“Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity. Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence. Suspect your own motives, and all excuses. Do not live for others any more than you would expect others to live for you.”
- Christopher Hitchens, 1949 – 2011
There is so much more yet to be done.
I am pleased to announce that The Gear Head Skeptic blog has just been added to the SkepticsOnThe.Net directory. Skeptics On The .Net aims to be the premier directory for the many skeptical blogs, podcasts and forums on the Internet. Just recently launched, it has already developed into a great one-stop-shop and starting point for seeking out skeptical podcasts, blogs and other web resources for either general or niche-specific topics, and their listings continue to grow by the day. I have added a link to this excellent resource in the “science and skepticism” links in the side bar, and I encourage you to add this to your own bookmarks as well.
You can view our listing page here, and begin browsing around for other blogs and podcasts that suit your interests. Many thanks to Skeptics On The .Net for including us in your directory.
It’s here! It’s here! Australian musician, comedian and actor Tim Minchin‘s beat poem STORM has been made into an animated short film, and it’s finally ready to meet the world!
Telling the story of a dinner party that goes horribly wrong, STORM explores diverse topics such as the philosophical basis of knowledge, alternative medicine, astrology and Scooby Doo.
It also contains the great lines; “…accross the room my wife widens her eyes, silently begs ‘be nice.’ A matrimonial warning not worth ignoring…”
YouTube-age after the link: (more…)
Recently, groups of Canadian skeptics joined like-minded people the world over to raise public awareness about homeopathic remedies, and the real facts behind homeopathy. They did this by publicly “overdosing” on homeopathic remedies to demonstrate their awesome and powerful effects: and nothing happened.
If homeopathy was applied to cars, it would look like this: If I put a very small drop (say 1 mL) of exhaust pipe gas condensation into 100 mL of water (about a half a coffee cup), mixed it up and put 1 mL of that solution into another 100 mL of water, mixed it up and repeated that process four more times, I would have some mighty fine homeopathic gasoline to sell you. It would be pretty much all water, and only one part “active ingredient”[1] per million-billion[2], but you should believe my claims that it would run the engine of your car because, in addition to diluting it beyond recognition, I would have also shaken the hell out of it. And maybe hit it against a leather pad too. This would have caused the water to remember the tail pipe gas properties, so it’s all good.
Seriously. This is what homoeopathy contends. I wish I could tell you I was joking.
Edmonton, Alberta:
Home town of not only myself, but also national treasure Tommy Chong, and now home to an evil plot designed to throw the city’s energy flow into turmoil!
Recent plans for a $3 Billion expansion of the public light rail transit system into Edmonton’s “Chinatown” district has raised the concerns of local Feng Shui master Stephen Chan. Mr. Chan stood before city council and warned that the proposed rail transit line is “really bad” Feng Shui. He stated that it would block off the flow of positive energy, turning 102nd avenue into a spiritually stagnant pond leading to anxiety and health problems for area residents, and throwing the entire city’s energy in to a negative cycle.
Mr. Chan is asking city council to redesign the LRT expansion route, moving its path a couple blocks to the west. He is also offering free Feng Shui consulting to the city during the planning process.
So what’s the big deal? (more…)
This man loves his bike. And his crotch.
Motorcyclists of the world! Dangerous waves of mysterious something-or-other are pouring out of your bike and directly into your crotch! These waves are evil and could be causing cancer! If you love your crotch, you should buy this amazing product (and obligatory book) to save your crotch TODAY!
The man behind this website claims that motorcycles generate dangerous electromagnetic fields that flood riders bodies from the crotch on up, and could be cancer causing. Fortunately for us, he also sells a special seat liner (only $110!) you can put inside your bike saddle to block these fields and save yourself.
What a surprise. (more…)
To some readers, this will be old hat. However, if you’re not yet familiar with the James Randi Educational Foundation’s Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, it is probably the single best “big hammer” in the critical thinker’s tool box.
In short, if someone can demonstrate evidence of paranormal, supernatural, or occult powers or events under proper observing conditions, they get a million dollars.
Today, November 6 2010, is the second annual Carl Sagan Day.
No doubt the science and skeptical blog world will be all abuzz today and this week with event coverage and tributes to Dr. Sagan. Rather than present yet another thumbnail biography of Sagan’s life and work, I want to take this opportunity to write a more personal story about what Carl Sagan means to me, and the impact he has had on my life.
