Skeptical Reporter for February 1st, 2013 We begin this edition of the skeptical reporter with an announcement. The editors at Doubtful News are working on a guideline on skepticism for the media. They are welcoming contributions and suggestions to make this document complete, easy to understand and use. This is what the announcement had to ...continue reading "Skeptical reporter @ 2013-02-15"

Introducere - 1:00 An Honest Liar http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/220588101/an-honest-liar-the-amazing-randi-story Calendar - 3:31 Oliver Joseph Lodge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Joseph_Lodge Pericolele lipsei de scepticism - 4:56 Un polițist omorât în Pakistan în timp ce apăra persoanele responsabile cu campania de vaccinare anti-poliomielită http://news.yahoo.com/policeman-protecting-pakistani-polio-team-killed-120627955.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21381773 Corecții și continuări - 8:16 Depresia de la băuturile îndulcite a fost testată pe oameni în vârstă ...continue reading "Sceptici în România – Episodul 60"

Skeptical Reporter for February 8th, 2013 A self proclaimed faith-healer from Canada has been charged with sexual assault. Claude Provencher believes he has a God-given gift to heal people with a touch of his hands. But his clients have accused him of trying to do more than just heal them. On January 21st, Provencher was ...continue reading "Skeptical reporter @ 2013-02-08"

Skeptical Reporter for February 1st, 2013 Until a few days ago, the name Mark Lynas was little known outside the environmental community. An effective campaigner against genetically modified organisms, Lynas has also written several well-received books, including Six Degrees and The God Species. Recently, Lynas gave a speech at a conference on farming at OxfordUniversity, ...continue reading "Skeptical reporter @ 2013-02-01"

01:00 - 10:00 Introducere și un anunț important An Honest Liar http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/220588101/an-honest-liar-the-amazing-randi-story Link-uri pentru Facebook: http://kck.st/W3RVWs http://www.facebook.com/AnHonestLiarDoc http://www.anhonestliar.com 11:00 - 13:13 - Calendarul științei și scepticismului 13:23 - 19:15 - Pericolele lipsei de scepticism În provincia Aceh din Indonezia, femeile pasager pe motociclete trebuie să facă echilibristică și sa stea pe-o parte, nu cu șaua ...continue reading "Sceptici în România – Episodul 59"

Skeptical Reporter for January 25th, 2013

In the Phillipines, cancer experts and the government warned the public against herbal supplements that are advertised as cures for cancer, saying these were “voodoo medicine.” The Philippine Society of Medical Oncology said these herbal supplements had no proven curative effects, while the Food and Drug Administration said it did not approve any herbal medicine or health supplement as a cure for cancer. “That’s what I call voodoo medicine. There is no viable alternative to mainstream cancer treatment”, explained Dr. Ellie May Villegas, PSMO vice president. Villegas said some of the supposed treatments that the public should be wary about included bio-resonance therapies, oxygen treatment, colonic cleansing, “megadosing” of Vitamin C, antineoplastons and immuno-augmentation treatment. She said herbal medicines might actually interfere with chemotherapy or medicines used in cancer treatment. “Some herbs cause problematic interactions with chemo, causing blood pressure swings and other complications,” Villegas added.

Sixty-three percent of registered voters in the U.S. buy into at least one political conspiracy theory, according to results from a recent Fairleigh Dickinson University Public Mind Poll. The nationwide survey of registered voters asked Americans to evaluate four different political conspiracy theories: 56 percent of Democrats and 75 percent of Republicans say that at least one is likely true. This includes 36 percent who think that President Obama is hiding information about his background and early life, 25 percent who think that the government knew about 9/11 in advance, and 19 percent who think the 2012 Presidential election was stolen. Generally, the more people know about current events, the less likely they are to believe in conspiracy theories – but not among Republicans, where more knowledge leads to greater belief in political conspiracies. The most popular of these conspiracy theories is the belief that President Obama is hiding important information about his background, which would include what’s often referred to as “birtherism.” “Groups that feel more distanced from the political process are more likely to believe that sinister forces are at work,” said Dan Cassino, a professor of political science at Fairleigh Dickinson University and an analyst for the poll. “These figures tell us more about a lack of trust in the political process than acceptance of particular conspiracies”, he added.

A minister in the state of Karnataka, home to the Indian infotech industry, has announced that the state government will set up a committee “to find out ways to eliminate black magic.” It is considering whether to require astrologers to register with the state authorities, apparently to sort out the legitimate fortune-tellers from the frauds.

Last month, during its 4th International Astrological Conference, the Karnataka Astrologers Association adopted a resolution to ban “dishonest astrologers in public sphere.” It was responding to predictions based on the Mayan calendar that spread fears the world would end on December 21st. The association’s vice president reportedly railed against “fake astrologers” out to make money peddling “mindless prophecies” for damaging “the reputation of astrology, which is traditionally viewed as a science”.

In Italy, the L'Aquila judge who last October sentenced seven scientists and engineers to 6 years in prison each for advice they gave ahead of a deadly 2009 earthquake explained his reasons for the manslaughter convictions. He said that the seven, at the time members of an official government body called the National Commission for the Forecast and Prevention of Major Risks, had analyzed the risk of a major quake in a "superficial, approximate and generic" way and that they were willing participants in a "media operation" to reassure the public. The 950-page document judge Marco Billi has released,

9:31 - 13:10 Pericolele lipsei de scepticism - O piramidă mayașă a fost distrusă de apocalipsari

* http://totb.ro/apocalipsa-n-a-venit-asa-ca-turistii-au-avariat-o-piramida-mayasa

* http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/mayan-temple-damaged-apocalypse-frenzy-article-1.1226584

13:12 - 26:13 Erori științifice în filmele SF

* http://www.popsci.com/science/gallery/2012-12/sloppiest-sci-fi-movie-science-violations-2012

26:19 - 30:15 Nu confundați corelația și cauzația

* http://boingboing.net/2013/01/01/correlation-between-autism-dia.html

* O corelație inversă este legată de pirații și încălzirea globală din religia pastafariană

30:48 - 32:36 OMG (Organisme Modificate Genetic) gata cu paranoia

* http://io9.com/5973017/a-huge-step-forward-for-environmentalism-gmos-are-not-the-enemy

32:27 - 38:48 Blestemele se vor abate asupra celor care sărbătoresc Crăciunul pe 25 decembrie

* http://www.realitatea.net/mai-multe-fete-bisericesti-impotriva-sarbatoririi-craciunului-pe-stil-nou_1084876.html

38:48 - 58:36 Dubioșenia săptămânii

* Alt leac de cancer și de "toate boalele" pe bază de miere

* http://www.ziuaonline.ro/societate/o-inventie-de-aur-un-medicament-care-vindeca-pana-si-cancerul-inventat-de-un-brasovean.html

Scepticism pe neașteptate

58:37 - 1:06:00 Psiholog clarvăzător ne prevede 2013 (între timp, pagina a dispărut)

* http://www.facebook.com/PsihologClarvazator

* Previziuni: https://www.facebook.com/PsihologClarvazator/posts/315519178558016?comment_id=1724748¬if_t=feed_comment_reply

* Comentariul lui Ovidiu

”Buna ziua, am cateva intrebari: 1. Ce inseamna incepe redresarea economica? Pentru cine? Care este cresterea in PIB? Ce tari? 2. Romania incheie ce fel de acorduri cu tari din UE? Comerciale? Politice? Militare? Tehnice? De colaborare frateasca? 3. Un cutremur de 4 grade in August unde? In Bucuresti? In Romania? In Europa? In lume? Va referiti la toata luna August sau la o zi specifica? Intr-un an, pe glob au loc 13.000 de cutremure de 4 grade. 5. Cine si cand, specific si exact va rog 6. Asta nu e predictie e constatare.” Comentariul e acum sters

1:13:40 - 1:18:40 Ce cred ezotericii că au mai găsit pe Marte? Lemne!

* http://www.efemeride.ro/bizar/nasa-ascunde-adevarul-curiosity-a-fotografiat-pe-marte-trunchiul-unui-copac-ingropat-in-nisip/

* Fotografiile sunt mai vechi

* http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040524a.html

* http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/press/opportunity/20040524a/site_B115_navcam_180...

Pericolele lipsei de scepticism

* O victimă a "tratamentelor alternative" de pe meleaguri românești

* http://pseudomedicina.blogspot.ro/2012/12/decembrie-2012-victimele-medicinei.html

Corecții și continuări

* Prima înfățișare în instanță în procesul Zenyth contra Automattic (alias procesul "De ColonHelp zici numai de bine!")

* http://totb.ro/colonhelp-vs-wordpress-proces-fara-precedent-in-romania

* Răspunsul Zenyth

* http://totb.ro/pozitia-oficiala-a-companiei-zenyth-pharmaceuticals-in-cazul-colonhelp-vs-wordpress/

* Răspunsul lui Ionuț:

* http://insulaindoielii.wordpress.com/2012/12/20/dreptul-la-replica/

* Un caz cu câteva paralelele în SUA: cazul Danone Activia

* http://www.brandchannel.com/home/post/2010/12/16/Danone-Activia-FTC.aspx

Dubioșenia săptămânii:

* Marina Almășan despre Șerban Huidu - l-au lovit energiile negative

* http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/marina-almasan-crede-ca-serban-huidu-a-fost-lovit-de-energii-negative-1011376.html

Scepticism pe neașteptate

Interviu cu Cristian Român

Twitter-ul, bază pentru o mașină de detectat minciuni și zvonuri

* http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2012/12/social_media_hoaxes_could_machine_learning_debunk_false_twitter_rumors_before.html

* Studiul echipei Yahoo: http://research.yahoo.com/files/mendoza_poblete_castillo_2010_twitter_terremoto.pdf

* Un studiu similar de la Institutul Indian de Tehnologie a Informației: http://precog.iiitd.edu.in/Publications_files/a2-gupta.pdf

Există beneficii ale căsătoriei homosexuale, în ciuda declarațiilor Papei?

* Ce spune Papa:

* http://io9.com/5970967/pope-says-same+sex-marriage-is-destroying-the-essence-of-humanity

* Ce spun asociațiile profesionale competente: concluzii legate de cuplurile homosexuale ca părinți și familie:

* American Psychological Association - http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/parenting-full.pdf

* Asociația Australiană de Psihologie - http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/LGBT-Families-Lit-Review.pdf

* http://www.livescience.com/25519-married-same-sex-couples-happier.html

Când presa aberează, insinuează că vorbele sunt dovezi pentru existența sufletului

Acest episod este publicat în așteptarea apocalipsei din 21 decembrie 2012.

Fiecare dintre noi a înregistrat un mesaj în funcție de ceea ce vroia să transmită înainte de sfârșitul lumii.

Sunt cadoul nostru de Solstițiu de iarnă pentru voi, ascultătorii noștrii.

Audiție plăcută!

Calendar

17 decembrie 1919 Albert Porta, a prezis un cutremur care va distruge Pământul datorită conjuncției unor planete

Pericolele lipsei de scepticism

* Un magician american a suferit arsuri în timpul unei emisiuni după ce gazda a vrut sa-l binecuvânteze dându-i foc.

* http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/409797/20121129/wayne-houchin-tv-fire-attack.htm

* Pensionari înșelați cu saltele

* http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/teapa-merinos-pensionarii-au-fost-pacaliti-cu-saltele-de-lana-pentru-o-viata-mai-buna.html

* http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/criza-a-reinviat-fenomenul-tepelor-cum-au-luat-plasa-romanii-creduli-in-ultimul-timp-1014657.html

Corecții și continuări

* Sceptilici ne amintește: Un astronaut care crede în existența extratereștrilor

* http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-international-3692591-astronaut-din-misiunea-apollo-14-extraterestrii-exista-contactat-dar-nasa-tine-secret.htm

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Mitchell#Views_on_UFOs

* Mai știți când se vindecase Larry Hagman de cancer cu marijuana? Ei bine, a murit de cancer

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Hagman#Death

* http://podcast.sceptici.ro/2012/09/23/sceptici-in-romania-episodul-50/

* http://www.realitatea.net/larry-hagman-alias-jr-ewing-a-scapat-de-cancer-cu-marijuana_1009361.html

* Comentariile, deși doar 8 la număr la articolul din septembrie, sunt de-a dreptul uluitoare

* http://www.realitatea.net/larry-hagman-alias-jr-ewing-a-scapat-de-cancer-cu-marijuana_1009361_comentarii.html#view

Puțin despre regresie la medie și predicții vagi

* http://www.libertatea.ro/detalii/articol/iata-cele-9-morminte-facatoare-de-minuni-din-cimitirul-bellu-289264.html

"Specialistul" în Apocalipsa Justin Capra ne arata adevărul despre ce se va întâmpla pe 21 decembrie

* http://www.realitatea.net/apocalipsa-2012-inventatorul-roman-justin-capra-explica-ce-se-va-intampla-in-decembrie_1061810.html

Cursuri pentru proaspete mămici în țara cu cea mai mare mortalitate infantilă din UE

* http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/proaspetele-mamici-scolite-cum-sa-si-creasca-bebelusii-1014585.html

TED trimite o scrisoare în care avertizează organizatorii TEDx sa evite "știința de proastă calitate"

*