John and Steve,
Given that Park has once again conflated the "definitely not-true", with the "possibly-true but seemingly ridiculous," . check out this story, in regard to the contradictory issues about "testable" ESP - way beyond water-witches. http://sniffexquestions.blogspot.com/2009/11/when-will-iraq-listen-to-james- randi-us.html This may relate to a kind of "tech-aided-ESP" although not in the same sense as witches. BTW personally, I had a positive experience with a "diviner". as an old practitioner located an artesian well for me in an unlikely spot (for a small fee of $20) - but like Park I am not still convinced that it is dependable in a scientific way . since, for one thing, others had a negative experience with the same fellow. Unlike Park, however, my leaning is towards "some kind" of anomaly being there, at least in the right individual. Any scam artist can jump into that field unimpeded, which is the real problem. Yes, the electronic sniffing device for explosives may be unscientific, but if your life is on the line would you chose it, if it did not work fairly well ? Are the Iraqis that stupid, or is there more to the story? Payola, perhaps ? Hmm. there is almost always "more to the story." Well, it may just be a lack of alternatives. but since I happen to have a "pound hound" (mixed breed hound dog) who has the most incredible sense of smell . and to think that these guys would chose a seemingly crappy and expensive electronic device over a good dog (50 bucks at the ACHS) . well, there could be something to the scenario that defies scientific rationality (unless they really are "that stupid"). I hate to say it, but returnees from the war-zone - the kids who do not care about P.C. (and they are all mostly teenagers or early twenties, who definitely do not care about P.C.) - are quick to claim that basic intelligence is a problem with the average Iraqi. We do know that most all of the upper and most of the educated middle class has long since fled the area. Anyway, the only moral of the story that I can see, except "to get out the Middle East ASAP" - is to never trust "science dogma" alone - especially when it is contradicted by good physical evidence. or even shaky evidence backed by continual testing and honesty. Experiment rules! Always ! No exceptions! (except dishonesty, or poor procedure). I wish I could tattoo this in reverse on Park's forehead. Not that he ever looks in a mirror. For instance. in re: explosive detection: one simply cannot convey to others who have not personally seen it - the incredible sensitivity to smell of dogs that have the gene to track a scent, even untrained pets. The scent may be many days old and yet they can find and track it with amazing precision - and this trait is so . well, "extrasensory" from the human perspective, and so dependable, as to be beyond words to explain. Yet if it required a peer-review study to validate, that could be lacking. Perhaps. getting back to Iraq, it is simply "too hot" there for scent-hounds to function well. Hounds (and handlers) do get rather lazy when the temps go up ;-) . not to mention the slime-bag manufacturers of shoddy electronics, who can pay for your air-conditioning, if you recommend their products to the Uncle with deep pockets. Jones
