Climate science: why the uncertainty? I note the raft of letters in the last magazine on anthropogenic climate change (ACC). While I, on the committee, am perfectly happy with the position statement ... (1177 words)

'Anti-catastrophic principle' is Pascal's Wager In the Autumn 2014 NZ Skeptic, Martin Manning stated: "But some are using the fact that climate scientists admit to uncertainties as reason for not ... (1096 words)

It is difficult to know where to begin in response to Jim Ring's letter (NZ Skeptic 110), but somewhat reluctantly, here goes. He writes, "But he never makes a case; he only quotes opinion". Well, I ... (1020 words)

'Climategate' emails show case not closed Keith Muir (NZ Skeptic 109) ends "I rest my case." But he never makes a case; he only quotes opinion. This is unacceptable in Law or Science. The alarmists ... (515 words)

'Organic' water? Either this water is alive, or it contains carbon. Either way I'm not drinking it. Hugh Young Wellington ... (18 words)

No missing content Renee Maunder (Forum, NZ Skeptic 103) laments that I failed to supply a detailed list of references in my article on ACC and sexual abuse claims (NZ Skeptic 102). In my copy, I saw ... (1581 words)

Sex abuse article missing content? I've just been reading my Summer 2012 edition of New Zealand Skeptic, but I think there is a piece missing from my version. On page 15-17 there is an article by ... (519 words)

Compartmentalising the mind Michael Edmonds' article in the latest issue (NZ Skeptic 101) was very interesting, especially laying out the groundwork for non-chemists. If I still had science classes, ... (703 words)

As someone currently enduring a bout of shingles I have a few comments to make on the excellent article on the bad science behind the vaccine scare (NZ Skeptic 100). Further to benefits of ... (666 words)

Homeopathic 'vaccines' on sale in New Zealand The website www.endohealth.co.nz is selling such items as homeopathic immunisation and travel kits. On offer are such remedies as Natrium Muriaticum 200C ... (632 words)

Fault is with Creationism Bernard Beckett (Skeptic 95 , p8) says the ability of Creationism to make the same predictions as evolutionary psychology shows that the latter is not a scientific process. ... (145 words)

Witch-hunting ancient and modern Claire and I have taken a year off to teach English in the Czech Republic. These two photos are our friend Lada indicating the site where Agatha Toott was burned to ... (149 words)

A non-remedy for a non-disease I had to wait for my prescription at the pharmacy and while browsing the shelves noticed a new homeopathic remedy for white-tail spider bites. At $18.40 a small bottle ... (177 words)

Non-custodial sentence inappropriate In delivering a non-custodial sentence in the Janet Moses makutu case, Justice Simon France noted that expert witnesses considered the perpetrators were not ... (160 words)

Chiropractic response also 'spurious' Justin Vodane's letter (NZ Skeptic 91) is a classic defence of the indefensible. This is illustrated by his referring to the Viox problem. Whilst the actions of ... (536 words)

Chiropractic argument 'spurious' In his previous Hokum Locum column (NZ Skeptic 90) John Welch commented on an article on Chiropractic that appeared in the Marlborough Express on 22 August 2008. This ... (859 words)

Why do men have nipples? Nikos Petousis, in his article Skepticism Greek-style answers many questions which have previously puzzled me, for which I thank him sincerely. In return, may I answer one of ... (236 words)

Sensing Murder or Sensing Money? I am a skeptic when it comes to psychics, mediums and anything to do with the 'paranormal'. Over the last couple of years, I have watched perhaps four or five ... (1294 words)

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury a real condition John Welch seems to think that knee-jerk name-calling and immediate dismissal equates to scientific consideration. His constant ridiculing of many ... (722 words)

Do we understand it all? In NZ Skeptic 85 Alison Campbell discusses teaching evolution in the school curriculum with particular reference to the influence of local creationist pressures opposing this ... (440 words)

Minority retort Elizabeth Rata's article Ethnic Fundamentalism in New Zealand is a series of extraordinary assertions, supported not with reason and evidence but emotionalism and error. Rata defines ... (1458 words)

Potassium article activates BS-meter One thing that activates my BS-meter is a miracle treatment with too many claims. Consider the following extract from an article, The Nutritional Benefits of ... (514 words)

Do we really need a name change? Given that we're called the NZ Skeptics in virtually all instances-our website, journal, the flyers, the publicity posters etc-do we need to go through a formal ... (775 words)

Larry King Live talks to the Dead During a short visit to Texas, my wife Hazel and I caught a session of Larry King Live, on which 'psychics' battled skeptics. It was clear from the outset the ... (828 words)

Article unfair to Darwin Jim Ring's article, Lamarck's ghost rises again (NZ Skeptic 80) does an excellent job in laying Lamarck's ghost, and its recent revival, but it is bitterly unfair to Darwin ... (1274 words)

Presentations cause concern _Hugh Young Pukerua Bay_ Two presentations at the Skeptics' Conference had some features in common that arouse disquiet. Both had inflammatory titles-"Ethnic ... (184 words)

Keith Garratt's critique of genealogy (New Zealand Skeptic 77) is a strange mix of arguments. He purports to be addressing genealogy "as normally practised" or "as often practised" but offers no ... (1507 words)

More bad news for homeopaths The leading medical journal The Lancet recently published yet another analysis of trials of homeopathy. After examining 110 such trials, the Swiss researchers concluded ... (558 words)

What a great Skeptic the winter edition is, thorough forethought all around, with even a hint of hope about the clairvoyant decision. Which is good because although I enjoy reading the magazine it's ... (647 words)

Efficacy of Prayer - an update Since I wrote my piece (NZ Skeptic 75) based on Bruce Flamm's article in Skeptical Inquirer concerning a research paper on the efficacy of prayer, Dr Flamm has reported ... (1164 words)

It is with sadness that I see that the Skeptic is still accepting articles and letters with political bias. I would like to spend much of this letter countering some of Owen McShane's arguments from ... (1521 words)

Climate Change still has its doubters SCIENCE has not "progressed only by slow cautious steps" as Piers McLaren claims (Forum, Spring 2004), but by great bold ones. Scientists should resist new ideas ... (1030 words)

Ancient Celtic New Zealand - More Reasons Not To Believe In connection with David Riddell's article about "Ancient Celtic New Zealand" (Skeptic, Winter 2004) your readers may be interested in my more ... (986 words)

Moral Values I am finding it difficult to respond to Alan P Ryan's diatribe (Skeptic Autumn 2004) as it borders on the incoherent and self-contradictory. I wonder if it will help if I summarise my ... (469 words)

Global Warming Mechanisms -- Room For Debate When I sent my letter to the NZ Skeptic (Spring 2003), I did not expect vehement denials in the next issue. Such debate is, of course, healthy and ... (2027 words)

Global Warming -- Where Should Skeptics Stand? Although I have been receiving free email alerts for a long time, I am a (very) new member. Among the goodies which I received a couple of days ago was ... (2218 words)

Skeptics Blown It? Prior to attending the NZ Skeptics conference in Wellington this year, I read the discussion paper on the role of science in environmental policy and decision making, Illuminated ... (1149 words)

True Home of Father Christmas Discovered! I am always astonished that famous mystical persons, such as the Virgin Mary (who was transubstantiated into an Australian fencepost in February) reveal ... (580 words)

Sources of Poverty Peter Hansen is confident that, "blame for the world's starving millions belongs [to] greedy corporate giants, environmental exploiters, warmongers and corrupt officials". He ... (941 words)

Alternative Child Healthcare The following correspondence between nursing lecturer Sue Gasquoine and Skeptics' chairentity Vicki Hyde is reproduced with the permission of the participants -ed. Hello ... (1343 words)

Skeptics in the Greenhouse I attended the recent Christchurch Conference and greatly enjoyed the excellent standard of presentation and discussion. One small item, however, left me wondering about ... (777 words)

Ritalin and ADHD Professor JS Werry deserves thanks for his contribution in these pages regarding the present use/abuse of methylphenidate (Ritalin) and ADHD. Despite the Professor's reassurances ... (443 words)

Children & Quackery It is hard to be sure what Mike Houlding is on about in his rather opaque letter but I gather that he is lumping the use of clairvoyants, homoeopathic remedies and ADHD under ... (486 words)

False Memory re Subs? In the latest NZ Skeptic, beside the chair-entity's report, there is a false history of subscriptions. From written records: the sub was $10 for '86 to '88, then $20 for '89 to ... (703 words)

Jim Ring's article on sodium chloride in Skeptic number 60 didn't mention a classic case. Red Seal markets a range of 12 remedies in tablet form called Dr Scheussler's Biochemic Tissue Salts. Among ... (118 words)

Thank you kindly for the recent award for journalistic excellence I received from your society for my editorial in the NZ Medical Journal on alternative treatments. It was wonderful to be honoured by ... (58 words)

More Brocken sightings I enjoyed Jim Ring's "the Spectre of Kahurangi" (Autumn 2001). In Kahurangi National Park there is a bridge called "Brocken Bridge", quite close to Ghost Creek. Could this be ... (932 words)

I hate to spoil a good story, especially a skeptical one, but is there something slightly adrift with William Ireland's piece on the Kaikoura UFOs? He says the camera was looking down at an angle of ... (144 words)

Oz Skeptics set up for Video Fraud? A news item that Australian skeptics are considering video evidence of a "Bigfoot" sighting for a $100,000 prize should alarm all who have offered money for ... (446 words)

Wellington's Healing Touch I was interested to read a recent article in the NZ Skeptic on Healing Touch, as I am a consultant anaesthetist at Wellington Hospital. When I heard this "service" was to ... (340 words)

References Bob Metcalfe (Forum NZ Skeptic 54) seems to be calling for a change in editorial policy on footnotes and references. This has been consistent throughout the history of this society and any ... (310 words)

Cathie Comments I just wanted to make a comment on the clipping from the Christchurch Star concerning "nuclear extinction" which appeared on p.9 of the NZ Skeptic periodical. In the clipping, a ... (369 words)

Medical Skepticism Skepsis's last article on Menopause Madness [Skeptic 53] reminded me of my recent prescribing of progesterone cream for a well informed patient at her request. The good GP I am (I ... (427 words)

Premonitions As a born-again skeptic, I find it hard to write about an experience which challenges my entire values system; dead men don't talk, dreams and premonitions tell you nothing except, ... (214 words)

That Old-Time Religion I didn't wish to begin a debate about the issues surrounding religion in the 16th and 17th-century, nor would I ever wish to stop anyone from taking in interest in history. All ... (358 words)

Complaints Process Then and Now I found it interesting to read Bernard Howard's article on complaining to the authorities. I myself complained about an incident that happened some years ago, when ... (818 words)

Psychic Challenge I AM looking for ideas. For the last four years, I have had a challenge to psychics for them to find a promissory note with a value of $50,000. For the first six months, it was ... (526 words)

Counselling, Criticism and Skepticism I was interested to read the letters by Jim Ring and Felicity Goodyear-Smith to my article with the above title [NZ Skeptic 47]. Jim reiterates his view that the ... (1142 words)

An article by Gordon Hewitt in NZ Skeptic 47 states, "In June 1995...an article appeared in this publication saying counselling was no use. This judgement was based on a single study conducted in ... (567 words)

Creationist Tactics I am sure Jim Ring is correct when he says we are on the winning side of the creationist battle [Forum, Summer 1997], but there is no room for complacency. As he says, the ... (1298 words)

Creationism Again Ten or twenty years ago, prominent overseas creationists once toured in a blaze of publicity. They spoke in public schools and received plenty of air time on National Radio and ... (464 words)

WE WERE skeptical. We demanded you respond to our clarion call for pithy pieces -- but only a few of you pithed on us. For this we are grateful and we have sent suitable telepathic gifts to all of ... (888 words)

Of telepathic gifts and well-chewed morsels LET us be clear. We think skeptics are the most witty, pithy and intelligent of people. The type who can get their profound insights across in 300 lively, ... (923 words)

Evolution of God THE concepts of God and evolution are inextricable. In the beginning God created the Universe. The series of events that followed produced man. This imperfect product needed a higher ... (2518 words)

CSICOP has been trying to have available, both to its staff and to anyone else who wishes to use it, the finest library of skeptical materials on the paranormal in the world. We have been gathering ... (174 words)

Chemists aren't Pharmacists When reading the latest issue of the NZ Skeptic, I was somewhat dismayed to find that both our worthy Chair-Entity, and our Hokum Locum failed to appreciate the difference ... (226 words)

Rebuttal Walter C Clark, Chuck Bird and Nicky McLean criticise Hitting Home for not investigating women's violence towards men, that is, for not being another piece of research altogether. When ... (2122 words)

Hypnosis TV3 on 20/20 at 8.30pm on Monday 19/06/95 screened an American story titled "A State of Mind". Extravagant claims were made about the medical significance of hypnosis and its therapeutic ... (1059 words)

NZCSICOP Politics As a subscriber to your magazine, I am concerned by the general trends evident in the statements made by a number of your contributors. For example, in the last issue Mr Wyant ... (1373 words)

PC for Me, See? "US Universities, cringing under a wave of Political Correctness and an extreme form of "multi-culturalism" are abandoning programmes which present the history of Western Civilisation ... (1509 words)

Desperately Seeking Psychic Photographer I am writing in the hope that your readers may be able to help me in a little research I am doing, in my position of Publicity Officer for the Wairarapa ... (332 words)

Reasoning About Reason Congratulations on featuring the superb contribution from Peter Münz in Skeptic 31. It seems to concur with a passage from Antony Flew I have just been reading. He says that to ... (388 words)

Where Were the Hunters? The account of the meeting between the Moa hunters and the Christchurch Skeptics was interesting, but contained some very odd statements. How many skeptics had done any ... (510 words)

Letter from India The Indian Skeptics sometimes seem to be up against some very big opponents. Our Chair recently received the following letter: Dear Friend, [There have been] 6 murders in the ... (704 words)

Hail Guns? Several of my friends are orchardists, and two of them lost their crop last year due to a hailstorm. The hot topic at present is "hail guns." Do they work? How do they work? There seems to ... (353 words)

Confronting Creationism The article on creationism by Barend Vlaardingerbroek (Skeptic 24) contains much with which I would agree, but there are also several points that could be contested. The ... (1051 words)

Unconvinced Environmentalist Your main article in the March issue (Skeptic, #23), "The Skeptical Environmentalist" by Vincent Gray, is perhaps the worst I have ever read. It consists almost entirely ... (1562 words)

Reader Response Also, as a NZCSICOP newcomer, I'd like to respond to Carl Wyant, who asked why skeptic groups rarely attack the Big Groups. Firstly, skeptics challenging religious beliefs or their ... (662 words)