DOCSLIB.ORG

Steve Novella's

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Steve Novella's SKEPTICISM . SCIENCE . SOCIETY Vol. 31, No 3. September 2011 Steve Novella’s BS detector +KEN HARVEY SensaSlim the TGA & Me LEO IGWE Interview Australian Skeptics . www.skeptics.com.au Skeptic_Cover_Mar11.indd 1 13/09/11 10:26 AM The Skeptic September 11 Skeptical Groups in Australia Australian Skeptics Inc – Eran Segev Queensland Skeptics Association Inc – Bob Bruce www.skeptics.com.au PO Box 3480, Norman Park QLD 4170 PO Box 20, Beecroft, NSW 2119 Tel: (07) 3255 0499 Mob: 0419 778 308 [email protected] Tel: 02 8094 1894; Mob: 0432 713 195; Fax: (02) 8088 4735 Hear Bob on 4BC Paranormal Panel - 9-10pm Tuesdays [email protected] Meeting with guest speaker on the last Monday of every month Sydney Skeptics in the Pub – 6pm first Thursday of each at the Red Brick Hotel, 81 Annerley Road, South Brisbane. Dinner month at the Mezz Bar, Coronation Hotel, Park St in the city from 6pm, speaker at 7.30pm. (meeting upstairs) Dinner meetings are held on a regular basis. Annual Skeptics Convention: November 19 - Bookings online or Canberra Skeptics – Michael O’Rourke & Pierre Le Count contact [email protected] NOTE: May be booked out PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 http://www.canberraskeptics.org.au Tel: 0417 253 044 [email protected] (general inquiries), [email protected] (Canberra Skeptics in the Pub). Hunter Skeptics Inc – John Turner Monthly talks usually take place on the 13th of each month at Tel: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] the Innovations Theatre at the ANU. Dates and topics are subject to change. Canberra Skeptics in the Pub gather at 1pm on the Meetings are held upstairs at The Cricketers Arms Hotel, Cooks third Sunday of each month at King O’Malleys Pub in Civic. For Hill (Newcastle) on the first Monday of each even-numbered up-to-date details, visit our web site at: www.meetup.com/ month, commencing 7.00pm, with a guest speaker on an SocialSkepticsCanberra/ interesting topic. Visitors welcome. For further information visit our website www.hunterskeptics.com.au or contact the secretary at: [email protected] Skeptics SA – Laurie Eddie 52B Miller St Unley, SA 5061 Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc – Terry Kelly GPO Box 5166, Melbourne VIC 3001 Thinking and Drinking - Skeptics in the Pub, on the third Friday of every month. Contact [email protected] Tel: 1 800 666 996 [email protected] www.meetup.com/Thinking-and-Drinking-Skeptics-in-the-Pub/ Skeptics’ Café – Third Monday of every month, with guest calendar/10205558 or http://tinyurl.com/loqdrt speaker. La Notte, 140 Lygon St. Meal from 6pm, speaker at 8pm sharp. More details on our web site www.skeptics.com.au/vic WA Skeptics – Dr John Happs PO Box 466, Subiaco, WA 6904 Tel: (08) 9448 8458 [email protected] All meetings start at 7:30 pm at Grace Vaughan House, Borderline Skeptics Inc – Russell Kelly 227 Stubbs Terrace, Shenton Park PO Box 17, Mitta Mitta, Victoria 3701 Further details of all our meetings and speakers are on our Tel: (02) 6072 3632 [email protected] website at www.undeceivingourselves.com Meetings are held quarterly on second Tuesday at Albury/ Wodonga on pre-announced dates and venues. Australian Skeptics in Tasmania – Leyon Parker PO Box 582, North Hobart TAS 7002 Gold Coast Skeptics – Lilian Derrick Tel: 03 6238 2834 BH, 0418 128713 [email protected] PO Box 8348, GCMC Bundall, QLD 9726 Skeptics in the Pub - 2nd Monday each month, 6.30pm, Ball and Tel: (07) 5593 1882; Fax: (07) 5593 2776 Chain restaurant, Salamanca Place, Hobart [email protected] Contact Lilian to find out news of more events. Darwin Skeptics – Brian de Kretser Tel: (08) 8927 4533 [email protected] Volume 31 • No 3 • September11 Contents REPORTS TGA action and inaction 7 8 Tim Mendham Hear & loafing at TAM 9 8 7 Martin Hadley FEATURES The BS detector 11 Steve Novella The SensaSlim Saga 16 Ken Harvey 20 Leo Igwe interview 20 11 Tim Mendham 16 36 ARTICLES How Mud Sticks 26 Ullrich Ecker & Stephen Lewandowsky How I became a skeptic 29 John Smyrk Success of vaccination 30 Ian Gust 29 30 The newer broom 35 26 Elliot Birch The miracle of Calanda 36 42 Brian Dunning Biodynamic wine 40 48 Brian Miller Two cultures redux 42 Helen Dale Not wasting water 48 Rob Holmes 40 REGULARS Editorial 4 53 Around the Traps 5 Puzzles page 19 Astrology column 39 The logical place 41 What goes around 46 46 Book reviews 53 Letters 60 EDITORIAL From the Editor The need for information common dilemma facing Skeptics others, those who are not so familiar is how to present information with the topic, and need a good and A to the public, and especially to those simple exposition on it. Ian’s article is who might be leaning toward belief just that – it may very well have much in unproven and disproven concepts. information of interest to Skeptics, but ISSN 0726-9897 Whether its belief in UFOs and it also makes an excellent hand-out that Quarterly Journal of psychics, cults or homeopathy, there is can be used to give the ‘target market’ Australian Skeptics Inc a duty and desire of Skeptics to inform an overview of all the major issues that (ABN 90 613 095 379) people, however ‘dickishlessly’ – of the that might not be available elsewhere. Editor scientifically-based evidence regarding Brochures on this subject handed out Tim Mendham any suspect practice or belief system. in doctors’ surgeries are very useful, but Finding such information should often limited to the technical issues in Editorial Board not be that difficult. Searching the a fairly formal way. Ian’s article, again to Steve Roberts net will give a plethora of sources and me, is a great supplement to that – it is Eran Segev documents that will fill the purpose. It easy reading, and it covers the issues in Martin Hadley will also bring up a plethora of less- enough depth to serve any reader in the Barry Williams than-scientific comments and articles, general public. some of which are ill informed, some of The various Skeptic groups website Design Services which are stupid and some of which are have much of this sort of information. Nova Consulting P/L downright dangerous. But I think we need more. All correspondence to: We modestly pride ourselves on the Too often Skeptics are accused of Australian Skeptics Inc information in this journal. As editor, preaching to the converted. But our PO Box 20 I’ve always aimed to have a spread of outreach to the public is often limited Beecroft NSW 2119 information in each issue covering to the opportunities that present Australia different topics and often disparate styles. themselves – press, radio and TV You need only look at a selection of interviews and invited articles. In these, Contact details articles in this issue to see what I mean. those who take part try to present a Tel: +61 (0)2 8094 1894 The interview with Leo Igwe looks at reasoned and reasonable argument, Mob: +61 (0)432 713 195 activism and witchcraft in Africa, tinged but it’s not always easy. Fax: +61 (0)2 8088 4735 with a view on international influence As a recent example, on a Seven [email protected] and cooperation between Skeptical Network Sunrise program, Peter www.skeptics.com.au groups. The short piece by Elliot Birch Bowditch, well-known Ratbag and of the Young Australian Skeptics looks former president of Australian Skeptics, The Skeptic is published four times at the use of social media by Skeptics and Bill Chalker (probably the most per year by Australian Skeptics Inc. (and not without a sense of humour on reasonable and approachable person Views and opinions expressed in articles the history and the limitations on past in the UFO believer field in Australia), and letters in The Skeptic are those of methods of communication.) And Prof were given about a minute each to the authors, and are not necessarily Ian Gust gives what is, in my opinion, respond to some plainly ridiculous those of Australian Skeptics Inc. an excellent overview of the background UFO claims. Both Peter and Bill were Articles may be reprinted with and issues with vaccination and the anti- understandably peeved. permission and with due acknowledge- vaccination movement. Those sorts of opportunities are often ment to The Skeptic. The inclusion of this last article needs annoying and unproductive. A waste All effort is made to ensure correct a little more comment, I believe. To of time. Therefore it is important for us acknowledgement of all contributions. man of our readers, what Ian is saying to present factual and to a certain extent We are happy to update credit when so may be well understood. The history detailed information in a more proactive informed. of vaccination, the troubles with side way. It should not preach, it should effects, and the dangers of the anti- not demean, but it should be readily Editorial submission deadline vaxers are known to them, in no small there in response to any query that for the next issue: amounts. But, as above, what we do might arise. October 15, 2011 need is information we can give to - Tim Mendham, editor 4 NEWS The Skeptic September 11 Around the traps ... health Spinal manipulators – NSW in May, but the council dismissed Griffith Uni rejects one in, one out the claim that Weiner was guilty of false homeopathy link advertising or that he was exploiting the Two alternative health practitioners public’s ignorance of medical research.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • In the Supreme Court of the United States
    NO. 17-_____ In the Supreme Court of the United States EDWARD LEWIS TOBINICK, MD, a Medical Corporation d/b/a INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL RECOVERY, INR PLLC, d/b/a INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL RECOVERY, EDWARD TOBINICK, M.D., Petitioners, –v– STEVEN NOVELLA, M.D., Respondent. On Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI CULLIN A. O’BRIEN, ESQ. COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS CULLIN O’BRIEN LAW, P.A. 6541 NE 21ST WAY FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33308 (561) 676-6370 [email protected] SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 SUPREME COURT PRESS ♦ (888) 958-5705 ♦ BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS i QUESTIONS PRESENTED In our age of the Internet, false disparagement against individuals and businesses can be lucrative. An Internet entrepreneur can funnel web-traffic for profit, through sophisticated uses of disparaging “click baiting,” “Internet trolling,” hyperlinks, hypertext, clickable banner ads, podcasts, Facebook, Instagram, email listservs and other systems. Individuals seeking legal redress from false Internet defamation can confront state court anti-SLAPP procedures that accelerate adjudication of the defendant’s “actual malice.” In contrast, businesses seeking federal court protection from false Internet disparagement under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(1)(B), are entitled to the summary adjudication safeguards of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. The questions presented to this Court are: 1. When a defendant is sued for both common law defamation and business disparagement under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(B), does the application of state civil court anti-SLAPP procedure irreconcilably conflict with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56? 2.
    [Show full text]
  • *P Ocket Sizes May Vary. W E Recommend Using Really, Really Big Ones
    *Pocket sizes may vary. We recommend using really, really big ones. Table of Contents Welcome to Dragon*Con! .............................................3 Live Performances—Concourse (CONC) .................38 Film Festival Schedule ...............................................56 Vital Information .........................................................4 Online Gaming (MMO) .........................................91 Walk of Fame ...........................................................58 Important Notes ....................................................4 Paranormal Track (PN) .........................................92 Dealers Tables ..........................................................60 Courtesy Buses .....................................................4 Podcasting (POD) ................................................93 Exhibitors Booths ......................................................62 MARTA Schedule ..................................................5 Puppetry (PT) <NEW> .......................................94 Comics Artists Alley ...................................................64 Hours of Operation ................................................5 Reading Sessions (READ) .....................................96 Art Show: Participating Artists ....................................66 Special Events ......................................................6 Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time (RJWOT) ................96 Hyatt Atlanta Fan Tracks Information and Room Locations ...................6 Robotics and Maker Track
    [Show full text]
  • CFI-Annual-Report-2018.Pdf
    Message from the President and CEO Last year was another banner year for the Center the interests of people who embrace reason, for Inquiry. We worked our secular magic in a science, and humanism—the principles of the vast variety of ways: from saving lives of secular Enlightenment. activists around the world who are threatened It is no secret that these powerful ideas like with violence and persecution to taking the no others have advanced humankind by nation’s largest drugstore chain, CVS, to court unlocking human potential, promoting goodness, for marketing homeopathic snake oil as if it’s real and exposing the true nature of reality. If you medicine. are looking for humanity’s true salvation, CFI stands up for reason and science in a way no look no further. other organization in the country does, because This past year we sought to export those ideas to we promote secular and humanist values as well places where they have yet to penetrate. as scientific skepticism and critical thinking. The Translations Project has taken the influential But you likely already know that if you are reading evolutionary biology and atheism books of this report, as it is designed with our supporters in Richard Dawkins and translated them into four mind. We want you not only to be informed about languages dominant in the Muslim world: Arabic, where your investment is going; we want you to Urdu, Indonesian, and Farsi. They are available for take pride in what we have achieved together. free download on a special website. It is just one When I meet people who are not familiar with CFI, of many such projects aimed at educating people they often ask what it is we do.
    [Show full text]
  • When Entertainment Meets Science: Summit Boosts Innovative Education JAMES UNDERDOWN
    SI May June 11 CUT_SI new design masters 3/25/11 10:01 AM Page 5 [ NEWS AND COMMENT When Entertainment Meets Science: Summit Boosts Innovative Education JAMES UNDERDOWN Can the entertainment media, with their formidable skills, help educate young people about science? That was just one of the hopes as the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) hosted the unusual Summit on Science, En ter - tainment, and Education at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Cal- ifornia, on February 4, 2011. The all-day symposium featured a top- shelf lineup of speakers from all over the United States on the status and direction of science education today. Each of its From left: Superstring theorist Brian Greene, writer/director/producer Jerry Zucker, and educator Tyler Johnstone three categories (science, entertainment, discuss ways to attract students to the world of science. and education) was well represented by in- novators in their respective fields with rel- her students to testify how they are drawn tainment who need help with content. evant knowledge and experience. toward science. In this day and age of Thanks to a $225,000 grant from the From the world of science, luminaries myriad distractions, catching the eye of Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, such as Ralph Cicerone, NAS president; students is more of a challenge than ever. the Ex change “is seeking proposals to es- Sean B. Carroll, biologist; and Charles But the program didn’t begin and end tablish collaborative partnerships among Vest, president of the National Academy with a group of experts bemoaning the scientists, entertainment industry profes- of Engineering and president emeritus of failures of the education system and sionals, and educators to develop educa- the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pointing fingers at Hollywood schlock tional products or services that effectively were present.
    [Show full text]
  • Dragon Con Progress Report 2021 | Published by Dragon Con All Material, Unless Otherwise Noted, Is © 2021 Dragon Con, Inc
    WWW.DRAGONCON.ORG INSIDE SEPT. 2 - 6, 2021 • ATLANTA, GEORGIA • WWW.DRAGONCON.ORG Announcements .......................................................................... 2 Guests ................................................................................... 4 Featured Guests .......................................................................... 4 4 FEATURED GUESTS Places to go, things to do, and Attending Pros ......................................................................... 26 people to see! Vendors ....................................................................................... 28 Special 35th Anniversary Insert .......................................... 31 Fan Tracks .................................................................................. 36 Special Events & Contests ............................................... 46 36 FAN TRACKS Art Show ................................................................................... 46 Choose your own adventure with one (or all) of our fan-run tracks. Blood Drive ................................................................................47 Comic & Pop Artist Alley ....................................................... 47 Friday Night Costume Contest ........................................... 48 Hallway Costume Contest .................................................. 48 Puppet Slam ............................................................................ 48 46 SPECIAL EVENTS Moments you won’t want to miss Masquerade Costume Contest ........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Written Statement* Submitted by International Humanist and Ethical Union, a Non-Governmental Organization in Special Consultative Status
    United Nations A/HRC/45/NGO/126 General Assembly Distr.: General 21 September 2020 English only Human Rights Council Forty-fifth session 14 September–2 October 2020 Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Written statement* submitted by International Humanist and Ethical Union, a non-governmental organization in special consultative status The Secretary-General has received the following written statement which is circulated in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31. [20 August 2020] * Issued as received, in the language(s) of submission only. GE.20-12164(E) A/HRC/45/NGO/126 Witchcraft-related human rights abuses In some communities, to be labelled a ‘witch’ is tantamount to receiving a death sentence. An alternative fate might involve banishment, stigmatization, or torture. The reasons driving witchcraft allegations vary across countries and beliefs, but some features are widely shared. These are acts born out of anger and powerlessness at the inability to manage the seemingly random negative forces governing one’s life. Sometimes these attacks are legitimised and encouraged by religious leaders or spiritual ‘healers’ for their own financial gain. Victims typically belong to marginalised groups with limited resources to fight back against the accusations. Exact numbers of victims are unknown, as many instances go unreported and unmonitored by official bodies. It is estimated that each year there are at least thousands of cases of witchcraft accusations globally, often with fatal consequences. During one week in 2019, in India alone, a boy murdered his aunt after accusing her of witchcraft; a man was set on fire after a 10-year-old girl fell sick; and six men alleged to be witches had their teeth pulled out and were force-fed excrement.
    [Show full text]
  • A Skeptical Look at Overnight
    SI May June 2011_SI JF 10 V1 3/25/11 11:53 AM Page 1 Miracle Oil | UFO Abductology Implodes | Water Memory | Book Review: Emperor of All Maladies Vol. 35 No. 3 | May/June 2011 THE MAGAZINE FOR SCIENCE & REASON A Skeptical Look At Overnight Power Lines and Cancer, Distant Healing and Health Care The Numerology of 23 Slaying the Vampire: Solving the Chupacabra Mystery Gho$tly Book Endeavors Published by The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry SI May June 11 CUT_SI new design masters 3/25/11 10:01 AM Page 2 AT THE CEN TERFOR IN QUIRY /TRANSNATIONAL www.csicop.org Paul Kurtz, Founder Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow Richard Schroeder, Chairman Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Ronald A. Lindsay, President and CEO Benjamin Radford, Research Fellow Bar ry Karr, Ex ec u tive Di rect or Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow James E. Al cock*, psy chol o gist, York Univ., Tor on to Thom as Gi lov ich, psy chol o gist, Cor nell Univ. Lor en Pan kratz, psy chol o gist, Or e gon Health Mar cia An gell, MD, former ed i tor-in-chief, Wendy M. Grossman, writer; founder and first editor, Sci en ces Univ. New Eng land Jour nal of Med i cine The Skeptic magazine (UK) Robert L. Park,professor of physics, Univ. of Maryland Kimball Atwood IV, MD, physician, author, Sus an Haack, Coop er Sen ior Schol ar in Arts and Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Newton, MA Sci en ces, professor of phi los o phy and professor Astronomy and director of the Hopkins Steph en Bar rett, MD, psy chi a trist, au thor, con sum er of Law, Univ.
    [Show full text]
  • Red Internacional Escéptica
    RED INTERNACIONAL ESCÉPTICA EUROPA European Council of Skeptical Organizations pour I’Etude des Phenomenes Paranormaux.Mer- PORTUGAL: CEPO; Contacto: Ludwig Krippahl, Praceta Pero (ECSO). Presidente:Amardeo Sarma.Arheilger Weg 11, lin Gerin. RGE/A2 38050 Grenoble Cedex. Union Ra- Escobar, N 2 R/c Dto 2675-599 Odivelas. Correo-e: 64380 Rossdorf.Alemania. Fax: +49 6154 695022.Tel.: tionaliste. Contacto: Jean-Paul Krivine. 14, Rue de l’E- [email protected] +49 6154 695023. Correo-e: [email protected]. cole Polytechnique. 75005 París. REINO UNIDO: Association for Skeptical Enquiry ALEMANIA: Society for the Scientific Investigation of HUNGRÍA: Hungarian Skeptics.Gyula Bencze.Termes- (ASKE),P.O. Box 5994 Ripley DE5 3XL. Fax.: +44 114 Para-Science (GWUP).Presidente:Amardeo Sarma.Ar- zet Vilaga. PO Box 25. Budapest 8, 1444. Fax: 011- 221 7319. Correo-e.: [email protected]. The Skep- heilger Weg 11, 64380 Rossdorf.Tel.: +49-6154695021. 3611187506. tical Inquirer: Representante: Michael J. Hutchinson. 10 Fax: +49-6154695022. Correo-e.: [email protected]. IRLANDA: Irish Skeptics.Contacto: Peter O’Hara. St. Jose- Crescent View. Loughton. Essex 1G10 4PZ. Correo-e.: BÉLGICA: Committee Para. Presidente: J. Dommanget. ph’s Hospital, Limerick. [email protected]. ‘The Skeptic Magazine’: Editores: Observatoire Royal de Belgique.Avenue Circulaire 3. B- ITALIA: Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Toby Howard y Steve Donnelly. PO Box 475. Manchester 1180 Brussels. SKEPP.Secretario:W. Betz. Laarbeeklaan Affermazioni sul Paranormale (CICAP). Contacto: M60 2TH. Correo-e.: [email protected]. 103. B1090 Brussels. Fax: 32-2-4774701. Massimo Polidoro, editor Scienza & Paranormale.PO Box REPÚBLICA CHECA: Czech Club of Skeptics.Contac- ESTONIA: Contacto: Indrek Rohtmets.
    [Show full text]
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Dick Clifford\My Documents
    Meet Leo Igwe from Nigeria, he has been awarded a speaking tour of Australia by the CSIRO and the Canberra Skeptics thanks to a grant from Science Week. He is well known as a fighter for Justice and for his campaigns against witchcraft accusers, incurring the wrath and assaults from priestess Helen Ukpabio’s mob, and arrest by the police but he continues to rescue children accused of witch craft and holds meetings and seminars against superstition. ADELAIDE MEETINGS (If you are interstate ask your local Skeptics Society) Tuesday 30th August 6 pm. ABC, Studio 520, 85 North East Road, Collinswood . Bus Stop 13, routes 271, 273 (from stop E2 Currie Street), Routes 204 205 (F) 206 (F) 208 209 (F) (from King William St.) Parking in Rosetta St. opposite ABC main Building Entrance at Cnr of Gallway Ave. & N.E. Rd. Doors open 5.30 pm. Gold coin entry. Booking essential: Please book by Email to [email protected] or by phone 8255 9508 stating your name, return address, (net or phone), which day you are booking, and how many you are booking for. Note: Elderly citizens should not climb the stairs to the balcony but should insist on a ground floor seat. Meeting closes at 7.30 pm. After the meeting you can attend a dinner across the street at the Walkers Arms smorgasbord, 7.30 session, but you must book separately, 8344 8022 When booking with Walkers Arms say “with Leo Igwe group” The dinner costs $25.90 + 10% gst +drinks. Those with a pensioners card can claim 10% discount.
    [Show full text]
  • Reason and Superstition in Uganda
    OP-ED and not those who want, for example, regimented, controlled, regulated. By much to guarantee a better life for us more and better housing developments whom, one might ask? By other indi- all as to place the responsibility for and means of transportation. But the viduals who supposedly know what is seeking such a life with individuals. We bottom line of the chorus of complaints important for the rest to do. now need to decide what to pursue with about modernity seems, in fact, to be Criticisms of modernity are voiced all the great tools that modernity has nothing other than that individuals are in terms of concern for the interests or produced. We can go seriously astray in better equipped now than ever before good of the community, the public, the that task. But it is no longer credible to to pursue their very own chosen goals. nation, or humanity, as opposed to the claim that ordinary folks are to be treat- Technology helps us to strive for our selfish pursuits of individuals. But in ed like little children who must look to chosen goals: we can travel better to the most cases, the conflict isn’t between others—others who are just as capable places where we wish to go; we can keep public and private interests but between of making mistakes—to make us behave alive longer and thus do more of what we one private interest and another. properly. want to do; we can receive information Environmentalists, for example, more rapidly than ever before, so we can have no special understanding of what Tibor R.
    [Show full text]
  • FDA, FTC, and the Regulation of Pseudoscience
    In Pursuit of Science-based Regulation: FDA, FTC, and the Regulation of Pseudoscience What does “natural” mean? The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has posed this seemingly innocuous question to the public in a recent request for information.1 Aside from it being a truly interesting, if overly philosophical question to ask the public, the move is emblematic of a recent trend, both from the (“FDA”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), to regulate based on some articulable scientific premise, rather than allowing various actors to make wide-ranging claims about their products without repercussion. 2 In particular, the agencies have begun targeting dietary supplement manufacturers, homeopathic remedies, and most recently, Lumosity. Lumosity and the FTC Lumosity advertises copiously on networks and websites that include “CNN, Fox News, the History Channel, National Public Radio, Pandora, Sirius XM, and Spotify.” 3 Created by “Lumos Labs,” Lumosity is a web-based product consisting of 40 games, which Lumosity claimed that, when played “10 to 15 minutes three or four times a week could help users achieve their ‘full potential in every aspect of life.’”4 The FTC got involved because Lumos Labs claimed playing Lumosity’s games would 1) improve performance on everyday tasks, in school, at work, and in athletics; 2) delay age- related cognitive decline and protect against mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease; and 3) reduce cognitive impairment associated with health conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain
    [Show full text]
  • Lobby Groups the Australian Skeptics
    Lobby Groups The Australian Skeptics ( www.skeptics.com.au ) is a confederation of groups around Australia that advocate for the government's immunisation policy. Subscribers of this confederation refer to all individuals questioning vaccines as "anti-vaxers". This is a misrepresentation of many consumers speaking against the number of vaccines we are now using. Many consumers want choice (without ties to financial entitlements and childcare places or employment) in the number of vaccines we use. I have provided information below on the Australian Skeptics to help consumers understand the context in which information on vaccination is being presented to the public. The Australian Skeptics The Australian Skeptics claim to investigate paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Representatives of the Australian Skeptics use the media and websites to influence public opinion on scientific issues. Subscribers of the Skeptics come from a variety of professions and backgrounds and they publish articles in a non-peer reviewed journal called The Skeptic. In 2009 a complaint was made against the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN), by a Skeptic subscriber, Ken McLeod, a retired air-traffic controller. Details of this complaint are listed below. The Australian Skeptics provided him with the Thornett award and $1,000 for his efforts in complaining about this consumer group (the AVN) to the NSW Health Care Complaints Committee (HCCC). The Complaint made against the AVN: In 2009, a subscriber of the Canberra Skeptics, Ken McLeod, made a complaint to the NSW Healthcare Complaints Committee (HCCC) about the AVN - consumers who are concerned about the number of vaccines being recommended by the Australian government.
    [Show full text]