National Geographic--IS IT REAL?

[Stephon]

I shot a segment for the show "Is It Real?" at the Palace of Wonders a few months ago, and it's airing this coming Monday, October 9th.

"Is It Real?" is an investigative program that explores phenomana ranging from ghosts and UFOs, to extrodinary physical claims. The segment I shot was part of the potential debunking of the supernatural healing abilities for John of God, a Brazilian faith healer.

Don't know if I'll be any good, but even if I suck, the show should be interesting, at least.


Here's the official announcement:

MIRACLE CURES, an episode of IS IT REAL airing on the National Geographic Channel, Monday October 9, 8:00pm EDT.

For the desperate and dying, the search for a miracle cure can lead to unusual, if not bizarre experiences. Travel with National Geographic to a small village in Brazil, the streets of Hollywood and to the most famous healing shrine in the world, Our Lady of Lourdes in France, in search of miraculous healing. Our cameras follow those seeking solace and healing from psychic surgeons, TV evangelists and the purported healing spring water at Lourdes. But are people actually being cured here, and if so, is this divine intervention? At the crossroads of medicine, magic and faith, IS IT REAL examines the miraculous...Monday night, October 9, 8:00pm EDT.

Repeat airings include:
Saturday, 10/14 9:00pm EDT
Sunday, 10/15 12:00am EDT
Monday, 10/23 4:00pm EDT

[Peter Voice]

Hey Stephon,
Where do you fit in that brief.

[gav]

my guess is he is performing some kind of 'psychic surgery' which is simply slight of hand with chicken guts.

[jesus]

Hey Stephon I'll be sure to check it out.
I had never heard of this John of God guy until I was told that I was linked to in an article about him one a James Randi site. It will be cool to see what its all about.
Here is the link I was mentioned in:

http://206.225.95.123/jr/030405a.html

They mistakenly refer to me as "an honorable and decent human being".
(I think thats how I shall be known from now on.)

[Stephon]

Actually, this guy does "spiritual surgery" (waving his hands around the patient and saying, "you're cured"), rather than psychic surgery. He does perform actual procedures on people with medical instruments, but without anesthesia.

I was there, with professional skeptic Joe Nickel, to demonstrate how JoG is able to take hemostats and shove them into someone's nose, and how he is able to use a blade to do eye scrapings.

Interestingly, he doesn't charge for his services, but he does charge for the herbal remedies that he perscribes to his patients--charges enough to own a palatial compound in Brazil.

A brief disclaimer: what you will see of me is not necessarily representative of my act; they wanted me in costume, but the siutation didn't really lend itself to being/performing in character.

[jester]

So did you scrape your own eyes... or what?

[Stephon]

As a matter of fact, I did. What I did was not nearly as severe or graphic as what he does with his victi--um, patients, but I demonstrated how it can be done.

I don't know yet what made it into the show and what didn't, but take a look, and maybe it'll be there.

[jesus]

I missed it and don't have tevo, how'd it look?

[Stephon]

Overall, I think it turned out well, except that the take they used had the dopiest line I've ever said for the blockhead. Oh well.

It's being replayed Saturday, 10/14 @ 9:00pm , Sunday, 10/15 @ 12:00am, and Monday, 10/23 @ 4:00pm

[jesus]

Well....

What was the dopey line?
We wont make fun of you.

[Stephon]

Oh, it was something like, "The perfect tool for scratching the back of your neck." Yech.

At least if I'd added, "...from the inside" it would have made sense. It still would have stunk, but at least it would have made sense.

And I should be made fun of for a line like that. I should be date raped and left on the side of the road with insufficient cab fare for a line like that. (I've been listening to Jim Norton too much lately)

[gav]

bad choice of reply
nobody should ever be date raped.
please redeem yourself




again

[Hunter]

he's right - you should be layed out on a tarp and forced to pay a hooker to spray some buttery goodness all over your face.

[Stephon]

Originally posted by gav
bad choice of reply
nobody should ever be date raped.
please redeem yourself

I am unredeemable; however, I was joking.

What, though, if someone's fantasy is to be date raped, and they ask for someone to do it? Don't they have the right to choose what they do (and have done) with their body?

again

???

[jesus]

Rough Sex

If you are turning this into a discussion about weird sexual fantasies...
I have always want to receive oral attention from a woman with a mouthful of Captain Crunch.
Is that so wrong?

Go ahead and dream your little dream Swami.