The Physiology of Placebos Magnetic Underlays Superstition Survey (Part 2)

The physiology of placebos Magnetic underlays Superstition survey (Part 2)

number 91 - autumn 2009 content editorial

The physiology of the placebo effect 3 The supernatural Magnetic underlays: what’s the attraction? 3 retains its appeal Newsfront 10

Forum 12 LTHOUGH formal religion is continuing to decline in this Hokum Locum 14 Acountry, belief in the supernatural remains high. That seems Supersitious? Me? That to be the main conclusion to be drawn from a recent survey of New depends (Part 2) 18 Zealand religious affiliations and attitudes carried out by Massey University as part of the International Social Survey Programme. Evolution: What the fossils say and why it matters – The survey of 1000 people found 40 percent of respondents said Book Review 19 they had no religious affiliation compared with 29 percent just 17 years ago. Fifty-three percent said they believed in God, although half of those said they had doubts, and 20 percent believed in some form of higher power. Professor Philip Gendall, who led the study, said there had been no change in the proportion of those who say they believe in a higher power. “The survey shows that God is not dead, but religion may be dying,” he said. Fifty-seven percent believed in life after death, with 51 percent believing in heaven and 36 percent ISSN - 1172-062X believing in hell, the survey showed. Contributions Of particular interest to skeptics were the responses on supersti- Contributions are welcome and tions, though these were only a small part of the overall study. A should be sent to: quarter thought star signs could affect people’s futures, 28 percent David Riddell said good luck charms work and 39 percent said they believed for- 122 Woodlands Rd tune-tellers could foresee the future. RD1 Hamilton Email: [email protected] Perhaps we can take some comfort in the fact that those figures are all well under 50 percent, but they’re still high. It would be interest- Deadline for next issue: ing to see reliable, up-to-date figures for attitudes in New Zealand June 10 2009 towards alternative medicine, creationism, mediums, UFOs, and the Letters for the Forum may be edited various claims of the alternative archaeology crowd. Some of those as space requires - up to 250 words I suspect would be really alarming. is preferred. Please indicate the publication and date of all clippings I’m not aware of any formal attempt to carry out such a study. The for the Newsfront. closest would be last year’s Sunday Star-Times survey, of which the second half of Vicki Hyde’s response is printed in this issue. Re- Material supplied by email or IBM- compatible disk is appreciated. spondents in that were a self-selected subset of the paper’s readership – hardly a random sample of the entire country. All the same, where Permission is given to other non- comparisons could be made, results are fairly comparable with the profit skeptical organisations to Massey survey – eg 40 percent of respondents said they believed in reprint material from this publication provided the author and NZ Skeptic God with another 10 percent not sure, which could be rephrased as are acknowledged. 50 percent believing but 10 percent uncertain, quite similar to the Massey figures. About 44 percent thought it was possible to foresee Opinions expressed in the New Zealand Skeptic are those of the the future, which is again close to what Gendall’s team found. So individual authors and do not even though the Sunday Star-Times survey’s prime objectives were to necessarily represent the views of entertain and to sell papers, it seems it may NZ Skeptics (Inc.) or its officers. have provided a useful snapshot of New Subscription details are available Zealanders’ attitudes to the paranormal. from www.skeptics.org.nz or PO Box 29-492, Christchurch. number 91 - autumn 2009 main feature The physiology of the placebo effect

Martin Wallace

Placebos may contain no active ingredients, but they have real effects on the human brain. This article is based on a presentation to the NZ Skeptics 2008 conference in Hamilton, September 26-28.

ARLIER this year, Dr Tipu response to some arcane practice seventh to ninth centuries. Chau- EAamir of the Auckland Pain is a placebo response, that settles cer called one of his characters Management Service drew my at- the issue. Placebo in the Merchant’s Tale, tention to something peculiar. In because the word had come to a double-blind, randomised, pla- Over the last 30 years there has mean a flatterer, a sycophant, or cebo-controlled trial of morphine been a large amount of research a parasite, by the 14th century. after a standard knee operation, into the undoubted effects of “Placebo seyde: 30 percent of those receiving a placebos. I thought it might be Ful little need had ye, my lord placebo get pain relief. When of interest to review this work in the context of our frequent use so deare, those people are given a specific Council to ask, of any that are morphine antagonist (‘antidote’), of ‘placebo effect’ to explain the unscientific. here their pain comes back! In the But that ye be so ful of sapi- words of a former contributor at ence.” an annual conference of this society, this was an epiphany. He also uses it in the Par- I needed to know more. son’s tale: “Flatterers be the Devil’s chaplains, which sing After all, how could some- ever ‘Placebo’.” thing that was ‘all in the mind’ be changed predictably In the 1811 edition of by a substance with a known Hooper’s Medical Diction- pharmacological action? ary, placebo was defined as “an epithet for any medicine Any study of homeopathy adopted more to please than raises the issue of the pla- benefit the patient”. In a re- cebo effect. As a result of a cent edition of Collins’ Con- meta-analysis in 2005 of a cise Dictionary of the English number of studies comparing Language it is defined as “an homeopathic remedies with inactive substance adminis- What does ‘all in the mind’ mean? Placebos orthodox treatment, Shang et generate real changes in brain function. tered to a patient to compare al stated in their conclusion its effects with those of a that the effect of homeopathic real drug, but sometimes for remedies was no greater than that Placebo is a Latin word for the psychological benefit of the of a placebo. Not that they had “I shall be pleasing, or accept- patient through his believing he no effect, but it was no greater able”. It is the first word of the is receiving treatment”. than that of a placebo. first antiphon of the Roman Rite of the Vespers for the Dead (!), However, placebos do benefit We skeptics are often happy to Placebo Domino, dating from the patients, and they are certainly accept the explanation that if a

page placebos not inactive in the context in • The site of this activity in effect, and that in fact, as an inert which they are given. the brain placebo can have no effect per se, what we see is the effect of the • The most dramatic example of Why there is variation context in which the treatment this that I saw in clinical practice in the placebo effect from indi- is given. involved a young man on arti- vidual to individual ficial kidney treatment. When Neurophysiology of placebo • erythropoietin became available What are the implica- pain relief for the treatment of the severe tions for the classical drug trial anaemia seen so often in this format? Over the last 30 years, there situation, he was the first patient has been much interest in the neuro-physiological mechanisms in our unit to receive it. Erythro- There must be a of the placebo response. poietin is a hormone made in the physiological cause for healthy kidney, which increases placebo analgesia. In 1975, Hughes et al iden- the number of red cells in the tified in the brain two related blood and the amount of the oxy- pentapeptides (a chain of five gen-carrying haemoglobin. The amino acids linked together) synthetic version has achieved Psychological mechanisms with potent opium-like action. notoriety as a performance en- There are many more now iden- hancer in sport, for example in Those who study the psycho- tified. These compounds act the Tour de France. We were logical processes of the placebo on specific receptors on the all very enthusiastic about this effect cite two major mecha- membranes of neurones, and via improvement in management nisms. intracellular metabolic changes for our patient, and he was given Conditioning. Pavlov (1849- increase synaptic transmission. his first dose with much interest 1936) showed that dogs given They are made in the pituitary from all of us. That night he meals as a bell rang would and hypothalamus, and are called went home, recovered his bicycle subsequently salivate when the endorphins. from the shed where it had been bell rang despite not being given A digression undisturbed for many months, food. This process has been and rode all around his town explored in humans, who will In pharmacology the term with great energy and pleasure. experience pain relief when a agonist denotes a drug with an He hadn’t heard the information placebo is substituted for a pain effect, and antagonist, a drug that the drug took three weeks to reliever when a sequence of ac- which specifically blocks the ef- act on the anaemia. tive analgesia has been associ- fect of the first substance. ated with an environmental cue. We are left with some ques- When I spent a year in the tions. What was the physiology It is an unconscious process. At the nerve cell level, condition- pharmacology lab in Dunedin of his sudden ability to exercise (1959) it was becoming recog- at a ‘normal’ rate, long before ing leads to a stronger and more sustained response. nised that drugs exerted their ef- there was any change in his fects by way of a specific recep- blood count? What does ‘it’s Expectancy. This effect is tor molecule at the cell surface. all in the mind’ mean? Was he seen when the patient has ‘great The actions of adrenaline, for somehow at fault, or was it me expectations’ of the substance example, were explained by the and the staff who were lacking being given. These are raised presence of two different mol- in understanding? by the conscious or unconscious ecules to which it could attach, I would like to consider: attitude of the therapist. It is a which mediated different effects. conscious process on the part of Noradrenaline would latch on • The psychological proc- the patient. to only one, explaining its more esses involved in the placebo limited range of action. With effect It is currently suggested that their usual desire for learned co- both conditioning and expect- herency, pharmacologists called • The physiological mech- ancy are active in the placebo anisms in the brain them alpha and beta receptors. number 91 - autumn 2009 placebos

Antagonist molecules attach to a placebo or naloxone, a specific a near-180 degree angle. These the receptor molecule and block morphine antagonist. At four can be detected, and with many, access by the agonist. Hence hours they were given a placebo many such events, used to build the term ‘beta-blockers’. These or naloxone. up a tomographic picture of the are substances which block the source in relation to surrounding action of adrenaline on its beta Those who had initial pain tissue. In the studies of the brain, receptor. They are widely known relief with the first dose of pla- radioactively-labelled glucose is for their action in the control cebo (39 percent), when given injected, and congregates where of blood pressure, and recently naloxone had an increase in activity (utilisation) is greatest. for their unwanted effects when pain. PET scans are used to monitor given to protect patients at risk The authors concluded that metabolic activity in specific of heart trouble when undergoing “this was consistent with the hy- organs. For example, the extent operations. pothesis that endorphin release of heart muscle damage after a heart attack. Agonists and antagonists are mediates placebo analgesia in related by similarities in molecu- dental postoperative pain.” In 2002, Petrovic et al were lar size, shape, and charge. The elegance of this study lies able to show that both opioid and placebo analgesia are associated Morphine antagonists have in the unequivocal evidence that a supposedly psychological state with increased brain activity in been available for some time. In specific regions: the anterior 1961 as a house surgeon in casu- (placebo analgesia) was reversed by a specific opioid antagonist. cingulate cortex and the brain alty, I was asked to manage an stem. There was no increase opium addict, brought in because Note that none of the patients was given morphine. There must of activity in these regions with he was deeply unconscious, and pain only. breathing perhaps once a minute. be a physiological cause for pla- He had been without the drug cebo analgesia. Similar localised brain ac- for some weeks, due to market This sort of study has been tivity has been shown in pla- fluctuations. When access was repeated many times, and al- cebo responses in Parkinsonism resumed, he used a dose which ways naloxone reverses placebo (dopamine) and some depressive was the same as his habituated analgesia. states (serotonin). dose. This was much more than he could now tolerate. I had The site of action of opioids I find these studies exciting access to nalorphine, a specific in the brain and provocative. morphine antagonist, and 30 The site of this process has Genetic predilection seconds after an IV injection, the been determined. The sites for patient took several deep breaths, A further question can be opioid receptors in the brain can asked in the light of the evidence sat up, expressed considerable be found by specific cell stain- surprise at his surroundings, and for a physiological mechanism ing methods and histology on for the placebo effect. Why does then lapsed back into his former brain tissue. But more exact, state. I was able to repeat this it occur in only 30-40 percent of ‘real-time’ evidence comes from us for a given situation? It may dramatic procedure several times positron emission tomography until he recovered! occur in a greater proportion of a (PET) scans. population sample if the context In 1978 a group of dental Another digression is made more convincing. But surgeons working in California why don’t we all have the ben- (Levine et al) carried out the PET utilises short half-life efits? Variation in a physiologi- following experiment. Patients radioactive elements which un- cal function begs the question of who had had an impacted wis- dergo spontaneous beta decay. In a genetic predilection. dom tooth extracted were treated the process, they emit a positron, routinely with nitrous oxide, which collides with an adjacent De Pascalis et al (2002) have diazepam and a local anaes- electron resulting in mutual an- shown that individual differ- thetic. At three hours after the nihilation, and the generation ences in suggestibility contribute procedure they were given either of two high-energy photons at significantly to the magnitude of

page placebos placebo analgesia. The higher correct, more than 10 percent of Because the nurture of these the suggestibility score (there our attendees should have been twins is different, and identical are several tests available) the left-handed. In the event, 22 of twins have identical genes, the greater the placebo analgesic 84 attendees indicated they or a similarities must be genetic. effect. close relative were left-handed. This approach to behaviour has lead to the science of behaviour As early as 1970, Morgan The control study should be genetics. et al showed that there was a done with a church congregation, correlation of suggestibility Protestant or Catholic. In fact, (Physical attributes are of between monozygotic twins but we could do this on both and course also correlated more not dizygotic (fraternal) twins. answer the question as to which between identical twins reared (Monozygotic twins are the is the less suggestible! I haven’t apart, than fraternal twins reared result of the fertilisation of one had the nerve to ask. apart.) ovum by one sperm. The resulting zygote splits into two cells Thomas Bouchard, begin- Amir Raz (2005, 2008) and which each develop into an in- ning in 1979, has carried out a his group in New York State have dividual. These individuals have number of studies on twins who shown that a genetic polymor- exactly the same genes.) for a variety of reasons were phism (more than one version reared apart. He compared cor- of a specific gene) exists for a Wallace and Persanyi (1989) relations between identical twins gene on chromosome 22, which looked at hypnotic susceptibil- and between fraternal twins. The codes for an enzyme active in ity and familial handedness. studies from his group (in Min- the breakdown of dopamine, a Subjects with close left-handed nesota) have shown a large group neurotransmitter. One amino relatives scored lower in a test of correlations in identical twins acid substitution (valine for me- for hypnotic susceptibility. reared apart, which do not occur thionine) in the gene alters the in fraternal twins reared apart. enzyme activity by a factor of At the 2008 conference, I car- The correlations differ very four times. Since we have a copy ried out an experiment with a significantly. Table 1 has some of this gene from each parent, we group of clearly non-suggestible examples in twins reared apart: may have val/val, or val/meth, or Skeptics. I asked those in the au- meth/meth genotypes. dience to raise their hands if they, Similar studies have given or a close relative, were left- similar results in Australia and Val/meth heterozygote confers handed. If the hypothesis was Western Europe. the greater suggestibility. The enzyme is called COMT or cat- echol-o-methyl transferase. Brain pathways in which opioid receptors are active are linked to those in which dopamine is the transmitter (nerve to nerve). If there is genetically conferred variation in dopamine activity it is likely that this will influence the result of changes in activity in the opioid pathways. We must remember that we are talking of a genetic predis- position to be suggestible, and not a gene for suggestibility. It is not that 69 percent of identical twins vote Republican, but that number 91 - autumn 2009 placebos

• Identical Twins Fraternal Twins All drug effects include some placebo effect, except Religious fundamentalism 62% 2% when the drug is given surrep- Broad religiosity 58% 27% titiously. This should alter the Right-wing attitudes 69% 0% classic clinical trial structure. Table 1. Correlations in attitudes of twins reared apart. We have come a long way if one does there is a 69 percent Conclusions from the Vespers for the Dead! probability that the other one • The analgesic placebo ef- does too. Placebos are inert substances fect is accompanied by a distinct, but the context in which they are The implications for drug observable, and locatable physi- given can alter neurophysiology trials ological event in the brain. in such a way as to cause subjec- In 2003, Benedetti and his • Susceptibility to the pla- tive and objective effects. colleagues in Turin examined cebo effect varies in the popula- This is not due to the ‘mo- pain relief in patients after thora- tion at large. lecular memory’ of water, nor cotomy. Patients were allocated • This susceptibility is at to strange force-fields as yet to either open infusions of mor- least in part genetically deter- unknown to physicists. It is due phine, with information about the mined. to our human nature, how we efficacy of the drug, or to receive react to our environment, and the hidden doses of morphine by • It may be possible to har- relationship, between our minds infusion without any information ness this facet of human behav- and our bodies. and without any doctor or nurse iour for the benefit of individu- present (the open / hidden model als, and to prevent its on-going Full references available from the for drug trials). exploitation by charlatans. editor. With the same dose, same Martin Wallace is a retired physi- • Although placebos are cian with special training in kidney infusion rate, same timing and inert and cannot have any ef- disease and its management, and a same drug, pain relief was less fect on the healing processes, degree in pharmacology in addition in the ‘hidden’ group. their meaning and the context in to the MB., ChB. Since retirement which they are given can. he has had time to resume his edu- In the ‘open’ group, the ‘mean- cation in other fields. ing-induced’ expectations had magnets enhanced the drug effect. This research group has gone Magnetic underlays: on to postulate that in all drug treatment the effect is the sum of actual physiological effect what’s the attraction? and the effect of expectations. This means that the placebo ef- Ian Luxmoore investigates the claims for BioMag underlays. fect will always cause part of the usual ‘physiological’ response to active drugs. HEAR and see advertising several other brands of magnetic for the BioMag Underlay on underlay in the market in New They say that the classical I a regular basis in New Zealand Zealand and the conclusions double blind randomised place- media. They advertise exten- here most likely apply to those as bo-controlled trial does not allow sively on TV and radio and have well, but for simplicity I focused for expectation effects, and may become a very well-known brand my efforts on the most popular suggest that a drug has a specific in this country. They produce a one. effect greater than it actually has. wool bed underlay that includes They suggest an ‘open/hidden magnets which are promoted as The first step is to see what paradigm’ will give more mean- providing pain relief. There are the BioMag actually claims and ingful results. in the age of the internet the

page magnets best resource for this is usually these are fraudulent, but the Bio- use very powerful magnets (0.5- the company’s website (www. Mag does not claim this as far as 3.0 Tesla) to create 3D images biomag.co.nz). In this case Bio- I can tell. of the body. To put the power Mag have a pretty good site of these magnets in context, the which is easy to follow and has How Does It Work? biomag magnets are probably a lot of information on it. So how is BioMag supposed around the 0.01-0.05 Tesla mark to do what it claims? There are so if anything was going to move While their claims are restated blood an MRI would! in several different ways in dif- a myriad claims on the website. ferent parts of the website, this The main one however is that The second claim the BioMag premise really stood out: circulation is improved, and the makes is that the magnets stimu- connection between magnets late nerve endings: “For years, the mainstream medi- and iron in the blood is invoked cal establishment’s response to to explain this. They go on to “The general consensus is that pain has been to throw a pill at explain: the magnetic force stimulates it.” nerve-endings to improve blood “It does this by drawing trace flow to injured or swollen joints, While there is some evidence elements, for instance, iron, to- causing the blood vessels to that drug prescription rates are wards the magnets. The human dilate.” higher than necessary, any doc- body contains about 5 grams of tor trivially throwing pills at a iron, much of it in the form of There are numerous papers problem would soon lose his or haemoglobin which plays a vital exploring the impact of magnetic her practising license. The fact role moving oxygen from your fields on nerve actions, and the is that mainstream pain relief lungs around your body.” results are quite variable. One common thread though seems does work. It works effectively, Firstly if the magnets do at- to be that the mechanisms are time and time again, in clinical tract the iron in your blood won’t largely unknown. One paper trials beyond count and in day- that just draw the blood towards I found that did find an effect to-day life. the bed and hold it there? Logi- made the point that the strength cally one would expect it to do The website’s claim looks and nature of the magnet need the exact opposite of increas- like an attempt to trivialise to be quite specific to have an ing circulation. However that mainstream medicine so that impact on isolated mouse nerve proves to be irrelevant because people will be more inclined to impulses. consider the BioMag. This is the iron in the body is locked up not an uncommon tactic amongst in haemoglobin molecules and Even if the nerve endings are alternative medicines and it also is so diffuse that it is incapable stimulated by magnets and this builds on the cynical view of of forming any kind of magnetic does lead to increased blood drug companies held by many. attraction. In fact it turns out that flow, if there is pain there then They promote the BioMag as haemoglobin is actually slightly the nerves are already stimulated drug-free pain relief for a variety repelled by magnetic fields. and the blood flow is already increased! The magnet has of ailments from arthritis to sci- Perhaps the best response to no work left to do. Moreover atica and numerous other causes the claim that magnets affect it seems very unlikely that a to take advantage of this. blood however was made on a general magnetic field from the blog entitled Crap-Based Medi- It is important to note here underlay would stimulate nerves cine: that nowhere do they say that only in places where there are the BioMag cures anything but “The last time you got an MRI, injured or swollen joints – in fact it does claim to reduce the pain did the enormous magnets tear one might expect the magnets to from various ailments. Some all the blood out of your stupid dilute this effect given that, if it magnetic healing devices claim body?” does stimulate nerve endings, to cure cancer or other serious MRIs are magnetic resonance it would stimulate them every- ailments and I think it is clear imaging devices at hospitals that where. All told this line of rea- soning simply doesn’t add up. number 91 - autumn 2009 magnets

The BioMag site also claims only applied the magnets for 45 appears to be no peer-reviewed that increased circulation in- minutes which is quite different research about the BioMag prod- creases the delivery of trace to sleeping on them overnight. ucts specifically and therefore elements and nutrients around Thirdly there was no follow-up its clinical efficacy rests on the the body and aids in the removal so while this paper is potentially somewhat inconclusive (and of toxins. Both of these are ir- interesting, it doesn’t really tell mostly negative) evidence for relevant to the main claim of us very much at all. magnets in general. pain relief and are also highly suspect. Good science is built up on The anecdotal evidence as many studies as possible in Other claims include influ- order to give us the best possible While clinical evidence for the ences on melatonin production picture, especially in highly sub- BioMag’s efficacy is sparse at (to aid sleep) although a 2003 jective areas like pain. Twelve best the anecdotal evidence is all paper by Touitou et al discovered other papers are listed on the site over their website and advertising large magnetic fields had no ef- but to save time I went hunting campaigns. Anecdotal evidence fect whatsoever on melatonin for any meta-analyses of static is much harder to take seriously levels. magnet therapy. A meta-analysis than clinical evidence because is where the author compiles the it is uncontrolled and wide open Finally they claim that the results from as many studies as to placebo, misinterpretation and BioMag can correct excess he or she can find and determines even manipulation. acidity or alkalinity to bring the if there is an overall benefit to be body “into a position of natural The BioMag site particularly found given the breadth of stud- emphasises the celebrities that balance”. There is no obvious ies conducted. connection between magnets and endorse the product. While not pH levels, and it is worth noting I found a 2007 meta-analysis an uncommon tactic amongst that various parts of the body that looked pretty thorough en- both legitimate and illegitimate have varying pH levels for differ- titled Static magnets for reduc- products, ask yourself this: is a ent purposes so one would hope ing pain: systematic review and rugby star any more qualified these levels aren’t all affected. meta-analysis of randomized than anyone else to comment on trials, by Pittler et al. This pa- the efficacy of a bed product? Evidence per pulled together 29 studies, Celebrities they may be. Sleep including the Vallbona study experts or medical doctors they I can find absolutely nothing are not. Their opinion is no more on the website or elsewhere that and most of the other references listed on the site. Their conclu- or less valid than any other lay indicates the product itself has opinion. been tested for efficacy in pain sion is telling: relief and sleep improvement. “Overall, the meta-analysis sug- Looking through the testi- The BioMag site offers some gested no significant effects of monials page we find videos of journal papers and anecdotal static magnets for pain relief several prominent celebrities do- evidence. I will deal with the relative to placebo.” ing promos on Murray Deaker’s anecdotal information in the next radio show plus numerous writ- section. They did note that for one ten endorsements on the site. I ailment (peripheral joint oste- read through all the testimonials The main reference on the oarthritis) the “evidence is in- I could find and noted that, while site is to a 1997 paper entitled sufficient to exclude a clinically every single testimonial men- Response of pain to static mag- important benefit” but for all tions improved sleep, less than netic fields in postpolio patients: other ailments their conclusion half specifically mention pain A double-blinded pilot study, by was that there was no significant relief. In fact most of the video Vallbona et al. There are a few effect over placebo. testimonials didn’t even mention points to note about this paper. pain, but they did spend a fair Firstly it is a pilot study which is At the very best one can say that the literature is uncertain bit of time on how nice the wool a rather tenuous basis for an en- is! Notably almost none of the tire product line. Secondly they about the impact of magnets. What we can say is that there To Page 12

page newsfront Compiled by David Riddell

‘Pet psychics’ get a boost psychics have been given a Brit- ish Government business grant to teach people how to “commu- HE flourishing pet psychic “I didn’t have anything not to nicate with the dead”. Paul and Tindustry has received free be peaceful about,” Max report- Deborah Rees have been given publicity from an Australian ar- edly told the psychic. “I had a £4500 ($11,300) under the Want- ticle reprinted in the NZ Herald complete life. When I was hurt, 2Work job creation scheme. (23 January). I guess it was the I was helped right away.” The couple will use it to in- silly season, that time of year struct people on how to contact when papers are scratching to fill friends and relatives “on the their pages. Gambia gripped by witch- other side” at their centre, the hunt Featured most prominently Accolade Academy of Psychic was Melita, a West Australian Sometimes I have to think and Mediumistic Studies. Mr who has been ‘reading animals’ we’ve got it good in New Zea- Rees said the couple had to nego- for four years, and who gets land. According to Amnesty In- tiate “a lot of red tape” to secure about four calls a week for her ternational, authorities in Gam- the grant: “They hadn’t invested animal psychic skills. bia recently rounded up 1000 in psychics before, so we really people, forced them to drink had to prove ourselves.” Good to One client wanted her to shed hallucinogens, and to confess know they don’t hand out money light on the aggression issues of to being witches, in a campaign to just anyone. a dog that had attacked a kan- that is terrorising the West Afri- garoo – it was like a teenager can country (Waikato Times, 19 that needed booundaries, Melita March). Art Instinct grabs attention said. The human rights group called Well-known local skeptic “I do know that people are on President Yahya Jammeh, Denis Dutton is riding a wave of more sceptical about animals who came to power in a 1994 publicity following the release of than human beings because ani- coup and has claimed he can his latest book, reports the Otago mals can’t talk and so they find cure Aids, to halt the campaign Daily Times (21 February). it a bit scary,” she added. and bring those responsible to He’s “getting the kind of Leonora, from Tasmania, said justice. exposure for which his fellow people were starting to under- Authorities began inviting academics would wrestle sabre- stand that animals have souls. ‘witch doctors’ who combat toothed tigers,” the paper says. Kersti Seksel, a Sydney-based witches to come from nearby The highlight was a spot on the specialist in animal behaviour, Guinea soon after the death this top-rating satirical US television said she was sceptical about year of the president’s aunt. show, The Colbert Report (www. animal psychics, but there was Jammeh reportedly believes colbertnation.com/the-colbert- no harm if they provided comfort that witchcraft was used in her report-videos/217078/january-28- for owners who were concerned death. 2009/denis-dutton). about their pets’ behaviour or According to Harvard psy- mourning their loss. chologist Steven Pinker, The Mediums get job creation “I would like to see scientific Art Instinct: Beauty, Pleasure, grant proof that it works,” she said. and Human Evolution, “marks Ana Samways, in her Side- out the future of the humani- In a sidebar, an owner spoke swipe column (NZ Herald, 30 ties – connecting aesthetics and of the comfort she gained from a March), notes that the Daily criticism to an understanding of message via a psychic from her Telegraph reports two Welsh human nature from the cognitive dead Burmese, Max. and biological sciences”. number 91 - autumn 2009 newsfront

But that’s not why the book quartets of Beethoven, from about their second source of has gained the profile it has, firelit caves to the continuous income, such as the housing according to the ODT. “When worldwide glow of television market. She says she is seeing it comes to the Darwinian com- screens”. far more property investors and petition that is book marketing, people who own small busi- Dutton actually has two secrets: To take just a couple of ex- nesses, but generally people sex and the Internet.” amples – Why do people, when want reassurance rather than polled about their artistic pref- specific advice. The sex part comes from Dar- erences, seem drawn to realist win’s theory of sexual selection. paintings of a certain kind? Ms Goodliffe says her sched- The arts can be seen as the hu- ule is overflowing with bookings man equivalent of a peacock’s “What everybody wanted and for the first time she has had tail, a form of display to attract was the Pleistocene savanna to introduce late night and week- the opposite sex. The internet landscape.” The preference was end sessions. is represented by the website ingrained in us during the Pleis- Dutton founded, Arts & Letters tocene era, during which our ancestors evolved into human Daily, “beloved of academics New Zealand ‘just as weird’ and media types around the beings, he argues. world, where an ad for The Art And why is creative storytell- The Fortean Times is TV3 Instinct flashed prominently on- ing something humans every- Nightline host David Farrier’s screen for weeks.” where value and understand? favourite read, which his co-host says explains a lot. On a recent Says Denis Dutton, “The hand Well, for one thing, stories offer “low-cost surrogate experiences” visit to London he visited the of a certain view of the arts has founding editor, Paul Sieveking had its clammy grip on all think- that help us play out different possible scenarios. (TV3, 27 March, available on ing”. Farrier’s TV3 web page). The ability to imagine “states That view is the ‘blank slate’ Named after paranormal en- concept of human nature, in of affairs not present in direct consciousness” must have had “a thusiast Charles Fort, the Fortean which the art we humans pro- Times is a distinctly British duce is seen as being entirely huge adaptive power in human prehistory”. magazine, but has more than 80 shaped or ‘constructed’ by cul- international correspondents. ture, not genes. “I have a carpet salesman in Dutton rejects this notion. Business booming for kiwi Turkey who translates the Turk- Culture is only part of the equa- psychics too ish press,” says Sieveking, “and tion, he believes. The prob- it’s teeming with UFO cases, and lem has been that philosophy The economic boom for psy- sorcery, and all sorts of Fortean “doesn’t ask where the intuitions chics in the US noted in last stuff which the rest of the world come from ... let’s face it, a lot issue’s Newsfront seems to be is unfamiliar with because they of it is uninformed armchair occurring in this country as well. don’t read Turkish.” speculation by people who just (Newstalk ZB, 31 March) happen to be geniuses: Hobbes, There’s also quite a bit of ma- With more people seeking terial from New Zealand, which Mill, Kant. It’s time to go over to reassurance in the face of the the psychology department and shows this country stacks up economic downturn, clairvoy- quite well “on the weird scale”. see what they’re up to.” ants are experiencing a surge of Dutton wants to explain “how new clients, it seems. They say “You’ve got plenty of UFO we became a species obsessed since the start of the year, there cases, strange cryptozoological with creating artistic experiences has been an influx of people ask- stories, strange corpses washed with which to amuse, shock, ing about the financial outlook. up on the beach, archaeological titillate, and enrapture ourselves, anomalies – stone walls that are Psychic Rose Goodliffe says pre-Maori.” from children’s games to the most people are asking questions

page 11 magnets testimonials made any specific you curl up in a warm comfort- one. However given everything mention of the magnets. able bed that never used to be I have read, the nature of the ben- that soft and comfortable it is no efits of using the BioMag, and Explaining the anecdotal surprise that you’d think it was the general conclusions of the evidence working and that would poten- magnetic healing literature, I am On the surface the anecdotal tially increase the effect that the strongly inclined to believe that evidence seems convincing but good sleep already has. the magnets do not contribute to any of the benefits of using the it doesn’t take too much thought Conclusion to find a logical explanation for BioMag underlay. most of it. I think it is safe to say im- Ian Luxmoore is a lecturer in proving sleeping conditions is Resource and Environmental Firstly the BioMag is a luxury beneficial to people with all sorts Planning at Massey University woollen underlay for a bed and of problems so it is most likely and is currently doing a PhD in relatively few people that already a benefit to installing a luxury macroeconomic exergy modelling. had a high-quality woollen un- wool underlay on a bed without derlay on their bed would actually purchase a BioMag. This forum means that the majority of people purchasing one are actually significantly improving their bed’s Chiropractic argument ‘spurious’ comfort and luxury. This in itself would be enough to account for N HIS previous Hokum Locum If Dr Welch had bothered a better night’s sleep, the most Icolumn (NZ Skeptic 90) John looking at the Chiropractic common reported benefit. Welch commented on an article Board registration and exami- Secondly a lot of people suffer on Chiropractic that appeared in nation processes and reviewed problematic pain in bed. Once the Marlborough Express on 22 the moderator’s report he would you are comfortable and asleep August 2008. This relied upon see that the procedure for regis- you don’t feel pain so anything innuendo, blog sites, opinions tration is robust and fair (www. that makes your bed more com- and basic mistruths to validate a chiropracticboard.org.nz). The fortable and makes it easier for spurious argument. examination moderator has a you to sleep will effectively medical degree and is very com- Dr Welch was critical of the petent and well qualified. alleviate pain. Also it is fairly Nelson chiropractor John Daw- well known that good sleep gives son using the courtesy title ‘Doc- The $100 million budgetary your body a chance to recuper- tor’. Perhaps we should have the blowout that ACC is experienc- ate and that well-rested people use of the title solely reserved for ing is the direct result of physio- are more likely to be motivated those people who actually have therapy care within the Endorsed and lively. This builds a power- the post-graduate doctorates eg Provider Network scheme. It has ful explanatory scenario for the PhD’s, etc. Thus all medical nothing to do with the chiroprac- observed pain relief due to the practitioners, dentists, chiropractic profession. BioMag. tors and vets would cease being able to use it. The recent study of low back Thirdly, a lot of people that pain quoted by Dr Welch in buy this product expect to re- On a matter of public safety, it Medscape (www.medscape.com/ ceive pain relief and better sleep. was responsible of the Ministry viewarticle/580409) made no Given the cost, celebrity en- of Health to prosecute Michael mention of chiropractic, but did dorsements, and supposed sci- Dawson for calling himself a comment on manipulation. Dr ence behind it, there cannot be chiropractor, when it was illegal Welch was incorrect in referenc- a better environment for the for him to do so. If Dr Welch ing this article to chiropractic placebo effect to manifest itself. has a problem with this then he care. Given how subjective pain is, if should really take it up with the Ministry of Health. In regard to a patient that may have had a stroke as a result number 91 - autumn 2009 forum of a manipulation of the neck, Chiroworks? Aries, and Aries don’t believe in the most recent research (Cas- astrology.” John Welch’s comments re- sidy et al, 2008: Spine 33(45): garding Chiropractors led me to S176–S183) identifies that 80 Hans Laven share this post from the ‘Traffic percent of dissections of the Tauranga Light Thoughts’ series on my vertebral or carotid arteries are blog: pre-existing prior to any manipu- lative procedures (irrespective of I’m not advocating graffiti but Islamic creationism on the the practitioner type). Cassidy I must admit a desire to modify telly found that a patient has as great one logo I stare at every day, if the I’ve been a bit disturbed by a likelihood of experiencing a light is red, from “Chiroworks” something the local Canter- cerebral vascular accident fol- to “Chirodoesn’t”. bury TV puts on. It is done as lowing visiting their medical Commuting means time spent a paid hour, and comes with a practitioner than they do visiting disclaimer from CTV, but is a a chiropractor. sitting at traffic lights. Random thoughts occur in an attempt to Muslim ‘Voice of Islam’ hour Every form of health care fill the void. I call them Traf- every Saturday night and Sunday morning. First time I saw it I was has its dangers. To discuss the fic Light Thoughts – rcd.type- dangers of chiropractic care, Dr. pad.com/personal/traffic_light_ channel surfing late at night, and Welch should also have provided thoughts/ thought it was a nature documen- the mortality statistics for the use tary – the wonders of the animal of Viox and other anti-inflam- Robin Capper world or some such – until it matories. Waitakere did the same thing as the creation science crowd and claimed In the five-year period that that the eye/behaviour/structure Viox was available in the US, Gonorrhoea and astrology was much too complex and only there were 88,000 additional their god could have designed or heart attacks and 38,000 deaths. Well done for the excellent made this! (Reference available.) Summer 2009 edition of the NZ Skeptic. I thoroughly enjoyed Is Voice of Islam putting this Everybody has a ‘bad health it. stuff all over? It clearly has mon- care provider’ story. In regard ey behind it to 1) make the shows to Dr Welch’s comments about Dr Goodyear-Smith’s article and 2) pay for two full hours chiropractic treatment of wisdom on non-sexual transmission of each week. Sometimes you get teeth, if it was true, then a com- gonorrhoea highlights the de- talking heads, and some of it is plaint should have been made to gree to which the sexual abuse quite amusing in its twisted logic the HDC. industry (including relevant law) at times. If this is being shown is based on unproven assump- I believe there is a special re- to half-literate or scientifically tions, feminist propaganda, poor illiterate groups in other parts of sponsibility when one criticises research and superstition. She other health care professions. the world, it is no better than the is a brave seeker of truth whose creation science people. The author should look at both contribution to our country will sides of the issues, be objective be seen as enormous, but pos- Change the name from Allah, and honest as well as referenc- sibly not until after she has been and you wouldn’t know it wasn’t ing the articles properly. Refer- burned at the stake by those creation science stuff. ences should be peer-reviewed whose sacred cows she keeps Louette McInnes journals. threatening. Christchurch Justin Vodane And Vicki Hyde, who tells B.Soc.Sci.,B.App.Sci. those enquiring of her star sign Chiropractor that she is an Asparagus, might Hamilton like the reply I often give to that sadly frequent question: “I’m an

page 13 hokum locum

White-tail spiders: a web of misconceptions

John Welch

INLEY Boniface is to be skin lesions which had been at- did not actually contain enough Lcongratulated for her hu- tributed to white-tail spider bites. extracts to have any meaningful morous take on the prevailing I have only seen one case that I health effect and some could have hysteria around alleged “white- accepted as being a genuine bite. been dangerous. The claims of tail spider bites” (Dominion Post A young woman put on her slip- some were simply wrong. For 9 March). per and felt a sudden sharp pain. example, one product claimed to When she removed the slipper contain greater than 30 percent An Australian, Dr Geoff Is- a spider dropped out which she of the daily omega three fats re- bister, has done the most to identified as being a white-tail. quirement. It actually contained debunk the belief that this Aus- There was a small red mark. only eight percent of the recom- tralian immigrant has been re- No treatment was necessary and mended daily dose for men. sponsible for everything from when she phoned me a few days limb amputations to ulcers and later the injury had completely Choice’s advice is timely: “it’s skin grafts. A careful scientific resolved. Note that this account best to stick to the whole fruit or study has shown that a white-tail does not meet the strict criteria vegetable.” spider bite causes a small and of the Isbister study but the out- painful red mark which is gone come is similar. in a few days. The Isbister study Internet mythology required evidence of a bite as well as expert identification of Mike Bradstock writes: “I am the spider which had to be avail- Juicy Fruitless? a bit concerned by the number able for examination. “Fruit juices with added ex- of anonymously written emails tras such as herbal supplements I get from well-meaning people I found another false belief telling me how to do an instant that white-tail spider bites pos- may actually be harmful” – so says the Marlborough Express stroke diagnosis and suchlike. sess a special toxicity because Have you encountered this sort they feed on other spiders in the (10 March). Such products are aggressively marketed by adver- of thing and is any of it well home, particularly the ‘Daddy founded?” Long-legs’. There is no evidence tisers using brand names such for this and when I was cor- as ‘Kickstart’, ‘Energy Lift’ and Well, yes. I get such advice responding with Dr Isbister he ‘Green Recovery’. Perhaps it all the time. For example, if wittily referred to this belief as was this product that helped the you feel chest pain and loss a “myth within a myth”. Green Party gain an extra seat in of consciousness coming on, the last election! cough and you can ward off the In the course of my work in An Australian consumer group effects of a cardiac arrest! Here the Emergency Department I is another example: “For those have seen dozens of strange (Choice) found that herbal extras number 91 - autumn 2009 hokum locum who like to drink cold water, this and you will see I am telling you doses and current evidence- article is applicable to you. It is the truth.” As well as just dealing based treatments. nice to have a cup of cold drink with illness I believe that doctors after a meal. However, the cold have a duty of care to educate The cyberchondria article water will solidify the oily stuff their patients. Instead of endors- mentioned the dread doctors that you have just consumed. It ing ACC claims for ‘white-tail feel when patients walk into a will slow down the digestion. spider bites’ doctors should be consulting room with copious Once this ‘sludge’ reacts with the telling patients about the Isbister web printouts. I seldom experi- acid, it will break down and be study. Some web-based applica- ence this but I did once have a absorbed by the intestine faster tions have been shown to be bet- mother offer a rare web-based than the solid food. It will line ter than doctors in diagnosing the diagnosis for her sick child. She the intestine. cause of abdominal pain. was right! The annoying thing was that the initial presentation “Very soon, this will turn into Of course the internet can also was atypical and after the child fats and lead to cancer. It is best was discharged from hospital she to drink hot soup or warm water refused to pay her bill because after a meal.” she claimed the diagnosis ought to have been made at the first The internet provides consultation. an opportunity for ignorant people to propagate such non- sense (alimentary er- Vitamin C Quackery rors?). It reminds me of The NZ Family Phy- that joke – if you give several Poor maligned wee beastie: the sician (Vol 35 number 5, Octo- million monkeys a typewriter white-tail spider ber 2008) is now defunct and I and leave them to bash away for one will not miss it. It had randomly, one might produce the be a cause of anxiety for people become a hackneyed apologist works of William Shakespeare. who endlessly trawl websites for quackery and the last issue Thanks to the internet we know looking for diseases that they lived up to this reputation by that’s not true. might have. This has been publishing an infomercial for a That is the paradox of the in- labeled ‘cyberchondria’ and is quack vitamin C clinic posing ternet – it pops up a lot of rubbish typified by an addiction to inter- as an original scientific paper but at least you have the means net symptom diagnosis. (www.rnzcgp.org.nz/nzfp-october-2008/). to instantly check anything that Edward Shorter (From Pa- has been sent to you. There can ralysis to Fatigue: A history of A link soon appeared on the be nothing more satisfying than psychosomatic illness in the vitamin clinic website (www. hitting “Reply to all” with a link modern era) predicted that we camltd.co.nz) identifying something as an ur- were entering a psychosomatic ban legend. The NZFP has been replaced era and the internet is perfectly by the Journal of Primary Health placed to play its part in fostering Care and I am very pleased to re- abnormal illness beliefs such as Cyberchondria port that the editor is Dr Felicity RSI, GWS, MCS and so on. Goodyear-Smith. The first issue The internet is very useful in Hypochondriasis will always came out in March and contained the health sector and I often en- be with us and whatever the two good letters strongly con- courage people to use it to check damage done via cyberchondria demning the vitamin C article. things for themselves. After of- I believe on balance that the You can read my letter as well fering health advice and sensing internet is a hugely beneficial as the others at www.rnzcgp.org. that I am not believed I often say technology for medicine. I nz/journal-of-primary-health- to people, “You don’t have to use Google nearly every day to care-01/ believe me – check for yourself check unusual acronyms, drug

page 15 superstitions Superstitious? Me? That depends

When the Sunday Star-Times decided to survey the nation on how superstitious New Zealanders are and about what, Vicki Hyde got used as a guinea pig. Part One of her responses was published in the last issue of the NZ Skeptic. This is Part Two.

The Paranormal • During altered states, 1 – Only if you're cultur- such as sleep or trances, ally responsive to it. Other cul- Paranormal phenomena are the spirit can leave the tures don't like four or seven or things that cannot be explained and/or proven by current scien- body. NEE! tific methods. Put a number be- 1 – Presupposes the existence • Reincarnation does tween 1 and 7 next to each item of the spirit in the first place ... occur. to indicate how much you agree or disagree with that item. Out-of-body experiences (OO- 1 – I haven't seen any good 7 = Strongly agree, 1 = Strongly BEs) are fascinating and real in evidence for agreeing with this, disagree, 4 = Neutral the sense that the people who and it presupposes a whole host experience them – me, for one! of entities and processes to • Astrology is a way to – feel as if they are real. How- support it for which there is no accurately predict the ever, neuroscience is starting to evidence. future. paint a very interesting picture 1 – Having done lots of charts, of how these experiences occur • There is life on other I know it's applied psychology and even how to induce them. planets. – people will read into it what This does not involve the spirit 7 – I'd prefer if it you said they want to. No accuracy, no departing the body, nor have "likely to be life on other plan- prediction. such experiences been able to ets", as we still don't have any demonstrate conclusive proof of specific examples, but I'll take a • Psychokinesis, the knowledge gained solely from punt and be definite on this one. movement of objects such a spirit wandering. It's a big universe out there and through psychic powers, it would be rather presumptuous does exist. • The Loch Ness monster of us to assume that our planet 7 or 1 – If you'd said mental of Scotland exists. was the only one to experience abilities instead of psychic pow- 1 – Though it would be great if the right conditions for life to ers, I would have agreed. We have it did. Imagine a plesiosaur liv- occur. a growing number of examples ing in these times; that would be of neurological manipulation of a magnificent survival story. But Most card-carrying skep- an external environment, such you only have to stop and think tics would agree with this one. as people able to move cursors for a bit to see how unlikely it is. Where we tend to demur is the around a computer screen by We've got much more chance for idea that that life must therefore thinking at it. That's real with the the Fiordland moose or the moa be intelligent and buzzing our right kind of technology behind to pop up here than Scotland's fa- planet teasing the natives ... it. And pretty darned amazing, vourite cryptozoological beastie • Some psychics can ac- not to mention hugely inspiring lurking in the depths. curately predict the future. for people with motor disabili- ties, given the possibilities for • The number ‘13’ is 1 – Only if you define ac- future development. particularly unlucky or curately to mean "roughly right particularly lucky if you let them reinterpret what However, using psychic pow- they said after the event". Any- ers, a la X-Men, to shift things, thing other than their very gen- that's not been demonstrated. eralised predictions have failed number 91 - autumn 2009 superstitions on a regular basis. Here's some is right out, though there might to the Loch Ness Monster or the examples: be a technological fix for that in Yeti, where people claim such the future, which could be fun. things can be found and photo- For 2001, psychics predicted graphed. that: In a strong cultural context, makutu, maleficus, pointing the During the 2002 furore over • the nine US Supreme bone, voodoo and a whole pile of the Waikato taniwha lurking Court judges would vanish with- other psychological techniques inconveniently in the path of the out a trace can certainly affect a compliant main south highway no-one went • the Mississippi River individual immersed in the belief and actually looked for Karu would flood, forming a new system. Tahi. It was understood that the ocean in the US heartland taniwha was a cultural matter, not a physical matter, and that • Pope John Paul II would regardless of that, it had a role die and his successor would be to play in the debate about de- Italian velopment. And the big story they missed • Have you ever had a – the 9/11 attack on the Twin 'paranormal' experience – Towers in New York. one that can't be explained In 2005, professional psy- scientifically, or 'proven' in chics saw the usual mix of the ways that a scientist would banal and bizarre, including accept? If so, what was it? that: Not one that I haven't been able to think of an alternative • terrorists would start non-paranormal explanation World War III by shooting a for. nuclear missile into China You've got to remember that, • the winner of a new real- based on general experiences ity TV show would gain fame and basic maths, you should by killing and eating a contest- experience a million-to-one ant coincidence roughly every two • the San Andreas Fault in years – so the world will throw California would have a mas- up mysterious experiences from sive rupture on June 17 with a time to time. How we explain death toll reaching 4,568,304 those experiences by observa- tion, examination, replication What did they miss – Hurri- Taniwha – a cultural reality, if not a and just plain hard thinking is cane Katrina, which made thou- physical one. a lot of fun, and far more inter- sands homeless in the south- esting than the quick jump to a ern US, and the devastating • It is possible to commu- paranormal pablum. earthquake that hit Pakistan and nicate with the dead. India in October, killing 73,000 Lotto people. 1 – Certainly not going by the current crop of rather banal, • How frequently do you • There are actual cases self- similar pronouncements by buy a Lotto ticket? of witchcraft. those professionals claiming to Not in about 10 years. 5 – It depends on your defini- have this ability. • If you buy one often, do tion of witchcraft, which is a cul- • Taniwha do exist. you regularly use the same turally and historically complex numbers? (Y/N) concept. Riding on broomsticks, 4 – Culturally yes, physically outside the Harry Potter movies, no. And this makes it different

page 17 superstitions

Nope, but I do know what Religion • A secret cabal of Ameri- numbers to use to increase my can and European elite • Do you consider your- winnings. Send me $10 and I'll control the election of self to be a religious/spir- tell you how ... :-) national leaders, the world itual person? (Y/N) economy, and direct the But seriously, you can im- No. Ethical, yes; moral, yes; course of history in their prove your winnings by doing honourable yes, but I don't think favour the following: you have to be religious or spir- 1 – At some times, in some itual for any of that. • select sequences – most places, there have been power- people think these can't come up • If so, what religion/ ful non-elected forces at work as they aren't random, but they teachings do you follow? behind the scenes, but an all- are as random as another other powerful Illuminati seems very I guess the closest I'd get to set of numbers (don't choose 1, unlikely. 2, 3, 4... or ...37,38,39,40 as these one would be the Golden Rule, are more likely to be chosen for found in many a religion and • There is a deliberate sequences). philosophy – variously described political conspiracy to sup- as "do as you would be done by". press the rights of minori- • don't choose any num- Sure there are critiques of this ties in NZ bers with 7 in them; seven is ethic of reciprocity, but it's not a 3 – Not a conspiracy, but pos- commonly considered a lucky bad one-liner to start with. number, so when the numbers sibly just basic human psychol- 7,10,17,23,27,33,37 came up in Conspiracy Theories ogy at work. Never put down one draw, 21 people shared the to malice what can be achieved Below is a list of theories about through thoughtlessness ... first division prize and 80 people the causes of important or con- took the second division. The av- troversial events. Please read Of course, you could argue erage number of winners at that through, and indicate how likely that democracy and consensus- time were 3 and 19 respectively, these are as actual explana- building, by their very nature, are so any winner of that draw had a tions. going to ride over minorities in much smaller part of the pie. 7 = very likely, 1 = extremely their general quest for the great- unlikely • don't choose double dig- est good for the greatest number. its or numbers ending in 0 – these • The All Blacks were de- But I’d need a lot more red wine are more likely to be picked by liberately poisoned before in me to get into that debate ... the 1995 rugby world cup people playing numbers. • NASA faked the first final These strategies do not affect moon landings for publicity 5 – Put enough people together your chances of winning, but can 1 – Only the first? in a group environment under be used to improve the amount stress and it’s not unlikely some you win. This is because you I think the saddest thing about will fall ill. ’Course the circum- are not playing merely against this one is that my kids, and a stances can seem more suspi- the machine, but also against whole lot of other people, are cious depending on the situation, everyone who has a Lotto ticket. growing up in a world where and I’d tip this one on the more Pick the more ‘popular’ numbers they’ve never seen a moon shot likely side just because of the and you'll have to share the prize to inspire them with a sense of circumstances surrounding it. On with more people. Select ‘un- awe at what humanity is capable the other hand, sh*t happens ... common’ numbers or ‘unlikely’ of achieving. When everyone in my fourth form class had a poster sequences and you have a good • Princess Diana was of the Bay City Rollers stuck to chance of not having to share the killed by British secret their desk-lid, I had the famous winnings. service in order to prevent shot of Buzz Aldrin standing a Royal scandal Who said maths wasn't use- on the Moon. It still makes my ful ... 1 – I just don’t think they’re heart lift. that competent ... number 91 - autumn 2009 superstitions

• The war in Iraq has less I might’ve wondered as I think 2 – I gather they were aware to do with promoting de- he’d have been smart enough to that an attack of some kind was mocracy than it does with pull it off ... being planned, but the rest of the controlling oil production conspiracy ideas around this are in the East • World governments are just sickening and demonstrably hiding evidence that the 6 – The reasons for going into incorrect in many cases. People earth has been visited by want to find an explanation for Iraq were pretty shonky in the aliens first place. But few things are such things and someone to done for just one reason ... 1 – Too big a story, too incom- blame and, for some, govern- petent a collection to let that one ments or Big Business or the • Elvis Presley faked his run for any length of time. MIB or the Gnomes of Zurich death to escape the pres- serve as the first port of blame. sures of fame, the shame of • The American his decline, or the unwant- government was either ed attentions of the Mob involved in, or knew about, the September 11 attacks 1 – Nope, he just carked it. before they happened Now if you’d cited Jim Morrison book review Evolution book one for the library

Evolution – What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters. Donald R Prothero, Columbia University Press. Reviewed by Louette McInnes.

F YOUR local library doesn’t birds, and many other animals. best x-ray and photo I’ve ever Ihave this book, go out right The book is reasonably well il- seen of a genuine human tail. now and request they buy a copy. lustrated, certainly enough for an Donald Prothero, is a professor interested non-biologist to fol- As well as all this, Prothero of geology with a specialty in low. He also deals with cladistics fulfils his main aim of dealing Tertiary mammals. While the and classification, which I never with ‘creation science’ and ‘in- book is designed to deal with the understood so well before, and telligent design’ arguments. He fossil evidence for evolution, it how this has changed our view does an excellent job of detailing does so much more than that. of which animals belong in the the creationists’ shortcomings: same families. not understanding what they are Prothero presents an entranc- reading; deliberately mislead- ing saga of the evolution of life There are some lovely exam- ing tactics; ‘quote mining’ for on earth, from the simplest mol- ples of evolution using structures fragments or sentences that can ecules and life forms through already present to accomplish be used to claim some reputable to our own arrival as the third some function. The panda’s scientist is denying evolution; chimpanzee. Each chapter is a thumb is well illustrated, and using very out of date sources densely packed yet highly read- is well known. The nerves in a that don’t show the latest fossils. able chronicle of evolution: the giraffe’s neck was a new one for Tactics every good skeptic or nature of science; the origins of me – how the nerve connecting teacher should know about. I am the Biblical account and ‘flood brain and larynx circles back 100 percent certain that Stephen geology’; the history of the down past the heart, then up Gould, to whom the book is dedi- theory and how Neo-Darwin- again to the head, and how this cated along with Niles Eldredge, ism gave way before Hox genes arose from our fish ancestors and would have loved this book if he and evo-devo; the major stages can be followed in the develop- had lived to see it. of evolution on Earth; some ing embryo – a wonderful exam- well-done examples of the fos- ple to confound the creationists sils demonstrating the evolution when they talk about a ‘divine of horses, whales, elephants, watchmaker’! He also has the

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