TurboFool (Neither, really)

Saturday night was the party and awards ceremony celebrating the Independent Investigations Group‘s 10th anniversary.

The party consisted of food, drinks, cake, chatter, wonderful special guests, and awards. Some of the guests included well-known heavyweights like Michael Shermer and Brian Dunning, as well as friend/colleague/lord Brian Dalton (Mr. Deity), and esteemed experts such as Carol Tavris, Harriet Hall and Eugenie Scott. This list were all presented with awards from the IIG for their achievements in promoting science, skepticism, and critical thinking.

Also awarded that evening for their achievements and assistance within the IIG were fellow members Wendy Hughes, Dave Richards, and Ross Blocher. Wendy and Dave each have brought to the IIG some of its biggest and most valuable investigations throughout its history, and Ross has pulled excessive all-nighters in redesigning the group’s web site, designing brochures and business cards, and more.

Also awarded were staff from the productions of Eureka and The Mentalist. While both could be said to play a little loose with factual science (especially the former), BOTH shows promote science and critical thinking heavily as forces for good, progress, and solving problems. They cast these topics in a positive light and help the viewers see just what we can accomplish when we focus on these topics. These two shows received the IIG’s special new SurlyRamics trophy designed by Amy Roth of Skepchick, which was truly beautiful and unique to our group.

The ceremony went smoothly and kept the attention of the crowd of over 100 people, many of whom were visiting the CFI or an IIG event for the first time, and all of whom seemed to leave with an extremely positive impression of our group and what we can achieve with little more than dedication and volunteer efforts.

I think it’s clear that after this weekend the IIG can expect to continue to steadily climb in its influence on critical thinking and skepticism. We’re branching out with affiliates across the country, and our own group has major efforts underway including our in-depth Power Balance investigation plans, The Odds Must Be Crazy web site, further efforts into the California Board of Registered Nurses reform, and much more that we’re not yet ready to talk about.

TAM8 left me with a lot of pride for the IIG’s place in the grand scheme and the respect we garnered from the community, but Saturday’s ceremony cemented it. Our impact cannot be questioned, and our support and success are all but assured if we keep up this pace.

Thanks to anyone who showed up to the event, as well as those who watched live on Ustream, where the event can still be viewed. Your interest and enthusiasm meant the world to us.

Here’s to another great year!

NOTE: This was written via the WordPress app on my Android phone. As such it’s tricky to verify spelling and create appropriate links right now. When I have time to edit from a computer I’ll review it and correct these issues.

EDIT: I’ve now gone ahead and made my adjustments including links and spelling verifications. Should be in better shape now.

I just watched a great video by potholer54 on the “controversial” (among people who don’t know wtf they’re talking about) subject of carbon dating and just had to post it here:

It leads me to question these unfortunately common tactics of creationists to explain their ideological viewpoints. In this case the never-failing-to-amuse Kent Hovind manages to quote-mine papers, skew findings to achieve his desired explanation, ignore already well-known limitations of the technology within the scientific community to show what’s already been found and worked around, and ignore direct warnings from scientists over the fact that the results he’d get were KNOWN to not be of what he was trying to find. And yet he goes right ahead anyway and does all of this to “prove” that carbon dating doesn’t work when it’s clearly only HE that isn’t working properly.

Now most assume this guy is just plain dishonest. And given his history of and imprisonment over tax evasion, it’s a fair assumption. But it’s not definitely the case. It’s also entirely possible that this guy is a complete idiot. Yes, yes, he’s a “doctor,” and he speaks in a way that suggests some level of intelligence, but those aren’t proof either. And then there’s the old cognitive dissonance issue where he believes his viewpoint so strongly that he’ll do anything to back it up, justifying the dishonesty to the point where he doesn’t even realize he’s being dishonest. I think it’s likely the first problem or the last, the first placing the blame entirely on Hovind, the last putting more of the blame on the overall concept that’s poisoned his mind so deeply against reality.

At the end of the day, believe what you will, but don’t fucking lie about it to me or impressionable people. Stick to facts, stick to proof, stick to reliable evidence, stick to reality, or STFU. You’re not helping yourself or anyone else by spreading arguments that are provably wrong, and especially arguments that were already proven wrong to you BEFORE you used them. Adjust, learn, adapt, and evolve your arguments as you learn. I know it runs contradictory to your view that the world is nothing but cold stone facts written in an ancient book, but the truth is our survival depends on adaptation, and you know it. Why else would you have renamed “creation” to “intelligent design?” You know your tactics have to change if they’re going to have any shot at success, and this tactic of continuing to use arguments that were disproven is one of them. Move on. And if you run out of such arguments, maybe it’s time to reconsider your position. You know, the way rational people do.

So today I made the mistake of using the #atheism hashtag on Twitter. It wasn’t really a mistake, I did it purposefully, and was aware that it brands me exactly as I’m comfortable being branded. What I didn’t expect was the troll I got in response.

He doesn’t fit the classic description of a troll or flamebaiter per se, or at least not MY definition. He’s a calm enough guy who’s simply making the same old tired, illogical, badly-presented arguments. In particular he’s claiming that atheism is, in fact, a religion, and that he has proof of this, a list of 5 gods that atheists believe in, and that we need to stop saying we don’t have belief or that we lack belief.

Where it gets interesting, though, is that he mainly avoids making the arguments themselves, only referencing the fact that he has them. Why? Because he has a convenient eBook available for sale on his website that has all those answers! And it retails for only $4.99, which is actually quite reasonable. $4.99 is almost inexpensive enough to be worth me buying just to read his arguments which I’ll likely immediately recognize from decades of others making the exact same tired arguments, along with nonsensical ramblings full of logical fallacies. Then I’d have the ammunition with which to refute his claims directly and show him how flawed they are, assuming he’s capable of following an intelligent argument.

And right there is where I realized this guy’s hidden brilliance. Regardless of whether he believes his claims (I have no reason to doubt that he does), and regardless of whether I and many more knowledgeable folks can rip said claims to shreds, is irrelevant. Why? Because the moment he’s successfully baited us into wanting to read his evidence to dispute his inanity he’s made $4.99 off us (minus fees, of course). At that point we could prove he’s one of the worst authors on the planet and has no skills whatsoever in philosophy or theology, and he’ll still have proven that what he lacks in those fields he makes up for in marketing strategy. Much like Brian Dunning once pointed out, sure you can make a better hamburger than McDonald’s, but you can’t make a better business. It’s not about the product, it’s about the selling of said product. And this guy deserves some credit for that. I can make a better argument than he can, but at the end of the day, which of us has made $4.99 off the other?

I’ve purposefully avoided linking to the person in question, but if you’re interested in checking out what he has to say, look to my Twitter feed. While I personally don’t wish to financially support his flawed arguments or deceptive practices, I won’t prevent you from doing so. He is pretty clever, and perhaps some may feel he deserves a few bucks for that. So be it. Now, should he wish to send me a FREE copy of the eBook and prove this wasn’t his strategy and he really does want open and honest discussion of the subject, I’d be happy to review it here. But I’m not paying for the privilege of arguing with him. I’m not that big of a masochist.

EDIT 5/18/10: I realize I’m doing nobody justice by not providing some link to this guy’s chatter, especially since he’s apparently still at it, even if he left me alone when it was clear I wasn’t buying (his book or his BS). So check out his Twitter feed to see what he’s up to.

This song is full of profanity, and it’s likely to piss off a lot of people, potentially including people I know and love dearly. I apologize to them in advance, but I do not, can not, and will not apologize for the content or meaning of the song which I, instead, support with every inch of my being. It’s full of profanity (hence my title), and so is my follow-up. Easily offended? Leave now.

Tim Minchin’s one of my favorite musicians and comedians. He’s funny and honest (which tend to go hand in hand) and has no problem calling an idiot an idiot, and we need more of that. In this case he doesn’t hold back one bit, and I thank him for that.

I don’t respect this authority figure just because a bunch of other supposed authority figures got together and voted that he was the guy who should be the leader of their church. I know as a non-Catholic I can’t possibly understand what it’s like, and how important he is, and how infallible he’s supposed to be. He’s a motherfucker who covered up for and protected child-fuckers. Children were RAPED by men who they and their parents TRUSTED, who they were supposed to trust more than anyone else by the very design of the motherfucking organization, and this trust was violated. And then, when the motherfuckers who violated their trust and bodies were called out on it, even bigger motherfuckers like the current Pope (then a a Cardinal) protected them from prosecution and hid their motherfucking crimes.

So no, I don’t understand your church, and I don’t understand why you feel the need to protect this man when you’d be crying for blood if a cop or a judge or the mayor either fucked your kid or covered up for someone who did. I’m sorry I don’t understand it and I’m sorry I never, ever fucking will. There is no damn bloody excuse for this no matter who this man thinks he is, has been told he is, or has been divinely inspired to be that allows for this.

And in the off chance that I’m fucking wrong, and he is divine, and this is all part of the plan, well you know what? Fuck the motherfucking plan, too. Yes, I’m an atheist, and contrary to what people who can’t comprehend atheism believe, no that doesn’t mean I hate your god, or that I’m angry at him. It means I simply do not believe he exists. None of your evidence has managed to convince me so far. But just for a moment suppose you managed to do the trick. You managed to find the evidence, display the miracles, push the boundaries and prove to me that, holy shit, it’s all true. If the religion you reveal to me to be reality happens to be one in which motherfuckers like this are RIGHT and JUST in their actions, and your god condones this evil prick’s actions, you’ll only have managed to convince me of your first opinion. Because that’s a god I could hate, loathe, revile, detest, and vow my life against. That’s a sick, twisted deity, and one that doesn’t fit your descriptions of a loving, just god. At that point I’d be more interested in taking my chances with the devil.

I’ve seen this image before, but it popped up in my RSS reader again today, and I just had to share it.

It’s a sad and scary truth…

(image courtesy of Crooked Timber)

There’s really not much I can say to do this video justice that isn’t done by the video itself. Well-produced, fantastic animation, and good, clear messages. Glad to see the skeptical community is growing to encompass ALL forms, including people who can produce music like this:

The skeptical, rational, freethinking movement is growing at a ridiculous pace, and is unstoppable. The differences being made every day are more and more powerful and real, and the frauds out to make a dime on the unwitting public’s lack of knowledge are having to work harder than ever to skate past us. We’re on the case, and we’re not resting anymore. If you make your living off of lies and deception, you’d better start watching your back, because I can assure you, we’ve got you in our sights.

All right, new episode of Mr. Deity is up, and I’m in it again! Woohoo, go me, living the dream, etc. Check it out (and stick around for the begging segment at the end):

Another good episode, and I loved the PZ references. Definitely some good, subtle stuff in there, and as usual plenty of ad-libbing (the Dagon reference was something I was especially proud of).

Anyway, the season’s nearly wrapped up, then there’ll be a small hiatus and for the first time ever, a Mr. Deity DVD release of the entire third season! Hopefully there’ll be a bunch of bonus content like outtakes (we have, on some very, very rare occasions, botched a line, or done something else mildly unplanned) and extended scenes to make it extra worth it, but just having it without the GoDaddy ads is enough for me. That and maybe no begging, although I find the begging bits nearly as funny (and, admittedly, occasionally funnier) than the episodes themselves, so hopefully they’ll be on the DVDs in one form or another.

Btw, if you were at all confused by the beginning, you may want to check out this Super Bowl commercial after the break to clear things up a bit:

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So yesterday I attended my first meeting at IIG (Independent Investigations Group) West, which is a division of the Center for Inquiry West. Before yesterday I hadn’t quite realized the history of the CFI. It encompasses several sub-organizations, the original of which was CSI (The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, formerly CSICOP), which was co-founded by Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov. I got quite the chill when I realized the history of the place I was in at that moment. Exciting stuff. It also houses the Steve Allen Theatre where they put on some fascinating products I hope to attend in the future.

Anyway, the meeting itself was interesting enough, although mainly just your standard committee meeting of sorts, discussing ongoing and upcoming investigations and events. It’s not the sexiest stuff, but as a skeptic it was interesting to see the process that goes into planning the investigations that we later only hear the results of. They’ve pulled a lot of great stunts for the sake of education, like the fake continuing education course for the CBRN (California Board of Registered Nurses) that they were licensed for containing such things as Chinese shéyou (literally translates to “snake-oil”), anthropomancy (fortune-telling via human entrails), and canupiary flexibility (canupiary exists in no language anywhere in the world). Their point was that after years of trying to point out the flaws in the CBRN’s system and getting no response, they decided to prove via a stunt how poor their standards are. There’s a lot of tricks they pull like this, and finding out how much work and planning go into them is fascinating.

One thing that did stand out was the attendance and subsequent joining of our group by Anita Ikonen, who was the previous paranormal challenger at the IIG, being tested on her ability to see inside the human body by having her figure out which of 12 people, facing away from her, was missing a kidney. She claims to have since realized her history of woo (such as her reliance on Breatharianism, the belief that we get all the sustaining nutrients we need from the air, making water and food unnecessary) was misfounded, and her new pursuit of degrees in physics and chemistry have given her a better perspective on science and the way the world really works. While some expressed skepticism (no joke intended) at this change of heart, when it comes to humans striving to improve themselves I try to keep the most open mind of all, and I wish her the best of luck.

I also had the good fortune of meeting Mark Edward, a world-renowned magician, mentalist, and reformed psychic who now fights on the side of good and honesty. He’s appeared on Penn & Teller: Bullshit! at least once (pilot episode), and is great at proving the tricks and trades of mediums, psychics, palm-readers, etc. by giving the exact same types of readings they do, with the same results, and then explaining how he did it. He’s one of the best forms of proof we have that the amazing revelations people believe they’ve been provided by these charlatans can be easily repeated by someone who makes no such claim to have those abilities, using good old-fashioned trickery and deceit. He was there to lend his expert oversight of the test and hopefully to catch any parlor tricks being pulled by the challenger, although as you’ll see later that was probably unneeded.

Mark wasn’t the only exciting person I met there, although the others are less of a celebrity to the average person. Derek Bartholomaus is a well-known skeptic and creator of the deeply valuable Jenny McCarthy Body Count, and has been interviewed on various podcasts. He’s another person I’ve definitely known of, and although I’ve conversed with him on Twitter and Facebook, this was the first time I got to meet him and hang out with him. As well, I met SurlyAmy of the incomparable SkepChick blog which is hugely valuable within the skepticism circles. She and I share a birthday, and it was agreed that this makes us both awesome. While that claim may have little substantiating evidence beyond mere coincidence of birth, I’m quite comfortable that the results are accurate without requiring further investigation. I also met several people from the CFI who I later realized were already familiar to me from having appeared on Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, such as Jim Underdown who also appears in the pilot.

One truly amazing thing about this group of people is how comfortable they are with one another as well as newcomers such as myself. I was instantly welcomed, with people introducing themselves to me, asking me questions about myself, and carrying on in-depth conversations with me as though I had been a member of the group for years. It was an instant and trusting connection, and something I feel honored to be a part of. These are truly good, honest, caring people who want nothing more than to help cut the bullshit out of the world and make some progress in letting people focus their health and resources on reality.

Anyway, after a nice lunch at Bamboo House (a very good Thai place within walking distance), we returned to where the test circumstances had been prepared. The challenger, Regen, had come in from Seattle via bus the day before with a buddy of his. His previous scheduled challenge had to be delayed as he was in jail at the time. I made a conscious effort not let this prejudice my opinion of him. People make mistakes, and it doesn’t always reflect them overall, not to mention it should have no bearing on whether they have supernatural powers.

Speaking of which, Regen’s claim (or at least the aspect of the claim being tested yesterday) was that he could project images telepathically to another person (hence the buddy) through walls. So the test was pretty simple. Deck of cards, shuffled, and displayed to him one by one while his buddy in another room, visible to him via a CCTV, “received” each card and noted it, with each card being numbered and documented on the other side. Afterwards the results would be compared and if he got 7 out of 52 matched (somewhere in the 13,600:1 odds range), they’d consider the preliminary test passed and move on to the final test with stricter standards at a later, and far more publicized date. Logical enough.

My first sign that something wasn’t quite right was when Regen walked into the room. His limbs were all over the place, he was muttering to himself, and as he sat down in his chair he reached up and yanked off his shirt. I initially suspected he may have been mentally challenged in some way, but it quickly became apparent that he was merely drunk and/or high. He later confirmed on more than one occasion throughout and after the test that he was drunk. So much for taking this seriously.

Thing is, though, he did seem to take it quite seriously. Throughout the test, despite occasionally forgetting the card he was just looking at, saying the card out loud (against the rules), forgetting how to spell “spades,” talking in general, and occasionally forgetting whether he was supposed to be sending or receiving the card, he would get quite upset at the fact that his buddy didn’t appear to be moving on-screen. He expressed concern that we might have frozen the feed and were cheating in some way. While a rule had been clearly set in place that there could be no form of communication between the two of them in either direction, Jim (the person officiating the test in a sense) did go ahead and radio back to have his friend raise three fingers or give another signal occasionally. Regen seemed pleased with this result each time before paranoia set back in.

Eventually the test concluded, his friend was brought out, and the results were tallied in front of everyone. First the actual cards that had been drawn were put up on the board. Everyone in the audience had also been given score sheets so we could play along. Some, such as myself, tried to also receive his signals, but those signals seemed to come in the form of me thinking about cards and randomly picking them, and carefully re-reviewing my list and making sure I didn’t repeat any. Near the end of filling out my sheet I noticed I had left out 10s completely and had to shoehorn them in the remaining slots. Others, such as Mark Edward himself, went ahead and predicted the entire thing ahead of time. Although they asked us officially at the end what our results were, we were pretty much calling out our hits as we went along. I actually had one match, as did several other audience members, and even Mark Edward. Apparently the odds of that are 1.75:1.

Next they pulled out his friend’s sheet and put those results up on the board. Although the results were clearly posted, Regen gave his own audible play-by-play of the results as he read his sheet, trying to claim hits when one half of the card (suit or number) was a match, or commenting on how drunk he must have been when he made his notes as what he wrote made no sense (“on that one I just wrote ‘okay.’ I don’t know why.”). I decided for the heck of it to track my results against his friend’s, just in case Regen really had been transmitting results, just the wrong ones. Sure enough, I matched TWO of his buddy’s results, which must mean… something… … ? Yeah.

Anyway, the long and the short of it is that Regen has no telepathic transmission abilities, or his buddy sucks at receiving them, or he should have laid off the sauce, as they got a perfect 0 out of 52. Not a single card matched. So yes, even I and Mark Edward and several audience members managed to do slightly better by guessing. When confronted with this, the guys mostly just laughed it off, blaming it on being drunk (calling themselves Cheech and Chong, although initially reversing the ethnicities before catching their error), referring to it as “just a game,” and taking it as no big deal. An interesting juxtaposition from his earlier concern over everything being done properly. Either way, he and his friend seemed to have a good time and said as much, and it was definitely entertaining for the rest of us, although not necessarily in the ways we expected.

btw, one person suggested that his friend learn to count cards so he could be a bit more convincing. I’d have to agree, as reviewing the results showed a lot of obvious patterns. He passed on two three, and used 10 5s and 11 3s in his results, and almost no face cards. Definite signs of the human mind’s attempt at random guessing. As well, when asked if they had practiced at all under the test conditions they had agreed upon ahead of time, and per the recommendation of the center, they admitted they had not. I wasn’t surprised as I had learned earlier that this answer could pretty much be predicted with almost flawless accuracy in all challenges. Over-confidence can be a killer.

You can find the full video of the event here, although it did run a couple of hours. That said, if you’re into drunk guys getting confused while telepathically transmitting playing cards, I think it may be the only show in town. Enjoy!