BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//NYC Atheists - ECPv6.15.10//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:NYC Atheists X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://nycatheists.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for NYC Atheists REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20140309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20141102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20150308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20151101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20160313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20161106T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20170312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20171105T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160715T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160715T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160608T024304Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160630T134628Z UID:32215-1468609200-1468616400@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:July Book & Film Club DESCRIPTION:Host:  TBA \nBook: TBA \nAuthor: TBA \nThe event starts at 7 p.m. but come early for Happy Hour at 6:30 pm! Discussion will follow. \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/book-club-2016-july/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Friday Books and Films END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160710T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160710T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160608T024717Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160703T221748Z UID:32218-1468152000-1468162800@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:July Brunch & Speaker DESCRIPTION:Speaker:  Susana Martiez-Conde \nProfessor of Ophthalmology\, Neurology\, Physiology\, and Pharmacology \nSuny Downstate Medical Center \nTopic: Neural Magic: Techniques for Tricking the Brain \nSusana Martinez-Conde directs the Laboratory of Integrative Neuroscience. Her research bridges perceptual\, cognitive\, and oculomotor neuroscience. She is best known for her studies on illusions\, eye movements and perception\, neurological disorders\, and attentional misdirection in stage magic. She has pioneered the study of stage magic techniques from a neuroscience perspective and has proposed that neuroscientists and magicians share many overlapping interests\, and that both disciplines should collaborate with one another to mutual advantage. \n\nThe cost of this event is $20 which includes a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch followed by our guest speaker. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/brunch-2016-july/ LOCATION:The Press Box\, 932 2nd Avenue\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Sunday Brunch and Speaker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160704T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160704T170000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160614T020338Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160614T022316Z UID:32281-1467635400-1467651600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:July 4th Picnic DESCRIPTION:NYC ATHEISTS JULY 4TH PICNIC\n\nJoin us in the beautiful Conservancy Garden in Central Park!\n\n\nMeeting place will be in the upstairs gazebo behind the fountain.\n\nBring your own food & drinks.\n\n(5th Ave at 105th Street)\nSubway: 6 (103rd) / 2 & 3 (110TH st) / 4 & 5 (110th)\nAfterwards we can visit the Museum Of The City Of New York URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/july-4th-2016/ LOCATION:Conservatory Garden\, 5TH AVE AT 105TH STREET\, New York\, NY\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Other END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160630T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160630T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160531T130147Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160531T131759Z UID:32119-1467311400-1467320400@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:June Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Host: Ken Bronstein \n\nSpeaker: Abby Hafer from Curry College\, Department of Human Anatomy and Physiology\n\nAbby Hafer is a speaker\, writer and humorist who particularly loves taking on Intelligent Design\, Creationism\, the politics surrounding them\, and science denialism in general.\nA few years ago\, she realized that Intelligent Design is a political pressure group\, not a scientific issue. With this figured out\, she realized that what we need are political-style arguments in defense of evolution. Her presentations contain bulletproof science\, but are short\, easy to understand\, easy to repeat\, and make the opposition look bad. She uses humor to puncture bad arguments.\n\nTopic: Unintelligent Design: Why Evolution Explains the Human Body and “Intelligent Design” Does Not\n\nDr. Hafer argues that the human body\, though no less beautiful or marvelous for being flawed\, has many faulty design features that would never have been the choice of an intelligent creator. In addition to pointing out problematic aspects of human anatomy\, Dr. Hafer also gives examples of solutions to these problems that are found in other members of the animal kingdom. She then asks why other animals got better body parts than humans did\, and wonders if this means that the designer prefers other animals to human beings. She also deals quickly and comprehensively with the idea of irreducible complexity.\n\nA $10 charge for this event is used to help cover the cost of the venue. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/monthly-meeting-2016-june/ LOCATION:SLC Conference Center\, 15 West 39th Street – 3rd Floor\, New York\, NY\, 10018\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Thursday Monthly Meeting END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160621T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160621T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160531T125605Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160610T021837Z UID:32115-1466535600-1466542800@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:June Discussion Night DESCRIPTION:Subject: How do we atheists see morality? \nHost:  Lee Moore \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/discussion-night-2016-june/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Tuesday Discussion Night END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160617T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160617T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160531T125807Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160531T130124Z UID:32117-1466190000-1466197200@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:June Book & Film Club DESCRIPTION:Host:  Nina Goss \nNina Goss earned her MFA and PhD  at the University of Washington. She currently teaches Creative Writing at Fordham University. She is the co-editor of Dylan at Play\, as well as a forthcoming collection of essays from University of Mississippi Press. \nBook: Strange Gods – A Secular History of Conversion \nAuthor: Susan Jacoby \nJacoby focuses on the long\, tense convergence of Judaism\, Christianity\, and Islam—each claiming possession of absolute truth—She examines conversions within a social and economic framework that includes theocratic coercion (unto torture and death) and the more friendly persuasion of political advantage\, economic opportunism\, and interreligious marriage. Moving through time\, continents\, and cultures—the triumph of Christianity over paganism in late antiquity\, the Spanish Inquisition\, John Calvin’s dour theocracy\, Southern plantations where African slaves had to accept their masters’ religion – her narrative is punctuated by portraits of individual converts embodying the sacred and profane. \nThe event starts at 7 p.m. but come early for Happy Hour at 6:30 pm! Discussion will follow. \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/book-club-2016-june/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Friday Books and Films END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160612T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160612T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160531T125039Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160608T142951Z UID:32113-1465732800-1465743600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:June Brunch & Speaker DESCRIPTION:Speaker:  Professor Simon Garnier \nN.J. Institute of Technology\, Biological Sciences \nProfessor Garner’s interdisciplinary research lab studies the mechanisms underlying the coordination of large animal groups\, such as ant colonies or human crowds\, and their applications to complex problems such the organization of pedestrian traffic or the control of robotic swarms. He studies how information is exchanged and transformed during interactions between the members of a group\, and how this can lead to the emergence of “intelligent” group behaviors. In short\, the study of Swarm Intelligence. \nVisit The Swarm Lab \n\nTopic: Swarm Intelligence \nHave you ever wondered why a colony of ants\, all with tiny brains\, can achieve near perfect coordination of their traffic\, while human beings with their hundreds of billions of neurons and sophisticated technologies still find themselves in traffic jams on a daily basis? This is what he studies in when he looks at Swarm Intelligence (and Swarm Stupidity)\, where the many interactions between members of a group can lead to extraordinarily efficient solutions or snowballing catastrophes. This should be a fascinating discussion! \n\nThe cost of this event is $20 which includes a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch followed by our guest speaker. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/brunch-2016-june/ LOCATION:The Press Box\, 932 2nd Avenue\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Sunday Brunch and Speaker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160604T100000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160604T180000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160123T183551Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160517T202000Z UID:29917-1465034400-1465063200@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:Reason Rally DESCRIPTION:In 2012\, people from all across America assembled together on the National Mall in D.C. for an epic event in the history of our country.  Standing in the rain\, we declared to the world\, “We are many! We are strong! We are united! And we are here!” Four years have passed\, and we’re ready to do it again! \nWe’re converging on Washington D.C. once again\, this time at the Lincoln Memorial. In this historic place\, we proclaim our dream of a future where people are free to express rational and reasonable views without the fear of reprisal\, retaliation\, or retribution! \nThe Reason Rally itself is a day-long event on June 4\, 2016. We will also have a variety of extra events over several days from Thursday\, June 2nd through Sunday\, June 5th. \nWe invite you to register for the event with NYCA. This will let us keep in touch with you with news and information about the event and to coordinate travel arrangements. \n\n \n \n \n \n Register now URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/reason-rally-2016/ LOCATION:National Mall\, Washington D.C. CATEGORIES:ALL,Other END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160531T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160531T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160501T180502Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160509T002233Z UID:31687-1464721200-1464728400@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:May Book & Film Club DESCRIPTION:Host:  David Orenstein\, PhD \nFilm: Crimes and Misdemeanors by Woody Allen \nAn ophthalmologist’s mistress threatens to reveal their affair to his wife\, while a married documentary filmmaker is infatuated by another woman. \nThe event starts at 7 p.m. but come early for Happy Hour at 6:30 pm! Discussion will follow. \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/book-club-2016-may/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Friday Books and Films END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160526T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160526T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160501T180718Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160510T151607Z UID:31689-1464287400-1464296400@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:May Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Topic: Deconstructing “G-d Bless America” \nHost: Ken Bronstein\n\n\nThe speaker will be Tim Law\, investigative reporter in the fields of law and the environment as well as a participant in the social media culture war. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/monthly-meeting-2016-may/ LOCATION:SLC Conference Center\, 15 West 39th Street – 3rd Floor\, New York\, NY\, 10018\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Thursday Monthly Meeting END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160517T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160517T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160501T180158Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160501T180348Z UID:31685-1463511600-1463518800@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:May Discussion Night DESCRIPTION:Subject: Free Will \nHost:  Lee Moore \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/discussion-night-2016-may/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Tuesday Discussion Night END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160508T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160508T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160430T201656Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160501T203105Z UID:31653-1462708800-1462719600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:May Brunch & Speaker DESCRIPTION:Speaker:  Elizabeth Raymond MD\, MPH \nSenior Medical Associate\, Gynuity Health Projects (About Dr. Raymond) \nDr. Raymond is a senior scientist at Gynuity Health Projects in New York City\, a leading international women’s health research organization. Over the past 20 years\, she has published over 75 peer-reviewed scientific papers on contraception\, abortion\, and related fields and has served as an expert witness in multiple high-profile legal cases in these areas. Her studies have been pivotal in support of FDA approval of various contraceptives and have led to numerous significant policy changes in reproductive health. \nTopic: Conducting Scientific Research in a Religion-Infused World \nA Scientist’s Behind-the-Scenes Insight into the Struggle to Conduct Science in the Face of Religious Opposition \nOn March 29\, 2016\, the FDA approved a revised package label for mifepristone\, the primary drug used to induce medical abortion. This important update was long overdue as knowledge about the drug had advanced substantially since its initial approval in 2000. Within mere weeks\, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey\, a leading advocate for “god-given rights”\, and Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma\, who believes that freedom is “given to us by god”\, rallied the support of 73 fellow Congressional legislators to launch an effort to harass both the FDA and the scientists involved in the research under the pretense of concern for women’s health. \nOur speaker\, Elizabeth Raymond\, MD\, MPH\, is one of those scientists.  For over two decades\, she has been a prominent researcher in two fields\, contraception and abortion\, that have both been primary targets of relentless religious interference. She will share her insider perspectives on the struggle over the labeling of mifepristone and will also relate many other experiences that illustrate the ways in which religiously motivated obstructionism disrupts and undermines important scientific research. \n\nThe cost of this event is $20 which includes a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch followed by our guest speaker. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/brunch-2016-may/ LOCATION:The Press Box\, 932 2nd Avenue\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Sunday Brunch and Speaker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160428T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160428T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160331T173357Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160401T170213Z UID:31430-1461868200-1461877200@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:April Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:We will watch and then discuss the History Channel’s How the Earth was Made. \nHost: Ken Bronstein\n\nBuilt on the remains of mountains that 450 million years ago were as tall as the Himalayas\, New York is one of the most man-made spaces on the planet. Learn how everything about it – from the height of its skyscrapers to the position of its harbor – is governed by the amazing forces that shaped it. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/monthly-meeting-2016-apr/ LOCATION:SLC Conference Center\, 15 West 39th Street – 3rd Floor\, New York\, NY\, 10018\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Thursday Monthly Meeting END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160419T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160419T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160331T173419Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160401T152726Z UID:31432-1461092400-1461099600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:April Discussion Night DESCRIPTION:Subject: The role of social justice within the atheist community \nHost:  Lee Moore \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/discussion-night-2016-apr/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Tuesday Discussion Night END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160415T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160415T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160331T173407Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160401T165538Z UID:31431-1460746800-1460754000@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:April Book & Film Club DESCRIPTION:Host:  David Orenstein\, PhD \nBook: In the Name of Heaven: 3000 Years of Religious Persecution \nAuthor: Mary Jane Engh\, an independent scholar of Roman history \nOn Amazon \nReligion—the source of inspiration\, hope\, and basic values for most of humanity throughout history—has also been the motive for atrocious persecutions from antiquity to the present. In the Name of Heaven is a wide-ranging historical survey of religious persecution encompassing three millennia and a great diversity of cultures worldwide. \nDefining religious persecution as “repressive actions initiated or condoned by authorities against their own people on religious grounds\,” author Mary Jane Engh begins with ancient Egypt\, followed by the biblical history of Israel with its accounts of divinely ordered genocides and capital punishment for worshipers of other deities. \nChapters are devoted to ancient Greece (Socrates\, Alcibiades\, and Aristotle\, among others\, clashed with the religious establishment); the Roman Empire (persecutions of Jews\, Christians\, and Manichaeans\, and the later persecution of pagans and heretics by a Christianized Rome); the Islamic Empire (persecutions of polytheists and dissident Muslims); and medieval and Reformation Europe (where Protestants and Catholics persecuted each other and both persecuted heretics). \nThe twenty-two chapters also cover Asia\, Africa\, the Americas\, and the Pacific area. In an epilogue Engh reviews the new forms of religious persecution from the 20th century to the present—from major genocides and militant forms of polytheism to persecution of all religion by atheistic governments. \nComplete with references to further reading\, this sobering but factually indisputable survey of religion’s dark side enlightens while serving as a warning for the future. \nThe event starts at 7 p.m. but come early for Happy Hour at 6:30 pm! Discussion will follow. \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/book-club-2016-apr/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Friday Books and Films END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160410T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160410T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160331T174326Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160331T181536Z UID:31436-1460289600-1460300400@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:April Brunch & Speaker DESCRIPTION:Speaker:  Matthew Stanley\, PhD \nAssociate Professor (faculty page) \nNYU: Gallatin School of Individualized Study \nMatthew Stanley teaches and researches the history and philosophy of science. He holds degrees in astronomy\, religion\, physics\, and the history of science and is interested in the connections between science and the wider culture. He is the author of Practical Mystic: Religion\, Science\, and A. S. Eddington (Chicago 2007)\, which examines how scientists reconcile their religious beliefs and professional lives\, and Huxley’s Church and Maxwell’s Demon (Chicago 2014)\, which explores how science changed from its historical theistic foundations to its modern naturalistic ones. His current project is a history of scientific predictions of the end of the world. Professor Stanley is also part of a nationwide National Science Found. He has held fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study\, the British Academy\, and the Max Planck Institute. Professor Stanley was awarded a Gallatin Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. \nTopic: Galileo – The Founder of Modern Science and the Conflict Between Reason and Faith \nGalileo Galilei born 15 February 1564\, was an Italian astronomer\, physicist\, engineer\, philosopher\, and mathematician who played a major role in the scientific revolution during the Renaissance. Galileo has been called the “father of observational astronomy”\, the “father of modern physics”\, and the “father of science”. His contributions to observational astronomy include the telescopic confirmation of the phases of Venus\, the discovery of the four largest satellites of Jupiter (named the Galilean moons in his honour)\, and the observation and analysis of sunspots. Galileo also worked in applied science and technology\, inventing an improved military compass and other instruments. \nGalileo’s championing of heliocentrism and Copernicanism was controversial within his lifetime\, when most subscribed to either geocentrism or the Tychonic system. He met with opposition from astronomers\, who doubted heliocentrism due to the absence of an observed stellar parallax. The matter was investigated by the Roman Inquisition in 1615\, and they concluded that it could only be supported as a possibility\, not as an established fact. Galileo later defended his views in Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems\, which appeared to attack Pope Urban VIII and thus alienated him and theJesuits. He was tried by the Inquisition\, found “vehemently suspect of heresy”\, forced to recant\, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. It was while Galileo was under house arrest that he wrote one of his most well known works\, Two New Sciences. Here he summarized the work he had done some forty years earlier\, on the two sciences now called kinematics and strength of materials. \n\nThe cost of this event is $20 which includes a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch followed by our guest speaker. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/brunch-2016-apr/ LOCATION:The Press Box\, 932 2nd Avenue\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Sunday Brunch and Speaker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160331T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160331T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160303T022218Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160331T174849Z UID:30999-1459449000-1459458000@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:March Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:  \nTopic:\nHow Did Life Emerge on Earth?\n\nWe will watch and discuss a fabulous PBS Nova video “Life’s Rocky Start”. Four and a half billion years ago\, the young Earth was a hellish place – a seething chaos of meteorite impacts\, volcanoes belching noxious gases\, and lightning flashing through a thin\, torrid atmosphere.  Then\, in a process that has puzzled scientists for decades\, life emerged.  But how? URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/monthly-meeting-2016-mar/ LOCATION:SLC Conference Center\, 15 West 39th Street – 3rd Floor\, New York\, NY\, 10018\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Thursday Monthly Meeting END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160316T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160316T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160303T021732Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160306T194734Z UID:30995-1458154800-1458162000@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:March Book & Film Club DESCRIPTION:Host:  David Orenstein\, PhD \nMovie: Spotlight \nThe true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese\, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. \nThe movie starts at 7 p.m. but come early for Happy Hour at 6:30 pm! Discussion will follow. \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/book-club-2016-mar/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Friday Books and Films END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160315T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160315T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160303T021120Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160303T021639Z UID:30993-1458068400-1458075600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:March Discussion Night DESCRIPTION:A surprise lively timely topic that will spur rambunctious discussion! \nHost:  Lee Moore \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/discussion-night-2016-mar/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Tuesday Discussion Night END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160313T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160313T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160303T020327Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160303T021055Z UID:30991-1457870400-1457881200@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:March Brunch & Speaker DESCRIPTION:Speaker:  Patricia Wright\, PhD \nDistinguished Service Professor \nStony Brook University \nTopic: Lemurs – Earth’s Most Diverse Group of Primates \nMadagascar is a strange place. It’s sometimes called the 8th continent due to its unique evolution and physical isolation. Ninety percent of its wildlife is found nowhere else. With no monkeys to compete with\, Madagascar’s lemurs evolved into over 100 species\, from the 3.5-inch Berthe’s mouse lemur (the smallest primate in the world) to the now-extinct giant sloth lemur (which weighed as much as a gorilla). \n\nThe cost of this event is $20 which includes a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch followed by our guest speaker. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/brunch-2016-mar/ LOCATION:The Press Box\, 932 2nd Avenue\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Sunday Brunch and Speaker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160225T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160225T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160219T035611Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160219T041836Z UID:30527-1456425000-1456434000@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:February Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Celebrate Charles Darwin’s 209th Birthday!! \nSpeaker:\nJ. Bret Bennington Ph.D\nProfessor of Geology\, Environment\, and Sustainability\, Hofstra University\n\nTopic:\nLife of Charles Darwin\, Evolution and the Galapagos\n\nJ. Bret Bennington\, Ph.D.\, is a paleontologist with a strong interest in evolution and geology and is actively involved in the IDEAS Institute (Institute for the Development of Education in the Advanced Sciences). A multi-year veteran of the Galápagos Islands and Ecuador January trip\, Professor Bennington calls the program “the experience of a lifetime for students.”\n\n\nHis research in paleontology involves the quantitative analysis of the fossil record to learn about the evolution of ecological communities over long intervals of time. Other paleontology projects involve studies of marine ecosystems in the Devonian\, Carboniferous\, and Cretaceous periods\, as well as the statistical analysis of fossil footprints.\n\nTeaching activities include courses in physical geology\, historical geology\, dinosaurs\, hydrology\, geomorphology\, paleontology\, and Charles Darwin and evolution. Dr. Bennington also co-directs a study abroad program in the Galápagos Islands and Ecuador. He is a member of the Geological Society of America\, the Paleontological Society\, the Society for Economic Paleontology and Mineralogy\, and he is currently serving on the board of the New York State Council of Professional Geologists. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/monthly-meeting-2016-feb/ LOCATION:SLC Conference Center\, 15 West 39th Street – 3rd Floor\, New York\, NY\, 10018\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Thursday Monthly Meeting END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160216T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160216T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160123T182332Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160216T200630Z UID:29914-1455649200-1455656400@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:February Discussion Night DESCRIPTION:This Month’s Topics: \n1) The impact of Justice Scalia’s death. \n2) The election season: who are the candidates we support and who are the ones we are terrified of? \nHost:  Lee Moore \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/discussion-night-2016-feb/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Tuesday Discussion Night END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160214T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160214T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20160123T154641Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160123T160224Z UID:29912-1455451200-1455462000@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:February Brunch & Speaker DESCRIPTION:Speaker:  Scott Williams\, Ph.D. \nTopic: An Afternoon with Scott Williams \nAssistant Professor of Anthropology – Center for the Study of Human Origins \nActing on a tip from spelunkers two years ago\, scientists in South Africa discovered what the cavers had only dimly glimpsed through a crack in a limestone wall deep in the Rising Star Cave: lots and lots of old bones.The remains covered the earthen floor beyond the narrow opening. This was\, the scientists concluded\, a large\, dark chamber for the dead of a previously unidentified species of the early human lineage — Homo naledi. The species name\, H. naledi\, refers to the cave where the bones lay undisturbed for so long; “naledi” means “star” in the local Sesotho language. \nIn what is being hailed as one of the most significant discoveries of the past 50 years\, a team of research specialists including two NYU anthropologists has discovered a new species of human ancestors known as Homo naledi in Johannesburg\, South Africa. \nThe team\, led by University of Witwatersrand professor Lee Berger\, has been conducting expeditions to expand the knowledge gained from new fossils that contribute to the understanding of human origins. \nThe exploration took place in the Rising Star Cave located at the Cradle of Humankind world heritage site\, where explorers found incredible amounts of fossils in a chamber\, accessible only through a narrow chute 100 yards from the cave’s entrance. \nThe 1\,500 bones\, recovered in late 2013\, were incredibly well-preserved and showed no sign of a catastrophic event\, suggesting that the previously isolated cave had been used as a burial ground for the dead. This theory is particularly notable because it indicates that Homo naledi may have thought about mortality\, a behavior that had been uniquely associated with humans. \n\nFossils excavated from the site included the complete skeletal structures of infants\, children\, adults and geriatrics. These discoveries were rare because anthropologists often uncover incompatible parts of various skeletons\, rather than an entire anatomical structure. \nNYU anthropology assistant professor and research team member Scott Williams identified fossils at the excavation site and led the study of the axial skeleton. Williams said as research continues to occur at the Rising Star Cave\, more discoveries are capable of unveiling secrets that can change our perception of human origin and evolution. \n“The Rising Star chamber has already produced the largest number of remains attributed to a fossil member of our family than any other on the continent of Africa\, and only a small portion of it has been excavated\,” Williams said. \nThe cost of this event is $20 which includes a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch followed by our guest speaker. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/brunch-2016-feb/ LOCATION:The Press Box\, 932 2nd Avenue\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Sunday Brunch and Speaker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160128T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160128T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20151231T035955Z LAST-MODIFIED:20151231T041719Z UID:29489-1454005800-1454014800@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:January Monthly Meeting DESCRIPTION:Speaker:\nMark Oppenheimer\, PhD\nReligion reporter at the New York Times\n\n\n\nTopic:\nAtheism and the Media\nMark Oppenheimer writes the biweekly Beliefs column for The New York Times. He also writes for The New York Times Magazine\, The Nation\, The Forward\, Tablet\, and Mother Jones. He is the author of three books\, including Knocking on Heaven’s Door: American Religion in the Age of Counterculture and Thirteen and a Day: The Bar and Bat Mitzvah Across America. At Yale\, he teaches in the English and Political Science departments as well as at the Divinity School\, and he directs the Yale Journalism Initiative. He is the recipient of the Koret Young Writer on Jewish Themes award and the Hiett Prize in the Humanities. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/monthly-meeting-2016-jan/ LOCATION:SLC Conference Center\, 15 West 39th Street – 3rd Floor\, New York\, NY\, 10018\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Thursday Monthly Meeting END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160120T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160120T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20151228T142320Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160118T163744Z UID:29418-1453316400-1453323600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:January Discussion Night DESCRIPTION:This Month’s Topic: Building a stronger atheist community. \nHost:  Lee Moore \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/discussion-night-2016-jan-12/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Tuesday Discussion Night END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160115T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160115T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20151017T174923Z LAST-MODIFIED:20160101T193635Z UID:27163-1452884400-1452891600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:January Book & Film Club DESCRIPTION:Host:  David Orenstein\, PhD \nMovie: Woody Allen’s Crimes and Misdemeanors \nThe movie starts at 7 p.m. but come early for Happy Hour at 6:30 pm! Discussion will follow. \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/book-club-2016-jan/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Friday Books and Films END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20160110T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160110T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20151231T034821Z LAST-MODIFIED:20151231T035645Z UID:29487-1452427200-1452438000@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:January Brunch & Speaker DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Stephen Bronner\, PhD \nTopic: The Bigot: Why Prejudice Persists \n\nStephen Eric Bronner is a prolific author\, activist\, and one of America’s leading political thinkers. His new book The Bigot: Why Prejudice Persists (see here) presents bigotry as a systematic\, all-encompassing mindset that has a special affinity for right-wing movements. In what will surely prove a seminal study\, Bronner explores its appeal\, the self-image it justifies\, the interests it serves\, and its complex connection with modernity. He reveals how prejudice shapes the conspiratorial and paranoid worldview of the true believer\, the elitist\, and the chauvinist. In the process\, it becomes apparent how the bigot hides behind mainstream conservative labels in order to support policies designed to disadvantage the targets of his contempt. Examining bigotry in its various dimensions—anthropological\, historical\, psychological\, sociological\, and political—Professor Bronner illustrates how the bigot’s intense hatred of “the other” is a direct reaction to social progress\, liberal values\, secularism\, and an increasingly complex and diverse world. A sobering look at the bigot in the twenty-first century\, this volume is essential for making sense of the dangers facing democracy now and in the future. \nStephen Eric Bronner is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University. He is also Director of Global Relations for its Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights and on the Executive Committee of UNESCO Chair for Genocide Prevention. \n\nThe cost of this event is $20 which includes a wonderful all-you-can-eat brunch followed by our guest speaker. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/brunch-2016-jan/ LOCATION:The Press Box\, 932 2nd Avenue\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Sunday Brunch and Speaker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20151231T180000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20160101T003000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20151201T164301Z LAST-MODIFIED:20151201T165124Z UID:28413-1451584800-1451608200@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:NYCA New Year Celebration DESCRIPTION:COME RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NYCA!\nRefreshments and beverages welcomed URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/new-year-2016/ LOCATION:Osgood’s Apartment\, 20 E. 9th Street\, Apt 11V\, New York\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Other END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20151220T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20151220T150000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20151111T210854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20151111T212557Z UID:27722-1450612800-1450623600@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:Winter Solstice Party DESCRIPTION:Join us for our annual Winter Solstice Party! \nThroughout the history of mankind\, the Winter Solstice has been one of the most powerful and important annual events of our natural world. We will carry on the ages-old tradition of celebration with an Indian Buffet lunch\, solstice-themed entertainment\, and an open mic. \nThe $20 prix fixe includes the buffet\, tax\, and tip as well as all the great entertainment hosted by our own Larry Shaw. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/solstice-2015/ LOCATION:Darbar Grill\, 157 East 55th Street\, New York\, NY\, 10022\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Other END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20151215T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20151215T210000 DTSTAMP:20260420T064202 CREATED:20151201T160824Z LAST-MODIFIED:20151201T161213Z UID:28405-1450206000-1450213200@nycatheists.org SUMMARY:December Discussion Night DESCRIPTION:Diverse and Controversial Topics \nHost:  Lee Moore \nThe event is free\, but please purchase food or drink to compensate Stone Creek for the use of their space. URL:https://nycatheists.org/event/discussion-night-2015-dec/ LOCATION:Stone Creek Bar and Lounge\, 140 East 27th St.\, New York\, NY\, 10016\, United States CATEGORIES:ALL,Tuesday Discussion Night END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR