Radio Freethinker

This week:

-       International Worker’s Day,
-       Glow-in-the-dark Coins,
-       Mining Asteroids,
-       Nutella ain’t health food,
-       De-faithing analytics and,
-       NarcOnon – Scientology on drugs.

Download the episode here!

Topics:

International Worker’s Day

We give a brief shout out the workers and unions around the world while provided the importance of a labour movement and some of the history behind it. 

Find out more:

• A simple question, a blizzard of emails, and a peek inside how Canada’s bureaucracy work
  
• What’s the big secret?
• As It Happens – SNOWFALL NRC

Glow-in-the-dark Coins

The Royal Canadian Mint is releasing its first glow-in-the-dark coin. Its cool and educational at the same time. 

Find out more:

• Commemorative Canadian quarters with glow-in-the-dark dino skeletons bureaucracy work
  
• Royal Canadian Mint makes glow-in-the-dark dinosaur coin
• Dinosaur – 25-Cent Coloured Glow-in-the-dark Coin (2012)

Mining Asteroids

We take a deeper look at a popular news story popular in the press about a new company that formed with the backing of major moneyed people (Google founders and James Cameron). The plan to mine asteroids sounds far fetched on the surface, we take a deeper look and find that in some ways it is but in other ways it could be a boon to humans venturing into space.

Find out more:

• Tech tycoons in asteroid mining venture
• Asteroid mining: how it might work – interactive
• Near-Earth asteroids

Nutella ain’t health food

We discuss the lawsuit which claimed that untruthful or misleading advertising by Nutella lead to ill heath effects in its customers. The claim was that Nutella claimed to be healthy food. As it turns out, Nutella is essentially a chocolate bar spread in a jar; with all the fat and sugar and UNhealthiness you would expect.

In San Diego, a woman won 1/2 million lawsuit. As part of the settlement is an additional $2.5 million class action award for anyone who bought Nutello from 2008 to 2012.

We cover personal responsibly, the role of government regulation and the moral responsibly for truthful advertising.

Find out more:

• There’s Actually A Settlement In Nutella ‘Health Food’ Class Action Lawsuit
• Ferrero must pay for suggesting Nutella is a healthy breakfast food
• Nutella isn’t good for you, court finds

De-faithing analytics

A new study is making the rounds these days regarding your ability to do math and whether or not you’re an atheists. We discuss the research of UBC’s own psychologist Will Gervais that people who answered with more analytical answers, opposed to more innate and intuitively which would predict a religious believer.

It seems that if you think analytically you are more likely to be an atheist. Further, the research showed that a persons theological bent or confidence in belief, declines after doing analytical work. 

Find out more:

• Analytic Thinking Can Decrease Religious Belief, Study Shows
• Study finds that analytical thinking reduces religious belief
• Analytical thinking erodes belief in God

NarcOnon – Scientology on drugs

Don discussed the accidental discovery of some scientist attempting to show the efficacy of a DNA reading technique. What they discovered was that what you are getting in traditional Chinese medicine may be more than you bargained for. They discovered the ‘expected’ endangered species. They also showed that what was called ‘pure’ antelope contained goat and sheep DNA. It also found unlisted ingredients that could allergic reactions such as peanuts. Also they found ingredients that are toxic and potentially fatal.

Find out more:

• Narconon
• Narconon Exposed
• California State Department of Health – Outline for recovery house evaluation Narconon new life
• Narconon Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre  is shut down
• Health officials shut down Narconon drug rehab centre
• Scientology-linked Narconon center in Quebec shut down for ‘dangerous practices’
• Wiki – Narconon
• Mom slams drug rehab centre run by Scientologists

Periodic Table “App” for Google Chrome

Shoot the correct chemical symbols for science and score points with a bonus for speed. Learn while having fun. The ultimate in geek fundom

Where: Periodic Table
Cost: Free

Philosophers Cafe - Conspiracy Theories

Amir Kamayabnejad questions the belief that there is a secret society that runs the world, has the power to make or break authority figures and technological advancements, and decides who lives or dies..

Where: The Grind on 4124 Main
When: May 2, 2012, 7 pm
Cost: Free

• Philosophers Cafe

Surly jewelry

Surly Amy Grants for TAM 10 – Surly Amy is an artist/blogger on the Skepchick network who makes various types of jewelry with a skeptical theme. She is also trying to raise money for some grants to help women who wouldn’t normally be able to afford to attend TAM this year.

• SURLY WOMEN GRANTS
• TAM 10