Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 7:00 pm

DeWitt Community Library at Shoppingtown Mall

Buckland Community Room

Join us at our March meeting where longtime CNY Skeptics member Bryce Hand will talk to us about climate change. Bryce is professor emeritus of geology at Syracuse University.

Listen to Damian Allis’s talk (35 MB). The file is large; please be patient while it loads.

The infinite unknown that is our universe is being studied by a finite number of people with finite budgets and a finite number of hours in the day, many of them with real jobs to boot. Opinion and intuition have served as double-edged swords throughout the practical application of the scientific method, often weighing down now-famous great leaps forward for reasons having nothing to do with science itself.

Damian will spend his time being both antagonistic and defensive as he discusses some of the history of now-obvious-but-previously-insane truths and facts gleaned from the scientific method, then will briefly describe his own work in the field of molecular manufacturing, an area of research previously seen as profoundly forward, then game-changing, then heretical, then highly suspect, and now increasingly academic, all without strong experimental evidence for or against for most of its history.

Damian Allis is research assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at Syracuse University.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 7:00 pm

DeWitt Community Library at Shoppingtown Mall

Buckland Community Room

Science advances one funeral at a time.
– Max Planck

The infinite unknown that is our universe is being studied by a finite number of people with finite budgets and a finite number of hours in the day, many of them with real jobs to boot. Opinion and intuition have served as double-edged swords throughout the practical application of the scientific method, often weighing down now-famous great leaps forward for reasons having nothing to do with science itself.

We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.
– Anais Nin

Damian will spend his time being both antagonistic and defensive as he discusses some of the history of now-obvious-but-previously-insane truths and facts gleaned from the scientific method, then will briefly describe his own work in the field of molecular manufacturing, an area of research previously seen as profoundly forward, then game-changing, then heretical, then highly suspect, and now increasingly academic, all without strong experimental evidence for or against for most of its history.

Damian Allis is research assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at Syracuse University.

Listen to Mike Affleck’s talk(46 MB). The file is large; please be patient while it loads.

Our November 2011 meeting featured a talk by Mike Affleck. In his talk he discusses the following:

“Two Jewish teachers emerged at the same time and in the same place: first century Judea. They offered two very different perspectives on the same catastrophic situation: Rome’s assault on the life of the Jews. The difference in their perspective has largely been lost in the surprising embrace of the teachings of John by followers of Jesus.

“John looked at Rome’s occupation of the Jewish Homeland and made a bold prediction: God is coming, soon, to make things right. Jesus looked at the same situation and concluded that John was very nearly right, but his timing was wrong. God is not coming soon. God’s kingdom is already here. Yet the followers of Jesus nearly universally side with John. How did it happen?”

It’s almost time for the annual CNY Skeptics Solstice Party. Our hosts are the always gracious Bryce and Judy Hand. The date of the party is December 17, and the time is 6 pm.

The Hands will provide turkey and stuffing, a vegetarian dish, and hot spiced cider. The rest is up to you. Email the Hands with your dinner contribution.

• Bryce and Judy Hand
• 132 Lynn Circle
• Syracuse, NY 13205

CNY Skeptics Presents Mike Affleck

“How Christians Got It All Wrong”

Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 7:00 pm

DeWitt Community Library at Shoppingtown Mall

Buckland Community Room

We invited Mike Affleck back to talk on any topic of his choosing. He picked a compelling one:

How Christians Got It All Wrong

Two Jewish teachers emerged at the same time and in the same place: first century Judea. They offered two very different perspectives on the same catastrophic situation: Rome’s assault on the life of the Jews. The difference in their perspective has largely been lost in the surprising embrace of the teachings of John by followers of Jesus. 

John looked at Rome’s occupation of the Jewish Homeland and made a bold prediction: God is coming, soon, to make things right. Jesus looked at the same situation and concluded that John was very nearly right, but his timing was wrong. God is not coming soon. God’s kingdom is already here.  Yet the followers of Jesus nearly universally side with John.

How is that?

Mike Affleck is an art model and actor, theologian, and social activist.

Photo of John the Baptist by Lawrence OP on Flickr.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 6:00 – 9:00 pm

Al’s Wine and Whiskey Lounge, 321 S. Clinton St., in Armory Square, Syracuse

Join Skeptics in the Pub coordinator Larry Slosberg and other members of CNY Skeptics for casual conversation. Sit back on one of Al’s comfortable sofas or chairs and enjoy the company of fellow skeptics.

CNY Skeptics Presents Kitty Mervine

Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 7:00 pm

DeWitt Community Library at Shoppingtown Mall

Kitty returns to Syracuse with tales of ghost hunting and lessons learned. Find out from Kitty how to conduct your own investigation and avoid the errors typical to novice ghost hunters.

Kitty is a professional artist and teacher. Her artwork has appeared in shows and galleries in both the US and Europe. She is also a long time skeptic and has attended every TAM (The Amazing Meeting, a skeptic conference organized by the James Randi Educational Foundation) that has been held in the US.

Kitty is currently is in charge of investigations for the Granite State Skeptics and has given presentations at several JREF events and on podcasts. She also appears as the “Alien Expert” on Maxim satellite radio on occasion. She runs the web site badalien.org which is geared toward people who believe that they have been abducted by aliens. badalien.org offers alternative explanations for the abduction experience and a place where abductees can share their experiences without the fear of being ridiculed.

Kitty is part of the “don’t be a dick” skeptical movement that seeks to treat believers with respect and believes change comes by teaching critical thinking skills.

CNY Skeptics Presents George Hrab

Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 6:30 pm

Al’s Whiskey and Wine Bar, Armory Square

Multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, composer, and heliocentrist George Hrab has written and produced six independent CDs; published one book; recorded hundreds of episodes of an award-winning podcast; and even performed for President Clinton—all in a personal quest to improve his audience’s cognitive skills by reaching them through their funny bones and dance shoes. George has gained international notoriety by producing an award-winning weekly show called The Geologic Podcast which features humor, sketches, and skeptical/free-thinking commentary through various segments.

Exposure through his show has led George to travel around the world, performing his songs in a solo acoustic setting. Along with his superlative musicianship and clever songwriting, these intimate shows are known to showcase his quick wit and incendiary social commentary. He’s been invited numerous times to be a featured performer at James Randi’s The Amaz!ng Meeting—including Las Vegas, London, and Australia—and as a special guest/performer in the Galapagos on the JREF’s Amaz!ng Adventure.

George toured both Australia and New Zealand as part of a fan-organized “Styrofoam Tour,” where he played to standing room crowds in Brisbane, Melbourne, Christchurch, Auckland, Adelaide, and Canberra.

He was asked to write the theme song to the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast and premiered the song FAR at the 213th American Astronomical Society Meeting in Long Beach, California. His Occasional Songs for the Periodic Table, a 118-part song cycle featuring a song for each element of the periodic table, has been described as the first “true geek symphony.”

George’s range of skills include being the drummer and music director for the nationally recognized 70s soul tribute band, The Philadelphia Funk Authority; publishing a collection of essays called Non-Coloring Book; and even lecturing on diverse topics from jazz history to science—including a science track discussion about the non-radiometric evidence for the earth’s age at Atlanta’s Dragon*Con convention.

George is considered one of the preeminent skeptic/science/atheist/geek-culture music icons currently living in his apartment.

Read more about George Hrab on Wikipedia.

Sorry, folks, we will not be meeting in April.