Skeptical Thoughts
September 2016
Here are the topics I chose to talk about on RadioLive for the month. Some of them may not have been mentioned on the radio due to a lack of time.
Show
18 September 2016
Free Effective Altruism book
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Science, Altruism
The Effective Altruism movement is becoming popular in New Zealand. The basic idea is that logic and critical thinking can be applied to charity giving, and that charities range from being great at helping people to being as good as useless, or even detrimental.
1 min read, 119 words. Continue Reading...
Atheist documentary maker comes to NZ
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Religion, Atheism
Chris Johnson created a coffee table book a few years ago, quoting atheists talking about their life without god. The book was titled A Better Life, and the strap line explains exactly what the book is about - "100 Atheists Speak Out on Joy & Meaning in a World Without God".
2 min read, 228 words. Continue Reading...
Homeopathy Column being removed from local paper
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Pseudoscience, Homeopathy
Mark Hanna at the Society for Science Based Healthcare has complained recently about the Napier Courier's column written by a local homeopathy business, called "Homeopathy Hub". the weekly column made many daft claims about the effectiveness of homeopathy, such as:
1 min read, 181 words. Continue Reading...
Trump gets medical opinion from Oz
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Politics, Trump
As part of the US presidential election circus, and given that both candidates are two of the oldest candidates ever, health records have become a part of the debate.
1 min read, 192 words. Continue Reading...
Stuff uncritically publishes more medical nonsense
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Pseudoscience, Juicing
Stuff have reprinted another article
from Juice Daily, which claims that garlic, pineapple, a salt water gargle and chicken soup can help with allergies. Of course, this is all unproven tosh and certainly not good medical advice. Thomas Lumley at Stats Chat does a good job of deconstructing the article , going through all the links in the article and checking out the evidence for the claims. Unsurprisingly, the given evidence is very thin: 2 min read, 257 words. Continue Reading...
25 September 2016
Dodgy Thai cancer clinic criticised
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Pseudoscience, Cancer
The infamous Brio clinic
in Thailand has sucked in unsuspecting kiwis, promising to treat them with unconventional therapies for cancer. One unfortunate victim , Holly Devine, died after raising $55,000 on Givealittle for treatment at the clinic, but before attending the clinic. 2 min read, 269 words. Continue Reading...
Anti Fluoride Group to promote DHB Candidates
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Pseudoscience, Fluoride
There is currently a bill working its way through parliament which proposes moving the decision to fluoridate water supplies away from local councils and into the hands of DHBs. This appears to be a very good move, as fluoridation is a health issue and DHBs are much better suited to weighing up the pros and cons than local councils are. Councils in NZ have historically been bamboozled by Fluoride Free NZ, our local anti fluoride group, and have in some cases made decisions to remove fluoride.
2 min read, 204 words. Continue Reading...
Homeopathy Column removed from local paper
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Pseudoscience, Homeopathy
Mark Hanna at the Society for Science Based Healthcare has complained recently about the Napier Courier's column written by a local homeopathy business, called "Homeopathy Hub". the weekly column made many daft claims about the effectiveness of homeopathy, such as:
2 min read, 308 words. Continue Reading...
New Sensing Murder Episode being recorded
Categories: Skepticism , Tags: Pseudoscience, Psychic
Despite much criticism of both the original broadcasts and the recent reruns, it appears that TVNZ are recording a new episode
of Sensing Murder. The episode focuses on a murder in Napier in 2008. 2 min read, 358 words. Continue Reading...