[mcairo]

I want to be perfectly clear as to what my intentions are with my i2i challenge (demonstration). The protocol I set up is not meant to be the perfect medium experiment. Dr. Gary Schwartz has done a decent job testing mediums in both double blind and triple blind experiments with no visible gain in bringing scientist to take up his protocol and replicate his results.

Yet, looking at the current Fall TV lineup, "spirit/angel" themed shows abound, marking a year over year rise in public interest for this subject. Perhaps, we've even reached critical mass, making the timing of my experiment even more prescient.

The part of my challenge that some people tend to overlook is that it was designed to take the argument of consciousness survival and study to the streets. The challenge is really a way to draw media attention to the larger cause, not to me. What cause? Simple - Put Consciousness To The Test.

This catchy ad slogan is really directed at scientists at major universities, not at the public. However, since most universities receive some form of public research money, I'm hoping that public interest and media attention would spark a movement among researchers and universities to invest in the study of consciousness survival.

Truly, what the consciousness survival movement really needs is a showman like P.T. Barnum calling people over to the sideshow. P.T. Barnum knew that the best way to get people inside the big top was to give them a sideshow they soon wouldn't forget.

My challenge is a sideshow. Consciousness survival is what's waiting for us all under the big top.

For me, the i2i (or the soul2sole) challenge is no longer about countering James Randi's Million Dollar Challenge or trying to convince the skeptical community to take Psi research seriously. Now, it's all about elevating the interest and investment of the scientific community by promoting my Put Consciousness To The Test. campaign.

It may take me a year or two to get this off the ground, but risking the derision of new atheists everywhere, I walk with faith.