Before I post another word, don’t miss this Monday’s Skeptics in the Pub with Dave Niose (see two posts down for details).

And now – better late than never – video of Jonathan McDowell and last month’s BSitP of those who missed it (or want to see it again). Sorry for the delay. It’s not exactly as I’d intended, but… oh, I’ll shut up now. Here’s Jonathan!

Since John wrote a nice summary last week about the last book we read (The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensics), I’m just going to amend that with information for our next meeting.

We are reading Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore, and we are meeting again on September 24th at 3pm. If it’s nice weather, we’ll meet in our usual spot on Harvard Yard, and if not I’ll give details on our colder weather location.

Our book club meeting this month is again at the usual place and time, 3 PM Saturday August 13 on the lawn just north of Harvard Yard, between Memorial Hall (the big ugly pseudo gothic building) and the Science Center (the big ugly modern building that looks like a flight of giant stairs to nowhere.) It’s supposed to be warm and sunny, but if it rains, we’ll move indoors to the cafeteria of the Northwest building up Oxford Street just past the museum.

The book is about the birth of forensic science (CSI: Lyon, as in Lyon, France, circa 1894.) I’m about 1/2 way through, the prime suspect is about to go to trial, and is attempting an insanity defense. It’s a pretty compelling story, all the more so because it’s true. The author alternates chapters between the story of the criminal, Joesph Vacher, and the history of forensics, mostly focusing on Professor Lacassagne of the Lyon Medical School, who was the leading forensic scientist of the time.

Dave is the president of the American Humanist Association.. Skeptical activism was a major theme at TAM 9 a few weeks ago and Dave will fill us in on the broad strategic issues facing the AHA and other secular groups, as well as the status of a recent lawsuit involving the AHA and the pledge of allegiance.

Agree or disagree with the proposition the the Skeptical and Secular Movements should be more involved in social activism[*], this promises to be an extremely interesting talk.

Date: Monday, August 29
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Upstairs at Tommy Doyle’s
96 Winthrop St (Harvard Square)
Cambridge, MA

[*] If you disagree, you’re wrong :-)