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Attention Kiwis

BTMO

Overlord of the Underthings
BTMO
Joined
May 1, 2009
Messages
2,521
Did any of the kiwis see that item on "Close Up" this evening about the "world's greatest medium"?

I only caught the tail end of the article - but he seemed to be claiming that he was authentic, everyone else who claimed paranormal abilities was a charlatan and the chick from the local skeptics association was a jackass.

He was pretty rude about it all, too...

AND - he claims he can levitate, but for some reason chose not to demonstrate it.

I wonder if he has applied for the MDC, yet?

:bgrin:

Oh yes - and the only evidence he put forward (that I saw) was that he sells books, and held a crowd for three hours in Hyde Park once.

I didn't catch his name, unfortunately.
 
Ok! His name is Ken Pretty, and you can watch the article here if you like (I don't know if this link will work outside of NZ).

And the local skeptic's name is Vicki Hyde. I thought she did a fine job... when Ken let her talk.

ETA: And... I just sent the producers of the show this email:

------

This evening, you had Ken Pretty on Close Up, and he was claiming all sorts of interesting things regarding his abilities as a medium and spiritualist.

I'd have loved to have seen him levitate...

It would be very interesting to see a follow up article on this story if you encouraged Ken to undertake the "James Randi Educational Foundation Million Dollar Challenge".

JREF offers $US1M for anyone who can demonstrate, in a fair, agreed test, that they can produce any genuine evidence of paranormal ability.

JREF will do the test locally - they will negotiate with local universities or skeptics associations, and simply work to ensure the test is fair, and no cheating occurs. Please encourage Ken to take part.

Their website is www.jref.org.

They've had the challenge running for about thirty years, it makes wonderful television when the paranormalist fails (they always do...), but yes, they really have $1,000,000 to give to someone who can do what they claim!
 
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I've just watched it (UK).
Annoyingly unskeptical language "when it comes to Ken Pretty it's real life".... "at the church where he talks to the dead" ... "since a teenager has chatted with the spirits", etc (not 'claims to').

I'm curious - he says he doesn't need to take names, addresses, etc of people who call for an exorcism - does he need their bank details?

And why does Louis Armstrong's voice come through with complete orchestral accompaniment? Was he an orchestral impersonator in life?

What a horrible rude man.
 
chillzero said:
I've just watched it (UK).
Annoyingly unskeptical language "when it comes to Ken Pretty it's real life".... "at the church where he talks to the dead" ... "since a teenager has chatted with the spirits", etc (not 'claims to').

I'm curious - he says he doesn't need to take names, addresses, etc of people who call for an exorcism - does he need their bank details?

And why does Louis Armstrong's voice come through with complete orchestral accompaniment? Was he an orchestral impersonator in life?

What a horrible rude man.
Click to expand...

I thought that Vicki Hydes rebuttal of the silly old fool was very well done.
His talking over the top just made him look like what he was, a sad ignorant purveyor of lies.
 
:)

That was kind of the impression I got, too.

I *really* hope he has a go at the MDC...
 
six7s said:
Thanks for the 'heads-up' BTMO

I do like the URI: http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/spiritual-medium-fake-2789542/video
 :D

Hopefully the recipient will forward a copy in-house to Jeremy Wells and the team at Eating Media Lunch

​

They have proven recipes for stale spiritualists :)
Click to expand...

Hee hee hee... I remember that episode of EML. I think the programme is in recess at the moment (Newsboy is off selling electricity or something!) - but if they come back it'd be fun to send a note to them, too.

They'd have a ball with it!

Incidentally, I looked at how much money these scammers make. One of the "psychics" from Sensing Bulls... Sensing Murder does seminars all over NZ.

He charges (from memory) $400 per seat for a two day course. He fills several dozen seats at each session.

Basically, they make ... $k10 per weekend!

Not bad money, eh? And remember - they aren't in it for the money - they just want to help people...
 
Deb Webber allegedly has a 3 year waiting list for a personal, over the phone reading. On her website she had advertised, since taken down, that you could get a much earlier reading if you paid her $500 for the reading. I call it a "jump over the plebs. reading".
I bought this up on the Sensing Murder forum (N.Z. forum) and it started a hell of a furore. The making excuses for sceptics excuses were flying fast and furiously by the believers.
Kelvin Cruikshank another psychic from the Sensing Murder show had a similar "jump over the plebs reading" as well for a much higher price. He also claimed a massive waiting list. This has also come off his website and he now says he does not do personal readings.
Why would you when you can earn more easy money with a big audience.
 
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