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ICYDK, James Randi was a magician first, and a prominent and vocal skeptic of the "paranormal" after. Like many magicians, including Penn & Teller and Harry Houdini, he held a special contempt for "psychics," who were usually just using stage magic and presenting it as real.
One of his most famous debunkings involved televangelist Peter Popoff, who he caught red-handed being fed info about his congregation through an earpiece by his wife, then pretending God was speaking to him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BQKu0YP8Y">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
He also busted then-popular "psychic" James Hydrick on TV, proving his "telekinesis" was breath control. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cS6DjeBz7g">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
And he advised Johnny Carson and his staff on how to expose Uri Geller (the famous "psychic spoon-bender") live on the Tonight Show.
Johnny, you& #39;ll remember, also liked and practiced stage magic, and also held considerable contempt for charlatans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqCJDpNnHNI&t">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Johnny, you& #39;ll remember, also liked and practiced stage magic, and also held considerable contempt for charlatans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqCJDpNnHNI&t">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
But his most popular act was the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge. the James Randi Educational Foundation offered one million USD to anyone who could demonstrate paranormal abilities under agreed-upon scientific criteria. First issued in 1964, Over 1,000 people took it.
No one ever won it, meaning no one tested ever successfully demonstrated paranormal abilities under scientific conditions.
The $1MDPC was terminated in 2015, having never been won.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Million_Dollar_Paranormal_Challenge">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_...
The $1MDPC was terminated in 2015, having never been won.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Million_Dollar_Paranormal_Challenge">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_...
James will go down in history for doing the unpopular, necessary work of promoting healthy skepticism and evidence-based belief. He was the living embodiment of Sagan& #39;s Science As A Candle In The Dark, pushing back against a world happier to be hoodwinked than told the truth.
A biopic was made about James in 2015. "A Honest Liar." I recommend a watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9ZWaS_FjNU">https://www.youtube.com/watch...
And if you& #39;re interested in watching a modern magician (somewhat) take up the mantle of Randian skepticism, I recommend checking on Derren Brown, when tends to focus on how easily people can be manipulated.
#Shows">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derren_Brown #Shows">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derr...
#Shows">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derren_Brown #Shows">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derr...
