January 18, 2017

The Great Debate: Evolution vs Creationism

This article first appeared as a Vic Skeptics discussion pamphlet and was first posted here in March 2011.

With Charles Darwin’s impending 208th birthday on February 12 it seems appropriate to revisit it.

By PTH

One of the many amazing stories in the Bible is the story of The Great Flood.

Before The Great Flood Noah was commanded by his God to build an ark (a large boat) and to collect a pair of all the animals on Earth. The Great Flood wiped out all the other animals, including humans, and those on Noah’s Ark repopulated the Earth after the flood subsided.

Given our present knowledge of evolution, genetics, geology, physics and archeology, few people, even practising Christians, believe the story to be literally true. However there are some people who insist that all the Bible stories are literally true. As well as the story of Noah’s Ark they also believe that:

 The Earth and all living things on it were created in six 24-hour days.

 This occurred about 10,000 years ago.

 All present day animals are descended from those on Noah’s Ark.

 The theory of evolution is incorrect because it is not consistent with the Bible stories.

These are the fundamental beliefs of Creationism. But why are the religious beliefs of Creationists of concern to scientists? Does it matter if people’s religious beliefs are in disagreement with scientific knowledge?

View More The Great Debate: Evolution vs Creationism

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December 31, 2016

Puzzles For January 2017

jazzyruefulparsonJanuary 2017 Skeptical Crossword is about General Skeptical issues.

77-january-2017-crossword-general-skeptical-issues [.pdf form]

January 2017 Logic & Maths Problems 

54-logic-and-maths-puzzles-january-2017 [.pdf form] has ten new problems of varying degrees of difficulty

Seven new Picture Puzzles and twenty “Mixed Bag” (general knowledge / trivia) questions, are at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE

 Explore our Puzzles Archive View More Puzzles For January 2017

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December 27, 2016

January 2017 Logic & Maths Problems – Solutions

1. $30

2. 30

3. The top of the mast

4. (a) 6 snakes (b) 14 lizards (c) 7 people

5. 4 ducks

6. Cabbage(21), pea(22), Leek(33), carrot(75)

7. Day (a) X is Dee, Y is Dum It’s Monday
Day (b) X is Dum, Y is Dee It’s Tuesday
Day (c) X is Dum, Y is Dee It’s Sunday

8. Thursday

9. Ann, by $20

10. 62 photos

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December 26, 2016

“Mixed Bag” Questions January 2017 – Answers

1. Argentina

2. less than half

3. Chartreuse

4. True. Canal workers were relied upon to excavate new canals accurately according to a map.

5. B. antagonist

6. Walter Mitty

7. B. East to West

8. Leaders of the suffragette (votes for women) movement

9. Grant Hackett replaced Ian Thorpe (both Australian)

10. Tour de France (est 10 million)

HARDER:

11. Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service

12. Fire

13. Sir Lancelot

14. Deep Blue

15. Madrid

16. He was the explorer who completed the first circumnavigation of the Earth (Second in command to Magellan who died during the voyage)

17. 17 (Malala Yousafzai, The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 joint winner)

18. Trumpet (Greek)

19. It’s free. A number of European cities have zero-fare public transport, but Tallin is the largest to do so)

20. Venice

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December 20, 2016

Skeptics Café – Change of Venue

Twelve years of Vic Skeptics’ tradition came to an end this week when La Notté Restaurant closed indefinitely.

Next January’s Skeptics Café (Monday January 16) will go ahead at The Clyde Hotel, corner of Cardigan and Elgin Streets in Carlton. Some of our readers will already be familiar with The Clyde as the site of our recent Convention Trivia Night.clydelocation

We’ll be in The Lounge. You enter through the beer garden in Cardigan Street. After an optional meal from 6pm with food and drinks at quite reasonable pub prices, Tim Harding will speak on Scientific Skepticism vs Philosophical Skepticism at 8 pm. Those staying on for the talk will be asked to contribute $4.

Street parking can be tight in that area, but tends to open up after six pm. The Eastern Precinct Car Park is very convenient, being next door to the venue in Cardigan Street with a standard $5 fee after 5 pm.

It’s very accessible by public transport: Tram 1 or 8 every 6 minutes stops in Elgin Street at Stop 112.

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November 30, 2016

Puzzles for December 2016

 

09The DECEMBER 2016 SKEPTICAL CROSSWORD is about General Skeptical issues.

New sets of Picture Puzzles and “Mixed Bag” questions, are at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE

and here’s the  DECEMBER 2016 Logic & Maths Problems. Enjoy!

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November 19, 2016

December 2016 Logic & Maths Problems – Solutions

1. Still One in two or 50%

2. 56

3. 3 pm

4. It would be possible to lose a square manhole cover down the square hole that it covered: not possible with a round one.

5. 26

6. Four and two sevenths: (1 x 2 ÷ 3, 2 x 3 ÷ 4, 3 x 4 ÷ 5, 4 x 5 ÷ 6, 5 x 6 ÷ 7)

7. One dog, one cat, one fish

8. x = 18

9. x = 20

10. x = 4

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