TANK Vodcast – Becomes The Skeptic Zone!

Yes, it is indeed true – as reported on the Australian Skeptics site! The TANK Vodcast has become

The Skeptic Zone – at www.skepticzone.tv!

 

We launched at Dragon*Con this month, with two panels devoted to three members of the former TANK vodcast!

For the first time in 2008, a new arm to Dragon*Con was introduced, known as SkepTrack and we were a big part of it. Along with the likes of James Randi, Dr Michael Shermer, Derek and Swoopy from Skepticality, Dr Pamela Gay from Astronomy Cast, DJ Grothe from Point of Inquiry, Dr Ginger Campbell, Dr Phil Plait (‘the Bad Astronomer’) AND our very own Richard Saunders, Karen Stollznow and Kylie Sturgess representing Australia!

It was a very busy weekend for our Aussies who packed in over a dozen panels in total, including Skeptics 101, Video Podcasting 101, Supernatural How-To, Pigs Might Fly – An Origami Discussion and Global skepticism, with surprise guest, James Randi. The big news is the guys also re-launched the Tank Podcast, now know as The Skeptic Zone. 

Next year looks to be even bigger for us Aussies at the ‘Con’ and you can keep up to date by going here: 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/badastronomy/sets/72157607041453990/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/saunderstv/

And check out Kylie’s blog (www.podblack.com) for additional accounts and videos.

Based on the exhaustive panel schedule and equally mad social calendar, it’s seems SkepTrack is destined to become the next big sceptical event. And in the words of Richard Saunders; ‘You won’t believe it, it’s completely mind blowing..’ so my advice is to start saving now!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to the news regarding the new format of The Skeptic Zone – available on out the new site soon!

TANK Vodcast Special – Philosophy and Children

TANK Vodcast – Apr. 10. 2008 – A Christian Point of View, Australian Skeptics Meeting and Mooeypoo Science

TANK Vodcast – Mar. 28. 2008 – Las Vegas Paranormalists, Book Bargains And Second Life Love

Getting Predictable! Revisting Psychic Claims 2007 – TANK Nov.23

We aim to please our viewing audience here at The TANK Vodcast!

When a YouTube comment on the episode for November 23rd, 2007, asked for some of the highlights regarding the predictions of a ‘Psychic Directory’ – I went through my old emails to find the transcript for perusal!

The original idea is credited to Richard Saunders – he had the brainstorm of looking at one of the most popular psychic publications here in Australia, involving fifteen people making forty predictions for the year 2007 in the Australian Psychics Directory.

I then researched the claims that were made and presented for the show in November, in order to see if they held true by the end of the year! Some, as you can hear yourself, I was quite generous about by listing as ‘too vague‘!

I will admit this – one DID later come true, Nicole Kidman’s pregnancy (prediction number four) – but it was only announced in January ‘08!

As for “a woman president in ‘07“ for number thirty-three? Hmm… not yet in ‘08 either… don’t look at me, I voted for Darwin!

That gives us a final (adjusted for baby Kidman-Urban) total of : YES - 7, VAGUE – 4 and NO – 29.

No, not very impressive. We encourage people to make their own tallies and check – see if your own predictions are any better, for a start!

The list included:

• Tony Priest with the first prediction – “coalition forces will have a major policy change to the situation in Iraq. These were to be made within the next twelve months as a result.” Tony Priest, you better hope there’s a saviour for you because your political pundit career ain’t looking too good. That is our first “no“.

• Joy Arena says that “Solar energy becomes prominent, world wide and grand scale!” You wish, and so does Dr Karl – sadly, we’re going to have to say no.

• According to Simon Turnbull – “Global positioning chips become standard security devices and your valuable items are being tracked. That one bit the big brother with a big no.

• Rose Abate-Matteo claims that “Russell Crowe – will be in a sequel to ‘A Good Year’! No, not unless “3:10 to Yuma” to features a Wild West outlaw zipping a little yellow car around rural France… That’s a Non!

• Kelly Isara believes in the Numerology claim that 2007 was a number nine year – and might be challenging and disruptive for those in a comfort zone. What the?? With that, it joins our too vague list.

• Wagih Samwell says that “Automation causes job losses in professional fields like accountancy.” Never mind, maybe they can now Chartered Accountants can become LION TAMERS! No.

• Angelica Danton also gets a YES with the prediction for number 24! She said that Kim Beasley may not be the leader of the Labor party next year! Kevin Rudd and Peter Garrett to play more pivotal roles? Well, you get a yes, but since Beasley has been buzzing around for sooooo long, I’d say it was kind of a given.

• Heather Alexander predicted that the “Southern states likely to be hit with coldest weather and global warming is shown to be true!” Chilly reception for that one – with a big no.

• Joy Arena! With the claim that Kylie Minogue – retires! Wrong! She produced a new album out as of November 26th. No.

• Elisabeth Jensen claims that banks are going to be naughty and hold all your money in June and July of this year. You might like to travel with lots of credit cards regardless – but alleged psychic Elisabeth Jensen still gets it wrong. NO.

• Francis Bevan apparently sees Kylie Minogue getting married! Uh no, she was too busy with the new album that Joy Arena didn’t see coming! No.

• The final one was Heather Alexander claiming that strong earth tremors would hit New Zealand in early May, – but the only earthquake that was recorded happened in October – so earth may move under your feet, but your prediction comes tumbling down. NO.
  

This by fifteen people who are ‘professional psychics’ making forty predictions in the Psychic Directory with twenty-nine outright wrong… well it certainly makes you wonder how come psychic publications don’t go BACK over their predictions from the previous year and reflect on what it tells them about psychics! Maybe reconsider the business altogether…?

But never mind – the TANK Vodcast is there to question and where there’s a claim, there’s a test to be made! Enjoy re-viewing the show, especially the fun of the 2007 Hobart Skeptics Conference at the start!

TANK Vodcast – Mar. 14. 2008 – SkeptiCamp, Skeptics in the Pub, Alamo Ghosts?

TANK Vodcast – Feb. 29. 2008 – Anonymous Scientology, Who is James Randi and Theatre Superstitions

The Bloopers and Extra Bits

TANK Vodcast – Feb. 15. 2008 – Ted Gwin, Anonymous Scientology and John Edward

Upcoming Interview with The Blind Mystic

Karen Stollznow interviews Ted Gwin

In the Psychic Skeptic, I investigated a major international psychic company. Going undercover, I applied for a role as a telephone psychic – and I got the job! Is psychic ability really just amateur psychology? (see also Cold Reading)

Are there only two kinds of psychics…those who fool us, and those who fool themselves?

Ted Gwin is the real Psychic Skeptic, a Skeptic who worked as a Psychic!

On a recent visit to San Antonio, Texas, I spent a few days catching up with my old mate Ted. He calls himself The Blind Mystic (yes, he really is blind) and with a skeptical interest in the paranormal he reads Tarot cards! Can The Blind Mystic see the future?

With humor and insight, Ted talks to The TANK Vodcast, telling us why he worked as a psychic, how he got the job, who he worked for, and how he managed calls from clients who were sick, lonely, vulnerable, naive or scared, and often needed professional advice…

He even gives me a reading…

Coming out very soon!

Karen, the Skepbitch.

Meet us in the Pub – Thursday the 7th of Feb

Sydney Skeptics in the Pub

Meet Richard and Michael from The TANK Vodcast.

On the first Thursday each month, Sydney Skeptics get together in the Crown Hotel on the corner of Elizabeth and Goulbourn Streets. Please note that we meet UPSTAIRS. Please come UPSTAIRS just after 6pm. There is usually no formal agenda. People start gathering about 6pm and the night finishes when the last person leaves (which is not usually late enough to be a problem). To get there, it is a few minutes walk from both Central and Museum stations and a few more minutes from Town Hall. There is a large car park diagonally opposite the hotel (entrance in Goulbourn Street).

Anyone is welcome, no need to book. Free Spoon-Bending Lessons!

More info at: http://www.skeptics.com.au/events/inthepub.htm