Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rochester.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!rochester!FtG From: FtG@rochester.UUCP (FtG) Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Re: Verifiable Astrological Phenomenon? Message-ID: <2339@rochester.UUCP> Date: Thu, 21-Jul-83 09:28:33 EDT Article-I.D.: rocheste.2339 Posted: Thu Jul 21 09:28:33 1983 Date-Received: Fri, 22-Jul-83 05:37:15 EDT References: auvax.185, <252@dciem.UUCP> Organization: University of Rochester Lines: 13 The problem with the study relating athletes and their horoscopes is that it is a classical example of the raindrop effect. You take a small sample, consider a lot of possible relationships, and voila! At least one surprising relationship will correlate. Magicians do this all the time by asking an audience member to name a card and presto, he pulls a sealed envelope out of his hat/ coat pocket/ shoe/ etc. that contains exactly that card. Since he never said ahead of time where he was going to get the envelope, he's free to pick the right one. It's amazing how much psuedo-science can be explained with very little knowledge of stage magic. FtG