Sea Shepherds Welcome New Spaceship

Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling crew are getting [more] serious.

Beginning next summer, they will add a new ship to their fleet: Earthrace, a back-to-the-future, 40 knot sailing, diving under waves, biodeiesel-fueled ship. Read the article here.

Those Japanese whalers better watch out.

And if you're looking for an entertaining show tonight, be sure to tune in to Neil deGrasse Tyson on "The Colbert Report." Check out this thread from Colbert's website to learn about Tyson, watch old clips, read comments from Tyson fans, etc.

Video Friday: Tyson Throws Down with Branson on Fallon

Neil deGrasse Tyson visit Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. (Video courtesy of Hulu.com)

For more videos of our speakers, please visit the Jodi Solomon Speakers YouTube Channel.

And FYI: Tyson will be on The Colbert Report on Monday, June 29.

What It Means to "Re-Brand"

Hey.

Have you noticed all the buzz around virginity? More so than normal?

It seems like every magazine, newspaper, blog we read is discussing the state of modern virginity.

We’re not getting into it here, but get the dish on by reading Jessica Valenti’s piece in The Nation: (Please note: It’s not quite as salacious as it sounds. Valenti mostly discusses the “rebranding” of the abstinence-only organizations. Yeah, I said rebranding.)

But if you’re looking to read some articles that are slightly more family-oriented, take your pick below! Stephanie Coontz has been writing up a storm recently and we’ve got all her links right here!

“The Death of Macho” from The New American Foundation on June 22, 2009

“Bonding is upside of the downturn” from The Associated Press on June 21, 2009

“Are Baby Boomers ‘Soft’ Parents?” in The Seattle PI on June 19, 2009

“Economy unites generations; Parents, grandparents live together to make ends meet” from The BND.com on June 19, 2009

And not to take this blog post on a more downtrodden path, but did you realize that it’s been over a decade since Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered in Wyoming? And despite all the progress we’ve made in society, federal hate crime legislation extends to race, religion, or national origin, but not to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

But finally (finally!) the U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Learn more and do your part to help prevent homophobic and other bias-driven violence by visiting Human Rights First.

[ And also check out this article in The Huffington Post: ]

If you’re interested in learning more about social justice and human rights, be sure to peruse our directory of Social Justice Speakers or GLBTQ Speakers.

And if you’re wondering what to watch tonight? Neil deGrasse Tyson will be on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight! Talking about the cosmos, of course. Check your local listings! (And get ready for the new season of PBS' NOVA Science Now which kicks off next Tuesday, June 30 at 9PM! Can’t wait for Super Science Tuesdays! )

Robin Wright on Iran

I’m sort-of wondering if Robin Wright did anything else this past weekend besides analyze the Iran situation?

“Lessons for the U.S. As Iran Unravels” by Robin Wright (TIME Magazine on June 22, 2009)

“In Iran, One Woman's Death May Have Many Consequences” by Robin Wright (TIME Magazine on June 21, 2009)

“The Supreme Leader's Gamble: Iran's Crisis Deepens” by Robin Wright (The Huffington Post on June 19, 2009)

“The evolution of Iran's revolution” by Robin Wright (The LA Times on June 21, 2009)

“Iranians defy supreme leader” with Robin Wright on Larry King Live (with Wolf Blitzer) on June 20, 2009

Robin Wright discusses Iran on The Diane Rehm Show on June 22, 2009, 2009

PS: Happy Birthday to Bruce Campbell of the hit show Burn Notice!

Things to See, Read and Hear

Do you live in New York? Be sure to check out the new “Journey to the Stars” show at the Hayden Planetarium. The show, which tries to explain how stars figure into our existence, will debut next month. Learn more.

And while we were perusing the internet for remarkable stories this morning, we stumbled across a good one. Alternet, the award-winning news magazine and online community, pointed out an interesting trend: there has been a recent onslaught of feminist books that offer multifaceted critiques of gender and the culture wars.

And, of course, one of these books is Jessica Valenti’s “The Purity Myth.” This book, as many of you know, is a dissection of the virgin vs. slut dynamic. Valenti explains that by focusing so strongly on a woman’s purity, we’re tossing aside all her other characteristics and reducing her to a sexual icon. Ironically.

And as Alternet points out, “What's amazing about the publicity surrounding Valenti's book is how controversial her thesis remains.” Not sure where you stand? Read more and be sure to check out Valenti’s “The Purity Myth” before making a decision on gender and the culture wars.

And don’t forget to check out Chemical Soup’s podcast interview with Stacy Malkan. Check it out here. Learn how to live beautifully and chemical-free!

Parties. Purity. Ecology. Economy. Human Health.

After five years of breaking news, breaking balls, and bringing you bad-ass feminist blogging, Feministing is holding their first big fundraising event ever in celebration of their five year anniversary.

Tonight they’re bringing together friends, loyal readers and fellow online / offline activists to celebrate this very special occasion and enjoy some rad entertainment, delicious cocktails and old fashion feminist fun! Guests include: Mr. Showbiz, Murrya Hill; indie band BoySkout; Willie May Rock Camp for Girls camper band, Saffire; DJ Tikka Masala and a guest appearance by Kathleen Hanna of Le Tigre and Bikini!

The only problem?

Jodi Solomon is in Boston and the party’s in New York. So if you’re in New York, be sure to attend and then share all the juicy details with us! [ RSVP to their Facebook event. ]

Speaking of the wonderful women at Feministing, have you checked out this piece on Charge.org?

In a blog-a-thon against hate, Jen Nedeau cites Feministing founder Jessica Valenti’s book “The Purity Myth” in her discussion for sex education, health and empowerment. This thought-provoking post highlights the hateful acts that occur everyday and, more importantly, offers clear and concise answers to the problems.

Not familiar with “The Purity Myth”? Check out this Rabble review of Valenti’s book.

And if you’re still hungry for a good read, be sure to peruse this piece by Sandra Steingraber in Orion Magazine.

Titled “3 Bets: On ecology, economy and human health,” the article discusses Steingraber’s cancer diagnosis and her thoughts / research on the reasons she developed cancer. She says “so thirty years ago, as a college undergraduate, I made a bet. I bet that my cancer diagnosis had something to do with the environment in which I lived as a child. And I think I was right about this.”

The rest of the article delves into the ensuing research of Steingraber, but manages to maintain its casual and easy-to-digest tone. Called the “new Rachel Carson,” Steingraber is as efficient a writer as she is an environmentalist.

Speaking of environmentalists . . . Who will be watching the season premiere of Animal Planet’s Whale Wars tonight?!