E-mail Exchange Round 11
Previous Round E-mail List
Robert de Boer resumed the dialog in August 2002
Hi John, Haven't heard from you for a while. What was interesting was the other day I was checking to see if my own name came up on Google and behold you had started the challenge without telling me it was all on, so I have to get going I see. In the forwarded email I sent to a friend is a dream prediction, the one about the Terrorists nuking an American warship in the Indian Ocean. You can see from the date it was sent it is old already, but the USA had better take it seriously. Best of luck and I really don't want that one to happen either! But there is a prize to be won! Robert de Boer
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert de Boer
To: Paul O'DwyerSent: Friday, November 09, 2001 4:20 AMSubject: Re:
Hello
PaulYes I was about to get back to you very soon. As I had said I was totally involving myself in the task of understanding how to break encryption codes which is based on the factorising products of very large numbers.I had to be so concentrated in my thought otherwise it become even difficult for myself to remember what I had achieved the session before.Making progress but the task is enormous. They estimate it would take 15 Billion computers thousands of years working continuously to hack the solution, so I am up against enormous odds, but I use inspiration and the feeling is to continue and I will find the solution, a general solution to unravel any large number into it's factors. I was hoping you would tackle the Watson's direct, and it sound's like you are doing that. So that is good too. Yes I must stir up Gerald once again too. I had a dream vision of a nuclear explosion out at sea, Indian Ocean.Do the Taliban achieve blowing up one of the American aircraft carriers? That was the feeling, but I have not written this across to the Skeptics, for the words in the dream were "how come you did not mention that one!" So I take that to mean it is OK to let this one pass. Major problem for the Yanks though! Sorry for being so one tracked during this period. I am over the worst as now I feel I have a handle on the problem and have already produced some mighty tools to help me with the task. Keep in touch, please if there is any new development in the Watson case. The Family of Steven Wallace are taking the Police Constable A to court for murdering Steven, first time private prosecution brought for Murder, and against a Policeman to make it more interesting. You know my theory on the connection between the Sound's murders and Stevens death! I wonder if this case brings any of that to the surface? Got to go bed as it is about 5:30 in the morning. Bless you Brother,RobertWe responded:
Subject: Re: Psychic Challenge
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2002 06:25:17 -0500
From: John Blanton <[email protected]>
To: Robert de Boer <[email protected]>Robert,
Good to hear from you again, too. What's the prediction?
John Blanton
The North Texas Skeptics
http://www.ntskeptics.orgRobert talks about his dream:
Dear John, My first of ten predictions: I had a dream vision some time before Friday, November 09, 2001 of a nuclear explosion out at sea, in the Indian Ocean.They (the Al Qaeda?) achieve in destroying one of the American's aircraft carriers? Put that one up as part of the challenge! Robert de BoerWe responded:
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 06:41:20 -0500
From: John Blanton <[email protected]>
To: Robert de Boer <[email protected]>Robert,
Again, thanks for your interest in our challenge. Allow me to ask you to do a little more:
1. You have to state your claim in terms of the "paranormal." Something like "I can predict the future, and here is my proof that I can."
2. State your predictions in explicit terms. You told us about a dream. This isn't Jeapordy. You have to state your prediction.
3. Give us a time frame. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but you have to state something like "al Qaeda will destroy an American aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean using a nuclear explosion between now and January 1 2003."
4. Finally, to win the prize you have to follow the protocol outlined on our Web site. Check it out.
And, note we will take the wording of any predictions literally. A conventional explosion will disqualify the prediction. Destroying a cruiser will not count. Outside the Indian Ocean will not count. After midnight 31 December 2002 will not count. Only partially damaged will not count (has to sink). Done by Iraq does not count. Has to be an American (U.S. Navy) ship.
I am forwarding this to the other underwriters and asking them to come to some sort of agreement as to how many and what kind of predictions are required as proof of paranormal powers. Remember, making correct predictions is not what the prize is about. It's about demonstrating paranormal powers.
In any event, I will post your prediction on our Web site. I am eager to see you well you do.
Best regards,
John Blanton
The North Texas Skeptics
http://www.ntskeptics.orgRobert wrote:
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 15:51:33 +1200
From: "Robert de Boer" <[email protected]>
To: "John Blanton" <[email protected]>John ,
You seem to have a bad memory as we had gone through the process of setting up a challenge. We had discussed at length how it would work.You can now make a educated and informed estimate of the (im)probability that the Al Qaeda will reach an Amercan aircraft carrier and destroy it. I advise you to take the threat seriously and warn the Pentagon etc to be on alert, don't let it be another Pearl Harbour.
The prize money pales to insignificant beside a catastrophe like that.
It is about to happen so set out to prevent it is what I would say.
If it hasn't happened by Nov 2003 it is outside the scope of the challenge.
Yours sincerely
Robert de BoerOur response:
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 07:20:29 -0500
From: John Blanton <[email protected]>
To: Robert de Boer <[email protected]>Robert,
My memory is OK on this. However, I do read the English language. On reading your e-mail I see you have not stated any predictions. You did recount a dream you had, but that is not a prediction. If you want to predict something is going to happen, you are going to have to say it.
I take it you are not contending for the prize. That's OK. We will just observe your predictions and your dreams and see where they go. I will post your notes on the Web site, and we will see how they reconcile with future events.
Thanks for corresponding with us. We look forward to hearing from you again in the near future.
Best regards,
John Blanton
--
The North Texas Skeptics
http://www.ntskeptics.orgRobert wrote back:
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 2002 09:10:45 +1200
From: "Robert de Boer" <[email protected]>
To: "John Blanton" <[email protected]>The whole site is headed "Robert de Boer predicts the Future in his dreams", now that makes it rather clear that what I tell you is a dream is of the future and is a dream that will happen, but I can't predict when it will happen.
But believe me it will be a bad day for USA when it does happen.
So put it up on your site and see if anyone reads it and takes note, for as I said I would rather this one to be one of my failures rather than sucesses, for I understood I had only to get 1 out of the first 10 predictions right for the challenge proper to commence and I'm willing to bum out on this one.
Robert de Boer
We responded:
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1
Date: Sat, 31 Aug 2002 19:56:36 -0500
From: John Blanton <[email protected]>
To: Robert de Boer <[email protected]>Robert,
Yes, I am going to put your note up on the Web site. We will see how reliable your dreams are.
The challenge does not begin until you complete and sign the protocol and until we accept the challenge.
Best regards,
John Blanton
--
The North Texas Skeptics
http://www.ntskeptics.orgLater, Robert got back to us:
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1We responded:
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2002 15:54:13 +1300
From: "Robert de Boer" <[email protected]>
To: "John Blanton" <[email protected]>John,
Your website has not had the first prediction entered onto it? Why?Robert de Boer
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1
Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 22:48:19 -0500
From: John Blanton <[email protected]>
To: Robert de Boer <[email protected]>Hi, Robert,
I guess I am still waiting for someone to provide a prediction. Do you have one?
John Blanton
Robert's reply:
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1And our reply:
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 20:13:30 +1300
From: "Robert de Boer" <[email protected]>
To: "John Blanton" <[email protected]>John
I thought I had made it clear there was a dream in which "the Terrorists ( the Al Qaeda ) will reach an Amercan aircraft carrier and destroy it."How's that for a highly improbable event?
Robert de Boer
Subject: Re: Dream Prediction 1
Date: Mon, 21 Oct 2002 06:25:28 -0500
From: John Blanton <[email protected]>
To: Robert de Boer <[email protected]>Hi, Robert.
I have just put your note about your dream up on the Web site. That's not the same as a prediction, but it will be interesting to see whether your dream reflects reality (or not).
Also, I remind you that describing your dream is not the same as challenging for the $10,000 award. To challenge for the award you have to follow the protocol described on the Web site.
Thanks and best regards,
John Blanton
The North Texas Skeptics
http://www.ntskeptics.orgPrevious Round E-mail List