Promoting Science and Critical Thinking
The BBC reports that James McCormick has been found guilty of selling fake bomb detectors to Iraq … yep, you read that correctly … FAKE. This complete shit (I cannot think of a better word) conned people into buying over 6,000 of these bomb detectors that detected nothing at all. Iraq spent more than $40m … Read more
Not too long ago I found myself sitting in a meeting in Dublin within which the Paranormal was being “successfully” demonstrated. Well-known paranormal investigator Richard Saunders announced, “ I’m smelling tobacco, specifically a pipe smoker, it is definitely coming through for somebody here”. It’s a hit, my father who passed away was a pipe smoker. … Read more
Last night I had the privilege of hanging out at Dublin Skeptics in the Pub … or to be more precise “Skeptics in the Exchange” … where Richard Saunders, the well-known Australian Paranormal Investigator was giving a fascinating talk. Richard explained that he has been flown over by some folks to present his film on … Read more
Yep, I’m in Ireland this week, in fact I landed today … (thud) … and so tonight the Dublin “Skeptics in the Pub” had the fabulous Neil Denny (pictured), giving a talk all about his Little Atoms Road Trip last year. “Wait … who … what?” … you might ask. OK, lets start with the … Read more
Every year James Randi presents the Pigasus Awards to outrageous frauds who have been noted during the past year … yes, you read that correctly “Pigasus”. The term is a portmanteau pun combining the word pig with the mythological Pegasus, a reference to the expression “when pigs fly”, so what else should awards granted to … Read more
Barbara Drescher, a cognitive psychologist and also a JREF board member, has a fabulous posting over on her blog entitled, “On Skepticism: Its Definitions and Scope”. In it she outlines some spot on definitions and has also listed after it a vast wealth of material. I struggled with this one a bit, normally when I find … Read more