Posted by James Randi was a master of illusion and a devoted activist up until his death in October 2020. Early in his career, he was a famed magician; by the end, he was a renowned skeptic on a mission to save others from the same tricks he once performed. He sold his acts honestly — as entertainment — but what he saw growing within the country was anything but innocent.
One day in retirement, Randi saw a man named Uri Geller on television claiming to move paper clips with telekinesis, bend spoons, and send “psychic waves” across the nation. The audience ate it up, while Randi watched in horror. Geller wasn’t performing magic — he was performing deception.
Worse, Geller had fooled scientists, military officials, doctors, and media hosts. He claimed to be part of a secret government experiment called Project Star Gate, which explored psychic and telepathic ability. The project was later declassified and deemed meritless, but Geller continued to profit from the illusion.
Randi saw the danger: intelligence and education did not protect people from manipulation. Using his own fame, he set out to expose the frauds. Whenever Geller appeared on TV, Randi would follow, demonstrating the same “powers” through sleight of hand and skill, not supernatural ability. Show by show, he dismantled the myth — and the imitators who followed.
Psychics, faith healers, dowsers, and self-proclaimed “energy masters” had been exploiting people for centuries. Randi made it his mission to protect the public from false hope and predatory claims.
The lesson he taught is timeless: critical thinking saves lives.
At Venture Up, we echo that principle every day. Diversity of thought and perspective drives every breakthrough. In our Strategic Games program, participants learn to challenge assumptions and see through illusions of hierarchy or bias. When every voice contributes, the team becomes stronger — and truth stands a fighting chance.
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