From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: randi@randi.org
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2005 21:04:28 -0500
Subject: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
On your website, it states:
"The prize is in the form of negotiable bonds held in a special
investment account."
and
"At the formal test, in advance, an independent person will be placed
in charge of a personal check from James Randi for US$10,000. In the
event that the claimant is successful under the agreed terms and
conditions, that check shall be immediately surrendered to the
claimant, and within ten days the James Randi Educational Foundation
will pay to the claimant the remainder of the reward, for a total of
US$1,000,000. One million dollars in negotiable bonds is held by an
investment firm in New York, in the "James Randi Educational
Foundation Prize Account" as surety for the prize funds. Validation of
this account and its current status may be obtained by contacting the
Foundation by telephone, fax, or e-mail."
My questions surround the form the money is in, and how it will be
delivered. The $10,000 will be delivered in check, which means I will
have access to use it all once the check clears; is this correct? The
bonds I will not have access to, on the other hand... Where do the
bonds come from (what corporations issued the bonds), what are the
interest rates on the bonds, and when is the maturity date on the
bonds? I.e., When will I have access to the $1mil, and how much money
can I expect on a monthly basis generated from interest?
Thank you.
- Sean Connelly
From: James Randi <randi@randi.org>
Reply-To: randi@randi.org
To: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
Cc: kramer@randi.org
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 10:39:17 -0500
Subject: RE: 1million Challenge Questions
I know nothing about your personal financial situation, which would
dictate the answers to your questions...
James Randi.
From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: randi@randi.org
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 12:39:38 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
I'm unsure how my personal financial situation dictates how the money
will be delivered to me.
1. The $10,000 is delivered in the form of a check - this means once
the check is cashed, I will have access to the $10,000, correct?
2. I assume the bonds were issued by corporations or the government.
What corporations are backing up the bonds? It does me no good to
have $1mil in bonds that are backed up by companies that can't float
the bill.
3. A bond is a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or
discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to
raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until
maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal. I'm wondering
what the fixed annual sum is, and when the maturity is. This isn't
related to my personal financial situation - this is a question about
the agreement between you and the issuer. If the fixed annual sum is
$20, and the maturity date is 2080, then the bonds are worthless to
me.
I'm trying to evaluate if submitting an application would actually be
worth the effort.
Thanks for your time.
- Sean Connelly
From: James Randi <randi@randi.org>
Reply-To: randi@randi.org
To: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
Cc: kramer@randi.org
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:11:20 -0500
Subject: RE: 1million Challenge Questions
If that's your problem, I can't take the time to console you.
Apply, or go away.
James Randi.
From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: randi@randi.org
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:56:16 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
There is no problem, just a lack of understanding. You are the one
making the offer, so I want to be clear on what you are offering. I'm
not asking for consolation - I'm just asking for clarification. You
state that you are offering 1 million dollars, in the form of
negotiable bonds. It is a logical step to ask about the bonds. The
questions aren't aimed for consoling me, they are aimed at getting
more specific detail about the bonds. Who issued the bonds? What are
their annual fees/rates? And when is the maturity date? Anyone who
is serious about the challenge would ask these questions. I believe
they are fair questions, and relevant to the challenge.
- Sean Connelly
From: James Randi <randi@randi.org>
Reply-To: randi@randi.org
To: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
Cc: kramer@randi.org
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 18:00:23 -0500
Subject: RE: 1million Challenge Questions
Immediately convertible into money.
That's all I'm going to get involved in.
Apply, or disappear.
James Randi.
From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: randi@randi.org
Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2005 18:16:37 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I just want to be clear :-P.
Immediately convertiable into 1 million dollars USD?
Thanks for your patience.
- Sean Connelly
From: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Reply-To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
To: XXXX@XXXX.com
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 16:15:25 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
OK. Randi has directed me to correspond with you directly regarding your
inquiries into the JREF Challenge.
Please direct all future such correspondence with me, exclusively. Randi
will not respond to any further emails from you. I handle all
Challenge-related activities, so write to me here if you have more
questions.
-Kramer, JREF Paranormal Claims Dept.
From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 20:46:55 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
Randi said the negotiable bonds were "Immediately convertible into
money.". I'm trying to figure out the actual WORTH of the bonds.
Normal bonds are issued by corporations or the government, and have an
anual fee that the issuer will pay the person who owns the bonds, and
they have a maturity date for when the issuer is required to pay the
principal. For example, if the bonds principal totals to $1mil, but
they don't mature for another 40 years, then they're almost worthless
to me. So technically Randi COULD say the bonds are worth $1mil, but
in reality they are pretty worthless. However, I doubt that's the
case. I was trying to get some actual facts and numbers to work with.
I assume the $10,000 delivered in check can be immediately cashed.
I'm wondering who issued the bonds (what corporations), what the anual
fee is, and when the maturity date is. Like I said, I think these are
very relevant to the challenge. If my reward is a bunch of worthless
bonds, then it's pointless. Do you see my perspective?
Thanks for offering your help.
- Sean Connelly
From: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Reply-To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
To: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 17:25:33 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
So far, you're just full of shit. That's OUR perspective.
Apply or go away. We don't have to prove anything to you.
If you really have a claim, you'll apply.
More emails like this one and we'll just be convinced you're not serious
about the Challenge.
Let us know if you have any intention whatsoever of actually applying.
Otherwise, you can just stop these emails right now, as won't be responding
to any more of your diatribes about the prize fund.
-Kramer, JREF Paranormal Claims Dept.
From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 17:36:17 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
I don't understand what I did to make you angry. All I'm doing is
asking questions about the bonds. How am I full of shit? I haven't
CLAIMED anything, and I'm only asking questions. The definition of
what a "bond" is can be found on the internet. If I really have a
claim, and the bonds are worthless, why would I apply? I really don't
care whether you believe my claims or not, and I really don't care
whether I can convince you. I care about the money. Your
organization is offering the money, and your organization parades
around like it would be so easy for someone with real paranormal
abilities to get the money. What sort of attention did you expect? I
am asking about the bonds. This is a logical series of questions.
You are not offering 1 million cash - you are offering 1 million in
negotiable bonds. Who issued the bonds, what are the rates, and when
do they mature?
Usually the skeptic is suppose to wait until the crazy person actually
makes a paranormal claim before telling them they're full of shit.
I'm not talking about the paranormal - I'm talking about money.
- Sean Connelly
From: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Reply-To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
To: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 17:55:26 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Exactly. You haven't even submitted a claim. We don't even know what you do,
except that you're obsessed with the Million Dollars very existence. The
answers to all your questions about the bonds is this: NONE OF YOUR
BUSINESS. The Challenge states that One Million Dollars will be awarded to
anyone who proves the existence of paranormal phenomenon. That's all you
need to know. If you win and we don't pay, THEN complain. Until then, show
some respect for the Challenge and its assurances, and you'll begin to get
some respect from US in return, and maybe even some respect for your claim,
should you ever choose to submit one.
I'm not answering any more questions about the funds. APPLY, or go away.
-Kramer, JREF Paranormal Claims Dept.
From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2005 19:52:34 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
I would like to have respect for the Challenge and it's assurances,
except that I've researched the history of the Challenge, and the
skeptics of the Challenge bring up valid points. Randi is quick to
instruct others to read things carefully, think with a skeptical mind,
and research until all the facts are present. But once that same
level of scrutiny is focused on him, he immediately turns to insults
and ultimatums. Yes, I am skeptical if the money is accessable in
cash form. The same way you're skeptical if I can demonstrate
anything paranormal. The cure is to research and investigate - which
is what you are doing with JREF - and it's what I am doing by
e-mailing you and asking you questions.
With everything that JREF, Randi, and yourself have presented, it is
very possible that the bonds have very low rates, are backed up by
unstable corporations, and won't mature for another 40 years. If I
somehow won them, they could liquidate in a week, and I would be left
with LESS money. You have provided me with nothing to make me think
otherwise. Therefore, I am skeptical of YOUR claims. But "skeptical"
doesn't mean I secretly judge something, then front a public image to
make myself sound balanced. "Skeptical" means I investigate before
making a decision. So that's what I'm doing by asking questions about
the bonds. I'm investigating.
If this is a fair challenge, and you aren't hiding any tricks,
loopholes, or backdoors, then my request for information wouldn't be a
big deal. Instead you reply with "NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS", "You're
just full of shit", and "Apply or go away"... now what am I suppose to
think? Basically, you're telling me you won't divulge any information
until I sign my name on the very application I skeptical of.
YOU are offering the challenge. So I'm asking for clairification on
what YOU are offering. If you don't want this kind of attention, then
stop parading the challenge around publically and implying that it
proves paranormal phenomenon don't exist. I am open to the idea of
applying, but I refuse to apply if the bonds are worthless. I do not
know if the bonds are worthless or not. The only thing I have gotten
from these e-mails is that they are "convertiable to money", and that
I should have "respect for the Challenge and it's assurances".
You have an extraodinary claim that you will give $1mil to the person
who proves paranormal phenomenon exist. I am asking for some
extraodinary evidence to back that up. Is this not what you preach?
- Sean Connelly
From: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Reply-To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
To: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 09:44:30 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
You clearly have no intention of applying, and never did.
Goodbye.
-Kramer, JREF
From: XXXX <XXXX@XXXX.com>
To: Kramer <kramer@randi.org>
Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2005 16:20:03 -0500
Subject: Re: 1million Challenge Questions
Hello,
You have completely sidestepped my valid questions and points. Where
on your website does it say that only people with intention to apply
are allowed to ask questions about the Challenge? You are right, in a
sense: if the bonds are worthless, and the Challenge is unfair, then I
have no intention of applying.
My intentions of applying do not relate to the validity of the
questions I have asked. Do my questions not make sense? Is my line
of reasoning illogical? The burden of proof lies on the claimant -
YOU CLAIM to offer $1million dollars. So PROVE it.
- Sean Connelly