For more information contact:
James Underdown, Executive Director
Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles
(323) 666-9797 ext 101
For Immediate Release
Psychic ‘Eyes’ $50,000 Prize!
Hollywood skeptics to determine if
applicant can "see" inside the human body
Hollywood, CA, October 25, 2009 — The Independent Investigations Group — L.A.’s premiere skeptical organization — has been challenging would be psychics by offering them $50,000 cash if they can prove their abilities. Now, Anita Ikonen — a 26 year old student from University of North Carolina at Charlotte — claims she can see inside the human body without the aid of an MRI or X-Ray machine. During this preliminary
demonstration Ms. Ikonen will be presented with multiple human test subjects and asked to identify those who are missing internal organs. If she is successful Anita will move on to the formal test for the IIG’s "$50,000 Challenge," and potentially go for a one million dollar prize offered by the godfather of skepticism — James Randi. The demonstration will be conducted at the offices of the Center for Inquiry in Hollywood on November 21, 2009.
IIG Chair and CFI-Los Angeles Executive Director Jim Underdown is excited. "With Sylvia Browne, Allison DuBois, and John Edward running around making outrageous claims, and refusing to allow any outside scrutiny," says Underdown, "it’s quite refreshing to see someone come forward and put their money where their mouth is." Anita Ikonen is a class of applicant that the IIG refers to as a "medical dowser" — people who claim to be able to sense the inside of the human body and detect illness or defects in the anatomy. "No one has been able to display this kind of ability under controlled conditions," claims Underdown, "so this will be history in the making if Anita is able to perform properly."
On hand for the demonstration will be members of the IIG, scientists from UCLA and representatives of the media. If Ms. Ikonen succeeds it would represent a substantial challenge to the practice of medicine and the underlying scientific principles of physics.
"We look forward to putting Anita’s claims to the test. Regardless of the outcome, this will be quite an event," promised Underdown. If you represent a media organization and would like to be present, contact Jim Underdown at jimu@cfiwest.org
CFI-Los Angeles
4773 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90027
The Independent Investigations Group is the West Coast’s premiere skeptical organization. They have a standing offer of $50,000 to anyone who can prove paranormal abilities under scientific testing conditions and they work with the James Randi Educational Foundation by screening for their One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge.
The Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles is the west coast home to the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI), publisher of Skeptical Inquirer magazine. Visit our website at www.cfiwest.org, or call (323) 666-9797.
