We've just passed a JREF milestone that should be noted. Twenty-six years ago, we exposed the televangelist Peter Popoff as a blatant fake. I and my team -- Banachek, Alec Jason, and others discovered that the "reverend" was using a concealed radio receiver to obtain data about those in his audience who were there seeking healing. Popoff's wife had obtained personal data from the unsuspecting victims who believed that the preacher was in touch with God, and that they would be able to throw away their crutches and return home walking straight again...
I refer you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Popoff to see the whole story and learn just how duplicitous such people can be. Johnny Carson asked me to appear on the NBC "Tonight" show to expose this scam, which resulted in Popoff declaring bankruptcy -- though he's now back in business performing his same old act with a new twist — supernatural debt relief — simply because responsible authorities refuse to do anything about such actions.
More importantly, his comeback was reported in the Washington Post in 1998 and Randi did a TV piece on him in 2007. How is 26 years a milestone? 25 yes, but 26?
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... written by lytrigian,
March 19, 2012
26 is half a pack of cards, a significant number for a magician.
Truly, after all Randi and others have done to expose this charletan, if people still want to believe in him and give him their worldly goods, all that remains for us to do is just sigh, shrug, and let Darwin filter them out of the gene pool for us.
Against stupidity, the gods themselves contend in vain - Asimov, in turn quoting someone else, I can't remember who. You really can't force people to think if they refuse to do so.
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... written by Monkey Man,
March 21, 2012
The fact no one in government is combating these types of people says something about our countries indeed Randi, good point.
The fact that Randi has recently been editing the text of his newest book has probably influenced what he chooses to write about on his blog. That's what I sensed! And I can't wait for it
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More importantly, his comeback was reported in the Washington Post in 1998 and Randi did a TV piece on him in 2007. How is 26 years a milestone? 25 yes, but 26?