LOOKING IN ON SWEDEN
I've described here previously how a pompous-assed "dowsing expert"
named Nils-Axel Morner, associate professor of geology from Stockholm
University, has consistently refused to be tested for the Pigasus
Prize. A helpful correspondent in Sweden referred me to
http://www.tdb.uu.se/~karl/dowsing/ where I found that Morner was
tested -- amateurishly -- on a prominent Swedish TV show, "The Plain &
Simple Truth," on TV2 on February 27th. Morner was first provided the
opportunity to brag about anecdotal successes, then he was tested. A
local celebrity -- a singer -- was involved, as is usual with these
drearily predictable affairs. The singer chose one of ten cups under
which to conceal a packet of sugar. He chose number seven; are we
surprised? Morner had designed this test, saying that it was
especially difficult for him to do. (???) He said that water or
metal could be located "right away," but not sugar. Morner blathered
on about "interference" and mumbled about "influences" and "might be
here" and the usual alibis, then chose number eight. Wrong. But,
said Morner, it was "in the right sector!" But no cigar.
There were 3 serious errors in what could have been a good test: One,
the target was not selected by a random means. (3 and 7 are the
most-often-chosen positions in a line-up of 10.) Two, an audience
member could have secretly signaled Morner. Three, Morner was allowed
to do a test of his own choice, one that he said in advance was
difficult and strange for him, instead of doing one which he'd done
before, for which he has claimed 100% success. Why were water and/or
metal not used? This is ridiculous!
Did Morner mention that I've offered him the million-dollar prize if
he can do his usual, familiar dowsing trick? No.
James Randi
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