1 00:00:11,860 --> 00:00:09,110 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 2 00:00:13,930 --> 00:00:11,870 from Australia for science and reason 3 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:13,940 [Music] 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:16,850 [Applause] 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:22,130 [Music] 6 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:24,690 yes it's the skeptics own podcast 7 00:00:30,950 --> 00:00:28,410 episode number 612 for the fifth of July 8 00:00:34,250 --> 00:00:30,960 2020 reach at saunders coming to you 9 00:00:36,650 --> 00:00:34,260 this week from Sydney Australia which is 10 00:00:40,430 --> 00:00:36,660 hardly a surprise cuz travel at the 11 00:00:43,220 --> 00:00:40,440 moment is a bit difficult yeah 12 00:00:44,689 --> 00:00:43,230 coming up on this week's show somewhere 13 00:00:47,540 --> 00:00:44,699 I wouldn't mind travelling to at the 14 00:00:50,470 --> 00:00:47,550 moment Hollywood we talked to James 15 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:50,480 Underdown from the center for inquiry 16 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:53,130 investigations group in Hollywood he's 17 00:01:00,680 --> 00:00:56,250 going to tell us about the newly bumped 18 00:01:02,540 --> 00:01:00,690 up prize for paranormal power now there 19 00:01:05,859 --> 00:01:02,550 are various prizes around the world for 20 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:05,869 any psychic or mystic or healer or 21 00:01:12,620 --> 00:01:09,330 medium small medium or large who can 22 00:01:14,180 --> 00:01:12,630 prove their paranormal claims and there 23 00:01:16,430 --> 00:01:14,190 are thousands upon thousands of people 24 00:01:19,010 --> 00:01:16,440 around the world claiming paranormal 25 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:19,020 power of one degree or another they can 26 00:01:23,590 --> 00:01:20,610 talk with the dead they can find hidden 27 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:23,600 water they can do all sorts of things 28 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:25,410 even homeopathy 29 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:27,690 well now the prize has been bumped up to 30 00:01:31,820 --> 00:01:29,250 two hundred and fifty thousand dollars 31 00:01:33,740 --> 00:01:31,830 u.s. which is a lot more than two 32 00:01:36,410 --> 00:01:33,750 hundred and fifty thousand dollars in 33 00:01:36,980 --> 00:01:36,420 australia james Underdown will tell us 34 00:01:39,430 --> 00:01:36,990 about that 35 00:01:42,139 --> 00:01:39,440 and some of the people the 36 00:01:44,960 --> 00:01:42,149 investigations group have tested over 37 00:01:46,430 --> 00:01:44,970 the years following that it's logical 38 00:01:48,199 --> 00:01:46,440 fallacies with Michelle because Marv 39 00:01:51,350 --> 00:01:48,209 this week Michelle's going to be look at 40 00:01:54,529 --> 00:01:51,360 the the fallacy of relative privation 41 00:01:57,440 --> 00:01:54,539 and to round off this week's show it's 42 00:02:00,290 --> 00:01:57,450 the book of Tim Tim Mendham with what 43 00:02:01,669 --> 00:02:00,300 goes around from the pages of the 44 00:02:03,589 --> 00:02:01,679 skeptic magazine the journal from 45 00:02:05,540 --> 00:02:03,599 Australian skeptics this week's were 46 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:05,550 looking at ghosts and ghouls and that 47 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:08,250 sort of thing oh and somewhere in this 48 00:02:12,229 --> 00:02:09,929 week's episode someone writes a letter 49 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:12,239 about a cookbook not sure what that's 50 00:02:16,550 --> 00:02:14,090 all about we'll find out a bit later on 51 00:02:19,010 --> 00:02:16,560 now folks I've been enjoying lots of 52 00:02:22,390 --> 00:02:19,020 online skeptical talks lately I've even 53 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:22,400 given a few susan gerbic is particularly 54 00:02:29,119 --> 00:02:26,970 busy she appeared here in Sydney 55 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:29,129 Australia for our Sydney skeptics in the 56 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:32,010 pub to give us a talk on Thursday night 57 00:02:36,230 --> 00:02:34,050 last which meant 58 00:02:38,690 --> 00:02:36,240 had to stay up to 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. 59 00:02:42,350 --> 00:02:38,700 to give her talk so hats off susan 60 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:42,360 gerbic well done it's it's weird and you 61 00:02:47,750 --> 00:02:45,810 know because now everyone's on line to 62 00:02:49,910 --> 00:02:47,760 give talks and hear talks well sometimes 63 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:49,920 you have to get up at weird hours of the 64 00:02:54,830 --> 00:02:52,770 day or the night or both to the take 65 00:02:58,610 --> 00:02:54,840 part or listen to talks but it's great 66 00:03:02,180 --> 00:02:58,620 that they are available and speaking of 67 00:03:05,330 --> 00:03:02,190 online talks check out the skeptics in 68 00:03:07,940 --> 00:03:05,340 the pub online from the UK if you go to 69 00:03:10,310 --> 00:03:07,950 Facebook and just look for skeptics in 70 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:10,320 the pub online I'll put a link in this 71 00:03:15,500 --> 00:03:11,970 week's show notes they have regular 72 00:03:18,710 --> 00:03:15,510 talks coming out of the UK with a very 73 00:03:21,110 --> 00:03:18,720 interesting guests indeed with all sorts 74 00:03:23,090 --> 00:03:21,120 of points of view well if we can't go to 75 00:03:26,210 --> 00:03:23,100 the pub and enjoy a nice dinner and a 76 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:26,220 drink at least we can do the same at 77 00:03:31,250 --> 00:03:29,610 home and in fact there's a promotion a 78 00:03:35,390 --> 00:03:31,260 bit later on in the show I played a week 79 00:03:38,180 --> 00:03:35,400 or two back about enjoying Victorian 80 00:03:39,490 --> 00:03:38,190 skeptics talks online stay tuned at the 81 00:03:43,340 --> 00:03:39,500 end of the episode for more 82 00:03:46,820 --> 00:03:43,350 announcements from me now it's time for 83 00:03:52,070 --> 00:03:46,830 me to run downstairs have a particularly 84 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:52,080 large mug of hot chocolate a good excuse 85 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:54,390 for some luxuriating I think all I do 86 00:03:57,670 --> 00:03:56,850 that I hope you enjoy this skeptics 87 00:04:05,230 --> 00:03:57,680 earned 88 00:04:21,150 --> 00:04:05,240 [Music] 89 00:04:23,790 --> 00:04:21,160 now folks for many years the Australian 90 00:04:26,420 --> 00:04:23,800 skeptics have been offering a $100,000 91 00:04:29,490 --> 00:04:26,430 prize for anyone who can prove 92 00:04:32,850 --> 00:04:29,500 paranormal or supernatural ability of 93 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:32,860 any kind under agreed testing conditions 94 00:04:39,020 --> 00:04:35,530 and this brings me to a recent 95 00:04:43,170 --> 00:04:39,030 announcement from the Center for inquiry 96 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:43,180 investigations group psychic telepathic 97 00:04:49,740 --> 00:04:47,140 telekinetic prove it and win two hundred 98 00:04:51,740 --> 00:04:49,750 and fifty thousand dollars for two 99 00:04:54,090 --> 00:04:51,750 decades the Center for inquiry 100 00:04:55,530 --> 00:04:54,100 investigations group has offered those 101 00:04:59,070 --> 00:04:55,540 who profess to have supernatural 102 00:05:02,160 --> 00:04:59,080 paranormal or occult abilities the 103 00:05:03,750 --> 00:05:02,170 opportunity to definitively prove their 104 00:05:07,230 --> 00:05:03,760 claims under mutually agreed-upon 105 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:07,240 testing conditions many have tried but 106 00:05:14,520 --> 00:05:10,690 no one has successfully passed the CFI 107 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:14,530 IG challenge and there is still a parade 108 00:05:18,930 --> 00:05:16,450 of self professed psychics and mediums 109 00:05:21,870 --> 00:05:18,940 who claim to have special powers but 110 00:05:26,220 --> 00:05:21,880 none have allowed themselves to be truly 111 00:05:30,060 --> 00:05:26,230 tested so see if I IG is raising the 112 00:05:32,790 --> 00:05:30,070 stakes offering what was once a $100,000 113 00:05:38,379 --> 00:05:32,800 prize and bumping it up to two hundred 114 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:41,990 joining me now all the way from amazing 115 00:05:45,890 --> 00:05:44,970 spectacular must be a bit strange these 116 00:05:47,870 --> 00:05:45,900 days Hollywood 117 00:05:50,719 --> 00:05:47,880 it's James Underdown from the Center for 118 00:05:53,719 --> 00:05:50,729 inquiry investigations group hello James 119 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:53,729 hi Richard good to talk to you yeah it's 120 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:55,710 good to see you too I don't think we've 121 00:05:59,750 --> 00:05:57,330 seen each other for a while we usually 122 00:06:03,230 --> 00:05:59,760 made up at these conferences and 123 00:06:05,420 --> 00:06:03,240 meetings don't we yeah uh seems like Las 124 00:06:07,939 --> 00:06:05,430 Vegas is where we see each other most 125 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:07,949 but you get to LA every now and then no 126 00:06:11,870 --> 00:06:09,690 don't you every now and then I don't 127 00:06:13,850 --> 00:06:11,880 know when the next time will be it might 128 00:06:16,460 --> 00:06:13,860 be a while well especially now that 129 00:06:20,210 --> 00:06:16,470 America has become the pariah of all 130 00:06:22,909 --> 00:06:20,220 countries and in terms of travel yeah 131 00:06:24,770 --> 00:06:22,919 who knows yeah I must admit it's not 132 00:06:27,740 --> 00:06:24,780 looking too good at the moment but let's 133 00:06:30,159 --> 00:06:27,750 talk about some other things to try and 134 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:30,169 take people's minds off the current 135 00:06:35,270 --> 00:06:33,289 calamity tell me about the 136 00:06:39,020 --> 00:06:35,280 investigations group when did it start 137 00:06:43,310 --> 00:06:39,030 why did it start and what do you do we 138 00:06:48,830 --> 00:06:43,320 started the iig at the two buildings ago 139 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:48,840 at the Center for inquiry and in 2000 in 140 00:06:56,260 --> 00:06:52,289 January of 2000 so were four just were 141 00:07:00,560 --> 00:06:56,270 20 and a half as of this recording and 142 00:07:03,409 --> 00:07:00,570 you know the idea of it was the people I 143 00:07:07,339 --> 00:07:03,419 I started the group but I brought people 144 00:07:11,510 --> 00:07:07,349 in who were big fans of James Randi big 145 00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:11,520 fans of Joe Nickell big fans a skeptical 146 00:07:16,490 --> 00:07:14,610 inquirer and we were interested in all 147 00:07:18,790 --> 00:07:16,500 this stuff and we thought well you know 148 00:07:22,330 --> 00:07:18,800 we have all these talented individuals 149 00:07:24,980 --> 00:07:22,340 right here in Los Angeles why don't we 150 00:07:27,129 --> 00:07:24,990 poke around a little bit into some of 151 00:07:29,930 --> 00:07:27,139 these claims and and see what's doing 152 00:07:31,460 --> 00:07:29,940 yeah I mean and this is being a whole 153 00:07:34,670 --> 00:07:31,470 mock from script of skeptical 154 00:07:37,670 --> 00:07:34,680 organizations if I think about even here 155 00:07:40,730 --> 00:07:37,680 in Australia way back in 1980 James 156 00:07:42,529 --> 00:07:40,740 Randi came here and he and with some 157 00:07:45,830 --> 00:07:42,539 Australian businessman at the time were 158 00:07:48,050 --> 00:07:45,840 offering a large cash prize for water 159 00:07:51,020 --> 00:07:48,060 divining water dowsing in that case 160 00:07:53,210 --> 00:07:51,030 so how long right has the has there been 161 00:07:56,990 --> 00:07:53,220 a cash prize associated with what you're 162 00:08:00,170 --> 00:07:57,000 doing well we started in our early days 163 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:00,180 I and a couple few other members of the 164 00:08:07,940 --> 00:08:03,810 group put up some of our own money so we 165 00:08:11,090 --> 00:08:07,950 started out with a $5,000 prize then we 166 00:08:14,510 --> 00:08:11,100 had someone come in and I think we 167 00:08:16,220 --> 00:08:14,520 raised it to ten or twenty five 168 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:16,230 something like that and that went for a 169 00:08:22,580 --> 00:08:19,290 long time so that was all based on our 170 00:08:24,379 --> 00:08:22,590 personal bank accounts and I'll tell you 171 00:08:28,850 --> 00:08:24,389 when you got skin in the game you make 172 00:08:32,659 --> 00:08:28,860 sure those test protocols are print as 173 00:08:35,269 --> 00:08:32,669 if I don't now but you know still em and 174 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:35,279 then you know I've been with the Center 175 00:08:41,870 --> 00:08:38,450 for inquiry since 99 since even before 176 00:08:45,140 --> 00:08:41,880 the investigations group had started so 177 00:08:47,930 --> 00:08:45,150 I think it was two thousand and fourteen 178 00:08:53,270 --> 00:08:47,940 or fifteen we started some serious 179 00:08:57,260 --> 00:08:53,280 negotiations about CFI taking on some of 180 00:09:00,130 --> 00:08:57,270 the financial prize money so we upped it 181 00:09:04,550 --> 00:09:00,140 to fifty and then a hundred thousand 182 00:09:08,930 --> 00:09:04,560 backed by CFI and then finally when 183 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:08,940 Robin blunder became president CF I see 184 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:16,250 a CEO of CF is too many previous yeah 185 00:09:22,310 --> 00:09:19,290 you know she offered she said you know 186 00:09:26,090 --> 00:09:22,320 would be interested in see if I just 187 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:26,100 sort of subsuming the iig and and 188 00:09:30,530 --> 00:09:28,650 teaming up and I thought were you know 189 00:09:32,930 --> 00:09:30,540 we have this close relationship anyway 190 00:09:35,630 --> 00:09:32,940 we might as well and then I talked the 191 00:09:39,230 --> 00:09:35,640 board of directors and to open it to a 192 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:39,240 quarter million especially since you 193 00:09:45,680 --> 00:09:41,850 know Randy and jf really haven't tested 194 00:09:47,449 --> 00:09:45,690 anyone in quite some time and so you 195 00:09:50,150 --> 00:09:47,459 know that was part of our argument that 196 00:09:52,490 --> 00:09:50,160 this is I think it's the biggest prize 197 00:09:55,810 --> 00:09:52,500 single prize in the world right now so 198 00:09:59,630 --> 00:09:55,820 we like to you know keep it well into 199 00:10:01,600 --> 00:09:59,640 six figures to attempt all the claimants 200 00:10:03,759 --> 00:10:01,610 and I must admit it 201 00:10:06,069 --> 00:10:03,769 sounds good and it didn't occur to me 202 00:10:08,650 --> 00:10:06,079 until you said it a quarter of a million 203 00:10:12,370 --> 00:10:08,660 dollars that's a good sound isn't it 204 00:10:15,670 --> 00:10:12,380 yeah yeah it's I tried to teach myself 205 00:10:18,449 --> 00:10:15,680 to say it that way instead of 250 once 206 00:10:21,850 --> 00:10:18,459 you get that million its word in there 207 00:10:23,769 --> 00:10:21,860 open some eyes yeah yeah it's got that 208 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:23,779 catch it's a wonderful thing maybe I can 209 00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:26,690 convince the locals here and Australia 210 00:10:29,590 --> 00:10:28,310 to uh pals to a quarter of a million 211 00:10:31,509 --> 00:10:29,600 although a quarter of a million 212 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:31,519 Australian isn't quite the same there's 213 00:10:35,350 --> 00:10:33,170 a quarter of a million you asked us our 214 00:10:37,630 --> 00:10:35,360 dollars not so good it's still been 215 00:10:39,790 --> 00:10:37,640 cashed though and you know it'd still be 216 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:39,800 cash now of course you've been involved 217 00:10:45,430 --> 00:10:43,010 with investigations the investigations 218 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:45,440 group for the cash prize over the years 219 00:10:49,690 --> 00:10:46,850 what are some of the more memorable 220 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:49,700 memorable ones that stand out and I'll 221 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:52,370 jump in here quickly and I noticed on 222 00:10:59,290 --> 00:10:56,290 your web page which is see if I I G dog 223 00:11:01,930 --> 00:10:59,300 there's even a mention of you testing 224 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:01,940 the power balance wristband that is one 225 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:04,010 of the more notable ones because we had 226 00:11:11,650 --> 00:11:09,170 a an Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes was 227 00:11:14,290 --> 00:11:11,660 working for Yahoo News at the time and 228 00:11:17,530 --> 00:11:14,300 they called us up and they said you know 229 00:11:19,030 --> 00:11:17,540 we heard about your work and what do you 230 00:11:21,639 --> 00:11:19,040 think about some of these athletic 231 00:11:24,220 --> 00:11:21,649 things and we said you know I'd love the 232 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:24,230 test through a double-blind test of 233 00:11:31,870 --> 00:11:27,410 power balance bracelets and so we set up 234 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:31,880 this obstacle course that that tested 235 00:11:42,100 --> 00:11:37,970 it's three basic claims strength ad not 236 00:11:44,380 --> 00:11:42,110 agility but flexibility and flexibility 237 00:11:49,030 --> 00:11:44,390 is a speed or something like that 238 00:11:51,220 --> 00:11:49,040 so they the strength balance and 239 00:11:54,850 --> 00:11:51,230 flexibility that's what it was balance 240 00:11:58,930 --> 00:11:54,860 strength balance flexibility so we had a 241 00:12:01,540 --> 00:11:58,940 we designed this little obstacle course 242 00:12:04,900 --> 00:12:01,550 in the Center for inquiry at our old 243 00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:04,910 location on Hollywood Boulevard and ran 244 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:08,110 16 people through this course 245 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:11,810 four times each time they ran it with a 246 00:12:14,740 --> 00:12:13,970 different wristband on and they never 247 00:12:17,740 --> 00:12:14,750 knew whether 248 00:12:23,950 --> 00:12:17,750 and the real power balance bracelet on 249 00:12:27,330 --> 00:12:23,960 or right or the three fake ones and and 250 00:12:30,490 --> 00:12:27,340 then we had to do we had to correct for 251 00:12:32,860 --> 00:12:30,500 what was it called the the order of fact 252 00:12:34,630 --> 00:12:32,870 it's called because when you do 253 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:34,640 something athletic like that for the 254 00:12:38,740 --> 00:12:37,370 first time naturally just get better the 255 00:12:41,890 --> 00:12:38,750 more times you do it you get a little 256 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:41,900 bit better at it so we made sure that 257 00:12:47,290 --> 00:12:44,450 people were staggered in different 258 00:12:51,460 --> 00:12:47,300 orders so that all sort of evened out 259 00:12:54,970 --> 00:12:51,470 and then surprise surprise there was no 260 00:12:56,980 --> 00:12:54,980 difference between the real power 261 00:13:00,250 --> 00:12:56,990 balance bracelet and and the other ones 262 00:13:03,370 --> 00:13:00,260 we were watching you guys and you and 263 00:13:04,630 --> 00:13:03,380 you had some legal success with them 264 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:04,640 didn't you they have to change their 265 00:13:11,350 --> 00:13:08,930 claims yeah yeah after it was just one 266 00:13:13,420 --> 00:13:11,360 of those you know amazing things that 267 00:13:16,750 --> 00:13:13,430 after they were tested here in Australia 268 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:16,760 on Australian TV I I simply put them to 269 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:18,290 a standard double-blind test it was 270 00:13:23,650 --> 00:13:21,170 nothing too amazing about it but when 271 00:13:26,410 --> 00:13:23,660 they failed that eventually the pressure 272 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:26,420 was put upon them to print a retraction 273 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:28,850 in the media here to say that the claims 274 00:13:32,770 --> 00:13:30,890 that they made were without foundation 275 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:32,780 which was great for us you know it was 276 00:13:38,380 --> 00:13:36,050 good but I went when I did it when I 277 00:13:39,790 --> 00:13:38,390 tested the guy here in Australia I I was 278 00:13:41,410 --> 00:13:39,800 under the impression that he was a true 279 00:13:44,650 --> 00:13:41,420 believer he really did believe in the 280 00:13:47,740 --> 00:13:44,660 product for anything about that stuff is 281 00:13:50,380 --> 00:13:47,750 you know if they just make a very claim 282 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:50,390 like this can help with athletic 283 00:13:55,570 --> 00:13:51,410 performance 284 00:13:57,610 --> 00:13:55,580 it actually can but no more than a Lucky 285 00:13:59,050 --> 00:13:57,620 Penny or a rabbit's foot or anything 286 00:14:02,860 --> 00:13:59,060 like that if you have a psychological 287 00:14:05,710 --> 00:14:02,870 advantage that it could help but you 288 00:14:08,230 --> 00:14:05,720 know double-blind tells the tale and 289 00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:08,240 that didn't help in that case no it did 290 00:14:15,810 --> 00:14:08,690 not 291 00:14:18,579 --> 00:14:15,820 hell 292 00:14:21,250 --> 00:14:18,589 lightning man what's that all about I 293 00:14:23,199 --> 00:14:21,260 think I can correct me if I'm wrong 294 00:14:26,199 --> 00:14:23,209 maybe you guys have done this before but 295 00:14:28,550 --> 00:14:26,209 I think it may be the first time anyone 296 00:14:32,060 --> 00:14:28,560 has been tested for a cash pair 297 00:14:34,460 --> 00:14:32,070 prize during a pandemic and must be true 298 00:14:36,710 --> 00:14:34,470 we haven't done it I don't you know 299 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:36,720 that's I I don't think that's gonna make 300 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:39,570 the Guinness Book of Records but it 301 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:41,610 sounds funny to me but yeah this guy 302 00:14:47,300 --> 00:14:45,210 showed up he said he that he could make 303 00:14:49,940 --> 00:14:47,310 electricity come out of his hands 304 00:14:52,970 --> 00:14:49,950 noticeably he said he could create 305 00:14:56,180 --> 00:14:52,980 lightning in the sky above the Center 306 00:14:59,540 --> 00:14:56,190 for inquiry so I want League went and 307 00:15:04,100 --> 00:14:59,550 checked the weather report for the 308 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:04,110 Saturday that we had him over and and 309 00:15:11,060 --> 00:15:06,570 then finally he said he could teleport 310 00:15:14,900 --> 00:15:11,070 three to five feet at at one time and so 311 00:15:21,079 --> 00:15:14,910 we did a social distancing paranormal 312 00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:21,089 chair that now they are some amazing 313 00:15:24,550 --> 00:15:22,710 claims I must admit 314 00:15:27,980 --> 00:15:24,560 teleporting is one we haven't tested 315 00:15:32,620 --> 00:15:27,990 well yeah and I you know yeah kind of 316 00:15:35,810 --> 00:15:32,630 after he said before he got there I said 317 00:15:37,700 --> 00:15:35,820 you know tell me a little bit more about 318 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:37,710 this and he said he can move three to 319 00:15:45,310 --> 00:15:41,970 five feet at a time and III said are you 320 00:15:48,290 --> 00:15:45,320 jumping is there a you know in my mind 321 00:15:51,500 --> 00:15:48,300 teleportation is you actually disappear 322 00:15:54,050 --> 00:15:51,510 from once and reappear in another spot 323 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:54,060 is that what's happening and he said 324 00:16:01,310 --> 00:15:57,330 well yeah but I have to be moving when I 325 00:16:07,970 --> 00:16:01,320 do this and I said the moving isn't part 326 00:16:10,430 --> 00:16:07,980 of it is it and I mean the funny thing 327 00:16:13,430 --> 00:16:10,440 well it's actually not funny because I I 328 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:13,440 think he might be a little mentally ill 329 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:16,290 he thinks he did it okay and he thinks 330 00:16:22,010 --> 00:16:20,010 he that the Lightning came out of his 331 00:16:24,650 --> 00:16:22,020 hands and was in the sky and all this 332 00:16:27,650 --> 00:16:24,660 stuff and he asked us if we saw it and I 333 00:16:30,110 --> 00:16:27,660 said no we didn't do you want to see we 334 00:16:33,079 --> 00:16:30,120 can run the video back you know would 335 00:16:37,030 --> 00:16:33,089 that convince you that it didn't happen 336 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:37,040 you know if it in order to win our money 337 00:16:42,079 --> 00:16:39,930 we have to see it it can't just be you 338 00:16:45,889 --> 00:16:42,089 that sees it 339 00:16:49,600 --> 00:16:45,899 so you know we get in these delicate 340 00:16:53,150 --> 00:16:49,610 situations where people really are 341 00:16:57,049 --> 00:16:53,160 sometimes experiencing symptoms of 342 00:16:58,759 --> 00:16:57,059 schizophrenia or other disorders where 343 00:17:01,519 --> 00:16:58,769 they're hearing and seeing things that 344 00:17:04,130 --> 00:17:01,529 no one else is and we have to tell them 345 00:17:06,949 --> 00:17:04,140 you know you have to consider that this 346 00:17:08,899 --> 00:17:06,959 is maybe what's causing your experiences 347 00:17:10,730 --> 00:17:08,909 yeah and it's a tough part about doing 348 00:17:12,500 --> 00:17:10,740 these paranormal tests as you and I both 349 00:17:14,809 --> 00:17:12,510 know over the years and years we've been 350 00:17:17,090 --> 00:17:14,819 doing it occasionally we'll get somebody 351 00:17:19,250 --> 00:17:17,100 who come along and it's not trying to 352 00:17:21,710 --> 00:17:19,260 put them down or make excuses or 353 00:17:26,329 --> 00:17:21,720 anything like that but not everybody who 354 00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:26,339 applies for our tests are in a very good 355 00:17:30,889 --> 00:17:28,559 state of mind if I can put it that way 356 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:30,899 yeah I mean that is that's a nice way of 357 00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:33,330 putting it and I don't know if it's my 358 00:17:39,980 --> 00:17:36,230 imagination or not but it seems like 359 00:17:43,549 --> 00:17:39,990 over maybe even the past year certainly 360 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:43,559 the last six months the percentage of 361 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:47,490 people who seem to be experiencing 362 00:17:53,299 --> 00:17:50,610 symptoms consistent with mental illness 363 00:17:56,810 --> 00:17:53,309 seems to be very high percentage of them 364 00:17:59,810 --> 00:17:56,820 back in the day one both of our groups 365 00:18:01,820 --> 00:17:59,820 we're testing dowsers don't seem to fall 366 00:18:04,250 --> 00:18:01,830 into this category and there are other 367 00:18:06,610 --> 00:18:04,260 people who you know seem to just be 368 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:06,620 regular people who are you know making 369 00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:09,450 categorical errors or logical errors and 370 00:18:12,950 --> 00:18:10,710 they're not understanding what's 371 00:18:16,730 --> 00:18:12,960 happening but over the last six months 372 00:18:19,039 --> 00:18:16,740 or a year it seems like a high 373 00:18:22,190 --> 00:18:19,049 percentage of people who are hearing 374 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:22,200 voices or who are convinced that other 375 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:24,690 people are hearing their thoughts yeah 376 00:18:29,570 --> 00:18:26,970 yeah and and again it's just something 377 00:18:31,010 --> 00:18:29,580 that a lot of people the general public 378 00:18:33,529 --> 00:18:31,020 may not consider that that's something 379 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:33,539 that we have to seriously look at and 380 00:18:38,659 --> 00:18:36,090 and decide what to do if someone comes 381 00:18:42,260 --> 00:18:38,669 along which who is obviously um shall we 382 00:18:44,810 --> 00:18:42,270 say troubled oh and take it accordingly 383 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:44,820 yeah and and we'll test you anyway I 384 00:18:52,370 --> 00:18:47,610 mean I don't you know you could make the 385 00:18:54,980 --> 00:18:52,380 argument that your mind has to be in a 386 00:19:00,080 --> 00:18:54,990 certain state to perform 387 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:00,090 a paranormal feed that theoretically 388 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:02,610 could be the case so we're not going to 389 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:06,450 eliminate you based on that I we just 390 00:19:13,580 --> 00:19:10,290 encourage people to sort of eliminate 391 00:19:15,650 --> 00:19:13,590 that set of explanations and save 392 00:19:17,390 --> 00:19:15,660 themselves the trouble and potential 393 00:19:20,210 --> 00:19:17,400 embarrassment of being tested and 394 00:19:22,940 --> 00:19:20,220 failing yeah because you know we're of a 395 00:19:25,549 --> 00:19:22,950 similar mind we're not out to embarrass 396 00:19:29,260 --> 00:19:25,559 or demean or humiliate anybody you know 397 00:19:31,580 --> 00:19:29,270 this is a genuine attempt to to see what 398 00:19:35,090 --> 00:19:31,590 what the claims are and if people can 399 00:19:37,010 --> 00:19:35,100 live up to them right the the other one 400 00:19:40,850 --> 00:19:37,020 I'll get you to talk about briefly is is 401 00:19:42,350 --> 00:19:40,860 an evergreen and it was just a wonderful 402 00:19:43,940 --> 00:19:42,360 thing I wish I could have been there is 403 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:43,950 when you tested the curvature of the 404 00:19:49,250 --> 00:19:46,650 earth I'll tell you I don't know what 405 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:49,260 maybe I'm getting too old for this but 406 00:19:58,390 --> 00:19:55,290 my patience is that's my test is keeping 407 00:20:01,370 --> 00:19:58,400 my head yeah we went out there's a 408 00:20:07,549 --> 00:20:01,380 fairly large body of water called the 409 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:07,559 Salton Sea that's 150 miles southeast of 410 00:20:14,870 --> 00:20:10,490 Los Angeles it's actually a kind of a 411 00:20:15,320 --> 00:20:14,880 drank nasty extremely salty body of 412 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:15,330 water 413 00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:19,890 um but we chose it because there were a 414 00:20:26,900 --> 00:20:24,510 lot of clear sight lines when the desert 415 00:20:28,669 --> 00:20:26,910 is it's in the desert when the desert is 416 00:20:30,860 --> 00:20:28,679 calm and the wind is not blowing the air 417 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:30,870 quality is pretty good and then the 418 00:20:35,780 --> 00:20:33,330 temperatures are pretty consistent so 419 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:35,790 there were a lot of good reasons to to 420 00:20:40,490 --> 00:20:37,890 go out there and the distances were 421 00:20:43,549 --> 00:20:40,500 about right we chose a spot from shore 422 00:20:49,660 --> 00:20:43,559 to shore there was about nine and a half 423 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:49,670 miles across and at that distance you 424 00:20:57,080 --> 00:20:52,890 would expect to have to put something 425 00:21:01,070 --> 00:20:57,090 about 30 to 40 feet in the air before 426 00:21:03,650 --> 00:21:01,080 someone with a telescope would be able 427 00:21:07,430 --> 00:21:03,660 to see that object the curvature would 428 00:21:08,690 --> 00:21:07,440 cover the first 30 or 40 feet on the 429 00:21:12,290 --> 00:21:08,700 other side 430 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:12,300 so you know we sort of line this 431 00:21:16,190 --> 00:21:14,250 demonstration up with a bunch of flat 432 00:21:19,910 --> 00:21:16,200 earthers of which there are plenty in 433 00:21:24,140 --> 00:21:19,920 Southern California and National 434 00:21:27,020 --> 00:21:24,150 Geographic Explorer television show came 435 00:21:30,260 --> 00:21:27,030 out and we conducted that shore to shore 436 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:30,270 experiment and we also did another one 437 00:21:37,370 --> 00:21:32,850 that was a boat based experiment where 438 00:21:41,270 --> 00:21:37,380 we sent a small motorized boat 439 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:41,280 rubber raft out with a sort of a big 440 00:21:48,110 --> 00:21:45,210 flag that had horizontal stripes on it 441 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:48,120 and you could the idea was that you know 442 00:21:56,300 --> 00:21:50,730 the farther out they got the more of the 443 00:21:59,240 --> 00:21:56,310 stripes or stripe would disappear and so 444 00:22:01,160 --> 00:21:59,250 yeah there were like 15 of us and 20 445 00:22:03,710 --> 00:22:01,170 flat earthers out there and National 446 00:22:08,090 --> 00:22:03,720 Geographic and they saw pretty much 447 00:22:10,910 --> 00:22:08,100 everything we saw and it I'll tell you 448 00:22:12,050 --> 00:22:10,920 it's it's I mean we bought any one 449 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:12,060 science-minded 450 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:14,690 has no doubt that the earth is a sphere 451 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:18,210 but to some of these tests and 452 00:22:26,750 --> 00:22:23,010 demonstrations of the earth shape are 453 00:22:31,430 --> 00:22:26,760 fraught with potential perils for 454 00:22:35,500 --> 00:22:31,440 instance the balloon target that we were 455 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:35,510 launching on one side of the Salton Sea 456 00:22:41,960 --> 00:22:38,250 even a little bit of breeze was blowing 457 00:22:44,750 --> 00:22:41,970 this thing so it wanted to you know sort 458 00:22:46,460 --> 00:22:44,760 of fly sideways and it was making it 459 00:22:50,860 --> 00:22:46,470 hard to control and it was hard to 460 00:22:58,550 --> 00:22:50,870 measure and even finding the thing at 461 00:23:01,160 --> 00:22:58,560 9.6 miles away was a difficult chore so 462 00:23:03,470 --> 00:23:01,170 that was one of it and you know if the 463 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:03,480 water gets a little choppy and that 464 00:23:08,710 --> 00:23:05,930 doesn't even count some of these other 465 00:23:11,630 --> 00:23:08,720 you know atmospheric condition issues 466 00:23:15,740 --> 00:23:11,640 that arise anyone who's ever seen a 467 00:23:17,660 --> 00:23:15,750 mirage or you know reflection it looks 468 00:23:19,610 --> 00:23:17,670 like water on the horizon or anything 469 00:23:22,460 --> 00:23:19,620 like that you know if you're getting 470 00:23:27,169 --> 00:23:22,470 different temperatures but 471 00:23:30,140 --> 00:23:27,179 err layers it can actually bend light 472 00:23:32,029 --> 00:23:30,150 over distance and that's what a mirage 473 00:23:35,750 --> 00:23:32,039 is you know you're seeing something that 474 00:23:38,390 --> 00:23:35,760 is should be too far away to see like 475 00:23:42,919 --> 00:23:38,400 that but you're seeing a reflection and 476 00:23:45,409 --> 00:23:42,929 an air layer so anyway it's it's it's 477 00:23:48,230 --> 00:23:45,419 it's harder than it seems to prove 478 00:23:49,940 --> 00:23:48,240 something obvious like that well you're 479 00:23:52,039 --> 00:23:49,950 absolutely right because this is what we 480 00:23:53,510 --> 00:23:52,049 came across here in Australia we come 481 00:23:57,230 --> 00:23:53,520 across this when we're testing people I 482 00:23:59,510 --> 00:23:57,240 remembered in Las Vegas the time and the 483 00:24:02,210 --> 00:23:59,520 effort and the planning and the 484 00:24:04,669 --> 00:24:02,220 cooperation who have who is making the 485 00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:04,679 claim it all takes an enormous amount of 486 00:24:08,270 --> 00:24:06,450 time and I guess people really couldn't 487 00:24:09,620 --> 00:24:08,280 really don't think about that because 488 00:24:12,350 --> 00:24:09,630 it's not something they would normally 489 00:24:14,419 --> 00:24:12,360 do right and and and some of these 490 00:24:17,299 --> 00:24:14,429 things I mean there was one test we 491 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:17,309 tested this woman it was a I think you 492 00:24:23,899 --> 00:24:20,250 know of her anita i conan it was a 493 00:24:26,779 --> 00:24:23,909 swedish national because I think Randy 494 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:26,789 might have done a quick test with her or 495 00:24:31,940 --> 00:24:30,450 something but Rob her claim was being 496 00:24:36,020 --> 00:24:31,950 able that she said that she could look 497 00:24:40,070 --> 00:24:36,030 into a human being and see if they were 498 00:24:43,070 --> 00:24:40,080 missing a kidney or not yes I remember 499 00:24:45,890 --> 00:24:43,080 yes so we had to I mean it became 500 00:24:48,890 --> 00:24:45,900 extraordinary complex we first of all we 501 00:24:51,860 --> 00:24:48,900 had to find four people who were missing 502 00:24:53,510 --> 00:24:51,870 a kidney and not only did we have to 503 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:53,520 find four people who were missing a 504 00:24:58,310 --> 00:24:55,890 kidney and and you know try to Google 505 00:24:59,810 --> 00:24:58,320 that try to go to a hospital and say can 506 00:25:03,980 --> 00:24:59,820 we have some of your people who are 507 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:03,990 missing kidneys you know not only do we 508 00:25:07,850 --> 00:25:05,970 have to find four people who were 509 00:25:10,460 --> 00:25:07,860 missing kidneys three for the actual 510 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:10,470 test and one to demonstrate that she 511 00:25:17,450 --> 00:25:14,570 actually had the power beforehand and 512 00:25:23,870 --> 00:25:17,460 but we also had to find people who were 513 00:25:26,990 --> 00:25:23,880 missing their left kidneys good 514 00:25:31,220 --> 00:25:27,000 agreement yeah missing their know 515 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:31,230 missing their right kidney because most 516 00:25:36,590 --> 00:25:35,250 people who donate a kidney donate the 517 00:25:40,310 --> 00:25:36,600 left 518 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:40,320 it's easier to operate and pull out a 519 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:43,410 left kidney for various medical reasons 520 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:46,770 and that's common knowledge in the 521 00:25:54,140 --> 00:25:49,050 medical we found we learned ahead of 522 00:25:57,500 --> 00:25:54,150 time fortunately that so I'm everyone 523 00:25:59,720 --> 00:25:57,510 who donates a kidney on purpose donates 524 00:26:01,280 --> 00:25:59,730 their left kidney and forgive me if I 525 00:26:03,170 --> 00:26:01,290 get this backwards but I'm pretty sure 526 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:03,180 it's a left one cuz your livers on the 527 00:26:07,220 --> 00:26:04,770 right side and there's other stuff in 528 00:26:11,360 --> 00:26:07,230 there it's it's just more difficult so 529 00:26:14,870 --> 00:26:11,370 we figured that that she knew that fact 530 00:26:16,580 --> 00:26:14,880 and would guess left kidney every time 531 00:26:18,620 --> 00:26:16,590 so we're trying to find right kidney 532 00:26:22,670 --> 00:26:18,630 people missing right kidney so that was 533 00:26:25,370 --> 00:26:22,680 part of it that we had to find let's see 534 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:25,380 there was one person missing a kidney in 535 00:26:32,180 --> 00:26:28,050 each group of six so we still we had to 536 00:26:35,660 --> 00:26:32,190 find fifteen more people beyond the four 537 00:26:39,890 --> 00:26:35,670 missing many people then in order to 538 00:26:42,710 --> 00:26:39,900 verify this we had to get we had to get 539 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:42,720 an ultrasound machine at to the Center 540 00:26:49,430 --> 00:26:45,930 for inquiry and attack to be able to run 541 00:26:51,230 --> 00:26:49,440 the ultrasound machine will have which 542 00:26:53,360 --> 00:26:51,240 all cost money 543 00:26:58,520 --> 00:26:53,370 we had to serve lunch I mean it took 544 00:27:00,380 --> 00:26:58,530 like 30 people to run this test and it's 545 00:27:02,750 --> 00:27:00,390 not a simple thing it's just not a 546 00:27:06,170 --> 00:27:02,760 simple thing no it's it's crazy and and 547 00:27:08,270 --> 00:27:06,180 for stuff like that we don't pay for the 548 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:08,280 applicants that we don't pay for their 549 00:27:16,910 --> 00:27:12,090 travel or anything and when their their 550 00:27:19,610 --> 00:27:16,920 alleged ability involves front money and 551 00:27:21,860 --> 00:27:19,620 hiring people and all this other stuff 552 00:27:24,110 --> 00:27:21,870 they have to pay for that and she 553 00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:24,120 fronted the money would to her credit oh 554 00:27:30,620 --> 00:27:28,110 wow and it's the same situation here in 555 00:27:33,110 --> 00:27:30,630 Australia the claimant bears the costs 556 00:27:34,550 --> 00:27:33,120 of any any test which is we think is 557 00:27:38,150 --> 00:27:34,560 fair enough because if they're genuine 558 00:27:39,980 --> 00:27:38,160 they're gonna make many more dollars 559 00:27:42,260 --> 00:27:39,990 back then they they put into it in the 560 00:27:45,050 --> 00:27:42,270 first place and finally with the the 561 00:27:47,060 --> 00:27:45,060 flat earthers and so on you must have as 562 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:47,070 we do here you must have heard some 563 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:48,930 pretty amazing 564 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:52,930 excuses and reasons why they fail yeah I 565 00:27:59,040 --> 00:27:56,410 have this which I think we might even 566 00:28:02,130 --> 00:27:59,050 have a physical copy of it somewhere but 567 00:28:06,060 --> 00:28:02,140 I have this at least an informal what I 568 00:28:08,220 --> 00:28:06,070 call the big book of excuses and I know 569 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:08,230 you guys have heard this one but one of 570 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:11,170 the more common ones is too much 571 00:28:20,760 --> 00:28:16,330 skeptical energy in the room yep um so 572 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:20,770 that was that was a new one every time 573 00:28:29,580 --> 00:28:25,690 one guy was doing a he said he could 574 00:28:33,270 --> 00:28:29,590 predict a binary outcome so in this case 575 00:28:38,310 --> 00:28:33,280 it wasn't a coin flip it was actually we 576 00:28:39,930 --> 00:28:38,320 had a regular six-sided die and three of 577 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:39,940 the sides were orange and three of the 578 00:28:46,470 --> 00:28:43,330 sides were black so he said he could 579 00:28:52,080 --> 00:28:46,480 predict which side would come up I think 580 00:28:54,720 --> 00:28:52,090 it was 53% of the time which Jay diamond 581 00:28:57,420 --> 00:28:54,730 cousin jeigh diamond from the San 582 00:29:01,830 --> 00:28:57,430 Francisco group called worst superpower 583 00:29:03,630 --> 00:29:01,840 ever I think if you could predict the 584 00:29:05,580 --> 00:29:03,640 coin from their points they're you know 585 00:29:08,610 --> 00:29:05,590 fifty three out of a hundred times 586 00:29:09,510 --> 00:29:08,620 Jesus how you gonna monetize that that's 587 00:29:13,170 --> 00:29:09,520 pathetic 588 00:29:16,140 --> 00:29:13,180 but you know if the number of rolls is 589 00:29:19,230 --> 00:29:16,150 large enough and we had to you know get 590 00:29:21,030 --> 00:29:19,240 our statisticians working on that it 591 00:29:25,050 --> 00:29:21,040 could still be significant even though 592 00:29:27,870 --> 00:29:25,060 it sounds kind of silly yeah I think he 593 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:27,880 saw that would take a long time yeah it 594 00:29:32,400 --> 00:29:30,130 did it took all afternoon and was 595 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:32,410 extremely tedious we made a video of it 596 00:29:36,510 --> 00:29:34,690 but boy Vlada 597 00:29:40,730 --> 00:29:36,520 ended up on the editing room floor and 598 00:29:44,520 --> 00:29:40,740 that one and his excuse was that he 599 00:29:48,510 --> 00:29:44,530 didn't practice with the type of jar we 600 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:48,520 were using or something I don't know oh 601 00:29:54,420 --> 00:29:50,530 there you go you see you should have 602 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:54,430 used the other job well talk about weird 603 00:29:58,770 --> 00:29:55,810 things that happen that you can't 604 00:30:02,370 --> 00:29:58,780 predict we actually we had like a big 605 00:30:05,039 --> 00:30:02,380 pickle jar that wheelers shaking the 606 00:30:07,499 --> 00:30:05,049 and you know because you don't want has 607 00:30:10,799 --> 00:30:07,509 to touch it because we could be cheating 608 00:30:13,799 --> 00:30:10,809 so we're shaking in a rain in the pickle 609 00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:13,809 jar and the damn thing broke who could 610 00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:15,490 have predicted a die could break a 611 00:30:23,190 --> 00:30:20,710 prickle joke so you never know anyway so 612 00:30:24,629 --> 00:30:23,200 Jim the message for people out there in 613 00:30:26,460 --> 00:30:24,639 the United States I think it's in the 614 00:30:28,769 --> 00:30:26,470 United States I mean now out prizes 615 00:30:30,419 --> 00:30:28,779 really for Australians I imagine yours 616 00:30:33,060 --> 00:30:30,429 is for the people in the United States 617 00:30:36,930 --> 00:30:33,070 or as your prize worldwide it is 618 00:30:41,580 --> 00:30:36,940 worldwide we tested a guy who over the 619 00:30:44,850 --> 00:30:41,590 internet from Macedonia last year he 620 00:30:47,730 --> 00:30:44,860 said he said he could look at a picture 621 00:30:50,610 --> 00:30:47,740 so we did a Skype call he said he could 622 00:30:52,619 --> 00:30:50,620 look at a picture on skype and decide 623 00:30:55,529 --> 00:30:52,629 whether this person was living or dead 624 00:31:00,779 --> 00:30:55,539 right and I think he was using a 625 00:31:03,649 --> 00:31:00,789 pendulum to do okay and he got he looked 626 00:31:07,860 --> 00:31:03,659 at twenty pictures and he got 11 right 627 00:31:10,889 --> 00:31:07,870 there you go well so it's a worldwide 628 00:31:13,139 --> 00:31:10,899 prize folks if you're interested if you 629 00:31:16,980 --> 00:31:13,149 think you have psychic powers or 630 00:31:19,649 --> 00:31:16,990 abilities or or you know somebody who 631 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:19,659 does and if you do know somebody who 632 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:21,370 does and they win the prize you're in 633 00:31:26,999 --> 00:31:24,610 line for what five grand yourself $5,000 634 00:31:29,639 --> 00:31:27,009 finder's fee that's right so put the 635 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:29,649 heat on your your neighbor who's 636 00:31:34,409 --> 00:31:31,570 claiming to have these powers you could 637 00:31:40,080 --> 00:31:34,419 get some money to almost free money 638 00:31:41,639 --> 00:31:40,090 folks head to CFI IG org all the details 639 00:31:45,930 --> 00:31:41,649 are there and you can read some accounts 640 00:31:49,889 --> 00:31:45,940 of some of the past tests of alleged 641 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:49,899 paranormal or psychic ability well James 642 00:31:51,659 --> 00:31:51,250 Underdown all the way over there in 643 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:51,669 Hollywood 644 00:31:56,940 --> 00:31:54,370 one day maybe we can get together again 645 00:31:58,950 --> 00:31:56,950 in Los Angeles or California somewhere 646 00:32:00,779 --> 00:31:58,960 or even Las Vegas when all this 647 00:32:03,779 --> 00:32:00,789 craziness is over 648 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:03,789 but until then thanks very much thank 649 00:32:17,850 --> 00:32:06,130 you Richard 650 00:32:20,340 --> 00:32:17,860 I sure do miss going to those skeptical 651 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:20,350 meetings and pubs and cafes to hear 652 00:32:29,580 --> 00:32:22,570 talks and interact with my friends you 653 00:32:33,990 --> 00:32:29,590 know well I think I could help you with 654 00:32:37,260 --> 00:32:34,000 that who the hell are you 655 00:32:40,140 --> 00:32:37,270 I'm your skeptical fairy godmother angel 656 00:32:43,350 --> 00:32:40,150 from the internet you're my skeptical go 657 00:32:44,730 --> 00:32:43,360 that whoa relax Richard I can make your 658 00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:44,740 wish come true 659 00:32:56,250 --> 00:32:48,850 what you mean free beer 660 00:32:57,480 --> 00:32:56,260 no no no the other way oh really yes I 661 00:33:00,720 --> 00:32:57,490 have news 662 00:33:05,190 --> 00:33:00,730 skeptical meetings and talks online oh 663 00:33:07,919 --> 00:33:05,200 oh oh yes of course yes skeptics cafe 664 00:33:10,649 --> 00:33:07,929 online by the Vic skeptics brings you 665 00:33:11,390 --> 00:33:10,659 live and interactive skeptical talks via 666 00:33:14,820 --> 00:33:11,400 soon 667 00:33:16,980 --> 00:33:14,830 anyone anywhere in the world is welcome 668 00:33:19,620 --> 00:33:16,990 to join in on the third Monday of the 669 00:33:21,779 --> 00:33:19,630 month just check out the skeptics cafe 670 00:33:25,610 --> 00:33:21,789 page on Facebook to see when the next 671 00:33:28,500 --> 00:33:25,620 talk is and who will be presenting 672 00:33:31,039 --> 00:33:28,510 alternatively see the big skeptics 673 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:31,049 website at fix skeptics dot 674 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:33,610 wordpress.com for details 675 00:33:41,490 --> 00:33:37,530 that sounds great a skeptical God very 676 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:41,500 angel mother and person and there are 677 00:33:47,070 --> 00:33:44,650 similar skeptical online talks happening 678 00:33:50,250 --> 00:33:47,080 around the country and all over the 679 00:33:51,990 --> 00:33:50,260 world all you need to do is search for 680 00:33:56,250 --> 00:33:52,000 them Wow 681 00:34:03,659 --> 00:33:56,260 now just one more question yes what 682 00:34:08,190 --> 00:34:03,669 about the beer okay alright well just 683 00:34:11,609 --> 00:34:08,200 for you I'll make it so you can go to 684 00:34:14,070 --> 00:34:11,619 the supermarket buy what ever beer you 685 00:34:16,710 --> 00:34:14,080 like and drink it while watching the 686 00:34:18,300 --> 00:34:16,720 talk online at home and they say 687 00:34:21,540 --> 00:34:18,310 miracles never have 688 00:34:24,899 --> 00:34:21,550 and to think I gave up being the tooth 689 00:34:31,479 --> 00:34:24,909 fairy for this what nothing 690 00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:50,270 [Music] 691 00:34:54,990 --> 00:34:52,210 logical fallacies 692 00:34:58,120 --> 00:34:55,000 [Music] 693 00:35:00,190 --> 00:34:58,130 what are the logical fallacies and why 694 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:00,200 is it important that critical thinkers 695 00:35:05,220 --> 00:35:02,530 should know about them 696 00:35:08,250 --> 00:35:05,230 a logical fallacy is an error we can 697 00:35:10,530 --> 00:35:08,260 make in reasoning but it usually crops 698 00:35:14,250 --> 00:35:10,540 up when we are discussing or arguing our 699 00:35:16,710 --> 00:35:14,260 point of view some people might even 700 00:35:18,390 --> 00:35:16,720 knowingly use them to try and score 701 00:35:22,290 --> 00:35:18,400 cheap points in an argument 702 00:35:24,870 --> 00:35:22,300 due to intellectual laziness they are 703 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:24,880 traps we can fall into but if we know 704 00:35:29,400 --> 00:35:27,130 what to look out for we can spot them 705 00:35:35,460 --> 00:35:29,410 when they occur and stop ourselves from 706 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:35,470 using them this time we'll look at the 707 00:35:43,560 --> 00:35:39,130 relative privation fallacy this fallacy 708 00:35:46,860 --> 00:35:43,570 also known as not as bad as can be seen 709 00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:46,870 as a type of red herring or distraction 710 00:35:52,170 --> 00:35:49,510 the fallacy is essentially an argument 711 00:35:54,330 --> 00:35:52,180 that the certain issue is not important 712 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:54,340 or does not deserve attention and 713 00:36:00,420 --> 00:35:57,010 resources because there are other and 714 00:36:03,750 --> 00:36:00,430 more important issues another variation 715 00:36:06,630 --> 00:36:03,760 of the relative privation fallacy is to 716 00:36:10,140 --> 00:36:06,640 compare something with the best or the 717 00:36:14,100 --> 00:36:10,150 worst case scenario thus making it seem 718 00:36:16,980 --> 00:36:14,110 much better or worse by comparison as a 719 00:36:19,350 --> 00:36:16,990 naturopath I can tell you that mistakes 720 00:36:22,050 --> 00:36:19,360 are sometimes made by practitioners of 721 00:36:24,030 --> 00:36:22,060 alternative medicine but that is nothing 722 00:36:26,970 --> 00:36:24,040 compared to the thousands of mistakes 723 00:36:30,750 --> 00:36:26,980 and deaths each year due to mainstream 724 00:36:34,190 --> 00:36:30,760 medicine that people die under the care 725 00:36:37,500 --> 00:36:34,200 of mainstream medicine is not in doubt 726 00:36:40,680 --> 00:36:37,510 but keep in mind that what mainstream 727 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:40,690 medicine does is to look after millions 728 00:36:48,030 --> 00:36:44,290 of people who range from being mildly 729 00:36:53,280 --> 00:36:48,040 unwell to very unwell to being 730 00:36:57,600 --> 00:36:53,290 critically unwell yes it's not a perfect 731 00:37:00,630 --> 00:36:57,610 system but that does not justify nor 732 00:37:03,690 --> 00:37:00,640 diminish the mistakes made by so-called 733 00:37:06,000 --> 00:37:03,700 alternative medicine why should we 734 00:37:08,580 --> 00:37:06,010 bother doing something in Australia for 735 00:37:10,950 --> 00:37:08,590 climate change in the environment when 736 00:37:13,740 --> 00:37:10,960 China and other countries are much 737 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:13,750 bigger polluters it may well be that 738 00:37:18,870 --> 00:37:16,330 other countries contribute a much 739 00:37:22,590 --> 00:37:18,880 volume of greenhouse gasses or other 740 00:37:26,850 --> 00:37:22,600 pollutants in Australia that is no 741 00:37:28,800 --> 00:37:26,860 reason at all for Australia especially 742 00:37:32,970 --> 00:37:28,810 as one of the highest polluters per 743 00:37:35,310 --> 00:37:32,980 capita if not as a total amount or any 744 00:37:37,890 --> 00:37:35,320 other country to give up doing 745 00:37:42,510 --> 00:37:37,900 everything we can to combat this 746 00:37:45,300 --> 00:37:42,520 worldwide problem if every country gave 747 00:37:48,600 --> 00:37:45,310 up using the above argument as a 748 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:48,610 justification the situation would be 749 00:37:54,570 --> 00:37:52,930 much much worse you skeptics have been 750 00:37:58,110 --> 00:37:54,580 trying to debunk two silly things like 751 00:38:00,900 --> 00:37:58,120 UFOs and psychics for years and people 752 00:38:03,200 --> 00:38:00,910 still believe in them you should give up 753 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:03,210 and put your time and efforts into being 754 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:05,970 skeptical of far more important issues 755 00:38:12,330 --> 00:38:09,010 this is an argument sceptical groups 756 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:12,340 here from time to time that some people 757 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:15,130 don't find investigating UFOs or 758 00:38:21,870 --> 00:38:18,130 homeopathy or psychics of interest is 759 00:38:23,670 --> 00:38:21,880 fine but that doesn't mean sceptical 760 00:38:27,150 --> 00:38:23,680 groups should suddenly change their 761 00:38:29,940 --> 00:38:27,160 focus we wouldn't expect the local chess 762 00:38:32,070 --> 00:38:29,950 club to give up chess just because 763 00:38:36,660 --> 00:38:32,080 someone thinks backgammon is a better 764 00:38:39,180 --> 00:38:36,670 game the implication is that you cannot 765 00:38:42,030 --> 00:38:39,190 be real skeptics as you are not 766 00:38:45,540 --> 00:38:42,040 skeptical of what I am skeptical of and 767 00:38:48,890 --> 00:38:45,550 what I am sceptical of is more important 768 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:48,900 than what you are skeptical of 769 00:38:58,180 --> 00:38:55,330 the relative privation fallacy can 770 00:39:00,730 --> 00:38:58,190 easily take you away from the argument 771 00:39:04,930 --> 00:39:00,740 in hand and have you wasting your time 772 00:39:08,890 --> 00:39:04,940 down some rabbit hole try to keep your 773 00:39:15,220 --> 00:39:08,900 opponent and yourself to the topic in 774 00:39:17,830 --> 00:39:15,230 question knowing a logical fallacy when 775 00:39:20,530 --> 00:39:17,840 you hear one and even knowing its name 776 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:20,540 is important when arguing your point of 777 00:39:24,340 --> 00:39:21,370 view 778 00:39:27,670 --> 00:39:24,350 however you may come across as arrogant 779 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:27,680 and not get very far if you call it out 780 00:39:34,600 --> 00:39:30,410 by name to your opponent when you hear 781 00:39:37,540 --> 00:39:34,610 it being used if your opponent calls you 782 00:39:40,830 --> 00:39:37,550 out for using one it's time to stop and 783 00:39:43,410 --> 00:39:40,840 think about how you are making your case 784 00:39:47,170 --> 00:39:43,420 use your knowledge of logical fallacies 785 00:39:49,810 --> 00:39:47,180 wisely and remember that even if your 786 00:39:52,660 --> 00:39:49,820 point of view is right and you know all 787 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:52,670 the pitfalls in arguing your case it 788 00:39:58,780 --> 00:39:55,010 doesn't always mean you'll win on the 789 00:40:02,030 --> 00:39:58,790 day and a skeptics we must also remember 790 00:40:03,930 --> 00:40:02,040 that we too can be wrong at times 791 00:40:06,850 --> 00:40:03,940 [Music] 792 00:40:13,560 --> 00:40:06,860 I'm shale because my from the Vick 793 00:40:23,940 --> 00:40:22,200 oh the skeptic zone there there's a 794 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:23,950 bunch of funky crew everyone who 795 00:40:27,540 --> 00:40:25,330 listened to the skeptic zone is a 796 00:40:29,940 --> 00:40:27,550 serious funk stir well there'll be some 797 00:40:34,440 --> 00:40:29,950 fun going on next Friday night at 8:30 798 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:34,450 at Sydney time that's a 10:30 UTC which 799 00:40:39,810 --> 00:40:38,170 means all current timecode i think but 800 00:40:40,890 --> 00:40:39,820 never we having the one-man mad club 801 00:40:42,990 --> 00:40:40,900 that's why they'll be jumping around and 802 00:40:45,210 --> 00:40:43,000 leaping around and our studio engineer 803 00:40:45,630 --> 00:40:45,220 for the entire thing will be Richard 804 00:40:47,700 --> 00:40:45,640 Saunders 805 00:40:49,410 --> 00:40:47,710 so the show's gonna be a complete 806 00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:49,420 disaster so why not watch it we do it 807 00:40:54,360 --> 00:40:51,610 live at that time I told you earlier 808 00:40:55,620 --> 00:40:54,370 hunter the donkey code time and I'll be 809 00:40:58,440 --> 00:40:55,630 very Bobby jumping around off with 810 00:41:01,020 --> 00:40:58,450 playing stuff and it's it's easy to find 811 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:01,030 because it's all on it's on my Mixcloud 812 00:41:07,920 --> 00:41:05,410 basically it's Mixcloud calm /live 4 / 813 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:07,930 DJ main art but hey that's too hard just 814 00:41:12,510 --> 00:41:10,690 go to Maynard comm dot ru and they'll be 815 00:41:14,910 --> 00:41:12,520 a link to it there you probably won't 816 00:41:16,170 --> 00:41:14,920 see Richard but you might not see me 817 00:41:18,210 --> 00:41:16,180 either because he'll be in traffic to 818 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:18,220 the vision and the audio and you're over 819 00:41:22,500 --> 00:41:20,410 here with this show like skeptic zone 820 00:41:24,330 --> 00:41:22,510 listeners can look and dance end point 821 00:41:26,990 --> 00:41:24,340 and if they miss the entire show because 822 00:41:30,270 --> 00:41:27,000 they don't live at all good 80 seat time 823 00:41:33,990 --> 00:41:30,280 under the counter time that's right it's 824 00:41:34,710 --> 00:41:34,000 10:30 under the counter time UTC next 825 00:41:38,040 --> 00:41:34,720 Friday night 826 00:41:40,350 --> 00:41:38,050 or 8:30 here for those Italians see you 827 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:40,360 then oh and why is it on Facebook look 828 00:41:44,790 --> 00:41:42,370 any DJ's on the live stream on Facebook 829 00:41:47,990 --> 00:41:44,800 will tell you why than on Facebook Mark 830 00:41:57,590 --> 00:41:48,000 Zuckerberg can't dance 831 00:42:07,650 --> 00:42:02,760 to the publisher of uncovered the hidden 832 00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:07,660 secret conspiracy secrets exposed to the 833 00:42:21,270 --> 00:42:14,530 world at last in secret dear sir 834 00:42:25,770 --> 00:42:21,280 I am writing to you to acknowledge the 835 00:42:29,700 --> 00:42:25,780 delivery in a plain brown envelope of a 836 00:42:34,170 --> 00:42:29,710 copy of the above-mentioned book from 837 00:42:39,330 --> 00:42:34,180 your company I'm sure you can understand 838 00:42:42,600 --> 00:42:39,340 my keenness to read this expose which 839 00:42:52,200 --> 00:42:42,610 you assure me is a rare volume reflected 840 00:42:59,160 --> 00:42:52,210 in the price I paid of 1965 dollars my 841 00:43:02,760 --> 00:42:59,170 only concern is that as of yet I am able 842 00:43:05,880 --> 00:43:02,770 to decode much of the true hidden 843 00:43:10,140 --> 00:43:05,890 messages within the book that for 844 00:43:13,370 --> 00:43:10,150 obvious reasons is heavily encrypted I'm 845 00:43:17,790 --> 00:43:13,380 note that even the title of the book 846 00:43:21,230 --> 00:43:17,800 basic cooking for dummies is also in 847 00:43:23,480 --> 00:43:21,240 code no doubt a clever way of saying 848 00:43:29,580 --> 00:43:23,490 cooking the books 849 00:43:32,609 --> 00:43:29,590 however I do feel I am making some 850 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:32,619 progress I draw your attention in 851 00:43:38,820 --> 00:43:34,890 particular to Chapter three 852 00:43:43,890 --> 00:43:38,830 brilliantly entitled the secrets of 853 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:43,900 boiling eggs I cannot wait to uncover 854 00:43:51,020 --> 00:43:46,810 the layers of conspiracies government 855 00:43:56,160 --> 00:43:51,030 cover-ups and finally understand the 856 00:44:00,650 --> 00:43:56,170 references to setting the timer turning 857 00:44:06,649 --> 00:44:00,660 up the heat also add a pinch of salt and 858 00:44:16,439 --> 00:44:10,169 please find enclosed my check for a 859 00:44:20,659 --> 00:44:16,449 further 1960 $5 for volume 2 listed in 860 00:44:23,819 --> 00:44:20,669 your catalog under the codename of 861 00:44:35,130 --> 00:44:23,829 submarine sandwiches and other guilty 862 00:44:38,039 --> 00:44:35,140 pleasures yours and the etc etc PS I am 863 00:44:54,479 --> 00:44:38,049 also confident I will soon discover the 864 00:45:00,329 --> 00:44:54,489 meaning of chapter 5 half-baked and now 865 00:45:01,180 --> 00:45:00,339 a reading from the book of Tim with Tim 866 00:45:06,040 --> 00:45:01,190 Mendham 867 00:45:09,290 --> 00:45:06,050 [Music] 868 00:45:11,330 --> 00:45:09,300 hi this is Tim in Des Moines the editor 869 00:45:13,760 --> 00:45:11,340 of Australian skeptics magazine the 870 00:45:16,849 --> 00:45:13,770 skeptic and I'm also executive officer 871 00:45:19,070 --> 00:45:16,859 for Australian skeptics today I'll be 872 00:45:24,520 --> 00:45:19,080 reading from the skeptic magazine from 873 00:45:28,310 --> 00:45:24,530 March 2015 which is volume 35 number one 874 00:45:31,430 --> 00:45:28,320 in the section what goes around what 875 00:45:34,820 --> 00:45:31,440 goes around goes around the story that 876 00:45:37,910 --> 00:45:34,830 continues never ending with starts off 877 00:45:46,849 --> 00:45:37,920 with romance this story is about ghosts 878 00:45:48,530 --> 00:45:46,859 and ghouls sex and magic ghosts and 879 00:45:51,470 --> 00:45:48,540 haunted houses feature prominently in 880 00:45:53,990 --> 00:45:51,480 horror stories literary historian Jay a 881 00:45:56,540 --> 00:45:54,000 Curtin has defined the horror story as a 882 00:45:58,820 --> 00:45:56,550 piece of fiction in prose of variable 883 00:46:01,339 --> 00:45:58,830 length which shocks or even frightens 884 00:46:04,700 --> 00:46:01,349 the reader or perhaps induces a feeling 885 00:46:06,290 --> 00:46:04,710 of repulsion or loathing horror stories 886 00:46:09,050 --> 00:46:06,300 that are set in exotic locations 887 00:46:11,599 --> 00:46:09,060 revolving around pseudo medieval castles 888 00:46:13,579 --> 00:46:11,609 dark nights lightning the supernatural 889 00:46:15,890 --> 00:46:13,589 and a general eerie and frightening 890 00:46:18,589 --> 00:46:15,900 atmosphere are often referred to as 891 00:46:20,510 --> 00:46:18,599 gothic horror genre or mode of 892 00:46:23,960 --> 00:46:20,520 literature that combines fiction horror 893 00:46:26,120 --> 00:46:23,970 and Romanticism the origin of gothic 894 00:46:29,210 --> 00:46:26,130 horror is attributed to English author 895 00:46:33,250 --> 00:46:29,220 Horace or sometimes Horatio Walpole with 896 00:46:36,079 --> 00:46:33,260 his 1764 novel the Castle of Otranto 897 00:46:36,910 --> 00:46:36,089 subtitled in its second edition a gothic 898 00:46:41,180 --> 00:46:36,920 story 899 00:46:42,829 --> 00:46:41,190 Walpole the 4th Earl of Orford was an 900 00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:42,839 English art historian man of letters 901 00:46:48,620 --> 00:46:46,410 antiquarian and weak politician he's 902 00:46:50,359 --> 00:46:48,630 remembered for Strawberry Hill the home 903 00:46:52,820 --> 00:46:50,369 he built in Twickenham southwest of 904 00:46:55,339 --> 00:46:52,830 London where he revived the Gothic style 905 00:46:57,920 --> 00:46:55,349 some decades before he is a Victorian 906 00:46:59,570 --> 00:46:57,930 successors he was the son of the first 907 00:47:01,880 --> 00:46:59,580 Prime Minister of Britain Sir Robert 908 00:47:03,589 --> 00:47:01,890 Walpole a cousin to Lord Nelson's 909 00:47:07,670 --> 00:47:03,599 grandmother's so everyone's connected 910 00:47:09,890 --> 00:47:07,680 just like this story in 1737 Walpole's 911 00:47:12,740 --> 00:47:09,900 mother died according to one biographer 912 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:12,750 his love for his mother was quote the 913 00:47:17,630 --> 00:47:15,210 most powerful emotion of his entire life 914 00:47:19,099 --> 00:47:17,640 the whole of his psychological history 915 00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:19,109 was dominated 916 00:47:24,859 --> 00:47:22,410 i Walpole supposedly did not have any 917 00:47:27,829 --> 00:47:24,869 serious relationships with women he has 918 00:47:29,539 --> 00:47:27,839 been called a natural celibate his 919 00:47:31,910 --> 00:47:29,549 sexual orientation has been the subject 920 00:47:33,920 --> 00:47:31,920 of speculation many contemporaries 921 00:47:35,450 --> 00:47:33,930 described him as a feminist one 922 00:47:38,569 --> 00:47:35,460 political opponent called him a 923 00:47:41,539 --> 00:47:38,579 hermaphrodite horse he never married 924 00:47:44,200 --> 00:47:41,549 engage in a succession of unconsummated 925 00:47:46,160 --> 00:47:44,210 flirtations with unmarriageable women 926 00:47:49,370 --> 00:47:46,170 some previous biographers have 927 00:47:52,390 --> 00:47:49,380 interpreted well polis a sexual engaged 928 00:47:55,339 --> 00:47:52,400 only in platonic relationships a 929 00:47:55,880 --> 00:47:55,349 platonic love is a type of love that is 930 00:47:58,460 --> 00:47:55,890 chaste 931 00:48:00,920 --> 00:47:58,470 and non-sexual the term is named after 932 00:48:03,650 --> 00:48:00,930 Plato who was the first to describe this 933 00:48:05,930 --> 00:48:03,660 kind of love the original sense of the 934 00:48:09,109 --> 00:48:05,940 term is examined in Plato's dialogue the 935 00:48:12,739 --> 00:48:09,119 symposium which has a topic the subject 936 00:48:14,450 --> 00:48:12,749 of love or eros generally it explains 937 00:48:17,420 --> 00:48:14,460 the possibilities of how the feeling of 938 00:48:20,809 --> 00:48:17,430 love began and how it has evolved both 939 00:48:22,700 --> 00:48:20,819 sexually and non-sexually of particular 940 00:48:25,309 --> 00:48:22,710 importance is the speech of Socrates 941 00:48:28,370 --> 00:48:25,319 relating the ideas attributed to the 942 00:48:30,710 --> 00:48:28,380 prophetess died ultima which present 943 00:48:33,529 --> 00:48:30,720 love as a means of ascent to 944 00:48:36,829 --> 00:48:33,539 contemplation of the divine for diatomic 945 00:48:39,289 --> 00:48:36,839 and for Plato generally the most correct 946 00:48:43,749 --> 00:48:39,299 use of love of other human beings is to 947 00:48:46,039 --> 00:48:43,759 direct one's mind to love of divinity 948 00:48:48,680 --> 00:48:46,049 Plato himself was not always so 949 00:48:51,259 --> 00:48:48,690 accommodating to others in the symposium 950 00:48:53,809 --> 00:48:51,269 he described Magi were magicians as 951 00:48:57,069 --> 00:48:53,819 Maleficent while allowing a measure of 952 00:48:59,660 --> 00:48:57,079 efficacy as a function of the god eros 953 00:49:01,880 --> 00:48:59,670 another who criticized the Magi was 954 00:49:04,069 --> 00:49:01,890 Pliny the Elder the Roman historian 955 00:49:06,079 --> 00:49:04,079 natural philosopher naval and army 956 00:49:09,289 --> 00:49:06,089 commander and personal friend of the 957 00:49:12,859 --> 00:49:09,299 Emperor Vespasian in his natural history 958 00:49:14,539 --> 00:49:12,869 Pliny attacked astrology and suggested 959 00:49:16,700 --> 00:49:14,549 that magic originated in medicine 960 00:49:19,519 --> 00:49:16,710 creeping in by pretending to offer 961 00:49:21,289 --> 00:49:19,529 health he says that Plato wrote 962 00:49:23,569 --> 00:49:21,299 pythagoras and others traveled abroad to 963 00:49:25,549 --> 00:49:23,579 learn magic remarking that it was 964 00:49:28,460 --> 00:49:25,559 surprising anyone accepted the doctrines 965 00:49:30,529 --> 00:49:28,470 they brought back till his nephew Pliny 966 00:49:32,539 --> 00:49:30,539 the Younger was a lawyer 967 00:49:35,269 --> 00:49:32,549 author and magistrate of ancient Rome 968 00:49:37,400 --> 00:49:35,279 both Pliny the Elder and younger were 969 00:49:42,499 --> 00:49:37,410 witnesses to the eruption of Vesuvius 970 00:49:45,169 --> 00:49:42,509 on August 24 79 bit ad or C II as we 971 00:49:45,799 --> 00:49:45,179 call it now during which Pliny the Elder 972 00:49:47,900 --> 00:49:45,809 died 973 00:49:50,449 --> 00:49:47,910 Pliny the Younger was considered an 974 00:49:52,519 --> 00:49:50,459 honest and moderate man he rose through 975 00:49:56,059 --> 00:49:52,529 a series of imperial civil and military 976 00:49:57,919 --> 00:49:56,069 officers the cursus honorum he was a 977 00:50:00,469 --> 00:49:57,929 friend of the historian Tacitus and 978 00:50:03,469 --> 00:50:00,479 employed the biographer Suetonius on his 979 00:50:05,870 --> 00:50:03,479 staff what he is less well-known for is 980 00:50:08,089 --> 00:50:05,880 that in a letter to his patron Lucia 981 00:50:11,749 --> 00:50:08,099 Sura he gave the earliest surviving 982 00:50:14,079 --> 00:50:11,759 report of a haunted house a villa with a 983 00:50:17,890 --> 00:50:14,089 ghost of an old man bound with chains 984 00:50:20,620 --> 00:50:17,900 which brings us back to haunted houses 985 00:50:22,069 --> 00:50:20,630 so that was what goes around from March 986 00:50:30,380 --> 00:50:22,079 2015 987 00:50:32,390 --> 00:50:30,390 from the skeptic and you can download 988 00:50:32,989 --> 00:50:32,400 all back issues of the skeptic from our 989 00:50:35,569 --> 00:50:32,999 website 990 00:50:38,370 --> 00:50:35,579 skeptics Comte you and they are 991 00:50:50,779 --> 00:50:47,349 [Music] 992 00:50:53,359 --> 00:50:50,789 hi my name's Joe Thornley and I'd like 993 00:50:56,359 --> 00:50:53,369 you to join my cup I'd like you to 994 00:50:58,640 --> 00:50:56,369 listen to my podcast about cults called 995 00:51:00,349 --> 00:50:58,650 zealot it's available pretty much any 996 00:51:03,319 --> 00:51:00,359 way you find podcasts with further 997 00:51:05,660 --> 00:51:03,329 reading on the zealot Facebook page each 998 00:51:07,579 --> 00:51:05,670 episode a guest joins me to talk about a 999 00:51:12,930 --> 00:51:07,589 specific cult where we answer the big 1000 00:51:24,730 --> 00:51:23,200 and does anyone think they're Jesus hop 1001 00:51:26,740 --> 00:51:24,740 over to my compound and have a listen 1002 00:51:43,099 --> 00:51:26,750 I've just mixed up a fresh batch of 1003 00:51:46,920 --> 00:51:45,450 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1004 00:51:49,620 --> 00:51:46,930 zone and thank you again to those 1005 00:51:51,859 --> 00:51:49,630 wonderful people who helped to pay for 1006 00:51:54,510 --> 00:51:51,869 the skeptic zone to make it possible and 1007 00:51:57,859 --> 00:51:54,520 I don't know if you're picking this up 1008 00:52:00,780 --> 00:51:57,869 exactly but just in the last week I did 1009 00:52:03,359 --> 00:52:00,790 purchase a new studio microphone I'm 1010 00:52:07,710 --> 00:52:03,369 using at the moment which to my ears 1011 00:52:09,720 --> 00:52:07,720 sounds a lot better a bit better not not 1012 00:52:11,039 --> 00:52:09,730 a lot better I mean the microphones have 1013 00:52:14,250 --> 00:52:11,049 been using so far have been pretty good 1014 00:52:16,530 --> 00:52:14,260 this one's a little step up so hopefully 1015 00:52:20,789 --> 00:52:16,540 a little bit more a little bit more 1016 00:52:22,620 --> 00:52:20,799 quality listening on your end well it 1017 00:52:25,020 --> 00:52:22,630 depends what I say I guess I mean for 1018 00:52:28,650 --> 00:52:25,030 those technically-minded you can look it 1019 00:52:31,770 --> 00:52:28,660 up this is the rode nt1-a microphone 1020 00:52:33,359 --> 00:52:31,780 from Australia and I get no kick backs 1021 00:52:35,910 --> 00:52:33,369 or freebies or anything from the road 1022 00:52:38,460 --> 00:52:35,920 people but they do make a very good kit 1023 00:52:41,760 --> 00:52:38,470 indeed but anyway if it wasn't for the 1024 00:52:46,020 --> 00:52:41,770 kind contributions from listeners just 1025 00:52:47,819 --> 00:52:46,030 like you not only couldn't I get the odd 1026 00:52:49,410 --> 00:52:47,829 microphone from time to time but there 1027 00:52:53,220 --> 00:52:49,420 simply would be no skeptic zone that 1028 00:52:55,710 --> 00:52:53,230 would be packed up archived forever no 1029 00:52:57,059 --> 00:52:55,720 new episodes fortunately though there 1030 00:52:59,400 --> 00:52:57,069 are people just like you who do 1031 00:53:01,440 --> 00:52:59,410 contribute so thank you very much coming 1032 00:53:03,120 --> 00:53:01,450 up on next week's show some more logical 1033 00:53:07,440 --> 00:53:03,130 fallacies with Michelle bicker smart and 1034 00:53:09,569 --> 00:53:07,450 I did get some lovely feedback about 1035 00:53:11,609 --> 00:53:09,579 that segment with Michelle so thank you 1036 00:53:14,849 --> 00:53:11,619 for Michelle for continuing to do that 1037 00:53:17,549 --> 00:53:14,859 and soon maybe in a couple of weeks 1038 00:53:20,670 --> 00:53:17,559 we'll do another think tank because I've 1039 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:20,680 got more feedback from the think tank we 1040 00:53:26,520 --> 00:53:23,530 ran on last week's show than I have for 1041 00:53:28,859 --> 00:53:26,530 a long time which is great people really 1042 00:53:30,510 --> 00:53:28,869 enjoyed it really loved hearing dr. 1043 00:53:33,450 --> 00:53:30,520 Cassandra param and Michelle because mom 1044 00:53:35,490 --> 00:53:33,460 shall Franklin and Trish Han and me in 1045 00:53:37,230 --> 00:53:35,500 the background a little bit so we'll see 1046 00:53:39,359 --> 00:53:37,240 if we can do some more of those soon I 1047 00:53:42,900 --> 00:53:39,369 think and thank you to those wonderful 1048 00:53:44,870 --> 00:53:42,910 reporters and your thoughtful and very 1049 00:53:48,599 --> 00:53:44,880 interesting comments and observations 1050 00:53:51,690 --> 00:53:48,609 during the think tank I might be chasing 1051 00:53:53,520 --> 00:53:51,700 up a couple of covered stories one 1052 00:53:54,750 --> 00:53:53,530 that's come to my attention here in 1053 00:53:57,330 --> 00:53:54,760 Australia apparently at 1054 00:53:59,370 --> 00:53:57,340 certain percentage of people who refuse 1055 00:54:03,920 --> 00:53:59,380 to be tested on the basis that they 1056 00:54:10,890 --> 00:54:07,590 which means that all these wacky zany 1057 00:54:13,050 --> 00:54:10,900 and laughable conspiracy theories you 1058 00:54:16,640 --> 00:54:13,060 hear about can have real-life 1059 00:54:18,810 --> 00:54:16,650 consequences and damaging consequences 1060 00:54:22,140 --> 00:54:18,820 might be something worth looking into 1061 00:54:26,220 --> 00:54:22,150 and just before I go why don't you tune 1062 00:54:29,190 --> 00:54:26,230 in to Maynard next Friday night here in 1063 00:54:33,930 --> 00:54:29,200 Australia at 8:30 may not is once again 1064 00:54:37,110 --> 00:54:33,940 doing live shows one man mad club he 1065 00:54:39,120 --> 00:54:37,120 calls it which almost anything goes you 1066 00:54:40,980 --> 00:54:39,130 never know what to expect but it's a 1067 00:54:43,680 --> 00:54:40,990 great excuse to have a beer or a wine 1068 00:54:45,960 --> 00:54:43,690 sit back in front of the the Internet 1069 00:54:49,140 --> 00:54:45,970 device or stream to your TV and watch 1070 00:54:55,670 --> 00:54:49,150 may not so check Maynard out at Maynard 1071 00:55:03,870 --> 00:54:55,680 com not a you or head over to Mixcloud 1072 00:55:07,740 --> 00:55:03,880 comm / Live / DJ - Maynard or some 1073 00:55:09,270 --> 00:55:07,750 people say - DJ - Maynard I'll add a 1074 00:55:11,940 --> 00:55:09,280 link to this week's show notes the last 1075 00:55:15,930 --> 00:55:11,950 one he did just the other night he did 1076 00:55:16,470 --> 00:55:15,940 from the bathtub so there you go but for 1077 00:55:18,660 --> 00:55:16,480 this week 1078 00:55:24,930 --> 00:55:18,670 this is Richard Saunders signing off 1079 00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:24,940 from Sydney Australia you've been 1080 00:55:32,460 --> 00:55:27,010 listening to the skeptic zone podcast 1081 00:55:35,490 --> 00:55:32,470 please visit our website at WWDC be for 1082 00:55:38,150 --> 00:55:35,500 show notes contacts and to access the 1083 00:55:41,460 --> 00:55:38,160 back catalog of episodes going back to 1084 00:55:45,090 --> 00:55:41,470 2008 you can follow the skeptic zone 1085 00:55:47,490 --> 00:55:45,100 podcast on twitter at skeptic zone visit 1086 00:55:50,850 --> 00:55:47,500 our facebook page or leave a review on 1087 00:55:54,240 --> 00:55:50,860 itunes you can also support the skeptic 1088 00:55:56,580 --> 00:55:54,250 zone via patreon or PayPal the skeptic 1089 00:55:58,530 --> 00:55:56,590 zone podcast is an independent 1090 00:56:00,720 --> 00:55:58,540 production reviews and opinions 1091 00:56:02,880 --> 00:56:00,730 expressed on the skeptic zone are not 1092 00:56:05,830 --> 00:56:02,890 necessarily those of Australian skeptics 1093 00:56:16,790 --> 00:56:05,840 or any other skeptical organisation 1094 00:56:21,420 --> 00:56:19,079 hello to the afterthoughts the people 1095 00:56:23,700 --> 00:56:21,430 who tune in after the music is ended and 1096 00:56:25,260 --> 00:56:23,710 this is a bit more relaxed section of 1097 00:56:26,220 --> 00:56:25,270 the show where I play the dice game if 1098 00:56:31,140 --> 00:56:26,230 you haven't heard it before I'm gonna 1099 00:56:32,940 --> 00:56:31,150 roll a 10 sided die three times and it's 1100 00:56:37,680 --> 00:56:32,950 up to you to use your psychic and mystic 1101 00:56:38,819 --> 00:56:37,690 powers to look into the future which is 1102 00:56:40,470 --> 00:56:38,829 the past because this is already 1103 00:56:42,060 --> 00:56:40,480 recorded but it's for mates the future 1104 00:56:44,880 --> 00:56:42,070 we've had this discussion before and 1105 00:56:49,740 --> 00:56:44,890 guess what numbers will come up or use 1106 00:56:52,200 --> 00:56:49,750 your mystic powers it's a d-10 so here 1107 00:56:54,569 --> 00:56:52,210 we go I'm gonna roll it on the desk here 1108 00:56:57,480 --> 00:56:54,579 I'm gonna turn my microphone up a little 1109 00:57:03,030 --> 00:56:57,490 bit though get back from the mic a bit 1110 00:57:05,630 --> 00:57:03,040 so in d-10 first role is on the floor 1111 00:57:07,130 --> 00:57:05,640 why settle it okay here we go 1112 00:57:12,960 --> 00:57:07,140 [Music] 1113 00:57:15,660 --> 00:57:12,970 to write that down first number this 1114 00:57:18,120 --> 00:57:15,670 week is to susan gerbic i know you're 1115 00:57:22,700 --> 00:57:18,130 listening and I know you're gonna pick 1116 00:57:29,010 --> 00:57:25,740 good grief well that's a coincidence 1117 00:57:30,930 --> 00:57:29,020 sorry Susan it's another two sorry got 1118 00:57:32,579 --> 00:57:30,940 your hopes up there for a minute you 1119 00:57:34,200 --> 00:57:32,589 just have to trust me folks I always 1120 00:57:39,470 --> 00:57:34,210 accurately tell you what the number is 1121 00:57:49,230 --> 00:57:39,480 last number coming up hiding under the 1122 00:57:51,809 --> 00:57:49,240 well how about that - it really is 1123 00:57:53,250 --> 00:57:51,819 I should video these things ok turn my 1124 00:57:55,260 --> 00:57:53,260 microphone down and come a bit close I 1125 00:57:57,120 --> 00:57:55,270 should video these things because it 1126 00:57:59,130 --> 00:57:57,130 really is and it's bound to happen every 1127 00:58:01,530 --> 00:57:59,140 now and then isn't it I mean to to to 1128 00:58:04,470 --> 00:58:01,540 have is the sequences likely to come up 1129 00:58:06,000 --> 00:58:04,480 as one five and nine or whatever there 1130 00:58:07,410 --> 00:58:06,010 you go and that's the second time and 1131 00:58:10,069 --> 00:58:07,420 all these I've been doing this that the 1132 00:58:15,109 --> 00:58:10,079 same numbers appeared three times 1133 00:58:20,069 --> 00:58:15,119 today's winning numbers number is two