Skepticblog
About Mark Edward
Mark Edward is a professional mentalist specializing in magic of the mind. His amazing mind reading techniques make a statement about our limited powers of observation and our refusal to believe manipulation can easily happen to the best of us. He has performed as a psychic entertainer at the Hollywood hot spot Magic Castle as well as world-class venues, nightclubs and corporate events. His television appearances include A&E's Houdini the Great Escape, NBC's The other Side, two episodes of TLC's Exploring the Unknown, Emmy nominated, Penn & Teller: Bullshit! Talking to the Dead, and most recently he was the guest Medium on the season finale of Last Comic Standing.
RSS feed for this author
www.themarkedward.com
Subjects
aliens alternative medicine atheism belief bigfoot Brian Dunning CAM cancer Christianity climate change conspiracy theories Creation creationism critical thinking darwin dbad dinosaurs Dr. Kiki earthquakes economics education environment ethics evolution fossils geology Ghost Hunting ghosts global warming God health homeopathy james randi JREF markets media medicine michael shermer morality nasa neuroscience outreach paleontology paranormal politics pseudoscience Psychics religion science scope SETI Shermer Skeptic skepticism skeptoid Skeptologists TV ufo ufos vaccinesRecent Comments
- Nyar commented on Should we let the clowns run the circus? at 9:27 pm, May 22, 2013
- tmac57 commented on Should we let the clowns run the circus? at 9:21 pm, May 22, 2013
- Nyar commented on Should we let the clowns run the circus? at 8:49 pm, May 22, 2013
- Nyar commented on Should we let the clowns run the circus? at 8:48 pm, May 22, 2013
- Donald Prothero commented on Should we let the clowns run the circus? at 6:30 pm, May 22, 2013
Read posts by author:
How I Spent My Weekend
Number One Grief Vampire
No, I haven’t given up on Sylvia Browne, …not by a long shot. And I don’t feel bad that she’s apparently not feeling well. My heart bleeds ice water for her. It won’t be long before her son Chris takes over the family business… (continue reading…)
comments (9)
Being Yourself in the Golden Age of the Con
Chris Parker is a young lady who is DOING SOMETHING about psychics and the real-world harm they do. We met this weekend after I spoke with her by phone about my take on the psychic business a few months ago. After attending my Reason4Reason pub lecture on “Psychic Blues” Saturday night in San Francisco, she expressed an interest in having me post her thoughts on how she made a difference to her college class (and in particular the class professor) in her own lecture on psychics. Once again I may be “preaching to the choir” on this issue, but people continually ask me, “…What can I do?” So here is an excellent example: (continue reading…)
comments (23)A New Angle (again)…
Aleister Crowley Re-Incarnated?
So now with summer coming, the more credulous among humanity can now look forward to cooling off with the latest in psychic innovations: Karl Lang, 49, of Wales, is accused of pressuring two women to repeatedly expose themselves to him, telling them that their nudity would help them better connect with the spirit world. The women, both in their 20s, did not attend sessions together, but report similar circumstances (continue reading…)
comments (18)The Wikapediatrician
Susan Gerbic Takes a Breath
She’s indefatigable. She’s effervescent and she may be coming for YOU! Yes, it’s Susan Gerbic, The Wikapediatrician. Susan has been racking up quite a few accolades lately with her own special brand of Guerrilla Skepticism. Tired of listening to others drone on and on about how bad things are and not doing anything to change those issues, a few years back she picked up the skill of editing Wikipedia from fellow Wiki-Master Tim Farley and began her own style of digging in and changing articles for skeptical content. (continue reading…)
Knock Chip Off the Block
On the Road and Coming to a City Near YOU
Ghosts are big business and now Chip Coffey is on the road with his own version of a carny side show called “Coffey Talk.” I mentioned this grief vampire before in a past blog (“Chipping Away at the Other Side”, Sept. 12, 2009) when he first came out with his “Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal “ television program, whereby Chipper traveled around the country extolling his virtues to everyone with:
“PSYCHIC KIDS: CHILDREN OF THE PARANORMAL™, profiles children who live with an incredible secret: they have psychic abilities. Feeling scared and isolated, these kids have nowhere to turn…until now. Help is on the way in the form of psychic medium Chip Coffey.”
Helping may not have been the accurate word for those of us who have yet to know what a ghost or “psychic ability” actually is. Believe me when I say I have sincerely tried to understand and find a way to define this dilemma for over thirty years without success. Looking into such mysteries can be a mildly diverting pastime, but encouraging pre-teens or even younger children to listen to weasels like Coffey is tantamount to child abuse. Jen says it best from a Skepchick blog:
comments (269)
Paul, Drew and Sally
Would you buy a used car from this person?
It is intriguing to note that even though the Brits have severely limiting libel laws that constrict their ability to go after psychics, Simon Singh and mentalist Paul Zenon have been fighting the good fight with Sally Morgan in a number of ways that we here in America could learn a great deal from. (continue reading…)
comments (11)Confessions of a Conflicted Medium
Okay Ladies and Gentlemen!
PSYCHIC BLUES is now up at Amazon for pre-order!
Buy three copies!
You will need three: two to give to local psychics and one to keep.
Everything you want to know about today’s psychic rackets – and a few things you may not want to know…
comments (3)Oh No, Ross and Carrie!
Don't Let the Tarot-rists Win!
I just finished a delightful podcast with the latest dynamic duo in the podcast world: Ross Blocher and Carrie Poppy. These two IIG members have banded together to create a whimsical 45 minute show that manages to trump all the rest of the skeptical podcasts by being both highly entertaining and dedicated to avoiding all mention of the dreaded “S” word: SKEPTIC. Their byline is “We show up so you don’t have to.” Their casual approach to looking into all things wooish is working for them. Forget de-bunking. Those days are over. Ross and Carrie want to have fun with all the wackiness we encounter in the paranormal world and like The Odds Must Be Crazy www.theoddsmustbecrazy.com website that I mentioned in my last post, using humor and good taste to coax the inquiring minds that shun the dickish approach to thinking rationally, Oh No, Ross and Carrie!” www.ohnopodcast.com treats all subjects with an open mind, paving the way for wider exposure and a surer footing in The Big Pictur (continue reading…)
comments (1)The Odds Must Be Crazy (TOMBC)
Treading Another Dark Path
In an effort to get more people pointed in the direction of skeptical thinking without scaring them away by seeming too rationally challenging, The Independent Investigation Group West members have put up a new “gateway” site that’s all about those wacky weird happenstances we call coincidence. (continue reading…)
comments (5)
Bobby De Niro Has The Gift?
Saturday afternoon found me finally getting the chance to see the latest psychic thriller, “Red Lights.” While I have huge reservations about the final outcome of this trendy look at people who claim to be psychic and those of us who go after them, I will review it here without spoilers. I ultimately must recommend this film for skeptical minded individuals for reasons that are totally unintentional by the film’s writers, director and producers. (continue reading…)
comments (11)