What's Up Column: Pseudo-science Jackpot

There are potential millionaires among us.
And I’m not speaking of the huddled masses elbowing each other to get to the 6/49 ticket window. I’m speaking of folks who may lay claim to possessing paranormal or psychic powers.
Now, I’m almost positive there are folks who have a deck of pretty coloured cards in a drawer somewhere, perhaps even a dusty Ouija board (right underneath Scattergories) in a closet. This naturally leads me to believe that some of these people who do own these esoteric items, might claim to be able to efficiently use them.
I’ve also personally seen the energy manipulation known as Reiki in action. Think of it as a modern laying on hands.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking any holistic arts, cause hey, who wouldn’t want a gentle aura stroke now and then. I’m just saying that I happen to know there are a lot of people in the Yukon who work and play in outside of the ordinary areas.
I’m also saying there’s a big cash prize out there waiting for those practitioners of the pseudo-science.
The James Randi Educational Foundation wants you to put money where your mantra is!
James Randi is a personal hero of mine. He was an accomplished illusionist who decided to use his legerdemain skills for a nobler purpose. Randi became a specialist (of sorts) in debunking people who claimed to have psychic powers.
One of my favourite Randi moments was on the Johnny Carson show. Johnny’s special guest that evening was Uri Geller. Uri Geller earned his celebrity striped most notably for his psychokinetic skills.
He bent spoons – with his mind. (Everybody needs a gimmick right?)
Geller was to appear on the show and do a few demonstrations of his incredible powers. Carson, a bit of a skeptic and amateur magician, consulted with Randi on how he should handle Geller’s appearance on his show. Randi’s only advice was to make sure all the tools that Geller would use for his demonstration be props that Carson’s people had selected, and to not let Geller’s people any where near the items. Perhaps not so shockingly, Geller told Carson he couldn’t perform, because he didn’t feel strong enough.
The whole thing is on YouTube.
Now, again, let me say I’m not trying to make light of anyone’s paranormal abilities. Whether they exist or not isn’t my point.
My point is that if you can prove they exist to the James Randi Educational Foundation, they’ll give you a million dollars.
Seriously.
The million dollar challenge has been around for a good while. And the rules for the challenge are fairly straightforward.
James Randi, through the JREF, will pay One Million Dollars (US even!) to any person who can demonstrate any psychic, supernatural or paranormal ability under satisfactory observing conditions.
These tests are designed through a third party, and are to be self-evident. As in, if you claim you can levitate – dust the ceiling fan while you’re up there.
Randi even allows you to negotiate not just what powers will be demonstrated, but also the limits of the demonstration and what will constitute a positive or negative result.
Sure doesn’t get more straightforward than that does it?
Well, the challenge hasn’t gone unanswered, but so far no one is a million dollars richer. Feel free to browse the applicant forums on the JREF website. It’s a morass of hilarity from people who claim to talk to the dead or others who engage in weather manipulation.
So Yukon, with all your dabblers in the mystic and arcane, who will step up to the challenge? The forms are on-line and the cheque is in the mail.