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This past August, hundreds of scientists, futurists, philosophers and others gathered to explore the impact of technology on our society at the 2010 Singularity Summit. The Summit is hosted by the The Singularity Institute, an organization focused on cognitive technologies and their place in humanity's future.

Randi was among the leading thinkers invited to speak at the summit. This is a video of his talk: "Is there Such a Thing as Scientific Consensus?"

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Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo in medicine.

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No, I’m not a scientist. I’ve never claimed that distinction. I’m just someone who is awed by those who have attained academic degrees and gone forward to augment our understanding of how the world works – which is what I believe science should be all about. Years ago, I saw with satisfaction how great progress was being made in science, how the inevitable errors were promptly corrected, and how we could depend on what we were told by the media – though there were always some media sources we well knew were dedicated to nonsense and quackery, and we wrote those off. But we knew who the dependable people and agencies were. All that has changed.

Now, I’m much less enthused about the sort of science that I encounter in the press and on television, and the Information Age has obviously become our enemy rather than our friend, as we once thought it would be. Money and ego have taken over. Any nonsense that powerful people like Oprah Winfrey want to promote is featured as fact, quackery is extolled, pseudoscience is flaunted as fact in news media rather than on pulp magazine racks, and at the rate that flummery is taking over, I’m wondering whether my next book, A Magician in the Laboratory, will ever see print – I can’t seem to finish it because of the constant load of misinformation that pours in, daily. Here are two examples of the sort of thing that has so discouraged me:

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We’re looking for fresh, insightful, well-researched posts on skeptical topics for the Randi.org blog, which receives a high volume of internet traffic and is a leading online resource for science-based information about skepticism and the paranormal. We welcome submissions that explore new claims of pseudoscience and the paranormal, share thoughts on the issues we face as skeptics, provide fresh perspectives on old controversies, or otherwise interest JREF members and supporters. Submissions should be less than than 2,000 words.

If you have something you want to share on our blog, send it to our stalwart volunteer editor, Maria Myrback! An enthusiastic skeptic, she’s the creator of the Fledgeling Skeptic blog, and she’s helping up keep our own blog up-to-date with the latest commentary by Randi and our growing collection of other bloggers. Please send submissions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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My five-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD about a year ago. The diagnosis would certainly come as no surprise to anyone who has spent time around him. He talks without interruption from 7:00 in the morning until he falls asleep at 10:00 p.m.. He runs any child he plays with into the ground as they beg him to slow down. He loves school and does well but spends nearly the entire day standing up as he is unable to stay in a seat for any length of time. He often has no control over his body, which seems to be driven by some outside force. He is outgoing, kind, and likable, but often "wears out his welcome" as his impulsivity and limitless energy exhaust those around him. It’s probably this same ADHD that has given him the adventurous spirit, unflinching enthusiasm for new experiences, and exceptional resourcefulness that are his hallmarks. These traits, combined with his good nature, have allowed him to thrive in most social and educational environments—but that is becoming harder for him.

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