Callahan Spinning Video from DragonCon

[Gravy]

I did so just to make sure of the facts again.

But I cannot post what I found at this time.

Of course you can post what you found. Here's a sample to get you started:

Dear Mr. Randi and any other concerned parties,

I made and posted to a public internet site a scurrilous video falsely accusing Mr. Randi of committing a federal crime. For reasons known only to the starry heavens, I failed to take into account the fact that I had pulled the accusation out of my ass.

I sincerely apologize for this baffling and comically inept attempt at attention-whoring at others' expense.

Yours,
Super Jim Callahan
Phony "Psychic"

 

[Jim Callahan]

Interesting that giving you guys what you wanted would upset you so much.

I did as was requested by DJM privately and took it down.

Many have asked if I turned Randi in and the answer is no but the information has now been sent to the secret service for verification along with the
position stated here that one can print money if one is not intending to defraud etc or if said money is to be used as Randi did in the lecture.

I also asked if it would be legal for me to print money for use in my shows as long as I destroy it and use the money for educational purposes.

However it is interesting that Randi states in the video not to let the secret service catch you with that.
Strange thing to say considering the argument many of you are offering.

Best Wishes,

Jim

 

[Gravy]

I haven't used one of these in a long, long time.



Jim, your pathetic whining convinces no one. So stop it.

 

[Jim Callahan]

Not whining, you misinterpret my tone.

Interested in your reactions that are based in nothing more than what you believe.

Just marveling at the conclusions you guys jump to.

In fact Gravy you base your assumption that I am a Psychic on what?
I never said it or claimed to be but you assume based upon nothing more than what others may have said.

However if the secret service says they are good to go with Randi printing cash I will post a video explaining that to be the case.

-Jim

 

[xinit]

I also asked if it would be legal for me to print money for use in my shows as long as I destroy it and use the money for educational purposes.

Be sure to forward their answer, Jim. If the answer comes back as I believe it will, I can only assume that there will be an apology attached directed at everyone you called thieves and liars. Randi, Youtube commenters, etc.

 

[Cleon]

Not whining, you misinterpret my tone.

Interested in your reactions that are based in nothing more than what you believe.

Just marveling at the conclusions you guys jump to.

Wait - what?!

You jumped the gun and posted a video accusing Randi of a federal crime, without bothering to getting the facts or researching the matter at all.

You did this. Not Gravy, not kookbreaker, not CFLarsen, not Randi, and not the Care Bears.

And yet you sit there "marveling at the conclusions you guys jump to."


Well, I'll give you this: what you lack in honesty, you certainly make up for in chutzpah.

 

[kookbreaker]

Interesting that giving you guys what you wanted would upset you so much.

I did as was requested by DJM privately and took it down.

Many have asked if I turned Randi in and the answer is no but the information has now been sent to the secret service for verification along with the
position stated here that one can print money if one is not intending to defraud etc or if said money is to be used as Randi did in the lecture.

I also asked if it would be legal for me to print money for use in my shows as long as I destroy it and use the money for educational purposes.

However it is interesting that Randi states in the video not to let the secret service catch you with that.
Strange thing to say considering the argument many of you are offering.

Best Wishes,

Jim

We didn't make the slanderous video, Jim. You did. You screwed up, royally. You jumped gleefully to the conclusion that Randi was committing a Federal crime.

We, on the other hand, are laughing loudly at how you have fallen flat on your face and are tryng to spin this into something else.

When the Secret Service comes back telling you that this is not a crime (and checking with them should have been the action you took in the first place, like any regular person would have) I expect you will be making an apology video, yes?

 

[Lonewulf]

Interesting that giving you guys what you wanted would upset you so much.

Nah, I'm not very upset myself.

I did as was requested by DJM privately and took it down.

Great! I find that noble of you, at least.

Many have asked if I turned Randi in and the answer is no but the information has now been sent to the secret service for verification along with the position stated here that one can print money if one is not intending to defraud etc or if said money is to be used as Randi did in the lecture.

That's great, as well. The seeking of information is always a noble path.

I also asked if it would be legal for me to print money for use in my shows as long as I destroy it and use the money for educational purposes.

My gut feeling says "yes", but we'll see if you come up with something else...

However it is interesting that Randi states in the video not to let the secret service catch you with that.
Strange thing to say considering the argument many of you are offering.

Out of curiosity, have you ever heard of a concept called "humor"? Perhaps "entertainment"?

Not everyone means everything they say in complete seriousness. Randi was putting on what's called a show, and was attempting to be what's called entertaining.

What's funny is that I'll probably be called a "Randi worshipper" for thinking that.

 

[kookbreaker]

Not whining, you misinterpret my tone.

Interested in your reactions that are based in nothing more than what you believe.

This isn't what we beleive, Jim. This is about what we know. And we know that you are very, very wrong. This was not a Federal crime as you continue to claim.

 

[kookbreaker]

Out of curiosity, have you ever heard of a concept called "humor"? Perhaps "entertainment"?

Not everyone means everything they say in complete seriousness. Randi was putting on what's called a show, and was attempting to be what's called entertaining.

For the life of me I cannot possibly imagine that Randi is the first, last, or even the most prominent magician who makes & uses fake money and perhaps destroys it as part of their act.

So why is the idea of using fake money in an act such an alien concept to Jim? I cannot image any magician being so naive unless doing so deliberately.

 

[jimtron]

It's against the law to deface U.S. coins and paper bills too. Jim Callahan, will you be reporting all of the magic shops and trick coin manufacturers to the Secret Service as well? If not, why not?

Example: http://www.sascomagic.com/topten.htm

United States Code
TITLE 18
PART I
CHAPTER 17
331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins

http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/us...tml/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000331----000-.html

Whoever fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes,
falsifies, scales, or lightens any of the coins coined at the mints of
the United States, or any foreign coins which are by law made current
or are in actual use or circulation as money within the United States;
or whoever fraudulently possesses, passes, utters, publishes, or
sells, or attempts to pass, utter, publish, or sell, or brings into
the United States, any such coin, knowing the same to be altered,
defaced, mutilated, impaired, diminished, falsified, scaled, or
lightened? Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
five years, or both.

 

[Azrael 5]

I already pointed out to Jim the names of magicians who used fake bills in their act,on magic cafe and on his YouTube video.So hopefully he will have passed their names on to SS too.
I think Randwill may have a copy of the video.

Not even Raymond Hill is gonna get you out of this one Jimbo.As he would maybe write via you "Liebell"

 

[TheDaver]

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.

I think that as a celebrity, as a businessman, and generally as an important person, this is so petty and insignificant as to not even warrant his attention, let alone any response.

 

[Jim Callahan]

As some have pointed out they may not get back to me so tomorrow I will phone them.
Who knows I may do a video of how everyone can copy money if it is for education.
(That will be really a fun thing)
If they say it is go for printing cash for education and entertainment purposes.

After all if Randi can do it I want to make sure I can also.
That is what I will be confirming.

Possibly Randi can because of the JREF tax exempt status.!

I want to thank you guys for pushing me to do this.
Looks like it could turn out to be great fun and of real value as a promotion.

Thanks again,

Jim

 

[Gravy]

Not whining, you misinterpret my tone.

Interested in your reactions that are based in nothing more than what you believe.

Fact: you posted a video making a false accusation that James Randi committed a federal crime.

Just marveling at the conclusions you guys jump to.

See above.

In fact Gravy you base your assumption that I am a Psychic on what?
I never said it or claimed to be but you assume based upon nothing more than what others may have said.

I beg your pardon. "Phony paranormalist"

 

[Chris H]

To be fair, I have never heard Mr. Callahan use the word "psychic" to describe what he does. Having said that, I have seen him allude to being something more than a magician. This link doesn't give many answers, but it's a start. Pay particular attention to the first question in the following FAQ.

http://http://jimclass.com/challenges_questions.htm

Jim, if you tell me the Magic Cafe page you are referring to above, I'd be more than happy to post the link for you.

In addition, would you be interested in discussing the terms of your challenge to the JREF in a separate thread, if I were to start one? I see no need to begin such a thread if you have no desire to be involved in it, and will refrain from doing so until you have expressed interest. Please let me know.

Cheers,

Chris

 

[Azrael 5]

Callahan is obsessed with Randi."Tax exempt status" ?!

I'd love to see the JREF sue him quite frankly.Him and his friend Slim think they are ahead of the game and clever.Sadly they are alone in these thoughts.

 

[CFLarsen]

From the Jim Callahan "Often Asked Questions":

Q: I saw a magician who says he can do your tricks.
Not a question but a remark that begs a reply.

A: If he could do what I do he would not be a magician. Often I have found (and I am sure you have noticed the same) that magicians like to copy or fake the performances of psychics as a way of proving the validity of their own ability. Kind of like a child begging for attention.

Snide remark aside, Callahan clearly distinguishes himself from the trickery of magicians. What he does is not what magicians do.

Q: Are you implying what you do is real? Or that you are a psychic?

A: Of course it is. I provide an experience for people, a very real experience. I would also offer that I create a favorable environment in which such an experience can take place.

I am not a psychic I have made this point several times. I am a Paranormalist.

Note the two pronged question: The first clearly is answered in the affirmative: What Callahan does is real. It isn't trickery, like magicians do (and admit to do).

The second is slyly dodging the question: No, Callahan is not a psychic, but he is not a trickster either. So, what is he? He invents a term but refuses to tell us what it means. We have to guess - and we are bound to be wrong.

We see that in the following:

Q: Will you submit to testing.

A: That is the reason for the challenges and guarantees. I do not run about looking for validation from others. Why would I?
I know what I can do and enjoy it. I am paid well. Also I have done years of research to be able to do what I do and much of it can be very valuable. So why would I offer the end result of my work to other researchers to profit from?

Callahan doesn't want to be too specific about what he does, so he can't be held accountable for anything he says. And he sure doesn't want to be tested, because that would mean he had to be specific about what he was doing.

I also use the general nature of a situation to create the psychological effects of interacting in a paranormal event.
...
I realized that there was more to psychics and their performances than was being portrayed by people such as James Randi and others of his type.

Unless "paranormal" suddenly means "normal", Callahan clearly says that something paranormal is going on, when he does what he does. However, he clearly wants to use his own dictionary: If we were to say "Well, you said X", he will immediatedly say "Well, you misunderstood me. X means X to you, but it means something else to me. But I won't be too specific about what it means, because I want to keep that to myself. However, I am right and you are wrong."

For one, there were the things the skeptics could not explain.

Note that Callahan again does not say anything specific here: He doesn't want to hear the explanations from skeptics, but merely hint that skeptics had to give up at some point.

And then there is the idea of perceptual reality.

The crux of the matter is that Callahan can determine reality for other people as well. What they perceive is not what they think they perceive - it is what Callahan tells them they perceive.

I went looking for my own answers and I found them. Realizing that the secrets are there to use if you want.

Again, Callahan knows the answers, and tells us that we can do it, too. But he won't tell us what the answers are.

This is exactly what occultists do: They claim superior knowledge, and tell us it's right there in front of us. But they won't tell us what it is, we have to find out for ourselves.

The catch is that whatever we come up with, we are simply told "No, that's not it - try again". It isn't a question of education, of passing on knowledge: It is solely a question of messing with other people - with no real trick or ability being displayed.

They don't have this sublime knowledge - they just want to give the impression that they do, so they can appear smarter than the rest of us.

We see this in his last response:

In a way yes during my lectures and our new presentation the Paranormalist. I cover how to use these things to your benefit plus how I have benefited as well.

 

[Gravy]

Q: Will you submit to testing.

A: That is the reason for the challenges and guarantees. I do not run about looking for validation from others. Why would I?

Jim, since your spirit-world connections have failed to fill you in (what are they good for then?), here's why:

For one million dollars, with which you could do whatever you want: invest it, spend it, donate it to charities.

For worldwide fame.

For the great additional income that fame would bring, with which you could do whatever you want: invest it, spend it, donate it to charities.

Please explain why you, a professional performer, do not want this fame and fortune.

If you weren't looking for validation from others, why did you compete to be known as "the next great mentalist" on "Phenomenon" (which, IIRC, did involve you "running around" a bit)?

Q: Were [sic] did you learn this?

A: I taught myself. I realized that there was more to psychics and their performances than was being portrayed by people such as James Randi and others of his type.

So you're not a psychic, but you claim that without trickery you do what psychics do.

Please explain this contradiction, Jim. Exactly how are you not a psychic?

I am asking those who read this site to remember I am an entertainer, artist & researcher.

Please do not get carried away when viewing and interacting with my work. It is to be an entertaining, surreal diversion.

Excuse me? You claim to have truly paranormal abilities that are not magic tricks. You claim to be able to communicate with the dead! And you don't want me to get "carried away" by that? Jim, this is huge! You may have an ability that's unique in the universe! A whole new world of learning depends on you! And you don't want us to get excited about that? It's only entertainment? You're not interested in contributing to the understanding of this remarkable phenomenon? Really?

But wait, what's this?

All right, then. On your website you say,

I am also a Master Magician and because of that I draw a strong distinction between my work as a Paranormalist and a Magician.

Great! Then you understand why the JREF, in offering a milion dollars to anyone who can demonstrate paranormal ability, needs to draw the "strong distinction" between that and magic tricks. You do understand that, right, Jim? That it would be wrong of you, against the JREF challenge rules, and a felony, to attempt to defraud someone of a milliion dollars?

A person of ability and integrity would welcome measures to insure against cheating. Are you a person of ability and integrity, Jim?

Time to crap or get off the pot. Prove it.

 

[kookbreaker]

Jim's wishy-washy refusal to classify 'Talking with the Dead' as paranormal reminds me of the defunct show 'Millennium' where the main character insists he's 'not psychic', he can just 'see what the killer sees'.

To which one critic said "If that's not psychic, what the heck is?"