Skeptics 4 Life

Wakefield

2010-05-25T17:43:00.002-05:00

It is nice to see a quack pay for the blood on their hands. Antivaccinationists have been fueled by the infamous "Wakefield Experiments". Of which Andrew Wakefield paid children for their blood without parental consent to use as samples in his fallacious study. He was also accused of performing unethical invasive colonoscopies on children as well!On Monday, May 24th, Andrew Wakefield was

Weather and Joint Pain

2010-05-14T09:05:00.000-05:00

This is a common medical myth so deeply ingrained that it is rarely disputed. People everywhere are falling victim to conformation bias and reporting approaching storms based on the stiffness of their joints. Even though "atmospheric conditions, including temperature, pressure, and humidity, do not affect the temperature, pressure, or humidity inside the human body. Thus, there is no plausible

Science Denial

2010-05-12T10:19:00.001-05:00

Science is important to humanity's fundamental understanding of the universe around us. Science is a self-correcting process of experimentation, evaluating evidence, drawing sound conclusions, and making accurate predictions. Without it we slow our technological advancement and our understanding of the world around us. Without skepticism we will lose our ability to discern reality from

Growing Human Organs

2010-05-10T10:08:00.001-05:00

What was once science fiction is now the latest in patient care. Anthony Atala's state-of-the-art lab grows human organs -- from muscles to blood vessels to bladders, and more. At TEDMED, he shows footage of his bio-engineers working with some of its sci-fi gizmos, including an oven-like bioreactor (preheat to 98.6 F) and a machine that "prints" human tissue.

National Day of Prayer

2010-05-06T14:25:00.003-05:00

Make your voices heard HERE.

Finding Time

2009-06-08T21:40:00.002-05:00

Finding time for research is very hard these days. I am also without internet access in my house. With internet access only at work it's in my best interest to do work instead of blog.I will try to keep up with science news and advancements and the not-so-skeptical news items as well. Posts may be few and far between but that doesn't mean I've lost my way. My priorities are not favor of the

Cosmos: Episode 10

2009-06-01T08:38:00.000-05:00

Episode 10: "The Edge of Forever"-Opening-Big Bang-Galaxies-Astronomical Anomalies-Doppler Effect-Humason-Dimensions-The Universe vs. a god-India-Oscillating Universe-Very Large Array (VLA)-Cosmos Update: 10 years later

Wikipedia Bans Scientologists

2009-05-29T18:28:00.003-05:00

It was reported by WikiNews itself that Scientologist users and IP addresses owned by the Church of Scientology be banned from editing Scientology related articles on Wikipedia. Scientologists had been editing articles to support Scientology practices and beliefs. The user committee stated that their actions contradict the neutrality of Wikipedia.They have also banned 'Anti-Scientology' users

Cosmos: Episode 9

2009-05-28T08:32:00.000-05:00

Episode 9: "The Lives of the Stars"-Opening-Apple Pie-The Very Large-Atoms-Chemical Elements-Nuclear Forces-The Stars and Our Sun-Death of Stars-Star Stuff-Gravity in Wonderland-Children of the Stars-Cosmos Update: 10 years later

Cosmos: Episode 8

2009-05-26T08:25:00.000-05:00

Episode 8: "Journeys in Space and Time"-Opening-Constellations-Time and Space-Relativity: Time dilation, red shift, blue shift-Leonardo da Vinci-Interstellar Travel-Time Travel-Solar Systems-Cosmic Time Frame-Dinosaurs-Immensity of Space-Cosmos Update

Cosmos: Episode 7

2009-05-24T08:24:00.000-05:00

Episode 7: "The Backbone of Night"-Opening-What are the Stars?-Brooklyn Schoolroom-Mythology of Stars-Ancient Greek Scientists-Science Blossoms-Democritus-Pythagoras-Plato, Aristotle, Aristarchus, and The Pythagoreans.-Distances to the Stars-Evidence of Other Planets-End Credits

One Year Old!

2009-05-22T11:57:00.002-05:00

Today, May 22nd 2009, is the one year anniversary of the Skeptics 4 Life Blog. With over 3,460 visits, several fan emails, and many more hate emails, I think the first year was a great success. Unfortunately, I have been busy the last few weeks with school and job searching and I have not been posting anything new. On the other hand, last week Saturday I graduated from college! I should have

Cosmos: Episode 6

2009-05-08T08:50:00.000-05:00

Episode 6: "Travellers' Tales"-Opening-Voyager, JPL-Traveller's Routes-Dutch Renaissance-Huygens-Huygens' Conclusion-Traveller's Tales-Jovian System-Europa and Io-Voyager Ships' Log-Saturn and Titan-Cosmos Update 10 Years Later

Cosmos: Episode 5

2009-05-06T08:43:00.000-05:00

Episode 5: "Blues for a Red Planet"-Opening-Martians-Percival Lowell-Edgar Rice Burroughs-Robert Goddard-Inhabited Planets-Mars Probes-Viking Landers-Life on Mars?-Mars Rover-Terraforming Mars-Cosmos Update 10 Years Later

Cosmos: Episode 4

2009-05-04T08:42:00.001-05:00

Episode 4: "Heaven and Hell"-Opening-Heaven and Hell-Tunguska Event-Comets-Collisions with Earth (Canterbury monks 1178)-Planetary Evolution-Venus-Descent to Venus (Venera Landers)-Human Impact on the Global Environment-Deaths of Worlds-Conclusion-Cosmos Update 10 Years Later

Cosmos: Episode 3

2009-05-03T08:29:00.000-05:00

Episode 3: "The Harmony of the Worlds"-Opening-Astronomers vs. Astrologers-Astrology-Laws of Nature-Constellations-Astronomers-Ptolemy/Copernicus-Johannes Kepler-Kepler and Tycho Brahe-Kepler's Law-The Somnium-End Credits

Cosmos: Episode 2

2009-05-02T08:18:00.000-05:00

Episode 2: "One Voice in the Cosmic Fugue"-Opening-Spaceship Cosmic Matter-Heike Crab (artificial selection)-Artificial Selection-Natural Selection-Watchmaker (Intelligent Design)-Cosmic Calendar-Evolution-Kew Gardens-DNA-Miller-Urey Experiment-Alien Life-Cosmos Update 10 Years Later

Cosmos: Episode 1

2009-05-01T14:41:00.001-05:00

My posting the other day has given me an idea. I have decided that while I'm busy with finals and moving on from college I will present Carl Sagan's TV Series, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. I will provide a brief outline of each episode with each posting. All episodes (1-13) will be posted in order.Episode 1: "The Shores of the Cosmic Ocean"-Ann Druyan Intro-Opening-The Cosmos-Spaceship in the

I'm Still Alive!

2009-04-30T18:11:00.005-05:00

Dear Readers, Don't panic!! Not that the ending of this Blog would provoke panic, but I assure you that I have not retired Skeptics 4 Life. It is closing in on finals week of my senior year of college. So "needless to say" I am very preoccupied right now. I will do my best to write something new soon and get back into the routine. For now I leave you with an episode from Carl Sagan's

Ear Candling

2009-04-09T08:25:00.001-05:00

Too much ear wax? Need a pseudo-scientific therapeutic cleaning to remove your ear wax and other impurities? Well look no farther! Check out ear candling! Not only will it not drain your ear wax but it will drain your wallet! But don't take my word for it, listen to Dr. Lisa Roazen in her article Why Ear Candling is Not a Good Idea:"'Ear candling,' also known as auricular candling or coning,

Science Based Parenting

2009-04-07T08:19:00.001-05:00

While searching through crap perpetuated by Jenny McCarthy I found lots of great information cites. One of which is the Stop Jenny McCarthy website. This is a great website that includes testimonials of parents effected by her false propaganda and accurate vaccine information. I also found the Jenny McCarthy Body Count website that updates the numbers of vaccine preventable cases and deaths on

Logical Fallacies 2

2009-04-05T08:47:00.000-05:00

Here are some more logical fallacies. This is a continuation of the article Logical Fallacies.Ad HominemAn ad hominem argument is any that attempts to counter another person's claims or conclusions by attacking the person, rather than addressing the argument itself. True believers will often commit this fallacy by countering the arguments of skeptics by stating that skeptics are closed minded.

Logical Fallacies

2009-04-03T08:25:00.006-05:00

All of the fallacies and descriptions here are also found on the Skeptics Guide to the Universe website.How does an argument work?All arguments have the same basic structure: A therefore B. They begin with one or more premises (A), which is a fact or assumption upon which the argument is based. They then apply a logical principle (therefore) to arrive at a conclusion (B). An example of a logical

Debunking Dowsing Continued...

2009-03-22T08:08:00.002-05:00

In the first article I wrote called "Debunking Dowsing" you watched a video of James Randi answering a Million Dollar Challenger. Another video I tracked down on YouTube is from Richard Dawkins' video series Enemies of Reason. In this video dowsers undergo a strictly controlled double blind trial. Some of them are "shocked beyond words" that they failed.

Physics of Watchmen

2009-03-20T08:13:00.000-05:00

University of Minnesota physics professor James Kakalios discusses how he was hired to add a physics perspective to the Warner Brothers movie, Watchmen. Kakalios discusses how quantum mechanics can explain Dr. Manhattan's super human powers in the film, and how he came to become an expert on the topic of the physics of superheroes. Check out Kakalios book The Physics of Superheros.

Primate's Premeditated Pitching

2009-03-18T08:12:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine first brought my attention to this story about a week ago. He described the incident to me. Basically an old chimp was witnessed stock-piling rocks in anticipation of zoo visitors. He then used his arsenal of rocks to retaliate against visitors that laughed at or mocked him. I was trying to decided if this was a correlation or a real premeditated attack.I found the article in

Debunking Dowsing

2009-03-16T08:16:00.001-05:00

Dowsing can almost always be explained away by the idiomotor effect. This is the same thing "powers" your Ouija board. Here is a video of James Randi, from the James Randi Education Foundation, debunking a video submitted to the Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge.

Sanal Edamaruku

2009-03-13T08:37:00.006-05:00

Sanal Edamaruku is the president and founder of Rationalist International, and president of The Indian Rationalist Association. He deserves the Critical Thinkers on the Front Lines award for his performance on Hindi TV in March of 2008.Sanal challenged Pandit Surinder Sharma, a Tantric Guru, during a discussion on "Tantric Power versus Science" on Hindi TV. Sharma claimed that he could kill

Skeptics 4 Life in Top 50

2009-03-12T08:18:00.001-05:00

According to NetworkedBlogs.com, Skeptics 4 Life is number 22 in the top 50 blogs under the topic of Skepticism! If you would like to help support the Skeptics 4 Life website join us on facebook by clicking follow. Thank you in advance for your support. Happy skepticism everyone!

Borneo Snake

2009-03-11T08:09:00.004-05:00

Last month a photo of a very long snake was submitted to London's Telegraph. They published a story with a head line that read, "Photograph shows 'giant snake' lurking in Borneo River". The caption below the photo read, "Villagers living along the Baleh river in Borneo fear a 100-foot snake could be lurking in the murky waters."I first heard about this image on the Skeptics Guide to the Universe

Richard Dawkins at OK University

2009-03-09T09:05:00.012-05:00

This is Richard Dawkins's introduction and response to Todd Thomsen's legislative decry in a lecture at Oklahoma University on Friday March, 6th. He proclaims that representative Todd Thomsen is not representative of the state of Oklahoma. In response to Thomsen he states that if a University should only hear opinions that the citizens of their state agree with, then "you can kiss goodbye to

Dawkins on MPR

2009-03-07T08:18:00.003-06:00

Here is an interview on Minnesota Public Radio with Richard Dawkins. He talks about atheism and his most recent book "The God Delusion". This was recorded on the morning of March 4th, 2009./*

Dawkins banned from University Lecture

2009-03-06T07:29:00.007-06:00

Oklahoma state representative, Todd Thomsen, filed a resolution to ban Richard Dawkins from a lecture scheduled for today at the University of Oklahoma. To summarize he states that on the following grounds:The University of Oklahoma is publicly funded;the University of Oklahoma stands for independent thinking and free inquiry;a majority of the citizens of Oklahoma disagree with Richard Dawkins;

American Family Association

2009-03-05T08:33:00.012-06:00

The American Family Association is an organization focused on promoting "Biblical Values" on a secular American society. For example, their logo has the letters AFA superimposed over the Christian's Jesus fish! They claim to "represent and stand for traditional family values" and their primary focus is on the "influence of television and other media on our society."The American Family Association

100,000 Proponents vs. 200 Deniers

2009-03-03T08:17:00.010-06:00

Evolution Wins!This is the consensus of the scientific community! In response to the creationists' list of 200 scientists who oppose evolution, The National Center for Science Education produced a list of 200 Scientists named Steve or Stephanie who are in favor of evolution in 2003.Today that list has grown to 1000 Steves and Stephanies that agree on the validity of Evolutionary Theory. This was

Neural Stem Cell Transplant

2009-03-01T08:10:00.012-06:00

Controversy about the ethics of stem cell research has hindered its research for the past 8 years. I was initially concerned by the headline I noticed published by Scientific American that read, "Fetal Stem Cells Cause Tumor in a Teenage Boy." According to the article the nine-year old suffers from ataxia-telangiectasia, a childhood disease that causes degeneration of parts of the brain that

Wisconsin Citizens for Science

2009-02-27T08:59:00.006-06:00

The other day PZ Meyers blogged about a new organization called Wisconsin Citizens for Science. WCFS, as they call themselves, is a "group of Wisconsin citizens, including teachers, professors, professionals and others, all coming together to promote and support quality science education in the state of Wisconsin."One of my favorite efforts of the group, which they have listed on their webpage,

OTC Analgesics

2009-02-25T08:22:00.011-06:00

The everyday aches and pains of life can be alleviated by a plethora of over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers. Understanding what all the medicines in your local pharmacy can do is both an essential and daunting task. By breaking them down into a few basic categories I will make them easier to understand.Aspirin (Bayer, St. Joseph, Anacin, and Bufferin);Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin);Naproxen

Mehmed The Conqueror

2009-02-21T17:21:00.010-06:00

Christopher Hitchens commonly quotes American Physicist Steven Weinberg stating, "With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." This has been very evident throughout history. I came across a very specific example in a history lecture the other day. It revolved around the

What will the future say?

2009-01-29T08:19:00.000-06:00

Austin Cline

2009-01-27T09:44:00.003-06:00

Austin Cline is a blogger who is involved in educating the public about atheism, agnosticism, and secular humanism. He states this in his bio: "Both atheism and agnosticism are neglected in popular culture, despite the popularity of recent books by atheists. When was the last time you saw an openly atheist politician, an article on atheism in a major periodical, or anyone discussing secular

The Doctors

2009-01-25T09:31:00.012-06:00

The Doctors describes themselves as a groundbreaking new show that does for health care what Dr. Phil has done for psychology. Which in my opinion is do nothing but misinform the public and push money making agendas.Pop culture, should it be a red flag for crap? When it comes to personal health and medical advice I definitely think people should think twice! It is interesting how people buy

Life on Mars

2009-01-23T08:04:00.005-06:00

A few weeks ago active releases of methane gas have been discovered on Mars. This has led some scientists to say that this is strong evidence for microbial life. Yet there is more than one way that methane can be produced on the surface of a planet.Methane is commonly released through geologic activity. Yet geologic activity is accompanied by sulfur dioxide, which has not been detected. Not

London Bus Advertisements

2009-01-21T09:24:00.002-06:00

The British Humanist Association launched a campaign to post atheist advertisements on buses in London. Their original goal was to raise £5,500 (about $7,600). However, within 4 days that had raised over £100,000 (about $140,000) from individual donations!They have now reached £149,393.06 ($208,000).With slogans like "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" on about 800

Obama's Inauguration

2009-01-18T00:10:00.003-06:00

Watch the Presidential Inauguration here!Watch it for free, Live January 20th, 2009.

Vote Today!!!

2009-01-12T15:57:00.008-06:00

Vote HERE for the 2008 Best Science Blogs!The Candidates are...Pharyngula - Written by PZ Myers"Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal"NASA Watch -"It's YOUR space agency. Get involved. Take it back. Make it work - for YOU."Improbable Research - Written by Marc Abrahams, Stephen Drew, and Julia Lunetta"Research that makes people LAUGH and then

Arguments from Authority

2008-12-28T08:34:00.003-06:00

From Zak Attack Productions, I present famous Atheists. According to the Bible these people are fools and do no good...Isaac Asimov-Biochemist-Prolific Science Fiction Writer-Popularizer of ScienceNoam Chomsky-Professor of Linguistics at MIT-Created the Theory of generative grammar-The leading American public intellectual of 2005Francis Crick-Co-discovered the sturcture of DNA-1962 Nobel Prize

Intelligent Design, Bill Maher

2008-12-26T08:23:00.000-06:00

A great clip from a 2005 episode of Real Time where Bill goes off on Intelligent Design.

A Secular Christmas

2008-12-24T09:21:00.000-06:00

I do not agree with Tom Melchiorre's article, Why I don't Celebrate Christmas, that celebrating Christmas as an atheist is hypocritical. I agree with the fact that it is a Christian based celebration, but I believe that it has grown more and more secular over the years. According to Austin Cline in his article, Evils of a Secular Christmas, the traditional Christmas is itself little more than

A Miracle Once a Month!

2008-12-22T20:06:00.000-06:00

I have looked into the claim that a "miracle" (a one in a million chance) will come true for you once a month. I began searching for the stats that back this up. The first website I visited was a Sermon on the Thornhill Baptist Church which stated this:"Our lives are practically sprinkled with them [miracles]. Someone has looked at the statistics of probability and has figured out that we can

Zicam Dangers

2008-12-20T19:49:00.003-06:00

I was at the store about a month ago when I noticed the cold medications in the pharmacy. Having just written an article on "Vitamin C and the Common Cold" and "Airborne," I was interested to see what was on the shelves. I noticed that Zicam had the word "Homeopathic" right on the box!!! Immediately I was concerned that they were marketing complete crap. It's just sitting there on the shelf

Keith Olbermann

2008-11-20T08:44:00.000-06:00

This is a great video that I found first on Facebook and then tracked it down on Youtube. Everyone should watch this video. Politics are usually a slippery slope. It's never black and white, it's most often a subjective appeal to values. Yet Keith Olberman makes such a strong argument for one of those exeptions, gay marriage.Gay marriage is not a political issue, it's not even a moral issue.

All Night Prayer Vigil

2008-11-03T20:50:00.002-06:00

I saw a sign saying that there was an all night prayer vigil starting at 9pm at a church next to my campus. My immediate thoughts were as follows:What good does this do?Nothing. Do they really think more people will vote if they pray? Do they think their candidate will win the election if they pray for them all night? Can a god effect the outcome of the election?A more pertinent Question, what

Learn Something!

2008-10-30T08:40:00.001-05:00

I have found a new video series on Youtube (I know that this is really not the best source for scientific data, but it's entertaining and a great place for logical fallacies). Check out this video. It's called "CReation Astronomy Propoganda debunked" or CRAP debunked.

Kent Hovind Wins!

2008-10-28T23:42:00.001-05:00

Potholer54 Productions is proud to present The Golden Crocoduck Awards Extravaganza, featuring your favorite creationists, and with a guest appearance by God. St Jude Thadeus will announce the winner of the award for the biggest breach of the 9th Commandment in furtherance of the creationist cause.(Music: "Pato Pato" by Miriam Makeba, "I Kissed a Girl" by Katie Perry)

Homeopathy Explained

2008-10-21T23:17:00.003-05:00

This is a great video that explains the basics of homeopathy. Who better to explain it than James Randi.

Busy Week Ahead...

2008-10-13T08:54:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately it looks like I have a busy week ahead of me. School has to come first. I will take a short break from blogging for a few days, but I promise to be back.Your friend,Skeptic 4 Life

Acupuncture Myth

2008-10-12T08:02:00.001-05:00

"Almost everything you’ve heard about acupuncture is wrong," says Dr. Harriet Hall. She has recently written an article for Skeptic Magazine covering the Myths of Acupuncture.This great article really brings the quackery of acupuncture into perspective. After all, by definition, “alternative” medicine (like acupuncture) consists of treatments that have not been scientifically proven and that

Airborne: Effervescent Health Formula

2008-10-11T08:25:00.003-05:00

For my next trick... I will discuss the claims of Airborne.The creator of Airborne is an Elementary School Teacher (not a scientist or doctor) by the name of Victoria Knight-McDowell. In March of 2008 Airborne Health Inc. settled a class-action lawsuit for $23.3 Million. The lawsuit was against the company for a lack of evidence for their claims to ward off the flu and the common cold.While

Fact Check!

2008-10-10T08:16:00.001-05:00

Here is another tool for you to use in the upcoming Presidential Election. This website call Fact Check is devoted to checking the validity of comments made in speeches and campaign ads by both nominees.Be skeptical, and see through the spin of politics!

Vitamin C and the Common Cold

2008-10-09T08:41:00.009-05:00

I have recently come down with a cold (like most of my classmates and roommates). I was told by many people to load up on Vitamin C. Why, I asked? "It will boost your immune system!"I didn’t ask why because I’ve never heard this before, I was just curious why this person thinks it will help. While filling a prescription at the Pharmacy today I read the fine print on a Vitamin C bottle. After

Vote for the Crocoduck!!

2008-10-08T08:37:00.002-05:00

Click here to comment on this video. Vote by October 12th!!

Creationist Junk Debunked 3

2008-10-07T09:46:00.000-05:00

"More nominees for the coveted Golden Crocoduck. In this video I debunk: (1)A ficticious mountain of fossils in Australia, (2) a $250,000 offer for any proof of evolution, (3) 'missing' rocks in the Grand Canyon, (4) Richard Dawkins thinks life came from space aliens, (5) God shaped planets perfectly round."

Creationist Junk Debunked 2

2008-10-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

"This is the second video in my series debunking creationist junk. It will look at some of the nominees for the coveted Golden Crocoduck, awarded for the biggest breach of the 9th Commandment in furtherance of the creationist cause."

Creationist Junk Debunked 1

2008-10-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

Here is the first entry in the series of videos."A look at some of the most famous urban myths spread by creationists, and the fundamentalists who peddle them. This video is the first of a series that will debunk creationist myths, and answer questions that fundamentalists have about the real evidence for our origins."

Coming Soon...

2008-10-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

Soon I will be posting a video series every other day. It is entitled "Creationist Junk Debunked."My goal is not to offend my readers but to address the issues (not the controversy) that radical religious fanatics are propagating.Happy reading.

Science Debate 2008

2008-10-01T09:03:00.003-05:00

Here is a quick response to the candidates first two questions. Further information can be found on the Science Debate 2008 website.1 Innovation. Science and technology have been responsible for half of the growth of the American economy since WWII. But several recent reports question America’s continued leadership in these vital areas. What policies will you support to ensure that America

Saturn's Rings Older Than Previously Expected

2008-09-30T09:56:00.001-05:00

According to Clara Moskowitz's article New Thinking: Saturn's Rings Might Be Ancient, well, Saturn's Rings might be ancient!It was originally believed that the rings were around 100 million years old. Which means that they would only have been visible for the last 30 million years before the dinosaurs became extinct. New observations by the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft has shown new data that

Near Death Experiences

2008-09-29T09:28:00.001-05:00

I believe that Near Death Experiences, where people claim to leave their bodies, are the result of the brain misfiring or dying. Based on the fact that these feelings can be induced chemically very predictably I don't believe the mind is actually leaving the brain. This includes feeling the presence of a greater being or universe. These feelings can also be induced chemically and are usually

Science Blogs

2008-09-28T10:46:00.001-05:00

What are they good for, anyway?One thing that I happen to love is that science blogging brings the front lines of science to the public. It also helps with collaborating across long distances.According to Nick Anthis science blogs are "quite valuable." And it gives "writers the opportunity to write on topics that due to constraints of the publishing world, they might not be able to."Read more...

Debating in a Non-Debate

2008-09-27T09:22:00.001-05:00

Debating Creationists Part I (4:18)And here is his response....Debating Creationists Part II (8:59)

Great Proof for Evolution, by DonExodus2

2008-09-26T09:40:00.003-05:00

Here is a great skeptical YouTuber that I have been watching recently. His screen name is DonExodus2. From what I've gathered he is a Dental Student who dabbles in Evolutionary Biology. He is awesome at breaking down arguments by identifying logical fallacies. He also creates Educational Videos, which is why I consider him worthy of "Critical Thinkers on the Front Lines".In these two videos

Evolution Education in Texas!

2008-09-25T09:13:00.001-05:00

Point for evolution!!!! A proposal for dropping the requirement for teaching the "weaknesses" in Darwin's theory of natural selection has been created! "Science standards drafted by review committees of teachers and academics also would put up roadblocks for teachers who want to discuss creationism or "intelligent design" in biology classes when covering the subject of evolution. "Read more

News Flash Vaccination Denialists!

2008-09-23T12:21:00.004-05:00

Measles are back because kids aren't vaccinated, saysScientific American's 60 Second Science. The US Centerfor Disease Control reported that in 2000 Measles hadbeen eradicated thanks to a preventative vaccine. Butthe Measles have made a come back!Usually diseases get a foot hold in a population "whenvaccination falters." So far there have been 131 casesof Measles reported, 63 of them were

Religulous

2008-09-21T17:59:00.002-05:00

Timberlake Postpones Wedding due to Psychic Reading

2008-09-16T10:24:00.003-05:00

Justin's mother informed Justin that a psychic warned that "... Justin and Jessica should NOT get married..." He immediately put all wedding plans on hold once he heard the news.Some say that his pre-wedding jitters found just the excuse he needed, regardless of how irrational it sounded.What do you think?

Cows Tend to Face North-South

2008-09-14T09:32:00.003-05:00

"Don't be fooled by those big bovine eyes and the mouth slowly chewing cud—cows have a magnetic personality. At least that’s the claim made by German researchers in the August 26th issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." ~Adam Hinterthuer An article published in Scientific American tells us: "The team reports in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA that the

Evolution of Superstition

2008-09-13T09:13:00.001-05:00

Superstitions evolved to help us survive! "Darwin never warned against crossing black cats, walking under ladders or stepping on cracks in the pavement, but his theory of natural selection explains why people believe in such nonsense..."Read more...

Intelligent Delivery Cartoon

2008-09-11T16:02:00.000-05:00

...you're not alone.

2008-09-10T08:34:00.000-05:00

I found out the other day that my professor shares the same skeptical quest for evidence that I have. I was excited when we got caught up in a conversation. It is very empowering to know you’re not alone.If you're a skeptic, you're not alone.Your Skeptic 4 Life,Erik

The Top 10 Celebrity Scientologists

2008-09-09T15:40:00.001-05:00

We have all heard of the typical Celebrity Scientology faces, Tom Cruise, John Travolta, etc. But some of the people on this list I was surprised were caught up this delusion.

Christian Arguments

2008-09-07T16:02:00.001-05:00

For anyone using the argument that our Nation (US) was founded on christian beliefs, read the Treaty of Tripoli from 1796. In Article 11 it states:"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into

Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'

2008-09-05T00:23:00.001-05:00

Here is another article that I found published by The Times by Ruth Gledhill:RELIGIOUS belief can cause damage to a society, contributing towards high murder rates, abortion, sexual promiscuity and suicide, according to research published today.According to the study, belief in and worship of God are not only unnecessary for a healthy society but may actually contribute to social problems...Read

Prayer's effect on Health

2008-09-03T00:13:00.003-05:00

The world's largest study into the effects of prayer on patients undergoing heart surgery has found it appears to make no difference... read moreI find this study to be inconclusive... Please comment.

Evolution Comic

2008-08-19T22:56:00.000-05:00

Human Ears Evolved from Ancient Fish Gills

2008-08-18T20:27:00.003-05:00

Your ability to hear relies on a structure that got its start as a gill opening in fish, a new study reveals.Humans and other land animals have special bones in their ears that are crucial to hearing. Ancient fish used similar structures to breathe underwater.Scientists had thought the evolutionary change occurred after animals had established themselves on land, but a new look at an old fossil

JREF President, Phil Plait

2008-08-13T13:51:00.004-05:00

The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is pleased to announce that Dr. Philip Plait – renowned astronomer, author, and skeptic – will be taking on the role of President of the JREF effective immediately.The goals of the JREF are to bring critical thinking to the public, expose pseudoscientific frauds, and promote real science and rationality.“Phil is a skeptic, a scientist, and a colleague

Quick Survey

2008-08-12T16:22:00.003-05:00

Dear Everyone,I am conducting college research on "The Constructs and Efficacy of Positive Youth Development" and NEED YOUR HELP!!Please click on the link below to access the survey.http://corporatetrial.qualtrics.com//SE?SID=SV_6kRWPrqbytM0M9S&SVID=ProdSome Information You Should Know:ALL responses are anonymous. There is NO way to link you to your response!I need responses from High School

Celebrity Psychic Loses Lawsuit

2008-08-04T18:43:00.002-05:00

Here is an interesting article called Celeb Psychic Loses Lawsuit over Elvis' Former Home. Celebrity psychic Uri Geller and two partners have lost a federal lawsuit claiming the former owners of Elvis Presley's pre-Graceland house breached an eBay contract to sell the Memphis home.Geller, who gained fame in the 1970s for his alleged power to bend spoons and other objects with his mind, and his

Faith

2008-07-29T23:30:00.002-05:00

On tonight's news I saw a story about a woman who was hosting an assisted living home for older people who didn't want to be admitted to a home. She was talking about how they are all just barely surviving. Just as they were signing off they showed a clip of an elderly couple. They said they very little food for all of them and then she said, "I believe my husband and I are surviving because

Looking to Avoid Aggressive Drivers? Check Those Bumpers.

2008-06-20T06:22:00.002-05:00

Here is another interesting article about those who personalize their car with personalize bumper stickers and license plates. Looking to Avoid Aggressive Drivers? Check Those Bumpers looks at the correlation between accidents, aggressive driving tendencies and bumper stickers and/or personalized license plates.

Chiropractic Lawsuit

2008-06-18T00:24:00.004-05:00

I think this is a very interesting article written by Dr. Steven Novella. Titled Chiropractic Lawsuit it outlines a lawsuit filed by a woman against her Chiropractor for $500 million dollars! He states that depending on how this case plays out is "likely to have a dramatic effect on not only chiropractic but the regulation of non-science-based medical practitioners." I sure hope so. There

ADHD Genetics Sometimes Beneficial

2008-06-15T16:42:00.003-05:00

An article published by Scientific America entitled ADHD Genetics Sometimes Beneficial shows how evolution has favored genes that we might find inhibiting in our society. Check it out for yourself...

Science Debate 2008

2008-06-14T09:50:00.002-05:00

When I heard about Science Debate 2008 I was ecstatic! I have blogged about the lack of scientific and critical thinking of our population and our leaders before in my article The Sad Truth About US Ignorance, and now we are taking a stand to change it. The public debate between the Republican and Democratic nominees for President will be discussing issues relation to the environment, health

T R I S K A I D E K A P H O B I A

2008-06-13T06:22:00.005-05:00

Triskaidekaphobia = The fear of the number 13, specifically the fear of Friday the 13th Many people believe in the curse of Friday the 13th. Some will call in sick to work, while some will lie in bed all day afraid to eat, speak, or even use the bathroom. Here is the article posted on Snopes.com on Friday the 13th.You will hear many stories of awful things that have happened on this "dreadful"

Dr. Ben Goldacre, writter of "Bad Science"

2008-06-12T09:32:00.005-05:00

Here is another really great column which is written by Dr. Ben Goldacre who is a journalist from The Guardian Newspaper. He is a great skeptical writer who focuses on criticizing scientific inaccuracies, health scares, pseudoscience, and medical quackery. I find Dr. Ben Goldacre worthy of noting as one of our "Critical Thinkers on the Front Lines".He studied medicine at Magdalen College,

Snopes.com

2008-06-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

I have heard from many people about this website. Snopes.comThis is a great website for the "off-the-cuff" answers about rumors. It is an Urban Legends Reference Page. For the most part it sites it's sources and is scientifically accurate but some of the articles I have found myself doing more research on. Some of the claims of true I have found no definitive evidence for and, in my opinion,

Flooding Basements

2008-06-10T16:32:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry I haven't been updating lately. In my hometown we have recieved a lot of rain and I have been helping my neighbors clean up basements that have been flooded. Unfortunately my place of employment is closed for the remainder of the week so I will have plenty of time to make up for my lack of posts. It was an interesting experience this past week but everyone has gotten through it,

Are You Delusional?

2008-06-05T08:16:00.001-05:00

This is another video produced by the Why Won't God Heal Amputees website. It does a great job of creating many solid arguments for why religions are delusional. Based on the evidence religious texts are extremely historically inaccurate and are reduced to ridiculous myths. It covers the idea of religion as a whole from Mormons to Muslims to Christians.It is interesting how rationalizations

Nalgene Water Bottles give you Cancer?

2008-06-04T09:50:00.000-05:00

I woke up one Saturday morning to the sound of my sister trying to convince my parents of something over the kitchen table. She said that someone at her job claimed that if you heat up your Nalgene Bottle it could increase your risk of cancer after drinking from it. She noted that she has left her Nalgene in the car on a hot day many times and concluded that it was unsafe to drink from.