Date – June 28th, 2011 read by Derek.
– This weekend was the first Kentucky Skepticamp.
– This weekend was also the Skeptic Society Science Symposium.
– Barbara Drecher's Blog is ICBSEverywhere.
– The Amazing Meeting 9 will be July 14-17th in Las Vegas.
Skeptic History Notes
– Ignaz Semmelweis, a pioneer in antiseptic procedures, was born July 1, 1818.
– Prosper-René Blondlot, mistaken discoverer of “N rays”, was born July 3, 1849.
– There is more on the N-rays debunk in an E-Skeptic feature from last year.
– Robert Park started the “What’s New” skeptical report on science policy on June 29, 1984.
– Tim was named a Research Fellow of the James Randi Educational Foundation last week.
– You can read daily Skeptic History facts on Twitter, Facebook or FriendFeed.
Interview
– Today's guest is author and director Matthew Chapman.
– Charles Darwin
– Sir Francis Darwin
– Darwin kept notebooks about things which contradicted his ideas
– Cecil Chapman was involved with the Ozone Layer
– The Chapman Layer was named after Cecil
– [amazon_link id="0312300786" target="_blank" ]The Trials of the Monkey[/amazon_link] about Matthew's trip see a Scopes Trial re-enactment
– [amazon_link id="0061179469" target="_blank" ]40 Days and 40 Nights[/amazon_link] about the Kitsmiller vs. Dover Trial
– The Atheist in the Closet article
– Matthew writes for Harpers and the Huffington Post
– He started the Science Debate movement
– Got the candidates to answer several of the most important questions
– Other countries are now going to have their own science debates
– Help push for a Science Debate during the 2012 election cycle
– Why do the candidates get asked about UFO's during important elections?
– Matthew has been involved in several big name movies in the past
– New movie, 'The Ledge', was part of Sundance 2011
– Sundance helped get The Ledge picked up by a distributer
– The movie deals with Atheism as well as Gay Rights
– Atheists and Gay people in the USA have a similar demographic makeup
– The Ledge dedicated to Matthew's uncle who has been a victim of gay discrimination
– The only reason that he can think anyone would be against gay rights
– It is never a simple thing as to why people have faith
– Patrick Wilson plays a fundamentalist in the movie
– The Ledge had a very interesting set of feedback at Sundance
– The Ledge was showing when a gay rights leader in Africa was murdered with a hammer
– You can see the movie on the IFC website, or video on demand by searching for 'Ledge'
– On July 8th, the movie will premiere at the IFC center and in New York City
– Matthew hopes that Skeptics will show support like the fundamentalists did for Passion
– You can show support with the ideas at www.ledgemovie.com -> 'how to help'
– Find out more about Matthew Chapman at his website to follow his upcoming work
– Matthew will be at Dragon*Con Skeptrack 2011
