JREF (James Randi) to challenge hundreds of "psychics" on Nightline

[troutman]

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...m-central.html

Wednesday night at 10:00pm (9:00pm Central), ABC's Primetime Nightline will air a one-hour special on psychic abilities.

James Randi, along with JREF President D.J. Grothe, JREF's Million Dollar Challenge Director Banachek, and advisor Jamy Ian Swiss, worked with Nightline producers on two of the segments and participated in three days of taping, including the JREF's first-ever open Million Dollar Challenge event where hundreds of New York City psychics were invited to take our tests.

[To Be Quite Honest]

I sense that there will be no winners...

[HotHotHeat]

First post in the comments section of that link sums it up perfectly.

And after 59 minutes, here will be the summary: "So are psychic abilities real? The truth is - we just don't know. Goodnight, everyone."

[troutman]

James Randi To Tour Canada

Vancouver, BC (9/22)

Kelowna, BC (9/23)

Calgary, AB (9/24)

Edmonton, AB (9/25

Saskatoon, SK (9/26)

Toronto, ON (9/27)

Ottawa, ON (9/28)

Montreal, QC (9/29)

Halifax, NS (9/30)

[Wormius]

Is this "the amazing randi" who goes around debunking magic tricks and so-called psychics it should be good.

[SeeBass]

He has had that million dollar challenge for many many years.

The phone has never rung.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

He has had that million dollar challenge for many many years.

The phone has never rung.

The Log of Applicants is amusing reading. I've never heard so many excuses.

http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=43

Rosemary Hunter has applied for the Challenge, media presence requirement included, with the extraordinary claim that she can make people urinate themselves with the power of her mind.

So, the live urination cam is up at

mms://www.randi.org:8080

Ms. Hunter has failed the preliminary Challenge Test.

[Thor]

You lucky SOBs, make sure you go see him in Calgary or whatever city is closest to you; he's such a joy to listen to and he's the closest thing to a santa clause hobbit you'll ever get to meet in real life.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Log of Applicants is amusing reading. I've never heard so many excuses.

http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=43

Rosemary Hunter has applied for the Challenge, media presence requirement included, with the extraordinary claim that she can make people urinate themselves with the power of her mind.

So, the live urination cam is up at

mms://www.randi.org:8080

Ms. Hunter has failed the preliminary Challenge Test.

I remember one time he met two women in Russia who could read a person by looking at their picture. So he gave them a pic of Ted Bundy and they came up with nothing.
It is quite easy to debunk a pshycic just don't say anything to lead them as they talk. No feedback and they can't work an angle that you would normally confirm.
I have always loved his work.

[troutman]

Also tonight, somewhat related news:

Piers Morgan, Penn Jillette Debate Religion And Atheism

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0...html?ir=Canada

As part of Tuesday's episode of "Piers Morgan Tonight," magician and comedian Penn Jillette debated Morgan on the merits of atheism and religious belief. Jillette also contributed an essay on the topic to CNN.com in conjunction with the release of his new book, "God, No! Signs You May ALready Be an Atheis and Other Magical Tales." The full interview airs tonight (8/16) at 9 p.m. EST on CNN.

[Thor]

Piers is such a jerk in that interview, and quite stupid. He'd be absolutely butt raped if he had to debate anyone else and not spend the whole time talking over them like he did with Penn.

Good preview here btw.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/vide...-test-14320969

Works in Iceland, not sure about you dirty Canadians.

[troutman]

Sadly the Nightline show is largely a shameless attempt to promote the new ABC show Sixth Sense.

[Thor]

Someone post the video soon as you find it, I think the ABC online is only for USA, jerks.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Thor

Piers is such a jerk in that interview, and quite stupid. He'd be absolutely butt raped if he had to debate anyone else and not spend the whole time talking over them like he did with Penn.

Good preview here btw.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/vide...-test-14320969

Works in Iceland, not sure about you dirty Canadians.

watched it. Piers is a blazing idiot. He wouldnt shutup and let Penn say a damned thing. Penn mentioned on twitter that he was taken by surprise as he was supposed to be there to review his book and Piers didn't even read it before hand.

[troutman]

Calling All Psychics: Prove Your Worth for $1 Million

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/08/24/...#ixzz1VxjV7CNv

After a recent Nightline television program showcased psychic celebrities, Randi wanted to promote his own views. “James Van Praagh and Allison DuBois have turned the huckster art of ‘cold reading' into a multi-million-dollar industry, preying on families' deepest fears and regrets,” he says in a statement announcing the challenge. “They should be embarrassed by the transparent performances.”

Using cold readings—a technique that employs repeating back the answers of leading questions to make it appear the answers were discovered supernaturally—and “hot readings,” which is really what we all do nowadays anyway, using Google to find information out about an individual, these “psychic mediums” have made quite a name to some.

But to win $1 million, you better have the real deal psychic power in your back pocket. Participants must prove their worth on randomly chosen strangers in controlled environments, two conditions that take all the fun—and likelihood—out of pocketing people's money.

[TorqueDog]

James Randi is the freakin' man. I'm going to have to check it out on ABC Online.

[troutman]

Great example of cold reading:

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/01/01cjohnedwards.phtml

John Edwards: Welcome to "Crossing Over". Before we begin, I must stress again the importance of remembering the details that come from these sessions. Specifically, the things that don't seem to make sense at first. It's imperative that you remember everything I say. Okay. I think I'm ready. And.. I'm going over here.. in this direction.. right here. And someone over here, I'm getting a J. A J.. a woman with a J connection. Who's got a woman with a J? [ no response ] Maybe K? K or J? A woman with a K or J. [ no response ] Or.. R? K, J, R.. or F.

Fran's Friend: [ raises hand ] Oh! I know an F!

John Edwards: Okay. Okay, what's the name?

Fran's Friend: Fran.

John Edwards: And she passed recently?

No, she's sitting right here.

John Edwards: Okay.. maybe it was Fran I was getting. Fran, did you have someone pass recently?

Fran: Yes, I did.

John Edwards: Okay. And did their name begin with a J or a K?

Fran: No.

John Edwards: [ pause ] Or a P? Or a B?

Fran: No.

John Edwards: T, L, Z or D?

Fran: No.

John Edwards: Or.. S.. or W? A taller person.. name begins with a B.. or an H. [ no response ] B or a G?

Fran: No. I'm sorry.....

[troutman]

Tickets:

CFI Presents: The Amazing James Randi

Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2019192459

James Randi has an international reputation as a magician and escape artist, but today he is best known as the world's most tireless investigator and demystifier of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims.

Randi has pursued "psychic" spoonbenders, exposed the dirty tricks of faith healers, investigated homeopathic water "with a memory", and generally been a thorn in the sides of those who try to pull the wool over public's eyes in the name of the suypernatural.

He is the author of numerous books, including The Truth About Uri Geller, The Faith Healers, Flim Flam!, and An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural. His lectures (Ted.com) and television appearances (Johnny Carson, Penn and Teller's Bull####) have delighted- and vexed- audiences around the world.

Join Randi for a lecture at the UNiversity of Calgary as well as a special Meet and Greet event. Meet and Greet event takes place at Club Sapien: 1140 10th Ave SW at 4:00pm.