This post contains three articles by James Randi about the progress of
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From James Randi, Feb-08-92
-=========================-

I've just mailed out some 300 thank-you-and-update cards to all those
who've contributed to The Fund as of Dec. 31st last. A new batch will
go out as soon as I get a new mailing list.

I just returned from Budapest, where I made a one-hour TV Special. I
was invited there by "World of Nature" (I'd give you the name of the
magazine in Hungarian, but as you know this system doesn't allow you to
print any language but English, since it can't produce accents! How, I
wonder do the French use such a system???) their leading science
periodical. I used excerpts from a Hungarian TV show on Geller, six of
his miracles, and I replicated them by simple tricks. I believe that
there may now be a certain amount of doubt in that country about the
claims made by Mr. Geller that he has psychic powers.

I'm told that Geller's lawyer has now asked for an extension of the
Feb. 29th deadline for his deposition. He may not get it.

In Hungary, I also came up with some VERY interesting discoveries about
the Geller legend. I'll tell you anon. The TV producers were
threatened with legal action by a lawyer representing The Other Side,
as we expected. It seems that lawyers are now summoned every time I
sneeze....

The response to my request for scientists who would officiate at a test
of Mr. Geller's powers, has been very good. I even have three
prominent parapsychologists willing to serve. That is, of course, if
Mr. Geller will agree to demonstrate his powers under proper scientific
conditions. Don't hold your breath.

All for now.                                              JR.

===========================
From James Randi, Feb-15-92
===========================

The tentative date for Mr. Geller's deposition (now to be held in
Washington) is now set for March 2nd to 4th. Whether it will REALLY
take place, we aren't sure. I'll keep you informed. Geller has now
announced that I will also be sued in Hungary, from whence I have just
returned. His lawyer there listed a long set of my comments from my
book, The Truth About Uri Geller, as if I'd stated them in Budapest.
Mr. Geller, who has also, within the last few days, also threatened the
Bay Area Skeptics and Nature Magazine with lawsuits, has taken to the
law as a means of silencing everyone who displeases him. I do hope
that the BAS will not panic at this latest move by Geller. We can't
afford him any victories of any sort, and making the skeptics run
scared is certainly a triumph for him.

I'll be speaking at CalTech on March 22nd for the newly-forming Los
Angeles Skeptics (replacing the Southern California Skeptics). Anyone
in that area can contact director Michael Shermer at (818) 794-3119.
Skeptical groups and individual skeptics wishing to encourage the LAS
at their inception, can fax Michael at the same number, or write him at
2761 North Marengo Avenue, Altadena, CA 91001.

I've been somewhat embarrassed at the fact that my essay for TIME has
been bumped ahead repeatedly. If Clinton and breast implants hadn't
interfered, it would have been published by now. I still expect it
"shortly." Sigh.

==============================
From James Randi, Feb 19-92
==============================
Subject: A delay...

Geller's lawyer has asked for a delay in the deposition. Now, it will
probably (?) take place "later" in March. That's the best information
we have. Do you guys realize that we can't send accents on
Compu$erve??? My foreign friends need those accented letters so their
language will make sense, and CS assumes that everyone who uses the
system will automatically speak English! What gall!

Nature magazine (UK) ran a bit on the case, erring in that Florida was
claimed to be the site of the deposition. Wrong. UG immediately sent
angry, threatening letters to the editor, and even wrote his retraction
for him. Sigh.

Maybe you can help me. I'm looking for the very first instance of UG
having actually done the spoon trick. On the record, that is, not just
some claim he made. He tried to do it at SRI in 1972, but failed. Any
other dates, guys?

All for now.                                       JR