Skepticblog

Don’t worry too much about believing in unicorns or whether or not they have wings for a moment or two. Better to check out the skeptical adventures of an unsure cartoon character whose critical thinking dilemmas have to be heard to be believed. I’m taking a break this week folks. Time to chill and laugh at the craziness that we skeptical folks feel sheeting over us like fast running lava.

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Oh great. Just what we need. At a time when most parents should be helping their kids deal with dire real world predictions coming from economists and scientists, we get the thrill of learning from the “experts” about how to coach our kids on how to become the next wave of mediums and ghost hunters. It’s enough to make me sick.  (continue reading…)

This time out you not only get ONE bizarre medium, but TWO, count’em TWO mediums for the price of admission in one thrill ride filled to overflowing with woo. I won’t even bother to question the complete lack of any rational thought whatsoever or whether or not this romp has logic holes big enough to drive a hearse through. Forget it. It doesn’t matter. There’s no scientific premise to fret over here, trust me. Sam Raimi has raised the bar for those of us who enjoy a non-stop no-holds barred scare fest. His Ghost House Films company has upped the ante for mediumistic hype with this one. After seeing the seance scenes, I wanted to drag my own dusty props back into service and re-visit those halcyon days when I could raise the hair on the backs of my sitter’s necks with the sort of animated histrionics skillfully used by the two mediums played with relish by Dileep Rao and Adriana Barraza. Both were excellent in their roles and totally un-believable. By “un-believable” I don’t mean fantastically gifted beyond belief. I mean unbelievable as in the card-board cut-outs they represented.  Which begs the question: Will this film drive those gullible people out there in our mixed-up society even closer to the edge of believing in the possiblity of mediumship? Will the unwary buy even more into the Medium’s Grip? (continue reading…)

Are your gloves off yet? Now how about moving on from Guerrilla Skepticism to more targeted Ambush Skepticism? We certainly have plenty of whack-jobs out there to choose from. These days, it’s like shooting fish in a barrel.  Here’s some ideas and please don’t take them too seriously, I’m merely suggesting possibilities. If you do any of these performance pieces, please get them on camera:

. Pick a local Palmistry shop, make an appointment and find out the psychic’s name, then don’t show up. Later order them a large pizza. If it’s  known gypsy establishment, ask for extra garlic.

. Go to the local New Age shop and ask for the free reading that was advertised in the local newspaper. When they ask you for the ad or where you heard about the offer, tell them you had a dream about it happening. Insist that it’s a prediction and must be real since you read of these things happening all the time in a book they have on their shelf.

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I recently went through one of my old mentalist catalogues from a company that specialized in mediumistic stunts and props and was reminded that such gimmickry as “Telephones to the Dead” are nothing new. (continue reading…)

Guerilla Skepticism is gaining momentum. My recent post about so-called “Telephones to the Dead” sprawned a huge outcry from both sides of the issue. Since “Box of Fiends” hit this blog, I have received replies from hundreds of people; both “experts,” “researchers” and from those of us who just can’t believe talking to dead people is even an issue. Have people gone mad?  I have to constantly rein in my anger over the fact that such a ridiculous claim has and continues to draw so much intense emotion. I find myself frequently quoting Issac Asimov’s “Unicorn Wings” theory to myself and whoever will listen to keep from getting drawn into this and other quagmires of self-deception. (continue reading…)

Can a person tell character traits simply by looking at a sample of handwriting? Yes …and no. The average person  on the street would probably give a resounding yes answer to the question. As far as contemporary society goes, the buisness of professional handwriting analysis or graphology is given a pass and is an accepted “scientific” barometer. Professional purveyors of this form of reading are venerated in some of the highest offices of government and business. This has always surprised me. In my experience, a good handwriting session is really no different than a palm or tarot card reading. In many cases, especially when the “client” (the preferred term as opposed to “sitter” if you are  a psychic) is sitting in front of you, the real reading is focused on the person, not the actual writing. It’s usually such a no brainer, I’m amazed people even bother to consult “pros” in this popular field. Here’s a crash course in the subject: (continue reading…)

Okay. We all see the potential of this blog. We know there are dozens of skeptical groups of all shapes and sizes scattered in every country all over the planet. We should also know that united we will stand and divided we will, …well, let’s face it,  .. fall.  Or if we don’t fall , we will likely stay in the background and continue our perceived roles as another of society’s disparate fringe groups composed of unorganized pessimistic naysayers and intellectual wet blankets. Call me impatient, impudent and if you must even insouciant. Without naming names or outing the Big Boys (and Girls) out there who are in positions to actually do something about our fragmented condition, I’m calling for all out solidarity among skeptics. We need to ORGANIZE!  If not on a global scale, at least let’s start with a national front. We need to stop all the infighting and all the political squaring off and get down to brass tacks. Otherwise we are going to be swallowed up by the gathering legions of scam artists poised to pounce like vultures on a wayward society desperately seeking answers in these troubled times. (continue reading…)

Here in Hollywood, we are experiencing a huge growth in the business of ghost walks. Anyone can do it. Pick a Hollywood star, a lurid death scene or just set up a hike to Hollywood Forever Cemetery “The Resting Place of Hollywood’s Immortals” and hang around the tombstones of luminaries from Cecil B. DeMille to more recent unfortunate arrivals like Lana Clarkson. I suppose celebs like these wouldn’t be quite so “immortal” if they had just been cremated and tossed over the side of some Poseidon Society boat, would they? But then that’s a whole other scam we won’t go into right now. (continue reading…)

“A technology now exists that will allow you to communicate directly with the dead. Gone are the days of psychics passing along messages from beyond. Now we have the ability to hear the voices of those who have passed and communicate, in real time, through a highly specialized device. The results speak for themselves.”

Uh huh. Yeah right. (continue reading…)