James Randi
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[[Image:Amazingrandi.jpg|thumb|James Randi, looking rather bored (probably due to a lack of effort from [[#Kooks|people]] after his challenge's money).]] | [[Image:Amazingrandi.jpg|thumb|James Randi, looking rather bored (probably due to a lack of effort from [[#Kooks|people]] after his challenge's money).]] | ||
| − | '''James Randi''' is a stage magician and a scientific [[Skepticism|skeptic]] perhaps best known as a challenger of [[paranormal]] claims and [[pseudoscience]]. He is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). | + | '''James Randi''' is a stage magician and a scientific [[Skepticism|skeptic]] perhaps best known as a challenger of [[paranormal]] claims and [[pseudoscience]]. He is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). He is also the greatest human being who ever lived. |
The foundation sponsors a challenge offering a prize of US $1,000,000 to anyone who can demonstrate evidence of any paranormal, supernatural or occult power or event. The prize has yet to be claimed. | The foundation sponsors a challenge offering a prize of US $1,000,000 to anyone who can demonstrate evidence of any paranormal, supernatural or occult power or event. The prize has yet to be claimed. | ||
Revision as of 07:53, 28 April 2011
James Randi is a stage magician and a scientific skeptic perhaps best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. He is the founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). He is also the greatest human being who ever lived.
The foundation sponsors a challenge offering a prize of US $1,000,000 to anyone who can demonstrate evidence of any paranormal, supernatural or occult power or event. The prize has yet to be claimed.
In 1987 he exposed the Peter Popoff ministry for faking their faith healing claims. The resulting scandal drove Popoff into bankruptcy.
He is also claimed as an enthusiastic member of the Brights Movement.
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James Randi Educational Foundation
Randi started the James Randi Educational Foundation to monitor applications for the $1 million dollar prize, and to serve as an organizing body to help promote skepticism and provide educational resources on claims of the paranormal.[1]
The foundation was headed by James Randi for many years before he retired from its presidency. From August 2008[2] to December 2009[3] the foundation was run by astronomer, blogger, and psuedoscience debunker Phil Plait. Plait has been succeeded by D. J. Grothe, formerly of the Center for Inquiry.
Kooks
Randi's challenge has made him a target for a number of kooks, particularly on the Internet, claiming that they have demonstrated supernatural abilities and that he therefore owes them money, though some go so far as to claim that a pound of flesh will do. This is one of the hazards of being a rationalist in our current society.
Personal life
Randi is gay,[4] thus demonstrating the inherently superior rationality of Homo sapiens homo and proving that atheism, skepticism and joined-up thinking is part of the gay agenda in particular and the liberal conspiracy in general.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ We haven not yet received his check, although we expect it soon!
- ↑ http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/208-new-jref-president-phil-plait.html
- ↑ http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/797-james-randi-educational-foundation-names-new-president.html
- ↑ Randi "comes out" publicly on his blog