Uri Geller: A History of Failures

Article by Jon Donnis

Uri Geller, the Israeli-born psychic known for his spoon-bending and other paranormal feats, has been a figure of fascination and controversy for decades. While Geller claims to possess genuine psychic abilities, a closer examination of his career reveals numerous failures and debunked performances that cast significant doubt on his purported talents.

1. The Johnny Carson Incident (1973)

One of the most famous incidents highlighting Geller's failures occurred on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" in 1973. Carson, a former magician himself, was skeptical of Geller's abilities and prepared for the interview by consulting with magician and skeptic James Randi. They ensured that Geller would not have access to his own props and would be given only items provided by the show. Under these controlled conditions, Geller struggled and failed to demonstrate his abilities, unable to perform any of his usual feats of spoon bending or psychic readings. This high-profile failure significantly dented his credibility.

2. The "Project Alpha" Debacle

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, two young magicians, Steve Shaw (now known as Banachek) and Michael Edwards, were part of a project funded by the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research. They claimed to possess psychic abilities and were investigated by researchers eager to validate paranormal phenomena. In reality, the duo was part of a hoax orchestrated by James Randi to expose the lack of scientific rigor in paranormal research. Their success in deceiving the scientists, until they revealed the truth, demonstrated how easily supposed psychics like Geller could manipulate poorly controlled experiments.

3. The SRI Tests

Geller participated in a series of tests at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in the early 1970s, which were initially reported to support his claims of psychic ability. However, the protocols of these tests were later criticized for being inadequate to prevent trickery. Critics, including James Randi and other skeptics, argued that the researchers were not experienced in dealing with magicians and thus failed to eliminate potential avenues for cheating. This criticism cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the positive results Geller obtained at SRI.

Read more at https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/cia/CIA-RDP96-00787R000500240021-0.pdf

4. The James Randi Lawsuit

James Randi, a relentless critic of Geller, published a book titled "The Truth About Uri Geller" in 1982, which accused Geller of being a fraud and performing simple magic tricks rather than genuine psychic phenomena. Geller sued Randi for libel, but the case was dismissed, and Geller was ordered to pay a significant portion of Randi's legal fees. The dismissal of the lawsuit reinforced the skepticism surrounding Geller's claims and highlighted the weakness of his legal and evidential positions.

5. The Failure in Israel (2007)

In 2007, Geller participated in a television show in Israel where he attempted to showcase his psychic abilities live. During the broadcast, he failed to perform as expected, notably struggling to bend a spoon and accurately read minds. This public failure in his home country further tarnished his reputation and demonstrated the inconsistency of his abilities.

6. The "Phenomenon" Mishap (2007)

Geller co-hosted a television show called "Phenomenon" alongside Criss Angel, a magician known for his skepticism of paranormal claims. During one episode, Angel challenged Geller and another contestant, Jim Callahan, to demonstrate their abilities under more stringent conditions. Geller avoided the direct challenge, and Callahan's attempt ended in a heated exchange rather than a successful demonstration. This incident highlighted the tension between genuine skepticism and Geller's claims, further undermining his credibility.

Conclusion

Uri Geller's career is a complex tapestry of claimed psychic phenomena, public fascination, and repeated failures under controlled conditions. While he has undoubtedly captivated audiences worldwide, the numerous instances where his abilities have been debunked or failed to manifest under scrutiny suggest that his talents may be more about showmanship than genuine psychic power. As with any extraordinary claim, it is crucial to apply rigorous skepticism and scientific inquiry to ensure that what is being presented as reality is not simply illusion.

Craig Hamilton‑Parker’s 2025 Psychic Fails: Royals, Politics, and UFOs That Never Happened

By Jon Donnis

Every New Year, UK tabloids and online media carry the forecasts of psychics, promising insight into politics, royal affairs, global unrest, and even UFOs. Few are as widely reported as Craig Hamilton‑Parker, a British psychic who publishes detailed "year ahead" predictions. As 2025 draws to a close, it is worth examining how his claims stacked up against reality.

At the start of the year, Hamilton‑Parker made headlines for some particularly bold predictions. Among the most talked-about were claims that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would divorce, that Sir Keir Starmer would be ousted from government, and that France and Germany would experience major social unrest. Additional forecasts included sweeping "anti‑woke" laws in the United States and full government disclosure of UFO files.

Looking at the year's events, these predictions largely failed to materialise. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain married as of December 2025, with no public indication of a divorce. Sir Keir Starmer continues in his role as Labour leader, untouched by any ousting scenario predicted earlier in the year. Social unrest in France and Germany remained relatively limited and certainly did not reach the dramatic scale forecast. In the United States, while cultural debates continue, there were no sweeping "anti‑woke" laws passed that match the specifics of Hamilton‑Parker's claim. Likewise, despite ongoing government briefings and media coverage, there has been no full disclosure of UFO files as suggested.

One prediction that may seem to have a partial match involved maritime trouble. Hamilton‑Parker suggested that a ship or tanker could encounter problems during the year. In March 2025, a collision involving the MV Solong cargo ship and the MV Stena Immaculate oil tanker occurred off the English coast, resulting in a fire and rescue operation. While technically a correct event, the prediction was vague, and it is unclear if it was part of the New Year forecast or a mid‑year claim made after the fact. As such, it cannot be considered a clear success.

2025 Predictions vs Reality

Prediction: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will divorce
Outcome: Did not happen; couple remains married

Prediction: Sir Keir Starmer will be ousted from government
Outcome: Did not happen; still Labour leader

Prediction: Major social unrest in France and Germany
Outcome: No sustained or dramatic unrest matching the claim

Prediction: Sweeping "anti‑woke" laws in the US
Outcome: Did not occur as described

Prediction: Government UFO disclosure
Outcome: No full disclosure took place in 2025

Prediction: Ship or tanker in trouble
Outcome: A collision occurred in March; prediction vague.

The overall record for Hamilton‑Parker's 2025 predictions is stark. Of the six major claims publicly reported at the start of the year, five were demonstrably false, and one was ambiguous at best. This mirrors a long-standing trend among UK psychics featured in media: predictions may capture attention and generate headlines, but they rarely correspond to reality.

Hamilton‑Parker's forecasts are dramatic and narrative-driven. Royal drama, political upheaval, and global instability feature prominently, providing a compelling story for readers. Yet, as 2025 shows, they are far more effective at entertaining than predicting. For sceptical observers, the lesson is clear: media coverage of psychic predictions is largely a spectacle. The boldness of the claims draws attention, but their accuracy is consistently low.

In the end, Craig Hamilton‑Parker's 2025 predictions provide a cautionary tale about reading too much into psychic forecasts. While tabloids may present them as insider insight or prophetic vision, reality tells a different story. As we look ahead to 2026, readers would do well to approach similar forecasts with curiosity, but critical thinking should remain the primary guide. The New Year may bring surprises, but as 2025 proves, psychics rarely see them coming.

Freedom Holding Corp: building a connected financial ecosystem across multiple countries

Freedom Holding Corp is a NASDAQ listed financial services group under the ticker FRHC. It operates across more than 20 countries and provides brokerage, banking, insurance and related financial services. Over time, the company has positioned itself around a broader ecosystem approach, where different financial services are designed to work within a connected platform rather than as separate products.

At the centre of this model is the idea of integration. Instead of treating investing, banking and insurance as completely separate experiences, Freedom Holding aims to link them together so customers can move between services within the same system. A user might begin with investing activities, then open a bank account, and later access insurance products, all within a connected environment depending on the market.

The company’s core business remains rooted in brokerage services, which often act as an entry point for customers. From there, the wider platform expands into banking and insurance, creating additional layers of financial services that support long term engagement rather than single transaction use. This structure is designed to increase interaction between different parts of the group’s offering.

Alongside this, Freedom Holding has developed its banking and insurance operations to support its broader ecosystem strategy. Banking services help connect everyday financial activity with investment and other financial products, while insurance adds another layer of financial coverage within the same overall system. The intention is to build relationships that extend beyond a single service type.

It is important to note that the company’s “one platform” concept is still a developing vision rather than a fully unified global product. In some markets, services are more integrated than in others, and the level of connectivity between products varies depending on regulatory and operational conditions. The long term direction, however, is focused on increasing integration across services over time.

This ecosystem approach is also linked to the company’s international footprint. Freedom Holding operates in more than 20 countries, including markets across Central Asia, Europe and other regions. This geographic spread allows the company to develop and test different parts of its platform in multiple environments, rather than being limited to a single domestic market.

At a structural level, the company is designed to encourage cross usage of services. Customers who enter through one product, such as brokerage accounts, may gradually adopt additional services like banking or insurance. This creates a layered relationship between the user and the platform, which is central to how the business aims to grow over time.

Rather than relying on a single product line, Freedom Holding’s model is built around multiple connected revenue streams. Brokerage, banking and insurance each play a role, but they are also designed to support one another within the wider system. This reduces reliance on any one segment and helps create a more diversified financial structure.

From a technology and platform perspective, the company continues to invest in digital infrastructure that supports this integration. The goal is to make it easier for users to access different financial services within a single environment, even if full integration varies by region and regulatory framework.

In simple terms, Freedom Holding Corp is working towards a connected financial ecosystem where brokerage, banking and insurance services are increasingly linked. The idea of a single platform covering all aspects of financial and everyday services remains a strategic direction rather than a fully completed system, but it continues to shape how the company expands across its international markets.

The result is a business model that blends traditional financial services with a platform based approach, aiming to create longer term customer relationships through integration rather than separation.

"So now you're psychic?" - "No, No, No, it's all science" - The Mentalist

The Mentalist builds its appeal on a deceptively simple idea, that careful observation can feel almost like magic. At the centre is Patrick Jane, a former fake psychic who now works as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation. He does not read minds, he reads people, and the show leans into that distinction with quiet confidence. Each case becomes less about the crime itself and more about the small tells, the fleeting expressions, the overlooked details that reveal far more than any confession. It gives the series a calm, methodical rhythm, where tension comes from anticipation rather than spectacle.

What keeps it engaging over time is the balance between its case of the week structure and the long shadow of Jane’s personal story. His pursuit of the serial killer known as Red John adds a darker undercurrent that slowly builds across seasons. That thread gives weight to what might otherwise feel routine, grounding the character in something raw and unresolved. Around him, the team provides contrast and stability, particularly Teresa Lisbon, whose steady presence keeps Jane tethered when his instincts drift into risk. The result is a series that feels thoughtful without being heavy, sharp without needing to shout, and always just a little bit ahead of its audience.

Watch The Series in full at https://amzn.to/4n5z693

BadPsychics Magazine Issue 393, May 2026 - Cover Revealed