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– but all’s well that ends Pell
This week we start by recommending that you check out Annika’s Skeptical Inquirer’s article about our trip down under, we hear about the Swedish Skeptic’s annual awards, the Hungarian Skeptics appearance on radio and a little bit about the fascinating art of art forensics. In TWISH it’s all about the high flying ancestors of Jean Luc Piccard – August and Jean Felix Piccard and the invention of the bathyscaphe and then Pontus catches up with the state of affairs in the Vatican, including the death of Cardinal Pell. After all that, it’s time for the news:

POLAND: Internet hoax suggests country’s territorial claims live on
SWEDEN: Dangerous trend of unassisted home births (aka. “freebirthing”)
UK: An institution in Oxford (?) starts veterinary chiropractic course
SWEDEN: Linda Karlström, antivaxxer and Confounderer of the Year 2019, sues the Swedish Government
A Really Right award goes out this week to the Norwegian Authorities that very sensibly declares that the Jehovah’s Witnesses are not worthy of the label ‘religion’ – not a day too early.

Enjoy!

Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; Pontus Pokes The Pope; News; Really Right; Quote And Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes;

... and nobody puts Greta in the corner!

We start this week by commemorating Harriet Hall AKA "The SkepDoc" and talk about what a great loss her passing is for the international skeptic movement.
On TWISH András talks about the London Institution, a major body for the public understanding of science in the 19th century, then with the Pope remaining un-poked this week, we are turning over to the news:

- In the UK the British False Memory Society not to be dissolved after all
- In HUNGARY, Hungarian-Canadian physician and author Gábor Máté spreads his dubious claims regarding cancer and autoimmune disease allegedly caused by childhood trauma and oppressed memories
- In GERMANY a (mostly) peaceful demonstration at a coal mine site near Lützerath leads to police arrests (including Greta Thunberg) and violence, likely in coordination with energy giant RWE.

This week's Really Wrong Price goes to Tory MP Andrew Bridgen who got expelled from the party for likening covid vaccinations to the Holocaust.

Enjoy!

... and someone please tell Prince Harry to act more responsibly.

This week we start by lamenting over the launch failure of Virgin Orbit from Cornwall Spaceport, then praise Wikipedia that soon turns 22 and we also have a lot to thank Susan Gerbic, the "Wikipediatrician" for.

Then in Pontus' absence we leave the pope alone and turn to the News:
NETHERLANDS: Alleged nazi treasure map keeps people excited
HUNGARY: Far right MP appears on the pseudodocumentary 'Died Suddenly' and antivaxers promote the movie ferociously
UK: Information about weird shaped waves could be yet another nail in Nessie's coffin
SPAIN: Researches find correlation between conspiratorial thinking and weird myths about the causes of cancer

This weeks Really Wrong Prize goes to Prince Harry for actively promoting a questionable psychotherapy and consulting a psychic to help him cope with the loss of his mother, then advertising it on his autobiography.

Enjoy!

Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; News; Really Wrong; Quote And Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes

– also, never think with your royal penis!
This week start with some listener feedback regarding the new Swedish Spaceport Esrange, look at the value of New Year’s resolutions and discuss the crazy weather situation. In this week in Skepticism we celebrate the birth of Isaac Asimov who was born on 2 January 1920 (or was he?) and then Pontus reflects on the life and death of Joseph Ratzinger, aka. Pope Benedict XVI, aka, Senator Palpatine. Then we go through the news:

INTERNATIONAL: European Humanist Federation merges into Humanists International
SWEDEN: The spread of rumors of Swedish authorities kidnapping babies from all over the world
RUSSIA: Russia is afraid of western psychic attacks
DENMARK / RUSSIA: Danish military intelligence suggests drug-induced megalomania may have influenced Putin to invade Ukraine
The Swedish King, Gustav XVI Gustaf, gets a well earned Really Wrong Award for thinking that monarchs shall have a penis.

Enjoy!

Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; Pontus Pokes The Pope; News; Really Wrong; Quote And Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes;

– also be prepared for next year’s Christmas!
We start by reflecting on Putin’s “war” against Ukraine now that he (by accident?) admitted that that is what it is. In TWISH we hear about Vlad the Impaler (aka Vlad III or Dracula) and to what extent Bram Stoker used him as inspiration for his famous book. Also, some recent pseudohistory is making the rounds about Vlad III “Dragulya”. Pope Frankie has a new legal issue now that the Italian Senate has grown tired of his lack of action in the Orlandi case. Then we take a look at the news:

NETHERLANDS: No ritual satanic abuse in NL
SWEDEN: Svante Pääbo gets strange criticism
INTERNATIONAL: After Christmas is before Christmas: tips for recycling
SWEDEN: The King to inaugurate Europe’s first launchpad for satellites
We end the year by issuing a big Really Right and our deep thanks to all our listeners, patrons and supporters on Paypal.
A very happy new year to you all!

Enjoy!

Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; Pontus Pokes The Pope; News; Really Right; Quote And Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes;

– however, the other 1063 predictions failed
This week all the hosts are back from their adventures in foreign lands to record just before Christmas. We revisit the topic of Twitter and we hear about Pontus’ trip to New Zealand. After a few short interviews with skeptics in Australia we go to TWISH for the birth of Uri Geller and to the Vatican for the latest mishaps of pope Frankie. Then we turn to the news:

GERMANY: Fortune teller was right – the Queen passed away
SWEDEN: Woman suffers paralysis and brain damage after seeing alternative quack masseur
HUNGARY: Shops of health guru closing down
SWEDEN: Prison for inventor of heater that supposedly generated more energy than was put in
British politicians are notoriously nuts these days, and to illustrate this fact MP Andrew Bridgen receives this week’s Really Wrong Award for his covid vaccine denial.

Enjoy!
Segments: Intro; Greetings; Interviews; TWISH; Pontus Pokes The Pope; News; Really Wrong; Quote; Outro; Out-Takes;