Sep 10

September 16, 2015 – Darwin’s Dilemma

Ancient History, Geology, History, Science Comments Off on September 16, 2015 – Darwin’s Dilemma

 

Join us Wednesday September 16,  2015 at 6:30 PM for “Darwin’s Dilemma” presented by Jim Patterson.

The Cambrian explosion was one of the most spectacular events in the history of life. In a short window of geological time an abundance of new animals – and new animal body designs – arose fully formed without evidence of any evolutionary ancestors.

Charles Darwin viewed this as an inexplicable mystery. He had envisioned the evolution of life through a multitude of small, undirected steps. Yet, the fossil record reveals no such pattern of gradual development. Instead, early in the Cambrian period, compound eyes, articulated limbs, sophisticated sensory organs and skeletons burst into existence seemingly out of nowhere.

Darwin’s Dilemma explores the Cambrian explosion and the scientific controversy that still surrounds it. Where are the missing transitional forms that Darwin’s theory requires? Can any undirected evolutionary process explain the origin of animals?

Filmed on four continents, this fascinating 70-minute documentary examines some of the most important fossil discoveries ever made and with them, a mystery deeper than Darwin ever imagine. For the Cambrian explosion of life was actually an explosion of biological information – assembly instructions in DNA and embryonic blueprints that directed the development of the first complex animals.

Judge for yourself if the actual evidence truly points to evolution as we’re expected to accept as definitive scientific fact….or whether something more may be involved.  Jim will present additional discussion points and we’ll engage in a lively conversation afterwards.

All sincere seekers are welcome.  $10 for pay-as-you-go attendees; No charge for LES pre-pay Members.

 

Click here for location, map and directions

Oct 26

Special Interest Group (SIG) – Wednesday October 29, 2014: COSMOS & Halloween Celebration

Ancient History, Cosmology, Geology, Science, Uncategorized Comments Off on Special Interest Group (SIG) – Wednesday October 29, 2014: COSMOS & Halloween Celebration

Wednesday, October 29, @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

 

NOTE: This group does NOT replace our regularly scheduled 2nd and 4th Wednesday presentation meetings. For more information on SIGs, please check out the SIG link.

This SIG is FREE for all Pre-Paid LES Members! Others are invited to attend for $5 per meeting to help cover the cost of food and drink. All are welcome! (On the menu: Vegetable Soup, Cornbread, Apple Cider and Halloween Treats.) Halloween costumes are optional, but welcome and will certainly add to the fun!!

In our final COSMOS SIG we’ll learn more about the planet Venus. Venus, known as Aphrodite in Greek Mythology, was regarded as the Goddess of Love. Roman mythology also regarded Venus as the Mother of Rome. Venus is sometimes referred to as Earth’s sister.  We know more about Venus than our ancient counterparts and we know that Venus is very different from Earth. In the first episode we’ll learn about some of those differences and how some are attributable to our home planet’s ability breathe. Yes, the Earth does breathe!!

In the second episode we’ll hear about one of the greatest human accomplishments, The Library at Alexandria. Construction began in the 3rd century BC and the Library flourished until 391 AD. So much knowledge that had been carefully gathered over centuries was lost when the Library was destroyed. Some of that knowledge has been rediscovered in the centuries since, but still we  must wonder at what was lost that may never be known again. The final episode includes some new information and  a brief look back at some of the people and topics covered in previous episodes. The series is beautifully and appropriately concluded with Carl Sagan’s “The Pale Blue Dot.”

Because each episode stands on its own with different subject matter, it’s not necessary to see all the episodes to follow the series. But, each episode is packed with information and all episodes are beautifully done and entertaining, so attend all if you can.

Note:  This is the final COSMOS SIG meeting. Hope all of you have enjoyed it!

We’ll have a greeter at the front door till 6:05. After that, late entrants may call the phone number posted on the door for admittance. Hope to see you there!!

For additional information about the COSMOS SIG, please refer to the the August 5th post announcing the SIG.

“The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be…”

“…we are all star stuff…and on a journey to go back to our origin...”  –  Carl Sagan

Click here for our NEW LOCATION (map and directions)

A calendar of upcoming meeting topics can be found here.

Aug 28

Special Interest Group (SIG) – Tuesday September 2, 2014: COSMOS & Camaraderie

Ancient History, Conspiracy, Cosmology, Geology, History, Philosophy, Science Comments Off on Special Interest Group (SIG) – Tuesday September 2, 2014: COSMOS & Camaraderie

Tuesday, September 2nd @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm

NOTE: This group does NOT replace our regularly scheduled 2nd and 4th Wednesday presentation meetings. For more information on SIGs, please check out the SIG link.

This SIG is FREE for all Pre-Paid LES Members! Others are invited to attend for $5 per meeting to help cover the cost of food and drink. All are welcome! (On the menu: Pasta salad with almonds and sun dried tomatoes, bread and butter, and cheesecake!)

In our third COSMOS SIG meeting we’ll learn about a tiny creature who has survived all the previous mass extinctions on Earth, and who outnumber humans a billion to one –  the tardigrades. We’ll also hear about a secret the plants know that science is still trying to understand.  Mastering that secret would totally eliminate the need for any other fuel to power the entire planet! We’ll hear about how the ancient Greek philosophers, Thales and Democritus, helped to change the worldview of  government, God and our place in the universe. We’ll also visit a very strange place deep underground, Super-Kamioka.

In the second episode we’ll learn about a conspiracy “…one of the first times that the authority of science was used  to cloak a threat to public health…”  This conspiracy threatened the well-being of both humans and other living creatures who share our planet. Behind the conspiracy were some unscrupulous and powerful people motivated by something other than the search for truth.  Some truths can be revealed only through years of painstaking research and data collection.  Less scrupulous people sometimes manipulate that data and spin it so that the end result represents something other than the truth.  The conspiracy failed thanks to an unwavering scientist, named Clair Patterson, and those who supported and encouraged his work.  Patterson waged a twenty-year fight against those misinterpretations – and, in this case truth prevailed!  We’re all victors in Patterson’s victory.

Because each episode stands on its own with different subject matter, it’s not necessary to see all the episodes to follow the series. But, each episode is packed with information and all episodes are beautifully done and entertaining, so attend all if you can.

Note:  The final three COSMOS SIG meetings will take place on Wed., October 1; Wed., October 15; and Wed., October 29 from 6:00 – 8:30 PM.

We’ll have a greeter at the front door till 6:05. After that, late entrants may call the phone number posted on the door for admittance. Hope to see you there!!

For additional information about the COSMOS SIG, please refer to the the August 5th post announcing the SIG.

“The cosmos is all that is, or ever was, or ever will be…”

“…we are all star stuff…and on a journey to go back to our origin...”  –  Carl Sagan

Click here for our NEW LOCATION (map and directions)

A calendar of upcoming meeting topics can be found here.