1 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:09,090 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:13,090 from Australia for science and reason 3 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:25,520 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 4 00:00:34,100 --> 00:00:29,490 for the twentieth of July 2013 episode 5 00:00:36,979 --> 00:00:34,110 number 248 well not long till the big 6 00:00:39,229 --> 00:00:36,989 250 Richard Saunders here with you from 7 00:00:41,299 --> 00:00:39,239 the beautiful Orange County in 8 00:00:43,790 --> 00:00:41,309 California where I'm spending a few days 9 00:00:45,380 --> 00:00:43,800 to get myself together relax a little 10 00:00:47,869 --> 00:00:45,390 bit with my dear friend Brian Dunning 11 00:00:50,930 --> 00:00:47,879 and family before flying home what a 12 00:00:54,050 --> 00:00:50,940 wonderful time I had my friends at the 13 00:00:57,530 --> 00:00:54,060 amazing meeting in Las Vegas Wow as I 14 00:00:59,870 --> 00:00:57,540 was I had a busy skeptic very busy 15 00:01:02,590 --> 00:00:59,880 skeptic helping to organize the million 16 00:01:05,290 --> 00:01:02,600 dollar challenge giving some talks and 17 00:01:07,969 --> 00:01:05,300 doing whatever I could to make the event 18 00:01:09,350 --> 00:01:07,979 interesting and fun for everybody now 19 00:01:10,999 --> 00:01:09,360 I'll be talking more about the 20 00:01:13,670 --> 00:01:11,009 million-dollar challenge in the weeks to 21 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:13,680 come in fact I laughed or write a report 22 00:01:18,170 --> 00:01:15,690 about it i think for swift that should 23 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:18,180 be very interesting but our big thanks 24 00:01:24,620 --> 00:01:20,970 to DJ Grothe and Banacek and jamian's 25 00:01:28,130 --> 00:01:24,630 with and chip dedman james randi himself 26 00:01:31,039 --> 00:01:28,140 of course who worked so closely together 27 00:01:33,950 --> 00:01:31,049 to get the million-dollar challenge up 28 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:33,960 and running and brought to a very 29 00:01:39,020 --> 00:01:36,090 successful and entertaining conclusion i 30 00:01:41,420 --> 00:01:39,030 think what more about that in the weeks 31 00:01:45,020 --> 00:01:41,430 to come on this week's show a couple of 32 00:01:47,060 --> 00:01:45,030 bits from the amazing meeting we chat to 33 00:01:49,550 --> 00:01:47,070 members of the st. Louis skeptical 34 00:01:53,330 --> 00:01:49,560 society who happen to be passing me one 35 00:01:55,340 --> 00:01:53,340 day in a huge hallway there dear at the 36 00:01:58,210 --> 00:01:55,350 convention I grabbed them and set them 37 00:02:01,039 --> 00:01:58,220 down and they talk about their local 38 00:02:03,350 --> 00:02:01,049 skepticism after that we have some more 39 00:02:05,630 --> 00:02:03,360 science news with dr. Paul Willis from 40 00:02:08,090 --> 00:02:05,640 the Royal Institution of Australia sort 41 00:02:10,039 --> 00:02:08,100 of fill in bits while the official week 42 00:02:11,270 --> 00:02:10,049 in science is on a bit of a hiatus Paul 43 00:02:14,030 --> 00:02:11,280 Willis is still cranking out some 44 00:02:15,860 --> 00:02:14,040 interesting science news for us and to 45 00:02:17,509 --> 00:02:15,870 round off the show and interview i did 46 00:02:20,660 --> 00:02:17,519 with a very dear old friend of mine 47 00:02:22,729 --> 00:02:20,670 Derek Colin do know from the skeptic 48 00:02:25,370 --> 00:02:22,739 ality podcast love to catch up with 49 00:02:27,259 --> 00:02:25,380 Derek don't see him very much he lives 50 00:02:28,460 --> 00:02:27,269 in atlanta i live in sydney i think you 51 00:02:30,860 --> 00:02:28,470 can understand 52 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:30,870 not as easy as we'd hope but still it 53 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:33,330 was lovely to see him at the amazing 54 00:02:36,950 --> 00:02:34,890 meeting and all those people I saw at 55 00:02:38,780 --> 00:02:36,960 the amazing meeting whether i was able 56 00:02:40,850 --> 00:02:38,790 to give you lots of time or hardly any 57 00:02:43,730 --> 00:02:40,860 time as i rushed by in a blur to get 58 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:43,740 this downhill get that done great to see 59 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:45,930 everybody there and the reports I'm 60 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:48,810 getting back so positive people had a 61 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:51,510 wonderful time enjoyed the interesting 62 00:02:56,660 --> 00:02:53,730 talks and enjoyed meeting people and the 63 00:02:59,920 --> 00:02:56,670 social aspects to usually ending up in 64 00:03:03,680 --> 00:02:59,930 the del mar bar but for now while i 65 00:03:06,830 --> 00:03:03,690 contemplate tonight's feast which will 66 00:03:08,900 --> 00:03:06,840 be at a place called the crab cooker the 67 00:03:10,790 --> 00:03:08,910 crab cooker google it if you don't know 68 00:03:12,830 --> 00:03:10,800 where that is google crab cooker that's 69 00:03:14,210 --> 00:03:12,840 where I'm heading tonight and can't wait 70 00:03:16,370 --> 00:03:14,220 i'm going to contemplate that for the 71 00:03:36,690 --> 00:03:16,380 next little while while we all listen to 72 00:03:41,410 --> 00:03:39,820 it's Friday here at the amazing meeting 73 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:41,420 in Las Vegas lots of people running 74 00:03:44,500 --> 00:03:43,010 around although most of the people are 75 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:44,510 in at the moment listening to the man 76 00:03:48,250 --> 00:03:46,610 himself James Randi but I found some 77 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:48,260 strange people wandering around the hall 78 00:03:52,390 --> 00:03:50,210 I've grabbed them all off the skeptics 79 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:52,400 guide to the universe table and who do 80 00:03:58,300 --> 00:03:55,370 we have I'm Missy wrong blue I'm Dave 81 00:04:00,190 --> 00:03:58,310 blue Mike Bateman I thought you said 82 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:00,200 blue cuisine care of your t-shirts but 83 00:04:06,250 --> 00:04:03,170 this no no it's mine's a hyphenated yes 84 00:04:07,990 --> 00:04:06,260 where you're from and you're wearing the 85 00:04:11,020 --> 00:04:08,000 same shirt which is really cool with the 86 00:04:12,729 --> 00:04:11,030 skull with the glasses and the telescope 87 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:12,739 and the magnifying glass it looks very 88 00:04:18,310 --> 00:04:15,050 good in the test tube because sort of me 89 00:04:20,380 --> 00:04:18,320 yes flask The Skeptical side Society of 90 00:04:25,690 --> 00:04:20,390 some Lewis yes what can you tell me 91 00:04:27,909 --> 00:04:25,700 about that oh my gosh um I did you yeah 92 00:04:30,730 --> 00:04:27,919 really yeah really they were founded by 93 00:04:33,010 --> 00:04:30,740 DJ window sir yes when you lived 94 00:04:35,890 --> 00:04:33,020 insanely detailed live insane it was 95 00:04:40,659 --> 00:04:35,900 just part of the 10 Frank we're there 96 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:40,669 right and so it's been around for 97 00:04:47,909 --> 00:04:44,450 several years Dave and I got involved I 98 00:04:50,020 --> 00:04:47,919 don't know maybe four or five years ago 99 00:04:52,780 --> 00:04:50,030 Emily a came to town to give a 100 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:52,790 presentation and they had a meetup in 101 00:04:57,460 --> 00:04:54,530 Edwardsville Illinois which is across 102 00:04:58,990 --> 00:04:57,470 the river and we went there and met a 103 00:05:00,969 --> 00:04:59,000 bunch of cool people and started going 104 00:05:03,159 --> 00:05:00,979 to the skeptics in the pubs met Mike 105 00:05:05,409 --> 00:05:03,169 Lampard who used to be the education 106 00:05:06,860 --> 00:05:05,419 coordinator with Jay res and is it 107 00:05:09,140 --> 00:05:06,870 Tippett to the book 108 00:05:10,580 --> 00:05:09,150 and how's the skeptics in the pub scene 109 00:05:12,620 --> 00:05:10,590 and said loses it a big scene do you get 110 00:05:14,150 --> 00:05:12,630 many people coming along let's load you 111 00:05:15,950 --> 00:05:14,160 go with slows during the summer yeah it 112 00:05:18,650 --> 00:05:15,960 slowed down but we're trying to get some 113 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:18,660 more just informal without speakers just 114 00:05:21,140 --> 00:05:20,010 to get people together more often even 115 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:21,150 when we don't have someone to give a 116 00:05:26,990 --> 00:05:23,370 talk so I think that's a great idea 117 00:05:28,580 --> 00:05:27,000 because speaking personal experience 118 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:28,590 skeptics in the pub in Sydney it was 119 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:31,530 originally founded 10 years ago years 120 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:34,770 ago without the idea of having a speaker 121 00:05:40,070 --> 00:05:36,570 we just wanted to get together and have 122 00:05:42,710 --> 00:05:40,080 a drink and something to eat and chat it 123 00:05:44,060 --> 00:05:42,720 wasn't until some years later that every 124 00:05:45,590 --> 00:05:44,070 now and then we'd have a speaker now 125 00:05:47,090 --> 00:05:45,600 it's a regular part so I don't think 126 00:05:50,540 --> 00:05:47,100 it's a vital part of skeptics in the pub 127 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:50,550 no I no I don't think so either and I 128 00:05:54,950 --> 00:05:52,530 mean they're always interesting when we 129 00:05:57,170 --> 00:05:54,960 have them but it's just nice to get 130 00:05:59,150 --> 00:05:57,180 together with your own ilk sort of thing 131 00:06:02,080 --> 00:05:59,160 too and have you know be able to talk to 132 00:06:04,340 --> 00:06:02,090 people get different ideas about 133 00:06:07,910 --> 00:06:04,350 skepticism science you know whatever's 134 00:06:09,260 --> 00:06:07,920 on in a beer and a beer lots of beer and 135 00:06:11,750 --> 00:06:09,270 if we find the right place some good 136 00:06:14,840 --> 00:06:11,760 food too well that's very important yeah 137 00:06:16,910 --> 00:06:14,850 yeah i lost the new questions i know my 138 00:06:19,340 --> 00:06:16,920 good friend may not likes to ask people 139 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:19,350 is one why did you get into skepticism 140 00:06:26,210 --> 00:06:22,410 individually why and after that what 141 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:26,220 whoo may we say what what in this realm 142 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:28,170 what really annoys you what gets your 143 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:33,370 well Dave and I probably got into 144 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:36,050 skepticism sorted together he started 145 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:37,370 listening to skeptics guide to the 146 00:06:42,939 --> 00:06:40,910 universe and we would play it in the car 147 00:06:45,670 --> 00:06:42,949 and stuff so I would be with him and we 148 00:06:47,860 --> 00:06:45,680 both really enjoyed it and I think 149 00:06:48,999 --> 00:06:47,870 before that I would read the only thing 150 00:06:50,110 --> 00:06:49,009 I knew about skepticism was Michael 151 00:06:52,180 --> 00:06:50,120 schirmer's column and scientific 152 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:52,190 american so I read that and then I 153 00:06:56,290 --> 00:06:54,050 started get into podcast and i was like 154 00:06:58,930 --> 00:06:56,300 i wonder if there's any science skeptic 155 00:07:01,029 --> 00:06:58,940 podcasts and that's how i found skeptics 156 00:07:02,950 --> 00:07:01,039 guide and sceptile and you know a few 157 00:07:05,020 --> 00:07:02,960 others way back and you what we started 158 00:07:08,260 --> 00:07:05,030 listening to so yeah you're ending up on 159 00:07:09,939 --> 00:07:08,270 the skeptic zone podcaster there yeah i 160 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:09,949 mean i had never heard of skepticism 161 00:07:13,779 --> 00:07:12,050 until really like skeptics guide i think 162 00:07:15,550 --> 00:07:13,789 i just always have been kind of a 163 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:15,560 questioning person i mean i can remember 164 00:07:21,310 --> 00:07:18,410 like learning about the Crusades in high 165 00:07:23,710 --> 00:07:21,320 school and be like really you know i 166 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:23,720 don't understand how you know this is 167 00:07:27,460 --> 00:07:25,610 about religion and then religion tells 168 00:07:29,499 --> 00:07:27,470 us this other thing and I you know so I 169 00:07:33,490 --> 00:07:29,509 started thinking about that a little bit 170 00:07:37,270 --> 00:07:33,500 started me was cherry to the gods yeah I 171 00:07:39,730 --> 00:07:37,280 saw that in the movie theater and at the 172 00:07:42,250 --> 00:07:39,740 time I had no experience to skepticism 173 00:07:44,620 --> 00:07:42,260 and although almost everything I saw in 174 00:07:46,689 --> 00:07:44,630 there seemed a bit dubious but I didn't 175 00:07:49,390 --> 00:07:46,699 know why and so I just started doing 176 00:07:53,020 --> 00:07:49,400 some research and came across books that 177 00:07:55,390 --> 00:07:53,030 had counter arguments and found that 178 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:55,400 very fascinating yes and yeah and so 179 00:08:00,760 --> 00:07:57,770 that was sort of the beginning and then 180 00:08:02,439 --> 00:08:00,770 started reading books and eventually 181 00:08:05,499 --> 00:08:02,449 podcasts came along and stumbled across 182 00:08:08,140 --> 00:08:05,509 some podcasts including yours and so it 183 00:08:11,090 --> 00:08:08,150 just grew from there and what what in 184 00:08:14,340 --> 00:08:11,100 Neil the alternative universe or the 185 00:08:17,190 --> 00:08:14,350 psychic realm or the woowoo whatever 186 00:08:19,260 --> 00:08:17,200 what do you want to want to call it what 187 00:08:22,170 --> 00:08:19,270 grabs your attention or water annoys you 188 00:08:24,090 --> 00:08:22,180 um well I have to admit that I used to 189 00:08:27,300 --> 00:08:24,100 believe some of that stuff too yep I 190 00:08:30,690 --> 00:08:27,310 used to do acupuncture I've been to to 191 00:08:32,430 --> 00:08:30,700 George Tillman seminars and she 192 00:08:34,950 --> 00:08:32,440 discussed something I wish to discuss in 193 00:08:36,630 --> 00:08:34,960 the martial arts panel so but I think 194 00:08:38,850 --> 00:08:36,640 right now like what tends to get me is 195 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:38,860 more the biological medical science 196 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:43,810 stuff so the anti-gmo you know the 197 00:08:50,970 --> 00:08:48,490 organic mythos or whatever your and then 198 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:50,980 of course you know any of the non 199 00:08:57,330 --> 00:08:54,450 science-based medicine homeopathy 200 00:08:59,700 --> 00:08:57,340 acupuncture you know whatever cleansers 201 00:09:02,100 --> 00:08:59,710 out there or whatever so that's kind of 202 00:09:04,020 --> 00:09:02,110 where my interests okay revolves right 203 00:09:06,780 --> 00:09:04,030 now yeah I think I'm sort of in the same 204 00:09:09,630 --> 00:09:06,790 area that let's use most pervasive right 205 00:09:11,570 --> 00:09:09,640 now he's just lots of naturalistic yeah 206 00:09:14,100 --> 00:09:11,580 stop you a naturist a fallacy everywhere 207 00:09:15,660 --> 00:09:14,110 GMO stuff it's trying to use it it's 208 00:09:19,500 --> 00:09:15,670 very trendy yeah it's very trendy right 209 00:09:21,060 --> 00:09:19,510 now I have a lot of friends who I see 210 00:09:23,760 --> 00:09:21,070 eye to eye with lots of things but then 211 00:09:26,910 --> 00:09:23,770 they'll be posting without references 212 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:26,920 you know GMO is called cause cancer in 213 00:09:30,660 --> 00:09:29,290 lab rats and what LaVon I have to decide 214 00:09:33,780 --> 00:09:30,670 whether or not I'm going to engage and 215 00:09:35,820 --> 00:09:33,790 if I do I try to be as nice as I can 216 00:09:38,910 --> 00:09:35,830 yeah here check this out story that's 217 00:09:42,110 --> 00:09:38,920 right yeah but um yeah thank you 218 00:09:45,150 --> 00:09:42,120 conspiracy theories I drive me nuts 219 00:09:47,790 --> 00:09:45,160 you're seeing youtube videos of alex 220 00:09:49,410 --> 00:09:47,800 jones and glenn beck and yeah those 221 00:09:51,390 --> 00:09:49,420 those really tripped my trigger but you 222 00:09:53,910 --> 00:09:51,400 know it's what the interests of you know 223 00:09:55,500 --> 00:09:53,920 my areas of interest have evolved over 224 00:09:57,990 --> 00:09:55,510 time at one time it was religion at one 225 00:09:59,460 --> 00:09:58,000 time it was alternative medicine now I 226 00:10:01,200 --> 00:09:59,470 think it's conspiracy theories it really 227 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:01,210 just it is a show that you can see on 228 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:03,490 youtube which I saw some months back 229 00:10:08,790 --> 00:10:06,970 called conspiracy theory road trip 230 00:10:11,429 --> 00:10:08,800 yes I think it all enjoyed this 231 00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:11,439 especially because it really concerns 232 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:13,990 conspiracy theories this is a UK show 233 00:10:19,590 --> 00:10:15,970 but they get a bunch of conspiracy 234 00:10:21,449 --> 00:10:19,600 theorists didn't say 911 put them all on 235 00:10:23,369 --> 00:10:21,459 a bus and take them and speak to experts 236 00:10:26,009 --> 00:10:23,379 and see if they can change their minds 237 00:10:27,990 --> 00:10:26,019 oh I have seen that I have seen that 238 00:10:29,999 --> 00:10:28,000 yeah interesting it's factually yes it's 239 00:10:31,860 --> 00:10:30,009 worth looking so is your theory road 240 00:10:35,910 --> 00:10:31,870 trip yeah it's quite hungry stinking 241 00:10:39,170 --> 00:10:35,920 ever yes so for those listeners in 242 00:10:41,879 --> 00:10:39,180 Australia whereabouts is sin Louis 243 00:10:44,579 --> 00:10:41,889 pretty much kind of the middle of the 244 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:44,589 country the Mississippi River comes down 245 00:10:50,790 --> 00:10:47,170 and kind of divides the country and 246 00:10:52,650 --> 00:10:50,800 we're just west of that so st. Louis is 247 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:52,660 called the Gateway to the West the arch 248 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:55,689 the st. Louis Arch designed by what 249 00:10:59,189 --> 00:10:57,370 bureaus sarin in I don't know if I'm 250 00:11:03,150 --> 00:10:59,199 saying that name correctly the architect 251 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:03,160 was built in nineteen sixty mid-1960s 252 00:11:09,030 --> 00:11:06,490 it's kind of the symbol for st. Louis 253 00:11:13,410 --> 00:11:09,040 the landmark landmark five hours south 254 00:11:16,019 --> 00:11:13,420 of Chicago talk about 10 hours north of 255 00:11:18,299 --> 00:11:16,029 the Gulf Coast what about right no we're 256 00:11:19,650 --> 00:11:18,309 like 10 hours north of Dallas and looks 257 00:11:21,210 --> 00:11:19,660 like you got a long way to go to go to 258 00:11:23,189 --> 00:11:21,220 the beach right yeah yes we have a long 259 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:23,199 way to go to go yeah we're landlocked 260 00:11:27,780 --> 00:11:25,569 yeah we're landlocked so it's about a 261 00:11:31,710 --> 00:11:27,790 four-hour flight to San Francisco three 262 00:11:35,819 --> 00:11:31,720 hours to hear yep that's pretty good and 263 00:11:38,549 --> 00:11:35,829 do you have a web presence salua skipper 264 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:38,559 no we have meet up yeah we have a meet 265 00:11:44,420 --> 00:11:40,569 up and we have a facebook that's enough 266 00:11:46,619 --> 00:11:44,430 yes and if listen is in that area yeah 267 00:11:48,299 --> 00:11:46,629 interested in hooking up with you guys 268 00:11:50,309 --> 00:11:48,309 how solutely they just google the 269 00:11:51,990 --> 00:11:50,319 skeptical society of something difficult 270 00:11:53,639 --> 00:11:52,000 time that should get on that should 271 00:11:56,549 --> 00:11:53,649 either find our facebook page or the 272 00:11:58,170 --> 00:11:56,559 meetup and when we have you know 273 00:12:00,540 --> 00:11:58,180 gathering we put it on meetup and 274 00:12:01,590 --> 00:12:00,550 everybody knows so yes 275 00:12:03,389 --> 00:12:01,600 actually I think they do the event on 276 00:12:05,310 --> 00:12:03,399 both Facebook yeah yeah we will do 277 00:12:07,199 --> 00:12:05,320 thanks all right easy to find folks 278 00:12:08,550 --> 00:12:07,209 there's the word well folks great to see 279 00:12:10,889 --> 00:12:08,560 you here tam I hope you having a good 280 00:12:12,540 --> 00:12:10,899 time yeah we are yeah thanks for talking 281 00:12:29,519 --> 00:12:12,550 to the skeptic zone and have a great 282 00:12:32,579 --> 00:12:29,529 rest of their comfort me siento short 283 00:12:36,350 --> 00:12:32,589 industry skeptic zone bascially suit on 284 00:12:40,350 --> 00:12:36,360 marijuana shusuke toy talk on da CA n 285 00:12:42,900 --> 00:12:40,360 sceptile shaker crucial a podcast e mo 286 00:12:45,990 --> 00:12:42,910 mo me to do with how long's in the party 287 00:12:49,350 --> 00:12:46,000 pocket and Helios intertwined solution 288 00:12:52,889 --> 00:12:49,360 in mulund photo session charts Alana 289 00:12:56,460 --> 00:12:52,899 cncl link Li Dao itunes the Chihuahua 290 00:13:01,510 --> 00:12:56,470 Jan SATA sceptile puta chiffon well one 291 00:13:04,810 --> 00:13:01,520 of the ones skeptical because the end 292 00:13:07,210 --> 00:13:04,820 thus kept I'd science podcast by Brian 293 00:13:09,700 --> 00:13:07,220 Dungey is now available for Chinese 294 00:13:13,270 --> 00:13:09,710 audience please tell your Chinese 295 00:13:16,090 --> 00:13:13,280 friends to visit skipped item the CN a 296 00:13:28,269 --> 00:13:16,100 fine skip toyed and the Chinese iTunes 297 00:13:33,110 --> 00:13:31,550 hello sket though potties dr. Willis 298 00:13:35,510 --> 00:13:33,120 here at the Royal Institution of 299 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:35,520 Australia with more musings and news 300 00:13:40,220 --> 00:13:38,370 from the world of science and the big 301 00:13:42,710 --> 00:13:40,230 talking point this week has been the 302 00:13:45,730 --> 00:13:42,720 results of a science and literacy survey 303 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:45,740 in Australia that shows shock horror 304 00:13:49,970 --> 00:13:48,330 Australians know less about science than 305 00:13:52,070 --> 00:13:49,980 they did a couple of years ago the 306 00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:52,080 survey was conducted for the Australian 307 00:13:57,500 --> 00:13:54,990 Academy of Science and asked one and a 308 00:14:00,470 --> 00:13:57,510 half thousand people some simple science 309 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:00,480 questions less than two thirds knew how 310 00:14:06,350 --> 00:14:02,730 long it takes for the earth to go around 311 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:06,360 the Sun down from 75% two years ago and 312 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:08,850 just under thirty percent did not know 313 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:10,890 if humans and dinosaurs lived at the 314 00:14:16,250 --> 00:14:14,130 same time these disastrous results 315 00:14:17,900 --> 00:14:16,260 caused a cavalcade of conniption fits 316 00:14:20,449 --> 00:14:17,910 across the old school science 317 00:14:22,610 --> 00:14:20,459 establishment with calls for more 318 00:14:25,550 --> 00:14:22,620 science education and more effective 319 00:14:29,390 --> 00:14:25,560 science communication but I am a bit 320 00:14:31,730 --> 00:14:29,400 more skeptical it's not just that 1,500 321 00:14:33,470 --> 00:14:31,740 people seems like a small sample size to 322 00:14:36,199 --> 00:14:33,480 be able to generalize across the whole 323 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:36,209 country the whole concept of science 324 00:14:40,610 --> 00:14:38,490 literacy has come into question in 325 00:14:42,590 --> 00:14:40,620 recent years and it's apparent that we 326 00:14:46,070 --> 00:14:42,600 are not entirely sure what it measures 327 00:14:49,460 --> 00:14:46,080 what appropriate levels are or even why 328 00:14:52,010 --> 00:14:49,470 it matters even scientists can't agree 329 00:14:54,050 --> 00:14:52,020 on how to measure it take the Walking 330 00:14:56,510 --> 00:14:54,060 with Dinosaurs question for example as 331 00:14:59,000 --> 00:14:56,520 of paleontologist I would answer that 332 00:15:01,280 --> 00:14:59,010 yes humans and dinosaurs have been 333 00:15:04,699 --> 00:15:01,290 around at the same time and still are 334 00:15:06,740 --> 00:15:04,709 birds are dinosaurs that's where the 335 00:15:09,199 --> 00:15:06,750 interesting science is in that question 336 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:09,209 however what they were asking was about 337 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:11,610 the extinct non-avian dinosaurs from the 338 00:15:16,460 --> 00:15:14,250 Mesozoic so I would have got that 339 00:15:18,260 --> 00:15:16,470 question wrong with scientists 340 00:15:20,389 --> 00:15:18,270 themselves in conflict as to what 341 00:15:22,069 --> 00:15:20,399 questions to include and what the 342 00:15:25,060 --> 00:15:22,079 correct answers are to those questions 343 00:15:28,250 --> 00:15:25,070 these types of surveys are doomed as 344 00:15:29,630 --> 00:15:28,260 non-starters from the get-go and so what 345 00:15:32,090 --> 00:15:29,640 if one hundred percent of the population 346 00:15:34,699 --> 00:15:32,100 don't know the correct answers to some 347 00:15:37,550 --> 00:15:34,709 science trivia how much do they need to 348 00:15:38,210 --> 00:15:37,560 know and more importantly why do they 349 00:15:40,580 --> 00:15:38,220 need to 350 00:15:42,950 --> 00:15:40,590 our most people will get through life 351 00:15:45,980 --> 00:15:42,960 just fine with a complete ignorance of 352 00:15:48,110 --> 00:15:45,990 basic astronomy biology geology and all 353 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:48,120 the other sciences what are we trying to 354 00:15:53,210 --> 00:15:50,730 achieve by turning our nation into a 355 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:53,220 population of science quiz masters it's 356 00:15:57,980 --> 00:15:56,130 time for a rethink on the whole question 357 00:16:00,830 --> 00:15:57,990 of the public understanding of science 358 00:16:02,660 --> 00:16:00,840 and that is the subject of a blog I 359 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:02,670 published on our site a couple of weeks 360 00:16:10,220 --> 00:16:06,570 ago you can still find it at RI aus org 361 00:16:12,530 --> 00:16:10,230 dot au under telling stories for science 362 00:16:15,380 --> 00:16:12,540 it's right alongside my latest blog 363 00:16:16,910 --> 00:16:15,390 where I champion skeptical thinking you 364 00:16:19,940 --> 00:16:16,920 might want to take a read of that while 365 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:19,950 you're there getting off my soapbox and 366 00:16:24,350 --> 00:16:22,170 I've not got much time left for the 367 00:16:27,560 --> 00:16:24,360 other news in science for this past week 368 00:16:29,510 --> 00:16:27,570 so here are the headlines researchers 369 00:16:31,580 --> 00:16:29,520 have explained how telomeres the 370 00:16:34,190 --> 00:16:31,590 protective bits of DNA at the ends of 371 00:16:36,650 --> 00:16:34,200 our chromosomes can be cancer preventing 372 00:16:39,050 --> 00:16:36,660 and yet they turn cancer promoting when 373 00:16:41,990 --> 00:16:39,060 certain genes are mutated in patients 374 00:16:44,090 --> 00:16:42,000 new research from the USA shows that 375 00:16:46,060 --> 00:16:44,100 women who survived childhood cancer are 376 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:46,070 at an increased risk of infertility 377 00:16:50,870 --> 00:16:48,330 Australian scientists have helped reveal 378 00:16:53,930 --> 00:16:50,880 the genomes of hundreds of bacterial and 379 00:16:57,050 --> 00:16:53,940 archaeal cells belonging to 29 major 380 00:16:59,270 --> 00:16:57,060 mostly uncharted branches of the tree of 381 00:17:01,640 --> 00:16:59,280 life the record of satellite 382 00:17:04,940 --> 00:17:01,650 observations of ice loss from Greenland 383 00:17:06,830 --> 00:17:04,950 and Antarctica is currently too short to 384 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:06,840 separate long-term trends from 385 00:17:12,260 --> 00:17:09,930 short-term natural variability and swiss 386 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:12,270 researchers have used sound waves to 387 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:14,010 cancel out the pull of gravity and 388 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:16,710 levitate small quantities of matter as 389 00:17:21,110 --> 00:17:18,810 usual for more on these and other 390 00:17:25,670 --> 00:17:21,120 science news stories of the week go to 391 00:17:28,340 --> 00:17:25,680 the are Isles website RI aus org dot a 392 00:17:30,410 --> 00:17:28,350 you and that's your lot for this week 393 00:17:43,950 --> 00:17:30,420 pot is i'll have another grumble an 394 00:17:47,710 --> 00:17:46,419 you know into podcasters get together 395 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:47,720 ladies and gentlemen because we talk 396 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:51,530 about the size of our memory cards yeah 397 00:17:56,649 --> 00:17:54,530 well you know what else am I gonna do my 398 00:17:59,980 --> 00:17:56,659 a normal memory is you know a little 399 00:18:01,960 --> 00:17:59,990 shot these days I'm talking with none of 400 00:18:04,210 --> 00:18:01,970 them Derek Cullen do know from skeptic 401 00:18:06,390 --> 00:18:04,220 ality one of the the original podcast 402 00:18:09,159 --> 00:18:06,400 one of the original skeptical podcasters 403 00:18:11,350 --> 00:18:09,169 yeah meehans deed novella tried to 404 00:18:15,370 --> 00:18:11,360 figure that out alta like last year or 405 00:18:18,070 --> 00:18:15,380 the year before and we were we beat them 406 00:18:21,250 --> 00:18:18,080 by like two weeks no really yeah well 407 00:18:25,330 --> 00:18:21,260 the zones been going since 2008 I did 408 00:18:29,289 --> 00:18:25,340 other things before then the one really 409 00:18:31,500 --> 00:18:29,299 is regular as the skeptic zone and I was 410 00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:31,510 doing a radio series way back in 411 00:18:36,190 --> 00:18:33,950 Heaven's about 2001 or something but 412 00:18:38,289 --> 00:18:36,200 that's an official skeptical podcast 413 00:18:39,820 --> 00:18:38,299 cause you guys are older than the zone 414 00:18:44,409 --> 00:18:39,830 of course yeah it was funny that you 415 00:18:48,070 --> 00:18:44,419 mentioned that because before podcasting 416 00:18:50,710 --> 00:18:48,080 I was doing a show like skeptic ality it 417 00:18:56,260 --> 00:18:50,720 was just me and that was back between 418 00:18:59,350 --> 00:18:56,270 like 96 in like 2002 and there was no 419 00:19:02,860 --> 00:18:59,360 RSS enclosure feeds you'll didn't use 420 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:02,870 podcasting because it so also mp3s work 421 00:19:06,310 --> 00:19:04,490 hard to do on a normal computer because 422 00:19:08,230 --> 00:19:06,320 it was just hard to like crunch the 423 00:19:10,180 --> 00:19:08,240 compression it's funny how we've gotten 424 00:19:12,700 --> 00:19:10,190 so used to the technology I know so I 425 00:19:16,899 --> 00:19:12,710 thought my old show is on it was done in 426 00:19:18,399 --> 00:19:16,909 real audio real audio yeah format I used 427 00:19:20,260 --> 00:19:18,409 to use and I used to use that to 428 00:19:22,390 --> 00:19:20,270 compress and make videos but that's why 429 00:19:24,399 --> 00:19:22,400 and when that came out I even bought the 430 00:19:26,710 --> 00:19:24,409 encoder yeah this is great this will be 431 00:19:28,750 --> 00:19:26,720 the future yeah yeah so I did my show 432 00:19:30,610 --> 00:19:28,760 using that and because we didn't have 433 00:19:31,930 --> 00:19:30,620 podcasting the only way I could get 434 00:19:34,510 --> 00:19:31,940 people to listen to it is how to put on 435 00:19:36,159 --> 00:19:34,520 the website and like send emails to 436 00:19:39,010 --> 00:19:36,169 everybody yeah that I new show que más 437 00:19:40,930 --> 00:19:39,020 so you know now that it went away 438 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:40,940 because you know it's a lot of work hmm 439 00:19:44,830 --> 00:19:42,890 you know a lot of work not just do the 440 00:19:47,380 --> 00:19:44,840 show but to like do all the back end 441 00:19:48,460 --> 00:19:47,390 totally loaded so I just this flow off 442 00:19:50,590 --> 00:19:48,470 fell off and i got 443 00:19:51,940 --> 00:19:50,600 married and I got another job where I 444 00:19:54,460 --> 00:19:51,950 was traveling ninety-eight percent of 445 00:19:58,539 --> 00:19:54,470 the time so those this I went away and 446 00:20:01,240 --> 00:19:58,549 then podcasting hit and one day swoopy 447 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:01,250 said have you seen this because you know 448 00:20:04,029 --> 00:20:02,570 this is the show we won't have always 449 00:20:06,870 --> 00:20:04,039 wanted to do yeah I used to actually 450 00:20:10,390 --> 00:20:06,880 work in working with radio here in Vegas 451 00:20:12,250 --> 00:20:10,400 and I did an overnight shift so me and 452 00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:12,260 swoopy would talk about what we wanted 453 00:20:18,370 --> 00:20:16,370 to do but I work for a alternative rock 454 00:20:22,060 --> 00:20:18,380 station so you know that was back in the 455 00:20:23,620 --> 00:20:22,070 90s go figure um so you know we were 456 00:20:25,810 --> 00:20:23,630 there at night think what we'd like to 457 00:20:27,419 --> 00:20:25,820 leave so we tried to do little segment 458 00:20:30,940 --> 00:20:27,429 things but you know you're really good 459 00:20:33,039 --> 00:20:30,950 so when podcasting came out she said hey 460 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:33,049 we could do that radio show he was 461 00:20:37,060 --> 00:20:35,210 wanted to do so it took a while so she 462 00:20:38,529 --> 00:20:37,070 came up with the name one day I got home 463 00:20:39,909 --> 00:20:38,539 from a business trip and was on the 464 00:20:42,310 --> 00:20:39,919 whiteboard and said what is that she's 465 00:20:44,260 --> 00:20:42,320 the name of our show now really yeah so 466 00:20:46,390 --> 00:20:44,270 that's how that happened that's at well 467 00:20:48,100 --> 00:20:46,400 when we were put in the skeptic zone 468 00:20:50,830 --> 00:20:48,110 together we came up with all sorts of 469 00:20:54,490 --> 00:20:50,840 crazy names too yeah and then our 470 00:20:56,890 --> 00:20:54,500 co-host Stefan soika in one of these 471 00:20:59,799 --> 00:20:56,900 exchanges and email said the skeptic 472 00:21:03,480 --> 00:20:59,809 zone and suddenly everyone yeah yeah I 473 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:03,490 just just sort of stuck now of course I 474 00:21:10,299 --> 00:21:07,850 first met you at tam in 2008 if my 475 00:21:13,149 --> 00:21:10,309 memory so he my first time was two 476 00:21:15,279 --> 00:21:13,159 thousand six so it's about right I think 477 00:21:17,140 --> 00:21:15,289 I met you and swoopy 'the i was there a 478 00:21:19,630 --> 00:21:17,150 day because it was at the Flamingo yeah 479 00:21:22,810 --> 00:21:19,640 and then later that year that same year 480 00:21:24,370 --> 00:21:22,820 i traveled to dragoncon town and with my 481 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:24,380 first Dragon Con and I went there that 482 00:21:27,250 --> 00:21:25,730 year the next year and the year after 483 00:21:29,770 --> 00:21:27,260 that there was also the first requiring 484 00:21:32,169 --> 00:21:29,780 a skeptic zone yes you're absolutely 485 00:21:35,700 --> 00:21:32,179 right skeptic zone was born at dragon 486 00:21:39,100 --> 00:21:35,710 con 2008 in Georgia back when the 487 00:21:41,580 --> 00:21:39,110 skeptic track was a very small room now 488 00:21:43,539 --> 00:21:41,590 to tell me more about the whole 489 00:21:45,340 --> 00:21:43,549 evolution of the skeptic track at 490 00:21:48,610 --> 00:21:45,350 dragoncon because it in the early days 491 00:21:51,310 --> 00:21:48,620 it was it was good fun I was ever in the 492 00:21:54,159 --> 00:21:51,320 very early days but it's just very blah 493 00:21:58,360 --> 00:21:54,169 some day yeah well let's say it started 494 00:21:58,909 --> 00:21:58,370 because I was the director at drank on 495 00:22:02,119 --> 00:21:58,919 for 496 00:22:04,489 --> 00:22:02,129 the new media media like a podcasting 497 00:22:07,310 --> 00:22:04,499 and web video and also if I was director 498 00:22:09,950 --> 00:22:07,320 for that hey my co-director was swooping 499 00:22:11,629 --> 00:22:09,960 thank 07 Bernstein look a rare sighting 500 00:22:14,450 --> 00:22:11,639 of Evan Bernstein walking down the hi 501 00:22:16,879 --> 00:22:14,460 Evan I am I gonna bomb this this 502 00:22:18,529 --> 00:22:16,889 interview right now hi this is the 503 00:22:20,450 --> 00:22:18,539 myriad of the skipping zone the skeptics 504 00:22:22,310 --> 00:22:20,460 guide and skeptics kallik skeptic ality 505 00:22:24,349 --> 00:22:22,320 that's a lot of skeptics in one very 506 00:22:26,389 --> 00:22:24,359 very concentrated area endear you 507 00:22:28,099 --> 00:22:26,399 sneaking off to I have to go do a quick 508 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:28,109 audio check with the engineers in the 509 00:22:32,060 --> 00:22:30,090 room for our show this morning yep 510 00:22:33,470 --> 00:22:32,070 that's usually did like something every 511 00:22:35,749 --> 00:22:33,480 morning what happened yeah well you know 512 00:22:37,849 --> 00:22:35,759 they finally decided to bump us up to a 513 00:22:39,379 --> 00:22:37,859 more I don't know if you want to call it 514 00:22:41,180 --> 00:22:39,389 prominent status where we don't have to 515 00:22:42,769 --> 00:22:41,190 wake up at five in the morning each time 516 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:42,779 in order to you know sounds good too i'm 517 00:22:46,909 --> 00:22:44,730 up first today you know that I'm the guy 518 00:22:49,009 --> 00:22:46,919 who's up first so you have the honor of 519 00:22:50,450 --> 00:22:49,019 doing of getting that kind of works like 520 00:22:51,739 --> 00:22:50,460 my thing this time was I was the very 521 00:22:55,039 --> 00:22:51,749 first thing at eight o'clock in the 522 00:22:56,690 --> 00:22:55,049 morning on Thursday yeah I know there 523 00:22:59,450 --> 00:22:56,700 was a you know their the slots have 524 00:23:01,999 --> 00:22:59,460 purposes and reasons and times yeah well 525 00:23:03,979 --> 00:23:02,009 but you know but we know we're happy to 526 00:23:05,779 --> 00:23:03,989 be you know part of this in any capacity 527 00:23:07,970 --> 00:23:05,789 I'll come in and hickel you yeah please 528 00:23:11,180 --> 00:23:07,980 you have to I'll let you get back to 529 00:23:14,989 --> 00:23:11,190 your ex Thank You Edwin Bernstein so it 530 00:23:18,279 --> 00:23:14,999 was oh yeah yeah I was the director for 531 00:23:20,749 --> 00:23:18,289 the new media stuff at dragoncon and 532 00:23:23,210 --> 00:23:20,759 because you know me and super did 533 00:23:24,859 --> 00:23:23,220 skeptic ality we started to invite some 534 00:23:26,690 --> 00:23:24,869 of the guests we had on our show to come 535 00:23:29,690 --> 00:23:26,700 to dragoncon we didn't have a skeptic 536 00:23:31,399 --> 00:23:29,700 track but we just we teamed up with the 537 00:23:33,349 --> 00:23:31,409 space and Science track which we're 538 00:23:34,940 --> 00:23:33,359 right next door of course I remember 539 00:23:36,409 --> 00:23:34,950 that because in the very early days when 540 00:23:37,999 --> 00:23:36,419 I walk out there'd be the science guys 541 00:23:39,409 --> 00:23:38,009 right there well they still are they 542 00:23:41,989 --> 00:23:39,419 still has all right next door they 543 00:23:44,810 --> 00:23:41,999 finally because it's based in science 544 00:23:46,669 --> 00:23:44,820 tracks also kind of grill to make more 545 00:23:49,159 --> 00:23:46,679 room for the space track they moved it 546 00:23:50,570 --> 00:23:49,169 one floor up which it's not that bad and 547 00:23:52,310 --> 00:23:50,580 there if you remember you don't have to 548 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:52,320 even use of elevator that's a little 549 00:23:57,229 --> 00:23:54,570 stairway yes not that bad that's easy 550 00:23:58,549 --> 00:23:57,239 yeah so that was fine because I the 551 00:24:00,979 --> 00:23:58,559 reason why they had to do that really 552 00:24:03,049 --> 00:24:00,989 was because they grew the skeptic room 553 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:03,059 one more time so we have that entire 554 00:24:06,799 --> 00:24:05,129 side of the hall but anyway at the 555 00:24:10,489 --> 00:24:06,809 beginning it was just space and science 556 00:24:11,210 --> 00:24:10,499 and me and swoopy did the new media but 557 00:24:13,279 --> 00:24:11,220 we 558 00:24:18,049 --> 00:24:13,289 had some of our skeptic guests like 559 00:24:20,779 --> 00:24:18,059 George Rab and Jeff flag and he'll play 560 00:24:24,470 --> 00:24:20,789 all these people and I got them to come 561 00:24:26,029 --> 00:24:24,480 and they just would go to the science 562 00:24:28,909 --> 00:24:26,039 and space tracks and they were packed 563 00:24:32,270 --> 00:24:28,919 rooms and then after about two years the 564 00:24:36,470 --> 00:24:32,280 guy who runs dry gone Pat Henry called 565 00:24:39,350 --> 00:24:36,480 me at home he said if I gave you a track 566 00:24:42,799 --> 00:24:39,360 for skeptics could you fill it at least 567 00:24:44,779 --> 00:24:42,809 sixty percent said sixty percent that's 568 00:24:48,230 --> 00:24:44,789 that's a very low bar yeah I can do that 569 00:24:51,049 --> 00:24:48,240 and the first year I filled it a hundred 570 00:24:54,230 --> 00:24:51,059 percent and I've done that every year 571 00:24:55,850 --> 00:24:54,240 and i have no more space to grow but i 572 00:24:58,520 --> 00:24:55,860 told them i don't want to move because 573 00:25:01,340 --> 00:24:58,530 I'd like our location it's yeah I really 574 00:25:02,810 --> 00:25:01,350 loved the three times I did dragoncon 575 00:25:06,049 --> 00:25:02,820 the only reason I haven't done in the 576 00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:06,059 last few years is probably because it's 577 00:25:11,330 --> 00:25:09,150 it's such a long long trip that's a big 578 00:25:17,779 --> 00:25:11,340 fact I'm not like three hours longer 579 00:25:19,460 --> 00:25:17,789 than here but I did it once with steve 580 00:25:21,590 --> 00:25:19,470 roberts from the stone skeptics and dr. 581 00:25:24,950 --> 00:25:21,600 HC and I all flew out together and we 582 00:25:26,870 --> 00:25:24,960 flew from Sydney stopover in LA to 583 00:25:29,690 --> 00:25:26,880 change planes and then to Atlanta and we 584 00:25:32,149 --> 00:25:29,700 were pretty cooked we were pretty fried 585 00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:32,159 but I'll be probably from Australia to 586 00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:34,110 LA he's got a bill what like 16 hours 587 00:25:39,350 --> 00:25:36,809 there 14 hours yeah but all those times 588 00:25:41,330 --> 00:25:39,360 and anyway but we loved it but it's it's 589 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:41,340 pretty it's pretty tough to UM to be on 590 00:25:45,470 --> 00:25:43,650 deck and be thinking when your brains 591 00:25:47,180 --> 00:25:45,480 scrambled from what I haven't yet 592 00:25:51,350 --> 00:25:47,190 they're like I for three or four days 593 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:51,360 early I know I know anyway so I I'm keen 594 00:25:55,460 --> 00:25:53,490 to do it again and we'll just see what 595 00:25:56,750 --> 00:25:55,470 happens next year because you're telling 596 00:25:58,970 --> 00:25:56,760 me in the three years i haven't been 597 00:26:01,399 --> 00:25:58,980 there it's changed a lot well we've the 598 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:01,409 skeptic track room where we do our stuff 599 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:04,650 has grown every year since so you'll be 600 00:26:07,669 --> 00:26:06,330 kind of surprised because it's so big 601 00:26:10,460 --> 00:26:07,679 now we have to have three or four those 602 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:10,470 big flat screen TVs so the audience can 603 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:12,090 see everything now really 604 00:26:18,500 --> 00:26:15,570 Wow yeah as far as its I say our room is 605 00:26:21,230 --> 00:26:18,510 like a really big airplane because it's 606 00:26:22,909 --> 00:26:21,240 like a nice long ok tube almost yeah 607 00:26:24,890 --> 00:26:22,919 yeah but it's fine because we have the 608 00:26:27,110 --> 00:26:24,900 TV screens and you can still see it's 609 00:26:29,180 --> 00:26:27,120 just we like to have like the screens 610 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:29,190 you can put up people's names under yeah 611 00:26:33,350 --> 00:26:31,890 i mean if listeners to this show maybe 612 00:26:36,850 --> 00:26:33,360 even new listeners if you go back 613 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:36,860 through the archives and you search for 614 00:26:43,130 --> 00:26:40,770 dragoncon you'll see early episodes 615 00:26:45,620 --> 00:26:43,140 because of this skeptic zone where we 616 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:45,630 interview famous celebrities and people 617 00:26:49,310 --> 00:26:47,850 at this event you know because when 618 00:26:51,110 --> 00:26:49,320 you're walking around dragoncon it's one 619 00:26:52,909 --> 00:26:51,120 of the things i'll never forget i was in 620 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:52,919 the lobby of the hotel doing something 621 00:27:02,330 --> 00:26:56,610 rather and walk in walked brent Spiner 622 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:02,340 and the Reich yeah both of them are 623 00:27:07,220 --> 00:27:05,010 really i mean yeah brent Spiner coolest 624 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:07,230 guy ever did you take some time to talk 625 00:27:10,279 --> 00:27:08,730 to I didn't actually because he just was 626 00:27:13,039 --> 00:27:10,289 walking past well that's the thing about 627 00:27:15,169 --> 00:27:13,049 drying out I love knot is that it's a 628 00:27:16,639 --> 00:27:15,179 party more than invention yeah even the 629 00:27:18,950 --> 00:27:16,649 people that are there that biggest stars 630 00:27:20,810 --> 00:27:18,960 you can just go up to them and I've made 631 00:27:23,210 --> 00:27:20,820 become really good friends with some of 632 00:27:25,370 --> 00:27:23,220 the people that you know just TV movies 633 00:27:28,490 --> 00:27:25,380 actors it says it's because it's just a 634 00:27:30,529 --> 00:27:28,500 big yeah I chatted to various does from 635 00:27:33,139 --> 00:27:30,539 you remember the autograph room and this 636 00:27:34,310 --> 00:27:33,149 starts from laughs for decades there oh 637 00:27:36,889 --> 00:27:34,320 yeah and you can just chat to them 638 00:27:41,659 --> 00:27:36,899 that's fantastic but two years ago we 639 00:27:45,289 --> 00:27:41,669 had uh oh what's his name that died 640 00:27:47,630 --> 00:27:45,299 recently gr jr. Larry hang yes in fact 641 00:27:49,730 --> 00:27:47,640 that's where I saw him at DragonCon as 642 00:27:52,340 --> 00:27:49,740 well yeah when you sleek a huge yeah 643 00:27:54,110 --> 00:27:52,350 used to usually come yeah it was kind of 644 00:27:56,990 --> 00:27:54,120 a shock when he dog is like man we just 645 00:27:59,840 --> 00:27:57,000 saw him yeah it was too bad yeah that's 646 00:28:02,960 --> 00:27:59,850 a really nice car too yeah so yet so 647 00:28:05,180 --> 00:28:02,970 we've been growing and you missed the 648 00:28:07,610 --> 00:28:05,190 best event we've ever had on the track 649 00:28:09,830 --> 00:28:07,620 last year though what was that we had on 650 00:28:11,899 --> 00:28:09,840 the big stage in the giant room the 651 00:28:14,389 --> 00:28:11,909 atrium ballroom I know they had one of 652 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:14,399 the huge holes like 10,000 people we 653 00:28:19,970 --> 00:28:17,090 packed it and we had James Randi and 654 00:28:21,830 --> 00:28:19,980 Alice Cooper talking about her I'm on I 655 00:28:25,279 --> 00:28:21,840 heard about that yes because I think 656 00:28:28,310 --> 00:28:25,289 they actually jrf got the permission 657 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:28,320 from the drank on and got their actual 658 00:28:33,590 --> 00:28:30,570 footage and they put it on YouTube you 659 00:28:35,090 --> 00:28:33,600 can actually watch that good it's kind 660 00:28:36,380 --> 00:28:35,100 of cool good tip because there's some 661 00:28:37,730 --> 00:28:36,390 great stories in there cuz that's the 662 00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:37,740 reason why I wanted to happen when I 663 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:41,250 heard that Pat got Alice Cooper to come 664 00:28:46,340 --> 00:28:44,850 I said no randy has to come hey I mean 665 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:46,350 cuz you know it's one of the coolest 666 00:28:49,789 --> 00:28:48,090 things ever you know yeah have them on 667 00:28:51,740 --> 00:28:49,799 stage talking about that is he scheduled 668 00:28:55,909 --> 00:28:51,750 to go this year James Randi originally 669 00:28:58,549 --> 00:28:55,919 yes but he has a have a metal surgery 670 00:29:00,230 --> 00:28:58,559 right at the same right I I think I 671 00:29:02,180 --> 00:29:00,240 heard that the other day then yeah he 672 00:29:04,820 --> 00:29:02,190 was actually almost got sooo he told me 673 00:29:07,399 --> 00:29:04,830 he had some maintenance now that he 674 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:07,409 needs doing yeah so it was on the 675 00:29:11,330 --> 00:29:09,450 schedule to do it but then when they 676 00:29:13,970 --> 00:29:11,340 actually scheduled that happen berate 677 00:29:15,919 --> 00:29:13,980 right in conflict so these things happen 678 00:29:19,010 --> 00:29:15,929 Derek yeah these things happen now let's 679 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:19,020 look gaze down the long hallway here but 680 00:29:22,310 --> 00:29:20,730 i'm looking yeah i was just looking for 681 00:29:24,710 --> 00:29:22,320 the food more and more people are 682 00:29:26,659 --> 00:29:24,720 gathering the coffee's their coffee 683 00:29:28,220 --> 00:29:26,669 might be the might be a good idea how 684 00:29:30,980 --> 00:29:28,230 could I well I'm up my vocal cord 685 00:29:33,260 --> 00:29:30,990 because I'm up in about your father soon 686 00:29:35,299 --> 00:29:33,270 just like what happened I mean I had to 687 00:29:37,039 --> 00:29:35,309 use it I was the first person on the 688 00:29:39,260 --> 00:29:37,049 first day at eight o'clock in the 689 00:29:41,510 --> 00:29:39,270 morning what are you the first person on 690 00:29:43,159 --> 00:29:41,520 the Saturday well don't forget last 691 00:29:44,570 --> 00:29:43,169 night was Penn Jillette's bacon and I 692 00:29:45,980 --> 00:29:44,580 couldn't even make it yeah I didn't know 693 00:29:47,180 --> 00:29:45,990 that I was hope you know but a lot of 694 00:29:49,970 --> 00:29:47,190 people would have been there gonna be a 695 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:49,980 lot of black people in the other thing I 696 00:29:53,799 --> 00:29:51,690 feel bad for you there you might feeling 697 00:29:55,820 --> 00:29:53,809 it with the crowd that's either hungover 698 00:29:57,889 --> 00:29:55,830 they'll be there will be enough people 699 00:30:00,710 --> 00:29:57,899 there and I get my talk over and done 700 00:30:03,680 --> 00:30:00,720 with it and I can sort of do other 701 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:03,690 things okay cool Derek Holland una give 702 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:05,490 my best to swoopy and being on the 703 00:30:22,519 --> 00:30:20,690 be reasonable is a podcast of the 704 00:30:24,710 --> 00:30:22,529 Merseyside skeptics Society featuring 705 00:30:26,749 --> 00:30:24,720 hayley stevens and michael marshall each 706 00:30:28,999 --> 00:30:26,759 monthly interview explores beliefs from 707 00:30:30,499 --> 00:30:29,009 outside the mainstream engaging with 708 00:30:32,269 --> 00:30:30,509 proponents of those beliefs to examine 709 00:30:35,269 --> 00:30:32,279 the evidence and reasoning behind each 710 00:30:37,370 --> 00:30:35,279 idea in June's episode we speak with 711 00:30:39,139 --> 00:30:37,380 novena shine who made the headlines with 712 00:30:42,049 --> 00:30:39,149 her attempts to live for six months 713 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:42,059 without food listen to novena story and 714 00:30:46,759 --> 00:30:44,370 back issues of the show by visiting 715 00:30:48,740 --> 00:30:46,769 merseyside skeptics talked at UK forward 716 00:31:04,810 --> 00:30:48,750 slash podcasts or search for be 717 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:07,160 thank you for listening to the skeptic 718 00:31:12,830 --> 00:31:08,970 zone and then some of you listen to this 719 00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:12,840 no doubt I am somewhere over the Pacific 720 00:31:18,110 --> 00:31:15,570 between San Francisco and Hawaii 721 00:31:20,420 --> 00:31:18,120 probably or maybe between Hawaii and 722 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:20,430 Fiji or Fiji in Sydney and who knows 723 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:23,010 we're looking forward to getting home 724 00:31:28,630 --> 00:31:25,650 and having that wonderful jetlag feeling 725 00:31:31,190 --> 00:31:28,640 again now I can't recommend it enough 726 00:31:32,450 --> 00:31:31,200 more amazing meeting highlights coming 727 00:31:34,790 --> 00:31:32,460 up over the next few weeks with 728 00:31:36,890 --> 00:31:34,800 interviews and bits and pieces and also 729 00:31:39,110 --> 00:31:36,900 some interviews I recorded are in 730 00:31:41,780 --> 00:31:39,120 Hollywood just the other night with some 731 00:31:44,510 --> 00:31:41,790 good old skeptical friends but for now 732 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:44,520 while I still contemplate tonight's crab 733 00:31:48,670 --> 00:31:46,610 cooker dinner this is Richard Saunders 734 00:31:55,310 --> 00:31:48,680 signing off from the Orange County 735 00:31:59,990 --> 00:31:55,320 California you've been listening to the 736 00:32:03,830 --> 00:32:00,000 skeptic zone visit our website at www 737 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:03,840 skeptics on TV for comments contacts and