rcd@opus.UUCP (03/14/84)
No, Randi isn't on his way there yet, but someone from CSICOP (Kurtz, I
believe) gave a brief statement about it. Basically his statement squared
with what seems to be going on...the phenomenon seems to have disappeared
now that it's being investigated.
--
{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcdhutch@shark.UUCP (Stephen Hutchison) (03/15/84)
<things going bump in the day> Hey, has anyone noticed the much-lauded Ohio Poltergheist? Anyone have opinions? They had a photo in the paper yesterday showing the daughter in the family cowering back in a chair as the telephone handset apparently flew across in front of her. Obviously this could be a fake. However, they have had a number of witnesses who saw things flying around, breaking, etc. Do you suppose the Amazing Randi has gone there yet? This seems to be right up his alley, if its a fake, and if it isn't then he can write them a check, right? Just now watching the news - they had a "live film" report of this business. Centers on the teenage (14) daughter, the whole family remains very skeptical and calm. Nothing happened on camera, but, according to the article, incidents have been witnessed by friends, the news crew, and three Mormon missionaries (this is happening in Columbis, Ohio). They were trying to figure out which "psychic researchers" to call in. I hope Randi is watching. After the article, the local news folk, all three of them, broke out in mock-ghostly moans (ooOOOOooo). Of course this is followed by Joan "mouth" Rivers on the Tonite Show with Jeanne Dixon. Gack. That woman couldn't predict her way out of a paper bag. Hutch
presley@mhuxj.UUCP (Joe Presley) (03/18/84)
From what I can cull from the AP wire, James Randi of CSICOP, physicist Steve Shore and astronomer Nick Seduleak of Case Western University asked to be allowed to investigate. The mother, Joan Resch, said that the two from Case Western can enter the house after William Roll, director of the Psychical Research Center in Chapel Hill, NC, is done with his investigations. However, Mrs. Resch refuses to allow Randi in. Roll says it looks like a case of "recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis" and wants to take the girl, Tina, to Chapel Hill for further testing. Randi has asked to be allowed to participate. @@@@@@ I'd say that the fact that a magician can detect fakery better than most others has no bearing on refusing Randi's involvement :-). -- Joe Presley (mhuxj!presley, ihnp4!j.presley)