Igor Simchanko's applications

[Fred Thornett]

Igor has written to many skeptical organizations in Australia, USA, Argentina, etc. All his letters are almost incomprehensible. I had him write to me in Russian in the hope that this would clarify his message. (My wife is a native speaker of Russian and a graduate linguist in English and Japanese from Moscow State University.) Alas, Igor's letters in Russian are just as weird as those he writes in English.

After many emails were exchanged the Australian Skeptics decided NOT to continue corresponding with him about our $110K challenge as we were unable to get him to specify what his paranormal powers were or how they might be measured beyond him saying that he could predict one number out of the six winning numbers predicted in the Australian Lotto - provided that he was allowed to make an unspecified number of wrong guesses. He refused to accept that this would be insufficient to allow him to win the prize.

He also requested that we agree to make a notarized contract with him before he would specify anything more, but he did not tell us what this contract should contain. We replied that we would not continue to correspond with him until he told us exactly what his paranormal powers were and how he thought that these might be tested.

He has now begun writing to skeptical groups throughout Australia telling them of his unspecified paranormal skills, but he seems unaware that these groups correspond with each other and do not seek to reinvent the wheel with Mr Simchanko.

I wish the USA skeptical groups he contacts good luck in their dealings with Igor.

fredthornett@iprimus.com.au

[CFLarsen]

Yes, yes, but is it "EE-gor" or "EYE-gor"??

That's what's interesting....

[Fred Thornett]

The pronunciation of the Russian given name which is written in the Latin alphabet as "Igor" is "Ee gor" not "Eye-gor". The initial "I" being pronounced as a long "E".

The lesson continueth.

The snowy wasteland of Northern parts known as "Tundra" is pronounced "Toon dra" NOT "Tun dra", there being no short "u" sound in Russian. (Tundra is a Russian word loaned to English.)

And the capital city of Russia, Moscow, is pronounced
"Mask va". The frequent Usanian pronunciation of "Moose kow" refers only to a large horned ungulate.

Finally, an important piece of cultural information. The best selling Russian vodka, "Stolichnaya" means "capital city". So now you know.

Here endeth the lesson.

Fred Thornett
Hobart, Tasmania
Australia

[Jeff Corey]

Hello , Fred.
Glad to see you join up. Thanks for the information.
Remember the two famous Russian expressions.
"Sobaka skazala, 'Garf'."
"Moose and squirrel moost die."

[c4ts]

A comparison of translations, first his, then Babelfish:

1) the American notary probably will demand a payment for registration of the notarial agreement. 2) In such a way it is possible to transfer the information for you JAMES RANDI. One dollar of the dash, two dollars a point. Similarly on the Morse alphabet. Letters through bank.

I Remind, that I write only English language as you have demanded.You have stopped correspondence during very inconvenient time. Me Tampa 1000 $ was possible to write to Sceptics of the Gulf. They wait my demonstration. For
sceptics of a gulf it is the basic demonstration. For you JAMES RANDI it is preliminary demonstration it agrees forms.

I managed to receive paper addresses of notaries in Australia, through sceptics. Give me JAMES RANDI such addresses in Florida. Correspondence with notaries is necessary for me.
I want to know laws of the USA.-------------------------------------

It is necessary to estimate chances of demonstration. Sceptics of a gulf have already made such estimations. Т�МП� demands to win in Florida of a lotto one sphere. Consistently in seven games. Also forbid to me to do one mistake. One mistake is negative result, and one of rules of yours JAMES RANDI forms.This preliminary test for you, and the basic for other sceptics.
For you wait do not detain us please.
-IGOR

I send to you by this paper letter y one US dollar. I indicate reasons. 1) American notary will possibly require pay for the formulation of notarial agreement. 2) thus it is possible to transfer information for you james RANDI. One dollar of dash, two dollars point. It is similar to the Morse code. Letters through the bank. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I recall that I write only with English, as you required Vy they stopped correspondence in the very inconvenient time. For me it was possible To write To the skeptics Of the bay Of tampa of y000$. They await my demonstration. This is basic demonstration for the skeptics of bay. For you james RANDI this is the preliminary demonstration accordingly of form. For me it was possible to obtain the paper addresses of notaries in Australia, through the skeptics. Give to me james RANDI such addresses in Florida. Correspondence with the notaries is necessary for me. I want to know the laws OF THE USA. ------------------------------------- it is necessary to estimate the chances of demonstration. The skeptics of bay already made such estimations. TAMPA requires to win in Florida lotto one sphere. Consecutively in seven games. And they forbid to me to make one error. One error these are negative result, and one of the rules your JAMES RANDI form Pto preliminary test for you, and basic for other skeptics Vas they await do not detain us if you please.

Wow, Babelfish actually did a better job translating than he did!

[Jeff Corey]

Babel fish?
HHGTTG?
Don't Panic

[Questioninggeller]

After reading about these types of people who claim powers, I really feel bad for the people who have to correspond for the sake of scepticism. I will be making a donation to JREF soon.

[KRAMER]

Thanks.

I mean it, too.