A thought for a Sunday - only moments late

"It may not be said that there is no god.
It may be said that there is no reason to think that there is one."

Christopher Eric Hitchens (1949 – 2011)

Grow into these trousers... >>

It's the end of the world as we know it!

Judgement Day is a' comin', Saturday 21st May. Wow that's like... this weekend!

I thought it was going to be just before Christmas 2012, according to the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar, but Christian preacher and radio broadcaster Harold Camping thinks otherwise. The long-awaited Rapture, when all good Christian souls will drift off up to Heaven, will be on Saturday and conveniently arranged for 6pm in all time zones around the world (not sure about Samoa). The rest of us folks will be 'left behind', milling about incoherently or something. But not me, I have a plan: if you think you will be Raptured simply post your address in the comments below and leave your front door open. I promise someone will visit your ex-home as soon as they can to feed the dog, cat, budgie, goldfish etc, water any plants and generally take care of things. Car keys, bank account details and passwords left in obvious places will all help provide this service.

On the night itself I have a gig at a local pub where, the last time we played there, the entire valley had a power cut plunging all into darkness. The band has always joked that it was all our fault for ramping up the volume but it could be an omen. If we have time to play 'knocking on heaven's door' I'll be happy. In fact, I feel fine...

It's the end of the world as we know it
Grow into these trousers... >>

Spooky UK - I think not

In an article last month that renowned tit mag national daily newspaper The Sun reported

A RECORD 227 paranormal events have shaken Britain in the past 12 months, a study reveals today.

The soaring number of unexplained activities is set out in police reports and other official sources.

Now The Fringe Weird Report has been compiled by the Rev Lionel Fanthorpe, a Cardiff-based Anglican priest and president of the Association For The Scientific Study Of Anomalous Phenomena.

Really? Methinks a reporter must have been on the mushrooms again. The Sun provides a map breaking down the number of sightings, 27 in Scotland, 23 in Yorkshire, 21 in Wales etc. Adding it all up comes to 202 (?) not 227. But wait it gets even spookier. Visiting the Rev Fanthorpe's web site reveals the actual numbers in the Weird Report to be 142 supernatural occurrences plus 109 UFO sightings over the last 25 years (read Fanthorpe's blurb then think 251 events over 25 years). These astonishingly low figures are because Fanthorpe aimed to

compile them from official reports, concentrating on those involving the police whenever these could be found.

Well at least that says something good about the constabulary, they don't open a case for every twit who sees a light in the sky, thank goodness. It's also positive about some of the people investigating these things, in that they are trying to uncover evidence. It says little for the standards of one newspaper's journalism.

Now, can it get even more spookier? The Sun tries by continuing with a list of "paranormal hotspots around the country".

Just for a laugh I thought I would give my own interpretation of some of them.
(Note: a shuck is the spectre of large black dog, apparently.)

PRESTWICK: The most recent event - a man on Saturday reported seeing a ball-shaped red object in the sky close to this Scottish town that changed colour, flew and was joined by other similar shapes. Man watching sunset sees Saturn, Venus and Mercury.

IPSWICH: A woman was seen in February looking from a window in the Crown Hotel when the room was thought to be unoccupied. Cleaner wonders why people are staring at her.

NORTHBOROUGH: A husband and wife reported earlier this month seeing two very bright orange alien craft flying in a Cambridgeshire area known for RAF activity. Aeroplane seen in sky.

DERBY: The ghost of a gardener was seen in the distance in June walking thoughtfully across the lawns of Pickford's House Museum. Man takes shortcut home.

BATH: A poltergeist at the Curfew Inn was said to have interfered with beer taps in February and to have tried to play a pool shot. Bar staff distract attention to allow cheating in pool match.

CHESTERFIELD: A yellow light was seen in the sky near this Derbyshire town early this month, travelling silently and with two other lights following. Saturn, Venus and Mercury prominent in early evening sky (see above).

YORK: A girl carrying a child is reported on misty evenings on the A64 Malton Road where she is said to have been murdered by a highwayman. She was spotted in April. Teenage mum runs away from home. Passing motorists give no assistance.

Also in April a shuck was said to doggy-paddle furiously along some of the city's narrow alleys that heavy rain can turn into streams. Dog seen in York.

A ghost cyclist was said to ride around York Minster in March and the same month a phantom was reported rowing a boat on the Ouse. Park and ride scheme attracts cyclists. Boat seen on river

MANCHESTER: A yellow shuck was reported bounding over Godley Green in May. Dog seen in Manchester.

AMLWCH: A shuck was seen running around a stone circle in March. Dog seen at stone circle.

DUNDEE: A woman appears to wave from a window of Claypotts Castle. She was last seen in February. Woman spots friend in crowd below.

CULCREACH CASTLE: A phantom harpist plays and in June was heard by boatmen on Loch Lomond. Holidaying musician opens chalet window.

KNOCKANDO: A boisterous shuck was reportedly seen and heard howling in February near Knockando distillery. Howling dog heard, might have been seen.

There's more and they are all WTF to me. It makes me wonder how a paper which reports on nothing has a circulation of 3 million copies a day, making it the tenth biggest newspaper in any language in the world (See Wikipedia).

Ah! But I forget the real attraction of the Sun, the sports pages of course. That's right isn't it guys? Please... Oh come on, they're not real either FFS!
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Sun report found somewhere at Skepchick. Grow into these trousers... >>

Support an impoverished sceptic!

Settling down to listen to something interesting this evening, I was delighted to find an interview with my old friend Andy Roberts on the Righteous Indignation podcast. Agg, as I will always call him, was interviewed following his talk at Weird Weekend 2010 discussing the Berwyn Mountains UFO case.

Synopsis: In the winter of 1974 residents close to the Berwyn Mountains area of Wales, UK, were shaken by a rumbling explosion and rushed outside to see lights in the sky and beams coming up from the ground. The event entered UFO folklore as a 'flying saucer' crash site with a subsequent 'alien recovery' and cover-up by the government/military.

Variously described as an 'arch-sceptic' and 'renowned Fortean', Agg disassembles the events which gave rise to the 'Welsh Roswell' with his usual depth of research and clear thinking.

So watch the presentation, listen to the RI interview and, most important, buy the book - UFO Down? The Berwyn Mountain UFO Crash. It's the dedicated research of people like my friend which helps stem the tide of bullshit we are already up to our necks in.

WEIRD WEEKEND 2010: Andy Roberts


And I must say he looks much better that he did for his talk at last year's meeting.

Grow into these trousers... >>

Not much provokes me...

But this does.

I find all religion to be a trivial, disgusting or violent parody of reality; but too often these days those people who carry this cultural disease cause harm to the non-infected.

It seems that a young air traffic controller (a good profession which implies a certain level of intelligence), who came from a Moslem background in the Maldives, was driven to suicide after being rejected by his society, friends and family for coming out as an atheist.

His name was Ismail Mohamed Didi and he was just 25 years old. It is alleged that "Ismail had refused to follow religious sermons". In emails Ismail said “[I] foolishly admitted my stance on religion” to workmates, and then:

“A lot of my close friends and girlfriend have been prohibited from seeing me by their parents. I have even received a couple of anonymous phone calls threatening violence if I do not repent and start practising Islam”

But he was true to what he felt:

“I cannot bring myself to pretend to be I am something I am not, as I am a staunch believer in human rights. I am afraid for my life here and know no one inside the country who can help me.”

If there were a God and prayer worked, this young man would have mine tonight.

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Sources: The Freethinker and Minivan News Grow into these trousers... >>

James Randi at TED

This was recorded in 2007 but not released by TED 'till last month (why?). Anyway, it's a great takedown of psychics and homeopaths. Enjoy:

James Randi's fiery takedown of psychic fraud [17:50]

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via Unreasonable Faith. Grow into these trousers... >>

Boobquake Day - a bit of a flop?

No major earthquakes yesterday, nothing but the normal everyday tremors. Go to Blag Hag for the low down and the stats.

News reports and photographs are everywhere.

So Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi you've got what you deserve for babbling your ignorant, primitive beliefs. Utter ridicule all over the world. Let it be an education Mr Sedighi, because you really need one. Grow into these trousers... >>

Boobquake

We have (probably) all heard of crazy Iranian Ayatollah Kazem Sedighi, who believes earthquakes are caused by immodest dress codes. If not. catch up at Madhatters.

Well, the Blag Hag has the answer: Boobquake!

"On Monday, April 26th, I will wear the most cleavage-showing shirt I own. Yes, the one usually reserved for a night on the town. I encourage other female skeptics to join me and embrace the supposed supernatural power of their breasts. Or short shorts, if that's your preferred form of immodesty. With the power of our scandalous bodies combined, we should surely produce an earthquake".

I am right behind this project and will offer whatever support I can. Grow into these trousers... >>

What a day it has been

Much of western Europe has had to close airspace because of volcanic dust from Iceland. I do not belittle this event. It serves as a reminder that the Earth is much bigger than we are.

Tonight we get the first ever live debate between the main contenders for prime ministerial office in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This will probably have one of the highest viewing figures ever recorded in the UK, for about 15-30 minutes. I am listening on the radio rather than viewing so I can do something else at the same time - blog and then probably fall asleep.

The British Chiropractic Association has dropped it's libel case against Simon Singh. That's good, a courtroom is not the place to decide scientific validity. Now the BCA should continue and provide a scientific reasoning for the treatments they practice. Otherwise it's still "bogus".

Then the best thing of all today. I just discovered The Merseyside Skeptics Society. And they have a podcast, and it's spot on! Even better is their spoof panel game InKredulous where they take "a satirical look at science and pseudoscience news".

Not a bad day after all :) Grow into these trousers... >>

Carpool

I just found this great video site - Llewtube - which features host Robert Llewellyn (yes that's Kryten) driving around giving lifts to various guests and interviewing them during the journey. Here he is with the physicist Brian Cox.



He has also interviewed the likes of actor Patrick Stuart, comedian Arthur Smith, journalist and rationalist Ben Goldacre, Skepchick founder Rebecca Watson and lots more...

Shame about the crap Flash based site though, but it works. Grow into these trousers... >>

1971 plane crash survivor tells her story

Leading on from our discussion on surviving a plane crash:

Miracle or Pure Luck?
On the question of miracles

Via Skepchick I found this recent news report:

Survivor still haunted by 1971 air crash.

"She became known as the miracle girl and was hounded by Peruvian media, receiving hundreds of letters from people she had never met before".

Her harrowing story makes no mention of the supernatural though. Grow into these trousers... >>

I'm in a mood...

Don't ask!
Here's some videos instead.

QualiaSoup does a neat shakedown on sceptical and critical thinking in science:

Skewed views of science


and Pat Condell's latest is below the belt.

Children of a stupid god
Grow into these trousers... >>

Youtube have lost the plot

This is almost impossible to believe. YouTube have suspended the account of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), one of our planet's foremost organisations dedicated to the promotion of scepticism, rationality and the debunking of pseudoscientific bullshit. No reasons have been given yet and it's idle to speculate. JREF President Phil Plait asks for patience while they work on a resolution with YouTube. He also thanks people for their support - so here is my bit. Pass on this video and, if you feel so inclined, complain at the address below.

Youtube have lost the plot - JREF account suspended

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From dprjones:

To complain to youtube follow this link;
http://www.google.com/support/youtube...

Scroll to the very bottom and click on "new issue"

Select "suspended account" from the options and express your opinion.

The mediafire link is;
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=4d...

Thank you

--------------------------------------

And I've just heard that the Rational Response Squad have been suspended too.


Don't know any details yet, but this has happened to them before. What is the world coming to? Grow into these trousers... >>

Half an hour of Bullshit!

An early episode from Penn and Teller's excellent series takes a sceptical look at ESP:

Penn & Teller (1/3) ESP

The debunking continues below the belt.


Penn & Teller (2/3) ESP


Penn & Teller (3/3) ESP
Grow into these trousers... >>

Sometimes I just need a memory jogger...

So thanks to Rebecca* at Skepchick.org for the Noah's Flood - debunked link. Just what I needed to remind me of Potholer54 and his alternative channel Potholer54debunks on YouTube.

In 10 min chunks Potholer54 can lead you through some very complex avenues of thought with great clarity and economy of words and images. See Noah's Flood above or watch

History of the Universe Made Easy (Part 1)


See the rest: From Big Bang to Us -- Made Easy

Below the belt I'll tuck in another from Potholer54debunks, One Atheist's Creed. I agree utterly
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*Rebecca Watson is a regular on the panel of Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe and on the Skepchick Podcast. Note: it seems traditional to break out the booze before listening to Rebecca :)
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Grow into these trousers... >>

A great new blog to visit

If you enjoyed the Amazing Colour-changing Card Trick you may be interested in a new blog by professor of psychology, magician and quirkologist Richard Wiseman. Though he's only been posting since the New Year, Wiseman's entertaining style is beginning to emerge as he writes on tricks, illusions and the unusual. This should a site to watch out for.

A word of warning though:
Tree Lobsters! - beware these posts. Grow into these trousers... >>

George Hrab gets better

I just had my weekly listen to George Hrab's podcast, and it's so 'wow' good. Listen/download the episode from here.

If you like comedy which goes WAHH! and EUGH! and COooOL! and is totally reality based, check out geologicpodcast.com. Grow into these trousers... >>

Passing this along

The Center for Inquiry.


Check out the podcast too, Point of Inquiry.

(via PZ Myers) Grow into these trousers... >>

A must see introduction to critical thinking

The Bad Astronomer posted this link to a video a few days back. It's ~40 mins long so I queued it up to watch today. I'm glad I did:




Here Be Dragons




Brian Dunning, noted skeptic and pocaster, presents a great documentary pointing out the biases and fallacies of pseudoscience, pop phenomena etc, how to recognise them and how to think through them.

Enjoy and be educated at the same time. Grow into these trousers... >>