This came up in the comments section over at Skeptic North today and it's simply too good not to pass on further.  A garbage medicine hawker came on Dragons' Den with a ridiculous product and a ridiculous "deal" for the Dragons.

If you're familiar with the format, feel free to skip ahead to the 25 minute mark and sit back and watch some serious deserved tongue lashing.  If you aren't familiar, then watch the first part of the show just to get the feel first.

The product in question - Precious Metals Nano Water from Bruce McBurney of HIMAC Research Publishing from Niagra Falls Ontario.  He [...]

From Confessions of an Asshole Skeptic
http://assholeskeptic.blogspot.com/feeds/6282235244218147028/comments/default
1/18/2010 7:09:00 PM
Search rank: 560

This came up in the comments section over at Skeptic North today and it's simply too good not to pass on further.  A garbage medicine hawker came on Dragons' Den with a ridiculous product and a ridiculous "deal" for the Dragons.

If you're familiar with the format, feel free to skip ahead to the 25 minute mark and sit back and watch some serious deserved tongue lashing.  If you aren't familiar, then watch the first part of the show just to get the feel first.

The product in question - Precious Metals Nano Water from Bruce McBurney of HIMAC Research Publishing from Niagra Falls Ontario.  He [...]

From Confessions of an Asshole Skeptic
http://assholeskeptic.blogspot.com/2010/01/kudos-to-cbc-dragons.html
1/18/2010 7:09:00 PM
Search rank: 560

...and by "begun" I mean that it is just off the drawing board. :D Billionaire-backed asteroid...

From JREF Forum
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=234768&goto=newpost
4/24/2012 5:05:44 AM
Search rank: 472

The billionaire-backed Planetary Resources, Inc. announced Tuesday (April 24) that it hopes to mine near-Earth asteroids for water and precious metals, with the dual aims of making a tidy profit and helping open the final frontier to further exploration and exploitation. The plan involves sending "a swarm" of 20-pound satellites, at a cost of as [...]

From Skepchick
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Skepchick/~3/UkIkNNA32gk/
4/27/2012 5:00:29 AM
Search rank: 446

 Posted by Youtube user: PlanetaryResources
 Earlier this week Planetary Resources Inc announced it's intent to become the first asteroid mining company in history. While details on the company's plan were pretty vague, their list of financial backers, was much easier to find, as they were the focus of most of the articles on the subject. Which isn't terribly surprising given it's a list which includes Google's Larry Page & Eric Schmidt, as well as James Cameron, who's [...]

From The Godless Geek Blog
http://godlessgeekblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/planetary-resources-inc-unveils-plans.html
4/28/2012 11:21:00 AM
Search rank: 398

One of the most common claims of the increasingly inaccurately named 9/11 Truth movement is that of a "strawman" argument.  This claim is assisted by the fact that no two truthers can agree on much, but the fact is that a fair amount of people can be found who support even the most idiotic claim, unfortunately.  This recent article on the AE911Truth site attacking Chris Mohr could be Fisked at great length, but hey, it is Christmas and I have better things to do, but I thought I would point out this "Strawman" claim.  Feel free to debunk the rest of the article in the comments between opening presents and drinking hot cocoa.

• If 4500 degree nanothermites were used to pulverize almost every inch [...]

From Screw Loose Change
http://screwloosechange.blogspot.com/2011/12/strawman.html
12/25/2011 4:50:00 AM
Search rank: 366

The problem with having money linked to a precious metal standard is that mining output of the...

From JREF Forum
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=223455&goto=newpost
11/9/2011 10:04:01 PM
Search rank: 357

to the point.. are there precious metals on mars? is it possile that a planet is made of...

From JREF Forum
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=192065&goto=newpost
11/16/2010 3:11:38 AM
Search rank: 356

---Quote--- Are the gold bars in Fort Knox really made of the precious metal? Or has the U.S....

From JREF Forum
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=211678&goto=newpost
6/14/2011 8:36:06 PM
Search rank: 355

He wants 2.5 million dollars to market snake-oil. Precious metals nanowater? The panel is unimpressed. “Is there insanity in there?” Watch to see them kick him off the set, by calling him “offensive”, “crazy” and “disgusting” when he claims to be able to cure cervical cancer and leukemia. Thanks to Chris for the tip-off. Share and Enjoy:

From The Skeptics' Book of Pooh-Pooh
http://scepticsbook.com/2010/02/02/snake-oil-salesman-gets-what-he-deserves/
2/17/2010 2:33:07 AM
Search rank: 350

No - not "the million dollar challenge". This is an "all kinds of crazy million dollar challenge:

"A man has stepped forward with a $1million reward in gold to challenge vaccine supporters, CDC and the government to justify promotion of vaccines over natural immunization by Bionaid™ & ZeoHeal™."

... The reward has been on the internet for almost a year, but vaccine and drug supporters have neglected to register for the million dollar reward being offered in raw gold. The gold is secreted away in several locations underground with billions of dollars in precious metals.

From The Skeptic's Field Guide
http://www.skepticsfieldguide.net/feeds/8718580462269126795/comments/default
8/5/2009 10:18:00 PM
Search rank: 332

No - not "the million dollar challenge". This is an "all kinds of crazy million dollar challenge:

"A man has stepped forward with a $1million reward in gold to challenge vaccine supporters, CDC and the government to justify promotion of vaccines over natural immunization by Bionaid™ & ZeoHeal™."

... The reward has been on the internet for almost a year, but vaccine and drug supporters have neglected to register for the million dollar reward being offered in raw gold. The gold is secreted away in several locations underground with billions of dollars in precious metals.

From The Skeptic's Field Guide
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheSkepticsFieldGuide/~3/WqXbrKnr53k/million-dollar-challenge.html
8/5/2009 10:18:00 PM
Search rank: 332

We typically don't think of money as technology, but money is very different than it used to be. Over at the Agonist, Bolo has two very good posts about the implications of having a fiat, non-gold standard currency, and in doing so, he gives a very good summary of modern monetary theory ('MMT') that is accessible to non-economists (Bill Mitchell and James Galbraith are great, but they aren't good explainers to a 'lay' audience; it's frustrating). For me, this is the key implication of MMT (italics mine):

1) The total amount of money is not constrained by some fixed amount of gold. Instead, it is constrained by the total output of the national economy. There should be enough money in circulation to run the economy at full steam and buy up every product and service available. A fiat currency moves the theoretical boundary [...]

From Mike the Mad Biologist
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/scienceblogs/KsPC/~3/osCYl1Spr34/a_good_summary_of_how_that_new.php
1/4/2011 2:21:54 AM
Search rank: 330

Because she takes the trouble to let me know her thoughts.

She flits around the internet, with vengeance in her head;
Waiting patiently to pounce upon a blogger’s comment thread.
All one needs to do to tempt her from her unenlightened cave,
Is to mention magic water and the lives it doesn’t save.
“Real is scientific homeopathy!” she strangely cries,
Sounding just a smidge like Yoda, only light years more unwise.
“It cures” she claims, and instantly I’m pretty sure she’s wrong,
Because the evidence supporting such a claim just isn’t strong.
Then she mentions “Allopathic Medicine” and I go “sigh!”
‘Cause a word invented just to scare real doctors doesn’t fly.
Evidence is briefly mentioned as a basis for her craft;
But any thinking person who has seen such [...]

From There should be a sign...
http://shellity.blogspot.com/2011/04/song-for-nancy.html
4/23/2011 9:59:00 PM
Search rank: 315

Hey guys, just found a product called Liquipel. You can find their site here. I may be being too cautious but I'm just not too sure about it. If it does work, heck yeh! GO SCIENCE! But I can't help but have some alarm bells raised when I look into it.

So the basis is that this company will "liquipel coat" your phone "using technology that can only be seen on the sun!" and it will then be completely protected from accidental water damage. They claim to protect the entire thing: headphone jack, speaker holes, camera etc. it can theoretically be submerged and still work fine:

http://youtu.be/Ln0daAowdJI

Now that seems amazing to me so naturally I wanted to know how it works. This is the best description they have on their site and it seemed a tad "wishy-washy" for my liking. Despite the video being called an [...]

From Skeptic's Subreddit
http://www.reddit.com/r/skeptic/comments/p1p76/liquipel_dropped_your_phone_in_a_pool_no_problem/
1/30/2012 1:45:07 AM
Search rank: 309

A thought:

Surely the scientific mind of an age which contemplates the solar system as evolved from a common, revolving, fluid mass,— which, through experimental research, has come to regard light, heat, electricity, magnetism, chemical affinity, and mechanical power as varieties or derivative and convertible forms of one force, instead of independent species,— which has brought the so-called elementary kinds of matter, such as the metals, into kindred groups, and raised the question, whether the [...]

From Thoughts in a Haystack
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ThoughtsInAHaystack/~3/mF4X3rNu3S8/never-give-up.html
4/29/2011 10:57:00 AM
Search rank: 308

Centre for Inquiry Vancouver (Skeptics & Humanists) Group

Café Inquiry is a monthly casual discussion group run by CFI Vancouver. Come along and enjoy coffee and donuts and stimulating discussion with fellow freethinkers on a variety of topics. A guest speaker usually provides a brief introduction to the subject and then the floor is open. All are welcome.

This month's topic is water fluoridation, and will be presented and moderated by Ian Bushfield.

Water fluoridation began in the 1950s as an effort to curb cavities and improve dental health. Controversy erupted right away with claims ranging from mild concerns about the safety to full-blown fears of a communist mind control plot.

The controversy continues today with Calgary among the latest cities to remove fluoride from its [...]

From Skeptics upcoming events
http://www.meetup.com/skeptics-128/events/20479671/
6/2/2011 9:02:34 AM
Search rank: 306

From Cynical-C
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/cynical-c/nxDH/~3/0vwE-yKsqY8/
1/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Search rank: 305

CFI Vancouver Atheists, Agnostics and Humanists

Café Inquiry is a monthly casual discussion group run by CFI Vancouver. Come along and enjoy coffee and donuts and stimulating discussion with fellow freethinkers on a variety of topics. A guest speaker usually provides a brief introduction to the subject and then the floor is open. All are welcome.

This month's topic is water fluoridation, and will be presented and moderated by Ian Bushfield.

Water fluoridation began in the 1950s as an effort to curb cavities and improve dental health. Controversy erupted right away with claims ranging from mild concerns about the safety to full-blown fears of a communist mind control plot.

The controversy continues today with Calgary among the latest cities to remove fluoride from its water [...]

From Skeptics upcoming events
http://www.meetup.com/Atheists-Agnostics-and-Humanists-Meetup-Group/events/20480051/
6/2/2011 9:03:34 AM
Search rank: 305

Recently found this short article online.   The subject matter relates to the potential for water contamination by natural gas exploration, which is a valid concern, although it is as much, or more, due to toxic heavy metals as naturally occurring or artificial radioisotopes. Via Art Voice: Does EPA under-report radiation in drinking water? KHOU-TV in Houston reports that [...]

From Depleted Cranium
http://depletedcranium.com/radiation-in-water-and-scientific-literacy-in-reporting/
3/5/2011 2:23:51 PM
Search rank: 303

In one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking last in the Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where more than 40% of children are underweight for their age, water and access to improved water sources is scarce and almost three quarters of the population are illiterate, the French nuclear giant AREVA extracts precious--and deadly--natural resources, earning billions for its Fortune 5002 corporation, and leaving little behind but centuries of environmental pollution and health risks for the citizens of Niger.

From Greg Laden's Blog
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GregLadensBlog/~3/tuu7IVnucl8/nuclear_fuel_mining_in_niger.php
3/23/2011 7:49:04 AM
Search rank: 302

This fabulous piece of kit, which looks like it has been injudiciously removed from the set of Star Trek, is actually a CE-certified medical device from Korea.

The chap attempting to climb onto it is none other than that famous veteran of science fiction movies, errr... Ronnie Corbett!

From Sceptical Letter Writer
http://scepticalletterwriter.blogspot.com/2010/11/nuga-bests-star-trek-style-woo.html
11/14/2010 3:43:00 AM
Search rank: 302

So a kilogram was set based on a chunk of metal, not on the mass of a liter of water?

From JREF Forum
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=177648&goto=newpost
6/8/2010 5:43:22 PM
Search rank: 300

My grandfather taught me to witch for water with metal wires when I was younger, and it seemed to work, and I've seen guys witching with willow "Y" branches where the branches bent until they snapped. I’ve always been pretty leery of "counting bobs" etc., but figured there could be something to actually finding flowing water underground. Have there been any studies done that r/sceptic knows about?

From Skeptic's Subreddit
http://www.reddit.com/r/skeptic/comments/hyd1m/witching_for_water_real_or_quack/
6/13/2011 6:02:40 PM
Search rank: 298

From Uploads by Thunderf00t
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhg0WsINmPc&feature=youtube_gdata
7/5/2011 11:38:55 AM
Search rank: 296