Last Week at Science-Based Medicine
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- Written by Harriet Hall, MD (The SkepDoc)
- Category: Newsflash
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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.
Sales of “Boobquake” T-shirts Support Real Quake Relief and the JREF
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- Written by Michael Blanford
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 13866
“Boobquake” is the clever idea of blogger Jen McCreight of Blag Hag. It was born after hearing the claim of an Iranian cleric that “women and girls who don't dress appropriately increase promiscuity in society, when promiscuity spreads, earthquakes increase."
McCreight proposed that April 26th would be declared “Boobquake” and suggested that women wear cleavage-exposing tops in order to test the claim. Surely, if the cleric was correct, the combined supernatural power of all of this immodesty would result in a powerful earthquake.
“Boobquake” is more than just an experiment. By purchasing related t-shirts, you can support international earthquake relief, as well as educational programs focused on the dangers of pseudoscience and the supernatural. 100% of the profits generated by t-shirt sales will be donated to the James Randi Educational Foundation and the Red Cross.
Visit Blag Hag to learn more about “Boobquake 2010” or purchase your commemorative t-shirt and support the work of JREF and the Red Cross here.
Randi on Strange Frequencies Radio
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- Written by Michael Blanford
- Category: Uncategorised
- Hits: 11398
Jenny McCarthy, Doing Time
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- Written by Sean Sturgeon
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 15147
Opinions are like teeth. Most of us have a mouth full of them, and some are prone to rot.
An opinion is merely an opinion. Without some underlying fact, even the most reasonable assertions of belief — such as: “Jet airplanes are powered by Bette Midler songs!” — are just so many words and have very little value. An oft quoted corollary of this — one you usually hear just before losing an argument — is that while you are entitled to your own opinion, you are not entitled to your own facts. There is some disagreement about who originated the axiom, but whoever it was never took the time to explain things to Jenny McCarthy.
Of Cats and Causation
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- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 10784
I was playing a card game with my grandmother and my girlfriend, many years ago. The game is called "Frustration," and it involves laying down a large number of cards on the table from time to time. My grandmother had a cat named "Misty," who I believe was named by someone fluent in German. Misty liked to be where the action was, and would often jump up on the table and wander from person to person, looking for attention.
After a particularly long round, I laid down my cards. Just then, Misty hopped up on the table and faced my girlfriend, with her tail gently swishing over my carefully organized cards. I gave her a gentle tug on her tail. And with an alleycat yowl she lashed out at my girlfriend, narrowly missing a cheek with her furniture-shredding talons. I had apparently tugged a bit too hard for Misty's liking, and Misty punished the wrong person. My girlfriend, surprised, lashed back - swatting the cat and sending her scurrying. The cat avoided my girlfriend ever after, fearing another unprovoked tug and smack.
Why did this happen?
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