Help Me! Or I'll Kill You!
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- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 14737
Those who follow me on Twitter or Facebook know that I received an inflammatory e-mail this morning. I wasn’t the only one to receive it – it was sent to a number of TV stations and public skeptics. And of course, this isn’t unusual. If you blog and take up a controversial position (yes, skepticism is sadly controversial), you’ll receive this delightful mail as well.
It was quite an offensive piece that threatened the entire population of the United States with slaughter and included a picture of “Goatse,” a well-known photo that I urge you not to Google. (When you do it anyway, just remember that I did warn you.) As the e-mail is offensive and even disturbing, I’ve put a photo of it here. You needn’t look at it to get my point.
What at first glance looks like a threat of violence from a mad man is actually something much more upsetting. It’s a cry for help that none of us are able to answer.
The Meaning of Membership
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- Written by Bart Farkas
- Category: Uncategorised
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The James Randi Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1996. The list of accomplishments by the foundation and its founder, James Randi is legion, but as we know all too well, in order to keep fighting the fight against charlatans, uninformed media, and as Randi would say “woo-woo”, we need to continue to cultivate support from skeptics the world over.
Perhaps the easiest way to support the JREF is to simply become a member of the foundation. In a very real way memberships are what drive the JREF and it’s critical that we continue to receive the heartfelt support of critical thinkers like you.
Membership funds go to underwriting the JREF’s operations, which include:
- Outreach to grassroots skeptics
- Regional Workshops on a variety of skeptical topics
- Educator Grants for teachers
- The Amaz!ng Meeting
- The Million Dollar Challenge
Members of the James Randi Educational Foundation enjoy free access to Regional Workshops, access to members-only parties and events throughout the year, a discount for TAM registration, and the pride of knowing that they are supporting a worthwhile organization that is working to further critical thinking the world over.
Becoming a member is a breeze and can be done easily and securely online at www.randi.org site/index.php/support-us.html (click the Become A Member button), and for students is a bargain at only $25, while the Basic membership is only $50. If you are not a member of the JREF but support our mission, why not become an official member today and enjoy not only the benefits of membership, but the knowledge that you are supporting a worthwhile cause that is working to make the world a better and safer place for all of us.
To become a member now, click here. Thanks for your support!
Gallery of Woo
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- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Swift
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Lest you think that quack treatments are on the way out, let this collection from Canada's CBC refresh your memory. There is very little commentary on the photos, though a spirited debate rages in the comments below.
"Ancient wisdom" persists even today. Often it does no harm; sometimes it's deadly. What it isn't is progressive – no one is learning how to "perfect" these techniques or make them better, because no one is thinking about mechanisms or trying to explain their efficacy (or lack thereof). Modern medical science, on the other hand, is a never ending quest for the next better thing and we have much better things now.
So while these pictures are interesting, quirky, and in some cases downright silly, other pictures are truly astounding.
James Randi: Rebel Space Jockey
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- Written by JREF
- Category: Swift
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Four recent photographs in which Randi shows off his ride. And while we're on the subject, don't forget that the Amazing, along with DJ Grothe and tons of cool skeptics, will attend the Skeptrack at Dragon*Con next month.
Randi To Speak at Singularity Summit
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- Written by Brandon K. Thorp
- Category: Swift
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This Friday, Randi, DJ and I decamp for the Singularity Summit in San Francisco. There we will be guests of the Singularity Institute, and Randi will speak to the assembled scientists, futurists, idealists, philosophers, and writers about the importance of critical thinking.
Yes — ringing that old bell again. But this will be a special talk, even by Randi’s standards. The Singularity, as it is called — those unfamiliar with the concept may feel some alarm at my insistence on capitalization; please believe this is how it must be done — is defined in various ways by those who talk about it, but generally refers to the moment in the not-too-distant-future when a human being will construct a machine or computer program that is slightly smarter than its creator. After that, the thinking goes, all bets are off. The subsequent course of human history will undergo a significant weirding.
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