SGU Episode 287
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SGU Episode 287 |
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12th Jan 2011 |
(brief caption for the episode icon) |
Skeptical Rogues |
S: Steven Novella |
B: Bob Novella |
R: Rebecca Watson |
J: Jay Novella |
E: Evan Bernstein |
Guest |
P: Phil Plait |
Quote of the Week |
Reality has been around since long before you showed up. Don't go calling it nasty names like "bizarre" or "incredible". The universe was propagating complex amplitudes through configuration space for ten billion years before life ever emerged on Earth. Quantum physics is not "weird". You are weird. -Eliezer Yudkowsky |
Links |
Download Podcast |
SGU Podcast archive |
Forum Discussion |
Introduction
You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.
This Day in Skepticism (3:27)
S: Well before go on to some serious science news, Evan what is special about today?
News Items
Molten Exoplanet (4:57)
S: Phil tell us about the latest exciting exoplanet to be discovered.
BMJ Slams Wakefield (13:22)
S: Well, let's move on to some non-astronomy items.
Creationist Teacher Fired (28:52)
http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/freshwater-officially-fired-006408
S: Let's go on to another story about another man with dubious intentions.
Galactic Black Holes (40:15)
S: Before we leave the news items, Phil give us a quick story on this black hole
Who's That Noisy? (45:47)
S: Evan! Get us up to date on Who's that Noisy?
E: Yeah, why don't we play last weeks Who's that Noisy? Here we go.
R: Yeah, lets.
1: No, No, No! None of these books have a cure! Urh! There has to be a real reason for this. An illness! An allergy! 2: A curse. 1: I said a real reason. Something that points to something real. 2: How about this one? 1: Supernaturals? Spike, the word supernatural refers to things like ghosts and spirits and zombies. Which are as make-believe as curses.
E: Okay.
?: Except the zombies.
?: So who is that noisy.
R: I know who it is.
E: Alright Rebecca.
R: It's My Little Ponies. Only like the best toy ever.
E: That's Right.
R: Right? Right?
E: Exactly. That is right. That's exactly correct.
R: I had tons of My Little Ponies as a kid. And that's what made me a skeptic today.
S: I'm not shocked by that at all.
R: Not.. not actually true, but I did have a ton of My Little Ponies.
J: There was a My Little Ponies like cartoon?
R: Yeah.
E: Oh, There have been several Jay, there have been several.
R: It used to come on after Gummy Bears.
P: Wait, Gummy Bears was a show?
?: What is?
R: What? Come on. (singing) Gummy Bears bouncing here and there and ...
?: You just made that up.
R: No I swear to god. (singing)bouncing here and there and everywhere.
S: So what were they talking about in that little clip.
P: You know stuff and things with the stuff.
?: Basically the Gummy Bears are talking about how not to get eaten.
R: No.
S: No.
R: No, they're My Little Ponies.
?: Oh.
E: I did not watch, I did not watch the entire episode but the moral of the story was that the solution was in the... that going to look for a solution to a problem using a paranormal book is not a good thing to do. And thank you by the way to Adam from The Reality Check podcast who brought that to our attention.
?: Oh cool. Hey Adam.
S: Thanks Adam. Did anybody guess right?
E: Yeah, absolutely, some did get it right.
?: And her name was Rebecca Watson.
?: Rebecca
E: His name...
R: It was me.
E: Wolbertinger (ed: spelling?) from the message boards was the only one to guess correctly.
?: He should see a doctor about that.
E: He even got the name of the Pony: Twilight Sparkle.
?: Oh boy.
?: I'm sorry. Twilight Sparkle? Can they sue?
S: You like Twilight Sparkle?
P: Twilight Sparkly vampire.
?: So basically Evan, what you're saying Wolbertinger (ed: spelling?) wherever he is right now might be wearing a I love My Little Pony t-shirt, whatever that is.
E: The t-shirt actually reads "Everything I learned about skepticism, I learned from My Little Pony."
R: That is so true.
P: That's ridiculous because honestly everyone knows Hello Kitty is a lot better.
R: What? Get out of here.
E: Is Hello Kitty very skeptical?
R: No! Hello Kitty is just a cheap marketing ploy.
E: I'll take four.
P: Well, I've been put in my place.
R: My Little Ponies had content.
S: Stuff. Evan. Evan what do you've got for this week?
E: This week's Who's That Noisy.
(Noises)
P: It's David after dentist.
(Noises continue)
J: Evan look man.
E: Jay, that was for you.
J: I told you, no window lickers okay?
P: It's Kei$ha without auto-tuning.
?: You know guys...
E: That's a really good guess.
?: Something really weird and profound just happened to me.
S: Yeah.
?: I think I have finally merged with the Internet.
R: Really?
?: Because I know exactly what that is.
R: Are you Lawnmower Man? It that what this is?
?: More more Metro-Sexual Man.
E: I do predict one of our listeners, at least one of our listeners is going to get this one, so...
Your Questions and Emails (49:58)
S: Thanks Evan! Let's go on to a couple of Your Questions and Emails. This one by coincidence, total cosmic coincidence, not planned in any way.
Name That Logical Fallacy (57:25)
S: Well let's move on. We're going to do a name that logical fallacy.
Science or Fiction (1:08:04)
S: Well, let's go on to Science or Fiction.
Skeptical Quote of the Week (1:27:35)
S: We have a few very important announcements coming up but first ...
J: So this quote was sent in by Dex (ed: Spelling?)
S: ... we have a quote from Jay.
J:
Reality has been around since long before you showed up. Don't go calling it nasty names like "bizarre" or "incredible". The universe was propagating complex amplitudes through configuration space for ten billion years before life ever emerged on Earth. Quantum physics is not "weird". You are weird.
R: That's harsh.
J: Eliezer Yudkowsky
S: Eliezer Yudkowsky
E: Is that through your diggereedoo, Jay?
J: I'm not going to reveal my secrets.
Announcements (1:28:14)
S: A few uh a few important announcements.
Voice-over: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by SGU Productions, dedicated to promoting science and critical thinking. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at www.theskepticsguide.org. You can also check out our other podcast, The SGU 5x5, as well as find links to our blogs and the SGU forums. 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 leaving us a review on iTunes, Zune, or your portal of choice. 'Theorem' is performed by Kineto, and used with permission.
References