1 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:22,689 --> 00:00:11,910 from Australia for science and reason 3 00:00:26,570 --> 00:00:22,699 [Music] 4 00:00:29,179 --> 00:00:26,580 ring ring ring ring hello 5 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:29,189 Manor International Studios I'll Richard 6 00:00:36,020 --> 00:00:32,910 hell oh yes oh you sound terrible oh and 7 00:00:38,060 --> 00:00:36,030 you you want me to do what come on do it 8 00:00:42,049 --> 00:00:38,070 only my to read the whole okay you want 9 00:00:43,790 --> 00:00:42,059 me to you foreshow well I can be you for 10 00:00:47,060 --> 00:00:43,800 show but really I can't do that haircut 11 00:00:58,880 --> 00:00:47,070 no no one can and I split on hold and 12 00:01:01,970 --> 00:00:58,890 then we'll get into it okay yes it's the 13 00:01:05,090 --> 00:01:01,980 skeptics own podcast episode 451 for the 14 00:01:06,499 --> 00:01:05,100 3rd of March 2019 may not hear filling 15 00:01:12,980 --> 00:01:06,509 in for Richard Saunders who's been 16 00:01:14,749 --> 00:01:12,990 struck down with the flu actual 17 00:01:16,370 --> 00:01:14,759 recording from Richards house they're 18 00:01:18,290 --> 00:01:16,380 being struck down with the flu as we 19 00:01:19,219 --> 00:01:18,300 speak and of course it's I'm filling in 20 00:01:21,590 --> 00:01:19,229 for Richard I've got to give you the 21 00:01:24,499 --> 00:01:21,600 weather report it's 80 degrees Celsius 22 00:01:26,960 --> 00:01:24,509 in Adelaide parts of Victoria are on 23 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:26,970 fire unfortunately Darwin is really 24 00:01:34,219 --> 00:01:29,970 sweaty it's raining in parts of Brisbane 25 00:01:36,199 --> 00:01:34,229 and where I am it's um it's dry in my 26 00:01:38,990 --> 00:01:36,209 underwear but apparently according to 27 00:01:41,359 --> 00:01:39,000 doctors Richard has a cold flu or 28 00:01:42,859 --> 00:01:41,369 perhaps an infection so if there's a 29 00:01:45,620 --> 00:01:42,869 doctor in the house I give him a ring 30 00:01:47,719 --> 00:01:45,630 and do some Reiki healing over the phone 31 00:01:49,130 --> 00:01:47,729 because secretly I just know he's into 32 00:01:50,690 --> 00:01:49,140 that now before rich had crawled into 33 00:01:52,190 --> 00:01:50,700 his sickbed he managed to produce this 34 00:01:53,690 --> 00:01:52,200 week's show including first up and any 35 00:01:56,389 --> 00:01:53,700 of you would susan gerbic about an 36 00:01:59,479 --> 00:01:56,399 undercover operation to catch a 37 00:02:01,160 --> 00:01:59,489 so-called psychic which was Roger 38 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:01,170 Moore's first film to catch a so-called 39 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:04,050 psychic fantastic that was a psychic 40 00:02:07,910 --> 00:02:05,610 getting his information from the heavens 41 00:02:09,559 --> 00:02:07,920 it seemed more likely the information 42 00:02:13,030 --> 00:02:09,569 his psychic was getting was coming from 43 00:02:15,650 --> 00:02:13,040 the cloud and I don't mean cumulonimbus 44 00:02:17,479 --> 00:02:15,660 now there's a huge story even being 45 00:02:19,100 --> 00:02:17,489 published in the New York Times and it's 46 00:02:20,900 --> 00:02:19,110 really put skepticism back on the map 47 00:02:23,150 --> 00:02:20,910 for the time being and there will be 48 00:02:25,910 --> 00:02:23,160 links in the show notes so listen to his 49 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:25,920 interview with susan gerbic after that 50 00:02:31,490 --> 00:02:29,370 the now ailing and croaky Richard 51 00:02:33,050 --> 00:02:31,500 Saunders before his voice gave up read 52 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:33,060 another report from the pages of the 53 00:02:35,880 --> 00:02:34,090 skeptic magazine 54 00:02:37,500 --> 00:02:35,890 from Australian skeptics this week a 55 00:02:39,660 --> 00:02:37,510 look at homeopathy and some of those 56 00:02:42,390 --> 00:02:39,670 Flyers homeopaths like to leave in 57 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:42,400 doctor's waiting rooms I mean really I 58 00:02:46,290 --> 00:02:44,650 mean look you've got to go to university 59 00:02:47,610 --> 00:02:46,300 for longer than a week to be a doctor so 60 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:47,620 why would you bother if you just make a 61 00:02:51,869 --> 00:02:50,170 flyer gee I mean you know how many times 62 00:02:54,660 --> 00:02:51,879 I've told be able on a doctor well look 63 00:02:58,380 --> 00:02:54,670 as I like to say I may not be a doctor 64 00:02:59,699 --> 00:02:58,390 but I do have a prescription pad stay 65 00:03:03,750 --> 00:02:59,709 tuned at the end of the show for more 66 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:03,760 news but for now it's time for me to go 67 00:03:11,970 --> 00:03:10,690 downstairs and get my cell phone while 68 00:03:30,130 --> 00:03:11,980 you enjoy the skeptic zone 69 00:03:35,630 --> 00:03:32,630 joining me now on the line all the way 70 00:03:38,090 --> 00:03:35,640 from Salinas California its susan gerbic 71 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:38,100 from guerrilla skepticism on wikipedia 72 00:03:42,050 --> 00:03:38,970 hello Susan 73 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:42,060 hello Richard hello all you skeptics on 74 00:03:47,930 --> 00:03:44,850 listeners out there now a couple of 75 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:47,940 weeks ago we had mark Edward on the show 76 00:03:54,130 --> 00:03:50,970 telling us well alluding to an upcoming 77 00:03:56,810 --> 00:03:54,140 sting project something like that and 78 00:03:59,210 --> 00:03:56,820 I've asked you to come on today because 79 00:04:01,280 --> 00:03:59,220 just in the last 24 hours as we're 80 00:04:03,140 --> 00:04:01,290 recording this the news is broken yes 81 00:04:04,670 --> 00:04:03,150 the news is broken we've got all sorts 82 00:04:07,130 --> 00:04:04,680 of operations are talking about we've 83 00:04:09,260 --> 00:04:07,140 got operation pizza roll operation Peach 84 00:04:11,390 --> 00:04:09,270 Pit we've got somebody called the seat 85 00:04:14,450 --> 00:04:11,400 belt psychic Susan we've got the New 86 00:04:16,370 --> 00:04:14,460 York Times it's going crazy can you 87 00:04:20,570 --> 00:04:16,380 please put this together for our 88 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:20,580 listeners oh my gosh okay so yes it does 89 00:04:23,780 --> 00:04:21,690 feel like it's a lot of different 90 00:04:28,910 --> 00:04:23,790 operations it does feel like there's a 91 00:04:30,620 --> 00:04:28,920 lot going on but in essence we did I've 92 00:04:32,870 --> 00:04:30,630 been trying to catch a psychic and a hot 93 00:04:34,700 --> 00:04:32,880 read for a very long time aha Marie as 94 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:34,710 as your listeners probably know are 95 00:04:41,450 --> 00:04:39,450 people who are trying to trying to they 96 00:04:43,460 --> 00:04:41,460 get information from from knowing 97 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:43,470 something about you there's lots of ways 98 00:04:46,700 --> 00:04:44,310 of doing that 99 00:04:47,930 --> 00:04:46,710 so catching as a psychic and a cold read 100 00:04:48,740 --> 00:04:47,940 is pretty simple and we've done that 101 00:04:50,870 --> 00:04:48,750 many times 102 00:04:53,060 --> 00:04:50,880 so I've done many operations trying to 103 00:04:55,220 --> 00:04:53,070 catch someone the New York Times said 104 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:55,230 that if I could catch a heart read they 105 00:05:00,410 --> 00:04:57,690 wanted to do a story on me so I've been 106 00:05:04,010 --> 00:05:00,420 trying for a long time operation bubble 107 00:05:06,290 --> 00:05:04,020 bee operation ice-cream cone and then 108 00:05:08,210 --> 00:05:06,300 we've done other things in the past and 109 00:05:11,510 --> 00:05:08,220 I've written a lot about Tyler Henry the 110 00:05:14,870 --> 00:05:11,520 Hollywood medium and he is operation 111 00:05:18,410 --> 00:05:14,880 Tater Tot tatertot tater comes up with 112 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:18,420 all these names I do yeah yeah I have a 113 00:05:21,710 --> 00:05:19,530 lot of fun trying to come up with 114 00:05:24,250 --> 00:05:21,720 something that doesn't have already 115 00:05:28,659 --> 00:05:24,260 operation in front of it Oh 116 00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:28,669 see there's a method for my madness 117 00:05:33,260 --> 00:05:31,770 trust me mmm well I do trust you look if 118 00:05:34,879 --> 00:05:33,270 you ever bust an Australian psychic 119 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:34,889 let's call it operation Tim camel 120 00:05:40,909 --> 00:05:39,210 Vegemite or us fine you know and I and I 121 00:05:43,340 --> 00:05:40,919 could do this in Australia there's not 122 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:43,350 any reason why I couldn't it would just 123 00:05:47,150 --> 00:05:45,330 be a matter of finding the right psychic 124 00:05:48,590 --> 00:05:47,160 to do and sure we could do this it 125 00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:48,600 wouldn't be hard but you're really 126 00:05:53,659 --> 00:05:50,910 looking for somebody who is who's who's 127 00:05:56,740 --> 00:05:53,669 hot reading or likely too hot read so 128 00:05:59,659 --> 00:05:56,750 what happened is somebody brought 129 00:06:02,540 --> 00:05:59,669 thomas-john he's the Manhattan medium 130 00:06:04,010 --> 00:06:02,550 who happened to me in LA he spends a lot 131 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:04,020 of time in Los Angeles and a lot of time 132 00:06:10,340 --> 00:06:07,770 in LA in Chicago and he has some a 133 00:06:11,750 --> 00:06:10,350 little bit of a following and they 134 00:06:14,690 --> 00:06:11,760 brought him to my attention I'd never 135 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:14,700 heard of him before and I said okay I 136 00:06:20,510 --> 00:06:16,770 can do that so we put together a sting 137 00:06:22,370 --> 00:06:20,520 it took us about 10 days and listeners 138 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:22,380 probably understand what had happened is 139 00:06:27,620 --> 00:06:24,770 that we created fake Facebook pages and 140 00:06:31,820 --> 00:06:27,630 Mark Edward and myself went to the sting 141 00:06:34,460 --> 00:06:31,830 as has been a wife dressed to be dressed 142 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:34,470 to be cold red by the way in case he did 143 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:37,289 not read us we paid for VIP tickets set 144 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:41,610 up in the front and he within three 145 00:06:47,450 --> 00:06:44,970 readings he was honest and reading these 146 00:06:49,339 --> 00:06:47,460 fake Facebook pages and it should be 147 00:06:51,770 --> 00:06:49,349 real and he went through reading off the 148 00:06:53,810 --> 00:06:51,780 Facebook pages all the content on there 149 00:06:55,550 --> 00:06:53,820 but it's real important that you 150 00:06:58,490 --> 00:06:55,560 understand that mark and I did not know 151 00:06:59,900 --> 00:06:58,500 what was on those Facebook pages we were 152 00:07:02,480 --> 00:06:59,910 locked out of those accounts from the 153 00:07:05,270 --> 00:07:02,490 beginning we only knew some very simple 154 00:07:08,300 --> 00:07:05,280 things and all the details were we 155 00:07:09,830 --> 00:07:08,310 weren't purview per view - I think you 156 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:09,840 know it says let me jump in here this is 157 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:12,210 really important because I've seen here 158 00:07:17,420 --> 00:07:14,490 in Australia when certain psychics have 159 00:07:20,270 --> 00:07:17,430 been busted with people delivering false 160 00:07:22,219 --> 00:07:20,280 information base they will use excuses 161 00:07:23,629 --> 00:07:22,229 like oh they were reading the fact that 162 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:23,639 there was false information or they were 163 00:07:27,740 --> 00:07:26,130 using their psychic powers to delve into 164 00:07:30,230 --> 00:07:27,750 people's mind and whatever and they 165 00:07:31,700 --> 00:07:30,240 could see this but what you've done is 166 00:07:34,790 --> 00:07:31,710 you've made sure that when you've gone 167 00:07:37,439 --> 00:07:34,800 into the the show you did not know the 168 00:07:40,890 --> 00:07:37,449 information that this psychic would miss 169 00:07:43,290 --> 00:07:40,900 seriously reveal absolutely I mean one 170 00:07:44,809 --> 00:07:43,300 of we were in Hollywood California one 171 00:07:48,209 --> 00:07:44,819 of the people who arranged those 172 00:07:50,579 --> 00:07:48,219 Facebook pages was Michelle Franklin up 173 00:07:53,129 --> 00:07:50,589 in humpty do Australia uh-huh so you 174 00:07:55,469 --> 00:07:53,139 can't get much farther than that from 175 00:07:57,029 --> 00:07:55,479 Australia so if he was you know in 176 00:07:59,879 --> 00:07:57,039 Hollywood so if he was reading 177 00:08:03,869 --> 00:07:59,889 Michelle's mind I thought that's really 178 00:08:05,489 --> 00:08:03,879 good and she gets a mentioned along with 179 00:08:07,619 --> 00:08:05,499 yourself and lots of other people in the 180 00:08:09,779 --> 00:08:07,629 New York Times article folks don't worry 181 00:08:11,790 --> 00:08:09,789 we're going to link to this article on 182 00:08:14,459 --> 00:08:11,800 this week's show notes and I encourage 183 00:08:16,860 --> 00:08:14,469 you to read it oh yes it was so much 184 00:08:18,899 --> 00:08:16,870 it's been exciting but okay going back 185 00:08:20,700 --> 00:08:18,909 to what happened I think I've talked 186 00:08:22,649 --> 00:08:20,710 about what kind of had happened I just 187 00:08:26,939 --> 00:08:22,659 wasn't able to mention Thomas John's 188 00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:26,949 name right so so we did the sting a year 189 00:08:32,129 --> 00:08:30,310 passes the New York Times reporter you 190 00:08:34,860 --> 00:08:32,139 know says well that was really good but 191 00:08:37,139 --> 00:08:34,870 you know and I said well what and he 192 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:37,149 says I kind of need to see a beginning 193 00:08:43,110 --> 00:08:40,930 to the end sting I need to sit in on it 194 00:08:45,329 --> 00:08:43,120 from the very very very very beginning 195 00:08:47,519 --> 00:08:45,339 and follow it all the way through and 196 00:08:50,939 --> 00:08:47,529 sit in on everything I said okay I'll 197 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:50,949 put together another sting so we found a 198 00:08:56,819 --> 00:08:54,490 psychic in Connecticut area which was 199 00:08:59,040 --> 00:08:56,829 near where the reporter was I got 200 00:08:59,670 --> 00:08:59,050 tickets we put together fake Facebook 201 00:09:05,250 --> 00:08:59,680 pages 202 00:09:07,980 --> 00:09:05,260 I contacted Kenny Biddle who is pretty 203 00:09:12,269 --> 00:09:07,990 popular in the skeptic community he's an 204 00:09:15,199 --> 00:09:12,279 ex ghost hunter who's turned skeptic and 205 00:09:19,050 --> 00:09:15,209 he writes for skeptic magazine and he 206 00:09:22,889 --> 00:09:19,060 and his wife and four friends went to a 207 00:09:25,890 --> 00:09:22,899 show in I think it was Pittsburgh 208 00:09:27,570 --> 00:09:25,900 Pennsylvania or someplace like that 209 00:09:30,930 --> 00:09:27,580 and the reporter for The New York Times 210 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:30,940 went with them he sat behind him a few 211 00:09:36,660 --> 00:09:34,210 rows and he watched everything I had 212 00:09:38,940 --> 00:09:36,670 several Skype conversations with the 213 00:09:41,070 --> 00:09:38,950 team in the East Coast and I talked to 214 00:09:42,690 --> 00:09:41,080 them about what I wanted him to do we 215 00:09:44,490 --> 00:09:42,700 also had fake Facebook pages all 216 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:44,500 arranged for them and I told them they 217 00:09:47,970 --> 00:09:45,970 had to stay in character the whole time 218 00:09:50,310 --> 00:09:47,980 that they were there to make as many 219 00:09:52,019 --> 00:09:50,320 friends as possible talk to the people 220 00:09:53,790 --> 00:09:52,029 at the bar everything about the dead 221 00:09:56,220 --> 00:09:53,800 people they wanted to see they were 222 00:09:58,519 --> 00:09:56,230 given almost no information just like 223 00:10:01,829 --> 00:09:58,529 you know it happened with operation 224 00:10:04,460 --> 00:10:01,839 pizza roll so they did not catch that 225 00:10:07,650 --> 00:10:04,470 psychic they were able to film it but 226 00:10:10,079 --> 00:10:07,660 they didn't get read but we were able to 227 00:10:12,300 --> 00:10:10,089 show pretty conclusively it was all cold 228 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:12,310 reading and that psychics name was Matt 229 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:15,850 Fraser and so that was all great 230 00:10:19,380 --> 00:10:17,770 so the psychic I mean so the reporter 231 00:10:21,630 --> 00:10:19,390 for the New York Times was all done he 232 00:10:24,060 --> 00:10:21,640 says this is great and then almost a 233 00:10:25,650 --> 00:10:24,070 year went by it takes a long time to get 234 00:10:28,829 --> 00:10:25,660 these things to happen you guys it was 235 00:10:33,780 --> 00:10:28,839 fun so then I finally yeah it's not easy 236 00:10:36,449 --> 00:10:33,790 this is a long process so then I said oh 237 00:10:38,850 --> 00:10:36,459 you know I'm gonna revisit Thomas John 238 00:10:42,230 --> 00:10:38,860 who was the first psychic from operation 239 00:10:45,750 --> 00:10:42,240 pizza roll and he had a TV show called 240 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:45,760 seat belt psychic see I'm psychic can 241 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:48,370 you can you give us a little overview of 242 00:10:54,329 --> 00:10:50,890 what that means what it's supposed to be 243 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:54,339 is he's driving some kind of rideshare 244 00:10:58,949 --> 00:10:57,010 it never specific and people get in the 245 00:11:01,829 --> 00:10:58,959 back seat of the car and they drive away 246 00:11:03,810 --> 00:11:01,839 and he gives them he reads for them he 247 00:11:05,340 --> 00:11:03,820 gives a reading to them he says hey by 248 00:11:06,870 --> 00:11:05,350 the way I'm a psychic medium would you 249 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:06,880 like to talk to your dead family members 250 00:11:10,710 --> 00:11:08,410 I see her dad's right there with you and 251 00:11:14,780 --> 00:11:10,720 then they get all excited and it's 252 00:11:17,460 --> 00:11:14,790 filmed and all that and I thought okay 253 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:17,470 so Richard you and I've been doing this 254 00:11:22,290 --> 00:11:19,450 for a long time we know kind of a tells 255 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:22,300 so I'm watching this show and I'm gonna 256 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:23,650 write up an article for skeptical 257 00:11:27,390 --> 00:11:25,570 Inquirer that was my whole premise is to 258 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:27,400 sit down and watch all these episodes 259 00:11:32,070 --> 00:11:30,250 and write this write this up most 260 00:11:35,790 --> 00:11:32,080 psychics are called readers they you 261 00:11:38,140 --> 00:11:35,800 know just banter and and wordplay you 262 00:11:40,990 --> 00:11:38,150 know well in this case it was 263 00:11:43,450 --> 00:11:41,000 good I mean he was accurate and I could 264 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:43,460 not figure out what was going on but I 265 00:11:47,950 --> 00:11:45,370 was suspicious 266 00:11:49,660 --> 00:11:47,960 several things you're absolutely right 267 00:11:51,850 --> 00:11:49,670 and let me just jump in here again it's 268 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:51,860 one of the tells and I've seen it here 269 00:11:57,540 --> 00:11:55,210 on TV many times and maybe one day 270 00:12:00,220 --> 00:11:57,550 operation Vegemite or Tim Tam will 271 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:00,230 Center on a certain psychic I've seen 272 00:12:07,930 --> 00:12:04,210 many times where the tell for us is 273 00:12:10,210 --> 00:12:07,940 accurate information often and and 274 00:12:12,430 --> 00:12:10,220 without using the standard cold reading 275 00:12:14,500 --> 00:12:12,440 techniques to weasel out information its 276 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:14,510 yeah to you and me and people in the 277 00:12:18,190 --> 00:12:16,730 know it's a pretty big tell ya it is 278 00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:18,200 telling and you know what you're really 279 00:12:21,460 --> 00:12:19,910 selling me on this idea of operation 280 00:12:23,980 --> 00:12:21,470 Vegemite and Tim Tam yeah we're gonna 281 00:12:25,660 --> 00:12:23,990 have to do something so we'll talk okay 282 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:25,670 I'm sure I'll mention a name to you 283 00:12:28,930 --> 00:12:27,170 after the interview don't worry okay so 284 00:12:30,610 --> 00:12:28,940 I have a feeling that you've got people 285 00:12:33,340 --> 00:12:30,620 in the audience right now who are like I 286 00:12:35,620 --> 00:12:33,350 want to do this I want to go please and 287 00:12:37,780 --> 00:12:35,630 maybe and okay so when we're ready we'll 288 00:12:40,780 --> 00:12:37,790 we'll invite people to join us okay 289 00:12:43,750 --> 00:12:40,790 anyway so what happened in seatbelt 290 00:12:46,270 --> 00:12:43,760 psychic the other tells were you know 291 00:12:48,670 --> 00:12:46,280 I've been in an uber I've been in a you 292 00:12:51,490 --> 00:12:48,680 know these these ride share cars before 293 00:12:53,850 --> 00:12:51,500 and what happens is these people get 294 00:12:58,510 --> 00:12:53,860 into the backseat of this very spacious 295 00:13:02,430 --> 00:12:58,520 nice-looking leather seat bench seat car 296 00:13:04,900 --> 00:13:02,440 and they sit down in the back seat and 297 00:13:06,340 --> 00:13:04,910 there's at least six cameras on them 298 00:13:08,020 --> 00:13:06,350 because you can see the camera angles 299 00:13:09,430 --> 00:13:08,030 and I thought why aren't they reacting 300 00:13:12,490 --> 00:13:09,440 to the cameras that are pointed right at 301 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:12,500 them okay that's that's kind of like hmm 302 00:13:16,330 --> 00:13:14,210 maybe they're really small cameras I 303 00:13:18,820 --> 00:13:16,340 don't know any but the quality is really 304 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:18,830 good I thought that's okay all right and 305 00:13:22,510 --> 00:13:20,570 then when they get into the seat they 306 00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:22,520 sit if there's two people in the car 307 00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:26,090 they sit not like a normal person would 308 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:28,310 sit one side of the backseat and the 309 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:29,690 other side of the backseat near the 310 00:13:33,790 --> 00:13:31,010 windows next to the doors 311 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:33,800 no they sat with one person sitting in 312 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:35,810 the middle seat and the other person 313 00:13:40,450 --> 00:13:37,250 sitting in the door that they came in 314 00:13:42,580 --> 00:13:40,460 and they weren't necessarily couples you 315 00:13:46,990 --> 00:13:42,590 know cozying up to each other it was 316 00:13:48,220 --> 00:13:47,000 people who were friends apparently and I 317 00:13:51,220 --> 00:13:48,230 thought why are they sitting like that 318 00:13:51,470 --> 00:13:51,230 and I realized that you can see that you 319 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:51,480 can 320 00:13:54,650 --> 00:13:52,890 see them better on the camera if one 321 00:13:57,350 --> 00:13:54,660 person's in the middle and I thought 322 00:14:00,410 --> 00:13:57,360 that was odd and then I noticed that 323 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:00,420 there was no destination ever given so 324 00:14:03,890 --> 00:14:02,250 you know they'd sit down in the car they 325 00:14:06,230 --> 00:14:03,900 put their seatbelt on and then they 326 00:14:07,790 --> 00:14:06,240 would pull away from the car and he 327 00:14:10,370 --> 00:14:07,800 would say hi to them and they'd say hi 328 00:14:12,050 --> 00:14:10,380 back and then he'd say you know how's 329 00:14:15,110 --> 00:14:12,060 her day and they'd say oh it's really 330 00:14:16,610 --> 00:14:15,120 good and then he would say so I speak to 331 00:14:18,740 --> 00:14:16,620 the dead would you like a reading you 332 00:14:20,390 --> 00:14:18,750 know something like that and they you 333 00:14:23,570 --> 00:14:20,400 know get shocked and they go really oh 334 00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:23,580 yeah I'm into psychics and so I thought 335 00:14:28,940 --> 00:14:26,370 well when is where is he driving them to 336 00:14:31,070 --> 00:14:28,950 he's not confirmed anything about a 337 00:14:35,420 --> 00:14:31,080 destination he's not putting any 338 00:14:37,730 --> 00:14:35,430 information on the you know in anything 339 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:37,740 there's no iPad or anything that you can 340 00:14:43,030 --> 00:14:40,050 see he's not there did he just drives 341 00:14:46,550 --> 00:14:43,040 away and I thought that was strange and 342 00:14:49,340 --> 00:14:46,560 also there's no logos or anything on any 343 00:14:51,860 --> 00:14:49,350 of the clothing and Richard you know I 344 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:51,870 know I know all about that 345 00:14:59,090 --> 00:14:56,010 whenever I'm I'm asked to do a TV shoot 346 00:15:00,740 --> 00:14:59,100 an advertising a corporate video of a TV 347 00:15:03,530 --> 00:15:00,750 show whatever the case may be the strict 348 00:15:06,380 --> 00:15:03,540 instruction is no logos no strut no 349 00:15:09,980 --> 00:15:06,390 stripes you know for strobing reasons on 350 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:09,990 camera but no logos yeah there wasn't a 351 00:15:17,090 --> 00:15:13,410 single hat with a baseball team on it 352 00:15:19,850 --> 00:15:17,100 nothing and no no Nike swishes or adidas 353 00:15:22,100 --> 00:15:19,860 or and that just wasn't normal and the 354 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:22,110 people just looked a little too polished 355 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:24,090 they look like they were everyday 356 00:15:29,990 --> 00:15:28,410 clothing sort of and but you know their 357 00:15:32,710 --> 00:15:30,000 nails were done really well their hair 358 00:15:36,380 --> 00:15:32,720 was done the makeup was done I thought 359 00:15:38,660 --> 00:15:36,390 anyway so the the main thing was that 360 00:15:42,140 --> 00:15:38,670 happened is that the psychic asked this 361 00:15:44,990 --> 00:15:42,150 one woman to give him something to hold 362 00:15:48,170 --> 00:15:45,000 and he handed her she handed him her 363 00:15:50,540 --> 00:15:48,180 name tag from work ha ha ha lanyard and 364 00:15:52,220 --> 00:15:50,550 he took it and he held it in his hand 365 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:52,230 without looking at it and put it right 366 00:15:57,170 --> 00:15:54,570 at the TV I mean he right at the camera 367 00:16:00,200 --> 00:15:57,180 I'm sure he didn't mean to point it at 368 00:16:01,870 --> 00:16:00,210 the camera but I was able to pause long 369 00:16:03,860 --> 00:16:01,880 enough to see the woman's name and 370 00:16:05,690 --> 00:16:03,870 within about a minute 371 00:16:08,650 --> 00:16:05,700 I was on her Facebook page which was 372 00:16:11,950 --> 00:16:08,660 totally open Wendy Westmoreland and 373 00:16:15,500 --> 00:16:11,960 there I found she is an actress and 374 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:15,510 she's you know had all these actress and 375 00:16:21,190 --> 00:16:18,090 actor friends and they do part-time 376 00:16:25,790 --> 00:16:21,200 acting and I was able to match him up in 377 00:16:27,650 --> 00:16:25,800 a lot of ways on IMDB and so on and then 378 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:27,660 we realized when I was looking at the 379 00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:29,370 very end credits I I noticed that 380 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:33,150 there's a casting team on his show so 381 00:16:39,220 --> 00:16:35,370 what you're saying is is that this is a 382 00:16:42,380 --> 00:16:39,230 show which seems to be populated with 383 00:16:45,890 --> 00:16:42,390 actors and actresses this is produced 384 00:16:47,780 --> 00:16:45,900 for purely entertainment or is it trying 385 00:16:50,540 --> 00:16:47,790 to convince the audience that this guy 386 00:16:52,570 --> 00:16:50,550 is a real psychic getting psychic 387 00:16:54,860 --> 00:16:52,580 messages absolutely there's no 388 00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:54,870 disclaimers saying the entertainment 389 00:16:58,610 --> 00:16:56,970 only it is and I've got lots of 390 00:17:01,670 --> 00:16:58,620 screenshots they might try to add that 391 00:17:03,470 --> 00:17:01,680 now but there wasn't then and no it's 392 00:17:06,199 --> 00:17:03,480 definitely I'm speaking to the dead and 393 00:17:08,990 --> 00:17:06,209 then if you read the comments from the 394 00:17:12,559 --> 00:17:09,000 people as they get you know posted on 395 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:12,569 YouTube these people are definitely like 396 00:17:15,949 --> 00:17:14,490 oh no I want a reading from him he I 397 00:17:18,590 --> 00:17:15,959 need to talk to me rather I need use 398 00:17:20,510 --> 00:17:18,600 this yeah one of the the Wendy 399 00:17:23,300 --> 00:17:20,520 Westmoreland was very interesting 400 00:17:25,340 --> 00:17:23,310 because her Facebook page had a picture 401 00:17:27,439 --> 00:17:25,350 of her brother who had died years ago 402 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:27,449 and she posted the picture on her 403 00:17:33,020 --> 00:17:29,810 Facebook page months before she did this 404 00:17:35,690 --> 00:17:33,030 taping for the show yeah and interesting 405 00:17:38,540 --> 00:17:35,700 enough he got that that brother with his 406 00:17:41,450 --> 00:17:38,550 name but I include on the article that I 407 00:17:45,620 --> 00:17:41,460 wrote called buckle up seatbelt psychic 408 00:17:47,470 --> 00:17:45,630 I included that screenshot so people can 409 00:17:51,740 --> 00:17:47,480 see that all the screenshots are are 410 00:17:53,750 --> 00:17:51,750 available so anyway the article I sent 411 00:17:56,090 --> 00:17:53,760 that to the reporter for the New York 412 00:17:58,190 --> 00:17:56,100 Times I said you know what you guys this 413 00:18:00,080 --> 00:17:58,200 has been two years almost and if you're 414 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:00,090 not going to publish anything I'm gonna 415 00:18:04,310 --> 00:18:02,490 publish this and he goes wait wait wait 416 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:04,320 wait and he went to his editor and the 417 00:18:10,340 --> 00:18:06,690 editors came back oh my gosh you know 418 00:18:13,010 --> 00:18:10,350 and so boom the articles started the 419 00:18:14,780 --> 00:18:13,020 process and within about six weeks we 420 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:14,790 got the New York Times article out which 421 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:16,010 is today 422 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:18,890 now and people are flooding my social 423 00:18:23,410 --> 00:18:21,650 media and I'm it's it's been wonderful 424 00:18:26,770 --> 00:18:23,420 the comments people are saying about 425 00:18:30,340 --> 00:18:26,780 time you know finally you know it's been 426 00:18:32,260 --> 00:18:30,350 great so to the nub of what we're saying 427 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:32,270 here folks is that there are people out 428 00:18:36,790 --> 00:18:34,570 there purporting to be psychic getting 429 00:18:39,790 --> 00:18:36,800 information from the mystical realms 430 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:39,800 where it's pretty clear pretty obvious 431 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:41,930 and with evidence to back it up they're 432 00:18:48,010 --> 00:18:44,450 getting their mystical insights from the 433 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:48,020 Internet realm mm-hmm I don't think it's 434 00:18:52,390 --> 00:18:49,730 this common as we think is it's really 435 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:52,400 hard to catch somebody doing that but I 436 00:18:57,820 --> 00:18:55,610 think that it's it is happening you know 437 00:18:59,470 --> 00:18:57,830 so I think that we you know there's not 438 00:19:01,450 --> 00:18:59,480 much you can do about it to be honest 439 00:19:03,310 --> 00:19:01,460 with you there's you can't close down 440 00:19:06,370 --> 00:19:03,320 your Facebook page your social media 441 00:19:08,650 --> 00:19:06,380 page that tightly that they couldn't get 442 00:19:10,090 --> 00:19:08,660 this information I promise you because 443 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:10,100 they can get it from your your brother 444 00:19:15,220 --> 00:19:12,290 your your mom or whoever's on your 445 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:15,230 Facebook page who who links to something 446 00:19:20,500 --> 00:19:18,530 and it's not we shouldn't hide from 447 00:19:22,300 --> 00:19:20,510 social media the thing is is that you 448 00:19:24,940 --> 00:19:22,310 should just be aware when somebody's 449 00:19:27,700 --> 00:19:24,950 saying something and you say there's no 450 00:19:30,250 --> 00:19:27,710 way they could have known that oh yeah 451 00:19:32,050 --> 00:19:30,260 there's hundreds if not a thousand ways 452 00:19:33,610 --> 00:19:32,060 they could know that I'm telling you 453 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:33,620 that if they want to find out something 454 00:19:38,020 --> 00:19:35,930 they can find out something and if you 455 00:19:39,850 --> 00:19:38,030 aren't a good mark they're gonna move to 456 00:19:43,750 --> 00:19:39,860 the next person next to you it's not 457 00:19:46,300 --> 00:19:43,760 hard so the way to handle this is to I'm 458 00:19:49,210 --> 00:19:46,310 not really so much into educating the 459 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:49,220 population I'm more interested in making 460 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:51,170 sure this psychic is really 461 00:19:56,010 --> 00:19:53,690 uncomfortable and that the the people 462 00:19:59,350 --> 00:19:56,020 who want to hire him for another TV show 463 00:20:01,600 --> 00:19:59,360 understand this guy has been busted big 464 00:20:04,450 --> 00:20:01,610 time and when they do a Google search or 465 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:04,460 find his Wikipedia page which is right 466 00:20:08,140 --> 00:20:06,170 there for everybody to find they're 467 00:20:10,090 --> 00:20:08,150 gonna go oh maybe we don't want to work 468 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:10,100 with this person well maybe this isn't 469 00:20:14,910 --> 00:20:11,930 such a good idea it's not entertainment 470 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:14,920 it's not fun this is not something that 471 00:20:21,370 --> 00:20:16,490 we should just 472 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:21,380 snidely say well you know whatever no no 473 00:20:26,500 --> 00:20:23,690 we this this kind of stuff really pisses 474 00:20:28,419 --> 00:20:26,510 me off and so that's why I do it 475 00:20:31,270 --> 00:20:28,429 and just quickly mentioning of course 476 00:20:33,039 --> 00:20:31,280 you talked about michelle in humpty dude 477 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:33,049 that's of course michelle Franklin who 478 00:20:37,659 --> 00:20:35,090 is one of the reporters right here on 479 00:20:41,590 --> 00:20:37,669 the skeptic zone absolutely she was a 480 00:20:45,789 --> 00:20:41,600 great help and also Stewart Jones yes 481 00:20:48,430 --> 00:20:45,799 yes he is he was a big help and we had 482 00:20:50,380 --> 00:20:48,440 somebody Daniel from New Zealand and 483 00:20:52,270 --> 00:20:50,390 lots of other people and they were 484 00:20:53,980 --> 00:20:52,280 located all over the world I just put up 485 00:20:55,900 --> 00:20:53,990 a post on Facebook and I said hey I'm 486 00:20:56,710 --> 00:20:55,910 gonna do a psychic sting I can't tell 487 00:20:58,930 --> 00:20:56,720 you who it's gonna be 488 00:21:01,180 --> 00:20:58,940 it's gonna be about two weeks worth of 489 00:21:03,039 --> 00:21:01,190 work you're only going to be managing 490 00:21:05,919 --> 00:21:03,049 Facebook pages it doesn't gonna cost you 491 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:05,929 anything and it may or may not work do 492 00:21:09,820 --> 00:21:07,370 you want to come into the group or not 493 00:21:11,919 --> 00:21:09,830 and people like me me me me me me me me 494 00:21:14,409 --> 00:21:11,929 and I got to about twelve people I said 495 00:21:16,270 --> 00:21:14,419 okay that's it you know we're done and 496 00:21:17,980 --> 00:21:16,280 so that's how I put together these 497 00:21:19,720 --> 00:21:17,990 stings and things you kind of have to be 498 00:21:22,270 --> 00:21:19,730 paying attention I'm not gonna go to 499 00:21:25,030 --> 00:21:22,280 people and say hey you over there I want 500 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:25,040 you to be on my team I'm not I'm looking 501 00:21:28,299 --> 00:21:26,570 for people who were just kind of hanging 502 00:21:29,950 --> 00:21:28,309 out and saying you know I'd like to do 503 00:21:32,230 --> 00:21:29,960 something oh look Susan just put up a 504 00:21:34,659 --> 00:21:32,240 post she needs somebody help I'm on it 505 00:21:36,190 --> 00:21:34,669 you know we don't want even flaking out 506 00:21:38,890 --> 00:21:36,200 on me I want people who are serious here 507 00:21:40,360 --> 00:21:38,900 gonna help apart from the article in The 508 00:21:44,110 --> 00:21:40,370 New York Times of course there are other 509 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:44,120 articles including over at si si look 510 00:21:49,060 --> 00:21:45,970 folks I'm gonna link it to all those 511 00:21:51,659 --> 00:21:49,070 Susan take a breath have a drink 512 00:21:54,250 --> 00:21:51,669 pet the cat do whatever you have to do 513 00:21:57,250 --> 00:21:54,260 it's you're really making the headlines 514 00:21:58,120 --> 00:21:57,260 at the moment I hope next month when I'm 515 00:22:00,340 --> 00:21:58,130 in California 516 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:00,350 somehow i hook or by crook i we can 517 00:22:05,620 --> 00:22:02,570 catch up that would be great I know 518 00:22:08,830 --> 00:22:05,630 you're gonna be speaking on Pi Day March 519 00:22:10,390 --> 00:22:08,840 14 I am yes out there in Berkeley and I 520 00:22:12,940 --> 00:22:10,400 would I would be there in a heartbeat 521 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:12,950 but in Monterey County with the Monterey 522 00:22:17,260 --> 00:22:14,570 County skeptics we're also having her 523 00:22:19,570 --> 00:22:17,270 own Pi Day with a with a lecture and 524 00:22:22,780 --> 00:22:19,580 we're gonna have a bunch of Pi so I 525 00:22:24,610 --> 00:22:22,790 think mine's gonna be more fun it might 526 00:22:27,159 --> 00:22:24,620 it might be I might have to bring my 527 00:22:28,659 --> 00:22:27,169 talk down to Monterey before long yeah I 528 00:22:31,539 --> 00:22:28,669 would love to have you down here that 529 00:22:34,510 --> 00:22:31,549 would be fabulous but Pi Day is kind of 530 00:22:35,980 --> 00:22:34,520 reserved for eating pie and we're 531 00:22:37,990 --> 00:22:35,990 inviting we're gonna have it at a local 532 00:22:42,220 --> 00:22:38,000 library and try to really get the 533 00:22:45,250 --> 00:22:42,230 the local library patron to come in and 534 00:22:48,550 --> 00:22:45,260 learn about science and eating pie and 535 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:48,560 how much fun as you know skeptics are 536 00:22:52,810 --> 00:22:50,330 you know find out that we're not that 537 00:22:55,540 --> 00:22:52,820 criminally no fun kind of person we're 538 00:22:58,930 --> 00:22:55,550 gonna be a blast I certainly hope so 539 00:23:01,870 --> 00:22:58,940 well but for now again take a breath 540 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:01,880 susan gerbic thank you very much thank 541 00:23:29,460 --> 00:23:03,930 you everyone 542 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:34,270 camilo [\h__\h] olace less habla Paola the 543 00:23:38,380 --> 00:23:35,690 de l'air Moses with other Buenos Aires 544 00:23:40,270 --> 00:23:38,390 in Argentina when the couch ammos 545 00:23:42,370 --> 00:23:40,280 podcasts a couch a moonless mimic a 546 00:23:45,010 --> 00:23:42,380 couch a todo el mundo como the skeptic 547 00:23:47,620 --> 00:23:45,020 zone ojala pueden venir a visit Ana's 548 00:23:50,290 --> 00:23:47,630 algun dia hace para makan Westra Ricky 549 00:23:57,190 --> 00:23:50,300 Sima comida localize yeah podemos hablar 550 00:23:59,140 --> 00:23:57,200 un tango mientras tanto sugandha fruit 551 00:24:07,810 --> 00:23:59,150 and OD pseudo see Simonelli ciencia de 552 00:24:07,820 --> 00:24:20,350 [Music] 553 00:24:27,110 --> 00:24:24,770 and now we continue our series of 554 00:24:29,630 --> 00:24:27,120 articles reports interviews items from 555 00:24:34,970 --> 00:24:29,640 the skeptic the Journal of Australian 556 00:24:41,270 --> 00:24:34,980 skeptics we turn to autumn 1995 volume 557 00:24:47,360 --> 00:24:41,280 15 number 1 on page 41 under the title 558 00:24:52,580 --> 00:24:47,370 of alternative therapy homeo pathetic by 559 00:24:54,710 --> 00:24:52,590 Jim Delta recently I had occasion to 560 00:24:57,620 --> 00:24:54,720 call at local medical clinic for 561 00:25:00,260 --> 00:24:57,630 immunization against hepatitis B while 562 00:25:03,140 --> 00:25:00,270 waiting I browsed the many free leaflets 563 00:25:05,919 --> 00:25:03,150 on the waiting room table I was 564 00:25:09,250 --> 00:25:05,929 disturbed to find a pamphlet entitled 565 00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:09,260 homeopathy the quiet achiever of 566 00:25:14,840 --> 00:25:12,510 hiv/aids treatment the extravagant 567 00:25:17,510 --> 00:25:14,850 claims of the feature article so 568 00:25:19,539 --> 00:25:17,520 confidently elucidated sent me wondering 569 00:25:22,610 --> 00:25:19,549 as to the value of my impending 570 00:25:25,460 --> 00:25:22,620 immunization I made my concerns clear to 571 00:25:28,610 --> 00:25:25,470 the administrating doctor who rolled her 572 00:25:30,770 --> 00:25:28,620 eyes in exasperation she expressed her 573 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:30,780 own concerns at the existence of such 574 00:25:36,710 --> 00:25:33,690 medical sabotage and the difficulty it 575 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:36,720 causes her profession she had no say in 576 00:25:42,460 --> 00:25:39,410 policy on such material being available 577 00:25:46,010 --> 00:25:42,470 much of it is delivered by outside 578 00:25:48,799 --> 00:25:46,020 support groups for hiv-positive patrons 579 00:25:50,620 --> 00:25:48,809 the fact that such material is tolerated 580 00:25:52,850 --> 00:25:50,630 by a legitimate medical clinic 581 00:25:56,630 --> 00:25:52,860 demonstrates the inroads that this 582 00:25:59,500 --> 00:25:56,640 magical medical mythology has made into 583 00:26:02,150 --> 00:25:59,510 respectable medical institutions 584 00:26:03,700 --> 00:26:02,160 fortunately only legitimate medical 585 00:26:06,169 --> 00:26:03,710 treatment was available at the clinic 586 00:26:09,470 --> 00:26:06,179 provided by properly qualified medical 587 00:26:11,900 --> 00:26:09,480 people most disturbing however is that 588 00:26:14,750 --> 00:26:11,910 this particular clinic is a major centre 589 00:26:17,510 --> 00:26:14,760 treatment for HIV positive cases in the 590 00:26:20,330 --> 00:26:17,520 region the dangers of this poppycock are 591 00:26:22,669 --> 00:26:20,340 very real one can imagine seriously ill 592 00:26:25,460 --> 00:26:22,679 people forgoing crucial medical 593 00:26:29,690 --> 00:26:25,470 treatment due to the influence of such 594 00:26:32,149 --> 00:26:29,700 drivel some exerts follow in 595 00:26:34,100 --> 00:26:32,159 referencing the early 1800s do you do 596 00:26:36,409 --> 00:26:34,110 its dramatic effectiveness against many 597 00:26:39,649 --> 00:26:36,419 of the serious epidemic illnesses of the 598 00:26:41,930 --> 00:26:39,659 time such as cholera typhoid and scarlet 599 00:26:44,210 --> 00:26:41,940 fever regarding a cholera outbreak in 600 00:26:47,450 --> 00:26:44,220 London the death rate of those treated 601 00:26:50,149 --> 00:26:47,460 by Orthodox doctors was around 52% those 602 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:50,159 treated by homeopaths had a 13% death 603 00:26:56,509 --> 00:26:53,330 rate for an american cholera epidemic 604 00:27:01,899 --> 00:26:56,519 treated by orthodox doctors had a death 605 00:27:05,029 --> 00:27:01,909 braid are between 48 and 60% only 3% of 606 00:27:08,210 --> 00:27:05,039 1116 patients under homeopathic care 607 00:27:10,039 --> 00:27:08,220 died this compares favorably with modern 608 00:27:12,350 --> 00:27:10,049 medical treatment of cholera 609 00:27:15,110 --> 00:27:12,360 the text is littered with more equally 610 00:27:18,110 --> 00:27:15,120 extravagant claims and there is the 611 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:18,120 usual allusion to conspiracies to 612 00:27:24,230 --> 00:27:21,690 conceal the truth about homeopathy if 613 00:27:26,060 --> 00:27:24,240 homeopathy was as effective as claimed 614 00:27:28,700 --> 00:27:26,070 in clinical trials would have 615 00:27:31,009 --> 00:27:28,710 established it resoundingly and doctors 616 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:31,019 would have to accept it eglee it's 617 00:27:35,690 --> 00:27:33,210 dramatic success would have caused the 618 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:35,700 homeopathic led extinctions of many 619 00:27:41,690 --> 00:27:37,730 infectious diseases such as smallpox 620 00:27:43,730 --> 00:27:41,700 long before devious modern medical 621 00:27:46,730 --> 00:27:43,740 practices had a chance 622 00:27:49,519 --> 00:27:46,740 modern medicine now has polio on the 623 00:27:52,490 --> 00:27:49,529 verge of extinction homeopathy has made 624 00:27:54,259 --> 00:27:52,500 no contribution to this finally some of 625 00:27:55,850 --> 00:27:54,269 the references accompanying the text 626 00:27:58,430 --> 00:27:55,860 presumably the source of these 627 00:28:03,220 --> 00:27:58,440 statistics regarding the effectiveness 628 00:28:07,190 --> 00:28:03,230 of homeopathy were dated 1900 1866 and 629 00:28:09,710 --> 00:28:07,200 1890 to maybe their great antiquity in 630 00:28:12,889 --> 00:28:09,720 boozed them with credibility and the 631 00:28:16,310 --> 00:28:12,899 homeopathy with credulity after all if 632 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:16,320 it's old it must be good the truth of 633 00:28:21,879 --> 00:28:18,570 homeopathy is of course that it has been 634 00:28:25,250 --> 00:28:21,889 found to be ineffective considering its 635 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:25,260 170 so years of existence it has not 636 00:28:30,769 --> 00:28:28,250 been able to effectively immunize anyone 637 00:28:33,350 --> 00:28:30,779 modern immunization on the other hand 638 00:28:36,500 --> 00:28:33,360 has produced dramatic results as the 639 00:28:38,619 --> 00:28:36,510 following figures testify figures for 640 00:28:43,410 --> 00:28:38,629 infectious diseases in the United States 641 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:43,420 disease measles date 1917 642 00:28:47,820 --> 00:28:45,370 five hundred and twenty seven thousand 643 00:28:55,220 --> 00:28:47,830 one hundred and thirty six post 644 00:29:00,420 --> 00:28:55,230 immunization cases 1987 3655 and if we 645 00:29:02,940 --> 00:29:00,430 leave the text for a moment I understand 646 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:02,950 that there has been a recent resurgence 647 00:29:07,650 --> 00:29:06,490 in measles thanks largely to the 648 00:29:10,500 --> 00:29:07,660 anti-vaxxer 649 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:10,510 and I think this is in various places 650 00:29:17,490 --> 00:29:13,210 around the world back to the article 651 00:29:19,080 --> 00:29:17,500 disease whooping cough in 1927 one 652 00:29:22,010 --> 00:29:19,090 hundred and eighty one thousand four 653 00:29:28,950 --> 00:29:22,020 hundred eleven cases post immunization 654 00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:28,960 1987 2823 the list goes on with results 655 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:32,110 for diphtheria particularly striking in 656 00:29:37,260 --> 00:29:35,050 1927 we had one hundred and six thousand 657 00:29:40,460 --> 00:29:37,270 nine hundred and twenty four and then 658 00:29:43,290 --> 00:29:40,470 post immunization we have three and 659 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:43,300 polio I guess is probably the most 660 00:29:48,630 --> 00:29:46,570 traumatic in 1947 ten thousand eight 661 00:29:50,580 --> 00:29:48,640 hundred and forty seven cases post 662 00:29:54,300 --> 00:29:50,590 immunization in nineteen eighty seven 663 00:29:57,300 --> 00:29:54,310 nil in Australia the improvement ratio 664 00:29:59,280 --> 00:29:57,310 is similar in recent years UNICEF and 665 00:30:01,470 --> 00:29:59,290 the World Health Organization estimate 666 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:01,480 that 1 million three hundred thousand 667 00:30:06,420 --> 00:30:03,730 deaths from vaccine preventable diseases 668 00:30:08,900 --> 00:30:06,430 have been averted by their immunization 669 00:30:11,220 --> 00:30:08,910 program but there's a long way to go 670 00:30:13,050 --> 00:30:11,230 homeopaths claim that some modern 671 00:30:16,860 --> 00:30:13,060 medical practices are based on the 672 00:30:19,710 --> 00:30:16,870 homeopathic rule of similars for example 673 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:19,720 like will cure like they cite as an 674 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:21,850 example the vaccination against smallpox 675 00:30:28,190 --> 00:30:25,690 with cow pox however cow pox does not 676 00:30:31,050 --> 00:30:28,200 cause the same symptoms as smallpox 677 00:30:34,590 --> 00:30:31,060 vaccination against smallpox with cow 678 00:30:36,870 --> 00:30:34,600 pox was used because of the observation 679 00:30:40,230 --> 00:30:36,880 that milkmaids who had been infected 680 00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:40,240 with cow pox did not contract smallpox 681 00:30:46,620 --> 00:30:43,690 Hahnemann who invented homeopathy noted 682 00:30:49,410 --> 00:30:46,630 that Quinn teen produced in himself the 683 00:30:52,590 --> 00:30:49,420 symptoms of malaria and concluded that 684 00:30:54,690 --> 00:30:52,600 like will be cured by and like in 685 00:30:56,680 --> 00:30:54,700 practice the use of Quinn een is 686 00:30:58,900 --> 00:30:56,690 contrary to this principle 687 00:31:02,230 --> 00:30:58,910 for example if Hanuman was correct a 688 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:02,240 high potent eyes preparation from an 689 00:31:07,060 --> 00:31:04,370 initial Quinn example would treat 690 00:31:10,060 --> 00:31:07,070 malaria far better than the ridiculously 691 00:31:12,210 --> 00:31:10,070 low potency are we perfectly speaking of 692 00:31:14,770 --> 00:31:12,220 a concentrated dose of Quinn in 693 00:31:16,780 --> 00:31:14,780 homeopaths do not typically use a small 694 00:31:20,550 --> 00:31:16,790 dose of a substance by their own 695 00:31:23,860 --> 00:31:20,560 admission they use a non-existent dose 696 00:31:25,720 --> 00:31:23,870 even so Dana Ullman the author of 697 00:31:29,140 --> 00:31:25,730 homeopathic medicine for children and 698 00:31:32,050 --> 00:31:29,150 infants seems unable to be reconciled 699 00:31:34,780 --> 00:31:32,060 with this and persists in referring to 700 00:31:37,330 --> 00:31:34,790 this extremely small dose he charges 701 00:31:39,580 --> 00:31:37,340 that most skeptics are so unfamiliar 702 00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:39,590 with homeopathy that they cannot even 703 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:42,770 describe the basic principles and they 704 00:31:47,740 --> 00:31:44,530 object to it on the basis of the 705 00:31:49,390 --> 00:31:47,750 extremely small doses not only is almond 706 00:31:52,120 --> 00:31:49,400 apparently unfamiliar with the major 707 00:31:54,130 --> 00:31:52,130 objections of the skeptics but he seems 708 00:31:57,010 --> 00:31:54,140 embarrassed by the fundamental 709 00:32:00,400 --> 00:31:57,020 homeopathic principle mystical energy 710 00:32:03,430 --> 00:32:00,410 transfer firstly the objection of 711 00:32:06,420 --> 00:32:03,440 skeptics is not just the quote extremely 712 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:06,430 small doses and quote but because of 713 00:32:11,890 --> 00:32:09,410 non-existent doses it is admitted by 714 00:32:14,350 --> 00:32:11,900 homeopaths that not even one molecule of 715 00:32:17,890 --> 00:32:14,360 the original substance remains in the 716 00:32:20,550 --> 00:32:17,900 typical homeopathic medicine secondly 717 00:32:23,110 --> 00:32:20,560 omen seems loathed to mention the 718 00:32:25,810 --> 00:32:23,120 principle by which homeopathy has 719 00:32:28,330 --> 00:32:25,820 traditionally been claimed to work the 720 00:32:31,060 --> 00:32:28,340 idea that some mystical energy unknown 721 00:32:33,910 --> 00:32:31,070 to science purported to be transferred 722 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:33,920 from delusion to delusion by shaking on 723 00:32:40,150 --> 00:32:37,490 pages 7 to 9 he manages to explain the 724 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:40,160 making of homeopathic preparation potent 725 00:32:45,820 --> 00:32:43,490 ization the delusion out of existence of 726 00:32:48,130 --> 00:32:45,830 the active ingredient and the alleged 727 00:32:50,710 --> 00:32:48,140 increase in potency with each delusion 728 00:32:53,530 --> 00:32:50,720 without once mentioning this mystical 729 00:32:56,560 --> 00:32:53,540 energy transfer a fundamental principle 730 00:32:59,530 --> 00:32:56,570 of homeopathy and one which skeptics 731 00:33:01,590 --> 00:32:59,540 object to one gets the distinct 732 00:33:05,140 --> 00:33:01,600 impression that he would rather avoid 733 00:33:06,910 --> 00:33:05,150 mentioning it woman attempts to support 734 00:33:09,730 --> 00:33:06,920 his argument with references to the 735 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:09,740 ability of sharks to detect extremely 736 00:33:12,549 --> 00:33:10,610 small 737 00:33:15,820 --> 00:33:12,559 concentrations of blood in the water and 738 00:33:18,390 --> 00:33:15,830 the ability of moths to detect only a 739 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:18,400 few molecules of a pheromone in the air 740 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:21,290 however the molecules have to be present 741 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:23,570 in order to be detected and it takes 742 00:33:28,510 --> 00:33:25,970 highly specialized receptors to detect 743 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:28,520 them nor has the surrounding water been 744 00:33:35,500 --> 00:33:32,090 potent eyes a very precise farm logical 745 00:33:37,780 --> 00:33:35,510 process according to homeopaths the fact 746 00:33:41,049 --> 00:33:37,790 that it is not known why certain modern 747 00:33:43,180 --> 00:33:41,059 drugs work does not give credence to the 748 00:33:46,270 --> 00:33:43,190 homeopathic cause as omen would have us 749 00:33:48,669 --> 00:33:46,280 believe that they do work can be 750 00:33:50,470 --> 00:33:48,679 verified in rigorous clinical trials 751 00:33:53,620 --> 00:33:50,480 something that cannot be done for 752 00:33:55,930 --> 00:33:53,630 homeopathy if homeopathy worked then an 753 00:33:58,930 --> 00:33:55,940 effective alternative cure for scurvy 754 00:34:00,820 --> 00:33:58,940 would be a potent Thais preparation 755 00:34:04,539 --> 00:34:00,830 delivered from a substance that produces 756 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:04,549 the symptoms of scurvy of course the 757 00:34:09,250 --> 00:34:06,970 proper cure for scurvy is vitamin C 758 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:09,260 preferably by eating fresh fruit and 759 00:34:14,109 --> 00:34:11,090 vegetables what is particularly 760 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:14,119 disturbing about almonds book is that it 761 00:34:20,590 --> 00:34:17,770 is marketed as medicine for children 762 00:34:22,510 --> 00:34:20,600 while it does occasionally direct the 763 00:34:25,800 --> 00:34:22,520 reader to seek modern medical attention 764 00:34:30,099 --> 00:34:25,810 for serious diseases and illnesses it 765 00:34:32,590 --> 00:34:30,109 consistently undermines this advice best 766 00:34:34,510 --> 00:34:32,600 illustrated by example asthma is a 767 00:34:36,849 --> 00:34:34,520 potentially serious and even 768 00:34:38,590 --> 00:34:36,859 life-threatening condition infants and 769 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:38,600 children with asthma should receive 770 00:34:42,310 --> 00:34:39,530 medical attention 771 00:34:43,869 --> 00:34:42,320 be aware that conventional drugs used 772 00:34:46,899 --> 00:34:43,879 for treating asthma particularly 773 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:46,909 steroids can impair immune function and 774 00:34:52,000 --> 00:34:49,850 lead to more serious health problems the 775 00:34:55,300 --> 00:34:52,010 following remedies can reduce the 776 00:34:58,210 --> 00:34:55,310 distress that an acute attack can create 777 00:35:00,730 --> 00:34:58,220 but homeopathic constitutional care is 778 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:00,740 necessary to achieve a lasting cure the 779 00:35:06,010 --> 00:35:02,210 constant use throughout the book of 780 00:35:08,260 --> 00:35:06,020 words like remedy and cure in relation 781 00:35:10,359 --> 00:35:08,270 to serious diseases including some with 782 00:35:12,250 --> 00:35:10,369 no known cure is a dangerous line 783 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:12,260 children who are denied proper 784 00:35:17,859 --> 00:35:14,690 medication for asthma are having their 785 00:35:19,990 --> 00:35:17,869 lives placed in jeopardy modern medicine 786 00:35:22,180 --> 00:35:20,000 is criticized when it uses animals on 787 00:35:24,530 --> 00:35:22,190 which to test new medicines and 788 00:35:26,030 --> 00:35:24,540 techniques the alternative 789 00:35:29,200 --> 00:35:26,040 Edinson community has solved this 790 00:35:31,970 --> 00:35:29,210 problem they used their own children a 791 00:35:35,360 --> 00:35:31,980 curious thing caught my eye on the verso 792 00:35:38,330 --> 00:35:35,370 of the title page they're arrogantly 793 00:35:40,670 --> 00:35:38,340 displayed in bold type other words the 794 00:35:44,090 --> 00:35:40,680 moral right of the author has been 795 00:35:50,270 --> 00:35:44,100 asserted obviously this is alternative 796 00:35:53,570 --> 00:35:50,280 morality and that was Hermia pathetic by 797 00:35:56,270 --> 00:35:53,580 Jim Carter published in volume fifteen 798 00:35:58,490 --> 00:35:56,280 number one of the skeptic magazine the 799 00:36:00,740 --> 00:35:58,500 journal from Australian skeptics one of 800 00:36:01,970 --> 00:36:00,750 the thousands of articles items reports 801 00:36:06,470 --> 00:36:01,980 and interviews available at your 802 00:36:09,340 --> 00:36:06,480 fingertips by visiting WWF Descamps 803 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:09,350 today you 804 00:36:20,949 --> 00:36:19,179 calling all skeptics or listeners do you 805 00:36:23,679 --> 00:36:20,959 live in or near Glasgow 806 00:36:25,689 --> 00:36:23,689 are you planning to visit something then 807 00:36:27,789 --> 00:36:25,699 you're in luck because the Glasgow 808 00:36:30,789 --> 00:36:27,799 skeptics have got your Monday nights 809 00:36:33,189 --> 00:36:30,799 sorted we are committed to filling up 810 00:36:35,829 --> 00:36:33,199 every available Monday night talks on 811 00:36:38,019 --> 00:36:35,839 science and skepticism past speakers 812 00:36:39,789 --> 00:36:38,029 include Eugenie Scott Jerry Coyne 813 00:36:41,829 --> 00:36:39,799 Michael Marshall Nate Phelps 814 00:36:45,759 --> 00:36:41,839 tormund Cecil from cognitive dissonance 815 00:36:47,829 --> 00:36:45,769 PZ Myers Richard Wiseman EC drilling nor 816 00:36:50,409 --> 00:36:47,839 Heath and Eli from the scathing atheist 817 00:36:52,659 --> 00:36:50,419 Simon Singh Rebecca Watson and a 818 00:36:55,059 --> 00:36:52,669 multitude of local academics and 819 00:36:57,130 --> 00:36:55,069 sceptics there's literally nothing 820 00:36:57,849 --> 00:36:57,140 better you can do on a Monday night in 821 00:36:59,650 --> 00:36:57,859 Glasgow 822 00:37:02,589 --> 00:36:59,660 it doesn't involve taking your clothes 823 00:37:04,839 --> 00:37:02,599 off so come join us we've also got a 824 00:37:07,150 --> 00:37:04,849 vibrant online community you can find us 825 00:37:09,459 --> 00:37:07,160 on Facebook Twitter and get involved 826 00:37:14,910 --> 00:37:09,469 with the discussion Glasgow skeptics 827 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:25,920 [Music] 828 00:37:29,289 --> 00:37:28,479 thank you for listening a skip exam get 829 00:37:32,019 --> 00:37:29,299 better soon 830 00:37:34,749 --> 00:37:32,029 Saunders now if you are in Sydney on the 831 00:37:37,779 --> 00:37:34,759 16th of March come along to my gig 832 00:37:40,120 --> 00:37:37,789 maina's Love Shack that's at 36 glib 833 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:40,130 foot road in Sydney only ten bucks from 834 00:37:44,289 --> 00:37:42,650 eight till four upstairs at the red bar 835 00:37:46,539 --> 00:37:44,299 there we'll be doing all sorts of groove 836 00:37:49,689 --> 00:37:46,549 all night on 16th of March of interested 837 00:37:52,390 --> 00:37:49,699 to see how skeptics can dance or if they 838 00:37:54,130 --> 00:37:52,400 can I'm skeptical about skeptics dancing 839 00:37:56,170 --> 00:37:54,140 that's Mainers Love Shack and there's a 840 00:37:57,519 --> 00:37:56,180 link to it in the show notes here and if 841 00:37:59,349 --> 00:37:57,529 you're in Canberra why not go along to 842 00:38:02,920 --> 00:37:59,359 new talk hosted by the local skeptics 843 00:38:06,009 --> 00:38:02,930 they're talking plane about gmos that's 844 00:38:08,709 --> 00:38:06,019 on Tuesday the 12th of March from 6 to 845 00:38:10,839 --> 00:38:08,719 7:30 it's at the Belk : community 846 00:38:12,999 --> 00:38:10,849 service center and it's free that's a 847 00:38:15,910 --> 00:38:13,009 12th of March 6 o'clock with the camera 848 00:38:18,910 --> 00:38:15,920 skeptics link in this week's show Nats 849 00:38:20,380 --> 00:38:18,920 and finally Richard Saunders himself 850 00:38:22,569 --> 00:38:20,390 will be giving it to big it's a big one 851 00:38:24,759 --> 00:38:22,579 this Thursday night is a big one clear 852 00:38:26,079 --> 00:38:24,769 your calendars anybody in Sydney that's 853 00:38:27,729 --> 00:38:26,089 right Richard Saunders will be giving a 854 00:38:29,589 --> 00:38:27,739 talk about psychic detectives it's 855 00:38:32,229 --> 00:38:29,599 Thursday night at Sydney skeptics in the 856 00:38:35,949 --> 00:38:32,239 pub or maybe he'll be giving a croak or 857 00:38:43,270 --> 00:38:35,959 something or maybe he'll just be making 858 00:38:50,420 --> 00:38:45,500 that's a noisy audience we're making I 859 00:38:52,250 --> 00:38:50,430 think he'll be making this noise he's 860 00:38:54,080 --> 00:38:52,260 such a drinker that's this Thursday 861 00:38:56,630 --> 00:38:54,090 night Cindy skeptics in the pub all 862 00:38:58,400 --> 00:38:56,640 about psychic detectives with Richard 863 00:39:00,620 --> 00:38:58,410 Saunders so go there or just be 864 00:39:04,520 --> 00:39:00,630 somewhere else as I like to say skeptic 865 00:39:08,980 --> 00:39:04,530 up skeptic down skeptic out of town see 866 00:39:15,190 --> 00:39:11,510 you've been listening to the skeptic 867 00:39:20,180 --> 00:39:15,200 zone podcast please visit our website at 868 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:20,190 WWDC be for show notes contacts and to 869 00:39:26,630 --> 00:39:23,010 access the bat catalog of episodes going 870 00:39:29,440 --> 00:39:26,640 back to 2008 you can follow the skeptic 871 00:39:32,180 --> 00:39:29,450 zone podcast on twitter at skeptic zone 872 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:32,190 visit our facebook page or leave a 873 00:39:38,570 --> 00:39:35,610 review on itunes you can also support 874 00:39:41,000 --> 00:39:38,580 the skeptic zone via patreon or PayPal 875 00:39:43,670 --> 00:39:41,010 the skeptic zone podcast is an 876 00:39:45,500 --> 00:39:43,680 independent production reviews and 877 00:39:47,750 --> 00:39:45,510 opinions expressed on the skeptic zone 878 00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:47,760 are not necessarily those of Australian 879 00:39:51,160 --> 00:39:50,310 skeptics or any other sceptical 880 00:39:54,750 --> 00:39:51,170 organisation 881 00:40:02,720 --> 00:39:54,760 [Music] 882 00:40:09,630 --> 00:40:02,730 oh then what what what a great effort 883 00:40:12,060 --> 00:40:09,640 thank you thank you thank you it really