d been asked to pray in the break room. I knew I wanted to write about it, and I was ready to talk HR policies, legal issues, skeptics’ rights in the workplace. I had a vision for this post, and it was the indignant skeptical blogger equivalent of a Van ... »
Which Secular Organization Best Encapsulates The Holidays in Times Square?
Well, it’s that time of year again – time to sit around the fire with friends and loved ones, sip egg nog, and debate which national corporation best represents us in the war on holidays that could also be celebrated by religious people. As atheists, of course, our lives are confusing and directionless from November until January. What do we do with ourselves? Do we shout “HAPPY HOLIDA... »
Skepchick Quickies 12.4
Happy birthday to Alfred Hershey! Born on December 4, 1908, Alfred was most known for his work with bacteriophages and won a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work with viral replication and the genetic structure of viruses. Deformed Freak Born Without Penis – A moment of funny, brought to you by The Onion. (On a more serious note, TW for people with body dismorphia.) From Moniqa... »
