Torture Doesn't Work

In this video, based on his column on the subject in Scientific American, Michael Shermer demonstrates why torture does not work as a method of extracting useful and actionable information, primarily because people being tortured will say anything to stop the pain, including confessing to crimes they didn’t commit (like witchcraft) and giving false information (where a terrorist attack may happen next).

Instead, studies show that developing a rapport with the person under interrogation produces higher quality intelligence.



Read the column on which this video is based: Why torture doesn’t work by Michael Shermer

Believe Me, It’s Torture by Christopher Hitchens

Learn more about the Skeptics Society

How Brian Brushwood Became a Card-Carrying Skeptic

American magician, podcaster, author, lecturer, and comedian, Brian Brushwood is the host of ‘Scam School’ for Discovery, ‘Hacking the System’ for National Geographic, and co-host of ‘The Modern Rogue’.

Brian Brushwood is the author of several books including: Scam School: Your Guide to Scoring Free Drinks, Doing Magic & Becoming the Life of the Party, and The Professional’s Guide to Fire Eating.



Tell us your story and become a card-carrying skeptic! Learn how at: https://www.skeptic.com/getcard

Debunking Chemtrails – Introduction – #1

People online can unknowing find themselves in an echo-chamber, having their more fringe beliefs amplified and reinforced by a lack of exposure to conflicting views and evidence. That, coupled with the fact that anyone can publish anything online, has lead to a renaissance in conspiracy theories, pseudo-medical procedures, and general bad science.



One of the more interesting conspiracy theories that seems to have grown in popularity over the last decade is the belief that the long-lasting white clouds left in the sky by aircraft are actually chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed on the population for nefarious reasons.

The people who believe in this conspiracy theory call these lines in the sky 'chemtrails' and feel so strongly against them that they recently organised protests around the world. I decided to make a series of videos investigating the weird and wonderful world of chemtrails to hopefully shed some light on a conspiracy which most find hard to grasp.

Video by Myles Power
Website: http://www.mylespower.co.uk

Here Be Dragons

Here Be Dragons is a free 40 minute video introduction to critical thinking.

It is suitable for general audiences and is licensed for free distribution and public display. Most people fully accept paranormal and pseudoscientific claims without critique as they are promoted by the mass media.



Here Be Dragons offers a toolbox for recognizing and understanding the dangers of pseudoscience, and appreciation for the reality-based benefits offered by real science.

Here Be Dragons is written and presented by Brian Dunning, host and producer of the Skeptoid podcast and author of the Skeptoid book series.


inFact with Brian Dunning: Here Be Dragons

Uri Geller's Mind-Power Kit - Myles Reviews

Uri Geller is an Israeli illusionist,magician, television personality, and self-proclaimed psychic. He is known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other illusions. In his Mind-Power Kit he claims to to share with the reader the secrets of his extraordinary powers. The kit also contains a crystal that Uri was personally empowered and a tape with instructions.



Support Myles through Patreon http://patreon.com/powerm1985

How Richard Dawkins Became a Card-Carrying Skeptic

Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins shared with us an early memory of playing hide-and-seek with an African man who claimed to have "magicked himself invisible." Dawkins is the author of many books, including: The God Delusion, The Selfish Gene, The Blind Watchmaker, The Ancestor's Tale, An Appetite for Wonder, The magic of Reality, The Greatest Show on Earth, and A Devil's Chaplain.



Tell us your story and become a card-carrying skeptic! Learn how at: Card-Carrying Skeptic

B.Y.T.H. Busters (The Secret Law of Attraction)

In B.Y.T.H. Busters: The Secret Law of Attraction, Adam Average and Jamie Imtheman put the "Law of Attraction" to the test.



This is the second in a series of videos that promote science and critical thinking through the use of humor, wit, and satire.

If you missed our first video, The Con Academy, watch it now: http://youtu.be/eR_HlRDhUxY

Skeptics Presents: B.Y.T.H. Busters (The Secret Law of Attraction)

Video by Brian Keith Dalton and Michael Shermer.

A Year of Skeptic Win

At The Amazing Meeting 2014, renowned skeptic and magician Jamy Ian Swiss recaps the year in skeptical wins with passion and humor, demonstrating through numerous examples how we skeptics are making a difference, how and why the world is becoming ever more rational and reasonable thanks to the spread of skepticism and critical thinking, and what you can do to contribute to this progress.



Don't miss this impassioned call for action.

A quest to best pseudoscience | Carrie Poppy

Carrie Poppy is a journalist and investigator of fringe science, spirituality, and claims of the paranormal. At TEDxVienna, she shares how she started investigating pseudoscience -- and why pointing it out matters.

Together with Ross Blocher, she hosts a comic investigations podcast, “Oh No, Ross and Carrie."



More information on http://www.tedxvienna.at

A quest to best pseudoscience | Carrie Poppy | TEDxVienna

November 2017

The Believing Brain - Presented by Michael Shermer

In this talk, Dr Michael Shermer presents his comprehensive and provocative theory on how humans form beliefs about the world.

Michael Shermer answers the questions of how and why we believe what we do in all aspects of our lives, from our suspicions and superstitions to our politics, economics and social beliefs.



Recorded at the Copland Theatre, University of Melbourne on 19 September 2011.

Neil deGrasse Tyson about Pseudoscience

Neil deGrasse Tyson and Leighann Lord answer fan questions about pseudoscience, from creationism, ouija boards, healing cristals, tarot, and alternative medicine.



Cosmic Queries: Pseudoscience
Startalk Radio.

Michael Shermer talk: The Threat of Pseudoscience

This half hour lecture is from the McGill University's Lorne Trottier Public Science Symposium on the confrontation and threat of pseudoscience in contemporary society. As a leading figure in this movement, Dr. Michael Shermer is more than qualified to speak on many of the issues. His down-to-earth style coupled with his laundry list of first hand encounters with the baloney of our day make this presentation (as well as many of his others) an absolute treat to watch.



I myself do not own the copyright to this material. As stated previously, this was filmed, funded, and produced by McGill University, and so far as I can tell, this is their intellectual property. I have uploaded it here so that it may reach a greater audience and showcase the truly great work of the presenter and the hosts. If anyone should wish for me to take it down, I would oblige.

Skepticism and Atheism: Yau-Man Chan

As a long time skeptic and atheist, it was only quite recently when Yau-Man got involved more formally with the Skeptic Movement that he learned that many skeptics are not atheists and many atheists subscribe to all sorts of pseudoscience nonsense and conspiracy theories. Yau-Man wants to engage his fellow atheist to explore why there isn't more of an overlap.

Why aren't skeptics naturally also atheists and why do some atheists manage to hold on to many superstitious and non-reality based ideas when they have rejected religion?



Yau-Man Chan has a Bachelor of Science (physics) from MIT and a Masters in scientific instrumentation from UC Santa Barbara in 1977. He is most known for appearing in the reality television series Survivor: Fiji (2007) and Survivor: Micronesia (2008).

Get to know the Atheist Community of San Jose

Twitter: www.twitter.com/sanjoseatheists

Does God Exist? - Atheist v. Theists - Stenger/Carrier/Eberhard v. Manis/Ojakangas/Self - SK2 Redux

Atheists:
Dr. Victor Stenger
Dr. Richard Carrier
JT Eberhard



Theists:
Dr. Zach Manis
Dr. Greg Ojakangas
Dr. Charlie Self

Moderated by DJ Grothe

17:03 - I think I had to change tapes at this point, sorry for the rough cut.

Skepticon.org

Filmed at Skepticon 2 in November 2009

How to Squash a Paranormal Claim

The James Randi Educational Foundation has never met a "psychic" it couldn't discredit—easily. Still, Randi understands why such frauds appeal to people.



Big Think, 2012

Critical Thinking: Arguments and non-Arguments

In this lecture and discussion from his Fayetteville State University's Critical Thinking class, Dr. Sadler discusses what sort of structure sets of claims must have in order to be arguments. He distinguishes arguments from other non-argument sets of claims, including narratives and explanations. Portions of President Barack Obama's 2011 State of the Union speech are used to provide examples for the class.

Michael Shermer on Skepticism and Religious Beliefs (Interview Part 1)

Michael Shermer (Author, "Skeptic") joins Dave Rubin to discuss his journey to becoming a "professional skeptic," skepticism related to religious beliefs, and more. This is part of a longer interview about skepticism, morality, conspiracy theories, politics, and more.



The Rubin Report, 2015

Dave Rubin on the Importance of Skepticism

"When preachers, politicians, or conspiracy theorists tell you they know what's really going on, just know that they're full of something, but it ain't knowledge."



Watch more on Ora TV: http://www.ora.tv/rubinreport

Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers

Is there a God? CNN Special Report: Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers. Tuesday, March 24, 2015.



Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers (2015)

Including interview with: Richard Dawkins, David Silverman, Jerry DeWitt


Why Humanists Are Still Misunderstood: CNN’s Documentary on Atheists in America by by Jessica Xiao, The Humanist


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Organisations:

Secular Students
American Atheits
The Clergy Project - for atheist priests

Tough on ideas, supportive of people - Michael Nugent at Irish Skeptics

Michael Nugent gave the Irish Skeptics' first public lecture of 2015 on the topic: "Tough on ideas, supportive of people – how atheist and skeptic groups can be robust, inclusive and ethical."



The lecture took place in Wynnes Hotel Dublin on 4 March 2015.