DOCSLIB.ORG

Nzskeptic-73.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Nzskeptic-73.Pdf “Documentary” Gets Bent Spoon Skeptical Teens Newspaper Survey Credence – Beyond Belief number 7273 -- winterspring 20042004 content editorial Not Rare – Just Another Medium 3 Getting a Word In The Media Creates a Miracle 4 Five Tips for Assessing ’M ASHAMED to say we put up a fight. The head of the local Mediums or Psychics 7 I community radio station wanted to know if we were interested in Skeptical Teenage Boys: putting together a skeptic show. A skeptic of many years’ standing himself, Hope for the Future 6 Phil Grey had taken on the job recently at Community Radio Hamilton Newsfront 10 and was wanting to get some balance into the airwaves. Forum 14 We thought about our lives at present – running daughter to various activities, working, trying to pound an acre of garden into submission, Hokum Locum 16 cleaning up after the cat – all those little things that pass for existence Credence is Beyond these days. There was also the fear factor. A radio show? As in, public Belief 18 speaking? The thought was ghastly. After almost two decades in print Loose Talk from an media, the concept of having to think on one’s feet for a radio show was Old Smoothie 19 daunting. But Phil would not be put off. He was up to his ears in spiritual and alternative health shows, one could hear his teeth gnash over the emails he sent. And Lord knows there are countless subjects out there that one could poke a stick at. We’ve recorded four shows now, and, after a bit of skilful editing by Phil, they sound almost like real ones—and I’m sure we’ll improve. So for those who can pick it up, Contributions Through the Fog (an ap- Contributions are welcome and propriate name we thought, should be sent to: given the Waikato climate) can be heard Fridays at Annette Taylor 12.30pm on 1206AM. 122 Woodlands Rd RD1 Hamilton It is in fact, a rare luxury Email: [email protected] to have someone in the Deadline for next issue: media enthusiastically seek- January 10, 2005 (my birthday) ing such input from skeptics; Letters for the Forum may be ed- SPOON BENDERS: Through the Fog not many opportunities ited as space requires - up to 250 presenters, from left, David Riddell, Phil Grey present themselves. At the and Annette Taylor words is preferred. Please indicate recent conference journalist the publication and date of all clip- David McLoughlin gave a presentation on how the media take a generally pings for the Newsfront. sympathetic view of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. For those, Material supplied by email or IBM- like us, who couldn’t get to Christchurch, his talk is reproduced in this compatible disk is appreciated. issue (page 8). Permission is given to other non- A classic example was the winner of this year’s Bent Spoon Award: profit skeptical organisations to re- print material from this publication Melanie Reid’s 20/20 item on Taranaki medium Jeanette Wilson (see provided the author and NZ Skeptic page 3). Wilson has continued to have a dream run in the media – chair- are acknowledged. entity Vicki Hyde was asked to be on Newstalk ZB with Wilson recently, but in the end didn’t even get a sound bite. More on that next issue. Opinions expressed in the New Zealand Skeptic are those of the We need more reporters who truly keep an open mind. individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of • www.communityradio.co.nz NZSCICOP or its officers. number 73 - spring 2004 bent spoon Not Rare – Just Another Medium Vicki Hyde A new star on the psychic circuit impressed the makers of TV3’s 20/20, but not the NZ Skeptics gushy piece of infotainment any meaning for them”. Asking While 20/20 did include some A on what is claimed to be leading questions designed to elicit footage of the critique in the first New Zealand’s premier showcase information or agreement is a part of the programme, I was for investigative reporting has won common tactic aimed at building disappointed that the programme 20/20 the 2004 Bent Spoon confidence in the performer, and chose to focus extensively on one Award. Melanie Reid’s August 22 making it appear as if they are very emotional, but content-free segment “Back from the Dead”, revealing hidden knowledge. Telling reading in what they called a “test” profiling Taranaki medium Jeanette a middle-aged audience member of the medium’s ability. Real tests Wilson, was judged by the NZ that their parent or grandparent is of such skills have to be carefully Skeptics to be the year’s most watching over them is playing simple planned to avoid naïve or mis- outstanding example of gullible or demographics, as it is more than leading interpretations. It’s not so naive reporting in the paranormal likely that such people will have much the testing as the marking or pseudoscience area. older relatives who have died. that’s important. Take away the histrionics and it was a very poor We were looking forward to performance as far as a demon- seeing a solid journalistic treatment stration of mediumship goes. of this growing industry, in much the same manner that 20/20 in the US Of course these very powerful exposed the dubious practices of images were selected by 20/20 medium James van Praagh. It was precisely because they make great very disappointing to hear 20/20 entertainment. They didn’t screen describe similar techniques per- very much of the unimpressive formed here in New Zealand as readings, the one where Wilson “astonishing”. asked a lady twice if her father had died, the ones where she used the 20/20 asked me to comment on same names and stock phrases Wilson’s performance, citing how over and over again. impressed they had been with both Wilson’s presentation – they said If, indeed, the medium had she looked just like Lady Di – and definitive proof of the after-life, this her accuracy – they said she was Chair-entity Vicki Hyde: “It’s not so should have been world-shattering coming up with specific names and much the testing as the marking news. After all, with this sort of that’s important.” relationships. capability, it means there should be no unsolved murders, no missing What I saw was the same col- New Zealand Skeptics are children, no arguments over in- lection of staple techniques used always prepared to check such heritance. There should be no throughout the industry and well- performers out, in case someone innocent people in prison, no documented in many books such really is doing something as- unidentified child molesters. The as Peter Huston’s “Scams from the tonishing, which would be very world would certainly be a better Great Beyond”. One example is exciting, but that certainly wasn’t the place, and that’s something about that of fishing for names, where the case here, despite 20/20’s en- which there could be no doubt. medium will ask a client if a thusiastic endorsement. common name, such as John, “has page 3 bent spoon The Media Creates a Miracle The reading by Jeanette Wilson which featured most prominently on the 20/20 programme awarded the 2004 Bent Spoon (see page 3) was of a woman named Maria. It transpired after the reading that Maria’s mother had, two years previously, haemorrhaged to death from a perforated duodenal ulcer. It was Maria who found her, and Maria interpreted Jeanette Wilson’s very dramatic performance as relating to that event. But as can be seen from the following transcript, stripped of the histrionics, Wilson appeared to be talking about something quite different—the murder of two small boys. Melanie Reid: We are running there longer to me, OK? M: Um, it would be another boy this mediumship reading unedited. that I know... It is intense. Some people may find M: That would be correct. JW: Yeah... it disturbing to watch. JW: Was she in a coma or some- Jeanette Wilson (JW) is handed thing then? M: ...but not to do with my family. a ring from Maria (M), to help M: No, but I understand what you JW: No. establish a connection. say... M: That would... JW: Now I’ve got a lady coming JW: OK. in on your mum’s side first, quite JW: But a similar age, do you strongly. OK. I’ve also got a M: About her feeling she was... understand? gentleman with her and I’m just JW: Yeah because she’s coming M: Yeah I do. trying to work out who’s who. through as a spirit that’s used to Alright. communicating. Alright. Now JW: Because I’m being shown a similar age and a similar situation M sits opposite, says nothing. she’s bringing with her a small boy. Do you understand who in the that happened? Alright? Under- JW: The lady I’ve got on your family that is? stand? mum’s side of the family, she’s M: Mm. coming through with a lot of M: Yeah I do. affection to you, she’s like, wanting JW: OK. And she’s showing me JW: (emotional) Oh goodness, to put her arms around you? It lots and lots of tears about this I’ve got blood on my hands. And feels like she’s being passed over young boy’s passing because there I don’t understand why I’ve got several years now, somewhere was a tragedy... blood on my hands..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Waverley and Patea Town Water Supply Fluoride South Taranaki
    South Taranaki District Council Private Bag 902 Hawera 4640 [email protected] Waverley and Patea Town Water Supply Fluoride Submission to the South Taranaki District Council “Is there something in the water? ” Dr Keith T Blayney MBCHB; DipObs; FRNZCGP South Taranaki General Practitioner 9th September 2012 www.drblayney.com/Blayney-Fluoride.pdf CONTENTS: A. Purpose of Submission……………………………………………… page 1 B. Personal Background……………………………………………….. page 2 C. Background to Fluoridation……………………………………… page 3 D. Evidence Reliability………………….………………………………. page 4 E. Qualifications to interpret evidence…………………………. page 7 F. Pseudo-science and mis-information……………………….. page 7 G. Emotive appeal vs scientific evidence……………………… page 8 H. Benefit of Fluoridation ……………………………………………. page 14 • South Taranaki Studies • New Zealand Studies • International Reviews I. Claimed Risks of Fluoridation ……………………………………. page 23 • Dental Fluorosis • Skeletal Fluorosis and fractures • Cancer • IQ and Brain Function / Neurotoxicity • Heart Disease • Thyroid Disease • Reproductive and Birth Defects 1 | P a g e • Renal Effects • Immunological Effects • Pineal Gland Accumulation J. Summary and recommendation to the STDC ……………………… page 40 K. Appendices ………………………………………………………………………… page 42 • Appendix 1: Further information on interpreting evidence, the Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) and the US Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine…………………………… page 42 • Appendix 2: Basic fluoride Information relevant to this submission. .. page 43 • Appendix
    [Show full text]
  • Qanon • 75 Years of the Bomb • Vaccine History • Raising
    SQANON • K75 YEARS OF ETHE BOMB P• VACCINE HISTORYT • RAISINGI CTHE DEAD? Extraordinary Claims, Revolutionary Ideas & the Promotion of Science—Vol.25Science—Vol.25 No.4No.4 2020 $6.95 USA and Canada www.skeptic.com • WHAT IS QANON? • HOW QANON RECYCLES CENTURIES-OLD CONSPIRACY BELIEFS • HOW QANON HURTS THEIR OWN CAUSE • QANON IN CONSPIRATORIAL CONTEXT watch or listen for free Hear leading scientists, scholars, and thinkers discuss the most important issues of our time. Hosted by Michael Shermer. #146 Dr. DonalD Prothero— # 130 Dr. DeBra Soh—the end # 113 Dave ruBIn— # 106 Dr. DanIel ChIrot— Weird earth: Debunking Strange of Gender: Debunking the Myths Don’t Burn this Book: you Say you Want a revolution? Ideas about our Planet about Sex & Identity in our Society thinking for yourself in an radical Idealism and its tragic age of unreason Consequences #145 GreG lukIanoff—Mighty # 129 Dr. Mona Sue WeISSMark Ira: the aClu’s controversial involve- —the Science of Diversity # 112 ann Druyan—Cosmos: # 105 Dr. DIana PaSulka— ment in the Skokie case of 1977. Possible Worlds. how science and american Cosmic: ufos, # 128 MIChael ShellenBerGer civilization grew up together religion, and technology #144 Dr. aGuStIn fuenteS— —apocalypse never: Why environ- Why We Believe: evolution and the mental alarmism hurts us all human Way of Being # 127 Dr. WIllIaM Perry and #143 Dr. nICholaS ChrIStakIS— toM CollIna—the Button: the apollo’s arrow: the Profound and new nuclear arms race and Presi- enduring Impact of Coronavirus on dential Power from truman to trump the Way We live # 126 Sarah SColeS—they are #142 Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Indiana Grapples with Pandemic Year State’S Economy Weathered the Storm, but Many Challenges Remain by BRIAN A
    V26, N27 Tuesday, March 9, 2021 Indiana grapples with pandemic year State’s economy weathered the storm, but many challenges remain By BRIAN A. HOWEY COLUMBUS, Ind. – It was a tad more than a year ago that Indiana reported its first COVID-10 case on March 6, 2020. In the March 12 edition of Howey Politics Indiana, Gov. Eric Holcomb said, “We’re remark- ably prepared and you’re seeing that play out right now in our Gov. Eric Holcomb is joined by officials of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Gen- eral Assembly leaders at the mass vaccination site last Friday. coordination.” Purdue President Mitch Daniels told HPI, “I think Hoosier to die. And three days later in the March 19 there’s a good chance this will prove manageable, that it edition, HPI’s lead paragraph: “Hoosiers are facing their won’t be a cataclysmic global event. We can’t be sure of greatest physical and economic threat since the Great De- that yet. It may not quite be of the Y2K variety, but it may pression and on the most crucial aspect of this crisis – the not be 1918, either.” availability of coronavirus testing that would allow health On March 16, 2020, came news of the first known Continued on page 3 Donnelly won’t run in ‘22 By BRIAN A. HOWEY INDIANAPOLIS – A week after U.S. Sen. Todd Young surprised no one by announcing for a second term, Democrat Joe Donnelly took a pass. In a statement to Howey Politics Indiana, Donnelly said that while he could “This is going to be an all-hands- run in the future, it won’t be against Sen.
    [Show full text]
  • The Second Return of Unchecked Capitalism
    Draft May 2012 FOR COMMENTS – NOT TO BE CITED OR COPIED WITHOUT AUTHOR’S PERMISSION ULF DAHLSTEN THE SECOND RETURN OF UNCHECKED CAPITALISM How an International Rule of Law can reap the benefits of the global market economy and strengthen national and regional sovereignty. The second return of unchecked capitalism Draft version May 2012 SUMMARY Many in the Western world feel that something has gone terribly wrong. They see a systemic crisis, a crisis that stretches from the financial system to the political, from the ecological system to the social, from the availability of natural resources, food and water to their use. It has been easy, especially of late, to identify mistakes and put the blame for those on politicians who have spent more than they should have had, on individual countries that are worse sinners than others, on inventions such as the Euro currency union or on the development of a global market economy, or, perhaps more correctly, the lack of adequate management of this development. Others, especially outside the Western world, do not recognize the crisis, or see it as Western problem, often because they are benefiting from the forces which globalization has unleashed, more than they are hurt by the drawbacks. Hundreds of millions in Asian and other countries have after all been lifted out of poverty during the last decades. Clearly, these are valid points and legitimate views. However, they are in my mind missing an important underlying trend and that is the destructive Second Return of Unchecked Capitalism. The public order has lost its upper hand in relation to the market and as long as this situation remains we will see the return of the drawbacks of un-checked capitalism.
    [Show full text]
  • 2477-6866, P-ISSN: 2527-9416 Vol. 6, No.2, July 2021, Pp
    International Review of Humanities Studies www.irhs.ui.ac.id, e-ISSN: 2477-6866, p-ISSN: 2527-9416 Vol. 6, No.2, July 2021, pp. 824-835 SINOVAC VACCINE POLEMIC DISINFORMATION IN ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE PERSPECTIVE Fera Belinda, Maria Puspitasari School of Strategic and Global Studies Universitas Indonesia [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT The polemic of the China produced Sinovac Vaccine issue spreading among the public, is a form of disinformation used by political opposition to the government, to block and mess up the government’s effort to accelerate handling of Covid-19 transmission in Indonesia. The polemic results in 4 situations, namely; first, decreasing public trust in the government's commitment in eradicating the Covid-19 pandemic. Second, low level of support from the public of the Covid-19 handling programs. Third, delayed and slow economic recovery which brings down the public's economic ability due to increasing number of layoffs caused by decreases in companies’ turnover and affecting the public’s purchasing power. Fourth, the national security aspect, especially on the potential aspect regarding disintegration of the nation. Purpose of this research is to reveal the disinformation via China-made Sinovac vaccine polemic. The research applies disinformation and asymmetric warfare concepts to prove the Sinovac vaccine polemic, while also using a qualitative research approach by making the polemic issue as the object of case study. Data collection technique is done by text observation on social media which covers the Sinovac vaccine polemic. The research discovers that the disinformation effort to the Sinovac vaccine issue is a polemic to the government, that the public assess as slow in handling the spread of Covid-19.
    [Show full text]
  • Talking with the DEAD? We Look at Six People Who Claim They Chat with the Dear Departed
    The Mystery Investigator Using Science to Investigate the Strange and Mysterious No. 3 : April 2005 Talking with the DEAD? We look at six people who claim they chat with the dear departed Mystery Investigators Show Who is this man Live and “paranormal” at a high school near you and why are people so angry? Dr. Phil Plait Merchants of Deception The BAD Astronomer Inside the mind of a Mind Hunter The Moon Hoax Planet X and more What’s going on at Australian Pharmacies & Chemists? Your ‘Stars’ for April The Mystery Investigator CONTENTS Editor Richard Saunders Editorial 3 Assistant Editor Steve Roberts What in the World? 4 Art, Layout and Design Richard Saunders Just How Bad is The BAD Astronomer? 5 Quackery Consultant Peter Bowditch Your STARS for April 9 Ass-trological Sciences Orb Fontal Reporters Call me RATBAG! 10 Alynda Brown Karen Stollznow Monica Duré Book Review : Merchants of Deception 12 Richard & Alynda Talking with the Dead? 13 The Mystery Investigators All care is taken to ensure that ‘The Mystery Investigator’ is a fun and Lynne Kelly enjoyable read. The views expressed in Master of Tauromancy 17 this publication are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the editor or The Mystery Investigators. Book Review : Inside the mind of a Mind Hunter 19 Articles maybe reprinted with permission and with due acknowledgement to Mystery Investigators LIVE 20 ‘The Mystery Investigator’ Berzerkeley Psychics 21 Ask for AUST R 22 Cover No. 3, April 2005 Yellow Bamboozled 23 Dr. Phil Plait during his 2004 visit to the Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla, Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Reach Customers in Your Local Area with New Zealand’S Fastest Growing Private Social Network Neighbourly
    Pokemon Go Charlies hits Coast P3 Gelato for sale P4 Rodney Times Thursday, July 14, 2016 YOUR PLACE, YOUR PAPER Farmer, father, hero TREVOR DILL 1921 - 2016 JAY BOREHAM Flight Lieutenant Trevor Dill has been remembered for his deeds in World War II and work in his Kaipara community. The Kaipara Hills farmer and WWII navigator died on June 28, on his 95th birthday. Trevor was born to parents Fredrick and Dora, and grew up milking cows by hand on the fam- ily farm in the Kaipara Hills. In 1940, at the age of 19, he joined air force. He was sent to Canada to train as a navigator and bomb aimer before starting Trevor Dill. active service in 1942 with the 75 (NZ) Squadron in England. on whether to bail out, but always Trevor flew 47 missions over made it back across the English Germany, first in Stirling bomber Channel, she says. Wee Willie, named after the Trevor’s wife of 69 years, crew’s pilot, Hilton Clifford Jessie, says her husband was ‘Speedie’ Williams, then in a proud of his service, but not of Lancaster. dropping bombs on people. ’’He Their first 27 missions were didn’t like it, but it was the job with Bomber Command and then they had to do and they did it.’’ the crew volunteered for the Path- She remembers Trevor telling finder Force, flying in ahead of her of a time when he had a bomb bombing raids to drop indicator dropped on him. flares and markers over targets, An incendiary was dropped by making themselves prime targets a plane above.
    [Show full text]
  • Fourth of July Parade^ Prisoners Sentenced Former Coloma Man Shows Real Activity for July 4Th and 5Th in Paw Paw Lake by Circuit Judge Died in Benton Hartor
    5[hp Colmna Cnumr VOL. 41 COLOMA, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1937 NO. 48 Lake Michigan Beach Big Crowd Expected Young Man Drowned ^Fourth of July Parade^ Prisoners Sentenced Former Coloma Man Shows Real Activity For July 4th and 5th in Paw Paw Lake by Circuit Judge Died in Benton Hartor Lively Community on Lake Michigan Local Resorts Are Prepared to Officers and Volunteers Worked I Some Were Placed on Probation and Clyde Olds Succumbed to Long North of Coloma Seeks to Become Handle Big Throng Over the Two- Day and Night for Days Trying Others Must Serve Time in Jail Illness—Funeral Was Held on a Viliace—Many New Homes to Day Holiday—Some Hotels Filled. to Locate Body of Oscar Cortevllle Six prisoners faced Circuit Judge Monday. Evans last Friday and sentence was Be Erected This Year—Property Cottages Are Filling Up of Chicago. pronounced. In three other cases Clyde Olds, a former Coloma bus- Owners Hold Annual Meetinr on From reports that are made by There has been much activity sentence was postponed. iness man and for years a resident hotel and cottage owners around around the west end of Paw Paw Robert Sample of Benton Harbor of this community, died at Mercy July 6th. Paw Paw Lake and Little Paw Paw Lake, between the Woodward pa- pleaded guilty to the unauthorized hospital in Benton Harbor on Fri- Lake, as well as from all other re- vilion and Beechwood Point, since use of an automobile belonging to day afternoon, June 25, 1937, follow- July 6th will be an important date sorts in Berrien county, comes the last Saturday, where searching par- Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Academic Calendar 2021–2022
    ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2021-2022 ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2021–2022 The Board of Governors, the Senate, and the Administration of Redeemer University reserve the right to make changes in this calendar without prior notice. When academic programs and degree requirements are altered, the student must adhere to the calendar in effect for the academic year in which he or she was admitted to Redeemer, unless otherwise authorized by the university. REDEEMER UNIVERSITY 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Academic Schedule 2021–22 ............................................................................. 5 Athletics ......................................................................................................................... 21 General Information........................................................................................... 6 Student Activities and Clubs ....................................................................................... 22 Mission and Vision Statement .......................................................................................6 Orientation .................................................................................................................... 22 Institutional Purpose .......................................................................................................6 Student Government .................................................................................................... 22 Statement of Basis and Principles ..................................................................................6
    [Show full text]
  • Time Wellness Workshop Time Seminar Room Speakers
    seminar series: FRIYAY TIME WELLNESS TIME SEMINAR SPEAKERS WORKSHOP ROOM LOUNGE Frequency Healing and The Art of Relaxation Earth Healing Meditation Denise Jarvie Dr Mahdi Mason 9:30AM Alexis Cartwright 10:00AM Meditation mentor and soul Environmentalist, land Transference Healing counsellor healer and author practitioner and teacher The Heart Matrix and Its Guardian Angels for Children Yoga Class Ancient Origins Abikgail Crystal Chara Caruthers 11:00AM 11:00AM Adam Mac Seer, third generation Ayurvedic practitioner and Heart Matrix founder and Head psychic and workshop yoga therapist Coach at Empowerment Events facilitator Tools to Manifest the Life Mindful Body Moving: you Desire Intuitive Healing for Your Finding You 12:30PM Lauren Verona 12:00PM Body Kylie Stretton Business mentor, yoga Noa Belling Self empowerment healer teacher and mumma Somatic psychotherapist Journaling and Art Practice Creating positive energy by with the Gold Lotus Oracle Shamanic Crystal Healing stimulating the senses 2:00PM Deck 1:00PM Rachelle Charman Kasi Kaye Iliopoulos Michelle Mann Crystal healer and teacher Energy, flower essence and Intuitive artist crystal healing practitioner How to Heal Mediumship and How it Spirit Signs with Jade Sky YourHolographic Body 3:30PM 2:00PM Works Jason McDonald Jade Sky Julie Lewin Celebrity psychic medium Psychic and medium Intuitive coach and mentor Magickal Spells: Cast, Craft, Igniting Your Potential The Science of Energy Activate, Empower 5:00PM 3:00PM Mark Carter Belinda Hayes Lucy Cavendish Author, presenter and
    [Show full text]
  • Bangor University Accommodation Best in UK
    Bangor University Students’ Union April 2016 English Language Issue No. 254 Newspaper FREE @SerenBangor seren.bangor.ac.uk NEW SPECIES OF LEMUR VARSITY 2016 COACHELLA FASHION Bangor University Accommodation Best In UK by EMILY RIMMER port, silver for courses and lectures, Professor John G Hughes, the Uni- this year’s Whatuni Student Choice If you would like to get involved and which was up from seventh last year. versity’s Vice-Chancellor, welcomed Awards. Student experience is such an keep Bangor University on it’s win- he 14th of April saw the ‘Wha- e biggest award of the night was the news saying: “ is is the second important aspect of university life, we ning streak visit the Whatuni website tuni Student Choice Awards’ winning gold in the accommodation year in a row that Bangor University are really proud to play a signi cant below: come round for another year. category. has won a national Whatuni Award. role in it for both current and future http://www.whatuni.com/awards T e awards were hosted in London Ken Gri th, Head of Residences, I’m delighted that the University students.” with special guest presenter and co- said: “It has been a tremendous team has again won a category award, and median Jimmy Carr announcing the e ort over the last few years as we have achieved top ve placings in a number results on the night. also opened our new St Mary’s stu- of other categories. is win re ects e awards are special because they dent village, increasing our portfolio our focus on providing an excellent are voted for by students and only stu- to nearly 3000 rooms.
    [Show full text]
  • Skeptical Newspaper Column Mysticism in a Labcoat? Jeanette Wilson’S Spiritual Healing Homeopathic Overdose
    Skeptical newspaper column Mysticism in a labcoat? Jeanette Wilson’s spiritual healing Homeopathic overdose number 95 – autumn 2010 content editorial Clones in space: Responses to the Dominion Post science column 3 A tribal occasion Forum 6 Is science just mysticism in a lab coat? 6 HEN Richard Dawkins made a flying visit to New Zealand in March he attracted people from all over the country – includ- Newsfront 10 W ing three from this household. Tickets to all events were quickly An evening of healing 12 snapped up, but fortunately friends in the Auckland Univeristy After the overdose 16 Alumni Association put some aside for us. Belief and knowledge: The information content of a one-hour lecture (with about 20 A plea about language 19 minutes for questions) is not that great. And there wasn’t much in his presentation that anyone familiar with his work wouldn’t have encountered before, although he concluded with some ideas on the origins of religion that were new to me. For not much more than the $30 admission fee (less than half what Kelvin Cruickshank charges for an evening, I had to note) you could buy one of his many books, which would keep you busy for days. But the evening wasn’t really about learning new stuff. It was a ISSN - 1172-062X gathering of the tribe, of sorts, though admittedly it’s a rather odd tribe. It’s one that doesn’t really have leaders, but to paraphrase Terry Contributions Pratchett, Richard Dawkins is one of the most highly regarded of the Contributions are welcome and leaders we don’t have.
    [Show full text]