The 2012 crop circle season has stuttered into life and one of Forteana's most dubious characters has returned to take his place on the stage. Dutch born Robbert van den Broeke is a medium with a sideline in stunningly poor spirit and extra-terrestrial photography. In an apparently unique twist he also possesses 'the ability to consistently and accurately predict new crop [circle] formations in his general vicinity.' [More...]The 2012 crop circle season has stuttered into life and one of Forteana's most dubious characters has returned to take his place on the stage. Dutch born Robbert van den Broeke is a medium with a sideline in stunningly poor spirit and extra-terrestrial photography. In an apparently unique twist he also possesses 'the ability to consistently and accurately predict new crop [circle] formations in his general vicinity.' [More...]
As a privileged white, reasonably educated man my life is sweet. Even more so that I am something of a skeptical 'z-lister'. I go to skeptical events and people want to talk to me. Handling such a massive level of fame isn't easy and I'm often asked how I became such a rip-roaring skeptical success story. So here are some handy tips... 
We are all in the thrall of the expectations placed upon us by others. Sometimes those expectations can lead people to pass judgement on us that may be unwarranted. Over the past few years I’ve come across some of them from people who consider themselves to be skeptics. I found myself hanging the labels on the pegs I’d created for them. If the cap fitted then I chose to wear it. 
Gloucestershire big cat hunter is sniffing around on the case of yet another oversized feline. And this time it's in Cheltenham town centre. Once you've coughed your cornflakes clear of your windpipe let me explain. The Gloucestershire Echo reports the case of Alex Stewart who has photographed animal prints he believes to be those of an alien big cat. 
No, I didn't do it. It wasn't me. I am not the man you are looking for. I didn't call Hayley Stevens a 'stupid British...'. 
Having been a long time internet user I've encountered more than a few instances of believers in the paranormal and skeptics locking horns. Always one to be generous in even the grimmest circumstances, let me assist the believer in successfully arguing the existence of the paranormal. 
I am suitably chastised. I very recently linked via Facebook to a story in the Daily Mail that irritated me a little. It concerned the Conservative MP Gary Streeter, terribly upset that the Advertising Standards Agency had 'outlawed' leaflets claiming prayer could cure people of various ailments including back pain and depression. Then someone else waded in. 
