Callahan Spinning Video from DragonCon

Status
Not open for further replies.
The Professor said:
I believe that people have quoted the exact laws that Randi broke during his video.
But if you feel Randi can do no wrong, then it means nothing to you.
Click to expand...

There are exceptions to said law for such cases. Do you think that they use Real Money in those movies where the bank robbers flee with millions? OMG! Federal crimes!

No, we don't have the piece of paper that Randi used; was it a double sided copy, was it printed on a bleached out $20? The video is pretty low resolution and I can't make out the paper in question.

It doesn't occur that this might be a part of the deception involved in an illusion; claiming that it's currency at all?
 
Eejit said:
A bit of advice for Jim: [...] you're educating the very children you say you are concerned about, in the ways of producing 'counterfeit' notes. As long as you refrain from having Mr Randi arrested and charged, you're adding to the 'problem' rather than aiding in its solution.
Click to expand...

Maybe Randi should make a show of trying to turn himself in to the FBI... "No, really, I photocopied a $20 on one side of a piece of paper for use in a magic trick. I destroyed the 'bill' after the show..."

Bonus points if the FBI agent laughs and tells him to go away.

Jim is telling children not to think, but to believe that he has paranormal powers. Randi is telling children that they can think for themselves. It's redirection... don't look at this hand, LOOK OVER HERE!
 
xinit said:
Maybe Randi should make a show of trying to turn himself in to the FBI... "No, really, I photocopied a $20 on one side of a piece of paper for use in a magic trick. I destroyed the 'bill' after the show..."

Bonus points if the FBI agent laughs and tells him to go away.

Jim is telling children not to think, but to believe that he has paranormal powers. Randi is telling children that they can think for themselves. It's redirection... don't look at this hand, LOOK OVER HERE!
Click to expand...

I dunno. Undoubtedly there'd be an entertainment factor and an "in your face!" element directed againt Mr Callaghan. I can't help feeling that one should not approach a law enforcement agency with something so frivilous just to win at a game of one-upmanship.

I think James is correct in ignoring this crap. There's no point in lending any degree of credibility to it or to Mr Callaghan.

T'would be funny though :D

It always upsets me that anyone can complain about teaching dubious values to children, whilst in the same breath is asking them to suspend thinking.
 
Good afternoon.
I would like to make a couple of points here. First, the FBI wouldn't be interested in counterfit bills. That is one of the Secret Service jobs.
I also don't think they would be too interested in this as I believe there has to be some intent on passing said bill.
I actually had the pleasure of talking with a couple of Secret Service agents a few years back over some counterfit bills my store recieved. I showed them a bill I printed on paper out of a catalog to demonstrate that those pens do not work to my employees. They were well aware that they do not work and also aware of Randi's demo of this. They didn't take me away.
JPK
 
Last edited:
Eejit said:
I think there are two separate arguments being had here:

i. The allegation that Jim Callaghan is a fake.
ii. The allegation that James Randi is a criminal.

Normally the cross pollination of both arguments might tend to confuse things. But in this instance, I think I might have a solution.

If Jim is sure that James is a scurrilous reprobate and up to no good, he can sort it all out very easilly.

All Jim needs to do is to contact one of his deceased peers, ask him or her to follow James around with a phantom video camera and get the goods. Remember video footage is considered to be admissible evidence in a courtroom. Although, just to be sure, you might have your deceased colleague on stand by to be called as a witness, just in case.

A bit of advice for Jim: You are reproducing Randi's 'counterfeit' note by uploading the video you're blathering on about and indeed, more importantly, you're educating the very children you say you are concerned about, in the ways of producing 'counterfeit' notes. As long as you refrain from having Mr Randi arrested and charged, you're adding to the 'problem' rather than aiding in its solution. :footinmou
Click to expand...


What is it with these maroons? Callahan shows kids how to counterfeit a magician and somehow Randi's to blame? And Professor Weisenheimer throws in his two (counterfeit) cents' worth to add insult to infamy? What gives, guys? Too much starch in your shorts?


M.
 
Moochie said:
What is it with these maroons? Callahan shows kids how to counterfeit a magician and somehow Randi's to blame? And Professor Weisenheimer throws in his two (counterfeit) cents' worth to add insult to infamy? What gives, guys? Too much starch in your shorts?


M.
Click to expand...

Sarcasm is just wasted on some folks.
 
Personally, I think he needs more eye makeup and cheesy shadow lighting. That would make this video more convincing.
 
JPK said:
First, the FBI wouldn't be interested in counterfit bills. That is one of the Secret Service jobs.
Click to expand...

I made that mistake, but I'm Canadian. Had no idea the Secret Service handled that.
 
xinit said:
I made that mistake, but I'm Canadian. Had no idea the Secret Service handled that.
Click to expand...

That is actually the Secret Service's Main job and why they are in the Treasury Department instead of the Department of Justice.
Vastly more of the Secret Service's resource and manpower go into the counterfeiting divison then in their protection services,although the protection unit gets all the press.
In face, the Secret Service has the job because back when Teddy Roosevelt decided the presedent needed a bodyguard after the assasination of William McKinley, the Secret Service was the only federal law enforcement agency available.
 
Poor Jim! The MDC applicant he is supporting is nothing more than a joke, this latest video is worth nothing. All of this can be seen by reading any of the threads discussing it. Plus of course you should not post evidence of ordinary people committing crimes on youtube. You report them first to the authorities (whoever they are). Then the first the criminals hear about it is when the authorities come knocking on the door. The only exception is when Government authorities (police, secret service, defence force) commit crimes.

The fact that Jim has put these videos on Youtube indicates that he knows the authorities will take no action.


In the other forum, there have been several threads locked with no reason given. I wonder why?
 
rjh01 said:
In the other forum, there have been several threads locked with no reason given. I wonder why?
Click to expand...

I would suspect because the forum owners do not wish to have any legal issues of libel caused by Callahan's pouting on their hands. He's really on shaky ground with this, when you get right down to it.
 
Here is what the U.S government has to say on the issue.

U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04​
Section 472. Uttering counterfeit obligations or securities Whoever, with intent to defraud, passes, utters, publishes, or sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or with like intent brings into the United States or keeps in possession or conceals any falsely made, forged, counterfeited, or altered obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
Click to expand...

Quite clear,in black and white,no crime committed.Where's Callahan now? Hello? Jim? Wait...come back! :D
 
Azrael 5 said:
Quite clear,in black and white,no crime committed.Where's Callahan now? Hello? Jim? Wait...come back! :D
Click to expand...
Callahan's objective was not to have Randi convicted, because then he only needed to call the Secret Service, but to make a slanderous attack on Randi, and in this he has succeeded. The video will not disappear merely because it is wrong.
 
steenkh said:
Callahan's objective was not to have Randi convicted, because then he only needed to call the Secret Service, but to make a slanderous attack on Randi, and in this he has succeeded. The video will not disappear merely because it is wrong.
Click to expand...

Has he ever made a video that was right? :rolleyes:
 
I did so just to make sure of the facts again.

But I cannot post what I found at this time.

However the information is posted on the Magic Cafe if any of you would care to repost it here. (I would but cannot post links yet.)

Best Wishes,

Jim
 
If a video shows the facts, there is no reason to make it private.

If a video doesn't show the facts, there is no reason to make it - other than to lie.

If one is not sure if a video shows the facts or not, one should have done one's homework first.
 
Jim Callahan said:
I did so just to make sure of the facts again.
Click to expand...

It is scary to think that you willfully posted a video making an accusation that was Randi committing a Federal Crime without having all of your facts together. It speaks volumes about your character, and what it says is not good.

I expect, should the facts not fall the way you expected, that you will be videotaping and posting an apology to Randi and others involved?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Back
Top Bottom