IIG Public Update #1

August 2007

Hello. This is the first in a series of monthly updates from the IIG. We got sick of getting e-mails from our readers asking us if we’re “still around.”

Yes, the IIG has been operating continuously since 2000, however we have not made the results of all of our investigations public for three reasons.

First of all, a lot of our investigations don’t seem to end. In fact, we are about to publish the results of an inquiry into the activities of the California Board of Registered Nurses that took three years to complete, and it’s completedness is still in dispute.

Second, we simply have not been updating our website regularly. Now, our website has been redesigned, and we have a kick-ass webmaster in the person of Ross Blocher who will be facilitating these monthly updates.

Third, writing reports is hard. Well, it’s hard for an organization that values academic honesty. We insist on getting every detail right. Why? Well, when we published our comprehensive report on Carla Baron we got every fact right, except that we attributed a British television series to the BBC, when it was aired on a different network. A Carla Baron fan reported that our facts couldn’t be trusted, and while his assessment was absurd, it was galling to read.

Also, accuracy isn’t just about moral integrity, it’s about financial integrity. One lawsuit from the well-funded charlatans we oppose could do serious harm to our all-volunteer organization. We still have to take up collections to have coffee, so money is definitely an object. So, to keep the flow of information going between these official, formal reports, we will begin updating the public on our work every month, on the first of the month.

Speaking of final reports, here is a report from a 2004 investigation of the Alien Skull and another of the ongoing investigation of Aulterra, which was recently published.  You can also see our recent public test of the supposed psychic Nigel Britman. Enjoy!

And now... the August update.

MISSOURI DOWSER

Months ago, Carl David Ritchie, a self-proclaimed dowser from Missouri submitted an official application for our $50,000 paranormal challenge (available soon). After months of negotiation we settled on a very complicated protocol (available soon), and we are currently trying to schedule a date for Ritchie to arrive in L.A. and take the test.

This would be a good time to let you know that, like James Randi, we intend to eventually publish all of our correspondence with applicants and potential applicants.

The results of the Ritchie test will be made public as soon as the test is performed.

IIG AWARDS

On August 18th the IIG will present its first annual presentation of its award for promotion of skepticism in film and television. Read our press release announcing the event.

PERFECT SOMMELIER

Doug Dubin from the Perfect Sommelier company has asked to apply for our $50,000. His company produces the eponymous device that allegedly makes your wine taste better through paranormal means. Mr. Dubin has failed to submit a formal application, and claims that we are ducking him. In spite of his rude tone, we are trying to get Mr. Dubin to send us a sample device so we can test it ourselves.

U.F.O. FIELD TRIP (#1)

A group of claimed U.F.O. contactees who shall remain nameless invited the IIG to come with them to see a real live U.F.O. They claim that the extra-terrestrial crafts appear 85% of the time. Yes, we arrived there for the other 15%.

The field trip was on July 8, and took place in the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California. A complete report with pictures will soon be made available. If the ending of this story is too disappointing for you to even read it, never fear! We will return to the next rendez-vous point in November.

BAT MAX

James Randi had asked his affiliated organizations to test a device which claims to boost cellphone reception. We have since heard from Randi that he will not be requiring our services. Oh well . . .

THE FUEL ENERGY SAVER

The Fuel Energy Saver, a paranormal-sounding industrial device, has been under our scrutiny for about a year now. After a great deal of discussion, we decided that we cannot pursue an investigation unless the FES manufacturer supplies us with a sample to test. Well, we got the sample, and conducted the test!

The test was simple: we had a propane gas tank, and we had two Bunsen Burners connected to it. One Burner had the FES attached, the other did not. We measured the height and the temperature of the two flames.. We determined that the FES effected neither. A complete report with pictures will be made available soon.

That’s it until September. Check back every month for updates.

- IIG