The Magic Box Hoax

Rasvar writes "Here is an interesting article from The Florida Times-Union about a high tech hoax that managed to pull in the likes of Blockbuster Video, US West, Ted Turner, Sen Orrin Hatch and numerous others. I actually attended one of the "demonstrations" of this device years back. I came away cynical becuase of the way he presented stuff. Sometimes it is good to be a cynic. This is a very good article on an impressive high tech scam."

Comments

He's an Inventor(tm)

[dattaway]

He received a patent on his black box, so it must true and not a hoax, right?

Another reason why patents are worthless pieces of paper.

Here is the schematics, from the patent:

[3Suns]

From the bottom of the patent:

+--------------+
| |
Data | YHBT | Data
=====+ YHL +=====
In | HAND | Out
| |
+--------------+

The Quest for the Holy Grail

[DarkHelmet]

"He had a Holy Grail that was the telecommunications equivalent of cold fusion," Mons said.

I'm picturing a bunch of companies with copper networks led by King Arthur galloping with a bunch of coconuts up to a castle. The man (who somehow looks like John Cleese with a peculiar french accent) at the top of the castle says that this is a castle of people with fiber networks.

King Arthur: If you give us food and shelter, you can join us on our quest for the Holy Grail.
Frenchman: Well, I'll ask him, but I don't think he'll be very keen. He's already got one, you see?
King Arthur: What? Are you sure you've got one?
Frenchman: Oh yes, it's very nice.
King Arthur: If you don't show us the grail, we shall take this castle by force!
Frenchman: You don't frighten us you copper-based pigdogs! Go and boil your buttons you sons of silly person. I blow my nose at you so cold, Arthur King. You and all your Silly English Kniggits! I fart in your general direction.... etc

At that point, the Fiber Optic French people catapult a gigantic light-based switch at them.

King Arthur and his Men: Run Away! Run Away!

Re:Charlatans Exist Because We Love Them

[efuseekay]

Great, now that we have somebody who calls himself a skeptic, but then went ahead and compartmentalized cynics and skeptics into nice little separate boxes.

I'd like to see some testable, repeatable proof that being cynical is an attitude guaranteed to close minds.

As you have claimed, of course.