Problem with YouTube
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- Written by Jeff Wagg
- Category: Latest JREF News
- Hits: 25126
Our YouTube account has been suspended, which means all of the Randi Speaks and other JREF videos are temporarily unavailable. We're researching the problem, and will be back online as soon as possible. Thanks very much for your patience.
Some Interesting Details
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- Written by James Randi
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 19416
In this May '04 Swift, you'll find a rather comprehensive item about Carla Baron, who owes the cupidity - if not the stupidity - of the media, for her continued success. Renata Galvan, who was a victim of this reckless endorsement of psychic powers, has some interesting news on the actual facts about Baron's involvement in the investigation of the murder of her son Tim:
I am writing you concerning so called psychic Carla Baron. I think you guys were absolutely correct that she is all out for the publicity. My son's case was featured on "Haunting Evidence" as its second episode.
Carla claims she was going in blind on the case, and that was so far from the truth. She talked to me EVERY DAY for several months, pretending to be my friend and to help me. All the while she would direct me to bulletin boards to praise her efforts and defend her when skeptics would write about her.
Science and Skepticism a Growing Trend?
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- Written by Alison Smith
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 12982
Shows based on mysterious investigations have been a staple of American television for years, and have had the public entranced by the logical explanations of Mr. Spock , fascinated by the resourcefulness of MacGyver, and wondering at the possibilities rattled off by Agent Fox Mulder.
But until this point, television wasn’t necessarily concerned with the accuracy of what was represented, leading to episodes of Star Trek that made viewers pause and wonder at the plausibility of a giant hand in space. We are at a strange point in time – one where what the public finds entertaining happens to be logic and science, even if the edges of the scientific accuracy are blurred.
Hyperbaric Oxygen for Autism? Not so fast
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- Written by Joe Albietz
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 22985
Treating children with autism can be remarkably frustrating for everyone involved. Its impact on children and their families is life-altering, its cause is unclear, and its therapies are minimally effective at best and costly, dangerous, or exploitative at worst. It is easy to understand how studies which may show a benefit for afflicted children will rapidly draw attention and proponents, regardless of its plausibility.
One such therapy is hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. There have been some reports that a minority of children with autism have abnormal blood vessels feeding various areas of their brain, potentially limiting the amount of oxygen available to that area of the brain and possibly causing dysfunction of the affected neurons. Notice the hedge terms I use; the evidence is quite weak at this point. Regardless, if this is true, one might expect better functioning of the oxygen deficient neurons with more oxygen delivered. Anecdotes exist describing such a response, but until recently no well designed studies had evaluated the claim.
TAM London website now open!
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- Written by Phil Plait
- Category: Swift
- Hits: 8198
As we recently announced, The Amaz!ng Meetings are going international: On 3-4 October 2009 we'll be holding TAM London, our first overseas meeting.
We're now very excited to announce the launch of the official TAM London website! It has a list of confirmed speakers, including (of course) Randi, Phil Plait, Adam Savage, Richard Dawkins, Professor Brian Cox, Ariane Sherine... and you can expect to see more listed soon! The website also has information on the venue, and much more.
If you want to keep up with the latest TAM London news there's a blog, a Twitter feed, and a Facebook group... and more coming, too.
Please note that registration for TAM London is not yet open; that's coming soon. But until then take a look around the site, and make sure you mark the dates!
It'll be a... it'll be a... no... can't make ... jolly good time reference...
It'll be brilliant.
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