JREF loses a friend.

[Jeff Wagg]

I'm sure Mr. Randi will mention this, but a great JREF benefactor passed away yesterday: Johnny Carson.

I believe Mr. Randi appeared on his show many times, and the two formed a bond and understanding. In recent years, Mr. Carson has been very generous in his donations to the JREF.

The world could use a few more Johnny Carsons.

[JoeRagg]

My first exposure to James Randi was when I saw him on Johnny Carson.
Carson showed that you can have a skeptic on the show and still be interesting and entertaining.
Unfortunately too many see us as mean wet blankets.

[davefoc]

I missed this until I saw your thread:

http://www.randi.org/jr/carson.html

[Jeff Wagg]

After reading Mr. Randi's comments on Mr. Carson, I couldn't help but wonder what Mr. Randi was thinking when Christopher Hitchens lit up during the panel discussion at TAM 3.

[davefoc]

I happened to meet him after that. I think Randi wasn't a completely happy camper. He had been seated so as to get the maximum exposure (not including Hitchens himself).

[Reno]

Well, I've never been to any TAMs so far (not thru lack of wanting, just a lack of funds) but I did wonder what the hell Christopher Hitchins was doing there. I kinda thought we had somehow managed to sucker him there so we could lambast him on the stage and show him up to be the rapscallion he is, but it seems many of our members may have been fooled already. I urge anyone who listened to this fool and still have a few doubts to do some research on him. I am sure our good members from UK know what I mean.

Reno

[davefoc]

Reno, why don't you tell us why you don't like Christopher Hitchens?

Hitchens is one of those people that believes that religion does a great deal of harm and that it should be confronted for the sham that it is. He did a pretty good job explaining his thoughts about this at TAM and I suspect the fact that he is a well spoken advocate for a particlular view associated with skepticism was one of the reasons that he was there.