TheAmazingRandi

I am most concerned, by far, with the so-called "faith healers" who - by surreptitious means - manage to convince people that they can bring about healing through intervention with heaven.

They use the same tricks that the mentalists and the magicians do, but they give them a religious patina that makes them appear to the faithful as much more genuine than they are.

I find this reprehensible, as well as dangerous, and bordering on the criminal. I really wish that there was more litigation that could be brought against these people, but politicians are notoriously shy when it comes to opposing anything that invokes (or even suggests) religious belief.

I know David Blaine from early connections with him.

And we discussed some of his stunts, at length, but when I began advising him not to put his life in such danger, as he did from time to time, he announced to me that his agent had told him to no longer communicate with me.

And I haven't heard from him in years.

raises eyebrow

I would like to be able to convince very credulous people that they need to return to school, and learn the basics of rational thinking.

This is a question I don't answer because it would require me to differentiate. HOWEVER, it was my privilege many years ago to introduce Penn Jillette and Teller. Some of their programs have even mentioned "without James Randi, there wouldn't be a Penn & Teller." Penn & Teller have always been very good friends of mine, and their success in Las Vegas is no surprise to me at all. They have always maintained a very sensible, critical attitude about supernatural and paranormal claims, and their recent show "Bullshit" was excellent proof of that.

Professional magicians are known to be very cooperative with one another, because they want their original ideas in the conjuring trade to be perpetuated, and saved, for use in subsequent generations. This has been a bit of a tradition in the trade, and I have supported that tradition very strongly by making sure that anything I originate or contribute to is shared with my brothers & sisters in the trade. Speaking of "sisters," I am also pleased to see that all over the world, more women are becoming interested in working with magicians - not as "box-jumpers," or assistants, but as performing artists in their own right.

Another thing that has pleased me a great deal is to see that the far East has contributed hugely to the population of professional magicians. There was a time when most professional magicians who appeared to be Asian or Oriental were actually just wearing fancy costumes and makeup. That has all changed. We have major artists, many of whom have never even been seen in the USA, but have added hugely to the art.

Bill Nye (along with Neil DeGrasse Tyson) are 2 of the most eloquent supporters of not only science, but the skeptical point of view as applied to everyday living. I am very much in admiration of both of them, and very grateful for their contributions to rationality.