[meteorite-list] Attention Steve Arnold: Divining Iron Meteorites

[Chris Peterson]

Rather than just repeat what can be found elsewhere, I'd suggest you start 
with the Wikipedia entry on dowsing, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing , 
which has some excellent references to negative evidence, as well as some 
references explaining Betz's poor technique.

A PhD does not automatically make somebody a good scientist (just look at 
the huge number of pseudoscientists that Russia has produced), and the 
absence of a PhD does not make somebody a poor scientist. All the evidence 
suggests that Randi is a much better scientist than Betz. Randi designs his 
experiments with proper attention to double blind methodology and controls, 
and his results are reproducible. This is quite different from Betz.

People can be blinded by culture, too. I've spent a lot of time in Germany, 
and an amazing number of people believe in dowsing (along with the idea that 
underground "streams" near houses cause health problems), and an amazing 
number of people believe in homeopathy. FWIW, both dowsing and homeopathy 
appear to have originated in Germany.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JoshuaTreeMuseum" <joshuatreemuseum at embarqmail.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2010 2:37 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Attention Steve Arnold: Divining Iron Meteorites


> Chris:
>
> I'm citing a 10-year study sponsored by the German Government conducted by 
> Dr. Hans-Dieter Betz of the Dep't of Physics at Munich that was published 
> in Stanford University's peer-reviewed Journal of Scientific Exploration. 
> And you're citing.............(drum roll please....cue up the kleig 
> lights......) The AMAZING RANDI!!!!!!
>
> I forget, where did Randi get his Phd. again?
>
> Anyone else see the humor in this?
>
> Phil Whitmer