15 Credibility Street

A former ghost hunter is nominated for a Federal Court position; Bigfoot is given a new name according to zoological rules by a pendulum healing specialist; and, the flat earth convention took place in North Carolina. Professional experience and scientific authority are disrespected in favor of personal agendas. http://sharonahill.com/former-ghost-investigators-nomination-to-court-is-that-which-should-not-be/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/animal-species-named-from-photos/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/tetrapod-zoology/taxonomic-vandalism-and-hoser/ http://www.wfmynews2.com/news/weird/is-the-earth-flat-this-group-believes-just-that/490708848 http://www.bbc.com/news/av/41973119/why-do-people-still-think-the-earth-is-flat https://www.livescience.com/24310-flat-earth-belief.html

This episode focuses on how the media and certain people present news in a way that scares people about relatively non-dangerous things like tainted Halloween candy and being abducted by Bigfoot in a National Park. Visit us at 15CredibilityStreet.com. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/10/30/we-really-need-to-stop-freaking-out-over-halloween-marijuana-candy/ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/needle-halloween-candy-fredericton-1.4381539 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematidrosis https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/10/24/the-rare-case-of-a-woman-who-stunned-doctors-in-italy-by-sweating-blood-from-her-face/ https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/gyjvdx/missing-persons-national-parks-paranormal-bigfoot-aliens

Jumping right into news of the same silly TV schtick being sold to audiences, what paranormal beliefs are popular with Americans today, two former rock stars now exist at the fringes, and DNA test failed a psychic who thought she was the offspring of a famous painter. Caution: Some people might find the sounds a bit annoying... maybe brain damaging. https://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/strange-evidence/about https://blogs.chapman.edu/wilkinson/2017/10/11/paranormal-america-2017/ http://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/chapman-university-survey-finds-majority-of-americans-now-believe-in-ancient-advanced-civilization-while-a-third-believe-in-ancient-astronauts https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/10/former-blink-182-member-crowdfunds-a-spaceship.html https://dpo.tothestarsacademy.com/ http://loudwire.com/tom-delonge-crowdfunding-campaign-spaceship-investigate-ufos/ http://diffuser.fm/billy-corgan-paranormal-experiences/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/06/woman-salvador-dali-exhumation-not-his-daughter-dna-paternity-test https://www.apnews.com/88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84

We dive into the credibility factor of news media today: Why did they get Tom Petty's death wrong? Is YouTube liable for the False Flag narratives on their site? Why did a local news station report a stupid story about dancing monkeys? But seriously, our opinions and policies ought to be based on logic and evidence, but they rarely are. The Cuban sonic weapon claim is a perfect example of that and it won't go away or resolve. We also examine the Wendigo/Windigo creature of Native folklore that has been invoked as a town monster in Manitowoc, WI. Full show notes are at doubtfulnews.com

We update you on some news stories and kick around the credibility factor of some new news like the latest failed "end of the world" prediction, the Hurricane Harvey mystery creature, and the "Viking Warrior Woman" DNA results. But we are truly mist-ified by these new sprays that say they do extraordinary things. We conclude with an exclusive chat between Sharon, Jeb Card, and Blake Smith about what we observed at CryptidCon 2017. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-voynich-manuscript-and-truth-on-the-internet http://abc27.com/2017/09/14/attacked-in-bed-safe-a-few-feet-away-cuba-mystery-deepens/ http://www.wgal.com/article/secretary-of-state-says-closing-u-s-embassy-in-cuba-is-under-review-due-to-diplomats-mysterious-health-problems/12261344 http://www.bhpioneer.com/local_news/hulett-hosts-out-of-this-world-gathering/article_a063bc10-9c8b-11e7-b297-b764d957bffb.html http://www.blackhillsfox.com/content/news/Visitors-from-outer-space-march-in-Devils-Tower-UFO-Rendezvous-parade-444925243.html https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/slender-man-stabbing/jury-finds-girl-slender-man-stabbing-attack-was-mentally-ill-n801931 http://sharonahill.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/FT_slenderman.pdf https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/09/17/the-world-as-we-know-it-is-about-to-end-again-if-you-believe-this-biblical-doomsday-claim/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/09/14/the-fanged-faceless-sea-creature-that-washed-ashore-during-harvey-has-been-identified/ http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2008/08/04/the-montauk-monster/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2017/09/14/wonder-woman-lives-viking-warrior-skeleton-identified-as-female-128-years-after-its-discovery/ http://norseandviking.blogspot.no/2017/09/lets-debate-female-viking-warriors-yet.html http://amp.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article173012526.html http://www.thisisinsider.com/gwyneth-paltrow-goop-vampire-repellent-2017-9 https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2017/09/10/mysterious-green-flashes-filmed-during-mexico-quake-are-neither-earthquake-lights-nor-ufos/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=139&v=_0XeiL4R110 http://sharonahill.com/its-all-very-fuzzy-dogman-bigfoot-and-the-scent-of-paranormalia-at-cryptidcon/

A short episode where Sharon explains why one might visit a convention of those who passionately believe in something you don't. There is an update to the Peruvian "alien mummy" story, a status check on Doubtful News and a spotlight on Devil's Tower as a Spooky Geology location. http://drmsh.com/update-on-jaime-maussans-phony-peruvian-alien-mummy/ http://ahotcupofjoe.net/2017/07/review-jaime-maussan-alien-mummy-peru/ http://spookygeology.com/devils-tower-ufo-bullseye/

News items: Nothing bad really happened in the eclipse but some people sure saw it differently. We delve into the allegation too readily spread by the media of a "sonic weapon" attack on Cuban diplomats. The evidence is hearsay, vague, and altogether doubtful. We explore other reasons why this story had legs. In Minnesota, anti-vaxxers attempt to prevent possibly life-saving immunization efforts so health officials form an ingenious coalition. What about Trump and his defenders and their means of derailing reasonable discussion on serious issues? Finally, a new movie is on the way about the Winchester house in California. Sharon describes why the haunted tales of the house and its owner are not factual.

There are a whole lot of shenanigans to call out on this episode. We have a special commentary by Jeb Card about the spooky stuff in association with Hopkinsville, Kentucky and the upcoming eclipse. Listen to get a primer for what might be popular in the media from now until then. Torkel and I discuss an update of the Seth Rich story (a Fox News manufactroversy), a fatal attempt to find a buried treasure of dubious origin, a tactic to discredit skeptics on Facebook, the framing and filming of Ghost Hunters "reality TV" show, sensational headlines by what we think of as a reputable science news site, and haunted hotel room video that people take great glee in either believing or debunking.

Interview with Kenny Biddle on the "haunted" Haldeman Mansion near Lancaster, PA. Follow up: Grand Canyon Creationist Fyre Festival News items: The Amelia Earhart "smoking gun" photo. Was it just a "hook" for the History Channel's new documentary. It was superficially dubious but discredit in short order by a blogger. What's with the defensive attitude of "skeptics" towards the Darwin Awards. Sharon's criticism of them leads to some nasty responses. A post-mortem shows the responses were hollow and possibly a case of cognitive bias. Kenny Biddle visits the Haldeman Mansion and checks out the paranormal claims and finds them completely lacking in credibility. Is it worth promoting your historical site as haunted to gain funding for preservation? It appears that we may have struck a nerve.

Special Guest - Dr. Jeb Card News chat: 70th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold flying saucers Anonymous alien life announcement GOOPy healing stickers debunked by NASA Bullet in a Bible stories feed mistaken belief about stopping bullets Peruvian Alien Mummy hoax

News items discussed this week: T. Rex is not a big feathered turkey, but… here’s a lesson in bad science writing. Was there an ape swinging through the trees in La Crescenta, California? Why do people jump to extreme conclusions from so little evidence? Three new Spooky Geology posts are up: the London Hammer, dead dinosaur stew, and lakes that exhale death. Check out SpookyGeology.com The harasser and attacker in Portland was a white supremacist. What did he mean by Hail, Vineland? In real life: Is it right to raise money by offering paranormal investigations opportunities at a historic mansion? What if the mansion was the birthplace of a lauded scientist and scholar? Sharon questions the Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society.

News items discussed this week: Crystal healing at Edith Cowan Uni in Australia Electrosensitivity UK makes doubtful claims. Conspiracy claims blossomed in the media regarding the death of Seth Rich. Featured discussion: Critical thinking education with special guest Brian Dunning of Skeptoid.com. Brian talks about his new movie, Principles of Curiosity and the Three C's to follow.

News items: Native islanders in Indonesia mistake a whale carcass for a giant squid. The media just takes their word for it. There was a new report of “Nessie”. It’s ridiculously suspicious. A geologist who promotes a young earth and flood myths is denied permission to do certain research activities in the Grand Canyon. He sues for discrimination. A rain of fish apparently landed on a California elementary school. Shift to doubtful overdrive for this one. The major U.S. UFO research network may be harboring some very ugly social sentiments. Like they don’t have enough issues! The spooky geology rundown features a new and major article on the Stone Tape “theory”. And Sharon receives a comment intended to convince the world about ley lines. Spoilers: It doesn’t. We dissect Bill Nye Saves the World. Does the format work? Is it informative? Is it good science entertainment? Who is the audience? Who the heck’s bright idea was this?

News items: The Department of Homeland Security has a new office to report illegal immigrant crimes. It was launched on "Alien Day". Shenanigans occurred. The historic Sachs Covered Bridge in Gettysburg is plagued by ghost-hunting, cigarette-smoking vandals. We debunk some suburban legends. The Fyre Festival went up in flames. A little Google-Fu would have helped those who paid ridiculous money for this event. Was the March on Science a success? Are our science celebrities doing a good job? Are we reaching the audience we need to reach? Cool dude Neil deGrasse Tyson puts on a show in Hershey.

Let there be cake! The News: - Community College Course on Sasquatch -THE United Flight (you know the one) -North Korean Rocketry failure -Squaring the Strange Discussion Topics: -The Philosophy of 15 Credibility Street -The March For Science Tid Bit: The Origin of this Show’s title.