SGU Episode 124

Introduction
You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

Hucka-bee

 * www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1934276/posts www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=824 www.theness.com/articles.asp?id=41

Moonbeams in Arizona

 * news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071205/sc_nm/moonbeams_dc_1;_ylt=AlH2J7H2OnC8mRO1ARi_KooE1vAI

Chimps Smarter than Humans?

 * news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7124156.stm

Anti-vaccine propaganda on Youtube

 * www.physorg.com/news116082504.html

Stem Cell Con
"A friend is getting adult stem cells to help with his elderly father. He is desperate so I can understand his willingness to try anything. I included the website listing below. I am almost certain it is a scam. Someone is trying to replace supplements with these 'stem cell' pills. Not sure if it is any better. Just curious if there are any papers or sites that might provide a more educated look at this stuff? Are there stem cell vendors like this popping up all over the country? stemcell4wellness.org/product.html Richard Perceful USA  www.mlmwatch.org/04C/Stemtech/stemtech.html"

Information Theory
"Someone recently posted this on another forum I frequent. I'm curious to know if anyone else here has read it, and what you think about it. www.cosmicfingerprints.com/iidb.htm It was difficult to read some of it, because the entire time I was reading I envisioned this guy pointing a finger and screaming at me. Also, I searched before I posted it; I'm sorry if this topic has been covered before.  Channel Lox From the SGU Forums skepchick.org/skepticsguide/viewtopic.php?p=147177#147177"

Name That Logical Fallacy
"We humans must constantly be aware of the fallacy that 'correlation does mean causation'. Although I understand this fallacy, I'm not sure how the burden of proof is met. How do scientists prove causation? What burden of proof must one meet to satisfy skeptics and scientists? Brandon Putz Edwardsville, IL"
 * Logical Fallacies

Interview with Lawrence Krauss

 * www.phys.cwru.edu/~krauss/ www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/11/21/scicosmos121.xml&CMP=ILC-mostviewedbox  Director of the Center for Education and Research in Cosmology and Astrophysics at Case Western Reserve University  Author of many popular books including: Fear of Physics The Physics of Star Trek Beyond Star Trek Atom: An Odyssey from the Big Bang to Life on Earth...and Beyond Hiding in the Mirror: The Mysterious Allure of Extra Dimensions, from Plato to String Theory and Beyond

Science or Fiction
Question #1: Contrary to prior belief, new evidence suggests that southwestern American indians were not introduced to alcohol by Europeans but were fermenting beer from corn for centuries prior to contact. Question #2: New research shows that young adults who have a close relationship with their parents are actually more independent. Question #3: New evidence suggests that silicon-based life formed on earth prior to organic life and may have served as a template for the first organic cells.

Skeptical Puzzle
"This Week's Puzzle: A person does the following things: Tugs their ear Puts a pen in their mouth Passes gas Induces vomiting Pulls their tongue Simulates being drowned Presses a brass rod against their cheek  What are they trying to accomplish?   Last Week's puzzle:  An enemy of scientology And a used car salesman to boot He developed a strange philosophy Of which Zen mastery was the root  Self-taught with no formal degree He changed his name, and ran from home Gullible masses made him rich, you see He fled the country with money to roam   Answer: Werner Erhard Winner: Zam"

Quote of the Week
"'No amount of experiments can ever prove me right; a single experiment may at anytime prove me wrong.'- Albert Einstein"

== References ==