Australian Skeptics
 
 
 
  
 

Bent Spoon Award

Nominations for 2006

 

The Bent Spoon Award for 2006 went to the pharmacists of Australia who manage to forget their scientific training long enough to sell quackery and snake oil in places where consumers should expect to get real medical supplies and advice.

The following nominations were received for the 2006 Bent Spoon Award.

Nominee: Channel 9 - What's Good For You
Nominated by: Steve Cooper
Date: 7/11/2006

What a load of utter claptrap. Basic high school statistics is enough raise serious doubt about 99% of the content. Some might find it entertainment (a worry thought in itself) but scientifically valid it is not.
The items are presented as scientific investigations to determine to worth of various health-related stuff. They break virtually every statistical rule in the book. Inadequate sample sizes, uncontrolled studies, bias everywhere, heavy handed commercial influence, completely unsubstanciated conclusions. The experts that are interviewed are so heavily edited that they look like fools. (Only a fool to agree to appear.)
It's the very familiar formula of populist rubbish dressed up to make it look scientifically valid. It is definitely not good for you.

Nominee: Peter Beattie - Premier of Queensland
Nominated by: Ian Pavey
Date: 6/11/2006

For suggesting, in all seriousness, that we attempt to end the drought by holding a huge prayer meeting. His reason appears to be that 'everything else has failed'.

Nominee: Peter Beattie - Premier of Queensland
Nominated by: Dan Roberts
Date: 2/11/2006

For launching a week of prayer for rain in Queensland to end the drought.

Nominee: Peter Beattie - Premier of Queensland
Nominated by: Carl Marychurch
Date: 2/11/2006

Queensland likes to call itself the "Smart State" but appeals to the supernatural bubble under the surface. As a result of drought, uncontrolled population growth, and poor planning Queensland finds itself short of water.

An attempted solution used by the Premier has been to organise an entire week of prayer rituals to ask God to open the windows of Heaven.

"The letter, signed by the heads of 10 Christian churches, said water reserves were so low in most of the state that Mr Beattie had asked them to urge all churches to pray for rain."

Even Queensland's water commissioner, Elizabeth Nosworthy, prayed for rain. "As far as whether it will rain or not, that's in God's hands," she said.

URL: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20654467-1702,00.html

Nominee: Rev Margaret Court
Nominated by: Robert Bertoz
Date: 1/11/2006

The Citylight Church in Kingston, Tasmania held a "mirracle service" featuring the Rev. Margaret Court.

Using her celebrity status as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time, the church gained quite a bit of local publicity for the event.

I went along to the service and, amongst several things, was this.
At one point, the Rev. Court asked all those in the congregation who had been subscibed medication for life to come forward. She then proceded to get God to cure all of these people.

Here's the punch line. She told everyone there that if they accepted god into their bodies, he will become their medication, they will have no further need for the prescribed medication.

It's one thing to cure a headache or a sore elbow but tell a true believer (and there plenty of those present) to chuck out the insulin or the ventalin is iresponsibly dangerous, I reckon.

Nominee: Channel 7 The Great Outdoors Mar '06
Nominated by: Murray Solomon
Date: 1/11/2006

Claimed that scales recorded your weight a kilo different if placed exactly on the equator in Equador. Also 'demonstrated' how the water flowed out of a basin clockwise one side of the equator and anti clokwise the other side.

Nominee: ABC Radio - Triple J
Nominated by: Michael Fitzpatrick
Date: 28/09/2006

On the morning of the 28th of september, Triple J, the ABC's "yoof" network usually runs an hour questions and answers science segment with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, a scientific polymath and high scrabble score. On the morning in question, however, the programmers decided to run barking mad purvayor of every standard peice of ufo bollocks and seller of books on the same,one Tim Good. Good one, jjj, very funny. Only I dont think that they were joking. The presenter failed to take any opportunities to sound even slightly sceptical or take any piss whatsoever, while this knob vomited forth his purile, paranoid and totally past its use by date ufo fantasies. A few callers rang in, but no real counterpoint was offered, only more loonies and ignorant yoof bothered to call. Very deserving of a bent spoon,in my book.

Nominee: Harold Scruby
Nominated by: Paul Dunbar
Date: 25/09/2006

Harold believes that he is right in telling people how they should live their lives just like a Physic does. Good on you harold, lets force the opions of your mind onto a few more Australians.

But is he really paranormal?

Nominee: Australian Veterinarian Association
Nominated by: Jeff Hazzard
Date: 19/09/2006

For allowing vets to offer homeopathic treatment to dogs.

This seems a little absurd since the only possible scientific explanation for pure water being able to effect a cure is the placebo effect. Homeopaths always insist on a lengthy interview with a new patient. What possible information could a vet homeopath deduce from the bark or non bark of our canine friends. How has the association determined what is a suitable fee schedule? Surely this quackery (homeopathy) is demeaning a once great profession.

Nominee: Tony Abbott MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aging
Nominated by: Michael Norwood
Date: 5/09/2006

For suggesting that therapeutic cloning is a method by which scientists would seek to clone individuals and that scientists cannot be trusted with such a technology. Abbot has never been one NOT to allow his religious views get in the way public debate.

Nominee: Tom Cruise
Nominated by: kade rzepecki
Date: 4/09/2006

because he has clearly gone mad with all this scientology BULLSHIT and the fact that his kid with katie holmes clearly does not exist.

I keep saying that Tom is not eligible, but I really like the idea that the sprog is a myth.

Nominee: Lliljiana Ravlich, West Australian Minister for Education
Nominated by: Doug Gasmier
Date: 3/09/2006

Stating to the media, that students do not need to learn history as they can 'google' it on the internet

Nominee: MBF
Nominated by: Maureen Gaynor
Date: 1/09/2006

For providing the same level of 'extras' cover for pharmaceuticals as complementary therapies. This is from their webiste:

Pharmaceutical
For prescribed non-PBS listed drugs where prescribed specifically for the treatment of an ailment or illness. PBS contribution deducted from each script, then pay 100% up to a maximum of $50 per script. 2 months $100 per person
$200 per membership

Complementary therapies
Acupuncture, Alexander Technique, aromatherapy, Bowen Therapy, exercise physiology, Feldenkrais, herbalist, homoeopathy, iridology, kinesiology, naturopathy, reflexology, remedial massage and Shiatsu 2 months $100 per person
$200 per membership

URL: http://mbf.com.au/main/products/health_cover/cover_options/youngextras.html

Nominee: Channel 10 - 9AM with David & Kim
Nominated by: Corey Watts
Date: 30/08/2006

On Tuesday 29th August this show featured an interview with 'medium' Alison Dubois. As you would have imagined the interview amounted to nothing more than a platform from which Alison made her false claims. One claim she made really caught my attention. It was that psychic/mediumship ability is in the genes. Really? Now that's a scientific discovery to make history if ever there was one. As a result of this amazing revelation I sent this email:
Hello 9am.
As a fan of your program I would like to donate $1000 to the charity of your choice. On one simple condition:
On tuesday 29th August you interviewed 'medium' Alison Dubois. In it she commented that "mediumship ability is in the genes". I simply ask that you or any person affiliated with channel 10 provide me with the scientific journal in which this history-making revelation was published. I am not asking you to test any of Alison's alledged abilities. I am merely asking you to substantiate a statement ma de by her. Should be easy.

Warmest regards
Corey Watts

Nominee: Tony Abbott MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aging
Nominated by: David R Allen
Date: 25/08/2006

The Commonwealth Minister for Health's portfolio is entirely based on the application of scientific study, so the nomination is for trotting out the cloning of a human animal hybrids in support of his religious dogma that scientists can't be trusted to conduct ethical stem cell research within guidelines. Perhaps Tony Abbott is so scared of spending the rest of his afterlife in purgatory if he fails to pass Commonwealth law to outlaw this science.

Nominee: Dr Tim Hawkes, Headmaster, The Kings School
Nominated by: Patrick Caldon
Date: 22/08/2006

Support of the Inteligent Design movement.

Dr Tim Hawkes is Headmaster at one of the more prestigious schools in the country, and as such his opinion should carry a great deal of weight. He recommended the ID DVD, "Unlocking the Mystery of Life", as a useful guide for school students. He has stated that he believes the existence of the bacterial flagellum would not seem to be possible by a process of natural selection, and infers that some supreme intelligence must have been involved in creation. He apparently believes that "A protein must have its amino acids arranged in exactly the right sequence in order to exist", whereas a ten minute read of one of his school's science textbooks would disabuse him of that notion.

From a newspaper article:
Dr Hawkes says ... it would be a shame if the DVD was "forever shackled" within religious education faculty, arguing it should be used within the science faculty and others that explored theory and scientific assumptions.

Looks like the parents who pay tens of thousands of dollars to send their sons to Kings are getting more than their money's worth.

Nominee: Madonna and Guy Ritchie
Nominated by: Mike Busby
Date: 22/08/2006

Quote "The couple, both followers of the Jewish spiritual movement Kabbalah, approached Downing Street, Whitehall and British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) promoting a scheme to clean up radioactive waste using a "mystical" liquid tested in a Russian lake."End Quote.

It's a pity they aren't eligible because they don't do their nonsense in Australia. Perhaps we could get them out here to finish cleaning up after the British bomb tests.

Nominee: Channel 9 - What's Good For You
Nominated by: Colin Gould
Date: 22/08/2006

For chronic misrepresentation and misuse of the scientific method to provide popular support for silly ideas.

Last night's show featured a surprised Dr Andrew Rochford who's on-air experiments revealed that swinging a wedding ring over a pregnant woman's belly could reveal the unborn child's sex 100% of the time!

Well, 100% for the whole 5 women he tested…

URL: http://health.ninemsn.com.au/wgfu/section.aspx

Nominee: The Sunday Mail
Nominated by: Gemma O'Connor
Date: 21/08/2006

Their article on Sunday 20/8: "The Case for UFOs"

Nominee: Politicians Against Stem Cell Research
Nominated by: Geoff Cowan
Date: 21/08/2006

People who are against Stem Cell research and use "God" as a reason for not allowing it are subjecting our society to the same conditions as the dark ages. They are not seeing the benefits of research where injured people can walk again, medical issues can be cured or mitigated, genetic disorders can be corrected. Politicians have been given a conscience vote in regards to stem cell research, I hope that they look at the evidence and not be blinded by dogma.

Nominee: Mike Willisee (on Enough Rope on the ABC)
Nominated by: Helen Dale
Date: 21/08/2006

This man used to have a mind!!

The man was once a skeptic!

URL: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1718105.htm

Nominee: Mike Willisee (on Enough Rope on the ABC)
Nominated by: Roger McEvilly
Date: 21/08/2006

Still not facing reality, and still peddling mind-boggingly stupid ideas on television (and elsewhere). In this case in an interview with Andrew Denton on 'Enough Rope',(who incidentally did an admirable job), but you could almost hear the audience cringe at Mike's lack of objectivity and mindless stupidity. The man 'who found God and lost his marbles'. I read this somewhere- a very apt description.

URL: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1718105.htm

Nominee: Brian Watters
Nominated by: Beatrice Eggmann
Date: 20/08/2006

For turning up to Drug Council meetings in his Salvation Army uniform, for saying that drug taking is a sin (!), and for disregarding sound scientific advice recommending legalisation of some drugs, all to push his religious point of view instead. So much for separation of church and state, and to hell with science. And to think that he has the unquestioning ear of John Howard, aaarrrgghh.

Nominee: Dr Patrick Farrell
Nominated by: Alan Medley
Date: 15/08/2006

For a new wine gadget to save money and palates using magnets. Looks like magnets can do almost anything (for a price, $40 dollars in this instance) all the magnetic field is doing is separating you from your money…

Nominee: Channel 9 - What's Good For You
Nominated by: Alex Larder
Date: 12/08/2006

I wish to second the nomination of this so-called 'healthy' show - for quoting Uri Geller in a scientific format, offering no rebuttal and implying he is an 'expert' on such matters.I'm not sure what Geller IS an expert on, but it sure isn't science.

Nominee: Victorian Government Bodies Gym and the Department of Education and Training
Nominated by: Tony
Date: 11/08/2006

Yet again this body deserves nominating. After Feng Shui and Naturopathy last year, they have expanded their scope to have a whole Alternative Health Week. One presumes that this progam is an Alternative TO Health..

Nominee: Intelligent Design
Nominated by: Glen
Date: 10/08/2006

For dressing up creationism and imaginary friends to look like science.

Nominee: ABC Television - Compass
Nominated by: Peter Williams
Date: 9/08/2006

For presenting a 'show' about that child frightening nonsensical medieval practice (albeit still apparently available for a price)called exorcism, and leading the gullible viewer to believe that the underlying (sic) story was true.

Nominee: Sister Maria Casey
Nominated by: Matt Henricksen
Date: 9/08/2006

For suggesting that Sophie Delezio's survival may constitute a miracle unexplainable by medical science.

The priest handling the canonisation of Mary McKillop has stated that Sophie was fixed by doctors and her recovery was not a miracle.

Nominee: Dr Jonathan Sarfati
Nominated by: John Stear
Date: 9/08/2006

Dr Jonathan Sarfati writes mostly piffle for Creation Ministries International (CMI). One of his recent attempts to refute evolution was to claim that the bones of the mythical Bunyip resemble a dinosaur known as "Edmontosaurus" and because Australian Aboriginals lived alongside the Bunyip, it is likely they have in fact seen the dinosaur.

URL: http://noanswersingenesis.org.au/cmi_bunyip.htm

Nominee: Those who suggest David Hicks should be Australian of the Year
Nominated by: Steve Mencinsky
Date: 8/08/2006

Whether Hicks is technically guilty of any crime per se, to suggest that he should be Australian of the Year is an outrageous piece of propaganda. And to simply follow logic, how would it look if the Australian of the Year is then actually CONVICTED of being a terrorist !!!

Does this have anything to do with Australian Skeptics or the rules for the Bent Spoon?

Nominee: Tom Cruise
Nominated by: Nick Bryson
Date: 7/08/2006

I'm nominating Tom for services to and
as a representative for services to:

- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
- Informed, Rational Debate
- (Socratic) Logic
- Civil Liberties, particularly
Freedoms of Speech and Expression
- Pediatrics

A worthy nominee, but since Tom divorced Our Nic and ceased to be The National Son-In-Law his work has been outside Australia.

Nominee: The IPCC
Nominated by: Michael Hallett
Date: 7/08/2006

For perpetrating the most incredible scam on the unsuspecting public, misusing and misrepresenting science to create hysteria (ie. global warming).

Nominee: Tom Cruise
Nominated by: Andreas Heldal-Lund
Date: 7/08/2006

The man is totally lost in Scientology. He lives in his little closed universe and believe he makes any sense when he shares his thoughts and opinions.

The price is perfect for him since many (sadly) are starstruck. They believe there must be something true in Scientology since a moviestar (!) is member.

Please give it to Tom! :)

As I said to someone else who nominated Tom, unfortunately he is no longer eligible.

Nominee: Midirs "Informed Choice"
Nominated by: Corey Watts
Date: 3/08/2006

My partner has just brought home a pamphlet about overdue pregnancy and it contains this 'advice'
Stimulating labour naturally:
Homeopathic Caulophyllum 30C or Secale 30C. Plus the disclaimer: "homeopathic remedies can have similar properties to conventional medicines, which also include side effects or contra- indications.
ARRRGGGGHHHH...IS THERE NO ESCAPE FROM THIS BULLSHIT?

Nominee: Tony Abbott MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aging
Nominated by: Jim Logan
Date: 1/08/2006

I wish to second David Jackson in his submission in regards to Tony Abbott.

Nominee: Deb Webber - Psychic medium
Nominated by: Corey Watts
Date: 31/07/2006

Would you like to be 'psychic' like Deb Webber from Woman's Day?
Simply have the victim send you a photo, with the Name of the Deceased on the back and do a little Internet research! Some sites to search are:
The Ryerson Index and Fairfax Digital Classifieds to name just two.
Go on Skeptics. You will be amazed at the information you can find from a funeral notice or memoriam. Here's one I found:Tuesday July 25, 2006, The Sydney Morning Herald

SMITH, Neil Elbra. Passed away peacefully at Woy Woy
Hospital July 23, 2006. Aged 87 years. Much loved husband of
Nance (deceased) loved brother and brother-in- law of Bruce
(deceased) and Peggy, Brian and Pat, loved uncle of Kevin,
Denise, Leigh, Jo-Anne and families loved companion of
Elaine and dearest friend of Colin and Elsie.

A funeral service for NEIL will
be held in the South Chapel
of Rookwood Crematorium
tomorrow, Wednesday, July 26, 2006 commencing at 1.00pm.

In lieu of flowers donations to Cancer Research would be appreciated.

That's a lot of valuable information you could supply the victim with.
All due to your 'psychic' abilities,of course.

Nominee: Channel 9 - What's Good For You
Nominated by: David Driscoll
Date: 25/07/2006

Any showing claiming to ise science and mentioning Uri Geller in a serious manner - is questionable in my eyes.

URL: http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=116436

Nominee: Medibank Private
Nominated by: Benalla K Schreiner
Date: 16/07/2006

Paying Benefits to 'Alternative Therapies'. They should have titled it 'Alternative to Therapies' and then I wouldn't have minded.

I queried Medibank Private, who responded by saying they will pay benefits for anything enough members ask for (apparently efficacy has nothing to do with it). I was outraged. I sent them a reply two weeks ago, but I haven't heard back.

I can forward you a copy of the correspondense if you wish. I sent them a reply two weeks ago, but I haven't heard back.

Unfortunately, some of the other funds are worse.

Nominee: Your Trading Edge July/August magazine
Nominated by: Bruce
Date: 16/07/2006

For publishing an article by Cyndi Walls ( who is described a being a practitioner member of the Association of Professional Astrologers ) on using astrology to be successful in horse racing and share trading.

Nominee: Kevin Trudeau
Nominated by: Corey
Date: 8/07/2006

With disgust I wish to report that Kevin Trudeau's 'Natural cures they don't want you to know about' is now available, through mail, to Australia.
This dispicable publication is an insult to the efforts of medical researches worldwide.
Does Trudeaus' right to publish these lies over-ride the publics' right to be informed with the facts?

I am F**king disgusted with channel Tens' decision to air this bullshit.

Nominee: The Better Health Channel
Nominated by: Peter Rowney
Date: 2/07/2006

I would like to nominate The Better Health Channel website which is setup and maintained by the Victorian Government.

They claim to provide online health and medical information that is:

Quality assured
Reliable
Up-to-date
Easy to understand
Locally relevant.
----------------------------------------
On their "complementary" therapies page they give validity to
Acupuncture
Alexander technique
Aromatherapy
Ayurveda
Bowen therapy
Chinese herbal medicine
Herbal medicine
Homeopathy
Hypnosis
Kinesiology
Massage
Meditation
Naturopathy
Osteopathy
Reiki
Tai Chi
Yoga
------------------------------------

I will leave it to you good skeptics to decide if this material is appropriate information to be publishing on a government health website.

URL: http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Nominee: Tony Abbott MP, Federal Minister for Health and Aging
Nominated by: David Jackson
Date: 2/07/2006

For his splendid efforts to increase the health of the nation. For his comment that commercials for 'fat' foods are legal and therefore should be aired (note that alcohol and cigarettes are legal but advertising is strictly controlled). For his contribution beyond the call of duty to the RU-486 debate. For his removing of calcium supplements (good for elderly against osteoporosis, for example) from the PBS list. A truly remarkable man.

Nominee: iDetox Foot Treatment
Nominated by: John Tardif
Date: 28/06/2006

If you are "tired, stressed, out of balance, acidic ....", you are invited to come along and place your feet in a tub of some solution or other. After a while the water turns brown as the toxins are removed through your feet. It works by the positive and negative ions attaching to the toxic particles and drawing them out of your body.

URL: http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/therapist/6863

Nominee: CAE (Council for Adult Education) Victoria, jointly with the Victorian State Government
Nominated by: John Dixon
Date: 27/06/2006

With the support of the Victorian state government, the CAE runs many worthwhile adult education programmes. But they let themselves, and the rest of us, down with nonsensical offerings such as 'Rekei,' 'Shamanism:The healing Path,' and my personal favourite 'Soulmates, Angels and Guides. What is the proof they exist? Meet one or more of your guides and understand their purpose in your life.'
Woo woo at its very best.

URL: http://www.cae.edu.au

Nominee: BP Australia
Nominated by: Felicity Carthew
Date: 27/06/2006

For forcing their employees to continue to push the "mobile phones cause pump fires" urban legends. When faced with the truth, management claims that just because it hasn't happened and can't actually be replicated to happen, that it MIGHT happen so we have to pretend it's true.

Nominee: Murdoch University, RMIT and Macquarie University
Nominated by: Carl Marychurch
Date: 23/06/2006

Murdoch University, RMIT and Macquarie University are now offering up to five years of training in the "science" of being a chiropractor. Quick perusal of the course outlines shows basic science and health subjects combined with practical training on how to pop joints (called "psychomotor skills").

Imagine spending five years learning a field with almost no known clinical efficacy.

Not only is this a waste of potential real medical talent which seems to always be in short supply but the association of chiropractory [?] with three significant universities raises it out of the pseudo-science pool. I'm very curious to know why these three institutions chose to become involved in this quackery - it certainly can't be for scientific reasons.

http://www.chiropractic.murdoch.edu.au/
http://www.rmit.edu.au/programs/bp187
http://www.chiro.mq.edu.au/

The Web Wrangler holds two qualifications from Macquarie University. Every Friday he turns his framed testamurs towards the wall to show his disappointment that the place is teaching quackery.

Nominee: ABC Television - Lifetc Magazine
Nominated by: Corey Watts
Date: 20/06/2006

Issue 2 Jan/Feb 2006 article "why you should try Homeopathy".
Quote "homeopathic medicine proved extremely effective in the management of the 1918 flu epidemi...worldwide, the Spanish flu killed an estimated 40 million people. Foretunately, many patients in the USA had access to Homeopathic medical care.
I rest my case.

Nominee: What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole
Nominated by: Anonymous
Date: 19/06/2006

Creepy psuedoscientific propaganda using large concepts pushed through small twisted minds to convince the irrational that the only valid reality is the one each individual perceives or,to paraphrase Johnny Cochran, "What you perceive; you got to believe"

Nominee: Dr Sandra Cabot
Nominated by: Robyn Park
Date: 17/06/2006

She is at it again! This time it is her book 'Bird Flu - Your Personal Survival Guide.' ......... 'this HOLISTIC field guide shows you how the survive the potential disaster for humanity which is on our doorstep'. Apparently amongst other things, we are urged to have a mask handy and take selenium and zinc to strengthen our immune systems.

Nominee: Creation Science Foundation
Nominated by: Chris Pettit
Date: 16/06/2006

This organisation is a source of much incredulity but I nominate them for their claim that comets originated from Earth as a result of the great flood. Apparently this alleged flood was caused by the collapse of subterranean chambers that released vast quantities of water with such energy that some escaped into space along with rock and organic matter that froze into comets. Despite no attempt to prove the existence of said chambers it is good enough to debunk any other theory for the origin of comets.

URL: http://www.creationscience.com

Nominee: What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole
Nominated by: Ziggaroth
Date: 13/06/2006

Its bull. Basically. Yep.

Unfortunately this piece of wasted film isn't eligible because it didn't originate in Australia. A pity, as it is a worthy nomination otherwise.

Nominee: Dogs Life Magazine
Nominated by: Geoff Andrews
Date: 6/06/2006

The June edition featured an interview with Uri Geller called Can your dog read your mind. It repeated all the old stuff re spoon bending, clock stopping that has been shown easy to fake many times.
His main claim that dogs are psycic is based on the fact that his gog gets exited when he fetches its lead. Now there is a suprise.
They also offer as giveaways homeopathic kits containing "Vaccine"for dogs as well as flea treatments and other dubious rubbish. At least if your dog still has fleas you can try something else but if it gets distemper or parvo it is too late

Nominee: Channel 7 - Sunrise
Nominated by: Paul Bello
Date: 2/06/2006

Fortune telling test
Broadcast Date: June 2, 2006
Interview: Gabi Brady, Sunrise esearcher.

Need I say more. If this broadcast had of been a 'curiosity' piece, I wouldn’t have minded that much; but this Gabi did very little research and wouldnt know if she was 'cold read' if it hit her in the face! All she needed to do was record her 'seances' and see herself or have someone else see if she did her own fortune telling by the way she would have had had questions asked.
One ex-Sunrise fan here for sloppy 'investigative journalism' masquerading as 'research'.

URL: http://seven.com.au/sunrise/fact_060602_fortunetelling

Nominee: Foxtel
Nominated by: Larry Peebles
Date: 2/06/2006

The vast amounts of pseudo science presented as real science. Recent examples are the programs on the discovery channel on bible code, which is presented with almost no counter view as to it's validity. They even have a religous channel that gives air time to Answers In Genesis.

Nominee: Rex Hunt
Nominated by: kristy howard
Date: 27/05/2006

If he's going to come out on national television and cry because he has cheated on his wife he could at least be honest, he's obviously being blackmailed, not just feeling guilty and thinking it may help his karma, his mentally ill wife surely wasn't the one blackmailing him.

Nominee: Australian Media (all formats)
Nominated by: Corey Watts
Date: 23/05/2006

For actively encouraging people to believe in 'supernatural' nonsense, quackery, pseudo-science and for being a platform from which people can make their false claims, I hereby nominate Australian Media. Keep up the good work and before too long we will find ourselves back in the 'dark-ages'.

Nominee: Frances Seen
Nominated by: Chris Long
Date: 22/05/2006

Not sure if she should be the nominee or the TV companies that gave her so much (unchallenged) airtime.

So god saved the two survivors (after torturing them for 2 weeks), surely by the same 'logic' god murdered Larry Knight.

Nominee: Scott Russell Hill
Nominated by: Jonathan Rosanowski
Date: 19/05/2006

Just read the interview section on the web site. Especially the part about sensing a problem with Princess Diana going to France but being too focused on her boys to warn her about "Not breaching security protocols." Also the bit about James Randi's $1m dollar prize, apparently the test is flawed and skeptics would never acknowledge it if someone passed the test. After seeing this guy on the New Zealand version of Sensing Murder, he definitely needs a nomination.

URL: http://www.scottrussellhill.com.au

Nominee: Fire Walking
Nominated by: Richard Balacco
Date: 16/05/2006

These guys are promoting all the woo woo missconceptions of this otherwise well understood phenomena.

And also check out the typical and unoriginal New Age promises they are making.

URL: http://www.firewalking.com.au

Nominee: Harrisons Pharmacies
Nominated by: Richard Saunders
Date: 20/04/2006

Look at the quackery in the picture. This place is supposed to be a pharmacy, not a magic shop.

Shelves and shelves of quackery

It is with regret that I nominate Harrison's Pharmacies for the Bent Spoon. Pharmacies should be a defender and the public face of scientific medicine and practice. Instead, many of them (and I single out Harrison's) have sold out to the dark side with shelves full of so called medicine that is no different from Witchcraft. ( i.e. Homeopathy). Sugar pills masquerading as real medicine are nice little earner. If that were not bad enough, many also now have a resident Naturopath, all too keen on using such methods as Iridology.

See : http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/iridology.html

Harrison's and others have jumped on the Naturopathic bandwagon as they know it's a good hook to bring in the punters.

It is sad that one can no longer trust the advice given at Pharmacies. It is sadder still that most people would not realise that the advice they are given is not to be trusted.

URL: http://www.harrisons.com.au/subHeadTemplate.asp?subtitle=AskourNaturopath

Nominee: What the Bleep!?: Down the Rabbit Hole
Nominated by: Jackson
Date: 19/04/2006

JZ Knight returns…

URL: http://www.whatthebleep.com

Nominee: Victor Zammit
Nominated by: Patrick Caldon
Date: 19/04/2006

I believe he's been going for ten years now; his distinct failure to be a thorn in the side of the skeptics dererves some kind of award for effort, if not for achievement.

URL: http://www.victorzammit.com

Nominee: Creation Science Foundation
Nominated by: Bradley Westfall
Date: 16/04/2006

The evidence is over whelming.The CSF must be at unbackable odds when benchmarked against the award's succint description.If you have ever read some of this stuff they put out you could not disagree with the proposition that the CSF is indeed the perpetrator of the most preposterous piece of paranormal or psuedo scientific piffle. Especially in relation to time slowing. Enough said. Unbackable favorites.

Nominee: Anonymous AFP Officer
Nominated by: Justin K
Date: 10/04/2006

speechless. this person is employed to investigate crime! not consult crystal balls or 'psychics'…

Nominee: Anonymous AFP Officer
Nominated by: Mikhail Bragoria
Date: 9/04/2006

The officer in question revealed classified information regarding a death threat against the Australian Prime Minister to a psychic.

While this is completely unacceptable, on a more positive note, the AFP should be applauded for suspending the officer.

Nominee: Anonymous AFP Officer
Nominated by: Geoff Andrews
Date: 9/04/2006

It was reported on the news today that a federal Police Officer has been suspended for giving a clairvoyant secret information about a plot to kill the Prime Minister. Surely thare was no need to do so as If this person was psychic they would already know it.
I would like to nominate this officer for the bent spoon award and would request that they contact the psychic and ask them who had it away with my CDs last year.

Nominee: 4BC Radio - Greg Cary
Nominated by: Gary Young
Date: 6/04/2006

I nominate Greg Cary for the bent spoon award - "one of Queensland's most popular and respected media identities" - for supporting and giving airtime to psychic Barbara Mitchell - "Transitional Healing, Psychic Readings, lecturer, Meditation Channel and Numerologist". Ms Mitchell teases gullible callers with very quick (and poor) cold readings, then promotes her services via her website, www.barbaramitchell.net

URL: http://www.4bc.com.au/gregcary.php

Nominee: ABC Radio - Ingrid Just
Nominated by: Kevin Paine
Date: 3/04/2006

On Friday March 31st, during the regular talk-back program on Friday afternoon with the local naturopath, Ingrid Just took a call from listener. The caller spoke about the healing powers of Colloidal Silver and how it was good for a range of illnesses, inlcuding her husband's cancer.

Rather than advise that the substance is banned by the Therapuetic Goods Administration, or warning about the potential dangers of the substance, both presenter and regular guest praised colloidal silver and the wide range of illnesses it can be used to treat.

Each week this reprehensible program touts all kinds of misinformation regarding health. From shark cartilage for arthritis to homeopathy, all sorts of lies are provided to the listeners as being health "facts".

For promoting dangerous pseudo-science and endangering the health of the listeners, I nominate Ingrid Just and ABC radio for the 2006 Bent Spoon Award.

Nominee: Hoofbeats Magazine
Nominated by: Robert Mapson
Date: 2/04/2006

Hoofbeats magazine (www.hoofbeats.com.au) for continuing and unrelenting espousal and promotion of various magics (such as, but not limited to, McLaren Photonic Therapy, herbs, acupuncture, homeopathy, equine craniosacral therapy, and dowsing).

Specifically, the current issue (Vol 27 No 6) where I have a letter published addressing this matter. Unfortunately, the letter is cut by half, and editorially mangled so that it appears logically incoherent. In response, a herbalist provides a lengthy response including such statements as "therapists never claim to diagnose conditions", that alternative therapists are bound by the Hippocratic Oath, "we use tools like astrology and iridology to find out what areas are out of balance", that double blind placebo controls cannot be done for herbs, that healing provided by alternative therapists "is not marketable, not able to be broken down and sold", "we don't claim to cure" and the conclusion: "Stay away from Pseudo scientific alternative therapists. They have missed the point. We are holistic - first and foremost." Obviously, much better to stick with the scientific astrologers and iridologists...

There's also an editorial supporting alternative therapies with the usual arguments (eg been around for hundreds of years) vis a vis thalidomide and Vioxx (to prove that science is not infallible).

I have to keep checking the cover to make sure I'm not reading Nexus.

URL: http://www.hoofbeats.com.au

Has this anything to do with that old saying "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras"?

Nominee: This web site
Nominated by: Joe Capone
Date: 29/03/2006

URL: http://www.skeptics.com.au

Why, Joe? And I don't think the site is eligible for the award.

Nominee: Channel 7 - The Great Outdoors
Nominated by: Murray Solomon
Date: 29/03/2006

Why, Murray? And two votes from the same person don't count.

Nominee: Harry Palmer and Pacific Avatar®
Nominated by: Richard Dawkins
Date: 28/03/2006

"The Avatar Course is practical and experiential course which enables you to explore and reshape your life. It is a surprisingly effective method to realize desires, big plans, small improvements, dreams, projects, and personal goals. You learn how to let go of negative feelings, doubts, and limitations and to enjoy life moment by moment. The course gives you new potential to live with a deep sense of total freedom, according to your own personal standards and in harmony with your environment.".

URL: http://www.avatarpacific.com

Is this that Richard Dawkins? And is it the Harry Palmer played so convincingly by Michael Caine in The Ipcress File? Has there been some life reshaping going on?

Nominee: Gene Ray
Nominated by: Tomasz Bilski
Date: 24/03/2006

See his web site!!!

URL: http://www.timecube.com

Unfortunately, Mr Ray is not eligible as he does not do his work in Australia. Of course, if he was eligible, he would win in any year in which he was nominated.

Nominee: This web Site
Nominated by: Paul Chrystal
Date: 17/03/2006

What? No reason? How can we improve if we don't know what we are doing wrong?

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Ken
Date: 16/03/2006

For displaying either ignorance or opportunisim in supporting the teaching of "Intelligent Design" in Australian schools.

Nominee: The Advertiser newspaper, Adelaide
Nominated by: Geoff Andrews
Date: 15/03/2006

Since my original nomination of Natalie Norton-Baker article in the Advertiser, she has failed in at least one prediction, The new airport opened in February. I think a punt on the Liberals to win the South Australian election is a good bet!

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Adrian Luca
Date: 12/03/2006

For sugesting that intelligent design can be taught as part of the science curricilum in Australian schools.

Nominee: Pulsating Electromagnetic Resonance Therapy PERT
Nominated by: Joost den Haan
Date: 11/03/2006

Pulsating Electromagnetic Resonance Therapy PERT is promoted by radio station 6PR in Perth. The claims made are beyond description.

URL: http://www.bodybuz.info/evidence/BODYBUZ/read.php?ID=15

Nominee: Grant Spork
Nominated by: Mary
Date: 9/03/2006

For his perfection of "rudeness" and his continual pursuit to make other human beings around him suffer.

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: James Doug
Date: 3/03/2006

For supporting ID, and thus dragging us further back in time.

Nominee: Category 7:The End Of The World
Nominated by: Craig Ayers
Date: 27/02/2006

For stating that chunks of the mesosphere were falling, causing violent storms. Chunks!!! I hope nobody was hit on the head.

Nominee: Ann Ann ( Womans Day mag)
Nominated by: r reaburn
Date: 26/02/2006

An(n) insult to anyone's intellligence, let alone women who are ( maybe) genuinely in trouble. Article is called "your destiny", where "...Ann Ann's psychic gift has helped solve crimes - now she uncovers your secrets.." It should be illegal!!

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: James Burkill
Date: 25/02/2006

ID is not science.

Nominee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Pty Ltd
Nominated by: Shad O'Beirne
Date: 24/02/2006

For introducing the world to the wonderful VIOXX ! A great drug that was supposed to be an anti-inflammatory but was actually killing people instead. The scientific evidence told Merck Sharp & Dohme this but they chose to discount this evidence and substitute true reality for one of thier own. Surely they deserve the bent spoon award for sponsoring their own research and only continueing research when it suited their ends and discontinueing it if it didnt ? Thanks.

URL: http://www.tga.gov.au/media/2004/040930_vioxx.htm

Nominee: Australian Homoeopathic Association
Nominated by: Gary Kelk
Date: 23/02/2006

For supporting and assisting Australian homeopaths rip off ill and gullible Australians.

URL: http://www.homeopathyoz.org

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Bernard Candy
Date: 22/02/2006

For his stupid support of ID

Nominee: Les Dyer
Nominated by: Robert J MacNichol
Date: 22/02/2006

Mordechai, another "channelled higher self" adept at gaining remuneration by suggestive banal deceit, tendered (cash in hand, at the time of consultation) by his utterly self-involved victims. I had no idea a higher spiritual being could be so dependent on the cosmicly tuned applied business acumen of an obviously inferior earthly self.

URL: http://www.holisticpage.com.au/_Les_Dyer.php

Nominee: George Doubwya (sic) Bush
Nominated by: Danny Lonehorse
Date: 20/02/2006

A~ BRAINLESS IDIOT?
B~ CORPORATE WORLD "SUK-UP"?
C~ HIS "DADDY" RUNS IM?
D~ PHOTOGRAPHS WELL = GRINS WELL =
STYLES WELL = DOES "NOTHING~WELL" =
HATES "WE~THE~PEOPLE"?
E~ HAS SET THE USA "BACK" 250 YEARS IN
POPULARITY IN THE WORLDS EYES?
F~ MAKES "CONDI & WIFE" TRY TO COVER UP
HIS STUPIDITY?
G~ HAS NO RESPECT FOR "FUTURE ~
GENERATIONS"?
H~ HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE ECOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENT?
I~ HAS NO RESPECT FOR THE USA NATIONAL
PARKS?
J~ HAS NO "MORALITY"?

THE SPOON WAS FORMED BY LETING IT SIT IN HIS COFFEE CUP???
OR CONDI MADE IM MAD??? LOL.
PERHAPS HE SAT ON IT ??? IT WOULD FIT IM LMAO

Unfortunately, only nominations for activities carried on in Australia are acceptable. I think we get Danny's point, though.

Nominee: St George & Sutherland Shire Leader (Fairfax Community Newspapers)
Nominated by: Ian Edwards
Date: 15/02/2006

News Item 14.2.06, "Power Plants", by Dominic Bayley.
Students of the ancient Chinese art of healing, qigong, met at the Caringbah Camelia Gardens last month to learn to harness the natural energy of plants.
The students from the Australian College of Tai Chi and Qi Gong participated in a form of qigong practice called tree qigong.
Harnessing the natural energies of plants and cultivating the body's life-force-energy or qi is central to the practice of qigong, an ancient system of healing thought to originate in China approximately 5,000 years ago.
Course instructor and Chinese medical practitioner Dr Sam Li said plants are full of healing energy that can be taken into the body through the hands.
"Every plant has a different energy. Some are cooling and others have a different feeling. Different bodies need different plants" he said.
"The qi energy from the plants can be drawn into the body through the fingertips or the palms of the hands and circulated around the body to heal the body, or to increase the body's vital energy."
Allan Lawrence, 58, of Bardwell Valley, started practicing qigong when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
He is now in remission and attributes much of his recovery to regular qigong exercises that he said kept his energy levels high during radiation therapy.
"I didn't suffer any of the normal symptoms that people usually get from radiation on their abdominal area. Throughout the radiation therapy my energy levels stayed high and I really think it's because of my qigong practice" he said.
Bruce Hancock, 29, of Sutherland, who was introduced to qigong by his naturopath, said it had benefited his irritable bowel syndrome, while Anissa Au,33, of Cronulla, said qigong helped overcome the allergies she has suffered since her 20s.
"Its amazing the different feelings you get from different trees and plants" she said. "Its a great way of getting in touch with yourself and your environment."

Nominee: ABC Radio National - Breakfast with Fran Kelly
Nominated by: Robert Mapson
Date: 13/02/2006

For promoting the MMR/Autism Epidemic anew on the basis of no new evidence.

URL: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/brkfast/stories/s1565673.htm

Nominee: Bert Newton
Nominated by: mausie
Date: 7/02/2006

His humour is so bent spoon that it is old hat and not funny anymore.
I wonder why channel NINE did not offer him a long term contract, definately not to improve their ratings.

Bert??

Nominee: Global Institute for New Energy Technologies
Nominated by: Casorerio Giovanni
Date: 5/02/2006

They have a lot of diagram, where a machine make overunity, but the best is the Kofi Annan (UN secretary) visit they, and there is many photo about this visit. All calculations is a mistake, because measure a power , with average instruments, also ac pulsed current. I wrote to them, but nothing change. best regards

URL: http://www.gifnet.org

Nominee: Advanced Allergy Elimination
Nominated by: "Skeptic"
Date: 1/02/2006

Looks crackpot, and worth investigating and exposing given the proliferation of these clinics.

URL: http://www.aaeclinics.com.au

Nominee: Diabetes Australia
Nominated by: Peter Bowditch
Date: 25/01/2006

What were they thinking when they ran an uncritical article in the magaine Conquest about the form of quackery known as "reflexology"?

Nominee: Investigate magazine
Nominated by: Wendy Harper
Date: 24/01/2006

For being a complete contradiction in terms. It does not investigate just propound fundamentalist right wing myths. Really there is just so much there that it is hard to pick the best.

URL: http://www.investigatemagazine.com

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Karen Branley
Date: 23/01/2006

For his attempt at bringing Australia into the dark ages with his idea to teach "Intelligent Design" to our school children.

Nominee: St George & Sutherland Shire Leader (Fairfax Community Newspapers)
Nominated by: Ian Edwards
Date: 19/01/2006

Story (Not an advertisement)published 17.1.06 "Remove Negative Energy". about Lyn McLean (with photo "Hidden energy: Lyn McLean using dowsing to tap into earth energy").
"Lyn McLean says she can rid your home of negative energy, which will improve your health and well being.
"Or she can use her talent for more simple applications such as choosing the best plumber or the right gift for a friend.
"Ms McLean, from Grays Point practises dowsing and she is holding a workshop on January 21 to teach others the skill.
"'Dowsing is a way of finding information you need to benefit your life,'Ms McLean, director of Energy Connection, said. It's a skill that's been used sucessfully for thousands of years for everything from locating underground water to finding mineral deposits and enemy mines in Vietnam. It's been used by governments, by the church and by industry.'
"Dowsing works by using either a pendulum or divining rods to tap into energy, or, as she puts it, 'the great unconscious'.
"And its applications are endless from health questions to finding lost items or choosing service providers.
"In her work Ms McLean uses dowsing to detect naturally-occurring harmful earth enerhy and then shifting it.
"She said animals often sensed the negative energy and would refuse to sleep in certain places. Termites, ant and wasp infestations are also an indicator of negative energy.
"The class will be held at Cronulla Yoga Centre from 1pm to 4pm.

Nominee: The Advertiser newspaper, Adelaide
Nominated by: Geoff Andrews
Date: 18/01/2006

I nominate the Adveriser Newspaper, Adelaide for publishing the predictions of 'psychic of the year'Natalie Norton-Baker on 14th January 06.
They asked her for answers to the 'hard questions for South Australia '.
She predicted that Labour would win the election in March and that the new airport would not open until March.
She also made o vague prediction that John Howard would 'pull back from his role '(whatever that means).
Not exactly inspiring as even blind Freddy knows that labour are a certainty for the election and have been for months. The Airport has been delayed for months already and March is a good guess.
Oh and she also predicted 9/11 and 'saw' a plane crash into the W.T.C.
The only problem is she didnt tell anyone at the time.
All this with the assistance of a hoard of Angels and spirit guides.
I am suprised that these people havnt realised that even a slightly wrong prediction of a major tragedy woud do wonders for the credibility of the psychic industry if it was published the day before the event.
I suppose most people would say that if we dont want to read this sort of rubbish in our Adelaide newspapers we should read adifferent one but thanks to Murdoch we have only one national newspaper in Adelaide and you can see the level to which it has descended.

Nominee: Epoch Times
Nominated by: Jeff Walls
Date: 13/01/2006

Article by Victoria Clark in Jan 11-17 edition, 2006, ("Darwinisn v Intelligent Design" proving that Darwinians are mistaken in believing that advanced humans can not have existed 100 million years ago. Yes, in China we have fossilied human footprint carbon (yes, thats what it says) dated at 270 million years - and with a double sewn stitch impression!

Nominee: The Examiner T-G EXOTEROC (Ver 7 06), Ultra Long Range Locator
Nominated by: Dave Reynolds
Date: 6/01/2006

Wow, what do I say? According to the blurb it will detect gold, precious metals (call me crazy, isn't gold a precious metal?) or gemstones from several miles. I am sure the seller can utilize this device to detect a sucker from an even greater distance. I don't know what it is about this product I like...the comical technical information, the poorly laid out website, the fact that half a rabbit ear antenna jammed into a black box with a cheap scientific calculator stuck to it can detect all this precious stuff. The website accepts Paypal payments to an Australian address, so I think it's good ol' Aussie know-how.

URL: http://www.rangertell.com

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Brad McColl
Date: 5/01/2006

For his support for the teaching of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution. For someone in his position to take such a postion demonstrates a disgraceful ignorance of science.

Nominee: This web site
Nominated by: Justin
Date: 30/12/2005

For critisizing faith in all areas but the one which so rarely is correct at any time in history (common science.) The Earth may not be as flat as you believe.

I don't think this site is eligible for the award.

Nominee: Stephen Wagner
Nominated by: Bruce Dunlop
Date: 24/12/2005

The most concentrated rubbish / megabyte ratio so far encountered on or off the plannet.

My crystal ball tells me this nomination will win.

URL: http://paranormal.about.com

Nominee: Harold Scruby
Nominated by: David Perkins
Date: 21/12/2005

For his constant refusal to let facts get in the way of an argument. This guy:
* ran over a jogger in his car, then got off because it was the joggers fault,
* created a rule to not allow Japanese or Korean people into the exclusive Cabbage Treet club (not only has the rule been overturned, so has his membership),
* was the whole Ausflag debate from a few years ago....,
* is currently the president of the Pedestrian Council of One. He is anti 4WD at the moment (despite driving one himself), anti bullbar (despite being the spokesperson for a type of bull bar!)(see Smartbar), and just basically a pain in the neck.

All his facts are taken from surveys of his mates, or statistics selected specifically to suit his needs. For example, one of his oft quoted facts is that 90% of 4WD's never see dirt, despite 32% of 4WD's being registered in Rural/ non-urban postcodes.... Another example would be the misguided opinion that 4WD's are responsible for most pedestrian accidents. RTA statistics prove that 4WD's, Utes and Vans together account for 15% of pedestrian fatalities (despite being around 25% of the vehicles on the road), wheras 66% of fatalities are caused by sedans!

See www.trac.com.au for confirmation of facts.

URL: http://www.walk.com.au

Nominee: John Howard
Nominated by: Greg Street
Date: 8/12/2005

For appointing Brendan I.D. Nelson as Minister, perhaps hoping he might evolve into something intelligent.

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Bradley Westfall
Date: 7/11/2005

For a qualified doctor with a scientific training to promote intelligent design in science classes is the mark of a either a wanker or despot. He should be training Federal Cabinet in Conjuring or Faith Healing. Oops!! Thats Tony Abbot's job.

Nominee: Kerry Armstrong
Nominated by: Bob Bentley
Date: 5/11/2005

The eagerness with which this silly actress introduced a Discovery 'Documentary' on Psychic Detectives. After an hour spent completely refuting their claims, she still comes up with a completely unsupported anecdote concerning a supposedly successful psychic.

Nominee: ABC Radio - The Spirit of Things
Nominated by: Robert Mapson
Date: 29/10/2005

I want to support the nomination of this program for the Bent Spoon 2006. Encounter shows that the ABC can do religious radio programming with style and authority, but The Spirit of Things has become a shallow piece of puffery. To present lies as facts is self-serving and a total abrogation of journalistic standards. To deny any problem when presented with this issue is appalling and insulting to the listeners. Rachel Con seems to think 'religion' means anything goes. Not so, facts are still facts. If she was to present a program that stated Jesus founded Buddhism, I suspect she wouldn't get away with it.

Unfortunately, the Bent Spoon doesn't offer a Runner-Up category, so I'd like to suggest a special Sympathy Category, and want to nominate Astral Psychics for this. Their full-colour, one-third page, advertisement in Quokka (the local buy and sell classifieds paper) for 20 October 2005 states "Astral Psychics. What does the future hold for you? Our Accurate C!larivoyants have the answers... 1902 295 144 $5.95 per min. Higher from mobiles". It appears all their accurate clarivoyants were sick on the day, and didn't foresee the large print typographical error.

Nominee: Diabetes Australia
Nominated by: Craig Boyce
Date: 27/10/2005

I wish to nominate Diabetes Austraia for promoting reflexology as a valid therapy for those suffering diabetes in the Spring 2005 edition of the 'Conquest' magazine. In their words 'Reflexology involves massaging points on the hands and feet that correspond with parts of the body to mobilise the bodt's internal healing resources by restoring the natural energy flow'. How can an association for people suffering a serious disease promote such non-scientific piffle.

Nominee: Ruth Ostrow
Nominated by: Mike Fitzpatrick
Date: 26/10/2005

I nominate Ruth for stating in her Weekend Australian Magazine column that she was "softening on intelligent design" What a terrific oxymoron.This statement should come as no surprise,however,as Ruthie seems to be no stranger to the ah.. how could you describe it.. more stupid and vacuous ways of thinking than anyone with an inkling of rationality.Her trophy cabinet should be groaning under the combined weight of multiple Bent Spoon Awards.I bet her kids arent immunised either.

Nominee: Robyn Williams
Nominated by: Douglas John Bignell
Date: 25/10/2005

The ABC runs the grand puppeteer of the universe nonsense `man causes global warming'. not having listened to ABC for a couple of years now, tuning into, for an e.g., the independent 3MBS for classical music.

Robyn Williams science broadcast, from memory, has been reasonable enough, other sketics might correct the impression. This, however, is appalling:

"Robyn Williams: What do you make of the naysayers then, who say the science is crap - many of them coming supposedly from science itself?"

``Supposedly from science itself"! That has been the tactic of the boosters of the garbage but, for some-one who has made, at taxpayers' expense roadcasting on science to engage in the smae gutter tactics is disgusting. Perhaps Robyn should read the long list of distinguished scientists who have eviscerated the claim.

Williams isn't troubled, evidently, by the not so polemical statements about the fictions King produces as `! scientific adviser'to one of the great boosters of cock'n'bull, Tony Blair.

Interesting, for someone who has made brodcasting, at taxpayer's expense, Robyn did not even bat an eye-lid at, for example, this rubbish :

"avid King: Well, I've got three categories of naysayers. The first category is the armchair critic, and unfortunately this includes some people who would appear to be scientists who are capable of producing what I would say is very naďve, scientifically naďve criticism of the very detailed model of climate change that has been produced since Fourier, the great French mathematician in 1827. There's a great body of data there and the scientific community has been challenging, each amongst the other, just as scientists do; we've all got big egos and we like to say we're the best and you're wrong. But there is a point where consensus emerges. Now these armchair critics will fire off a criticism which is wholly irrelevant to the issue, and some of the ! statements I've seen in the press since I've arrived in Austra! lia are frankly laughable. The second group of critics are lobbyists. These are the same kind of people I would suggest who would argue perhaps in the pay of tobacco industry that cancer has no relationship to cigarette smoking. The third category would be the serious scientists who have been part of that challenging process within the climate science community. Richard Lindzen is perhaps the most famous of these
Robyn Williams: Sir David King, Britain's Chief Scientist. And when he was in Canberra at a high level meeting with Cabinet Ministers, Ian Macfarlane, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources walked out. We tried to reach him to discover why, but the minister wasn't available for comment. "

Robyn Willams' Science show: no, just happy feelings about the delights of magic.

Robyn is a worthy candidate precisely because his show is supposed to be grounded in sound science , not quackery, charlatainsm, superstition, magic.

Nominee: Dr Fred Alan Wolf PhD
Nominated by: David R Allen
Date: 24/10/2005

"The Spiritual Universe" or "How Quantum Physics Proves the Existence of the Soul."

I received a junk mail flyer about a presentation by Dr. Fred Alan Wolf (PHD) in relation to the above topic to be held at the Elder Hall, University of Adelaide on November 23. Tickets a steal at $130.

"Dr Wolf will share recent ideas springing from the latest discoveries of quantum physics that shed light on the classic mind body dilema, and show that the body and the human spirit are more closely connected that we presume". Etc etc et al.

At $130 a session, I think this should buy a lot of bent spoons.

URL: http://www.spiritent.com

Nominee: Jim Soorley
Nominated by: Michael Stevens
Date: 23/10/2005

The ex Lord Mayor of Brisbane is nominated for his support of the lunatic antifluoridation fringe in his Courier Mail column.

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Danny Jureidini
Date: 21/10/2005

For his support of teaching 'Intelligent' Design as science.

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Ian Murphy
Date: 21/10/2005

Intelligent Design accepted as "science"? Oh please....

Nominee: ABC Television - Second Opinion
Nominated by: Doug Killeen
Date: 18/10/2005

This programme would have to be the most irresponsible program ever seen on TV. It presents quackery as authentic and credible without any critical evaluation thereby encouraging gullible (and the not so gullible) people to waste their money and give them false hope. I have never seen any thing so ridiculous as "Touch Therapy" and "Reiki". The ABC is culpable for presenting this garbage.

Nominee: Victorian Government Bodies Gym and the Department of Education and Training
Nominated by: Tony
Date: 12/10/2005

For promoting Feng Shui, Naturopathy, …

See the flier here.

Nominee: ABC Television - Second Opinion
Nominated by: Steve Symonds
Date: 27/09/2005

I thought the program would have difficulty topping the tripe it presented last year until tonight's program with kahuna massage and soul retrieval. I have no problems with the therapeutic value of massage but it doesn't need all the hand waving, fabricated history and supposed Hawaiian bells.
As for soul retrieval it started off as totally preposterous and got steadily worse. Did you know there was shamanism among central Australian Aboriginal people? First I've heard of it but it is there and identical to practices in Indonesia, North America and ancient Britain.

Perhaps if they got a second Bent Spoon for this dreadful program, the ABC might get the message.

Unfortunately, Steve, something or someone can only win once.

Nominee: Alison Du Bois
Nominated by: Jennifer Thorbny
Date: 24/09/2005

I would like to think this woman was funny; unfortunately she is the worst kind of leech, preying on the most vulnerable of people. On second thoughts, don't give her any award, there isn't a category low enough.

Nominee: The Da Vinci Code and its small siblings
Nominated by: Jennifer Thorbny
Date: 24/09/2005

For single-handedly returning the Western world to the myths of the dark ages while managing to formulate a modern conspiracy theory and make money!

Nominee: Mike Corkhill
Nominated by: Kevin McCready
Date: 20/09/2005

Mike hosts an afternoon program on ABC NSW Local radio. Mike thinks he's a journalist. On 28 June 2005 in an advertorial for the North Coast Medical Centre he "interviewed" Sally Matherick who claimed that drinking lots of water could cure major illnesses. After a complaint was lodged with the ABC he was forced to take her off air - but no apology has been forthcoming.

Nominee: Wholistic Healing Expo 2005 Campbelltown RSL Club
Nominated by: Bruce Wallace
Date: 15/09/2005

The Magic of Wholistic Healing Expo 2005. The expo is at the Campbelltown RSL on the weekend of Saturday 17th September to Sunday 18th September. Many seminars and presentations. These include, Trance Channeling, Spirit Connections, Craniosacral balancing, Neural Organisational Technique, Understanding Aura's, Aural photo and readings, Clairvoyants, etc, etc, etc.

Nominee: ABC Television - Four Corners
Nominated by: Peter Bowditch
Date: 13/09/2005

This is getting serious. What has happened to the ABC? Following the Four Corners program on September 12 about the non-link between MMR vaccine and autism, there was a public forum on the 4C web site. One of the "expert" panelists was Meryl Dorey, president of Australia's most prominent anti-vaccination liar group. This is the woman who came up with the expression "Shaken Maybe Syndrome" as a way of getting the message across that the damage seen in beaten and shaken babies is caused by vaccines, the woman who described measles as "benign" (it kills hundreds of thousands of children each year and permanently damages millions) and said that it is less serious than a hangnail.

And the ABC use her as an expert.

URL: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Tony Fraser
Date: 11/09/2005

Is ID short for idiot because that is what Nelson has confirmed himself to be for suggesting that ID be taught in biology classes. Shouldn't he be dealing with Health instead of education. Afterall he is a medical doctor isn't he. Leave education to the experts. Then again Howard made him education minister so we shouldn't expect too much.

Nominee: Lufthansa
Nominated by: Malcolm Cluett
Date: 10/09/2005

I would like to nominate the airline Lufthansa for the Bent Spoon award.

To please the superstitious they have renumbered rows 13 and 17 from their aircraft.

The result would be confusion for passengers booked into rows 12, 14, 16 and 18.

Isn't number 4 regarded as unlucky by the Chinese ? How about removing that row too for consistency ?

URL: http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/fright-attendance/2005/08/23/1124562861120.html

Nominee: Simply Better magazine
Nominated by: David Battaglini
Date: 9/09/2005

An ostensibly reputable magazine promoting excellent articles on health issues but sullied by an (uncritical) August 2005 article on homeopathy. It is not a particularly riveting set of circumstances but one that I found annoying.

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Steven Langley Guy
Date: 4/09/2005

For services to the dark forces of Creationism and Christian Fundamentalism - for suggesting that Intelligent Design (i.e. "Creationism by stealth") might be taught in Australian schools as an "alternative" to science.

Nominee: ABC Radio - The Spirit of Things
Nominated by: Peter Bowditch
Date: 30/08/2005

Tragic as it may seem after having its programs win the Bent Spoon for two years in a row, the ABC is yet again broadcasting Spoon-worthy material. On Sunday, August 28, the program The Spirit of Things, which usually deals with religious or sprritual matters, ran a story about fake psychic Alison Dubois. This quote from the program's web site says it all: "Forensic medium Allison DuBois has helped to solve murders for the FBI".

No she hasn't.

URL: http://www.abc.net.au/rn/relig/spirit/stories/s1444323.htm

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Bruce Champion
Date: 27/08/2005

Advocating the teaching of intelligent design 'theory' in Australian schools

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Michael Geissler
Date: 22/08/2005

Learn from the prickly pear, rabbits, cane toads and lantana. The noxious species of "intelligent design proponent" or "IDiot" must not be allowed to gain a foothold here. Look at how hard it is in the US to get rid of it. By the way, Nelson is now the Federal Minister for Education, not Health. Allegedly.

Nominee: The Sydney Morning Herald
Nominated by: Rog Cooper
Date: 22/08/2005

I'd like to nominate the SMH for the Bent Spoon Award. Not only did they put a horoscope in last Saturday's edition but the buffoon who wrote it said none of us would be around the next time Mars would be closer than this month's opposition. Now a few of us might not be around in July 2018 but I bet a few billion others will.

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Shane Curran
Date: 22/08/2005

For his support of Intelligent Design. I am a little staggered that our Minister for Education, Science and Training could make such comments

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Jamin Howman
Date: 19/08/2005

For his support of Intelligent Design

Nominee: ABC Radio SA - Kieran Weir
Nominated by: Craig
Date: 19/08/2005

For accepting without question the claims of that most dubious of charlatans - the Psychic. Not content to accept all that was proffered by this emotional vulture Kieran Weir actually praised, lauded and promoted her book for her complete with sickeningly twee cover image on the ABC's website.

It would be nice if the next time such an opportunity for a "fascinating chat" rolls around that Keiran Weir consider passing it over to the 'other side' (Channel 7 that is)

http://www.abc.net.au/sa/stories/s1438962.htm

Update October 5, 2005 - Following complaints, the ABC has removed this story from their web site.

Nominee: Dr Brendan Nelson, Federal Minister for Education
Nominated by: Josh Parris
Date: 17/08/2005

Deeply distressing - the the Australian government's "Education" minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, has endorsed the teaching of Intelligent Design in schools.

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