James Randi in DC

Stile · Post by **Stile** » 2007-02-24 02:15pm

NCAS 20th Anniversary Event & James Randi Brunch March 18

I'm planning to go to this event and hopefully have some insightful questions for THE MAN. Are any other DC area poeple thinking of attending?

For anyone who doesn't know who James Randi is. He is a famous stage magician who took it upon himself to debunk all types of supernatural and psychic claims. He set up the Million Dollar Challenge for anyone "who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event." James Randi Educational Foundation

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2007-02-24 03:53pm

I've seen him a couple of times. He always takes questions, and you will get a chance to get his autograph and speak to him personally.

Wyrm · Post by **Wyrm** » 2007-02-24 04:04pm

I got my copy of Flim Flam autographed by him. The deal with my father was if I could get the book autographed, it was mine. And that's why this copy of Flim Flam is mine.

And the guy does tell entertaining stories. I remember that time he told a yarn about a warmed toilet seat. Great stuff!

Darth Holbytlan · Post by **Darth Holbytlan** » 2007-02-24 05:57pm

I wuz robbed, I tell you! Robbed! There I was, standing next to Randi after the talk, soaking in his presence, when Wyrm whips out Flim Flam! and gets it autographed in his name. Possibly my favorite book was ripped suddenly beyond my grasp. There is nothing quite like being so thoroughly outmaneuvered by your younger brother, right under your nose.

The talk was great, but I think the shock of losing my shot at the book erased most of the details. Either that, or the decade or so since the talk has taken its toll.

Stile · Post by **Stile** » 2007-02-24 08:46pm

Darth Holbytlan wrote:I wuz robbed, I tell you! Robbed! There I was, standing next to Randi after the talk, soaking in his presence, when Wyrm whips out Flim Flam! and gets it autographed in his name. Possibly my favorite book was ripped suddenly beyond my grasp. There is nothing quite like being so thoroughly outmaneuvered by your younger brother, right under your nose.

The talk was great, but I think the shock of losing my shot at the book erased most of the details. Either that, or the decade or so since the talk has taken its toll.

You can order it from his web-site and get an autographed one that way.

One of these days I hope to attend one of The Amazing Meetings and meet other crazy people like the Mythbusters, Julia Sweeney, or Penn and Teller. Nerdgasm.

Sriad · Post by **Sriad** » 2007-02-27 05:28pm

Google ad:

"Live psychic readings, as low as $.50/minute."

Irony is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2007-02-27 05:53pm

You do know the Google adds are generated by a script which looks for keywords in the thread in question, right?

QueerIngo · Post by **QueerIngo** » 2007-02-27 07:00pm

You do know the Google adds are generated by a script which looks for keywords in the thread in question, right?

It's still funny.

Take a page like this; it thoroughly debunks astrology every which way, and yet you get ads like "Free 2007 Horoscope
Get Your Free Horoscope Right Now No Fees, No Obligations".

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2007-02-28 02:41am

Well I'm off from work that day so if there's a group going I wouldn't mind meeting up with them since this sounds interesting to say the least. Also anyone from more distant parts is more than welcome to crash though my sleeping facilities aren't that great.

Stile · Post by **Stile** » 2007-03-17 06:14pm

Bumping this up because I'll be there around 12:30, the lecture starts at 1:00 PM.

I'll be wearing my SDnet t-shirt.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2007-03-17 06:21pm

Sd-net sells T-shirts? I didn't know that.

The Cooler King · Post by **The Cooler King** » 2007-03-17 08:21pm

Dammit! How did I miss this? I'm HOPING to attend. I attended a few of his lectures when he showed up in Southern Maryland, and got the chance to speak with him for a few minutes when he signed several books for me while we discussed Carl Sagan (he mentioned how much he missed Carl). I think I was in awe; my friends had to literally push me forwards just to get the books signed.

The Cooler King · Post by **The Cooler King** » 2007-03-17 08:23pm

Ghetto edit: Looks like it's already filled up...

Stile · Post by **Stile** » 2007-03-17 09:03pm

The Cooler King wrote:Ghetto edit: Looks like it's already filled up...

The brunch is but the lectyre is still on.

Stile · Post by **Stile** » 2007-03-17 09:04pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:Sd-net sells T-shirts? I didn't know that.

Like I told consequences at the Baltimore Comicon, it's amazing what one can do with a computer, printer and a t-shirt transfer.

The Cooler King · Post by **The Cooler King** » 2007-03-17 10:29pm

Stile wrote:The brunch is but the lectyre is still on.

Yeah. Jumped the gun on that one, I did. Looks like I WILL be there after all...

Tahlan · Post by **Tahlan** » 2007-03-17 11:40pm

QueerIngo wrote:
You do know the Google adds are generated by a script which looks for keywords in the thread in question, right?
It's still funny.

Take a page like this; it thoroughly debunks astrology every which way, and yet you get ads like "Free 2007 Horoscope
Get Your Free Horoscope Right Now No Fees, No Obligations".

Yeah, take a look at this Web site for numerology.Numerology It was an ad on the Bad Astronomy page. Your future based upon the numerology of your name and birth date. I'm sure Darth Wong would have a field day debating with the guy from that site. So, for grins I gave the site my info, and what a crock of shyte it sent me. BTW, I don't recommend anyone else doing what I did. Now I'm on their mailing list and they want to "teach" me numerology, for a fee. Yeah, right.

Metatwaddle · Post by **Metatwaddle** » 2007-03-19 11:19am

I went to the lecture, and it was fun. I wasn't too interested in hearing about the organization putting on the event (NCAS) since I'm not from Washington and therefore am not a part of it, but it was fun watching Randi and a friend discuss some of his greatest debunkings and triumphs. He also talked about how the skeptics' movement needs to be making a lot more noise instead of just meeting in groups like NCAS and discussing how wrong parapsychology is and nodding thoughtfully when someone speaks who agrees with you. He gave an example of when this sort of thing is needed: the day after a recent lunar eclipse, the Washington Post (this is appalling) asked astrologers, not astronomers, to comment on the implications and the meaning of the eclipse. (They gave some nonsense about how a full moon releases energy of something or other and a lunar eclipse delayed the release of this energy for a month.)

Also, Randi has a great sense of humor. The magicians who lead the so-called skeptics' movement (Randi, Penn and Teller) seem to be more entertaining than the academics (scientists, etc.) that are the best-known icons of atheism.

Stile · Post by **Stile** » 2007-03-19 05:00pm

Discombobulated wrote:snip

Where did you sit? I was in the center section, left side, about two rows behind where the reserved seats were. Cooler King was in the center section, front row, second to last seat.

I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture even though I had already seen all of his TV appearances that they had shown except for the Korea stuff.

I did enjoy his remarks about using people who are experts in their fields. If you had a toothache, you wouldn't ask a physicist about what to do; you would see a dentist. Thus why a magician is perfect for consulting about "alleged" psychic phenomenon; magicians know how to mis-direct.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2007-03-19 08:04pm

Stile wrote:
Discombobulated wrote:snip
Where did you sit? I was in the center section, left side, about two rows behind where the reserved seats were. Cooler King was in the center section, front row, second to last seat.

We were in second row center; we were the two playing cards before the event started.

It was neat seeing Randi live. I think his "sit down and shut up" remarks were appropriate; Richard Dawkins has been saying more or less the same thing recently, and I'm coming around to that viewpoint.