Grifter Dolly Adamson awarded Australian Skeptics’ Bent Spoon

Posted in Education, General, Scam, Science, Skeptic, Social Media by Paul Gallagher

There’s a lot wrong with struggling actor and onetime brains behind Daylesford’s Disco Bingo. Dolly Adamson, now runs Victorian based Kyneton Paranormal. Reinventing herself as a talentless con artist, Dolly claims to use a “spirit box” to talk to murdered or missing children and supposed child murderers. Dolly is running a cruel and rather dimwitted scam, which no doubt helped her win The Australian Skeptics’ Bent Spoon Award for 2026.

There were plenty of worthy contenders for the Bent Spoon this year, but a few particular things linked to Dolly led to her easily snatching victory. First Dolly is behaving like someone virtually looting any possible tale that might attract attention. She has spoken to the Beaumont Children who were apparently taken by a cannibal, spoken to Joan of Arc, Princess Diana, pop and rock stars and even Harold Holt. Read more about her victory here on The Medical Republic.

However, her best effort is having a quick chat to Dessie Freeman from the spirit world. This featured on A Current Affair in early June, which thankfully has a stern deconstruction from Australian Skeptics’ paranormal researcher, Richard Saunders.

Dolly opens with, “Dessie you’ve just jumped in… did you say you got killed?”.

The assistant (potentially another struggling actor) replies, “Taken by the cold”.

Dolly replied, “Ah, sorry to hear that”.

The video, now deleted by Dolly from YouTube, was recorded when Freeman was alive and well.

Older witch with headphones tuning a mystical radio emitting ghostly voices — Dolly Adamson?

But the scam within the scam that infuriated this author, is that despite boasting that she uses a spirit box, you may have noticed that Dolly is fed crystal clear replies from the dead (and er… living) by her “assistant”. The assistant wears headphones and those watching hear nothing. So, what’s the problem?

A spirit box is basically an untuned radio scanner that snatches grabs of AM or FM radio. One should expect white noise, screeches, bleeps and random sounds ghost hunters associate with words. Devotees of the device claim that spirits use the wandering tuner to latch onto crude sounding “words”, and in doing so convey a message.

Even the best communicators tend to interpret one to three words and these are never in the form of a clear sentence, as Dolly and Co. produce. Indeed the phenomenon that hunters succumb to is audio pareidolia but the clincher is that the “answers” almost never have anyothing to do with the questions ghost hunters ask. Check these chaps here.

Dolly was “told” by a victim of the Erin Patterson mushroom case, “The story’s wrong”.

Dolly asks the missing mother of Savannah Guthrie, “Is there anything we can tell your children? Where did he put you?”.

The answer immediately follows; “Mountain. With lake”.

Oh really? Arizona where Nancy Guthrie disappeared has a famous hiking trail called Lake Mountain trail near the Lake Mountain complex located on – you guessed it – Lake Mountain.

At another point the assistant says “Is mummy there?”, in apparent reference to 4 year old Gus Lamont who disappeared in outback South Australia in September 2025.

Dolly offers; “Hello sweetie. Do you want to play with my dog?”

On her page promoting herself as an actor Dolly says her aim is to make people smile. Regrettably, she may be having fun but has cultivated an unlikeable persona and clearly has no idea how offensive her little gig actually is.

In response to lost work during COVID Dolly reinvented herself as the brains behind Disco Bingo in Daylesford. Still, on 1st May 2025 Dolly posted an offensive post recounting how Dolly and her daughter Asha along with Simone Patrice and Sarah Wright had a podcast chat with the Beaumont children. “They are dancing now. Their story has been told and they are healing on the other side with their parents.”

How predictable.

So yes, the desperate actor who seemingly has an abundance of confidence and even more callousness, thinks the entire scam is close to hilarious. In a world of make-believe acting, Dolly Adamson and her woo mates reckon they can scam and fool enough people to make some money.

We’ll be watching.

30Jun2026

“An Inconvenient Study” was designed to fool the susceptible

Posted in Chiropractic, Conspiracy Theories, Education, General, Immunisation, Politics, Science, So Called Alternative Medicine, Social Media by Paul Gallagher

The so-called compelling health differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated children is a favourite of the anti-vaccine movement. We can guess which group they insist is the most beset with illness and also make a sound judgement about the methodology used to form conclusions.

Simply put, using biased methodology will find that vaccines make children sick, say the anti-vaccine lobby, (just ignore its bias). Or to sound more convincing we may be told vaccinated children appear to be significantly less healthy than the unvaccinated. Such was the conclusion when a US supporter and promoter of Judy Wilyman (she “has done a great service to humanity”) ran flawed methodology over the two groups in 2020.

Judy’s mate, James Lyons-Weiler, head of the Institute of Pure and Applied Knowledge (IPAK) and paediatrician Paul Thomas, had their paper published in the anti-vaccine themed predatory journal, the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice and Research. It was also published, then later withdrawn, from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. According to Retraction Watch the authors blamed “ghouls” when it was decided their data didn’t support conclusions.

According to Lyons-Weiler a “ghoul” is one working to have studies with results they dislike, ultimately retracted. Also, it was with a certain amusement I discovered when the paper appeared, that The Australian Vaccination-risks Network had donated $5,000 USD to the project. From whence did this generous donation originate dear reader? Well, back in 2016 the AVN pulled a stunt seeking donations for a High Court challenge against No Jab No Pay legislation, claiming to have raised either $160,000 or around $152,000. Inexplicably bypassing solicitors, they seemed to have barrister fees which left them holding close to $80,000. With no evidence they spent any money on anything, the AVN promised members they’d keep what they had for future ~~trips to the USA~~ vaccine battles.

Zombie in tattered robe injecting glowing syringe into burning book in old library — When James Lyons-Weiler and Paul Thomas had their anti-vaccine paper withdrawn, they blamed “ghouls”.

IPAK were known for publishing misleading VAERS-data “vaccine death” hit-jobs, on mRNA vaccines, such as this during the pandemic. You know the drill: it’s not a real vaccine, believe all VAERS reports as true and conclude that the vaccine, not the virus, is responsible for deaths. Even more interesting is that the predatory International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice and Research, is where Julian Gillespie published his The Canaries in the Human DNA Mine. I have touched on that effort many times. Gillespie had resigned from the legal profession but was promoted as AVN’s barrister during their pandemic legal battles. He was the brains behind many of their legal failures which were followed by his own complaints against senior Federal Court identities.

To appreciate a thorough debunking of the caper Lyons-Weiler and Thomas hoped to get away with, I recommend reading this piece at Health Feedback about the “dubious metric” used to feign the existence of a vaccine-related problem impacting children’s health. Notably, the third author attribution is Children’s Health Defense, well known at the time as RFK Jr.’s reason-for-being and nifty source of income. He stepped down as chairperson in 2023 to focus on his independent run for USA President.

Finally, there is no better deconstruction of the vaccinated vs unvaccinated myth than the video put together by biologist, Dr. Dan Wilson. Wilson’s YouTube channel Debunk the Funk has contributed enormously to evidence-based refutation of the anti-vaccine movement. He focuses on trends, conspiracy theories, individuals, organisations, frauds and liars and has teamed up with others such as Professor Dave Farina to tackle antivax fiction head on.

The Inconvenient Study is the most recent scheme of ICAN’s main attraction, Del Bigtree. Del appears to play a spy in the “documentary”, wearing hidden cameras to dinner to reveal that his interlocutors agree “it’s a good study”. Nonetheless, not once did he run across crocodiles or fight science on the roof of a speeding train. Bigtree… Del Bigtree, wrote and produced Vaxxed – a film made of lies – continued with Vaxxed II and is often by Andrew Wakefield’s film-making side. Bigtree also hosts the mysterious hedge-fund manager-funded, anti-vaccine drum beat, The Highwire.

Del’s aim is to bring his misleading “experience” to coax his viewers to believe that unfair forces are preventing publication of a study. This study was done at Henry Ford Health. The researchers who completed the data did not publish the study for a very simple reason; the study did not meet rigorous scientific standards. One can conclude dear reader, that a study or research approach may be very good. Yet if ultimately it does not meet the standards expected in its methodology, it cannot be published. That is not a conspiracy.

In this case it’s pretty basic. Children who are unvaccinated don’t tend to visit conventional doctors. Alternatively, vaccinated ones do. The latter group tend to be examined by a professional and an illness may be found, even without notable symptoms. The former group might have a neck cracked, chant with crystals, drink herbs or simply pray. No illness will be found without significant symptoms or complaints from the patient. In fact 15 years ago Australian GPs warned of chiropractors peddling anti-vaccine messages. Clients of chiropractors are notably vaccine-hesitant. We need to remain vigilant.

You’re going to need 90 minutes all up but I can assure you Dan offers a serious evidence-packed debunking of what is a nasty, indeed reprehensible attempt by Bigtree’s team, to mislead those who don’t have the time, background or critical thinking skills to find their way to the truth. I hope they find their way to Dan.

You can find Dan’s well sourced response here at YouTube.

30May2026

Berberine patches for weight loss? No evidence to support so-called “Australian startup”

Posted in Alternative "medicine" scams, Education, General, Health, Scam, Skeptic, So Called Alternative Medicine, Social Media by Paul Gallagher

When it comes to finding a substance that has a history in the East and is available over the counter being touted as a weight loss agent in the West, berberine – a chemical found in a number of plants – is likely to have its supporters. Yet that’s not the same as arguing it is an agent backed by peer reviewed evidence.

Yes, it’s popping up as “natures Ozempic” on social media. There’s a range of websites listing weight loss, lowering of blood sugar levels, reduced cholesterol whilst some cite varied research papers. Companies such as Swisse will sing its praises and even point to “healthy insulin levels” and papers discussing its role in cancer. Nonetheless, it depends where you land when discerning what praises will be sung and what conclusive advice will be published, regardless of findings. In fact the effects of berberine are not well documented or defined.

The most in depth research will stress the need for further research. Larger samples, wider scope within methodology, a focus on specific components of cardiovascular health and even agreed upon amounts and formulations to be studied upon population samples with rigidly controlled age-health profiles. Berberine has been studied far more in Asia than in Western nations, but regrettably the necessary controls are not applied. Various compounds and amounts of berberine applied to subjects with different illnesses and histories cannot provide the statistical certainty one expects, much less serious criteria for falsification and reproduction.

We would possibly have convoluted issues from an ethical standing also. Consider the range of side effects listed in this WebMD article. Even worse is the fact some consumers have fallen dramatically ill within hours of taking berberine purchased online. This is not the norm but these patients find themselves in hospital with pronounced GI purging, dehydration and other complications.

Frustratingly, most punters browsing online have no idea what an AUST L number is, who demands its presence and where to find it. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) lists (L) unregistered medicines (vitamins or wellness products) by number, provided they won’t harm you. They don’t have to work, having not been pre-market evaluated by the TGA, but must have low risk ingredients. Nonetheless, it helps to be aware of how certain products are rated by the TGA, especially when they make grandiose claims. I would also urge you to do some research on the type of side effects and seriousness of prolonged use of berberine. This PDF is a succinct TGA berberine document.

In fact there is really no good science regarding berberine and weight loss. One study found that for individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, subjects who took berberine for three months experienced weight loss. It’s important to note that it interacts with a number of drugs and/or supplements and side effects include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It reminds me somewhat of St. John’s Wort. Berberine can impact the P450 cytochrome in the liver and have quasi-impacts on other liver enzymes involved in breaking down drugs.

In order to escape the nasty side effect impact on the G.I. system that berberine has, individuals hoping to make a buck in the wellness industry came up with a new method of delivery. Users of social media, particularly Facebook in my case, might have noticed seemingly endless promotion of an amazing weight loss “patch” that “stopped belly fat… amazes experts… burns belly fat… [and] has science stunned”. In fact it was a clever marketing ploy, following an initial TV advertising gig I fortunately missed. Social media permitted rampant boasting about the impact of studies into oral berberine intake, to support offering it in transdermal patch form to avoid stomach acid destruction. This claim alone leaves one skeptical.

First came the ladies patch named “Purisaki”. It was red with a blue border. Amongst ample peacock terminology and reference to “an Australian startup” readers were treated to this compelling paragraph:

In the summer of 2025, a presentation at a major nutrition science conference turned heads. Jessica Taylor and Kate Morrison, the founders of the startup behind Purisaki, presented their revolutionary method for natural weight loss and detoxification.

Weightloss Mag Australia wanted to know all about Jess and Kate’s breakthrough that “is turning heads”. It all started with their own experience. For Jess and Kate is was all about the 8 part formula in their transdermal patch that encouraged detoxification and the burning of fat. They told the Mag:

So together with leading nutrition scientists, we developed a product that combines fat burning and detoxification – completely natural and with no side effects.

Not much later came the men’s patch called LifeGuage which mentioned that “science is stunned by berberine” thanks to Australian startup. This patch was less obvious, being a colour I might call “Anglo-Saxon pink”. We got to read this familiar-sounding paragraph:

In summer 2025, a presentation at a major sports nutrition conference caused a stir. Matt Berger and Tom Hartman, the founders of the start-up behind LifeGauge, presented their method for targeted fat reduction and metabolism activation – specifically designed for men whose bodies stop cooperating after 40.

Weightloss Mag Australia wanted to know all about Matt and Tom’s science-stunning breakthrough. Ironically, it all started with their own experience. For Matt and Tom it was all about the 8 part formula delivered via their transdermal patch. They told the Mag:

Together with nutritional scientists, we developed a method that delivers berberine and other natural active ingredients directly through the skin – bypassing the stomach, straight into the bloodstream.

Now for a product that’s “stunning science” one has a right to expect to see said product being subject to proper scientific studies. And yes, LifeGuage has kindly offered some research into related compounds used in their product. Remember, their transdermal patch is claimed to be extra-effective because delivery bypasses the gut, where other pills or supplements and indeed berberine, are “destroyed in the stomach before they can even work”.

So, one has the right to be disappointed to discover the LifeGuage scientific research page provides no research into transdermal patch application of the Australian startup-driven-science-stunning-weight-zapping-sticker. That’s because there is absolutely no evidence that application of these compounds via this method will improve health, energy, make you feel younger or have a positive impact on weight loss. Indeed, the research presented by LifeGuage all relates to human oral trials, animal studies or in vitro research. So, to repeat, there’s no evidence to support the claims made regarding this transdermal patch technology.

Berberine research looks into berberine itself and how it impacts type 2 diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis, cholesterol and the extent of its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. A great deal more research is needed into all of these and other suggested areas, and we must keep in mind that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the TGA and other medicine regulators do not promote its use for management of disease.

The LifeGuage and Purisaki transdermal patch ingredients are identical. Yet the impact is described slightly different for men and women. Remember, men over 40 get a fat gut and feel lethargic. Women just get more unsightly fat and tend to need antioxidant effects. The patches contain berberine, Green Tea extract, African Mango Seed extract, Fucoxanthin extract, punicic acid and vitamins. Promotors claim without linking to any evidence:

Berberine Extract – Kickstarts fat metabolism, keeps blood sugar stable and stops cravings – so the body burns fat instead of storing it. In women: Naturally promotes metabolic function and supports healthy blood sugar levels to curb appetite, stop cravings and reduce fat storage.
Fucoxanthin Extract – Boosts fat burning and specifically targets the stubborn belly fat typical in men over 40. In women: Promotes fat oxidation and energy metabolism and can reduce the accumulation of visceral fat.
Pomegranate Oil (Punicic Acid Extract) – Protects cells, reduces inflammation and improves circulation – for more vitality and a better sense of wellbeing, in men. In women: Eases inflammation through antioxidant protection and improves fat metabolism so more fat is burned.
African Mango Extract – Delivers a genuine feeling of fullness, curbs appetite and prevents the body from building new fat reserves, in men. In women: Regulates leptin levels for a better sense of fullness, curbs appetite and helps reduce the formation of new fat cells.
Vitamin C, B1, B3 – Drive fat metabolism and support L-carnitine production – the substance that converts fat in the muscles into energy. The result: more fat burning, more energy, more performance in everyday life and during exercise, for men. In women: Support fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism and the production of L-carnitine, which is essential for transporting fatty acids into muscle cells for energy, thereby boosting fat burning.
This isn’t a fad – it’s targeted support for men who want to get their body back in shape. If you want to lose the belly fat and feel fitter again, LifeGauge is the way to go (for men).
This isn’t a fad – this is science for effective fat burning. Those who want real results choose Purisaki. The rest can keep hoping for miracles (for women).

A little further down each promotional page we read:

This website is an advertisement and not a news article.

Results may vary. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Weight loss occurs as part of a healthy, calorie-reduced diet and exercise programme.

MARKETING DISCLOSURE: This website is a marketplace. As such, you should know that the owner has a financial connection to the products and services advertised on the website. The owner receives payment when a qualified lead is referred, but that is all.

ADVERTISING DISCLOSURE: This website and the products and services referred to on the website are advertising marketplaces. This website is an advertisement and not a news publication. All photos of persons used on this website are models. The owner of this website and of the products and services referred to on this website only provides a service through which consumers can obtain and compare information.

It’s enough to make one wonder exactly what side effects may eventuate if the product was misused.

30Apr2026

Is MAGA a Cult?

Posted in Conspiracy Theories, General, Human Rights, Legal, Media, Politics, Religion, Skeptic, Social Media by Paul Gallagher

Terry Kelly is a past-president of the Australian Skeptics Victorian Branch Inc, and has an extensive background in the Melbourne Skeptics scene. He has contributed to committee activities, the organising of multiple conferences, speaking nights, conventions and more, whilst frequently being available as a speaker at Skeptics Café and Skeptics In The Pub evenings.

On April 20th this year, Terry Kelly took to the podium at the Stolberg Hotel, situated on the corner of Bell Street and Plenty Road Preston for a Skeptics Café presentation. His topic was Is MAGA a Cult? | Source Facebook | Terry has read quite a bit on the topic of cults and keeps a sharp eye on Donald Trump. Trump’s popularity has waned somewhat, but only after truly arrogant and inhumane exercise of his power in various political theatres. Still, those who adore him cannot be reasoned with. How deep is this ideology?

Terry summarises how AI tackles the cult question, reminds us of how bizarre Trump’s “spiritual advisor” can be and the role of conspiracy theory thinking being accepted as fact, within MAGA. Cults can self destruct in a reasonably short time, or go on to build size, power, influence and respect. The latter may last for decades or more. Terry even treats viewers to an account of his own brief experience with a cult, a method of depersonalisation he witnessed and what questioning accepted beliefs ultimately invites.

What type of people succeed in leading cults? Can they ever be successful? Why do they die off? What tragedies can we link to famous cults solely as a function of their beliefs and the influence of a single leader? Terry examines what makes a cult leader and considers if Trump has the right characteristics. He reminds us of what influenced Trump, including Norman Vincent Peale’s, The Power of Positive Thinking and of the critical deconstruction of Trump, Too Much and Never Enough written by his niece, psychologist Mary Trump.

There’s plenty more I haven’t touched on, and a discussion around questions. The audio volume of questions asked on the night was low, but has since been fully amplified prior to upload to Facebook. I hope viewers can enjoy them.

Speaker crying at rally while protesters hold signs saying 'MAGA is a cult' and 'Think for yourself' — The AI image above reflects what I hope awaits any possible MAGA cult

18Jan2026

Belinda Gae Harris convicted, sentenced over Black Salve sale and supply

Posted in Alternative "medicine" scams, Education, Health, Legal, Media, Skeptic, Skeptical Activism, So Called Alternative Medicine, Social Media by Paul Gallagher

Just over a year ago I posted that 12 charges had been brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions against Belinda Gae Harris over the supply and advertising of black salve products. This followed an investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which confirmed alleged criminal offences under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (the Act), against Harris.

Harris insisted on her blog she was “helping people” and had written on Facebook about using the dangerous corrosive to “suck out” snake bite poison and COVID-19 vaccines from the injection site. The TGA reported at the time she faced up to “a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $222,000 for each charge”. Harris, who traded under ‘Tickety Boo Herbal’, was manifestly spared the maximum sentence. Found guilty of 10 charges on 30 October 2025 in Deniliquin Local Court, the TGA reported on 16 January 2026, that Harris had been:

[S]entenced today to 7 months imprisonment, a community corrections order, and fines of $20,000 for unlawfully advertising and supplying black salve and bloodroot capsules, and for advertising other unapproved therapeutic goods to treat serious conditions such as anxiety.

And that:

Ms Harris was released on recognizance of $2,000 and on condition of good behaviour for a period of 3 years with 6 months supervision. Ms Harris is prohibited from making restricted and prohibited representations about therapeutic goods by any means, including on social media. The term of imprisonment can be imposed if the conditions of the good behaviour bond are breached.

Ms Harris is also subject to a community corrections order with a supervision period of 3 years.

The prohibitions regarding publication about therapeutic goods, particularly on social media, and the threat of prison linked to the good behaviour bond, are certainly welcome. Let’s revisit some of Harris’ response to the charges last January:

I’m just going to keep doing it, because I’m helping people and I’m saving lives. My angels managed to keep this at bay until 2025… This matrix is bullshit. Bullshit lies. They’re allowed to administer carcinogenic chemotherapy to people and fry the fuck out of them with their radiation.

But I’m not allowed to do a simple herbal remedy that I have tested over and over again… I’ll see you in court government… You can’t shut me up. If you put me in jail I’ll just be educating everybody around me. Okay. Namaste. Loving you. Ben Abou.

Okay. Namaste it is.

Her Honour, Magistrate Humphreys, said “the offending was deliberate and planned”. She added:

The Court has an obligation to deter similar offending as it is of a kind that could cause great harm…

…The existence of a community of persons interested in the use of potentially dangerous alternative treatments for serious illnesses such as cancer adds weight to the need for general deterrence. Others involved in such communities must be dissuaded from engaging in similar conduct

In a welcome addition the magistrate also noted the indirect harm Harris’ actions had caused, in that there was, “a real potential for users of the product to delay seeking or obtaining conventional treatment”. This is an important point and often overlooked. Regardless of potential harm, any treatment that interferes with evidence-based medicine or leads to patients withholding information from specialists, can prove disastrous.

Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and head of the TGA, Professor Anthony Lawler said he was pleased with the outcome. He continued:

This significant penalty sends a clear message to anyone seeking to profit from the unlawful supply and advertising of therapeutic goods. The TGA’s highest priority is protecting the health and safety of the Australian public, and products like black salve have the potential to cause serious harm to people.

We will continue to take strong and decisive action against those who disregard their legal obligations under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 by advertising and supplying unapproved therapeutic goods.

Sanguinarine, a primary corrosive agent in black salve, is listed as a Schedule 10 substance in the Poisons Standard. These are described as substances “so dangerous to health that they are prohibited from sale, supply and use in Australia”.

Black Salve is a substance that helps nobody. Don’t be fooled by high-risk, untested so-called “alternatives”.

TGA links: