TheESP – Ep. #402 – Crime and Punishment

– with Paula Dahlberg

Full length episode, plus an interesting interview this week. We first note that science has discovered the “Pontus plate” (much to our liking) and also that if you are quick you can still apply to give a talk at SkepKon in Augsburg in May. Then we hear about the sad passing of Peter Olausson, prominent skeptic and former president of VoF.

After that we have our interview with Paula Dahlberg who takes us through the most common myths about the legal system. Then, we take a look at the news:

• SWITZERLAND: SCAM doesn’t work against diabetes
• WALES: Cancer patient dead after taking herbal mixture containing mistletoe
• FRANCE: Negative correlations between conspiracy beliefs and the use of conventional medicine

To round off we present Apple TV (of all services) with this week’s Really Right Award for putting out a factual documentary about the Enfield Poltergeist. We also have a tongue twisting Word of the week from the Netherlands.

Enjoy!

Segments: Intro; Greetings; Interview; TWISH; Pontus Pokes The Pope; News; Really Right; Word Of The Week; Quote And Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes
 
0:00:34 INTRO

0:01:00 GREETINGS

• Important science update: the ‘Pontus plate’ has been discovered
  • Live Science: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/geology/scientists-discover-ghost-of-ancient-mega-plate-that-disappeared-20-million-years-ago
• Call for papers for Skepkon 2024 is open until 6th of November
  • GWUP: https://blog.gwup.net/2023/10/25/skepkon-2024-in-augsburg-call-for-papers-verlaengert-bis-zum-6-november/
• Peter Olausson, former president of the Swedish Skeptics, dies after several years of illness
  • VoF: https://www.vof.se/blogg/peter-olausson-1971-2023/

0:08:15 INTERVIEW

• We interview Paula Dahlberg who debunks some of the most common myths regarding the legal system
  • Nyans Podcast (Swedish): https://nyanspod.wordpress.com/

0:32:57 TWISH – THIS WEEK IN SKEPTICAL HISTORY

• 31 October 1912: Birthday of János Szentágothai who was an anatomist, Professor, Member of Parliament, and President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. He also initiated the Hungarian Skeptics movement.
  • the Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(16)30385-4/fulltext
  • Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/two-decades-of-skepticism-in-hungary-a-personal-view/

0:40:01 PONTUS POKES THE POPE

• Synod delivers its wishy-washy results. Also, an independent Spanish investigation confirms mass child sex abuse by the Catholic Chruch.
  • Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/28/vatican-synod-same-sex-unions/
  • the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/27/spanish-clergy-sexual-abused-more-than-200000-children-inquiry-estimates

0:48:22 NEWS

• SWITZERLAND: SCAM doesn’t work against diabetes
  • Edzard Ernst: https://edzardernst.com/2023/10/diabetics-who-use-so-called-alternative-medicine-scam-have-a-lower-quality-of-life/
• WALES: Cancer patient dead after taking herbal mixture containing mistletoe
  • BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-67222694
  • Edzard Ernst: https://edzardernst.com/2023/10/a-cancer-patient-died-after-taking-a-herbal-mixture-containing-mistletoe/
• FRANCE: Negative correlations between conspiracy beliefs and the use of conventional medicine
  • HAL: https://hal.science/hal-04259730/document

1:01:24 REALLY RIGHT

• Really Right: Apple TV, for putting out a factual documentary out about the Enfield poltergeist
  • GWUP: https://blog.gwup.net/2023/10/27/der-beruehmteste-poltergeist-fall-der-welt-als-doku-serie/

1:05:59 WORD OF THE WEEK

• DUTCH: “oude koeien uit de sloot halen” – “drag the old cow out of the ditch”

1:11:36 QUOTE AND FAREWELL

“And when statesman or others worry [the scientist] too much, then he should leave with his possessions.”
/ Tycho Brahe (5 October 1713 – 31 July 1784), French philosopher, art critic, and writer, best known for serving as co-founder, chief editor, and contributor to the Encyclopédie along with Jean le Rond d’Alembert. He was a prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment. /

1:15:33 OUTRO

1:16:48 OUT-TAKES