Rebuttal To Penn And Teller's 1st Episode Of Bullshit

It's called talking to the dead.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=IRaEiP1Gx_E

First Penn talks about Magician Harry Houdini who showed apparently that all mediums were frauds at least that is what materialists who have people believe.

It appears the Houdini code has been broken

http://www.victorzammit.com/afterlifearticles/houdinicode.htm

Of course through the episode they go on with skeptics that are debunkers of mediums.

Survival After Death Website Is Back

I am happy that the site is back it has an enormous wealth of information on the evidence for surival and psi. The sure amount of professionals and articles and the discussion on evidence for survival and psi makes it the best site for extensive research.

http://www.survivalafterdeath.org.uk/

My Past Workout

Here's what I did

Bench press 145 pounds for 12 reps
145 pounds for 10 reps
195 pounds for 4 reps


Cable crossovers

90 pounds for 12 reps, 12 reps, 12 reps

Incline bench press for for some reps can't remember how many.

And then I went on the treadmill for 35 minutes and burned 402 calories.

Books I Am Currently Reading

Here they are

Goosebumps presents the girl who cried monster
Goosebumps welcome to dead house
Jingle all the way
Goosebumps diary of a mad mummy
Goosebumps invasion of the body squeezers
Goosebumps ghosts of fear street
Goosebumps cry of the cat
Goosebumps headless halloween
Goosebumps say cheese and die again
Goosebumps invasion of the body squeezers part 2

So far I have read the girl who cried monster and welcome to dead house.

Possible Hurricane Named Kyle

It looks like Kyle could become a category 1 hurricane. It's put in the air rather Nova Scotia and New Brucnwick, Pei get hurricane force winds. But according to environment canada it looks like we will get at least 100mm of rain and at least 100 km/h winds. Certainly enough wind to knock out power.

Ironically too this storm is coming five years after hurricane Juan hit the maritimes.

Here is the current warnings so far for the maritimes

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warnings/ns_e.html

Bills Bills Bills

Well right now my family and I are having a hard time with bills.

It's crazy

We have a bill at Izzard's grocery store in the total of $495.00
A bill for our cat for $75.00
A phone bill
A cable hookup bill of $87.00

Yeah times are hard right now. Oh well things will get better. I am sure.

News

Here's a bunch of random news events I found across the net.

Is the Earth one of a kind… or one of many?

http://www.space.com/searchforlife/080918-seti-earth-rare.html

Why spirits wear clothes? I hope there’s no shopping in the after life. I HATE changing booths.

http://metgat.gaia.com/blog/2008/9/why_spirits_wear_clothes

My Most influential Scientists

Here's scientists I admire for their dedication to our knowledge.

Dr. William James
Werner Heisenburg
Issac Newton
Dr. Magaret Mead
Plato
Max Planck
Descartes
James Cleak Maxwell
Professor Ian Stevenson
Dr. Marco Biagini
Dr. Glen Hamilton
Dr. Karl Pribram
Physicist David Bohm
Thomas Edison
Dr. Carl Jung
Wright Brothers

Interesting Case And New Skeptiko Podcast

You can read about it here



Dead woman wakes up after 17 hours with no brain activity!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1021818/The-mother-came-dead--minutes-life-support-machine-turned-OFF.html


Also another new skeptiko podcast by Alex Tskaris

Titled: Noreen Renier, Psychic Detectives and Skeptics

Guest: Noreen Renier, discusses her work as a psychic detective and adds new information to the skeptical investigation of Ben Radford in The Skeptical Inquirer.

“You’ve got to realize, the police are very skeptical. They’re not going to give me any clues or information. Of course, they don’t know where he is. But, no, they give me nothing, and I don’t need anything. I mean, I’m really am a psychic, and this is my job.”—Noreen Renier

Check it out here

http://www.skeptiko.com/index.php?id=64

Scientists Launch Largest Study of Near-Death Experiences

This is very interesting

http://inventorspot.com/articles/scientists_launch_largest_study_neardeath_experiences_17677

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080912/sc_livescience/neardeathexperienceswhatreallyhappens

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080910090829.htm

Here's a brief summary

ScienceDaily (Sep. 10, 2008) — The University of Southampton is launching the world's largest-ever study of near-death experiences this week.

The AWARE (AWAreness during REsuscitation) study is to be launched by the Human Consciousness Project of the University of Southampton - an international collaboration of scientists and physicians who have joined forces to study the human brain, consciousness and clinical death.

The study is led by Dr Sam Parnia, an expert in the field of consciousness during clinical death, together with Dr Peter Fenwick and Professors Stephen Holgate and Robert Peveler of the University of Southampton. Following a successful 18-month pilot phase at selected hospitals in the UK, the study is now being expanded to include other centres within the UK, mainland Europe and North America.

"Contrary to popular perception," Dr Parnia explains, "death is not a specific moment. It is a process that begins when the heart stops beating, the lungs stop working and the brain ceases functioning - a medical condition termed cardiac arrest, which from a biological viewpoint is synonymous with clinical death.

"During a cardiac arrest, all three criteria of death are present. There then follows a period of time, which may last from a few seconds to an hour or more, in which emergency medical efforts may succeed in restarting the heart and reversing the dying process. What people experience during this period of cardiac arrest provides a unique window of understanding into what we are all likely to experience during the dying process."

A number of recent scientific studies carried out by independent researchers have demonstrated that 10-20 per cent of people who go through cardiac arrest and clinical death report lucid, well structured thought processes, reasoning, memories and sometimes detailed recall of events during their encounter with death.

During the AWARE study, doctors will use sophisticated technology to study the brain and consciousness during cardiac arrest. At the same time, they will test the validity of out of body experiences and claims of being able to 'see' and 'hear' during cardiac arrest.

The AWARE study will be complemented by the BRAIN-1 (Brain Resuscitation Advancement International Network - 1) study, in which the research team will conduct a variety of physiological tests in cardiac arrest patients, as well as cerebral monitoring techniques that aim to identify methods to improve the medical and psychological care of patients who have undergone cardiac arrest.

Dr Parnia will formally announce the launch of the AWARE study at an international symposium to be held at the United Nations on September 11.

We shall see what they find.

Why I Think Near Death Experiences Provide Evidence For An Afterlife

Their are many compelling reasons. One is their is a lot of veridical cases where patients apparently accurately perceive earthly events from a vantage point outside their physical bodies. Just in case you missed my post on accurate out of body perception cases. Here's the look to the post.

http://paranormalandlifeafterdeath.blogspot.com/2007/08/
out-of-body-verdical-experience-list.html

Another is the fact that a lot of near death experiences were flatlined. This shows that their was very little brain activity going on.

New Debate With A Materialist

Well I ain't going to copy the wrong debate it's way to long. He mentions in the debate which is about the mind/body problem that dualists used to believe that all conscious actions such as vision, hearing, tasting things etc.]. That they were all attributed to a non physical soul. But now we know that all those things that caused by brain processes. Now it's true that the mind is dependent on the brain. He acknowledges that the mind also affects the brain. He thinks that fits well with physicalist theories of mind/brain. This however argues for downward causation. Hmm, he says he has read up on neuroscience. By the way this user's name is Deathmonkey and he is a physicist.

For example

A new book, Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain, by Sharon Begley) goes on to discuss, there is growing evidence that the mind can influence the physical characteristics of the brain — the brain can change in reaction to the mind, and the causation is not always “one way.” Experiments on humans (some of the Buddhist monks under the Dalai Lama’s direction) seem to demonstrate that the physical organ of the brain can be shaped and transformed by choices made by the mind.

He also says that neuroplasticity can be explained in a physicalist context. But all of this phenomenon argues for downward causation which physicalist's say is impossible.

Exploring Chicago's Haunted Past Among Other Things

Here's an interesting link where historical societies have joined forces with Chicago area Paranormal Spiritual Observer, Psychic, and Internet radio show co-host of The Unexplained World, Edward Shanahan, to create 'Haunted Historical Locations - tours and experiences'.

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/viewnews.php?id=134399

So how was my day today? It was ok I went for a walk enjoying the sunshine. Back to work tommorrow at coop.

The results of WWe Unforgiven

Triple H wins WWE Championship Scramble
Big Show attacks the Undertaker
Divas Champion Michelle McCool def. Maryse
Matt Hardy wins ECW Championship Scramble
Shawn Michaels def. Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho wins World Heavyweight Championship Scramble
World Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase def. Cryme Tyme

The Casual Closure Argument Of The Physical Universe

I think it's important to mention an common argument by materialist's the casual closure of the physical universe . Quantum physicist Henry Stapp rebuts this by saying that both Dennett’s book Freedom Evolves and Searle’s book Mind are based on the premises of classical—not quantum—physics.

Stapp pointed out that both of these thinkers assume the causal closure of the physical, by which is meant that the physical world at all times is completely determined for all times by the physical laws. At any given moment, the physical world (e.g., the locations and velocities of all particles) is thus closed off from "external" causal influence. The result of this classical view is that any so-called mental or volitional input is viewed as essentially redundant, or unnecessary. Stapp emphasized that the physics of the 20th century, quantum mechanics, has departed in dramatic and significant ways from the ideas of classical physics. Stapp mentioned briefly some of the faulty reasoning that is apparent in Searle’s book. For example, he noted that by the end of Searle’s argument, he does not even reconcile the basic points and premises that he started the book with—and this is coming from one of America’s leading philosophers! Stapp said that the main point Searle ends with is that the familiar Cartesian concepts most philosophers employ must be revised because they are causing so much conceptual confusion. Overall, Stapp highlighted the strange fact that two of the most prominent philosophers today, Dennett and Searle, are still acting as if they were largely ignorant of the fundamental facts of quantum theory. Stapp’s view, by contrast, maintains that orthodox quantum theory leads naturally to the view that consciousness is efficacious in the physical world. Mind does indeed influence matter. Thus, the physical world cannot be causally closed-off from mind.

My Father Has Some Damage To His Heart

It is treatable thank god. But still it's not good.

Powerful Post Tropical Storm Hanna

Yes it most definitely looks like it will hit us. I hear the weather channels saying like 50-70 mm of rain or much more. It does look like according to meterologists their won't be much wind with this storm. I hope so if the power goes out that would really suck. We will see.

Here's the heavy rainfall warning that has been issued by Environment Canada

Pictou County
3:50 PM ADT Saturday 6 September 2008
Rainfall warning for
Pictou County continued

This is a warning that significant rainfall is expected or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..Listen for updated statements.



A band of heavy showers as developed in advance of tropical storm Hanna. Rainfall amounts of 20 to 40 mm are forecast with this rainband across southwestern Nova Scotia however local amounts could be as high as 60 mm.

The remnants of tropical storm Hanna remain on track to cross the valley and central Nova Scotia Sunday afternoon and western Cape Breton Sunday night. Rain at times heavy will develop on Sunday as Hanna nears and will taper off by Sunday evening in hannas wake. Total rainfall amounts of 60 to 80 millimetres are forecast however locally higher amounts are possible. Winds will be gusty from the south to southeast ahead of Hanna on Sunday but wind warnings are not required at this time.

Signs that your house maybe haunted and more

Here are signs that may make you decide if your house is haunted or not.

http://www.examiner.com/x-716-Paranormal-Examiner~
y2008m9d2-House-Hunting-Signs-That-A-House-May-Be-Haunted

Now I want to talk more about cold fusion. Here's a summary of the evidence for cold fusion

Summary of evidence for cold fusion

Cold fusion experiments have been conducted with many types of apparatus. The main constituents are:

* a metal, such as Palladium or Nickel, in bulk, thin films or powder;
* an excitation in the form of electricity or magnetism, of temperature or pressure cycle, of laser beam, or of acoustic waves.[58]
* heavy or light water, hydrogen or deuterium gas or plasma;

Cold fusion has remained controversial, but several experimenters have reported excess heat, helium-4, low-level neutron production, X-ray emission, and/or transmutation of elements.

The Power Went Out Last Night

Yeah it sucked nova scotia power saying it was either a lightening strike or something else.


I was asleep and the power came on it scared me lol then it went back out then finally came on permanately.

Now it looks like will be getting a tropical storm named Hanna. Oh boy not good news.

Also a Hurricane Ike could follow on the same path towards us.

New Skeptiko Podcast

Alex Tskaris got another new skeptiko podcast episode titled Skeptic Lynne Kelly on Cold Reading Techniques


Guest: Lynne Kelly, author of The Skeptic’s Guide to the Paranormal , discusses using “cold Reading” techniques in psychic medium readings.

Watch the episode here

http://www.skeptiko.com/index.php?id=63

It looks like we will be getting heavy rain and wind from Hanna. It won't be it looks like a hurricane by that time. But a tropical depression nonetheless after all the rain in nova scotia as of late any amount of rain is not good. What we need is a dry spell.

An EVP To Chill Your Soul

Check it out here

http://www.examiner.com/x-716-Paranormal-Examiner~
y2008m8d30-An-EVP-To-Chill-Your-Soul

Update concerning the scole experiments

About the scole experiments apparently 5 years after the cessation, the Scole mediums began receiving new communications

http://www.thescoleexperiment.com/book_00.htm

Why I am not so fast to jump to the conclusion that someone else is crazy

If I had no powerful experiences with the paranormal. I probably would be yes very skeptical of other people's experiences. But after having lots of paranormal experiences I no longer jump to the immediate conclusion that the person is deluded. But now what reason do i have to justify this? Well, I have also been researching the evidence for life after death.




Mainstream science has an extraordinarily poor understanding of subjective experiences. Perhaps that is because it refuses to question its foundational assumptions that consciousness is fully explainable through chemical and physical properties of brain tissues, that precognition is impossible in principle, and that anyone who has an experience to the contrary is deluded or mentally unbalanced. The resistance of mainstream science to look at the evidence for survival in a fair matter is still not happening.

Lessons of Katrina well-learned

Apparently lessons have been learnt and history looks like it won't repeat itself.

http://www.wdam.com/Global/category.asp?C=8388&nav=menu123_2

other news

Flies react within 200 milliseconds to swat threat

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/aug/29/flies.reactions

Maple Leaf Foods Recall List

There is more products being recalled. Also more deaths.

Here's the updated recall list here

http://www.mapleleaf.ca/pdf/BartorRdProductRecallList.pdf

Another death blamed on listeriosis outbreak

http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca/Another+death+blamed+on+listeriosis+outbreak/Canada/ContentPosting?

isfa=1&newsitemid=CTVNews%2F20080829%2Fmeat_products_080829&feedname=
CTV-NATIONAL_V3&show=False&number=0&showbyline=False&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False

This Summer Sucks A Lot

We had a lot and i mean a lot of rain this August. Haven't been able to mow the backyard yet it's soaked in rain. Well, saturday I celebrated by birthday my brother got me a card, and some lotto tickets. What we really need is a dry spell but according to the weather forecasts that won't happen.

The days are obviosuly getting shorter so their is a less of a chance of a heatwave. Damm this summer sucks. The price of gas too doesn't help either. But their is a bright side I guess for me and that is this winter could be very snowy and cold. I love that. Oh well I guess you got to take the bad with the good.