The historic and original "Welcome new posters! Introduce yourselves here!" thread

[Prometheus]

Greetings fellow members! I was first famous for winning the 10th, National, Annual American Atheist essay contest and appeared on the April, 1980 issue of American Atheist Magazine in Police uniform. I am no longer an Atheist because my studies in comparative religion revealed that there is more to the laws of physics than that: 1) Energy and Matter exist. 2) Energy and Matter are in motion. If one reads the book: "The Tao of Physics" by Fritjov Kapra it will be discovered that those in the Eastern Religions discovered an additional factor; Energy and Matter in motion and/or stationary are SYNCRONIZED!!! Once I had learned that fact I was able to realize that PREDESTINATION is possible as the "Bible" states and that the RANDOM CHANCE concept of Darwinian Materialism was possibly false!! Not long after reading "The Tao of Physics" I began to see "signs" in the material world and found that I had "discernment of signs!" I had already read the "King James Version of the Bible" from cover to cover before reading "The Tao of Physics." As a result of "discernment of signs" I was supernaturally informed that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost do exist (including Angels) and that the devil exists (including demons). As a result of repenting of my sins and becoming a Christian I was next given the "spriritual gifts" by God and wrote the essay: "The Holy Ghost, ESP and Predestination." I found that FAITH must come into play when facing the EXISTENTIAL question of whether or not reality is an illusion. The material and metaphysical worlds verify Christianity as reality!!! For those of you wondering about reality and existence; try doing what I did!!!!!!!!!!

That's very interesting, because I read and quite enjoyed Capra on the way from being a Catholic to becoming an atheist. He was one of the first authors that started me doubting the dogma I was raised on, but then I realized that he was just another kook. Anyway, I'll look forward to hearing more on him from the other side of the table. Welcome, and don't forget to see Grayman for your free cookie!

[SkeptiKilt]

Welcome, coryneum.



breaking you're text up into paragraphs make it easier to understand what idea you're trying to get across.

Skinny


Not always.

[amb]

That's very interesting, because I read and quite enjoyed Capra on the way from being a Catholic to becoming an atheist. He was one of the first authors that started me doubting the dogma I was raised on, but then I realized that he was just another kook. Anyway, I'll look forward to hearing more on him from the other side of the table. [quote]Welcome, and don't forget to see Grayman for your free cookie! Haven't you heard? Amaretti bisc. [A type of Italian cookies ] are available from me as well. Only my amaretti are bitter as the main ingredient is apricot kernels.

I once bought a Capra book a long time ago, I think I got to page ten before it went into a rubish bin.

The topic of this thread is to welcome new members, so a very warm welcome to all newbies.

Cheers, Angelo.

[Prometheus]

.... Haven't you heard? Amaretti bisc. [A type of Italian cookies ] are available from me as well. Only my amaretti are bitter as the main ingredient is apricot kernels.


I used to make those too! I also like to make macaroons using apricot kernels in place of the almond paste.

[Fiona]

So long as you keep up the cyanide content who cares where it comes from?

[Prometheus]

So long as you keep up the cyanide content who cares where it comes from?

That could be a concern if not for the fact that one of the hallmarks of cookies is that they generally are, in fact, cooked. Apricot kernels don't contain any actual cyanide, but rather an enzyme that converts a chemical in the fresh seeds into cyanide in the gut. Cooking kills the enzyme. Link (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_212.html).

[Fiona]

Sorry Prometheus. My little joke cos I really dont like the taste of almonds. I always insist it is the cyanide but this is not a serious point of view ;)

[thissucks]

Hi, thought I'd reintroduce myself. I only posted here one off time. I go by the moniker "thissucks" because not am I only am I a budding skeptic, but also a sanguinarian, a community which is waist deep in woo and I try to be a voice of reason. It's slowly catching on. I was brought back here to talk about my outrage upon watching the show "Psychic Children" on A&E.

[Prometheus]

Sorry Prometheus. My little joke cos I really dont like the taste of almonds. I always insist it is the cyanide but this is not a serious point of view ;)

:)

[isaiah8]

Hi, all.

I'm here for the conspiracy theory thread to find out what people think about a possible connection between obsession and family strife.

Does your family suffer in any way because of a family member who is obsessed with *any* conspiracy theory? (I'm not picky about which family member or which conspiracy theory applies in your case -- just keep it general if you like.) Example: Does a family member spend too much time on the computer "investigating" and not enough time pitching a baseball with his or her child? (No, I'm not with CPS. I promise.) Does the hunt for information outweigh family time/harmony? Or not?

I am not here to debate. I'm doing some research for a paper on the psychology of the conspiracy theorist so I am only interested in learning your opinions.

You can see my post and poll under the Conspiracy Theories heading on this subject.

Respectfully,

Isaiah8

[arthwollipot]

Well, ok, but consider storing the spikes in alcohol. Might reduce the chances of infection during/after impalement.Hey, I actually get that joke. Cool!

[amb]

Hi, all.

I'm here for the conspiracy theory thread to find out what people think about a possible connection between obsession and family strife.

Does your family suffer in any way because of a family member who is obsessed with *any* conspiracy theory? (I'm not picky about which family member or which conspiracy theory applies in your case -- just keep it general if you like.) Example: Does a family member spend too much time on the computer "investigating" and not enough time pitching a baseball with his or her child? (No, I'm not with CPS. I promise.) Does the hunt for information outweigh family time/harmony? Or not?

I am not here to debate. I'm doing some research for a paper on the psychology of the conspiracy theorist so I am only interested in learning your opinions.

You can see my post and poll under the Conspiracy Theories heading on this subject.

Respectfully,

Isaiah8
Thruout history there has always been a group of people who even if the truth slaps them in the face will make a mountain out of a molehill. 9/11, Princess Diana, The moon landings, ect, ect. are perfect examples. Nine times out of ten if investigated properly it turns out to be a perfectly good rational explanation.
The one that amuses me most is the one about the Governments of the world hiding the truth from the masses of alien landings on Earth. :eye-poppi

[Phase Inverter]

Hello all,

This is my first post!

I have lurked here for awhile, but I'm ready to join in on the discussion.

[coryneum]

Thanks for the welcome, folks! There is a scripture in the "Bible" which is the fast track to where I'm at. It states: "Without faith it is impossible to please Him and that those who come to God must come believing that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who dilligently seek him." The "Bible" also states: "You will see things that kings and prophets have desired to but were unable to." In order to follow God the "Bible" states to: "Compare line upon line and precept upon precept (in the scriptures)" in discerning God's will. Lastly, the "Bible" states: "Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established."

[Mr. Skinny]

Not always.Understood.

[UnrepentantSinner]

I hearty welcome to all the new folks from a long time member freshly (about an hour) back from TAM 6 and a reminder to all relatively new folks that this is the Welcome thread and that you should craft your responses appropriately (see Skinny's above).

[Roadtoad]

Hi, thought I'd reintroduce myself. I only posted here one off time. I go by the moniker "thissucks" because not am I only am I a budding skeptic, but also a sanguinarian, a community which is waist deep in woo and I try to be a voice of reason. It's slowly catching on. I was brought back here to talk about my outrage upon watching the show "Psychic Children" on A&E.

Welcome, thissucks. Personally, I've found most vampires to be a real pain in the neck. Getting into a discussion with them about their lifestyle bites, mainly because it's a discussion I have a hard time getting my teeth into.

Anyway, hopefully, you won't be driven batsh** crazy by some of the odder woo factions.

[articulett]

In fact, use the woo to practice saying all the things you wish you could say to the woo in your everyday life. They have willingly come to a skeptical forum so they are aware that they will be expressing their "opinions" (which they often confuse with deep truths) to those who hold a very skeptical view of such opinions.

[Zephyr]

Hi, I'm a new member and wish to introduce myself.

About 10 years ago I stopped practising "alternative medicine" after first having personal doubts, then casually doing an internet search: "skeptic".

This quite literally changed my life. Especially Skepdic and JREF.

Rather than get into arguments with people about truth and superstition I simply refer them to these sites and they can make their own conclusions.

This site is an extremely valuable resource as an alternative to often pier reinforced beliefs. It gives hope in a seemingly insane world.

Thanks.

[streetcornercain]

hi everybody!

i've lurked here for a while, but never really had the urge to post. however, i just got back from TAM 6 and was so impressed and excited with the larger skeptical community that i just had to get involved in the forum.

i was raised in a roman catholic family and rebelled in my early teens with every kind of goddess-invoking, candle-burning, amulet-wearing woo you can imagine. thankfully that was a short phase, and i articulated my atheist and skeptical identity a bit before college.

i came to the skeptical community when the "modern atheist" movement hit my college campus. once i started reading skeptically, randi was not hard to find. and this brings me to you lovely people! thanks for reading.

:-)

[arthwollipot]

Welcome to all the new posters. I'd just like to say that all of you who went to TAM are on my list. Hopefully I'll be at TAM7 next year so I can get you all back.

Check out the Community (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26) and Humour (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=28) subforums, make a bunch of posts in totally pointless threads, and get your post counts up so that you can get a sig and an avatar. Oh, and if the goat bothers you, just give him an oatmeal cookie.

[HipNixon]

I was the guy at TAM 6 who wore an armband

http://lh4.ggpht.com/MichaelHartwell/SGBr7eMmXZI/AAAAAAAAADk/h12p-LszGsk/Me%20with%20James%20Randi.jpg?imgmax=512

[HghrSymmetry]

Hey, I actually get that joke. Cool!
Congrats.

I'd just like to say that all of you who went to TAM are on my list.

That could sound ominous coming from a different poster. ;)

[amb]

I was the guy at TAM 6 who wore an armband

http://lh4.ggpht.com/MichaelHartwell/SGBr7eMmXZI/AAAAAAAAADk/h12p-LszGsk/Me%20with%20James%20Randi.jpg?imgmax=512 I hate you HipNixon,:p that should have been me with the great man.
I would blow that image to poster size and it would have pride of place in my living room wall.
A warm welcome to all newbies.
:)

[UnrepentantSinner]

About 10 years ago I stopped practising "alternative medicine" after first having personal doubts, then casually doing an internet search: "skeptic".

Welcome, and is there any chance you can start a thread in the Science, Med., etc. subforum about your experiences/transition? I think it would make for great reading.

i've lurked here for a while, but never really had the urge to post. however, i just got back from TAM 6 and was so impressed and excited with the larger skeptical community that i just had to get involved in the forum.

Awesome! Great to have you decide to start posting. This really is a community that is there for you every day, not just whenever there is a TAM scheduled. I hope you find posting even more rewarding than lurking.

Hopefully I'll be at TAM7 next year so I can get you all back.

* UnrepentantSinner makes a checkmark on his list of reasons to attend or not to attend TAM 7.

I was the guy at TAM 6 who wore an armband

I recognize you, but I'm drawing a blank on the older gentleman you're posing with.

[Paulhoff]

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_48804860f71e90fa4.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=12718)

Oh, I can see better now.

Paul

:) :) :)

[Ab_Normal]

Hello!

I was recently diagnosed with celiac sprue, and in dipping to the gluten-free online community I've run into some ideas which I suspect are more alt-med than evidence based. I hope to pick the brains of this excellent community. :D

norma

[grayman]

Welcome Ab Normal!

If I recall correctly, we have a few on the forum that need to be gluten free as well.

May I offer you a specially made gluten-free oatmeal cookie? :stone028:

[ZeroAltitude]

I am here, skeptical and doing pretty well on gluten, I think.


My love of astronomy brought me to Phil Plait and from there I found Masala Skeptic who had a link to this forum.

[Foolmewunz]

Welcome, Ab Normal.... take the gluten-free cookie at your own risk. (Hint: it's not the gluten content that one should be concerned about... it's the other "special" ingredients.)

Welcome, also, ZeroAltitude.... You may run in to The Bad Astronomer in these here parts from time to time. Shameless huckster and self-promoter that he is, he's always bugging us to read something, check something out, think, etc... (Check out the TAM threads... he actually has a history with Randi and the JREF.) We have a fairly good group of astronomy fans, here. If you ever want to see mass conversion, toss a good new pic of a nebula into a heated debate and watch 'em all melt down like teenage girls oohing over pictures of puppies and kittens.

[pryced]

Hi everyone,

I've been coming to the forums for awhile now, whenever I wanted detailed information on a skeptical topic, but I never considered joining and posting until I met so many great forumites at TAM. I was there with my girlfriend (see new member streetcornercain) and we were convinced to expand our little skeptical community of two and join a larger discussion. I hope I will be able to add something interesting.

Pryce

[Mr. Skinny]

Welcome, pryced. I've been around this forum since before TAM I and I still haven't attended one.

Gotta say I'm kinda envious that you've met in person a few people I've known online for years.

Oh, stay away from the 9/11 Conspiracy Theory forum for a while. One must be properly hardened/annealed before entering.

[grayman]

Don't makes us come to Dayton and drag you to TAM, Skinny.

[Mr. Skinny]

Don't makes us come to Dayton and drag you to TAM, Skinny.
Actually, that might be the most fun way to do it!

Pre TAM I we were wondering if 150 or 200 people would show up. I was all set to meet up with another forum member flying in from overseas and then the two of us were gonna drive from Ohio to Florida, but it just didn't work out.

Do any trains go from Dayton to Las Vegas? As a former boiler inspector, we could have long conversations about feedwater treatments, low water cut-outs, sight glasses, mud legs, tube cleaning/rolling, etc.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Gotta say I'm kinda envious that you've met in person a few people I've known online for years.

Pryce and I spent a lot of time talking at TAM 6.

[Mr. Skinny]

Pryce and I spent a lot of time talking at TAM 6.
US, you are one of the people I wouldn't mind meeting in person (provided you've showered and stuff), but I don't even know Pryce. Are you just trying to intentionally irritate me?

[kinem]

Hello. I met some of you at TAM 6 (my first TAM) where I was known as Jack. It was a good experience and almost all (yet not all) of the folks I met there were friendly and intelligent, so I decided to check out the forum. Hi Nitor!

There were many people there who I'd have liked to talk with more.

I'm in Charleston, WV (Woo View) where there are few skeptics, but there are some. I'm in the local atheist group, which is small but growing.

I'm a medical physicist. On the side I do some research in philosophy of quantum mechanics. Next TAM I may try to talk about QM and/or anthropic reasoning if people seem interested in that kind of thing.

[ZeroAltitude]

Welcome, also, ZeroAltitude.... You may run in to The Bad Astronomer in these here parts from time to time. Shameless huckster and self-promoter that he is, he's always bugging us to read something, check something out, think, etc... (Check out the TAM threads... he actually has a history with Randi and the JREF.) We have a fairly good group of astronomy fans, here. If you ever want to see mass conversion, toss a good new pic of a nebula into a heated debate and watch 'em all melt down like teenage girls oohing over pictures of puppies and kittens.

Thanks for the welcome. I'm sure that by the time I see any nebula pics, they are well-circulated. Maybe I'll have to finally get that astrophotography setup I want.

Above all else, I'm skeptical, which never seems to clash with my optimism.

EDIT: By the way, how many of you do I have to turn into teenage girls to qualify for the JREF challenge?

[schrutefarmsbeats]

New member seems so quaint.

Anyway - I used to lurk, in the olden days....and now after TAM 6 I need to get involved. It was all just way too cool.

You always hear how awesome TAM is.....and then....YOU GO.

Looking forward to someone pointing me to the rest of the video that was played during the papers presentation. The "reality" based psychic reading one...I need to see more of that.

[RVM45]

I've watched several of Randi's television appearances with interest. I even have one of his books...

But what actually led me to your forum was the lunatic spamming of some lunatic who uses the handle: "David Mabus". :eek: :eye-poppi

Best I can tell--grammar and linear logic aren't his strong points--he believes that he's shut Randi's million dollar challenge down somehow.

And there he was on a happy Survivalist Forum; waxing remarkably ineloquent on the subject...

But it serendipitously led me here...

OOOOH!!! Skeptics do belive in serendipity--don't we? Hmmmm?:)

.....RVM45 :cool:

[arthwollipot]

David Mabus is very well known to us around here...

[UnrepentantSinner]

US, you are one of the people I wouldn't mind meeting in person (provided you've showered and stuff), but I don't even know Pryce. Are you just trying to intentionally irritate me?

I'm not saying a word.

OOOOH!!! Skeptics do belive in serendipity--don't we?

Serendipity is the only version of luck I think actually exists.

[amb]

I hope all Tam attendees who decided to join this forum for the first time hang around.

A very jolly welcome to you all. PS, don't accept any cookies from Grayman and ignore the goats. Don't say you haven't been warned. :D

[amethyst32]

Hi all,

I'm from the UK. I lurked around these forums for a while and decided to sign up yesterday. I've been a fan of Randi for almost as long as i can remember, and i also have a skeptical point of view when it comes to anything supernatural. Sometimes it gets a bit lonely though, since most people i know say they believe in "something". *sigh*

Anyway, i guess i'll see you around on the boards. :)

[amb]

Hi all,

I'm from the UK. I lurked around these forums for a while and decided to sign up yesterday. I've been a fan of Randi for almost as long as i can remember, and i also have a skeptical point of view when it comes to anything supernatural. Sometimes it gets a bit lonely though, since most people i know say they believe in "something". *sigh*

Anyway, i guess i'll see you around on the boards. :) The people you know that believe in pseudo-science are easly dealt with.
Just ask for proof of their beliefs. ;) Enjoy the forum and welcome.

[RVM45]

I've already introduced myself--but this is such a newbee question; perhaps this is the place for it.

Please define: "Woo".

.....RVM45 :cool:

[laarree]

I've been around here for months now, just came back from my first TAM, and I'm still wondering WTF is up with all this stuff about goats and cookies. Granted that they are a potentially delicious combination, but I still think they warrant an explanation as much as "woo" does. :D

[Prometheus]

I've been around here for months now, just came back from my first TAM, and I'm still wondering WTF is up with all this stuff about goats and cookies. Granted that they are a potentially delicious combination, but I still think they warrant an explanation as much as "woo" does. :D

Welcome! But don't forget that for a truly balanced meal you'll need to include a corn dog along with the goat and cookies.

[FairBoxie]

Hello all! I'm new, met many of you awesome folks at TAM 6. I have a towel, so yay. :D

[laarree]

Welcome! But don't forget that for a truly balanced meal you'll need to include a corn dog along with the goat and cookies.

Now now, Prometheus, that's an evasive answer if ever I've read one.
Must I discern the Secret of the goats and cookies all by my lonesome?

[grayman]

Now now, Prometheus, that's an evasive answer if ever I've read one.
Must I discern the Secret of the goats and cookies all by my lonesome?

No no no I'll be more than willing to help you. :stone028:

Just follow me down the hall here...your not allergic to Cheez Whiz are you?...Just asking...you smell spicy...I like the vans without the windows...

[articulett]

Now now, Prometheus, that's an evasive answer if ever I've read one.
Must I discern the Secret of the goats and cookies all by my lonesome?

Yes.

Why are you expecting special favors?

:p

[laarree]

Let's see--corn dogs + cheez whiz + goats + cookies--why, that's what they served at TAM continental breakfasts at the Flamingo! I'll never have a gas shortage ever again!

Am I getting warmer?

[Foolmewunz]

Thanks for the welcome. I'm sure that by the time I see any nebula pics, they are well-circulated. Maybe I'll have to finally get that astrophotography setup I want.

Above all else, I'm skeptical, which never seems to clash with my optimism.

EDIT: By the way, how many of you do I have to turn into teenage girls to qualify for the JREF challenge?


ETA: Deleted. Complicated pun based on "turn me in" vs "turn me into", then segue to "turn me on/onto" then "turn me on, dead man".... Too clever by half, and a sign of insufficient coffee on a rainy Thursday.

[arthwollipot]

I've already introduced myself--but this is such a newbee question; perhaps this is the place for it.

Please define: "Woo".

.....RVM45 :cool:Anything that a skeptic is skeptical of can be described as woo. It helps if you say the word like this: "Woooooooo" and wiggle your fingers in the air.

[AstralWar]

Hello everyone. Is AstralWar considered SuperNatural? May I ask what Skeptics
believe in. Is magic considered SuperNatural?

[YoPopa]

I was the guy at TAM 6 who wore an armband

Welcome HipNixon. I guess I should have met you at the collating event. Had another chance when you sat beside Mrs. Popa and Yo on Sunday (you took my photo choosing my spoon). If you partake in either kayaking or striper fishing you give me a shout. I'll be in Wells for the rest of the summer.

What was the armband for?

[articulett]

Hello everyone. Is AstralWar considered SuperNatural? May I ask what Skeptics
believe in. Is magic considered SuperNatural?

We tend to "believe in" the stuff that works whether you "believe in" it or not.

We tend not to believe in astral travel, divine truths, ancient wisdom, prophesy, homeopathy, conspiracy theories, and things indistinguishable from delusions, illusions, and known human misperceptions.

You're on a skeptics forum... what are you skeptical of? What brought you here? What is AstralWar?

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Hello everyone. Is AstralWar considered SuperNatural? May I ask what Skeptics
believe in. Is magic considered SuperNatural?

Hi AstralWar. Welcome. Could I ask what AstralWar is?

Whether or not magic is supernatural depends on your definition of magic. If you mean the skilled practices of conjuring, mentalism, etc., then no.

~ggep~

[Foolmewunz]

Hello everyone. Is AstralWar considered SuperNatural? May I ask what Skeptics
believe in. Is magic considered SuperNatural?

Why, no. Astral War is just about as real as real can get. Why do you ask? Do you have anything to add? There might be a couple of folks here who disagree but you should post a thread in the General Skepticism and Paranormal thread. I'm sure there will be lots of good discussions.
.




Anyone thinking I've lost my mind. Please be assured I'm not. Could be a spam-troll, but could also be more fun than a barrel of monkeys, if he's really into it. Astral War? Let's just say David Icke meets Corn Dog George meets Timecube. There's some whackjob crazoid out there posting on a war between humanoids, reptilians, and The One. All discerned by the author (or authors, but I think it's one person) through reverse-speak-reading and someone or thing who's talking to him/her.
Is baiting new members indicative of petty and immature behavioural patterns? You bet. But I'm a petty and immature person, sometimes.

Here's a sample link. There doesn't seem to be a "home" page... you can go backwards and forwards, though and read more exciting revelations. I can't post a link without revealing the invisible text, here so go to wwwDOTevpreversespeaking.com/2008/05/30/martian-phoenix-all-the-hoopla-all-the-bs/


I look forward to some interesting exchanges on the topic.







.

[AstralWar]

astral combat;p) where good VS evil we are all human in our bodys and can war. astral war combat is the war with souls or spirit outside or inside a body. rather if someone is inside another body as their spirit taking it over. OR BEING DESTROYED IN THE PROCESS. Someone may be able to even represent their own god making it a Battle Of DA Gods.

Foolme I wish I could, However I need to wait till after so many posts before that.



I also Claim to be a CRISTIAN

[UnrepentantSinner]

Welcome AstralWar. I'm a Veteran of the Psychic Wars (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrd2xf5DIlU).

[arthwollipot]

astral combat;p) where good VS evil we are all human in our bodys and can war. astral war combat is the war with souls or spirit outside or inside a body. rather if someone is inside another body as their spirit taking it over. OR BEING DESTROYED IN THE PROCESS. Someone may be able to even represent their own god making it a Battle Of DA Gods.

Foolme I wish I could, However I need to wait till after so many posts before that.



I also Claim to be a CRISTIANYou should be able to start a new thread, although you can't post links, or upload an avatar or sig, or request a custom title, until you have more posts.

[AstralWar]

No. I can not. I need 15 posts before starting a new Thread.

[arthwollipot]

Right then. Here you go:

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=3806604

[MrPuck]

Hi everyone!

I am a new member of the forums. My wife, PuckishOne, has been a member for awhile. I met some of you at TAM6 last weekend. What a blast that was! Puck and I will be at every TAM from here on.

[Prometheus]

:welcome3:

[PuckishOne]

Hey - I know that guy!! :blush:

A very big thank-you to ohmert, CriticallyThanking and the Moderator Who Shall Remain Nameless (largely because I've forgotten his name...ye of the Warp Core Breach, you know who you are!) for making a couple of rank noobs feel at home at our forays into the fourm jungle. Of course this means you won't be getting rid of us anytime soon, suckers. :D

[laarree]

Hey - I know that guy!! :blush:

A very big thank-you to ohmert, CriticallyThanking and the Moderator Who Shall Remain Nameless (largely because I've forgotten his name...ye of the Warp Core Breach, you know who you are!) for making a couple of rank noobs feel at home at our forays into the fourm jungle. Of course this means you won't be getting rid of us anytime soon, suckers. :D

I lift a friendly cup of granola in greetings to you two Pucksters! :D

[ZeroAltitude]

ETA: Deleted. Complicated pun based on "turn me in" vs "turn me into", then segue to "turn me on/onto" then "turn me on, dead man".... Too clever by half, and a sign of insufficient coffee on a rainy Thursday.

I probably would have enjoyed trying to figure it out, but they took my coffee machine away during the office move we're doing this week, so it would have taken me ages.

[Darwin'sMommy]

Hi, nice to meet you all.

[paperskater]

Hello everyone!

I'm feeling a quite a bit shy and intimidated by you all but after attending TAM 6, I thought I'd come in and poke around a little. I know I met some of you at TAM, but I can't remember who was who since I was quite overwhelmed. Anyway, my name's Susie and I look forward to fun times here! :blush:

[HghrSymmetry]

Welcome all!

[Prometheus]

Hello everyone!

I'm feeling a quite a bit shy and intimidated by you all but after attending TAM 6, I thought I'd come in and poke around a little. I know I met some of you at TAM, but I can't remember who was who since I was quite overwhelmed. Anyway, my name's Susie and I look forward to fun times here! :blush:

Welcome Susie! Don't feel intimidated. Talk to Grayman; he'll give you a cookie.

[Ratatosk]

Hi everyone,

Been lurking for a year or more on various threads, and finally decided to join up. I live in the U.S. and A. (Maryland), work as a freelance translator of Japanese and a teacher of English as a Second Language, and do some fiction writing as well.

I consider myself a skeptic in all things, although when it comes to things I believe strongly in, my preferred method of skeptical inquiry is to put my fingers in my ears and say "la-la-la-la-la" for minutes or even hours on end. I can't think offhand of any examples of things I believe strongly in, though.

Pleasure to be with all you nice folks.

[YoPopa]

when it comes to things I believe strongly in, my preferred method of skeptical inquiry is to put my fingers in my ears and say "la-la-la-la-la" for minutes or even hours on end.
Welcome Ratatosk, As P&T say "Everybody got a gris gris" Admitting it is the first step. The ones here who say they have none are in denial. Glad to see someone with no such pretense. Hope you enjoy your stay and post often.

Yo

:yo-yo:

[brodski]

Moderator Who Shall Remain Nameless (largely because I've forgotten his name...ye of the Warp Core Breach, you know who you are!)

I believe that his name may rhyme with Cleon (http://forums.randi.org/member.php?u=173)...

[Ratatosk]

Thanks, YoPapa. Good to be here.

ETA: That would be YoPopa. My bad.

[newcoaster]

Long time Skeptic...first time poster.

I just wanted to say hi. I thoroughly enjoyed my first TAM and got to shake hands and chat with a few of my skeptical heros.
Adam Savage...could you please sign my ball.
Bending spoons
Teller speaks.
Maybe re-think handing out lasers to nerds next year?
See you at TAM 7.

[YoPopa]

Thanks, YoPapa. Good to be here.

ETA: That would be YoPopa. My bad.

The ETA was not necessary, NOBODY gets it right. I think you are the first. :) If you can explain why the inevitable tendency to call me YoPapa instead of YoPopa I would be much emulsified.

[amb]

Welcome all you newbies. Have you been warned about Graymans oatmeal cookies?
He has ulterior motives, so kindly decline his offerings for you're own safety.
Also, you may every now and then run into some unwelcome goats.
Avoid them like the plague. The bloody things will eat anything.
Apart from these cautionary warnings, a great big welcome to you all. :D

[UnrepentantSinner]

Maybe re-think handing out lasers to nerds next year?

Actually I was thinking we should up the wattage in case Hal's puns get any worse. :D

[dustbunny]

Hi' everyone this is my first post and I thought I'd introduce myself. My real name is Connie and I've been an avid fan of the paranormal, etc, but from a sceptical point of view for years. I'm amazed how much I've learnt already in a short space of time and can't wait to join in the debates to learn more. Looking forward to meeting everyone so here goes! :)

[CriticalSock]

A question for the new bods and the veterans as well:

Are you (or were you) filled with the desire to post "I Agree" or "I Disagree" (perhaps on the flip of a coin) on every single forum thread merely so that you could then put an avatar picture (possibly of a cute puppy eating a cross or something) next to your name?

I know I have!

Do you agree? :D

[UnrepentantSinner]

My real name is Connie and I've been an avid fan of the paranormal, etc, but from a sceptical point of view for years.

You are not the only one. I've had an interest in the paranormal but been skeptical of it since I started growing body hair and continue to avail myself of certain outlets - mostly down to just listening to Coast to Coast AM (an overnight show in the U.S. that focuses on the paranormal) - because the entire subject is so fascinating. I grow increasingly doubtful of any paranormal claims (and supernatural), but Cryptozooligy and UFOlogy remain two areas where my mind is most open. Welcome.

A question for the new bods and the veterans as well:

Are you (or were you) filled with the desire to post "I Agree" or "I Disagree" (perhaps on the flip of a coin) on every single forum thread merely so that you could then put an avatar picture (possibly of a cute puppy eating a cross or something) next to your name?

Back when I first joined the forum there weren't any restrictions to control spamming like there is today, so no. That said, if you aren't interested in spamming and just want to get an avatar/sig/etc. there's plenty of threads in every subforum were you could just post an Agreesque or Disagreesque post and no one would notice until you had your Av. :)

[paperskater]

Welcome Susie! Don't feel intimidated. Talk to Grayman; he'll give you a cookie.

Welcome all you newbies. Have you been warned about Graymans oatmeal cookies?
He has ulterior motives, so kindly decline his offerings for you're own safety.
:D

Maybe I'll lurk around a bit before eating a cookie... :D

[LibraryLady]

Hi everyone!

I am a new member of the forums. My wife, PuckishOne, has been a member for awhile. I met some of you at TAM6 last weekend. What a blast that was! Puck and I will be at every TAM from here on.

Hey - I know that guy!! :blush:

A very big thank-you to ohmert, CriticallyThanking and the Moderator Who Shall Remain Nameless (largely because I've forgotten his name...ye of the Warp Core Breach, you know who you are!) for making a couple of rank noobs feel at home at our forays into the fourm jungle. Of course this means you won't be getting rid of us anytime soon, suckers. :D

I probably would have enjoyed trying to figure it out, but they took my coffee machine away during the office move we're doing this week, so it would have taken me ages.

Hi, nice to meet you all.

Hello everyone!

I'm feeling a quite a bit shy and intimidated by you all but after attending TAM 6, I thought I'd come in and poke around a little. I know I met some of you at TAM, but I can't remember who was who since I was quite overwhelmed. Anyway, my name's Susie and I look forward to fun times here! :blush:

Long time Skeptic...first time poster.

I just wanted to say hi. I thoroughly enjoyed my first TAM and got to shake hands and chat with a few of my skeptical heros.
Adam Savage...could you please sign my ball.
Bending spoons
Teller speaks.
Maybe re-think handing out lasers to nerds next year?
See you at TAM 7.

A question for the new bods and the veterans as well:

Are you (or were you) filled with the desire to post "I Agree" or "I Disagree" (perhaps on the flip of a coin) on every single forum thread merely so that you could then put an avatar picture (possibly of a cute puppy eating a cross or something) next to your name?

I know I have!

Do you agree? :D


Welcome to you all!

Have you returned your library books?

What are your positions on budgies.

[PuckishOne]

Have you returned your library books?

Of course. :D

What are your positions on budgies.

In general, diagonally to the right.

[PuckishOne]

I believe that his name may rhyme with Cleon (http://forums.randi.org/member.php?u=173)...

Funny, he didn't look like a Dion to me at all. Indeed.

[Ratatosk]

Hi dustbunny, Hi CriticalSock.

CritSock, I'm with ya, I've been posting away to try to reach avatar-hood, although I really don't have any good ones in mind. Maybe something scary to frighten off those who disagree with me.

[Mr. Skinny]

Welcome noobies.

I'm Mr. Skinny. You may remember me from such posts as "Lasers Gone Wild" and "Cop Shoots Kittens", or perhaps the classic "Blame It On Lisa!".

Cerealously, if you can seperate the wheat from the chaff, you might find a few grains of truth here.

Hope to start seeing you all post soon!

:D

[Foolmewunz]

(Best WC Fields voice) Ah, another squirrel for the stew!


Noobs,
We seem to have not advised in the past twelve posts.... Best ways to ratchet up your post count to get privileges, pie, and juice:

There are certain threads in Humor that exist for the sole purpose of ratcheting up your post count. (The creators and participants in those threads may claim otherwise, but they're in denial. If you have an imagination, go to The Top Ten List, for instance. You can reply to anything.

See also Forum Community. A whole lot of "What do you think of...." type threads.

Vote in Polls (you can recognize the threads by the poll icons in the sub-lists) and comment on your vote.

If you've come from TAM, go to the threads on same and gloat about it so that I will certain small minded individuals will hate you even more.

Nominate (me) often for The Language Awards. If you're confused about the Pith Award, it's the same Nominate button you see on the lower left of every post... just mention that it's for the Pith/humor.

Stalk someone. Hokulele is taken (she has more stalkers than you find at a Wimbledon Ladies Final), but there are plenty of other candidates out there.

Ask Gravy something about New York City. (Oh wait, that's one of the top ten ways to ratchet up Gravy's post count.)

The Presidential Elections sub-section of the Politics sub-forum. No knowledge required. Everyone just spouts opinions as facts. The anathema of a skeptics' board, but we seem to like it.

And the number one (See the humor? it's worded like a top ten list and this is the 10th item) method of ratcheting up your post count: Disagree with CF Larsen, Jerome da Gnome, Articulett, or Skeptigirl.... any topic will do.

Oh, and stay out of CT unless you're properly attired. The accepted garb for delving into debunking of conspiracy theories is pictured below.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/thum_110854666253fa7355.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=6207)

[grayman]

C'mon...one little oatmeal cookie won't hurt.

You can trust us. We're calender models. :stone028:

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/924647c9f5302d07d.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=11090)

[Occam]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forum but have been coming to TAM's since the first in Florida. I teach classes in critical thinking, environmental science, chemistry and general science at New England College in Henniker, NH. I use quite a bit of materials from JREF, ********, and others in my classes. I decided to join the forum after meeting with other teachers at TAM to exchange ideas on teaching critical thinking, useful materials, and general commiseration. I've been meaning to join for years but other distractions always seem to redirect my attention.

I share my office at school with my African Grey Parrot named Occam who is actually typing this message right now.

[Prometheus]

Welcome Occam!

Your parrot will have to get its own account, though--no sharing!

[SophieHirschfeld]

Hi! My name is SophieHirschfeld. I'm a camgirl, but I'm hoping that doesn't negatively affect people's view of me. However, I like to keep that in the open because then people don't think they've done something awesome when they later discover and want to use it to poison the well in debate. Chances are, I'm going to break many peoples ideas about what a camgirl is and should be and so that tends to help motivate me. Don't worry, though, I'm not here to spam. (Please don't ban me, please).

I have lots of interests that I guess I could mention. I love to read about everything from philosophy to physics to social issues. I'm really looking forward to reading more here on jref. I've been a huge Randi fan for years and have lurked off and on for a while. Greetings!

[UnrepentantSinner]

We have all kinds of occupations here from physicists to security guards. Forum members are judged on the contect of their posts, not what they do for a living.

Welcome.

[SophieHirschfeld]

Thank you very much!

[grayman]

Hopefully you'll get to be a TAMgirl as well.

Welcome to the forum.

[Dubbi]

Hi,

I'm new, but not new to conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, back in high school I waisted a year of my life being obsessed with them (truther claims and insanity beyond). I think the way such fallacies occur is by trusting a given explanation the more it deviates from the normal explanation. Thinking "outside the box" was a slippery slope.

Dubbi

[SusanB-M1]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forum but have been coming to TAM's since the first in Florida. I teach classes in critical thinking, environmental science, chemistry and general science at New England College in Henniker, NH. I use quite a bit of materials from JREF, ********, and others in my classes. I decided to join the forum after meeting with other teachers at TAM to exchange ideas on teaching critical thinking, useful materials, and general commiseration. I've been meaning to join for years but other distractions always seem to redirect my attention.

I share my office at school with my African Grey Parrot named Occam who is actually typing this message right now.
Welcome. I do like your parrot user name! As you are a teacher of critical thinking - oh, how I wish that had been around when I was young! - this BHA link (http://www.humanism.org.uk/site/cms/contentChapterView.asp?chapter=324) might be of interest. The BHA have recently produced some downloadable resource packs.s

[RecoveringYuppy]

Thinking "outside the box" was a slippery slope.
Well, value add blue sky thinking to your core competencies. It's all the paradigm these days.

[SusanB-M1]

Hi,

I'm new, but not new to conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, back in high school I waisted a year of my life being obsessed with them (truther claims and insanity beyond). I think the way such fallacies occur is by trusting a given explanation the more it deviates from the normal explanation. Thinking "outside the box" was a slippery slope.

Dubbi
Welcome. But think how much better it was to spend that year thinkingthat way while you are young, so that you have the rest of your life to think sensibly and critically!

[Dubbi]

Susan,

That's precisely the way I try look it at, however it's still embarrassing at times. When I inform truthers that I used to agree with them, they don't believe me and assume it's a debate tactic. I've lost count of how many times I've been accused of working for the government.

ED

[saganite]

I was the guy at TAM 6 who wore an armband

http://lh4.ggpht.com/MichaelHartwell/SGBr7eMmXZI/AAAAAAAAADk/h12p-LszGsk/Me%20with%20James%20Randi.jpg?imgmax=512

Welcome HipNixon, and I have to issue you an apology because I'm the TAM girl who spent several minutes strongly insisting that you and I had a conversation about soccer at the TAM5 forum party. It was all a test to make sure you stick strongly to your skeptical convictions, and not at all a symptom of my sieve-like memory. Congratulations, you passed the test!

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Hi,

I'm new, but not new to conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, back in high school I waisted a year of my life being obsessed with them (truther claims and insanity beyond). I think the way such fallacies occur is by trusting a given explanation the more it deviates from the normal explanation. Thinking "outside the box" was a slippery slope.

Dubbi

So good to have actual converts here. Welcome.

~ggep~

[JEROME DA GNOME]

Welcome to all noobies!!!


What ever you do, do not talk to Gnomes. They are weird.




:irule:13:

[lieslbeth]

Hi everyone, I'm Liesl and I'm new here.

I originally found the JREF site and forums several years ago when the Ramtha Schoolof Enlightenment was a big topic and greatly enjoyed visiting the forums to read everyone's thoughts and research.

More recently, I came across StopSylviaBrowne.com and had to visit JREF again. This time, I joined the forums :)

[paperskater]

(Best WC Fields voice) Ah, another squirrel for the stew!


Noobs,
We seem to have not advised in the past twelve posts.... Best ways to ratchet up your post count to get privileges, pie, and juice:

There are certain threads in Humor that exist for the sole purpose of ratcheting up your post count. (The creators and participants in those threads may claim otherwise, but they're in denial. If you have an imagination, go to The Top Ten List, for instance. You can reply to anything.

If you've come from TAM, go to the threads on same and gloat about it so that I will certain small minded individuals will hate you even more.

OH MAN, I came from TAM and it was the MOST AWESOME WEEKEND of my entire LIFE!! I can't believe anyone would miss it!! ;)

[Foolmewunz]

(adds paperskater to petty revenge list)

[SDCarol]

Hi,
I’m new here, but not to JREF. I went to TAM 3, 4, and 6, where I’ve met such amazing people that I don’t want to wait another year before getting to know more of you. I live in San Diego, California, where I’ve spent years in the health care industry. Because of that, I’m particularly passionate about alternative “medicine” scams, but also hate that religion provides such a convenient excuse for the abuse of human rights. Probably enough for one post, huh?

It took a long time for me to get the nerve to post, but I’m happy to be here.

[LONGTABBER PE]

Greetings all

I've been reading this site on and off for quite a while and know many posters here from various boards that I have a great deal of respect for. ( several of whom have suggested I join here)

[PuckishOne]

C'mon...one little oatmeal cookie won't hurt.

You can trust us. We're calender models.

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/924647c9f5302d07d.jpg (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=11090)

The goat I'd totally trust.

[Prometheus]

The goat I'd totally trust.

That would be a mistake, as the goat is actually the brains of the operation...:p

[paperskater]

(adds paperskater to petty revenge list)

Wow, you've got one of those, too? :D

[amb]

Welcome to all noobies!!!


What ever you do, do not talk to Gnomes. They are weird.




:irule:13: Especially if they happen to be Italian gnomes.
The Irish ones are a little bit less weird. But should still be avoided.
:eye-poppi

[Kittyclaws]

I met some great people at TAM 6 and heard so much about the Forum that I had to see what's goin' on.

Brief history: PK, tried the Methodist church at 12 & realized all they were selling was fear, wandered around the pagan community for several years wanting to believe but couldn't swallow that either, played around in CAM until I couldn't afford it any more, picked up "The God Delusion" & Sam Harris's books & site & Point of Inquiry podcast & lots more reading and listening and here I am.

Kat

[oniongirl]

Hi all,

My name is Jennifer and I'm in Madison, WI. I've been identifying as a skeptic for about ten years now, but I'm only now starting to find a community of fellow skeptics around me.
Other random info about me:
I was at TAM 5 and 6 and they were awesome.
I work in the biomedical industry.
I was a zoology major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
I have 3 cats, 1 lizard, and 2 degus.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to start a Skeptics Group here in Madison because we have Humanist groups, but nothing focused on pure skepticism. If anyone here from the Madison area is interested, send me a message!

-Jennifer

[roseglass]

Greetings folks,

And hello to all the new posters as well.

My name is John and I live in Asheville NC (Sedona's East-Side) when I am not on the road. I've worked within the New Age business community there and just recently quit as a coordinator for a yoga and Qigong center. For nearly ten years, I was also involved in the Gardnerian Wiccan community. After nearly losing my life to holistic health advice, yoga treatments and alternative therapies (due to pleurisy and pneumonia), I finally woke up.

The experience nearly broke me financially also. There are alot of employed New Age workers in Asheville that live on the threshold of povery and who are in ill health. I was not a teacher, alt-therapist or a yogi, but worked on their websites, events and business networks. After finally going on an anti-biotic (which most of you may know of - are put down by most practitioners of the New Age, herbalism and Eastern Mysticism), my health has started to come back.

I joined the JRF to expose myself to people who are thinking straight because I have very few people around me, either friends or family, that I can bounce ideas of of and share facts with. Asheville is surrounded by the Bible belt - so critical thinking here comes at a premium. To put this in perspective, recently I showed James Randi's exposure of James Hydrick on 'That's My Line' to some friends and it was a faith shaking experience for them to say the least.

I found out about James Randi through watching Penn & Teller. One of our lead instructors (someone I know) was featured in P&T's BS show called Self Helpless - which most of you can see on YouTube. Since then, I've been watching PT's other shows, finding what I could about James Randi on the net and helping to contribute information to the Rick Ross institute. I've realized that both James Randi and Rick Ross are correct in their perceptions that the New Age movement represents a great threat to the health, welfare and reasoning capacity of this country and the world. Wish I had figured this out sooner.

This past week, I've decided to stay near Asheville and try to be available to help out others here in Eastern Sedona. While I don't think this will be an easy task, I have too many friends that need help realizing what is going on and would probably step away if they knew there was support.

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking too it - nothing to hide, just the way it has been.

Truly and thanks again,
John

[Prometheus]

Wow. Welcome roseglass, and good luck with you're chosen mission. It's great to hear every time one breaks free and heads straight back into the breach to help others in need!

[amb]

Hi all,

My name is Jennifer and I'm in Madison, WI. I've been identifying as a skeptic for about ten years now, but I'm only now starting to find a community of fellow skeptics around me.
Other random info about me:
I was at TAM 5 and 6 and they were awesome.
I work in the biomedical industry.
I was a zoology major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
I have 3 cats, 1 lizard, and 2 degus.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to start a Skeptics Group here in Madison because we have Humanist groups, but nothing focused on pure skepticism. If anyone here from the Madison area is interested, send me a message!

-Jennifer Hi Jenny. A very warm welcome.
What are degus ? By the way, keep your lizard away from the goats on this forum. And don't accept cookies from Grayman. :)

[lippard]

I guess I should actually post in the welcome thread. I'm relatively new to JREF as a poster, but not new to skepticism.

My name is Jim Lippard, I live in Phoenix, and I've been an active skeptic for more than two decades, though this year was my first TAM conference. My first skeptical conference was CSICOP's 1984 conference at Stanford; I've attended three or four others and many of the Skeptics Society conferences at Caltech. I'm the founder and initial executive director of the Phoenix Skeptics (1985-1988), former editor of The Arizona Skeptic (1991-1993), former web administrator for the Skeptics Society (1994-1997), and former president of the Internet Infidels (2003-2005). For a short time I was the Arizona state liaison for the National Center for Science Education.

I used to be extremely active on Usenet (sci.skeptic, talk.origins, alt.atheism, alt.religion.scientology), leaving a substantial record of skeptical postings in the Google Groups archives for those groups around 1990-1995.

I've written a few skeptical articles, mostly on creationism (for Skeptic magazine, the Creation/Evolution journal, Reports of the NCSE, and a few FAQs for the Talk Origins Archive) and Scientology (for Skeptic magazine). I contributed chapters to Joe Nickell's _Psychic Sleuths_ (on Bill Ward), and Gordon Stein's _Encyclopedia of the Paranormal_ (on Charles Fort). I've also written a few articles critical of missteps by skeptics and skeptical organizations. I've started contributing a segment on science and skepticism to the ApostAZ podcast (apostaz.org), and I'm one of the millions of people with a blog, where tonight I hope to complete my detailed five-part summary of the TAM6 conference, which I hope will be helpful both to those who attended and those who were unable to attend.

I've been threatened with lawsuits by Scientology and Amway, the latter of which subpoenaed the contents of all of my hard drives in 2000 in the case of Amway v. Procter & Gamble. I had several Usenet kooks try to get me fired from my job when I was in charge of security and abuse handling for a national ISP.

I'm planning to organize a SkeptiCamp Phoenix for early next year, and hope to meet many of you at TAM7.

[Mr. Skinny]

I guess I should actually post in the welcome thread. I'm relatively new to JREF as a poster, but not new to skepticism.

My name is Jim Lippard, I live in Phoenix, and I've been an active skeptic for more than two decades, though this year was my first TAM conference. My first skeptical conference was CSICOP's 1984 conference at Stanford; I've attended three or four others and many of the Skeptics Society conferences at Caltech. I'm the founder and initial executive director of the Phoenix Skeptics (1985-1988), former editor of The Arizona Skeptic (1991-1993), former web administrator for the Skeptics Society (1994-1997), and former president of the Internet Infidels (2003-2005). For a short time I was the Arizona state liaison for the National Center for Science Education.

I used to be extremely active on Usenet (sci.skeptic, talk.origins, alt.atheism, alt.religion.scientology), leaving a substantial record of skeptical postings in the Google Groups archives for those groups around 1990-1995.

I've written a few skeptical articles, mostly on creationism (for Skeptic magazine, the Creation/Evolution journal, Reports of the NCSE, and a few FAQs for the Talk Origins Archive) and Scientology (for Skeptic magazine). I contributed chapters to Joe Nickell's _Psychic Sleuths_ (on Bill Ward), and Gordon Stein's _Encyclopedia of the Paranormal_ (on Charles Fort). I've also written a few articles critical of missteps by skeptics and skeptical organizations. I've started contributing a segment on science and skepticism to the ApostAZ podcast (apostaz.org), and I'm one of the millions of people with a blog, where tonight I hope to complete my detailed five-part summary of the TAM6 conference, which I hope will be helpful both to those who attended and those who were unable to attend.

I've been threatened with lawsuits by Scientology and Amway, the latter of which subpoenaed the contents of all of my hard drives in 2000 in the case of Amway v. Procter & Gamble. I had several Usenet kooks try to get me fired from my job when I was in charge of security and abuse handling for a national ISP.

I'm planning to organize a SkeptiCamp Phoenix for early next year, and hope to meet many of you at TAM7.
Welcome, lippard.

Obviously, you've come here to fill the vacuum in your life. :)

I once convinced our cafeteria lady that there was nothing to the 9/11 conspiracy bull, and convinced my mother and sister that "Head On" was a bogus product.

So just try to top that, lippard!!!:D

[Hamsterfan]

Hi, I'm Dayna from Tucson, AZ. My hubbie got me interested in this forum, so I am here to have some more grown up conversation in my life (I work with kids for a living) with people that use their brains more than periodically.

[paperskater]

Hi, I'm Dayna from Tucson, AZ. My hubbie got me interested in this forum, so I am here to have some more grown up conversation in my life (I work with kids for a living) with people that use their brains more than periodically.

YES. I've found that this forum definitely helps me get over the frustration I feel when dealing with the public every day at work.

[laarree]

John, as a former New Age-er, an occasional participant in Rick Ross's Cult Education forums and as someone who has visited Asheville, I offer you a hearty welcome here. I'm happy to hear that your physical health is returning. :)

Greetings folks,

And hello to all the new posters as well.

My name is John and I live in Asheville NC (Sedona's East-Side) when I am not on the road. I've worked within the New Age business community there and just recently quit as a coordinator for a yoga and Qigong center. For nearly ten years, I was also involved in the Gardnerian Wiccan community. After nearly losing my life to holistic health advice, yoga treatments and alternative therapies (due to pleurisy and pneumonia), I finally woke up.

The experience nearly broke me financially also. There are alot of employed New Age workers in Asheville that live on the threshold of povery and who are in ill health. I was not a teacher, alt-therapist or a yogi, but worked on their websites, events and business networks. After finally going on an anti-biotic (which most of you may know of - are put down by most practitioners of the New Age, herbalism and Eastern Mysticism), my health has started to come back.

I joined the JRF to expose myself to people who are thinking straight because I have very few people around me, either friends or family, that I can bounce ideas of of and share facts with. Asheville is surrounded by the Bible belt - so critical thinking here comes at a premium. To put this in perspective, recently I showed James Randi's exposure of James Hydrick on 'That's My Line' to some friends and it was a faith shaking experience for them to say the least.

I found out about James Randi through watching Penn & Teller. One of our lead instructors (someone I know) was featured in P&T's BS show called Self Helpless - which most of you can see on YouTube. Since then, I've been watching PT's other shows, finding what I could about James Randi on the net and helping to contribute information to the Rick Ross institute. I've realized that both James Randi and Rick Ross are correct in their perceptions that the New Age movement represents a great threat to the health, welfare and reasoning capacity of this country and the world. Wish I had figured this out sooner.

This past week, I've decided to stay near Asheville and try to be available to help out others here in Eastern Sedona. While I don't think this will be an easy task, I have too many friends that need help realizing what is going on and would probably step away if they knew there was support.

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking too it - nothing to hide, just the way it has been.

Truly and thanks again,
John

[arthwollipot]

Hi, I'm Dayna from Tucson, AZ. My hubbie got me interested in this forum, so I am here to have some more grown up conversation in my life (I work with kids for a living) with people that use their brains more than periodically.YES. I've found that this forum definitely helps me get over the frustration I feel when dealing with the public every day at work.Oh, I am so on the same page as you both. I work in IT Support.

Welcome all. Have you returned your library books, and did you bring cookies?

[HghrSymmetry]

Welcome RG. Great handle.

Good to hear you're doing better. Tread carefully in your woo infested area. Many may "vigorously" defend their delusions. Hopefully though, you may help others escape who may be ready, just don't know how to proceed.

[kwoodnyc]

Hey everyone,
I'm from New York City and I am surprisingly surrounded by friends who believe in Woo artists, Horoscopes, 2012 synchronicity and the like.
Hope and can add to these forums and take something back as well.
Glad you are all here.

[kwoodnyc]

I'd like to get some feedback on this topic
Tum-mo Yoga technique..I have a link to the Harvard Gazette article but the forum won't let me post it.
Anyone have a line on this? It reeks of Maharishi Woo but I'm curious to hear what others have to say about it.
Thanks

[laarree]

Hey everyone,
I'm from New York City and I am surprisingly surrounded by friends who believe in Woo artists, Horoscopes, 2012 synchronicity and the like.
Hope and can add to these forums and take something back as well.
Glad you are all here.

I'm also from NYC and a relative newbie here. Welcome!

Are you aware of the existence of NYC Skeptics? It started up last year and has sponsored some very worthwhile events since then--speakers like Michael Shermer, Steve Novella, Rebecca Watson, John Rennie, Carol Tavris, etc., monthly "Drinking Skeptically" evenings of rational debauchery in downtown Manhattan, and so on. It's almost like the local branch of JREF, and can help to fortify your skeptical skills. http://www.nycskeptics.org/

[kwoodnyc]

Thanks for the tip, I'll be sure to check out NYC skeptics

[laarree]

Thanks for the tip, I'll be sure to check out NYC skeptics

If you ever go to one of their events, say hello. You'll find me by calling out "LAARREEEEE!" :D

[grayman]

I'd like to get some feedback on this topic
Tum-mo Yoga technique..I have a link to the Harvard Gazette article but the forum won't let me post it.
Anyone have a line on this? It reeks of Maharishi Woo but I'm curious to hear what others have to say about it.
Thanks

Here's a link (http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2002/04.18/09-tummo.html).

If you'd like to start a thread in the paranormal section, just write "www DOT whatever...", most of us will figure it out.

Welcome to the forum.





Would you like an oatmeal cookie? :stone028:

[oniongirl]

Hi Jenny. A very warm welcome.
What are degus ? By the way, keep your lizard away from the goats on this forum. And don't accept cookies from Grayman. :)

ambnp,

Thanks for the welcome!
Degus are rodents (probably... there's some debate) that are related to chinchillas. They look like giant gerbils and are completely ridiculous.

And I defy any goats to challenge Steve the Bearded Dragon. He devours all!

[roseglass]

John, as a former New Age-er, an occasional participant in Rick Ross's Cult Education forums and as someone who has visited Asheville, I offer you a hearty welcome here. I'm happy to hear that your physical health is returning.

Thanks Laaree and Prometheus, still getting better - appreciated the hearty welcome.

Mostly, I've been helping to contribute news articles on his cultnews network. That's a great service that Rick Ross does. Haven't dove into the forum yet, but have been reading it.

He does a great service over there and since we had Lifespring (a variant) comeback to town, almost invaluable.

Truly,
John

[laarree]

...That's a great service that Rick Ross does. Haven't dove into the forum yet, but have been reading it.

He does a great service over there and since we had Lifespring (a variant) comeback to town, almost invaluable.

Truly,
John

Lifespring? Ew! That's one of the few new age workshops I didn't do while seeking "transformation" in the late '70s- early '80s. What a poor sad desperate young sucker I was back then. At least now I get to hang out with the goats as a consolation prize. ;)

[amb]

I now know what a degus is, thanks heaps.
I wonder what would happen if you cross a degus with a quokka.:)

[Xray]

Hi all!
I first learned of the Skeptical Inquirer magazine back in the mid 1980's when I worked for a medical equipment manufacturer here in Wisconsin. A fellow Engineer brought a copy of it to work, and many of us who read it were instantly hooked! As a young man, I was suckered into believing the possibility of being able to move objects with my mind. After many months of trying and failing, my tenacity caused me to hold on to the hope of maybe some day being able to succeed. I finally had my eyes (and my mind) opened to reality when I learned about CSICOP and the great work that they have been engaged in since they started. I now actively debunk any paranormal claims made by friends, family, and anyone else who I meet on a daily basis. It's a difficult battle because people do not like to be told that they are not "special" even though they can never prove that they are. My skepticism is sometimes countered with hatred and diatribe. I stand up for the truth and scientific reality in my battle to overcome the disease we call ignorance.

Xray

[NoisyAstronomer]

Ooh this looks like a fun bunch, now it's time I introduce myself.

My real name is Nicole, and I'm an astronomy grad student in Virginia. I've always been a science geek, and have loved astronomy since I was about 12 or 13. During my formative years, my inquisitiveness also got me interested in things like UFOs and ghosts. I kept an open mind, and ate up the "evidence" that people claimed to have. But eventually, I figured out that the evidence was never scientifically valid, and have been skeptical of things like paranormal claims and conspiracy theories ever since. I can sympathize with Carl Sagan in his wonderful book, "Demon Haunted World," when he speaks of his own fascination with alien visitors which died sadly when the evidence didn't hold up.

My pull to skepticism comes from a scientific perspective. I've been especially adamant about debunking intelligent design theories and creationism, and more importantly, trying to teach people the scientific method, what it means when we call something in science a "theory," and how to think critically about science that they hear on the news. I also like to educate about the wonders of the universe (yes I will gibber like a teenage girl over a pretty nebula... deal with it!) Recently I'm learning how to apply that skepticism to all facets of life, and how important it is to debunk a lot of the "woo" out there in a effort to help people.

Let's see, what else. Politically, I lean libertarian, although I hate getting into political discussions b/c I fail at articulating myself clearly in that respect. But I try! I am also an atheist who was raised Catholic, and I had my first skeptical debate in high school with a nun who didn't accept evolution. My science teachers at that school, however, were fabulous, and they even had us read "The Origin of Species," so I can't bash my Catholic school education as a whole. They were the ones who encouraged me to pursue astronomy as a career. Time will tell if I'm actually any good at it!

I heard all about the JREF on Skepticality, and I heard about them on the Bad Astronomy blog, and it's obvious why I would like that website. This looks like a fun place to discuss and learn, and I look forward to it! Provided I don't spend too much time here when I should be working. Shoo me away, if necessary.

Thanks!

P.S. Happy 4th to my fellow USers, and happy weekend to everyone!

[NoisyAstronomer]

P.P.S. Hello, New Yorkers (laarree and kwoodnyc and I'm sure there are more)! I grew up on Staten Island (hold your noses). I'll always be a New Yorker at heart, but I doubt I'll ever move back to "da Island". Not much skepticism there, in my opinion. I'm sure the actual city itself is a more nurturing environment for such thought. Oh yeah, and Hayden Planetarium = awesomeness!

[laarree]

...I now actively debunk any paranormal claims made by friends, family, and anyone else who I meet on a daily basis. It's a difficult battle because people do not like to be told that they are not "special" even though they can never prove that they are. My skepticism is sometimes countered with hatred and diatribe. I stand up for the truth and scientific reality in my battle to overcome the disease we call ignorance.

Xray

Welcome, Xray, and I admire your courage in actively disagreeing with people in your life. I still smile and say nothing most of the time when people I know yammer on about Mercury being in retrograde and crap like that.

[laarree]

P.P.S. Hello, New Yorkers (laarree and kwoodnyc and I'm sure there are more)! I grew up on Staten Island (hold your noses). I'll always be a New Yorker at heart, but I doubt I'll ever move back to "da Island". Not much skepticism there, in my opinion. I'm sure the actual city itself is a more nurturing environment for such thought. Oh yeah, and Hayden Planetarium = awesomeness!

Hello from Brooklyn, NoisyAstronomer! Staten Island has evolving differently than the rest of NYC due to its lack of a subway connection to the rest of the city--it's New York City's very own Galapagos Island!

Your story about catholic school gives me hope for my niece, who despite coming from a non-observant Jewish family, has convinced her parents to allow her to go to a catholic high school so she can go to school with her Italian-American girlfriends. She'll even have to go to mass in the AM. Ew! :)

I saw the King of the Hayden Planetarium, Neil DeGrasse Tyson speak recently at JREF's conference TAM6. He adds much awesomeness to that already awesome place, which I visited many times as a kid in its original form.

[photolina]

Hi everyone,

This is the first time ever in a forum. I'm from California. I attended the JREF conference in Las Vegas this year. I had a lot of FUN. I meet a lot of people so if you remember me please don't hesitate to say Hi. I was with PIGASUS most of the time taking pictures. I would like to say Thank everyone i meet, everyone was really nice and I hope to see you at the next conference in Vegas.

Paulina :)

[Prometheus]

:welcome2

[amb]

Welcome to all newbies. Make your self's at home. Beer is in the fridge, cookies are with Grayman, goat's milk is down one shelf from the beer in the fridge.
Enjoy, relax, put your feet up and start posting. :D

[lorriedjn]

Originally Posted by NoisyAstronomer http://forums.randi.org/helloworld2/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=3832766#post3832766) I am also an atheist who was raised Catholic, and I had my first skeptical debate in high school with a nun who didn't accept evolution.I also was born & raised in NY (Westchester County) Spent my yearning for knowledge years in Catholic school. Got in tons of trouble for thinking the bible was a bad soap opera.

I got my real education by taking the train into the city and hanging out at THE museum and planetarium. (Maybe we bumped into each other at Hayden laarree???) AND after raising a sh*t load of kids, I am back in college on my way to a science degree, major cosmology :D.

I spoke with the reigning king of the cosmos, Neil Tyson at TAM and kept the drink straw he borrowed from me to use in a an adlib demonstration.

Anybody want to bid on it on Ebay??? All monies raised go to JREF:)

Lorrie

[laarree]

...I got my real education by taking the train into the city and hanging out at THE museum and planetarium. (Maybe we bumped into each other at Hayden laarree???) AND after raising a sh*t load of kids, I am back in college on my way to a science degree, major cosmology :D.
Lorrie

And how much did you weigh on Jupiter, Miss Lorrie?! ;)
(you know what I'm talkin' about).

[lorriedjn]

And how much did you weigh on Jupiter, Miss Lorrie?! ;)
(you know what I'm talkin' about).
way back then it would have been considerably less than it is now....and no gravity did not increase on Jupiter ;)

[NoisyAstronomer]

Thanks laarree and Lorrie :-)

Staten Island as the Galapagos... brilliant! Nah, your niece will probably be just fine, if she's only going into it now. I had Catholic schools all the way up. The education was nice, even though sometimes underfunded. The uniforms and other such silliness were, well, you learned to deal. If she starts wearing black nailpolish in rebellion, just smile and nod...

I have to get back to Hayden. We had a few class trips to the awesome museum when the planetarium was still under renovation, but I've dragged my whole family back there since. And my college friends. Yes, it is a fabulous place to learn! Oh my, a major in cosmology? Heavy stuff! I hope you have a blast, and maybe figure out what is dark matter while you are at it ;-)

So jealous that you guys got to meet Neil Tyson! I met him briefly at an American Astronomical Society meeting when I was a shy little undergrad...so I didn't say much. He was surrounded by people and lots of good laughter. I would love to sit down with him and pick his brain about science education.

[Susan Gerbic]

This is the first time ever in a forum. I'm from California. I attended the JREF conference in Las Vegas this year. I had a lot of FUN. I meet a lot of people so if you remember me please don't hesitate to say Hi. I was with PIGASUS most of the time taking pictures. I would like to say Thank everyone i meet, everyone was really nice and I hope to see you at the next conference in Vegas.



Paulina :)

Pigasus misses you!

Susan

[Miss Jill]

So...I'm new to the whole "skeptical" thing. I just started listening to Skeptoid podcasts and I am excited to be part of a community online where Thinking is the point. As far as conspiracy theories go, I am not convinced Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK, much less that he worked alone. Has this topic been addressed? I would like to know what skeptics say about it. Other than that, I think conspiracy theories are mostly silly.

[GoodGuysEatPie]

So...I'm new to the whole "skeptical" thing. I just started listening to Skeptoid podcasts and I am excited to be part of a community online where Thinking is the point. As far as conspiracy theories go, I am not convinced Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK, much less that he worked alone. Has this topic been addressed? I would like to know what skeptics say about it. Other than that, I think conspiracy theories are mostly silly.

Welcome Miss Jill :) Skeptoid is a good podcast. Have you listened to Skeptic's Guide to the Universe?

I'm sure the JFK assassination has been discussed here, but I haven't done a thread search on it. My guess is that the skeptical consensus is that Lee Harvey acted alone.

~ggep~

[SkeptiKilt]

A belated yee-HAW to the arrival of Jim Lippard. Jim, if you're reading, I'm bummed that we were both at TAM and I didn't get to meet you; I've admired your work for quite a while. I was a regular on a few skeptical froups on Usenet back in the early '90s, but I don't recall whether we ever posted in the same threads.

[UnrepentantSinner]

So...I'm new to the whole "skeptical" thing. I just started listening to Skeptoid podcasts and I am excited to be part of a community online where Thinking is the point. As far as conspiracy theories go, I am not convinced Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK, much less that he worked alone. Has this topic been addressed? I would like to know what skeptics say about it. Other than that, I think conspiracy theories are mostly silly.

Welcome Miss Jill and good for you wanting to get involved. As far as the JFK assasination goes, feel free to start a thread in the Conspiracy Theories section which states your position and why you feel as you do. I'd also include a caveat that you're new here and new to skepticism so the responses will remain cordial.

[mbush1us]

Hi, I'm a long time lurker and skeptic. I'm an Atheist now and have been for several years. I also don't believe in the paranormal, UFO's, conspiracy theories, or homeopathic medicine, but am always willing to change my mind should strong scientific evidence show up.

I was raised Catholic, but not in a very strict religious home. We went to early Mass every Sunday and I went to CCD to prepare for 1st Communion and Confirmation, but that was the size of it. I was never sent to a Catholic school and was never told most of the things that I hear from other Catholics (that only Catholics would go to heaven, etc.) - no guilt either. I guess I missed out. :)

My husband was raised as a PK (preacher's kid) in the Nazarene Church and had to go to church all day Sunday, Wednesday night, and all week during revivals. He's an Atheist now too so I guess it didn't stick.

[Xray]

Welcome, Xray, and I admire your courage in actively disagreeing with people in your life. I still smile and say nothing most of the time when people I know yammer on about Mercury being in retrograde and crap like that.

Thanks Laarree - I want to add to what I had stated that I of course disagree with people in a respectful manner, and I NEVER verbally disagree with a person's religion unless they are using their religeon in a profitable manner by duping people into believing that it would benefit their body and/or soul by giving money to their organization (e.g., TV Evangelists). A person may believe anything they want to, even if it flies in the face of hard-core science -- I can respect that, and it's not my or anyone else's place to try to convince them otherwise. But when their beliefs become destructive to other people, then we Skeptics MUST step in and set the record straight. In those cases, I do not "smile and say nothing", because I would not be able to live with myself if I did not at least give them the oportunity of hearing the truth.

[Roadtoad]

Hi, I'm a long time lurker and skeptic. I'm an Atheist now and have been for several years. I also don't believe in the paranormal, UFO's, conspiracy theories, or homeopathic medicine, but am always willing to change my mind should strong scientific evidence show up.

I was raised Catholic, but not in a very strict religious home. We went to early Mass every Sunday and I went to CCD to prepare for 1st Communion and Confirmation, but that was the size of it. I was never sent to a Catholic school and was never told most of the things that I hear from other Catholics (that only Catholics would go to heaven, etc.) - no guilt either. I guess I missed out. :)

My husband was raised as a PK (preacher's kid) in the Nazarene Church and had to go to church all day Sunday, Wednesday night, and all week during revivals. He's an Atheist now too so I guess it didn't stick.

Welcome. Former Naz myself. Hope you find a niche and enjoy your stay.

Oh, and avoid any offers regarding cookies, goats, or Phil's pants.

[Heck]

Hi, all. Another "noob" here. Only discovered this site a few days ago and immediately decided to join.

A little background: I'm 39 and live in a small town in Nebraska (Grand Island, pop. ~45,000.) I am currently an architectural drafter for a metal building company. However, after having recently received my Master's degree in Counseling, I am in the process of making a career change....to Family Therapy. I am building up a clientele, and currently carry 2 families at any given time.

My interest in skepticism and critical thinking was piqued when I took an honors class as an undergrad titled "Science & Skepticism," taught by Doctors Rick Miller and Bill Wozniak at the University of Nebraska, Kearney. It confirmed many things I already suspected, and had a significant impact on how I now view the world.

Not suprisingly, I am currently most interested in quackery in the counseling/therapy field. In my therapy work, I am lucky enough to work for an organization that ONLY condones the use of interventions and techniques with empirical data supporting their efficacy. Unfortunately, this is the exception, not the rule....the counseling/therapy field is rife with quackery.

Anyway, it's nice to find a group of individuals with whom to share my passion for science and skepticism! Thanks for having me!

Mike Heckenlively ("Heck")

[juri]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and I thought I would introduce myself. I'm still fairly new to the skeptic movement, but I have been interested in the ideas behind it for some time. I was very excited to find a whole community of people interested in science and critical thinking.

I was raised by a strict Catholic and forced to attend Catholic school during my middle and high school years. I'm still pretty sure forcing a kid to go to Catholic school is one of the easiest ways to make a lapsed Catholic. Once I left home and went to college, I moved from lapsed Catholic to atheist. My interests in the skeptical movement have always put me a bit at odds with my father, who is a strict Catholic, ID proponent, and HIV denialist (among many other things). I am grateful that I developed an interest in science at a young age and continued to foster that interest through adolescence and into adulthood. It helped me see the errors in what I was being fed by my father and the church, and pushed me to look for alternative information.

I am currently a web application developer in Pittsburgh. I couldn't quite get things in order to go to TAM this year, but I will definitely find the time and money to go next year. :)

[laarree]

Welcome Mike! I'm happy to see a counselor/therapist here who is concerned about quackery in their field.

When I was younger and in far more desperate and insecure circumstances than I am now, I explored many dubious therapies and even joined a cult spawned by a quack therapist for several years. The field of therapy needs continual scrutiny by skeptics, and the huge number of people who have sought treatment or counseling for whatever reason in their lives need advocates who are unafraid to challenge the countless ludicrous, useless and downright dangerous practices offered on the therapeutic buffet table along with the less colorful, more hearty fare. I could go on and on...

I hope you find this forum as useful as I've been finding it to be since I joined a few months ago.

...My interest in skepticism and critical thinking was piqued when I took an honors class as an undergrad titled "Science & Skepticism," taught by Doctors Rick Miller and Bill Wozniak at the University of Nebraska, Kearney. It confirmed many things I already suspected, and had a significant impact on how I now view the world.

Not suprisingly, I am currently most interested in quackery in the counseling/therapy field. In my therapy work, I am lucky enough to work for an organization that ONLY condones the use of interventions and techniques with empirical data supporting their efficacy. Unfortunately, this is the exception, not the rule....the counseling/therapy field is rife with quackery...
Mike Heckenlively ("Heck")

[Soami]

Hi,
This is Soami Saran. I am an electrical & computer engineer, teaching. Interested in, nay, a (lay) practitioner - unqualified, formally - of homeopathy. I am sufficiently experienced to not be skeptical of its curative power, provided the drug is well chosen. I wonder how people can still afford to be skeptical over its effectiveness. True, it may not have ALL the tools necessary, but for complementary medicine, i think it fits beautifully.

Looking forward to opinions - for or against.

Soami

[Foolmewunz]

Welcome Soami.

May I suggest you take a moderate dose of a homeopathic tranquilizer (a real one might help more, actually) and stroll over to the General Skepticism sub-forum and post some of your ideas/thoughts.

One thing I can promise is that you will not be ignored.
Normally, in posting a greeting to new posters we can assure them, as you'll see quite a few times in this Welcome Thread, is that if they're polite and mention their newbie status, they'll receive a more considered response.

I don't want to be Nellie Negative, here.... but that generally has two major exceptions.... Professional Psychics, naturally... and Homeopaths. You guys seem to get quite a few hackles up, and you may get a rocky reception.

So, I'll welcome you once again, but fear we won't be seeing much of you.

Good Luck.

[TiaH]

Hi Everyone,
I finally got a chance to breathe after my first TAM. It was great! It definitely will not be my last!

[amb]

Hi Everyone,
I finally got a chance to breathe after my first TAM. It was great! It definitely will not be my last! Welcome.
Were you in the spoon bending crowd?
Seemed like everyone had a great laugh and good time.

[lippard]

A belated yee-HAW to the arrival of Jim Lippard. Jim, if you're reading, I'm bummed that we were both at TAM and I didn't get to meet you; I've admired your work for quite a while. I was a regular on a few skeptical froups on Usenet back in the early '90s, but I don't recall whether we ever posted in the same threads.

Thanks for the welcome--I plan to be at TAM7, so if you'll be there we can meet in person.

[lippard]

Welcome. Former Naz myself. Hope you find a niche and enjoy your stay.

Oh, and avoid any offers regarding cookies, goats, or Phil's pants.

This sounds like important advice.

[lippard]

So...I'm new to the whole "skeptical" thing. I just started listening to Skeptoid podcasts and I am excited to be part of a community online where Thinking is the point. As far as conspiracy theories go, I am not convinced Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK, much less that he worked alone. Has this topic been addressed? I would like to know what skeptics say about it. Other than that, I think conspiracy theories are mostly silly.

I don't know about discussions here, but skeptics have definitely addressed the subject. There's a wealth of online sources, and the best book that exhaustively addresses the conspiracy arguments is Vincent Bugliosi's monstrously huge volume, _Reclaiming History: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy_, which came out last year. Gerald Posner's _Case Closed_ is very good, but apparently Bugliosi points out a few errors in it. (I've read Posner but not Bugliosi yet.)

John McAdams' web pages are a great place to start for online resources:
http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/home.htm

I've also got a site with a bunch of links:
http://www.discord.org/skeptical/Conspiracies/Assassination/

[UnrepentantSinner]

Thanks for the welcome--I plan to be at TAM7, so if you'll be there we can meet in person.

Don't know if you noticed it in another thread you commented in, but I'm a big fan of your TO contributions and am glad to have you posting here. Any chance you might be able to come up with a paper/presentation for the Sunday session of TAM 7? (and look forward to meeting you)

[lippard]

Don't know if you noticed it in another thread you commented in, but I'm a big fan of your TO contributions and am glad to have you posting here. Any chance you might be able to come up with a paper/presentation for the Sunday session of TAM 7? (and look forward to meeting you)

Thanks!

It's possible, especially if I start thinking about it now. I'll have to come up with something for the SkeptiCamp Phoenix I'm tentatively planning for early next year, so if it's sufficiently noteworthy maybe it can be developed into something for TAM as well.

[arthwollipot]

Hi,
This is Soami Saran. I am an electrical & computer engineer, teaching. Interested in, nay, a (lay) practitioner - unqualified, formally - of homeopathy. I am sufficiently experienced to not be skeptical of its curative power, provided the drug is well chosen. I wonder how people can still afford to be skeptical over its effectiveness. True, it may not have ALL the tools necessary, but for complementary medicine, i think it fits beautifully.

Looking forward to opinions - for or against.

SoamiHi Soami. I'd just like to reiterate what Foolmewunz mentioned. You should be aware that your views on homeopathy will be in a minority on this particular forum. You will be challenged. Some people may be less than polite about dismissing your claims. Try not to take it personally.

Oh, and don't accept cookies from Greyman. :D

[beeksc1]

Hi all!
I am C Beeks
I like to discuss topics that are relevant today and explore areas that may offer potentialities

[grayman]

Oh, and don't accept cookies from Greyman. :D

But you can accept them from me. :stone028:

Want an oatmeal cookie?

I'll let you pet the goat...

[arthwollipot]

Oops... :o

[DoctorOHM]

Hello from a Swedish sceptical juggler!

My real name is Henrik and i felt like introducing myself here.

I guess i have been sceptical most of my life without knowing it, but until just recently i did not know there were such a thing. I have tried to belive in different things without really being able to belive in it, things like UFO's, ghosts and the supernatural. BUt not really beeing able to belive in it.
About that time i red a book by a swedish/russian writer, Eugen Semitjov, called "Between dream and reality" that started my move to scepticism, as i remember it the book took a supernatural claims from a scientific point of view and i am going to re-read it as soon as i finish "the God Delusion".

Being a juggler i am, of course, a fan of Penn Jilette and listend to his radio show via podcast, trough that show i found that there were more people like me that were sceptical and when pennradio got cancelled i wanted more and found the Sceptics guide to the universe, and then i really felt like i found something i could relate to.

Having previously worked at a science center here in sweden and beeing interested in science hearing people talk about these things in a relaxed way like that really inspired me. And i am trying to find ways to spread reason and critical thinking over here.

Anyway, this is becoming a long post so i'll stop now, and am seeing forward to some interesting and inspiring discussions om this forum!

Hello!

[amb]

Hi,
This is Soami Saran. I am an electrical & computer engineer, teaching. Interested in, nay, a (lay) practitioner - unqualified, formally - of homeopathy. I am sufficiently experienced to not be skeptical of its curative power, provided the drug is well chosen. I wonder how people can still afford to be skeptical over its effectiveness. True, it may not have ALL the tools necessary, but for complementary medicine, i think it fits beautifully.

Looking forward to opinions - for or against.

Soami First off, a warm welcome.

Secondly, homeopathy is for suckers who are willing to part with their hard earned cash on nothing but a sugar pill or some concoction that's been diluted so much that a spoonful of the medicine is added to the Pacific Ocean is putting it mildly.

[manu73]

Hi everybody, i'm Emanuele from Rome Italy.
i'm 35 , 3 Kid and a wife......
My war is against pseudoscience, it's hard..... but never give up.
Bye...:D

[Delvo]

Well, this is I... I don't really have anything in particular to say about myself, but I gather that the standard routine here is for the first post to be in this thread...

I came here not because of the "skeptical" issues, but because of science. I love conversing about scientific things but don't often get to in real life due to most people's lack of interest. (And it's hard to find a good science forum online, too! Have you seen what goes on at sciforums.com, for example?!)

[JEROME DA GNOME]

Well, this is I... I don't really have anything in particular to say about myself, but I gather that the standard routine here is for the first post to be in this thread...

I came here not because of the "skeptical" issues, but because of science. I love conversing about scientific things but don't often get to in real life due to most people's lack of interest. (And it's hard to find a good science forum online, too! Have you seen what goes on at sciforums.com, for example?!)

:jrefwelcome

I hope you find your needs met here.

:gnome:

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Hi everybody, i'm Emanuele from Rome Italy.
i'm 35 , 3 Kid and a wife......
My war is against pseudoscience, it's hard..... but never give up.
Bye...:D

Welcome Emanuele! :D

Indeed, never give up in the war against pseudoscience. What do you find to be the worst pseudoscience there in Italy?

~ggep~

[Prometheus]

:welcome2:

[atecom]

Hey all Atecom here, a JREF n00b.

I am not however a n00b to 9/11 Conspiracy theories, and have been reasonably active in debunking on youtube. Hooray for education.

[Hokulele]

Welome atecom!

There seem to be a number of Aussies over in CT fighting the good fight. Dive in and enjoy! :)

[Zelenius]

Hello all,

I'm not new to the wonderful world of skepticism, but new to this site, although I've been familiar with Randi's admirable work for a few years now. I must say that Randi.org has recently become one of my most favorite websites. I like the community of skeptics here(and even the intelligent non-skeptics often seem to share interesting ideas and make this place more fun), and appreciate the civilized dialogue and debate, which is unfortunately rare in most of cyberspace.

I have a long history in skepticism, having been an atheist since the age of 15. As a skeptic, one thing I find both very odd and very amusing are these otherwise thoughtful people who vigorously attack organized religions, yet they believe in "weird" things that aren't a whole lot different from what the religions they are attacking believe. These people are involved in what are often called "New Age" spirituality and/or "eastern religions". In some ways these people seem like skeptics, but they seldom ever attack superstition and pseudoscience outright; rather, they believe their superstitions and pseudoscience are superior to the ones preached by traditional, organized religions.

A few will even claim to be "skeptics", yet they believe in so many strange things that they have no evidence for, and then claim science supports them. They will often abuse and torture science to make it agree with their "new age" views; they especially love to misappropriate the word "quantum", even when they have little understanding of quantum mechanics. The sloppy, often meaningless type thinking that comes from this is sometimes sad, and sometimes entertaining. Although I am not a scientist, I have always been very interested in science, and believe the scientific method is the best way to get to the truth. That is why I hate to see science distorted, misused, abused or debased.

These are very exciting times for science. String Theory and M-Theory are helping us further understand the nature of the universe, reconciling the once irreconcilable generality relativity with quantum mechanics. We may also make progress with nanotechnology, which may help solve our energy needs and possibly aid in space travel. New scientific tools made with nanotechnology may even help us better understand String Theory better; and the knowledge acquired through nanotechnology about String Theory and science in general could help improve nanotechnology, which could then lead to more scientific discoveries which in turn lead to better technology which in turn.... a very powerful positive feedback loop is what we may have here.

So much of the new science will be misappropriated by the snake oil salesmen no doubt. It would merely be amusing if so many people didn't get conned by them. Yet sometimes it is the brilliant scientists themselves working on these new theories who spread all sorts of "strange", unconventional ideas about the possibility of time travel, or hidden dimensions, or the the "multi-verse" or even things that are almost "spirit-like" or "god-like". As a layman, I'm not sure if they talk about these things just to sell more books, or to get more media attention, or maybe because there is a lot of truth to these almost pseudo-scientific sounding ideas. I'm pretty sure that these scientists are right about these matters, even if they may be exaggerating a little or speaking metaphorically. However, it is in these areas where my skepticism radar runs into some trouble(unlike say with "psychics" or people who claim they can levitate or perpetual motion machine inventors), and I need help finding out what is really going on. It is often not easy telling apart scientific fact from the scientist's hopes or fantasies or exaggerations in some otherwise enlightening science writing. Hopefully this site will help me out when it comes to this. Thanks!

Zelenius

[amb]

Hi everybody, i'm Emanuele from Rome Italy.
i'm 35 , 3 Kid and a wife......
My war is against pseudoscience, it's hard..... but never give up.
Bye...:D
Welcome from an Italian born [Napoli] to another Italian.
Roma, hey! Must be very hard to fight pseudoscience when you live in the middle of it.
Hear of any miracles lately?
Pope Paul curing some poor victim of cancer perhaps or some other outrages claim?

[Dr H]

I have 3 cats, 1 lizard, and 2 degus.


It looks like you're working on achieving an entire food-chain of pets. ;-)

Welcome to the forum.

[Ray Schneider]

My name is Ray Schneider and I'm a Physicist (BS), Engineer (MS), and Computer Scientist (Ph.D.) -- ran into this site when I was checking on the bonefides of something called "Null Physics" which sounded suspicially like something bogus -- especially when all the folks that bought the book at Amazon (Our Undiscovered Universe) seemed also to be fans of A.E. Van Vogt's Null-A series -- fun science fiction, but ultimately Van Vogt became a scientologist -- so I remain a mite skeptical.

Seems like a lot of skeptics hang out here. I'm not sure how active I can be -- hard to find the time.

But a very interesting site.

Regards, Ray

[Homeoproofer]

Hallo to all members here!

I respect Mr. James Randi much and my fascination belongs to him too.
Great knowledge- great mission, to unmask cheaters!

My wondering about found water by dozing and the not-believing of people made me interested more in Mr.James Randi and I watched some clips in utube...
But the topic of this statement below is the real Reson for me to be busy now in investigations about the Million Dollar challenge...



... homeopathy is for suckers who are willing to part with their hard earned cash on nothing but a sugar pill or some concoction that's been diluted so much that a spoonful of the medicine is added to the Pacific Ocean is putting it mildly.

THIS whas NOT mildly in my view of conversation-style...
but whatever you call me- sucker or idiot, I am here now
(I read the advice to not affront people directly and only argue against their opinions, but what opinion is ment with the word"sucker"?.)

I´ll not take it personally, so I do not care- I am new here...

It´s me Jürgen from Austria und in such an unfriendly atmoshphere I add to your knowledge resp. attention that it is not a continent but in the center of one.

I´ll try to be honest here and hope for the same.

I am 30years old and am reading now as much as I can to know the actual state of the million dollar challenge,
because i want to do a big mission!

The mission is the final proof of classical homeopathy.
Where Mr.Randi said in a video that I cld see in Utube, that Dr.Hahnemann was from Switzerland, I have known that Mr.Randi doesntt even know about the facts of the great inventor.

That he said that it is a shame to "believe" in homeopathy has affronted me the more, while he states that homeopathy is the most rediculous and stupid idea.

People who are cured by homeopathy have to feel like idiots...
People who pay 5,25Euro for a medicine have to fear to go bankrupt ?
Animals get cured in homeopathic clinics, but its only Placeboeffect?

That strange opinions are the mtor for my claim to prove the homeopathic medical effect! (that there is no Placebo effect)

What a great move in this world would it be, to make it "believe"!

The million should be mine soon...
(dont want to post too long now...)
but can I try the challenge if I´ve never spoken in the puplic?

[TiaH]

Welcome.
Were you in the spoon bending crowd?
Seemed like everyone had a great laugh and good time.
Yes I was. I felt the power of my mind just make that spoon melt...or was it the power of my mind which makes the people to whom I show the video worship me? I can't remember which. We were cracking up when half the people said the word "slap"!

[Mojo]

Hallo to all members here!


Welcome, Homeoproofer/Jürgen. I'm looking forward to hearing about your proof of homoeopathy! If you have a specific test in mind, you can start a thread in the Million Dollar Challenge (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=8) forum, where people will help you to develop a test protocol. If you want to discuss homoeopathy generally, try the Science, Mathematics, Medicine, and Technology (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=5) forum.

but can I try the challenge if I´ve never spoken in the puplic?


Under the current rules you need to have some sort of media presence before your application will be accepted.

[arthwollipot]

Welome atecom!

There seem to be a number of Aussies over in CT fighting the good fight. Dive in and enjoy! :)But then again there's a number of us who stay the heck away from that sort of thing. :)

[Badly Shaved Monkey]

Hallo to all members here!

I respect Mr. James Randi much and my fascination belongs to him too.
Great knowledge- great mission, to unmask cheaters!

My wondering about found water by dozing and the not-believing of people made me interested more in Mr.James Randi and I watched some clips in utube...
But the topic of this statement below is the real Reson for me to be busy now in investigations about the Million Dollar challenge...



THIS whas NOT mildly in my view of conversation-style...
but whatever you call me- sucker or idiot, I am here now
(I read the advice to not affront people directly and only argue against their opinions, but what opinion is ment with the word"sucker"?.)

I´ll not take it personally, so I do not care- I am new here...

It´s me Jürgen from Austria und in such an unfriendly atmoshphere I add to your knowledge resp. attention that it is not a continent but in the center of one.

I´ll try to be honest here and hope for the same.

I am 30years old and am reading now as much as I can to know the actual state of the million dollar challenge,
because i want to do a big mission!

The mission is the final proof of classical homeopathy.
Where Mr.Randi said in a video that I cld see in Utube, that Dr.Hahnemann was from Switzerland, I have known that Mr.Randi doesntt even know about the facts of the great inventor.

That he said that it is a shame to "believe" in homeopathy has affronted me the more, while he states that homeopathy is the most rediculous and stupid idea.

People who are cured by homeopathy have to feel like idiots...
People who pay 5,25Euro for a medicine have to fear to go bankrupt ?
Animals get cured in homeopathic clinics, but its only Placeboeffect?

That strange opinions are the mtor for my claim to prove the homeopathic medical effect! (that there is no Placebo effect)

What a great move in this world would it be, to make it "believe"!

The million should be mine soon...
(dont want to post too long now...)
but can I try the challenge if I´ve never spoken in the puplic?

Welcome, Jurgen.

I have opened a thread here (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=118179). You may find it helpful to test your ideas there. I'll place a couple of questions there for you to start with.

[JennyJo]

@ Homeoproofer,

A big welcome here!

Wir sind sehr gespannt!!!
:)

[arthwollipot]

Welcome, Jurgen.

I have opened a thread here (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=118179). You may find it helpful to test your ideas there. I'll place a couple of questions there for you to start with.I'll definitely be lurking on that one.

[domofish]

Hello everybody!

Although I haven't lurked that much on the forum, I think I will like it here.

About me:
I am from Norway (which is hopefully an acceptable explanation for the bad grammar), I am a M.Sc in Physics and I am a MD, and specializes in surgery (orthopaedic).

I am a sceptic, especially towards alternative medicine because I have seen far too many cases of cancer patients getting robbed of their money in search for a cure.

When I'm writing in Norwegian, I'm reaally funny and a totally cool chick, but in a foreign language like English, probably not. Just wanting to tell you so that you know. :D

[Viking]

Hello everyone!

My nickname is Viking (from my scandinavian last name "Vikingsson") and I'm a sceptic from Sweden, especially interested in the New Age movement and all the charlatans within that sector.

Best regards

/ Viking

[Mr. Skinny]

Hello everybody!

Although I haven't lurked that much on the forum, I think I will like it here.

About me:
I am from Norway (which is hopefully an acceptable explanation for the bad grammar), I am a M.Sc in Physics and I am a MD, and specializes in surgery (orthopaedic).

I am a sceptic, especially towards alternative medicine because I have seen far too many cases of cancer patients getting robbed of their money in search for a cure.

When I'm writing in Norwegian, I'm reaally funny and a totally cool chick, but in a foreign language like English, probably not. Just wanting to tell you so that you know. :D
Welcome, domofish.

Since you're not sure you'll sound as funny and cool when you write in English, just write it in Norwegian and run it through Babelfish and then post it here. I can guarantee what you write will sound funny (and maybe even cool).

Always good to have another member with physics and medical knowledge.

Skinny

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Hello everybody!

Although I haven't lurked that much on the forum, I think I will like it here.

About me:
I am from Norway (which is hopefully an acceptable explanation for the bad grammar), I am a M.Sc in Physics and I am a MD, and specializes in surgery (orthopaedic).

I am a sceptic, especially towards alternative medicine because I have seen far too many cases of cancer patients getting robbed of their money in search for a cure.

When I'm writing in Norwegian, I'm reaally funny and a totally cool chick, but in a foreign language like English, probably not. Just wanting to tell you so that you know. :D

Norwegian chicks with physics degrees are always totally cool, no matter how good their English is. Welcome! :cool:

~ggep~

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Hello everyone!

My nickname is Viking (from my scandinavian last name "Vikingsson") and I'm a sceptic from Sweden, especially interested in the New Age movement and all the charlatans within that sector.

Best regards

/ Viking

Welcome!

Norwegians and Swedes! Quite the influx of Nordic skeptics.

~ggep~

[arthwollipot]

When I'm writing in Norwegian, I'm reaally funny and a totally cool chick, but in a foreign language like English, probably not. Just wanting to tell you so that you know. :DDomofish, let me say that your grasp of English is still much better than some who claim that English is their first language. You're doing well.

Hello everyone!

My nickname is Viking (from my scandinavian last name "Vikingsson") and I'm a sceptic from Sweden, especially interested in the New Age movement and all the charlatans within that sector.

Best regards

/ VikingAnd we can all agree that Vikings rock (http://www.aaf.org.au/gallery/kit/andrew/viking), can't we?

Welcome to all scandanavians! Coats on your left, goats on your right. Drop in on the Community subforum and don't let Grayman lure you away with those delicious oatmeal cookies of his.

[perceval]

Hi, this is perceval from Scotland. I'm a mother-of-two, currently on maternity leave, and came to the forums via the skeptical blogosphere. We went through three years of infertility before we conceived Kid A. During that time, I learnt a lot about woo - I nearly qualified as an aromatherapist, and I have Reiki I + II. Since having my first child, I've become a lot more skeptical. Now I'm on maternity leave with Kid B, I spend a lot of time on the internet reading blogs and forums and generally educating myself. I can't post much given that Kid B demands a lot of attention, but I read avidly.

I'm not an atheist - I'm a Roman Catholic who also attends Quaker Meeting.

Oh, and one of the reasons my mother-in-law is still here with us, despite a nasty cancer that keeps recurring, is that she rejected woo in 2003 and did the chemo her doctors advised her to do instead. As a result, she was cancer free for 3.5 years. She's now due to start her fourth round of chemo. Let's hope it can give her some more time!

[UnrepentantSinner]

I am from Norway (which is hopefully an acceptable explanation for the bad grammar), I am a M.Sc in Physics and I am a MD, and specializes in surgery (orthopaedic).

My nickname is Viking (from my scandinavian last name "Vikingsson") and I'm a sceptic from Sweden, especially interested in the New Age movement and all the charlatans within that sector.

Welcome to you both. In the early 80s I had the pleasure of traveling your countries with my family by train for two weeks. I loved Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen and Narvik. And domofish, don't worry about your English. Some of the most liked members here are non-native speakers.

I'm not an atheist - I'm a Roman Catholic who also attends Quaker Meeting.

Howdy. I'm an atheist who wants to see more participation by religious skeptics in organized and practical skepticism so it's good to have you were even if you can't post that much.

[amb]

Hi, this is perceval from Scotland. I'm a mother-of-two, currently on maternity leave, and came to the forums via the skeptical blogosphere. We went through three years of infertility before we conceived Kid A. During that time, I learnt a lot about woo - I nearly qualified as an aromatherapist, and I have Reiki I + II. Since having my first child, I've become a lot more skeptical. Now I'm on maternity leave with Kid B, I spend a lot of time on the internet reading blogs and forums and generally educating myself. I can't post much given that Kid B demands a lot of attention, but I read avidly.

I'm not an atheist - I'm a Roman Catholic who also attends Quaker Meeting.

Oh, and one of the reasons my mother-in-law is still here with us, despite a nasty cancer that keeps recurring, is that she rejected woo in 2003 and did the chemo her doctors advised her to do instead. As a result, she was cancer free for 3.5 years. She's now due to start her fourth round of chemo. Let's hope it can give her some more time! A warm welcome from all I'm sure. :) A catholic and Quaker you say.
By the time you leave here you will be an atheist I guarantee it. :p

[hcmom]

A warm welcome from all I'm sure. :) A catholic and Quaker you say.
By the time you leave here you will be an atheist I guarantee it. :p

There are plenty of non-atheist here.

However, by the time someone leaves here, they will have a healthy wariness of goats in nun suits.

[Fiona]

Hi, this is perceval from Scotland.

Welcome from me also. Nice to see another Scot (there are quite a few of us around) :)

[Viking]

Thank You all for that warm welcome! I bet I'll like it here... :)

In the early 80s I had the pleasure of traveling your countries with my family by train for two weeks. I loved Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen and Narvik. And domofish, don't worry about your English. Some of the most liked members here are non-native speakers.
Yup, Stockholm is a beautiful city (even though I don't live there) and Norway is not that bad either...except for their funny clothes, such as "lusekofte" (which looks hilarious). Norwegians... :rolleyes:

And yes, of course vikings do rock! :D

Regards

/ Viking

[Impostor75]

Hello ladies and gentlemen; I am Impostor75. Female, 30s, in the UK.

I've been lurking for far too long, and have finally decided to throw my so-called hat in the metaphorical ring.

My special area of interest is quackery (spend a lot of time around medical types), vaccines and their (non)effect on autism (very good friend on the spectrum), and the general slack-jawed stupidity in which people seem to take so much comfort.

When I log enough posts for a signature, this is what it will be:

I used to be disgusted...now I try to be amused

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Hello ladies and gentlemen; I am Impostor75. Female, 30s, in the UK.

I've been lurking for far too long, and have finally decided to throw my so-called hat in the metaphorical ring.

My special area of interest is quackery (spend a lot of time around medical types), vaccines and their (non)effect on autism (very good friend on the spectrum), and the general slack-jawed stupidity in which people seem to take so much comfort.

When I log enough posts for a signature, this is what it will be:

I used to be disgusted...now I try to be amused

Welcome Impostor...how do we know you're really you? ;)

~ggep~

[JennyJo]

Hello ladies and gentlemen; I am Impostor75. Female, 30s, in the UK.

I've been lurking for far too long, and have finally decided to throw my so-called hat in the metaphorical ring.

My special area of interest is quackery (spend a lot of time around medical types), vaccines and their (non)effect on autism (very good friend on the spectrum), and the general slack-jawed stupidity in which people seem to take so much comfort.

When I log enough posts for a signature, this is what it will be:

I used to be disgusted...now I try to be amused

A very warm welcome! We have a common interest I think/hope; since my breast cancer diagnosis October last year I am at war - metaphorically speaking ofcourse - with a number of quacks and their followers.

[amb]

Hello ladies and gentlemen; I am Impostor75. Female, 30s, in the UK.

I've been lurking for far too long, and have finally decided to throw my so-called hat in the metaphorical ring.

My special area of interest is quackery (spend a lot of time around medical types), vaccines and their (non)effect on autism (very good friend on the spectrum), and the general slack-jawed stupidity in which people seem to take so much comfort.

When I log enough posts for a signature, this is what it will be:

I used to be disgusted...now I try to be amused
Welcome from me as well as I welcome all newcomers. Here is a site you will like if you don't know about it already.
www.quackwatch.com

[JihadJane]

Hello, God has sent me on a mission to destroy JREF.

I also collect unusual rock formations.

Thanks.

(So many buttons! In my country we only have one.)

[JennyJo]

Hello, God has sent me on a mission to destroy JREF.

I also collect unusual rock formations.

Thanks.

(So many buttons! In my country we only have one.)

What button would that be then?

Are you planning to destroy the forum by throwing rocks at it?

Newbies are offerend oatmeal cookies here. Please do try them, they can have extraordinary effects.
:D

[Prometheus]

Hello, God has sent me on a mission to destroy JREF.

I also collect unusual rock formations.

Thanks.

(So many buttons! In my country we only have one.)

:welcome3

Do have a cookie; Grayman makes the best ones. Also, we have some very friendly goats over in the petting zoo; why not pop over and let them welcome you too?

[JennyJo]

@ Jihadjane,

:welcome3

Do have a cookie; Grayman makes the best ones. Also, we have some very friendly goats over in the petting zoo; why not pop over and let them welcome you too?

Prometheus had lots of oatmeal cookies. Before that, he was so ugly that no one could bear the sight of him, but just look at him now!

[Prometheus]

@ Jihadjane,



Prometheus had lots of oatmeal cookies. Before that, he was so ugly that no one could bear the sight of him, but just look at him now!

True! But the really wonderful part is the way the goats helped me to overcome my fear of corndogs!

[JennyJo]

True! But the really wonderful part is the way the goats helped me to overcome my fear of corndogs!

I can't think properly now, I have to finish lauging first.

[laarree]

True! But the really wonderful part is the way the goats helped me to overcome my fear of corndogs!

Aren't corndogs one of those new-fangled hybrid breeds of dogs like puggles or cockerpoos or schnoodles? I haven't met one yet. Are they the result of a mating between a cocker spaniel and a porndog?

[Roadtoad]

Hello, God has sent me on a mission to destroy JREF.

I also collect unusual rock formations.

Thanks.

(So many buttons! In my country we only have one.)

How nice. Kurious Kathy has learned how to create a sock puppet.

Welcome.

[JennyJo]

How nice. Kurious Kathy has learned how to create a sock puppet.

Welcome.

This may inspire Jihadjane to create rock puppets.
:)

[JEROME DA GNOME]

Oma Nocka Ne Say


:welcomed:

[JennyJo]

Aren't corndogs one of those new-fangled hybrid breeds of dogs like puggles or cockerpoos or schnoodles? I haven't met one yet. Are they the result of a mating between a cocker spaniel and a porndog?

Yes, sort of. Goats and corndogs have a common ancestor in pre-historic times I'm told. Corndogs are very scary, but the really scary thing about them is that they are invisible, except to ugly people.
Luckily the goats persuaded Prometheus to take as big a helping of oatmeal cookies as he could manage, and there you are!

[laarree]

I'm going to have to yell at those darned goats. All they ever offer me is bagels!

Yes, sort of. Goats and corndogs have a common ancestor in pre-historic times I'm told. Corndogs are very scary, but the really scary thing about them is that they are invisible, except to ugly people.
Luckily the goats persuaded Prometheus to take as big a helping of oatmeal cookies as he could manage, and there you are!

[m1eai]

Hi peoples of the Jref.

I am m1eai more commonly known as Andy. I am forty something from Derby, UK. I am a refugee from the SGU boards. I am a network administrator by trade and Skeptic and science geek by night. I come in peace hoping to learn something new. I have just returned from TAM 6 and I am really hoping for a TAM UK/ Europe because if nothing else it will be a heck of a lot cooler than Vegas.

Andy

[Foolmewunz]

Hello, God has sent me on a mission to destroy JREF.

I also collect unusual rock formations.

Thanks.

(So many buttons! In my country we only have one.)

Now there's a greeting we don't see every day. Welcolme, JihadJane, and,....

Let's Get Ready To Rumble

We've had a couple of woosers (woosits? woo-zits? woo-ites?) with unfulfilled promises to either blind (20 of) us, or smite us one at a time. Loss Leader and I are still waiting for the smiting, as of this date.

So, if you're going to destroy us in one fell swoop, could we get a warning? I mean, there's a Norwegian Skepchick just signed on.... Do you know how long some of these desperate social lepers have been waiting to see the words "Scandinavian" & "Female" on these boards?

So, Welcome, also to Domofish... and seriously, we're not all desperate social lepers, we just come on that way.... Some of us are suave and debonair and worldly.

(On a serious note... my best bud at work here is Norwegian, and I roomed with yet another back in my years in Taipei. Is like everyone in the country over 6 foot , five inches? For all the Europeans, that's like a katrillion centimetres.... or about 1.8 to 1.9 metres. My theory is that the gigantic-tall guys come over here because by the time a five foot (1.6 M) Chinese girl gets up high enough to see his face, they're already relatively intimate and there's no turning back.)

And welcome, one and all.

On behalf of Library Lady, who's busy moderating, may I ask if you have all returned your library books?

[Hokulele]

Hi peoples of the Jref.

I am m1eai more commonly known as Andy. I am forty something from Derby, UK. I am a refugee from the SGU boards. I am a network administrator by trade and Skeptic and science geek by night. I come in peace hoping to learn something new. I have just returned from TAM 6 and I am really hoping for a TAM UK/ Europe because if nothing else it will be a heck of a lot cooler than Vegas.

Andy


Welcome m1eai more commonly know as Andy! There are a number of new posters here who attended TAM 6. Make sure you post in the TAM UK/Europe thread.

[Prometheus]

:welcome2

C'mon over for some warm cookies and goat's milk!

[Foolmewunz]

_D7AebhY4qg


If someone could show me how to fix the YT doohickies, I'd appreciate it.
This belongs in this thread!


ETA: THANX PROMETHEUS - AND US(BY PM)....

[UnrepentantSinner]

Yes, sort of. Goats and corndogs have a common ancestor in pre-historic times I'm told.

Yes, about 2 billion y.a.

[Prometheus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D7AebhY4qg&feature=related


If someone could show me how to fix the YT doohickies, I'd appreciate it.
This belongs in this thread!

Like this:

_D7AebhY4qg


_D7AebhY4qg

[mzelkowitz]

I'm fairly new to the JREF forum and this is my first post, but I have been active in the skeptics area for about 15 years, especially in the Washington DC area. I've been to several TAM meetings and a few of Michael Shermer's annual events in the past. I'm a recently retired professor of Computer Science from the University of Maryland.

I've been reading some of the forum posts and there is some good stuff here. But I also must say there are also a lot of adolescent responses as well lowering the average information content per minute of reading. i would hope we can discuss things intelligently - there is certainly much to discuss today with "woo woo" running rampant.

[arthwollipot]

Do have a cookie; Grayman makes the best ones. Also, we have some very friendly goats over in the petting zoo; why not pop over and let them welcome you too?NOoooooOooo!!!1!!one! Don't do it! The "welcome" you receive may be more than you anticipate! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!

Um, can I have a cookie please?

[tishayton]

First off, a warm welcome.

Secondly, homeopathy is for suckers who are willing to part with their hard earned cash on nothing but a sugar pill or some concoction that's been diluted so much that a spoonful of the medicine is added to the Pacific Ocean is putting it mildly.

This is simply rude. I'm all for the tenets of this forum, such as critical thinking and not making assumptions about things you know nothing about, but here is an assumption ("homeopaths are suckers") about which I assume this last poster is not an expert.

[Prometheus]

This is simply rude. I'm all for the tenets of this forum, such as critical thinking and not making assumptions about things you know nothing about, but here is an assumption ("homeopaths are suckers") about which I assume this last poster is not an expert.

Actually, it's the "patients" of homeopaths who are suckers. The homeopaths are quacks. Neither of those statements is an assumption, as they are both based on evidence which is readily available within this forum, if you choose to look for it. Anyway, welcome! Have a cookie.

[articulett]

(do we have any homeopathic cookies?)

(I think it's rude to go to a skeptics forum and call skeptics rude.)

[JennyJo]

(do we have any homeopathic cookies?)



In the invisibles department.

[amb]

(do we have any homeopathic cookies?)

(I think it's rude to go to a skeptics forum and call skeptics rude.)
Can't let you go without a congratulations on your 13000 post. :jaw-dropp
You had better make another post asap as the number 13 is regarded as unlucky by the woo class.

[robeeb]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading and enjoying the various discussions here, so I decided it was time to sign up, and contribute rather than just lurk and read. I'm recently retired after 20 years in the smallarms industry. I spend my days now pursuing my private pilot's license, as well as building, flying (and sometimes crashing) R/C aircraft. I look forward to joining in some of the spirited debates I see here.

robeeb

[arthwollipot]

Hi there robeeb. It's nice to see someone edit their post because of grammar. Where is the resident grammar nazi anyway?

Would you like a goat?

[robeeb]

Hi there robeeb. It's nice to see someone edit their post because of grammar. Where is the resident grammar nazi anyway?

Would you like a goat?

What can I say, Hooked on Phonics Worked for Me! As for the other matter, no thanks, I gave up the goat long ago. I appreciate the welcome!

[amb]

Welcome robeeb.

Gave up the goat hey? Join the club although I really enjoy roasted goat served with a salad.

Have a block of goatmilk cheese and with cookies then.:)

[Mr. Skinny]

Welcome to all the newcomers.

Ignore all the cookie jokes, goat jokes, library book jokes etc. for now (but don't forget them entirely as they are important clues later in the game).

Arht, ambnp, library lady, prometeus, and the like are just experienced at the game and are trying to mess with your minds.

[Prometheus]

Welcome to all the newcomers.

Ignore all the cookie jokes, goat jokes, library book jokes etc. for now (but don't forget them entirely as they are important clues later in the game).

Arht, ambnp, library lady, prometeus, and the like are just experienced at the game and are trying to mess with your minds.

Perhaps you've had a few too many cookies....

[arthwollipot]

Welcome to all the newcomers.

Ignore all the cookie jokes, goat jokes, library book jokes etc. for now (but don't forget them entirely as they are important clues later in the game).

Arht, ambnp, library lady, prometeus, and the like are just experienced at the game and are trying to mess with your minds.Welcome to all the newcomers. Ignore anything that Mr. Skinny tells you. He's just trying to mess with your minds.

Seriously. The goat's getting lonely. He's giving me that look. Can't someone please keep him company?

[Prometheus]

Isn't it my turn to mind the goat yet?

[arthwollipot]

Please. Be my guest.

[grayman]

Give me a moment to put the goat suit on...

[articulett]

(*sshhhh--stop it! ... you guys are going to scare of the cool people, and then I won't have anyone to play with.)

[Darat]

Welcome to all the new folks - remember this is a thread for saying hello and introducing yourself, if you want a discussion about your beliefs or anything else please feel free to start a thread in the appropriate section of the Forum. (I've moved some of the homeopathic discussion to a new thread: http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=118612)

[CFLarsen]

(bangs on cell bars with enamel cup)

Fresh fish!

(bangs on cell bars with enamel cup)

Fresh fish!

(bangs on cell bars with enamel cup)

Fresh fish!

(bangs on cell bars with enamel cup)

Fresh fish!

.....

Sorry.

[amb]

Whoever's turn it is to mind the goat, please don't scare it.

It just doesn't taste the same after a scare.:D