The Fat One in the Middle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:20:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Only $330 Left to Get Will Phillips to DragonCon http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/19/only-700-left-to-get-will-phillips-to-dragoncon/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/19/only-700-left-to-get-will-phillips-to-dragoncon/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:51:02 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=123 Thanks to the incredible generosity of SO many donors, I only have $700 $600 $500 $330 (As of July 26, 2010) to raise fully fund the trip to DragonCon for marriage equality activist Will Phillips.

So, if you want to help get Will and his family to DragonCon in Atlanta THIS Labor Day for his birthday, [...]]]> Thanks to the incredible generosity of SO many donors, I only have $700 $600 $500 $330 (As of July 26, 2010) to raise fully fund the trip to DragonCon for marriage equality activist Will Phillips.

So, if you want to help get Will and his family to DragonCon in Atlanta THIS Labor Day for his birthday, PLEASE help me by donating below! Click on the photo to be taken to Paypal :)


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This post, Only $330 Left to Get Will Phillips to DragonCon, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on July 19, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/19/only-700-left-to-get-will-phillips-to-dragoncon/feed/ 0 Stoning Halted! http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/09/stoning-halted/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/09/stoning-halted/#comments Fri, 09 Jul 2010 23:09:01 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=124 From The Guardian:

A 43-year-old Iranian woman will not be stoned to death after an international campaign launched by her children.

It is unclear whether the authorities have lifted the death sentence for alleged adultery against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani or if she faces execution by another means.

I know the dealth penalty has [...]]]> From The Guardian:

A 43-year-old Iranian woman will not be stoned to death after an international campaign launched by her children.

It is unclear whether the authorities have lifted the death sentence for alleged adultery against Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani or if she faces execution by another means.

I know the dealth penalty has not been lifted permanently, but hopefully the outrage of the world has made an impact here.

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This post, Stoning Halted!, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on July 9, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/09/stoning-halted/feed/ 0 (S)He Without Sin (My Post from SheThought.com) http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/06/she-without-sin-my-post-from-shethought-com/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/06/she-without-sin-my-post-from-shethought-com/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:13:49 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=122 It is no secret that there is dissent within the skeptical ranks, both in terms of philosophy and method. What may be less known is that there is even drama within the micro sub-cultures of this “movement”, some of which I am less than proud to be a part of. When James Randi split from [...]]]> It is no secret that there is dissent within the skeptical ranks, both in terms of philosophy and method. What may be less known is that there is even drama within the micro sub-cultures of this “movement”, some of which I am less than proud to be a part of. When James Randi split from CSICOP in the 90′s, or more recently when Paul Kurtz left CFI, no one assumed their disagreements were based in gender.

However, when the disagreements are between women, certain people like to paint them as “catfights”, which lessens the seriousness of ALL involved (full disclosure – I, Heidi Anderson, am certain people). Women are not a monolithic group, and although many of us call ourselves skeptics AND feminists, we often can not agree on whether skepticism needs feminism, or feminism needs skepticism. Others shun the term feminist completely.

Some disagree with sexy behavior at cons, and others think it is good light-hearted fun that brings in people who may normally think skeptics are stodgy old white dudes. Or ONLY stodgy old white dudes. We have disagreements on sexuality, pornography, prostitution, and even things that do not specifically involve women at all (imagine that!) We are labeled too confrontational or too gentle depending on our methods of outreach.

And you know what? None of that matters. While we are busy using our freedom to prove ourselves different from our allies on the side of reason, a 42 year old mother of two in Iran is facing a death sentence resulting from a forced confession of adultery. She will be buried up to her chest, and stoned to death. Small stones will be used, so as to slow down her death and cause her more pain. And her “confession”? According to a human rights attorney, it was only gained after 99 lashes.

So, as TAM8 approaches, and friends gather, and we have panels on women in skepticism, and skepticism and feminism, and all sorts of things that we as Westerners have the luxury of thinking about, is it too much to ask the skeptical community and blogosphere to investigate this story, and see what REAL DIFFERENCES we can make? Can we step outside, as my friend Will Phillips said, “our tiny little mind boxes” and remember that as we wage these petty wars on each other, a war against reason continues to rage across the globe, with a 42 year old mother of two poised to become the next victim.

Stop Stoning Now

Letter from Sakine’s Children

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This post, (S)He Without Sin (My Post from SheThought.com), originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on July 6, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/06/she-without-sin-my-post-from-shethought-com/feed/ 5 Over $500 Raised for Will Phillips Birthday in Three Days!! http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/03/over-500-raised-for-will-phillips-birthday-in-three-days/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/03/over-500-raised-for-will-phillips-birthday-in-three-days/#comments Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:22:13 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=121 In over three days, we have managed to raise $500 of the $3,000 needed to bring LGBT activist Will Phillips and his family to Atlanta this Labor Day for the nerd herd that is DragonCon!

I will continue to talk, tweet, blog, and FB about this until I have raised the money, and there is no [...]]]> In over three days, we have managed to raise $500 of the $3,000 needed to bring LGBT activist Will Phillips and his family to Atlanta this Labor Day for the nerd herd that is DragonCon!

I will continue to talk, tweet, blog, and FB about this until I have raised the money, and there is no stopping me when I have a goal in mind.

So thanks to all of you who donated to support the boy who supports marriage equality!

To those of you who have not yet donated, you can do so here:


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This post, Over $500 Raised for Will Phillips Birthday in Three Days!!, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on July 3, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/07/03/over-500-raised-for-will-phillips-birthday-in-three-days/feed/ 0 Happy Birthday LGBT Activist Will Phillips! http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/30/happy-birthday-lgbt-activist-will-phillips-2/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/30/happy-birthday-lgbt-activist-will-phillips-2/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:52:13 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=117 In 2009, Will Phillips, showed more courage at age 10 than many adults do their whole lives. After being raised to believe in the inherent worth of each person by his parents, Laura and Jay Phillips, in the small town of West Fork, Arkansas, Will put his values into practice when he refused to stand [...]]]> In 2009, Will Phillips, showed more courage at age 10 than many adults do their whole lives. After being raised to believe in the inherent worth of each person by his parents, Laura and Jay Phillips, in the small town of West Fork, Arkansas, Will put his values into practice when he refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance until gays could marry; or in his words, until “there truly is liberty and justice for all!”

Will and his parents have been celebrated and honored at not only the GLAAD Media Awards, but also by GLSEN, GetEQUAL, and most recently, as the Grand Marshal for Northwest Arkansas Pride. However, they have also had tremendous amounts of hate directed at them, including people claiming that his parents are “harming him” by raising him to be speak his mind and stand up for what is right.

I have been extremely lucky to become friends with Laura and Jay Phillips, and even had the opportunity to interview Jay and Will for the Podcast Beyond Belief earlier in June. During this interview, I spoke with Jay and Will about their love of Star Trek, and geekiness in general. I told them about DragonCon, one of the largest pop culture conventions in the world, held in Atlanta every Labor Day weekend.

I mentioned DragonCon to Laura again, and she explained that it would indeed be something that Will would go crazy for, and that his birthday was even in September, but that with all of their travel they would have to look at it for another year. Despite what people may think about “fame” and TV appearances, the Phillips are just like most of us, regular people struggling to get by.

And then I had an idea.

Surely, other people would join with me in thanking Will for taking a stand, and providing inspiration to people of ALL ages.

Surely, we could raise enough to get his family to Atlanta for DragonCon, and show them how much we appreciate the gift they have given us, the gift of a future with Will Phillips in it!

So, if you want to help get Will and his family to DragonCon in Atlanta THIS Labor Day for his birthday, PLEASE help me by donating below!


I have already booked their lodging, and will guarantee that I will do whatever it takes to get enough money to make this happen, even if it means filling in gaps myself.

For donors who will be at DragonCon, I am sure we can convince Will to come to a birthday party on-site :) I know for a fact that he and his family like cake and pie!

For more information on Will’s story, I have provided links below.

Will’s first TV appearance, with his father Jay Phillips, on CNN in 2009.

Will’s Award Acceptance Speech at the GLAAD Media Awards in March 2010, which ends with the Vulcan Salute, “Live Long and Prosper”

Will’s GetEqual Pledge

Thank you for helping to give back to this little boy, who has given us so much hope for the next generation.


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This post, Happy Birthday LGBT Activist Will Phillips!, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on June 30, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/30/happy-birthday-lgbt-activist-will-phillips-2/feed/ 13 The Ethics of Conversation – Thoughts on Confrontation vs. Accommodation http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/28/the-ethics-of-conversation-thoughts-on-confrontation-vs-accommodation/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/28/the-ethics-of-conversation-thoughts-on-confrontation-vs-accommodation/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:04:04 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=110 With all the controversy going on between “accommodationists” and “asses”, a new friend I met this weekend at the Center for Inquiry, Randy Pelton, sent me a message with one piece of the puzzle we are ALL missing. He says it beautifully, and has given me permission to share.

“Hello Heidi. We met and [...]]]> With all the controversy going on between “accommodationists” and “asses”, a new friend I met this weekend at the Center for Inquiry, Randy Pelton, sent me a message with one piece of the puzzle we are ALL missing. He says it beautifully, and has given me permission to share.

“Hello Heidi. We met and spoke very briefly this weekend at the CFI conference in Amherst. Randy Pelton is the name. I was the one who spoke to you about the ethical and moral dimension of the snark in the skepticism movement.

Greatly enjoyed your talk and allow me to reiterate my agreement with your main thesis that the snarkiness needs to end. But I think it needs to end less because of the image problem it presents and more so because it demeans real humans.

It is easy to dismiss a person via electrons when you have never met the person, never seen them face-to-face, never had to actually confront their humanness. We all, regardless of what label we place upon ourselves (atheist, skeptic, freethinker, humanist, materialist, naturalist, etc.) need to approach every human and conversation with them from an ethical posture.

Every person needs to be accorded a modicum of respect and dignity. I am a humanist and this conviction threads deep into my emotional, rational, and intellectual marrow.”

Thank you Randy, for this. People like you inspire me to be a better person.

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This post, The Ethics of Conversation – Thoughts on Confrontation vs. Accommodation, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on June 28, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/28/the-ethics-of-conversation-thoughts-on-confrontation-vs-accommodation/feed/ 7 Ladies Who Do Skepticism (and Lunch!) at TAM8 http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/18/ladies-who-do-skepticism-and-lunch-at-tam8-2/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/18/ladies-who-do-skepticism-and-lunch-at-tam8-2/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:28:08 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=107

Ladies Who Do Skepticism is a group aimed at broadening our skeptical community, bringing balance to skeptical events and discussing the pseudoscience specifically targeted at women! It was the brainchild of UK scientist Janis Benion.

Ladies Who Do Skepticism was founded in April 2010, with the aim of bringing together [...]]]>

Ladies Who Do Skepticism is a group aimed at broadening our skeptical community, bringing balance to skeptical events and discussing the pseudoscience specifically targeted at women! It was the brainchild of UK scientist Janis Benion.

Ladies Who Do Skepticism was founded in April 2010, with the aim of bringing together women who want to chat openly about their own critical thoughts without being afraid to ‘spoil the fun’ for those who don’t enjoy such a strong link to rationality… We hope to have branches all over. If you don’t have one in your area and you’d like one, let us know (see ‘Contact’ page).

In the meantime, you can hear two Ladies Who Do Skepticism from the Manchester and Liverpool groups discussing their thoughts about the group on the Righteous Indignation Podcast Episode 50, BBC Radio Manchester AND the Guardian Newspaper!

Janis has also been interviewed by Kylie Sturgess for the SkepticZone podcast that should publish on June 18, 2010.

In a Madonna/Gwynethesque effort to cash in on the coolness of all things British, SheThought.com is bringing the UK sensation stateside!!

At The Amazing Meeting 8 we will be reserving a group of tables specifically for a women’s mixer at the Friday lunch. White gloves and pearls are optional, but critical thinking is not! We hope to see you there.

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This post, Ladies Who Do Skepticism (and Lunch!) at TAM8, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on June 18, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/18/ladies-who-do-skepticism-and-lunch-at-tam8-2/feed/ 0 Skepticality Speaking Beyond BS http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/17/skepticality-speaking-beyond-bs/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/17/skepticality-speaking-beyond-bs/#comments Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:42:32 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=103 Every year in July, a nerd herd of epic proportions descends upon the sleepy little town of Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? The answer may amaze you!

The Amazing Meeting is an annual gathering of skeptics, atheists, secular humanists, debunkers, jugglers, magicians, curmudgeons, and beardy white men with glasses. Usually, James Randi wins the beard contest hands [...]]]> Every year in July, a nerd herd of epic proportions descends upon the sleepy little town of Las Vegas, Nevada. Why? The answer may amaze you!

The Amazing Meeting is an annual gathering of skeptics, atheists, secular humanists, debunkers, jugglers, magicians, curmudgeons, and beardy white men with glasses. Usually, James Randi wins the beard contest hands down, but the possible appearance of champion punter and Adidas spokesmodel Aubrey de Grey at the meeting may finally end Randi’s hirsute reign of terror.

To kick things off with style, Swoopy of Skepticality, Desiree Schell of Skeptically Speaking, Barbara Drescher of ICBS Everwhere, and I will host a suite party/live podcast Ustream event in conjunction with the realVirtual Drinking Skeptically in the bar. You can join us in the suite, in the bar, or on Ustream or Tokbox. MINGLE with our  *ACTUAL CELEBRITY GUESTS!!!

When: Thursday July 8, 2010 at 9:30pm

Where: Suite Level at the South Point Hotel and Casino

RSVP here or on the FB event page. Seating will be limited.

*your definition of celebrity may differ from ours

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This post, Skepticality Speaking Beyond BS, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on June 17, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/17/skepticality-speaking-beyond-bs/feed/ 0 On Sex and Power http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/02/on-sex-and-power/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/02/on-sex-and-power/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:58:56 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/?p=101 Getting power OVER people with your sexuality lasts only as long as they find you fuckable.

TAKING power through owning your sexuality lasts your whole life.

Related Posts:Every Time You Orgasm, An Angel Gets It's Wings!Sex-Women Rebel Belle: How the Bible Belt Isn’t Always a Chastity Beltbitchcamp 09 Share and Enjoy: ]]> Getting power OVER people with your sexuality lasts only as long as they find you fuckable.

TAKING power through owning your sexuality lasts your whole life.

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This post, On Sex and Power, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on June 2, 2010.

]]> http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/06/02/on-sex-and-power/feed/ 0 I Miss Him http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/05/21/i-miss-him/ http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/05/21/i-miss-him/#comments Fri, 21 May 2010 09:14:49 +0000 FatOneInTheMiddle http://fatoneinthemiddle.com/2010/05/21/i-miss-him/

Raymond Anthony Anderson from Heidi Anderson on Vimeo.

Related Posts:THIS is How You Protest in a Tank TopScience in South Carolina – No! Seriously!(S)He Without Sin (My Post from SheThought.com) Share and Enjoy: ]]>

Raymond Anthony Anderson from Heidi Anderson on Vimeo.

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This post, I Miss Him, originally appeared on The Fat One in the Middle on May 21, 2010.

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