Here’s what’s in this week’s Podcast:

The Catholic Church (and the Church of Ireland!) are doing their best to drive people away from their religion. We also talked about David Robert Grimes’ article about the evils of militant secularism.. or something.. We also wax lyrical about confirmation and communion in Irish schools.

Rebecca’s neighbours were playing some incrediably LOUD music, so sorry for the backing track..

We check out Ingenious Ireland’s Science Map of Ireland.. which features links about oldest footsteps and early work on seismic science.

On the back of this we discover that Birr (in Offaly) is to get a new radio telescope – to join the older Rosse Telescope (or the Leviathan!)

Finn gets VERY EXCITED about the idea of the building of an actual USS Enterprise? Rebecca is skeptical… (**side note.. I really do think a science bond is a REALLY GOOD IDEA)

There’s a new bridge in Dublin and a petiton to name to new brigde after Ireland’s Nobel Winner in Physics, ETS Walton.

Did you know that www.science140.org is looking for 140 character tweets about science!

Sadly there is a Measles outbreak in Cork, HSE encourages vaccination for all. Finn takes no pleasure in letting people know the symptoms.

In good skeptic news, Skechers Shape-ups fall foul of advertising standards to the tune of $40 million!

Due to my (finn) laptop’s inability to function, and the fact that I am moving house, this weeks podcast is delayed..

Sorry.. We’ll be back next week with skeptical stories

xx
Finn.

In an antidote to the woo she also talks about the World Skeptic’s Conference in Berlin (if you can go.. GO!).

Rebecca gets all educational and tells us about native (or well maybe not native) animals to Ireland: Red deer, Stoats, Pine Martins, Mink.. and Red Wallabys?

As always, Feedback is appreciated.

Happy Skeptic-ing

Rebecca talks about Cork Skeptics and that castle.

Our T-shirts got endorsed by Richard Saunders and mentioned on the Skeptics with a K podcast.

If you too were confused by the title “Voodoo Histories” check him out in the archives of Little Atoms.

Check out Hayley’s lake monster adventures. We’re not jealous.. not one little bit.

After several scientific tests the skeprechauns discovered that Donuts do help, donuts and coffee…

Retired Gardai speak out against the use of psychics.
Irish people will shun licence plates with 13 on them next year?
Supporters travelling to Euro 2012 should up to date with their vaccines and be aware of other possible infections.

There were Skeprechauns on Skeptic Zone.

And Finn’s interview with Richard Saunders is in there too at the end **

**Please note that despite extreme provocation I did NOT add a kylie backing track to that interview

Another podcast with so-so sound quality (sorry about that. I will be acquiring a proper headset for the next one – Finn) - and also the return of Rebecca’s squeaky chair!

We touched on a lot of topics in surface detail in this one. So bear with me :

The Pope has once again declared himself an authority on all things matrimonial.. and if you’re infertile, tough. Oh and he’ll be joining Twitter.
There’s clearly a conspiracy going on in the UK to kill off Ian Paisley. First Tony Blair converts to Catholicism and then the Conservatives send Baroness Warsi to Rome! Madness. Finn expresses her absolute bewilderment at this.. and the growing attitude to faith and faith schools in the UK.. Mr. Blick makes his opinion known. Rebecca talks about the school of philosophy in Dublin. Oh and Finn tries to reassure any American listeners that if needs be we’ll ship the Pill over to the States.. never fear, the Skeptics are here..

Stuff is happening this year in Dublin cause we’re the European City of Science. The PADDY’S (note the spelling!) Day festival is incorporating science into its theme. There’s a hack day this weekend in DCU. And in July we host the Euroscience Open Forum which looks awesome.

Those pesky neutrinos may not have been mutating..

In Irish Skeptics news.. the next event in Cork and Dublin is on the subject of Nothing, which looks interesting. Rebecca is giving a talk in Cork on the 16th March. We have a new merch shop and a donate button (we’re not above begging ).

Rebecca is appearing on the Science Calling blog in this week’s discussion on gender.

Rebecca is now the proud owner of the Star Trek: TNG board game – with extra VHS!
We talk Muppets and gaming.. (Finn runs a gaming group in Dublin) And yes we do refer to loading games from cassettes… possibly onto Commodore 64…  and we fan girl over other podcasts (RI is back! w00t!) and Kevin Smith..

Finally, here’s the British Isles explained.

Rebecca waxes lyrical about the Guardian Tech Weekly Podcast where she discovered these interesting little items: Valkee Earbuds.

Finn talks about her reaction to seeing After-Biotics in the local chemist.. also it turns out Inulin is a form of polysaccaride!
Finn also scrambles to remember about a story she’d read regarding the appendix being a storage locker for your friendly bacteria… It turns out that the story exists!

Raw milk? Should it be allowed? Should the girls continue to ramble on about their farming past..? these questions and more are discussed… But only YOU can decide.
Also… it turns out that us ladies heart Gerry Daly.
Our next event will be a talk by Dr David-Robert Grimes – who’s blog is nominated for the Skeptical Awards 2012.

And other news: Dublin’s Science Gallery has a new exhibition – Edible.

And Dublin City of Science 2012 has started up with a monthly #tweetup…

Rebecca's new Mug

We talk about the Celtic Curse, homeopathic treatment for burns and plants (Agro-Homeopathy is NOT aggressive application of water). Also Finn gave a quick update on the HPV vaccine and Oral Cancer.

In Irish news the Stop SOPA Ireland Campaign kicked off this week with a vengeance, while Hacktivists all over Europe ramped up the campaign against ACTA.

The ladies also discussed how it might be wise to be skeptical of breaking news stories such as the early reporting of blame in the Costa Concordia sinking and focusing on one notable criminal in Operation Trace.
This week Irish people as far south as sunny Laois got a chance to see the Northern Lights (at least when there was a break in cloud cover)…
And how many times does Rebecca say “yeah it’s interesting…”?! Answer – far too many!