Any James Randi fans out there?

[elperromagico]

Randi is a magician/skeptic who has exposed the likes of "psychic" Uri Geller and "faith healer" Peter Popoff. His current favorite targets seem to be Sylvia Browne and Kevin Trudeau.

His website is http://www.randi.org. The Commentary section in particular is a hoot.

[Radio_Lady]

1. James Randi? I thought he was dead.

Thanks for the post. He was on TV frequently in the 1960s and 1970s.

[elperromagico]

3. No, you're thinking of Nipsey Russell.

I can understand the confusion. :P

[Radio_Lady]

5. LOL. Give me a break. We had both of them on the "Tonight"

show in the early 1960s. I know James Randi, and Nipsey Russell is no James Randi.

[elperromagico]

6. He's no Jane Russell either. nt

[qnr]

2. I would be one of them n/t

[Radio_Lady]

4. As of today, it looks as if he's taking on R&R. (Rest & recovery)

James Randi has no future lectures scheduled.

Lectures and Appearances
To read about the different lectures by James Randi, click here.

Not all of these events will be available to the general public, but access information is given so that you may inquire.

James Randi is recovering from surgery, and is taking a hiatus from lecture touring. This page will be udpated when any future lectures are scheduled.

[elperromagico]

7. Yes, he had surgery. He still posts to the site, though.

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

8. Yes, although I've never read his books

We really on't get to see enough of him in the UK -- I first encountered him when he had a regular slot on Simon Drake's Secret Cabaret where he'd expose a different psychic rouse each week. I'm not sure why, but for the second series he was replaced by David Berglas who wasn't half as good.

Because of his low UK profile, he's popped up on a couple of TV shows investigating psychic claims and has successfully played the role of the psychic doing cold readings which is always fun to see. We're in desperate need of him again though as the likes of Derek Acorah & Colin Fry are taking over television & fooling an awful lot of people pretty much unchallanged.

& yeah, his regular newsletters are great

[elperromagico]

9. It's amazing how inaccurate these "psychics" usually are.

John Edward has an inaccuracy rate of something like 75%. He fires off his questions in such rapid succession that most people don't notice. Nobody would ride on a plane that crashes 75% of the time but people trust a psychic who's wrong 75% of the time.

[Archae]

10. Right here!

Notice how none of the paranormal-spewing morans refuse to take him up on his offer or fail totally?

Sylvia Browne, Larry King's favorite "psychic" keeps making excuses after agreeing to be tested.
Easy answer why: She's a fake!

[elperromagico]

11. Browne's fans don't require proof.

They believe.

The fact is, anybody with a modest knowledge of human nature (and Sylvia meets lots of people) can do what she does. She makes educated guesses and then relies on the "subject" to fill in the gaps. It's like a horoscope: If it's not too specific, it can fit anybody.

What bothers me most is the cavalier manner she doles out her "psychic revelations." I was flipping channels and caught her on Montel and there she was, coolly telling a woman that her mother was going to die, coolly telling a mother the name of her son's murderer. She gives out this crap without batting an eyelash. And I've never seen anybody but Randi call her on it.

But her fans believe.