Over the next few weeks, I will be taking the Quackometer on tour around the UK and giving talks exploring what factors allow pseudo-medicines to survive despite their lack of specific effects and scientific absurdity. Giving examples of quacks and…
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James Randi, Global Warming and the Nature of Scepticism
by Andy Lewis • • 53 Comments
James Randi is a hero to many rational people around the world. He has done more than, perhaps, any person alive to promote rational and clear thinking about claims of the paranormal and alternative medicine. His million dollar challenge acts…
Bogus Science and Other Christmas Gifts
by Andy Lewis • • 2 Comments
Yes, like it or not, now is the time to start thinking about the perfect gift for the geek in your life. Last year we were treated to a slew of great books about quackery, many of them now available…
John Wesley and The Origins of the Natural Health Movement
by Andy Lewis • • 37 Comments
Examine the discourse of any alternative medicine and you will encounter a surprisingly homogenous set of themes: that their methods are natural, simple, available to all, and are based on ancient and traditional knowledge. Cures for disease are freely available…
MP David Tredinnick calls for more Government Funding of Medical Astrology and Remote Energetic Healing
by Andy Lewis • • 22 Comments
Yesterday, the House of Commons saw a debate on the funding of medical astrology. Yes. Medical Astrology. The Hansard Report of the debate has a seventeenth century feel to it. Tredinnick asserts that the phase of the moon influences the…
Two Boiled Eggs in Pinstripes and the Four Soldiers of Scepticism
by Andy Lewis • • Comments Off
October 5th, 2009 7pm – 8pm TAM London – The Amaz!ing Panel Conway Hall, Holborn Sign Up Here As part of the official fringe to the first ever London TAM, there will be a panel meeting about…
What would $34 billion of Quack money buy you?
by Andy Lewis • • 22 Comments
Today the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has issued a report that shows that Americans spend $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on complementary and alternative medicine per year. This is the figure that people spend on such things as…
Skeptics in the Field
by Andy Lewis • • 15 Comments
So, a few days back from the Glastonbury festival, showered and variously recovered from vicious sun, torrential thunderstorms, lack of sleep and the magical outpourings of the cider bus. I had planned to twitter loads from the festival – I…
Government bails out Ofquack as it rewrites old press release
by Andy Lewis • • 26 Comments
Last March I asked, “Will the government bail out Ofquack?” when it was becoming very clear that the new government backed ‘regulator’ for pseudo-medical trades people (quacks) were running out of money fast. It looks like at about the…
Scepticism is the New Rock’n’Roll
by Andy Lewis • • 19 Comments
Last night we held the first evening of the Oxford branch of Skeptics in the Pub. Come 6.15 and the bar we had booked was already filling up. By Seven o’clock it was packed and unfortunately not everyone could see…
