1. a. Star, rats; b. Keep, peek; c. Guns, snug; d. Part, trap; e. Reward, drawer
2. a. eating watermelon; b. the number 6; c. the moon
3. The Rolling Stones
4. Africa
5. Matthew Flinders
6. Shag
7. Long-sightedness
8. Hotel Uniform Golf
9. Manila
10. O.J. Simpson
Most people will now be aware that the Christian Rapture is predicted to take place today, May 21, 2011.
In fact, according to Harold Camping of Family Radio, this world-shaking event is due in just a few hours.
In the Skeptics we usually steer clear of religious topics. This is not because of any political correctness or an unwillingness to offend. It’s simply because we prefer to examine issues based on the evidence.
And if a religion makes no testable claims (which they usually don’t) then it’s not a question of evidence, but a question of faith.
The interesting thing about this particular religious prophecy, is that Harold Camping has made a testable claim.
View More Enraptured?
Here are some scenes from The Seventh Annual Vic Skeptics Extravaganza.
Wal’s Warriors prevailed by a point from General Ignorance.
Dr Bill were declared the Least Trivial Team of 2011, thus snaring the Golden Bent Wooden Spoon.
[slideshow]
Much fun was had by all. Thanks to all who helped out.
In April, Martin Plowman visited the Vic Skeptics to talk about his book “The UFO Diaries” and his travels to UFO hotspots in the US.
It was a fascinating talk, touching on the philosophy of Jacques Lacan and his distinction between the “real” and the “symbolic”.
The book isn’t all high philosophy though. There’s a lot of travelogue, and a lot of the amazing characters you would be likely to meet on a UFO tour
In this snippet Martin discusses the famous Roswell UFO incident, and the evidence (or lack thereof) around it.
Matt
What can we learn from the short history of the Power Balance wrist bands in Australia? It was a pseudo science fad that the Australian Skeptics played a part in ending.
The recent ACCC threat to prosecute retailers who continued to sell them has had an immediate chill effect.
Sports shops, health shops and retailers of all kinds have now removed Power Balance wrist bands from shelves and counters all over Australia.
How did it happen? Who’s behind it? Can we do the same to (insert your favourite pseudo science product here)?
What follows is a potted history of the end of the Power Balance fad. (If you disagree or have more to add please make a comment below.)
How did it all start?
2007 (USA)
Two young entrepreneurial brothers, in Orange County California, Troy Rodarmel and Josh Rodarmel started the company in early 2007.
The business model is quite straight forward: design colourful, stylish wrist bands that can be manufactured very cheaply in China and sell them locally at a much higher price. Market the bands by making health and technology claims and View More Power Balance: the End of a Shonky Fad
There are new puzzles available. For May’s (and April’s) Picture Puzzles and Mixed Bag questions, click on “Puzzles and Diversions” above.
The CROSSWORD PUZZLE has returned this month: go to http://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/may-2011-crossword/
Our Puzzles Archive is here: http://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/puzzles-archive/
Eight Previous Skeptical Crossword Puzzles can be found here: http://skeptics.cafe/puzzles/crosswords-links-to-all-crosswords/
Enjoy.
Under new stringent guidelines adopted from this weekend, herbal medicines will now have to be registered. Products must meet safety, quality and manufacturing standards, and come with information outlining possible side-effects.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/may/01/new-eu-rules-on-herbal-remedies
For many people, the surprise is that such regulatory oversight has not already been automatic.
This is the kind of approach that Skeptics have been asking Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration to adopt. At present, manufacturers can choose whether to apply for registration of each remedy as a Listed Product. The TGA’s rule-of-thumb is that listed products must be safe and efficacious; however, the TGA rarely tests Listed Products.
See our earlier article: http://skeptics.cafe/2011/03/19/aca-miracle-fruit-or-fruity-marketing/
We’d like to tell you about three special upcoming events.
1. 
Dr Rachael Dunlop will be our featured Lunch guest on Sunday 26th June. Rachael is a scientist researching into heart disease, and is a vice-president of Australian Skeptics Inc (aka NSW Skeptics)
She is also part of the Mystery Investigators show for schools, co-organises the Sydney Skeptics meet-up group, contributes to The Sceptics’ Book of Pooh-Pooh blog and may be familiar to some of you as Dr Rachie from The Skeptic Zone.
The venue is La Notte Restaurant, 140 Lygon Street Carlton. It’s a 12:00 for 12:30 start.
Set menu (Choice of four mains and two deserts, tea and coffee) will cost you $35 per person
You can enquire about or book for this event by emailing vic@skeptics.com.au or phoning (03) 9378 4414 or 1800 666 996
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2.
Nigerian Humanist Leo Igwe will speak at a Dinner at La Notte Restaurant, 140 Lygon Street Carlton on Thursday evening 25th August.
For information about Leo Igwe, please see our recent post http://skeptics.cafe/2011/04/02/leo-igwe-tour/ and last year’s http://skeptics.cafe/2010/07/14/support-for-leo-igwe
La Notte’s famed smorgasbord will cost you $50 per person. The proceeds of the evening will pass to Leo.
You can enquire about or book for this event by emailing vic@skeptics.com.au or phoning (03) 9378 4414 or 1800 666 996
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3. 
Leo Igwe will speak again at a public meeting on Saturday 27th August. Our friends at the Humanist Society of Victoria are joining Vic Skeptics in staging this event. It’s at 2pm at Victorian Trades Hall New Council Chambers at 54 Victoria Street Carlton South. $10 at the door, ($5 concession)
1. Canberra –Tuggeranong; Sydney – Ultimo; Melbourne – Dallas; Brisbane – Indroopilly; Adelaide – Hindmarsh; Perth – Burswood; Hobart – Sandy Bay; Darwin – Palmerston.
2. a. Lopsided b. Demarcation c. Simpleton d. Underwrite e. Vivacious f. Wreathe
3. Athletics
4. bronze
5. The house numbers
6. St Paul (hence, St Paul’s Cathedral)
7. It froze over
8. Dan Brown – Angels and Demons; Bryce Courtenay – The Potato Factory; Colleen McCulloch – Tim; John Le Carré – Smiley’s People; Michael Dobbs – To Play the King; Douglas Addams – The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul; John Grisham – The Pelican Brief; Steven King – The Shining
9. French World War 1 fighter ace
10. Zeppo
