CFI-West Launches Speaker Series With Madcap Holiday Event
The Center for Inquiry -
West, Los Angeles based regional headquarters of the Council
for Secular Humanism and CSICOP, launched its own
Speaker Series on December 1 with a humorous debate between Christmas critic Tom Flynn and
a certain jolly old elf. Santa Claus debated "Anti-Claus" at the LAX Airport
Hilton. The grinchly Anti-Claus wore an almost-black Santa suit (where but in L.A. can you
find one of those?). Playing old St. Nick, CFI Senior Development Officer James Kimberly
was more traditionally costumed, from his bright red suit to the cigar and beer he
clutched as he reeled into the debating hall. "We never promised a fair fight,"
Flynn said afterwards.
CFI-West's program is unique in that events are held not
just in Los Angeles but all over southern California. Flynn had given a more restrained
Anti-Claus talk in suburban Orange County the day before his L.A. debate. At press time,
Flynn and SHB co-editor Tim Madigan were scheduled to expound on secular humanism to a San
Diego audience during January, while skeptics Barry Karr and Joe Nickell speak in Orange
County.
Additional events include a February debate between CFI-West Outreach Director
Eddie Tabash and God; a March discussion of prostitution and sex moderated by Free Inquiry Senior Editor Vern
Bullough; a special April Fools' event that highlights the psychology of deception; an
April 17-20 sweep by Council for Secular Humanism
executive director Matt Cherry, who'll visit each of CFI-West's four scattered
lecture venues; and Skeptical Inquirer
columnist Bob Sheaffer on UFOs in May.
For exact dates and details, contact Fritz Stevens, executive director, Center for
Inquiry - West, 5521 Grosvenor Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90066. Telephone 310-306-2847.
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