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

[JennyJo]

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

Ah, so it was you...

[arthwollipot]

(bangs on cell bars with enamel cup)

Fresh fish!Fresh Fish! It's Luverly!

[robeeb]

(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.

I got a laugh out of your fresh fish chant. Now I can't get it out of my head until I figure out what that is from. The Shawshank Redemption perhaps?

[laarree]

When y'all are talking about goats, are you sure you don't actually mean ghosts?

[GoodGuysEatPie]

When y'all are talking about goats, are you sure you don't actually mean ghosts?

Boo-aaaaa

[JEROME DA GNOME]

We have many smilies!!!

:jrefwelcome

:welcome4

:welcome2

:welcomepirate4:

:welcomepirate2:

:welcomee:

:welcomec:

:welcome5

:welcome3

:welcomepirate5:

:welcomepirate3:

:welcomepirate1:

:welcomed:

:welcomeb:

[Prometheus]

When y'all are talking about goats, are you sure you don't actually mean ghosts?

I am skeptical about the existence of goats.

[laarree]

I am skeptical about the existence of goats. I am especially skeptical about the existence of ghoasts, which are the spirits of dead goats. I do hope newcomers here will agree that their existence is unlikely.

[grayman]

I am the Goat Whisperer.

:stone028:

[Perpetual Seeker]

Hi,

I'm new here. Just joined yesterday.

I'm a physics and math major at Duquesne University.

I've just recently started becoming more skeptical. I used to think the idea of God was possible, but now I think it's just downright ridiculous and has no base in logic whatsoever. I think my increase in skepticism has had a direct correlation with my renascent interest in science.

Oh, wait...I was just informed that I'm actually a ghost. This raises some questions...

[Prometheus]

I am especially skeptical about the existence of ghoasts, which are the spirits of dead goats. I do hope newcomers here will agree that their existence is unlikely.

I thought those were polterghoasts.

[laarree]

I thought those were polterghoasts.

You must be thinking of poultrghoasts, which are the unholy spirits of the dead love-children of billy goats and chickens, both of which are well-known for indulging in extremely randi behavior in the farmyard. :D

[Prometheus]

You must be thinking of poultrghoasts, which are the unholy spirits of the dead love-children of billy goats and chickens, both of which are well-known for indulging in extremely randi behavior in the farmyard. :D

Do they like oatmeal cookies?

[/derail]

BTW :welcome3 newbies!

[laarree]

Do they like oatmeal cookies?

[/derail]

BTW :welcome3 newbies!

I think they like newbies better. They are not yet stale, nor are they infested with ray-sins. ;) :p [/rail]

[arthwollipot]

Hi,

I'm new here. Just joined yesterday.

I'm a physics and math major at Duquesne University.

I've just recently started becoming more skeptical. I used to think the idea of God was possible, but now I think it's just downright ridiculous and has no base in logic whatsoever. I think my increase in skepticism has had a direct correlation with my renascent interest in science.

Oh, wait...I was just informed that I'm actually a ghost. This raises some questions...Have you returned your library books?

[laarree]

Hi,

I'm new here. Just joined yesterday.

I'm a physics and math major at Duquesne University.

I've just recently started becoming more skeptical. I used to think the idea of God was possible, but now I think it's just downright ridiculous and has no base in logic whatsoever. I think my increase in skepticism has had a direct correlation with my renascent interest in science.

Oh, wait...I was just informed that I'm actually a ghost. This raises some questions...

Welcome! No, you are not a ghost.:eek: And yes, the idea of God is rather ridiculous, and you are fortunate to be young and pursuing your science majors and in touch with a skeptical community. I was diverted from a math degree years ago by psychedelic experimentation and spent a long time lost in the world of new age woo before coming to my senses. I hope you find the discussions here valuable and the people here congenial.

[eversbane]

Hello. My name is Eversbane. I've been playing over at RichardDawkins.net since Sept.'07 (same user name), mostly discussing - and defending - evolution, but have also spent a good bit of time debunking WTC controlled demolition conspiricists. That's actually what brought randi.org to my attention: a fellow RD.net user provided a link to the "Gotta Laugh" WTC thread.

So, I just thought I'd browse around. I'm an archaeologist working in Heritage Resouces Management for a federal agency. I dig holes in the ground out in the woods, deliniating heritage resources so that they are not adversely affected by various projects. I have a BS in Anthropology, an All-But-Thesis with close to 40 graduate hours, and 19 years professional experience in heritage resources. I've always been a student of evolution, whether biological or cultural, but I began to suspect that after 19 years away from the classroom my knowledge of biological evolution might be a bit out of date. That's what took me to RD.net.

All I hope to find here is more discussion on a par with the excellent afore-mentioned WTC thread, although I'm just about WTC'ed out. So, I'll look around, lurk a bit, get a feel for the house rules (I've already read the official rules). I do want the veteran priviledges, though, so I won't lay about too long.

Anyway,
That's me. I hope to have some fun and learn a bunch.

eversbane.

[amb]

Hi,

I'm new here. Just joined yesterday.

I'm a physics and math major at Duquesne University.

I've just recently started becoming more skeptical. I used to think the idea of God was possible, but now I think it's just downright ridiculous and has no base in logic whatsoever. I think my increase in skepticism has had a direct correlation with my renascent interest in science.

Oh, wait...I was just informed that I'm actually a ghost. This raises some questions...
Welcome to the nut house. As you can see the inhabitants of this forum have a weird sense of humor. Ignore them, but truly watch out for the goats.

And do not accept any oatmeal cookies from grayman. :p

[amb]

Hello. My name is Eversbane. I've been playing over at RichardDawkins.net since Sept.'07 (same user name), mostly discussing - and defending - evolution, but have also spent a good bit of time debunking WTC controlled demolition conspiricists. That's actually what brought randi.org to my attention: a fellow RD.net user provided a link to the "Gotta Laugh" WTC thread.

So, I just thought I'd browse around. I'm an archaeologist working in Heritage Resouces Management for a federal agency. I dig holes in the ground out in the woods, deliniating heritage resources so that they are not adversely affected by various projects. I have a BS in Anthropology, an All-But-Thesis with close to 40 graduate hours, and 19 years professional experience in heritage resources. I've always been a student of evolution, whether biological or cultural, but I began to suspect that after 19 years away from the classroom my knowledge of biological evolution might be a bit out of date. That's what took me to RD.net.

All I hope to find here is more discussion on a par with the excellent afore-mentioned WTC thread, although I'm just about WTC'ed out. So, I'll look around, lurk a bit, get a feel for the house rules (I've already read the official rules). I do want the veteran priviledges, though, so I won't lay about too long.

Anyway,
That's me. I hope to have some fun and learn a bunch.

eversbane.
I thought that name rang a bell. I'm also on the Dawkins forum, so welcome neighbor. Cheers, Angelo.

[leo-rcc]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Leo van Miert. I am from the Netherlands, the country that seems to be more into woowoo now than ever. So I hope you all can recognize the fact not everyone is into stuff like Char or baby whisperers.

I am an IT manager for a chemical company in the Rotterdam area. I am also an Atheist, and as a hobby I like to build combat robots (see battlebots or Robotwars for examples) and fly RC helicopters.

Well thats me in a nutshell.

Best regards,
Leo.

[JennyJo]

Hello Leo,

Welcome!

I'm from the Netherlands too. You're right, it seems as if we're being infested with clairvoyants, miracle doctors and all kinds of quacks lately, it's becoming a real plague.

Since I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, I've been at war with the quacks and their followers - metaphorically speaking that is.

The amount of dangerous nonsense you read on the internet is truly shocking and even more shocking is how many people actually believe it.

You'll probably be offered oatmeal cookies here, they're supposed to be very good but not entirely without risk. And there are goats that need petting as well.

:)

[eversbane]

I thought that name rang a bell. I'm also on the Dawkins forum, so welcome neighbor. Cheers, Angelo.
Hello! Thanks. I'm guessing there's a bit of cross-over between randi and RD.

In any case, I'm off to have a look around. Got to find my niche :D

[LibraryLady]

Have you returned your library books?




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


I haven't dropped into this thread lately, but I see that others are doing my work for me, thank you very much. I'm not seeing replies to the queries about library books, so I'm assuming none of you are delinquent. However, I have my ways of finding out....


And :welcome3 to one and all.

By the way, I hope you all are in favor of budgies. Because there is a small feathery person watching...and...waiting...

[grayman]

Hello new victims playthings members. :stone028:




Come here and I'll let you pet the goat...wait, where are you going?

Would you like an oatmeal coo...? Curse you ambnp! A pox upon your minties!

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Leo van Miert. I am from the Netherlands, the country that seems to be more into woowoo now than ever. So I hope you all can recognize the fact not everyone is into stuff like Char or baby whisperers.

I am an IT manager for a chemical company in the Rotterdam area. I am also an Atheist, and as a hobby I like to build combat robots (see battlebots or Robotwars for examples) and fly RC helicopters.

Well thats me in a nutshell.

Best regards,
Leo.

Welcome Leo! The Dutch and Scandinavians are taking over!

Huzzah for robots.

~ggep~

[AliasN]

Hi,

I'm new here. Just joined yesterday.

I'm a physics and math major at Duquesne University.

I've just recently started becoming more skeptical. I used to think the idea of God was possible, but now I think it's just downright ridiculous and has no base in logic whatsoever. I think my increase in skepticism has had a direct correlation with my renascent interest in science.

Oh, wait...I was just informed that I'm actually a ghost. This raises some questions...
Welcome Perpetual Seeker (and other new folks as well)!

It's refreshing to hear a student of a Catholic institution speak blasphemy with such gusto. Head over to Religion and Philosophy, I'm sure there'll be lots to interest you there.

[Perpetual Seeker]

Have you returned your library books?
Library books, yes, of course...

*runs off to hide*

Welcome! No, you are not a ghost.:eek:

Good to know. :p

And yes, the idea of God is rather ridiculous, and you are fortunate to be young and pursuing your science majors and in touch with a skeptical community. I was diverted from a math degree years ago by psychedelic experimentation and spent a long time lost in the world of new age woo before coming to my senses. I hope you find the discussions here valuable and the people here congenial.

Thank you. That's unfortunate about you being diverted from a math degree. I was fortunate that most of my beliefs had the greatest part of their damage when I was a teenager, instead of later when they could have really messed things up. I think what snapped me out of it the most, though it still didn't take full effect for a few years thereafter, was when I was converted by Jehovah's Witnesses. I remained in that cult for a good two years, truly believing everything they fed me. Eventually it became too much, and I started to wonder what kind of demented god would have such stringent requirements and such harsh punishment. They even turned me from previously an honors student with pretty near to a 4.0 gpa, to one who really didn't care because armageddon was coming soon, anyway, according to them. I was told not to go to college. It was truly the lowest point of my childhood.

Anyway, I soon realized that no god worth his/her/its salt would make his/her/its human subjects jump through such hoops just for some carrot of an afterlife or paradise. I then spent about a year rather apathetic about the whole thing, then checked out some new-age beliefs which provided some entertainment for a while, then realized the whole thing was ridiculous and science has provided more answers than any of this spiritualist nonsense ever has and ever will.

The transition was rather sudden, where I pretty much realized in short order that I was becoming much more skeptical, which was totally different from all of my previous beliefs. But I realized it made a lot more sense. The transition isn't totally complete yet, but I'm working on it.

Welcome to the nut house. As you can see the inhabitants of this forum have a weird sense of humor. Ignore them, but truly watch out for the goats.

And do not accept any oatmeal cookies from grayman. :p

That'll be problematic. I have a soft spot for oatmeal cookies, and goats.

Welcome Perpetual Seeker (and other new folks as well)!

It's refreshing to hear a student of a Catholic institution speak blasphemy with such gusto. Head over to Religion and Philosophy, I'm sure there'll be lots to interest you there.

Yeah, luckily they don't push their religion too much on the students. It's a pretty good school anyway.

I'll definitely head over to that board!

It's funny how ridiculous certainb eliefs seem that you previously believed with conviction.

[snoop_doxie]

I haven't dropped into this thread lately, but I see that others are doing my work for me, thank you very much. I'm not seeing replies to the queries about library books, so I'm assuming none of you are delinquent. However, I have my ways of finding out....

librarylady,
you mean i have to return those books? geez, okay, i was kinda attached to them. (they've been around a long time!)

now, i must return my books, stay away from goats and oatmeal cookies.

i live in michigan, southeast corner. i was born in pittsburgh pa, but since i havent been there in over 20 years i was beginning to doubt its existence. i am relieved that it is still there and good schools are available. (smiling)

librarylady,
i have two budgies, they are lovely pets when they get their way.
my miniature dachshund is sitting beside me, woefully watching and waiting for a walk.


ps
is there a discussion here on the new law in the UK that put psychics in the same category as pushy siding salesmen? and they have to put a disclaimer 'for entertainment purposes only'?

[JennyJo]

ps
is there a discussion here on the new law in the UK that put psychics in the same category as pushy siding salesmen? and they have to put a disclaimer 'for entertainment purposes only'?

Not yet that I know of. I think your new law is wonderful, the outrage of the psychics amused me no end. As far as I'm concerned, the Dutch government should follow your example asap.

And very welcome here ofcourse! :)

[laarree]

Thank you. That's unfortunate about you being diverted from a math degree. I was fortunate that most of my beliefs had the greatest part of their damage when I was a teenager, instead of later when they could have really messed things up. I think what snapped me out of it the most, though it still didn't take full effect for a few years thereafter, was when I was converted by Jehovah's Witnesses. I remained in that cult for a good two years, truly believing everything they fed me. Eventually it became too much, and I started to wonder what kind of demented god would have such stringent requirements and such harsh punishment. They even turned me from previously an honors student with pretty near to a 4.0 gpa, to one who really didn't care because armageddon was coming soon, anyway, according to them. I was told not to go to college. It was truly the lowest point of my childhood.

Anyway, I soon realized that no god worth his/her/its salt would make his/her/its human subjects jump through such hoops just for some carrot of an afterlife or paradise. I then spent about a year rather apathetic about the whole thing, then checked out some new-age beliefs which provided some entertainment for a while, then realized the whole thing was ridiculous and science has provided more answers than any of this spiritualist nonsense ever has and ever will.

The transition was rather sudden, where I pretty much realized in short order that I was becoming much more skeptical, which was totally different from all of my previous beliefs. But I realized it made a lot more sense. The transition isn't totally complete yet, but I'm working on it.

Oy! The Jehovah's Witnesses? I'm a few minutes drive away from their enormous complex of buildings by the Brooklyn Bridge here in Brooklyn, NY, and a few minutes walk from one of their temples or churches or whatever they call them. How did you manage to disconnect from them? They couldn't have let you go too easily.

I was in a completely ludicrous new age cult for c. 5 years in my 20s.
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=112659
I suspect that a significant percentage of people here at the JREF forum have served time in cults or fringe religious sects.

[Perpetual Seeker]

Oy! The Jehovah's Witnesses? I'm a few minutes drive away from their enormous complex of buildings by the Brooklyn Bridge here in Brooklyn, NY, and a few minutes walk from one of their temples or churches or whatever they call them. How did you manage to disconnect from them? They couldn't have let you go too easily.

Not at all. They put so much guilt and fear in their followers that one has a lot of difficulty leaving. Still even if you do everything they say to do, you don't know if you were doing enough or not. Who wants to be constantly in fear of one's status with God?

It got to be too much, though. They had meetings three times per week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday), for which you always had to wear a suit. On top of that, you had to put in "service hours" (door-to-door preaching). Everyone except for the very sick or old did this, and there was a stigma to refusing to do so. Of course, this is difficult to do on top of school, and I was beginning to feel worse about my poor grades than anything else. Thankfully they never got too bad; it just dragged me down to a 3.54—much below my previous grades.

So I started to make excuses for not going. Eventually I just ignored their calls. I knew that whenever they called, they didn't just want to see how everything was going or how I was doing, but wanted to know specifically why I wasn't going to meetings. This was sad because I thought that I had met some friendly people there. They all seemed friendly, in fact, but they want nothing to do with you if you aren't part of their religion.

It took many months though before I got totally free of it. Even after they stopped calling, I still sometimes felt guilty, or even fearful, like I had gone against God and wouldn't enjoy the paradise they said those who served God would enjoy.

Essentially, though, I got out of it by ignoring them and applying some logic. I didn't think anything that could make you feel that bad could have the truth. At that time, I still believed in God, but thought that if he/she/it existed, it certainly wouldn't be in a religion that made you feel horrible.

I was in a completely ludicrous new age cult for c. 5 years in my 20s.
I suspect that a significant percentage of people here at the JREF forum have served time in cults or fringe religious sects.

Quite interesting. I'm certainly glad you got out of it.

It seems that people in any religion or cult (how truly different are they?) just refuse to listen to reason. On the other side of the equation, their stance looks absolutely ridiculous. But, they of course think either they have good reason to believe what they do, or else reason doesn't matter because one has to have faith. The fact is, however, that religion was created in order to try to explain the unknown. Some people did so with many gods, and some only with one. But today, many things that were previously unknown now have an explanation, and yet people still cling onto their god(s), which have less and less room to flourish. I can't fathom how such an antiquated idea could still have such a following today.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Howdy new folks. As a reminder, this thread is for saying hello. If you want to get into a discussion start a thread or PM the person you'd like to talk with further.

[ssarkarnetip]

I am Sanjib Sarkar. I am not a skeptic or a believer of the super natural. I just like to hear opinions and get information on these forums. There seems to be a good mix of skeptics and believers which makes for a great forum.

[amb]

Believers? Where, where?
Only jesting ssark. welcome to the forum.
As you walk in, the cookies are on your right and the goats are on your left.
[That's in case you need a little goats milk with your cookies. :)

[grayman]

I am Sanjib Sarkar. I am not a skeptic or a believer of the super natural...

And we are neither here nor there; we just are. :stone028:



Welcome to the forum!

[CFLarsen]

I got a laugh out of your fresh fish chant. Now I can't get it out of my head until I figure out what that is from. The Shawshank Redemption perhaps?

Yep!

[AliasN]

i live in michigan, southeast corner.
Welcome snoop_doxie! I grew up in Windsor Ontario, your friendly Canadian neighbours to the South (well, depending on how exactly southeast you mean)!

Glad to see Michaganders here. Now that I live in Toronto, I miss the accent a bit... :)

[nateu2]

Hey everyone-

I have been reading articles on here for quite some time, but have never signed up until today. Glad to be here, and anxious to learn more.

-Nate

[emanuel1972]

Hi!

I'm a 36 yo skeptic from Sweden. Me and my lovely girlfriend have an incredibly pretty and intelligent daugther aged 19 months and a fat eleven year old cat. Another child is due in october. My main skeptical interests are sects/gurus (scientology, anthroposophy, TM ...) and so-called alternative medicine (SCAM). Other interests include linux and audio dsp. I hang out in the "Vetenskap och Folkbildning" (swedish skeptic's organization) forum under the same moniker.

[Paulhoff]

Hi everyone, hope you have fun, but remember this well,

:lfault2

I thought you should known.

Paul

:) :) :)

[JEROME DA GNOME]

:welcome4

Just a hint: Do not talk to the gnomes. They are weird.


:gnome:

[Prometheus]

:Welcome3:

Welcome all! Just remember, treat the goats well and they will return the favor.

[QED]

Hi everyone!

My name is Matthias Samland, I'm 19 years old and I'm from Germany (yes, the land that brought you gems like homeopathy). I proudly call myself a skeptic and love to engaging in discussions about philosophy/science/skepticism and, of course, chitchat.

I plan to begin studying physics at university next year (I still have to finish my 9 months of civilian service, which is obligatory in Germany) and will specialise in astronomy and astrophysics later. My (eccentric) hobbies include:

playing the piano and composing
star-gazing... *cuddles his binoculars*
studying Kanji and Japanese in general
reading books (I like fantasy, sci-fi, popular science the most)
playing table tennis


Please take good care of me!

[DrRocket]

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

My story is remarkably similar. Electrical engineer (BS, MS), mathematician (Ph.D), spent many years designing, developing and producing rockets (all sizes, but mostly big ones), plus work with munitions. Also came upon the forum while checking out the bonifides of Null Physics (there aren't any). I'm a fan of data and rigor in science and engineering and abhor handwaving and charlatanism.

[arthwollipot]

And there are goats that need petting as well.Just so everyone's clear on the concept, "petting" here is indeed a euphemism.

Welcome one and all. I hope you enjoy your stay. Head on over to the Community (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26) and Humour (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=28) subforums where you'll find many threads that exist for the sole purpose of increasing your post count. With a higher post count you can post links and use cool signatures and avatars.

[Prometheus]

Just so everyone's clear on the concept, "petting" here is indeed a euphemism.

Welcome one and all. I hope you enjoy your stay. Head on over to the Community (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26) and Humour (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=28) subforums where you'll find many threads that exist for the sole purpose of increasing your post count. With a higher post count you can post links and use cool signatures and avatars.

Don't forget the privilege of juicing the piglet at will!

[amb]

Welcome one and all, here have a Mintie on me.
Prometheus may have magnetic looks but don't believe him when he says the goats are harmless.:)

[DrRocket]

Apparently one must post a reply in order to be able to use the option to opt out of e-mail notifications/thread subscriptions.

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Apparently one must post a reply in order to be able to use the option to opt out of e-mail notifications/thread subscriptions.

You should be able to set that using your User Control Panel (User CP up in the menu), under "Edit Options".

~ggep~

[ksmcgimpsey]

Hey everyone, recently found the forums and after meeting recently with a small group of very interesting and highly entertaining skeptics, found the motivation to register here.

Like many I guess I was a skeptic long before I knew it. While searching for podcasts to listen to at work I stumbled upon the Skeptics Guide to the Universe and was immediately hooked. The skeptical rogues quickly catalyzed the realization that all the internal inquiry and the constant echoes of "why?" and "how?" that dominate my thoughts made me a skeptic. It was very gratifying to find that not only was I not alone in my constant critical analysis of the world around me but that there was an entire globe-spanning group of such people. So here I am, a skeptic at home in a skeptical community.

Cheers.

[Prometheus]

Welcome one and all, here have a Mintie on me.
Prometheus may have magnetic looks but don't believe him when he says the goats are harmless.:)

The goats are harmless! It's the goat-herders you have to worry about. Here, have a cookie....

[arthwollipot]

Don't forget the privilege of juicing the piglet at will!Juicing the piglet is a privilege only available to long-term posters.

[Bee]

Hello everyone, it's great to be here and I'm looking forward to getting down to some serious debunking ;). I live in a lovely seaside town in North Yorkshire with my wife and identical twin daughters (you wouldn't believe how often people ask me if they are 'psychic' :rolleyes:).

I was raised by parents heavily into the supernatural and grew up thinking dead people are watching every move I make. Slowly I realised it's all a load of nonsense and I look back on those years with mixed feelings of embarrassment and humour. I'm making it almost a hobby to educate myself as much as possible in all the natural explanations for any paranormal phenomena and I'm finding they are very easy to find once you look properly. Anyhow what broke the spell for me was actually watching TV programs like Most Haunted and TV 'psychic' shows which really awoke the critical thinker inside me. I doubt that was the intention of those shows but I thought if this is the best we can do to produce evidence of the supernatural then I'm not convinced anymore. I have a couple of James Randis books which are hard to find in England and I find them fascinating and educating, I think Flim-Flam should be in every secondary school library.

My mother's not too happy I'm a sceptic and laughed when I said I don't believe in ghosts anymore. She thinks her house is haunted and disregards all the natural explanations I offer in favour of supernatural ones. However I must be getting through a little bit because she doesn't spend anywhere near as much time and money on 'psychics' as she used to.

Anyhow I'd better leave it there and I'm going to have a nosy around the forums.
Regards, Bee.

[laarree]

Welcome, Bee! Please ask your Mum to tell her invisible companions that I say hi!

[Dreams_In_Digital]

Hello, my name's Alicia and, obviously, I'm new here.

I got started on paranormal events when I was quite young as ghosts and aliens are something of a family hobby and tradition but, unlike my sister and mother I wanted to check into them more. Find out what was truly unexplainable and what was just legends and overactive imaginations. So, I've been debunking stories since I was about eight.

I decided to join up with this board after a particularly aggrivating experience when I was hospitalized and a supposed psychic healer tried to get money out of my family so I wouldn't lose my ovary. My mother brought this woman in! For the record, I don't like kids and I've been infertile for ages so there. And, I did lose the ovary but it was either that or die, guess which one I chose? I'm now dedicated to trying to stop people in this area from giving their hard earned money to her and people like her. I'm not going to reveal her name just yet as I don't have her last name.

I'm very impassioned about what I do, and I still believe there are things that can't be explained, but I believe the only reason they haven't been is we don't have the technology to do so. I'd also like to mention that I am a skeptic but still religious, laugh if you must but I am. However my personal beliefs do not effect my investigations and my determination to find the truth and to help others.

I'm currently unemployed due to the surgery, and won't be working for a while as I need two more before I'm fit to work again. But as soon as that's over I'm going back into the nursing field as a phlebotomist.

So, nice to see you all and hope to talk to you further.

[Bee]

Hello, my name's Alicia...
So, nice to see you all and hope to talk to you further.

Hello Dreams_In_Digital, I'm new myself and I also personally have it in for 'mediums' and 'psychics'. Without going into too much detail my family went through a rough time when I was growing up and my mother would spend every spare penny she had on astrologers and psychics just hoping something better was around the corner.

I now live in a small seaside town and it's surprising how many 'guest' mediums perform their tricks here. We also have two 'alternative' surgeries (opened with government money of course) which practice Angel healing and Crystal healing :mad:.

Anyhow welcome to the forum.

[Prometheus]

:welcome2

[amb]

Hello Dreams_In_Digital, I'm new myself and I also personally have it in for 'mediums' and 'psychics'. Without going into too much detail my family went through a rough time when I was growing up and my mother would spend every spare penny she had on astrologers and psychics just hoping something better was around the corner.

I now live in a small seaside town and it's surprising how many 'guest' mediums perform their tricks here. We also have two 'alternative' surgeries (opened with government money of course) which practice Angel healing and Crystal healing :mad:.

Anyhow welcome to the forum.
welcome Bee, I'm the forum physic, so anytime you mum or other member of you family want some reliable info. just post me. :D

[Bee]

welcome Bee, I'm the forum physic, so anytime you mum or other member of you family want some reliable info. just post me. :D

How much will that cost :D?

'Forum physic' eh? So how does that work :confused:.

[SusanB-M1]

Dreams in Digital and Bee

I'm adding my welcome too. This is such an excellent place.

I have been to Yorkshire years ago and now have a pen pal there who sent me a beautiful book of photos. The book is about 24"x18" and has just a few notes here and there.

P.S. The feet in the tap shoes are not mine!

[amb]

How much will that cost :D?

'Forum physic' eh? So how does that work :confused:.
As you already know, mediums and physics don't come cheap.

What happens is you post me a money order or such, along with your question and I answer it.
For example, if you wish to know whether it will rain tomorrow, that information costs $20.
Your Astrology chart for a month, costs $50.
Ghost whispering costs a little more, $500 for one reading.
Discounts given for the long time departed, [50-100 years.]
Before the mods split this to the humor thread I will give you proof of my power.
Tomorrow morning you will awake, shower, dress, probably have breakfast and head for work, I see some kind of vehicle used for transport. Sometime during the day a person you like will cross your path.

That's enough free info. OK? :D ;)

[Bee]

Before the mods split this to the humor thread I will give you proof of my power.
Tomorrow morning you will awake, shower, dress, probably have breakfast and head for work, I see some kind of vehicle used for transport. Sometime during the day a person you like will cross your path.

That's enough free info. OK? :D ;)

:eek: That happened to me today as well.
As Peter Griffin would say: You sir are a sorceror!

[amb]

:eek: That happened to me today as well.
As Peter Griffin would say: You sir are a sorceror!

:D

[arthwollipot]

welcome Bee, I'm the forum physic, so anytime you mum or other member of you family want some reliable info. just post me. :DHow much will that cost :D?

'Forum physic' eh? So how does that work :confused:.Don't listen to him Bee. He's just having you on. I'm the real forum psychic.

Let me demonstrate.

I see someone in your future. It could be a male, or it might be a female. Of average height, brown hair. You will get along with this person quite well, but nothing serious will come of it. You will have some financial troubles, but you'll manage (you always do). Your personal life will become exciting for a while, then go back to normal. And there's a goat. The goat is very important - don't ever forget that.

[Bee]

Don't listen to him Bee. He's just having you on. I'm the real forum psychic...

...And there's a goat. The goat is very important - don't ever forget that.

Don't believe what the goat says its all lies! :eek:

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Welcome Bee and Dreams_in_Digital!

Do digital dreamers dream of electric goats?

~ggep~

[Dreams_In_Digital]

Welcome Bee and Dreams_in_Digital!

Do digital dreamers dream of electric goats?

~ggep~

Nope, just robot armies and playing a show for the cameras.

I got the name from an Orgy song.

Thanks for the welcome guys.

[grayman]

A warm welcome to all new people. Would any of you like to try my new cookie recipe?



Goatmeal raisin. :stone028:

[Bee]

A warm welcome to all new people. Would any of you like to try my new cookie recipe?



Goatmeal raisin. :stone028:

Are you sure those are raisins in it?

[ScottXSI]

Hi there, long time reader first time poster. Heres my background story for those who are interested.
I grew up in a family where my mum and my sisters were in to all the typical new age garbage. When I was a kid I believed in it but as I got older I started to see through it all. There was ghost sightings, divining answers through a pendulum, psychic readings, somebody coming to the house to cleanse it of bad spirits with white light, the usual stuff I'm sure everyone is familiar with.

One event that particularly stands out for me occurred when I was about 17. I had shortly been involved with an older woman (8 Years older than me), lets just call her Jane. Not a lot of people liked Jane because she was a pretty awful person and a drama queen. After I had ended it with her, a friend of my older sister said that she had sent someone after Jane to get rid of her. (I cant remember the exact words but that's the gist of it). The conclusion everyone jumped to was that Jane was to be killed

Word of this gets back to my mum. She uses her "Pendulum" on a string to find out whats going on. To cut a long story short, pendulum leads everyone to believe that Jane has been taken out to the middle of nowhere, tied to a tree and left to die of exposure. (The pendulum also said she was dead at that point.) Even though I doubted it I still felt sick inside "Just in case" it was true, my mum and sister was crying and I think I was too even though I had my doubts.
Anyway, a short time passes, turns out Jane is alive and well, nothing at all happened to her, the friend of my sister was just talking out of her arse (It was already known that she was a story teller)
I felt like a fool. Even though I knew the pendulum was rubbish I still got sucked in.
From then on I started to see the bigger picture, of how peoples minds work, the power of suggestibility and how people will believe just about anything without really thinking about it as long as its convenient. :boggled:

[ReverendLes]

Hi, I am ReverendLes. I wish I had some great story to tell along with my introduction, but I really dont. I can say I look forward to becoming a part of this community though!

[randomprophet]

Youtube videos led me to this forum and well now I am a member.

[JohnRolls]

Hello all,

I'm looking forward to participating in the forum.

I found this forum while looking for psychic cold-reading material which fascinates me.

Skeptical but not cynical is my stance.

John

[man in trees]

Hello all,
I found this website through the Skeptoid Podcast and joined immediately.
I'll give you a brief background on who I am and what I think: I am from Squamish BC, Canada and am employed as a forest ranger in North Vancouver.
I would love it if there were real Sasquatches, alien abductions, psychic powers, Loch Ness monsters, ghosts, and crystal skulls with amazing powers but I don't believe until my questions are answered with logical science based proof. I am not a cynical person at all and don't always need to see to believe (I believe there ARE aliens out there somewhere; I just don't know if they have visited Earth before) but blind faith is just not my bag.
I am deeply bothered by pseudo science and charlatan healers. Giving false hope and lying to fellow humans regarding their health and well being should be punishable by extreme consequences.
I believe that people should be able to live free and do as they please as long as they do not hurt others in the process. If you want to hunt ghosts with useless equipment or go to some wierd church I fully support you but don't make judgments of me when I don't follow.

Thanks for having me here and I'll try to post with intelligence and a logical open mind.

Cheers,

man in trees :)

[Aromantic Ghost]

Well some person named Darat has said I must have fun, feel intimidated and most of all DON'T PANIC, such a high standard I have been set already and this is only post 1.

I've been over-the-shoulder/sneaky peeks reading and enjoying the carefree waffle that runs deep around these parts. So after finally getting the hint from various smoldering glares and curt comments; I have decided it was time to join up and keep the waffle flowing. I may from time-to-time contribute. It is more than likely I will just lurk and practice over-my-own-shoulder reading.

My user name is just my, mum's amusing, pet name for me. I am also known as the 'serial wafter of the parfumed kind'. Apparently my family and friends can tell when I have partaken in a sly snook at a whiff of their scents and perfumes. I am obviously not guilty and do not spray my persons in anyway with stolen stinky stuff.

One minor detail to add, I am a chick not a cockerel. Crowing in the early hours, while standing on a fence is something that will never happen. Unless I'm very drunk on stupidity.:blush:

[Beltaine]

Hello.

I'm new here, but have lurked for a while.

Do I have to have a big drawn out backstory?

[YoPopa]

Hello.

I'm new here, but have lurked for a while.

Do I have to have a big drawn out backstory?

Welcome Beltain,

Your welcome is provisional on your ability to at least provide a big drawn out futurestory.

[hcmom]

Just so everyone's clear on the concept, "petting" here is indeed a euphemism.


The goats are harmless! It's the goat-herders you have to worry about. Here, have a cookie....

"Cookie" is a euphemism too. Trust no one.

[amb]

Some very promising new members. A very warm welcome to you all.

A word of warning. Don't whatever you do pet the goat or take any cookies from Grayman.
Mintie anyone? :)

[Aromantic Ghost]

So, am I right in thinking, it is acceptable to take goats from Grayman and Mintie and not to pet the cookies?

[GoodGuysEatPie]

So, am I right in thinking, it is acceptable to take goats from Grayman and Mintie and not to pet the cookies?

Absolutely.

[grayman]

Nobody takes my goat. My goat loves me.


Pssst, ambnp, I'll trade ya a cookie for a mintie. :stone028:

[Shellback]

Greetings!

I've been in and around the skeptical community for a very long time. I'm in my late forties, live in an undisclosed location in Florida and in my real life I'm on Scientology's short list of people who should just shut up and go away. In truth I'm not a member of Anonymous, anonymous is a verb not a noun anyway! I have been going to the protests as an observer/commentator. Scientology thinks this is bad and publicly call me a terrorist.

I tend to be pretty opened minded. I tend to pay far more attention to facts than people shouting and pounding their fists over and over again, this causes some people to pound their fists even harder, much to my amusement.

Politics = Libertarian
Religion = Atheist.
Heroes = Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Carl Sagan and most writers in the golden age of Science Fiction.
Occupation = computer work.
Pastimes/hobbies = SCA marshal arts, Writing, Photography and Videography.
Degrees = Bachelors in History.

[GeekMom]

Greetings all from tiny Boone Iowa! I am a new skeptic and brand new to forums. I am looking forward to becoming an active member (as hard as that may be - I'm a railroad "widow" attempting to raise a 3 yr old), and generally looking for like-minded friends and learning new things!

Jen

[HghrSymmetry]

Welcome, and enjoy the forum.

[amb]

Nobody takes my goat. My goat loves me.


Pssst, ambnp, I'll trade ya a cookie for a mintie. :stone028:Your on.
I'll trade a mintie for one of your delicious oatmeal cookies. :p
By the way, what sort of love is this between you and your goat?? :D

[Arthur Denton]

Well, I'm a Brazilian skeptic who is a long time fan of mr Randi, so I guess I may fit in. I was "invited" to join by Fiona, who's a friend on another forums.

Yay for the welcome thread! Yay for skepticism! Yay for decent grammar!

AD

[Fiona]

Nice to see you here, Arthur. :)

[grayman]

Your on.
I'll trade a mintie for one of your delicious oatmeal cookies. :p
By the way, what sort of love is this between you and your goat?? :D

Okay. Cookies for you at TAM7 (there's that catch).

And if you want to see the goat and I, find a 2009 Skepdude (http://skepchick.org/blog/?page_id=1493/) calender.

[JennyJo]

Don't listen to him Bee. He's just having you on. I'm the real forum psychic.

Let me demonstrate.

I see someone in your future. It could be a male, or it might be a female. Of average height, brown hair. You will get along with this person quite well, but nothing serious will come of it. You will have some financial troubles, but you'll manage (you always do). Your personal life will become exciting for a while, then go back to normal. And there's a goat. The goat is very important - don't ever forget that.

Could this be about me too? I've planned to go to the pet zoo tomorrow with a friend - who fits your description, and her little boy. I have financial troubles every month and they always end when my pay check comes in. I had breast cancer last year - which can be termed exiting I suppose - and am now back at work as normal again.

Are you sure you haven't won the 1 million dollar challenge and have just forgotten about it??? Or worse, you've won it and they have forgotten to tell you?!

[Legend]

G'day,

This is my first post here and certainly not my last. For a long time have I been a fan of Randi's work and hassled him with e-mails many times.

I'm from Australia and I'm young, however the one thing I seriously ask of all members is that I'm not underestimated as a person who knows about the workings of 'psychics' (i.e. the way that they can fake it). It's a matter I'm very close to and passionate about and I do know a lot about this subject. So, please don't lecture me or anything all of you old people.

Thanks for reading,
Alex

[Prometheus]

G'day,

This is my first post here and certainly not my last. For a long time have I been a fan of Randi's work and hassled him with e-mails many times.

I'm from Australia and I'm young, however the one thing I seriously ask of all members is that I'm not underestimated as a person who knows about the workings of 'psychics' (i.e. the way that they can fake it). It's a matter I'm very close to and passionate about and I do know a lot about this subject. So, please don't lecture me or anything all of you old people.

Thanks for reading,
Alex

Welcome! The best way to avoid being lectured is to pop over to grayman's place for a cookie. Just don't pet the goats.

[grayman]

Legend, Welcome to the forum!





Bring Minties.

[Boar]

I heard about this place on another forum and decided it sounded like my kind of place. I'm a martial artist who lives it as a lifestyle, and I hate the spread of woo that has ruined the Chinese arts.

[UnrepentantSinner]

G'day,

This is my first post here and certainly not my last. For a long time have I been a fan of Randi's work and hassled him with e-mails many times.

I'm from Australia and I'm young, however the one thing I seriously ask of all members is that I'm not underestimated as a person who knows about the workings of 'psychics' (i.e. the way that they can fake it). It's a matter I'm very close to and passionate about and I do know a lot about this subject. So, please don't lecture me or anything all of you old people.

Thanks for reading,
Alex

Lighten up Francis.

[amb]

Welcome Boar. The spread of the ''woo'' is more than likely a local phenomenon.
After all, China is the capital of the world when it comes to woo.
Acupuncture, Chinese medicine, herbalists and more originate from China.

[amb]

Lighten up Francis.
He's probably refering to me. I'm 60 years young. :cool:

[grayman]

He's probably refering to me. I'm 60 years young. :cool:

What's that in goat years?

[laarree]

Why one must be always cautious around the goats: http://www.goat-trauma.org/action.shtml

[Soami]

Welcome to homeoproofer,

Sir, you have my support. You need not think that means I want my cut from the million - I do not. It sure is surprising these people have ways of showing hoemopathy cannot be proved.

This thing abt "some sort of media presence" to apply for the million-dollar prize is confusing. Is it not better JREF comes out with clear instructions on the requirement, so one can go abt "qualifying" for the million-dolllar test?

Soami

[Legend]

Okay. Is it just me being new or do the members here have a goat fetish?

"Bring minties"--:confused:
"Lighten up Francis"--what the hell?
"Welcome! The best way to avoid being lectured is to pop over to grayman's place for a cookie. Just don't pet the goats."--okay, now this is nuts.

Fill me in here, I don't know whether you're stirring me up or if you all really do have deep psychological scarring (that was a joke, by the way, remain calm).

Alex.

[amb]

What's that in goat years?
If it's anything like dog years. 240 years.
That would definitely make it non-edible, much to tough for anything but pet food.

[amb]

Okay. Is it just me being new or do the members here have a goat fetish?

"Bring minties"--:confused:
"Lighten up Francis"--what the hell?
"Welcome! The best way to avoid being lectured is to pop over to grayman's place for a cookie. Just don't pet the goats."--okay, now this is nuts.

Fill me in here, I don't know whether you're stirring me up or if you all really do have deep psychological scarring (that was a joke, by the way, remain calm).

Alex.
Before you jump to conclusions, no we're not weird, and the only fetish is with female goats only. We're not gay you know! :p
It just so happens that grayman makes strange cookies with ingredients you don't want to know.


It's all in jest. Welcome to the forum.:)

[coquina]

Hi -
Let me get this out, right off the bat - I'm not a creationist. I found this forum after googling Missoula meteorite, and was directed to a "great flood" thread. I had recently read in Science Daily that evidence is emerging that an impact event on the ice sheet during the last ice age may have caused the extinction of the Pleistocene Megafauna. I have a special interest in geology, particularly with respect to impact events, because this part of Virginia sits on top of the Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater.

I first learned about the Chesapeake impact from a science forum called "The Why Files" - if any other Whyfilers are here, they may remember me as "Tigger".

Although I haven't perused the entire site, from the parts I did read I gathered that the people here are interesting and also have a sense of humor - and it looks like a place I'd like to be.

In addition to geology, I'm also interested in biology. I'm a mechanical person, not a professional scientist, but if I could have a "do-over", I'd major in one, minor in the other, and focus on studying the "extremophiles" and chemosynthetic organisms.

I'm looking forward to participating in your forum.
Coquina

[arthwollipot]

Okay. Is it just me being new or do the members here have a goat fetish? It's perfectly normal - you expect us to believe that you dont??? Seriously now.

"Bring minties"--:confused:Minties are an Australian icon. Some bastards people took Minties to JREF and converted a few USAians to the joys thereof. Believe me, if you haven't experienced the joy of Minties, you really haven't lived at all. They're almost (but not quite) as good as Vegemite.

"Welcome! The best way to avoid being lectured is to pop over to grayman's place for a cookie. Just don't pet the goats."--okay, now this is nuts.Yes, yes it is. Once you can embrace the nuts, you will be a full member of the community.

Fill me in here, I don't know whether you're stirring me up or if you all really do have deep psychological scarringThe latter of course.

And by "latter" I obviously mean "former".

Have you returned your library books?

[Prometheus]

It's perfectly normal - you expect us to believe that you dont??? Seriously now.

Minties are an Australian icon. Some bastards people took Minties to JREF and converted a few USAians to the joys thereof. Believe me, if you haven't experienced the joy of Minties, you really haven't lived at all. They're almost (but not quite) as good as Vegemite.

Yes, yes it is. Once you can embrace the nuts, you will be a full member of the community.

The latter of course.

And by "latter" I obviously mean "former".

Have you returned your library books?

"embrace the nuts"? ;)

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Welcome to homeoproofer,

Sir, you have my support. You need not think that means I want my cut from the million - I do not. It sure is surprising these people have ways of showing hoemopathy cannot be proved.

This thing abt "some sort of media presence" to apply for the million-dollar prize is confusing. Is it not better JREF comes out with clear instructions on the requirement, so one can go abt "qualifying" for the million-dolllar test?

Soami

I think they have been clear about it.

~Good Guy~

[Legend]

It's perfectly normal - you expect us to believe that you dont??? Seriously now.

Minties are an Australian icon. Some bastards people took Minties to JREF and converted a few USAians to the joys thereof. Believe me, if you haven't experienced the joy of Minties, you really haven't lived at all. They're almost (but not quite) as good as Vegemite.

Yes, yes it is. Once you can embrace the nuts, you will be a full member of the community.

The latter of course.

And by "latter" I obviously mean "former".

Have you returned your library books?


That cleared some of it up (yes I have tried minties) and added some.

Alex.

[arthwollipot]

"embrace the nuts"? ;)Embrace the nuts. :cool:

[Aromantic Ghost]

What's that in goat years?
Depends if you are into metal and don't mind curses. Apparently 60 and goat are not to be taken lightly.

[happiman]

cool

[amb]

Depends if you are into metal and don't mind curses. Apparently 60 and goat are not to be taken lightly.

I''ll drink to that!
Then again I'll drink to anything these days. :D

[GregHouseMD]

This is my first post to this website which I just discovered a few days ago.

I selected the name of GregHouseMD for a couple of reasons. First I am a big fan of the show and of the character. I think the character is a horrible human being but he has the kind of mind I admire.

I agree with his observation that everyone lies because it's true. Everyone lies about something sometime. Even very good people lie at times to spare pain or heartache to loved ones.

I have a varied background including a bachelor's degree, law enforcement and retail security. I adopted the credo that no one is above suspicion which is more liberial than trust no one.

I currently work, very happily, in the gaming industry.

I consider myself a cynic but I also consider myself something of an optimist. I know that the worst that can possibly probably will happen but if I live through it, I'll be a stronger person for the experience.

I look forward to lively debates and hope to find them here.

[Myriad]

This is my first post to this website which I just discovered a few days ago.

I selected the name of GregHouseMD for a couple of reasons. First I am a big fan of the show and of the character. I think the character is a horrible human being but he has the kind of mind I admire.

I agree with his observation that everyone lies because it's true. Everyone lies about something sometime. Even very good people lie at times to spare pain or heartache to loved ones.


However, if you take after Dr. House, then you can only be correct between 10 minutes to the hour, and the hour. Since I notice that your above post is time-stamped :48, I must question whether you knew what you were talking about, or were still waiting for the revelation that would make it all clear.:boxedin:

Anyhow, welcome to the forum!

Respectfully,
Myriad

[GregHouseMD]

However, if you take after Dr. House, then you can only be correct between 10 minutes to the hour, and the hour. Since I notice that your above post is time-stamped :48, I must question whether you knew what you were talking about, or were still waiting for the revelation that would make it all clear.:boxedin:

Anyhow, welcome to the forum!

Respectfully,
Myriad

You failed to notice my edit at 4:31 where I corrected mistakes made earlier.

[amb]

Welcome to this forum. Have to agree to disagree about House.
Every week is the same plot, over and over.
All seems lost and House saves the day.
Gets a little too repetitive for my taste.

[Monkey Pants]

Hi - I'm finding this board confusing and not sure if I am even introducing myself correctly now! I joined because I want to tool on "Dr. Turi" the AStrologer....man.... wow....

I need a place to "process" this idiot. But now I can't even find the link....

[arthwollipot]

Welcome, Monkey Pants (what a great name!). Don't hesitate to post if you're having a problem. Remember: the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask.

[Prometheus]

:welcome2

[GoodGuysEatPie]

Welcome, Monkey Pants. :)

Here's a thread for you to post in:
http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=119611

~Good Guy~

[dbw]

Hello, I'm glad to be a part of this forum. I've been casually visiting JREF's site for a while now... I'm especially interested in the Million Dollar Challenge. As a lifelong skeptic surrounded (as are all Americans) by believers in the supernatural and paranormal, I've always looked eagerly for the evidence these beliefs are based on. As I've grown older and more cynical, I've come to realize that these claims have always been baseless, and nearly all accounts are tainted by confirmation bias. I don't need to tell you guys that unrefuted claims of paranormal abilities are nearly always refuted by close scrutiny. There are many things in the world we don't yet understand, but I think the parlor tricks of cold readers and spoon benders serve only to stifle our collective intellectual progress. A lack of information often lends the appearance of the supernatural, and I joined this forum with the goal of discussing and investigating supernatural events and powers. If there really are supernatural things going on in the world, I'm as curious as anyone to see them, but I approach everything with the mind of a skeptic.

That concludes my rambling. :) I'm not a professional scientist or anything, and I'm not an expert (or even a dedicated hobbyist) in the paranormal, but I hope I have something to contribute. I'm a 22-year-old in Wisconsin with an undergraduate math degree and a job at a software company.

[laarree]

...That concludes my rambling. :) I'm not a professional scientist or anything, and I'm not an expert (or even a dedicated hobbyist) in the paranormal, but I hope I have something to contribute. I'm a 22-year-old in Wisconsin with an undergraduate math degree and a job at a software company.

As a middle-aged guy who was one course short of finishing his math degree
in college before getting waylaid by New Age woo, I welcome you here and
applaud your precocious insights. I psychically predict that you will avoid
having many regrettable misadventures in your life because of them. :D

[dbw]

I psychically predict
Well, I'm convinced! :D

[laarree]

Well, I'm convinced! :D

Clever lad! :)

[amb]

Hello, I'm glad to be a part of this forum. I've been casually visiting JREF's site for a while now... I'm especially interested in the Million Dollar Challenge. As a lifelong skeptic surrounded (as are all Americans) by believers in the supernatural and paranormal, I've always looked eagerly for the evidence these beliefs are based on. As I've grown older and more cynical, I've come to realize that these claims have always been baseless, and nearly all accounts are tainted by confirmation bias. I don't need to tell you guys that unrefuted claims of paranormal abilities are nearly always refuted by close scrutiny. There are many things in the world we don't yet understand, but I think the parlor tricks of cold readers and spoon benders serve only to stifle our collective intellectual progress. A lack of information often lends the appearance of the supernatural, and I joined this forum with the goal of discussing and investigating supernatural events and powers. If there really are supernatural things going on in the world, I'm as curious as anyone to see them, but I approach everything with the mind of a skeptic.

That concludes my rambling. :) I'm not a professional scientist or anything, and I'm not an expert (or even a dedicated hobbyist) in the paranormal, but I hope I have something to contribute. I'm a 22-year-old in Wisconsin with an undergraduate math degree and a job at a software company.
I'm the forum psychic. Are you calling me a fake? :p :)

Just pulling your leg. A warm welcome to you. ;)
Keep up your scepticism throughout your life and you will achieve much more than you can imagine.

[RazorEddie]

Well, I figured it was about time.
Boo's been talking to me about joining the forum for some time (she's my much better half), and with her leaving for the Galapagos cruise next week I'll have lots of free time on my hands.

So... greetings all. You'll probably catch me wandering around the politics threads; hopefully making a nuisance of myself.

RE

[UnrepentantSinner]

...USAians...

What is a "USAian"? Did you misspell "U.S. Asians" or something?

[tim]

Well, I figured it was about time.
Boo's been talking to me about joining the forum for some time (she's my much better half), and with her leaving for the Galapagos cruise next week I'll have lots of free time on my hands.

So... greetings all. You'll probably catch me wandering around the politics threads; hopefully making a nuisance of myself.

RE


Welcome, RE! Boo's a great lady and we love her to bits around here, so you come with good credentials.
Hopefully you won't make too much of a nuisance of yourself. Remember, count to ten and breathe deeply before you press the post button in reply to some incredible idiot who doesn't happen to agree with you.............. :D:D:D

[RazorEddie]

Welcome, RE! Boo's a great lady and we love her to bits around here, so you come with good credentials.
Hopefully you won't make too much of a nuisance of yourself. Remember, count to ten and breathe deeply before you press the post button in reply to some incredible idiot who doesn't happen to agree with you.............. :D:D:D

Civility is a virtue.

[Darat]

What is a "USAian"? Did you misspell "U.S. Asians" or something?


It's what pendents who are citizens of the United States of America asked us "Europeans" to call them.

[UnrepentantSinner]

It's what pendents who are citizens of the United States of America asked us "Europeans" to call them.

Odd. I was never asked that, neither while I lived in Europe, nor in the intervening 24 years. I always refered to people from a specific nation by the proper demonym they deserved to be referred to. I assumed that was the polite way to refer to a person's nation of origin... but what do I know, I'm an arrogant American USAian...

[SFBaker]

Hi All,

I am a great admirer of James Randi. I have attended TAM4-6 and have enjoyed each one greatly.

I am not a scientist or anything, but I have been a skeptic as long as I can remember. I think I just thought everybody else was also a skeptic until my dad introduced me to the JREF and that is when my eyes were opened to all the woo-woo out there.

I am new to posting in forums, but I have enjoyed reading peoples posts. I am excited to participating and getting to know everybody.

[Roadtoad]

Hi All,

I am a great admirer of James Randi. I have attended TAM4-6 and have enjoyed each one greatly.

I am not a scientist or anything, but I have been a skeptic as long as I can remember. I think I just thought everybody else was also a skeptic until my dad introduced me to the JREF and that is when my eyes were opened to all the woo-woo out there.

I am new to posting in forums, but I have enjoyed reading peoples posts. I am excited to participating and getting to know everybody.

Welcome from another Sacramentan!

[Snake_Doc]

Hi all,
Just happened upon this forum last week and after a bit of a look 'round thought I would join up. Kind of new to the whole skeptic sceen, have lurked on CT forums in the past, so this place is refreshing :D

[grayman]

...this place is refreshing :D

Yes, we are known as the York Peppermint Pattie of forums.

Welcome!

[laarree]

Yes, we are known as the York Peppermint Pattie of forums.

Welcome!

I had no idea this was a low-fat forum!

[hcmom]

Okay. Is it just me being new or do the members here have a goat fetish?

"Bring minties"--:confused:
"Lighten up Francis"--what the hell?
"Welcome! The best way to avoid being lectured is to pop over to grayman's place for a cookie. Just don't pet the goats."--okay, now this is nuts.

Fill me in here, I don't know whether you're stirring me up or if you all really do have deep psychological scarring (that was a joke, by the way, remain calm).

Alex.

And nobody's even mentioned the nuns. Or the thing you do when you curl your fingers and thumb into the palm of your hand that is so bad it was a bad word for a while...

I had no idea this was a low-fat forum!

Yes, grayman uses only the healthiest ingredients in his cookies.

And since the cake is a lie, and the cupcakes all got lost by the morons, we're all getting thinner.

Oh yeah, and don't forget to dicks your own potatoes.

[arthwollipot]

What is a "USAian"? Did you misspell "U.S. Asians" or something?It's what pendents who are citizens of the United States of America asked us "Europeans" to call them.Indeed. Because Canadians, Mexicans and Peruvians are also technically "Americans" (living as they do on one of the two continents of America), the term "USAians" denotes people who live in the USA specifically.

Oh, and it's "pedants" by the way. And there's a demonstration.

Welcome all to the forums. I hope you enjoy your stay here. Return your library books, pat the goat, post in the Three Word Story (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=110535), and don't juice the piglet.

[amb]

And don't forget to grab a handful of Minties on your way out. Their 95% fat free, in keeping with this low fat forum. :)

[The Drain]

Hello. I've been lurking around the edges of JREF for a couple of years saying 'boo' at the shadows, but this is my first time walking into full view of the campfire.

I've been getting more and more skeptical as the years go by in direct response to my wife who is going increasingly woo-woo. Reiki, crystals, angels, karma, homeopathy, you name it, it's in our house. She reads 'Paradigm Shift', I read 'New Scientist'.

She keeps telling me to 'open my mind' (...!) and says that the trouble with people who call themselves rationalists is that they're blinkered. Apparently, we're the ones at fault, folks...

Help!!

[The Drain]

PS: It was my birthday last week, and once again Mr Randi was the only person on the planet who sent me birthday greetings by email. Amazing! Is he psychic, or what??

[AbleSugar]

The Drain: Hello! I also have been a lurker (reminds me of AA). Sorry to hear about your wife. Mine still tips back and forth but at least she gave up on Silvia B. Her 70+ yo mother is the real woo-woo fan.

[240-185]

Hello,

I'm a french guy and I found this website while I was searching for some documents to debunk some twoofers (included the nice comics ;)). Gravy's pages are brilliant documents, congratulations for all this amount of work!

I must say that I am terribly afraid of the number of french people who still think that the WTC7 collapse is a fraud and that no plane hit the Pentagon, claiming that it is the Absolute Truth, and condemning you if you dare think about something else. Damn Thierry Meyssan and Marion Cotillard...

By the way, I'll try to read the others sections of JREF forum ;)

[firestorm]

This would be my first post. I try to think within my means and not regurgitate other's opinions that I've read or watched on TV. Anyone can do that. I do, however, have my moments of self discovery and hope to share those.

Glad to be here!

[jguildersleeve]

JGuildersleeve here. Good to be part of the team!

[Audible Click]

Hello everyone. I'm Susan and I reside in Louisiana. I've been lurking in the forum for a few weeks and have decided to take a leap and join.

[HghrSymmetry]

Welcome all!

[Prometheus]

Welcome newbies! Be nice to the goats, and remember not to stand beneath HghrSymmetry's avat...DOH!

[grayman]

I'm just posting so the new folks can see how pretty Prometheus and I look side by side.





Would anyone like an oatmeal cookie?

[amb]

Hello everyone. I'm Susan and I reside in Louisiana. I've been lurking in the forum for a few weeks and have decided to take a leap and join.
Didn't your momma teach you to always look before you leap?

You're very lucky that your leaping led you to a great forum this time.

But in future please be careful, you could have landed in graymans clutches and made to eat his abdominal cookies. :p

Anyway, a very warm welcome and here, have a Mintie. :D

Our new President Phil Plait has accepted one of my Minties and used it in a science lesson. :)

[Greg_in_CO]

Hello fellow Skeptics! My handle is Greg and I hail from Colorado where skepticism is alive and well.

I find this community to be a great place to be challenged intellectually and to intereact with like-minded individuals.

[paperskater]

^^ Woot woot, another Coloradoan!

[freeradical]

Hello all! Total noob here, and like a lot of you (I'd imagine) I started out as a huge believer in not only the paranormal but also in certain pseudo-sciences, but then I read a book. Here where you postulate that it was Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World, or perhaps James Randi's Flim Flam, but, though I have read both of those books since, you'd be wrong. I read Nick Redfern's Three Men Seeking Monsters, you really must check it out, if only for a bit of a laugh. I was expecting some serious investigation, there was only wide eyed 6 year old style belief. Everyone the book mentioned them interviewing, with the exception of one gentlemen, where believed. If this wasn't enough just the way the book is written, with details that are mentioned not to further there tale in any way, but just to make them look like wacky non-conformist rebels. Really the whole thing came off as a cross between the Scooby Gang (and I don't mean that in the awesome Buffy sense) and the Young Ones.

[arthwollipot]

Hey, don't knock the Scoobies! Especially Velma - she's totally hot, and smart too. Every mystery they encounter, Velma uncovers a mundane explanation - usually a guy in a mask trying to perpetrate a fraud on unsuspecting victims who are always taken in by the scam. She is a model for the skeptical community.

Well, that's how it used to be anyway.

Hey, has anyone seen a goat wandering about? I really need to get him back to Shemp.

[laarree]

Hey, has anyone seen a goat wandering about? I really need to get him back to Shemp.

Can't anyone here control these god-forsaken goats???!!! :mad:

Get back in your pen, dammit!



;)

[amb]

Hey, don't knock the Scoobies! Especially Velma - she's totally hot, and smart too. Every mystery they encounter, Velma uncovers a mundane explanation - usually a guy in a mask trying to perpetrate a fraud on unsuspecting victims who are always taken in by the scam. She is a model for the skeptical community.

Well, that's how it used to be anyway.

[quote]Hey, has anyone seen a goat wandering about? I really need to get him back to Shemp. I'm sorry to say, I could not help myself, the goat has been consumed, roasted in my wood fired oven. :p
If it's any consolation, it was delicious washed down by a Coldy and served up with roasted patato and pumpkin. Drool, drool. :D

[hcmom]

[quote=arthwollipot;3925009]

I'm sorry to say, I could not help myself, the goat has been consumed, roasted in my wood fired oven. :p
If it's any consolation, it was delicious washed down by a Coldy and served up with roasted patato and pumpkin. Drool, drool. :D

You ATE the goat?!? Do you have any idea where that goat has been!?!

[Prometheus]

Aww C'mon--I've been waiting for my chance to show what I can do with an onion, a couple of charcoal briquettes and a goat. :(

[grayman]

Aww C'mon--I've been waiting for my chance to show what I can do with an onion, a couple of charcoal briquettes and a goat. :(

Probably nothing compared to what I can do with a kumquat, some peanut butter, a recliner, bungee cords, a goat, some cheese doodles, and Vicks VapoRub.

:stone028:

[laarree]

The lambs are safe with me, keeping quiet and breathing sighs of profound relief, although
their interest was piqued briefly with all the talk about Minties.

[Prometheus]

Probably nothing compared to what I can do with a kumquat, some peanut butter, a recliner, bungee cords, a goat, some cheese doodles, and Vicks VapoRub.

:stone028:

Evidence?

[amb]

[quote=ambnp;3926012]

You ATE the goat?!? Do you have any idea where that goat has been!?!
I feel guilty. I can't let arthwollipot take the blame for eating the goat. Someone stuffed up the quotes. It was me who ate the delicious almost fat free meat.
Who cares where it's been.
You don't ask a date you're out with for the first time where she's/he's being before she/he met you do you? :p

[mrshadyvale]

Howdy all. The name is Blake. Years ago I signed up for the JREF forums and forgot about it. Recently I stumbled upon my login and behold, I am a contributing member. I hail from southern California and have never surfed a day in my life. I am a screenwriter by trade and a skeptic in practice. I admire Mr. Randi. I despise Sylvia Browne. I look forward to being a pest and getting angry at any twoofers that dare to spout nonsense.

Cheers!

[amb]

Probably nothing compared to what I can do with a kumquat, some peanut butter, a recliner, bungee cords, a goat, some cheese doodles, and Vicks VapoRub.

:stone028:
Aha! you unwittingly told us about your secret ingredients for your cookies.
No wonder they taste like *****.
A word of advice. Leave out the recliner and Vicks VaporRub and you may have some great tasting cookies that you can use to lure the unsuspecting. :p

[Eddie Dane]

Allow me to introduce myself.
I'm a man of wealth and taste.

The forums of the JREF have become surprisingly important to me over the last three years.
Yet this is the first time that I post here. This is mostly because other forum members are good at asking the questions I have myself.

I've fallen for a lot of woo in my life. my mother believes in all sorts of woo and I got the full dose as a kid.
Later I almost fell for the whole 9/11 conspiracy thing because I approached it with the wrong method. (read conspiracy sites and try to disprve the theories with just the information THEY provide.

The JREF has been a lifesaver on that one.

Anyway, I thought is was time to make my existence known to this loose affiliation of like-minded spirits.
I'ts odd how I've come to view some of you as good friend despite the fact that I know nothing of you but a snazzy avatar and bunch of witty comments.

Eddie Dane

[Mr. Skinny]

:DAllow me to introduce myself.
I'm a man of wealth and taste.
Were you 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain?

The forums of the JREF have become surprisingly important to me over the last three years.
Yet this is the first time that I post here. This is mostly because other forum members are good at asking the questions I have myself.

I've fallen for a lot of woo in my life. my mother believes in all sorts of woo and I got the full dose as a kid.
Later I almost fell for the whole 9/11 conspiracy thing because I approached it with the wrong method. (read conspiracy sites and try to disprve the theories with just the information THEY provide.

The JREF has been a lifesaver on that one.

Anyway, I thought is was time to make my existence known to this loose affiliation of like-minded spirits.
I'ts odd how I've come to view some of you as good friend despite the fact that I know nothing of you but a snazzy avatar and bunch of witty comments.

Eddie Dane
Welcome, Eddie. I found this place about 4 months after it started.

If you've been lurking for a while you're aware of my forum godliness. Consider yourself honored to be greeted by me. :D

[idealist]

Greetings all,

I discovered James Randi years ago when he began achieving national prominence for his work on the spoon bending phenomenon. I am a clinical psychologist with a specialization in the assessment and treatment of chronic as well as brief psychotic disorders in adults. Simply put, I make my living separating "crazy" from "within the normal range". Part of my occupation requires me to consider all aspects of a claim, rather than immediately write it off despite how irrational or insane it may sound (i.e. de-bunk it outright). I hope to fit in well here, and make contributions where my fancy strikes.

Regards,

"idealist"

[grayman]

Simply put, I make my living separating "crazy" from "within the normal range"...

Are you here pro bono?






Welcome to the forum. Wanna cookie?

[Eddie Dane]

[QUOTE=Mr. Skinny;3931145]:D
Were you 'round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain?


I vaguely remember holding a spear. It's been a long time since my stint in the Italian military.
Call me a hippy, but I quit when they no longer allowed conscripts to wear sandals.

Eddie

[articulett]

Are you here pro bono?






Welcome to the forum. Wanna cookie?

psst... offering cookies isn't really enough to get you into the "normal range"--
(also, you may want to hide the goat.)

[idealist]

Are you here pro bono?






Welcome to the forum. Wanna cookie?

:D:D:D If I started attempting to do clinical work on the forums, I'd never be able to leave the house. Legalities prevent me from existing in a professional capacity on any on-line medium (aww, shucks!) :boxedin:.

Thanks, cookies are terrific :)

[Prometheus]

psst... offering cookies isn't really enough to get you into the "normal range"--
(also, you may want to hide the goat.)

Perhaps the cookies have some secret ingredient designed to lure others out of the normal range....

[Arthur Denton]

Perhaps the cookies have some secret ingredient designed to lure others out of the normal range....

Chocolate drops, man, chocolate drops.

[articulett]

good point... notice how readily he accepted the cookie offer--

[amb]

The cookies are alright if you like that kind of thing.
But if you want some real pleasure and companionship, you must try my Minties. Almost forgot. Don't forget to pat the goat, that's very important.

Otherwise, welcome to the forum and hope you have a pleasant stay.

[amb]

good point... notice how readily he accepted the cookie offer--

Seemed more like a bribe to me. :p

[hcmom]

(also, you may want to hide the goat.)

Maybe it's just because we're discussing the Bible in chat, but I read that as "tithing to the goat" at first...

[grayman]

Tithe the goat and don't high-hat the monkey. :stone028:

[laarree]

Tithe the goat and don't high-hat the monkey. :stone028:

Isn't there anything udder that newbies can do?

[amb]

Isn't there anything udder that newbies can do?
Of course there is. They could milk the goat if it so pleases them!
Or they could slaughter it and roast it in an oven, it really is up to them.
If they wish to tithe it then they can PM me and I''ll tell them where to send their weekly tithe.
:D

[Aurora Chao]

Hi，ladies and gentlemen~i am Aurora from China~~i live in beijing now~i found this forum is quite amazing~~i am now working as news assistant for a foreign newspaper to help them with their report on the olympics~I've been lurking for a really long time, and i 've found this forum is truly amazing~~love it !

[tim]

Hi，ladies and gentlemen~i am Aurora from China~~i live in beijing now~i found this forum is quite amazing~~i am now working as news assistant for a foreign newspaper to help them with their report on the olympics~I've been lurking for a really long time, and i 've found this forum is truly amazing~~love it !

Welcome, Aurora! We have a number of posters who live in China, including, I think, one in Beijing. Enjoy yourself on the forum!

[Wolfman]

Hi，ladies and gentlemen~i am Aurora from China~~i live in beijing now~i found this forum is quite amazing~~i am now working as news assistant for a foreign newspaper to help them with their report on the olympics~I've been lurking for a really long time, and i 've found this forum is truly amazing~~love it !

Welcome, Aurora! We have a number of posters who live in China, including, I think, one in Beijing. Enjoy yourself on the forum!
Aurora is actually a close friend of mine, and an ex-student from several years ago. I introduced her to these forums about a year ago, I think, but its taken her awhile to jump in and say anything :)

Make her feel welcome, and hopefully she'll feel more comfortable to come out of the shadows!

[grayman]

Welcome to the forum Aurora Chao!

:wave1

[Prometheus]

Welcome to the forum Aurora Chao!

:wave1

Have you run out of cookies?

Oh yeah, Welcome Aurora!

[Femke]

Hi,
After several months of just reading breathlessly on the many threads on this forum, I could no longer resist the prompt at the top of every page of introducting myself.
I'm Femke, 44, from the Netherlands, biologist by education, and a subtitler (English to Dutch) by profession. Sceptic by default; just like some other new members I thought everybody knew Klingons and ET are fiction, and I did not even know there was something like dowsing and tarot card reading, let alone people practising it.
The forum is wildly entertaining, I hope to be able to contribute, someday.

[Ethnikos]

Hi.
I may be a refugee here, from another forum.
I had a habit of posting on threads I found in the religion section.
After nine months of that, people would start new threads with kind of a disclaimer that would (without naming me) dis-invite me to respond on it.
Kind of like "No fundamentalists welcome, waking me up from the dream where I am God."
I guess I will find out if I will be burned at the stake for being a non-heretic.

[skeptical_dawn]

Hi my name is Dawn from the US and I'm kind of new to skepticism even though I have known about the great James Randi and the Million Dollar Challenge since I was a teenager. I "re-discovered" it about a year ago from a friend who linked me to the homeopathy lecture video at Princeton on youtube. Since then, I've been trying to learn as much as I can through the internet and such books as Flim Flam and The Demon-Haunted World.

:)

[Gilmar]

Welcome, Aurora Chao, Femke, Ethnikos, and skeptical dawn.

[articulett]

Hi,
After several months of just reading breathlessly on the many threads on this forum, I could no longer resist the prompt at the top of every page of introducting myself.
I'm Femke, 44, from the Netherlands, biologist by education, and a subtitler (English to Dutch) by profession. Sceptic by default; just like some other new members I thought everybody knew Klingons and ET are fiction, and I did not even know there was something like dowsing and tarot card reading, let alone people practising it.
The forum is wildly entertaining, I hope to be able to contribute, someday.

Welcome! I'm also 44 and a biologist by education (Masters of Science in Genetics--I teach Science to High Schoolers right now--). I think you will like it here a lot, and I look forward to reading more from you. We don't have a lot of Netherlands posters, and it's nice to get perspective. Jump in.

[arthwollipot]

Welcome all new posters! I hope you enjoy yourselves here. Remember to return your library books, pat the goat and don't eat any of Greyman's cookies.

[grayman]

Welcome all new posters! I hope you enjoy yourselves here. Remember to return your library books, pat the goat and don't eat any of Greyman's cookies.

My cookies, on the other hand, will bring enlightenment...or something.

Welcome new research subjects playthings members. :stone028:

[arthwollipot]

Oh grayman - you are such a nitpicker. Just like the goat.

[JohnG]

Loooong time lurker, first time posting on the JREF forum. I might have remained content to continue lurking forever, but you all seem to be having too much fun.

I'm 42 now, but I spent the first 25 or so years of my life believing in, well, just about everything. I found UFOs, Conspiracy Theories and Cryptozoology particularly fascinating.

There was no one galvanizing event that changed my thinking; my beliefs in the paranormal were already beginning to erode in my teens. As I recall, three books in particular helped to open my eyes to skeptical thinking:

Flim-Flam! by James Randi
Case Closed by Gerald Posner
The Loch Ness Mystery Solved by Ronald Binns

Later works such as Carl Sagan's Demon Haunted World and Michael Shermer's Why People Believe in Weird Things were also hugely influential for me.

I've been a member of the New England Skeptical Society for about a year, but have yet to participate in any meaningful way. I hope that will change in the coming months.

I actually chose a rather inopportune time to join the forum. In a few days I am going to embark on a cross country trip (LA to Massachusetts) that will take me at least a week to complete, but I'll be back online towards the end of the month.

Glad to finally be amongst you all! Time will tell if I have anything substantive to offer, but if nothing else, I suspect any amount of participation will be much more fun and educational than simply continuing to lurk as I have done to date.

Regards,
JohnG

[arthwollipot]

It seems to have been a week for delurking, hasn't it?

[amb]

Welcome to the forum all you past lurkers. A word of warning. Graymans cookies are like the apple that Snow White was fooled into eating, so take care.
On the otherhand, my Minties are safe and 95% fat free, just like the goat.

[Femke]

Welcome! I'm also 44 and a biologist by education (Masters of Science in Genetics--I teach Science to High Schoolers right now--). I think you will like it here a lot, and I look forward to reading more from you. We don't have a lot of Netherlands posters, and it's nice to get perspective. Jump in.

Funny, one of the first posts I saw (on the Homeoproofer-thread) was from a Dutch lady, so I assumed there would be plenty. But alas, there is a lot of woo in the Netherlands lately. More astrologers' hotlines than anywhere else in the world... Dutch skeptics are needed sorely.
(A geneticist, no less. I did my PhD on the wild distribution of genetically engineered plants, but I could not distinguish adenine from thymine if it sat in my eye.:rolleyes:)

[COLONEL]

Welcome to the forum everyone .As far as the Graymans cookies go ,I bet you can't eat just one .please no giving the cookies to the goat .:)

[Princess]

I've been reading these forums since early in 2003. Figured its as good a time as any to say hi.

Me in a nutshell:

Eyes: green.
Hair: blonde.
Height: average.
Build: small.
Vegan: yes.
Married: no.
Job: programmer.
Hobbies: same.
Religion: zilch.
Politics: meh.
Morals: utilitarian.
Attitude: bad.
Version: 2.0

[Starwind51]

Hello, All! :)

I first became aware of James Randi (who really is amazing) back in the 1970's. At that time the people who ran tv talk shows were very willing to play along with such characters as the not-so-amazing* Kreskin and Uri Geller and his institute-of-advanced-spoon-bending**. The talk show hosts would imply what they were doing was real mentalist power, even though an intelligent mind would ask how that was possible. And then came James Randi to let us know, it wasn't. James Randi has been my hero ever since. From him I learned to look at a situation critically and to listen for what was actually being said. Thank you, Mr. Randi!

*imo
**Monty Python joke

[arthwollipot]

Welcome all new posters. I'm Arthwollipot, and I'll be your guide to the forums.

You can leave your coats over there to your left. Let's begin!

You will see that many posters here have avatars (pictures under our names), custom titles (witty and/or strange comments under our names), and signatures (quotes and links below our posts). These are a privelege granted to long-term posters. In order to get these funky additions to your profile, you will need to make more posts. May I suggest that you visit the Community (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26) and Humor (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=28) subforums. Here you will find many threads which are completely pointless, but serve to increase your post count. My personal favourites are the Three Word Story (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=110535) and Say What's On Your Mind Right Now (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=51801), but your tastes might vary.

Please try not to take the forum too seriously. There are some very deep and important topics being discussed in the various subforums, but remember not to lose your sense of humor. You will find that most of the posters here are friendly and helpful, but you will find the occasional unpleasant troll whose only purpose in life is to annoy you. There is an Ignore function for that. Click on a poster's name and add them to your Ignore list if they annoy you too much, and you need never read their posts again.

I recommend the use of the User CP (Control Panel), a link to which you will find at the top left. When you post to a thread, you are automatically "subscribed" to it. You will then see that thread appear in your User CP when new posts are made. You can also subscribe to a thread without posting, by using the Thread Tools link at the top of each topic. This facility means that you will not have to hunt and peck through the subforums to continue the discussion. You can also subscribe to entire forums, but that's a bit less useful.

I also recommend the use of "New Posts", which you will also find at the top of the forum. This will show you... well, new posts. It's a good way to find new threads to contribute to.

At the bottom left of every post you will see the Nominate button. Pressing this button will nominate the post for the monthly Language Award or Pith Award. This is an way of recognising and awarding the best use of language for the month. The relevant threads are in Community (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26). There is a sticky Nominations (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=76070) thread, and a new non-sticky poll thread for each of the Language Award (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=119990) and Pith Award (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=120041) every month. The links I just gave you are to the July awards. Peruse them and see what you're up against.

If you have any difficulties or questions, there is a Help link at the top of the forum. This will link to many different FAQs and topics of assistance. For example, an extensive reference for the boards formatting tags (http://forums.randi.org/misc.php?do=bbcode). If all else fails, you can post in the Forum Help (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=16) subforum. The friendly Mod Squad and Admin will be happy to answer any question you have that isn't covered by Help.

Please be aware of the Forum Rules (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=30). If you breach the rules, you will be given a warning. You can Report a post to a moderator, if you feel that it breaks the rules, by clicking on the little "exclamation mark in a triangle" button you will find below a person's Avatar. Repeated breaches of the Forum Rules will result in a suspension. Ongoing malicious breaches will result in your being banned from the forum. The subforums in the Members Only section of the forum are much more lightly moderated than those in the public area.

I hope this has been helpful. Stay polite, pat the goat, return all of your library books, and fasten your seatbelt, because you are in for one heck of a ride!

[amb]

I've been reading these forums since early in 2003. Figured its as good a time as any to say hi.

Me in a nutshell:

Eyes: green.
Hair: blonde.
Height: average.
Build: small.
Vegan: yes.
Married: no.
Job: programmer.
Hobbies: same.
Religion: zilch.
Politics: meh.
Morals: utilitarian.
Attitude: bad.
Version: 2.0
Would you like to go for a romantic dinner somewhere, just you and I.
And later, we just let nature take it's course.
I promise to be the perfect gentleman and even open the doors for you.
:p

[Prometheus]

Welcome all new posters. I'm Arthwollipot, and I'll be your guide to the forums.

You can leave your coats over there to your left. Let's begin!

You will see that many posters here have avatars (pictures under our names), custom titles (witty and/or strange comments under our names), and signatures (quotes and links below our posts). These are a privelege granted to long-term posters. In order to get these funky additions to your profile, you will need to make more posts. May I suggest that you visit the Community (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26) and Humor (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=28) subforums. Here you will find many threads which are completely pointless, but serve to increase your post count. My personal favourites are the Three Word Story (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=110535) and Say What's On Your Mind Right Now (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=51801), but your tastes might vary.

Please try not to take the forum too seriously. There are some very deep and important topics being discussed in the various subforums, but remember not to lose your sense of humor. You will find that most of the posters here are friendly and helpful, but you will find the occasional unpleasant troll whose only purpose in life is to annoy you. There is an Ignore function for that. Click on a poster's name and add them to your Ignore list if they annoy you too much, and you need never read their posts again.

I recommend the use of the User CP (Control Panel), a link to which you will find at the top left. When you post to a thread, you are automatically "subscribed" to it. You will then see that thread appear in your User CP when new posts are made. You can also subscribe to a thread without posting, by using the Thread Tools link at the top of each topic. This facility means that you will not have to hunt and peck through the subforums to continue the discussion. You can also subscribe to entire forums, but that's a bit less useful.

I also recommend the use of "New Posts", which you will also find at the top of the forum. This will show you... well, new posts. It's a good way to find new threads to contribute to.

At the bottom left of every post you will see the Nominate button. Pressing this button will nominate the post for the monthly Language Award or Pith Award. This is an way of recognising and awarding the best use of language for the month. The relevant threads are in Community (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26). There is a sticky Nominations (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=76070) thread, and a new non-sticky poll thread for each of the Language Award (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=119990) and Pith Award (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=120041) every month. The links I just gave you are to the July awards. Peruse them and see what you're up against.

If you have any difficulties or questions, there is a Help link at the top of the forum. This will link to many different FAQs and topics of assistance. For example, an extensive reference for the boards formatting tags (http://forums.randi.org/misc.php?do=bbcode). If all else fails, you can post in the Forum Help (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=16) subforum. The friendly Mod Squad and Admin will be happy to answer any question you have that isn't covered by Help.

Please be aware of the Forum Rules (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=30). If you breach the rules, you will be given a warning. You can Report a post to a moderator, if you feel that it breaks the rules, by clicking on the little "exclamation mark in a triangle" button you will find below a person's Avatar. Repeated breaches of the Forum Rules will result in a suspension. Ongoing malicious breaches will result in your being banned from the forum. The subforums in the Members Only section of the forum are much more lightly moderated than those in the public area.

I hope this has been helpful. Stay polite, pat the goat, return all of your library books, and fasten your seatbelt, because you are in for one heck of a ride!

Have you escaped your restraints again?!

Okay newbies, pay no attention to him. See grayman for a cookie, pet the goat and then wait for me through the last door on the left.

[grayman]

Welcome new people! Enjoy your stay. :)



ambnp, need a chaperone/cameraman? I'll bring cookies. :stone028:

[LadyoftheWeb]

I read Randi several years ago when I ran across his flimflam book in my local library. I've been a visitor to this forum here and there over the years. I like the fact that I can "look up" any skeptical arguments on just about anything here.

I registered today because I heard about Bob Lancaster and that there were updates here. Bob's da man.

[Prometheus]

:welcome2:

[amb]

For the first time in my life I am voting for the person I think will do the least harm.
Which is me.:p

[Beau Jest]

Hello. I've been a skeptic a long time, and am a JREF member, but am new to this forum.

I LIKE PIE.

[arthwollipot]

Many a true word is said in Beau Jest. Welcome!

[Pixie of key]

Hi everybody. I come from Finland and i have a key for theory of everything. I just like to told for you about that!

[Pixie of key]

Hi everybody. I come from Finland and i have a key for theory of everything. I just like to told for you about that!

[Sideroxylon]

Hi everyone,

I love trying to understand how different people (including myself) justify various beliefs. I find it fun to discuss beliefs that I might consider unsupportable with someone who holds them passionately. Understanding what makes a logically strong argument as well as the appeal of different kinds of fallacious arguments interests me. I am studying a BA (philosophy / psychology) via distance education as a mature-age student (41).

[amb]

Hi everybody. I come from Finland and i have a key for theory of everything. I just like to told for you about that!
Well? don't hold us in suspense, tell us what this theory of everything is.

Welcome to the forum, and hope to read your evidence.

[Twiler]

Hello. I hail from England. I hope to have many interesting conversations on these forums.

[HumanoidJellyfish]

We are glad you have chosen to be a part of our community and we hope you enjoy your stay.

Please take a few moments to introduce yourself in this thread - it's a great way to break the ice and most of the time we don't bite. Have fun!



Just joined so hello

[Valley]

Hello,
This is my first post. I have just started reading some of the posts and informationon this website. I also noticed a user name of James Fox. Can anyone tell me if this is the same James Fox that created Out Of The Blue?
I have an interest in the UFO phenomena and heard that this was a good documentary and wanted to ask him a couple of questions.

[articulett]

RE: James Fox

I don't know... why don't you PM him and then you can tell us.

[Roma]

Hi, my name is Roma Hart, I joined the JREF on a challenge a couple of weeks ago. I am an environmentalist and community activist with a BA. in Geography from the University of Manitoba. I also studied philosophy and am really enjoying the arguments being put forth in the JREF forum blog sites and would love to join in but can't figure out how to draw a Venn diagram in this tiny little box.

[HumanoidJellyfish]

Hi, my name is Roma Hart, I joined the JREF on a challenge a couple of weeks ago.


I did too for the same reason. A challenge. That's the only reason, I'll see where this goes in time.

[amb]

I did too for the same reason. A challenge. That's the only reason, I'll see where this goes in time.
It all depends on what you wish to challenge.

Welcome and challenge away. :)

[Prometheus]

:welcome3

[Steveconnor]

Brief History of Myself

Catholic School, explored Wicca, Qabbalah, Tarot, Uri Gellar, etc. (1970s)

Checked out UFOs, the paranormal, Satanism etc. (1980s)

Since then I've been an Atheist. Got there eventually.

Currently reading Darwin's Origin Of Species.

Next I'll be reading Wendy McElroy's biography of Queen Silver. Atheist and Feminist.

Currently listening to Django Rhinehart.

Okay. That's me and hello.

[emarkp]

Hello all,

I've long been impressed with Randi's approach to exposing people like Geller, etc.

I used to participate in the Straight Dope message forums, but after trying a year of pay-to-post, I left. I've been searching for a community that can rationally discuss topics in the news, issues like 9/11 troofers, etc.

I'm an odd duck. A Christian (Mormon) who doesn't have problems with evolution, or a very old earth. Very pro-faith and pro-science.

I'm also a fan of Phil Plait (loved his movie reviews and excellent criticism of moon hoaxers). It was his new job that led me to find these forums and take a peek.

[HumanoidJellyfish]

It all depends on what you wish to challenge.

Welcome and challenge away. :)

I don't have anything to challenge for now - Just reading.

[amb]

I was hoping you would challenge grayman or prometheus to produce their cookies and goat in that order.:D
On the other hand, here, have a Mintie.

[Prometheus]

I was hoping you would challenge grayman or prometheus to produce their cookies and goat in that order.:D
On the other hand, here, have a Mintie.

You won't get my goat that easily! :D

[Arthur Denton]

Brief History of Myself

Catholic School, explored Wicca, Qabbalah, Tarot, Uri Gellar, etc. (1970s)

Checked out UFOs, the paranormal, Satanism etc. (1980s)

Since then I've been an Atheist. Got there eventually.

Currently reading Darwin's Origin Of Species.

Next I'll be reading Wendy McElroy's biography of Queen Silver. Atheist and Feminist.

Currently listening to Django Rhinehart.

Okay. That's me and hello.

A lot like my own. PM's, perhaps? Hugses!

[Mr. Skinny]

Brief History of Myself

Catholic School, explored Wicca, Qabbalah, Tarot, Uri Gellar, etc. (1970s)

Checked out UFOs, the paranormal, Satanism etc. (1980s)

Since then I've been an Atheist. Got there eventually.

Currently reading Darwin's Origin Of Species.

Next I'll be reading Wendy McElroy's biography of Queen Silver. Atheist and Feminist.

Currently listening to Django Rhinehart.

Okay. That's me and hello.
Welcome, Steve

I likes me some Django Reinhardt (note spelling) too, especially his stuff with Stephane Grappelli.

Hello all,

I've long been impressed with Randi's approach to exposing people like Geller, etc.

I used to participate in the Straight Dope message forums, but after trying a year of pay-to-post, I left. I've been searching for a community that can rationally discuss topics in the news, issues like 9/11 troofers, etc.

I'm an odd duck. A Christian (Mormon) who doesn't have problems with evolution, or a very old earth. Very pro-faith and pro-science.

I'm also a fan of Phil Plait (loved his movie reviews and excellent criticism of moon hoaxers). It was his new job that led me to find these forums and take a peek.
Welcome, emarkp.

I like to read the SDMB as well. Joined there a couple of years ago. Think I made one post before it went pay-to-post. Didn't want to pay, but it's still an interesting forum to read.

[Jack of Kent]

Hi there, everyone

I am Jack of Kent, an English Skeptic and Blogger.

I am a regular attendee at Skeptics in the Pub in London. I had the incredible pleasure of meeting James Randi at the recent event in London.

My own particular interest is the use (invairiably misuse) of legal or political power to close down down free discussion and it will usually be on this issue that I will contribute.

[amb]

Hi there, everyone

I am Jack of Kent, an English Skeptic and Blogger.

I am a regular attendee at Skeptics in the Pub in London. I had the incredible pleasure of meeting James Randi at the recent event in London.

My own particular interest is the use (invairiably misuse) of legal or political power to close down down free discussion and it will usually be on this issue that I will contribute.

Welcome. If we ever meet, which I doubt will ever happen. Please do not mention the word politics, as I may do a Guy Fawkes and end up in jail for a self serving greedy SOBs.
Show me an honest politician, and I will show you an honest priest. :mad:

[arthwollipot]

Hi, my name is Roma Hart, I joined the JREF on a challenge a couple of weeks ago. I am an environmentalist and community activist with a BA. in Geography from the University of Manitoba. I also studied philosophy and am really enjoying the arguments being put forth in the JREF forum blog sites and would love to join in but can't figure out how to draw a Venn diagram in this tiny little box.You'll have to draw and save it as a separate file. Then you can click "Quick Upload" when you're posting and upload it to the forum. Once it's uploaded you can click "Pick" from the posting screen and select a picture to add to your post.

Alternatively you can upload a picture to some other site (such as Flickr or Photobucket) and hotlink to it using the [img] tag. PM me if you want additional detail on the process.

[Roadtoad]

Hi there, everyone

I am Jack of Kent, an English Skeptic and Blogger.

I am a regular attendee at Skeptics in the Pub in London. I had the incredible pleasure of meeting James Randi at the recent event in London.

My own particular interest is the use (invairiably misuse) of legal or political power to close down down free discussion and it will usually be on this issue that I will contribute.

Dude! Damn glad you're here! Welcome!

[FledgelingSkeptic]

Greetings all :-)

I'm Maria currently from Melbourne, FL. My sons are grown and out of the house so Ken and I are empty nesters now.

About Me: I'm a reformed magical thinker and recently "came out' as an atheist. I used to practice Reiki and other energetic healing modalities. I even deluded myself into thinking that I saw "auras" and "felt the presence of God".

I'm better now.

What I Do: I am half owner of an essential oils company. We sell pure essential oils to massage therapists and spas. I call myself an aromatherapist and herbalist because there really IS no term for applying the diluted oils to the body if you're not a massage therapist.

I tell my clients that inhaling has no therapeutic value and I try to teach my clients about the phytochemicals in the oils.

I also do not feel that herbalism should be a replacement for Western medicine. I think they should be complementary therapies.

I'm looking forward to learning from everyone on the forums as I continue to work to completely overcome my past magical thinking patterns.

[Fiona]

Words of a wee song for you, Jack of Kent. I cannot find a video but you will get the idea, if you don't know it :)

http://www.celtic-folk.de/lyrics/any_mick_ll_do.htm

It is a little bowdlerised, mind.

[drs774]

Hello Everyone!!! I am enterested in getting to know everyone and what brought us all here. To start with I am a Clairvoyant :) and I am enterested in the challenge.

[Uncle Effort]

Ladies and Gentlemen, greetings and salutations. I discovered this site thanks to the latest bigfoot hoax and it really caught my eye. I am a huge fan magic-tricks, scams, hoaxes, quackery and other sorts of flim-flam.:D I look forward to some interesting conversations.

[Arthur Denton]

Hello Everyone!!! I am enterested in getting to know everyone and what brought us all here. To start with I am a Clairvoyant :) and I am enterested in the challenge.

Good luck with that. I'm not a woo lover, and I often get surprised on how much woo we think ain't woo. Btw, being a woo person, and interested in challenging for the million, I take it that you must be very brave, or very certain, or very foolish. Then again, welcome, hope you learn something - and teach something - whilst you're in here.

[dorisbonkers]

Hello. I’m a news journalist working in Singapore, originally from London.

I’ve always been atheist but I am developing my skeptical thinking after becoming enraged by several discussions with people on other forums about alternative medicine and other humbug. I’m pregnant and made the mistake of wandering into mothering forums...

Although I consider myself reasonably skeptical I have fallen into the odd little trap, such as half-believing some of the nonsense claims about skin products. So I want to learn more. I’ve joined the Dawkins site, UK Skeptics, and Bad Psychics. As a non-scientist I feel at a slight disadvantage and so it helps me to come to places like these.

As I stand on the brink of motherhood I feel responsible for getting my thoughts in a little more order. Already, thinking critically has been a great help to me sorting through the crap and guilt flying around out there on raising a child.

I find the holes supposedly sane and intelligent people, including a few close friends, dig themselves into fascinating. And harmful. Do NOT get me started on supposed psychics….or that I can’t criticize someone’s opinion or religion because they are ‘entitled’.

Do I get a biscuit now?

[amb]

Hello Everyone!!! I am enterested in getting to know everyone and what brought us all here. To start with I am a Clairvoyant :) and I am enterested in the challenge.
Hold on a minute. I'm the forum pyschic. Are you challenging me? ;)
If so, I welcome you to the forum. Even if you are not challenging my mighty powers, welcome.

[moebob]

Hold on a minute. I'm the forum pyschic. Are you challenging me? ;)
If so, I welcome you to the forum. Even if you are not challenging my mighty powers, welcome.

And I thought mine were stronger! And I also welcome you.

[noch1Narr]

Hello, everyone!
My name is Michael. Am a 68-year old geezer (I know,I know: redundant!). Immigrated to the US almost 47 years ago (seems more like 200 years, at times!). Have been an avid reader of 'Swift' for years, but only lately have 'discovered' the empire you call the JREF forum and have had the audacity to leave 3 posts before formally introducing myself, mea maxima culpa!
Am a 'kraut' by birth; after living in this fascinating country for 12 years I made the conscious decision to become a full-fledged US citizen in 1973, when-during the Watergate debacle I realised that this is where I should like to live prmanently. During the past 7 years I have frequently-but only temporarily-regretted my decision to come to the US, instead of to the UK. Have never really/deeply regretted having left the 'Vaterland', although I have come to appreciate what Goethe meant when he described emigrants/immigrants as 'wanderers-forever-between 2 worlds'. If not an entire foot, I feel at least some toes of mine are still 'over there'...!
Due to dear Mr. Randi's (the ol' curmudgeon's) influence I have become a staunch skeptic of everything paranormal; I detest especially ALL of those superstitions that refer to themselves as religions and was appalled to read on MSNBC yesterday that some poll indicated that 1 in 2 Americans believe in the power of prayer, YIKES! "Land of the Free" allright, free to fall for such pathetic foolishness! My dear wife and I have several gay friends, whose love and friendship we treasure. We both have long ago recognised that this is the "Land of the Free"allright but ONLY if you're NOT gay, NOT a person of colour or NOT a person of non-European ethnic background and if you do NOT do any/much rational thinking 'outside of the box'...! But we have decided to continue fighting 'the good fight', and to keep pushing back the 'frontiers of ignorance/intolerance' (which at times seem to be encircling us!). I am ever so glad to have 'discovered' the JREF forum and will earnestly endevour to make only meaningful, positive contributions to the various threads.
If any of you ever happen to wander (whether by choice or by necessity) into the vicinity of Spokane, Washington (the PNW Hinterland: pretty barren territory, in more ways than one!) and should you feel like meeting over at least 'a cuppa', do feel free to contact the Forum Administrators (guardians of personal data & email addresses) who are hereby given permission to divulge access info to me.
Shalom to you all!
M.

[Paulnib68]

Howdy all. Former believer, long time skeptic, occasional hoaxer, and creator of fraudulent woo here. 40 years old, interested mostly in Ufoology but anything sufficiently ridiculous and riddled with credulity will do for entertainment. Long time poster to several forums, posted here occasionaly many moons ago, perhaps 7 years or so? Always enjoyed Randi's antics, and absolutely loved watching some of the reactions he produced, ecspecially during the old days with Gellers shlock.

I'm very much about the facts, but lazy enough to trust my common sense and intuition when it suits me. If I make a flub, I can take the heat.

Mainly I came back because of the Georgia BF fiasco, but was in no rush to post, because everytime I thought to register so I could post something, one of you already beat me to it!

I'm very supportive of rationality and critical thought, since it's become such an important factor in my life. If it were'nt for embracing these things, I very well could be occupying some subterranean real estate right now.

Ok. Enough of that, I want to follow more of the threads. Thanks....

[drs774]

Hold on a minute. I'm the forum pyschic. Are you challenging me? ;)
If so, I welcome you to the forum. Even if you are not challenging my mighty powers, welcome.

:boxedin:

[drs774]

Thank You!!! I recieved the phone call I had requested and look forward to seeing you all someday soon.

[Prometheus]

Hold on a minute. I'm the forum pyschic. Are you challenging me? ;)
If so, I welcome you to the forum. Even if you are not challenging my mighty powers, welcome.

Shouldn't you already know the answer?

[Chebutykin]

Hello, all! I'm a life-long atheist, skeptic, and science nerd who somehow wound up in the field of coloring and lettering comic books. I'm coming to the Forum through a convoluted back-route, as I first wound up on the Amaz!ing Adventure 3 in the Galapagos, then decided I should probably get a little more involved with the JREF community. I'd joined the cruise figuring that it would be a great odyssey into nature and the people on the boat (all strangers to me) would be like-minded but still secondary to Darwin's islands. Instead, I came home yesterday more sad about leaving the people behind than leaving the islands.

I'm 33. I live in Minnesota with a guy who draws Batman for a living. I travel the sci-fi/comics circuit. I have a biology degree, with most of a BFA on top of that. I am a computer ninja. I like fish.

[Prometheus]

Hello, all! I'm a life-long atheist, skeptic, and science nerd who somehow wound up in the field of coloring and lettering comic books. I'm coming to the Forum through a convoluted back-route, as I first wound up on the Amaz!ing Adventure 3 in the Galapagos, then decided I should probably get a little more involved with the JREF community. I'd joined the cruise figuring that it would be a great odyssey into nature and the people on the boat (all strangers to me) would be like-minded but still secondary to Darwin's islands. Instead, I came home yesterday more sad about leaving the people behind than leaving the islands.

I'm 33. I live in Minnesota with a guy who draws Batman for a living. I travel the sci-fi/comics circuit. I have a biology degree, with most of a BFA on top of that. I am a computer ninja. I like fish.

Welcome Chebutykin! Sounds like you'll fit in well here!

[Roma]

You'll have to draw and save it as a separate file. Then you can click "Quick Upload" when you're posting and upload it to the forum. Once it's uploaded you can click "Pick" from the posting screen and select a picture to add to your post.

Alternatively you can upload a picture to some other site (such as Flickr or Photobucket) and hotlink to it using the [qimg] tag. PM me if you want additional detail on the process.
Thank-you Arthwollipot, I really did want to know.
I am currently living in a desert wasteland completely void of intellectual stimulation and appreciate the opportunity to participate in Randi's forum sites.
I'll try to be less serious and see if I can have some fun but my brain may have forgotten that concept so I'll need some help.

[amb]

Hello, everyone!
My name is Michael. Am a 68-year old geezer (I know,I know: redundant!). Immigrated to the US almost 47 years ago (seems more like 200 years, at times!). Have been an avid reader of 'Swift' for years, but only lately have 'discovered' the empire you call the JREF forum and have had the audacity to leave 3 posts before formally introducing myself, mea maxima culpa!
Am a 'kraut' by birth; after living in this fascinating country for 12 years I made the conscious decision to become a full-fledged US citizen in 1973, when-during the Watergate debacle I realised that this is where I should like to live prmanently. During the past 7 years I have frequently-but only temporarily-regretted my decision to come to the US, instead of to the UK. Have never really/deeply regretted having left the 'Vaterland', although I have come to appreciate what Goethe meant when he described emigrants/immigrants as 'wanderers-forever-between 2 worlds'. If not an entire foot, I feel at least some toes of mine are still 'over there'...!
Due to dear Mr. Randi's (the ol' curmudgeon's) influence I have become a staunch skeptic of everything paranormal; I detest especially ALL of those superstitions that refer to themselves as religions and was appalled to read on MSNBC yesterday that some poll indicated that 1 in 2 Americans believe in the power of prayer, YIKES! "Land of the Free" allright, free to fall for such pathetic foolishness! My dear wife and I have several gay friends, whose love and friendship we treasure. We both have long ago recognised that this is the "Land of the Free"allright but ONLY if you're NOT gay, NOT a person of colour or NOT a person of non-European ethnic background and if you do NOT do any/much rational thinking 'outside of the box'...! But we have decided to continue fighting 'the good fight', and to keep pushing back the 'frontiers of ignorance/intolerance' (which at times seem to be encircling us!). I am ever so glad to have 'discovered' the JREF forum and will earnestly endevour to make only meaningful, positive contributions to the various threads.
If any of you ever happen to wander (whether by choice or by necessity) into the vicinity of Spokane, Washington (the PNW Hinterland: pretty barren territory, in more ways than one!) and should you feel like meeting over at least 'a cuppa', do feel free to contact the Forum Administrators (guardians of personal data & email addresses) who are hereby given permission to divulge access info to me.
Shalom to you all!
M.
Jebus H Christ! About time someone older than me announced themselves.
Don't call yourself an old geezer, you're far from it.
But if you insist. A great big welcome from one old geezer to another. :p

[amb]

Shouldn't you already know the answer?
Sometimes us psychics get a mental block if you know what I mean.
It's the reason why we can't for the life of us ever get the right lotto numbers. :p :D