Nancy Marks, Florida 'Psychic,' Sentenced To Prison And Fined $2.2 Million

"A South Florida "psychic" who told clients that she could influence everything from terminal cancer to the fate of frozen sperm, was sentenced to federal prison Monday and ordered to repay more than $2.2 million to her victims.


Nancy Demetro Marks, 44, of Fort Lauderdale, must begin serving her prison term of three years and nine months by Feb. 14. She pleaded guilty last year to her considerable role in a massive psychic fraud conspiracy led by her mother-in-law, Rose Marks."

Source: sun-sentinel.com - January 13, 2014


Video:

I Doubt That - The Media Guide to Skepticism

A workshop presented by Sharon Hill.

The common notion about being a "skeptic" is that you hold a generally questioning attitude or have a dubious opinion on a certain topic. At the extreme, terms like "climate skeptic" or "truther" express distrust and denial of scientific conclusions. Scientific skepticism, however, is an approach that emphasizes evaluating claims based on evidence. The process of skepticism is of great value to society to lessen the potential of believing or investing in something that isn't all it appears to be, which may have social, financial or even tragic consequences.

This presentation will provide a look into organized skepticism -- what it is, what it means to be a skeptic, what skepticism isn't, and why it's important for everyone to know how to apply it in a world overloaded with questionable information. Come visit with some friendly neighborhood skeptics who can help you sort through the nonsense and critically evaluate some extraordinary claims. Find out the difference between merely saying "I'm skeptical" and REALLY applying skepticism.

Bullshit Hypnosis - Very Critical Review Of Wendi.com

Response to a woman called Wendi Friesen, who appeared on P&T Bullshit!

Hypnosis, and appeared on other TV shows a few times, she is one of a growing breed of pseudo-scientists. She is a Hypnotherapist who creates CDs and downloads to do that which hypnotherapy just can't seem to do, but because she is making big money she is happy to advertise breast enlargement hypnosis, if you gotta a problem she would have an audio therapy session to help you, help you to give her a big income.

In the Penn & Teller episode on hypnotherapy she said her site makes millions, and that show was made over 5 years ago, so how much money is she making now? [I dread to think!]. I chose to critique her works due to her lack of scientific standing and her radical claims, I'm sure she is a nice gal and yet I just can't let such quackery pass without serious criticism, it's not personal, it's just business. I find it interesting how her work covers everything you may need, the claim are great and yet a great deal of loose language means she is covered legally within alternative therapy, and still the great claims draw in millions of people and have made her quite rich.

Video has been removed. Sorry

Pretend Psychic Tony Stockwell criticised by Charlie Brooker on You Have Been Watching

Clip from You Have Been Watching, a great clip criticising a load of crap psychic quackery.

Meet the Amazing TAMers: Michael Shermer

Joel Guttormson, Outreach and Event Coordinator for the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science interviews speakers from TAM 2013 presented by the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Dr. Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine, the Executive Director of the Skeptics Society, a monthly columnist for Scientific American, the host of the The Skeptics Society's Distinguished Science Lecture Series, and Adjunct Professor at Claremont Graduate University and Chapman University. His latest book is, 'The Believing Brain'.

The Skeptics Society & Skeptic magazine: www.skeptic.com

JREF: http://www.randi.org