Happy New Year! My first missive of the new year will be brief.

My January Behavior & Belief column for Skeptical Inquirer is “Superstition and the Chinese Real Estate Market.” Chinese culture is saturated with superstition, and Chinese superstitions have a powerful effect on commerce, including the housing market. This article explains why you might not want to buy a Hong Kong apartment on the 24th

Feng shui coins tied with lucky red string.

floor, and how you might be able to use feng shui coins to combat bad chi. If you believe in that sort of thing.

I am very excited to announce that I will be coming to the United Kingdom in May. As you may recall, I have a new book coming out this spring, Superstition: A Very Short Introduction. In connection with the release of this pocket-sized paperback, I was invited to give a talk at the British Museum. I really wanted to accept this invitation, and as a result, I have decided to organize a self-managed book tour in the UK in May. So far I am scheduled to be at the British Museum on May 11, and on May 12, I will be speaking at a Greenwich, London, Skeptics in the Pub event at the Star & Garter pub. There is a worldwide network of Skeptics in the Pub groups, but they are particularly popular in the UK. As a result, I am hoping to arrange a number of appearances at pubs and bookstores in England.  The plans for this trip are just being hatched, but I will provide additional information as it becomes available. 

That’s all for now. Stay warm.

SV