When: 6/4/2012

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/66258882/

Is There A War On Science In The U.S.?

Science is the most powerful tool for gaining knowledge of the physical world. We’re more dependent on science and technology than any other time in human history. And yet, in the U.S., there is currently a wide range of public relations campaigns against science.

John Radzilowicz, director of Science & Education at Carnegie Science Center, will examine how science is done, how it’s communicated, how it’s used—or misused—and undervalued in society today.

Radzilowicz will explore the true nature of the scientific enterprise as well as provide answers to the following questions:

What does it get us?
How is science communicated and applied in the public square?
How and why does the process go wrong?
What are the consequences of the distortion of science?
What can we do about it?
This lively discussion will culminate the Café Sci series before its two-month hiatus. (But don’t worry, Café Sci will resume in September!) As always, food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Free to attend. RSVP here!
Date: Monday, June 4, 2012
Time: Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program is 7–9 p.m.
Please be on time. The Science Center doors close at 7:45 p.m.
Location: Carnegie Science Center
Admission: FREE!
Parking: $5
Menu: Café-style food available for purchase and cash bar open until 8:30 p.m.
Please RSVP by Thursday, May 31, even if you don’t plan on purchasing food. If you already reserved your spot, you do not need to do so again.

Café Sci is THE place in Pittsburgh where adults interested in science can get together to discuss today’s hot topics in a cool, informal setting. Each event features eating, drinking, and informal discussion led by guest speakers who are experts in their fields. Admission is FREE.

Monday, June 4 at 7:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/66258882/

When: 6/3/2012

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/66674402/

Come to The Double Wide Grill for some good skeptical conversation over a light atmosphere and brunch with local, like-minded individuals.

Sunday, June 3 at 12:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/66674402/

In the article, Coyne begins by citing a recent survey of 34 western countries, in which the US was 33^nd in belief in evolution (only Turkey was lower).  40% of Americans said they agreed with a statement “Human beings, as we know them today, developed from an earlier species of animals.”  In contrast, the agreement was over 70% in the UK, France, Spain and Germany.   In response to these numbers, Coyne does not hold back:

This is a national embarrassment. Imagine if America ranked as low in international surveys about our acceptance of atoms or the “germ theory” of disease!

He then goes on to show how this kind of thinking is holding us back from societal growth.  In a fascinating graph shown below, he plotted acceptance of evolution with how successful the society is on 25 indices of social well-being.  Of 17 First World countries, we are at the bottom off both scales.

About the scale, Coyne writes

Paul constructed an index of social health for 17 prosperous First World democracies, the “Successful Societies Scale” (SSS). This incorporated 25 indices of social well-being, including rates of homicide, incarceration, juvenile morality and adolescent abortion,  the incidence of venereal disease and alcohol consumption, corruption, levels of poverty and income disparity, and so on. It turns out that on the 10-point SSS scale, the United States, which scored 2.9, ranked lowest, with many countries substantially higher (e.g., Sweden was 7.1, Japan 6.0, Italy 5.6, and Australia 4.8). In fact, the United States ranked dead last in 14 of the 25 categories and was above average in only five. Despite America’s self-image as a healthy and wealthy nation, Paul’s data show that, compared to other countries, we are a sick society.

Politicians need to stop having debates about the role of faith in America and instead talk about the role of science in generating real solutions to our problems.  That debate should start with the acceptance and promotion of evolution.

In a recent Washington Post blog post, Brad Hirschfield talks about a video that was released today as part of an effort by Liberty Institute to defend the blatant (and unconstitutional) use of Christian cross in military memorials.  The result is an absurd music video, “Don’t Tear Me Down,” which overlays the US Flag with Christian crosses, as if they are the same thing.

The video confuses the private use of religious symbols, such as found on individual graves, with public use, which is supposed to represent all soldiers who died. Most offensive is refrain that appears to be directed at the ACLU and FFRF:

“Don’t tear me down, Just walk away
Our Founding Fathers, What would they say?
Don’t tear me down, These words I pray
I’m just keeping watch, Over the fallen brave”

Hirschfield sums it nicely:

The song suggests that those opposed to religious symbolism are somehow less concerned about these battles and how to properly honor those who fell in them. That’s just wrong. Not to mention the threat implicit in suggesting that the ACLU and FFRF should, in the words of the song, “just walk away in the name of peace.” Again, it’s just wrong.

The odd thing is that the first 1:45 of the song is just fine.  It talks about soldiers who have sacrificed.  With the flag behind the guitar, Jon Christopher Davis sings “I stand and salute those who are gone.”  Why can’t the song end there?  Why is it that holidays have to become another opportunity to push one’s own religious views on the rest of the county?  Why can’t the Liberty Institute just walk away and leave the Constitution alone?  More importantly, why don ‘t they look at what our Founding Father actually did say. I think they might be surprised.

When: 2PM TODAY

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/61836672/

The book this month is The Genius in All of Us, by David Shenk

Sunday, May 27 at 2:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/61836672/

The 1hr:30min documentary apparently was posted on U-Tube in January of 2012.  It already has been viewed nearly 94K times.  How I’ve missed it I have nary a clue.

I happened to catch the last 30 minutes of the original documentary this morning on the Science Channel and then immediately found it published at U-Tube when I went looking for it afterwards.  The documentary was produced by famous evo-devo biologist Armand Lorie in 2009.

It is an extraordinary presentation.  If you haven’t already seen it, I highly recommend taking a look at it.  I’m confident that everyone will really enjoy it.  Personally, I have never seen anything as powerful and eloquent as this documentary.

Trust me on this one: get a bag of popcorn and your favorite drink.  Sit back and get ready for one of the finest educational experiences you’re likely to have in a while.  I watched it two times today and I’m planning on another viewing this weekend.

I think you’ll agree, it probably should be required viewing for everyone exiting elementary school at least TWICE a year!

Tell a friend!

What Darwin Didn’t Know

Which US cities are most religious?

1. Salt Lake City, Utah, 73.4%
2. Birmingham, Alabama, 71.0%
3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,  60.2%
4. Memphis, Tennessee, 58.8%

and drum roll ….

5.  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 57.7%

Sigh. That is right.  Mormon central, Bible Belt times three, and then us.  Not St. Louis, Atlanta, Cleveland, New Orleans, anywhere in Texas or Florida.  No.  Sadly, little old Pittsburgh is Number 5 on the list.

So who is at the other end:  The top three centers of enlightenment were Portland, OR 32%, Tampa, FL 35% and Seattle 36%.

Clearly, we have our work cut for us.  The only glimmer of hope was I tried to track down how the data was collected and appears it was done by asking churches for their rosters of members, or at least counts, and then comparing that to the overall population.  In a city that is losing population (like Pittsburgh), if the rolls are not up to date, over-counting could easily emerge.

At the same time, it is clear from those numbers why there might be an acceptance of government sponsored nativity scenes (Ellwood City) or a plaque of ten religious commandments posted in front of a public school (New Kensington).  One tends not to notice (unconstitutional) religious icons in government settings, if they are the same icons that are around one’s home or one’s church.  My guess is that similar activities in Portland, Oregon, would raise eyebrows among a large majority of residents.

When: 5/27/2012

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/61836672/

The book this month is The Genius in All of Us, by David Shenk

Sunday, May 27 at 2:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/61836672/

When: 2PM TODAY

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/63455852/

Welcome to the PSF Ladies Meetup! :)

We had such a great time at our first ladies meetups, we’re meeting monthly.  Also, one of our members suggested we try a different restaurant each month–a great idea!  The location this month by popular request is Eat Unique in Oakland.  FYI, at Eat Unique you go up to the counter to order.  Seating is in the front of the restaurant or in the additional seating area in the attached building…so just look for our mascot, The Brain statue, and you’ll find our table. 

See you there!

Sunday, May 20 at 2:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Pittsburgh-Secular-Freethinkers/events/63455852/

When: 7PM TODAY

RSVP at: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/61764092/

We will be meeting at the Double Wide Grill, 2339 E. Carson Street, inside, in the large back room.  There is no specific topic.  It is just an open discussion among fellow freethinkers about science, religion, skepticism, beer, life and leisure.  Teetotalers and those who imbibe are equally welcomed.

We start gathering at 7pm, but latecomers are more than welcome. About half the attendees register through Meetup and half through Facebook, so don’t be surprised to see more than sign up here.  Hope to see you on Friday night!

Friday, May 18 at 7:00 PM

Details: http://www.meetup.com/Steel-City-Skeptics/events/61764092/