The Sunday NY Times Magazine (2014/11/07) has an interesting
article on the life and work of "The Amazing Randi" or, his birth
name, Randall James Zwinge. See:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/09/magazine/the-unbelievable-skepticism-of-the-amazing-randi.html?emc=edit_th_20141109&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=389166&_r=0
It is both an amazing story and a depressing story because it is
fairly clear in its implications: one can get pretty far in this world,
in terms of money, status, and power, by lying and being a fraud.
Some of the reasons why Uri Geller has been so successful is
captured in the following quote from the article:
|Randi told me that he met Geller soon afterward. "Very flamboyant,"
|he recalled venomously. "Very charming. Likable, beautiful,
affectionate,
|genuine, forward-going, Handsome - everything!" His manner,
|Randi explained, was the key to the techniques employed by Geller
|and others like him. "That's why they call them con men. Because
|they gain the confidence of the victim - and then they fool 'em."
One wonders who would have been made the better "teacher"?
It is clear who would get the higher ratings on "Rate My Professor". ;-)
-Mike Palij
New York University
[email protected]
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