The Skeptics Hub

Watson VS Dawkins: This Isn't Going To End Good.

2011-07-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

I have loss way too much of my life trying to figure out what is going on in the Skeptic community over the last two days in regards to Rebbecca Watson and Richard Dawkins. I am not going to repeat what happened because you can easily find out by looking at the SGU forum, or just Google Watson Vs Dawkins and look at the results. The problem with this fight, is that the arguments have turned into some of the most illogical, idiotic, sophomoric, and un-skeptical rants I have ever seen. Have we all abandoned the prime directive of skepticism, that science and reason prevail??? All this has done is ripped the skeptic and atheist communities apart into a Watson camp, and a Dawkins camp. The Watson camp is the most active demanding a boycott of Dawkins books. While Dawkins himself seems very quiet on the subject. As of my posting he allegedly replied on twice on PZ Meyers webpage Pharyngula. The bottom line is this is bad for Skepticism and both camps need to iron this out. What I find so ironic is that Watson was a big admire of Dawkins. The reality is he is the same man today that he was yesterday. Perhaps some of us learned he was human after all, and given that lets return to some logic and reason.

Unbelievable!

2010-12-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

This blog is just starting out, and I haven't even tried to set up links to other sites, so I was amazed when I received an email about the blog today. It started out very nicely, about how good the blog was and if I would be interested in promoting their site! Plus they said keep up the good work! So what were they pushing??? The top 20 alternative medicine sites! With such stellar woo as homeopathic, chiropractic, Naturopathic, and ayurvedic medicine. They said they read the blog, but I highly doubt it:-)

Mark Crislip: Quackcast and Science-Based Medicine

2010-12-12T20:14:00.000-08:00

Mark Crislip is an infectious disease specialists who not only has a great podcast Quackcast, but also a cool blog with Dr. Steve Novella (Skeptics Guide) called Science Based Medicine. He also has several other web endeavors HERE. I enjoy his podcast Quackcast because much like Orac, he really puts the screws to complimentary, and alternative medicine. in fact, for several months I thought they were one and the same! Once again Quackcast will not replace Dr. Dean, although Dr.Dean did mention the podcast on his show. Also Quackcast just like Orac, are not set up to anwser medical questions. What they accomplish is teaching people how to use critical thinking skills when seeking medical attention. In this day of Infomercials, and health food stores that push the latest Homeopathic scam it is important to know what works and what doesn't.

Orac: Respectful Insolence

2010-12-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

With the retirement of Dr. Dean Edel, you might try looking at this blog Respectful Insolence. The blog was created by a surgeon/scientists who goes by the name Orac. For those of you into obscure British Sci Fi then you might know where the name comes from, but to the rest of us out here in internet land it means only one thing a great skeptical medical blog. Granted Orac can't replace Dr. Dean, but he certainly is a lot of fun and sometimes not so fun to read. He certainly skewers alternative medicine, which are quite entertaining to read. However, sometimes he has some pretty sad tales to tell such as the death of Kim Tinkham (Click here) Orac, much like Edel, is well aware of the quackery out there in the world, and explains it in detail. Unlike Edel, he doesn't offer medical advice. Orac has been blogging for 6 years so he has a vast archive of material to read. You could easily spend months sifting through some great posts. I highly recommend that you take a look.

Dr Dean Edell Retires

2010-12-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

This is incredibly bad news for the skeptic community. The only skeptical voice on commercial radio has been silenced. KGO AM in their infinite wisdom decided to move Dr. Edells show to the weekend instead of its normal daily 1pm slot. This is turn has caused Edell to retire from radio. Click here for more. While I am happy that Dr. Dean is able to enjoy his retirement, it is his voice of reason that is desperately needed in this day and age. Dr Dean Edell was never about right or left, but about making decisions based on science and reason. He championed critical thinking skills, and saved countless lives by stressing the importance of early screening, and vaccinations. He was the first to explain the folly of male circumcision, needless use of multi-vitamins and supplements. He also tackled the crazy alternative medical fads like Homeopathic Chiropractic, and Acupuncture (and many, many, more to numerous to mention) . Dr. Dean will be sorely missed.

American Freethought Podcast

2010-11-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

The American Freethought podcast is a weekly show dedicated to atheism and skepticism. The show is hosted by John Snider and Dave Driscoll two longtime atheists. Every show starts with John and Dave discussing weekly events and ends with a quality interview with someone usually associated with atheism. The show is always entertaining and thought provoking. John and Dave have a great chemistry between them, and the show is very professional. American Freethought is definitely part of the new atheism movement. This is not the old style Madalyn Murry O' Hair group. New Atheism is more a kinder gentler movement than the O'Hair version, but they still work hard on separation of church and state issues. To subscribe or listen to the podcast go HERE. For the American Freethought webpage go HERE.

George Hrab: Geologic Podcast

2010-11-08T18:44:00.000-08:00

Musician, skeptic, freethinker, and musical genius, pretty much sums up George Hrab of the Geologic Podcast. George is a riot! His opening segment usually is a long and winding road of hilarity, which is then followed by one of the coolest opening theme songs I have ever heard. I would call it a musical montage crossed with a three ring circus. Musically Hrab is harder to explain. His original music, or at least his latest release Trebuchet, is very much in the vein of Frank Zappa. However, his current band the Philadelphia Funk Authority is a pure Philly soul band! I highly recommend Trebuchet Click on the link and it will take you to CD Baby. For the Geologic Podcast follow this Link HERE. Just a warning about George is that his podcast contain adult language so they are not for the kids. To check out his blog and where he is playing next Click HERE.

I must admit that as a fellow musician I am quite jealous of this man's talents. I am not lying when I say he is a musical genius. George is freaky good. Take some time and check him out!

Skepticality

2010-11-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Derek Colanduno, and Robynn "Swoopy" McCarthy are the host of Skepticality, the official podcast of Skeptic Magazine. Together they make a great team of skeptical knowledge, and usually every week they explore one topic generally related to skepticism. Swoopy for the most part runs the show. Their show starts pretty much the same way. Derek tries to welcome the listeners to the podcast and tells the date, and invariably Swoopy interrupts him for making some sort of minuscule mistake. Then after the music she gives her quick section about the show ending with the slogan ..... for the promotion of critical thinking and ..... then Derek interrupts to usually scream SCIENCE!!! :-) Then what follows is a lengthy and quality interview with a scientist, or author that support skeptical thought. Ocassionally, they will have a musician, or artist on the show, and once they did a whole show on Absinthe (podcast here) . Derek and Swoopy are a lot of fun, and always have a very informative show. To check out their webpage (Click HERE) To check out their podcast archive (Click HERE)

Brian Dunning: Skeptoid

2010-11-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

If you like your skepticism concise, to the point, and under 15 minutes then Brian Dunning's Skeptoid podcast is right for you. Dunning takes one topic, usually some sort of pseudo science, or conspiracy theory, and after making a very short presentation of their idea, he then rips it apart with science and hard evidence. Skeptoid is a lot of fun because Dunning takes no prisoners. In the short amount of time that he has he uses his critical thinking skills to blow apart sacred cows on the right and left. Some of his best shows are his feedback shows, where he reads emails that he has received, which just gives him another chance to tear into their bizarre ideas. My favorite episode is different from his regular spots. In his episode Screwed, he has created an mini opera masterpiece of a meeting of the Illuminati, and Masons as they realize that the crazy fringe has figured out their plot to take over the universe! Brilliant satire, and amazing music. Click here for Screwed.
For his website click here, for his podcast click here.

The Skeptics Guide To The Universe

2010-11-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

A few years back I was tired of trying to find a decent AM signal at night to listen to on the radio to help me fall asleep. So I decided that I would try a podcast, and I got my rarely used MP3 player and searched the internet. I had remembered from reading one of Phil Plaits posts, about a great show called the Skeptics Guide To The Universe, I downloaded the show and I was hooked. Steve Novella, hosts the show and his cast of rouges include his brothers Robert and Jay Novella, Evan Bernstien, and Rebecca Watson. If you download some of the earliest podcasts you will find the late great Perry DeAngelis. This is an amazing show of skeptical thought. It generally starts with a discussion of the weekly news, then a guest, followed by their version of stump the skeptic, called science or fiction, and a interesting segment called who's that noisy where listeners have to guess what the strange sound they play actually is. I enjoy the humor and the banter between Steve and his skeptic pals. Their archive of past shows is huge including a very touching show that came after the death of Perry DeAngelis(Click HERE) Rebecca Watson the SkepChick joined soon after and added a nice woman's touch to the show. For the complete archive click here. The show is produced by the New England Skeptical Society, and JREF.

Phil Plait The Bad Astronomer

2010-10-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

I hate to admit to old habits, but years ago in order to sleep I would listen to Art Bell. Yup, that Art Bell, the guy from Coast to Coast AM, the legendary broadcaster who ruled the after midnight hours with crazy talk of crypo zoology, alternative medicine, ghosts, UFOs, and of course the almost weekly visit from Richard C Hoagland and his loony ideas about the face on Mars. I always enjoyed Art, because I always thought he was playing with his guests. Needless to say within a 1/2 hour of Art and I was sound asleep! However, one night things changed. I believe George Noory had taken over the show, and he had on a guest called Dr. Phil Plait. Unlike any other guest on Coast To Coast AM Phil was a skeptic. He skewered Hoagland, made the moon hoax people look like the fools they are, and explained the wonders of the universe in such an understandable way, that even the Coast to Coast listeners wanted Phil back. Once I had heard Phil on the radio the next day I found his old website and forum dedicated to debunking bad science, and critiquing the science in movies. (CLICK HERE) Phil is a real working astronomer, and a great communicator of science to us non science people. In fact, he is so good that he now can be found on the Discover Magazine blogs. He was even briefly President of James Randi Educational Foundation. Did I say he might even be a TV STAR! He has had a couple of episode of the Bad Universe which aired on the Discovery Channel. Oh, and he wrote a best selling book called Death From the Skies. Phil is a great teacher, and I highly recommend that you read his blog. He makes science and astronomy fun and exciting and you can't go wrong with that.

Dr. Dean Edell

2010-10-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

The only skeptic on commercial radio is none other than America's Doctor, Dr. Dean Edell. Doctor Dean has been debunking pseudo medicine and junk science for many years. His radio show the Dr. Dean Edell Show has been on the air for for over 30 years. I find him the only sane voice on AM radio anymore:-) It amazes me that he is still on the air considering all the crazies that populate the AM band. Doctor Dean gives great medical advice, and is always ready to do battle against the quacks that pedal alternative medicine. I only wish that the good Dr. was on more than one hour a day!

The Doctor Dean Edell show does not have an official podcast, but some of his fans have put together an archive of his shows HERE. I highly recommomend that if you cant catch his show live (CHECK HERE FOR STATIONS) that you download the podcasts. Dr. Dean was doing this stuff well before the plethora of skeptic podcasts started appearing in the last five years. His experience dealing with the public, correcting illogical thought, and encouraging critical thinking is something that all podcast should strive to copy.

Finally Dr. Dean has a website called Health Central it is a nice clearing house of information to help you when researching medical conditions. It is similar to WebMd, and I am not sure how much imput the good Dr. has on the site, but I certainly have found some good information on it over the last couple years.

UPDATE Dr. Dean no longer has input on the Health Central Website, although they do have plenty of video segments that he made while he was there. As always tread carefully when on any medical website.

James Randi Educational Foundation: The Amazing James Randi

2010-10-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

I am starting off with the grand old man of modern day skepticism, and that is the Amazing Randi. James Randi is a magician who's early claim to fame was as an escape artist. However, it is his tireless work going after psychics, and his 1,000,000 dollar challenge that makes him the king of the skeptics. Randi was the first to debunk Uri Geller as a fraud, and has put his money where his mouth is by offering up a million dollars to anyone with psychic ability.

To access the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) Click here. On this website you will find the JREF forum, information about the Amaz!ng Meeting, which is a convention of skeptics, where you will find a plethora of who's who of skepticism, from Phil Platt, Bob Novella, Adam Savage, Swoopy, Rebbecca Watson, and many, many, many more.

It is only fitting that a magician be the first on my list of Skeptics, because in many ways the first modern Skeptic was probably Harry Houdini. Houdini debunked many fortune tellers, and psychics in his day. One of the advantages of magicians is that they know all the tricks that the scam artist uses. They know the slight of hand,and the misdirection, used by these people who take advantage of the innocent. Luckily people like Randi care enough about the rest of us to let us in on the trick, and save us from giving away our hard earned money to flim flam.

Welcome to the Skeptics Hub

2010-10-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. In case you are interested I currently run the popular Blues Historian website. I also have a rarely visted blog on the Reflections of the 2008 presidential election. I am still pleased with what I wrote on that blog. In fact, this blog was suppose to replace that blog and it was called Historical Rants. My plan was to take on people who distort history, kinda of a history meets skepticism. However, I just couldn't find the time to write and research out all of the topics I wanted to cover. So I deleted what few posts I had here, and decided to start new with a link/review site that can steer people to the best skepticism, and free thought sites out there. If you haven't figured it out yet, we live in an age of anti-science, anti -intellectualism, and anti-thought. People lack critical thinking skills, and are willing to make decisions based on political ideology, religious dogma, or just there gut. These websites that I am linking, and posting about are a great way to find the truth about many subjects. What you will find here are podcasts, websites, and communities that foster critical thinking skills, logical thinking skills, and real science. It is going to take some time to post all of the links that I have accumulated over the last few years so be patient. Feel free to email me at bluesman2001@hotmail.com and I will certainly take a look at your site and see if it is worthy to be included in the best of the best of Skepticism, and Free thought.