Bend That Spoon And Cash The Check...

The James Randi Educational Foundation is changing the parameters for it's Million-Dollar-Challenge.

There's a cool million bucks awaiting anyone who can demonstrate paranormal powers, but because of the influx of kook-mails, the Amazing One is wishing to separate the special kooks from the retarded ones. Also...

A CHANGE IN APPROACH

For too long now, the JREF has been on the defensive rather than on the offensive. That will be changed as of April 1, when we will begin actively pursuing the possibility of legal actions being brought against prominent figures in the field to investigate whether or not any laws are being broken by false promises to clients, incorrect attributions, accepting fees for services not met, or other deceptive procedures whereby the public has been misinformed and/or taken advantage of. This will include both civil and criminal actions.

We will seek to bring civil lawsuits against offenders, we will inform the Securities Exchange Commission [SEC] of possible infractions in which they might be interested, and we will bring attention to possible violations involving 501(c)3 requirements in the case of claimed religious exemptions.

MEDIA RELATIONS

We will henceforth be pursuing the media from a different angle, pointing out to them that we have items of general public interest and importance to offer them. We will emphasize that education should include equipping students to use critical thinking. We will make the media aware that we are also prepared to go after religious claims – if and when they can be actually examined. And, religious claims will be treated exactly as any other paranormal claims.

The JREF will be looking for a responsible media agent to represent our needs and send out regular media releases. Our previous experiences in this regard have not been at all satisfactory, so we will be highly selective in choosing an agency.

IN SUMMARY:

To bring more attention to the JREF million-dollar challenge, to simplify our work, and to attain better efficiency in administering the matter, these changes will be initiated. Suggestions and ideas from interested persons are encouraged; this organization is a public-oriented one, and we wish to meet the needs of the general public.

As further evidence of the profundity with which the amateurs receive our challenge, these are a few of the actual reasons we’ve received over the years, for not taking the challenge:

I can't afford to be in a higher tax bracket.

I'm already rich.

I don't want the money; I'm totally spiritual.

You wouldn't pay me the money, anyway.

It's all a lie; there is no prize.

It's a trap by the CIA to identify and murder me.

The prize comes from the CIA (or from the communists).

God told me not to get into it.

If I win, you'll have me killed to save paying out the money.

You'll put out negative vibes to inhibit my powers.

Since you're a trickster, you'll fool me somehow.

It's too much money.

It's not enough money.

I want the money in a pile, in cash, (or a certified check) before I try.

And it goes on and on.....