My claim is the following:
I will place a tape player at one location and I will be at another 2 miles away. (this should ideally take place in a remote area to ensure there is not a second tape player on ultra low volume.)
The tester will turn on the tape player on ultra low volume at the top of the hour. The hour will be divided up into 12 five minute intervals. The tester will chose 6 of these intervals to be intervals when the tape player is on. The other 6 intervals will have the tape player off. My claim is that I can hear subsonic sounds from a tape player or radio from 2 miles away. I will prove this by correctly notating during the hour which intervals were the ones which the tester turned on the tape player and left it on for those 5 minute intervals.
For example, it may be intervals 1,4,7,8, 10, 12 that are the six that the tape player was turned on.
-DANA MORRISON
=============================================
We responded to this applicant by asking some questions, and got the following in return, with a new application...
The demonstration will be as follows: Two cuts will be made. One on the right hand and one on the left hand. They will then be allowed two days for the inflammatory response to subsude and to scab up. Pictures will then be taken of each of the two cuts with an instant camera to document the initial state of the two cuts. These pictures will be properly labeled "left hand" and "right hand". Next the observor will be allowed to pick which hand will be subjected to the healing. Once the hand is selected I will proceed to heal the cut with my mind and body. Proof of this will be in the fact that the cut that is chosen to be healed will be changed in physical and visible ways compared to both its original picture and to the other cut. In short, it will be partially or or totally healed to a significant enough degree so that any reasonable observor can agree that it has been changed. I may need to use one hand to help mentally localize the position of the cut on the other hand but both hands will be clean. I would need about 5 to 6 hours for this procedure. And I need a quiet environment free of distraction and people. I understand the need to be monitored but I would request that it is in such a way as to not cause me distraction. For example, a camera or a one-way window is fine but a person sitting right near me might be distracting.
DANA MORRISON
=============================================
Dear Mr./Ms. Morrison,
We have received your application, and have considered your suggested test.
Any procedure which purposely injures another human being cannot be considered. It is not possible, legally, to obtain waivers from persons who wish to voluntarily give up their rights against purposeful injury, and the JREF would be possibly liable under the circumstances you outline.
If another, more workable protocol can be designed, we are prepared to consider it. Or, if you can produce affadavits from medical authorities that you have previously performed as suggested, we can give appropriate weight to that evidence.
Than you for your interest.
-James Randi
3-15-99
===========================================
Dear Mr. Randi,
In light of the fact that I won't be able to demonstrate my paranormal healing powers because of concern over self inflicted bodily wounds; I have come up with another way to demonstrate my healing powers without causing initial injury. About 15 years ago I had a hernia operation which left me with a scar that hasn't changed much since the operation. If I were to exert my healing powers upon this scar now I am sure I could partially if not totally heal it. This procedure would again involve taking pictures before and after. It would also take me about 5 or 6 hours. As long as I can cause visible changes to the scar this should be enough to prove to any reasonable observer that I can heal with my body and mind. I submit this to you now and still recognize all the conditions of the contract that I have previously sent to you.
DANA MORRISON
==============================================
Dear Mr./Ms. Morrison,
In reference to your letter posted 4/7/99, we would consider the test you suggested a satisfactory preliminary test provided it meets the following criteria:
1. You provide us with a notarized statement from a medical doctor (preferably a dermatologist) that the scar is genuine and unable to be healed by conventional means within 6 hours.
2. You provide us with a notarized statement from the same doctor that a complete healing took place within the agreed upon 6 hour period.
3. You provide us with a notarized statement from the medical doctor stating that the person he observed the scar and the healing upon are the same person, and provide us with this proof (preferably genetic evidence).
4. You agree to the definition of "healing" being a complete absence of any scar tissue, blemishes or abrasions.
If you think you can meet these criteria, we look forward to hearing from you.
-James Randi
=============================================
We never heard from this applicant again, and the file was eventually closed.
I will place a tape player at one location and I will be at another 2 miles away. (this should ideally take place in a remote area to ensure there is not a second tape player on ultra low volume.)
The tester will turn on the tape player on ultra low volume at the top of the hour. The hour will be divided up into 12 five minute intervals. The tester will chose 6 of these intervals to be intervals when the tape player is on. The other 6 intervals will have the tape player off. My claim is that I can hear subsonic sounds from a tape player or radio from 2 miles away. I will prove this by correctly notating during the hour which intervals were the ones which the tester turned on the tape player and left it on for those 5 minute intervals.
For example, it may be intervals 1,4,7,8, 10, 12 that are the six that the tape player was turned on.
-DANA MORRISON
=============================================
We responded to this applicant by asking some questions, and got the following in return, with a new application...
The demonstration will be as follows: Two cuts will be made. One on the right hand and one on the left hand. They will then be allowed two days for the inflammatory response to subsude and to scab up. Pictures will then be taken of each of the two cuts with an instant camera to document the initial state of the two cuts. These pictures will be properly labeled "left hand" and "right hand". Next the observor will be allowed to pick which hand will be subjected to the healing. Once the hand is selected I will proceed to heal the cut with my mind and body. Proof of this will be in the fact that the cut that is chosen to be healed will be changed in physical and visible ways compared to both its original picture and to the other cut. In short, it will be partially or or totally healed to a significant enough degree so that any reasonable observor can agree that it has been changed. I may need to use one hand to help mentally localize the position of the cut on the other hand but both hands will be clean. I would need about 5 to 6 hours for this procedure. And I need a quiet environment free of distraction and people. I understand the need to be monitored but I would request that it is in such a way as to not cause me distraction. For example, a camera or a one-way window is fine but a person sitting right near me might be distracting.
DANA MORRISON
=============================================
Dear Mr./Ms. Morrison,
We have received your application, and have considered your suggested test.
Any procedure which purposely injures another human being cannot be considered. It is not possible, legally, to obtain waivers from persons who wish to voluntarily give up their rights against purposeful injury, and the JREF would be possibly liable under the circumstances you outline.
If another, more workable protocol can be designed, we are prepared to consider it. Or, if you can produce affadavits from medical authorities that you have previously performed as suggested, we can give appropriate weight to that evidence.
Than you for your interest.
-James Randi
3-15-99
===========================================
Dear Mr. Randi,
In light of the fact that I won't be able to demonstrate my paranormal healing powers because of concern over self inflicted bodily wounds; I have come up with another way to demonstrate my healing powers without causing initial injury. About 15 years ago I had a hernia operation which left me with a scar that hasn't changed much since the operation. If I were to exert my healing powers upon this scar now I am sure I could partially if not totally heal it. This procedure would again involve taking pictures before and after. It would also take me about 5 or 6 hours. As long as I can cause visible changes to the scar this should be enough to prove to any reasonable observer that I can heal with my body and mind. I submit this to you now and still recognize all the conditions of the contract that I have previously sent to you.
DANA MORRISON
==============================================
Dear Mr./Ms. Morrison,
In reference to your letter posted 4/7/99, we would consider the test you suggested a satisfactory preliminary test provided it meets the following criteria:
1. You provide us with a notarized statement from a medical doctor (preferably a dermatologist) that the scar is genuine and unable to be healed by conventional means within 6 hours.
2. You provide us with a notarized statement from the same doctor that a complete healing took place within the agreed upon 6 hour period.
3. You provide us with a notarized statement from the medical doctor stating that the person he observed the scar and the healing upon are the same person, and provide us with this proof (preferably genetic evidence).
4. You agree to the definition of "healing" being a complete absence of any scar tissue, blemishes or abrasions.
If you think you can meet these criteria, we look forward to hearing from you.
-James Randi
=============================================
We never heard from this applicant again, and the file was eventually closed.