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okay Google Play skeptoid by Brian

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Dunning I'm sorry I don't seem to have

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anything called skip told by my numbing

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okay Google Play the skeptics guide to

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the universe okay here's the latest

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episode of the skeptics guide to the

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universe

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the skeptics guide number 655 January

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27th 2018 you're listening to the

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skeptics guide to the universe hmm

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okay google play the skeptic zone okay

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playing the do writes J zone + Pablo

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Martin on YouTube okay google play the

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skeptic zone okay

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playing the skeptic zone on YouTube

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[Music]

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welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast

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from Australia for science and reason

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[Music]

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[Applause]

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[Music]

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yes it's the skeptic zone podcast with a

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little help from Google I think show

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number 484 for the 28th of January 2018

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Richardson is here with you from Sydney

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Australia muggy humid moist warm wet

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muggy muggy Sydney Australia I was at a

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social gathering yesterday with some of

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my colleagues from the TV and film

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business and we're all walking around

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you know how it is when it's really hot

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you grab the front of your shirt and you

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solder it back and forward it was crazy

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it's crazy muggy in Sydney Australia but

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never mind be glad you're where you are

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unless you're in Sydney at the moment

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enough of them weather report coming up

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on this week's show we're gonna start

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with a report just in the newspapers

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today about anti vaccination nurses

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being called to account now over the

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last year or so many anti vaccination

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nurses have come to the attention of

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skeptics and the story in today's paper

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is about one of them who is taking her

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own action to prevent further

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investigation or disciplinary action

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against her a very interesting story and

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one very important to skeptics and

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that's to kick off this week's episode

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of the skeptic zone following that I

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catch up on an old friend of mine dr.

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Angie matki who is a an emergency

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physician she's the she's one of the

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women who looks after patients when

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they're brought in from the ambulances

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or whatever straight into the ER she's

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just a sort of person you really want to

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have on your side her amazing skill and

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training and the good news is that she's

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been appointed to be part of the Skip

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track DragonCon the amazing incredible

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indescribable science fiction and

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fantasy convention in Atlanta Georgia

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every year so Angie's going to be on the

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line she's going to tell us all about

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that what to expect what

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like the benefits of having something

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like a skeptical outreach at a fantasy

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and science fiction convention and also

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she'll discuss some of the superstitions

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regarding what she does much like we had

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a couple of weeks ago with our friend

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Trish Han in the emergency departments

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and hospitals

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what strange beliefs and superstition as

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ng dr. Angela Maki encountered then to

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round off the show another tribute to

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the late Barry Williams some of the

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Australian skeptics committee and some

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family and some friends over the years

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gathered for the funeral of Barry

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Williams just a few days ago we heard

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stories from his days in the Royal

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Australian Air Force and other family

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stories and our very own Tim Mendham

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gave a very touching review of Barry's

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life now when it came to his skeptical

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work and prompted by the sad passing of

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Barry Williams I raided the archives

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down at the State Library here in Sydney

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went through lots of microfilm and I

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found various newspaper clippings that

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feature Barry and discovered he was once

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on the front page of The Sydney Morning

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Herald but I will read out a bit later

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on in the show an article dating way

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back to 1987 entitled it's fun to shoot

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down UFOs and con men in profile Barry

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Williams I think you'll enjoy that but

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before we really get under way with this

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week's show I thought I'd bring you up

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to date with the story that we recently

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ran about the skeptical community

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gathering or mustering its forces to

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support Brit hermès who you will

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remember is being sued by a naturopath

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in the United States or the naturopath

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seen in the United States Brits an

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American which he's now living in

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Germany in the beautiful city of Kiel

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City I know it's lovely up there right

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up in the north bit of Germany and

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recently under the leadership of Iran's

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to give the president of Australian

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skeptics an international there's been

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an international

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response I guess you'd say their call to

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arms to help brick fight this case via

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donations to illegal fighting fund and

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as reported at skeptics comdata you with

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an update on the 22nd of January we are

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very excited to announce that our

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campaign to support skeptical campaigner

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Brett Hermes has achieved its initial

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goal as of 11:30 p.m. Australian Eastern

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Daylight Time or 12:30 p.m. Greenwich

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Mean Time the fundraising campaign

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organized by Australian skeptics Inc ASI

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has raised more than 80,000 dollars

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Australian or about 50,000 euros in more

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than 2000 donations from around the

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world in less than nine days the

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campaign goal of at least $80,000 is the

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amount brits lawyer has advised would

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likely be required but the fundraising

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doesn't stop considering the

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unpredictable nature of legal costs the

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final amount required may vary we need

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to raise enough to ensure that Brit is

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not out of pocket and definitely not

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silenced by the defamation action so

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there you are folks more information at

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skeptics comdata you but all those

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people listening who supported this

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campaign by donations Wow a big thank

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you and it really does show dramatically

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that the worldwide skeptical movement

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can make a difference and come and can

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come to support of skeptics who really

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need it well done great news and again

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we'll keep you updated but now it's time

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for me to run downstairs and have a cup

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of lemon tea with ginger because I think

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I'm just starting to get the very very

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beginning of a skeptical cold or

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something I'm not sure I hope not

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there's nothing worse than having a cold

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and steamy hot muggy weather hmm hmm I

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better run downstairs and do that well I

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do that I hope you enjoy the skeptic

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zone

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here's the story brought to my attention

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by Heidi Robinson the raw skeptic and

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this is reported in the Daily Telegraph

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newspaper and also I noticed in The

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Courier Mail the story by Vander Carson

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18 nurses face a disciplinary action

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after aunt Eve accents on Facebook 18

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nurses are facing possible disciplinary

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action for allegedly posting

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anti-vaccination comments on Facebook

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after a probe vaccination campaigner

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reported them to the health watchdog

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details of the investigation into the

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nurses actions were revealed in the

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Supreme Court in Brisbane as part of a

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legal bid by a Sunshine Coast nurse and

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Midwife to block disciplinary action

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over accusations she acted

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unprofessionally by posting anti

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vaccination comments on facebook the

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group of nurses who were reported to the

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Australian health practitioners

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regulatory agency AHPRA

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in May 2016 faced restrictions on their

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nursing registration if they are found

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to have engaged in quote unsatisfactory

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in quote professional conduct the nurses

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have been told by the healthcare

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watchdog that they can be investigated

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for their actions beyond the care of

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patients sunshine Beach nurse aide

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Elizabeth Jane Craig has been told by

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the AHPRA that she is facing a possible

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caution and could be forced to study

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quote evidence-based practice end quote

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after she posted quote numerous anti

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vaccination statements and quote online

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quote including a post in which you

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state that the vaccines are Satan's

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latest plan to Tate and change human DNA

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end quote

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you know letter to miss Craig on

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December the fifth last year AHPRA told

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her that the nursing in mid with

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three bored of Australia believed her

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quote conduct is or may be

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unsatisfactory unquote quote you promote

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the use of religious belief to gain an

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exemption from vaccination by way of a

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comment on the post and quote AHPRA

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states in its letter quote your facebook

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profile as at 21st of May 2016

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identifies that you have completed

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Nursing and Midwifery qualifications and

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in a comment on a post on the 24th of

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March 2014 you advise you work for

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Queensland Health it is considered

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likely that you would have been required

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to provide advice and/or administer

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vaccines as part of your role as a nurse

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or Midwife in quote the letter states

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AHPRA said her actions showed an quote

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apparent lack of insight end quote and a

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possible breach of the code of conduct

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and the social media policy miss Craig

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was told she had until January 8 to

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respond to the complaint but instead has

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gone to the Supreme Court in Brisbane

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seeking judicial review her case is due

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in court tomorrow

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that being the 29th of January she told

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the court that quote there is no

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evidence to support that a reasonable

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person would identify me as providing a

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health service or giving clinical advice

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I deny I have ever promoted an anti

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vaccination stance and quote she told

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the court she claims that the

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whistleblower who reported her has quote

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misrepresented and quote her Facebook

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posts as quote professional conduct

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unquote when they were quote under my

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personal name end quote

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ms Craig claims that if a condition were

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placed on her registration it would have

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quote long-term professional personal

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and employment consequences end quote

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the anonymous complaint filed in court

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state said ms Craig quote is a long-term

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a member of the rabidly anti-vaccination

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secret Facebook group vaccine choice

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Australia unquote and advised the

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anti-vaxxer mother of a 1we

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old baby in February 2016 that her

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breast milk quote provides immunity and

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quote the complaint it also states that

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Craig shed anti vaccination posts and

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quote promoted end quote a quote

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discredited anti vaccination activist in

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quote and asked another Facebook user

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not to post the name of an anti

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vaccination midwife working at Royal

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Brisbane and Women's Hospital it is not

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the first time this Craig has been

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reported to nursing regulators in August

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2014 she was cautioned after her

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comments on Facebook giving advice to

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other anti-vaxxers to avoid mandatory

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workplace jabs for hepatitis B by

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claiming quote religious and quote

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objection were found to be quote

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unsatisfactory in quote quote documents

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state that in October 2016 the Nursing

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and Midwifery Board of Australia told

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its members it had become aware that a

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quote small number and quote of nurses

279
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and midwives were quote promoting anti

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vaccination statements to patients and

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the public via social media which

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contradict the best available scientific

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evidence end quote

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the board told members that the AHPRA

285
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has the power to quote prosecutor and

286
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quota nurses the distribute false or

287
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misleading anti vaccination material and

288
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that story has been published in various

289
00:14:03,290 --> 00:13:59,310
newspapers including the Courier Mail

290
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and we will keep you up-to-date as this

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story develops

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[Music]

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hi this is dr. Pamela gay from astronomy

294
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cast each week Fraser Cain and I take

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00:14:30,850 --> 00:14:28,639
our listeners on a fact-based journey

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through the cosmos with our weekly

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podcast we explain not just what we know

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but how we know what we know about this

299
00:14:41,710 --> 00:14:39,259
universe that we share check us out at

300
00:14:44,109 --> 00:14:41,720
astronomy cast calm and look for us in

301
00:15:20,979 --> 00:14:44,119
itunes google play and where ever you

302
00:15:22,659 --> 00:15:20,989
download podcasts see online and joining

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me now all the way from beautiful

304
00:15:29,049 --> 00:15:24,980
Atlanta Georgia an old friend of mine

305
00:15:30,970 --> 00:15:29,059
dr. Angie McGee hello dr. Angie hey good

306
00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:30,980
morning Richard or afternoon or whatever

307
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it is there it's gonna talk to you it's

308
00:15:37,900 --> 00:15:36,259
strangely enough it's morning it's and I

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think it's afternoon where you are

310
00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:41,209
it is submit' afternoon here that's

311
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wonderful I thought I'd give you a call

312
00:15:49,869 --> 00:15:46,819
contact you because I saw just recently

313
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and you are putting this about that you

314
00:15:56,470 --> 00:15:53,839
are now quite involved in the wonderful

315
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Dragon Con in Atlanta Georgia which is

316
00:16:01,030 --> 00:15:57,980
on the Labor Day long weekend in the

317
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United States involved with Derek Colin

318
00:16:07,059 --> 00:16:03,619
dunno to run the Skip track and what can

319
00:16:08,829 --> 00:16:07,069
you tell us about that well Derek has

320
00:16:11,109 --> 00:16:08,839
done such a great job at this kept track

321
00:16:15,789 --> 00:16:11,119
and has brought so many new people into

322
00:16:20,079 --> 00:16:15,799
the skepticism including me actually but

323
00:16:21,910 --> 00:16:20,089
it's it's a big job and he needed some

324
00:16:25,030 --> 00:16:21,920
help and so

325
00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:25,040
I am now the assistant director for the

326
00:16:30,069 --> 00:16:28,610
track and we are very excited about this

327
00:16:32,620 --> 00:16:30,079
year I can't wait we're trying to get

328
00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:32,630
you to come Jamie and Swiss has already

329
00:16:39,269 --> 00:16:35,930
confirmed and we're we're still working

330
00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:39,279
on getting folks into the into the

331
00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:41,810
roster so that we can have the best

332
00:16:46,389 --> 00:16:44,690
Dragon Con skip track ever now for those

333
00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:46,399
of you who haven't been to Dragon Con

334
00:16:57,970 --> 00:16:54,010
and I have not been myself since Oh 2010

335
00:17:00,430 --> 00:16:57,980
and of course Dragon Con in 2008 was the

336
00:17:02,829 --> 00:17:00,440
very first time the skeptic zone was

337
00:17:05,079 --> 00:17:02,839
recorded well what can you tell people

338
00:17:12,069 --> 00:17:05,089
what's it like Dragon Con in general and

339
00:17:15,309 --> 00:17:12,079
the skeptic track in particular Dragon

340
00:17:17,919 --> 00:17:15,319
Con itself is probably the biggest

341
00:17:21,159 --> 00:17:17,929
spectacle that I've ever seen and

342
00:17:23,919 --> 00:17:21,169
believe me I've seen some but and and it

343
00:17:26,740 --> 00:17:23,929
seems sort of like that with the skip

344
00:17:28,750 --> 00:17:26,750
track the science track and those seem

345
00:17:32,740 --> 00:17:28,760
to sort of be the calm in the middle of

346
00:17:35,470 --> 00:17:32,750
a storm but there is so there are so

347
00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:35,480
many opportunities to indulge your your

348
00:17:41,620 --> 00:17:39,110
love for any particular fandom BBC

349
00:17:44,289 --> 00:17:41,630
fandom you've got the Doctor Who the

350
00:17:49,570 --> 00:17:44,299
Star Trek Star Wars Battlestar Galactica

351
00:17:51,220 --> 00:17:49,580
gamers pasta rumours video game I mean

352
00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:51,230
like just everything you can think of

353
00:17:58,810 --> 00:17:55,490
this is the world's repository of pop

354
00:18:00,549 --> 00:17:58,820
culture science fiction fantasy and a

355
00:18:04,450 --> 00:18:00,559
good bit of rock and roll thrown in

356
00:18:07,390 --> 00:18:04,460
there for good measure that's not a bad

357
00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:07,400
description what caught my attention the

358
00:18:17,169 --> 00:18:09,530
times I went all those years ago was the

359
00:18:19,930 --> 00:18:17,179
sheer volume of geeks dressed up it

360
00:18:22,330 --> 00:18:19,940
really is and it's one of the things I

361
00:18:24,580 --> 00:18:22,340
really love about Dragon Con I think

362
00:18:28,930 --> 00:18:24,590
that there is a lack of passion anymore

363
00:18:32,890 --> 00:18:28,940
people who have passion for things for

364
00:18:35,710 --> 00:18:32,900
these whole universes of fandom they

365
00:18:36,970 --> 00:18:35,720
don't really have a whole lot of

366
00:18:39,909 --> 00:18:36,980
places that they can share their

367
00:18:42,010 --> 00:18:39,919
passions with others and DragonCon is

368
00:18:46,060 --> 00:18:42,020
one of the few that that you can really

369
00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:46,070
indulge your passion and I I kind of

370
00:18:54,250 --> 00:18:50,090
don't cost them because I they are so

371
00:18:57,520 --> 00:18:54,260
far out of my league so I just go and

372
00:18:59,470 --> 00:18:57,530
when I go I really enjoy seeing the the

373
00:19:01,720 --> 00:18:59,480
passion that people have applied to

374
00:19:03,460 --> 00:19:01,730
their costumes and and they bring more

375
00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:03,470
than one that's the other thing I find

376
00:19:07,330 --> 00:19:05,570
just amazing people will have two

377
00:19:10,180 --> 00:19:07,340
costumes a day they'll have two word

378
00:19:13,049 --> 00:19:10,190
room changes a day and they have devoted

379
00:19:16,890 --> 00:19:13,059
so much time and energy into producing

380
00:19:20,470 --> 00:19:16,900
either a very creative mashup or or a

381
00:19:22,870 --> 00:19:20,480
very high fidelity version of a

382
00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:22,880
particular costume it's really amazing

383
00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:25,970
it really is and what I loved about it

384
00:19:30,820 --> 00:19:28,850
of course the times I went what was

385
00:19:34,950 --> 00:19:30,830
taking part in the skip track was Derek

386
00:19:38,110 --> 00:19:34,960
and and lots of all friends and it was a

387
00:19:39,700 --> 00:19:38,120
fantastic opportunity because we would

388
00:19:41,350 --> 00:19:39,710
set up our sessions and I would give a

389
00:19:43,539 --> 00:19:41,360
talk or there'd be a panel or something

390
00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:43,549
like that and a lot of the audience

391
00:19:48,580 --> 00:19:45,710
would be people just drifting in or

392
00:19:50,980 --> 00:19:48,590
soared on the itinerary and came in out

393
00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:50,990
of curiosity so we got a lot of people

394
00:19:54,399 --> 00:19:52,970
who are introduced to skepticism and I

395
00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:54,409
think that's probably the case ever

396
00:20:00,279 --> 00:19:57,490
since skeptic began all those years ago

397
00:20:02,110 --> 00:20:00,289
and I thought that was a really really

398
00:20:03,279 --> 00:20:02,120
worthwhile thing I mean they were of

399
00:20:05,590 --> 00:20:03,289
course there were skeptics in the

400
00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:05,600
audience a lot some people go there too

401
00:20:09,399 --> 00:20:07,850
because they know what to expect but all

402
00:20:11,110 --> 00:20:09,409
those other strange people in their

403
00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:11,120
costumes wandering in and sitting down

404
00:20:15,159 --> 00:20:13,730
being introduced to skepticism and I

405
00:20:18,310 --> 00:20:15,169
think that's probably the first time I

406
00:20:20,380 --> 00:20:18,320
met you is probably there it was as a

407
00:20:22,539 --> 00:20:20,390
matter of fact I don't know if you were

408
00:20:23,919 --> 00:20:22,549
there I'm I don't remember seeing her

409
00:20:26,140 --> 00:20:23,929
last year but the Flying Spaghetti

410
00:20:30,010 --> 00:20:26,150
Monster often will stop by to see a

411
00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:30,020
track and take photos but and of course

412
00:20:35,649 --> 00:20:32,210
Margaret Downey arranges our section of

413
00:20:39,340 --> 00:20:35,659
the parade now we have often will have

414
00:20:41,500 --> 00:20:39,350
cars that we can drive a particularly

415
00:20:45,010 --> 00:20:41,510
Maneri I've driven James Randi twice now

416
00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:45,020
in the parade and that gets out the

417
00:20:52,510 --> 00:20:49,490
message of questioning beliefs

418
00:20:54,820 --> 00:20:52,520
out to the larger audience especially

419
00:21:01,180 --> 00:20:54,830
since now there televising the parades

420
00:21:04,270 --> 00:21:01,190
and so we're able to give kudos to

421
00:21:08,590 --> 00:21:04,280
people who have been skeptics throughout

422
00:21:12,549 --> 00:21:08,600
history and just other regular messages

423
00:21:14,260 --> 00:21:12,559
of question things so so there are so

424
00:21:17,710 --> 00:21:14,270
many opportunities for outreach there

425
00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:17,720
it's just staggering the the really nice

426
00:21:20,950 --> 00:21:19,130
thing about thus kept track and I think

427
00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:20,960
one of the things you alluded to is that

428
00:21:25,919 --> 00:21:23,090
it's really sort of in the middle of

429
00:21:28,960 --> 00:21:25,929
everything as people are walking through

430
00:21:33,190 --> 00:21:28,970
from one hotel to another it's really

431
00:21:35,350 --> 00:21:33,200
well situated and and pretty easy to get

432
00:21:38,910 --> 00:21:35,360
to from other parts of the convention

433
00:21:42,820 --> 00:21:38,920
and so I think that that is one of the

434
00:21:44,470 --> 00:21:42,830
reasons for its initial success was

435
00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:44,480
because people could just kind of wander

436
00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:46,370
in there when they saw something

437
00:21:50,799 --> 00:21:49,370
interesting on the schedule it's not

438
00:21:52,930 --> 00:21:50,809
something you had to hunt for like on

439
00:21:55,330 --> 00:21:52,940
the bowels of the Hyatt who you know was

440
00:21:58,210 --> 00:21:55,340
pretty much for the most committed of

441
00:22:00,880 --> 00:21:58,220
fans yeah it's it's it's an interesting

442
00:22:03,460 --> 00:22:00,890
thing of course because I'm saying these

443
00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:03,470
strange people sort of drift in and I

444
00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:04,970
don't mean strange in a bad way they

445
00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:08,330
just dressed bizarrely as characters

446
00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:09,890
from everything you can possibly imagine

447
00:22:15,340 --> 00:22:13,010
from Doctor Who to Star Wars to comic

448
00:22:18,130 --> 00:22:15,350
books that I'm unfamiliar with elaborate

449
00:22:19,930 --> 00:22:18,140
costumes huge costumes sometimes you

450
00:22:21,660 --> 00:22:19,940
can't even get into the elevator because

451
00:22:23,730 --> 00:22:21,670
they're full of wookies and angels and

452
00:22:26,200 --> 00:22:23,740
[Laughter]

453
00:22:28,060 --> 00:22:26,210
yes you have to be careful of the pointy

454
00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:28,070
things you do have to be careful axes

455
00:22:34,570 --> 00:22:31,850
and swords and and saying before the

456
00:22:37,810 --> 00:22:34,580
sheer volume of people over many many

457
00:22:41,740 --> 00:22:37,820
mega giant hotels it's quite a spectacle

458
00:22:45,390 --> 00:22:41,750
the the the convention has taken over

459
00:22:48,220 --> 00:22:45,400
five major hotels in downtown Atlanta

460
00:22:49,900 --> 00:22:48,230
Dragon Con has become a fixture in

461
00:22:53,500 --> 00:22:49,910
Atlanta society the mayor has given

462
00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:53,510
Dragon Con Award there are special

463
00:23:00,010 --> 00:22:57,650
banners we get our own wall in the

464
00:23:02,950 --> 00:23:00,020
Atlanta Airport as you're coming up from

465
00:23:03,370 --> 00:23:02,960
baggage to go into the baggage claim as

466
00:23:06,430 --> 00:23:03,380
you're coming

467
00:23:11,530 --> 00:23:06,440
the large escalators everyone goes past

468
00:23:14,410 --> 00:23:11,540
this whole billboard which is in the

469
00:23:16,540 --> 00:23:14,420
world's biggest busiest airport and it's

470
00:23:19,860 --> 00:23:16,550
all about Dragon Con it welcomes Dragon

471
00:23:23,140 --> 00:23:19,870
Con to Atlanta I'm not I'm not surprised

472
00:23:26,230 --> 00:23:23,150
the income for the the city of Atlanta

473
00:23:28,510 --> 00:23:26,240
must be extraordinary now I I hope I can

474
00:23:31,690 --> 00:23:28,520
make it no promises at this early stage

475
00:23:33,340 --> 00:23:31,700
I miss it every year it comes around and

476
00:23:35,620 --> 00:23:33,350
I just wish I could be there folks if

477
00:23:37,750 --> 00:23:35,630
you want to have a flavor of what it's

478
00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:37,760
like and if you haven't been there I

479
00:23:41,710 --> 00:23:39,650
think YouTube's the best just go to

480
00:23:45,510 --> 00:23:41,720
youtube and look up Dragon Con and

481
00:23:53,140 --> 00:23:45,520
you'll get a taste of the nonstop

482
00:23:56,310 --> 00:23:53,150
bizarreness of this one it doesn't even

483
00:23:58,720 --> 00:23:56,320
hold a candle to actually being there

484
00:24:00,520 --> 00:23:58,730
seeing things in person you can examine

485
00:24:02,950 --> 00:24:00,530
the details on the costumes just to

486
00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:02,960
stand at the time for the Marriott and

487
00:24:08,410 --> 00:24:06,770
look down at this sea of people I'll

488
00:24:09,880 --> 00:24:08,420
never forget this one time we were

489
00:24:12,940 --> 00:24:09,890
standing up at the top and looking down

490
00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:12,950
and there were these two huge walking

491
00:24:19,450 --> 00:24:17,330
dinosaur bones skeletons it was sort of

492
00:24:23,590 --> 00:24:19,460
a it was an articulated dinosaur

493
00:24:26,170 --> 00:24:23,600
skeleton and it was easily 20 feet long

494
00:24:28,090 --> 00:24:26,180
it was enormous yes that's absolutely

495
00:24:31,150 --> 00:24:28,100
typical of the sort of things you'll see

496
00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:31,160
a dragon cutting and again it's it's

497
00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:33,410
full of very passionate people who love

498
00:24:37,270 --> 00:24:35,510
science fiction and fantasy and that

499
00:24:40,150 --> 00:24:37,280
sort of ties in so well because there's

500
00:24:42,370 --> 00:24:40,160
also other tracks there like the science

501
00:24:44,860 --> 00:24:42,380
track for example where it's just

502
00:24:46,630 --> 00:24:44,870
dedicated to scientific research and all

503
00:24:48,550 --> 00:24:46,640
that sort of stuff and the other track

504
00:24:50,620 --> 00:24:48,560
which is close to my heart which I took

505
00:24:53,230 --> 00:24:50,630
part in when I was there was the Silk

506
00:24:55,630 --> 00:24:53,240
Road which is sort of I think Asian

507
00:24:58,510 --> 00:24:55,640
culture which I was able to demonstrate

508
00:25:00,610 --> 00:24:58,520
origami there and give lessons and take

509
00:25:03,580 --> 00:25:00,620
part in that so yes a lot of reasons for

510
00:25:05,230 --> 00:25:03,590
me to try and get back ng I think agreed

511
00:25:07,810 --> 00:25:05,240
please please please try to come back

512
00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:07,820
Richard we miss you thank you now

513
00:25:11,890 --> 00:25:09,770
something else I'll ask you about

514
00:25:13,390 --> 00:25:11,900
because a couple of weeks on the skeptic

515
00:25:15,790 --> 00:25:13,400
zone listeners will remember we spoke to

516
00:25:17,110 --> 00:25:15,800
trish han who works at the Royal Prince

517
00:25:18,940 --> 00:25:17,120
Alfred hospital here in

518
00:25:21,970 --> 00:25:18,950
and she was talking about some of the

519
00:25:24,190 --> 00:25:21,980
odd superstitions and practices she's

520
00:25:26,380 --> 00:25:24,200
seen in the emergency department when

521
00:25:28,510 --> 00:25:26,390
people come in they may refuse to take

522
00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:28,520
off a crucifix for an x-ray for example

523
00:25:33,490 --> 00:25:31,210
because they have superstitious beliefs

524
00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:33,500
compel them to hang on to it and you can

525
00:25:37,450 --> 00:25:35,930
sort of understand that in a way you

526
00:25:39,910 --> 00:25:37,460
must have come across some interesting

527
00:25:43,570 --> 00:25:39,920
cases in your line which is very similar

528
00:25:46,090 --> 00:25:43,580
but I I wonder have you seen that sort

529
00:25:47,710 --> 00:25:46,100
of thing or is it more than you come

530
00:25:49,210 --> 00:25:47,720
across people who maybe indulge in

531
00:25:52,090 --> 00:25:49,220
alternative medicine which could be a

532
00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:52,100
problem well I do see the alternative

533
00:25:58,270 --> 00:25:55,490
medicine thing affair about and I do

534
00:26:01,930 --> 00:25:58,280
have to choose my word carefully because

535
00:26:04,630 --> 00:26:01,940
I do not wish to offend my patients I

536
00:26:06,430 --> 00:26:04,640
also don't wish them to be taken

537
00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:06,440
advantage of by charlatans who were

538
00:26:13,540 --> 00:26:09,530
trying to sell them nonsense so I try

539
00:26:16,810 --> 00:26:13,550
very hard to be judicious in that the

540
00:26:18,310 --> 00:26:16,820
things that I address now I have to give

541
00:26:20,440 --> 00:26:18,320
you credit and I think I've told this

542
00:26:22,900 --> 00:26:20,450
story before I had a patient who was

543
00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:22,910
wearing a power band bracelet and I

544
00:26:26,590 --> 00:26:24,050
believe he was having an allergic

545
00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:26,600
reaction to the bracelet Wow and he

546
00:26:31,919 --> 00:26:28,610
explained about the demon that the

547
00:26:37,380 --> 00:26:31,929
demonstration he had seen and I showed

548
00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:37,390
him using my stethoscope as the talisman

549
00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:40,730
about how he had been deceived and he

550
00:26:44,919 --> 00:26:42,290
toured the bracelet off and threw it

551
00:26:46,540 --> 00:26:44,929
away and so I have to thank you for that

552
00:26:51,490 --> 00:26:46,550
because I think you may have helped

553
00:26:56,950 --> 00:26:51,500
clear up his skin condition but so I

554
00:26:58,720 --> 00:26:56,960
that I has been one direct way I could

555
00:27:03,850 --> 00:26:58,730
demonstrate that this is actually not a

556
00:27:06,580 --> 00:27:03,860
helpful thing the superstitions that I

557
00:27:09,810 --> 00:27:06,590
bump into I hear from from staff a lot

558
00:27:14,410 --> 00:27:09,820
about the full-moon being a soup being a

559
00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:14,420
poor harbinger of bad night even though

560
00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:16,010
I've tried to explain it doesn't really

561
00:27:20,860 --> 00:27:18,770
seem to when you when you when you do a

562
00:27:22,810 --> 00:27:20,870
double-blind study and then I go try to

563
00:27:24,669 --> 00:27:22,820
explain about cognitive bias and they

564
00:27:29,050 --> 00:27:24,679
just aren't interested because that's

565
00:27:30,450 --> 00:27:29,060
what they always learned yeah so so I

566
00:27:32,970 --> 00:27:30,460
hear that one a lot

567
00:27:34,830 --> 00:27:32,980
and I've heard about people being called

568
00:27:39,060 --> 00:27:34,840
black clouds that whenever they're on

569
00:27:41,129 --> 00:27:39,070
shift bad things seem to happen and you

570
00:27:45,210 --> 00:27:41,139
know I can't say that there aren't

571
00:27:47,070 --> 00:27:45,220
people who don't create drama but I

572
00:27:48,899 --> 00:27:47,080
can't say that it's that there's a

573
00:27:53,159 --> 00:27:48,909
superstitious element to it in those

574
00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:53,169
cases but but I don't really bump up

575
00:27:57,359 --> 00:27:55,090
against a whole lot of the superstition

576
00:27:59,609 --> 00:27:57,369
partly because as an emergency physician

577
00:28:01,350 --> 00:27:59,619
my time with him is often limited and we

578
00:28:05,879 --> 00:28:01,360
don't get to delve that deeply into

579
00:28:07,710 --> 00:28:05,889
those things but I'm not at all

580
00:28:10,950 --> 00:28:07,720
surprised if that radiologist was

581
00:28:12,960 --> 00:28:10,960
finding those patients resistant to

582
00:28:15,299 --> 00:28:12,970
taking off particular pieces of jewelry

583
00:28:17,489 --> 00:28:15,309
I have had actually now that you mention

584
00:28:19,769 --> 00:28:17,499
it I do have I did have a couple of

585
00:28:21,509 --> 00:28:19,779
patients with rings that they did not

586
00:28:23,190 --> 00:28:21,519
want removed when it was painfully

587
00:28:26,519 --> 00:28:23,200
obvious they would lose their fingers if

588
00:28:28,259 --> 00:28:26,529
we did not remove the Rings and so there

589
00:28:31,409 --> 00:28:28,269
was a little bit of resistance there but

590
00:28:33,989 --> 00:28:31,419
I was able to persuade them that it was

591
00:28:35,249 --> 00:28:33,999
the way to save their fingers so I think

592
00:28:35,940 --> 00:28:35,259
that only happened twice in my career

593
00:28:38,759 --> 00:28:35,950
though

594
00:28:40,379 --> 00:28:38,769
well III imagine yes there would be

595
00:28:42,749 --> 00:28:40,389
certain similarities I don't think in

596
00:28:44,279 --> 00:28:42,759
any Hospital tell me something now that

597
00:28:46,259 --> 00:28:44,289
I think of it and I'm thinking of what

598
00:28:49,950 --> 00:28:46,269
Trish hand was discussing with me a few

599
00:28:54,210 --> 00:28:49,960
weeks ago does the number 13 come up as

600
00:28:57,539 --> 00:28:54,220
in there are no words 13 or beds 13 in

601
00:28:59,970 --> 00:28:57,549
your hospitals hospitals where I've

602
00:29:06,029 --> 00:28:59,980
worked there pretty much always been a

603
00:29:09,180 --> 00:29:06,039
bed 13 I can't think of any where 13 has

604
00:29:10,889 --> 00:29:09,190
been a number that's been a problem well

605
00:29:12,450 --> 00:29:10,899
that's that's something good to know

606
00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:12,460
because occasionally in hospitals that

607
00:29:22,680 --> 00:29:20,820
specialty Society meetings and hotels

608
00:29:24,180 --> 00:29:22,690
and I have been in hotels where there

609
00:29:30,330 --> 00:29:24,190
was no 4:30

610
00:29:34,230 --> 00:29:30,340
oh that's Las Vegas for you yeah when we

611
00:29:36,029 --> 00:29:34,240
go to meetings si con last year and the

612
00:29:37,889 --> 00:29:36,039
amazing meeting for many years of many

613
00:29:43,919 --> 00:29:37,899
of those hotels simply don't have a

614
00:29:44,340 --> 00:29:43,929
level 13 right right well I I hope that

615
00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:44,350
the ho

616
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:45,880
tells in Atlanta Georgia at least have a

617
00:29:50,940 --> 00:29:48,010
13th level and I hope I get to stay on

618
00:29:53,100 --> 00:29:50,950
one of those 13 level later in the year

619
00:29:55,350 --> 00:29:53,110
Angie how can people find out more about

620
00:29:57,090 --> 00:29:55,360
this kept track and DragonCon dragonhide

621
00:30:00,000 --> 00:29:57,100
comm would probably be arrests best

622
00:30:01,980 --> 00:30:00,010
resource okay folks there's the word and

623
00:30:05,460 --> 00:30:01,990
i'll link to that in the show notes plus

624
00:30:09,270 --> 00:30:05,470
the link for the thus kept track again

625
00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:09,280
thanks to the ongoing efforts of Derek :

626
00:30:12,620 --> 00:30:10,690
do you know who's been tirelessly

627
00:30:15,270 --> 00:30:12,630
working for that for many years and now

628
00:30:16,590 --> 00:30:15,280
I'm so pleased that you're on board too

629
00:30:22,649 --> 00:30:16,600
Angie because I know you'll add a

630
00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:22,659
certain now shall I say style to the it

631
00:30:28,710 --> 00:30:24,490
really is a group effort though this is

632
00:30:32,970 --> 00:30:28,720
this is a labor of love for us it the

633
00:30:35,460 --> 00:30:32,980
con is run by volunteers overwhelmingly

634
00:30:37,049 --> 00:30:35,470
and they do a wonderful job people

635
00:30:41,270 --> 00:30:37,059
donate their personal time money

636
00:30:43,350 --> 00:30:41,280
resources to produce the best convention

637
00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:43,360
possible for everyone involved

638
00:30:48,990 --> 00:30:45,610
absolutely what a lot of fun it is to

639
00:30:51,120 --> 00:30:49,000
again well who knows maybe maybe I can

640
00:30:58,350 --> 00:30:51,130
come along and be skeptical there at

641
00:31:00,390 --> 00:30:58,360
DragonCon once again Angie dr. Angie

642
00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:00,400
McGee thank you very much

643
00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:02,210
thank you Richard

644
00:31:25,430 --> 00:31:22,279
oh hi Maynard

645
00:31:28,279 --> 00:31:25,440
oh hi Heidi great day in this park

646
00:31:32,239 --> 00:31:28,289
yeah if you like that sort of thing look

647
00:31:36,729 --> 00:31:32,249
over there oh yeah we there are no such

648
00:31:40,340 --> 00:31:36,739
things as URIs silly hmm might be just

649
00:31:43,609 --> 00:31:40,350
dog a big dog I think it's a King

650
00:31:47,299 --> 00:31:43,619
Charles Spaniel thing mmm no no no no

651
00:31:50,659 --> 00:31:47,309
it's a Yowie Maynard if it's a choice

652
00:31:54,080 --> 00:31:50,669
between it being a dog or a Yowie no no

653
00:31:57,109 --> 00:31:54,090
no see how ii yo ii yo ii yo ii yo ii

654
00:32:00,440 --> 00:31:57,119
argument from Authority it's Joey

655
00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:00,450
hey you two what are you arguing about

656
00:32:06,489 --> 00:32:03,090
may not thinks that dog lookin thing

657
00:32:10,820 --> 00:32:06,499
over there is a Yowie oh yeah II

658
00:32:14,119 --> 00:32:10,830
well maybe Chu Becker the wookie over

659
00:32:16,759 --> 00:32:14,129
her I see okay we better look this up in

660
00:32:19,519 --> 00:32:16,769
the skeptics dictionary online though

661
00:32:22,039 --> 00:32:19,529
Wow the skeptics dictionary online

662
00:32:24,619 --> 00:32:22,049
features definitions arguments and

663
00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:24,629
essays on hundreds of strange beliefs

664
00:32:28,159 --> 00:32:27,090
amusing descriptions and dangerous

665
00:32:30,769 --> 00:32:28,169
delusions

666
00:32:33,589 --> 00:32:30,779
it also features dozens of entries on

667
00:32:37,029 --> 00:32:33,599
logical fallacies cognitive biases

668
00:32:48,310 --> 00:32:37,039
perception science and philosophy

669
00:32:52,609 --> 00:32:48,320
it's w WS k EP di c common right ha d

670
00:32:55,789 --> 00:32:52,619
prepared to be amazed okay

671
00:33:00,259 --> 00:32:55,799
yaoi ah here it is send a Bigfoot it

672
00:33:02,089 --> 00:33:00,269
says most scientists discount the

673
00:33:04,759 --> 00:33:02,099
evidence of Bigfoot because the evidence

674
00:33:08,149 --> 00:33:04,769
supporting belief in the survival of a

675
00:33:11,810 --> 00:33:08,159
prehistoric biped ape-like creature of

676
00:33:15,200 --> 00:33:11,820
such dimensions is scant you know maybe

677
00:33:23,330 --> 00:33:15,210
that is just a hand oh okay that it's

678
00:33:23,340 --> 00:33:36,240
thank you skeptics dictionary online

679
00:33:47,930 --> 00:33:45,139
[Music]

680
00:33:53,820 --> 00:33:47,940
from The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper

681
00:33:55,529 --> 00:33:53,830
published August the 13th 1987 Ian

682
00:34:01,289 --> 00:33:55,539
cockerel meets the self-appointed

683
00:34:04,469 --> 00:34:01,299
watchdog for the blindly trusting it's

684
00:34:07,080 --> 00:34:04,479
fun to shoot down UFOs and con men in

685
00:34:10,180 --> 00:34:07,090
profile Barry Williams

686
00:34:13,059 --> 00:34:10,190
[Music]

687
00:34:15,220 --> 00:34:13,069
believe it or not mr. Barry Williams is

688
00:34:17,349 --> 00:34:15,230
mainly in it for the fun it may be

689
00:34:20,230 --> 00:34:17,359
little comfort for the unscrupulous

690
00:34:22,809 --> 00:34:20,240
magicians or the gurus of the pseudo

691
00:34:24,789 --> 00:34:22,819
religions but it is amusing for those

692
00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:24,799
who have seen the national president of

693
00:34:30,789 --> 00:34:27,530
the Australian skeptics in action mr.

694
00:34:34,779 --> 00:34:30,799
Williams enjoys exposing charlatans not

695
00:34:37,210 --> 00:34:34,789
in a malicious way but methodically the

696
00:34:39,250 --> 00:34:37,220
48 year old Roseville man places his

697
00:34:43,450 --> 00:34:39,260
faith in things that are supported by

698
00:34:45,069 --> 00:34:43,460
scientific evidence and scrutiny his 600

699
00:34:47,740 --> 00:34:45,079
strong organization is the

700
00:34:50,319 --> 00:34:47,750
self-appointed watchdog for the blindly

701
00:34:53,079 --> 00:34:50,329
trusting it tackles people who would

702
00:34:55,659 --> 00:34:53,089
seek to profit from the ingenuous among

703
00:34:57,640 --> 00:34:55,669
us but it is also a voluntary

704
00:35:00,670 --> 00:34:57,650
organization whose members share a

705
00:35:04,539 --> 00:35:00,680
fascination for the infinite gullibility

706
00:35:07,539 --> 00:35:04,549
of mankind and the subjects which snare

707
00:35:09,579 --> 00:35:07,549
people's interests and money one-fifth

708
00:35:12,670 --> 00:35:09,589
of the members live on Sydney's North

709
00:35:14,710 --> 00:35:12,680
Shore quote I find it intellectually

710
00:35:17,260 --> 00:35:14,720
stimulating and a lot of fun and quote

711
00:35:19,839 --> 00:35:17,270
said mr. Williams a trade exhibition

712
00:35:21,640 --> 00:35:19,849
promoter quote now I've built up an

713
00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:21,650
immense library since joining the

714
00:35:27,609 --> 00:35:24,410
skeptics and if I didn't have scruples

715
00:35:30,250 --> 00:35:27,619
myself with the things I've seen I could

716
00:35:32,230 --> 00:35:30,260
become enormous ly wealthy in fact we

717
00:35:34,990 --> 00:35:32,240
joke at the branch meetings about

718
00:35:37,180 --> 00:35:35,000
setting up a religious or psychic body

719
00:35:39,220 --> 00:35:37,190
to make our fortunes end quote

720
00:35:43,359 --> 00:35:39,230
the Australian skeptics were formed in

721
00:35:45,670 --> 00:35:43,369
1981 prompted by a UFO sighting in New

722
00:35:47,950 --> 00:35:45,680
Zealand dick Smith Philip Adams and Mark

723
00:35:50,799 --> 00:35:47,960
Plummer decided to organize a body to

724
00:35:53,859 --> 00:35:50,809
investigate such claims Smith and Adams

725
00:35:57,430 --> 00:35:53,869
with the former head of the CSIRO dr.

726
00:36:00,309 --> 00:35:57,440
Paul Wilde remained the patrons quote I

727
00:36:02,349 --> 00:36:00,319
had the first inkling I was a skeptic

728
00:36:04,720 --> 00:36:02,359
when I read Chariots of the Gods in

729
00:36:06,789 --> 00:36:04,730
quote mr. Williams said quote I thought

730
00:36:09,069 --> 00:36:06,799
it was fascinating until I got to the

731
00:36:12,789 --> 00:36:09,079
bit about the pyramids now then remember

732
00:36:14,710 --> 00:36:12,799
thinking this is tripe later I was

733
00:36:17,470 --> 00:36:14,720
watching dick Smith being interviewed

734
00:36:18,970 --> 00:36:17,480
about UFOs and I began to think was I

735
00:36:20,270 --> 00:36:18,980
the only person who didn't believe in

736
00:36:23,180 --> 00:36:20,280
them then

737
00:36:25,850 --> 00:36:23,190
said it was time somebody challenged the

738
00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:25,860
existence of things like new fos I wrote

739
00:36:29,420 --> 00:36:27,330
to him saying that if he ever got

740
00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:29,430
something off the ground I was

741
00:36:34,910 --> 00:36:31,530
interested I have a natural antipathy

742
00:36:37,790 --> 00:36:34,920
for being ripped off by charlatans the

743
00:36:40,010 --> 00:36:37,800
skeptics targets range from psychics to

744
00:36:42,950 --> 00:36:40,020
astrologers and fringe religious

745
00:36:44,950 --> 00:36:42,960
organizations quote we mainly concern

746
00:36:47,060 --> 00:36:44,960
ourselves with paranormal events in

747
00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:47,070
pseudoscience and quote mr. Williams

748
00:36:52,670 --> 00:36:50,010
said quote currently there is a fed on

749
00:36:56,090 --> 00:36:52,680
channeling which is really a hi-tech

750
00:36:57,920 --> 00:36:56,100
name for spiritualism astrology seems to

751
00:37:00,200 --> 00:36:57,930
be on the wane although there are still

752
00:37:02,030 --> 00:37:00,210
those who firmly believe in it at our

753
00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:02,040
National Convention in Melbourne last

754
00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:03,930
year we had our members collect all the

755
00:37:09,050 --> 00:37:06,570
astrological charts for one week and of

756
00:37:11,540 --> 00:37:09,060
course they were all different we tend

757
00:37:13,490 --> 00:37:11,550
to steer clear of religions except for

758
00:37:16,670 --> 00:37:13,500
the creation science people and the

759
00:37:19,100 --> 00:37:16,680
Scientologists but in taking on those we

760
00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:19,110
have the support of the major churches

761
00:37:24,530 --> 00:37:22,650
we are not vindictive about it a lot of

762
00:37:27,140 --> 00:37:24,540
psychics sincerely believe they have

763
00:37:29,330 --> 00:37:27,150
some sort of power but there are the

764
00:37:32,020 --> 00:37:29,340
ones who get away from reading tea

765
00:37:35,540 --> 00:37:32,030
leaves and are well aware what they do

766
00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:35,550
taking people's money quote it can be

767
00:37:40,520 --> 00:37:37,650
dangerous just look at the tragic case

768
00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:40,530
in Newport recently when a guy cut his

769
00:37:46,460 --> 00:37:43,050
hand off in the belief it would release

770
00:37:48,320 --> 00:37:46,470
him for astral traveling it's tough

771
00:37:51,430 --> 00:37:48,330
enough in this world as it is without

772
00:37:53,750 --> 00:37:51,440
being conned all the time end quote to

773
00:37:56,660 --> 00:37:53,760
make it tougher on the tricksters the

774
00:37:59,810 --> 00:37:56,670
Australian skeptics have put up $20,000

775
00:38:02,810 --> 00:37:59,820
for anybody you can perform a paranormal

776
00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:02,820
act under scientific scrutiny with its

777
00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:04,530
American parent organization the

778
00:38:09,410 --> 00:38:05,970
committee for scientific investigation

779
00:38:11,300 --> 00:38:09,420
of claims of the paranormal and branches

780
00:38:13,970 --> 00:38:11,310
in other countries the group has more

781
00:38:17,060 --> 00:38:13,980
than 250 thousand dollars on offer

782
00:38:19,760 --> 00:38:17,070
worldwide to anybody willing to accept

783
00:38:22,130 --> 00:38:19,770
the challenge quote not surprisingly

784
00:38:23,810 --> 00:38:22,140
nobody has been able to prove they have

785
00:38:26,660 --> 00:38:23,820
these powers end quote mister Williams

786
00:38:28,340 --> 00:38:26,670
said quote fortunately we have no really

787
00:38:30,830 --> 00:38:28,350
bad practitioners in this country

788
00:38:33,350 --> 00:38:30,840
Australians tend to be more skeptical by

789
00:38:34,099 --> 00:38:33,360
and large than other races it's a

790
00:38:37,339 --> 00:38:34,109
healthy state of

791
00:38:39,079 --> 00:38:37,349
mind but I think our education system is

792
00:38:41,630 --> 00:38:39,089
to blame for not teaching kids to

793
00:38:44,059 --> 00:38:41,640
examine critically things presented to

794
00:38:47,089 --> 00:38:44,069
them and the media is partly to blame

795
00:38:49,190 --> 00:38:47,099
for reporting sensational stories just

796
00:38:52,460 --> 00:38:49,200
look at that woman who claims she knew

797
00:38:55,190 --> 00:38:52,470
where the Colossus of Rhodes was we've

798
00:38:57,440 --> 00:38:55,200
locked horns with her before it turned

799
00:39:00,950 --> 00:38:57,450
out to be something some Greek travel

800
00:39:03,079 --> 00:39:00,960
agent had dreamed up and quote to

801
00:39:05,059 --> 00:39:03,089
demonstrate how readily people accept

802
00:39:06,049 --> 00:39:05,069
the credentials of those claiming

803
00:39:08,450 --> 00:39:06,059
psychic powers

804
00:39:10,279 --> 00:39:08,460
the skeptics perpetuated a hoax a few

805
00:39:12,799 --> 00:39:10,289
years ago when they brought over a

806
00:39:14,989 --> 00:39:12,809
magician member from America he was

807
00:39:16,759 --> 00:39:14,999
touted as a psychic and appeared twice

808
00:39:19,460 --> 00:39:16,769
on the Bert Newton television show

809
00:39:22,249 --> 00:39:19,470
before revealing the fraud and his third

810
00:39:23,989 --> 00:39:22,259
appearance quote the switchboard was

811
00:39:26,150 --> 00:39:23,999
jammed with complaints from people

812
00:39:29,390 --> 00:39:26,160
annoyed at being conned in quote mr.

813
00:39:32,210 --> 00:39:29,400
Williams said quote they didn't thank

814
00:39:35,059 --> 00:39:32,220
him for helping to show them how easy it

815
00:39:38,390 --> 00:39:35,069
was to be taken in by a good con man

816
00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:38,400
couching things an exotic jargon in

817
00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:38,810
quote

818
00:39:48,020 --> 00:39:45,500
and that story was published in The

819
00:39:52,300 --> 00:39:48,030
Sydney Morning Herald way back on the

820
00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:52,310
13th of August 1987 by Ian cockerel and

821
00:40:00,340 --> 00:39:55,410
it certainly sums up the Barry Williams

822
00:40:00,350 --> 00:40:24,930
[Music]

823
00:40:30,609 --> 00:40:27,489
thank you for listening to the skeptic

824
00:40:32,019 --> 00:40:30,619
zone and thank you to the the people who

825
00:40:33,029 --> 00:40:32,029
did actually gather the other day to

826
00:40:36,699 --> 00:40:33,039
farewell

827
00:40:41,229 --> 00:40:36,709
barry williams and he's a man who won't

828
00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:41,239
easily be forgotten if ever coming up on

829
00:40:45,309 --> 00:40:43,130
next week's show we hope to have Maynard

830
00:40:48,789 --> 00:40:45,319
once again reporting from skeptics in

831
00:40:51,789 --> 00:40:48,799
the pub here in Sydney and he'll be

832
00:40:53,799 --> 00:40:51,799
asking the big question hmm

833
00:40:55,120 --> 00:40:53,809
answers on a postcard I'm not sure we

834
00:40:57,549 --> 00:40:55,130
always make up the big question for

835
00:40:59,529 --> 00:40:57,559
Maynard just before skeptics in the pub

836
00:41:01,150 --> 00:40:59,539
anyway but if you're in Sydney first

837
00:41:03,819 --> 00:41:01,160
Thursday of the month at the Occidental

838
00:41:07,209 --> 00:41:03,829
hotel down at Wynyard kicking off around

839
00:41:10,299 --> 00:41:07,219
5:00 6:00 p.m. we'd love to see you and

840
00:41:13,059 --> 00:41:10,309
now by a request and now the dice game

841
00:41:15,069 --> 00:41:13,069
this is where I toss the dice and you

842
00:41:18,370 --> 00:41:15,079
use your psychic prediction powers to

843
00:41:22,089 --> 00:41:18,380
predict what the number will be this

844
00:41:25,359 --> 00:41:22,099
time my recent trip to the United States

845
00:41:29,650 --> 00:41:25,369
I went to a games store in Berkeley in

846
00:41:33,359 --> 00:41:29,660
California and I bought myself a 60

847
00:41:36,489 --> 00:41:33,369
sided dice yes there is such a thing I

848
00:41:37,269 --> 00:41:36,499
have it right here on the table it's

849
00:41:42,219 --> 00:41:37,279
ridiculous

850
00:41:46,209 --> 00:41:42,229
so predict away predict away a number

851
00:41:48,209 --> 00:41:46,219
from 1 to 60 hmm are you predicting are

852
00:41:51,299 --> 00:41:48,219
you predicting have you got that number

853
00:41:55,140 --> 00:41:51,309
all right here we go

854
00:42:00,819 --> 00:41:55,150
fell off the table mmm here we go again

855
00:42:03,670 --> 00:42:00,829
it's coming to a rest on number ah 27

856
00:42:05,640 --> 00:42:03,680
for all you people who got 27 well done

857
00:42:13,029 --> 00:42:05,650
let's do it one more time

858
00:42:18,039 --> 00:42:13,039
here we go number 30 now why not one

859
00:42:23,769 --> 00:42:18,049
more time one more time and it's coming

860
00:42:25,420 --> 00:42:23,779
to rest on number 39 so the odds are

861
00:42:28,859 --> 00:42:25,430
getting all three numbers are 60 times

862
00:42:31,180 --> 00:42:28,869
60 times 60 while you figure that out

863
00:42:37,070 --> 00:42:31,190
I'll say this is Richard Saunders

864
00:42:42,500 --> 00:42:39,570
you've been listening to the skeptic

865
00:42:49,170 --> 00:42:42,510
zone podcast please visit our website at

866
00:42:52,670 --> 00:42:49,180
wwlp.com tax and to access the bat

867
00:42:55,350 --> 00:42:52,680
catalog of episodes going back to 2008

868
00:42:58,650 --> 00:42:55,360
you can follow the skeptic zone podcast

869
00:43:00,930 --> 00:42:58,660
on twitter at skeptic zone visit our

870
00:43:01,790 --> 00:43:00,940
facebook page or leave a review on

871
00:43:04,500 --> 00:43:01,800
itunes

872
00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:04,510
you can also support the skeptic zone

873
00:43:10,980 --> 00:43:08,410
via patreon or paypal you can be part of

874
00:43:15,360 --> 00:43:10,990
the show by downloading the voice byte

875
00:43:18,750 --> 00:43:15,370
app at Voice bite comm and using the

876
00:43:21,470 --> 00:43:18,760
hashtag skeptic zone the skeptic zone

877
00:43:23,850 --> 00:43:21,480
podcast is an independent production

878
00:43:25,980 --> 00:43:23,860
reviews and opinions expressed on the

879
00:43:28,320 --> 00:43:25,990
skeptic zone are not necessarily those

880
00:43:30,120 --> 00:43:28,330
of Australian skeptics or any other

881
00:43:38,050 --> 00:43:30,130
sceptical organisation

882
00:43:42,350 --> 00:43:40,700
okay the x-files new season has just

883
00:43:44,210 --> 00:43:42,360
started with the premise that the

884
00:43:46,790 --> 00:43:44,220
government may wipe out humanity with a

885
00:43:48,950 --> 00:43:46,800
pathogen to recolonize another planet so

886
00:43:50,690 --> 00:43:48,960
holy Dooley heavy stuff earth is dying

887
00:43:53,300 --> 00:43:50,700
and they need to cull the human race to

888
00:43:55,340 --> 00:43:53,310
make sure we don't take too many to the

889
00:43:57,230 --> 00:43:55,350
new planet but is this complete a

890
00:43:59,450 --> 00:43:57,240
Hollywood fantasy or would the

891
00:44:01,310 --> 00:43:59,460
government keep secrets like this from

892
00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:01,320
the general public Richard Saunders he

893
00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:03,690
joins us every week welcome Richard

894
00:44:14,210 --> 00:44:06,330
hello Richard welcome imagine if the

895
00:44:18,470 --> 00:44:14,220
government was that competent with the

896
00:44:22,850 --> 00:44:18,480
first line fantastic stuff Richard hey

897
00:44:26,060 --> 00:44:22,860
you know how thank you there's no need