Potluck medicine

Right. So Darthfishy offered to let me be co-blogger on this here blog a while ago. I was interested, but initially declined since, while I enjoy reading sceptical blogs and such, but I’m not that much of a writer on the topic. So I stuck to doing a lot of the research for most of the posts you’ve seen here.

Yesterday, however, something happened that made me want to write a post about it. So here goes:

I lecture at one of the more prominent universities in South Africa, and yesterday one of my second year students said something to me that has been kind of bugging me.

The last week or so I’ve been suffering from a particularly nasty case of laryngitis (yes, it made lecturing very challenging. A challenge I’ve quite enjoyed – finding ways of getting the point across without speakingJ.)

After class yesterday one of my students came to me with a stack load of advice to cure my laryngitis. Most of it sensible and fairly standard, gargle with salt water, use Vics, etc. Then he says to me that his people never loose their voices as adults, because as children when they get laryngitis they shout some African word (I honestly can’t remember what the word was) into a clay pot. The pot then holds the disease or something and you will never get it again.

I thought he realised he was regaling me with a quaint African folk tale, and I giggled at the cute story. I think I offended him then, seems he truly believes in this, and strongly recommended that I try it. I told him honestly, that as a scientist I cannot put faith in such nonsensical practices. Then it got worse. He said that I shouldn’t scoff at ancient knowledge and simply think of it as similar to the belief in God. I should simply have faith.

I decided to end the conversation with the student there (I try to keep my personal life and beliefs private from my students). He had it right though, I do consider his African pot remedy similar to religion – they are both ridiculous and unfounded.

What bugs me about this, is that a second year student at a top university can believe in something like this. All cultures have ridiculous traditions that we teach our kids (e.g. Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, if you play with fire you will wet your bed, etc). But usually by the time we’re adults we realise that these tales are unfounded and untrue.

I wonder about the future of this country if those trying to get a proper education aren’t using it (or even just plain common sense). Oh, well, guess the future will be much like the present then.

[updated] Finland

Just a quick note to say that I will be flying off for Finland tomorrow evening (the 29th) for approximately 2 weeks essentially to go and attend a PHD student symposium. I’m unsure how regular my internet access will be so I do not know if I will be able to regularly update this blog. Update: My friend Nyteshade, who has been helping a lot with the research behind some of the blog posts, will probably start posting here while I’m gone and will continue once I get back.

Hence if you feel a craving for sceptical blogging while I’m gone, do check out the blogs listed in the SA Sceptical Blogroll. There should be some very interesting blogs and comments appearing on those sites soon, especially with the Blog Carnival being hosted  on the 28th of August.

Comments and Commentary

Today I want to talk about two things: The Comments on my blog and the Comments in the General Media and Populace about the “Slipknot Killings”.

Firstly I would like to thank everyone who has commented so far on my blog. It is incredibly encouraging to read the responses to my posts and to know that somebody out there is actually reading what I write. Please, if you read any of the posts and you have a criticism, a comment, additional information or even praise please add those comments. It makes it really worthwhile to write this blog.

Secondly, the comments online, the newspaper letters, the talkshow programs that are all dealing with the Tragedy that happened in Krugersdorp. I was surprised by the range of different opinions and comments on the issues. Some of the main themes were:

• You cannot blame the music/media in general for the killings.
• Violence in the country is making the youth more apathetic to violence.
• It’s the fault of satanism/metal/violent media.
• Schools and parents should be more involved in the pupil’s lives.
• We (as students) are now more afraid of the quite geeky students.
• Other practices (e.g. hunting) are to blame.

(A quick explanation of the last item in the list. The author of a letter to a newspaper pointed out that cruelty to animals is often an early indicator of mental problems. The author of that letter went on further to mention how many schools encouraged hunting which would exacerbate the problem).

As I mentioned the range of responses surprised me. It’s a good thing though; discussion about this topic, all sides of it, is really needed in the country at the moment. It’s heartening to see the amount of comments that point out that the music cannot be blamed for the killings but that there is a deeper set of issues that needs to be looked at. I feel that as a nation there stills need to be a lot more discussion and debate about this topic before we can reach any kind of answers or conclusions.

The fear of intellectualism (or being a nerd)

This relates to the story of the school killing in the Krugersdrop school I mentioned yesterday. The following is based on hearsay and if anybody can confirm this I would be very grateful.

Yesterday, while discussing this issue, and the reactions to it with some of my friends, my one friend mentioned that he had been listening to 702FM while driving from college. He mentioned that he was rather shocked by certain of the callers’ reactions to the killings, during a call-in segment of the show. One caller phoned in, rather hysterically, freaking out because her son was introverted, a nerd, and read a lot, and she was worried that he was a Satanist and a literal ticking time-bomb before he would murder someone else. (This is paraphrased from what my friend could remember. I could find the show on the 702FM website but not the actual transcript.)

From my friend’s description the mother was asking how she could get her son to go out more and socialise more. Yes, we all know that playing sports and socialising is a 100% successful preventative measure against murderous rampages. I mean, how are the Waterkloof 4 doing again?

Mother’s and fathers, heed this, if you’re child is spending a lot of time alone, reading, browsing on the Internet or playing computer games: rejoice! You have another programmer, scientist or engineer on your hands. Someone who will make a real difference in the world. Sure, keep an eye on them, talk to them (as much as that is possible with a teenager), but don’t fear them. Encourage their intellectualism. Be just as proud of your Counter-Strike playing son, who is at the top on his local server, as you would be of him if he was in the first rugby team. Buy your daughter, who spends her evenings reading Anne Rice instead of gossiping on the phone, Exclusive Books gift vouchers instead of make-up.

If you alienate your children, they will alienate you. And then you won’t understand them. Parents: get involved! It’s as simple (and as difficult) as that.

Death Metal: Once again the scapegoat.

Sad news out of Krugersdrop:

Wielding a Ninja sword, a matric pupil allegedly involved in Satanism killed a 16-year-old boy and stabbed two workers at a Krugersdorp High School on Monday morning.

This is a really tragic event and my condolences go out to the pupil’s involved and their families and friends as well as the staff of the school. It’s worrying to see that the international trend of school killings is reaching South Africa. It’s that one word, Satanism that is a little worrying though. Why do I say that? Here’s another quote from the article:

The boy had painted his face black and wore a black balaclava, resembling the drummer of the band Slipknot, said Krugersdorp councillor Alex Raubenheimer, adding: “He said Satan told him to kill the children.”

Raubenheimer also said that there were reports from witnesses that the boy had abused drugs.

So… there we have the unfortunate cause for the tragedy. Drug abuse. Right? Nope doesn’t seem that way:

Community leader, Pierre Eksteen, who is in charge of a school support network for children, told reporters outside the deserted school grounds that Satanic music was probably the cause of the attack.

“He came here camouflaged as the guys from Slipknot. We know the wrong kind of music, and drugs have bad effects. Young people need to be informed of the effects of bad Satanic music,” said Eksteen. (my bolding)

So it appears (and the media is running with this) that Slipknot was responsible fro the murders. E.g.:

The Beeld: ‘Sataniese musiek rede vir swaard-aanval’

IOL: How gimmicky bands influence our youth

The second link has a bit of wisdom peeking through:

US psychologists have warned that the songs may affect troubled teenagers.

Troubled teenagers? Is it maybe possible that these teenagers had problems before they started listening to death metal and bands like Slipknot? There are some more indications from the first link:

Raubenheimer said his friends said he was a quiet boy who kept to himself. “They said they all thought he was a nerd.”

Drug abuse, introverted, probably a social outcast (from the use of the term nerd to describe him). I think these aspects are more than enough reasons to give why this boy did what he did. It appears more likely that listening to Slipknot was a symptom of deeper seated problems.

But it’s a lot easier to just write it up as “SATANISM!!!! DEATH METAL!!!!11″. Let’s not report on the complex issues that could possibly have occurred but let’s just jump to conclusions. Thank you very much the South African media.

You see becuase I’m thinking that there’s somebody else out there that needs to be the scapegoat. Besides drug abuse, death metal, social pressures at school, I think I have found the real cause of these murders.

IOL, Beeld, News24. You guys listening carefully?

This is your fault. This is the media’s fault. Sensationalism of a horrible tragedy is the cause of these murders. Let’s look at my reasoning:

1. Teenager with emotional or mental issues, sometimes from an abusive home as well, goes on a rampage and kills schoolmates.
2. Some form of entertainment media (usually violent computer games or death metal) are found in the teenagers possession. Sometimes yes the attacks are themed according to these forms of media. Sometimes not at all.
3. Media sensationally blares the entertainment media aspect to the world. “Violent games cause massacre!” “Death metal causes massacre!”
4. Teenager with emotional or mental issues, sometimes from an abusive home as well, reads about this event in the media. Sees all the attention that the murder gets. Is drawn to the idea of this kind of murder.
5. Goto step 1.

Is this kind of scenario really so far-fetched? I think it’s time for the media moguls, who are looking to get the story out as quickly and as sensationally as possible, to do a little introspection as to what their search for the next breaking news story is actually doing.

It’s going to be interesting to follow this news story in the future. Do not be suprised if there’s more to this story than Death Metal and Ninja swords.

The Ultimate Theory Key To Everything Using Quantum…

Have you ever wondered where everything comes from? Have you ever wondered about what makes stars, how gravity works and what blackholes are? Do the current theories about 11 dimensions of string theory make no sense to you?

If so then THE ULTIMATE THEORY KEY TO EVERYTHING USING QUANTUM is the book* you need to read. In this book I (with various degrees in fields completely unrelated to astronomy, cosmology or quantum physics) will explain to you the REAL THEORY BEHIND EVERYTHING that the main stream scientific community does not want you to know about!

This new and elegant theory uses QUANTUM STUFF to explain things that are too difficult to understand using NORMAL PHYSICS! Its to do with the fact that everything is connected. Like a sponge. Made out of coral.

But BIG SCIENCE does not want you to know this! WHY?

WHY?!?!

Becuase THE ULTIMATE THOERY KEY TO EVERY USING QUANTUM gives you the power to control your own destiny. You see the same forces that make galaxies spin and black holes black can help you in your pursuit of happiness and WEATH. By understanding the Quantum thoery of everything you can make MONEY, get LAID, and even HEAL YOURSELF.

Did you know that Sir Isaac Newton said:

I can calculate the motions of the heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people.

And that Neo said in THE MATRIX

I know you’re out there. I can feel you now. I know that you’re afraid.
You’re afraid of us. You’re afraid of change. I don’t know the future.
I didn’t come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to
tell you how it’s going to begin. I’m going to hang up this phone, and
then I’m going to show these people what you don’t want them to see.
I’m going to show them a world … without you. A world without rules
and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is
possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you.

Do not let THE BOUNDARIES of BIG SCIENCE confine your ability to find your inner Quantum Essence. Release those subtle QUANTUM ENERGIES found in all liviing and non-living and spiritual beings!! THE time is NOW for you to become the most powerful QUANTUM YOU that YOU can be!

In the BOOK I explain HOW THE FUNDAMENTAL FORCES of QUANUM work and how you can harness thier power. SO MUCH POWER! Embrace the POWER! Like Luke Skywalker in Starwars and Neo in the MATRICS you two can have all the pOWER that you need. BUY the book (avaiable online only, and give 4-6 weeks for me to print out a new copy on my mom’s printer at her work)! NOW! And the understanding that you so desperately SEEK will be YOURS.

*not a real book, also not a real advert, and not real science either

Publishing online.

Ran into the following through google alerts:

The method of circulating scientific ideas is changing. With the increasing rate at which scientific discoveries are made in the 21st century, more and more scientists are publishing their scientific work online, allowing virtually instantaneous access to new discoveries by a worldwide audience.

And this is true. Open access journals are increasing in the scientific world. More and more Universities are providing online access to the dissertations and articles written by the researchers that work for them. Truly, soon any kind of academic article will be freely available on the web for laymen (and laywomen of course) to read and discuss.

Of course these articles are double-blind peer reviewed articles, published under the auspices of credible, scientific journals. Not “published” say on somebody’s website.

I’m having a look at what exactly the whitepaper is about. I’m not yet commenting on the actual content (yet). I am commenting on the fact that the press release shown above is trying to equate publishing a pdf document on ones personal website, to publishing a scientific article online. The two are of course, not comparable.

This kind of dishonesty does not bode well for the theory behind the whitepaper itself.

Will I have to eat my words?

My personal frustration when it comes to pseudoscience is the issue of “The Quantum”. People seem to think that because they don’t understand what it means, that no-one understand what it means, and thus they can use it to explain any of the strange things that are going on.

And Quantum Mechanics does allow for some very strange things to happen.This appears to be an experiment that has proven (in this case at least) the concept of Quantum Entanglement. From the link:

Testing a concept called “spooky action at a distance”–a phrase used by Einstein in criticizing the phenomenon–they have shown that two subatomic particles can communicate nearly instantaneously, even if they are separated by cosmic distances.

(In the experiment the two photons where 18km apart, not exactly cosmic distances, but we’ll forgive that bit of hyperbole). Of course the first thing I thought of when I read this was Star Trek style teleporters. Second thought (and probably more likely) was faster than light communication. Maybe that will sort out the problems with low bandwidth in South Africa.

So why did I chose the title that I did? Well at first glance this appears to be a possible technique by which some of the pseudoscientific Quantum machines (for e.g. Danie Krugel’s MOS) could work. Unfortunately the article also has this interesting little tit-bit:

Given Einstein’s standard speed limit on light traveling within conventional spacetime, the experiments show that entanglement might be controlled by something existing beyond it. (my bold)

Unconventional spacetime? That just sounds cool! Essentially what they are saying though is that the basic premise of Quantum Physics, that at subatomic levels weird things happen, is true. The article also agrees here:

Cosmologist Sean Carroll of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena says that it’s “yet another experiment that tells us quantum mechanics is right” and that there “really is an intrinsic connection between entangled particles, not that some signal passes quickly between them when an observation is performed.” (my bold)

Exciting stuff. But please remember that (a) this only works on the quantum level and (b) that the photons were first “quantumly” entangled and then sent to points 18km apart. No way to get information about a particle if you did not at first have it.

In conclusion, yes Quantum Physics is really strange and Mysterious, but no, you can’t use it to improve the subtle energies in your business or find missing persons. (Not yet anyway :p)

Danie Krugel fails again

Thanks to the top researchers here at Yet Another Sceptic’s Blog (thanx NyteShade :p) I was directed to the following newspaper article in the Herald. Here’s the interesting bit(s):

On Tuesday, Flanagan‘s wife, Heather, 68, called in the help of Danie Krugel of Bloemfontein who uses a machine he developed that helps him “triangulate” the position of missing people using their DNA. Although Krugel‘s machine indicated a certain area in which to look, this proved fruitless.

The hiker Ray Flanagan went missing last Wednesday on a hiking trip in the Outeniqua Mountains near George.

Once again, sadly, desperate people looked to Mr. Krugel for help in locating a missing loved one. And once again they were sadly disappointed. Mr. Krugel’s “revolutionary” technology is not looking that “revolutionary” anymore if I can’t do what he claims it can.

It is interesting to note that when Mr. Krugel organises a demonstration of his technology it invariably amazes the observers. More interestingly whenever he is called in to help find someone “in the real world” as it were, his success rate isn’t that great. I will let the reader draw his (or her) own conclusions.

Design Update

I’ve decided to change the design template used for the blog. My reasons basically involve being able to easierly access the different pages.

Please let me know what you think. (I personally quite like the change)