October 20, 2010

A Skeptic's Guide to Dowsing

This article first appeared as a Vic Skeptics discussion pamphlet.
The full range of our discussion pamphlets can be downloaded here: http://www.skeptics.com.au/resources/educational/
or by clicking on the “Useful Info” link at the top of this page.

Dowsing, (also known as Divining) is widely practised in Australia. Dowsers claim the ability to detect useful substances in the ground using processes which are not able to be explained by current scientific principles.
The most frequently dowsed substance in drought-prone Australia is water. Many Australians can claim a friend or relative who is a water-diviner.
Australian Skeptics have long been interested in dowsing. It clearly lies within the range of paranormal activities which come under scrutiny. We offer a sum of money, (currently $100,000) to anyone who can demonstrate paranormal ability of any kind. Our only stipulation is that candidates must pass a proper scientific test, the protocols of which have been agreed upon by all parties before the test commences. Most acceptors of this challenge have been water-diviners; probably because they are genuine people who believe in their abilities, and are as interested in being tested as we are to test them.
View More A Skeptic's Guide to Dowsing

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October 17, 2010

Some pointers on critically assessing the validity of claims

by Lucas Randall
Wide-scale access to the Internet has resulted in unprecedented access to information for the average citizen of any developed nation, and the more recent proliferation of mobile data devices and networks have exponentially increased our ability to reference the collective body of knowledge on a whim.
This access comes at a price however, as tech-savvy marketers have outstripped science and education practitioners’ resources, funding and drive to make information easily accessible, effectively saturating the search-engine and news-reporting info-spheres with commerce-driven interpretations of research, opinion, tradition and in many cases, out-right pseudo-science or fraudulent claims.
Whilst most developed economies provide some levels of consumer protection, in Australia including bodies such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) various industry ombudsmen and voluntary ‘societies’ with industry codes-of-practice, most consumers have very limited understanding of the significant differences in evidentiary support pharmaceuticals require, for example, as compared with “complimentary” or “alternative” medicines.
View More Some pointers on critically assessing the validity of claims

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October 17, 2010

Power Balance … or Placebo?

Power BalanceAh, the Power Balance band.
You’ve probably heard of it. It was ubiquitous in this year’s AFL season and made headlines around the world when the likes of Shaquille O’Neal started wearing them.
So what does it do? Interestingly, its makers are careful to avoid claiming that it does anything at all.
The “What Is Power Balance?” section of their website still says “Coming Soon”. And has done so for months.
What Is Power Balance. Hmmmm. But never mind that. Elsewhere the site is positively jam-packed with testimonials about the band’s ability to improve your balance, increase your flexibility, enhance your endurance levels and, of course, help you win basketball games. Thanks Shaq.
Now, the skeptical among us suspect there’s nothing more to it than a simple placebo effect.
After all, there’s a complete lack of scientific evidence supporting the band’s effects, not to mention the implausible idea that having a hologram strapped to your arm makes you run faster.
View More Power Balance … or Placebo?

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October 6, 2010

George Hrab in Melbourne

 

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Apparently skeptics are just a bunch of old-age naysayers with no religion, culture or art.  As such, don’t tell anyone about George Hrab and his upcoming gig in Melbourne, I wouldn’t want to burst anyone’s bubble.  I’d really hate for his gig to be spoilt by – you know – loads and loads of people turning up.
George is an active Pennsylvania based musician, composer, podcaster and skeptic.
George’s podcast; the Geologic Podcast, has a huge following and easily has the best sound quality of any skeptical podcast available.  The Geologic Podcast features segments such as “George talks to his mum” and “religious moron of the week”.
In a very bold move, George’s last album “Trebuchet” was released free, in its entirety, in one of his regular podcasts.  I first really began to appreciate George’s music when he produced the song “Far”, which became View More George Hrab in Melbourne

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October 3, 2010

Bigger blog


Suddenly the Vic Skeptics blog has got bigger, though you probably haven’t noticed.  We’ve gone from 80 posts to 220.  Our old “keypoint” site will eventually be shut down.  Ahead of that, rather than dump the old stuff, a big effort has gone into moving it from the old site to this one.
If you have a little spare time and feel like reading some re-born old posts try these:
How to make your own bed of nails
Homeopathy for Pets???
How to put together a class exercise on astrology, if you’re a teacher
Saddened by Channel Ten’s screening of Sensing Murder (from 2006)
Also on the same subject “Sensing Nothing” by Christopher Short.
Dr John Long spoke to the Victorian Skeptics in 2005
An embarrassing question on a psychology exam
View More Bigger blog

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October 2, 2010

"MIXED BAG" October 2010 ANSWERS:

1. Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Montana
2. (a)    54 Cards in a Deck (with the jokers)
    (b)    8 planets in the solar system
    (c)    88 Keys on a Piano
    (d)    90 Degrees in a Right Angle
    (e)    200 dollars for passing GO in Monoploy
    (f)     8 sides on a Stop Sign
3. We know of three possibilities:
– Prince, princes, princess.
– Bra, bras, brass.
– Care, cares, caress.
4. (a) Bangladesh
    (b) Egypt
    (c) Fiji
    (d) Nicaragua
    (e) Switzerland
    (f) Tunisia
    (g) Zambia
5. Nine
6. Alas, alias
7. Time
8. Brogues
9. (a) Tom Hanks
    (b) Dan Ackroyd
    (c) William Shatner
10. (a)  USA
      (b)  Canada
      (c)  England
      (d)  Lebanon
      (e)  India

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September 29, 2010

PestXit – A Follow-up

by Ken Greatorex
Peter Bromley’s experiences with his mum’s PestXit Duo (11th September) interested me strangely. This device does not rely on nasty chemicals, paranormal energy or the doubtful therapeutic effect of magnetic fields. You plug it in and turn it on, and it makes a continuous irritating noise beyond the human frequency threshold. That’s plausible. Why shouldn’t it work? View More PestXit – A Follow-up

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