This week Jeff was away but Dr. Jen Newport filled in instead. We discussed Dave Mabus (Dennis Markuze), general skepticism and more. There have been some updates since this episode was aired. More about Mabus can be found here: http://randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1434-qdave-mabusq-diagnosed-and-in-treatment.html

In this episode we discuss homeschooling, both secular and religious, with special guest Kai Haswell. Kai discusses his own, not always typical, experience being homeschooled and we tackle the question of homeschooling having any benefits at all.

Hi, all. Yesterday I sent the following questions to the Fort Collins School Board candidates on my ballot. Below is my e-mail followed by the responses I have received so far. All responses (aside from my emphasis using italics) are exactly as spelled and puncuated, and are otherwise unedited.

I am a voter in Fort Collins and am interested in your responses to the two following questions. Thank you very much for your commitment to Fort Collins and your time. What is your position of the role that evolution should play in the biology curriculum in Fort Collins schools? Should Intelligent Design be taught in public schools? Thanks again!

District A
Barbara Schwerin
Thank you for sending your questions. My responses are below. The Colorado Department of Education determines subject area content for evolution. The new Colorado science standards include evolution at grades 4, 7, and high school. Court rulings have stated that intelligent design is not science, and teaching it in public schools violates separation of church and state. Local school boards do not have authority in this issue. However, I believe that parents are their child’s first and foremost teacher, therefore parents should instruct their children regarding evolution and creationism.
Thank you.

Cathy Kipp
Hi Brian,
Thanks for taking the time to be an informed voter.
Science-based curriculum should be taught in school.  Evolution is currently accepted scientific theory, Intelligent Design is not
Hope this helps!

District B
Thomas Balchak (running unopposed)
Thanks for the inquiry.
Students should be exposed to the theory of evolution in science classes.
Students should also be exposed to the concept of Intelligent design and other historical and philosophical approaches to understanding origins . The most likely curriculum areas for this inquiry include language arts, humanities, or social studies.
FYI: I attended Catholic schools K-12, and taught at a Franciscan High School before moving to Fort Collins. I don't believe the two ideas are necessarily in conflict.

District F
Nancy Tellez

District G
Teresa Affleck
Hello, Brian,
Thank you for your great questions.
To answer them:
1. I believe evolution should be a part of the biology curriculum within PSD. (Additionally, the state requires that evolution be taught within biology curriculums.)
2. I believe in a separation of church and state. Intelligent Design should not be taught in public schools, unless in an historical manner.
Thank you for your interest,
Teresa Affleck

Susan Gutowsky
No response yet

I will countine to update this list as more responses come in.

This week were joined by Travis and Dale Roy. As usual when Travis is on, we had far too much fun. We discussed John Edward, power balance bracelets and homeopathic birth control. The bingo card is below, the flyer is attached to this post.

http://www.granitestateskeptics.org/

Attachments:

Psychic Pamphlet.pdf

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4464 Kb

I am continuing to get caught up. Next up, Travis and Dale Roy.

This week we were joined by Mark Edward and Susan Gerbic. We discussed guerrilla skepticism, editing Wikipedia, throwing shit on Sylvia Browne (literally and figuratively) and much more.

Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia

http://guerrillaskepticismonwikipedia.blogspot.com/

The backlog of episodes will soon be at an end. I'm shooting for one podcast a day until I am all caught up. Tomorrow, Susan Gerbic and Mark Edward.

This week we discuss Google+ and the (hopefully) imminent death of Facebook along with a wide variety of other topics.

This week we see what happens when Jeff gets dragged (apparently kicking and screaming) to TAM. He is joined by quite a few people to discuss a bit of everything. Note to listeners and participants: Almost everyone here identified by first name only. As such I've decided not to include any names here as I'm not sure who everyone is. If you spoke on the show and would like to be named E-mail me and I will add you to the notes as well as any website you would like plugged.

It's with a bit of sadness I report the passing of Jeff Wagg. He's not dead, but he will be leaving Rational Alchemy in the coming weeks due to time constraints. I'd like to thank Jeff for all of the hard work he's done for RA and for skepticism as a whole. It has been a great two years. This is not, however the end of Jeff or of Rational Alchemy. I'll still drag Jeff onto the show from time to time (if he likes it or not) and RA will continue.

This is not the first cast change for the show, nor will it be the last, I'm sure. RA has been through a lot of changes over the years, starting as a fifteen minute long general skepticism spot on a music show that Nigel hosted. At that time I co-hosted with Jamie Folsom. After she left, I put out a call for co-hosts and found Jeff and, for a short time, Alison Smith. I'm putting out that call again.

As of now, RA is transforming into a forum for discussing skepticism in action, guerrilla skepticism, with less of a focus on religion. I'd like to see that continue. While religious discussions will always have a place on Rational Alchemy, and skepticism in general, I'd rather focus on getting things done. I am looking for voices to join us in encouraging hands on skepticism, and profiling those who are making a difference. The general tone of the show will always be the same spontaneous feeling that it has always had. Those who are interested are encouraged to contact me.

This week we are joined by special guest Jon Johnson to discuss the origins of our own atheism, religion in general, and more. You will have noticed the episode numbers are incorrect. This will continue for some time. I lost my master list of episode airings and have officially given up all pretense of knowing when anything aired. Fortunately, I didn't lose the episodes themselves.