Category: Speaker

Category to indicate a forum is a single speaker.

Conversational Strategies to Avoid Being Fooled

Carolyn Dougherty

11 a.m., March 16, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we welcome a guest speaker from the Central Valley.

Disinformation is a huge problem in our society. What can we do to help friends who fall for it? We will discuss why using conversational strategies, based on research, may be more effective than debunking alone to help our friends – and ourselves – from being fooled.

Carolyn Dougherty is a retired teacher. She is a volunteer and instructor at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of the Pacific, a member of the planning committee for the SkeptiCal Conference, and the founder and facilitator of Rational Roundtable, a group that promotes science and critical thinking in the Central Valley of California.

03/16/2025 Conversational Strategies to Avoid Being Fooled – Carolyn Dougherty from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person:
On the first and third Sunday of the month, such as March 2nd, you can attend our forum in person with fellow humanists at the Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View, CA 94040. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Find an international number to call: https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6

———-

Subscribe to our events in your Apple Calendar:
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Add this event to your Google calendar: Google Calendar

Like us on Facebook:
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Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-03-16/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/305732153/

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250316/24785a0e-a07c-4c02-8525-9c73b56de2cd/conversational-strategies-to-avoid-being-fooled

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/1898968216703217970

Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508

Are There Constitutional Constraints Against President Trump’s Actions?

Prof. Leland Chan

11 a.m., March 2, 2025

Join us for a combined meeting of the Bay Area Humanists (BAH) and the Humanist Community in Silicon Valley, either in person or online, as Prof. Leland Chan speaks to us in Mountain View.

The second Trump administration hit the ground running with a flurry of Executive Orders, the scope of which raises questions of legality and constitutionality.

  • Can the presidency unilaterally eviscerate USAID activities if the programs had been created and funded by Congress?
  • Doesn’t that violate the principle of separation of powers?
  • Can President Trump unilaterally eliminate birthright citizenship?
  • Can he eliminate all “DEI” programs within the federal government?
  • Can he unilaterally form the Department of Government Efficiency and, if so, what powers could it have?
  • What about Panama, Greenland, and Canada?

In this presentation, Prof. Chan will discuss how the U.S. constitution had been crafted in order to prevent the concentration of power (that the Trump administration is now attempting to wield), and how those constraints can fail.

ABOUT LELAND CHAN
Leland Chan is currently an adjunct professor of law at Golden Gate University. He is a retired General Counsel of the California Bankers Association. He holds a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

03/02/2025 Are There Constitutional Constraints Against President Trump’s Actions? – Leland Chan from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person:
On the first and third Sunday of the month, such as March 2nd, you can attend our forum in person with fellow humanists at the Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View, CA 94040. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation for lunch.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

Find an international number to call: https://zoom.us/u/afYkAuvE6

———-

Subscribe to our events in your Apple Calendar:
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Add this event to your Google calendar:

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-03-02/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/305604963/

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250302/ad045dab-0086-4ef6-af70-eaacd8bf2432/are-there-constitutional-constraints-against-president-trumps-actions

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/1889188715395969041

Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508

Why is the 1954 Seattle Windshield Pitting Epidemic Pertinent to Today?

Susan Gerbic

11 a.m., February 16, 2025

Join us, either in person or online, as Susan Gerbic recounts a textbook case of collective delusion.

Observations of windshield holes, pits, and dings started in Bellingham, Washington, in March 1954, then spread to thousands of windshields in nearby cities.
By April 17, the pitting suddenly stopped.
What can this textbook case of collective delusion tell us about ourselves, and the November-December 2024 United States drone sightings?

About our speaker
Affectionately called the Wikipediatrician, Susan Gerbic is the cofounder of Monterey County Skeptics and a self-proclaimed skeptical junkie. Susan is also founder of the Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia (GSoW) project. She is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and writes for her column, Guerilla Skepticism, often.

02/16/2025 Why is the 1954 Seattle Windshield Pitting Epidemic Pertinent? – Susan Gerbic from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person:
On the first and third Sunday of the month, such as this Sunday, you can attend our forum in person with fellow humanists at the Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View, CA 94040. Lunch will be served after the forum. We request a $10 donation.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

Join the meeting by phone: +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
Find an international phone number to call: here.

Subscribe to our events in your Apple Calendar:
webcal://p162-caldav.icloud.com/published/2/Mjk3Nzk1MTgyMjk3Nzk1MRBa7aU6zKSIJMfDjhqBP8r3muvKK3GLLCRnZoCneHpXv08CyGJAJRVI5yyh-SVWxGJE9xHfdUs72pmiBNlOBpY

Add this event to your Google calendar:

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-02-16/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/306125724/

Click the Share button on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250216/d5ccb506-5bd2-4867-864a-6f444c2b6c7c/why-is-the-1954-seattle-windshield-pitting-epidemic-pertinent-to-today/

Retweet on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/1890280694972379348

Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/hcsv/

Bay Area Skeptics’ first SkeptiCamp

SETI Institute Senior Astronomer Seth Shostak
Oganized by Bay Area Skeptics.

10 a.m.-5 p.m., February 9, 2025

Join us in person or online at the first SkeptiCamp hosted by the Bay Area Skeptics. SkeptiCamp is an informal, in-person, free conference where you can learn about science and skepticism, meet fellow skeptics, and enjoy the company of friends old and new. One of Humanists’ shared values is critical thinking.
Here are the presenters and their topics:

  • Patrick O’Reilly, “False Confessions”
  • Russell Wilcox, “Postmodernism and science education”
  • Susan Gerbic, “Psychics and wildfires”
  • Erica Byrne, Workshop on everyday skepticism
  • Seth Shostak, “Aliens!”
  • Norman Sperling, “The anti-horoscope”
  • Raleigh McLemore, “Skeptical humor”
  • Jay Diamond, “Skepticism and philosophy”

Attend in Person:
The Huddle, Google Visitor Experience, located in Google Gradient Canopy, 2000 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043

Free parking is available at:
Shoreline Amphitheatre Parking Lot C, which is located north of the Google Visitor Experience at 1 Amphitheatre Pkwy (~4 minute walk. Parking is not allowed on concert days, but, as of now, there are no concerts scheduled.)
Alta Garage, which is located at 1001 Alta Ave (~8 minute walk). EV charging is available at Alta Garage.
ADA parking is available at both Lot C and Alta Garage. Additionally, an ADA-accessible drop off zone is located at the western building entrance in front of the Google Store.
Public Transportation: The VTA Route 40 bus operates daily, and stops at Charleston & Huff.
Bicycle Parking: There are bicycle racks located outside of Gradient Canopy for your use. Please bring your own lock to secure your bike.
Rideshare: Using Uber or Lyft, set your location as Gradient Canopy, and you will be dropped off in front of the building, off Joaquin Rd.

Food/Drink
There will be a 45-minute lunch break during SkeptiCamp. There is a restaurant on site for food and drink, but nothing very close in the surrounding neighborhood. The only external food and drink the Huddle allows is water bottles.

If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

See you Sunday at SkeptiCamp. And bring a friend!

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

You can also call any of the following phone numbers and then enter the above Meeting ID and the Passcode in order to join the meeting by phone.
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
You can find international phone numbers to call here.

Subscribe to our events in your Apple Calendar:
webcal://p162-caldav.icloud.com/published/2/Mjk3Nzk1MTgyMjk3Nzk1MRBa7aU6zKSIJMfDjhqBP8r3muvKK3GLLCRnZoCneHpXv08CyGJAJRVI5yyh-SVWxGJE9xHfdUs72pmiBNlOBpY

Add this event to your Google calendar:

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-02-09/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/306017748/

Click the Interested button or share on Patch:
https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250209/9503ddc7-55da-4949-84e1-2d5478a06590/bay-area-skeptics-first-skepticamp

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/1887303861402255580

Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/hcsv/

Political Polarization: Can We Overcome It?

Carl Angotti

11 a.m., January 26, 2025

Join us this Sunday, either in person or online, as we welcome Carl Angotti to speak and lead a discussion.

Few countries face polarization as deep as America’s. Sometimes, conflicts seem insurmountable. We look at societal issues and political polarization, and it’s hard to see a way forward.

Democrats and Republicans used to disagree on policy issues — Disagreements are the normal, helpful tension that drives democracy. Today, each side of this polarity gap fears the other will destroy the nation if they achieve power. Partisanship becomes equated with patriotism, and destroying the other side becomes the ultimate goal. This is how democracies fall apart.

Join us for a lively discussion on how we might bridge the gaps between us and learn to see others as humans responding to experiences they have, not as gullible, stupid, irrational, or even evil.

Speaker Bio
Carl Angotti is the current Treasurer of the Humanist Community. He is a long-time member of the Community and has been active for over 30 years. He has spoken at several Forums in the past. Carl also characterizes himself as a member of the “Radical Middle” and wishes us to learn to break down the present political and personal barriers to the current divided political environment.
Carl consults in High Tech Product Development, and he holds an MBA from San Jose State University, an MSEE from the University of Southern California, and a BSEE from Carnegie-Mellon University.

01/26/2025 Political Polarization: Can We Overcome It? – Carl Angotti from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Attend in Person:
Join fellow Humanists to consider the propositions in Milpitas Library Group Study Room B, 160 N Main St, Milpitas, CA 95035.
Often after our meeting, we find a nearby inexpensive eatery for a luncheon.
If you can join us in person, please email vp@humanists.org to help us make sure we have room for you. If you have symptoms that may be COVID, kindly attend on Zoom.

———-

Also, we will continue to present our forums on Zoom. To join and be able to ask questions and make comments, click here.
No password is needed — our host will admit you from the waiting room. Joining the meeting via the link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer (if it’s not already installed), and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your computer or smartphone, and then enter:
Meeting ID: 816 5389 0712
Passcode: 250634

You can also call any of the following phone numbers and then enter the above Meeting ID and the Passcode in order to join the meeting by phone.
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
You can find international phone numbers to call here.

———-

Subscribe to our events in your Apple Calendar:
webcal://p162-caldav.icloud.com/published/2/Mjk3Nzk1MTgyMjk3Nzk1MRBa7aU6zKSIJMfDjhqBP8r3muvKK3GLLCRnZoCneHpXv08CyGJAJRVI5yyh-SVWxGJE9xHfdUs72pmiBNlOBpY

Add this event to your Google calendar:

Like us on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/humanistcommsv/

Visit the Humanist Community web site:
https://www.humanists.org/blog/2025-01-26/

RSVP on Meetup:
https://www.meetup.com/humanistcommunity/events/305139264/

Retweet our announcement on the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter:
https://x.com/HumanistCommSV/status/1881909846095941903

Watch videos of our past Forums: https://vimeo.com/user2798508

Share our event on Patch: https://patch.com/california/paloalto/calendar/event/20250126/d681fc5b-107e-4039-8847-073bbb23a2ea/political-polarization-can-we-overcome-it