June 2011
Message from the President, D.J. Grothe
 The
Amaz!ng Meeting is just weeks away. Even though today I am a
secularist, I get the same feeling about TAM that I used to get about
Christmas as a child, or religious Holy Days when I was in a fringe
church as a teenager. This is because TAM is a time for my kind of
people to gather together: skeptics and pro-science types from around
the world convene in Las Vegas for four days of celebration — of
science, skepticism and the skeptics community.
I
know a number of my fellow skeptics who would bristle at seeing TAM
this way. Leave religion for the religious, they'd say. And I'd agree,
except for the fact that fellowship and community and the other social
aspects of religion are not religion per se,
but only happy by-products of it. And why would I want to give that up
to religion, and not experience those social and human benefits myself?
Here are six reasons I am especially happy about TAM this year.
From James Randi: Oh, There’s Much More To Come...!
 Folks,
I want to remind you that the dingbat using the name Harold Camping,
the one who had his fellow-dingbats in a terrible dither on May 21 about
his promised End-of-the-World prophecy, has – predictably! – followed
the formula adopted by those other “prophets” who have offered that very
same scenario down through the ages; he now explains that Jesus Christ –
see Google.com – really did “arrive spiritually” on that date, but
since his capricious dad (and The Donald and I wanna see the birth
certificate, please!) decided to spare all life on Earth the promised
five terrible months of earthquakes, hurricanes, rain, even higher gas
prices and continued Schwarzenegger bulletins, the world will still be ending on October 21.
Continue reading...
JREF Hires Field Coordinator—Brian Thompson
 To
improve the resources and expertise the JREF offers to support
grassroots activists and local skeptical groups, we're proud to announce
that Brian Thompson has been hired as our new Field Coordinator. Brian
is a former high school teacher and producer of the comedy science
podcast Amateur Scientist, who for years has used humor and
entertainment to promote skepticism and critical thinking.
You can read more about him here.
Tim Farley Appointed as New JREF Research Fellow
 We’re
thrilled to announce that Tim Farley has been appointed the JREF’s
latest research fellow, joining Karen Stollznow and Senior Fellow Dr.
Steven Novella. JREF research fellows are skeptical scholars, writers,
and leaders who have been recognized by the JREF for their contribution
to the skeptical movement. They contribute on a regular basis to
Randi.org and produce a work of original skeptical research with the
JREF’s support.
Read more about Tim Farley here.
Apply Now for 2011 JREF Educator Grants
The
JREF awards grants to educators who are inspiring a new generation of
critical thinkers. Grants are not limited to traditional classroom
teachers and those from museums, camps, community centers, and other
informal educational institutions are encouraged to apply. We're
accepting proposals for 2011 grants until July 1, so please apply or
share this information with a deserving educator you know.
Here are the 2011 grant application forms and additional details.
JREF In The News
Top Posts on the Randi.org Blog
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The JREF Needs Your Support!
You've
seen the headlines: Psychics taking advantage of the grief-stricken;
more and more so-called miracle cures on the market; soldiers dowsing
for bombs in Iraq; a resurgence of childhood diseases resulting from the
anti-vaccination movement. Ignorance and credulity are everywhere and
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We
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today.
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students, and support the grassroots skeptical groups who are taking on
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