12 Responses to “His Sidekick”

1. Aagcobb Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 7:23 am

   An open thread,

   On another thread, Magnan, in discussing psychic phenomenon, wrote:

   these phenomena are elusive, generally weak in magnitude, and except in unusual cases not much under conscious control.

   The same could have been said about electromagnetic radiation in the early 19th century, and yet smart people harnessed it and before the end of that century, a network allowing nearly instantaneous global telegraphic communication had been created. In contrast, psychic powers remain a field in which grandiose claims melt away in the face of skeptical scrutiny, and its only use is to separate the gullible from their money. While it may be fun to go to a palm reader, look at tarot cards, or call a psychic hotline, just remember its for entertainment purposes only.

   p.s. It would be refreshing to see if any IDist has a single skeptical bone in their bodies regarding anything other than mainstream evolutionary theory. So far, all we see from IDists, for example on overwhelming evidence, is credulous anticipation that a run of the mill perpetual motion machine scam will falsify materialism.

Comment by Aagcobb — July 25, 2007 @ 7:23 am

2. Bradford Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 8:52 am

   Aagcobb:

   p.s. It would be refreshing to see if any IDist has a single skeptical bone in their bodies regarding anything other than mainstream evolutionary theory.

   I agree with you that there is nothing to palm readers, tarot cards and psychic hotlines other than "entertainment" which is another way of saying money. Concerning these items it is beyond skepticism for me. Hostility is a better word.

Comment by Bradford — July 25, 2007 @ 8:52 am

3. Aagcobb Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 9:32 am

   Excellent Bradford, we have found something to agree on!

Comment by Aagcobb — July 25, 2007 @ 9:32 am

4. Salvador T. Cordova Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 10:16 am

   Open Thread. YAY!

   To my creationist brethren out there.

   This morning, after much searching I may have found confirming evidnece of a VERY VERY bold prediction of Barry Setterfield's light speed decay theory. Light speed decay (CDK) theory predicts that we will see celestial objects move in slow motion (time dilation) depending on an equation calculated by Dr. Stephen Cheesman. For example, the degree of time dilation predicted when we start to look at objects at say about 30,000 light years is about 59, their physical motions will appear to be slowed down by factors of 59!.

   In a survey of Visual Photometric Binary stars and Visually accessible Spectroscopic Binary, I have found confirming evidence of this time dilation! Astronmers have acknoweldged the anomaly and tried to explain away the fact that as one looks farther out from Earth there is an increase in population of slow visual Binary Stars (Stars which orbit one another), or apparently no binary stars at all. Actually, with extreme time dilation, binary stars will look frozen, and this is actually what we are seeing in globular clusters 30,000 light years away.

   I have also asserted that there are only supposed eclipsing binaries detected by micro-lensing techniques which are not binaries at all.

   I would welcome review of the current work on this subject as it would confirm:

   1. Intelligent Design
   2. Recent Special Creation

   Visit http://www.YoungCosmosDiscussi...

   regards to everyone, especially my brethren,
   Salvador

Comment by Salvador T. Cordova — July 25, 2007 @ 10:16 am

5. Doug Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 11:59 am

   An insightful paper by two philosophers regarding design and the implications that follow.
   http://www.asa3.org/asa/PSCF/2...

   I've been following this debate for awhile but have never stumbled across either James Madden or Mark Discher.

Comment by Doug — July 25, 2007 @ 11:59 am

6. mcromer Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 12:03 pm

   palm readers, tarot cards and psychic hotlines

   Why are you bringing this red herring into the discussion?

   Why don't you address the phenomena for which there is a great deal of high-quality evidence, such as spontaneous telepathy, crisis apparitions, genuine mediumship (such as Leonora Piper), laboratory ganzfeld studies, lab RNG PK, controlled RV studies and the like?

   Instead you bring up claims with no scientific or investigational support.

   You remind me of atheists who "disprove God" by demonstrating that fundamentalist religion is incorrect.

Comment by mcromer — July 25, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

7. Joy Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 1:27 pm

   Hmmm… since I have a character named Madame Joi who actually does read palms and such (for $100 an hour at highbrow charity fundraisers, yacht clubs and bar mitzvahs), maybe i should comment on this.

   I Ching, Tarot, bone-casting, palm-reading, etc., etc. is all psychology. Very basic stuff, and that's why it "works" and why regular people read their daily horoscope religiously. Everything and anything you could say or learn from 'reading' any of the signs applies to everybody all the time.

   Why, simply reading the I Ching book of signs will outline for you the entire spectrum of human psychology. Open the book, close your eyes and pick a hexagram, it will tell you something you could take as good advice in your current circumstances.

   It's always a matter of application, and the person being read interprets to their particular situation. That's like a "cold read" - the person's reactions to what you say will allow you to get more and more specific. And they inevitably think you're the greatest psychic ever!

   My son used to tell us when he was very young and told us things he couldn't really know… "I'm a psycho, we know these things."

Comment by Joy — July 25, 2007 @ 1:27 pm

8. Aagcobb Says:
   July 25th, 2007 at 1:54 pm

   Hi mcromer,

   As I told you, I'm not trained as a scientist. I'm not competant to evaluate a clinical study and tell if its bunkum or legitimate, so I go by a couple of rules of thumb. If a radio commercial tells me that clinical trials of their pill shows it will melt my fat away without me having to diet or exercise, even if the study was done by a prestigious Swedish clinic, I'm not buying it. And I'm not buying claims that experiments have verified the reality of psychic phenomenon until someone wins a Nobel Prize for their research in the field, or American Telepathic Communications, Inc. pops an ad in my head offering a subscription to their service. Be as condescending as you like, but I'm keeping my money in my wallet.

   Joy,

   My son used to tell us when he was very young and told us things he couldn't really know"¦ "I'm a psycho, we know these things."

   LOL! Thats great!

Comment by Aagcobb — July 25, 2007 @ 1:54 pm

9. Farshad Says:
   July 26th, 2007 at 8:55 am

   When death comes calling, so does Oscar the cat

Comment by Farshad — July 26, 2007 @ 8:55 am

10. Zachriel Says:
    July 26th, 2007 at 11:30 am

    Whatever happened to JAM? As a geneticist, I think his input added significantly to the discussion.

    Maybe he's just been busy designing mutations or whatever…

Comment by Zachriel — July 26, 2007 @ 11:30 am

11. Doug Says:
    July 26th, 2007 at 3:01 pm

    Maybe he's just been busy designing mutations or whatever"¦

    nah… probably just busy being an atheist. Strangling kittens, punching blind nuns, slashing tires, stealing pies cooling on window sills, ringing someone's doorbell than quickly running away, laughing sinisterly about some unmentionably evil doing, tripping priests, stealing collection plates, mocking the poor…. then punching them, tearing down children's play grounds and putting up Wal-Marts,….
    just the usual.

Comment by Doug — July 26, 2007 @ 3:01 pm

12. angryoldfatman Says:
    July 29th, 2007 at 2:31 pm

    Here's a video for our visitors who insist Europeans are much more literate in science than Americans. The audience poll is the important part there; either they were being honest and were scientifically illiterate, or they were being dishonest and showing their ethical bankruptcy.

Comment by angryoldfatman — July 29, 2007 @ 2:31 pm

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