James Randi Educational Foundation
Type	non-profit organization
Founded	1996, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Headquarters	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Key people	James Randi, Director
Industry	Education
Website	www.Randi.org

The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A non-profit organization (abbreviated NPO, or non-profit or not-for-profit) is an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit. ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country State County Broward Established 27 March 1911 Government  - Type Commission-Manager  - Mayor Jim Naugle Area  - City  36. ... Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country State County Broward Established 27 March 1911 Government  - Type Commission-Manager  - Mayor Jim Naugle Area  - City  36. ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country State County Broward Established 27 March 1911 Government  - Type Commission-Manager  - Mayor Jim Naugle Area  - City  36. ... A non-profit organization (abbreviated NPO, or non-profit or not-for-profit) is an organization whose primary objective is to support an issue or matter of private interest or public concern for non-commercial purposes, without concern for monetary profit. ... “Illusionist” redirects here. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. ... Paranormal is an umbrella term used to describe a wide variety of reported anomalous phenomena. ... A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a form of clinical trial, or scientific procedure used in the testing of the efficacy of medicines or medical procedures. ...

The organization offers a prize of one million U.S. dollars which it claims it will pay out to anyone who can demonstrate a supernatural ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. The JREF also maintains a legal defense fund to assist persons who are attacked as a result of their investigations and criticism of people who make paranormal claims. USD redirects here. ... For the scientific journal named Science, see Science (journal). ...

The organization is funded through member contributions, grants, sales of books and videos, and conferences. Each Friday the JREF website publishes a written commentary titled Swift: Online Newsletter of the JREF, which includes the latest JREF news and information.

History of the Foundation

The James Randi Educational Foundation officially came into existence on February 29, 1996 (a leap year day) when it was registered as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Delaware in the United States.^[1] On April 3, 1996 James Randi formally announced the creation of the JREF through his email hotline:^[2] February 29 is a day added into a leap year of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... For the 1921 film starring Fatty Arbuckle, see Leap Year (film). ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq mi (6,452 km²)  - Width 30 miles (48 km)  - Length 100 miles (161 km)  - % water 21. ... is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

THE FOUNDATION IS IN BUSINESS! It is my great pleasure to announce the creation of the James Randi Educational Foundation. This is a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational foundation under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code, incorporated in the State of Delaware. The Foundation is generously funded by a sponsor in Washington D.C. who wishes, at this point in time, to remain anonymous.

— James Randi,  The Foundation, Randi Hotline, Wed, 3 April 1996

On November 7, 1997 The JREF officially registered with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations as a foreign nonprofit corporation and was granted a certificate of authority to operate within the state.^[3] As a legal entity, the Foundation is referred to as a nonprofit Delaware domestic corporation and in Florida where it has it's principal office, it is called a nonprofit foreign corporation (the term describes either out-of-state or out-of-the-country corporations operating in Florida). While the JREF's Delaware corporate entity address is 980 air miles north of it's principal office in Fort Lauderdale,^[4] the Foundation is still bound by Florida's corporate laws as if it were a domestic Florida corporation (Florida Statute 607.1505).^[5] However, being a foreign corporation in Florida means that the State of Florida cannot legally regulate the organization or internal affairs of the JREF and the Foundation is able to take advantage of Delaware's more protective corporate laws.^[6][7] is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... A Delaware corporation is a corporation chartered in the U.S. state of Delaware. ...

According to the year 2007 registration information for the JREF filed with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, the current officers of the JREF are as follows:^[8]

• Director, President, Assistant Secretary: James Randi.
• Director, Secretary, Assistant Secretary: Richard L. Adams Jr.
• Director, Secretary: Jose L. Alvarez.

The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge

History of the challenge

In 1964, when challenged by a medium to "put his money where his mouth is", Randi put up $1,000 of his own money to the first person who could provide objective proof of the paranormal. Later he raised that to $10,000. Since then, the prize money has grown to the current $1,000,000, and the rules that surround claiming the prize are more official and legal.

To claim, one must agree to a protocol for testing, must show in a preliminary test before a foundation representative that they are likely to succeed, and finally make a demonstration in a formal test in front of independent witnesses.^[9] To date, over 1,000 applications have been filed but no one has passed a preliminary test, which is set up and agreed upon by both Randi and the applicant.

In the conditions and rules governing the one million U.S.-dollar challenge, Randi plainly states that both parties (himself and the party accepting the challenge) must agree in advance as to what conditions of the test constitute a "success" and what constitutes a "failure." He also refuses to accept any challengers who might suffer serious injury or death as a result of the test they intend to undergo.^[10]

Since April 1, 2007 only those with an already existing media profile and the backing of a reputable academic are allowed to apply for the challenge.^[11] The resources freed up by not having to test obscure and possibly mentally ill claimants will then be used to challenge high-profile alleged psychics and mediums such as Sylvia Browne and John Edward with a campaign in the media.^[11] is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... A mental illness or mental disorder refers to one of many mental health conditions characterized by distress, impaired cognitive functioning, atypical behavior, emotional dysregulation, and/or maladaptive behavior. ... Sylvia Browne (born October 19, 1936) is a bestselling American author on the subject of spirituality who is known as a psychic and medium. ... John Edward McGee, Jr. ...

Dennis Rawlins claims the challenge is insincere, and that Randi will ensure he never has to pay out. In the October 1981 issue of Fate, Rawlins quoted him as saying "I always have an out".^[12] Victor Zammit interprets this to mean Randi will never let his organization lose such a challenge.^[13] Others, noting this magazine article grew out of political infighting among the members of CSICOP, believe this quote is being misapplied, and that it refers to the fact that Randi employs safeguards against cheating. Randi has stated that Rawlins did not give the entire quotation.[2] Randi actually said "Concerning the challenge, I always have an 'out': I'm right!"[3],^[14] which carries a quite different meaning. Randi claims that the phrase "I always have an out" refers to the fact that he does not allow test subjects to cheat,^[15] and others have interpreted it to mean that Randi regards the chances of him having to pay out as zero due to his a priori assumption that so-called "paranormal phenomena" do not exist. Dennis Rawlins (1937 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. –) is an American astronomer, historian, and publisher, known [1] for his intellect and acerbic wit. ... This section does not cite its references or sources. ... // Victor J. Zammit Victor James Zammit, formally qualified in Law, Psychology, Scientific Method (Major, as an adjunct to Psychology), History. ... The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, or CSICOP, is a U.S. organization founded to encourage the critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific point of view and disseminate factual information about the results of such inquiries to the scientific... The terms a priori and a posteriori are used in philosophy to distinguish between two different types of propositional knowledge. ...

On Larry King Live March 6, 2001 Larry King asked Sylvia Browne if she would take the challenge and she agreed.^[16] Then Randi appeared with Browne on Larry King Live on September 3, 2001 and she again accepted the challenge.^[17] However, she has refused to be tested and Randi keeps a clock on his website recording the number of weeks that have passed since Sylvia accepted the challenge without following through. In an appearance on Larry King Live on January 26, 2007, Randi challenged Rosemary Altea to take the one million challenge. Altea refused to even answer the question of whether or not she would take challenge. This is similar to Altea and Randi's June 5, 2001 meeting on the same show, which Altea would not address the question.^[18] Instead Altea, in part, replied "I agree with what he says, that there are many, many people who claim to be spiritual mediums, they claim to talk to the dead. There are many, people, we all know this. There are cheats and charlatans everywhere."^[19] Larry King Live is a nightly CNN interview program hosted by broadcaster and writer Larry King. ... Larry King (born November 19, 1933) is an award-winning American writer, journalist and broadcaster. ... Sylvia Browne (born October 19, 1936) is a bestselling American author on the subject of spirituality who is known as a psychic and medium. ... is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Rosemary Altea (born 1946) is a self proclaimed psychic and author. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

Randi has recently challenged David R. Hawkins to win the prize with Hawkins' "arm-pressing technique" (applied kinesiology), suggesting it would only take thirty minutes of easy work, but believing that Hawkins would not even attempt to apply for the challenge for "obvious" reasons.^[20] See also: Kinesiology (academic) Applied kinesiology (AK) is related to diagnostic kinesiology. ...

Judging the results

The official Challenge rules^[21]stipulate that the participant must agree, in writing, to the conditions and criteria of their test. Claims that cannot be tested experimentally are not eligible for the Challenge. To ensure that the experimental conditions themselves have do not negatively affect a claimant's ability to perform, non-blinded preliminary control tests are often performed. For example, the JREF has dowsers perform a control test, in which the dowser attempts to locate the target substance or object using their dowsing ability, even though the target's location has been revealed to the applicant. Failure to display a 100% success rate in the open test will cause their immediate disqualification. However, claimants are usually able to perform successfully during the open test, confirming that experimental conditions are adequate. According to the JREF, despite success in these open tests, no claimants have yet been able to successfully demonstrate evidence of their claims while blinded under otherwise identical conditions. Some participants have stated afterwards that the threat of disqualification is the main factor in their apparent success in the open test. Randi has said that few unsuccessful applicants ever seriously consider that their failure to perform might be due to the nonexistence of the power they believe they possess.^{[citation needed]} The discussions between the JREF and applicants were at one time posted on a public discussion board for all to see. ^[22] Since the resignation of Randi's assistant, Mr. Kramer, and subsequent changes to challenge rules requiring applicants to have demonstrated considerably notability, new applications are no longer logged, but the JREF continues to maintain an archive of previous applicants. For the English iconoclast, see William Dowsing. ...

Cover image of James Randi's 1982 book, The Truth About Uri Geller.

Another objection made by critics of the challenge is that the rules prohibit independent judging, making the success or failure of the challenge dependent on whether Randi agrees that the test has been passed. While acknowledging the prohibition of independent judges, JREF staff and affiliates point out that the nature of the experimental design makes subjective judging of results unnecessary. Since claimants agree to readily observable success criteria prior to the test, results are unambiguous and clearly indicate whether or not the criteria have been met. Critics have also claimed that Randi's degree of control over the conditions of the challenge discourages serious applicants from applying, due to a perception of bias. Randi has said that he need not participate in any way with the actual execution of the test, and he has been willing to travel far from the test location to avoid the perception that his anti-paranormal bias could influence the test results. Additionally, claimants are able to influence all aspects of the testing procedure, including location and participants, during the initial negotiation phase of the challenge. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Truth About Uri Geller, formally known as The Magic of Uri Geller, is a 1982 book by magician and skeptic James Randi about Uri Geller. ...

Additional criticisms of the test and its rules include:

• Randi rejected applicant Rico Kolodzey, stating in the rejection letter that the applicant was "a liar and a fraud." The applicant in question claimed to survive without food via Breatharianism. ^[23]

Randi's response to criticism of his handling of the Kolodzey application raised by the Alternative Science website was somewhat inconsistent.^[24][25] For example, Randi and the JREF explained their outright rejection of Kolodzey based on a policy to reject any applicants who put themselves in grave physical danger. However, this clause was not added to the official Challenge rules until years after the incident.^[10]

However, on May 19, 2006, Randi made a special exception to that rule due to all of the "raucous fuss" and began private negotiations for testing with Kolodzey. After 100 days of negotiations a test procedure still could not be agreed upon by both parties. In response to the stalled negotiations, Randi publicly commented that Kolodzey was retreating from testing after strenuously objecting to the rejection of his initial application.^[26]

• As of January 2005, no offers to conduct a formal test have yet been extended by the JREF to an applicant.^[27]

No offers to conduct a formal test have been extended because the rules require that a claimant must first pass a preliminary test, which no applicants have yet passed. According to JREF, over 1,000 applications have been submitted for the Challenge. of the first 650 applications (through 1982), fifty-four preliminary tests were carried out (Randi 1982:252). Most applications do not result in preliminary testing because they fail during the negotiation of experimental protocols.

Critics have also ^{[attribution needed]} referred to case of Yellow Bamboo, who claimed that he could knock down attackers by shouting. A volunteer was actually knocked to the ground during the initial test, ^[28] but this evidence was not accepted by the JREF because the test was conducted at night and resulting video tape of the event suffered from poor visibility.^[29] Upon viewing the video, several people experienced with stun-guns suggested that an electroshock weapon could have been used.^[30]

• Some claim the one million dollars does not exist, or is in the form of pledges or promissory notes.

The JREF has stated that the million dollars is in the form of negotiable bonds within a "James Randi Educational Foundation Prize Account" and that validation of the account and the prize amount can be supplied on demand. The money is held in a Goldman, Sachs & Company account. A copy of the JREF investment statement is viewable at SkepticReport, and the foundation has repeatedly mailed this evidence to high-profile claimants.

Inedia is the alleged ability to live without food. ... The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. ... TASER and Taser redirect here. ... The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ...

New qualification rules

In April 2007, the JREF made several changes to the testing procedure in an effort to streamline the process and refocus it to target high-profile and professional paranormalists. The foundation now requires a demonstrated media profile as well as the support from some member of the academic community before it will discuss the challenge with claimants. The foundation has also stated that these qualifications can be essentially met by anyone who can win any of the smaller and more regional skeptics prize challenges.

Randi and his associates have stated two primary reasons for the change:

• In the opinion of the JREF, the vast majority of the applicants for the existing challenge appeared to be either mentally ill or unable to demonstrate their powers even to their own satisfaction. Many were unable to successfully fill out the application forms or coherently and consistently describe their alleged abilities. The foundation has stated that treating these applications seriously has both required an immense amount of time as well as doing a disservice to the applicants.
• The true intent of the challenge has always been to aggressively pursue the most prominent paranormalists and force them to subject their claims to scientific scrutiny in a controlled setting. Randi said that this mission had been sidetracked by the complicated and costly application process, and the foundation wished to refocus its promotional and rhetorical approach to aggressively pursue top psychics in the media, making it difficult for them to be evasive or provide an adequate reason for not accepting the challenge.

Similar offers

Main article: List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal

• Association for Skeptical Enquiry is offering a £13,000 prize.
• Australian Skeptics offers AUD $100,000 for proof of psychic or paranormal powers.
• Abraham Kovoor's challenge, an award of Rs. 100,000 for proof of supernatural or miraclous powers.
• Indian Skeptic 100,000 Paranormal Challenge Indian Rupees 100,000 (just over US $1,200). Sponsored by Basava Premanand.
• Prabir Ghosh of India is offering $50,000.
• Tampa Bay Skeptics $1,000 Challenge US $1,000.
• North Texas Skeptics Paranormal Challenge US $12,000.
• The late Philip J. Klass offered US $10,000 for proof of an extraterrestrial visit to the Earth.
• After investigating psychic phenomena in 1922, Scientific American made two US $2,500 offers: (1) for the first authentic spirit photograph made under test conditions, and (2) for the first psychic to produce a "visible psychic manifestation." (Christopher 1975:180).
• The Swedish Humanist Association is offering a prize of SEK 100,000 that will be awarded to anyone who can demonstrate beyond doubt that they possess a paranormal or supernatural talent that cannot be explained by conventional science.

Some of these are listed at.^[31] There are many individuals and groups past and present that offer money for proof of the paranormal in an observable setting. ... Mascot of the Australian Skeptics. ... Psychic (sīkĭk); from the Greek psychikos - of the soul, mental - and referring in part to the human mind or psyche (ex. ... Abraham Kovoor declared, in 1963, an award of Rs. ... Basava Premanand Basava Premanand is an eminent skeptic and rationalist from Tamil Nadu, India. ... Prabir Ghosh is the head of the Science and Rationalists’ Association of India, based in Kolkata. ... Philip Julian Klass (November 8, 1919–August 9, 2005) was born in Des Moines, Iowa and died in Merritt Island, Florida. ... “Green people” redirects here. ... Scientific American is a popular-science magazine, published (first weekly and later monthly) since August 28, 1845, making it the oldest continuously published magazine in the United States. ... The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. ... Humanisterna (the Humanists) is the largest humanist/rationalist organisation in Sweden with over 3,000 members. ... ISO 4217 Code SEK User(s) Sweden Inflation 2. ...

Exploring psychic powers television show

Exploring Psychic Powers Live! was a television show aired live on June 7, 1989, wherein Randi examined several people claiming psychic powers. The show offered $100,000 (Randi's then $10,000 prize plus $90,000 put up by the show's syndicator, Lexington Broadcasting^[32] ) to anyone who could demonstrate genuine psychic powers. The show is a good illustration of how claimants and Randi agree to test protocols and how no "judging" is required. is the 158th day of the year (159th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... In the television industry (as in radio), syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast programs to multiple stations, without going through a broadcast network. ... LBS logo from 1976 -1983 Lexington Broadcast Services Company (also known as LBS Communications, Inc. ...

• An astrologer claimed that he was able to guess correctly a person's astrological sign after talking with them for a few minutes. He was presented with twelve people, one at a time, each with a different astrological sign. The people could not tell the astrologer their astrological sign or birth date, nor could they wear anything that would indicate it. After the astrologer talked to the people, he had them sit in front of a sign that the astrologer thought was theirs. By agreement, the astrologer needed to get ten of them correct to win. He got none correct.

• The next psychic claimed to be able to read auras around people. The psychic claimed that auras were visible at least five inches from the people. The psychic chose ten people who had a clearly visible aura. The people were to stand behind screens and the psychic agreed that the aura would be visible above the screens. The screens were numbered 1 through 10, and people were selected whether or not to stand behind their screen at random. The psychic was to tell whether or not a person was standing behind each screen, by seeing the aura above. Since random guessing would be expected to get about five correct, the psychic needed to get eight of the ten right. The psychic stated that she saw an aura over all ten screens, but people were behind only four of the screens.

• A dowser claimed that he could locate water, even in a bottle inside a sealed cardboard box. He was shown twenty boxes and the dowser was to indicate which boxes contained a water bottle. He indicated that eight of the boxes contained water, but only five did.

• A psychometric psychic claimed to be able to receive personal information about the owner of an object from the object. In order to avoid ambiguous statements, the psychic agreed to be presented with a watch and a key from twelve different people. The psychic was to match keys and watches belonging to the same person. According to the prior agreement, the psychic had to match nine out of the twelve sets, but she succeeded in only two of the cases.

• During the program, another psychic was doing a run of 250 Zener cards, guessing which of the five symbols was on each one. Random guessing should result in about fifty correct guesses, so it was agreed in advance that the psychic had to be right on eighty-two cards. Her actual score was fifty correct guesses (Polidoro 2003:19-24).

An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. ... In astrology, the Signs of the Zodiac represent twelve equal segments or divisions of the zodiac. ... Black and white Kirlian photo of a fingertip. ... Dowsing is a controversial method of divination which dowsers say empowers them to find water, metals, gem stones and hidden objects by carrying some form of stick and watching its motion while walking over a piece of land. ... For the psychology discipline see psychometrics. ... Zener cards Zener cards are cards used to conduct experiments for extra-sensory perception (ESP), most often clairvoyance. ... The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. ...

The Amaz!ng Meeting

Since 2003, the JREF has annually hosted The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM), a gathering of scientists, skeptics, atheists, and other freethinkers, with noted speakers from the community. This article is about the profession. ... Skepticism (Commonwealth spelling: Scepticism) can mean: Philosophical skepticism - a philosophical position in which people choose to critically examine whether the knowledge and perceptions that they have are actually true, and whether or not one can ever be said to have absolutely true knowledge; or Scientific skepticism - a scientific, or practical... For information about the band, see Atheist (band). ...

Perennial speakers include Christopher Hitchens, Penn & Teller, Phil Plait, Michael Shermer and Julia Sweeney. Richard Dawkins and Joe Nickell appeared at the 2005 TAM 3. TAM 4 in 2006 saw ACLU president Nadine Strossen, planetary scientist with the Voyager program Carolyn Porco, popular TV personalities the MythBusters, author of the Skeptic's Dictionary Robert Todd Carroll, and Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann. Christopher Eric Hitchens (born April 13, 1949) is a British-American author, journalist and literary critic. ... Penn & Teller at the 1988 Emmy Awards Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. ... Philip Plait, physicist , astronomer and writer Philip Plait (a. ... Michael Shermer Michael Shermer (born September 8, 1954 in Glendale, California) is a science writer, historian of science, founder of The Skeptics Society, and editor of its magazine Skeptic, which is largely devoted to investigating and debunking pseudoscientific and supernatural claims. ... Julia Sweeney (born October 10, 1959 in Spokane, Washington) is an American actress and comedian who lives in Hollywood, California. ... Clinton Richard Dawkins (born March 26, 1941) is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ... Joe Nickell was born December 1, 1944 and is a prominent investigator of the paranormal. ... The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, is a non_governmental organization devoted to defending civil rights and civil liberties in the United States. ... A portait of Nadine Strossen Professor Nadine Strossen is president of the American Civil Liberties Union. ... Carolyn Porco Carolyn C. Porco is an American planetary scientist and the leader of the imaging science team on the Cassini mission[1],[2],[3] presently in orbit around Saturn. ... MythBusters is an American popular science television program on the Discovery Channel starring special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, who use basic elements of the scientific method to test the validity of various rumors and urban legends in popular culture. ... The Skeptics Dictionary is a web site with a collection of cross-referenced skeptical essays by Robert Todd Carroll, PhD. It primarily exposes claims that its editors consider pseudoscientific (sometimes in a pseudoskeptical fashion though). ... Robert Todd Carroll (1945-), Ph. ... Murray Gell-Mann (born September 15, 1929 in Manhattan, New York City, USA) is an American physicist who received the 1969 Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the theory of elementary particles. ...

TAM 5, held January 18 – January 21, 2007, included regulars Michael Shermer, Penn & Teller, Christopher Hitchens, Richard Wiseman, MythBuster Adam Savage, and Phil Plait. Also presenting was Eugenie Scott, Peter Sagal, Neil Gershenfeld, Nick Gillespie, John Rennie, Lori Lipman Brown, and Margaret Downey. is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Michael Shermer Michael Shermer (born September 8, 1954 in Glendale, California) is a science writer, historian of science, founder of The Skeptics Society, and editor of its magazine Skeptic, which is largely devoted to investigating and debunking pseudoscientific and supernatural claims. ... Penn & Teller at the 1988 Emmy Awards Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. ... Christopher Eric Hitchens (born April 13, 1949) is a British-American author, journalist and literary critic. ... Uhm!? ... Adam John Savage (born July 15, 1967) is an American television co-host on the program MythBusters on the Discovery Channel. ... Philip Plait, physicist , astronomer and writer Philip Plait (a. ... Eugenie Scott. ... Peter Sagal, NPR Peter Sagal is an American playwright, screenwriter, actor, and host of the National Public Radio game show Wait Wait. ... Neil Gershenfeld is a professor at MIT and the head of MITs Center for Bits and Atoms, a sister lab spun out of the popular MIT Media Lab. ... Nick Gillespie has been the Editor-in-Chief of Reason magazine since 2000. ... See: John Rennie (engineer) (1761 - 1821) John Rennie (railway engineer) (1794 - 1874) John Rennie (spymaster) (1914 - 1981) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Lori Lipman Brown has served as a state senator, lobbyist, lawyer, educator, and social worker supporter. ... Atheist Alliance International (AAI) is an alliance of 58 atheist organisations around the world, 48 of which are located in the United States. ...

The 2008 meeting will be held on June 19 to 22 in Las Vegas. Vegas redirects here. ...

Podcast

The JREF also is affiliated with The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast, where James Randi has a weekly commentary section. The Skeptics Guide to the Universe is a weekly, one-hour podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD and a panel of skeptical rogues. It is the official podcast of the New England Skeptical Society, and is produced in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation. ...

Scholarships

In 2007 the JREF announced that it would award critical thinking scholarships to college students.^[33] are you kiddin ? i was lookin for it for hours ... Note: The term scholarship can mean either the methods employed by scholars (see scholarly method) or an award of access to an institution and/or money for an individual for the purposes of furthering their education. ...

See also

• An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural (by Randi)
• List of prizes for evidence of the paranormal
• Pigasus Award
• Rationalist Prabir Ghosh increases his challenge amount to $50,000 against any claim of paranormal, after surviving nine assassination attempts.
• Skeptic's Dictionary by Robert Todd Carroll

An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural is a 1995 book by James Randi and Arthur C. Clarke. ... There are many individuals and groups past and present that offer money for proof of the paranormal in an observable setting. ... The Pigasus Award is the name of an annual tongue-in-cheek honor recognized by noted skeptic James Randi. ... Prabir Ghosh is the head of the Science and Rationalists’ Association of India, based in Kolkata. ... The Skeptics Dictionary is a web site with a collection of cross-referenced skeptical essays by Robert Todd Carroll, PhD. It primarily exposes claims that its editors consider pseudoscientific (sometimes in a pseudoskeptical fashion though). ... Robert Todd Carroll (1945-), Ph. ...

References

Books

• Christopher, Milbourne (1975), Mediums, Mystics, & the Occult, Thomas Y. Crowell Co., ISBN 0-690-00476-1

• Polidoro, Massimo (2003), Secrets of the Psychics: Investigating Paranormal Claims, Prometheus Books, ISBN 1-59102-086-7

• Randi, James (1982), Flim-Flam!, Prometheus Books, ISBN 0-87975-198-3

Milbourne Christopher (1914 - 1984) was one of Americas foremost illusionists, performing in sixty-eight countries. ... Thomas Y. Crowell Co. ... Prometheus Books is a publishing company founded in August 1969 by Paul Kurtz and publishes scientific, educational, and popular books, especially those of a secular humanist or scientific skepticism nature. ... James Randi (born August 7, 1928), stage name The Amazing Randi, is a stage magician and scientific skeptic best known as a challenger of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. ... Flim-Flam! Psychics, ESP, Unicorns, and Other Delusions is a 1982 book by magician and skeptic James Randi about paranormal, occult, and pseudoscience claims. ... Prometheus Books is a publishing company founded in August 1969 by Paul Kurtz and publishes scientific, educational, and popular books, especially those of a secular humanist or scientific skepticism nature. ...

Notes

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... February 29 is a day added into a leap year of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 197th day of the year (198th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Dennis Rawlins (1937 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. –) is an American astronomer, historian, and publisher, known [1] for his intellect and acerbic wit. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... John Edward McGee, Jr. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... Larry King Live is a nightly CNN interview program hosted by broadcaster and writer Larry King. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Rosemary Altea (born 1946) is a self proclaimed psychic and author. ... Larry King Live is a nightly CNN interview program hosted by broadcaster and writer Larry King. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Rosemary Altea (born 1946) is a self proclaimed psychic and author. ... Larry King Live is a nightly CNN interview program hosted by broadcaster and writer Larry King. ... is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

James Randi Educational Foundation

• James Randi Educational Foundation — Official website
• The Amaz!ng Meeting — information on past and upcoming Amaz!ng Meetings and Amaz!ng Adventures.
• An "Amazing" Time — Review of 2003's "Amazing Meeting" by Marc Berard
• James Randi in Australia - Episode from an Australian TV show shot in the 1980s showing Randi conducting a test of water dowsers for his earlier $10,000 challenge
• MySpace — The officially approved MySpace tribute page.

The New England Skeptical Society is an organization which produces a podcast featuring debunking of myths and conspiracy theories, as well as discussion of scientific developments in laymens terms, and interviews with authors and other famous skeptics. ...

One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge

• The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge — Official website
• Current contenders for the prize, discussed in a public chat forum as their applications come in.
• NESS Participates in the Randi Psychic Challenge — Describes the type of testing performed for the One million dollar challenge
• Top Excuses for not taking the Randi Challenge
• Criticism of Randi's Challenge on Alternative Science by Richard Milton and Randi's response.
• A Challenge to James Randi — A criticism of the Randi challenge, and a challenge toward Randi to explain a number of the studies he has dismissed and Randi's rebuttal.