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Bryan_and_Baxter_-_Smoky_Hills_Library_talkThe crowd at the Smoky Hill library was probably expecting ghost stories; after all, the talk was titled: Paranormal Ghost Hunting. Instead, they received an introduction to critical thinking and the scientific method. Better yet, this outreach was to a room full of kids, teenagers and their parents. 

The talk was given by Bryan Bonner and Matthew Baxter, who presented “Investigating the Investigators” at TAM 9, a talk about their hoax of a paranormal group. (You may have seen the duo in the halls of the South Point casino, wearing black suits and alien-green fluorescent ties.)

Bryan and Baxter are currently giving lectures about science and the paranormal to groups at libraries in the greater Denver area. This is a series of talks aimed at teenagers, teaching them the basics of skepticism, in a fun, approachable and interactive way. Kids and youths are the future of skepticism, so 17-year-old Logan Baxter was also involved in the talk.

The audience underwent a suggestibility test and viewed some classic optical illusions to demonstrate that we can’t always trust our senses, and everyone can be fooled. They learned about an archaeological dig and a geological survey. They heard about the results of hands-on investigations, and how there are natural explanations for paranormal phenomena.

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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.

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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 Jorge.]

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This week: More coverage of The Amaz!ng Meeting, including three podcasts recorded at TAM 2011 Las Vegas.

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It's not surprising that no psychic announced any warning for the horrific events that took place in Norway on Friday, July 22. Not even Norway's biggest psychic, the Snåsaman, to whom Randi offered a chance at the Million Dollar Challenge, has said a thing. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, a proponent of angels and a believer in supernatural powers and beings, has, thankfully, had no comment. A Google search, in both English and Norwegian, reveals stark silence about psychics' failure to prove they have the power of clairvoyance, even in such a heart-wrenching, violent tragedy. Except one...

  1. The Ledge: A Movie Review
  2. My Skeptic Elevator Pitch
  3. A Thank You to the TAM9-ers
  4. Your Skeptic Stories