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The following day, I attended a workshop about preventing gender violence, facilitated by Katz. There, he posed a question to all of the men in the room: “Men, what things do you do to protect yourself from being raped or sexually assaulted?”

Not one man, including myself, could quickly answer the question. Finally, one man raised his hand and said, “Nothing.” Then Katz asked the women, “What things do you do to protect yourself from being raped or sexually assaulted?” Nearly all of the women in the room raised their hand. One by one, each woman testified:

“I don’t make eye contact with men when I walk down the street,” said one.
“I don’t put my drink down at parties,” said another.
“I use the buddy system when I go to parties.”
“I cross the street when I see a group of guys walking in my direction.”
“I use my keys as a potential weapon.”
“I carry mace or pepper spray.”
“I watch what I wear.”

The women went on for several minutes, until their side of the blackboard was completely filled with responses. The men’s side of the blackboard was blank. I was stunned. I had never heard a group of women say these things before. I thought about all of the women in my life — including my mother, sister and girlfriend — and realized that I had a lot to learn about gender.

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—	Why I Am A Male Feminist (via emilyisobsessed)

'How Creativity Works': It's All In Your Imagination »

npr:

What makes people creative? What gives some of us the ability to create work that captivates the eyes, minds and hearts of others? Jonah Lehrer, a writer specializing in neuroscience, addresses that question in his new book, Imagine: How Creativity Works.

Lehrer defines creativity broadly, considering everything from the invention of masking tape to breakthroughs in mathematics; from memorable ad campaigns to Shakespearean tragedies. He finds that the conditions that favor creativity — our brains, our times, our buildings, our cities — are equally broad.

Lehrer joins NPR’s Robert Siegel to talk about the creative process — where great ideas come from, how to foster them, and what to do when you inevitably get stuck.

Venus, Jupiter, Prepare For A Heavenly Date »

npr:

If you’ve had your eye on the western sky after sundown for the last several nights, you’ve been witness to a breathtaking sight. The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, have been moving (at least from our perspective) ever closer.

On Thursday night, the two planets will line up in conjunction. Venus is about twice as bright as Jupiter, but they are both unmistakable – just look for the bright orbs in the west. -Scott Neuman

lunasalix:

Crows are classified under the Corvidae family. They (believe it or not) actually have some pretty interesting attributes. Crows are classified under the ‘songbird’ category, although many don’t think of them as such, due to the shape of their vocal box. Their cawing can be heard almost anywhere. They have the ability to make a large variety of sounds, each of which have very different meaning.

They often perch and nest at the highest points in trees and act as sentinels for the animals of the forest. Whenever danger appears, they cause a raucous to warn all of the creatures around. This can be observed if you ever go hunting and hear them calling out around you.

Crows are also among the smartest of all birds. Some who have them as pets have taught them to communicate much like a primate, without words. They can learn systems of numbers and procedures. Ravens (another bird species in the crow family) can even be taught to speak a few select words.

slicedfruit:

“Do not feel lonely, the entire Universe is inside you.”
-Rumi

wild-feral-free:

I NEED THIS PRINTED INTO WALLPAPER FOR MY ROOM; I LOVE THIS MORE THAN ANY OTHER PICTURE ON ALL OF TUMBLR. I COULDN’T AGREE MORE

To change ourselves we have to begin with our thoughts. Thought is a force; it has immense power. Your thoughts, beliefs, and expectations create your own personal reality!