Ballarat Skeptics in the Pub: next event
Category: Announcements
Puzzles for July
July’s SKEPTICAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE has the theme of CULTS and SECTS and can be found HERE. You have your choice of either straight or cryptic clues.
July’s LOGIC & MATHS PROBLEMS HERE
The PICTURE PUZZLES and “MIXED BAG” QUESTIONS are in their usual spot at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE.
Recommended Site: The Logical Place
Tim Harding is a frequent speaker and contributor to Victorian Skeptics and similar groups. This is his new blog about one of his favourite topics, Logical Fallacies.
Recent Posts
- Argumentum Ad Populum (’Argument from Popularity’)
- Two twin fallacies
- The Faulty Generalisation Fallacy
- Begging the Question Fallacy
- Rationality and truth
Local Groups Update: The Peninsula Skeptics
We recently announced that Peninsula Skeptics had resumed business after a break. Indeed, the group has bounced back so quickly that it’s worth sharing its impressive event calendar with you.
Tuesday July 9: Presenter: Ian Storey; Topic: Calculating the AU. The data gathered in the 1761 and 1769 observations of the Transit of Venus was used to calculate the Astronomical Unit. Ian Storey will explain how that was done.
Tuesday August 13: Presenter: Tim Harding; Topic: Protection of Port Phillip Bay dolphins. Tim Harding is a former Director of Flora and Fauna in the Department of Primary Industries, with a background in biological sciences. Scientific research has recently shown that the dolphins in Port Phillip Bay are a separate species, rather than a sub-population of coastal bottlenose dolphins found elsewhere. This means that Port Phillip Bay is their only habitat, making them even more vulnerable to extinction. View More Local Groups Update: The Peninsula Skeptics
Recommended site: Itsmyhealth.com.au
When we draw attention to Health and Lifestyle websites, or those offering free medical advice, it’s often with a tone of disapproval.
However, we recently stumbled upon Itsmyhealth.com.au. We were impressed.
It’s an Australian site. It caters to an Australian (Australasian?) lifestyle. It’s informative and up-to-date; you don’t need a technical background to follow the discussion, although the authorship is clearly supported by medical expertise.
It’s interactive. It features a Q&A staffed by a panel of specialists including a doctor, a psychologist, a fitness expert, a sexologist, a beauty expert and a dietician. It invites feedback, comment and articles from its readership. View More Recommended site: Itsmyhealth.com.au
June Puzzles
Your JUNE 2013 CROSSWORD has the theme “Financial Scams“.
As usual, the PICTURE PUZZLES and “MIXED BAG” QUESTIONS are at the top of the
PUZZLES page.
Latest info on local groups
PENINSULA SKEPTICS
We’ll lead off with the excellent news that after a twelve-month recess, Peninsula Skeptics are re-starting: on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 7:00 PM. The venue is The Peninsula Club, Gibson Street Dromana.
Your convenor Graeme Hanigan says: The night will be primarily social, perhaps a round table suggestion of topics for the future. Please go to the MEETUP GROUP to read more and to RSVP.
Graeme is also keen for Peninsula Skeptics to be involved in Science Week (mid August) and is looking for suggestions and ideas on some of the best ways to achieve this.
VIC SKEPTICS
are travelling nicely with our regular Skeptics Café at La Notte Restaurant, 140 Lygon Street Carlton.
The next event is on Monday 20th May, where Ken Greatorex will host our Ninth Annual Trivia Extravaganza.
Please join us (with a team of up to six people, or just by yourself) for a meal at 6pm, with the Trivia starting at 7:30 pm. See our EVENTS page for details of Skeptics Cafés well into the future.
View More Latest info on local groups
May Puzzles
This month we let Roy off the leash to provide his magnificent CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
The Picture Puzzles and “Mixed Bag” Questions are at the top of our PUZZLE PAGE. There are a larger than usual number of “Mixed Bag” questions; consider them a practice set for Trivia Night at Skeptics Café on May 20.
Your Logic and Maths Problems for May are HERE
Enjoy!
April Puzzles
New Puzzles for March and April 2013 can be found at the top of the PUZZLE PAGE. They include a Picture Puzzle, Skeptical Crossword, “Mixed Bag” set and Logic and Maths Puzzles for each month.
All of our previous puzzles are still available!
PUZZLES ARCHIVE 1 (August 2010 to April 2011)
PUZZLES ARCHIVE 2 (May 2011 to October 2011)
PUZZLES ARCHIVE 3 (October 2011 to November 2012)
PUZZLES ARCHIVE 4 (December 2012 to March 2013)
Sean Faircloth in Melbourne
Announcing the upcoming tour by American author and orator, Sean Faircloth.
Sean Faircloth is the Director of Strategy for the Richard Dawkins Foundation and will be presenting in Melbourne at the Spot Basement Theatre at 6:30pm on Tuesday 26 March, 2013.
Reclaiming a Secular Australia is a topic of interest to anyone with a secular view, including many skeptics. The interference of organised religion in schools, health and government will also be addressed.
Sean Faircloth may be known to some readers as the author of ‘Attack of the Theocrats: How the Religious Rights is harming us all, and what we can do about it!’
Faircloth’s tour is supported by a number of organisations including the Victorian Skeptics, The Rationalist Society of Australia, Council of Australian Humanist Societies, the Progressive Atheists, the Humanist Society of Victoria and the University of Melbourne Secular Society.
On this tour, Faircloth will also be appearing in Sydney and Perth, before heading to New Zealand for further appearances.
The Spot Basement Theatre is in the new Business and Economics building, at 198 Berkeley St, Carlton.
Tickets are $28 for adults or $12 students and healthcare card holders.
For further details of Sean’s tour and other events in Victoria, please visit the website of Rationalist Society of Australia. Tickets for the Spot Basement Theatre event can be purchased here.