1 00:00:22,550 --> 00:00:09,080 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:27,389 --> 00:00:25,499 my pleasure now the the last Speaker of 3 00:00:30,209 --> 00:00:27,399 the day before we sort of adjourn for 4 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:30,219 the the entertainment later at seven 5 00:00:34,399 --> 00:00:32,890 o'clock is mr. Richard Saunders and he's 6 00:00:35,819 --> 00:00:34,409 going to be talking to us about his 7 00:00:37,860 --> 00:00:35,829 experience in the million-dollar 8 00:00:43,250 --> 00:00:37,870 challenge which is a really cool topic 9 00:00:45,509 --> 00:00:43,260 so hello thank you very much everybody 10 00:00:47,430 --> 00:00:45,519 what a pleasure it is to be here in 11 00:00:49,860 --> 00:00:47,440 Brisbane I can't wait for the convention 12 00:00:52,770 --> 00:00:49,870 i love conventions as many of you know I 13 00:00:54,149 --> 00:00:52,780 try to go to as many as I can all over 14 00:00:56,789 --> 00:00:54,159 the world I have a wonderful time I 15 00:00:59,579 --> 00:00:56,799 always meet the best people it's typical 16 00:01:01,140 --> 00:00:59,589 conventions now you might indulge me for 17 00:01:03,090 --> 00:01:01,150 a moment ladies and gentlemen I'm going 18 00:01:06,030 --> 00:01:03,100 to take this opportunity before I talked 19 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:06,040 about the million-dollar challenge to do 20 00:01:10,380 --> 00:01:08,770 a little introduction for my podcast the 21 00:01:16,980 --> 00:01:10,390 skeptic zone with the help of may not 22 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:16,990 everybody so you're going to ham it up 23 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:27,610 for me right I feel like teller I see 24 00:01:35,399 --> 00:01:32,770 all right hello and welcome to the 25 00:01:37,890 --> 00:01:35,409 skeptics are an episode number 365 for 26 00:01:43,620 --> 00:01:37,900 the 18th October live from Brisbane 27 00:01:45,450 --> 00:01:43,630 scampi cam what a crap hard of course 28 00:01:46,980 --> 00:01:45,460 skeptics one and all that guy that was 29 00:01:48,870 --> 00:01:46,990 on before no idea what he was talking 30 00:01:49,649 --> 00:01:48,880 about but I was the only person in the 31 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:49,659 room you didn't know what he was talking 32 00:01:54,260 --> 00:01:51,970 about you people are smart and you love 33 00:01:55,849 --> 00:01:54,270 your Geiger bombs up here 34 00:01:57,230 --> 00:01:55,859 but if you might use a straight that 35 00:01:59,359 --> 00:01:57,240 mean out here in Brisbane for the 36 00:02:01,160 --> 00:01:59,369 skeptic convention folks if you're 37 00:02:02,929 --> 00:02:01,170 coming to convention I trust you all are 38 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:02,939 may not all be on hand to interview 39 00:02:06,969 --> 00:02:04,710 everybody including you if you want to 40 00:02:09,889 --> 00:02:06,979 come up in the South there another mouth 41 00:02:11,390 --> 00:02:09,899 also in the room my dear friends I have 42 00:02:19,550 --> 00:02:11,400 some other people from the skipping town 43 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:19,560 Joe alabaster and she does the segment 44 00:02:23,300 --> 00:02:21,510 evidence please Heidi Robertson at the 45 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:23,310 back of the room I reporter up the hello 46 00:02:30,740 --> 00:02:29,370 Heidi and what a hero she is a minor 47 00:02:32,630 --> 00:02:30,750 heroine a hero whatever you have to say 48 00:02:34,580 --> 00:02:32,640 these days from the Northern Rivers 49 00:02:37,490 --> 00:02:34,590 vaccination supporters group and she 50 00:02:39,650 --> 00:02:37,500 does the the wonderful reports on the 51 00:02:42,350 --> 00:02:39,660 skeptic zone covering many health issues 52 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:42,360 like that the raw skeptic that's what we 53 00:02:46,940 --> 00:02:44,130 call her report because her first report 54 00:02:48,530 --> 00:02:46,950 was about raw milk in fact we also have 55 00:02:50,300 --> 00:02:48,540 the president of Australian skeptics and 56 00:02:56,410 --> 00:02:50,310 a reporter on the skipping zone Iran seg 57 00:03:00,790 --> 00:02:59,020 so I'm delighted that so many people out 58 00:03:02,410 --> 00:03:00,800 here to join from the skeptic zone and 59 00:03:04,870 --> 00:03:02,420 all over the the country all over the 60 00:03:11,010 --> 00:03:04,880 world for this wonderful convention may 61 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:13,390 well that was the other night everybody 62 00:03:17,110 --> 00:03:15,170 and now it's the last day of the 63 00:03:20,050 --> 00:03:17,120 convention it's joe alabaster made out 64 00:03:21,699 --> 00:03:20,060 myself at the skeptics own table having 65 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:21,709 a bit of a breather it's been quite a 66 00:03:27,850 --> 00:03:24,290 convention so far it's been absolutely 67 00:03:29,350 --> 00:03:27,860 fantastic non-stop I've found look it's 68 00:03:30,370 --> 00:03:29,360 been really but I got to talk to Joe 69 00:03:32,410 --> 00:03:30,380 Nickell and that interview will be 70 00:03:34,660 --> 00:03:32,420 coming up in future weeks and we've got 71 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:34,670 to talk to or bad all the big stuff JFK 72 00:03:38,559 --> 00:03:36,410 the partial palm print on the rifle of 73 00:03:41,590 --> 00:03:38,569 course erich von daniken ancient aliens 74 00:03:43,270 --> 00:03:41,600 all the big ones and i noticed you also 75 00:03:45,940 --> 00:03:43,280 interviewing just about everybody here 76 00:03:47,860 --> 00:03:45,950 with the mouth plas Eugenie Scott which 77 00:03:50,229 --> 00:03:47,870 was looking forward to that a great chat 78 00:03:52,690 --> 00:03:50,239 to her with some of her debates and some 79 00:03:54,370 --> 00:03:52,700 of the biggest biggest opponent she's 80 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:54,380 had with creationism and Milt Thompson 81 00:03:58,150 --> 00:03:56,690 as well she gave a very moving talk and 82 00:03:59,620 --> 00:03:58,160 I had a chat to her afterwards she was 83 00:04:01,150 --> 00:03:59,630 very forthright and you'll have to be 84 00:04:02,949 --> 00:04:01,160 doing a lot of editing because we swore 85 00:04:04,870 --> 00:04:02,959 a lot of that Richard I'll look out for 86 00:04:07,810 --> 00:04:04,880 that so that's coming up in future weeks 87 00:04:09,250 --> 00:04:07,820 everybody on this week's show my talk 88 00:04:11,380 --> 00:04:09,260 from skeptic camp the other night about 89 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:11,390 the million-dollar challenge in Las 90 00:04:16,180 --> 00:04:14,090 Vegas plus the announcements of the the 91 00:04:18,250 --> 00:04:16,190 skeptical award including the bent spoon 92 00:04:19,990 --> 00:04:18,260 award that'll be this week's show and in 93 00:04:22,930 --> 00:04:20,000 the future weeks or wealth of interviews 94 00:04:24,909 --> 00:04:22,940 from the convention and I believe your 95 00:04:27,670 --> 00:04:24,919 photographed with the bent spoon award 96 00:04:29,469 --> 00:04:27,680 late last night Joe oh yes there might 97 00:04:31,690 --> 00:04:29,479 have been some skeptical shenanigans 98 00:04:35,469 --> 00:04:31,700 going on rather late after the gala 99 00:04:37,719 --> 00:04:35,479 dinner oh I can't actually say I'll 100 00:04:40,090 --> 00:04:37,729 leave it until the report so you can 101 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:40,100 find out if you don't already know who 102 00:04:44,110 --> 00:04:42,110 won the bent spoon award but it was 103 00:04:46,450 --> 00:04:44,120 somebody who has a bit of a venue in 104 00:04:48,070 --> 00:04:46,460 Sydney and the bent spoon might have 105 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:48,080 been carried to the venue and there may 106 00:04:52,330 --> 00:04:50,570 have been selfies go there you go 107 00:04:55,450 --> 00:04:52,340 skeptical shenanigans all around 108 00:04:57,190 --> 00:04:55,460 Brisbane okay folks so while we continue 109 00:04:58,960 --> 00:04:57,200 to take a breather we might run over 110 00:05:01,120 --> 00:04:58,970 there and grab the last of the the 111 00:05:03,219 --> 00:05:01,130 biggies Oh on offer I think I don't 112 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:03,229 forget the biggies the bananas are the 113 00:05:06,339 --> 00:05:05,330 hot go here if you see the bananas come 114 00:05:09,660 --> 00:05:06,349 out you go for them because they 115 00:05:12,990 --> 00:05:09,670 disappear really quick just coffee 116 00:05:33,290 --> 00:05:13,000 p why we do that we hope you enjoy the 117 00:05:38,250 --> 00:05:36,780 in both situations in a million dollar 118 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:38,260 challenge for the James Randi 119 00:05:44,550 --> 00:05:40,570 Educational Foundation $100,000 counting 120 00:05:47,640 --> 00:05:44,560 here it's the same motivation behind it 121 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:47,650 we're giving people the opportunity who 122 00:05:53,190 --> 00:05:49,930 make claims of a paranormal or pseudo 123 00:05:57,570 --> 00:05:53,200 scientific nature to prove it for us or 124 00:06:00,000 --> 00:05:57,580 to prove it in general it is not there 125 00:06:03,150 --> 00:06:00,010 to make fools of people it's not there 126 00:06:05,820 --> 00:06:03,160 to disprove people's claims a lot of the 127 00:06:08,490 --> 00:06:05,830 media and other people in general think 128 00:06:13,530 --> 00:06:08,500 that's why we have these challenges it's 129 00:06:15,180 --> 00:06:13,540 not and one of my stock standard replies 130 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:15,190 the journalists and people like that is 131 00:06:21,090 --> 00:06:18,730 well of course we'd love for somebody to 132 00:06:22,710 --> 00:06:21,100 come along and win a hundred thousand 133 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:22,720 dollars from us and prove their 134 00:06:25,710 --> 00:06:24,250 paranormal ability prove their 135 00:06:28,770 --> 00:06:25,720 pseudo-scientific ability whatever it 136 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:28,780 may be and I say to them imagine what I 137 00:06:33,510 --> 00:06:31,570 could milk out of that personally being 138 00:06:35,100 --> 00:06:33,520 part of the people who have made an 139 00:06:37,350 --> 00:06:35,110 incredible breakthrough for science I 140 00:06:40,050 --> 00:06:37,360 can run to new idea who love psychics or 141 00:06:42,140 --> 00:06:40,060 whatever it is channel 7 morning TV 142 00:06:45,090 --> 00:06:42,150 shows I could probably name my own price 143 00:06:46,830 --> 00:06:45,100 so when they say oh you wouldn't give 144 00:06:49,260 --> 00:06:46,840 that money away so well yes I would 145 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:49,270 precisely if I was unscrupulous or 146 00:06:53,850 --> 00:06:50,650 whatever the case may be I would get a 147 00:06:57,060 --> 00:06:53,860 lot more money back the notoriety alone 148 00:06:59,400 --> 00:06:57,070 and but but getting back to the boom for 149 00:07:01,770 --> 00:06:59,410 science imagine if we could conclusively 150 00:07:05,370 --> 00:07:01,780 demonstrate somebody had a telepathic 151 00:07:07,290 --> 00:07:05,380 ability it would just be indescribable 152 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:07,300 what that would mean for science around 153 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:09,850 the world so the money is there is a 154 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:13,690 genuine offer for people to come and 155 00:07:18,510 --> 00:07:16,330 show show us their stuff because at the 156 00:07:21,150 --> 00:07:18,520 end of the day we can't say people don't 157 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:21,160 have these amazing abilities we could 158 00:07:25,110 --> 00:07:23,530 doubt it after years of looking for 159 00:07:27,390 --> 00:07:25,120 these abilities and finding nothing we 160 00:07:30,180 --> 00:07:27,400 can sincerely doubt it with good reason 161 00:07:32,010 --> 00:07:30,190 but imagine if somebody did and that's 162 00:07:33,719 --> 00:07:32,020 why when we construct our test here at 163 00:07:36,510 --> 00:07:33,729 australian skeptics and Athiya James 164 00:07:38,969 --> 00:07:36,520 Randi Educational Foundation we do it as 165 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:38,979 fairly and honestly and openly as 166 00:07:44,610 --> 00:07:41,770 possible in the hopes that maybe 167 00:07:45,990 --> 00:07:44,620 somebody can can come up with a good let 168 00:07:48,710 --> 00:07:46,000 me go over some of the ones that I've 169 00:07:51,870 --> 00:07:48,720 been involved with over the recent years 170 00:07:54,960 --> 00:07:51,880 starting a number of years back in Las 171 00:07:58,950 --> 00:07:54,970 Vegas we tested a man by the name of 172 00:08:02,640 --> 00:07:58,960 Andrew needles now mr. needles wrote to 173 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:02,650 me in Australia round about two thousand 174 00:08:08,070 --> 00:08:05,770 and ten or eleven because he had seen 175 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:08,080 and heard on media reports what I had 176 00:08:12,659 --> 00:08:10,570 done a few years earlier with the power 177 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:12,669 balance bands some of you may remember 178 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:14,530 these were the wristbands that gave you 179 00:08:19,490 --> 00:08:16,210 extra power and strength and everything 180 00:08:22,439 --> 00:08:19,500 I was invited to go on today tonight 181 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:22,449 with the Australian distributor we did a 182 00:08:28,409 --> 00:08:25,210 series of tests he failed five out of 183 00:08:30,089 --> 00:08:28,419 five tests the snowball effect of him 184 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:30,099 failing led to it eventually to the 185 00:08:35,190 --> 00:08:33,250 downfall of the company however this man 186 00:08:37,560 --> 00:08:35,200 Andrew needles Ian invented something 187 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:37,570 vaguely similar it had a few little 188 00:08:40,769 --> 00:08:39,130 electronic bits in it but it was a 189 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:40,779 wristband that increased your balance 190 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:42,010 and your strength and everything else 191 00:08:48,090 --> 00:08:46,450 and he wrote to me because if he wanted 192 00:08:51,150 --> 00:08:48,100 to convince anybody he should convince 193 00:08:53,670 --> 00:08:51,160 me the guy who sort of undid the power 194 00:08:56,250 --> 00:08:53,680 balance and I said well this is very 195 00:08:57,720 --> 00:08:56,260 interesting why don't we contact the 196 00:08:59,940 --> 00:08:57,730 James Randi people and we can have a 197 00:09:01,949 --> 00:08:59,950 live demonstration and tested Las Vegas 198 00:09:04,530 --> 00:09:01,959 and Andrew needles jumped at the chance 199 00:09:06,510 --> 00:09:04,540 he thought it was tremendous and here's 200 00:09:08,490 --> 00:09:06,520 a red flag for us I don't red flag is 201 00:09:10,980 --> 00:09:08,500 not maybe the term here's an indication 202 00:09:12,269 --> 00:09:10,990 for us and in fact most of the people if 203 00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:12,279 not all the people i'm going to discuss 204 00:09:19,500 --> 00:09:17,230 I genuine they sincerely believe in 205 00:09:23,310 --> 00:09:19,510 their ability or their product they're 206 00:09:25,890 --> 00:09:23,320 not tricky peopled out to scammers the 207 00:09:26,940 --> 00:09:25,900 guy who in Australia his name eludes me 208 00:09:29,610 --> 00:09:26,950 for the moment hoop with the power 209 00:09:32,250 --> 00:09:29,620 balance now I just can't have his name 210 00:09:34,380 --> 00:09:32,260 when I met him and I've had a lot of 211 00:09:36,420 --> 00:09:34,390 experience for these people it dawned on 212 00:09:38,610 --> 00:09:36,430 me that he really sincerely believed in 213 00:09:39,900 --> 00:09:38,620 the product another indication was he 214 00:09:41,610 --> 00:09:39,910 was willing to come on T 215 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:41,620 me and be tested because as far as he 216 00:09:48,330 --> 00:09:44,110 was concerned the product worked and it 217 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:48,340 would be great on TV his name might come 218 00:09:53,670 --> 00:09:51,010 to be a bit later on this was the case 219 00:09:56,310 --> 00:09:53,680 with Andrew needles so eventually after 220 00:09:58,770 --> 00:09:56,320 lots of correspondence and Andrew needle 221 00:10:00,180 --> 00:09:58,780 sent me an example of his wristband 222 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:00,190 which we looked out here in Australia 223 00:10:04,890 --> 00:10:01,810 and I was corresponding with the people 224 00:10:07,530 --> 00:10:04,900 in America when at last the amazing 225 00:10:09,390 --> 00:10:07,540 meeting came around in Las Vegas andrew 226 00:10:11,910 --> 00:10:09,400 needles was there he came along he 227 00:10:15,150 --> 00:10:11,920 brought examples of his band and we set 228 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:15,160 up a test and we worked with him 229 00:10:19,560 --> 00:10:17,650 extensively as we do with all our people 230 00:10:22,770 --> 00:10:19,570 who come to be tested to make sure that 231 00:10:24,630 --> 00:10:22,780 they were happy was a test it met their 232 00:10:27,210 --> 00:10:24,640 conditions they were satisfied that they 233 00:10:29,010 --> 00:10:27,220 could pass the test no problem happy to 234 00:10:31,350 --> 00:10:29,020 sign another indication these people 235 00:10:33,540 --> 00:10:31,360 really believe in what they're doing and 236 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:33,550 it was a staged test we had 20 237 00:10:41,100 --> 00:10:38,650 volunteers or so and he was randomly we 238 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:41,110 had a couple of boxes one had his real 239 00:10:45,690 --> 00:10:42,970 device in it the wristband one had a 240 00:10:48,540 --> 00:10:45,700 dummy a placebo the boxes were 241 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:48,550 randomized we gave the one of the 242 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:50,770 subjects the box to hold and Andrew 243 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:52,090 needle said all you have to do is hold 244 00:10:56,580 --> 00:10:54,490 the box with his device in it and he did 245 00:10:58,920 --> 00:10:56,590 this series of arm test you've seen the 246 00:11:01,350 --> 00:10:58,930 famous pushing down and testing the st. 247 00:11:02,990 --> 00:11:01,360 from the balance and everything else it 248 00:11:04,950 --> 00:11:03,000 took a long time he did it very 249 00:11:07,980 --> 00:11:04,960 methodically and carefully lots of 250 00:11:10,560 --> 00:11:07,990 randomization and he didn't parts he 251 00:11:13,620 --> 00:11:10,570 didn't pass I'll get to his reaction in 252 00:11:17,040 --> 00:11:13,630 a minute behind the scenes of that test 253 00:11:19,260 --> 00:11:17,050 as I say working with mr. needles this 254 00:11:21,690 --> 00:11:19,270 takes hours and hours and hours none of 255 00:11:23,790 --> 00:11:21,700 these tests are easy you might think 256 00:11:25,230 --> 00:11:23,800 someone comes along with a psychic claim 257 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:25,240 or a paranormal time but we'll just 258 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:27,130 we'll just test them it's not like that 259 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:30,850 you have to pander somewhat to their 260 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:32,650 sensibilities they can easily be 261 00:11:37,050 --> 00:11:34,810 offended you have to assure them it's 262 00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:37,060 it's above board and everything's fine 263 00:11:41,250 --> 00:11:39,910 you have to go over the procedure again 264 00:11:42,870 --> 00:11:41,260 and again and again because it's not 265 00:11:44,490 --> 00:11:42,880 used to getting up onstage and starting 266 00:11:46,470 --> 00:11:44,500 the test and him saying oh no I didn't 267 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:46,480 agree to that so everything had to be 268 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:48,010 methodical this is where the stress 269 00:11:52,780 --> 00:11:51,610 comes in because you get so close and 270 00:11:54,340 --> 00:11:52,790 then they can 271 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:54,350 I think differently about something and 272 00:11:58,630 --> 00:11:56,210 you have to rewrite pages of protocol 273 00:12:02,130 --> 00:11:58,640 and tests and things like that we 274 00:12:04,210 --> 00:12:02,140 finally got there he didn't pass and 275 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:04,220 afterwards he took questions from the 276 00:12:07,870 --> 00:12:05,930 audience and he sort of looked like he 277 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:07,880 took it in his stride but as randy said 278 00:12:12,430 --> 00:12:11,090 to me afterwards when i met Randy in the 279 00:12:16,150 --> 00:12:12,440 hall he gave me a week and he said 280 00:12:19,180 --> 00:12:16,160 Richard he's from central casting it's 281 00:12:26,020 --> 00:12:19,190 not bad really it's a clearfix merchant 282 00:12:28,870 --> 00:12:26,030 look up what he meant by that is Randy 283 00:12:30,370 --> 00:12:28,880 had seen this so many times before over 284 00:12:33,180 --> 00:12:30,380 the years people who genuinely believe 285 00:12:36,250 --> 00:12:33,190 they do the test they're a little bit 286 00:12:38,410 --> 00:12:36,260 nonplussed taken back and he knew what 287 00:12:40,330 --> 00:12:38,420 was coming Randy knew what was coming 288 00:12:42,340 --> 00:12:40,340 within a couple of months Andrew needle 289 00:12:44,710 --> 00:12:42,350 had published on his website of page 290 00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:44,720 says thank you James Randi Educational 291 00:12:50,830 --> 00:12:46,910 Foundation with a big list of how we 292 00:12:52,780 --> 00:12:50,840 cheated him including video stills from 293 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:52,790 the official video showing that his 294 00:12:58,360 --> 00:12:54,890 device actually worked when it didn't 295 00:12:59,890 --> 00:12:58,370 it's it's staggering but Randy expected 296 00:13:02,580 --> 00:12:59,900 this would happen it was no surprise to 297 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:02,590 me so that was mr. Andrew needles 298 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:05,330 another test we had was a guy who was in 299 00:13:12,130 --> 00:13:10,010 Algeria sitting in Algeria his agent was 300 00:13:15,060 --> 00:13:12,140 in Las Vegas and it was a test of remote 301 00:13:17,110 --> 00:13:15,070 viewing so we had a series of our 302 00:13:19,510 --> 00:13:17,120 20objects I think three of which were 303 00:13:22,450 --> 00:13:19,520 chosen at random then hidden in a room 304 00:13:24,550 --> 00:13:22,460 in Las Vegas the room had to be lit 24 305 00:13:27,700 --> 00:13:24,560 hours a day and the objects had to be 306 00:13:29,230 --> 00:13:27,710 arranged very carefully and come the 307 00:13:32,530 --> 00:13:29,240 night of the test there was a phone 308 00:13:34,780 --> 00:13:32,540 hookup to mr. a dune in Algeria in his 309 00:13:37,750 --> 00:13:34,790 agent who called himself was tougher was 310 00:13:40,060 --> 00:13:37,760 on stage calling mr. i doona who had a 311 00:13:43,110 --> 00:13:40,070 list of all the objects 20objects and 312 00:13:46,420 --> 00:13:43,120 had to tell us which 3 were in the room 313 00:13:50,910 --> 00:13:46,430 he chose a completely different tree not 314 00:13:53,860 --> 00:13:50,920 there at all I think later he was 315 00:13:55,540 --> 00:13:53,870 claiming that because we didn't during 316 00:13:58,090 --> 00:13:55,550 the time of Ramadan that's sort of 317 00:14:00,700 --> 00:13:58,100 interfering with this but you know what 318 00:14:03,790 --> 00:14:00,710 well even when we did the test we said 319 00:14:05,710 --> 00:14:03,800 to the audience he expresses concerns 320 00:14:06,660 --> 00:14:05,720 about Ramadan but he's cut quite happy 321 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:06,670 to go forward 322 00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:08,290 this is one of the things that we have 323 00:14:12,570 --> 00:14:10,690 to keep take into consideration he could 324 00:14:13,830 --> 00:14:12,580 be Roman am it could be the phases of 325 00:14:16,830 --> 00:14:13,840 the Moon it could be the shirt i'm 326 00:14:18,690 --> 00:14:16,840 wearing it's it's endless and this is 327 00:14:21,390 --> 00:14:18,700 why these things take so long it can be 328 00:14:22,890 --> 00:14:21,400 incredibly stressful but as far as I 329 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:22,900 know apart from that he didn't really 330 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:26,710 make any more fuss over that the next 331 00:14:30,540 --> 00:14:28,090 test I was involved with was a guy 332 00:14:33,710 --> 00:14:30,550 called mr. Wong who was a Chinese 333 00:14:37,290 --> 00:14:33,720 student living in Boston and he's 334 00:14:39,750 --> 00:14:37,300 claimed his claim was that he could get 335 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:39,760 a volunteer to sit near him he would get 336 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:42,490 his right hand and put it near the hand 337 00:14:47,910 --> 00:14:44,410 of the volunteer and the volunteer would 338 00:14:49,140 --> 00:14:47,920 feel the power feel I e power i don't 339 00:14:52,980 --> 00:14:49,150 think it was quite defined what the 340 00:14:54,870 --> 00:14:52,990 power was this test was the most 341 00:14:57,360 --> 00:14:54,880 stressful for us to set up you think 342 00:15:00,150 --> 00:14:57,370 that would it's eaten right i well how 343 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:00,160 would you test it if i said that if i 344 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:02,170 sat near you and put my arm near yours 345 00:15:08,940 --> 00:15:05,890 you would feel a bit of power it sounds 346 00:15:10,710 --> 00:15:08,950 like an easy thing to test sure when we 347 00:15:12,810 --> 00:15:10,720 came down to the nitty-gritty how to 348 00:15:14,940 --> 00:15:12,820 construct a test and he was there for 349 00:15:17,490 --> 00:15:14,950 four day three or four days with us four 350 00:15:20,250 --> 00:15:17,500 hours going through protocol after 351 00:15:22,580 --> 00:15:20,260 protocol alright well we can we can 352 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:22,590 construct a big barrier between them and 353 00:15:28,020 --> 00:15:25,810 person can stick their arm through yeah 354 00:15:30,540 --> 00:15:28,030 okay now he wasn't happy with that cuz 355 00:15:32,010 --> 00:15:30,550 he said the angle that we decided on the 356 00:15:33,330 --> 00:15:32,020 powered go right through one hand and 357 00:15:35,730 --> 00:15:33,340 into the other and all sorts of things 358 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:35,740 like that can you do it like this the 359 00:15:41,100 --> 00:15:37,570 powers might go this way intersect or 360 00:15:45,060 --> 00:15:41,110 something right we build a big cardboard 361 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:45,070 read contraption on stage we had a 362 00:15:51,810 --> 00:15:47,890 little box protruding which the subject 363 00:15:53,340 --> 00:15:51,820 put their arm like this and mr. Wang was 364 00:15:55,220 --> 00:15:53,350 on the other side he said it would work 365 00:15:59,630 --> 00:15:55,230 through cardboard and he would do this 366 00:16:03,120 --> 00:15:59,640 that's fine then we had the randomized 367 00:16:05,940 --> 00:16:03,130 how would he know if it was a real arm 368 00:16:07,770 --> 00:16:05,950 there or not how would the person sneak 369 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:07,780 up and be careful and sit down quietly 370 00:16:13,020 --> 00:16:10,570 and believe me folks this took days and 371 00:16:15,510 --> 00:16:13,030 days of endless talking to subjects 372 00:16:17,530 --> 00:16:15,520 talking to mr. Wang about his abilities 373 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:17,540 and powers and he had reference 374 00:16:21,430 --> 00:16:19,250 from the New England or the Boston 375 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:21,440 Paranormal Society or something like 376 00:16:26,769 --> 00:16:23,570 this that for bona fide ease and 377 00:16:30,879 --> 00:16:26,779 everything like that so eventually we 378 00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:30,889 got to the test and this was days of 379 00:16:35,079 --> 00:16:33,110 missing lunches and running up and down 380 00:16:36,939 --> 00:16:35,089 corridors and not seeing people because 381 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:36,949 we had to rewrite and rewrite protocols 382 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:39,050 the final thing that he signs and they 383 00:16:43,629 --> 00:16:40,970 all signed the pages long going through 384 00:16:45,879 --> 00:16:43,639 every step because we don't want them to 385 00:16:49,420 --> 00:16:45,889 come back and say ahh I didn't agree to 386 00:16:51,249 --> 00:16:49,430 this point it can take hours three 387 00:16:53,170 --> 00:16:51,259 o'clock in the mornings and the computer 388 00:16:56,199 --> 00:16:53,180 just rewriting test protocols but we had 389 00:16:57,999 --> 00:16:56,209 to get it right bear in mind too that 390 00:17:00,370 --> 00:16:58,009 not only is it a test for a million 391 00:17:03,579 --> 00:17:00,380 dollars or the preliminary test it's a 392 00:17:05,169 --> 00:17:03,589 stage show for ten people they're there 393 00:17:06,730 --> 00:17:05,179 to get a bit of entertainment it's a 394 00:17:08,049 --> 00:17:06,740 very interesting spectacle to see 395 00:17:10,299 --> 00:17:08,059 somebody being tested for their 396 00:17:12,130 --> 00:17:10,309 paranormal ability so that's another 397 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:12,140 consideration we have to have when we're 398 00:17:17,890 --> 00:17:13,970 testing people make it an interesting 399 00:17:21,669 --> 00:17:17,900 show Mr Wong of course simply didn't 400 00:17:24,220 --> 00:17:21,679 pass the criteria which escapes me for 401 00:17:25,539 --> 00:17:24,230 the moment but enough people he didn't 402 00:17:28,059 --> 00:17:25,549 realize enough people were feeling the 403 00:17:30,850 --> 00:17:28,069 power for him to pass again he took it 404 00:17:33,460 --> 00:17:30,860 more or less in his stride but was still 405 00:17:34,899 --> 00:17:33,470 convinced he had the magic power the 406 00:17:36,820 --> 00:17:34,909 last one I was involved with was 407 00:17:39,909 --> 00:17:36,830 probably the least satisfactory we were 408 00:17:42,250 --> 00:17:39,919 testing audio cables and since there was 409 00:17:45,549 --> 00:17:42,260 no representative from the company which 410 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:45,559 was vodka ethernet cables i think the 411 00:17:49,330 --> 00:17:46,730 claim was that if you're usually very 412 00:17:52,390 --> 00:17:49,340 expensive digital cables your music 413 00:17:53,770 --> 00:17:52,400 would hear would would hear better than 414 00:17:56,169 --> 00:17:53,780 cheap cables and that's what we were 415 00:17:58,270 --> 00:17:56,179 trying to test we called it a 416 00:17:59,890 --> 00:17:58,280 demonstration test it wasn't anybody 417 00:18:02,710 --> 00:17:59,900 there from the company who was really 418 00:18:04,450 --> 00:18:02,720 claiming anything and so it was probably 419 00:18:05,860 --> 00:18:04,460 the least satisfactory of all the tests 420 00:18:11,020 --> 00:18:05,870 but again it took many hours to put 421 00:18:13,810 --> 00:18:11,030 together so and and this all these steps 422 00:18:15,220 --> 00:18:13,820 and protocols and correspondence is what 423 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:15,230 we have to go through here australia 424 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:16,850 this thing that's been going around now 425 00:18:21,700 --> 00:18:19,130 a hundred thousand dollars rest assured 426 00:18:24,010 --> 00:18:21,710 if we come to test somebody we are 427 00:18:26,289 --> 00:18:24,020 methodical we are careful and we are 428 00:18:28,930 --> 00:18:26,299 honest and above board with the person 429 00:18:30,120 --> 00:18:28,940 who's come to be tested we don't want to 430 00:18:32,010 --> 00:18:30,130 cheat them what not 431 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:32,020 one second we don't want to have a test 432 00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:34,090 they can't pass if they have the ability 433 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:36,910 we want them to pass the test and we 434 00:18:41,370 --> 00:18:38,170 want them to take the money would be 435 00:18:43,290 --> 00:18:41,380 very happy to do that a lot of people if 436 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:43,300 you look at the little card the little 437 00:18:49,110 --> 00:18:47,050 note the first thing says step number 438 00:18:50,460 --> 00:18:49,120 one if you want to claim the money if 439 00:18:52,860 --> 00:18:50,470 you want to come for the money tell us 440 00:18:54,810 --> 00:18:52,870 concisely what you can do most people 441 00:18:56,130 --> 00:18:54,820 cannot do that they say they have a 442 00:19:00,240 --> 00:18:56,140 paranormal power but they can't 443 00:19:02,580 --> 00:19:00,250 concisely write it down for us so that's 444 00:19:03,750 --> 00:19:02,590 a bit about behind the scenes of the 445 00:19:05,130 --> 00:19:03,760 million dollar challenge in here in 446 00:19:07,860 --> 00:19:05,140 Australia the future of the million 447 00:19:09,810 --> 00:19:07,870 dollar challenge is interesting the 448 00:19:11,700 --> 00:19:09,820 James Randi Educational Foundation have 449 00:19:13,770 --> 00:19:11,710 said that they're no longer accepting 450 00:19:16,410 --> 00:19:13,780 applications because after 50 years of 451 00:19:18,750 --> 00:19:16,420 negative results it's a waste of their 452 00:19:20,550 --> 00:19:18,760 time and money now they just cancer 453 00:19:23,610 --> 00:19:20,560 endless emails and correspondence for 454 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:23,620 this but they reserve the right and me 455 00:19:29,340 --> 00:19:25,930 being on the committee's part of that to 456 00:19:31,260 --> 00:19:29,350 offer the challenge to people or if 457 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:31,270 somebody else passes the test somewhere 458 00:19:35,010 --> 00:19:32,710 else in the world for example the 459 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:35,020 Australian skeptics then the James Randi 460 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:36,490 Educational Foundation would look 461 00:19:42,380 --> 00:19:38,610 seriously at that as a possible 462 00:19:44,630 --> 00:19:42,390 applicant for the million dollars it's 463 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:44,640 wonderful to be part of its 464 00:19:49,430 --> 00:19:46,810 indescribable it's one of the best 465 00:19:52,590 --> 00:19:49,440 things you can do as a skeptic but the 466 00:19:54,260 --> 00:19:52,600 other side of that is the enormous work 467 00:19:56,820 --> 00:19:54,270 and sometimes the stress that 468 00:19:58,650 --> 00:19:56,830 accompanies that anyway folks I look 469 00:20:00,930 --> 00:19:58,660 forward to chatting to lots of you here 470 00:20:03,900 --> 00:20:00,940 at the at the convention this weekend 471 00:20:06,210 --> 00:20:03,910 the lineup if you're not coming to the 472 00:20:08,580 --> 00:20:06,220 convention buy your tickets the lineup 473 00:20:11,670 --> 00:20:08,590 is just stellar and I must specially 474 00:20:13,140 --> 00:20:11,680 make an acknowledgement here dear friend 475 00:20:15,150 --> 00:20:13,150 of mine mr. Joe Nickell at the back of 476 00:20:30,950 --> 00:20:15,160 the room and the inspiration to me Joe 477 00:20:35,670 --> 00:20:33,570 welcome to a week in science from arias 478 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:35,680 bringing you the science you need to 479 00:20:39,690 --> 00:20:37,810 know every time there's a big sporting 480 00:20:41,820 --> 00:20:39,700 competition we stare in wonderment of 481 00:20:43,410 --> 00:20:41,830 the athletes breaking records but is 482 00:20:53,790 --> 00:20:43,420 there actually a limit to how fast 483 00:20:55,800 --> 00:20:53,800 humans can go Usain Bolt's is the 484 00:20:58,050 --> 00:20:55,810 fastest human ever recorded in a race 485 00:21:00,510 --> 00:20:58,060 covering a hundred meters and a little 486 00:21:02,430 --> 00:21:00,520 over nine and a half seconds that gives 487 00:21:05,010 --> 00:21:02,440 him an average speed of around thirty 488 00:21:06,420 --> 00:21:05,020 seven kilometres an hour you may have 489 00:21:08,790 --> 00:21:06,430 thought that we might be reaching a 490 00:21:10,680 --> 00:21:08,800 limit of human speed as our bodies may 491 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:10,690 not be able to take any higher impact 492 00:21:14,940 --> 00:21:12,850 forces through our legs but research 493 00:21:17,070 --> 00:21:14,950 found that hopping on one leg increased 494 00:21:19,170 --> 00:21:17,080 these forces by thirty percent more than 495 00:21:22,410 --> 00:21:19,180 sprinting which goes to show our bodies 496 00:21:24,300 --> 00:21:22,420 can take more instead researchers think 497 00:21:26,610 --> 00:21:24,310 that our speed is limited by how fast 498 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:26,620 our muscles can contract and exert force 499 00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:28,450 during the extremely small amount of 500 00:21:32,790 --> 00:21:30,490 time athlete is on the ground which is 501 00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:32,800 less than one-tenth of a second during 502 00:21:36,690 --> 00:21:34,510 that short time the muscle needs to 503 00:21:38,610 --> 00:21:36,700 exert as much force as it can to propel 504 00:21:40,740 --> 00:21:38,620 someone forward looking at human 505 00:21:43,230 --> 00:21:40,750 physiology they estimate humans might be 506 00:21:45,300 --> 00:21:43,240 capable of running over 60 kilometres an 507 00:21:48,310 --> 00:21:45,310 hour 508 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:48,320 welkin humans really run 25k is now a 509 00:21:52,090 --> 00:21:50,810 faster than current world record well 510 00:21:54,670 --> 00:21:52,100 humans are thoughts that have already 511 00:21:56,500 --> 00:21:54,680 run faster than bulbs fossilized 512 00:21:58,870 --> 00:21:56,510 footprints found in Australia Shan 513 00:22:00,700 --> 00:21:58,880 ancient indigenous man running when they 514 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:00,710 were measured it was calculated he was 515 00:22:05,950 --> 00:22:03,250 running at around 37 kilometres an hour 516 00:22:08,500 --> 00:22:05,960 so what that's the same speed as bolt 517 00:22:11,170 --> 00:22:08,510 but keep in mind this man was probably 518 00:22:13,270 --> 00:22:11,180 running through mud if not water give 519 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:13,280 him modern shoes and a hard surface and 520 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:15,290 it's likely he would have run around 45 521 00:22:19,450 --> 00:22:17,570 k as an hour incredibly in the same 522 00:22:21,820 --> 00:22:19,460 group of footprints was a one-legged man 523 00:22:25,180 --> 00:22:21,830 hopping it over 20 kilometres an hour 524 00:22:30,190 --> 00:22:25,190 try doing that that's fast but not as 525 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:30,200 fast as air for fast facts Usain Bolt's 526 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:31,970 power output during a sprint is around 527 00:22:36,430 --> 00:22:34,730 three and a half horsepower ninety-two 528 00:22:38,950 --> 00:22:36,440 percent of bolts power is used to 529 00:22:41,890 --> 00:22:38,960 overcome aerodynamic drag only eight 530 00:22:43,540 --> 00:22:41,900 percent is responsible for his speed one 531 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:43,550 characteristic of sprinters is short 532 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:45,890 tendons and long toes which are thought 533 00:22:50,290 --> 00:22:47,570 to improve the effect of the calf 534 00:22:52,690 --> 00:22:50,300 muscles and swinging your arms when you 535 00:22:54,790 --> 00:22:52,700 run reduces energy expenditure by up to 536 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:54,800 thirteen percent compared to holding 537 00:22:58,990 --> 00:22:57,170 them still that's it for this week in 538 00:23:01,420 --> 00:22:59,000 science for more information on the 539 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:01,430 limits of human speed go to the RLS 540 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:06,410 website RI aus org a you follow us on 541 00:23:11,380 --> 00:23:09,290 twitter at ra oz and like us on facebook 542 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:11,390 i'm ben lewis I don't catch you next 543 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:34,850 hey svenska skeptical the vet valid 544 00:23:39,380 --> 00:23:37,170 vatan scope for feeding into battle none 545 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:39,390 hanger of the skeptic zone that an ox 0 546 00:23:45,140 --> 00:23:41,730 alpha alpha dog pop science quiz 547 00:23:47,990 --> 00:23:45,150 skeptical Kevin Thomas a queen pave very 548 00:23:50,570 --> 00:23:48,000 pumped for Punta safe at spawning vivoli 549 00:23:53,090 --> 00:23:50,580 luger luke alphania hun tamilanda Top 550 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:53,100 Gun warmly boo installed identity is 551 00:23:59,990 --> 00:23:55,290 non-local training button to start time 552 00:24:02,990 --> 00:24:00,000 12 your pot on a day is new hello all 553 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:03,000 skeptics in Sweden I'm sure you already 554 00:24:07,130 --> 00:24:04,650 know that the Swedish skeptics 555 00:24:09,410 --> 00:24:07,140 Association not only is a big fan of the 556 00:24:11,870 --> 00:24:09,420 skeptic zone but that we also organize 557 00:24:16,030 --> 00:24:11,880 lectures pop science quiz and skeptics 558 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:16,040 in the pub all over the country go to 559 00:24:22,910 --> 00:24:20,250 WWD ofse to see what are seven local 560 00:24:24,620 --> 00:24:22,920 chapters are up to and if you live in a 561 00:24:27,830 --> 00:24:24,630 place where there is no local chapter 562 00:24:42,299 --> 00:24:27,840 why not start on yourself I'm talking to 563 00:24:54,310 --> 00:24:45,850 the dishonor is the of course the bent 564 00:24:57,039 --> 00:24:54,320 spoon award we are here and I would like 565 00:24:58,989 --> 00:24:57,049 to invite Tim mandame editor of the 566 00:25:01,330 --> 00:24:58,999 skeptic magazine and executive officer 567 00:25:08,950 --> 00:25:01,340 Australian skeptics to come and present 568 00:25:12,999 --> 00:25:08,960 that award and I'll show you this is 569 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:13,009 bloody hip oh wait my name is Chaim LOL 570 00:26:04,100 --> 00:25:34,000 okay this is what we call the losers 571 00:26:05,690 --> 00:26:04,110 okay this is heavy this is actually on 572 00:26:09,170 --> 00:26:05,700 top of it is a spoon made out of 573 00:26:11,540 --> 00:26:09,180 Washington oh right to see family and 574 00:26:14,530 --> 00:26:11,550 its really a big by some spoon dinner of 575 00:26:19,250 --> 00:26:14,540 some sort or another night if you hurry 576 00:26:22,340 --> 00:26:19,260 sorry it has been delivered has been 577 00:26:23,900 --> 00:26:22,350 awarded every year since the the IDS be 578 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:23,910 like these early eighties I think you 579 00:26:29,420 --> 00:26:26,610 should buy tea to thank you keep going 580 00:26:31,790 --> 00:26:29,430 round around a father like Clark ran 581 00:26:33,530 --> 00:26:31,800 away maybe I couldn't stop okay some 582 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:33,540 very very notable peoples including the 583 00:26:36,290 --> 00:26:34,890 eye base so you various things but I 584 00:26:37,730 --> 00:26:36,300 won't go through it if you want to have 585 00:26:39,530 --> 00:26:37,740 a look at it tomorrow you're coming home 586 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:39,540 to look at the dog on liquor you to 587 00:26:44,030 --> 00:26:41,610 touch it you like them 588 00:26:46,190 --> 00:26:44,040 anyway basically under the award for 589 00:26:49,910 --> 00:26:46,200 this year we do have some notable 590 00:26:52,820 --> 00:26:49,920 noteworthy dishonorable mentions okay 591 00:26:54,919 --> 00:26:52,830 George Sabinus who is a chief executive 592 00:26:57,530 --> 00:26:54,929 of many babe private swimming one breath 593 00:26:59,900 --> 00:26:57,540 said we need to remove waste from the 594 00:27:02,120 --> 00:26:59,910 country's health budget those services 595 00:27:03,799 --> 00:27:02,130 with no effective medical outcomes and 596 00:27:08,090 --> 00:27:03,809 then he says I can't keep on top of the 597 00:27:10,539 --> 00:27:08,100 earth is there such a small part of our 598 00:27:12,799 --> 00:27:10,549 claims we never had customers like it 599 00:27:16,310 --> 00:27:12,809 anything well maybe there are benefits 600 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:16,320 we can't nail exactly throw out the way 601 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:18,330 to keep that only ography now somebody 602 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:19,770 was mentioned I think several times 603 00:27:26,930 --> 00:27:22,290 today with another dishonorable mention 604 00:27:32,450 --> 00:27:26,940 Mel Gibson I'm sorry I'm sorry hang on 605 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:32,460 here voting with this there was relying 606 00:27:37,039 --> 00:27:35,250 on the voting here anyway those who 607 00:27:39,409 --> 00:27:37,049 don't know the three of you who don't 608 00:27:40,970 --> 00:27:39,419 know promoted the cancer treating died a 609 00:27:43,970 --> 00:27:40,980 little publicity and made a lot of money 610 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:43,980 out of a whole business while suffering 611 00:27:49,909 --> 00:27:46,410 from five different types of cancer to 612 00:27:52,340 --> 00:27:49,919 the flame a machine was able to take 613 00:27:58,100 --> 00:27:52,350 care thank you climb the patient's 614 00:28:00,350 --> 00:27:58,110 weight she was many people to take on 615 00:28:02,150 --> 00:28:00,360 her diet and it was a lie right when she 616 00:28:05,330 --> 00:28:02,160 led hundreds down her fraudulent garden 617 00:28:09,919 --> 00:28:05,340 park a big dis honorable mention goes to 618 00:28:12,110 --> 00:28:09,929 a lot book stephanie messenger simply 619 00:28:14,539 --> 00:28:12,120 mr. didn't win money and as the author 620 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:14,549 of Melanie's marvelous measles one of 621 00:28:18,159 --> 00:28:16,290 the most dangerous children's books that 622 00:28:20,229 --> 00:28:18,169 ever been self-published 623 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:20,239 her efforts to bring anti-vaccination 624 00:28:25,889 --> 00:28:22,369 campaigner Cherie temp and he failed 625 00:28:28,659 --> 00:28:25,899 which is a close win up in outdoors but 626 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:28,669 look at that further ado through a 627 00:28:33,940 --> 00:28:31,369 little bit of the bed spooning 4 2015 is 628 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:33,950 someone who uses his wide influence and 629 00:28:48,450 --> 00:28:37,570 large TV and online audience to promote 630 00:28:53,350 --> 00:28:50,740 long line of what stone age people 631 00:28:57,340 --> 00:28:53,360 actually a to do a boat during the talks 632 00:28:59,890 --> 00:28:57,350 but it's not only for his diet that he 633 00:29:01,780 --> 00:28:59,900 is a worthy winner even though it can 634 00:29:04,510 --> 00:29:01,790 apparently shrink tumors reduce diabetes 635 00:29:07,810 --> 00:29:04,520 cure or drizzle stop asthma and reverse 636 00:29:11,470 --> 00:29:07,820 chronic fatigue there are elements of it 637 00:29:13,570 --> 00:29:11,480 that are probably useful although 638 00:29:17,890 --> 00:29:13,580 episode bone broth for babies of the 639 00:29:21,100 --> 00:29:17,900 livable worry but no it is for his 640 00:29:24,070 --> 00:29:21,110 support of pseudo medicine he stands 641 00:29:25,750 --> 00:29:24,080 against fluoridation and his association 642 00:29:29,380 --> 00:29:25,760 with the rabbit anti-vaccination is 643 00:29:34,330 --> 00:29:29,390 Joseph Mercola the leaven as he calls 644 00:29:36,460 --> 00:29:34,340 him is this man genuine I don't know 645 00:29:38,170 --> 00:29:36,470 check out the disclaimers on his 646 00:29:42,100 --> 00:29:38,180 Facebook page even better half an hour 647 00:29:45,700 --> 00:29:42,110 for real to the winner are the bed spoon 648 00:29:54,950 --> 00:29:45,710 for 2015 because our very own the animal 649 00:30:03,590 --> 00:30:02,029 I can say he couldn't be here today so i 650 00:30:11,330 --> 00:30:03,600 will accept this honor on his behalf 651 00:30:14,510 --> 00:30:11,340 thank you very much the people would 652 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:14,520 walk worthy award which is a job enemy 653 00:30:26,779 --> 00:30:25,399 bouncer reading this why doesn't someone 654 00:30:28,460 --> 00:30:26,789 say thank you to thought I just saw a 655 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:28,470 really excellent invention that's 656 00:30:37,549 --> 00:30:35,250 obviously crepinette was a prominent 657 00:30:41,740 --> 00:30:37,559 member of the Australian skeptics from 658 00:30:44,659 --> 00:30:41,750 Tasmania and sadly French 2009 thanks to 659 00:30:46,340 --> 00:30:44,669 that same IAM skeptical movement created 660 00:30:48,470 --> 00:30:46,350 the fred pornete award for the promotion 661 00:30:50,450 --> 00:30:48,480 of reason affectionately known as the 662 00:30:52,909 --> 00:30:50,460 friend to honor friend significant 663 00:30:54,860 --> 00:30:52,919 contribution to our cause the award 664 00:30:56,510 --> 00:30:54,870 acknowledges a member of the public or 665 00:30:59,029 --> 00:30:56,520 public figure who has made something 666 00:31:00,680 --> 00:30:59,039 happen contribution to educating or 667 00:31:02,649 --> 00:31:00,690 informing the public regarding issues of 668 00:31:04,549 --> 00:31:02,659 science reasoning and critical thinking 669 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:04,559 the friend is composed of a 670 00:31:07,549 --> 00:31:06,450 commemorative certificate and a thousand 671 00:31:09,350 --> 00:31:07,559 dollars which is awarded to the 672 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:09,360 recipient or to a charity or cause of 673 00:31:13,490 --> 00:31:11,730 their choice the fred has been awarded 674 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:13,500 six times since intersect since its 675 00:31:16,639 --> 00:31:15,210 inception and and i'd like to list some 676 00:31:20,419 --> 00:31:16,649 of the previous winners and you 677 00:31:22,370 --> 00:31:20,429 understand why as i go on the 1st fred 678 00:31:24,590 --> 00:31:22,380 was awarded to tony end David McCaffrey 679 00:31:26,389 --> 00:31:24,600 in 2009 in recognition of their efforts 680 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:26,399 to educate the community about the 681 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:28,130 importance of pertussis vaccination 682 00:31:32,289 --> 00:31:30,330 following the death of their baby Dana 683 00:31:34,909 --> 00:31:32,299 at four weeks of age from whooping cough 684 00:31:37,940 --> 00:31:34,919 since then three other babies have died 685 00:31:39,799 --> 00:31:37,950 after contracting pertussis ken MacLeod 686 00:31:41,659 --> 00:31:39,809 Wendy Wilkinson receive you or the 687 00:31:43,399 --> 00:31:41,669 following year due to their efforts to 688 00:31:47,110 --> 00:31:43,409 tackle the aliens egregious behavior 689 00:31:49,970 --> 00:31:47,120 through legal and regulatory channels in 690 00:31:51,860 --> 00:31:49,980 2013 we awarded Sonya Pemberton who 691 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:51,870 sought to tackle community uncertainty 692 00:31:55,220 --> 00:31:54,090 around vaccination and did so to great 693 00:31:58,820 --> 00:31:55,230 effect with the sense 694 00:32:00,289 --> 00:31:58,830 compelling documentary jabbed last year 695 00:32:06,799 --> 00:32:00,299 the award went to the Northern Rivers 696 00:32:08,900 --> 00:32:06,809 AXA nation supporters campaigned 697 00:32:11,270 --> 00:32:08,910 tirelessly to counter this information 698 00:32:13,039 --> 00:32:11,280 within their own community sadly the 699 00:32:16,960 --> 00:32:13,049 National epicenter of anti-vaccination 700 00:32:20,810 --> 00:32:16,970 beliefs and that brings me to this year 701 00:32:23,419 --> 00:32:20,820 on the seventeenth of March at just four 702 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:23,429 weeks old Riley Hughes the second child 703 00:32:27,789 --> 00:32:25,650 in Katherine and Greg died of whooping 704 00:32:30,380 --> 00:32:27,799 cough it fits Princess Margaret Hospital 705 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:30,390 he had contracted the deadly bacteria 706 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:31,650 while he was still too young to be 707 00:32:36,409 --> 00:32:34,650 vaccinated three days after Riley died 708 00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:36,419 the government brought in a new program 709 00:32:40,250 --> 00:32:38,910 offering free pertussis boosters to all 710 00:32:43,909 --> 00:32:40,260 mothers in the third trimester of 711 00:32:45,770 --> 00:32:43,919 pregnancy while they were still deeply 712 00:32:48,140 --> 00:32:45,780 most in the Royal grief of having lost 713 00:32:49,820 --> 00:32:48,150 their child Riley's parents katherine 714 00:32:52,150 --> 00:32:49,830 and greg hughes were forced into a world 715 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:52,160 which no one would choose to enter 716 00:32:56,030 --> 00:32:53,970 recognizing that their loss was one 717 00:32:57,590 --> 00:32:56,040 which could happen to any family they 718 00:32:59,320 --> 00:32:57,600 said about delivering a message to the 719 00:33:01,940 --> 00:32:59,330 community and found in like variety 720 00:33:04,100 --> 00:33:01,950 which now educates the public about the 721 00:33:07,010 --> 00:33:04,110 dangers of pertussis and promotes the 722 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:07,020 importance of vaccinations and for the 723 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:09,530 disease particularly out old boosters 724 00:33:13,909 --> 00:33:11,850 like the McCaffrey's their mission is 725 00:33:15,350 --> 00:33:13,919 quite simply to protect other children 726 00:33:18,470 --> 00:33:15,360 and families from suffering the same 727 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:18,480 tragedy that they experienced Katherine 728 00:33:21,950 --> 00:33:19,890 and Greg along with the group of 729 00:33:25,010 --> 00:33:21,960 dedicated supporters work tirelessly to 730 00:33:26,539 --> 00:33:25,020 deliver this message like variety runs 731 00:33:28,549 --> 00:33:26,549 standard Bailey expose with a 732 00:33:30,799 --> 00:33:28,559 arrangement boosters to be provided on 733 00:33:32,690 --> 00:33:30,809 site they have like Tony indeed 734 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:32,700 McCaffrey been harassed and abused by 735 00:33:36,140 --> 00:33:34,890 anti-vaxxers but in the face of this 736 00:33:38,180 --> 00:33:36,150 they have stood up this vaccine 737 00:33:39,919 --> 00:33:38,190 advocates and provided a valuable source 738 00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:39,929 of counter information to a vulnerable 739 00:33:45,380 --> 00:33:43,530 population now just this Thursday new 740 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:45,390 statistics are published which indicate 741 00:33:47,450 --> 00:33:45,690 that 742 00:33:48,919 --> 00:33:47,460 cases of pertussis have risen more than 743 00:33:52,340 --> 00:33:48,929 three hundred percent new south wales 744 00:33:54,259 --> 00:33:52,350 the highest level in four years we 745 00:33:56,110 --> 00:33:54,269 cannot afford to see the community come 746 00:33:58,700 --> 00:33:56,120 to harm through fear and misinformation 747 00:34:00,440 --> 00:33:58,710 it is when very this very reason that 748 00:34:02,180 --> 00:34:00,450 the fred was created and while in speaks 749 00:34:04,310 --> 00:34:02,190 the warring ongoing influence of 750 00:34:05,869 --> 00:34:04,320 anti-vaccination beliefs that there is 751 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:05,879 such a strong theme and how it has been 752 00:34:10,339 --> 00:34:08,490 awarded we feel that acknowledging the 753 00:34:12,139 --> 00:34:10,349 great work being done to protect our 754 00:34:14,119 --> 00:34:12,149 most vulnerable by those who know better 755 00:34:17,809 --> 00:34:14,129 than any of us the devastating effects 756 00:34:20,149 --> 00:34:17,819 of vaccine-preventable diseases the 2015 757 00:34:31,029 --> 00:34:20,159 fred is awarded to catherine and greg 758 00:34:35,869 --> 00:34:33,859 you very much wants to have Catherine 759 00:34:38,180 --> 00:34:35,879 and Greg here with us today to accept 760 00:34:39,859 --> 00:34:38,190 the award but just today they have been 761 00:34:42,409 --> 00:34:39,869 running a stroll at the baby expo in 762 00:34:44,509 --> 00:34:42,419 Melbourne in lieu of this I'd like to 763 00:34:46,460 --> 00:34:44,519 invite Allison Gaylord of North River 764 00:34:48,319 --> 00:34:46,470 vaccination supporters last year's 765 00:35:01,440 --> 00:34:48,329 recipient of the award to accept it on 766 00:35:07,349 --> 00:35:04,770 we have actually spoken to Katherine and 767 00:35:09,930 --> 00:35:07,359 pregnant so they are where they have one 768 00:35:11,490 --> 00:35:09,940 year award and they are understandably 769 00:35:13,980 --> 00:35:11,500 overwhelmed and I heard that they were 770 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:13,990 six people too and I'm so sorry but i 771 00:35:32,069 --> 00:35:29,050 forgot inviting hi I hate the fact I 772 00:35:36,390 --> 00:35:32,079 know Kath in my case I really wish I 773 00:35:40,140 --> 00:35:36,400 didn't know them but I do because of 774 00:35:44,450 --> 00:35:40,150 what's happened to baby riding and we've 775 00:35:47,720 --> 00:35:44,460 go a strong affiliation with them and we 776 00:35:51,150 --> 00:35:47,730 understand all of the work that they do 777 00:35:54,780 --> 00:35:51,160 the advocacy that they covered 778 00:35:57,420 --> 00:35:54,790 nationally since March is just out of 779 00:36:00,660 --> 00:35:57,430 this world it's blows away so on behalf 780 00:36:02,010 --> 00:36:00,670 of them I know that this is going to a 781 00:36:07,020 --> 00:36:02,020 worthy cause and it will be going 782 00:36:19,990 --> 00:36:07,030 towards whooping cough research and yes 783 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:46,500 that concludes 784 00:36:52,510 --> 00:36:49,359 the skeptic magazine the journal from 785 00:36:54,730 --> 00:36:52,520 Australian skeptics subscribe online to 786 00:37:00,040 --> 00:36:54,740 the world's second oldest skeptical 787 00:37:02,800 --> 00:37:00,050 magazine visit w WC APA mau and click 788 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:02,810 the publication's league you can also 789 00:37:10,090 --> 00:37:06,770 find their over 30 years on back issues 790 00:37:27,769 --> 00:37:10,100 free to download the skeptic magazine 791 00:37:31,890 --> 00:37:29,789 thank you for listening with a skeptic 792 00:37:32,849 --> 00:37:31,900 zone this week a bit of a short episode 793 00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:32,859 I hope you found it interesting 794 00:37:36,769 --> 00:37:34,930 congratulations to the big winners and 795 00:37:39,839 --> 00:37:36,779 losers of the skeptical awards and 796 00:37:43,079 --> 00:37:39,849 Maynard and Joe again a great time to be 797 00:37:44,999 --> 00:37:43,089 at a skeptical convention am and we look 798 00:37:48,359 --> 00:37:45,009 forward in the future weeks to lots of 799 00:37:50,009 --> 00:37:48,369 reports from this convention yes and the 800 00:37:51,509 --> 00:37:50,019 next one and then I'm looking forward to 801 00:37:53,459 --> 00:37:51,519 the next one already this one hasn't 802 00:37:55,140 --> 00:37:53,469 even finished as we're recording yeah 803 00:37:57,689 --> 00:37:55,150 they haven't announced with next one's 804 00:38:01,890 --> 00:37:57,699 gonna be hmm I'm hoping it'll be 805 00:38:03,509 --> 00:38:01,900 laguardia airport I'm hoping Humpty Doo 806 00:38:05,729 --> 00:38:03,519 how do you do that's where we wanted to 807 00:38:07,439 --> 00:38:05,739 be well thanks skipping zone team oh 808 00:38:09,689 --> 00:38:07,449 it's been wonderful to be here at the 809 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:09,699 skeptics own table so many people coming 810 00:38:13,589 --> 00:38:12,130 up and took to chat about the show and 811 00:38:16,949 --> 00:38:13,599 thank you to all those people but for 812 00:38:18,599 --> 00:38:16,959 this week from Brisbane in Queensland in 813 00:38:20,819 --> 00:38:18,609 Australia this is Richard Saunders and 814 00:38:23,719 --> 00:38:20,829 Joe alabaster and we're sweating in our 815 00:38:29,609 --> 00:38:23,729 undies it's humid here what undies 816 00:38:35,700 --> 00:38:31,920 you've been listening to the skeptics 817 00:38:38,609 --> 00:38:35,710 own podcast visit our website at wwc a 818 00:38:42,029 --> 00:38:38,619 petting zoo TV for contacts an archive 819 00:38:44,759 --> 00:38:42,039 of all episodes since 2008 and our 820 00:38:46,670 --> 00:38:44,769 online store please support the skeptic 821 00:38:49,829 --> 00:38:46,680 zone by following us on twitter at 822 00:38:53,460 --> 00:38:49,839 skeptic zone liking us on facebook and 823 00:38:55,620 --> 00:38:53,470 leaving a review on iTunes you can also 824 00:38:58,819 --> 00:38:55,630 show your support by subscribing via 825 00:39:01,589 --> 00:38:58,829 paypal for as little as 99 cents a week 826 00:39:03,180 --> 00:39:01,599 the skeptic zone is an independent 827 00:39:05,640 --> 00:39:03,190 production the views and opinions 828 00:39:07,710 --> 00:39:05,650 expressed on the skeptic zone and not