Sensing murder

[ImprobableJoe]

I was thinking more about asking whether there's a good sized HTML flat file that one could copy and upload to a Kindle as a sort of Atheist's Reference Guide, containing all sorts of goodies... Especially since I'm looking around at my book-strewn apartment and considering a moratorium on book buying. Particularly in light of this nonsense from Amazon trying to suppress literature the fundies get antsy about.

There are a couple of different e-book formats that work on the Kindle, that can be directly downloaded to the Kindle through the USB cable... not that I can think of them offhand, but if you can figure out how to convert the text you want into that format, you can read it on your Kindle. I've downloaded some free SF e-books onto the Kindle that way, bypassing Amazon entirely.

 

[Ozymandyus]

The truth is, you wouldn't need wi-fi or anything of this sort. A simple PDA with a comprehensive list of known/infamous murders, of whatever the sort the show usually covers could be in any of these guys possessions. I have a PDA that tells me every drug, every interaction, every illness and disease known to man. I could pretend to be the world's most knowledgeable doctor with a some good editing and a few bathroom breaks.

 

[Spase]

Honestly psychics are something I don't completely disbelieve.

That isn't to say I believe they're for real, I'm just not sure. The best evidence in my opinion for the possibility there's some things they're good for is that the FBI in the US has or at least had, a few on their payroll. In the one or two cases I saw where one of these people were interviewed they came across completely differently from the kinds of scam artists I've seen do crap.

The woman who I remember seeing the interview for admitted she had no idea how it worked but just said she was particularly good at finding very specific objects that were described to her. Like.. really good.

I certainly wouldn't think there's any sort of supernatural effect at work, only a natural effect we don't understand well yet. Maybe it's BS, maybe not, but again, the FBI having her on it's payroll said a lot more for her credibility for me than anything else. Maybe I'll try to look it up...

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Maybe it's BS, maybe not, but again, the FBI having her on it's payroll said a lot more for her credibility for me than anything else. Maybe I'll try to look it up...

Maybe you should. Right now, we're going with BS.

 

[ebbixx]

There are a couple of different e-book formats that work on the Kindle, that can be directly downloaded to the Kindle through the USB cable... not that I can think of them offhand, but if you can figure out how to convert the text you want into that format, you can read it on your Kindle. I've downloaded some free SF e-books onto the Kindle that way, bypassing Amazon entirely.

Straight HTML tends to work best, at least with my own docs and manuscripts from friends. Should also work with anything from Project Gutenberg. Though I may be thinking of the process whereby you send a file to Amazon for processing, which can also be done free, though the ten-cent charge for direct delivery tends to be worth the time savings of the more manual, time-intensive approach of the "free" process.

 

[Whisperelmwood]

I certainly wouldn't think there's any sort of supernatural effect at work, only a natural effect we don't understand well yet. Maybe it's BS, maybe not, but again, the FBI having her on it's payroll said a lot more for her credibility for me than anything else. Maybe I'll try to look it up...

Seriously - makes me think 'argument from authority'. Just because she was on their payroll, doesn't mean anything. The American government spent BILLIONS on researching whether showing psychics pictures of Russian weaponry, could aide them in blowing the damn things up, FROM AMERICA.

So, the FBI having her on their payroll does nothing for her credibility in my eyes.

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Seriously - makes me think 'argument from authority'. Just because she was on their payroll, doesn't mean anything. The American government spent BILLIONS on researching whether showing psychics pictures of Russian weaponry, could aide them in blowing the damn things up, FROM AMERICA.

So, the FBI having her on their payroll does nothing for her credibility in my eyes.

Also, it reminds me of a couple of people I've run across online, claiming that their military service gives them special expertise, even far outside of their actual job description. I remember one goofball who was bragging about his experience, and it turned out that he was a REMF phone-answerer for someone of minor importance. I was in the Marines in artillery fire control, and I was a shooting coach... which gives me about zero credibility when it comes to infantry squad tactics, naval maneuvers, or pretty much anything else that doesn't involve updating a map or data entry.

Being "on the FBI payroll" (if it is even true) doesn't convey any magical authority either. On the payroll AS WHAT? Driver? Nurse's aide? Collected a one-time appearance fee to speak at an FBI building? I remember that "Face on Mars" goon Richard Hoagland pulled some crap like that once, with NASA. I don't recall the exact details but it had something to do with him renting a conference room at NASA to give a speech, and claiming that he was "speaking at NASA" to pretend to a higher level of legitimacy. Con artists are sneaky!

 

[Spase]

Seriously - makes me think 'argument from authority'. Just because she was on their payroll, doesn't mean anything. The American government spent BILLIONS on researching whether showing psychics pictures of Russian weaponry, could aide them in blowing the damn things up, FROM AMERICA.

So, the FBI having her on their payroll does nothing for her credibility in my eyes.

I know it's not a real argument. It's why I'm not only not trying to convince people with it, I'm not convinced either.

If someone asked me to bet one way or the other I'd be better against the psychic every time but I'm still curious about the whole thing. I know the government spends a lot of money in some really stupid ways though I wasn't aware of the particular program you're talking about.

I... will try to look it up when I find some extra time. Right now I'm trying not to distract myself.. though, admittedly this site is something I waste too much time on. >.<

 

[Spase]

Having done some reading I can now say I am pretty much thoroughly skeptical of anyone claiming "psychic" abilities.

My only excuse for my ignorance is that it's an impression I picked up when I was much younger watching some interview on TV before I learned that just because something gets published (or aired) doesn't mean there's even a grain of credibility to it. I certainly wasn't a believer before but I've gone from the stance of "Well, maaaaaybe you could convince me.." to thinking the whole idea is pretty ridiculous.

I'm a bit embarrassed now that I was less sure before.

 

[Whisperelmwood]

Having done some reading I can now say I am pretty much thoroughly skeptical of anyone claiming "psychic" abilities.

My only excuse for my ignorance is that it's an impression I picked up when I was much younger watching some interview on TV before I learned that just because something gets published (or aired) doesn't mean there's even a grain of credibility to it. I certainly wasn't a believer before but I've gone from the stance of "Well, maaaaaybe you could convince me.." to thinking the whole idea is pretty ridiculous.

I'm a bit embarrassed now that I was less sure before.

Don't worry about it - it happens to all of us. Just four or so years ago, I was willingly taking part on Pagan rites and reading people's Tarot cards c.c