1 00:00:23,570 --> 00:00:09,080 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:29,339 --> 00:00:26,190 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 3 00:00:32,940 --> 00:00:29,349 episode number 209 for the 20th of 4 00:00:36,660 --> 00:00:32,950 October 2012 Richard Saunders with you 5 00:00:40,590 --> 00:00:36,670 from a skating warmer definitely getting 6 00:00:43,350 --> 00:00:40,600 warmer Sydney Australia on this week's 7 00:00:45,420 --> 00:00:43,360 show more from the amazing meeting in 8 00:00:48,509 --> 00:00:45,430 Las Vegas now friend and reporter 9 00:00:51,060 --> 00:00:48,519 Maynard Maynard speaks to Shane green up 10 00:00:54,500 --> 00:00:51,070 her an Aussie living in Chile Chile 11 00:01:00,840 --> 00:00:54,510 about a project he's involved with cold 12 00:01:02,639 --> 00:01:00,850 Roberta Roberta ah bu TR got something 13 00:01:05,670 --> 00:01:02,649 you'd like to rebut seen a website that 14 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:05,680 needs rebutting through butter plugin 15 00:01:11,389 --> 00:01:08,770 might be for you find out more coming up 16 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:11,399 when Maynard interviews Shane greener 17 00:01:16,410 --> 00:01:14,130 after that Maynard speaks to a very 18 00:01:17,609 --> 00:01:16,420 enthusiastic young delegate at the 19 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:17,619 amazing meeting all the way from 20 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:23,250 Virginia I don't know her name so 21 00:01:27,690 --> 00:01:25,810 mysterious person from Virginia whose 22 00:01:30,570 --> 00:01:27,700 voice I don't know if I recognize or not 23 00:01:32,010 --> 00:01:30,580 you know probably should if you know who 24 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:32,020 you are please write to me and I will 25 00:01:36,870 --> 00:01:34,570 mention you on next week's podcast but 26 00:01:39,660 --> 00:01:36,880 you do have a lot of interesting things 27 00:01:41,249 --> 00:01:39,670 to say to me nerd and then Maynard wraps 28 00:01:45,469 --> 00:01:41,259 up his Tammy interviews for this week 29 00:01:49,109 --> 00:01:45,479 with an interview with surly RemX amy 30 00:01:51,210 --> 00:01:49,119 davis rough or surly Amy as she's known 31 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:51,220 now some of you may remember that video 32 00:01:55,710 --> 00:01:53,770 yes skeptic zone put out about a year or 33 00:01:58,560 --> 00:01:55,720 two ago how it's done applied 34 00:02:01,289 --> 00:01:58,570 kinesiology well one of the props were 35 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:01,299 used in that to demonstrate them how 36 00:02:06,330 --> 00:02:03,250 these things do or don't work was a 37 00:02:11,910 --> 00:02:06,340 surly ramik little pendant and honored 38 00:02:13,770 --> 00:02:11,920 States science saves lives then to round 39 00:02:15,750 --> 00:02:13,780 off the show a little opinion piece I 40 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:15,760 wrote all about predictions yes in 41 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:18,370 December and January probably all around 42 00:02:23,039 --> 00:02:20,290 the world the media's full of people 43 00:02:25,740 --> 00:02:23,049 making predictions what's coming up for 44 00:02:28,949 --> 00:02:25,750 the year ahead hear my thoughts about 45 00:02:30,860 --> 00:02:28,959 that a bit later now during the wig 46 00:02:33,039 --> 00:02:30,870 during the week I am 47 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:33,049 took some time out and I watched a 48 00:02:40,039 --> 00:02:36,450 relatively new documentary ancient 49 00:02:43,670 --> 00:02:40,049 aliens debunked by chris white and 50 00:02:46,729 --> 00:02:43,680 there's a website for that video goes 51 00:02:49,940 --> 00:02:46,739 for over three hours ancient aliens 52 00:02:53,479 --> 00:02:49,950 debunked calm and I was really enjoying 53 00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:53,489 it it was fantastic at his amazing job 54 00:02:57,500 --> 00:02:55,650 take my head off to Chris White for the 55 00:03:01,009 --> 00:02:57,510 research and his friends have done to 56 00:03:03,170 --> 00:03:01,019 put this together uh and then a couple 57 00:03:05,210 --> 00:03:03,180 of things sort of confused me a little 58 00:03:07,119 --> 00:03:05,220 bit as I was watching it because he was 59 00:03:10,550 --> 00:03:07,129 doing such a great job in dismantling 60 00:03:13,970 --> 00:03:10,560 bad arguments a couple of things about 61 00:03:15,589 --> 00:03:13,980 Noah's Flood and angels and I wasn't 62 00:03:18,710 --> 00:03:15,599 quite sure so I went to the Internet and 63 00:03:21,110 --> 00:03:18,720 I sort of found that maybe chris white 64 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:21,120 isn't as skeptical as he could have been 65 00:03:24,740 --> 00:03:22,890 in certain aspects of the film but I 66 00:03:28,729 --> 00:03:24,750 don't wonder whom I don't want to play 67 00:03:31,009 --> 00:03:28,739 the heavy hand here and make too many 68 00:03:32,899 --> 00:03:31,019 comments there's a lot of back and forth 69 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:32,909 on the internet about it especially at 70 00:03:38,569 --> 00:03:36,450 skeptic calm look I enjoyed it there's 71 00:03:40,759 --> 00:03:38,579 bits in it where we can question what's 72 00:03:44,270 --> 00:03:40,769 really going on and maybe the motives of 73 00:03:46,490 --> 00:03:44,280 chris white but by and large by and 74 00:03:48,949 --> 00:03:46,500 large and i think i heard the expression 75 00:03:52,129 --> 00:03:48,959 well don't throw the baby out with the 76 00:03:55,759 --> 00:03:52,139 bathwater the documentary by and large 77 00:03:57,110 --> 00:03:55,769 is certainly worth a look start watching 78 00:03:59,569 --> 00:03:57,120 it see what you think i can recommend 79 00:04:00,710 --> 00:03:59,579 that you have a look and then but bear 80 00:04:03,650 --> 00:04:00,720 in mind that there's some controversy 81 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:03,660 about it and you can google that check 82 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:06,930 it out but don't let that stop you from 83 00:04:11,689 --> 00:04:08,970 watching it in the first place if all 84 00:04:14,900 --> 00:04:11,699 that sort of makes sense ancient aliens 85 00:04:17,479 --> 00:04:14,910 debunked and before we get stuck into 86 00:04:20,719 --> 00:04:17,489 the skeptic zone just today I was at 87 00:04:23,750 --> 00:04:20,729 Prince of Wales hospital here in Sydney 88 00:04:25,339 --> 00:04:23,760 and randwick between ran week and Coogi 89 00:04:28,730 --> 00:04:25,349 and I'm sure sydneysiders know where 90 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:28,740 that is to visit my brother who had a 91 00:04:32,870 --> 00:04:31,050 hip replacement operation very young man 92 00:04:34,879 --> 00:04:32,880 to have a hip replacement operation but 93 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:34,889 it wasn't working too well he's 94 00:04:40,190 --> 00:04:38,550 recovering very nicely and anyway on my 95 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:40,200 way into the hospital I noticed there 96 00:04:43,810 --> 00:04:42,450 was a big sort of impromptu market I 97 00:04:45,310 --> 00:04:43,820 suppose they have that every 98 00:04:48,610 --> 00:04:45,320 month or every couple of weeks I don't 99 00:04:50,740 --> 00:04:48,620 know really and you could buy socks and 100 00:04:53,140 --> 00:04:50,750 gadgets and all sorts of things selling 101 00:04:56,710 --> 00:04:53,150 them intense I was looking around and 102 00:05:01,900 --> 00:04:56,720 there was somebody selling detox foot 103 00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:01,910 patches and ear candles at a hospital 104 00:05:08,950 --> 00:05:06,110 ear candles so I looked at them and I 105 00:05:10,540 --> 00:05:08,960 looked a bit shocked and he looked at me 106 00:05:14,110 --> 00:05:10,550 and he said yeah they're here comes and 107 00:05:17,350 --> 00:05:14,120 I said really here and he said what are 108 00:05:21,700 --> 00:05:17,360 they too alternative for you um I said 109 00:05:24,670 --> 00:05:21,710 no they're too dangerous and I rattled 110 00:05:26,470 --> 00:05:24,680 off about eight quickfire reasons as to 111 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:26,480 why they're dangerous and not a good 112 00:05:32,980 --> 00:05:31,010 idea he was a little bit taken back and 113 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:32,990 but I didn't spend any time arguing with 114 00:05:36,580 --> 00:05:34,730 him I just told him the reasons and then 115 00:05:38,280 --> 00:05:36,590 I said I will let the hospital know that 116 00:05:40,780 --> 00:05:38,290 this is not a good thing and walked off 117 00:05:42,460 --> 00:05:40,790 so that's what i'll do i'll write to the 118 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:42,470 Prince of Wales hospital and say by the 119 00:05:48,220 --> 00:05:45,650 way you really shouldn't have somebody 120 00:05:51,430 --> 00:05:48,230 selling this major quackery and 121 00:05:56,050 --> 00:05:51,440 dangerous quietly to boot at a hospital 122 00:05:57,880 --> 00:05:56,060 well we do our best now this week's 123 00:06:00,940 --> 00:05:57,890 episode of the skeptic zone is one of 124 00:06:02,890 --> 00:06:00,950 those shorter ones i'm somewhat swamped 125 00:06:06,670 --> 00:06:02,900 at the moment I'm just about to fly out 126 00:06:07,750 --> 00:06:06,680 to California and there's other things 127 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:07,760 sort of happening in the background 128 00:06:11,530 --> 00:06:09,170 there so I hope you don't mind the 129 00:06:13,570 --> 00:06:11,540 slightly abbreviated skeptic zone always 130 00:06:17,110 --> 00:06:13,580 good content and of course we always 131 00:06:19,750 --> 00:06:17,120 think may nod for that and and don't 132 00:06:21,100 --> 00:06:19,760 forget don't forget as we keep reminding 133 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:21,110 you that the Australian skeptics 134 00:06:27,010 --> 00:06:23,570 national conventions coming up visit w 135 00:06:29,350 --> 00:06:27,020 WV skeptics wordpress com for more 136 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:29,360 information or skipped exams on TV hope 137 00:06:35,710 --> 00:06:33,650 to see you there cool all right far too 138 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:35,720 much out of me for this introduction 139 00:06:38,830 --> 00:06:37,490 maybe if I keep talking the show will be 140 00:06:40,990 --> 00:06:38,840 longer because the introduction on glory 141 00:06:43,030 --> 00:06:41,000 no no I won't do that at all I'm going 142 00:06:43,930 --> 00:06:43,040 to run downstairs folks I won't 143 00:06:46,300 --> 00:06:43,940 disappoint you i'm going to run 144 00:06:51,100 --> 00:06:46,310 downstairs i'm going to have some smoked 145 00:06:53,620 --> 00:06:51,110 salmon on toast smoked salmon on toast 146 00:06:54,450 --> 00:06:53,630 or locks i think they call it in north 147 00:06:57,570 --> 00:06:54,460 america 148 00:07:00,960 --> 00:06:57,580 a rose by any other name would taste as 149 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:00,970 yummy well I munch my salmon I'll let 150 00:07:25,839 --> 00:07:22,280 here's my not spooky action at a 151 00:07:31,459 --> 00:07:29,029 look why I'm here cynically near the 152 00:07:33,889 --> 00:07:31,469 men's toilets as look basically that's 153 00:07:35,239 --> 00:07:33,899 where the most truth add in women's 154 00:07:37,070 --> 00:07:35,249 toilets to cause basically the toilet is 155 00:07:39,290 --> 00:07:37,080 where people speak their mind and we're 156 00:07:42,079 --> 00:07:39,300 close enough to have the mind spoken of 157 00:07:43,730 --> 00:07:42,089 Shane how a shame I'm great thanks but I 158 00:07:45,829 --> 00:07:43,740 probably think of this used town I'm 159 00:07:48,469 --> 00:07:45,839 loving it I haven't gotten to compare it 160 00:07:50,389 --> 00:07:48,479 against it's my first one but it's been 161 00:07:53,809 --> 00:07:50,399 awesome I've been talking to so many 162 00:07:55,579 --> 00:07:53,819 just interesting intelligent people and 163 00:07:57,529 --> 00:07:55,589 the subject matters just something that 164 00:08:00,199 --> 00:07:57,539 I love it was you're based in South 165 00:08:02,540 --> 00:08:00,209 America now yeah and living in not only 166 00:08:05,119 --> 00:08:02,550 in Chile but in southern Chile in the 167 00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:05,129 the base of a volcano town called pick 168 00:08:10,249 --> 00:08:07,110 on can we call it chili or was that just 169 00:08:11,839 --> 00:08:10,259 an affectation like diversity no no 170 00:08:13,519 --> 00:08:11,849 that's what the Chilean score actually 171 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:13,529 okay good I'm not just making sure I get 172 00:08:17,089 --> 00:08:15,330 it right there and you've moved there 173 00:08:19,309 --> 00:08:17,099 and put you been working on rubato which 174 00:08:21,170 --> 00:08:19,319 sounds like a very interesting um it 175 00:08:23,629 --> 00:08:21,180 sounds kind of evil to take over the 176 00:08:25,369 --> 00:08:23,639 world i like it like like Skynet that's 177 00:08:28,159 --> 00:08:25,379 funny you mention that because when we 178 00:08:29,449 --> 00:08:28,169 were first developing it now sort of 179 00:08:31,549 --> 00:08:29,459 thinking of ways to market a way to 180 00:08:33,829 --> 00:08:31,559 reach out to people I had this vision of 181 00:08:34,939 --> 00:08:33,839 a comic with robota man running around 182 00:08:37,639 --> 00:08:34,949 punching people in the face saying 183 00:08:39,379 --> 00:08:37,649 you're wrong we haven't our worked on 184 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:39,389 that yet but I just had a visual of it 185 00:08:44,809 --> 00:08:41,370 since I've got a hollowed-out volcano 186 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:44,819 that you have your master plan sitting 187 00:08:49,850 --> 00:08:46,410 there stroking a white cat going world 188 00:08:52,670 --> 00:08:49,860 butter it will conquer all I think you 189 00:08:54,500 --> 00:08:52,680 just outlined our strategy but mighty 190 00:08:56,329 --> 00:08:54,510 that's a great elevator pitch yeah yeah 191 00:08:57,980 --> 00:08:56,339 no blonde one wow you've got a white cat 192 00:09:01,400 --> 00:08:57,990 and hold out volcano here's some money 193 00:09:03,980 --> 00:09:01,410 look what does this robot adieu okay I'm 194 00:09:06,860 --> 00:09:03,990 so we're building basically a database 195 00:09:08,389 --> 00:09:06,870 of connections between rebuttal articles 196 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:08,399 on the internet and the pages that 197 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:09,990 they're abutting so the first 198 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:11,730 implementation of this is a browser 199 00:09:16,579 --> 00:09:14,250 extension so you install it into chrome 200 00:09:17,750 --> 00:09:16,589 and as you're browsing the internet 201 00:09:20,059 --> 00:09:17,760 whenever you land on a page which has 202 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:20,069 been rebutted by someone somewhere on 203 00:09:24,439 --> 00:09:22,050 the internet and alert pops up saying 204 00:09:27,410 --> 00:09:24,449 this page is being rebutted and then you 205 00:09:28,850 --> 00:09:27,420 can click through on just on our button 206 00:09:31,249 --> 00:09:28,860 and it takes you through back that I 207 00:09:32,660 --> 00:09:31,259 takes you through to a page which argues 208 00:09:34,550 --> 00:09:32,670 precisely against the page you're 209 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:34,560 looking at so it delivers to you 210 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:36,689 opposing perspectives and it makes it 211 00:09:39,689 --> 00:09:38,410 really easy to follow through 212 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:39,699 that are happening between different 213 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:42,490 websites know now that can be incredibly 214 00:09:48,689 --> 00:09:45,730 subjective how does a computer algorithm 215 00:09:50,369 --> 00:09:48,699 do that yeah yeah it doesn't it's 216 00:09:52,680 --> 00:09:50,379 actually being attempted people have 217 00:09:54,540 --> 00:09:52,690 tried to do it but natural language 218 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:54,550 processing they call it isn't at that 219 00:09:58,470 --> 00:09:56,290 level yet so we can't write software 220 00:10:01,350 --> 00:09:58,480 that's good enough to identify context 221 00:10:04,530 --> 00:10:01,360 and intention so at this stage it'll 222 00:10:06,449 --> 00:10:04,540 crowd-sourced meaning we need a vibrant 223 00:10:08,179 --> 00:10:06,459 active community to help us out and now 224 00:10:10,980 --> 00:10:08,189 with that just necessarily be 225 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:10,990 extraordinary claims or could someone do 226 00:10:15,660 --> 00:10:12,970 a rebuttal to a peer-reviewed scientific 227 00:10:18,119 --> 00:10:15,670 article yeah it can be done to literally 228 00:10:20,460 --> 00:10:18,129 anything ideally anything that makes a 229 00:10:23,220 --> 00:10:20,470 claim so peer-reviewed scientific 230 00:10:25,949 --> 00:10:23,230 articles could be rebutted fire our 231 00:10:27,629 --> 00:10:25,959 system and equally like pages that are 232 00:10:30,360 --> 00:10:27,639 selling products could be rebutted so it 233 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:30,370 can be used on just any URL what are the 234 00:10:33,749 --> 00:10:31,810 arts and the humanities like you know 235 00:10:35,910 --> 00:10:33,759 you get a manor combo you and the 236 00:10:39,150 --> 00:10:35,920 rebuttal can be well he's not fine it 237 00:10:40,619 --> 00:10:39,160 could be done what we hope will happen 238 00:10:43,050 --> 00:10:40,629 is with a vibro community that would 239 00:10:45,689 --> 00:10:43,060 just vote that down so there's going to 240 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:45,699 be processes involved where if someone 241 00:10:48,449 --> 00:10:47,050 adds a rebuttal and it gets a lot of 242 00:10:49,590 --> 00:10:48,459 negative votes then it'll just be 243 00:10:53,550 --> 00:10:49,600 removed from it they will be hidden 244 00:10:55,410 --> 00:10:53,560 basically so there will be again the 245 00:10:59,280 --> 00:10:55,420 whole thing will be crowd-sourced so 246 00:11:02,569 --> 00:10:59,290 that the community decides the eye can 247 00:11:05,569 --> 00:11:02,579 see alternative practitioners crying a 248 00:11:09,030 --> 00:11:05,579 conspiracy and you know the you know the 249 00:11:11,850 --> 00:11:09,040 skeptics end they are against me with 250 00:11:14,639 --> 00:11:11,860 this new robotic evil thing yeah and I'm 251 00:11:16,860 --> 00:11:14,649 sure they will but and so you're going 252 00:11:18,389 --> 00:11:16,870 to figure out what pocket you're in some 253 00:11:20,009 --> 00:11:18,399 people are in the pocket of big farmer 254 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:20,019 you know so everyone's in the pocket of 255 00:11:22,650 --> 00:11:21,130 something so you can have to ask that 256 00:11:26,670 --> 00:11:22,660 again have to have one money when they 257 00:11:28,650 --> 00:11:26,680 ask you here yep III think I'll deny 258 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:28,660 everything I'm sure I'll be accused of 259 00:11:33,509 --> 00:11:30,970 it but um yeah the tool set up to be 260 00:11:36,090 --> 00:11:33,519 completely neutral so it's as effective 261 00:11:38,340 --> 00:11:36,100 as that community is so if you know the 262 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:38,350 cam bodies that are out there all that 263 00:11:41,699 --> 00:11:39,850 homeopaths and everything feel like 264 00:11:43,110 --> 00:11:41,709 they're being unfairly targeted then 265 00:11:44,460 --> 00:11:43,120 it's up to them to mobilize and 266 00:11:46,079 --> 00:11:44,470 participate and to add their own 267 00:11:47,519 --> 00:11:46,089 rebuttals and this is one of the things 268 00:11:48,650 --> 00:11:47,529 that a lot of skeptics are concerned 269 00:11:50,889 --> 00:11:48,660 about that 270 00:11:54,050 --> 00:11:50,899 her but it can be used just as he 271 00:11:56,569 --> 00:11:54,060 effectively arguably by homeopaths to 272 00:11:59,059 --> 00:11:56,579 rebut skeptical arguments but of course 273 00:12:00,829 --> 00:11:59,069 this is this is actually what I'm hoping 274 00:12:02,389 --> 00:12:00,839 for I want them to participate I want 275 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:02,399 them to add their rebuttals because that 276 00:12:06,019 --> 00:12:04,490 creates a discussion well yeah and and 277 00:12:07,730 --> 00:12:06,029 eventually that's what we're all about 278 00:12:09,259 --> 00:12:07,740 here we want to have a discussion bring 279 00:12:10,819 --> 00:12:09,269 the evidence out and have a look at it 280 00:12:12,860 --> 00:12:10,829 in the light yeah and that's it and I 281 00:12:14,509 --> 00:12:12,870 have absolute faith that if the 282 00:12:15,949 --> 00:12:14,519 homeopaths present their best arguments 283 00:12:18,050 --> 00:12:15,959 and the skeptics present their best 284 00:12:20,090 --> 00:12:18,060 arguments the end of the day skeptics 285 00:12:21,590 --> 00:12:20,100 going to come out tops but we need them 286 00:12:23,269 --> 00:12:21,600 to interact because at the moment the 287 00:12:26,179 --> 00:12:23,279 only people that read our arguments are 288 00:12:27,860 --> 00:12:26,189 us I want them interacting I want them 289 00:12:30,050 --> 00:12:27,870 participating and what's a good way to 290 00:12:31,490 --> 00:12:30,060 get the the every person to have this 291 00:12:33,170 --> 00:12:31,500 plug-in on their browser I guess maybe 292 00:12:34,699 --> 00:12:33,180 down the track you're looking at like an 293 00:12:35,900 --> 00:12:34,709 easy to install app on the phone or 294 00:12:37,939 --> 00:12:35,910 something like that that would make it 295 00:12:40,009 --> 00:12:37,949 easier for the regular person who's not 296 00:12:42,110 --> 00:12:40,019 going to participate but want to read 297 00:12:45,139 --> 00:12:42,120 both sides to have a look yeah yeah so 298 00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:45,149 that's exactly our ultimate goal so the 299 00:12:48,079 --> 00:12:46,290 stage right now is building the 300 00:12:49,610 --> 00:12:48,089 community that makes the network makes 301 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:49,620 what the links ads all the rebuttals we 302 00:12:54,199 --> 00:12:52,170 need to have that core of activity so 303 00:12:55,939 --> 00:12:54,209 that the average person has something to 304 00:12:57,710 --> 00:12:55,949 react to they need some content there to 305 00:13:00,259 --> 00:12:57,720 work with so we're starting at stage one 306 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:00,269 once we've got that then year we've got 307 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:02,370 quite a few plans in place to reach out 308 00:13:05,660 --> 00:13:04,050 to the average person and the great 309 00:13:06,980 --> 00:13:05,670 thing about you know we lump everyone is 310 00:13:09,980 --> 00:13:06,990 this average person sort of thing but 311 00:13:12,650 --> 00:13:09,990 everyone has an interest or am obsession 312 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:12,660 with some subject or another no I can't 313 00:13:20,809 --> 00:13:17,250 get enough erich von daniken yeah but 314 00:13:22,579 --> 00:13:20,819 like thanks I saw a blood thrown your 315 00:13:24,230 --> 00:13:22,589 your rather large eight brain off 316 00:13:27,650 --> 00:13:24,240 thereby by bringing down I don't know 317 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:27,660 who he is that's all right ok I you mean 318 00:13:32,960 --> 00:13:29,490 you are behaving as if Chariots of the 319 00:13:34,610 --> 00:13:32,970 Gods was never written sir I'm sorry get 320 00:13:37,370 --> 00:13:34,620 the error whichever God's I've offended 321 00:13:38,540 --> 00:13:37,380 and then that's okay and so yes so 322 00:13:40,129 --> 00:13:38,550 everyone's got their own thing 323 00:13:41,780 --> 00:13:40,139 everyone's got their own bugbear 324 00:13:43,549 --> 00:13:41,790 everyone's got their own whoo that gets 325 00:13:45,379 --> 00:13:43,559 their goat yeah and it doesn't have to 326 00:13:47,809 --> 00:13:45,389 be rude like a lot of people interested 327 00:13:49,879 --> 00:13:47,819 in politics and Roberta can be used for 328 00:13:52,939 --> 00:13:49,889 politics so someone who's you know a 329 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:52,949 staunch Democrat or Republican or 330 00:13:58,340 --> 00:13:56,610 liberal or labor whatever it is they may 331 00:13:59,960 --> 00:13:58,350 go in to participate in that debate they 332 00:14:01,700 --> 00:13:59,970 may install it so that they can have 333 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:01,710 their arguments presented 334 00:14:05,180 --> 00:14:04,050 to the other side of that debate and now 335 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:05,190 they've got it installed they'll be 336 00:14:10,430 --> 00:14:08,850 presented with skeptic arguments and how 337 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:10,440 does it look on your screen like so I go 338 00:14:15,380 --> 00:14:13,170 to to any page where halleloo rebuttals 339 00:14:17,300 --> 00:14:15,390 be made known to me we actually have an 340 00:14:19,100 --> 00:14:17,310 on-screen pop up so once you've 341 00:14:21,170 --> 00:14:19,110 installed it it just appears as a tiny 342 00:14:23,150 --> 00:14:21,180 little square in your browser you don't 343 00:14:25,610 --> 00:14:23,160 even notice it's there whenever you hit 344 00:14:26,690 --> 00:14:25,620 a page which has been rebutted a square 345 00:14:28,670 --> 00:14:26,700 pops up in the top right-hand corner 346 00:14:31,250 --> 00:14:28,680 it's quite out of the way but hopefully 347 00:14:32,450 --> 00:14:31,260 large enough that you notice it and it 348 00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:32,460 sits there for five seconds saying this 349 00:14:36,260 --> 00:14:34,710 has been reverted and then disappears so 350 00:14:37,670 --> 00:14:36,270 how do you go designing a graphic 351 00:14:39,470 --> 00:14:37,680 interface like that because like you 352 00:14:41,510 --> 00:14:39,480 said you want something that will get 353 00:14:42,770 --> 00:14:41,520 people's attention but you don't want 354 00:14:44,510 --> 00:14:42,780 something that's going to annoy them as 355 00:14:49,250 --> 00:14:44,520 they surf the net and eventually you 356 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:49,260 know unplug it yeah systematically it's 357 00:14:53,300 --> 00:14:50,730 a lot of testing and experimenting and 358 00:14:55,580 --> 00:14:53,310 seeing how people react at this point in 359 00:14:57,110 --> 00:14:55,590 time we've got one developer and he's 360 00:14:59,900 --> 00:14:57,120 working he's got his own job as well 361 00:15:02,990 --> 00:14:59,910 he's working as hard as he can e amazing 362 00:15:06,140 --> 00:15:03,000 guy and he's not sleeping a lot and he's 363 00:15:08,740 --> 00:15:06,150 drinking a lot of stimulants yeah if I 364 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:08,750 go into that it is South America 365 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:12,510 actually he's in Sydney but yeah it's 366 00:15:18,110 --> 00:15:15,930 South America yeah well I'm working 367 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:18,120 really hard on the whole thing and did 368 00:15:21,050 --> 00:15:19,290 you originally come from this from as 369 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:21,060 skeptical perspective or you came from 370 00:15:24,110 --> 00:15:22,890 it from a political perspective or you 371 00:15:26,150 --> 00:15:24,120 just thought you know we just need to 372 00:15:28,430 --> 00:15:26,160 get let people see a few more angles to 373 00:15:30,500 --> 00:15:28,440 any situation yeah mostly the last one 374 00:15:33,130 --> 00:15:30,510 quite honestly I came from from a very 375 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:33,140 personal perspective I was frustrated I 376 00:15:38,420 --> 00:15:36,050 read an article which happened to be on 377 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:38,430 anti-vaccination saying vaccines cause 378 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:41,730 illness and I read the study that it was 379 00:15:45,530 --> 00:15:44,010 based on and it study was complete 380 00:15:47,030 --> 00:15:45,540 rubbish and I have a background in 381 00:15:49,010 --> 00:15:47,040 molecular biology so I understand how 382 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:49,020 science works and I could just see right 383 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:50,490 through it but the problem was is that a 384 00:15:54,620 --> 00:15:52,890 friend on Facebook shared this article 385 00:15:57,500 --> 00:15:54,630 which means it's someone that I'm 386 00:15:58,730 --> 00:15:57,510 friends with thinks that this is a great 387 00:16:00,800 --> 00:15:58,740 idea and this is a great article and I 388 00:16:03,230 --> 00:16:00,810 really wanted to show them the problems 389 00:16:05,930 --> 00:16:03,240 with it and there's just no way on the 390 00:16:07,430 --> 00:16:05,940 internet to go I I want to see a 391 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:07,440 well-structured argument against what 392 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:09,570 I'm looking at Google doesn't provide 393 00:16:13,370 --> 00:16:10,890 anything like a Google is great for 394 00:16:15,420 --> 00:16:13,380 finding broad subject matters material 395 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:15,430 but when it comes to a specific 396 00:16:19,889 --> 00:16:17,290 wants to a specific thing it's really 397 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:19,899 inefficient out of that so I'm trying to 398 00:16:23,160 --> 00:16:21,310 address a problem which frustrated me 399 00:16:24,540 --> 00:16:23,170 literally for a year it took me a year 400 00:16:25,740 --> 00:16:24,550 to get to the point of actually doing 401 00:16:27,060 --> 00:16:25,750 anything about it because I was trying 402 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:27,070 to find someone else that had already 403 00:16:32,820 --> 00:16:30,730 done it mm so I'm look and look how can 404 00:16:34,170 --> 00:16:32,830 we find this and give you feedback on 405 00:16:36,510 --> 00:16:34,180 you know what we think of you plug in 406 00:16:41,250 --> 00:16:36,520 yeah so it said Roberto calm which is 407 00:16:44,790 --> 00:16:41,260 our b ut our calm just five letters 408 00:16:46,380 --> 00:16:44,800 hopefully easy to remember and doors do 409 00:16:49,139 --> 00:16:46,390 searching google for rebuttable work as 410 00:16:51,210 --> 00:16:49,149 well and then you can install it within 411 00:16:52,530 --> 00:16:51,220 a minute very easy to install and then 412 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:52,540 there are feedback systems in the 413 00:16:56,180 --> 00:16:54,610 program and there's a contact page of 414 00:17:00,389 --> 00:16:56,190 course as well so you can email me and 415 00:17:04,380 --> 00:17:00,399 yeah we're how are things for science 416 00:17:07,110 --> 00:17:04,390 and reason in chile how hopefully not 417 00:17:09,590 --> 00:17:07,120 offending anyone there still they have 418 00:17:12,510 --> 00:17:09,600 this very strong Catholic background and 419 00:17:14,460 --> 00:17:12,520 you know is it perhaps like Spain where 420 00:17:16,919 --> 00:17:14,470 Spain very strong Catholic background 421 00:17:18,299 --> 00:17:16,929 but people use it as more of a way of 422 00:17:20,340 --> 00:17:18,309 getting together in a societal thing 423 00:17:23,069 --> 00:17:20,350 rather than a belief in a creator that 424 00:17:24,360 --> 00:17:23,079 they think about constantly it's 425 00:17:25,799 --> 00:17:24,370 probably too soon for me to say I've 426 00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:25,809 only been there for a few months and I 427 00:17:29,549 --> 00:17:28,089 can't speak Spanish it but there's still 428 00:17:31,950 --> 00:17:29,559 a strong Catholic presence in their 429 00:17:35,190 --> 00:17:31,960 politics still having abortion debates 430 00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:35,200 all the time and and the gay rights have 431 00:17:37,890 --> 00:17:36,370 actually started coming up there as well 432 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:37,900 as everywhere else but the main thing 433 00:17:40,830 --> 00:17:39,250 that I noticed is walking around the 434 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:40,840 streets the number of natural health 435 00:17:45,900 --> 00:17:43,690 practitioners tarot card readers on the 436 00:17:47,790 --> 00:17:45,910 streets actually like busking tarot card 437 00:17:49,620 --> 00:17:47,800 readers on the sidewalk when you look 438 00:17:51,660 --> 00:17:49,630 after them is this partially due to the 439 00:17:53,790 --> 00:17:51,670 effects of a dual economy as they would 440 00:17:56,250 --> 00:17:53,800 definitely have yeah yeah almost 441 00:17:58,380 --> 00:17:56,260 certainly but it's still it's shocking 442 00:17:59,490 --> 00:17:58,390 coming from Australia and landing in a 443 00:18:01,080 --> 00:17:59,500 country where people sitting on the 444 00:18:03,630 --> 00:18:01,090 sidewalk getting tarot cards read it's 445 00:18:07,140 --> 00:18:03,640 like you sort of want to scream at them 446 00:18:09,570 --> 00:18:07,150 okay what are you doing but it's quite 447 00:18:10,919 --> 00:18:09,580 common there okay and how long can you 448 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:10,929 see yourself staying that I mean is it 449 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:12,250 the kind of country you will fall in 450 00:18:18,030 --> 00:18:16,090 love with you think I don't know every 451 00:18:19,110 --> 00:18:18,040 country has got their good things and 452 00:18:21,090 --> 00:18:19,120 they're bad things it's definitely got a 453 00:18:22,770 --> 00:18:21,100 lot of geographic beauty where we're 454 00:18:25,650 --> 00:18:22,780 living as I mentioned is at the foot of 455 00:18:27,330 --> 00:18:25,660 a volcano on the 20 minute drive to ski 456 00:18:28,110 --> 00:18:27,340 field where you have your secret roboto 457 00:18:31,020 --> 00:18:28,120 base 458 00:18:32,610 --> 00:18:31,030 it's under construction right so leave 459 00:18:36,090 --> 00:18:32,620 those you've got the first couple of 460 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:36,100 steps done here actually I inspected the 461 00:18:40,230 --> 00:18:37,090 side I walked at the top of the volcano 462 00:18:43,590 --> 00:18:40,240 and looked down the hole but yeah that 463 00:18:45,510 --> 00:18:43,600 is so cool so as yet Tia graphically 464 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:45,520 it's an amazing country now this is the 465 00:18:49,230 --> 00:18:47,530 kind of this almost like grassroots 466 00:18:51,060 --> 00:18:49,240 activism because you saw something that 467 00:18:54,270 --> 00:18:51,070 needs to be done and you went ahead and 468 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:54,280 designed it what made that leap you said 469 00:18:56,940 --> 00:18:55,450 you saw that article that really pissed 470 00:18:59,220 --> 00:18:56,950 you off that you really want to see 471 00:19:00,960 --> 00:18:59,230 something um most people got yet and 472 00:19:02,460 --> 00:19:00,970 then they go back to watching a current 473 00:19:04,650 --> 00:19:02,470 affair or something like that or you 474 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:04,660 know it Australia's biggest loser which 475 00:19:08,460 --> 00:19:06,490 is usually me so I don't why people are 476 00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:08,470 watching that but to what what is that 477 00:19:11,850 --> 00:19:09,910 what is the thing that drives you to 478 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:11,860 actually get up off your bahini and go 479 00:19:15,030 --> 00:19:13,330 and do something then I get passionate 480 00:19:17,430 --> 00:19:15,040 about something for a period of time and 481 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:17,440 I work my butt off on it because I it 482 00:19:22,530 --> 00:19:21,130 feels worthwhile to me I am if anything 483 00:19:23,970 --> 00:19:22,540 i struggle with just sort of sitting 484 00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:23,980 down and doing monotonous boring things 485 00:19:27,390 --> 00:19:25,510 repetitively what I'm great at is going 486 00:19:31,380 --> 00:19:27,400 that needs doing and getting on with it 487 00:19:32,970 --> 00:19:31,390 and in this particular case like I said 488 00:19:34,170 --> 00:19:32,980 spent a year trying to find some ones 489 00:19:35,550 --> 00:19:34,180 that did it done it for me you already 490 00:19:38,610 --> 00:19:35,560 because I was busy enough working on 491 00:19:40,650 --> 00:19:38,620 other projects I had and then the you're 492 00:19:42,690 --> 00:19:40,660 suggesting that we we harness oh right 493 00:19:45,030 --> 00:19:42,700 just ignatian while it's at its height 494 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:45,040 and rider yeah and then because what 495 00:19:49,530 --> 00:19:47,890 happened is I actually kept coming back 496 00:19:51,690 --> 00:19:49,540 to me the idea kept coming back for that 497 00:19:52,740 --> 00:19:51,700 year and then one day I was sitting 498 00:19:54,540 --> 00:19:52,750 there I was meant to be working on 499 00:19:58,340 --> 00:19:54,550 another project with another business 500 00:20:00,480 --> 00:19:58,350 that I have and I spent a weekend like 501 00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:00,490 obsessing over the idea I couldn't get 502 00:20:04,410 --> 00:20:02,050 on my head no it I know what to do I'll 503 00:20:06,540 --> 00:20:04,420 write a blog post about it and I threw 504 00:20:08,340 --> 00:20:06,550 the idea out there I wrote everything I 505 00:20:09,540 --> 00:20:08,350 had planned what I wanted to do how I 506 00:20:10,830 --> 00:20:09,550 wanted it to work where I thought it 507 00:20:12,030 --> 00:20:10,840 would go and all the reasons I thought 508 00:20:13,860 --> 00:20:12,040 it would fail because there's a lot of 509 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:13,870 difficulties with it it sounds quite 510 00:20:18,030 --> 00:20:15,730 straight forward by the implementation 511 00:20:20,340 --> 00:20:18,040 there's a lot of them a lot of troubles 512 00:20:23,340 --> 00:20:20,350 and so I wrote it and I said he someone 513 00:20:26,580 --> 00:20:23,350 go do this I'm too busy and that's when 514 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:26,590 I had yeah friend contact me that's a 515 00:20:29,150 --> 00:20:27,850 program we said you know it sounds like 516 00:20:32,070 --> 00:20:29,160 a great idea i'm going to build it and 517 00:20:33,540 --> 00:20:32,080 so we just partnered up and he made it 518 00:20:35,100 --> 00:20:33,550 really quite quickly like a prototype 519 00:20:37,710 --> 00:20:35,110 something that basically worked and 520 00:20:40,140 --> 00:20:37,720 they're just the feedback we got from 521 00:20:42,810 --> 00:20:40,150 that first stage was just overwhelming 522 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:42,820 I could see use for this in augmented 523 00:20:46,770 --> 00:20:44,950 reality for example i'm rather proudly 524 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:46,780 wearing a spice girls t-shirt if you had 525 00:20:50,460 --> 00:20:48,610 some augmented reality glasses you could 526 00:20:52,500 --> 00:20:50,470 do that a real time rebuttal with the 527 00:20:54,900 --> 00:20:52,510 glasses couldn't you going that's not 528 00:20:57,090 --> 00:20:54,910 needed in life yeah maybe in the future 529 00:20:58,620 --> 00:20:57,100 is it's you never know how technology is 530 00:20:59,730 --> 00:20:58,630 going to be used and that's that's one 531 00:21:02,520 --> 00:20:59,740 of the cool things that's you know 532 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:02,530 dawned on me over time is you know we've 533 00:21:06,030 --> 00:21:04,690 built the whole idea start off is this 534 00:21:08,390 --> 00:21:06,040 browser plugin but that's not what we're 535 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:08,400 building we are building a database of 536 00:21:13,020 --> 00:21:10,930 connections between you know 537 00:21:14,850 --> 00:21:13,030 relationship relational diagram between 538 00:21:16,500 --> 00:21:14,860 rebuttals on the internet and how that's 539 00:21:19,110 --> 00:21:16,510 going to be used even we don't know 540 00:21:21,060 --> 00:21:19,120 someone else will see this resource and 541 00:21:23,700 --> 00:21:21,070 go you know I can do with it I can make 542 00:21:25,830 --> 00:21:23,710 yeah it's vigilant usually showing the 543 00:21:27,030 --> 00:21:25,840 genies out of the bottle now yeah but 544 00:21:28,230 --> 00:21:27,040 it's the thing we've still got to build 545 00:21:30,570 --> 00:21:28,240 it we still got to build that database 546 00:21:32,730 --> 00:21:30,580 and that's all working on now and with a 547 00:21:35,580 --> 00:21:32,740 bit of help will get there and then yeah 548 00:21:37,710 --> 00:21:35,590 over time is up Eon opportunity to be 549 00:21:39,510 --> 00:21:37,720 had for all sorts of people so get to 550 00:21:44,370 --> 00:21:39,520 that website and make your voice down 551 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:44,380 yeah I'm ramata Roboto com RB you TR and 552 00:21:53,510 --> 00:21:51,830 when we're here in the in the bar which 553 00:21:54,830 --> 00:21:53,520 has become the skeptics power up someone 554 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:54,840 just came up to me who's a-lister to the 555 00:21:59,390 --> 00:21:57,210 show where were you from Alexandria 556 00:22:03,080 --> 00:21:59,400 Virginia Wow and how did you discover 557 00:22:04,730 --> 00:22:03,090 the skeptic zone I probably through the 558 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:04,740 skeptics guide to the universe I'm 559 00:22:08,570 --> 00:22:06,690 guessing for Richard Saunders Richard 560 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:08,580 Saunders being a guest road I know I got 561 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:10,890 into skeptics on like a year or so ago 562 00:22:15,500 --> 00:22:12,450 and I just went back to the beginning 563 00:22:17,510 --> 00:22:15,510 and listen to all of them from now quite 564 00:22:19,550 --> 00:22:17,520 a podcast listener and but what bore 565 00:22:22,580 --> 00:22:19,560 even to skepticism as well why why did 566 00:22:24,950 --> 00:22:22,590 you turn up at a place like town I I got 567 00:22:28,070 --> 00:22:24,960 first started in skepticism I was 568 00:22:30,500 --> 00:22:28,080 reading psychology books in elementary 569 00:22:32,410 --> 00:22:30,510 school and middle school and I went up 570 00:22:36,380 --> 00:22:32,420 reading Elizabeth Loftus his book on 571 00:22:38,690 --> 00:22:36,390 repressed memories oh yes and from that 572 00:22:41,240 --> 00:22:38,700 I got interested and I wound up taking a 573 00:22:44,180 --> 00:22:41,250 course called science and pseudoscience 574 00:22:47,570 --> 00:22:44,190 in college which turned out to be taught 575 00:22:51,620 --> 00:22:47,580 by chip Denman who is on the board of 576 00:22:53,930 --> 00:22:51,630 directors for the jrf and I threw that I 577 00:22:57,170 --> 00:22:53,940 got involved with skepticism I'm wound 578 00:23:00,320 --> 00:22:57,180 up coming out here and seeing him and 579 00:23:01,490 --> 00:23:00,330 his group put on the Tim I've been 580 00:23:03,830 --> 00:23:01,500 asking everybody what their favorite 581 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:03,840 paranormal is or the one they love two 582 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:09,450 hate the most what's yours I guess it 583 00:23:15,500 --> 00:23:12,570 would have to be it'd probably be like 584 00:23:17,930 --> 00:23:15,510 anything to do with medical stuff 585 00:23:21,230 --> 00:23:17,940 because I work in a hospital and when I 586 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:21,240 see stuff going around right here stuff 587 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:23,970 from my co-workers I this leads me to my 588 00:23:26,540 --> 00:23:25,410 next question which is always a good one 589 00:23:28,610 --> 00:23:26,550 for skeptics when you're in the 590 00:23:31,460 --> 00:23:28,620 workplace and you can't tell anybody 591 00:23:33,110 --> 00:23:31,470 that hard my french that they're in the 592 00:23:36,180 --> 00:23:33,120 head how do you actually do that 593 00:23:38,970 --> 00:23:36,190 politely in the USA 594 00:23:41,249 --> 00:23:38,980 oh yeah I've had a lot of those 595 00:23:44,549 --> 00:23:41,259 conversations and trying to think what 596 00:23:47,490 --> 00:23:44,559 if I'd done I'm sometimes I'll talk 597 00:23:49,590 --> 00:23:47,500 about some I'll tell them that I'm going 598 00:23:51,330 --> 00:23:49,600 to look something up and I'll tell them 599 00:23:53,159 --> 00:23:51,340 that I found something online and show 600 00:23:54,779 --> 00:23:53,169 it to them how does that usually work 601 00:23:57,869 --> 00:23:54,789 out of a bit stubborn or what are they 602 00:24:00,389 --> 00:23:57,879 happy to take criticism um it depends on 603 00:24:03,899 --> 00:24:00,399 the issue some stuff they'll be really 604 00:24:06,299 --> 00:24:03,909 really stuck on like if it's like I had 605 00:24:09,299 --> 00:24:06,309 one co-worker tell me about we were 606 00:24:11,879 --> 00:24:09,309 talking about diets and sort of health 607 00:24:13,409 --> 00:24:11,889 stuff about losing weight and she said I 608 00:24:16,470 --> 00:24:13,419 don't care if it's dangerous as long as 609 00:24:17,789 --> 00:24:16,480 I look good hmm and I was like I guess 610 00:24:19,860 --> 00:24:17,799 it was it will this submission some 611 00:24:21,299 --> 00:24:19,870 amphetamines over here you cannot eat 612 00:24:24,419 --> 00:24:21,309 and take them for a week you look really 613 00:24:25,980 --> 00:24:24,429 thin I can't argue with that so I just 614 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:25,990 I'm like okay that's a conversation I 615 00:24:31,700 --> 00:24:29,850 can leave but in another kind of 616 00:24:34,889 --> 00:24:31,710 conversation like if they start 617 00:24:36,690 --> 00:24:34,899 spreading some sort of urban legend or 618 00:24:38,970 --> 00:24:36,700 something I can look that up and show 619 00:24:40,799 --> 00:24:38,980 them that that's not bad or they started 620 00:24:42,990 --> 00:24:40,809 talking about saugus disease because 621 00:24:46,850 --> 00:24:43,000 that became somebody put out an article 622 00:24:50,519 --> 00:24:46,860 saying Jacques diseases the new aids and 623 00:24:52,590 --> 00:24:50,529 yep and I was able to tell him like no 624 00:24:55,169 --> 00:24:52,600 it's if we don't have the insects that 625 00:24:56,369 --> 00:24:55,179 spread it in our part of the u.s. you're 626 00:24:58,649 --> 00:24:56,379 probably not going to get it it's not 627 00:25:01,529 --> 00:24:58,659 aids and I showed him some of the 628 00:25:04,169 --> 00:25:01,539 articles about it and they weren't 629 00:25:06,389 --> 00:25:04,179 freaked out about that anymore so so how 630 00:25:07,710 --> 00:25:06,399 do you go watching us television because 631 00:25:10,019 --> 00:25:07,720 some it's been a few days since I've 632 00:25:12,749 --> 00:25:10,029 been here the television is full of ads 633 00:25:13,649 --> 00:25:12,759 for drugs which from pharmaceutical 634 00:25:15,789 --> 00:25:13,659 companies which we don't have in 635 00:25:18,289 --> 00:25:15,799 Australia they don't allow that yeah 636 00:25:20,450 --> 00:25:18,299 and so it everyone must get very 637 00:25:22,909 --> 00:25:20,460 paranoid this antidepressant says you're 638 00:25:24,049 --> 00:25:22,919 too fat you're too skinny all these ads 639 00:25:26,060 --> 00:25:24,059 so you must be shaking your fist 640 00:25:29,810 --> 00:25:26,070 throwing stuff in the Lambs room at the 641 00:25:32,479 --> 00:25:29,820 telly and I we went we have a TiVo so we 642 00:25:34,969 --> 00:25:32,489 don't really watch commercials but my 643 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:34,979 boyfriend does get frustrated with me 644 00:25:38,779 --> 00:25:36,450 because I'll start yelling at the TV if 645 00:25:40,729 --> 00:25:38,789 we do get stuck watching something that 646 00:25:43,310 --> 00:25:40,739 is starts talking about stuff like that 647 00:25:45,609 --> 00:25:43,320 where I'll just be like like that's not 648 00:25:47,930 --> 00:25:45,619 make sounds like that's really wrong and 649 00:25:49,519 --> 00:25:47,940 have you got any guilty pleasures is 650 00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:49,529 there a show you like to watch this kind 651 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:51,450 of amusing because it's so wrong than 652 00:25:54,799 --> 00:25:53,129 like your watch dr. oz every once in a 653 00:25:57,680 --> 00:25:54,809 while or would you tune into an episode 654 00:26:01,369 --> 00:25:57,690 of ancient aliens one of my favorites my 655 00:26:04,369 --> 00:26:01,379 my guilty pleasure would be not in the 656 00:26:08,299 --> 00:26:04,379 sort of war room but uh america's next 657 00:26:10,489 --> 00:26:08,309 top model which i'm also i mean it does 658 00:26:15,999 --> 00:26:10,499 have its moments like they sent them to 659 00:26:17,810 --> 00:26:16,009 a have their horoscopes done in in I 660 00:26:19,279 --> 00:26:17,820 can't remember oh they went this year 661 00:26:20,659 --> 00:26:19,289 but whatever country they went to they 662 00:26:22,940 --> 00:26:20,669 had them do horoscopes and talk about 663 00:26:26,299 --> 00:26:22,950 how they were so right on and they had 664 00:26:28,430 --> 00:26:26,309 to dress to fit their horoscope and also 665 00:26:30,259 --> 00:26:28,440 it's almost the anti skeptical 666 00:26:32,839 --> 00:26:30,269 intellectual way because it's a person 667 00:26:35,659 --> 00:26:32,849 who is physically the most superficial 668 00:26:36,829 --> 00:26:35,669 that's going to do better even though 669 00:26:39,049 --> 00:26:36,839 they have to have a professional outlook 670 00:26:41,329 --> 00:26:39,059 it's all about superficiality and being 671 00:26:43,279 --> 00:26:41,339 able to pretend you're superficial yeah 672 00:26:45,079 --> 00:26:43,289 it's totally shallow and you'll see 673 00:26:47,149 --> 00:26:45,089 people talking about that they left 674 00:26:49,159 --> 00:26:47,159 college or med school to take a break 675 00:26:50,629 --> 00:26:49,169 and do this and you're like that was 676 00:26:53,719 --> 00:26:50,639 terrible and then there you know 677 00:26:57,320 --> 00:26:53,729 fighting over some stupid thing and you 678 00:27:01,639 --> 00:26:57,330 know it's my is my one thing I was ten 679 00:27:04,519 --> 00:27:01,649 this year been for you 2012 I enjoyed a 680 00:27:06,409 --> 00:27:04,529 lot of the panels um I've did you see 681 00:27:08,419 --> 00:27:06,419 dr. rate she doing her stuff you see 682 00:27:10,820 --> 00:27:08,429 Richard Saunders putting it out there 683 00:27:13,249 --> 00:27:10,830 like the man is I did I saw both of them 684 00:27:15,829 --> 00:27:13,259 and i went to see dr. H II in her 685 00:27:16,430 --> 00:27:15,839 workshop the first day too I saw her 686 00:27:19,370 --> 00:27:16,440 last year 687 00:27:21,830 --> 00:27:19,380 you and and I saw them at Saipan last 688 00:27:23,780 --> 00:27:21,840 year so I run into them a fair amount 689 00:27:25,250 --> 00:27:23,790 and huh any chance you're coming down 690 00:27:27,140 --> 00:27:25,260 Australian seeing how we do it in the 691 00:27:29,150 --> 00:27:27,150 real world down there oh we would love 692 00:27:31,610 --> 00:27:29,160 to once we can get up the money to do it 693 00:27:35,690 --> 00:27:31,620 yeah it's a long and often expensive 694 00:27:37,700 --> 00:27:35,700 trip and definitely in the on the wish 695 00:27:38,990 --> 00:27:37,710 list of places to go I'd love to go 696 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:39,000 there and how did you know it was me by 697 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:40,110 the way because you don't even listen to 698 00:27:45,020 --> 00:27:41,730 the skeptics own podcast how did you 699 00:27:47,150 --> 00:27:45,030 recognize me hi you I've seen you 700 00:27:50,690 --> 00:27:47,160 sitting at the table and you do have a 701 00:27:55,450 --> 00:27:50,700 name tag around her neck of course now 702 00:27:57,890 --> 00:27:55,460 silly excuse my cognitive dissidence I 703 00:28:00,200 --> 00:27:57,900 was also going to say this that just 704 00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:00,210 reminded me with the M advertising with 705 00:28:04,130 --> 00:28:02,310 drug companies is it's actually gotten a 706 00:28:06,050 --> 00:28:04,140 lot better in the US oh really in the 707 00:28:08,780 --> 00:28:06,060 past the drug companies could give out a 708 00:28:11,900 --> 00:28:08,790 lot of freebies to doctors and pretty 709 00:28:13,700 --> 00:28:11,910 much all your pens would be from drug 710 00:28:17,510 --> 00:28:13,710 companies and my mom's an internist and 711 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:17,520 she had all sorts of free ends and she 712 00:28:21,860 --> 00:28:19,410 wound up at one point getting a bunch of 713 00:28:23,780 --> 00:28:21,870 free stuff from viagra I actually bought 714 00:28:25,820 --> 00:28:23,790 a viagra pen with me and had a sort of a 715 00:28:28,970 --> 00:28:25,830 leopard print on it was fantastic well 716 00:28:30,950 --> 00:28:28,980 she got a wall clock yes is it rid of 717 00:28:32,630 --> 00:28:30,960 what I'm not I'm not sure she gave it to 718 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:32,640 her brother as a joke because not 719 00:28:36,230 --> 00:28:34,170 because I put it up in the office at 720 00:28:37,820 --> 00:28:36,240 work it's my clock at work well this is 721 00:28:40,970 --> 00:28:37,830 my favorite part though is what viagra 722 00:28:43,070 --> 00:28:40,980 gave her a planter with like a little 723 00:28:44,230 --> 00:28:43,080 plant inside to that you were supposed 724 00:28:47,530 --> 00:28:44,240 to grow yeah 725 00:28:48,820 --> 00:28:47,540 the plant diet well someone hasn't done 726 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:48,830 their double-blind test on that have 727 00:28:53,910 --> 00:28:51,410 that now so we were a little worried 728 00:28:55,930 --> 00:28:53,920 about a viagra after the planter died 729 00:28:58,360 --> 00:28:55,940 thank you very much having a chat to us 730 00:29:02,770 --> 00:28:58,370 enjoy what little is left of Tam Tony 12 731 00:29:04,180 --> 00:29:02,780 thank you so much nice meeting you well 732 00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:04,190 just walking along here and then 733 00:29:09,549 --> 00:29:07,610 suddenly surly remix we run spots for 734 00:29:12,220 --> 00:29:09,559 this on the skeptic zone who we got here 735 00:29:14,020 --> 00:29:12,230 hi I'm Amy Davis Roth a lot of people 736 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:14,030 know me as surly Amy I'm one of the 737 00:29:18,430 --> 00:29:16,130 writers for skeptic I'm also managing 738 00:29:20,140 --> 00:29:18,440 editor for a blog called mad art lab 739 00:29:22,870 --> 00:29:20,150 which is about the intersection between 740 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:22,880 art science and skepticism know what 741 00:29:26,260 --> 00:29:24,890 would you describe that in one sentence 742 00:29:28,930 --> 00:29:26,270 there but what would that in Section B 743 00:29:30,370 --> 00:29:28,940 well it's all about communication and 744 00:29:33,010 --> 00:29:30,380 it's about being part of a larger 745 00:29:35,380 --> 00:29:33,020 community so we do we see like a lot of 746 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:35,390 work where artists are trying to explain 747 00:29:40,030 --> 00:29:38,210 the basic scientific processes for 748 00:29:41,919 --> 00:29:40,040 example someone will do a comic that 749 00:29:43,630 --> 00:29:41,929 will explain the Higgs boson and the 750 00:29:46,630 --> 00:29:43,640 search for the Higgs so you can take a 751 00:29:48,370 --> 00:29:46,640 very complex you know scientific idea 752 00:29:50,410 --> 00:29:48,380 and simplify it into art and that way 753 00:29:52,660 --> 00:29:50,420 lay people can understand it better and 754 00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:52,670 what's most difficult jewelry to 755 00:29:56,950 --> 00:29:54,710 represent what's the most I mean let's 756 00:29:59,350 --> 00:29:56,960 see ya entropy that's a pretty hard one 757 00:30:00,880 --> 00:29:59,360 to get across in jewelry a quantum 758 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:00,890 entanglement that's pretty difficult to 759 00:30:04,360 --> 00:30:02,690 and less the badge swap sides or 760 00:30:06,940 --> 00:30:04,370 something wrong that's very good point 761 00:30:08,680 --> 00:30:06,950 actually quantum electrodynamics things 762 00:30:11,669 --> 00:30:08,690 like that are very difficult but we have 763 00:30:14,770 --> 00:30:11,679 things like Fineman diagrams so we can 764 00:30:16,270 --> 00:30:14,780 explain you know a very complex idea in 765 00:30:17,770 --> 00:30:16,280 a very simple design so i'll have a 766 00:30:20,169 --> 00:30:17,780 fireman diagram which is this a drawing 767 00:30:21,820 --> 00:30:20,179 that shows a positron and an electron 768 00:30:23,169 --> 00:30:21,830 annihilating into a photon and then i've 769 00:30:24,910 --> 00:30:23,179 turned that into a necklace that you can 770 00:30:26,049 --> 00:30:24,920 wear around your neck so when you meet 771 00:30:27,820 --> 00:30:26,059 people that don't understand quantum 772 00:30:29,620 --> 00:30:27,830 electrodynamics i can see that and you 773 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:29,630 can spark up a conversation and explain 774 00:30:32,350 --> 00:30:31,250 a little bit of science to them yes 775 00:30:33,430 --> 00:30:32,360 because when it was it when i first 776 00:30:36,250 --> 00:30:33,440 heard on this yep there's an event where 777 00:30:38,470 --> 00:30:36,260 how what was the skeptical jewelry now 778 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:38,480 what is one that you've almost done and 779 00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:39,890 hasn't quite worked you got to take it 780 00:30:42,820 --> 00:30:41,510 back to the artistic drawing board i 781 00:30:44,919 --> 00:30:42,830 think i've had a little bit of 782 00:30:46,780 --> 00:30:44,929 difficulty doing some of the fossils 783 00:30:48,460 --> 00:30:46,790 because nature it does a really good job 784 00:30:49,850 --> 00:30:48,470 of preserving them but it's difficult to 785 00:30:51,110 --> 00:30:49,860 redraw them and recreate 786 00:30:52,340 --> 00:30:51,120 them so that's something that I'm 787 00:30:55,820 --> 00:30:52,350 working on right now I'm doing a lot of 788 00:30:57,740 --> 00:30:55,830 ammonites and I do like Lucy the Lucy 789 00:30:59,360 --> 00:30:57,750 fossil and trilobite things like that 790 00:31:01,400 --> 00:30:59,370 those I'm working on but they're still 791 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:01,410 fun and they're coming along nicely I 792 00:31:05,210 --> 00:31:03,330 thought I think fractals are a very 793 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:05,220 beautiful interesting thing and what do 794 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:06,330 you think is the most beautiful thing in 795 00:31:09,860 --> 00:31:08,850 nature oh wow I know it's a very tough 796 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:09,870 question that would be absolutely 797 00:31:14,330 --> 00:31:12,090 impossible to decide in fact I'm so 798 00:31:15,799 --> 00:31:14,340 inspired by science and nature that 799 00:31:17,150 --> 00:31:15,809 that's what I base all my designs on 800 00:31:18,560 --> 00:31:17,160 let's narrow it down a bit what do you 801 00:31:21,740 --> 00:31:18,570 think is the most beautiful thing under 802 00:31:25,430 --> 00:31:21,750 a microscope oh I'm a big fan of 803 00:31:27,890 --> 00:31:25,440 bacteria yeah i do i love bacteria and 804 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:27,900 little single cells and because the most 805 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:30,090 biological samples are very colorful or 806 00:31:34,310 --> 00:31:32,610 can be made colorful yeah absolutely i'm 807 00:31:36,350 --> 00:31:34,320 a big fan of that and color theory is 808 00:31:38,720 --> 00:31:36,360 really important to my work too so I I 809 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:38,730 do like the color for pieces a lot I'm 810 00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:40,650 just looking at the the powers of colors 811 00:31:44,900 --> 00:31:42,090 you've got there on the jewelry and now 812 00:31:47,330 --> 00:31:44,910 I'm trying to find a pattern and I can't 813 00:31:48,980 --> 00:31:47,340 really find a pattern or a color one 814 00:31:50,539 --> 00:31:48,990 thing I can't see is I can't see any 815 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:50,549 really really bright red you've got a 816 00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:52,410 couple of strong Reds now why is that 817 00:31:56,180 --> 00:31:54,090 that is because when you work with 818 00:31:59,270 --> 00:31:56,190 ceramics and your heating the material 819 00:32:00,830 --> 00:31:59,280 up to about 2,000 degrees or higher you 820 00:32:03,530 --> 00:32:00,840 have a really hard time holding on to 821 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:03,540 the color red and a lot of it is made 822 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:06,090 from lead and led is something that you 823 00:32:09,770 --> 00:32:08,010 can't really use in a lot of products 824 00:32:11,570 --> 00:32:09,780 because it's dangerous so that's why 825 00:32:14,030 --> 00:32:11,580 it's very difficult to find really 826 00:32:15,500 --> 00:32:14,040 bright reds and ceramics yeah and the 827 00:32:17,090 --> 00:32:15,510 way can we go online and find this and 828 00:32:20,049 --> 00:32:17,100 make some comments on your work go I 829 00:32:24,950 --> 00:32:20,059 look that's not a photorealistic photon 830 00:32:28,039 --> 00:32:24,960 please go to surly romics com s URL yr 831 00:32:29,900 --> 00:32:28,049 am I CFS calm and please leave any 832 00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:29,910 comments and tell me what you think I 833 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:31,410 should make for my newest designs I'd 834 00:32:33,980 --> 00:32:32,730 love to hear from you from and I hope 835 00:32:35,630 --> 00:32:33,990 that you have a really great time at 836 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:35,640 your first time it's a great crowd of 837 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:52,620 the Canadian public has been poorly 838 00:32:56,280 --> 00:32:54,370 served by a government which displays 839 00:32:59,970 --> 00:32:56,290 little respect for objectivity and 840 00:33:01,680 --> 00:32:59,980 science Canadians are taking advantage 841 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:01,690 of through weak consumer protection 842 00:33:05,610 --> 00:33:03,610 regulations that allow the sale of 843 00:33:08,010 --> 00:33:05,620 products and services that don't work 844 00:33:09,419 --> 00:33:08,020 and our media is all too willing to 845 00:33:11,460 --> 00:33:09,429 report dubious claims without 846 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:11,470 examination if it will attract readers 847 00:33:17,730 --> 00:33:15,490 and sell advertising individual freedom 848 00:33:19,740 --> 00:33:17,740 of choice is being jeopardized as the 849 00:33:22,799 --> 00:33:19,750 unscrupulous or misinformed attempt to 850 00:33:26,460 --> 00:33:22,809 influence our important decisions it's 851 00:33:28,830 --> 00:33:26,470 time for a change bad science watches a 852 00:33:31,230 --> 00:33:28,840 new activist organization that will 853 00:33:33,150 --> 00:33:31,240 challenge the media advertisers and 854 00:33:34,620 --> 00:33:33,160 politicians when they promote unsound 855 00:33:38,580 --> 00:33:34,630 signs that can threaten the well-being 856 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:38,590 of Canadians we will provide analysis of 857 00:33:43,950 --> 00:33:41,410 dubious scientific claims to you our 858 00:33:45,810 --> 00:33:43,960 government and the media and campaign 859 00:33:49,350 --> 00:33:45,820 for policy decisions based on the best 860 00:33:52,200 --> 00:33:49,360 evidence available we will take action 861 00:33:53,790 --> 00:33:52,210 to pressure politicians to enforce and 862 00:33:55,310 --> 00:33:53,800 strengthen consumer protection 863 00:33:56,780 --> 00:33:55,320 regulation 864 00:34:00,290 --> 00:33:56,790 we will stand against the exploitation 865 00:34:04,910 --> 00:34:00,300 of you and your family by the peddlers 866 00:34:06,710 --> 00:34:04,920 of bad science you can help us donate 867 00:34:09,140 --> 00:34:06,720 our pledge to support our campaigns and 868 00:34:11,870 --> 00:34:09,150 research efforts join our mailing list 869 00:34:15,220 --> 00:34:11,880 to receive action alerts and help effect 870 00:34:19,780 --> 00:34:15,230 real change tell your friends about us 871 00:34:25,130 --> 00:34:19,790 find out more at bat science watch see a 872 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:25,140 bad science watch important issues Sam 873 00:34:51,210 --> 00:34:48,480 predicting is so predictable December in 874 00:34:53,669 --> 00:34:51,220 January are generally slow news months 875 00:34:56,250 --> 00:34:53,679 in Australia the Polly's have gone home 876 00:34:58,860 --> 00:34:56,260 the cricket is on TV and we can find 877 00:35:01,110 --> 00:34:58,870 time to relax it can be a testing time 878 00:35:04,170 --> 00:35:01,120 for the media with column inches and 879 00:35:07,710 --> 00:35:04,180 tabloid TV segments to fill but all is 880 00:35:09,780 --> 00:35:07,720 not lost enter the fortune-tellers what 881 00:35:12,740 --> 00:35:09,790 does the year ahead hold for us let's 882 00:35:17,370 --> 00:35:12,750 ask our resident astrologer medium 883 00:35:19,470 --> 00:35:17,380 psychic mystic clairvoyant it can be 884 00:35:22,590 --> 00:35:19,480 hard to keep tabs on all these new-age 885 00:35:23,910 --> 00:35:22,600 sears but luckily for us at the end of 886 00:35:27,360 --> 00:35:23,920 each year in a report entitled 887 00:35:30,030 --> 00:35:27,370 tomorrow's news today in the pages of 888 00:35:32,730 --> 00:35:30,040 the psychic directory magazine members 889 00:35:35,400 --> 00:35:32,740 of the Australian psychic Association 890 00:35:36,810 --> 00:35:35,410 give us their predictions presumably 891 00:35:39,240 --> 00:35:36,820 these people are not your 892 00:35:41,360 --> 00:35:39,250 run-of-the-mill fortune tellers but the 893 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:41,370 cream of the paranormal industry if 894 00:35:47,910 --> 00:35:44,850 anyone should know the future it's them 895 00:35:50,190 --> 00:35:47,920 most of their visions are about TV and 896 00:35:53,940 --> 00:35:50,200 movie celebrities with names like Nicole 897 00:35:57,990 --> 00:35:53,950 Kidman brad pitt angelina jolie tom 898 00:36:01,440 --> 00:35:58,000 hanks popping up in fact since 2008 no 899 00:36:03,780 --> 00:36:01,450 fewer than 40 stars are mentioned we 900 00:36:07,230 --> 00:36:03,790 find predictions about romance babies 901 00:36:10,650 --> 00:36:07,240 new movies and so on but alas very few 902 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:10,660 of the many statements came true couples 903 00:36:14,670 --> 00:36:12,370 who were supposed to separate stayed 904 00:36:17,310 --> 00:36:14,680 together twins failed to appear for 905 00:36:19,860 --> 00:36:17,320 other couples Elton John did not have a 906 00:36:23,390 --> 00:36:19,870 major health scare and schapelle corby 907 00:36:25,410 --> 00:36:23,400 was not home in time for Christmas 2011 908 00:36:26,990 --> 00:36:25,420 now I'm not saying that all the 909 00:36:29,250 --> 00:36:27,000 predictions for celebrities were wrong 910 00:36:31,230 --> 00:36:29,260 amongst the very few to be ticked 911 00:36:33,960 --> 00:36:31,240 correct was the death of Elizabeth 912 00:36:36,300 --> 00:36:33,970 Taylor but honestly it was hardly a 913 00:36:39,450 --> 00:36:36,310 surprise oddly enough the death of 914 00:36:41,220 --> 00:36:39,460 Michael Jackson was also foretold only 915 00:36:44,340 --> 00:36:41,230 it was by the well-known American 916 00:36:45,900 --> 00:36:44,350 skeptic rebecca watson the Royals are 917 00:36:48,870 --> 00:36:45,910 always mentioned in these predictions 918 00:36:52,470 --> 00:36:48,880 and we must spare a thought for our dear 919 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:52,480 queen who abdicated in 2011 and will 920 00:36:56,849 --> 00:36:55,330 again in 2013 William and Kate are 921 00:37:01,769 --> 00:36:56,859 expecting 922 00:37:04,799 --> 00:37:01,779 will indeed be parents a vital 923 00:37:07,049 --> 00:37:04,809 ingredient when casting a third eye into 924 00:37:09,390 --> 00:37:07,059 the future is to conjure up one or two 925 00:37:12,930 --> 00:37:09,400 predictions from left field things that 926 00:37:15,720 --> 00:37:12,940 are not likely to come true but just 927 00:37:18,109 --> 00:37:15,730 like putting all your chips on black 13 928 00:37:21,509 --> 00:37:18,119 once in a while you'll hit a winner 929 00:37:23,220 --> 00:37:21,519 finally near enough is good enough a 930 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:23,230 prediction of an earthquake in 931 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:26,170 California these happen every single day 932 00:37:34,079 --> 00:37:29,970 of the year that will occur in mid-july 933 00:37:36,839 --> 00:37:34,089 2010 causing havoc particularly in San 934 00:37:39,299 --> 00:37:36,849 Francisco was credited as a hit but 935 00:37:41,729 --> 00:37:39,309 following year the earthquake that shook 936 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:41,739 California on the seventh of July was a 937 00:37:49,920 --> 00:37:46,690 magnitude 5.4 residents of California 938 00:37:52,410 --> 00:37:49,930 would say so what a rough count of the 939 00:37:56,009 --> 00:37:52,420 300 or thereabouts-- predictions made 940 00:37:58,319 --> 00:37:56,019 since 2007 gives us about an eight 941 00:38:00,690 --> 00:37:58,329 percent success rate this figure can be 942 00:38:03,479 --> 00:38:00,700 argued as many predictions are vague and 943 00:38:06,569 --> 00:38:03,489 open to interpretation but after the 944 00:38:08,430 --> 00:38:06,579 event the bottom line is that most of 945 00:38:11,660 --> 00:38:08,440 what is predicted doesn't happen and 946 00:38:14,700 --> 00:38:11,670 most of what happens is not predicted 947 00:38:17,460 --> 00:38:14,710 the list of major events overlooked his 948 00:38:19,799 --> 00:38:17,470 endless such as a certain prime minister 949 00:38:22,979 --> 00:38:19,809 being shown the door and a certain young 950 00:38:25,229 --> 00:38:22,989 redhead taking his place if this were 951 00:38:27,739 --> 00:38:25,239 any other industry the people concerned 952 00:38:30,599 --> 00:38:27,749 would be sacked for lack of performance 953 00:38:33,029 --> 00:38:30,609 now I'm not saying that many people take 954 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:33,039 all this seriously it's like a sort of a 955 00:38:37,710 --> 00:38:34,930 guilty pleasure to pretend to have a 956 00:38:39,180 --> 00:38:37,720 sneaky look into the future as long as 957 00:38:41,759 --> 00:38:39,190 it's billed as entertainment then oh 958 00:38:46,620 --> 00:38:41,769 well and fine and it's only silly fun 959 00:38:48,660 --> 00:38:46,630 for the silly season only it's not the 960 00:38:49,950 --> 00:38:48,670 psychic directory magazine certainly 961 00:38:53,759 --> 00:38:49,960 gives the impression that these 962 00:38:57,930 --> 00:38:53,769 predictions are real and disclaimers are 963 00:38:59,880 --> 00:38:57,940 not given on the tabloid TV segments you 964 00:39:03,120 --> 00:38:59,890 can also bet that each of the people 965 00:39:05,279 --> 00:39:03,130 making those predictions also makes most 966 00:39:07,470 --> 00:39:05,289 or part of their living from giving 967 00:39:09,990 --> 00:39:07,480 private readings where it's all treated 968 00:39:14,250 --> 00:39:10,000 as if it were very real indeed 969 00:39:16,950 --> 00:39:14,260 life is about uncertainty it's the core 970 00:39:20,130 --> 00:39:16,960 of reality and makes life both wonderful 971 00:39:22,890 --> 00:39:20,140 and awful will I meet the person of my 972 00:39:25,850 --> 00:39:22,900 dreams where am I going to be in five 973 00:39:28,860 --> 00:39:25,860 years time will it be a boy or a girl 974 00:39:31,200 --> 00:39:28,870 who will win the cricket who will be our 975 00:39:34,500 --> 00:39:31,210 next prime minister will my mother 976 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:34,510 survived the operation what day will I 977 00:39:39,210 --> 00:39:37,450 die if it did turn out that someone 978 00:39:42,170 --> 00:39:39,220 could really see what the future held 979 00:39:44,610 --> 00:39:42,180 for us it would cause a dramatic and 980 00:39:47,700 --> 00:39:44,620 fundamental change to our lives and 981 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:47,710 society in general I predict that would 982 00:39:54,320 --> 00:39:50,050 be a world in which I would not want to 983 00:39:58,710 --> 00:39:54,330 live the 10 golden rules of predictions 984 00:40:02,520 --> 00:39:58,720 one make lots of predictions some are 985 00:40:05,550 --> 00:40:02,530 bound to come true to make lots of vague 986 00:40:09,180 --> 00:40:05,560 predictions and mix in a few specific 987 00:40:11,850 --> 00:40:09,190 ones three throw in some unlikely 988 00:40:16,200 --> 00:40:11,860 predictions once in a while some of them 989 00:40:20,130 --> 00:40:16,210 are bound to come true for did I mention 990 00:40:22,560 --> 00:40:20,140 make lots of predictions five talk about 991 00:40:24,720 --> 00:40:22,570 natural disasters especially floods and 992 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:24,730 earthquakes they happen every month of 993 00:40:31,260 --> 00:40:26,770 the year around the world in some form 994 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:31,270 or other six make sure you sprinkle your 995 00:40:35,100 --> 00:40:33,130 predictions with things that are on the 996 00:40:37,560 --> 00:40:35,110 cards for any given year such as 997 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:37,570 political unrest or the death of older 998 00:40:46,100 --> 00:40:42,010 celebrities or Royals seven crow about 999 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:46,110 the predictions that do come true eight 1000 00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:48,610 don't worry about the predictions that 1001 00:40:53,790 --> 00:40:51,010 don't come true they will not be checked 1002 00:40:55,770 --> 00:40:53,800 by the media if they are just say I 1003 00:41:00,000 --> 00:40:55,780 never said I was one hundred percent 1004 00:41:03,390 --> 00:41:00,010 accurate or I can only go on what the 1005 00:41:06,750 --> 00:41:03,400 cards or the spirits or the stars tell 1006 00:41:09,540 --> 00:41:06,760 me nine fudge those predictions that are 1007 00:41:12,030 --> 00:41:09,550 partly true or can be reworked in the 1008 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:12,040 light of hindsight this is also known as 1009 00:41:18,390 --> 00:41:15,610 retrofitting 10 remember you are 1010 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:18,400 unaccountable make up whatever you want 1011 00:41:23,940 --> 00:41:21,970 oh and one last rule for the media 1012 00:41:26,430 --> 00:41:23,950 don't go back and check last year's 1013 00:41:41,599 --> 00:41:26,440 predictions it's a lot of work to 1014 00:41:47,760 --> 00:41:44,520 I'm courses hello an ally dodged into 1015 00:41:49,320 --> 00:41:47,770 her letter skeptics on podcasts boosted 1016 00:41:51,420 --> 00:41:49,330 here does is often dodge Manannan 1017 00:41:53,849 --> 00:41:51,430 skeptic a fab and gift for vital 1018 00:41:58,800 --> 00:41:53,859 information ribbons on the skeptic 1019 00:42:03,180 --> 00:41:58,810 magazine reserved vvv point gavey OOP a 1020 00:42:06,330 --> 00:42:03,190 punk talk hv dejala vvv won't give a 1021 00:42:24,150 --> 00:42:06,340 rupee Potok on danzo off it say on 1022 00:42:29,559 --> 00:42:26,620 thank you for listening to the skeptics 1023 00:42:32,380 --> 00:42:29,569 on next week's episode all going well 1024 00:42:34,750 --> 00:42:32,390 we'll come to you from sunny California 1025 00:42:37,030 --> 00:42:34,760 and very soon I'll be catching up with 1026 00:42:39,940 --> 00:42:37,040 brian dunning everybody's favorite 1027 00:42:42,880 --> 00:42:39,950 podcaster Brian Dunning from skip dude 1028 00:42:44,140 --> 00:42:42,890 calm I think there's a hot tub lined up 1029 00:42:46,450 --> 00:42:44,150 we're going to have a think tank in the 1030 00:42:49,150 --> 00:42:46,460 hot tub and then I'm going on a little 1031 00:42:51,040 --> 00:42:49,160 adventure called skeptics in the Jeep I 1032 00:42:55,210 --> 00:42:51,050 think there's a Facebook page for that 1033 00:42:57,089 --> 00:42:55,220 skeptics in the Jeep all coming up thank 1034 00:42:59,829 --> 00:42:57,099 you for listening once again but until 1035 00:43:02,740 --> 00:42:59,839 until next week from California this is 1036 00:43:08,680 --> 00:43:02,750 Richard Saunders signing off from Sydney 1037 00:43:13,359 --> 00:43:08,690 Australia you've been listening to the 1038 00:43:17,200 --> 00:43:13,369 skeptic zone visit our website at www