James Randi Educational Foundation

Feng Shui? No Shui!

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Written by Dr. Karen Stollznow
Category: Swift
Published: 25 July 2012
Created: 25 July 2012
Hits: 19606
I was shopping on Overstock.com when I came across two surprising pages. The online retailer now offers a “Feng Shui Buying Guide”1 and a “Feng Shui Checklist”2 to ensure that your home décor purchases adhere to the principles of feng shui. Buddha forbid that you might buy a vase that blocks qi, or has too much yin energy! Overstock offers this advice to “make your home feel more balanced”, and to that end, they also sell a range of feng shui-friendly vases, office chairs, statues, decorative screens, lamps and other furnishings.

“Feng Shui” (pronounced “fung shway”) translates to “wind water”. This ancient Chinese practice is concerned with creating positive qi and keeping the balance of yin and yang in the home, workplace and other social environments. Specifically, it is the belief that the use of certain numbers, colors, and styles of architecture, landscaping and decoration can attract good fortune, and repel misfortune. In essence, it’s paranormal interior design.

Read more: Feng Shui? No Shui!

Keep Up with Consequence

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Written by JREF Staff
Category: Latest JREF News
Published: 24 July 2012
Created: 24 July 2012
Hits: 5974

consequence_logoThe JREF has just released the latest episode of our newest podcast Consequence, featuring an interview with Bonnie, a Christian Scientist whose family's distrust in medical science led to at least one tragic death. Remarkably, Bonnie discovered the incident through What's the Harm, the exhaustive database of pseudoscience victims maintained by JREF research fellow Tim Farley. In this episode, we also talk to Tim about the current state of Christian Science faith healings.

And in case you missed it, be sure to check out our previous episode, in which JREF Director of Communications (and co-host of Oh No, Ross and Carrie!) Carrie Poppy talks about her short-lived career as an energy healer. Spoiler alert: It didn't work out.

Find a new episode of Consequence every two weeks, either right here at Randi.org or on iTunes.

This Week In Doubtful News

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Written by Sharon Hill
Category: Swift
Published: 24 July 2012
Created: 24 July 2012
Hits: 10797

Here is a rundown of the top stories in pseudoscience and paranormal news from the past week courtesy of Doubtful News.

It was a VERY busy week in news. First, it was Amazing Meeting week! Here is a summary. In another part of town, uber-skeptic Dr. Steve Novella shows us how to win an impromptu vaccination debate.

In an update to an early story about a Portland Oregon school district that spent nearly $200K fighting a lawsuit about wi-fi, the judge throws out the case with no resolution.

There was some good news about how complaints may get you somewhere, the "Your Baby can Read" company is going out of business. Although, maybe they tanked because babies CAN'T learn to read with this product.

In this astounding story, gorillas identify snares as dangerous and REMOVE them. Even for people! Fascinating if true.

Read more: This Week In Doubtful News

The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012 in Photos

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Written by James Randi Educational Foundation
Category: Latest JREF News
Published: 20 July 2012
Created: 20 July 2012
Hits: 8797

 

With more than a dozen Amaz!ng Meetings complete, the JREF is proud to share photos of TAM 2012, one of our best events yet. View the slideshow below for a taste of this amaz!ng event, and stay tuned for videos of TAM talks by some of the brightest minds in science and skepticism!

 

Last Week At Science-Based Medicine

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Written by Dr. Harriet Hall
Category: Swift
Published: 23 July 2012
Created: 23 July 2012
Hits: 8037

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.  

Steve Novella vs. Julian Whitaker on vaccines at FreedomFest (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/battling-antivaccinationists-at-freedomfest/ Dr. Novella was enlisted at the last minute to debate an anti-vaccine activist (Suzanne Somers’ doctor) who claimed that vaccines cause autism and by 2041 the incidence of autism will be 100% and our children and our country will be destroyed. None of Whitaker’s facts or arguments were valid. Dr. Novella clearly won the debate, easily mopping the floor with his opponent.  

Caption this: Dr. Gorski meets Dr. Whitaker (David Gorski) http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/dr-gorski-meets-dr-whitaker/ Dr. Gorski invites readers to caption a picture of Dr. Whitaker pointing his finger at a laughing Gorski after the FreedomFest debate. Submissions include “The Emperor does too have new clothes!”  

Read more: Last Week At Science-Based Medicine

  1. Another Herb Bites the Dust
  2. The Skeptical Disconnect Redux
  3. TAM In Memoriam Presentation
  4. The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street

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