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@ Ratter, yes I know all about James Randi, however as far as my premonitions are concerned, I cannot conjure them up or know when they will occur, it's not something that one can experience at will or they never have been for me. If that were the case then surely I would win or know when I would win the lottery. These things happen when least expecting it, and in the case of my friends sister, I hadn't seen her or spoken to her for years and my friend hadn't mentioned her previously to my premonition so it was in fact out of the blue as have been the many that have occurred to me over the years.
If only it were so simple to do things the James Randi way and I'm sure that he and others like him (Richard Wiseman for one) have exposed many charlotans in the way of mediums et al. I don't profess my premonitions to be mediumistic, in fact I don't know why they occur that's why I wonder if somewhere "out there" the future actually exists and some people subconsciously tap into it. Weird old world isn't it and if only we knew all the answers <smile>.
I'm sure others are right about the subconscious brain because we just don't know how much it comes into play in our waking thoughts.
Interesting subject though and when it happens to you, it's strange to know that sometimes what you've just thought or "seen" comes true.