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The Skeptics' Guide To The Universe - Podcast 142 - 4/9/2008
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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
142
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April 09, 2008
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Interview with Yau-Man Chan
News Items: Skeptologists Shoot Complete, UK Psychic crackdown, LHC and the God Particle, Monty Hall Problem in Research
Your Questions and E-mails: Cursing in Sanskrit
Science or Fiction
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Segment: News Items
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Segment: Questions and E-mails
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Sanskrit Incantations
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I think that the joking and laughing about what the Tantric was saying was a little misguided. To the western ear, it does indeed sound silly; however I believe that he was speaking Sanskrit, and his audience will have been very used to hearing the language spoken as it is widely used in Eastern religious (Hindu\Buddhist etc.) ceremonies*.
So even if it was just mumbo jumbo, it plays psychologically on his target audience. It's actually a piece of clever manipulation; think what would happen to a devout catholic if his priest cursed him in Latin (IIRC catholic mass is still said in Latin) and made it known that he was cursing in Latin; you'd get a similar effect to what he was trying to do there.
VJ
From the SGU Boards
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Segment: Interview
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Interview with Yau-Man Chan
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Yau-Man was one of the fan's favorite contestants on Survivor - partly due to the fact that he how brains can win out over brawn. He is also a cast member on the pilot episode of The Skeptologists
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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 research finds that naturally occurring trans-fats actually reduce risk factors for heart disease.
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Question #2  Fiction
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New DNA analysis shows that the first humans in North America, the Clovis, were not the ancestors of later American Indians and may have come from Northern Europe.
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Question #3 Science
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New NSF data shows that the supply of science, engineering, and health workers in the US is increasing, as are new graduates who also contain more than 50% women.
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Segment: Quote of the Week
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Quote
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"De omnibus dubitandum."
All is to be doubted.
- Rene Descartes
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Segment: Announcements
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