TwL Live! - Special Guest Robert Sheaffer

Robert Sheaffer (born 1949 in Chicago, IL) is a freelance writer and a prominent investigator of unidentified flying objects, Christianity, academic feminism, and many other subjects. He is an outspoken skeptic and critic of the above topics, and has written numerous critiques of feminist beliefs and ideas, Christian beliefs regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the theory that UFOs may be alien spacecraft or some other unknown phenomena and not simply hoaxes or misidentifications of known phenomena. He is also a strong defender of the theory of evolution, and a critic of the theory of creationism, or the belief that God or a supernatural being created the universe. He is a graduate of Northwestern University.

Sheaffer writes for Skeptical Inquirer (for which he writes the regular "Psychic Vibrations" column), Fate Magazine, and Spaceflight. He was a founding member (with Philip J. Klass and James Oberg) of the UFO Subcommittee of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), and is a fellow of that organization. He is a member of MENSA.

Sheaffer has frequently been quoted in the news media regarding UFOs and psychic predictions.
On July 7, 2010 a flight crew preparing to land in Hangzhou's Xiaoshan Airport in China reported an UFO. As a precaution 18 flights were "delayed or redirected". Sheaffer's article in Skeptical Inquirer Magazine's Nov/Dec 2010 issue is a discussion of how photographs and videos are used. "Reporters want an exciting story, and UFOlogists want to win converts. They will typically grab onto any photo or video that is supposed to represent the object and report as fact practically any claim that is made regardless of its source or veracity." In the case of the Xiaoshan Airport, most of the footage shown was actually taken a year previous to the July 2010 incident.

Ufologist Kevin D. Randle was interviewed by Sheaffer for Skeptical Inquirer Magazine's January/February 2011 issue: looking to "explore their points of agreement and disagreement, finding that Randle gives more weight to 'eyewitness testimony' than skeptics typically do."

Interviewed by the Toronto Sun Newspaper December 20, 2010, Sheaffer is asked by columnist Thane Burnett to debate UFO enthusiast Chris Rutkowski to "debate the known realities". When asked "Is it reasonable to conclude a UFO – something that was beyond our comprehension and understanding – has ever crashed on Earth?" Sheaffer relies "No, because no one has ever produced any proof of any extraterrestrial technology being retrieved, despite many claims. Talk is cheap, show us the evidence."

TwL Live! - Special guest Robert Johnson

TwL Interview ethicist and philosopher Robert Johnson about his recent book "Rational Morality: A Science of Right and Wrong"

Rational morality is the first entirely rational theory of morality. The first half of the book is a discussion of ethics for the Brian Cox and Richard Dawkins generation: accessible, yet thorough. Finding the subject to be rationally sparse, the infamous ‘is-ought’ problem is engaged and a solution introduced: Rational Morality, a theory of how we can base morality in science, in an entirely coherent and consistent manner.
An idea that could greatly change the face of human values, Johnson furthers this by examining the theory scientifically; exploring the reasons why people might criticise such an idea, whilst providing brief explanations of the counter arguments which support the radical thesis.

For all the originality of this theory, it means nothing without a practical basis; a new form of science requires a demonstration of how it works. The second half of the book is thus dedicated to its strength—practical ethics. Johnson highlights 5 sections that he believes to be important new areas of study in moral science: rationality and anti theism, animal ethics, determinism, politics and rational discourse. Each is designed to provide guides as to how reason can use Rational Morality to define secular moral rules in these areas.

TwL Live! - Special guest Andrew Dart

TwL speak to Andrew Dart author of "Building Your Skeptical Toolkit: A beginner's guide to science, skepticism and critical thinking skills"


Around the world belief in the paranormal and pseudoscience is running rampant. 40% of people in the UK believe in haunted houses, governments employ dowsing devices to detect bombs and people give away all they have in the belief that the world is about to end…again. In this modern age it seems we need reason and critical thinking skills more than ever.
Building your Skeptical Toolkit will help equip you with the tools you will need to start exploring this amazing world of ours as it really is and accurately enable you to evaluate the claims of psychics, conspiracy theorists and everyone in between. It will help you to see behind the myths and trickery, the fake science and unfounded claims, that fill our modern lives and discover the amazing and beautiful reality that lies beyond.

“Dart has hit the bullseye. Everyone who reads this book will find new dimensions in the world around them, that previously seemed impenetrable and insoluble. It’s an amazing place, once Dart shows you how to see past the roadblocks put up by your own brain.”

Brian Dunning, Skeptoid.com

Evolution Vs God PWNage

The TwL team cast a critical eye over banaman's "Evolution Vs God" "documentary"

TwL Live! - Special guest Phil Moriarty

Philip Moriarty is a Professor of Physics and an Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Fellow in the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham. His research interests span a number of topical themes in nanometre scale science with a particular current focus on single atom/molecule manipulation. He has coordinated a number of multi-partner European networks (including, most recently, ACRITAS), and is currently Chair of the Institute of Physics Nanoscale Physics and Technology Group committee, a member of the Science Board of the Institute of Physics, and was a member of the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Team for Physics from 2005 - 2006.

Moriarty has a keen interest in outreach activities and both science and higher education funding policy. In addition to participating in a number of research council-funded public engagement projects (including Giants of the Infinitesimal), and his membership of the Steering Committee of the Council for the Defence of British Universities, he has interacted with national and international media (including The Independent, The Guardian, Times Higher Education, BBC Radio 4, Die Zeit, and The Economist) on these issues. He is also a regular contributor to Nottingham's Sixty Symbols YouTube project which has, as of December 2012, attracted a little over 15 million views (across 200 videos).

Although he does not share his infamous namesake's fascination with the binomial theorem, in his spare time Moriarty enjoys exploring the relationships between mathematics/physics and music

Mental Health Ireland - Part 16 - Conclusion

Hour 16 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Conclusion

Mental Health Ireland - Part 15 - Hayley Stevens

Hour 15 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Not James Randi

Mental Health Ireland - Part 14 - Lying Ghost Show

Hour 14 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Lying Ghost Show.

Mental Health Ireland - Part 13 - Eugenie Scott

Hour 13 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Eugenie Scott

Mental Health Ireland - Part 12 - Steve Shives

Hour 12 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Steve Shives

Mental Health Ireland - Part 11 - Atheist Experience

Hour 11 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Atheist Experience.

Mental Health Ireland - Part 10 - Barbara Forrest

Hour 10 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Barbara Forrest.

Mental Health Ireland - Part 9 - James Randi & Atheist Experience

Hour 9 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Not James Randi

Mental Health Ireland - Part 8 - Not James Randi

Hour 8 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Not James Randi

Mental Health Ireland - Part 7 - NotInMyName

Hour 7 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest NotInMyName

Mental Health Ireland - Part 6 - Richard Coughlan

Hour 6 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Richard Coughlan

Mental Health Ireland - Part 5 - Not Phil Moriarty

Hour 5 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Not Phil Moriarty.

Mental Health Ireland - Part 4 - Stephen Law

Hour 4 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Stephen Law

Mental Health Ireland - Part 3 - Michael Nugent

Hour 3 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest Michael Nugent

Mental Health Ireland - Part 2 - James Grime

Hour 2 of Trolling With Logic's Charity Show in aid of Mental Health Ireland. Special guest James Grime

Mental Health Ireland Charity Show - Part 1 - Introductions

The Introductory hour to Trolling With Logic's 16 hour charity show in aid of Mental Health Ireland.