This Week In Doubtful News
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- Written by Sharon Hill
- Category: Swift
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Here is a rundown of the top stories in oddities and paranormal news from the past week courtesy of Doubtful News.
It was a busy, busy news week as Hurricane Sandy and Halloween dominated the weird news feeds.
As the hurricane hit New Jersey and New York, the news feeds exploded with rumors and fake photos.
A Twitter troll added to the confusion and panic for reporters.
What You Can Do to Fight Woo
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- Written by Carrie Poppy
- Category: Uncategorised
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Every morning, I sit back at the breakfast table, crack open my newspaper, and think, "Man, there is a lot of nonsense out there." Or sometimes, "Really? I'm still buying paper newspapers? What is this, 2002?" In any case, the media is always full of ill-supported claims, from house hauntings to aura cleansing to UFO sightings. And these last couple of weeks have been no different. But what can you do to combat this nonsense in the media and around the world? Well, I'm glad you asked. Here are a few ways you can turn a media mess into a skeptical success.
American Homeopath Peddles Fake Medicine in Haiti
What's Happening: News came out this week of a Massachusetts woman who has been working with the organization Homeopaths without Borders to teach locals in Haiti how to use homeopathy to allegedly treat various ailments, from headaches and acid reflux, to eye problems and severe anemia. As regular readers of randi.org know, homeopathy is, by definition, not medicine. Homeopathic remedies contain no active ingredients, and their use may delay a patient seeking real treatment, sometimes with dire consequences.
What You Can Do: Write a letter to the editor at fosters.com, and tell your fellow readers why it is dangerous for organizations like Homeopaths without Borders to promote fake medicine where people are most in need. Be brief and to the point. Be sure to reference the article, "Mass. woman helps promote homeopathy in Haiti."
Ice Loves Coco and Coco Talks to Dogs
What's Happening: Pop culture icon Ice T and his wife are enjoying their third season of Ice Loves Coco on E! and this week, Mrs. T revealed that she has psychic abilities which allow her to wordlessly communicate with dogs (video at the link). Her baffled husband offers her some pretty good advice: "These conversations you have with me, like this; don't have them with other people." Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle! Here I thought dogs mostly communicated through barks and the affectionate leg hump, when all this time, I should have been sending my mutts concentrated brain waves.
What You Can Do: Tweet at Coco and encourage her to take the JREF's Million Dollar Challenge, to demonstrate her ability to communicate with non-human animals. With a million extra dollars, she can pocket the cash or give it to the charity of her choice. Be sure to tag us @jref, and as always, be polite.
Superstorm Sandy Victims Deal with Devastation
What's Happening: Unfortunately, this story is not a tale of superstition. The hurricane which ripped through the east coast has left 185 dead, more injured, and totaled at least $20 billion in damage. And now some of the victims are preparing for another storm.
What You Can Do: Show your support for the victims, and promote critical thinking by wearing a Disaster Relief Placebo Band (which turns the "Power Balnce" band on its head). For each disaster relief Placebo Band sold, $2 goes to Hurricane Sandy disaster relief, and for every watch sold, $5 is donated to the cause. Get yours here.
Want to do more to fight woo in your area? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to get started doing skeptical activism in your home town.
Carrie Poppy is the director of communications at the James Randi Educational Foundation, and a regular contributor to Randi.org.
Last Week At Science-Based Medicine
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- Written by Dr. Harriet Hall
- Category: Swift
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Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo in medicine.
NIH funds training in behavioral intervention to slow progression of cancer by improving the immune system (James Coyne) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/nih-funds-training-in-behavioral-intervention-to-slow-progression-of-cancer/ The NIH is funding training in psychoneuroimmunological interventions for cancer, questionable treatments based on flawed studies. This highlights the pseudoscience and heavy-handed politics in this field. There is no credible evidence that any psychosocial intervention reduces risk of cancer recurrence or improves survival.
Andrew Weil/AAFP Article Rejected by Slate (Harriet Hall) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/andrew-weilaafp-article-rejected-by-slate/ Slate magazine asked Dr. Hall to write an article criticizing the selection of Andrew Weil as keynote speaker for the American Academy of Family Physicians scientific assembly (akin to asking an astrologer to speak at an astronomy meeting). The text of that article is presented, followed by an account of the editorial concerns that led to its rejection.
"Mommy Instinct" Continues to Trump Science
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- Written by Dr. Steven Novella
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Jenny McCarthy continues to do her best to exploit what celebrity she has to confuse the public about autism. ABC News, for some unfathomable reason, has decided to write a gushing and credulous piece about McCarthy's latest attempt to practice medicine on her son.
The article relates how McCarthy's life changed when her son, Evan, had his first seizure, leading to a diagnosis of autism. This led to the standard narrative we hear over and over from proponents of dubious treatments - McCarthy would not give up and accept the defeatist attitude of those know-it-all doctors, and she eventually found treatment...and hope.
New Videos from the Amaz!ng Meeting 2012: Lyz Liddell and Christopher DiCarlo
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- Written by JREF Staff
- Category: Latest JREF News
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If you missed The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012, you can still catch great talks, panels, and workshops on science and skepticism given live at TAM 2012 on our YouTube page. Today, we are happy to share two more inspiring talks.
Lyz Liddell - "Unstoppable Secular Students"
Lyz Liddell of the Secular Student Alliance discusses her work helping young people promote their reason-based values on campus.
Christopher DiCarlo - "How to Become a Really Good Pain in the Ass"
Author Christopher DiCarlo discusses how to frame your rational ideas so you can communicate them more effectively.
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