It appears that Michael Fremer took exception to our just-posted assumption that the Fremer/Blake acceptance of the JREF challenge was now moot, since Blake had refused to put a set of Pear cables into the mix, as had previously been agreed. What follows here is exactly what Fremer just sent me, word-for-word, with my running comments. I apologize for the language, but you should know the person we’re dealing with here. At 11:35 – 50 minutes ago – I received this:

Dear LIAR Randi: You are now asserting IN PRINT on your site that I am backing out of your challenge?

Randi comments: No, I did not say that. First of all, the headline says, “BLAKE WITHDRAWS,” which is clearly correct, as documented. I said that the test now seems to be aborted because the Pear cables will now not be coming from Blake. I also held open the possibility that you – Fremer – might wish to invest in a set of Pear cables. That was a part of the bulletin that apparently escaped your attention.

I most certainly am not and you know it.

Well, now I do, yes. Definitely. Except that you’ve changed the parameters, as described ahead…

I AM USING MY REFERENCE CABLE IN THIS TEST BECAUSE PEAR/BLAKE BACKED OUT.

No, Fremer. You told me you’d like to use your “reference” cable, but the test is as I very clearly stated, more than once:

…to significantly differentiate between a set of $7,250 Pear Anjou cables and a good set of Monster cables, or between a set of $43,000 Transparent Opus MM SC cables and the same Monster cables – your choice of these two possible scenarios… This would have to be done to a statistically significant degree, that degree to be decided.

Fremer continues his tirade:

I INFORMED YOU OF THAT IN AN EMAIL. I INSISTED THAT BLAKE TELL YOU DIRECTLY OF HIS INTENTIONS, WHICH HE DID, SPECIFICALLY TO INSURE THAT YOU WOULDN'T GO ON YOUR SITE AND ASSERT THAT I HAD BACKED OUT, YET YOU WENT AHEAD AND DID THAT ANYWAY. I AM NOT BACKING OUT. HOW DARE YOU TO INSINUATE THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE. I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE A LYING SACK OF SHIT. DESPITE YOUR BEING A LYING SACK OF SHIT. I INTEND TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS CHALLENGE.

In his accustomed charming manner, Michael Fremer thus responded. I will await his further fumings about what he wants to do, but in which we have no interest. The challenge is set forth, above, once more. It’s either the Pear Anjou cables or the Transparent Opus MM SC cables – vs. a set of Monster Z2R ML-10/10 – conditions which Fremer has already agreed to! – or there’s no test…