Our Puzzles for December have definitely adopted a holiday theme.
For a start, this month’s Skeptical Crossword is entitled Holidays and Festivals.
There are one hundred Mixed Bag Questions rather than the usual twenty;
and in addition to the Picture Puzzles and Logic & Maths Puzzles there are three Bonus Sets; Flowers, Mystery Objects and Countries.
They’re at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE.
Enjoy!
Due to technical difficulties Dr Ken Harvey’s Zoom talk for Skeptics Café on October 17
Retirement reflections: 55 years from graduation
did not receive the usual parallel airing at the Facebook Skeptics Café site. However, that has now been remedied! Watch at: https://www.facebook.com/theskepticscafe
Claire Klingenberg, the Chair of the European Council of Skeptical Organisations; and Annika Harrison, Pontus Böckman and András Gábor Pintér of the European Skeptics podcast are coming to Australia to speak at Skepticon 2022 in Canberra.
They will be visiting Melbourne en route.
A Welcome Dinner has been organised for them for the evening of Friday 25th November at Graduate House in Carlton.
If you would like to attend, or are seeking more information, go to: https://www.trybooking.com/CDNVL
November’s Skeptical Crossword Puzzle has Cults & Sects as its theme.
Logic & Maths Puzzles has returned; ten questions each with a worked solution.
There’s another set each of Picture Puzzles and Mixed Bag Questions, and two Bonus Sets; Crossword Clues and High or Low.
All at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE.
Enjoy!
by Mark Hassed
On any list of trusted professions, I’m sure that pharmacists would feature prominently. They dispense our medications and are always behind the counter ready to offer advice when needed.
But, what do you do when you find that your local pharmacy is promoting a treatment that you know to be ineffective at best, and damaging at worst?
On a recent visit to my neighbourhood pharmacy there was a large poster by the counter promoting ear candling. I asked the pharmacy assistant if I could talk with the pharmacist.
(click to enlarge)
Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum David Waldron, Sharn Waldron and Nathaniel Buchanan, Arcadia 2022.
See “Reviews“
Our Skeptical Crossword Puzzle for October reverts to General Skeptical Issues.
Accompanying the usual Picture Puzzles and Mixed Bag Questions, we have a special one-off word-quiz about Palindromes.
All at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE.
Enjoy!
Science & Skepticism in a changed world
3 – 4 December, National Library of Australia
Parkes Pl W, Canberra
and on-line!
(Click to enlarge)
Early-bird pricing until September 14.
September’s Skeptical Crossword Puzzle is about Foretelling the Future.
The Logic & Maths Puzzles have returned to accompany the usual Picture Puzzles and Mixed Bag Questions.
Find them, blog-style at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE.
Enjoy!
by Rosemary Sceats
(photo of Bob at the 2002 Australian Skeptics Convention in Melbourne courtesy of Mal Vickers)
The Victorian Skeptics recently received some sad news about the death in February this year of Bob Nixon, a long-time member, including of the management committee. He served for a time as President of the Victorian Skeptics.
Bob was the Chief Investigator for Australian Skeptics for many years, and acted as a sceptical mentor for many a rookie Skeptic, including yours truly and Terry Kelly.
During his time as Chief Investigator, Bob was the coordinator of several attempts by people hoping to win the $100,000 prize money for the Australian Skeptics’ Challenge, by demonstrating psychic or other paranormal powers. Contestants included several dowsers and one who believed he could transmit mental images of Zener cards. He was also one of the behind-the-scenes underwriters who pledged to pay up in the improbable event that someone succeeded in qualifying for the prize. View More Vale Bob Nixon