The Skeptic Zone

0:00:00 A tribute to James "The Amazing" Randi. 1928 - 2020. 0:06:20 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:10:45 Australian Skeptics Inc. Annual Awards 2020 Join President Jessica Singer, E.O. Tim Mendham and Chief Investigator Richard Saunders as they annouce this year's awards, as heard at Skepticon 2020. The Fred Thornett Award for the promotion of reason - The Barry Williams Award for media - The Skeptic of the Year - The Bent Spoon Award. https://www.skeptics.com.au 0:23:20 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Another reading from the pages of 'The Skeptic' from Australian Skeptics Inc. This week Tim looks at Godwin's law (or Godwin's rule of Hitler analogies). https://www.skeptics.com.au 0:45:40 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the Loch Ness Monter. Where oh where are you Nessie?   1937.07.29    The Pingelly-Brookton Leader 1950.11.09    The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 1934.01.02    The Kyogle Exam

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:02 The Raw Skeptic Report. With Heidi Robertson. Interview with Brian Deer, a British investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine and social issues for The Sunday Times. Deer's investigative nonfiction book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, was published in September 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Part #3 - Brain tells us of the impact of Wakefield's work on vaccination rates, the other authors of the original paper and the link to Elle Macpherson. https://briandeer.com 0:16:33 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Weasel Words". These are words for phrases that seem to point in one direction or give a certain impression, but in reality are often meaningless or even misleading. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:24:02 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Another

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:09 The Raw Skeptic Report. With Heidi Robertson. Interview with Brian Deer, a British investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine and social issues for The Sunday Times. Deer's investigative nonfiction book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, was published in September 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Part #2 - Brain tells us of why Wakefield left the Royal Free Hospital, conflicts of interest, buying blood from children, and some of his other investigations. https://briandeer.com 0:22:51 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:31:42 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham Another reading from the pages of 'The Skeptic' from Australian Skeptics Inc. FLAT EARTHERS. In the paranormal world, there have always been some claims and claimants that have been ... how shall we put it ... weird. https://www.skeptics.com.au

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:32 The Raw Skeptic Report. With Heidi Robertson. Interview with Brian Deer, a British investigative reporter, best known for inquiries into the drug industry, medicine and social issues for The Sunday Times. Deer's investigative nonfiction book, The Doctor Who Fooled the World, was published in September 2020 by Johns Hopkins University Press. Part #1 - An overview of the original Wakefild paper, how the children in the study were recruited, the $100 million dollar lawsuit and how the diagnosis of some of the children was changed to suit the end goal. https://briandeer.com 0:26:45 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Poisoning the Well". Also known as smear tactics, this is when you try to discredit your opponent, or an institution, especially in the mind of others, before even entering into a debate or conversation. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are di

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:50 Life is Wild. With Michelle Franklin Ever seen a UFO? Many years ago Michelle and her father did and were quite baffled... for a time. What about the time she saw strange red eyes peering at her from the darkness while camping? What this some sort of stragne apparition or did Michelle find a more logical answer? 0:16:05 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the word "Ouija". What did the spirits say? http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:31:26 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Burden of Proof Fallacy". This is when instead of presenting evidence to support your claim, you insist that the person doubting it, prove your claim to be false. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:39:08 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham What Goes A

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:26 COVID-19 Conspiracy Graffiti Michelle Bijkersma reports on COVID-19 conspiracy theory graffiti in Melbourne. 0:10:42 Protests - COVID-19 Conspiracies Anti-Lockdown protests at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market as police arrest 74 protesters and issue more than $280,000 in fines. https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/police-arrest-74-and-fine-176-after-vic-market-protest-20200912-p55v1z.html 0:17:12 The Book of Tim. With Tim Mendham What Goes Around - Graphology, Writing, Profiling, Testing and Woo. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:25:05 The Secret of the Secret What is the secret of the secret? Find out as we visit 'The Secret of the Secret Convention'. With the voice talents of Abhijit Chanda and András Pintér. 0:31:19 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the term "UFO". What is up there in the skies? http://www.trove.nla.gov.au Als

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:20 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the words "Yowie Hunt". Did anyone ever find the Australian Big Foot? http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:21:08 CFI - We're Not Backing Down from Walmart Snake oil profiteering has emerged as a genuine crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, exemplifying what the Center for Inquiry has been saying for years: Pseudoscientific medicine is dangerous, and those who profit from it must be held accountable. https://centerforinquiry.org 0:25:00 Skeptrack Repoert An overview of the live online Skeptrack from Dragon*Con 2020. http://www.skeptrack.com 0:32:18 A visit to a New, New Age Vet Can Map-you-luncher, Ke-ring Dlistals, Flo-me-lapthy, Skyo-blaptic, Free-tex-lolagy and Snerbal Stoop-alments save Henrietta the cat? With the voice talents of Dr Angie Mattke and Pontus Böckman. 0:38:57 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:43 Here's My Two Cents Worth. With Jennifer Hathorn Jennifer takes us on a decades long journey through the madness that is Dragon*Con. What are some of the highlights involving skepticism? Find out about the time James Randi appeared with Alice Cooper. 0:13:47 LIVE from Skeptrack! We talk to Dr Angie Mattke and Derek Colanduno from the studio floor ar virtual Dragon*Con. What's coming up this year on this live skeptical event? http://www.skeptrack.com 0:21:02 Enter the Dragon (Con) From the pages of 'The Skeptic', Richard Saunders reports on skepticism in the US - Dragon*Con and the Solano Stroll. https://www.skeptics.com.au/the-magazine/ Also Skepticon 2020 https://www.skepticon.org.au Corona Conspiracy - Upload Your Images https://coronaconspiracy.cloud

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:03:50 A Drive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised Australian newspapers on a search for references to the word "clairvoyant". Can we find a little wisdom from the past?   1907, 26 January - Geelong Advertiser 1907, 28 November - Geelong Advertiser 1907, 25 June - The Australian Star 1919, 13 March - Darling Downs Gazette 1928, 12 April - News 1944, 27 May - Mirror http://www.trove.nla.gov.au 0:20:10 Australian Skeptics Newsletter What skeptical news has caught the eye of Tim Mendham this week? http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:28:22 Online Trivia with Susan Gerbic It's not all bad news in the lockdown. Find out how you can join in an online, world-wide trivia game every week. 0:33:33 Peril in the Bermuda Triangle Do you dare take a tour in the mysterious Bermuda Triangle? If you do, expect the unexpected! 0:38:44 More COVID-19 Craziness A round up of stories and reports from the "far side" of COVID-19 conspir

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:04 On the Search for those Elusive Ghosts An interview with Beth Darlington in London, UK. A paranormal investigator who has a very open-minded and fair approach to investigating the claims of the paranormal. https://www.accessparanormal.com 0:18:20 Logical Fallacies with Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Anecdotal Evidence Fallacy". This is when you are swayed into taking up a position or belief based on isolated examples of data, poor data or personal experience, rather than reliable evidence. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:23:41 Typewriter Time Before the mighty space ship Solar Flare charted unknown regions of the galaxy, its original namesake was on a less well-known mission to the moon. With the voice talents of Jennifer Hathorn, Brian Dunning and Ben Radford. 0:30:52 More COVID-19 Foolishness From the

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:18 Life is Wild. With Michelle Franklin Seeds of Distress? Back in July, Michelle saw a little story on facebook. Someone in America claiming to have received a package of seeds from China in the mail. They said they didn't order anything, but this little package labelled as earrings, but containing what looked like lemon seeds just showed up at their house one day in the mail. The story was about how the US department of Agriculture were asking that anyone who receives a package like that contact them to dispose of it safely. 0:14:08 Australian Skeptics Newsletter A round up of news that comes across the desk at Australian Skeptics. https://www.skeptics.com.au 0:20:06 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy". Also known as the "clustering illusion", this when you downplay or ignore information that doesn't support your argument, or point of view, and focus on information tha

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:05:18 Interview with Sue Ieraci Sue is an Australian doctor and emergency specialist with more than three decades' experience in the public hospital system. She is a vocal advocate for improvements in Emergency Medicine, how it is viewed in the hospital framework and patient-centred care. Sue is a member of the Executive of Friends of Science in Medicine and she strongly promotes evidence based medicine. https://www.scienceinmedicine.org.au 0:23:16 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "The Appeal to Consequences". This is when it's concluded that an idea or proposition is true or false because the consequences of it being true or false are desirable or undesirable to the one making the argument. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:28:53 Typewriter Time Green complexion and blue spots on the toes. What can it m

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:51 VAXXED Bus Banned Blue Mountains City Council - Matter of Urgency - That the Council now considers a matter arising in relation to NSW Heath order and Council bookings by VAXXED Bus tour that has been ruled by the Mayor to be a matter of great urgency. https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/documents/2020-07-28-council-meeting-unconfirmed-minutes 0:10:30 Australian Skeptics Newsletter Highlights from the recent newsletter from Australian Skeptics. Find out what's going on around the skeptical world and especially right here in Australia. https://www.skeptics.com.au https://canberraskeptics.org https://www.facebook.com/events/604994790085985/ 0:19:47 Participating in the Predictions Project Ease drop in on the very first meeting of the international prediction project participation partnership program. An interesting look into how to score and mark the homework of so-called psychics and mystics. With Richard Saunders and skeptics from all ove

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:13 Pete Evans, what a Tweet Criticism has been levelled against celebrity chef Pete Evans for a recent tweet in which he seemed to discourage the wearing of face masks. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/pete-evans-suggests-followers-should-stop-wearing-face-masks/news-story/354b3edc7b50bb5b2ef4d763e20f756c 0:10:14 Live Psychic Reading We chat to Susan Gerbic and a host of skeptics with their comments on a live psychic reading. Were we amazed, suprised or disapointed by what the psychic said? WIth Celestia Ward, Pontus Böckman, Kenny Biddle, Leonard Tramiel and Wendy Hughes.   https://youtu.be/7PyZ3pPxKs0 0:20:29 VAXXED Bus - Delivers COVID-19 Conspiracies and Bad Advice Australian Skeptics has issued a warning and call to action to Australian media, medical professionals, and local councils regarding the current anti-vaccination 'revival' tour of rural and regional Australia. https://www.skeptics.com.au/2020/07/1

Dedicated to the memory of Grant Imahara 0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:17 Homeopathy still ineffective in India We chat to a Abhijit Chanda and get an update on the COVID-19 situation in the subcontinent. Patanjali Ayurveda's Corona Kit Scam: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/2020/6/coronakit-or-con-examining-patanjalis-coronavirus-treatment Article on Immunity Boosting: https://www.berationable.com/rationable-blog/can-you-boost-your-immune-system Video on Boosting immunity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r_-kdo98TI Interview with Dr Shantanu Abhyankar the Patanjali fiasco and boosting immunity for COVID-19: https://youtu.be/z_LnZDcEzSo?t=745 0:16:11 Typewriter Time On the hunt for unknown monsters. 0:18:25 The Think Tank The Skeptic Zone reporters join Richard to discuss some issues of the day. This time we look at fake signs on playgrounds, the clothing company fined for false COVID-19 claims and the VAXXED bus on its sad tour. With Mic

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:28 Life is Wild. With Michelle Franklin Water Divining Every time Michelle brings this up and someone offers to hook her up with their neighbour's mate's dad who can divine for her, she tells them about that time, way back before she was even born, when James Randi and Dick Smith and the first few members of the Australian Skeptics offered fifty thousand dollars to anyone who could divine for water for real. And they always seem surprised to hear that no one was able to do it. 0:12:42 Michelle Bijkersma Melbourne and the Mask Over the last couple of weeks Michelle has been impressed that locking down and ring fencing suburbs that are hotspots for Covid 19 has been a really targeted approach that spared everyone else in Melbourne, a city of 5 million people, the burden of lockdown again. - Her mask arrived a day or two before Melbourne went into stage 3 lockdown. How to fit and wear a mask correctly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwXJtN2Yt60 D

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:07 Interview with James Underdown from the CFIIG Can you demonstrate paranormal ability? Are you interested in earning $250,000 dollars? The Center for Inquiry Investigations Group (CFIIG) at the Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles offers a $250,000 prize to anyone who can show, under scientific testing conditions, significant evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power. https://cfiig.org 0:34:31 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at the "Relative Privation Fallacy". This fallacy, also known as "not as bad as", can be seen as a type of red herring or distraction. The fallacy is essentially an argument that a certain issue is not important or does not deserve attention and resources because there are other and more important issues. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:41:50 Typewriter Time A Cook Boo

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:25 Trish & Chips - With Trish Hann Trish tells us about her love of the movie Jurassic Park, but more importantly the importance of having positive and strong role models especially for girls and young women looking for inspiration to lead them into the world of science. 0:12:00 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Personal Incredulity". Also known as "the argument from personal astonishment", this is when someone cannot accept an argument because they don't believe in or don't understand the premise and the points being made. That is to say they think it's false because they cannot see how it can be true. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:18:49 Typewriter Time The concerning matter of a Free Energy Machine. 0:22:00 The Think Tank The Skeptic Zone reporters join Richard to discuss some issues

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:30 Maynard's Spooky Action This week Maynard in conversation with the one and only George Hrab from the Geologic Podcast. A wind ranging interview with the bonus of George singing the theme from the James Bond movie, Moonraker! http://www.geologicpodcast.com 0:24:14 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "non sequitur". The term "non sequitur" comes to us from Latin, and translates as "it does not follow." It is a statement or conclusion that doesn't logically follow from the previous statement or the main point of the argument. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:33:01 Australian Skeptics Newsletter #100 What's making news at Australian Skeptics? Find out with newsletter #100. http://www.skeptics.com.au 0:40:50 The Book of Tim - With Tim Mendham Back to the Past (From the June 2020 issue of 'The Ske

0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:04:37 Prof. Paul Willis on the hunt for Dinosaurs Palaeo Pictures is a new deal in documentary making. Their documentaries are made by the palaeontologists doing the research. They can take the audience into the field, get them in the dirt of the excavations and following all aspects of the research that brings ancient worlds back to life. And, along the way, they provide funding support for the research effort. http://palaeopictures.com/ Video of interview with Prof. Willis https://youtu.be/640zWWa2WzE 0:24:49 Logical Fallacies. With Michelle Bijkersma This week Michelle looks at "Moving the Goal Posts". Also known as "Raising the Bar" and "The Shifting Sands" this is when your opponent does not accept a successful answer to their challenge and insists on you answering more and more questions. A Logical Fallacy is an error we can make in reasoning, but it usually crops up when we are discussing or arguing our point of view. 0:32:54 The C