The Merseyside Skeptics Society

Skeptics in the Pub: Mark Edon

Mike — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:33:36 +0000

Creationism in the UK – Closing the Ark Door After the T-Rex has bolted?

by Mark Edon

When: Thursday, February 16th, 2012 8.00 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Head of Steam, 7 Lime Street, Liverpool

Mark Edon, from the British Centre for Science Education will be talking about the current issues surrounding creationism in the UK; why Skeptics should care; how to argue against creationism and maybe even a bit of science.

About the Speaker

Mark Edon is a lifelong fan of science, and first got involved in the UK anti-creationist scene after creationists interfered at his children’s school. He is currently studying for a degree in Life Sciences at the Open University.

Mark is also the Humanist representative on the Leeds City Council Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE) and the secretary for the BCSE (British Centre for Science Education).

Skeptics with a K – Episode #064

Mike — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:24:10 +0000

It’s Australia Day! Featuring Chicken McNuggets, fingerprints, decoy sausages and DNA. Plus, sniffer babies, Jamie Oliver and Half Man Half Biscuit. With dreadful Aussie accents – it’s Skeptics with a bloody K.

Skeptics with a K – Episode #063

Mike — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:25:42 +0000

Welcome to 2012. The end of the world starts here–with liars, Bob Holness, Zeta Reticuli, and Walt Disney. Plus Gary Coleman, the Star Trek theme, Comet Hale-Bopp and Johnny Cash. Fighting the law (though the law wins), it’s Skeptics with a K.

InKredulous – Episode #011

Mike — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:15:30 +0000

Episode 11 of our satirical comedy podcast. With questions on skeptical topics, and our guests answering them. Your host is Andy Wilson (@InKredulosi) of the Merseyside Skeptics Society.

This episode is a little longer and of slightly lower technical quality due to a tech problem that affected the recorded files. Apologies for that. Normal service will resume in InKredulous 12!

Appearing in this episode are:

Kylie Sturgess of the Token Skeptic podcast and too many other things that can be listed here. @podblack
Geoff Whelan of Greater Manchester Skeptics and co-organiser of QED, @keep_it_brief
Dr*T of the Thinking Is Dangerous blog and many podcasts including Righteous Indignation @DRstarT

You can contact the show at andy@inkredulous.org, and follow us on twitter @InKredulosi to get the early heads up on who will appear on the next show.

As always, thanks for listening.

Skeptics with a K – Episode #062

Mike — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 10:23:20 +0000

Christmas Special! Mike, Marsh and Colin take a look at Christmas-based myths. And we don’t just mean that one about the Son of God. That definitely happened. Oh, yes.

Bad News: How PR Came to Rule Modern Journalism – Full talk plus Q&A

Marsh — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:58:23 +0000

Last week I had the pleasure of speaking to our lovely Skeptics in the Pub crowd, where I took about dissecting the media and generally picking out just how to spot PR bullshit in the press. For all of you who were sadly unable to make it, fret not! For we have the whole thing on video. Feel free to discuss in the comments below!

*Sorry for the random sound issues in the middle – apparently passing taxis were interfering with the radio mics. It was not – repeat NOT – any kind of nefarious hacking tactics from the tabloids…

Skeptics in the Pub: Peter Blanchard

Mike — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:30:03 +0000

Homeopathy: Is it legal?

by Peter Blanchard

When: Thursday, January 19th, 2012 8.00 – 11.00 PM
Where: The Head of Steam, 7 Lime Street, Liverpool

Homeopathic products have long been shown to have no effect on illnesses, and no active ingredients – yet these sugar pills are sold on high streets across the country and by our most respected pharmacists. Given that the pills are indistinguishable from sugar pills, yet proponents claim remarkable powers of healing from them, how legal are the claims made?

Peter Blanchard is a blogger and activist who has amassed the most comprehensive lay understanding of the ins and outs of regulating homeopathic products.

In this talk, he’ll explain who can and can’t supply homeopathic products, what homeopathic remedies can be advertised and what claims can and can’t be made about. He’ll also cover the highly restricted circumstances under which some homeopathic medicines can be supplied – exposing those who operate outside of these rules.

Having been successful in getting reluctant regulators to act on those who break the law, he’ll go through tactics you can use to make successful complaints, and how you can help.

Skeptics with a K – Episode #061

Mike — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:23:19 +0000

Psychics, visions, wells and railway lines. Plus Geena Davis, Belinda Carlisle, G.O.D. and Lucifer. With a low nourishment potential, it’s Skeptics with a K.

Skeptics with a K – Episode #060

Mike — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:17:44 +0000

Wedding Cake

Aliens in the fridge, bullshit in the cage and cancer quackery in Texas. Plus chicken, bread, the Secret and drinking urine. By the power of Yahweh – it’s Skeptics with a K. Oh, and Mike got married.

Skeptics with a K – Episode #059

Mike — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:42:08 +0000

Fairies, body voltage and Alice in Wonderland. Plus nicotine, geopathic stress and missing roofs. With only minor negative health effects, it’s Skeptics with a K.