Dr Sarah Myhill – Yet More Dangerous Advice?
I’ve written about Dr Myhill several times now. Previously, I’ve pointed out various incorrect assertions and unsubstantiated claims relating specifically to vaccination. Read the rest of this entry »
Astrology
For me, the idea that the position of the stars can shape our personalities or our destinies doesn’t feel that bizarre. Probably because it’s so familiar. (See for example its influence on language and literature. Or the horoscopes that appear in pretty much every newspaper.) Some have been sufficiently interested in the claims of astrologers that they’ve tested how accurate they are when it comes to making predictions about people’s personalities or the future. Read the rest of this entry »
Woo In Sport
Woo in sport comes in many forms. From the array of supplements taken by weightlifters to the horse placenta treatment tried by Robin van Persie. Read the rest of this entry »
Doctors And Vaccination
Dr Sarah Myhill’s website has a page on MMR vaccination that contains several untrue statements. I shall highlight some of the most obviously incorrect assertions and comment on each of them in this blogpost. Read the rest of this entry »
Meddling Mediums
One of the concerns* I have about people who call themselves psychics or mediums is that, on occasion, I have heard about these ‘mediums’ offering advice to people that is apparently based on their reading of mystic tarot cards, or the word of a spirit guide and is actually taken seriously by the person who has gone to consult the medium. Read the rest of this entry »
Excess Woo – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle?
Far too much energy is being expended on producing and consuming the bullshit of the counterknowledge industry: nutritionism, homeopathy, and the various forms of energy medicine that rely on vitalism being prime examples of this industry. Worthless remedies are produced, and worthless books and pamphlets are published. Read the rest of this entry »
Aporkalypse: Don’t Panic, Peter Chappell Has The Answer
Recently, the World Health Organisation formally declared that “the swine flu outbreak is now a global pandemic; the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.” (BBC World Service) Within the last 24 hours, the BBC has also reported that “A further 83 new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in Scotland – the highest daily increase so far” (BBC News) and that “A further six cases of swine flu have been confirmed at a primary school in Sheffield after a pupil tested positive for the disease” (BBC News). Apparently, the race is now on to produce a vaccine (“Drugmakers rush to produce a swine flu vaccine”; AP). Read the rest of this entry »
Psychic Predictions and The Premier League: Genuinely Bogus?
It’s just a bit of fun. The Guardian recently asked psychic Inbaal to predict which three of five possible clubs will be relegated from the Premier League. (Association Football, since you ask.) The piece ran in the sports section with two games of the season remaining and West Brom and Middlesbrough in desperate trouble, with Newcastle, Hull and Sunderland also in danger of relegation. What happened next? Read the rest of this entry »
Targets: Aids, Cancer, Autism and Dyslexia
Some fields seem to attract quackery. Energy production is an obvious one (I predict that the idea of perpetual motion machines will never die – the idea is too attractive and there will probably always be sufficiently gullible/ignorant people in the world), but there are certain fields which seem to attract medical quackery more than others. I thought I’d list a few of the apparent similarities between some of the areas that I see as attracting quackery or, at best, dubious claims. Read the rest of this entry »
Stuff And Nonsense 