Jack of Kent's Week - 7 June 2009

This is, er, the third time I have started this weekly round-up.

The first time grew into a wider meditation on the predicament of the British Chiropractic Association and the second became an extended Hello and response to Dr George Lewith.

British Chiropractic Association v Simon Singh

This week Simon Singh will file his application to appeal the adverse ruling on meaning. Please note that he does not have an automatic right of appeal - the High Court turned down his request for permission to appeal at the hearing.

Instead Simon Singh has to first apply to the Court of Appeal, who may turn down the application without any formal hearing. Only if his application is granted will he then be able to have a full appeal hearing.

Skeptics in the Pub Oxford

I will be going along to see Simon Singh at the Chequers pub (off High Street) in Oxford from 7pm tomorrow evening. Details are on Facebook.

Sense About Science

Sense About Science are kindly co-ordinating the campaign to take libel law out of science. They have played an absolute blinder in the last week: amazing co-ordination and effort in getting the statement and signatories ready, as well as webpages and extras.



However, I now understand that SaS do have some critics. In this respect, I note that one such critic is the journalist and writer George Monbiot. However, it is notable that Mr Monbiot signed the Statement in support of Simon Singh and keeping libel laws out of science. And if he can do so, so can others.

Recommended Blog

I regard my SitP London friend Crispian Jago as the quirky skeptic blogger. There is rarely a blogpost on his site which doesn't make me both smile and think; and most have a great deal of wit and effort put into them.

For example, today we have "Reservoir Skeptics" for London TAM...


A couple of weeks ago he also devised a hilarious and insightful set of Skeptic Tarot Cards...


He also did the editing for the videos for the Simon Singh support rally.

Do bookmark his enjoyable ongoing takes on skepticism and critical thinking, not least for his great visual parodies.