foie gras: “Why would it exist if not for us to enjoy it?”

foie gras: the liver of a duck or a goose that has been specially fattened by gavage (forcefeeding).

Chicago’s city council recently choked its own foie gras ban it had imposed back in April 2006. More on that shortly, but first, an appropriately gruesome video for your consideration:

(edit: Apparently the video originally posted was removed from YouTube, so I’ve replaced it with two more.)

Video: Another “plant” healed by Todd Bentley

Found this old video of Todd Bentley of Fresh Fire Ministries in action, before he inked and pierced his way to a more menacing success.

At 3:21, after a particularly awful, embarrassing cold-reading streak, Todd gets a lucky break from the Lord, who announces to him, apparently, something like “Todd, there’s someone here who got struck by lightning in the late ’70s/early ’80s… somewhere in there.. No later than 1982. This is urgent stuff.” Todd eagerly calls this “word of knowledge” out, and sure enough, someone off-camera comes forward. (It was 1978, it turns out.)

Now, at 4:25, you first see a well-built, healthy-looking man in a gray shirt standing just to Todd’s left. This guy looms nearby, in a disinterested sort of way, looking around and occasionally picking at his face. At 5:38, Todd turns to him and says, “Now. Did anything unusual start happening in your life that you can—really be aware of since you were struck by that lightnin’ bolt?”

“Yeah, uh, I can’t wear a watch,” replies this guy nervously. “[Something] battery-operated watch, I have too much elect—I guess, reverse current in me—”

What??? He showed up at this miracle healing conference because he’s been electrically charged for the last 30 years and can’t wear a watch?

Notice a grinning Todd trying to suppress a laugh. He covers his mouth with his hand a time or two before getting antsy and interrupting the guy by launching into some prophecy about how God is going to do something unique and amazing with Psalm 29.

Lightning Facts — An MD explains that those bizarre effects you sometimes hear of being caused by lightning are mythical

When lightning strikes people or Lightning Effects — lists of real effects of lightning on humans.

The Claim: A Person Struck by Lightning Retains a Charge —Spoiler: the verdict is “false.” Even for minutes or even seconds, no charge will be retained.

All this info, combined with the fact that the gray-shirted man’s face is never shown, spells out “p-l-a-n-t,” blatant and bold. I’d wager it’s one of his own staff. Bad cold reading, unprepared plants, silly power words (“Boom-bah!”), bad acting, awkward and unconvincing stage presence… This guy was just bad at what he did and would never have lasted a minute under critique from most secular mentalists and stage hypnotists. He may have improved somewhat since.

fiat ratio

phainomenon derives from phainesthai, the middle voice of phaino, which means “to place in the light,” in clarity, and which comes from the same root as phôs, light. It means “that which is shown,” that which is placed in the light. From this word we get phenomenon, an observable fact, occurrence, or circumstance.

The purpose of this new blog:

• To provide a personal outlet for my views, observations, and ideas, mostly concerning science, philosophy, theology, religion, etc.
• To shed rational light on matters of pseudoscience, popular myths and scams, and more.
• To provide a place of interaction and discussion for anyone of any views or perspectives… questions and dissent are welcome.
• To learn.