1 00:00:09,190 --> 00:00:06,550 [Music] 2 00:00:13,930 --> 00:00:09,200 welcome to the skeptic zone the podcast 3 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:13,940 from australia for science and reason 4 00:00:24,070 --> 00:00:16,850 [Applause] 5 00:00:28,189 --> 00:00:26,230 yes it's the skeptic's own podcast 6 00:00:32,310 --> 00:00:28,199 episode number 7 00:00:34,229 --> 00:00:32,320 698 for the 20th of february 2022 8 00:00:36,470 --> 00:00:34,239 richard saunders coming to you today 9 00:00:37,990 --> 00:00:36,480 from sydney australia 10 00:00:39,430 --> 00:00:38,000 where it's um 11 00:00:42,549 --> 00:00:39,440 still 12 00:00:46,069 --> 00:00:42,559 somewhat uh muggy and hot although the 13 00:00:48,790 --> 00:00:46,079 temperatures are fluctuating a bit 14 00:00:50,470 --> 00:00:48,800 maybe i should become a weather reporter 15 00:00:53,029 --> 00:00:50,480 coming up on this week's show it's the 16 00:00:54,709 --> 00:00:53,039 return the return of the book of tim 17 00:00:56,869 --> 00:00:54,719 with tim mendem 18 00:00:58,790 --> 00:00:56,879 tim menden being the executive officer 19 00:01:02,069 --> 00:00:58,800 of australian skeptics and of course the 20 00:01:04,070 --> 00:01:02,079 editor of that fine journal the skeptic 21 00:01:06,070 --> 00:01:04,080 tim will be reading from the pages of 22 00:01:09,429 --> 00:01:06,080 the skeptic once again 23 00:01:12,390 --> 00:01:09,439 and this time he dives into the meaning 24 00:01:14,070 --> 00:01:12,400 the origin of the word 25 00:01:22,550 --> 00:01:14,080 bunk 26 00:01:26,149 --> 00:01:22,560 find out with tim mendum 27 00:01:27,830 --> 00:01:26,159 also this week on the trove segment we 28 00:01:29,990 --> 00:01:27,840 look at some of the historical 29 00:01:32,950 --> 00:01:30,000 references to the term 30 00:01:36,469 --> 00:01:32,960 mind body spirit or festival of mind 31 00:01:38,950 --> 00:01:36,479 body spirit or mind body spirit expos 32 00:01:40,950 --> 00:01:38,960 and things like that new age fairs with 33 00:01:43,990 --> 00:01:40,960 psychics and all sorts of people who 34 00:01:46,069 --> 00:01:44,000 claim to be able to heal you via 35 00:01:48,149 --> 00:01:46,079 mystical methods 36 00:01:49,670 --> 00:01:48,159 but to start off the show this week our 37 00:01:52,069 --> 00:01:49,680 first report is something a little 38 00:01:55,429 --> 00:01:52,079 unusual i'm on the spot i'm in the 39 00:01:57,590 --> 00:01:55,439 street i'm on the scene as nurses and 40 00:01:59,109 --> 00:01:57,600 midwives here in sydney 41 00:02:00,310 --> 00:01:59,119 and i think throughout the state of new 42 00:02:03,429 --> 00:02:00,320 south wales 43 00:02:05,350 --> 00:02:03,439 took industrial action and protested in 44 00:02:07,830 --> 00:02:05,360 the streets 45 00:02:09,029 --> 00:02:07,840 now the reason i got out of bed to cover 46 00:02:10,469 --> 00:02:09,039 this uh 47 00:02:12,070 --> 00:02:10,479 this protest 48 00:02:15,110 --> 00:02:12,080 was that they were 49 00:02:17,510 --> 00:02:15,120 um protesting against 50 00:02:20,150 --> 00:02:17,520 well what's happened to them really 51 00:02:22,390 --> 00:02:20,160 since uh the pandemic hit 52 00:02:24,949 --> 00:02:22,400 and the tough conditions they've found 53 00:02:26,150 --> 00:02:24,959 themselves in having to deal with covert 54 00:02:28,790 --> 00:02:26,160 patients 55 00:02:31,270 --> 00:02:28,800 and also things like having to be on the 56 00:02:33,270 --> 00:02:31,280 scene when people are in the last stages 57 00:02:34,869 --> 00:02:33,280 of life and their friends and family 58 00:02:38,150 --> 00:02:34,879 can't be there because of covert 59 00:02:39,990 --> 00:02:38,160 restrictions having their 60 00:02:43,110 --> 00:02:40,000 colleagues 61 00:02:45,190 --> 00:02:43,120 fall sick with covert and then 62 00:02:47,190 --> 00:02:45,200 being stretched to the limits 63 00:02:48,070 --> 00:02:47,200 because of low staffing and all sorts of 64 00:02:50,550 --> 00:02:48,080 things 65 00:02:52,229 --> 00:02:50,560 so i thought that was worth covering but 66 00:02:54,070 --> 00:02:52,239 was also a chance for me to see the 67 00:02:55,589 --> 00:02:54,080 difference between 68 00:02:56,470 --> 00:02:55,599 um 69 00:02:58,710 --> 00:02:56,480 people 70 00:03:00,869 --> 00:02:58,720 who are firmly based in science and 71 00:03:03,509 --> 00:03:00,879 reason the nurses and the midwives 72 00:03:06,229 --> 00:03:03,519 protesting as opposed to the people who 73 00:03:09,589 --> 00:03:06,239 are firmly not based on science and 74 00:03:12,309 --> 00:03:09,599 reason the anti-vaxxer conspiracy theory 75 00:03:14,949 --> 00:03:12,319 protests the freedom fighters 76 00:03:17,750 --> 00:03:14,959 and i found the differences to be stark 77 00:03:20,229 --> 00:03:17,760 i did come across a freedom anti-vaxxer 78 00:03:21,589 --> 00:03:20,239 protest a few months ago in sydney 79 00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:21,599 and 80 00:03:26,309 --> 00:03:24,080 it was a rabble of people with 81 00:03:28,390 --> 00:03:26,319 ridiculous legal signs 82 00:03:29,670 --> 00:03:28,400 all sorts of banners 83 00:03:35,110 --> 00:03:29,680 and 84 00:03:37,430 --> 00:03:35,120 in the upcoming story 85 00:03:40,229 --> 00:03:37,440 in fact at the anti-vaxxer protest when 86 00:03:42,390 --> 00:03:40,239 i walked by wearing a mask i was yelled 87 00:03:45,110 --> 00:03:42,400 at because i was wearing a mask 88 00:03:49,350 --> 00:03:45,120 another thing to note during this story 89 00:03:52,789 --> 00:03:49,360 coming up is that it was loud it was 90 00:03:55,350 --> 00:03:52,799 very loud there were speeches made on uh 91 00:03:57,350 --> 00:03:55,360 public address systems so i'm a little 92 00:03:59,190 --> 00:03:57,360 bit drowned out at times but bear with 93 00:04:01,270 --> 00:03:59,200 it uh you should be able to hear what 94 00:04:03,190 --> 00:04:01,280 i'm saying although sometimes it's a 95 00:04:05,350 --> 00:04:03,200 little difficult 96 00:04:10,309 --> 00:04:05,360 and thank you to the various nurses who 97 00:04:14,470 --> 00:04:12,949 so here we are coming up towards the end 98 00:04:16,789 --> 00:04:14,480 of february 99 00:04:18,390 --> 00:04:16,799 and another shout out to my teacher 100 00:04:19,509 --> 00:04:18,400 friends out there 101 00:04:20,629 --> 00:04:19,519 who are 102 00:04:22,550 --> 00:04:20,639 still 103 00:04:25,189 --> 00:04:22,560 being very cautious and careful 104 00:04:28,070 --> 00:04:25,199 especially in the playground and around 105 00:04:30,150 --> 00:04:28,080 um as lots of students thousands of 106 00:04:33,350 --> 00:04:30,160 students have gone back to school so 107 00:04:35,189 --> 00:04:33,360 just to let you know teachers 108 00:04:37,270 --> 00:04:35,199 i'm thinking about you i 109 00:04:39,030 --> 00:04:37,280 think you do a wonderful job just 110 00:04:41,430 --> 00:04:39,040 like i think the nurses do a wonderful 111 00:04:42,790 --> 00:04:41,440 job too now that's enough from me right 112 00:04:45,110 --> 00:04:42,800 now 113 00:04:46,629 --> 00:04:45,120 i'm going to run downstairs 114 00:04:48,230 --> 00:04:46,639 and have something i don't know if 115 00:04:50,150 --> 00:04:48,240 you've tried this 116 00:04:52,150 --> 00:04:50,160 nice crusty toast 117 00:04:56,310 --> 00:04:52,160 a little bit of um 118 00:04:58,390 --> 00:04:56,320 well cream cheese or butter or margarine 119 00:04:59,430 --> 00:04:58,400 a nice 120 00:05:02,629 --> 00:04:59,440 dollop 121 00:05:05,749 --> 00:05:02,639 gollum of peanut butter and then 122 00:05:09,189 --> 00:05:05,759 a little bit of maple syrup 123 00:05:23,940 --> 00:05:09,199 what a nice combination well i try that 124 00:05:23,950 --> 00:05:33,110 [Music] 125 00:05:36,870 --> 00:05:35,430 nurses and midwives throughout new south 126 00:05:39,909 --> 00:05:36,880 wales took 127 00:05:41,510 --> 00:05:39,919 very rare industrial action 128 00:05:43,670 --> 00:05:41,520 they marched in the streets they held up 129 00:05:46,230 --> 00:05:43,680 placards they had rallies 130 00:05:48,230 --> 00:05:46,240 to protest against what they perceive as 131 00:05:49,909 --> 00:05:48,240 poor working conditions 132 00:05:53,110 --> 00:05:49,919 and being completely and utterly 133 00:05:56,309 --> 00:05:53,120 overstretched during the covert 19 134 00:05:57,990 --> 00:05:56,319 pandemic of the last two years 135 00:05:59,909 --> 00:05:58,000 now we've certainly seen 136 00:06:01,510 --> 00:05:59,919 many protests in the last couple of 137 00:06:02,629 --> 00:06:01,520 years to do with covert but they have 138 00:06:05,830 --> 00:06:02,639 all been 139 00:06:07,510 --> 00:06:05,840 really from the conspiracy theory crowd 140 00:06:11,430 --> 00:06:07,520 the freedom fighters 141 00:06:13,510 --> 00:06:11,440 and so on with their mass protests 142 00:06:16,150 --> 00:06:13,520 i thought i'd go down to macquarie 143 00:06:17,749 --> 00:06:16,160 street here in sydney where our state 144 00:06:19,270 --> 00:06:17,759 parliament is 145 00:06:22,070 --> 00:06:19,280 to where the protest was happening with 146 00:06:23,990 --> 00:06:22,080 the nurses to find out what was going on 147 00:06:25,670 --> 00:06:24,000 and as you'll hear one of the things 148 00:06:27,510 --> 00:06:25,680 that certainly struck me was the fact 149 00:06:29,029 --> 00:06:27,520 that the nurses and the midwives and all 150 00:06:32,150 --> 00:06:29,039 the people there 151 00:06:33,670 --> 00:06:32,160 were wearing masks it was a sea of blue 152 00:06:35,590 --> 00:06:33,680 scrubs 153 00:06:38,550 --> 00:06:35,600 and blue masks 154 00:06:40,469 --> 00:06:38,560 unlike the anti-vaccination protests 155 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:40,479 we take you now to 156 00:06:44,420 --> 00:06:43,440 macquarie street in sydney on the 15th 157 00:06:46,390 --> 00:06:44,430 of february 158 00:06:49,430 --> 00:06:46,400 [Music] 159 00:06:51,430 --> 00:06:49,440 it's tuesday the 15th of february 160 00:06:54,150 --> 00:06:51,440 i'm here in martin place sydney walking 161 00:06:55,990 --> 00:06:54,160 up to the giant protest from the nurses 162 00:06:58,230 --> 00:06:56,000 and midwives 163 00:07:02,070 --> 00:06:58,240 who are 164 00:07:03,830 --> 00:07:02,080 protesting here at parliament house 165 00:07:05,830 --> 00:07:03,840 because they've been put under 166 00:07:08,230 --> 00:07:05,840 increasing pressure 167 00:07:10,550 --> 00:07:08,240 going to covert 168 00:07:12,629 --> 00:07:10,560 unreasonable work hours 169 00:07:14,469 --> 00:07:12,639 uh 170 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:14,479 terrible pressures as you can imagine 171 00:07:20,070 --> 00:07:17,120 the thousands of people being ill 172 00:07:22,870 --> 00:07:20,080 and quite frankly they've had enough 173 00:07:24,790 --> 00:07:22,880 so as i walk closer and closer there are 174 00:07:26,390 --> 00:07:24,800 hundreds of nurses here in scrubs and 175 00:07:28,100 --> 00:07:26,400 what have you 176 00:07:41,510 --> 00:07:28,110 lots of media policing here 177 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:45,360 you 178 00:07:45,370 --> 00:07:55,830 [Music] 179 00:08:00,390 --> 00:07:57,589 our patients are wearing thin that's a 180 00:08:03,670 --> 00:08:00,400 great sign some nurses holding up 181 00:08:05,110 --> 00:08:03,680 and we understand and 182 00:08:07,110 --> 00:08:05,120 they simply 183 00:08:14,629 --> 00:08:07,120 they've had enough and i can well 184 00:08:19,909 --> 00:08:16,790 another sign says thank you doesn't pay 185 00:08:22,390 --> 00:08:19,919 my bills which is very true 186 00:08:25,110 --> 00:08:22,400 and it's good to see so many 187 00:08:29,270 --> 00:08:25,120 people here very passionate taking place 188 00:08:32,709 --> 00:08:31,430 [Applause] 189 00:08:34,550 --> 00:08:32,719 and i think they're protesting for the 190 00:08:35,430 --> 00:08:34,560 right reasons because this is the flip 191 00:08:37,509 --> 00:08:35,440 side 192 00:08:39,990 --> 00:08:37,519 you see the protesters 193 00:08:42,149 --> 00:08:40,000 who have been in the same location 194 00:08:43,350 --> 00:08:42,159 the anti-vaxxers and the conspiracy 195 00:08:45,030 --> 00:08:43,360 theorists 196 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:45,040 well this is the side they don't want to 197 00:08:53,350 --> 00:08:51,269 [Applause] 198 00:08:54,470 --> 00:08:53,360 let me tell 199 00:08:56,150 --> 00:08:54,480 this you 200 00:08:57,829 --> 00:08:56,160 one of the results of their reckless 201 00:08:59,430 --> 00:08:57,839 behavior and their conspiratorial 202 00:09:01,910 --> 00:08:59,440 thinking 203 00:09:02,870 --> 00:09:01,920 that the healthcare workers who we rely 204 00:09:06,070 --> 00:09:02,880 on 205 00:09:07,910 --> 00:09:06,080 are really under pressure so much so 206 00:09:09,670 --> 00:09:07,920 they've taken the extraordinary step of 207 00:09:11,829 --> 00:09:09,680 doing this 208 00:09:17,550 --> 00:09:11,839 public protest which is 209 00:09:21,509 --> 00:09:20,070 [Applause] 210 00:09:23,030 --> 00:09:21,519 it's a bit hard to talk to people at the 211 00:09:26,460 --> 00:09:23,040 moment because the uh they're all 212 00:09:26,470 --> 00:09:31,590 [Music] 213 00:09:34,790 --> 00:09:33,590 okay one striking thing about this 214 00:09:37,260 --> 00:09:34,800 protest 215 00:09:37,270 --> 00:09:42,150 [Music] 216 00:09:46,870 --> 00:09:44,550 it smokes it right in the face 217 00:09:49,190 --> 00:09:46,880 that they're all wearing masks 218 00:09:52,870 --> 00:09:49,200 i have a sea of nurses and health 219 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,949 wearing masks in public 220 00:10:00,530 --> 00:09:59,350 which is a real big two fingers up to 221 00:10:08,470 --> 00:10:00,540 the anti-vaxxers 222 00:10:11,670 --> 00:10:10,630 so many people here i actually can't see 223 00:10:13,190 --> 00:10:11,680 the speaker they're in front of 224 00:10:15,829 --> 00:10:13,200 parliament but i'm 225 00:10:17,670 --> 00:10:15,839 way back in the crowd 226 00:10:19,829 --> 00:10:17,680 it's very hard to see where the speaker 227 00:10:25,090 --> 00:10:19,839 is because in front of you just a sea of 228 00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:43,750 [Music] 229 00:10:49,269 --> 00:10:46,389 more sea of blue scrubs 230 00:10:51,509 --> 00:10:49,279 blue scrubs and masks it's just amazing 231 00:10:53,030 --> 00:10:51,519 and experiencing and even a little kid 232 00:10:56,310 --> 00:10:53,040 dressed up in his 233 00:11:01,829 --> 00:10:58,550 center of attention 234 00:11:03,430 --> 00:11:01,839 fair pain nurses stay the sign says here 235 00:11:05,350 --> 00:11:03,440 absolutely 236 00:11:07,030 --> 00:11:05,360 they're paying nurses stay i like that 237 00:11:08,710 --> 00:11:07,040 very much can i check you for a moment 238 00:11:10,550 --> 00:11:08,720 for my podcast 239 00:11:12,230 --> 00:11:10,560 oh okay then 240 00:11:13,670 --> 00:11:12,240 i mean you're just a sort of a random 241 00:11:16,389 --> 00:11:13,680 person i've come across here at the 242 00:11:18,389 --> 00:11:16,399 protest okay uh why are you here what's 243 00:11:20,230 --> 00:11:18,399 the motivation what's your passion 244 00:11:23,030 --> 00:11:20,240 better conditions for the nurses in new 245 00:11:24,870 --> 00:11:23,040 south wales we need a pay rise we need 246 00:11:26,949 --> 00:11:24,880 to not have to prove that we got covert 247 00:11:28,550 --> 00:11:26,959 at work to have some covered leave and 248 00:11:29,829 --> 00:11:28,560 we need ratios 249 00:11:31,750 --> 00:11:29,839 we need it now 250 00:11:33,350 --> 00:11:31,760 and one of the things that walking 251 00:11:34,790 --> 00:11:33,360 around here i've noticed apart from the 252 00:11:35,910 --> 00:11:34,800 sea of blue scrubs we're seeing 253 00:11:38,230 --> 00:11:35,920 everywhere 254 00:11:39,509 --> 00:11:38,240 is that as opposed to the conspiracy 255 00:11:41,350 --> 00:11:39,519 theorists who like to march and 256 00:11:43,350 --> 00:11:41,360 everything we're all wearing masks 257 00:11:45,750 --> 00:11:43,360 that's right that's it's a covert safe 258 00:11:47,030 --> 00:11:45,760 event i suppose nurses know more than 259 00:11:48,389 --> 00:11:47,040 everything that they need to wear their 260 00:11:49,350 --> 00:11:48,399 masks 261 00:11:50,629 --> 00:11:49,360 um 262 00:11:53,350 --> 00:11:50,639 so yeah 263 00:11:55,110 --> 00:11:53,360 i absolutely agree with doing it safely 264 00:11:56,550 --> 00:11:55,120 very safely here you are that's the 265 00:11:59,269 --> 00:11:56,560 podcast thank you for chatting to us 266 00:12:01,829 --> 00:11:59,279 thank you have a lovely day you too 267 00:12:04,870 --> 00:12:01,839 so uh you have i i noticed your son 268 00:12:06,710 --> 00:12:04,880 having a midwife crisis uh why are you 269 00:12:08,230 --> 00:12:06,720 here what's what's the deal with the 270 00:12:09,030 --> 00:12:08,240 midwives 271 00:12:11,350 --> 00:12:09,040 um 272 00:12:12,310 --> 00:12:11,360 we're really needing more staff on the 273 00:12:13,269 --> 00:12:12,320 floor 274 00:12:15,910 --> 00:12:13,279 um 275 00:12:17,110 --> 00:12:15,920 women and babies their lives are in 276 00:12:18,230 --> 00:12:17,120 danger 277 00:12:20,870 --> 00:12:18,240 because 278 00:12:24,150 --> 00:12:20,880 we don't have adequate nurses to care 279 00:12:27,750 --> 00:12:26,310 i was just saying before to somebody 280 00:12:29,990 --> 00:12:27,760 else it's amazing to be here because 281 00:12:32,790 --> 00:12:30,000 everyone's wearing masks as opposed to 282 00:12:34,870 --> 00:12:32,800 the um anti-vaxxer protest 283 00:12:37,269 --> 00:12:34,880 it's very good well thank you so much 284 00:12:41,340 --> 00:12:37,279 for your time have a listen um 285 00:12:41,350 --> 00:12:48,150 [Music] 286 00:12:53,910 --> 00:12:50,790 it looks like the crowd could be on the 287 00:12:55,190 --> 00:12:53,920 move now i'm not sure it's hard to tell 288 00:12:58,069 --> 00:12:55,200 if i'm back here 289 00:12:59,110 --> 00:12:58,079 i'm losing my voice because it's so loud 290 00:13:00,870 --> 00:12:59,120 yes 291 00:13:04,829 --> 00:13:00,880 lots of movement now people are starting 292 00:13:08,790 --> 00:13:04,839 to disperse or move somewhere else 293 00:13:10,470 --> 00:13:08,800 unless instead of heading my way 294 00:13:11,750 --> 00:13:10,480 lots of people coming by i might be able 295 00:13:13,990 --> 00:13:11,760 to 296 00:13:16,150 --> 00:13:14,000 chat with somebody else 297 00:13:19,030 --> 00:13:16,160 lots of signs lots of signs support the 298 00:13:22,790 --> 00:13:20,949 nurse is more here here to that i 299 00:13:25,670 --> 00:13:22,800 absolutely agree 300 00:13:29,350 --> 00:13:25,680 come on parrot give this is fair pay 301 00:13:30,310 --> 00:13:29,360 perite is the premier of the state 302 00:13:32,949 --> 00:13:30,320 and 303 00:13:37,990 --> 00:13:32,959 again i'm seeing a 304 00:13:40,550 --> 00:13:38,000 a sea of blue scrubs blue scrubs 305 00:13:42,310 --> 00:13:40,560 with the odd green scrub here and there 306 00:13:43,829 --> 00:13:42,320 but yes now the crowd are starting this 307 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:43,839 burst 308 00:13:47,430 --> 00:13:45,440 moving down there where are they moving 309 00:13:50,310 --> 00:13:47,440 too i wonder if they're just gonna 310 00:13:52,310 --> 00:13:50,320 break up the whole thing 311 00:13:53,509 --> 00:13:52,320 and i've managed to put myself up on a 312 00:13:55,430 --> 00:13:53,519 wall here 313 00:13:59,590 --> 00:13:55,440 near the front of the sydney hospital 314 00:14:01,910 --> 00:13:59,600 and a sea of blue scrubs marching by 315 00:14:03,910 --> 00:14:01,920 all wearing masks i can't emphasize that 316 00:14:05,269 --> 00:14:03,920 point enough 317 00:14:07,269 --> 00:14:05,279 it's 318 00:14:10,550 --> 00:14:07,279 so good to see they're covered safe 319 00:14:13,189 --> 00:14:10,560 they're really taking this seriously 320 00:14:14,629 --> 00:14:13,199 i think i'll march with them 321 00:14:15,990 --> 00:14:14,639 so to speak 322 00:14:18,389 --> 00:14:16,000 it's a little hard i'm trying to be a 323 00:14:20,230 --> 00:14:18,399 dispassionate reporter but i 324 00:14:23,189 --> 00:14:20,240 i can understand their point of view and 325 00:14:24,949 --> 00:14:23,199 i appreciate the fact that they're 326 00:14:26,870 --> 00:14:24,959 they know what's going on 327 00:14:28,310 --> 00:14:26,880 they're on the front line 328 00:14:32,310 --> 00:14:28,320 they're having to deal with this 329 00:14:34,629 --> 00:14:32,320 pandemic like like nobody else okay i 330 00:14:36,870 --> 00:14:34,639 love your sign skeleton staff equals 331 00:14:39,189 --> 00:14:36,880 skeleton patience we've seen enough 332 00:14:41,910 --> 00:14:39,199 patients suffer from low staffing levels 333 00:14:44,230 --> 00:14:41,920 and it's about time it stops 334 00:14:46,069 --> 00:14:44,240 what do you think what why aren't the 335 00:14:48,230 --> 00:14:46,079 government doing what we would consider 336 00:14:49,990 --> 00:14:48,240 to be the right thing in helping nurses 337 00:14:51,030 --> 00:14:50,000 i feel like they just need to spend one 338 00:14:52,550 --> 00:14:51,040 shift 339 00:14:54,710 --> 00:14:52,560 shadowing a nurse 340 00:14:56,230 --> 00:14:54,720 and seeing what we do in a shift and 341 00:14:57,269 --> 00:14:56,240 maybe they would get some understanding 342 00:14:59,430 --> 00:14:57,279 but at the moment they've got no 343 00:15:00,870 --> 00:14:59,440 contacts at all i think you're right and 344 00:15:02,310 --> 00:15:00,880 one of the things i've mentioned to 345 00:15:04,310 --> 00:15:02,320 other people here 346 00:15:05,750 --> 00:15:04,320 the striking thing about this protest 347 00:15:07,350 --> 00:15:05,760 and other protests i've seen from the 348 00:15:09,350 --> 00:15:07,360 conspiracy theorists and those who don't 349 00:15:11,670 --> 00:15:09,360 believe in covert 350 00:15:13,990 --> 00:15:11,680 we're all wearing masks oh yeah i've got 351 00:15:16,069 --> 00:15:14,000 a sea of scrubs and a sea of masks it's 352 00:15:17,910 --> 00:15:16,079 so good the science is 353 00:15:19,350 --> 00:15:17,920 what works it's the proof it's what we 354 00:15:21,350 --> 00:15:19,360 practiced by and 355 00:15:23,110 --> 00:15:21,360 that doesn't change the fact that we 356 00:15:25,110 --> 00:15:23,120 still need to provide that science in 357 00:15:27,509 --> 00:15:25,120 safe safe ways 358 00:15:38,069 --> 00:15:27,519 all said thank you so much thank you you 359 00:15:42,790 --> 00:15:40,150 so there you go i followed the 360 00:15:44,629 --> 00:15:42,800 protesters after they dispersed 361 00:15:46,230 --> 00:15:44,639 and they marched through hyde park and 362 00:15:48,470 --> 00:15:46,240 there was a river snaking through the 363 00:15:52,150 --> 00:15:48,480 footpath in hyde park 364 00:15:55,030 --> 00:15:52,160 blue scrubs and still blue masks a 365 00:15:56,790 --> 00:15:55,040 covered safe protest and i can't help 366 00:15:58,790 --> 00:15:56,800 thinking if all the other protests 367 00:16:01,269 --> 00:15:58,800 lately had been covered safe 368 00:16:02,470 --> 00:16:01,279 there might be fewer people in hospital 369 00:16:05,030 --> 00:16:02,480 for these 370 00:16:07,350 --> 00:16:05,040 valiant nurses and midwives to look 371 00:16:20,060 --> 00:16:07,360 after 372 00:16:20,070 --> 00:16:24,629 [Music] 373 00:16:28,069 --> 00:16:26,870 i'm mick west in my podcast tales from 374 00:16:29,509 --> 00:16:28,079 the rabbit hole i have extended 375 00:16:31,829 --> 00:16:29,519 conversations with people who've been 376 00:16:33,509 --> 00:16:31,839 involved in conspiracy culture i do this 377 00:16:34,790 --> 00:16:33,519 for a couple of reasons firstly because 378 00:16:36,470 --> 00:16:34,800 it's really interesting these people 379 00:16:38,150 --> 00:16:36,480 have great stories about how they fell 380 00:16:39,990 --> 00:16:38,160 down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole 381 00:16:41,749 --> 00:16:40,000 what they did down there and what it was 382 00:16:42,870 --> 00:16:41,759 that helped them out sometimes i also 383 00:16:44,230 --> 00:16:42,880 talk to people who investigate 384 00:16:45,749 --> 00:16:44,240 conspiracy theories and they have 385 00:16:47,990 --> 00:16:45,759 equally fascinating stories from the 386 00:16:49,350 --> 00:16:48,000 other side secondly i want to understand 387 00:16:51,030 --> 00:16:49,360 how best to prevent the spread of 388 00:16:52,790 --> 00:16:51,040 conspiracy theories and misinformation 389 00:16:55,189 --> 00:16:52,800 which is an increasing problem in a time 390 00:16:57,110 --> 00:16:55,199 when alternative media is exploding the 391 00:16:59,110 --> 00:16:57,120 best way to do this is to communicate 392 00:17:01,030 --> 00:16:59,120 effectively with the people involved and 393 00:17:02,550 --> 00:17:01,040 the best way to do that is with a nice 394 00:17:05,110 --> 00:17:02,560 long chat 395 00:17:07,510 --> 00:17:05,120 check it out tales from the rabbit hole 396 00:17:18,949 --> 00:17:07,520 tftrh.com 397 00:17:20,309 --> 00:17:18,959 [Music] 398 00:17:22,460 --> 00:17:20,319 and now 399 00:17:25,189 --> 00:17:22,470 a reading from the book of tim 400 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:25,199 [Music] 401 00:17:34,230 --> 00:17:28,010 with tim menden 402 00:17:36,549 --> 00:17:34,240 [Music] 403 00:17:38,150 --> 00:17:36,559 hi my name is tim mendem i'm the editor 404 00:17:40,310 --> 00:17:38,160 of australian skeptics magazine the 405 00:17:42,230 --> 00:17:40,320 skeptic and i'm executive officer for 406 00:17:43,510 --> 00:17:42,240 australian skeptics inc 407 00:17:45,350 --> 00:17:43,520 and i'll be reading today from the 408 00:17:47,590 --> 00:17:45,360 skeptic magazine 409 00:17:51,110 --> 00:17:47,600 volume 33 410 00:17:54,310 --> 00:17:51,120 number three which is september 2013. 411 00:17:57,350 --> 00:17:54,320 and this is an article about bunk 412 00:17:59,270 --> 00:17:57,360 in fact it's bunk about bunk 413 00:18:01,110 --> 00:17:59,280 this is an article by martin bridgstock 414 00:18:03,350 --> 00:18:01,120 that looks at the history of bunk and 415 00:18:04,300 --> 00:18:03,360 finds that it's not all what it seems 416 00:18:11,909 --> 00:18:04,310 but is it bunk 417 00:18:15,430 --> 00:18:13,510 most skeptics are familiar with the term 418 00:18:17,590 --> 00:18:15,440 bunk or perhaps buncombe with its 419 00:18:20,230 --> 00:18:17,600 associated skeptical activity of 420 00:18:22,070 --> 00:18:20,240 debunking the oxford english dictionary 421 00:18:24,710 --> 00:18:22,080 tells us that it means humbug or 422 00:18:26,630 --> 00:18:24,720 nonsense and of course henry ford told 423 00:18:28,710 --> 00:18:26,640 us that history is bunk 424 00:18:31,190 --> 00:18:28,720 but why bunk the word has several 425 00:18:33,669 --> 00:18:31,200 perfectly legitimate uses it can be a 426 00:18:35,669 --> 00:18:33,679 type of bed like a bunk bed 427 00:18:38,470 --> 00:18:35,679 or a plant from which drugs can be made 428 00:18:40,390 --> 00:18:38,480 and also it refers to part of a sled 429 00:18:43,110 --> 00:18:40,400 none of these meanings has any obvious 430 00:18:45,029 --> 00:18:43,120 connection to empty claptrap 431 00:18:46,630 --> 00:18:45,039 so how did nonsense come to be termed 432 00:18:49,110 --> 00:18:46,640 bunk 433 00:18:51,750 --> 00:18:49,120 the answer lies in politics and slavery 434 00:18:54,870 --> 00:18:51,760 and goes back nearly 200 years 435 00:18:58,950 --> 00:18:54,880 let us go back in imagination to the 436 00:19:00,710 --> 00:18:58,960 united states congress of february 1820 437 00:19:01,750 --> 00:19:00,720 the representatives were nearly 438 00:19:03,590 --> 00:19:01,760 exhausted 439 00:19:05,590 --> 00:19:03,600 a highly contentious issue was being 440 00:19:07,350 --> 00:19:05,600 discussed and had been the subject of 441 00:19:09,510 --> 00:19:07,360 argument for about a month 442 00:19:12,390 --> 00:19:09,520 this was the status of the proposed 443 00:19:13,750 --> 00:19:12,400 state of missouri the first new state 444 00:19:16,310 --> 00:19:13,760 which would be west of the great 445 00:19:18,070 --> 00:19:16,320 mississippi river the question was 446 00:19:21,029 --> 00:19:18,080 should missouri be allowed to have 447 00:19:22,630 --> 00:19:21,039 slaves or must it be free 448 00:19:24,230 --> 00:19:22,640 a great deal hung on the outcome of 449 00:19:26,870 --> 00:19:24,240 questions like this the united states 450 00:19:29,430 --> 00:19:26,880 began as a string of colonies down the 451 00:19:31,750 --> 00:19:29,440 east coast of america after independence 452 00:19:33,510 --> 00:19:31,760 the americans moved inland setting up 453 00:19:35,669 --> 00:19:33,520 new states as they went 454 00:19:38,070 --> 00:19:35,679 the southern states had become wedded to 455 00:19:40,630 --> 00:19:38,080 a slave economy while many northerners 456 00:19:43,510 --> 00:19:40,640 regarded slavery with horror 457 00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:43,520 as a result the entry of each new state 458 00:19:48,470 --> 00:19:46,160 was watched closely by both sides if too 459 00:19:49,350 --> 00:19:48,480 many slave or non-slave states enter the 460 00:19:51,590 --> 00:19:49,360 union 461 00:19:53,909 --> 00:19:51,600 then partisans might be able to force 462 00:19:57,270 --> 00:19:53,919 legislation through congress 463 00:19:59,590 --> 00:19:57,280 an uneasy balance ensued with slave and 464 00:20:01,190 --> 00:19:59,600 free states being admitted in roughly 465 00:20:03,669 --> 00:20:01,200 equal numbers 466 00:20:05,350 --> 00:20:03,679 the congressmen of 1820 were weary they 467 00:20:07,510 --> 00:20:05,360 had been arguing and yelling for about a 468 00:20:09,270 --> 00:20:07,520 month on this missouri question 469 00:20:11,430 --> 00:20:09,280 eventually they forged the missouri 470 00:20:13,430 --> 00:20:11,440 compromise which allowed slavery in 471 00:20:15,909 --> 00:20:13,440 missouri and some south western 472 00:20:17,190 --> 00:20:15,919 territories but not in a huge swathe of 473 00:20:18,149 --> 00:20:17,200 northwestern 474 00:20:20,549 --> 00:20:18,159 land 475 00:20:23,110 --> 00:20:20,559 the compromise with additions held for 476 00:20:24,950 --> 00:20:23,120 about 40 years before it collapsed and 477 00:20:27,350 --> 00:20:24,960 was unused 478 00:20:28,950 --> 00:20:27,360 it was an ugly political measure 479 00:20:30,950 --> 00:20:28,960 but it was the best that either side 480 00:20:32,470 --> 00:20:30,960 could obtain 481 00:20:35,590 --> 00:20:32,480 right at the end of this debate 482 00:20:40,070 --> 00:20:35,600 representative felix walker of buncombe 483 00:20:43,750 --> 00:20:41,669 he rose to speak 484 00:20:45,990 --> 00:20:43,760 he did not complete his speech according 485 00:20:48,230 --> 00:20:46,000 to legend his words were so empty of 486 00:20:50,549 --> 00:20:48,240 meaning so worthless that other 487 00:20:52,870 --> 00:20:50,559 congressmen began to shout him down 488 00:20:54,950 --> 00:20:52,880 he persisted replying that he had to 489 00:20:57,430 --> 00:20:54,960 speak for bungam 490 00:20:59,669 --> 00:20:57,440 the critics grew louder the cries grew 491 00:21:01,590 --> 00:20:59,679 louder and eventually he was persuaded 492 00:21:04,070 --> 00:21:01,600 to sit down 493 00:21:06,149 --> 00:21:04,080 the city of washington gazette 494 00:21:09,350 --> 00:21:06,159 whether out of kindness or cruelty 495 00:21:11,110 --> 00:21:09,360 printed his speech in full the next day 496 00:21:14,070 --> 00:21:11,120 the legend grew that felix walker had 497 00:21:16,070 --> 00:21:14,080 made an utterly worthless speech simply 498 00:21:18,230 --> 00:21:16,080 seeking to fool the people of buncombe 499 00:21:19,750 --> 00:21:18,240 into thinking that he was working hard 500 00:21:21,350 --> 00:21:19,760 at representing them 501 00:21:23,190 --> 00:21:21,360 so the customer developed that when 502 00:21:25,430 --> 00:21:23,200 someone was speaking simply for the sake 503 00:21:28,230 --> 00:21:25,440 of appearances he was described perhaps 504 00:21:31,350 --> 00:21:28,240 with a wink as speaking for buncombe 505 00:21:33,270 --> 00:21:31,360 and then just bunkum b-u-n-k-u-m and 506 00:21:35,669 --> 00:21:33,280 finally bunk 507 00:21:38,950 --> 00:21:35,679 so the name of a southern us 508 00:21:41,190 --> 00:21:38,960 town became the label for nonsense 509 00:21:42,789 --> 00:21:41,200 the town of buncombe has put the best 510 00:21:44,710 --> 00:21:42,799 face on this a can 511 00:21:46,789 --> 00:21:44,720 outside the town is a sign commemorating 512 00:21:49,750 --> 00:21:46,799 the way that representative walker gave 513 00:21:51,990 --> 00:21:49,760 a whole new meaning to the term bunkum 514 00:21:53,669 --> 00:21:52,000 the exact meaning naturally is not 515 00:21:55,510 --> 00:21:53,679 explained 516 00:21:58,149 --> 00:21:55,520 when i learned about the words origins i 517 00:21:58,950 --> 00:21:58,159 became curious about the original speech 518 00:22:01,270 --> 00:21:58,960 what 519 00:22:03,590 --> 00:22:01,280 i wondered was so awful about walker's 520 00:22:05,110 --> 00:22:03,600 words that he was held down by his 521 00:22:06,470 --> 00:22:05,120 fellow congressman 522 00:22:08,710 --> 00:22:06,480 what would the 523 00:22:10,789 --> 00:22:08,720 quintessence of bunk look like 524 00:22:13,430 --> 00:22:10,799 so i located walker's original speech 525 00:22:15,510 --> 00:22:13,440 and read it rather to my astonishment 526 00:22:17,750 --> 00:22:15,520 walker's speech is not bunk 527 00:22:20,070 --> 00:22:17,760 the original piece of buncombe does not 528 00:22:21,830 --> 00:22:20,080 conform to the definition at all 529 00:22:23,990 --> 00:22:21,840 indeed if you want a summary of the 530 00:22:26,149 --> 00:22:24,000 arguments advanced by one side in the 531 00:22:28,149 --> 00:22:26,159 debate walker's speech does a good job 532 00:22:29,590 --> 00:22:28,159 of making the key points 533 00:22:31,990 --> 00:22:29,600 i should make two important points 534 00:22:33,750 --> 00:22:32,000 before moving on i suspect most skeptics 535 00:22:35,350 --> 00:22:33,760 would agree with my stance that slavery 536 00:22:37,270 --> 00:22:35,360 is a total evil 537 00:22:39,750 --> 00:22:37,280 and that the northern anti-slavers like 538 00:22:42,230 --> 00:22:39,760 abraham lincoln and william lloyd 539 00:22:44,390 --> 00:22:42,240 garrison were completely in the right 540 00:22:46,870 --> 00:22:44,400 therefore we might feel unsympathetic to 541 00:22:49,350 --> 00:22:46,880 walker still we should remember that 542 00:22:51,750 --> 00:22:49,360 millions of people supported slavery and 543 00:22:54,549 --> 00:22:51,760 it was his job to represent them and of 544 00:22:56,310 --> 00:22:54,559 course a speech can support a bad cause 545 00:22:58,549 --> 00:22:56,320 without being vacuous 546 00:23:00,149 --> 00:22:58,559 the two are not logically linked 547 00:23:01,350 --> 00:23:00,159 second the speech is appallingly 548 00:23:03,830 --> 00:23:01,360 long-winded 549 00:23:05,590 --> 00:23:03,840 it is just under 5000 words long and out 550 00:23:07,430 --> 00:23:05,600 of guess its entire content could 551 00:23:08,470 --> 00:23:07,440 probably be stated in about a fifth of 552 00:23:10,630 --> 00:23:08,480 that length 553 00:23:12,310 --> 00:23:10,640 its stance and its worthiness can 554 00:23:14,710 --> 00:23:12,320 prejudice us against the fact that it 555 00:23:16,870 --> 00:23:14,720 makes about a dozen important points 556 00:23:19,110 --> 00:23:16,880 what sort of things does walker say 557 00:23:19,990 --> 00:23:19,120 he freely concedes that slavery is an 558 00:23:22,149 --> 00:23:20,000 evil 559 00:23:23,830 --> 00:23:22,159 arguing only that abolition is probably 560 00:23:25,270 --> 00:23:23,840 more evil yet 561 00:23:28,070 --> 00:23:25,280 he makes the point that the current 562 00:23:29,909 --> 00:23:28,080 slave owners do not originate slavery 563 00:23:31,510 --> 00:23:29,919 that the people they brought from africa 564 00:23:33,590 --> 00:23:31,520 were not free originally 565 00:23:36,789 --> 00:23:33,600 they might well he thinks be better off 566 00:23:38,230 --> 00:23:36,799 in the usa even as slaves preventing 567 00:23:40,630 --> 00:23:38,240 slavery from spreading across the 568 00:23:41,750 --> 00:23:40,640 mississippi river will not free a single 569 00:23:43,909 --> 00:23:41,760 slave 570 00:23:46,230 --> 00:23:43,919 he also points out that the family of 571 00:23:48,630 --> 00:23:46,240 american states is likely to be torn 572 00:23:51,269 --> 00:23:48,640 apart by conflict over this issue the 573 00:23:53,110 --> 00:23:51,279 most terrible conflict imaginable he 574 00:23:55,350 --> 00:23:53,120 regards americans from the states in the 575 00:23:57,510 --> 00:23:55,360 north and the east as his brethren and 576 00:23:59,510 --> 00:23:57,520 appalled that they don't regard him 577 00:24:01,269 --> 00:23:59,520 in the same way 578 00:24:04,070 --> 00:24:01,279 skeptics can exercise their critical 579 00:24:05,750 --> 00:24:04,080 faculties by reading walker's speech it 580 00:24:07,750 --> 00:24:05,760 provides good practice 581 00:24:09,669 --> 00:24:07,760 in cutting through verbiage 582 00:24:12,549 --> 00:24:09,679 to see the key points beneath in 583 00:24:15,110 --> 00:24:12,559 addition it is useful practice to refute 584 00:24:16,830 --> 00:24:15,120 the different arguments for example is 585 00:24:19,669 --> 00:24:16,840 it perfectly true that 586 00:24:23,029 --> 00:24:19,679 contemporaneous by 19th century american 587 00:24:25,029 --> 00:24:23,039 slave owners did not originate slavery 588 00:24:27,430 --> 00:24:25,039 on the other hand those who perpetuate 589 00:24:29,430 --> 00:24:27,440 an evil and benefit from it must 590 00:24:30,470 --> 00:24:29,440 acknowledge some responsibility for that 591 00:24:32,549 --> 00:24:30,480 evil 592 00:24:33,750 --> 00:24:32,559 in addition they must not be surprised 593 00:24:35,909 --> 00:24:33,760 if they are 594 00:24:37,510 --> 00:24:35,919 regarded badly by those who seek to 595 00:24:38,950 --> 00:24:37,520 eliminate the evil 596 00:24:40,870 --> 00:24:38,960 the other points can be addressed in a 597 00:24:42,630 --> 00:24:40,880 similar way on one point though walker 598 00:24:45,029 --> 00:24:42,640 is completely correct he points to the 599 00:24:47,430 --> 00:24:45,039 dangers of conflict within the union and 600 00:24:50,310 --> 00:24:47,440 goes on to predict terrible consequences 601 00:24:51,350 --> 00:24:50,320 if anti-slavery legislation is forced 602 00:24:53,350 --> 00:24:51,360 through 603 00:24:56,470 --> 00:24:53,360 the last paragraph of his speech goes 604 00:24:57,510 --> 00:24:56,480 like this and it is wordy as people have 605 00:24:58,549 --> 00:24:57,520 complained 606 00:25:01,350 --> 00:24:58,559 sir 607 00:25:02,870 --> 00:25:01,360 in the last war we lost our thousands 608 00:25:05,269 --> 00:25:02,880 but if you will force upon us this 609 00:25:07,190 --> 00:25:05,279 restriction you may in the end 610 00:25:09,590 --> 00:25:07,200 in the course of your mistake and policy 611 00:25:12,390 --> 00:25:09,600 which if persisted in go on with 612 00:25:14,870 --> 00:25:12,400 increasing rapidity at last compel us to 613 00:25:17,990 --> 00:25:14,880 take leave of each other and lead to an 614 00:25:19,750 --> 00:25:18,000 event that may prostrate the lives of 615 00:25:20,950 --> 00:25:19,760 the ten thousands of your choice 616 00:25:23,750 --> 00:25:20,960 citizens 617 00:25:26,149 --> 00:25:23,760 and fatally terminate in the dissolution 618 00:25:28,230 --> 00:25:26,159 of our confederated government 619 00:25:29,909 --> 00:25:28,240 walker was exactly right though he did 620 00:25:32,310 --> 00:25:29,919 not leave to see his prediction 621 00:25:35,269 --> 00:25:32,320 confirmed the missouri compromise and 622 00:25:38,070 --> 00:25:35,279 its successes held for 40 years 623 00:25:40,470 --> 00:25:38,080 when compromises finally came apart the 624 00:25:42,390 --> 00:25:40,480 american civil war claimed not tens of 625 00:25:44,310 --> 00:25:42,400 thousands but hundreds of thousands of 626 00:25:45,909 --> 00:25:44,320 lives and left large parts of the 627 00:25:48,230 --> 00:25:45,919 country in ruins 628 00:25:50,710 --> 00:25:48,240 at this point walker was terribly 629 00:25:52,149 --> 00:25:50,720 hideously right 630 00:25:53,990 --> 00:25:52,159 now i hope that i have justified my 631 00:25:56,710 --> 00:25:54,000 argument that walker's speech although 632 00:25:58,390 --> 00:25:56,720 mediocre is by no means empty claptrap 633 00:26:00,310 --> 00:25:58,400 it certainly does not justify the 634 00:26:02,710 --> 00:26:00,320 appellation of bunk 635 00:26:04,390 --> 00:26:02,720 why then has it acquired such a 636 00:26:06,710 --> 00:26:04,400 bad reputation 637 00:26:08,310 --> 00:26:06,720 i suspect the context explains this the 638 00:26:09,990 --> 00:26:08,320 politicians had been struggling for a 639 00:26:11,669 --> 00:26:10,000 month to come up with a solution 640 00:26:14,149 --> 00:26:11,679 undoubtedly there had been hours of 641 00:26:16,390 --> 00:26:14,159 bargaining and debate in offices inns 642 00:26:18,549 --> 00:26:16,400 and corridors these discussions would 643 00:26:21,110 --> 00:26:18,559 not be concerned with general principles 644 00:26:23,510 --> 00:26:21,120 but with hard facts and questions about 645 00:26:25,590 --> 00:26:23,520 what each side might find acceptable 646 00:26:28,230 --> 00:26:25,600 therefore when walker spoke 647 00:26:30,470 --> 00:26:28,240 to exhausted congressmen his general 648 00:26:32,470 --> 00:26:30,480 points fell upon deaf ears 649 00:26:35,110 --> 00:26:32,480 this shows that content is an important 650 00:26:37,510 --> 00:26:35,120 factor in getting your viewpoint across 651 00:26:40,149 --> 00:26:37,520 if your message isn't appropriate for a 652 00:26:41,190 --> 00:26:40,159 particular audience it probably won't be 653 00:26:43,350 --> 00:26:41,200 heard 654 00:26:45,669 --> 00:26:43,360 sometimes you can tailor your message so 655 00:26:48,789 --> 00:26:45,679 that it will be heard but sometimes as 656 00:26:50,549 --> 00:26:48,799 with felix walker it is impossible 657 00:26:52,470 --> 00:26:50,559 another important point is directly 658 00:26:55,750 --> 00:26:52,480 related to skepticism 659 00:26:57,990 --> 00:26:55,760 popular perception is not always right 660 00:27:00,070 --> 00:26:58,000 walker's speech was not empty claptrap 661 00:27:02,710 --> 00:27:00,080 but has gone down in history as exactly 662 00:27:04,070 --> 00:27:02,720 that there is always value in examining 663 00:27:05,110 --> 00:27:04,080 the evidence for popular myths and 664 00:27:06,390 --> 00:27:05,120 beliefs 665 00:27:08,510 --> 00:27:06,400 and finding out 666 00:27:13,190 --> 00:27:08,520 how much truth is in them 667 00:27:18,310 --> 00:27:15,029 and that's bunk about bunk from the 668 00:27:21,269 --> 00:27:18,320 skeptic magazine september 2013 669 00:27:23,190 --> 00:27:21,279 volume 33 number three 670 00:27:24,950 --> 00:27:23,200 and you can read the full issue 671 00:27:27,750 --> 00:27:24,960 of that magazine of that particular 672 00:27:28,549 --> 00:27:27,760 edition on our website along with many 673 00:27:31,350 --> 00:27:28,559 other 674 00:27:33,430 --> 00:27:31,360 editions of the skeptic for free just go 675 00:27:34,470 --> 00:27:33,440 to skeptics.com.iu and click on 676 00:27:36,630 --> 00:27:34,480 magazines 677 00:27:38,310 --> 00:27:36,640 and you will see a plethora 678 00:27:39,909 --> 00:27:38,320 of great reading 679 00:27:41,909 --> 00:27:39,919 but you won't get the most recent four 680 00:27:44,789 --> 00:27:41,919 ones that way and you certainly won't 681 00:27:46,230 --> 00:27:44,799 get future ones unless you subscribe 682 00:27:48,340 --> 00:27:46,240 so there you are 683 00:28:01,190 --> 00:27:48,350 i'm sure you'll do that straight away 684 00:28:06,710 --> 00:28:03,909 hi this is heidi robertson from the 685 00:28:09,110 --> 00:28:06,720 northern rivers vaccination supporters 686 00:28:11,350 --> 00:28:09,120 we are a group of concerned citizens 687 00:28:13,990 --> 00:28:11,360 dedicated to promoting good science and 688 00:28:17,029 --> 00:28:14,000 common sense in our region the far north 689 00:28:18,950 --> 00:28:17,039 coast of new south wales this area 690 00:28:21,990 --> 00:28:18,960 famous for its natural beauty and 691 00:28:25,110 --> 00:28:22,000 relaxed lifestyle also has the lowest 692 00:28:27,430 --> 00:28:25,120 rates of vaccination in australia 693 00:28:29,990 --> 00:28:27,440 we are out to change that by challenging 694 00:28:31,830 --> 00:28:30,000 the myths and misinformation and by 695 00:28:34,470 --> 00:28:31,840 providing good evidence-based 696 00:28:36,389 --> 00:28:34,480 information to the community 697 00:28:39,510 --> 00:28:36,399 we'd love for you no matter where you 698 00:28:41,750 --> 00:28:39,520 are in the world to join our fight 699 00:28:47,269 --> 00:28:41,760 please visit our webpage 700 00:28:50,470 --> 00:28:48,870 we also have a link there to our 701 00:28:52,110 --> 00:28:50,480 facebook page 702 00:28:55,510 --> 00:28:52,120 tweet us at 703 00:28:57,510 --> 00:28:55,520 nrvax supporters that's vax 704 00:28:59,669 --> 00:28:57,520 and check us out on wikipedia by 705 00:29:01,750 --> 00:28:59,679 searching for northern rivers 706 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:01,760 vaccination supporters 707 00:29:22,950 --> 00:29:20,950 [Music] 708 00:29:25,789 --> 00:29:22,960 yes it's time once again to look into 709 00:29:27,830 --> 00:29:25,799 those archives at trove at 710 00:29:29,510 --> 00:29:27,840 trove.nla.gov dot a u the online 711 00:29:31,590 --> 00:29:29,520 resource for australian digitized 712 00:29:33,750 --> 00:29:31,600 newspapers and periodicals and gazettes 713 00:29:34,950 --> 00:29:33,760 and magazines and 714 00:29:37,669 --> 00:29:34,960 menus 715 00:29:38,789 --> 00:29:37,679 it's just about everything you can 716 00:29:41,269 --> 00:29:38,799 imagine 717 00:29:45,029 --> 00:29:41,279 fully searchable going back decades and 718 00:29:47,909 --> 00:29:45,039 decades and decades and we've certainly 719 00:29:49,430 --> 00:29:47,919 discovered many many interesting things 720 00:29:51,990 --> 00:29:49,440 over the months here 721 00:29:53,430 --> 00:29:52,000 in the trove segment but today i thought 722 00:29:55,510 --> 00:29:53,440 we would visit 723 00:29:57,990 --> 00:29:55,520 revisit visit 724 00:30:01,510 --> 00:29:58,000 something that i haven't been to for a 725 00:30:03,990 --> 00:30:01,520 while owing to the pandemic and that is 726 00:30:07,110 --> 00:30:04,000 the festival of mind 727 00:30:08,389 --> 00:30:07,120 body spirit or of course as the skeptics 728 00:30:11,950 --> 00:30:08,399 refer to it 729 00:30:18,389 --> 00:30:15,830 [Music] 730 00:30:20,470 --> 00:30:18,399 now i've been visiting this festival 731 00:30:23,110 --> 00:30:20,480 well roughly every six months for almost 732 00:30:26,789 --> 00:30:23,120 20 years well until recently of course 733 00:30:29,590 --> 00:30:26,799 and i have learned a great deal a great 734 00:30:32,630 --> 00:30:29,600 deal by visiting the psychic fairs and 735 00:30:33,990 --> 00:30:32,640 expos and so on i've reported on many of 736 00:30:37,029 --> 00:30:34,000 them in the pages of the skeptic 737 00:30:38,549 --> 00:30:37,039 magazine and here on the skeptic zone 738 00:30:40,230 --> 00:30:38,559 and over the years it's been a great 739 00:30:41,350 --> 00:30:40,240 social opportunity to meet up with other 740 00:30:44,549 --> 00:30:41,360 skeptics 741 00:30:46,630 --> 00:30:44,559 wander around and learn what's going on 742 00:30:48,470 --> 00:30:46,640 in the alternative world 743 00:30:51,669 --> 00:30:48,480 and we've uncovered 744 00:30:53,110 --> 00:30:51,679 our fair share of scams and cons along 745 00:30:55,110 --> 00:30:53,120 the way 746 00:30:57,590 --> 00:30:55,120 so let's dive into those archives and 747 00:31:02,710 --> 00:30:57,600 see what we can find in the history of 748 00:31:08,070 --> 00:31:04,789 and our first entry comes from monday 749 00:31:09,909 --> 00:31:08,080 the 4th of september 1995. 750 00:31:11,669 --> 00:31:09,919 from the canberra times 751 00:31:14,070 --> 00:31:11,679 psychic affair 752 00:31:15,750 --> 00:31:14,080 sears rub auras 753 00:31:18,710 --> 00:31:15,760 with skeptics 754 00:31:19,830 --> 00:31:18,720 and this is a story by chris orman 755 00:31:22,789 --> 00:31:19,840 somehow 756 00:31:25,669 --> 00:31:22,799 the scene was eerily familiar 757 00:31:28,630 --> 00:31:25,679 albert hall seethed with spiritual 758 00:31:29,590 --> 00:31:28,640 healers clairvoyance tarot card and palm 759 00:31:31,909 --> 00:31:29,600 readers 760 00:31:33,509 --> 00:31:31,919 aura photographers naturopaths and a 761 00:31:35,750 --> 00:31:33,519 myriad of 762 00:31:38,470 --> 00:31:35,760 other world prophets 763 00:31:42,389 --> 00:31:38,480 and new age healers at yesterday's 16th 764 00:31:43,909 --> 00:31:42,399 annual spiritual and psychic fair 765 00:31:47,350 --> 00:31:43,919 they were not alone 766 00:31:49,110 --> 00:31:47,360 canberra's credulous and curious were 767 00:31:51,990 --> 00:31:49,120 out in droves 768 00:31:54,950 --> 00:31:52,000 last year the fair pulled 2 000 people 769 00:31:57,990 --> 00:31:54,960 despite a minor scheduling hiccup no one 770 00:31:59,669 --> 00:31:58,000 had foreseen this event clashing with 771 00:32:03,509 --> 00:31:59,679 grand final day 772 00:32:06,710 --> 00:32:03,519 alas so thick was the lunchtime crush 773 00:32:09,269 --> 00:32:06,720 around the psychics card tables that it 774 00:32:11,909 --> 00:32:09,279 was impossible to break in to ask for a 775 00:32:14,389 --> 00:32:11,919 quick reading on a list of test 776 00:32:16,630 --> 00:32:14,399 questions being circulated 777 00:32:18,149 --> 00:32:16,640 by canberra skeptics 778 00:32:20,470 --> 00:32:18,159 among some quite 779 00:32:23,110 --> 00:32:20,480 predictable questions in the skeptics 780 00:32:25,990 --> 00:32:23,120 prediction challenge 781 00:32:28,870 --> 00:32:26,000 was the tantalizing quote 782 00:32:32,149 --> 00:32:28,880 will carmen lawrence be forced to stand 783 00:32:35,110 --> 00:32:32,159 down end quote alas we shall just have 784 00:32:36,870 --> 00:32:35,120 to wait and see 785 00:32:38,470 --> 00:32:36,880 near the front door 786 00:32:41,909 --> 00:32:38,480 the aura photographers were doing a 787 00:32:43,430 --> 00:32:41,919 brisk trade at 25 a snap including 788 00:32:45,590 --> 00:32:43,440 reading 789 00:32:47,750 --> 00:32:45,600 customers sat on a chair and placed 790 00:32:50,549 --> 00:32:47,760 their hands on a machine called 791 00:32:51,990 --> 00:32:50,559 an aura spectrometer 792 00:32:54,389 --> 00:32:52,000 six thousand 793 00:32:56,310 --> 00:32:54,399 while their pictures were taken 794 00:32:59,269 --> 00:32:56,320 for their money believers were given 795 00:33:01,990 --> 00:32:59,279 what looked like a badly exposed 796 00:33:04,789 --> 00:33:02,000 polaroid and then someone explained what 797 00:33:06,149 --> 00:33:04,799 the lured swirls of color about their 798 00:33:08,310 --> 00:33:06,159 heads meant 799 00:33:10,870 --> 00:33:08,320 unable to quiz the seers there was 800 00:33:13,669 --> 00:33:10,880 nothing to do but browse the wares and 801 00:33:15,990 --> 00:33:13,679 services on sale at the stalls the 802 00:33:17,430 --> 00:33:16,000 donation brought you a quick bit of 803 00:33:19,110 --> 00:33:17,440 spiritual healing 804 00:33:21,750 --> 00:33:19,120 for a few dollars more you could get 805 00:33:24,870 --> 00:33:21,760 what to the untrained eye look like the 806 00:33:28,789 --> 00:33:24,880 same thing but lying down there was an 807 00:33:32,070 --> 00:33:28,799 astounding variety of crystals potions 808 00:33:35,590 --> 00:33:32,080 meditative cds and dolphin posters the 809 00:33:37,509 --> 00:33:35,600 prize for stop you in your tracks impact 810 00:33:39,029 --> 00:33:37,519 went to the store selling 811 00:33:40,070 --> 00:33:39,039 unicorn milk 812 00:33:42,070 --> 00:33:40,080 and 813 00:33:44,710 --> 00:33:42,080 mermaid essence 814 00:33:47,269 --> 00:33:44,720 unfortunately the storeholders answers 815 00:33:48,549 --> 00:33:47,279 to the obvious questions was 816 00:33:51,750 --> 00:33:48,559 mundane 817 00:33:53,669 --> 00:33:51,760 no we do not have a unicorn tied up out 818 00:33:56,070 --> 00:33:53,679 the back she said 819 00:33:59,830 --> 00:33:56,080 unicorn milk turns out to be a mixture 820 00:34:02,310 --> 00:33:59,840 of soothing oils and no mermaid essence 821 00:34:04,789 --> 00:34:02,320 is not what you get when you run a few 822 00:34:06,630 --> 00:34:04,799 of them through a blender it's another 823 00:34:07,830 --> 00:34:06,640 concoction of oils with special 824 00:34:11,109 --> 00:34:07,840 properties 825 00:34:13,909 --> 00:34:11,119 the storeholder laura manning is a 826 00:34:16,550 --> 00:34:13,919 full-time sydney aromatherapist who 827 00:34:18,710 --> 00:34:16,560 sells products for a queensland company 828 00:34:21,030 --> 00:34:18,720 dragon's parlor 829 00:34:22,389 --> 00:34:21,040 she said the names for the oils were 830 00:34:24,389 --> 00:34:22,399 designed to be 831 00:34:25,589 --> 00:34:24,399 interesting and to appeal to people's 832 00:34:27,349 --> 00:34:25,599 sense of fun 833 00:34:30,550 --> 00:34:27,359 unicorns milk sounds a lot more 834 00:34:32,030 --> 00:34:30,560 interesting than relaxation oil she said 835 00:34:34,869 --> 00:34:32,040 so it does 836 00:34:39,030 --> 00:34:34,879 alongside the aura photographers was a 837 00:34:40,149 --> 00:34:39,040 table manned by harold w titza of burma 838 00:34:41,990 --> 00:34:40,159 gui 839 00:34:44,310 --> 00:34:42,000 he was flogging a range of 840 00:34:46,869 --> 00:34:44,320 self-published titles including 841 00:34:48,710 --> 00:34:46,879 the miracle fungus which he said had 842 00:34:51,109 --> 00:34:48,720 sold ninety thousand copies in the past 843 00:34:53,909 --> 00:34:51,119 fourteen months according to one of mr 844 00:34:57,430 --> 00:34:53,919 teacher's flyers the fungus in question 845 00:34:59,430 --> 00:34:57,440 kombucha can be brewed at home and is 846 00:35:02,150 --> 00:34:59,440 apparently very good for you although 847 00:35:03,990 --> 00:35:02,160 the flyer says much of what is written 848 00:35:06,630 --> 00:35:04,000 about the fungus includes 849 00:35:08,550 --> 00:35:06,640 nonsense information half truths or even 850 00:35:10,870 --> 00:35:08,560 dangerous statements 851 00:35:13,109 --> 00:35:10,880 so in case you were wondering there is 852 00:35:15,190 --> 00:35:13,119 no proof that you can get pregnant 853 00:35:17,270 --> 00:35:15,200 without seeing a male 854 00:35:18,230 --> 00:35:17,280 just by drinking kombucha 855 00:35:19,670 --> 00:35:18,240 but 856 00:35:20,950 --> 00:35:19,680 you never know 857 00:35:22,870 --> 00:35:20,960 now that's very interesting when was 858 00:35:25,589 --> 00:35:22,880 that 1995 859 00:35:27,670 --> 00:35:25,599 and in my 20 years or so of experience 860 00:35:30,310 --> 00:35:27,680 it going to mind body wallet nothing has 861 00:35:32,150 --> 00:35:30,320 changed you'd still see the same sort of 862 00:35:33,109 --> 00:35:32,160 things especially the aura camera which 863 00:35:34,950 --> 00:35:33,119 has been 864 00:35:36,390 --> 00:35:34,960 doing the rounds for years and years and 865 00:35:37,829 --> 00:35:36,400 years and years 866 00:35:39,829 --> 00:35:37,839 and uh 867 00:35:42,630 --> 00:35:39,839 i would hope most people simply treat it 868 00:35:44,550 --> 00:35:42,640 as a bit of silly fun 869 00:35:45,589 --> 00:35:44,560 but that's interesting the skeptics at 870 00:35:49,190 --> 00:35:45,599 the time 871 00:35:50,950 --> 00:35:49,200 had a prediction challenge hmm i'd be 872 00:35:53,190 --> 00:35:50,960 curious to see 873 00:35:54,710 --> 00:35:53,200 what that challenge involved what the 874 00:35:56,790 --> 00:35:54,720 questions were 875 00:35:59,750 --> 00:35:56,800 and next we find an entry in the 876 00:36:03,349 --> 00:35:59,760 riverina herald from echuca victoria 877 00:36:04,550 --> 00:36:03,359 dated the 5th of april 1999 a few years 878 00:36:07,589 --> 00:36:04,560 later 879 00:36:10,390 --> 00:36:07,599 psychic fair this weekend 880 00:36:13,589 --> 00:36:10,400 pegasus psychic fares will be in echuca 881 00:36:16,710 --> 00:36:13,599 from friday april 9 to sunday april 11 882 00:36:18,550 --> 00:36:16,720 inclusive at paramount arts center in 883 00:36:21,750 --> 00:36:18,560 hair street 884 00:36:24,150 --> 00:36:21,760 jeffrey john roger and mark riley have 885 00:36:27,430 --> 00:36:24,160 traveled extensively with their fares 886 00:36:29,030 --> 00:36:27,440 and now have put their own touch into 887 00:36:31,349 --> 00:36:29,040 pegasus fares 888 00:36:33,190 --> 00:36:31,359 two events have been held at warrenbull 889 00:36:35,430 --> 00:36:33,200 and madura 890 00:36:36,630 --> 00:36:35,440 and echuca promises to be just as 891 00:36:39,589 --> 00:36:36,640 successful 892 00:36:41,750 --> 00:36:39,599 pegasus fares as far as possible uses 893 00:36:44,550 --> 00:36:41,760 readers and storeholders from the local 894 00:36:46,870 --> 00:36:44,560 area thereby providing a wide exposure 895 00:36:48,790 --> 00:36:46,880 for them in our own community 896 00:36:50,950 --> 00:36:48,800 organizers anticipate two or three 897 00:36:52,790 --> 00:36:50,960 people from echuca area will be at the 898 00:36:55,109 --> 00:36:52,800 fair with others coming from adelaide 899 00:36:57,990 --> 00:36:55,119 melbourne and other victorian country 900 00:36:59,910 --> 00:36:58,000 areas a wide variety of readers will be 901 00:37:02,710 --> 00:36:59,920 present including tarot readers 902 00:37:05,750 --> 00:37:02,720 astrologers and palmists as well as new 903 00:37:08,790 --> 00:37:05,760 age books cds crystals and other new age 904 00:37:11,190 --> 00:37:08,800 products free workshops will also be 905 00:37:14,069 --> 00:37:11,200 held during each day a photography 906 00:37:20,310 --> 00:37:14,079 exhibition featuring landscapes by the 907 00:37:25,349 --> 00:37:23,190 and this reminds me of the smaller 908 00:37:27,990 --> 00:37:25,359 mind-body wallet affairs and i've 909 00:37:31,190 --> 00:37:28,000 certainly been too many of those 910 00:37:33,349 --> 00:37:31,200 they seem to pop up in the past 20 years 911 00:37:36,150 --> 00:37:33,359 at least in um 912 00:37:37,990 --> 00:37:36,160 local clubs what we call the rsl clubs 913 00:37:39,910 --> 00:37:38,000 or the services clubs or the leagues 914 00:37:41,510 --> 00:37:39,920 clubs or something like that 915 00:37:43,270 --> 00:37:41,520 australian listeners 916 00:37:44,950 --> 00:37:43,280 will know what i mean 917 00:37:47,349 --> 00:37:44,960 and now here's an entry from the times 918 00:37:51,829 --> 00:37:47,359 of victor harbour in south australia 919 00:37:54,630 --> 00:37:51,839 dated the 11th of february 1999. 920 00:37:58,550 --> 00:37:54,640 health and harmony fair 921 00:38:02,230 --> 00:37:58,560 is being held at pioneer hall at 922 00:38:03,990 --> 00:38:02,240 middleton on february 20 and 21. 923 00:38:06,470 --> 00:38:04,000 this year's fair is shaping up as an 924 00:38:08,390 --> 00:38:06,480 all-encompassing festival of mind body 925 00:38:10,310 --> 00:38:08,400 and spirit it will feature free 926 00:38:11,349 --> 00:38:10,320 workshops music indoor and outdoor 927 00:38:13,910 --> 00:38:11,359 stalls 928 00:38:16,310 --> 00:38:13,920 numerous healing mediums and a large 929 00:38:19,270 --> 00:38:16,320 variety of practitioners readings 930 00:38:20,870 --> 00:38:19,280 crystals demonstrations and a cafe will 931 00:38:23,430 --> 00:38:20,880 be available as well 932 00:38:26,069 --> 00:38:23,440 a ticket for the day is only 933 00:38:27,910 --> 00:38:26,079 three dollars and a ticket for both days 934 00:38:30,550 --> 00:38:27,920 is five dollars 935 00:38:33,270 --> 00:38:30,560 children under 12 are free everyone is 936 00:38:35,109 --> 00:38:33,280 invited to attend and share the healing 937 00:38:39,910 --> 00:38:35,119 energies 938 00:38:41,750 --> 00:38:39,920 and now we come to the riverina herald 939 00:38:43,190 --> 00:38:41,760 echuca victoria 940 00:38:47,750 --> 00:38:43,200 dated 941 00:38:50,870 --> 00:38:47,760 the 31st of may 1999 so many entries 942 00:38:52,310 --> 00:38:50,880 this week from 1999 in a section called 943 00:38:56,950 --> 00:38:52,320 the melting pot 944 00:38:59,750 --> 00:38:56,960 change your life 945 00:39:02,550 --> 00:38:59,760 discover the unique powers of tribal 946 00:39:04,790 --> 00:39:02,560 medicine taste the juice of the noni 947 00:39:07,750 --> 00:39:04,800 plant and have your tarot read or 948 00:39:11,589 --> 00:39:07,760 discover the power of kinesiology 949 00:39:13,589 --> 00:39:11,599 the 1999 mind body spirit festival 950 00:39:15,510 --> 00:39:13,599 is just around the corner and this 951 00:39:17,190 --> 00:39:15,520 year's event promises to be the most 952 00:39:20,230 --> 00:39:17,200 varied entertaining 953 00:39:23,990 --> 00:39:20,240 and enlightening to date 954 00:39:26,790 --> 00:39:24,000 i think it's a pretty low bar 955 00:39:29,030 --> 00:39:26,800 more than 170 exhibitors will come 956 00:39:32,710 --> 00:39:29,040 together for four days at the melbourne 957 00:39:35,750 --> 00:39:32,720 exhibition center from june 11 to 14 958 00:39:38,069 --> 00:39:35,760 for celebration and education 959 00:39:41,910 --> 00:39:38,079 as we head towards the new millennium 960 00:39:44,950 --> 00:39:41,920 australians become more and more aware 961 00:39:46,790 --> 00:39:44,960 and intrigued by alternative medicines 962 00:39:50,150 --> 00:39:46,800 the study and practice of ancient 963 00:39:51,430 --> 00:39:50,160 remedies plus the power of the mind over 964 00:39:54,069 --> 00:39:51,440 body 965 00:39:56,910 --> 00:39:54,079 in our search for knowledge and meaning 966 00:40:00,230 --> 00:39:56,920 clairvoyance reiki practitioners 967 00:40:03,990 --> 00:40:00,240 aromatherapists hypnotists masseuse 968 00:40:06,470 --> 00:40:04,000 educators and psychologists among others 969 00:40:08,470 --> 00:40:06,480 are responding to this quest for 970 00:40:11,190 --> 00:40:08,480 knowledge and the mind body spirit 971 00:40:12,550 --> 00:40:11,200 festival allows the public to experience 972 00:40:15,270 --> 00:40:12,560 first hand 973 00:40:16,870 --> 00:40:15,280 many of the products and practitioners 974 00:40:19,750 --> 00:40:16,880 they are interested in 975 00:40:22,309 --> 00:40:19,760 demonstrations lectures music referral 976 00:40:24,790 --> 00:40:22,319 services and education information can 977 00:40:27,190 --> 00:40:24,800 be found along with great tasting 978 00:40:29,030 --> 00:40:27,200 healthy foods and beverages 979 00:40:31,270 --> 00:40:29,040 and i'll just stop here to say yes over 980 00:40:34,390 --> 00:40:31,280 the years at mind body wallet i have 981 00:40:38,150 --> 00:40:34,400 certainly enjoyed lots of yummy food 982 00:40:40,710 --> 00:40:38,160 and bought my fair share of things like 983 00:40:42,230 --> 00:40:40,720 hot sauces and things like that so it's 984 00:40:43,910 --> 00:40:42,240 not all woo 985 00:40:45,829 --> 00:40:43,920 a highlight of the festival is the 986 00:40:48,550 --> 00:40:45,839 renowned lectures and workshops which 987 00:40:50,870 --> 00:40:48,560 sees the industry experts impart their 988 00:40:53,510 --> 00:40:50,880 knowledge on topics such as 989 00:40:56,710 --> 00:40:53,520 qigong chinese art of healing or a 990 00:40:59,829 --> 00:40:56,720 reading psychological blockages positive 991 00:41:03,670 --> 00:40:59,839 parenting aromatherapy spirituality 992 00:41:05,349 --> 00:41:03,680 self-empowerment relationships feng shui 993 00:41:09,109 --> 00:41:05,359 plus many more 994 00:41:11,349 --> 00:41:09,119 visit the 1999 mind body spirit festival 995 00:41:13,670 --> 00:41:11,359 rejuvenate your spirit improve your 996 00:41:17,190 --> 00:41:13,680 health and have a great time 997 00:41:18,870 --> 00:41:17,200 special door prizes valued at 2 000 998 00:41:21,430 --> 00:41:18,880 are another reason to treat your body 999 00:41:24,150 --> 00:41:21,440 and soul one thousand dollars worth of 1000 00:41:27,109 --> 00:41:24,160 bounty essentials aromatherapy products 1001 00:41:30,069 --> 00:41:27,119 plus a chance to experience a hepburn 1002 00:41:31,829 --> 00:41:30,079 spa resort escape also valued at one 1003 00:41:34,470 --> 00:41:31,839 thousand dollars will be on offer as 1004 00:41:36,550 --> 00:41:34,480 well as course discounts free books and 1005 00:41:39,030 --> 00:41:36,560 tapes free massages 1006 00:41:41,349 --> 00:41:39,040 and much much more 1007 00:41:44,230 --> 00:41:41,359 you may discover a past you never knew 1008 00:41:47,349 --> 00:41:44,240 or a future you never dreamt of the show 1009 00:41:50,470 --> 00:41:47,359 is on friday june 11 from 10 am until 10 1010 00:41:54,069 --> 00:41:50,480 pm and saturday sunday and monday 1011 00:41:57,349 --> 00:41:54,079 queen's birthday from 10 am to 7 pm 1012 00:41:59,030 --> 00:41:57,359 it costs 12 for adults while children 1013 00:42:00,870 --> 00:41:59,040 under 14 are free 1014 00:42:03,069 --> 00:42:00,880 for more information contact the 1015 00:42:04,630 --> 00:42:03,079 festival hotline on 1016 00:42:06,430 --> 00:42:04,640 1900 1017 00:42:08,309 --> 00:42:06,440 931 1018 00:42:11,270 --> 00:42:08,319 798 1019 00:42:13,510 --> 00:42:11,280 the riverina herald melting pot has five 1020 00:42:15,589 --> 00:42:13,520 double passes to the mind body spirit 1021 00:42:17,990 --> 00:42:15,599 festival to give away 1022 00:42:20,150 --> 00:42:18,000 to be in the running to win simply cut 1023 00:42:23,349 --> 00:42:20,160 out the melting pot banner on the top of 1024 00:42:25,349 --> 00:42:23,359 this page remember to include the date 1025 00:42:27,910 --> 00:42:25,359 and send it to 1026 00:42:31,030 --> 00:42:27,920 the riverina herald melting pot po box 1027 00:42:33,910 --> 00:42:31,040 21 echuca 3564 1028 00:42:36,390 --> 00:42:33,920 or drop it into the office at 270 hair 1029 00:42:38,790 --> 00:42:36,400 street echuca remember to include your 1030 00:42:41,990 --> 00:42:38,800 name address and telephone number 1031 00:42:45,670 --> 00:42:42,000 entries close midday friday june 4. 1032 00:42:48,309 --> 00:42:45,680 i wonder if anybody applied i wonder 1033 00:42:50,870 --> 00:42:48,319 and finally we dip right back right back 1034 00:42:53,750 --> 00:42:50,880 to the year 1980 1035 00:42:56,829 --> 00:42:53,760 from the australian woman's weekly 1036 00:42:59,750 --> 00:42:56,839 on uh the 1st of 1037 00:43:02,069 --> 00:42:59,760 october and it's just one of the search 1038 00:43:04,630 --> 00:43:02,079 results that came back when i 1039 00:43:05,670 --> 00:43:04,640 ran my inquiry 1040 00:43:08,150 --> 00:43:05,680 psychic 1041 00:43:10,950 --> 00:43:08,160 with a drawing board 1042 00:43:13,670 --> 00:43:10,960 coral polge is a psychic 1043 00:43:16,710 --> 00:43:13,680 she says that by sitting down with you 1044 00:43:19,109 --> 00:43:16,720 saying a short prayer and squeezing your 1045 00:43:22,710 --> 00:43:19,119 hands tightly she can contact someone 1046 00:43:23,829 --> 00:43:22,720 who was close to you but who is now 1047 00:43:25,430 --> 00:43:23,839 dead 1048 00:43:28,309 --> 00:43:25,440 what makes her different from most 1049 00:43:31,190 --> 00:43:28,319 mediums is that she will then draw a 1050 00:43:33,109 --> 00:43:31,200 picture of the person she has contacted 1051 00:43:34,870 --> 00:43:33,119 she is in so much demand in london that 1052 00:43:37,109 --> 00:43:34,880 you have to wait six months for an 1053 00:43:39,270 --> 00:43:37,119 appointment with her in october she is 1054 00:43:42,030 --> 00:43:39,280 coming to australia for six weeks at the 1055 00:43:44,390 --> 00:43:42,040 invitation of the victorian 1056 00:43:47,030 --> 00:43:44,400 spiritualists union 1057 00:43:49,670 --> 00:43:47,040 i don't ask my subject any questions 1058 00:43:51,910 --> 00:43:49,680 coral says i don't want to know anything 1059 00:43:53,750 --> 00:43:51,920 about them but when i concentrate if 1060 00:43:56,550 --> 00:43:53,760 there is somebody there who wants to 1061 00:43:57,990 --> 00:43:56,560 make contact i begin to draw i don't 1062 00:44:00,069 --> 00:43:58,000 know who i'm drawing until i have 1063 00:44:02,309 --> 00:44:00,079 finished the picture if the person 1064 00:44:04,950 --> 00:44:02,319 recognizes it and if it is particularly 1065 00:44:08,069 --> 00:44:04,960 accurate then there is usually a very 1066 00:44:10,309 --> 00:44:08,079 emotional moment for both of us coral 1067 00:44:12,069 --> 00:44:10,319 emphasizes that she cannot communicate 1068 00:44:15,829 --> 00:44:12,079 further than drawing 1069 00:44:18,069 --> 00:44:15,839 she dismisses criticism as unfair 1070 00:44:20,150 --> 00:44:18,079 if a spirit wants to make contact with 1071 00:44:23,670 --> 00:44:20,160 you then it seems perfectly natural to 1072 00:44:26,710 --> 00:44:23,680 me we are all spirits she said and we 1073 00:44:29,670 --> 00:44:26,720 wear a disguise which is a body for part 1074 00:44:32,630 --> 00:44:29,680 of our existence when we die that 1075 00:44:35,030 --> 00:44:32,640 disguise our body goes but our spirit 1076 00:44:37,190 --> 00:44:35,040 does not this spirit is invisible to 1077 00:44:39,829 --> 00:44:37,200 most people but there are some and i am 1078 00:44:42,069 --> 00:44:39,839 one who can communicate with them if i 1079 00:44:44,390 --> 00:44:42,079 can put you in touch with somebody you 1080 00:44:46,309 --> 00:44:44,400 have loved and make you aware that they 1081 00:44:49,670 --> 00:44:46,319 want to make contact with you it can 1082 00:44:50,870 --> 00:44:49,680 only give a feeling of love and comfort 1083 00:44:53,109 --> 00:44:50,880 to you 1084 00:44:55,430 --> 00:44:53,119 and that is good enough reason for my 1085 00:44:59,190 --> 00:44:55,440 work coral's only public appearance will 1086 00:45:02,790 --> 00:44:59,200 be at q civic center kotham road q 1087 00:45:06,309 --> 00:45:02,800 melbourne on october 23 at 8 pm 1088 00:45:08,390 --> 00:45:06,319 november 7 at 8 p.m and november 19 at 8 1089 00:45:09,990 --> 00:45:08,400 pm admission 1090 00:45:12,370 --> 00:45:10,000 6. 1091 00:45:16,470 --> 00:45:12,380 i wonder what ever happened to her 1092 00:45:18,870 --> 00:45:16,480 [Music] 1093 00:45:21,349 --> 00:45:18,880 well there you go just a brief dip 1094 00:45:23,670 --> 00:45:21,359 our toe we dipped our toe and a bit of 1095 00:45:26,069 --> 00:45:23,680 our foot into the waters of trove 1096 00:45:29,270 --> 00:45:26,079 and we saw some of the references to the 1097 00:45:31,670 --> 00:45:29,280 mind body spirit festival and 1098 00:45:35,240 --> 00:45:31,680 with that last one sort of sort of a 1099 00:45:40,390 --> 00:45:37,670 [Music] 1100 00:45:42,390 --> 00:45:40,400 yes once the pandemic is over i look 1101 00:45:44,550 --> 00:45:42,400 forward oddly enough to going back to 1102 00:45:47,030 --> 00:45:44,560 mind body spirit festivals 1103 00:45:49,030 --> 00:45:47,040 because i never know 1104 00:45:51,589 --> 00:45:49,040 what i might find 1105 00:45:52,870 --> 00:45:51,599 just as in trove have a look and you'll 1106 00:45:55,840 --> 00:45:52,880 never know 1107 00:46:15,960 --> 00:45:55,850 what you might find 1108 00:46:19,510 --> 00:46:17,829 [Applause] 1109 00:46:21,190 --> 00:46:19,520 thank you for listening to the skeptic 1110 00:46:22,630 --> 00:46:21,200 zone this week and if you're listening 1111 00:46:24,390 --> 00:46:22,640 to the skeptic zone 1112 00:46:26,150 --> 00:46:24,400 just when it comes out tomorrow night 1113 00:46:29,349 --> 00:46:26,160 here in australia 1114 00:46:31,589 --> 00:46:29,359 i'll be talking live on zoom for the 1115 00:46:34,950 --> 00:46:31,599 gold coast skeptics my talk about 1116 00:46:37,190 --> 00:46:34,960 strange energy and strange devices 1117 00:46:38,150 --> 00:46:37,200 uh follow the link in this week's show 1118 00:46:39,990 --> 00:46:38,160 notes 1119 00:46:43,190 --> 00:46:40,000 and you can register 1120 00:46:44,470 --> 00:46:43,200 and check out that talk all about orgon 1121 00:46:46,069 --> 00:46:44,480 energy 1122 00:46:48,390 --> 00:46:46,079 and uh 1123 00:46:50,309 --> 00:46:48,400 scalar energy 1124 00:46:53,829 --> 00:46:50,319 the power balance 1125 00:46:56,309 --> 00:46:53,839 uh fiasco of about 10 years ago and a 1126 00:46:59,829 --> 00:46:56,319 more updated example of people using 1127 00:47:00,870 --> 00:46:59,839 applied kinesiology tricks to sell 1128 00:47:02,710 --> 00:47:00,880 products 1129 00:47:04,069 --> 00:47:02,720 now i'm looking forward to that tomorrow 1130 00:47:05,910 --> 00:47:04,079 night here in australia which will be 1131 00:47:06,950 --> 00:47:05,920 monday night here in australia 1132 00:47:08,150 --> 00:47:06,960 or 1133 00:47:09,990 --> 00:47:08,160 it will be 1134 00:47:11,190 --> 00:47:10,000 uh 1135 00:47:13,510 --> 00:47:11,200 sunday 1136 00:47:15,750 --> 00:47:13,520 in north america or check your local 1137 00:47:17,510 --> 00:47:15,760 time zones for um 1138 00:47:19,109 --> 00:47:17,520 time zones 1139 00:47:20,470 --> 00:47:19,119 thank you to those people who continue 1140 00:47:22,230 --> 00:47:20,480 to support the skeptic zone at 1141 00:47:25,030 --> 00:47:22,240 skepticzone.tv 1142 00:47:27,349 --> 00:47:25,040 by a patreon or paypal 1143 00:47:29,390 --> 00:47:27,359 and you can also support the skeptic 1144 00:47:31,510 --> 00:47:29,400 zone by visiting 1145 00:47:33,910 --> 00:47:31,520 www.skepticzone.tv scrolling to the 1146 00:47:37,510 --> 00:47:33,920 bottom of the page 1147 00:47:38,950 --> 00:47:37,520 and buying an eprint an e-copy of one of 1148 00:47:43,430 --> 00:47:38,960 my 1149 00:47:45,109 --> 00:47:43,440 photography scroll to the bottom of the 1150 00:47:48,309 --> 00:47:45,119 page and have a look 1151 00:47:50,069 --> 00:47:48,319 and you'll also notice there a few free 1152 00:47:52,710 --> 00:47:50,079 samples you can just simply download 1153 00:47:54,710 --> 00:47:52,720 print out put on the wall and 1154 00:47:57,589 --> 00:47:54,720 well there you go 1155 00:47:59,910 --> 00:47:57,599 and they include pegasus the flying pig 1156 00:48:04,150 --> 00:47:59,920 the origami pig i invented at the 1157 00:48:05,589 --> 00:48:04,160 request of james randy way back in 2007 1158 00:48:07,910 --> 00:48:05,599 and incidentally every now and then on 1159 00:48:11,349 --> 00:48:07,920 the skeptic zone you may hear 1160 00:48:13,510 --> 00:48:11,359 uh a promo in japanese 1161 00:48:15,349 --> 00:48:13,520 in japanese and that is talking all 1162 00:48:16,549 --> 00:48:15,359 about the fact that you can download 1163 00:48:18,069 --> 00:48:16,559 those pictures 1164 00:48:20,549 --> 00:48:18,079 and that lovely voice you're hearing 1165 00:48:22,870 --> 00:48:20,559 doing the japanese is none other than 1166 00:48:24,150 --> 00:48:22,880 our reporter michelle bigesma hello 1167 00:48:26,069 --> 00:48:24,160 michelle 1168 00:48:27,589 --> 00:48:26,079 coming up on next week's show more of 1169 00:48:29,910 --> 00:48:27,599 the book of tim 1170 00:48:32,309 --> 00:48:29,920 and well we'll just have to see and that 1171 00:48:35,190 --> 00:48:32,319 will be show 699 1172 00:48:38,230 --> 00:48:35,200 on the 27th of february so that means 1173 00:48:40,309 --> 00:48:38,240 it's almost it's almost 700 episodes of 1174 00:48:42,870 --> 00:48:40,319 the skeptic zone i don't have anything 1175 00:48:45,190 --> 00:48:42,880 special lined up i'll see what the next 1176 00:48:48,549 --> 00:48:45,200 uh week might bring 1177 00:48:52,630 --> 00:48:48,559 but yeah the skeptic zone will soon be 1178 00:48:54,630 --> 00:48:52,640 uh celebrating 700 episodes 1179 00:48:57,510 --> 00:48:54,640 but for this week this is richard 1180 00:49:03,030 --> 00:48:57,520 saunders signing off once again from 1181 00:49:06,230 --> 00:49:04,790 you've been listening to the skeptic 1182 00:49:07,670 --> 00:49:06,240 zone podcast 1183 00:49:10,790 --> 00:49:07,680 please visit our website at 1184 00:49:16,470 --> 00:49:13,910 for show notes contacts and to access 1185 00:49:18,630 --> 00:49:16,480 the back catalog of episodes going back 1186 00:49:20,630 --> 00:49:18,640 to 2008. 1187 00:49:23,349 --> 00:49:20,640 you can follow the skepticzone podcast 1188 00:49:25,510 --> 00:49:23,359 on twitter at skepticzone 1189 00:49:27,750 --> 00:49:25,520 visit our facebook page or leave a 1190 00:49:29,910 --> 00:49:27,760 review on itunes 1191 00:49:33,109 --> 00:49:29,920 you can also support the skeptic zone 1192 00:49:36,230 --> 00:49:33,119 via patreon or paypal the skeptic zone 1193 00:49:38,069 --> 00:49:36,240 podcast is an independent production 1194 00:49:40,390 --> 00:49:38,079 the views and opinions expressed on the 1195 00:49:42,870 --> 00:49:40,400 skeptic zone are not necessarily those 1196 00:49:44,530 --> 00:49:42,880 of australian skeptics or any other 1197 00:49:57,589 --> 00:49:44,540 skeptical organization 1198 00:50:12,710 --> 00:49:59,190 well the kookaburras think it's funny 1199 00:50:17,750 --> 00:50:14,230 you gotta laugh 1200 00:50:18,630 --> 00:50:17,760 they're supposed to be in the morning i 1201 00:50:26,870 --> 00:50:18,640 think 1202 00:50:28,549 --> 00:50:26,880 just flew down somewhere 1203 00:50:30,549 --> 00:50:28,559 oh yeah well i've got a little lizard 1204 00:50:31,750 --> 00:50:30,559 here that tries to get in the window 1205 00:50:34,470 --> 00:50:31,760 especially interested in the cricket 1206 00:50:37,910 --> 00:50:36,309 some people say australia doesn't exist 1207 00:50:41,829 --> 00:50:37,920 you know i know they will yeah that's 1208 00:50:44,710 --> 00:50:41,839 what cookable that's true okay 1209 00:50:47,190 --> 00:50:44,720 oh shut up 1210 00:50:49,109 --> 00:50:47,200 you're recording this aren't you yes 1211 00:50:50,549 --> 00:50:49,119 you could use this as anything i think i 1212 00:50:52,230 --> 00:50:50,559 will 1213 00:50:54,230 --> 00:50:52,240 those people listening to the easter egg