Randi Speaks - Compass Movement Revealed
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- Written by Jeffrey Wagg
- Category: James Randi Speaks
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As promised, James Randi reveals how it's possible to make a compass move with "the power of your mind," and shows just how easy it is to be fooled by this trick he used to perform at summer camp.
Popoff Gets Popped in Australia
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- Written by Jeff Wagg
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Reader Ken from Australia reports:
Hello. I just thought I'd share this with you. I've noticed that the egregious Peter Popoff's TV show has been running here in Australia in the middle of the night on the Nine Network for several months. I decided to see whether I could get them exposed. I emailed a program called "Media Watch" on the ABC (Aust Broadcasting Corp), telling them about Popoff and his history. I did get back a response from one of their investigators a few days later, requesting some more info, and he told me they were doing a segment on Popoff on last night's (Monday 27th April) show.
I was delighted to see that the episode did appear last night, and delighted to see that they credited James Randi with originally exposing his fraud.
You can watch the episode online if you care to. Go to (this link) and you can see and/or download the episode.
(I don't know if my request triggered the report or whether they were planning it anyway, but it doesn't really matter. Media Watch is a respected prime time program which acts as a sort of unofficial "watchdog" over the Aust media.)
Well Ken, we don’t know if you prompted it or not, but thanks very much for not only calling it to the Australian media’s attention, but also to our own.Small TAM 7 Update!
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- Written by Jeffrey Wagg
- Category: Latest JREF News
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First, in case you haven't been watching your calendar, TAM 7 prices will increase slightly on May 1st. If you haven't registered, now is the time! Click here for more info on TAM. I should mention too that some of the extra events are filling up. As of right now, everything is still open, including the workshops, show tickets, and private Randi events, but as in years past, there's a good chance they'll sell out. Best not to wait there either!
Also, I have to mention the TAM Scholarship program. This year, due to the economy and other factors we've been overwhelmed with applications, and the generous donations we've received thusfar haven't been enough to meet demand. To try to help get people to TAM who couldn't otherwise afford it, Kitty Mervine is organizing a unique auction to help raise some money. Check it out on our forum at this address. Some of the items available include:
- A very special signed photograph of James Randi in the Galapagos.
- A cornucopia of George Hrab goodies, pants optional.
- A set of professional juggling balls signed by Michael Goodeau of Lance Burton and Bullshit! fame.
Check it out, and know that you're helping get folks to attend TAM. Thanks to everyone who's helped with this, including the generous people who dontated and signed the auction items. You know who you are, and I do too.
A Simple Demonstration
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- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Swift
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A friend of the JREF recently sent me two pictures, one of which is displayed to the right. At first I thought this must be a photo from a Japanese garden, where tastes in sculpture have been known to be a little bit different from what I see in Vermont, USA.
Sculpture is a representation, ranging from extremely lifelike to extremely abstract. Like all art, abstract art conveys meaning, sometimes more meaning, because we are pattern seeking creatures. The patterns we see come from our brains, and this tells us something of our experiences and our upbringing. In the abstract example above, I see a mother hawk feeding her chicks. It might be fun to post what you see in the comments below.
Now move your mouse over the photo in this article, and click Read More.
Following Up...
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Swift reader Steve Wellcome, commenting on my recent entry here about the Charles Lynch fiasco, offers us this:
You may want to check out www.leap.cc the website of the organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, a group of several thousand current and former law enforcement professionals who are calling for an end to drug prohibition. Not because they condone drug use, certainly, but because drug prohibition is causing far more harm than good. Think of the social harm caused by alcohol prohibition in the 1920s, and multiply that disaster by exponential quantities.
Steve expresses my feelings on the matter quite well. I believe that if the sale and use of drugs were to be suddenly legalized, first, the entire criminal community would be almost instantly crippled due to lack of income, on an international scale.
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