Welcome to Aardvarchaeology and the 68th Skeptics’ Circle blog carnival! For first-time visitors, let me say that this is a blog about whatever runs through the mind of a skeptical research archaeologist based in Stockholm, Sweden. For first-time carnivalers, let me explain that here, skepticism means to not believe anything without good reason, and to reserve judgement in uncertain cases. This carnival is about reason and critical thinking from all around the world. Onward to glory!

• Swiss blogger Christian at Med Journal Watch discusses a study of US preterm birth whose authors draw poorly founded race-related conclusions.

• Singaporean blogger Sieow at Skeptical Personal Development takes a look at a soundbite often attributed to Einstein.
• Australian blogger Theo at Humbug Online has set up a quiz to determine your Paranormal Profile.
• Swedish-Irish blogger Paddy K at the Swedish Extravaganza calls for the liberation of all folks who like to sleep late.
• US blogger Steve at the Socratic Gadfly digs into the claim of Alcoholics Anonymous to cultivating a secular body of thought.
• Californian blogger Karl at the Inoculated Mind discusses the divide between scientific fact and personal opinion in science blogging.
• Californian blogger Greta Christina takes a look at how religion would appear to someone approaching it for the first time, already armed with critical thinking. A self-referential game of Twister!
• US Midwest blogger Bug Girl tells the story of the anti-Liberal, pro-creationist violence that broke out in Kanawha County, West Virginia in 1974 when new English textbooks were adopted there.
• US-based The Bad Idea Blog comments on spiritualist camps covered by CNN.
• Andy at the Quackometer describes Charles Darwin’s attitude to homeopathy. “… without an atom of faith.”
• UK blogger Jon at Holford Watch reports that one of the UK’s most prominent “alternative” nutritionists has been made professor at an accredited university.
• US blogger Ron at Bay of Fundie has masochistically made himself examine the winning essay in the Answers in Genesis Creation Science Essay Contest.
• NZ blogger Robert at Relatively Science reassures us about microwaves.
• Evangelical Realism has a really good blog name. In their contribution, they turn an anti-atheist joke on its head.
• Conspiracy Factory rips into some hiv/aids denialists.
• Finally, my own contribution: a hard look at Mike Shanks, the first archaeologist to make it into Seed Magazine’s lavish dialogue section, the Seed Salon.

The next instalment of the Skeptics’ Circle will come on-line at Unscrewing the Inscrutable on 13 September. Submit good skeptical blog entries (your own or even better somebody else’s) here.