The determined band of adherents to all things paranormal who, as Douglas
Adams puts it, enjoy showing off their 鈥渂elieving credentials鈥�, could win money,
glory or even an entry in a dictionary鈥攂y way of the Internet. But
sceptics, it seems, are willing to put their money where their webservers
are.
For instance, Australian Skeptics has an unbeatable offer for those
claiming psychic or paranormal powers who need some cash. Go to
www.skeptics.com.au/features/chalenge.htm (yes鈥攖hat鈥檚 challenge with one `l鈥�)
and find out how $A80 000 could be yours by proving ESP, telepathy or
telekinesis. The group has been offering a cash prize since 1980鈥攔ecently
publicising the offer on the Web鈥攆or evidence of psychic ability. It
hasn鈥檛 been won yet.
And there鈥檚 more on offer from the Skeptics. Sandra Cabot鈥檚 The Liver
Cleansing Diet is up for the 1999 Bent Spoon award at
www.skeptics.com.au/features/spoon/bs-home.htm.
The Bent Spoon goes to 鈥渢he perpetrator of the
most preposterous piece of paranormal or pseudoscientific piffle鈥�. Last year it
was awarded to Southern Cross University in northern New South Wales which
employs an academic who supports 鈥渆mpowered water鈥�, and for its degree course in
naturopathy. The Liver Cleansing Diet is the first nomination for 1999.
It has been put forward largely because it has caused an outbreak of zealotry
among supporters and an increase in the boredom level at dinner parties,
according to the nominator Jeff Keys.
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X-Files. It has nearly 340 sceptical definitions and essays on paranormal,
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the best sceptical literature, running from abracadabra to zombies.