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LUMPS FOR NPR AND PBS (Pledge time...Randi rips 'em...LOL)
James Randi ^ | March 18, 2005 | James Randi

Posted on 03/18/2005 1:06:50 PM PST by Drango

...Marquis, my local PBS outlet has stepped up its usual quackery standard from Deepak Chopra by featuring a Dr. Christiane Northrup to plug up their current fund drive. It took me less than 30 seconds to discover the sham nature of their offering.

Northrup touts her book "Mother-Daughter Wisdom" and a "Legacy Kit" as bonuses to those who join PBS at the rate of $275 a year. In her appearance on screen for PBS, Dr. Northrup told of a bereaved daughter who found pennies in various places around the house after her mother died, and considered those to be "messages" from the deceased; Dr. Northrup agreed that this was so! She said that since "mitchondrial DNA" "goes back to the ancient ancestor of all female" humans, "our mothers are always, always, with us." Would-be subscribers were assured that at present "there's room for everyone" to contribute — as if this opportunity to donate money was going to close down. I can only think of "But wait, there's more!" and "If you order within the next five minutes..." as parallels for such blatant hucksterism.

Video was shown in which women listening to Northrup were weeping uncontrollably at her comments on "the process of moving into non-physical life" — in other words, dying — and "emotion," pronounced as "e-motion" and defined by this sage as "energy-in-motion." Speaking with the equally charmed and gushing hostess of the show, who spoke of her own mother's passing, Dr. Northrup assured her that her mother still "wants [her] to feel happy.

"

~snip...go to link to read it all


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: astrology; npr; pseudoscience; randi; skepticism
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To: Drango

Actually, I love pledge week. I savor every plea and whine. I almost hyperventilate when they beg and talk about how difficult budget demands are and the bleak outlook for the future. When we finally get them cut off the public teat, I think I may attain Nirvana.


21 posted on 03/18/2005 3:19:17 PM PST by WorkingClassFilth (Every morning we awaken to a new dawn is reason enough to celebrate - have a drink, Teddy!)
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To: WorkingClassFilth

Pledge week here in Northern California means I get to see the normal quacks...but we sometimes get to see Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent" or a film on identity politics they just so happens to highlight the reverse of my ideology.


22 posted on 03/18/2005 3:26:16 PM PST by Drango (All my ideas, good or bad, are stolen from other FReepers)
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To: Drango

Hilarious. Never heard of that one before.

I bet Sagan was hoping to score "billions and billions" in that lawsuit.


23 posted on 03/18/2005 3:27:17 PM PST by Rocky
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To: Drango

Scroo NPR and the lefties that love it.


24 posted on 03/18/2005 3:46:37 PM PST by aculeus (Ceci n'est pas une tag line.)
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To: Drango

I think FR needs more schwag during our pledge drives...

 

NOW you're on to something.

Some suggestions:

*Available in white only; Queen-size.

25 posted on 03/18/2005 3:49:02 PM PST by Fintan (Someday we'll look back on this moment and plow into a parked car.)
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To: Fintan
Case of Chivas Regal, autographed by Ted Kennedy ($750 donation).

Empty or full? 'Cause no way is he gonna let a full case go after signing it....

26 posted on 03/18/2005 3:51:36 PM PST by Drango (All my ideas, good or bad, are stolen from other FReepers)
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To: skip_intro

They know that Liberals are well practiced at suspension of analytical thought.


27 posted on 03/18/2005 3:57:49 PM PST by GladesGuru
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To: Jim Robinson; Fintan

Jim-
I bet Fintans idea could work on some *real* items donated by FReepers during the next pledge drive...perhaps even run through the ebay (or similar)non-profit page http://pages.ebay.com/sell/givingworks/nonprofit_fundraising.html


28 posted on 03/18/2005 4:07:17 PM PST by Drango (All my ideas, good or bad, are stolen from other FReepers)
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To: Fintan
Hammer & Chisel to scrape "Kerry/Edwards 2004" bumper stickers off Volvos ($25 donation).

LOL!! When my wife and I walk through various parking lots I'll point out the K/E campaign bumper stickers and loudly proclaim, "Look honey--another loser!"

29 posted on 03/19/2005 6:53:06 AM PST by randog (What the....?!)
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