Some skeptics talk the talk, and others walk the walk. Basava Premanand is a skeptic in India who tours his country educating people about the falsehoods of fakirs and gurus. As you can imagine, it’s an uphill climb. His country is at least as screwed up as the U.S.
My friend Maria, who writes the blog Masala Skeptic and is also a blogger for Skepchick, wants to get Premanand to the U.S. so he can attend James Randi’s The Amaz!ng Meeting 6 in Las Vegas this June. However, it costs far too much for Randi’s group to bring him here. Maria is therefore asking for help. She doesn’t want money yet; just a pledge so that she can see if it’s possible to bring this remarkable man here, where he can share his wisdom and experience with us, and we can support him in return.
Please do what you can for her. She has started a thread on Randi’s bulletin board for this to gauge the interest and ability of folks to pledge.
Belief is fantasy in not restricted to the American borders, and neither should skepticism be.
February 6th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
It would be interesting to bring him over, he probably has run into a lot of things that we never heard of over here and also a fair number of the samethings as well.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Watch “guru busters”!! probably you will get the idea how it works in india.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7871842218283057067
February 6th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Ah yes. It would be good to hear first-hand accounts of naivete and superstition from the land of endless magical tales and gurus. And it’s very appropriate that this is posted when one of the “greatest” scammer-gurus in recent times, The Maharishi, Sexy Sadie, is looking for another body.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Some 6-9 time-zones from were I live, there is a land of endless magical tales, like “some day you will find a nice cheque in your post box”, while the gurus won’t tell that they take it from medicare.
Long, long ago, some portugese sailors indeed believed that this land is India.
The Maharishi enjoyed his pension nearby, well to do, always with a big smile on his face, he will be restored to his default value after leaving our country: however, his capital will remain - who cares ?
Intranscedent medidating I discovered that there is a magnificent new perception of the world waiting for us, if we only believe in intelligent falling.
Sorry for you, Heisenberg, the world is very predictable after all.
February 7th, 2008 at 12:09 am
I’m skeptical. I thought that James Randi and his organization were canceling that million dollar contest they offer to have more money to do things with…yet they don’t have enough money to fly someone in from India. Hmm…
February 7th, 2008 at 5:14 am
If you think things are bad with George, imagine how bad it will be when the most corrupt duo to ever hold the White House get back in. Billiary will do anything to retain power.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:17 am
Somehow my response to BA’s better half landed in the wrong section.
I support bringing the Indian to the US. At least here you can protest without fear of stoning, canning, or lashing. Something you can’t say in most of the world.
fos
February 7th, 2008 at 6:55 am
@sci_tchr,
India is a democracy, you know.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:47 am
—His country is at least as screwed up as the U.S.
—Belief is fantasy in not restricted to the American borders
Honestly, Phil, are you being facetious?
As sick to death as I am of the religious nonsense in the States, my goodness, our inbred Evangelicals are mere dabblers compared to some parts of the world.
As for bringing Premanand here, why not explore a modern solution, such as an Internet video conference link? If cut rate porn sites can set it up, surely someone in Randi’s organization can do the same. A second hand video projector, screen, microphone, computer and some software might be all you need. I mean, c’mon, CU-SeeMe was released back in 1992.
Today’s bonus word is “telepresence”.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:53 am
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=video+teleconferencing+services&btnG=Search
February 7th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
I second Quiet Desperation. Have you ever heard of the H1-B Visa God? There are some IIT grads, ferchrissakes!
February 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
— I second Quiet Desperation.
Hey, you cannot clone me without my permission!
And, trust me, it’s a *really* bad idea. One hypermisanthropic, megaskeptical burned out satellite engineer around here is enough.
February 7th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Thanks for the post, Phil.
I am definitely also looking into higher-tech solutions, like video conferencinng etc. but having him come in person would be ideal. Even if you can’t donate, I encourage you to express your interest on the forum thread to show that we do have folks interested in hearing from him at TAM!
February 12th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Blah said: “I’m skeptical. I thought that James Randi and his organization were canceling that million dollar contest they offer to have more money to do things with…”
The Million Dollar Challenge is over in March of 2010 (giving everyone ample time to take the challenge), and at that time, the million dollars behind it will be available for other uses. Not now.