Near death experiences always seem start out the same way — there was a tunnel, then a light…
Paranormalists often point to the commonalities of near death and out-of-body experiences as evidence of the proof of an afterlife or astral projection. Turns out there is a more mundane — though fascinating — explanation. These experiences are [...]
Archive for the ‘Skeptic’ Category
Near Death Experiences not paranormal, just a wiring issue
October 8th, 2009
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UPDATE: Cancelled! One Month Only: The $100 Psychic Challenge!
October 1st, 2009
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I have in my grubby little hands a slip of paper that could grant your favorite charitable organization $100.
Last night, I did the somewhat unthinkable (or at least, unreasonable) for a self-avowed skeptic: I bought a Powerball ticket. I lost, of course, as do the vast, vast majority of people who buy these tickets. [...]
And Louie, Louie Gets Me Hot Just Thinking about It
February 24th, 2009
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Interesting press release in my morning Eurekalert! feed
In an article published in the April 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers found that teenagers who preferred popular songs with degrading sexual references were more likely to engage in intercourse or in pre-coital activities.
Already, with the euphemisms. What are pre-coital activities? Heavy petting? [...]
To Uninspire a Nation
January 17th, 2009
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The Constitution Center in Philly is asking people to come up with six words that Pres. Obama should add to his inaugural address. Mr. Obama will face a crowd of millions, with tens — if not hundreds — of millions more watching on TV, and apparently the Center thought he could use some help…and they [...]
Everything you know about acupuncture is wrong
October 21st, 2008
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While I’m in the skeptical mood, a nice post from Steve Novella of the New England Skeptical Societ y Harriet Hall:
“Alternative” medicine is by definition medicine that has not been scientifically proven and has not been accepted into mainstream scientific medicine. The question I keep hearing is, “But what about acupuncture? It’s been proven to [...]
A Very Necessary Primer on How to Read Health Science Studies Or, at Least, Reports On Health Science Studies
September 30th, 2008
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…in the New York Times today.
I like the lede here, comparing how scientists view their own research versus, oh, say, Frankie Avalon shilling for vitamin supplements:
Then came three large, rigorous clinical trials that randomly assigned people to take beta carotene pills or a placebo. And the beta carotene hypothesis crumbled. The trials concluded that not [...]
And now it has officially gone to far…
September 15th, 2008
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Large Hadron Collider hysteria is funny, to a point. I mean, the notion that physicists are a hair away from destroying existence is kind of cool. The notion that all of this nonsense is being pushed by a misguided — albeit earnest — nut. (Aside: I don’t think its fair to deride Walter Wagner because [...]
Tierney’s top 10 things you oughtn’t worry about
July 29th, 2008
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In today’s NYTimes, John Tierney stirs up trouble with a list of popular scaremongering tactics you shouldn’t really be concerned about. Hysteria sells politics and papers.
Tierney’s fun and often polarizing. His blog is fun to follow, especially the comments.
A quick response:
1: Killer hot dogs. I wasn’t worried.
2: AC in the car. I’ve had this [...]
Set the alert status to Bizarre!
July 14th, 2008
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British UFO sightings at ‘bizarre’ levels
That seems appropriate. I would expect bizarre levels of UFO sightings.
I’d quote from the article, but there’s not much “there” there. Same old, actually. Lights in the sky, etc.
UPDATE: Revenge of the h1 tag (in my browser, at least). Looks kinda cool though.
Strict standards for ghost hunters
July 12th, 2008
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Ghost hunters wanted, skeptics, exorcists or ghost baiters need not apply. Must be willing to misuse cool-sounding gadgets * in a gross parody of science.
Nearly all of the groups require people to fill out applications to join. No one interested in exorcising, or even taunting, the spirits need apply.
Former police officer Curt House said he [...]
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