Some years ago I went up on stage in Madison, Wisconsin — in my Adam Jersin alter ego — to have Uri Geller sign a copy of the novel "Pampini." Geller was listed as the author. It appears that I have been going about the author business all wrong, since I myself write the books on which my name appears as author. Now, we’re told, Geller has written a novel titled "Ella," and the introductory biography contains the following assertion: "The world's most prestigious scientific magazine, NATURE, published a paper on Uri's work at the Stanford Research Institute — a unique endorsement, and irrefutable proof that his powers are genuine."
Well, anyone who reads the "endorsement" and examines the "irrefutable proof" will find that it’s anything but that. The article in Nature said that the paper did not meet standards for good scientific research, but the editors had published the "highly debatable experimental data" in part, to resolve "extravagant rumor" about Geller’s abilities. When asked about spoon-bending — his most popular demonstration by far — at the SRI lab, Geller said that he didn’t do it there because he "just didn’t want to do it." Not so. He tried for weeks at SRI to bend spoons, actually did bend them, and was filmed doing it, but the scientists there did not report on it because the bends all took place when the spoons were off-camera for a few seconds. One wonders why. That Nature paper on Geller was accompanied by an editorial that effectively damned it, saying that "details given of various safeguards and precautions ... were uncomfortably vague." They also said it was "weak in design and presentation, to the extent that details ... were disconcertingly vague," showing a "lack of skill" and "insufficient account of the established methodology of experimental psychology." In my opinion, this does not amount to "irrefutable proof" of anything but a bad paper, though I admit that it was "unique."
John Edward, the star of the "Crossing Over" show on the Sci-Fi channel here in the USA, has come in for rather heavy attention recently. His appearances on the NBC-TV "Today Show" and some other non-critical venues, were easy for him. He was allowed to deliver his well-laundered spiel, unquestioned and unchallenged. "Dateline" gave him more of a problem, though they failed to solve the gimmicks and methods used by this — in my opinion — rather mediocre "cold reader." But on the 28th of this month, you’ll see "Inside Edition" march Edward over the coals. And TIME Magazine, in a "Skeptical Eye" feature, will examine his claims rather well, too, this week. "TV Guide" has scheduled an article by myself to run soon, and I’m not kind, either.
Do a search on this web page for "cold reading" and learn even more about Mr. Edward and his methods.
As I point out in my article, taking just the first 45 seconds of Edward on a "Crossing Over" show, we find 23 guesses made for an audience member, which means a guess every two seconds. Twenty of these 23 guesses are wrong, yet the man is reduced to tears and sobbing because he believes that the ghost of his father has been contacted! No name, no initials, no cause of death, no location, nothing is given this man as evidence that Edward has been successful, yet the effect is dramatic and obvious. Why? Because the victim of this cruel hoax needs to believe that an ex-ballroom dancer named McGee, now known as the "medium" John Edward, can reach The Other Side and bring back the dead. And what were the three correct guesses that convinced the man? One: it’s an older man — not a surprise. Two: there’s a younger man here, too — which Edward guessed was the older man’s son, but wasn’t. Three: his father is dead. What? Say again? This is evidence? But it’s good enough to sell Edwards’ act, and the sponsors are very, very, happy.
In another instance, a woman interviewed following her session with Edward reported that she was "blown away" by his assertion that her mother was "coming through" to him very loudly and strongly. She marveled that her mother had actually been very timid and quiet, but was glad that in Heaven she was asserting herself! Consider: if Edward says the mother is noisy, that’s a "hit" for this woman. If Edward says the mother is quiet, that’s also a "hit! With customers this easy to please, Edward just can’t lose....! Note, too, that the "Crossing Over" show also showed an excerpt from a pre-show interview with this woman in which she was asked what questions she wanted Edward to answer for her. And he’s going on syndicated TV....
A ridiculous show on FOX-TV last week challenged the fact that NASA actually landed on the Moon. Wherever there’s news, there’s someone to pop up and announce a conspiracy, it seems, though this one is rather old hat. A startling discovery by the FOX people is that the flag supposedly planted by the astronauts on the Moon is flapping in the wind, and there’s no wind up there! Gotcha, NASA! A simple examination and a little — very little — common sense, shows that the flag is exactly the same in every shot, and doesn’t show any movement in the video sequences. A slow wind, maybe? But FOX, on an apparently slow day for sensations, dug up this old we-never-went-to-the-Moon chestnut and sought out the conspiracy promoters, who then delighted in bleating about the dreadful forces of evil (NASA and the US government) who have once again deceived us. Throw in the oil companies, the CIA, FBI, IRA, and General Mills, and I guess you have most of those who withheld The Truth from us.
Here's a funny bit on the FOX piece from astronomer John Mosley of the Griffith Observatory, forwarded to me by Michael Shermer of Skeptic Magazine (www.skeptic.com):
But that's nothing!
World War I didn't happen! Most people believe the story they've been fed that millions and millions of men fought and died in Europe. Nope. Powerful forces want us to believe that, but actually it was faked. Only some horses were hurt in filming it (that was before animal rights groups were so strong). They're still paying pensions to alleged survivors and their descendants to keep the cover on it.
But there's more!
France doesn't exist! This story will break real big when FOX gets hold of it, and I can't talk about it until then. Most people have never been to France and they won't find it hard to believe that it is a cover-up. It'll be tougher to convince all the tourists who think they went to France that it is part of an elaborate hoax. (NASA solved the same problem with the guys who think they went to the moon; it’s the same principle but just on a different scale.) I'll reveal my own modest role in the hoax only after FOX has gone public.
The real question is — does FOX exist? I have evidence that aliens have taken over part of the electromagnetic spectrum, but that's all I can say ... .
It was bound to get out sooner or later that the Apollo program was a hoax, and one day I'll sell the story about my own modest role in the cover-up. It was pretty good, if you think about it a minute, that 600,000 government employees were able to keep a secret for 30 years — until FOX found out. I guess we can all talk now.
I promised last week that I would outline for you a long-term deception that has been going on for several years now, involving a martial-arts performer who dabbles in magic tricks — as many of them do — and a respected academic in Florida who fancies himself to be a parapsychologist. I will refer to these characters as Dr. X and Joe. Dr. X reported on a series of demonstrations done by Joe, and apparently believes that they constitute evidence of supernatural powers. If that is so, David Copperfield and Penn & Teller must be deities, in his eyes. He began being fooled by this man in 1983, and has since prepared 170 videotapes of the performances.
Let’s get one thing understood before I start. This man is a psychiatrist, a medical professional who is very well educated. He’s not stupid, he’s not crazy. But he lacks the expertise to judge these matters, and he certainly should be aware that those who do have knowledge of conjuring techniques, and who are capable of evaluating them, should be listened to when they come forward. Years ago, when this doctor first began extolling the powers of the performer who has been fooling him ever since, I advised him that what he was being shown were simple, explainable, identifiable, tricks. He chose to ignore my comments, which were offered in order that he might not be victimized any further, and without any obligation on his part. Knowing the perversity of these folks, I know that he will not change his mind after seeing this (a copy is being sent to him in advance of its appearance here) nor will he make any attempt to actually look into the data I provide here.
This is not my first encounter with the doctor. He has been deceived before, in a similar situation, and has been shown to be naive and stubborn about that matter, too, characteristically persisting in his self-deception. I offer you this article so that you may see just how strangely the true believers behave. Indeed, I believe it would be a matter of great interest to psychiatrists.... The "Alternate Perceptions" article, as I said last week, runs 24 pages, and describes in detail 42 different tricks that were performed. Some are so simple that I won’t include them, and a few are slightly more involved routines — as indicated by the fact that the performer had to try several times to get them to work. At the end of this piece, you will see a web page listed, along with a phone number and address of the magic dealer who sells the tricks. PLEASE don’t call or write to ask about the way in which the tricks are performed. The dealer will not discuss this with you. He offers a catalog for sale, the one in which I found these items listed, and from which I have taken the illustrations you see here. He also sells the tricks themselves. I have long been familiar with these tricks, but have listed them so that you can prove for yourself, if you need to, that they exist as recognized, standard, parts of the amateur magician’s repertoire.
We begin with Trick number 1 in the Alternate Perceptions article. (All of the photos published in the magazine were taken from videotape, and are almost unintelligible.) This is called by Dr. X, "ANTI-GRAVITY EFFECT." He writes that Joe pours water into a small cylindrical container, and after some by-play, inverts the container without any water spilling out, and then re-inverts it and pours the water out again. A miracle? Refer to the illustration and description of catalog #583, "IMPROVED WA-TER-LU," retail price $5.00. Come to your own conclusion.
Trick number 2, called "PRESUMED MATERIALIZATION OF WATER" — as if Dr. X might have some small doubts about it? — involves a "brim-flanged" pot from which Joe repeatedly pours portions of water. Refer to the catalog illustration of item #RR-176, selling for $27.50, the description of which is rather similar. In fact, the fuzzy photo in Dr. X’s article shows the identical bowl, which in the magic trade, is referred to as a "Lota Bowl" or "Foo Can."
Number 3, referred to by Dr. X as, "STREAM OF 7-UP™ AND SUSPENDED PLASTIC TUMBLER," consists of Joe pouring the drink from a can into a tumbler held directly below it, 
then removing his hand from the tumbler, which stays suspended in place. This trick, also done with other liquids, is a popular small-magic cabaret item, and even Lance Burton, the Las Vegas magic star, tosses it in as a 20-second bit in his stage routine. It sells for $30 in the catalog, item #UG-100, named "Airborne 7-UP." There is another version using a Coke bottle, item #585, named "Strato-Glass." Same price.
Jump to Trick number 9, labeled "TWO COKES™," which is featured in Penn & Teller’s book, "How To Play With Your Food." Joe vigorously shakes one can of Coke, sets it aside, and points out that the other can has not even been lifted or moved. He says he will transfer "power" from one can to the other. He opens the shaken can, and there is no exceptional display of "power." However, opening the unshaken can, the contents spray out in all directions. I refer you to the Penn & Teller book — which is an excellent read, anyway — for the secret. Be sure to read it while seated, or you’ll fall down laughing.
Trick number 12 is another hoot. Dr. X describes it thus, along with much description of Joe’s costume and a face mask, "solemn chords of music" playing, a child’s toy that is used only as dressing, all of which I’ll spare you:
[Joe’s] wife shows four, empty, clear, plastic tumblers and an acrylic, plastic sheet which she then places as a platform on top of the four, cornered, overturned tumblers. ... She takes another clear, plastic tumbler which is approximately one-fourth filled with water. She pours the water into a silver-colored (i.e. aluminum), metal cup. She agitates the water and then places the cup on the middle of the plastic platform ... . [Joe] manually inverts the cup and no water runs out. He moves the overturned cup from side to side, then places it on the plastic platform. [Joe’s] wife takes the cup and shows that now the interior is filled completely with cracked ice.
This one I can reveal to you. Note that Dr. X not only is uncertain about what the "silver-colored metal cup" is made of, he doesn’t even know whether it’s empty! It’s not. It contains a quantity of the powdered chemical that is used in adult diapers, a material that absorbs a huge quantity of water, swells up, and forms a firm, translucent, granular gel that exactly resembles cracked ice! Dr. X had no evidence whatsoever about the gel that he saw. He was told it was cracked ice, and he believed it. And this is what he calls "research"?
With the title, "RUBBERBAND PULLED THROUGH METACARPAL-PHALANGEAL JOINT," we might expect a super miracle for Trick number 19. Alas, we are disappointed. This is one of about 20 basic tricks done with rubber bands, described in several books, one of which is by Joe Rindfleisch, titled "Elas-Tricks." By now I believe you can see how this academic uses technical terms (he refers above to the joint at the base of the finger) and stresses peripheral flourishes (candles, music, masks, robes) to lend credence to what are nothing more than parlor tricks. Kids do this rubber-band stunt to amuse one another. And, it appears, "psychics" do it to fool psychiatrists.
Trick number 31 is one I almost hesitate to bore you with. Joe makes a paper-clip go through what Dr. X refers to as "levitation" in a glass. Yawn. This is accomplished by means of a strong magnet (#MR-103, for $32.50, page 163 in the catalog) that can be placed beneath the table, and moved about to put the paper-clip through its paces. Summer-camp material.
Ah, but Joe spent a whole $9.50 for Trick number 34, "PSYCHIC UNSCREWING NUT FROM BOLT." It’s item #SL-112 in the catalog, called there, "Nut Impossible." This is actually a neat trick, used by several professionals on TV over the years. A hex nut slowly unscrews itself from a bolt, while underneath an overturned glass. Everything is "clean" afterwards, nothing to be found to give it away. And it’s easily done.
Number 36 is one from a very early book on parlor-tricks, but it’s sold in the catalog as "The Haunted Key" routine, in which a regular latch-key slowly turns over on your palm. Here’s the instruction sheet, though I’ve blanked out the pertinent parts. Hey, at $10.00 for item #F1-128, you should buy this one and be accepted by parapsychologists as The Real Thing! You get the key, the instructions, everything but the music and the dancing girls!
Finally, this is catalog #T-591, known as "Visible Coin Penetration," page 12, price $7.50. Dr. X calls it "PRESUMPTIVE TELEPORTED QUARTER." It involves stretching a rubber diaphragm over the top of a champagne glass, resting a quarter on it, and tapping on the quarter to make it suddenly show up inside the glass. This trick was quite a rage back around 1980 or so, but it quickly lost favor when every kid magician got to show it to everyone in sight. It seems that Dr. X never saw it, though, or he’d have reported an infestation of dozens of juvenile psychics....
Wanna be a psychic? Go to www.tannenmagic.com or call them at (212) 929 4500. These tricks — and all the rest that Joe did to fool Dr. X — are for sale there. Or get their catalog and look them up. But don’t, please, ask them for the secrets.
Our friend Wally Anglesea in Australia writes us that in the 80's he and a friend blew wide open the "Kaikura UFOs" that were reported over New Zealand, within 48 hours of the footage being shown on TV. A news team led by Quentin Fogerty went to NZ and in a plane filmed what they dubbed "the most compelling evidence of UFOs ever seen." This footage, of strange lights moving in closed patterns, was shown on TV "unedited," or so the producers claimed. But Wally and his team-mate showed:
1: The film had been edited.
2: The source of the "UFO images" was most probably a fleet of squid-fishing boats, common in the area, using high-power illumination to attract a catch, as done for generations — and in that season.
3: They reproduced the Lissajous curves (characteristically produced by a pendulum suspended at two points, or a system vibrated in a way that is not a simple sine function) which had been seen in the photo images, an effect they believe was made by vibration of the camera shaken by the airplane or even by the cameraman hitting the tripod.
Their exposé story hit the front pages of a local paper. It took a week for the TV station to admit the footage had been edited "to improve the dramatic content." And "editing" apparently included repeating some of the footage, putting it in backwards, and playing it in reverse.
The reporter, Quentin Fogerty, wrote a best-selling book, which is now part of the UFO mythology, and made a lot of money. "Did the truth get out?" asks Wally. "Not really," he answers, "Frustrating isn't it?"
The "Impossible Staircase" of last week is built up of inside-out sections of stairs. I think the edited photos showed that. If you would like to have an Andrus "Paradox Box," which illustrates this principle quite well, send $3 and a stamped, self-addressed, envelope to us and we’ll send you the simple layout. Some assembly required, no batteries. All the proceeds will go to Jerry Andrus, the inventor of the clever thing. Send to JREF, 201 SE 12th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33316-1815.
We received quite a few messages about the clever triangle/square solution offered by Brett Bloomquist. Of course, the drawing of a diagonal of the square remains the simplest solution, but Brett somehow came up with the other answer I gave here last week. 
And he’s right! I would not have thought it possible to find the middle of one side of the given square using only a straightedge, but it is quite possible and really interesting! Having been overworked this week with a great day-plus-lecture at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana (hi, Jim & Nancy & Ruth & Ramon!) and two TV tapings, plus several hi-level meetings, I haven’t been able to get the time to write up the similar-triangles solution, but it’s really neat. I’ll leave it to you.....
This week, divide each of these three shapes into four exactly equal, congruent, areas, using straight lines — any number of them. Go!
I’ll be seeing some of you at St. Mary’s College, Maryland, on Monday. Come and say hello! The schedule is on my calendar near here.....
