The Virtual Skeptics

This week on Virtual Skeptics

• Bob finds out that he could probably practice medicine in Texas;
• Eve explains why scientific ignorance is political bliss;
• Sharon encourages you to stay active [this is a news update on some positive skepticism stories for the week];
• and Tim has nothing for us this week, as it was completely uneventful.

This Week’s Panel:

Bob Blaskiewicz – CSI’s Conspiracy Guy web columnist, blogger for Skeptical Humanities and Swift Blog contributor
Eve Siebert – Editor and blogger at Skeptical Humanities
Sharon Hill - Editor of Doubtful News and author of the CSI’s Sounds Sciencey web column
Tim Farley – JREF fellow and creator of What’s the Harm.net,the Skeptical Software Tools blog, and the official Virtual Skeptics Cherub of Canadian Justice!!!

Announcements/Updates
Bob: Rimsha Masih cleared of charges in Pakistani blasphemy case.

Links:

Bob’s Links:

• For the relevant documents regarding Burzynski’s most recent legal proceedings: https://cis.soah.state.tx.us/tokopenweb/ (hit “guest account” and then search for docket number 503-11-1669)
• Orac on Amelia and the ruling: http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/11/21/yet-another-patient-wasting-money-on-burzynski/
• Follow @frozenwarning on Twitter https://twitter.com/frozenwarning
• Update on Rimsha Masih: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/20/pakistan-drops-blasphemy-case-christian

Eve’s links:

• Conservatives and Creationism http://news.yahoo.com/creationism-controversies-norm-among-potential-republican-2016-contenders-180354094–politics.html

• Rubio’s GQ interview http://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/201212/marco-rubio-interview-gq-december-2012?printable=true&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitte
• Christie on evolution and creationism http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011/05/12/christies-views-on-creationism-none-of-your-business/
• Jindal and the Louisiana Science Education act http://blog.nola.com/jamesgill/2009/02/mad_scientists.html
• Rand Paul punts on the age of the earth http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/06/29/104967/rand-paul-old-earth/
• Rand Paul panders to creationists http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2010/06/28/197714/rand-paul-panders-to-young-earth-creationists/
• More Rand Paul http://www.barefootandprogressive.com/2010/06/rand-paul-refuses-to-say-how-old-the-earth-is.html
• Science wins in Florida (just barely) http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/20/State/Evolution_joins_curri.shtml
• Rubio in 2008 as Florida House Speaker http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2008/02/taking-it-to-th.html#comments
• Phil Plait knows how old the earth is http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2012/11/19/florida_senator_marco_rubio_the_age_of_the_earth_is_a_great_mystery.html?wpisrc=most_viral
• http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/11/romney-elaborates-on-evolution/

Sharon’s links:

• Austin Ramirez: Skeptical hero http://doubtfulnews.com/2012/11/austin-ramirez-skeptical-hero/

• Where the truth is blasphemy: The Edamaruku case http://doubtfulnews.com/2012/11/where-the-truth-is-blasphemy-the-edamaruku-case/
• Suddenly Haunted Mansion. Hmm, suspicious. http://doubtfulnews.com/2012/11/suddenly-haunted-mansion-hmm-suspicious/
• Xocai update: They are gone http://doubtfulnews.com/2012/11/xocai-update-they-are-gone/

• Priming the community to watch for scams works! http://doubtfulnews.com/2012/11/priming-the-community-to-watch-for-scams-works/

Tim’s links:

• Mabus Redux: Dennis Markuze arrested again http://bit.ly/MabusRedux

The Virtual Skeptics is an independent production of Doubtful News, WhatsTheHarm.net, Skeptical Humanities, and Brian Gregory. Our logo was designed by Sara Mayhew at SaraMayhew.com. Our theme music is by Tremor and is used with permission.