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From geller-hotline Sat Jan 12 1993 20:09:06
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 12 Jan 93 20:09:06 EST
Subject: Postponement
The February 2nd deposition of Mr. Geller that was to have taken place in
New York has been postponed by my lawyers due to other developments. The
possible sanctions to be awarded to CSICOP (the Committee was dismissed
from the case and was awarded the right to seek sanctions) are still not
decided upon, but are expected very soon. Now Mr. Geller has announced a
lawsuit against a newspaper in Budapest, Hungary, for having printed
comments he disagrees with. And so it goes.... JR
From geller-hotline Sat Feb 19 1993 00:53:02
From: ssr.com!geller-hotline
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 93 00:53 EST
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline@ssr.com>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: Geller's Whereabouts...(please help!)
Does anyone out there have any information on Uri Geller's location on
November 9th and 10th, 1992? I need verification of information I
already have. This is crucially needed information. I can use all the
help I can get on it, and if you can contact anyone who might know,
please do! *Please* send any info directly to the geller-hotline@ssr.com
address. Thanks.... JR
From geller-hotline Tue Feb 26 1993 19:32:33
Date: Fri, 26 Feb 93 19:32 EST
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: The Orange/Blue Dot
In September of 1992, it appeared that psychic superstar Uri Geller had
come up with a new gimmick to entrance newspaper readers: The Orange Dot.
It was referred to in the UK Daily Star as, "the magic dot created by Uri
Geller...[which] made readers dreams come true." This was available to
readers, said the newspaper, "simply by touching it." The response was
satisfactory indeed, with reports coming in to the "Powerline" telephone
number in London (at 60 to 77 cents per minute) of prizes won and all
sorts of other good things.
Was the Orange Dot a divine inspiration that came to Mr. Geller from his
favorite UFO (named "Intelligence in the Sky" or just IS, for short) or
did it simply spring from his fertile brain? Either is possible. But it
seems that the same powers that drive, inform and inspire Mr. Geller also
favor lesser lights in the psychic firmament. More than two years
previously, back in June of 1990, the National Enquirer, the USA's
favorite source of "creative" journalism, featured what has now become a
yearly attraction: The Blue Dot. This is a magical spot of which the
Enquirer says, "touching it could make your dreams come true." It is
"energized" by psychics Judy Hevenly [really!] and Laura Steele.
Admittedly, the "Orange Dot" is 2-7/8" in diameter, and the "Blue Dot" is
only 2-5/8" across. But the similarity in the two ideas seems quite
remarkable, and may be an example of synchronicity. Other solutions also
suggest themselves.
In any case, there are vivid imaginations working overtime on both sides
of the Atlantic. No, not on the part of the psychics. On the part of the
twits who actually believe that touching a colored dot will change their
lives. Now, I have an idea for a Black Spot. I think I'll call the
story, Treasure Island.... JR
From geller-hotline Fri Mar 22 1993 16:01:01
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 22 Mar 93 16:01:01 EST
Subject: News....
On March 16 in Federal Court for the District of Columbia, the Honorable
Stanley S. Harris ordered that Mr. Uri Geller must pay, by April 16th, the
sum of $106,433.97 to CSICOP, in satisfaction of CSICOP's action for
payment of fees and costs incurred as a result of Mr. Geller's suit
against James Randi & CSICOP.
Any fees and/or costs incurred by CSICOP in the period since their action
for satisfaction, that is, from June 30th, 1992, to the present, may also
be required of Mr. Geller. That might amount to several tens of thousands
of dollars more.
This order is of course of great interest to others involved in lawsuits
with Mr. Geller.
The scoreboard now stands:
Geller suit brought against Timex: Timex wins.
Geller suit #1 brought against James Randi: dismissed.
Geller suit #2 brought against James Randi: dismissed.
Geller suit #3 brought against James Randi & CSICOP: pending*.
Geller suit #4 brought against James Randi (Japan): pending.
Byrd suit brought against James Randi: trial date set for May 25.
* is the case referred to above.
JR
From geller-hotline Sat Mar 23 1993 11:03:38
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 23 Mar 93 11:03:38 EST
Subject: The Japanese case...
This morning I was notified by the media that a Japanese court has awarded
Geller Y500,000 as a result of his lawsuit there against me. That's
$4,310 (just 1/3 of one percent of what he demanded!) and I'm appealing
that decision, since I never had a chance to present my case to the court.
I responded to the summons last year by saying that I could not afford to
retain a Japanese lawyer, but I never heard ANYTHING from the system.
Then the media started calling this morning. No one, not Geller's
lawyers nor the court clerk there, have ever responded to me. Even now,
I only know of all this from the media.
Eppur si muove..... JR
From geller-hotline Sun Mar 24 1993 21:37:45
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 24 Mar 93 21:37:45 EST
Subject: Hungary
Geller had two libel cases against newspapers in Budapest. They were:
Esti Hirlap anf Nepszabadsag, dailies. They were ordered to pay a fine
of 2000 forints each, about $25. At this rate, Geller will never pay his
lawyers! More will follow. JR
From geller-hotline Tue Mar 26 1993 11:10:19
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 26 Mar 93 11:10:19 EST
Subject: A different view...
It just shows you what a little more data can do to the picture that has
been presented. Geller has now told the UK press of his resounding
victory in the Japanese libel case against me. In an interview -- which
fails to mention the amount of the damages he was awarded by the court --
he says, "the amount was not important." Well, for a multimillionaire
(which Geller, under oath during deposition, has claimed he is) I guess
he's right. But there's something else that was not mentioned by him,
either: the court in Japan DISMISSED THE LIBEL SUIT BROUGHT BY GELLER,
but found that in Japanese law a tort existed concerning "insult," a
concept not found in US law. It was the insult for which they awarded
Geller the money.
One wonders if Mr. Geller will choose to tell the UK press about the $25
award given him in Hungary following the suit against the newspapers
there? I guess not, After all, the amount is not important, is it?
Life sure is interesting....... JR
From geller-hotline Fri Apr 5 1993 00:30:30
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 05 Apr 93 00:30:30 EDT
Subject: The latest claim from Geller
The incredible Uri Geller never ceases to further stretch the gullibility
of his devoted fans. Last week's edition of "Psychic News" in the UK
chortled over the "justice and vindication" granted the "leading Israeli
psychic" by a Tokyo court, along with the "awarded damages." Unmentioned
was the embarrassing amount of that award, and the even more devastating
fact that an Hungarian court awarded Geller just $25 in a similar case he
brought in that country. Nor did Psychic News regale its readers with
the $106,000+ that Geller must pay CSICOP by the 15th of this month.
Can't wait to announce the result of that adventure.
What really boggles the mind, however, among all the misleading and simply
wrong details in the Psychic News story, is the claim by Geller that he
"now believes he has found . . . the Holy Ark of the Covenant." I suggest
that Geller has been watching too many Harrison Ford films of late.
The Psychic News story quoted Geller as hoping that "last month's verdict
in his favour would be the first in a series of such judgements which
would `set the record straight.'" He can believe me when I say that I,
too, want to set the record straight. We just have different notions
about "straight."
Will there ever be a claim preposterous enough to dismay Geller's
disciples? No, though he's trying hard for that goal. There was the
flying saucer named "IS," the giant Hawk-god Horus who spoke English,
bringing the astronaut's camera back from the moon, stopping Big Ben,
repairing Russian satellites by psychokinesis, and now he's bringing us
the Holy Ark of the Covenant. I ask you, where would we be without him?
JR
From geller-hotline Mon Apr 15 1993 09:29:52
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 15 Apr 93 09:29:52 EDT
Subject: Geller takes another hit....
In a libel case brought by Mr. Uri Geller against Prometheus Books,
author Victor Stenger and Paul Kurtz, a decision has been made.
Yesterday, Judge Ursula Ungaro-Benages ruled that:
Defendant's motion for sanctions . . . is granted and
plaintiff [Geller] shall pay the reasonable costs and
attorney's fees incurred by defendants Victor J. Stenger
and Prometheus Books . . .
All claims against all defendants have been dismissed.
The "reasonable costs and attorney's fees" are not yet announced, but will
be in five figures.
Meanwhile, today is the day by which Mr. Geller was to have paid CSICOP the
six-figure costs of their defence in the other case. He has filed a motion
for "reconsideration" of that action.
I have suggested to the UK press, concerning Mr. Geller's announcement
that he has found the Holy Ark of the Covenant, that he should be told
that Steven Spielberg is not a documentary film producer, and Harrison
Ford is not really an archaeologist. Our aim is always to educate and
inform.
JR
From geller-hotline Mon Apr 29 1993 00:15:34
Date: Thu, 29 Apr 93 00:15 EDT
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: The latest on Geller....
I've heard today from Gerard Majax, a magician colleague of mine in
France, who was sued by Mr. Geller for comments Majax made in his latest
book. In what seems to be more or less a habit with Mr. Geller, he
brought the action beyond the statute of limitations -- in other words,
too late. Now we will sit back and see what M. Majax's lawyers will do
in light of this latest performance. Under French law, bringing a case
in this manner can be the cause for serious counter-attacks. One might
almost suspect that all these actions are being brought just too late to
be able to win them, but to still harrass the defendants with legal
costs.... One wonders.... I'm off to Switzerland, where further
interesting news awaits me. JR
From geller-hotline Mon May 31 1993 23:56:24
Date: Mon, 31 May 93 23:56 EDT
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: Update on trial
Hi all... I'm in Baltimore and briefly reporting on how it's going.
I've been on trial in Baltimore in the Byrd case, going into the
eighth day at 10 tomorrow morning. The matter is expected to be in
the hands of the jury Wednesday, with a verdict hoped for that same
day.
It has been going, I believe, very well. Though with a jury verdict
one never knows for sure what might occur, I am very confident. I've
called some very effective witnesses, and I think the jury has been
attentive. Ideally, I can win a total victory, or any one of several
combinations of decisions. By the end of the session on Wednesday, I
hope to able to inform you that all is well and the enemy is routed.
We'll see....
Along the way, some VERY interesting and previously unsuspected
information has been developed, coming from various sources. You will
all be notified of this new data in due time.
Believe me, life in a courtroom is not at all real, nor is it what
Perry Mason fans believe it to be. I don't much care for it, and it's
not something I'd look forward to again. But, the battle is yet to be
won.
Stay tuned...... JR
From geller-hotline Fri Jun 4 1993 18:34:00
Date: Fri, 4 Jun 93 18:34 EDT
Sender: Scott Ballantyne <sdb>
From: Scott Ballantyne <owner-geller-hotline@ssr.com>
Sender: sdb
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: Verdict in Byrd Case
This afternoon, June 4 the Jury returned a verdict on the Byrd case.
They found for CSICOP but against Randi. Byrd received $0.00 damages.
In a way this is the best possible decision, since my understanding is
that this blocks further appeals by Byrd, and so Randi doesn't have to
worry about mounting the expense and stress.
This is all third hand (reported by a friend on the scene in
Baltimore), and I'm sure Randi will have more to say when he recovers
from the ordeal, but I wanted to let everyone on this list know the
good news as soon as possible.
Thanks again for all your interest and support,
Scott
--
owner-geller-hotline@ssr.com
From geller-hotline Sun Jun 5 1993 20:11:46
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 05 Jun 93 20:11:46 EDT
Subject: Baltimore Trial....
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. June 4, 1993.
A federal jury today exonerated James Randi from
claims made by parapsychologist Eldon Byrd for more than
thirty millions of dollars in damages. Byrd had claimed
injuries to his reputation and community standing,
humiliation, mental anguish and suffering. The suit
stemmed from statements made by Mr. Randi in response to
a heckler at a 1988 meeting of the New York Skeptics, and
in an interview published in the now-defunct Twilight
Zone Magazine.
Though the jury of thirteen found that Mr. Randi's
statements regarding Mr. Byrd were defamatory, they
emphatically declined to award Mr. Byrd any compensation
whatsoever.
Testimony adduced at the trial revealed that, in
fact, Mr. Byrd had not been convicted of the crime of
child molestation as suggested by Mr. Randi, but instead
had been arrested for possession with intent to
distribute obscene materials involving children, and had
pled guilty to a reduced charge of possession with intent
to distribute obscene materials.
In addition, Byrd admitted during the eleven-day trial
in Baltimore Federal court to having had a sexual
relationship with a minor of whom he was legal guardian.
Testimony also revealed that Mr. Byrd was a long-time
associate of Uri Geller, a self-proclaimed "psychic" now
living in England. In 1975, Mr. Randi wrote a book in
which he showed that scientific tests of Mr. Geller's
"psychic abilities" were not done as originally reported,
and that Geller's claims were thus unproven.
Mr. Geller has also brought several suits against Mr.
Randi, one of which is still outstanding.
James Randi is the author of nine books, the latest
being "Conjuring," a comprehensive history of the art of
magic. His other books deal mostly with paranormal,
supernatural and occult subjects, of which he is today's
leading critic.
------------------------------
** FOR YOUR REFERENCE **
Requests to be added to or deleted from the geller-hotline mailing
list must be sent to:
geller-hotline-request@ssr.com
Comments to Randi or other parties should be sent to:
geller-hotline@ssr.com
Mail to this address is not echoed.
From geller-hotline Wed Jul 21 1993 03:45:00
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 93 03:45 EDT
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: The Geller Saga goes on....
I've been informed that the publishing house in Japan that Mr. Geller
sued has settled out-of-court, for an "undisclosed" amount of money.
If it's anything like the other amounts he's been "winning," I don't
think he can retire yet. The RAI TV network in Italy has every reason
to believe that Mr. Geller does not have a case against them for
giving me a copy of one of the more "evidential" videotapes of
Mr. Geller's performance there. (Mind you, that's what HE is claiming
they did. Who knows what really happened? Also, the designation
"evidential" is not Mr. Geller's description of the videotape. Just
so we understand.) In Switzerland, I managed to obtain some archival
video footage showing VERY interesting close-ups of some spoons BEFORE
Mr. Geller is supposed to ever have touched them. The European TV
system (known as PAL) has much higher definition than the US system,
and, gee! that material is REAL interesting! I just got back from
Australia and New Zealand, where some more very interesting material
came up. I must thank my many friends in all these places and on the
hotline list for going out of their ways to dig up the material I
need. I don't know when the next notice will go out to geller-hotline,
but following September 2nd there should be a really interesting one.
Stay tuned!
JR
From geller-hotline Sun Jul 28 1993 14:06:06
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 28 Jul 93 14:06:06 EDT
Subject: Court order....
July 28, 1993.
A court order has just been issued in Washington today regarding the
"Appeal for Reconsideration" made by Mr. Geller against the $106,000 he
was ordered to pay CSICOP. The appeal was refused, and an additional
$43,000 was added to the sanction. JR
From geller-hotline Wed Jul 31 1993 19:06:30
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 31 Jul 93 19:06:30 EDT
Subject: Promises, promises.....
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller was asked by NASA to use his psychic powers to
open a jammed antenna on the Galileo spacecraft.
FACT: When contacted, NASA replied that they'd never heard of Mr.
Geller, had not asked him anything, and that the antenna was already
working.
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller originated the clever scheme of printing a
"charmed" colored dot on a newspaper page so that the Faithful could touch
it and be blessed with good luck, riches, healing or whatever.
FACT: Two elderly California ladies who also profess psychic powers
came up with the idea years before Mr. Geller did, and used it in the
National Enquirer, that paragon of journalistic virtue and accuracy.
(Admittedly, their dot was blue, while Mr. Geller's is orange. That may
make all the difference.....)
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller has participated in an alchemical experiment in
which base metal was turned into gold.
FACT: The base metal stayed base. Besides, if the miracle had worked,
would not Mr. Geller now be busily turning out gold bricks in great
number?
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller has found the Holy Lost Ark of the Covenant.
FACT: A confusion probably arising from the fact that Steven Spielberg
is often mistaken for a documentary film maker. Also, Harrison Ford is
not REALLY an archaeologist; he's just an actor who puts on makeup and
plays the part.
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller was asked to beam good thoughts at Gorbachov
during a Soviet/West conference.
FACT: I wouldn't be at all surprised that he was asked, knowing how
bright some folks are. However, the USSR just folded up due to other
causes, an event not foreseen by Mr. Geller or by any other "psychic."
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller was paid one million pounds sterling "up front,"
non-refundable, by eleven mining companies, to find gold and oil for them
by psychic means.
FACT: Not so. Only one company paid anything, and that was far from a
million pounds. Nothing was found but sand. The company is not happy
with that result.
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller invented two devices, one to detect counterfeit
money and another to detect if a diamond is real or not.
FACT: Not so. The counterfeit detector has been around a long time and
does not work, the diamond idea uses a principle known long before Mr.
Geller was born.
CLAIM: That Mr. Geller stopped Big Ben (actually, Tower Clock) by his
mental powers.
FACTS: (a) That clock stops about twice a year, anyway.
(b) Mr. Geller only announced the miracle AFTER it stopped.
(c) Mr. Geller had been promising to do this wonder for some
twenty years.
CLAIM: Mr. Geller promised that he would bring back from the moon, by
his powers, a camera left there by astronauts.
FACT: The camera is still there, more than 20 years after the promise.
CLAIM: Mr. Geller has said that he will find Lassiter's Reef, a lost gold
lode in Australia.
FACT: Lassiter's Reef is still lost.
CLAIM: Mr. Geller has said that his psychic powers enable him to know
that he will win his present lawsuit against James Randi.
FACT: I'm waiting......
------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are eleven claims made by Mr. Uri Geller. When, oh when, are we
going to see these wonders? Surely just ONE of them will come to pass?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
** FOR YOUR REFERENCE **
Requests to be added to or deleted from the geller-hotline mailing
list must be sent to:
geller-hotline-request@ssr.com
Comments to Randi or other parties should be sent to:
geller-hotline@ssr.com
Mail to this address is not echoed.
From geller-hotline Sun Aug 4 1993 08:43:27
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 04 Aug 93 08:43:27 EDT
Subject: Oooops!
Re the first statement in "Promises, Promises," I've received a number of
welcome corrections. My information came through a 1-800 NASA information
number, where the lady who answered me was literally in hysterics when I
asked if Mr. Geller had been asked to free the High Gain Antenna on the
Galileo space craft. The facts are that (a) the HGA is still jammed,
though REAL efforts are being applied to try unsticking it, (b) the LGA
(Low Gain Antenna) is working well, and some 70% of the originally planned
projects can still be accomplished by Galileo, (c) I was not completely
informed by the information person. My apologies for the error.
The fact remains that Mr. Geller was NOT asked by NASA to use his wondrous
powers to help them. That was my original point, among many.
NEW POINTS: correspondents have reminded me of other promises made by Mr.
Geller. Here are just a few.....
CLAIM: In 1988, Mr. Geller said he would launch a Health Cosmetic line, a
perfume called, "Uri" (with a real crystal in the bottle! Wow!) and a
fast-food restaurant chain.
FACT: We don't have healthy cosmetics, Uri perfume (avec or sans crystal)
or Uriburgers. Not yet.
CLAIM: He said that he has a leisure wear clothing company that makes
"about $20 million a year," and he expects it to grow to "about $100
million a year."
FACT: Mr. Geller may very well have such a company going. However, it
does not show up anywhere I've looked.
CLAIM: Mr. Geller says that with the use of his "powers" he has "destroyed
cancer cells" for scientists.
FACT: This accomplishment is unknown to cancer researchers.
CLAIM: The South Korean government gave him $10,000,000 "to locate
tunnels."
FACT: The South Korean government is unaware of having paid Mr. Geller for
anything, let alone finding tunnels.
CLAIM: A Japanese company gave him $1,000,000 to find gold in Brazil.
FACT: This may be true. No evidence has been offered.
And on it goes..... JR
From geller-hotline Tue Aug 6 1993 14:49:09
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 06 Aug 93 14:49:09 EDT
Subject: Yet more!
I've just been informed that Geller, at a press conference, has announced
that he is going to try to alter the AIDS virus! Wow! How can we stand
the suspense? I hope this wonder is accomplished a little faster than the
others.....
Joke from Karl Sabbagh in the UK, which I could not resist passing on:
Did you hear about the homeopathy patient who forgot
to take his medicine -- and died of an overdose?
That made my day, and I hope it makes yours.
The James Randi Fund, formerly run from El Cerrito, California, will now
be managed by:
Mr. K. Lewis
142 West 49th Street, Suite 12H
New York City, NY 10019.
This office has volunteered to do the book-keeping on the Fund. I'm very
grateful for this participation. The James Randi Fund was set up to
accept contributions to cover the legal costs incurred in fighting the
suits brought by Uri Geller and others. Contributions are still sought in
these final months of the battle. Victory is in sight, and the credit is
due to those who have supported us financially, with needed information,
and by welcome legal advice -- here in the USA and abroad. So far, it has
been a steady stream of wins for us, the opposition being subjected to
sanctions that increase every day. Without the help of you good folks out
there, we could not have done it. But, though we win the battles, the war
is not yet won. Please stick with us in this, and we'll have a resounding
victory to celebrate.
JR
------------------------------
** FOR YOUR REFERENCE **
Requests to be added to or deleted from the geller-hotline mailing
list must be sent to:
geller-hotline-request@ssr.com
Comments to Randi or other parties should be sent to:
geller-hotline@ssr.com
From geller-hotline Thu Aug 8 1993 18:18:01
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 08 Aug 93 18:18:01 EDT
Subject: Ooops #2...
Now I'm told that Mr. Geller announced his intention of trying to alter
the AIDS virus with his psychic powers, it was during a 1987 press
conference. I'd had the impression that it was just recently. I have not
yet heard the results of this noble, humanitarian project.
To those who have reminded me of yet other announced intentions of psychic
breakthroughs, my thanks. Some I can use, others I cannot. As usual,
stay tuned.... JR
From geller-hotline Fri Aug 9 1993 09:20:57
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 09 Aug 93 09:20:57 EDT
Subject: Crop Circles.......?
If any of you folks saw the irresponsible "Crop Circles" program on PBS
last night (the 8th) and had the same opinion of it as I did, I urge you
to write WGBH Boston (125 Western Avenue, Boston MA, 02134) and make your
thoughts known. The Australian-produced show (1992) ignored all the
presently-known facts about this colossal practical joke, and presented a
quite false picture of the validity of dowsing and the other claptrap that
went along with it. WGBH will react to such letters, and yours can make a
difference. When NOVA presented a very careless show, "The Case of ESP,"
a few years back, heads rolled when concerned viewers complained. That
show was the single most objected-to in the history of the program. But,
unless you put in your complaints, they won't know of them, so I urge you
to drop them your comments.
Things continue well, and September approacheth apace.
Justice, though moving with tardy pace,
has seldom failed in overtaking the wicked
in their flight.
Horace (65 BC - 8 BC)
Anon..... JR
From geller-hotline Sat Aug 10 1993 19:14:15
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 10 Aug 93 19:14:15 EDT
Subject: A better direction....
Hello again. A better direction for any complaints you might have re the
"Crop Circles" show shown Sunday night on PBS, would be PBS itself. You
can write them at: Public Broadcasting Service
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, VA 22314-1649
It seems that individual stations have the option of choosing some of
their programs, so that the "Crop Circles" show might have been the unwise
choice of just a few of them.
Life is complicated..... JR
From geller-hotline Thu Aug 15 1993 16:17:36
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 15 Aug 93 16:17:36 EDT
Subject: Re the Geller books....
Several requests have come through for information relating to my books.
"Flim-Flam!", "The Faith Healers", "The Mask of Nostradamus" (that last
one hard cover) and "The Truth About Uri Geller" are available. If
you're interested, contact me, though I suggest that your local bookstore
can readily supply any of those for you upon request. The latest,
"Conjuring" is only available through bookstores. JR
From geller-hotline Tue Aug 20 1993 12:19:08
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 20 Aug 93 12:19:08 EDT
Subject: Notice.....
The man who calls himself, "Riley G." and claims to be an ex-police
officer (though there's no evidence of that whatsoever) has been rather
carelessly accepting various false claims about me, and distributing them
on e-mail. I urge all those who have seen these postings, to carefully
consider the source and to await the facts. The falsity of some of these
claims had already been demonstrated, but "Riley" chooses not to tell you
about all that. Frankly, I'll not spend much time spinning my wheels
refuting daily his rantings, because I have a real life to live, too.
Apparently he doesn't.
"Riley" (not his real name) is very exuberent over his revelations, but
not at all correct. (For a former policeman, this seems strange!)
Eventually, the facts will "out" and I invite you to be patient. It's
very easy to blacken a reputation with lies, and that has been done
a-plenty in my direction. When they can't successfully attack your work,
they try to destroy you by other means.
The bottom line is that, as has been pointed out, any monstrous, secret
life of mine has nothing at all to do with whether my findings on
"psychic" matters are correct. And, folks, I'm not a monster. Honest!
(I wonder if Riley has picked up the manila package from Kansas City?)
JR
From geller-hotline Tue Aug 27 1993 10:15:20
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 27 Aug 93 10:15:20 EDT
Subject: More wonders....
Wow! The Mars Observer is safe at last! Heavy psychics are on the job,
folks! "Riley G" (he who bats 0 for 6) has announced that he and his
buddy Uri Geller are willing to go to NASA headquarters and solve The
Problem of the Lost Probe. That is, of course, if they're invited by
NASA. The last time we heard a claim that NASA was clamoring for psychic
help, the Information Officer there was convulsed in glee when asked
about the possibility.
This exciting news flash tells us that ". . . both Uri and "Riley" are
presently trying to locate the source of the jamming." What a relief! I
was real worried about losing the Observer, but of course we can all
relax now. Whew! Talk about close calls!
According to this "Immediate Release" (wouldn't want the world to be kept
ignorant of this great news any longer than necessary!) there are "Two
(2) psychics . . . busy doing their own mind probes" on the problem, so I
just KNOW that the Observer will be safe. Maybe within two (2) days,
even! Or, knowing how capricious these remarkable powers are, maybe not
for two hundred (200) years......
And to think that "Riley" and his chum can do this important work "from
their homes"! Will wonders never cease?
To quote the divine Hooker:
Hope beginneth here with a trembling expectation
of things far removed, and as yet but only heard of.
I can't wait..... JR
From geller-hotline Wed Aug 28 1993 11:05:12
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 28 Aug 93 11:05:12 EDT
Subject: Danger!!!
There has been talk that the Mars Observer failed because the Martians
shot it down! Now, with "Riley" and his assistant attempting to remedy
this situation by psychic intervention, are we not in imminent danger of
interplanetary war? Have the psychics really thought this all out? Can
we allow them to meddle with cosmic relationships like this? I mean, if
they want to make minor predictions about Liz Taylor's next marriage,
school-board election scandals or an earthquake in California soon (I
think that one's right on the money!) that's not really interfering with
the rest of us. The coo-coo segment can fret and gasp over those boring
items. But fiddling about with the Martians? Death rays and other icky
stuff is sure to be the inescapable result.
I'm worried, folks. This has gone too far!
JR
From geller-hotline Sat Sep 14 1993 20:19:19
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 14 Sep 93 20:19:19 EDT
Subject: Geller news and more.
I'm told that Mr. Geller has put in an appeal against the court ruling
that he must pay just under $150,000 to CSICOP. Who knows how long that
will take to be decided? These legal matters go on forever, it seems.
My Encyclopedia has gone off to the publisher, all 100,000 words of it.
The court in Baltimore has ruled that the material of that blackmail
mailing that has been such a pain to me, is NOT "public domain." There
were a couple of squirrels out there who were anxious to start mailing
more of that material out, but now it's a no-no to do so. Sad folks,
indeed. Either too rich or too stupid to get real lives.....
Thanks to those of you who knew who "the divine Hooker" was and who thus
appreciated the quote. For those of you who asked, 1804-1857, Vermont.
Only one recipient made the expected corny "hooker" reference, but he's
not terribly swift anyway. I can get him on EVERYTHING. Never fails to
fall for it.....
Lots of appearances to plug the NOVA show, due on PBS October 19th.
Moves are on in the UK, I'm told, to have the BBC not broadcast it. To
no avail, as you would expect. The BBC is not easily intimidated.
Question: do any of you folks know the year that Martin Johnson, the
retired Swedish parapsychologist who worked in Holland, was born? Is he
still alive? And, whatever happened to the Maharaj Ji, the tubby guru of
the Divine Light Missions? After 1975, I don't find him written up
anywhere.....
My best to all..... JR
From geller-hotline Fri Sep 20 1993 11:44:35
From: uhhepg.phys.hawaii.edu!vjs
Apparently-From: Victor Stenger <vjs@uhhepg.phys.hawaii.edu>
Apparently-To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 20 Sep 1993 11:44:35 -1000 (HST)
Subject: Another Geller lawsuit: Geller v. Stenger
This is a report on the lawsuits by Uri Geller against me.
Suits were filed in London in February, 1992, in Miami in April in 1992,
and in Honolulu, in November 1992. All three suits are narrowly focused on
the following sentence from p. 188 of my book "Physics and Psychics: The
Search for a World Beyond the Senses" published by Prometheus Books in March,
1990:
"He began his career as a stage magician in Israel where he was once
arrested for claiming his feats were performed with psychic power"
Geller raises no objection to my descriptions of the various "scientific"
tests of his powers, which were highly skeptical.
The incident in question happened in Beersheba in 1971. While writing my
book, I had read Randi's "Magic of Uri Geller," Paul Kurtz's "Transcendental
Temptation," and C.E.M. Hansel's "ESP and Parapsychology." The first two
referred to the incident with the identical phrase about Geller being "brought
to court." Hansel refers to Geller being found "guilty of breach of
contract."
The suit in London included Prometheus and their local distributors as co-
defendants. The Miami suit included Prometheus and Paul Kurtz as co-
defendants. The Hawaii suit is against me alone.
After the suits were filed, the publisher made inquiries in Israel which
indicated that the incident appeared to have been a civil rather than criminal
case. With my agreement, they inserted an erratum in the unsold copies and
corrected the above sentence in a new printing to read:
"He began his career as a stage magician in Israel where he was once
successfully sued for claiming his feats were performed with psychic power"
My position is that I made an unintended factual error in misinterpreting
the words "brought to court" and "guilty" as "arrested," and that this was
done without malice or reckless disregard for the truth. Note that the error
was mine alone, and not that of Randi, Kurtz, or Hansel. Further, my
publisher and I are interested in the truth and would have made the above
change if the error had been pointed out to us by a simple letter, without the
need for costly lawsuits.
Fortunately the faculty of the University of Hawaii is unionized and as a
member of the union I am also a member of the National Education Association
which provides free Educators Employment Liability Insurance to its members.
The insurance company, Horace Mann, has agreed to provide my legal expenses in
this case, taking the word of my department chair, dean, the University of
Hawaii Vice president for Academic Affairs that writing a book of this nature
was in keeping with the Board of Regents expectations for the activities of
faculty members.
The current status is as follows:
Miami. Geller asked for a voluntary dismissal with prejudice against Paul
Kurtz and without prejudice against me. The judge agreed, however ruled that
Geller must pay my attorneys' fees from the point in March, 1993, when he had
documentary evidence that the book was sold in Florida in March, 1990, and
thus the suit, filed in April, 1992, was barred by the Statute of Limitations.
Geller's attorneys had vigorously pursued the suit after they were aware that
the suit was time-barred. The amount has not been set, but should be at least
$15,000.
Hawaii. My attorneys will shortly move for dismissal on grounds of the
Statute of Limitations and the First Amendment right of free speech. Here
Geller, as a public figure, has the burden of proof of proving malice and
reckless disregard for the truth.
London: Unfortunately, England does not have a First Amendment and it is
possible, though not yet so ruled, that the word "arrested" is capable of
being defamatory. The fact that Ghandi, Martin Luther King, and Jesus Christ
were all once arrested does not automatically deny the possibility of a legal
interpretation that Geller was harmed by my saying he was arrested, though I
claim that he was not and expect a court would so rule. Note that I did not
mention, in the original wording, that he did have a ruling against him in the
case. He could have been innocent, for all my readers knew.
Since Geller lives in London, my attorney there is attempting to
negotiate a global settlement. Geller has offered a global settlement where
we pay his London costs and he pays none of the judgments against him in the
U.S., including the $150,000 that he must pay CSICOP in the D.C. case. Of
course, that has nothing to do with me and my attorneys cannot negotiate
anything concerning that case. We have rejected his offer, and made a counter
that I should probably not reveal at this time.
Stay tuned.
Vic Stenger
Professor of Physics, University of Hawaii at Manoa
From geller-hotline Mon Oct 21 1993 11:28:08
From: James Randi --- WIzard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 21 Oct 93 11:28:08 EDT
Subject: Geller in Australia
When Erich von Daniken (author of "Chariots of the Gods?" and other such
trashy but highly successful stuff) visited Australia a few years ago,
his promoter rented out a huge hall, advertised his appearance there,
then suddenly announced that illness in von Daniken's family had called
him back home, and the appearance was cancelled. Very few tickets had
been sold, and the theory was offered that when certain artists showed up
in Australia, someone in their family would fall ill just before the show.
Just this last week, the Curse of Down Under seemed to have taken effect
once more. Uri Geller showed up prepared to display his wonders in
Melbourne. A sizeable hall was rented, and while Mr. Geller ranted to
the press about how he was going to sue (again?!) someone in Melbourne
who had made unsatisfactory remarks about him, the Saturday and Sunday
show tickets went on sale. Lo! The producer of the show regretfully
announced that Mr. Geller's party (including a rough-looking biker named
"Riley") had to rush back home without making the appearance -- due to a
sudden illness in the family.
The NOVA program was a great success. The ratings were far beyond
anything WGBH-Boston expected, especially in the middle of a World Series
game. (Rating:5, Share:8) Calls have not stopped since the program.
The program that followed, "Front Line," dealt with this bullpoop of
"facilitated communication" as a means of helping autistic children. It
was VERY effective, and I highly recommend it.
I'll be on "Politically Incorrect", a program on Comedy Central cable
TV channel, soon. No date announced, but I'm taping it Friday night.
Watch for it.
James Randi.
From geller-hotline Fri Nov 1 1993 17:11:28
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 01 Nov 93 17:11:28 EST
Subject: They're busy, busy, busy!
Well, the scallywags are at it again! Dismayed by the success of the NOVA
program, the sleazy little folks who have been attacking my character (but
not my work...!) organized the expected barrage of hate-mail and sent it
off to the sponsors (funders) of NOVA, bad-mouthing me, CSICOP, the whole
skeptical movement in general, and in effect, anyone who would DARE to
think independently. Lockheed, Johnson & Johnson, PBS, WGBH -- anyone
that the scurrilous rascals could get to, were got to.
Sorta sad, really. With nothing better to do, these shadowy dwarfs peck
out the badly-spelled, grammatically-naive, nasty stuff and fire it off
in all directions. I'd alerted everyone to the fact that this was bound
to happen (as it does with all my major appearances) so they were
prepared. Hey, go get yourselves a life/lives!
Bottom line: more conferences with WGBH about future projects.
Off to Europe to fight the good fight. Many bad guys to confront there,
as usual, and lots of help doing it.
Up and awaaaaaay! JR
From geller-hotline Thu Nov 14 1993 14:24:00
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 93 14:24 EST
From: Scott Ballantyne <owner-geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: Another decision goes against Geller!
Geller loses another one - this time to Victor Stenger and the courts
in Hawaii! The motion to dismiss the lawsuit against Victor Stenger, a
leading skeptic and physicist over one sentence in his book "Physics
and Psychics: The Search for a World Beyond the Senses" has been
approved by the Court.
This is the second of three actions brought by Geller against Stenger
to be dismissed. An earlier suit in Miami resulted in a ruling that
Geller had to pay Stenger's legal fees. A case in London, England is
still pending. All three suits concern the same sentence in the same
book. Only the geographical location is different.
From geller-hotline Sun Nov 14 1993 18:58:00
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 93 18:58 EST
From: Victor Stenger <vjs@uhhepb.phys.hawaii.edu>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: Exhibit I from Geller vs. Stenger
Errors-To: owner-geller-hotline@ssr.com
The following letter is included as Exhibit I in the public
record of the now-dismissed lawsuit of Uri Geller against Victor
Stenger in Hawaii. I am sure you will find it amusing. I don't
know who "Franklin" is.
Vic Stenger
-------------------- Begin Enclosure ----------------------------
Center for Anomalies Research
P.O. Box 1052
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48016
>From Marcello Truzzi, Ph.D.
To Uri Geller Oct. 18, 1991
Dear Uri,
Enclosed are some pages from Prometheus books which refer to
either your being a fraud or your alleged arrest in Israel.
Relevant stuff is highlighted.
Uri, I think you may have some serious problems with suing over
the issue of fraud, even in England. First of all, there is a
fundamental difference between commiting (sic) a fraud and being
a fraud. As I see it, saying you have committed a fraud might be
actionabale (sic). That would be indicating that you have
committed a criminal act, fraud. But to say you personally are a
fraud is something quite different. This does not say you have
defrauded anyone in the legal sense, merely that you are
misrepresenting yourself in some way that many have no
criminality attached to it at all (just as Randi has frequently
called himself a fraud).
A second problem exists. (1) You were frequently called a fraud
by many writers for many years and never sought legal action
about it. I enclose as one prime example a copy of a _NT Times_
article calling you a fraud in the article headline. (2) In your
book with Playfair, you actually thank your critics like Randi
for their attacks on you (presumably as a fraud). This is an
admission by you that you seemed to actually welcome such attacks
for their publicity value. It could be argued that this was
actually an encouragement for your critics to attack you along
those lines with impunity. I enclose a copy of the page from
your book to which I refer.
Meanwhile, I will continue to see what I can learn further about
when Randi visited with Franklin. I find in a letter I have from
Ray Hyman (dated Dec. 21, 1976) that he just came back from
Buffalo where he with Randi and Franklin (who flew in there)
appeared together on a TV program. That is apparently the time
when Randi and Franklin were together. Apparently, Randi greatly
impressed Franklin with his recreations of your effects, but the
result seems to have been not that Franklin was disennchanted
(sic) with your abilities. Instead, he seem to conclude that
Randi was actually psychic, too!
Best,
Marcello Truzzi
-------------------- End Enclosure ------------------------------
From geller-hotline Mon Nov 15 1993 17:33:00
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 93 17:33 EST
From: "V. STENGER, UNIV. OF HAWAII HEP" <uunet!uhhepg.phys.hawaii.edu!VJS>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Subject: Geller loses more money - this time in Miami suit!
A week after a Hawaii State judge dismissed the suit of Uri Geller againt
Victor Stenger for a passage in *Physics and Psychics*, Geller has lost
again. The federal judge in the Miami suit against Stenger for the same
passage, previously dismissed at Geller's request, has awarded Stenger $49,148
for legal expenses incurred after Geller knew the suit was time-barred.
This brings the total to approoximately $200,000 that Geller now has in
judgments against him in his lawsuits againts skeptics.
From owner-geller-hotline Thu Dec 5 1993 18:24:37
From: James Randi --- Wizard <geller-hotline>
To: broadcast-geller-hotline
Date: 05 Dec 93 18:24:37 EST
Subject: Latest on Geller
I'm back from Europe. Good audiences, helped the skeptical cause a lot,
and learned a few new things about A Major Psychic. More about that when
the time comes.
I've just been told of a really clever bit apparently thought up by the
strange person "Riley" for Geller's use. Seems that "Riley" is offering
a service through Geller whereby a wealthy client (one who fears being
kidnapped for ransom) will cough up $300,000 to Geller and be given a
Secret Word so that once snatched, the numbskull client will think about
that word and can thus be zeroed-in on by the powerful "Riley"-Geller ESP
team. Well, I would not be at all surprised that some dunderhead -- with
more cash than grey matter -- will go for it. Or, now that I think about
it, maybe not. Hey, what if, instead of the client being located, a duck
flies down when he thinks of the Secret Word? How embarrassing!
In any case, I'd like to suggest that anyone who thinks this scheme might
do anything but make "Riley"-Geller rich, might also want to witness a
tiny test before he/she plunks down on the barrel-head. Now, THAT would
be a grand idea! I'll even volunteer to conduct the test! Free!
I guess you all know that UG has been ordered to pay $49,148 costs in the
Hawaii case? This is in addition to the $149,000 -- + interest -- that
CSICOP has been awarded.
But did you know that Geller's case against Gerard Majax and Editions
Michel Lafon, in Paris, was abandoned by Geller (September 15th) just a
few days before Geller would have had to go through with it? The case
was brought because of REALLY strong statements made in "Les Faiseurs de
Miracle" (The Miracle-Makers) written by Majax. The book can be
purchased: ISBN #2-908-65216-1. And it's STRONG!!!
Look on page 272 and the crux of the matter is told:
"[Geller] continues to deceive the simpletons of the world. He
earns big money while he also brings expensive lawsuits against
adversaries who get in his way. That's the case in the USA with
James Randi, an illusionist who has had the courage to write the
truth about Uri Geller. With the American judiciary system, the
fortunate plaintiff is allowed to give a hard time to a less
wealthy defendant, even though the latter is in the right. In
France, we are on firm ground; our system of law would require him
to prove his powers."
I just wonder if that fact had anything to do with Geller's retreat....?
All for now. Cheers. Keep on truckin'... JR