Skeptics' Guide - Episode #62
Recording Date: September 27th, 2006
Link to the Official Episode Notes
Official Episode #62 thread on the forums
Download Episode #62 MP3
Panelists (in order of appearance)
- Steven Novella
- Bob Novella
- Perry DeAngelis
- Evan Bernstein
- Jay Novella
Interesting Facts
- One of the questions answered was taken directly from the forums, posed by Freeman
- Second time Joe Nickel appears on the SGU
- 10th time Steve stumps everyone at Science or Fiction
Interviewee
Joe Nickel
Randi Speaks - Topic
Left Behind
Science or Fiction**
- Bob (23/43)
- Jay (6/22)
- Perry (12/43)
- Evan (14/36)
Funny Quotes
1. Perry (about the missing data in the original face on Mars picture): "Yes but how unusual that the missing data would be right where the nostril is."
2. Jay (about Hoagland's response about the news pics of the face on Mars): "Oh Bob, we got his official reaction, you didn't hear it? Well here, here's a recording of it..... Oh Yeah?!" Download
3. Perry: "I have a bit of news here that I think will finally put to rest our ongoing debate about who is tougher, birds or monkeys. Recently a fellow by the name of Robert Cusak, no relation to the actor. He was stopped at the airport, he was going through customs, he had just flown in from Thailand. When suddenly, a couple of birds of paradise escaped from his luggage and flew out over the heads of the customs agents. And he was an animal smuggler, he was trying to smuggle them into the country and you know of course tha agents immediately grabbed him and said 'hey buddy do you have anything else to declare at this time?' and he said, and I quote: 'I have monkeys in my pants'. Further investigation revealed that in fact he had 2 Loris Pigmy monkeys IN HIS UNDERWEAR! Now here's what I wanted to point out."
Steve: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush?"
Perry: "Though sad, the birds of paradise which had escaped his luggage and flew around the airport. Unfortunately the birds of paradise died. They couldn't take it. Their little feathery bodies, you know, they perished in the airport. The monkeys survived a trip from Thailand to Los Angeles IN HIS UNDERWEAR and continue to live to this day. Can you think of a more hostile environment that these two monkeys survived in? And they DID. Now come one, this puts to rest ANY argument about who's tougher, little birds of paradise or these monkeys surviving in the man's crotch."
Steve: "But birds of paradise are not raptors."
Perry: "Neither are little pigmy monkeys not King Kong!."
Jay: "Evan. Evan is he still talking?"
Perry: "And they survived!"
Jay: "Fascinating bit of news Perry, thank you!"
Download
4. Steve (about Rebecca's fan mail and marriage proposals): "It's just embarassing, it really is. Alright listen, listen guys. Rebecca's not on the show so we can talk behind her back. Now I'm talking about all of our male listeners out there. We've gotta lighten up on the whole goddess businees with Rebecca, it's really getting out of control."
Jay: "Well you know what? What we need to let them know Steve is she's intolerable as it is. Don't give her anything to make our lives more difficult."
Perry: "It does also make you all look like a bunch of pathetic geeks."
Steve: "That's more to my point. Now, Rebecca is THE skepchick so she's pretty much the voice of female skeptics. More or less. And you know, quite honestly her vision of the skeptical movement is that its over-populated with middle-aged or older pathetic desperate nerdy guys."
Jay: "I totally resemble that."
Steve: "Any every one of these emails just reenforces that stereotype. So I think we need to start working to reverse that a little bit."
Jay: "So what do you want them to do? You want them to write in and say 'Hey guys and whoever that broad is on the show'?"
Perry: "Maybe we can reduce her to a demi-goddess."
Evan: "How about 'Hi guys and doll.' How's that?"
Bob: "Skeptical rogues and roguette."
Steve: "Rogues and the Roguettes."
Download
5. Steve (about listener Erich Meatleg's conversation with a girl named Jane): "And the conversation went a little like this."
Perry: "You Jane, me Meatleg."
6. Perry (about the girl with psychic powers not taking Randi's million): "Maybe she's like Captain Healey, you know has a genie but won't use the power."
7. Jay (about getting Science or Fiction wrong): "I have to ask a question now. Bob, did you know about the tarantula's feet?"
Bob: "Yes, yes I did."
Jay: "And I'd like to thank you right now for not sharing that tidbit with me."
8. Steve: "This is a review of 129 different studies over 25 years."
Evan: "Oh that's not enough data."
Bob: "Yeah 130 is the magic number what were they thinking?"
9. Perry: "I have monkeys in my pants."
Steve: "That's a line that will live in infamy."
Perry: "In my pants right next to my meatleg."
10. Jay (about the skeptical puzzle): "It was obvious it's Mr. Ashbark."
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** - As of the conclusion of this episode's game. (wins/times played)
* - won this week's game