Psychic Samurai applies for MDC...apparently...

[The Professor]

On with the Challenge
Jimtron ... if all the equipment was put in a Faraday cage that problem would be solved. So I will agree to that.
1) All equipment in a Faraday Cage
2) The equipment that is in the Faraday cage can be examined or even Purchased by someone other than myself as others have suggested. (And YES, I Know that I am paying for this )
3) I will sit on the Devil's Chair on 10/31/ 2008. I think we all agree on that.
4) The audio and video equipment will be turned on and recording.
5) I will speak
6) After 27 minutes the recording equipment will be shut off.
7) If Audio or Video evidence is on the recordings that Can Not Be Scientifically Explained then the Test will be regarded as a success

 

[GzuzKryzt]

...
I believe in the Paranormal and that makes me a minority, especially on this forum.

...

Belief does not matter for the MDC. Evidence matters. Produce evidence in two controlled tests and you get a million dollars. It's that simple.

You associate that minority with "Friggin' Ridiculous" and you have what people call discrimination.

Even you would have to admit that the following claims could be perceived a tad weird, ridiculous even:

I am not human.

???

Anthony Bussie.

Igor.

Siegfried Verbeke.

 

[Loss Leader]

With such biased and pre-conceived assumptions, how can you honestly be fair?

Once again, the test has nothing to do with whether Remie is fair.

You create the test protocol. You negotiate any changes. You decide whether the negotiated protocol is fair and you sign an agreement saying that you think it is fair. If you don't feel like the suggested changes to the protocol are fair, you don't have to sign the agreement. And if you don't believe the JREF is administering the negotiated protocol fairly on the day of the test, you don't have to go through with it.

However, so far you have refused to even submit a protocol. There is no possibility for unfair treatment because you have not offered anything for the JREF to treat.

Instead of arguing over whether you will be treated fairly when you finally do apply, submit a protocol.

I've made up two in the time it's taken you to submit zero. So far, I'm infinitely more efficient at this than you are.

 

[Czarcasm]

Question for those in the know-how would one get a signal through a Faraday Cage?
Question for The Professor-Who determines where said cage will be placed? If it is JREF, do you mind if you are not notified until the time ofthe test?

 

[jimtron]

On with the Challenge
Jimtron ... if all the equipment was put in a Faraday cage that problem would be solved. So I will agree to that.
1) All equipment in a Faraday Cage
2) The equipment that is in the Faraday cage can be examined or even Purchased by someone other than myself as others have suggested. (And YES, I Know that I am paying for this )
3) I will sit on the Devil's Chair on 10/31/ 2008. I think we all agree on that.
4) The audio and video equipment will be turned on and recording.
5) I will speak
6) After 27 minutes the recording equipment will be shut off.
7) If Audio or Video evidence is on the recordings that Can Not Be Scientifically Explained then the Test will be regarded as a success

Dave, it's great to hear more specific details. These are the kinds of things that need to be discussed.

3) I'm pretty sure we haven't "all agreed on that." Did the JREF agree to it? Please tell us--could this be done on a different date, or must it be on that date? Must it be on the Devil's Chair, or could it be at a different location. If the answer is that it must be done on that date or at that place, please explain why.

4) Please specify--what kind of audio and video equipment? Camcorder? Tape recorder? Digital recorder? Will you be operating the audio and video gear, or can someone else operate them?

More importantly, what is the paranormal part? Will the voice of the paranormal entity be recorded via audio or video recorder? How will we know it's paranormal? What is this paranormal entity? A ghost? Something else?

7) This requires judging. How will it be clear that the voice or whatever is not scientifically explainable? You could win the challenge as it's written in your previous post by throwing your voice like a ventriloquist.

In fact, this protocol doesn't say anything about what happens. You talk into a tape recorder? What is paranormal about that? Your 7 points don't say anything about a voice or paranormal entity.

Please: more about the paranormal entity. What is it? How do you know i'ts paranormal? How will it be self-evidently paranormal?

 

[The Professor]

Dave, we all have opinions, and we're all biased.

No one will be judging your demonstration--a successful test will be self-evident.

Dave, it appears that you are biased against Randi. Some of us may be biased against you. It doesn't matter, because the protocol must be agreed upon by both parties, and the test may not be something that requires judging (which would be a problem because of bias).

So go ahead and tell us about your paranormal entity and how it's testable.

I did not say the test would not be fair. My treatment on this forum by Alison Michelle Smith has been tainted. Just look at the "We Aren't Shaking In Our Boots" post she made in her third post here I believe. I am a small minority on this JREF site, and like most minorities the uninformed majority likes to call names.
Instead of the N word it's MAGICIAN, MAGICIAN, MAGICIAN.


Since Alison Smith is placed between me and the Million Dollars it IS important to have someone unbiased and with no "Friggin' Ridiculous" presuppositions.

The thoughts that I've given are my own. The writers have something a bit different and one hasn't gotten his part completed yet. I will give my own ideas for the moment.

I did like the idea of the Automated Vocal interpreter. It's a good one!
I have taken Jackalgirl's advise and removed Entity all together. it isn't needed.
Thanks for all of your help!
Dave

 

[RemieV]

Thank you for your condescending response
It proves my point. You have your opinion. Your Pre-disposition. It leads you to say things like "Friggin' Ridiculous" when talking people and their application claims for the Million Dollar Challenge.
With such biased and pre-conceived assumptions, how can you honestly be fair?
I believe in the Paranormal and that makes me a minority, especially on this forum.
You associate that minority with "Friggin' Ridiculous" and you have what people call discrimination.
It is becoming very apparent why you were selected to protect the Million Dollar Challenge Money.

And thank you for bringing us full circle to the issue with your protocol, which I have so far been unable to make clear.

As there is no judgment involved in Challenge tests, it doesn't matter what I am predisposed to believe. It doesn't matter what *anyone* is predisposed to believe.

The entire point of the Challenge is to make a claim, then go into an unbiased setting and either prove or be unable to prove said claim. At no point will I ever get to weigh in with an opinion, and the only time my voice will be heard at all is during protocol negotiations which are discussions between both applicant and JREF, and are publicly posted to the point that, were they unfair, it would be obvious to anyone who cared to look.

I have not ever said that all individuals who apply for the Challenge are ridiculous. I have, however, said that in some cases their *claims* are ridiculous, to which I gave an example in the article you keep blindly citing (*rimshot*).

As to whether or not I believe all paranormal believers are ridiculous, I ask yet again that you do your research.

For my solo talk at Dragon*Con, entitled "On the Trail of Ghosts: SAPS Investigates," I invited my friend and paranormal believer WHO IS ALSO one of the stars of the paranormal television show "Haunting Evidence," Patrick Burns, to take the stage with me and talk about his side. And he did. It was actually one of the more civil discussions I've ever had.

I also added an entry to my blog yesterday called "In Defense of Ghost Hunters - EMF," which will be posted to the site soon, and which I suggest you read if you insist upon maintaining the belief that I am unfair.

Additionally, your claim has been reviewed by more than just me.

So let us look at the reality of the situation:

You mailed your application to the JREF.

It was forwarded to me, WITHOUT anyone else at the JREF going over it or making decisions regarding it (as all applications are forwarded to me. That's my job.)

I received it and contacted you and said the claim you made was untestable. Not, as you have said, because of how it was phrased, but because it requires the testers to make a judgment.

You then e-mailed back and forth with me, never stating a testable claim, and have now spent weeks posting to the forum with such transparency that not even a child would, at this point, believe you were serious about your application.

And yet despite all this, I have fast-tracked your application, continue to attempt negotiations, and keep responding to your futile attempts to discredit my work.

~Remie

 

[RemieV]

Mr. Koenig,

Per your request, Jeff Wagg will now be the one reviewing your claim.

~Remie

 

[The Professor]

And thank you for bringing us full circle to the issue with your protocol, which I have so far been unable to make clear.

As there is no judgment involved in Challenge tests, it doesn't matter what I am predisposed to believe. It doesn't matter what *anyone* is predisposed to believe.

The entire point of the Challenge is to make a claim, then go into an unbiased setting and either prove or be unable to prove said claim. At no point will I ever get to weigh in with an opinion, and the only time my voice will be heard at all is during protocol negotiations which are discussions between both applicant and JREF, and are publicly posted to the point that, were they unfair, it would be obvious to anyone who cared to look.

I have not ever said that all individuals who apply for the Challenge are ridiculous. I have, however, said that in some cases their *claims* are ridiculous, to which I gave an example in the article you keep blindly citing (*rimshot*).

As to whether or not I believe all paranormal believers are ridiculous, I ask yet again that you do your research.

For my solo talk at Dragon*Con, entitled "On the Trail of Ghosts: SAPS Investigates," I invited my friend and paranormal believer WHO IS ALSO one of the stars of the paranormal television show "Haunting Evidence," Patrick Burns, to take the stage with me and talk about his side. And he did. It was actually one of the more civil discussions I've ever had.

I also added an entry to my blog yesterday called "In Defense of Ghost Hunters - EMF," which will be posted to the site soon, and which I suggest you read if you insist upon maintaining the belief that I am unfair.

Additionally, your claim has been reviewed by more than just me.

So let us look at the reality of the situation:

You mailed your application to the JREF.

It was forwarded to me, WITHOUT anyone else at the JREF going over it or making decisions regarding it (as all applications are forwarded to me. That's my job.)

I received it and contacted you and said the claim you made was untestable. Not, as you have said, because of how it was phrased, but because it requires the testers to make a judgment.

You then e-mailed back and forth with me, never stating a testable claim, and have now spent weeks posting to the forum with such transparency that not even a child would, at this point, believe you were serious about your application.

And yet despite all this, I have fast-tracked your application, continue to attempt negotiations, and keep responding to your futile attempts to discredit my work.

~Remie

Why would I waste my time if I was not serious? Is this another ploy to cut me off?
You are bragging about having one CIVIL conversation with your paranormal friend. Guess that means that with others, like me. you ARENT so civil?
Now that I am puting forth my feelings and ideas and trying to make headway you are attacking!
Is this a way of getting me to cut and run?

 

[Piggy]

On with the Challenge
Jimtron ... if all the equipment was put in a Faraday cage that problem would be solved. So I will agree to that.
1) All equipment in a Faraday Cage
2) The equipment that is in the Faraday cage can be examined or even Purchased by someone other than myself as others have suggested. (And YES, I Know that I am paying for this )
3) I will sit on the Devil's Chair on 10/31/ 2008. I think we all agree on that.
4) The audio and video equipment will be turned on and recording.
5) I will speak
6) After 27 minutes the recording equipment will be shut off.
7) If Audio or Video evidence is on the recordings that Can Not Be Scientifically Explained then the Test will be regarded as a success

You say you've made contact there before?

How was the contact made?

Did you hear audible voices, did you hear voices internally, or did these voices appear on recording devices?

This is important because if you heard voices, then you're not testing anything you claim to actually be able to do. You're wanting to test something you've never done before, and so have no idea if you can do it (unless, of course, this is simply a magic trick, which you claim it isn't).

If you heard audible voices, then why are you suggesting this set-up? Why do you believe that the voices which you heard will, this time, instead not speak out loud but rather imprint themselves on a tape without being audible?

Finally, if you do this, what exactly and unambiguously would satisfy the condition of something appearing on the audio or video tape which "can not be scientifically explained" and what additional criteria besides "we don't have an explanation for it" will be used to classify it as self-evidently paranormal?

Please be aware the just because an explanation is not available, this does not make a phenomenon "paranormal". For example, if a hazy image appears on a tape and no one knows what it is, that does not mean that it was caused by anything paranormal, just that it is caused by something which cannot be determined.

Thanks.

 

[The Professor]

Mr. Koenig,

Per your request, Jeff Wagg will now be the one reviewing your claim.

~Remie

Thank you so much for stepping down. I truly appreciate it. Honestly!
I do wish you continued success. I have renewed respect for you. I'm sorry if what I've said has offended you.
Thanks
Dave

 

[jimtron]

I have taken Jackalgirl's advise and removed Entity all together. it isn't needed.

So is there anything paranormal about your claim? If not, you're not eligible to apply, as the MDC is about testing paranormal ability. If you do have a paranormal claim, WHAT IS IT? You capture a dead person's voice? Something else? This needs to be addressed and a protocol must be established.

If you come up with a testable claim, and Alison refuses it, you'll have that evidence and you can do with it what you will. BUT YOU HAVEN'T ABIDED BY THE RULES AND STATED HOW YOUR CLAIM IS TESTABLE.

You can't blame the JREF for not giving you a chance if you don't follow the rules of the application process. Again, you're behaving as if you don't really have a testable claim and are looking for excuses. If that's not the case, then please follow the rules and tell us about your paranormal voice or whatever and how it's testable.

 

[Jeff Wagg]

I did not say the test would not be fair. My treatment on this forum by Alison Michelle Smith has been tainted. Just look at the "We Aren't Shaking In Our Boots" post she made in her third post here I believe. I am a small minority on this JREF site, and like most minorities the uninformed majority likes to call names.
Instead of the N word it's MAGICIAN, MAGICIAN, MAGICIAN.


Since Alison Smith is placed between me and the Million Dollars it IS important to have someone unbiased and with no "Friggin' Ridiculous" presuppositions.

The thoughts that I've given are my own. The writers have something a bit different and one hasn't gotten his part completed yet. I will give my own ideas for the moment.

I did like the idea of the Automated Vocal interpreter. It's a good one!
I have taken Jackalgirl's advise and removed Entity all together. it isn't needed.
Thanks for all of your help!
Dave

I will now be handling this claim. You may reach me at jeff@randi.org.

What I have observed here is RemieV repeatedly asking for a testable claim, and you being unable to provide one. As we have spent weeks on this application, and your date of Oct 31 is drawing near, we will need to have a mutually agreed upon protocol by September 26th, 2008.

Your last protocol once again fails to address the main issue, which is, if we hear a sound on a recording, there is no reason to believe it is paranormal. We have magicians at our disposal who know many ways to put a recorded sound on a device, even if it's in a Faraday cage.

Please know that part of the protocol will include you signing a form that indicates that you are not using trickery or conjuring to produce the claimed effect. Should we learn that you have broken this agreement, the prize is null and void.

While we will attempt to detect trickery, you must provide a result that makes trickery unlikely. As you know the place and the time, there are many opportunities for trickery, and you must overcome them.

It is incumbent upon you to solve this problem. We will work with you as much as possible. To my mind, the best way to solve this is with a sealed envelope test. We have an envelope with one of 20 words on it, and the voice simply states the word. You will know all 20 words in advance. We will repeat this enough times to get the odds to the 1000:1 that we require.

If your powers do not allow you to perform such a test, please propose something else.

Most important.. please state in simple terms what your claim is, without protocol. What can and can't you do with this ability to record paranormal voices?

 

[GzuzKryzt]

Mr. Koenig,

Per your request, Jeff Wagg will now be the one reviewing your claim.

~Remie

Good call on part of the JREF.

On with the Challenge
Jimtron ... if all the equipment was put in a Faraday cage that problem would be solved. So I will agree to that.
1) All equipment in a Faraday Cage
2) The equipment that is in the Faraday cage can be examined or even Purchased by someone other than myself as others have suggested. (And YES, I Know that I am paying for this )
3) I will sit on the Devil's Chair on 10/31/ 2008. I think we all agree on that.
4) The audio and video equipment will be turned on and recording.
5) I will speak
6) After 27 minutes the recording equipment will be shut off.
7) If Audio or Video evidence is on the recordings that Can Not Be Scientifically Explained then the Test will be regarded as a success

This does not suffice in the least, The Professor. But you do know that, do you not?

 

[jimtron]

Why would I waste my time if I was not serious? Is this another ploy to cut me off?

Dave, who is trying to cut you off? On the contrary, you are keeping yourself from proceeding because you have been ignoring the zillions of request to specify your paranormal claim and how it's testable. We are not cutting you off, we are trying to get you to follow the rules so you can proceed.

Please, for the love of Bob, read Jeff Wagg's post #513 carefully, and respond.

 

[Czarcasm]

What would be the cost of a faraday cage that could block out all possible electronic signals? How long would it take to build?
Most importantly, do we already have permission to set up all this equipment and conduct this experiment at this location? The Professor says that he has permission to visit the site, but this may go beyond the scope of a simple "visit" in the eyes of the proper authorities.

 

[e-sabbath]

Professor. I'm still waiting for the 'whole story'. You did promise.
What are these paranormal entities?
What can they do?
How do you know they will respond to you?
Why the Devil's Chair?
Why 10/31?

Most importantly, what can you do that could not be done as a trick? That's really it. Make a claim that could not be reproduced by any non-paranormal means.

 

[Azrael 5]

Well done Professor you have jumped from the frying pan into the fire now.All of a sudden you have one week to create a testable protocol.Something you've failed to do in 4 weeks.
Looking forward to the next 7 days well done.

 

[The Professor]

I am indeed happy that Alison Michelle Smith has stepped down, however I will not let Jeff Wagg dictate or suggest what I should do as a challenge. This is MY challenge and it doesn't include trick magicians envelopes like the ones Criss Angel uses.
Also a one week stipulation for protocol negotiations is Unacceptable. ( I have a recording of Randi saying he gave one guy four years. You, Jeff, were there too) Are there other examples of this kind of discrimination on the JREF? It is just another way for the JREF to avoid testing Anyone! And thereby Never risking the Million Dollars.
Jeff,You claim to have magicians that can penetrated a Faraday Cage of my making ... Prove it!
I will not be put off by false science.
I want to take the test!

A false shuffle does not change a stacked deck.
Jeff you say you want to work with me on this in an earnest manner?
I will take you up on that offer!

You speak of the Claim and the Protocol in the same post.
To be in accordance with your rules, right now we should be discussing the Claim and NOT the protocol. Correct?

 

[The Professor]

Well done Professor you have jumped from the frying pan into the fire now.All of a sudden you have one week to create a testable protocol.Something you've failed to do in 4 weeks.
Looking forward to the next 7 days well done.

Placing a discriminatory cut off date of one week is very telling indeed.
Let's see. I got back from my honeymoon on the evening of the 3rd I believe.

Alison Michelle Smith said that we weren't negotiating because I was on my honeymoon.
So, according to her I've only had 15 days to state my claim and negotiate a protocol.
That's pretty quick I've been told. What is the normal amount of time given? Randi said he gave a guy four years one time.

Why are you trying to avoid the challenge by hustling me out of here?
Oh, I forgot ... ONE MILLION DOLLARS