While the skeptic communities own Borat is humorous, I would like to point out that clever editing was used in segment three. Indeed there were the fun home grown kinda talents. But there were also professionals, such as Jonathan, who were excellent. The audience did indeed applaud, and also a fun Randi drinking game was engaged in. The judges actually made nice comments (like Richard Saunders could be mean?), and yes if there is a talent show next TAM, please buy a ticket and come. IT's a good laugh, but not perhaps an accurate laugh, and a laugh at the expense of others which sometimes is the easiest laugh of all. IT was fun, it was worth the price of a ticket and it offered more than a cute little Asian skepchick. (cue creepy stalker music). Keep up the good work Capt.D, but honestly, next year just go straight to the skepchick party. ((that or start with the "drug use" before the talent show).You dishonor people like Jonathan that really were excellent. Plus think of the Gong Show, if you dont' have the less than stellar acts, it isn't as much fun. Votes: +3

I'm kind of surprised that the JREF posted this. While I'm a big fan of CD, and I loved the reveal at the end of this, overall it wasn't very flattering of the JREF. While I agree that we should be able to poke fun at ourselves this went a bit above in my opinion. Some of the talent was good at the talent show.. And do we really need to give the other side fuel by making a comment about Banachek possibly cheating at the $1M challenge? I wonder if he found that part funny. Votes: +0

If the $1M challenge looks unfair, refusing to address that perception is what gives "fuel to the other side". It's an odd bunch of "skeptics" who have a Gentleman's Agreement to hush up facts that make them look bad.

I don't think the JREF cheated, but they administered this test so badly it gives the appearance of cheating. A Million Dollar Challenge that isn't seen as fair just doesn't work as a thing.
I found more wrong with this test than the clip presented here shows. I will list the other problems in these comments as soon as I get the time. Votes: +2

What? Nothing about the grim reaper cat? Votes: +0

Captain D is my hero! Votes: +0

JREF's unexplained changes

Part I of my complaints about Connie Sonne's Million Dollar Challenge.

The Amazing Randi once advised (from Banachek.org):

I sent Phillips a list of eleven “Caveats” concerning tests done with human subjects. For example, I warned him not to allow the subjects to run the experiments by changing the protocol. Similarly, I suggested capricious demands by subjects might well be the means of introducing conditions that would permit subterfuge.

What about the JREF changing the protocol and making capricious demands ? That should be considered suspicious too.

The JREF made considerable unexplained changes to the declaration currently posted on SWIFT of how the MDC is to be administered.

At JREF, we offer a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event. The JREF does not involve itself in the testing procedure, other than helping to design the protocol and approving the conditions under which a test will take place. All tests are designed with the participation and approval of the applicant. In most cases, the applicant will be asked to perform a relatively simple preliminary test of the claim, which if successful, will be followed by the formal test. Preliminary tests are usually conducted by associates of the JREF at the site where the applicant lives. Upon success in the preliminary testing process, the "applicant" becomes a "claimant."

The reader will have noticed the inconsistencies between these stated standards and the JREF's behavior in Ms Sonne case
.
"The JREF does not involve itself in the testing procedure … "
The JREF staff was involved in every aspect of this testing procedure: designing the test, preparing all materials and the location, administering the test, doing the damage control. No outsiders were involved.

"the applicant will be asked to perform a relatively simple preliminary test of the claim"
I defy anyone to describe this hour-long double-enveloped fiasco as "simple".

Preliminary tests are usually conducted by associates of the JREF at the site where the applicant lives.
This test was conducted exclusively by the JREF staff. Denmark is not close to Las Vegas.

to be continued Votes: -6

My understanding of this rule was that there should be some press coverage of the paranormal power being tested. I was able to find one of the qualifying articles(no link from JREF) about Ms. Sonne.
http://translate.google.com/tr...=da&tl=en
This article makes no mention of dowsing whatsoever. It's about how Ms. Sonne's guardian angels have been telling her how to find Madeline McMan, a famous missing child. It's all about her interesting international adventures looking for Maddie. Not a word on dowsing. And they certainly don't refer to Ms. Sonne as "Connie Sonne, dowser" as the JREF repeatedly has.

Links to the other qualifying press were not provided.
The JREF has also neglected to post Ms. Sonne's MDC application, the subsequent agreement the JREF had her sign, the affidavit from the academic or that academics name.

continued Votes: -7

The JREF responded to Ms Sonnes accusations:

Connie Sonne had designed the parameters for her own test. She chose to dowse for the contents of double-enveloped playing cards on stage with the supervision of famous skeptic and mentalist, Banachek

That's a misleading use of the word "chose." Ms. Sonne did in fact design the parameters of her own test, but the JREF neglected to she did more than that. She designed an entire test. Then the JREF scrapped her perfectly good test with no explanation a presented her a significantly different one.

Here's Ms. Sonne's original protocol. I got it from her website (conniesonne.dk/25057825). I couldn't find it on Swift.

1. I need 10 pieces of cardboards, where you have written numbers from 1-10 , one number on each piece. You put them on the table, outside my place, with the backside up, so I cant see the numbers. Mix the cards before you put them on the table. Name numbers and I will find them with my pendulum.

2. I need at least 10 persons around a big table, where I am allowed to write with a chalk on it. I also need the hole group to write down their firstnames on seperate pieces of cardboards, put them on the table outsid my place in a horseshoeshape. I will now, with my pendulum pint out the name first andthen the person.

3. You can ask me some questions, one per person. You must ask it, so I can answer it with yes or no. It must be a question, that only the person who will ask know. For example...my favorite t-shirt...is it black?..... or is my dog`s name Fido and so on.

4. I will write the alphabet, in a horseshoeshape on the table, also the numbers. "they" will write something for you...a message, and I can also point out some of you, who can try.

The reader will have noticed that Ms. Sonne did not choose "to dowse for the contents of double-enveloped playing cards on stage with the supervision of famous skeptic and mentalist, Banachek", as the JREF asserted. Rather she chose to dowse for handwritten cards, not playing cards, let alone Bicycle brand as the JREF specified.
She wanted the cards face down in a horseshoe shape, not double-enveloped (or even single-enveloped for that matter).
She wanted ten strangers to run the test, certainly not Banachek.

Ms. Sonne, whose voices told her to trust the JREF, never even tried the new protocol. Votes: -6

On the first page of his website Banachek boasts:

At the age of 18, Banachek became a test subject at a heavily funded psychic research facility. For two years, scientists closely studied and tested Banachek's psychic abilities. Using only his skills as a self taught magician and mentalist [and a willingness to lie to people's faces for two years]….Banachek astounded the scientists and made them believe.

His agent advertises:

His talents are so incredible that he  is the only mentalist ever to fool scientists into believing he possessed 'Psychic powers' then later reveal he was fooling them.

These blurbs refers of course to project alpha.
From Wikipedia:

Project Alpha was an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the stage magician and skeptic James Randi. It involved planting two fake psychics, Steve Shaw (known as Banachek) and Michael Edwards, into a paranormal research project. During the initial stages of the investigation, the researchers came to believe that the pair's psychic powers were real.

Banachek's complaint that he's being defamed by the suggestion he would cheat is bizarre. He not only blatantly cheated for two years but he's rather proud of it.


From Banachek's wikipedia page:

Banachek has written books on mentalism, such as Psychological Subtleties, and invented various magic and mentalism effects, including the Penn & Teller bullet catch and the original "buried alive."

Banachek invented world-famous stage tricks. He's a magician's magician, skilled in devising novel methods of misdirecting. Banachek's perfect candidate for faking a MDC.



I don't think Banachek cheated in this test, BTW. I don't believe in the paranormal.
I don't think there was any cheating.
I don't think the JREF treated Ms. Sonne fairly, however. "Shamefully" is a more appropriate word.
Votes: -9

One of the capricious conditions was that Ms. Sonne couldn't bring a camera, was keep under guard when the test was being set up, and wasn't allowed to speak. Camera not allowed.

The JREF went out of their way to make it look like they cheated. Votes: -8

There was nothing done that Conne didn't agree to. The protocol doesn't get to be demanded by the person asking to be tested, it's mutually agreed on by both parties before the test happens. She knew all aspects, including having to come to Vegas on her own dime, and the test being administered by Banachek. She knew who Banachek was before agreeing to the protocol. All people that take the test need to pay for their own supplies and to get to the testing location if it's across the street or across the globe.

She thought she could win, so she didn't think it was an issue. I think it was asked at one point during the press conference if she tested herself using this protocol beforehand, and she said no. (something typical of most people that take the test).

The tests are setup in favor of the applicant. If they have the power they claim to have, they should have no problems at all passing the test.

To complain about the "hour long fiasco" is stupid, if she didn't go through and open all the envelopes after failing people would have complained about that. Doing the entire protocol start to finish keeps the test open and fair. Votes: +6

Oh, and as far as her application. It was available for viewing at TAM. I went to the million dollar challenge workshop and got a copy of it myself. Votes: +3

You know, "debunkerina" claims that Ms. Sonne has no followers... but it appears she's got a least 1 devoted follower - devoted enough to make half a dozen posts attesting to how incredibly wonderful Ms. Sonne is. Votes: +2

When I read the headline of this entry I thought "Really? Since when does Victor von Doom count as a hero?... Oh, wait - Latvia, not Latveria." Votes: +2

Bunk.
Connie Sonne agreed to everything because the voices in her head told her to. I doubt she She thought she was saving the world. That's the JREF's big authority on fairness, the voices in Connie Sonne's head. The same voices now say the JREF cheated. I don't see how one can refute the cheating accusation and still embrace the concessions to fairness.
Besides I don't care what Connie Sonne thinks. I'm the one saying it wasn't fair. The MDC isn't there to convince Ms. Sonne.

The JREF says to qualify for the million dollars the applicant must demonstrate their powers in a simple test, one which they may design, near their home by a mutually trusted third party. Instead Connie Sonne was asked to fly to Las Vegas from Denmark at her own expense. She had only one chance to pass a complicated test she'd never even tried before (as opposed to the reasonable test she had designed). She had to do it on stage in front of a large crowd of skeptics. No stage fright allowed. She couldn't speak or bring a camera. The test was administered by admitted cheater Banachek and JREF staff. That's quite a bait and switch.
The fact that the JREF convinced trusting Ms. Sonne to a piece of paper calling it all fair doesn't make it fair.

The JREF printed copies of Ms. Sonne's application the MDC for TAM but couldn't find the time to post it on the web for non-insiders to see. What did they say in this workshop about why they scrapped MS. Sonne' more lively (presenting "lively" demonstrations is in the JREF mission statement, after all) and considerably more elegant test?
Votes: -8

No I don't believe in the woo. Funny post though.
I read Connie Sonne's website after I read about Banachekgate. The JREF had having a press conference about how it debunked a dowser. Debunkerina loves her a good debunking. So I started looking up this Conne Sonne character to see what brand of charlatan she was. I was disappointed. She's a good person who hears voices and is trying to save the world. I ended up admiring her. She's not "sad". I would have been crying my eyes out at that press conference. Connie Sonne is strong.


The JREF built Conne Sonne up like Carrie at the prom. Press conference?
I think the TAM goers were sold a bill of goods. She was presented as "Connie Sonne, dowser" and her biographical details left hazy. The test was badly designed and very boring. The only thing it proved is that he JREF is cavalier with its rules and standards. The value of the MDC was undermined.

When Connie Sonne reported her voices were now telling her she was cheated, the JREF encouraged its members to shake their heads sadly and call her a bad sport, etc. I fewer members would have done that if they knew more about Ms. Sonne.

This test was bad Karma. Votes: -7

I love a post that starts with "No I don't believe in the Woo." and ends with "This test was bad Karma." Votes: +3

Good point. I don't believe in Karma, in fact.
I was rather too obliquely referring to a Swift post written by Jeff Wagg (one of the testers) called "In Defense of Karma". He argue the world would be a better place if people used the golden rule and treated each other well. Votes: -4

The Captain's awesome. Is he really from Latvia (I would never have guessed).
Votes: +0

I don't think he is from Latvia.
What's the story behind the superhero being from Latvia? If it is not too long an explanation. Votes: +0

OK then! No love for debunkerina. Nobody likes a scold.
Until recently I was a huge JREF fan. I'm disappointed the best defense here is the fact that some of the relevant information was available to anyone who went to Las Vegas on a certain date and paid a $350 registration fee. That's not transparency. Translucence, sure.
I don't doubt if I asked the JREF for all the Connie Sonne materials, they would provide them. I think I'll even do that. I don't think they deliberately hid anything. This oversight worked in the JREFs favor, however. Labeling Ms. Sonne "dowser" and de-emphasizing her mental state make her a more defensible subject for a highly publicized demonstration of the MDC.
The claim that Connie Sonne's approval made this test legitimate is specious. Contracts require that all parties be "of sound mind". Too bad the JREF holds itself to a lower standard.

The applicant said she would dowse handwriting on upside down cardboard in front of ten people. Now we know that she cannot dowse for playing cards inside an envelop inside another envelop in front of hundreds of skeptics. Not convincing.
I watched Randi's proto-MDC "Exploring Psychic Powers Live". The demos were quick, visual and intuitive. I think one was a dowser. It was good TV. I needn't comment on the entertainment value of this test. I wish they would have tested the applicant who could make people go the bathroom just by looking at them instead. Then I'd still be a fan.

Ms. Sonne incurred the additional expenses of travel to Vegas at JREF's bequest and for the JREF's benefit. One might think the JREF, which grossed over a million dollars last year, might have comped her a ticket. Votes: -1

Yes, let's all cry for Connie (or whatever her name is), whom you are now calling a crazy person. Very nice. She didn't HAVE to schedule her MDC in Vegas, she CHOSE to. The JREF has coordinated MDCs in many different countries. You still can't seem to get over the fact that if she wasn't happy with the conditions she simply could have refused or re-negotiated.

But, since she's totally loopy, I guess we can't expect a sound decision from her. Should she have been allowed on an airplane with a security detachment? Votes: +0

Should have said "without" a security detachment. Votes: +0

I'm going to agree with debunkerina and take the 'vote down' clicks. To claim authority and maintain (or now perhaps, regain) the respect of perceived expertise, the JRF should, at the very least, BE and BE SEEN TO BE squeaky clean in testing protocols and for the sake of credibility separate the science from the scoffing. Votes: +2

We have two famous circus couples in Latvia, but none of them, to my knowledge, has a son of that age and being native-English speaking
So I conclude he just likes Latvia and knows, unlike many others, where it is Votes: +0

You can see more people disagree with me on the JREF MDC forum. I'm weirdl there. Votes: +0