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Thread: Brilliance

  1. #1
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    Brilliance

    This blog-post by Ben Goldacre (of Bad Science fame) is quite brilliant.

    To summarise: a company is selling a device that detects explosives. There is absolutely no evidence that it works - it appears to be equivalent to dousing for water. They sold an initial shipment for $32M. And a second shipment for $53M.

    It's not often a scam impresses me, but this is a good one.
    Last edited by DavidY; 18th-November-2009 at 09:53 AM. Reason: Can I fix this link?

  2. #2
    The Dashing Moderator
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    Re: Brilliance

    If anyone's wondering why Geoff's link doesn't work, it's because the URL contains a three letter abbreviation (starting "wt") that is blocked by the forum's filter on swear words.
    (Naughty Ben Goldacre )

    This should take you to a nearby page.
    http://www.badscience.net/2009/11/
    Love dance, will travel

  3. #3
    Papa Smurf
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    Re: Brilliance

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    If anyone's wondering why Geoff's link doesn't work, it's because the URL contains a three letter abbreviation (starting "wt") that is blocked by the forum's filter on swear words.
    (Naughty Ben Goldacre )

    This should take you to a nearby page.
    http://www.badscience.net/2009/11/
    does it block all incidents of "f" in an acronym ? rtfm, tfi friday, roflmfao ?

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    Re: Brilliance

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidY View Post
    If anyone's wondering why Geoff's link doesn't work, it's because the URL contains a three letter abbreviation (starting "wt") that is blocked by the forum's filter on swear words.
    (Naughty Ben Goldacre )

    This should take you to a nearby page.
    http://www.badscience.net/2009/11/
    And this will take you to the right page. Sorry about the confusion...

  5. #5
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    Re: Brilliance

    Hey, that's nothing.

    There are people who want to introduce polygraphs into England they way they have permeated the United States.

    There is no invention so blatantly fraudulent that you cannot persuade some committee somewhere to buy a whole bunch of 'em.

  6. #6
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    Re: Brilliance

    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov View Post
    Hey, that's nothing.

    There are people who want to introduce polygraphs into England they way they have permeated the United States.

    There is no invention so blatantly fraudulent that you cannot persuade some committee somewhere to buy a whole bunch of 'em.
    Its not that strange that something that relies on misdirection, lies and polished PR in its use, is sold that way too

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