“More girls have been killed in the last FIFTY years, precisely because they were girls, than men were killed in ALL the battles of the 20th century.
More girls are killed in this routine gendercide in any ONE decade, than people were slaughtered in ALL the genocides of the 20th century.”
—
Nicholas Kristof, Half the Sky
Read that AGAIN.
(via kateoplis)
Yes. Read that again.
(via mikeambs)
Finally!!I have a little lemonade stand: quietwhimsy.etsy.com
This cat knows how to relax
I laughed so hard I had to reblog this.
best thing I’ve seen in ages!!
ACLU to Kansas school district: Cancel creationist assemblies about dinosaurs
The American Civil Liberties Union has warned a southwest Kansas school district against holding mandatory student assemblies that feature a creationist group.
“Teaching or otherwise promoting creationism is, simply put, unlawful,” the ACLU wrote in a letter to Hugoton Public Schools superintendent Mark Crawford on Friday. “As the District is surely aware, the federal courts have been unequivocally clear that efforts to inject religious beliefs regarding the origin of life into public school science curricula are constitutionally impermissible, no matter what form they take.”
Hugoton Public Schools invited Creation Truth Foundation’s founder Dr. G. Thomas Sharp to teach the “Truth about Dinosaurs” at two assemblies next week. At least one of the assemblies will be mandatory for all students and teachers.
The group has created teaching materials “explaining the origins, extinction and possible existence of dinosaurs” from a Biblical view and believes the dinosaur Tyrannosaurus rex walked the Earth as early as 100,000 years ago rather more than 65 million years ago. In a lecture uploaded to YouTube last year, Sharp criticized scientists for ignoring the great flood of the Bible.
“We respectfully request the District take immediate and concrete steps to remedy these problems,” the ACLU concluded. “The first step would be to cancel the planned mandatory school assemblies now set for next week.”
However, superintendent Crawford has said he will not call off the assemblies. He told The Kansas City Star the assemblies will not promote creationism, despite the beliefs and mission of the Creation Truth Foundation.
“I agree with the ACLU, in that, if a mandatory all-school assembly where creationist truths or creationist beliefs were expressed, that would be inappropriate public-school content, and that is not the case,” Crawford said. “It’s completely and totally school appropriate.”
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/21/aclu-to-kansas-school-district-cancel-creationist-assemblies-about-dinosaurs/
(Source: astrodidact)
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He would be bothered when someone would say he was mean and disrespectful. Because actually, he wasn’t. They took his silence to mean he cared little or nothing for them. They didn’t have the insight, or didn’t care to exercise the insight, in knowing that he was a shy boy that just didn’t know how to approach them. Instead of making an attempt to approach him, they just, well, they just wrote him off. - Lew Bracker
(Source: jamesdeandaily, via mikeambs)
photo by crazyunclelarry via instagram
Feeling nostalgic today looking at old photos. End of my US tour 2007.
An open-letter from Larry McKurtis.
When I emailed Mike 6 years ago for the casting call I wasn’t expecting anything. I wasn’t even sure as to why I thought it was a good idea to send a letter to a perfect stranger detailing my plans for a cross-country bike ride. He could have been some creepy grifter seining for info so he could swoop my identity and squat my house while I was gone all summer - soiling my name with countless girls about the town and using my then flawless credit to run up substantial debts. My father thought he may be an axe murderer, and after meeting Mike pressed the question for some time, though now he’s Mike’s biggest fan and asks of him fondly.
In all seriousness I sent that letter hoping he’d respond and pick Jay and I because I wanted some accountability. I didn’t want attention or a glimpse of fame. I wanted to be put on a barbed hook to make it difficult to back out. I was fairly committed at the time and figured some extra motivation to follow through couldn’t hurt. And it didn’t.
When I had to leave Jay on the third day of the trip I was beside myself. I had planned the whole trip for the two of us. My best friend and I battling the elements, each other, ourselves. Knowing I had somebody I trusted to help carry the enormous load of such an endeavor was embedded in my psyche. Having that comfortable and accepted mindset removed so swiftly was the harshest reality check I’d had at that time in my life. I could have thrown in the towel right there and I very nearly did on that sleepless night.
I had personal reasons that kept me going. I wanted to test my meddle. Silence large questions brooding over my thoughts that I might not ever have the chance to answer again. I didn’t want to go home with my tail between my legs and face all the naysayers whose gazes would read “I told you so.” Most of all I didn’t want to disappoint the crew. I barely knew these people but I felt like I owed them something, and even now I feel like I do.
The parallels between my journey and Mike’s are too similar to ignore. Mike has battled to keep this project going - against the naysayers, the overwhelming scope of such a large independent project for one man, and mostly himself. He’s persevered through things that would have caused most of us to pack it up long ago. Mike has been held accountable by all of us, and I’m sure the process has taken so long because he doesn’t want to let anybody down, himself included, even though we know he won’t. If you’re reading this blog most of you have had a hand in keeping Mike motivated. You’re all a part of this.
After years of hard work, he’s nearly ready to give a large part of himself to the world. I can’t speak for Mike but I’m sure that it’s equally terrifying, exciting, and rewarding all at once. You’ve been waiting for Mike to give you this gift for years, months, weeks, or maybe you just stumbled onto this blog and like what you see. Maybe you’re invested, maybe you’d like to be.
Aside from emotional investment I think we all owe him something for this gift.
I think the best gift we can return to Mike and the project is spreading the word. I’m not talking about spamming everyone you know or spinning a sign on a street corner in a Godzilla costume (which somebody should do because that’s hilarious). I’m talking about sharing the project thoughtfully with a few friends or family who you think would enjoy it. Show it to your partner, the people your ride with, your film class, your buds at the community bike shop, your bartender, your AA buddies, your church, your cousin in college, your grandpa the veteran. Put it on your blog, tweet it, BookFace it, post it on your favorite forum, MySpace it to your cousin who still has dial-up in the backwoods.
It really doesn’t matter who you pick or how you do it as long as you feel like you’re giving something to others they would enjoy themselves.
I think the slow growth of this film in a grassroots manner would be the most fitting way for it to find success.*
*I have to give a little disclaimer now. I feel very awkward about being the subject of a documentary - which I would hope to be the normal response for most people in the same situation. I don’t tell many people about it, I don’t like getting asked about it, I can’t stand my ugly mug and mumbly voice on the screen. I can get kinda hostile about it. My dad tried to play Mike and I’s CNN interview to the entire family one Christmas and I deleted it from the DVR. I have no personal or selfish motivations in this open letter. I just want to help my dear friend Mike succeed at giving a large chunk of his life to the rest of us.
Give FToM and Mike some love. That’s all I ask.
Thanks for reading,
- Larry McKurtis - Fool Extraordinaire, Ordained Minister, Borderline Homeless.
(Source: thingsilikeon)
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