Your Deceptive Brain

Details: Written by Dr. Steven Novella; Category: Swift; Published: 30 June 2012; Created: 30 June 2012; Hits: 13138

TAM is coming up, and in addition to the usual presentations I take part in, such as live recordings of the SGU and a science-based medicine panel and workshop, I will be giving an individual lecture on the various ways in which your brain can deceive you, which is to say, itself. The lecture is based on my Teaching Company course - Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills. (I thought it was going to be "your deceptive brain, which I think is better, but they opted for "mind".)

For me this is the absolute core of skepticism. Love of science and scientific literacy is, of course, also central to scientific skepticism, but knowledge of self-deception is what separates skepticism from just being a fan of science.

Keep Up with TAM 2012 Online and on the Go

Details: Written by JREF Staff; Category: Latest JREF News; Published: 29 June 2012; Created: 29 June 2012; Hits: 5281

The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012 is less than two weeks away, and the schedule is jam-packed with dozens of exciting speakers, panelists, and workshop presenters. Thanks to the tireless efforts of JREF research fellow Tim Farley, you can now keep up with everything TAM has to offer on your smartphone or computer through Lanyrd.

Available as an iPhone app, open web app, or straight from your browser, the TAM 2012 Lanyrd site allows you to browse our conference schedule and speaker list no matter where you are. Plus, you can sign in with your Twitter account and interact with your fellow attendees. You can even export the schedule to your favorite calendar app, so you can be sure not to miss a thing!

Big thanks also to Travis Roy for creating a shared Google Calendar of the TAM 2012 schedule. It's available in XML, iCal, and HTML.

Please, take advantage of these free tools, and we can't wait to see you in Vegas!

(If you haven't registered for TAM 2012 yet, there's still time! Click here to make sure you don't miss out!)

Skeptic History: A Tale of Two Scientists, Redux

Details: Written by Tim Farley; Category: Swift; Published: 29 June 2012; Created: 29 June 2012; Hits: 12059

The stories behind momentous scientific discoveries are always of interest to skeptics. This is because promoters of pseudoscience often claim to be breaking new ground, and invoke the names of scientists like Galileo or Einstein who had to defend their breakthrough ideas.

Of course, all scientists must defend their ideas with, among other things, data. In a sequel to a post from back in November, I have here a tale of two scientists, both born in the 19th century, both during the month of July, who both made discoveries that were initially rejected.

In two weeks...

Details: Written by D.J. Grothe; Category: Newsflash; Published: 28 June 2012; Created: 28 June 2012; Hits: 8763

July 12-15, 2012 | South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa | Las Vegas, NV

The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM), the world’s largest celebration of science, skepticism and critical thinking, is just two weeks away. With well over one thousand skeptics already signed up, if you haven’t reserved your spot yet, now’s the time!

Register by July 1 and Save $125 »

Call (213) 293-3092 to register by phone.

Check out the the full schedule online. We have an AMAZ!NG lineup of exciting talks, panels and workshops, with brilliant speakers like Penn & Teller, Carol Tavris, Lawrence Krauss, Pamela Gay and Randi himself.

Talk topics include "The Moral Arc of Science," "The Future and Nothing," "Techno-optimism vs. Reality," "The Self Illusion," "Ignorance: How It Drives Science," and many, many more!

TAM is a full four-day skeptical immersion experience, from early morning to after midnight each night, debating, discussing and celebrating skepticism and its goals.

Long Island Medium: A Tall Story

Details: Written by Dr. Karen Stollznow; Category: Swift; Published: 27 June 2012; Created: 27 June 2012; Hits: 261191

Theresa Caputo is the winner of the 2012 Pigasus Award for Performance. But she is better known as the Long Island Medium, which is also the title of her reality TV show aired on the ‘Learning’ Channel (TLC). Like Sylvia Browne, John Edward, James van Praagh and many others before her, Caputo is yet another psychic medium who claims to be able to talk to the dead, and while she has artificial talons like Sylvia Browne, her blond helmet hair, jewelry and tan are all fake too. When it’s eventually axed, there will probably be room for the cast on Jersey Shore.

According to TV executives, psychic mediums shows are passé, so they are looking for new ways to present the paranormal. In accordance with this new formula, Long island Medium showcases Caputo’s rambunctious personality and also features her family. We watch her daughter learn to drive, and her husband getting a new tattoo, but with a twist. Caputo can’t grab a morning coffee or shop for groceries without providing spontaneous readings to strangers along the way.

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