1 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:05,920 [Music] 2 00:00:11,830 --> 00:00:09,090 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 3 00:00:13,910 --> 00:00:11,840 from Australia for science and reason 4 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:13,920 [Music] 5 00:00:27,660 --> 00:00:24,030 yes it's the skeptic zone podcast 6 00:00:31,170 --> 00:00:27,670 episode number 475 for the 26th of 7 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:31,180 November 2017 richardsaunders here with 8 00:00:39,750 --> 00:00:36,570 you from a warming up a slightly muggy 9 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:39,760 Sydney Australia 27 today I think is the 10 00:00:46,259 --> 00:00:42,850 forecast coming up on this week's show 11 00:00:47,820 --> 00:00:46,269 we take you back to well before the 12 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:47,830 Australian skeptics National Convention 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:51,850 just held last week and before the 14 00:00:56,069 --> 00:00:54,010 convention we had a big social gathering 15 00:00:59,940 --> 00:00:56,079 at the Occidental hotel here in Sydney 16 00:01:03,450 --> 00:00:59,950 and Wynyard where we crammed many 17 00:01:05,310 --> 00:01:03,460 skeptics into a into our room where we 18 00:01:06,630 --> 00:01:05,320 normally have skeptics in the pub and of 19 00:01:08,279 --> 00:01:06,640 course Maynard was there with his 20 00:01:10,410 --> 00:01:08,289 microphone running around the crowd 21 00:01:13,680 --> 00:01:10,420 getting thoughts and opinions on all 22 00:01:15,090 --> 00:01:13,690 sorts of matters joining Maynard for a 23 00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:15,100 quick chat are people like Heidi 24 00:01:20,850 --> 00:01:17,710 Robinson around Segev Joan better mood 25 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:20,860 Trish hand dr. Brad Makai Jessica singer 26 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:22,090 Beth place 27 00:01:27,899 --> 00:01:25,450 Paul Gibbs and a mixture of other people 28 00:01:29,490 --> 00:01:27,909 and that was a really good night that 29 00:01:30,750 --> 00:01:29,500 was everybody had a lot of fun that 30 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:30,760 night it was just good to get together 31 00:01:36,390 --> 00:01:33,970 and have a social gathering before the 32 00:01:38,789 --> 00:01:36,400 convention after that it's a report on 33 00:01:40,590 --> 00:01:38,799 the skeptics Awards the Australian 34 00:01:43,350 --> 00:01:40,600 skeptics Awards that were handed out at 35 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:43,360 the convention the bent spoon and the 36 00:01:47,580 --> 00:01:46,090 skeptic of the year then join us as we 37 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:47,590 head up to the blue mountains - 38 00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:49,930 wentworth falls west of Sydney for the 39 00:01:55,890 --> 00:01:52,030 first Blue Mountains skeptics in the pub 40 00:01:57,679 --> 00:01:55,900 a quiet gathering at a local hotel where 41 00:02:01,950 --> 00:01:57,689 we chat to some of the locals about 42 00:02:03,380 --> 00:02:01,960 local issues what what are the skeptics 43 00:02:06,330 --> 00:02:03,390 thinking about up in the Blue Mountains 44 00:02:08,340 --> 00:02:06,340 west of Sydney and if you're interested 45 00:02:11,550 --> 00:02:08,350 to see where we were meeting I'll put a 46 00:02:13,289 --> 00:02:11,560 map link in this week's show notes then 47 00:02:17,789 --> 00:02:13,299 to round off the show a story that was 48 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:17,799 very hot at the convention where the the 49 00:02:22,530 --> 00:02:20,290 enemies of reason we might say I think 50 00:02:24,750 --> 00:02:22,540 somebody was that Isaac Asimov called 51 00:02:26,370 --> 00:02:24,760 these people the enemies of reason the 52 00:02:28,170 --> 00:02:26,380 anti-vaccination crowd were using the 53 00:02:30,260 --> 00:02:28,180 City of Sydney Council's watts on 54 00:02:33,670 --> 00:02:30,270 website to promote an anti vaccination 55 00:02:36,490 --> 00:02:33,680 event and skeptical action 56 00:02:39,910 --> 00:02:36,500 over a very short period of time got 57 00:02:42,399 --> 00:02:39,920 that listing removed find out that story 58 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:42,409 at the end of the show now here's some 59 00:02:47,470 --> 00:02:45,890 good news on the 19th of December may 60 00:02:50,199 --> 00:02:47,480 not in Tim Ferguson are having another 61 00:02:52,509 --> 00:02:50,209 live bunga bunga recording at the Herald 62 00:02:53,979 --> 00:02:52,519 Park Hotel I think it's called a very 63 00:02:56,110 --> 00:02:53,989 Bunga Christmas or something like that 64 00:02:57,550 --> 00:02:56,120 if you want to come along last time we 65 00:03:00,849 --> 00:02:57,560 did that a few weeks ago was a lot of 66 00:03:03,399 --> 00:03:00,859 fun I just had Tamina calm day you for 67 00:03:05,110 --> 00:03:03,409 more details and if you're in Sydney on 68 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:05,120 the 19th come along and be part of the 69 00:03:10,149 --> 00:03:07,450 live recording a lots of fun 70 00:03:12,339 --> 00:03:10,159 silliness craziness typical Maine Arden 71 00:03:13,869 --> 00:03:12,349 Tim thank you to those people who I 72 00:03:15,309 --> 00:03:13,879 chatted to me at the convention and 73 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:15,319 asked me about Henrietta and Maude 74 00:03:19,660 --> 00:03:17,810 they're fine in fact they've just had 75 00:03:21,129 --> 00:03:19,670 their breakfast as I record this and 76 00:03:22,629 --> 00:03:21,139 they're normally at the door but they're 77 00:03:25,539 --> 00:03:22,639 not I think they're finishing off their 78 00:03:28,059 --> 00:03:25,549 breakfast and we've had them on a diet 79 00:03:30,369 --> 00:03:28,069 oh yes they've been on a bit of a diet 80 00:03:31,990 --> 00:03:30,379 and how do you weigh Katz to make sure 81 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:32,000 that they're keeping up with their diet 82 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:35,090 well we've discovered a way what we do 83 00:03:41,530 --> 00:03:38,690 is we put them into a shopping bag like 84 00:03:44,530 --> 00:03:41,540 one of the ones you can get these days 85 00:03:47,259 --> 00:03:44,540 which are sort of cloth or or something 86 00:03:49,390 --> 00:03:47,269 like that weed and they like jumping 87 00:03:53,050 --> 00:03:49,400 inside bags and then we use a luggage 88 00:03:55,659 --> 00:03:53,060 wire and we can weigh the cats and I'm 89 00:03:58,180 --> 00:03:55,669 pleased to say that they've lost a 90 00:04:00,280 --> 00:03:58,190 little bit of weight each which the vet 91 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:00,290 said they should do because they love 92 00:04:04,270 --> 00:04:02,810 their food too much I think so there's a 93 00:04:06,819 --> 00:04:04,280 tip for cat lovers if you want to weigh 94 00:04:09,580 --> 00:04:06,829 your cat give a shopping bag and a 95 00:04:11,530 --> 00:04:09,590 luggage scale so that's enough for me at 96 00:04:13,030 --> 00:04:11,540 the moment I'm going to and I didn't get 97 00:04:14,860 --> 00:04:13,040 to do this last week because it was the 98 00:04:18,009 --> 00:04:14,870 live show of course I'm going to run 99 00:04:21,550 --> 00:04:18,019 downstairs and being the morning it's 100 00:04:22,330 --> 00:04:21,560 time for some some nice brown bread 101 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:22,340 toast 102 00:04:32,710 --> 00:04:27,849 we have avocado and poached eggs and 103 00:04:33,550 --> 00:04:32,720 pepper and maybe some I'd better go out 104 00:04:35,740 --> 00:04:33,560 for all this 105 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:35,750 well I'm contemplating exactly what I'm 106 00:04:39,170 --> 00:04:37,970 going to do I hope you enjoy for the 107 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:39,180 skeptic Zone 108 00:05:03,110 --> 00:04:59,030 here's Maynard spooky action at a 109 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:05,160 it's a big weekend for skeptic this 110 00:05:08,580 --> 00:05:07,330 weekend I am immediately on the scene as 111 00:05:10,590 --> 00:05:08,590 I heard that may be free drinks at the 112 00:05:12,150 --> 00:05:10,600 bar turns out I was wrong but still we 113 00:05:13,410 --> 00:05:12,160 have people working hi here to give us 114 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:13,420 drinks it's gonna be a big night we've 115 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:15,250 got people from America we've got people 116 00:05:22,290 --> 00:05:16,930 from the UK all doing their big 117 00:05:23,310 --> 00:05:22,300 skeptical thing I met The Vow Richard 118 00:05:25,380 --> 00:05:23,320 Saunders hi rich it gonna be a big 119 00:05:27,150 --> 00:05:25,390 weekend it's already a big weekend me 120 00:05:28,170 --> 00:05:27,160 not and he hasn't even started I want to 121 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:28,180 talk to you cuz there's some people here 122 00:05:31,290 --> 00:05:29,890 from South Australia buggy these people 123 00:05:34,290 --> 00:05:31,300 in the Rust Belt woman's last time you 124 00:05:34,860 --> 00:05:34,300 went to the Rust Belt he's wearing a 125 00:05:37,890 --> 00:05:34,870 Rust Belt 126 00:05:39,510 --> 00:05:37,900 well it wasn't who've we got here my 127 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:39,520 name's Paul Gibbs I'm from Peru and 128 00:05:43,710 --> 00:05:41,890 South Australia and and Beth place same 129 00:05:45,150 --> 00:05:43,720 Canary since Australia's what do you 130 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:45,160 guys do in Peru you said it's a sheep 131 00:05:50,490 --> 00:05:47,050 area what do you do there I actually 132 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:50,500 work on a spud farm oh wow yeah wow 133 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:54,370 that's kind of cool yes sometimes yeah 134 00:05:57,900 --> 00:05:55,810 and what do you do that 135 00:06:00,120 --> 00:05:57,910 I work at be on the run service station 136 00:06:01,950 --> 00:06:00,130 all right oh wow you do not get the 137 00:06:03,180 --> 00:06:01,960 nightshift do you no I did that for two 138 00:06:04,860 --> 00:06:03,190 years that was enough for me thank you 139 00:06:07,170 --> 00:06:04,870 yes actually here's something how 140 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:07,180 terrifying is doing the night shift at a 141 00:06:11,310 --> 00:06:09,250 24-hour service station in rural South 142 00:06:12,930 --> 00:06:11,320 Australia it's not so bad luckily you 143 00:06:15,420 --> 00:06:12,940 only get some random drunks we've only 144 00:06:16,860 --> 00:06:15,430 had one real problem Wow okay well one's 145 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:16,870 all you need but I'm glad you did well 146 00:06:20,850 --> 00:06:19,330 then now you're you've you've been 147 00:06:22,140 --> 00:06:20,860 dragged along as a fellow traveler here 148 00:06:23,820 --> 00:06:22,150 you're the one that's done the dragging 149 00:06:27,090 --> 00:06:23,830 why have you decided to come to skeptic 150 00:06:29,550 --> 00:06:27,100 on this year I had to come and explore 151 00:06:32,490 --> 00:06:29,560 I'm you know from the outback and 152 00:06:34,890 --> 00:06:32,500 there's not a lot out there so we had to 153 00:06:36,930 --> 00:06:34,900 come and discover the rest of the world 154 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:36,940 again I see where everybody else comes 155 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:38,890 and does things you know the thing that 156 00:06:43,830 --> 00:06:42,010 I have to ask you it my friend Jay cats 157 00:06:45,990 --> 00:06:43,840 often speaks to people he gets out into 158 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:46,000 the bush and that he says that there's a 159 00:06:49,770 --> 00:06:47,890 in the wider community in the output 160 00:06:51,300 --> 00:06:49,780 outback there's a great belief in the 161 00:06:52,380 --> 00:06:51,310 paranormal because they kind of see it 162 00:06:54,540 --> 00:06:52,390 every day but they just get on with 163 00:06:57,180 --> 00:06:54,550 their work you what do you think's going 164 00:06:59,640 --> 00:06:57,190 on there um there's a big belief in the 165 00:07:02,370 --> 00:06:59,650 outback but I think it's because nobody 166 00:07:02,970 --> 00:07:02,380 questions it it's the grandfather told 167 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:02,980 him about it 168 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:05,890 why would you question that like what 169 00:07:12,570 --> 00:07:10,680 what kind of a person argues with their 170 00:07:15,210 --> 00:07:12,580 grandfather about something that 171 00:07:18,030 --> 00:07:15,220 grandfather saw with their own eyes um 172 00:07:21,870 --> 00:07:18,040 we don't do it we just accept it and I'm 173 00:07:23,939 --> 00:07:21,880 about questioning everything so even if 174 00:07:25,439 --> 00:07:23,949 my grandfather says to me oh look you 175 00:07:27,750 --> 00:07:25,449 know we were going to sell the house 176 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:27,760 once but then the measurements for 177 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:30,610 kilometers tomorrow's all changed over 178 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:32,410 we realize we live too far out of town 179 00:07:37,620 --> 00:07:35,770 to sell the house and I accepted that 180 00:07:39,180 --> 00:07:37,630 for years as a child they didn't sell 181 00:07:41,879 --> 00:07:39,190 the house because suddenly they live too 182 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:41,889 far out of town nobody would buy it they 183 00:07:45,090 --> 00:07:43,690 live the same distance out of town but I 184 00:07:47,670 --> 00:07:45,100 never thought about it because my 185 00:07:50,190 --> 00:07:47,680 grandfather told me you know sort that 186 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:50,200 it's that mentality and what's your 187 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:52,690 interest in skepticism I was religious I 188 00:07:57,180 --> 00:07:55,510 was brought up religious but when I was 189 00:07:59,219 --> 00:07:57,190 about 50 and I sort of figured out 190 00:08:01,800 --> 00:07:59,229 everything was a bit wrong so I talked 191 00:08:03,810 --> 00:08:01,810 to the priest but I'm just I was 192 00:08:05,460 --> 00:08:03,820 accepted as an atheist I told my priest 193 00:08:07,140 --> 00:08:05,470 and he was fine about it my parents were 194 00:08:08,790 --> 00:08:07,150 crying about it so I just went on like 195 00:08:10,950 --> 00:08:08,800 that I've never really fought it because 196 00:08:12,690 --> 00:08:10,960 I've never had to did you have a D 197 00:08:14,190 --> 00:08:12,700 conversion moment there was a moment 198 00:08:16,140 --> 00:08:14,200 where all the evidence added up and you 199 00:08:20,340 --> 00:08:16,150 went hang on a minute do you remember 200 00:08:22,980 --> 00:08:20,350 what that was the dynasty because they 201 00:08:24,750 --> 00:08:22,990 told you they didn't exist or Jesus but 202 00:08:26,879 --> 00:08:24,760 you can see that there are dinosaurs 203 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:26,889 because of the fossils so obviously it 204 00:08:29,940 --> 00:08:28,690 didn't happen so that's when I pretty 205 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:29,950 much went ruled this that's an obvious 206 00:08:33,659 --> 00:08:32,050 hole and then I kept finding obvious 207 00:08:36,180 --> 00:08:33,669 holes and I told my priests and he said 208 00:08:37,949 --> 00:08:36,190 well that's what you believe so that's 209 00:08:39,269 --> 00:08:37,959 what you believe so I told my mom I 210 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:39,279 don't want to go to church anymore and 211 00:08:42,930 --> 00:08:41,650 she said that was fun that's cool 212 00:08:44,550 --> 00:08:42,940 because sometimes parents can be tough 213 00:08:46,290 --> 00:08:44,560 particularly Christmas dinner yeah mom 214 00:08:48,660 --> 00:08:46,300 was very good she's very accepting that 215 00:08:51,750 --> 00:08:48,670 we're not really just at all he's not 216 00:08:52,860 --> 00:08:51,760 fuss about it at all top line atheists 217 00:08:54,870 --> 00:08:52,870 around the world to meet here this 218 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:54,880 weekend is there any particular talk 219 00:08:58,980 --> 00:08:57,010 you're looking forward to going to I'm 220 00:09:02,400 --> 00:08:58,990 looking forward to Cara Santa Maria and 221 00:09:05,070 --> 00:09:02,410 dr. Karl of course an Australian classic 222 00:09:06,990 --> 00:09:05,080 you know he's like a fine wine I think 223 00:09:08,100 --> 00:09:07,000 he just gets better with age you said 224 00:09:09,570 --> 00:09:08,110 you used to listen to me back on the 225 00:09:10,949 --> 00:09:09,580 radio back in the day and of course dr. 226 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:10,959 Cole was on triple j when we went 227 00:09:14,790 --> 00:09:12,670 national as well yeah I've been 228 00:09:17,530 --> 00:09:14,800 listening to dr. Carlin the radio four 229 00:09:21,310 --> 00:09:17,540 it'll be close to 20 years now 230 00:09:24,069 --> 00:09:21,320 you know and yeah he just opened my eyes 231 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:24,079 to a new world week by week hour at a 232 00:09:29,590 --> 00:09:27,410 time and it slowly chipped away and over 233 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:29,600 the past 10 years only questions for him 234 00:09:33,129 --> 00:09:31,370 you've got any scientific questions or 235 00:09:34,629 --> 00:09:33,139 of a doctoring nature you should rev 236 00:09:36,699 --> 00:09:34,639 them up cause dr. Karl's happy to take 237 00:09:38,019 --> 00:09:36,709 him on the spot you know yeah is there 238 00:09:39,519 --> 00:09:38,029 anything you actually want to experience 239 00:09:40,870 --> 00:09:39,529 this weekend since you've been dragged 240 00:09:50,069 --> 00:09:40,880 along here you might as well have a 241 00:09:53,199 --> 00:09:50,079 request of some sort I can't fight it 242 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:53,209 great sitting on early information I 243 00:09:57,490 --> 00:09:55,130 want to know what is real a few people I 244 00:10:02,259 --> 00:09:57,500 actually like ancient aliens I love that 245 00:10:05,350 --> 00:10:02,269 show I read the erich von daniken was 246 00:10:11,340 --> 00:10:05,360 fantastic I can see you guys are losing 247 00:10:14,949 --> 00:10:13,660 everybody's gathering all the people are 248 00:10:17,019 --> 00:10:14,959 rushing everyone's hushing everyone's 249 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:17,029 flushing their alcohol at the bar who's 250 00:10:23,379 --> 00:10:20,569 we got here are you excited about doing 251 00:10:25,449 --> 00:10:23,389 a live show tomorrow I am so excited I'm 252 00:10:28,210 --> 00:10:25,459 probably a little bit underprepared but 253 00:10:29,620 --> 00:10:28,220 yes I'm very excited I mean the last 254 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:29,630 time you did bomb I think witches was at 255 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:31,370 a skeptics in the pub you were yelling 256 00:10:36,850 --> 00:10:34,970 and exciting you go nuts you've gone 257 00:10:39,340 --> 00:10:36,860 crazy I think I had those chemtrail 258 00:10:42,329 --> 00:10:39,350 signs with me didn't know yeah yeah and 259 00:10:44,740 --> 00:10:42,339 I promise to give you one I must stop 260 00:10:47,139 --> 00:10:44,750 where we get round about what is the big 261 00:10:51,819 --> 00:10:47,149 whoo up north of the moment around the 262 00:10:56,850 --> 00:10:51,829 rivers area well it's always vaccination 263 00:10:59,920 --> 00:10:56,860 isn't it some new signs about something 264 00:11:02,139 --> 00:10:59,930 no well no there's a there's a new field 265 00:11:03,850 --> 00:11:02,149 coming out called ed I can't remember 266 00:11:06,689 --> 00:11:03,860 it's caught it's about homeopathy and 267 00:11:09,189 --> 00:11:06,699 they're Blackmore's actually is 268 00:11:11,679 --> 00:11:09,199 sponsoring and I think to show at a 269 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:11,689 local bar and cinema in a couple of 270 00:11:16,449 --> 00:11:13,689 weeks time so I might pop along to that 271 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:16,459 I know Blackmore's two vitamins do they 272 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:27,050 do homeopathy products as well like must 273 00:11:29,949 --> 00:11:28,250 always come up as one of the most 274 00:11:31,509 --> 00:11:29,959 trusted Australian companies whenever 275 00:11:33,189 --> 00:11:31,519 the new brands survey is that I find 276 00:11:35,590 --> 00:11:33,199 that's interesting but their museums as 277 00:11:37,990 --> 00:11:35,600 well you know it's a huge market isn't 278 00:11:40,179 --> 00:11:38,000 it supplements and vitamins and and 279 00:11:42,220 --> 00:11:40,189 they're making the most out of it aren't 280 00:11:44,829 --> 00:11:42,230 they they're they're making a buck have 281 00:11:46,870 --> 00:11:44,839 you actually ever taken at the moment 282 00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:46,880 I'm taking a vitamin b1 that dissolves 283 00:11:50,350 --> 00:11:48,350 in the morning because I like the fizzy 284 00:11:52,059 --> 00:11:50,360 color and it makes it it feels like it's 285 00:11:53,829 --> 00:11:52,069 something pharmaceutical and evil going 286 00:11:56,559 --> 00:11:53,839 on because it fizzes and I drink it my 287 00:11:58,269 --> 00:11:56,569 go yeah and it's especially a very good 288 00:12:02,139 --> 00:11:58,279 placebo effect when you've got a 289 00:12:04,030 --> 00:12:02,149 hangover maintaining the perceiver hey I 290 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:04,040 don't know if it is or not but it 291 00:12:07,990 --> 00:12:06,410 certainly makes me feel better right 292 00:12:09,189 --> 00:12:08,000 it's not like just taking a tablet 293 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:09,199 you've got to do an action and it's 294 00:12:14,470 --> 00:12:11,930 almost like oh now what is it before 295 00:12:17,590 --> 00:12:14,480 they had chemistry it was like ARCA and 296 00:12:18,910 --> 00:12:17,600 was it when you on it's almost like when 297 00:12:25,629 --> 00:12:18,920 you're summoning the metals are they 298 00:12:27,610 --> 00:12:25,639 used to me it's like vitamin alchemy up 299 00:12:29,139 --> 00:12:27,620 your nose and all that sort of stuff it 300 00:12:31,449 --> 00:12:29,149 makes you feel like it's really doing 301 00:12:32,980 --> 00:12:31,459 something you know that I'm actually 302 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:32,990 doing something with real farmer I know 303 00:12:36,370 --> 00:12:34,370 we have a lot of Americans that have 304 00:12:38,170 --> 00:12:36,380 flown a long way here today I know Eli 305 00:12:39,879 --> 00:12:38,180 Baz Nick and Tom and Cecil will be tired 306 00:12:41,650 --> 00:12:39,889 so on behalf of the Australian 307 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:41,660 Government our socialized medicine I've 308 00:12:45,759 --> 00:12:43,130 brought them some some ritalin 309 00:12:47,379 --> 00:12:45,769 that will keep and I hope that will help 310 00:12:49,179 --> 00:12:47,389 them through the show tomorrow it's the 311 00:12:50,740 --> 00:12:49,189 least we could do also I could rub it in 312 00:12:52,660 --> 00:12:50,750 their face because we can get 200 for 313 00:12:52,970 --> 00:12:52,670 ten dollars and it's cost 3,000 over 314 00:12:54,769 --> 00:12:52,980 there 315 00:12:56,689 --> 00:12:54,779 probably yeah well as long as he didn't 316 00:12:59,350 --> 00:12:56,699 bring them some horny goat weed because 317 00:13:04,100 --> 00:12:59,360 I don't think they need any of that 318 00:13:05,420 --> 00:13:04,110 Cecil is a horny guy yes we'll look 319 00:13:06,889 --> 00:13:05,430 forward to submitting these guys and I'm 320 00:13:09,769 --> 00:13:06,899 gonna hold the pack it up and wave it at 321 00:13:11,540 --> 00:13:09,779 them as they arrive absolutely I think 322 00:13:14,150 --> 00:13:11,550 it's about time the Americans learnt the 323 00:13:16,970 --> 00:13:14,160 actual pointy end of socialized medicine 324 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:16,980 oh yeah it's high time I can't wait for 325 00:13:21,439 --> 00:13:18,510 them to arrive either because we've got 326 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:21,449 a lot to teach them about and especially 327 00:13:24,980 --> 00:13:23,850 with our socialized medicine you must be 328 00:13:27,170 --> 00:13:24,990 happy that a lot of stuff the government 329 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:27,180 is subsidizing has been removed from 330 00:13:31,310 --> 00:13:29,250 ones that aren't of proven efficacy 331 00:13:33,980 --> 00:13:31,320 recently how good is that 332 00:13:37,370 --> 00:13:33,990 if only they had have added chiropractic 333 00:13:38,990 --> 00:13:37,380 to that list but we can't complain well 334 00:13:40,460 --> 00:13:39,000 Chiropractic is a bit mixed because 335 00:13:42,650 --> 00:13:40,470 there's some chiropractors that follow 336 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:42,660 different paths isn't it that's exactly 337 00:13:45,530 --> 00:13:43,490 right 338 00:13:48,590 --> 00:13:45,540 there are some there are some 339 00:13:50,629 --> 00:13:48,600 chiropractors that are practicing within 340 00:13:52,879 --> 00:13:50,639 the scope of their abilities and within 341 00:13:55,759 --> 00:13:52,889 the scope of evidence-based practice but 342 00:13:57,920 --> 00:13:55,769 there are still so many out there 343 00:14:00,800 --> 00:13:57,930 what's that Bowen technique that seems a 344 00:14:03,110 --> 00:14:00,810 bit different I don't know I don't 345 00:14:04,910 --> 00:14:03,120 remember I can't remember what's Bo and 346 00:14:08,300 --> 00:14:04,920 what's wrong thing what's this was there 347 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:08,310 they all kind of you know go into the 348 00:14:12,170 --> 00:14:10,290 same category after all I'm gonna say 349 00:14:14,230 --> 00:14:12,180 one thing I enjoy after a big night of 350 00:14:16,790 --> 00:14:14,240 skip just skip to King 351 00:14:19,460 --> 00:14:16,800 it's not well I do like a bit a role 352 00:14:21,050 --> 00:14:19,470 thing but uh-huh but I like getting home 353 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:21,060 I like sitting down I like watching 354 00:14:25,250 --> 00:14:23,490 myself a bit of ancient aliens I like a 355 00:14:27,259 --> 00:14:25,260 bit of the guy with the the Theo Kath 356 00:14:29,389 --> 00:14:27,269 Argus with the wacky hair telling me 357 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:29,399 without any evidence at all that there 358 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:31,050 was spaceman landing on the Nazca 359 00:14:34,579 --> 00:14:32,610 plateau I love that kind of stuff and I 360 00:14:36,860 --> 00:14:34,589 know at night I go yeah that seems like 361 00:14:38,780 --> 00:14:36,870 such a clever yeah well why wouldn't 362 00:14:40,870 --> 00:14:38,790 they I think to myself in the India but 363 00:14:43,370 --> 00:14:40,880 in the clear light of day hmm 364 00:14:46,580 --> 00:14:43,380 I've heard you talk about ancient aliens 365 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:46,590 of it for and I've never seen it has 366 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:49,650 been nine to nine series of it okay well 367 00:14:54,650 --> 00:14:52,770 maybe you can send me the link to one of 368 00:14:58,340 --> 00:14:54,660 the best and I'd love to check it out 369 00:14:59,960 --> 00:14:58,350 the only skeptical show info in in terms 370 00:15:03,080 --> 00:14:59,970 of popularity that could be compared to 371 00:15:07,220 --> 00:15:03,090 it would be Mythbusters what yes it's 372 00:15:08,330 --> 00:15:07,230 ancient aliens it's a big deal yeah okay 373 00:15:13,910 --> 00:15:08,340 I'll believe that when I say it I'm 374 00:15:15,260 --> 00:15:13,920 skeptical hey look look at some very oh 375 00:15:17,270 --> 00:15:15,270 you come on to skeptics and there's a 376 00:15:19,730 --> 00:15:17,280 guy talking microphones who we got here 377 00:15:21,620 --> 00:15:19,740 Paul Roberts and you're you are now a 378 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:21,630 skeptic zone listener and you're 379 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:23,370 catching up on the episodes whatever so 380 00:15:27,050 --> 00:15:25,650 do you up to I couldn't even tell you at 381 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:27,060 the moment like I'm working my way 382 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:29,010 through the back catalogue there's a lot 383 00:15:33,860 --> 00:15:32,130 to get through and you know I have no 384 00:15:35,390 --> 00:15:33,870 idea so we'll drag you into this show 385 00:15:38,060 --> 00:15:35,400 why'd you go hey I should be looking 386 00:15:40,790 --> 00:15:38,070 this was it was it a Heidi well no I I 387 00:15:43,370 --> 00:15:40,800 came to the 2012 skeptic on I haven't 388 00:15:45,830 --> 00:15:43,380 been for a few years really what drag 389 00:15:47,870 --> 00:15:45,840 mean probably is the live podcast from 390 00:15:49,310 --> 00:15:47,880 the scathing atheist I listen to them 391 00:15:50,390 --> 00:15:49,320 I'm up to date with them not just 392 00:15:52,590 --> 00:15:50,400 getting so and I love tonight with 393 00:15:54,990 --> 00:15:52,600 scaling atheist though and yeah 394 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:55,000 a bit of a fan of their podcast welcome 395 00:15:58,980 --> 00:15:57,250 I've got riddle in here for Eli Baz Nick 396 00:16:01,710 --> 00:15:58,990 because we know he's been on a long 397 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:01,720 flight he's gonna need a bit of a help 398 00:16:08,910 --> 00:16:04,450 I feel like Eli posnick on ritalin is 399 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:08,920 not a good plan but you know it could be 400 00:16:12,630 --> 00:16:10,570 fun so let's go for amen 401 00:16:14,280 --> 00:16:12,640 are you begging for personal choice are 402 00:16:15,570 --> 00:16:14,290 you here are you I'm not bagging 403 00:16:17,790 --> 00:16:15,580 personal choice I'm just worried about 404 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:17,800 the you know the Occidental hotel and 405 00:16:22,260 --> 00:16:19,930 that's you know it's a good point don't 406 00:16:23,490 --> 00:16:22,270 get anything broken that's group will 407 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:23,500 come and Cecil there I mean we do have 408 00:16:28,140 --> 00:16:25,210 time word the Cecil so we could say his 409 00:16:30,590 --> 00:16:28,150 name properly oh yeah I'm yeah the way 410 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:30,600 Americans pronounce the name Cecil you 411 00:16:36,060 --> 00:16:34,090 know it's up there with I could care 412 00:16:38,790 --> 00:16:36,070 less things that annoy me about what 413 00:16:41,550 --> 00:16:38,800 Americans say and aluminum odd tell me 414 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:41,560 about it it's called aluminium because 415 00:16:46,500 --> 00:16:44,610 it's spelt aluminium correct correct 416 00:16:58,880 --> 00:16:46,510 yeah if you got a pet peeve about 417 00:17:03,540 --> 00:17:01,740 but I ran it's a really busy Friday 418 00:17:04,740 --> 00:17:03,550 night here it's the meet-and-greet for 419 00:17:06,210 --> 00:17:04,750 the first big night here as the 420 00:17:07,679 --> 00:17:06,220 president's hour how excited are you 421 00:17:11,340 --> 00:17:07,689 about how it's got off so far here with 422 00:17:13,050 --> 00:17:11,350 the skeptics excited you know what's 423 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:13,060 your biggest worry about the weekend 424 00:17:15,750 --> 00:17:14,170 there's lots of things that could go 425 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:15,760 wrong during a conference people 426 00:17:20,850 --> 00:17:18,970 complain people make bad smells things 427 00:17:22,530 --> 00:17:20,860 happen I'm particularly worried about 428 00:17:25,860 --> 00:17:22,540 the vegans complaining about the flavor 429 00:17:28,380 --> 00:17:25,870 of the lettuce ah yes the vegans are an 430 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:28,390 amazing foot foot foot they pack a fair 431 00:17:31,860 --> 00:17:29,770 bit of punch for their numbers don't 432 00:17:33,570 --> 00:17:31,870 they they absolutely do usually with the 433 00:17:35,070 --> 00:17:33,580 complaints in particular you have a good 434 00:17:36,540 --> 00:17:35,080 time now tom and cecil seem to be 435 00:17:38,790 --> 00:17:36,550 enjoying themselves I have recommended 436 00:17:41,130 --> 00:17:38,800 to Cecil that he tried the Australian 437 00:17:42,510 --> 00:17:41,140 drink bandy and rum yeah I think they 438 00:17:44,420 --> 00:17:42,520 should try everything that we have to 439 00:17:47,010 --> 00:17:44,430 offer 440 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:47,020 III do have any like bostic's ritalin 441 00:17:49,830 --> 00:17:48,250 here is he here yet 442 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:49,840 I don't believe he is I think they 443 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:52,570 landed about now so oh really 444 00:17:56,580 --> 00:17:54,490 should be here in about an hour okay 445 00:17:58,260 --> 00:17:56,590 well as you know I'm not a doctor but I 446 00:18:00,180 --> 00:17:58,270 do have a prescription pad I'm not a 447 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:00,190 doctor but in a skeptics conference 448 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:02,890 really yeah 449 00:18:07,930 --> 00:18:05,210 well here's someone who's as far as 450 00:18:09,940 --> 00:18:07,940 holding Steve's be a go she has gold for 451 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:09,950 Australia that's Joe Penna how I been 452 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:13,130 how I know she is my favorite bum nurse 453 00:18:23,799 --> 00:18:15,770 although now your suspicion well you are 454 00:18:29,260 --> 00:18:23,809 you doing other things now the Kasich 455 00:18:32,950 --> 00:18:29,270 sort well of course that's where all the 456 00:18:40,210 --> 00:18:32,960 real money is tell me how has your lung 457 00:18:41,890 --> 00:18:40,220 work being in Melbourne I mean one would 458 00:18:43,240 --> 00:18:41,900 imagine it because cigarettes smokeless 459 00:18:44,919 --> 00:18:43,250 now that that would be less of the 460 00:18:59,380 --> 00:18:44,929 problem but they have a long tail of 461 00:19:01,540 --> 00:18:59,390 damage don't they and I think what's 462 00:19:04,419 --> 00:19:01,550 really interesting about lung cancer is 463 00:19:06,549 --> 00:19:04,429 it's actually in Australia it's one of 464 00:19:12,130 --> 00:19:06,559 the most common cancers with one of the 465 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:12,140 highest death rate smokers but 466 00:19:16,690 --> 00:19:13,970 regardless of the reason that a person 467 00:19:19,510 --> 00:19:16,700 has lung cancer it's got a terrible 468 00:19:21,700 --> 00:19:19,520 stigma attached to it and I think that 469 00:19:23,500 --> 00:19:21,710 you know we have a problem with the fact 470 00:19:25,299 --> 00:19:23,510 that we have people blame people for the 471 00:19:27,669 --> 00:19:25,309 fact that when you did this and 472 00:19:30,490 --> 00:19:27,679 therefore look now you go lung cancer 473 00:19:32,950 --> 00:19:30,500 and I think no-one deserves to go 474 00:19:34,660 --> 00:19:32,960 through that experience because of you 475 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:34,670 know we all we all do things that are 476 00:19:38,410 --> 00:19:35,450 not good for us 477 00:19:39,779 --> 00:19:38,420 mm-hmm but you know we have people who 478 00:19:41,460 --> 00:19:39,789 have 479 00:19:44,609 --> 00:19:41,470 lung cancers that are unrelated to 480 00:19:45,779 --> 00:19:44,619 smoking we I'm starting to meet people 481 00:19:48,210 --> 00:19:45,789 who have been diagnosed with 482 00:19:50,639 --> 00:19:48,220 mesothelioma so I'm starting to see kind 483 00:19:52,619 --> 00:19:50,649 of an effect of asbestos so it's quite 484 00:19:56,820 --> 00:19:52,629 new to me it's an area of oncology that 485 00:19:59,310 --> 00:19:56,830 I have is there a general reason why 486 00:20:01,200 --> 00:19:59,320 things become carcinogens for the lungs 487 00:20:02,700 --> 00:20:01,210 that are outside of cigarette smoke do 488 00:20:18,259 --> 00:20:02,710 they know what irritation or whatever it 489 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:18,269 is it does it what's been very 490 00:20:23,659 --> 00:20:21,129 game-changing in oncology research these 491 00:20:26,700 --> 00:20:23,669 days is we've moved away from 492 00:20:29,969 --> 00:20:26,710 chemotherapy agent so the difference is 493 00:20:32,310 --> 00:20:29,979 is that with chemotherapy it essentially 494 00:20:34,950 --> 00:20:32,320 doesn't necessarily target the cancer in 495 00:20:36,450 --> 00:20:34,960 the way a lot of the newer drugs do so 496 00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:36,460 we've got a lot of really interesting 497 00:20:42,089 --> 00:20:38,710 treatments that can target molecular 498 00:20:45,539 --> 00:20:42,099 changes that are found in certain types 499 00:20:47,550 --> 00:20:45,549 of cancers so it's been game-changing in 500 00:20:50,670 --> 00:20:47,560 terms of how we treat cancer 501 00:20:52,200 --> 00:20:50,680 so we can now run we can outrun Tesla 502 00:20:54,920 --> 00:20:52,210 rich you can tell us that a particular 503 00:20:57,720 --> 00:20:54,930 individual has a certain gene 504 00:21:00,590 --> 00:20:57,730 rearrangement and there will we know 505 00:21:08,790 --> 00:21:00,600 that their cancer is more likely to be 506 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:08,800 responsive to means that if we can test 507 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:11,890 early on and say your cancer is because 508 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:14,130 you have this particular gene 509 00:21:18,630 --> 00:21:16,690 arrangement we know that you're not 510 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:18,640 going to be responsive to this drug but 511 00:21:25,980 --> 00:21:20,290 you are going to be responsive to this 512 00:21:28,020 --> 00:21:25,990 drug it's because already moved into 513 00:21:29,850 --> 00:21:28,030 this area literally seven seven or eight 514 00:21:33,210 --> 00:21:29,860 months ago so I'm still learning a lot 515 00:21:35,220 --> 00:21:33,220 but but it's fascinating so in the in 516 00:21:36,690 --> 00:21:35,230 the lung field it is it okay that I'm 517 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:36,700 still sucking on the whipped-cream bulbs 518 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:44,770 or not related lung cancer maybe it's 519 00:21:51,270 --> 00:21:45,910 not the kind of thing anyone's looking 520 00:22:02,419 --> 00:21:54,630 just as I like to say I may not be a 521 00:22:06,570 --> 00:22:04,140 here this evening 522 00:22:08,970 --> 00:22:06,580 tres twist how excited are you Jeff oh 523 00:22:11,370 --> 00:22:08,980 it's fantastic I mean I've never been a 524 00:22:12,750 --> 00:22:11,380 sardine before yes it's pretty crushed 525 00:22:15,210 --> 00:22:12,760 in here isn't it and of course we're 526 00:22:17,130 --> 00:22:15,220 gonna run favorite doctor hello good 527 00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:17,140 evening may know how are you Brad now 528 00:22:21,120 --> 00:22:18,640 look I'm I realize we've got some 529 00:22:22,890 --> 00:22:21,130 Americans here so to introduce them into 530 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:22,900 the joys of socialized medicine I've 531 00:22:26,070 --> 00:22:24,490 brought some ritalin along for Eli 532 00:22:29,580 --> 00:22:26,080 posnick is that okay with you that 533 00:22:31,110 --> 00:22:29,590 sounds fine is it homeopathic yeah if 534 00:22:32,399 --> 00:22:31,120 you take enough of it oh hang on oh if 535 00:22:34,230 --> 00:22:32,409 you take a small amount of it yes 536 00:22:35,610 --> 00:22:34,240 probably yeah if I waive the packaging 537 00:22:37,620 --> 00:22:35,620 at him yeah we will dilute it down 538 00:22:39,270 --> 00:22:37,630 because he's getting off the plane look 539 00:22:42,090 --> 00:22:39,280 as you know I'm not a doctor but I have 540 00:22:43,980 --> 00:22:42,100 got a prescription pad a description pad 541 00:22:47,010 --> 00:22:43,990 is it scripts and pen yeah describe 542 00:22:48,659 --> 00:22:47,020 where describe drugs sometimes sometimes 543 00:22:50,130 --> 00:22:48,669 it works when the pharmacist hasn't 544 00:22:52,230 --> 00:22:50,140 hasn't been to all three years of 545 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:52,240 history you know sometimes you get a 546 00:22:55,919 --> 00:22:54,370 first year looking around how would you 547 00:22:57,539 --> 00:22:55,929 describe the skeptics in the room what 548 00:23:02,580 --> 00:22:57,549 kind of what they look like to the 549 00:23:05,340 --> 00:23:02,590 outsider there's a very predominant 550 00:23:06,630 --> 00:23:05,350 gender yeah yeah there's a bit of you 551 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:06,640 trans people here I'll give it that 552 00:23:15,070 --> 00:23:10,490 there's a very predominant race 553 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:15,080 yeah but no it's a lot of friendly 554 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:17,210 looking people or chatting and as you 555 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:20,570 get here it's like a library in here and 556 00:23:24,430 --> 00:23:22,370 what have people been saying to you 557 00:23:26,530 --> 00:23:24,440 tonight Brad of course but you won the 558 00:23:28,150 --> 00:23:26,540 big faces in the S campaign that we saw 559 00:23:30,700 --> 00:23:28,160 locally I always saw you I saw you 560 00:23:32,470 --> 00:23:30,710 posting stuff although I assume that I 561 00:23:33,700 --> 00:23:32,480 assume it was like the yes vote it 562 00:23:36,010 --> 00:23:33,710 wasn't your light bill or something was 563 00:23:38,049 --> 00:23:36,020 that you were posting in the post box it 564 00:23:40,150 --> 00:23:38,059 was sort of you smiling and putting 565 00:23:43,690 --> 00:23:40,160 something in a post box I assume yeah 566 00:23:46,690 --> 00:23:43,700 I'm happy to be a yes voter I was there 567 00:23:48,190 --> 00:23:46,700 momentous day this week for Australia do 568 00:23:52,299 --> 00:23:48,200 you think there's a skeptical angle in 569 00:23:54,660 --> 00:23:52,309 that well there was so many weird things 570 00:23:57,970 --> 00:23:54,670 that were in the media there was so much 571 00:24:02,440 --> 00:23:57,980 debate that wasn't true that was just 572 00:24:04,060 --> 00:24:02,450 your casting academics the pigeons when 573 00:24:06,549 --> 00:24:04,070 it came to the no campaign so I think 574 00:24:09,070 --> 00:24:06,559 from a sceptical perspective actually 575 00:24:11,380 --> 00:24:09,080 having some truth and speaking some 576 00:24:13,690 --> 00:24:11,390 science and talking about the reality 577 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:13,700 that we do have gay people in the world 578 00:24:17,830 --> 00:24:15,890 we do have gay gay men and lesbian women 579 00:24:19,660 --> 00:24:17,840 who are in relationship I've been 580 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:19,670 waiting for this for the 90s what's the 581 00:24:23,140 --> 00:24:21,170 strangest thing you saw as part of the 582 00:24:25,690 --> 00:24:23,150 no campaign that they're trying to fly I 583 00:24:27,310 --> 00:24:25,700 mean my biggest thing with it is I don't 584 00:24:29,830 --> 00:24:27,320 think you can come to a position of 585 00:24:33,100 --> 00:24:29,840 homophobia by using skepticism or 586 00:24:35,230 --> 00:24:33,110 science it's very at odds to each other 587 00:24:36,820 --> 00:24:35,240 I think if you truly believe in science 588 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:36,830 you truly believe in reason then you 589 00:24:41,940 --> 00:24:39,730 cannot be a homophobe 590 00:24:44,549 --> 00:24:41,950 looks like that's my drink arriving and 591 00:24:45,870 --> 00:24:44,559 and and of course as a as a skeptic and 592 00:24:47,519 --> 00:24:45,880 someone who believes in science can you 593 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:47,529 talk someone out of a homophobic 594 00:24:53,399 --> 00:24:51,010 position using science and reason well I 595 00:24:55,830 --> 00:24:53,409 think you can certainly talk about the 596 00:24:58,289 --> 00:24:55,840 the debates and and talk about what the 597 00:25:00,029 --> 00:24:58,299 truth is and what the science is from 598 00:25:02,039 --> 00:25:00,039 from my perspective being a doctor I I 599 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:02,049 have a lot of gay men I have a lot of 600 00:25:06,269 --> 00:25:03,970 lesbian women and lots of trans people 601 00:25:08,220 --> 00:25:06,279 as well who I see every day and they're 602 00:25:11,129 --> 00:25:08,230 living and breathing this debate and 603 00:25:14,009 --> 00:25:11,139 you're like it's part of their life I I 604 00:25:16,740 --> 00:25:14,019 work to make sure that they're they're 605 00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:16,750 looked after and I'm on the front line 606 00:25:20,490 --> 00:25:18,490 when it comes to caring for these people 607 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:20,500 so it's it's really horrible to see 608 00:25:24,090 --> 00:25:22,210 people speaking against them and just 609 00:25:26,490 --> 00:25:24,100 speaking like playing things that are 610 00:25:27,960 --> 00:25:26,500 wrong but yeah if somebody's already got 611 00:25:30,180 --> 00:25:27,970 their view and they're not willing to 612 00:25:32,159 --> 00:25:30,190 move from that yeah you're really stuck 613 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:32,169 if they're not willing to listen or 614 00:25:36,779 --> 00:25:34,090 understand what people are going through 615 00:25:39,149 --> 00:25:36,789 not willing to get into their shoes it's 616 00:25:40,980 --> 00:25:39,159 a real big problem and when you're 617 00:25:42,180 --> 00:25:40,990 looking forward to this weekend here at 618 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:42,190 the conference what's going to be the 619 00:25:53,370 --> 00:25:43,690 big skipper big blowout thing for you 620 00:25:55,980 --> 00:25:53,380 where you go looking for my aha moment I 621 00:25:56,490 --> 00:25:55,990 I suppose I'll be on stage a couple of 622 00:25:58,830 --> 00:25:56,500 times 623 00:26:00,810 --> 00:25:58,840 speaking about talking the meteor and 624 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:00,820 getting out there whether it's the 625 00:26:04,930 --> 00:26:02,450 yes/no campaign 626 00:26:09,220 --> 00:26:04,940 or anything else that's happening in 627 00:26:11,139 --> 00:26:09,230 hell yeah looking looking at peeling 628 00:26:12,580 --> 00:26:11,149 back the curtain I suppose and seeing 629 00:26:14,619 --> 00:26:12,590 what's happening behind the scenes of 630 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:14,629 media that's a big thing for me 631 00:26:18,940 --> 00:26:16,730 well I'm very I'm very much part of the 632 00:26:21,220 --> 00:26:18,950 whipped-cream bulb lobby there won't be 633 00:26:23,649 --> 00:26:21,230 any anti whip cream bulb action this 634 00:26:25,299 --> 00:26:23,659 weekend will there what maybe on the 635 00:26:26,830 --> 00:26:25,309 Saturday night oh I get fair enough then 636 00:26:28,450 --> 00:26:26,840 and what are you looking forward to with 637 00:26:30,489 --> 00:26:28,460 the weekend what's the big skeptical 638 00:26:32,799 --> 00:26:30,499 thing that will make you do yeah moment 639 00:26:37,779 --> 00:26:32,809 well you might hear a few years during 640 00:26:39,669 --> 00:26:37,789 Cara Santa Maria so I'll give a standing 641 00:26:41,320 --> 00:26:39,679 ovation to a haircut basically I mean 642 00:26:43,629 --> 00:26:41,330 that's pretty good that it's functional 643 00:26:45,789 --> 00:26:43,639 looks good yeah it's good yeah lucky 644 00:26:49,299 --> 00:26:45,799 woman yeah that's the haircut cuz I 645 00:26:51,220 --> 00:26:49,309 would like that haircut it's a jealousy 646 00:26:53,259 --> 00:26:51,230 envy thing I mean I'm not that I want to 647 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:53,269 take it off of it I'm thinking I can't 648 00:26:58,419 --> 00:26:56,090 do that haircut and I want it I say give 649 00:27:00,669 --> 00:26:58,429 it a go okay and that's how I ended up 650 00:27:02,619 --> 00:27:00,679 shaving my head at 16 that's right I'm 651 00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:02,629 in transition to a new haircut as we 652 00:27:06,660 --> 00:27:04,810 speak 653 00:27:08,430 --> 00:27:06,670 and as you can tell things are getting 654 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:08,440 pretty wild here no no it's alright I 655 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:10,090 told my own Jeff things are getting 656 00:27:14,220 --> 00:27:11,530 pretty well here the night's getting 657 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:14,230 very light here with the skeptics this 658 00:27:17,730 --> 00:27:15,970 Jessica laughing uncontrollably because 659 00:27:20,700 --> 00:27:17,740 lawyers do that when they nervous don't 660 00:27:22,770 --> 00:27:20,710 you absolutely I get hysterical 661 00:27:26,670 --> 00:27:22,780 but it's no it's not the Night of the 662 00:27:28,260 --> 00:27:26,680 Living Dead it's very lively when you 663 00:27:29,580 --> 00:27:28,270 want to know where the party's at where 664 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:29,590 you want to know what it's all going on 665 00:27:32,820 --> 00:27:31,090 where you know where the wild stuff's 666 00:27:34,140 --> 00:27:32,830 going down you probably don't talk to 667 00:27:35,790 --> 00:27:34,150 Richard Saunders but I'm stuck talking 668 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:35,800 to him anyway Richard we're in a bit of 669 00:27:40,980 --> 00:27:38,770 an alcove here at the end of the Friday 670 00:27:42,960 --> 00:27:40,990 night with man man it's all gone a bit 671 00:27:44,510 --> 00:27:42,970 it's all gone a bit Rupert Sheldrake as 672 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:44,520 it goes later in the night you know 673 00:27:50,250 --> 00:27:47,710 Rupert Rupert Sheldrake you know the one 674 00:27:52,230 --> 00:27:50,260 he's the guy that thinks that dogs go to 675 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:52,240 the door when their masters are coming 676 00:27:57,210 --> 00:27:54,730 home and he thinks he's also the one who 677 00:27:58,890 --> 00:27:57,220 wrote the science delusion I think my 678 00:28:00,630 --> 00:27:58,900 two cats are now at the door waiting for 679 00:28:02,250 --> 00:28:00,640 me to come home that's what I think now 680 00:28:03,990 --> 00:28:02,260 what a great evening also on the 681 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:04,000 internet they're actually watching the 682 00:28:09,390 --> 00:28:05,530 next season of Doctor Who and they won't 683 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:09,400 show it to you hacked into the security 684 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:11,410 cameras here to look after me know what 685 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:13,090 a great evening it is a wonderful 686 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:15,610 kickoff for the the convention and I 687 00:28:19,230 --> 00:28:17,290 can't wait for the rest of the weekend I 688 00:28:21,540 --> 00:28:19,240 tell you what about I had a chat to 689 00:28:23,340 --> 00:28:21,550 Cecil whose real name should be settled 690 00:28:24,360 --> 00:28:23,350 but we'll get into that tomorrow I've 691 00:28:26,340 --> 00:28:24,370 been looking at your life balls Nick 692 00:28:28,830 --> 00:28:26,350 I've had some special presents for him 693 00:28:31,290 --> 00:28:28,840 and he hasn't quite turned up yet but 694 00:28:34,170 --> 00:28:31,300 he's a vegan so he's got off the plane 695 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:34,180 Eli and he wasn't locked able to eat a 696 00:28:36,750 --> 00:28:35,770 lot on the plane being a vegan and now 697 00:28:39,330 --> 00:28:36,760 he's looking for a great vegan 698 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:39,340 restaurant in Sydney in the middle of 699 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:41,170 Sydney at this time of night on a Friday 700 00:28:45,050 --> 00:28:43,330 I mean they do exist but he's gonna have 701 00:28:47,400 --> 00:28:45,060 to look hard I think there's someone 702 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:47,410 there's there's some around here run by 703 00:28:51,930 --> 00:28:48,910 meat eaters but I don't think that he's 704 00:28:53,310 --> 00:28:51,940 gonna have any luck and so what am I 705 00:28:55,050 --> 00:28:53,320 gonna cook what am I going to keep my 706 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:55,060 eye on the ball with this weekend virgin 707 00:28:58,860 --> 00:28:56,890 this weekend we have the skeptics earn 708 00:29:01,200 --> 00:28:58,870 live of course and listeners have heard 709 00:29:02,630 --> 00:29:01,210 it already last week in fact 710 00:29:05,210 --> 00:29:02,640 so this 711 00:29:07,370 --> 00:29:05,220 this is all time Distortion we're doing 712 00:29:08,750 --> 00:29:07,380 things completely out of sequence that's 713 00:29:10,520 --> 00:29:08,760 gonna be a lot of fun you've got to be 714 00:29:12,710 --> 00:29:10,530 on the ball to introduce that show and 715 00:29:14,630 --> 00:29:12,720 be our roving reporter in the audience 716 00:29:17,660 --> 00:29:14,640 now it's a Friday night here and my 717 00:29:19,790 --> 00:29:17,670 secret shame and you know this is that I 718 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:19,800 like to on a Friday and Saturday night 719 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:21,450 what's the History Channel on Fox still 720 00:29:26,030 --> 00:29:23,370 here in Australia and of course they 721 00:29:29,300 --> 00:29:26,040 usually have NASA's unexplained UFO 722 00:29:31,280 --> 00:29:29,310 FILES or they have alien invasion UFO 723 00:29:34,370 --> 00:29:31,290 FILES or more likely they have the 724 00:29:36,800 --> 00:29:34,380 Farkus with the wacky hair doing alien 725 00:29:38,810 --> 00:29:36,810 you know ancient aliens because I love 726 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:38,820 them I love that show now now you know 727 00:29:43,070 --> 00:29:41,130 it's a secret shame but I say it proudly 728 00:29:44,950 --> 00:29:43,080 I love it I said I just wait for Erich 729 00:29:47,210 --> 00:29:44,960 von Daniken to come on ago all right 730 00:29:49,130 --> 00:29:47,220 yeah I've watched that but then I 731 00:29:51,530 --> 00:29:49,140 watched ancient aliens debunked on 732 00:29:53,420 --> 00:29:51,540 YouTube and that blew my mind that's 733 00:29:55,490 --> 00:29:53,430 true and have a look at that 734 00:29:57,200 --> 00:29:55,500 the problem is at the end he dunked he 735 00:29:59,060 --> 00:29:57,210 debunks it the wrong way but it is worth 736 00:30:01,070 --> 00:29:59,070 a look anyway he debunked it and said 737 00:30:03,380 --> 00:30:01,080 all this ancient alien stuff is rubbish 738 00:30:07,060 --> 00:30:03,390 it's actually God yes and in the in the 739 00:30:11,870 --> 00:30:09,950 and on that note I'm going home to watch 740 00:30:18,220 --> 00:30:11,880 some paranormal television all right 741 00:30:30,140 --> 00:30:25,570 [Music] 742 00:30:33,290 --> 00:30:30,150 the skeptic magazine the journal from 743 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:33,300 Australian skeptics subscribe online to 744 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:35,490 the world's second oldest skeptical 745 00:30:42,530 --> 00:30:49,690 [Music] 746 00:30:49,700 --> 00:30:57,750 the magazine from Australian skeptics 747 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:09,430 [Music] 748 00:31:14,419 --> 00:31:12,290 from the website of Australian skeptics 749 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:14,429 and skeptics calm today you written 750 00:31:20,690 --> 00:31:16,530 right in Mendham published on the 19th 751 00:31:29,820 --> 00:31:20,700 of November 2017 2017 bent spewed to n 752 00:31:36,340 --> 00:31:33,070 every year Australian skeptics handout a 753 00:31:37,899 --> 00:31:36,350 range of awards some positive and the 754 00:31:40,930 --> 00:31:37,909 not so desirable 755 00:31:43,029 --> 00:31:40,940 Bent's food this year's winners include 756 00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:43,039 a couple of key campaigners against 757 00:31:48,970 --> 00:31:46,250 pseudo medicine and one University based 758 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:48,980 proponent of pseudo medicine the awards 759 00:31:52,990 --> 00:31:50,690 were made at the formal dinner on 760 00:31:55,210 --> 00:31:53,000 November the 18th for the Australian 761 00:31:58,269 --> 00:31:55,220 skeptics National Convention which this 762 00:32:00,610 --> 00:31:58,279 year was held in Sydney the bench spoon 763 00:32:02,710 --> 00:32:00,620 is awarded to the proponent of the most 764 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:02,720 preposterous piece of paranormal or 765 00:32:08,950 --> 00:32:05,450 pseudo scientific piffle of the year and 766 00:32:11,769 --> 00:32:08,960 this is one of the least desirable 767 00:32:14,980 --> 00:32:11,779 prizes in the country past winners have 768 00:32:18,580 --> 00:32:14,990 included Peter paleo Evans the CSIRO s 769 00:32:21,009 --> 00:32:18,590 head Larry Marshall the ABC for the 770 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:21,019 television shows second opinion and the 771 00:32:25,690 --> 00:32:23,690 new inventors the pharmacy Guild of 772 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:25,700 Australia the University of Wollongong 773 00:32:32,019 --> 00:32:29,090 and a psychic dentist but sadly not 774 00:32:34,750 --> 00:32:32,029 everyone can win this honorable mentions 775 00:32:37,299 --> 00:32:34,760 this year include the Newcastle City 776 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:37,309 Council for giving the keys to the city 777 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:41,090 in July 2017 - Jackie gillies quote a 778 00:32:47,200 --> 00:32:43,370 successful psychic and businesswoman and 779 00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:47,210 reality TV star in quote ABC TV's land 780 00:32:52,840 --> 00:32:49,490 line programme for a segment on 781 00:32:56,680 --> 00:32:52,850 biodynamic farming how to plant crops by 782 00:32:59,259 --> 00:32:56,690 the moon doctor now suspended john pease 783 00:33:01,840 --> 00:32:59,269 for anti vaccination activities 784 00:33:04,659 --> 00:33:01,850 assisting parents to bypass the no jab 785 00:33:06,639 --> 00:33:04,669 no pay legislation and providing letters 786 00:33:08,710 --> 00:33:06,649 of exemption so their children's can 787 00:33:11,710 --> 00:33:08,720 avoid otherwise compulsory vaccinations 788 00:33:14,019 --> 00:33:11,720 and aqua poll a company that makes 789 00:33:16,620 --> 00:33:14,029 expensive devices which are claimed to 790 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:16,630 exercise rising damp from your home 791 00:33:21,190 --> 00:33:19,250 using energies unknown to science in 792 00:33:25,210 --> 00:33:21,200 fact this year's winner were themselves 793 00:33:27,820 --> 00:33:25,220 a past unsuccessful nominee quote they 794 00:33:28,330 --> 00:33:27,830 tried hard last year in quotes that are 795 00:33:30,039 --> 00:33:28,340 ants again 796 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:30,049 president of Australian skeptics Inc 797 00:33:34,450 --> 00:33:32,450 quote on their website they promoted 798 00:33:36,789 --> 00:33:34,460 debunked and disproven alternative 799 00:33:39,159 --> 00:33:36,799 medicine cures by giving them credence 800 00:33:40,899 --> 00:33:39,169 via a university setting 801 00:33:42,999 --> 00:33:40,909 these include hurry up 802 00:33:45,669 --> 00:33:43,009 the spiritual healing aromatherapy 803 00:33:48,759 --> 00:33:45,679 crystal healing therapeutic touch and 804 00:33:51,549 --> 00:33:48,769 energy medicine the site even indirectly 805 00:33:54,430 --> 00:33:51,559 suggested that rhino horn could be used 806 00:33:56,739 --> 00:33:54,440 to treat hot blood although thankfully 807 00:33:59,109 --> 00:33:56,749 that was taken down after we highlighted 808 00:34:00,609 --> 00:33:59,119 it in this year's awards banquet so 809 00:34:04,089 --> 00:34:00,619 we're happy to announce that the winner 810 00:34:05,979 --> 00:34:04,099 no the 2017 bent spoon is the National 811 00:34:09,250 --> 00:34:05,989 Institute of complementary medicine at 812 00:34:11,710 --> 00:34:09,260 the University of Western Sydney well 813 00:34:15,839 --> 00:34:11,720 done you missed out last year but you've 814 00:34:19,389 --> 00:34:15,849 hit the heights in 2017 Thor net award 815 00:34:21,149 --> 00:34:19,399 known as the Fred the skeptics thorn an 816 00:34:24,309 --> 00:34:21,159 award for the promotion of reason 817 00:34:27,250 --> 00:34:24,319 commemorates Fred Thor net but as manian 818 00:34:29,260 --> 00:34:27,260 skeptic who died in 2009 this award 819 00:34:31,450 --> 00:34:29,270 acknowledges a member of the public or a 820 00:34:34,359 --> 00:34:31,460 public figure who has made a significant 821 00:34:36,309 --> 00:34:34,369 contribution to educating or informing 822 00:34:38,770 --> 00:34:36,319 the public regarding issues of science 823 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:38,780 and reason the award includes a cash 824 00:34:45,309 --> 00:34:41,690 prize of $1,000 Lawrence again said 825 00:34:47,859 --> 00:34:45,319 quote yes he is fred goes to someone who 826 00:34:50,829 --> 00:34:47,869 has consistently provided intelligent 827 00:34:53,859 --> 00:34:50,839 and informed response to a wide range of 828 00:34:55,869 --> 00:34:53,869 pseudo medical claims while he might be 829 00:34:59,140 --> 00:34:55,879 mone the fact that he will probably have 830 00:35:00,940 --> 00:34:59,150 a face slap image on his tombstone the 831 00:35:02,829 --> 00:35:00,950 thorny reward is a more positive image 832 00:35:05,650 --> 00:35:02,839 for this year's winner dr. John 833 00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:05,660 Cunningham in quote skeptic of the Year 834 00:35:11,079 --> 00:35:07,970 another positive award from the skeptics 835 00:35:13,720 --> 00:35:11,089 is skeptic of the Year given to those in 836 00:35:16,210 --> 00:35:13,730 the skeptical community whose efforts go 837 00:35:19,359 --> 00:35:16,220 above and beyond what can reasonably be 838 00:35:21,339 --> 00:35:19,369 expected of committed campaigners there 839 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:21,349 are many people working away behind the 840 00:35:24,849 --> 00:35:22,910 scenes doing great but often 841 00:35:27,220 --> 00:35:24,859 unacknowledged work on behalf of the 842 00:35:29,470 --> 00:35:27,230 skeptical movement particularly in the 843 00:35:32,019 --> 00:35:29,480 high-profile area of confronting the 844 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:32,029 anti-vaccination movement this year's 845 00:35:36,430 --> 00:35:34,010 skeptic of the year goes to Christine 846 00:35:38,950 --> 00:35:36,440 Bane for her continued work in 847 00:35:40,359 --> 00:35:38,960 developing and unparalleled catalogue of 848 00:35:43,269 --> 00:35:40,369 activities of the anti-vaccination 849 00:35:45,609 --> 00:35:43,279 movement particularly the tour of VAX to 850 00:35:47,620 --> 00:35:45,619 the anti-vaccination film noted for its 851 00:35:50,380 --> 00:35:47,630 secret screenings behind closed doors 852 00:35:53,230 --> 00:35:50,390 and for her ongoing role in fighting 853 00:35:54,500 --> 00:35:53,240 sudo medicine generally Christine works 854 00:35:56,750 --> 00:35:54,510 tirelessly out of her 855 00:35:58,880 --> 00:35:56,760 and rehome far from the day-to-day 856 00:36:02,300 --> 00:35:58,890 hustle of the anti-vaccination movement 857 00:36:10,570 --> 00:36:02,310 and yet she is a key player in the 858 00:36:15,530 --> 00:36:13,250 that overview of this year's awards from 859 00:36:18,710 --> 00:36:15,540 Australian skeptics can be found at 860 00:36:20,750 --> 00:36:18,720 skeptics calm day you and I'll link that 861 00:36:33,529 --> 00:36:20,760 page in this week's show note 862 00:36:36,930 --> 00:36:33,539 [Music] 863 00:36:39,779 --> 00:36:36,940 hi this is dr. Pamela gay from astronomy 864 00:36:41,670 --> 00:36:39,789 cast each week Fraser Cain and I take 865 00:36:43,890 --> 00:36:41,680 our listeners on a fact-based journey 866 00:36:46,620 --> 00:36:43,900 through the cosmos with our weekly 867 00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:46,630 podcast we explain not just what we know 868 00:36:52,289 --> 00:36:49,450 but how we know what we know about this 869 00:36:54,749 --> 00:36:52,299 universe that we share check us out at 870 00:36:57,150 --> 00:36:54,759 astronomy cast calm and look for us in 871 00:36:59,860 --> 00:36:57,160 itunes google play and wherever you 872 00:37:03,410 --> 00:36:59,870 download podcasts see online 873 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:03,420 [Music] 874 00:37:18,519 --> 00:37:05,450 [Applause] 875 00:37:25,059 --> 00:37:18,529 [Music] 876 00:37:27,190 --> 00:37:25,069 we're up in there sorry no we're we're 877 00:37:29,890 --> 00:37:27,200 up in the the wonderful Blue Mountains 878 00:37:32,349 --> 00:37:29,900 just west of Sydney at the initial the 879 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:32,359 inaugural the first was it the Blue 880 00:37:35,799 --> 00:37:34,010 Mountains skeptics in the pub Peter 881 00:37:38,680 --> 00:37:35,809 Bowditch good evening 882 00:37:42,220 --> 00:37:38,690 yes tell us about this group well this 883 00:37:44,500 --> 00:37:42,230 group didn't exist an hour ago because 884 00:37:47,170 --> 00:37:44,510 this is as as you say as the first in 885 00:37:48,370 --> 00:37:47,180 over all very first meeting hopefully 886 00:37:50,950 --> 00:37:48,380 will in the future we'll have lots more 887 00:37:52,450 --> 00:37:50,960 people here at me we'll get in the Blue 888 00:37:53,650 --> 00:37:52,460 Mountains which is an area which needs 889 00:37:55,569 --> 00:37:53,660 skip this isn't more than anywhere else 890 00:38:00,960 --> 00:37:55,579 in Australia this area is famous for 891 00:38:06,460 --> 00:38:05,049 we're in a the front what are the front 892 00:38:08,859 --> 00:38:06,470 rooms of this what's called the Grand 893 00:38:10,180 --> 00:38:08,869 reindeer the Grand View where where's 894 00:38:11,230 --> 00:38:10,190 the Grand View I'm just looking out the 895 00:38:13,420 --> 00:38:11,240 window out that window 896 00:38:15,579 --> 00:38:13,430 no I'm there is a bit of a view I don't 897 00:38:18,039 --> 00:38:15,589 know how grant made floor upstairs but 898 00:38:20,079 --> 00:38:18,049 it's a lovely old apartment big rooms 899 00:38:22,299 --> 00:38:20,089 and we're just waiting for our chicken 900 00:38:25,299 --> 00:38:22,309 parmigiana and t-bone steaks and things 901 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:25,309 like that so why did you choose this one 902 00:38:30,700 --> 00:38:28,130 for skeptics in the pub I actually 903 00:38:33,640 --> 00:38:30,710 conducted research or what's known 904 00:38:35,289 --> 00:38:33,650 locally as a pub crawl well I started 905 00:38:37,539 --> 00:38:35,299 Springwood and worked my way to Kitumba 906 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:37,549 and I just felt this one seemed to be 907 00:38:39,940 --> 00:38:38,690 the one that had the best facilities 908 00:38:42,220 --> 00:38:39,950 like we're in a room which has got a big 909 00:38:44,769 --> 00:38:42,230 TV and so we had meetings in here we can 910 00:38:45,970 --> 00:38:44,779 put stuff up on that it's close to a 911 00:38:48,249 --> 00:38:45,980 railway station that was one of the 912 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:48,259 criteria yes there's somebody playing a 913 00:38:51,819 --> 00:38:50,450 piano in the next room and yes there's a 914 00:38:53,710 --> 00:38:51,829 song the piano so you know let it touch 915 00:38:59,319 --> 00:38:53,720 unless you're a pianist but the sale of 916 00:39:01,420 --> 00:38:59,329 things that person is I think there's a 917 00:39:02,499 --> 00:39:01,430 lot of pubs up here and hopefully I sell 918 00:39:05,259 --> 00:39:02,509 what I would like to do in the future 919 00:39:07,690 --> 00:39:05,269 isn't moving around a bit because so 920 00:39:09,789 --> 00:39:07,700 that no people down the lower in the 921 00:39:11,410 --> 00:39:09,799 mountains can get the things and because 922 00:39:13,930 --> 00:39:11,420 one of the things I've come when I lived 923 00:39:15,789 --> 00:39:13,940 here was people don't travel also people 924 00:39:18,009 --> 00:39:15,799 complain that how far it was 925 00:39:19,630 --> 00:39:18,019 they lived him in hazel Brooklyn and how 926 00:39:21,549 --> 00:39:19,640 far it was to get a car - but it isn't 927 00:39:22,359 --> 00:39:21,559 shopping at what you know it's 14 928 00:39:24,789 --> 00:39:22,369 kilometres 929 00:39:27,819 --> 00:39:24,799 I live in a bar I Drive stir a dog 65 930 00:39:32,390 --> 00:39:30,740 folks what I'll do is in this week's 931 00:39:34,250 --> 00:39:32,400 show notes I'll put a link to Google 932 00:39:36,559 --> 00:39:34,260 Maps and you can see exactly where we 933 00:39:38,180 --> 00:39:36,569 are up here in the Blue Mountains and I 934 00:39:39,920 --> 00:39:38,190 traveled up here of Tim Mendham the 935 00:39:41,569 --> 00:39:39,930 editor of the skeptic magazine and soon 936 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:41,579 as we stepped off the train I was 937 00:39:45,770 --> 00:39:42,930 regretting the fact that I didn't bring 938 00:39:48,230 --> 00:39:45,780 a jacket yeah I brought one I've been 939 00:39:54,849 --> 00:39:48,240 flying ahead actually by the way might 940 00:39:57,190 --> 00:39:54,859 be is run out it's great to be here I 941 00:39:59,779 --> 00:39:57,200 come up with lumens quite a lot actually 942 00:40:00,950 --> 00:39:59,789 looking for Yowies looking for yeah he's 943 00:40:02,089 --> 00:40:00,960 looking for looking for friends actually 944 00:40:04,309 --> 00:40:02,099 now I've got some friends who live in 945 00:40:06,140 --> 00:40:04,319 Kitumba but my wife I used to come up 946 00:40:09,289 --> 00:40:06,150 there every year at least it's not a 947 00:40:10,970 --> 00:40:09,299 view weeks quite a lot this is strange 948 00:40:11,660 --> 00:40:10,980 to save a year so I think it sounds like 949 00:40:14,900 --> 00:40:11,670 it's miles away 950 00:40:16,309 --> 00:40:14,910 so we seated around a huge long series 951 00:40:18,349 --> 00:40:16,319 of tables here in the front one of the 952 00:40:22,190 --> 00:40:18,359 front rooms folks are your locals I 953 00:40:24,410 --> 00:40:22,200 guess hi I'm James I'm from Glen Rock 954 00:40:25,190 --> 00:40:24,420 which is so little local half an hour 955 00:40:28,190 --> 00:40:25,200 down the road 956 00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:28,200 yes yep papa that's low - oh very close 957 00:40:33,769 --> 00:40:30,450 and you're from oh I'm on Brian I'm from 958 00:40:35,930 --> 00:40:33,779 consumer yeah so yes it's like 10-minute 959 00:40:36,829 --> 00:40:35,940 Drive perhaps from here I guess I'm a 960 00:40:40,130 --> 00:40:36,839 local now I've been here long enough 961 00:40:43,339 --> 00:40:40,140 opinion 15 years that's enough surely is 962 00:40:44,990 --> 00:40:43,349 long enough to be like yeah yeah yeah 963 00:40:46,549 --> 00:40:45,000 just that's what that's right it's 964 00:40:47,809 --> 00:40:46,559 interesting Peter says that uh people 965 00:40:49,279 --> 00:40:47,819 don't want to travel what friends at 966 00:40:51,470 --> 00:40:49,289 Springwood it down which we don't come 967 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:51,480 to ketubah cause it's too far and I 968 00:40:55,460 --> 00:40:53,010 Drive my daughter there to school every 969 00:40:57,500 --> 00:40:55,470 day so I'm doing 10 then I work in 970 00:41:00,910 --> 00:40:57,510 Richmond so yeah distances is nothing 971 00:41:02,530 --> 00:41:00,920 you've got a travel to deliver be really 972 00:41:04,690 --> 00:41:02,540 though there's lovely train line that 973 00:41:05,980 --> 00:41:04,700 comes from Sydney and snakes up right 974 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:05,990 through the mountains and we're not far 975 00:41:09,970 --> 00:41:08,690 from the local train station how long 976 00:41:14,350 --> 00:41:09,980 have you been living in there in the 977 00:41:16,870 --> 00:41:14,360 area about thirty years or so I guess 978 00:41:18,910 --> 00:41:16,880 you're a local - I don't know if the 979 00:41:21,970 --> 00:41:18,920 upper mountains people think we are but 980 00:41:27,130 --> 00:41:21,980 we do there's a whole thing regional 981 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:27,140 thing going on here suza and what brings 982 00:41:29,980 --> 00:41:27,770 you here 983 00:41:32,350 --> 00:41:29,990 Oh Peters invitation on the Blue 984 00:41:33,280 --> 00:41:32,360 Mountains community social group or 985 00:41:34,990 --> 00:41:33,290 something 986 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:35,000 I haven't seen Peter for a long long 987 00:41:40,690 --> 00:41:37,970 time and used to go to the same group is 988 00:41:43,840 --> 00:41:40,700 him in Penrith so here we are with a new 989 00:41:46,090 --> 00:41:43,850 one excellent and I think I just dropped 990 00:41:47,380 --> 00:41:46,100 the coins were just dropping out of your 991 00:41:49,630 --> 00:41:47,390 purse there I don't know what that means 992 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:49,640 anyway we're here for a night of just 993 00:41:54,190 --> 00:41:51,170 chatting about skeptical things Tim 994 00:41:56,470 --> 00:41:54,200 Mendham has brought up lots of issues of 995 00:41:58,090 --> 00:41:56,480 the skeptic magazine the journal from 996 00:42:01,090 --> 00:41:58,100 Australian skeptic so we keep reminding 997 00:42:04,210 --> 00:42:01,100 our listeners for people to have and 998 00:42:06,580 --> 00:42:04,220 take away we've got some promotional 999 00:42:08,380 --> 00:42:06,590 checks for the $100,000 challenge so it 1000 00:42:11,320 --> 00:42:08,390 should be a great evening I've even 1001 00:42:12,520 --> 00:42:11,330 brought some spoons thanks looking 1002 00:42:14,970 --> 00:42:12,530 forward to seeing spoon bending actually 1003 00:42:17,950 --> 00:42:14,980 can you bring the folks and the knives I 1004 00:42:21,310 --> 00:42:17,960 can't I can't I don't think that'd be 1005 00:42:24,100 --> 00:42:21,320 happening so the topic of the 1006 00:42:27,940 --> 00:42:24,110 conversations turn around - what is the 1007 00:42:28,990 --> 00:42:27,950 the biggest woo what is the biggest area 1008 00:42:31,540 --> 00:42:29,000 of concern out here in the Blue 1009 00:42:33,280 --> 00:42:31,550 Mountains and was saying vaccinations to 1010 00:42:35,170 --> 00:42:33,290 begin with but alternative medicine I 1011 00:42:37,180 --> 00:42:35,180 think it is really alternative medicine 1012 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:37,190 I really do dance 1013 00:42:44,940 --> 00:42:39,170 you know the whole continents that 1014 00:42:46,870 --> 00:42:44,950 surrounds that the veganism and any 1015 00:42:47,520 --> 00:42:46,880 vaccinations there's a little bit of the 1016 00:42:49,590 --> 00:42:47,530 water 1017 00:42:50,850 --> 00:42:49,600 but not that much a little bit 1018 00:42:52,380 --> 00:42:50,860 definitely 1019 00:42:55,340 --> 00:42:52,390 you walk down the street at Kitumba 1020 00:42:58,620 --> 00:42:55,350 Street and like above above every shop 1021 00:43:00,930 --> 00:42:58,630 there's a herbalist or natural therapist 1022 00:43:04,140 --> 00:43:00,940 organic furniture as well yeah yes 1023 00:43:06,420 --> 00:43:04,150 somebody offering some time massage we 1024 00:43:08,490 --> 00:43:06,430 just stand around and they look at you 1025 00:43:10,050 --> 00:43:08,500 or something it's yeah iridology is this 1026 00:43:12,480 --> 00:43:10,060 place just across here that doesn't as 1027 00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:12,490 well in I mean you can find places like 1028 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:15,370 this in the city of course here it just 1029 00:43:18,570 --> 00:43:16,810 seems to be concentrated yeah I think 1030 00:43:20,370 --> 00:43:18,580 it's concentrated and I think it's also 1031 00:43:22,830 --> 00:43:20,380 because of because a lot of people are 1032 00:43:25,200 --> 00:43:22,840 moving from see the particularly inner 1033 00:43:29,900 --> 00:43:25,210 city to this area so they're bringing a 1034 00:43:32,130 --> 00:43:29,910 lot of that with them up here is there 1035 00:43:33,840 --> 00:43:32,140 but that's another reason why it's 1036 00:43:35,370 --> 00:43:33,850 gravitated to you because it's existed 1037 00:43:36,420 --> 00:43:35,380 here first and people go oh where else 1038 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:36,430 can I go with it 1039 00:43:40,680 --> 00:43:38,530 I don't want to go to Byron where's 1040 00:43:43,290 --> 00:43:40,690 closer to Sydney than that this area is 1041 00:43:46,260 --> 00:43:43,300 regarded by people is what the escape 1042 00:43:47,910 --> 00:43:46,270 from the city or something yeah that's 1043 00:43:50,370 --> 00:43:47,920 why I guess another reason why property 1044 00:43:53,550 --> 00:43:50,380 prices vary so much the last few years - 1045 00:43:55,050 --> 00:43:53,560 up here - yeah yeah yeah my friends of 1046 00:43:56,460 --> 00:43:55,060 mine bought a three-bedroom house for 1047 00:43:58,440 --> 00:43:56,470 four hundred and fifteen thousand 1048 00:44:01,170 --> 00:43:58,450 dollars two years ago it's now with six 1049 00:44:04,350 --> 00:44:01,180 hundred and fifty thousand so yeah it's 1050 00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:04,360 just shut up and Peter's just left to 1051 00:44:07,260 --> 00:44:05,710 talk to the piano player but he was 1052 00:44:10,620 --> 00:44:07,270 saying that the way he lives in over on 1053 00:44:14,580 --> 00:44:10,630 the the water isn't fluoridated its 1054 00:44:16,350 --> 00:44:14,590 fluoridated in this area where we are 1055 00:44:18,450 --> 00:44:16,360 now and Whitworth Falls oh hello Tim's 1056 00:44:25,140 --> 00:44:18,460 just brought some beers and I wonder if 1057 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:27,990 so this is a hour or so later the 1058 00:44:31,650 --> 00:44:29,410 evenings going on it is getting quite 1059 00:44:33,780 --> 00:44:31,660 dark outside I'm disappointed the UFOs 1060 00:44:35,160 --> 00:44:33,790 aren't buzzing is just yet I don't 1061 00:44:37,280 --> 00:44:35,170 facing the wrong way and I say you were 1062 00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:37,290 finest all the way I'm facing the window 1063 00:44:41,520 --> 00:44:39,970 and I wonder when the Yowies come out of 1064 00:44:43,830 --> 00:44:41,530 the panther you know they come out at 1065 00:44:46,470 --> 00:44:43,840 night always be cold do you always come 1066 00:44:48,060 --> 00:44:46,480 in and be covered with fur maybe they do 1067 00:44:50,790 --> 00:44:48,070 come out if they have to come out to get 1068 00:44:52,380 --> 00:44:50,800 an Aldi right right they're very 1069 00:44:54,510 --> 00:44:52,390 disappointed there's no McDonald's up 1070 00:44:56,370 --> 00:44:54,520 here in the mountains right so that was 1071 00:45:01,290 --> 00:44:56,380 getting slides right there's one in 1072 00:45:03,750 --> 00:45:01,300 Blaxland yes 24 hours they've just 1073 00:45:04,380 --> 00:45:03,760 applied for a 24-hour license what more 1074 00:45:07,500 --> 00:45:04,390 could you want 1075 00:45:11,190 --> 00:45:07,510 Maui's and 24-hour McDonald's it's it's 1076 00:45:13,080 --> 00:45:11,200 all happening at least these are the 1077 00:45:16,500 --> 00:45:13,090 matters that concern the local skeptics 1078 00:45:20,250 --> 00:45:16,510 folks they're not not necessarily UFOs 1079 00:45:23,880 --> 00:45:20,260 not buzzing is there yeah feed about it 1080 00:45:26,670 --> 00:45:23,890 why isn't the the border and over on 1081 00:45:27,870 --> 00:45:26,680 fluoridated way because when they wanted 1082 00:45:30,750 --> 00:45:27,880 the Florida there was this colossal 1083 00:45:32,220 --> 00:45:30,760 opposition to it in fact one of the 1084 00:45:36,000 --> 00:45:32,230 first conversations I had in 10 with the 1085 00:45:37,140 --> 00:45:36,010 pharmacist where she said look we're all 1086 00:45:38,520 --> 00:45:37,150 in favor of vaccinations here but never 1087 00:45:40,530 --> 00:45:38,530 mention fluoridation or they'll attack 1088 00:45:42,630 --> 00:45:40,540 you Wow but also there was a colossal 1089 00:45:45,329 --> 00:45:42,640 opposition to the in being abolished 1090 00:45:46,589 --> 00:45:45,339 Alice all right everyone water the NBN 1091 00:45:49,530 --> 00:45:46,599 but they didn't want have to come by 1092 00:45:52,980 --> 00:45:49,540 Wallace but when it came they all none 1093 00:45:54,210 --> 00:45:52,990 of us who have died of it they funded 1094 00:45:56,160 --> 00:45:54,220 they didn't object to all other forms of 1095 00:45:57,450 --> 00:45:56,170 electromagnetic in the town like the 1096 00:45:59,670 --> 00:45:57,460 fact that we got out wireless that way 1097 00:46:01,380 --> 00:45:59,680 no tillu that way it's interesting that 1098 00:46:03,089 --> 00:46:01,390 people would would love those together 1099 00:46:05,670 --> 00:46:03,099 I'm not surprising I guess I had 1100 00:46:07,170 --> 00:46:05,680 actually had three three collectors for 1101 00:46:12,180 --> 00:46:07,180 electromagnetic radiation on the roof of 1102 00:46:14,430 --> 00:46:12,190 my house I have a the NBN aerial I have 1103 00:46:16,200 --> 00:46:14,440 a Fox Hill dish which I don't use the TV 1104 00:46:17,250 --> 00:46:16,210 erial all which are gathering the 1105 00:46:18,930 --> 00:46:17,260 electromagnetic 1106 00:46:21,270 --> 00:46:18,940 the air and making it safe for everybody 1107 00:46:23,100 --> 00:46:21,280 else it's very nice of you just be you I 1108 00:46:25,890 --> 00:46:23,110 just did your place yeah folks at my 1109 00:46:28,950 --> 00:46:25,900 lion that's what happened to you this 1110 00:46:30,330 --> 00:46:28,960 house blows at night you just went out 1111 00:46:31,650 --> 00:46:30,340 to have a chat with the piano player did 1112 00:46:33,540 --> 00:46:31,660 you I noticed he's playing George 1113 00:46:34,860 --> 00:46:33,550 Harrison at the moon I might sneak out 1114 00:46:38,370 --> 00:46:34,870 sneak out I'll just come around the 1115 00:46:41,120 --> 00:46:38,380 corner here this is a great old pub 1116 00:46:51,609 --> 00:46:41,130 folks it's really good character 1117 00:46:53,859 --> 00:46:51,619 [Music] 1118 00:46:55,630 --> 00:46:53,869 and there's a beautiful old piano there 1119 00:46:57,249 --> 00:46:55,640 in the hallway and a sign saying don't 1120 00:47:01,239 --> 00:46:57,259 plant unless you can really play the 1121 00:47:03,219 --> 00:47:01,249 piano so as we say often on the show if 1122 00:47:05,019 --> 00:47:03,229 you want to start a local skeptics in 1123 00:47:06,430 --> 00:47:05,029 the pub group anywhere in the world it's 1124 00:47:08,979 --> 00:47:06,440 a great idea you don't need much you 1125 00:47:11,979 --> 00:47:08,989 just needed a venue a bit of food a few 1126 00:47:13,479 --> 00:47:11,989 drinks and some company and I should add 1127 00:47:14,620 --> 00:47:13,489 we actually have an article coming up 1128 00:47:17,979 --> 00:47:14,630 the next issue of the skeptic magazine 1129 00:47:21,489 --> 00:47:17,989 which lays out the key criteria and the 1130 00:47:22,059 --> 00:47:21,499 most important criteria good beer sounds 1131 00:47:24,309 --> 00:47:22,069 good to me 1132 00:47:26,200 --> 00:47:24,319 well and where can people read that Tim 1133 00:47:28,450 --> 00:47:26,210 but I can read them a skeptic magazine 1134 00:47:30,910 --> 00:47:28,460 which you can subscribe to by a skeptics 1135 00:47:32,259 --> 00:47:30,920 comte you how about that is there 1136 00:47:37,030 --> 00:47:32,269 anywhere in Australia that serves bad 1137 00:47:49,790 --> 00:47:46,810 [Music] 1138 00:47:51,740 --> 00:47:49,800 with Josh go gobble Roger a skeptic wish 1139 00:47:53,300 --> 00:47:51,750 to shock a desolate is a skeptic we 1140 00:47:56,030 --> 00:47:53,310 serve as a tech L go Python a cha'aka 1141 00:47:57,890 --> 00:47:56,040 Chanukah meet the skeptics on podcast 1142 00:47:59,660 --> 00:47:57,900 Hager to a vision heritage from Tashkent 1143 00:48:01,610 --> 00:47:59,670 or to decide to do manual control to 1144 00:48:03,890 --> 00:48:01,620 share the like oh she touched a critical 1145 00:48:06,230 --> 00:48:03,900 gone loco - - on Eclipse elucidated 1146 00:48:08,570 --> 00:48:06,240 I said I'd marry Stanley and then he can 1147 00:48:10,190 --> 00:48:08,580 shake member travelhob solitude or dvd 1148 00:48:12,590 --> 00:48:10,200 bond skeptic we start to sharpen tool 1149 00:48:15,020 --> 00:48:12,600 but as info at skeptic which bond Hootie 1150 00:48:17,390 --> 00:48:15,030 man - Bob Allen film and the Facebook 1151 00:48:20,030 --> 00:48:17,400 alderman cottage Amita facebook.com / 1152 00:48:24,680 --> 00:48:20,040 skeptic star Shakti natales voila 1153 00:48:27,020 --> 00:48:24,690 mentoring Sarita dharamdas Vinayagam hi 1154 00:48:29,210 --> 00:48:27,030 this is Gavroche co-president of the 1155 00:48:30,950 --> 00:48:29,220 hungarian skeptics society and chairman 1156 00:48:33,830 --> 00:48:30,960 of the European Council of skeptical 1157 00:48:36,170 --> 00:48:33,840 organizations a solicitor of the skeptic 1158 00:48:38,120 --> 00:48:36,180 zone you probably agree that educating 1159 00:48:41,180 --> 00:48:38,130 others about pseudoscience and critical 1160 00:48:42,770 --> 00:48:41,190 thinking is an important task if you are 1161 00:48:44,540 --> 00:48:42,780 eager to take part in either of these 1162 00:48:48,280 --> 00:48:44,550 activities we would be happy to hear 1163 00:48:53,300 --> 00:48:48,290 from you don't hesitate to contact us at 1164 00:48:55,280 --> 00:48:53,310 www.sceeto.com for at skeptical hu 1165 00:48:57,920 --> 00:48:55,290 we also recommend you visiting our 1166 00:49:00,020 --> 00:48:57,930 Facebook page skeptic booster shot or 1167 00:49:03,310 --> 00:49:00,030 simply come and join us at one of our 1168 00:49:03,320 --> 00:49:17,270 [Music] 1169 00:49:21,740 --> 00:49:19,670 once again we read the website of 1170 00:49:23,750 --> 00:49:21,750 Australian skeptic skeptics Tom DeLay 1171 00:49:27,650 --> 00:49:23,760 you published on the 20th of November 1172 00:49:29,380 --> 00:49:27,660 vitae Mendham anti-vaccination Sydney 1173 00:49:34,650 --> 00:49:29,390 Council under fire 1174 00:49:37,590 --> 00:49:34,660 [Music] 1175 00:49:39,630 --> 00:49:37,600 a cancellation of the listing for an 1176 00:49:42,300 --> 00:49:39,640 anti vaccination lecture posted on the 1177 00:49:45,660 --> 00:49:42,310 City of Sydney councils quote what's on 1178 00:49:48,630 --> 00:49:45,670 and quote site is indicative of the sort 1179 00:49:51,330 --> 00:49:48,640 of rapid and definitive results that can 1180 00:49:54,930 --> 00:49:51,340 be achieved by concerted and United 1181 00:49:57,120 --> 00:49:54,940 action by skeptics a post on reddit 1182 00:49:59,880 --> 00:49:57,130 alerted the skeptical community to the 1183 00:50:03,060 --> 00:49:59,890 promotion of a coming lecture by anti 1184 00:50:04,950 --> 00:50:03,070 vaccination campaigner Julie Y Lehman Y 1185 00:50:08,220 --> 00:50:04,960 Lehman was the winner of the skeptics 1186 00:50:10,500 --> 00:50:08,230 bent spoon award in 2016 for her PhD 1187 00:50:12,810 --> 00:50:10,510 thesis on vaccination that is riddled 1188 00:50:15,870 --> 00:50:12,820 with errors misstatements poor and 1189 00:50:18,780 --> 00:50:15,880 unsupported evidence and conspiratorial 1190 00:50:22,050 --> 00:50:18,790 thinking she was joined on the bent 1191 00:50:24,600 --> 00:50:22,060 spoon podium that year by her academic 1192 00:50:27,000 --> 00:50:24,610 adviser Brian Martin and the University 1193 00:50:29,700 --> 00:50:27,010 of Wollongong for awarding her a 1194 00:50:32,250 --> 00:50:29,710 doctorate the promotion on the council 1195 00:50:35,670 --> 00:50:32,260 site described why Lehman as Australia's 1196 00:50:38,190 --> 00:50:35,680 quote top vaccine expert and quote and 1197 00:50:40,500 --> 00:50:38,200 said the event would address quote 1198 00:50:41,070 --> 00:50:40,510 urgent worldwide vaccinations safety 1199 00:50:44,820 --> 00:50:41,080 concerns 1200 00:50:46,860 --> 00:50:44,830 end quote quote government media and the 1201 00:50:48,990 --> 00:50:46,870 medical community are pushing more and 1202 00:50:52,230 --> 00:50:49,000 more vaccines on us and quote the 1203 00:50:55,590 --> 00:50:52,240 promotion read quote why the use of 1204 00:50:57,510 --> 00:50:55,600 phrases like pro or anti vaccine are not 1205 00:50:59,790 --> 00:50:57,520 helpful it is time to have an open 1206 00:51:02,190 --> 00:50:59,800 honest and respectful discussion about 1207 00:51:04,350 --> 00:51:02,200 vaccines in quote the promotion said the 1208 00:51:07,080 --> 00:51:04,360 event would be held on Monday November 1209 00:51:09,540 --> 00:51:07,090 20th but did not say where those 1210 00:51:11,970 --> 00:51:09,550 registering would be told only a few 1211 00:51:14,430 --> 00:51:11,980 hours prior in the same way the anti 1212 00:51:16,310 --> 00:51:14,440 vaccination film VAX was announced 1213 00:51:18,720 --> 00:51:16,320 during its recent tour of Australia 1214 00:51:20,340 --> 00:51:18,730 Australian skeptics in committee member 1215 00:51:21,990 --> 00:51:20,350 Alethea deem then passed this 1216 00:51:24,330 --> 00:51:22,000 information on to other committee 1217 00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:24,340 members on Sunday November the 19th 1218 00:51:29,310 --> 00:51:27,010 through deans actions the skeptical 1219 00:51:30,870 --> 00:51:29,320 community leptin to action at the 1220 00:51:33,050 --> 00:51:30,880 prospect of a government website 1221 00:51:35,490 --> 00:51:33,060 supporting the anti-vaccination movement 1222 00:51:37,590 --> 00:51:35,500 following the alert only a day before 1223 00:51:39,990 --> 00:51:37,600 the meeting was due to take place other 1224 00:51:41,970 --> 00:51:40,000 skeptics such as the skeptical poet and 1225 00:51:44,010 --> 00:51:41,980 anti-vaxxer Shelley stockin and 1226 00:51:46,800 --> 00:51:44,020 Australian skeptics Inc committee 1227 00:51:47,660 --> 00:51:46,810 members Joe Ben amou and dr. Brad Makai 1228 00:51:49,640 --> 00:51:47,670 a pro 1229 00:51:52,579 --> 00:51:49,650 the council to have the listing removed 1230 00:51:55,069 --> 00:51:52,589 and to alert the movement generally that 1231 00:51:58,400 --> 00:51:55,079 this was taking place Benham who said 1232 00:52:00,349 --> 00:51:58,410 she was told that being a weekend there 1233 00:52:02,180 --> 00:52:00,359 was no council representative of 1234 00:52:04,160 --> 00:52:02,190 sufficient authority to have the listing 1235 00:52:06,380 --> 00:52:04,170 removed but the skeptical movement 1236 00:52:08,030 --> 00:52:06,390 wasn't closed for the weekend in fact 1237 00:52:09,859 --> 00:52:08,040 there was a large gathering a skeptics 1238 00:52:12,170 --> 00:52:09,869 just down the road from the Sydney Town 1239 00:52:14,230 --> 00:52:12,180 Hall at the 2017 Australian skeptics 1240 00:52:16,700 --> 00:52:14,240 National Convention skeptic on a 1241 00:52:18,829 --> 00:52:16,710 firestorm of tweets and calls from 1242 00:52:20,720 --> 00:52:18,839 convention attendees and the broader 1243 00:52:23,359 --> 00:52:20,730 community caught the attention of the 1244 00:52:25,880 --> 00:52:23,369 media and the Sydney Lord Mayor clover 1245 00:52:28,579 --> 00:52:25,890 more more said that quote this is 1246 00:52:30,980 --> 00:52:28,589 entirely contrary to our values we 1247 00:52:32,990 --> 00:52:30,990 support evidence-based policies in the 1248 00:52:35,690 --> 00:52:33,000 interest of our cities communities end 1249 00:52:37,220 --> 00:52:35,700 quote other noted politicians joined in 1250 00:52:40,130 --> 00:52:37,230 the criticism including Sydney 1251 00:52:42,380 --> 00:52:40,140 councillor Kristine Foster and local 1252 00:52:45,760 --> 00:52:42,390 Sydney MP and federal labor deputy 1253 00:52:49,579 --> 00:52:45,770 leader Tanya Plibersek who tweeted quote 1254 00:52:52,069 --> 00:52:49,589 who approved of this idiocy end quote 1255 00:52:54,559 --> 00:52:52,079 more our staff to remove the 1256 00:52:57,620 --> 00:52:54,569 advertisement immediately however 1257 00:52:59,510 --> 00:52:57,630 questions have been raised as to how the 1258 00:53:01,609 --> 00:52:59,520 listing was approved in the first place 1259 00:53:03,829 --> 00:53:01,619 as it might not only have been quote 1260 00:53:06,620 --> 00:53:03,839 against the council's values and could 1261 00:53:08,930 --> 00:53:06,630 it also contravened the site's rules in 1262 00:53:10,730 --> 00:53:08,940 that there were no details given for 1263 00:53:12,470 --> 00:53:10,740 where and when the lecture would take 1264 00:53:14,900 --> 00:53:12,480 place some of the requirements for 1265 00:53:17,599 --> 00:53:14,910 listing now that the event must occur at 1266 00:53:19,940 --> 00:53:17,609 a venue or location within a 7.5 1267 00:53:22,490 --> 00:53:19,950 kilometre radius of the Sydney Town Hall 1268 00:53:24,710 --> 00:53:22,500 and that quote events with dates or 1269 00:53:27,799 --> 00:53:24,720 locations yet to be announced cannot be 1270 00:53:29,750 --> 00:53:27,809 listed in quote the promotion of the Wai 1271 00:53:32,900 --> 00:53:29,760 Lehman lecture clearly breached those 1272 00:53:34,579 --> 00:53:32,910 requirements many media outlets gave 1273 00:53:37,130 --> 00:53:34,589 themselves credit for bringing the issue 1274 00:53:39,589 --> 00:53:37,140 to a head but more tweeted that among 1275 00:53:42,049 --> 00:53:39,599 the many messages she received the first 1276 00:53:44,720 --> 00:53:42,059 were from skeptics it was certainly a 1277 00:53:46,010 --> 00:53:44,730 united skeptical community which set the 1278 00:53:49,730 --> 00:53:46,020 ball rolling and kept the momentum 1279 00:53:50,930 --> 00:53:49,740 moving until action was taken but the 1280 00:53:53,390 --> 00:53:50,940 removal of the promotion on the 1281 00:53:55,609 --> 00:53:53,400 council's website is just a small start 1282 00:53:58,400 --> 00:53:55,619 there was still the lecture itself to 1283 00:53:59,870 --> 00:53:58,410 contend with investigations are required 1284 00:54:02,289 --> 00:53:59,880 to see if 1285 00:54:05,240 --> 00:54:02,299 is being held on council property 1286 00:54:07,190 --> 00:54:05,250 something the notice did not say the 1287 00:54:09,349 --> 00:54:07,200 action by the skeptical community raised 1288 00:54:11,480 --> 00:54:09,359 one issue among many in the fight 1289 00:54:13,549 --> 00:54:11,490 against anti vaccination but it 1290 00:54:17,299 --> 00:54:13,559 indicates what can be done quickly and 1291 00:54:20,790 --> 00:54:17,309 effectively by a united front and should 1292 00:54:22,740 --> 00:54:20,800 be a rally for future action 1293 00:54:24,900 --> 00:54:22,750 and that story comes to us from the 1294 00:54:28,530 --> 00:54:24,910 website of Australian skeptics skeptics 1295 00:54:55,280 --> 00:54:28,540 calm got a you links in the show notes 1296 00:54:59,310 --> 00:54:57,780 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1297 00:55:01,830 --> 00:54:59,320 zone now here's a little note from our 1298 00:55:03,870 --> 00:55:01,840 friends down in Melbourne Victoria way 1299 00:55:06,060 --> 00:55:03,880 and the Morty Alex skeptics skeptics in 1300 00:55:09,810 --> 00:55:06,070 the pub they're having a meeting on 1301 00:55:12,600 --> 00:55:09,820 Tuesday December the 5th at 7:30 p.m. at 1302 00:55:14,640 --> 00:55:12,610 the Maury Alec sporting club which is in 1303 00:55:16,860 --> 00:55:14,650 Main Street more alex south of Melbourne 1304 00:55:19,460 --> 00:55:16,870 an update on advertising and 1305 00:55:21,750 --> 00:55:19,470 complementary medicine regulatory reform 1306 00:55:24,360 --> 00:55:21,760 always a topic of great interest to 1307 00:55:26,610 --> 00:55:24,370 skeptics and that's going to be given by 1308 00:55:28,920 --> 00:55:26,620 associate professor Ken Harvey one of 1309 00:55:32,280 --> 00:55:28,930 the champions of The Skeptical movement 1310 00:55:33,960 --> 00:55:32,290 if you want to go along to that it's the 1311 00:55:36,360 --> 00:55:33,970 details are on meetup or I'll just link 1312 00:55:38,160 --> 00:55:36,370 to that in the show notes coming up on 1313 00:55:39,930 --> 00:55:38,170 the next skeptic zone episode we're 1314 00:55:41,780 --> 00:55:39,940 going to have more interviews from the 1315 00:55:44,850 --> 00:55:41,790 Australian skeptics National Convention 1316 00:55:46,470 --> 00:55:44,860 maenad was very busy very busy he's 1317 00:55:48,990 --> 00:55:46,480 always very busy at these events my 1318 00:55:51,500 --> 00:55:49,000 goodness Mays just he was wearing a gold 1319 00:55:55,620 --> 00:55:51,510 suit friends this time around during the 1320 00:55:57,060 --> 00:55:55,630 be our annual dinner a gold suit so he 1321 00:55:58,860 --> 00:55:57,070 was like a gold flash running around 1322 00:56:01,530 --> 00:55:58,870 with his microphone he was very busy 1323 00:56:03,960 --> 00:56:01,540 lots of those interviews coming up over 1324 00:56:06,870 --> 00:56:03,970 the next few weeks and here's something 1325 00:56:08,880 --> 00:56:06,880 a little bit out of left field a bit 1326 00:56:12,930 --> 00:56:08,890 unexpected but it sort of ties in with 1327 00:56:14,700 --> 00:56:12,940 the the spirit of skepticism and science 1328 00:56:16,830 --> 00:56:14,710 and geeky nerdy nurse and everything 1329 00:56:18,990 --> 00:56:16,840 like that for some years now I have been 1330 00:56:22,440 --> 00:56:19,000 enjoying the web series Star Trek 1331 00:56:24,060 --> 00:56:22,450 continues which is the continuation of 1332 00:56:26,700 --> 00:56:24,070 the original Star Trek with modern 1333 00:56:29,130 --> 00:56:26,710 actors but it's all fan based and it's 1334 00:56:31,200 --> 00:56:29,140 very good I've enjoyed every episode and 1335 00:56:33,150 --> 00:56:31,210 they wrapped up the series recently with 1336 00:56:35,070 --> 00:56:33,160 a two-parter which was just thrilling 1337 00:56:36,510 --> 00:56:35,080 and exciting and in the true spirit of 1338 00:56:39,540 --> 00:56:36,520 the original Star Trek so if you're not 1339 00:56:42,450 --> 00:56:39,550 familiar with Star Trek continues it's 1340 00:56:45,330 --> 00:56:42,460 all on YouTube and if you like Star Trek 1341 00:56:48,090 --> 00:56:45,340 go for it I sincerely enjoyed it then 1342 00:56:49,890 --> 00:56:48,100 the last two episodes were we're very 1343 00:56:52,560 --> 00:56:49,900 good and it tied up the whole thing very 1344 00:56:54,990 --> 00:56:52,570 nicely thank you to those people who 1345 00:56:56,610 --> 00:56:55,000 continue talking about continuing who 1346 00:56:59,430 --> 00:56:56,620 continued to support the skeptics owned 1347 00:57:01,290 --> 00:56:59,440 by PayPal of patreon much appreciated 1348 00:57:06,370 --> 00:57:01,300 and your contributions mean that the 1349 00:57:09,400 --> 00:57:06,380 show continues in fact but for this week 1350 00:57:11,740 --> 00:57:09,410 barring any Easter eggs hmm this is 1351 00:57:18,070 --> 00:57:11,750 Richard Saunders signing off from Sydney 1352 00:57:20,770 --> 00:57:18,080 Australia you've been listening to the 1353 00:57:25,360 --> 00:57:20,780 skeptic zone podcast please visit our 1354 00:57:28,660 --> 00:57:25,370 website at WWDC be for show notes 1355 00:57:32,710 --> 00:57:28,670 contacts and to access the bat catalog 1356 00:57:34,570 --> 00:57:32,720 of episodes going back to 2008 you can 1357 00:57:37,630 --> 00:57:34,580 follow the skeptic zone podcast on 1358 00:57:39,910 --> 00:57:37,640 twitter at skeptic zone visit our 1359 00:57:40,800 --> 00:57:39,920 facebook page or leave a review on 1360 00:57:43,480 --> 00:57:40,810 itunes 1361 00:57:47,380 --> 00:57:43,490 you can also support the skeptic zone 1362 00:57:49,960 --> 00:57:47,390 via patreon or PayPal you can be part of 1363 00:57:54,370 --> 00:57:49,970 the show by downloading the voice byte 1364 00:57:57,730 --> 00:57:54,380 app at Voice bite comm and using the 1365 00:58:00,450 --> 00:57:57,740 hashtag skeptic zone the skeptic zone 1366 00:58:02,830 --> 00:58:00,460 podcast is an independent production 1367 00:58:04,990 --> 00:58:02,840 reviews and opinions expressed on the 1368 00:58:07,300 --> 00:58:05,000 skeptic zone and not necessarily those 1369 00:58:09,140 --> 00:58:07,310 of Australian skeptics or any other 1370 00:58:18,500 --> 00:58:09,150 sceptical organisation 1371 00:58:23,910 --> 00:58:22,079 never been here defender it's got to the 1372 00:58:25,200 --> 00:58:23,920 stage folks where the spoons have come 1373 00:58:32,970 --> 00:58:25,210 out we're gonna be doing spoon bending 1374 00:58:35,430 --> 00:58:32,980 lessons but before then spoon on the 1375 00:58:38,670 --> 00:58:35,440 beer you can't get much more Australian 1376 00:58:49,710 --> 00:58:38,680 than skeptics in the pub bending spoons 1377 00:58:55,109 --> 00:58:49,720 much sad record that waster that was a