Banachek is an American mentalist and skeptic. He has written numerous books and invented various magic and mentalism effects, and is often sought out by top entertainers such as David Blaine, Lance Burton, James Randi and Criss Angel. He has been the recipient of a number of awards and recognitions, including the Dave Lederman Memorial Award (Awarded for Creativity in Mentalism) and the Dunninger Memorial Award (Awarded for Distinguished Professionalism in the Performance of Mentalism), both awarded by the Psychic Entertainers Association, as well as the College Campus Novelty Act of the Year, and the Entertainer of the Year on two occasions, all awarded by the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities. He is renowned for fooling scientists at Washington University into believing that his supposed psychic abilities were genuine during the Project Alpha hoax in the early 1980s. In 2009, he conducted a preliminary test of psychic claimant Connie Sonne’s dowsing ability for the James Randi Educational Foundation’s Million Dollar Challenge that was witnessed by hundreds in person at The Amazing Meeting 7 in Las Vegas, NV. From: http://www.pointofinquiry.org/banachek_mentalism_and_skepticism/
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Richard Wiseman Episode 4: Afternoon Tea With Sue Blackmore
In this episode I chat with psychologist, skeptic and author Sue Blackmore, who was at the Edinbrugh Book Festival to talk about her new book Ten Zen Questions.
The two of us chatted about parapsychology, her new theory about the evolution of technology and how to meditate in 20 seconds.
http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/episode-4-afternoon-tea-with-sue-blackmore/
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Skeptic Check: Saucer’s Apprentice
They’re here! About one-third of all Americans believe we’re being visited by extraterrestrial spacecraft. But wait, you want evidence?
UFO sighting are as prevalent as flies at a picnic. But proof of visitation – well, that’s really alien.
Hear why belief in extraterrestrial UFOs persists … and why military sightings that “can’t be explained” don’t warrant rolling out a welcome mat for ET.
Plus, the most fab UFOs in the movies!
It’s Skeptic Check… but don’t take our word for it!
Guests:
- Phil Plait – Keeper of the skeptical website badastronomy.com
- Benjamin Radford – Research Fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and managing editor of “Skeptical Inquirer Science Magazine”
- Leslie Kean – Journalist, and author of UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go On the Record
- Susan Clancy – Psychology Researcher, Harvard University and author of Abducted: How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens
- Thomas Bullard – Folkorist at Indiana University and author of The Myth and Mystery of UFOs
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Big Picture Science
Skeptic Check, Beast of — Zombies, aliens, Bigfoot, oh my!! We’ve covered – or rather uncovered – them all and more on Skeptic Check, our monthly look of critical thinking. And now we’ve collected enough strange encounters to assemble a sordid retrospective of sorts. Sharpen your brain, it’s Skeptic Check, Beast Of. But don’t take our word for it!