Noo Age Woo leads to deaths

I live not far from Sedona, which is like the capital of the World of Woo. You can find just about every variety of spiritual practice there, including, I'm sure, some I've never heard of. (Sedona is also home to a plethora of overpriced art galleries.)

Like this "Spiritual Warrior" thing, presided over by a guy named James Arthur Ray, that took the lives of two people. (A third is in critical, another two are still in hospital.) A total of 21 people had to be transported in an area that is sparsely settled and not exactly packed with emergency facilities. It should be noted that James Arthur Ray has spread his crapzilla around all over the place, including on Oprah Winfrey's show.

While this has made national and international news, the most local newspaper, the Verde News, has been providing the best coverage of this tragic event. Here are two articles:

Friday article

Saturday article

Basically, this is what happened. Participants paid $9,000 to James Arthur Ray for several days of spiritual enlightenment in the lovely red rocks of Sedona. Additionally, they paid $1,600 to the owners of Angel Valley Ranch, which rented the place out. Apparently there were 50 paying participants, for a cool take of $450,000 to Ray. However, based on the information in the "Spiritual Warrior Participant Guide" (which has now disappeared from Ray's website, but which I saved copies of), in addition to the usual clothes and suchlike, the following were required items. (Typed from the PDF. Don't lock these things down, I can type 100 wpm.)

An integral element of the program will rely upon group use of Holosync technology. If you would like to learn more about this technology, please visit the Centerpointe Research Institute website at www.centerpointe.com. If you have not yet invested in this technology, you will need to do so prior to Spiritual Warrior. The first program, Awakening Prologue, is available for purchase through the Centerpointe Research Institute website at www.centerpointe.com/links.php?ad=30830.

If you have already attended Quantum Leap, you will also need to bring your Power Generator, Wealth Ignition, and Reclaiming Your Full Energy and Vitality CD programs. If you have attended Quantum Leap and you have not yet invested in these programs, you may do so at Spiritual Warrior. We will have copies available for purchase at the event.

So far, we have this for costs:

• $9,000.00 for Spiritual Warrior
• 1,600.00 for Angel Valley, which provided food and lodging
• 179.00 for Holosync Awakening Prologue
• ?????.?? for Power Generator, Wealth Ignition, and Reclaiming Your Full Energy, but Quantum Leap costs $3,995.00

That comes to $10,779.00 (not including airfare or any other junk you've previously purchased from James, etc., etc.)

There are also these somewhat bizarre items (from page 7):

• Bag of chewing tobacco
• Six feet of string (approximately dress shoe lace size, preferably red, but color not critical)
• Seven 3" x 3" squares of fabric

And, even though you're paying $1,600 for board and lodging, you should bring "Toilet paper (1 roll)."

Pages 11-14 are two releases. The first is a "hold harmless," basically, "if anything baaaad happens to you, you're screwed." Oh yeah, and while YOU can't tape or film yourself, the second release is a waiver of your right of publicity and compensation. So undoubtedly James Arthur Ray was filming or taping at least some of this.

So after getting together your supplies and getting to Angel Valley, there are several days of various Noo Agey type things, including a "vision quest" and, finally, a "sweat lodge." It's here that the incident occurred.

The lodge was, according to the Verde News, approximately 415 feet square. But it was also not very high, in that it was 30 inches on the side and 53 inches in the center. So nobody, unless you happen to be a child or short-statured, could actually stand up in this thing. It was covered by blankets, comforters and tarps. And, apparently, there were 50 participants, plus assistants and Ray himself. There may have been up to 68 people in the "lodge." Along with 58 rocks, some of which were described as "cantaloupe-sized." These were put on the fire. Oh yeah, there was a fire.

Let's assume that there were 55 people in the"lodge." According to my calculations, that works out to 7.5 square feet for every participant, not including any space taken out for the fire, the "cantaloupe-sized" rocks and so on. This is less than a three foot by three foot area (nine square feet). People were crammed into that thing like sardines. Because you couldn't STAND UP. You had to sit down or kneel. I have claustrophobia, and I can just about guarantee you I would have been out of there in no time flat.

(Fair Use picture from KNXV to illustrate. Just look at how small that thing was and then imagine 50-60 people in it.)

So, there were all these people in this "lodge," it was hot, there was a fire going, they were all crammed in there, no idea what was happening inside...my guess is that extreme hypoxia or anoxia set in. They ran out of oxygen and their bodies started shutting down. But the autopsies will tell us with more certainty.

I can't stop shaking my head.

Except for this. F****** New Age WooMeisters. Some dimwitted "Law of Attraction" nutbar named Giovani had this to say on the Positive Intentions forum:

Hi!

Thanks, for the opportunity to send some good vibes to some people who'll appreciate them! :O)

Aw, come on, though! "Scam?" How does one figure? Isn't it interesting how much people value a means of coming together with spiritual intent? Didn't everybody know there were risks in this, as with all else?

I prefer outright steam baths to saunas of any kind, but the sweat lodge is an ancient & honorable practice. What a wonderful way to go, if you ask me! In the midst of blissful open focus in the company of others who value this, as well. How powerful those two are!

More ventillation? Good idea. That way, those who intend to live through this will be a bit more comfortable--notice how eight out of the ten intended to live. Clearly, their will means they'll be fine in no time. I recognize the freshness within them. Let's not be like those who know nothing of the Law Of Attraction & who morn and panic over such a thing.

All is clearly well with the Universe--this not even resembling an exception! :D

Sunshine & Blessings,
Giovani

Oh yeah, I'm sure the families of the two dead people are so thrilled their loved ones are dead. And what a way to go...dying of oxygen starvation. FAIL.

And Law Enforcement Wonders Why Citizens Are Suspicious

(Refer below to the facepalm and double facepalm pictures in the previous post as needed while reading this post.)

I live in Maricopa County, Arizona, home of the notorious Sheriff Joe, he of the green bologna, pink underwear and "Tent City." He's also making a name for himself in harassing the brown people who were here before the white people showed up. He's annoying and eventually, sooner or later, justice will catch up with him. But apparently things are even more whack over in Pima County (largest city: Tucson).

Ms. Elvira Zatarain, aged 49, was driving home Friday evening, June 12, when she was pulled over for driving down the center of the road. She was asked if she was impaired and if there were illegal substances in the car. She said no to both. The officer administered a field sobriety test, which she passed. Then he asked Ms. Zatarain if he could search her car and purse. She consented.

The officer found a red bag with some crystals in it in her purse. A field test did NOT indicate they were methamphetamine. However, the officer proceeded to issue Ms. Zatarain a citation for "possession of an imitation controlled substance." Ms. Zatarain went to justice court last Thursday, where she was told that if she pled guilty, she would receive a $130 fine and be sentenced to drug counseling.

Ms. Zatarain decided to pursue a trial, because, as she said, she'd been given the crystals to ward off evil. Had she been found guilty, she would have been fined $272. However, Pima County's Misdemeanor Enforcement Unit decided, probably after the first article appeared in the paper last Friday morning, that they were going to drop charges. Oh, there might have been some language barriers or something, per yesterday's article. In the meantime, Ms. Zatarain has learned a big lesson: Do Not Consent To A Search of Your Person and Vehicle. It Will Not Go Well For You, Even If You Are As Pure As The Driven Snow.

Now, no matter how you feel about magic crystals (and, I think crystals are pretty but I ascribe no magic to them), this is just crazy. Especially the charge: "possession of an imitation controlled substance." *facepalm* **double facepalm** I know why this is a crime, because, believe it or not, there are scummy drug dealers who aren't really giving you what you're buying when you seek them out for the teeth rotting goodness that is methamphetamine. Shocking, I know, that you *can't trust drug dealers.* But gosh, you can't even trust the cops. This cop was absolutely reaching for this charge. Unbelievable. Thankfully Ms. Zatarain said nope, I want my trial.

(I feel some sympathy for Ms. Zatarain as I was pulled over on Friday evening, June 19, as I was leaving a Tempe bar/restaurant. I knew this guy was behind me, and had been behind me for a solid mile. I was watching my speed limit VERY carefully because at that point on University Dr., it changes. But I still got pulled over. It was kind of hard for him to argue that I was impaired when I was sitting there waiting for him with my license, registration and insurance. But I was both amused and annoyed. Yes, it was my 49th birthday. No, I hadn't been drinking. (I don't drink.) Etc., etc....I didn't have to do a field sobriety test, but you know, it's like DUDE, you could have been arresting the real drunks instead of going after me. Waste of time that was. And no, it really did not increase my respect for the local police.)

Healthcare rationing

The Republicans would have you to believe that healthcare rationing would be the order of the day under a public option (or any option that doesn't allow their friends in the insurance industry to skim off the top). Let me disabuse you of that notion, courtesy of columnist Cynthia Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Ms. Tucker just relocated to Washington and sought referrals from her friends for a new doctor for her baby daughter. One name came up repeatedly: "Dr. Amy." Ms. Tucker was able to get an immediate appointment for "Dr. Amy," but the doctor is out of network for the AJC's insurance carrier, Aetna.

Here's the rest of the story:

Called Aetna. They explained I would pay several hundred dollars a year extra for the privilege of taking my baby girl to Dr. Amy.

So, I called another pediatrician who is “in-network.” She said she could see my baby at the end of October.

I have a choice to make: Pay through the nose for a highly recommended doctor who can see my baby immediately. Or, go to the doctor my insurance will pay for, which would mean my child would run months behind on her vaccination schedule. This isn’t a disaster, but it is certainly frustrating.

I think the president has been fudging on the absolute truth about your relationship with your insurance and your doctors under his proposals because he wants to satisfy those people who have perfect health insurance right now. I wonder how many people that could possibly be.

Why, Ms. Tucker, I think that'd be nobody, except for congresscritters, senators and the president. I haven't run into this problem myself, but I have run into the problem where I'm being nickled and dimed to death because this year my health insurance isn't covering all the charges being sent in for lab testing. And the cost of medications keeps going up, up, up. *facepalm*.

Something's gotta give.

How much further does the GOP have to go...

...before it hits rock bottom? From Talking Points Memo:

The Topeka Capitol-Journal reports that freshman Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) told a town hall meeting a week ago that the GOP still had to find a "great white hope."

"Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope," said Jenkins. "I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington." As examples, Jenkins mentioned Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI).

For non-Americans and those younger than a certain age, this may not make a whole lot of sense. The phrase "great white hope" is astoundingly racist. It had its beginnings in the 1910 boxing match between Jack Johnson and James. J. Jeffries in Reno, Nevada. Johnson, an African American boxer, was then touted as the world champion, much to the chagrin of many white Americans, who were unabashed racists. So, when this match with Jeffries was set up (and Jeffries was an older boxer, who came out of retirement for this fight), these racists started calling Jeffries the "Great White Hope." For the record, the match was called after 15 rounds when the Jeffries camp threw in the towel. Jeffries later said that he couldn't have beaten Johnson even in his prime.

So, for a Republican congresswoman to say something like this, wow, just wow. I mean, seriously, are they going to start talking about darkies and n*****s too? Do they just simply despise the fact that our president is black? *Shakes head* Way to go, GOP, in making us look really wonderful to the rest of the world.

P.S. One of my more acerbic and witty friends has put it this way: the GOP is not looking for the Great White Hope, they're looking for the Great White Hood. As in pointy. And very white.

"I'm a public figure and this man is videotaping me without my permission" FAIL

Whatever you think about this petition drive, that's really not so important.

What is important is the self-importance of this guy, Greg McPherson, starting about 2:20:

It starts out mildly with Greg limping up the steps and saying:

"So, what's your name? You, what's your name?"

The video guy says, "Who are you?"

Greg: "What's your name, you're harassing me. You're videotaping me without my permission. I'm a public figure. You're taking my image without my permission. I want your name so I can sue you. What's your name?"

Not even a request to turn off the camera...just "I want your name so I can sue you."

The video guy points out that he's turning in petitions at the state capitol in Olympia for a state referendum, but Greg continues to get huffy (at about 2:52):

"I want the police! Hello! Police! Can I get some police here?"

Someone off camera says, "They're in the secretary of state's office."

Greg McPherson, in a tone of total petulance: "That's nice. I need them here. "

He keeps going on and babbling about "police, police" for a couple of minutes until a couple of state troopers arrive.It goes downhill from there for Mr. McPherson, who is schooled by the nice officers about public spaces and so on and so forth.

Greg McPherson may think he owns his image and likeness, but he also put himself in a public space, at the time petitions for a referendum were being turned in, which is news in Washington state. He basically forced himself into the public sphere and then had the temerity to whine about someone videotaping him.

He really needs to get over himself. FAIL.