A New Theory of Human Origin

James Hunt

May 1, 2016

Humanist Community member James Hunt speaks on the “Recent Chromosomal Fusion” theory, and presents his book: “23, How Humanity Came To Be”. Over many years, in many books, there are many suggestions that Africa launched anatomically modern humans, replacing all older species. Anthropologists say something happened, but there are very few suggestions of what exactly that macro-evolutionary event was. What evidence is there for macro-evolution in human DNA? Why did anatomically modern humans all come “out of Africa”? Ernst Mayr wrote that chromosomal fusions have no effect on species, but there is clearly evidence that 23 chromosome humans are drastically less diverse than earlier 24 chromosome species. Is it time to consider the obvious? Homo Erectus was a 24!

 

Humanist Community Forum (2016-05-01): A New Theory of Human Origin (James Hunt) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

SkeptiCal Conference 2016

The Skeptical Conference 2016 will be held on May 15 at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. Please note details in the announcement below provided by SkeptiCal.

SkeptiCal Registration Still $40! May 1 = $45 Student Rates Too!

Get your tickets before May 1 to get the best price for the seventh annual SkeptiCal on May 15, 2016, at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, in downtown Oakland.

This project of the Bay Area Skeptics and the Sacramento Area Skeptics is the one-day, affordable (only $40) science and critical thinking conference you won’t want to miss! Register here before May 1 to get the best prices: http://www.skepticalcon.com/contact/

This year’s lineup of topics and speakers is extraordinary. Prepare to be blown away by Dr. Carolyn Porco who will discuss the discoveries the Cassini team has made about Saturn. Author Steve Silberman will talk about his research on the history and present understanding of autism, from his best-selling book Neurotribes. Anthropologist Dr. Henry Gilbert will talk about his research on the most important stage of human evolution most people have never heard about! Neuroscientist, opera singer, and science podcaster Dr. Indre Viskontas will dispel common misconceptions about the brain. And many other speakers and workshops. Full abstracts and speaker descriptions can be found at http://www.skepticalcon.com/skeptical-2016/

Sign up now! Prices go up May 1, so do it today. Space is limited to the first 250 registrants.

Venue:

Oakland Asian Cultural Center
388 9th St #290
Oakland, CA 94607
12th St BART

Community and the Secular Student Alliance

August Brunsman

April 24, 2016film Sandy Wexler 2017

Your connections to other people matter more to the success or failure of our movement than anything else. The most important thing we’ve learned via the Secular Student Alliance (https://secularstudents.org/) over the last 16 years has been the unimaginable importance of community. Our whole movement needs to build on its momentum by forming communities based on helping each other live the amazing and rational values that we all share. If you want to strengthen your secular group, or just make closer secular friends, this presentation will have lots to offer you.

August Brunsman has been the executive director of the Secular Student Alliance since 2001, and served as the Secretary of the Board of the Secular Coalition for America from 2006 through 2012. He has volunteered for Camp Quest since 1999, and is a humanist celebrant (for weddings and funerals, etc.).

 

Humanist Community Forum (2016-04-24): Community and the Secular Student Alliance (August Brunsman) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

A Humanist Perspective (Not The Humanist Perspective)

Arthur Jackson

April 17, 2016

Longtime Humanist Community member and leader Arthur Jackson (who authored the book “How to Live the Good Life: A User’s Guide for Modern Humans”) will offer a concise, focused talk on what humanism is, and why it is important for individuals and for humanity.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2016-04-17): A Humanist Perspective (Not The Humanist Perspective) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

Fighting Climate Change with Geoengineering

Suds Jain

April 10, 2016

Suds Jain (B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT, and a Board member of Acterra.org) will discuss his work with a team of retired engineers on a geoengineering project that someday may have to be used to reduce the amount of extra heat being trapped on the planet due to global warming gasses. See http://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/energy/environment/tech-industry-vets-fight-effects-of-climate-change for more details of this project.