Richard Wiseman at Boston Skeptics

Great time at the Boston Skeptics meeting in Harvard Square last night. Richard Wiseman delivered a very funny 1-hour presentation about magic, science, skepticism, and mass media.

He showed a couple of videos. Here's one called "The Amazing Colour-Changing Card Trick":



And here's another called "Corkology". Stop the video before he shows you how it's done and try to figure it out.



And who was that mysterious man in black in attendance? Why, none other than the mysterious Blake Stacey.

Boston's Monument to Foolishness

This prominent building, in Boston's downtown, is probably the city's largest monument to foolishness. Although its supporters make extravagant health claims, these are not supported by evidence. Nevertheless, the group's political power has helped pass laws in dozens of states to allow it to avoid prosecution.

What building is it?

Learning to Speak Bostonese

I had this conversation this morning in a Shaw's supermarket:

Me: Can I buy a Charlie Card here?

Clerk: A Jolly Cahd?

Me: No, a Chcharrrlie Card.

Clerk: Oh, a Chahlie Cahd!

Me: ???

OK, time to go watch the Kingston trio now: