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Tickets Go On Sale on Monday 13th October @ 9am

Last year, Robin Ince made the mistake of appearing on ITV’s London Talking to debate “Is Britain becoming more secular?” By the time he got to the studio, the subject had changed to “Who is taking the Christ out of Christmas?”
Suffice to say, he got quite cross during the barrage of lies from radio shock jocks and misinformed fundamentalists. Robin tried to make it clear that, as an atheist, he wasn’t against Christmas as a time for gluttony and reflection; he was just against the journalists and manipulated fundamentalists shouting about winterval and other myths. This was beyond Stephen Green of Christian Voice’s comprehension, so he kept muttering, “I don’t think he does want Christmas blah blah blah”.

Well, to prove that he does enjoy this season of laziness, alcoholism and regret, he is presenting a rational celebration of the Christmas season in the guise of Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People. Rather than talking of Jesus’s birth, acclaimed science author Simon Singh will talk about the birth of the universe. Instead of talking about Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, Bad Science Columnist Ben Goldacre will talk of alternative medicine and charlatans, while Josie Long will talk about the wonder of the stars.

So far the confirmed speakers are Stewart Lee, Mark Thomas, Ricky Gervais, Justin Edwards, Chris Addison, Ben Goldacre, Simon Singh, Josie Long, Jo Neary and Richard Dawkins.

Music will be provided by the fabulous Martin White Orchestra and more TBC

The evening will also include projections of classic archive footage of Carl Sagan and Richard Feynman.

Robin Ince will host the night.

It’s not just for agnostics and atheists, hopefully it will be a night celebrating the wonder of the universe so as long as you’re not a crazed fundamentalist you can enjoy it. If you are a crazed fundamentalist, then please come and hold a placard up outside and shout like a halfwit.

Please check the New Humanist website on the 24th October for more details of confirmed acts.

More info nicked from here: http://www.rickygervais.com/thissideofthetruth.php

Hi All,

I have already told you about an event coming up at the Dana Centre on November 25 considering the nature of out-of-body experiences. The chair for the evening will be Narender Ramnani and the speakers will be as follows:

Chris French: Introduction to OBEs
Henrik Ehrsson: OBE, Illusions of Body Ownership and the Brain
Ray Tallis: Philisophy, Implications and Interpretations

The organisers are keen, however, to hear from someone who has actually had a vivid OBE and would be willing to stand up in the audience and give a brief description of what it felt like. If you would be willing to do so, please let me know (c.french[at]gold.ac.uk). They only want one person to do this (although others are free to talk about their own experiences if asking a question, of course), so I’ll put the first person who fits the bill in touch with the organisers.

Also, I want to thank all those people who got in touch to tell me about their sleep paralysis experiences. I will reply to you all individually once things calm down a bit but term has just started and things are a bit hectic!

Best wishes,

Chris French

Skepchick Iszi Lawrence returns to Camden for another performance of Matter of Tact. If you missed it last time, you’ll be pleased to know you can catch it again.

“Ever find that your life seems to mirror perfectly the geopolitical zeitgeist? Caught between Christian friends and her Muslim family, Iszi Lawrence shows how a die hard sceptic can still join in. Living with creationists, arguing over teddy bears and confused by anything supernatural, Matter of Tact is packed with silly stories and theories, trying to make sense of an age old problem.”

- Comedy Pick London Lite
- Time Out Recommended

For only £10 (£8.50 for members) you not only get a sceptical giggle with iszi but also support from the infamous Tom Greeves.

Tom Greeves is one of Oxford’s finest comedians and also was Boris Johnson’s speech writer during the recent election. Tom Greeves combines serial killer good looks with an extraordinary mind, which delights and occasionally disturbs audiences. Alas, he wont be doing a Tory speech but you’re guaranteed to laugh anyway.

Get tickets here:
http://www.etceteratheatre.com/

At the Etcetera Theatre, 265 Camden High Street (above the Oxford Arms) on Sunday Oct 5th.
By Phone
Box Office: 020 7482 4857

EIGHT LESSONS AND CAROLS FOR GODLESS PEOPLE - SOLD OUT

[ Try Another...Nine Lessons and Carols @ Hammersmith Apollo]

A Rational Celebration of Christmas
18th December, 2008 at The Bloomsbury theatre

Due to extraordinary demand, a second Godless Christmas show has been added.

So far the acts who are currently confirmed are Richard Dawkins, Josie Long, Richard Herring, Ben Goldacre, Natalie Haynes, Stewart Lee, Simon Singh, Jo Neary, Darren Hayman, Colin Watson (aka Waen Shepherd), the Martin White mini fax machine orchestra, Tim Minchin, Peter Buckley Hill, Luke Haines and more TBC

Robin Ince will host the night.

It’s not just for agnostics and atheists, hopefully it will be a night celebrating the wonder of the universe so as long as you’re not a crazed fundamentalist you can enjoy it. If you are a crazed fundamentalist, then please come and hold a placard up outside and shout like a halfwit.

Bloomsbury Theatre
18th December
Doors 7pm/show7.30pm

All profits to The Mustard Seed School in Uganda, a secular school.

Produced in association with The Rationalist Association (publishers of New Humanist)

Heroes Graphic Novel Artist, Jason Badower Signing @ Orbital Manga, 7th June, 12pm
The number one HEROES graphic novel artist, Jason Badower is visiting London!

Orbital Manga - 4c Orion House, Upper St Martins Lane,
London WC2H 9NY
Website: www.orbitalcomics.com

Jason has been entertaining HEROES fans from his initial
ground-breaking Sylar comic, “Road Kill” to the
season finale, “The Death of Hana Gitelman”. His
work has continued through season 2 and he currently works
with the writers to set the ground work for season 3 with
the online webcomics at www.nbc.com/Heroes/novels.

At 12pm he will be talking about what it takes to be a
HEROES graphic novel artist and doing portfolio reviews.

At 12.30pm he will be signing the HEROES hardcover,
sketchbooks and doing sketches.

One lucky attendee will be drawn into an upcoming HEROES
comic in a raffle drawn at 2pm.

You can see more of Jason’s work at
jasonbadower.blogspot.com

SIGNING @ Orbital Comics: American Artist CHET ZAR , 14th June 2008, 3-5pm

Orbital Comics: 148 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0LB
Website: www.orbitalcomics.com

This will be a rare chance to meet makeup effects artist, sculptor, painter, digital effects artist and creature designer in the niche field of Special Makeup Effects Chet Zar in London, at Orbital Comics.

He’ll be signing and giving away a limited number of
Catalogues, and there will also be a limited edition
catalogue for sale on the day which features 13 all new
pieces of art as well as a few older pieces and includes a
forward written by Adam Jones. Bring down your portfolio
and he’ll give you advice on starting a career in art and
design.

Chet Zar is most widely known for his work with Tool’s
music and live videos but he has also applied his talent
for creating monsters, and other characters, to a career in
movie special effects, creating sculptural prosthetic make
up and effects for films like
FANTASTIC 4 - sculpting and painting for ‘The
Thing’
HELLBOY- Hellboy arm design, sculpture and painting
PLANET OF THE APES - ape design, sculpture and painting.
X Men 3 - creature design.

1) Resofit 2: the Matinee

Join Stewart Lee, Richard Herring, Tony Law, Dan Antopolski + tbc for an afternoon of top stand-up, proceeds to the best radio station in the world.

Sunday 18 May at 2.00pm, Arts Theatre, 6-7 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB
£10. Box office: 0844 847 1608. Book online here

2) Resonance Benefit Concert

In the evening after the stand-up benefit for the station, we present a night of live music with superlative songwriter Robyn Hitchcock (joined by Terry Edwards, ; Kiss Akabusi, masters of deconstructed avant-hip-hop; antique sound-effects from sound artist Aleks Kolkowski; plus special guests - from Australia, Nick Cave’s favourite
songsmith Dave Graney; and from Quebec, the duo Mankind, who come to us recommended by American poet Bob Holman ( two hilarious French Canadian supervixen poet rockstars with dark techno deep beat¦ the best poetry act out of North America since - duh, David Thomas? Patti Smith ).
DJ is Jonny Trunk.

Sunday 18 May at 7.30pm, Arts Theatre, 6 - 7 Great Newport Street, London WC2H 7JB. £10 (£5 concs). Box office: 0844 847 1608. Book online here

http://www.resonancefm.com

David Green will be giving a presentation at Skeptics in the Pub on the 15th April and has sent a small taster to the Skeptics in the Pub Facebook group…

Hi all,

There are a couple of articles in today’s Observer which may be of interest to you if you’re thinking of coming to the talk. (Sorry if you received a similar message from me already, but I am having [Facebook] problems…)

On the impending repeal of the Fraudulent Mediums Act see:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/06/eu

This article gets the law generally(-ish) correct and it appears the journalist had help on this. The anonymous lawyer quoted at the end has got it about right: mediums charging for their services will now be treated like any other (dodgy) tradesperson.

On blasphemy, see:
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,2271373,00.html .

The Wingrove case ended up with the European Court of Human Rights holding (astonishingly) that blashpemy was a legitmate exception to the right of free expression.

I will be discussing both these developments at the talk.

Give me a shout with any comments.

Best wishes,

David Allen Green

http://www.skeptic.org.uk/pub