Notes From The Field
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- Written by Brian Thompson
- Category: Swift
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It's going to be a busy September for the JREF with our appearances at Dragon*Con's Skeptrack, James Randi's whirlwind lecture tour of Canada, and a talk from Randi at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, FL (more details very soon). Plus, we're very excited to announce our next regional workshop will be held in Washington, D.C.!
And This Passes For Education?
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- Written by James Randi
- Category: Swift
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The Community College of Rhode Island [CCRI] has proudly announced that this fall, a “reiki master” will be holding a seminar on “crystal and mineral healing” at the college. This, we’re told, is
…a type of alternative therapy that involves laying crystals or gemstones on the body. Each student will experience a crystal therapy session and get a really good idea about how it changes your energy and rebalances you.
This instructor at CCRI also does “Cranio Sacral Therapy,” and uses such advanced quackery as “Bio Magnets,” “Light Life Tools,” “Dowsing,” and “Pendulums” She assures students that she is also a teacher and practitioner of many other alternative healing methods, and says that crystals have their own “intrinsic energy,” and will “interact with points on the body’s energy field, known as chakras, to promote balance and well-being.” “Each crystal has its own properties and attributes when laid on the body with a specific chakra,” she says. This collection of talents puts her well up in the tree with the top woo-woos, but she’s teaching at CCRI.
Guerilla Skepticism and Wikipedia
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- Written by Susan Gerbic
- Category: Swift
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The single most powerful skeptical tool on the Internet today is Wikipedia. Only ten years old, this living, breathing encyclopedia has already changed the epistemology in every language.
On my blog Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia I urge the skeptical community to embrace Wikipedia as our most relevant tool, enabling us to shape the public into better critical thinkers. We already know that shouting and belittling believers does nothing but force them to circle the cognitive dissonance wagons, and shut down. Allowing them to do their own research and think things through independently, without pressure, is the only way to potentially change their minds.
Your Skeptic Stories
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- Written by Maria Myrback
- Category: Swift
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[Editor’s Note: “Your Skeptic Stories” is an ongoing series written by readers like you, people who have, through one means or another, discovered skepticism and critical thinking. These stories remind us that we all started somewhere and some of us are still finding our way as skeptics If you are interested in contributing your own story, please submit your piece of around 1000 words to maria (at) randi.org along with a short 2-3 line bio.
Today’s story comes from Jay]
Weekly Media Roundup, August 19, 2011
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This week: The JREF on Primetime Nightline, bloggers discuss the TV special, Randi to tour Canada.
- Primetime Nightline | ABC, August 17, 2011
Beyond Belief—Psychic Powers (Full episode) - Large Idea Collider | Ars Technica, August 19, 2011
Crank who targeted science writers lured into threatening police - Pharyngula | FreeThoughtBlogs.com, August 17, 2011
The JREF on TV? Maybe. I’m skeptical. - Friendly Atheist, August 16, 2011
JREF to Appear on ABC’s Primetime Nightline
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