Wiseman Entertains...

A card trick... and more:

I won't say what this video is concerning, so as not to take away from the effect, but it is another wonderful demonstration previously-posted by the always interesting British psychologist Richard Wiseman (for some reason, the audio doesn't seem to work on it, but it isn't necessary):

Thought Puzzle

Psychologist Richard Wiseman runs a new Friday puzzle every Friday at his entertaining, quirky blog and gives the answer on the following Monday. His latest one is an especially clever one, but also has caused more dissension than usual:


http://tinyurl.com/y8lqgwt

What Do You See...

Speaking of illusions(?), British psychologist Richard Wiseman amuses once again:

http://tinyurl.com/yc8npdu

Wiseman Podcasts

Richard Wiseman briefly introducing his new podcast series, "Afternoon Tea With Richard Wiseman":

Blind Spot Demonstration

Psychologist Richard Wiseman's latest 'quirky' offering, demonstrating our visual 'blind spot' here:

Richard Wiseman Redux

'Quirky' British research psychologist Richard Wiseman has begun a mass experiment on Twitter to test for the psychic ability known as "remote viewing." To read about it or take part in his study start here:

http://richardwiseman.wordpress.com/2009/06/01/twitter-experiment-starts-today/

BTW, one of my favorite YouTube quickie tricks is from Wiseman HERE.

Earlier on in this blog I recommended his fun book, "Quirkology" to readers.

Quirky "Quirkology"

Psychology That Is More Fun Than It Ought Ever Be....

Is it my imagination or do the British really have the world's best sense of humor? British psychology professor Dr. Richard Wiseman has turned doing quirky off-the-wall studies into a full-time career, with jocular results.
I likely won't find time to fully review his offering, "Quirkology: How We Discover the Big Truths in Small Things" (depending which edition you come across the subtitle may differ), so I'll simply say it is a VERY entertaining volume overall (some chapters certainly moreso than others, but overall a fun, interesting read). It relates studies he has conducted over the last 20 years which have "been hidden away in obscure academic journals," at least until the publication of this book in 2007. In his own words, some of these studies "use mainstream methods to investigate unusual topics" while "others use unusual methods to investigate mainstream topics." A brief Web review is here.

Much of the book is even available online courtesy of google books here.
How could a book with an entire chapter on searching for the world's funniest joke not be an entertaining read! Some may find the volume shallow as a scientific offering, but I suspect Wiseman might argue that what is lacking is not so much depth, as pretentiousness.

Wiseman also runs a website covering some of the same interesting material, as well as ongoing interactive experiments.
And Quirkology and Dr. Wiseman have a presence on YouTube here.
Possibly the most fun and highly-viewed of their short YouTube videos is this piece of hocus-pocus (...prepare to be baffled).

If you're feeling a bit bored with things lately, this book could be the perfect pick-me-upper.

B+

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