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Skeptics’ Circle #77: The Overmedicalized Edition

It’s 2008. Unfortunately, there don’t appear to be any signs that the problems of 2007 as far as rampant credulity and susceptibility to quackery and pseudoscience on the part of the public will be abating this year. Fortunately, we have a remedy–or at least something that can help show you how to examine these outlandish claims from a critical and scientific perspective. Yes, it’s the very first Meeting of the Skeptics’ Circle of 2008, and it’s over at White Coat Underground right now. Appropriately enough, the setting is a primary care office in Anytown, USA, and the patients are…well, just check it out for yourself. Then be sure to load yourself up on all that pharmaceutical goodness that the Dark Lords of Big Pharma tell you that you should be taking.

Next up on January 17 will be the Skeptical Surfer. (Is that anything like the Silver Surfer?) Even though it’s two weeks away, it’s never too early to start lining up your entries.

Finally, now’s the time to make a New Years resolution: To host one of these puppies during 2008. You won’t regret it. Just wander over to the Skeptics’ Circle site, check out the schedule and guidelines, and then contemplate the guidelines for hosts. I’ll peruse your blog, and if you’re not a closet fan of Deepak Chopra, you’re in like flint.

By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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