Categories
Skepticism/critical thinking

The 45th Meeting of the Skeptics’ Circle: The voice of skepticism

I’m afraid that I have been a bit remiss in my duties as the coordinator of the Skeptic’s Circle. You see, today was a travel day, and I was heading to Chicago on business. Unfortunately, the Skeptics’ Circle link was not posted very early this morning before I left (probably due to the fact that […]

Categories
Politics Religion

Michael Moore vs. Fred Phelps

These days, I tend to detest Michael Moore almost as much as I detest Ann Coulter. However, as they say, a stopped watch is correct twice a day, and occasionally Moore can come up with something that’s so spot on funny and appropriate that even I have to give him props. (This used to happen […]

Categories
History

Persistence of controversy over the Confederate flag

Last week, when I speculated about reasons why there hasn’t been a National Slavery Museum in this nation until the one slated to open in 2007, I mentioned the power of Confederate sympathies that still persists even to today in much of the South. Basically, in the eyes of many, the Confederacy has been romanticized, […]

Categories
News of the Weird Paranormal Skepticism/critical thinking

Suing over alien abduction

This would be hilarious if it weren’t for what it says about critical thinking skills: BERLIN (Reuters) – A German lawyer hopes to drum up more business by pursuing state compensation claims for people who believe they were abducted by aliens. “There’s quite obviously demand for legal advice here,” Jens Lorek told Reuters by telephone […]

Categories
Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery

Thar’s gold in them thar “cures”

One of the favorite gambits that alternative medicine mavens like to use to defend their favorite remedies when a skeptic starts asking uncomfortably pointed and specific questions their scientific and evidentiary basis is to accuse said skeptic of being “in the pocket of big pharma.” Indeed, I’ve written before of the “pharma shill gambit,” where […]