Here is yesterday's correspondence:

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Dear Mr. McGourty:

Could you please provide me with the correct link for detailed information
on the study, "How well do Zodiac Birth Signs Predict Occupations?" The
link in the article on the Web merely directs me to your home page.

It is hoped that details will include an abstract, research methods, and a
clear conclusion.

Could you also tell me if any astrologers were consulted when undertaking
this study?

Sincerely,

Frank Piechoski
Media Watch Chair
Association For Astrological Networking (AFAN)

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-----Original Message-----
From: Vince McGourty [mailto:Vince.McGourty@hcdi.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 2:47 PM
To: Frank Piechoski
Cc: grkessler@hcdi.net
Subject: RE: How well do Zodiac Birth Signs Predict Occupations?


Frank:

You can go to www.mediacurves.com to see all of the data on the study.
The data is in the form of PowerPoint slides. We conducted a national
study during which we asked birth dates and occupations. We then matched
the data to determine if there was any direct correlation.

The press release is essentially the abstract for the study. No,
astrologers were not consulted.

Thanks for your interest.

Vince McGourty

---------------
Dear Vince:

Thank you for your prompt response. Could you please provide me with a
direct URL to the PowerPoint slides - I seem to be unable to find a link on
the www.mediacurves.com site.

On another point, don't you think it's a bit strange to engage in a research
study without actually consulting experts on, or practitioners of, the
subject you are studying?

Also, was your study self-selecting based on driving respondents to a Web
site to answer the questions? Or was a true random sample taken? Was any
attempt made to look at more than Sun signs? Were birth times provided?
How was the submitted data verified?

Would you be willing to turn over your raw data to researchers who would
examine and attempt to replicate your study?

Thank you again.

Sincerely,

Frank Piechoski
------------

From: Vince McGourty [mailto:Vince.McGourty@hcdi.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 3:18 PM
To: Frank Piechoski
Subject: RE: How well do Zodiac Birth Signs Predict Occupations?


We did a nationally representative random quantitative sample. We didn't
consult experts because our objective was to simply correlate birth date
with profession.

We saw no reason to consult with experts.

Vince
----------

Dear Vince:

Thank you gain for your response.

Unfortunately, you've neglected to include all of my previous message, so
I'll re-include my expanded points below.

I understand what you've said, but that doesn't answer the questions posed
previously.

1. Could you please provide me with a direct URL to the PowerPoint slides -
I seem to be unable to find a link on the www.mediacurves.com site. I did
find a .PDF that shows some results, but no metion of methodology. How do
those numbers relate to your hypothesis (if you have one)?

2. Also, was your study self-selecting based on driving respondents to a Web
site to answer the questions?

3. Was a true random sample taken? How was it accomplished?

4. Was any attempt made to look at more than Sun signs?

5. Were birth times provided?

6. How was the submitted data verified?

7. Your assertion that, "The press release is essentially the abstract for
the study." is spurious at best. It has neither the information contained
in, nor is in the format of, a formal abstract.

8. "No astrologers were not consulted." "We saw no reason to consult with
experts." These statements speak for themselves. How would you expect a
study to be taken seriously when you admit this?

9. What exactly was your agenda for publishing this piece?

And something new:

10. How do you explain that the sign Cancer shows a much higher percentage
in category P9 - in fact the highest percentage (29%) in ANY category -
[Other Healthcare Professional (e.g., nurse, physician assistant, diabetes
educator, pharmacist)]. Are you even aware that the sign Cancer is
associated with nurturing? It seems that at least on this one point, your
company's research is showing exactly the opposite of what your press
release claims.


Sincerely,

Frank Piechoski
Media Watch Chair
Association For Astrological Networking (AFAN)
----------------

From: Vince McGourty [mailto:Vince.McGourty@hcdi.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 4:25 PM
To: Frank Piechoski
Cc: grkessler@hcdi.net
Subject: RE: How well do Zodiac Birth Signs Predict Occupations?


1. www.mediacurves.com ---all results are there.
2. No -- used random sampling scientific recruiting methodology
3. Yes -- see answer above.
4. No -- birth signs and occupation.
5. No.
6. A professional staff of analysts.
7. It's a summary of results.
8. Individuals make their own decision to take it seriously or not.
9. Entertainment
10. Wouldn't attempt to explain -- I leave that to the experts.

------------

Dear Vince:

Thank you again for your response. If you are unable or unwilling to give
complete answers to my questions, could you please point me toward someone
who can?

I'm mostly concerned with the "random sampling scientific recruiting
methodology" - what methods were used? I'm familiar with various recruiting
methods, I just want to know the exact methodology.

As far as your answer to number 9 was concerned, why didn't you state in
your press release that it was "for entertainment only?" I find it
difficult to believe that there was no other agenda behind this "study."

Who funded it?

Sincerely,

Frank Piechoski
-----------

And I haven't heard back since about 5 p.m. EST yesterday.

Same old, same old. People with an agenda masquerading as scientific researchers, pushing their agenda, misrepresented as a scientific study, down the throat of a gullible audience via the news-hungry media.

What's the best astrological configuration for this?

Tom wrote:I like the remark that "astrology is big business." I wonder what scientific study they used to reach that conclusion. I'll bet all those rich astrologers were shaking in their indoor swimming pools when their butlers brought them that news release.

Tom

Not the butler, I think it was the gardener, maid, au pair, or security attendant. I forget which!

Astrologers seem a different bunch than the rest, I guess a little more ethical than most. So money may not be high on the list, besides earning to keep this free time for studying.

But still, I earned plenty from betting, which covered a fair amount of astrology, 5-6 months profit (and a good wage out of it) in as many months, says it can be done.