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Meeting Program

2000-2001 Season

See the main meeting page for location and time.

	Instant Origin Gene Kritsky Prof of Biology Mt. St. Joseph	9 Sep. 2000
Often, first-time readers of "On the Origin of Species" get mired in detail and never grasp the elegant argument laid out by Charles Darwin -- many lamenting, "I couldn't get beyond the pigeons!" In response, Gene has written "Instant Origin" -- highlighting that argument and detailing how it was crafted to defeat the prevailing creationist view. "Instant Origin" serves not only as a study guide for students, but is also intended to help general readers understand why Darwin is so very important to biologists and why he is held in such reverence.

October Superstition Bash

Who: All local skeptics, their friends, and family. This includes members of FIG, ART, UC Skeptics, CORI (Columbus OH), KASES (Kentucky), Lexington (TN) Skeptics, and South Shore Skeptics (Cleveland, OH). Adults only, please.

What: Explore the world of superstitions -- rational and irrational, familiar and unfamiliar. Then, test your courage, defy one or two: open an umbrella inside, walk under a ladder, or step on a crack. Will you get home safely? Will you live to tell the tale? Join us and find out!

When: Friday, October 13, 2000 at 7:30 pm - 10ish. Soft drinks, snacks, and finger foods. BYOB -- wine and beer, no hard liquor.

Where: St. John's Unitarian Church, 320 Resor Ave., Cincinnati, OH

Please respond by Oct. 10 to Donna Loughry (513-961-7331) so we'll know how many to prepare for.

	Rationality Michael H. Barnes, PhD Religious Studies, University of Dayton http://www.michaelhoracebarnes.com	11 Nov 2000
So, is critical rationality a new-ish thing? Is it, as many contend, a peculiarly Western mode of thought? An odd attribute of Enlightenment thought? Michael has a particular interest in the evolution of rationality and responds, "Not hardly!" Join us as he examines rationality's emergence in major cultures during the axial age and surveys the confrontations with irrationality in every age and culture.

	The Newark, OH, "Holy Stones" Bradley T. Lepper, PhD Archeologist, Ohio Historical Society; Columbus, OH	9 Dec 2000
Did ancient Hebrews travel through Ohio ten centuries before Columbus found his way to America's shores? A lack of convincing evidence notwithstanding, this extraordinary claim persists based on 19th century reports of "finds" at excavations of ancient Indian mounds. When examined in their historic context however, these stones, curiously engraved with Hebrew letters, tell a different but nonetheless intriguing story. Join us as Brad shares his investigation of these scientific forgeries, crafted and "found" so as to influence political and racial agendas of the time.

	Dinosaur Discourse David Meyer, PhD Dept. of Geology; University of Cincinnati	13 Jan 2001
Feel like your elementary school paleontology now amounts to ancient history and is woefully inadequate for digesting the latest dino news? Find yourself wondering how to interpret that big ol' asteroid claim? David understands and his mission is to bring you up to speed on the latest in the hot, hot world of dinosaur discoveries.

	Free (and Fun) for All Roy Auerbach ART President	10 Feb 2001
Here's an opportunity for any member to make a 5 - 10 minute presentation on a topic of (likely) interest to other skeptics, followed by some discussion. These programs are LOTS of fun and often lead to ideas for in-depth inquiry the following year. While not required, an e-mail to Roy (raa@cinci.rr.com) indicating your topic & amount of time you expect to use will help organize the morning.

	The Drake Equation Piecing Together the ETI [extraterrestrial intelligence] Puzzle Terry Endres ART Investigations Officer	10 March 2001
Terry is developing an activity wherein the audience will break into small groups to play with the Drake equation, addressing the evolution of solar systems and life forms.

Oliver Wendell Holmes as Skeptic
William B. Jensen, PhD
Oesper Professor of History of Chemistry
Dept. of Chemistry, University of Cincinnati

14 April 2001

Cancelled because of the riots.

Most people are aware of Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. as a minor, mid-19th century, New England author, best known for his humorous poems, his famous "Breakfast" collections of pithy sayings and witty commentaries, and the fact that he was the father of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. of Supreme Court Fame. However, Holmes was also a trained medical doctor who served as Professor of Anatomy and Physiology at Harvard for more than 35 years and pioneered the study of puerperal (child-birth) fever. Even less known is the fact that he also wrote several exposes of the crank medical and psychological practices of his day. The talk will review Holmes' activities as a skeptic, as reflected in both his serious medical essays and in his more popular humorous writings.

This meeting will be held at the Vernon Manor.

Quack Use of Standardized Tests
Joe Gastright, EdD
ART member & past president

12 May 2001

The current political rush to evaluate students, teachers and schools using norm-referenced tests, or worse, so called "Mastery Tests" built with discriminating test items, will fail to produce improvements in learning. Learn why these tests will fail!

This meeting will be held at the main Kenton County Library, 5th & Scott Streets in Covington, KY. (map)

Field trip to Big Bone Lick State Park

9 June 2001

Located about 22 mi south (SW?) of Covington, KY, this site is considered the "birthplace of American paleontology." One of the park naturalists will lead us on a walking tour and discuss the importance of this site. Bring your lunch and we'll picnic afterward -- we've even got a shelter reserved in case it rains!

Big Bone Lick State Park web site - A map of the park.