Three items present themselves this week.
First, we're assured that the cause of the TWA800 crash has been solved by one of the "psychic" opportunists who always trail along after disasters hoping to get lucky. Now that much of the details are coming to light, this marvel has outlined a scenario that brings banality to the status of a criminal act. When its shown that he was wrong, no one will bother to mention the fact. Yawn.
Second, the preposterous claims made by a UK "psychic" who turned out a "Mind-Power Kit" much like the one that Kreskin once peddled, have been dampened by the UK Advertising Standards Authority. Geller claimed that he had put some sort of charm upon the quartz crystals that came with the kits, by sticking his hands into a pile of them, and that he had also put his hands in the printing ink used to print orange dots on the "meditation cards" sold with the kit, to "power" the dots. The Authority was naturally concerned that no evidence had been produced to show that the crystal and meditation card had been instilled with Geller's claimed powers. The Authority asked the advertisers not to use the claims again.
And third, we have a big win with the Inset Industries, manufacturers of a quack device -- the Fuel Stabilizer -- that was claimed to "align the fuel and air molecules" in auto engines. The Division of Consumer Affairs in New Jersey has charged Inset with violating the Consumer Fraud Act. A jury in the Superior Court will decide the case soon.
But there are so many, many, more....
As promised, here's a report on the progress of The James Randi Educational Foundation. We're thoroughly moved in at our home office in Fort Lauderdale.
Our library is being catalogued with a very sophisticated computer database that cross-indexes the material and it will also display a 2"X3" full-color picture of each book cover on each catalog page accessed by the computer. We've catalogued 1240 books so far, plus 42 files of skeptical newsletters, journals, and folders. That project should be essentially completed within two months.
Meanwhile if any of you are in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area please call and invite yourselves to have the five minute tour. We're very proud of what's come into existence here, and we'd be delighted to show you the new baby
The James Randi Educational Foundation