Even more Amaz!ng

I posted last month about the Million Dollar Challenge, and the assets being there, ready for any one that can prove their paranormal claim.

Two further things on this:

Firstly, Jerry Coyne highlighted a paper which supposedly shows people being influenced in their choices by stimuli after  they've chosen (only just catching up on Why Evolution Is True, it's from Oct 31). James Randi has, of course, highlighted that if this trial can be replicated, then the Million Dollar Challenge would have a winner.

Secondly, despite having a very speedy response to my query about Bank Statements, I was pleasantly surprised to have a letter from James Randi himself, with copies of the statements in. Given that the amount of time it takes to read the JREF website's info, and, if further proof was wanted, to send an email, it quite clear that if any one tells you the money is not there, they have clearly not spent the 5 minutes needed to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that JREF sit on the assets.

James Randi wrote:

"Enclosed is a copy of the March Prize Account statement. This is separate from the regular JREF operating accounts. I do not have available a more recent one at the moment, since all these documents are presently at another JREF office in Virginia. The current (October) statement is similar to this one, but the assets figure is now considerably higher.

The actual amount of the awardable prize is one million dollars, not the total amount shown. We occasionally draw on the interest for special purposes, when necessary.

I trust this documentation serves your needs, and I thank you for your request"

Yes, it certainly does serve my needs, thank you very much!

Needless to say, but I have made a donation to cover the postage costs.

The Million Dollar Challenge

For those unaware, the James Randi Education Foundation has a Million Dollar Challenge:

At JREF, we offer a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event. The JREF does not involve itself in the testing procedure, other than helping to design the protocol and approving the conditions under which a test will take place. All tests are designed with the participation and approval of the applicant. In most cases, the applicant will be asked to perform a relatively simple preliminary test of the claim, which if successful, will be followed by the formal test. Preliminary tests are usually conducted by associates of the JREF at the site where the applicant lives. Upon success in the preliminary testing process, the "applicant" becomes a "claimant."

To date, no one has passed the preliminary tests.

They're not just saying this, they actually have $1,000,000 in the bank ready.

Unsurprisingly, it has it's naysayers who don't believe the money's there. Well, in addition to the quite comprehensive info on the JREF's website which should put all this naysaying to rest, James Randi also invites anyone to ask to see a copy of the latest bank statement, if they want that little bit of extra proof. Talking at TAM London, he said no one ever bothers. Well, I thought, let's bother. Here we are ladies and gentlemen, I sent the email last night, and had the statement by this morning:

So there we go, Randi's made a claim that (not surprisingly) turns out to be true, and, not only that, but super quick efficiency at that!