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Rational Alchemy 01/14/2011 Jeff's Last Stand Released

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 03:48:08 +0000

This is the final episode for Jeff Wagg. We would like to thank Jeff for all of his hard work as a co-host of this show. I'm sorry it took so long to get it published. Jeff, it's been a blast! Thanks again.

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Rational Alchemy 12/05/2011 Dr. Jen! Released

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:53:50 +0000

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

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Rational Alchemy 11/04/2011 Homeschooling

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 03:20:41 +0000

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.

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Fort Collins School Board Elections 2011

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:36:05 +0000

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

Thank you for your question, Brian. The school district curriculum must address the state standards.

I support the teaching of long-accepted scientific theory, as well as historically accepted explanations for what occurs in the natural world. When any such concepts are taught, it is important that students learn the background and supporting evidence for the concepts.

Nancy

Stephen Yurash
No response yet

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.

Rational Alchemy 09/15/2011 John Edward Is A Douche Released

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 03:35:51 +0000

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/

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A Call To Action

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:41:47 +0000

I wonder if listeners could help me out with a favor. Leslie Botha is the public relations director for SANEVax. She also has a radio show during drive time on 88.9 FM KRFC Fort Collins in Colorado. The show is called Holy Hormones Honey! and it's a rather blatant propaganda tool for SANEVax and the anti-vaccine movement in general. Rational Alchemy is also on this station. I have been increasingly incensed that she is allowed to spew this (in my opinion) murderous nonsense over the air. I have complained about the content of her show many times, but the station management, like so many people, believes the CAM community is legitimate science. This may change if people in greater numbers than just me make their voices heard to the management.

I haven't taken this to others before now out of a misguided sense of family amongst programmers, but she continues to cross the line, her show started off as a general topic alt-med show, it is purely anti-vax nonsense and anti-science hatred now. (Her episode calling for people convicted of shaking babies to death to be released because it was actually vaccines that killed them is a classic.) Like the management, people who are not exposed to science are prone to believe she is citing accepted science.

Please help by calling, E-mailing and tweeting KRFC and making your opinion heard. Calling would be by far the most effective. Ending such a loud voice for SANEVax would certainly be a tremendous blow. Also, if anyone has a suggestion on how to take this plea to a wider audience, please let me know. Thanks.

Her website is here: http://holyhormones.com/
The contact page for KRFC is here: http://www.krfcfm.org/contact-krfc/

Rational Alchemy 09/13/2011 Guerrilla Skepticism Released

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 03:23:23 +0000

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/

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Rational Alchemy 09/12/2011 Die, Facebook, Die! Released

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 02:58:03 +0000

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.

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Rational Alchemy 08/06/2011 Live (Sort Of) From TAM! Released

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 02:34:27 +0000

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.

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Farewell Jeff

bswalsh@gmail.com (Brian Walsh) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:56:33 +0000

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.