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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 114 - 9/27/2007
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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, LLC - dedicated to promoting critical thinking, reason, and the public understanding of science through online and other media. The first episode of the SGU podcast went online on May 4th, 2005. It soon became a popular science/skeptical podcast, and remains one of the most popular science podcasts on iTunes.
SGU Podcasting Awards: SGU on XM: You can listen to the SGU on America's Talk XM 166 every Saturday night from 8-9pm Eastern.
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Podcast
114
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September 27, 2007
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Interview with Richard Saunders; News Items: Rebecca Wins, New Acupuncture Study, Academic Free Speech, Boy Survives Jet Ride; Your Questions and E-mails: Smart Sex, Colloidal Silver; Randi Speaks - Faith Healers; Science or Fiction; Skeptical Puzzle
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Segment: News Items
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Segment: Questions and E-mails
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Smart Sex
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Let me begin by saying I love the podcast, in fact it's the only podcast I download and listen to every week. My girlfriend and I watched the new television show Manswers on the Spike network. This show claims to, "answer the most important questions to guys." http://www.ifilm.com/video/2896400
The featured question was whether party girls, athletic girls or smart girls are better in bed. Unfortunately I can't find anything along the lines of citation so I can't confirm if what they claimed is true, however there was a doctor discussing a study. In this study it was determined party girls generally think all they have to do is show up for sex and their job is done, athletic generally view sex as a recreational and competitive activity, and smart girls are generally more comfortable with their sexuality and ultimately better in bed.
I am sorry to ask you to open this veritable Pandora's Box of more worship and attempted wooing of the lovely and intelligent Rebecca Watson, but I was wondering if you had any knowledge of this or other studies done like this. Plus I thought it was something all of you, especially Rebecca, would enjoy hearing and it gives me hope for the future when a network boasting it's, "The First Network for Men," comes right out and tells men intelligent women are more desirable.
Bruce Botelho Jr.
RI, U.S.A.
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Colloidal Snake Oil
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Hello Skeptical team
Love the show and your 'cut to the quick' approach to questions.
I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on the practice of taking colloidal minerals as a dietary suppliment with its, reportedly, extensive health benefits (reference the site below for background information).
http://www.tjclark.com.au/library.htm
I also confess that I have been a regular consumer of these minerals so at worst if you burst my bubble you will also save me some money.
Regards
Ian Byrne
Sydney Australia
Howdy. Firstly let me say that you guys rock. I have listened to all your pod casts now and have linked to a lot of other great ones through your recommendations. CHEERS!
I have recently voiced my concerns about a supplement leaflet being distributed around my city to local government and the dept. of medicine here in NZ and I'm yet to hear back... I'd also like your guys thoughts on this quackery.
The leaflet is advertising a "natural" supplement called Colloidal Silver. The statements on the leaflet are advertising the healing properties as being Silver dispersed in liquid and that because of modern farming practices normal levels of this element in the soil are being depleted i.e. vegetables and fruits are lacking in this element... and so (the information says) we need to boost our levels by taking this supplement.
The leaflet claims that Colloidal Silver will heal over 70 different afflictions including Bladder infections, Diabetes, Meningitis, Pneumonia and Cancer! (Skin and Leukemia).
If this is true I would be thrilled (and amazed!) that finally someone has found a cure for cancer AND all these other causes of human suffering in one simple substance.
I've done a small amount of research myself on this product and found that it has been shown during tests to have no efficacy at all and that Long-term use of silver preparations can lead to a condition called argyria. (Stephen Barrett, M.D.) http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/silverad.html
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloidal_silver
I am very concerned that people who are looking for help will take this information as fact and waste money on this product or cause harm to them selves.
Thanks again!..
Warren Mahy
New Zealand
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Segment: Interview
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Segment: Randi Speaks
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Faith Healers
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The Uncompromising Observations of a Veteran Skeptic
James Randi returns to give his skeptical commentary in his own unique style.
This week's topic: Faith Healers
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Segment: Science or Fiction [ Click Here to Show the Answers ]
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Question #1  Science
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New study shows that women with anorexia nervosa actually experience the taste of food differently than normal controls.
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Question #2 Science
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A computer model demonstrates how tolls can actually decrease travel time for drivers.
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Question #3  Fiction
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Researchers have developed a device that uses stem cells to identify terrorists in crowded public locations, such as airports.
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Segment: Skeptical Puzzle
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Puzzle
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A scientist worth $10.64 believed he discovered it.
And he claimed it was faster than Hermes.
But despite Poseidon's discovery, it could not be found the same way
In the end, a scientist worth $1.23 proved the first scientist was wrong
What was it?
Winner: Rogue Combine and Kevin
Answer: Vulcan
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Segment: Quote of the Week
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Quote
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Quote of the Week
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“To know the history of science is to recognize the mortality of any claim to universal truth.” - Evelyn Fox Keller
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