The NZ Skeptics will demonstrate the power of physics over the mind, with a firewalk planned as part of their annual conference in Auckland this August.

"Firewalking can be scary and exhilarating, whether you know the physics behind it or not," says Skeptics Chair-entity Vicki Hyde. "But if youve ever grabbed a hot loaf of bread out of the oven, or quickly tossed a stray ember back onto the fire, youll understand that it doesnt take special powers to handle the heat."

We're delighted to have noted memory researcher Maryann Garry and her
PhD students back at the annual NZ Skeptics conference to show us how
easy it is to be fooled. This is a session well worth attending and
remembering!

To read more about this year's conference and to register via the
handy online registration form, go here:
http://skeptics.org.nz/SK:SKEPCONFERENCE

It's at Butterfly Creek, Tom Pearce Dr, Auckland, 13-15 August. It's
open to non-members (bar the AGM), and very reasonably priced for two
solid days of entertainment and education.

Planning for the annual NZ Skeptics Conference proceeds apace
(Auckland, August 13-15). You can see the varied programme online
here: http://skeptics.org.nz/SK:SKEPCONFDRAFTPROG

We'll range from vaccine hoaxes and health scares to mass delusions
and the end of the world. All good stuff! And keep your fingers
crossed for fine weather for the planned firewalk....

Register online here: http://skeptics.org.nz/SK:SKEPCONFERENCEFORM

Ep 8:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:30 - Richard Jones - Do You Believe In Fairies?
0:07:45 - David Sheffield - Stop Promoting Pseudoscience
0:14:00 - Hayley Stevens - Invizikids
0:21:20 - Fluffet reads Amaris - The Psychic Twins

Ep 9:
0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:30 - Chip Chatwin - "The Power of Seeming Certain": Why organised religion is a threat to civil rights
0:08:32 - MrJohnno - Natural Born Atheist - MrJohnno explores claims of genetic predisposition to theism.
0:14:36 - Catherine - Atheism
0:22:44 - End

(Click Here for the RSS Feed for iTunes)
or go to http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bad-cast/id360930378

0:00:00 - Introduction
0:00:20 - Aran Speaks! - World Homeopathy Awareness Week
0:08:50 - Fluffet Reads Amaris - Freedom Of Speech
0:15:35 - William Brougham - Why I dislike Psychics
0:22:18 - Patrick interviews Legal Blogger "JackOfKent"
0:37:40 - End

(Click Here for the RSS Feed for iTunes)
or go to http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bad-cast/id360930378

This week is Homeopathy Awareness week, so what better opportunity than for the great man himself James Randi to talk about Homeopathy!

0:00:00 - Introduction by Derek Acorah
0:00:35 - Catherine - Reconnective Healing
0:08:10 - Noel Boivin - Paradolia
0:15:32 - Aran Speaks! - Protesting
0:20:25 - Jon Donnis - The End

(Click Here for the RSS Feed for iTunes)
or go to http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bad-cast/id360930378

0:00:00 - Introduction
0:01:08 - Hayley Stevens - Biases In Ghost Research
0:09:40 - William Brougham (In Sydney) - Psychics Advice
0:15:35 - Karen Stollznow - Franks Box
0:21:48 - Jon Donnis - A history of Psychic Joe Power
0:27:35 - Jon Donnis - The End

(Click Here for the RSS Feed for iTunes)
or go to http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bad-cast/id360930378

* 2010 CONFERENCE: Registrations Open

The 2010 Conference will be held 13-15 August, at Butterfly Creek,
Tom Pearce Dr, Auckland. Registrations have now opened.

The conference will kick off with a firewalk, and then cover a batch
of burning issues. We're still looking for speakers, so if you have a
topic, or can suggest a suitable speaker, please let us know.

0:00:00 - Introduction, World Famous Psychic Medium Colin Fry!
0:00:50 - Derek Bartholomaus (IIG West) - Regen Traynor takes $50,000 Challenge
0:04:26 - Aaron Lewis - Skeptical Letter Writing
0:11:00 - Patrick Redmond Interviews Comedian Iszi Lawrence
0:19:48 - Noel Boivin - Astrology and Serial Killers
0:27:00 - Jon Donni - The End

(Click Here for the RSS Feed for iTunes)
or go to http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bad-cast/id360930378

Over the weekend, the Haitian Student Association held an event for dowsers. It had two purposes. The first was to raise money for water filtration systems in Haiti. The second was to provide classes on dowsing (also known as divining or water witching). Playing with dowsing rods on Pembroke Green is one thing, but doing it in Haiti and other countries with problematic water supplies is another.

Dowsing has repeatedly been shown to not work, and it should not be used in disaster areas where it has the potential to impede efforts that could actually help people. It’s fine for a group to raise money for water filters, but they should not give implicit support to pseudoscientific practices along the way.

0:00:00 - Introduction, Token Gay Host William!
0:00:20 - Derek Bartholomaus (IIG West) - Talking about Andrew Wakefield, MMR Jabs & Autism
0:04:15 - Hayley Stevens - Ghost Hunting with The Sun
0:11:03 - Leslie Grufford - Spirit Channeling
0:21:15 - William Brougham - Skepticism
0:26:38 - Karen Stollznow - Denver Metaphysical Fair
0:33:18 - Jon Donni - The End

(Click Here for the RSS Feed for iTunes)
or go to http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bad-cast/id360930378

0:00:00 - Introduction, Dave, Keith and the cute one.
0:01:00 - William Brougham - Meeting Skeptics
0:06:54 - Emma-Louise Rhodes - Spiritualist Churches
0:13:50 - Noel Boivin (The Shark Guys) - Psychic Year End Predictions
0:20:55 - Derek Bartholomaus (IIG West) - Anita Ikonen takes the $50,000 Challenge
0:24:15 - Anita Ikonen - Explains why she failed the IIG $50,000 Challenge
0:29:45 - Jon Donni - The End

(Click Here for the RSS Feed for iTunes)
or go to http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-bad-cast/id360930378

Greetings all,

Some of you may be interested in two new local skeptic groups in Victoria.

Ron Gray has started a group for dinner and talks in Sale.
The next event will be tomorrow night:

For more information read on

0:00:00 Introduction: Two Blokes in their bedroom trying to be funny.
0:01:35 Matt Parker - Maths behind Homeopathy
0:07:50 Richard Saunders - Psychics
0:15:35 Emma-Louise Rhodes - True Believer Syndrome
0:20:40 William Brougham - My Journey to Skepticism

Australian Skeptics act against homeopathic meningococcal vaccine