Merged Jim Callahan's MDC claim

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Azrael 5 said:
Seems to me all Jim does is veer on libel with Randi at any given opportunity,attempt to ridicule him and generally put him down.
Go Jim...? :rolleyes:
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There's nothing illusory about the MDC, either. If Jim claims a paranormal ability, then he should prove it and claim the million. As things currently stand, the man has zero credibility.


M.
 
Gravy said:
Of course. He can apply, state his claim, and present his protocol for that test. But he refuses to do so. Is there some reason that Jim Callahan should be given different treatment than every other applicant?
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Absolutely not. Instead, Jim should explain why, on the one hand, he goes to the trouble of writing up a doable protocol at his site, and on the other hand coming here and telling everyone that he won't apply for the MDC. Makes absolutely no sense except in one way: he can't do it because he has no ability and his entire schtick is an ill-conceived attempt to garner some publicity for a stalled "career."


M.
 
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See my website, "My Jim Callahan $1,000 Challenge"

mycallahanchallenge-full.jpg
 
Biscuit said:
I know he wont take the challenge. I was just curious about his own challenge and seeing if he would be willing to modify that in the manor I described or if there is something particular about the way he wants to do it.
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I think your suggestions are quite good and would allow for the changes in my challenge.

In fact I will add your suggestions to the web page as soon as some other work is finished..

Thanks,

Jim
 
EHocking said:
Having read that page your ability as you claim it would constitute "paranormal" under the MDC rules (as confirmed by Jeff Wragg).

Similarly the protocol required to demonstrate it would be so simple to produce that even I could do it. One thing I would add for your corner would be to have an independent observer at the location where the sealed vessel (a safe?) is. I would have them observe the object in situ and have them sign a document describing it and seal that in with the object.

That way you can be sure that there has not been any sleight of hand on JREF's part when the object is revealed at the end of your demonstration.

Oh, and I guess it's also a protection for JREF against accusations that they changed the object out if you were to fail.

Just an extra safeguard for your protocol.
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This is an great idea also.

Thanks,

Jim
 
Jim Callahan said:
I will not be sending in an application for the MDC.

Jim
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Then take down the misleading challenge lie on your website. Only a second rate charlatan would try to ride the coattails of a great and famous magician.

If you feel that is inaccurate and shouldn't apply to you, tell me why.

Here's how I interpret your "challenge":

"I, Jim Callahan, bet Randi that I can do a magic trick that he can't figure out. I will bet $5,000 and he will bet $1,000,000. Obviously, anyone can see that I'm giving myself a vote of no-confidence with those odds. This test will be under absolutely uncontrolled conditions so that I may freely perform a stunt. Even if I lose the $5,000, I will have gained immeasurably from Randi's acknowledgement of my existence.

Under absolutely no circumstances will I perform any test under controlled conditions, so don't ask."

At least say it like it is, don't wrap it up in pseudo-challenge lingo.
 
Jim Callahan said:
I think your suggestions are quite good and would allow for the changes in my challenge.

In fact I will add your suggestions to the web page as soon as some other work is finished..

Thanks,

Jim
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Waffle. If you do not apply you will not be tested.

Personally I don't believe you'll ever apply, but please go ahead and prove me wrong. Even better, go ahead and win the $1million - become one of the most famous people in the world, extremely rich, and also prove that science as we know it is just plain wrong.

There's just one tiny problem with this scenario - you have no paranormal abilities.


Come on Jim, fess up - you're just using the Randi/JREF/MDC names as a PR crutch for your stage magician's career, aren't you? If not, sincere apologies, but please explain this (paraphrased) sequence of events -

JC: (on your website) I'm gonna win the Randi $million.
JC: (in The Professor's MDC thread) Test me!
JREF: (same thread) Apply.
JC: (this thread) No.
JC: (still on your website) I'm gonna win the Randi $million.
Chorus: (this thread) Well how are you gonna do that if you won't apply?

Jim your credibility is zero.
 
I wonder if by putting up only $5,000 of his money he believes he can continue to "purchase" repeated guesses at what's in the vault thereby hedging his bets. If he eventually guesses correctly after 100 tries @ $5,000 each, he's ahead a half-million. If he attempts a twenty questions style tactic and is successful, his ROI is even better. Good luck with that.
 
Moochie said:
My sarcasm and skepticism aside, I think the test outlined at http://www.jimclass.com/Bid_for_$1,000,000.00.htm by Jim Callahan is quite doable. Isn't there some way he and the JREF can work something out?
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Well, for one, the page is entirely full of misdirection that is all irrelevant to the test itself. For two, Jim needs to actually make an application before anything will be "worked out" -- in another thread, he has said that he will not be doing so. This means that Jim's page will remain exactly that -- a webpage, viewed by a random few as a novelty.

Seems simple and direct, and if nothing else will probably result in much publicity for both parties and probably a paycheck for JC, since the event is to take place in an entertainment venue -- which doesn't rule out television.
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Yes, this is exactly what Callahan is trying to do -- create a paycheck for himself. He would make far more than the $5,000 he claims to 'risk' from this, and Randi and the JREF would have lent their name (and considerable reputation, far more so than Jim's own) to a complete farce whose only purpose is to actually fill an auditorium for Jim.

Were I in charge of the JREF, I would only consider being involved in such a charade for a 50% cut of the ticket sales, advertising revenue, and other proceeds, no less. And Jim would _still_ have to submit his application and go through all the proper procedures.
 
Jim,

You are welcome to add my changes to your website but until you actually apply for the challenge all you have is an webpage with an idea.

You can state you will teleport an elephant to Mars for all I care.

Why won't you apply? You have already made your claim all you need to do is negotiate a protocol and you already have an outline for that.
 
You have it wrong Biscuit, it my challenge and the JREF or Randi may take it if they want to prove themselfs.

Best Wishes,

Jim
 
Jim,

That doesn't make any sense. You are probably the most qualified person to apply for the MDC. You have plenty of media exposure, I am sure you can get the academic, you have a claim, and you have a pretty decent outline of a protocol!

Throwing up your own challenge and not taking the MDC is just childish! It would seem to me that in order for you to win the $1,000,000 through your own challenge you would still have to apply for the MDC and follow its rules as that is the only way to be tested by the JREF. So stop with the theatrics and put your money where your mouth is!
 
Jim Callahan said:
You have it wrong Biscuit, it my challenge and the JREF or Randi may take it if they want to prove themselfs.
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Why should the JREF prove themselves? They are not in the business of figuring out how magic tricks are being done. They have set up a challenge that people with paranormal claims cannot perform what they claim. You can take that challenge or leave it, but there is no good reason why the JREF should spend time taking other people's challenges. After all, the JREF makes no claims of being able to expose magic tricks.
 
GzuzKryzt said:
More deliberate misunderstanding on your part, Jim Callahan.
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Luckily it's all available on an open, public forum for anyone to see.

Mischievous little scamp aren't you Jim? Pity you also come across as someone who has to bolster his career by dragging on the coattails of Randi/JREF/MDC. Sad. Well it keeps the wolf from the door I guess ... and if you can keep your eyes shut, your hands over your ears and shout "lalalala I can't hear you!" over and over you'll never even notice that all the laughing dogs are laughing at you, Jim, not with you.
 
Jim Callahan said:
You have it wrong Biscuit, it my challenge and the JREF or Randi may take it if they want to prove themselfs.

Best Wishes,

Jim
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If it's your challenge, where is the $1 million coming from? Surely not the money used for JREF's MDC? That $1 million is for the MDC. Were you planning on applying for the MDC?

You keep saying it's your challenge and you keep throwing out you winning $1 million from the MDC. But then you say you won't be applying for the MDC. How do you resolve these conflicting statements?

I'm starting a new group, Shenanigans for Charlatans. You'll be our first client.
 
Gravy said:
See my website, "My Jim Callahan $1,000 Challenge"

mycallahanchallenge-full.jpg
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If anything comes of this, it could create a loop that would consume the world!


James Randi issues a challenge to anyone who can identify the mystery target.

Someone (challenger1) believes they can identify the target and instead of accepting the challenge, challenges Randi to undertake the challenge for entertainment.

Someone (challenger2) spots that marketing ploy, and challenges the challenger to take the initial challenge.

The challenger1 challenges challenger2 to force Randi to under take his (challenger1)'s challenge while refusing to just take Randi's challenge.

Someone (challenger3) challenges challenger1 to take either Randi's challenge or challenger2's challenge.

Challenger1 challenges challenger3 to .....

and so on....


There's no evidence that I have seen that Jim Callahan has taken any steps to directly contact James Randi, and ensure that he is aware of this challenge. I suspect that if he did, Randi would state that agreement to do this would be under the terms of Randi's challenge, but that if the two fit together, there's no reason for it not to go ahead. As long as the terms of Randi's challenge are met, I can't see why marketing it in this format should be an issue for Randi (apart from a possible desire to remove the unnecessary 'flim-flam').

However, to issue a challenge to anybody, and not make sure personally that they are aware of its existence, seems to me to be the height of rudeness, and also, quite telling of how confident a person is in succeeding.
 
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