Guest Guest Posted October 22, 2014 New documentry out. Maybe some publicity would be helpful showing on bbc4 on November 2nd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Zorders 1,271 Posted November 9, 2014 http://www.nytimes.c...zing-randi.html Incredibly long NYT article here, for his DL fans/admirers.. Also, I owe myself a fiver for correctly guessing his BF would look about 50 years younger than him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Imelda 621 Posted November 9, 2014 Watched the documentary last night - it was an exemplary example of the genre, IMO: http://www.bbc.co.uk...ics-and-frauds. Absolutely worth 85 minutes of your time - much more than just a run-through of his exposés of frauds and charlatans. It's incredible to think that people are so desperate to keep on believing even now despite the fact that he showed - time and time again - that it's all bunkum. Reminds me of how a lot of senior management works at places I've jobbed in... http://www.nytimes.c...zing-randi.html Incredibly long NYT article here, for his DL fans/admirers.. Also, I owe myself a fiver for correctly guessing his BF would look about 50 years younger than him. The highlight: When he was still a young man appearing in Toronto nightclubs and pretending to predict the future, Randall Zwinge created what he hoped would be his greatest trick. Each night before he went to bed, he wrote the date on the back of a business card along with the words “I, Randall Zwinge, will die today.” Then he signed it and placed it in his wallet. That way, if he were knocked down in the street or killed by a freak accident, whoever went through his effects would discover the most shocking prophecy he ever made. Zwinge kept at it for years. Each night, he tore up one card and wrote out a new one for the next day. But nothing fatal befell him; in the end, having wasted hundreds of business cards, he gave up in frustration. “I never got lucky,” he told me. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Davey Jones' Locker 1,324 Posted December 12, 2014 http://www.nytimes.c...zing-randi.html Incredibly long NYT article here, for his DL fans/admirers.. Also, I owe myself a fiver for correctly guessing his BF would look about 50 years younger than him. All those years they have been playing him on Aus television and I never realised he was a queer... I guess he "outed" so many charlatan clairvoyants, the onky person left to out was himself... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Zorders 1,271 Posted December 13, 2014 http://www.nytimes.c...zing-randi.html Incredibly long NYT article here, for his DL fans/admirers.. Also, I owe myself a fiver for correctly guessing his BF would look about 50 years younger than him. All those years they have been playing him on Aus television and I never realised he was a queer... I guess he "outed" so many charlatan clairvoyants, the honky person left to out was himself... Yeah well he only came out a few years ago IIRC, I remember seeing it on the NYT or something and not knowing or caring who the fuck he was. If he's such a brilliant con-artist-squasher why can't he point out how fake global warming is? He must have his entire retirement fund invested in shares of Al Snore's ClimateBilk PLC or whatever. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RadGuy 1,614 Posted January 1, 2016 James Randi is actually a decent pick, now that I think about it. All the psychics of the world are out to destroy him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Creep 7,070 Posted January 1, 2016 I like this pick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rotten Ali 600 Posted January 1, 2016 A whole year goes by, no news, no posts, and no one but the committee notice him. Strange. Talk about low profile! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drunkasaskunk 195 Posted January 1, 2016 A whole year goes by, no news, no posts, and no one but the committee notice him. Strange. Talk about low profile! He sends me messages about his health every day . . . . . . . by telepathy 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockhopper penguin 2,265 Posted January 2, 2016 Nah, he ain't dyin' this year. He's just retired from running the JRF. Never smoked, drunk or done drugs and got enough cash to live a long happy life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GossipGabe 333 Posted January 2, 2016 Nah, he ain't dyin' this year. He's just retired from running the JRF. Never smoked, drunk or done drugs and got enough cash to live a long happy life. Well, he is a cancer survivor and had some heart trouble as well. On the other hand, both of these health scares happened more than six years ago, so they might not be relevant anymore. But at 87, he has (sort of) already lived a long happy life... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gcreptile 10,987 Posted January 2, 2016 I don't know, he's like a placeholder so that the committee fulfills the rule the replace 25 people each year. I think Eddie Large would have been a better pick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eesti 151 Posted January 2, 2016 I don't know, he's like a placeholder so that the committee fulfills the rule the replace 25 people each year. I think Eddie Large would have been a better pick. Nope. Eddie Large and James Randi are both bad picks. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockhopper penguin 2,265 Posted January 4, 2016 Nah, he ain't dyin' this year. He's just retired from running the JRF. Never smoked, drunk or done drugs and got enough cash to live a long happy life. Well, he is a cancer survivor and had some heart trouble as well. On the other hand, both of these health scares happened more than six years ago, so they might not be relevant anymore. But at 87, he has (sort of) already lived a long happy life... Nah, 87 is the new 71, he's got years left. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockhopper penguin 2,265 Posted August 12, 2016 Nothing to report since the turn of the year. Seems I was right to be skeptical of his inclusion. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GossipGabe 333 Posted August 12, 2016 Nothing to report since the turn of the year. Seems I was right to be skeptical of his inclusion. At 88, if there is anything to report about his health, it might as well be his death. But he's probably the kind of pick that yields nothing for a year, is omitted from next year's list in December and claimed by the Reaper by March. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msc 18,490 Posted August 12, 2016 Well, he did have to stand down from his own Foundation in 2015. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockhopper penguin 2,265 Posted August 12, 2016 Nah, he retired. He's 88 and wants to enjoy many quiet years at home with his partner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sean 6,340 Posted August 13, 2016 88 is a fair age to retire in all fairness. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bibliogryphon 9,597 Posted August 18, 2016 This is probably the pick that I am least happy about. I am not certain that the fame/illness algorhithm should bring him out on top.I did not recognise Persig's name but upon further research I was aware of his work. For me Randi has only ever been a name on the Deathlist. He will probably die now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msc 18,490 Posted August 18, 2016 This is probably the pick that I am least happy about. I am not certain that the fame/illness algorhithm should bring him out on top.I did not recognise Persig's name but upon further research I was aware of his work. For me Randi has only ever been a name on the Deathlist. He will probably die now. I knew of him before, because my dad used to bring up his Million Dollar Challenge. He does come across as Dawkins with less tact, which is saying something. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toast 16,162 Posted August 18, 2016 I have no idea who he is. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rockhopper penguin 2,265 Posted August 18, 2016 I have no idea who he is. Magician, debunker of purveyors of woo, host of The Amazing Meeting, friend to the stars, healer of children, icon of peace .... OK some of that was a bit exaggerated but he ain't dyin' anytime soon, that's the main thing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gooseberry Crumble 5,347 Posted August 6, 2017 89 today! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
