Psychic Friends Network

Ending decades of government neglect, the Federal Trade Commission is now investigating whether cigars should carry a U.S. surgeon general warning label to alert consumers about the product's deadly consequences. Policy recommendations are expected to follow. U.S. sales of individual cigars rose 26% to 4.49 billion over the past five years, led by expensive premium cigars, which nearly tripled to 270 million. * Perhaps they should have seen it coming.

Jeff Bridges, looking like a Malibu prophet with his bushy beard and seasoned surfer smile, says he had a bit of a flashback while filming "The Men Who Stare at Goats," which fictionalizes the oddball odyssey of a U.S. military program that tried to train soldiers to use mental powers as a weapon (and, yes, to snuff out farm animals by glaring at them). "I found myself remembering my own experiences in the 1970s when I hung out with John Lilly, the man who invented the isolation tank and did experiments with trying to communicate with dolphins," Bridges said.

The Psychic Friends Network predicted Jennifer Desjardins' future would be full of money and happiness. It didn't foresee the legal trouble she would face after running up $3,000 in charges to the telephone service. Desjardins and two friends made more than a dozen calls to the Psychic Friends Network over a period of several days at a cost of up to $3.99 per minute, or about $240 an hour. "They told us we were going to have money and good jobs," said Desjardins, 20, of Torrington, Conn.

Ending decades of government neglect, the Federal Trade Commission is now investigating whether cigars should carry a U.S. surgeon general warning label to alert consumers about the product's deadly consequences. Policy recommendations are expected to follow. U.S. sales of individual cigars rose 26% to 4.49 billion over the past five years, led by expensive premium cigars, which nearly tripled to 270 million. * Perhaps they should have seen it coming.

The Psychic Friends Network predicted that Jennifer Desjardins' future would be full of money and happiness. It didn't foresee the legal trouble she would face after running up $3,000 in charges to the telephone service. Desjardins and two friends made more than a dozen calls to the Psychic Friends Network over a period of several days at a cost of up to $3.99 per minute, or about $240 an hour. "They told us we were going to have money and good jobs," said Desjardins, 20, of Torrington, Conn.

Jeff Bridges, looking like a Malibu prophet with his bushy beard and seasoned surfer smile, says he had a bit of a flashback while filming "The Men Who Stare at Goats," which fictionalizes the oddball odyssey of a U.S. military program that tried to train soldiers to use mental powers as a weapon (and, yes, to snuff out farm animals by glaring at them). "I found myself remembering my own experiences in the 1970s when I hung out with John Lilly, the man who invented the isolation tank and did experiments with trying to communicate with dolphins," Bridges said.

Infomercials--those half-hour commercials that resemble talk shows and other actual programs--continue to flood the airwaves. You may recall my hair-raising, in-depth report on an infomercial for a spray that is supposed to hide bald spots. Testing the product on my own head took great courage. And now another bold expose. The target this time is an arresting infomercial that has been running for some time on several channels. It's called: "The Psychic Friends Network."

Howard Rosenberg's column on psychic phone lines, "I Foresee Your Phone Bill Rising" (May 5), infuriated me to no end. I've been in this business for over 25 years as an astrologer, counselor and adviser and have written six books and numerous magazine articles published around the world, not to mention teaching and lecturing. I've also been an employee of the Psychic Friends Network for nine months. If Rosenberg had bothered to be honest, he would have written a much more interesting piece on how that psychic knew things only he himself was aware of. Psychics on any phone line are told to hang up on any person who questions their ability: We don't need to prove ourselves to anyone but the person hiring us for the job. Most people call me on two subjects: love and money.

Why is it the guy who runs the Psychic Friends Network has to pay $500,000 for Eddie Murray's 500th home run ball? Why didn't he just call the network and find out where to sit with a fielder's glove? The ball Murray slammed Sept. 6 let him join Willie Mays and Hank Aaron as the only players with more than 3,000 career hits and 500 home runs.

Kids enjoy shots about as much as adults do, but they're slightly noisier in registering their dissatisfaction. Much of the trouble for kids can be the mystery of the immunization process. A new book called "The Germ Patrol: All About Shots for Tots . . . and Big Kids, Too!" may ease natural fears about the dreaded needle. The book, which is due out Thursday as a tie-in to National Immunization Week, humorously explains to kids how shots work. The $14.

The Psychic Friends Network predicted that Jennifer Desjardins' future would be full of money and happiness. It didn't foresee the legal trouble she would face after running up $3,000 in charges to the telephone service. Desjardins and two friends made more than a dozen calls to the Psychic Friends Network over a period of several days at a cost of up to $3.99 per minute, or about $240 an hour. "They told us we were going to have money and good jobs," said Desjardins, 20, of Torrington, Conn.

The Psychic Friends Network predicted Jennifer Desjardins' future would be full of money and happiness. It didn't foresee the legal trouble she would face after running up $3,000 in charges to the telephone service. Desjardins and two friends made more than a dozen calls to the Psychic Friends Network over a period of several days at a cost of up to $3.99 per minute, or about $240 an hour. "They told us we were going to have money and good jobs," said Desjardins, 20, of Torrington, Conn.

Howard Rosenberg's column on psychic phone lines, "I Foresee Your Phone Bill Rising" (May 5), infuriated me to no end. I've been in this business for over 25 years as an astrologer, counselor and adviser and have written six books and numerous magazine articles published around the world, not to mention teaching and lecturing. I've also been an employee of the Psychic Friends Network for nine months. If Rosenberg had bothered to be honest, he would have written a much more interesting piece on how that psychic knew things only he himself was aware of. Psychics on any phone line are told to hang up on any person who questions their ability: We don't need to prove ourselves to anyone but the person hiring us for the job. Most people call me on two subjects: love and money.

Infomercials--those half-hour commercials that resemble talk shows and other actual programs--continue to flood the airwaves. You may recall my hair-raising, in-depth report on an infomercial for a spray that is supposed to hide bald spots. Testing the product on my own head took great courage. And now another bold expose. The target this time is an arresting infomercial that has been running for some time on several channels. It's called: "The Psychic Friends Network."

Talk about a leap . . . After dating for nearly 60 years, Clark Kent and Lois Lane will finally marry. * "The world is wondering if Superman can adjust to married life. Up to now, his biggest challenge has been coming back from the dead." (Argus Hamilton) * "He proposed during a weak moment. She spiked his margarita with Kryptonite." (Hy Faber) * "You can't blame Lois for being reluctant. How many women would be willing to marry a guy who keeps a red cape and blue tights in his closet?"

Actor Jerry Douglas anticipates that fans of "The Young and the Restless"--and particularly of his fine, upstanding character, John Abbott--are rejoicing over his current story turn: John's split from his conniving younger wife, Jill. "People have been coming up to me for years saying, 'Do you know how evil that Jill is? She's disgusting. You ought to get rid of her,' " recounts Douglas with a laugh. "They lecture me constantly. I sit there and say, 'Yeah, you're right. Thank you.'