NEWS UPDATE: October 2011
Interested in taking notes at meetings? Contact deva@iigwest.org!
FACEBOOK CRACK-DOWN
To stay apprised of our glorious public appearances and other IIG happenings, feel free to join our public Facebook group. However, if you want to remain a member of our private IIG West group, you must be a paid member of the IIG. To absolve your sins and resolve any membership slips, please contact deva@iigwest.org.
BRAIN WARM-UP: CHIP ON YOUR SHOULDER
Do you ever get the feeling someone’s watching you? Well, if you don't now, read this article and get back to us. According to James Walbert, a device was implanted into his shoulder without his knowledge and has been causing him pain (and possibly tracking him) ever since. IIG Steering Member Dave Richards distributed this article to emphasize the need for skepticism when reading news pieces; although a tracking chip was pictured beside the article, and several types of military technology were mentioned, there was little to no evidence cited suggesting Mr. Walbert indeed contained such a chip. Member Michael Brodie pointed out several oddities and discrepancies in the article, including citations of random doctors and other fishy details.
Members Joe Pingree and Karen Kensek emphasized the publication’s inclusion of true, but totally irrelevant, technological advancements (animal microchip info, descriptions of a chemical marker spray) to bolster and legitimize the main story. Member Nancy Matson pointed out that the article had originated in the Fortean Times, the scientific equivalent of a tabloid, and that certain sources should be treated with extra skepticism. Nonetheless, Chairman Jim Underdown emphasized the importance of accounting for actual advances in technology when administering our $50,000 Paranormal Challenge. Steering Member Spencer Marks offered an example of potential technological trickery he'd dreamed up (in his extensive hours of preventative brainstorming): a clever applicant could memorize the algorithm used to “randomize” songs on an iPod’s shuffle setting, allowing him/her to predict which songs would come next in a playlist. (Sorry hopeful swindlers: several solutions were also proposed to this trick. Back to the drawing board!)
HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
IIG Member Jerry Buchanan addressed our crowd this month urging members to donate holiday gifts to needy children. Jerry passed out information on the program he is supporting, and IIG members volunteered to pitch in. Holiday cheer will be ensured for these kids, who have been forgotten by the real Santa Claus (whose existence no skeptical Scroogerie will ever disprove, ever). Past gifts have been met with such heartwarming responses as, “Cool! Teenager stuff!”
Gifts range from $30–$35, even less than our incredibly reasonable annual IIG membership. Anyone interested in brightening the days of children should contact jerrylbuch@att.net as soon as possible.
SIGNALS FROM THE SKY
Our September visitor (see “First Responders Report: A concerned star-watcher” in the September News Update) returned this month to elaborate on his otherworldly findings. According to him, a transmission source in the center of the galaxy has been putting out inexplicable radio signals, which will repeat sometime in the next few months. After that transmission, he insists the signal will not repeat for thousands of years. If scientists are not actively listening for such a signal from that specific region, our visitor claims they will miss it entirely, and it will be impossible to corroborate his findings.
Luckily, our very own Joe Pingree (IIG Member and astro-gadget-owner) possesses just the device needed to listen for such a signal! Along with Lead Investigator Spencer Marks, Joe will work to pick up any such signal that appears…provided our star-watching visitor can condense his 700 pages of calculations and info into a more manageable explanation of his claim. Once this has been accomplished, we will happily design a protocol, or contact the appropriate scientists if needed.
MEDIA COMMITTEE REPORT: CLAIRAUDIENT PROGRESS
The Media Committee has been uploading videos left and right, and Member David Glasgal has completed the long form of his Clairaudient Test video – grab some popcorn and watch it now! Viewers have reported that it is absolutely fantastic, featuring a split-screen showing both claimant Phillip Lee and the IIG speakers upstairs, as well as excellent interview footage of Lead Investigator Wendy Hughes. What a treat! The IIG is extremely grateful to David for his technical and production savvy, and to Steering Member Spencer Marks for roping him in to the group in the first place. May all of our friends prove so productive.
Click to play videoLead Investigator Wendy Hughes also submitted an official Clairaudient Report to Skeptical Inquirer for publication. (For those who are new to the group, SI has first rights to publish our articles and research findings; in return, they have pledged to contribute funds to our $50k prize, should someone win it.) Due to the requirements of the magazine, the final article was heavily edited for length, and Wendy looks forward to sharing the longer, more comprehensive version as soon as she is able to. IIG Chair Jim Underdown will be in touch with the Skeptical Inquirer team shortly to determine when we are able to submit a full report to our IIG website.
In other Media news, the committee is looking to compile a list of skepticism-friendly publishers, reporters and news people, so if you see an interesting article or TV segment, please forward it (with any available contact info) to media@iigwest.org.
THE ODDS MUST BE CRAZY
Steering Member and Co-Lead Investigator Wendy Hughes reported that the The Odds Must Be Crazy will feature excerpts from published books and existing newspaper and magazine articles (with permission, of course), rather than asking experts to write new content for the site. Member Mark Edward suggested they and interested members read a book entitled Roots of Coincidence. Wendy and Co-Lead Investigator/Steering Member Jarrett Kaufman, are still looking to add categories to the stories submitted to the page, so please reach out to them if you are interested in helping sort existing submissions: wendy@iigwest.org or jarrett@iigwest.org. They would certainly appreciate the help with this fantastic site!
WENDY IS A STAR!
Beloved IIG Steering Member Wendy Hughes has achieved JREF stardom with her front-page article on Your Skeptic Stories! Anyone and everyone should read her post, which is just fantastic. Wendy bares her soul, candidly discussing the development — and subsequent reassessment — of her Jewish identity, her struggles with conflicting information from books, schools, and her mystics group, and the loneliness she faced after severing her ties with religious social networks. In addition to landing excellent IIG and TOMBC plugs, Wendy paints a really wonderful picture of the community she has found at CFI and the IIG, and highlights her joy at contributing to research and critical thinking. Thank you Wendy, for sharing your beautiful story!
Your Skeptic Stories editor Maria Myrback invites contributions of conversion stories. (Stories should be about 1,000 words, with a 2–3 line bio.) Share yours today by emailing maria@randi.org!
ONE-LINE INVESTIGATION UPDATES
The Dave Kanne Medium Project has been momentarily stalled, as investigators lock down the perfect candidate for a top-secret interview of an undisclosed individual somewhere possibly near the Denver area.
The Board of Registered Nurses may be dismantled entirely in the next year if CA Governor Jerry Brown doesn't approve additional funding for the department.
Nick Nelson has apparently contacted us with a revised explanation of his vortexile dysfunction, elaborating on his "ambient field" calibration errors and allegedly vortex-based fluctuations in his car's gas mileage.
CARLA BARON
Self-promoting “psychic” Carla Baron has been worming her way into the spotlight again, this time preying on the boyfriend of missing woman Robyn Gardner. One of Carla’s followers (known charmingly as “doves”) contacted distraught boyfriend Richard Forrester encouraging him to speak with Baron, after which the two exchanged several emails. Richard quickly became disillusioned with Baron, who continually pushed him to publicize her “involvement” in the case to AP. Most shocking to those who have read their correspondence is the total lack of respect and compassion she shows to Forrester during what must be a terribly difficult time in his life. Carla Baron has proven herself to be worse than a typical “grief-vampire,” as by most accounts, vampires are at least relatively charming before they suck you dry. Want to help expose Baron for what she is? Contact owen@iigwest.org.
PSYCHIATRY: AN INDUSTRY OF DEATH
IIG Member Ross Blocher and a small group paid a visit to Scientology’s anti-psychiatry museum on October 8th, and reported that it is worth checking out, for the price… which is free. He noted the high production values and “in your face” multimedia exhibits, and said the exhibit links everything from torture to eugenics, the Holocaust, racism, and terrorism to psychiatry. The museum was pleasantly open about its connection to Scientology, and interestingly did not attempt to turn visitors to the church. Rather, the pervasive criticism of psychiatry was presented without any specific suggestions for alternatives thereto. The museum did request that visitors sign a petition from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, taking a stance against unjust imprisonment, torture, and several other things which are already illegal. Anyone interested in learning more about Scientology’s views on psychiatry can visit the CCHR website and order a free information kit. Yippee!
NIGHT STALKERS: VIDEO UP!
On Wednesday the 28th, guests at the Steve Allen Theater were treated to a screening of “Night Stalkers ” with creator Wayne Poe (pictured above with Mark Edward and Jim Underdown). This documentary of Southern California's paranormal investigators includes pieces of the IIG's presence at ParaCon 2010. Susan recorded the Q&A with Poe…see her video here!
COMING UP SOON…
Anita Ikonen has announced that she will “turn woo” any day now, and—hey, waaait a minute…
GHOULA (Ghost Hunters of Urban LA) meets on the 13th of every month, and comes highly recommended by Steering Member Brian Hart. Check it out if you like old architecture, or just want to believe.
The Comedy Store in Hollywood’s “Haunted Midnights” program wraps up on October 28th at the stroke of midnight. For those intrigued by tales of the building’s past as a mobster nightclub, this tour will be wonderfully spooky, including a dark, creepy stairway leading to the basement.
Our Bay Area Affiliate Workshop will be held on Sunday, Nov. 20th at UC Berkeley. More info to follow, so stay tuned!
FIRST RESPONDERS REPORT
In addition to the “concerned star-watcher,” who visited us a second time this month (see “SIGNALS FROM THE SKY,” above), we have been in contact with the following potential claimants:
A self-proclaimed ladies' man has sent us several images of an angel-shaped cloud, stacked rocks, and other visually pleasing phenomena. First Responder Wendy Hughes has been in contact with the gentleman, attempting to get across the concept of pareidolia and the difficulty of making assertions based on photographs alone. What’s more, after poring over the images, the First Responders team has been unable to determine what exactly in the pictures would qualify as being paranormal (though according to the claimant, the cloud is a physical manifestation of his angelic buddy, and “no humans would ever stack rocks like that”). With characteristic patience, Wendy has informed the gentleman that if he can find a testable claim or phenomenon, such as a planned visitation by his otherworldly cloud mistress, than we would be glad to move forward with an investigation. Until that time, beware of hiking trails, beaches and riverbanks — especially those near popular human camp sites — all of which are frequently graced by these inexplicable rock sculptures…
A multi-talented Detroit resident has written to us claiming myriad abilities including psychic healing, dowsing, parapsychology, mediumship, and the ability to increase electromagnetism. Of course, any one of these abilities would win our $50,000 challenge… if demonstrated under controlled testing conditions. As several of the gentleman's claims are easily testable, we would love to see him agree to test with IIG West or one of our Affiliates.
A painter who knows Mark Edward contacted us claiming to have frequent contact with spirits, which he would like our help testing, to “prove to skeptics that spirits do exist”. The gentleman has apparently attempted to turn his circumstances into a TV pilot (he claims to have experience as both a director and a host – the earthly kind, that is), though to his disappointment, “some local Satanists made a big stink about it and did a smear campaign” which prevented him from bringing his ghostly companions to the masses. You could say he was ghost-busted…in any case, First Responder Susan Gerbic responded enthusiastically to the claimant, focusing on a specific claim that his spirit visitors could drain the life of batteries. With any luck, we or our Washington affiliates will soon be testing this electrifying spirit claim, and Mark will find the perfect painting.
-IIG
