SGU Episode 142

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SGU Episode 142
April 9th 2008
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 141                      SGU 143
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
'De omnibus dubitandum.'All is to be doubted.
Rene Descartes
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

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

News Items ()

Report from The Skeptologists Shoot ()

• http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Skeptologists/11386967292
  Send supportive e-mail to: skeptologists@newrule.com
  
  
  

Psychic Crackdown in the EU ()

• http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/06/eu

LHC and the God Particle ()

• http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080407/sc_nm/science_particle_dc;_ylt=ApkehKM5X8pGTsYZLaMQqaYDW7oF
  
  
  

Monty Hall Revisited ()

• http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/08/science/08tier.html?_r=3&ref=science&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
  

Questions and E-mails ()

Sanskrit Incantations ()

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

Interview with Yau-Man Chan ()

• 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

Science or Fiction ()

Question #1: New research finds that naturally occurring trans-fats actually reduce risk factors for heart disease. Question #2: 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. Question #3: 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.

Quote of the Week ()

'De omnibus dubitandum.'All is to be doubted.- Rene Descartes

Announcements ()

• Announcements: Meeting with Randi in the UK
  http://skeptic.org.uk/randi/
  
  Boston Skeptics in the Pub
  http://www.theskepticsguide.org/sgublog/?p=184
  

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by the New England Skeptical Society in association with the James Randi Educational Foundation and skepchick.org. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at www.theskepticsguide.org. For questions, suggestions, and other feedback, please use the "Contact Us" form on the website, or send an email to info@theskepticsguide.org. If you enjoyed this episode, then please help us spread the word by voting for us on Digg, or leaving us a review on iTunes. You can find links to these sites and others through our homepage. 'Theorem' is produced by Kineto, and is used with permission.

References