Luke.stirling

Very useful context, from @ebolaphone.

"The bigot is an unreasoning hater – one who hates blindly, fanatically, indiscriminately." Read the rest

Both Dana and Adam are quite right, that the self-appointed leadership of the atheism movement have a record that leaves quite a bit to be desired on the equality front. But I would not say they’re as bad as the Christian Right. Behold, Rachel Alexander, responding to the recent catcalling video:

The truth is, catcalls bother feminists because they’re jealous. One of Rush Limbaugh’s 35 Undeniable Truths of Life is that “feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society.” Feminists are highly critical of women who choose to make a significant effort to look attractive. If they can stop men from complimenting pretty women, they won’t have to observe it and feel pangs of jealousy.

Citing Rush Limbaugh on undeniable truths is a flag on the play right away. But of course I know many feminists who are conventionally attractive; it’s simply not true that you’re required to look homely to be a feminist. But also, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you judging people by their appearance anyway?

The other dynamic at play here is feminists want to make men just like women. They don’t want to acknowledge there are differences between the genders; men generally tend to be more aggressive and pursue women.

Your cultural stereotype is not my personal mandate, and no, I have no interest in making people like anyone in particular. They’re individuals. Why do you demand that they conform to your expectations?

The woman in the video had big, long hair, was very curvy and wore a tight shirt and tight jeans. She could have chosen not to dress that way and avoid the attention. It is akin to leaving a dollar bill on the ground and making fun of everyone who tries to pick it up, or baiting a hook then laughing at the fish for biting.

She wore fairly ordinary dark clothing that covered most of her skin, and you make it sound like she was frolicking about in body paint. What’s wrong with long hair? In that, she’s conforming to society’s expectations of how women should wear their hair. She dressed in a way that allowed you to see that she was a woman, but not particularly sexily. Didn’t Ms. Alexander just complain about feminists wanting to make men and women alike? Yet here’s a woman who dressed modestly in a way that made it clear that she was feminine, and now the Christians complain about that.

What will make them happy? A burqa?

Today our friend Camille Styles is here to share a delicious recipe from her new book, Camille Styles Entertaining. It's a beautiful book with amazing photography. We've been enjoying it around our office this past week! 

Although I love to cook, I can definitely be a bit lazy... and making homemade pie crust from scratch just doesn’t sound like the way I’d like to spend a beautiful spring day. My love of quiche and eggy tarts inspired me to develop this version using store-bought puff pastry, which practically bakes itself and tastes every bit as good as its homemade pastry counterpart.

Try to use all-butter puff pastry if possible; there’s a world of difference in the flavor compared with the versions made with hydrogenated oils. I filled mine with crispy bacon, seasonal asparagus, and a creamy egg mixture that’s totally decadent yet somehow feels light and seasonal at the same time.

Asparagus, Bacon and Goat Cheese Tart, serves 6.

1 sheet all-butter puff pastry from a 14-ounce package (I like the Dufour brand)
4 large eggs
6 tablespoons half-and-half
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 scallions (white and green parts), sliced on the diagonal
3 tablespoons cream cheese, at room temperature
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 4-ounce package crumbled goat cheese
20 thin asparagus spears, trimmed
Maldon sea salt for finishing (optional)

Unfold a pastry sheet on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough into an 11" x 13" rectangle, flattening slightly. With a small paring knife, score a ¼" border along the inside of the rectangle. Prick all over with a fork and then refrigerate for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Cover the dough with a sheet of parchment paper and then add enough pie weights or dried beans to fill the crust. Bake until light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Use a fork to pierce any bubbles that may have formed and then let the pastry cool slightly on the baking sheet.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, half-and-half, thyme, salt and pepper, and half the scallions. Whisk in the cream cheese until smooth. Pour the egg mixture inside the border of the pastry. Top with the bacon, goat cheese, and asparagus.

Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden and the topping is set, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and then sprinkle with the remaining scallions and Maldon sea salt, if using. Cut into squares and serve. 

Blind baking (or prebaking) is a crucial step in this recipe, as it keeps the center of the dough from puffing up too much or becoming soggy. I like to keep a bag of dried beans in my pantry that I use over and over just for blind baking pie crusts; after I’m done with them, I put them back in their labeled plastic bag and reserve them for the next time I need them!

Thanks so much for sharing this recipe with us, Camille! Congratulations on your new book. xx. Elsie + Emma 

Credits // Author: Camille Styles. Photos by: Buff Strickland.

NFL Players Say NO MORE to Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (X)

clarawebbwillcutoffyourhead:

p much

This cake is one of those cakes I take for granted somehow. I love it so much but I rarely bake it. Before I started baking like crazy, about 5 years ago, I used to bake two times a year, tops. Two times a year, that's it. And when I did, it was always "kladdkaka" (roughly translated "sticky cake" or "gooey cake" but I'll just call it Swedish chocolate cake). Why kladdkaka then? Well, first of all, it was the only recipe I knew how to make. Second, it's probably the easiest thing you could possibly make, and it's just so darn delicious.You simply have to make this one! And don't forget to serve it with whipped cream (vanilla ice cream is ok as well)!










Swedish chocolate cake  
8-10 servings

One of the most popular Swedish recipes, and one of the easiest as well! My version is flourless which takes the chocolate to another level. For a soft and sticky cake, serve it at room temperature. If you prefer a more dense, chewy cake, serve it cold.  I prefer it cold, with a big dollop of sweetened whipped cream. 

Ingredients
250 g (2 sticks + 1 1/2 tbsp) butter
250 g (8.8 oz) coarsely chopped dark chocolate (70%)
1/3 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp (100 ml) strong coffee or espresso (or water)
4 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup + 1 1/2 tbsp (180 g) sugar
1 tsp vanilla sugar or 1/4 tsp vanilla powder
pinch of salt

To serve
Powdered sugar
Whipped cream
Milk chocolate curls

Directions
1. Heat oven to 175° (350F). Grease a springform pan (22-25 cm / 8-10 inches) and cover the base with baking paper.
2. Gently melt butter and chocolate in a saucepan on low heat. When mixture is melted and smooth, stir in coffee, then set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whip eggs, sugar and vanilla until very light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
4. Stir chocolate mixture into egg mixture with a spatula. Stir until smooth. Add a pinch of salt.
5. Pour batter into the prepared springform pan and bake for 40-45 minutes. Let cake cool before removing it from the pan. I prefer the cake when it's been in the fridge for a couple of hours. Dust powered sugar on top.
6. Whip cream with some powdered sugar (to taste) and vanilla powder.
7. To make the chocolate curls, put milk chocolate in a warm place for a few minutes, then use a cheese slicer to make curls.

Here’s more quitting!

andywarnercomics:

In honor of Day of the Dead, here’s a repost of my comic about the San Francisco Columbarium and the man who spent 26 years restoring it.

This comic originally appeared on Medium at The Nib. Go check out my other work there.

This is the coolest thing I’ve seen today.

catsbeaversandducks:

Owls Are Flying Cats

In 2010, Dejan Lazic got a mildly critical review in the Washington Post and now he wants it taken down so people who google him won't see it anymore. Read the rest

Why do we insist on "just one more level"? Nir Eyal explains in his book, Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products. Read the rest

A columnist at Salon has trepidations about the newest video technology:

I am now the owner of a new “smart” TV, which promises to deliver streaming multimedia content, games, apps, social media and Internet browsing... The amount of data this thing collects is staggering. It logs where, when, how and for how long you use the TV. It sets tracking cookies and beacons designed to detect “when you have viewed particular content or a particular email message.” It records “the apps you use, the websites you visit, and how you interact with content.” It ignores “do-not-track” requests as a considered matter of policy...

More troubling is the microphone. The TV boasts a “voice recognition” feature that allows viewers to control the screen with voice commands. But the service comes with a rather ominous warning: “Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party.”..

According to retired Gen. David Petraeus, former head of the CIA, Internet-enabled “smart” devices can be exploited to reveal a wealth of personal data. “Items of interest will be located, identified, monitored, and remotely controlled through technologies such as radio-frequency identification, sensor networks, tiny embedded servers, and energy harvester,” he reportedly told a venture capital firm in 2012...

Of course, there is always the “dumb” option. Users may have the ability to disable data collection, but it comes at a cost. The device will not function properly or allow the use of its high-tech features.

More at the link.

Do you know what it means to be an AtheistVoter?

It means I vote for the separation of church and state, because religious delusions should have no influence on my life…or yours.

It means I vote on the side of science, because science is where we find the answers, not in holy books.

It means I vote for peace, not war, because we only have this one life to live, and killing people — any people at all — is an unforgivable crime.

It means I vote for the environment, because the promises of priests that their gods won’t allow harm to come to us are meaningless.

It means I vote pro-choice, because there’s nothing magical about a fetus’s “soul” that trumps the rights of women.

It means I vote for equality and against racist and sexist policies, because all human beings have equal rights.

It means I vote against policies that prop up the rich and promote income inequality, because there are no divine rights that favor one person over another…and because without godly authority, fairness should be our moral guide.

It means I vote for LGBTQ rights, because religious prohibitions are null and void, and we should place a greater value on human happiness than the book of Leviticus.

It means I vote for health care for all, because life is precious and everyone deserves equal support in maintainng it.

It means I’m going to get out and vote tomorrow, because making our government more rational requires the cooperation of a community, and we all have to do our part.

The reviews on the Delicious Women's Phd Darling Sexy Costume , some apparently from women with actual PhDs, are something of a remedy for the generally depressing fact of its existence: "Sleeves are too short & have no stripes. Costume does not feature a hood. This is a 'sexy BA' at best."

jake-clark:

The purest of evil

Продолжаем нашу серию примерчиков мастерклассов по всяческой тематике ... Что вам больше всего приглянулось ?

Под катом кучка гифок, у кого трафик - не заходите !



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Вот тут еще мы смотрели всякий дрифт на гифках и аморалка 18+

lickystickypickyshe:

A wheeled rover disguised as a penguin chick is allowing zoologists to read the heart rates of king penguins in Antarctica.

Most wild animals are understandably wary of humans. Which can make studying them hard for zoologists and documentary makers alike. That anxiety may be increased after they’ve been captured and fitted with monitors as some of the penguins of Adelie Land have been. Unfortunately, to read the monitors Dr Yvon Le Maho of the University of Strasbourg needed to get within 60cms of the penguins, or find a way to get a reception device in to that distance.

To achieve this, Le Maho reveals in Nature Methods heput an antenna on a four wheel drive device and sent it into colonies of several local species. Unsurprisingly, the elephant seals were entirely unperturbed, barely noticing the device. King penguins pecked at the rover, but once it stopped they calmed down and their heart rates rapidly returned to normal. “Upon immobilization, the rover—unlike humans—did not disorganize colony structure, and stress rapidly ceased,” the paper reports.

Emperor penguins, despite their great size, are shyer than their smaller cousins, so Le Maho decided  it was time to take a step up by adding a fiberglass penguin chick. Things did not go smoothly however. The first chick was unconvincing, and possibly fell into the penguin version of uncanny valley, leading to some frightened emperors. 

Only after five variations was the chick sufficiently feathered up to stop scaring the locals. At this point, the response shifted entirely. Baby penguins, undeterred by the wheels, huddled up against the chick.

The adults even sang to it. ”They were very disappointed when there was no answer,” Le Maho said. “Next time we will have a rover playing songs.”

Responses to the undisguised rover can be seen in this video.

DAY 2: No one suspects a thing.

DAY 3:  They have accepted me as one of their own.

DAY 4: BIRD BATTERIES RUNNING LOW

Educated viewers will anticipate the result, but seeing it happen is still a jaw-dropping experience.

Via Neatorama.

Bird rides on violin.

USS Enterprise, we haz a problem. (more…)

stfueverything:

fionagllaghers:

Jessica Williams, ladies and gents.

she is a goddess!! I love her

Interviewer: Is it hard to get past that, when audiences can’t see black people doing other things, other characters? (x)

vaultnumber713:

I love them

they’re wondering what he’s looking for

Augie is about to go to press. If you still want to be part of the first order, please order now!

You suck, humans!

They want the term of copyright changed to life plus 70 years, instead of 2039 for unpublished works of uncertain date, a standard that makes it impossible to reproduce or display things like letters home from the front. Read the rest

The Bureau is seeking a rule-change from the Administrative Office of the US Courts that would give it the power to distribute malware, hack, and trick any computer, anywhere in the world, in the course of investigations; it's the biggest expansion of FBI spying power in its history and they're hoping to grab it without an act of Congress or any public scrutiny or debate. Read the rest

Look! More size of very big things with large numbers, compared against things that you're kind of familiar with. Does this ever get old? The answer is no. Because measurements of planets might as well be random large numbers without anything to scale, John Brady placed things from space on Earth and vice versa.

The image above shows six Earths placed adjacent to each other to show the scale of Saturn's rings. The one of Earth versus the sun is my favorite.

For more on gaining a sense of scale, see the true size of Africa, Olympic events, fictional and real-life spaceships, or the entire known universe.

Tags: astronomy, scale