Here's a great video by critical thinker and skeptic James Randi:
http://www.youtube.com/v/dxPQ1-KsBG0&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxPQ1-KsBG0&feature=PlayList&p=B9ADB5D9D9987EA4&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13
And yet another great video: James Randi speaks about Carl Sagan
http://www.youtube.com/v/ccReLF6M62Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccReLF6M62Y&feature=channel
Quote from: PPI Brian M on July 01, 2009, 09:10:24 PM
Here's a great video by critical thinker and skeptic James Randi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxPQ1-KsBG0&feature=PlayList&p=B9ADB5D9D9987EA4&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13
I would have James Randi's baby . . . if asked to. This is my first introduction to James Randi. I saw this first run on tv, and it changed my life. Seriously. It was an epiphany moment for me.
http://www.youtube.com/v/7CASghTzNhc&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CASghTzNhc
That might win you the $1 million JREF prize. Hey, you could buy a FLIR with your winnings. ;D
Quote from: PPI Brian M on July 01, 2009, 09:38:26 PM
That might win you the $1 million JREF prize. Hey, you could buy a FLIR with your winnings. ;D
But then I'd end up having to expose thermal ghost imaging as a hoax, and the T.A.P.S. heavies would mobilize against me. P^/ How about if I just take everyone out for drinks . . . on the Aegean coast.
You're on, Karl. ;D
That was a great video. I remember seeing this clip too. Awesome. ;D
What happened to James Hydrick after Randi nuked him on national television?
Oh wait; he confessed!
http://www.youtube.com/v/u7yDLRib5CQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7yDLRib5CQ&NR=1
I just got done watching those videos. He calls them like he see's them.
Nice.
You have to admire that man.
Aren't those videos great? I truly admire Randi for his skepticism. However, it is much easier to disprove claims of psychic ability than paranormal activity indicative of a haunting, don't you think?
I was impressed when James Randi nuked this quack and even more impressed when I heard he dropped off the face of the earth and filed for bankruptcy:
http://www.youtube.com/v/q7BQKu0YP8Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BQKu0YP8Y
But people in our country apparently don't want to know the truth. Popoff came back in 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/v/xPBKOqsGBfg&hl=en_US&fs=1&
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPBKOqsGBfg
In this video, James Randi explains how to fake psychic powers:
http://www.youtube.com/v/vJQBljC5RIo&hl=en_US&fs=1
Wow, this guy is very smart. I'm glad you rekindled this thread!
You're welcome. I will continue to post videos as they become available.
Here's one called "Can't Fool Me":
http://www.youtube.com/v/SUMY7epfsHs&hl=en_US&fs=1
His fearless approach to debunking is nothing short of awesome. He's slowly becoming one of my heroes.
Scientists Fooled by Match Box Trick:
http://www.youtube.com/v/SbwWL5ezA4g
I love this guy.
Isn't he's awesome? I admire him for many reasons, but I truly appreciate the work he's doing in the footsteps of Harry Houdini and Harry Price -- debunking psychics who parasitize people for various reasons.
http://www.youtube.com/v/OTVWMY8EZCA
Love James Randi! (poor magnet man. he sure didn't look too happy)
I would LOVE for us to arrange a trip to one of his conferences in future. I've dreamt about it for years. Once you've done the Queen Mary thing a couple of times (or some other paranormal tour with invited "guest speakers" to masquerade the event as a conference), you just start to crave something more substantive. A conference for skeptical inquiry is just the ticket, me thinks. Any one wanna join me?
Yes, yes. I seriously need a road trip. Work is driving my nuts. I would live to see that lovable mix of Burl Ives/Santa Claus/Carl Sagan/Harry Houdini.
Actually I just want an excuse to go anywhere. :)
Road trip indeeeeed!
(now I'm singing the theme song from National Lampoon's Vacation....."Holiday Rooooaaaad.....Holiday Rooooaaad")
(i dare ya to find it and post it)
Jason, you can add "Dumbledore" to your list--especially since, like the ol' fictional Wizard Deluxe, Randi has recently come out as a gay man.
Seriously, then, let's look into the possibility of a proper conference about skeptical inquiry. P^/
The next JRF TAM (The Amazing Meeting 10) will be at the South Point Casino in Las Vegas July 12-15, 2012.
If I am able, I wouldn't mind going!
Wanna know a secret? I've never been to Vegas.
*hands over face...protects head from the flying tomatoes*
Quote from: PPI Tracy on November 08, 2011, 11:27:32 PM
Road trip indeeeeed!
(now I'm singing the theme song from National Lampoon's Vacation....."Holiday Rooooaaaad.....Holiday Rooooaaad")
(i dare ya to find it and post it)
;D
http://www.youtube.com/v/1b2EySQjaFQ
Many moons ago I attended a psychic fair at Villa Montezuma and a psychic read my aura. Needless to say, I was not impressed by the reading. When I saw this video it reminded me of that psychic fair.
James Randi tests an Aura Reader.
http://www.youtube.com/v/OZeQGld5QBU
I have serious doubts about the whole "Aura" thing. A lady once tried to read mine and told me all this stuff about myself....totally wrong.
So Brian...although I cannot see your video post (the one before the last), I have a hunch that once I am able to view it, I will be singing that song FOREVER!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: PPI Tracy on November 09, 2011, 02:17:29 PM
Wanna know a secret? I've never been to Vegas.
*hands over face...protects head from the flying tomatoes*
Awww, no tomatoes!
Tracy, I've been there a few times and I don't "get it".
Since we are doing confessionals today...
I lived in NY State for 19 years and have never been to NY City.
*duck*
No tomatoes, Deb.
This is one of my favorite videos of James Randi discussing the topic of psychic fraud.
http://www.youtube.com/v/c0Z7KeNCi7g
I've been to Vegas twice, and even though the second time I went was for a school conference, each Vegas visit entailed a pilgrimage to the site where my best friend was killed. I hadn't really thought about it until now, but if we go to Vegas next summer, I will have to go to Flamingo and lay a wreath on the median. Hope that doesn't put anyone off. :-\
Doesn't put me off at all, Karl. I think it is a beautiful remembrance of your friend. :)
Quote from: PPI Karl on November 10, 2011, 01:31:43 PM
I've been to Vegas twice, and even though the second time I went was for a school conference, each Vegas visit entailed a pilgrimage to the site where my best friend was killed. I hadn't really thought about it until now, but if we go to Vegas next summer, I will have to go to Flamingo and lay a wreath on the median. Hope that doesn't put anyone off. :-\
I agree with Tracy, Karl.
I truly appreciate your understanding. As several posts in the Dream Analysis boards will attest, Mike's unexpected death was harder on me than even my father's death. I guess, when the people with whom we had the most complicated relationships pass away, our grief and resolution are just as complicated. That was March of 1999, and I'm still grieving.
Anyhoo, though . . . Skeptical inquiry kicks ass! James Randi: woohoo! I honestly don't know if James Randi is actually going to be at the conference, in person. He's quite elderly now. However, I would very much like to honor his contributions and courage while he's still alive, so let's try to make this happen if we can. The good thing is, Vegas hotels can be gotten on the cheap. And, we can opt to fly into Vegas for not too much money, or we can pack up the car(s) and drive their, ourselves.
For our PPI Team members, we have some funds available to assist with this, too, as long as we all approve of their use for this--at the next meeting. ;)
Karl, everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time. No two people grieve the same.
It has been 21 years since my father died and everytime I hear the song, "The Living Years" by Mike and the Mechanics, I crumple into a ball of tears. Can't get through it no matter what. I miss him dearly, but I know that he is in a better place. At least that is what I believe. I also believe he is with me and can see me, even if I cannot see him. I know that he probably hurts everytime I do. Sometimes, it is just cathartic to do so. Sometimes it just feels good, in an odd sort of way, to cry my heart out. It's healing...yes, in an odd sort of way.
If you need to grieve, let yourself do so. Let yourself feel what you feel....until you don't feel it any longer.
Quote from: PPI Tracy on November 10, 2011, 02:17:44 PM
Karl, everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time. No two people grieve the same.
It has been 21 years since my father died and everytime I hear the song, "The Living Years" by Mike and the Mechanics, I crumple into a ball of tears. Can't get through it no matter what. I miss him dearly, but I know that he is in a better place. At least that is what I believe. I also believe he is with me and can see me, even if I cannot see him. I know that he probably hurts everytime I do. Sometimes, it is just cathartic to do so. Sometimes it just feels good, in an odd sort of way, to cry my heart out. It's healing...yes, in an odd sort of way.
If you need to grieve, let yourself do so. Let yourself feel what you feel....until you don't feel it any longer.
:-*
Quote from: PPI Tracy on November 10, 2011, 02:17:44 PM
Karl, everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time. No two people grieve the same.
It has been 21 years since my father died and everytime I hear the song, "The Living Years" by Mike and the Mechanics, I crumple into a ball of tears. Can't get through it no matter what. I miss him dearly, but I know that he is in a better place. At least that is what I believe. I also believe he is with me and can see me, even if I cannot see him. I know that he probably hurts everytime I do. Sometimes, it is just cathartic to do so. Sometimes it just feels good, in an odd sort of way, to cry my heart out. It's healing...yes, in an odd sort of way.
If you need to grieve, let yourself do so. Let yourself feel what you feel....until you don't feel it any longer.
I don't know how I missed this thread, and for that I'm truly sorry.
I agree with Tracy and Debra. There should be no expected time limit on grief. It's up to us to determine when we have mourned sufficiently, and society has no right to tell us what constitutes an acceptable length of time. Grief and mourning are never discussed in polite society. They are subjects of conversation that most of us avoid, and learning to deal with grief is a dark and uncomfortable place that nobody wants to venture. Grief is a journey that none of us want to experience, but we are bound by our human experience to find a way to accept the loss of loved ones and find a way to get back to "normal". We heal, and we find a way to go on and the pain lessens over time. But then, out of nowhere, it's right there in your face again. At least that's been my experience.
The Compass Trick:
How to Squash a Paranormal Claim:
Quote from: PPI Brian on February 22, 2018, 08:07:19 PM
Quote from: PPI Tracy on November 10, 2011, 02:17:44 PM
Karl, everyone grieves in their own way and in their own time. No two people grieve the same.
It has been 21 years since my father died and everytime I hear the song, "The Living Years" by Mike and the Mechanics, I crumple into a ball of tears. Can't get through it no matter what. I miss him dearly, but I know that he is in a better place. At least that is what I believe. I also believe he is with me and can see me, even if I cannot see him. I know that he probably hurts everytime I do. Sometimes, it is just cathartic to do so. Sometimes it just feels good, in an odd sort of way, to cry my heart out. It's healing...yes, in an odd sort of way.
If you need to grieve, let yourself do so. Let yourself feel what you feel....until you don't feel it any longer.
I don't know how I missed this thread, and for that I'm truly sorry.
I agree with Tracy and Debra. There should be no expected time limit on grief. It's up to us to determine when we have mourned sufficiently, and society has no right to tell us what constitutes an acceptable length of time. Grief and mourning are never discussed in polite society. They are subjects of conversation that most of us avoid, and learning to deal with grief is a dark and uncomfortable place that nobody wants to venture. Grief is a journey that none of us want to experience, but we are bound by our human experience to find a way to accept the loss of loved ones and find a way to get back to "normal". We heal, and we find a way to go on and the pain lessens over time. But then, out of nowhere, it's right there in your face again. At least that's been my experience.
Those James Randi vids were extremely enjoyable! Thanks for posting them, Brian. And thank you for your words about grief. We are, no surprise, completely sympatico on this issue. Every year we memorialize Glenn, I'm also gearing up to memorialize my friend, Mike, who died on March 9. This year makes 19 years since he died, and I've resolved that I'm probably not ever going to let myself get over it. Sometimes, you just learn to live the rest of your life disabled by a particular grief, and that's just how it goes. I think most of us are getting by, day by day, in a state of functional bereavement. It's just a matter of how and where we channel it. I might not have come to meet all of you, in fact, if I Mike's death weren't still so fresh for me in 2006, so that's one hugely positive, lucky consequence of it.
(As I write these very words, Billy Graham's funeral procession is heading to Charlotte, North Carolina. I mean no disrespect to his grieving family, but here's a case where the world as I experience it is greatly improved by not having one man in it to fan the flames of hatred in the name of love. >:[)