Tag: James Randi

June 9, 2025

James Randi in Australia – 45th Anniversary Edition

This wonderful programme is a digitally restored version of a 45 year old skeptic analysis on water divining, conducted under the auspices of James Randi.

Listen more to how this came about via The Skeptic Zone Episode 870.

YouTube Synopsis:

In 1980 James “The Amazing” Randi was flown to Australia by Dick Smith to conduct the definitive test of the claims of Water Diviners or Dowers. This event helped to launch the Australian Skeptics. The original documentary of the event commissioned by Dick Smith and broadcast on Australian television, has been lost for decades, with the only known copy being one recorded via a VCR in 1980. To celebrate the 45th anniversary of the event, the documentary has been digitally restored to sparkling clarity, including a sound remix, from the VCR version. Keep watching after the credits to see some of the improvements in this new upscaled version.

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December 7, 2014

Photos from Auskeptcon14

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Recommended – see these photos full screen mode on Flickr.

The photos in the above slide show are from the recent Australian Skeptics National Convention 2014, held in Sydney. A huge thanks to the Sydney based organisers with ASI, they did a fantastic job. The convention featured the likes of, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Dick Smith, George Hrab, Peter Fitzsimons, Michael Marshall, Dr Rachael Dunlop, Peter Hadfield, Dr Amanda Bauer, the entire Skeptics Guide to the Universe crew and most of the team from ABC’s consumer protection program, The Checkout. A full list of speakers can be found here. Heck – even James Randi dropped in for a cameo!

The convention was held at an excellent venue in The Concourse, Chatswood where everything ran perfectly.  Well done to all involved for an entertaining and inspiring convention.  We look forward to Brisbane next year.

 

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October 30, 2014

Randi Returns to Australia

randitour

The Amazing James Randi is returning to Australia. The Think Inc organisation are bringing him out for a whirlwind 5 city tour.

Randi will be in Melbourne on Friday 5th December at the Melbourne Convention and Entertainment Centre.

His other tour dates are:

Adelaide on Monday December 1st at the Science Exchange;

Perth on Wednesday 3rd in Perth at the Octagon Theatre;

Brisbane on Thursday 4th at the BCEC

Sydney on Sunday 7th in at the Enmore Theatre.
Hosted by Richard Saunders and Lawrence Leung, the evenings will have a fireside chat format as well as a screening of the fascinating new documentary of his life and work called “An Honest Liar” plus a Q & A session at the end.

Tickets start from $49 for students, $69 for general admission, $89 for VIP tickets and $169 for Meet and Greet tickets. Further details and tickets sales are available from the Think Inc website.

http://thinkinc.org.au/jamesrandi/

This is a unique opportunity for the general public to see and hear the 86 year old Amazing Randi, the world’s most prominent skeptic, in person.

Think Inc plan to regularly bring to Australia prominent Scientists and Skeptics. The next will be Bill Nye, “the Science Guy“, in February 2015.

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January 14, 2013

An On-Air mixture of Whiplash, Acupuncture and Anecdote

By Mal Vickers

An interesting discussion took place on radio whilst James Randi was in Australia. It happened on Friday the 30th of November during The Conversation Hour, a kind of group interview session with popular radio host Jon Faine, (ABC Local Melbourne Radio 774). The particular exchange I’d like to highlight took place at the very end of the program.

James Randi
James Randi

Being a skeptic, of course I’m an admirer of the work of James Randi however, being a Melburnian I also regularly listen to ABC 774 and think highly of Jon Faine.

Many times I’ve heard Jon Faine ask some excellent, insightful questions of politicians. He’s sharp, knowledgeable and in my humble opinion, Melbourne’s best talkback radio host.

Jon Faine
Jon Faine

Jon Faine was, I think, the only media commentator willing to strongly criticise self proclaimed US psychic John Edwards when he came to Australia. The stoush between the two made the national media at the time.

Getting back to the 30th  November Conversation Hour broadcast, with James Randi, comedian Stella Young and psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist; whilst discussing the topic of psychics, Faine said the following:

They [psychics] take away the fundamental and unavoidable importance of us being responsible for our own destiny. And that’s a fraud on every individual, that’s a fraud on all of us.

I think most skeptics would View More An On-Air mixture of Whiplash, Acupuncture and Anecdote

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December 11, 2012

Post Convention Media

Click – Full Size

A stunning image taken by Guy Wolfe Page Taylor at the Gala Dinner of the 2012 National Convention. Guy posted this on FaceBook, he’s kindly allowed us to reproduce it here. Go on, click on the image for the full-screen version.

It’s great to see/hear all the positive media attention after a convention. The podcasts, coverage in the mainstream print media and on mainstream radio are encouraging. Then there’s the photos on this blog, Flickr and on FaceBook – it’s still a buzz.

For those readers who may not have seen/heard everything, here are some links to the View More Post Convention Media

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December 9, 2012

Auskepcon 2012, Photos, Friday and Saturday

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Slideshow of the convention from Friday through to Saturday’s Gala Dinner.

To see these and more images of the convention, in higher resolution, please follow these links.

Mark’s images are collected here.

Mal’s photos:

Prior to the convention slideshow.

The fund raising dinner slideshow.

Friday and Saturday slideshow.

Sunday slideshow.

Photo credits: Mal Vickers and Mark Hassed

 

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December 8, 2012

Auskepcon 2012, Photos from the Fund Raising Dinner

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The Fund Raising Dinner was a great success. It was held at a place of great significance in Melbourne’s history, the Royal Society of Victoria building. The evening included a tour of the building, the library and lecture theatre being highlights. Guests also got the chance to chat with DJ Grothe, Brian Thompson and Rebecca Watson.

Huge thanks to those willing to come along, be part of this special event and offset the cost of brining James Randi to Australia. James Randi was very generous with his time, in addition to the close-up magic tricks, he agreed to sit for some iconic photographs taken in the library.

Thanks also to the organisers, in particular Matt Kippen.

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December 6, 2012

Auskepcon 2012, Photos From Events Before the Convention

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Some images of events before the convention.

James Randi joined the convention organising committee and made fools of us with his card tricks – Tuesday, 27 November.

DJ Grothe, Brian Thompson and Randi took a trip to Healesville Sanctuary to see just a little of Australian nature whilst they were here – Wednesday, 28 November.

Richard Saunders, Maynard, our international guests, and others chill out at ‘The Penny Black’ pub in Brunswick – Thursday, 29 November.

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March 18, 2012

James Randi returns to Australia in 2012

James “The Amazing”  Randi is returning to Australia to speak at the National Convention. Most readers would be familiar with the life and activities of James Randi, arguably the world’s most prominent skeptic.

The Convention will be held in Melbourne starting on Friday the 30th of November.

The Convention’s organising committee represents several skeptical groups in Victoria. Collectively they are very grateful that Randi has agreed to visit Australia once again.

The most up to date information about the 2012 National Convention, can be found here.

Other news is that there is a project under way to make a documentary about Randi’s life, headed by the well regarded and experienced Justin Weinstein and Tyler Measom. The producers are asking for contributions to help get the project under way. Details can be found here.

The trailer for the documentary.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/36724471]

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