Event Listing
SkepLit meets Manchester Girl Geeks: The Age of Spiritual Machines
This month we're holding a special event with Manchester Girl Geeks, to discuss Ray Kurzweil's The Age of Spiritual Machines.
Published thirteen years ago, the book contains Kurzweil's predictions about the possibilities presented by a future full of computers. It includes a list of predictions for 10, 20 and 30 years into the future.
Since the first year of predictions has passed (2009), this is a chance to discuss how accurate t hey turned out to be, and what we think of the chances of his other ideas coming true might be. Hey, we might even start making our own predictions.
This is a great opportunity to discuss the effect of the computer and internet on our lives, how futurologists make their predictions and how accurate they turn out to be.
Join us for tea, cake and skeptical geekery!
Note: Madlab is a community project dependent on donations, grants and charity for support. A small contribution of a £1-2 to help keep it running and providing a space for us all to meet and geek is appreciated.
GMSS Skeptics in the Pub Social
If you're of a skeptical or scientific mindset and enjoy good company and good beers, come and join us for our monthly Manchester Skeptics in the Pub Social. We'll be meeting in Sandbar, which is located very near to Oxford Road train station and only a 12-minute walk from Piccadilly. http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/8/7/9/event_47490841.jpegIt's a brilliant bar with plenty of great beers at a reasonable price. There will be no speaker at this event, just good company and interesting conversation.
Entry is free, and we'll be there from about 19:15 onwards. It is also a good opportunity to offer any suggestions for speakers, or other Greater Manchester Skeptics ideas you may have. We hope to see you there!
Skeptics in the Pub Soapbox!
Huzzah! The August Soapbox Special returns to Manchester Skeptics in the Pub!
This year we've got six short 'Soapbox' style rants/talks for your enjoyment! If you've never been to a Skeptics event before, this would be a great chance to get a feel for what it's all about.
This year we have talks ranging from homeopathy through to witches, stopping off at religion, mathematics, "The Secret" and more....with the talks coming from members of our own skeptical community.
Dave Briggs: Homeopathy: the current state of the art.
Joely Black: The Secret: How to use one magic word to make millions, get a NYT bestseller and a top-selling movie.
Victoria Stiles: How Crazy was the (English) Witch Craze?
Polyp: 'Spiritual, but not religious... what the fuck does that mean then?'
Andrew Taylor: 'The Formula for the Perfect Life'
****EARLIER DOORS! 7PM for a 7:30 start****
Manchester SitP Social
If you're of a skeptical or scientific mindset and enjoy good company and good beers, come and join us for our monthly Manchester Skeptics in the Pub Social. We'll be meeting in Sandbar, which is located very near to Oxford Road train station and only a 12-minute walk from Piccadilly. It's a brilliant bar with plenty of great beers at a reasonable price. There will be no speaker at this event, just good company and interesting conversation. Entry is free, and we'll be there from about 19:15 onwards. It is also a good opportunity to offer any suggestions for speakers, or other Greater Manchester Skeptics ideas you may have. We hope to see you there!
SkepLit: The Great Atheist Picnic
Yes! This is your chance to talk about the great books of the New Atheism movement.
SkepLit is hosting a discussion of the recent surge in atheist books, from The God Delusion to The End of Faith.
Atheism and atheists have become very prominent in the last decade or so with the release of "The Four Horsemen" books, not to mention the fight against creationism in the classman spearheaded by Eugenie Scott.
This is your chance to talk about the issues raised in those books, whether you agree with their positions and what you think about what they have to say.
Bring along cakes, cookies, snacks of all descriptions for an Atheist Picnic at Madlab.
Note: There is no prescribed reading for this session, but it would be beneficial to have read at least one of the major recent books on atheism, or similar books by the same authors:
The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins; God is not Great - Christopher Hitchens; The End of Faith - Sam Harris; Letter to a Christian Nation - Sam Harris
If there are others you'd like to recommend to the group, add them on the wall below.
Manchester Skeptics in the Pub Social
If you're of a skeptical or scientific mindset and enjoy good company and good beers, come and join us for our monthly Manchester Skeptics in the Pub Social. We'll be meeting in Sandbar, which is located very near to Oxford Road train station and only a 12-minute walk from Piccadilly.
It's a brilliant bar with plenty of great beers at a reasonable price. There will be no speaker at this event, just good company and interesting conversation.
Entry is free, and we'll be there from about 19:15 onwards. It is also a good opportunity to offer any suggestions for speakers, or other Greater Manchester Skeptics ideas you may have. We hope to see you there!
Manchester SitP: Tania Glyde "Addiction"
"Addiction is one of today's favourite manias. Like allergies, everyone's got to have one, and many present the evidence for their 'addictive personality' by announcing their greater-than-average capacity for biscuits. But what is addiction? Compulsion, behaviour, illness, all three, or none of the above? Do AA and other 12 step recovery programmes really work? And will a skeptic *ever* admit to needing a higher power? Come and discuss it with me."
Tania Glyde is the author of Cleaning Up, a memoir about how she took on British drinking culture and survived.
taniaglyde.com
Doors 19:30 talk starts at 20:00
SkepLit- The Greater Manchester Skeptics Book Club
After our successful launch meeting, we're finally holding our first "proper" discussion. The book you've chosen is Margaret MacMillan's The Uses and Abuses of History.
Come along and join in the debate. Bring your skeptical hats!
There may be skepticake as well if we ask Mykie nicely.
Happy ThanksGeeking! GMSkeptics Celebrate Geek/Nerd Pride Day
Were YOU at last years' fantastic Geek/ Nerd Pride day event at Greater Manchester Skeptics?
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118801848149528...Did you witness the Dolphin, the bowl of petunias, the amazing fancy dress shenanigans, the fabulous Sci-fi & Geek pub quiz prizes? Did you consume the blue Vogon cake (and who knew they like chocolate chips?)?
If yes, I'm sure you'll be back for more. If no, you'll be thinking "where on earth was I and why wasn't I there?"
Well now's the time to put things right!We'll be celebrating all things science, sci-fi, fantasy, (and all other geeky things that make life so awesome) *again* with our now annual Geek/Nerd Pride day annual event.
So come along to our newly named "THANKSGEEKING" event.
Be proud and give thanks for your fellow geeks.Due to venue availability, this will take place on the 26th May- the "boxing day" of Geek Nerdiness.
EEK! why isn't this TOMORROW?!!!!
See Links below for why the 25th May is Geek/Nerd Pride (and not, for example, May 4th!).
Geek? Nerd?
25th May *is* YOUR day!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerd_Pride_Day
Both Towel Day (Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towel_Day) AND Star Wars Premiere anniversary...Manchester SitP May: David Aaronovitch "Voodoo Histories"
David Aaronovitch takes an absorbing, probing look at the conspiracy theories that operate on the sidelines of history and the reasons they continue to play such a seditious role. In this talk aimed at providing ammunition for those who have found themselves at the wrong end of a conversation about moon landings or the twin towers-Aaronovitch explores a handful the major conspiracy theories. In doing so, he examines why people b...elieve them, and makes an argument for a true skepticism: one based on a thorough knowledge of history and a strong dose of common sense.
David Aaronovitch is a writer, broadcaster and commentator on culture, international affairs, politics and the media. A former television researcher, producer and programme editor, he has previously written for The Independent, The Guardian and The Observer, winning numerous accolades, including Columnist of the Year 2003 and the 2001 Orwell prize for journalism. He has appeared on Have I Got News For You, presented a number of radio and television series and programmes on current affairs and historical topics. His first book, and account of a journey by kayak on the rivers and canals of England, Paddling to Jerusalem, was published in 2000 and won the Madoc Prize for travel writing. In 2009 he published Voodoo Histories, a book on conspiracy theories, which will be the subject of his talk.
David Aaronovitch's official website is www.davidaaronovitch.com.
Doors open at 19:30.
Talk will start at 20:00 at the latest.This event will be pay-on-the-door, and will cost £2.
Get there early to ensure you get in!