5.6M views · Apr 7, 2011 · 10:39 · 3 HN recommenders · 6 mentions · discussed 2013–2026
Animated adaptation of Tim Minchin's beat poem 'Storm', in which he argues with a hippie at a London dinner party. It satirizes alternative medicine and defends science and reason.
Why Hacker News points people here: Quoted often for its line on alternative medicine that works being called medicine, and recommended as a full-length listen.
“The entirety of this song is a listen worth your time.”HN comment, 2026
“The entirety of this song is a listen worth your time.”
Storm song satirizing homeopathy, worth a full listen
"Water has memory, and whilst its memory of a long lost drop of onion juice seems infinite, it somehow forgets all the poo it's had in it." - excerpt from Storm, by Nick Minchin this video The entirety of this song is a listen worth your time. Doubly so if you've never heard of Nick Minchin before.
“Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved”
Minchin's great line contrasting science and faith
Religion can't really explain things though. If I say a floating jellyfish did it all, and we are too stupid to ever know why, that doesn't give any clarity. Tim Minchin has a great line about this in one of his songs[1] 'Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved' [1] this video
“Tim Minchin's epic beat poem 'Storm'”
Minchin's epic beat poem Storm, relevant bit at 3:05
My first thought on reading this was of Tim Minchin's epic beat poem 'Storm' [0] - jump to 3:05 if you want to hear the bit that specifically deals with this. (Warning: some language NSFW) [0] this video
“You know what they call alternative medicine that works? Medicine.”
Tim Minchin's beat poem on alternative medicine
Thats really depressing. You know what they call alternative medicine that works? Medicine. (cf: Tim Minchin, 'Storm' this video )
“Do you know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? Medicine.”
Minchin's poem Storm, admittedly strawman-laden but nice
Here's a nice quote from the (admittedly strawman-laden, but imo still nice) Poem "Storm" by Tim Minchin ( this video ): Do you know what they call alternative medicine that's been proved to work? Medicine. Of course the provedness of medical treatments can vary, but statements on a random online shop don't really cut it for me.
“It's OK to make fun of hippies.”
Minchin's Storm mocking hippies
Groups can be defined both by people's intrinsic properties that they can't change (e.g. sex, race, age, sexuality, heritage) and their beliefs which they can definitely change (opinions, philosophy, religion). It's OK to make fun of hippies. this video
