Richard Saunders Adventures of an Australian Paranormal Investigator Or

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Richard Saunders Adventures of an Australian Paranormal Investigator Or... Don't come the raw prawn with me! Richard Saunders • President Australian Skeptics • Committee for Skeptical Inquiry • The Skeptic Zone Podcast • Mystery Investigators Show • ‘THE ONE’ TV Show • TV & Movies • Origami Author / Teacher What is Sk(c)epticism You are HUMAN and that means you you can be FOOLED Illusion 4 Pareidolia Pareidolia Illusion Illusion 2 What is the Paranormal? Spoon Bending Talking with the Dead Ghosts Uri Geller Spoon Bending Richard Saunders Coming up.... Talking TO the dead And…. Anti Vaccination? Talking TO the Dead Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading is not just... • Body language • The way one is Dressed • Cheating • Generalisations Cold Reading 101 THE PIPE PLOY • Who smoked the pipe please? • I’m getting pipe smoke….. • Someone on the other side is telling me about a pipe they liked. • Why am I smelling pipe smoke? Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading 101 Cold Reading 101 THE PIPE PLOY Your Great Uncle Fred Smith smoked a pipe! Your Dad’s mate Jim Brown smoked a pipe! If the subject cannot think of anyone, even the better….. “Go home and check!” Cold Reading 101 THE CANCER PLOY Dead family member. WHO passed from cancer please? I’m getting a mother figure who passed from cancer. The (un)Amazing Valda 2002 The (un)Amazing Valda D H Scones? The (un)Amazing Valda And then………. We got to do this because the spirits just said. Join hands, as the people who have ‘gone over’ from Bali have been trotting around here. They just said ‘it’s a sea of love’ and your love is getting them to be accepted on the other side, with those from the American tragedy. "She knew things about me she could not have possibly known!" ANTI Vaccination The Vaccination Chronicles THANK YOU www.skepticzone.tv www.skeptics.com.au .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

CFI-Annual-Report-2018.Pdf
Message from the President and CEO Last year was another banner year for the Center the interests of people who embrace reason, for Inquiry. We worked our secular magic in a science, and humanism—the principles of the vast variety of ways: from saving lives of secular Enlightenment. activists around the world who are threatened It is no secret that these powerful ideas like with violence and persecution to taking the no others have advanced humankind by nation’s largest drugstore chain, CVS, to court unlocking human potential, promoting goodness, for marketing homeopathic snake oil as if it’s real and exposing the true nature of reality. If you medicine. are looking for humanity’s true salvation, CFI stands up for reason and science in a way no look no further. other organization in the country does, because This past year we sought to export those ideas to we promote secular and humanist values as well places where they have yet to penetrate. as scientific skepticism and critical thinking. The Translations Project has taken the influential But you likely already know that if you are reading evolutionary biology and atheism books of this report, as it is designed with our supporters in Richard Dawkins and translated them into four mind. We want you not only to be informed about languages dominant in the Muslim world: Arabic, where your investment is going; we want you to Urdu, Indonesian, and Farsi. They are available for take pride in what we have achieved together. free download on a special website. It is just one When I meet people who are not familiar with CFI, of many such projects aimed at educating people they often ask what it is we do.
[Show full text]
The Charles Walker Collection of Mystery, Myth and Magic the CHARLES WALKER COLLECTION LIST of CATEGORIES
The Charles Walker Collection of Mystery, Myth and Magic THE CHARLES WALKER COLLECTION LIST OF CATEGORIES ACUPUNCTURE AUTOMATA FLOWER REMEDIES MAGIC SYMBOLS RENNES-LE-CHATEAU AFRICAN ARTEFACTS AURA FLOWERS MAGIC ROBIN HOOD AND MAGIC AUTOMATIC WRITING FORTUNE STICKS MAGICAL CLOTHING ROMAN MYTHOLOGY AGES OF MAN FORTUNE TELLING MAGICAL RITUAL OBJECTS ROSICRUCIAN ALBEROBELLO BABYLONIAN MYTHS FRANCE MAGICIANS & INVOCATIONS RUNES ALCHEMY BARROWS FRANKENSTEIN MAGIC SPHERES ALPHABETS (MAGICAL) BEAUTY TREATMENTS FRENCH MYTHOLOGY MAJORCA SAINTS AMULETS BELGIUM MALAYSIA SCIENCE FICTION ANGELS BIOENERGY GAMES MALTA (PREHISTORIC & HORROR MAGS ANIMALS (BIRDS, FISH BLACK MAGIC GARGOYLES TEMPLES) SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITIES AND BEASTS) BLACK VIRGIN GEMS AND STONES MANDALAS SCREAMING SKULLS ANTHROPOSOPHY BRITAIN GEOMANCY MAORI MYTH SCRYING ARTHURIAN BRITISH MYTHS GERMANY MASKS SEANCES AROMATHERAPY BUDDHISM GHOSTS MASONS SEASONS ASTRAL AND ETHERIC BURMESE MYTHS GHOSTLY DOGS & MASSAGE SERPENT POWER ASTROLOGY: BLACK DOGS MAZES SHAKESPEARE AMERICAN (USA) CABBALA GIANTS MEDICAL SHAMAN ASTROLOGY CANDLE MAGIC GLASTONBURY MEDITATION SHEELA-NA-GIG ARABIC ASTROLOGY CARTOMANCY GOLDEN DAWN (ORDER OF) MERMAIDS & MERMEN SICILY ASTROLABES CATHARS & ALBIGENSIANS GOTHIC METAMORPHIC TECHNIQUE SIMULACRA ASTROLOGERS CATS (included in ANIMALS) GRAPHOLOGY MEXICAN ARCHAEOILOGY SKULLS ASTROLOGY (GENERAL) CAVE ART GRAVEYARDS MEXICAN MYTHOLOGY SNAKE CHARMERS BRITISH ASTROLOGY CELTIC GREECE MEXICO SPACE MEN CALENDARS CELTIC HEADS GREEK MYTHOLOGY MINORCA (ARCHAEOLOGY) SPAIN CHARTS (see
[Show full text]
Red Internacional Escéptica
RED INTERNACIONAL ESCÉPTICA EUROPA European Council of Skeptical Organizations pour I’Etude des Phenomenes Paranormaux.Mer- PORTUGAL: CEPO; Contacto: Ludwig Krippahl, Praceta Pero (ECSO). Presidente:Amardeo Sarma.Arheilger Weg 11, lin Gerin. RGE/A2 38050 Grenoble Cedex. Union Ra- Escobar, N 2 R/c Dto 2675-599 Odivelas. Correo-e: 64380 Rossdorf.Alemania. Fax: +49 6154 695022.Tel.: tionaliste. Contacto: Jean-Paul Krivine. 14, Rue de l’E- [email protected] +49 6154 695023. Correo-e: [email protected]. cole Polytechnique. 75005 París. REINO UNIDO: Association for Skeptical Enquiry ALEMANIA: Society for the Scientific Investigation of HUNGRÍA: Hungarian Skeptics.Gyula Bencze.Termes- (ASKE),P.O. Box 5994 Ripley DE5 3XL. Fax.: +44 114 Para-Science (GWUP).Presidente:Amardeo Sarma.Ar- zet Vilaga. PO Box 25. Budapest 8, 1444. Fax: 011- 221 7319. Correo-e.: [email protected]. The Skep- heilger Weg 11, 64380 Rossdorf.Tel.: +49-6154695021. 3611187506. tical Inquirer: Representante: Michael J. Hutchinson. 10 Fax: +49-6154695022. Correo-e.: [email protected]. IRLANDA: Irish Skeptics.Contacto: Peter O’Hara. St. Jose- Crescent View. Loughton. Essex 1G10 4PZ. Correo-e.: BÉLGICA: Committee Para. Presidente: J. Dommanget. ph’s Hospital, Limerick. [email protected]. ‘The Skeptic Magazine’: Editores: Observatoire Royal de Belgique.Avenue Circulaire 3. B- ITALIA: Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Toby Howard y Steve Donnelly. PO Box 475. Manchester 1180 Brussels. SKEPP.Secretario:W. Betz. Laarbeeklaan Affermazioni sul Paranormale (CICAP). Contacto: M60 2TH. Correo-e.: [email protected]. 103. B1090 Brussels. Fax: 32-2-4774701. Massimo Polidoro, editor Scienza & Paranormale.PO Box REPÚBLICA CHECA: Czech Club of Skeptics.Contac- ESTONIA: Contacto: Indrek Rohtmets.
[Show full text]
Channeling: Brief History and Contemporary Context
Channeling: Brief History and Contemporary Context Although the term is new, channeling has been around for centuries. Its essence is hassle-free religion. One gains meaning in life and escape from anxiety from pre- digested 'wisdom' without any commit- ment or sacrifice. James E. Alcock POON-BENDING is out; channeling is in. This latest psychic craze is being embraced by many thousands of sincere believers, enlightening Stheir minds and often lightening their pocketbooks. "Channeling" describes what supposedly occurs when an individual serves as a conduit for some otherworldly entity to communicate with people of this world. It can take many forms: The channeler might be wide awake, in a trance, or even asleep ("dream channeling"). The channeler may speak or produce automatic writing, or even operate through a Ouija board. Channeling is essentially the mediumship of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries dressed up in new clothes. Parapsychologists realize this too. They have shown a remarkable lack of interest in the channelers' claims. Most parapsychologists consider the channeled communications to be simply the product of the channeler's mind and experience (Anderson 1988). The immortal entities who take advantage of the sudden abundance of channelers to speak to the people of this world most often bear names of a biblical or a mythic quality: Archangel Michael, Moses, the Invisibles, Ramtha, and even Jesus, are examples. Despite the erstwhile obscurity of many of the entities, they have been able to propel the people who channel them into some fame and often considerable fortune. For example, Penny Torres, a California housewife, was rocketed into prominence by channeling a 2,000-year-old man called Mafu, who teaches that humanoid colonies live under the earth and that extraterrestrials live among us.
[Show full text]
Lobby Groups the Australian Skeptics
Lobby Groups The Australian Skeptics ( www.skeptics.com.au ) is a confederation of groups around Australia that advocate for the government's immunisation policy. Subscribers of this confederation refer to all individuals questioning vaccines as "anti-vaxers". This is a misrepresentation of many consumers speaking against the number of vaccines we are now using. Many consumers want choice (without ties to financial entitlements and childcare places or employment) in the number of vaccines we use. I have provided information below on the Australian Skeptics to help consumers understand the context in which information on vaccination is being presented to the public. The Australian Skeptics The Australian Skeptics claim to investigate paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Representatives of the Australian Skeptics use the media and websites to influence public opinion on scientific issues. Subscribers of the Skeptics come from a variety of professions and backgrounds and they publish articles in a non-peer reviewed journal called The Skeptic. In 2009 a complaint was made against the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN), by a Skeptic subscriber, Ken McLeod, a retired air-traffic controller. Details of this complaint are listed below. The Australian Skeptics provided him with the Thornett award and $1,000 for his efforts in complaining about this consumer group (the AVN) to the NSW Health Care Complaints Committee (HCCC). The Complaint made against the AVN: In 2009, a subscriber of the Canberra Skeptics, Ken McLeod, made a complaint to the NSW Healthcare Complaints Committee (HCCC) about the AVN - consumers who are concerned about the number of vaccines being recommended by the Australian government.
[Show full text]
Inpresence 0022: the Real Magic of Uri Geller with Jeffrey Mishlove Video Transcript - New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove 
InPresence 0022: The Real Magic of Uri Geller with Jeffrey Mishlove Video Transcript - New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove www.newthinkingallowed.org Recorded on March 12, 2018 Published to YouTube on March 23, 2018 Copyright © 2020, New Thinking Allowed Foundation (00:38) Hello, I’m Jeffrey Mishlove and today I’d like to talk about one of the most controversial figures in the field of 20th century parapsychology. I’m speaking of the Israeli psychic Uri Geller. I’ve known Uri ever since I’ve sponsored his first major public appearance in the United States back in 1973. We filled Zellerbach Auditorium at the University of California, Berkeley, to overflowing. I’ve had a relationship with Uri ever since then. I consider him a friend. Our relationship hasn't always been smooth, but I regard him as a person of great talent. (01:24) Now, many people have accused Uri of fraud. The list goes on and on and on. Frankly, that's true of virtually everybody who has exhibited or proclaimed marco-psychokinetic abilities. It's mind-boggling and for some people it just has to be fraud. I can tell you this: I have witnessed firsthand in a number of instances exhibits that I regard as valid demonstrations of macro-psychokinesis. And, I have many reports from other people, including researchers. (02:07) Now, many of you may not know, Uri was a rage back in the 1970s because he would go on public television and he could do simple little experiments, or tricks if you will - spoon bending, metal bending, fork bending.
[Show full text]
Skeptical Ethics— What Should We Investigate?
Skeptical Ethics— What Should We Investigate? Skepticism has, as one of its major motivations, a deep ethical concern about the consequences of unwarranted beliefs. This ethical concern should begin with the first stage of skepticism—deciding what most needs to be investigated. MARTIN BRIDGSTOCK SKEPTICAL INQUIRER May / June 2008 35 n early 2006, this magazine published a sincerely believe that they can find water by paranormal means. Groups such as the Australian Skeptics regularly subject dowsers trail-blazing paper by David Koepsell, a to double-blind controlled trials, which the dowsers regularly leading secular humanist. Koepsell argued fail (Australian Skeptics 2003). The dowsers then produce a I series of incoherent explanations and continue on their way as that it is time for skeptics to begin to develop before. In this kind of context, scientific principles may prove a their own ethical principles for investigation very poor guide to action. in the same way that scientists and other pro- A third problem is that Koepsell seems to see ethics as begin- ning with the process of investigation. It need not. It can begin fessional groups have done. at a much earlier point: the selection of the topic to be investi- gated. In general, selecting a topic for research is not an ethical Most skeptics seem strongly aware of the ethical dimensions issue among scientists, but it can be a crucial matter for ethical to their work. They regularly express horror at the sometimes consideration among skeptics. disastrous consequences of paranormal belief (e.g. Levi 2006; Hoyt 2004) or disgust at the blatant falsehoods peddled by psy- A Starting Point for Skeptical Ethics chics and other gurus (Wiseman and Greening 1998; Nickell A simple place to begin skeptical ethics is with the question, 2001).
[Show full text]
SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Vol
SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Vol. 1818,, No . 2No. 2 ^^ Winter 1994 Winter / 1994/$6.2$6.255 Paul Kurtz William Grey THE NEW THE PROBLEM SKEPTICISM OF 'PSI' Cancer Scares i*5"***-"" —-^ 44 "74 47CT8 3575" 5 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER is the official journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, an international organization. Editor Kendrick Frazier. Editorial Board James E. Alcock, Barry Beyerstein, Susan J. Blackmore, Martin Gardner, Ray Hyman, Philip J. Klass, Paul Kurtz, Joe Nickell, Lee Nisbet, Bela Scheiber. Consulting Editors Robert A. Baker, William Sims Bainbridge, John R. Cole, Kenneth L. Feder, C. E. M. Hansel, E. C. Krupp, David F. Marks, Andrew Neher, James E. Oberg, Robert Sheaffer, Steven N. Shore. Managing Editor Doris Hawley Doyle. Contributing Editor Lys Ann Shore. Business Manager Mary Rose Hays. Assistant Business Manager Sandra Lesniak. Chief Data Officer Richard Seymour. Computer Assistant Michael Cione. Production Paul E. Loynes. Asst. Managing Editor Cynthia Matheis. Art Linda Hays. Audio Technician Vance Vigrass. Librarian Jonathan Jiras. Staff Alfreda Pidgeon, Ranjit Sandhu, Sharon Sikora, Elizabeth Begley (Albuquerque). Cartoonist Rob Pudim. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Paul Kurtz, Chairman; professor emeritus of philosophy, State University of New York at Buffalo. Barry Karr, Executive Director and Public Relations Director. Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director. Fellows of the Committee James E. Alcock,* psychologist, York Univ., Toronto; Robert A. Baker, psychologist, Univ. of Kentucky; Stephen Barrett, M.D., psychiatrist, "author, consumer advocate, Allentown, Pa. Barry Beyerstein,* biopsychologist, Simon Fraser Univ., Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Irving Biederman, psychologist, Univ.
[Show full text]
Skepticism Evolves—And So Does the Paranormal
Skepticism Evolves—and So Does the Paranormal MARTIN BRIDGSTOCK t is easy to find milestones in the history of skepti- picked up, and continued to cism. 1976 is important, of course. It’s the date that the use, skeptical ideas. I won prizes ICommittee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), formerly known for the course, and many par- ticipants loved it. One student as CSICOP, was founded. Before that, in 1952, Martin wrote, “MARTIN, YOU DE- Gardner’s great skeptical work was published. His book, STROYED MY FANTASY eventually titled Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science, WORLD!” on a feedback form. is still in print, still selling, and still good. The Australian Sadly, after thirteen years, man- Skeptics was founded in 1981. And, way back in time, the agement concluded that the great skeptic David Hume’s Treatise of Human Nature “fell course was not what the univer- sity wanted, and it was wiped dead-born from the press” in 1739. It didn’t stay dead, of out. course; Hume’s arguments are still powerful today. My own involvement with ing records, we discovered a fi- skepticism began in 1985. In nancial scandal among the cre- my home state of Queensland, ation scientists. Essentially, they Australia, the creation scien- had been swindled out of huge tists were on the march. With a amounts of donated money and fundamentalist premier (corre- tried to keep it quiet (Bridgstock sponding to a U.S. governor) and and Smith 1986). We publicized a fundamentalist minister for the scandal, and the politicians education, creationist demands backed off in horror.
[Show full text]
Red Escéptica Mundial
Arturo Bosque Red escéptica internacional Sacha Marquina Reyes Actualizada desde 25-05-2002 http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org/ - Oregon - Oregonians for Science And Reason - Web: http://www.o4sr.org/ - Pensilvania - Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT) - Web: http://www.phact.org/ - Tennessee - Rationalists of East Tennessee (RET) - Web: http://www.rationalists.org/ - Texas España - North Texas Skeptics - Web: http://www.ntskeptics.org/ - Washington - The Society for Sensible Explanations - ARP-Sociedad para el Avance del Pensamiento Crítico (ARP-SAPC) Web: http://www.escepticos.es - Correo: Web: http://seattleskeptics.org/ - Washington, D. C. - National Capital Area Skeptic - Web: http://www.ncas.org/ [email protected] - Presidente: Félix Ares de Blas Vicepresidente: Jorge Frías - Director Ejecutivo: Ismael Pérez Fernández - Círculo Escéptico (CE) - Web: http://www.circuloesceptico.org - Correo: informacion@circuloes- ceptico.org Estonia Skeptik.ee - Correo: [email protected] - Web: http://www.skeptik.ee - Contacto: Indrek Rohtmets Resto del mundo Horisont. EE 0102 Tallinn, Narva mnt. 5. - Finlandia - Skepsis - Correo: [email protected] - Web: http://www.skepsis.fi European Council of Skeptical Organizations (ECSO) Web: http://www.ecso.org - Correo: [email protected] - Presidente: Amardeo Sarma - Kirchgasse 4, 64380 Rossdorf, Francia Germany - Tel: (06154) 695021, Fax: (06154) 695022 Association Française pour l'Information Scientifique (AFIS) - Correo: [email protected] - Web: http://www.pseudo-sciences.org
[Show full text]
CHAPTER 1 Promo
CHAPTER 1 WE ARE VIBRATIONAL BEINGS LIVING IN A VIBRATION UNIVERSE There is an orderliness in the universe, there is an unalterable law governing everything and every being that exists or lives. It is no blind law; for no blind law can govern the conduct of living beings. -Mahatma Gandhi- Vibration in The Universe The noted British physicist David Bohm (1917- 1992) believed in the unseen unity of all matter. He was convinced that our thoughts are part of the unified field of the universe. Bohm was one of the first physicists to state that there is an implicate order to the universe. He also stated, based on his understanding of quantum entanglement, that our 1 thoughts are part of the collective energy in the universe. The latest research tends to support that our reality is affected by our thoughts, and our connection to the collective field of energy is present throughout the universe. In essence, we are part of that field of energy. The energy that makes up the universe is within us, as well as being all around us. So, what is this “collective field” concept that scientists keep talking about? The Field One of the first books I studied on the subject was Lynne McTaggart’s The Field, published originally in Great Britain in 2001. The updated version published in 2008 made its way to the market in the United States. Being fond of audio books, when I listened to it my interest was so piqued, I also bought a hard copy. I often do this so I can go back to revisit something I found interesting in the audio book and want to study more carefully.
[Show full text]
Debunking Detox Diets
6NHSWLFLVP6FLHQFH6RFLHW\ 9ROXPH1R0DUFK AN INTRODUCTION TO PARAPSYCHOLOGY A REMOTE VIEWING EXPERIMENT SCIENTOLOGY AND THE TRAVOLTA TRAGEDY ENVIRONMENTAL DEBATES AND LOGICAL FALLACIES PSYCHIATRY BASHING DEBUNKING DETOX DIETS ZZZVNHSWLFVFRPDX Skeptics Around Australia New South Wales PO Box 438 Collaroy Beach NSW 2097 Connect with the next generation! Tel: 0432 713 195 Fax: (02) 8088 4735 Scientists in Schools is a national program [email protected] that creates long-term professional Hunter Skeptics partnerships between scientists and Ph: (02) 4959 6286 [email protected] teachers. It’s completely ﬂ exible to [email protected] suit your interests and availability. Victoria Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc GPO Box 5166AA, Melbourne VIC 3001 Find out more at Tel: 1 800 666 996 www.scientistsinschools.edu.au [email protected] Borderline Skeptics Scientists in Schools PO Box 17 , Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Tel: (02) 6072 3632 is an Australian [email protected] Government initiative. Queensland Queensland Skeptics Assn Inc PO Box 6454 , Fairﬁ eld Gardens QLD 4103 Tel: (07) 3255 0499 [email protected] Gold Coast Skeptics PO Box 8348, GCMC Bundall QLD 9726 Tel: (07) 5593 1882 Fax: (07) 5593 2776 [email protected] ACT Canberra Skeptics PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 Tel: (02) 6121 4483 [email protected] South Australia Skeptics SA 52B Miller St Unley SA 5061 Tel: (08) 8272 5881 [email protected] Western Australia WA Skeptics PO Box 466, Subiaco WA 6904 Tel: (08) 9448 8458 [email protected]
[Show full text]