It is an interesting read. I met James Randi in the mid 1990s on a visit to speak at Rocky Mountain Skeptics. I was in grad school at the time in Salt Lake, and had ventured over for his talk and to assist. Therefore, I was his driver on his visit and to the airport. I was fortunate, therefore, to get a lot of one-on-one time with him. Even then he had identified Penn Jillette as a successor as magician/skeptic.
I found him completely unpretentious even though supremely confident and outspoken. That is, no need for fancy restaurants or hotels, etc. He appeared to enjoy his work and seemed to love visiting with the several of us who had organized his trip to Boulder, the ‘field workers’ of skepticism, so to speak. Paul C Bernhardt, Ph.D. Guild 215 301-687-4410 Office Hours for Fall 2014 MW 10-11; T 12:15-1:45; F 10-11:30 Schedule meetings via https://drbernhardt.youcanbook.me On Nov 9, 2014, at 1:06 PM, Helweg-Larsen, Marie <helw...@dickinson.edu<mailto:helw...@dickinson.edu>> wrote: Yes but the article also points out that Randi's relentless attacks on Geller made Geller's (and his own) career flourish. Quote: " In 1975, Randi published "The Magic of Uri Geller," a sarcastic but exhaustive examination of the psychic's techniques, in which he argued that any scientist investigating the paranormal should seek the advice of a conjurer before conducting serious research. The campaign helped make them both more famous than ever. Even today, Geller credits Randi with helping him become a psychic phenomenon - "My most influential and important publicist," as Geller described him to me." It is really an interesting article. Well worth the read. Marie Marie Helweg-Larsen, Ph.D. Professor l Department of Psychology Chair, Health Studies Certificate Program Office hours Fall 2014: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10:30-11:30 Kaufman 168 l Dickinson College Phone 717.245.1562 l Fax 717.245.1971 http://users.dickinson.edu/~helwegm/index.html -----Original Message----- From: Mike Palij [mailto:m...@nyu.edu] Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2014 10:24 AM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Cc: Michael Palij Subject: [tips] The Amazing Randi -- More Amazing Than You Could Have Imagined The Sunday NY Times Magazine (2014/11/07) has an interesting article on the life and work of "The Amazing Randi" or, his birth name, Randall James Zwinge. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/the-unbelievable-skepticism-of-the-amazing-randi.html?emc=edit_th_20141109&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=389166&_r=0 It is both an amazing story and a depressing story because it is fairly clear in its implications: one can get pretty far in this world, in terms of money, status, and power, by lying and being a fraud. Some of the reasons why Uri Geller has been so successful is captured in the following quote from the article: |Randi told me that he met Geller soon afterward. "Very flamboyant," |he recalled venomously. "Very charming. Likable, beautiful, affectionate, |genuine, forward-going, Handsome - everything!" His manner, |Randi explained, was the key to the techniques employed by Geller |and others like him. "That's why they call them con men. Because |they gain the confidence of the victim - and then they fool 'em." One wonders who would have been made the better "teacher"? It is clear who would get the higher ratings on "Rate My Professor". ;-) -Mike Palij New York University m...@nyu.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: helw...@dickinson.edu. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13234.b0e864a6eccfc779c8119f5a4468797f&n=T&l=tips&o=39930 or send a blank email to leave-39930-13234.b0e864a6eccfc779c8119f5a44687...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: pcbernha...@frostburg.edu. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=1989792.4335dcd8aae84aca9a8bb2e89f646286&n=T&l=tips&o=39933 or send a blank email to leave-39933-1989792.4335dcd8aae84aca9a8bb2e89f646...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: arch...@mail-archive.com. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=39934 or send a blank email to leave-39934-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
