Wombatwal's Ramblings.

Climate Gate

2012-02-06T18:42:00.000+11:00

Those hacked British emails that allegedly shows a climate conspiracy by scientists.
See these videos.

Are they Global Warming Hoaxers

2012-02-06T18:18:00.000+11:00

Are these people, scientists on this video all part of a hoax a conspiracy to pull the wool over our eyes about global warming. For what?? Have their grants continue? What else.
Do you believe the climate deniers?

More on Monckton and Others

2012-02-04T23:45:00.002+11:00

Here is another YouTube video about Monckton, Alan Jones, the Galileo Organisation plus others.
It makes for very interesting listening.
It goes for 48 minutes and well worth the listening..
I think the video is from an ABC show. You know the Pinko, Leso, Poffo, Commo organisation that misinforms us on radio and TV.

The bits that I thought were interesting was when Jo Nova a scientist with Alan Jone's Galileo organisation said that peer reviewed science was broken and science should now be debated by the general public and they should then make their minds up. Even me who did not finish high school knows that this is BULLSHIT. This is coming from a scientist on Alan Jone's Galileo organisation.

Lord uphimself Monckton said that he has a cure for AIDS, Malaria, MS and has to run clinical trials. He was very evasive when questioned on this, but did not deny it. WOW, what a man, medical science is really going to stand up and take notice of him now. Do you think?

Christopher Monckton talking to Australian Mining Moguls

2012-02-04T19:55:00.001+11:00

Here is Lord uphimself Monckton talking in July last year, climate-denialist Christopher Monckton advised mining industry insiders to create a US-style Fox News channel in Australia, supported by the "super wealthy" in order to provide supportive coverage for the mining industry. The video, filmed in the boardrooms of pro-mining organisation Mannkal Economic Education Foundation, shows Mr Monckton offering to work with commentators such as Andrew Bolt to establish the channel.

Make up your own mind if this is a good thing or not.

When Pseudoscience Kills

2012-01-30T07:35:00.000+11:00

I am linking to a topic written on the James Randi Education Foundation (JREF) forum.
This is about a woman at a personal-development seminar called Dying in Consciousness, she was covered with mud, wrapped in plastic, put under blankets and immobilized with her head in a cardboard boxe for about nine hours, under instructions to hyperventilate. This happened in Canada recently.
The woman died by being cooked.
Below is a link to the story.
Written by Dr. Steven Novella When Pseudoscience Kills.
The unfortunate thing is that these people that are running the course have no idea about basic science of how people regulate their temperature. Their ignorance is confounded by the people that attend these new agey, pseudo science courses, who have no idea about basic science as well.
Don't put your health in the hands of pseudo science.

Global Warming & Climate Change Myths

2012-01-24T22:08:00.000+11:00

If you have ever been confounded by the toing and froing between science and the climate science deniers, well here is a guide to maybe make things clearer.
Skeptical Science and "Global Warming & Climate Change Myths".
Click on the blue writing about what science says for an explanation and unfortunately some further toing and froing.

More Noalition NBN Bullshit Busting

2012-01-19T18:27:00.000+11:00

Here is some more Noalition bullshit busting.
NBN Bullshit Busting.
From the linked article.

Shadow Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has claimed it is a "charade" that the NBN is kept off budget. The government, in response, has always argued that the NBN is not an expense to the government, because ultimately the project will be paid back to government, with a commercial rate of return estimated at around 7 per cent.

The NBN is an asset not an expense.
Background note. The national broadband network and the federalgovernment budget statements, a PDF from the Parliamentary Library.
When will the media start asking the hard questions of the Noalition on the NBN. Questioning their assertions against the NBN and challenging what they say they want to do?

Update to "Fighting the NBN Bullshit".

2012-01-17T06:27:00.000+11:00

It seems that the article by Piers Ackerman on the 4/1/12 has been pulled by the Daily terror.
It seems that possibly this piece is even too inaccurate for the Daily Terror.
I did not think they had any morals, ha, ha.

Fighting the NBN Bullshit

2012-01-16T21:15:00.000+11:00

This is from Delimiter, an online technology magazine.
From Delimiter,

Over the past several weeks, several prominent newspaper commentators have published a number of factual inaccuracies with respect to the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network project. With the aim of informing good public policy debate, it seems appropriate to try and correct the record.

It starts out talking of the Daily Telegraph commentator Piers Akerman.
From his opinionated article that was published in the Daily ~~Terror~~ Telegraph on the 4th January.
They have signaled out a number of things in his piece and bullshit busted them.
The things that Akerman said are below.

The NBN is the most expensive piece of infrastructure ever committed to by the nation and is on track to be the greatest ever economic disaster any government has ever created.

Only 4000 homes have been connected to the fibre optic cable so far at a cost of more than $1 billion … NBN’s own projection for 2011 were 35,000 connections. That is a huge discrepancy and a massive failure to deliver.

Everything about the NBN is dodgy.

The creation of the NBN Co was itself a demonstration of Labor’s lack of administrative skills and ineptitude with no background checks conducted on the men who have been handed a blank cheque drawn on the taxpayers of the nation.

Below is from Dean Jaensch, a political science academic and commentator for The Advertiser in Adelaide.

The roll-out is miles behind what NBN Co set as a target. It promised 35,000 connections by mid-2011. By the end of 2011, the NBN Co spin-doctors proudly announced that they had connected 12 per cent of the target.

We did not even have the opportunity to closely examine a prospectus before we decided to invest. The Government can claim that its mandate to inaugurate the NBN was based on the 2010 election result.

But it would be a good idea to let the public learn and understand what is going on in the finances and productivity of a company that they, not the Government, own and will pay for. Secrecy is not the best way to win support.

This low productivity has the potential to be interpreted as another policy failure coming up.

Now go to the Delimiter article to see the Bullshit Busting.

RightWing.org video 2012 Prediction

2012-01-07T09:52:00.002+11:00

Have a look at this video from RightWingWatch.org
An evangelical preacher Pat Robertson waffles on about getting a message from god telling him the winner of the next Presidential Elections in the USA.
He says that he is not allowed to tell us the winner. What a juvenile jerk he is.
He is of course railing against Barack Obama.
Here is a newspaper article about this.
TheAtlantic
Who takes this stuff seriously?

The Pharmacy Guild and Blackmores

2012-01-01T22:43:00.002+11:00

The Pharmacy Guild was "in bed" with Blackmores, the Alternative/Complementary drug company last year 2011.
Information for this blog obtained here at The Skeptic Magazine.
Read more at the above link.
They decided to "push" complementary medicines when people arrived at their pharmacy with a script for these four types of medicines.
Antihypertensives, they were going to "push" zinc supplements.
Statins (cholesterol lowering drugs), they were going to "push" Co-enzyme Q10, for muscle pain.
Proton Pump inhibitors (for the treatment of gastric reflux), they were going to "push" Magnesium supplements, long term PPI use may cause Magnesium depletion.
Antibiotics, Probiotics for diarrhoea that may happen due to antibiotic use.
Luckily opposition to this started as soon as the Pharmacy Guild announced the agreement. It was fortunately shelved due to the lack of evidence for any of the "pushed" Blackmore "drugs" being of any use and not having any benefit.
Pharmacy Guild's attitude to CAMs (Complementary and Alternative Medicine).
Money to me obviously has gotten in the way in many pharmacies at the detriment of good science.

Daily Telegraph found bullshitting about NBN

2011-12-23T20:39:00.001+11:00

The Australian Press Council has found that the Daily Telegraph within a short period of time had three articles on the same theme about the NBN contained inaccurate or misleading assertions. It considers that this sequence of errors should not have occurred and that they should have been corrected promptly and adequately when brought to the newspaper’s attention.

This is typical of the bullshit from the Murdoch press about the NBN.
Below is a link to the Press Council findings.
Australian Press Council finding.

Tony Abbott and Asylum Seeker Boats.

2011-12-23T06:53:00.000+11:00

Well, Dr. No is still saying NO, when it comes to the arrival of the asylum seeker boats.
What a surprise.
It is obvious he is not interested in talking and maybe some compromise that politics is generally about.
How disingenuous is he when he said he wanted something concrete from the Government before he would talk.
Now that labor have compromised, Dr No says NO.
No wonder the Independents did not go with him last year.

Coalitions Broadband Policy

2011-12-20T06:15:00.001+11:00

This is from the Liberal Parties website under Broadband and Telecommunications Policy
http://www.liberal.org.au/~/media/Fi...%20Policy.ashx

Quote:

Australians need fast, reliable and affordable broadband services – delivered over an affordable highspeed broadband network using the best mix of optical fibre, wireless, DSL and satellite technologies.
The Coalition’s plan will deliver a uniform national broadband network, under which 97 percent of premises are able to be served by high speed networks capable of delivering from 100 Mbps down to a minimum of 12 Mbps peak speed, using a combination of technologies including HFC, DSL and fixed wireless.
This will help businesses to be more productive, reduce costs, reach more customers here and overseas and employ more Australians. It will help families with access to education, information and medical
services.

Keeping the HFC and DSL networks will only entrench Telstra's and to a lesser extent Optus monopoly.
I don't know how they are going to negotiate with Telstra so they can use their copper and HFC networks, maybe by magic. Telstra will have the conservatives by the short and curlies forever if they try and negotiate a deal to use their networks.

Continuing from their policy

Quote:

Labor is heading down the wrong track. Its government owned and government run broadband network
will be a taxpayer funded ‘white elephant’ when it is completed in eight years time. It does nothing to
deliver lower prices. It just substitutes one monopoly for another. It gives no priority to those who do not
get an adequate service today. Under Labor’s plan Australians will be waiting up to eight years before
they see a change.

The monopoly they talk of is only in the wholesale side completely different to the current Telstra situation. Under their plan they want to keep the DSL and HFC networks. This is a bigger monopoly with Telstra owning the network and customers on a lot of the DSL network and Telstra and Optus owning all of the customers on the HFC network.
Continuing.

Quote:

Through these actions the Coalition will deliver uniform nationwide availability of high-speed
broadband so that by 2016 Australia achieves a national broadband baseline with 97 percent
of premises able to be served by high-speed networks, using a combination of technologies
including DSL, fixed wireless and other technologies such as Hybrid Fibre-Coaxial (HFC). We
will ensure that all such premises, wherever they are in Australia, are able to receive services at
prices comparable to those for similar services in metropolitan areas.

The old technologies that they are talking of here all suffer from bandwidth problems, the more using these old technologies the more congested and slow it becomes. Fibre Optics does not suffer from this if it is FTTH (Fibre To The Home).
They also talk of a uniform cost between rural and city. They are going to do this by giving taxpayers money forever to these internet providers to lower the cost in the rural areas. Good deal, hey.

No No No No Noalition

2011-12-19T18:52:00.001+11:00

I thought this video sums up the conservative coalition perfectly.

Abbott Cheered, Labor Jeered

2011-12-15T21:31:00.001+11:00

At the Murray Darling management public meeting in Griffith on the draft plan for the rationing of the flow down the river network.
Minister for the Environment and Water Tony Burke was jeered.
Tony Abbott the opposition leader was cheered by the irrigators when he took their side.
I wonder if Abbott will go to South Australia and say the same thing.
Here is an article in the "Adelaide Now" newspaper. An article by political editor Malcolm Farr.
Take note of the comments.
Has Abbott got the guts to say the same thing in South Australia?

Malcolm's Myths

2011-12-15T07:17:00.000+11:00

I came across this website on debunking the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) on the NBN.
FUD is what, unfortunately, Malcolm Turnbull is all about when talking on the NBN.
He is a lot better than this, but he obviously has to do the bidding of the attack dog, technological Neanderthal boss of his.
Malcolm's Myths

Malcolm Turnbull and Productivity Commission enquiry into the NBN

2011-12-12T09:38:00.003+11:00

Malcolm Turnbull's comments on the Productivity Commission’s probe into the National Broadband Network.
Malcolm Turnbulls comment
From the Crikey website below is a comment from Turnbulls comments. I thought this comment was very good and shows how the coalition is thinking, to bring cheap, fast and affordable broadband to Australia.

Which is incredible really, selling a dog that you know is infested with fleas and hasn’t been neutered and doesn’t carry a chip, and won’t go on a lead, and barks all night.
But that is what TA has Turnbull doing.
So let me get this straight. The Libs, through Turnbull, are complaining about a lack of competition in the NBN rollout, because the major supplier is acting like a monopoly supplier in terms of actually delivering infrastructure more cheaply than the private sector competitors can.
Not that they are charging like a monopoly supplier, in fact sometimes not charging at all for greenfield sites, but that they are effecting efficiencies that can only accrue to a government backed monopolistic supplier of crucial national infrastructure.
Because some supremely efficient private sector suppliers can’t do it for the same price, and this means that if they did all the supplying we might actually get, I don’t know, the cheapest possible way to roll-out some nation building infrastructure.
Sorry, what was the problem again, apart from it possibly being against some laws which even in the prosecuting fall over from the ridiculousness test?
Hold on, if the NBN roll all this out, it might lead to the NBN actually being really valuable, possibly even multiples of the costs in setting it up.
This is an outrage, Sir.
Whoever those NBN fatcat shareholders are should be ashamed of their good fortune. Why isn’t the government doing this?
D’oh!

Putting the Slipper in

2011-11-25T10:11:00.002+11:00

I have been a masochist this morning and listening to the toxic ravings of the conservative shock jocks on radio station 2GB this morning, plus the ravings of the people ringing in.
Of course this is all about putting Peter Slipper into the Speakers role in Federal Parliament.
Alan Jones and Ray Hadley are frothing at the mouth over Slipper. Hadley spoke to a local newspaper bloke in Slippers electorate talking of Slippers rorts.
These conservatives are pathetic. Where were they last week, last month, last year, 2 years ago outing Slipper. They were nowhere to be found. Of course they would not out a fellow conservative. Weak as water these conservatives. The Liberal party has only themselves to blame for all of this. Abbott should do the honourable thing and fall on his sword.
They are trying to blame Labor for all of this. Pathetic, they took hold of this dopiness by Abbott and used it to their political advantage, would you blame them.

Rally against Labor's Carbon Dioxide Tax

2011-08-21T08:59:00.001+10:00

      I see the convoys are gathering and heading to Canberra for a rally to get Labor out of power. They want an election of both houses of parliament. This is, as far as I can gather, is over the carbon tax.
      This convoy is very political and the roots of this started in August last year, when Abbott missed out on support of the Independents and Greens in the lower house.
The conservative air has been toxic ever since looking for a reason to get Labor out.
      I am all for demonstrations and letting the people have their say in a peaceful way mind you.
      I hope the people demonstrating realise that if they do manage to get the coalition in this year they will be faced with a bigger carbon tax under the coalition called "Direct Action".
This Direct Action pays billions of dollars of tax payers money to the big polluters every year.
      As has been pointed out that under Labors Carbon Tax of $23 per tonne, this will have to be increased as the years go on.
Under the coalition Direct Action. taxpayers billions will have to be increasing also over the years to get to the target that is the same as Labor's target.
      It is unfortunate that a level playing field in the media is not happening. That is Labor and Coalition policies compared side by side in a non hysterical environment.
      Commentary in the media is lacking I am afraid. I would like a good comparison of policies instead we get hysterical toxic ravings.
      On the record, I am not a Labor supporter, or Coalition. If there was an election today I would not vote Labor, they are inept. But also I do not want an election now. I feel that governments should serve out their terms. I hope this government does and we can get a good non hysterical, non toxic evaluation of each parties policies in 2013.
      But, pigs may fly unfortunately.

Standard of debate

2011-08-14T20:58:00.000+10:00

Read the article in the Daily ~~Terror~~ Telegraph and then read the vitriolic comments.
it is about Julia Gillards partner Tim Matheson holding a charity dinner for a Miss World fundraiser.
It saddens me that people have become so bitter and vitriolic just because they don't like the Prime Minister.
The standard of debate and vitriol towards the Labor party and in particular the Prime Minister and her partner is abhorrent.
Daily Terror article.

More NBN Bullshit

2011-07-24T08:36:00.001+10:00

Bloody hell it is hard to dispel the bullshit sprouted by the NBN haters/Neanderthals.

You all would have read the newspapers and news broadcasts about the NBN costing $190 per month.

The Australian

SMH

Polls in newspapers asking would you pay this. Bullshit printed by newspapers about the NBN being too expensive.

Well, at the moment I pay $69.95 per month for Bigpond cable internet. This gives me 25GB allowance per month at a top speed that I can never attain of 30Mbps. I usually get between 23 to 27Mbps. No phone service with that.

If you go to this site http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-fibre-pricing-mainland.php and have a geek at the prices.

If I look at what I can get in trying to compare my current plan.

On the Exetel site I can get 100Mbps with a 50GB allowance per month for $59.50.

As you can see three times faster with doubling of my GB limit and saving $10 per month.

You can also get a VOIP phone service over the NBN see their charges here http://www.exetel.com.au/voip_planA.php

Treat anything you hear about the NBN particularly on radio station 2GB or The Australian newspaper or Daily Telegraph with a great big dose of salt.

Labor V Liberal Carbon Abatement Policies

2011-07-16T20:47:00.000+10:00

The CO2 abatement discussion has been very one sided. All it has done is concentrate on one side of the argument, The labor parties Carbon Tax.
The Liberal's CO2 abatement method, Direct Action has had little in the way of conversation.
If, as a lot of noisy people (maybe the majority in Australia) are asking is to have another election on the carbon tax, what is the alternative policy if there is another election and the Libs. under Tony Abbott get in. Well it is "Direct Action".
Lenore Taylor a journalist with the SMH has an article/opinion piece today Saturday on the differences between the two policies. I cannot link to it because it is not on the SMH website, not sure why.
The differences are:
Target The same for both parties, 5% reduction in CO2 emissions based on 2000 levels.
Cost to Budget Labor $3.9b over 4 years, Liberal $3.2b over 4 years and $10.5b over 10 years.
Claimed cost to Industry Labor $23 per tonne of emissions from top 500 polluters, Liberal nothing yes $0
Ease of scaling up Labor high, Liberal low.
Ease of scaling down Labor low, Liberal high.
According to Abbott there will be no cost to the taxpayers because it will be paid for by savings in the budget.
Direct action proposes that about 60% (85 million tonnes) of Australia's emissions reduction will be from soil carbon. But it has some detractors, Farmers.
Another 15 million tonnes from long rotation tree plantations. But the timber industry are allegedly saying that up to 600,000 hectares of cleared agricultural land will be needed, but the National party are allegedly saying it has a guarantee that no viable farmland will be converted to plantation.
There is a lot more in this article, but to finish.
Direct action is designed to take 5% of emissions by 2020 in a painless way, with industry possibly unchanged. What their plan is for after 2020 who knows. Abbott was allegedly asked at a Brisbane community forum on Thursday about the future of coal and electricity generation. He allegedly said, "do you really want to transform society"? Did he mean no or yes. But then again with Tony you cannot believe anything he says, according to himself, except if it is written down.
And of course don't forget that no Australian economist or climate scientist endorse Tony's direct action plan.

Why Abbott dislikes most Economists

2011-07-14T07:38:00.002+10:00

        Found this on a new online newspaper "The Conversation". I can now see why Tony Abbott thinks that Australian Economists are daft.
       A survey of 145 economists released today found that 60% believe the Gillard government’s carbon tax is good economic policy. The survey was conducted on Monday at a meeting hosted by the Economic Society of Australia at the Australian National University (ANU). The results were fairly clear cut. Something like 60% were in favour of the governments approach and 25% were against and 15% had no opinion.
       The survey coincided with the release of another poll of 500 members of the Economic Society of Australia on a range of policies, including the mining tax and middle-class welfare.
Around 70% of respondents to that survey said they support a national excess profits tax on miners and two-thirds of want middle-class welfare cut so that more assistance can be given to the disabled and severely disadvantaged.
       The bulk of the economists favour abolition of the Baby Bonus and the First Home Owners Grant, and are in favour of introducing the indexation of tax thresholds and for the introduction of congestion charges.
   Yes, they are against a lot of the oppositions policies. I thought the Liberals were better economic managers?

Tony Abbott, carbon tax antics.

2011-07-02T15:43:00.000+10:00

Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott has repeated a call for a plebiscite on the carbon tax despite the move being sunk last month as a stunt.
I am not too sure who he is trying to impress, or how he is going to change the vote in parliament, but this is baffling stuff. His call is not rational, considering the numbers in both houses of Federal parliament are stacked against him. It is even more irrational when he said he was not bound by the result if it goes against him.
He has also slammed the majority of economists in Australia for agreeing with Labor that a price on carbon is the way to go. Saul Eslake a director and economist of the Grattan Institute, said that Mr. Abbott was attacking economists because he was frustrated. I would have thought more likely irrational. He has not got over the defeat on the floor of parliament that gave Julia Gillard the government. I say, get over it Tony, become a real leader with real policies and then maybe rational people may start to think a bit differently of you.
Gillard's carbon plan wins growing business support according to the Australian
Yes, you heard it right. This is from the Murdoch press, the biggest Labor government bashing newspaper there is.
No economist it seems is backing Abbotts "Direct action" on carbon abatement. He will be paying the big polluters with tax payers money to the tune of at least 1 billion dollars a year. The economists feel that this will do nothing to reduce carbon by 5% by 2020.
Tony Abbott seems to becoming more irrational as this Gillard government goes on.
He feels that climate change is all crap. This is against the overwhelming majority of climate scientists saying that climate change is real, it will affect this planet adversely, and it is due to human induced pollution.
So every serious climate scientist on the planet and economists in Australia is wrong and only Tony Abbott is right.
His words and actions are ones of an irrational person. I think a change in leader is what the Liberals need. I think going back to Malcolm Turnbull is the way to go for the Liberals. Malcolm is a much more lucid and rational person. I would hate to see Abbott as our Prime Minister.

School chaplain program

2011-07-02T14:55:00.001+10:00

The school chaplaincy program is now coming under fire from the Anglican church.
The head of Sydney's Anglican Education Commission, Bryan Cowling, the executive director of the peak body for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney.
He has said that, "The legitimate place of religion in NSW government schools might be put at risk by the misuse of the National School Chaplaincy Program, the head of Sydney's Anglican Education Commission has warned."
He goes further and says, "chaplains - with the term's religious connotations - might blur the distinction between faith and welfare, increasing the chance of misuse by proselytising, which might call into question access granted to schools for special religious education, also known as scripture."
He continues, ''If it's a welfare position and a welfare role, why not call it that rather than call it a chaplain?'' he said. ''I just think it's a clumsy way to do things."

SMH Article
I think it is astounding that a secular government would continue to fund these programs in school.
To me it is another poorly funded program from a government scared of offending a small section of the electorate. This government is running scared like a rabbit in the headlights of a car.

Storm

2011-04-09T17:15:00.001+10:00

The Storm movie by Tim Minchin has finally arrived.
This is an animated version of that narrative "Storm".
Storm Animation.

Atheist to present Bible series

2011-03-20T06:19:00.002+11:00

Yes, you heard it right, an atheist is presenting the new BBC series on the bible. The presenter,

Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou, is a woman to boot as well.

She has said some true but slightly controversial things about the bible such as, Eve is unfairly maligned as a troublesome wife that bought about the fall of "Man". She goes on to say that the bible was written by men, and women in those days were second class citizens, who were the property of men.

she goes on to say that the Bible could not be used as a reliable historical source and said that as an academic “you leave your faith at the door”.

She says that the bible is a great religious and social text and had a great influence on Western Society.

Could you imagine this happening in Australia. I would think the hysterical religious lobby in Australia would cry like stuck pigs if it happened here.

I am not sure of any outcry by religious groups in the UK about this.

Very refreshing.

I sourced this from the Christian Today Australia newsletter.

NSW Up the Creek Without a Paddle

2011-02-11T20:15:00.000+11:00

Just watched the first debate on ABC TV between the current NSW State Government Labor Treasurer Eric Roozendaal and the Coalition Shadow Treasurer Mike Baird.
The debate was about the electricity generation sell off.
NSW Labor are of course under fire for negotiating a very bad deal for NSW.
The shadow Treasurer was totally inept in holding Roozendaal to account. He was beaten point by point by a much more polished Roozendaal.
The Coalition has no Electricity policy unfortunately.
The "moderator" of the debate, Quentin Dempster, was a much more effective opponent, and he had to make a lot of the points to Roozendaal. The opposition Treasurer appeared to have no idea.
This is very worrying for the state of NSW.
More than anything we need a good strong Liberal/Coalition Government after March.
It is not looking good.
We cannot vote Labor back in.
I just hope the Coalition can lift it's socks up. If this debate is any key to their strength, we are in trouble.

School Ethics classes update

2011-02-04T06:22:00.002+11:00

An update on Ethics classes.
Not to do with the hysterical Christians meeting.
But something that will make them very unhappy.
The Liberal opposition in NSW have decided to do a backflip and are now supporting ethical classes. When they come to power in March, which they will, call me psychic, they will continue the classes, which are just starting now.
At last the conservatives have put good sense before a few cheap votes.
Here is a link to the Christian lobby say on this.

School Ethics Classes--Lies from Christian groups

2011-01-29T11:38:00.001+11:00

There is to be a meeting at the NSW Parliament House regarding the Ethics Classes.
This meeting will be held by concerned, hysterical Christians that are saying the current Labor government want to get scripture classes out of public schools.
What a beat up, a whole pack of lies to scare gullible Christians.
This meeting will take place in the NSW Parliament House Theatrette, NSW Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney at 12 Noon on Monday 28th February 2011.
Participants are.
The Rev Richard Quadrio of the NSW Council of Churches will Chair the meeting.
Invited speakers include,
Rev Rod Benson of Morling Baptist College,
Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC,
Mayor Paul Green of Shoalhaven Council and,
Pastor Peter Rahme of the Inner West Baptist Church.
Christian meeting at Parliament House
We need a strong secular voice in this state to counter the scare mongering hysterics from the Christian lobby.

AntiVax

2011-01-26T11:00:00.001+11:00

Here is an interesting comical take on the anti vaccination debate and in particular Andrew Wakefield.
The Facts In The Case Of Dr. Andrew Wakefield

Religion 101

2011-01-25T06:26:00.001+11:00

Religion in one easy lesson.
Nothing more can be said.
Religion 101

Q-Link

2010-12-23T23:46:00.002+11:00

Here we go again.
You thought we were rid of the Power Balance Bracelet.
We now have Q-Link.
The next big pseudoscientific, scamming bullshit to hit our shores.
Q-Link
With testimonials from numerous well known Australians.
Bart Cummings, Mario Fenech, Tim Sheens etc, etc, etc.
The number of Q-Link products is only limited by your lack of imagination.

Q-Link Mini   Stick this on your mobile phone and protect you against electro magnetic radiation.
Q-Link Pendants   For improved physical and mental performance. Wear one to bed and literally spring out of bed in the morning.
Q-Link Bracelets The same as the pendant but worn on the wrist.
Q-Link Home/Office USB   Increase your productivity whilst banging on the keyboard, has a 10 metres radius so anyone in that radius will receive the same benefit.
Q-Link Performance Clothing Helps your bodies energy system to function more efficiently in sport.
What gullible fools would believe this garbage?
It never ceases to amaze me the gullibility of seemingly intelligent, educated people.

It's Official----Power Balance is a scam

2010-12-23T10:53:00.001+11:00

Well it took them long enough.
It was not rocket science that this was a scam.
Power Balance Scam
If anyone wants to buy one, well go for it, but with your eyes fully open of course.
But what is sad is that a lot of high profile sportsman wear these scam bands and it impresses the gullible and young fans. And of course they want one.
How many parents have been pressured into buying one of these scam bands? Pressured by their young impressionable child who is only following their sporting hero.
I blogged on this months ago about it being a scam. It has taken this long for the ACCC to come to the same conclusion.
My previous blog
A look at the power balance site, and, surprise, surprise they are still scamming.
Power Balance site
These scamming merchants should have the book thrown at them.

Queen endorses Ethics Classes

2010-12-04T07:13:00.002+11:00

Well, that is my spin on it.
Here is what she is alleged to have said according to the Guardian newspaper.
"People of faith do not have a monopoly on virtue as British society was now "more diverse and secular", the queen told the Church of England today in an address to its governing body.
Speaking at Church House, central London, she told members of General Synod that believers and atheists were equally able to contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of the country".
Queens address to Synod
There we have it.
And up yours, you increasingly becoming unimportant and irrelevant Anglican leaders here in N.S.W..

White Wine In The Sun by Tim Minchin

2010-12-01T20:49:00.001+11:00

Tim Minchin the well known comic singer, songwriter, atheist and sceptic, has a Christmas song out.
Called "White wine in the Sun". Here is the song on YouTube.
It is basically a Christmas song about the family. It does say a few things that don't support religion, but it does not disrespect it I feel.
The Christian lobby has apparently come out against the song and saying things like, "It's not quite in the spirit of Christmas", sick joke, and disrespectful".
I feel they are just too precious.
Some of the best lines in the song that don't support religion are,
"I would rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tu Tu Tu be honest"
"I get freaked out by churches. Some of the hymns that they sing have nice chords, but the lyrics are dodgy".
This is a good family orientated Christmas song.

Woman claims ownership of Sun

2010-11-28T11:48:00.002+11:00

A Spanish woman has claimed ownership of the sun.
SMH article
The woman from the region of Galicia has registered her ownership with a local 'notary public".
She claims that there is an international agreement that a country cannot lay claim to any celestial body, but no agreement about an individual claiming ownership.
She wants to put a fee on everyone that uses the Sun.
I wonder if everyone that has got a melanoma from the Sun can sue her for damages that her property has caused.

Arguments that creationists should not use

2010-11-27T10:17:00.000+11:00

This article is on the Creation Ministries International (CMI) website.
The article lists the bad arguments that Creationists should not use to bash Evolution over the head with.
Obviously these arguments are old and tired arguments that Creationists once used, and have been successfully countered by good rational argument.
Here is the URL for the "Bad Arguments" article.
This is what the Creationists have to say. "The primary authority for Creation Ministries International is the infallible Word of God, the Bible. All theories of science are fallible, and new data often overturn previously held theories. Evolutionists continually revise their theories because of new data, so it should not be surprising or distressing that some creationist scientific theories need to be revised too".
Are their Creationist scientific theories?
How many Creation Science papers are published in reputable scientific journals?

I will list the bad arguments below.
Arguments that Creationists should not use

Darwin recanted on his deathbed
Moon-Dust thickness proves a young moon
Long day NASA computers, in calculating the positions of planets, found a missing day and 40 minutes, proving Joshua’s long day and Hezekiah’s sundial movement of Joshua 10 and 2 Kings 20.
Woolly mammoths were snap frozen during the Flood catastrophe
NASA faked the moon landings
The Castenedolo and Calaveras human remains in “old” strata invalidate the geologic column
Dubois renounced Java man as a “missing link” and claimed it was just a giant gibbon
The Japanese trawler Zuiyo Maru caught a dead plesiosaur near New Zealand
The 2^nd Law of Thermodynamics began at the Fall
If we evolved from apes, why are there still apes today?
Women have one more rib than men
Archaeopteryx is a fraud
There are no beneficial mutations
No new species have been produced
Earth’s axis was vertical before the Flood
Paluxy tracks prove that humans and dinosaurs co-existed
Darwin’s quote about the absurdity of eye evolution from Origin of Species
Earth’s division in the days of Peleg (Gen. 10:25) refers to catastrophic splitting of the continents
The Septuagint records the correct Genesis chronology
There are gaps in the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11 so the Earth may be 10,000 years old or even more
Jesus cannot have inherited genetic material from Mary, otherwise He would have inherited original sin
Light was created in transit
The phrase “science falsely so called” in 1 Timothy 6:20 (KJV) refers to evolution
Geocentrism (in the classical sense of taking the Earth as an absolute reference frame) is taught by Scripture and Heliocentrism is anti-Scriptural
Ron Wyatt has found Noah’s Ark
Ron Wyatt has found much archaeological proof of the Bible
Many of Carl Baugh’s creation ‘evidences’
Missing solar neutrinos prove that the sun shines by gravitational collapse, and is proof of a young sun
Einstein held unswervingly, against enormous peer pressure, to belief in a Creator

The following are arguments that Creationists feel are doubtful and advise against using.

Canopy theory
There was no rain before the Flood
Natural selection as tautology
Evolution is just a theory
There is amazing modern scientific insight in the Bible
Laminin: an amazing look at how Jesus is holding each of us together
The speed of light has decreased over time
There are no transitional forms
Gold chains have been found in coal
Plate tectonics is fallacious
Creationists believe in microevolution but not macroevolution
The Gospel is in the stars

Well there it is. I am not a scientist, so erudite scientific argument from me will not happen.
It is an interesting article for all people that are interested in the Creation V Evolution argument.

School Ethics Classes

2010-11-24T22:00:00.003+11:00

I see that the current Labor State Parliament are bringing in Ethics classes next year.

The classes are for children that don't attend scripture classes.

I think this is a good idea.

The classes are not competing with scripture, but something constructive that the children that don't go to scripture classes can do.

I also see that the Liberal State opposition, if they attain government in March 2011, are going to cancel the Ethics classes.

The opposition education spokesman, Adrian Piccoli is reported to have said in the Sydney Morning Herald.
''While the NSW Liberals and Nationals understand the importance of ethics we do not believe it should be positioned as an alternative to special religious education. We don't think that students should have to choose between special religious education … and ethics classes.'' SMH Article
Well, really, I don't agree. The students or their parents are not choosing between scripture and ethics classes. The ethics classes are for the children that don't go to scripture classes, pretty simple I would think.

Ethicist and political commentator as well as NSW Council of Churches representative Rev Rod Benson has this to say.

"For more than a century, a small minority in our community has clamoured for the suppression of religious voices and the privileging of secular humanism in our schools, universities and media. The trial ethics curriculum is merely the latest tool to achieve that goal."

Rev. Rod Benson's views

I would also disagree with this. Sure there are some that want religion banned from secular education. I feel the same way except if religion was taught as a comparative study of all religions. This is a poor argument against ethics classes in NSW state schools for children that don't attend scripture classes.

Archbishop Peter Jensen had this to say.

"A bad decision, made under political pressure, which will impoverish the education of many NSW public schoolchildren. Philosophical ethics is not a real alternative to the study of religion and it is unfair to confront parents with the dilemma of having them both taught at the same time."

Sydney Anglicans
I disagree again. What will and is impoverishing school children is the wasted time for the children that are not attending scripture, with nothing constructive to do.
It seems to me the religious organisations are feeling threatened by these ethics classes. They should not, surely any god fearing parents would send their children to scripture and not secular ethics classes.

Nuclear Explosions, 1945-1998

2010-11-01T08:07:00.001+11:00

Nuclear explosions 1948 to 1998. An interesting YouTube video.
Nuclear Explosions 1945-1998.

Psychometry

2010-10-28T22:27:00.002+11:00

What is Psychometry.
From the Skeptic's Dictionary, It is an alleged psychic power that enables one to divine facts by handling objects.
From Wikipedia, It is a form of extra sensory perception characterised by the claimed ability to make relevant associations from an object of unknown history by making physical contact with that object.
Well, you may ask, why I am bringing this up?
I have just returned from the U.S.A.. Last Saturday night I was in Las Vegas and saw a show in the Planet Hollywood Hotel/Casino. This show was a Mentalist act by a Gerry McCambridge.
The show was very good I enjoyed it immensely. He claimed that he would mess with our minds during the show, which I suppose in a way he did. He did some Mentalist/Magician tricks which were very well carried out, no idea how he did them.
Before the show started we were all handed some paper and pencil and asked to write our full names and some facts concerning ourselves. We then placed them in a box on the stage.
As he was doing his "tricks" he explained how he did them.
He then got to a part of the show where he did some readings of some of the pieces of paper in the box, also a pea and thimble trick with a difference. He claimed he used psychometry in this part of his act. An alarm immediately went off in my head, my bullshit detector had detected something.
This part of the act he was well and truly blindfolded. He got some pieces of paper from the box and crunched them up then proceeded to call out the initials of the person he was getting vibrations about from the pieces of paper. This person or persons where then instructed to stand up and he then told them their full name plus other information about them that is on the paper.
The pea and thimble trick was a row of I think 6 foam cups, one of them had a large 4 inch nail pointing up into the cup which covered the nail. The Mentalist then eliminated each cup by smashing his palm onto the cups. He claimed he was using psychometry to detect the presence of the nail. He of course smashed all of the cups and the last cup contained the nail.
To me the claim of having the ability to use psychometry put a damper on the otherwise very entertaining, humorous show.
I wonder if he would try for the JREF million dollar challenge. A man of his claimed abilities I am sure would have no problems winning the million dollars, don't you think!

Creation and Evolution Further Update

2010-10-28T21:30:00.002+11:00

A further update on the Creation Ministries International (CMI) seminar.
On their website CMI they say that their seminar, (CREATION AND EVOLUTION, Scientific evidence, myths and challenges), has been moved to the Fraser Coast Baptist Church.
They claim that a scare campaign by the Griffith University Society of Skeptics and Freethinkers was responsible for the cancelling of the event. They claim that the skeptics and freethinkers group browbeat the university into dropping the seminar.
I quote from their first line of their stop press about the seminar.

The Fraser Coast campus of The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) had asked for this seminar as a community event. When the plans became public ‘all hell broke loose’. A journalism student at Griffith University mounted a scare campaign, which seemed intended to browbeat the university into dropping the seminar.

Wow, this Journalism student must have some power.
They claim from this quote that the University had asked that this seminar come about as a community event.
The University say, quoting from the ABC Southern Queensland website from a audio clip of an interview on that radio station from Dr. Aidan Burke that, The community approached the University to have a forum on that topic.
This is the opposite to what CMI are quoting, so who is telling the truth.
CMI also state that when the plans became public all hell broke loose. Well I wonder why!!
Why should a University host a religious propaganda seminar claiming that evolution is wrong.
Evolution, that has mountains and mountains of unbiased scientific evidence backing it up.
Why should a small band of religious fundamentalists push their beliefs from the University in an attempt to show falsely that the University backs these beliefs in some way. Why should they have their beliefs pushed ahead of any other religions creation beliefs, what is so special about their beliefs. Why not the Hindus have a creation seminar, the Australian Aboriginals have a dream time seminar, what makes them so special.
It seems to me that the seminar is now in the right setting, Fraser Coast Baptist Church.
Maybe a forum or debate by CMI and University Biologists etc. would be a more appropriate forum if it is to be held at the University. Here both sides can air their thoughts.

Creation and Evolution Update

2010-09-22T17:47:00.002+10:00

It seems that the Creation Ministries International Seminar has been removed from the University of Southern Queensland.
It looks like the CMI had some misleading advertising about the support of the University.
Here is the new advertisement from the CMI, New Advertisement.
I have also received a email from the University.
Email below.

Dear Bruce,

Your enquiry regarding the creationist ministries event scheduled for 13 November at Hervey Bay has passed on to me. As part of the USQ Fraser Coast’s community engagement activities the campus has always been available to provide facilities whereby various community groups and members of the public might meet around various discussion points.

In this case however in making our facilities available it may be perceived that USQ is giving tacit approval to the Creative Ministries discussion titled, Creation and Evolution - scientific evidence, myths and challenges. This is not true and the University has moved quickly to withdraw whatever assistance it was giving with room bookings and that the organisers make alternative arrangements through other community groups better represented to promote and support such activities. The Vice Chancellor of USQ Professor Bill Lovegrove has sent an email to all Fraser Coast staff advising of this decision.

As you can appreciate while the University supports its role as a leader in community debate which will at times confront contentious issues it does so in the belief that any consideration and deliberation of issues are balanced, impartial and unbiased. In its efforts to encourage community engagement USQ will continue to consider requests from all sections of the public to engage in dialogue on issues of mutual interest. In doing so however all requests will be considered on merit and where equitable, balanced and unprejudiced comment can be given.

Sincerely

Dr Aidan J Burke|Director Corporate Communication
University of Southern Queensland|Toowoomba 4350 |AUSTRALIA

Australasian Skeptics forum

2010-09-19T22:20:00.001+10:00

A new sceptic forum is now up and running.
Called the Australasian Skeptics Forum.
Do drop in and have a geek.
Australasian Skeptics Forum

Creation and Evolution

2010-09-19T22:05:00.000+10:00

Creation and Evolution, Scientific evidence, myths and challenges.
This is an alleged university sponsored creation seminar.
The seminar will be at the University of Southern Queensland, Fraser Coast campus Hervey Bay, on Saturday 13th November 2010.
This seminar will have as there only speakers Creation so called scientists.
They are from the Creation Ministries International, (CMI)
It worries me that the University is sponsoring such a seminar and appearing to promote the fundamentalist Christian view of Creation equally with Evolution.
Evolution is a scientific theory.
Creation or what the Creation Ministries call Creation Science is a religious belief.
I have no problem with a seminar like this, but surely have the other sides views as well.
The CMI of course wants the fundamentalist Christian view of creation taught alongside Evolution in schools and universities.
I have sent an email to the university voicing my concern.
This advertising could be misrepresenting the universities position on this.
I have no problem at all in having such a seminar at a university. But this seminar is only having speakers from CMI.
A balanced debate by creationist and evolution scientists would be a better way for the university to go I would have thought.
But where is the alternative evidence based view. Assuming they are a evidence based university.
They obviously see some money to be made from this venture,
Coming from Queensland, the loony Christian capital of Australia, maybe some creationist at the university has got it going.
We hope not.
I have emailed the Queensland sceptics and the Gold Coast sceptics regarding this seminar. Maybe they can attend and offer a balanced view.

Decision Repurcussions

2010-09-08T21:46:00.002+10:00

Well the decision has been made.
Bob Katter went Coalition.
Rob Oakeshot went Labor.
Tony Windsor went Labor.
The conservatives are frothing at the mouth. They feel they have been robbed. They feel because of the primary vote or the two party preferential vote should decide the winner in a hung parliament. They obviously don't realise it is the numbers on the floor that decides government.
I have been listening to radio station 2GB here in Sydney this afternoon and reading the articles and letters in the Daily Telegraph (Terror). The venom towards the independents, Labor and the communist Greens is spilling out copiously. Some people that ring in have no idea. One asked could an appeal to the Governor General be made. Others think that the sky will shortly fall in and all is lost. They don't seem to understand that this can be a very fruitful time for democracy in this country. Maybe for the first time we can overcome the control by the political parties.
What I cannot work out is Bob Katter.
He has made the statements on Q&A on Monday night that the Coalition under John Howard did absolutely nothing for the rural areas. Labor under Kevin Rudd was doing some good work in his electorate of Kennedy. He then went and supported the coalition that has done nothing. He also made the statement when he made known his selection of the coalition, that he would have supported Labor if Kevin Rudd was still PM. Does he mean the policies mean nothing without Kevin. Can't figure that one out.
The Broadband is also taking a hiding to nothing by the conservatives with their scare tactics of big, big debt because of it.
The Conservatives need to accept the decision and get on with life.
The independents obviously have their reasons for going to Labor. I know Tony Windsor was mainly swayed by the Broadband. Not sure what swayed Rob Oakeshot. It was obviously a very close call.
I think Oakeshot and Windsor will get a very hostile reception in their electorates. I hope they have some very good arguments to explain what they have done. To me it was very brave indeed.

Decision has been made

2010-09-07T21:30:00.000+10:00

Well finally after over two weeks we have a minority government.
Labor with Julia Gillard as P.M.
I personally think it was a good decision.
Because of
NBN
Price for carbon
Reforms to parliamentary practices
Less power to political parties, they are not there for the countries benefit but for their own short term benefits.
More money for regional and rural areas, long overdue.
Not another 3 or 6 years of conservative sit on their hands inactivity.
What this should sheet home very clearly to the Nats. is that they should leave the coalition. Then after each election they should negotiate with the two major parties for their rural electorates. Unless all they want is a few ministries and the deputy prime minister position. If that is all they want they deserve the irrelevance they have now. They should be fighting hard for their people, in coalition, they are not.

Update on Ezio De Angelis

2010-09-05T10:43:00.001+10:00

Here is an alleged reading from Ezio De Angelis from a woman I think from New Zealand.
Her partner died in a motorcycle accident.
About 12 months later she had a couple of psychic readings to try and connect with the spirit of her dead loved one.
I cannot verify if this is true, but makes interesting reading on how psychics operate.
Psychic Reading

Who should the Independents support?

2010-09-04T23:37:00.000+10:00

The three independents, Bob Katter, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott face an unenviable task in choosing who to support to govern Australia Federally for hopefully the next three years.
They essentially represent possibly conservative electorates.
They have to, as far as I am concerned, make a decision for Australia, not just their own electorates. They will be under great pressure from all factions, and if what is reported is correct have been under immense pressure from the conservatives to go for the conservatives. Particularly since the other independent, Wilkie has gone Labor and the Greens have supported Labor as well.
They have at their disposal much more information to make an informed decision than any independent has ever had before. This type of transparency should be available to all voters before the election happens, but then again "pigs may fly".
          I will point out who I think they should support and why.
          Philosophically I lean more to Labor. I am not a conservative. So I do have a bias.
          I think the Independents should go for Labor.
          Labor has a good record recently in saving Australia from the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). There is much contention that they spent too much. The conservatives say they would have spent about half of what Labor spent in Stimulus Packages. I am not an Economist so I do not know who is right. I have heard many financial people here and overseas applaud Labor for their stimulus package. But of course some have criticised it as well. In fact I have heard more praise than criticism.
          Labor have a National Broadband Network already started. This network will have integration nationwide. I feel this very fast fibre optic network will thrust the whole of Australia into the 21st century.
The Conservatives plan seems to rely too much on the private sector and is possibly too fragmented. The private sector will not service the sparse rural areas. I do not trust the conservatives to deliver on this.
          Their track record with infrastructure and nation building is woeful. John Howard had eleven years of inactivity, presiding over massive surpluses, and only giving tax cuts back. He wasted this massive surplus just so he could say, "look how good a financial manager I am." He should have not given the tax cuts. He should have started some much needed infrastructure building instead and he would still have had a surplus.
          I am afraid that Tony Abbott is going to be just as inactive as his hero was. We cannot have another eleven years of conservative inertia.
          This now leads me to Tony Abbott and what has happened since the elections.
          Of course first off is the up to eleven billion dollars of black hole in his costings for his policies. No wonder he would not give them to Treasury for costing. He only did this because if he did not the independents would not have supported him. How does this sit with his own tag of being a much better economic manager of the country.
           Then there was the one billion dollar (what Tony thought) clincher of promising Wilkie a brand new Teaching Hospital in Hobart. How did he cost this? How reckless was this? Luckily Wilkie saw through this and rejected it.
          I think Labor will form a more stable government, particularly after July next year when the Greens will have the balance of power in the senate.
          They will also get a carbon price and set up a carbon tax or emission's trading scheme that will get through the senate.
          How the independents will go I do not know. They have taken their time and talked to and looked at a lot of documentation so hopefully will make the best decision for this country.

Federal Elections

2010-08-20T11:13:00.001+10:00

I thought I may throw my two cents worth about the elections right at the end.
First off I think the Coalition will win because of the swing in the marginals in NSW and QLD.
Labor has been running scared from the issues of "Climate Change" and "Asylum Seekers".
If they had a real carbon policy, plus not running with the scared hysterics that the Coalition has regarding asylum seekers they may be in a better position.
The wild card in all of this is the Greens. They have what looks like a 13-14% vote. This may help Labor over the line. If the Green voters in the marginals are 13-14% and they second preference Labour it may be very interesting on Saturday night.
I cannot at all see anything separating the two parties except the NBN. The NBN for me is the big thing that is very important for the future. I cannot see how the coalitions broadband policy will deliver much at all.
It will not be up to me who wins, my electorate is a safe Labor seat. The senate will hold more power to me.
Look forward to Saturday night.

Derren Brown Investigates---The Ghost Hunter

2010-06-03T09:46:00.001+10:00

This is the third and last show in the Derren Brown series "Derren Brown Investigates."
In this show Derren travels to the USA to investigate ghosts, spirits and possession.
He follows a man, a very committed man, Lou Gentile. He has studied and put together a massive array of photos, videos and recordings of what he believes is the paranormal over 20+ years.
This man makes no money from what he does, just raw dedication in what he believes in.
Everything shown on these five videos cannot be interpreted in any way as paranormal as far as I am concerned. It is in fact sad to me that he cannot see the obvious flaws in all of his work. He thought that what he had to show Derren Brown, a committed sceptic, would change his mind and he would believe, sadly Derren did not.
Watch, and please comment if you wish on what you have seen.
I was saddened at the end of this, and it does have a somewhat sad ending.
First Video
Second Video
Third Video
Fourth Video
Fifth Video

Macarthur is going off

2010-05-29T10:09:00.001+10:00

What's going on in Macarthur!
Yes, the outer south west of Sydney.
Has it gone completely loopy.
In the local newspaper "Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser" there was an article on a Psychic, Debbie Malone. The article below.
Psychic Debbie Malone.
This article, or should I say advertisement, I wonder if she paid for it? Made some startling claims.
The Psychic, Debbie, claimed that she was strangled by a ghost in a near death experience. She also claims she has a particular gift for catching spiritual entities on camera, wow. Do you mean she has control of the camera in a metaphysical way and only she can make the camera see and take spiritual entities, something us mere mortals cannot do.
The punchline in this incredulous article is of course the advertising of her upcoming workshop at Picton where she will share her fantastic knowledge at a miserly cost of only $350 for the day. Picton of course is the logical location being the famous, most haunted town in Australia.
She also carries on and says she is a bit sceptical, and wants proof, this is why I do it she says. I doubt if she knows what scepticism means. Oh, and she also photographs Orbs and talks to them. What a woman.
Well if you want to part with your hard earned on this, well go for it, but I think you would have to be very gullible.
This Debbie Malone I assume is the same psychic that was part of that fantastic psychic trio at the "Psychic Taskforce event" at Burswood Casino on September 27 2008, which featured psychics Scott Russell Hill, Anthony Grzelka and Deb Malone, who presented a raft of claims regarding the unsolved murders and the supposed killer in the Claremont serial killings. Non of these murders have been solved. Maybe the police are deliberately ignoring their startling findings?
But there's more, from the Advertiser.
Festival of Light.
On the same weekend as Deb Malone.
What a paranormal weekend that will be in Macarthur.
At West's Leagues Club, Leumeah, running from Friday to Sunday.
Featuring of course, "The One" star Ezio De Angelis.
This festival has, Natural Therapies, Mediums, Animal Connections, New Age Products, Psychic Readings, Seminars and Kids Workshop Age 7+.
The Kids Workshop is a worry. Why inflict this superstitious nonsense on the young and impressionable. Give me a child at 7 and I will shape him into anything, I think the old saying goes.
But then again, organised religion does the same with Sunday school. Teaching impressionable minds mindless drivel from 2000+ years ago.
Fortunately, all of this superstitious nonsense is in the Entertainment section of the newspaper, just a small saving grace. But I don't think the gullible will particularly notice what part of the paper it is in, it is all fair dinkum to them.

Derren Brown Investigates--The Man with X-Ray Eyes

2010-05-19T17:49:00.005+10:00

This is the second show in the Derren Brown series "Derren Brown Investigates."
In this show Derren travels to Holland to investigate a Russian method of allegedly teaching blind people to see, plus other amazing abilities.
This method is called the "Bronnikov method". This has been developed by a Russian man Vyacheslav M. Bronnikov. Here is his website.
The method is taught by practitioners trained by Bronnikov, one of which is his son.
This man has allegedly obtained this knowledge from Tibetan Monks whilst he was asleep from 3 years of age.
It is all falling into place, is it not. Do you smell a scam?
This show was aired on British Channel 4 on Monday. Below are the links to the YouTube videos. The show is in five parts.

First Video

Second Video

Third Video
Fourth Video
Fifth Video

Derren Brown Investigates--The Man Who Contacts The Dead

2010-05-16T00:41:00.007+10:00

Derren Brown, well known English Mentalist/Magician.
He has a TV show currently running on Channel 4 in Britain called "Derren Brown Investigates".
In this show Derren investigates a medium, a ghost hunter and a psychic expert who claims to make the blind see.
The first show was televised early last week and it was on Joe Power a so called Medium from Liverpool, England.
The show is now on YouTube in a 5 part video.

First Video
Second Video
Third Video
Fourth Video
Fifth Video

Look at the five videos and tell us what you think.

Believers and scepticism

2010-04-25T07:39:00.002+10:00

Danish researchers from the Uffe Schjoedt Aarhus University Denmark have found that certain parts of the brain that control scepticism and vigilance seem to deactivate in some people in the presence of a speaker who they believe has divine healing powers.
The researchers obtained 36 male and female participants, half of which were Christian of the Pentecostal Church faith and the other half non religious.
They assembled three speakers and the participants were told that the speakers were a Christian, a non Christian and a Christian with known healing powers. In reality all three speakers were Christians with no alleged healing powers.
The participants listened to 18 different prayers whilst undergoing brain scans (not sure of what type of scan, the article did not state).
They were looking at the prefrontal cortex that allegedly controls scepticism.
The Christians had decreased activity in this region when listening to the claimed Christian with healing powers. Their brain activity in the prefrontal cortex was increased when the claimed non religious speaker was speaking.
The non religious participants had no change in brain activity across all three speakers.

SMH Article
I suppose this is not surprising. Believers of anything seem to loose their rational thinking when in contact with people they believe in having some type of supernatural powers, or possess extraordinary things to improve you, such as miracle wrist bands, crystal bracelets, longer dongers it is never ending for the charlatans. These could be religious preachers, Psychics, purveyors of miracle substances such as, Body Flow Machines, Power Balance Wrist bands. By the way Benji's power balance wrist band must be letting him down going on the Tigers performance over the last two weeks, I would want my money back.
To me this sums up a need to be forever vigilant to all sorts of claims, religious, health, sex life (longer dongers etc), spiritual and new age claims.
Scepticism for me is a never ending vigilance.

Another perspective

2010-04-17T14:48:00.000+10:00

Here is another perspective to the scandal in the Catholic Church.
The current leaders of this church blame secularism and progressive times for the paedophilia in the church by the priests. Watch this video for a different perspective.
Catholic Church a different look.

Body Flow machine

2010-04-11T11:53:00.002+10:00

I was reading The Sun Herald this morning and came across an article that headlined.
Revealed: how Storm get an edge in recovery.
To read article on line click here
The article went on to talk about a "BodyFlow" machine that Melbourne Storm are using in aid of quicker recovery from injury and training by flushing out toxins and by-products of exercise. The Storm allegedly bought 25 of these units at $4000 each.
The machine allegedly stimulates muscles with electrical impulses. Of course the article goes on to talk of other high profile athletes that use this scam, um, um I mean fantastic machine.
I don't know if it is a scam or does really work. The body gets rid of toxins in the muscles by the lymphatic system. I assume the makers and promoters of this machine are saying is that it increases the lymphatic flow of these toxins out of the body. Below is a web site promoting and selling these machines.
Body Flow Machine
This site uses the word believe a lot when talking of this machine, a little worrying I would think. They do say this on that site. It has been demonstrated in clinical trials, however, that Body Flow can help manage Lymphoedema by flushing away the excess fluid with a mild electro-stimulant.
They mention clinical trials which is good, but they do not show any link to those trials or if they were blinded etc. A clinical trial can mean anything. Maybe the manufacturers did the trial or a unscientific body, they don't say, which is very worrying.

Lymphoedema is a retention of these excess fluids, that causes swelling. There are two types:
1. Primary, caused by the underdevelopment of the Lymphatic System, and
2. Secondary, the result of surgery or major trauma.
The usual treatment for this is massage and compression bandages. Does electrical stimulation work as well as or better than massage or compression bandages? I do not know. Does electrical stimulation work at all? It seems a lot of money to pay when a massage could be as good or better.
It smells to me of a scam. Taken hook line and sinker by the Storm and whoever else is using them. I could be wrong. But I remain very sceptical. I can be convinced with good credible evidence though.

Power Balance wrist band

2010-04-04T12:51:00.001+10:00

I saw this in today's Sunday Telegraph saying that Benji Marshall is wearing one.
What is a "Power Balance wrist band you may ask.
This is from their website
Power Balance is performance technology that uses holograms embedded with frequencies that react positively with your body’s natural energy field.
Balance • Strength • Flexibility.
Most everything has a frequency inherent to it. Some frequencies react positively with your body and others negatively. When the hologram comes in contact with your body’s energy field, it allows your body to interact with the natural, beneficial frequency stored within the hologram. This results in improved energy flow throughout your body.
Well my "bullshit detector" was going crazy after reading this. There is no evidence that the body has a frequency or a flow of energy. This sounds like a heap of steaming bullshit. Pseudo-science at it's best.
Of course there is the old saying that there is one born every minute. Well I think Benji Marshall, Brett Kimmorley etc were born on that minute. Where are their critical thinking skills. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is, too good to be true.
But as always, I could change my mind, if I receive good credible evidence that this wrist band works. Until then I remain very sceptical
Here is a video reporting on this.
Unbelievable, what do you all think.

Went to a Psychic Show

2009-11-23T22:32:00.006+11:00

Well, I have done what a lot of believers have asked all of us sceptics to do, and went to a Psychic show.
I went on Friday night 20/11/09 and saw, Ezio De Angelis.
He is one of the Psychics from "The One".
Here is his interview with Ghost Radio
Ghost Radio interview

The evening started with me entering the building a little nervous. Not because of my first psychic
show, but I was hoping I did not meet someone who I knew, thankfully I did not. I then relaxed.

Inside the foyer there was a long queue waiting to enter the room. I joined the queue and listened
intently.I could not hear anyone talking of who they wanted to connect to if chosen. There did not
seem to be any collecting of information, no stooges etc. So no hot reading in the foyer.

We went into the room and paid our $20 at the door to a woman who I found out at the beginning of the show that she was the partner to the psychic.

There were about 120 to 150 people at the show. This was the estimate of the Psychic and
fairly accurate I would say.That is $2400 to $3000 for just over an hour show, plus some chit chat
after the show. You of course subtract their costs.
There were only two people in the show, the Psychic and his partner.

The women outnumbered the men by at least 10 to 1. Great for meeting chicks.

The show started at around 7.40pm with the women taking the stage and welcoming everyone.
She then introduced the Psychic and he entered, stage right.
He welcomed everyone, acknowledged some people he recognised. Mentioned some other people that are on his Facebook.
He then asked for everyone who is having their first visit to his show to put their hand up.
A lot did, less than half, but still a substantial number. He mentioned that there were an
exceptional number of first timers tonight.

The room was divided up into thirds. There was a centre, left and right block of chairs.

Just as he was about to start the readings he mentioned his, I think he said spirit guide, Marcus.
He said Marcus will be assisting him tonight.
He also mentioned that people being read need to be open to the spirit or it won't work.
He also said that if something that he said fitted you then please put your hand up.
In other words the Psychic process won't work. He mentioned the Psychic process.

His technique was to go to a particular part of the room, centre, left or right, the area that
the spirits apparently sent him then voice usually a persons name and wait for the response
in that particular area of the room.
He did not cast the net wide over the whole room. Sometimes he did stray into another part of the
room if he got no response from the area he initially tried.

Once a connection was made to a name he would ask the person being read who this person was.
The person was then expected to fit the name to him or herself and volunteer the information
on who this person is. Everyone that had a reading volunteered the information 100% of the time.
He would then say another name and wait for the response. The psychic would say this.
"Who is Mary", the person being read would fit the name and volunteer this information.
100% of the readings were like this, all questions, nothing else. it was the usual thing of I am
getting a T name or a John, James, Margaret, Maggie, Marge, the whole show was a series of
questions.The person being read is expected to say who this name fitted, father, mother,
grandmother, aunt, friend, daughter of friend. Some of the connections were obscure and the psychic would then ask the person to ask a third party about this.

Sometimes the Psychic would bring forward a place or thing. Example he was reading two women who were sisters of Italian origin and asked what the chickens were about. They apparently were their deceased fathers chickens. Duh, migrants that do not own chickens.

It got very boring after about 45 minutes of the name game and I found myself looking around the
room at walls, furnishings etc.

There were a couple of occasions when he said something fairly specific that drew a big hit.
The best was when he went to the centre block of chairs and towards the back and said,
"he is getting America and Colorado".
This drew no response whatsoever.
He then mentioned a suicide that elicited 2 responses from that area of the room.
He eventually settled on a woman who said that her sister had commited suicide.
He played this when he said he saw depression, anxiety and psychosis with her.
This elicited a negative from the woman being read.
He then went to the next possibility, a relationship problem, this finally elicited a hit.
The Psychic then asked about the America and Colorado connection.
The woman elicited the fact that she went on holidays with her deceased sister to Los Angeles,
and that they also went to Colorado. The psychic then asked what about Tinkerbell and asked
if she went to Disneyland, this elicited a response in the affirmative.
I don't know how he got the America and Colorado connection, but it was interesting.
I did not detect any great cold reading except the name calling game. I think his system works
well for him and his credulous audience.
The show finished around 9.10pm.

Well, the show was pretty much just throwing out names and getting a response then people
fitting the name to themselves. He said he was talking to the spirits and also giving them
some direction. So I don't know why the spirits would not say I am John, the father of the person
that you are reading. Instead the person getting the reading needed to fit it themselves.
The Psychic also often did not know the name that he presented was deceased or a person
still living.

He was convincing, a bit I suppose to a believer or someone not sure of how a psychic operates,
or not very sceptical.
What I saw on Friday night did not change my mind.
The information he elicited allegedly from the spirits were incredibly mundane and not the sort
of information that you could confirm. Such as, "He is happy now with his family, she is sorry
that she caused great angst in the family because of the suicide.
His stage technique is one of appearing to communicate with the spirits, hearing voices.

I would have loved an unedited video of the evening.
I could give a more informed version.
The memory is not perfect.
I remain extremely sceptical of psychics.

Update on "Chiropractors breaking their necks to get into NSW Emergency Departments

2009-11-15T10:14:00.003+11:00

Further to the blog on Chiropracors and NSW EDs.
A letter is in the Sunday Herald today 15/11/09, from Bryce Conrad who is President of the Chiropractors Association Of Australia, NSW.
In the letter he is saying there is a large body of published scientific evidence that shows chiropractic can effectively treat medical conditions.
He goes on to say that Chiropractors already work in the U.S., Canada and Ireland hospitals.
Here are some links to mull over.
Debate about chiropracty
The Lay Scientist
Sense about science
Improbable science

Chiropractors breaking their necks to get into NSW Emergency Departments

2009-11-08T09:20:00.004+11:00

The NSW arm of the Chiropractors' Association of Australia is trying to get a foot into Emergency Departments (EDs) in NSW.
They say they want to work in EDs to treat patients, and they say they will save the hospital system hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
They claim they would save thousands of admissions of patients with musculoskeletal problems.
Of course doctor groups are against this for the obvious reasons. No evidence to back up Chiropractics claims.
Doctor groups claim that paracetamol plus early mobilisation for back complaints particularly lower back pain is as effective as Chiropractic care.
Read the article in todays newspaper at the link below.
Sydney Morning Herald Article

The silly season has come to Europe

2009-10-24T10:20:00.004+11:00

The silly season has well and truly arrived in Europe.
Scotland
Wales
England
England
England
Russia
I particularly liked the one in England where the off duty police sergeant saw the three aliens in the field and when he approached them (and said, hello, hello, hello, said the policeman to the three aliens standing in the fields in Wiltshire) they ran away faster than any man could run.

Sensing Murder Shenanigans

2009-10-23T09:10:00.008+11:00

Sensing Murder a "reality" show on New Zealand's TVNZ, produced by Ninox Television, apparently currently in receivership.
TVNZ by the way is the New Zealand national broadcaster. It has gone commercial and puts on shows like "Sensing Murder", could they stoop any lower. Is this what happens when you stop funding a national broadcaster of taxpayers money. Any port in a storm I am sure TVNZ is thinking.
This show has three psychics allegedly getting "known" information from the spirits.
The current shenanigans started with this interview, see URL below.
TVNZ interview
Deb Webber mentioned a missing child in the TV interview. She said she got a flash after
walking past a TV talking of the missing child. Deb Webber said she got "Ditch, hole in fallen".
Well that got going in the media and on the forums and blogs.
Deb Webber got a lot of flak for her comments, getting in on the missing child without the parents asking her to be involved.
The blogs in New Zealand went off.
Kiwi Blog
The Standard Blog
Kiwi Blog

As well as the newspapers.
NZ Herald
NZ Herald2
NZ Herald3
NZ Herald4
Things then really hotted up for the believer set with another SM psychic Kelvin Cruikshank went on the Sensing Murder forum to run down his fellow psychic for doing this.
This is what he said.
Kelvin Cruikshank's piece
Hi ALL. I am currently in Australia and have a few things to SAY.
Firstly my prayers go out to the Family of Aisling and I like so many feel for them with this
tradgic loss..
I would like to put it out to everyone that when a person goes missing and Families ask for help
dirrectly to a medium/psychic then it is acceptable for the medium to help and support... BUT it
must be DIRRECT..
In this case it was not dirrect and that is why DEB is getting flack and I must say out of respect for the spirit and families that I beleive that Ms Webber has made a BAD CALL...
PEOPLE must ask direct and in this case it is and was all second and third hand.
CHRISTIANS do not beleive in PSYCHIC'S so they would not ask for help...
I am upset, as I too asked spirit if I could help find Aisling.. my answer from them was STEP BACK...
We should always TRUST in our SPIRIT not our EGO...
TODAY is a sad day for all at the loss of a little angel...
Also I have been receiving some rather nasty emails of HATE toward me and what I do... I must say that it hurts to be on the receiving end of someone elses BAD CALL.
Kelvin currently in Australia.

Kelvin Cruikshank then added more.
Kelvin Cruikshank again
Hi Again... I am not bagging DEB however I am mearly pointing out a fact... We all must check in
with spirit before saying things. Thats all..
Now have a crack at me as much as you like... I have tuff skin... You all say whats on your
mind in here and I am free to say mine..
You may be missing my point... We as mediums cant be pulled into cases or missing person cases were we are not permited to go.
Thats all I am saying... we all want to help, we all what to find and support but there is a time to let the experience of a missing person/case for all involved to FLOW naturaly... It must be what it is to be....
We are not Saints nor marters, we are good people like yourselves trying to be honest...
I know DEB would have meant well and come from the heart to help however she was NOT asked by the imediate family (MUM and DAD) to help...
All I have stated is that I dont beleive DEB should have been involved yet the pressuere from the public and other area's ie tvnz, reporters and good sermartions must play a part..
It's called PRESSURE.
We are human beings just being true to ourselves..
We all get that and we must all learn from our choices...
I have had a number of nasty emails, mostly when sensing murder goes to air.
However the emails this time are so sick that I have to say that I am not impressed at all..
I as a person can only take so much before I speak out...If I could post them I would
As a final word from me on this subject YES I am in Aussi currently, NO I am not on
National TV peddling a book... I have been invited by a small amount of Beleivers to share my gift with them... INVITED not forced NO big Shows just a few small events speaking about how much spirit LOVE us...
Some of you have NO idea what its like nor will you ever understand the pressure that is involved when all were doing is to try and HELP.
Anyway I could write a book on this.. Gee wiz I have and before you get stressed about me writing another book and how much I make from a book I can asure you that writing a book comes from the heart and most certainly is not about self gain at all. The hours and hours that go into a book and what you get back money wise is always in the red... The best thing about a book is the letters and emails of thanks, Thanks for showing me I am not alone etc..( if I new how to put emails on here to show you what I mean I would) Thats why I do this, Thats why I put myself out there.
I love spirit
I am now going to relax... Its been a busy full on day...
Sleep well all...
Remember were all on the same side

It got even more interesting when the S.M. forum administration got in on the act with some very interesting,flack deflecting information. Sensing Murder Forum is run by Ninox Television.
Sensing Murders Administration bit
Sensing Murder administration had this to say.

I just want to clarify a few things from Sensing Murder's perspective.
There appears to be some animosity towards Kelvin because he is distancing himself from Deb's
actions. The fact is, both Kelvin and Sue's photos have been appearing in articles about Deb's
involvement in the Aisling Symes case - but Deb's decision to comment publicly about the case was hers and hers alone, and had nothing to do with Kelvin, Sue or indeed Sensing Murder. Kelvin has been receiving negative feedback (which we have viewed) as a result of being publicly connected with Deb's comments and so it could be argued that he has every reason to distance himself from this controversy.
The Sensing Murder psychics are contractually bound to inform the producers if they are knowingly approached to work on an active cases and to seek the producer's permission before becoming involved or commenting publicly. This did not happen in this case. The obligation is to ensure that the producers are aware of every case the psychics have contact with (so they are not assigned this case in any future episodes) and to ensure that the situation is dealt with
sensitively and appropriately. In addition, Sensing Murder operates under the strict policy that we will only investigate cases when the direct family have requested our assistance.
This is a very, very complex area. On one hand, it could be argued that if the psychics have
this incredible gift, they should use it to help in every way possible. On the other hand, it
could be argued that no attempt should be made by the psychics to pass on information unless
the consent of direct family and the police has been obtained.
In a recent example, Sue received messages from spirit regarding a high profile case. She passed this information onto the producers of Sensing Murder. Sue provided an extremely detailed and specific description of where she believed the body of a missing person could be found. However, because the family had made it expressly clear that they did not want psychic assistance, this was the overriding concern and, accordingly, Sue's information was not passed on to the family or police. The next day, the victim's body was retrieved from a location matching exactly the area Sue had described previously. Had we passed on the information, perhaps the victim's body may have been retrieved a day earlier. But in the highly sensitive circumstances, we made the difficult decision not to become involved unless asked.
In another instance - Kelvin (through SM) was approached by direct family in a very high profile case. We urged the family to first ask the investigating police how they would feel about psychic involvement. The police asked the family, and us, to hold off until they had completed a crucial part of their investigation. In the meantime, Kelvin (in a controlled reading with the
SM producers) privately identified an area on an unmarked map where he believed the missing person could be found, with a specific reference point. We did not share this information with the family, police, or the public, but we did document it to hand over if/when police agreed to psychic
involvement. Three days later, the victim's body was found on the road that Kelvin identified,
near the reference point he signalled. Again, if Kelvin's information had been given to police
immediately, then the victim's body may well have been located earlier. But, at the end of the
day, we had to be guided by the police who were leading the investigation.
We have no doubts at all about Deb's accuracy - in Sensing Murder, we have to beep and obscure a great deal of information due to her accuracy, because it is too legally sensitive to include. And while we certainly understand that Deb wants to share her gift,we have expressed our concerns to her about publicly revealing information in this case.
There may well be a day when police do consult psychics on active investigations. We welcome this day, but also realise that there needs to be strict controls managing this process
(e.g establishing controlled parameters on how the readings are conducted; ensuring full consent
is granted by direct family and investigating police; and restricting the public release of this
information to ensure its release does not adversely impact on the police investigation.)

Here we have a TV network TVNZ collaborating with a Psychic about a current case to obviously boost it's ratings to the upcoming new series of Sensing Murder. The Television company that produces Sensing Murder Ninox, that sells it to TVNZ have a contract with the psychics. They are contractually bound to inform the producers if they are knowingly approached to work on an active cases and to seek the producer's permission before becoming involved or commenting publicly. Surely any publicity for the show is good. Obviously this bit by the S.M. Admin. is a flack deflecting exercise.
Then they went on to try and make things sound good for the waring psychics by spinning a yarn that cannot be coroborated.
SM admin telling lies for psychics.
Unbelievable.

Psychic Detectives

2009-10-05T21:46:00.011+11:00

Just came across this on YouTube.
Benjamin Radford managing editor of Skeptical Inquirer Magazine, talking at an event sponsored by the National Capital Area Skeptics in the United States of America on April 14, 2009.
His topic is, "The Truth About Psychic Detectives".
This talk is on YouTube, it is an 11 part video.
I will link the videos from YouTube below.
Well worth the view, it goes for about 1 hour 40 minutes.
YouTube video1
YouTube video2
YouTube video3
YouTube video4
YouTube video5
YouTube video6
YouTube video7
YouTube video8
YouTube video9
YouTube video10
YouTube video11

Continuing with the Psychic Detective theme.
I came across a radio broadcast whilst trawling the internet.
The radio station was Nova 100, in Perth.
They had Kelvin Cruikshank a New Zealand psychic that stars on the New Zealand show "Sensing Murder".
Kelvin was doing readings over the phone and also reading some staff members in the radio station.
Radio Psychic Readings
My analysis below.
Woman Broadcaster Do you want to talk to some of our listeners. Do you want to do readings on the phone.
K.C. No, no not usually at 8am in the morning just getting off the plane, will just have a chat.
My take Now making excuses in case of a failure, common ploy of the cold reader at the beginning of the reading.

Woman Broadcaster I am desperate to ask about a friend of mine but I can't talk about it because it will make me cry.
K.C. It's a female friend of yours, she is standing with you sweetheart.
Woman Broadcaster Yes.
My take A good guess, most females would have mainly female friends, otherwise husbands, boyfriends etc but she did not say husband, boyfriend brother etc.. Cold reading ok so far.

K.C. She is laughing at you, taking the mickey out of you, she is a character.
woman broadcasterShe is.
My take That was a bit of a guess that seemed to fit.

K.C. She is telling me to tell you to stop drinking too much wine.She knows that you like your wine.
Woman broadcaster Saying puzzly, no.I don't really like wine.
My take A cold reading miss.

K.C. What about her, she is basicly a party girl thats what I am looking at first thing in the morning.
Woman broadcaster uumm ok (she said dissapointedly.)
My take KC bombed out on that read then tried to switch it to her dead friend to try and find a fit but bombed again. Cold reading not so good. Then again it is 8am and just off the plane, that is a good excuse.

Male broadcaster Nicole you had a tragic event that happened only last week.
Nicole I had a mate pass away, wanted to know if he was allright, it was terrible circumstances, he took his own life.
KC conversation then he, is that right.
My take Question,just clarifying the sex most likely or a cold readers ploy of feeding back information that client has allready made known. This is impressive because the client particularly if emotional does not remember the conversation as
well as if they were more together.

KC Did he hang himself?
Nicole Yes
My take A question K.C. allready knew it was a terrible death so a suicide and hanging is a common way for men to suicide. They usually take the more violent means. A question that got a hit.

K.C. Was there a broken heart involved?
Nicole No
K.C. Are you sure about that
Nicole Are, yer, there was a bit of a broken heart going on.
My take Good persistant question by K.C., broken romance is a common suicide reason. Another question.

K.C. Did you ever date that guy?
Nicole No
My take A question by K.C., he did not know and bombed out. Again, a guess with the odds that did not pay.

Nina I get very emotional (crying) I want to know about my mum, my mum passed away last year
K.C. I have to ask one question, your mums dad has passed away, correct?
Nina Yes
K.C. She is coming through with him, and your mums mum has passed as well, and she has also got your dog or the family dog with her that had to be put down.
My take A common cold reading ploy asking a question, K.C. was very blatant at that usually the good cold reader is more subtle. Asking a question with the odds. Why did not the spirits say it is Nina's grandfather? But once he knew who
it is, said that he is coming through with his wife as well which was a question at first to see if she had passed. The family dog being put down, how common is that, I have had three so far.Pretty poor.

K.C. Are you one of three kids?
Nina Yes
My take A question that paid off, well done K.C., a good hit.

K.C. Two girls and a boy, or
Nina Yes
My take Another question that turned into a good hit, going well.

K.C. Mother is saying happy birthday, who's birthday is it so everyone can know.
Nina My birthday, March.
My take Could be anyones birthday in the family, KC did not know so asked the question, but March has 31 days so a poor fit. Good cold reading with a mediocre hit.

K.C. I have to hurry on the radio, started talking fast with her mum she has passed away as well?
Nina Yes
My take Another question with the odds.

K.C. I want you to know she is apples, she uses the word apples, I don't know why she would say that.
Nina Right
My take A risky guess that did not pay off, if it did, wow, if not, no harm done.

K.C. She is asking me about a Rose, Rosemary Rozy, roz
Nina Don't know
K.C. Yes you do know about it a Ro connection.
Nina Ok, I will think about it.
My take Another attempt at a hit that bombed, but K.C. persisted and Nina said ok will think about it. A cold reading ploy of blaming the client for having a faulty memory. If a Ro name comes up or she remembers a Ro name well she will think
wow. This is a common cold reading ploy.Another question. Also used what I call "Psychic speak" he said "a Ro connection".
There are many statements that are "psychic speak". Probably more on this in a separate thread.

K.C. Hey before you go do you have two kids
Nina No, but my sister does.
K.C. A boy and a girl?
Nina No, two girls
My take K.C. tried to get some cred. back with another question disguised as a statement. Bombed out big time there. 8am start again did that. The believers will say but he mentioned 2 kids, but it was a guess that he essentially bombed out on.

Geoff sports reporter I lost Paul my older brother to leukemia
K.C. Just trying to get a link. Your paternal grandfather & grandmother have passed away?
Geoff Right.
K.C. Just trying to establish a link, can you imagine a whole lot of people standing here and all talking at once
My take Asking a question to get info but disguising it as trying to get to the right person through all of the othersthat are pestering him.

K.C. Asking about a birthday, they have a big bunch of balloons. Someone relative to you or around you within the next week or two.
Geoff Today, my nephews 21st.
My take Another question that elicited a good hit. The odds of a family member or friend, or workmate having a birthday within 2 weeks is not bad odds, the bigger the family the better the odds. A good cold reading ploy. I would have been
impressed if KC had said that your nephew is having his 21st birtday today.

K.C. Your bro is acknowledging his nephew, is that his nephew or son.
Geoff My nephew and his nephew
My take Another question, KC had no idea of the relationship between the deceased brother and Geofs nephew. Why did not the spirits tell him, be more specific? Why acknowledge the nephew? Why did the spirit not tell KC about the nephews birthday that day. The spirit acknowledged the nephew but only vaguely hinted at a birthday earlier. You see the nephew came up at the first attempt at info from KC from a question then he uses that info to make his reading more believable.
A good cold reading ploy that one. Do you believers get that connection from birthday to nephew to acknowledgement, he built
up a good reading there using cold reading.

K.C. He has a footy as well, did he play footy, or you or did you play together
Geoff He was a mad footballer played for Brunswick
My take Duh, a sports reporter with a footy connection, him or his brother. That was a blatant question of KC, he really took the short odds there.

K.C. He is throwing darts at me, dart board.
Geoff Throwing darts (he is trying hard to get a connection to that)
My take A big miss, well he is sticking to the sport agenda. Trying to stay with the odds but bombing out again.
If he got a darts connection then Geoff would have been very impressed

K.C. When they throw darts it is like a teaser, trying to make you smile.
My take Switching this around to make his miss look much better. A common cold reading ploy.

K.C. He is also saying this two, have you got two of your own kids yet.
Geoff No
My take Another question that bombed, the two kids did not work this time. Bad luck KC

K.C. He is saying two, two, two, two, are you one of two.
Geoff I am the 4th child there is two boys.
My take KC persisting with this two, Geoff must find a link there soon.

Geoff Two boys, two girls
K.C.Geoff Any of those guys born in February
Geoff No
My take Geoff finally found a two link, then KCs guess about February bombed right out. Cold reading question not so good.

K.C. He is saying, should have seen some of the girls he has dated
Geoff Those days are over
Then it is said by woman broadcaster that Geoff has just got engaged
My take Another guess with the odds, did not seem much of a hit.

K.C. A Island connection, Fiji, Raratonga some connection, I don't know if that has happened yet.
Woman Broadcaster Where's Amra from
Geoff Lebonese parentage.
K.C. A connection with something happening over there in the future
My take Another miss from a question. Maybe he took the odds and hoped he was honeymooning in the Pacific Islands. But a vague comeback about something happening in the islands in the future is pretty poor cold reading. A big miss but the woman broadcaster is becoming KCs little helper. I think KC has that effect on all women.

K.C. He is also making me feel of the connection of own home, do you own your own house.
Geoff No
My take KCs cold reading not too good with Geoff, it's that bloody 8am start again.

K.C. Give mum a big hug, mum not coping, dad keeps it in the closet, it is important for her to understand it is not her fault. She somehow blames herself, you may not have heard that from her.
My take Very common for mothers to be emotional about a death and dad to bottle it up a common male trait. Typical for women to blame themselves for a lot of the problems, look at domestic violence and how the women victims often blame themselves.
He also added the "you may not have heard that from her" in case he has not, and thinks KC is wrong when really he is
fitting it to be right, rightly or wrongly.

K.C. Where does Margaret or Marg come into it.
Geoff No
K.C. Don't right it off, I know what I am talking about.Mellisa, Mark, a big M
Geoff Marney, Margaret, Aunty Margaret's alive
My take Well another question that bombed big time, but he tried to salvage this by saying don't write it off.
Geoff may fit this later in life, if he remembers well he then will be impressed with KC, if not no harm done. But Geoff did fit it with a aunty margaret.

All of the readings were conducted mainly with questions from KC. Some of them did fit, but most did not.
There was a lot more in this reading that could not be validated such as he/she is ok, he/she loves you. He/she is with
you.
The skilled cold reader builds the reading on information gleaned from the client then feeds it back skillfully to make it
look like the psychic has come up with it.

The Balmainiacs

2009-09-18T00:38:00.003+10:00

Now that I have your attention with a bit of "poetic license", or "bloggers license" about deep throats etc.. I must now go back into the past.

Not being one to dwell on the past like some others, of past glories or alleged grievances. I must look at history because those that ignore history are destined to repeat the wrongs of history.

I go back to the 18th September 1909. This date exactly 100 years ago to the day of the publishing of this blog, is a very black day in Rugby League history.

This day marks the day of that infamous no show game in the playoffs for the Premiers of 1909. This game featured South Sydney as minor premiers and Balmain as the second placed team. Balmain decided to not play, the play off games, and of course, you ask, why.

Well I will allow the following to educate you on what happened on that black day. The lead up to it and the very surprising findings of why this occurred.

I have in my blog the full transcript from the website, plus my comments in blue. I have also provided a link to that web site.

This is the website that contains these very surprising and damaging revelations.

The Balmainiacs of 1909

Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

Balmain were referred to many critics as 'The Balmainiacs'. It was the most dramatic action ever taken by a rugby league club - the 1909 Balmain team forfeited the premiership Final (18th September 1909).

Arguments have raged as to what led to Balmain's actions, and the day's events have caused the 'Tigers' and the South Sydney Rabbitohs to generally harbour nothing but ill-will towards each other ever-since.

Maybe the two dinasours, Bradasouris and BobsTrex may come to blows?

The seeds of the dramatic events of 1909 lay in the years before rugby league was formed, back when Balmain and Souths were rugby union clubs.

In 1900 the Metropolitan Rugby Union (MRU) replaced the private clubs of the 1800s with district clubs. This was done to more evenly distribute the talent between clubs, and to build upon the growing support for suburban based clubs.

While Balmain had use of 'the best ground in the colony' in Birchgrove Park [Oval], the MRU inexplicably ignored its 'home-and-away' scheduling for club matches, and refused to allocate South Sydney matches anywhere but at the SCG or Sports Ground.

Between 1900 and 1906, Souths and Balmain had met 14 times, yet the 'red-and-greens' had only twice been required to play at Birchgrove.

Why would South Sydney expect to slum it at Balmain anyway.

While most clubs trained indoors at night or on fields under moonlight, Souths and Easts had exclusive use of the lights of the Sports Ground. Understandably, other clubs, particularly Balmain and Norths felt that Souths and Easts were receiving favourable treatment.

The newspapers and opposing fans had come to call the Balmain club "the Balmainiacs". Unafraid to vent their feelings, especially at home games, Balmain were not the most popular club amongst Sydney 'rugbyites'.

When the opportunity came to join the newly formed rugby league in the early months of 1908, most rugby union clubs lost approximately half of their players and members. In Balmain's case, the League got just about everybody.

When the Balmain Union club held its first meeting of 1908, all the district's League supporters attended and voted against the election of every official for the coming season.

While they really had no cause to even be at the Union club's meeting, the presence of the League supporters prevented the Union club from being formed for the coming season. The MRU organised the follow-up meeting for the same night as the next Balmain League meeting, just so it could carry on its business.

By the start of the 1909 season, the NSWRL was in a dire financial crisis - its founding fathers, James Giltinan, Victor Trumper and 'Harry' Hoyle, all lost their positions.

Under the stewardship of North Sydney's Alexander Knox, the NSWRL convinced the clubs to forgo their gate receipts from matches, and hand it all over to the League.

It quickly became apparent to Knox that the only club attracting reasonable crowds was Balmain at Birchgrove Park. Consequently, Balmain were given a home game in almost every round. As a result, they enjoyed great on-field success and climbed the premiership ladder. Balmain reached the Final against South Sydney.

However, as Souths had won the minor premiership by two points, the NSWRL play-offs system meant that Balmain had to beat them in the Final, and then beat them again in a second Final to claim the title. It seemed unlikely.

Balmain lobbied the NSWRL to schedule the Final at Wentworth Park, which was half-way between the two districts. The League refused, and put the match on at the Agricultural Ground - Souths home field.

Balmain's complaints were quickly overtaken by outside events when more than half of the 1908 Wallabies team suddenly defected to rugby league for a series of matches against the Kangaroos. The Final was postponed indefinitely.

Knox publicly criticised the NSWRL officials who were involved in 'bringing-down' the NSWRU via paying huge sums to the Wallabies. Other officials didn't see a problem with the League's actions, and Knox soon lost his position on the NSWRL.

Funded by entrepreneur James Joynton-Smith, the three 'Wallabies v Kangaroos' matches did not earn enough gate-money to fully cover his costs or those of the NSWRL. So a fourth game was arranged. To increase interest and gate-takings, the NSWRL scheduled the Final on the under-card.

Balmain were seemingly aggrieved at the demotion of importance of the Final, and asked the NSWRL to ensure it was played on a separate day. They also argued that their players' labour should not go towards paying money owed to Joynton-Smith and the NSWRL. The League refused and Balmain announced that they would not play.

What a disgrace, would that happen today, I would hope not.

On the day of the Final the Balmain players arrived outside the ground in the early afternoon, well before the scheduled kick-off time of 2 o'clock. They then picketed the entrance, endeavouring to convince patrons not to enter.

Disgraceful, what a low act against the NSWRL that was.

Despite very heavy rain and the protests of the Balmain footballers, enough of a crowd turned up to clear the debts of Joynton-Smith and the NSWRL. Balmain stuck to their word and did not appear on the field. Souths kicked-off, picked up the ball and scored a try. The referee awarded them the match, and with it the 1909 premiership.

Now that was a disgraceful affair for a club to act in such a manner. But wait, is that the worst, is there something else to this very tawdry affair, to this very black day in NSWRL history. I would say that this is the worst thing that a club could do. But no, there is more to this very grubby affair. Read on.

In the days that followed a public meeting was held at Balmain to decide what to do about challenging Souths being credited as premiers. It then became apparent what Balmain had been trying to achieve. The first speaker at the meeting was North Sydney's Alexander Knox. He had convinced Balmain to forfeit the Final in the hope that the NSWRL would not earn enough money to pay off its debts or be able to reimburse Joynton-Smith.

With the NSWRL bankrupted, Balmain and Norths officials would lead the formation of a new rugby league body - one in which they, and not South Sydney and Easts, would be the dominant office-holders. With little hope of winning the premiership, Balmain felt they had more to gain by causing the NSWRL to collapse.

Well, what a disgraceful act of "TREASON" that was. Balmain and North Sydney should have been expelled from the NSWRL for such a dastardly act. An act of naked greed and a grab for power.

Further meetings were held, attempting to instigate legal proceedings and investigate forming a new League, but they eventually stalled.

In the opening round of the 1910 competition, the NSWRL scheduled a 're-match' between Souths and Balmain at Birchgrove Park to appease the local supporters.

'The Balmainiacs' responded by establishing a record crowd for a NSWRL club match of over 5,000. The home team though were beaten 13-5 in a very tough and physical encounter.

Go you mighty Rabbits.

The Referee thought it necessary to praise the Birchgrove crowd for their behaviour, offering, "Naturally they like to see their favourites win, and what district does not? In the present instance, however, their team had to play second fiddle, but as sports they took the defeat in good spirit, and liberally applauded the visitors."

At the first NSWRL meeting of 1910, Norths'
Alexander Knox was banned from rugby league
for life.

So he should have been, and also with the Balmain and North Sydney clubs. Shame on them.

Shame, Shame, Shame.

This is the lesson of history we should all learn. No club or person is greater than the game. Balmain and North Sydney tried to dominate by stealth and lost out.

This has no bearing on the club Balmain or the amalgamated clubs Wests Tigers now. It is just a glimpse into the past, a past we should not forget so we don't repeat the sins of the past.

Here ends my sermon.

Kyle and Jackie O

2009-07-30T06:24:00.005+10:00

Kyle and Jackie O have a radio show on 2Day FM. They had a segment called “Lie Detector”. They accepted participation from a mother who wanted to quiz her reluctant daughter on such things as wagging school, taking drugs, and having sex.
The daughter is 14 years old.
They had a lie detector and lie detector user in the studio with the mother and daughter. The daughter was reluctant to participate which is obvious from the transcript below. The daughter was hooked up to the lie detector.
What do you all think.
Transcript

[intro music]

Jackie O: Here’s a little quick recap before we do the Lie Detector.

Mum: Um, last Thursday night she went to bed at nine o’clock. I gave her a kiss goodnight, and 2:30 in the morning I got a knock on the door from two undercover police bringing her home.

Jackie: What’s your worst fear? Is it the sex, is it the lying, is it possibly doing drugs, smoking… what do you think?

Mum: Um… drugs and sex. And older boys.

Jackie: Yeah.

Mum: Yeah, and older boys.

Jackie: Do you think – has she actually told you she’s had sex before, or do you think she’s a virgin?

Mum: I think she – might have had sex before.

Jackie: Right, but she hasn’t said anything?

Mum: No.

Kyle: Have you asked about the drugs? And things like that?

Mum: Yes, I know for a fact that she’s been smoking marijuana.

Kyle: Right, so she’s admitted that, has she?

Jackie: So you want to know if she’s doing anything harder than marijuana then?

Mum: Yes, yes.

Jackie: Alright, we have her hooked up to the Lie Detector! She’s not happy! I just saw her listening to that [bleep]

Daughter: I’m scared. It’s not fair.

Jackie: It wouldn’t be fair on any kid, I tell you. No – they’re sympathising…

Kyle: Is that true, Charles? Is that true?

Charles: That is true.

?Kyle: She is scared, everyone, yeah.

Jackie: Yeah. Mum, you have a series of questions that you’re going to ask your daughter, and [name bleeped], you reply either Yes or No, and then it will be picked up on the Lie Detector whether [with a laugh in her voice] you are telling the truth or you are lying. Ok Mum, what do you want to start with?

Mum: OK, about school. [name bleeped] recently started a new school, and I want to know: Have you wagged at your new school?

Daughter: I have not wagged at my new school.

Jackie: So the answer would be no?

Daughter: No, I haven’t.

Charles: Now, that’s a fail.

Daughter: I haven’t wagged! Are you kidding me?

Charles: I’m just calling it…

Daughter: I haven’t bloody wagged!

Jackie [laughing]: Poor Charles is going to cop it this morning!

Kyle: You’re not within arms reach there are you Charles?

Jackie: Yeah he is!

Daughter: He is.

Jackie: So the Lie Detector’s saying you have…

Daughter: I haven’t wagged!

Jackie: What’s happening here, Charles?

Charles: Well maybe she’s skipped a class or something like that.

Jackie: Have you done that, skipped a class?

Daughter: No! I haven’t!

Mum: Have you left there early?

Daughter: No. I haven’t.

Kyle: Could it come up a fail – like, have you had a sick day or something, where you bunged on a bit of a sickie, and you thought …

Daughter: Oh, yeah, plenty of them.

Kyle: Could that be it? Yep.

Jackie: Well, that’s it apparently. Yep. Ok, what’s your next question, Mum?

Mum: OK. Have you had sex?

Daughter: [quieter] I’ve already told you the story of this. And don’t look at me and smile, because it’s not funny. [louder, announcing with bravado] OH, OK. I got raped when I was twelve years old.

[silence]

Kyle: Right. And is that the, is that the only experience you’ve had?

[huffing sound - is this the daughter fake-laughing in disbelief?]

Mum: I only found out about that, um, a couple of months ago. Yes, I knew about that.

Daughter: And yet you still asked me the question.

Mum: The question was, have you had sex other than that.

Jackie: [name bleeped] I’m really sorry, we didn’t actually know that that was the case, and I think that we might actually abort this segment. I had no idea that you’ve been through that, so I’m really sorry. And we’ll just let you off the hook, I think. I think it’s best not to continue. Are you alright? It’s ok, you just take a breather, it’s fine.

We always have counselling services here. [Name bleeped] Have you had any counselling over this issue?

Mum: No, she’ hasn’t.

Jackie: OK, well we have all the right people in place if you need any help or support in regards to that. Which it sounds like you might. I’m really sorry; I had no idea that this had happened to you. I don’t think we would have gone ahead with that had we known.

OK honey, we’ll just let you go for a while.

I’m sorry, I didn’t realise that that was…

Kyle: OK, Mum, sorry. Look we needed to, we, that’s something we probably should have known before we started this.

?Mum: Yeah, definitely.

Kyle: So let’s do that, let’s get you – if you guys haven’t had any counselling, or any, anyone to talk to about that, we’re happy to pick up the bill for that. We’ve got ‘em here. Do you want that, Mum?

Mum: [quietly] Yes, I think that would be good. That would be good.

Kyle: OK, well that might um, that might, going through that might answer some of the questions that you guys are having difficulty communicating with.

Mum: OK. Yup.

Kyle: OK, [name bleeped] Thanks for coming in, darl. Sorry about that. OK, we’re out, everyone. Jackie’s got some news coming up.

[outro music]

Well that is it.
What a disgusting child exploited little episode in Australian radio history.
I cannot understand how anyone thinking in a rational way would think that it is ok to do this.
I think Kyle and Jackie O are not fit to be on radio again. They should be immediately sacked and probably the radio station lose it's license. It all depends on how much the radio station executives knew of the sordid stunt.
Over to you bloggers.
Here is the reaction of Kyle and Jackie O 2 Day FM

Update, Simon Singh's article made Lawyer friendly

2009-07-29T17:32:00.003+10:00

Here is a "Lawyer Friendly" version of Simon Singh's original article in the Guardian that brought on the libel case.

Beware the spinal trap

Some practitioners claim it is a cure-all, but the research suggests chiropractic therapy has mixed results – and can even be lethal, says Simon Singh.

You might be surprised to know that the founder of chiropractic therapy, Daniel David Palmer, wrote that “99% of all diseases are caused by displaced vertebrae”. In the 1860s, Palmer began to develop his theory that the spine was involved in almost every illness because the spinal cord connects the brain to the rest of the body. Therefore any misalignment could cause a problem in distant parts of the body.

In fact, Palmer’s first chiropractic intervention supposedly cured a man who had been profoundly deaf for 17 years. His second treatment was equally strange, because he claimed that he treated a patient with heart trouble by correcting a displaced vertebra.

You might think that modern chiropractors restrict themselves to treating back problems, but in fact some still possess quite wacky ideas. The fundamentalists argue that they can cure anything, including helping treat children with colic, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying – even though there is not a jot of evidence.

I can confidently label these assertions as utter nonsense because I have co-authored a book about alternative medicine with the world’s first professor of complementary medicine, Edzard Ernst. He learned chiropractic techniques himself and used them as a doctor. This is when he began to see the need for some critical evaluation. Among other projects, he examined the evidence from 70 trials exploring the benefits of chiropractic therapy in conditions unrelated to the back. He found no evidence to suggest that chiropractors could treat any such conditions.

But what about chiropractic in the context of treating back problems? Manipulating the spine can cure some problems, but results are mixed. To be fair, conventional approaches, such as physiotherapy, also struggle to treat back problems with any consistency. Nevertheless, conventional therapy is still preferable because of the serious dangers associated with chiropractic.

In 2001, a systematic review of five studies revealed that roughly half of all chiropractic patients experience temporary adverse effects, such as pain, numbness, stiffness, dizziness and headaches. These are relatively minor effects, but the frequency is very high, and this has to be weighed against the limited benefit offered by chiropractors.

More worryingly, the hallmark technique of the chiropractor, known as high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust, carries much more significant risks. This involves pushing joints beyond their natural range of motion by applying a short, sharp force. Although this is a safe procedure for most patients, others can suffer dislocations and fractures.

Worse still, manipulation of the neck can damage the vertebral arteries, which supply blood to the brain. So-called vertebral dissection can ultimately cut off the blood supply, which in turn can lead to a stroke and even death. Because there is usually a delay between the vertebral dissection and the blockage of blood to the brain, the link between chiropractic and strokes went unnoticed for many years. Recently, however, it has been possible to identify cases where spinal manipulation has certainly been the cause of vertebral dissection.

Laurie Mathiason was a 20-year-old Canadian waitress who visited a chiropractor 21 times between 1997 and 1998 to relieve her low-back pain. On her penultimate visit she complained of stiffness in her neck. That evening she began dropping plates at the restaurant, so she returned to the chiropractor. As the chiropractor manipulated her neck, Mathiason began to cry, her eyes started to roll, she foamed at the mouth and her body began to convulse. She was rushed to hospital, slipped into a coma and died three days later. At the inquest, the coroner declared: “Laurie died of a ruptured vertebral artery, which occurred in association with a chiropractic manipulation of the neck.”

This case is not unique. In Canada alone there have been several other women who have died after receiving chiropractic therapy, and Edzard Ernst has identified about 700 cases of serious complications among the medical literature. This should be a major concern for health officials, particularly as under-reporting will mean that the actual number of cases is much higher.

If spinal manipulation were a drug with such serious adverse effects and so little demonstrable benefit, then it would almost certainly have been taken off the market.

Simon Singh is a science writer in London and the co-author, with Edzard Ernst, of Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial. This is an edited version of an article published in The Guardian for which Singh is being personally sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association.

Bowing to the Exclusive Bretheren

2009-07-11T07:47:00.007+10:00

I was reading the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) over my corn flakes this morning when I suddenly gagged and coughed milk and corn flakes all over the newspaper.
The article that I gagged on was by David Marr about a Tasmanian mans fight for access to his children in the Family Court.
The man and his wife were both in the Exclusive Bretheren with their 8 children. The man left the sect in 2003 and subsequently lost access to his children. At that time 3 of his children were of child age and he started Family Court action to get access to the 3 children.
Quoting from the SMH.
"After a three-year battle in the Family Court, he was granted limited access to the two youngest. In a 100-page judgment, Justice Robert Benjamin declared the steps taken by the Brethren to discourage the children from seeing their father "psychologically cruel, unacceptable and abusive".
Access started in 2007. After the visits to their father, the children allegedly wrote heartbreaking letters objecting to their visits. The sect deny that they coach children to write letters of protest.
This court action was vigorously opposed by the mother and of course the church. The mother, one of her children (I assume was one of the adult children) and one of the children in law were threatened with prison for failing to facilitate access.
The mother used the leading family law silk Noel Ackman plus a supporting legal team. You would of course expect the sect to pay for the court action but they deny this and say individual members have given the mother money for the court action. Pigs fly as well.
The father was broke spending $100,000 on the 5 years of litigation.
This story is now more complex with the mother now being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. The family allegedly blamed the father for the cancer. How cruel and totally lacking in any logic are these people.
Now it continues with the father wanting new access plus custody of the youngest child. The mother wants the ex husband to have no custody in the event of her death.
Now this is what made me gag.
Quoting from the SMH.
"Justice Sally Brown declared the faith of the children the "crucial factor" in the case and sided with the mother and the church. She took no account of the sect's long history of trouble with the Family Court and did not address the role the Brethren had played - and may still be playing - in the extreme hostility of the children to visiting their father. The hostility was to be honoured: "It is not realistic to expect them to go against the … teaching of their church. Though she found Peter was a loving father with a comfortable home in which children could live, she birched him for his attitude to the sect; for embarrassing his children by putting birthday greetings in newspapers; for seeking custody of only one child and not two; and for claiming the Brethren had robbed his children of autonomy. Wasn't his own departure, she asked, proof the sect allowed debate and dissent? But he was 46 when he left and his children are 15 and 10. In a remarkable finding by a Family Court judge, Peter was even castigated for seeking to enforce the earlier orders of the court. A door that had been ajar was shut, said the judge. "The continuation of the litigation after [the mother's] diagnosis in May 2007 has driven both children from their father. In their best interests, the litigation must end."
The father has now lost any chance of custody and has lost all access.
Quoting the SMH again.
"It may be that viewing this terrible and tangled situation, Justice Brown found a fair and secular outcome just too hard - too hard on the children, too hard on their dying mother, too hard in the face of the implacable hostility of the Brethren.
But her decision has reward the sect's intransigence. Once again the Family Court has flinched.
Athol Greene insists these cases are rare and that the church will submit to the law while continuing to argue that the best outcome for these children is to remain solely within the Brethren.
"You won't change us," he says, fixing me with his old eyes. "You. Won't. Change. Us.""
How horrid is this, I could not believe that the Family Court would fold to the demands of a cruel sect that separates families because one parent is not a part of the sect.
We need individual rights, maybe a Bill of Rights that can overide this madness.
This has saddened me greatly.
Exclusive Bretheren SMH article

Update on Simon Singh

2009-07-07T07:07:00.003+10:00

Just an update on Simon Singh.
He is coming to Australia and he will be speaking at,
Seymour Theatre Centre
Corner of City Rd and Cleveland St, CHIPPENDALE Sydney
When: July 15, 2009 6:00 PM.

Here he is being interviewed on Lateline ABC TV last night. He is talking of the current libel case.

Acupuncture in Emergency Departments

2009-06-26T14:37:00.006+10:00

I have read in todays Sydney Morning Herald that Victorian Emergency Departments are going to trial acupuncture for the treatment of acute migraine, back pain and ankle injuries. Quoting the Herald, "The National Health and Medical Research Council has granted more than $400,000 for a three-year clinical trial in which 400 people will receive drug therapy, acupuncture or both to treat pain."
Apparently there has been a pilot study run at Northern Hospital in Epping, Victoria. This pilot study has allegedly shown promise with managing pain and nausea.
An Emergency Physician Robyn Parker said that patient who turned up at the Emergency Department were given the option of being treated by final year or graduate acupuncture students from RMIT in conjunction with standard medical treatment. Allegedly patients reported a significant reduction in pain and most said they would have it again.
In this multiple Emergency Department trial traditional Chinese medicine practitioners will be employed to carry out the acupuncture.
The lead researcher, Marc Cohen, a professor of complementary medicine at RMIT, said that the patients pain levels will be assessed every hour up until they leave Emergency and for several days afterwards to see which treatment worked best.
What worries me about these trials if carried out the way the pilot study was, is the unscientific way the trials are formulated. I am no scientist but surely a proper clinical trial is double blinded. The pilot study if going on reports in the SMH was not blinded at all. Any improvement in pain and nausea could be put down to the placebo effect. Pain and nausea are very subjective symptons so the placebo effect needs to be ruled out.
According to the authors of the book "Trick or Treatment", Simon Singh and Professor Edzard Ernst a Complementary Medicine Professor. The conditions where acupuncture has possibly shown some benefit in properly conducted trials are, pelvic and back pain during pregnancy, low back pain, headaches, post-operative nausea and vomiting, chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting, neck disorders and bed wetting.
They do stress that essentially acupuncture seems to only have a placebo effect.
I think much caution should be placed on the findings of this trial once it is finished because as I see it, it will be done in a very unscientific way. I hope I am wrong and they will do randomised double blind studies.

UK Chiropractors in Crisis

2009-06-18T05:56:00.009+10:00

You may have been aware of the recent libel case in the UK courts concerning the British Chiropractic Association and the British science writer Simon Singh. The preliminary hearing for the libel case brought against Simon Singh by the British Chiropractic Association was heard in early May.
Mr Justice Eady held:
1. that what Dr Singh had published was defamatory of the BCA in exactly the way the BCA had claimed; and
2. that Dr Singh’s allegations were not comment but were serious defamatory allegations of fact against the BCA.
Dr Singh’s application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal was refused by the Judge. Dr Singh has indicated, however, that he proposes to challenge that decision at the Court of Appeal and he now has three weeks to lodge that challenge.
Mr Justice Eady ordered Dr Singh to pay the BCA’s costs of the hearing within 28 days.
Since then there has been a great deal of interest in the sceptical, scientific community regarding this case.
A legal blogger "Jack of Kent" Has this on his blog.
This is the offical text of the ruling of the English High Court on the question of meaning at the preliminary hearing of British Chiropractic Association v Simon Singh on 7 May 2009.
The scientists are concerned because of the libel laws in Britain are so severe that any scientific challenge to a claim made by a person or organisation whether scientific or pseudoscientific can possibly be defamatory.
Dr, Singh has decided to appeal. He has this to say.
Since then many complaints have gone in about the claims made by Chiropractors in particularly their claim to "fix" childhood asthma, colic, whiplash.
Their is one big Chiropractic comglomerate McTimoney Chiropractors that have sent a "secret" email to all of their members. The secret letter is below.
So it seems that this ruling has come back to bite the British Chiropractors.
A secret letter to chiropractors.
Keep libel laws out of science
I will keep you all updated on this case as it progresses.

Cosmic Ordering Update

2009-04-20T07:14:00.003+10:00

It has now been about one month since I sent my order to the universe. Has world poverty been eliminated? Has all of the worlds brutal dictators gone, has abundant clean water supplied to everyone on this planet. I don't think so. If it has please let me know ASAP.

Cosmic Ordering

2009-03-20T21:58:00.006+11:00

Well the new sensation with the New Age set is, "Cosmic Ordering". It does seem to be similar to "The Secret".
Cosmic ordering allegedly harnesses the power of positive thinking, and the creative "energy" of our thoughts travels through the interconnected cosmos to bring about all of your desires. The only proviso is that you "be positive, be open and be at ease, requesting your cosmic order without worry or attachment to the outcome."
There is a website for cosmic ordering, and here you place your order or orders, as many as you like.
If by chance your order fails, that is if you are negative, close minded, not believing in Cosmic Ordering then just visit this website and all will be well.
How easy can all of this be. Why was it not thought of years ago. Yes, I wonder why.
Well I have put it to the test and have gone to the Cosmic Ordering website and ordered this to be delivered by Monday 23rd March 2009. This is what I ordered. "Irradicate world poverty. Supply abundant and clean water to every person on this planet. Supply abundant food and shelter for every person on this planet. Rid this world of all brutal dictators."
Do you think it will be delivered?
Well, we will soon find out, come Monday. I will either be a massive believer in Cosmic Ordering or remain a sceptic to all that is woo.
This could be a life changing day for me, but don't hold your breath.

2009-03-13T21:00:00.008+11:00

Psychic Kids
Should we be encouraging children from an early age participating in the paranormal. Children that their parents claim are psychic. Channel 7 current affair show did a program on this.
Channel 7 program
Are these children being exploited by parents living their fantasies through their children. Channel 7 should not have televised such a show but to their credit at least they did have a contrary opinion.
New Idea magazine got into the act with the same poor child and did a one sided article on the girl and her mother.

Mothers web site
The childs mother has a website dedicated to her daughter.
How appropriate is all of this.
Is it a form of child abuse?

Psychic's Predictions 2009

2009-01-26T21:57:00.017+11:00

How often do you hear of Psychics talking of how their predictions were spot on after the event.
Well this blog hopefully will collect as many psychic predictions before they happen. So post them here and I will add them to the Post.
So I have Stacey Demarco's predictions for 2009. Stacey is the judge with Richard Saunders on "The One". She is a witch and has just been voted Psychic of the year for 2009.
Stacey Demarco's predictions for 2009.

The Obamas, no great prediction, a lot of predictable babble about security risk really. Also he may be assassinated.

Kevin Rudd Australia's Prime Minister may have serious, may be fatal heart problems this year 2009.

Malcolm Turnbull Australia's Liberal party leader will not be Prime Minister, but Julia Gillard currently deputy PM will be Australia's first woman PM. This one I hope happens.

House prices in Australia won't have much more dropping. Another 6 months. Turnaround in 2010.

Economy will get worse in 2009, August 2009 will be the "pits" (my word).

Oscars, Slam Dog Millionare will win. Best actor Mickey Rourke. Best actress Kate Winslet.

Psychic Ann Ann from the Woman's Day magazine.
Her Predictions for 2009
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Brad will do everything within his power to make this relationship work. This year will mark a turning point in their relationship — if they don't marry in 2009 then they will go their separate ways within the next 2 years. This will have more to do with Angelina's deep-seeded need to be a free spirit. Both Angelina and Brad will have a lot of success this year, both being nominated for awards on and off screen. Work-wise this is a brilliant year for the both of them.
Tom Cruse and Katie Holmes At heart, Katie is a Catholic and no matter how hard she tries to suppress her upbringing, it'll still create havoc within her. She adores Tom, but at the same time she can't understand his need for total control. Katie and Nicole have a lot more in common than people think and Tom is only starting to see this now. Though Kate is living in New York now, she still feels very restricted. Tom adores his wife but believes the man should be the boss and provider. The more Katie's star rises, the more he will fight to maintain control. Katie will be nominated for an award in 2009. 2009 and 2010 mark a major turning point in this marriage, late 2009 will be especially rocky. 2009 will not be the most memorable year movie-wise for Tom — a few critics will applaud his acting ability but mostly he'll be ripped to shreds.
Lleyton and Bec Hewitt

The Hewitts have a lovely new baby, and there is one more child to come. The last born will also become a tennis star and be an even better player than his father. Lleyton is still chasing the dream of becoming world's number one again but it is never going to happen — his time has passed and no matter how determined he may be its just won't happen. 2009 will also see him being approached to write — not just about his life, but to also give tennis tips — being paid mega-bucks for the deal. Eventually, Lleyton will go on to be a tennis commentator and coach a lot sooner than he or his adoring fans think.
Terri and Bindi Irwin

Steve's father will be the least of Terry's Irwin's concerns in 2009, while Bindi will go from strength to strength. There seems to be nothing but one financial crisis after another happening behind the scenes for this lovely lady. Funding to Australia Zoo will be cut by a principle sponsor who is in deep financial trouble due to the decline in the US economy.
Victoria and David Beckham

These two celebrities know each other so well and really love each other. Posh's biggest problem is that she tries too hard and gives too much of herself in the hope that people will want her for herself and not just for David. But David couldn't give a damn what anyone says or thinks about him — he's happy with his life and adores his family. However, in 2009, there will be talk of him having another fling. Their love will see Posh through some ugly publicity, particularly in the latter part of 2009. David will also be signing another mega-deal, this time with a major retail group in the Asian region. A baby girl is a possibility for them in 2009, but David does not like adoptions. David's move to the US will have him wondering if it wasn't all a big mistake — something to do with a club being in financial trouble.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban

Nicole is a very strong-willed person who likes everything to go her way and is the dominant one in this marriage. However, while on one hand she enjoys being the boss, it's her childhood which seems to dictate her need for complete commitment from her partner and those close to her. In 2009 she will be highly-praised for her work both on and off the screen, yet there are also tears around her to do with her personal life. Keith loves his wife very much but he's still got a bit of a wondering eye. He will be buying into a major recording business, but it's not in Nashville. There is one more pregnancy around this couple.
Cathy Freeman

2009 will see this beautiful young woman with legal problems, something to do with outstanding finances — that either she has not paid, or that she is owed or was promised. It's going to be a battle and Cathy would be better off trying to make a deal before the matter goes to court but she probably won't!
Leisel Jones

2009 will see this beautiful young woman all aglow and in love again and this will be the man she's was meant to be with. She will also be signing a mega-deal but it won't come into effect till late 2010, when she either retires or announces her retirement from swimming.
Kevin Rudd

This man is in for a major shake-up mid 2009, with some of his most trusted people turning on him. In many ways he is a lot like the previous Australian PM John Howard, except he doesn't quite have the confidence or the know-how to run the country yet. 2009 will not be a good year for Mr Rudd personally — the knives are well and truly out from a few within his own party.

Australia

No matter how hard things get with the rest of the world, and despite all the gloomy predictions, Australia is the place to be to ride out these uncertain times. As for the stock market, people should just hang in there and not panic, and grab whatever extra stock they can afford at bargain basement prices. A year is a long time for things to right themselves, and they will do so well before the end of 2009. 2009 will see petrol prices rise again but they will not reach the same outrageous prices that they did in 2008. Also, now is the time for anyone who doesn't have home insurance to get it even if it only a basic cover. Australia is going to be experiencing some unusual weather through 2009 till early 2010.
America

Things are not quite as bad as the bankers and economists are making out. Within the first quarter of 2009, something will be uncovered and the stock market will once again begin a slow rise upwards. Though it may only be slow rise it's a rise nonetheless that will bring back hope and have far-reaching effects on the rest of the word — and not just financially. Those responsible for the collapse in the first place will go largely unpunished — unfortunately they have to, because they could bring down the whole US economy.

Sarah's KULKENS' predictions for 2009
We could see greater penalties for drug abuse.
Discovery of rather large uranium deposits.
Large gold discoveries in Australia around Bathurst in NSW and Wedderburn in Victoria.
Madonna health issues re botched surgery.
Major Bushfires in Victoria and NSW with very strong winds – deliberately lit.
Drinking water needed to be flown in from overseas.
More and more food poisonings so big advertising campaigns needed.
A major hospital closing its doors.
Assassination attempt on political leaders.
Kylie Minoque health scare.
Birth for the British royal family out of wedlock and news of a cover up.
Huge problems within Australian politics – votes of no confidence.
Highest tally on record for suicide.
More mysterious disappearances.
News of government fraud rocking our economy.
American government asking for our help.
Bank collapse in Australia causing people to loose confidence in banks.

Some predictions from the Australian Psychic Expo.

False/Faulty Memory

2009-01-07T23:26:00.015+11:00

What I would like to talk about with my next blog is, False Memories.
I am not talking about the Theory of "False Memory Syndrome". This is where a Psychotherapist allegedly brings up to conscious thought a previous memory that has allegedly been repressed. This had currency for a while worldwide in the 80s and 90s. Some Psychotherapists were bringing to conscious thought alleged child abuse by parents, usually sexual abuse by the fathers. This practice has apparently been discredited as a faulty practice by some Psychotherapists. If my memory serves me correct, then again it may be faulty, there was an Australian Paediatrician in Scotland that brought to attention of the authorities there, of many repressed memories of sexual abuse by parents on their children. These cases went to court and I think they were all eventually proven false.
What I want to discuss is the false or faulty memory of everyday normal people. I think everyone does have these false/faulty memories of past events.
I can think of two concerning me.
The first is a memory that my mother has of being in a restaurant with myself and my brother. My mother said it was in the country town of Orange, but my memory is of it being in the country town of Queanbeyan. One of us has a faulty memory, or could it be both?
The second concerned the Federal election in Australia in 1972 when Gough Whitlam got into power. My brother (who is my twin) and a friend who is about 6 months younger. They both distinctly remember voting in this election. They would, I am sure at the time of the discussion last year, would have sworn on a truckload of bibles that their memory was accurate. My memory of the election was that we were all too young to vote because I and my brother were only 20 years of age, and our friend 19 years old in December 1972, and you had to be 21 years to vote in 1972. I checked this on the internet with the Electoral Office and voting for people under 21 years came in, in 1973. You could vote at 18 years and older after 1973. So 1972 was too early for us to vote.
This now brings me to another area I would like to discuss.
I read in the Fairfax Press Article about Steve Price the Rugby League player. Ex Canterbury Captain, current Queensland and Australian Prop forward, who allegedly received an email from his mother of a discussion she had with a Psychic. Steve received three readings from this Psychic and they talked of the trials and tribulations that Canterbury went through in the early 2000s. He allegedly received these readings in 2002. This Psychic was allegedly communicating with the spirit of the dead Peter Moore (Bullfrog). Steve was allegedly gobsmacked by what the Psychic predicted, all before the events occurred. What is this all about?
These readings have come up now because Steve has these readings in his book. Price's recently released book Be Your Best contains a chapter relating to a psychic reading with Moore in 2002 that warned of the club's salary cap scandal - before it happened.
Now this event has a number of possible explanations.
The first would be that Psychics are real and the Psychic was really communicating with Bullfrogs spirit. Steve has a spirital motive. To me this is unlikely because the existence of a spirit of a dead person has never been verified, no credible scientific evidence exists for such entities.
Second is that Steve is making all of this up to push along the sale of his book, he has a monetary motive. This to me is possibly unlikely. All that I have heard of Steve is that he is a honest person, (well he would be if he played for Canterbury).
Thirdly he has a faulty memory of the chronological order of events. What Steve was told to him by his mother could have happened after the event. Over the years he has fitted this in with getting the information before the event. This to me is the most rational explanation.
I am open to other explanations with the appropriate credible evidence.
Finishing this now. What do you all think of this False/Faulty memory. Have you had these experiences, how have you rationalised them out when you have found your memory is faulty?

That Islam Problem

2008-12-13T11:38:00.017+11:00

Islam, is it a problem?
This blog was influenced by my sister in law in Malaysia that sent me an email about Islam.
Is there an overreaction in the Western World and even the Eastern World to this religion or the believers of this religion. Is the problem, if there is one, only due to a small minority of extremist Muslims. Or is the basic "tenets" of the religion the problem.
I, as a Sceptic and Atheist do not understand the religious, wether it is with Islam, Christianity, in fact all religions and believers of the paranormal and supernatural. To me the lack of critical thinking that believers seem to have when it comes to their area of belief is baffling. Most religions, if not all, have a problem with Atheists. The more fundemental that they are the less tolerant that they seem to be. I have no problems with people believing in all sorts of things but I do not understand it.
Anyway back to the item at hand, Islam.
But with Islam, it may go further.
You hear it all of the time from Muslims that Islam is a religion of peace.
I would tend to disagree. It is a religion that polarises people. A religion that takes no enemies. It is their way or the highway. They discourage friendship with the "infedel". They discourage marriage between their women and non muslims because the children of that union will be traditionally bought up in the fathers religion, which of course would not be Islam.
So what do we do to fight back, if that is what we do.
I think branding all Muslims with the same brush is not the way. I think we need to use logic and a good reasoned debate. We need to "itemise" our grieviences.
We should point out the irrational and maybe illegal parts of their religion. Well, all religions are irrational, so that would not be hard. We need to point out the more's of our society and why a particular belief or action is unacceptable. We need to be respectful, reasoned and definitely not like the racist yobbos at Cronulla a couple of years ago. We need to engage them in reasoned debate. I know for a fact that this will not change a believer no matter what they believe, but it is the only way. We do not bow to their demands, if that is what they are doing. We need an accepting community that can take the non militant Muslim by the hand and encourage them to participate in our society. This is not currently happening. They are being marginalised.
How we do this I do not know. Unfortunately belief has a strong corrupting influence on people and a believer can believe and act in very irrational ways.

Below is a speech made by a Geert Wilders a Dutch member of Parliament. He does seem to lie on the right of the political spectrum.
This was sent to me by one of my sisters in law from Malaysia. Of course there are a lot of tension between Malays (muslim) and other Malaysian ethnic groups particularly the Chinese and Indian in Malaysia. But I don't think the tension is religion in nature but the legal discrimination against all ethnic groups in Malaysia to the benefit of Malays who are in the majority and hold political power.
At the bottom of this post are two YouTube videos of an interview given by Geert Wilders.

Geert Wilders
I come to America with a mission. All is not well in the old world. There is a tremendous danger looming, and it is very
difficult to be optimistic. We might be in the final stages of the Islamization of Europe. This not only is a clear and
present danger to the future of Europe itself, it is a threat to America and the sheer survival of the West.
The danger I see looming is the scenario of America as the last man standing. The United States as the last bastion of
Western civilization, facing an Islamic Europe. In a generation or two, the US will ask itself: who lost Europe ? Patriots
from around Europe risk their lives every day to prevent precisely this scenario from becoming a reality.

My short lecture consists of four parts.

First, I will describe the situation on the ground in Europe . Then, I will say a few things about Islam. Thirdly, if you
are still here, I will talk a little bit about the movie you just saw. To close, I will tell you about a meeting in
Jerusalem.

The Europe you know is changing. You have probably seen the landmarks. The Eiffel Tower and Trafalgar Square and Rome 's
ancient buildings and maybe the canals of Amsterdam . They are still there. And they still look very much the same as they
did a hundred years ago.

But in all of these cities, sometimes a few blocks away from your tourist destination, there is another world, a world very
few visitors see – and one that does not appear in your tourist guidebook. It is the world of the parallel society created
by Muslim mass-migration. All throughout Europe a new reality is rising: entire Muslim neighbourhoods where very few
indigenous people reside or are even seen. And if they are, they might regret it. This goes for the police as well. It's
the world of head scarves, where women walk around in figureless tents, with baby strollers and a group of children. Their
husbands, or slaveholders if you prefer,walk threesteps ahead. With mosques on many street corners. The shops have signs
you and I cannot read. You will be hard-pressed to find any economic activity. These are Muslim ghettos controlled by
religious fanatics. These are Muslim neighbourhoods, and they are mushrooming in every city across Europe . These are
the building-blocks for territorial control of increasingly larger portions of Europe , street by street, neighbourhood
by neighbourhood, city by city.

There are now thousands of mosques throughout Europe . With larger congregations than there are in churches. And in every
European city there are plans to build super-mosques that will dwarf every church in the region. Clearly, the signal is:
we rule.

Many European cities are already one-quarter Muslim: just take Amsterdam , Marseille and Malmo in Sweden . In many cities
the majority of the under-18 population is Muslim. Paris is now surrounded by a ring of Muslim neighbourhoods. Mohammed is
the most popular name among boys in many cities. In some elementary schools in Amsterdam the farm can no longer be mentioned,
because that would also mean mentioning the pig, and that would be an insult to Muslims. Many state schools in Belgium and
Denmark serve only halal food to all pupils. In once-tolerant Amsterdam , gays are beaten up almost exclusively by Muslims.
Non-Muslim women routinely hear "whore, whore." Satellite dishes are not pointed to local TV stations, but to stations in the
country of origin. In France school teachers are advised to avoid authors deemed offensive to Muslims, including Voltaire and
Diderot; the same is increasingly true of Darwin . The history of the Holocaust can in many cases
no longer be taught because of Muslim sensitivity. In England , Sharia courts are now officially part of the British legal
system. Many neighbourhoods in France are no-go areas for women without head scarves. Last week a man almost died after
being beaten up by Muslims in Brussels , because he was drinking during the Ramadan. Jews are fleeing France in record
numbers, on the run for the worst wave of anti-Semitism since World War II. French is now commonly spoken on the streets of
Tel Aviv and Netanya , Israel . I could go on forever with stories like this. Stories about Islamization.

A total of fifty-four million Muslims now live in Europe . San Diego University recently calculated that a staggering 25%
of the population in Europe will be Muslim just 12 years from now. Bernhard Lewis has predicted a Muslim majority by the
end of this century.

Now these are just numbers. And the numbers would not be threatening if the Muslim-immigrants had a strong desire to
assimilate. But there are few signs of that. The Pew Research Center reported that half of French Muslims see their loyalty
to Islam as greater than their loyalty to France . One-third of French Muslims do not object to suicide attacks. The
British Centre for Social Cohesion reported that one-third of British Muslim students are in favour of a worldwide caliphate.
A Dutch study reported that half of Dutch Muslims admit they "understand" the 9/11 attacks.

Muslims demand what they call "respect." And this is how we give them respect. Our elites are willing to give in. To give up.
In my own country we have gone from calls by one cabinet member to turn Muslim holidays into official state holidays, to
statements by another cabinet member that Islam is part of Dutch culture, to an affirmation by the Christian-Democratic
attorney general that he is willing to accept Sharia in the Netherlands if there is a Muslim majority. We have cabinet
members with passports from Morocco and Turkey .

Muslim demands are supported by unlawful behaviour, ranging from petty crimes and random violence, for example against
ambulance workers and bus drivers, to small-scale riots. Paris has seen its uprising in the low-income suburbs, the banlieus.
Some prefer to see these as isolated incidents, but I call it a Muslim intifada. I call the perpetrators "settlers." Because
that is what they are. They do not come to integrate into our societies; they come to integrate our society into their
Dar-al-Islam. Therefore, they are settlers.

Much of this street violence I mentioned is directed exclusively against non-Muslims, forcing many native people to leave
their neighbourhoods, their cities, their countries.

Politicians shy away from taking a stand against this creeping sharia. They believe in the equality of all cultures.
Moreover, on a mundane level, Muslims are now a swing vote not to be ignored.

Our many problems with Islam cannot be explained by poverty, repression or the European colonial past, as the Left claims.
Nor does it have anything to do with Palestinians or American troops in Iraq . The problem is Islam itself.

Allow me to give you a brief Islam 101. The first thing you need to know about Islam is the importance of the book of the
Koran. The Koran is Allah's personal word, revealed by an angel to Mohammed, the prophet. This is where the trouble starts.
Every word in the Koran is Allah's word and therefore not open to discussion or interpretation. It is valid for every Muslim
and for all times. Therefore, there is no such a thing as moderate Islam. Sure, there are a lot of moderate Muslims. But a
moderate Islam is non-existent.

The Koran calls for hatred, violence, submission, murder, and terrorism. The Koran calls for Muslims to kill non-Muslims, to
terrorize non-Muslims and to fulfil their duty to wage war: violent jihad. Jihad is a duty for every Muslim, Islam is to
rule the world – by the sword. The Quran is clearly anti-Semitic, describing Jews as monkeys and pigs.

The second thing you need to know is the importance of Mohammed the prophet. His behaviour is an example to all Muslims and
cannot be criticized. Now, if Mohammed had been a man of peace, let us say like Ghandi and Mother Theresa wrapped in one,
there would be no problem. But Mohammed was a warlord, a mass murderer, a pedophile, and had several marriages – at the same
time. Islamic tradition tells us how he fought in battles, how he had his enemies murdered and even had prisoners of war
executed. Mohammed himself slaughtered the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza. He advised on matters of slavery, but never advised
to liberate slaves. Islam has no other morality than the advancement of Islam. If it is good for Islam, it is good. If it is
bad for Islam, it is bad. There is no gray area or other side.

Quran as Allah's own word and Mohammed as the perfect man are the two most important facets of Islam. Let no one fool you
about Islam being a religion. Sure, it has a god, and a here-after, and 72 virgins. But in its essence Islam is a political
ideology. It is a system that lays down detailed rules for society and the life of every person. Islam wants to dictate every
aspect of life. Islam means 'submission'. Islam is not compatible with freedom and democracy, because what it strives for is
sharia. If you want to compare Islam to anything, compare it to communism or national-socialism, these are all totalitarian
ideologies.

This is what you need to know about Islam, in order to understand what is going on in Europe . For millions of Muslims the
Quran and the live of Mohammed are not 14 centuries old, but are an everyday reality, an ideal, that guide every aspect of
their lives. Now you know why Winston Churchill called Islam "the most retrograde force in the world," and why he compared
Mein Kampf to the Koran.

Which brings me to my movie, Fitna.

I am a lawmaker, and not a movie maker. But I felt I had the moral duty to educate about Islam. The duty to make clear that
the Koran stands at the heart of what some people call terrorism but is in reality jihad. I wanted to show that the problems
of Islam are at the core of Islam, and do not belong to its fringes.

Now, from the day the plan for my movie was made public, it caused quite a stir, in the Netherlands and throughout Europe .
First, there was a political storm, with government leaders, across the continent in sheer panic. The Netherlands was put
under a heightened terror alert, because of possible attacks or a revolt by our Muslim population. The Dutch branch of the
Islamic organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir declared that the Netherlands was due for an attack. Internationally, there was a
series of incidents. The Taliban threatened to organize additional attacks against Dutch troops in Afghanistan , and a
website linked to Al Qaeda published the message that I ought to be killed, while various muftis in the Middle East stated
that I would be responsible for all the bloodshed after the screening of the movie. In Afghanistan and Pakistan the Dutch
flag was burned on several occasions. Dolls representing me were also burned. The Indonesian President announced that
I will never be admitted into Indonesia again, while the UN Secretary General and the European Union issued cowardly
statements in the same vein as those made by the Dutch Government. I could go on and on. It was an absolute disgrace, a
sell-out.

A plethora of legal troubles also followed, and have not ended yet. Currently the state of Jordan is litigating against me.
Only last week there were renewed security agency reports about a heightened terror alert for the Netherlands because of
Fitna.

Now, I would like to say a few things about Israel . Because, very soon, we will get together in its capitol. The best way
for a politician in Europe to lose votes is to say something positive about Israel . The public has wholeheartedly accepted
the Palestinian narrative, and sees Israel as the aggressor. I, however, will continue to speak up for Israel . I see
defending Israel as a matter of principle. I have lived in this country and visited it dozens of times. I support Israel .
First, because it is the Jewish homeland after two thousand years of exile up to and including Auschwitz, second because it
is a democracy, and third because Israel is our first line of defense.

Samuel Huntington writes it so aptly: "Islam has bloody borders." Israel is located precisely on that border. This tiny
country is situated on the fault line of jihad, frustrating Islam's territorial advance. Israel is facing the front lines
of jihad, like Kashmir, Kosovo, the Philippines , Southern Thailand, Darfur in Sudan , Lebanon , and Aceh in Indonesia .
Israel is simply in the way. The same way West-Berlin was during the Cold War.

The war against Israel is not a war against Israel . It is a war against the West. It is Jihad. Israel is simply receiving
the blows that are meant for all of us. If there would have been no Israel , Islamic imperialism would have found other
venues to release its energy and its desire for conquest. Thanks to Israeli parents who send their children to the army
and lay awake at night, parents in Europe and America can sleep well and dream, unaware of the dangers looming.

Many in Europe argue in favor of abandoning Israel in order to address the grievances of our Muslim minorities. But if
Israel were, God forbid, to go down, it would not bring any solace to the West. It would not mean our Muslim minorities
would all of a sudden change their behavior, and accept our values. On the contrary, the end of Israel would give enormous
encouragement to the forces of Islam. They would, and rightly so, see the demise of Israel as proof that the West is weak,
and doomed. The end of Israel would not mean the end of our problems with Islam, but only the beginning. It would mean the
start of the final battle for world domination. If they can get Israel , they can get everything. Therefore, it is not that
the West has a stake in Israel . It IS Israel .

It is very difficult to be an optimist in the face of the growing Islamization of Europe. All the tides are against us. On
all fronts we are losing. Demographically the momentum is with Islam. Muslim immigration is even a source of pride within
ruling liberal parties. Academia, the arts, the media, trade unions, the churches, the business world, the entire political
establishment have all converted to the suicidal theory of multiculturalism. So-called journalists volunteer to label any
and all critics of Islamization as a 'right-wing extremists' or 'racists'. The entire establishment has sided with our enemy.
Leftists, liberals and Christian-Democrats are now all in bed with Islam.

This is the most painful thing to see: the betrayal by our elites. At this moment in Europe 's history, our elites are
supposed to lead us. To stand up for centuries of civilization. To defend our heritage. To honour our eternal
Judeo-Christian values that made Europe what it is today. But there are very few signs of hope to be seen at the
governmental level. Sarkozy, Merkel, Brown, Berlusconi; in private, they probably know how grave the situation is. But when
the little red light goes on, they stare into the camera and tell us that Islam is a religion of peace, and we should all
try to get along nicely and sing Kumbaya. They willingly participate in what President Reagan so aptly called: "the betrayal
of our past, the squandering of our freedom."

If there is hope in Europe , it comes from the people, not from the elites. Change can come only from a grass-roots level.
It has to come from the citizens themselves. Yet these patriots will have to take on the entire political, legal and media
establishment.

Over the past years there have been some small, but encouraging, signs of a rebirth of the original European spirit. Maybe
the elites turn their backs on freedom, the public does not. In my country, the Netherlands , 60% of the population now sees
the mass immigration of Muslims as the number one policy mistake since World War II. And another 60 percent sees Islam as the
biggest threat to our national identity. I don't think the public opinion in Holland is very different from other European
countries.

Patriotic parties that oppose Jihad are growing, against all odds. My own party debuted two years ago, with 5% of the vote.
Now it stands at 10% in the polls. The same is true of all similarly-minded parties in Europe . They are fighting the
liberal establishment, and are gaining footholds on the political arena, one voter at the time.

Now, for the first time, these patriotic parties will come together and exchange experiences. It may be the start of
something big. Something that might change the map of Europe for decades to come. It might also be Europe 's last chance.

This December a conference will take place in Jerusalem . Thanks to Professor Aryeh Eldad, a member of Knesset, we will be
able to watch Fitna in the Knesset building and discuss the jihad. We are organizing this event in Israel to emphasize the
fact that we are all in the same boat together, and that Israel is part of our common heritage. Those attending will be a
select audience. No racist organizations will be allowed. And we will admit only parties that are solidly democratic.

This conference will be the start of an Alliance of European patriots. This Alliance will serve as the backbone for all
organizations and political parties that oppose jihad and Islamization. For this Alliance I seek your support.

This endeavor may be crucial to America and to the West. America may hold fast to the dream that, thanks to its location,
it is safe from jihad and Sharia. But seven years ago to the day, there was still smoke rising from ground zero, following
the attacks that forever shattered that dream. Yet there is a danger even greater danger than terrorist attacks, the
scenario of America as the last man standing. The lights may go out in Europe faster than you can imagine. An Islamic
Europe means a Europe without freedom and democracy, an economic wasteland, an intellectual nightmare, and a loss of
military might for America - as its allies will turn into enemies, enemies with atomic bombs. With an Islamic Europe,
it would be up to America alone to preserve the heritage of Rome , Athens and Jerusalem .

Dear friends, liberty is the most precious of gifts. My generation never had to fight for this freedom, it was offered to
us on a silver platter, by people who fought for it with their lives. All throughout Europe , American cemeteries remind us
of the young boys who never made it home, and whose memory we cherish. My generation does not own this freedom; we are
merely its custodians. We can only hand over this hard won liberty to Europe 's children in the same state in which it was
offered to us. We cannot strike a deal with mullahs and imams. Future generations would never forgive us. We cannot
squander our liberties. We simply do not have the right to do so.

This is not the first time our civilization is under threat. We have seen dangers before. We have been betrayed by our
elites before. They have sided with our enemies before. And yet, then, freedom prevailed.

These are not times in which to take lessons from appeasement, capitulation, giving away, giving up or giving in. These are
not times in which to draw lessons from Mr. Chamberlain. These are times calling us to draw lessons from Mr. Churchill and
the words he spoke in 1942:
"Never give in, never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions
of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

FSM Editor's note: This is the transcript from a speech given by Mr. Wilders at the Four Seasons, New York.

Geert Wilders interview ist part
Geert Wilders interview 2nd part

Miracles at School, Howard's Legacy

2008-12-06T10:43:00.008+11:00

It has been reported that some of the Chaplains that were put into Australian Schools by John Howard when he was Prime Minister are now reporting miracles at their hands at school.
According to these Chaplains, god has cured a student with Attention Deficit Disorder, another with Asthma and stopped it raining during a school assembly.
School Miracles article

Do we need school chaplains in a secular school system? This chaplain system was brought in by a Christian Prime Minister with an obvious agenda to continue pushing his world view in a secular system. I don't think he thought through this very well because I don't think even John Howard would want evangelical healing in our state secular education system.
Will Kevin Rudd scrap this madness. I doubt it, I think he is a bigger religious nutter than Howard.
The last thing we need in a modern secular country is supertitious chaplains running around our schools preaching to young maleable mind.
Over to you bloggers, what do you think.

John Edward, Psychic or Cold Reader.

2008-12-04T23:05:00.005+11:00

John Edward, well known American Psychic.
Is he a Psychic? Does he Cold Read?
Well I will attempt to answer this with a analysis of one of John Edward's readings using cold reading.
I did this on a Believers forum called. "Sensing Murder". This forum was set up by the New Zealand Production company Ninox. One of the believers linked this reading by YouTube onto the forum. He was attempting to persuade us "resident" sceptics into believing in John Edward's psychic powers.
The link for the two YouTube videos are below.
John Edward video 1
John Edward video 2
My analysis below.

John Edward: There's a gunshot and a suicide as well
My take: John suddenly went to the other side of the room and said that. Now if you have a look at the man at the top that he was talking about he already had a microphone in his hand as John went to the other side of the room, funny.
Now this info. is probably a snip of "Hot Reading". John obviously knew what was coming up, not through psychic means but because it was already set up.

J.E.: There is a January connection, birthday, anniversary etc.
My take: This was a miss.

J.E.: If you have a brother, husband, cousin, friend that is connected to this person, a person to the side.
My take: Wow, he is fishing here, imagine the possible connections here, he missed out on workmate connection only. Why did he not know that the spirit that he was allegedly communicating with was this blokes brother? Another well known cold reading strategy.
The man in question finally gave John some information that it was his brother. Read on.

J.E.: I need to acknowledge that your brother is coming through.
My take: Information feed to him by the man.

J.E.: I also feel there is a Police Officer connection either to your family.
My take: The police officer connection was fishing and he was going to add more possible connections to this Police Officer but he was stopped by the woman by putting her hand up and infering it was her connection. Another good hit. Cold reading going well.

J.E.: Said the Police Officer had passed.
My take: This confirmed by the woman. A good hit.

J.E.: There is a Florida tie or straight down south that we need to come up with.
My take: A miss.

J.E.: Did you direct him here or did he direct you.
My take: A straight out question that elicited a good response for John to elaborate on. Another good cold reading strategy.

J.E.: You brought her to support her because you are not in to this.
My take: The woman already said he had the tickets. A good hit but understandable. Women are more woo then men generally so it was a safe guess that worked out. Her emotions tells John a lot as well.

J.E.: As much of a sceptic that you are you are a good sceptic.
My take: Well the man said he was the sceptic(not) and John could see he was impressed with him so gave him a compliment.

J.E.: I don't know if he had the alcohol problem.
My take: A pleading question that was answered willingly by the man. A very good cold reading strategy that worked well.

J.E.: I don't know if you have the number 7 jersey.
My take: Another fishing expedition because having a Jersey with No. 7, I think most peoples lucky number, right? This was a good guess that drew out a hit. Reading going very well.

J.E.: He also talks about being adopted, I don't know if he is adopted or you are adopted or a joke.
My take: Another good hit from a guess, but not specific and the man fitted it to the situation. But still a good hit.

J.E.: Is he older than you, he is putting himself above.
My take: Another guess, this time a miss. Too bad John, can't win them all, but you are doing well.

J.E.: There is another male figure above you that has passed with your brother.
My take: The man then said "that's dad". Well another good cold reading trick. It could have been a grandfather or uncle. The man told John it was his dad. Why did not John come up with that?

J.E.: They are telling me they used to tease you call you a meatball, the cookie, pineapple or a food nickname.
My take: Cold reading again on his size. John had a guess about a nickname this man may have had and bombed out. But he persists. Asking questions even. He will eventually find a link somehow, somewhere. The spirits let him down this time, but they have been good so far. Maybe it was one of Deb Webbers naughty spirits. :wink:
I also think this video has been edited, maybe not.

The man: His nickname was chicky his name was Thomas.
My take: Well done John your persistant probing has brought out the mans brothers first name. First time it was mentioned and not discovered by John.

J.E.: Someone called lemonhead, eggplant, egghead, cheesehead.
My take: He has mentioned now as far as I can count 7 food nicknames. maybe one will finally stick with someone in the family. If he keeps going something will finally stick. Another well known cold reading strategy.

J.E.: What is the reference to taping over something.
My take: The man told John about his living brother Ray taping over some important tapes. How often does this happen in a family and an extended one at that. It has happened to me. Another guess to try and get a hit on some common misshap at home.

J.E.: Did you live near an elementary school.
My take: He does not say how close, living near a school, common, but depends on how close and what the psychic actually said.

J.E.: What is the 4 year difference between him and someone else, is that going back to the person who has done the erasing.
My take: John had no idea about a 4 year difference and the fit did not work. But the man came through with their sister.
Why did not the spirits tell him?

He know calls the man's sister at work. More minds to help fit a nickname with someone.

J.E.: Is she not suppose to be a smoker.
My take: A good hit, well done John. John is now nearly in hysterics, he has had such a fantastic read, maybe his best. I am sure he is thinking that his cold reading is running fantastically today. He can't believe his luck.

J.E.: He also makes me feel he has dad with him.
My take: The man has already told John his dad was dead. John fished for a male figure above the man or his dead brother. The sister on the phone was not aware that the man told John about their dad, but the sister on the phone will be impressed with John for knowing this.

J.E.: What's up with the Chinese food.
My take: How many Chinese restauraunts are there. Probably one of the most common worldwide. Good chance of getting a fit here. And he did. Well done John.

He finally found the link. Georgie Porgie Puddin and Pie. His little brother. Well done John for persisting.
The pissing on the wall hit was good as well. But boys will be boys. We all had pissing competitions. Did we not boys.

J.E.: Is somebody Thomas Michael.
My take: John already knew the brothers first name as Thomas, because the man told him earlier, but Michael, not sure, a very good hit, or some hot reading or picked it up during the show.

J.E.: Is there a corkboard with an outside scene.
Talking of the sister on the phone at her work place.
My take: Another good hit. Well done John. Can't explain not enough information.

Well that is basicly it.
The reading explained by cold reading.
It would be good to have an expert on cold reading to dissect these videos, it would be much more informative.

A link to the Sensing Murder Forum and the thread containing the YouTube link and my analysis can be found here. The thread is 8 pages long, you may or may not want to wade through every post in this thread, but my analysis starts on page 5.

Letting go of God

2008-12-01T23:33:00.004+11:00

Here is a very funny woman, Julia Sweeney. An American woman who struggled with her beliefs for years, now has found peace of mind.
She has a show called "Letting Go of God". See trailer below.
Letting Go of God
Below is her very catchy theme song for the movie.
Theme Song
Below is some more of Julia
Julia Sweeney

What's a Sceptic

2008-11-29T16:27:00.011+11:00

What's a Sceptic
The word sceptic is a term that I think is used fairly loosely throughout society.
According to the Internet, specifically an online dictionary and Wikipedia.
From the Free Online Dictionary.
sceptic or US skeptic [skep-tik]
Noun
1. a person who habitually doubts generally accepted beliefs
2. a person who doubts the truth of a religion [Greek skeptikos one who reflects upon]

From Wikipedia (The following was taken from Wikipedia, so it's accuracy is not guaranteed.)
In ordinary usage, skepticism or scepticism (Greek: 's??pt?µa?' skeptomai, to look about,
to consider.
* (a) an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or
toward a particular object;
* (b) the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain; or
* (c) the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism that is
characteristic of skeptics (Merriam–Webster).

Philosophical skepticism
In philosophical skepticism, pyrrhonism is a position that refrains from making truth
claims. A philosophical skeptic does not claim that truth is
impossible (which would be a truth claim).

Scientific skepticism
A scientific (or empirical) skeptic is one who questions the reliability of certain kinds
of claims by subjecting them to a systematic investigation. The scientific method details
the specific process by which this investigation of reality is conducted. Considering
the rigor of the scientific method, science itself may simply be thought of as an
organized form of skepticism.

Activist skepticism
Activist skeptics, self-described "debunkers" are a subset of scientific skeptics who
aim to expose in public what they see as the truth behind specific extraordinary claims.
Debunkers may publish books, air TV programs, create websites, or use other means to
advocate their message. In some cases they may challenge claimants outright or even
stage elaborate hoaxes to prove their point, such as Project Alpha.
Because debunkers often challenge popular ideas, many are not strangers to controversy.
Critics of debunkers sometimes accuse them of robbing others of hope. Debunkers
frequently reply that it is the claimant, whom they many times accuse of exploiting
public gullibility, who is guilty of abuse.

Religious skepticism
Religious skepticism is skepticism regarding faith-based claims. Religious skeptics may
focus on the core tenets of religions, such as the existence of divine beings or reports
of earthly miracles. A religious skeptic is not necessarily an atheist or agnostic.
That ends the Wikipedia definitions.

What is a Sceptic?

Is it a person who is close minded, negative, a party pooper, only content when they have disagreed with everyone and made a proper "bastard" of themselves.
Is it an anal-retentive type who is annoying everyone with their obsessive urge to challenge everything.
Is it a fence sitter.
Is it someone who requires the evidence.

Probably many people think of Sceptics in one of those terms.
Believers often say we reject whatever belief they have based on preconceived bias and close mindedness . Such claims I think come about as a result from psychological projection. They are incapable of coping with the fact that there are some people who genuinely do not believe in their beliefs. Believers can become very incredulous of our non belief.
Some people use the term in different ways. Kevin Rudd our Prime Minister uses the term "Climate Sceptic" when he is running down the people that don't believe in or deny climate change. To me his use is wrong, I think Kevin Rudd should use the term "Climate Denier" when he is referring to them.
Some people of course describe themselves as sceptics, but are they?
Are some sceptics more cynical than sceptical. Do they disagree with everything that they do not agree with not because the evidence is not there, but because it suits their world view.
For me a sceptic is someone who requires the evidence. Simple, but this covers it's use for me.
This brings me to the point of can someone be a sceptic on some topics but a believer on others.
Can a Theist be a believer when it comes to a God, and a sceptic on other topics? This is often asked when it comes to Theists and Science. If you have a belief in the Bible but maybe understand and accept an old Earth from the Geological record as opposed to the version of a young Earth from the bible.
Well over to you bloggers, what do you think. What is your idea of a sceptic.

Psychics and Cold Reading.

2008-11-18T16:41:00.019+11:00

Psychics and Cold Reading

I want to discuss the connection between Psychic readings and cold reading.
When I say psychic I am referring to this in a generic way and maybe a paranormalist may be a better term. But I will use the term psychic.
Cold reading can be used in all areas of paranormal readings.
Talking to the dead (spirits), reading tarot cards, crystal balls, vibrations from jewelry or other personal items, etc.
All of these readings rely on as much as I can work out on communicating with spirits or energy,
vibrations etc. to get the information.
It is often claimed by believers and psychics that there are frauds and charlatans in the psychic industry. But of course they are not, or the psychic that the believer believes in is not.
For me the psychic has not got off first base because they have to give me evidence for spirits, energy and vibrations, etc. that they tune into and get information. This evidence is not forth coming, so the possibilities of these "gifts' are virtually nil or are nil until credible evidence can be shown to me. You can have an open mind on all of this but unless there is evidence you can't be too open. The old saying of, I think this is how it goes. "You can have an open mind but not too open that your brain falls out", would be relevant to me here.
So a pertinent question here is how do you know the frauds from the real ones?
How do you know the fraud from the genuine psychic?
I say the fraud uses cold reading.
Or do they all use cold reading?
I have not had a psychic reading or seen one first hand so don't know if they all use cold reading. So I can only go on what I have seen on TV or YouTube.
I am not prepared to pay $500 to talk to a Psychic for about 1 hour on the phone. This is what a well known "true" psychic (Deb Webber) charges for a reading to jump over all of the other people waiting for a regular reading. In other words pay the bucks and jump over the plebs.
Recently on Australian TV they had the series "The One", the search for Australia's most gifted Psychic. This show had a psychic task each episode that the Psychic had to complete. Well the result of all of these tests were woeful. No one got any of the tasks done successfully except for the first task which was completed successfully by 2 psychics, but no psychic ability as far as I could see was needed. They did readings in each show of people in the audience. All of these readings to me were done by cold reading, and this was an edited version of the readings. What were the whole readings like, bloody woeful I would say.
So to me these Psychics on "The One" are probably not real.
Here below is a YouTube video of John Edward, possibly the best known psychic in the USA and maybe Australia as well. He is shown on this video giving some readings. Well he is definitely cold reading with all of the names he is churning out and J and T etc sounding names, pretty pathetic. If this is the best the psychic world has, it does not have much.
John Edward
Cold reading is a powerful tool in the armory of any psychic if they are skilled at it.
It would do us all well to find out more about cold reading and it's uses in psychic readings.
Surely it would be to the benefit of all "genuine psychics" to advertise and encourage their believers to know all about cold reading. If their followers knew this they would then know the difference between a genuine and charlatan psychic. But do they encourage this? Not that I know of, I wonder why?

Stop Sylvia Browne an alleged Psychic

2008-11-02T09:41:00.013+11:00

There has been a recent upheavel in the campaign to stop a well known American psychic by the name of Sylvia Browne. A website has been running started by Robert Lancaster. He recently had a stroke and was unable to take care of the site, and it was eventually bought by someone who is friendly to the paranormal and changed the whole concept of the site.
Here is the link to what happened on the JREF forum.

Black Panther

2008-10-15T21:05:00.008+11:00

Black Panther

There has been recent media attention here in New South Wales about the Black Panthers that are on the loose in the bush. The alleged sightings have been prevalent around the Campbelltown, Lithgow, Blue Mountains and even the Melbourne areas.
Media report

The new Premier of New South Wales, Nathan Rees has waded into this saying the sightings need further investigation.
Report of Premier

How rational are these calls about a Black Panther loose in the bush? Where did they come from? Are they breeding?
There have been alleged sightings of these big cats over many years. Some say they came her during World War 2 with the USA Army. Others say they are circus escapees. These could be an explanation.
As we know there are thousands if not millions of feral cats in Australia, could this be them?
Even the Liberal Party has come in on this in a predictable manner.
Liberal Party view

What is the most likely explanation?
World War 2 big cats, unlikelyto be, they would be dead by now unless there are enough to successfully breed in the wild.
Circus escapees, unlikely, to me, unless there has been a lot of escapees and they are breeding as well.
Domestic feral moggy, most likely, to my way of thinking. People can get the appearance and size of an animal that they fleetingly see or see from afar very wrong.

Well what do you all think. Any chance of a big cat, or possibly a feral moggy.
Do people get a bit hysterical with talk of things that are mysterious in the bush?
Over to you, fellow bloggers.