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BOURNEMOUTH NATURAL SCIENCE SOCIETY | ||
| 39 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3NS, UK. Registered Charity No. 219585 |
This talk was given by James Fradgley, ranging over a number of things that annoy the speaker.
These include words and expressions, such as: 'Quantum Leap', 'Surely', 'Meteoric Rise', 'Dark Side of the Moon', 'Mother Nature'.
Also various Scientific ideas and methods: The Two Cultures; The Media; Alternative Medicine; Paradigms.
Some unsupported beliefs: the roles of Luck, Health & Safety, and Faith. Examples included N-rays and the Martian canals.
Anthropomorphisms, such as the Face on Mars; Animism; use of Occam's Razor in such cases.
Bad Statistics, including politicians' lies, the Sally Clark affair, the meaning of "Significance", and Gregor Mendel's cheating.
Poor design: biased sampling and cherry picking.
Errors in interpretation of observations: how can we be objective?
Finally, conspiracy theories and the Moon landings, followed by Hollywood errors.