Apparently Uri Geller is not too accurate at seeing the future. It seems that Michael Jackson decided to do the now infamous interview with Martin Bashir on the advice of his pal and "world-renowned psychic" Uri Geller. http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,7493,894003,00.html
Of course, Gellar doesn't bend spoons using his mind. He bends them using his hands. His cheap parlor trick was exposed years ago by James Randi. But the public has a voratious appetite for deception and fraud, and a very short memory. So guys like this, even when exposed as charlatans, are given a pass. And clowns like Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Fulton, and Peter Popoff find themselves back in business even after being exposed publicly for their cheating (Swaggart), lying (Fulton), and fake faith healing (Popoff). It is to wonder....
Well, at least Gellar has made significant contributions to science.... by demonstrating that scientists tend to be quite easy to fool. I believe Gellar had performed very well in several "controlled scientific experiments" before his tricks were exposed by Randi, an accomplished magician.
This is a point that Randi makes very clear: charlatans like Gellar have always been willing to perform their paranormal feats before scientists, but not magicians--who are very adept at sniffing out the tricks. Well put, Jeff.
Robert Tilton & Popoff crack me up. It is a wonder folks take it seriously. Hinn is also something else. Heck add to that the Word of Faith movement with its bizarre proclamations that Hank Hanegraaff has catalogued in *Christianity in Crisis*. Sigh............... North
Jeff: I believe Gellar had performed very well in several "controlled scientific experiments" John: My favorite is the one done by the BBC. They had a dozen film 'cans' on a table. One had film in it, the others did not. Geller was to choose the one with film by his mind alone, no touching. The before the experiment officially started, the experimenter was called to an "extremely urgent" phone call. The instant he left the room and closed the door, the hidden cameras showed Geller frantically picking up and shaking each of the cans. When the experimenter returned, he concentrated mightily, and was able to select the correct one.
