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Here is a rundown of paranormal, skeptical and quacktastic news stories that made it into the media this week courtesy of Doubtful News.

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Here is a recap of the stories that appeared last week at Science-Based Medicine, a multi-author skeptical blog that separates the science from the woo-woo in medicine.

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Dear Friends,

We are thrilled to announce that The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM) returns in just a few months: July 10-13, 2014 at the South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Our theme this year – Skepticism and the Brain – is focused on the cognitive and brain sciences and how they inform the project of skepticism. Keynote speakers include the acclaimed philosopher, cognitive scientist, and best selling author Daniel Dennett and Scientific American Editor-in-Chief Mariette DiChristina. Other speakers include neurophilosopher Patricia Churchland, Australia's Dr. Karl, Evolution & Human Behavior Editor-in-Chief Robert Kurzban, Brainwashed: The Seductive Appeal of Mindless Neuroscience authors Scott Lilienfeld and Sally Satel, M.D., influential memory researcher Elizabeth Loftus, clinical neurologist Steven Novella, M.D., immunologist Paul Offit, M.D., National Center for Science Education's Eugenie Scott, Skeptic Editor-in-Chief Michael Shermer, psychologists and best selling authors Carol Tavris and Richard Wiseman, and many, many more!

The inimitable George Hrab returns as our Master of Ceremonies. As Pacific Standard magazine recently described, Hrab's "vaudeville-style" has set the tone for "what is perhaps the world’s preeminent gathering of self-proclaimed skeptics."

This annual celebration of critical thinking is an unparalleled opportunity to make like-minded friends, enjoy some of the brightest minds on issues important to skeptics, and leave with tools for spreading a helpful and educational message to those who might be hurt by charlatans and unfounded belief. TAM has become the must-go-to event for skeptics and science advocates.

James Randi and over a thousand other like-minded folks for four days of fun, friendship, and critical thinking!

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Professional con artist and pseudo-psychic Rose Marks was sentenced on March 3rd to more than ten years in prison following her conviction last September on charges of defrauding clients of more than $17 million.

The sentencing brought to a conclusion a lengthy process that began with the charging of Marks along with eight other family members in August of 2011. Eventually the eight others reached plea bargains, and have gradually been sentenced over the past six months. Rose Marks ended up going to trial as a sole defendant.

I have written previously about the various stages of the trial in a number of blog pieces. Here is the “Sun-Sentinel’s” story about the sentencing of Rose Marks:

 http://touch.sun-sentinel.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-79503099/

It is worth taking a close look at several elements of the finale events.  The article summarizes elements of Marks’s predations, as testified to at trial by her victims, and of “how she exploited them during vulnerable times in their lives,” including how Marks victimized famed romance author Jude Devereaux and “exploited her grief after Devereaux’s 8-year-old son, Sam, died in an ATV accident…”

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Here is a rundown of strange and intellectually bankrupt news stories that made it into the media this week courtesy of Doubtful News.

We kept adding to our post on the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 as new fringe ideas emerged. No psychic claimed to predict it, yet, but one particularly media-hungry so-called remote viewer got in on the act and, frankly, was completely unhelpful. It was embarrassing, actually. But what was he going to do, bend the spoons on board?

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  3. We're full of surprises: This week in Doubtful News for March 11, 2014
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