Poland Officially Recognizes the Supernatural
- Details
- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 17327
Long time Swift reader Przemyslaw from Poland brought this to our attention and translated out of the original Polish:
On 24 February 2009 three Polish scientists, led by professor ŁukaszA. Turski, initiated an open protest letter to the Polish Minister of Labour against the official list of jobs and professions recently published on the web pages of Labour Offices. The protest concerns the fact that among professions such as engineer, scientist, teacher or physician in the list there are also "professions" such as: astrologer, dowser, fortune-teller, healer (here called "bioenergotherapist") or reflexologist. The list not only records the professions names but in a detailed way describes their nature and job tasks. For instance the record concerning a fortune-teller says:
*** Name: Fortune-teller
Code: 514903
Synthesis: Consciously using inborn abilities for dealing in the field of supernatural phenomena the fortune-teller insights into the future and past events by way of different forms of traditional fortune-telling such as: cards (especially tarot), kaballah, I-ching (according to ancient Chinese "Book of transformations"), chiromancy (fortune-telling from hand), catoptromancy and crystalomancy (foretelling the future based on mirror or crystal) etc.
What is a Skeptic's Role at a Paranormal Conference?
- Details
- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 9945
Reader (and typo-hound) Dave G. reports the following:
There will be a huge convention in Minneapolis come November, where thousands of members of the woo-woo fraternity will congregate at The Edge Life Exposition. In looking at the booth location floor plan, I noticed that booth numbers ending in 13 are absent. Thus they have #100-112, then 114...; 200-212, then 214, etc, which has caused me to wonder if perhaps those people know something to which the rest of us are not privy.
I took a look a their site, and yes, it does read like the anti-TAM. You can learn how to connect with your angels, discover your inner psychic, and even discover how the secret to happiness is in your mouth – namely through holistic dentistry. Dave continues:
Another anomaly: The convention is scheduled for two days- Saturday, Nov. 14th, Sunday, the 15th. However, apparently you can purchase a three-day pass! They do not give particulars, but it is ranked with the Gold Card Pass as far as its privileges are concerned.
Read more: What is a Skeptic's Role at a Paranormal Conference?
James Randi and Steve Novella on YouTube
- Details
- Written by Jeffrey Wagg
- Category: Latest JREF News
- Hits: 8672
Dr. Steve Novella of Skeptics Guide to the Universe stopped by the JREF recently and had an interesting discussion with James Randi about magic and neurology. We were able to tape it and share it with you on YouTube.
If you'd like to make comments, please visit this link to go to YouTube directly.
Give Me an S! Give Me a C!
- Details
- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 11022
Chemical and Engineering News may have a narrow audience, but long time JREF friend (she's never missed a TAM!) and educator Sachie brings this cheery article to our attention.
From the article:
Darlene Cavalier, a Pennsylvania mother of four, a former business developer for Walt Disney Publishing Worldwide, and a onetime cheerleader for the Philadelphia 76ers, is a vociferous fan of science and, with her slam-dunk smile and enthusiasm, is adding a literal verve to the idea of science cheerleading.
Courtesy of Darlene Cavalier
A Message From the Spirit World
- Details
- Written by Harriet Hall
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 13268
I have received a personal message from beyond the grave, in the form of an audio file. It was posted under the heading American Chiropractors apply for the Zerobrainer Award. It seems that D. D. Palmer, the founder of chiropractic, has been monitoring the Quackwatch Healthfraud discussion list and the Science-Based Medicine blog from wherever departed spirits reside, and he is pissed. He singles me out for criticism and addresses me as Harriet.
He says I should be devoting my retirement to ladylike pursuits: knitting, ladies' clubs, baking cookies and the like. Thinking is not a woman's game. He says he had 5 wives himself and they knew their place.
Page 353 of 408