Luis Alfonso Gámez

Luis Alfonso Gámez is a Spanish journalist and hyperactive skeptic. He covers the whole gamut of skeptical ideas including conspiracy theories, homoeopathy and the existence of God.

Activity
He founded the Spanish skeptical organisation circuloesceptico (Skeptics circle) and the Basque version of Skeptics in the Pub called enigmas y birras (puzzles and beers).

Current activity
He has a regularly updated blog, magonia, associated with a somewhat intermittent podcast which can more properly be regarded as record of his radio frequent radio interviews.

In 2011 he produced a series of documentaries on common objects of modern scepticism with the Basque broadcaster EITB. The pilot programme asked, "Did we go to the moon?", and the follow-up programme was about alternative medicine and asked, "Does it work for you?"

Books
He has written La Cara Oculta del Misterio (the hidden face of the mystery) a skeptical book about the paranormal. He also collaborated on the book "Skeptical Odysseys: Personal Accounts by the World's Leading Paranormal Investigations" which included essays by many well-known British and American skeptics and scientists.

Controversy and popular culture
Public attention was drawn to Luis Alfonso Gámez in 2007 when he was the subject of a legal process after being sued for defamation by the writer and journalist Juan José Benítez. Gamez lost the lawsuit and had to pay compensations amounting to 6000 EUR. In the aftermath of the lawsuit, the term bald unit (unidad cálvica) was coined by some followers of Benitez to refer to an imaginary currency amounting for 6000 EUR. The term quickly gained in popularity and eventually became a widespread means to refer to large quantities of money in a more convenient way among the Spanish public (ie. "I bought a new car for 3.5 bald units")