IIG Public Update #5
December 2007
November was, as usual, shorter than most months, what with the various
bank holidays, and sick days, but nonetheless, the IIG has been hard at work
thanks to a glut of applicants, would-be applicants, and TV show psychics
melting down.
PHENOMENAL STUPIDITY (Part 2):
On Halloween, John Callahan performed a stale magic trick on “Phenomenon.”
Worse yet, he stretched it out with several minutes of “psychic” convulsions
that were so hammy and unconvincing it made us yearn for the nuanced
performance of Keanu Reeves in “Johnny Mnemonic.”
Well, that hasn’t gotten as much publicity as the subsequent confrontation
between host Criss Angel and Callahan. Angel called the trick “laughable”
and offered Callahan a million dollars if he could reveal the contents of an
envelope. A fistfight almost broke out, and there is still some contention
over whether the altercation was planned.
Even those of us in the IIG who were present can’t say for sure, but two
things we agreed on are a.) the trick was indeed “laughable,” and b.)
Angel’s challenge was perfectly fair. IIG member and webmaster Ross Blocher
has more details on his blog (link coming soon). You can
see
a few
recaps on YouTube.
But wait! It doesn’t stop there. On November 17, the IIG members all
recorded our guesses as to what’s in the envelope. We each wrote down our
impressions on a 5x3 index card, and had them sealed in an envelope. When
Angel reveals the contents, we will check to see if any of us got it right.
Stay tuned.
LONG ISLAND HEALER:
Bob T. in New York wants our $50,000, and he claims to be able to remotely
heal people. He discovered this ability after seeing a vision of Jesus. His
proof: twenty-five testimonials submitted to the CFI-LA office. Well, as it
happens CFI-LA employee Bob Ladendorf had recently broken his thumb, and
during a phone conversation, Bob L. asked Bob T. to go ahead and heal it.
Unfortunately, the thumb is still broken.
Bob T. is now in talks with the IIG to have a more formal test.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MIRROR MAN:
Gary G. in Colorado has submitted an application. Here is his claim:
I have been testing and improving my methods for proving my paranormal
abilitys [sic]. [R]egarding my abilitys [sic], mirrors reflect my
lifeforce/plasma/entity,etc. that I am able to detect with. When I
leave my physical body to do this the only materials I have found that
I can absolutely be sure of touching are mirrors and aluminum. I am
more effective with mirrors than aluminum due to the mirrors ability
to stop my lifeforce/plasma/entity... from moving in that specific
direction. I will tell you that I can "step out " of my physical body
and move about three feet for about 0.5 seconds and then I return to
my physical body automatically so the only way so far, that I know of
to prove this ability is to (I have revised my procedures slightly)
sit in a chair with a 14 x 14 x 14 inch cardboard box one foot in
front of my feet on the floor and testing to see if the mirror box ( 5
12x 12 x12 inch mirrors duct taped together making a mirror box with
the bottom being open) is or is not inside without touching the boxes
or coming within 12 inches of them. I sit prone in each one of the
chairs, with very little movement until I have tested the box, then I go to
the next chair and repeat this until all 5 have been tested ,then I tell the
assistant wich [sic] box holds the mirror box. I have been testing with 5
chairs and boxes. I am accurate beyond chance and use no trickery , devices,
accomplice's, or any other dishonest means of detecting the mirror box. I am
able to do this with very little clothing, agreeable to metal detectors
being used to check for devices, and reasonable body searches before testing
and any other reasonable precautions to assure your organization that the
testing is on " the up and up!"
Well, it’s unusual to get a claim that is so specific. Usually lack of
specificity is our biggest stumbling block. We are currently trying to
schedule a preliminary demonstration with Mr. G.
ARIZONA NIGHT VISION GIRL:
Tom C. of Arizona claims that his daughter "has many gifts," but we narrowed
him down to the claim that she can see in the dark. This not only presents
us with the typical scientific questions, but also with some ethical ones.
Is it fair to drag a young girl into this process?
Well, we will answer those questions in early December when the girl will
submit to a preliminary demonstration in Arizona, thanks to IIG member Steve
Muscarella who will be in the area. The results will determine whether she
will apply for the $50,000 challenge.
VISION FROM FEELING:
Anita I. of “Vision From Feeling” has applied for the $50,000. She
claims to be able to diagnose health conditions psychically
(http://www.visionfromfeeling.com/). She has submitted an application, and
we are currently in discussions for a testing protocol.
CREEPY GAS STATION:
With the occupation of Iraq, the coup in Pakistan, and the continuing crisis
in Darfur, CNN decided that
this was the most important thing to put on its
website.
If you’re lucky enough to get CNN Video to work on your computer, we’re sure
you’ll agree that it looks like a big damn bug on the camera.
DR. GREER, I PRESUME:
On November 10th, IIG member Dave Richards encountered UFO proponent in
Orange County. The report
can be read here.
That’s all for November. We’ll be back after the New Year with updates on
our plethora of claimants, investigations, and maybe a few surprises. Until
then, let us all remember the true meaning of Christmas – the emergence of
Mithra from the world-egg.
- IIG
