Skeptic's Circle
A belated welcome to all. This is the 52nd edition of the Skeptic's Circle. As I've done for other carnivals, I will highlight some posts of note with quotes and my own comments, and then provide a link to the rest. Please keep in mind, these are posts that I liked. I'm not trying to slight anyone, but it's the most creative thing I could come up with. I encourage readers to take a look at all the posts in the circle, not just the first few. ALso, apologies for the lateness, but life interrupts at inconvenient times. On with the show:
First up is that old salt Skeptico:On October 6, 2002, eleven year old Shawn Hornbeck disappeared while riding his bike to a friend's house in Richwood, Missouri. His anguished parents went on Montel’s TV show on February 24, 2003, to try to learn from “psychic” Sylvia Browne what might have happened to their son...
[This is what I love about the circle, step-by-step deconstruction with plenty of links/references to back it up.]
Next up with a financial twist to it, is Amy Lin:Want an easy way to save 3+ months’ salary? Don’t buy a diamond engagement ring. If your fiancée, friends and family scream hellfire, calmly explain:
[There is mention of cultured diamonds in the post, something that my wife and I have considered buying in the future].
Can't forget the purveyor of this get togther, here's Orac: Do you know why having direct skin contact with the ground is very, very, healthy for your body? I bet you want to know.
[Sometimes I swear Orac is going to put together one of these where he makes something up and we're all going to fall for it. Everytime he posts one of these I keep thinking that he's making it up...but he's not]
I can't believe people are still forwarding this stuff along, but Runolfr has a Snopes-like take-down: According to Snopes, variations of this particular gag have been bouncing from mailbox to mailbox since 1997. This is the “Bill Gates wants to go broke” incarnation. We’ll go through it bit-by-bit to look at all the tell-tale signs of an email hoax.
[Noting internal inconsistencies might be a better way to debunk these things, rather than just forwarding people to Snopes. I should try that next time.]
Now for some Poo (surprisingly not from this guy), but from wenchypoo (insert laughter here): We have been obsessed with bowel habits since before we were a country. Our health was determined by looking into chamber pots as if reading tea leaves: length, width, consistency, and timing all made up a general assessment of what was going on inside
[It's actually looking at fiber and asks what's all the hububaloo about poo...ok I'll stop]
And lastly from a newer blog, we have some blobjects: I love when a creative word is coined that so neatly (and humorously) describes a cultural meme that needs describing.
[I like the writing style and will be keeping an eye on this new blog]
Several months ago, I came across a favorite new word, my neologism of the year.
Blobsquatch
And now for the best of the rest
Sunday School Science Lesson
How it Feels (About Animal Psychics)
Psychic Nikki predicts the Golden Globe results
Cracking the Code of the Universe
Forbidden Archaeology? Some So-Called Out of Place Artifacts
Top Shelf Woo [Mike, you are a massage therapist!! Sweet, cause my shoulder is stiff as I write this...]
Doggerel #53: "We Need More Time to Research!"
Creationist finances
Such a happy little new planet
Dr Nick with Maniputaling VAERS
Bible, scientifically accurate??
Crackpot in Canada
Short and Sweet (now with Superman reference)
Another Short and Sweet
Tricks of the mind, a book review
See you next time at Occam's Edge, thanks for stopping by, hope you stay a while :).
Tags: skeptic circle
7:07 PM
|
|
This entry was posted on 7:07 PM
You can follow any responses to this entry through
the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response,
or trackback from your own site.
4 comments:
Nicely done, sir. As always, I'm looking forward to getting through these over the next few days.
Oh, and yes, I'm a massage therapist - and I do have a price. I can be bought and I'm perfectly ok with that. Let me know :)
Also, and this is *way* off topic, but I got tagged with a "five things about you" meme thingy" that I'm passing along to you. If it's up your alley, throw up a post that tells five interesting things about you.
Truly there is a God, although the fool has said in his heart, there is no God [Psalm 14]. And it assuredly exists so truly that it cannot be conceived not to exist. For it is possible to conceive of a being which cannot be conceived not to exist; & this is greater than one which can be conceived not to exist. Hence, if that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, can be conceived not to exist, it is not that, than which nothing greater can be conceived, but this is an irreconcilable contradiction. There is, then, so truly a being than which nothing greater can be conceived to exist, that it cannot even be conceived not to exist; & this being you are. O Lord our God. [St Anslem]
Peace Be With You
Patrick
About 3 years ago I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life, but somehow [Holy Spirit], I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits [hospital] in four months – I actually thought I was in hell. I imagine I was going through some sort of metamorphosis [mental, physical & spiritual]. I had been seeing a therapist [1994] on a regular basis, up until this point in time. I actually thought I would be locked away – but the hospital staff was very supportive [I had no control over my process]. I was released from hospital 16th September 1994, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up [home] & my process would start up again [fear, pain, & shame]. No one could help me, not even my therapist [I was terrified]. I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me & forgive me my sins. Slowly, all my fear has dissipated & I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing. I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically. He’s a real person who is with me all the time. I have so much joy & peace in my life, today, after a childhood spent in orphanages [England & Australia]. Fear, pain, & shame, are no longer my constant companions. I just wanted to share my experience with you [Luke 8: 16 – 17].
Peace Be With You
Patrick
Post a Comment