index

Oh Hello Feb... Sally Morgan & This Morning

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:35:25 +0100

Wow, no update for end of December or throughout the whole of January. Naughty RiPA's! So what is our excuse..... Busy times and a lack on internet communication. That's our excuse and we are sticking to it!

RiPA have a lot of things going on at the moment. Some are to be kept in-house but other projects and expose's will be dripped fed as and when.

So, what has 2012 bought us so far? Sally Morgan.... Yep, its basically all been about Sally.
RiPA have a couple of articles on site already which deals with her latest scandal so we wont go into that right now. But instead lets speak of her attempts to sue the Daily Mail for this articleand also the Associated Newspapers.

A quick reminder, Sally played a gig at a Dublin theatre. An Ireland radio listener phoned in to say she heard voices and saw people in a room aside from stage. The window was open and the listener claimed that Sally was being fed info.

Great stuff... GOTCHA SALLY! This proves that you are a fraud.... right?
NO... not as a stand-alone account as it is just one person’s eyewitness testimony, recalled using fallible human memory. and we all know how unreliable that can be.

Us of a Skeptical nature are supposed to be coldly dismissive of that kind of evidence. whether for or against. But when you put that together with this video which shows that, contrary to Morgan’s claims, she had been using two earpieces instead of one, it starts to look more like she’s just a fraud. After all, if it were only to be used as a one-way microphone, why would she need two different earpieces?
Another problem with Morgan’s act is that she doesn’t seem to want to be tested on it under controlled conditions. Last October, Simon Singh and a group of other science advocates challenged Morgan to do exactly that on Halloween and she rejected the challenge.Speaking via her lawyer’s email account, Morgan told Singh that he “will know that we all have far more important things to do than take part in this or any other ‘test’ at this point.”
What can be more important than to take part in an experiment that could result in shutting up all of her critics forever,

Will she win? Perhaps, Our UK libel laws are set up in a way as to favour the plaintiffs. You may have read some articles on the RiPA site regarding 'Sense about Science: Keep libel out of science'. This is a prime reason for the reform bill regarding libel.

The Daily Mail will have to prove that she's not Psychic rather than Sally prove she is. And if she is refusing such challenges then the DM has no hope!

Ok so all this is old news but as this is just a quick recap to make up for lack of January's posts I'm sure I can be forgiven!

On a lighter note, This week (06/02/2012) see's the UK's ITV show 'This Morning' host a 'Supernatural Week'. This morning show looked into whats now known as 'The Enfield Poltergeist'. For two years from 1977, the goings-on at 284 Green Street, Enfield, made national headlines as furniture moved of its own accord, fires spontaneously ignited and extinguished themselves and 11-year-old Janet appeared to be possessed by spirits. Joining Janet, now 46, is Guy Lyon Playfair, a poltergeist expert who was one of the investigators who visited the house and subsequently wrote a book about what he saw called This House Is Haunted; and Deborah Hyde, editor in chief of magazine The Skeptic, to give her alternative explanation of events. I would usually embed the video on site but as my resources are currently limited i'll just put a link up instead.

http://www.itv.com/thismorning/life/supernatural-week-enfield-poltergeist/

So there you have it. a mega-quick less informative than usual post just to show we are still active.
I will put up a proper entry towards the end of the week.

Till next time folks.

Rise of Anomalistic Psychology...the fall of Parapsychology

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:33:07 +0100

Ooooer, Nearly Christmas again. Does anyone else feel that this season is much more supernatural than Halloween? Anyhow, to the point of this blog. RiPA have been around for a while now and there is no doubt that we have caused a stir. Some hate us, some admire us, some even go out of their way to avoid us! Why is this? Is it because we are insanely beautiful or could it be we strive to put reason and advocate critical thinking into pseudoscientific claims?

The main reason behind RiPA is to open up the world of 'Anomalistic Psychology. When RiPA was formed nearly 3 years ago, the word Anomalistics was pretty much unknown. Today, it has become much more familiar. However, it seems some people still dont understand the concept of 'Anomalistics'.

So to help clarify what Anomalistics are and if it is the future of Parapsychology, our friend Prof. Chris French gives a personal account regarding Anomalistic psychology. Could this be the rise of Anomalistic Psychology...... and the fall of Parapsychology?

Ever since records began, people have reported strange experiences that appear to contradict our conventional scientific understanding of the universe. These have included reports that appear to support the possibility of life after death, such as near-death experiences, ghostly encounters and apparent communication with the dead, as well as claims by various individuals that they possessed mysterious powers such as the ability to read minds, see into the future, obtain information from remote locations without the use of the known sensory channels, or to move objects by willpower alone. Such accounts are accepted as veridical by most of the world’s population in one form or another and claims relating to miraculous healing, alien abduction, astrological prediction and the power of crystals are also accepted by many. Belief in such paranormal claims is clearly an important aspect of the human condition. What are we to make of such accounts from a scientific perspective?

Should we accept at least some of these claims more or less at face value? That is to say, should we accept that extrasensory perception (ESP), psychokinesis (PK), and life after death are all real? Parapsychologists have systematically investigated such phenomena for around 130 years but have so far failed to convince the wider scientific community that this is the case. The eminent scientists and intellectuals who founded the Society for Psychical Research in 1882 were convinced that, with the tools of science at their disposal, they would settle the issue one way or another within a few years. Clearly, that has not happened. Instead, parapsychology has been characterised by a series of ‘false dawns’ during which it has been declared that at last a technique has been developed which can reliably show under well-controlled conditions that paranormal effects are real. With time, however, the technique falls out of favour as subsequent research fails to replicate the initially reported effects and methodological shortcomings become apparent.

The latest candidate for such a ‘false dawn’ is a series of relatively straightforward experiments reported by Daryl Bem in the prestigious Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. In eight of nine experiments, involving more than a thousand participants in total, Bem reported significant results suggesting that human beings are able in some way to sense events before they happen. For example, the study which produced the largest effect size appeared to show that participants are able to recall more words if they rehearse them than if they do not – even if the rehearsal does not take place until after recall has been tested! As so often happens, these controversial findings received widespread coverage in the mainstream science media. However, subsequent attempts at replication have failed, including a study involving three independent replication attempts carried by Richard Wiseman (University of Hertfordshire), Stuart Ritchie (University of Edinburgh), and myself (Goldsmiths, University of London).

If paranormal forces really do not exist, how are we to explain the widespread belief in them and the sizeable minority of the population who claim to have had direct personal experience of paranormal phenomena? One possible answer is that there are certain events and experiences which may appear to involve paranormal phenomena but which can in fact be fully explained in non-paranormal, usually psychological, terms. This is the approach adopted by anomalistic psychologists. In general, anomalistic psychologists attempt to explain such phenomena in terms of known psychological effects such as hallucinations, false memories, the unreliability of eyewitness testimony, placebo effects, suggestibility, reasoning biases and so on. It is noteworthy that anomalistic psychologists have, in just a few decades, produced many examples of replicable effects that adequately explain a range of ostensibly paranormal phenomena.

Anomalistic psychology is definitely on the rise. Not only is it now offered as an option on many psychology degree programmes, it is also an option on the most popular A2 psychology syllabus in the UK. Every year more books and papers in high quality journals are published in this area and more conferences and symposia relating to topics within anomalistic psychology are held. There is no doubt that anomalistic psychology is flourishing.

And what of parapsychology? The health of this discipline is somewhat harder to assess but apart from the occasional ray of hope offered by the latest false dawn, the situation does not look encouraging for parapsychologists. Funding for such research is inevitably more difficult to obtain in times of economic uncertainty. Scarce research funding will be invested in areas where the probability of success is high – and the history of parapsychology shows all too clearly that studies in this area often involve huge investments of time and resources and produce nothing in return. Without a genuine breakthrough in the near future, can parapsychology survive for much longer? Without psychic powers, it’s difficult to know but I certainly would not bet on it.

RiPA's tips on what NOT to buy for Xmas

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:31:05 +0100

Well, another year draws to a close and RiPA are still moving up the most hated ladder. We must be doing something right! This year we have exposed, discovered, laughed at and argued against. But still the battle continues.

We already have a job-lot to take on next year so 2012 will be more explosive than ever before.

But we cant just leave 2011 without having the final say on a couple of things. So, in true RiPA style and because we care, the following is a non-exhaustive list of what NOT to buy as a gift this Christmas.

HOMEOPATHIC GOODS: Just a big fat Santa belly full of NO on this one. Certainly a personal hate of mine and a nemisis for RiPA. If you are unfamiliar with Homeopathy, Let me give you a quick run down.

Homeopathy is based on the principle that you can treat ‘like with like’, that is, a substance which causes symptoms when taken in large doses, can be used in small amounts to treat those same symptoms. For example, drinking too much coffee can cause sleeplessness and agitation, so according to this principle, when made into a homeopathic medicine, it could be used to treat people with these symptoms. However, one major difference with homeopathic medicines is that substances are used in ultra high dilutions, which makes them non-toxic.

When we say 'Ultra high', we mean ULTRA HIGH. So much so that it is diluted to the point where you'll have to drink 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 gallons of homeopathic remedy to get one molecule of active ingredient, this is 10 billion times the volume of the earth in liquid remedy. Im not going to go into the un-science just yet. A quick look on the RiPA website will pull up much info on the subject. Save your money, put some tap water in a urine test tube and wrap that instead!

POWERBANDS / ION BANDS / POWER BALANCE ETC: These are another fav of RiPA's. When I say fav, I mean its great fun debunking these fashion items. So what are they? Be warned, Major Woo coming up.

Optimal health and peak performance occur when;your body maintains ionic balance (the exchange between negative and positive charges) and free flowing energy pathways (harmony) at the optimum frequency. Power Balance, after years of research and development, has produced a system to safely restore and optimize the electro-magnetic balance within the human body… immediately. Power Balance’s Mylar Holographic Disk (the same substance used to keep static electricity from damaging electrical components) has been imbedded with an electrical frequency that restores your body’s electrical balance, promoting a free exchange of positive and negative ions and align your body’s energy pathways.”

This all sounds great, but does it work?
To the sellers and reps of the company, yes it does.
To the likes of Alex Reid, Fatima Whitbread, Peter Andre, yes, it works.
To the likes of RiPA? HELL NO!
The Powerbalance bands are nothing but a placebo.
At £30 a pop, it is an expensive placebo.
So how are people duped into buying such things? One word 'Kinesiology'
Kinesiology is the study of human and animal movement, performance, and function by applying the sciences of biomechanics. anatomy, physiology, psychology, and neuroscience. Knowing how the body moves and works is the main selling point of this con. I will upload a video on it in the new year but its a similiar technique to a school age trick. Stand in a door way, press the back of your hands on the frame for 30-40 secs then step forward and relax. Your arms will automatically rise..... This is practically a lower level demo of what the selling agents for Powerbands do. Note: Phillip Stein watches can also come under this category.

DREAM WATER: You almost never hear anyone complaining about getting too much sleep. So it's a good bet that a lot of people on your gift list would appreciate anything that helped them sleep better, longer and more deeply. That's the promise of Dream Water, a liquid supplement from Miami-based Dream Products. Each 2.5-ounce bottle contains a "proprietary blend" of three compounds that often show up in alternative sleep remedies: the hormone "Melatonin Melatonin and the brain chemicals GABA and 5-HTP Users are instructed to drink a full bottle any time they're struggling to fall asleep. You can buy a 12-pack for about £25.

The Dream Water website claims that the three ingredients "work together to help you fall asleep."
The melatonin is said to induce sleep while the GABA reduces anxiety and the 5-HTP improves the quality of sleep.

David Lekach, the chief executive of Dream Products, calls himself "an unfortunate power user of Dream Water."
He says a bottle at night reliably helps him fall asleep. He adds that Dream Water may not work for everyone. "We're not perfect, but we've sold millions of bottles in this country. There's definitely a demand If a sound night's sleep is your holiday wish'.

Don't count on Dream Water, says James Wyatt, director of the Sleep Disorders Service and Research Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. A fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Wyatt has extensively studied melatonin as a potential sleep aid.

His conclusion: "It has no impact on nighttime sleep." As he explains, people make the hormone naturally as night falls, and there's no correlation between a person's nighttime melatonin levels and sleepiness. Melatonin can encourage sleep in shift workers who have to sleep during the day, he says, but that's not exactly the target audience of Dream Water.
(With one exception: The website shows a picture of a dozing Santa, the ultimate shift worker) Wyatt says there's also no good reason to think that either GABA or 5-HTP would encourage sleep in anyone. "They're making health claims without a shred of data,"

Let me just add that RiPA did a study on the big mineral water brands earlier this year and we found that, despite where the company states the product comes from, they are all generally processed and bottled at the same factory. Nestle however were reluctant to speak to us about their Buxton range. Volvic & other such companies were more than helpful. Ok, so these are not claiming to help you dream better, but the claims of 'Volcanicity' & 'Ionised power water' are pretty much on the same level.

There is so many more items we could go in to here, from ion lined golf shirts to personal oxygen bars. High priced Psychic Readings to Ancient Healing Therapys. If a product claims to harbour some mystical power, then the chances are it doesnt. If you find it hard NOT to spend your money on such things, then please, RiPA is grateful for any donations!
If you come across an item or claim that sounds too good to be true then drop us a line at: admin@ripaonline.co.uk and we'll follow it up.

Ok, so I have ranted on about things NOT to get for xmas, what about things TO get?
Well I would be happy for a new website for one! I can do it, but as there is shitloads of content on the RiPA site (honest, there really is, explore it) it'll be one hell of a job!

Until next time folks, hope to see ya'll on the forums!

PS: Products listed have been tried and tested by RiPA or its affiliates. they have also been exposed.

The Unhaunted Land of The UK

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:32:41 +0100

An old video from years gone by with the animated form of Moe, Curly, and the other dude, Larry. Ok, so what has a cartoon got to do with RiPA?
Well, as you could probably tell, the title was 'The Unhaunted House'. An unusual title considering the word 'Unhaunted' isnt heard very much at all. All we seem to hear is '..This place is the Most Haunted location in __[enter county here]___ '.

Well we at RiPA here have some news for you. You know that £70 ticket you paid for the other night to go on a 'Ghost Hunt'? The chances are you will not see any ghosts. You will not actually 'hunt' for them either. The place that you'll be visiting more than likely has no documented evidence of actual discarnate souls coming to say hi.
At best what you'll be presented with is some Medium/Psychic reeling off spiel about how some spirit is around her/him and is drawn to a couple of people in the crowd. he Psychic/Medium will then go on to plant seeds, 'Can you feel it getting cold?', 'What's that to the left of your arm?'.
Then it begins, the Psychic/Medium show. Everyone will sit around in dark rooms, listening to the Psychic/Medium's cue.

From here on, nothing much changes. Take away the Psychic/Medium and you are left with the paying public who so want to experience something, see something, feel something. They paid a small fortune to have this night so they should by rights be entitled to get what they paid for. But how many really get the ghost?

Judging by recent reports at RiPA HQ. Very few! What is the reasoning of this? Well the obvious few would be because ghosts dont exist, theres no such thing as the afterlife, when you're dead, you're dead.....

Ok ok, perhaps thats too cynical of me. Well how bout this one. You probably wont get your ghost because the place you are visiting is not actually haunted? Let me explain a bit more.

There has been a sudden surge of 'new' locations appearing on the ghost hunting map. Bunkers, buildings in state of disrepair, struggling businesses, decrep...... Whats that? Did I just say struggling businessess?

Yes, yes I did. Places out there need funding. So what better way than to offer an alternative? There are literally thousands of amateur ghost hunting groups out there so it make good business sense to tap into the market.
Most Haunted sparked off the recent surge so this is another avenue for locations. Get on TV, Have the Most Haunted crew fake some ghostiness, charge exorbitant rates to people who want to come for the ghosts. Brilliant profit margin.

So what is my point here? My point is I see every day new claims of 'evidence; at places that have no need to have such a thing. For example; Kelvedon Hatch, a fascinating Bunker in Essex. Excellant Museum, it really is. If you get the chance to visit then do so. It has been used in many movies and TV shows and remains quite true to how it was. But is it haunted?
Hell no. I say that with good authority. My own! I have done several experiments and tests at this location but there has NEVER been anything anomalous. Nothing that cant be put down to rational explanation or science. But still ghost hunting groups will bill this place as ' The most haunted location in the UK ' or something similar. It really isnt. Listen to the Psychic/Medium as they walk around, picking up cold spots and plucking names from nowhere, I have been in this field for many years and it makes me chuckle to see some of the tripe some ghost hunters come out with.

So RiPA are currently compiling ' The Most Unhaunted ' list. This will be made up from locations RiPA have visited.
Places that seem to have no need to be haunted, locations that have no history to be haunted.
Use this as a guide to protect your funds.
Sure some groups will give you an interesting night. This usually reflects in the pricing structure.
The lower the price, the more genuine the team could be.

Remember, Paranormal Research is NOT the same as ghost hunting.

Till next time folks.

The Marmite World of RiPA

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:49:47 +0100

So it starts again, more hate mail, more claims that people can prove abilities beyond this world. More notices of 100% proof that Homeopathy works. Even people that we thought were supporters have turned.... oh well.

Do we really care? In a word NO!
Love us or hate us, we are here to stay!

Here at RiPA we have much more bigger things to deal with than petty squabbles and playground politics.

Which brings me to mention the expansion and growth of RiPA. Over the years RiPA has done plenty of TV work and no, I don't mean some 2-bit Most Haunted/TAPS rip off either.

The programs we have worked on are highly interesting on a more academic front and comes away from all the bullshit TV paranormal. Ok, so you're probably thinking: 'Of course you'd say that, You are RiPA'. but no, really, we confront the woosters out there, We go face to face against the charlatans and frauds.

This is perhaps the one most important factor as to why RiPA is so disliked out there.

So when are you guys and gals in the real world gonna get to see some of this? Real soon!.
RiPA have just recently received a shipment of high-end studio production cameras and filming has practically started again.
What shows are we going to bring you?
Ah, well, Obviously I cannot say too much but 'Spirit - Level' will return. Its had a complete make-over and set design so expect more healthy and loud debates. We have already arranged many duels for the new series.

Also on the cards is 'RiPA Confronts...' The title says it all. RiPA will be knocking on the doors of businesses and people who claim that their product can do something totally marvellous and out of this world. This includes Psychics, Homeopaths, Reflexologists etc. Now please let me add that we are not going on a 'Witch Hunt'. The places and people we will be visiting shall be the ones who have cause to be investigated, much as it is now really, but with this show, you get to join RiPA as we expose the frauds.

All places and folks that we visit will get the opportunity to put their case forth in a fair way. So dont worry, there will be no underhand tactics. Also we will have undercover surveillance as camera fitted RiPA's get appointments to get right to the heart of what really goes on. So Psychics, Tarot readers, Mediums and anyone else who is charging a fortune for their unproven claims, watch out. We have already acquired recordings of several charlatans failing at what they do.
We also have an appointment with a certain Psychic next week. This will be interesting.

If you have a story to share or know of someone who should come under the RiPA Radar, please drop us a line @ admin@ripaonline.co.uk letting us know what happened and why they should be investigated.

Only a quick update this time folks.
Please keep your stories and photos coming and we look forward to hearing from you on the forums:
www.ripaonline.co.uk/forum

Business As Usual

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:40:37 +0100

Hey Folks. yeah yeah, I know its been a while since the last site update but RiPA have had so much going on recently its unreal!

As you may recall, our last update was regarding some certain 'Psychic' of whom we have grounds to believe are nothing more than charlatans taking advantage of vulnerable people by profiting from their grief.

This must be curbed and RiPA are doing all we can to sort this out. The sudden boom in so called 'Psychics' is becoming unacceptable.

If you are a Psychic and disagree with what we are doing, email us at:
admin@ripaonline.co.uk and tell us why. We would love to hear from you.
Perhaps you know of a practicing psychic who needs investigating? Again, drop us a line at the same email address and we shall look into it.

Currently we are REALLY interested to hear from anybody who has encountered Barry Lloyd of Biggleswade Spiritual Church. We have some interesting info on him and are slowly obtaining a case file which includes some in appropriate action on his part. Of course, this is anecdotal at the moment and if it turns out to be no more than a fallacy then in true honour, we will issue a press release updating this particular case file.

Anyhow, Im not here to rabbit on about fakery and fraudery this time round, instead I would like to inform you all that RiPA's "A'Live Seance" show returns on the 26th July. Our subject this month is Eva Peron. One of the most influential women of recent times.

On 26th July 1952, 59 years ago, One of the most influential woman of modern times sadly passed away due to ovarian cancer.

She was admired by the public, despised by authority but this did not stop Eva campaigning heavily for her husband during his 1946 presidential bid. Using her weekly radio show she delivered powerful speeches with heavy populist rhetoric urging the poor to align themselves with Perón's movement. Although she had become wealthy from her radio and modeling success, she would highlight her own humble upbringing as a way of showing solidarity with the impoverished classes.

On Tuesday 26th July 2011, RiPA will try to reach out to Eva Peron.
Known as 'The Spiritual Leader'. we shall see if she still lives on in Spirit.
Will she come through to us?
Will she leave us some important information that she didnt have time to reveal?

Maybe, Maybe not, but whatever the outcome you can be sure of an entertaining night. From taking part in some weird and wonderful experiments to sitting in the circle itself, Its sure to be an interesting event.

When we have done these Seance's in the past, it has been known that people close to the guests have come through and no sign of the chosen subject.
So even if Eva does not show, maybe a passed one will have a message for you.

Let celebrate the life of Eva Peron

As a special thanks to all our supporters and followers, RiPA are pleased to announce that we bring 'EVITA - A'Live Seance' to you with free entry...... although donations gratefully received :p.

As always with these events, we do not guarantee any spiritual communication or supernatural phenomena. Nor do we claim validity for any paranormal events.

If you are yet to come to RiPA's 'A'Live Seance' then take advantage of this freebie and come say hi.
Without giving too much away, the night is split into two halves, The first half is bringing to light the tools of the Victorian style Seance and a quick talk about the our chosen subject, as well as a bit of magic and skepticism thrown in.

The second part is the Seance itself. This is were the lights dim and what happens happens.........
We hope to see you all there. Details can be found on the above poster.

In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding this or any any thing else paranormal related, feel free to drop us a mail at admin@ripaonline.co.uk.

Also, feel free to join our forums. We would love to see you folks on there. There is plenty to discuss and we welcome all, Avid believer or hardened skeptic, sign up and share your thoughts. Since our last forum host suddenly closed, it has been quite a steep hill to regain the busy level of the forum. But with your help, we can do it.

Till next time.

RiPA is watching you!

Mon, 23 May 2011 21:09:48 +0100

Ok, Im gonna cut straight to the chase here.
RiPA HQ frequently receive emails about so called 'psychics' that seem to be nothing more than just manipulative charlatans who are out to work on vulnerable people in order to earn some cold cash.

It seems that for every 'psychic' that gets outed, another four pop up in their place.

In the past, RiPA has confronted many so called 'psychics' and 'mediums' as well as many others whose claims are prone to investigation. This ranges from Homeopathy to mineral water companies.

We are very diplomatic in doing this.
The normal procedure would be to write a letter/email asking about the claims any if there is any empirical evidence to back this up. We will add a 14 day window to reply. If nothing is heard, further correspondance will be sent as a reminder.

When that fails, the outage and investigation begins. Lets concentrate on the 'psychic' world here for sake of blog. Oh, and when I say 'psychic', im meaning it as a collective for all associated to it eg: Mediums, Healers, Trance, Tarot etc. So, by now we have given said party a month to provide us with some evidence that their claim is genuine. If we hear nothing. The footwork begins.

We will seek out followers or clients of the 'psychic' and see if they are willing to speak about their experience. Most of the time, people are happy to share whether positive or negative. The positive ones take great comfort in shouting to the world that the reading they had was accurate, therefore life from beyond exists. The people with a negative experience are just as keen as they are dissapointed and want some form of compensation from the 'psychic'.

Because of this, collating reviews is not such a hard job. We will also show up to the shows or events that the 'psychic' is hosting. We do this to experience first hand how the 'psychic' performs and study the ways in which they move, speak and act. Everything is noted. Its not just the show that we have our eyes on. We also take note of people in the foyer/bar prior to entering the arena/hall. In the past we have easily spotted stooges and stage-hands gaining information in an al-nateural way. All this evidence is then taken back to RiPA HQ and analysed. There is a bit more to it than just what I have described but it would be folly to go into complete detail.

Why do we do this? Well we feel is it part of the course that we have to do. On a personal level im not too fond of people who are out to make a quick buck by manipulating others by false claims.

I have a background in magic and illusion as well as psychology so i know how the mind works and how we can manipulate the ways in which people think. Yes, I have done some 'perfomance' shows, and yes, tickets were sold to cover costs. I know what you are thinking. I am taking money off of people who I am about to manipulate. Sure I am.... but there is a difference. People are coming to be entertained by me. People like to be entertained and if being fooled is part of their rosta, then so be it.

People do not come to me to hear from their loved ones. Grieving parents do not come to seek solace in words from beyond the grave. Distraught wives do not come to find out if their missing spouse is dead or alive only to be told the wrong answer.

'Psychics' are different. People go to them to seek piece of mind. They WANT to hear from their family or people associated to them. These people are also willing to pay. The 'Psychics' know this and will use it to their advantage. Using one of or a combination of cold reading, prior knowledge, shotgunning and various other techniques that I will not go in to here, they manage to convince their audience that they are a conduit to the after-life. Some practioners out there charge a royal abomination of an amount. not just ticket prices for thier shows but also for private readings/sessions.

Im sure that like me, you would also like to the 'psychic' world cleared up. This is what RiPA aims to help do.
Now. It would be wrong of me to say that ALL 'psychics' out there are charlatans. Maybe there are some practioners out there that can REALLY make contact. RiPA are just yet to see this. But maybe you could help?
If you know of a psychic that appears to be the real deal then please, let us know. Just click on the following link ---> Psychic - with the relevant details, ie: name, website, area, reason etc and we'll be in touch with both you and the 'psychic'.

Maybe you know of some 'psychics' or other claims that need to be investigated, if this is the case, then let us know by clicking the following link ----> Unpsychic - with the relevant details, ie: name, website, area, reason etc and as above we'll be in touch with both you and the 'un-psychic'.

We currently have several on the go at the moment:

Steve Newton

SNU (Spiritualists National Union)

Phillip Kinsella

Of course, if you have any info regarding the above mentioned, positive or negative, let us know by emailing us at : admin@ripaonline.co.uk

Please understand that we have valid justifiable reasons to investigate such people/organisations.
Till next time folks.

Ghosts Of The Galleries Of Justice - 20th May

Tue, 17 May 2011 01:23:01 +0100

On the 20th May. RiPA will open their doors to invite you lucky people to join us on an evening of Crime and Punishment.

The Galleries are a prime location for RiPA and nearly every Paranormal group, amateur or tour, have claimed to come away with irrefutable evidence.

Truth be told, RiPA are yet to see any of this 'proof' but if the claims keep coming, there must be something there right?

RiPA aims to find out if the tortured souls of the Galleries really do walk the haunted corridors or if it is nothing more than just your own psychology playing tricks on you.

With a history dating back hundreds of years complete with tales of woe and misery. Is it any wonder that the Galleries of Justice has earned a reputation as quite possibly the most haunted place in the UK?

So RiPA, what do you expect to encounter on the night?
Well, we really have no idea. If, going by reports from past visitors, paranormal activity is rife, we can expect to be audience to a wide range of phenomena.

From shadowy forms moving in the main courtroom to the ghosts of the condemned that were once hanged in the noose in the execut exercise yard!!

RiPA await a return to this marvellous piece of architectural history to see if it really does live up to its reputation.

RiPA are glad to announce that this time, we are opening our doors to ask you to join us on this night. Let me iterate though that if you are expecting a 'Most Haunted' performance, look elsewhere.

We have no need to play up to such low standard as the 'Most Haunted' team. After a brief introduction about RiPA and the night ahead, whatever happens, happens. We do not 'set-up' and we certainly do not embellish the haunts.

Yes, it is true that nothing may happen, but considering the amount of visitors that have come away from the Galleries of Justice claiming to have experienced some type of phenomena, we may, just may be in luck.

So what can you expect on the night? Well, RiPA will be guiding guests like you througout the night.
You will take part in many different experiments, conventional and unorthodox. We will have classic victorian 'Ghost Hunting' tools for you to use and you may evn take part in an old themed mock trial.
If you are the chosen one would you be found innocent or guilty?
Will you get a slap on the wrist or will you hear the fateful 'Send 'em down' cry from the proceeding judge?

Whatever happens you can guarantee an interesting and memorable event.

Tour companies offer stays at the Galleries of Justice at a price in excess of £65. A very high price indeed. However, your friendly RiPA's are offering this at the cheapest cost of only £25!!
This is the cheapest an event like this at the Galleries has ever been offered and probably ever will be so dont miss this chance.

To find out more about the galleries and its hauntings, visit our Galleries page at:
www.ripaonline.co.uk/justice

It is a bit late to book your place by paying online now, so instead, drop RiPA an email at: admin@ripaonline.co.uk and we will take payment of £25 on the night.

As RiPA are a friendly bunch (once you get to know us) We are proud to announce that RiPA Forum members will get a discount of £5 for this location.

All you need to do to qualify for this discount is sign up to the RiPA forums by clicking this link and make a minimum of 10 full worthy posts.
Discount will be returned on the night.

Until next time folks, Do sleep well.....

Do you have Friggatriskaidekaphobia

Mon, 23 May 2011 20:28:12 +0100

Well, do you?

Friggatriskaidekaphobia is another way of saying fear of Friday the thirteenth. Inasmuch as one is coming up in a few days, it would be fun to review some facts about this phenomenon.

Frigga is the name of the Norse Goddess for whom the day Friday is named. She was the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labelled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil — a gathering of thirteen — and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week.

For many centuries in Scandinavia, Friday was known as "Witches' Sabbath."

Triskaidekaphobia is fear of the number 13. Put them both together and what have you got? Fear of Friday the 13th!

It is near on an impossible feat to really know how many people suffer from this phobia. But I think it is safe to say that probably everybody you know, including yourself takes caution on this day despite your superstitious beliefs.

Some people are so frightened that they won't get out of bed, carry out normal business, take a trip or make any important decisions. Although it seems that the airports would likewise be devoid of flyers, airlines report bookings remain unchanged. So for those who are fearful of Friday the 13th, there must be an equal number of fearless opportunists, who snap up the empty seats.

Some consider twelve to be a perfect number; 12 months to year, 12 to a dozen, 12 zodiac signs, 12 apostles, etc. Thirteen is imperfect and inferentially bad luck. It is argued that if thirteen people sit around a dinner table, one will die. At least that can be inferred from DaVinci's immortal painting, The Last Supper. Maybe RiPA will hold an upcoming experiment to test this....

Of the days of the week, Friday is often considered an unlucky day. Those in the Biblical know say that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden on a Friday, Noah's flood started on a Friday, and Christ was crucified on a Friday. Christians also noted that twelve witches plus one devil are present at Satanic ceremonies so Friday and 13 make a deadly combination Others, though, think Friday is a great day, principally because it is the end of the traditional five day work week.

Other oddities, which may be coincidences, wherein Friday the thirteenth took a bad rap include the start of the ill timed Battle of Hastings on Friday, October 13, 1066 and the arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307. The idea of the bad karma of Friday the thirteenth didn't gain any traction until the nineteenth century. The whole notion appears to be more fluff than substance, similar to the black cat and the walking under a ladder bad luck associations. Check out this site to map out all of the Fridays, which fall on the 13th http://kaji.com/etc/friday13th.html

So what are RiPA doing for May's Friday 13th?
RiPA have arranged with the lovely folks at MKDC (Milton Keynes Discovery Centre)
to test your conditioning of Friggatriskaidekaphobia at Bradwell Abbey, Milton Keynes.

Bradwell Abbey is said to be home to many discarnate souls and with a history such as the one attributed to the Abbey, is it any wonder? From the ghosts of Monks and Maids to a little bit of child-play, will anything turn up on the night of Friday 13th May to make you question your beliefs?

The night kicks off from 9pm where a quick introduction to RiPA and the night ahead will take place. I just want to take this opportunity to state that RiPA are not a tour/events company. RiPA are an organisation that studies paranormal scientific claims so you can be sure, should anything happen to you on the night, in the walls of the Abbey, will not be a fabrication on our part.

To attend this night of magic, mystery and perhaps ghosts, all you need to do is either pay on arrival, or for your convenience just click the paypal button below:

You will recieve email confirmation. This is your ticket.
Give your name at the door.

GALLERIES OF JUSTICE - 20th MAY

Thu, 12 May 2011 13:51:41 +0100

Thats right folks, after a bit of a delay we are back again with a truly brilliant event.

But first lets have a quick catch up.

Since our last update which was on Homeopathy and alternative treatments it has transpired, as of today, that an eu law has been passed regarding Herbal Remedies and alt treatments to be basically outlawed.

Ok, so the term outlawed may be a bit strong but as a result of the new legalities, that is what will no doubt happen.

These new laws are aimed at protecting consumers from potentially damaging "traditional" medicines.

Under the directive, herbal medicines will now have to be registered. Products must meet safety, quality and manufacturing standards, and come with information outlining possible side-effects.

Herbal practitioners and manufacturers say they fear the new rules could force them out of business. Wouldn't that be a shame.

Could this law extend to Homeopathy? Who knows, but word has it that EU are looking into it and will LOWER the essences to a more SAFER level!!

Anyhow, back to the Herbalists. From now on, manufacturers will have to prove their products have been made to strict standards and contain a consistent and clearly marked dose. Remedies already on sale will be allowed to stay on the shelves until their expiry date. The agency said there had been 211 applications for approval of herbal remedies so far, with 105 granted and the rest still under consideration. Approved remedies will come with a logo marked THR.

We await the outcome.

Right, onto more exciting news. It seems our next event is a return to the Galleries Of Justice. This place is like part of the Holy Grail when it comes to haunted places in the UK. In the past, RiPA has kept quiet about studies held at this place, as well as many others, but this time we are throwing open our doors to a limited number of guests who would be willing to join us at this wonderful place.

Shall I reveal the history and details here? Nah! Just visit: www.ripaonline.co.uk/justice for all the info you need on this study.

In the title of this update it states future projects. Ok, this is kinda misleading as it is early days and I am not really at liberty to disclose such info. However I will add that all going well you will be seeing a lot more of RiPA and you will be able to get involved in many different studies. It is a great time to be a RiPA!

In the meantime we would love to see you lot join in the discussions on the RiPA forums. The past week has given way to some interesting stories including one about a gravedigger who raped four schoolgirls in a church yard after claiming he was a warlock who could pass on his magic powers by having sex! Come read the full story and have your say!

Till next time folks