I have not posted to the Skeptic mag hotline in a couple of weeks as I've been overwhelmed proofing the galleys for my next book, HOW WE BELIEVE: The Search for God in an Age of Science (W. H. Freeman, out in September), "reading" the manuscript of my God book for the audio edition, finishing up production on a television show for the fall (more on this later), and now I'm on the road for my annual transcontinental, nonstop bicycle race, Race Across America, which started yesterday from Irvine, California and will finish a week from today in Savannah, Georgia. (Yup, that's right, these guys average 350 miles a day, riding 20-22 hours out of every 24; but I just ride out the first hundred or so and then jump in my van since I'm retired from racing now and am the director of the race. This is the 18th running of the race, and my last time across.)

Thanks to the miracle of laptops and hotel rooms with data ports, I am able to do e-mail. So my posting today to you is from James Randi, who asked me to share this all with you. Once you get through laughing, please follow up on the note if you wish. One thing you can say about being in the skeptical biz--never a dull moment!

Our busy fax machine delivered a document this morning from an anonymous source, announcing that "the world renowned International Society For Paranormal Research," headquartered in the old Vogue Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, was calling a press conference for tomorrow, Friday, to tell a rapt world all about "what will go down in history as the most significant and extraordinary Paranormal Experiment and Event of the Millennium," proving to me -- James Randi -- that "psychic abilities DO exist."

Well!!! Since I'm rather easily available by any of a dozen means of communication -- including telepathy -- I was a bit surprised by all this. I hadn't even been approached or notified that the one-million-dollar prize of the JREF was about to be snapped up.

The blurb listed "internationally famed Parapsychologist Dr. Larry Montz" and "the most well known and respected, professional Psychic Investigators, worldwide." Strange. I'd never heard of Montz, nor of the four other persons listed. So, in the spirit of true investigation, I called upon a prominent parapsychologist, former president of the Parapsychological Association, and asked him about these "well known" folks. "Only in a parallel universe," he told me. He'd never heard of them, either, and Montz is not a parapsychologist, except in his own mind.

We suspected a bit of a hoax here, and lo! it turns out that a "haunting" movie is about to be released tomorrow, too! An odd co-incidence! Montz is a ghost-tour operator, who buses tourists around various "haunted" sites and spins tales of wee beasties that scratch around in dark corners.

Luckily, when the fabulous ISPR wins the million-dollar Pigasus Prize, they are going to donate it to restore and renovate the Vogue Theatre. I'm glad to hear that. Brings tears to your eyes, doesn't it?

But one line in this press release worried me a bit. I'm known as one who gets into his work, but it asked here, "IS the `amazing' Randi ready to put his Reputation and Life on the line, to keep his $1,000,000 dollars [sic]?" Whoa! My life? Just what do these weird folks have in mind? A bit of skullduggery (we're not adverse to a bit of that, when needed) revealed that the ISPR's Big Secret they will reveal tomorrow is that they're going to ask me to let them try to stop my heart by psychic means! Of course, they'll have MDs standing by so that when my condition gets critical, they'll step in and save me. What a relief to hear that!

Will I subject my tired old body to that powerful beam of psychic energies? Will I risk my life, "put it on the line." as they wondered? Yep. Strain away. Sweat, mumble, incant, stick pins in the dolls, grunt, hiss, and do your worst. I'm game. Just tell me when and where, and if I need to go to any specific location, give me some notice so I can shuffle any appointments around, and you should get me first-class tickets for myself and my assistant, a good hotel, and I'll be there. Ready to donate my body to pseudoscience, so to speak.

Here I am, a full-grown man with seven decades of experience, and I'm allowing myself to be used in such a dumb "experiment." Why? Because they're making all the noise, and won't shut up and go away unless I get involved. And, I admit, I always get a kick out of the insane excuses they make when their claims fall through -- as they always do.

I can't wait!
James Randi

(Since these "well-known and respected" psychics apparently could not divine how to get a copy of our Application Form, we have graciously faxed it to their headquarters, in the old theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. We've made it easier for them to win the prize....)

James Randi Educational Foundation
201 S.E. 12th Street (Davie Blvd.)
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316-1815

phone: (954) 467 1112
fax: (954) 467 1660
e-mail: randi@randi.org
http://www.randi.org

You've received my response the "ISPR" "challenge." Since I suspect that Larry Montz will try to ignore the application form which he now has before him, I urge you to e-mail him and inquire whether he will fill out the form -- as everyone has to do -- and make proper application to become a claimant.

His e-mail address is:
ghost@hauntings.com

(The fax number he had listed not only had the wrong area code, but it didn't work, anyway. Their psychic forces don't seem to be working very well. I guess I'm safe from the evil vibrations..... The REAL fax number is (310) 821 5311)

You might also wish to call the ISPR at (323) 644 8866, in Hollywood. Ask them if Montz will be sending in his application. And, if anything appears in your local newspaper or on TV or radio, call in and inform them that Montz has not made application -- if that's the case. And tell them I've accepted with great enthusiasm to undergo his "test."

Randi