Deepak Chopra descends: Hasn't Detroit suffered enough?

I love how Tai Chi is spelled wrong. In a press release publicizing this event, no less. Buncha yutzes.

Mastery of what, you ask? Why, mastery of woo, of course.

Is Thai Chi served with peanut sauce?

I just had a brief exchange with Chopra on twitter where I said he understood science like my cat understands knock-knock jokes. He sent me a link to reviews for his new book (a debate with Leonard Mlodinow) on Amazon. He really latches onto legit scientists to try and gain some credibility in the real world.

Funny that Stephen Hawking didn't even mention Chopra in his review.

"hot on the heals" -- is that a medical idiom?

I've been to fairs similar to this one: I even helped set up a skeptic booth a couple times (that was fun.) One of the frustrating things is that this sort of event often has some very good food, interesting art, likeable people, and lovely music peppered here and there among the most cringe-inducing bullshit. So at least part of the reason I wanted a table giving away stuff like Beyerstein's 10 Warning Signs of Bogus Science was that doing this allowed my conscience to relax enough to enjoy the fun stuff: so ok, there was at least one pool of reason out there trying to make some sense -- time to dance to drums.

"Pure energy"??? So, that's good, I guess... anyone that attends will have their body mass converted into pure energy.

Which would probably be sufficient energy to destroy the entire world.

I get it! Chopra is DR. EVIL!!!

If it means "Free Energy" why do they charge through the nose for it?

Yeah, my apologies about the pun.

All the nuts will be gathered in one place. Seize the day!

Wait until they're all inside, then erect a big fence round the entire area, then build a very high wall just outside that fence, then dig a moat just outside that fence. Add sharks. Then put an electrified fence outside the moat, just in case.

Once a week, catapult a few cases of mung beans over the barrier, just so you can't be accused of inhumane treatment or anything.

Problem solved.

Actually, I think Tai Chi is usually free. Certainly there are people who hold free Tai Chi classes in parks.

Sadly, I have heard that Chopra is also being invited to address the Heart Failure Society of America at their annual meeting. I am not a heart failure specialist or a member of the Society, but if I were, I would consider this sufficient cause to terminate my relationship with the organization forthwith.

Sadly, I have heard that Chopra is also being invited to address the Heart Failure Society of America at their annual meeting.

That really leads me to question if they are 'pro' or 'anti' on heart failure.

A little over one hundred years ago Detroit mastered steel.

Now comes Deepak Chopra who has only recently mastered fluff.

Detroit physically moved people and things to their intended destinations. Much to everyone's profit.

Chopra moves what? Mostly dollars, that's all. And the people and the things don't move at all. Much to his profit.

*gee, that's a familiar MO*

Chai Tea @8:

Actually the word 'Tai' and the word 'Thai' Both mean 'Free' as in 'Tai Chi' - Literally 'Free Energy'.

Actually, it does not. I don't know Thai language and don't know what is the exact meaning of the 'thai', but I know enough Chinese. 'Tai' is adjective meaning 'highest'/'supreme'/'senior' etc. Nothing to do with 'free'. Also, Tai Chi doesn't mean 'free energy'. Please, don't spread misinformation.

Every time that bogus, pompous windbag says "quantum" I get an urge to push his face in. Chopra wouldn't know quantum physics if it bit him in the ass.

BigHeathenMike:

I just had a brief exchange with Chopra on twitter where I said he understood science like my cat understands knock-knock jokes.

I listened to a podcast a while back which mentioned that Chopra will block tweets from people asking questions he does not like. It happened to enough of them (a bunch of skeptical Australians) that they sell this tee-shirt:
http://www.zazzle.com.au/ratcap/twitter+gifts

Wait until they're all inside, then erect a big fence round the entire area, then build a very high wall just outside that fence, then dig a moat just outside that fence. Add sharks. Then put an electrified fence outside the moat, just in case.

While I sympathize with Detroit, they're woobombing PZ personally!

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2011/06/twitter_is_useless_and_deepa…

http://www.zazzle.com.au/ratcap/twitter+gifts

WANT! Big time! And not just want the t-shirt - want the right to wear it legit.

The funniest Chopra comment to date is on PZ Meyer's 'blog:

"Quantum Zeno effect. A continuously observed particle will never decay. We all need attention to stay alive..."

First, if Chopra thinks that observed particles don't decay (even radioactive or unstable particles), he is mistaken. This alone invalidates the rest of his claim.

Second, it has been reported innumerable times that people do die while being "continuously observed" (see: death watch, ICU, etc.).

Finally, people who live in complete isolation (e.g. hermits, people living alone in the Alaskan bush) do not immediately die, nor do they die from causes that do not occur in people who live under constant observation (e.g. prison inmates, pop stars, residents of Manhattan Island).

I realise that this is stating the obvious, but Deepak Chopra understands quantum physics as well as a snail understands the poetry of Goethe. Maybe not even so well.

Prometheus