New JREF President - Phil Plait

The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) anounces that Dr. Philip Plait – renowned astronomer, author, and skeptic – will be taking on the role of President of the JREF effective immediately.

If you are not familiar with either Dr. Plait or JREF, this would be a good time to make their acquaintance. Phil is the "Bad Astronomer" who set up a website originally to debunk "bad astronomy." Probably his most memorable debunking was of the claims that the moon landings were all an elaborate hoax. He demonstrated that every argument of the moon landing hoax theorists was wrong. As more reasonable people knew all along, of course.

James Randi, known professionally as "The Amazing Randi," is a magician, an author, and a skeptic who has specialized in recent years in investigating and debunking claims of the paranormal. His foundation offers a prize -- now set at a million dollars -- for anyone who can demonstrate paranormal abilities under controlled experimental conditions.

Randi said, “Phil is a skeptic, a scientist, and a colleague, and his ideas and vigor will take the JREF very far indeed. We’re pleased and proud to have him take the reins.” He added, “I will now be dedicating much of my time to completing my next two books, Wrong!, and A Magician in the Laboratory.”

Congratulations, Phil.

First-Time Dad at 111

"A rare 111-year-old New Zealand reptile is set to become a father, possibly for the first time.

"Henry, a tuatara with prehistoric origins, had previously shown no interest in females during nearly 40 years in captivity, say keepers.

"But his 80-year-old partner, Mildred, laid 12 eggs in mid-July, 11 of which are due to hatch in about six months.

"Henry's keepers have put his newfound vigour down to a recent operation to remove a tumour from his bottom. "


Prehistoric origins? I wonder when the writer thinks the rest of us originated. Oh, well.

Anyway, this old reptile is doing his part to stave off extinction. Finally.

Primates 'face extinction crisis'

The Critically Endangered grey-shanked douc langur is one of the primates in peril.

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"A global review of the world's primates says 48% of species face extinction, an outlook described as 'depressing' by conservationists.

"The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species says the main threat is habitat loss, primarily through the burning and clearing of tropical forests.

"More than 70% of primates in Asia are now listed as Endangered, it adds"

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According to Wikipedia, "A primate is any member of the biological order Primates, the group that contains all the species commonly related to the lemurs, monkeys, and apes, with the last category including humans."

These are our cousins, our closest evolutionary relatives. Are we going to let them die out?