Mount Rainier Travelogue Parte the Seconde: Falling Water Everywhere

One thing’s sure about a mountain perpetually covered in snow: there will be water. We’ve already seen quite a lot, but we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

We were making good time, so when a pullout presented itself for the Carter Falls trailhead, we paused to go play in the Nisqually river. We didn’t have quite enough time to hike all the way to the falls, but we could cross the river. Onna halfa log. Continue reading “Mount Rainier Travelogue Parte the Seconde: Falling Water Everywhere”

Mount Rainier Travelogue Parte the Seconde: Falling Water Everywhere
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The Path of the Privileged Paternalistic Ass

Another day, another person spinning out because they insist they know better than the people who actually deal with the same shit over and over and over every fucking day of their lives. After watching a pattern of behavior unfold itself over years, I’ve come to the conclusion that JT’s decided to walk the path of the privileged paternalistic ass at an early age. Many of us do. Hopefully he’ll have the courage to realize it’s a dumbshit direction and make a course correction, before he turns into a Mark Farris.

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But I’m not really here to talk about him, or to him. Continue reading “The Path of the Privileged Paternalistic Ass”

The Path of the Privileged Paternalistic Ass

The Parable of “But That’s Not Theft!”

Ah. I see the fail is out in force, and some of our more despicable community members are attempting to redefine rape out of existence. Some of these shitlords are, themselves, rapists or wanna-be rapists who would like to ensure society will not recognize them as rapists and act accordingly. Some of them are proper little fanchildrenz, who wish to convince themselves that their heroz never in a billion trillion years committed the horrific act of rape, so of course the non-consensual sex those heroz inflicted upon other people totes wasn’t rape.

Neither of these categories are likely to understand the following parables, as they are motivated to not understand. To them, I am not speaking.

But there may be those in the audience who are wearing their rape-culture goggles, and as a result can’t see rape as rape. For them, the following series of parables may be of some benefit.

Some of the many things that are not consent. Not having clear, enthusiastic consent means you should probably err on the side of not raping someone. Photo courtesy Garry Knight via Flickr.
Some of the many things that are not consent. Not having clear, enthusiastic consent means you should probably err on the side of not raping someone. Photo courtesy Garry Knight via Flickr.

Continue reading “The Parable of “But That’s Not Theft!””

The Parable of “But That’s Not Theft!”

Tranquility

A brand-new week looms, and promises to be, how shall we say, emotionally taxing for us all. Let’s have some beauty so that we may brace ourselves.

Ryan (Glacial Till) came for a visit, and we headed over to Washington Park Arboretum. They have an utterly lovely Japanese garden there, which is always a delight to wander about in. I have many and wonderful shots that will make appearances as time goes by and themes like carp or turtles or stone lanterns present themselves. For now, we’ll have some of the somewhat artistic bits.

Waterfall: Continue reading “Tranquility”

Tranquility

Sooooo Tired…. A Kitten-Photo Essay

Don’t get the wrong impression from the following photos. Yes, there was much sleeping. But there was also quite a bit of playing. It’s just that after all the playing (and a bit o’ research), I’m with Luna: sooooo tired. So we are exploring that theme.

You know how kittens are. Little packets of energy moving at an appreciable fraction of the speed of light one minute, dead to the universe the next. She’d been playing before I got there today, and was thus passed out upon my arrival. Adorably, of course! Continue reading “Sooooo Tired…. A Kitten-Photo Essay”

Sooooo Tired…. A Kitten-Photo Essay

Water Ouzel! Plus Amazing Light in Water

Today was magnificent. B and I headed up to Deception Falls, which was the scene of a mystery last year. Forgot my Sharpie, more’s the pity, but I got the answers to some of the questions raised from that thread, so that was outstanding. I’ll get that up soon, after the chaos that is this weekend goes away.

But right now, I wanted to share some of the absolute best moments. Like this one: Continue reading “Water Ouzel! Plus Amazing Light in Water”

Water Ouzel! Plus Amazing Light in Water

You Good People

I just want to take a moment to thank all of you on this side of the rift.

Not so long ago, I might’ve ended up on the other. Our culture had battered me with so many messages about how women were and should be treated and should react to that treatment that I thought all that shit was normal. Upset because some dude cat-called you on the street? Chill out, girl! Didn’t get that promotion? Well, most women just can’t hack it like dudes can. Why did that idiot stay with her abuser? Why did she get drunk knowing she could get hurt? Where does she get off saying women aren’t equal – we totally are, and if we aren’t, well, it’s probably our fault, ladies! Hey, I’m one of the guys. I’m not like those girls.

Being one of the guys really can insulate you from a lot of bullshit. It also allows you to perpetuate the worst of our culture rather than recognizing problems and fixing them.

You brought me out of that.

What feminism is: the radical notion that women are people. Sign me up! Image courtesy Julie Jordan Scott via Flickr.
What feminism is: the radical notion that women are people. Sign me up! Image courtesy Julie Jordan Scott via Flickr.

Continue reading “You Good People”

You Good People

Some Essential Reading on the Sexism in Skepticism Debacle

I’ll tell you something, when I haven’t been wrapped up in my geology research, I’ve been on a roaring boil. I’m fed up with this shit. I’m through with people who think women are objects to do with as they will, and people who think inability to consent is consent (pro tip: it is not, and if you have sex with someone who is unable to consent, you’re a rapist). I’m done with people who think preventing rape and sexual assault is a woman’s job rather than placing the burden and blame where they belong: on the people who assault. I’m tired of the little shitstains who think this is all a bunch of silly drama and do their level best to shut the victims up. I want these disgusting fucks out of my community. They don’t belong in civilized spaces.

No one should have to put up with this outrageous fuckery. And I’m appalled that self-declared rational thinkers are so very terrible at thinking through something as simple as this, and coming to the conclusion that hey, you know, this shit has to stop.

I’m so damned grateful to the women who have come forward and the bloggers who refuse to relinquish the atheism and skepticism communities to the predators.

There’ve been some blog posts over the last few days I want to draw your attention to, in case you missed them. They’re necessary.

In no particular order, then: Continue reading “Some Essential Reading on the Sexism in Skepticism Debacle”

Some Essential Reading on the Sexism in Skepticism Debacle

New at Rosetta Stones: Field Trippin’ on Mount St. Helens

Yes, yes, we were doing bluffs, and Ima gonna let South Bluff finish, but first I wanted to say a few words about some other bluffs. Well, sorta. We’re going to Hoffstadt Bluffs! Not that we can really see the bluffs from where we’re going, but there are super-sexy views of Mount St. Helens from there, so you’ll love it anyway. I meant to do one big field trip post, but with six stops and so much to babble about, it would’ve been way too long, so I’ve broken it up a bit. I’m planning to spend the next several days (minus Saturday and Sunday, prolly – geotrippin’!) getting all the parts posted, and hopefully be done by Thursday so we can get back to bluffing.

Thanks to Silver Fox, who inspired this idea. Awesomesauce!

And we’ll be doing Mount Rainier, never fear. ZOMG so many things to see and do!!!

New at Rosetta Stones: Field Trippin’ on Mount St. Helens