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

[Chris H]

Even better still, how about we stop responding to his posts altogether? The Professor appears to be the kind of fellow who needs an audience, and depriving him of it might give him more time to work on his protocol. No need to reply to this post...

Chris

 

[Robaato]

Please tell us what your claimed ability is.

 

[steenkh]

Why are you all avoiding my questions?
It doesn't matter what James Randi says in public you say? You follow anyway?

James Randi may well have said something that was factually wrong but it has no influence on your test for the MDC, since he is not the one actually holding negotiations with you.

It doesn't matter if the test is discriminatory? No problem?

How can you claim that the test is discriminatory when you have so far not been able to come with a suggestion for a protocol that can be used for the test?

It doesn't matter if others on the JREF play fast and loose with the Million Dollar Challenge rules? What's wrong with that?

What rules have they changed?

You problems seem to be that you cannot understand that it is up to you to design a test that proves the paranormal, and not up to the JREF. You keep saying that paranormal means "cannot be explained scientifically", but you have not designed a protocol that rules out scientific explanations, so your protocol is inadequate. Apparently, you expect the JREF to do your work for you.

You claim this is a FAIR test .... Prove it!

You cannot prove such a thing, but you can easily prove if the test is unfair. Are you up to that?

 

[Kuko 4000]

Please tell us what your claimed ability is.

 

[Mojo]

Please tell us what your claimed ability is, and how you propose to unequivocally establish that it is paranormal.

 

[steenkh]

As The Professor seems to be committed to an event on 31st October, can I repeat my suggestion that you attend it purely as an observer? Once you have a clear idea of what the phenomenon in question actually consists of and recordings to examine, it should be much easier to determine if it qualifies as paranormal and is testable within the terms of the challenge. Negotiations on a test protocol and success criteria can then begin, and a date set for the actual test.

I do not see what point this has. TP orchestrates a happening at the cemetary where mystery voices appear on tape recorders: just why would that help in determining if there is anything paranormal going on?

So far TP has not even been able to specify what part of his performance constitutes a paranormal claim. He will ask questions addressed to invisible entities (not a paranormal claim), answers will be heard (not a paranormal claim), and recorded on recorders (not a paranormal claim), possibly something will be seen also (not a paranormal claim).

At any rate, I do not believe TP is interested in anything else than the possibility of claiming that he was unfairly rejected a test of his claim. His supporters will believe him, and he can probably claim some fame for this, but no sensible person will consider his stalling for time to be worth spending any time on.

 

[jenski]

LL
I will be getting around to an improved mentally visual description of what will take place.
I will answer this one


Quote:
6) After 27 minutes the recording equipment will be shut off.

Why 27 minutes?


I've left time for a commercial or two.

I guess that answers the question, "Is this a publicity stunt?"

 

[jenski]

Here is my most recent response to Jeff Wagg.
As you can see the negotiations are continuing!

David Koenig to jeff
show details 1:54 PM (2 minutes ago)

Reply

Jeff

You said ...

I know you only from your application. Despite Jim Callahan's
assertions to the contrary, we knew you had applied, and answered the
young man at Dragon*Con to that effect. Randi did not know you had
applied as he only gets involved at the very end of a challenge. Mr.
Callahan has been very dishonest as regards the JREF, and has been
very loud despite his unwillingness to take the challenge. None of
this will have an impact on our negotiations.
---------------------------------------------

If you only know me from my application, then how is it you say "We know who Dave Koenig is. He's a friend of Jim Callahan."?

Jim Callahan or our friendship was NOT mentioned at ALL on my application!
You claim here that Jim Callahan is dishonest but your very statement about me seems based on deception.

If it is standard procedure for Randi "Not to know" then he should have said just that! "I don't Know. Or "I'm not sure" Or "It's not my job"...
But he Emphatically says "HE HAS NOT APPLIED" and that is NOT THE TRUTH!

To further this problem, even after he is corrected by Alison Smith, he continues to make the false claim both over the phone and on an Itricks podcast AFTER the aplication is officially posted on the JREF Forum! (And AFTER he was corrected by Alison)

Please explain how the Leader of the JREF saying it's a "Pack of Lies" does not effect how I'm treated here?

I also need the Bottom Line Official definition of Paranormal.

Thanks
Dave

I will be going over the rest of the email after Church.
- Show quoted text -

Non-sequiteur. Please simply provide your detailed protocol.

 

[jenski]

A5 says
Irrelevant.How James Randi chooses to phrase things isn't important.


I say ... Drink the Kool-Aid

POGO says

I don't know what kind of church the Professor attended today, but it would be ironic if the sermon was about dishonesty and its consequences.

Taking a shot at a persons religious beliefs is very classy of you (NOT)
But I forgive you

You are both great followers!

I have the solution to this whole problem.
It's very simple.

The solution is indeed simple. Post your detailed protocol.

 

[jenski]

Why are you all avoiding my questions?
It doesn't matter what James Randi says in public you say? You follow anyway?

It doesn't matter if the test is discriminatory? No problem?

It doesn't matter if others on the JREF play fast and loose with the Million Dollar Challenge rules? What's wrong with that?

You claim this is a FAIR test .... Prove it!

I am a minority here and many of you act like the type of folks that discriminate against minorities. Not Critical thinkers.

I have been honest and open about who I work for and who else is interested in this challenge and you SPIN IT!

If I DIDN'T release this information you would SPIN IT the other way. Wake Up!

Non-sequiteur again! Please post your detailed protocol.

 

[Pixel42]

Absolutely not. If JREF shows up as an observer, it will be used as propaganda for whatever type of show The Professor will be putting on.

I take your point, but as long as The Professor is unable or unwilling to provide a detailed description of the supposed paranormal event which will take place on 31st October I see no other way out of the current impasse. Perhaps, instead of an official JREF observer, a couple of forumites who live locally could attend the event and post a detailed description of it afterwards?

I see no way of making progress until someone has witnessed an example of the supposed paranormal phenomenon and described it in sufficient detail for discussions of a suitable test protocol to begin.

Please tell us what your claimed ability is.

Why keep asking this, when one of the few things The Professor has made clear is that he claims no paranormal ability; at most he acts as a catalyst for the supposed paranormal entities' attempts at communication.

 

[jmercer]

As a private member, and NOT a moderator:

I see no way of making progress until someone has witnessed an example of the supposed paranormal phenomenon and described it in sufficient detail for discussions of a suitable test protocol to begin.

Under the challenge, I believe that's The Professor's responsibility as the applicant; to articulate what his claim is, pure and simple. I should think that 1 million dollars should be enough incentive to do that.

Why keep asking this, when one of the few things The Professor has made clear is that he claims no paranormal ability; at most he acts as a catalyst for the supposed paranormal entities' attempts at communication.

See above.

 

[steenkh]

Under the challenge, I believe that's The Professor's responsibility as the applicant; to articulate what his claim is, pure and simple. I should think that 1 million dollars should be enough incentive to do that.

Quite true. But we suspect that The Professor is not actually setting his sights on 1 million dollars, but on the lesser prize of whatever advantage could come out of having the community of Randi-haters rallying behind him after he successfully manages not to be tested.

 

[petre]

In an attempt to connect with both sides here:

The Professor, it would seem the JREF has indicated that your proposed claim (Faraday cage included) does not yet reach the bar of ruling out all scientific explanations (by any reasonable definition). Others have noted possible ways voices might yet end up on the recorder (you, or someone else present, could speak; HSS technology). It would seem additional measures to prevent "cheating" will be required. Perhaps you could suggest some. Mr. Callahan has added a suggestion about using acoustic foam, would you feel confident in success after adding a stipulation that the recording device be sealed in such foam? I'm uncertain how you could without testing it beforehand, but perhaps just this additional measure would make your claim secure enough to be considered paranormal! (currently it is not). You might even go the extra step and REQUEST a list of countermeasures to ensure paranormality of the results, and I encourage you to do so (in a clear direct manner) as soon as possible if that is your wish. You have expressed a great willingness and bank of resources to overcome any stipulated requirement, and might mention that as well.

To Jeff, it seems The Professor is reluctant to specifically ask outright himself, but would the JREF be willing to provide a comprehensive list of countermeasures that would ensure voices appearing on a recording device must originate from a paranormal source? I can imagine some reasons JREF might decline to do so. They may consider imposing such a list on an applicant unfair (since the event, as stated, is VERY open to cheating and significant measures would likely have to be taken to prevent the rather simple task of getting a recorder to record voices). The Professor seems to believe he has resources available to confront any task set before him, so perhaps he should be made aware of some of the significant items that would be required in such a test. JREF may also feel that being asked to provide such a list moves the challenge too far away from the proper focus (the applicant) and that the applicant ought to "do his homework himself". Perhaps the JREF simply doesn't have the resources to provide such a list at this time (it may have trouble locating experts that could comment on defeating some of the more unusual transmission methods). Stating more clearly why The Professor must detail such a list himself may help him to understand that he still has a great amount of work to do (and in a very short amount of time if he wishes to keep to the rather demanding deadline he has requested).

I have several other comments that I would love to discuss as well, but as time is short I will wait until these points are addressed. Perhaps it will be telling which sides respond to this in a constructive manner that would move the claim discussion along.

 

[Pixel42]

Under the challenge, I believe that's The Professor's responsibility as the applicant; to articulate what his claim is, pure and simple. I should think that 1 million dollars should be enough incentive to do that.

You'd think so, wouldn't you? And yet it seems it is not. You'd almost think he had some ulterior motive for applying.

My main concern is that The Professor should be seen to have been given every opportunity to make and prove his claim, so that he cannot pretend otherwise. If that means giving him extra help in articulating his claim, writing the test protocol for him etc, then so be it. The way things are now the likeliest outcome is that JREF closes the file due to his failure to submit a testable claim and suitable protocol within a reasonable period of time. Whilst that would be perfectly fair, it would also probably be exactly what he wants.

 

[Azrael 5]

I think the Professor has run out of complaints.He has complained about RemieV,complained about the rules,complained about everything under the sun.He does a lot of that but very little putting together of a protocol;despite his-alluded to-famous collaborators helping and team of writers.

I am at a loss to see why JREF allowed his application,as it is blatantly obvious he has shown no examples of paranormal abilities.Myself and Guerilla Magic have prior knowledge of his antics,I can state with 100% certainty he ain't got no claim.

But just in case...tell us what your claim is.

 

[jmercer]

Again, as a private member and not a moderator:

Pixel42, I understand your point fully, and I agree with it in spirit (no pun intended) - but not as a practical matter. Here's why:

1) Setting aside The JREF's stated policy for this one person would be setting a precedent for other applicants to demand "special treatment" - opening the door to all sorts of mischief.

2) The applicant is the challenger; a challenge is NOT a cooperative experiment, it's a challenge. There's no reason for The JREF to do anything (other than make reasonable accommodations) for the challenger. There's a million bucks at stake - that should be enough to get anyone to do what's needed to get to the preliminary and final round of testing.

3) The JREF hasn't been putting a time limit on this - The Professor has. All The JREF has asked for is a clear definition of his claim, and to present them with a proposed protocol based on that claim so protocol negotiations can begin.

4) So far, the claim hasn't been articulated; The Professor is insisting on the date; and there cannot even be a meaningful discussion on protocols without an understanding of what will be tested and what a successful outcome will be.

Frankly, I don't expect The JREF to change their position on this, and I don't believe they should. The Professor is the one making the challenge, and therefore it's on his shoulders to provide all the necessary elements to succeed.

To me, what's being claimed here is so vague that it could mean anything at all.

 

[Loss Leader]

but would the JREF be willing to provide a comprehensive list of countermeasures that would ensure voices appearing on a recording device must originate from a paranormal source?

It would seem impossible to do this without the Professor specifying whether the voice will be audible or whether it will only appear on payback of the recording medium ... and without him specifying whether this medium must be magnetic, digital or something else.

As of now, he has yet to do even that.

 

[Moochie]

That's actually not a negotiation.

All the stuff from DragonCon is irrelevant to the point of you coming up with a valid claim

Thus far, 99% of Mr. K.'s posts have contained mostly irrelevancies. Maybe he's trying for a record for the most "ado about nothing," or "sound and fury signifying nothing." We're certainly no nearer to anything approaching a legitimate claim and accompanying protocol for testing same than we were 6 or seven hundred posts ago. One can only imagine why this might be so.


M.

 

[snoop_doxie]

Please tell us what your claimed ability is.