Episode 36: October 14, 2009

Rob and Dave discuss the idea of positive evidence, and its use in backing up claims. Psychics, creationists and homeopaths all get discussed, along with their relationship to evidence. Also, if you have magic powers, we discuss how to make an easy million dollars.

Today's topics and links:
• Opening music: (Are We Losing) Faith, by Silence Is Sexy
• The Amazing Meeting
• The James Randi Educational Foundation and its million-dollar challenge
• Pat Robertson's predictions
• Skeptico's predictions -- and the results
• What do we mean by "positive evidence"?
• End-of-the-world predictions, in Ghostbusters II
• Is it possible to gather evidence for Atheism?
• Intelligent Design lacks positive evidence for its claims
• Institute for Creation Research -- see WTF is "Creation Research?"
• Discrediting one's opponents rather than finding evidence supporting one's claims
• Our fairness promise
• Tim Minchin is hilarious, and mostly NSFW. SFW sample: If You Open Your Mind Too Much