83 Comments »

CuriousWhy said:
After spending all my money on guru-dumb™, I appreciate the wheat thins commercials (and the abc special). Thanks for the link
  +6
[Reply]

CuriousWhy Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I had to refresh the page and “This episode is sponsored by Kool-Aid”.
How much more appropriate!
WINNER!! ::   +12
[Reply]

SD Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:10 pm
@CuriousWhy ::
I also saw one for a Manic Depression drug :: slightly more situationally appropriate.
[Reply]
# 2 July 2010 at 3:53 pm

advancedNoob said:
For the longest time we’ve known gurus are to be blamed for exploiting people with their hype, lies and deceit. But seriously, there’s a significant chunk of population that is just dying (in this case literally) to give their money over to the next guy who can show them the dream of riches. This video particularly highlights it.
We need to lock up the lying gurus, but also try to limit and edumacate the sillies who destroy our economy over and over by buying junk they cannot afford and then default on their debts because they’re looking for the magical purple unicorn that sparkles with gold.
WINNER!! ::   +7
[Reply]

SD Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:25 pm
@advancedNoob ::
It’s true.
But :: the solution for the lying gurus is obvious :: easy :: and fits well within our liberal democratic traditions. Namely :: strict enforcement of long existing laws against fraud and misrepresentation.
The unicorn chasing problem is far more complex :: in both origin and solution.
[Reply]

advancedNoob Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm
@SD,
I understand exactly what you mean – and for all intents and purposes, I do agree we need to begin with locking up the DeathRays of this world.
HOWEVER, what was the very last thing said by one of JR’s students?:
“I know 3 people died and it was horrible, but my life is better and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” (paraphrase)
To me, these people are no less psychopathic than Ray. All they care about is making their life better and for that they’ll easily suspend logic, critical thinking, and even their base humanity. The woman saying this would have been dead if she wasn’t rescued by one of the workers.
yes, let’s get rid of JR, but a few days down the road, the next JR or Vitale will take his place and lead the now shepherd-less flock of James.
I sometimes have a very difficult time sympathizing with these ‘victims’.
  +6
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Hippo Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:08 am
@advancedNoob,
You make some good points. We all need to be educated about this stuff. It should be mandatory for everyone to take a class in Critical Thinking.
Hopefully this show “Mind Games” will stay on the air. The public needs some kind of anti-venom against Oprah and others who irresponsibly promote con men.
WINNER!! ::   +10
[Reply]

Jean D Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 3:03 pm
@Droid, Outstanding. It’s great to see you appeal to former Ray followers to call their friends who still support him. You’re the original Tin Man(Robot)with a very big humanitarian heart.
@Hippo, I would also like to see a Consumer Education course required for high school graduation.
@advancedNoob, Let’s be careful not to label all followers, especially the deceased victims,as dumb or crazy. Ray,Vitale and other faux teachers, possess well-honed techniques that lure and captivate economically solvent, intelligent,over-achievers, many who are willing to “play full on” as Kirby Brown’s mother has stated repeatedly. Although it may not seem logical to some of us, certain traits that make these folks successful, are the same qualities that can somehow render them suspectible to evil con games. It is,indeed,a complex situation,as SD points out.
WINNER!! ::   +7
[Reply]

advancedNoob Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 3:22 pm
@Jean D,
I apologize if it seemed like I was characterizing all the victims as idiots. I was not.
I specifically meant to point out the couple of ‘students/followers’ of Rays who STILL insist that he is great and what not. They do not care that this psychopathic murdered and pathological liar has conned hundreds and killed (indirectly) at least 4 that we know of. As long as they can get ‘something’ out of it, they are content.
It is this thinking that makes me think that if they had the same opportunity as Ray to build wealth by conning others, they’d take it without any questions.
WINNER!! ::   +9
[Reply]

Unicorn Army Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 7:21 pm
@advancedNoob,
“It is this thinking that makes me think that if they had the same opportunity as Ray to build wealth by conning others, they’d take it without any questions.”
That is indeed a core problem, and the same happens with the get-rich Internet marketing crowd. We’ve already seen that many people defend Perry Belcher, for instance, on the basis that “his methods work.”
  +5
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Duff Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
“It is this thinking that makes me think that if they had the same opportunity as Ray to build wealth by conning others, they’d take it without any questions.”
Just as children of abusive parents often (but not always) grow up to be abusive parents themselves, victims of abusive self-help gurus and get-rich-quick scammers often (but not always) grow up to be abusers themselves.
Breaking the cycle of abuse is difficult because it involves facing the cognitive dissonance that one’s spiritual teacher or marketing mentor is not who they portrayed themselves to be, and that all that money spent on seminars and marketing courses was a ripoff. Recovery is often a slow and humiliating process.
  +2

Duff Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
I should clarify–not “all” money spent on seminars and courses is necessarily a ripoff, but when spent on getting abused it definitely qualifies, even if some of the information is useful in the end.
  +2

Jean D Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:54 pm
@advancedNoob, That’s understandable,especially after seeing Kristina Bivins’ and Brian Asad’s willingness to continue following Ray. Asad is broke and Bivins surely suffers from brain damage. She had “seizures for 1-2 hours” according to Shawna Bowen in radio and law enforcement interviews last October! But why didn’t Bowen describe Bivins’ condition on Mind Games?She seems to be conflicted.
  +3
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Hippo Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 9:41 pm
@Jean D,
I wonder if the brain damage has anything to do with them continuing to follow Ray? I don’t know if Brian has any brain damage, but there was a gentleman named Daniel something who passed out in a JR sweat lodge in 2005 who continued to attend Ray’s functions, and I believe he is now broke and homeless, after having previously been doing very well. I believe he has brain damage, but I don’t know the particulars.
  +5

wondering why Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@Jean D,
Maybe Bivens told Bowen “You better not too say much!” before they went on the air..I kind of wondered why Bowen down played it also,’cause it sounded pretty bad what Bivens went through on that radio interview that Bowen gave.. I am glad that they mentioned Colleen also but it seemed to me that they kind of glossed over it a bit..
  +4

stoic Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
@Jean D,
I think it goes without saying that all the participants are very conflicted.
Its a big thing to admit to yourself that you have been comprehensively conned, especially when you have invested so much hope, desire and sheer desperation etc into the process, actively encouraged and led on by these conman shysters.
Most of us can write off a financial loss due to a poor buying decision–it is rather more complex to write off the soul hijack that these psychopathic manipulators such as James Ray set out to accomplish.
There is a good description of what it feels like to be under such control on the rickross site,
http://forum.rickross.com/read.php?4,71652,83341#msg-83341
the writer makes the point that this can only be described with such precision way after the event and after much work has been done to rectify the damage. For those still under the spell it is utterly confusing and crazy-making.
  +6

Feather Boa-Constricter Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
I’m conflicted on whether I feel these people are still under Ray’s control, permanently brain damaged, being paid off, or hoping to be paid off. Clearly any sense of empathy they could have for their friends who were killed and injured is muted by either their own problems or blind greed.
And I don’t say that as someone who wants to villainize (probably not a word) the survivors of the sweat lodge, but it’s definitely hard to have sympathy when they’re willing to continue on Ray’s path. I was a Secreteer follower once, too, but when I came out of the fog, I got myself together and stopped the insanity. It’s hard to see others choosing not to do that.
  +4

stoic Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
This phenomenom, of the failure of the guru increasing the commitment of the True Believer, was studied in the 50′s by a man called Leon Festinger who came up with the theory of ‘cognitive dissonance.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance
He wrote a good book on it ‘When Prophecy Fails.’
It has a lot more to do with the problems inherent in being subjected to ‘thought reform’ or ‘coercive persuasion’–commonly known as brainwashing than with any personal failing on the part of the brainwashed.
I find it difficult to have empathy with those who continue to follow an obvious conman and worse, propagate his lies and manipulations but they have been comprehensively mindfucked by a psychopath. Until a glimmer of light starts to dawn they are truly lost and should be avoided if you want to keep your sanity. But they are victims of James Arthur Ray and some will eventually break free.
  +6

Hippo Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 2:22 pm
This is to Feather Boa Constrictor:
All of those things are possibilities, or maybe none of them. These folks could just be in denial, because facing the truth is simply too painful. The money they wasted is the least of their problems.
I don’t know if “villainize” is a word, but “demonize” surely is, and would fit in your sentence quite nicely.
  +4

Duff Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
The other thing to consider here is that not only brain damage but perhaps other organs have been damaged (e.g. kidneys) in the extreme heat and dehydration. If any other organ damage occurred, it may not be noticed for many years until other health complications occur, and it may be hard psychologically and physiologically to make the connection.
  +2

Hippo Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Jean D,
After thinking about this a bit more, I am even wondering if some of these stubborn followers would need some kind of cult-deprogramming therapy.
Of course, they wouldn’t go willingly, so that’s a problem.
  +3
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Jean D Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 1:21 am
@Hippo, Yes.Cult de-programming and PTSD therapy would help them. Hey, if money is tight,and/or insurance won’t cover the cost of a therapist,why not send the bills to Oprah?!
  +3
[Reply]

Hippo Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 9:58 am
@Jean D,
In a perfect world, Oprah would do that.
Of course, in a perfect world, we wouldn’t be talking about people being injured or killed at self-improvement seminars.
  +2
# 2 July 2010 at 5:25 pm

burp said:
Joe “Wee Wee” Vitale sure doesn’t miss any opportunity to hawk his ridiculous paper “wish dollies” for $40.
Tip to Russians: NEVER reveal your mythology to someone like Vitale, who will simply spin it into digital garbage and sell it via digital dowload on his web site.
Oh, and you can also thank Pat O’Bryan, his scruffy caveman-lookalike sidekook and co-bullshitter. How much longer before Vitale and O’Bryan start selling their own feces as “good luck charms?”
WINNER!! ::   +12
[Reply]

SD Reply:
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:03 pm
@burp ::
They’re called “belief charms” :: there is no such thing as luck.
[Reply]

Feather Boa-Constricter Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I was hoping for a clip of that magic moment when Mr. Fire got annoyed like the giant baby man he is and admitted, “*gasp* Yes, hurricane victims are victimized.”
  +6
[Reply]
# 2 July 2010 at 10:55 pm

Duff said:
Dan Harris FTW!
Keep in mind Joe Vitale is also the author of a book called There’s a Customer Born Every Minute. He’s a living parody of a con man.
WINNER!! ::   +13
[Reply]

Velithaene Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
@Duff, He’s unlikely actually the author. These guys farm out their book-writing to schlubs on E-lance (like me) who happen to be talented writers who need the work (like 98% of talented writers).
Many of these frauducts are written by guys sitting in front of their computers in their shorts, happy to be getting food money for the month by doing the cheap-ass low-priced job.
Personally, I’m out of that game, having not even been in it very long, due to having the distinct disability of a soul and a conscience. But be sure the typical big-name frauduct is not written by the big name.
  +1
[Reply]

Cosmic Connie Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
@Velithaene, Well, in all fairness I have to say that Joe did write “There’s A Customer Born Every Minute,” at least the original edition that was published years ago, when my guy Ron and I were still friends with him. Joe was always a fan of PT Barnum (who, incidentally, did NOT say, “There’s a sucker born every minute” — Joe is right about that). Joe put a great deal of work into the manuscript, including making a trip to Bridgeport, Connecticut to do extensive research. Ron and I were among those who reviewed the initial ms and offered suggestions. While several of Joe’s later works seem to include a substantial amount of “testimonials” and contributions by others (and some of his editors on those later works reportedly did more writing than “editing”), I know that at one time he did write his own books.
As for many other New-Wage goo-roos, though, I have no doubt that they use cheap ghostwriters whenever it suits them. I am absolutely appalled by some of the job listings on E-Lance and similar sites; I’ve seen solicitations for ghostwriting a book-length nonfiction manuscript (200-250 pages) for as little as $300.00 — about one-tenth the average market rate in the US for a professional job.
New-Wage gurus apparently do make use of sites such as E-Lance and 99Designs, and most offer a level of compensation that is an utter insult to professionals. Joe himself sells a piece of software called “Hypnotic Writing Wizard,” and on the sales page he notes that you can use it to make eye-popping amounts of money in a variety of ways. One of the things you can do if you buy and use his product, he says, is to become a ghostwriter. “Good ghostwriters make $50,000 and up PER book,” he gushes. Yet I seriously doubt that he or most of his cronies would ever consider paying someone else that much money to write a book for them.
There are some exceptions, I’m sure. But for the most part, New-Wage gurus who brag about making tons of money balk at shelling out even a fair price for professional creative services.
  +2
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Cosmic Connie Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Regarding my comment above: $300.00 for ghostwriting a book-length nonfiction ms is one-one HUNDREDTH the market rate in the US. I’m not *that* innumerate, just a little sleep-deprived.
  +1
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Unicorn Army Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 1:36 pm
@Cosmic Connie,
If ghost writers make that much, they’re doing better than most “authors.”
You might get 50k to ghost write for Sarah Palin, with a bonus on top of that if you don’t use an implausibly large number of “big people words.”
  +2
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Duff Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
@Cosmic Connie, Fair enough–thanks for the backstory on that title.
  +1
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Cosmic Connie Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
@Duff, No problem… I am just trying to be as fair as possible to everyone. However, as for your statement about “a living parody” etc., I can’t argue with that. :-)
  0
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SD Reply:
July 9th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
@Unicorn Army ::
For realz! That’s an ass load. If that’s how much ghost writers make :: sign me up! I could knock out 250 pages in 3 weeks … and I can be at least as dumb as Sarah.
@Connie ::
How much do you think Linda Sivertsen got for ghost writing Harmonic Wealth? Do you know her :: or of her?
@All ::
It’s not just creative types that they are ripping off either. Software nerds :: publishers :: professional services :: office cleaning staff :: sign makers :: etc etc. Without a doubt :: they create “abundance” in their own lives by ripping off everyone in their immediate vicinity.
Speaking of 99Designs :: and Harlan Kilstein {on a different post} :: a little birdie told me that this knock off site is his doing …
http://www.99copywriters.com/
[Reply]

Cosmic Connie Reply:
July 10th, 2010 at 9:37 am
@Unicorn Army: When Sarah Palin’s book, “Going Rogue,” was first released, the buzz was that she received a $7 million dollar advance. Sources close to Palin reported that it wasn’t nearly that much; it was closer to $2.5 million. But still.
http://blogs.forbes.com/bizblog/2010/07/07/what-sarah-palin-really-earns-less-than-you-think/
In any case we can be pretty sure that Palin’s “collaborator” (who actually did the bulk of the writing) received considerably more than $50,000. Advances of even $2.5 million are rare these days, of course, especially since most publishers are hurting. But some are still willing to shell out the big bucks for “celebrity” books. And HarperCollins, Palin’s publisher, is owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who has a lot of money to throw around and is pretty much on the same page as Palin, politically.
@SD, I’ve been trying for some time now to find out more about Linda Sivertsen’s deal. I know *of* her but I do not know her personally. Linda is an established professional ghostwriter and author consultant (who has been dubbed the “Author Whisperer”). I imagine she nailed a professional-level deal for Harmonic Wealth, perhaps as much as 50% of the advance James Ray received from the publisher, though I don’t know. Whether she also got in on the royalty deal as well is anyone’s guess. Again, I don’t know.
Since Harmonic Wealth was published in the wake of JAR’s “Secret” fame, he certainly commanded a considerably larger advance than he would have otherwise. As many know, Forbes reported that it was in the seven figures. JAR bragged about it on his blog…
http://blog.jamesray.com/2009/02/heres-how-i-got-harmonic-wealth.html
…and linked to Linda as the secret behind that huge deal:
http://www.winningbookproposals.com/
BTW, JAR’s previous works were self-published, and I’m sure that he paid his ghostwriter(s)/collaborator(s) a pittance for those, but again, this is just speculation on my part.
While $50,000 to ghostwrite a standard nonfiction book may be on the slightly higher end of the going market rate in the US, it is not actually an extravagant amount if we’re talking about a book that is properly researched (if applicable) and professionally written, a process that can and usually does take considerably more than three weeks. Depending upon the complexity of the subject matter, it can take three months, six months or even a year or longer. I say this as a person who, in partnership with my guy Ron, has made a fair living as a ghostwriter, though not on the level of a celeb-autobio collaborator of course. This is a feast-or-famine business for most of us. Maybe Ron and I have just been doing it wrong all these years, but we’ve found that writing a real book is more difficult than it appears on the surface — though admittedly you’d never know that from reading the offerings of some of the h-dorks who just churn ‘em out by the week.
My beef about Joe V breezily saying, “Good ghostwriters get $50,000 and up per book” is that he is claiming to sell a “writing wizard” software product that could potentially allow anyone to easily make this kind of money (which is very unrealistic at best) — and yet I’m guessing that he and his abundant-minded buddies would NEVER pay anyone nearly that much to write something for them.
  +1
[Reply]
# 3 July 2010 at 4:07 am

anonymous said:
“It’s OKAY to think this shit is NOT OKAY.:
Isnt this exactly why David Schirmer from Australia got exposed?
When people get a strong gut instinct that they are being manipulated they soon get the confidence to speak up. And these guys like nothing worse than when their ex clients get together and start comparing notes. It is about time these guys were really held accountable for their unforgivable greed.
WINNER!! ::   +11
[Reply]
# 3 July 2010 at 6:05 am

john graham said:
We just want to say the episode on ABC was good, and we are glad they remembered colleen…Dan Harris was in our home in Nov. and we think they are doing a fine job in keeping this story out there…NOT as good as the droid…OF COURSE!!!!!!! thank you again from colleens family
WINNER!! ::   +19
[Reply]

Hippo Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:00 am
@john graham,
Bless your heart. I was very glad they covered a bit of Colleen’s story, since she is so often overlooked.
I never attended a James Ray event, but have been fooled by other proponents of magical thinking, so I empathize with you and your family.
I hope that James Ray gets the maximum penalty for the sweat lodge deaths, since they may never be able to put a case together for Colleen.
WINNER!! ::   +11
[Reply]
# 3 July 2010 at 6:32 am

Cosmic Connie said:
@SD wrote of the Wish Dolly pic: “… careful now … don’t look too close or all of your wildest dreams might come true! … or not.”
Silly Robot. Just looking at Wish Dolly won’t make your dreams come true. You need to print out the picture and draw eyeballs on Hoshun. That involves a little effort, yes, but the good news is that you can print out as many pictures as you have wishes. What a bargain! With the free version on this site, though, you’ll have to supply your own magickal clearing audio.
WINNER!! ::   +7
[Reply]
# 3 July 2010 at 9:17 am

wondering why said:
Love the pic of Ray above with the Droid on his head..Very fitting!
  +2
[Reply]
# 3 July 2010 at 10:03 am

Burned By Fire said:
Great job, as usual, Droid.
As a reminder, the blind Secret Russian Wishmaker sticker was modeled after an actual doll that a Russian woman named Maria gave to Joe Vitale during his fateful trip to Russia last fall. Maria apparently wanted to do a joint venture with Vitale to bring Hochun to the American people, and also earn some money for her charity. Her site:
http://www.hochun.ru/
Joe and Pat decided to replicate Maria’s artwork on a JPG, put it on some Cafe Press coffee mugs, etc. and couple it with their ear-splitting audios.
Maria apparently left some comments on Connie’s blog post about that:
http://cosmicconnie.blogspot.com/2009/10/hello-dolly.html
Not sure what happened from that, whether or not Maria decided to pursue anything behind the scenes, but it was readily apparent from this critic’s quite existent eyes that an impropriety took place.
I personally can’t wait until Vitale goes back to Russia, he keeps teasing that he he will. I wonder if Hochun’s army will be waiting.
  +6
[Reply]

burp Reply:
July 3rd, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Yeah, that was “real nice” of Joe Vitale to run with that woman’s idea and turn it from a genuine, physical artifact into a digital joke. I bet she feels really great having shared and trusted her heritage and village craftsmanship with him now.
Do you think this will be Joe’s next “wish dolly” conversion? …
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daruma_doll
  +5
[Reply]

Velithaene Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
@burp, Jesus, I hope not. As a Zen student and practitioner, that would be remarkably saddening…
  +1
[Reply]

Ken Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Wow, the Russian woman Joe Vitale took that idea from responded as follows on Cosmic Connie’s blog above (go check it out and read all the followup comments):
“I created my doll three years ago and now I sell them all over the Russia. And when I got to know that Joe would visited my town I decided to offer him a cooperation. But I didn’t know that He will take my idea and without any thanks will use my trade mark and idea for his own profit!!!”
It sure sounds like Vitale is a total dirt bag.
WINNER!! ::   +11
[Reply]
# 3 July 2010 at 10:39 am

sumojoe said:
What annoys me more than anything is when these people have the gall to come out and say “I had nothing do to with it” LIKE HELL!!!!!!! If they choose to play God then everyone else is entitled to do the same AND THEY WILL!!!!!!
  +5
[Reply]
# 3 July 2010 at 11:24 pm

appleby said:
There is something really dumb-ass about that guy on the Secret movie who talked about visualizing car parks. I bet that pathetic comment has haunted him every time he goes out looking for a car park. Oh and the same idiot writes his own checks in the mail. If there was anything about that movie that looked incredibly stupid and suspicious it was that guys contribution. The fact that its all about “mind-games” is no surprise when you look at who was involved in it. Seriously how sick and sad do you have to be to need a LIFE COACH???????????
WINNER!! ::   +7
[Reply]

Duff Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
@appleby,
Finding a “good parking space” using magical wish fulfillment is a classic example of confirmation bias.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
In fact, confirmation bias is “The Secret” to many kinds of success, in my opinion. Nobody cites luck when asked “what was the secret to your success?”
  +1
[Reply]

Jean D Reply:
July 11th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
@Duff, When I heard that I thought finding a close parking space would not be the Will of the Universe because we humans are supposed to walk, the Universe wants us to! Unless of course,one is not able, or has problems walking, and for that, the Universe has created handicapped spaces and permits.
  0
[Reply]

Cosmic Connie Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 8:10 am
@Duff, Good points about confirmation bias. At any rate the “car park” and “checks in the mail” examples are especially humorous when you consider that this person is the infamous David Schirmer, who, among his many other troubles, was recently banned for life from providing financial services in Australia.
  0
[Reply]

Hippo Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 10:03 am
@Duff,
I’m afraid that everyone is mis-informed about how to find good parking places.
I have a Parking Goddess on my dashboard. Everytime I am in a crowded lot, I wind up the Parking Goddess, she flaps her wings, and then I am able to find a spot.
  +3
[Reply]

Jean D Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:47 am
@Hippo, That is hilarious!Can you post a picture of her?
  +1
[Reply]

Hippo Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:18 am
@Jean D,
Actually, I must confess to complete and total lame-ness.
I once tried to post a YouTube video, and, despite Mr. Salty’s explicit and careful instructions, I was unable to do it, and he had to do it for me.
I later tried to post another one, and it still didn’t work. I think I need someone right here, telling me what I’m doing wrong.
I don’t know how to post a picture, either.
I have some minor brain damage, which, coupled with my advanced age, is apparently quite deadly.
However, I bought the Parking Goddess through a catalog, and I might be able to post a link.
I may need some lemonade afterward.
  +1
[Reply]

Hippo Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:22 am
To Jean:
http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/104005/article.html
See if that works. It’s the first item.
The picture is tiny, but you get the idea.
  +1

Jean D Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 10:46 am
@Hippo, Too funny! This site has fantastic funny gifts. Thanks for the links http://www.mcphee.com/shop/
When my friend years ago mentioned “parking lot luck” which is ridiculous to me,for reasons I stated above, my response was,”If you park far away you’re guaranteed a quick parking space AND you get some exercise which will help you lose the weight you’re always complaining about.”
  0

Hippo Reply:
July 13th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
To Jean:
I don’t think Archie McPhee has this item anymore, but they DO have bacon-flavored toothpicks.
If you really want one, maybe you can find one on eBay.
  0
# 4 July 2010 at 5:39 am

Cosmic Connie said:
Positive thinking does work sometimes, though.
As Mr. Fire wrote in a February 2010 post…
“Again, we won’t know what the entire ABC News show will be like until they edit it and air it in May. (Nerissa filmed the entire interview on her flip cam, so we can match their editing with what was actually recorded.) I think the show will be great. After all, I’m thinking positive.
“As for now, I’m grateful to have met Dan Harris and attracted ABC News here…”
http://blog.mrfire.com/attracting-abc-news/
I would imagine that a fairly substantial viewing audience is grateful as well.
WINNER!! ::   +13
[Reply]

Big Chuck Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
@Cosmic Connie,
Holy shit this post is hilarious… I love all the Attract Money Now anchor text. Does he not realize he looks like a complete fucking tool?
WINNER!! ::   +9
[Reply]

wondering why Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
@Big Chuck,
The funny thing is that Vitale really thought the ABC program would be called “Positive Thinking”.. It is hilarious that instead they called it “Mind Games”!!
WINNER!! ::   +7
[Reply]

Cosmic Connie Reply:
July 4th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
@wondering why, @Big Chuck : Equally amusing is this trackback post on Matt Welsh’s Spiritual Media blog:
http://www.spiritualmediablog.com/2010/02/11/abc-news-program-on-positive-thinking/
The post begins: “ABC News will air an hour long TV special in May, or sooner, on positive thinking. It will include people against it and people in favor of it such as Dr. Joe Vitale, Rev. Michael Beckwith and Bob Proctor.”
Notwithstanding the oversimplification and outright inaccuracy in the implication that critics of self-help gurus are “against” any sort of positive thinking, I think Matt Welsh’s blog post — as well as Joe’s — reflect what ABC’s original plans apparently were. Over the months their plans changed (with, I would imagine, a little guidance from some of their sources). This happened despite all of the positive thinking, LOA invocation, and lucky charms the h-dorks had at their disposal.
  +3
[Reply]

Unicorn Army Reply:
July 5th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
@Cosmic Connie, just replace “positive thinking” with “absolute bullshit” and it reads just fine.
They just needed a little help with the editing.
  +4
[Reply]
# 4 July 2010 at 11:18 am

interrorgator said:
I think people still under the control of these Mind Manipulators should start taking a really good look at themselves and discover just how successful they have been “under the influence”. The only successful people are the manipulators themselves and it sure isnt financial success that they are achieving but success manipulating people in a very negative way.
  +4
[Reply]
# 4 July 2010 at 10:05 pm

Martypants said:
I will say, the ABC special came on while I had my son and a friend on vacation. I made them start watching it, but they were fascinated, and we watched it all. They could not believe the bullshit coming out of Ray (even this watered down ABC version), and they wondered why anyone would keep coming back. They thought the people at the end were ass clowns.
Jokes about needing the law of positive attraction to catch more fish filled the next day, but they got it – so two more people were hopefully saved from something stupid. They asked me deeper questions, and we talked about it. Which was cool.
So yeah – it was weak (weak, like Dan Harris’ psuedo-hip wardrobe choices and nicely forced ‘hands-in-pockets’ delivery, and weak like Vitale’s human traits), but it was something. And the more ‘somethings’ we see out there about these assholes (thanks to Cosmic Connie and the droid for great strides here), the more kids like mine will consciously see these charlatans and cretins for the shit they are, and keep flushing their way violently in the opposite direction.
WINNER!! ::   +11
[Reply]
# 4 July 2010 at 11:33 pm

anon said:
“The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence that it is not utterly absurd; indeed, in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more often likely to be foolish than sensible.”
Bertrand Russell
AND STILL SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THESE FOOLS!
  +4
[Reply]
# 5 July 2010 at 2:59 am

2021 said:
Vitale, Schirmer, Ray and the rest of the sad people mentioned on this blog are like pigs at the get rich quick trough.
I read somewhere “When times get tough and the tide goes out, that’s when you get to see who’s been swimming naked.” They are now getting exposed like never before and it seems they have been full of shit all along.
  +6
[Reply]
# 5 July 2010 at 7:46 am

corsair said:
With all that happened that night in the sweat lodge. With all that has come out about JAR. Not only are people still lining up to go to JAR events but some **who attended the sweat lodge and could have been fatally injured** are still willing to spend their hard earned money with the very man who showed a reckless, even callous disregard for their lives.
As my drill instructor used to say:
“You’ve gotta be shittin’ me”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. It’s obvious the people attending these events are looking for something and for some inexplicable reason believe spending five figures with JAR will help them find it.
Makes crap like this seem lame in comparison.
http://www.patobryan.com/pdsl.htm
http://www.myalienguitar.com
http://www.attractanewcar.com
http://www.secretrussianwishmaker.com/
WINNER!! ::   +7
[Reply]

2021 Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 4:15 am
@corsair, Yes they are looking for something that they aint going to find with any of these fools.
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex… It takes a touch of genius – and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.”
Albert Einstein
Kudos to everyone who has spoken out about these characters, you deserve a medal.
  +4
[Reply]
# 5 July 2010 at 4:48 pm

Cosmic Connie said:
More hilarity! Here’s the vid that answers the question: What do a cigar and a believer in The Secret/LOA have in common?
  +1
[Reply]
# 5 July 2010 at 10:09 pm

Cosmic Connie said:
Oh, my, it’s Old Home Week on YouTube. On the same page where I saw the Joe V video that I linked to above, there was a link to this by Not-Doctor Harlan Kilstein:
In this vid we learn that the most deadly sin is beating up on yourself and downplaying your success.
And one of the sponsored links that popped up was an ad for Kevin True-dough’s Your Wish Is Your Command CD set.
OK, that’s enough links for now.
  +2
[Reply]
# 5 July 2010 at 10:16 pm
» The Final Four said:
[...] on ABC last week. Joe :: rather than playing stylish football :: was making himself look like a fat fucking clown :: it’s what he’s best at. Here’s some incredibly boring “behind the [...]
  +1
# 6 July 2010 at 5:47 am

wondering why said:
WHAT???
http://mysticismsite.info/james-arthur-ray-is-truly-honored-in-spiritual-venues-as-well-as-in-business/
  +2
[Reply]

Jean D Reply:
July 7th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
@wondering why, Click on the author’s name and you go to this:
“Karen Giardunio wants you to discover for yourself how to make Big Money as an Affiliate Marketer in order to Recession Proof your Income. Karen wants to introduce you to her mentor… he is a Mutli- Millionaire who will bring you into his inner circle and show you ways to promote and sell other peoples products or services using proven strategies and systems that really work. You will be affiliated with a reputable…”
Need we ask who her mentor is who wants to “bring us into his inner circle” ?
  +2
[Reply]

wondering why Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 11:24 am
@Jean D,
Oh yes..I see..another scammer..I just hope no gets sucked in by her little “blog”
  +3
[Reply]
# 7 July 2010 at 3:32 pm

Feather Boa-Constricter said:
Anybody else pick up a copy of Steven Salerno’s “Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless” after seeing him in this? I checked it out from my local library, and so far, I wish it was a little less opinion-piece, a little more case study (but he’s mainly an essayist, so I guess that was to be expected). But interesting all the same, and it’s not like I lost any money on it either way. I just found his blog as well, which looks wrought with the usual suspects. Enjoy! http://shambook.blogspot.com/
  +2
[Reply]

Cosmic Connie Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 7:49 am
@Feather Boa-Constricter, I found Steve’s blog a little over four years ago and enjoyed it so much that I was inspired to start my own. I enjoyed the book SHAM as well. Yes, it’s an “opinion piece,” but a well-researched one. SHAM was initially published in mid-2005, quite some time before The Secret hit the fans, and apparently before the author was completely aware of the extent to which New-Agey concepts have permeated the larger culture (though the book does mention New-Age stars such as Deep-pockets Chopra and Marianne Williamson). Even so, IMO it provides a good overview of the negative effects of self-help on our culture, and I think it has withstood the test of time quite well. I hope it gets more exposure as a result of Steve’s appearance on the Mind Games episode.
  +1
[Reply]

Feather Boa-Constricter Reply:
July 12th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
@Cosmic Connie, I agree with you, and I hope his publisher encourages a post-Secret chapter or something. I’m glad to see *anything* at this point as a contrasting opinion, and it wasn’t a big shocker that this was the only book of its kind in my public library (amidst the see of the Dyers and the liars. ;) ).
  +2
[Reply]
# 11 July 2010 at 9:00 pm

imlookin said:
“Sham: How the Self-Help Movement Made America Helpless” AND the rest of the world!!!!!!
  +1
[Reply]
# 12 July 2010 at 12:09 am

Cosmic Connie said:
A little aside: I was watching Good Morning America today and there was a spot about Mel Gibson’s latest domestic-violence woes, which could mean big trouble for him legally. The damage-control expert GMA called upon to offer his expert opinion on this matter was none other than Howard Bragman, who, as most of us may recall, enjoyed a brief stint as damage-controller for Death Ray. I’ve often wondered exactly what Mr. Bragman thought about the split with JRI — relief, perhaps?
  0
[Reply]
# 12 July 2010 at 8:53 am

Yakaru said:
The “Josh” in the comments on this article sounds somehow familiar. Does anyone know who he is?
http://www.examiner.com/x-39281-Phoenix-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m7d14-Trail-Date-of-James-arthur-Ray-Vacated
  +1
[Reply]

Jean D Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 11:43 am
@Yakaru,Crazy troll Lee Kuan. Josh McDougal is just another one of his monikers.
  +1
[Reply]

Yakaru Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@Jean D,
Ah, thanks. I should’ve guessed. I was almost going to answer but then got that strange sensation like getting ones shirt caught in a paper shredder.
  +1
[Reply]

Jean D Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
@Yakaru, Yes,that’s the sensation of a troll’s teeth and claws latching on.
  +1
[Reply]
# 20 July 2010 at 9:29 am

Tegan Deshazior said:
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!
  0
[Reply]
# 23 April 2011 at 10:05 am
» James Arthur Ray :: Sentencing in Single Sentences said:
[...] Kristina Bivins made the fake robot worry. [...]
  0
# 29 November 2011 at 6:53 am

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