Raymond Powell

E-mail Exchange With Raymond Powell

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Raymond Powell phoned the NTS hotline.

In July 2009 Raymond Powell from Tennessee called the NTS hotline to propose a test for the Challenge award. After much wrangling I finally convinced Raymond to conduct these negotiations by e-mail. We do this so there will be a permanent record of what is said. Here is how it has gone so far:

The first e-mail from Raymond Powell:

N. TEXAS SKEPTIC CHALLENGE. MENTAL TRANSMISSION.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:26 AM

From: RAYMOND POWELL

To: SKEPTIC75287@YAHOO.COM

DEAR MR. BLANTON, MY NAME IS RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR. WE SPOKE ON THE PHONE ABOUT ME READING THE BIBLE FOR 20 MINS. FOR THE CHALLENGE. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO BE THE RECEIVER

YOU AND YOUR ASSOCIATES WE BE ABLE TO SEE EVERY WORD I READ, FOR 20 MINS. FOR THE INFORMAL CHALLENGE AND FORMAL CHALLENGE. I DID NOT KNOW THE FIRST PERSON DID NOT SEND YOU THE EMAILS AS HE TOLD ME HE DID. ITRULY APOLOGIZE IHOPE WE CAN AGREE ON DOING THIS AS WE SPOKE OVER THE PHONE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SEND YOU THE EMAIL 1,04,2010 AS I HAD HOPED TOHAVE . IHOPE YOU,LL CALL ME AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS EMAIL ASYOU ADVISED ME OVER THE PHONE YOU WOULD DO, IBELIEVE YOU WILL. THANKYOU RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

Raymond followed up with another e-mail:

MENTAL TRANSMISSION

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 10:52 AM

From: RAYMOND POWELL

To: SKEPTIC75287@YAHOO.COM

DEAR, MR. BLANTON,

MY NAME IS RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR. WE SPOKE ON THE PHONEABOUTME READING THE BIBLE FOR 20 MINS, FOR THE N. TEXAS SKEPTIC. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TO BE MY RECEIVER. YOU AND YOUR ASSOCIATES WILL BE ABLE TO SEE EVERY WORD I READ FOR THE INFORMALCHALLENGE AND FORMAL CHALLENGE. I APOLOGIZE I WAS,NT ABLE TO SEND YOU A EMAIL 1,04, 2010, I HAVE A GENTLEMEN THAT IS HELPING ME TO EMAIL . IHOPE YOU CALL ME AFTER RECEIVING THIS EMAIL AS YOU ADVISED ME YOU .THANKYOU ,RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

I was relieved to finally get the ball rolling on this demonstration.

I responded:

Re: N. TEXAS SKEPTIC CHALLENGE. MENTAL TRANSMISSION

Tuesday, January 5, 2010 7:05 PM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: RAYMOND POWELL

Thanks for contacting me by e-mail. We have to work with e-mail, so I hopt [sic] this is convenient for you.

Please spell out completely what your paranormal abilities are and how you propose to demonstrate them.

All correspondence related to the NTS Paranormal Challenge will be published in our newsletter and on our Web site.

Best regards,

John Blanton

NTS President and

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

Raymond Powell sent me a new e-mail address to use, and I responded:

Re: att.john Blanton

Saturday, January 9, 2010 2:00 PM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Thanks much for sending me e-mail. Please continue our dialog regarding the NTS Paranormal Challenge by e-mail. We cannot conduct business related to the NTS Paranormal Challenge by phone.

Best regards,

John Blanton

NTS President and

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

I received another e-mail from Raymond Powell:

ATT.JOHN BLANTON MENTAL TRANSMISSION

Monday, January 11, 2010 2:32 PM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

MR.BLANTON

I APOLOGIZE FOR CALLING YOU SO MUCH. I WILL CONTINUE EMAILING YOU.CAN

WE PUT TOGETHER A PROTOCOL REGARDING ME READIND THE BIBLE AS YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT OVER THE PHONE, AND AS I ASK IN THE EMAIL, I HOPE SO. TODAY IS 1/11/2010 THE FIRST TIME THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE THE WKEND. FIRST TIME I,VE HAD TO CHECK MY EMAIL SINCE I SENT TO YOU.WILL CHECK MY EMAILS 1/12 10.

THANKYOU, RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

I responded:

Re: ATT.JOHN BLANTON MENTAL TRANSMISSION

Monday, January 11, 2010 10:24 PM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Raymmond [sic],

I am ready for your proposal. Please reply and provide me details about what you plan to demonstrate.

Remember, all correspondence related to the NTS Paranormal Challenge will be published in our newsletter and on our Web site.

Best regards,

John Blanton

NTS President and

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

And I received this response from Raymond Powell:

ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 12:18 PM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

MR. BLANTON

FOR THE INFORMAL AND FORMAL DEMONSTRATION I WOULD LIKE TO READ THE BIBLE FOR 20 MINS. AS YOU AND YOUR STAFF OBSERVES AND WILL BE ABLE TO SEE AND READ EVERY WORD CLEAR AND PLAIN THRU MY ABILITIES. I HOPE THIS PROTOCOL IS ACCEPTABLE TO YOU SIR. I CAN LEAVE THE MOMENT I RECEIVE FROM YOU THE PROTOCOL IS ACCEPTABLE. I WILL,CHECK MY EMAIL 1/13 10 AM.

THANKYOU ,

RAYMOND EDWEARD POWELL JR.

I responded:

Re: ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 2:23 PM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell Raymond,

Here is how I understand your proposal:

You will silently read a passage from the King James Bible.

I will write down what you are reading, word for word.

You will then tell me what you have just read.

We will compare what you tell me with what I have written down, and the demonstration will be considered a success if what you tell me matches what I have written down word for word.

If that is acceptable for you, then we can do the demonstration any time you wish, within reason.

Maybe we can save you a trip. Can you do your reading while in Tennessee? Then you won't have to come to Dallas.

This demonstration will only serve to clear you for a formal test, provided your demonstration is satisfactory. The formal test will be at a later time. The time will be determined by the two of us in agreement.

I advise that you verify you can really do this before you make a trip to Dallas. Test this with some friends and make sure of your claimed ability.

All correspondence related to the NTS Paranormal Challenge will be published in our newsletter and on our Web site.

Best regards,

John Blanton

NTS President and

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

Raymond got back to me with this:

ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 9:49 AM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN I ,AM VERIFYING I CAN DO THE DEMOSTRATION FROM TN. MR. UNDER DOWN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ILLG HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA HAS READ THRU ME SITTING IN CALIFORNIA. JOHN I AGREE TOTHE PROTOCOL AS YOU HAVE OUTLINED.THE LIBRARY ONLY ALLOWS A PERSON TO USE THE COMPUTERS ONCE A DAY .I WILL CHECK MY EMAIL EARLY AM. 1/14/10. EVERYONE WILL TELL YOU I CAN DO THE DEMOSTRATION SUCCESSFULLY AND WHEN THE MONEY.

THANKYOU

VERY MUCH

RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

I replied:

Re: ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Thursday, January 14, 2010 6:48 AM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Raymond,

Very well. Please arrange to call me on the telephone at 2 p.m. Central Time on Saturday, 16 January. Once we are talking on the phone together you can start your demonstration. I will be at the January meeting of the North Texas Skeptics, and other members will be there to observe the demonstration.

You will read the Bible, and I will write down what you are reading. We will then confirm whether I correctly received what you were reading.

My phone number is 214-335-9248.

Best regards,

John Blanton

NTS President and

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

214-335-9248

Raymond’s reply:

ATTN John Blanton

Thursday, January 14, 2010 9:39 AM

From: raymond powel

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN IF YOU,LL EMAIL ME A FAX NUMBER I,LL FAX YOU THREE AFFIDAVITS ONE SIGNED BY A FBI AGENT, ONE SIGNED BY RETIRED NAVY GNTMEN AND SUPPOSEDLY STILL INVOLVED WITH THE PENTAGON AND SIGNED BY KING PIN INDUSTIES WHOM BUILD CUSTOM STREET RODS AND MTRCYCLES. NOTARIZED AND STATING WHAT THEY HAVE WITNESSED OF MY ABILITIES. YOU MIGHT BE AMAZED. YOUR RULES STATE OTHERS CAN BE INVOLED IN OBSERVING THE DEMONSTRATION WITH YOUR PERMISSION , CAN I SEE IF THE ILLG OF HOLLYWOOD CALIFORNIA WOULD LIKE TO BE PART OF THE OBSERVING,PLEASE. PRESIDENT BUSH HAS ACKNOWLEDGE ME ON TV. JOHN YOU WILL BE ABLE TO READ AND WRITE EVERY WORD THRU MY ABILITIES, EVERY DAY I OPEN MY BIBLE SOMEONE IS READING THRU ME . I DO NOT KNOW WHO THEY ARE PUT IT IS HEARED ALL AROUND THE WORLD, I HAVE BEEN TESTED BY EVERY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY EXCEPT HOMELAND SECURITY.

THANYOU ,JOHN FOR HONORING YOUR WORD AND FOR HELPING ME I WILL WIN THE DEMONSTRATIONS I BELIEVED IN YOU.ICAN NOT STOP THEM THRU READING THRU ME OR TALKING THRU ME ,I CAN BE TALKED THRU OVER THE PHONE ALSO.

THANKYOU

RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

And more from Raymond Powell:

ATT.JOHN BLANTON

Thursday, January 14, 2010 9:43 AM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN I,LL CHECK MY EMAIL 1/15/10 EARLY AM. I,VE BEEN AS HONEST AS I I,AM.

THANKYOU

RAYMOND EWARD POWELL JR.

I finally set up a schedule for a demonstration from Raymond Powell:

Re: ATTN John Blanton

Thursday, January 14, 2010 5:23 PM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Raymond,

I do not have a FAX number. We definitely do not need any signed affidavits, since they will not affect the demonstration in any way.

We will expect to receive your phone call at 2 p.m. Central Time on Saturday.

Best regards,

John Blanton

NTS President and

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

214-335-9248

Raymond Powell responded:

ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Friday, January 15, 2010 8:52 AM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN ,THANKYOU FOR UNDERSTANDING ABOUT MY ABILITIES AND WHO EVER READS THRU ME.I,LL CALL YOU SATURDAY,1/16/10 AT 2PM. CENTRAL TIME.

THANKYOU RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

Raymond Powell phoned me at the appointed time, and I had him read me a passage from the Bible. At first Raymond told me what he was going to be reading, and I reminded him the demonstration would not be very useful if I already knew what he was going to read. So Raymond picked another Bible passage and read silently while I concentrated very hard to receive what he was reading.

After a while I told Raymond to stop reading, and I asked him what he had read. What I perceived was nowhere close to what Raymond told me he was reading, so I declared the demonstration to be a failure.

Raymond followed up with this e-mail:

ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:07 AM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN THE LAST THING I HEARD YOU SAY WAS HEY RAYMOND YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU SAY, AND THE SOUND YOU MADE WANTING ME TO BLOW IT OFF. I HAVE READ ALOT ABOUT YOU AND HOW PEOPLE OF RESPECT CLAIM THAT YOUR NOT AN HONEST PERSON.I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN HONEST WITH ME.PEOPLE FROM HONG CONG HAVE EMAILED CLAIMING THAT THEY READ EVERY WORD OF THE PASSAGE I READ THRU MY ABILITIES. GOD SAYS I WILL CURSE THE THAT CURSES THE ,AND I WILL BLESS THE THAT BLESSES THE .THE LIBRARY WAS,NT OPENED 1/18/10.

THANKYOU, RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

I responded to Raymond Powell:

Re: ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:20 AM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Raymond,

Unfortunately your demonstration on Saturday failed, as I could not describe what you were reading.

If you would like, we can design another demonstration of your abilities. As I see it, there is a problem with the demonstration you designed:

Your demonstration depended on my ability to receive. Your design did not take into account the possibility that, even though you have the ability to transmit your thoughts, I may not have the ability to receive them.

Let me know if you would like to take another shot at designing a demonstration. We will be eager to work with you.

All correspondence related to the NTS Paranormal Challenge will be published in our newsletter and on our Web site.

Best regards,

John Blanton

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

214-335-9248

Raymond Powell responded:

ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Friday, January 22, 2010 11:30 AM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN YOU PROBABLY HAVE FIGURED OUT BY NOW IF YOU WERE,NT A RECEIVER YOU COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPEAT WHAT JAMES UNDERDOWN FIRST SAID TO ME AND HOW HE TESTED ME OVER THE PHONE FROM CA. WHAT,S YOUR PROPOSAL FOR A DEMO, AND ARE YOU GOING TO BE HONEST WITH ME SINCE THE WHOLE US. IS CALLING YOU A LIAR.

THANKYOU,

RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

Of course I was shocked to learn somewhere out people were calling me a liar. Actually, I wasn’t shocked.

I responded:

Re: ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Friday, January 22, 2010 6:00 PM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Raymond,

I was hoping you would be able to propose a demonstration. If you have something in mind, let me know. It's important that you come up with a demonstration, since you know more about this than I do.

All correspondence related to the NTS Paranormal Challenge will be published in our newsletter and on our Web site.

Best regards,

John Blanton

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

214-335-9248

Raymond Powell responded:

ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Saturday, January 23, 2010 9:45 AM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN

I HAVE A RECEIVER THAT CAN DO THE DEMONSTRATIONS WITH ME .I WILL READ A PASSAGE FROM THE BIBLE A SENTENCE OR TWO AND JIMMY WILL WRITE DOWN WHAT I READ .YOU AND I WILL KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT I WILL BE READING FROM JUST OPENING MY BIBLE TO ANY CHAPTER, FOR THE INFORMAL AND FORMAL DEMO,S.IF THIS IS ALRIGHT FOR YOU. EVERYONE SETTING IN FRONT OF ME OBSERVING AS I SILENTLY READ THRU MY ABILITIES. AS YOU ALREADY KNOW I CAN NOT STOP PEPLE FROM READING THRU ME OR TALKING THRU ME. I WILL CHECK MY EMAIL 1/25/10 EARLY AM. WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THE DEMONSTRATION ASAP.

THANKYOU

RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

That was encouraging news. It appeared we were finally getting around to doing a realistic demonstration.

I responded:

Re: ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Saturday, January 23, 2010 2:59 PM

From: JohnBlantonskeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Raymond,

Very good. If you have a receiver who can do the job, then we can set up a demonstration for you.

When can you or your receiver come to Dallas? If both of you can come that will be best. However, please try this at home and make sure you can do it. We don't want you to waste your time and expense on an unsuccessful demonstration. What we expect to see by way of a demonstration is something like this:

We will separate you and the receiver. That will eliminate any other form of communication between the two of you.

We will pick a verse from the Bible and have you read it.

The receiver must write down the words you are reading.

We will compare what the receiver writes down with what we asked you to read. If this process is successful a few times, then we will know you have something to test. We will clear you to advance to the next stage and to enter into a formal test.

Per our process for the NTS Paranormal Challenge, you have to pay all of your own expenses, and no money will be paid by the underwriters except on the completion of a formal test. All correspondence related to the NTS Paranormal Challenge will be published in our newsletter and on our Web site.

Best regards,

John Blanton

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

214-335-9248

Raymond Powell responded:

ATT. JOHN BLANTON

Monday, January 25, 2010 12:16 PM

From: raymond powell

To: skeptic75287@yahoo.com

JOHN

THE RULES STATE INFORMAL AND FORMAL DEMO NOT A VIEW TIMES. JOHN WE DON,T HAVE TIME TO PLAY GAMES WHEN YOU ALREADY KNOW I HAVE SOMETHING TO TEST OR YOU COULD NOT REPEAT WHAT JAMES UNDERDOWN FROM ILLG 50,000 PARANORMAL CHALLENGE SAID TO ME AND HOW HE TESTED ME OVER THE PHONE. TO ME IT SEEMS THE PERSONS HOSTING THESE CHALLENGES TRY TO CHANGE THEIR RULES AFTER THEY HAVE TESTED ME OVER THE PHONE AND KNOW I,M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DEMONSTRATE AND TRULY WIN. THE RULES DON,T STATE I GIVE YOU A FREE DEMO AND WASTE MY TEAMS TIME. THE WHOLE WORLD SEES YOUR EMAILS AND SEES WHAT KIND OF MAN YOU ARE. THE RULES STATE INFORMAL AND FORMAL DEMO . EITHER STAY TO THE RULES OR CANCEL YOUR CHALLENGE. MAYBE YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT YOU EMAIL

FOR EVERYONE SEES THEM.

THANKYOU,

RAYMOND EDWARD POWELL JR.

I sent Raymond Powell a response reminding him that it was his responsibility to provide a successful demonstration:

NTS Paranormal Challenge

Monday, January 25, 2010 5:00 PM

From: John Blanton skeptic75287@yahoo.com

To: raymond powell

Raymond,

The procedure described on our Web site at http://ntskeptics.org/challenge/challenge.htm does not prescribe a demonstration prior to setting up a formal test. However, I always insist on seeing whether a claimant has anything to show before I move to a formal test.

You had your chance at a demonstration on 16 January this year, and your demonstration was unsuccessful. This indicates why I require a demonstration prior to proceeding. It helps you refine your test procedure to ensure your test will be successful.

Based on the outcome of your demonstration earlier this month, I would ordinarily conclude you have nothing to show and would advise you not to waste any more of your time on this. However, you seem sincere, so I have advised you to make some changes to your demonstration if you want to continue. I am willing to continue to work with you on an up-front demonstration if you are serious about proving your abilities.

To perform a demonstration that is satisfactory to you, you will need to provide your own receiver, and one or both of you will have to come to Dallas so we can witness the demonstration. Let me know if that is what you want to do.

Best regards,

John Blanton

Skeptical Web Master

http://www.ntskeptics.org

214-335-9248

I had no additional correspondence from Raymond Powell.

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