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By Guy McCardle, on May 17th, 2012
What happened?
 Image: pittsburgh.about.com At 4:10 PM on January 31st, 1956 a B-25 Mitchell bomber crashed into the Monongahela river (known to locals as “the Mon”) just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The entire crew of six made it through the initial impact but only four survived the freezing Mon. For fourteen days the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers searched the river for the downed bomber. No trace of the flight was ever found. To this day the “Ghost Bomber” crash remains one of Pittsburgh’s most legendary mysteries. Continue reading The Mystery in the Mon
By Guy McCardle, on February 19th, 2012
 Image: liquidleds.com.au My feelings are split over how I feel about the United States Congress delaying their phase out of incandescent light bulbs here in the good old U S of A. They will be effectively banned beginning in October of this year.
The scientist in me realizes that the incandescent light bulb is one of the least energy-efficient products available today. A pathetic 5-8% of the energy it uses is given off as visible light. The rest, as you will realize if you’ve ever tried to unscrew a bulb that was recently on, is given off as heat. Lots of finger scorching swear inducing heat. Easy Bake ovens used to use a 100 watt bulb as their source of heat. I say ‘used to’ because I read that they have been re-designed due to the upcoming ban.
The rest of me really resents the government telling me what kinds of light bulbs I have to use. I know it seems like a small thing, but what will they go after next? Our toilets? Dammit, I’ve almost forgotten about the whole “low-flow” fiasco. I view both instances of governmental intervention as intrusions on my personal rights. Continue reading Why Are Eco-Facists Trying to Ban Incandescent Bulbs?
By Guy McCardle, on February 15th, 2012
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 Image: tintoyarcade.com If you are anything like me, you love bacon. I’m fixin’ to become a member of the bacon of the month club, that’s how much I love it. If you are nothing like me, you could be a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian, statistically speaking chances are that you are a woman. You probably stopped eating our four-legged friends for ethical reasons and you’ll probably be a carnivore again in no time.
Note: This piece first was first published at Skeptoid.com back in October of last year. As I read dozens and dozens of comments, I became readily aware that I had unintentionally ticked some people off. This was not my intent although it happens more often than I care to admit. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a vegetarian. It is a personal choice and I’ll defend your right to make that choice to the death. It just happens that isn’t my choice.
There is a growing and undeniable trend out there that vegetarians, and even some vegans, are resuming the consumption of animal products. Studies show that ex-vegetarians outnumber current vegetarians by a ratio of three to one, suggesting that 75% of vegetarians lapse. It seems that for most people, vegetarianism is a phase rather than a permanent change in lifestyle. Why? Continue reading Lapsed Vegetarians or, Return of the Meat-Eaters
By Guy McCardle, on February 5th, 2012
 Image: buddylevy.com Hopefully you have already read and/or listened to my recent piece on one of my favorite shows, History Channel’s Decoded. If you haven’t, go do so now. I’ll wait. If you’ve watched Brad Meltzer’s Decoded, you’ll certainly remember Buddy Levy. He’s the down to Earth, no-nonsense, supremely likable member of the investigative trio (nothing against the two others, they have their own super powers).
In addition to his TV gig, Buddy is a prolific author and journalist plus he holds a position as a clinical professor of English at Washington State University. His latest book, River of Darkness, is a must-read. What I like most about Buddy, and why I invited him to answer a few questions for our readers, is the fact that he is not afraid to ask the questions that bring us all one step closer to the truth. He has listened to some very outrageous stories on the show and I don’t recall him once rolling his eyes. His unmitigated respect for all parties involved in the show should teach us all something about how to get to the heart of a story.
Without further ado, I present to you Mr. Buddy Levy.
Continue reading Five Questions for: Buddy Levy
By Guy McCardle, on January 30th, 2012
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 Image: brownbutterbeautyshop.com Disclaimer: You are about to read a shampoo article written by a bald man. That doesn’t invalidate anything I have to day, I’m just letting you know in the name of full disclosure. Heaven forbid someone gets upset in the comments section and lashes out saying, “What does he know. He apparently hasn’t needed shampoo in years”.
On one of my daily internet information mining sessions I came across ads for SLS-free shampoo. Now, anytime I read about “______ – free” anything it raises a big red skeptical flag. Gluten-free comes immediately to mind. Next comes fat-free, sugar-free, PABA-free and on and on ad infinitum. Ironically, when a product has the word “free” in the title it usually costs more, as if the absence of something gives it a greater value. We Americans are suckers for this kind of stuff. Just for the record, you can buy gluten-free shampoo if you are so inclined. Continue reading Do You Really Need SLS-Free Shampoo?
By Guy McCardle, on January 19th, 2012
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 Image: Rath Health Foundation Matthias Rath is a medical doctor turned vitamin entrepreneur. He runs the Dr. Rath Health Foundation and is the former head of Cardiovascular Research at the Linus Pauling Institute. Rath has been called “the most powerful crackpot on the Earth” due to the large amount of funds he has gotten from investors who can see the value of selling vitamin pills to cure the most serious of ailments. He advocates the use of his vitamins instead of using conventional medicines (which he calls dangerous and toxic). As a result of his influence, thousands have died where they might otherwise have lived. Keep reading to find out more about this dangerous man and his highly controversial opinions and practices. Continue reading The Most Powerful Crackpot on Earth
By Guy McCardle, on January 18th, 2012
 Brian Dunning We skeptics are by nature a curious lot. Perhaps none more so than Brian Dunning. With almost 300 episodes of the award-winning podcast Skeptoid under his belt, he is one of the most highly regarded skeptics in the United States. He doesn’t limit his talents to audio podcasts, however. He writes, produces and hosts the inFact video podcast series. He has authored numerous books and articles in addition to writing, producing and hosting the well received Here Be Dragons critical thinking video. Among other places, he blogs at Skepticblog and Skeptoid’s blog (where I also contribute from time to time). Then there are the live presentations; he has lectured worldwide. Have I mentioned his network TV pilot The Skeptologists or his web series pilot Truth Hurts? He’s a busy guy. Continue reading Five Questions for: Brian Dunning
By Guy McCardle, on January 11th, 2012
 Image: science-based life I found this list of skeptic’s ten commandments over at Kyle Hill’s website, Science-Based Life. They are reproduced here with his gracious permission. How many of these do you agree with?
By Guy McCardle, on January 9th, 2012
 Image: boatflorida.com On January 9th, 1493 Christopher Columbus spotted what he believed to be three mermaids swimming off the coast of what is now the Dominican Republic. He stated that they were “not half as beautiful as they are painted”. In reality, Columbus spotted a trio of manatees. Six months prior to this explorer vs. cryptid encounter, Columbus set sail across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain with the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. He was hoping to find a western trade route to Asia but instead stumbled upon what was to be known as the New World.
The myth of the mermaid has existed in seafaring cultures since at least the time of the ancient Greeks. They are typically described as having the torso and head of a woman and a fishtail instead of legs. Mermaids supposedly make their homes in the ocean and, in some versions of the legend, can take on a human form and marry mortal men. Mermaids are closely linked to another mythical creature, the siren. They are said to part woman, part bird beings that live on islands and sing seductive songs to lure lonely sailors to their deaths. Continue reading Columbus and the Mermaids
By Guy McCardle, on January 7th, 2012
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 Image: The History Channel Well, season two of “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded” is over and I’m wondering how many of you have seen it. I had to admit that before I started watching the show last year, I had no idea who Brad Meltzer was. That is certainly not the case anymore. He is an award-winning writer who has authored everything from political thrillers to comic books to an inspirational book entitled “Heroes For My Son”. To learn more about Meltzer, I recommend watching his very thought-provoking presentation, “How to Write Your Own Obituary” on the TED (Technology Education and Design) website.
As I said, his show, “Decoded” has just finished airing its second season on The History Channel. What drew me to the show in the first place was the prospect of having what Meltzer calls “pop culture mysteries” investigated and commented on by science minded persons. Sounds a bit like a certain website and podcast I’ve been working on. Over the course of its first two seasons the show has looked at, or decoded, a variety of topics including the Lincoln assassination, UFO’s, the spear of destiny and the fate of Pope John Paul I. Continue reading Decoded
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