WEIRD THINGS EXPLAINED
Michael Shermer
Is this man really levitating? What are some logical explanations for this apparent defiance of gravity? No trick photography is involved. Submit a comment to answer.
WATCH DR. SHERMER’S ”WHY PEOPLE BELIEVE WEIRD THINGS” (must see)
FIRE WALKING DEBUNKED?
EXPLAINED BY SKEPTICAL INQUIRER
ALIEN SPACECRAFT IN TULSA?
SORRY, OKLAHOMA–THIS IS THE BEST UFO EVIDENCE IN OUR STATE
PHYSICAL AND NONPHYSICAL; SCIENTIFIC AND NONSCIENTIFIC
Physical and Nonphysical; Scientific and Nonscientific
by John Nail, Ph.D.
This is the season in which ‘paranormal researchers’ spend time in old buildings (often charging people to accompany them) with various ‘scientific equipment’ for the purposes of ‘studying’ paranormal phenomena such as ghosts. Presumably, their goal is to photograph visual images of the disembodied spirits or record sounds made by them. However, there is one problem with this: it isn’t possible.
Vision and photography are possible due to physical existence. When you see your friend, it is because light being reflected from your friend is entering your eyes; when you photograph your friend, light reflected from your friend enters the lens and is recorded.
Presumably, ghosts / spirits are disembodied entities and do not have a physical existence, in terms of having a physical entity that could reflect light; if so, they could not be photographed.
Sound is produced by vibrations. Sound waves are produced by motions; once again, this involves physical entities, Not only would disembodied spirits be invisible and impossible to photograph, they would also be silent and would not produce recordable or audible sounds or other vibrations.
Of course, none of this is meaningful to the true believer in the paranormal. Studies have shown that people ignore evidence that conflicts with their beliefs and are unable to critically analyze evidence that appears to support their beliefs. Paranormal believers defend poor quality evidence that they claim that supports their beliefs and reject arguments that show that their beliefs are physically impossible.
It is sadly ironic when people try to use science to verify their antiscientific beliefs.
[John Nail is Chair of the Chemistry Department at Oklahoma City University]
WATCH GHOSTS EXPLAINED ON NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TV
PSYCHIC? LIAR? DANGEROUS?
Robert Lancaster’s effort to stop Sylvia
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* Charges $850 per phone reading.
* Popularized by Montel Williams and Larry King.
* Reneged 3 times on national TV to be tested for alleged psychic ability.
* Told parents their missing son, Shawn Hornbeck, was dead (yet he was found alive).
* Was out-prediced by a class of non-psychic 4th-graders in 2005.
* “Diagnoses” health conditions by intuiting.
* Says she can communicate with dead people.
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WATCH SYLVIA WRONGLY TELL GRIEVING PARENTS IN 2004 THEIR SON SHAWN IS DEAD
MISS CLEO: Banned in Oklahoma
The operators of Miss Cleo’s Psychic Readers Network have agreed to cease soliciting business from consumers in Oklahoma as part of an agreement with the state attorney general’s office. [DMNews article excerpt]
WATCH SAMPLES OF MISS CLEO AT WORK
PUCKETT’S GHOST IN OKC?
Real Ghost? Hoax?
DESPITE MORE MEDIA EXPOSURE THAN JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER GHOST STORY IN OKLAHOMA HISTORY, SUBSTANTIVE EVIDENCE STILL DOESN’T EXIST TO CONFIRM SPIRIT ACTIVITY AT PUCKETT’S GARAGE IN OKLAHOMA CITY IN 2002.
PSYCHIC DETECTIVE FAKE IN OK?
PSYCHIC JEFF BAKER–CHARGES $450 PER HOUR
[Oklahoma is Not "OK" for Psychic]
Denver’s alleged psychic Jeff Baker claims to have found every one of the approximately 100 missing bodies he’s telepathically searched for. Baker, a top-four-contestant on Lifetime’s “America’s Psychic Challenge,” volunteered his services to the Woodward, Oklahoma, Sheriff’s Department to assist in finding the presumed-dead body of 6-year old Logan Tucker – for the purpose of family closure. As usual, I went on local TV to call his antics immoral. Baker led authorities to six areas where he thought the body could be buried. Despite his playing the numbers game – success rate increases for each additional area searched – Baker failed to find the body. So now his record is 100 out of 101, apparently.
But he didn’t leave Oklahoma. He next traveled to Tulsa to find a 13-year old girl named Cori Baker, no relation and also presumably dead. Baker, at a news conference, announced that he had contacted the dead girl from beyond the grave and that he was “very, very confident” he would find her. In fact, he said it might take a few hours or all day to find her. He began this search on February 13. On February 29, I contacted the Tulsa Police Department, who told me the girl had not been found. Surprise, surprise. I guess Oklahoma is a difficult place for Baker. Oh, well – I suppose 100 out of 102 isn’t bad, huh?
