1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,630 [Music] 2 00:00:11,270 --> 00:00:08,470 welcome to the skeptic zone 3 00:00:16,830 --> 00:00:11,280 the podcast from australia for science 4 00:00:23,590 --> 00:00:16,840 and reason 5 00:00:25,670 --> 00:00:23,600 [Music] 6 00:00:27,150 --> 00:00:25,680 yes it's the skeptic zone podcast 7 00:00:30,790 --> 00:00:27,160 episode number 8 00:00:32,310 --> 00:00:30,800 618 for the 16th of august 2020 9 00:00:34,310 --> 00:00:32,320 richard saunders here with you from 10 00:00:37,350 --> 00:00:34,320 sydney australia 11 00:00:39,510 --> 00:00:37,360 oh the sun's not even up yet 12 00:00:40,470 --> 00:00:39,520 i can't tell if it's i think it's going 13 00:00:44,869 --> 00:00:40,480 to be a clear 14 00:00:48,310 --> 00:00:44,879 day coming up on this week's show seeds 15 00:00:51,430 --> 00:00:48,320 mysterious seeds in mysterious packets 16 00:00:53,270 --> 00:00:51,440 from china is it an urban myth is it 17 00:00:55,750 --> 00:00:53,280 really happening what do people do if 18 00:00:58,310 --> 00:00:55,760 they get these seeds 19 00:00:59,189 --> 00:00:58,320 find out when michelle franklin looks at 20 00:01:02,549 --> 00:00:59,199 this 21 00:01:04,710 --> 00:01:02,559 very weird and strange topic 22 00:01:06,710 --> 00:01:04,720 have you recently received a packet of 23 00:01:08,789 --> 00:01:06,720 seeds from china 24 00:01:10,390 --> 00:01:08,799 you didn't order them you know nothing 25 00:01:13,910 --> 00:01:10,400 about them yet 26 00:01:16,390 --> 00:01:13,920 they arrive are they seeds of distress 27 00:01:17,429 --> 00:01:16,400 find out with michelle franklin 28 00:01:19,510 --> 00:01:17,439 following that we have 29 00:01:21,590 --> 00:01:19,520 skeptical news from the australian 30 00:01:24,070 --> 00:01:21,600 skeptics via the uh 31 00:01:26,390 --> 00:01:24,080 newsletter then it's michelle bickersma 32 00:01:29,429 --> 00:01:26,400 with logical fallacies this week 33 00:01:31,190 --> 00:01:29,439 michelle looks at the texas sharpshooter 34 00:01:32,950 --> 00:01:31,200 fallacy that's an interesting name for a 35 00:01:34,149 --> 00:01:32,960 fallacy 36 00:01:36,469 --> 00:01:34,159 hope you're doing okay there in 37 00:01:38,230 --> 00:01:36,479 melbourne michelle melvin is still in 38 00:01:41,270 --> 00:01:38,240 the midst of a very strong 39 00:01:44,149 --> 00:01:41,280 very stringent lockdown regime 40 00:01:45,109 --> 00:01:44,159 to try and uh well i don't have to tell 41 00:01:46,710 --> 00:01:45,119 you why 42 00:01:48,230 --> 00:01:46,720 then to round off the show we have a 43 00:01:50,230 --> 00:01:48,240 couple of items 44 00:01:51,910 --> 00:01:50,240 from the pages of the skeptic magazine 45 00:01:54,950 --> 00:01:51,920 going back some 46 00:01:56,230 --> 00:01:54,960 biblical shenanigans at sydney's town 47 00:01:59,350 --> 00:01:56,240 hall 48 00:02:02,709 --> 00:01:59,360 then we have another article by the late 49 00:02:05,789 --> 00:02:02,719 great barry williams discussing 50 00:02:07,429 --> 00:02:05,799 what would the world be like if 51 00:02:11,510 --> 00:02:07,439 homeopathy 52 00:02:15,350 --> 00:02:11,520 was true or should i say if it worked as 53 00:02:17,190 --> 00:02:15,360 claimed now we often say in the skeptics 54 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:17,200 the game we play the thought experiment 55 00:02:22,390 --> 00:02:18,480 is 56 00:02:24,710 --> 00:02:22,400 well 57 00:02:26,390 --> 00:02:24,720 what if it were true what would the 58 00:02:28,869 --> 00:02:26,400 world look like and you can apply that 59 00:02:30,630 --> 00:02:28,879 to talking to the dead or 60 00:02:31,910 --> 00:02:30,640 what if it were true if people could 61 00:02:34,390 --> 00:02:31,920 really find 62 00:02:35,589 --> 00:02:34,400 water using water dividing or they could 63 00:02:38,949 --> 00:02:35,599 really bend 64 00:02:40,949 --> 00:02:38,959 metals with psychic powers and so on 65 00:02:43,430 --> 00:02:40,959 it's a very interesting thought 66 00:02:46,470 --> 00:02:43,440 experiment but find out more later on 67 00:02:48,150 --> 00:02:46,480 when we read some of those items 68 00:02:50,949 --> 00:02:48,160 now don't forget before we get on to the 69 00:02:52,790 --> 00:02:50,959 show don't forget that on the 23rd to 70 00:02:54,869 --> 00:02:52,800 the 25th of october this year the 71 00:02:58,309 --> 00:02:54,879 australian skeptics national convention 72 00:03:01,030 --> 00:02:58,319 skepticon 2020 is online 73 00:03:02,390 --> 00:03:01,040 you can sit back in your lounge room in 74 00:03:04,630 --> 00:03:02,400 your dressing gown 75 00:03:06,470 --> 00:03:04,640 in your pajamas anywhere around the 76 00:03:07,750 --> 00:03:06,480 world and join us for this year's 77 00:03:09,589 --> 00:03:07,760 convention 78 00:03:11,750 --> 00:03:09,599 lots of interesting speakers lined up 79 00:03:16,390 --> 00:03:11,760 and some fun and games along the way 80 00:03:18,229 --> 00:03:16,400 look head to www.skepticon.org.u with 81 00:03:20,229 --> 00:03:18,239 links in this week's show notes as 82 00:03:21,750 --> 00:03:20,239 ever and find out more about the 83 00:03:25,350 --> 00:03:21,760 speakers and the 84 00:03:26,309 --> 00:03:25,360 the events coming up and being online 85 00:03:28,630 --> 00:03:26,319 rather than 86 00:03:30,789 --> 00:03:28,640 in a physical location means you save on 87 00:03:32,470 --> 00:03:30,799 travel you save on accommodation 88 00:03:34,470 --> 00:03:32,480 and this is reflected in the ticket 89 00:03:37,830 --> 00:03:34,480 prices which are also very cheap 90 00:03:39,990 --> 00:03:37,840 so regardless of it being online or in 91 00:03:42,229 --> 00:03:40,000 real life is that how i can say it or in 92 00:03:44,630 --> 00:03:42,239 face face to face face to face time 93 00:03:45,990 --> 00:03:44,640 oh these days are so confusing join us 94 00:03:48,750 --> 00:03:46,000 please join us for skepticon 95 00:03:50,550 --> 00:03:48,760 get your tickets today at uh 96 00:03:53,270 --> 00:03:50,560 skepticon.org you 97 00:03:54,789 --> 00:03:53,280 yes it is a bit of a strange uh time 98 00:03:56,869 --> 00:03:54,799 we're still living through and 99 00:03:58,309 --> 00:03:56,879 we'll be living through for a while yet 100 00:04:01,190 --> 00:03:58,319 i guess 101 00:04:03,990 --> 00:04:01,200 which makes me think how we will be when 102 00:04:07,429 --> 00:04:04,000 we come out of all this 103 00:04:12,149 --> 00:04:07,439 now i intend to be fitter 104 00:04:14,470 --> 00:04:12,159 thinner yeah fitter and thinner i hope 105 00:04:15,589 --> 00:04:14,480 that maybe you too are putting a 106 00:04:19,349 --> 00:04:15,599 positive 107 00:04:22,550 --> 00:04:19,359 angle on this so what do you think 108 00:04:23,030 --> 00:04:22,560 that you will be post-covered will you 109 00:04:25,510 --> 00:04:23,040 be 110 00:04:26,629 --> 00:04:25,520 happier healthier will you make an 111 00:04:30,150 --> 00:04:26,639 effort to 112 00:04:33,030 --> 00:04:30,160 to do something to learn a new skill set 113 00:04:33,909 --> 00:04:33,040 online education i guess what i'm saying 114 00:04:37,670 --> 00:04:33,919 is we all shouldn't 115 00:04:38,950 --> 00:04:37,680 try to make the best of a bad situation 116 00:04:41,030 --> 00:04:38,960 but now it's time for me to run 117 00:04:43,189 --> 00:04:41,040 downstairs and have the very last 118 00:04:46,070 --> 00:04:43,199 piece of peanut butter toast i'm going 119 00:04:49,590 --> 00:04:46,080 to have for a while because i've decided 120 00:04:52,469 --> 00:04:49,600 with the recommendation from the 121 00:04:53,670 --> 00:04:52,479 specialist to cut my cholesterol down a 122 00:04:55,350 --> 00:04:53,680 little 123 00:04:57,590 --> 00:04:55,360 they looked at my chart and i said all 124 00:05:00,710 --> 00:04:57,600 your cholesterol is a little high 125 00:05:01,189 --> 00:05:00,720 not very much so no more peanut butter 126 00:05:03,430 --> 00:05:01,199 toast 127 00:05:05,430 --> 00:05:03,440 for me for a while so i'm going to enjoy 128 00:05:22,830 --> 00:05:05,440 this last one will i do that 129 00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:28,469 so 130 00:05:37,110 --> 00:05:30,020 life is wild 131 00:05:42,550 --> 00:05:37,120 [Music] 132 00:05:53,670 --> 00:05:44,390 hi guys this is michelle franklin 133 00:05:55,110 --> 00:05:53,680 reporting from the northern territory 134 00:05:57,270 --> 00:05:55,120 today i want to talk about something 135 00:05:59,430 --> 00:05:57,280 that i saw on the internet 136 00:06:00,469 --> 00:05:59,440 back in july i saw this little story on 137 00:06:02,390 --> 00:06:00,479 facebook 138 00:06:04,070 --> 00:06:02,400 about someone in america who claimed to 139 00:06:05,749 --> 00:06:04,080 have received a package of seeds from 140 00:06:07,430 --> 00:06:05,759 china in the mail 141 00:06:09,510 --> 00:06:07,440 they said they didn't order anything and 142 00:06:11,350 --> 00:06:09,520 this little package that was labeled as 143 00:06:13,590 --> 00:06:11,360 earrings 144 00:06:16,469 --> 00:06:13,600 but actually contained lemon seeds just 145 00:06:17,990 --> 00:06:16,479 showed up at their house one day 146 00:06:19,670 --> 00:06:18,000 the story was about how the u.s 147 00:06:21,110 --> 00:06:19,680 department of agriculture was 148 00:06:22,950 --> 00:06:21,120 asking that anyone who receives a 149 00:06:26,870 --> 00:06:22,960 package like this to contact them 150 00:06:28,469 --> 00:06:26,880 immediately and dispose of it safely 151 00:06:30,309 --> 00:06:28,479 my first thought was that it's some 152 00:06:32,070 --> 00:06:30,319 silly mistake someone's ordered some 153 00:06:33,909 --> 00:06:32,080 seeds online and the package has been 154 00:06:35,189 --> 00:06:33,919 mislabeled and sent to the wrong person 155 00:06:38,469 --> 00:06:35,199 happens all the time 156 00:06:39,990 --> 00:06:38,479 but i read the comments so many people 157 00:06:41,110 --> 00:06:40,000 were laughing at how stupid the 158 00:06:43,749 --> 00:06:41,120 authorities are for 159 00:06:44,950 --> 00:06:43,759 worrying about lemon seeds and of course 160 00:06:46,790 --> 00:06:44,960 this bothered me because 161 00:06:49,029 --> 00:06:46,800 they had no regard for the possibility 162 00:06:51,110 --> 00:06:49,039 of pests or pathogens on those seeds and 163 00:06:52,070 --> 00:06:51,120 they all seemed extremely confident that 164 00:06:54,629 --> 00:06:52,080 they were in fact 165 00:06:55,189 --> 00:06:54,639 lemon seeds it reminded me of those 166 00:06:58,230 --> 00:06:55,199 people 167 00:06:58,629 --> 00:06:58,240 on facebook who comment on the the snake 168 00:07:01,589 --> 00:06:58,639 id 169 00:07:02,790 --> 00:07:01,599 posts you know the ones where there's a 170 00:07:04,469 --> 00:07:02,800 brown colored snake 171 00:07:06,870 --> 00:07:04,479 and they assume that they're experts and 172 00:07:07,510 --> 00:07:06,880 declared that that's certainly a king 173 00:07:09,430 --> 00:07:07,520 brown 174 00:07:10,870 --> 00:07:09,440 or worse the ones who see the tiniest 175 00:07:13,029 --> 00:07:10,880 hint of a pattern and 176 00:07:14,150 --> 00:07:13,039 declare that it must be a harmless 177 00:07:15,909 --> 00:07:14,160 carpet snake 178 00:07:17,589 --> 00:07:15,919 seeming naive to the fact that there are 179 00:07:18,390 --> 00:07:17,599 any other snakes in the world besides 180 00:07:21,430 --> 00:07:18,400 king brown and 181 00:07:23,510 --> 00:07:21,440 carpet anyway i didn't think too much 182 00:07:24,150 --> 00:07:23,520 about this post other than to feel a bit 183 00:07:26,309 --> 00:07:24,160 annoyed at 184 00:07:27,510 --> 00:07:26,319 overconfident amateurs educating one 185 00:07:30,230 --> 00:07:27,520 another and spreading their own 186 00:07:32,469 --> 00:07:30,240 misplaced confidence around 187 00:07:33,670 --> 00:07:32,479 then one day last week i woke up and 188 00:07:36,070 --> 00:07:33,680 checked facebook again 189 00:07:37,990 --> 00:07:36,080 and found a follow-up story and this 190 00:07:40,710 --> 00:07:38,000 time i actually read the article 191 00:07:42,870 --> 00:07:40,720 it claimed that an arkansas man had 192 00:07:44,469 --> 00:07:42,880 received a mysterious package from china 193 00:07:46,950 --> 00:07:44,479 containing unknown seeds 194 00:07:47,909 --> 00:07:46,960 and out of curiosity he planted one and 195 00:07:49,430 --> 00:07:47,919 looked after it 196 00:07:51,589 --> 00:07:49,440 of course this is stupid he shouldn't 197 00:07:52,629 --> 00:07:51,599 have done that but i wasn't surprised 198 00:07:54,790 --> 00:07:52,639 people are curious 199 00:07:57,110 --> 00:07:54,800 and he was just trying to learn more and 200 00:07:59,189 --> 00:07:57,120 he didn't understand the risks 201 00:08:01,270 --> 00:07:59,199 but the story became quite sensational 202 00:08:01,830 --> 00:08:01,280 after that it claimed that the mystery 203 00:08:03,830 --> 00:08:01,840 seeds 204 00:08:06,070 --> 00:08:03,840 had grown into a massive unstoppable 205 00:08:08,309 --> 00:08:06,080 fruit and it's still unknown what 206 00:08:09,830 --> 00:08:08,319 exactly the plant is 207 00:08:11,670 --> 00:08:09,840 although it's producing large white 208 00:08:13,510 --> 00:08:11,680 fruit and orange flowers 209 00:08:16,390 --> 00:08:13,520 and it says that authorities are coming 210 00:08:18,070 --> 00:08:16,400 to remove the plant and do further tests 211 00:08:19,670 --> 00:08:18,080 of course any decent botanist will be 212 00:08:20,230 --> 00:08:19,680 able to identify the plant with no 213 00:08:21,990 --> 00:08:20,240 problems 214 00:08:23,589 --> 00:08:22,000 but like any expert of course they're 215 00:08:24,550 --> 00:08:23,599 not going to do it over the phone or 216 00:08:25,670 --> 00:08:24,560 from a photo 217 00:08:27,909 --> 00:08:25,680 they're going to want to have a look at 218 00:08:30,550 --> 00:08:27,919 it properly before making a statement 219 00:08:32,230 --> 00:08:30,560 so the mystery plant is likely no more 220 00:08:32,709 --> 00:08:32,240 of a mystery than the brown colored 221 00:08:34,310 --> 00:08:32,719 snake 222 00:08:36,149 --> 00:08:34,320 it just hasn't been looked at by the 223 00:08:38,149 --> 00:08:36,159 right person yet 224 00:08:40,149 --> 00:08:38,159 now at this point my overactive 225 00:08:41,909 --> 00:08:40,159 skepticism still thinking that it's a 226 00:08:43,990 --> 00:08:41,919 dumb fluff piece about an old man and 227 00:08:46,310 --> 00:08:44,000 his pumpkin and it's no big deal 228 00:08:48,150 --> 00:08:46,320 but i watched the video and it appears 229 00:08:51,030 --> 00:08:48,160 that this is actually happening in the 230 00:08:53,110 --> 00:08:51,040 us on a larger scale than i was assuming 231 00:08:54,070 --> 00:08:53,120 and in other countries as well further 232 00:08:56,710 --> 00:08:54,080 googling led me 233 00:08:58,870 --> 00:08:56,720 to articles of similar packages from 234 00:09:01,829 --> 00:08:58,880 china malaysia and taiwan showing up in 235 00:09:04,230 --> 00:09:01,839 multiple countries including australia 236 00:09:05,829 --> 00:09:04,240 i went to the usda website and right 237 00:09:07,430 --> 00:09:05,839 there on their front page right above 238 00:09:09,829 --> 00:09:07,440 the covert 19 banner 239 00:09:11,910 --> 00:09:09,839 was a link regarding unsolicited 240 00:09:14,470 --> 00:09:11,920 packages of seeds from china 241 00:09:17,509 --> 00:09:14,480 it's not there today when i just checked 242 00:09:19,350 --> 00:09:17,519 but a week ago it was there 243 00:09:20,630 --> 00:09:19,360 that made me pay attention so i clicked 244 00:09:22,710 --> 00:09:20,640 the link and 245 00:09:24,790 --> 00:09:22,720 from there i learned that there's 246 00:09:26,550 --> 00:09:24,800 currently a joint investigation underway 247 00:09:27,590 --> 00:09:26,560 involving multiple state and federal 248 00:09:30,150 --> 00:09:27,600 departments 249 00:09:30,790 --> 00:09:30,160 including the usda's animal implant 250 00:09:32,630 --> 00:09:30,800 health 251 00:09:34,829 --> 00:09:32,640 inspection service and the department of 252 00:09:36,070 --> 00:09:34,839 homeland security's custom border 253 00:09:38,230 --> 00:09:36,080 protection 254 00:09:39,430 --> 00:09:38,240 i guess they were taking it seriously so 255 00:09:41,990 --> 00:09:39,440 that's good 256 00:09:42,470 --> 00:09:42,000 according to the usda at this stage they 257 00:09:44,310 --> 00:09:42,480 have 258 00:09:45,750 --> 00:09:44,320 no evidence that it's anything other 259 00:09:48,310 --> 00:09:45,760 than a brushing scam and 260 00:09:49,030 --> 00:09:48,320 i had to google brushing apparently this 261 00:09:52,550 --> 00:09:49,040 is 262 00:09:55,030 --> 00:09:52,560 where online sellers send unsolicited 263 00:09:57,110 --> 00:09:55,040 packages to random consumers and then 264 00:09:58,310 --> 00:09:57,120 post false reviews to boost their sales 265 00:10:00,630 --> 00:09:58,320 ratings 266 00:10:02,150 --> 00:10:00,640 of course if this is a brushing scam it 267 00:10:05,509 --> 00:10:02,160 seems odd that they'd pick 268 00:10:07,030 --> 00:10:05,519 seeds to send it's an odd choice but 269 00:10:10,550 --> 00:10:07,040 i guess they're small and lightweight 270 00:10:12,230 --> 00:10:10,560 and probably fairly cheap to acquire 271 00:10:14,230 --> 00:10:12,240 what i mainly wanted to talk about on 272 00:10:15,350 --> 00:10:14,240 this topic though isn't the actual risk 273 00:10:16,870 --> 00:10:15,360 of the seeds 274 00:10:18,710 --> 00:10:16,880 if you've listened to my story a while 275 00:10:19,990 --> 00:10:18,720 back about johnny depp and his infamous 276 00:10:22,710 --> 00:10:20,000 dogs then you'll already know that 277 00:10:24,710 --> 00:10:22,720 biosecurity across borders is a big deal 278 00:10:26,790 --> 00:10:24,720 and in this new age of covert 19 i'm 279 00:10:29,030 --> 00:10:26,800 hoping that more people will understand 280 00:10:30,470 --> 00:10:29,040 the reasoning for that 281 00:10:32,310 --> 00:10:30,480 what i'm interested in talking about 282 00:10:33,590 --> 00:10:32,320 here is the assumed intent of these 283 00:10:35,269 --> 00:10:33,600 packages 284 00:10:37,190 --> 00:10:35,279 in the first article that i read back in 285 00:10:39,190 --> 00:10:37,200 july there were comments from people 286 00:10:40,630 --> 00:10:39,200 speculating that these seeds were sent 287 00:10:43,190 --> 00:10:40,640 by the chinese government 288 00:10:44,630 --> 00:10:43,200 in a deliberate attempt to spread pests 289 00:10:46,230 --> 00:10:44,640 and disease in the u.s 290 00:10:48,150 --> 00:10:46,240 the responses to these comments were 291 00:10:50,069 --> 00:10:48,160 rightfully skeptical pointing out that 292 00:10:52,310 --> 00:10:50,079 there would be much more effective ways 293 00:10:54,069 --> 00:10:52,320 to do that than package up seeds and 294 00:10:56,630 --> 00:10:54,079 label them as jewelry and send them to 295 00:10:58,069 --> 00:10:56,640 some random guy in arkansas 296 00:11:00,069 --> 00:10:58,079 but many of the comments on that 297 00:11:01,670 --> 00:11:00,079 original post were adamant that the 298 00:11:04,310 --> 00:11:01,680 seeds were lemon seeds 299 00:11:06,069 --> 00:11:04,320 and as lemons are harmless the whole 300 00:11:09,190 --> 00:11:06,079 thing is ridiculous and it should 301 00:11:11,190 --> 00:11:09,200 all be dismissed and ignored now to be 302 00:11:12,949 --> 00:11:11,200 fair they probably were lemon seeds 303 00:11:14,870 --> 00:11:12,959 according to the articles that i've read 304 00:11:16,630 --> 00:11:14,880 the packages contain all sorts of common 305 00:11:17,430 --> 00:11:16,640 agricultural seeds that are easy to come 306 00:11:20,630 --> 00:11:17,440 by 307 00:11:22,870 --> 00:11:20,640 but even if they are just lemons 308 00:11:23,990 --> 00:11:22,880 and even if there really is just a 309 00:11:26,069 --> 00:11:24,000 brushing scam 310 00:11:28,949 --> 00:11:26,079 that doesn't mean it's safe we don't 311 00:11:30,870 --> 00:11:28,959 need ill intent or malice to cause harm 312 00:11:33,670 --> 00:11:30,880 apathy and stupidity are perfectly 313 00:11:35,910 --> 00:11:33,680 capable of causing harm on their own 314 00:11:37,670 --> 00:11:35,920 if this is just a brushing scam do you 315 00:11:39,990 --> 00:11:37,680 think the people perpetrating it are 316 00:11:41,350 --> 00:11:40,000 concerned about biosecurity 317 00:11:44,550 --> 00:11:41,360 do you think they're being careful to 318 00:11:45,750 --> 00:11:44,560 only send clean disease-free seeds 319 00:11:47,509 --> 00:11:45,760 do you think they're doing risk 320 00:11:49,590 --> 00:11:47,519 assessments and considering the local 321 00:11:50,230 --> 00:11:49,600 ecosystems at the various destinations 322 00:11:51,910 --> 00:11:50,240 and 323 00:11:53,829 --> 00:11:51,920 making sure that the species of choice 324 00:11:55,430 --> 00:11:53,839 has low potential to become an invasive 325 00:11:57,750 --> 00:11:55,440 pest in that region 326 00:12:00,310 --> 00:11:57,760 or even checking to see if there are 327 00:12:03,509 --> 00:12:00,320 laws regarding the import of unpermitted 328 00:12:05,190 --> 00:12:03,519 plant materials in this new age of 329 00:12:07,030 --> 00:12:05,200 covert 19 330 00:12:09,750 --> 00:12:07,040 where the general public are starting to 331 00:12:11,829 --> 00:12:09,760 understand the need for biosecurity 332 00:12:14,949 --> 00:12:11,839 we're seeing the harm that can be caused 333 00:12:17,190 --> 00:12:14,959 by those who don't take it seriously 334 00:12:18,550 --> 00:12:17,200 and very few of them have malicious 335 00:12:20,790 --> 00:12:18,560 intent 336 00:12:22,870 --> 00:12:20,800 stupidity and unearned confidence are 337 00:12:24,790 --> 00:12:22,880 sufficient to bring whole nations to the 338 00:12:27,190 --> 00:12:24,800 ground in a pandemic 339 00:12:28,629 --> 00:12:27,200 and also sufficient to spread dangerous 340 00:12:31,430 --> 00:12:28,639 seeds and cause harm when 341 00:12:33,430 --> 00:12:31,440 some guy in china wants to boost his 342 00:12:35,430 --> 00:12:33,440 sales rating and some guy in america 343 00:12:37,509 --> 00:12:35,440 wants to grow a mystery pumpkin 344 00:12:38,550 --> 00:12:37,519 neither of them have malicious intent 345 00:12:41,530 --> 00:12:38,560 but also 346 00:12:47,430 --> 00:12:41,540 neither of them understand the risks 347 00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:47,440 [Music] 348 00:12:50,870 --> 00:12:49,279 i'll be keeping an eye out for further 349 00:12:52,790 --> 00:12:50,880 developments on this story 350 00:12:55,110 --> 00:12:52,800 maybe the conspiracy theorists are right 351 00:12:57,430 --> 00:12:55,120 and it's all an elaborate hoax to spread 352 00:12:58,949 --> 00:12:57,440 disease and misfortune in the world but 353 00:13:01,509 --> 00:12:58,959 until i see evidence of this 354 00:13:02,710 --> 00:13:01,519 i'm applying hanlon's razor which states 355 00:13:04,790 --> 00:13:02,720 that you should 356 00:13:20,370 --> 00:13:04,800 never attribute to malice that which is 357 00:13:40,500 --> 00:13:20,380 adequately explained by stupidity 358 00:13:40,510 --> 00:14:00,829 [Music] 359 00:14:25,750 --> 00:14:02,660 ciao 360 00:14:27,430 --> 00:14:25,760 [Music] 361 00:14:29,269 --> 00:14:27,440 now it's time to look once again at the 362 00:14:32,730 --> 00:14:29,279 australian skeptics 363 00:14:34,150 --> 00:14:32,740 newsletter fresh in my inbox 364 00:14:37,730 --> 00:14:34,160 [Music] 365 00:14:42,150 --> 00:14:37,740 and this is newsletter number 104 366 00:14:43,829 --> 00:14:42,160 [Music] 367 00:14:46,710 --> 00:14:43,839 and the first item in the newsletter 368 00:14:49,030 --> 00:14:46,720 skepticon early bird tickets available 369 00:14:50,310 --> 00:14:49,040 early bird tickets for skeptic on 2020 370 00:14:53,509 --> 00:14:50,320 the australian skeptic's 371 00:14:54,470 --> 00:14:53,519 36th annual convention october the 24th 372 00:14:57,189 --> 00:14:54,480 to the 25th 373 00:14:59,110 --> 00:14:57,199 are now available at reduced prices for 374 00:15:00,870 --> 00:14:59,120 a limited time 375 00:15:02,389 --> 00:15:00,880 the price reflects the fact that this 376 00:15:06,150 --> 00:15:02,399 year's event will be 377 00:15:09,110 --> 00:15:06,160 all online early bird on sale 378 00:15:11,509 --> 00:15:09,120 until the 24th of september with 379 00:15:13,430 --> 00:15:11,519 concession tickets at just 30 dollars 380 00:15:15,670 --> 00:15:13,440 and general tickets at just fifty 381 00:15:16,710 --> 00:15:15,680 dollars the standard ticket price and 382 00:15:19,509 --> 00:15:16,720 this will be 383 00:15:20,629 --> 00:15:19,519 after the 24th of december concession 384 00:15:25,189 --> 00:15:20,639 will be 45 385 00:15:28,790 --> 00:15:27,829 this event will be streamed live on 386 00:15:30,870 --> 00:15:28,800 youtube 387 00:15:32,949 --> 00:15:30,880 we will provide you with details on how 388 00:15:35,189 --> 00:15:32,959 to access the live stream via email 389 00:15:37,590 --> 00:15:35,199 after you purchase your tickets 390 00:15:38,550 --> 00:15:37,600 the usual awards will be announced via 391 00:15:41,350 --> 00:15:38,560 satellite 392 00:15:43,509 --> 00:15:41,360 from a glitzy venue probably richard 393 00:15:46,710 --> 00:15:43,519 saunders lounge room 394 00:15:49,990 --> 00:15:46,720 okay in the meantime speakers 395 00:15:52,949 --> 00:15:50,000 so far include dr alice howarth 396 00:15:54,949 --> 00:15:52,959 dr karl kruselniski michael foley 397 00:15:58,550 --> 00:15:54,959 professor tanya smith 398 00:16:01,829 --> 00:16:00,629 the next item says young men are more 399 00:16:04,870 --> 00:16:01,839 likely to believe 400 00:16:07,189 --> 00:16:04,880 covet 19 myths 401 00:16:08,389 --> 00:16:07,199 if the media are anything to go by you'd 402 00:16:10,790 --> 00:16:08,399 think people who believe 403 00:16:11,910 --> 00:16:10,800 coronavirus myths are white middle-aged 404 00:16:14,949 --> 00:16:11,920 women called 405 00:16:15,829 --> 00:16:14,959 karen but a new study shows a different 406 00:16:17,990 --> 00:16:15,839 picture 407 00:16:21,350 --> 00:16:18,000 university of sydney researchers found 408 00:16:24,150 --> 00:16:21,360 men and people aged 18 to 25 409 00:16:25,189 --> 00:16:24,160 are more likely to believe corona 19 410 00:16:27,430 --> 00:16:25,199 myths 411 00:16:29,990 --> 00:16:27,440 they also found an increase from people 412 00:16:33,269 --> 00:16:30,000 from a non-english speaking background 413 00:16:36,470 --> 00:16:33,279 it looks like kevin has replaced karen 414 00:16:37,030 --> 00:16:36,480 as the stereotype du jour another item 415 00:16:41,389 --> 00:16:37,040 says 416 00:16:44,710 --> 00:16:41,399 new zealand psychic delivers vitamins 417 00:16:47,030 --> 00:16:44,720 vibrationally quite a lengthy item 418 00:16:49,030 --> 00:16:47,040 more than required but it involves 419 00:16:50,550 --> 00:16:49,040 psychic jeanette wilson who the new 420 00:16:53,110 --> 00:16:50,560 zealand skeptics 421 00:16:54,230 --> 00:16:53,120 have been on to as well as susan gerbic 422 00:16:56,710 --> 00:16:54,240 by the way 423 00:16:59,749 --> 00:16:56,720 she is also a psychic surgeon and 424 00:17:02,790 --> 00:16:59,759 promotes anti-vaccination anti-5g 425 00:17:04,789 --> 00:17:02,800 q anon beliefs and recently said 426 00:17:06,549 --> 00:17:04,799 a dietary supplement could prevent 427 00:17:10,630 --> 00:17:06,559 covert 19 428 00:17:13,510 --> 00:17:10,640 so you get the idea business is booming 429 00:17:15,590 --> 00:17:13,520 for new york city psychics new york's 430 00:17:16,470 --> 00:17:15,600 psychics and fortune tellers say they 431 00:17:19,750 --> 00:17:16,480 are seeing 432 00:17:22,870 --> 00:17:19,760 more clients and making more money than 433 00:17:25,750 --> 00:17:22,880 ever before quote 434 00:17:27,829 --> 00:17:25,760 when there's a big change in the world 435 00:17:30,310 --> 00:17:27,839 or more uncertainty in the world 436 00:17:33,750 --> 00:17:30,320 that is when people look for more 437 00:17:36,950 --> 00:17:33,760 certainty and quote psychic betsy lafaye 438 00:17:39,350 --> 00:17:36,960 told the new york post quote 439 00:17:40,230 --> 00:17:39,360 everyone now wants more certainty and 440 00:17:43,029 --> 00:17:40,240 yes 441 00:17:43,750 --> 00:17:43,039 that is when people tend to turn to 442 00:17:50,230 --> 00:17:43,760 psychics 443 00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:50,240 not two words we expected in the same 444 00:17:53,190 --> 00:17:51,280 sentence 445 00:17:55,270 --> 00:17:53,200 and there are more items in this 446 00:17:57,669 --> 00:17:55,280 newsletter to subscribe to the 447 00:18:00,710 --> 00:17:57,679 australian skeptics newsletter yourself 448 00:18:01,830 --> 00:18:00,720 and to receive this in your inbox every 449 00:18:06,310 --> 00:18:01,840 couple of weeks 450 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:06,320 just head to www.skeptics.com.iu 451 00:18:25,270 --> 00:18:15,730 and sign up 452 00:18:28,870 --> 00:18:25,280 [Music] 453 00:18:32,549 --> 00:18:28,880 appearing at skepticon 2020 professor 454 00:18:34,390 --> 00:18:32,559 tanya smith tanya smith is a professor 455 00:18:36,789 --> 00:18:34,400 in the australian research center for 456 00:18:38,950 --> 00:18:36,799 human evolution and the griffith center 457 00:18:42,070 --> 00:18:38,960 for social and cultural research 458 00:18:45,110 --> 00:18:42,080 at griffith university and 459 00:18:47,750 --> 00:18:45,120 she is passionate about teeth 460 00:18:49,990 --> 00:18:47,760 teeth preserved for millions of years 461 00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:50,000 remarkably faithful records of daily 462 00:18:53,110 --> 00:18:50,640 growth 463 00:18:55,029 --> 00:18:53,120 and infant diet as well as stress 464 00:18:57,590 --> 00:18:55,039 experienced during birth 465 00:18:58,470 --> 00:18:57,600 her aim is to understand fully how teeth 466 00:19:01,750 --> 00:18:58,480 grow 467 00:19:03,110 --> 00:19:01,760 why they vary and how this information 468 00:19:06,470 --> 00:19:03,120 can advance the field 469 00:19:09,110 --> 00:19:06,480 of human evolutionary biology topics 470 00:19:10,789 --> 00:19:09,120 she elaborates on in her popular science 471 00:19:14,150 --> 00:19:10,799 book the tale 472 00:19:18,710 --> 00:19:14,160 teeth tell published by mit press 473 00:19:19,510 --> 00:19:18,720 in 2018 tanya has previously held a 474 00:19:22,150 --> 00:19:19,520 professorship 475 00:19:23,990 --> 00:19:22,160 at harvard university and fellowships at 476 00:19:27,029 --> 00:19:24,000 the radcliffe institute for advanced 477 00:19:28,070 --> 00:19:27,039 study and the max planck institute for 478 00:19:30,470 --> 00:19:28,080 evolutionary 479 00:19:32,310 --> 00:19:30,480 anthropology her research has been 480 00:19:33,190 --> 00:19:32,320 funded by the australian academy of 481 00:19:36,150 --> 00:19:33,200 sciences 482 00:19:36,549 --> 00:19:36,160 and the u.s national science foundation 483 00:19:39,430 --> 00:19:36,559 and 484 00:19:41,430 --> 00:19:39,440 published in nature proceedings of the 485 00:19:44,950 --> 00:19:41,440 national academy of sciences 486 00:19:46,870 --> 00:19:44,960 and science advances professor 487 00:19:48,470 --> 00:19:46,880 tanya smith just one of the speakers 488 00:19:51,190 --> 00:19:48,480 appearing at skepticon 489 00:19:53,430 --> 00:19:51,200 2020 the australian skeptics national 490 00:19:57,950 --> 00:19:53,440 convention 491 00:20:07,890 --> 00:19:59,510 www.skepticon.org 492 00:20:07,900 --> 00:20:18,830 [Music] 493 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:25,430 do 494 00:20:30,470 --> 00:20:26,950 logical fallacies 495 00:20:33,270 --> 00:20:30,480 [Music] 496 00:20:35,110 --> 00:20:33,280 what are logical fallacies and why is it 497 00:20:37,750 --> 00:20:35,120 important that critical thinkers should 498 00:20:40,070 --> 00:20:37,760 know about them 499 00:20:41,750 --> 00:20:40,080 a logical fallacy is an error we can 500 00:20:43,750 --> 00:20:41,760 make in reasoning 501 00:20:48,149 --> 00:20:43,760 but it usually crops up when we are 502 00:20:50,230 --> 00:20:48,159 discussing or arguing our point of view 503 00:20:52,470 --> 00:20:50,240 some people might even knowingly use 504 00:20:53,350 --> 00:20:52,480 them to try and score cheap points in an 505 00:20:56,630 --> 00:20:53,360 argument 506 00:20:59,190 --> 00:20:56,640 due to intellectual laziness 507 00:21:01,029 --> 00:20:59,200 they are traps we can fall into but if 508 00:21:03,110 --> 00:21:01,039 we know what to look out for 509 00:21:09,110 --> 00:21:03,120 we can spot them when they occur and 510 00:21:14,070 --> 00:21:11,590 this time we'll look at the texas 511 00:21:17,510 --> 00:21:14,080 sharpshooter fallacy 512 00:21:20,149 --> 00:21:17,520 also known as the clustering illusion 513 00:21:21,430 --> 00:21:20,159 this is when you downplay or ignore 514 00:21:23,510 --> 00:21:21,440 information that 515 00:21:24,789 --> 00:21:23,520 doesn't support your argument or point 516 00:21:27,350 --> 00:21:24,799 of view and 517 00:21:28,470 --> 00:21:27,360 focus on information that seems to be 518 00:21:31,430 --> 00:21:28,480 more in line 519 00:21:32,230 --> 00:21:31,440 with what you want to be true it is also 520 00:21:36,230 --> 00:21:32,240 imposing 521 00:21:37,350 --> 00:21:36,240 meaning onto randomness this must surely 522 00:21:39,669 --> 00:21:37,360 be one of the more 523 00:21:41,190 --> 00:21:39,679 interesting names for any logical 524 00:21:43,990 --> 00:21:41,200 fallacy 525 00:21:44,789 --> 00:21:44,000 it comes about from the idea that 526 00:21:48,149 --> 00:21:44,799 someone would 527 00:21:49,110 --> 00:21:48,159 shoot at random at the side of a barn or 528 00:21:52,230 --> 00:21:49,120 fence 529 00:21:54,710 --> 00:21:52,240 then paint a target on later 530 00:21:56,789 --> 00:21:54,720 around the bullet holes that happen to 531 00:21:59,430 --> 00:21:56,799 be close together 532 00:22:01,110 --> 00:21:59,440 to make it appear as if the shots were 533 00:22:05,029 --> 00:22:01,120 on target 534 00:22:08,310 --> 00:22:05,039 in 1555 the prophet nostradamus 535 00:22:11,590 --> 00:22:08,320 4 saw the coronavirus plague of 536 00:22:14,630 --> 00:22:11,600 2020 he wrote in century 2 537 00:22:15,830 --> 00:22:14,640 quatrain 35 the great plague of the 538 00:22:18,950 --> 00:22:15,840 maritime city 539 00:22:21,990 --> 00:22:18,960 will not cease until there be avenged 540 00:22:23,909 --> 00:22:22,000 the death of the just blood condemned 541 00:22:27,669 --> 00:22:23,919 for the price without crime 542 00:22:29,590 --> 00:22:27,679 of the great lady unwronged by pretence 543 00:22:30,710 --> 00:22:29,600 finding meaning in the quatrains of 544 00:22:35,270 --> 00:22:30,720 nostradamus 545 00:22:36,470 --> 00:22:35,280 is an old game since he wrote 942 of 546 00:22:40,149 --> 00:22:36,480 them 547 00:22:42,950 --> 00:22:40,159 interpretation 548 00:22:45,750 --> 00:22:42,960 and even mistranslation from the french 549 00:22:48,310 --> 00:22:45,760 used in the 16th century 550 00:22:49,350 --> 00:22:48,320 it's really not that hard to find at 551 00:22:53,029 --> 00:22:49,360 least one 552 00:22:54,870 --> 00:22:53,039 or even more you can make fit events of 553 00:22:58,710 --> 00:22:54,880 more recent times 554 00:23:01,029 --> 00:22:58,720 or at any time since they were written 555 00:23:04,470 --> 00:23:01,039 just look for the lines that seem to fit 556 00:23:07,990 --> 00:23:04,480 and ignore the ones that don't 557 00:23:11,270 --> 00:23:08,000 much of this quatrain the maritime city 558 00:23:14,470 --> 00:23:11,280 the lady unwronged are ignored 559 00:23:15,070 --> 00:23:14,480 this same quatrain has also been used to 560 00:23:17,830 --> 00:23:15,080 claim 561 00:23:21,510 --> 00:23:17,840 nostradamus foresaw the great plague of 562 00:23:23,990 --> 00:23:21,520 london in 1665. 563 00:23:25,110 --> 00:23:24,000 if you'd like to know more there is an 564 00:23:27,990 --> 00:23:25,120 excellent book 565 00:23:30,470 --> 00:23:28,000 called the mask of nostradamus written 566 00:23:33,270 --> 00:23:30,480 by james randy 567 00:23:35,110 --> 00:23:33,280 when tested the water diviner found 568 00:23:37,990 --> 00:23:35,120 three bottles of water 569 00:23:38,549 --> 00:23:38,000 that were hidden from view one after the 570 00:23:45,590 --> 00:23:38,559 other 571 00:23:49,029 --> 00:23:45,600 and points to water divining being real 572 00:23:51,269 --> 00:23:49,039 this can and does happen during tests of 573 00:23:53,669 --> 00:23:51,279 water divining 574 00:23:56,230 --> 00:23:53,679 but short runs of success are expected 575 00:23:59,190 --> 00:23:56,240 when conducting many tests 576 00:23:59,830 --> 00:23:59,200 it also happens in casinos when someone 577 00:24:02,870 --> 00:23:59,840 might get 578 00:24:06,950 --> 00:24:02,880 lucky on the roulette table two 579 00:24:09,990 --> 00:24:06,960 or three or even four times in a row 580 00:24:11,909 --> 00:24:10,000 but overall we all know the house wins 581 00:24:14,630 --> 00:24:11,919 in the end 582 00:24:16,310 --> 00:24:14,640 we need to take all the results into 583 00:24:19,590 --> 00:24:16,320 account before we can 584 00:24:23,190 --> 00:24:19,600 reach a real conclusion it's 585 00:24:24,149 --> 00:24:23,200 just so strange that bad things seem to 586 00:24:27,909 --> 00:24:24,159 happen to me in 587 00:24:31,510 --> 00:24:27,919 threes first i lost my job 588 00:24:33,110 --> 00:24:31,520 then my dog got sick and now the tv 589 00:24:35,669 --> 00:24:33,120 won't work 590 00:24:36,470 --> 00:24:35,679 good and bad things happen from time to 591 00:24:40,549 --> 00:24:36,480 time 592 00:24:42,870 --> 00:24:40,559 and both can be random since many people 593 00:24:44,149 --> 00:24:42,880 have already heard the saying bad things 594 00:24:47,750 --> 00:24:44,159 come in threes 595 00:24:51,590 --> 00:24:47,760 or even famous people die in threes 596 00:24:52,789 --> 00:24:51,600 and so on it's all too easy for us to 597 00:24:55,830 --> 00:24:52,799 see a pattern 598 00:24:58,950 --> 00:24:55,840 after three such events 599 00:25:01,470 --> 00:24:58,960 ah but what if bad things 600 00:25:03,909 --> 00:25:01,480 come in fours or fives 601 00:25:06,149 --> 00:25:03,919 [Music] 602 00:25:07,830 --> 00:25:06,159 looking for things that seem to line up 603 00:25:10,950 --> 00:25:07,840 is all very well 604 00:25:13,110 --> 00:25:10,960 but you need to also take into account 605 00:25:14,950 --> 00:25:13,120 all the related things or events that 606 00:25:17,590 --> 00:25:14,960 don't line up 607 00:25:19,430 --> 00:25:17,600 as they too must be considered in the 608 00:25:26,149 --> 00:25:19,440 overall pattern of events 609 00:25:30,870 --> 00:25:28,310 knowing a logical fallacy when you hear 610 00:25:33,110 --> 00:25:30,880 one and even knowing its name 611 00:25:34,470 --> 00:25:33,120 is important when arguing your point of 612 00:25:37,909 --> 00:25:34,480 view 613 00:25:40,310 --> 00:25:37,919 however you may come across as arrogant 614 00:25:41,110 --> 00:25:40,320 and not get very far if you call it out 615 00:25:43,510 --> 00:25:41,120 by name 616 00:25:45,590 --> 00:25:43,520 to your opponent when you hear it being 617 00:25:48,070 --> 00:25:45,600 used 618 00:25:48,870 --> 00:25:48,080 if your opponent calls you out for using 619 00:25:51,110 --> 00:25:48,880 one 620 00:25:54,230 --> 00:25:51,120 it's time to stop and think about how 621 00:25:56,310 --> 00:25:54,240 you are making your case 622 00:25:57,510 --> 00:25:56,320 use your knowledge of logical fallacies 623 00:26:00,310 --> 00:25:57,520 wisely 624 00:26:01,510 --> 00:26:00,320 and remember that even if your point of 625 00:26:03,830 --> 00:26:01,520 view is right 626 00:26:05,190 --> 00:26:03,840 and you know all the pitfalls in arguing 627 00:26:07,590 --> 00:26:05,200 your case 628 00:26:08,789 --> 00:26:07,600 it doesn't always mean you'll win on the 629 00:26:12,070 --> 00:26:08,799 day 630 00:26:14,660 --> 00:26:12,080 and as skeptics we must also remember 631 00:26:17,669 --> 00:26:14,670 that we too can be wrong at times 632 00:26:19,430 --> 00:26:17,679 [Music] 633 00:26:28,390 --> 00:26:19,440 i'm michelle bickersma from the vic 634 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:35,590 [Music] 635 00:26:38,870 --> 00:26:37,029 i started listening to ono ross and 636 00:27:46,549 --> 00:26:38,880 carrie shortly after i broke my arm 637 00:27:51,110 --> 00:27:49,669 thank you gary 638 00:27:52,389 --> 00:27:51,120 owner ross and carey is just a podcast 639 00:27:53,510 --> 00:27:52,399 it doesn't do anything it's just sounds 640 00:28:04,940 --> 00:27:53,520 you listen to in your ears all these 641 00:28:10,549 --> 00:28:08,310 [Music] 642 00:28:11,750 --> 00:28:10,559 now it's time to dive once again into 643 00:28:13,430 --> 00:28:11,760 the back issues 644 00:28:15,190 --> 00:28:13,440 of the skeptic the journal from 645 00:28:17,350 --> 00:28:15,200 australian skeptics 646 00:28:18,830 --> 00:28:17,360 and this time we're going all the way 647 00:28:22,710 --> 00:28:18,840 back to 648 00:28:25,350 --> 00:28:22,720 1990 volume 10 number two 649 00:28:27,350 --> 00:28:25,360 and on page seven we discover a uh 650 00:28:29,350 --> 00:28:27,360 report by tim mandom 651 00:28:31,669 --> 00:28:29,360 the current editor of the skeptic 652 00:28:33,830 --> 00:28:31,679 magazine and one of our reporters here 653 00:28:41,029 --> 00:28:33,840 on the skeptic zone 654 00:28:45,350 --> 00:28:44,470 an exhibition entitled bible prophecy 655 00:28:47,430 --> 00:28:45,360 display 656 00:28:48,630 --> 00:28:47,440 held at the sydney town hall on april 657 00:28:51,669 --> 00:28:48,640 19th to 658 00:28:52,470 --> 00:28:51,679 the 21st proved an irresistible 659 00:28:54,630 --> 00:28:52,480 temptation 660 00:28:57,269 --> 00:28:54,640 especially in the view of the articles 661 00:29:00,310 --> 00:28:57,279 in this and previous issues 662 00:29:01,350 --> 00:29:00,320 taking a skeptical approach to the same 663 00:29:04,789 --> 00:29:01,360 subject 664 00:29:07,350 --> 00:29:04,799 organized by the sydney revival center 665 00:29:08,230 --> 00:29:07,360 the displays covered such current items 666 00:29:11,430 --> 00:29:08,240 of interest 667 00:29:11,990 --> 00:29:11,440 as the greenhouse effect the fall of the 668 00:29:15,510 --> 00:29:12,000 berlin 669 00:29:17,590 --> 00:29:15,520 wall pollution and soil erosion 670 00:29:19,029 --> 00:29:17,600 as well as older favorites like the 671 00:29:21,830 --> 00:29:19,039 state of israel 672 00:29:23,430 --> 00:29:21,840 the russian threat the british throne is 673 00:29:26,149 --> 00:29:23,440 direct descendant of 674 00:29:27,590 --> 00:29:26,159 the throne of david and the great 675 00:29:29,590 --> 00:29:27,600 pyramid 676 00:29:30,870 --> 00:29:29,600 this latter subject seemed to have 677 00:29:33,990 --> 00:29:30,880 little relevance to 678 00:29:36,549 --> 00:29:34,000 biblical study but rather concentrated 679 00:29:38,789 --> 00:29:36,559 on how clever the egyptians were to have 680 00:29:39,590 --> 00:29:38,799 built the pyramid in the first place 681 00:29:42,950 --> 00:29:39,600 aligned 682 00:29:46,310 --> 00:29:42,960 as it supposedly is with 683 00:29:48,549 --> 00:29:46,320 every real or imagined line of longitude 684 00:29:50,789 --> 00:29:48,559 and latitude of significance 685 00:29:51,750 --> 00:29:50,799 as this display was based on the now 686 00:29:54,710 --> 00:29:51,760 discounted 687 00:29:55,590 --> 00:29:54,720 theories of piazzi smythe there seemed 688 00:29:58,710 --> 00:29:55,600 little point 689 00:30:01,269 --> 00:29:58,720 in including it nevertheless truth 690 00:30:03,110 --> 00:30:01,279 and relevance did not seem to be of 691 00:30:05,029 --> 00:30:03,120 great concern to the organizers 692 00:30:06,149 --> 00:30:05,039 who obviously preferred simplistic 693 00:30:09,750 --> 00:30:06,159 observations 694 00:30:12,789 --> 00:30:09,760 and fear tactics as weapons in the war 695 00:30:15,669 --> 00:30:12,799 to win converts one of the 696 00:30:17,590 --> 00:30:15,679 silliest displays was the amazing 697 00:30:21,190 --> 00:30:17,600 revelation that australia 698 00:30:24,549 --> 00:30:21,200 is mentioned in the bible behold 699 00:30:26,310 --> 00:30:24,559 these shall come from far and low these 700 00:30:28,549 --> 00:30:26,320 from the north and west 701 00:30:30,310 --> 00:30:28,559 and these from the land of terror 702 00:30:34,310 --> 00:30:30,320 australis 703 00:30:37,430 --> 00:30:34,320 isaiah 49 12 while admitting that 704 00:30:40,950 --> 00:30:37,440 terror astralis is not actually in the 705 00:30:42,950 --> 00:30:40,960 english language version but is rather 706 00:30:46,149 --> 00:30:42,960 lifted from the vulgate latin 707 00:30:47,510 --> 00:30:46,159 of sin jerome the organizers see this as 708 00:30:51,110 --> 00:30:47,520 further proof 709 00:30:54,149 --> 00:30:51,120 of the bible's in heresy the facts 710 00:30:55,750 --> 00:30:54,159 that the old testament wasn't written in 711 00:30:57,990 --> 00:30:55,760 latin originally 712 00:30:59,990 --> 00:30:58,000 that australia was first called new 713 00:31:02,789 --> 00:31:00,000 holland by europeans 714 00:31:04,630 --> 00:31:02,799 and a correct translation of the quotas 715 00:31:07,590 --> 00:31:04,640 used in the exhibition 716 00:31:10,149 --> 00:31:07,600 would be the meaningless from the land 717 00:31:12,950 --> 00:31:10,159 of the land of the south 718 00:31:14,789 --> 00:31:12,960 and that the new international version 719 00:31:18,070 --> 00:31:14,799 of the bible translates 720 00:31:21,269 --> 00:31:18,080 terror australis as being 721 00:31:24,230 --> 00:31:21,279 the region of aswan in southern egypt 722 00:31:25,190 --> 00:31:24,240 and therefore a long way from australia 723 00:31:27,990 --> 00:31:25,200 seem to have 724 00:31:29,110 --> 00:31:28,000 escaped the organizers still the local 725 00:31:31,990 --> 00:31:29,120 touch no matter how 726 00:31:33,350 --> 00:31:32,000 nonsensical always works well with the 727 00:31:36,549 --> 00:31:33,360 visitors 728 00:31:41,029 --> 00:31:36,559 just as silly was the long diatribe 729 00:31:42,789 --> 00:31:41,039 circa 1899 on the numerical coincidences 730 00:31:45,990 --> 00:31:42,799 of the bible 731 00:31:49,669 --> 00:31:46,000 this style of numerological legitimate 732 00:31:52,630 --> 00:31:49,679 has no value at all being equally 733 00:31:53,029 --> 00:31:52,640 easily carried out on any work of length 734 00:31:55,509 --> 00:31:53,039 and 735 00:31:56,789 --> 00:31:55,519 even on something as simple as your own 736 00:31:58,470 --> 00:31:56,799 name 737 00:31:59,830 --> 00:31:58,480 from the exhibitor's point of view 738 00:32:03,269 --> 00:31:59,840 coincidence 739 00:32:06,310 --> 00:32:03,279 often contrived equals fact 740 00:32:08,310 --> 00:32:06,320 the meaning of life is 42. 741 00:32:10,149 --> 00:32:08,320 many of the other displays covered in 742 00:32:12,870 --> 00:32:10,159 the exhibition referred to 743 00:32:13,509 --> 00:32:12,880 prophecies dealt with by colin groves at 744 00:32:18,149 --> 00:32:13,519 al 745 00:32:19,830 --> 00:32:18,159 you want to read 746 00:32:21,509 --> 00:32:19,840 this journal of course it's free to 747 00:32:24,549 --> 00:32:21,519 download and there are many 748 00:32:27,990 --> 00:32:24,559 very interesting items in this copy 749 00:32:31,430 --> 00:32:28,000 in this issue about prophecy we read on 750 00:32:34,470 --> 00:32:31,440 what was most disturbing was an almost 751 00:32:35,269 --> 00:32:34,480 gleeful approach as one disaster after 752 00:32:38,310 --> 00:32:35,279 another 753 00:32:39,029 --> 00:32:38,320 earthquakes famine war plagues etc were 754 00:32:42,389 --> 00:32:39,039 listed 755 00:32:45,830 --> 00:32:42,399 all of course indicating the approaching 756 00:32:47,830 --> 00:32:45,840 final days it seemed that the organizers 757 00:32:49,830 --> 00:32:47,840 could hardly wait for the end 758 00:32:51,430 --> 00:32:49,840 regardless of the suffering imposed on 759 00:32:53,990 --> 00:32:51,440 their fellow humans 760 00:32:55,110 --> 00:32:54,000 not to mention other forms of flora and 761 00:32:57,350 --> 00:32:55,120 fauna 762 00:32:58,310 --> 00:32:57,360 the greatest toll from an earthquake in 763 00:33:00,950 --> 00:32:58,320 historic times 764 00:33:01,990 --> 00:33:00,960 probably took place over 400 years ago 765 00:33:04,549 --> 00:33:02,000 in china 766 00:33:06,549 --> 00:33:04,559 the greatest volcanic explosion over 767 00:33:08,950 --> 00:33:06,559 3000 years ago 768 00:33:11,029 --> 00:33:08,960 and the worst plague was the black death 769 00:33:14,789 --> 00:33:11,039 of 1347 770 00:33:17,269 --> 00:33:14,799 to 1351 in fact there is no evidence 771 00:33:19,350 --> 00:33:17,279 that natural disasters are increasing 772 00:33:20,870 --> 00:33:19,360 or getting worse it is just that our 773 00:33:23,990 --> 00:33:20,880 communications are better 774 00:33:25,669 --> 00:33:24,000 and we know about more 775 00:33:27,190 --> 00:33:25,679 this doesn't bother the organizers 776 00:33:30,470 --> 00:33:27,200 either who equate the 777 00:33:33,430 --> 00:33:30,480 newcastle earthquake small by world 778 00:33:35,029 --> 00:33:33,440 disaster standards with the worst of 779 00:33:37,269 --> 00:33:35,039 recorded history 780 00:33:38,149 --> 00:33:37,279 a total lack of historical perspective 781 00:33:41,830 --> 00:33:38,159 is evident 782 00:33:45,190 --> 00:33:41,840 in every utterance of those espousing a 783 00:33:47,269 --> 00:33:45,200 final days scenario rather than 784 00:33:49,350 --> 00:33:47,279 thoughtful prophecies these are 785 00:33:52,310 --> 00:33:49,360 fear-mongering bogeymen 786 00:33:54,630 --> 00:33:52,320 we may ask therefore what value are 787 00:33:57,190 --> 00:33:54,640 converts created from fear 788 00:34:00,280 --> 00:33:57,200 rather than the love which is supposed 789 00:34:03,909 --> 00:34:00,290 to be the basis of christianity 790 00:34:06,149 --> 00:34:03,919 [Music] 791 00:34:08,790 --> 00:34:06,159 and again that report comes to us from 792 00:34:10,230 --> 00:34:08,800 the year 1990 written by tim mendenham 793 00:34:16,149 --> 00:34:10,240 in the pages of the skeptic 794 00:34:19,990 --> 00:34:18,389 yes it's great fun to look through all 795 00:34:20,710 --> 00:34:20,000 these back issues you never know what 796 00:34:24,069 --> 00:34:20,720 you're going to 797 00:34:27,829 --> 00:34:24,079 find and now we jump to 798 00:34:32,069 --> 00:34:27,839 spring of 1991 799 00:34:35,109 --> 00:34:32,079 and this is volume 11 number three 800 00:34:36,629 --> 00:34:35,119 and an item written by the late the late 801 00:34:38,230 --> 00:34:36,639 great barry williams 802 00:34:39,990 --> 00:34:38,240 stole to the australian skeptics for 803 00:34:48,629 --> 00:34:40,000 many years 804 00:34:52,069 --> 00:34:48,639 paranormal claims what if 805 00:34:53,669 --> 00:34:52,079 skeptics often lament that an in-depth 806 00:34:55,270 --> 00:34:53,679 knowledge of science is required to 807 00:34:57,910 --> 00:34:55,280 refute the claims made by 808 00:35:00,470 --> 00:34:57,920 proponents of extraordinary claims in 809 00:35:04,150 --> 00:35:00,480 some cases this may well be true 810 00:35:05,349 --> 00:35:04,160 does the epr paradox allow for action at 811 00:35:07,750 --> 00:35:05,359 a distance 812 00:35:09,190 --> 00:35:07,760 and thus legitimize the claims for 813 00:35:11,829 --> 00:35:09,200 psychokinesis 814 00:35:13,150 --> 00:35:11,839 but in general the majority of claims 815 00:35:16,310 --> 00:35:13,160 that we 816 00:35:18,470 --> 00:35:16,320 non-scientist skeptics come across can 817 00:35:19,430 --> 00:35:18,480 be tested by the application of common 818 00:35:22,150 --> 00:35:19,440 sense 819 00:35:22,630 --> 00:35:22,160 and the rules of logic a useful rule of 820 00:35:25,829 --> 00:35:22,640 thumb 821 00:35:29,349 --> 00:35:25,839 is if it sounds like crap 822 00:35:30,310 --> 00:35:29,359 it probably is one method a skeptic can 823 00:35:33,190 --> 00:35:30,320 use to test 824 00:35:34,710 --> 00:35:33,200 the unlikely truth of a claim without 825 00:35:37,030 --> 00:35:34,720 going to the trouble of setting up 826 00:35:39,750 --> 00:35:37,040 controlled double-blind tests 827 00:35:42,710 --> 00:35:39,760 or any of the other rigorous methods 828 00:35:45,430 --> 00:35:42,720 used in testing a scientific hypothesis 829 00:35:46,470 --> 00:35:45,440 is to make the assumption that the claim 830 00:35:48,950 --> 00:35:46,480 is true 831 00:35:51,190 --> 00:35:48,960 having made this assumption we can make 832 00:35:54,390 --> 00:35:51,200 logical extrapolations 833 00:35:55,349 --> 00:35:54,400 based on it and see how the world that 834 00:35:58,069 --> 00:35:55,359 is allowed by 835 00:35:59,349 --> 00:35:58,079 our assumption agrees with the world in 836 00:36:03,109 --> 00:35:59,359 which we live 837 00:36:05,349 --> 00:36:03,119 this is of course not an infallible test 838 00:36:06,150 --> 00:36:05,359 many quantum claims for instance are 839 00:36:08,870 --> 00:36:06,160 certainly 840 00:36:11,109 --> 00:36:08,880 counter intuitive and sound most 841 00:36:13,750 --> 00:36:11,119 peculiar to the lay skeptic 842 00:36:14,630 --> 00:36:13,760 and to not a few scientists too i 843 00:36:17,270 --> 00:36:14,640 suspect 844 00:36:19,270 --> 00:36:17,280 but it is a useful test for many 845 00:36:21,270 --> 00:36:19,280 everyday claims 846 00:36:22,710 --> 00:36:21,280 here we look at the world in which 847 00:36:26,230 --> 00:36:22,720 homeopathy 848 00:36:29,109 --> 00:36:26,240 century 849 00:36:29,750 --> 00:36:29,119 invention of the german physician samuel 850 00:36:32,950 --> 00:36:29,760 hellermann 851 00:36:33,990 --> 00:36:32,960 its fundamental tenants are that like cu 852 00:36:36,230 --> 00:36:34,000 is like 853 00:36:37,190 --> 00:36:36,240 and that infinitesimal doses of a 854 00:36:40,550 --> 00:36:37,200 substance are 855 00:36:41,510 --> 00:36:40,560 therapeutic that is that small amounts 856 00:36:43,510 --> 00:36:41,520 of a substance 857 00:36:45,829 --> 00:36:43,520 which produce similar symptoms to a 858 00:36:48,470 --> 00:36:45,839 disease will rally the body's natural 859 00:36:51,349 --> 00:36:48,480 defenses to combat the disease 860 00:36:52,950 --> 00:36:51,359 in its time before we had developed the 861 00:36:55,910 --> 00:36:52,960 germ theory of disease 862 00:36:57,510 --> 00:36:55,920 it was not an unreasonable proposition 863 00:37:00,470 --> 00:36:57,520 but it can now be seen 864 00:37:01,990 --> 00:37:00,480 as an unscientific proposition in some 865 00:37:05,270 --> 00:37:02,000 ways parallel to 866 00:37:06,630 --> 00:37:05,280 immunization its failure lay in the fact 867 00:37:09,670 --> 00:37:06,640 that it sought to address 868 00:37:11,589 --> 00:37:09,680 disease through its symptoms and not as 869 00:37:13,750 --> 00:37:11,599 is the case with immunization 870 00:37:15,990 --> 00:37:13,760 through its causes the key to 871 00:37:17,349 --> 00:37:16,000 understanding homeopathic nostrums lies 872 00:37:20,950 --> 00:37:17,359 in the extreme 873 00:37:23,270 --> 00:37:20,960 dilution of the active agent 874 00:37:24,310 --> 00:37:23,280 homeopathy has it that the more dilute 875 00:37:27,510 --> 00:37:24,320 the substance 876 00:37:30,150 --> 00:37:27,520 the more certain the cure as an example 877 00:37:32,470 --> 00:37:30,160 one milliliter of the active agent 878 00:37:33,589 --> 00:37:32,480 might be added to 10 liters of distilled 879 00:37:35,990 --> 00:37:33,599 water 880 00:37:36,870 --> 00:37:36,000 the resultant mixture is then agitated 881 00:37:39,750 --> 00:37:36,880 and one 882 00:37:42,310 --> 00:37:39,760 milliliter of this dilute solution is 883 00:37:44,630 --> 00:37:42,320 added to a further 10 liters of water 884 00:37:45,589 --> 00:37:44,640 and so on until the prescribed level of 885 00:37:48,630 --> 00:37:45,599 dilution is 886 00:37:49,510 --> 00:37:48,640 reached it is obvious that after a few 887 00:37:51,510 --> 00:37:49,520 dilutions 888 00:37:52,550 --> 00:37:51,520 we reach a stage where it is 889 00:37:55,990 --> 00:37:52,560 statistically 890 00:37:56,470 --> 00:37:56,000 very improbable that any molecule of the 891 00:37:59,670 --> 00:37:56,480 active 892 00:38:02,310 --> 00:37:59,680 agent will be found in any dose of the 893 00:38:03,990 --> 00:38:02,320 medicine this is not a problem to the 894 00:38:05,990 --> 00:38:04,000 dedicated homeopath 895 00:38:07,270 --> 00:38:06,000 as the cure comes not from the 896 00:38:10,550 --> 00:38:07,280 ingredient 897 00:38:12,870 --> 00:38:10,560 but from some energetic memory 898 00:38:13,670 --> 00:38:12,880 contained in the water and imprinted 899 00:38:16,310 --> 00:38:13,680 therein 900 00:38:17,829 --> 00:38:16,320 by the agitation during the dilution 901 00:38:20,470 --> 00:38:17,839 process 902 00:38:21,430 --> 00:38:20,480 it is probably superfluous to say that 903 00:38:23,349 --> 00:38:21,440 there is 904 00:38:24,470 --> 00:38:23,359 not a great deal of evidence for this 905 00:38:26,470 --> 00:38:24,480 proposition 906 00:38:29,030 --> 00:38:26,480 nor is there a body of evidence to 907 00:38:31,430 --> 00:38:29,040 suggest that homeopathy has a great 908 00:38:32,870 --> 00:38:31,440 influence on the eradication of any 909 00:38:35,190 --> 00:38:32,880 major disease 910 00:38:36,150 --> 00:38:35,200 however that is not the purpose of this 911 00:38:39,190 --> 00:38:36,160 article 912 00:38:42,470 --> 00:38:39,200 we are considering a world 913 00:38:45,589 --> 00:38:42,480 h world in which homeopathy 914 00:38:47,750 --> 00:38:45,599 is true let me be blunt 915 00:38:49,510 --> 00:38:47,760 a world in which one of the fundamental 916 00:38:52,790 --> 00:38:49,520 tenets of homeopathy 917 00:38:56,390 --> 00:38:52,800 the diluter the better is true 918 00:38:57,030 --> 00:38:56,400 is a world devoid of life the problem 919 00:39:00,069 --> 00:38:57,040 for life 920 00:39:02,470 --> 00:39:00,079 lies not in the homeopathically active 921 00:39:04,630 --> 00:39:02,480 ingredients but in the water in which 922 00:39:06,870 --> 00:39:04,640 these ingredients are diluted 923 00:39:08,390 --> 00:39:06,880 the water on our planet has been around 924 00:39:11,030 --> 00:39:08,400 for a long time 925 00:39:11,829 --> 00:39:11,040 and during that time it has been in 926 00:39:14,790 --> 00:39:11,839 contact with 927 00:39:17,349 --> 00:39:14,800 every element every compound indeed 928 00:39:19,910 --> 00:39:17,359 every substance that exists on the earth 929 00:39:21,910 --> 00:39:19,920 the fresh water we drink comes from rain 930 00:39:22,710 --> 00:39:21,920 which comes from evaporation from the 931 00:39:28,790 --> 00:39:22,720 oceans 932 00:39:31,750 --> 00:39:28,800 so the memory of everything in them must 933 00:39:35,190 --> 00:39:31,760 be imprinted on the water molecules 934 00:39:36,870 --> 00:39:35,200 storms add a bit more agitation sodas 935 00:39:38,390 --> 00:39:36,880 hitting the ground and rushing down 936 00:39:40,630 --> 00:39:38,400 rivers and streams 937 00:39:41,589 --> 00:39:40,640 just consider a few of the substances 938 00:39:44,550 --> 00:39:41,599 whose 939 00:39:45,510 --> 00:39:44,560 vibrations will be imprinted on inimical 940 00:39:49,270 --> 00:39:45,520 to health 941 00:39:53,109 --> 00:39:49,280 and well-being or indeed to life itself 942 00:39:56,390 --> 00:39:53,119 plutonium arsenic radium 943 00:40:00,630 --> 00:39:56,400 hydrogen cyanide botulinus toxin 944 00:40:03,589 --> 00:40:00,640 cholera bacteria mercury carbon monoxide 945 00:40:04,470 --> 00:40:03,599 the list is almost endless and very 946 00:40:06,630 --> 00:40:04,480 nasty 947 00:40:08,230 --> 00:40:06,640 no matter what beneficial homeopathic 948 00:40:10,870 --> 00:40:08,240 agent was diluted with this 949 00:40:11,910 --> 00:40:10,880 water its benefits would surely be 950 00:40:15,829 --> 00:40:11,920 outweighed by the 951 00:40:18,309 --> 00:40:15,839 nastiness already imprinted on the water 952 00:40:19,750 --> 00:40:18,319 traces of these things probably do exist 953 00:40:23,109 --> 00:40:19,760 in the water we drink 954 00:40:24,069 --> 00:40:23,119 in our mundane world but at a level that 955 00:40:27,510 --> 00:40:24,079 is regarded as 956 00:40:30,790 --> 00:40:27,520 safe and if we are reasonably careful 957 00:40:33,990 --> 00:40:30,800 they do not cause us any great harm in 958 00:40:35,109 --> 00:40:34,000 h-world they all exist in every drop of 959 00:40:38,069 --> 00:40:35,119 water we drink 960 00:40:40,630 --> 00:40:38,079 or at least the memory of them exists 961 00:40:42,790 --> 00:40:40,640 and the more we try to purify the water 962 00:40:43,670 --> 00:40:42,800 the more certain their inimical effects 963 00:40:46,870 --> 00:40:43,680 will be 964 00:40:47,990 --> 00:40:46,880 there can be no safe level at all in 965 00:40:52,069 --> 00:40:48,000 this world 966 00:40:52,550 --> 00:40:52,079 unless perhaps it lies in huge doses in 967 00:40:54,950 --> 00:40:52,560 fact 968 00:40:55,990 --> 00:40:54,960 following the homeopathic reasoning the 969 00:40:59,349 --> 00:40:56,000 more of anything 970 00:41:02,390 --> 00:40:59,359 one ingests the less harm it should do 971 00:41:05,030 --> 00:41:02,400 the treatment we use to remove what we 972 00:41:05,589 --> 00:41:05,040 in the non-homeopathic world regard as 973 00:41:08,710 --> 00:41:05,599 the 974 00:41:12,870 --> 00:41:08,720 harmful bits only serves to increase 975 00:41:15,430 --> 00:41:12,880 their potency in each world conversely 976 00:41:16,069 --> 00:41:15,440 if the other homeopathic tenant like cu 977 00:41:19,270 --> 00:41:16,079 is like 978 00:41:22,150 --> 00:41:19,280 is true we should never get sick at all 979 00:41:23,349 --> 00:41:22,160 for all of the reasons listed above the 980 00:41:25,990 --> 00:41:23,359 ultimately dilute 981 00:41:28,230 --> 00:41:26,000 samples existing in our water of every 982 00:41:30,150 --> 00:41:28,240 substance that can make us ill 983 00:41:31,270 --> 00:41:30,160 should have rendered us immune to 984 00:41:34,390 --> 00:41:31,280 everything 985 00:41:35,589 --> 00:41:34,400 indeed if the memory of any substance 986 00:41:37,750 --> 00:41:35,599 survive 987 00:41:39,910 --> 00:41:37,760 even when none of the substance itself 988 00:41:42,950 --> 00:41:39,920 remains then why should we have 989 00:41:46,069 --> 00:41:42,960 need for homeopathic remedies at all 990 00:41:47,589 --> 00:41:46,079 the memory should be retained in the 991 00:41:50,550 --> 00:41:47,599 water molecules 992 00:41:51,829 --> 00:41:50,560 that make up so much of our bodies it 993 00:41:53,829 --> 00:41:51,839 would appear then 994 00:41:55,109 --> 00:41:53,839 that the two fundamental beliefs of the 995 00:41:57,589 --> 00:41:55,119 homeopath would 996 00:41:59,589 --> 00:41:57,599 if they were true make for a very 997 00:42:02,870 --> 00:41:59,599 strange world indeed 998 00:42:03,510 --> 00:42:02,880 i contend that our world does not at all 999 00:42:06,630 --> 00:42:03,520 resemble 1000 00:42:07,990 --> 00:42:06,640 h-world and for a homeopath to convince 1001 00:42:10,710 --> 00:42:08,000 me otherwise 1002 00:42:11,349 --> 00:42:10,720 he would require to show much better 1003 00:42:13,910 --> 00:42:11,359 evidence 1004 00:42:15,670 --> 00:42:13,920 than currently exists and he would have 1005 00:42:21,829 --> 00:42:15,680 to explain why my 1006 00:42:27,870 --> 00:42:25,270 and that was paranormal claims what if 1007 00:42:29,430 --> 00:42:27,880 written by barry williams way back in 1008 00:42:31,750 --> 00:42:29,440 1991 1009 00:42:33,190 --> 00:42:31,760 and i think i can answer barry after all 1010 00:42:36,069 --> 00:42:33,200 these years 1011 00:42:37,910 --> 00:42:36,079 that if you ask a homeopath why wouldn't 1012 00:42:41,030 --> 00:42:37,920 the world be like h world 1013 00:42:41,750 --> 00:42:41,040 the homeopath would answer oh well you 1014 00:42:44,069 --> 00:42:41,760 see 1015 00:42:45,510 --> 00:42:44,079 it doesn't work like that which is the 1016 00:42:47,349 --> 00:42:45,520 same answer we get from 1017 00:42:49,430 --> 00:42:47,359 all sorts of branches of the paranormal 1018 00:42:51,270 --> 00:42:49,440 why can't you predict the winning lotto 1019 00:42:53,990 --> 00:42:51,280 numbers next week oh it doesn't work 1020 00:42:56,230 --> 00:42:54,000 like that uh why can't the 1021 00:42:58,630 --> 00:42:56,240 the dead tell you where they hid the the 1022 00:42:59,589 --> 00:42:58,640 key oh it doesn't work like that and so 1023 00:43:01,829 --> 00:42:59,599 on 1024 00:43:03,670 --> 00:43:01,839 but what a great resource it is to be 1025 00:43:07,910 --> 00:43:03,680 able to pour through the pages 1026 00:43:11,430 --> 00:43:07,920 of the skeptic which is uh soon to be 1027 00:43:15,030 --> 00:43:11,440 uh 40 years old 40 years 1028 00:43:16,390 --> 00:43:15,040 of articles interviews items reports 1029 00:43:28,360 --> 00:43:16,400 examinations 1030 00:43:28,370 --> 00:43:33,430 [Music] 1031 00:43:37,030 --> 00:43:35,750 hey fellow skeptics ben radford here 1032 00:43:38,550 --> 00:43:37,040 with celestia ward 1033 00:43:40,950 --> 00:43:38,560 your friendly host of squaring the 1034 00:43:43,670 --> 00:43:40,960 strange a podcast that looks at topics 1035 00:43:45,990 --> 00:43:43,680 ranging from legends panics and cryptids 1036 00:43:47,750 --> 00:43:46,000 to media myths psychology and folklore 1037 00:43:48,309 --> 00:43:47,760 breaking things down and picking things 1038 00:43:50,390 --> 00:43:48,319 apart 1039 00:43:52,309 --> 00:43:50,400 as we skeptics do we bring a few 1040 00:43:54,069 --> 00:43:52,319 different perspectives on things 1041 00:43:55,430 --> 00:43:54,079 celestia for example is a witty 1042 00:43:56,950 --> 00:43:55,440 cartoonist and ben 1043 00:43:58,950 --> 00:43:56,960 is a brilliant writer and long time 1044 00:43:59,510 --> 00:43:58,960 skeptical investigator we don't always 1045 00:44:01,670 --> 00:43:59,520 agree 1046 00:44:04,230 --> 00:44:01,680 but we have fun trying and we learn new 1047 00:44:04,790 --> 00:44:04,240 things join us for new topics every week 1048 00:44:06,950 --> 00:44:04,800 or two 1049 00:44:08,390 --> 00:44:06,960 or browse our backlog of evergreen 1050 00:44:11,109 --> 00:44:08,400 episodes available 1051 00:44:11,829 --> 00:44:11,119 on itunes and all your podcast feeding 1052 00:44:20,829 --> 00:44:11,839 troughs 1053 00:44:20,839 --> 00:44:30,790 bye-bye 1054 00:44:33,990 --> 00:44:32,309 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1055 00:44:36,790 --> 00:44:34,000 zone podcast 1056 00:44:38,870 --> 00:44:36,800 in the last few days my friend bailey 1057 00:44:41,270 --> 00:44:38,880 harris the young author 1058 00:44:43,750 --> 00:44:41,280 of the stardust series of books let me 1059 00:44:46,230 --> 00:44:43,760 know that there is a special edition 1060 00:44:47,349 --> 00:44:46,240 with a forward by richard dawkins no 1061 00:44:51,670 --> 00:44:47,359 less 1062 00:44:54,550 --> 00:44:51,680 and this is a children's book 1063 00:44:55,589 --> 00:44:54,560 inspired by what neil degrasse tyson 1064 00:44:57,990 --> 00:44:55,599 called 1065 00:45:00,230 --> 00:44:58,000 the most astounding fact we are 1066 00:45:02,870 --> 00:45:00,240 literally made of stardust 1067 00:45:04,390 --> 00:45:02,880 and bailey has a kickstarter to help 1068 00:45:07,349 --> 00:45:04,400 with this project 1069 00:45:07,670 --> 00:45:07,359 and if you're interested in this please 1070 00:45:09,950 --> 00:45:07,680 go 1071 00:45:11,510 --> 00:45:09,960 to this week's show notes at 1072 00:45:14,390 --> 00:45:11,520 skepticzone.tv 1073 00:45:15,589 --> 00:45:14,400 and you'll find a link there coming up 1074 00:45:16,950 --> 00:45:15,599 on next week's show more 1075 00:45:18,470 --> 00:45:16,960 logical fallacies with michelle 1076 00:45:20,309 --> 00:45:18,480 biggesmar down there in melbourne yes 1077 00:45:23,190 --> 00:45:20,319 we're thinking about you michelle 1078 00:45:24,470 --> 00:45:23,200 in the lockdown the stringent lockdown 1079 00:45:26,230 --> 00:45:24,480 and all our friends 1080 00:45:28,390 --> 00:45:26,240 family members and colleagues down in 1081 00:45:30,069 --> 00:45:28,400 melbourne and in victoria 1082 00:45:32,150 --> 00:45:30,079 we look forward to the day when the 1083 00:45:34,790 --> 00:45:32,160 borders are free again 1084 00:45:36,150 --> 00:45:34,800 also the strange case of an australian 1085 00:45:39,430 --> 00:45:36,160 astronaut 1086 00:45:40,550 --> 00:45:39,440 on his way to the moon hmm that's coming 1087 00:45:41,910 --> 00:45:40,560 up next week 1088 00:45:44,829 --> 00:45:41,920 and i should be able to officially 1089 00:45:45,990 --> 00:45:44,839 announce next week news of our new 1090 00:45:48,270 --> 00:45:46,000 reporter 1091 00:45:49,510 --> 00:45:48,280 but if you're curious you can go to 1092 00:45:52,309 --> 00:45:49,520 skepticzone.tv 1093 00:45:53,270 --> 00:45:52,319 and click the contacts link and you'll 1094 00:45:54,510 --> 00:45:53,280 see 1095 00:45:56,390 --> 00:45:54,520 oh if you do happen to go to 1096 00:45:57,990 --> 00:45:56,400 skepticzone.tv please click the 1097 00:46:00,950 --> 00:45:58,000 subscribe link or the 1098 00:46:03,829 --> 00:46:00,960 patreon link or the paypal link and 1099 00:46:06,309 --> 00:46:03,839 become a sponsor a supporter 1100 00:46:07,589 --> 00:46:06,319 of the show and it's only because of the 1101 00:46:09,510 --> 00:46:07,599 people just like you who 1102 00:46:10,790 --> 00:46:09,520 already support the show that you are 1103 00:46:13,510 --> 00:46:10,800 hearing this 1104 00:46:14,630 --> 00:46:13,520 right now now normally at this time i'd 1105 00:46:16,550 --> 00:46:14,640 say something like 1106 00:46:17,750 --> 00:46:16,560 until next week this is richard saunders 1107 00:46:20,710 --> 00:46:17,760 signing off blah blah blah 1108 00:46:22,550 --> 00:46:20,720 you know the story well i'm gonna sign 1109 00:46:26,069 --> 00:46:22,560 off now but you're not 1110 00:46:29,510 --> 00:46:26,079 going to get the normal traditional 1111 00:46:30,950 --> 00:46:29,520 much loved ending to the skeptic zone 1112 00:46:33,109 --> 00:46:30,960 what you're going to hear now is a 1113 00:46:34,069 --> 00:46:33,119 recording made by our reporter michelle 1114 00:46:38,230 --> 00:46:34,079 franklin 1115 00:46:41,270 --> 00:46:38,240 she and i teamed up to uh pull a gag on 1116 00:46:44,630 --> 00:46:41,280 her daughters i'll hand it over to 1117 00:46:53,190 --> 00:46:48,630 okay so we made a deal about going 1118 00:46:54,710 --> 00:46:53,200 to science week how are you gonna win 1119 00:46:58,550 --> 00:46:54,720 your prize of being allowed to go to 1120 00:47:02,470 --> 00:47:00,950 i made three predictions if they come 1121 00:47:03,430 --> 00:47:02,480 true we're going to science week to 1122 00:47:06,470 --> 00:47:03,440 build a rocket 1123 00:47:09,990 --> 00:47:06,480 a rocket is that cool 1124 00:47:12,230 --> 00:47:10,000 all right do you want to listen to 1125 00:47:18,309 --> 00:47:12,240 the dice game now yes all right here we 1126 00:47:21,510 --> 00:47:19,589 you've been listening now tell me what 1127 00:47:30,860 --> 00:47:21,520 your three predictions are 1128 00:47:35,829 --> 00:47:33,910 [Music] 1129 00:47:37,190 --> 00:47:35,839 you can follow the skeptic zone podcast 1130 00:47:40,390 --> 00:47:37,200 on twitter at 1131 00:47:41,270 --> 00:47:40,400 skepticzone visit our facebook page or 1132 00:47:44,230 --> 00:47:41,280 leave a review 1133 00:47:45,109 --> 00:47:44,240 on itunes you can also support the 1134 00:47:49,109 --> 00:47:45,119 skeptic zone 1135 00:47:51,990 --> 00:47:49,119 podcast 1136 00:47:53,750 --> 00:47:52,000 is an independent production the views 1137 00:47:54,150 --> 00:47:53,760 and opinions expressed on the skeptic 1138 00:47:56,230 --> 00:47:54,160 zone 1139 00:47:58,069 --> 00:47:56,240 would be necessarily those of australian 1140 00:48:01,829 --> 00:47:58,079 skeptics or any other 1141 00:48:01,839 --> 00:48:10,870 okay here we go here we go here we go 1142 00:48:14,230 --> 00:48:12,790 hello all you people who listen after 1143 00:48:16,790 --> 00:48:14,240 the music 1144 00:48:17,670 --> 00:48:16,800 the afterthoughts the people who keep 1145 00:48:19,589 --> 00:48:17,680 listening 1146 00:48:21,349 --> 00:48:19,599 even though the show's gone now if you 1147 00:48:22,549 --> 00:48:21,359 haven't heard this part of the show 1148 00:48:25,990 --> 00:48:22,559 before 1149 00:48:29,990 --> 00:48:26,000 this is where i roll and die sometimes 1150 00:48:33,190 --> 00:48:30,000 six sometimes ten sometimes thirty today 1151 00:48:35,670 --> 00:48:33,200 a ten sided diet and you use your magic 1152 00:48:39,109 --> 00:48:35,680 predicting power or 1153 00:48:41,589 --> 00:48:39,119 dumb luck good luck to 1154 00:48:42,470 --> 00:48:41,599 guess what numbers are going to come up 1155 00:48:45,190 --> 00:48:42,480 so 1156 00:48:46,950 --> 00:48:45,200 here it is i've got the die right here 1157 00:48:50,710 --> 00:48:46,960 predictor way 1158 00:48:53,750 --> 00:48:50,720 what's your first uh prediction 1159 00:48:54,660 --> 00:48:53,760 what's your first prediction or here it 1160 00:48:57,510 --> 00:48:54,670 comes 1161 00:49:15,109 --> 00:48:57,520 [Music] 1162 00:49:20,630 --> 00:49:18,470 it's hiding under the six 1163 00:49:22,150 --> 00:49:20,640 that's it that's my number is that your 1164 00:49:24,950 --> 00:49:22,160 number yeah that's my number 1165 00:49:26,549 --> 00:49:24,960 did you get two yeah i got two one more 1166 00:49:28,829 --> 00:49:26,559 and we're going using your psychic 1167 00:49:32,549 --> 00:49:28,839 powers or 1168 00:49:36,470 --> 00:49:32,559 whatever last number 1169 00:49:39,510 --> 00:49:36,480 on the die this week is three 1170 00:49:42,630 --> 00:49:39,520 that's it that's it that's my number 1171 00:49:45,270 --> 00:49:42,640 are you sure six 1172 00:49:46,390 --> 00:49:45,280 what does that mean going to science 1173 00:49:50,150 --> 00:49:46,400 week 1174 00:49:54,549 --> 00:49:50,160 holly how does um 1175 00:49:54,559 --> 00:50:01,270 he heard me 1176 00:50:07,990 --> 00:50:04,790 what happened he heard did he hear you 1177 00:50:10,069 --> 00:50:08,000 yeah are you sure he had all the way 1178 00:50:13,349 --> 00:50:10,079 from sydney 1179 00:50:17,190 --> 00:50:13,359 what what do you think happened 1180 00:50:17,200 --> 00:50:21,190 have you taught anything 1181 00:50:27,589 --> 00:50:24,230 do you think i did did you 1182 00:50:31,349 --> 00:50:27,599 them that we're going to science week 1183 00:50:33,910 --> 00:50:31,359 and then we're doing the dice game wait 1184 00:50:38,829 --> 00:50:33,920 did you tell him to do that 1185 00:50:38,839 --> 00:50:45,349 picture 1186 00:50:55,109 --> 00:50:48,390 was that fun though yeah 1187 00:50:57,670 --> 00:50:55,119 but do you still want your prize 1188 00:50:59,589 --> 00:50:57,680 oh it's a joke you know i like jokes 1189 00:51:01,589 --> 00:50:59,599 yeah i played a funny joke on holly tell 1190 00:51:05,190 --> 00:51:01,599 her what i did the bug one 1191 00:51:07,990 --> 00:51:05,200 no good what bug one a bug joke what's 1192 00:51:09,349 --> 00:51:08,000 the bug joke um the pun that i said yes 1193 00:51:12,150 --> 00:51:09,359 you still don't think that's funny 1194 00:51:13,829 --> 00:51:12,160 no did she tell you the drug no no i 1195 00:51:17,190 --> 00:51:13,839 can't say it for context 1196 00:51:20,549 --> 00:51:17,200 an entomologist is a person who studies 1197 00:51:24,069 --> 00:51:20,559 bugs yeah entomology etymology 1198 00:51:26,150 --> 00:51:24,079 is the study of language and language 1199 00:51:27,349 --> 00:51:26,160 they're two very similar sounding words 1200 00:51:29,030 --> 00:51:27,359 the joke that i said 1201 00:51:31,910 --> 00:51:29,040 which is not my joke but i got off the 1202 00:51:33,750 --> 00:51:31,920 internet and i said it is 1203 00:51:36,870 --> 00:51:33,760 people who don't know the difference 1204 00:51:39,190 --> 00:51:36,880 between entomology and etymology 1205 00:51:43,349 --> 00:51:39,200 bug me in ways that i cannot put into 1206 00:51:47,349 --> 00:51:45,910 i don't think it's funny it's so funny 1207 00:51:49,270 --> 00:51:47,359 no it's not 1208 00:51:51,910 --> 00:51:49,280 how do you not think it's funny it's 1209 00:51:54,309 --> 00:51:51,920 just not funny 1210 00:51:55,030 --> 00:51:54,319 is this thing recording yeah oh shoot 1211 00:51:58,069 --> 00:51:55,040 it's all right 1212 00:52:00,390 --> 00:51:58,079 holly tell riley the joke that i played 1213 00:52:01,990 --> 00:52:00,400 you mean the bug one no it's a tough one 1214 00:52:02,870 --> 00:52:02,000 tell her what we just did on the dice 1215 00:52:05,430 --> 00:52:02,880 game 1216 00:52:07,270 --> 00:52:05,440 what so bad about it it's not bad it's 1217 00:52:09,190 --> 00:52:07,280 funny 1218 00:52:12,150 --> 00:52:09,200 so we were gonna play the dice game 1219 00:52:15,510 --> 00:52:12,160 holly made three predictions 1220 00:52:18,470 --> 00:52:15,520 and they all came true because 1221 00:52:23,510 --> 00:52:18,480 you told him to save them but he didn't 1222 00:52:29,670 --> 00:52:28,230 you cheated yeah she cheated 1223 00:52:31,030 --> 00:52:29,680 how rude but we're still going to 1224 00:52:32,950 --> 00:52:31,040 science week but we get to go to science 1225 00:52:34,309 --> 00:52:32,960 week because of it 1226 00:52:35,990 --> 00:52:34,319 if she didn't do this we wouldn't have 1227 00:52:37,349 --> 00:52:36,000 gone to science week actually i already 1228 00:52:38,470 --> 00:52:37,359 signed up for science week we were going 1229 00:52:42,309 --> 00:52:38,480 to go no matter what 1230 00:52:44,470 --> 00:52:42,319 why i only recently told tate about this 1231 00:52:46,549 --> 00:52:44,480 like yesterday yeah you told me 1232 00:52:47,589 --> 00:52:46,559 yesterday are you excited to go taylor 1233 00:52:49,670 --> 00:52:47,599 as soon as that's harder what we were 1234 00:52:51,109 --> 00:52:49,680 gonna do she was like super hyped 1235 00:52:53,109 --> 00:52:51,119 i was like jumping up and down miss 1236 00:52:57,750 --> 00:52:53,119 clark had to tell me they're like yep 1237 00:52:59,750 --> 00:52:57,760 i'm stopping i'm like but i'm excited 1238 00:53:01,589 --> 00:52:59,760 she legit was jumping and nearly fell 1239 00:53:02,790 --> 00:53:01,599 over 1240 00:53:05,190 --> 00:53:02,800 okay i'm going to edit this into