1 00:00:13,940 --> 00:00:09,049 welcome to the skeptic Zone the podcast 2 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:13,950 from Australia for science and reason 3 00:00:23,210 --> 00:00:16,850 [Applause] 4 00:00:25,370 --> 00:00:23,220 [Music] 5 00:00:29,390 --> 00:00:25,380 yes it's the skeptic Zone podcast 6 00:00:32,330 --> 00:00:29,400 episode number 748 for the 5th of 7 00:00:34,729 --> 00:00:32,340 February 2023 Richard Saunders coming to 8 00:00:38,930 --> 00:00:34,739 you from a soon to be hot and sticky 9 00:00:42,350 --> 00:00:38,940 Sydney Australia up just before Dawn to 10 00:00:44,630 --> 00:00:42,360 record the introduction to the show 11 00:00:46,790 --> 00:00:44,640 it's the early bird that gets the worm 12 00:00:49,130 --> 00:00:46,800 and there are quite a number of early 13 00:00:51,830 --> 00:00:49,140 birds outside the skeptic Zone window 14 00:00:54,950 --> 00:00:51,840 this morning look out worms coming up on 15 00:00:57,770 --> 00:00:54,960 this week's Show Adrian Hill continues 16 00:01:01,310 --> 00:00:57,780 her series on Wiki projects this week 17 00:01:03,229 --> 00:01:01,320 she will look at Wiki projects crypto 18 00:01:05,690 --> 00:01:03,239 zoology 19 00:01:08,929 --> 00:01:05,700 what are the top 10 strange and 20 00:01:11,050 --> 00:01:08,939 mysterious beasts or at least the top 10 21 00:01:13,850 --> 00:01:11,060 searches when it comes to cryptozoology 22 00:01:17,570 --> 00:01:13,860 on Wikipedia 23 00:01:19,550 --> 00:01:17,580 will your favorite monster be included 24 00:01:20,870 --> 00:01:19,560 following that it's the book of Tim with 25 00:01:24,950 --> 00:01:20,880 Tim Mendham 26 00:01:27,649 --> 00:01:24,960 part one of a two-part report about 27 00:01:31,249 --> 00:01:27,659 Superstition in sport 28 00:01:33,770 --> 00:01:31,259 ticks and tactics and we've noticed over 29 00:01:36,109 --> 00:01:33,780 the years that sporting people can 30 00:01:38,090 --> 00:01:36,119 sometimes be prone to superstitions 31 00:01:40,190 --> 00:01:38,100 wearing the correct socks or doing 32 00:01:42,590 --> 00:01:40,200 something in a particular order before a 33 00:01:45,530 --> 00:01:42,600 match whatever the case may be 34 00:01:47,270 --> 00:01:45,540 bend around off the show Trove looks at 35 00:01:51,530 --> 00:01:47,280 iridology 36 00:01:55,609 --> 00:01:51,540 a couple of years ago it's a fascinating 37 00:01:57,649 --> 00:01:55,619 topic looking into the eye for diagnosis 38 00:02:00,230 --> 00:01:57,659 now I must thank my listener Carl who 39 00:02:02,450 --> 00:02:00,240 sent me an email during the week 40 00:02:03,889 --> 00:02:02,460 and he writes I just listened to the 41 00:02:05,990 --> 00:02:03,899 latest episode of the skeptic Zone 42 00:02:10,190 --> 00:02:06,000 something I do each week thank you Carl 43 00:02:12,830 --> 00:02:10,200 episode 747 interestingly this also 44 00:02:15,410 --> 00:02:12,840 happens to be the same week the last 45 00:02:16,369 --> 00:02:15,420 Boeing 747 rolled off the production 46 00:02:18,770 --> 00:02:16,379 line 47 00:02:21,650 --> 00:02:18,780 this random coincidence put a smile on 48 00:02:25,309 --> 00:02:21,660 my face well there you go there you go 49 00:02:26,510 --> 00:02:25,319 life is full of random coincidences so 50 00:02:28,850 --> 00:02:26,520 now it's time to get on with the show 51 00:02:30,890 --> 00:02:28,860 but no matter where you're listening to 52 00:02:33,170 --> 00:02:30,900 me maybe you're in your car driving 53 00:02:35,150 --> 00:02:33,180 along maybe you're sitting on the train 54 00:02:37,130 --> 00:02:35,160 or the bus with your headphones in 55 00:02:38,630 --> 00:02:37,140 listening to the skeptic Zone maybe 56 00:02:42,770 --> 00:02:38,640 you're in that little place in the 57 00:02:45,410 --> 00:02:42,780 countryside relaxing or in your high 58 00:02:48,050 --> 00:02:45,420 rise City Apartment I hope you enjoyed 59 00:02:50,809 --> 00:02:48,060 this week's episode of the skeptic Zone 60 00:02:53,869 --> 00:02:50,819 but it's time for me to run downstairs 61 00:02:56,809 --> 00:02:53,879 and I think I will have a toasty cheesy 62 00:02:59,990 --> 00:02:56,819 melt lovely cheddar cheese on some toast 63 00:03:00,730 --> 00:03:00,000 while I do that I hope you enjoy this 64 00:03:16,570 --> 00:03:00,740 skeptic Zone 65 00:03:18,670 --> 00:03:16,580 [Music] 66 00:03:21,910 --> 00:03:18,680 laughs 67 00:03:28,309 --> 00:03:21,920 you can count on Adrian 68 00:03:34,070 --> 00:03:31,430 everyone this is part three of my series 69 00:03:36,830 --> 00:03:34,080 of reports looking at Wiki projects on 70 00:03:40,250 --> 00:03:36,840 Wikipedia now according to Wikipedia's 71 00:03:41,809 --> 00:03:40,260 own definition a Wiki project is quote a 72 00:03:44,330 --> 00:03:41,819 group of editors that wish to work 73 00:03:46,910 --> 00:03:44,340 together as a team to improve Wikipedia 74 00:03:48,949 --> 00:03:46,920 a successful Wiki project contributes 75 00:03:52,009 --> 00:03:48,959 toward Wikipedia's mission of building 76 00:03:54,949 --> 00:03:52,019 an encyclopedia end quote 77 00:03:57,830 --> 00:03:54,959 and as an aside a listener was asking if 78 00:04:00,710 --> 00:03:57,840 this project was connected to gsow or 79 00:04:03,470 --> 00:04:00,720 Guerrilla skepticism on Wikipedia it's a 80 00:04:05,809 --> 00:04:03,480 great question all members of gsow are 81 00:04:09,589 --> 00:04:05,819 encouraged to join Wikipedia skepticism 82 00:04:12,289 --> 00:04:09,599 but not all do and any Wikipedia editor 83 00:04:14,929 --> 00:04:12,299 can join the project 84 00:04:16,789 --> 00:04:14,939 this time we are going to take a look at 85 00:04:18,650 --> 00:04:16,799 the Articles associated with a Wiki 86 00:04:20,750 --> 00:04:18,660 project of particular interest to 87 00:04:23,390 --> 00:04:20,760 Skeptics called Wiki project 88 00:04:27,170 --> 00:04:23,400 cryptozoology 89 00:04:29,270 --> 00:04:27,180 this Wiki project states that quote the 90 00:04:31,730 --> 00:04:29,280 goal of this Wiki project is to improve 91 00:04:33,770 --> 00:04:31,740 coverage of cryptozoology on English 92 00:04:36,290 --> 00:04:33,780 Wikipedia 93 00:04:38,270 --> 00:04:36,300 scope this project covers notable 94 00:04:41,090 --> 00:04:38,280 figures and topics related to the 95 00:04:44,570 --> 00:04:41,100 subculture its history geographical 96 00:04:46,909 --> 00:04:44,580 diffusion and related places and people 97 00:04:49,210 --> 00:04:46,919 we will specifically deal with all 98 00:04:52,490 --> 00:04:49,220 articles contained in the category 99 00:04:53,330 --> 00:04:52,500 cryptozoology and its subcategories end 100 00:04:56,390 --> 00:04:53,340 quote 101 00:04:58,310 --> 00:04:56,400 according to Wikipedia cryptozoology is 102 00:05:00,230 --> 00:04:58,320 a pseudoscience and subculture that 103 00:05:02,930 --> 00:05:00,240 searches for and studies unknown 104 00:05:05,150 --> 00:05:02,940 legendary or extinct animals whose 105 00:05:07,490 --> 00:05:05,160 present existence is disputed or 106 00:05:10,310 --> 00:05:07,500 unsubstantiated particularly those 107 00:05:12,890 --> 00:05:10,320 popular in folklore such as Bigfoot the 108 00:05:17,890 --> 00:05:12,900 Loch Ness monster Yeti the Chupacabra 109 00:05:20,090 --> 00:05:17,900 the Jersey Devil or the Macaulay Bambi 110 00:05:22,490 --> 00:05:20,100 cryptozoologists refer to these entities 111 00:05:24,890 --> 00:05:22,500 as Cryptids a term coined by the 112 00:05:27,469 --> 00:05:24,900 subculture because it does not follow 113 00:05:29,510 --> 00:05:27,479 the scientific method cryptozoology is 114 00:05:32,090 --> 00:05:29,520 considered a pseudoscience by mainstream 115 00:05:35,330 --> 00:05:32,100 science it is neither a branch of 116 00:05:38,210 --> 00:05:35,340 zoology nor of folklore studies 117 00:05:41,029 --> 00:05:38,220 this Project's main page is called Wiki 118 00:05:43,670 --> 00:05:41,039 project underscore cryptozoology 119 00:05:46,129 --> 00:05:43,680 and its popular pages is called Wiki 120 00:05:49,070 --> 00:05:46,139 project underscore cryptozoology forward 121 00:05:50,930 --> 00:05:49,080 slash popular underscore pages 122 00:05:52,790 --> 00:05:50,940 the links will be included in this 123 00:05:55,430 --> 00:05:52,800 week's show notes 124 00:05:57,770 --> 00:05:55,440 and now Richard and I are going to take 125 00:06:00,710 --> 00:05:57,780 a look at the top 10 Wikipedia articles 126 00:06:03,710 --> 00:06:00,720 per number of page views listed on the 127 00:06:05,510 --> 00:06:03,720 popular Pages the list we'll use comes 128 00:06:08,689 --> 00:06:05,520 from data collected on the 5th of 129 00:06:10,070 --> 00:06:08,699 January 2023 so it's reasonably up to 130 00:06:10,690 --> 00:06:10,080 date 131 00:06:14,590 --> 00:06:10,700 foreign 132 00:06:16,909 --> 00:06:14,600 [Music] 133 00:06:18,370 --> 00:06:16,919 number 10 on the list with a daily 134 00:06:23,809 --> 00:06:18,380 average of 135 00:06:26,689 --> 00:06:23,819 2419 views is Rat King according to its 136 00:06:29,809 --> 00:06:26,699 wiki page a rat king is a collection of 137 00:06:32,210 --> 00:06:29,819 rats whose Tales are intertwined and 138 00:06:34,189 --> 00:06:32,220 bound together in some way this may be 139 00:06:37,249 --> 00:06:34,199 the result of an entangling material 140 00:06:40,510 --> 00:06:37,259 like hair a sticky substance such as sap 141 00:06:42,890 --> 00:06:40,520 or gum or the Tails being tied together 142 00:06:46,189 --> 00:06:42,900 historically this phenomenon is 143 00:06:48,650 --> 00:06:46,199 particularly associated with Germany a 144 00:06:51,070 --> 00:06:48,660 similar Phenomenon with squirrels has 145 00:06:53,990 --> 00:06:51,080 been observed which has had modern 146 00:06:56,510 --> 00:06:54,000 documented examples possible 147 00:06:59,090 --> 00:06:56,520 explanations Rat Kings have been 148 00:07:01,969 --> 00:06:59,100 reported from Germany Belgium Estonia 149 00:07:03,770 --> 00:07:01,979 Java and New Zealand with a majority of 150 00:07:05,809 --> 00:07:03,780 cases reported from the European 151 00:07:09,110 --> 00:07:05,819 countries the existence of this 152 00:07:11,150 --> 00:07:09,120 phenomenon is debated due to the limited 153 00:07:14,390 --> 00:07:11,160 evidence of it occurring naturally 154 00:07:17,689 --> 00:07:14,400 although the finding of a live one in 155 00:07:20,930 --> 00:07:17,699 Estonia in 2021 is considered to be 156 00:07:24,110 --> 00:07:20,940 proof that it is a natural albeit 157 00:07:26,110 --> 00:07:24,120 extremely rare phenomenon the concern is 158 00:07:28,790 --> 00:07:26,120 the possibility that some of the 159 00:07:31,490 --> 00:07:28,800 centuries-old preserved Museum specimens 160 00:07:35,210 --> 00:07:31,500 could be fabricated such hoaxes being 161 00:07:38,029 --> 00:07:35,220 common in earlier eras some zoologists 162 00:07:40,249 --> 00:07:38,039 remain skeptical saying that while 163 00:07:42,409 --> 00:07:40,259 theoretically possible the rats would 164 00:07:44,510 --> 00:07:42,419 have to be able to survive in such a 165 00:07:47,270 --> 00:07:44,520 condition for a long time particularly 166 00:07:49,909 --> 00:07:47,280 if the temperatures Rose or if they bit 167 00:07:52,430 --> 00:07:49,919 their own or another's tail to try and 168 00:07:54,110 --> 00:07:52,440 free themselves since black rats 169 00:07:57,110 --> 00:07:54,120 clustered together during Winters for 170 00:08:01,370 --> 00:07:57,120 warmth it could be possible for a rat 171 00:08:03,950 --> 00:08:01,380 king to be naturally occurring 172 00:08:06,050 --> 00:08:03,960 at number nine on the list with a daily 173 00:08:09,170 --> 00:08:06,060 average of two thousand four hundred and 174 00:08:12,110 --> 00:08:09,180 forty three views is your man Gunder 175 00:08:15,290 --> 00:08:12,120 according to its Wikipedia page in Norse 176 00:08:18,409 --> 00:08:15,300 mythology yormongunder also known as the 177 00:08:21,409 --> 00:08:18,419 midguard serpent or World serpent is an 178 00:08:24,230 --> 00:08:21,419 unfathomably large sea serpent or worm 179 00:08:27,350 --> 00:08:24,240 who dwells in the world sea encircling 180 00:08:31,129 --> 00:08:27,360 the Earth or midgard and biting his own 181 00:08:33,529 --> 00:08:31,139 tail an example of an oroboros as a 182 00:08:35,570 --> 00:08:33,539 result of its surrounding midgard or the 183 00:08:38,589 --> 00:08:35,580 Earth it is referred to as the world 184 00:08:41,389 --> 00:08:38,599 serpent when it releases its tail 185 00:08:43,690 --> 00:08:41,399 Ragnarok the final battle of the world 186 00:08:46,490 --> 00:08:43,700 will begin 187 00:08:49,310 --> 00:08:46,500 jormungunder is said to be the middle 188 00:08:52,310 --> 00:08:49,320 child of the trickster god Loki and the 189 00:08:55,070 --> 00:08:52,320 giantess anger borda according to the 190 00:08:57,949 --> 00:08:55,080 prose Etta Odin took Loki's three 191 00:09:00,410 --> 00:08:57,959 children by anger borda the wolf fenrir 192 00:09:03,170 --> 00:09:00,420 the goddess hell and The Serpent 193 00:09:06,949 --> 00:09:03,180 jormungunder and removed them from 194 00:09:09,110 --> 00:09:06,959 Asgard or the world of the icir the 195 00:09:11,090 --> 00:09:09,120 serpent yorben Gunder was tossed into 196 00:09:14,090 --> 00:09:11,100 the great ocean that encircles midgard 197 00:09:16,130 --> 00:09:14,100 there the serpent grew so large that it 198 00:09:18,949 --> 00:09:16,140 was able to surround the Earth and grasp 199 00:09:21,590 --> 00:09:18,959 its own tail the Old Norse Thunder God 200 00:09:24,110 --> 00:09:21,600 Thor has an ongoing feud with 201 00:09:26,930 --> 00:09:24,120 jormungunder in their epics and the two 202 00:09:29,690 --> 00:09:26,940 can be seen as Arch foes Thor and 203 00:09:31,550 --> 00:09:29,700 yomungunder will fight each other to the 204 00:09:33,710 --> 00:09:31,560 death 205 00:09:35,530 --> 00:09:33,720 at number eight on the list with a daily 206 00:09:38,269 --> 00:09:35,540 average of 207 00:09:40,190 --> 00:09:38,279 2563 views is 208 00:09:44,930 --> 00:09:40,200 the yeti 209 00:09:47,329 --> 00:09:44,940 an ape-like creature purported to 210 00:09:50,090 --> 00:09:47,339 inhabit the Himalayan Mountain range in 211 00:09:52,550 --> 00:09:50,100 Asia in Western popular culture the 212 00:09:56,150 --> 00:09:52,560 creature is commonly referred to as the 213 00:09:58,009 --> 00:09:56,160 Abominable Snowman many dubious articles 214 00:09:59,930 --> 00:09:58,019 have been offered in an attempt to prove 215 00:10:02,630 --> 00:09:59,940 the existence of the Yeti including 216 00:10:05,030 --> 00:10:02,640 anecdotal visual sightings disputed 217 00:10:08,090 --> 00:10:05,040 video recordings photographs and plaster 218 00:10:11,050 --> 00:10:08,100 casts of large Footprints some of these 219 00:10:13,310 --> 00:10:11,060 are speculated or known to be hoaxes 220 00:10:14,810 --> 00:10:13,320 folklorises traced the origin of the 221 00:10:17,449 --> 00:10:14,820 Yeti to a combination of factors 222 00:10:20,750 --> 00:10:17,459 including Sherpa folklore and 223 00:10:24,290 --> 00:10:20,760 misidentified fauna such as bear or Yak 224 00:10:27,530 --> 00:10:24,300 the yeti is commonly compared to Bigfoot 225 00:10:31,009 --> 00:10:27,540 of North America as the two subjects 226 00:10:33,470 --> 00:10:31,019 often have similar physical descriptions 227 00:10:36,530 --> 00:10:33,480 the yeti is often described as being a 228 00:10:39,050 --> 00:10:36,540 large bipedal ape-like creature that is 229 00:10:41,990 --> 00:10:39,060 covered with brown gray or white hair 230 00:10:45,410 --> 00:10:42,000 and it is sometimes depicted as having 231 00:10:49,030 --> 00:10:45,420 large sharp teeth the name abominable 232 00:10:51,610 --> 00:10:49,040 snowman was coined in 1921 the year 233 00:10:55,870 --> 00:10:51,620 Lieutenant Colonel Charles howardbury 234 00:10:58,550 --> 00:10:55,880 led the 1921 British Mount Everest 235 00:11:00,650 --> 00:10:58,560 reconnaissance Expedition which he 236 00:11:04,030 --> 00:11:00,660 chronicled in Mount Everest the 237 00:11:06,829 --> 00:11:04,040 reconnaissance 1921. 238 00:11:08,710 --> 00:11:06,839 and at number seven on the list with a 239 00:11:12,710 --> 00:11:08,720 daily average of 240 00:11:16,790 --> 00:11:12,720 2572 views is the Chupacabra 241 00:11:19,610 --> 00:11:16,800 the chupacabra or chupacabras literally 242 00:11:22,790 --> 00:11:19,620 Goat Sucker from the Spanish chupar 243 00:11:25,670 --> 00:11:22,800 which means to suck and cobras which 244 00:11:27,889 --> 00:11:25,680 means goats is a legendary creature in 245 00:11:29,870 --> 00:11:27,899 the folklore parts of the Americas with 246 00:11:33,470 --> 00:11:29,880 its first purported sightings reported 247 00:11:36,110 --> 00:11:33,480 in Puerto Rico in 1995. 248 00:11:38,990 --> 00:11:36,120 the name comes from the animals reported 249 00:11:40,970 --> 00:11:39,000 vampirism the chupacabra is said to 250 00:11:43,250 --> 00:11:40,980 attack and drink the blood of livestock 251 00:11:45,110 --> 00:11:43,260 including goats 252 00:11:47,630 --> 00:11:45,120 physical descriptions of the creature 253 00:11:49,850 --> 00:11:47,640 vary some describe it as reptilian and 254 00:11:52,550 --> 00:11:49,860 alien-like in Puerto Rico and Latin 255 00:11:55,009 --> 00:11:52,560 America generally as a heavy creature 256 00:11:56,870 --> 00:11:55,019 the size of a small bear with a row of 257 00:11:58,190 --> 00:11:56,880 spines reaching from the neck to the 258 00:12:00,610 --> 00:11:58,200 base of the tail 259 00:12:03,050 --> 00:12:00,620 others depict it as more dog-like 260 00:12:05,269 --> 00:12:03,060 particularly in southwestern United 261 00:12:07,310 --> 00:12:05,279 States 262 00:12:09,350 --> 00:12:07,320 sightings have been reported in Puerto 263 00:12:11,269 --> 00:12:09,360 Rico since the 1970s 264 00:12:13,850 --> 00:12:11,279 and this creature has since been 265 00:12:16,550 --> 00:12:13,860 reported as far north as Maine as far 266 00:12:19,009 --> 00:12:16,560 south as Chile and even outside the 267 00:12:20,630 --> 00:12:19,019 Americas in countries like Russia and 268 00:12:23,269 --> 00:12:20,640 Philippines 269 00:12:25,250 --> 00:12:23,279 all of the reports are anecdotal and 270 00:12:27,290 --> 00:12:25,260 have been disregarded as uncorroborated 271 00:12:29,329 --> 00:12:27,300 or lacking evidence 272 00:12:30,829 --> 00:12:29,339 sightings in northern Mexico and the 273 00:12:34,370 --> 00:12:30,839 Southern United States have been 274 00:12:36,590 --> 00:12:34,380 verified as candids afflicted by mange 275 00:12:39,290 --> 00:12:36,600 according to biologists and Wildlife 276 00:12:41,690 --> 00:12:39,300 Management officials the chupacabra is 277 00:12:44,090 --> 00:12:41,700 an urban legend 278 00:12:46,870 --> 00:12:44,100 a five-year investigation by Benjamin 279 00:12:49,850 --> 00:12:46,880 Radford documented in his 2011 book 280 00:12:52,550 --> 00:12:49,860 tracking the chupacabra which I highly 281 00:12:54,530 --> 00:12:52,560 recommend concluded that the description 282 00:12:57,590 --> 00:12:54,540 given by the original eyewitness in 283 00:13:01,009 --> 00:12:57,600 Puerto Rico Madeline Tolentino 284 00:13:04,910 --> 00:13:01,019 was based on the creature sill in the 285 00:13:07,190 --> 00:13:04,920 1995 science fiction horror film species 286 00:13:09,470 --> 00:13:07,200 the alien creature sill is nearly 287 00:13:12,110 --> 00:13:09,480 identical to tolentino's chupacabra 288 00:13:14,470 --> 00:13:12,120 eyewitness account and she had seen the 289 00:13:17,210 --> 00:13:14,480 movie before her report 290 00:13:18,470 --> 00:13:17,220 it was a creature that looked like the 291 00:13:21,230 --> 00:13:18,480 chupacabra 292 00:13:23,389 --> 00:13:21,240 with spines on its back and all the 293 00:13:27,530 --> 00:13:23,399 resemblance to the chupacabra was really 294 00:13:30,110 --> 00:13:27,540 impressive end quote Tolentino reported 295 00:13:32,150 --> 00:13:30,120 Radford revealed that Tolentino quote 296 00:13:34,250 --> 00:13:32,160 believed that the creatures and events 297 00:13:36,230 --> 00:13:34,260 she saw in species were happening in 298 00:13:37,129 --> 00:13:36,240 reality in Puerto Rico at the time end 299 00:13:41,449 --> 00:13:37,139 quote 300 00:13:44,329 --> 00:13:41,459 most important chupacabra description 301 00:13:46,490 --> 00:13:44,339 cannot be trusted end quote 302 00:13:48,230 --> 00:13:46,500 this Radford believes seriously 303 00:13:52,490 --> 00:13:48,240 undermines The credibility of the 304 00:13:55,690 --> 00:13:54,350 at number six on the list with the daily 305 00:13:59,829 --> 00:13:55,700 average of 306 00:14:02,509 --> 00:13:59,839 2829 views is skin walker Ranch 307 00:14:05,930 --> 00:14:02,519 according to its wiki page 308 00:14:09,069 --> 00:14:05,940 skin walker Ranch also known as Sherman 309 00:14:11,050 --> 00:14:09,079 Ranch is a property of approximately 310 00:14:14,449 --> 00:14:11,060 512 Acres 311 00:14:17,389 --> 00:14:14,459 207 hectares located south east of 312 00:14:19,910 --> 00:14:17,399 ballad Utah that is reputed to be the 313 00:14:22,790 --> 00:14:19,920 site of paranormal and UFO related 314 00:14:24,610 --> 00:14:22,800 activities its name is taken from the 315 00:14:28,210 --> 00:14:24,620 skinwalker of the Navajo Legend 316 00:14:31,190 --> 00:14:28,220 concerning vengeful shamans 317 00:14:33,769 --> 00:14:31,200 dubbed the UFO Ranch due to its 318 00:14:35,750 --> 00:14:33,779 obstensible 50-year history of odd 319 00:14:39,290 --> 00:14:35,760 events said to have taken place there 320 00:14:41,269 --> 00:14:39,300 according to Keller and nap they saw or 321 00:14:44,090 --> 00:14:41,279 investigated evidence of close to 100 322 00:14:46,730 --> 00:14:44,100 incidents including Vanishing and 323 00:14:49,250 --> 00:14:46,740 mutilated cattle sightings of 324 00:14:52,310 --> 00:14:49,260 unidentified flying objects or orbs 325 00:14:54,250 --> 00:14:52,320 large animals with piercing red eyes 326 00:14:57,829 --> 00:14:54,260 that they say were 327 00:15:00,530 --> 00:14:57,839 unscathed when struck by bullets and 328 00:15:03,769 --> 00:15:00,540 invisible objects admitting destructive 329 00:15:06,350 --> 00:15:03,779 magnetic fields among those involved 330 00:15:11,110 --> 00:15:06,360 were retired U.S army colonel John B 331 00:15:14,569 --> 00:15:11,120 Alexander who characterized the nid 332 00:15:16,750 --> 00:15:14,579 CSI and that incidentally stands for the 333 00:15:19,550 --> 00:15:16,760 National Institute for Discovery Science 334 00:15:22,370 --> 00:15:19,560 effort is an attempt to get hard data 335 00:15:24,829 --> 00:15:22,380 using a quote standard scientific 336 00:15:27,050 --> 00:15:24,839 approach end quote cattle mutilations 337 00:15:30,370 --> 00:15:27,060 have been part of the folklore of the 338 00:15:34,129 --> 00:15:30,380 surrounding area for decades when 339 00:15:36,050 --> 00:15:34,139 nidcci founder Robert Bigelow purchased 340 00:15:38,449 --> 00:15:36,060 the ranch for two hundred thousand 341 00:15:41,269 --> 00:15:38,459 dollars this was reportedly the result 342 00:15:44,269 --> 00:15:41,279 of his having been convinced by the 343 00:15:46,370 --> 00:15:44,279 stories and mutilations that included 344 00:15:50,329 --> 00:15:46,380 Tales of strange lights and unusual 345 00:15:52,670 --> 00:15:50,339 Impressions made in grass and soil told 346 00:15:54,590 --> 00:15:52,680 by the family of the former Ranch owner 347 00:15:57,410 --> 00:15:54,600 Terry Sherman 348 00:16:00,290 --> 00:15:57,420 criticism according to skeptical author 349 00:16:03,590 --> 00:16:00,300 Robert Shafer quote the phenomenon that 350 00:16:06,410 --> 00:16:03,600 Skinwalker is almost certainly illusory 351 00:16:09,189 --> 00:16:06,420 Not only was the several years-long 352 00:16:11,930 --> 00:16:09,199 monitoring of Skinwalker by 353 00:16:15,230 --> 00:16:11,940 nidsci unable to obtain proof of 354 00:16:17,269 --> 00:16:15,240 anything unusual happening but also the 355 00:16:19,370 --> 00:16:17,279 people who own the property prior to the 356 00:16:22,069 --> 00:16:19,380 Shermans a family whose members lived 357 00:16:24,650 --> 00:16:22,079 there for 60 years deny that any 358 00:16:27,470 --> 00:16:24,660 mysterious phenomena of any kind 359 00:16:30,230 --> 00:16:27,480 occurred there end quote Schaefer says 360 00:16:32,509 --> 00:16:30,240 quote the parsimonious explanation is 361 00:16:34,490 --> 00:16:32,519 that the supernatural claims about the 362 00:16:36,730 --> 00:16:34,500 ranch were made up by the Sherman family 363 00:16:39,829 --> 00:16:36,740 prior to selling it to the gullible 364 00:16:42,370 --> 00:16:39,839 Bigelow end quote Schaefer wrote that 365 00:16:45,650 --> 00:16:42,380 many of the more extraordinary claims 366 00:16:48,050 --> 00:16:45,660 originated solely from Terry Sherman who 367 00:16:50,449 --> 00:16:48,060 worked As a caretaker after the ranch 368 00:16:54,530 --> 00:16:50,459 was sold to Bigelow 369 00:16:57,170 --> 00:16:54,540 in 1996 skeptic James Randy awarded 370 00:16:59,389 --> 00:16:57,180 Bigelow a pegasus award for funding the 371 00:17:01,490 --> 00:16:59,399 purchase of the ranch and supporting the 372 00:17:04,010 --> 00:17:01,500 John E Max and Bud Hopkins 373 00:17:07,309 --> 00:17:04,020 investigations the award category 374 00:17:09,409 --> 00:17:07,319 designated Bigelow as quote the funding 375 00:17:11,870 --> 00:17:09,419 organization that supported the most 376 00:17:15,289 --> 00:17:11,880 useless study of Supernatural paranormal 377 00:17:17,689 --> 00:17:15,299 or the occult end quote 378 00:17:19,150 --> 00:17:17,699 at number five on the list with a daily 379 00:17:23,090 --> 00:17:19,160 average of 380 00:17:25,970 --> 00:17:23,100 2911 views is Bigfoot 381 00:17:28,549 --> 00:17:25,980 and according to its wiki page Bigfoot 382 00:17:31,549 --> 00:17:28,559 also commonly referred to as Sasquatch 383 00:17:33,590 --> 00:17:31,559 is a purported ape-like creature 384 00:17:34,970 --> 00:17:33,600 said to inhabit the forests of North 385 00:17:37,370 --> 00:17:34,980 America 386 00:17:39,470 --> 00:17:37,380 many dubious articles have been offered 387 00:17:42,049 --> 00:17:39,480 in attempts to prove the existence of 388 00:17:44,810 --> 00:17:42,059 Bigfoot including anecdotal claims of 389 00:17:47,690 --> 00:17:44,820 sightings as well as alleged video and 390 00:17:50,330 --> 00:17:47,700 audio recordings photographs and casts 391 00:17:52,370 --> 00:17:50,340 of large footprints 392 00:17:54,110 --> 00:17:52,380 some of which are known or admitted 393 00:17:57,169 --> 00:17:54,120 hoaxes 394 00:17:58,970 --> 00:17:57,179 Tales of wild hairy humanoids exist 395 00:18:01,490 --> 00:17:58,980 throughout the world and such creatures 396 00:18:03,890 --> 00:18:01,500 appear in the folklore of North America 397 00:18:04,730 --> 00:18:03,900 including the mythologies of indigenous 398 00:18:07,789 --> 00:18:04,740 people 399 00:18:11,029 --> 00:18:07,799 Bigfoot is an icon within the Fringe 400 00:18:13,850 --> 00:18:11,039 subculture of cryptozoology and an 401 00:18:16,190 --> 00:18:13,860 enduring element of popular culture 402 00:18:17,810 --> 00:18:16,200 the majority of mainstream scientists 403 00:18:20,270 --> 00:18:17,820 have historically discounted the 404 00:18:22,370 --> 00:18:20,280 existence of Bigfoot considering it to 405 00:18:24,950 --> 00:18:22,380 be the result of a combination of 406 00:18:27,610 --> 00:18:24,960 folklore misidentification and hoax 407 00:18:30,409 --> 00:18:27,620 rather than a living animal 408 00:18:32,510 --> 00:18:30,419 folklorus trace the phenomena of Bigfoot 409 00:18:34,970 --> 00:18:32,520 to a combination of factors and sources 410 00:18:37,490 --> 00:18:34,980 including indigenous cultures the 411 00:18:40,070 --> 00:18:37,500 European wild man figure and folk tales 412 00:18:42,289 --> 00:18:40,080 wishful thinking a cultural increase in 413 00:18:44,750 --> 00:18:42,299 environmental concerns and overall 414 00:18:47,450 --> 00:18:44,760 societal awareness of the subject have 415 00:18:49,669 --> 00:18:47,460 been cited as additional factors 416 00:18:52,070 --> 00:18:49,679 other creatures of relatively similar 417 00:18:53,750 --> 00:18:52,080 descriptions are alleged to inhabit 418 00:18:56,390 --> 00:18:53,760 various regions throughout the world 419 00:18:59,450 --> 00:18:56,400 such as the skunk ape of southeastern 420 00:19:02,930 --> 00:18:59,460 United States the Almas yaron and yeti 421 00:19:04,970 --> 00:19:02,940 in Asia and the Australian yaoi all of 422 00:19:08,510 --> 00:19:04,980 which are also ingrained in the cultures 423 00:19:12,130 --> 00:19:10,610 at number four on the list with a daily 424 00:19:15,890 --> 00:19:12,140 average of 425 00:19:18,830 --> 00:19:15,900 3116 views is a list of Cryptids 426 00:19:21,230 --> 00:19:18,840 according to the Wiki page Cryptids are 427 00:19:24,409 --> 00:19:21,240 animals that cryptozoologists believe 428 00:19:27,350 --> 00:19:24,419 may exist somewhere in the wild but are 429 00:19:30,049 --> 00:19:27,360 not recognized by science cryptozoology 430 00:19:32,690 --> 00:19:30,059 is a pseudoscience which primarily looks 431 00:19:34,810 --> 00:19:32,700 at anecdotal stories and other claims 432 00:19:38,090 --> 00:19:34,820 rejected by the scientific Community 433 00:19:40,370 --> 00:19:38,100 while biologists regularly identify new 434 00:19:41,950 --> 00:19:40,380 species following established scientific 435 00:19:43,970 --> 00:19:41,960 methodology 436 00:19:46,250 --> 00:19:43,980 cryptozoologists focus on entries 437 00:19:47,770 --> 00:19:46,260 mentioned in the folklore record and 438 00:19:50,210 --> 00:19:47,780 rumor 439 00:19:52,610 --> 00:19:50,220 Scholars have noted that cryptozoology 440 00:19:55,250 --> 00:19:52,620 subculture rejected mainstream 441 00:19:57,710 --> 00:19:55,260 approaches from an early date and that 442 00:20:00,430 --> 00:19:57,720 adherence often express hostility to 443 00:20:02,270 --> 00:20:00,440 mainstream science Scholars have studied 444 00:20:05,029 --> 00:20:02,280 cryptozoologists and their influence 445 00:20:07,789 --> 00:20:05,039 including the pseudosciences association 446 00:20:09,710 --> 00:20:07,799 with young Earth creationism noted 447 00:20:11,630 --> 00:20:09,720 parallels in cryptozoology and other 448 00:20:14,270 --> 00:20:11,640 pseudoscientists such as ghost hunting 449 00:20:16,909 --> 00:20:14,280 and ufology and highlighted uncritical 450 00:20:20,210 --> 00:20:16,919 media propagation of cryptozoologist 451 00:20:21,950 --> 00:20:20,220 claims and the Wiki page goes on to 452 00:20:25,250 --> 00:20:21,960 mention many more of the well-known 453 00:20:28,250 --> 00:20:25,260 examples of Cryptids 454 00:20:29,590 --> 00:20:28,260 at number three on the list with a daily 455 00:20:33,529 --> 00:20:29,600 average of 456 00:20:36,230 --> 00:20:33,539 3491 views is the thylacine 457 00:20:38,930 --> 00:20:36,240 according to its wiki page the thylacine 458 00:20:40,610 --> 00:20:38,940 is an extinct carnivorous marsupial that 459 00:20:43,190 --> 00:20:40,620 was native to the Australian Mainland 460 00:20:46,310 --> 00:20:43,200 and the islands of Tasmania and New 461 00:20:49,130 --> 00:20:46,320 Guinea the last known live animal was 462 00:20:51,490 --> 00:20:49,140 captured in 1930 in Tasmania it is 463 00:20:55,070 --> 00:20:51,500 commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger 464 00:20:57,770 --> 00:20:55,080 because of its striped lower back or the 465 00:20:59,750 --> 00:20:57,780 Tasmanian wolf because of its canid-like 466 00:21:02,270 --> 00:20:59,760 characteristics 467 00:21:04,549 --> 00:21:02,280 the thylacine was relatively shy and 468 00:21:07,010 --> 00:21:04,559 nocturnal with the general appearance of 469 00:21:08,810 --> 00:21:07,020 a medium to large size Cannon except for 470 00:21:11,810 --> 00:21:08,820 its stiff tail and abdominal pouch 471 00:21:14,450 --> 00:21:11,820 similar to that of a kangaroo because of 472 00:21:17,270 --> 00:21:14,460 convergent evolution it displayed an 473 00:21:19,250 --> 00:21:17,280 anatomy and adaptations similar to the 474 00:21:21,590 --> 00:21:19,260 tiger and wolf of the northern 475 00:21:23,930 --> 00:21:21,600 hemisphere such as dark transverse 476 00:21:26,090 --> 00:21:23,940 Stripes that radiated from the top of 477 00:21:28,490 --> 00:21:26,100 its back and a skull-shaped extremely 478 00:21:29,690 --> 00:21:28,500 similar to those of canids despite being 479 00:21:32,330 --> 00:21:29,700 unrelated 480 00:21:35,270 --> 00:21:32,340 the thylacine was a formidable apex 481 00:21:37,909 --> 00:21:35,280 predator though exactly how large its 482 00:21:40,190 --> 00:21:37,919 prey animals were is disputed 483 00:21:42,830 --> 00:21:40,200 its closest living relatives are the 484 00:21:46,010 --> 00:21:42,840 other members of Dacia morphia including 485 00:21:48,350 --> 00:21:46,020 the Tasmanian devil and quals 486 00:21:50,930 --> 00:21:48,360 the thylacine was one of only two 487 00:21:52,130 --> 00:21:50,940 marsupials known to have a pouch in both 488 00:21:54,890 --> 00:21:52,140 sexes 489 00:21:57,409 --> 00:21:54,900 the other still extant species is the 490 00:21:58,789 --> 00:21:57,419 water opossum from Central and South 491 00:22:01,610 --> 00:21:58,799 America 492 00:22:04,190 --> 00:22:01,620 the thylacine had become locally extinct 493 00:22:06,350 --> 00:22:04,200 on both the New Guinea and the 494 00:22:08,390 --> 00:22:06,360 Australian Mainland before British 495 00:22:10,730 --> 00:22:08,400 settlement of the continent but its last 496 00:22:13,330 --> 00:22:10,740 stronghold was on the island of Tasmania 497 00:22:16,390 --> 00:22:13,340 along with several other endemic species 498 00:22:19,010 --> 00:22:16,400 including the Tasmanian devil 499 00:22:20,990 --> 00:22:19,020 intensive hunting encouraged by bounties 500 00:22:23,690 --> 00:22:21,000 is generally blamed for its Extinction 501 00:22:26,450 --> 00:22:23,700 but other contributing factors may have 502 00:22:28,850 --> 00:22:26,460 been disease the introduction of and 503 00:22:32,270 --> 00:22:28,860 competition with dingoes and human 504 00:22:35,990 --> 00:22:32,280 encroachment into its habitat 505 00:22:37,909 --> 00:22:36,000 in 1983 the American Media Mogul Ted 506 00:22:40,310 --> 00:22:37,919 Turner offered a hundred thousand dollar 507 00:22:43,130 --> 00:22:40,320 reward for proof of the continued 508 00:22:45,529 --> 00:22:43,140 existence of the thylacine 509 00:22:48,470 --> 00:22:45,539 a letter sent in response to an inquiry 510 00:22:50,630 --> 00:22:48,480 by a thylacine Searcher Murray 511 00:22:52,789 --> 00:22:50,640 McAllister in 2000 512 00:22:56,450 --> 00:22:52,799 indicated that the offer had been 513 00:22:59,390 --> 00:22:56,460 withdrawn in March 2005 Australian news 514 00:23:02,810 --> 00:22:59,400 magazine the bulletin as part of its 515 00:23:05,690 --> 00:23:02,820 125th anniversary celebrations offered a 516 00:23:08,930 --> 00:23:05,700 1.25 million dollar reward for the safe 517 00:23:12,049 --> 00:23:08,940 capture of a live thylacine when the 518 00:23:13,909 --> 00:23:12,059 offer closed at the end of June 2005 no 519 00:23:15,409 --> 00:23:13,919 one had produced any evidence of the 520 00:23:19,190 --> 00:23:15,419 animal's existence 521 00:23:21,409 --> 00:23:19,200 an offer of 1.75 million dollars has 522 00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:21,419 subsequently been offered by a Tasmanian 523 00:23:26,570 --> 00:23:25,080 tour operator Stuart Malcolm trapping is 524 00:23:29,149 --> 00:23:26,580 illegal under the terms of the 525 00:23:31,970 --> 00:23:29,159 thylacine's protection so any reward 526 00:23:35,990 --> 00:23:31,980 made for its capture is invalid since a 527 00:23:37,970 --> 00:23:36,000 trapping license would not be issued 528 00:23:39,549 --> 00:23:37,980 at number two on the list with a daily 529 00:23:43,250 --> 00:23:39,559 average of 530 00:23:46,370 --> 00:23:43,260 3545 views is Rod 531 00:23:48,649 --> 00:23:46,380 Optical phenomenon 532 00:23:52,610 --> 00:23:48,659 according to its wiki page in 533 00:23:56,210 --> 00:23:52,620 cryptozoology and ufology rods also 534 00:23:59,450 --> 00:23:56,220 known as Sky fish or air rods or solar 535 00:24:01,789 --> 00:23:59,460 entities are elongated visual artifacts 536 00:24:04,610 --> 00:24:01,799 appearing in photographic images and 537 00:24:07,370 --> 00:24:04,620 video recordings most Optical analysis 538 00:24:10,370 --> 00:24:07,380 to date have concluded that the images 539 00:24:12,289 --> 00:24:10,380 are insects moving across the frame as 540 00:24:15,470 --> 00:24:12,299 the photo is being captured 541 00:24:18,470 --> 00:24:15,480 Robert Todd Carroll 2003 having 542 00:24:21,350 --> 00:24:18,480 consulted the etymologist Doug yenninger 543 00:24:23,810 --> 00:24:21,360 identified rods as images of flying 544 00:24:27,230 --> 00:24:23,820 insects recorded over several cycles of 545 00:24:30,049 --> 00:24:27,240 wing beating on video recording devices 546 00:24:32,090 --> 00:24:30,059 the insect captured on image a number of 547 00:24:34,190 --> 00:24:32,100 times while propelling itself forward 548 00:24:37,789 --> 00:24:34,200 giving the illusion of a single 549 00:24:39,649 --> 00:24:37,799 elongated rod-like body with bulges a 550 00:24:42,289 --> 00:24:39,659 2000 report by staff at the Straight 551 00:24:45,830 --> 00:24:42,299 Dope also explained rods as such 552 00:24:49,190 --> 00:24:45,840 phenomena namely tricks of Light which 553 00:24:51,409 --> 00:24:49,200 result from how primarily video images 554 00:24:53,750 --> 00:24:51,419 of flying insects are recorded and 555 00:24:56,090 --> 00:24:53,760 played back adding that investigators 556 00:24:58,850 --> 00:24:56,100 have shown the rod-like bodies to be a 557 00:25:01,370 --> 00:24:58,860 result of motion blur if the camera is 558 00:25:02,330 --> 00:25:01,380 shooting with relatively long exposure 559 00:25:04,549 --> 00:25:02,340 times 560 00:25:07,250 --> 00:25:04,559 the claims of these extraordinary 561 00:25:09,590 --> 00:25:07,260 creatures possibly alien have been 562 00:25:14,570 --> 00:25:09,600 Advanced by either people with active 563 00:25:22,850 --> 00:25:16,789 at number one on the list with a daily 564 00:25:25,370 --> 00:25:22,860 average of 4 339 views is skinwalker 565 00:25:28,909 --> 00:25:25,380 which we covered in part one of this 566 00:25:30,950 --> 00:25:28,919 series but to briefly recap in Navajo 567 00:25:33,649 --> 00:25:30,960 culture a skinwalker is a type of 568 00:25:36,289 --> 00:25:33,659 harmful witch who has the ability to 569 00:25:39,350 --> 00:25:36,299 turn into possess or disguise themselves 570 00:25:42,529 --> 00:25:39,360 as an animal the term is never used for 571 00:25:45,769 --> 00:25:42,539 healers in the Navajo language it 572 00:25:48,710 --> 00:25:45,779 translates to quote by means of it it 573 00:25:51,050 --> 00:25:48,720 goes on all fours end quote 574 00:25:56,450 --> 00:25:53,810 [Music] 575 00:25:57,649 --> 00:25:56,460 there you have it the top 10 list as 576 00:26:01,010 --> 00:25:57,659 recorded on the wiki project 577 00:26:03,350 --> 00:26:01,020 cryptozoology now before you ask here 578 00:26:04,990 --> 00:26:03,360 are the subjects making up numbers 11 to 579 00:26:09,350 --> 00:26:05,000 20. 580 00:26:13,250 --> 00:26:09,360 Kraken Loch Ness monster Mothman 581 00:26:15,590 --> 00:26:13,260 giant squid H2O just to add water which 582 00:26:19,130 --> 00:26:15,600 is an Australian TV series where women 583 00:26:20,390 --> 00:26:19,140 turn into mermaids Great Salt Lake the 584 00:26:24,049 --> 00:26:20,400 shadow person 585 00:26:26,769 --> 00:26:24,059 lernian Hydra wyvern 586 00:26:31,130 --> 00:26:26,779 and lastly a list of alleged 587 00:26:34,909 --> 00:26:33,110 in the next segment I'll look at the 588 00:26:38,090 --> 00:26:34,919 wiki project for alternative medicine 589 00:26:41,210 --> 00:26:38,100 and see what the top page views are for 590 00:26:43,610 --> 00:26:41,220 so-called cures and Potions but for now 591 00:26:45,510 --> 00:26:43,620 this is Adrian Hill signing off from 592 00:26:58,029 --> 00:26:45,520 Canada 593 00:27:01,370 --> 00:26:58,039 [Music] 594 00:27:04,130 --> 00:27:01,380 hi this is Dr Pamela gay from astronomy 595 00:27:06,049 --> 00:27:04,140 cast each week Fraser Kane and I take 596 00:27:08,330 --> 00:27:06,059 our listeners on a fact-based journey 597 00:27:10,909 --> 00:27:08,340 through the cosmos with our weekly 598 00:27:13,730 --> 00:27:10,919 podcast we explain not just what we know 599 00:27:15,529 --> 00:27:13,740 but how we know what we know about this 600 00:27:18,409 --> 00:27:15,539 universe that we share 601 00:27:20,870 --> 00:27:18,419 check us out at astronomycast.com and 602 00:27:23,570 --> 00:27:20,880 look for us in iTunes Google Play and 603 00:27:24,670 --> 00:27:23,580 wherever you download podcasts see 604 00:27:35,029 --> 00:27:24,680 online 605 00:27:36,210 --> 00:27:35,039 [Music] 606 00:27:42,890 --> 00:27:36,220 foreign 607 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:42,900 [Music] 608 00:27:51,850 --> 00:27:45,690 with Tim Mendham 609 00:27:54,890 --> 00:27:51,860 [Music] 610 00:27:57,470 --> 00:27:54,900 hi I'm Tim Mendham I'm the executive 611 00:27:59,450 --> 00:27:57,480 officer of Australian escapet sync and 612 00:28:00,529 --> 00:27:59,460 editor of our quarterly magazine the 613 00:28:02,149 --> 00:28:00,539 skeptic 614 00:28:03,950 --> 00:28:02,159 and today I'll be reading an article 615 00:28:07,310 --> 00:28:03,960 from a very recent issue of the magazine 616 00:28:11,330 --> 00:28:07,320 which came out in March 2022 which is 617 00:28:12,529 --> 00:28:11,340 volume 42 number one this article is 618 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:12,539 about sport 619 00:28:20,149 --> 00:28:16,090 and it's called ticks and tactics 620 00:28:24,169 --> 00:28:22,130 that's not uncommon to see Elite 621 00:28:26,510 --> 00:28:24,179 athletes performing some sort of ritual 622 00:28:28,190 --> 00:28:26,520 before during and after play soccer 623 00:28:30,230 --> 00:28:28,200 players crossed themselves before going 624 00:28:32,390 --> 00:28:30,240 out of the field or taking a penalty 625 00:28:34,850 --> 00:28:32,400 shot cricketers point to the sky on 626 00:28:36,950 --> 00:28:34,860 scoring 100 runs in acknowledgment of a 627 00:28:39,169 --> 00:28:36,960 deity or deceased relative or former 628 00:28:40,730 --> 00:28:39,179 colleague sprinters kiss a medallion 629 00:28:42,710 --> 00:28:40,740 before a race 630 00:28:45,830 --> 00:28:42,720 there is a plethora of movements and 631 00:28:47,090 --> 00:28:45,840 ticks performed before a key Moment by a 632 00:28:49,850 --> 00:28:47,100 range of players 633 00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:49,860 tennis player Raphael Nadal's series of 634 00:28:54,010 --> 00:28:51,840 had movements before every serve is 635 00:28:56,390 --> 00:28:54,020 noteworthy and are just some of 19 636 00:28:58,549 --> 00:28:56,400 superstitions which begin as soon as he 637 00:28:59,930 --> 00:28:58,559 enters the court before the start of the 638 00:29:02,029 --> 00:28:59,940 game 639 00:29:04,970 --> 00:29:02,039 the dialing insists on not calling them 640 00:29:07,130 --> 00:29:04,980 superstitions but rather mechanisms to 641 00:29:08,810 --> 00:29:07,140 help him Focus he always enters the 642 00:29:10,669 --> 00:29:08,820 court with a single racket in his hands 643 00:29:12,529 --> 00:29:10,679 make sure the logos from his water 644 00:29:15,049 --> 00:29:12,539 bottles are facing the court and before 645 00:29:17,210 --> 00:29:15,059 his game he takes freezing showers 646 00:29:20,389 --> 00:29:17,220 I'll do this before every match wrote 647 00:29:22,850 --> 00:29:20,399 Nadal in his 2011 autobiography about 648 00:29:25,010 --> 00:29:22,860 his showering ritual it's the point 649 00:29:27,169 --> 00:29:25,020 before the point of no return 650 00:29:29,389 --> 00:29:27,179 under the cold shower I enter a new 651 00:29:31,789 --> 00:29:29,399 space in which I feel my power and 652 00:29:35,090 --> 00:29:31,799 resilience grow I'm a different man when 653 00:29:36,889 --> 00:29:35,100 I emerge I'm activated I'm in the flow 654 00:29:38,930 --> 00:29:36,899 another leading tennis player Serena 655 00:29:41,289 --> 00:29:38,940 Williams has her own set of rituals 656 00:29:43,970 --> 00:29:41,299 bringing her shower sandals to the court 657 00:29:46,310 --> 00:29:43,980 tying her shoelaces a specific way 658 00:29:48,230 --> 00:29:46,320 wearing the same pair of socks during a 659 00:29:50,510 --> 00:29:48,240 tournament and bouncing the ball five 660 00:29:51,950 --> 00:29:50,520 times before her first serve and twice 661 00:29:54,409 --> 00:29:51,960 before her second 662 00:29:56,810 --> 00:29:54,419 she is blamed major losses are not 663 00:29:58,370 --> 00:29:56,820 correctly following her own routine of 664 00:30:00,169 --> 00:29:58,380 course it's not just athletes who occupy 665 00:30:02,510 --> 00:30:00,179 themselves in this way whether it's 666 00:30:04,370 --> 00:30:02,520 stroking a beard scratching a nose or in 667 00:30:07,070 --> 00:30:04,380 former prime minister of Australia Bob 668 00:30:08,930 --> 00:30:07,080 horse Case pulling on an earlobe nerves 669 00:30:10,669 --> 00:30:08,940 and personal beliefs can play a part in 670 00:30:12,529 --> 00:30:10,679 every person's twitches and ticks 671 00:30:14,930 --> 00:30:12,539 although many of these are unconscious 672 00:30:17,690 --> 00:30:14,940 mannerisms rather than learned behavior 673 00:30:19,490 --> 00:30:17,700 with a particular purpose in mind 674 00:30:21,049 --> 00:30:19,500 but some have suggested that Sports 675 00:30:23,630 --> 00:30:21,059 people are particularly prone to 676 00:30:25,789 --> 00:30:23,640 superstitious beliefs and unconscious 677 00:30:28,010 --> 00:30:25,799 nervous actions and they are certainly 678 00:30:30,710 --> 00:30:28,020 more exposed publicly when they practice 679 00:30:32,690 --> 00:30:30,720 them than most people whether these are 680 00:30:35,389 --> 00:30:32,700 nervous ticks unconscious medical 681 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:35,399 symptoms or movements designed to 682 00:30:39,769 --> 00:30:37,980 encourage good luck or ward off bad they 683 00:30:41,510 --> 00:30:39,779 almost become a comfort to fans of 684 00:30:43,970 --> 00:30:41,520 particular players who would be 685 00:30:45,590 --> 00:30:43,980 disappointed if their Heroes don't wipe 686 00:30:47,330 --> 00:30:45,600 the sweat from their forwards spin their 687 00:30:49,130 --> 00:30:47,340 rackets or acknowledge the almighty for 688 00:30:51,470 --> 00:30:49,140 a successful play 689 00:30:53,990 --> 00:30:51,480 then again players propensity for 690 00:30:55,730 --> 00:30:54,000 non-rational actions extends into the 691 00:30:58,010 --> 00:30:55,740 philosophies they adhere to 692 00:31:01,070 --> 00:30:58,020 the treatments they Undertake and the 693 00:31:03,169 --> 00:31:01,080 often spurious claims they promote 694 00:31:05,090 --> 00:31:03,179 these are not unconscious actions but 695 00:31:07,370 --> 00:31:05,100 deliberately chosen methodologies to 696 00:31:11,330 --> 00:31:07,380 follow and these are areas where fans 697 00:31:13,070 --> 00:31:11,340 might mimic rather than merely observe 698 00:31:15,289 --> 00:31:13,080 it's not just the athletes themselves 699 00:31:17,389 --> 00:31:15,299 who rely on unearthly assistance while 700 00:31:19,070 --> 00:31:17,399 there are many players who may make 701 00:31:21,889 --> 00:31:19,080 supplications Crossing themselves 702 00:31:23,990 --> 00:31:21,899 kissing crosses Etc before enduring a 703 00:31:26,149 --> 00:31:24,000 match fans themselves make formal 704 00:31:28,310 --> 00:31:26,159 prayers to a deity and some even believe 705 00:31:30,769 --> 00:31:28,320 they're God and particularly in the US 706 00:31:32,750 --> 00:31:30,779 that would be a Pentecostal God has not 707 00:31:35,330 --> 00:31:32,760 only favored certain players but has 708 00:31:36,769 --> 00:31:35,340 actually intervened in matches for a 709 00:31:39,049 --> 00:31:36,779 number of years of public religion 710 00:31:41,750 --> 00:31:39,059 Research Institute in the U.S surveyed 711 00:31:43,370 --> 00:31:41,760 followers of various Christian sects on 712 00:31:45,409 --> 00:31:43,380 their beliefs regarding divine 713 00:31:47,389 --> 00:31:45,419 intervention 714 00:31:49,490 --> 00:31:47,399 while it says there are significant 715 00:31:52,130 --> 00:31:49,500 disagreements among Americans about the 716 00:31:55,310 --> 00:31:52,140 role that God plays in sports by 717 00:31:57,529 --> 00:31:55,320 religious background 25 of Americans do 718 00:31:59,570 --> 00:31:57,539 believe that God plays a role in 719 00:32:01,070 --> 00:31:59,580 determining the outcome of sporting 720 00:32:03,529 --> 00:32:01,080 events 721 00:32:05,510 --> 00:32:03,539 and they say white Evangelical 722 00:32:07,310 --> 00:32:05,520 Protestants and non-white Protestants 723 00:32:09,590 --> 00:32:07,320 are more likely to see the hand of God 724 00:32:11,510 --> 00:32:09,600 in the outcome of sporting events than 725 00:32:14,210 --> 00:32:11,520 any other religious group 726 00:32:16,850 --> 00:32:14,220 approximately 41 percent of non-white 727 00:32:19,130 --> 00:32:16,860 Protestants and 36 percent of white 728 00:32:21,289 --> 00:32:19,140 Evangelical Protestants believe God 729 00:32:22,789 --> 00:32:21,299 plays a role in determining which team 730 00:32:25,190 --> 00:32:22,799 wins 731 00:32:28,070 --> 00:32:25,200 fewer white Mainline protocols 25 732 00:32:30,769 --> 00:32:28,080 Catholics 25 and religiously 733 00:32:32,990 --> 00:32:30,779 unaffiliated Americans nine percent 734 00:32:34,789 --> 00:32:33,000 believe God plays a role in determining 735 00:32:36,409 --> 00:32:34,799 outcomes on the field 736 00:32:39,049 --> 00:32:36,419 nearly half 737 00:32:41,690 --> 00:32:39,059 49 of the public believes God rewards 738 00:32:43,010 --> 00:32:41,700 athletes who have faith with good health 739 00:32:46,130 --> 00:32:43,020 and success 740 00:32:47,570 --> 00:32:46,140 about as many 47 disagree strong 741 00:32:49,430 --> 00:32:47,580 differences of opinion are evident 742 00:32:50,990 --> 00:32:49,440 between Americans of different religious 743 00:32:53,210 --> 00:32:51,000 affiliations 744 00:32:54,529 --> 00:32:53,220 non-white Protestants white Evangelical 745 00:32:55,970 --> 00:32:54,539 Protestants from White Mainline 746 00:32:57,830 --> 00:32:55,980 Protestants are more likely than 747 00:33:00,049 --> 00:32:57,840 Catholics and religiously unaffiliated 748 00:33:02,090 --> 00:33:00,059 Americans to believe God rewards 749 00:33:04,549 --> 00:33:02,100 faithful athletes with success good 750 00:33:06,470 --> 00:33:04,559 health note that close to two-thirds of 751 00:33:09,169 --> 00:33:06,480 Americans consider themselves to be a 752 00:33:11,029 --> 00:33:09,179 fan of a particular sports team 753 00:33:14,330 --> 00:33:11,039 but it goes beyond having God on your 754 00:33:16,730 --> 00:33:14,340 side among sports fans 20 report that 755 00:33:18,889 --> 00:33:16,740 they believe their team has been cursed 756 00:33:21,950 --> 00:33:18,899 at some point while more than a quarter 757 00:33:23,330 --> 00:33:21,960 28 said they have prayed for God to help 758 00:33:24,950 --> 00:33:23,340 their team 759 00:33:27,769 --> 00:33:24,960 there are notable differences between 760 00:33:29,690 --> 00:33:27,779 male and female sports fans men are more 761 00:33:33,169 --> 00:33:29,700 likely than women to believe their team 762 00:33:34,909 --> 00:33:33,179 has been cursed 24 versus 15. while 763 00:33:37,789 --> 00:33:34,919 women are somewhat more likely to report 764 00:33:41,450 --> 00:33:37,799 having prayed for divine intervention to 765 00:33:43,490 --> 00:33:41,460 help their team 31 to 40 25. 766 00:33:45,710 --> 00:33:43,500 one wonders if this 767 00:33:47,509 --> 00:33:45,720 intervention as God pays as much 768 00:33:50,690 --> 00:33:47,519 attention to a local Little League game 769 00:33:52,610 --> 00:33:50,700 as they do to a Super Bowl event 770 00:33:55,250 --> 00:33:52,620 as a side note it's interesting to know 771 00:33:57,289 --> 00:33:55,260 that the prri has also discovered that 772 00:33:59,810 --> 00:33:57,299 more than a quarter 28 of Americans 773 00:34:02,090 --> 00:33:59,820 believe God played a major role in 774 00:34:03,110 --> 00:34:02,100 determining the outcome of the 2016 775 00:34:04,850 --> 00:34:03,120 election 776 00:34:08,270 --> 00:34:04,860 the last of these surveys was carried 777 00:34:11,329 --> 00:34:08,280 out in 2017. 30 say God played a minor 778 00:34:13,609 --> 00:34:11,339 role and a majority 55 say God did not 779 00:34:14,869 --> 00:34:13,619 play any role at all in the presidential 780 00:34:17,149 --> 00:34:14,879 election that was the one where Donald 781 00:34:19,790 --> 00:34:17,159 Trump got elected in the first time 782 00:34:22,369 --> 00:34:19,800 perception about God's influence in 783 00:34:24,710 --> 00:34:22,379 politics varied markedly by political 784 00:34:27,109 --> 00:34:24,720 and religious affiliation 45 percent of 785 00:34:28,790 --> 00:34:27,119 Republicans believed God intervened to 786 00:34:31,430 --> 00:34:28,800 help president Donald Trump win the 787 00:34:34,190 --> 00:34:31,440 presidency compared to 26 of 788 00:34:37,909 --> 00:34:34,200 Independence and 18 percent of Democrats 789 00:34:40,609 --> 00:34:37,919 a majority 57 of white Evangelical 790 00:34:44,030 --> 00:34:40,619 Protestants say God played a major role 791 00:34:45,230 --> 00:34:44,040 in determining the outcome of the 2016 792 00:34:47,329 --> 00:34:45,240 election 793 00:34:49,609 --> 00:34:47,339 Have you shared by fewer than half of 794 00:34:51,470 --> 00:34:49,619 non-white Protestants and fewer than one 795 00:34:53,270 --> 00:34:51,480 quarter of white Mainline Protestants 796 00:34:56,370 --> 00:34:53,280 Catholics and the religiously 797 00:35:01,190 --> 00:34:59,270 [Music] 798 00:35:03,829 --> 00:35:01,200 story on ticks and tactics on Sports 799 00:35:06,349 --> 00:35:03,839 superstitions and in the next part we'll 800 00:35:08,270 --> 00:35:06,359 be looking at particular products and a 801 00:35:10,970 --> 00:35:08,280 particular athlete we've probably 802 00:35:12,410 --> 00:35:10,980 regarded as one of the greatest of all 803 00:35:14,329 --> 00:35:12,420 time 804 00:35:16,550 --> 00:35:14,339 I'm Tim Mendham head to fifth Escape 805 00:35:18,470 --> 00:35:16,560 League magazine and you'll soon be able 806 00:35:22,190 --> 00:35:18,480 to download this issue of the magazine 807 00:35:24,050 --> 00:35:22,200 March 2022 from our website Asia candle 808 00:35:26,830 --> 00:35:24,060 previous issues of the magazine at 809 00:35:47,829 --> 00:35:26,840 skeptics.com 810 00:35:50,329 --> 00:35:47,839 [Music] 811 00:35:53,089 --> 00:35:50,339 this is Kyle from the data skeptic 812 00:35:55,370 --> 00:35:53,099 podcast if you're curious about the way 813 00:35:57,589 --> 00:35:55,380 data is changing our world topics like 814 00:36:00,410 --> 00:35:57,599 Ai and all this craziness with Facebook 815 00:36:02,210 --> 00:36:00,420 and Bots and the Twitter storm and how 816 00:36:04,310 --> 00:36:02,220 the algorithms that underline that work 817 00:36:06,050 --> 00:36:04,320 and you don't want a technical Deep dive 818 00:36:07,010 --> 00:36:06,060 you want it you know in the vernacular 819 00:36:08,990 --> 00:36:07,020 in a way that people can understand 820 00:36:11,150 --> 00:36:09,000 check us out at data skeptic that's what 821 00:36:12,950 --> 00:36:11,160 we try and do I interview Advanced 822 00:36:14,630 --> 00:36:12,960 Professionals in the field who do this 823 00:36:17,690 --> 00:36:14,640 sort of research and then I get into 824 00:36:21,950 --> 00:36:17,700 interesting projects as well 825 00:36:43,430 --> 00:36:31,550 [Music] 826 00:36:48,490 --> 00:36:45,530 now it's time once again to go back to 827 00:36:50,990 --> 00:36:48,500 those pages at Trove at 828 00:36:53,030 --> 00:36:51,000 trove.nla.gov dot a u and you know it 829 00:36:54,470 --> 00:36:53,040 very well it's the online resource from 830 00:36:56,990 --> 00:36:54,480 the Australian government and the 831 00:36:59,569 --> 00:36:57,000 National Library of Australia chocoblock 832 00:37:02,210 --> 00:36:59,579 fall to the brim overflowing more than 833 00:37:04,430 --> 00:37:02,220 enough all the time our digital 834 00:37:05,440 --> 00:37:04,440 newspaper archives going back well 835 00:37:06,829 --> 00:37:05,450 centuries 836 00:37:09,370 --> 00:37:06,839 [Music] 837 00:37:11,750 --> 00:37:09,380 foreign 838 00:37:14,630 --> 00:37:11,760 weeks ago when we were doing a tribute 839 00:37:18,950 --> 00:37:14,640 to Dr Harriet Hall the subject of the 840 00:37:21,589 --> 00:37:18,960 Trove was quackery and during that 841 00:37:25,550 --> 00:37:21,599 search I stumbled across a reference an 842 00:37:28,490 --> 00:37:25,560 early reference to iridology in the 843 00:37:30,970 --> 00:37:28,500 Australian press now turning to the 844 00:37:34,450 --> 00:37:30,980 pages at quack watch at 845 00:37:37,849 --> 00:37:34,460 quackwatch.org we discover the item 846 00:37:42,050 --> 00:37:37,859 iridology is nonsense by Stephen Barrett 847 00:37:45,470 --> 00:37:42,060 MD published in 2015 and it says in part 848 00:37:47,870 --> 00:37:45,480 iridology sometimes referred to as Iris 849 00:37:49,790 --> 00:37:47,880 diagnosis is based on the bizarre belief 850 00:37:52,609 --> 00:37:49,800 that each area of the body is 851 00:37:55,190 --> 00:37:52,619 represented by a corresponding area in 852 00:37:57,050 --> 00:37:55,200 the iris of the eye the colored area 853 00:37:59,089 --> 00:37:57,060 around the pupil according to this 854 00:38:01,730 --> 00:37:59,099 Viewpoint a person's state of health and 855 00:38:04,490 --> 00:38:01,740 disease can be diagnosed from the color 856 00:38:07,010 --> 00:38:04,500 texture and location of various pigment 857 00:38:10,510 --> 00:38:07,020 flecks in the eye iridology 858 00:38:13,190 --> 00:38:10,520 practitioners claim to diagnose 859 00:38:15,530 --> 00:38:13,200 imbalances that can be treated with 860 00:38:17,990 --> 00:38:15,540 vitamins minerals herbs and similar 861 00:38:20,810 --> 00:38:18,000 products some claim that the eye 862 00:38:23,329 --> 00:38:20,820 markings can reveal a complex history of 863 00:38:26,030 --> 00:38:23,339 past illnesses as well as previous 864 00:38:29,109 --> 00:38:26,040 treatments one textbook for example 865 00:38:32,109 --> 00:38:29,119 states that a white triangle in the 866 00:38:35,150 --> 00:38:32,119 appropriate area indicates 867 00:38:38,109 --> 00:38:35,160 appendicitis but a black spec indicates 868 00:38:41,510 --> 00:38:38,119 the appendix had been removed by surgery 869 00:38:44,329 --> 00:38:41,520 iridology charts dozens of which exist 870 00:38:47,569 --> 00:38:44,339 varies are not in the location and 871 00:38:50,089 --> 00:38:47,579 interpretation of their Iris signs and 872 00:38:52,910 --> 00:38:50,099 towards the end it says the bottom line 873 00:38:55,550 --> 00:38:52,920 iridology makes no anatomical or 874 00:38:58,510 --> 00:38:55,560 physiological sense it is not merely 875 00:39:00,950 --> 00:38:58,520 worthless incorrect diagnosis can 876 00:39:03,170 --> 00:39:00,960 unnecessarily frighten people cause them 877 00:39:05,569 --> 00:39:03,180 to waste money seeking medical care for 878 00:39:08,150 --> 00:39:05,579 non-existent conditions and steer them 879 00:39:10,790 --> 00:39:08,160 away from necessary medical care when a 880 00:39:13,370 --> 00:39:10,800 real problem is over looked and that's 881 00:39:15,829 --> 00:39:13,380 very true for a lot of so-called 882 00:39:17,690 --> 00:39:15,839 alternative medicines and in red letters 883 00:39:19,730 --> 00:39:17,700 down the bottom it says if you encounter 884 00:39:21,790 --> 00:39:19,740 anyone practicing iridology please 885 00:39:24,849 --> 00:39:21,800 complain to your State Attorney General 886 00:39:28,609 --> 00:39:24,859 so bearing the information from that 887 00:39:32,260 --> 00:39:28,619 page in mind let's have a look at the 888 00:39:37,310 --> 00:39:35,089 [Music] 889 00:39:40,550 --> 00:39:37,320 and we turn to the pages of the herald 890 00:39:43,810 --> 00:39:40,560 from Melbourne Victoria dated the 22nd 891 00:39:46,910 --> 00:39:43,820 of February 1934. 892 00:39:49,130 --> 00:39:46,920 so the references to iridology in 893 00:39:50,450 --> 00:39:49,140 Australia do go back quite a way 894 00:39:53,810 --> 00:39:50,460 and 895 00:39:57,650 --> 00:39:53,820 this is somewhat blurred 896 00:39:59,510 --> 00:39:57,660 uh the copy they have here online but 897 00:40:00,770 --> 00:39:59,520 I'll see if I can get through 898 00:40:04,490 --> 00:40:00,780 your health 899 00:40:07,130 --> 00:40:04,500 iridology and Betty Martin 900 00:40:10,550 --> 00:40:07,140 by our medical correspondent 901 00:40:12,829 --> 00:40:10,560 iridology is the name of a new so-called 902 00:40:14,390 --> 00:40:12,839 science established in America and 903 00:40:17,870 --> 00:40:14,400 liable to spread to other countries 904 00:40:20,510 --> 00:40:17,880 which claims by means of study of the 905 00:40:23,329 --> 00:40:20,520 iris of the eye to be able to diagnose 906 00:40:26,410 --> 00:40:23,339 disease in any part of the body those 907 00:40:28,849 --> 00:40:26,420 who practice the cult are called 908 00:40:31,490 --> 00:40:28,859 iridologists they look you carefully in 909 00:40:34,250 --> 00:40:31,500 the eye not to see if there is any green 910 00:40:37,250 --> 00:40:34,260 in it but because according to them the 911 00:40:40,550 --> 00:40:37,260 various parts and organs of the body are 912 00:40:43,190 --> 00:40:40,560 connected or related to various parts of 913 00:40:45,349 --> 00:40:43,200 the iris and if there is anything wrong 914 00:40:47,450 --> 00:40:45,359 with an organ there will be a change or 915 00:40:50,510 --> 00:40:47,460 alteration in the corresponding part of 916 00:40:53,210 --> 00:40:50,520 the iris this can be seen and so with 917 00:40:56,569 --> 00:40:53,220 the aid of a chart your trouble can be 918 00:40:59,870 --> 00:40:56,579 located the iris of the eye is the 919 00:41:02,510 --> 00:40:59,880 movable curtain so interestingly colored 920 00:41:05,270 --> 00:41:02,520 which lies in front of the lens of the 921 00:41:08,329 --> 00:41:05,280 eye and surrounds the central hole 922 00:41:12,170 --> 00:41:08,339 called the pupil through which the light 923 00:41:14,210 --> 00:41:12,180 enters the eye it corresponds and I 924 00:41:16,310 --> 00:41:14,220 think the next word is directly but it's 925 00:41:18,770 --> 00:41:16,320 it's completely blurred so 926 00:41:20,510 --> 00:41:18,780 let's assume it could be directly it 927 00:41:23,630 --> 00:41:20,520 corresponds directly to the movable 928 00:41:26,210 --> 00:41:23,640 diaphragm in front of the lens of a 929 00:41:29,329 --> 00:41:26,220 camera and operates in a similar manner 930 00:41:32,210 --> 00:41:29,339 it contains five muscle fibers whereby 931 00:41:35,150 --> 00:41:32,220 it can contract and make the pupil 932 00:41:37,430 --> 00:41:35,160 smaller when we are in bright light and 933 00:41:41,630 --> 00:41:37,440 other fibers which can open the pupil 934 00:41:43,250 --> 00:41:41,640 wide in dim light cats as we know like 935 00:41:45,410 --> 00:41:43,260 the skeptic Zone cats who are sitting 936 00:41:47,170 --> 00:41:45,420 next to me on the desk 937 00:41:51,050 --> 00:41:47,180 trying to be quiet 938 00:41:54,050 --> 00:41:51,060 cats as we know have an iris so shaped 939 00:41:55,609 --> 00:41:54,060 as to give the pupil an oval or 940 00:41:58,310 --> 00:41:55,619 elliptical shape 941 00:42:01,490 --> 00:41:58,320 needless to say the parts of the iris 942 00:42:04,069 --> 00:42:01,500 have no more relationship to the organs 943 00:42:08,270 --> 00:42:04,079 of the body than have the hairs of our 944 00:42:10,270 --> 00:42:08,280 head or the flaps of your ears 945 00:42:13,250 --> 00:42:10,280 it is a reflection of our education 946 00:42:16,730 --> 00:42:13,260 so-called that unfortunate people can be 947 00:42:19,250 --> 00:42:16,740 gold in such a manner and shows how 948 00:42:20,990 --> 00:42:19,260 desirable it is that we should all have 949 00:42:24,650 --> 00:42:21,000 among other things a general 950 00:42:27,829 --> 00:42:24,660 understanding of physiology and hygiene 951 00:42:30,349 --> 00:42:27,839 iridology may be good business but it is 952 00:42:32,990 --> 00:42:30,359 and here's the sad part the next word is 953 00:42:34,310 --> 00:42:33,000 so blurred that I don't know what it 954 00:42:37,250 --> 00:42:34,320 could say 955 00:42:41,870 --> 00:42:37,260 we'll have to use our imagination and it 956 00:42:44,990 --> 00:42:41,880 ends all my eye and Betty Martin who was 957 00:42:47,750 --> 00:42:45,000 Betty Martin it says 958 00:42:50,089 --> 00:42:47,760 so let's skip ahead a few years to 1940 959 00:42:53,410 --> 00:42:50,099 from The Daily Telegraph from Sydney 960 00:42:57,550 --> 00:42:53,420 dated the 26th of May 961 00:43:00,950 --> 00:42:57,560 diagnosis by the eye Mr C H flower 962 00:43:03,589 --> 00:43:00,960 claims that by examining the iris of the 963 00:43:06,950 --> 00:43:03,599 eye he can tell if there is anything 964 00:43:09,829 --> 00:43:06,960 wrong with any part of the body with a 965 00:43:13,730 --> 00:43:09,839 few exceptions Mr flower a Melbourne 966 00:43:16,609 --> 00:43:13,740 optometrist describes this as iridology 967 00:43:19,430 --> 00:43:16,619 the science of diagnosing pathological 968 00:43:22,490 --> 00:43:19,440 and functional disturbances in the human 969 00:43:25,130 --> 00:43:22,500 body by means of abnormal lines spots 970 00:43:27,890 --> 00:43:25,140 and discolorations in the iris of the 971 00:43:29,809 --> 00:43:27,900 eye he states that iridology has been 972 00:43:32,750 --> 00:43:29,819 highly developed in the United States 973 00:43:35,450 --> 00:43:32,760 and that he is one of its new Australian 974 00:43:37,670 --> 00:43:35,460 practitioners charts have been developed 975 00:43:39,710 --> 00:43:37,680 upon which are indicated the serious 976 00:43:41,569 --> 00:43:39,720 parts and organs of the body 977 00:43:44,089 --> 00:43:41,579 said Mr flower 978 00:43:46,910 --> 00:43:44,099 these are connected to the Iris by means 979 00:43:50,329 --> 00:43:46,920 of the nerve system the charts permit 980 00:43:52,670 --> 00:43:50,339 almost immediate diagnosis and that was 981 00:43:55,069 --> 00:43:52,680 1940. 982 00:43:58,329 --> 00:43:55,079 so looks like iridology was being 983 00:44:02,089 --> 00:43:58,339 practiced in Australia as long ago as 984 00:44:03,890 --> 00:44:02,099 1940 and once it was introduced it 985 00:44:06,470 --> 00:44:03,900 didn't go away 986 00:44:08,270 --> 00:44:06,480 and so we turned to the pages of the 987 00:44:11,510 --> 00:44:08,280 port Lincoln times from South Australia 988 00:44:14,990 --> 00:44:11,520 dated the 14th of April 1992. 989 00:44:18,050 --> 00:44:15,000 guest speaker at tumbi Bay naturopath 990 00:44:22,130 --> 00:44:18,060 Mrs Carolyn white was guest speaker at a 991 00:44:26,210 --> 00:44:22,140 morning meeting of the tumbi Bay wab 992 00:44:28,089 --> 00:44:26,220 I'm not sure what wab stands for 993 00:44:30,829 --> 00:44:28,099 let's look it up 994 00:44:34,130 --> 00:44:30,839 and it seems to be 995 00:44:37,190 --> 00:44:34,140 women in agriculture and business of 996 00:44:40,670 --> 00:44:37,200 South Australia Incorporated 997 00:44:42,190 --> 00:44:40,680 it goes on Mrs White also has diplomas 998 00:44:45,950 --> 00:44:42,200 in iridology 999 00:44:48,710 --> 00:44:45,960 diabetics and nutrition she began by 1000 00:44:51,770 --> 00:44:48,720 saying that we are what we eat and that 1001 00:44:53,510 --> 00:44:51,780 80 of our food should be eaten raw we 1002 00:44:57,050 --> 00:44:53,520 should drink eight glasses of water 1003 00:44:59,650 --> 00:44:57,060 daily one teaspoon of cider vinegar with 1004 00:45:02,210 --> 00:44:59,660 each meal helps to break down food 1005 00:45:05,390 --> 00:45:02,220 iridology is the study of the iris of 1006 00:45:08,450 --> 00:45:05,400 the eye and from this can be learned the 1007 00:45:10,910 --> 00:45:08,460 physical condition of the body it is 1008 00:45:13,970 --> 00:45:10,920 incredible what can be detected by an 1009 00:45:16,970 --> 00:45:13,980 iridology reading Mrs White also spoke 1010 00:45:20,150 --> 00:45:16,980 on constipation its cause and cure 1011 00:45:22,069 --> 00:45:20,160 hardening of the arteries cancer and the 1012 00:45:25,130 --> 00:45:22,079 use of many herbs 1013 00:45:27,710 --> 00:45:25,140 Mrs Molly warry proposed a vote of 1014 00:45:32,210 --> 00:45:27,720 thanks to Mrs White for her informative 1015 00:45:33,410 --> 00:45:32,220 talk and presented her with a w a b t 1016 00:45:35,569 --> 00:45:33,420 towel 1017 00:45:39,530 --> 00:45:35,579 a report on the regional meeting was 1018 00:45:43,849 --> 00:45:39,540 given by Ivy Freeman and Explorer s's 1019 00:45:45,890 --> 00:45:43,859 week by Gwen lovegrove the Branch's 30th 1020 00:45:50,089 --> 00:45:45,900 birthday meeting will be held at Ivy 1021 00:45:53,990 --> 00:45:50,099 Freeman's home on May 16. cars leave at 1022 00:45:55,370 --> 00:45:54,000 1 30 PM from the Anglican Church what a 1023 00:46:00,950 --> 00:45:55,380 wonderful little piece of history that 1024 00:46:03,470 --> 00:46:00,960 is way back in 1992 over 30 years ago 1025 00:46:06,109 --> 00:46:03,480 and finally we turn to the River Arena 1026 00:46:09,829 --> 00:46:06,119 Herald from echuca Victoria dated the 1027 00:46:13,970 --> 00:46:09,839 30th of September 1998. 1028 00:46:16,250 --> 00:46:13,980 being female is advantageous 1029 00:46:19,010 --> 00:46:16,260 ichuka naturopath and masseuse Marg 1030 00:46:20,870 --> 00:46:19,020 Phipps that's found being female in the 1031 00:46:23,750 --> 00:46:20,880 alternative medicine industry can be 1032 00:46:25,670 --> 00:46:23,760 advantageous in the same way some people 1033 00:46:28,730 --> 00:46:25,680 feel more comfortable about going to 1034 00:46:32,270 --> 00:46:28,740 female doctors some are more at ease 1035 00:46:36,530 --> 00:46:32,280 with female naturopaths females probably 1036 00:46:39,230 --> 00:46:36,540 tend to listen more than males mugs says 1037 00:46:41,690 --> 00:46:39,240 not long after mug started working as a 1038 00:46:43,670 --> 00:46:41,700 masseuse around 11 years ago feedback 1039 00:46:46,550 --> 00:46:43,680 from clients got her interested in 1040 00:46:49,130 --> 00:46:46,560 naturopathy people were asking questions 1041 00:46:50,630 --> 00:46:49,140 about nutrition and health and this 1042 00:46:54,829 --> 00:46:50,640 started to be down the corridor to 1043 00:46:56,930 --> 00:46:54,839 naturopathy so in early 1990 Marg 1044 00:47:00,710 --> 00:46:56,940 started studying naturopathy full-time 1045 00:47:04,309 --> 00:47:00,720 she graduated in 1993 and immediately 1046 00:47:06,950 --> 00:47:04,319 started working at a clinic in moama 1047 00:47:11,329 --> 00:47:06,960 in July this year mark established a 1048 00:47:13,930 --> 00:47:11,339 clinic at 61 Nish Street echuca 1049 00:47:16,490 --> 00:47:13,940 because the moama clinic was too small 1050 00:47:18,530 --> 00:47:16,500 Marg has been joined at the clinic by 1051 00:47:20,630 --> 00:47:18,540 her daughter Karen following in her 1052 00:47:23,870 --> 00:47:20,640 mother's footsteps Karen is studying 1053 00:47:27,050 --> 00:47:23,880 naturopathy and like Marg is qualified 1054 00:47:28,550 --> 00:47:27,060 in Bowen technique and massage the Bowen 1055 00:47:31,370 --> 00:47:28,560 technique is a popular form of 1056 00:47:33,890 --> 00:47:31,380 therapeutic massage and convenient for 1057 00:47:35,150 --> 00:47:33,900 elderly people as there is no need to 1058 00:47:37,910 --> 00:47:35,160 disrobe 1059 00:47:39,790 --> 00:47:37,920 it's putting reflex actions above major 1060 00:47:42,829 --> 00:47:39,800 acupuncture points in the body 1061 00:47:46,730 --> 00:47:42,839 correcting and relaxing the body Marg 1062 00:47:49,010 --> 00:47:46,740 said Marg is also qualified in iridology 1063 00:47:51,050 --> 00:47:49,020 the field of alternative medicine which 1064 00:47:53,630 --> 00:47:51,060 assesses a person's health by examining 1065 00:47:56,510 --> 00:47:53,640 the eye the essential premise behind 1066 00:47:59,569 --> 00:47:56,520 iridology is that areas within the eyes 1067 00:48:00,710 --> 00:47:59,579 Iris correspond to an organ or function 1068 00:48:03,349 --> 00:48:00,720 of the body 1069 00:48:05,329 --> 00:48:03,359 we're looking at reflex areas colors 1070 00:48:07,370 --> 00:48:05,339 marking shapes in areas that tell us 1071 00:48:11,270 --> 00:48:07,380 what sort of problems we are dealing 1072 00:48:14,089 --> 00:48:11,280 with internally mug said Marg is able to 1073 00:48:18,250 --> 00:48:14,099 generate computerized images of patients 1074 00:48:20,690 --> 00:48:18,260 eyes to ensure thorough eye examinations 1075 00:48:23,030 --> 00:48:20,700 Marg is available for consultations at 1076 00:48:26,390 --> 00:48:23,040 the echuca Naturopath Health Clinic on 1077 00:48:28,320 --> 00:48:26,400 Wednesdays Thursdays Fridays and every 1078 00:48:29,450 --> 00:48:28,330 second Saturday morning 1079 00:48:30,830 --> 00:48:29,460 [Music] 1080 00:48:34,510 --> 00:48:30,840 foreign 1081 00:48:38,930 --> 00:48:36,950 years I've been going to the Mind Body 1082 00:48:42,550 --> 00:48:38,940 Spirit Mind Body wallet festivals here 1083 00:48:47,809 --> 00:48:42,560 in Sydney and other other such fairs 1084 00:48:48,790 --> 00:48:47,819 I've never failed to see at least one or 1085 00:48:51,890 --> 00:48:48,800 two 1086 00:48:54,589 --> 00:48:51,900 iridologists in action in fact I had my 1087 00:48:57,829 --> 00:48:54,599 own eyes examined by an iridologist for 1088 00:49:01,060 --> 00:48:57,839 the sake of Science of course oh must be 1089 00:49:03,890 --> 00:49:01,070 approaching 20 years ago 1090 00:49:06,770 --> 00:49:03,900 [Music] 1091 00:49:10,609 --> 00:49:06,780 so there we are references to iridology 1092 00:49:13,430 --> 00:49:10,619 the classic of quackery in the pages of 1093 00:49:16,010 --> 00:49:13,440 Australian newspapers and you can find 1094 00:49:18,650 --> 00:49:16,020 out all sorts of other classic items and 1095 00:49:19,809 --> 00:49:18,660 areas of interest when you visit Trove 1096 00:49:21,770 --> 00:49:19,819 at 1097 00:49:23,690 --> 00:49:21,780 trove.nla.gov.eu I encourage you to do 1098 00:49:26,809 --> 00:49:23,700 it have a look have a look around it's 1099 00:49:29,809 --> 00:49:26,819 fascinating you get lost into all sorts 1100 00:49:34,950 --> 00:49:29,819 of interesting rabbit holes because 1101 00:49:34,960 --> 00:49:46,329 [Music] 1102 00:49:54,650 --> 00:49:49,130 thank you 1103 00:49:57,290 --> 00:49:54,660 wonderful supporters at patreon and 1104 00:50:00,349 --> 00:49:57,300 PayPal if you want to join the um 1105 00:50:03,250 --> 00:50:00,359 increasing number of people who do chip 1106 00:50:05,750 --> 00:50:03,260 in help out contribute just go to 1107 00:50:07,730 --> 00:50:05,760 skepticzone.tv and follow the very 1108 00:50:09,589 --> 00:50:07,740 obvious links 1109 00:50:11,089 --> 00:50:09,599 and when you're there you can glance at 1110 00:50:14,329 --> 00:50:11,099 this week's show notes which will tell 1111 00:50:16,089 --> 00:50:14,339 you that 10 years ago 10 years ago on 1112 00:50:19,910 --> 00:50:16,099 the skeptic Zone episode 1113 00:50:22,309 --> 00:50:19,920 224 for the 3rd of February 2013 1114 00:50:25,010 --> 00:50:22,319 may not spooky action Maynard 1115 00:50:28,010 --> 00:50:25,020 interviewed Robert Llewellyn from Red 1116 00:50:30,530 --> 00:50:28,020 Dwarf who plays Creighton and still does 1117 00:50:31,970 --> 00:50:30,540 and of course many other things there's 1118 00:50:33,829 --> 00:50:31,980 an article in the skeptical magazine 1119 00:50:37,010 --> 00:50:33,839 about creating your own skeptical 1120 00:50:38,870 --> 00:50:37,020 messages and a chat with Dr Meredith 1121 00:50:40,550 --> 00:50:38,880 doig president of the rationalist 1122 00:50:43,130 --> 00:50:40,560 Society of Australia all that happened 1123 00:50:45,349 --> 00:50:43,140 10 years ago there's a link in the sweet 1124 00:50:48,170 --> 00:50:45,359 show notes coming up on next week's 1125 00:50:51,250 --> 00:50:48,180 episode part two of Tim Mendham series 1126 00:50:53,630 --> 00:50:51,260 of ticks and tactics about 1127 00:50:56,510 --> 00:50:53,640 Superstition in sport 1128 00:51:00,829 --> 00:50:56,520 the Australian Skeptics newsletter and 1129 00:51:02,750 --> 00:51:00,839 Trove will look at fake cures lots to 1130 00:51:05,510 --> 00:51:02,760 look forward to but now it's time for me 1131 00:51:06,710 --> 00:51:05,520 to turn off the recording device hang up 1132 00:51:09,290 --> 00:51:06,720 the headphones 1133 00:51:12,470 --> 00:51:09,300 run downstairs again and edit the show 1134 00:51:15,109 --> 00:51:12,480 together well I do all that I'll wish 1135 00:51:17,150 --> 00:51:15,119 you a good week but for this week this 1136 00:51:22,390 --> 00:51:17,160 is Richard Saunders signing off from 1137 00:51:29,349 --> 00:51:24,770 you've been listening to the skeptic 1138 00:51:31,630 --> 00:51:29,359 Zone podcast please visit our website at 1139 00:51:34,730 --> 00:51:31,640 www.skepticzone.tv for show notes 1140 00:51:38,329 --> 00:51:34,740 contacts and to access the back catalog 1141 00:51:40,309 --> 00:51:38,339 of episodes going back to 2008. 1142 00:51:43,910 --> 00:51:40,319 you can follow the skeptic Zone podcast 1143 00:51:46,190 --> 00:51:43,920 on Twitter at skeptic Zone visit our 1144 00:51:47,510 --> 00:51:46,200 Facebook page or leave a review on 1145 00:51:49,670 --> 00:51:47,520 iTunes 1146 00:51:52,910 --> 00:51:49,680 you can also support the skeptic Zone 1147 00:51:56,390 --> 00:51:52,920 via patreon or PayPal the skeptic Zone 1148 00:51:58,069 --> 00:51:56,400 podcast is an independent production the 1149 00:52:00,170 --> 00:51:58,079 views and opinions expressed on the 1150 00:52:02,569 --> 00:52:00,180 skeptic zone are not necessarily those 1151 00:52:04,220 --> 00:52:02,579 of Australian Skeptics or any other 1152 00:52:15,370 --> 00:52:04,230 skeptical organization 1153 00:52:21,730 --> 00:52:19,430 Rat King according to its wiki page a 1154 00:52:23,510 --> 00:52:21,740 rat king 1155 00:52:26,030 --> 00:52:23,520 foreign 1156 00:52:32,630 --> 00:52:26,040 that's um that's not a rat king that's a 1157 00:52:37,069 --> 00:52:34,970 what is it 1158 00:52:40,270 --> 00:52:37,079 don't just sit in the stairwell and meow 1159 00:52:46,549 --> 00:52:40,280 at me come here come on come on mode 1160 00:52:51,829 --> 00:52:49,309 I'm trying to record the skeptic Zone