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who so spectacularly achieved "psi-missing" in U.S. astronaut Edgar Mitchell's outer-space test. "Psi-missing" is a process by which parapsychologists excuse any spectacular failure by pointing out that it is statistically remarkable to have the performer achieve very poor results. Jonsson was one of three persons (the others were never named) who attempted to receive Mitchell's brain waves from outer space during the Apollo 14 space flight. Mitchell announced that the results obtained were "three thousand to one" against chance but neglected to tell us at the time that Jonsson had failed so badly that the chances of his doing so poorly were three thousand to one! Jonsson was well tested, however, by Benjamin Burack of Roosevelt University, Chicago, in 1971. Professor Burack reports that the "psychic" failed repeatedly and finally declared that he was "not feeling well" and terminated the tests. He then continued informally under no control and was successful. His illness was suddenly forgotten; it seemed to be present only when he was under control. Burack's fifty years of experience in designing experiments—and his knowledge of conjuring techniques—had effectively dampened the results. The similarity between Jonsson and Cottrell is evident when we examine the kinds of tests to which each was subjected. Their tests were done with playing cards and were quite similar in nature. Similar effects were attempted, and with equally disastrous results—except in one case, wherein Jonsson called Edgar Mitchell by telephone (so much more dependable than ESP) and performed card-guessing with him that way. Jonsson reported a four-out-of-ten success rate where only two out of ten would be expected. But in this test Jonsson was (1) the "psychic," (2) the experimenter, (3) the scorer, and (4) the reporter! That is undoubtedly a winning combination

(1) The deck of cards is left on the table, having been shuffled by one of the experimenters. (2) After a five-minute recess, Cottrell returns and sits at the table. The spectators are still milling about, paying little attention to her. She needs to know what the top card is. (3) She picks up the deck and casually squares it on the table with the face of the deck within her view. (4) She places the left index finger against the top card and lifts it slightly so that it is visible to her. She has now performed the "peek." (5) She replaces the deck face down on the table and, leaning back, announces that she is ready to resume the experiments. (However, since protocol was in effect, the deck was simply cut by one of the experimenters and she failed the test.

Even the Parapsychological Review of Dr. J. B. Rhine, after reporting in 1949 that Jonsson had been demonstrating phenomenal success in tests, followed up in 1950 with the statement that he had been playing all these roles himself. The journal said that investigators of these claims "had in the main only small samples and uncontrolled demonstrations."

In many demonstrations of this sort, Professor Burack found that if a warm-up run was successful the "psychic" wanted to continue, and these results were counted. If it was not a success the preliminary run was dismissed and the "real" test commenced. In spite of all this—and the fact that runs were not announced in advance, so that "optional stopping" could further aid the desired results—Jonsson was a failure.

Later reports of these tests performed with Burack revealed another favorite gimmick. A result (that of the Mitchell phone call, a totally uncontrolled test) was quoted by Jonsson as "six out of ten." Actually, it had been four out of ten. A little hyperbole slips in, as we see, but never to depress the results; only to fluff them up a bit.

When we examine the only definitive tests known to have been done with Olof Jonsson, we find, not unexpectedly, that he cannot perform. Informal, uncontrolled tests, on the other hand, yield spectacular results. The conclusion is obvious.

In January 1978, CSICOP Chairman Paul Kurtz and I appeared on the TV program "Point Blank,"