I'll save further comment until I've actually had time to listen to Kim Hill's interview with alternative nutrionalist Patrick Holford from Saturday's programme. It would be unfair of me to comment completely after listening to less than 10 minutes of the bollocks.
Thankfully the Holford Watch website are on to it and have provided some thoughtful analysis of this man (who's thoughts on HIV and autism, amongst other things, are way out of the mainstream).
If you can bear to listen to it, here's a link to the Radio New Zealand website for the day in question so you can download it.
As an aside, this is the first time I've really felt a real part of the skeptical community. I want to thank The Skeptic Zone's Kylie Sturgess for getting the links to me in the first place - I obviously need to improve my New Zealand skeptical digging.
Dr Rachie (Rachael Dunlop) then tweeted about it, saying if she may try and critique the part of the interview which deals with her specialist area. I won't hold her to that because I'm not sure how anyone involved in The Skeptic Zone finds time for anything. I must ask them all for time management tips.
But the positive thing for me is the fact that there are so many tools which can mobilise the skeptical community quickly. It really is a privilege to live in the technological era.
As per Kylie's suggestion, I forwarded the links to NZ Skeptics and I'm now waiting to see if they will make any response. NOTE: Added April 28 - No response from NZ Skeptics, not even an acknowledgement of the e-mail. Disappointed.
(As of now, I'll just do normal hat-tips for anyone who sends me links, but I felt the first time deserved special comment.)
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
A NZ newspaper article against pseudoscience?
Apologies for the lack of updates. I get pretty severe depression and it takes it toll. Thankfully watching '30 Rock' and taking prescribed drugs helps and so I'm back on my feet. Funnily enough, I"m not taking any homeopathic remedies like these guys suggest.
And talking about homeopathy. . .
I was surprised (and delighted) to see this Guardian article on the demise of complementary medicine courses in UK universities being reprinted in today's Sunday Star Times.
Unfortunately the Sunday Star Times has often been on the wrong side of the pseudoscience debate, with past features on television psychics and the like, so it's nice to see a pro-science article featured heavily.
Hopefully this is a positive sign for the future, and BSc degrees (like I have) can once again become a bastion of science rather than pseudoscience.
But I won't hold my breath - water homeopathy solutions are available in most of the pharmacies I've visited in New Zealand. A friend was even recommended a homeopathic remedy for a broken neck (not by a pharmacist, thankfully!).
And finally, I had a recent door-knock from the local Jehovah's Witnesses. Standing with by straggly beard and Iron Maiden t-shirt I obviously looked right for saving. When I told them I was an atheist, the lead wanted to know why. So I told her. I was rather surprised when she told me a growing number of scientists agreed that the order in the world demanded a designer to explain it.
'Not any credible ones,' I suggested and politely bade them farewell.
And talking about homeopathy. . .
I was surprised (and delighted) to see this Guardian article on the demise of complementary medicine courses in UK universities being reprinted in today's Sunday Star Times.
Unfortunately the Sunday Star Times has often been on the wrong side of the pseudoscience debate, with past features on television psychics and the like, so it's nice to see a pro-science article featured heavily.
Hopefully this is a positive sign for the future, and BSc degrees (like I have) can once again become a bastion of science rather than pseudoscience.
But I won't hold my breath - water homeopathy solutions are available in most of the pharmacies I've visited in New Zealand. A friend was even recommended a homeopathic remedy for a broken neck (not by a pharmacist, thankfully!).
And finally, I had a recent door-knock from the local Jehovah's Witnesses. Standing with by straggly beard and Iron Maiden t-shirt I obviously looked right for saving. When I told them I was an atheist, the lead wanted to know why. So I told her. I was rather surprised when she told me a growing number of scientists agreed that the order in the world demanded a designer to explain it.
'Not any credible ones,' I suggested and politely bade them farewell.
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