IIG Public Update #12
August 2008
Okay, the month of June was so busy that we didn’t even have the opportunity to post our monthly update until the 30th, however, we weren’t twiddling our thumbs, we were putting together the 2nd Annual IIG Awards ceremony, which was an unqualified success:
THE IIG AWARDS
The second annual awards for the promotion of science and reason in entertainment was the highlight of the year for the skeptical community in Southern California. Paul Provenza and Julia Sweeney were vibrant and hilarious as they presented the awards to "In the Shadow of the Moon," "Phenomenon," "Bullshit," and "Is it Real." James Randi appeared live to be inducted into the Houdini Hall of Honor, and even performed one of his classic escape tricks for the audience. The seventy-nine-year-old honoree stayed at the Steve Allen Theatre lobby until midnight performing magic tricks for the crowd. The complete story, including a high-quality video of the entire ceremony will soon be available. In the meantime, here are some photos.
"REAL" ASTROLOGERS?:
IIG member Wendy H. caught this ad on craigslist:
<http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/wri/755073473.html>
Are you an astrologer who can write with flair and humor? Do you have an interest in pop culture and celebrities? Are you dependable and a good editor of your own work?
Send us writing samples and a head shot. Must be a real astrologer!
There is no mention of how they will determine if the applicant is a "real astrologer."
TENNESSEE TELEPATH:
Raymond P. received a protocol from us last month, and he wanted to make two changes. First, he wanted a neutral party to review the list of words, and "make sure that the list that is expected for the reciver [sic] to recieve [sic] matches the one I am suppose to send to the reciver [sic] at the conclusion of this test." We agreed; after all, we know we’re honest.
Secondly, Raymond wanted to get 10 out of 20 words. We agreed to that ratio for the informal demonstration, with the condition that he must achieve a 75% success rate to claim the $50,000 in the official test.
Raymond also wants a signed affidavit from us guaranteeing payment, which we do not do simply because the challenge agreement is a binding contract. Raymond is tentatively scheduled to be here in March of 2009 – the extra time required because, per Raymond "I need time to prepare, my team needs to prepare."
More to come.
SCUBA MAN
Steve D from parts unknown has sent us a claim that he can "inflate [his] lungs" while underwater, and his "mouth is open when [he does] it apparently ruling out the ability to hold [his] breath."
We are currently trying to figure out if this is paranormal, but more importantly, we do not conduct tests that are potentially hazardous to the applicant, so there will have to be a lot of safety considerations before we even think about testing Steve.
DEREK AND THE UFOs
The correspondence between UFOlogist Michael Horn and IIG member Derek Bartholomaus continues. Read the latest here.
AULTERRA:
Our report on the alleged deflector of deadly cell phone radiation was posted a few weeks ago, and an update is coming soon.
COLONEL X:
That’s the pseudonym for the Air Force officer who has come to us with one hell of a UFO claim. "[Y]our experts will be able to film and photograph the saucer from directly underneath it," claims X. Our own Derek Bartholomaus asked for one important clarification:
The object is permanently, or semi-permanently, hovering in the air in one location [?]
Colonel X responds:
The answer is no. The saucer can only be seen when I predict it will appear over Las Vegas.
Prompting more questions from us:
Does the object only appear when you predict it or does it also appear at other times whether you predict it or not? . . . Can you please clarify what you mean when you say that the saucer can only be seen when [you] predict it will appear . . .
Colonel X’s answers:
The saucer can only be seen when I predict it will be available after a channeling experience. This is part of the basis of my claim.
X then expands upon this point:
[E]ver since I was a child I have always had a "special" sense for things. I could bet the races when I was real young and had channeling experiences while sleeping.
When I moved to Nevada about 2 years ago I knew something was happening to me . . . [ellipses his] a psychic metamorphosis where I began having channeling experiences with Extraterrestrials (Usually about 5-6 days before the saucer's appearance). Do you remember the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind? After Richard Dreyfuss had seen the mothership he began having a "channeling" experience where he constructed the Wyoming mountain in his living room. Do you remember that? This is what I do.
More to come . . .
THAT’S ALL:
Enjoy the Hot weather. We won’t.
- IIG
