It's another wacko claiming Randi's $1m

Cecil · 5th February 2003, 09:53 AM

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...very.phenomena

Quote:

A psychic who correctly predicted the winner of Celebrity Big Brother says a leading sceptic owes him $1 million. American James Randi has agreed to pay the sum if anyone can prove that psychic powers exist.

Quote:

Gary Fowler claims he has done just that, after successfully predicting Mark Owen would win Celebrity Big Brother, before the line-up of the show was even announced. He delivered his prediction to The Northern Echo newspaper offices two weeks ago. The newspaper says the envelope containing the prediction was kept in a locked safe in its offices, until the winner was announced.

Quote:

Mr Fowler said he communicates with spirits on the other side, who tell him about the future, which is how he predicted the Big Brother winner.

It's the envelope trick!

Skeptical Greg · 5th February 2003, 09:58 AM

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A psychic who correctly predicted the winner of Celebrity Big Brother says a leading sceptic owes him $1 million. American James Randi has agreed to pay the sum if anyone can prove that psychic powers exist.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting, since James Randi has agreed to no such thing..

Brown · 5th February 2003, 10:09 AM

Sounds like the guy wouldn't mind repeating the effect with a few controls in place. If he really can do what he says he can do, that is.

Of course, if he can't really do what he claims to do, he'll just b!+ch and moan about not being paid. We've all seen that before, haven't we?

BTW, there are a lot of variations of the envelope trick. For example: you can switch envelopes after the fact; you can send multiple envelopes with multiple predictions to several people for safekeeping, and have only the person holding the "right" envelope open it; you can prepare a single envelope that has more than one compartment, and open only the compartment that holds the "right" predicition. And these are just some of the ways to do it.

So a request to repeat the effect with controls in place is a perfectly reasonable request, isn't it?

ShowMe · 5th February 2003, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cecil
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...very.phenomena

It's the envelope trick!

Wouldn't it be nice if one these stories contained something like, "However, a quick check of the challenge qualifications on theJREF web site found this:

1. Applicant must state clearly in advance, and applicant and JREF will agree upon, what powers or abilities will be demonstrated, the limits of the proposed demonstration (so far as time, location and other variables are concerned) and what will constitute both a positive and a negative result. This is the primary and most important of these rules. "

Is it asking too much for reporters to do even basic fact checking?

Oh, wait, I have to go see how many babies the Raelins have cloned.....

Captain_Snort · 5th February 2003, 10:24 AM

hey, there were only 6 people on that show, hardly difficult to pick a winner 1 in 6 times,

now if he had predicted it in say 1970, I may have been impressed.

sadluxation · 2nd June 2003, 10:03 AM

It's still on the web-site, but it looks like it hasn't been updated for a while, obviously nothing psychic going on in his career at the moment.

http://www.garyfowler.com/JRchallenge/
http://www.garyfowler.com/news/newsitem.asp?itemID=20

This article is a good spoof of the winging psychics.

http://www.thespeciousreport.com/2002_predictions.html

BobK · 2nd June 2003, 10:23 AM

Big deal.

I can predict the correct score of any basketball game before it's even started.

KelvinG · 2nd June 2003, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BobK
Big deal.

I can predict the correct score of any basketball game before it's even started.

0-0.

Crossbow · 2nd June 2003, 10:40 AM

Well I predict that my psychic powers are just as good as his and I could have told him that months before the 'Big Brother' show was even aired, so JREF should give me the money!

2nd June 2003, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ShowMe

Oh, wait, I have to go see how many babies the Raelins have cloned.....

Technically, they didn't clone any babies, they cloned adults.

Then monkeys flew out of their butts.

BobK · 2nd June 2003, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KelvinG

0-0.

Hey! Your psychic too!

Martin · 2nd June 2003, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BobK
Your psychic too!

His psychic what?

davidhorman · 2nd June 2003, 01:58 PM

I'm sure I read somewhere that this guy had in fact been working with the producers of Big Brother to provide a "psychic perspective" of the house mates, so he might easily have known the 6 contestants from that.

Next, find 6 gullible (and forgetful) newspaper editors...

David

Marvel Frozen · 2nd June 2003, 02:30 PM

I predicted that some wacko would try to claim James Randi's money. Does that mean I have a claim to the $1 million too?

Martin · 2nd June 2003, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davidhorman
I'm sure I read somewhere that this guy had in fact been working with the producers of Big Brother to provide a "psychic perspective" of the house mates, so he might easily have known the 6 contestants from that

Over recent weeks Gary has been working with the producers of Celebrity Big Brother on an alternative way to analyse the behaviour of the housemates in the Big Brother house

From here.

jimmygun · 2nd June 2003, 05:15 PM

There is a name for this type of guy but it escapes me...He haunts the race track and before each race gives the name of each horse to a different bettor. When the winner is announced the guy goes to the correct bettor, expecting a couple of bucks for his tip. Same game as dick weed is playing and claiming the million.

Brian · 2nd June 2003, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jimmygun
There is a name for this type of guy but it escapes me...He haunts the race track and before each race gives the name of each horse to a different bettor. When the winner is announced the guy goes to the correct bettor, expecting a couple of bucks for his tip. Same game as dick weed is playing and claiming the million.

I wonder if anyone ever realy tried this at the track. Figure at least 3 of the horses will be favorites. If someone comes over and tells you the 1-5 shot will win, most people would say "so what". If they say the 30-1 shot will win most people will say "That's nice".
To pull this off you'd have to be able to identify at least 8 people that don't know what they're doing, and then convince them that they owe you a cut.

a_unique_person · 2nd June 2003, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian

I wonder if anyone ever realy tried this at the track. Figure at least 3 of the horses will be favorites. If someone comes over and tells you the 1-5 shot will win, most people would say "so what". If they say the 30-1 shot will win most people will say "That's nice".
To pull this off you'd have to be able to identify at least 8 people that don't know what they're doing, and then convince them that they owe you a cut.

People are always saying crime doesn't pay, but apparently many people don't realise it, at least for the small time stuff. I can remember going to the races and seeing the 'emus' at work, going through all the tickets dropped on the ground to see if someone has dropped a winner by accident.

Brian · 2nd June 2003, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by a_unique_person

People are always saying crime doesn't pay, but apparently many people don't realise it, at least for the small time stuff. I can remember going to the races and seeing the 'emus' at work, going through all the tickets dropped on the ground to see if someone has dropped a winner by accident.

Never heard the term emu. But running the tickets on the floor isn't against the law, it's just pathetic.

The "I know the winner scam" would 99% likely get you ignored or laughed at.

c4ts · 2nd June 2003, 11:20 PM

I predict that you will read this thread.

AHA!

Where's my million, Randi?

RonSceptic · 3rd June 2003, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian

Never heard the term emu. But running the tickets on the floor isn't against the law, it's just pathetic.

The "I know the winner scam" would 99% likely get you ignored or laughed at.

Of course you can always use the Derren Brown approach. He presents a losing ticket at the cash desk and they pay out on it.

It's done using suggestion. On the recent Channel 4 series in the UK he backed a few loosers at the dog track. In one race he backed dog 1. The race was won by dog 4. He presented the ticket and the cashier refused to pay, to which he said "Check again, this is the ONE you are looking for." Incredible the cashier apologised and paid out! He repeated this stunt several times. Very weird.

5th February 2003, 09:53 AM	#1
Cecil Muse Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Vancouver Posts: 991	It's another wacko claiming Randi's $1m http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...very.phenomena Quote: A psychic who correctly predicted the winner of Celebrity Big Brother says a leading sceptic owes him $1 million. American James Randi has agreed to pay the sum if anyone can prove that psychic powers exist. Quote: Gary Fowler claims he has done just that, after successfully predicting Mark Owen would win Celebrity Big Brother, before the line-up of the show was even announced. He delivered his prediction to The Northern Echo newspaper offices two weeks ago. The newspaper says the envelope containing the prediction was kept in a locked safe in its offices, until the winner was announced. Quote: Mr Fowler said he communicates with spirits on the other side, who tell him about the future, which is how he predicted the Big Brother winner. It's the envelope trick!
	__________________ "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." --Albert Einstein "The common man marvels at the uncommon; the wise man marvels at the commonplace." --Confucious "The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." --Bertrand Russell

5th February 2003, 09:58 AM	#2
Skeptical Greg Agave Wine Connoisseur Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Just past 'Resume Speed' Posts: 12,873	quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A psychic who correctly predicted the winner of Celebrity Big Brother says a leading sceptic owes him $1 million. American James Randi has agreed to pay the sum if anyone can prove that psychic powers exist. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interesting, since James Randi has agreed to no such thing..
	__________________ " Somewhere between Jesus dying on the cross, and a giant bunny hiding eggs,there seems to be a gap in information. " Stan - Southpark Prove your computer is not a wimp ! Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232

5th February 2003, 10:09 AM	#3
Brown Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 12,155	Sounds like the guy wouldn't mind repeating the effect with a few controls in place. If he really can do what he says he can do, that is. Of course, if he can't really do what he claims to do, he'll just b!+ch and moan about not being paid. We've all seen that before, haven't we? BTW, there are a lot of variations of the envelope trick. For example: you can switch envelopes after the fact; you can send multiple envelopes with multiple predictions to several people for safekeeping, and have only the person holding the "right" envelope open it; you can prepare a single envelope that has more than one compartment, and open only the compartment that holds the "right" predicition. And these are just some of the ways to do it. So a request to repeat the effect with controls in place is a perfectly reasonable request, isn't it?
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

5th February 2003, 10:17 AM	#4
ShowMe Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,201	Re: It's another wacko claiming Randi's $1m Quote: Originally posted by Cecil http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm...very.phenomena It's the envelope trick! Wouldn't it be nice if one these stories contained something like, "However, a quick check of the challenge qualifications on theJREF web site found this: 1. Applicant must state clearly in advance, and applicant and JREF will agree upon, what powers or abilities will be demonstrated, the limits of the proposed demonstration (so far as time, location and other variables are concerned) and what will constitute both a positive and a negative result. This is the primary and most important of these rules. " Is it asking too much for reporters to do even basic fact checking? Oh, wait, I have to go see how many babies the Raelins have cloned.....
ShowMe Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,201	__________________ "One wonders how one augur may pass another in the street without laughing." -Marcus Porcius Cato, 2nd Century B.C. referring to the fortune tellers of his time "I could tell you that it is because I don't want The Language Award to appear too cliqueish. But I won't. 'Cause you're not one of the cool people." - Tricky

5th February 2003, 10:24 AM	#5
Captain_Snort Muse Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 668	hey, there were only 6 people on that show, hardly difficult to pick a winner 1 in 6 times, now if he had predicted it in say 1970, I may have been impressed.
	__________________ UKLS - 1984-2003, 2007- Girl 6: Besides, it's like he's an absentee landowner... And, I hate slumlords... ;-)

2nd June 2003, 10:03 AM	#6
sadluxation Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: London Posts: 336	It's still on the web-site, but it looks like it hasn't been updated for a while, obviously nothing psychic going on in his career at the moment. http://www.garyfowler.com/JRchallenge/ http://www.garyfowler.com/news/newsitem.asp?itemID=20 This article is a good spoof of the winging psychics. http://www.thespeciousreport.com/2002_predictions.html
	__________________ The World Famous and Award Winning (not to mention, modest) Skeptics in the Pub now on Facebook Nothing is better than homoeopathy!

2nd June 2003, 10:23 AM	#7
BobK Muse Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: State of confusion Posts: 913	Big deal. I can predict the correct score of any basketball game before it's even started.
	__________________ A mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.

2nd June 2003, 10:26 AM	#8
KelvinG Master Poster Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 2,379	Quote: Originally posted by BobK Big deal. I can predict the correct score of any basketball game before it's even started. 0-0.
	__________________ Science is like a blabbermouth that ruins the ending to a movie. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things - Ned Flanders

2nd June 2003, 10:40 AM	#9
Crossbow Seeking Honesty and Sanity Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,294	Well I predict that my psychic powers are just as good as his and I could have told him that months before the 'Big Brother' show was even aired, so JREF should give me the money!
	__________________ A man's best friend is his dogma.

2nd June 2003, 10:40 AM	#10
aggle_rithm Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Re: It's another wacko claiming Randi's $1m Quote: Originally posted by ShowMe Oh, wait, I have to go see how many babies the Raelins have cloned..... Technically, they didn't clone any babies, they cloned adults. Then monkeys flew out of their butts.
aggle_rithm Guest Posts: n/a

2nd June 2003, 10:48 AM	#11
BobK Muse Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: State of confusion Posts: 913	Quote: Originally posted by KelvinG 0-0. Hey! Your psychic too!
	__________________ A mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.

2nd June 2003, 10:52 AM	#12
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	Quote: Originally posted by BobK Your psychic too! His psychic what?
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	__________________ So the Universe is not quite as you thought it was. You had better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the Universe. Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, Nightfall

2nd June 2003, 01:58 PM	#13
davidhorman Muse Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 984	I'm sure I read somewhere that this guy had in fact been working with the producers of Big Brother to provide a "psychic perspective" of the house mates, so he might easily have known the 6 contestants from that. Next, find 6 gullible (and forgetful) newspaper editors... David
davidhorman Muse Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 984

2nd June 2003, 02:30 PM	#14
Marvel Frozen Thinker Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 237	I predicted that some wacko would try to claim James Randi's money. Does that mean I have a claim to the $1 million too?
Marvel Frozen Thinker Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 237	__________________ "Holy macaroni! I can't believe I'm seeing bigfoot. He's in focus! Oh, I've waited my entire life for this moment!"

2nd June 2003, 03:09 PM	#15
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	Quote: Originally posted by davidhorman I'm sure I read somewhere that this guy had in fact been working with the producers of Big Brother to provide a "psychic perspective" of the house mates, so he might easily have known the 6 contestants from that Over recent weeks Gary has been working with the producers of Celebrity Big Brother on an alternative way to analyse the behaviour of the housemates in the Big Brother house From here.
Martin Sceptic Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 898	__________________ So the Universe is not quite as you thought it was. You had better rearrange your beliefs, then. Because you certainly can't rearrange the Universe. Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, Nightfall

2nd June 2003, 05:15 PM	#16
jimmygun Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,589	There is a name for this type of guy but it escapes me...He haunts the race track and before each race gives the name of each horse to a different bettor. When the winner is announced the guy goes to the correct bettor, expecting a couple of bucks for his tip. Same game as dick weed is playing and claiming the million.
	__________________ Jimmygun I have been referred to as a non-believer. I prefer the term 'Non-pretender'

2nd June 2003, 09:24 PM	#17
Brian Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,780	Quote: Originally posted by jimmygun There is a name for this type of guy but it escapes me...He haunts the race track and before each race gives the name of each horse to a different bettor. When the winner is announced the guy goes to the correct bettor, expecting a couple of bucks for his tip. Same game as dick weed is playing and claiming the million. I wonder if anyone ever realy tried this at the track. Figure at least 3 of the horses will be favorites. If someone comes over and tells you the 1-5 shot will win, most people would say "so what". If they say the 30-1 shot will win most people will say "That's nice". To pull this off you'd have to be able to identify at least 8 people that don't know what they're doing, and then convince them that they owe you a cut.
Brian Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,780	__________________ O' beautiful, for spacious skies But now those skies are threatening They're beating plowshares into swords For this tired old man that we elected king Armchair warriors often fail And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales The lawyers clean up all details Since daddy had to lie -Don Henley

2nd June 2003, 09:31 PM	#18
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,327	Quote: Originally posted by Brian I wonder if anyone ever realy tried this at the track. Figure at least 3 of the horses will be favorites. If someone comes over and tells you the 1-5 shot will win, most people would say "so what". If they say the 30-1 shot will win most people will say "That's nice". To pull this off you'd have to be able to identify at least 8 people that don't know what they're doing, and then convince them that they owe you a cut. People are always saying crime doesn't pay, but apparently many people don't realise it, at least for the small time stuff. I can remember going to the races and seeing the 'emus' at work, going through all the tickets dropped on the ground to see if someone has dropped a winner by accident.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes

2nd June 2003, 10:23 PM	#19
Brian Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,780	Quote: Originally posted by a_unique_person People are always saying crime doesn't pay, but apparently many people don't realise it, at least for the small time stuff. I can remember going to the races and seeing the 'emus' at work, going through all the tickets dropped on the ground to see if someone has dropped a winner by accident. Never heard the term emu. But running the tickets on the floor isn't against the law, it's just pathetic. The "I know the winner scam" would 99% likely get you ignored or laughed at.
Brian Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,780	__________________ O' beautiful, for spacious skies But now those skies are threatening They're beating plowshares into swords For this tired old man that we elected king Armchair warriors often fail And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales The lawyers clean up all details Since daddy had to lie -Don Henley

2nd June 2003, 11:20 PM	#20
c4ts Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Your base Posts: 8,427	I predict that you will read this thread. AHA! Where's my million, Randi?
	__________________ Ha ha ha ha.... Stupid signature size limit.

3rd June 2003, 05:10 AM	#21
RonSceptic Muse Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 514	Quote: Originally posted by Brian Never heard the term emu. But running the tickets on the floor isn't against the law, it's just pathetic. The "I know the winner scam" would 99% likely get you ignored or laughed at. Of course you can always use the Derren Brown approach. He presents a losing ticket at the cash desk and they pay out on it. It's done using suggestion. On the recent Channel 4 series in the UK he backed a few loosers at the dog track. In one race he backed dog 1. The race was won by dog 4. He presented the ticket and the cashier refused to pay, to which he said "Check again, this is the ONE you are looking for." Incredible the cashier apologised and paid out! He repeated this stunt several times. Very weird.
RonSceptic Muse Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 514	__________________ "HOMEOPATHY IS IMPOSSIBLE" - Conclusion of the BBC Horizon Program 26/11/02 on failing $1million JREF Challenge.