1 00:00:05,329 --> 00:00:01,850 the skeptic zone is brought to you by 2 00:00:08,780 --> 00:00:05,339 dr. Bob's trivia quiz visit dr. Bob's 3 00:00:17,599 --> 00:00:08,790 quiz wordpress.com and see if you can 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:17,609 match wits with dr. Bob welcome to the 5 00:00:32,710 --> 00:00:20,490 skeptic zone the podcast from Australia 6 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:35,330 hello and welcome to the skeptic zone 7 00:00:41,270 --> 00:00:38,010 episode number 324 the seventh of 8 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:41,280 December 2014 Richard Saunders here with 9 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:44,250 you in Sydney Australia well it's Sunday 10 00:00:48,670 --> 00:00:46,110 it must be Sydney because monday i was 11 00:00:51,950 --> 00:00:48,680 in adelaide and choose die was in perth 12 00:00:55,369 --> 00:00:51,960 thursday i was in brisbane friday 13 00:00:58,460 --> 00:00:55,379 melbourne and then yes they back here to 14 00:01:02,270 --> 00:00:58,470 sydney all on the evening with james 15 00:01:05,140 --> 00:01:02,280 randi tour and what a wonderful event 16 00:01:08,450 --> 00:01:05,150 tour it's been so far my friends I 17 00:01:10,340 --> 00:01:08,460 hardly know where to start traveling the 18 00:01:13,670 --> 00:01:10,350 week with james randi has been quite 19 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:13,680 something and that's an experience I'll 20 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:15,210 never forget anyway at the beginning of 21 00:01:18,580 --> 00:01:16,770 the show to kick it off we have a little 22 00:01:21,230 --> 00:01:18,590 interview with james randi i did in 23 00:01:22,610 --> 00:01:21,240 adelaide i think it was where we had a 24 00:01:25,219 --> 00:01:22,620 quiet moment to ourselves to chat about 25 00:01:28,010 --> 00:01:25,229 magic and other things i think you'll 26 00:01:30,430 --> 00:01:28,020 enjoy that I certainly did and they'll 27 00:01:33,530 --> 00:01:30,440 be more about some of the 28 00:01:35,780 --> 00:01:33,540 behind-the-scenes goings-on of a tour 29 00:01:38,750 --> 00:01:35,790 with James Randi and the events and the 30 00:01:42,470 --> 00:01:38,760 people we've met along the way it was 31 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:42,480 quite something after that ads may not 32 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:44,250 may not spooky action with the one and 33 00:01:50,570 --> 00:01:47,130 only dr. Cole crucial miss key and talk 34 00:01:52,460 --> 00:01:50,580 that Maynard did interview i should say 35 00:01:56,180 --> 00:01:52,470 at the australian skeptics national 36 00:01:59,510 --> 00:01:56,190 convention you should see all the 37 00:02:01,100 --> 00:01:59,520 interviews may not did at the australian 38 00:02:03,470 --> 00:02:01,110 skeptics national convention in fact you 39 00:02:05,870 --> 00:02:03,480 will hear them over the course of the 40 00:02:08,650 --> 00:02:05,880 next week's what a catalog i have folks 41 00:02:11,780 --> 00:02:08,660 he was a busy man thank you may nod 42 00:02:14,420 --> 00:02:11,790 thank you once again and then to wrap up 43 00:02:17,990 --> 00:02:14,430 the show would say the first part of a 44 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:18,000 convention report with joe alabaster for 45 00:02:22,369 --> 00:02:19,170 those of you who weren't there or even 46 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:22,379 if you were Joe's wrap-up of the 47 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:25,170 convention part 1 a bit of an overview 48 00:02:29,809 --> 00:02:27,650 Oh somewhere in the in the show today 49 00:02:31,309 --> 00:02:29,819 mixed up somewhere will be a week in 50 00:02:33,530 --> 00:02:31,319 science from the Royal Institution of 51 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:33,540 Australia and that's where we kicked off 52 00:02:37,699 --> 00:02:35,610 the tour with james randi at the Royal 53 00:02:41,239 --> 00:02:37,709 Institution of Australia I saw it at 54 00:02:43,099 --> 00:02:41,249 last had a great time there caught up 55 00:02:44,270 --> 00:02:43,109 with Paul Willis the director dr. Paul 56 00:02:44,850 --> 00:02:44,280 it's a good friend of mine which was 57 00:02:47,130 --> 00:02:44,860 fantastic 58 00:02:49,050 --> 00:02:47,140 and my friend what a wonderful place the 59 00:02:51,570 --> 00:02:49,060 Royal Institution of Australia really is 60 00:02:54,630 --> 00:02:51,580 worth a visit what a fascinating place 61 00:02:57,420 --> 00:02:54,640 full of history full of science and we 62 00:03:00,090 --> 00:02:57,430 really enjoyed our visit their most 63 00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:00,100 people in Canberra in the a.c.t can come 64 00:03:05,420 --> 00:03:02,710 and see me when I give my talk the 65 00:03:09,390 --> 00:03:05,430 making of the vaccination chronicles and 66 00:03:11,430 --> 00:03:09,400 I'm ghosts scared of skeptics that'll be 67 00:03:14,430 --> 00:03:11,440 this wednesday the tenth of december at 68 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:14,440 the Angley football club 52-week field 69 00:03:21,590 --> 00:03:17,770 avenue canberra a CT for more 70 00:03:26,970 --> 00:03:21,600 information visit www.a mara skeptics 71 00:03:28,770 --> 00:03:26,980 org got a you I'll see you there well my 72 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:28,780 head's still spinning from flying all 73 00:03:32,910 --> 00:03:30,370 around the country or James Randi this 74 00:03:34,890 --> 00:03:32,920 week and as I record this we have one 75 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:34,900 more show to do tonight in sydney which 76 00:03:40,860 --> 00:03:37,450 is a sold-out event i'm told all the 77 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:40,870 seats have gone james randi is what a 78 00:03:45,290 --> 00:03:43,450 trooper Wow grueling schedule lots of 79 00:03:47,940 --> 00:03:45,300 cities lots of flights lots of hotels 80 00:03:50,460 --> 00:03:47,950 but James Randi was there front and 81 00:03:53,910 --> 00:03:50,470 center always ready to perform and 82 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:53,920 always ready to meet people so well I 83 00:03:58,440 --> 00:03:56,410 run downstairs old people are thank you 84 00:04:00,840 --> 00:03:58,450 yes sorry yes yes thank you to all the 85 00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:00,850 skeptics own fans you set a low to me 86 00:04:05,310 --> 00:04:03,670 all round the country on this trip yes 87 00:04:06,750 --> 00:04:05,320 Fred the cat is doing fine for those 88 00:04:09,630 --> 00:04:06,760 people who asked use just here a minute 89 00:04:11,130 --> 00:04:09,640 ago I don't know where is now and yes I 90 00:04:12,479 --> 00:04:11,140 really do run downstairs and get 91 00:04:15,180 --> 00:04:12,489 something to eat out of the fridge it's 92 00:04:18,150 --> 00:04:15,190 the stairs are right here and it was a 93 00:04:19,380 --> 00:04:18,160 real pleasure to meet so many fans and 94 00:04:21,630 --> 00:04:19,390 thank you for coming up and saying hello 95 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:21,640 and letting me know how much you enjoy 96 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:24,490 the skeptic zone well I guess now it's 97 00:04:31,590 --> 00:04:27,250 time for me to run downstairs open up 98 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:31,600 the fridge and finish off the last of 99 00:04:36,870 --> 00:04:34,210 the chocolate champagne bottle that SG 100 00:04:40,140 --> 00:04:36,880 you gave me for my birthday thanks guys 101 00:05:03,999 --> 00:04:40,150 well I'm doing that I hope you enjoy the 102 00:05:10,610 --> 00:05:06,939 what are we doing here Richard we're uh 103 00:05:12,559 --> 00:05:10,620 Brandi I wish I knew it we we found 104 00:05:15,260 --> 00:05:12,569 ourselves now in the city of Adelaide 105 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:15,270 this is the the first city on the big 106 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:17,849 toward the evening with james randi to 107 00:05:21,679 --> 00:05:19,530 her it's a wonderful city and last night 108 00:05:25,519 --> 00:05:21,689 this I think the tour got off to a good 109 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:25,529 start oh yes no I I think we did okay we 110 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:28,050 amateurs yes hey you're not a customer 111 00:05:33,230 --> 00:05:30,330 public speak not at all no no no and I 112 00:05:34,670 --> 00:05:33,240 have never done you not to oh no no I 113 00:05:37,339 --> 00:05:34,680 have you ever done in my life and 114 00:05:39,559 --> 00:05:37,349 frightened frightened of it I think we 115 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:39,569 winged it pretty well then oh yeah we 116 00:05:44,570 --> 00:05:42,330 did and it was it was a very enjoyable 117 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:44,580 evening of course the audience saw the 118 00:05:51,409 --> 00:05:48,810 documentary the honest life followed by 119 00:05:52,969 --> 00:05:51,419 a brief break and then you and I 120 00:05:54,740 --> 00:05:52,979 chatting on stage for an hour which was 121 00:05:57,469 --> 00:05:54,750 most enjoyable yeah are you sure because 122 00:05:59,180 --> 00:05:57,479 some people i think they died in the 123 00:06:01,249 --> 00:05:59,190 audience and that's why they were moving 124 00:06:04,249 --> 00:06:01,259 much when the other people moved out 125 00:06:06,519 --> 00:06:04,259 yeah but no I I think we did very well 126 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:06,529 seriously I Richard we did very well and 127 00:06:16,070 --> 00:06:10,050 it it it may be a beautiful friendship 128 00:06:18,079 --> 00:06:16,080 from now on that's right well I first 129 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:18,089 met you in the year 2000 you were out 130 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:19,770 here for a big skeptical convention oh 131 00:06:25,670 --> 00:06:22,289 yeah but your personal reputation 132 00:06:28,999 --> 00:06:25,680 preceded you of course but we I remember 133 00:06:31,010 --> 00:06:29,009 that quite fondly because you were very 134 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:31,020 proudly showing me your latest digital 135 00:06:36,350 --> 00:06:34,050 camera and I was very proudly showing 136 00:06:38,329 --> 00:06:36,360 you my latest movie digital camera which 137 00:06:40,309 --> 00:06:38,339 was big at the time yes you were always 138 00:06:42,740 --> 00:06:40,319 trying to up me why am I still 139 00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:42,750 everything yeah yes actually not too 140 00:06:51,170 --> 00:06:48,330 successful now and and but I what one of 141 00:06:53,809 --> 00:06:51,180 my one of my fondest memories of that 142 00:06:55,820 --> 00:06:53,819 time was that it was the first time I 143 00:06:59,060 --> 00:06:55,830 saw the card trick known as out of this 144 00:07:03,170 --> 00:06:59,070 world oh yes and you perform that on the 145 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:03,180 the boat cruise we had and I honestly 146 00:07:07,580 --> 00:07:05,130 thought that could not happen what I 147 00:07:09,470 --> 00:07:07,590 just saw before my eyes and I 148 00:07:11,690 --> 00:07:09,480 subsequently learned the trick but the 149 00:07:14,570 --> 00:07:11,700 first time you see that particular trick 150 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:14,580 you cannot fathom how that's possible oh 151 00:07:18,350 --> 00:07:16,770 yeah no out of this world was said what 152 00:07:21,530 --> 00:07:18,360 was his name her and that I can't think 153 00:07:24,140 --> 00:07:21,540 of human man's name I never met him but 154 00:07:26,660 --> 00:07:24,150 it was something in the 1930s or so he 155 00:07:28,460 --> 00:07:26,670 invented and he's in the magic 156 00:07:32,890 --> 00:07:28,470 profession the conjuring profession 157 00:07:35,060 --> 00:07:32,900 burdening he's widely known for that and 158 00:07:37,460 --> 00:07:35,070 there are booked three or four different 159 00:07:39,470 --> 00:07:37,470 versions of it yes but the one that is 160 00:07:41,390 --> 00:07:39,480 that we both do I think is the better 161 00:07:45,050 --> 00:07:41,400 one oh it's it's it's one of those 162 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:45,060 tricks which it's one of those tricks 163 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:47,490 which has the particular punch in it 164 00:07:53,090 --> 00:07:50,370 where the participant is the person 165 00:07:55,010 --> 00:07:53,100 who's doing the trick yes entirely yeah 166 00:07:56,660 --> 00:07:55,020 this is entirely in your control you 167 00:07:59,420 --> 00:07:56,670 don't have exactly the way you wanted 168 00:08:01,850 --> 00:07:59,430 yes I didn't interfere no no no and when 169 00:08:05,180 --> 00:08:01,860 they turn the Kurds over there ya just 170 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:05,190 florissant well the floors them and the 171 00:08:08,540 --> 00:08:06,690 first time I sort and I'm sure it's the 172 00:08:10,450 --> 00:08:08,550 best the first time that the audience II 173 00:08:13,310 --> 00:08:10,460 I was floored I was absolutely 174 00:08:16,220 --> 00:08:13,320 gobsmacked and you're not easily for not 175 00:08:20,180 --> 00:08:16,230 easily I'm not easily in that occasion I 176 00:08:21,620 --> 00:08:20,190 was and it gets back to what we indeed 177 00:08:25,820 --> 00:08:21,630 what we chatted about last night on 178 00:08:27,890 --> 00:08:25,830 stage is your love of conjuring and the 179 00:08:30,230 --> 00:08:27,900 adventures you've had with that setting 180 00:08:32,060 --> 00:08:30,240 aside you're skeptical and critical 181 00:08:35,469 --> 00:08:32,070 thinking outraged as we get back to the 182 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:35,479 fact that you were for many years the 183 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:38,250 Performing Kandra and escape artist oh 184 00:08:44,150 --> 00:08:41,490 yes I made a living at it have barely 185 00:08:45,710 --> 00:08:44,160 eat to living at it yeah i actually did 186 00:08:48,590 --> 00:08:45,720 rather well travel all over the world 187 00:08:50,570 --> 00:08:48,600 and the profession was very good to me 188 00:08:53,900 --> 00:08:50,580 and my audiences were very good to me 189 00:08:56,980 --> 00:08:53,910 and what I'm currently involved in the 190 00:09:00,050 --> 00:08:56,990 whole skeptical picture of course that a 191 00:09:04,970 --> 00:09:00,060 professional skeptical picture i must 192 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:04,980 say if my way of paying back my audience 193 00:09:09,660 --> 00:09:08,010 is that for the applause that they gave 194 00:09:11,850 --> 00:09:09,670 me and support that they gave 195 00:09:14,910 --> 00:09:11,860 and the the income that they gave you 196 00:09:19,140 --> 00:09:14,920 over the years it oh yes they supported 197 00:09:22,500 --> 00:09:19,150 me and this is I feel a way of giving it 198 00:09:23,940 --> 00:09:22,510 back mmm absolutely and it's one of the 199 00:09:25,830 --> 00:09:23,950 great pleasures I'm sure that you 200 00:09:27,690 --> 00:09:25,840 discover when you travel around the 201 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:27,700 world as other magicians will come and 202 00:09:32,850 --> 00:09:30,490 say hello oh yes I get setting aside of 203 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:32,860 inept yes yeah coming to you but just 204 00:09:36,930 --> 00:09:34,930 getting back to your pure love of the 205 00:09:40,140 --> 00:09:36,940 country huh last night we had a young 206 00:09:42,570 --> 00:09:40,150 magician yes yes they did and he bought 207 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:42,580 one of the the james randi dicks oh yes 208 00:09:48,570 --> 00:09:45,370 and was shuttling them one hand too much 209 00:09:51,390 --> 00:09:48,580 to my amazing no he appears to be very 210 00:09:52,860 --> 00:09:51,400 clever with his hands and I I wished I'd 211 00:09:54,570 --> 00:09:52,870 had more time to spend with him cuz I 212 00:09:57,510 --> 00:09:54,580 had a couple of things little little 213 00:09:59,370 --> 00:09:57,520 twists all right I want hers really 214 00:10:02,550 --> 00:09:59,380 explain to him but he had the hustla way 215 00:10:04,170 --> 00:10:02,560 and we did as well so yeah yeah so when 216 00:10:07,140 --> 00:10:04,180 you were a young magician starting out 217 00:10:08,910 --> 00:10:07,150 what was the the basis of your you're 218 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:08,920 gaining your knowledge was mostly books 219 00:10:13,050 --> 00:10:10,210 was that other magicians do you have 220 00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:13,060 mentors well I got to meet Harry 221 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:16,570 Blackstone Oh Harry Blackstone senior 222 00:10:20,910 --> 00:10:18,730 I'm speaking out now was the reigning 223 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:20,920 magician of the day and through a 224 00:10:26,100 --> 00:10:24,250 fortuitous circumstance I got to meet 225 00:10:28,830 --> 00:10:26,110 him and he weather inspired me because 226 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:28,840 he was a lovely fatherly sort of figure 227 00:10:35,100 --> 00:10:31,330 and he sort of took me under his wing 228 00:10:38,700 --> 00:10:35,110 only 40 about two hours on an afternoon 229 00:10:40,590 --> 00:10:38,710 yeah and I've made all the difference in 230 00:10:42,270 --> 00:10:40,600 my life yeah I wanted to be an 231 00:10:43,940 --> 00:10:42,280 archaeologist and I want to be a 232 00:10:46,410 --> 00:10:43,950 catalyst and a few things like that 233 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:46,420 archaeology had really attracted me 234 00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:50,290 still does but after reading Harry black 235 00:10:55,260 --> 00:10:53,290 so and being so charmed by him I figured 236 00:10:58,370 --> 00:10:55,270 well maybe maybe I could do something in 237 00:11:01,500 --> 00:10:58,380 this line to it and apparently I was 238 00:11:04,470 --> 00:11:01,510 well enough suited for it apparently so 239 00:11:07,710 --> 00:11:04,480 and what what what was it I you tell the 240 00:11:10,980 --> 00:11:07,720 story of seeing the magical act for the 241 00:11:12,690 --> 00:11:10,990 first time in just think oh yes now and 242 00:11:14,730 --> 00:11:12,700 you felt that that's something that you 243 00:11:17,610 --> 00:11:14,740 wanted to talk to other people this 244 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:17,620 astonishment yeah i know i was quite 245 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:19,730 overcome he stood back from 246 00:11:24,430 --> 00:11:22,250 lady on a coach and I was in the in the 247 00:11:26,860 --> 00:11:24,440 first balcony oh yeah I had a beautiful 248 00:11:30,689 --> 00:11:26,870 view of it it costs me 12 senses well 249 00:11:35,620 --> 00:11:30,699 yes I mean expensive outweighs here 250 00:11:39,090 --> 00:11:35,630 Canadian said Canadian Santa and oh my 251 00:11:44,769 --> 00:11:39,100 goodness I I just leaned on that balcony 252 00:11:46,810 --> 00:11:44,779 railing there and he said Prince he had 253 00:11:50,620 --> 00:11:46,820 a speech impediment so much oh yeah I'll 254 00:11:53,650 --> 00:11:50,630 try to do it he said Princess ASRA rise 255 00:11:59,290 --> 00:11:53,660 from the bed I'm but you were just 256 00:12:02,680 --> 00:11:59,300 placed a moment ago rise and she was in 257 00:12:04,990 --> 00:12:02,690 the air well if that doesn't spook you 258 00:12:08,079 --> 00:12:05,000 out yeah and the audience was totally 259 00:12:09,910 --> 00:12:08,089 silent from yeah the wall yeah they 260 00:12:12,610 --> 00:12:09,920 always were with Harry Blackstone he 261 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:12,620 cast a spell so to speak hmm and then he 262 00:12:18,850 --> 00:12:15,050 said descend once more to the bedroom 263 00:12:21,790 --> 00:12:18,860 which arose a moment ago oh it was it 264 00:12:24,519 --> 00:12:21,800 was so wonderful it was magical that's 265 00:12:26,379 --> 00:12:24,529 the only way I can describe it and when 266 00:12:29,009 --> 00:12:26,389 I learned later learned the secret of 267 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:29,019 that particular levitation for example I 268 00:12:34,990 --> 00:12:33,050 realized what it had taken to do it he 269 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:35,000 just walked around and waved his hands 270 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:37,510 about and intoned these mysterious words 271 00:12:43,269 --> 00:12:40,250 but they were so well choreographed yeah 272 00:12:47,110 --> 00:12:43,279 the moves and the words and such that 273 00:12:49,930 --> 00:12:47,120 your admiration had to go out to the 274 00:12:52,540 --> 00:12:49,940 ground like that how did he ever develop 275 00:12:56,100 --> 00:12:52,550 that obviously it was his act and his 276 00:12:59,259 --> 00:12:56,110 delivery of it and the charm that he 277 00:13:02,379 --> 00:12:59,269 exuded from the stage is a wonderful 278 00:13:03,819 --> 00:13:02,389 wonderful magician man is this and I can 279 00:13:07,150 --> 00:13:03,829 tell by the passion which you're 280 00:13:11,590 --> 00:13:07,160 speaking about this I guess it's partly 281 00:13:14,319 --> 00:13:11,600 the reason why you are so irked if I can 282 00:13:18,910 --> 00:13:14,329 use that expression tears when people 283 00:13:21,220 --> 00:13:18,920 use this wonderful wonderful talent of 284 00:13:25,059 --> 00:13:21,230 conjuring and the wonderful mind games 285 00:13:26,590 --> 00:13:25,069 uh for the wrong purposes to swindle 286 00:13:29,590 --> 00:13:26,600 people this would not be a missing 287 00:13:32,050 --> 00:13:29,600 foreign to them yes because the 288 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:32,060 evangelists do that they are crippled 289 00:13:35,769 --> 00:13:33,170 people you 290 00:13:38,319 --> 00:13:35,779 emotionally and financially in so many 291 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:38,329 ways they just reduce them to dust and 292 00:13:42,519 --> 00:13:40,370 they sweep that dust away or let the 293 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:42,529 wind Taylor I don't care no they don't 294 00:13:45,940 --> 00:13:44,170 care they think they have found what a 295 00:13:48,670 --> 00:13:45,950 wonderful that from their point of view 296 00:13:51,490 --> 00:13:48,680 way to take advantage of people which 297 00:13:54,180 --> 00:13:51,500 encroaches upon a noble art oh yes 298 00:13:56,410 --> 00:13:54,190 absolutely well it's not so much the 299 00:13:59,350 --> 00:13:56,420 shame that it might bring to the 300 00:14:01,720 --> 00:13:59,360 conjuring creator talk in my estimation 301 00:14:03,460 --> 00:14:01,730 because people who view it don't look 302 00:14:05,350 --> 00:14:03,470 upon it as conjuring they don't think 303 00:14:07,449 --> 00:14:05,360 that there's a conjuring trick they just 304 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:07,459 don't know and of course they don't know 305 00:14:12,250 --> 00:14:09,170 they they don't have the expertise to 306 00:14:14,829 --> 00:14:12,260 know but to cruelly treat people like 307 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:14,839 that to drain them of their finances and 308 00:14:20,139 --> 00:14:17,810 of their emotional security that's not 309 00:14:22,389 --> 00:14:20,149 right Richard it's just not right to do 310 00:14:24,900 --> 00:14:22,399 that sort of thing particularly to 311 00:14:26,889 --> 00:14:24,910 elderly people or people or 312 00:14:29,769 --> 00:14:26,899 malfunctioning in some way there may be 313 00:14:33,030 --> 00:14:29,779 ill hmm easy targets oh yes easy targets 314 00:14:36,460 --> 00:14:33,040 yeah vulnerable and so vulnerable that 315 00:14:39,490 --> 00:14:36,470 you want to go and shake them to wake up 316 00:14:42,850 --> 00:14:39,500 wake up what you've just seen is a fraud 317 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:42,860 yes but you can't reach each individual 318 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:44,570 person you've just got to write the 319 00:14:48,189 --> 00:14:46,250 books and you gotta break the speeches 320 00:14:50,860 --> 00:14:48,199 the lectures whatnot add the TV 321 00:14:54,150 --> 00:14:50,870 appearances to convince people or just 322 00:14:58,120 --> 00:14:54,160 get them thinking get them thinking and 323 00:15:00,370 --> 00:14:58,130 to start that thinking process that that 324 00:15:03,819 --> 00:15:00,380 discrimination that critical thinking 325 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:03,829 process in people that's what you should 326 00:15:07,329 --> 00:15:05,930 be doing I think so yes I think that's 327 00:15:08,620 --> 00:15:07,339 what you do that's what I've been 328 00:15:10,300 --> 00:15:08,630 absolutely one of the reasons you're 329 00:15:12,970 --> 00:15:10,310 here in Australia that's right and damn 330 00:15:14,380 --> 00:15:12,980 to meet friends and fans and have a good 331 00:15:16,059 --> 00:15:14,390 time of course and we're having a 332 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:16,069 delightful time so far but to get this 333 00:15:21,730 --> 00:15:19,250 message out which you have done there 334 00:15:25,809 --> 00:15:21,740 are many many years now maybe are many 335 00:15:28,180 --> 00:15:25,819 many movies me say the least just to say 336 00:15:31,059 --> 00:15:28,190 the least well Randy we've only just 337 00:15:33,460 --> 00:15:31,069 started we have a person of just a few 338 00:15:35,650 --> 00:15:33,470 days and then we have Brisbane and we 339 00:15:38,350 --> 00:15:35,660 have Melbourne and we have Sydney and 340 00:15:39,519 --> 00:15:38,360 then I think you're going home yeah at 341 00:15:42,530 --> 00:15:39,529 least all right 342 00:15:45,919 --> 00:15:42,540 some stage one eventually yes and you 343 00:15:48,619 --> 00:15:45,929 know when i think of it i was just in 344 00:15:51,889 --> 00:15:48,629 this very hotel bed here last night 345 00:15:56,650 --> 00:15:51,899 sleeping and as i drifted off to sleep i 346 00:15:59,689 --> 00:15:56,660 thought directly below me is my home yes 347 00:16:02,780 --> 00:15:59,699 it's the width of a whole plan of the 348 00:16:06,049 --> 00:16:02,790 way it's as far away as I can possibly 349 00:16:09,049 --> 00:16:06,059 get about from home yeah yeah I get I 350 00:16:11,900 --> 00:16:09,059 can pick up my cell phone yeah have 351 00:16:13,609 --> 00:16:11,910 press a button on it and I will hear a 352 00:16:15,499 --> 00:16:13,619 voice at the other end that's coming to 353 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:15,509 me for the furthest possible point 354 00:16:21,350 --> 00:16:17,850 unless you happen to be an astronaut and 355 00:16:23,569 --> 00:16:21,360 say something it someplace and this 356 00:16:25,489 --> 00:16:23,579 remarkable magic trick that's imagine 357 00:16:27,710 --> 00:16:25,499 that's a girl yeah there's no question 358 00:16:29,389 --> 00:16:27,720 of it and you can also see them yes you 359 00:16:31,879 --> 00:16:29,399 can see yes well I don't necessarily 360 00:16:33,889 --> 00:16:31,889 want to do that that everybody would but 361 00:16:36,049 --> 00:16:33,899 it it is wonderful i can speak to the 362 00:16:40,030 --> 00:16:36,059 other side of the earth from as far away 363 00:16:44,299 --> 00:16:40,040 as I could possibly reach physically and 364 00:16:46,609 --> 00:16:44,309 and it costs me so little yes it's just 365 00:16:48,679 --> 00:16:46,619 a small investment of time and and and 366 00:16:52,100 --> 00:16:48,689 of money very small investment it's it's 367 00:16:55,249 --> 00:16:52,110 it's it's quite something and at 86 you 368 00:16:58,069 --> 00:16:55,259 have seen dramatic changes oh yeah no i 369 00:16:59,960 --> 00:16:58,079 I've often said that I'm very fortunate 370 00:17:03,499 --> 00:16:59,970 to have been born when I was born 371 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:03,509 because i saw these grand changes in 372 00:17:11,449 --> 00:17:08,970 technology and in human understanding of 373 00:17:15,110 --> 00:17:11,459 the of the world but at the same time i 374 00:17:16,460 --> 00:17:15,120 think that Fineman board 200 years ago I 375 00:17:18,350 --> 00:17:16,470 would have said exactly the same thing 376 00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:18,360 yeah well that's right there have been a 377 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:20,130 lot of changes over the lungs you said 378 00:17:25,429 --> 00:17:23,730 yes but I 86 years is a long time to 379 00:17:27,470 --> 00:17:25,439 observe the world how it is that it is 380 00:17:31,100 --> 00:17:27,480 well look I look forward to chatting to 381 00:17:32,690 --> 00:17:31,110 you in 10 years or near 96 and you can 382 00:17:34,279 --> 00:17:32,700 tell me about all the other changes is 383 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:34,289 you're just obsessed when they ask me my 384 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:36,450 age I say 86 going on a high degree 385 00:17:42,379 --> 00:17:39,330 because I'm optimistic maybe foolishly 386 00:17:44,149 --> 00:17:42,389 ask optimistic but I hope not i think we 387 00:17:46,030 --> 00:17:44,159 should get a lot of work to do I think 388 00:18:06,190 --> 00:17:46,040 you do Randy thanks very much 389 00:18:08,530 --> 00:18:06,200 matron welcome to a week in science from 390 00:18:10,450 --> 00:18:08,540 ra oz bringing you the science you need 391 00:18:12,250 --> 00:18:10,460 to know are you sitting down listening 392 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:12,260 to this what do you think you're doing 393 00:18:20,710 --> 00:18:19,370 stand up stand up quickly what if we 394 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:20,720 said that the amount that you sat down 395 00:18:25,180 --> 00:18:23,570 was a major health concern there's a 396 00:18:26,650 --> 00:18:25,190 growing amounts of research which is 397 00:18:28,810 --> 00:18:26,660 showing that the amount that you sit 398 00:18:31,090 --> 00:18:28,820 down can increase your risk of various 399 00:18:33,940 --> 00:18:31,100 medical problems such as diabetes and 400 00:18:35,530 --> 00:18:33,950 cardiovascular disease one study delved 401 00:18:37,510 --> 00:18:35,540 into the possible reason for this and 402 00:18:39,220 --> 00:18:37,520 found the amount that people sat down 403 00:18:41,410 --> 00:18:39,230 alter the length of their telomeres 404 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:41,420 which our DNA caps on the end of your 405 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:44,210 chromosomes these telomeres shorten as 406 00:18:48,460 --> 00:18:46,490 you age and sitting for more time leaves 407 00:18:50,260 --> 00:18:48,470 that shortening happening even faster 408 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:50,270 increasing your risk of age-related 409 00:18:55,810 --> 00:18:54,170 conditions now I know what you're 410 00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:55,820 thinking if you're sitting down and not 411 00:19:00,190 --> 00:18:58,010 exercising your possibly unfit and 412 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:00,200 leading a poor lifestyle but it's not 413 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:01,970 quite that straightforward in these 414 00:19:05,950 --> 00:19:03,890 studies the amount of exercise didn't 415 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:05,960 have any effect it was purely the 416 00:19:10,090 --> 00:19:07,570 amounts of sitting down time and 417 00:19:12,130 --> 00:19:10,100 exercising didn't negate the effects of 418 00:19:14,140 --> 00:19:12,140 sitting the effect is still seen in 419 00:19:16,270 --> 00:19:14,150 people who are otherwise fit including 420 00:19:18,010 --> 00:19:16,280 runners one suggestion is that while 421 00:19:19,810 --> 00:19:18,020 you're standing your hamstrings and 422 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:19,820 thigh muscles are working more than when 423 00:19:23,470 --> 00:19:21,890 you are sitting and this small amount of 424 00:19:25,270 --> 00:19:23,480 constant work is what makes the 425 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:25,280 difference so if you want to stay 426 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:27,050 healthy tries to reduce the amount of 427 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:29,210 time you're sitting down or stand up as 428 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:32,210 often as you can and now for fast facts 429 00:19:37,690 --> 00:19:35,290 about stand-up work desks 430 00:19:39,850 --> 00:19:37,700 stand up work desks were reportedly 431 00:19:42,250 --> 00:19:39,860 favored by Leonardo da Vinci Ernest 432 00:19:43,630 --> 00:19:42,260 Hemingway and Winston Churchill some of 433 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:43,640 the earliest evidence of the health 434 00:19:48,670 --> 00:19:46,310 effects of setting was in 1953 when a 435 00:19:50,170 --> 00:19:48,680 study showed bus conductors had a lower 436 00:19:52,540 --> 00:19:50,180 risk of heart attack than they're 437 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:52,550 sitting driver counterparts Denmark has 438 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:54,170 become the first country in the world to 439 00:19:58,030 --> 00:19:55,730 make it compulsory to offer employees 440 00:20:00,760 --> 00:19:58,040 the choice of a sitting or standing desk 441 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:00,770 and just remember standing or frequent 442 00:20:05,650 --> 00:20:02,450 gentle exercise is not meant to replace 443 00:20:07,810 --> 00:20:05,660 vigorous exercise but complement it in a 444 00:20:10,210 --> 00:20:07,820 healthy lifestyle that's it for this 445 00:20:12,010 --> 00:20:10,220 week in science for more information on 446 00:20:16,390 --> 00:20:12,020 their health effects of sitting goes the 447 00:20:19,510 --> 00:20:16,400 RLS website are I aus org dot a you 448 00:20:21,910 --> 00:20:19,520 follow us on twitter at ra oz and like 449 00:20:40,450 --> 00:20:21,920 us on facebook i'm ben lewis and we'll 450 00:20:48,459 --> 00:20:45,200 here's my not spooky action at a 451 00:20:52,159 --> 00:20:51,169 I'm here in a very small room with an 452 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:52,169 air conditioning noise in the background 453 00:20:57,139 --> 00:20:54,450 with dr. Karl hi dr. Carl hello I'm 454 00:20:59,239 --> 00:20:57,149 waggling my Fez at you dr. banner I'm 455 00:21:00,739 --> 00:20:59,249 recognizing your fears and I'll just sit 456 00:21:02,659 --> 00:21:00,749 here and be amazing thank you for 457 00:21:04,009 --> 00:21:02,669 inviting me here oh and thank you for a 458 00:21:05,989 --> 00:21:04,019 great talk you gave us all then about 459 00:21:07,399 --> 00:21:05,999 your journey through America and your 460 00:21:08,869 --> 00:21:07,409 car that broke down so what made you 461 00:21:10,039 --> 00:21:08,879 think as a scientist and a rational 462 00:21:13,549 --> 00:21:10,049 thinker that you should go for such a 463 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:13,559 long journey in such an old car we've 464 00:21:18,169 --> 00:21:15,330 had engines that work for a long time 465 00:21:20,209 --> 00:21:18,179 and I would have thought that the guy 466 00:21:22,459 --> 00:21:20,219 who rented me the car for a very great 467 00:21:24,700 --> 00:21:22,469 price would have done the right 468 00:21:27,919 --> 00:21:24,710 maintenance and preparation 469 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:27,929 unfortunately he didn't but sure we can 470 00:21:31,669 --> 00:21:30,450 get a car engine to go tremendously long 471 00:21:33,619 --> 00:21:31,679 distances in fact with the modern 472 00:21:36,499 --> 00:21:33,629 technology the fuel economy of their car 473 00:21:38,089 --> 00:21:36,509 was 20 miles per gallon kahoo doing 474 00:21:40,070 --> 00:21:38,099 gentle highway driving which was 475 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:40,080 remarkably good for such a big engine 476 00:21:44,539 --> 00:21:42,570 and a big loud noise now you haven't 477 00:21:49,489 --> 00:21:44,549 steered towards the electric car in your 478 00:21:51,169 --> 00:21:49,499 own life have you yes I've gone the one 479 00:21:55,039 --> 00:21:51,179 hybrid car and I bought another hybrid 480 00:21:58,009 --> 00:21:55,049 car and in fact the guy who helps set up 481 00:21:59,690 --> 00:21:58,019 Apple Steve Wozniak whenever he comes to 482 00:22:02,899 --> 00:21:59,700 a new country on his travels around the 483 00:22:04,430 --> 00:22:02,909 world he gets hold of a Prius and then 484 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:04,440 deliberately tries to break the speed 485 00:22:07,999 --> 00:22:06,690 limit as high as he can and then gets 486 00:22:09,589 --> 00:22:08,009 busted by the cops and so it comes out 487 00:22:11,629 --> 00:22:09,599 in the newspaper Steve Wozniak busted 488 00:22:14,029 --> 00:22:11,639 for doing 180 Kilmer's for our in a 489 00:22:15,950 --> 00:22:14,039 Prius Wow and so that way he points out 490 00:22:18,129 --> 00:22:15,960 the cars can go really well they're now 491 00:22:21,799 --> 00:22:18,139 moving towards total electric cars and 492 00:22:24,919 --> 00:22:21,809 we're going with both larger capacity 493 00:22:27,349 --> 00:22:24,929 and also better battery technology as 494 00:22:29,299 --> 00:22:27,359 well as in some companies will give you 495 00:22:31,969 --> 00:22:29,309 a loaner if you want to do a 4,000 496 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:31,979 kilometer trip in one go now why is it 497 00:22:34,759 --> 00:22:33,450 taken so long you think do you think 498 00:22:37,219 --> 00:22:34,769 there's a conspiracy going on here 499 00:22:38,479 --> 00:22:37,229 because i bought a beetle back in two 500 00:22:40,279 --> 00:22:38,489 thousand and I thought okay this will 501 00:22:42,769 --> 00:22:40,289 probably my last petrol car and if I was 502 00:22:44,959 --> 00:22:42,779 buying another car I might have to get a 503 00:22:46,849 --> 00:22:44,969 small petrol engine turbo rather than a 504 00:22:49,940 --> 00:22:46,859 hybrid or an electric because that to me 505 00:22:52,339 --> 00:22:49,950 they're just not quite right yet if you 506 00:22:54,630 --> 00:22:52,349 buy a Tesla which is moderately 507 00:23:00,090 --> 00:22:54,640 expensive you can 508 00:23:02,190 --> 00:23:00,100 do 500 kilometers on the the electric 509 00:23:03,650 --> 00:23:02,200 charge is about 80 or so kilowatt hours 510 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:03,660 just put those numbers in perspective 511 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:06,730 the average house draws about twenty 512 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:08,770 five kilowatt hours a day we used to 513 00:23:16,650 --> 00:23:10,690 draw 28 we're down to eight and our 514 00:23:20,490 --> 00:23:16,660 solar cells make 33 in summer and 16 the 515 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:20,500 lowest in winter and so the cars I've 516 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:21,970 got about twenty kilowatt-hour batteries 517 00:23:28,050 --> 00:23:24,850 but the Tesla has got an 85 I think and 518 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:28,060 it can do 300 500 kilometers and then 519 00:23:31,620 --> 00:23:29,530 you can do a 20-minute quick charge on 520 00:23:33,300 --> 00:23:31,630 the highway which will take you 300 521 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:33,310 kilometres you're looking at a very 522 00:23:37,650 --> 00:23:36,130 expensive car there it is but the 523 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:37,660 maintenance costs are less there are 524 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:39,730 other ways around it we're in a 525 00:23:46,110 --> 00:23:42,450 transition stage where we're moving 526 00:23:49,890 --> 00:23:46,120 towards the electric car as a viable 527 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:49,900 beast via different pathways one is 528 00:23:53,910 --> 00:23:51,370 getting the bit of battery technology 529 00:23:55,860 --> 00:23:53,920 which we've been very slow on and the 530 00:23:57,690 --> 00:23:55,870 other one is getting more recharging 531 00:24:02,900 --> 00:23:57,700 stations if you go back to the very very 532 00:24:05,730 --> 00:24:02,910 first journey taken in a car Bertha Benz 533 00:24:06,810 --> 00:24:05,740 married to Gottlieb in saying thank you 534 00:24:08,820 --> 00:24:06,820 got lube you've been doing a nice job 535 00:24:10,950 --> 00:24:08,830 inventing this thing you call a car I'm 536 00:24:13,170 --> 00:24:10,960 they're going to use it and go on a trip 537 00:24:15,770 --> 00:24:13,180 and see my mother there were no proper 538 00:24:19,740 --> 00:24:15,780 roads at the time so she had to go on 539 00:24:21,990 --> 00:24:19,750 horse carriage tracks and luckily the 540 00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:22,000 wheel spacing of the car tires was 541 00:24:27,540 --> 00:24:24,550 roughly the same as the carriage spacing 542 00:24:29,220 --> 00:24:27,550 there will be rough to the brakes to 543 00:24:31,530 --> 00:24:29,230 idle all the way she had to cut up her 544 00:24:33,050 --> 00:24:31,540 leather handbag and make some more hand 545 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:33,060 brakes and here's the important part 546 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:36,370 before she went on the trip she had to 547 00:24:42,030 --> 00:24:38,730 order a whole bunch of drums have 548 00:24:45,750 --> 00:24:42,040 benzene from the pharmacist there was 549 00:24:48,000 --> 00:24:45,760 not a single refueling station in the 550 00:24:50,310 --> 00:24:48,010 known universe for the internal 551 00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:50,320 combustion car and then over the last 552 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:51,910 century they've increased in numbers and 553 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:53,050 now we've got them all over the place 554 00:24:56,760 --> 00:24:54,730 and somehow we think that's the only way 555 00:24:59,520 --> 00:24:56,770 to go so it's not that hard after only 556 00:25:01,650 --> 00:24:59,530 century to change over to to change over 557 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:01,660 to electric refueling with a very fast 558 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:03,730 charge but in the early days of the 20th 559 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:05,410 century there was some advances in the 560 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:06,610 electric car wasn't there in the early 561 00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:07,330 on 562 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:10,720 yes but what killed them was the fuel 563 00:25:18,150 --> 00:25:14,890 tank and the capacity consider a 44 564 00:25:21,620 --> 00:25:18,160 gallon drum of petrol you can buy a 565 00:25:24,060 --> 00:25:21,630 regular barrel of oil as 215 there's a 566 00:25:26,070 --> 00:25:24,070 battle Vols 160 degrees you can buy a 567 00:25:27,420 --> 00:25:26,080 barrel of oil which is just only a 568 00:25:31,700 --> 00:25:27,430 little bit bigger than a 44 gallon drum 569 00:25:36,510 --> 00:25:31,710 for about 100 bucks it has the energy of 570 00:25:39,570 --> 00:25:36,520 two men working five hour five days a 571 00:25:42,540 --> 00:25:39,580 week eight hours a day for an entire 572 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:42,550 year for 52 weeks a year you get two 573 00:25:48,830 --> 00:25:44,530 men's labor for a year for a hundred 574 00:25:53,010 --> 00:25:48,840 bucks and so fossil fuels have enormous 575 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:53,020 embedded energy and so you had much 576 00:25:58,860 --> 00:25:55,330 better capacity for covering big 577 00:26:00,060 --> 00:25:58,870 distances with a fuel car yeah petrol 578 00:26:02,220 --> 00:26:00,070 gasoline whatever they call it as 579 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:02,230 opposed to a battery but now with 580 00:26:07,260 --> 00:26:04,690 advanced battery technology we're going 581 00:26:09,120 --> 00:26:07,270 down a pathway in fact the Chinese are 582 00:26:10,290 --> 00:26:09,130 heading down that pathway with admit 583 00:26:12,630 --> 00:26:10,300 they're making it one of their four moon 584 00:26:14,850 --> 00:26:12,640 shots okay what do you think of the 585 00:26:16,620 --> 00:26:14,860 Chinese space program and the Indian but 586 00:26:19,590 --> 00:26:16,630 program they're very economical aren't 587 00:26:21,420 --> 00:26:19,600 they yeah the China the Indians got to 588 00:26:23,460 --> 00:26:21,430 Mars for about 80 million dollars which 589 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:23,470 is cheaper than movie spent about that 590 00:26:28,260 --> 00:26:25,810 i'm using hear the word moonshot in a 591 00:26:30,900 --> 00:26:28,270 metaphorical sense we're a country such 592 00:26:33,870 --> 00:26:30,910 as the USA spins in today's dollars 593 00:26:36,990 --> 00:26:33,880 hundreds of billions of dollars and a 594 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:37,000 decade of time so the country goes down 595 00:26:42,540 --> 00:26:40,810 a specific pathway that leads to an 596 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:42,550 outcome in the case of the Americans it 597 00:26:48,570 --> 00:26:44,530 was in 10 years getting the moon and 598 00:26:50,330 --> 00:26:48,580 back but also generating $137 with a 599 00:26:52,290 --> 00:26:50,340 spin-off for every dollar they put in 600 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:52,300 accidentally inventing integrated 601 00:26:55,230 --> 00:26:53,530 circuits and therefore the modern 602 00:26:58,740 --> 00:26:55,240 computer and therefore accidentally 603 00:27:00,990 --> 00:26:58,750 having a well-educated technical middle 604 00:27:02,460 --> 00:27:01,000 class and trades class and therefore 605 00:27:04,770 --> 00:27:02,470 leading to the America being a world 606 00:27:05,910 --> 00:27:04,780 leader in technology and they say that 607 00:27:07,770 --> 00:27:05,920 way for a third of a century which is 608 00:27:11,250 --> 00:27:07,780 falling it before falling over recently 609 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:11,260 so China has four of these metaphorical 610 00:27:16,590 --> 00:27:13,690 moonshots one metal book for achill 611 00:27:19,370 --> 00:27:16,600 moonshot is to do is transport so that 612 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:19,380 covers everything from buses 613 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:22,170 to going to the moon and they intend 614 00:27:26,570 --> 00:27:24,090 they've already landed a rover on the 615 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:26,580 moon which is an immense technological 616 00:27:30,350 --> 00:27:28,530 achievement and they intend to get 617 00:27:33,590 --> 00:27:30,360 humans on the moon and back again by 618 00:27:35,210 --> 00:27:33,600 2025 whereas the Americans can't get 619 00:27:37,220 --> 00:27:35,220 anything into space at the moment no 620 00:27:39,440 --> 00:27:37,230 humans the Americans cannot launch 621 00:27:45,470 --> 00:27:39,450 humans into space and what seems to be 622 00:27:47,570 --> 00:27:45,480 their problem it's complicated but i'll 623 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:47,580 talk about that later so let me just 624 00:27:51,080 --> 00:27:49,530 stay online the moonshot folk over there 625 00:27:52,700 --> 00:27:51,090 are different problem so these the 626 00:27:54,830 --> 00:27:52,710 Americans want to get the moon into 627 00:27:56,330 --> 00:27:54,840 orbit they have to pay the Russians taxi 628 00:28:00,100 --> 00:27:56,340 fare of about 70 million dollars a head 629 00:28:03,080 --> 00:28:00,110 so as part of their first moonshot the 630 00:28:06,140 --> 00:28:03,090 MSO the Chinese moonshot on transport 631 00:28:09,140 --> 00:28:06,150 that also includes trains and so what 632 00:28:11,930 --> 00:28:09,150 they've done is have high-speed trains 633 00:28:15,890 --> 00:28:11,940 running across the country and they have 634 00:28:20,060 --> 00:28:15,900 a high-speed train running 3000 no 24 635 00:28:21,860 --> 00:28:20,070 hundred kilometers and that train does 636 00:28:25,370 --> 00:28:21,870 24 hundred kilometres that we 300 637 00:28:27,710 --> 00:28:25,380 kilometers in eight hours just under 300 638 00:28:31,190 --> 00:28:27,720 kilometres an hour and in a mirror in in 639 00:28:35,390 --> 00:28:31,200 China today more people every day cancer 640 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:35,400 high-speed train van in America do 641 00:28:39,980 --> 00:28:38,370 people catch an aeroplane think how more 642 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:39,990 efficient it is for the country for the 643 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:41,610 moving of people around to use these 644 00:28:46,580 --> 00:28:44,010 high-speed trains so one of their moon 645 00:28:49,880 --> 00:28:46,590 shots is transport the second moon site 646 00:28:51,290 --> 00:28:49,890 shot is genetic engineering and to just 647 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:51,300 approve where they can do get their 648 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:53,810 skills good what they've done is 649 00:28:59,150 --> 00:28:56,610 genetically modified cows to deliver 650 00:29:00,320 --> 00:28:59,160 human breast milk human Bristol sells 651 00:29:03,640 --> 00:29:00,330 for about twenty seven dollars or later 652 00:29:06,860 --> 00:29:03,650 there are users for it and they've also 653 00:29:09,740 --> 00:29:06,870 genetically engineered or genetically 654 00:29:11,300 --> 00:29:09,750 mapped as many strains of rice as they 655 00:29:13,850 --> 00:29:11,310 can because Rice's be part of their diet 656 00:29:18,260 --> 00:29:13,860 now have you heard of the grassy stunt 657 00:29:19,730 --> 00:29:18,270 Ross virus no it sounds pretty evil it 658 00:29:20,810 --> 00:29:19,740 sounds like something that someone's 659 00:29:24,050 --> 00:29:20,820 stroking a cat that lives in a 660 00:29:27,700 --> 00:29:24,060 hollowed-out volcano would do so they 661 00:29:31,039 --> 00:29:27,710 had a hit the world in the late 60s and 662 00:29:33,799 --> 00:29:31,049 it basically destroyed all the rice 663 00:29:36,799 --> 00:29:33,809 infected the rice and killed it and so 664 00:29:40,220 --> 00:29:36,809 the botanists of the day we're looking 665 00:29:42,049 --> 00:29:40,230 through their entire repertoire library 666 00:29:44,690 --> 00:29:42,059 repository of different strains of rice 667 00:29:48,739 --> 00:29:44,700 and out of the six thousand two hundred 668 00:29:52,039 --> 00:29:48,749 and something strains of rice one only 669 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:52,049 one was resistant to the grassy stunt 670 00:29:56,060 --> 00:29:54,090 virus and they then bred that into all 671 00:29:59,539 --> 00:29:56,070 the other types of rice and as a result 672 00:30:02,269 --> 00:29:59,549 we still have rice today because the 673 00:30:05,989 --> 00:30:02,279 variety they found was a very mediocre 674 00:30:08,479 --> 00:30:05,999 or had a very mediocre yield so getting 675 00:30:10,700 --> 00:30:08,489 back to this concept the Chinese are 676 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:10,710 going big into genetics is their second 677 00:30:14,629 --> 00:30:12,450 moonshot spending hundreds of millions 678 00:30:17,629 --> 00:30:14,639 of dollars and spending a decade their 679 00:30:20,239 --> 00:30:17,639 third moon shot is with regard to energy 680 00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:20,249 and becoming green anymore remember that 681 00:30:25,970 --> 00:30:22,970 recently the Chinese and the Americans 682 00:30:28,849 --> 00:30:25,980 signed an accord this has been 683 00:30:31,070 --> 00:30:28,859 misrepresented in the papers with regard 684 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:31,080 to global warming as the Chinese can do 685 00:30:34,580 --> 00:30:32,730 all the polluting they like with carbon 686 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:34,590 dioxide until 2030 and then I'll think 687 00:30:41,799 --> 00:30:37,980 about it in fact in the year that's just 688 00:30:45,499 --> 00:30:41,809 gone past the year 2013 the Chinese 689 00:30:47,649 --> 00:30:45,509 installed a huge amount of electrical 690 00:30:49,580 --> 00:30:47,659 generating capacity for their burgeoning 691 00:30:54,229 --> 00:30:49,590 population bring them up into the middle 692 00:30:57,889 --> 00:30:54,239 class in the year 2013 the majority of 693 00:31:00,950 --> 00:30:57,899 it was renewables and they have stated 694 00:31:02,810 --> 00:31:00,960 that every year they will increase the 695 00:31:04,669 --> 00:31:02,820 proportion of it that is renewables 696 00:31:07,099 --> 00:31:04,679 until it's entirely renewables this has 697 00:31:08,539 --> 00:31:07,109 been misreported in the Murdoch press as 698 00:31:10,669 --> 00:31:08,549 the Chinese are putting down a new 699 00:31:12,499 --> 00:31:10,679 coal-fired power station every 10 days 700 00:31:15,049 --> 00:31:12,509 and not going to change anything until 701 00:31:18,169 --> 00:31:15,059 2030 on this non binding treaty so the 702 00:31:20,180 --> 00:31:18,179 Chinese intend and they will do this to 703 00:31:22,609 --> 00:31:20,190 become the greatest nation on earth and 704 00:31:27,019 --> 00:31:22,619 in self that technology to the rest of 705 00:31:28,989 --> 00:31:27,029 the world the fourth moon shot takes us 706 00:31:31,849 --> 00:31:28,999 back to your very first question their 707 00:31:35,269 --> 00:31:31,859 fourth moon shot is electric car not 708 00:31:37,129 --> 00:31:35,279 married into green not married into 709 00:31:39,379 --> 00:31:37,139 transport but as a standalone event 710 00:31:40,540 --> 00:31:39,389 because that nice coincidence that the 711 00:31:43,930 --> 00:31:40,550 amount of energy that you 712 00:31:45,520 --> 00:31:43,940 to run a car for a day 100 kilometres 20 713 00:31:47,290 --> 00:31:45,530 kilowatt hours is roughly equal to the 714 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:47,300 amount of energy needed by a house and 715 00:31:53,220 --> 00:31:49,010 they intend to have across China in 10 716 00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:53,230 years not millions of electric cars 717 00:32:01,270 --> 00:31:56,930 hundreds of millions Wow that'll all be 718 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:01,280 electric cars and they'll plug into the 719 00:32:06,010 --> 00:32:04,490 grid a car only operates for an hour or 720 00:32:07,510 --> 00:32:06,020 two a day on average and the rest of 721 00:32:11,380 --> 00:32:07,520 time is just seeing there and so that'll 722 00:32:13,810 --> 00:32:11,390 be part part of their mobile battery 723 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:13,820 system which is an essential part of 724 00:32:18,100 --> 00:32:15,290 their overall guide for the country 725 00:32:22,150 --> 00:32:18,110 because they think on a 10 or 20 year 726 00:32:23,410 --> 00:32:22,160 span not just to the next pole or even 727 00:32:26,770 --> 00:32:23,420 the next election they think long term 728 00:32:28,750 --> 00:32:26,780 as a science communicator in 2014 and 729 00:32:30,430 --> 00:32:28,760 how do you feel with the situation with 730 00:32:32,490 --> 00:32:30,440 science in Australia and the attitude of 731 00:32:34,420 --> 00:32:32,500 the government to it this time around 732 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:34,430 philosophical all I hope is that the 733 00:32:39,700 --> 00:32:37,130 pendulum will swing and at the moment 734 00:32:44,170 --> 00:32:39,710 we're in a situation where our funding 735 00:32:45,580 --> 00:32:44,180 for science R&D which has been proven 736 00:32:47,140 --> 00:32:45,590 over and over again to generate huge 737 00:32:50,770 --> 00:32:47,150 amounts of innovation is at its lowest 738 00:32:52,750 --> 00:32:50,780 in 30 years so it's not just the current 739 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:52,760 government is all of the bail plea just 740 00:32:59,610 --> 00:32:55,210 means another liberal party and 741 00:33:02,680 --> 00:32:59,620 education and science are not seen as 742 00:33:07,690 --> 00:33:02,690 investments in the country but rather as 743 00:33:09,790 --> 00:33:07,700 an intolerable burden look and one thing 744 00:33:11,110 --> 00:33:09,800 in your house of Karl's book that people 745 00:33:12,340 --> 00:33:11,120 are going to read and it's going to make 746 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:12,350 them want to put their brain out and 747 00:33:16,470 --> 00:33:14,090 wash it and put it back in what's the 748 00:33:19,540 --> 00:33:16,480 thing that will really blow their mind 749 00:33:24,880 --> 00:33:19,550 there's a cure for cancer which works 750 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:24,890 what characters it no Baba Baba which 751 00:33:27,610 --> 00:33:26,210 doesn't work all the time but when it 752 00:33:30,490 --> 00:33:27,620 does work it works a hundred percent 753 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:30,500 it's called the AB Scoble effect and so 754 00:33:34,420 --> 00:33:31,970 suppose you've got some poor buggers got 755 00:33:36,130 --> 00:33:34,430 cancer of the everything and it's 756 00:33:37,750 --> 00:33:36,140 spreading their brain in their lungs and 757 00:33:39,880 --> 00:33:37,760 their liver and this plane and their 758 00:33:41,260 --> 00:33:39,890 muscles and their bones and they go to 759 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:41,270 the doctor and they're on their pathway 760 00:33:44,300 --> 00:33:42,290 to death they're not going to get better 761 00:33:45,830 --> 00:33:44,310 everything's been trying to just getting 762 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:45,840 was there in a wheelchair they can't get 763 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:47,250 up there lost his strength they've got 764 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:49,410 this terrible pain in their hip doctor 765 00:33:54,590 --> 00:33:53,130 says you're almost certainly the cancer 766 00:33:56,180 --> 00:33:54,600 has spread to your hip we've got this 767 00:33:57,590 --> 00:33:56,190 cat scan which shows that those cancer 768 00:34:00,020 --> 00:33:57,600 there it's expanding its causing 769 00:34:02,090 --> 00:34:00,030 pressure effects let me zap the cancer 770 00:34:04,070 --> 00:34:02,100 with a high dose of radiation which will 771 00:34:05,420 --> 00:34:04,080 kill the cancer and you can't give that 772 00:34:07,070 --> 00:34:05,430 dose to the whole body because I'll kill 773 00:34:09,140 --> 00:34:07,080 a person and we'll try and get you 774 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:09,150 through knowing that they're going to 775 00:34:12,440 --> 00:34:10,410 die but at least they won't be in pain 776 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:12,450 from their hip they come back a couple 777 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:14,130 of weeks later and they're saying you 778 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:16,530 know what I feel better and the pains 779 00:34:20,090 --> 00:34:18,450 gone but I feel better and then doctor 780 00:34:21,380 --> 00:34:20,100 says well that's great look he's an 781 00:34:24,100 --> 00:34:21,390 appointment come see me in three months 782 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:24,110 if you don't feel well enough ring 783 00:34:28,070 --> 00:34:25,770 thinking they're not going to be alive 784 00:34:30,470 --> 00:34:28,080 in three months they come back in three 785 00:34:32,750 --> 00:34:30,480 months they're walking they've put on 786 00:34:35,540 --> 00:34:32,760 five kilograms of muscle the doctor does 787 00:34:37,940 --> 00:34:35,550 a cat scan MRI scan and everywhere where 788 00:34:41,450 --> 00:34:37,950 there before was visible canceling their 789 00:34:42,980 --> 00:34:41,460 body has gone welcome to the EBSCO pool 790 00:34:45,500 --> 00:34:42,990 effects story number two in my book and 791 00:34:48,740 --> 00:34:45,510 basically what happens is you make the 792 00:34:50,660 --> 00:34:48,750 cancer visible to the immune system you 793 00:34:51,980 --> 00:34:50,670 get a cold or a flu you know worried you 794 00:34:53,720 --> 00:34:51,990 know your immune system will fix it up 795 00:34:56,240 --> 00:34:53,730 because I recognize it suddenly 796 00:34:58,610 --> 00:34:56,250 something we don't know what has made 797 00:35:00,800 --> 00:34:58,620 the cancer visible to the immune system 798 00:35:03,470 --> 00:35:00,810 the immune system says what the heck is 799 00:35:05,300 --> 00:35:03,480 this and attacks it and as the cancer 800 00:35:07,820 --> 00:35:05,310 mutates and tries to evade the immune 801 00:35:10,700 --> 00:35:07,830 system mutates to change it and kill the 802 00:35:12,620 --> 00:35:10,710 ab Scoble effect read about it and watch 803 00:35:14,180 --> 00:35:12,630 the last word to you dr. Carl what's the 804 00:35:18,310 --> 00:35:14,190 first thing people should do to get 805 00:35:25,030 --> 00:35:18,320 their critical thinking going um 806 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:25,040 exercise exercise is good talk read and 807 00:35:47,210 --> 00:35:28,650 always demand the facts ignore opinions 808 00:35:56,690 --> 00:35:49,760 what we want is some more evidence 809 00:35:56,700 --> 00:36:02,240 hello this is Joe alabaster 810 00:36:07,950 --> 00:36:05,970 so last weekend i attended the 811 00:36:10,230 --> 00:36:07,960 australian skeptical event of the year 812 00:36:12,780 --> 00:36:10,240 the australian skeptics national 813 00:36:16,650 --> 00:36:12,790 convention which this year was held in 814 00:36:18,059 --> 00:36:16,660 chatswood a suburb of sydney now before 815 00:36:20,579 --> 00:36:18,069 i regale you with a report on the 816 00:36:22,740 --> 00:36:20,589 convention i'd like to give a huge thank 817 00:36:26,280 --> 00:36:22,750 you to the skeptic sounds very generous 818 00:36:29,430 --> 00:36:26,290 sponsor dr. bob's trivia quiz who made 819 00:36:31,049 --> 00:36:29,440 my convention attendance possible dr. 820 00:36:33,120 --> 00:36:31,059 bob was not of the convention himself 821 00:36:37,349 --> 00:36:33,130 but i do hope to one day meet you and 822 00:36:39,329 --> 00:36:37,359 say thanks in person on friday night i 823 00:36:40,740 --> 00:36:39,339 attended the welcome event though i 824 00:36:43,290 --> 00:36:40,750 spent the evening mingling with the 825 00:36:45,990 --> 00:36:43,300 attendees downstairs while the SGU live 826 00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:46,000 show was on already the con was 827 00:36:50,970 --> 00:36:48,730 fantastic i really enjoyed meeting old 828 00:36:53,220 --> 00:36:50,980 friends people have spoken with online 829 00:36:54,990 --> 00:36:53,230 but hadn't met in person some of the 830 00:36:57,390 --> 00:36:55,000 skeptic zones lovely listeners and 831 00:37:00,900 --> 00:36:57,400 fellow skeptics from not just across 832 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:00,910 australia but overseas as well now the 833 00:37:05,010 --> 00:37:02,650 crowd was pleasingly diverse and 834 00:37:08,819 --> 00:37:05,020 friendly and remains her over the 835 00:37:11,819 --> 00:37:08,829 weekend Friday night drinks before a 836 00:37:13,589 --> 00:37:11,829 convention can be dangerous i limited 837 00:37:15,990 --> 00:37:13,599 myself to a couple of sips of champagne 838 00:37:18,870 --> 00:37:16,000 to toast Richard Saunders birthday and 839 00:37:20,370 --> 00:37:18,880 happy birthday again Richard then headed 840 00:37:24,210 --> 00:37:20,380 back to my digs to be bright-eyed and 841 00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:24,220 bushy-tailed for saturday morning her 842 00:37:28,859 --> 00:37:26,890 registration was first up and might I 843 00:37:30,690 --> 00:37:28,869 say the goodie bag we received upon 844 00:37:33,380 --> 00:37:30,700 arrival contained one of the funnest 845 00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:33,390 novelty items I have ever received 846 00:37:39,420 --> 00:37:36,250 Australian skeptics word salad magnetic 847 00:37:41,910 --> 00:37:39,430 poetry if anyone isn't familiar with 848 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:41,920 magnetic poetry their sets of small 849 00:37:46,770 --> 00:37:44,650 magnets with words usually maintaining a 850 00:37:49,380 --> 00:37:46,780 theme which can be combined on one's 851 00:37:52,700 --> 00:37:49,390 fridge in various ways to create phrases 852 00:37:55,170 --> 00:37:52,710 and bizarre poetry this set contains 853 00:37:58,020 --> 00:37:55,180 fantastic words many commonly utilized 854 00:38:01,650 --> 00:37:58,030 by were merchants which can be combined 855 00:38:05,849 --> 00:38:01,660 to create absurd phrases advanced 856 00:38:10,170 --> 00:38:05,859 quantum truth is a cosmic bunyip death 857 00:38:14,860 --> 00:38:10,180 is a potential memory advanced astrology 858 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:14,870 to predict ancient alien it's fun 859 00:38:19,340 --> 00:38:17,130 the theater in which the talks were 860 00:38:20,960 --> 00:38:19,350 being held was rather amazing two 861 00:38:23,020 --> 00:38:20,970 sections of seating on the ground level 862 00:38:25,670 --> 00:38:23,030 and tiered seating around the room 863 00:38:27,830 --> 00:38:25,680 around segev current president of 864 00:38:31,430 --> 00:38:27,840 Australian skeptics Inc opened the 865 00:38:33,020 --> 00:38:31,440 convention at 9am and we were off are we 866 00:38:35,300 --> 00:38:33,030 were lucky enough to have the esteemed 867 00:38:39,830 --> 00:38:35,310 George harbor emcee the event bringing 868 00:38:42,670 --> 00:38:39,840 humor in between talks the keynote 869 00:38:45,050 --> 00:38:42,680 speech was up first given by Dick Smith 870 00:38:46,940 --> 00:38:45,060 entrepreneur businessman political 871 00:38:50,540 --> 00:38:46,950 activist and one of the founders of 872 00:38:54,730 --> 00:38:50,550 Australian skeptics dicks topic was is 873 00:38:59,420 --> 00:38:54,740 the human power to self delude unlimited 874 00:39:01,670 --> 00:38:59,430 mmm he covered several issues told us a 875 00:39:03,830 --> 00:39:01,680 few amazing anecdotes about people's 876 00:39:06,650 --> 00:39:03,840 ability to rafal involving missing 877 00:39:09,050 --> 00:39:06,660 planes icebergs and Tasmanian Tigers and 878 00:39:11,140 --> 00:39:09,060 then settled in on discussing an issue 879 00:39:13,730 --> 00:39:11,150 that he cares about passionately our 880 00:39:15,830 --> 00:39:13,740 society's expectation that we can 881 00:39:18,950 --> 00:39:15,840 continue to aim for perpetual growth in 882 00:39:21,230 --> 00:39:18,960 a finite world if you get an opportunity 883 00:39:22,790 --> 00:39:21,240 to head to expect on this topic it will 884 00:39:24,920 --> 00:39:22,800 be presented with a lot of food for 885 00:39:27,470 --> 00:39:24,930 thought regarding the sustainability of 886 00:39:31,340 --> 00:39:27,480 our way of living it was quite an honor 887 00:39:34,460 --> 00:39:31,350 to have him open the convention next up 888 00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:34,470 was dr. Karl if you've heard dr. Kyle 889 00:39:38,060 --> 00:39:36,510 speak before and I think you might 890 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:38,070 actually have heard him earlier in this 891 00:39:43,190 --> 00:39:40,530 episode talking with Maynard you'll be 892 00:39:46,370 --> 00:39:43,200 familiar with his style he gave a high 893 00:39:49,820 --> 00:39:46,380 post presentation speaking on a trip to 894 00:39:51,950 --> 00:39:49,830 the Antarctic the view from the ISS cute 895 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:51,960 ways to calculate appropriate tips for 896 00:39:59,300 --> 00:39:55,650 service staff using pi Texan cowgirls 897 00:40:01,550 --> 00:39:59,310 for Jesus for open carry barbed wire his 898 00:40:05,570 --> 00:40:01,560 recent journey across route 66 and trip 899 00:40:07,850 --> 00:40:05,580 to town US senators Cobb sheets an app 900 00:40:11,260 --> 00:40:07,860 for home delivery medicinal marijuana in 901 00:40:13,400 --> 00:40:11,270 Vegas Sarah Palin fruit play research 902 00:40:16,640 --> 00:40:13,410 popularly held beliefs which aren't 903 00:40:18,590 --> 00:40:16,650 scientifically supported and somehow he 904 00:40:20,720 --> 00:40:18,600 managed to link it all back to a common 905 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:20,730 theme he's like the Eddie is out of 906 00:40:25,070 --> 00:40:23,490 science communication it's always a 907 00:40:26,900 --> 00:40:25,080 pleasure to see him and I find his 908 00:40:29,650 --> 00:40:26,910 enthusiasm for information and 909 00:40:32,630 --> 00:40:29,660 communication contagious 910 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:32,640 the next talk was given by a astronomer 911 00:40:38,390 --> 00:40:35,370 Amanda Bauer who is Astro pixie on 912 00:40:40,430 --> 00:40:38,400 Twitter she spoke on the eventual 913 00:40:42,710 --> 00:40:40,440 collision of Andromeda and the Milky Way 914 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:42,720 and she sewed some recently created 915 00:40:48,640 --> 00:40:45,090 video of how this is likely to play out 916 00:40:51,260 --> 00:40:48,650 and the visualization was sensational 917 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:51,270 then the first life skeptics guide to 918 00:40:56,210 --> 00:40:53,130 the universe recording of the convention 919 00:40:58,610 --> 00:40:56,220 now if you're an SGU listener you should 920 00:41:00,530 --> 00:40:58,620 really enjoy this one the gastric was 921 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:00,540 none other than our very own Richard 922 00:41:07,910 --> 00:41:05,370 Saunders after lunch Joanne been amoo 923 00:41:10,730 --> 00:41:07,920 presented the Australian skeptics annual 924 00:41:13,370 --> 00:41:10,740 awards are we gave a rundown of the 925 00:41:15,530 --> 00:41:13,380 nominees for the 2014 bent spoon award a 926 00:41:17,240 --> 00:41:15,540 few weeks ago here on the zone and I've 927 00:41:20,330 --> 00:41:17,250 been waiting with anticipation for the 928 00:41:22,580 --> 00:41:20,340 announcement the bent spoon award is 929 00:41:24,200 --> 00:41:22,590 presented annually to the perpetrator of 930 00:41:27,310 --> 00:41:24,210 the most preposterous piece of 931 00:41:29,630 --> 00:41:27,320 paranormal or pseudo scientific people 932 00:41:32,540 --> 00:41:29,640 there were many worthy contenders but 933 00:41:35,030 --> 00:41:32,550 the clear winner this year was dr. Larry 934 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:35,040 Marshall nearly appointed head of the 935 00:41:40,820 --> 00:41:38,370 CSIRO for his statements regarding his 936 00:41:43,220 --> 00:41:40,830 perception that water divining can be 937 00:41:45,650 --> 00:41:43,230 around eighty percent effective and that 938 00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:45,660 the CSIRO could pursue research into 939 00:41:53,840 --> 00:41:47,850 divining to aid the nation's agriculture 940 00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:53,850 sector more heartening was the skeptic 941 00:41:58,820 --> 00:41:56,130 of the Year award which went to bloggers 942 00:42:00,860 --> 00:41:58,830 reasonable Hank for his tireless efforts 943 00:42:03,380 --> 00:42:00,870 exposing and publicizing non 944 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:03,390 evidence-based chiropractic practices in 945 00:42:07,810 --> 00:42:06,210 Australia it was an absolute delight to 946 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:07,820 see him recognized for his hard work 947 00:42:12,290 --> 00:42:10,290 unfortunately he was unable to attend 948 00:42:14,480 --> 00:42:12,300 the convention to accept the award but 949 00:42:16,250 --> 00:42:14,490 Ken MacLeod from stop the avn accepted 950 00:42:19,940 --> 00:42:16,260 it on his behalf and read a lovely 951 00:42:22,190 --> 00:42:19,950 speech from Hank finally the thor net 952 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:22,200 award for the promotion of reason named 953 00:42:26,990 --> 00:42:24,330 for the Tasmanian skeptic of Fred Thor 954 00:42:29,210 --> 00:42:27,000 net I was so wonderful to see it awarded 955 00:42:33,860 --> 00:42:29,220 to the amazing people from the Northern 956 00:42:35,870 --> 00:42:33,870 Rivers vaccination supporters the next 957 00:42:38,180 --> 00:42:35,880 event of the convention was a consumer 958 00:42:40,790 --> 00:42:38,190 protection panel featuring Julianne 959 00:42:41,830 --> 00:42:40,800 Moore Oh Kirsten Drysdale and Chesley 960 00:42:44,530 --> 00:42:41,840 cadela of 961 00:42:47,770 --> 00:42:44,540 ABC's check out and the chaser Alan 962 00:42:49,660 --> 00:42:47,780 Kirkland CEO of choice and Delia Rickard 963 00:42:51,100 --> 00:42:49,670 Deputy Chair of the Australian 964 00:42:54,400 --> 00:42:51,110 Competition and Consumer Commission 965 00:42:56,320 --> 00:42:54,410 that's the HR will see the panel was 966 00:42:58,870 --> 00:42:56,330 moderated by Michael Marshall of 967 00:43:02,430 --> 00:42:58,880 Merseyside skeptics QED Khan and host of 968 00:43:05,020 --> 00:43:02,440 the be reasonable podcast from the UK 969 00:43:07,030 --> 00:43:05,030 much did a fantastic job running the 970 00:43:09,190 --> 00:43:07,040 panel and we had a bit of a moment 971 00:43:11,950 --> 00:43:09,200 during the open question session at the 972 00:43:14,380 --> 00:43:11,960 end when a chap introduced himself as a 973 00:43:16,870 --> 00:43:14,390 chiropractor and wanted to know white 974 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:16,880 choice targeted his profession and 975 00:43:22,180 --> 00:43:18,770 didn't endorse chiropractic as an 976 00:43:23,830 --> 00:43:22,190 evidence-based modality I think that 977 00:43:25,210 --> 00:43:23,840 Alan Kirkland addressed the questioner 978 00:43:27,100 --> 00:43:25,220 as best he could with so little 979 00:43:28,390 --> 00:43:27,110 background information regarding where 980 00:43:31,030 --> 00:43:28,400 he was coming from and what sort of 981 00:43:33,190 --> 00:43:31,040 chiropractic he practiced but then marsh 982 00:43:34,900 --> 00:43:33,200 engaged with the questioner and asked 983 00:43:37,780 --> 00:43:34,910 him whether he subscribed to the 984 00:43:40,330 --> 00:43:37,790 subluxation theory and the like it was a 985 00:43:42,520 --> 00:43:40,340 really interesting moment little was 986 00:43:44,470 --> 00:43:42,530 made clear by the chiropractor but Marsh 987 00:43:46,570 --> 00:43:44,480 gave us an excellent example on how to 988 00:43:48,850 --> 00:43:46,580 politely question somebody in a somewhat 989 00:43:50,500 --> 00:43:48,860 tense situation in which claims are 990 00:43:52,810 --> 00:43:50,510 being made which are not supported by 991 00:43:54,520 --> 00:43:52,820 evidence a school which is very useful 992 00:44:00,100 --> 00:43:54,530 for those of us who wish to publicly 993 00:44:02,410 --> 00:44:00,110 engage as skeptics after a break there 994 00:44:05,590 --> 00:44:02,420 was a talk by our own dr. Rachel Dunlop 995 00:44:07,300 --> 00:44:05,600 on open access publishing which several 996 00:44:08,650 --> 00:44:07,310 young academics approaching a stage in 997 00:44:09,970 --> 00:44:08,660 their careers where they were ready to 998 00:44:11,800 --> 00:44:09,980 begin submitting their work for 999 00:44:15,960 --> 00:44:11,810 publication taught me that they found 1000 00:44:18,900 --> 00:44:15,970 incredibly useful next Kendrick Fraser 1001 00:44:21,550 --> 00:44:18,910 editor of skeptical Inquirer author 1002 00:44:23,890 --> 00:44:21,560 fellow of the American Association for 1003 00:44:26,470 --> 00:44:23,900 the Advancement of science and CSI 1004 00:44:28,720 --> 00:44:26,480 council member and fellow and he gave us 1005 00:44:31,150 --> 00:44:28,730 an outline on the history of organized 1006 00:44:34,210 --> 00:44:31,160 skepticism in the US and the news on 1007 00:44:36,460 --> 00:44:34,220 where things are at today and finally 1008 00:44:39,190 --> 00:44:36,470 the last talk of the day was from George 1009 00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:39,200 her AB changing the tone a little with a 1010 00:44:46,120 --> 00:44:42,410 talk titled unbelief and grief thinking 1011 00:44:48,430 --> 00:44:46,130 critically about loss and morning as you 1012 00:44:50,950 --> 00:44:48,440 pointed out and skeptical circles we do 1013 00:44:52,660 --> 00:44:50,960 tend to focus on the rational and where 1014 00:44:55,420 --> 00:44:52,670 does that leave us as a subculture when 1015 00:44:57,099 --> 00:44:55,430 dealing with the emotional side of life 1016 00:44:58,720 --> 00:44:57,109 it was a heck of a talk a little 1017 00:45:00,849 --> 00:44:58,730 difficult but he did incredibly well 1018 00:45:04,569 --> 00:45:00,859 with it and I creditors courage in 1019 00:45:06,130 --> 00:45:04,579 tackling such a personal issue I'm going 1020 00:45:08,020 --> 00:45:06,140 to leave it there for the moment this 1021 00:45:09,730 --> 00:45:08,030 report will continue next week and I'll 1022 00:45:11,559 --> 00:45:09,740 talk about the dinner event Sunday's 1023 00:45:29,859 --> 00:45:11,569 talks and my impressions of the 1024 00:45:34,130 --> 00:45:32,390 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1025 00:45:36,980 --> 00:45:34,140 zone in the coming week so much more 1026 00:45:39,530 --> 00:45:36,990 from Maynard map the National Convention 1027 00:45:41,300 --> 00:45:39,540 chatting to all sorts of people goes on 1028 00:45:44,300 --> 00:45:41,310 and on on what a catalog a back 1029 00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:44,310 catalogue coming your way and some more 1030 00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:46,170 from Joe alabaster about her thoughts on 1031 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:48,570 the convention and some more from me 1032 00:45:55,130 --> 00:45:52,890 about my adventures over the past week 1033 00:45:59,330 --> 00:45:55,140 with James Randi what it's like to tour 1034 00:46:02,180 --> 00:45:59,340 with the amazing Randi well it was 1035 00:46:04,520 --> 00:46:02,190 amazing until then this is Richard 1036 00:46:10,550 --> 00:46:04,530 Saunders signing off from Sydney 1037 00:46:15,260 --> 00:46:10,560 Australia you've been listening to the 1038 00:46:19,070 --> 00:46:15,270 skeptic zone visit our website at www