8 August 2008

REVIEW: Psychic Kids: Children of the Paranormal - Episode 6: Angels and Demons



“The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike” - Delos B. McKown.

The first child introduced is Dalton age fifteen. He claims to see and feel spirits. He also claims they are angry at him. Another claim is that he can feel emotions. The show then cuts to Dalton’s dad, Larry. Larry is asking Dalton if he can feel a spirit right now. Dalton answers, “Yes, I can.” The striking thing about this is that it is not Dalton saying he feels a spirit but his father asking.

Dalton then seeking approval from his dad answers yes. From appearances, which can be deceiving, it looks as though Dalton and his father do not have much in common. Dalton is dressed in black and has died his hair black. His hair is also beyond the shoulder in length and Dalton lets it fall onto his face. Larry is wearing a camouflage hat and more hunting type gear.

The next scene is Larry talking about how he used to be skeptical. The parents in almost every interview claim to be skeptical at first, but also believed in ghosts or spirits before their children exhibited these phenomena. Larry says he came to believe because of Dalton’s accuracy.


Dalton is now talking about his first psychic experience. It occurred two years prior to the show. Dalton was with his dad and an unnamed friend, who was not interviewed, trout fishing. What happened, according to Dalton, was he started to get flashes of sadness, a blue truck, and a kid in the truck. Two weeks after Dalton had this experience, a missing young adult and a truck were found in the lake.

As this seemed extraordinary, I decided to research the case. The child was a nineteen year old sophomore at the University of Illinois by the name of Ryan Katcher. He had been missing for 6 years, Dalton and his dad both claimed 7 years. Ryan’s body was discovered by emergency crews while testing new equipment. Why were they testing the equipment on this lake? This lake was where they believed Ryan could be but their old equipment just wasn’t able to detect the truck. Ryan was found 50 feet deep (15 meters) and 100 feet (30 meters) from the shore. The truck he was found in was his own. It was the truck Emergency workers had been stating he was in for the last 6 years. It was a black Ford. (http://www.commercial-news.com/homepage/local_story_206143447.html?keyword=leadpicturestory)

Now looking at what Dalton and his dad said compared with the facts. The truck was black, Dalton claimed it was blue. Considering the truck color was known it is more amazing he missed on this. Dalton said the truck was in the lake. The truck was in the lake. According to the newspaper article, I found, the emergency crews had suspected that the truck was in the lake since Ryan was reported missing. Due to the depth of the lake and the conditions of the water, it was very difficult to find anything in the lake. The show made it seem like Dalton was responsible for finding the truck and body. There is no mention of any psychic help with locating the body. In fact it seems that Dalton and his father only told this story after the truck was found.

The next child introduced is Ashley age thirteen. Ashley claims to see evil faces everywhere she goes. Her first experience was seeing her grandma’s face in her mom’s curtains shortly after her grandma died. Her grandmother died eight years ago. 13 – 8 = 5. Ashley was 5 years old. Ashley’s mom made her go to counseling for “a month or three”. She was 5 years old. Mom claims that as a child Ashley was always frightened. Mom sensed Ashley could see things. She was 5 years old. Her mom then took her to church where they believed that psychics are not speaking to the dead but to demons. She was 5 years old. It then states that Ashley does not believe the same as her mother. Ashley believes more along the lines of her Native American heritage, doesn’t say which one. Ashley says she believes all spirits are good. Her mother believes in angels and demons with nothing in between.

In the next scene, Dr. Lisa Miller and psychic Chip Coffey are seen driving to Ashley’s house. The show states that Chip knows nothing about Ashley. Chip makes the statement, “I had a dream last night about Native American things, the people, the culture, the land, but didn’t know what it meant.” Dr. Miller considers this amazing as the girl they are seeing is of Native American descent. Let’s take a closer look at what Chip said. He did not say he was going to see a Native American girl to help. He says this also as they are getting closer to where she lives, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. “The word Wisconsin has its origins in the name given to the Wisconsin River by one of the Algonquian speaking American Indian groups living in the region at the time of European contact (Wikipedia)”. All of Wisconsin is steeped in Native American history. There was no real way for Chip to be wrong.

Chip talks to Ashley. Ashley now claiming she hears demonic voices and wailing. This contradicts her previous statement of all spirits being good. This is also more in line with her mother’s beliefs. As they are talking, Chip stops and claims something just walked near them and that they are being watched. Ashley goes along with saying she feels like she is being watched all the time.

Dr. Miller interviews Ashley’s mom. Asks her if Ashley’s descriptions of when she sees things are different than her just imagining things. I have a few issues with this question. First, the question is automatically assuming that what Ashley is experiencing is real. Dr. Miller is giving credence to the idea that Ashley has paranormal powers. The second is Ashley’s mom cannot know if any of it is real or imaginary. Ashley’s mom answers of course yes. Dr. Miller follows this up with the most logical question in the whole episode. “How does it seem different?” The answer though fails logic. “I don’t believe she would make up something out of imagination or anything.” She was 5 years old during her first “psychic” experience. Imagination in children develops between the ages of 3 to 4. Also the experience of losing a grandparent at that age will have an affect on the child. There are plenty of articles on the internet discussing both of these issues. It is fair to say that Ashley’s mother affected how Ashley perceives the world now.

Dr. Miller then asks what it is that she thinks Ashley sees. Her mom answers Demons, fallen angels. The show then cuts to Ashley talking to Chip about the angel and demon thing. Ashley disagrees with her mom that all these things she sees are demons. She never disagrees with her mother’s views in front of her mother. Next is Ashley’s mom saying she wants Ashley to open up more to her.

Chip begins to talk to Ashley’s mom and they argue over whether it is demons or just lost spirits. Ashley’s mother says she will not let her daughter help others “cross over”. At this point Chip gets confrontational and tells the mom that her daughter doesn’t believe that everything is either angels or demons with nothing in between. I felt this was rather callous and insensitive of Chip. This was a discussion that the mother and daughter should have had in private. Chip did not have the right to just throw this in the mother’s face as a bargaining chip. He used this information for the shock value against the mother. The mother could only respond that she does not feel good about that. In my opinion, this showed that Chip, Dr. Miller, and the show do not care for the people they are “helping”, but instead are exploiting them for ratings.

Chip tries to convince the mother to let him “help” her daughter. Mom finally concedes with conditions. Ashley can do the exercises as long as she knows that she is communicating with demons.

The next scene is at the Inn where the two kids are going to meet. The East Park Inn built in 1893 in Racine, Wisconsin. There is some background about the house and how it is “haunted”. Chip makes another statement about feeling a child or young person died here. In 1911, the infant mortality rate for the US was 135 deaths per 1000 live births (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/short/103/2/478). So there was a good chance that a child died at the house. It is confirmed by the current owner.

The next scene is Chip and Dr. Miller interviewing Dalton. Dalton talks about his “finding” of the dead body in the lake. Dalton’s dad then talks about his 15 year old emo son having mood swings and how it “isn’t normal”.

The kids are then shown to be on a ghost hunt while the parents share stories. Dalton’s dad talks about how the teachers get on to Dalton for daydreaming in class. His dad explains that this daydreaming is actually a psychic vision. His dad also says he had a psychologist talk to Dalton. Dalton was declared to be a perfectly normal teenage boy. So why does his dad keep insisting on these paranormal explanations? My thoughts on this, having no background in psychology, is that this is something Dalton and his father can both talk about. It seems that as father and son they don’t have a lot in common except for these psychic visions. Even the first vision relates back to a time they are both doing something together. These are just my own opinions.

Chip and the teenagers are in a dark room. He asks how they feel. Both answer scared. They are in a dark room at night that Chip just told them was haunted, and they are both predisposed to delusions of ghosts. How does Chip expect them to feel? Now Chip asks them to find out any information on ghosts present in the room. Dalton claims that it is a nurse that used to live in the room. He cannot give a name though. The information about the house being a nurse school was given during the tour. It also wasn’t shown if the kids were given the tour or what they did during the day before that night’s ghost hunt.

It is after Dalton talks about the nurse that something happens. Chip and Dalton both claim to hear a voice say hello and then see a figure walk by the hall. One of the cameramen claims to have seen it too. The cameraman was not able to get a shot of it on his camera. He did give a description. It was a figure all dressed in black. It went down the staircase and looked up at them. He said it was like the figure was wearing a ski mask. The “ghost” then went out of eye range into the hall downstairs. When all three, Dalton, Chip, and the cameraman, arrived downstairs, it was gone. There are few things this could be. First, it could be a ghost. Second, the whole thing could have been made up by the members of the show. Third, it could have been someone who works at the Inn trying to drum up ghost stories for more publicity. I personally feel it is option three. It happened to fast for all three to make up the same story, although it could have been planned ahead of time. There is no evidence for the first option. The cameraman did not capture it on film, so all we have is anecdotal evidence. My main reason I believe it was staff there has mainly to do with what happens next in the show. Besides what happens next, it is also easy to explain away the disappearing of the ghost at the bottom of the stairs, if it was staff. They simply went into one of the rooms downstairs. The owners and employees would be able to set up the situation and know which rooms were unoccupied.

This next scene convinced me the ghost was a setup by the owners. Chip is touring the house with the owner of the inn. The owner claims that her daughter is also psychic and senses ghosts. Now we are introduced to Mallory, age 14. Mallory and Chip are talking to each other about her experiences. In this scene, Mallory says she doesn’t think they are psychic experiences but feelings.

Next, the kids are talking to each other about their experiences. Mallory tell them all the scary stories of the Inn. At this point, Mallory is now talking about spirits and “energy”. This is quite different than the talk shown between her and Chip.

A couple of reaffirmations occur next. In the first one Dalton is talking to Chip about a ghost he sees in a graveyard. He says how he is scared of it. Chip tells him how to “protect” himself from evil spirits. Ashley talks to Dr. Miller about seeing her grandmother. Dr. Miller insists that it is Ashley’s grandmother and not a demon. It seems that Dr. Miller and Chip are just trying to strain the relationship between Ashley and her mother.

The next night, Chip and the kids are going to the basement because Mallory is afraid of it. Chip asks how they are feeling, in this dark, damp, noisy, old basement. Ashley is scared. Dalton is nervous. Mallory says she is getting a headache, apparently a sign of paranormal, and she feels like someone is behind her. Dalton confirms this. Not to be left out this time, Ashley claims to suddenly feel it, also. Chip says they had a visitor and says no more about it. They hear a noise, in the dark, damp, noisy, old basement. Ashley claims to see a face. Chip says someone is present. Dalton says he feels it now. Mallory claims to see something crawling, in the dark, damp, noisy, old basement filled with the pipes for water and heating and air. Mallory now claims something is messing with her. She can be seen pinching her nose and her nose starts bleeding. The little bit of blood from the nose is considered a paranormal attack according to Chip. The attack does not end the ghost hunt, oh no, they continue on.

Chip now tells Ashley to summon her grandmother to protect them, like Lassie, here girl come on girl. At this point, Chip asks Dalton and Mallory what they think they feel of Ashley’s grandmother, let the warm reading begin. I say warm because they already know it is her grandmother and we do not know what all they talked about during the day as only a 5 minute conversation was shown. It is very possible and likely that Ashley told the other children about her grandmother. Especially since Ashley’s grandmother is part of Ashley’s first experience. Dalton says cancer popped into his head. He did not say cancer of the lymph nodes, which was the cause of her death. One would think the dead would know what killed them. Mallory says breathing, breathing and changes that to hearing the word chemo, after Dalton gets his hit. Even if Ashley did not tell them that her grandmother died from cancer, it is still a generic guess. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2007 there were 559,650 deaths caused by cancer.

(http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp)

Ashley starts crying. The show states again that Dalton and Mallory knew nothing about Ashley’s grandmother, even though we never see what they are talking about during the days.

Chip then has Dalton and Mallory talk to Ashley’s mother. Dalton is to describe what he “saw”. The description Dalton gives is of very generic end of life cancer care. Tubes and monitors hooked up to the patient, again nothing specific. Mallory talks about how she thought heart first and then said chemo after Dalton got a hit with cancer. She then tells Ashley’s mother that she sees flowers. It was already stated that her grandmother was in a hospital. The common perception of hospital patients is people bringing them flowers, so this is a safe guess. Ashley’s mother says that flowers were the grandmother’s “thing” but she was not allowed to have them in the room with her. Mallory quickly adds that she felt it was a “mystical” flower in the room. So the flower guess was actually a miss but is quickly changed to a hit by making it mystical. Mallory then claims it is a red rose. Ashley’s mom confirms it was her favorite. The most popular cut flowers in the U.S. traditionally have been roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums.

Ashley is claiming 100% hits by the other two kids about her grandmother. Looking at it though, Dalton’s predictions were very generic and could apply to thousands of people in a single year. Mallory was completely wrong about the heart and the flowers. She was only right about the rose, which is one of the most popular flowers in the United States.

The show ends with updates on all three kids. Dalton is still afraid of a cemetery near where he lives. Mallory is no longer afraid of the basement. Ashley and her mother still argue about beliefs.

Again, a common thread among all three of the kids is that they each were only shown with a single parent. This is exactly the same as the last show I reviewed. I am not sure if they are single parent homes or if the other parent just wasn’t shown.

By BeamStalk

Self Regulating Mediums? A Look At The Spiritual Workers Association

Originally published 8/8/2008

As you may be aware, since the change in legislation with regards to Consumer Protection, a ‘new’ group formed from the objectors to the change. The Spiritual Workers Association.
spiritualworkersassociation.org.uk

The ‘association’ was formed by Carole and David McEntee-Taylor and Ian Jones who you may remember started an e-petition against the change in Law, the same petition that contained false information, stating:
"other than the Church of England, Spiritualism is the only other legally recognised religion in this country. The others are only tolerated"
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Clairvoyants/#detail

You will understand why some of us are wary of your intentions from the start if even your petition contains false information. Whether or not that information was put there with the intent to deceive or not, it still does not say much for your understanding of your OWN religion does it?

By Meercat:

What if someone had signed that petition purely because of that statement? Do you not think that would be misleading or dishonest? It sums up nicely the vast majority of the Psychics we look at on here.

These are also the same people who stated that the new law was discriminatory against them under the Equality Act 2006, an act which they have obviously not read, or have read but not understood. The Equality Act is in place for many good reasons, unfortunately for the SWA none of those reasons are 'freedom to charge money to talk to the dead'.

The e-petition also claimed "The Religious Discrimination Act states that all religions should be treated equally", the only small problem there is that there isn't actually a "Religious Discrimination Act". There IS the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, but once again it mentions nothing about having the right the charge money for a non-tangible service. Mind you, if you claim you're being discriminated against, it does help your case a little if you actually read the Act concerned rather than make one up to suit your purpose.

The SWA state that their aim is to:

Quote:
"promote excellence and improve standards in the field of spiritual work."


and that they:
Quote:


"intend to offer both public and government an organisation with policies and working practises that


* Is representative of the majority of spiritual workers
* Shows how our organisation can succeed where the proposed legislation will fail
* That is self regulating"


They also state:

Quote:

"In time the association’s membership list will also be available to the public to enable them to find spiritual workers who they know are committed to high standards"


It all sounds very honourable doesn't it? They believe that 'self regulating' is far more effective than Legislation. 

Unfortunately 'Psychics/Mediums' and 'Healers' have constantly failed to 'Police' their own industry and it seems that within just a few short months of it's existence, the SWA has shown that 'self regulation' of their industry has again failed.

The SWA have what they call their 'Round Table', a list of 'Trustees' and 'Officers', and 'Partners'. 
Two of which are members of the 'International Community of St John the Divine', an Ashley Scoulding and a gentleman by the name of Barry Rathbone "Officer (Ministry)" who decided to start his own Church in 1992 called the 'International Community of St John the Divine' and 'The Order of the Holy Knights of St John the Divine' giving himself the title of :

"His Beatitude The Rt Rev Dr Barry Rathbone DD (hons) Dip LSR KGCSJ( OM ) ICSS Founding Moderating Bishop & Abbot of the Order. De Jure Bishop Metropolitan"

not to mention, "Grand Knight Cross and Abbot." Strangely, the 'Church' accepts and performs gay marriage but the 'Knights Order' does not permit women to be ordained as Priests.....

Now I have nothing against this particular 'Church' but I am very wary of people who feel they have to bestow themselves with such ridiculous titles and letters after their names in an attempt to give themselves more credibility.

Another of their 'Officers' is a woman by the name of Sarah Tyler-Walters 
(www.voicesofspirit.co.uk)

I had a little look at her site and found that she channels a 'spirit' called 'Master Chou' who 

Quote:

"lived in China prior to the birth of Jesus and died aged 102" 

There are a few podcasts available on her site enabling you to listen to 'Master Chou' speak. It' reminds me of Peter Sellers in "The Fiendish Plot of Fu Manchu"...

Now, with 'Master Chou' being a Chinese gentleman, and as he is speaking with such a peculiar accent, one can only presume that English is not his first language so I emailed Sarah asking:

"Hi,
Is it possible to have a reading with Master Chou in Chinese?
Kind regards"


You see, I have a Chinese friend whose English is good but not great and I'm sure he would love to converse with 'Master Chou' in his native tongue. The reply from Sarah?
Quote:


"All readings are done in English.

Harmony and Light
Sarah"


Now THERE'S a surprise.....

My biggest issue with the SWA 'self regulating' is the fact that they have as one of their 'partners', "Zerdin Phenomenal" (www.zerdinphenomenal.co.uk) a website that has seen fit to promote on their website none other than Andrew McKellar, yes, the Andrew McKellar who, against UK Law, claims to cure cancer and who used a testimonial from one (possibly two, we're still waiting for conformation on the other) client who died from cancer shortly after being 'cured' by McKellar. 

That’s right, using the testimony of a man who died from cancer to sell his services to cure cancer.

So 'Spiritual Workers Association', just exactly HOW are you 'self regulating' your industry when your own 'partners' are promoting people like this? It appears all you have done is create a website, made up an 'association' name and invited all and sundry to join you without ANY thought about how you are actually going to regulate anything. Are you, as usual, going to rely on sites such as BadPsychics to do it for you?....

Thank goodness for Legislation.

Meercat.

6 August 2008

Psychic Christine Hamlett Attempts To Fight Back...

It appears that Christine 'trying my best to make a name for myself by using the Moors Murders' Hamlett (you know the one, she's the woman who keeps telling people she's 'Psychic') is a little miffed about appearing on BadPsychics.

It seems that she has attempted to 'fight back' against myself and Jon on her website. A battle of wits? Maybe so, but she appears to have turned up unarmed.....

Christine, a small word in your ear, if you plan on producing another 'get your own back', get someone else to write it.

By Meercat

www.christinehamlett.com

Lets see how her 'retort' looks shall we? All sitting comfortably?
(I may have to paraphrase to remove some of the 'waffle')
Quote:

"AS MANY PEOPLE WILL HAVE SEEN I AM ON THIS SITE I HAVE NOT SPOKEN OUT AS I WAS TOLD NOT TO.. SO I AM PUTTING MY OWN COMMENTS ABOUT ALL THIS HERE ON MY OWN SITE....."


Notice it's all in upper case, as is the rest of the piece. It's a well known Law of Woo that if it's in upper case, it's true.

Quote:
"I HAVE NOT SPOKEN OUT AS I WAS TOLD NOT TO.. "


By?.... Jesus? 'Two Trees'? Dwonk the Pixie?

Quote:
"JON DONNIS OWNER OF THE SITE BADPSYCHICS ....THERE IS PLENTY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GUY ON THE NET ..."


Yes there is, mostly put up by people like yourself who have been exposed on BadPsychics, if not by 'Psychics' then the supporters of 'Psychics'. You really know you've hit a nerve when people develop websites dedicated to an individual trying to discredit the person rather than what they are doing. 
You may not have heard of it Christine but its called 'argumentum ad hominem', look it up on Wikipedia. I'll tell you what, I'll save you the time:

"consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim. The process of proving or disproving the claim is thereby subverted, and the argumentum ad hominem works to change the subject."


Ring any bells Christine?....
Quote:

"CLAIMS THAT HE IS SIMPLY IN THE BUSINESS OF SLAGGING OF(sic) MEDIUMS FOR THE MONEY....AND THAT HE POCKETS THE MONEY DONATED TO HIS SITE TO USE FOR BEER"


Yep, we're all 'in it for the money'. I'm currently renovating my third yacht. It would be my fourth but the 23 illegal immigrants I have working for me are not pulling their weight. I shall beat them later with my diamond encrusted whip that I had custom made from the profits of exposing charlatans.

Are you open for a little advice Christine? You are? Good...
Stick with pretending to talk to the dead and don't go into investigative journalism. My point?...

Quote:
"HE POCKETS THE MONEY DONATED TO HIS SITE TO USE FOR BEER"


You see, the giveaway is the fact that it's called "The BP Beer Fund". It would come as no surprise to Watchdog or Donal MacIntyre that the money in a 'beer fund' is spent on....wait for it.....beer. Ta Daaaa!!
Quote:

"HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN MAY CAST THE FIRST STONE....."


Oh please keep your Religious quotes to yourself, if you want to start playing the Religion game, how about :

Leviticus 19:31 'Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

I was going to quote Leviticus 20:27 but personally I've never agreed with stoning, even for Mediums....

Quote:
"HERE IS A VERY CHILDISH EMAIL FROM JON DONNIS AND I AM AFRAID I SANK DOWN TO HIS LEVEL IN MY REPLY....

Donnis email...

IT IS INTERESTING HOW YOU USE SARCASM TO DEFEND YOURSELF UNFORTUNATLY IT JUST EXPOSES FUTHER INSECURITIES YOU HAVE
I SUPPOSE THAT IS WHY YOU CREATED THE DELUSION OF MAGICAL POWERS MAKES YOU FEEL SPECIAL
WHEN IN REALITY YOU ARE JUST A NORMAL MIDDLE AGED WOMAN."


I see nothing 'childish' about that, it appears very straight forward to me.

Quote:
"my reply....

IT IS INTERESTING HOW YOU USE NASTINESS TO DEFEND YOURSELF..
UNFORTUNATLY IS JUST EXPOSES YOUR INSECURITIES THAT YOU HAVE
I SUPPOSE WHEN YOU GOT THE CALLING TO DESTROY THE THINGS YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND IT MADE YOU FEEL SPECIAL
WHEN IN REALITY YOU ARE JUST A SAD LITTLE MAN..."


Sometimes people should not be let near a keyboard. It's hardly literary genius to change a couple of words in a paragraph is it? The main point being, that Donnis, myself, and others who think that charging money to pretend to talk to the dead is disgusting, have nothing to defend. Nothing. We are not making the ridiculous claims that have to be defended, the 'Psychics' are.
Quote:

"NOTE HOW NONE OF THIS HAS APPEARED ON THE BADPSYCJHICS(sic) WEBSITE ......."


Unfortunately I have not been able to log into 'Badpsycjhics' but you can rest assured it will now appear on BadPsychics. Obviously had we thought it worthy of more than a cursory glance, we would have put it on sooner, but we aim to please.
Quote:

"JON DONNIS OR WHATEVER HE CALLS HIMSELF ALSO HAD THE NERVE TP(sic) PULL ME UP ON MY GRAMMAR ...."


'tp'? It's not just your grammar obviously...
Quote:

"YES I KNOW IT IS NOT GOOD BUT THAT'S ME ..."


But it's not 'just you' is it? This is the point we keep making time and time again. Why is it that 95% of 'Woo' websites contain such bloody awful spelling and grammar? Personally speaking, my spelling and grammar is appalling, I am the King of Typos, we all make mistakes, but I DO have a spell check (which sometimes fails admittedly) but if you produce a website to sell a service, don't you think you should at least get someone to proof read it first? 

'Psychics' tend to disagree, preferring to come across as illiterate instead of professional. Please, and not just you Christine, if you are selling something, at least give your customers the courtesy of making it look like you used a bit of effort. 
Quote:

"WHAT I DO OBJECT TO IS SOMEONE LIKE DONNIS PULLING ME UP ON MY GRAMMAR WHEN HE CANT EVEN SPELL IT....MISTAKES MADE BY DONNIS IN AN EMAIL TO ME TELLING ME HOW BAD MY GRAMMAR IS ....."


As I have stated above, everyone makes mistakes, in an email it doesn’t matter too much, but on a website that sells something? Would you really buy a car from a garage that advertises "Get yor carz from us, we is the bestest"?
Quote:
"I DONT USUALLY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SKEPTICS BUT THE SKEPTICS ON THE BADPSYCHICS SITE USE INSULTS AND CHILDISH BEHAVIOR(sic) TO GET THERE(sic) POINTS OVER"


No, not all of them, in fact we have some very articulate and polite sceptics (that's 'sceptics' Christine, we're not in America) on BadPsychics. 

Personally speaking, I'm in the 'insulting and childish' section, I sometimes affiliate myself with the 'offensive and rude' group and occasionally the 'downright obnoxious', but I still think I get my point across without having to hug too many people.

Quote:
"THERE REALLY IS NOT(sic) NEED YOU DONT HAVE TO BE AGGRESIVE AND RUDE AND DOWNRIGHT NASTY TO GET A POINT OVER .."


I'm afraid Christine that some of us view how you earn a living with such disgust that 'being nice about it' went out the window a long time ago. Some of us wonder how people like you sleep at night.

Quote:
"THEY REFER TO PEOPLE LIKE ME AS TRICKING GULIBLE(sic) PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR MONEY"


Yes we do. Not just the gullible, but also the grieving, the desperate, the vulnerable and the credulous.

Quote:
"I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT' PEOPLE COME TO ME BECAUSE THEY WANT TO I DONT(sic) NOT FORCE ANYONE.."


Whether you 'force' anyone is not the issue. Do you think anyone would come and see you if you said you CAN'T talk to the dead? No, of course they wouldn't. You prey on vulnerabilities.
Quote:

"AND FOR MANY YEARS NOW I HAVE TOLD MY CLIENTS THAT IF I OR THEY ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE READING THEN THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY"


And just how many people are too polite to actually complain?

Quote:
I DID READINGS FOR YEARS FOR NO PAYMENT AT ALL..


It's a shame you didn't carry on with that method.
Quote:

"I DO CHARGE NOW BUT ONLY BECAUSE THIS IS MY JOB NOW."


It seems you've realised there is money to be made by peddling an unproven, non-tangible 'service' that any second rate stage magician could provide.
Quote:

"I PROVIDE A SERVICE SO I GET PAID FOR IT NOBODY EXPECTS A SERVICE FOR FREE .."


Just exactly what 'service' do you provide, pretending to talk to the dead? How is that a 'service'?.....

Quote:
"THE CHURCH CHARGES FOR A WEDDING.. THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY BEFORE GOD IS ANYONE TELLING THE CHURCH THEY HAVE TO PROVE GOD IS THERE IN THE CHURCH ?"


You pay for the Ceremony, after which you are legally married, you even get a certificate! They are providing a tangible service.

Quote:
"THEY CHARGE FOR FUNERALS CAN THEY GAURANTEE(sic) THAT THE DECEASED WILL GO TO HEAVEN?"


Exqueeze me? The money is not to make sure the deceased enters heaven, the money is to make sure the body is put in a grave/Urn and not left on the side of the road somewhere or stuffed behind a radiator. You pay for a tangible service, the burial/cremation.
Quote:

"I TRY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIY TO PROVE LIFE AFTER DEATH I REALLY THINK THAT SKEPTICS(sic) SHOULD PROVE LIFE AFTER DEATH DOES NOT EXIST.. .INSTEAD OF JUST SLAGGING PEOPLE OF(sic) .."


You 'Psychics' never let me down, I was wondering how long it was going to be before you came up with "prove there ISN'T life after death". It really is quite a pathetic argument that has been beaten around the head so many times it's starting to look like Michael Jackson. Can I say this once and once only? All together now...

You cannot prove something is NOT there. It defies logic and critical thinking.

Come on people, there are kids in Nursery school who can tell you the same. It's a pathetic argument made by Woomongers who fail time and time again to provide ANY evidence that what they are saying is real and still charge people money for it under the umbrella of 'you have to be open minded'.

Quote:
"BADPSYCHICS SHOULD GO ABOUT THINGS IN A MORE PROFFESIONAL(sic) AND SCIENTIFIC MANNER IF THEY WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE THEM MORE SEROIUSLY(sic).. AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE REVELING(sic) IN THE PUBLICITY THEY ARE GETTING SO WHO NOW WANTS THEIR FIFTEEN MINUTES OF FAME ?"


There is NOTHING scientific about exposing 'Psychics'. There would be, but every time one is asked to be scientifically tested, they always find a reason or an excuse not to be. Come on Christine, why don't you stand by your remarks? Let BadPsychics 'scientifically test you', if you're genuine, you have nothing to fear, and if you pass, we will champion you, promote you and personally speaking, I will devote my time and money to making sure your abilities are known throughout the World. 

As for 15 minutes of fame, it's not something we seek. All we want is to expose people who prey on the vulnerable.

Quote:
"THE HIGHER YOU CLIMB THE LOWER YOU FALL IT WILL HAPPEN SOON."


Er....Eh?

Quote:
"ALLICATIONS(sic) MADE AGAINST ME ON BP SITE......THAT I AM TOUTING FOR BUSINESS ON THE MOST HAUNTED SITE .......I NEVER SENT THAT EMAIL TO THE FORUM MY DAUGHTER DID SHE WANTS ME TO GO ON MOST HAUNTED SO SHE SENT IT TO SEE IF THEY WOULD RESPOND ...."

That’s odd, you denied all knowledge of it originally, now it appears you’re blaming your daughter?.... In fact if I remember correctly you even stated that "someone had hacked into the LivingTV site" to put the post there.....

Quote:
"JOE TWO TREES .......I HAVE HAD A FIRST NATIONS GUIDE FOR OUITE(sic) SOME TIME I CALLED HIM TWO TREES ...THEN A WHILE AGO A MEDIUM SAID TO ME THAT WILL BE JOE TWO TREES ....SO STUPIDLY WITHOUT CHECKING UP I BELEIVED(sic) THIS PERSON I GUESS I AM ABIT(sic) GULIBLE(sic) THAT WAY ....I LOOKED UP JOE TWO TREES AND MISREAD THE INFORMATION ABOUT HIM ....I WAS GOING TO LOOK INTO HIS HISTORY ABIT(sic) MORE BUT NEVER GOT ROUND TO IT ...SO I THOUGHT HE WAS THE LAST OF HIS TRIBE AS THAT'S WHAT WAS SAID OF HIM ....I WAS WRONG I SHOULD OF SPOKEN TO MY GUIDE TWO TREES AND CONFIRMED THIS INFORMATION BUT I DID NOT AND FOR THAT I STAND GUILTY BUT IT WAS NOT DONE INTENTIONALY(sic) AND AFTER ALL I MAY BE MEDIUMISTIC BUT I AM HUIMAN(sic) FIRST AND BEING HUMAN I MAKLE(sic) MISTSAKES(sic) AND SOMETIMES TAKE THE LAZY WAY INSTEAD OF REALLY LOOKING INTO THINGA(sic) WELL THIS WILL TEACH ME IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE BEFORE I PUT ANYHTING(sic) ON MY SITE .."


Hang on... this is YOUR Spirit Guide right? If you can't get the information correct about your guide who allegedly helps you, what chance have you got of talking to anyone else who's dead?
Quote:

I HAVE HAD A FIRST NATIONS GUIDE FOR OUITE(sic) SOME TIME I CALLED HIM TWO TREES "


For quite some time? You mean you don't now? You realise that looks the same as "I had a First Nations Guide called Two Trees until BadPsychics pointed out I was talking rubbish so now I don't have him any more"?....

Quote:
"WELL AT LEAST I DONT USE THE MONEY I MAKE TO DRINK IT ALL UP THE WALL ."


Oh dear.. the phrase you're looking for is p... oh forget it.....

Quote:
"I USE IT TO LIVE IT IS MY JOB....I HAVE HEARD THAT DONNIS DOES NOT HAVE A JOB I DONT KNOW HOW TRUE THIS IS .."


No you don't do you, you have no idea at all, but your arguments are so pathetically weak the only thing you can come up with is that? 
Personally I would rather NOT work than live knowing my money has come from the gullible, vulnerable and credulous.
Quote:

"WHEN HE IS LIVING OF(sic) THE DONATIONS SENT BY USERS OF HIS WEBSITE... "


If Donnis is getting enough donations to 'live on' I want a pay rise, at least 8% AND I want the company car replacing, its a bloody heap.

Perhaps Christine, and please don't take this as me 'having a go', I really do mean it in a positive way. Perhaps if you laid off the whole Spirit/Medium thing for a while and maybe put that time into helping people in an Adult Literacy class? I think both sides could benefit more than 'talking to the dead'.

Meercat

Challenge from Christine Hamlett, "Red Cloud Is Real Ask Jackie Dennison Koshnick"

An email I received from Christine stated:

"My partner in rescue mediums has a indian guide called red cloud YES THE red cloud you can check him up he is quite famous ..She has quite alot of information about him on her site Feathers Academy he is a real person you can check him up.."

THE Red Cloud? Even though she asked me not to contact her again, I had to reply:

By Meercat

Quote:

"As a matter of interest, the 'famous' Red Cloud was in fact Sioux, the Oglala Lakota and no connection to Takelma Tribe. I can find no reference to anyone in the Takelma being called Red Cloud."



Her reply?:

Quote:
Maybe you should tell jackie that not me .He is her 1st nations guide not mine and she has quite alot of information about him on her site and connects the famous red cloud as one and the same man no matter what tribe ....she even has pictures of the famous red cloud on her site I would be interested to see what she would have to say to you ...
you should take a look at Feathers academy spirit guides there is another medium you can attack ..But be careful she knows alot about red cloud and you may end up wrong.....
sarcasm suits you keep it up


Sarcasm is indeed the lowest form of wit, but wit nonetheless...

A further email furnished me with several screens shots of the Feathers Academy website with the "quite a lot of information on him" on it, and a final comment from Christine:

Quote:
here you are take her on ..if you dare ,..


Okay then.


Firstly I had a proper look at The Feather Academy website www.feathersmediums.co.uk to have a butchers at this "lots of information" that 'Medium' Jackie Dennison Koshnick has about her 'guide'.

Here it is:

Quote:
"Red Cloud: Jackie also works with a Native American Indian, Red Cloud, from the Takelma Tribe, part of the Rogue River Indians. Red Cloud introduced himself in the early part of 2005 and spoke of wonderful work that Jackie would be involved with across the water."


Yep, that's certainly a wealth of information. As I have already stated, I can find no reference to a 'Red Cloud' being in the Takelma Tribe, so I'm guessing this was just a little known individual, if he existed at all. 

But hang on, didn't Christine say he was THE Red Cloud he is "quite famous" and "a real person I can check up on". I had better take a look at the picture that Jackie has of him. Well, its a drawing actually:



Which appears to be a reproduction of this photo:



See?



So at least we know that this 'Guide' was a real person as Jackie states on her site that this is a drawing of him.. But who is it? Well, the photo is from a poster of THE Red Cloud, you know, the famous one:



Okay, so we have established that Jackie Dennison Koshnick has THE Red Cloud, Makhpiya Luta (1822-1909) as her 'Spirit Guide'. What does Jackie say about him again?
Quote:

"from the Takelma Tribe, part of the Rogue River Indians"


The Takelma Tribe were from Oregon, now, what the Hell would a Sioux War Leader like Red Cloud be doing in Oregan?

Yes, Red Cloud was Oglala Lakota, born in Nabraska, the Lakota Territory is predominantly Dakota. Red Cloud was NEVER part of the Takelma Tribe, and judging by the distance between Dakota and Oregon, there's a good chance he never even 'bumped into them' during his life either.

Once again, a Mediums claims are quite easily debunked with just a little research. Now, it makes you wonder as to the 'abilities' of these Mediums if they can't even get the background of their own 'guides' correct. If they can't do that, what chance have they of giving a sitter a reading about their relatives?

There you go Christine, it seems Jackie's 'guide' is as genuine as yours. Although I have to question your reasons for wanting me to 'take her on'.

Meercat

Christine Hamlett - An Update


I recently emailed Christine with regards to her website and her claims of having 'Joe Two Trees' as her 'Spirit Guide'.

You will recall that she said that Joe was 'Last of the Alonquin', which is in fact the title of a book by Theodore L. Kazimiroff, (well, the actual title is 'The Last Algonquin') not his true background, Joe Two trees was a member of the Weckquaesgek band of the Algonquin people, in the Turtle Clan, NOT 'the last Alonquin'.

By Meercat


I received the following email back:

Quote:
"Well what a lot of anger"

I wouldn't say 'anger', more a 'sick to the back teeth of Psychics claiming to have Native Americans for Spirit Guides'

Quote:

"firstly I do not use the name of joe two trees to gain any money whatsoever I was told by a medium that this was my Indian guide"


Your website Christine, used to state:

Quote:

"JOE HELPS CHRISTINE WITH HEALING HE PLAYS A BIG PART IN THE PSYCHIC SKETCHES"


Two services which you offered on your website. If you were not using his name to 'make yourself more spiritually credible', why use it?
You were "told by a Medium" that he was your guide? Hang on, YOU'RE a Medium, you mean you don't know for sure? I find that rather curious to say the least....

Her email continued:

Quote:

"I did not know anything about him all I got was the name two trees"


But your website stated:

Quote:

"CALLED JOE TWO TREES LAST OF THE ALONQUIN TRIBE"


So... you read the book then?.......

Quote:

"you accuse me of using people when you are treating me this way HOW DARE YOU !!!!!"


I'm not sure I understand the connection between 'you' and 'me'. You have been using the name of a dead person to sell your readings, how have I used you exactly? I write for free...... Lots of exclamation marks there, although I much prefer the 'How very dare you', it doesn't require any.
Quote:


"i DO MUCH WORK WITHOUT ANYPAYMENT WHATSOEVER !!!!! WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ME ???? judge ye not that ye not be judged ......"


I see.... So because you do 'unpaid' work, that absolves you from any paid work you do? I don't understand the logic behind that one. By the way, I think you'll find you have one too many 'Ye' knocking around. 'Judge ye not' would imply I was judging myself, I'm not. Next time, try "Judge not, that ye not be judged", that works better. Just a thought....

Quote:

"And how the hell do you know he could not be my guide the first nations people are very spiritual why would he not offer his help from the spiritworld ?"


I found the give-away was the fact that 'Joe' described himself to you as the title of a book written about his life. Why would he not offer his help? I have no idea, but I prefer the question "Why the hell would he?"

Quote:

"I dont want to hurt anyone I will remove this information from my site"


Good, thank you. Although, and I realise this is going to sound a bit 'damned if you do, damned if you don't', but.... does this mean he is no longer your guide? Or he's still your guide, you just don't talk about it? It doesn't really show a lot of conviction does it? Surely if you are in contact with him 'from the other side', you could provide proof (other than what was written in Kazimiroff's book) to the Algonquin people? Proof that you are in touch with one of their departed? If you could, how could that hurt them?

Quote:

"But I suggest you take a look at Feathers Academy where you will find the medium jackie dennison koshnick claiming to have Red Cloud as her Indian guide"


Well there's nothing like dropping your ex Sister-in-Law in it is there? Yes, I notice that Jackie claims to have "Red Cloud" as her 'guide':
Quote:


"from the Takelma Tribe, part of the Rogue River Indians"


I find this no less offensive than using 'Joe Two Trees', Although I can find no reference to a 'Red Cloud' being from the Takelma Tribe. Jackie seems to have taken the wise decision to make a name up, rather than use a real persons. You see, when you use a real person, their history is check-able, and when that history is different to 'your' story, it tends to let the cat out of the bag.....

On a side note, I notice Jackie also uses a guide from 1856 called 'Jeremkya' who appears to be unique in the fact that he was the only person in the History of the World ever to be called 'Jeremkya'.......

Anyway...back to the email....

Quote:

"or maybe you could go on every mediums site and dispute their Indian guide instead of picking on someone who really does give a shit about people and does much work helping people without any kind of payment ...."


Am I supposed to be impressed with this 'work without payment' thing as you appear to have mentioned it again. There are hundreds of thousands of people around the World who dedicate their lives to causes 'without payment'. Admittedly though, the vast majority don't counter that good work by charging to 'speak to dead people'.

Quote:

"DO NOT CONTACT ME AGAIN I DID NOT ASK FOR YOUR OPINION NOR DO I WANT IT ...."

I was just in the process of not contacting her again when another email arrived....
Quote:


"Tell you what ....you take me to court and prove that i dont have joe two trees as a guide and that i am a bad psychic ....then maybe we can sort this out..
christine"


Christine seems to be unaware of the rules of evidence. You cannot prove a negative. Christine also seems to be unaware that with the new Legislation in April, don't have to prove anything as it's not myself making the fantastic claims, SHE does.

As you will have gathered, Christine has changed her website and removed any reference to Joe Two Trees, Loni (her 'Oriental Guide'), personal readings, psychic sketches and workshops. Instead, she appears to be happy to be on BadPsychics.

Quote:

"WELL WELL WHAT DO YOU KNOW ....I AM ON THE BADPSYCHICS SITE UP THERE WITH ALL THE REST OF THEM..THE FAMOUS.. COLIN FRY/ DEREK ACORAH/ DAVID WELLS/ JOHN EDWARDS/ LISA WILLIAMS /DORIS STOKES/ JAMES VAN PRAGH/ DORIS COLLINS/ TONY STOCKWELL / I AM UP THERE WITH THE BEST ..RECOGNITION AT LAST !!!!.......FAME AT LAST !!!!! THANKS FOR PUTTING ME ON THIS SITE I AM UP THERE WITH THE BEST NOW ITS PUBLICITY I COULD NOT BUY AND YOU MEERCAT GAVE IT ME FOR FREE THANKS..IF I CAN RETURN THE FAVOUR DO LET ME KNOW"


It never ceases to amaze me when these 'Psychics' seem to think that being on BP is a good thing..... "up there with the best"..Oh dear... Free publicity? Well I suppose that's a good thing if you think people reading about how you took the title of a book and pretended it was your 'Spirit Guide' is 'good'. "Return the favour"? Don't you think an apology to the Algonquin People would be more fitting than offering to 'do me favours'?

Quote:

"QUESTION ? WHY ARE ALL SKEPTICS SO AGGRESIVE ??"


I can't answer for 'all' sceptics. I'm aggressive because that's just the way I am, but I'm honest about it. I'd rather be like that than profess 'Love and Light' and be hypocritical.

Christine has changed her site again, whilst I was writing this. She has removed my favourite bit now:
Quote:


"I HAVE RECIEVED A EMAIL FROM A DAVID ANDERSON OR AS HE LIKES TO CALL HIMSELF MEERCAT ..THE MIND BOGGLES AS TO WHY"


Its a shame, as I wanted to say "It was a name my Spirit Guide gave to me......."

Quote:

"HE IS VERY RUDE IN HIS EMAIL SUGGESTING THAT ANY MEDIUM WHO HAS A SPIRIT GUIDE THAT CAN BE PROVED WAS ONCE A REAL PERSON IS A FRAUD !!!"

Do I have to go over this again? I said nothing of the sort. You have used a book title, a book written about a person which incorrectly states Joe Two Trees was "The last Algonquin", that was a descriptive title of a book, not fact. But you used this 'fact' about your 'guide', which tells me you have no information about him other than what you've read, NOT because you are 'communicating' with him.

Quote:

"WELL I SUGGEST WE ALL JUST PACK IT IN THEN..AS EVERY SPIRIT GUIDE OR SPIRIT BEING WAS ONCE A REAL PERSON AND ALIVE .... "


Every Guide? Is this a good point to mention a certain 'Sam'? The 2000 year old Ethiopian who should be fluent in the ancient Semitic language of Ethiopia, Ge'ez, but apparently can only manage 'scouse'?....
Quote:


"HE GOES ON TO SAY THAT MY GUIDE CAN BE PROVED TO HAVE ONCE BEEN A REAL PERSON ( WOW) TELL ME SOMETHING I DONT KNOW"


I thought I already had? Joe Two Trees was NOT the last of the Alonquin Tribe, don't you think that's a little odd, I mean, me knowing that, and YOU being the one talking to him?

Quote:

HE HAS THREATENED ME WITH THE NEW GOVERMENT ACT COMING IN APRIL.. THERE IS A WITCH HUNT OUT THERE IF YOU ARE A MEDIUM OR HOLISTIC PRACTISIONER I SUGGEST YOU BE VERY CAREFUL AS THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE LIKE MR ANDERSON WHO ARE OUT TO GET YOU..


She removed this bit as well:

Quote:

WATCH OUT THERE,S A MEERCAT ABOUT!!!!!!


Shame.... anyway...
Quote:


I CAN SMELL THE FIRES NOW AND HEAR THE SCREAMS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE BURNT AS WITCHES AT THE STAKE....


Now, it's been a while since I talked to Trading Standards, but when I called my local office and asked if they are planning on burning people at the stake in April, they hung up. Read into that as you will... I did check the new Legislation again though and all I can find is:

Quote:

"will be enforced by both civil (injunctive) action and criminal sanctions"


No mention of 'stakes' or 'burning' that I could see. Panic over.

Yes, you're quite correct, there ARE a lot of people out there like myself, people who are tired of others preying on the vulnerable and gullible to make money. Tired of people making money under the guise of 'helping people'. Tired of people abusing the names of the dead for their own gain. Tired of a new 'woo method' appearing every other week, "Using the spiritual power of carpet fluff to cleanse your Chakras", "Vortex Healing" or "Anti-Vortex Healing" for those who are Vortex Intolerant, and "Double Choc-Chip Unicorn Communication" for those who wish to talk to the dead about dieting. I'm tired of it. Very.

Meercat