Million Dollar Challenge, no one to date Options

Hello.
Recently I heard about The Million Dollar Challenge made by James Randi Educational Foundation. The Foundation promisses to give one million dollars to a person, who could demonsttrate any kind of paranormal/occult power under their observing conditions. There are so many people pacticing magic, and so many occult societies that you woudn't want their leaders to seem without any powers. But why nobody ever claimed those damned million dollars? Your opinions? Have you ever heard about this challenge before?

Link to the Foundation's site:http://www.randi.org/research/index.html

Application and rules:http://www.randi.org/research/challenge.html

However I also have to agree if I could produce undeniable paranormal activity I would seek my own media channels and make FAR more than a mere million exploding that knowledge onto the public.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Yes, a much more agreeable way to exploit ones magickal talents, I must admit. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Simply from curiosity, (as I don’t practicing magic, so it doesn’t concern me in any way), I read the application form.

First of all it gave me a very unpleasant impression. A mixture of arrogance, inconsideration of others feelings and… I can’t say exactly what else. But I instinctively disliked the author of the text.

Secondly, it doesn’t answer my main question, the question that I always have, when someone offering something: “What does HE get of this?”

I mean by this: Is he a skeptic, who doesn’t believe in magic and consequently, is absolutely sure that he won’t have to pay the price and so, just aiming to get free publicity in others expense? Does he intent, to cover this amount and make on top profit, by exploiting the material (photos, videos, etc.), in case of someone succeeding? You see I am an economist, I think about this in profit-expenses terms. What does he hope to gain of this? Just a millionaire’s whim? Well, I believe “whim” to be an excuse that we use when we don’t want to rationalize our actions.

Does anybody know the answer to this question? Anyway. As long as I can’t answer this question in a satisfying way, I‘ll continue to produce in my head all kind of paranoid scenarios about this challenge.

Secondly, it doesn’t answer my main question, the question that I always have, when someone offering something: “What does HE get of this?”

There have been days when I'd pay a TRILLION dollars just to get rid of a particularly annoying perception.
I think it's a plea from someone who sees themselves trapped in a less than ideal world, desperate for freedom. Maybe they think the limitations in the requirements protect them from charlatans who would crush their fragile dreams of escape, while really serving to repulse the very people who would help achieve those dreams. I imagine it's an egotistical balancing act; by always searching and never finding, cherished hopes are protected AND the self isn't in jeopardy of a potential fatal change in the world-view.
(Not that any of that makes sense.) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sweatdrop.gif)

It reminds me of that scene in Austin Powers after Dr. Evil returns... One Million Dollars has a ring to it, but like Acid09 said, there's probably more to be made with the great ship Entrepreneur.

This post has been edited by SeekerVI: Aug 4 2007, 06:16 PM