StopSylviaBrowne: AC360 - Browne's Best Evidence?

Questioninggeller said:
This is a sad video with Browne:

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The video does not appear to work here. The owner does not allow this type of link. I will try to fix it.

Edit - try using this link instead http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXhPR9wRS_o

Edit2 - If you want to see all the videos on her see http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search_videos&search_query=sylvia%20browne&search_sort=relevance&search_category=0&page=1
Medical treatment may be required after viewing all the videos.
 
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There's more information about Ted Gunderson in this Skeptical Inquirer article about a conspiracy-theorist conference:

Gunderson presented what he called "new evidence" in the 1984 McMartin preschool sex-abuse case in Manhattan Beach, California. He produced a number of photographs of the foundation of a house in the hills above San Bernadino, California, that had burned down, he claimed, the night the charges were filed in the McMartin case. He alleged that the McMartin children were flown to this house and ritually abused, and that the house was torched to destroy evidence. The sum total of the evidence he presented to support this allegation was the existence of spray-painted satanic graffiti on the foundation stones and on boulders on the property.

[ ... ]

Gunderson then described a conversation he had with a witness, Paul Bonacci, from an alleged satanic-ritual abuse case in Nebraska ... Gunderson related Bonacci's description of a slave auction in Las Vegas in which 25 to 30 vans pulled up, airplanes landed, and foreign men with turbans bought children and took them away. According to Gunderson: "Nobody knows what happened to those kids. They use them for several things: body parts, they use them for sacrificing, for sex slaves. But this is a big market. Does anybody have any idea what a blue-eyed, blond-haired eleven- or twelve-year girl would sell for? Fifty thousand dollars."
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Robert,
Small correction.

you said:
I have not been able to determine whether or not Browne's description ("sort of square... facing left") is correct,
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but the actual location was:
(Sylvia) Browne: If I were to take a helicopter straight up and look at this part, which makes sort of a square – if I were facing west,
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Something else has caught my attention while reading Sylvia's book "Insight." In Chapter 2, "My Psychic History," she produces a validation from one William Yabroff, Ph. D, a former psychology professor at the University of Santa Clara. (Browne describes him as an "open-minded skeptic," which I take to mean an academic who believes in her.) "Many, many years ago," Yabroff performed a test on Francine. He read the names of twenty deceased patients from his and his colleagues' archives. Sylvia's spirit guide was able to identify the cause of death of all twenty. (By the way, as far as I can tell, Sylvia never takes credit for anything. She attributes everything to Francine and/or God.)

Anyway, what's interesting is the way she finishes the story, with this paragraph:

"While Bill never published the details and results of that test, he did take it upon himself to write a letter 'to whom it may concern' before that particular encounter with Francine even happened. I've kept it for all these decades (my apologies that the date on the letter is no longer legible) and proudly reprint it here as one more thank-you to William Yabroff, Ph.D."

Why didn't Yabroff publish the test results? And how come the only validation she has from him was written before the test? Didn't he write or say anything about Sylvia afterwards? If it really was such an astounding success, you'd think he'd have said something. And why aren't we told when this test took place? OK, the printing on the letter wore off, so tell us the date Sylvia! Hell, just give us a decade! All she offers is "many, many years ago." This whole story is fishy as hell...



I typed "William Yabroff" in Google and the only interesting thing I found was this comment, posted on some aol messageboard:

Submitted on Jul 08, 2003 at 20:32 by William Yabroff, Ph.d
Email williamyabroff1@mac.com,
Web Page .

I enjoyed reading your stimulating articles on the website. "Beyond Creativity" was a very important book for me, and helped me break through the kind of rationalism that keeps academics imprisoned in the known and the accepted. I look forward to reading more of your work with a similar expectation and wish to thank you for your current website.
 
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Questioningly said:
This is a sad video with Browne:

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I've seen this one already, but just had to say that she is just such an idiot. The guy was stabbed 17 times (I believe in around the head/neck area?) and Sylvia say's "He didn't know what hit him."
Yeah Sylvia, I think perhaps he had just a bit of an idea that he was being repeatedly stabbed? :rolleyes:

And I love how Sylvia "thinks" everything: She "thinks" the son is just interpreting that his father is mad, etc, etc...
Shouldn't she be doing less "thinking" and more "knowing"?
Either way... her voice makes it barely listenable. Could not be more irritating.

:applause: And great job with your previous post regarding the WTC and Gunderson and the questions you bring up. :)
 
clerihew80 said:
I typed "William Yabroff" in Google and the only interesting thing I found was this comment, posted on some aol messageboard:
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I guess it depends on what you consider "interesting":

William Yabroff recently retired from the graduate faculty of Santa Clara University and the Fielding Institute. He has extensive experience training clinicians and other health professionals in the therapeutic use of imagery and symbol throughout the country. He has also long been a serious student of psychological type, and served as APT Research & Theory Interest Area Coordinator. While at Santa Clara University, he conducted a six year pioneering research project exploring the use of personal inner symbols for type development. This culminated in his book, The Inner Image: A Resource for Type Development, published by Consulting Psychologists Press. He further authored a combination workbook and cassette package titled "Images of Inner Wisdom," and an article about type imagery for the Journal of Psychological Type. He and Karen Keefer are currently preparing a revised workbook and CD package of type imagery journeys, to be released at the APT conference in Portland this coming summer.
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The local library here also has several of Browne's books (including one I found particularly offensive, a children's book "Animals On the Other Side"). I'll look things up too, if needed. Actually, I'm nearly done with my book by Feynman. To balance out all that fun and rationality, maybe I'll pick up a book by Sly... It'll be an interesting test to see how much I can stomach, sort of like eating goldfish or finding out how many stab wounds I can handle.
 
alfaniner said:
You'll know you're really being successful when...

someone starts a site called www.stoprobertlancaster.com.
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Well, the Sylvia woos already started:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stoprobert

They got seven signatures.

Here's the text from the petition:

"Examining and debunking the claims of purported psychic Sylvia Browne."

STOP http://www.stopsylviabrowne.com/!

This is what the website claims. What seems to be the case here is a man (Robert S. Lancaster) who says he is against Sylvia Browne. The truth: he is trying to stop faith. Novus Spiritus is a practiced religion started by Sylvia Browne. He is trying to criticize and stop a religion. I don't believe in sins, but I believe in evil. Evil is people who try to take faith away.

He claims that Sylvia Browne is a phony, but then states that he has only read one book and on the process of reading another. How can you fight something you don't know about?

His claims are ridiclous! He knows nothing about Novus Spiritus!:

"Believes that everyone goes to heaven, which they call 'the other side'"

That is his statement. The truth (as Sylvia claims): Every religion goes to heaven, dark energies go elsewhere.
Although, Robert S. Lancaster wouldn't know that. Even if he has read ONE book!

He has raved about Sylvia Browne taking faith from ideas by The DaVinci Code. Although, Sylvia Browne was here a lot longer than that movie/book (Dumbass? Yes).

I can continue with the reasons why this man should be stop. But I'll stop. Why? Because I don't need to convince people like he needs to. I don't need to stray people from their faith. Leave our faith alone, leave Sylvia Browne alone, and SHUT DOWN YOUR WEBSITE!!! LEAVE US ALONE! STOP COMPARING US TO CHRISTIANITY
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Robert,
I have read the bulk of articles on your StopSylviaBrowne site, over the past couple of months. If I had more time, I would rave and praise the glory of each one, in elegant detail!

But, I will have to summarize by saying: You are a model for how all journalism should be done! When people ask me what skeptical investigation is all about, I'll give 'em your sites!
 
Miss Anthrope said:
I suspect Heather Brown has the intellectual maturity of a seventh grader. This stuff is so junior high.
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As far as I know Heather has nothing to do with the petition above, but I do agree that Heather and her posters, as well as the folks who signed the petition, seem juvenile.
 
boojum said:
Well, the Sylvia woos already started:

They got seven signatures.

Here's the text from the petition:
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Having watched the fight between CoS and Anti-Scientologists over the years, I can't help but notice how similar Browne's tactics are to Hubbard's:


ISSUE II-​
Confidential​
​
BATTLE TACTICS​


"If you uniformly apply the tactics and strategy of battle to the rows we get into, press or legal or public confrontation, you will win."



"One cuts off enemy communications, funds, connections. He deprives the enemy of political advantages, connections and power. He takes over enemy territory. He raids and harrasses. All on a thought plane - press, public opinion, governments, etc."



"Capture and use his comm lines. A press magnate on your side is a big win."

"We will make it all the way providing we look on this in terms of active battle and not as a "if we are saintly good we will win". The people who win wars have a saintly image but they win the war by clever and forceful use of the rules of tactics, strategy and battle."
L. Ron Hubbard
Founder


LRH:bw
Copyright (c) 1969
by L. Ron Hubbard
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
 
People will do anything to cause an uproaranymore. He wont be doing this if he has everlooked at the wonderful things Sylvia has done.She has brought joy and inspirations to others.
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Such as...?


People need to leave this woman alone! Let her beas she is giving many many people around the worldsomething to believe in. She is giving them faith.She is putting out a religion that doesn't putout a cult mentality on its followers. She is justspreading her ideas to those that they appeal to.If someone doesn't want to listen, no one isforcing them. This is just one more way someonecame up with to pick a fight. Just my two centsthough..
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Evidence?
 
I saw that petition. I'm still waiting to hear:

What are they petitioning for?
Whom are they petitioning to ?
 
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Speaking of books, when I first heard about StopSylviaBrowne.com (I was reading the forum and the commentary way before I started posting) I stopped at my local branch of the NYPL to see what books of Sylvia's they had.

They had about a dozen at my branch under Non-Fiction, right next to books on Nostradamus, ghost-hunting, palm-reading, New Age and fortune-telling.

The Dewey decimal system needs a little re-classification. I'd put them all in Adult Fiction.
 
Cactus Wren said:
There's more information about Ted Gunderson
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Than ks, CW!

chillzero said:
Robert,
Small correction.
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Actually, it is correct.

So long as you read it while facing north.

Thanks for the catch!

wahrheit said:
This new article is another excellent addition to your website, Robert. :eusa_clap:
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Thanks, Warheit!

clerihew80 said:
I typed "William Yabroff" in Google and the only interesting thing I found was this comment, posted on some aol messageboard:
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Thanks for the research!

JeffJ said:
Yeah Sylvia, I think perhaps he had just a bit of an idea that he was being repeatedly stabbed? :rolleyes:
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Probably an inkling.

Kilgore Trout said:
The local library here also has several of Browne's books (including one I found particularly offensive, a children's book "Animals On the Other Side").
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Yeah, someone recently donated that one to me. Yeesh. I seem to recall Randi discussing it in one of his commentaries when it came out. Not only is it offensive, but I had friends back in high school who could draw better than whoever illustrated the book.

Also, if you read the reviews for the book on Amazon.com, a fair number are from Sylvia fans who were angry that the book was essentially a children's book, and had not been advertised as such.

I'll look things up too, if needed.
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I appreciate it, thanks!

boojum said:
Well, the Sylvia woos already started:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stoprobert
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Yes, it was started last week, I believe by someone from the "Psychic Sylvia Browne" discusion board on MySpace.

Wowbagger said:
I have read the bulk of articles on your StopSylviaBrowne site, over the past couple of months. If I had more time, I would rave and praise the glory of each one, in elegant detail!
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Thanks WB, you're very kind.

Questioninggeller said:
That would not be a wise move by the Browne camp. Robert is not a public figure.
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:(

Miss Anthrope said:
I suspect Heather Brown has the intellectual maturity of a seventh grader. This stuff is so junior high.
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I don't think she had anything to do with the petition.

boojum said:
As far as I know Heather has nothing to do with the petition above, but I do agree that Heather and her posters, as well as the folks who signed the petition, seem juvenile.
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The signers all seem to be pretty young, as are most of the people in the MySpace forum which I believe spawned the petition.

Forget it, Jake. It's MySpace...

As for Heather Brown, she has actually said some surprisingly nice things about me on her forum, and has discouraged some of the trash talking about me. She also deleted that one (parody) post which was particularly nasty.

humingbrd said:
Having watched the fight between CoS and Anti-Scientologists over the years, I can't help but notice how similar Browne's tactics are to Hubbard's:
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Yes, the more I learn about Novus Spiritus, the more parallels to Scientolgy I see.

ChristineR said:
I saw that petition. I'm still waiting to hear:

What are they petitioning for?
Whom are they petitioning to ?
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Yeah, it does seem to be lacking in a few crucial details.

EeneyMinnieMoe said:
The Dewey decimal system needs a little re-classification. I'd put them all in Adult Fiction.
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I won't even say where I'd file them.
 
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