Fun_People Archive
12 Feb
The Amazing Randi on the Toronto Star, American Journal, and Quadro

Date: Mon, 12 Feb 96 01:10:35 -0800
From: Peter Langston <psl>
To: Fun_People
Subject: The Amazing Randi on the Toronto Star, American Journal, and Quadro

From: James Randi --- Wizard <randi-hotline@ssr.com>

	FURTHER ATTACKS....

I've just been informed about a scurrilous attack on me that appeared
recently in the Toronto Star newspaper.  I'm always surprised at how easily
reporters and editors can be taken in by gossip and print it as fact.  If
this article had appeared in the National Enquirer or in Flash, I'd
understand -- though not tolerate -- the libel.  But the Toronto Star is
the leading Canadian newspaper, and I would expect at least a little
fact-checking from them.  I'm having to pursue legal actions against them,
much as I hate to get involved in any more litigation.

Yesterday I met with a TV crew from American Journal who had become totally
convinced that the Quadro Tracker, the pseudo-technical dowsing stick sold
for $955 to school boards and police departments for locating drugs (!) is
"the real thing."  However, after meeting with me and doing some proper
double-blind tests, they did a turnabout and when the show airs tomorrow
(Monday) night, you'll see a far different coverage than they might have
given, had they not met me.  Consult your local listing for time and
channel.

There were some hilarious quotes from the Quadro officials.  One said that
the toy works to find bullets by tuning in on "bullet DNA." Funny, I didn't
know that bullets could reproduce themselves!  I don't think these guys know
the difference between DNA and the IRA....  And they think that a "molecular
vibration" is a teeny-weeny bed in a cheap motel that you put in a quarter
to experience.

© 1996 Peter Langston