When my book, Why People Believe Weird Things came out a number of professors adopted it for courses in critical thinking, science and pseudoscience, science studies, etc., along with similar books such as Carl Sagan's Demon-Haunted World. Several of you sent me your syllabi but unfortunately I didn't file them away. We periodically receive requests and would like to put together a kit containing resource materials for such courses, including sample syllabi, suggested readings, bibliographies, etc. E-mail is best, but snail mail is okay as well. Send to:
skepticmag@aol.com
or
Michael Shermer
Skeptics Society
P.O. Box 338
Altadena, CA 91001

This is a good and worthy project to support on this, the 75th anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, considering the state of teaching evolution in the state of Kansas.

The 75th Anniversary of the Scopes "Monkey" Trial is coming up in July. During the week of July 9-15, Kansas Citizens for Science, MAINstream Coalition, the local ACLU chapter and Heartland Humanists will sponsor major speaker events across the state to educate the public about science and why it's important to teach science and not creationism in public schools.

Scopes Week schedule
Revised 6/13

Bonus Activity The Week Before:

July 5-8
Emporia
Emporia State University production of "Inherit the Wind"

Sunday, July 9

1:30 PM - Lawrence
KU Natural History Museum family day
Lecture/tour open to the public - free or donation
(Speaker TBA)

2:00 PM - 4 Scopes Week Kickoff Press Conferences across Kansas -

Location Scopesperson
- JoCo - John Staver
- Topeka -( ?????)
- Wichita - Elizabeth Ablah
- Winfield - Pat Ross

7:00 PM - JoCo
Jewish Community Center
Rob Boston, writer for Americans United for Separation of Church & State, author of "Close Encounters with the Religious Right"

Monday, July 10

7:00 PM - Topeka
Potwin Presbyterian Church
Talk by Prof. Kenneth Miller, Brown University biologist, author of "Finding Darwin's God" and co-author of "Biology," the most widely used (and attacked by creationists) biology text in U.S. schools

7:00 PM - Johnson County
ACLU Forum
Southminster Presbyterian Church, 63rd & Roe Prof. Douglas Linder - "Famous Trials: The Scopes Trial"

7:00 PM - Wichita
Rob Boston - AU
(Location TBD)

Tuesday, July 11

Noon - Lawrence
Ken Miller - Lunch with KCFS

7:00 PM - Johnson County
Indian Heights Methodist, 103rd & Nall
Ken Miller

Wednesday, July 12

Genie Scott available for teach-in, interviews or other event
Ken Miller available all day also.
Michael Shermer available after 6 PM

7:00 PM - Manhattan
(Keith Miller's church)
Ken Miller and Keith Miller

7:30 PM - Lawrence
Live Public Radio Broadcast (possibly PBS simulcast and webcast) of a new, original radio play based on the Scopes Trial transcripts. Starring Ed Asner, Shirley Knight, Harold Gould and sponsored by People for the American Way. Followed by panel: Dr. Eugenie Scott (executive director, National Center for Science Education), Martin Marty (editor of Christian Century, a progressive magazine), Ralph Neas (exec. Director of PFAW).

Thursday, July 13

Genie Scott available all day for interviews or events.
Michael Shermer available all day for interviews or events.

7:00 PM - Wichita Private meeting with Friends of KCFS, MAINstream, etc.
(Location TBD)
Genie Scott

7:00 PM - JoCo
Sylvester Powell Community Center, Mission
Michael Shermer, editor, Skeptic Magazine and author of "Why People Believe Weird Things" and "How We Believe"

Friday, July 14

Genie Scott available all day for interviews or events.

7:00 PM - Wichita
WSU - Hubbard Hall
Genie Scott

7:00 PM - Johnson County
Johnson County Community College - GEB #238?
"Family Night at the Movies" - "Planet of the Apes?" Popcorn & fun for everyone - FREE!

For information about Scopes Week events, contact:
Liz Craig, Lizard6849@yahoo.com
(816) 283-3223 x 6298

Caroline McKnight, Mainstream@birch.net
(913) 649-3326

'Health' Magnets Put in Men's Shoes
Reuters
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000613/od/shoes_dc_1.html
- "Florsheim Group Inc. (NasdaqNM:FLSC - news), the 107-year old company that shod legions of businessmen in sensible shoes, went New Age on Monday, launching a line of dress and walking shoes with magnetic insoles purported to improve blood circulation and energy."

'History' Should Be History
Reuters
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000612/od/britain_words_dc_1.html
- "The word "history" should be consigned to the past, according to managers at a British college who deem it sexist."

Do tinfoil helmets provide adequate protection against mind control rays?
The Straight Dope
by Cecil Adams
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000609.html
- "Some people believe that wearing a tinfoil helmet will protect them from mind control rays (or other forms of secret coercion)."

Testing the claims for Gingko
By Bruce Taylor Seeman
NEWHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
http://www.msnbc.com:80/news/418182.asp?cp1=3D1
- "It has been blended into Chinese tea, prescribed by German doctors and sprinkled on a wedding cake in Michigan. Believers claim it cures memory loss, impotence and ringing in the ears. But after centuries of legend, the world's leading health institution has commissioned a test of real science: Is there magic in the fan-shaped leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree?"

Mysteries About Crystal Skulls and UFOs
PRNewswire
http://news.excite.com:80/news/pr/000607/fl-flying-saucers-tea
- "Flying Saucers Sci-fi Cafe is hosting a live chat at their web site www.FlyingSaucers.com , on Saturday June 17, 2000 at 10 pm EST with guest star Joshua Shapiro."

News service hurt by religious group purchase
By David Lee
The Battalion
http://news.excite.com:80/news/uw/000609/university-43
- "In the words of Neil Young, "It's better to burn out than to fade away."

Not Your Average Bear
By Louise Jarvis
New York Times
http://www10.nytimes.com:80/books/00/06/11/reviews/000611.11jarvist.html
- "Contrary to the teaser title, Reinhold Messner does not capture, stuff and mount on the page the anthropological find of the century -- the missing link, the Abominable Snowman, the yeti."

Mars Face Breaks Under Questioning
By Pete Ford
Space.com
http://www.space.com:80/opinionscolumns/opinions/ford_000613.html
- "There's been controversy about the "Face on Mars" since the Viking orbiter photographed it in 1976. The feature's resemblance to a human face is intriguing, and many people see in that resemblance not an accident or trick of light, but rather the work of intelligent extraterrestrials."

Ringing Scientology's Bell
By Lloyd Grove
With Beth Berselli
http://washingtonpost.com:80/wp-dyn/articles/A53621-2000Jun13.html
- "On the CBS series "JAG," Catherine Bell plays a tough Marine Corps attorney. Testifying today before the House International Relations Committee, she's a committed Scientologist urging Congress to condemn European governments that are giving a hard time to members of her church. "We want Congress to continue to support a resolution that basically condemns the religious discrimination going on in Germany, and get some changes there," the 31-year-old actress told us yesterday."

Mr. Ed Would Have Spotted This Hoax
By Steve Harvey
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com:80/news/state/20000614/t000056366.html
- "On Tuesday, I discussed the painful news that Lassie was really a male. Now comes an accusation that "Mr. Ed," the TV series about a talking horse, actually starred a zebra."

King assassination conspiracy? There wasn't one
By Steve Neal
Chicago Sun-Times Columnist
http://www.suntimes.com:80/output/neal/neal14.html
- "The slaying of Martin Luther King Jr. was an American tragedy. But it wasn't a conspiracy."