"Amega Wand" Chrystal/Mineral healing scam - Page 53

Akhenaten · 2nd June 2011, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Link please. I'd like to see the Australia thread, but the search function here wasn't very helpful. Or maybe I'm just not very patient.

Enjoy.

Australia

Akhenaten · 2nd June 2011, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

True confession time. I finally did it. I recently threw my Yoli product in the trash. I hated to do it, because it cost me over $100. Somewhere around $120, if I recall correctly.

I did take pictures of my many Yoli blast caps, just in case Lenny ever shows up again to claim I never owned their product.

Geeze, is it so bad that you can't even drink it just for the sake of refreshment, without the expectation that it'll turn you into teh Flash or something?

Lenny has been vewwy, vewwy quiet, hasn't he?

Ladewig · 2nd June 2011, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Would that basic test be worth a million dollars?

DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with JREF or the MDC.

As it stands, no, because the odds are one in six that the results could be due to chance. But, I think the concept of "I can taste which lemons have been near a magic wand filled with rocks" would stand up for many of the lesser skeptic society tests as well as the million dollar version. I am speculating that in addition to working out the numbers which would define a success, there would have to be some protocol discussion (e.g. one cannot touch the lemon with the stick or with one's hands, and so forth).

ETA: I would not hesitate to point out to the claimant that doing what she says she can do could earn her an easy $10,000¹ for a few minutes of work.

1)check local skeptic clubs for offers available in that geographic area.

didge · 3rd June 2011, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

I would politely ask a question to determine the exact nature of her claims. Specifically: Are you saying that if we got three lemons and cut them in half, you could do your wand thing to one of the halves and if we mixed them all up and gave all six halves to an independent observer (who didn't see us mix up the halves), then that person could clearly and unfailingly identify which one was wanded?

Yes, of course, a proper experiment! I'll take some lemons myself. I might even make my own wand out of a really flash pen somebody gave me which is so gaudy you couldn't imagine it isn't a pseudoparapsychics wandwoo tool.

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Is she using the Official Factory Authorized Amega Wand? Or a cheap imitator?

I don't think that is going to matter really. I will, of course, have a close look; ahem, in case it works better than mine.

BTW The "Wise Woman from the Woods" scored 7 Canards on Quackometer. Oh dear!

Emet · 3rd June 2011, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

Lenny has been vewwy, vewwy quiet, hasn't he?

Nope, not really.

Akhenaten · 3rd June 2011, 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by Emet

Nope, not really.

Poor us. Why are we being deprived of his awesomeness?

I wonder if it was something we said.

Ladewig · 3rd June 2011, 06:11 AM

Originally Posted by didge

Yes, of course, a proper experiment! I'll take some lemons myself. I might even make my own wand out of a really flash pen somebody gave me which is so gaudy you couldn't imagine it isn't a pseudoparapsychics wandwoo tool.

If she balks at the idea of an independent tester, be sure to restate the offer with her, herself, being the taste tester.

What country are we talking about?

Ladewig · 3rd June 2011, 06:24 AM

Concerning the lemon test, a previous poster claimed that ...

Originally Posted by MWave

To that end, I'd love to get some feedback on what type of tests I can perform and how I should properly set them up. For example, I think I've got the "lemon test" figured out. Notice, the lemon half that's wanded is always known to the subject, and always the first half that's handed to them to taste. Try this at home: Take a bite from two slices of lemon about 15 seconds apart. The first half will almost always taste better - with or without wanding. My test will prevent the subject from knowing which half has been wanded, will alternate which half is tasted first, and I will be out of view from the subject to eliminate any subtle, subconscious cues.

I have no evidence to support the claim, but it does sound plausible. The wander may try to get you to agree to an unblinded test in which she determines which half will be tasted first. Reject that approach! A good test will involve tasters not knowing which is which. The blinding is imperative.

Ladewig · 3rd June 2011, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Would that basic test be worth a million dollars?

I think one of the more attractive JREF posters started a thread about Teh Stick in the million dollar challenge sub-forum around June of last year. I'll look for it.

Akhenaten · 3rd June 2011, 06:41 AM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

I think one of the more attractive JREF posters started a thread about Teh Stick in the million dollar challenge sub-forum around June of last year. I'll look for it.

I don't think so. I'm sure I'd remember if I had.

Foolmewunz · 3rd June 2011, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by didge

My first post so be as harsh as you like. The question is at the end, here is the prelim'.

I was at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday when one of the chaps complained of a bad knee. Quick as a flash the "Wise Woman from the Woods" quack lady got this "wand" out and did the business for the chap. I suggested he felt better because he had just been hypnotised and she went ballistic. She then did the b*ll*x with making a cup of coffee "taste better" because it had been put back to its fundamentals by Zero whatever. All the arses fell for the stuff and one girl asked to have her neck "made better". I pointed her to this thread after finding it some hours later.

Next Wednesday morning we are going to get the "LEMONS" demonstration. She is not trying to flog them but has a "clinic" where she practices her homeowoo and naturawoo etc.

I do not want to offend the nice lady who I think genuinely believes this works; so how can I put the case against this wand without making myself look like even more of a miserable ****? What questions should I ask? Should I not take part in the lemon tasting with some fabulous tecchie put-down?

Bated breath.....

I think a great deal depends on the actual type of fruit. I hear you get much better results if you use Clem Lemons. They have a special woo-i-tude that other lemons don't have. If you put a Clem Lemon in your fridge, within two days, it'll have the cottage cheese and broccoli working on signing up the margarine, apple juice, fila dough, and clotted cream.

If you give it a full month, you'll notice the Clem Lemon has now got a diamond pin but all the other items in the fridge are struggling to get by.

Mike! · 3rd June 2011, 03:05 PM

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

Poor us. Why are we being deprived of his awesomeness?

I wonder if it was something we said.

I know he doesn't like it when you mention the Unibrow...

Originally Posted by Foolmewunz

I think a great deal depends on the actual type of fruit. I hear you get much better results if you use Clem Lemons. They have a special woo-i-tude that other lemons don't have. If you put a Clem Lemon in your fridge, within two days, it'll have the cottage cheese and broccoli working on signing up the margarine, apple juice, fila dough, and clotted cream.

If you give it a full month, you'll notice the Clem Lemon has now got a diamond pin but all the other items in the fridge are struggling to get by.

Bless you!
I'd offer you a health cookie, but you're on the other side of the planet, so I'll just nominate you for an award of some kind.

Live&Learn · 3rd June 2011, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Emet

Nope, not really.

LOL

Thanks for the link. Way too funny! He obviously will never learn.

Live&Learn · 3rd June 2011, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Mike!

I know he doesn't like it when you mention the Unibrow...

Bless you!
I'd offer you a health cookie, but you're on the other side of the planet, so I'll just nominate you for an award of some kind.

Uh oh.

We better keep a sharp eye on Mike!

Would that be one of those MLM health cookies???

Foolmewunz · 3rd June 2011, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Mike!

I know he doesn't like it when you mention the Unibrow...

Bless you!
I'd offer you a health cookie, but you're on the other side of the planet, so I'll just nominate you for an award of some kind.

Thanks, Mike! But context being everything, only if LL reads this thread, would it even make the finals. I was kind of proud of the concept, though - actually couldn't believe no one beat me to it.

Ladewig · 3rd June 2011, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

Concerning the lemon test, a previous poster claimed that ...

I have no evidence to support the claim, but it does sound plausible. The wander may try to get you to agree to an unblinded test in which she determines which half will be tasted first. Reject that approach! A good test will involve tasters not knowing which is which. The blinding is imperative.

I suspect that as soon as you suggest a blinded test, the wander will walk out in a huff (if not immediately then within a minute and a huff). If I were present, I would want the last word so I would call out after her what I mentioned a page or two ago. "If it makes lemons less lemony, will it make bananas taste less banana-y? Will it make oranges taste less like oranges?"

Mike! · 3rd June 2011, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

LOL

Thanks for the link. Way too funny! He obviously will never learn.

He'll never learn, the guy has an ego that makes Zaphod Beeblebrox look like an introvert.

Mike! · 3rd June 2011, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Uh oh.

We better keep a sharp eye on Mike!

Would that be one of those MLM health cookies???

Why yes, lemon flavor I think, even though it says on the package, 'contains no lemons'. I found it on the sidewalk. Seems the scavengers wouldn't even have anything to do with it. I felt sorry for the cookie, lying there, all alone and unwanted. So I took it home and gave it a job. I'm using it as a doorstop now. It feels far more useful and productive now that it's given up its evil MLM ways.
It was a bad cookie but it's a good doorstop.

Foolmewunz · 3rd June 2011, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by Mike!

Why yes, lemon flavor I think, even though it says on the package, 'contains no lemons'. I found it on the sidewalk. Seems the scavengers wouldn't even have anything to do with it. I felt sorry for the cookie, lying there, all alone and unwanted. So I took it home and gave it a job. I'm using it as a doorstop now. It feels far more useful and productive now that it's given up its evil MLM ways.
It was a bad cookie but it's a good doorstop.

Now maybe that's a good idea for Teh Stick^TM. There must be millions of these things out there. If eBay is selling them for $34.95 could doorstops be far behind? What we need to do is think of practical uses that would rehabilitate the poor things.

I can think of quite a number, already.

> How many times have you passed a philharmonic orchestra and thought, "Gah, if I only had a conductor's baton!" Yeah, I hate it when that happens, too! Well, now, you won't have that problem.

> Get two. Chopsticks. Say no more.

> Kids want to play Harry Potter, and relive that scene with the wand up the nose of the troll? What better than a reconditioned make believe healing wand to aid in their make believe play.

And, for a limited time only, if you sign up just sixteen of your friends, I'll arrange that you get a discount on the seminar material and two points on everything they bring in. What's to lose?

Live&Learn · 4th June 2011, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

Geeze, is it so bad that you can't even drink it just for the sake of refreshment, without the expectation that it'll turn you into teh Flash or something?

Lenny has been vewwy, vewwy quiet, hasn't he?

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting...6541cbf7d8.gif

I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL

I would rather drink grapefruit juice.

Or cranberry juice.

Or apple juice.

Or milk.

Or plain old water.

YMMV

Live&Learn · 4th June 2011, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL

I would rather drink grapefruit juice.

Or cranberry juice.

Or apple juice.

Or milk.

Or plain old water.

YMMV

P.S. Doesn't the famous Vegemite also fall into the category of an acquired taste?

Mike! · 4th June 2011, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL

I would rather drink grapefruit juice.

Or cranberry juice.

Or apple juice.

Or milk.

Or plain old water.

YMMV

Or gasoline.

Or paint thinner.

Or snake venom.

Or asphalt.

...

Akhenaten · 4th June 2011, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL

I would rather drink grapefruit juice.

Or cranberry juice.

Or apple juice.

Or milk.

Or plain old water.

YMMV

P.S. Doesn't the famous Vegemite also fall into the category of an acquired taste?

As you say, YMMV

Live&Learn · 4th June 2011, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

http://www.yvonneclaireadams.com/Hos...f/Vegemite.jpg

As you say, YMMV

I see you've given KRAFT a whole new meaning.

Ladewig · 5th June 2011, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by MWave

For example, I think I've got the "lemon test" figured out. Notice, the lemon half that's wanded is always known to the subject, and always the first half that's handed to them to taste. Try this at home: Take a bite from two slices of lemon about 15 seconds apart. The first half will almost always taste better - with or without wanding.

Yikes. I did this taste test with two unwanded lemon halves. Len's assertion is an understatement. The second half is ridiculously worse than the first half. It doesn't even taste like lemon - it merely tastes like acid. I have no idea why but all I can say is the test is pretty much unworkable if it is a blinded test: the second sample will have a much more unpleasant taste to it.

Live&Learn · 6th June 2011, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

Yikes. I did this taste test with two unwanded lemon halves. Len's assertion is an understatement. The second half is ridiculously worse than the first half. It doesn't even taste like lemon - it merely tastes like acid. I have no idea why but all I can say is the test is pretty much unworkable if it is a blinded test: the second sample will have a much more unpleasant taste to it.

I guess I'll have to try it. Does the first lemon mess up your taste buds?

Ladewig · 6th June 2011, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

I guess I'll have to try it. Does the first lemon mess up your taste buds?

Apparently. The first lemon made me think "That's tart but it is lemony." The second one made me say "Gaaaaa."

I guess the way to beat them at their own test is after they give you the unwanded lemon and you say how awful it is, you can ask them to wand this half as well so that you can taste the improvement.

Live&Learn · 6th June 2011, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

Apparently. The first lemon made me think "That's tart but it is lemony." The second one made me say "Gaaaaa."

I guess the way to beat them at their own test is after they give you the unwanded lemon and you say how awful it is, you can ask them to wand this half as well so that you can taste the improvement.

Hahaha!

Perfect.

Live&Learn · 6th June 2011, 03:55 PM

P.S. Is this board SLOOOOOOOW today? Or is it just my computer?

Akhenaten · 6th June 2011, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

I guess I'll have to try it. Does the first lemon mess up your taste buds?

Apparently. The first lemon made me think "That's tart but it is lemony." The second one made me say "Gaaaaa."

I guess the way to beat them at their own test is after they give you the unwanded lemon and you say how awful it is, you can ask them to wand this half as well so that you can taste the improvement.

I've found that it can take quite a bit of experimentation to get the amount of Gin & Tonic 'neutraliser' required between lemonings just right.

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

P.S. Is this board SLOOOOOOOW today? Or is it just my computer?

It's been sludgy for me off-and-on for weeks.

Live&Learn · 6th June 2011, 09:18 PM

Originally Posted by Ladewig

Yikes. I did this taste test with two unwanded lemon halves. Len's assertion is an understatement. The second half is ridiculously worse than the first half. It doesn't even taste like lemon - it merely tastes like acid. I have no idea why but all I can say is the test is pretty much unworkable if it is a blinded test: the second sample will have a much more unpleasant taste to it.

I'm sold!!! I think I might have to buy an Amega Wand.

I taste tested half a lemon after eating peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. I never knew lemons tasted so AWFUL.

Live&Learn · 6th June 2011, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mike!

Or gasoline.

Or paint thinner.

Or snake venom.

Or asphalt.

...

Kids. Do NOT try this at home.

Mike! was only kidding.

Live&Learn · 6th June 2011, 09:21 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Cool. June 2 update. 95,668 views.

This thread probably gets the highest ratio of views to posts of any thread I've ever seen.

6/6/11.

96,801 views.

Akhenaten · 6th June 2011, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Cool. June 2 update. 95,668 views.

This thread probably gets the highest ratio of views to posts of any thread I've ever seen.

It could be even higher.

Ladewig · 6th June 2011, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Cool. June 2 update. 95,668 views.

This thread probably gets the highest ratio of views to posts of any thread I've ever seen.

Yes it is in the neighborhood of 1 to 50, but there are other threads on the first page of this subforum with similar or even greater numbers.

tsig · 7th June 2011, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

P.S. Doesn't the famous Vegemite also fall into the category of an acquired taste?

Even The Wand can't help Vegemite.

Akhenaten · 7th June 2011, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by tsig

Even The Wand can't help Vegemite.

May yer chooks turn into emus and kick yer dunny down!

Live&Learn · 7th June 2011, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Akhenaten

It could be even higher.

Well, sure, especially if you weren't cluttering up the thread with obscure Aussie curses.

Mike! · 9th June 2011, 05:37 AM

Originally Posted by Live&Learn

Kids. Do NOT try this at home.

Mike! was only kidding.

Have you tried asphalt?

Stray Cat · 9th June 2011, 09:59 AM

Was just wandering past and thought I'd call in to see if anyone got teh stick™ to work yet?...

... No... OK... I'll be back to check again in few months.

2nd June 2011, 08:45 PM	#2081
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,666	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Link please. I'd like to see the Australia thread, but the search function here wasn't very helpful. Or maybe I'm just not very patient. Enjoy. Australia
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

2nd June 2011, 08:50 PM	#2082
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,666	Originally Posted by Live&Learn True confession time. I finally did it. I recently threw my Yoli product in the trash. I hated to do it, because it cost me over $100. Somewhere around $120, if I recall correctly. I did take pictures of my many Yoli blast caps, just in case Lenny ever shows up again to claim I never owned their product. Geeze, is it so bad that you can't even drink it just for the sake of refreshment, without the expectation that it'll turn you into teh Flash or something? Lenny has been vewwy, vewwy quiet, hasn't he?
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

2nd June 2011, 10:17 PM	#2083
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Would that basic test be worth a million dollars? DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with JREF or the MDC. As it stands, no, because the odds are one in six that the results could be due to chance. But, I think the concept of "I can taste which lemons have been near a magic wand filled with rocks" would stand up for many of the lesser skeptic society tests as well as the million dollar version. I am speculating that in addition to working out the numbers which would define a success, there would have to be some protocol discussion (e.g. one cannot touch the lemon with the stick or with one's hands, and so forth). ETA: I would not hesitate to point out to the claimant that doing what she says she can do could earn her an easy $10,000¹ for a few minutes of work. 1)check local skeptic clubs for offers available in that geographic area.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board. Last edited by Ladewig; 2nd June 2011 at 10:21 PM.

3rd June 2011, 12:34 AM	#2084
didge New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 4	Originally Posted by Ladewig I would politely ask a question to determine the exact nature of her claims. Specifically: Are you saying that if we got three lemons and cut them in half, you could do your wand thing to one of the halves and if we mixed them all up and gave all six halves to an independent observer (who didn't see us mix up the halves), then that person could clearly and unfailingly identify which one was wanded? Yes, of course, a proper experiment! I'll take some lemons myself. I might even make my own wand out of a really flash pen somebody gave me which is so gaudy you couldn't imagine it isn't a pseudoparapsychics wandwoo tool. Originally Posted by Live&Learn Is she using the Official Factory Authorized Amega Wand? Or a cheap imitator? I don't think that is going to matter really. I will, of course, have a close look; ahem, in case it works better than mine. BTW The "Wise Woman from the Woods" scored 7 Canards on Quackometer. Oh dear!
didge New Blood Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 4

3rd June 2011, 03:45 AM	#2085
Emet Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,395	Originally Posted by Akhenaten Lenny has been vewwy, vewwy quiet, hasn't he? Nope, not really.
Emet Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,395

3rd June 2011, 04:11 AM	#2086
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,666	Originally Posted by Emet Nope, not really. Poor us. Why are we being deprived of his awesomeness? I wonder if it was something we said.
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

3rd June 2011, 06:11 AM	#2087
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by didge Yes, of course, a proper experiment! I'll take some lemons myself. I might even make my own wand out of a really flash pen somebody gave me which is so gaudy you couldn't imagine it isn't a pseudoparapsychics wandwoo tool. If she balks at the idea of an independent tester, be sure to restate the offer with her, herself, being the taste tester. What country are we talking about?
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

3rd June 2011, 06:24 AM	#2088
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Concerning the lemon test, a previous poster claimed that ... Originally Posted by MWave To that end, I'd love to get some feedback on what type of tests I can perform and how I should properly set them up. For example, I think I've got the "lemon test" figured out. Notice, the lemon half that's wanded is always known to the subject, and always the first half that's handed to them to taste. Try this at home: Take a bite from two slices of lemon about 15 seconds apart. The first half will almost always taste better - with or without wanding. My test will prevent the subject from knowing which half has been wanded, will alternate which half is tasted first, and I will be out of view from the subject to eliminate any subtle, subconscious cues. I have no evidence to support the claim, but it does sound plausible. The wander may try to get you to agree to an unblinded test in which she determines which half will be tasted first. Reject that approach! A good test will involve tasters not knowing which is which. The blinding is imperative.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board. Last edited by Ladewig; 3rd June 2011 at 06:25 AM.

3rd June 2011, 06:34 AM	#2089
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Would that basic test be worth a million dollars? I think one of the more attractive JREF posters started a thread about Teh Stick in the million dollar challenge sub-forum around June of last year. I'll look for it.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

3rd June 2011, 06:41 AM	#2090
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,666	Originally Posted by Ladewig I think one of the more attractive JREF posters started a thread about Teh Stick in the million dollar challenge sub-forum around June of last year. I'll look for it. I don't think so. I'm sure I'd remember if I had.
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

3rd June 2011, 07:25 AM	#2091
Foolmewunz Grammar Resistance Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pattaya, Thailand Posts: 20,516	Originally Posted by didge My first post so be as harsh as you like. The question is at the end, here is the prelim'. I was at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday when one of the chaps complained of a bad knee. Quick as a flash the "Wise Woman from the Woods" quack lady got this "wand" out and did the business for the chap. I suggested he felt better because he had just been hypnotised and she went ballistic. She then did the bllx with making a cup of coffee "taste better" because it had been put back to its fundamentals by Zero whatever. All the arses fell for the stuff and one girl asked to have her neck "made better". I pointed her to this thread after finding it some hours later. Next Wednesday morning we are going to get the "LEMONS" demonstration. She is not trying to flog them but has a "clinic" where she practices her homeowoo and naturawoo etc. I do not want to offend the nice lady who I think genuinely believes this works; so how can I put the case against this wand without making myself look like even more of a miserable ****? What questions should I ask? Should I not take part in the lemon tasting with some fabulous tecchie put-down? Bated breath..... I think a great deal depends on the actual type of fruit. I hear you get much better results if you use Clem Lemons. They have a special woo-i-tude that other lemons don't have. If you put a Clem Lemon in your fridge, within two days, it'll have the cottage cheese and broccoli working on signing up the margarine, apple juice, fila dough, and clotted cream. If you give it a full month, you'll notice the Clem Lemon has now got a diamond pin but all the other items in the fridge are struggling to get by.
	__________________ Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele Don't you wish someone had slapped baby Hitler really really hard? [i] Dr. Buzzo 02/13 [i]

3rd June 2011, 03:05 PM	#2092
Mike! Official Ponylandistanian National Treasure. Respect it! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ponylandistan! Where the bacon grows on trees! Can it get any better than that? I submit it can not! Posts: 10,240	Originally Posted by Akhenaten Poor us. Why are we being deprived of his awesomeness? I wonder if it was something we said. I know he doesn't like it when you mention the Unibrow... Originally Posted by Foolmewunz I think a great deal depends on the actual type of fruit. I hear you get much better results if you use Clem Lemons. They have a special woo-i-tude that other lemons don't have. If you put a Clem Lemon in your fridge, within two days, it'll have the cottage cheese and broccoli working on signing up the margarine, apple juice, fila dough, and clotted cream. If you give it a full month, you'll notice the Clem Lemon has now got a diamond pin but all the other items in the fridge are struggling to get by. Bless you! I'd offer you a health cookie, but you're on the other side of the planet, so I'll just nominate you for an award of some kind.
	__________________ "Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes... Because then it won't really matter, you’ll be a mile away and have his shoes." Last edited by Mike!; 3rd June 2011 at 03:15 PM. Reason: Who sez I did?

3rd June 2011, 05:08 PM	#2093
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Emet Nope, not really. LOL Thanks for the link. Way too funny! He obviously will never learn.

3rd June 2011, 05:10 PM	#2094
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Mike! I know he doesn't like it when you mention the Unibrow... Bless you! I'd offer you a health cookie, but you're on the other side of the planet, so I'll just nominate you for an award of some kind. Uh oh. We better keep a sharp eye on Mike! Would that be one of those MLM health cookies???

3rd June 2011, 05:46 PM	#2095
Foolmewunz Grammar Resistance Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pattaya, Thailand Posts: 20,516	Originally Posted by Mike! I know he doesn't like it when you mention the Unibrow... Bless you! I'd offer you a health cookie, but you're on the other side of the planet, so I'll just nominate you for an award of some kind. Thanks, Mike! But context being everything, only if LL reads this thread, would it even make the finals. I was kind of proud of the concept, though - actually couldn't believe no one beat me to it.
	__________________ Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele Don't you wish someone had slapped baby Hitler really really hard? [i] Dr. Buzzo 02/13 [i]

3rd June 2011, 06:19 PM	#2096
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by Ladewig Concerning the lemon test, a previous poster claimed that ... I have no evidence to support the claim, but it does sound plausible. The wander may try to get you to agree to an unblinded test in which she determines which half will be tasted first. Reject that approach! A good test will involve tasters not knowing which is which. The blinding is imperative. I suspect that as soon as you suggest a blinded test, the wander will walk out in a huff (if not immediately then within a minute and a huff). If I were present, I would want the last word so I would call out after her what I mentioned a page or two ago. "If it makes lemons less lemony, will it make bananas taste less banana-y? Will it make oranges taste less like oranges?"
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

3rd June 2011, 10:10 PM	#2097
Mike! Official Ponylandistanian National Treasure. Respect it! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ponylandistan! Where the bacon grows on trees! Can it get any better than that? I submit it can not! Posts: 10,240	Originally Posted by Live&Learn LOL Thanks for the link. Way too funny! He obviously will never learn. He'll never learn, the guy has an ego that makes Zaphod Beeblebrox look like an introvert.
	__________________ "Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes... Because then it won't really matter, you’ll be a mile away and have his shoes."

3rd June 2011, 10:18 PM	#2098
Mike! Official Ponylandistanian National Treasure. Respect it! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ponylandistan! Where the bacon grows on trees! Can it get any better than that? I submit it can not! Posts: 10,240	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Uh oh. We better keep a sharp eye on Mike! Would that be one of those MLM health cookies??? Why yes, lemon flavor I think, even though it says on the package, 'contains no lemons'. I found it on the sidewalk. Seems the scavengers wouldn't even have anything to do with it. I felt sorry for the cookie, lying there, all alone and unwanted. So I took it home and gave it a job. I'm using it as a doorstop now. It feels far more useful and productive now that it's given up its evil MLM ways. It was a bad cookie but it's a good doorstop.
	__________________ "Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes... Because then it won't really matter, you’ll be a mile away and have his shoes."

3rd June 2011, 10:41 PM	#2099
Foolmewunz Grammar Resistance Leader Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pattaya, Thailand Posts: 20,516	Originally Posted by Mike! Why yes, lemon flavor I think, even though it says on the package, 'contains no lemons'. I found it on the sidewalk. Seems the scavengers wouldn't even have anything to do with it. I felt sorry for the cookie, lying there, all alone and unwanted. So I took it home and gave it a job. I'm using it as a doorstop now. It feels far more useful and productive now that it's given up its evil MLM ways. It was a bad cookie but it's a good doorstop. Now maybe that's a good idea for Teh Stick^TM. There must be millions of these things out there. If eBay is selling them for $34.95 could doorstops be far behind? What we need to do is think of practical uses that would rehabilitate the poor things. I can think of quite a number, already. > How many times have you passed a philharmonic orchestra and thought, "Gah, if I only had a conductor's baton!" Yeah, I hate it when that happens, too! Well, now, you won't have that problem. > Get two. Chopsticks. Say no more. > Kids want to play Harry Potter, and relive that scene with the wand up the nose of the troll? What better than a reconditioned make believe healing wand to aid in their make believe play. And, for a limited time only, if you sign up just sixteen of your friends, I'll arrange that you get a discount on the seminar material and two points on everything they bring in. What's to lose?
	__________________ Ha! Foolmewunz has just been added to the list of people who aren't complete idiots. Hokulele Don't you wish someone had slapped baby Hitler really really hard? [i] Dr. Buzzo 02/13 [i]

4th June 2011, 02:20 PM	#2100
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Akhenaten Geeze, is it so bad that you can't even drink it just for the sake of refreshment, without the expectation that it'll turn you into teh Flash or something? Lenny has been vewwy, vewwy quiet, hasn't he? http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting...6541cbf7d8.gif I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL I would rather drink grapefruit juice. Or cranberry juice. Or apple juice. Or milk. Or plain old water. YMMV

4th June 2011, 02:23 PM	#2101
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Live&Learn I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL I would rather drink grapefruit juice. Or cranberry juice. Or apple juice. Or milk. Or plain old water. YMMV P.S. Doesn't the famous Vegemite also fall into the category of an acquired taste?

4th June 2011, 03:33 PM	#2102
Mike! Official Ponylandistanian National Treasure. Respect it! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ponylandistan! Where the bacon grows on trees! Can it get any better than that? I submit it can not! Posts: 10,240	Originally Posted by Live&Learn I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL I would rather drink grapefruit juice. Or cranberry juice. Or apple juice. Or milk. Or plain old water. YMMV Or gasoline. Or paint thinner. Or snake venom. Or asphalt. ...
	__________________ "Never judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes... Because then it won't really matter, you’ll be a mile away and have his shoes."

4th June 2011, 04:15 PM	#2103
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,666	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Originally Posted by Live&Learn I believe drinking Yoli is what they call an "acquired" taste. I tried it several times, without noticing any positive results. If Lenny was here he would probably say I didn't drink ENOUGH of it. LOL I would rather drink grapefruit juice. Or cranberry juice. Or apple juice. Or milk. Or plain old water. YMMV P.S. Doesn't the famous Vegemite also fall into the category of an acquired taste? As you say, YMMV
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

4th June 2011, 10:46 PM	#2104
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Akhenaten http://www.yvonneclaireadams.com/Hos...f/Vegemite.jpg As you say, YMMV I see you've given KRAFT a whole new meaning.

5th June 2011, 03:57 PM	#2105
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by MWave For example, I think I've got the "lemon test" figured out. Notice, the lemon half that's wanded is always known to the subject, and always the first half that's handed to them to taste. Try this at home: Take a bite from two slices of lemon about 15 seconds apart. The first half will almost always taste better - with or without wanding. Yikes. I did this taste test with two unwanded lemon halves. Len's assertion is an understatement. The second half is ridiculously worse than the first half. It doesn't even taste like lemon - it merely tastes like acid. I have no idea why but all I can say is the test is pretty much unworkable if it is a blinded test: the second sample will have a much more unpleasant taste to it.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

6th June 2011, 01:58 PM	#2106
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Ladewig Yikes. I did this taste test with two unwanded lemon halves. Len's assertion is an understatement. The second half is ridiculously worse than the first half. It doesn't even taste like lemon - it merely tastes like acid. I have no idea why but all I can say is the test is pretty much unworkable if it is a blinded test: the second sample will have a much more unpleasant taste to it. I guess I'll have to try it. Does the first lemon mess up your taste buds?

6th June 2011, 02:56 PM	#2107
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by Live&Learn I guess I'll have to try it. Does the first lemon mess up your taste buds? Apparently. The first lemon made me think "That's tart but it is lemony." The second one made me say "Gaaaaa." I guess the way to beat them at their own test is after they give you the unwanded lemon and you say how awful it is, you can ask them to wand this half as well so that you can taste the improvement.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.

6th June 2011, 03:53 PM	#2108
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Ladewig Apparently. The first lemon made me think "That's tart but it is lemony." The second one made me say "Gaaaaa." I guess the way to beat them at their own test is after they give you the unwanded lemon and you say how awful it is, you can ask them to wand this half as well so that you can taste the improvement. Hahaha! Perfect.

6th June 2011, 03:55 PM	#2109
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	P.S. Is this board SLOOOOOOOW today? Or is it just my computer?

6th June 2011, 07:25 PM	#2110
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,666	Originally Posted by Ladewig Originally Posted by Live&Learn I guess I'll have to try it. Does the first lemon mess up your taste buds? Apparently. The first lemon made me think "That's tart but it is lemony." The second one made me say "Gaaaaa." I guess the way to beat them at their own test is after they give you the unwanded lemon and you say how awful it is, you can ask them to wand this half as well so that you can taste the improvement. I've found that it can take quite a bit of experimentation to get the amount of Gin & Tonic 'neutraliser' required between lemonings just right. Originally Posted by Live&Learn P.S. Is this board SLOOOOOOOW today? Or is it just my computer? It's been sludgy for me off-and-on for weeks.
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

6th June 2011, 09:18 PM	#2111
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Ladewig Yikes. I did this taste test with two unwanded lemon halves. Len's assertion is an understatement. The second half is ridiculously worse than the first half. It doesn't even taste like lemon - it merely tastes like acid. I have no idea why but all I can say is the test is pretty much unworkable if it is a blinded test: the second sample will have a much more unpleasant taste to it. I'm sold!!! I think I might have to buy an Amega Wand. I taste tested half a lemon after eating peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. I never knew lemons tasted so AWFUL.

6th June 2011, 09:20 PM	#2112
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Mike! Or gasoline. Or paint thinner. Or snake venom. Or asphalt. ... Kids. Do NOT try this at home. Mike! was only kidding.

6th June 2011, 09:21 PM	#2113
Live&Learn Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 470	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Cool. June 2 update. 95,668 views. This thread probably gets the highest ratio of views to posts of any thread I've ever seen. 6/6/11. 96,801 views.

6th June 2011, 09:43 PM	#2114
Akhenaten Heretic Pharaoh Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Pi-Broadford, Australia Posts: 24,666	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Cool. June 2 update. 95,668 views. This thread probably gets the highest ratio of views to posts of any thread I've ever seen. It could be even higher.
	__________________ Life is mostly Froth and Bubble - Adam Lindsay Gordon The Australasian Skeptics Forum

6th June 2011, 10:50 PM	#2115
Ladewig Hipster alien Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: not measurable Posts: 16,807	Originally Posted by Live&Learn Cool. June 2 update. 95,668 views. This thread probably gets the highest ratio of views to posts of any thread I've ever seen. Yes it is in the neighborhood of 1 to 50, but there are other threads on the first page of this subforum with similar or even greater numbers.
	__________________ Is the JREF message board training wheels for people who hope to one day troll other message boards? It is not that hard to get us to believe you. We are not the major leagues or even the minor leagues. We are Pee-Wee baseball. If you love striking out 10-year-olds, then you'll love trolling our board.