User:Jmcgnh/sandbox/Jim Underdown

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Editing notes
  • Consider moving page to commonly-used name "Jim Underdown" if that is truly the name he more commonly is called
  • Common shortened or nicknames don't need to be introduced in the lead sentence in quotes – see WP:NICKUSE
  • Use "Underdown" rather than "James" to refer to subject in body
  • Reword lead to follow the common format of __Person__ is a __Nationality__ __profession/occupation/role__ best known for __very_short_list_of_achievements__.
  • Examine refs: status as primary, RS, etc; dead links?
  • reduce long lists of publications and appearances
  • identify most important achievements
  • build case for notability against requirements
  • some of the activities might perhaps best be considered as "antics" (such as bear wrestling and poet laureate) - de-emphasize these
  • locate some newer refs
  • outsource some of the details, such as those about IIG, to the IIG article instead of the JU article.
  • What's the current status of CFI West and the Steve Allen theater - being torn down for new condos?
  • replace dead link cfiwest.org with http://www.centerforinquiry.net/la
  • Run checklinks to spot other potential problems
Refs pool

Timeline
  • empty to start with
Article text begins here

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James Underdown
Born
James Underdown

(1960-10-09) October 9, 1960 (age 64)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
NationalityAmerican
EducationB.A. in English
Alma materDePauw University
Occupation(s)Executive Director of CFI Los Angeles, Founder of IIG
James Underdown's Voice
Recorded in February 2014
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Websitecfiwest.org
hollywoodrealitycheck.com
iigwest.org
Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox person with unknown parameter "residence"

James "Jim" Underdown has been the executive director of The Center for Inquiry (CFI) Los Angeles since 1999. The Center for Inquiry is a non-profit educational organization with headquarters in Amherst, New York, whose primary mission is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. CFI Los Angeles is the largest branch in the organization outside Amherst.[1]

Underdown founded the Independent Investigations Group (IIG), a volunteer-based organization, in January 2000 at the Center for Inquiry-West (now Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles) in Hollywood, California. The IIG investigates fringe science, paranormal and extraordinary claims from a rational, scientific viewpoint, and disseminates factual information about such inquiries to the public. There are Independent Investigation Groups in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Denver, and Alberta, Canada. Altogether, the Independent Investigations Groups are the largest paranormal investigations team in the world.[2]

The IIG offers $100,000 to anyone who can prove paranormal or supernatural ability under test conditions, and has in the past administered preliminary demonstrations for the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) $1,000,000 Paranormal Challenge.[3][4]

Underdown is a 1982 graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he received his B.A. in English with an emphasis in composition.[5][6][7] He was also the starting defensive end for the DePauw Tiger football team which recorded a 9–1 record in 1981.[8] Between 1982 and 1999, he worked as a school teacher, truck driver, painter, limo driver, hotel clerk, furniture mover, football coach, carpenter, and bouncer.[9] In the late 1970s, Underdown tried to win a $500 prize by wrestling a bear .[10]

  1. ^ "CFI Branches". Center for Inquiry. 2010. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  2. ^ "The Independent Investigations Group". Center for Inquiry. 2007-04-21. Retrieved 2011-09-05.
  3. ^ "The IIG $100,000 Paranormal Challenge". IIG. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
  4. ^ "One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge". randi.org. 2008-10-30. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
  5. ^ Springfield Journal, June 30, 1988 "Calumet City Wants Poet to take his Title Elsewhere"
  6. ^ "DePauw Dedicates $7.2 Million Lilly Physical Education and Recreation Center". DePauw University. 1982-04-24. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  7. ^ "DePauw Football Lettermen P-Z". DePauw Football. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  8. ^ Barbara Snyder Wintner, Daily Herald, January 27, 1992, "Poet may be Witty, but not in Calumet City"
  9. ^ John K. Hoffman, The Daily Journal, June 20, 1989, "Wheaton-bred 'Poet Laureate' Ryhmes of Life from Calumet"
  10. ^ "James Underdown talks about his Bear Wrestling days with Ray Hyman & Scott Nopp". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-08-10.