May 2012
 Join Team Randi!
Everywhere we look these days, we see science and reason under attack. From the mediums who say they talk to our dead loved ones to the immunization denialists who put our public health at risk, from the faith healers who do magic tricks in the name of God to the alternative medicine hucksters who beguile believers to turn away from real medical cures, from the ghost hunters to the ancient aliens — the flood of bullshit largely goes unabated.
This is why we want you to help us reach our goal of just 500 new members by May 31!
The James Randi Educational Foundation is fighting back against the fakers and the charlatans and ramping up our efforts across the board — but we can’t do it alone. So we are looking for 500 new JREF members this month to commit to helping us with our work. This is just a small percentage of the subscribers to our email list, and we think it is a very realistic goal for the month of May. But we won’t achieve it without your decision to join right now — please become a member today.
Yes, our cultural competitors, the purveyors of harmful nonsense and “woo woo,” may be surging in popularity right now and they may have large media backers like broadcast networks and media outlets. But we have three important things they don’t have:
- scientific facts and evidence-based reason;
- regard for the well-being of others, that people don’t get harmed and scammed by paranormal and pseudoscientific lies; and,
- an army of concerned and dedicated skeptics like yourself, from all walks of life.
In other words, we have Team Randi.
Join our fight against the fakers and become a JREF member today!
With your membership contribution, you’ll not only receive the new Team Randi t-shirt as our gift to you. You will also qualify for a $50 discount when you register for The Amazing Meeting 2012, our four day celebration of skepticism and science in Las Vegas, and the largest gathering of skeptics in the world. And you will receive free or discounted admission to other regional JREF events, like our regional workshops, throughout the calendar year.
But most importantly, your support will help us further educate students about critical thinking and the paranormal, support grassroots campaigns, and take on corporations and public figures that promote dangerous pseudoscientific nonsense.
None of which is possible without members like you.
Sincerely,
President, James Randi Educational Foundation
PS -- It only takes a couple minutes to become a JREF member today, and your help is vital as we work to expand our efforts fighting the purveyors of harmful nonsense. Please become a JREF member now and support our unique work.
  The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012
July 12-15, 2012
South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
Las Vegas, NV
The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM) is the must-attend annual celebration of science, skepticism and critical thinking. People from all over the world come to TAM each year to share learning, laughs and the skeptical perspective with their fellow skeptics and a host of distinguished guest speakers including James Randi, Penn and Teller, Carol Tavris, Lawrence Krauss, Michael Shermer, Eugenie Scott, Jennifer Michael Hecht, Steve Novella and the SGU Rogues, Ophelia Benson, and dozens of others.
But don't just take our word for how amaz!ng TAM is (we're skeptics after all). Check out a video from last year and decide for yourself. This vigorous discussion on "Our Future In Space" featuring Phil Plait, Pamela Gay, Lawrence Krauss, Bill Nye, and Neil deGrasse Tyson was one of the most memorable moments at TAM 2011. We invite you to enjoy the video of this great panel discussion and hope you'll join us for TAM 2012. »
Help others attend TAM 2012!
Large conferences like TAM are very expensive to produce, and as a result registration fees may be unaffordable for some, especially students. While JREF offers a discounted registration to students and JREF members (below JREF's actual costs, in some cases), some people may still not be able to afford to attend.
We are happy to announce that due to several generous individuals who have partnered with the JREF to organize various grant programs to help those who need financial assistance to attend The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012, dozens of people will be able to come to TAM this year who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend. These grants apply directly to the TAM registration fee in order to cover full registration. The grants do not cover airfare, hotel, or other expenses, inlcuding additional add-on events at TAM.
More information about how support this year’s grant programs, as well as how to apply »
Call for Papers at TAM 2012 (Deadline May 15)
Following our now ten year tradition, the James Randi Educational Foundation will once again invite proposals for short (15 minute) presentations on the Sunday morning of The Amazing Meeting in July.
The Sunday Morning Papers session of TAM was established to recognize new voices and ideas and shine on them the spotlight of the TAM community. If you have had success in communicating rational skepticism, teaching critical thinking, combating pseudoscience, or furthering the mission of JREF in some new and significant way, we want to hear from you!
Please follow the this link for an application and instructions for your 15 minute talk proposal »
Updates from the Field
James Randi Broadcast Live to 35 Locations in Italy: This Wednesday, May 16, James Randi’s presentation in Milan, Italy will be broadcast live to all 35 locations of The Space theater chain throughout Italy. The live broadcast event is part of the theater’s cultural programing that also includes similar broadcasts of music, dance, opera, and other performances. Read more »
JREF's Tour of Europe: Randi in Spain, Italy and Germany: James Randi’s and D.J. Grothe‘s are currently on whirlwind European tour including major events in Spain, Italy, and Germany. They began the trip last week at Neuromagic 2012, the second magic and neuroscience conference on San Simon Island (what is referred to as "The Island of Thought") in Vigo, Spain. Since then they have been making stops in several cities in Europe for lectures and meetings with local and national skeptics groups and university audiences, culminating in their appearances at the the 6th World Skeptics Congress in Berlin, Germany May 18th-20th, where Randi will present the keynote address. Read more »
James Randi Speaks to the Ann Arbor Skeptics: A few weeks ago, the Ann Arbor Skeptics hosted a live Skype video conference with James Randi. They discussed skeptical activism at the grassroots, Randi's upcoming book A Magician in the Laboratory, and took questions from the audience. Randi loves reaching out to the worldwide skeptical community like this, and interfacing with enthusiastic local skeptics groups is a hugely important part of our mission here at the JREF. Read more »
Thanks to everyone who made these events happen!
The Amazing Column on Wired.com
The Amazing Column is the JREF's new regular column for Wired.com. Five articles are now online:
Don’t Miss The Randi Show on YouTube
 The Randi Show, is a video podcast featuring James Randi himself discussing news from the worlds of science, pseudoscience, and the paranormal and sharing a few personal stories from his amazing life along the way. Recent episodes include:
- Faith Healers & Facilitated Communicators. In this episode, Randi discusses the impact of his book "The Faith Healers" on popular culture, and he shares the story of a facilitated communicator who had the courage to question her own beliefs. Watch now »
- Deceptive Marketing. In this episode, Randi discusses deceptive marketing. It's used in both everyday products and pseudoscientific bunk, so how do we educate ourselves against it? Watch now »
- Nostradamus. In this episode, Randi discusses his recent acquisition of a rare, early edition of Nostradamus' prophecies. Watch now »
- Science Communication. In this episode, Randi discusses rising anti-science sentiment, what we can do to fight it, and how some of the best science communicators are helping to keep the public educated. Watch now »
- Snake Oil. In this episode, Randi discussion the recent ASA action against Groupon for promoting literal snake oil. Watch now »
- Psychic Charlatans. In this episode, Randi discusses the recent conviction of a self-proclaimed psychic for theft. Plus, he talks about laws against storefront psychics and how these types of frauds operate around the world. Watch now »
You can also subscribe to The Randi Show on iTunes.
Upcoming Events
- May 12 - 17: JREF speaking tour of Spain and Italy, including events in Galicia, Madrid, and Bilbao, Spain; and in Milan, Turin, and Padua, Italy.
- May 18 - 20: James Randi and D.J. Grothe speak at World Skeptics Conference in Berlin Germany
- June 2: The Center for Inquiry DC Presents James Randi
- June 7 - 10: James Randi speaks at the American Humanist Association Conference, in New Orleans, LA where he is being awarded their Lifetime Achievement Award.
- July 12 - 15: The Amaz!ng Meeting 2012 in Las Vegas, NV.
Recently on Randi.org
JREF In the News
- The Gaurdian - May 11, 2012
How rational is America?
"Through reading Sagan I also discovered the work of James Randi and the idea of organised scepticism."
- Boing Boing - May 11, 2012
Science Tales: short comic stories about science, skepticism, evidence and woo
- Geek Dad | Wired.com - May 7, 2012
The James Randi Educational Foundation Gives Teachers a Hand
"Despite the JREF’s long history of debunking claims of ESP, these aren’t gimmicky lesson plans designed to make skeptics out of kids. The aim is not to promote an agenda but to teach methods and allow the students to explore the results on their terms. The lessons address concepts that are part of the National Science Content Standards and the AAAS Science Literacy Benchmarks. So not only does the teacher have provocative subject matter to get the kids’ attention, they are also able to stay within the standards they are expected to maintain."
- Variety - May 6, 2012
Hot Docs wraps with awards and sales
"MipDoc international pitch competish winner An Honest Liar, co-helmer-producers Tyler Measom and Justin Weinstein's doc on 83-year-old magician and famed debunker James Randi, saw BBC, PBS and several Euro pubcasters keen to partner."
- Skeptics Guide to the Universe, Podcast 355 - May 5 2012
Guest Rogues: Seth Shostak and James Randi [AUDIO]
- iTricks.com - May 4, 2012
A Glimpse Behind the James Randi & Banachek’s Takedown of Scam Artist Peter Popoff
- The Don Geronimo Show – May 2, 2012
Clip of faith healer getting exposed by James Randi played
- Los Angeles Times - May 1, 2012
TLC renews 'Long Island Medium
"Not everyone is convinced of Caputo's supernatural gifts. Last month, respected skeptic group the James Randi Educational Foundation awarded Caputo one of its 2012 Pigasus Awards, "bestowed on the most deserving charlatans, swindlers, psychics, pseudo-scientists, and faith healers" and gave a media Pigasus to TLC for airing her show, which Randi called "utter nonsense."
- Doubtful News, May 2, 2012
Long Island Medium renewed again: When will psychics share their gift with science instead?
- The Humanist, May/June 2012
Getting Real: A Look at the New Skepticism
- Skeptics Guide to the Universe, Podcast 354 - April 28, 2012
Live from NECSS 2012 with special guest James Randi [AUDIO]
- Montreal Gazette - April 28, 2012
Homeopathy relies on extreme dilution
"Not surprising, since homeopathic remedies are indistinguishable from each other. The James Randi Educational Foundation offers $1 million to anyone who can, by any means, identify an unlabelled homeopathic remedy."
- Broadway.com - April 24, 2012
Are You Ready For a Miracle? How Leap of Faith Jumped From the Movie Screen to Broadway
His followers believed that this was due to his divine revelation and God-given ability, but Popoff’s only real talent was his ability to scam people by using a hidden microphone. His deceitful ways were eventually exposed on the medium that made him famous when professional magician and skeptic James Randi snuck a radio scanner into one of Popoff's revivals and publicly outed him on The Johnny Carson Show in 1986.
- Nerdist, Podcast 195 - April 18, 2012
Interview with Penn Jillette [AUDIO] discusses TAM and the JREF
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