1 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:29,179 --> 00:00:25,640 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 3 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:29,189 episode number 208 on the fourteenth of 4 00:00:35,810 --> 00:00:33,450 October 2012 Richard Saunders here with 5 00:00:39,790 --> 00:00:35,820 you from Sydney Australia let me look 6 00:00:44,330 --> 00:00:39,800 out that window overcast partly sunny 7 00:00:46,729 --> 00:00:44,340 birds chirping whatever that means must 8 00:00:48,889 --> 00:00:46,739 be the omen of something on today's show 9 00:00:52,610 --> 00:00:48,899 well let me kick off with some really 10 00:00:55,549 --> 00:00:52,620 good news some fantastic news Maynard oh 11 00:00:58,490 --> 00:00:55,559 yes our favorite reporter Maynard is off 12 00:01:00,560 --> 00:00:58,500 to the convention in Melbourne the 13 00:01:03,650 --> 00:01:00,570 convention we've been raving about for 14 00:01:06,170 --> 00:01:03,660 the last month or so Australian skeptics 15 00:01:08,179 --> 00:01:06,180 national convention in Melbourne coming 16 00:01:10,310 --> 00:01:08,189 up at the end of november there are 17 00:01:12,140 --> 00:01:10,320 still tickets available if you come 18 00:01:14,090 --> 00:01:12,150 along not only will you meet James Randi 19 00:01:17,359 --> 00:01:14,100 geography rebecca watson loyal and big 20 00:01:19,940 --> 00:01:17,369 list you'll get to meet Maynard and if 21 00:01:22,130 --> 00:01:19,950 you do meet Maynard it was a good chance 22 00:01:26,450 --> 00:01:22,140 he'll interview you I guess that's what 23 00:01:30,020 --> 00:01:26,460 he does may not in Melbourne sounds like 24 00:01:32,870 --> 00:01:30,030 a a beginning of a poem may not in 25 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:32,880 Melbourne want anyway can't wait for the 26 00:01:37,429 --> 00:01:34,530 convention can't wait to be there with 27 00:01:40,039 --> 00:01:37,439 Maynard there's so much fun at the 28 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:40,049 amazing meeting with may not good news 29 00:01:45,950 --> 00:01:42,890 and of course it's thanks to the ongoing 30 00:01:48,649 --> 00:01:45,960 contributions by skeptic zone listeners 31 00:01:50,389 --> 00:01:48,659 that may not can get to Melbourne that's 32 00:01:54,230 --> 00:01:50,399 the only reason I can afford to fly them 33 00:01:55,940 --> 00:01:54,240 down as ever I am most grateful thank 34 00:01:59,480 --> 00:01:55,950 you for those people who chip in only a 35 00:02:01,160 --> 00:01:59,490 dollar a week it really means that I can 36 00:02:02,690 --> 00:02:01,170 do things like fly Maynard down to 37 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:02,700 Melbourne to get lots more interviews 38 00:02:07,940 --> 00:02:05,610 for your listening pleasure and speaking 39 00:02:10,119 --> 00:02:07,950 of main art and listening pleasure on 40 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:10,129 this week's show coming up a bit later 41 00:02:16,250 --> 00:02:13,110 may not back at the ax me 42 00:02:19,010 --> 00:02:16,260 easing meeting in Las Vegas he scored an 43 00:02:21,110 --> 00:02:19,020 interview with michael shermer Michael 44 00:02:24,500 --> 00:02:21,120 show mother very famous Michael Shermer 45 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:24,510 skeptic extraordinaire and then he talks 46 00:02:30,290 --> 00:02:27,690 to our us our correspondent on the east 47 00:02:33,590 --> 00:02:30,300 coast from the Granite State New 48 00:02:35,780 --> 00:02:33,600 Hampshire Travis Roy he catches up with 49 00:02:38,060 --> 00:02:35,790 our reporter travis roy at the amazing 50 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:38,070 meeting and then he talks to one of the 51 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:40,410 people involved in the melbourne 52 00:02:45,230 --> 00:02:42,930 convention itself Don hired from the 53 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:45,240 Victorian skeptics gives his impressions 54 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:48,930 on the United States on Tam on Las Vegas 55 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:51,090 and tells us more about the upcoming 56 00:03:03,920 --> 00:02:56,370 convention but before all that more 57 00:03:07,070 --> 00:03:03,930 birds open the window folks hang on why 58 00:03:08,990 --> 00:03:07,080 not have a bit of sound effects while 59 00:03:12,590 --> 00:03:09,000 I'm doing the introductions let me have 60 00:03:15,490 --> 00:03:12,600 a listen I can hear about four different 61 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:15,500 species of birds out there on a cockatoo 62 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:17,850 maybe there's a flood coming maybe we 63 00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:21,290 shall run to the arc where was I oh yes 64 00:03:27,229 --> 00:03:23,930 now before we get to Maynard's 65 00:03:30,620 --> 00:03:27,239 adventures at tam once more i give a 66 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:30,630 short report about an item that went 67 00:03:36,170 --> 00:03:34,290 online at newscom by a wonderful report 68 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:36,180 at Torrey Shepherd from Adelaide now 69 00:03:39,110 --> 00:03:37,650 Tory Shepherd was the guests of the 70 00:03:41,210 --> 00:03:39,120 Australian skeptics a couple of weeks 71 00:03:43,490 --> 00:03:41,220 ago at our dinner one of our dinner 72 00:03:46,789 --> 00:03:43,500 meetings and we had a bit of a chat and 73 00:03:49,130 --> 00:03:46,799 I put some story ideas her way and one 74 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:49,140 of those has resulted in her writing a 75 00:03:54,530 --> 00:03:52,530 piece about homeopathy because our how 76 00:03:58,400 --> 00:03:54,540 do you wacky friends at homeopathy plus 77 00:04:00,020 --> 00:03:58,410 put out a story about homeopathy for 78 00:04:01,940 --> 00:04:00,030 domestic violence which i think i 79 00:04:04,610 --> 00:04:01,950 mentioned on the show last week well I 80 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:04,620 read the report that came out on this 81 00:04:08,090 --> 00:04:06,090 week's show you'll hear the report that 82 00:04:11,180 --> 00:04:08,100 came out and you'll hear the response 83 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:11,190 from one of the homeopaths it's just 84 00:04:19,460 --> 00:04:17,010 extraordinary i think it's i think i'm 85 00:04:20,840 --> 00:04:19,470 living in knavery at the moment it's 86 00:04:23,719 --> 00:04:20,850 nice to have all these birds flying 87 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:23,729 around just outside the house anyway one 88 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:25,530 last thing before we get stuck into the 89 00:04:27,830 --> 00:04:26,490 show 90 00:04:29,570 --> 00:04:27,840 site has been brought to my attention 91 00:04:33,170 --> 00:04:29,580 which is linked to a book which is 92 00:04:44,629 --> 00:04:33,180 linked to a video on youtube if you 93 00:04:48,050 --> 00:04:44,639 visit WWE do a you k ids AST r 0 l 0 g y 94 00:04:50,900 --> 00:04:48,060 dot com today you kids astrology is a 95 00:04:53,779 --> 00:04:50,910 range of 12 children's books one each 96 00:04:56,029 --> 00:04:53,789 for the 12 signs of the zodiac when we 97 00:04:59,480 --> 00:04:56,039 learn about star signs we can understand 98 00:05:01,700 --> 00:04:59,490 how and why and when we do things we can 99 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:01,710 also discover a lot about ourselves and 100 00:05:06,339 --> 00:05:04,289 our many talents these books were 101 00:05:08,659 --> 00:05:06,349 designed to help encourage children to 102 00:05:12,339 --> 00:05:08,669 understand themselves and other people 103 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:12,349 and to embrace difference oh dear oh 104 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:16,650 dear dear oh dear oh dear oh me worth a 105 00:05:22,909 --> 00:05:19,190 visit mouse over the various cute 106 00:05:25,730 --> 00:05:22,919 astrology signs on the page and you'll 107 00:05:31,969 --> 00:05:25,740 get to see what these little characters 108 00:05:35,510 --> 00:05:31,979 say Leo kids are exciting generous loyal 109 00:05:38,420 --> 00:05:35,520 outgoing and affectionate Gemini kids 110 00:05:41,930 --> 00:05:38,430 are entertaining playful quick thinkers 111 00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:41,940 funny and honest I think you get the 112 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:45,630 idea folks Capricorn kids are sensible 113 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:48,090 practical independent and organized and 114 00:05:53,959 --> 00:05:51,289 wouldn't be visiting this page anyway 115 00:05:55,939 --> 00:05:53,969 why not check it out this is what I do 116 00:05:57,800 --> 00:05:55,949 this is what skeptic should do is look 117 00:06:00,439 --> 00:05:57,810 at these things look at what is out 118 00:06:03,459 --> 00:06:00,449 there if you do go to that page I 119 00:06:06,409 --> 00:06:03,469 strongly encourage you to click the 120 00:06:08,779 --> 00:06:06,419 youtube link and look at the 121 00:06:12,969 --> 00:06:08,789 accompanying video and if you feel so 122 00:06:19,999 --> 00:06:17,800 that's a cockatoo you know what folks 123 00:06:22,370 --> 00:06:20,009 there it is again I think I might go 124 00:06:26,409 --> 00:06:22,380 outside with my camera and see if I can 125 00:06:30,589 --> 00:06:26,419 photograph er a couple of the passing 126 00:06:35,089 --> 00:06:30,599 native wildlife would you passing right 127 00:06:38,450 --> 00:06:35,099 now will I do that with a armed with a 128 00:06:40,460 --> 00:06:38,460 what what what what what with 129 00:06:50,670 --> 00:06:40,470 with a bar of milk chocolate in my hand 130 00:07:08,820 --> 00:07:06,120 a couple of weeks ago Australian 131 00:07:12,090 --> 00:07:08,830 skeptics here in Sydney we're delighted 132 00:07:16,860 --> 00:07:12,100 to play host to Tori Shepard from news 133 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:16,870 com au of journalists working in 134 00:07:22,290 --> 00:07:20,050 Adelaide now Tori flew up and spoke to 135 00:07:24,659 --> 00:07:22,300 our dinner meeting about the media and 136 00:07:26,129 --> 00:07:24,669 skepticism and how the media treat 137 00:07:29,070 --> 00:07:26,139 claims of the paranormal and this sort 138 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:29,080 of thing a great talk and after the tour 139 00:07:32,850 --> 00:07:31,330 group of us were chatting with Tori and 140 00:07:35,279 --> 00:07:32,860 we brought her attention to various 141 00:07:38,460 --> 00:07:35,289 things like the New Age magazines which 142 00:07:42,300 --> 00:07:38,470 I love to read then we brought her 143 00:07:44,879 --> 00:07:42,310 attention to one of the zany and wacky 144 00:07:47,879 --> 00:07:44,889 and outrageous claims made at the 145 00:07:51,469 --> 00:07:47,889 website of homeopathy plus now this 146 00:07:54,830 --> 00:07:51,479 claim related to homeopathy to treat 147 00:07:58,350 --> 00:07:54,840 domestic violence I'll just repeat that 148 00:08:00,420 --> 00:07:58,360 homeopathy to treat domestic violence 149 00:08:03,620 --> 00:08:00,430 you should have seen the look on Tory's 150 00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:03,630 face this led to Tori a few days later 151 00:08:11,129 --> 00:08:07,510 writing the following claims that 152 00:08:14,879 --> 00:08:11,139 homeopathy treats domestic violence must 153 00:08:19,050 --> 00:08:14,889 be stopped experts say bye Tori Shepard 154 00:08:23,730 --> 00:08:19,060 dated the 9th of October 2012 available 155 00:08:25,260 --> 00:08:23,740 at news.com got a you some Australian 156 00:08:27,659 --> 00:08:25,270 homeopaths claimed they can treat 157 00:08:29,969 --> 00:08:27,669 anything from autism to deadly 158 00:08:33,209 --> 00:08:29,979 infections to violence including 159 00:08:36,149 --> 00:08:33,219 domestic violence Sydney clinic 160 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:36,159 homeopathy plus for example promotes the 161 00:08:41,790 --> 00:08:38,650 use of homeopathy for potentially fatal 162 00:08:44,579 --> 00:08:41,800 anaphylactic shock and post childbirth 163 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:44,589 infections and director Fran Sheffield 164 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:47,770 said homeopathy can treat excesses of 165 00:08:54,750 --> 00:08:50,890 human behavior including domestic 166 00:08:57,389 --> 00:08:54,760 violence homeopathy involves deluding 167 00:09:00,449 --> 00:08:57,399 various substances such as plants in 168 00:09:02,519 --> 00:09:00,459 water to such an extent that sometimes 169 00:09:05,009 --> 00:09:02,529 only a minut amount of 170 00:09:07,340 --> 00:09:05,019 the original substances left the 171 00:09:12,030 --> 00:09:07,350 Australian Medical Association says it's 172 00:09:14,369 --> 00:09:12,040 untested unproven the National Medical 173 00:09:17,220 --> 00:09:14,379 Health and Research Council says it 174 00:09:19,949 --> 00:09:17,230 doesn't work and Australian skeptics 175 00:09:24,210 --> 00:09:19,959 president Richard Saunders says it is 176 00:09:26,519 --> 00:09:24,220 closer to witchcraft then to medicine V 177 00:09:29,519 --> 00:09:26,529 homeopathy plus website links to an 178 00:09:32,129 --> 00:09:29,529 article that claims homeopathy is a safe 179 00:09:34,230 --> 00:09:32,139 and effective way to treat victims as 180 00:09:37,139 --> 00:09:34,240 well as culprits of domestic violence 181 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:37,149 and contains a list of remedies for both 182 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:40,569 victims and perpetrators asked whether 183 00:09:45,569 --> 00:09:42,970 she really believed homeopathy could 184 00:09:48,170 --> 00:09:45,579 treat domestic violence miss Sheffield 185 00:09:50,879 --> 00:09:48,180 told News com deny you that 186 00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:50,889 uncontrollable rage and anger were 187 00:09:56,249 --> 00:09:53,110 symptoms of an imbalance that homeopathy 188 00:09:59,309 --> 00:09:56,259 could fix few people realize that 189 00:10:01,650 --> 00:09:59,319 homeopathy can rebalance that mental 190 00:10:04,590 --> 00:10:01,660 emotional area dealing with jealousy 191 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:04,600 frustration anger and inability to 192 00:10:10,619 --> 00:10:07,569 balance their emotions she said we can 193 00:10:13,379 --> 00:10:10,629 treat anxiety homeopathic alee the same 194 00:10:15,569 --> 00:10:13,389 can be true for many emotions miss 195 00:10:18,990 --> 00:10:15,579 sheffield said she had only treated one 196 00:10:22,499 --> 00:10:19,000 man for violence but believed she was 197 00:10:25,309 --> 00:10:22,509 successful ama president dr. Steve 198 00:10:27,990 --> 00:10:25,319 Hambleton said homeopathy was not even 199 00:10:29,850 --> 00:10:28,000 biologically plausible and it was 200 00:10:32,670 --> 00:10:29,860 dangerous to pretend it could work and 201 00:10:35,790 --> 00:10:32,680 called for sanctions against outrageous 202 00:10:37,980 --> 00:10:35,800 claims there is a potentially very 203 00:10:40,590 --> 00:10:37,990 severe problem that victims or 204 00:10:43,650 --> 00:10:40,600 perpetrators are being diverted into a 205 00:10:47,249 --> 00:10:43,660 pathway for which there's no plausible 206 00:10:48,889 --> 00:10:47,259 evidence he said this may stop someone 207 00:10:51,629 --> 00:10:48,899 in a potentially dangerous situation 208 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:51,639 from making a decision that will keep 209 00:10:56,910 --> 00:10:54,370 them safe and keeping them safe should 210 00:10:59,160 --> 00:10:56,920 be the first priority there needs to be 211 00:11:02,460 --> 00:10:59,170 sanctions for people who make outrageous 212 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:02,470 claims without evidence mr. Saunders 213 00:11:08,549 --> 00:11:05,410 said homeopathy was a huge money spinner 214 00:11:10,259 --> 00:11:08,559 and should be cracked down on and called 215 00:11:13,259 --> 00:11:10,269 the claim that they could treat domestic 216 00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:13,269 violence sick if it wasn't so sick it 217 00:11:18,130 --> 00:11:15,710 would be laughable he said 218 00:11:20,710 --> 00:11:18,140 it's a huge money spinner you self sugar 219 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:20,720 and water which substances are deluded 220 00:11:25,960 --> 00:11:23,450 in for thousands of times their cost 221 00:11:28,420 --> 00:11:25,970 price it should be absolutely crackdown 222 00:11:31,300 --> 00:11:28,430 on they've got away with it for so long 223 00:11:32,950 --> 00:11:31,310 because it's got nothing in it so it 224 00:11:35,620 --> 00:11:32,960 can't actually hurt you it's 225 00:11:37,620 --> 00:11:35,630 non-existent but the real harm comes 226 00:11:41,710 --> 00:11:37,630 from people thinking it's going to help 227 00:11:44,470 --> 00:11:41,720 the NHMRC australia's leading health 228 00:11:47,860 --> 00:11:44,480 expertise body has formed a homeopathy 229 00:11:50,380 --> 00:11:47,870 working committee to develop a position 230 00:11:52,780 --> 00:11:50,390 statement on homeopathy a draft 231 00:11:55,210 --> 00:11:52,790 statement found it was unethical to use 232 00:11:58,150 --> 00:11:55,220 homeopathy because it doesn't work and 233 00:12:01,410 --> 00:11:58,160 it could be risky if using it caused 234 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:01,420 someone to delay real effective 235 00:12:08,290 --> 00:12:04,610 treatment now the only comment I'd make 236 00:12:10,510 --> 00:12:08,300 at this stage is where the article says 237 00:12:13,450 --> 00:12:10,520 homeopathy involves deluding various 238 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:13,460 substances such as plants in water to 239 00:12:18,220 --> 00:12:15,770 such an extent that sometimes only a 240 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:18,230 minut amount of the original substance 241 00:12:27,180 --> 00:12:23,090 is left that really should say that none 242 00:12:32,140 --> 00:12:27,190 of the original substance is left none 243 00:12:36,490 --> 00:12:32,150 not even a molecule nothing needless to 244 00:12:40,030 --> 00:12:36,500 say this report has caused many comments 245 00:12:42,460 --> 00:12:40,040 to be posted on the website and too many 246 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:42,470 to go through of course but I thought I 247 00:12:51,580 --> 00:12:45,770 would read one from a supporter of 248 00:12:57,100 --> 00:12:51,590 homeopathy it's almost in a strange sort 249 00:13:00,880 --> 00:12:57,110 of perverted way poetic Daniella from 250 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:00,890 South Australia posted homeopathy is 251 00:13:06,940 --> 00:13:03,530 still around because it has proven 252 00:13:08,980 --> 00:13:06,950 effectiveness for hundreds of years the 253 00:13:10,570 --> 00:13:08,990 medical and scientific world and just 254 00:13:12,820 --> 00:13:10,580 afraid of something they don't 255 00:13:15,370 --> 00:13:12,830 understand not everything can be 256 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:15,380 explained with science the medicines 257 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:18,770 work on an energetic level to balance 258 00:13:24,340 --> 00:13:20,930 the body and return us to a level of 259 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:24,350 homeostasis humans are energetic beings 260 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:27,050 which is why energy medicines such as 261 00:13:32,170 --> 00:13:29,690 homeopathy are so valuable 262 00:13:34,930 --> 00:13:32,180 and effective there are hundreds of 263 00:13:36,940 --> 00:13:34,940 double blind placebo crossover trials 264 00:13:39,220 --> 00:13:36,950 that have proven the benefits of 265 00:13:41,410 --> 00:13:39,230 homeopathy but the medical world 266 00:13:43,450 --> 00:13:41,420 continues to overlook the evidence 267 00:13:46,330 --> 00:13:43,460 because they cannot explain it 268 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:46,340 scientifically and I completely agree 269 00:13:52,330 --> 00:13:49,970 with Coney doctors are scared to lose 270 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:52,340 money if they reveal the truth about 271 00:13:58,630 --> 00:13:55,490 homeopathy I know I would much rather 272 00:14:02,050 --> 00:13:58,640 use a homeopathic medicine which costs 273 00:14:04,570 --> 00:14:02,060 ten to fifteen dollars and works subtly 274 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:04,580 to correct the cause of my illness then 275 00:14:09,580 --> 00:14:07,130 a pharmaceutical drug costing fifty 276 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:09,590 dollars plus which will only suppress my 277 00:14:15,190 --> 00:14:12,110 symptoms and probably have a range of 278 00:14:18,580 --> 00:14:15,200 horrible side effects please don't take 279 00:14:21,130 --> 00:14:18,590 the word of your doctor as gospel just 280 00:14:23,590 --> 00:14:21,140 because he is wearing a white coat do 281 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:23,600 your own research and make an informed 282 00:14:29,410 --> 00:14:27,410 decision so congratulations Tory 283 00:14:34,420 --> 00:14:29,420 Shepherd a wonderful article that has 284 00:14:36,970 --> 00:14:34,430 caused a lot of reaction and I don't 285 00:14:52,699 --> 00:14:36,980 think the homeopathic community is happy 286 00:14:58,050 --> 00:14:55,769 this is desiree shell hosted skeptically 287 00:15:00,360 --> 00:14:58,060 speaking check out our website it's 288 00:15:04,259 --> 00:15:00,370 chemically speaking calm and listen to 289 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:04,269 us live on CJ sr 88.5 FM in Edmonton 290 00:15:16,410 --> 00:15:08,050 Alberta Canada I now return you to the 291 00:15:21,110 --> 00:15:16,420 skeptic zone he is my not spooky action 292 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:23,070 look at sitting at the end of the 293 00:15:26,580 --> 00:15:24,610 skeptic traveler course is Michael 294 00:15:27,870 --> 00:15:26,590 Shermer hello hi how you doing have you 295 00:15:30,420 --> 00:15:27,880 recovered from your visit to Australia 296 00:15:32,130 --> 00:15:30,430 yet oh I love that I want to go back now 297 00:15:34,140 --> 00:15:32,140 what was your strategy for handling such 298 00:15:35,430 --> 00:15:34,150 a long time on a plane because you know 299 00:15:36,570 --> 00:15:35,440 you got a brain the thinks and 300 00:15:38,310 --> 00:15:36,580 everything could go a bit naughty just 301 00:15:41,010 --> 00:15:38,320 sitting in the chair first well i can 302 00:15:43,830 --> 00:15:41,020 write anywhere i'm a writer so I have my 303 00:15:45,810 --> 00:15:43,840 laptop and i can write right there yeah 304 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:45,820 either my scientific american column or 305 00:15:50,460 --> 00:15:48,130 i can edit articles for skeptic or you 306 00:15:52,050 --> 00:15:50,470 know write a blog or you know work on a 307 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:52,060 chapter on my next book because I'm 308 00:15:55,170 --> 00:15:53,770 always writing a next book that's no 309 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:55,180 problem and you're always writing as 310 00:15:57,660 --> 00:15:56,410 well you're always going for a bike ride 311 00:15:59,040 --> 00:15:57,670 no matter where you are even in 312 00:16:02,040 --> 00:15:59,050 Australia you couldn't resist taking on 313 00:16:04,020 --> 00:16:02,050 the traffic I rented bikes in Australia 314 00:16:05,460 --> 00:16:04,030 and yeah I had to kind of pay attention 315 00:16:06,810 --> 00:16:05,470 because you know everything's a little 316 00:16:08,490 --> 00:16:06,820 bit different in another country but it 317 00:16:09,990 --> 00:16:08,500 was no problem of course here with Tam 318 00:16:11,310 --> 00:16:10,000 it's a great grassroots meeting I've 319 00:16:12,630 --> 00:16:11,320 seen lots of people from the movement 320 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:12,640 come up and have a chat to you what's 321 00:16:15,710 --> 00:16:13,930 whether they will usually ask you what's 322 00:16:20,130 --> 00:16:15,720 the funds talking about this time around 323 00:16:22,860 --> 00:16:20,140 well this time there's been a lot on 324 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:22,870 alternative medicine conspiracy theories 325 00:16:27,450 --> 00:16:25,450 you know those are popular climate 326 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:27,460 denial is a huge one these days so we 327 00:16:32,190 --> 00:16:29,650 just our cover story that we're handing 328 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:32,200 out here at tam is on you know the best 329 00:16:36,780 --> 00:16:33,970 climate denier arguments and the best 330 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:36,790 rebuttals of them mmm other any new 331 00:16:40,190 --> 00:16:38,650 conspiracy theories coming up just on 332 00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:40,200 the horizon you've seen coming alone 333 00:16:45,870 --> 00:16:43,510 well you know there's the 911 truthers 334 00:16:47,670 --> 00:16:45,880 don't seem to go away the ante vaxors 335 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:47,680 has been big you know they think it's a 336 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:50,290 conspiracy of big pharma and the 337 00:16:53,580 --> 00:16:52,090 government so do you think it's not so 338 00:16:57,180 --> 00:16:53,590 much a suspicion of science but this 339 00:16:59,550 --> 00:16:57,190 suspicion of capitalism yes that's right 340 00:17:01,110 --> 00:16:59,560 although we were just up at Freedom Fest 341 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:01,120 the other day the big libertarian 342 00:17:06,120 --> 00:17:02,410 conference here at Vegas at the same 343 00:17:08,580 --> 00:17:06,130 weekend and they're very supportive of 344 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:08,590 anti vax stuff and they don't trust 345 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:11,290 corporations in this sense so it's not 346 00:17:15,420 --> 00:17:12,970 just to anticavity vynn the pro 347 00:17:18,060 --> 00:17:15,430 capitalists are a conspiratorial in that 348 00:17:20,850 --> 00:17:18,070 way in the sense that when corporations 349 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:20,860 are in bed with a government that's when 350 00:17:25,620 --> 00:17:24,250 it's complicated and politically I see 351 00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:25,630 in the skeptical movement sometimes that 352 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:27,910 libertarianism seems to have a bit of an 353 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:29,650 edge in there but it's politics 354 00:17:32,550 --> 00:17:31,090 something you guys don't talk about too 355 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:32,560 much because of that because some people 356 00:17:34,940 --> 00:17:33,090 yeah 357 00:17:36,950 --> 00:17:34,950 nism Oh doesn't get spot of skepticism 358 00:17:38,539 --> 00:17:36,960 well we're politically neutral in that 359 00:17:39,890 --> 00:17:38,549 sense we're not trying to do dicate 360 00:17:42,019 --> 00:17:39,900 whether the left or the right or 361 00:17:43,940 --> 00:17:42,029 Republicans or Democrats whatever we 362 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:43,950 stay out of that fight other people do 363 00:17:49,730 --> 00:17:47,250 that so but but we do deal with it when 364 00:17:53,090 --> 00:17:49,740 it comes to things like teaching science 365 00:17:54,529 --> 00:17:53,100 science education to what extent are the 366 00:17:59,269 --> 00:17:54,539 creationists and the climate deniers 367 00:18:01,370 --> 00:17:59,279 trying to alter curriculum to fit their 368 00:18:03,710 --> 00:18:01,380 political agenda in that case we come 369 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:03,720 down on the side of the data and science 370 00:18:08,450 --> 00:18:06,210 and how do you repeatedly go up against 371 00:18:09,620 --> 00:18:08,460 woo because it's a sign moon you've been 372 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:09,630 doing it for years how do you 373 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:11,610 continually keep fresh trying to find it 374 00:18:16,340 --> 00:18:14,370 oh well this is our job this is I'm a 375 00:18:19,340 --> 00:18:16,350 little time isn't it yes well but you 376 00:18:22,190 --> 00:18:19,350 know everybody needs a hobby you know 377 00:18:24,169 --> 00:18:22,200 it's just it's just that this is our job 378 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:24,179 to keep doing this you know actors have 379 00:18:29,029 --> 00:18:26,490 to do the same play every night magician 380 00:18:30,860 --> 00:18:29,039 to do the same acts every day so this is 381 00:18:32,180 --> 00:18:30,870 this is just what we do and what's been 382 00:18:34,370 --> 00:18:32,190 the most inspiring thing at ten this 383 00:18:37,549 --> 00:18:34,380 year we've seen a speech or workshop 384 00:18:41,690 --> 00:18:37,559 that you've enjoyed oh I I really I 385 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:41,700 liked Jamie and Swiss is inspirational 386 00:18:45,710 --> 00:18:43,890 talk and my favorite line from that is 387 00:18:49,570 --> 00:18:45,720 don't come into my tent and move my tent 388 00:18:51,889 --> 00:18:49,580 yes that was that was very good and 389 00:18:53,269 --> 00:18:51,899 Eugenie Scott stock updating on 390 00:18:55,340 --> 00:18:53,279 creations I always like to know what's 391 00:18:57,350 --> 00:18:55,350 the latest on that yeah it's all good 392 00:18:58,789 --> 00:18:57,360 all the talks have been good I think and 393 00:18:59,990 --> 00:18:58,799 when it comes to solid science what's 394 00:19:03,500 --> 00:19:00,000 the most exciting thing that's come up 395 00:19:06,649 --> 00:19:03,510 in recent times to you well of course 396 00:19:08,299 --> 00:19:06,659 the Higgs boson I guess is big I always 397 00:19:10,430 --> 00:19:08,309 like to follow the cosmology stuff but 398 00:19:12,139 --> 00:19:10,440 I'm a social scientist so like Steve 399 00:19:14,570 --> 00:19:12,149 bankers latest book that inspired me to 400 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:14,580 push into that area of myself for my 401 00:19:19,220 --> 00:19:16,110 next book better angels of our nature 402 00:19:22,190 --> 00:19:19,230 steeds book on how things are getting 403 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:22,200 better and and I think skeptics atheists 404 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:23,730 humanists and so on should be optimistic 405 00:19:30,110 --> 00:19:25,710 about the future because we are actually 406 00:19:31,789 --> 00:19:30,120 having an effect that the the values 407 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:31,799 that we believe in you know classical 408 00:19:38,419 --> 00:19:34,850 liberalism and the enlightenment values 409 00:19:40,039 --> 00:19:38,429 of humanism these are the things that 410 00:19:41,659 --> 00:19:40,049 are really changing the world and so we 411 00:19:42,950 --> 00:19:41,669 should we should celebrate those and 412 00:19:44,630 --> 00:19:42,960 what's the quick message to get across 413 00:19:45,910 --> 00:19:44,640 to media when you do that because you've 414 00:19:47,740 --> 00:19:45,920 been on all the media outlet 415 00:19:49,210 --> 00:19:47,750 she gets a certain amount of time have 416 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:49,220 you discipline yourself to push the 417 00:19:52,210 --> 00:19:50,330 message really quickly because you get 418 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:52,220 no more than like 20 seconds ago do yet 419 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:53,570 yeah that's right so you know we just 420 00:19:56,170 --> 00:19:54,530 right to get the message that we're 421 00:19:58,690 --> 00:19:56,180 teaching people how to think not what to 422 00:20:00,760 --> 00:19:58,700 think that we live in an age of science 423 00:20:02,710 --> 00:20:00,770 science should be the you know the 424 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:02,720 definitive test about whether something 425 00:20:06,010 --> 00:20:04,610 is true or not because what we know from 426 00:20:07,660 --> 00:20:06,020 neuroscience is that you can't trust 427 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:07,670 your brain you know that we all have 428 00:20:12,130 --> 00:20:10,250 these cognitive biases that lead us to 429 00:20:15,070 --> 00:20:12,140 believe what it is we already want to be 430 00:20:16,870 --> 00:20:15,080 true and this happens to be the case for 431 00:20:19,090 --> 00:20:16,880 everybody so we just try to get through 432 00:20:21,220 --> 00:20:19,100 the message that critical thinking you 433 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:21,230 know reason logic and pairs as an 434 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:23,690 experiment open inquiry in other words 435 00:20:27,490 --> 00:20:26,330 science skepticism to science now have 436 00:20:29,710 --> 00:20:27,500 you actually been on the receiving end 437 00:20:31,120 --> 00:20:29,720 at Fox News or CNN or something in a 438 00:20:32,110 --> 00:20:31,130 debate where you've had the earpiece in 439 00:20:34,120 --> 00:20:32,120 your ear and you've been on the remote 440 00:20:35,410 --> 00:20:34,130 camera you've had to have a fiery person 441 00:20:38,470 --> 00:20:35,420 on the other end if you had to do that a 442 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:38,480 lot media all the time yeah and how do 443 00:20:41,140 --> 00:20:39,650 you feel in love it when you'd possibly 444 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:41,150 haven't quite but your argument across 445 00:20:46,810 --> 00:20:43,610 all that cut you off or something well I 446 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:46,820 think skin yeah I've done it so much 447 00:20:51,460 --> 00:20:48,890 it's not a problem it does it help to 448 00:20:54,100 --> 00:20:51,470 yell in that soul situation now okay it 449 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:54,110 doesn't help to hell okay Penn Jillette 450 00:20:56,770 --> 00:20:55,250 seems to think a little bit the opposite 451 00:20:59,710 --> 00:20:56,780 it's okay to lose your cool okay well 452 00:21:02,260 --> 00:20:59,720 you can be assertive and in a strategic 453 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:02,270 way now lose your temper I think what 454 00:21:06,670 --> 00:21:04,330 he's talking about is strategically 455 00:21:09,340 --> 00:21:06,680 raising your voice and saying something 456 00:21:11,230 --> 00:21:09,350 with more emphasis as a way to make a 457 00:21:12,820 --> 00:21:11,240 point where I can see lots of people 458 00:21:13,870 --> 00:21:12,830 lined up to meet you here Michael thank 459 00:21:15,310 --> 00:21:13,880 you for your time if there's somewhere 460 00:21:16,540 --> 00:21:15,320 we could go there's one website that 461 00:21:17,830 --> 00:21:16,550 you've discovered recently that you 462 00:21:19,810 --> 00:21:17,840 think is a really interesting science 463 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:19,820 website you could recommend forests go 464 00:21:24,190 --> 00:21:21,890 to skeptic calm and our own skepticism 465 00:21:25,540 --> 00:21:24,200 101 is our new program well and what's 466 00:21:28,780 --> 00:21:25,550 the next book you working on it is still 467 00:21:31,060 --> 00:21:28,790 secret well it's not secret I talker was 468 00:21:33,010 --> 00:21:31,070 based on that the moral arc of science 469 00:21:35,890 --> 00:21:33,020 that is the arc of the moral universe is 470 00:21:37,630 --> 00:21:35,900 bending toward justice thanks to science 471 00:21:39,610 --> 00:21:37,640 reason logic appearances and the 472 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:39,620 enlightenment values but well I'll stop 473 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:40,850 watching let's lighten on television 474 00:21:43,420 --> 00:21:42,170 because that I would think the opposite 475 00:21:44,820 --> 00:21:43,430 if I was doing that yeah you have to 476 00:21:50,010 --> 00:21:44,830 don't focus on the negative too much 477 00:21:54,970 --> 00:21:52,390 no hanging them we've got someone having 478 00:21:56,530 --> 00:21:54,980 a go at the musk six again sir you've 479 00:21:58,900 --> 00:21:56,540 had the mastics what do you reckon I 480 00:22:01,210 --> 00:21:58,910 think they're pretty good they've I 481 00:22:02,590 --> 00:22:01,220 think they're very nice i like them 482 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:02,600 they're you know just being polite are 483 00:22:06,130 --> 00:22:04,490 you no I'll need another one I'm gonna 484 00:22:07,990 --> 00:22:06,140 prove it to you ok well fair enough then 485 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:08,000 have a go now but of course we've got 486 00:22:11,950 --> 00:22:10,130 Roy here Reuters how are you I'm doing 487 00:22:13,540 --> 00:22:11,960 well how are you mean I'm pretty good 488 00:22:15,130 --> 00:22:13,550 look I'm we're just doing so many 489 00:22:18,790 --> 00:22:15,140 interviews today I had to have you wait 490 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:18,800 yeah well I know my place now now what 491 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:20,570 are you reading about Mustangs I'm not 492 00:22:25,210 --> 00:22:23,690 eating those things are you crazy what 493 00:22:27,580 --> 00:22:25,220 what problem you have you got with a 494 00:22:30,790 --> 00:22:27,590 perfumes sugary product from a 495 00:22:33,250 --> 00:22:30,800 mysterious source well besides that 496 00:22:35,460 --> 00:22:33,260 hearing people explain that it tastes 497 00:22:38,110 --> 00:22:35,470 like deodorant it's kind of a turnoff 498 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:38,120 now close look explain to the people who 499 00:22:42,580 --> 00:22:39,530 you are you've been on the show a number 500 00:22:45,070 --> 00:22:42,590 of times and and what you do while I'm 501 00:22:46,750 --> 00:22:45,080 president of and founder one of the 502 00:22:49,900 --> 00:22:46,760 cofounders of Granite State skeptics I 503 00:22:51,490 --> 00:22:49,910 run that with my wife Dale and we do 504 00:22:54,390 --> 00:22:51,500 monthly meetings and we've done some 505 00:22:58,600 --> 00:22:54,400 protests we did a protest John Edward 506 00:23:00,820 --> 00:22:58,610 what else have we done Andrew what else 507 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:00,830 have we done Andrew the person that you 508 00:23:03,490 --> 00:23:02,210 were talking to earlier is one of our 509 00:23:07,170 --> 00:23:03,500 members what else have we done has a 510 00:23:10,060 --> 00:23:07,180 group did you tell him to John Edward 511 00:23:13,780 --> 00:23:10,070 you're skeptical investigation oh yeah 512 00:23:15,460 --> 00:23:13,790 we did a haunted investigation which 513 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:15,470 turned up we were able to explain two 514 00:23:19,300 --> 00:23:17,090 out of three things that were claimed 515 00:23:21,780 --> 00:23:19,310 the other one still remains a mystery 516 00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:21,790 people were hearing voices in the house 517 00:23:28,330 --> 00:23:24,470 and we've done a skeptic amp and various 518 00:23:29,770 --> 00:23:28,340 other things oh yeah skeptic tour Salem 519 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:29,780 Massachusetts where the witch trials 520 00:23:34,060 --> 00:23:32,570 were Wow yeah well now there's a time 521 00:23:36,610 --> 00:23:34,070 that could use a little bit of reason if 522 00:23:38,980 --> 00:23:36,620 not science as well yes very much so one 523 00:23:40,420 --> 00:23:38,990 addenda actually what was the there was 524 00:23:42,430 --> 00:23:40,430 the real reason because those women were 525 00:23:43,930 --> 00:23:42,440 just different in the village or where 526 00:23:45,850 --> 00:23:43,940 they singled out for another reason did 527 00:23:47,590 --> 00:23:45,860 they have a personality trait that made 528 00:23:50,410 --> 00:23:47,600 them a target or was someone looking for 529 00:23:53,230 --> 00:23:50,420 a target um I I think it all started 530 00:23:55,900 --> 00:23:53,240 with one person who was a 531 00:23:58,270 --> 00:23:55,910 I don't know exactly what her title was 532 00:24:01,000 --> 00:23:58,280 but kind of a maid in a nanny type of 533 00:24:03,010 --> 00:24:01,010 job name Tituba who was a black woman 534 00:24:05,470 --> 00:24:03,020 which I'm sure didn't help any and then 535 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:05,480 when people started to criticize what 536 00:24:10,270 --> 00:24:07,850 the girls were saying then they ended up 537 00:24:13,420 --> 00:24:10,280 becoming targets as well so it kind of 538 00:24:15,490 --> 00:24:13,430 just snowballed from there and the power 539 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:15,500 the parallels with the McCarthy era or 540 00:24:19,990 --> 00:24:18,650 certainly yes very much so yes and can 541 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:20,000 you say something like that now what 542 00:24:22,930 --> 00:24:21,770 with what with the modern witch hunt be 543 00:24:24,250 --> 00:24:22,940 now because a lot of people in the 544 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:24,260 paranormal claim that the skeptics are 545 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:25,970 doing the witch hunt on them for 546 00:24:28,870 --> 00:24:27,530 thinking outside of science and your own 547 00:24:30,340 --> 00:24:28,880 demanding an explanation for something 548 00:24:32,230 --> 00:24:30,350 which they can't because science can't 549 00:24:34,960 --> 00:24:32,240 explain it yet I've certainly heard that 550 00:24:36,610 --> 00:24:34,970 used yeah but as we know just because 551 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:36,620 you don't know what causes something you 552 00:24:42,580 --> 00:24:38,690 can't just make something up to fill in 553 00:24:45,790 --> 00:24:42,590 the gaps so there's that mmm it is there 554 00:24:47,290 --> 00:24:45,800 a a theory or a bit of whew that is your 555 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:47,300 one that you really go after is it 556 00:24:51,310 --> 00:24:49,850 ghosts or is it something else um the 557 00:24:52,990 --> 00:24:51,320 thing that really gets to me more than 558 00:24:54,820 --> 00:24:53,000 anything else I find a lot of it 559 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:54,830 interesting but most of the alt med 560 00:25:00,970 --> 00:24:56,810 claims anything that can be really 561 00:25:05,170 --> 00:25:00,980 damaging to people more so like the an 562 00:25:06,580 --> 00:25:05,180 evac stuff anything that tries to cure 563 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:06,590 something that could be a real problem 564 00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:08,810 and then to a lesser extent stuff like 565 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:10,370 the power balance bracelets and things 566 00:25:14,020 --> 00:25:11,930 like that that would the 567 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:14,030 anti-vaccination movement here in the US 568 00:25:17,370 --> 00:25:15,650 you have a lot of celebrities behind it 569 00:25:19,870 --> 00:25:17,380 it's a little bit different in Australia 570 00:25:21,310 --> 00:25:19,880 does that make it easier or more 571 00:25:23,860 --> 00:25:21,320 difficult to fight because they're 572 00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:23,870 celebrities attached to it I think it 573 00:25:29,860 --> 00:25:25,370 makes it slightly more challenging 574 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:29,870 because it's difficult to disconnect 575 00:25:32,590 --> 00:25:31,490 from the personal attacks because like a 576 00:25:35,650 --> 00:25:32,600 lot of people especially with Jenny 577 00:25:37,090 --> 00:25:35,660 McCarthy specifically people will point 578 00:25:38,650 --> 00:25:37,100 to her the fact that she used to be a 579 00:25:40,690 --> 00:25:38,660 Playboy model for example and that 580 00:25:43,420 --> 00:25:40,700 doesn't really enter into the actual 581 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:43,430 problem it but it's an easy target and 582 00:25:46,810 --> 00:25:45,290 sometimes you pull yourself away there's 583 00:25:48,310 --> 00:25:46,820 plenty of playboy Playboy models with 584 00:25:50,500 --> 00:25:48,320 degrees and all sorts of things right 585 00:25:53,050 --> 00:25:50,510 exactly so that that's that doesn't make 586 00:25:56,290 --> 00:25:53,060 the claim invalid so it's important to 587 00:25:57,940 --> 00:25:56,300 stick with the claim no and have you had 588 00:26:00,130 --> 00:25:57,950 to go head-to-head with any vaccinations 589 00:26:01,950 --> 00:26:00,140 people on in a public forum no I've 590 00:26:04,950 --> 00:26:01,960 luckily have not 591 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:04,960 and in an event like this I thought 592 00:26:08,010 --> 00:26:06,250 there might be someone turning up with a 593 00:26:10,049 --> 00:26:08,020 sandwich board or something like that 594 00:26:15,779 --> 00:26:10,059 and I was hoping to meet someone like 595 00:26:17,880 --> 00:26:15,789 that but sadly no I mean I mean I do you 596 00:26:19,380 --> 00:26:17,890 get truth is coming he'd you get people 597 00:26:20,490 --> 00:26:19,390 that have got some extraordinary claims 598 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:20,500 that they think they have to let you 599 00:26:23,130 --> 00:26:22,210 know that actually that's that's very 600 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:23,140 interesting because i think it was 601 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:25,090 either last year the year before there 602 00:26:30,899 --> 00:26:28,450 was a moon hoax person that came up and 603 00:26:35,789 --> 00:26:30,909 actually questioned Phil Plait about it 604 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:35,799 and it went interestingly will say that 605 00:26:40,289 --> 00:26:37,690 they wouldn't sort of thrown out and 606 00:26:43,350 --> 00:26:40,299 they bum with no no actually after the 607 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:43,360 hit Phil's talk it kind of just got 608 00:26:47,669 --> 00:26:44,890 squashed when the question was asked but 609 00:26:49,409 --> 00:26:47,679 afterwards there was a discussion circle 610 00:26:51,930 --> 00:26:49,419 around him and people were talking to 611 00:26:53,700 --> 00:26:51,940 him about it and it was very it was very 612 00:26:56,100 --> 00:26:53,710 nice it wasn't they weren't like really 613 00:26:58,110 --> 00:26:56,110 pounding on him or anything so well and 614 00:26:59,760 --> 00:26:58,120 much much the thing you've been looking 615 00:27:01,529 --> 00:26:59,770 forward to hear this ship is it one 616 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:01,539 event that you're going to be up with 617 00:27:05,730 --> 00:27:03,850 bells on probably the bacon and Donner 618 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:05,740 Party I went for the rehearsal on 619 00:27:08,940 --> 00:27:07,210 Wednesday and it was a lot of fun and 620 00:27:10,769 --> 00:27:08,950 now that is where Penn Jillette from 621 00:27:14,100 --> 00:27:10,779 Penn & Teller of course and his band the 622 00:27:16,649 --> 00:27:14,110 no no God band yes do a set they have 623 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:16,659 some skeptical dancers on stage yep yep 624 00:27:20,130 --> 00:27:18,730 there's then what's a what's a numbers 625 00:27:21,659 --> 00:27:20,140 do they do but to the covers can you say 626 00:27:23,340 --> 00:27:21,669 what they don't know they're um there's 627 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:23,350 only one cover and I don't remember what 628 00:27:27,630 --> 00:27:25,210 the cover was and all the rest is all 629 00:27:30,149 --> 00:27:27,640 original songs Wow okay yeah and what so 630 00:27:33,149 --> 00:27:30,159 stop I'm first she strikes me as a bit 631 00:27:34,649 --> 00:27:33,159 of a boogie you plant don't but it's 632 00:27:35,730 --> 00:27:34,659 more of a hard rock sounds it yeah 633 00:27:38,430 --> 00:27:35,740 there's that and there's a little bit of 634 00:27:40,470 --> 00:27:38,440 punk stuff as well yeah whoo medicals 635 00:27:42,659 --> 00:27:40,480 Wiggly will find you online on facebook 636 00:27:46,470 --> 00:27:42,669 it's facebook.com slash scooter with 637 00:27:49,019 --> 00:27:46,480 zeros so it's SC 00 ter same name on 638 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:49,029 twitter or for Granite State skeptics 639 00:27:53,190 --> 00:27:50,890 it's just Granite State skeptics tadka 640 00:27:55,350 --> 00:27:53,200 morgue and by the way if you want a 641 00:27:57,810 --> 00:27:55,360 visual Association here this guy never 642 00:28:03,330 --> 00:27:57,820 has a nun ironed bowling shirt you do 643 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:05,350 well there's certainly no shortage of 644 00:28:09,190 --> 00:28:06,890 Americans to talk to with what they 645 00:28:10,660 --> 00:28:09,200 think of what's going on but at the end 646 00:28:13,540 --> 00:28:10,670 of the skeptic table just between 647 00:28:14,980 --> 00:28:13,550 sceptile and the skeptic zone there's 648 00:28:16,480 --> 00:28:14,990 something really big that's happening in 649 00:28:18,580 --> 00:28:16,490 Melbourne this year that I'm hoping to 650 00:28:21,730 --> 00:28:18,590 get to and as an Australian you should 651 00:28:24,910 --> 00:28:21,740 go to or be ashamed of yourself hey gone 652 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:24,920 mad all right it's funny how funny how 653 00:28:29,290 --> 00:28:26,690 sometimes we turn our accents up for the 654 00:28:31,420 --> 00:28:29,300 Americans isn't it I do and I've got did 655 00:28:34,150 --> 00:28:31,430 you notice my hat man I just you know 656 00:28:35,830 --> 00:28:34,160 what it is it's an actual real rue skin 657 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:35,840 hat you know really we have killed 658 00:28:38,950 --> 00:28:37,610 kangaroos for this hat and at this 659 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:38,960 promotional exercise and how the 660 00:28:42,190 --> 00:28:40,490 Americans go when you tell them that we 661 00:28:43,900 --> 00:28:42,200 actually do kill a need our national 662 00:28:46,330 --> 00:28:43,910 symbol sometimes yeah they're a little 663 00:28:48,430 --> 00:28:46,340 horrified but you know when when we 664 00:28:50,110 --> 00:28:48,440 explain that when we eat koalas sakes I 665 00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:50,120 just have this little bit of a 666 00:28:53,650 --> 00:28:52,250 eucalyptus ass after taste but after 667 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:53,660 that they're not too bad well I mean 668 00:28:58,390 --> 00:28:56,210 yeah you rarely see bald eagle on the 669 00:29:01,360 --> 00:28:58,400 menu over here no it's funny about that 670 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:01,370 but you know one of these days perhaps 671 00:29:05,920 --> 00:29:03,770 bald eagle mark but might be the guy but 672 00:29:08,410 --> 00:29:05,930 I think one or two Americans here I 673 00:29:09,970 --> 00:29:08,420 think skeptics generally a much better 674 00:29:12,430 --> 00:29:09,980 educated than the general American 675 00:29:14,260 --> 00:29:12,440 public and they kind of have a bit of an 676 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:14,270 understanding of Australian humor and I 677 00:29:18,460 --> 00:29:16,730 think therefore it does it goes down 678 00:29:19,870 --> 00:29:18,470 reasonably well have an understanding 679 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:19,880 that we actually have a humor because 680 00:29:25,750 --> 00:29:22,130 sometimes everything she's so straighten 681 00:29:27,610 --> 00:29:25,760 yeah well now Ron okemo kind of gets 682 00:29:30,520 --> 00:29:27,620 lost a little bit on a lot of Americans 683 00:29:32,380 --> 00:29:30,530 and I found that in past trips but now a 684 00:29:34,750 --> 00:29:32,390 lot of the skeptics I think probably 685 00:29:36,220 --> 00:29:34,760 have that sense of humor too and what's 686 00:29:38,290 --> 00:29:36,230 been the reaction to the big conference 687 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:38,300 coming up later in the year it's been 688 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:40,130 really good we've had a number of people 689 00:29:45,730 --> 00:29:43,010 express interest been good we're running 690 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:45,740 a special of free koala with with a 691 00:29:49,720 --> 00:29:48,170 t-shirt is the main thing that seems to 692 00:29:51,940 --> 00:29:49,730 put them off is the distance to travel 693 00:29:53,500 --> 00:29:51,950 isn't it that they like the lineup they 694 00:29:54,670 --> 00:29:53,510 like the fact of where it is they're 695 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:54,680 just a bit reticent about hopping on a 696 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:56,330 plane for five days to get here aren't 697 00:29:59,240 --> 00:29:56,730 they 698 00:30:01,159 --> 00:29:59,250 yes it's one of those strange things the 699 00:30:05,060 --> 00:30:01,169 Americans will look you in the eye and 700 00:30:08,060 --> 00:30:05,070 explain how Australia is so far away and 701 00:30:11,419 --> 00:30:08,070 costs so much to come to unlike yourself 702 00:30:13,220 --> 00:30:11,429 who got funded by the the skeptics and 703 00:30:15,530 --> 00:30:13,230 members and thank you to the skeptics 704 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:15,540 and never I feel very lucky and Matt let 705 00:30:19,220 --> 00:30:17,250 me take them under every morning I wake 706 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:19,230 up and I go I better earn my keep let me 707 00:30:21,950 --> 00:30:20,610 tell you and I've been running around as 708 00:30:24,380 --> 00:30:21,960 you've seen me do because you know I've 709 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:24,390 been very lucky but they seem to forget 710 00:30:29,090 --> 00:30:27,090 that we came here and a very aware of 711 00:30:30,770 --> 00:30:29,100 what it's like to get here so well 712 00:30:33,140 --> 00:30:30,780 that's right you look back at them with 713 00:30:35,720 --> 00:30:33,150 a fairly deadpan look and say oh is it 714 00:30:38,150 --> 00:30:35,730 or something like that or I didn't know 715 00:30:39,830 --> 00:30:38,160 that an airfare costs quite a lot now 716 00:30:41,930 --> 00:30:39,840 sell us on the line up too because it's 717 00:30:43,250 --> 00:30:41,940 quite a fiery interesting lineup you've 718 00:30:45,700 --> 00:30:43,260 got for the ship for the conference 719 00:30:48,500 --> 00:30:45,710 almost hits show i'm mr. saying show 720 00:30:50,299 --> 00:30:48,510 well let's try and it's been one of the 721 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:50,309 slight problems that we've had maenad 722 00:30:54,860 --> 00:30:52,890 selling that over here because we say 723 00:30:56,750 --> 00:30:54,870 come to Australia and watch James meant 724 00:30:58,880 --> 00:30:56,760 Randy well he's just been walking up 725 00:31:01,220 --> 00:30:58,890 here 20 feet over there was they like to 726 00:31:03,409 --> 00:31:01,230 say can't come to Australia what's DJ 727 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:03,419 growth you oh well he's here to brian 728 00:31:08,299 --> 00:31:06,690 thompson is here dr. Rocha is sitting 729 00:31:10,400 --> 00:31:08,309 right in front of us at the moment you 730 00:31:12,350 --> 00:31:10,410 know Richard Saunders who's been 731 00:31:14,060 --> 00:31:12,360 floating around as well so that kind of 732 00:31:15,919 --> 00:31:14,070 saying what's this all about you know 733 00:31:17,539 --> 00:31:15,929 they're all here why should we come to 734 00:31:18,830 --> 00:31:17,549 Australia but you know you have to 735 00:31:20,630 --> 00:31:18,840 really sell them on our on our 736 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:20,640 friendliness and the fact that they will 737 00:31:23,930 --> 00:31:22,650 have a better time and an Australian 738 00:31:25,190 --> 00:31:23,940 conference and they will ever have an 739 00:31:27,799 --> 00:31:25,200 American Conference hourican that's way 740 00:31:29,510 --> 00:31:27,809 to sell it no worries mate there is no 741 00:31:32,630 --> 00:31:29,520 doubt about that but I was speaking to 742 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:32,640 where paul provenza yesterday who did 743 00:31:37,039 --> 00:31:35,010 this at arista show I don't know whether 744 00:31:39,049 --> 00:31:37,049 you saw that the other night I was 745 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:39,059 absolutely ashamed of myself at the end 746 00:31:45,020 --> 00:31:41,610 of that I had to wipe tears of laughter 747 00:31:47,570 --> 00:31:45,030 out of my eyes and as as a former 748 00:31:50,570 --> 00:31:47,580 educator that sort of humor I've become 749 00:31:53,210 --> 00:31:50,580 frowned on all my life man I'd but but 750 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:53,220 for Tim I'll make an exception but he 751 00:31:58,100 --> 00:31:55,890 was saying that he he comes out for our 752 00:32:00,409 --> 00:31:58,110 comedy festival each year and we're 753 00:32:03,770 --> 00:32:00,419 hoping to get him to perhaps talk to our 754 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:03,780 Vic skeptics next year that's right you 755 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:05,130 know American listens the Melbourne 756 00:32:09,430 --> 00:32:07,130 Comedy Festival arm is 757 00:32:11,050 --> 00:32:09,440 there with Edinburgh I reckon so far no 758 00:32:12,700 --> 00:32:11,060 edinboro you will get maybe some newer 759 00:32:14,470 --> 00:32:12,710 things you might have seen but the same 760 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:14,480 thing will happen in Melbourne well I 761 00:32:20,590 --> 00:32:17,570 believe it's number two in in the world 762 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:20,600 Comedy Festival gigs and and this year I 763 00:32:25,210 --> 00:32:22,930 organized through the Vic skeptics a 764 00:32:27,940 --> 00:32:25,220 skeptical outing we have a skeptical 765 00:32:29,260 --> 00:32:27,950 outing each year we go around pointing 766 00:32:32,290 --> 00:32:29,270 at gay people I don't think that's very 767 00:32:36,220 --> 00:32:32,300 nice I should have defined my terms I 768 00:32:38,290 --> 00:32:36,230 think no no no we we get together and 769 00:32:40,870 --> 00:32:38,300 this year we went out to see Lawrence 770 00:32:42,580 --> 00:32:40,880 long of course and they're a great night 771 00:32:45,610 --> 00:32:42,590 out for skeptics perfect yes absolutely 772 00:32:48,100 --> 00:32:45,620 so it's other about 25 of us and we all 773 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:48,110 trooped off together to watch Lawrence 774 00:32:52,930 --> 00:32:50,570 long who is actually appearing at the at 775 00:32:56,740 --> 00:32:52,940 the convention as well we've got Stephen 776 00:33:00,310 --> 00:32:56,750 main who is a reasonably summers 777 00:33:02,890 --> 00:33:00,320 shareholder activists and media person 778 00:33:05,890 --> 00:33:02,900 Stephen main who's quite a fascinating 779 00:33:09,540 --> 00:33:05,900 guy we've also got doctormick vague and 780 00:33:12,490 --> 00:33:09,550 dr. Steve basa who will join ken harvey 781 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:12,500 on a medical panel so we're going to 782 00:33:17,710 --> 00:33:15,130 really examine woo in Australia as well 783 00:33:20,950 --> 00:33:17,720 there as we would say in the Australian 784 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:20,960 lingo classic stirrers oh yes yes Kent 785 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:23,570 ken harvey has really put everything on 786 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:26,690 the line to fight Sam sense aslam in 787 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:29,330 particular but he's also working very 788 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:32,570 very hard to give the TGA a bit of teeth 789 00:33:37,030 --> 00:33:35,090 I think it's giving the tiger some teeth 790 00:33:39,310 --> 00:33:37,040 either you know what I saw on late-night 791 00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:39,320 TV last night here and let me tell it's 792 00:33:43,690 --> 00:33:41,510 a great we fest it's this built that you 793 00:33:45,610 --> 00:33:43,700 wear around your middle which heats you 794 00:33:47,020 --> 00:33:45,620 up and must must have some mac so 795 00:33:48,640 --> 00:33:47,030 thermal reaction or something with the 796 00:33:50,650 --> 00:33:48,650 skin and then when you take the belt off 797 00:33:52,750 --> 00:33:50,660 it's tingly and warm and the whole idea 798 00:33:55,300 --> 00:33:52,760 is that it heats up your stomach emerge 799 00:33:56,480 --> 00:33:55,310 and reduces in spot reduction that area 800 00:33:59,330 --> 00:33:56,490 of your fat 801 00:34:01,310 --> 00:33:59,340 yes well I could certainly do with one 802 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:01,320 of those after having spent nearly a 803 00:34:07,700 --> 00:34:03,690 week in Las Vegas there is no such thing 804 00:34:10,250 --> 00:34:07,710 as restraint we ordered a sandwich and 805 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:10,260 we led to its not really advertising but 806 00:34:15,710 --> 00:34:12,810 we went to what's called at the Carnegie 807 00:34:17,090 --> 00:34:15,720 Deli at the Mirage restaurant and I just 808 00:34:18,409 --> 00:34:17,100 wanted the light meal it was five 809 00:34:21,080 --> 00:34:18,419 o'clock in the afternoon hadn't had 810 00:34:24,409 --> 00:34:21,090 lunch ordered a sandwich now we know 811 00:34:26,930 --> 00:34:24,419 what a sandwich is yes not really we're 812 00:34:31,460 --> 00:34:26,940 talking literally it was about 30 813 00:34:35,720 --> 00:34:31,470 centimeters of high high slices of was 814 00:34:38,270 --> 00:34:35,730 called hard salami with a token piece of 815 00:34:40,220 --> 00:34:38,280 bread on the bottom and on the top and a 816 00:34:42,109 --> 00:34:40,230 big skewer stuff right down the huge 817 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:42,119 amount of processed meat and if you did 818 00:34:45,470 --> 00:34:43,649 buy a sandwich that was that big in 819 00:34:47,960 --> 00:34:45,480 Australia it about thirty dollars with 820 00:34:51,139 --> 00:34:47,970 it oh absolutely all I wanted was a 821 00:34:52,790 --> 00:34:51,149 light meal so I struggled through half 822 00:34:54,470 --> 00:34:52,800 of it and bought the other half back and 823 00:34:56,419 --> 00:34:54,480 headed for dinner it was just absolutely 824 00:34:58,100 --> 00:34:56,429 staggering is there something that 825 00:34:59,630 --> 00:34:58,110 you've taken away from this visit to the 826 00:35:01,190 --> 00:34:59,640 u.s. to go that's pretty cool i must get 827 00:35:03,530 --> 00:35:01,200 into some more of that any flavors 828 00:35:06,700 --> 00:35:03,540 you've discovered any drinks Oh drink no 829 00:35:09,170 --> 00:35:06,710 not not really and i managed to 830 00:35:11,180 --> 00:35:09,180 investigate american culture and the 831 00:35:13,820 --> 00:35:11,190 best way to investigate american culture 832 00:35:15,859 --> 00:35:13,830 is to sit around blackjack tables I've 833 00:35:18,470 --> 00:35:15,869 found and and I only sit around 834 00:35:20,180 --> 00:35:18,480 blackjack tables to do this sort of 835 00:35:21,740 --> 00:35:20,190 cultural exchange and things like that 836 00:35:23,210 --> 00:35:21,750 for absolutely no other reason 837 00:35:25,370 --> 00:35:23,220 whatsoever but perhaps a touch of 838 00:35:27,260 --> 00:35:25,380 mathematics as well oh yes yes math 839 00:35:29,359 --> 00:35:27,270 mathematics been probability theory I 840 00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:29,369 find the mathematics gets a little 841 00:35:36,050 --> 00:35:32,910 slower as the evening goes on but it's a 842 00:35:37,730 --> 00:35:36,060 great thing but I really enjoyed a lot 843 00:35:40,970 --> 00:35:37,740 of the presentations here it's been 844 00:35:43,370 --> 00:35:40,980 great to see absolutely a really strong 845 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:43,380 Australian presence so I don't know we 846 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:44,970 probably got to at least a dozen 847 00:35:48,770 --> 00:35:47,250 Australians here would that be the sort 848 00:35:49,790 --> 00:35:48,780 of number you've come up with I think 849 00:35:52,580 --> 00:35:49,800 that would be pretty close to how many 850 00:35:54,260 --> 00:35:52,590 are here and and we always get a nice 851 00:35:56,599 --> 00:35:54,270 smile but though they seem to like us 852 00:35:58,609 --> 00:35:56,609 some I'm that there's no doesn't finish 853 00:36:00,260 --> 00:35:58,619 the Finnish skeptics aren't here I guess 854 00:36:01,580 --> 00:36:00,270 there's a language barrier and a lot of 855 00:36:03,830 --> 00:36:01,590 Scandinavian skeptics here unfortunately 856 00:36:05,810 --> 00:36:03,840 I know who got strong representation in 857 00:36:06,680 --> 00:36:05,820 Sweden and don't see them here but you 858 00:36:09,530 --> 00:36:06,690 know it's a long way for them 859 00:36:12,609 --> 00:36:09,540 come to well it is funny you mention 860 00:36:15,020 --> 00:36:12,619 that on the very first day as as 861 00:36:16,819 --> 00:36:15,030 registration was opening I was coming up 862 00:36:18,980 --> 00:36:16,829 the stairs with it was a young bloke and 863 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:18,990 we got into conversation he obviously 864 00:36:22,970 --> 00:36:20,970 didn't sort of pick up accents all that 865 00:36:24,410 --> 00:36:22,980 well and turned out he was from Sweden 866 00:36:27,349 --> 00:36:24,420 and he was coming up and he was 867 00:36:28,910 --> 00:36:27,359 explaining how long the plane flight was 868 00:36:31,910 --> 00:36:28,920 from Sweden it was all of eight hours 869 00:36:35,359 --> 00:36:31,920 Maynard eight hours yes all the cool guy 870 00:36:38,809 --> 00:36:35,369 yeah I'm going back by a soul so I've 871 00:36:41,630 --> 00:36:38,819 got I've got Las Vegas to LA three hour 872 00:36:44,359 --> 00:36:41,640 stopover LA to Seoul three hour stopover 873 00:36:49,220 --> 00:36:44,369 sold to Sydney and by then I should be 874 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:49,230 well into my 60s well absolutely but yes 875 00:36:53,900 --> 00:36:52,050 we flew through Sydney of course from 876 00:36:55,550 --> 00:36:53,910 Melbourne but as we were flying out of 877 00:36:58,819 --> 00:36:55,560 Sydney I noticed that we just chalked up 878 00:37:01,640 --> 00:36:58,829 six hours of travel already and then it 879 00:37:03,710 --> 00:37:01,650 was the third an hour flight to to San 880 00:37:04,940 --> 00:37:03,720 Francisco and then we drove up after 881 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:04,950 that but a little bit what's your 882 00:37:10,460 --> 00:37:07,770 survival but the strategy for being on a 883 00:37:13,069 --> 00:37:10,470 plane that long I try and zone out you 884 00:37:15,559 --> 00:37:13,079 know how do we do it well you know a 885 00:37:17,990 --> 00:37:15,569 being a new age sort of guy I've just 886 00:37:22,430 --> 00:37:18,000 moved close you are just moved into ice 887 00:37:24,260 --> 00:37:22,440 stuff so I have this I paden is a nano 888 00:37:25,880 --> 00:37:24,270 and I thing I don't know doesn't have a 889 00:37:28,730 --> 00:37:25,890 high in front it should it be called an 890 00:37:30,290 --> 00:37:28,740 online a no perhaps well yeah well in 891 00:37:33,890 --> 00:37:30,300 that case wouldn't the iphone via a 892 00:37:37,190 --> 00:37:33,900 narrow iPad maybe I I don't really know 893 00:37:39,230 --> 00:37:37,200 so anyway I kind of put on a little bit 894 00:37:41,359 --> 00:37:39,240 of Led Zeppelin or something like that 895 00:37:43,670 --> 00:37:41,369 and you know just sit there head banging 896 00:37:44,780 --> 00:37:43,680 away are you much of a podcast listener 897 00:37:48,319 --> 00:37:44,790 because a lot of skeptics are into the 898 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:48,329 podcast I I only been into it probably 899 00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:50,130 about three months and the reason I got 900 00:37:56,569 --> 00:37:52,650 into it simply was because of skeptic 901 00:37:57,829 --> 00:37:56,579 zone and skip toyed and SGU okay and 902 00:37:59,359 --> 00:37:57,839 you've got the young Melbourne skeptics 903 00:38:01,849 --> 00:37:59,369 the their podcast down there is 904 00:38:05,559 --> 00:38:01,859 fantastic yes and we heard yesterday 905 00:38:08,809 --> 00:38:05,569 there is something like 90 skeptic 906 00:38:10,970 --> 00:38:08,819 podcasts of different forms its 907 00:38:14,089 --> 00:38:10,980 plateaued off but I did a quick mental 908 00:38:16,940 --> 00:38:14,099 calculation and i worked at 90 of these 909 00:38:19,190 --> 00:38:16,950 come out roughly every 12 weeks it may 910 00:38:23,089 --> 00:38:19,200 be a half an hour you know you'd be 911 00:38:24,859 --> 00:38:23,099 listening to podcasts for about 40 50 60 912 00:38:27,950 --> 00:38:24,869 hours a week justice it'll listen to all 913 00:38:29,870 --> 00:38:27,960 this skeptics a podcast look and that 914 00:38:32,569 --> 00:38:29,880 most i can promise news about 10 hours a 915 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:32,579 week but and that's going for it but i 916 00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:35,250 always listen to the skeptics own first 917 00:38:39,290 --> 00:38:37,710 Maynard absolutely and we always go to 918 00:38:40,940 --> 00:38:39,300 the website to find out how we can find 919 00:38:42,589 --> 00:38:40,950 out more about what's going on at 920 00:38:44,450 --> 00:38:42,599 Melbourne later in the year what's the 921 00:38:46,970 --> 00:38:44,460 website you guys are good yes the 922 00:38:49,700 --> 00:38:46,980 website is this way to find it is 923 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:49,710 probably either through the Australian 924 00:38:54,859 --> 00:38:51,690 skeptics website or if you just do a 925 00:38:56,630 --> 00:38:54,869 Google search on Vick skeptics on the 926 00:39:00,349 --> 00:38:56,640 right hand side there there's a 927 00:39:01,970 --> 00:39:00,359 convention tab and you just go through 928 00:39:04,250 --> 00:39:01,980 to the tab there but it's looking like a 929 00:39:06,470 --> 00:39:04,260 really good convention and I must say I 930 00:39:08,809 --> 00:39:06,480 mean coming to a convention like this 931 00:39:12,170 --> 00:39:08,819 it's just absolutely on steroids and so 932 00:39:14,900 --> 00:39:12,180 so inspiring people like Jamie and Swiss 933 00:39:17,329 --> 00:39:14,910 was just absolutely magic and it was 934 00:39:20,510 --> 00:39:17,339 funny i have here and we're going to 935 00:39:23,960 --> 00:39:20,520 announce later on in the year we have a 936 00:39:26,030 --> 00:39:23,970 copy of flim-flam yes over here and so 937 00:39:29,510 --> 00:39:26,040 forth for those who come to the 938 00:39:32,359 --> 00:39:29,520 convention we will have a special deal 939 00:39:34,819 --> 00:39:32,369 and I don't want you to but would you 940 00:39:39,230 --> 00:39:34,829 like a copy without telling the punters 941 00:39:41,930 --> 00:39:39,240 what it is of flim-flam that had that 942 00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:41,940 associate would you be bidding money for 943 00:39:46,339 --> 00:39:43,770 something like that as a fundraiser is 944 00:39:49,160 --> 00:39:46,349 it I have seen how you have how you have 945 00:39:51,589 --> 00:39:49,170 value added to that book and I think yes 946 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:51,599 there isn't it's going to be a hot item 947 00:39:56,180 --> 00:39:54,450 it's going to be a hot item so it's been 948 00:39:58,160 --> 00:39:56,190 really good but but strangely enough I 949 00:40:00,650 --> 00:39:58,170 mean we don't believe in luck in 950 00:40:03,559 --> 00:40:00,660 skepticism do we really but I'd be a 951 00:40:05,630 --> 00:40:03,569 hunting for Michael Shermer for a couple 952 00:40:06,859 --> 00:40:05,640 of days literally hunting look it looks 953 00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:06,869 over I in fact I'm going to be very 954 00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:08,490 lucky if I can find him I spoke to him 955 00:40:11,839 --> 00:40:10,170 last year but like he comes to the desk 956 00:40:14,210 --> 00:40:11,849 for a little while down there he was off 957 00:40:16,130 --> 00:40:14,220 again absolutely so there I was had been 958 00:40:19,400 --> 00:40:16,140 doing is looking for him for 22 days 959 00:40:22,069 --> 00:40:19,410 solid I got in the lift to get sorry the 960 00:40:25,609 --> 00:40:22,079 elevator the elevator this morning to 961 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:25,619 come down here and the the lifts top two 962 00:40:29,990 --> 00:40:28,410 floors two floors below where i got on 963 00:40:33,650 --> 00:40:30,000 and all of a sudden this 964 00:40:35,570 --> 00:40:33,660 lycra clad individual that had a face 965 00:40:37,610 --> 00:40:35,580 that looked a lot like Michael Shermer 966 00:40:39,530 --> 00:40:37,620 jumped on the lift he was going out for 967 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:39,540 a bike ride apparently he's in the bike 968 00:40:43,730 --> 00:40:41,850 ride no yeah I'm in fact he he once was 969 00:40:45,620 --> 00:40:43,740 a bike riding so hard he actually had an 970 00:40:47,750 --> 00:40:45,630 alien abduction experience because he 971 00:40:49,670 --> 00:40:47,760 was just like in such a zoned out way on 972 00:40:52,430 --> 00:40:49,680 a bike race once it's in his book yeah 973 00:40:55,040 --> 00:40:52,440 so it so anyway I said while we're 974 00:40:58,790 --> 00:40:55,050 traveling sort of 25 floors down south 975 00:41:00,200 --> 00:40:58,800 would you mind and he he signed an 976 00:41:01,580 --> 00:41:00,210 object that I have in front of me so I 977 00:41:03,530 --> 00:41:01,590 was really good that's one of the things 978 00:41:04,790 --> 00:41:03,540 you may be able to have some interest in 979 00:41:08,390 --> 00:41:04,800 later in the year and what's the website 980 00:41:10,850 --> 00:41:08,400 again go to the Vic skeptics website and 981 00:41:12,530 --> 00:41:10,860 if you just click the tab there you'll 982 00:41:14,600 --> 00:41:12,540 find out all the information you need 983 00:41:15,800 --> 00:41:14,610 for the Convention says should be really 984 00:41:28,440 --> 00:41:15,810 good and we're really looking forward to 985 00:41:33,069 --> 00:41:31,270 hey guys this is jay from the skeptics 986 00:41:35,859 --> 00:41:33,079 guide to the universe whoa whoa hold on 987 00:41:37,660 --> 00:41:35,869 whoa everybody knows I'm the only reason 988 00:41:38,829 --> 00:41:37,670 to listen to the Freak Show right I mean 989 00:41:45,609 --> 00:41:38,839 it was up to me the show would start 990 00:41:47,470 --> 00:41:45,619 with this yeah boy well Rebecca would 991 00:41:49,180 --> 00:41:47,480 hate that probably but I mean I'd rock 992 00:41:50,200 --> 00:41:49,190 that listen to our show and you can 993 00:41:51,910 --> 00:41:50,210 learn about cool stuff like a 994 00:41:53,650 --> 00:41:51,920 technological singularity which is 995 00:41:55,180 --> 00:41:53,660 someday when technology progresses so 996 00:41:56,559 --> 00:41:55,190 fast that it would make the Industrial 997 00:41:59,589 --> 00:41:56,569 Revolution look like a kid science 998 00:42:21,900 --> 00:41:59,599 project anyway come check us out at WWDC 999 00:42:27,730 --> 00:42:24,309 thank you for listening to the skeptics 1000 00:42:31,420 --> 00:42:27,740 are those birds are still out there must 1001 00:42:36,039 --> 00:42:31,430 be feeding time somewhere on next week's 1002 00:42:37,749 --> 00:42:36,049 show well I don't know I can't look into 1003 00:42:39,220 --> 00:42:37,759 the future I mean there are a few things 1004 00:42:41,170 --> 00:42:39,230 on the boil and maybe a few interviews 1005 00:42:42,940 --> 00:42:41,180 here and there it's been pretty tough to 1006 00:42:45,400 --> 00:42:42,950 do the old think tank lately because 1007 00:42:47,380 --> 00:42:45,410 various our friends who helped me with 1008 00:42:50,410 --> 00:42:47,390 the think tank have been indisposed or a 1009 00:42:52,539 --> 00:42:50,420 way or not available in fact I happen to 1010 00:42:55,120 --> 00:42:52,549 know dr. H E is at this moment in the 1011 00:42:59,470 --> 00:42:55,130 United States having a good time nomming 1012 00:43:01,089 --> 00:42:59,480 in Las Vegas but soon I hope soon but 1013 00:43:02,710 --> 00:43:01,099 it's not too long before I am having a 1014 00:43:04,359 --> 00:43:02,720 short visit to the United States myself 1015 00:43:07,900 --> 00:43:04,369 I'm catching up with Brian Dunning and 1016 00:43:11,380 --> 00:43:07,910 he has promised me a hot tub of truth 1017 00:43:13,749 --> 00:43:11,390 folks I think tank from the hot tub and 1018 00:43:16,539 --> 00:43:13,759 if that happens you'll certainly hear it 1019 00:43:19,630 --> 00:43:16,549 here on the skeptics earn that until 1020 00:43:22,170 --> 00:43:19,640 then until next week at least this is 1021 00:43:29,950 --> 00:43:22,180 Richard Saunders away with the birds 1022 00:43:32,549 --> 00:43:29,960 signing off from Sydney Australia you've 1023 00:43:37,380 --> 00:43:32,559 been listening to the skeptic zone 1024 00:43:40,439 --> 00:43:37,390 visit our website at www skeptics on TV