العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolJAMES RANDI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
(Redirected from The Amaz!ng Meeting)
The 'James Randi Educational Foundation' ('JREF') is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions.
The organization offers a prize of one million U.S. dollars which it claims it will pay out to anyone who can demonstrate a supernatural ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. The JREF also maintains a legal defense fund to assist persons who are attacked as a result of their investigations and criticism of people who make paranormal claims.
The organization is funded through member contributions, grants, sales of books and videos, and conferences. Each Friday the JREF website publishes a written commentary titled ''Swift: Online Newsletter of the JREF'', which includes the latest JREF news and information.
The James Randi Educational Foundation officially came into existence on February 29 1996 (a leap year day) when it was registered as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Delaware in the United States.[1] On April 3 1996 James Randi formally announced the creation of the JREF through his email hotline:[2]
On November 7 1997 The JREF officially registered with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations as a foreign nonprofit corporation and was granted a certificate of authority to operate within the state.[3] As a legal entity, the Foundation is referred to as a nonprofit Delaware domestic corporation and in Florida where it has its principal office, it is called a nonprofit foreign corporation (the term describes either out-of-state or out-of-the-country corporations operating in Florida). While the JREF's Delaware corporate entity address is 980 air miles north of it principal office in Fort Lauderdale,[4] the Foundation is still bound by Florida's corporate laws as if it were a domestic Florida corporation (Florida Statute 607.1505).[5] However, being a foreign corporation in Florida means that the State of Florida cannot legally regulate the organization or internal affairs of the JREF and the Foundation is able to take advantage of Delaware's more protective corporate laws.[6][7]
According to the year 2007 registration information for the JREF filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, the current officers of the JREF are as follows:[8]
★ Director, President, Assistant Secretary: James Randi.
★ Director, Secretary, Assistant Secretary: Richard L. Adams Jr.
★ Director, Secretary: Jose L. Alvarez.
In 1964, when challenged by a medium to "put his money where his mouth is", Randi put up $1,000 of his own money to the first person who could provide objective proof of the paranormal. Later he raised that to $10,000. Since then, the prize money has grown to the current $1,000,000, and the rules that surround claiming the prize are more official and legal.
To claim, one must agree to a protocol for testing, must show in a preliminary test before a foundation representative that they are likely to succeed, and finally make a demonstration in a formal test in front of independent witnesses.[9] To date, over 1,000 applications have been filed but no one has passed a preliminary test, which is set up and agreed upon by both Randi and the applicant.
In the conditions and rules governing the one million U.S.-dollar challenge, Randi plainly states that ''both'' parties (himself and the party accepting the challenge) must agree in advance as to what conditions of the test constitute a "success" and what constitutes a "failure." He also refuses to accept any challengers who might suffer serious injury or death as a result of the test they intend to undergo. 2.4. Why the limitation on things that might injure me?
Since April 1 2007 only those with an already existing media profile and the backing of a reputable academic are allowed to apply for the challenge. Skeptic Revamps $1M Psychic Prize Kevin Poulsen The resources freed up by not having to test obscure and possibly mentally ill claimants will then be used to challenge high-profile alleged psychics and mediums such as Sylvia Browne and John Edward with a campaign in the media.
Dennis Rawlins claims the challenge is insincere, and that Randi will ensure he never has to pay out. In the October 1981 issue of ''Fate'', Rawlins quoted him as saying "I always have an out". sTARBABY, , Dennis, Rawlins, FATE Magazine, 1981 Reprinted in "sTARBABY" Victor Zammit interprets this to mean Randi will never let his organization lose such a challenge.[10] Others, noting this magazine article grew out of political infighting among the members of CSICOP, believe this quote is being misapplied, and that it refers to the fact that Randi employs safeguards against cheating. Randi has stated that Rawlins did not give the entire quotation.[1] Randi actually said "''Concerning the challenge, I always have an 'out': I'm right!''"[2],[11] which carries a quite different meaning. Randi claims that the phrase "I always have an out" refers to the fact that he does not allow test subjects to cheat, although others have interpreted it to mean that Randi regards the chances of him having to pay out as zero due to his a priori assumption that so-called "paranormal phenomena" do not exist.
On Larry King Live March 6, 2001 Larry King asked Sylvia Browne if she would take the challenge and she agreed.[12] Then Randi appeared with Browne on Larry King Live on September 3, 2001 and she again accepted the challenge. Are Psychics Real? Larry King However, she has refused to be tested and Randi keeps a clock on his website recording the number of weeks that have passed since Sylvia accepted the challenge without following through. In an appearance on ''Larry King Live'' on January 26 2007, Randi challenged Rosemary Altea to take the one million challenge. Altea refused to even answer the question of whether or not she would take challenge. This is similar to Altea and Randi's June 5 2001 meeting on the same show, which Altea would not address the question.[13] Instead Altea, in part, replied "I agree with what he says, that there are many, many people who claim to be spiritual mediums, they claim to talk to the dead. There are many, people, we all know this. There are cheats and charlatans everywhere."[14]
Randi has recently challenged David R. Hawkins to win the prize with Hawkins' "arm-pressing technique" (applied kinesiology), suggesting it would only take thirty minutes of easy work, but believing that Hawkins would not even attempt to apply for the challenge for "obvious" reasons.[15]
Randi points out that the official Challenge rules stipulate that the participant has to be satisfied with the conditions and criteria of their test; if they claim to do something that cannot be tested, then clearly no test could ever be performed. Many applicants refuse to even hypothesize about failing the test, but such applicants inevitably retroactively find subtle environmental influences on which they may blame their failure to perform, even if they earlier insisted that nothing was awry. This is one of the reasons, for example, that Randi has dowsers perform a control test, in which the dowser attempts to locate the target substance or object using their dowsing ability, even though the target's location has been revealed to the applicant. Participants are told that failure to display a 100% success rate in the open test will cause their immediate disqualification. In most cases, the dowser will quickly rack up a perfect score, quickly centering their pendant or forked stick over the pre-located target. The dowser confirms that local conditions are at least adequate for the test, as verified by the successful control test. Yet, again, when a nearly identical test is performed — different only in that the target's location is not revealed beforehand to the applicant, and the threat of disqualification no longer applying — the dowser scores no better than chance would dictate. Some participants have stated afterwards that the threat of disqualification is the main factor in their apparent success in the open test. Randi reports that few unsuccessful applicants ever seriously consider that their failure to perform might be due to the nonexistence of the power they believe they possess.
The discussions between the JREF and applicants were at one time posted on a public discussion board for all to see [4]. After the resignation of Randi's assistant Mr. Kramer this has now been suspended.
Another objection made by critics of the challenge is that the rules prohibit independent judging, making the success or failure of the challenge dependent on whether Randi agrees that the test has been passed (however, Rule 8 of the challenge places an independent person in charge of a $10,000 personal cheque from Randi, to be delivered to the claimant immediately on success of the challenge, to be followed within ten days by the payment of the full prize). This is countered by Randi and others by pointing out that tests are designed so that no judging is needed — either it meets the criteria that have been agreed upon or it doesn't. Such critics claim that Randi's degree of control over the challenge's outcome may be sufficient to prevent a serious applicant from undertaking it. Supporters point to the lack of evidence of this happening since the challenger is in control of the outcome. Randi points out that he not only need not participate in any way with the actual execution of the test, he will even travel far away from the test location (in case there is concern about "skeptical energies" interfering with the test). Participants — whether technical or critical — are, like all other aspects of the test, subject to approval by the applicant.
Objections to the nature of the test and its rules include:
★ ''No independent judge will be used, procedure isn't impartial, and the tests are designed by the JREF without scientific peer review.''
: JREF points out that the rules for each test are to be designed such that the results will be completely unambiguous when deciding whether or not the applicant demonstrated any paranormal abilities, there is no 'judging' procedure. Randi has friendships and professional relationships with scientists and academics in many fields, and he has called upon their expertise when necessary. Frequently, Randi himself conducts the tests, as the applicants have no objection (on more than one occasion, applicants arrived expecting to walk out of the Foundation with the money in cash). Because JREF has objective to study paranormal claims in the rigorous conditions as they see it in the spirit of skepticism, testing procedure even don't have to be impartial in the way that critics understand it and since it is quite obvious that the nature of criticism can't be the same as the nature of scientific research, JREF claims that they do not need any peer review.
★ ''Randi rejected applicant Rico Kolodzey, stating in the rejection letter that the applicant was "a liar and a fraud." The applicant in question claimed to survive without food via Breatharianism.'' [5]
: Randi has commented on the specific case raised by the ''Alternative Science'' website: see [6] and [7]. The possible explanation that Randi and the JREF will reject any applicants putting themselves in grave physical danger was however added years after the incident.
: However, on May 19, 2006, Randi made a special exception to that rule due to all of the "raucous fuss" and began private negotiations for testing with Kolodzey. After 100 days of negotiations a test procedure still could not be agreed upon by both parties. Since progress on testing was apparently going nowhere, Randi went public on the stalled negotiations and commented that this is Kolodzey retreating from testing after making such a huge noise about not being tested [8].
★ ''As of January 2005, no offers to conduct a formal test have yet been extended by the JREF to an applicant.''[9]
: The JREF replies that this is because none of the applicants have ever demonstrated any paranormal abilities during preliminary testing. According to JREF, there have been over 1,000 applications. Out of the first 650 applications (through 1982), fifty-four preliminary tests were carried out . Most applications don't lead to anything because they fail in the process of negotiating the required preliminary test.
: Critics also frequently refer to controversial case of Yellow Bamboo. A man who visited Bali on behalf of JREF to test Yellow Bamboo's claims that they can knock down attacker by shouting, was actually knocked to the ground during the test. [10] Despite that, it wasn't formally accepted as a preliminary test by JREF because their local representative failed to follow instructions, and did not get acceptable documentation of the event.[11] Several people experienced with stun-guns suggested, upon viewing the video, that it appeared a stun-gun had been used.[12]
★ ''Some claim the one million dollars does not exist, or is in the form of pledges or promissory notes.''
: The JREF states that the million dollars is in the form of negotiable bonds within a "James Randi Educational Foundation Prize Account" and that validation of the account and the prize amount can be supplied on demand. The money is said to be held in a Goldman, Sachs & Company account. A copy of the JREF bank statement is viewable at SkepticReport, and the foundation has repeatedly mailed this evidence to high-profile claimants.
Starting as of March 2007, the JREF has announced plans to make several changes to the testing procedure to both streamline the process and refocus it to target high-profile and professional paranormalists. The foundation now requires a demonstrated media profile as well as the support from some member of the academic community before it will discuss the challenge with claimants. The foundation has also stated that these qualifications can be essentially met by anyone who can win any of the smaller and more regional skeptics prize challenges.
Randi and his associates have stated that the primary reasons for the change are twofold:
★ The vast majority of the applicants for the existing challenge appeared to be either mentally ill or unable to demonstrate their powers even to their own satisfaction. Many were unable to successfully fill out the application forms or coherently and consistently describe their alleged abilities. The foundation has stated that treating these applications seriously has both required an immense amount of time as well as doing a disservice to the applicants.
★ The true intent of the challenge has always been to aggressively pursue the most prominent paranormalists and force them to attempt to subject their claims to scrutiny and controlled checks for fraud. Randi and the foundation feel that this mission has been sidetracked by the complicated and costly application process, and the foundation needs to refocus its promotional and rhetorical approach to aggressively pursue top psychics in the media, making it far harder for them to avoid or give excuses as to why they will not accept the challenge.
Main articles: List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
★ Association for Skeptical Enquiry is offering a £13,000 prize.
★ Australian Skeptics offers AUD $100,000 for proof of psychic or paranormal powers.
★ Abraham Kovoor's challenge, an award of Rs. 100,000 for proof of supernatural or miraclous powers.
★ Indian Skeptic 100,000 Paranormal Challenge Indian Rupees 100,000 (just over US $1,200). Sponsored by Basava Premanand.
★ Prabir Ghosh of India is offering $50,000.
★ Tampa Bay Skeptics $1,000 Challenge US $1,000.
★ North Texas Skeptics Paranormal Challenge US $12,000.
★ The late Philip J. Klass offered US $10,000 for proof of an extraterrestrial visit to the Earth.
★ After investigating psychic phenomena in 1922, ''Scientific American'' made two US $2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." .
★ The Swedish Humanist Association is offering a prize of SEK 100,000 that will be awarded to anyone who can demonstrate beyond doubt that they possess a paranormal or supernatural talent that cannot be explained by conventional science.
Some of these are listed at.[16]
''Exploring Psychic Powers Live!'' was a television show aired live on June 7 1989, wherein Randi examined several people claiming psychic powers. The show offered $100,000 (Randi's then $10,000 prize plus $90,000 put up by the show's syndicator, Lexington Broadcasting[17]
) to anyone who could demonstrate genuine psychic powers. The show is a good illustration of how claimants and Randi agree to test protocols and how no "judging" is required.
★ An astrologer claimed that he was able to guess correctly a person's astrological sign after talking with them for a few minutes. He was presented with twelve people, one at a time, each with a different astrological sign. The people could not tell the astrologer their astrological sign or birth date, nor could they wear anything that would indicate it. After the astrologer talked to the people, he had them sit in front of a sign that the astrologer thought was theirs. By agreement, the astrologer needed to get ten of them correct to win. He got none correct.
★ The next psychic claimed to be able to read auras around people. The psychic claimed that auras were visible at least five inches from the people. The psychic chose ten people who had a clearly visible aura. The people were to stand behind screens and the psychic agreed that the aura would be visible above the screens. The screens were numbered ''1'' through ''10'', and people were selected whether or not to stand behind their screen at random. The psychic was to tell whether or not a person was standing behind each screen, by seeing the aura above. Since random guessing would be expected to get about five correct, the psychic needed to get eight of the ten right. The psychic stated that she saw an aura over all ten screens, but people were behind only four of the screens.
★ A dowser claimed that he could locate water, even in a bottle inside a sealed cardboard box. He was shown twenty boxes and the dowser was to indicate which boxes contained a water bottle. He indicated that eight of the boxes contained water, but only five did.
★ A psychometric psychic claimed to be able to receive personal information about the owner of an object from the object. In order to avoid ambiguous statements, the psychic agreed to be presented with a watch and a key from twelve different people. The psychic was to match keys and watches belonging to the same person. According to the prior agreement, the psychic had to match nine out of the twelve sets, but she succeeded in only two of the cases.
★ During the program, another psychic was doing a run of 250 Zener cards, guessing which of the five symbols was on each one. Random guessing should result in about fifty correct guesses, so it was agreed in advance that the psychic had to be right on eighty-two cards. Her actual score was fifty correct guesses .
Since 2003, the JREF has annually hosted ''The Amaz!ng Meeting'' (TAM), a gathering of scientists, skeptics, atheists, and other freethinkers, with noted speakers from the community.
Perennial speakers include Christopher Hitchens, Penn & Teller, Phil Plait, Michael Shermer and Julia Sweeney. Richard Dawkins and Joe Nickell appeared at the 2005 TAM 3. TAM 4 in 2006 saw ACLU president Nadine Strossen, planetary scientist with the ''Voyager'' program Carolyn Porco, popular TV personalities the ''MythBusters'', author of the ''Skeptic's Dictionary'' Robert Todd Carroll, and Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann.
TAM 5, held January 18 – January 21 2007, included regulars Michael Shermer, Penn & Teller, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Wiseman, MythBuster Adam Savage, and Phil Plait. Also presenting was Eugenie Scott, Peter Sagal, Neil Gershenfeld, Nick Gillespie, John Rennie, Lori Lipman Brown, and Margaret Downey.
The 2008 meeting will be held on June 19 to 22 in Las Vegas.
The JREF also is affiliated with The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, where James Randi has a weekly commentary section.
In 2007 the JREF announced that it would award critical thinking scholarships to college students.[18]
★ ''An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural'' (by Randi)
★ List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
★ Pigasus Award
★ Rationalist Prabir Ghosh increases his challenge amount to $50,000 against any claim of paranormal, after surviving nine assassination attempts.
★ ''Skeptic's Dictionary'' by Robert Todd Carroll
★
★
★
1. https://sos-res.state.de.us/tin/GINameSearch.jsp Delaware Dept. of State, Division of Corporations official website, Corporation Name Search: "The James Randi Educational Foundation. Incorporation Date / Formation Date: 29 February 1996. Entity Type: NON-PROFIT OR RELIGIOUS."
2.
http://randi.org/hotline/1996/0035.html The Randi Hotline — 1996 ''The Foundation''.
3.
Florida Dept of State, Div. of Corporations official website Corporation Name Search: Foreign Non Profit Corporation. THE JAMES RANDI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC. Filing Information: Document Number: F97000005907. FEI Number: 650649443. Date Filed: 07 November 1997. State: DE
4.
http://www.geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm "Geobytes City Distance Tool. Distance (air): Origin: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Destination: Wilmington, Delaware, United States [address of JREF's Registered Agent]. Distance in miles: 980. Distance in kilometers: 1514.
5.
2006 Florida Statutes: 607.1505 "The 2006 Florida Statutes. 607.1505 Effect of certificate of authority. — (1) A certificate of authority authorizes the foreign corporation to which it is issued to transact business in this state subject, however, to the right of the Department of State to suspend or revoke the certificate as provided in this act. (2) A foreign corporation with a valid certificate of authority has the same but no greater rights and has the same but no greater privileges as, and except as otherwise provided by this act is subject to the same duties, restrictions, penalties, and liabilities now or later imposed on, a domestic corporation of like character. (3) This act does not authorize this state to regulate the organization or internal affairs of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state."
6.
Entrepreur Magazine's Ultimate Guide to Incorporation in any State, Spadaccin, Michael, , , Entrepreneur Press, 2004, ISBN 1-932-531-18-1 Page 24: "Delaware incorporation carries many benefits, among which are the following. ... Delaware law permits corporations to liberally shield directors from personal liability resulting from their actions as directors. ... Delaware permits corporations to operate with a great deal of anonymity."
7.
Streetwise Incorporating Your Business, Cagan, Michele, , , Adams Media, 2007, ISBN 13-978-1-59869-094-1 Page: 123: "The state offers. ...a special separate court system that deals only with corporate litigation. Delaware corporations are free to operate with a great deal of anonymity, and corporate directors face lower risk of personal liability should actions taken in their roles as directors land them in hot water.. ... The state also allows one person to hold every corporate office and serve as the corporation's sole director. That person doesn't have to be a Delaware resident."
8.
Florida Dept of State, Div. of Corporations official website Corporation name search.
9. Application for Status of Claimant
10. http://www.thedirectvoice.com/victor-zammit.html Retrieved January 17, 2007
11. Swift newsletter, vol. 2 no. 2, 1998 (page 3)
12. Are Psychics for Real? appeared with John Edward March 6, 2001 on Larry King Live CNN
13. Spiritual Medium Versus Paranormal Skeptic (Rosemary Altea verses Randi) on Larry King Live June 5 2001
14. Spiritual Medium Versus Paranormal Skeptic (Rosemary Altea versus Randi) on Larry King Live June 5 2001
15. James Randi. Quoted at New England Institute of Religious Research "Quotes of Experts Regarding Hawkins and 'AK'" [3]
16. http://www.skepdic.com/randi.html
17.
18. http://www.randi.org/scholarships/
★ James Randi Educational Foundation — Official website
★ The Amaz!ng Meeting — information on past and upcoming Amaz!ng Meetings and Amaz!ng Adventures.
★ = 19 An "Amazing" Time — Review of 2003's "Amazing Meeting" by Marc Berard
★ = 7461912885649996034 James Randi in Australia- Episode from an Australian TV show shot in the 1980s showing Randi conducting a test of water dowsers for his earlier $10,000 challenge
★ MySpace — The officially approved MySpace tribute page.
★ The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge — Official website
★ = 43 Current contenders for the prize, discussed in a public chat forum as their applications come in.
★ = 10 NESS Participates in the Randi Psychic Challenge — Describes the type of testing performed for the One million dollar challenge
★ Top Excuses for ''not'' taking the Randi Challenge
★ Criticism of Randi's Challenge on ''Alternative Science'' by Richard Milton and Randi's response.
★ A Challenge to James Randi — A criticism of the Randi challenge, and a challenge toward Randi to explain a number of the studies he has dismissed and Randi's rebuttal.
The 'James Randi Educational Foundation' ('JREF') is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions.
The organization offers a prize of one million U.S. dollars which it claims it will pay out to anyone who can demonstrate a supernatural ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. The JREF also maintains a legal defense fund to assist persons who are attacked as a result of their investigations and criticism of people who make paranormal claims.
The organization is funded through member contributions, grants, sales of books and videos, and conferences. Each Friday the JREF website publishes a written commentary titled ''Swift: Online Newsletter of the JREF'', which includes the latest JREF news and information.
History of the Foundation
The James Randi Educational Foundation officially came into existence on February 29 1996 (a leap year day) when it was registered as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Delaware in the United States.[1] On April 3 1996 James Randi formally announced the creation of the JREF through his email hotline:[2]
On November 7 1997 The JREF officially registered with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations as a foreign nonprofit corporation and was granted a certificate of authority to operate within the state.[3] As a legal entity, the Foundation is referred to as a nonprofit Delaware domestic corporation and in Florida where it has its principal office, it is called a nonprofit foreign corporation (the term describes either out-of-state or out-of-the-country corporations operating in Florida). While the JREF's Delaware corporate entity address is 980 air miles north of it principal office in Fort Lauderdale,[4] the Foundation is still bound by Florida's corporate laws as if it were a domestic Florida corporation (Florida Statute 607.1505).[5] However, being a foreign corporation in Florida means that the State of Florida cannot legally regulate the organization or internal affairs of the JREF and the Foundation is able to take advantage of Delaware's more protective corporate laws.[6][7]
According to the year 2007 registration information for the JREF filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, the current officers of the JREF are as follows:[8]
★ Director, President, Assistant Secretary: James Randi.
★ Director, Secretary, Assistant Secretary: Richard L. Adams Jr.
★ Director, Secretary: Jose L. Alvarez.
The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge
History of the challenge
In 1964, when challenged by a medium to "put his money where his mouth is", Randi put up $1,000 of his own money to the first person who could provide objective proof of the paranormal. Later he raised that to $10,000. Since then, the prize money has grown to the current $1,000,000, and the rules that surround claiming the prize are more official and legal.
To claim, one must agree to a protocol for testing, must show in a preliminary test before a foundation representative that they are likely to succeed, and finally make a demonstration in a formal test in front of independent witnesses.[9] To date, over 1,000 applications have been filed but no one has passed a preliminary test, which is set up and agreed upon by both Randi and the applicant.
In the conditions and rules governing the one million U.S.-dollar challenge, Randi plainly states that ''both'' parties (himself and the party accepting the challenge) must agree in advance as to what conditions of the test constitute a "success" and what constitutes a "failure." He also refuses to accept any challengers who might suffer serious injury or death as a result of the test they intend to undergo. 2.4. Why the limitation on things that might injure me?
Since April 1 2007 only those with an already existing media profile and the backing of a reputable academic are allowed to apply for the challenge. Skeptic Revamps $1M Psychic Prize Kevin Poulsen The resources freed up by not having to test obscure and possibly mentally ill claimants will then be used to challenge high-profile alleged psychics and mediums such as Sylvia Browne and John Edward with a campaign in the media.
Dennis Rawlins claims the challenge is insincere, and that Randi will ensure he never has to pay out. In the October 1981 issue of ''Fate'', Rawlins quoted him as saying "I always have an out". sTARBABY, , Dennis, Rawlins, FATE Magazine, 1981 Reprinted in "sTARBABY" Victor Zammit interprets this to mean Randi will never let his organization lose such a challenge.[10] Others, noting this magazine article grew out of political infighting among the members of CSICOP, believe this quote is being misapplied, and that it refers to the fact that Randi employs safeguards against cheating. Randi has stated that Rawlins did not give the entire quotation.[1] Randi actually said "''Concerning the challenge, I always have an 'out': I'm right!''"[2],[11] which carries a quite different meaning. Randi claims that the phrase "I always have an out" refers to the fact that he does not allow test subjects to cheat, although others have interpreted it to mean that Randi regards the chances of him having to pay out as zero due to his a priori assumption that so-called "paranormal phenomena" do not exist.
On Larry King Live March 6, 2001 Larry King asked Sylvia Browne if she would take the challenge and she agreed.[12] Then Randi appeared with Browne on Larry King Live on September 3, 2001 and she again accepted the challenge. Are Psychics Real? Larry King However, she has refused to be tested and Randi keeps a clock on his website recording the number of weeks that have passed since Sylvia accepted the challenge without following through. In an appearance on ''Larry King Live'' on January 26 2007, Randi challenged Rosemary Altea to take the one million challenge. Altea refused to even answer the question of whether or not she would take challenge. This is similar to Altea and Randi's June 5 2001 meeting on the same show, which Altea would not address the question.[13] Instead Altea, in part, replied "I agree with what he says, that there are many, many people who claim to be spiritual mediums, they claim to talk to the dead. There are many, people, we all know this. There are cheats and charlatans everywhere."[14]
Randi has recently challenged David R. Hawkins to win the prize with Hawkins' "arm-pressing technique" (applied kinesiology), suggesting it would only take thirty minutes of easy work, but believing that Hawkins would not even attempt to apply for the challenge for "obvious" reasons.[15]
Judging the results
Randi points out that the official Challenge rules stipulate that the participant has to be satisfied with the conditions and criteria of their test; if they claim to do something that cannot be tested, then clearly no test could ever be performed. Many applicants refuse to even hypothesize about failing the test, but such applicants inevitably retroactively find subtle environmental influences on which they may blame their failure to perform, even if they earlier insisted that nothing was awry. This is one of the reasons, for example, that Randi has dowsers perform a control test, in which the dowser attempts to locate the target substance or object using their dowsing ability, even though the target's location has been revealed to the applicant. Participants are told that failure to display a 100% success rate in the open test will cause their immediate disqualification. In most cases, the dowser will quickly rack up a perfect score, quickly centering their pendant or forked stick over the pre-located target. The dowser confirms that local conditions are at least adequate for the test, as verified by the successful control test. Yet, again, when a nearly identical test is performed — different only in that the target's location is not revealed beforehand to the applicant, and the threat of disqualification no longer applying — the dowser scores no better than chance would dictate. Some participants have stated afterwards that the threat of disqualification is the main factor in their apparent success in the open test. Randi reports that few unsuccessful applicants ever seriously consider that their failure to perform might be due to the nonexistence of the power they believe they possess.
The discussions between the JREF and applicants were at one time posted on a public discussion board for all to see [4]. After the resignation of Randi's assistant Mr. Kramer this has now been suspended.
Cover image of James Randi's 1982 book, The Truth About Uri Geller.
Another objection made by critics of the challenge is that the rules prohibit independent judging, making the success or failure of the challenge dependent on whether Randi agrees that the test has been passed (however, Rule 8 of the challenge places an independent person in charge of a $10,000 personal cheque from Randi, to be delivered to the claimant immediately on success of the challenge, to be followed within ten days by the payment of the full prize). This is countered by Randi and others by pointing out that tests are designed so that no judging is needed — either it meets the criteria that have been agreed upon or it doesn't. Such critics claim that Randi's degree of control over the challenge's outcome may be sufficient to prevent a serious applicant from undertaking it. Supporters point to the lack of evidence of this happening since the challenger is in control of the outcome. Randi points out that he not only need not participate in any way with the actual execution of the test, he will even travel far away from the test location (in case there is concern about "skeptical energies" interfering with the test). Participants — whether technical or critical — are, like all other aspects of the test, subject to approval by the applicant.
Objections to the nature of the test and its rules include:
★ ''No independent judge will be used, procedure isn't impartial, and the tests are designed by the JREF without scientific peer review.''
: JREF points out that the rules for each test are to be designed such that the results will be completely unambiguous when deciding whether or not the applicant demonstrated any paranormal abilities, there is no 'judging' procedure. Randi has friendships and professional relationships with scientists and academics in many fields, and he has called upon their expertise when necessary. Frequently, Randi himself conducts the tests, as the applicants have no objection (on more than one occasion, applicants arrived expecting to walk out of the Foundation with the money in cash). Because JREF has objective to study paranormal claims in the rigorous conditions as they see it in the spirit of skepticism, testing procedure even don't have to be impartial in the way that critics understand it and since it is quite obvious that the nature of criticism can't be the same as the nature of scientific research, JREF claims that they do not need any peer review.
★ ''Randi rejected applicant Rico Kolodzey, stating in the rejection letter that the applicant was "a liar and a fraud." The applicant in question claimed to survive without food via Breatharianism.'' [5]
: Randi has commented on the specific case raised by the ''Alternative Science'' website: see [6] and [7]. The possible explanation that Randi and the JREF will reject any applicants putting themselves in grave physical danger was however added years after the incident.
: However, on May 19, 2006, Randi made a special exception to that rule due to all of the "raucous fuss" and began private negotiations for testing with Kolodzey. After 100 days of negotiations a test procedure still could not be agreed upon by both parties. Since progress on testing was apparently going nowhere, Randi went public on the stalled negotiations and commented that this is Kolodzey retreating from testing after making such a huge noise about not being tested [8].
★ ''As of January 2005, no offers to conduct a formal test have yet been extended by the JREF to an applicant.''[9]
: The JREF replies that this is because none of the applicants have ever demonstrated any paranormal abilities during preliminary testing. According to JREF, there have been over 1,000 applications. Out of the first 650 applications (through 1982), fifty-four preliminary tests were carried out . Most applications don't lead to anything because they fail in the process of negotiating the required preliminary test.
: Critics also frequently refer to controversial case of Yellow Bamboo. A man who visited Bali on behalf of JREF to test Yellow Bamboo's claims that they can knock down attacker by shouting, was actually knocked to the ground during the test. [10] Despite that, it wasn't formally accepted as a preliminary test by JREF because their local representative failed to follow instructions, and did not get acceptable documentation of the event.[11] Several people experienced with stun-guns suggested, upon viewing the video, that it appeared a stun-gun had been used.[12]
★ ''Some claim the one million dollars does not exist, or is in the form of pledges or promissory notes.''
: The JREF states that the million dollars is in the form of negotiable bonds within a "James Randi Educational Foundation Prize Account" and that validation of the account and the prize amount can be supplied on demand. The money is said to be held in a Goldman, Sachs & Company account. A copy of the JREF bank statement is viewable at SkepticReport, and the foundation has repeatedly mailed this evidence to high-profile claimants.
New qualification rules
Starting as of March 2007, the JREF has announced plans to make several changes to the testing procedure to both streamline the process and refocus it to target high-profile and professional paranormalists. The foundation now requires a demonstrated media profile as well as the support from some member of the academic community before it will discuss the challenge with claimants. The foundation has also stated that these qualifications can be essentially met by anyone who can win any of the smaller and more regional skeptics prize challenges.
Randi and his associates have stated that the primary reasons for the change are twofold:
★ The vast majority of the applicants for the existing challenge appeared to be either mentally ill or unable to demonstrate their powers even to their own satisfaction. Many were unable to successfully fill out the application forms or coherently and consistently describe their alleged abilities. The foundation has stated that treating these applications seriously has both required an immense amount of time as well as doing a disservice to the applicants.
★ The true intent of the challenge has always been to aggressively pursue the most prominent paranormalists and force them to attempt to subject their claims to scrutiny and controlled checks for fraud. Randi and the foundation feel that this mission has been sidetracked by the complicated and costly application process, and the foundation needs to refocus its promotional and rhetorical approach to aggressively pursue top psychics in the media, making it far harder for them to avoid or give excuses as to why they will not accept the challenge.
Similar offers
Main articles: List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
★ Association for Skeptical Enquiry is offering a £13,000 prize.
★ Australian Skeptics offers AUD $100,000 for proof of psychic or paranormal powers.
★ Abraham Kovoor's challenge, an award of Rs. 100,000 for proof of supernatural or miraclous powers.
★ Indian Skeptic 100,000 Paranormal Challenge Indian Rupees 100,000 (just over US $1,200). Sponsored by Basava Premanand.
★ Prabir Ghosh of India is offering $50,000.
★ Tampa Bay Skeptics $1,000 Challenge US $1,000.
★ North Texas Skeptics Paranormal Challenge US $12,000.
★ The late Philip J. Klass offered US $10,000 for proof of an extraterrestrial visit to the Earth.
★ After investigating psychic phenomena in 1922, ''Scientific American'' made two US $2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." .
★ The Swedish Humanist Association is offering a prize of SEK 100,000 that will be awarded to anyone who can demonstrate beyond doubt that they possess a paranormal or supernatural talent that cannot be explained by conventional science.
Some of these are listed at.[16]
Exploring psychic powers television show
''Exploring Psychic Powers Live!'' was a television show aired live on June 7 1989, wherein Randi examined several people claiming psychic powers. The show offered $100,000 (Randi's then $10,000 prize plus $90,000 put up by the show's syndicator, Lexington Broadcasting[17]
) to anyone who could demonstrate genuine psychic powers. The show is a good illustration of how claimants and Randi agree to test protocols and how no "judging" is required.
★ An astrologer claimed that he was able to guess correctly a person's astrological sign after talking with them for a few minutes. He was presented with twelve people, one at a time, each with a different astrological sign. The people could not tell the astrologer their astrological sign or birth date, nor could they wear anything that would indicate it. After the astrologer talked to the people, he had them sit in front of a sign that the astrologer thought was theirs. By agreement, the astrologer needed to get ten of them correct to win. He got none correct.
★ The next psychic claimed to be able to read auras around people. The psychic claimed that auras were visible at least five inches from the people. The psychic chose ten people who had a clearly visible aura. The people were to stand behind screens and the psychic agreed that the aura would be visible above the screens. The screens were numbered ''1'' through ''10'', and people were selected whether or not to stand behind their screen at random. The psychic was to tell whether or not a person was standing behind each screen, by seeing the aura above. Since random guessing would be expected to get about five correct, the psychic needed to get eight of the ten right. The psychic stated that she saw an aura over all ten screens, but people were behind only four of the screens.
★ A dowser claimed that he could locate water, even in a bottle inside a sealed cardboard box. He was shown twenty boxes and the dowser was to indicate which boxes contained a water bottle. He indicated that eight of the boxes contained water, but only five did.
★ A psychometric psychic claimed to be able to receive personal information about the owner of an object from the object. In order to avoid ambiguous statements, the psychic agreed to be presented with a watch and a key from twelve different people. The psychic was to match keys and watches belonging to the same person. According to the prior agreement, the psychic had to match nine out of the twelve sets, but she succeeded in only two of the cases.
★ During the program, another psychic was doing a run of 250 Zener cards, guessing which of the five symbols was on each one. Random guessing should result in about fifty correct guesses, so it was agreed in advance that the psychic had to be right on eighty-two cards. Her actual score was fifty correct guesses .
The Amaz!ng Meeting
Since 2003, the JREF has annually hosted ''The Amaz!ng Meeting'' (TAM), a gathering of scientists, skeptics, atheists, and other freethinkers, with noted speakers from the community.
Perennial speakers include Christopher Hitchens, Penn & Teller, Phil Plait, Michael Shermer and Julia Sweeney. Richard Dawkins and Joe Nickell appeared at the 2005 TAM 3. TAM 4 in 2006 saw ACLU president Nadine Strossen, planetary scientist with the ''Voyager'' program Carolyn Porco, popular TV personalities the ''MythBusters'', author of the ''Skeptic's Dictionary'' Robert Todd Carroll, and Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann.
TAM 5, held January 18 – January 21 2007, included regulars Michael Shermer, Penn & Teller, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Wiseman, MythBuster Adam Savage, and Phil Plait. Also presenting was Eugenie Scott, Peter Sagal, Neil Gershenfeld, Nick Gillespie, John Rennie, Lori Lipman Brown, and Margaret Downey.
The 2008 meeting will be held on June 19 to 22 in Las Vegas.
Podcast
The JREF also is affiliated with The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, where James Randi has a weekly commentary section.
Scholarships
In 2007 the JREF announced that it would award critical thinking scholarships to college students.[18]
See also
★ ''An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural'' (by Randi)
★ List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
★ Pigasus Award
★ Rationalist Prabir Ghosh increases his challenge amount to $50,000 against any claim of paranormal, after surviving nine assassination attempts.
★ ''Skeptic's Dictionary'' by Robert Todd Carroll
References
Books
★
★
★
Notes
1. https://sos-res.state.de.us/tin/GINameSearch.jsp Delaware Dept. of State, Division of Corporations official website, Corporation Name Search: "The James Randi Educational Foundation. Incorporation Date / Formation Date: 29 February 1996. Entity Type: NON-PROFIT OR RELIGIOUS."
2.
http://randi.org/hotline/1996/0035.html The Randi Hotline — 1996 ''The Foundation''.
3.
Florida Dept of State, Div. of Corporations official website Corporation Name Search: Foreign Non Profit Corporation. THE JAMES RANDI EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC. Filing Information: Document Number: F97000005907. FEI Number: 650649443. Date Filed: 07 November 1997. State: DE
4.
http://www.geobytes.com/CityDistanceTool.htm "Geobytes City Distance Tool. Distance (air): Origin: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Destination: Wilmington, Delaware, United States [address of JREF's Registered Agent]. Distance in miles: 980. Distance in kilometers: 1514.
5.
2006 Florida Statutes: 607.1505 "The 2006 Florida Statutes. 607.1505 Effect of certificate of authority. — (1) A certificate of authority authorizes the foreign corporation to which it is issued to transact business in this state subject, however, to the right of the Department of State to suspend or revoke the certificate as provided in this act. (2) A foreign corporation with a valid certificate of authority has the same but no greater rights and has the same but no greater privileges as, and except as otherwise provided by this act is subject to the same duties, restrictions, penalties, and liabilities now or later imposed on, a domestic corporation of like character. (3) This act does not authorize this state to regulate the organization or internal affairs of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state."
6.
Entrepreur Magazine's Ultimate Guide to Incorporation in any State, Spadaccin, Michael, , , Entrepreneur Press, 2004, ISBN 1-932-531-18-1 Page 24: "Delaware incorporation carries many benefits, among which are the following. ... Delaware law permits corporations to liberally shield directors from personal liability resulting from their actions as directors. ... Delaware permits corporations to operate with a great deal of anonymity."
7.
Streetwise Incorporating Your Business, Cagan, Michele, , , Adams Media, 2007, ISBN 13-978-1-59869-094-1 Page: 123: "The state offers. ...a special separate court system that deals only with corporate litigation. Delaware corporations are free to operate with a great deal of anonymity, and corporate directors face lower risk of personal liability should actions taken in their roles as directors land them in hot water.. ... The state also allows one person to hold every corporate office and serve as the corporation's sole director. That person doesn't have to be a Delaware resident."
8.
Florida Dept of State, Div. of Corporations official website Corporation name search.
9. Application for Status of Claimant
10. http://www.thedirectvoice.com/victor-zammit.html Retrieved January 17, 2007
11. Swift newsletter, vol. 2 no. 2, 1998 (page 3)
12. Are Psychics for Real? appeared with John Edward March 6, 2001 on Larry King Live CNN
13. Spiritual Medium Versus Paranormal Skeptic (Rosemary Altea verses Randi) on Larry King Live June 5 2001
14. Spiritual Medium Versus Paranormal Skeptic (Rosemary Altea versus Randi) on Larry King Live June 5 2001
15. James Randi. Quoted at New England Institute of Religious Research "Quotes of Experts Regarding Hawkins and 'AK'" [3]
16. http://www.skepdic.com/randi.html
17.
18. http://www.randi.org/scholarships/
External links
James Randi Educational Foundation
★ James Randi Educational Foundation — Official website
★ The Amaz!ng Meeting — information on past and upcoming Amaz!ng Meetings and Amaz!ng Adventures.
★ = 19 An "Amazing" Time — Review of 2003's "Amazing Meeting" by Marc Berard
★ = 7461912885649996034 James Randi in Australia- Episode from an Australian TV show shot in the 1980s showing Randi conducting a test of water dowsers for his earlier $10,000 challenge
★ MySpace — The officially approved MySpace tribute page.
One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge
★ The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge — Official website
★ = 43 Current contenders for the prize, discussed in a public chat forum as their applications come in.
★ = 10 NESS Participates in the Randi Psychic Challenge — Describes the type of testing performed for the One million dollar challenge
★ Top Excuses for ''not'' taking the Randi Challenge
★ Criticism of Randi's Challenge on ''Alternative Science'' by Richard Milton and Randi's response.
★ A Challenge to James Randi — A criticism of the Randi challenge, and a challenge toward Randi to explain a number of the studies he has dismissed and Randi's rebuttal.
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
