Skeptiholic

I spent a good chunk of last weekend on airplanes going to see my girlfriend Ashley. As such I was able to enjoy the guilty pleasure that is Sky Mall. For those of you who don’t know Sky Mall is a catalog featuring many ridiculous items and some not as ridiculous stuff, its sort of like Sharper Image, which they carry. It has been around for as long as I can remember. According to Wikipedia it has been around since 1990. Now onto ridiculous crap.

First up we have what looks to be a diabetes tester. Actually its some kind of Acupuncture device. The article is very vague but the essential point is that it can be used to clear blocked qi passages. It isn’t clear exactly how it works which should set off some red flags for people. Also it doesn’t use traditional acupuncture points instead using only the hand. The basis for this product is a 5,000 year old mummy with tattoos of acupuncture points on it. What concerns me most is how little detail the give you about how the product works. Even if you enjoy Acupuncture I’d be wary of this, especially since it sends “light electrical pulses”. Accessories include: Instruction and testimonial video, Large and small Ear plug, Magnetic Wave Pointer, Guidebook with body chart, AC Adapter, Neck strap and a clip holder. All this can be yours for the low, low price of $180.

Next we  come across a knock-off of Kinoki foot pads, on sale for $15 for 10 and 30 for $40. The list of claims are: relieve pain; improve the immune system, circulation and sleep; reduce stress, soothe headaches, and relieve sore feet. About the only thing these can’t do is cure cancer, but thats just because it would be illegal for them to claim that.

Lastly we have the Q-Ray. Much like a zombie, this product has risen from the dead. In 2000-2001 the Mayo Clinic conducted a study on the effect of “ionized” bracelet. It showed definitively that thee was no statistical benefit in using an ionized bracelet vs. a placebo one. Both groups reported subjective improvement in most areas, but there was little to no difference between the two groups. This study lead to a 2003 injunction by the FTC. This injunction ordered the company, QT Inc, to stop production and marketing of their product. In 2006 a federal judge ordered Qt. Inc. to pay back $22.5 million dollars to its customers. This decision was later upheld in a Seventh Circuit court. So what are they trying to sell it as now? A golf bracelet. They say a lot of pros wear it and even if it doesn’t help, it will make your swing look pretty. I guess if you have a hundred bucks to blow and like the way they look go for it. In the end this is just a defeated man’s last attempt to sell a warehouse full of bracelets.

All right folks, thats all I have tonight. If you happen to be flying take a look at Sky Mall, they have some completely ridiculous stuff that I didn’t cover today. One of my favorites is an “indoor restroom” for your dog.