All weekly meetings are Fridays from 5-7 in Kerckhoff 133.

RSVP if you want at: http://www.facebook.com/events/245073592239595/

This week, like every week, we’ll begin with a fun introduction question, announcements, fact or fiction, and science news, and then move on to the main topic of the meeting. This week we’ll have a discussion on how to handle believers. Whether it’s a chiropractor, a professor, or your mom, we’ve all encountered people who believe things that we know aren’t true. When do you speak up, and when do you stay silent? What’s the best way to talk some sense into them without putting them on the defensive? Bring your thoughts!

If anyone would like to volunteer to be the newsperson for this meeting or beyond (bring 3-4 short science/skeptical news stories to tell us about), let us know; we’d be thankful.

Please RSVP on the event page on facebook; and while you’re at it, join our group. It’s the best way to keep up with BASS.

So I decided to gather evidence… by stalking BASS on Facebook.

BASS had a UFOlogist come over to speak, AND they made a bunch of cool hand-drawn posters, AND they made alien-head-shaped cookies for the event.

They counter-protested the Westboro Baptist Church (the “God Hates Fags” people), who in addition to picketing funerals, also picket at the Golden Globes every year.

They had Rebecca Watson give a talk: “The Religious Right vs Every Woman on Earth”.

They went to a Hammer Museum exhibit called Demon Hill, which was based on those “gravitational mystery spots”.

I also became aware of the existence of Bruin Atheists, a new spinoff group with some overlapping membership.  I consider this a positive development.  BASS has always been forced to serve as the campus’ single atheist and single skeptical group.  These goals, which, while not in competition with each other, were hard to do all at once.  Bruin Atheists helps pick up some of the slack.

In addition to Facebook, I also happened to be in town for the Rapture Party.  There were a lot of people I had never met before, but we hit it off.  I was happy to see more women participating than in the past.  A few of them were officers; I hope more become officers next year!  However, the Rapture itself was a flop–there weren’t any earthquakes or left-behind clothes or anything!

BASS did much more, but I think that’s sufficient evidence to tentatively conclude: Damn, Tommy and Jenny knew what they were doing better than I did.

This Friday we will have a special showing of Jesus Camp. Jesus Camp follows several young children as they attend an evangelical summer camp and allows the audience a look at some of the shocking things that occur there.

Please RSVP on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205567502815908#!/event.php?eid=205567502815908

You can find out more about Jesus Camp here

Hello everyone,

Tomorrow, May 13th (Friday the 13th no less!), Rebecca Watson will be visiting our campus! Rebecca Watson is the founder of Skepchick.org and co-hosts The Skeptics Guide to the Universe. The title of her presentation is “The Religious Right vs. Every Woman on Earth”.

This special event has been made possible through the joint efforts of Bruin Atheists and the Bruin Alliance of Skeptics and Secularists.

Please RSVP on the facebook event page:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=193868633988159

Thanks, looking forward to seeing you there!

The talk this Friday will be on the Virgin of Guadalupe, the alleged miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary in Mexico City in 1531.

Snacks and beverages will be provided; all are welcome!

The talk will take place in Ackerman 3517 at 5:00PM on Friday, April 15, 2011.

Thanks to Tristen Tristan for the photo.

At the last BASS meeting, I made a presentation called  “Quantum Mechanics for the skeptic: How to recognize quantum nonsense without being a physicist“.

Quantum Mechanics for the skeptic

Featuring appearances by: Professor Farnsworth, Professor X, the Great A’Tuin, Richard Feynman, and Deepak Chopra.