The Sky Is Falling...According To "The Internets"

I try to be aware of the news.  I listen to NPR as I get ready in the morning and also I read through articles on Google News during breaks at work .  I’ll admit that I get a lot of my news from The Daily Show & The Colbert Report too.  And yes, I agree:  that last sentence is a sad commentary on modern T.V. news.  What has crept up on me in the past few years is how the dissemination of information has changed.  It's incredible to me the amount of breaking news I get from my friends or "likes" on Facebook:  celebrity deaths, earthquakes, political squabbles, and so on. 

Earlier this week I was scanning through my Facebook feed and saw a few posts that took me aback:

“Witnesses reporting screams and gunfire heard inside Capitol building” 

"BREAKING: Capitol building being evacuated. 12 children held hostage by group of armed congressmen. #CongressHostage." 

"Police helicopter just ordered to pull back after Rep. Trent Franks tried to take it down with a shotgun. #CongressHostage." 

"BREAKING: Congress demanding $12 trillion ransom or "all the kids die" #CongressHostage."

WHAT!?!?!  Should I switch on the TV or maybe CNN.com has more info on …oh wait, that’s a post by The Onion.  (https://twitter.com/#!/Theonion)  Whew.  Not their best joke, but whatever.  In reality it took about as long for me to dismiss this "news" item than it took you to read the “W” in “WHAT!?!?!”  As far as I’m concerned that’s where this story should have ended.  It didn’t…

Poe's Corner For Episode 025 - School Bans

GET POE'S CORNER HERE. it ain't on no iTunes!

In the UK David Attenborough & Richard Dawkins are calling for creationism to be banned from school syllabus and evolution to be required and started earlier.  Meanwhile in the United States…

#1  http://www.boston.com/news/
A group in one Massachusetts town wants to ban students from reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in the public schools, saying it has no educational value and is reminiscent of totalitarian regimes.  Brookline Political Action for Peace will ask town meeting voters in November to pass a nonbinding resolution on the idea. The pledge is already optional in the Boston suburb's schools.  Marty Rosenthal, a lawyer and co-chairman of the group, tells the Boston Herald the pledge is "at odds with America's most important traditions." He says he is not being unpatriotic.

#2  http://www.kval.com
The water bottle ban started at the beginning of the school year for McKenzie School District middle and high school students.  "We can't have closed water bottles at all," said high school student Sydney King. "We have to have them open, we have to fill them up between passing periods."  According to superintendent Sally Storm, the ban is in response to students caught sneaking alcohol into school in water bottles over the past few years.

#3  http://www.fourthestatenewspaper.com/
The De Pere School District however thinks it has figured out a way to fight childhood obesity. Now on picture day, children are not allowed to say cheese anymore—but instead have to say peas.  "We are trying to promote healthy living and options," said Dr. Stuart Mart, Superintendent of De Pere's school district. "Let's face it, cheese is not that good for people to eat."  St. Norbert's professor of psychology, Dr. Phillip Schmitt, did a study and found that when kids hear something, they want to have it immediately.

Which is the satire and which two are the actual stories of efforts to change U.S. schools "for the better"?  Links to the source articles after the break...

Poe's Corner 9/21/2011

Tonight's Poe's Corner is a test where one can tell the difference between World Net Daily and Landover Baptist

Why is God Striking the Deep South?
Creation Scientist Granted Permission to Study Source of Rise in Male Masturbation!
God of the Bible battles Buddha inside American school
There Is No Room In The Bible For A Person Or Place Called Hermaphrodite
Why young Americans can't think morally
Put your kids in Christian class and look what happens

Click on the headlines to see where it takes you.

This week's Poe for Episode 019

The following quotes were culled from youtube videos.
Which one of the following is a person pretending to be a Fundamentalist Christian? Bonus if you know who said them!

1. I think that the Bible is the most scientifically accurate book in the entire world


2. Where in the Bible does it say God will heal amputees?... God never said he would and he doesn't. That aligns perfectly with my definition of God. Why SHOULD God heal amputees, he's the one who allowed you to lose your arm in the first place! Does God have a moral obligation to heal someone who has sinned against him? Absolutely not... So, why doesn't God heal amputees? Because they don't deserve their arms, we deserve to die, that's what the Bible teaches. 


3. You can't prove that God exists with a picture: he's invisible. But everything in the world is evidence of God's creation, simply because it's here. So the non-believers are the ones who have to provide evidence for their non beliefs. Confused? Well, keep watching and try not to think too hard: this stuff is actually very simple.


4. I eat bread and drink wine in order to remember starving people in the world. That aligns perfectly with my definition of Christian, so Mom and Dad and I would get together and eat ten different herbs, and eggs, and bitter herbs, and stuff like that as a remembrance of starving people. Through feasts, we remember certain things, and by eating bread, we remember the act of chewing, the breaking, and I don't have a moral obligation to feed all the fallen, sinful people. Absolutely not.

Poe's Corner for Episode 018

This week's Poe's Corner asks the Skeptic Wire team (and you, loyal listener) to tell the difference between an actual cult people claim to believe in and one made up for a TV show.

1. The Kinda are a primitive jungle cult where psychic powers are fostered to protect against the Mara, an evil, snake-like being of the subconscious that longs for corporeal reality.


2. The Hindu cult Aghori will eat anything from rotten food to animal faeces. The finality of their rituals is attained from eating the decaying flesh of a human.


3. The Russian Cult of Gadget Hackwrench believe in a Disney cartoon that is Gadget Hackwrench from the famous the “Disney's Rescue Ranger TV show”, as being a divine being.


4. The Feeders of Vaal cult reveres a dragon named Vaal that they say controls every element of the environment from lightning to the fruit on trees. Only by feeding the dragon are they spared its wrath.


5. The Creativity Movement is a xenophobic and White-supremacist cult which advocates a religion known as the “White Religion” called Creativity.


6. Foundationism is a cult that aims to get back at the roots of all the religions, asserting that the core message of existing religions often get lost when politics and money and nationalism get in the way of things.


7. Blaintology is an American magic worshipping cult who, after failing to achieve tax-exempt status in 2001, attempted a mass suicide in Washington D.C.


8. Ho Na Hana Sanpogyo is a Japanese cult often referred to as the “foot reading cult,” as the founder of this cult believed that he could make a diagnosis by examining people’s feet.

Source Sites:
http://www.elistmania.com/juice/10_of_the_world_s_most_bizarre_cults/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_religions

Poe's Corner 3 August 2011

In the Poe's Corner from last night's recording, I decided to see if my compatriots could tell the difference between a fictional democratic president and an elected democratic president.

In one corner we have quotes from President Barack Obama made during this administration. In the opposite corner we have quotes from two term President Josiah "Jed" Bartlett from the television drama "The West Wing".



1) We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history;

2) There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.

3) Here's evil in the world, there'll always be, and we can't do anything about that. But there's violence in our schools, too much mayhem in our culture, and we can do something about that.

4) More than any time in recent history, America's destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedom and our way of life. We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with evil.

5) As a nuclear power - as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon - the United States has a moral responsibility to act.

6) There are times when we're fifty states and there are times when we're one country, and have national needs.

7) But what we can do, as flawed as we are, is still see God in other people, and do our best to help them find their own grace. That's what I strive to do, that's what I pray to do every day.

8) We're for freedom of speech everywhere. We're for freedom to worship everywhere. We're for freedom to learn... for everybody. And because in our time, you can build a bomb in your country and bring it to my country, what goes on in your country is very much my business.

9) In all the talk about democracy, we forget it's not a democracy. It's a republic. People don't make the decisions. They *choose* the people who make the decisions

10) Terrorism has long been a tactic, but modern technology allows a few small men with outsized rage to murder innocents on a horrific scale. In today's wars, many more civilians are killed than soldiers; the seeds of future conflict are sown, economies are wrecked, civil societies torn






1)Inauguration Speech
2)Election winning speech 2008
3)BARTLETT: College Kids, episode 4.2
4)BARTLETT: 20 hours in America 4.1
5)Prague speech, May 5, 2009
6)BARTLETT: Game On: 4.5
7)In response to a question in NM, 9/2010
8)BARTLETT: Privateers 4.17
9)BARTLETT: Lame Duck Congress: 2.7
10) Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, December 2009

Catching up on my podcast listening...

With a family wedding in June and TAM9 in July my personal schedule has been pretty busy lately. Long story short: it's taken me a while to catch up on a backlog of podcasts that I listen to. Being a good, obedient skeptic one of those podcasts is, of course, the Skeptics Guide To The Universe.

So I'm sitting at my desk listening to their episode 313. Good news stories and an interview with Matthew Chapman about his movie The Ledge. It's all fine and good until they get to the "Science Or Fiction" section. Then I got angry, not Hulk angry, but peeved.

Steve Novella's "Science Or Fiction" category that week? Can you tell the difference between real George Bush quotes or a fake George Bush quote. Episode 313 of SGU is dated 7/10/2011. A full THREE DAYS after I posted the "George Bush or Will Ferrell As George Bush" Poe's Corner from our 7/7/2011 episode 013. Oh come on! It's bad enough you folks have a great show with thousands of listeners, but you have to (allegedly) steal ideas from us pip-squeaks!?!

Of course you realize Mr. Novella, this means war!

Poe's Corner from soon-to-be-up Episode 015

David did the honors this week. Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to choose which one is complete confabulation.

Poe’s Corner Episode 15

I offer a selection of jewelry designed to complement your style, enhance your energy and balance your aura. Each piece of jewelry is designed to have a different effect on your energy and mood.

Red Jewelry: When you want more passion in your life then you should try this color. Red is great to get in touch with your anima. A perfect gift for the dynamic and strong person, who loves to be active and strong and is looking for some loving.

Yellow Jewelry: When you need more fun in your life, you should try this color. Yellow is great to enjoy the beautiful things in life, it protects your solar plexus area. A perfect gift for the smart & fun person, who loves to teach, but is often too busy reading or partying.

Green Jewelry: A great way to protect the heart by wearing this gem close to your heart area. The perfect gift for the talkative person, who is very social, but needs some loving for themselves!

Violet Jewelry: For the visionary person who has everything already. A perfect gift to be even more creative, magical and create that dream into reality!

Blue Jewelry: When you have a hard time to relax you should try this color. Blue is great to protect the throat area. A perfect gift for the passionate person, who loves to support others, but is often shy and introverted.

---

What is the Indigo?

The Indigo is a new device that arose out of an already amazing device called the SCIO. SCIO stands for Scientific Consciousness Interface Operation system. New breakthroughs in Quantum technology were developed thus leading to the launch of the Indigo.

The Indigo Quantum Biofeedback System integrates the sciences of mathematics, quantum physics, fractal dynamics, subspace theory, electronics and computer programming. The programs include information from the following modalities: naturopathy, homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, energetic medicine, psychology, aromatherapy, reflexology, color therapy, Neuro Linguistic Programming, biofeedback and the Rife Resonator. It also incorporates knowledge of metaphysical subjects to bring a unique synergistic perspective to natural healing.

---

AuraLator Aura Translator

Approximately five percent of the population can see auras, but most don’t know how to properly interpret them. The AuraLator Aura Translator allows anyone to easily match an aura with our validated Aura-Match personality profile system. You just adjust the hue and density on the AuraLator screen until it matches the aura and the Aura-Match personality profile is displayed. The Aura-Match system uses a three point scale relating to the person’s physical, emotional and spiritual balance. Connect AuraLator to your computer and you can even download and print the results! The benefits of knowing what an aura tells you about a person are endless. Is this person trustworthy? Is this person reliable? Could this be the love of your life? If you are one of the lucky few who can see auras, why not take advantage of your special ability, and see what’s in the souls of the people you interact with every day!

---

CieAura SinusAllergyRelief

CieAura SinusAllergyRelief Chips are extremely effective in dealing with sinus allergies. CieAura’s products operate from the infusion of Intrinsic Energy into a holographic chip. The chip aids the body to move itself toward its optimum energetic state.

CieAura’s SinusAllergyRelief Chip interacts externally with the body’s energetic fields that deal with sinuses. Nothing enters the body. Intrinsic energy operates in the quantum physics area (smaller than an atom). As a result, there is currently no device capable of measuring the signal; however, the effects of the signals can be measured antidotally. Because there are no chemicals, the reaction is subtle and there are no highs, lows or other side effects.

Proper Placement: The CieAura Transparent Holographic SinusAllergyRelief Chip should be placed directly behind the right ear. For additional relief placing an additional chip behind the left ear may increase relief.

Poe's Corner

Crystal, Magnet, or Powerband?

Determine if the following statements were culled from a website promoting Crystals, Magnets, or Powerbands.

-It immediately introduces those frequencies necessary to stabilize the electrical balance of your body and support an open ion exchange.

-When your energy frequencies achieve a synchronized resonance, you can experience a calming energy force comparable with that experience by a person deep in meditation, which is a resonance equal to both Earth's electromagnetic field and deep space.

-It is important to keep it clean in order to protect it from outside negative vibrations.

- They are used to cleanse the person from bad or negative energy believed to cause an illness.

- They are able to receive, store, and release thoughts and actually they absorb our vibrations if we carry them around, regardless of whether we program them on purpose or not.

- It is mind boggling to note that organs like brain emit a peak magnetic field in the region of 3,00,000 kilo-gauss! This is when the person sleeps. At normal hours, the value of magnetic field may differ.

- It is said to have soothing effect on the cells, tissues and nerves, when applied to an affected part and cause to lessen the pain, stiffness, soreness or swelling.

Poe"s Corner (Almost a week late)

One of the following statements is false. Click here to find the answer



The medical benefits of magnets have been touted since the days of ancient Greece, when Hippocrates reportedly used the magnetic rock lodestone to treat sterility.

Ancient scientists theorize that magnets promote healing by stimulating blood flow to the affected area, bringing extra oxygen and nutrients while reducing toxins.

Another hypothesis is that magnets create a field that alters how pain signals are sent along the nervous system.

Magnets don't just have to worn to be useful. Having a magnet near your work area will increase productivity and in the bedroom, magnets can help increase your longevity with your partner.

Poe's Corner from Episode 011

Which one of these is fake?


1) The Life Force Inc. Frequency Alignment Device - How Does It Work?
The Earth has an electromagnetic field surrounding it. This field has a frequency. All matter within this field has it's own vibration frequency. From time to time this vibration frequency can become upset. The Life Force Inc. helps realign your body frequency. 
How does it work?
The Life Force Inc. works by applying very definitive bandwidths of frequencies in three specially created groups of waveforms.   One band contains all the frequencies pertaining to the pathogen (bacteria, viruses, fungi) range. We omit the frequencies of enzymatic bacteria and some floras, they are needed for our digestive functions and therefore need not be disturbed. Much research has been done in defining these frequencies and   research continues to define the frequencies of new strains of pathogens as they emerge; to date none have fallen outside of the over one million frequencies we employ in our devices. The wave shape and orientation instruct the cells of the body to open and release their pathogen content to the bloodstream, where they are more readily exposed to the frequencies contained in the perspective band we use to effect them. Each pathogen frequency then meets with its own frequency contained in the waveform; this sets up a strain on them, where it is impossible for each to vibrate at their own Life Frequency. They slowly self destruct. These now-dead pathogens are carried through the bloodstream to our filter organs to be processed out of the body. This is why we suggest, during the use of the technology, when you find it is time to urinate, consume some clean water before urination. What this does is to create pressure for the flush and to leave some fluid in the filter organs for the next batch of die-off to be suspended. This allows the filter organs to function with less strain. Please consume adequate clean filtered water or fluids! 
NOTE! You must maintain a fresh battery supply to ensure your device's effectiveness. Two 9-volt alkaline batteries are required for your initial 30-day application. The first battery will be used from day one to day fifteen, the second to day thirty 


2) G-Oyster™
Electromagnetic Stress is often an unrecognized and undiagnosed factor in many minor and serious illnesses, including slow recovery from illness. Contributing factors to Electro Stress include: mobile phone masts, substations, pylons, DECT phone systems, GSM and UMTS mobile phones, computer equipment, household appliances, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth systems. 
G-Oyster™: The conclusion of many years of research and development in miniaturising the unique Geomack Energetic Vitalising Technology™ has culminated in the release of a product that is totally revolutionary in personal energetic protection - both in terms of Electro Stress and Geopathic Stress - while at the same time being an amazing personal energy booster that can be carried right in your pocket! 
How does it work?
The products interact with the natural electromagnetic fields eminating from the earth and create a charging energetic field that has the following characteristics: it boosts the energy levels of the inhabitants of the relevant property and this vitalising field also neutralises the harmful effects of natural electromagnetic radiation – Geopathic Stress (GS)- which has become distorted by other electromagnetic fields such as underground running water, underground cavities, certain mineral concentrations or power cables. Also the energetic field emitted by the products very efficiently combats the effects of man-made Electromagnetic Pollution (also called Electro Sress) caused by, amongst others, electrical appliances, pylons, substations, mobile phone masts, computer equipment, mobile phones and DECT cordless phones.  A draining environment becomes revitalised. 


3) NRG Recalibration Module
The NRG Recalibration Module(tm) is a proprietary and new technology that stimulates and relaxes the bodies natural electromagnetic field causing a balancing of the bodies internal biorhythms. Years of testing have proven the NRG Recalibration Module(tm) technology to be 100% effective in correcting years of damage done by modern society's growing dependence on electro-magnetic wave emitting devices. 
How does it work?
The NRG Recalibration Module(tm) uses semi-passive Q-Crystalline(r) technology to alter incoming electro-magnetic waves and create a harmonious living or work environment. Dangerous artificial electro-magnetic waves induce vibrational energy into the 3-Dimensional Q-Crystalline(r) grid, which is tuned to the body's natural frequencies. The NRG Recalibration Module(tm) then absorsb and remodulates the waves to frequencies that are safe for humans and animals. By having one or more of the modules in your work area, it is possible to create a natural electro-magnetic safe zone, where your mind and body will perform most efficiently and without stress. 
The NRG Recalibration Module(tm) is even capable of protecting you from your personal computer or  laptop, by wearing it around your neck or placing it in a shirt, jacket, or pants pocket!