Danie Krugel and friends with their magnificent person-finding machine made M-Net’s Carte Blanche programme on 03 December this year. Unfortunately, I was unable to view the broadcast but a transcript/outline can be read here, and the “IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER” at the bottom is especially revealing. By all accounts, it sounds much like a carbon copy of the 3rd Degree programme aired late in August this year. Uncharacteristically, Derek Watts and Ruda Landman were, it seems, each tripping over their own lower lip for fawning instead of doing any actual research or investigation, e.g. a simple Google search for starters. Suspiciously, no mention was made that Krugel has been peddling his “services” for more than two years, and that such miraculous technology has failed to raise the eyebrows of the FBI or Interpol.
Again, no detailed descriptions and explicit account of the test protocol(s) were given. Such questions as whether the target had a cell 'phone or not, or whether Krugel and/or his associates had any direct contact at any time with him/her remain unanswered. However, unlike the 3rd Degreehere programme, it seems that DNA wasn’t mentioned at all this time, only hair cuttings. The difficulties of extracting DNA from hair are described (requires M$ Word) and here. Suddenly dropping “DNA” from their vocabulary - when it was previously used with great frequency and much gay abandon - is itself suspicious.
At the time of the 3rd Degree programme about Krugel, I wrote the producers thus (dated 23 August 2006):
Greetings **********,
Thank you for a most interesting “3rd Degree” edition of 22 August 2006, in which was discussed and demonstrated Mr Danie Krugel’s technology for locating a person, given a DNA sample of that person.
If Mr Krugel’s invention does indeed work as claimed by him and others – that is, a missing person can be located fairly accurately using only a DNA sample of the person and Mr Krugel’s contraption – then it is quite clear that Mr Krugel has discovered a tool of profound and exceptional value.
It is understandable that Mr Krugel does not wish to disclose the inner working principles of his device, and that this will evoke the scepticism of the scientific community since Mr Krugel’s claims seem to violate well-established laws of nature to the extent that they appear to be paranormal.
There is an option open to Mr Krugel for validating his claims without requiring him to divulge his secrets or to expend large sums of money. In fact, such successful validation could earn him US $1,000,000.- from the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF). Please refer to JREF - Home for more information.
Please note that there is no requirement for Mr Krugel to travel to the USA to accept the JREF’s open challenge, since a mutually agreed-to independent third party in South Africa can undertake the testing. Moreover, Mr Krugel would merely need to demonstrate that his method works to a negotiated and mutually agreeable test protocol. The necessary arrangements can be accomplished via e-mail, snail mail or even telephone, if need be.
It is very important also to note that even if Mr Krugel’s method is entirely dependent on natural forces, he is still eligible, based on the nature of his claimed ability, for the challenge and the prize money if he passes the test, and he is free to use the prize money as he wishes, e.g. to further refine and develop his method, or to donate to a charity, etc.
I think Mr Krugel’s chances of winning the prize are excellent, and it would certainly draw much-needed attention to South Africa’s scientific and technological expertise. I ask, therefore, that you please inform Mr Krugel accordingly, or alternatively facilitate contact between he and I, whichever is the more convenient for you.
Thank you kindly for your efforts in this regard.
**********
A delightful measure of sanity on this issue can be found here and here. Some public debate, mostly suspicious of Krugel’s claims, in Germany of all places can be found here for those who read German.
So, if any of Danie Krugel’s friends, or perhaps he himself, read this, we eagerly await the time when he will demonstrate unequivocally that his method actually works. The testimonials of hundreds or thousands of satisfied customers are not adequate, except for snake oil salesmen.
'Luthon64
