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I contacted and received evidence from JREF about the $1,000,000 prize fund for proof of paranormal abilities. I don't have a scanner or I would attach images of the documents. The evidence consists of 2 documents: an account summary issued by Goldman-Sachs and a letter by Naomi Shapiro, Vice President of the GS Mellon Bank Center in Philadelphia. The account is listed under the name of JREF in account number 036-11408-6 . The balance as of 9/30/04 was $1.06M. The letter issued by Ms Shapiro asserts JREF had liquid assets in excess of $1M on deposit with GS as of 3/27/98.
I remember some years back having watched this TV documentary on Randi [probably the Discovery channel since that is what I mainly watch]. They showed takes of actual debunking sessions. Watching these people demonstrate their special abilities was nothing short of... amazing. In fact, it brought tears to my eyes. No doubt most of these people are merely delusional and deserve no more than polite disregard, and possibly some therapy. Some are not so innocuous.
I recall an instance where Randi publicly skewered Sylvia Browne for using her 'powers' to tell this distraught woman her missing daughter had been kidnapped and sold on the white slave market in Japan. The missing girl's corpse turned up not long afterwards. Sending people 'messages' from the dearly departed may seem like harmless amusement. Raising false hopes in matters as horrific as losing a child is, to put it mildly, shameful. Needless to say, Ms Browne has no affection for Randi and has applied her very real power of excuses to duck his challenges to put her other 'powers' to the test. The incredible Uri Geller applied his formidible power of attorneys to the task.
You can make the case that Randi has merely made a name and helped himself to a share of the same pie his famous 'victims' feast upon. And that is certainly true to some extent. On the other hand, ridding the sea of ignorance of these opportunistic predators is a public service. Perhaps some people will more regularly eat, live indoors, and receive proper medical care with the money they are spared being duped out of on the Psychic Hotline.
I remember some years back having watched this TV documentary on Randi [probably the Discovery channel since that is what I mainly watch]. They showed takes of actual debunking sessions. Watching these people demonstrate their special abilities was nothing short of... amazing. In fact, it brought tears to my eyes. No doubt most of these people are merely delusional and deserve no more than polite disregard, and possibly some therapy. Some are not so innocuous.
I recall an instance where Randi publicly skewered Sylvia Browne for using her 'powers' to tell this distraught woman her missing daughter had been kidnapped and sold on the white slave market in Japan. The missing girl's corpse turned up not long afterwards. Sending people 'messages' from the dearly departed may seem like harmless amusement. Raising false hopes in matters as horrific as losing a child is, to put it mildly, shameful. Needless to say, Ms Browne has no affection for Randi and has applied her very real power of excuses to duck his challenges to put her other 'powers' to the test. The incredible Uri Geller applied his formidible power of attorneys to the task.
You can make the case that Randi has merely made a name and helped himself to a share of the same pie his famous 'victims' feast upon. And that is certainly true to some extent. On the other hand, ridding the sea of ignorance of these opportunistic predators is a public service. Perhaps some people will more regularly eat, live indoors, and receive proper medical care with the money they are spared being duped out of on the Psychic Hotline.
