EventsSkepticism

EVENTS This Week! Rebecca in Oz and NZ, Heina in Canada, 24-Hr Gameathonapalooza & More!

It’s almost December, and people are already starting to break out the FSM tree toppers and gather to celebrate the Winter Solstice, Festivus, Krampus, and the coming END OF THE . . . year. Others are staying out of the cold by escaping to the Southern Hemisphere (ahem, Rebecca). She’s claiming that the whole reason is to go to some kind of huge conference for Australian Skeptics in Melbourne, but then she’s flitting off to New Zealand to hang out with the skeptics in the pub in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

I’m not jealous at all, of course. She’s the one who should be jealous. In my small Minnesota town, the neighbors are breaking out their red, white, and blue Christmas lights to celebrate how baby Jesus fought illegal immigrants for Santa’s FREEDOM.

So suck it, Watson. I win.

Actually, I’m pretty sure the Gamers for Godlessness win the Internet with their First Annual 24-Hour Gameathonapalooza, with JT Eberhard Jason Thibeault and various special guests, starting tomorrow (Saturday) at noon eastern.

Just picture this: Debbie Goddard, Russell Glasser, JT, and Jason as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, playing the classic TMNT 4: Turtles in Time. And that’s just the beginning of this classic game marathon to raise money for Women in Secularism and Camp Quest. Click here to donate, issue challenges, and get more details.

PLUS, as I type this, Skepchicks are appearing at not one but TWO conferences. Heina Dadabhoy will be speaking at  CFI’s Eschaton 2012: Celebrating Reason at the End of the World in Ottawa, Ontario, which goes from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. And Rebecca is at the Australian Skeptics National Convention in Melbourne on those exact same dates. See more details about the goings-on here.

Then Rebecca will be heading to New Zealand to give one of the best talks ever, “How Girls Evolved to Shop, and Other Ways to Insult Women with ‘Science,’” in pubs throughout the land! Thanks to New Zealand Skeptics, Inc. for making this happen.

Here are the details:

Auckland, Tues., Dec. 4

Join Rebecca and the Auckland Skeptics in the Pub on Tuesday night at the Cabana Bar. You have to RSVP to even have a chance of getting in, so go do it!

When: 7:00 pm, Tues., Dec. 4

Where: The Cabana Bar, 144 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland (map)

 

Wellington, Thurs., Dec. 6

The Wellington Skeptics in the Pub are hosting Rebecca at the Kingsgate Hotel, open to the public with a $5 cover charge.

When: 6:00–10:00 pm, Thurs., Dec. 6

Where: Kingsgate Hotel, 24 Hawkestone Street, Wellington (map)

 

Christchurch, Sat., Dec. 8

Her last stop is at the CPIT Saturday night, thanks to the hospitality of the SITP in Christchurch!

Where: 5:45 pm, Sat., Dec. 8

Where: CPIT, Madras Street, Christchurch (map)

Events This Week: Nov. 30-Dec. 6

 

NORTHEAST

Baltimore, MD, Tues., Dec. 4

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is screening The House I Live In, a documentary about the U.S. criminal justice system and drug policy, preceded by a talk with the film’s producer and other speakers. The Baltimore Ethical Society has reserved group seats, so consider joining them.

 

Cambridge, MA, Sun., Dec. 2

The Humanist Community at Harvard University is having its annual holiday party this Sunday evening, with live jazz and free drinks! Click here for more info and to find out about their Values in Action cereal drive, which is going on throughout December.

 

Concord, MA, Wed., Dec. 5

The Concord Area Humanists are hosting a talk by Harvard astrophysicist Eric J. Chaisson, “Cosmic Evolution and the Arrow of Time,” on Wednesday evening. Click here for more info.

 

New York City, Wed., Dec. 5

The Center for Inquiry-New York City is hosting an Open Mind Open Mic event at Ivy Bakery Wednesday night. Share or just listen and watch performance art related to science and secular humanism.

 

Philadelphia, PA, Sun., Dec. 2

Decorate the Tree of Knowledge with the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia and the Freethought Society on Sunday morning. The event will feature a presentation by EHSP leader Hugh Taft-Morales on “The Wall for All: Protecting the Integrity of Both State and Religion.” More info here.

 

West Chester, PA, Sat., Dec. 1

The Freethought Society is meeting up at the Chester County Courthouse for a rally in support of a Tree of Knowledge display on courthouse grounds, followed by a dinner. Get more info and RSVP for the dinner here.

 

SOUTHEAST

Orlando, FL, Sun., Dec. 2

Join the Florida Atheists, Critical Thinkers & Skeptics (F.A.C.T.S) for their annual Xmas Party and Dirty Santa Gift Exchange. To RSVP and get more info about the gift exchange, click here.

 

Louisville, KY, Tonight!

The Kentucky Science Center is hosting a Scientific Proofs discussion on STEM Education in Our Schools. The event is free to the public and has a cash bar!

 

Asheville, NC—Multiple

Tonight: The Asheville Skeptics are hosting a talk by AHA president David Niose.

Mon., Dec. 3: Join the WNC Humanists and others at the Buncombe County School Board meeting to speak out on the proposal to add “Religious Freedom Day” to school calendars.

 

Raleigh, NC, Mon., Dec. 3

Triangle Skeptics are hosting a talk by Jim Lippard on “The Decline and (Probable) Fall of the Church of Scientology” on Monday night.

 

Summverville, SC, Sun., Dec. 2

The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry are having a Family-Friendly Holiday Party with an (optional) Cookie Exchange and Competitionon Sunday morning at Doty Park. RSVP here.

Hampton, VA, Tues., Dec. 4

NASA Langley Research Center is hosting another free Sigma Series Lecture, this one on Designs of Expandable Structures, by Chuck Hoberman, at the Virginia Air & Space Center.

 

MIDWEST

Skokie, IL, Sun., Dec. 2

The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago is hosting a talk by Erick Howenstine, chair of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Northeastern Illinois University. He’ll be speaking on “The Evolution of Human Beings.”

 

Ann Arbor, MI, Fri., Nov. 30 & Sat., Dec. 1

The Michigan Atheists 26th Annual State Convention is this Saturday at the Clarion in Ann Arbor, with a free welcome reception tonight. The conference itself is $30 to register (with discounts and even free tickets for volunteers and students).

 

St. Louis, MO—Multiple

Sun., Dec. 2: Join the Skeptical Society of St. Louis for a Skeptical Salon on GMOs on Sunday evening.

Thurs., Dec. 6: Climate Reality-St. Louis is leading a presentation and discussion about climate change at the Ethical Society of St. Louis Thursday night.

 

Stow, OH, Mon., Dec. 3

The Center for Inquiry–Northeast Ohio is hosting science educator and CFI president Randy Pelton to talk about “Geologic Time: How Science Determines the Age of Rocks and Fossils.”

 

SOUTHCENTRAL

Tulsa, OK, Sat., Dec. 1, and Arlington, TX, Wed., Dec. 5

Sam Singleton, atheist evangelist, is staging his Revival in Tulsa on Saturday to raise money for Camp Quest. Details here. Then he heads to Texas, where he’ll be putting on a free show in Arlington Wednesday night.

 

Austin, TX—Multiple

Tonight: UTA’s Environmental Science Institute is hosting a lecture by Mark Clanton,
chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society–High Plains Division, on “The War on Cancer: 41 Years after Nixon’s Declaration.” Click here for info about the event and the live webcast.

Wed., Dec. 5: The Secular Student Alliance at UTA is hosting a lecture by James H. Dee on the truth about the Christmas Story.

 

Houston, TX, Sat., Dec. 1

Jonathan Coulton, Geek Troubadour, is performing at Fitzgerald’s! Tickets in advance are $22, but $24 at the door.

 

SOUTHWEST

Phoenix, AZ—Multiple

Sat., Dec. 1: The Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix (HSGP) is having an Inquiring Minds event, hosted by Kevin Moriarty, about various humanist holidays.

Mon., Dec. 3: The Phoenix Skeptics in the Pub and the Arizona Science Cafes are looking for moderators for future Science Cafes. Find out more about the “Casting Call” meeting here.

 

Prescott, AZ, Sun., Dec. 2

Join the Prescott Freethinkers for their annual Winter Solstice/End of Semester Party on Sunday.

 

WEST

Chico, CA, Tonight!

Join the Atheists of Butte County at CSU Chico for a debate on “Does God Exist?” between Devin Tarr of Reasonable Faith and Mark Gaynor, president of the Philosophy Honors Society at Chico State.

 

Fresno, CA, Sat., Dec. 1

Downing Planetarium is having a family-friendly Season of Light show on Saturday, which talks about winter constellations and various winter myths and traditions. $5 adults; $4 seniors; $2.50 children and students.

 

Long Beach, CA, Tues., Dec. 4

The Aquarium of the Pacific is hosting lecture by Lisa Cron, author of Wired for Story, about the cognitive behavior and neuroscience “behind what the brain craves from storytelling.” $5; free for aquarium members, seniors age 62 and up, teachers, and students with valid ID and advanced reservations.

 

San Diego, CA, Sun., Dec. 2

Join the various groups in the San Diego Coalition of Reason (e.g., San Diego New Atheists and Agnostics and the Humanist Fellowship of San Diego) for a picnic at Morley Field on Sunday. Get more info here.

 

San Francisco, CA—Multiple

Sat., Dec. 1: Wonderfest is hosting an event to raise funds for itself and for the Variety Children’s Charity, featuring a brief talk by planetary scientist Chris McKay on “End of Daze: Does Hollywood Get Doomsday Right?” followed by a screening of  Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, with Steve Carell and Keira Knightley. $25 per person or $40 for two.

Mon., Dec. 3: The California Academy of Sciences is hosting a talk by Donald Yeomans of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory on “Near-Earth Objects: Finding Them Before They Find Us.” Tickets are between $6 and $12. Seating is limited.

 

Las Vegas, NV, Sun., Dec. 2

The Las Vegas Atheists are getting together for the HUUmanist Forum “Emerging Theories About Memory, Personality and Belief.”

 

CANADA

Ottawa, ON, Fri., Nov. 30–Dec. 2

Today the celebration begins! CFI’s Eschaton 2012: Celebrating Reason at the End of the World is this weekend. Speakers include Skepchick Heina Dadabhoy, Eugenie Scott, Ophelia Benson, PZ Myers, and many, many more.

 

Vancouver, BC, Tonight!

The CFI Vancouver (Skeptics & Humanists) Group is hosting Thomas Kerr, co-director of the Urban Health Research Initiative at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE), for a talk on “The Science of Harm Reduction Drug Policy.”

 

SINGAPORE

Singapore, Sat., Dec. 1

If you’re in Singapore, join the local Philosophy Group at the Tea Joy to discuss whether it is impossible to prove that God does not exist.

 

UK

London, UK, Sun., Dec. 2

The Conway Hall Sunday Lecture is by Margaret McCartney, an award-winning writer and a GP in Glasgow, on “Preventative medicine? Are screening tests about science or politics?”

 

Edinburgh, UK, Mon., Dec. 3

Join the Edinburgh Humanist Society of Scotland for a talk by Dr. Stephen Makin and Ben Makin, “Where’s the Harm?” –Alternative Medicine anecdote and evidence.

 

Featured image by Patrick Q.

Melanie Mallon

Melanie is a freelance editor and writer living in a small town outside Minneapolis with her husband, two kids, dog, and two cats. When not making fun of bad charts or running the Uncensorship Project, she spends her time wrangling commas, making colon jokes, and putting out random dumpster fires. You can find her on Twitter as @MelMall, on Facebook, and on Instagram.

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2 Comments

  1. You forgot to mention Saturnilia!
    For shame!

    ‘So suck it, Watson. I win.’

    I never knew women used this phrase between each other. :)

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