SGU Episode 139

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SGU Episode 139
March 19th 2008
(brief caption for the episode icon)
SGU 138                      SGU 140
Skeptical Rogues
S: Steven Novella
B: Bob Novella
R: Rebecca Watson
J: Jay Novella
E: Evan Bernstein
Quote of the Week
'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.'
Arthur C. Clarke
Links
Download Podcast
Show Notes
Forum Discussion

Introduction

You're listening to the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe, your escape to reality.

News Items ()

Arthur C. Clarke Dies at 90 ()

• www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/5631902.html
  
  
  

Saudi Scholar Denies Holocaust ()

• www.memritv.org/newsletter/AlAqsa.htm#
  
  
  

Blinded by the Light ()

• www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2008/03/11/indians_blinded_looking_for_vision_of_mary/2462/
  

Questions and E-mails ()

Boy Scouts ()

Hi Guys,

Just listening to the latest podcast, and I want to respond to a comment that was made by Rebecca regarding Mormons and Boy Scouts.

Rebecca's comment that Mormons control the Boyscouts is a gross generalization.

I want to state that while I am a skeptic, I am not an atheist. I think that science proves the existence of God rather than disproves it. (just to be clear I am NOT a creationist.)

The fact of the matter is that the Boy Scouts is not a mormon organization. What Rebecca is referring to is that apparently the Mormon Church has endorsed the boy scout program as the official youth program on their organization. While this may give them undue political influence on the state and/or national level, it is factually inaccurate to state that the mormons control the boy scouts.

Just wanted to present the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as you do every week on your show.

Thanks.

Joe
NY

Soap Pseudoscience ()

Hi there, my wife was purchasing some facial cleansing products at a local drugstore, and while she was checking out, the saleswoman threw in some sample products for me (I'm a guy).

She then told me that I shouldn't wash my face with soap, that the same scummy, scaly deposit left on the shower walls were being left on my face every time I wash with soap! And of course the only way to prevent this from happening was to purchase expensive products specially formulated for male skin.

Help me skeptics! Is it true? Am I at risk of becoming a scaly crust face if I continue to wash my face with just soap???

Jeremy Fritsche
Edmonton, Canada

Interview with Stephen Barrett ()

• www.quackwatch.org/

Science or Fiction ()

Question #1: Astronomers have discovered the most massive black whole yet known - with a mass of 18 billion suns. Question #2: Astronomers have discovered water and organic molecules for the first time on a planet outside our own solar system. Question #3: Astronomers reviewing images from the recent Messenger flyby have discovered evidence of recent tectonic activity on Mercury.

Quote of the Week ()

'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.'- Arthur C. Clarke

S: The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is produced by the New England Skeptical Society in association with the James Randi Educational Foundation and skepchick.org. For more information on this and other episodes, please visit our website at www.theskepticsguide.org. For questions, suggestions, and other feedback, please use the "Contact Us" form on the website, or send an email to info@theskepticsguide.org. If you enjoyed this episode, then please help us spread the word by voting for us on Digg, or leaving us a review on iTunes. You can find links to these sites and others through our homepage. 'Theorem' is produced by Kineto, and is used with permission.

References