Derren Brown's Blog, page 75

This is a blog post about a news article we didn't write

Here's where a quote or a few paragraphs that we took from the article to introduce to the readers the basic idea and hopefully give enough of an oversight of the article to stimulate debate about the subject.

We then maybe take another paragraph later on with some stats or findings – or isolate a quote to help illustrate the previous point. For example:

"In this paragraph I will state the main claim that the research makes, making appropriate use of "scare quotes" to ensure that it's clear that I have no opinion about this research whatsoever."

We then add a link at the bottom for further reading in to the subject, unfortunately some people miss this and only read our parts and miss the entire point. Then then leave a comment like "what's that all about then?" which is why it's so important that we:

link to the original article

John Sweeney revisits the Church of Scientology

"In 2007, while investigating the Church of Scientology for Panorama, reporter John Sweeney had a dramatic on-camera confrontation with a church spokesman named Tommy Davis. The church was accusing the reporter of bias and it attempted to stop the documentary from being broadcast – a campaign backed by Scientology A-lister John Travolta. Sweeney has returned to investigate the church again.

I never meant to shout. Strangers had been on my tail. Scientologist Tommy Davis and his colleague Mike Rinder – my handlers – had been on my case, day in and day out.

They had taken me to an exhibit called 'Psychiatry: Industry of Death' on Hollywood Boulevard, where a Scientologist told me psychiatrists set up the Holocaust. I feared I was being brain-washed. And then I lost it – big time.

The Church of Scientology put out my impression of an exploding tomato onto the internet which millions had a laugh at courtesy of YouTube. It was no way for me to behave. I apologised then and I apologise now. Shortly after that programme, Scientology & Me, aired in 2007, I received a tip-off that Mike Rinder had left the church. Three years on and my old adversary came to me to shed some light on what had been going on behind the scenes in the days leading up to my infamous meltdown and screaming session in Los Angeles.

Now an independent Scientologist, Mike is critical of the church and of its leader David Miscavige, who was actor Tom Cruise's best man at his wedding to Katie Holmes.

Mike, 55, wanted to meet and talk about his life in the church, which he was a part of from the age of six."

Read more at BBC News

The End of God?: A Horizon Guide to Science and Religion

"Dr Thomas Dixon takes us on a journey through Horizon programs and presents a retrospective of the conflict between science and belief. We see familiar faces again such as Ken Miller, Richard Dawkins and Colin Blakemore.

I certainly didn't like the final message of the program which says that science and religion are not so much different because there are still uncertainties in science field. It promotes brain activities that occured during the spiritual experiences as a proof of the...

Patients to be frozen into state of suspended animation for surgery

"Surgeons are pioneering a method of inducing extreme hypothermia in trauma patients so that their bodies shut down entirely during major surgery, giving doctors more time to perform operations. The technique helps to reduce the damage done to the brain and other organs while the patient's heart is not beating. It also reduces the need for anaesthetic and life support machines.

Researchers are now set to begin the first human trials of the technique, which involves replacing a patient's blood ...

UN to appoint Earth contact for aliens

"The United Nations was set today to appoint an obscure Malaysian astrophysicist to act as Earth’s first contact for any aliens that may come visiting. Mazlan Othman, the head of the UN's little-known Office for Outer Space Affairs (Unoosa), is to describe her potential new role next week at a scientific conference at the Royal Society's Kavli conference centre in Buckinghamshire.

She is scheduled to tell delegates that the recent discovery of hundreds of planets around other stars has made...

Derren Brown Mailing List – New Tour Dates 2011

We have moved the mailing list onto a new fast server so that the email reaches you all immediately.

If you aren't signed up yet, head over to:

http://derrenbrown.co.uk/contact-us/mailing-list/

The dates below are all CONFIRMED venues for the new tour. New dates will be added here as soon as we have them.

The show will also tour in 2012 when it is our intention to tour venues not played in 2011.

March
15, 16, 17, 18, 19 – Woking New Victoria
22, 23, 24, 25...

Building Language Skills More Critical for Boys Than Girls, Research Suggests

"Developing language skills appears to be more important for boys than girls in helping them to develop self-control and, ultimately, succeed in school, according to a study led by a Michigan State University researcher. Thus, more emphasis should be placed on encouraging boy toddlers to "use their words" — instead of unruly behavior — to solve problems, said Claire Vallotton, MSU assistant professor of child development. "It shouldn't be chalked off as boys being boys," Vallotton said...

Robot World Cup takes place in Bangalore

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"The Robot World Cup has taken place in Bangalore, India, with 17 countries from around the world competing for the presigious title.

Fifty two teams, including Bold Hearts from the University of Hertfordshire, kicked off the tournament designed to promote research and education in the field of artificial intelligence.

RoboCup, as it is known to those involved, is now in its 15th year.

While there is no clear sign yet of the golden boots of David Beckham among the electronic contenders...

Vatican bank under investigation

"The Vatican bank's top two officials are under investigation for suspected money laundering and police have frozen 23 million euros ($30.21 million) of its funds, Italian judicial sources said on Tuesday.

They said President Ettore Gotti Tedeschi and director-general Paolo Cipriani were being investigated by Rome magistrates Nello Rossi and Stefano Fava in a case involving alleged violations of European Union money-laundering rules."

Appearance and reality: in conversation with Derren Brown

The Open University's Nigel Warburton talks to psychological illusionist Derren Brown about appearance and reality, and what kind of people are most gullible.

Philosophy and the Human Situation: http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergra…