Challenge Not Ending: Any official source for this?

Wowbagger · 28th July 2009, 08:49 PM

I remember when Phil Plait announced, at TAM7, that the $1 Million Challenge will likely not be ending at the expiration date originally set.

Is there any official Internet source I can link to, declaring that?

arthwollipot · 28th July 2009, 08:51 PM

Randi stated it at the Connie Sonne press conference, and video has been posted by Skeptic Zone.

rjh01 · 28th July 2009, 11:36 PM

Actually cannot find anything that says it is even ending. I am sure it would be in SWIFT somewhere, that is all.

Wowbagger · 29th July 2009, 08:33 AM

Originally Posted by rjh01

Actually cannot find anything that says it is even ending.

Yeah, the main Randi site seems short on that, as well.

They might have taken out all the references to the expiration date, but since they don't know what new form the challenge will take, after it, they have not yet put up any notice about it continuing, either.

SkepticScott · 29th July 2009, 12:35 PM

Here you go
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...ot-ending.html

rjh01 · 29th July 2009, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by SkepticScott

Here you go
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...ot-ending.html

Great thanks for that link. Now we know that it is not ending. We will be getting MDC mark 3.

Klaymore · 29th July 2009, 10:45 PM

I'm pleased to hear it. And I think it's great that JREF is reconsidering how the challenge is to be implemented. The challenge needs to be used to put pressure on--and objectively demonstrate the cowardice of--well known celebrity psychic frauds like Sylvia Browne, Uri Geller, John Edward, et al.

It's tough to get those guys to come forward and be tested (in fact, they never will). But at least throwing the challenge in their faces would show potential victims that these guys are fakes.

quarky · 29th July 2009, 10:50 PM

Now that there are nearly 1000 billionaires, why would anyone risk public humiliation for a mere million?

If I had special powers, and needed money, it would require at least 10 billion buckos to motivate me.

Christ,

a million bucks only gets you a crappy house in LA or Boston.

a million bucks is an insult to anyone that is actually on to something.
a million bucks is an insult to Brittany Spears and Jacko, for just doing some lame-ass tour.

What if I thought I could move my penis with my mind, for instance?
Without touching it?

I laugh at the pathetic monetary reward for demonstrating supernatural abilities.
For 10 bil, we might see some ****.

learner · 29th July 2009, 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by quarky

Now that there are nearly 1000 billionaires, why would anyone risk public humiliation for a mere million?

If I had special powers, and needed money, it would require at least 10 billion buckos to motivate me.

Christ,

a million bucks only gets you a crappy house in LA or Boston.

a million bucks is an insult to anyone that is actually on to something.
a million bucks is an insult to Brittany Spears and Jacko, for just doing some lame-ass tour.

What if I thought I could move my penis with my mind, for instance?
Without touching it?

I laugh at the pathetic monetary reward for demonstrating supernatural abilities.
For 10 bil, we might see some ****.

Cant move your penis with your mind?
If that's a talent its going on my C.V.

Dunstan · 29th July 2009, 11:55 PM

I was disappointed to hear that the challenge was ending, so I guess I'm glad to hear that now it isn't. But I'm still not terribly impressed with the management of the JREF.

First they announce a "new and improved" challenge, whereby the JREF is going to aggressively go after the high profile woos.

Nothing seems to come of that.

Then they announce the challenge is ending. They promise some new and exciting uses for the Challenge funds that will be freed up, but we'll have to wait to find out what they are.

More time passes. No new plans announced. We're told to be patient, that all will be revealed in time.

Now the challenge is back. No word on what those other plans were that will now fall by the wayside, but we're assured will be another "new and improved" Challenge. But we'll have to wait until March 2010 to find out.

Sorry, but it just seems to me that the JREF is spinning its wheels with respect to the Challenge. The transition from Randi to Phil Plait just isn't a good excuse any more in my opinion.

Wowbagger · 30th July 2009, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by quarky

Now that there are nearly 1000 billionaires, why would anyone risk public humiliation for a mere million?

Because you get more than just the million:

You get the serious attention of scientists all over the world; the chance to acquire a Nobel prize and make millions more through that, if your powers are persistent and reliable enough; and you get to watch James Randi eat some boiled crow.

Wowbagger · 30th July 2009, 08:57 AM

Oh, and: It looks like this thread was started a day too early. How about that.

GzuzKryzt · 30th July 2009, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

Oh, and: It looks like this thread was started a day too early. How about that.

You gotta take the good with the bad. And we should inform Kimpatsu.

ETA: I just did.

jay.tarnoff · 30th July 2009, 10:45 AM

I think Randi mentioned that it would not be ending in his speech at Center for Inquiry's World Congress 2009 in April.

Kimpatsu · 1st August 2009, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by GzuzKryzt

You gotta take the good with the bad. And we should inform Kimpatsu.

ETA: I just did.

Thank you.
Now I can continue to browbeat woo-woos in Asia and elsewhere.

28th July 2009, 08:49 PM	#1
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,725	Challenge Not Ending: Any official source for this? I remember when Phil Plait announced, at TAM7, that the $1 Million Challenge will likely *not* be ending at the expiration date originally set. Is there any official Internet source I can link to, declaring that?
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

28th July 2009, 08:51 PM	#2
arthwollipot The Accidental Podcaster Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: On the other side of your screen. Posts: 28,320	Randi stated it at the Connie Sonne press conference, and video has been posted by Skeptic Zone.
	__________________ The Nonsense Podcast Episode 17: Coming Mid-February. We welcome Lexi Hameister into the world at 1830 on 29 January! What's an "arthwollipot"?

29th July 2009, 08:33 AM	#4
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,725	Originally Posted by rjh01 Actually cannot find anything that says it is even ending. Yeah, the main Randi site seems short on that, as well. They might have taken out all the references to the expiration date, but since they don't know what new form the challenge will take, after it, they have not yet put up any notice about it continuing, either.
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

29th July 2009, 12:35 PM	#5
SkepticScott TAM Volunteer Guy Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: North of Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 2,002	Here you go http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...ot-ending.html
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29th July 2009, 10:45 PM	#7
Klaymore Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tokyo, Japan Posts: 264	I'm pleased to hear it. And I think it's great that JREF is reconsidering how the challenge is to be implemented. The challenge needs to be used to put pressure on--and objectively demonstrate the cowardice of--well known celebrity psychic frauds like Sylvia Browne, Uri Geller, John Edward, et al. It's tough to get those guys to come forward and be tested (in fact, they never will). But at least throwing the challenge in their faces would show potential victims that these guys are fakes.
	__________________ The sum of my life's wisdom (year 38): 1) The difference between having a genius IQ and being a genius is the same as the difference between having a machine-gun with a rocket-launcher on it and being a Navy SEAL; 2) Fat women tend to come a lot; 3) [please check back periodically]

28th July 2009, 11:36 PM	#3
rjh01 Fire Warden Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 9,811	Actually cannot find anything that says it is even ending. I am sure it would be in SWIFT somewhere, that is all.

29th July 2009, 10:09 PM	#6
rjh01 Fire Warden Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 9,811	Originally Posted by SkepticScott Here you go http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/...ot-ending.html Great thanks for that link. Now we know that it is not ending. We will be getting MDC mark 3.

29th July 2009, 10:50 PM	#8
quarky Title Free Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 6,082	Now that there are nearly 1000 billionaires, why would anyone risk public humiliation for a mere million? If I had special powers, and needed money, it would require at least 10 billion buckos to motivate me. Christ, a million bucks only gets you a crappy house in LA or Boston. a million bucks is an insult to anyone that is actually on to something. a million bucks is an insult to Brittany Spears and Jacko, for just doing some lame-ass tour. What if I thought I could move my penis with my mind, for instance? Without touching it? I laugh at the pathetic monetary reward for demonstrating supernatural abilities. For 10 bil, we might see some ****.
quarky Title Free Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 6,082

29th July 2009, 11:35 PM	#9
learner Muse Join Date: May 2008 Location: A strange land Posts: 725	Originally Posted by quarky Now that there are nearly 1000 billionaires, why would anyone risk public humiliation for a mere million? If I had special powers, and needed money, it would require at least 10 billion buckos to motivate me. Christ, a million bucks only gets you a crappy house in LA or Boston. a million bucks is an insult to anyone that is actually on to something. a million bucks is an insult to Brittany Spears and Jacko, for just doing some lame-ass tour. What if I thought I could move my penis with my mind, for instance? Without touching it? I laugh at the pathetic monetary reward for demonstrating supernatural abilities. For 10 bil, we might see some ****. Cant move your penis with your mind? If that's a talent its going on my C.V.
	__________________ "I would give my right arm to be ambidextrous" - My Mate Dave " How do you expect me to use my initiative if you wont tell me what to do?" - Dave again

29th July 2009, 11:55 PM	#10
Dunstan Master Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sunnyvale Trailer Park Posts: 2,502	I was disappointed to hear that the challenge was ending, so I guess I'm glad to hear that now it isn't. But I'm still not terribly impressed with the management of the JREF. First they announce a "new and improved" challenge, whereby the JREF is going to aggressively go after the high profile woos. Nothing seems to come of that. Then they announce the challenge is ending. They promise some new and exciting uses for the Challenge funds that will be freed up, but we'll have to wait to find out what they are. More time passes. No new plans announced. We're told to be patient, that all will be revealed in time. Now the challenge is back. No word on what those other plans were that will now fall by the wayside, but we're assured will be another "new and improved" Challenge. But we'll have to wait until March 2010 to find out. Sorry, but it just seems to me that the JREF is spinning its wheels with respect to the Challenge. The transition from Randi to Phil Plait just isn't a good excuse any more in my opinion.

30th July 2009, 08:55 AM	#11
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,725	Originally Posted by quarky Now that there are nearly 1000 billionaires, why would anyone risk public humiliation for a mere million? Because you get more than just the million: You get the serious attention of scientists all over the world; the chance to acquire a Nobel prize and make millions more through that, if your powers are persistent and reliable enough; and you get to watch James Randi eat some boiled crow.
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

30th July 2009, 08:57 AM	#12
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,725	Oh, and: It looks like this thread was started a day too early. How about that.
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

30th July 2009, 10:41 AM	#13
GzuzKryzt A Division of N.T. Kryzt Inc. Tagger Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,038	Originally Posted by Wowbagger Oh, and: It looks like this thread was started a day too early. How about that. You gotta take the good with the bad. And we should inform Kimpatsu. ETA: I just did.
	__________________ "The rules allow for vastly different levels of honesty, knowledge, and intelligence." "I've found from experience that intelligence is no indicator of emotional or mental stability; nor does a high degree of competence in a given field indicate similar competence outside that discipline."

30th July 2009, 10:45 AM	#14
jay.tarnoff Scholar Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 65	I think Randi mentioned that it would not be ending in his speech at Center for Inquiry's World Congress 2009 in April.

1st August 2009, 06:31 AM	#15
Kimpatsu Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Tokyo Posts: 3,138	Originally Posted by GzuzKryzt You gotta take the good with the bad. And we should inform Kimpatsu. ETA: I just did. Thank you. Now I can continue to browbeat woo-woos in Asia and elsewhere.
	__________________ Tony Kehoe "Most people, I believe, think that you need a God to explain the existence of the world, and especially the existence of life. They are wrong, but our education system is such that many people don't know it. "--Richard Dawkins