SEO: Society of Inquiry at UMD hosts James Randi Skeptics host a skeptic

Society of Inquiry hosts James Randi lecture By Jewel Addy The university organization, The Society of Inquiry, set a goal to provide accurate information on interesting subjects to the universitys community. The organization will host a lecture featuring James Randi at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16 at the biology-psychology building. Randi is a famous skeptic, magician, escapologist, pseudoscientist and paranormal debunker. For more information on James Randis career and foundation visit The James Randi Educational Foundation: http://www.randi.org/site/. For more information on The Society of Inquiry visit http://www.facebook.com/groups/51852664107/

###

SEO: James Randi lectures UMD on debunking career Paranormal debunker lectures university
Famous skeptic offers insight on psychics By Jewel Addy The universitys organization, The Society of Inquiry, hosted acclaimed magician, escapologist, pseudoscientist, skeptic, author and paranormal debunker James Randi to lecture on his 60-years-and-running career. The Society of Inquiry is an on-campus organization dedicated to providing accurate information on subjects of interest. On Oct. 16, Randi was the featured subject. Randi founded the James Randi Educational Foundation, which is dedicated to defending people against paranormal claims. The foundation is famous for its $1 million prize to anyone who proves his or her psychic ability. Randi explained the participant had to beat odds of 1,000 to 1, but no one has ever passed the first stage. Sylvia Browne, a famous psychic who claims to talk to dead people, fussed she would win the $1 million challenge. Browne never participated in it on claims that she couldnt contact Randi. She said first of all that she didnt know how to reach me. She talks to dead people! Randi said. (more)
A Slice of James Randis Life Name: James Randi Author: Written 12 books Fun Fact: Broke Houdinis 93-minute record by 10 minutes for submerging himself underwater in a metal coffin

Jewel Addy, Debunker, p. 2 Life with Carson and Gellar Lecture mediator and skeptic Todd Robins acknowledged Randis 22 appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and said Johnny Carson was not a friendly man, but he loved Randi.

One day, Carsons show hosted Uri Gellar, a psychic who bended spoons, as its guest, but called Randi in to debunk. Randi explained he denied the invitation because Gellar GPS tracked Randi. In fear of his debunking,
Skeptic James Randi post lecture to UMD. Photo by Jewel Addy.

Gellar often canceled a show if he discovered Randi was not staying put at

his New Jersey home. Instead Randi offered instructions to the shows manager of television-set props. Randi told the prop man to tape the spoons down to a tray and lock them away. When Gellars people arrived asking to see the spoons, the prop man waved them in their faces and proceeded to lock them away again. That night Gellar quickly moved onto another trick in place of spoon bending.

(more)

Speech story, Jewel Addy, p. 3 A little lecture magic At the lecture, Randi demonstrated his magic skills by guessing a word audience member Regina Roberts chose from a New York brochure. Randi wrote afuiu on the blackboard saying he was flustered about the mystery word. Roberts then shared that her word was ninja and the audience chuckled in awe as they realized afuiu was ninja spelled upside down and backward. Randi revealed his magic trick was nothing more than an illusion as is every other trick. Randi believes we can not deceive nature; we are just actors in a magicians show. He did not share the secrets of that particular trick. Instead he used his example as a crutch in his illustration of how easily one can fool the mind. Leaving the biologypsychology building, Randi wanted his audience to walk away with a sense of curiosity and lack of gullibility. As the lectures take away, Randi said, They (people) should be thinking rather than just accepting. ###

SEO: James Randi lectures UMD on greedy media Skeptic warns against media
James Randi tells audience beware the media By Jewel Addy To close his two-hour lecture, James Randi discloses his negative view of the media for their irresponsible manipulation of news. Beware the media who are not really interested in whether or not what they print or that they represent on television is true. Theyre only interested in what attracts attention, Randi said. As a man who spent his career debunking paranormal fakes, Randis career was not made any easier with reporters using him for a good story. Randi shared a story of how he did a magic trick in front a reporter where Randi used the three of diamonds from a deck of cards as a key to open his hotel room door. The next day, an article was released informing the public that a three of diamonds gained one access to hotel rooms. Sure enough, a group of adolescents showed up at the hotel Randi stayed at with cards in hand. Randi thinks the media is only interested in printing what will sell, but with an experience like his three of diamonds one, who can blame him?

###