The Reality Check

This week the crew discuss the 45th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination (and the lingering conspiracy theories), the science of pesticides and cancer (should you worry?), and the inaugural episode of "as if you need more evidence for evolution". To read the show notes and to get in touch with us please visit ottawaskeptics.org/therealitycheck

This week the regular crew discuss the trouble with astrology, the double standard applied to scientific medicine with respect to prevention, and we reexamine the claim that sea captains can perform marriages. This episode we're trying a shorter format, please let us know what you think. You can reach us via our website at ottawaskeptics.org

This week Adam, Cat, Darren, Jon, and Xander discuss calorie restriction diets, wedding superstitions, bisphenol A, and the world of unlucky numbers. Due to time constraints no logical fallacy of the week was discussed. For show notes, and to send us feedback or questions, visit: ottawaskeptics.org/therealitycheck

In this 'spooky' halloween episode Darren, Xander, and Jon discuss if maybe Dr. Michael Persingers claims deserve a bit of skepticism, and we discuss the real stats behind the dangers of 'trick or treating'. The logical fallacy of the week is the 'Appeal to FEAR'. The science myth of the week is 'Does the moon affect people's personality?' For all show notes, and a forum to discuss this episode, visit ottawaskeptics.org/therealitycheck/

We discuss genetically modified foods (aka "franken-foods") and find out if there's anything to worry about, the growing in popularity Brazilian fruit called the acai (a-sa-ee), and the latest release of UFO documents from a major government (in this case it's the UK). The logical fallacy of the week is the "false dilemma" (aka false dichotomy). The science myth of the week is that baby carrots are gross. For show notes please visit http://www.ottawaskeptics.org/therealitycheck/

In this episode Adam discusses a Fisher-Price doll that apparently says some 'shocking' things, darren shares with us an essay he wrote about energy (and it's misuse), and Jonathan discusses the psychological theory of cognitive dissonance. We then finish with the logical fallacy of the week and the science myth of the week.

For show notes please visit ottawaskeptics.org/therealitycheck

On this week's show we discuss a news report that vitamin C may interfere with chemotherapy drugs' ability to fight cancer, a dog that can supposedly do math, and the announcement of a new study that will figure out if out of body experiences are more than just hallucinations.

Show notes (Available at ottawaskeptics.org):

Vitamin C + Chemotherapy
Original news report: link
Analysis by Oncologist David Gorski: link

Maggie the Counting Dog:
Video of the Dog Counting: link

Out of Body Study:
Original Press Release: link
CBC Coverage: link
BBC Coverage: link

Logical Fallacy of the Week:
Appeal to Authority: link

Science Myth of the Week:
Dog Food Myths
Chocolate Toxicity: link
Dietary Myths: link
History of Dog Food: link

On this week's show we discuss Ogopogo (Canada's own Loch Ness monster), the recent survey that claimed that Canadians believed that it was more likely that scientists would discover Bigfoot than politicians would keep their promises, and the health benefits of spirulina (a type of algea that is gaining in popularity). We then tackle the logical fallacy and science myth of the week.

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]

For every episode's show notes please visit ottawaskeptics.org

Show Notes:

Ogopogo:
General Overview: link
Believer Claims: link 1 link 2
Skeptical View: link

Bigfoot Survey:
Press release from Canadian Taxpayers Federation: link
Press coverage: link

Spirulina:
J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Jun 25;56(12):4352-8. Epub 2008 Jun 4.

MICROBIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Dec. 1983, p. 551-578

 Ann Nutr Metab 2008;52:322–328

Eur J Nutr (2008)

Acta Vitaminol Enzymol. 1984;6(4):295-304
Toxicology in Vitro 22 (2008) 1496–1502
Bioscience, Biotechnology, and BiochemistryVol. 70 (2006) , No. 2 pp.363-368

(Ya, I know. Blame Catherine -Jon)

Logical Fallacy:
Argument From Ignorance (Shifting the Burden of Proof): link

Science Myth of the Week:
Science states that bees cannot fly: link

In this episode we discuss the latest report that cell phones may cause

cancer, some online conspiracy videos, and a rich guy in the UK getting

scared out of his home by a poltergeist.

Show notes:
If you like the show, please leave us a review on itunes.

Cell phone controversy:
Global TV's coverage of the study discussed: link
Scientific/skeptical view of cell phones and cancer: link 1 link 2
Studies about cell phones and driving: link 1 (pdf) link 2

Online conspiracy Videos:
Loose Change (9/11 conspiracy video): link
Zeitgeist: link
Ex-truther confession: link

UK Ghost:
Original BBC Story: link
The 'shocking' revelation: link

Logical fallacy of the week:
Affirming the Consequent: link

Science Myth of the Week:
Moon hoax accusations: link
Moon hoax debunking: link
Buzz Aldrin vs. Moon Hoaxer: link

This week we discuss the placebo effect, science in entertainment and the art of persuasion in politics.

Show notes:

Placebo Effect:
-Steven Novella discusses the placebo effect: link
-Review of Snake Oil Science: link
-Wikipedia entry on the placebo effect: link

Science on TV:
-Fringe's scientific accuracy: link
-House MD's scientific accuracy: link

Science+Politics:
-Science Debate 2008, 14 Questions: link
-Mccain on the Economy: link
-Haper on Budget Officer: link

Science Myth of the Week:
-Video of Xander balancing eggs: link
-Phil Plait explores the myth: link