Randi Challenges Top "Psychics" After Nightline Episode
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LOS ANGELES—The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) has just directed its Million Dollar Challenge toward the celebrity "psychic mediums" featured on last night’s episode of ABC’s Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief.1
“James Van Praagh and Allison DuBois have turned the huckster art of ‘cold reading’ into a multi-million-dollar industry, preying on families’ deepest fears and regrets,” said James Randi, founder of the JREF and a renowned magician and skeptic who also appeared in the episode. “They should be embarrassed by the transparent performances they revealed to the world on last night’s show.”
The JREF’s Million Dollar Challenge Director, Banachek, also featured in the episode, said, “We’re issuing a challenge to these fakers: for once, show that you can get this supposedly supernatural knowledge without cheating. If one of you can demonstrate your ‘psychic’ abilities on randomly chosen strangers—not celebrities—under mutually-agreed conditions, without relying on known cold-reading techniques such as fishing around with vague questions, and without just using Google—we will donate our million dollars to you or to the charity of your choice.”
What Happened?
Read more: Randi Challenges Top "Psychics" After Nightline Episode
Notes From The Field
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Dragon*Con, one of the world's largest conventions for fans of science fiction, fantasy, comic books, anime, gaming, and everything else that's just a little bit nerdy (or a whole lot nerdy) is just around the corner, and the JREF will be there! The incomparable Derek and Swoopy of Skepticality are once again hosting a weekend-long Skeptrack chock full of science and skepticism goodness. If you're there, be sure to stop by the JREF table and check out some of the Skeptrack panels on which we'll be appearing.
JREF on ABC's Primetime Nightline, Weds. 10pm / 9pm Central
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Wednesday night at 10:00pm (9:00pm Central), ABC's Primetime Nightline will air a one-hour special on psychic abilities.
James Randi, along with JREF President D.J. Grothe, JREF's Million Dollar Challenge Director Banachek, and advisor Jamy Ian Swiss, worked with Nightline producers on two of the segments and participated in three days of taping, including the JREF's first-ever open Million Dollar Challenge event where hundreds of New York City psychics were invited to take our tests.
Watch ABC's 30-second teaser for the show here, click "Read More" for behind-the-scenes photos, and make sure to watch Wednesday night!
Read more: JREF on ABC's Primetime Nightline, Weds. 10pm / 9pm Central
TAM 2011 Las Vegas in Photos
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Relive the magic (and science!) of TAM 2011 Las Vegas in this slideshow of images by TAM 2011’s official photographer, Ingrid Laas, including exclusive behind-the-scenes angles and shots seen today for the first time.
For a great written recap of TAM, check out Hemant Mehta's live-blog at Friendly Atheist:
Friday Morning Sessions | Friday Afternoon Sessions
Saturday Morning Sessions | Saturday Afternoon Sessions
Sunday Morning Sessions | Sunday Afternoon Sessions
A Skeptics' Dictionary For Kids
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Bob Carroll of The Skeptics' Dictionary has just written a new Skeptics' Dictionary for Kids, which can be found online at sd4kids.skepdic.com. It's written in clear, simple language that anyone can understand, and it explains in detail 46 key topics of scientific skepticism. It's a great online tool for teachers, parents, or anyone else helping young people learn and explore the world with critical thinking.
Check it out: Skeptics' Dictionary for Kids
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