James Randi loses million dollar challenge

[bananas]

Someone has discovered the contents of James Randi's safe using mental powers.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/03/cryptographer_s.html

[physioex]

1. I won't comment on this particular challenge....

But I have long admired Randi for exposing charlatans.....

[melody]

3. The only charlatan Randi has "exposed" is himself n/t

[greyl]

7. ? I don't think you comprehend what happened.

No paranormal powers were demonstrated.

[melody]

10. I comprehend what happened ... it was an encryption expert that revealed the contents

My point was to the OP referencing Randi's putative "exposure of frauds".

[Goblinmonger]

26. So how does this episode

indicate Randi has exposed himself as a fraud? I guess I don't get it.

[aquart]

2. But not psychic mental powers.

[melody]

4. The only reason Randi is admitting to the loss is because there's a physical "trail"

Otherwise, he'd do what he usually does -- stick his fingers in his ears and hum. lol

[ClintonTyree]

11. Are you saying that he hasn't exposed frauds?

By the boatload from what I've seen. I take it you're a firm believer is all things mystic? :shrug:

[melody]

12. That's about the hyperreactivity I expect from a Randi admirer

>I take it you're a firm believer is all things mystic?

No, I'm an agnostic. I don't believe in anything, and that includes Randi's arrogant and obnoxious assertions
regarding things about which he knows nothing (chiefly, science). At least nuts like Sylvia Brown are only hurting
themselves. Randi makes black and white assertions about stuff any legitimate researcher would take an agnostic
approach toward (and admit a certain amount of wonder regarding). He also despises anyone who criticizes him.
He's basically a modern semi-science-based Cotton Mather.

[Boojatta]

13. "At least nuts like Sylvia Brown are only hurting themselves."

Question #1: What have been Sylvia Browne's sources of income?

Question #2: Would you say that card sharps hurt nobody but themselves?

Stipulative definition of "card sharp": a person who uses sleight of hand to cheat in such games as poker and who obtains by that practice alone an income sufficient to satisfy all of his or her needs and some of his or her wants.

The meaning of the term "card sharp" is open to discussion. However, I do not insist that the precise wording of question #2 is important. On the contrary, I am wondering about something and question #2 is simply an attempt to formulate some of the conceptual content associated with that experience of wondering.

[melody]

16. Your assumptions are myriad

Anyway, I don't get into this with Randi true believers. As I say to the Sylvia Brown true believers
(and Brown does apparently believe what she is doing herself), you believe what you need to
believe. I'm still stumped by the world. Stuff still surprises me. If you've already figured
everything out, then good for you.

I think there are more "right" people in the world than me and the people who think like me.

[Boojatta]

25. Is your concern solely about the number of assumptions that I have made

or are you also concerned that I have made assumptions that are extraordinary and therefore subject to immediate dismissal as implausible unless supported by authenticated information?

[ClintonTyree]

15. YOUR assumption is wrong.

WHERE did I say anything about being an admirer of Randy? I said that he's exposed a boatload of frauds, and even you can't argue with that. He has. It seems you have some issues with him, probably well deserved. I don't believe in anyone's infallibility, which is why I'm an atheist. I don't believe in god, the devil, or any other entity in between.

I asked you a simple question and got an infantile tirade in return. Talk about hyperreactivity? :eyes:

[melody]

17. It wasn't infantile, merely direct and frank

You assume because I dislike Randi that I am "a believer in all things mystic". What isn't hyperreactive about that? lol If you think that was "infantile", you've clearly not been
around many adults who question your belief systems.

Listen, my friend, I mean no harm. I don't get into this with Randi admirers. It's as pointless as debating anything with the fans of big named psychics. You will think or not think as you deem
appropriate. I just posted a simple statement of opinion about Randi and you came after me with an
attack. You were primarily angry because I disagreed with you, it seems. lol

Have a good life. This ends the thread for me.

[ClintonTyree]

18. An attack?

If asking an benign, honest question is an attack then I suppose I attacked you. :eyes:

Yeah, I'm such a BIG FAN of Randi I've been referring to him as "Randy". I only know what I've read about him exposing frauds like Benny Hinn, Ernest Angely and their ilk. Other than that I wouldn't know him from you. But you just CAN'T admit that he HAS uncovered countless frauds though because of your hate for him. :rofl:

And I'm ten years your senior, so I think I've probably been around a few more "adults" than you. :rofl:

You rail at "Randi" because he doesn't like to be told when he's wrong. Are we projecting a bit here, are we? :rofl:

Yeah, I'm done too. See 'ya in the funny papers. :rofl:

[malikstein]

29. I guess not everybody here

is in the reality-based community.

[MADem]

5. What a great article--especially the link to the X files theme!

Now, that's the way to 'illustrate' a work!

[mrfrapp]

6. Cryptography

The person referred to in the article is Matt Blaze, a prominent cryptographer. He discovered the contents of the safe by decrypting an "enciphered clue" left on Randi's website.

http://www.crypto.com/blog/psychic_cryptanalysis/

[bananas]

8. Shhh!

[TreasonousBastard]

9. And it wasn't even encrypted...

just an old-fashioned brainteaser with the fancy name "commitment string."

Blaze is right-- Randi could do better than that if he tried a bit.

[varkam]

19. So then the challenge wasn't lost, as it didn't involve paranormal powers - correct?

:shrug:

[toddaa]

14. Psychics are WEAK

Getting their butts kicked by a mathematician. What a bunch of fucking losers.

[rasputin1952]

20. For all that can be said about Randi, one thing is certain....

he has been a bane for charlatans.

I have no idea what some of the things I've seen and heard are, but there is an explanation, perhaps one I would not like, but there is always an explanation. For people to take advantage of the suffering, the indulgent and the ignorant is just not right.

If one of my dead relatives wishes to speak w/me, they don't need a "medium", I'm open to such conversation...and besides, I'm not sure I'd like what they would have to say...."You know, you were a lousy nephew, and you are still a bum."

Another thing that gets me is reincarnation...how come all of those that regress to a former life are always someone noble and brave? Seems to me the vast majority would be stableboys and charwomen, but no one wants to pay to find out they shoveled shit for 20 years before dying.

My advice, save your money and buy something you like or need...if Great Grandma wants to contact you from beyond the grave, she will...but be prepared for a message youmay not wish to hear...:D

[SidDithers]

21. And another misleading headline from bananas...nt

Sid

[trotsky]

22. Yeah, gee, who woulda thunk it? n/t

:eyes:

[bananas]

23. "Matt Blaze: James Randi owes me a million dollars"

That's the title on Matt Blaze's blog entry, don't blame me!
They should have played a practical joke on Randi and not revealed how they did it. :evilgrin:

http://www.crypto.com/blog/psychic_cryptanalysis/

James Randi owes me a million dollars
How I discovered my psychic powers at the library

I've long been an admirer of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), tireless advocates for critical thinking, skepticism, and the scientific method. They offer a one million dollar prize to the first person who can provide convincing, testable proof of supernatural powers. The foundation recently set up a "remote viewing" challenge in which the purported psychic is asked to describe the contents of a special sealed box held at the JREF office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Those who know me may be surprised to read this, but I'm pleased to announce that Jutta Degener and I have successfully visualized the contents of Randi's challenge box. We accomplished this from over a thousand miles away and entirely through mental concentration and the application of our unique talents (or, I should say, gifts), and without any physical access or inside information. We can now reveal to the world the item in the box: a small mirrored flat circular wheel or disk, such as a DVD or CD. Randi, if you're reading this, a money order or certified check will be fine.

As you ponder the cosmic ramifications of the awesome, terrible powers that we apparently possess (we'll use them only for good, I promise), let me explain a bit more about the remote viewing challenge and how we accomplished this unprecedented paranormal feat.

<snip>

[trotsky]

24. I'll blame you for the spin.

Being a cryptographer, he's pointing out the weakness in Randi's setup of the challenge and his clue. It's a good thing he's honest, because a liar could have collected the money by keeping their mouth shut. But there is no *real* defeat of the challenge, because no remote viewing or "supernatural" abilities were used to determine the contents. But since you despise Randi and skeptics, your spin is expected.

[bananas]

27. I don't hate James Randi or skeptics

Does he believe in Global Warming,
or is he a Global Warming skeptic?

[trotsky]

28. Right, because being a "skeptic" means you deny everything.

Uh-huh.

[bananas]

30. No, a denier says it's not true, a skeptic is more agnostic.

Is he a believer, skeptic, or denier?

[moggie]

31. Why is this relevant?

Randi's thing is investigation of paranormal claims. Since climatologists don't claim paranormal causes for anthropogenic global warming, Randi's opinion on it, whatever that may be, isn't of much interest.

[Ian David]

32. Science triumped where "magic" failed, once again. n/t

[drm604]

33. He's lucky those guys are honest.

He really left himself wide open on this. Someone less scrupulous may have claimed the million and forever after the incident would be pointed to as "proof" of psychic powers.
That "commitment string" was nothing more than a brain teaser begging to be cracked by some clever person.