Randi on Anderson Cooper 360

I wonder if Randi lost his temper mainly because he knew only moments of the segment were left and if he hoped to get in a word or two he would have to get it in by force? I agree that losing his temper looked bad, but with the clock ticking and Linda blathering on he didn't have much choice. At least that's my 2 cents on it.
 
I thought the hopes and wishes of desperate grieving people were hopes and wishes.

I really feel sorry for those that believe all people who consult psychics, or anything else that the organized skeptical movement disbelieves, must be desperate and grieving.
 
I really feel sorry for those that believe all people who consult psychics, or anything else that the organized skeptical movement disbelieves, must be desperate and grieving.

Me too.

I also pity those that believe that none who consult psychics, or other such predators, are desperate and grieving.



Fortunately, I doubt there are any here who would qualify as fitting either description.
 
I really feel sorry for those that believe all people who consult psychics, or anything else that the organized skeptical movement disbelieves, must be desperate and grieving.

Please link for me the statement that I made that said "all people who consult psychics, or anything else that the organized skeptical movement disbelieves, must be desperate and grieving.". Thank you.
 
Just got off the phone with one of her office monkeys. I called under the pretense that I was interested in a reading and just wanted to get clarification on a few things.

Does Sylvia charge for readings? Yes, $750 for a phone consultation. I pointed out that I saw her manager on TV and she said that she didn't charge. He laughed and pointed out that she doesn't charge for missing persons and the like. After all, he pointed out, she does have a staff and a corporation to suport.

Oh? It's a corporation? I thought she had a a church? Well yes, he said, for over 30 years. So what portion of the reading fee (love donation??) went to the church and which to the corporation? He had no answer. I was curious of course, because if it went to the church maybe it would be tax deductible. Of course he pointed out that it's not a donation, and not tax deductible, if I received something (the reading) in return.

This makes me wonder if it's some way around IRS and other regulation. I wonder if anyone's ever looked into the financial situation with her "church."
 
I wonder if Randi lost his temper mainly because he knew only moments of the segment were left and if he hoped to get in a word or two he would have to get it in by force? I agree that losing his temper looked bad, but with the clock ticking and Linda blathering on he didn't have much choice. At least that's my 2 cents on it.
Just an opinion, but it didn't look to be as though Randi lost his temper. He just complained, justifiably, that he was being interrupted, and had to shout over her to be heard.
 
Awesome, thanks.

I KNEW I'd heard christianity mentioned in there somewhere. She doesn't claim to be one, just says Randi "negates christianity" right after she says Sylvia gets all her messages from God.

Neat little trick there sweetie. :blush:

Damn, and Anderson DID chastize Rossi once earlier for interrupting. Even moreso now I'm positive "would you mind?" was about the nicest way of getting her to shut her yap humanly possible.
 
I wonder if anyone's ever looked into the financial situation with her "church."

Anyone can.. "Society of Novus Spiritus is a nonprofit religious corporation as defined by the IRS Code 501(c)(3), which was granted on September 7, 1990." (this is from a Word document on the site so one can print it out to send in donations) All non-profits submit an IRS Form 990 for taxes and it can be requested by anyone "whether in person, by mail, fax, or e-mail." (from the wiki on tax forms)

Additionally, there is a 990 on guidestar.org but it's from 2001. Sylvia was (at the time anyway) the only employee as president and received no salary. They took in about $400k and spent about $400k. The bulk of the income was for "healing/counseling" and their program service accomplishments cost about $400k to "provide facilities for ongoing religious study and church services in various locations. Also provides and supports a home study program." Their primary exempt purpose is stated as "religious organization providing education, counseling, hypnosis, healing services, weddings, funerals and house blessings." (And as a disclaimer, I'm no tax accountant, I read it as best I can, but might have missed something; an accountant would be a lot better suited to analyze it -- or better, the latest one)

(also, you have to register for guidstar.org, there's a free account and a premium.. I looked at the 990 with a free account, but seems there might be more information only available with a premium account)

kt
 
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A friend of mine came to me because her cousin is thinking about forking over the $700 "donation" to get a reading from Browne. I directed her to the many clips on You-tube of Browne screwing up, from Montel mostly, and to RL's site. This was about a week ago. Thanks to a rather timely text message from her, I was able to watch the AC segment as it happened.

I can only reiterate what mostly everyone else has to say; it was great. I was so proud of Anderson Cooper. If Randi had gotten more excited than he did I wouldn't have blamed him. I would like to see those two, or even better Browne and Randi, on Larry King in the studio together. I've always had a problem with debates set up via satellite. The camera can really only focus on one person. I chose Larry King because he usually lets his guests do most of the talking/arguing.

Also, while I love that little guy to death( I got my picture taken with him :D ), I agree with the notion of a slight modification of his mass media image. Sure, we all know what he's really like, but how many others outside the skeptical community can say that? I think an appearance on the Daily Show would be a good start. Hell, I'm suprised Jon Stewart hasn't mentioned this whole Syliva Browne debacle already.
 
Is that bush pig Sylvia Browne a religion? Another reason I am a non-theist.

I think the whole thing about insults and ad homs was already gone over so rather than me raking you over the coals for that, maybe you should go back and reread it and then think about the kind of image you're giving skeptics.

Seriously, I would report that for a rule 8 violation. You're just lucky that no bush pigs are users here.

An invective like that deserves a nice long suspension.
 
Part of the interview was the replaying of a clip of Sylvia's pronouncement to the Hornbecks that she sensed Shawn was dead. It was almost as if she had struck them. And after that, to not speak with them without her usual fees...

At that one part where Anderson jumped in and asked if she thought Shawn were still dead, I got the sense that Rossi was trying to inject something about Shawn's mental condition. That maybe he had in some sense changed 'like death' and was a willing participant in his abuse. If so I am glad they cut that off, their "Ministry" has done quite enough for the family. Such a callous rationalization for Sylvia's mistake would be right up their garbage strewn alley. Check back here in a few weeks and see if I'm not right. They will expand on that thought. "JREF time stamped prediction"

A parent who has lost a child deserves better than what Sylvia offers.

I thought Randi did fine, he does not strike me as a cranky old guy but could I tell if he were? humm. A review of previous transcripts with skeptics shows that without some firm assertion the psychics will do all the talking and seem in control of the interview. They can't expect skeptics to be dead, or Sylvia's crew would throw in a reading. :)

Just an opinion, but we underestimate what excellent performers psychics are, and their command of a stage. Something about Sylvia allows her to charge $740 for a reading, she has some skillz that have nuttin to do with talkin' to the dead.

Randi might not represent a proper foil for all the nonsense in the world, but he is Sylvia's "arch enemy" as the media likes to describe. (If he were wearing a black top hat & carrying a dragonhead cane that would be sooo awesome.)

My cynical side says that the media likes the battles framed as black and white, good vs evil, and unresolved so that they can come back on a later show. -shrug-

The end was a little out of control.

It would be good to have a specific 'bite' ready that can be thrown out for people to think about on their own after the show. Leaven as it were, for the skeptical bread.
 
I have been told, by people who attended one of Browne's "Spiritual Salons" on January 20th, that she told them that she had asked Francine (her "spirit guide") how she could have been so wrong about Shawn Hornbeck, and Francine told her that she had picked up on the body of another boy.
 

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