In case I haven’t convinced you that feminism and atheism are natural allies on certain issues, here’s a particular horrifying example. A Christian pastor in South Africa is molesting multiple women under the guise of “banishing demons.” Some of the particular examples witnesses relay are so disturbing.

I just wish I knew what we could do instead of acting outraged. I guess we just have to keep up the effort of spreading skepticism and critical thinking everywhere, so frauds can’t get away with molesting women under the guise of religion. Sigh.

Months ago I was approached by JT Eberhard who asked me if I wanted to pose for their 2011 Skepticon pin-up calendar. It’s one of the fun fundraising techniques they have to keep Skepticon free. I would be posing alongside other outspoken atheists like Greta Christina, Rebecca Watson, and PZ Myers.

JT stressed I could pose however I wanted, however clothed I wanted – something sexy and fun doesn’t require nudity. I joked that I would do it if I could be Miss December 2012 because of the destructive nature of my boobs. I even used it as my April Fool’s Day joke this year.

But joking aside, it’s been festering in my brain for a while. Sex Positive Jen and Frustrated Blogger Jen have had the following debate on the issue:

SPJ: You should so do it! It’ll be fun.
FBJ: You know you’re just asking for trouble.
SPJ: But there’s nothing wrong with a pin-up calendar! I’d be embracing my sexuality. And it’s not objectifying women or anything – they have men too, and most of the poses are funny or smart.
FBJ: You understand that. But just think how others will react. Some feminists will use this as evidence that You’re Doing It Wrong.
SPJ: I’ve learned not every feminist is going to agree with me.
FBJ: But worse, this will just perpetuate the misconception that you’re only liked for your looks.
SPJ: Dude, I’ve always been the nerdy awkward girl. The idea of people only liking me for my looks is somewhat absurd. If anything, this is the first time I will get to embrace my looks! For once I can feel sexy.
FBJ: Your ridiculous self-esteem aside, people do know you as “the boobquake girl.” You’ll perpetuate that and have to deal with it. Do you really want more people asking you to sign your calendar than your book?
SPJ: Do I want to cover up just because of what others may say? That’s wrong!
FBJ: Hmm…
SPJ: Hmm indeed.

So, I don’t know what I’m going to do. But an interesting point? I don’t think PZ had this thought process before he agreed. Ah, double standards and the joys of being a young female blogger.

So I’m turning to you for advice, readers! I figured that would be the smart thing to do before accidentally buying a piece of crap. I basically want a laptop that is:

– Easily portable and lightweight, but not a netbook (absurdly tiny screens make me weep)
– Cheap enough that it won’t make a grad student cry
– Not a Mac (save the rants, I’m just not used to them)

Really, that’s all I care about. I’m basically going to be using it for internet and word processing, so it doesn’t have to be super fabulous – it’s not replacing my desktop. I want it for taking notes during class, doing homework or working on presentations while traveling, and being able to waste time on the internet somewhere other than my apartment. Need to abuse those Seattle coffee shops.

I appreciate all suggestions on what to investigate or avoid!

It’s not exactly fun when you’re experiencing it, but you’ll be able to look back at it ten years from now and know you learned from it.

I went on a fancy pub crawl last night with a bunch of the other grad students. The last place was a dance club, so I wanted to ditch my coat. Knowing this was potentially a bad idea in a crowded club, I took my driver’s license, student ID, credit card, and phone out of my coat pockets and stashed them in my bra (yes, I can can use my boobs for storage).

Problem: I forgot I also had my keys in my coat pocket. And my coat got stolen. Goodbye, apartment, lab, and car keys.

After being the Classy Hysterically Crying Drunk Girl in The Club, my friends eventually got me into a cab and I crashed at their place. I looked like the ultimate Walk of Shame this morning, with my black cocktail dress, blistering/bleeding heels from dancing in dress shoes, hangover, and male friend’s oversized jacket (since I was cold and obviously no longer had mine). I then sat in front of my house for 45 minutes until the locksmith came. I called the club to see if anyone turned anything in on the off chance someone accidentally took my coat and returned it, but no one answered and I got a defunct voicemail box.

I’m now in my apartment and I have a spare key, so that crisis is temporarily averted. But I’m still car-keyless…and I have to drive to Eugene, OR for a speaking event on Friday. Fuck.

Lesson: Don’t be fucking stupid and make it easy for people to take your shit.

The stupidest part? I know this will be alright, I can replace locks, I can get a new car key, I can buy a new coat (even though I really liked that one)… but I can’t replace my Venusaur keychain. I won that in a Pokemon tournament 13 years ago, and I still loved it. It’s stupid to care about a little piece of beat up nerdy plastic when your keys are gone… but I’m sentimental. It’s depressing losing a symbol of your childhood due to…well, not thinking like an adult.

And to add insult to injury, during the night out I got rejected by a guy I like in a pretty stupendously awkward way, and I’m worried I’ve ruined our friendship. When it rains, it pours.

Time for a match game! Our celebrity atheists are:

A. Greta Christina
B. Richard Dawkins
C. JT Eberhard
D. Jen McCreight

The quotes overheard at the American Humanist Conference and presented hilariously out of context:

1. “I feel like a prostitute!”
2. “Now, back to buttfucking!”
3. “Eat a bag of dicks!”
4. “Eat shit and die!”

Feel free to guess and discuss your reasoning in the comments. If you overheard one of the quotes, please don’t spoil it for others.

…And yes, atheists are a classy bunch. Don’t you wish you came now?

I love ya. You’re an awesome friend and a brilliant blogger. I know you’re an all around good guy and you thought you were just being funny.

But please don’t ruin a brilliant interview with Kari Byron of Mythbusters about her atheism by saying “This whole post was really just an excuse to post a picture of Kari.”

It’s not funny, it’s disappointing.

I know you were just joking and you’re a supporter of diversity. And before people accuse me of trying to make you a eunuch – you’re allowed to remark that she’s attractive. Hell, I think Kari is hot.

But to too many people, only appreciating a woman for her looks and not for her intelligence is not a joke – it’s a negative mindset that joking helps perpetuate.

My mom texted me at 7:15am to let me know the Washington coast had a tsunami advisory. Apparently my groggy reply that I was fine didn’t make her feel better, because she then called me since she and my grandparents were convinced I was going to drown in my basement apartment. Oddly me saying “I live on top of a hill” was more comforting to her than the fact that Seattle isn’t on the Washington coast – it’s on the Puget Sound.

Haha, love you, Mom.

Though it is odd how differently we react to natural disasters we’re not used to. Massive thunderstorm? Go watch the lightning on the deck. Tornado? Stare at the cool green sky before running to the basement. Tsunami? HOLY FUCKBALLS! I’m going to pee my pants if/when an earthquake hits nearby.

Anyway, I don’t know if I have any readers who live in Japan or have family there, but best wishes to Japan. I hope everything there is okay. Same goes to anyone who actually is getting hit by a tsunami.

And you can all stop telling me it was my fault – I swear I was wearing modest pajamas.

Man, do I fail at feminist blogging or what, missing this holiday? Oh well, such are the consequences of slaving away in the laboratory. I have absolutely no idea what has happened in the world in the last week or so. Wars could have started for all I know. I mean, I don’t even understand all of these Charlie Sheen memes!

Anyway, let’s have a belated celebration with an open thread. Discuss what women you look up to and have been most influential in your life. They can be famous, friends, family – but explain why they mean so much to you.

Last night I had a dream that I was hanging out with a group of friends, when God suddenly appeared to me in the form of a five story tall marble statue of an old bearded man, adorned with gold and jewels and bathed in warm light.

“Is this enough proof for you, Jen?” he asked, both confident and a tad bit annoyed.

“Come on,” I replied, “how do I know this isn’t just a hallucination? If you’re going to go to the effort to give me proof, at least give it under controlled laboratory conditions.”

Move over lucid dreaming. I sleep debate religious apologetics.

Though to assure you I’m not completely devoid of creativity thanks to atheism, my following dream involved traveling back in time to the Lost City of Atlantis, where they bred Pokemon-like creatures and were totally nonplussed by our arrival since they apparently get time travelers all the time.

My brain is weird.

Having a law making gay marriage illegal wasn’t enough for Republicans from Indiana. Now a measure to add a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between a man and a woman has advanced out of a House committee. Because, you know, they just want to make sure it’s super duper illegal for those homosexuals to marry.

Blargh.