Table of Contents:
REMOTE-VIEWING NINJA VERY REMOTE
Reader Clay Jones of Nashville, Tennessee, questions the Discovery TV channel's legitimacy:
A former CIA "remote viewer" presented the "facts" that the CIA used remote viewers to search for Russian missile sites and that our government paid millions of dollars to study ESP. If our government believed in it then it must be true. He matter-of-factly stated that Ninjas could easily have trained to perform/enter altered states of consciousness and see the locations of targets, even what room and what floor of the castle they might be in. To further prove this [by a demonstration], he brought in a team of remote viewers, briefly said a few words on how they were kept from knowing anything about the target or the location, and had them use their powers to locate him [a target]. They presented the results with much excitement.
Half of the remote viewers were very close to the target and one was dead on. Furthermore, they all saw that the target was male, and had a beard. Amazing! Who wouldn't be a believer after this triumph of paranormal studies? Somehow I don't think your million dollars will be going anywhere. They even showed the smug psychics as they were brought to the house and exclaimed things like "Yes, there's the arch I saw!" It was painful to watch, to say the least. There was one token skeptic, a Ninja historian who insightfully stated that the idea of psychic Ninja is absurd. He said that they used unheard-of stealth, a network of spies, and multiple recon missions prior to an assassination attempt. They wanted the enemy to think they had magical and psychic powers, and milked the resultant paranoia for all it was worth.
It saddens me to see what passes for science. Did the producers of the show want something paranormal so badly that they were blind to blatant fraud on the part of the remote viewers, or were they part of the chicanery? If you can't trust the Discovery channel or the Learning channel, then what choices do people have for themselves or their children to obtain entertaining but accurate information?Last night the Discovery "science" channel had a one-hour special on the mysteries of the Ninja. It delved into the myths of their origin, their lives as thorns in the side of the Samurai, and their eventual employment as personal bodyguards of the Shogun. Several myths were presented and actually debunked, such as their supposed ability to become invisible — they used trap doors and hidden exits in addition to unparalleled stealth for the time — and to fly. However, when it came to the stories of Ninja "remote viewing" to plan assassinations, and ESP to guess their opponents next move, it took a sudden turn for the worse.
Clay, I must say that from your description, I don't know that "fraud" was actually proven, though I didn't see that show. However, as for the ethics involved, the producers just don't care. They only want to please sponsors, and uncritical presentations like this are just the ticket for that purpose. The Discovery channel discovered that their survival depends on nonsense, so it's their biggest product….
AN ANNOYED AND GREEDY APPLICANT
I'm well aware that I don't have to convince you of the silliness of so many of the applications that come in to the JREF re the million-dollar prize. However, even though what follows is not a formal application from "Rudy of clan Campbell," I had to admire the relatively clever get-out-of-it-in-advance gimmick used here. All spelling and grammar are as in the original e-mail messages from this angry, disorganized, man who is so threatened by the challenge:
You may contact me through this email. I'll be expecting to hear back from you petaining this e-mail.How intriging, the invite to your expansive challenge, it shall be no problem here. However, a million dollars is petty cash to what I hold for proof pertaining to the paranormal. For what I have I'll take that million dollars with 2 more. For 3 million dollars I'll give you the most unbelievable absolutely incredible photographic proof that this world has yet to see. For not only do I have the photo proof, I also have a wealth of supports to my claim. The Dali Lama for starters, he quotes verbatam to what is in my photo shocking evidence. Along with Carl Jung, Long Chen Rabjam, Linda Forman, The Holy Bible, The Tibetan Book Of The Dead. Hey James what do you know about a silver cord connection, I have enough here to enlighten the world. Do yourself a favor and go buy Sleeping Dreaming & Dying by the Dali Lama, on page 190 of that book is the Dali Lama's quote. From the heart of the Mayitrea something like a cord of cloud is being emitted coming down to another being with whom you have a very special relationship. You want proof James Randi, 3 million is what it will take to release what I have for proof. I'll show you evolution. The photo description is this. Full body form showing gender, displaying pregnancy with silver cord connection into my quadriplegic friends left eye. A symbolic heart display above his head, her upper right extremitie is pointing to the Holy Bible that is laying on the bed. The Dali Lama's quote and every other source that I have is just the most unbelievable support to this photo capturing display of ultimate reality that you and this world will ever see. In the schools of the paranormal and many other big doors is Rudy of clan Campbell.
Umm, well, I only answered "petaining" his message by asking if I might use the tirade above, but I told him that coming up with another two million is currently out of the question. Now, from my experience of such matters, I'd guess that "Rudy" has come upon a photograph with a defect of some sort, a fuzzy smear that he's decided is paranormal. Amateurs just can't accept that there are often minor variations of this sort in photos, and they attribute great meaning to them — just as some "find" patterns in tea leaves or clouds that were "arranged" for them by mystical powers. And offering the Dalai Lama as an expert in such matters is like Gene Autry defining calculus. "Rudy" replied to me, after flipping his silver cord out of the way, again with his original spelling and grammar:
Dealing with the paranormal is far reaching and perhaps a little bit to far for your company and your million dollar lip service. For what ever reason that you would like to use my tirade as you so call it for your website, by all means go ahead, if it creates interest for your lack of real perception. There are no false claims being made here, perhaps you and your company lack the knowledge and do not have the financial means to take on my challenge. A million dollars is pittens Mr. Randi, pertaining to what I hold, however, if you care to inquire further for investigation and cannot afford the other two million, put your million dollars where your mouth is. I'll show you what you think you know when it comes to the paranormal. The Sacred Rupakaya is the expansive and expensive view of phenomena.
Okay, I figured that now he'd dropped his price, we might do business. I told him he only had to fill out the form, stating what he'd do, under what circumstances, and with what accuracy. Ah, but the following disjointed text arrived next, so hope for his participation rapidly faded. Again, this is his spelling and grammar, so you won't think I need editorial help:
The scourge of ignorance is all over your company's projected million dollar B.S sale. The Sacred Rupakaya's revelation has been misunderstood by your little pawn. Three million was to entice your hunger for proof, your staff member was easily led by it's ignorance. WHY they don't even know how to spell. One million to the uncountable collections of monetary worth is nose wipe Mr. Randi. Disrespect for the Sacred has been noted. Your trite shall not stain the worth of what is Sacred. Thank you for the informations of your great book, The Faith Healer's. It's knowledge was appreciated, we are even, I just saved you a million dollars. Patience Mr. Randi, you shall get what you seek. The Essence In Pure Display shall relieve your weary and save your money. In the meantime catch up to what is lacking, spend your monies worth wisely, supply your staff with intelligence with respect.
The overdone pomposity, arrogance, and ignorance, are well displayed here. Now, this may be only a juvenile with access to a keyboard, but experience has shown me that even fully-grown adults can also show these characteristics. It's apparent that "Rudy" is only blathering out his anger and frustration, so I don't think that we'll be hearing any more from him.
But, I'd sure hate to miss getting the "Essence In Pure Display," whatever that may be. I hope I can sell it on EBay. And I'll take a small bowl of that Sacred Rupakaya, please. No, no, you taste it first…!
OUR CHALLENGE APPLICATIONS FILES
Just as an update: The hardworking Kramer, volunteering his services here at the JREF, has announced that the total list of applicants at this date amounts to 323. They are:
65 "open" files
5 currently being negotiated
253 "closed" cases — including many that were without an official application form, were in a foreign language, arrived without return addresses, were textually incomprehensible, or were so badly handwritten that we could not read them.
And more arrive regularly to keep Kramer busy...
Dr Karl Spracklen, of Leeds Metropolitan University in the UK, refers to a recent item that appeared here titled, "Whose Team Are You On":
If anyone has a large grant they want to give someone to examine the socialisation of unreason through sport I'd be happy to talk! Or alternatively, if there are academics out there looking at irrationality and are interested in what sociology of sport can bring to the discussion, please get in touch and we might find some joint papers/projects to work on. I can be contacted via e-mail on k.spracklen@leedsmet.ac.ukI'm an avid reader of your weekly commentary and also an academic who teaches and researches issues around sport, social identity and belonging and exclusion (my PhD examined the construction of masculinity and community in the two codes of rugby in the north of England). Can I just say that your anonymous correspondent was right on the mark when he/she talked about the way sport socialises people into ways of seeing and understanding the world: this has been shown, for instance, in the way the gender order is maintained and reproduced through sport. Lots of research has been done into conformity in sport but most of this has been about socialised identities and I don't think there has been a synthesis of ideas between sociology of sport and sociology of knowledge.
Reader Chris Wuestefeld does some calculations for us:
The article tells about an Indian "Baba" who rolls down the road to promote peace by demonstrating his love for everything — even the road we walk on. He rolls down the road like a log, reportedly traveling hundreds or thousands of miles. The first problem with this article is the report of the speeds he is able to attain. From the article:Randi, you may remember me from writing about the California legislator who wanted to codify feng shui. This time I want to bring to your attention two things. First is about an Indian holy man making claims that can't possibly be true, yet the L.A. Times' reporter accepts at face value. Second is an ironically sad aspect to the actions of the article's subject.
The Rolling Baba clocked his pace at about 6 mph in this farm town, where traffic and well-wishers slowed him down. But when he hits open highway, or the down slope of a good hill, his speed reaches about 15 mph, he said.
My waist is a bit less than 36 inches in circumference. The baba seems much smaller than I, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Use 36" as the circumference of the rolling cylinder that his body forms. A mile = 63,360 inches. 1mph = 63,360 inches/hour = 1056 inches/minute. I must roll at about 29 RPM to achieve 1mph, or about 1 roll every 2 seconds. To achieve 6 mph I must therefore roll at 176 RPM — three revolutions every second, which seems unlikely except down a very steep hill.
To achieve 15 mph I must roll at 440 RPM — 7.3 revolutions every second. I submit that this is impossible to do without mechanical aid, and if you tried, I bet your brains would come out your ears. The bottom line, then, is a reporter who is more interested in a sensational story than in doing the most elementary fact-checking to ensure an accurate story.
The second problem is every bit as bad, in a different way. Again from the story: More than 60 people came for faith healing, including a blind boy, a boy with a lame leg, an old woman with a headache and a man with piles. After each treatment, he handed out what one of his disciples said were holy ashes [inside] pages torn from a school biology text. How sad this is, destroying a biology text — which might really help someone by teaching a scientist who eventually discovers a cure — to support faith "healing."
It must seem to you, Randi, like you're fighting the hydra. Every time you cut a head off the beast, there are more there to continue their menace.However, even the slower rate seems quite unlikely, and 15mph is a 4-minute mile, which used to be a nearly unreachable benchmark for the world's best runners. Since this sounded fishy, I did a little math:
No comment……
Reader Brett Campbell is incensed:
I just received a new Land's End catalogue (www.landsend.com) in the mail and for a clothing catalogue it really got my blood boiling! I have bought many things from them in the past, but no more. As I was flipping through the catalogue I came across a two-page article espousing the benefits of reflexology! I went to the website to see if they had the same article there, but they didn't seem to. Therefore I will transcribe the article below. If there are any spelling mistakes they will be mine and not theirs! My comments are in parenthesis.
When you kick off your shoes at the end of the day and put your feet up, you may be doing your whole body a favor. Foot Reflexology, based on the premise of the unique relationship of the feet to the entire human anatomy, can decrease pain, increase circulation, reduce stress and tension, and help eliminate symptoms (Symptoms? Symptoms of what? Nice and vague). Reflexology is a comprehensive holistic approach for people of all ages that works to improve the neurological, biochemical, and electrical functioning of the body (Big words meaning nothing). In other words, the mind, body, and spirit are all affected during a typical session, whether you need a general tune-up or are trying to return to health. (The spirit too? There's nothing reflexology can't do!) The vast majority of people realize the benefits of reducing stress (Duh!), which in turn minimizes physical symptoms. (Again, symptoms of what?) Self-help reflexology is effective, but nothing beats a session given by a certified professional. (Ka-ching!) We've asked our friends at the Reflexology Association of America to point out a few places on the foot and the corresponding symptoms reflexology can address. (Friends, eh? I wonder if any money changed hands, or at least a few sandals.) So relax, put your feet up, and give reflexology a try. We think you'll feel better all over. (Except in your wallet!). Happy Feet! Treat your feet right with reflexology, and feel better all over.
Let me just add a couple of more things, and then pose a question. I think it is completely irresponsible for a large international company to be promoting quackery. I think that Land's End should be ashamed of themselves and I have told them that. I have also told them to take me off of their mailing list because I have no intention of supporting a company that supports ignorance. Last, I would just like to ask you how did this junk-medicine make it into the mainstream? They have a Reflexology Association of America, for crying out loud! What a smart bunch that must be! I always thought reflexology was for the nut fringe, but it looks like I was wrong. Somehow the nut fringe has shifted towards the respectable center, and I don't like it one bit!
They then have a diagram showing the areas of the foot and what they correspond to in the body. Here are what the sections of the foot are supposed to be connected to or help heal: headache, toothache, neck issues, stress, anxiety, pain, muscle fatigue, lower back ache, shoulder issues, asthma, lung issues, and sciatica. Finally, they list contact information at the bottom of the article "...for information, referrals and training programs on reflexology..."
AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF NUTTERY
It's pretty well impossible to get across to the average person just how nutty the "spirit photography" notion is. Our library has several books devoted to this idea, and even a quick romp through that swamp results in an improved understanding of how pervasive the problem can be. However, reader Dominic Kearney has provided us with a website that does the job very nicely indeed. It's written and supported by staunch believers who have perfected the art of rationalization, as you'll see by going to www.crystalinks.com/photo.html. Just be sure that you're seated, because you could hurt yourself falling over in hysterics….
Exactly a century ago, the celebrated Kluge Hans (Clever Hans) was a major celebrity in Germany — for a horse, that is. He was touted by scientists as being able to answer questions and do calculations, and this misunderstanding of simple unconscious cuing of an animal has become the classic, clinical example of such an error. In 1927, in the USA, Dr. Joseph Banks Rhine — the ESP researcher of fame — came upon "Lady Wonder," another example of this type of circus act, and was totally fooled by the performance. Well, the Germans may have done it again.
They report that they've found a border collie named Rico which understands more than 200 words and can learn new ones as quickly as many children. Edified by this, an American Kennel Club board member called the report "good news for those of us who talk to our dogs." She offered "Thanks to the researchers who've proven that people who talk to their dogs are cutting-edge communicators, not just a bunch of eccentrics."
What brought about all this excitement? The German researchers reported they'd found that Rico knows the names of dozens of play toys and can find the one called for by his owner. Well, I'd have to see more about that large number — 200 — but there's no big revelation in the fact that animals, dogs in particular, can develop recognition of a large number of spoken words. And, border collies are a rather exceptionally intelligent and teachable breed. The big "leap of faith" here is in extrapolating so much from that basic fact — the recognition of sentences and assembled phrases. That's a very big leap indeed. No, folks, I'd need much more evidence to conclude that Rico — or any other dog — can be "talked to" — and would understand — rather than just being urged to react to a word and identify the object or action that it represents.
One item that hit the media was the fact that when commanded to retrieve an unfamiliar item by use of a new identifying name, Rico goes to the target pool and selects out the "new" item. I don't find it difficult to accept that such a smart canine could be trained to look for a new object in the target pool when it hears a new word in the command, but it cannot be extrapolated that Rico understands the intricacies of associating that new word with that object, from then on. And, remember, this is a trained performing dog, an actor who learns stunts - not just any pooch. It's showbizness, folks!
But I'm willing — as always — to be shown. No hard feelings, Rico. Fetch the wallet…..!
IVORY TOWER POLITICS IN ACTION
Our friend Daniel Sabsay (http://home.pacbell.net/sabsay/home) noted that Dr. Jacques Benveniste, the ardent endorser of homeopathy — or at least of "digital information" stored in water (?) — seemed to have neglected his promises to keep breathless fans notified of progress in establishing dilution-to-zero as a legitimate medical tool. On the February 5, 1999 Digibio website (www.digibio.com) Daniel found exciting news about "a second [automated testing] machine ... which is now in an external laboratory where independent researchers will perform the experiment in the coming weeks." Then, in January of 2001 there appeared yet another announcement about "the automatization of the plasma coagulation protocol," which was then not heard about further. Suggested Daniel, writing to Dr. Benveniste last week, "The world has given you the benefit of the doubt for three and a half years. We are still waiting for the progress report you have promised us."
Well, Dr. Benveniste responded, asking:
Please remind me who you are before I spend time answering this preposterous and arrogant mail of yours.
And he signed the request in a manner that left no doubt whatsoever that he was not to be trifled with by being coaxed into corresponding with an insufficiently-lettered nobody:
See www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4152521,00.html.htm and www.weirdtech.com/sci/expe.html#qui.Dr. Jacques Benveniste, MD, AIHP, ACCP, PDG, Director of Research Emeritus Inserm. Head, Digital Biology Laboratory; Chairman and CEO, DigiBio SA.
We have here the symptoms of what I have designated, "The Ivory Tower Syndrome," that strange inability to communicate with other humans who have no academic standing. It is often exhibited by PhDs, and there is no known remedy. To Benveniste's formidable array of credentials he appended this quotation:
Quand le fait qu'on rencontre ne s'accorde pas avec une théorie régnante il faut accepter le fait et abandonner la théorie." — Claude Bernard. (When a new fact does not fit with the reigning theory, one must accept the fact and drop the theory.)
I'm very happy to see that Dr. Benveniste is so dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bernard (1813-1878), an honored French researcher who insisted upon original research, and who developed the science of experimental physiology; a university in Lyon is named after him. That dedication is about to be tested. You see, homeopaths have what they would refer to as their "reigning theory," the idea that homeopathy works. Science has come up with more than one "new fact" that does not fit with homeopathy — a number of disconfirming tests of the claims made by those who favor Hahnemann's notion. In case Benveniste chooses not to accept those findings, we can now announce that a new, improved, comprehensive, definitive, acceptable, set of tests of homeopathy will shortly be underway….!
Yes, as soon as the funding's in place, we'll start in. This protocol is interesting in that the homeopaths themselves will make the decisions on whether or not their patients received the "real" homeopathic substance, or the control substance. This will be a prolonged, thorough, series, with a very adequate database and a totally double-blind setup, done on an international scale. Before I get mail telling me the obvious, that no matter how large and deep the resulting data file is, we won't have proven homeopathy to be either real or imaginary, I'll admit that right here and now. When it turns out to be a failure for the believers, those who were not involved will deny the competence of those who were. All sorts of excuses and alibis will be produced, cheating — on our part — will be alleged, despite the total approval and participation of the "other side," and we'll not hear one murmur about the obvious-to-others possibility that maybe, just maybe, there was nothing to this quackery in the first place.
To exhibit my good faith and co-operation, I've agreed that in this specific case, and this case only, the JREF will waive the necessity of the usual preliminary test for our million-dollar prize; this was the only way that we could get important people in the homeopathic community to become involved. Also, you should know that the major cost in carrying out this project, is paying the homeopaths. Yes, we're going to pay them to try for the million-dollar prize! Their insistence on this provision, I think, was to provide them with a way of not having to do the test. That requirement was met, and it appears that they are now committed to doing it.
No, I'm well aware that they'll come up with some other way of weaseling out; they're very experienced at that task….
But stay tuned….
Dr. Mike Eslea is with the Department of Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. He's dismayed, as a scientist and rational person, by what he's been offered:
There are literally dozens of statements here worthy of a Nobel prize, if true. My favorite is the explanation of spiritual healing on p181, but the entries for radionics (p181) and crystals and gems (p180), run it close. She acknowledges early on (p178) that there is no evidence for most of the therapies she cites, but then says that they have "in many instances...been proven to bring about apparently miraculous cures."
According to Davis, the worst that can happen is that the therapies have no effect: she does not consider the many possibilities for direct harm (e.g. from dodgy herbal concoctions, inappropriate manipulations, etc.) or indirect harm (when people do not get proper treatment for what might be a serious ailment). This leads her to the most appalling conclusion (in the FAQ on p179) that dog owners, not vets, should decide what treatment the dog needs! If you don't like your vet's opinion, just find another vet! In other words, if your pet is in pain, drag it round town until you find a vet dim enough (or greedy enough) to pander to your moronic superstitions. Isn't that a direct incitement to animal cruelty?I have recently got a dog, and so bought a book on diet, behavior, health, etc. It's called Essential Dog, written by Caroline Davis, who also edits a magazine called Your Dog. The book seems sensible enough for nearly two hundred pages, but then suddenly veers into the lunatic world of complementary medicine.
Doctor, This is another case of someone out of their area of expertise, though I hardly think you have to be a mental giant to see the fallacy of "radionics" or the inanity of ascribing powers to crystals.
I visited with Martin Gardner — about to turn 90 years of age! — in the company of Jamy Ian Swiss, this last week. A report will go up here.
We've received a really presumptuous series of postings from a film company that is sure they have discovered children who can read while blindfolded — in Russia, China, and Mexico. And they want the JREF million. Can you say, "Lulova"? More about this next week.
And you'll see an article by the late Isaac Asimov on Ronald Reagan….
