StopSylviaBrowne.com

[geni]

Hmm top few sites for that name on google have some pretty good pagerank. could be a challange.

 

[StewartP]

Well, I have to thank her for one thing: I got to randi.org because I was reading about her, after having read a WONDERFUL series of articles about psychics and how they prey on families of missing children at the Project Jason website. I can't post urls, but you can google for Project Jason, and find Kelly's series of articles there.

Good luck!!!!
C

Bless, I'm not the only one to have come to JREF and tried to tell everyone how great Kelly's work is

Welcome to the forums sillyhead.

 

[RSLancastr]

It's great to see everyone so excited about this. I hope the site lives up to the expectations!

PM for you.

Answered, thanks!

Ooohh, I'm excited about this one!!

However, while I noticed that the title of this thread had her name wrong, the website has it right. Good.

Thanks, I will ask a mod to fix the thread title.

Is that the screen cap I made on there? I think I chose a good one, yes? If you need any more, please let me know.

When I made a screen cap of the video Lisa had made available, I picked the exact same frame - it just is so... Sylvia.

RSL, SIR, let me know how I can help, SIR!

If I can find anything of use, I will send it on.

Many thanks, SIR!

If you can get ahold of Dr. Bryan Farha who appeared on Larry King Live on January 7, he may be willing to help you. Here's a link to the transcript.

I've read that before, thanks. I will look for some of Dr. Farha's articles.

Yaaay!!!

Go get 'em, Tiger.

Hey, you're the tiger! But thanks.

Once the site gets going I think we should Google Bomb it to the top as far as searches for "Sylvia Brown" go. Adding it to the Wikipedia article on "Sylvia Brown" would be the first step.

Definitely, once there is some content to link to!

BTW be sure to make a message forum on the site and i'll be one of the first to join.

Not sure if I want to do that, Dustin. At least initially, I will keep a pretty tight control on the content, so for now, a message forum is out. But thanks for the idea.

Anyway, give her hell RSL!

Will do.

There has been some talk of collating her misses on the Montel Williams show. Perhaps you could look into the legality of using those clips. Barring that, maybe they already exist somewhere on the net that you could link to.

I will definitely be transcribing her Montel appearances, and adding comments as I see fit. I may also include actual video clips, if that is legal and appropriate.

I'm looking forward to that woman being put in her place. Best of luck and I will keep my eyes open for you to help out in any way that I can.

Thanks!

I also have a site that toes the lawsuit line. Mine was inspired by The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), which caused me to create Skeptical Analysis of the Paranormal Society (SAPS).

thanks for the advice, Remie. I will take a look at your Sylvia article soon.

The great thing, you'll find, is the outpouring of support. So many people are happy to be involved, and will offer to help in ways you never imagined

Yes, I found that out with my StopKaz site. I got support from all over the globe.

Looks promising! I am looking forward to this site's development!

Thanks!

I definitely think that getting it into the first search page for Sylvia Browne is important. And I think that it's awesome that you're taking this on, RS. Kind of a one-stop-Sylvia-shop.

That's the goal, Jas.

I'll reply to more later!

 

[brooklyn44]

Go get her, Robert!
We met at the Environmental Wars conference at Calstate when I first learned about Stop Kaz. I went home and devoured your excellent work .
I wish you great success in helping get rid of the SB Scourge.
Good on ya,
Renee

 

[Tanstaafl]

Well, I have to thank her for one thing: I got to randi.org because I was reading about her, after having read a WONDERFUL series of articles about psychics and how they prey on families of missing children at the Project Jason website. I can't post urls, but you can google for Project Jason, and find Kelly's series of articles there.

Good luck!!!!
C

Just in case anyone would like to check it out: Project Jason

 

[Moochie]

Good on you Robert.

Some time ago I came across http://www.realcrimes.com/ -- a site for the relatives of victims of crime. I noticed what appeared to me to be some shilling going on for Browne on their open message board, with people asking for donations so that someone could go on Montel and have a reading with Browne.

I don't know if these are seriously deluded folk or if Browne is somehow connected with those doing the shilling.

Best regards,

M.

P.S., as of a little while ago the stuff I refer to can be found on page 3 of the message board.

 

[Wowbagger]

Boy howdy, this is a popular thread! You've got a lot of fans out there, Robert!
Best of luck! I know you will not disappoint.

 

[Rodney]

He said so at that moment. Something like "Sylvia, I'm 70(plus) years old. If something doesn't go wrong with my heart I'd be very much surprised."

But on the September 2001 Larry King show Sylvia claimed that Randi had a problem specific to the left ventricle of his heart, and Randi stated that he would give King "a complete report on the condition of my heart." Did he do that and, whether he did or didn't, was any problem with that ventricle found when he underwent emergency surgery a few months ago? (I know that Arkan said that Randi's problem was with the right ventricle, but I'm not sure where he obtained that information.)

 

[Ririon]

... (I know that Arkan said that Randi's problem was with the right ventricle, but I'm not sure where he obtained that information.)

HER left... (See how that goes?) Anyway:

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Hooray!!! You go Robert! I'm 100% with you***!




***Unless she sues, then I never heard of you

 

[Ladewig]

The liklihood of a lawsuit by her will be lessened by laws which require the party bringing the suit to show actual damages. Prior to the trial there is phase called discovery in which the alleged libeler and his lawyer can look at the financial records of the libelee for the past several years to see how the precise value for the damages were calculated. Many people in Sylvia's line of work don't want others to know exactly how much money they make from their "gift."

ETA: the above statement should no be held as legal advice. There is no subsitute for consulting an actual lawyer.

 

[Jas]

But on the September 2001 Larry King show Sylvia claimed that Randi had a problem specific to the left ventricle of his heart, and Randi stated that he would give King "a complete report on the condition of my heart." Did he do that and, whether he did or didn't, was any problem with that ventricle found when he underwent emergency surgery a few months ago? (I know that Arkan said that Randi's problem was with the right ventricle, but I'm not sure where he obtained that information.)

Why don't you just send an email to the JREF and ask?

 

[grayman]

Just added http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/ to cool links on my Yahoo profile page. That should add at least one hit per year.

 

[Rodney]

Why don't you just send an email to the JREF and ask?

I took your suggestion and also cc'd Randi. I'll let you know if I hear back, or perhaps Randi will reply in his weekly commentary.

 

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Double extra cool, RS. Have at it!

~~ Paul

 

[Blue Mountain]

Great idea for a new site!

Sylvia Browne's for sure a bigger target than Kaz was. It will be interesting to see how worked up she gets over it. (No idea if she has a thick skin or not.)

BTW, I notice there's been nothing new on stopkaz for nearly three months now. Does that mean no news is good news?

I'm pretty sure your site really slowed her down. Any idea if it's put her out of that line of work? If so, she'll probably just change names again and maybe come up with a new story. Using a very different name and not mentioning DeMille/Jacobsen would hide your site from Google until you found out what her new name is and put it on to your site.

 

[RSLancastr]

Ooh, you know what would be cool?

If you had a graphic that looked like a shadow of Sylvia cast against a wall, with her kind of hunched over, and at an angle where her talons kind extended about 15 feet (which, really, isn't that much of a stretch.)

Sort of a Dr. Caligari thing? I'll look into that.

Suggestion: Make up a banner ad that we can put on myspace pages and the like.

Good idea, thanks. As soon as I have some content worth linking to, I will do so.

Hey, I didn't say the UK law made much sense, but that's how it is. It's perfectly possible that US law is different, but I just wanted to add a note of caution.

I appreciate the concern, Matt.

Think of it this way: Everything on your web site should be written solely for the judge and jury who will ultimately hear your defamation case. Forget Sylvia and her attorneys, forget the unwashed masses, forget us; your ultimate audience is the court that could break your bank balance for the rest of your life.

Thanks, Beady. This is largely how I intend to state things on the site, although there will probably be times when I word things more strongly.

Good luck with the project, RSL! I don't know what I can do to help, but do feel free to ask!

Thanks, richard. I'm sure I will. Often.

I also think this is a worthy project undertaken by a worthy man, and I'd like to offer my help, too, in whatever form it might take.

I suspect as you begin to research content for the site you will run into limitations of time. When that happens, ask us to do some research for you which you can then vett before posting.

Thanks, Garrette. Will do.

Blogged! with lots of "Sylvia Browne" references to get google finding Rob's site.

Absolutely. PM me if you need help trawling thru the net

Thanks and thanks, Stewart!

Excellent idea and I'm certainly up for contributing. I'd collated a couple of analyses of transcripts of hers from King broadcasts and then measured her "success" count. Could dust them off for discussion here before writing up for you.

At least to begin with, I want the site to consist of content written by me, with quotes from (and links to outside sources. This is mostly to try for a consistent tone in the site. But I would defintely love to read them, and any discussion here on the forum about them. Thanks!

Technicaly it was the Biggest Douch in the Universe, so the award for biggest douchbag in the universe might still be open

And I don't think they mentioned how often the title is awarded, so she may be in the running for it now...

What would be usefull would be a running tally of predictions made. I see a partial list on her Wiki entry. Over time, of course, it will be the most devestating part of your site.

Yes, I am compiling a list of those as well.

Let slip the dogs of war and all that.

Woof!

I would be happy to help google bomb your site....if someone would tell me how.....

I don't know, it sounds dangerous... Thanks!

I think a lawsuit would be interesting. You could ask that she demonstrate her power in a controlled environment and, well, there you go.

Well, interesting to watch, anyway.

By the way, what the heck is that avatar of yours, anyway?

I mean, let's throw down the gauntlet; that's what defamation trials are all about.

Well, at present, I am considering the best defense against one rather than the best way to provoke one.

Have you considered shoplifting? I'm sure it's morally justifiable for such a good cause.

Uh, no. But thanks for the suggestion!

Blogg'd!

Thanks, very nice!

ETA: Oh, and if someone wants to call my site "negative-filled," you should note that I consider it a compliment.

Are you chocolate-coated with negative filling?

Good morning. I also think this is a great idea and offer any help I can give.

Thanks, JPK.

Over the years, she has made so many ridiculous statements on Montel you would think he would be embaressed to have her on.
She has claimed that aliens steal water from swimming pools. [/QUOTE}Do you have a source/quote for that?

I remember Randi talking about collecting audio tapes of her phone readings. From what I remember, several of the readings were very similar as if people are paying Sylvia to read from a prewritten statement.

Yes, I will be putting a request for tapes like these on the web site.

Oh yeah and don't forget to mention her criminal record.

I wouldn't dream of forgetting that, especially since it was for fraudulently obtaining money.

Not that any of this will change the mind of a True Believer, but it might make some fence sitters stop and think.

That's one of my primary objectives with the site.

Yea you Robert!

Thanks, elaine!

Some stuff you might find useful:

Great stuff, Luke. Keep thropwing it at me.

Glad to help with research or proofreading or anything you like.

Always great to have you and Nick in my corner, LL!

You need to change your avatar, though.

Good point. I;ve been thinking of changing it back to the purple polar bear it used to be, but who knows...

Go get her, mate - pity she's never been down here, she seems like the type who'd benefit from a quick run through the sheep-dip.

Thanks, A! Though maybe a slow run would be better...

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned yet, you might also want set up a timer similar to the one on the JREF home page counting the days and weeks since Sylvia has agreed to take the Million Dollar Challenge. Although, that all depends on how closely you want to associate yourself with the JREF. Such an association might bring on accusations of bias from Sylvia's followers.

Well, I think the name of my web site will pretty much guarantee that charge, whether they associate me with the JERF or not. I doubt I'll put up such a timer, but I will definitely mention her acceptance, and then backing out of, the Challenge.

Other than that, I wish the best of luck to you in this long over due endeavor. I would be glad to provide even the slightest aide.

Thanks, SPQR!

Does anyone know copyright law? Can you post video clips from King, Montel and others without violating? I assume attribution is required.

I will definitely be attributing everything on my site. Images. Quotes. Video. Audio. Just how much can be used and stay within "fair usage" is something I will need (and seek) professional advice on.

Did Randi ever get back to Larry King? And was Randi's emergency surgery earlier this year in any way related to the left ventricle of his heart?

Mr. Randi addressed this in his September 07, 2001 Commentary (search for "ventricle"). If you want to continue discussing this, I'd ask that you start up a separate thread for it, thanks.

I'll look at my used bookstore for some of her books to send you. they come in a lot, which I take as a good sign.

Thanks, Kitty!

You might contact Randi about this (after the cruise!)

Of course!

Like I think you CAN call her some really awful names. But you can't call her a "fake".

I think that simply showing what she says and does will be sufficient to show what she is.

....and do you have a copy of the waiver she makes people sign before a reading or studio session?

That would be really nice to post.

No I do not have it, and would definitely like a copy if anyone has one.

Oh, now that just rocks.

Thanks.

A lawsuit would be marvelous publicity; I'd be willing to send a few $$ for the defence. Let's see if she dares; it'd be rather embarrassing if she lost having failed to predict the outcome, wouldn't it?

Well, let's hope it doesn't come to that, but I appreciate your offer for help should it happen.

Well, I have to thank her for one thing: I got to randi.org because I was reading about her, after having read a WONDERFUL series of articles about psychics and how they prey on families of missing children at the Project Jason website. I can't post urls, but you can google for Project Jason, and find Kelly's series of articles there.

Good luck!!!!

Thanks, sillyhead. (Wow, that sounded patronizing...)

Yes, Kelly J is well-known here for that series of articles, as well as her other work helping families of the missing. Glad her articles led you here!

 

[grayman]

Does anyone know copyright law? Can you post video clips from King, Montel and others without violating? I assume attribution is required.

Try this: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/

 

[Rodney]

I took your suggestion and also cc'd Randi. I'll let you know if I hear back, or perhaps Randi will reply in his weekly commentary.

Jeff Wagg has already sent me a reply. It reads, in its entirety:

"He [Randi] did [send his doctors' report to Larry King], the doctors pronounced him fine. His recent heart attack was on the opposite side from where Sylvia predicted nearly 5 years earlier. He had heart trouble before, so her prediction was more of an educated guess. And yet it was another failure for Sylvia."

I just sent Jeff a follow-up, inquiring whether Randi's prior heart problems were public information. If they were, and Sylvia has access to that information, her diagnosis would have to be regarded as a total failure, in my opinion. On the other hand, if they weren't, it seems to me that she would have to be given some credit for diagnosing a heart problem, even if it was on the wrong side and the heart attack took place several years later.

 

[Yahzi]

On the other hand, if they weren't, it seems to me that she would have to be given some credit for diagnosing a heart problem, even if it was on the wrong side and the heart attack place several years later.

She deserves credit for guessing that a 70 year old man will have heart trouble in the next 5 years?

This is why no one takes you seriously.