Posts
April 18, 2013
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“Hello. I think you’re really pretty, and I was wondering if you would give me your phone number.” How would you respond to this request? If you’re a woman, your response may depend on the weather. French researchers found that undergraduate women responded more favorably to a male’s request for their phone number on sunny days compared to identical requests made on cloudy days. Importantly, the temperature and perceived attractiveness of the male did not influence
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April 17, 2013
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The week ahead is a busy one for conferences, from Reasonfest 3 in Kansas, Lobby Day and Secular Summit in DC, the first ever South Dakota Conference of Reason, the Philadelphia Science Festival, and the International Festival of Science Documentary Films in the Czech Republic, featuring Rebecca! You’ll find some great talks going on as well, including one in Chicago by Kate Donovan, of Teen Skepchick and Freethought Blogs, on “Schizophrenia: Myth and Science“; an […]
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12:23 PM | Skepchick Quickies 4.17
On this day in 1897, the Aurora UFO Incident (in Texas) occurred. Surprise ending: the story is most likely a hoax. In a related story, “UFO enthusiasts admit the truth may not be out there after all.” My lucky day: the view from mile 22 – One woman’s account of the kindness of people after the Boston Marathon explosions. From The Edge. 5 Basic Facts of Life (Were Made Up by Marketing Campaigns) – From Veronica. To Attract More Girls to STEM, Bring More […]
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Michelle Kaufman is a researcher who focuses on sexual behavior in the developing world. She globe trots regularly, engaging in ethnographic work all along the way in order to inform both the quantitative and qualitative research she conducts. Recently, Michelle visited Ethiopia and attempted to find out the secrets to a good relationship.
On a recent trip to Ethiopia, I asked the same question of many men, some single and dating, some young and newly married, and some older men in committed
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1:30 AM | Thanks for Being My Community
I’ve been pretty busy lately, but had scheduled tonight to sit and write a post. I had a couple of possible ideas in my head, mostly to do with some interesting and weird stats stuff, but now that I’m sitting down at the computer all I can think about is Boston. I feel like my mind is filled with a million things at once: horror at the description of the bombing aftermath, sadness for the friends and families of the victims, relief that my own friends and acquaintances who were at the […]
April 16, 2013
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This weekend, I did a reading at the Godless Perverts Story Hour. It was on my favorite topic, the heavenly sex-bots. I didn’t follow my script exactly, of course, but here’s what I wrote, along with some helpful links. When we talk about Islam, what inevitably comes up? Terror against us. Violence. If we bother to wonder about violence against them, we lament the mutilation, the rape, the child marriage. The crimes those turbaned, bearded men commit against “their” women. If we […]
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7:00 PM | AI: Boston
Boston. It hurts. A lot. I’m still trying to wrap my head around yesterday’s bombing. I am a runner. I run for lots of reasons, but the one thing that keeps me honest about my running is racing. If I don’t train, I can’t race. I’m not fast. I don’t actually race anyone else besides me. But there’s something about a running event. Running with people. Entering your corral, standing with the strangers who will be your friends, by your side for the next […]
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4:13 PM | Anyone can fall in love (2000)
I know, WordPress isn’t really optimised for photo stories. It was worth a shot. (Click on each image to enlarge.) Thanks to all the guys – Fiona, Mick, Ziggy, Gemma and Cassie – for your help with the shoot! … Continue reading →
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1:02 PM | Skepchick Quickies 4.16
Alex Jones: Boston explosion a government conspiracy – Related to this, a recording of a conspiracy theorist heckler at a Boston press conference. He’s the voice you hear yelling about “false flags”. After 8 years, rape victim needs to “get over it” – So says her rapist, who moved in next door to her. From James. Dove real beauty sketches – In the ad, a former forensic sketch artist draws women based on the descriptions they give him. Then, he […]
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In the 21st installment of Sage’s Relationship Matters podcast, hosted by Dr. Bjarne Holmes of Champlain College, Bonnie Le (a graduate student in Dr. Emily Impett's lab at the Univ. of Toronto) talks about the personal and interpersonal effects of having a communal orientation.
Communally oriented people care for the welfare and needs of others, and want others to care for them in return. Ms. Le explained, “In a communal orientation… we give because of need, we
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April 15, 2013
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Did you know that your weird Uncle Jerry has a YouTube channel, and he’s been using it to tell tens of people his opinions about women and their nutty ideas? Particularly, their absurd idea that they should hold some conference called “Women in Secularism Squared“? And he’s doing it in his favorite Blue Oyster Cult tee while playing Simon and Garfunkle softly in the background? Well, it’s true. Just watch the video! For those who can’t play the video, […]
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4:00 PM | Don’t Fear the Creeper
From the Skepchick back channel: On Apr 14, 2013, at 9:01 PM, Mary Brock wrote: We just found a huge, red house centipede (in the sink!) and so we sucked it up into the vacuum. Now we are terrified to empty the canister because we are both paranoid the bug will come out with the dust. So my question is how long do these fuckers survive without food/water? We don’t know if it was sucked into the main part of the vacuum or if it is lurking in the tubes, so we duct taped the holes and […]
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What are yo doing? Get up! You’re late for work/school/sitting in a coffee shop! Oh well. I’m sure it’s fine. You might as well just stay put and catch up on what you missed last week on the Skepchick Network. You can try to get up on time again tomorrow. Teen Skepchick The Physics Philes, lesson 43: Challenge Accepted Part 1 A physicist issues a challenge via Facebook, and Mindy does not back down. Speak Your Mind: Guilty Pleasures Tell us what pop culture you love, but are […]
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1:00 PM | Skepchick Quickies 4.15
Happy Tax Day, for those of you living in the US! (And for Massachusetts people, happy Patriots’ Day!). Here are a bunch of freebies you can take advantage of today. Why Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s Trial Should Be a Front-Page Story – This is a very graphic account of what happened at Gosnell’s clinic (and I use that term very loosely). This is not about abortion, it is about murder, racism, bureaucracy, and the abuse of women (especially the poor and disadvantaged). Terrifying […]
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My brother is married to a passive aggressive woman and he is very unhappy in his relationship. I have a friend who just got engaged to a passive-aggressive woman. Both my friend and my brother have developed quite a few negative personality traits that make me not want to be around or even talk to them. Do you think it's their true natures coming out (ages 35-40) or the result of relationships with passive aggressive women?
Great question! I am sorry that you are having a difficult time
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April 14, 2013
April 13, 2013
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8:14 AM | Feeling Feverish
Last week I was hit by some nebulous virus (I assume) that left me feverish and under the weather without actually confining me to bed. My brain turned to mush and even answering simple emails felt a challenge, a situation … Continue reading →
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4:01 AM | Does Size Matter to Women?
In their coverage of a recent study, NationalGeographic.com concluded that "women prefer larger penises." Is their conclusion of the research accurate? In the actual study, women rated silhouettes of men with larger penises as "more attractive." But does that mean that they actually prefer well-endowed men as relationship or sexual partners? What do you think?
See our article by Dr. Amy Muise on this topic here, and a recent post about this study by by Dr. Justin Lehmiller here.
April 12, 2013
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Maryam Namazie has organized a day of protests on April 25 to call upon the Bangladeshi government to protect the lives of bloggers and activists who are atheist, secularist, or in any way critical of religion. Here’s the letter I’ve signed on behalf of Skepchick: In January, 29 year old blogger Asif Mohiuddin was stabbed. In February, 35 year old atheist blogger involved in the Shahbag protests, Ahmed Rajib, was brutally killed. Islamists continue to threaten prominent bloggers and […]
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2:00 PM | Skepchick Quickies 4.12
Why publishers refuse games because of their female protagonists – From Florian. Game theory: Zelda, potions, and power bands – Heina found this great video of, “skepticism by way of Legend of Zelda.” Rep. Joe Barton: Bible’s great flood is evidence against climate change – From Critical Dragon1177. Study of babies did not disclose risk, US finds – “A federal agency has found that a number of prestigious universities failed to tell more than a […]
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Chad Michael Murray, the actor from One Tree Hill, once said, “To all the girls out there who think being funny is not sexy, you are wrong!” Not only has a point, but there is some research to back him up. Two guys walk into a bar… and according to research, whomever women consider funnier will also be seen as more attractive and suitable for a long-term relationship.1 Having a funny partner may simply make them more fun to be around, but it is also possible that a good sense […]
April 11, 2013
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You know, most people who see the video below or even participate in maggot painting events have pretty much the same reactions: “Wow, cool!” or “Amazing!” or “That’s fucking disgusting!” or all of the above. No one seems to want to talk about the artistic merit of these works or how the differences in technique bring out (or suppress) the emotional range and complex voices of the maggot artists themselves. I think, as skeptics, it’s high time we […]
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So, I am not doing the featured events this week, which will no doubt give this kid yet another reason to cry. But I have a good reason! I’m snowed in and watching a Buffy marathon. We are in the process of revamping our calendar to embed maps and images, categorize events, make everything searchable, place all events on a world map, and give groups their own pages, with their events auto-listed on the page. It’s going to be freaking awesome. So if you run a group and would like […]
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7:00 PM | AI: Surly Ninjas and White Knighting
I am swooping in and taking over the Thursday AI! Now with 100% more media, a real-life talking Amy AND potential prizes! Today, we are going to discuss the concept of “White Knighting.” Text from email I read in the video: Message: Can we talk about the White Knight thing? I recently got a job where I write about video games on the internet, and naturally, my first post had some gender issues crop up. I am a woman and I wrote about women in video games, so, of course. But, I […]
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4:30 PM | Anti-Street Harassment Quips
Via Jezebel, I learned that Women’s Media Center tweeted a pic of this great tank top with no link to where a person could buy it: Actual LOL. WHERE TO BUY? RT @sparksummit: would wear. #sheparty #streetharassment twitter.com/SPARKsummit/st… — Women’s Media Center (@womensmediacntr) April 10, 2013 I dug around a bit and also couldn’t find a shop, so I was considering just making one. The design is as simple as it gets, after all, but even so, I didn’t want to […]
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12:30 PM | Skepchick Quickies 4.11
NOVA tours Earth history, Aussie style – Sounds great, especially for all you geology nerds. From Critical Dragon1177. What major world cities would look like at night without light pollution – Via Carolyn Porco. Being taken seriously: The double standard – Why do big important men in the sciences get to dress however they want while women do not? Legacy of Dr. Tiller’s murder: Anti-choice terrorists threaten staff at Wichita clinic – They’re focusing their […]
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4:01 AM | Why Men Shouldn't Do Housework
Check out this article from Slate "Guys Who Do Housework Get Less Sex." The article shares a study that directly contradicts the common sense notion that women want men to do housework and find it sexy.
Our colleague and ScienceOfRelationships.com contributor Dr. Justin Lehmiller also wrote about this research on his blog (click here to check it out).
April 10, 2013
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6:49 PM | How About This Quote from Louis CK
Since directly quoting Joe Rogan’s Twitter feed yesterday and adding little to no commentary on what he said, I of course have been on the receiving end of a constant stream of hatred from Rogan’s fans (scroll down past Phil Plait’s terrible puns), who are sending me some combination of gendered slurs, rape “jokes”/threats, and sometimes just head-smacking stupidity. Some of them have also tried to comment here on Skepchick, though most of them got their comments […]
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1:00 PM | Skepchick Quickies 4.10
On April 10, 1925, The Great Gatsby is first published in New York City. I’m only mentioning this because the movie comes out on May 10th and I’m really looking forward to it! Rehtaeh Parsons, Canadian Girl, Dies After Suicide Attempt; Parents Allege She Was Raped By 4 Boys – Here is her Facebook tribute, submitted by Relic. Clueless Justice Scalia on the ‘Silver Lining’ of Excluding Women From Jobs – Wow, I can’t believe he actually admitted this. […]
