Is Mother Teresa's Miracle for Real?
By Charles Duhigg
Slate
http://slate.msn.com/id/2090198/
"On Sunday, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta, bringing her one step closer to sainthood. To be beatified, in most cases, a person must have performed a miracle from beyond the grave; on Oct. 1, the Vatican certified that Teresa, who died in 1997, had miraculously cured one woman's cancerous tumor sometime in 1998. How does the Vatican certify a miraculous cure?"
School unravels universal mysteries
By Anne Mathey
Des Moines Cityview
http://www.dmcityview.com/main.asp?SectionID=39&ArticleID=3873&SubSectionID=70
"A nurse of almost 30 years, Karen Mosby is familiar with the laws of the physical world. She knows if she gives patients antibiotics, their colds will be cured. If she dresses a wound, it will heal. So how is it that she speaks as easily of past lives, universal truths and the inner self as she speaks of pain relievers, IVs and bedpans?"
General's speeches under scrutiny
by Bradley Graham
Washington Post
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/10/22/MNG6G2GI971.DTL
"The Pentagon is launching a formal investigation into statements by a high-ranking Army officer that cast the U.S. fight against terrorists in religious terms, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced Tuesday."
'Satan' remark spurs investigation of officer
By GEORGE EDMONSON
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/1003/22rumsfeld.html
"The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Tuesday that an Army general who made controversial comments in uniform about Christianity and Islam should be given another assignment while an investigation is under way."
Gen. Looney Tunes
BY MICHAEL KING
Austin Chronicle
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-10-24/pols_naked6.html
"The Bush administration was scrambling this week to fend off a public relations nightmare courtesy of a U.S. general anointed by God. That would be Army Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin, a fundamentalist Christian recently appointed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to be the deputy undersecretary for intelligence. Boykin has made a number of speeches to evangelical groups denigrating Islam and describing the war against terrorism as a crusade against Satan, and several Arab American groups have called for his resignation or reassignment. Last Friday the Pentagon issued a statement in which Boykin said, "I am not anti-Islam or any other religion. I support the free exercise of all religions. For those who have been offended by my statements, I offer a sincere apology.""
Did the Scandinavians beat Columbus to America twice?
Agence France-Presse
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...0031022/od_afp/sweden_us_history_031022073822
"Archeologists have already established that Viking explorers beat Christopher Columbus to America by about 500 years, but experts in Sweden now hope to determine whether another group of Scandinavians landed in the New World in 1362, 130 years before Columbus."
DAVID LYNCH'S $1B PEACE PLAN
New York Post
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10222003/gossip/pagesix.htm
"DIRECTOR David Lynch wants you to give peace a chance - by helping him raise $1 billion to establish a vast network of "peace palaces" around the world."
'Women Helping Women' Scheme Co-Leader Sentenced
Associated Press
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/2570198/detail.html
"One of the two leaders of the illegal Women Helping Women chain scheme faced formal punishment Tuesday."
Restitution fund grows for pyramid-deal victims
By Edgar Sanchez
Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/scam_alert/story/7640171p-8580601c.html
"A year ago, the Women Helping Women pyramid scheme collapsed, leaving many victims in Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties."
Fraudsters on the streets of Lagos
By Anna Borzello
BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/from_our_own_correspondent/3201692.stm
"I received my first real insight into Nigeria last Saturday, when a taxi pulled up alongside me on the street."
Creepy things in woods
by J.D. Mullane
Bucks County Courier Times
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/219-10212003-181749.html
"Two years ago, just past dawn in February, Rick Fisher was driving along a lonely stretch of Route 23 near Lancaster when he saw a strange creature."
Sci-Fi channel may sue NASA for UFO documents
Reuters
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/21/ufo.records.reut/index.html
"The truth is out there, and the Sci-Fi Channel is determined to find it, even if that means suing NASA, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army and Air Force for documents related to unidentified flying objects."
Groups Ready Lawsuit Against Government Stonewall
Press Release
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031021/nytu141_1.html
"As a result of continued resistance by key federal agencies to release records concerning the 1965 UFO incident in Kecksburg, PA, SCI FI Channel today announced its support for legal action against NASA and the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force to make those records public."
Sci Fi Channel Seeks UFO Secrets
by Josh Grossberg
E! Online
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,12741,00.html
"Call it close encounters of the cable kind."
Bigfoot and UFOs! Kecksburg has it all
by Jim Gordon
Merrillville Post-Tribune
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/columns/gordon/z1/10-23-03_z1_gord_1.html
"Something happened in the skies above and the woods beyond Kecksburg, Pa., on Dec. 9, 1965, and the Sci-Fi Channel wants to know what the government knows about what it was."
Virgin Mary appears in New Jersey tree
Reuters
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20031022/od_uk_nm/oukoe_odd_virgin&e=2
"Believers are flocking to a rundown street in New Jersey to see a tree stump they say has the form of the Virgin Mary and is a divine sign of hope for the impoverished neighbourhood."
Faithful say they see image of the Virgin Mary in Passaic tree stump
Associated Press
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--virginmary-stump1021oct21,0,5637480.story
"Several people claim an image of the Virgin Mary has appeared in a tree stump after a cluster of trees were mysteriously cut down."
Teen Says He Cut Tree Where Some See Image Of Virgin Mary
Associated Press
http://www.wnbc.com/news/2571894/detail.html
"Part of the mystery surrounding a tree stump that some say contains an image of the Virgin Mary has been solved."
Debate Over Adding Fluoride in Water
KRON
http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=1490000
"Fluoride may be good for your teeth.. But is it good for the water supply? Some palo alto residents are fighting to stop the city's water from being treated with flouride because they believe it's toxic."
Pamela: Only 10 Years to Live?
by Sarah Hall
E! Online
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,12748,00.html?tnews
"Pamela Anderson is not a woman to cover much up."
Ghosts of New York City
by Adam Bulger
New York Press
http://www.nypress.com/16/43/realestate/realestate2.cfm
"Hear enough ghost stories, and a pattern emerges. First, there’s murder or moment of atrocious neglect that leads to a grisly death. Then, the victim lingers around the scene of his death to confound and annoy the living."
Real estate's scary side
By Les Christie
CNN/Money
http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/21/pf/yourhome/househaunting/
"Any number of physical factors can complicate the sale of a home: shoddy upkeep, irreparable structural decay, proximity to a toxic waste site."
6 report UFO in Durham skies
BY ERIC OLSON
Durham Herald-Sun
http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-404801.html
"It flashed across the sky like a shooting star, trailing a tail of green streaks."
Green glow could've been meteor shower
BY JIM SHAMP
Durham Herald-Sun
http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-405186.html
"Leftover junk from Comet Halley probably explains the mysteriously bright, greenish streaker that crossed the heavens Monday night before quickly disappearing in a blaze of glory."
Astronomers Say Meteor Shower, Not UFO, To Blame For Light Show In Sky
WRAL
http://www.wral.com/news/2570691/detail.html
"People across the Triangle saw bright lights in the sky Monday and thought they were witnessing an alien invasion, but astronomers have an simpler explanation: a meteor shower."
The defense does not rest: ‘Pretty Boy’ pretty normal companion to area paranormal investigator
By JO ANN BOBBY GILBERT
Lisbon Morning Journal
http://www.morningjournalnews.com/story.asp?ID=17610
"While the details surrounding the death of Dust Bowl bandit Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd remain shrouded in speculation, historians all agree on one aspect: he died at the hands of lawmen Oct. 22, 1934, on a Sprucevale Road farm outside the city."
Psychic 'reads' medieval ship
BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/3203851.stm
"A psychic has tried to 'read' the wood of the medieval ship raised from a south Wales river bank to try and uncover its past."
Is a Skunk Ape Loose in Campbell County?
By VINCE LENNON
WATE
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1492976
"A new theory emerged Wednesday as a crypto-zoologist weighed in on sightings of a possible primate in Campbell County."
Vet Questions Skunk Ape Theory in Campbell Co.
By VINCE LENNON
WATE
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1494585
"After seeing reports of primate sightings in Campbell County, a Knoxville Zoo veterinary consultant said he doubts the animal is a skunk ape."
Forensic Expert Says Bigfoot Is Real
by Stefan Lovgren
National Geographic News
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1023_031023_bigfoot.html
"It's been the subject of campfire stories for decades. A camera-elusive, grooming-challenged, bipedal ape-man that roams the mountain regions of North America. Some call it Sasquatch. Others know it as Bigfoot."
Do You See Dead People? Disclose It
by Broderick Perkins
Realty Times
http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20031023_deadpeople.htm
"As silly as it sounds, if your home has a reputation for ectoplasmic activity, you should disclose it."
The mystery of the missing links
by Mary Wakefield
The Spectator
http://www.spectator.co.uk/article.php3?table=old§ion=current&issue=2003-10-25&id=3647
"A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend, a man who has more postgraduate degrees than I have GCSEs. The subject of Darwinism came up. ‘Actually,’ he said, raising his eyebrows, ‘I don’t believe in evolution.’"
Believe it or not, meeting set for aliens, Bigfoot
By Frank Zoretich
Albuquerque Tribune
http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news03/102303_news_skeptic.shtml
"Attention all genuine space aliens: Your presence would be welcome at a conference starting in Albuquerque tonight of people who doubt your reality."
Jaadu, jaadu... it's science, boys
by BHANU PRATAP SINGH
TIMES of INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=240901
"If Union minister Sanjay Paswan thinks he will not have to eat his own words as long as “ojhas” and “gunis” continue to impress people by eating fire, it is high time he gave it a second thought."
Aryan Nations founder runs for mayor in Idaho
Associated Press
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/10/21/aryan.formayor.ap/index.html
"The people of Hayden can't seem to rid themselves of neo-Nazi Richard Butler."
A prickly method to treat illness
By SHERRY ANNE RUBIANO
Daily Trojan
http://www.dailytrojan.com/article.do?issue=/V150/N35&id=08-prick.35c.html
"Acupuncture may treat conditions that Western medicine cannot."
Ancient Ways offers connection to ancient beliefs
By CHRISTINA SMITH
Des Moines Register
http://www.dmregister.com/business/stories/c4789010/22452013.html
"Jo VonStein is facing one of her busiest times of the year. As owner of Ancient Ways - an eclectic Sherman Hill store that specializes in Wiccan practices - VonStein has to gear up for the Celtic New Year."
Attorney General Warns Of Possible Scam
By Rob Moritz
Fort Smith Times Record
http://www.swtimes.com/archive/2003/October/16/news/AttorneyGenScam.html
"A salesman who has held seminars in Arkansas promoting the medical benefits of a magnetic mattress pad has been charged in California with making false claims about the product, Attorney General Mike Beebe said Tuesday."
Ex-Arkansan Helps With Case
By Rob Moritz
Fort Smith Times Record
http://www.swtimes.com/archive/2003/October/20/news/ExArkansan.html
"An Arkansas native was involved in helping the Arizona attorney general’s office seek legal action against a salesman who promoted medical benefits of a mattress pad in that state."
Holistic enters the mainstream
BY HARRY JACKSON JR.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/7030972.htm
"Darcy Wolf's struggle with arthritis left her dissatisfied with the treatment she got from traditional doctors. The St. Albans, Mo., woman found the drugs given to her didn't help. And in one case, they made matters worse."
Alternative medicine seems to be catching on in the area
By JIM OWEN
Silver City Daily Press
http://www.thedailypress.com/NewsFolder/10.16.2.html
"A growing number of area residents are discovering there are alternatives to traditional medical treatments for pain, allergies, addictions and other ailments."
Pan loses its final battle
By Ian Gerard
The Australian
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,7592030%5E462,00.html
"PAN Pharmaceuticals founder Jim Selim yesterday lost a last-ditch battle to save his alternative medicine manufacturer from liquidation."
NHS should use herbal remedies, says adviser
By Francis Elliott
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...erb19.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/10/19/ixhome.html
"Herbal and other "alternative" medicines should be available on the National Health Service although there is little scientific evidence that they work, according to a government adviser."
Mystic, occult images work for area firm
By Jonathan Ment
Kingston Daily Freeman
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=72588&newsid=10342663&PAG=461&rfi=9
"Need a picture of Nostradamus, mythological beasts or the astral body of Buddha? The Image Works can help."
A Hope for the Prostate Among the Rattlesnakes
By TERESA BURNEY
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/21/h...00&en=4d532fad8b1d48b4&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
"On vacant lots and deep in swamps, beside the roads and scattered through cow pastures — practically everywhere in the Deep South — grows a wild berry that offers hope of relief to millions of men."
Alternative-medicine doctor loses licence
by Lori Culbert
Vancouver Sun
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/story.asp?id=9A7F6E7E-55CE-4393-9065-E39949332798
"A Williams Lake family doctor who practises alternative medicine had his medical licence pulled after he was deemed to lack "the requisite skill and knowledge" to be a physician."
Ayurveda to get a scientific footing globally
by T S SRINIVASA RAGHAVAN
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=245673
"Ayurveda ultimately has got its due. The US based National Institutes of Health has cleared the decks towards developing and consolidating long-term scientific collaborations between researchers of Ayurvedic Trust -- an offshoot of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy and top US Universities by announcing funds, which would be routed through National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine."
Voice for a choice: Bera Dordoni sings the virtues of fresh veggies, water and taking charge of your health
By Jan Jonas
Albuquerque Tribune
http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/neighbors03/102303_neighbors_bera.shtml
"Bera Dordoni is a rescuer."
Forget claims; no cure for cancer
BY DIANE EVANS
Knight Ridder Newspapers
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/7085285.htm
"I saw a flier the other day in which a natural health practitioner claimed to have methods for "healing" cancer."
Harvest continues at Morrow Plots
by Lauren Matthes
Daily Illini
http://www.dailyillini.com/oct03/oct21/news/stories/news_story03.shtml
"Despite recent vandalism, University of Illinois researchers are still able to harvest and obtain adequate data from the Morrow Plots."
Amazing Randi pulls off out-of-this world trick
BY HECTOR FLORIN
Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/7032895.htm
"It was a tad unconventional for an astronaut, someone usually busy with serious stuff such as high-tech experiments or repairing spaceships."
Scottsdale cryonics group thriving despite controversy
by Craig Harris and Peter Corbett
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1019alcor-main19.html
"Forty-three heads. Eighteen bodies. Eleven dogs. Eleven cats. One monkey."
Dispute simmers among Williams kin
by Peter Corbett and Craig Harris
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019alcor-williams.html
"Nearly 16 months after his death, it is still unclear whether baseball legend Ted Williams ever knew that his remains, his head and body severed, would be frozen at a Scottsdale cryonics lab."
Former executive who went public now hiding in fear
by Peter Corbett
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019alcor-johnson.html
"Former Scottsdale cryonics executive Larry Johnson says he is doing his "Saddam Hussein impersonation.""
Alcor gains advantage as tax-exempt organization
by Craig Harris
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019alcor-money19.html
"At first blush, the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale and the Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Mich., appear to have much in common."
Doubters don't faze Alcor's president
by Craig Harris
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1020alcor-lemler19.html
"As president of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, where members believe future technology will bring the dead back to life, Dr. Jerry Lemler has heard his share of scoffs."
They freeze dead people
by Dale M. King
Boca Raton News
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&category=LOCAL NEWS&prid=6579
"Just eight days shy of Halloween, the Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board will hear one of its most chilling requests."
Peace initiative irks foes
By Karen E. Crummy
Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~64~1710230,00.html
"Stupid and based in fantasy."
SHOWTIME Renews 'PENN & TELLER: ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊!' for Second Season
Press Release
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031020/nym186_1.html
"SHOWTIME has renewed its multiple Emmy®-nominated series PENN & TELLER: ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊!, from the Wolper Organization, for a second season, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President, Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. The controversial series, featuring master showmen Penn & Teller, initially premiered on SHOWTIME in January 2003. It offers viewers an aggressive, irreverent expose of taboo topics using the duo's trademark humor, knowledge of carnival tricks and con-artistry, as well as hidden cameras and blatant confrontation. According to TV Guide, the series "is what 60 Minutes might be like if it were run by the creators of South Park.""
Psst, want to buy a big bridge?
by Clay Thompson
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1020clay20.html
"I am thinking of going into sales, specifically sales of the Brooklyn Bridge. After considering today's question, I'm thinking there are enough suckers out there for me to make a go of it."
Attorney General announces Internet scheme busted
Associated Press
http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=1485227
"State Attorney General Paul Summers says his office has signed an agreement with a West Tennessee couple accused of operating a pyramid scheme on the Internet."
Vice President Bukenya Opens New 'Gift Circle'
The Monitor [Kampala]
http://allafrica.com/stories/200310170954.html
"Vice President Gilbert Bukenya has launched a new women's group similar to the banned 'gift-circle' groups."
Customers Cheated In Grocery Pyramid Scheme
WEWS
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/2562568/detail.html
"An Internet shopping scheme promises to save consumers money but is not delivering on that promise, reported NewsChannel5's Adam Shapiro."
Self-improvement program draws mixed reviews
by PAUL POST
The Saratogian
http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10344189&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=17708&rfi=6
"Last year, it made $4 million, a far cry from the Fortune 500 list. But Executive Success, also called Nxivm, has drawn national attention with allegations that its self-improvement and business strategies have the earmarks of a cult."
Women to pay $20K for operating pyramid scheme
St. Louis Business Journal
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2003/10/20/daily25.html
"Two women from St. Louis County will each pay a $10,000 civil penalty after admitting to operating an illegal pyramid scheme known as "The Original Dinner Party," said Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon."
Conjuring the past
By Dinah Cardin
North Shore Sunday
http://www.townonline.com/lynnfield/news/local_regional/nss_artnsouijiboarddoc10232003.htm
"Salem resident Bob Murch is arguably the world's foremost Ouija Board expert."
Islamic astrology is serious business
by Hannah Wettig
Daily Star [Lebanon]
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/features/21_10_03_a.asp
"Eva Orthmann doesn’t like it when people dismiss her studies as esoteric."
Reagan film says Nancy guided him with astrology
By Alec Russell
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...ag22.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/10/22/ixworld.html
"A two-part television film about Ronald Reagan shows his wife Nancy relying on her astrologer to plan the presidential diary and has him suggesting that Aids victims deserve to die."
7 School Board candidates would oppose teaching creationism
By GREG C. HUFF
Stillwater Gazette
http://www.stillwatergazette.com/story.asp?cat=NEW&story=6551
"Neither registered nor write-in candidates for the District 834 School Board believe that Minnesota educators should teach creationism. Two candidates, however, said teachers should not deny students the opportunity to discuss in school theories that challenge evolution."
Hello (again) kitty?
By Lindy T. Shepherd
Orlando Weekly
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/story.asp?ID=4129
"About a year ago, I stumbled upon a show called "The Pet Psychic." In that episode, animal communicator Sonja Fitzpatrick, former model-turned-television pet guru, was onsite at Gatorland, "chatting" with Old Joe, a gator who'd fallen into a slump to the great concern of his seasoned wrangler, Tim Williams. Fitzpatrick, of handsome middle age (63, actually), with British correctitude and classy style, was leaning into a rustic pond "communicating" with crusty Old Joe."
Mother Teresa's Ancestry Creates Stir
By DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V9976.AP-Mother-Teresa-T.html
"Just about everyone in this city accepts that Mother Teresa was a good person. That's about all they agree on."
Clairvoyant foresees school for spiritual arts
By Nicole Fitzgerald
Whistler Question
http://www.whistlerquestion.com/mad...49F0827E5013F02088256DC1006922DB?OpenDocument
"Whistler’s spiritual community is an underground one. Unlike many cities, which burst at the seams with metaphysical stores, spiritually-based “churches” and columns of newspaper advertisements on everything from Reiki treatments to past-life regression workshops, there is no central location in Whistler to access information on the spiritual arts."
Now pundits make 'sex kundli'
By Khalid M Ansari
Hindustan Times
http://sify.com/news/hindustantimes/fullstory.php?id=13286499&vsv=71
"Want to know how good your wife is in bed? No problem! Just ask the friendly, neighbourhood Man of God. With Indian couples eager to know their carnal compatibility before marriage, 'sex patri' is the way to go."
Ethical issues in fortune telling
By DAN LAIDMAN
Monterey County Herald
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/local/7051731.htm
"The Greenfield healer may or may not have committed fraud, but she certainly seems to have broken one law: fortune telling without a license."
S.C. man admits Smart case hoax
Associated Press
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/7083699.htm
"An S.C. man faces up to 25 years in prison after admitting he posed as Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper and demanded $3 million for her safe return."
Culver girl perpetrates cancer hoax
WNDU
http://www.wndu.com/news/102003/news_22357.php
"A Ball State University student from Culver has been charged in a bizarre crime where she claimed to be deaf and suffering from cancer in order to get money."
Militia member pleads innocent
Associated Press
http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0310/23/d10n-305119.htm
"A self-styled militiaman accused of plotting to kill police in retaliation for the fatal shooting of another man with anti-government views has pleaded innocent to federal weapons charges."
Houdini fans hope for reappearing act during Woodinville séance
By KRISTIN DIZON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/144202_houdini17.html
"Odds are, the guest of honor will not make an appearance."
'Dirty bomb' radiation not so scary, experts say
By Lois M. Collins
Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,520033020,00.html
"One of the scariest scenarios to emerge after 9/11 centers on what radiation from a "dirty bomb" would do to people and their cities. Wednesday, radiation oncologists meeting in Salt Lake City debunked what they called "myths" about dirty bomb damage."
Naturopath/ author to talk about cancer
BY KAREN SHIDELER
Wichita Eagle
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/living/7061383.htm
"Michael Murray, author of "How to Prevent and Treat Cancer With Natural Medicine," "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine" and the upcoming "How to Prevent and Treat Diabetes With Natural Medicine," will be in Wichita next week for a free presentation."
Sotheby's to sell rare occult book collection
by Maev Kennedy
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1068649,00.html
"Charlotte Miller, an expert on antique books, spoke soberly of rare editions, fine bindings, scholarly interest and early scientific theory, and then giggled helplessly: "It's going to be interesting seeing who turns up at the viewing.""
Psychic purges curse from Wrigley Field
UPI
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20031014-121042-3105r.htm
"An Illinois psychic's purging of negative spirits from Wrigley Field appears to be working, and she says the Cubs will make the World Series."
Curse is foiled: Psychic helps cleanse Wrigley
By MELISSA WESTPHAL
Rockford Register Star
http://www.rrstar.com/localnews/your_community/belvidere/20031014-26989.shtml
"Denise Guzzardo drove to Wrigley Field, bottle of negativity repellent potion and sage wand in hand."
TV episode to feature exploits of Norwich psychic
By GREG SMITH
Norwich Bulletin
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/stories/20031020/localnews/485113.html
"From part-time bus driver to world-renowned psychic, Pat Gagliardo had led "quite an interesting life, to say the least.""
Woman, Father Get Prison for Slave Claims
By JUSTIN BERGMAN
Associated Press
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V1283.AP-Slave-Reparatio.html
"A tax preparer was sentenced Thursday to 13 years in prison and his daughter received just over three years for defrauding the IRS by claiming $500,000 in slavery reparations."
In Congo, unwanted children branded `witches,' suffer horrible abuse
By Sudarsan Raghavan
Knight Ridder Newspapers
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/7061713.htm
"After her mother married for a second time, Aline Kabila felt her life would be better. But in this war-ravaged nation, where poverty and superstitions are plentiful, her stepfamily saw her as a curse: another mouth to feed, another body to clothe."
Vedic City says 500 can come as soon as fund-raising finishes
By Erik Gable
Fairfield Ledger
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10402338&BRD=1139&PAG=461&dept_id=142642&rfi=6
"Officials within the Transcendental Meditation movement say 500 Vedic pandits, or meditating students from India, will be able to move to Vedic City north of Fairfield within two months of the money being raised to feed and house them."
Eglise Raelienne Canadienne - 'No' to media harassment
Press Release
http://www.newswire.ca/releases/October2003/15/c1236.html
"The Canadian Raelian Religion protests with indignation against the incitement-to-hatred campaign that was recently launched by several media against Canadian Raelians and their religion. These articles obviously reflect an invasion of Raelians' right to privacy with a strong desire to try to have them lose their jobs SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR RELIGION. In fact, these articles are very reminiscent of the pervasive hatred of pre-Nazi Germany against the Jews."
Raelians condemn investigative articles
CBC
http://montreal.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=qc_raelian20031610
"Members of the Raelian movement demonstrated Thursday morning in front of the offices of the Journal de Montreal because they are upset by a series of investigative articles published recently in the tabloid."
Duke City company to get IRB
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
Albuquerque Tribune
http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news03/101403_news_county.shtml
"The Bernalillo County Commission is in the process of making a deal with a city of Albuquerque company for industrial revenue bonds, the first time the county has exercised its rights under a law passed this year that allows the county to issue IRBs for firms located within the city of Albuquerque."
Witch Gets State Grant
Reuters
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&e=2&u=/nm/20031021/od_nm/life_norway_witch_dc
"A witch has won subsidies from the Norwegian state to run a business of potions, fortune-telling and magic."
Fourth Time: There's No LSD in the Slot
By Bob Levey
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61884-2003Oct21.html
"The power of the press rivals that of Superman, or so they say. All we typists have to do is hammer out a few turgid sentences and shazam -- bum rumors become dust."
DUI still plaguing Utah
By Lucinda Dillon Kinkead
Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,515039063,00.html
"A 7-year-old child was the youngest person to be arrested for drunken driving in Utah in the past year. The oldest was 91."
Add 7-year-old drunken driver to the list of urban myths
by Paul Rolly and JoAnn Jacobsen-Wells
Salt Lake Tribune
http://www2.sltrib.com/columnists/RollyWells/main/index.asp
"Urban myths are alive and well in Utah, thanks to a typo in State Driver License Division records that made its way into a front-page story last week in the Deseret Morning News."
Microsoft launches self-destructing email (false)
By John Leyden
The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/33507.html
"An urban myth has grown up around today’s launch of Microsoft Office 2003 which suggests that the product features technology that allows embarrassing emails to “self destruct” after a specified time period."
E-mail stops Crime Stoppers
By Shelley Hodgson
Melbourne Herald Sun
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7654034^421,00.html
"CRIME Stoppers fears a mischievous e-mail circulating in Melbourne may have tied up its hotline when people with vital crime information were trying to get through."
To Tuesday's two supporters, tanks... er... thanks. Your generous donations are appreciated.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skepticsearch/
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By Charles Duhigg
Slate
http://slate.msn.com/id/2090198/
"On Sunday, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta, bringing her one step closer to sainthood. To be beatified, in most cases, a person must have performed a miracle from beyond the grave; on Oct. 1, the Vatican certified that Teresa, who died in 1997, had miraculously cured one woman's cancerous tumor sometime in 1998. How does the Vatican certify a miraculous cure?"
School unravels universal mysteries
By Anne Mathey
Des Moines Cityview
http://www.dmcityview.com/main.asp?SectionID=39&ArticleID=3873&SubSectionID=70
"A nurse of almost 30 years, Karen Mosby is familiar with the laws of the physical world. She knows if she gives patients antibiotics, their colds will be cured. If she dresses a wound, it will heal. So how is it that she speaks as easily of past lives, universal truths and the inner self as she speaks of pain relievers, IVs and bedpans?"
General's speeches under scrutiny
by Bradley Graham
Washington Post
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/10/22/MNG6G2GI971.DTL
"The Pentagon is launching a formal investigation into statements by a high-ranking Army officer that cast the U.S. fight against terrorists in religious terms, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced Tuesday."
'Satan' remark spurs investigation of officer
By GEORGE EDMONSON
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/1003/22rumsfeld.html
"The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Tuesday that an Army general who made controversial comments in uniform about Christianity and Islam should be given another assignment while an investigation is under way."
Gen. Looney Tunes
BY MICHAEL KING
Austin Chronicle
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-10-24/pols_naked6.html
"The Bush administration was scrambling this week to fend off a public relations nightmare courtesy of a U.S. general anointed by God. That would be Army Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin, a fundamentalist Christian recently appointed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to be the deputy undersecretary for intelligence. Boykin has made a number of speeches to evangelical groups denigrating Islam and describing the war against terrorism as a crusade against Satan, and several Arab American groups have called for his resignation or reassignment. Last Friday the Pentagon issued a statement in which Boykin said, "I am not anti-Islam or any other religion. I support the free exercise of all religions. For those who have been offended by my statements, I offer a sincere apology.""
Did the Scandinavians beat Columbus to America twice?
Agence France-Presse
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...0031022/od_afp/sweden_us_history_031022073822
"Archeologists have already established that Viking explorers beat Christopher Columbus to America by about 500 years, but experts in Sweden now hope to determine whether another group of Scandinavians landed in the New World in 1362, 130 years before Columbus."
DAVID LYNCH'S $1B PEACE PLAN
New York Post
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10222003/gossip/pagesix.htm
"DIRECTOR David Lynch wants you to give peace a chance - by helping him raise $1 billion to establish a vast network of "peace palaces" around the world."
'Women Helping Women' Scheme Co-Leader Sentenced
Associated Press
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/news/2570198/detail.html
"One of the two leaders of the illegal Women Helping Women chain scheme faced formal punishment Tuesday."
Restitution fund grows for pyramid-deal victims
By Edgar Sanchez
Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/scam_alert/story/7640171p-8580601c.html
"A year ago, the Women Helping Women pyramid scheme collapsed, leaving many victims in Sacramento, El Dorado and Placer counties."
Fraudsters on the streets of Lagos
By Anna Borzello
BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/from_our_own_correspondent/3201692.stm
"I received my first real insight into Nigeria last Saturday, when a taxi pulled up alongside me on the street."
Creepy things in woods
by J.D. Mullane
Bucks County Courier Times
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/219-10212003-181749.html
"Two years ago, just past dawn in February, Rick Fisher was driving along a lonely stretch of Route 23 near Lancaster when he saw a strange creature."
Sci-Fi channel may sue NASA for UFO documents
Reuters
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/21/ufo.records.reut/index.html
"The truth is out there, and the Sci-Fi Channel is determined to find it, even if that means suing NASA, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army and Air Force for documents related to unidentified flying objects."
Groups Ready Lawsuit Against Government Stonewall
Press Release
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031021/nytu141_1.html
"As a result of continued resistance by key federal agencies to release records concerning the 1965 UFO incident in Kecksburg, PA, SCI FI Channel today announced its support for legal action against NASA and the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force to make those records public."
Sci Fi Channel Seeks UFO Secrets
by Josh Grossberg
E! Online
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,12741,00.html
"Call it close encounters of the cable kind."
Bigfoot and UFOs! Kecksburg has it all
by Jim Gordon
Merrillville Post-Tribune
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/columns/gordon/z1/10-23-03_z1_gord_1.html
"Something happened in the skies above and the woods beyond Kecksburg, Pa., on Dec. 9, 1965, and the Sci-Fi Channel wants to know what the government knows about what it was."
Virgin Mary appears in New Jersey tree
Reuters
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/nm/20031022/od_uk_nm/oukoe_odd_virgin&e=2
"Believers are flocking to a rundown street in New Jersey to see a tree stump they say has the form of the Virgin Mary and is a divine sign of hope for the impoverished neighbourhood."
Faithful say they see image of the Virgin Mary in Passaic tree stump
Associated Press
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--virginmary-stump1021oct21,0,5637480.story
"Several people claim an image of the Virgin Mary has appeared in a tree stump after a cluster of trees were mysteriously cut down."
Teen Says He Cut Tree Where Some See Image Of Virgin Mary
Associated Press
http://www.wnbc.com/news/2571894/detail.html
"Part of the mystery surrounding a tree stump that some say contains an image of the Virgin Mary has been solved."
Debate Over Adding Fluoride in Water
KRON
http://www.kron4.com/Global/story.asp?S=1490000
"Fluoride may be good for your teeth.. But is it good for the water supply? Some palo alto residents are fighting to stop the city's water from being treated with flouride because they believe it's toxic."
Pamela: Only 10 Years to Live?
by Sarah Hall
E! Online
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,12748,00.html?tnews
"Pamela Anderson is not a woman to cover much up."
Ghosts of New York City
by Adam Bulger
New York Press
http://www.nypress.com/16/43/realestate/realestate2.cfm
"Hear enough ghost stories, and a pattern emerges. First, there’s murder or moment of atrocious neglect that leads to a grisly death. Then, the victim lingers around the scene of his death to confound and annoy the living."
Real estate's scary side
By Les Christie
CNN/Money
http://money.cnn.com/2003/10/21/pf/yourhome/househaunting/
"Any number of physical factors can complicate the sale of a home: shoddy upkeep, irreparable structural decay, proximity to a toxic waste site."
6 report UFO in Durham skies
BY ERIC OLSON
Durham Herald-Sun
http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-404801.html
"It flashed across the sky like a shooting star, trailing a tail of green streaks."
Green glow could've been meteor shower
BY JIM SHAMP
Durham Herald-Sun
http://www.herald-sun.com/durham/4-405186.html
"Leftover junk from Comet Halley probably explains the mysteriously bright, greenish streaker that crossed the heavens Monday night before quickly disappearing in a blaze of glory."
Astronomers Say Meteor Shower, Not UFO, To Blame For Light Show In Sky
WRAL
http://www.wral.com/news/2570691/detail.html
"People across the Triangle saw bright lights in the sky Monday and thought they were witnessing an alien invasion, but astronomers have an simpler explanation: a meteor shower."
The defense does not rest: ‘Pretty Boy’ pretty normal companion to area paranormal investigator
By JO ANN BOBBY GILBERT
Lisbon Morning Journal
http://www.morningjournalnews.com/story.asp?ID=17610
"While the details surrounding the death of Dust Bowl bandit Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd remain shrouded in speculation, historians all agree on one aspect: he died at the hands of lawmen Oct. 22, 1934, on a Sprucevale Road farm outside the city."
Psychic 'reads' medieval ship
BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/3203851.stm
"A psychic has tried to 'read' the wood of the medieval ship raised from a south Wales river bank to try and uncover its past."
Is a Skunk Ape Loose in Campbell County?
By VINCE LENNON
WATE
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1492976
"A new theory emerged Wednesday as a crypto-zoologist weighed in on sightings of a possible primate in Campbell County."
Vet Questions Skunk Ape Theory in Campbell Co.
By VINCE LENNON
WATE
http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1494585
"After seeing reports of primate sightings in Campbell County, a Knoxville Zoo veterinary consultant said he doubts the animal is a skunk ape."
Forensic Expert Says Bigfoot Is Real
by Stefan Lovgren
National Geographic News
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/10/1023_031023_bigfoot.html
"It's been the subject of campfire stories for decades. A camera-elusive, grooming-challenged, bipedal ape-man that roams the mountain regions of North America. Some call it Sasquatch. Others know it as Bigfoot."
Do You See Dead People? Disclose It
by Broderick Perkins
Realty Times
http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20031023_deadpeople.htm
"As silly as it sounds, if your home has a reputation for ectoplasmic activity, you should disclose it."
The mystery of the missing links
by Mary Wakefield
The Spectator
http://www.spectator.co.uk/article.php3?table=old§ion=current&issue=2003-10-25&id=3647
"A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend, a man who has more postgraduate degrees than I have GCSEs. The subject of Darwinism came up. ‘Actually,’ he said, raising his eyebrows, ‘I don’t believe in evolution.’"
Believe it or not, meeting set for aliens, Bigfoot
By Frank Zoretich
Albuquerque Tribune
http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news03/102303_news_skeptic.shtml
"Attention all genuine space aliens: Your presence would be welcome at a conference starting in Albuquerque tonight of people who doubt your reality."
Jaadu, jaadu... it's science, boys
by BHANU PRATAP SINGH
TIMES of INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=240901
"If Union minister Sanjay Paswan thinks he will not have to eat his own words as long as “ojhas” and “gunis” continue to impress people by eating fire, it is high time he gave it a second thought."
Aryan Nations founder runs for mayor in Idaho
Associated Press
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/10/21/aryan.formayor.ap/index.html
"The people of Hayden can't seem to rid themselves of neo-Nazi Richard Butler."
A prickly method to treat illness
By SHERRY ANNE RUBIANO
Daily Trojan
http://www.dailytrojan.com/article.do?issue=/V150/N35&id=08-prick.35c.html
"Acupuncture may treat conditions that Western medicine cannot."
Ancient Ways offers connection to ancient beliefs
By CHRISTINA SMITH
Des Moines Register
http://www.dmregister.com/business/stories/c4789010/22452013.html
"Jo VonStein is facing one of her busiest times of the year. As owner of Ancient Ways - an eclectic Sherman Hill store that specializes in Wiccan practices - VonStein has to gear up for the Celtic New Year."
Attorney General Warns Of Possible Scam
By Rob Moritz
Fort Smith Times Record
http://www.swtimes.com/archive/2003/October/16/news/AttorneyGenScam.html
"A salesman who has held seminars in Arkansas promoting the medical benefits of a magnetic mattress pad has been charged in California with making false claims about the product, Attorney General Mike Beebe said Tuesday."
Ex-Arkansan Helps With Case
By Rob Moritz
Fort Smith Times Record
http://www.swtimes.com/archive/2003/October/20/news/ExArkansan.html
"An Arkansas native was involved in helping the Arizona attorney general’s office seek legal action against a salesman who promoted medical benefits of a mattress pad in that state."
Holistic enters the mainstream
BY HARRY JACKSON JR.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/7030972.htm
"Darcy Wolf's struggle with arthritis left her dissatisfied with the treatment she got from traditional doctors. The St. Albans, Mo., woman found the drugs given to her didn't help. And in one case, they made matters worse."
Alternative medicine seems to be catching on in the area
By JIM OWEN
Silver City Daily Press
http://www.thedailypress.com/NewsFolder/10.16.2.html
"A growing number of area residents are discovering there are alternatives to traditional medical treatments for pain, allergies, addictions and other ailments."
Pan loses its final battle
By Ian Gerard
The Australian
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,7592030%5E462,00.html
"PAN Pharmaceuticals founder Jim Selim yesterday lost a last-ditch battle to save his alternative medicine manufacturer from liquidation."
NHS should use herbal remedies, says adviser
By Francis Elliott
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...erb19.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/10/19/ixhome.html
"Herbal and other "alternative" medicines should be available on the National Health Service although there is little scientific evidence that they work, according to a government adviser."
Mystic, occult images work for area firm
By Jonathan Ment
Kingston Daily Freeman
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=72588&newsid=10342663&PAG=461&rfi=9
"Need a picture of Nostradamus, mythological beasts or the astral body of Buddha? The Image Works can help."
A Hope for the Prostate Among the Rattlesnakes
By TERESA BURNEY
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/21/h...00&en=4d532fad8b1d48b4&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE
"On vacant lots and deep in swamps, beside the roads and scattered through cow pastures — practically everywhere in the Deep South — grows a wild berry that offers hope of relief to millions of men."
Alternative-medicine doctor loses licence
by Lori Culbert
Vancouver Sun
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/story.asp?id=9A7F6E7E-55CE-4393-9065-E39949332798
"A Williams Lake family doctor who practises alternative medicine had his medical licence pulled after he was deemed to lack "the requisite skill and knowledge" to be a physician."
Ayurveda to get a scientific footing globally
by T S SRINIVASA RAGHAVAN
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=245673
"Ayurveda ultimately has got its due. The US based National Institutes of Health has cleared the decks towards developing and consolidating long-term scientific collaborations between researchers of Ayurvedic Trust -- an offshoot of Arya Vaidya Pharmacy and top US Universities by announcing funds, which would be routed through National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine."
Voice for a choice: Bera Dordoni sings the virtues of fresh veggies, water and taking charge of your health
By Jan Jonas
Albuquerque Tribune
http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/neighbors03/102303_neighbors_bera.shtml
"Bera Dordoni is a rescuer."
Forget claims; no cure for cancer
BY DIANE EVANS
Knight Ridder Newspapers
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/7085285.htm
"I saw a flier the other day in which a natural health practitioner claimed to have methods for "healing" cancer."
Harvest continues at Morrow Plots
by Lauren Matthes
Daily Illini
http://www.dailyillini.com/oct03/oct21/news/stories/news_story03.shtml
"Despite recent vandalism, University of Illinois researchers are still able to harvest and obtain adequate data from the Morrow Plots."
Amazing Randi pulls off out-of-this world trick
BY HECTOR FLORIN
Miami Herald
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/states/florida/counties/broward_county/7032895.htm
"It was a tad unconventional for an astronaut, someone usually busy with serious stuff such as high-tech experiments or repairing spaceships."
Scottsdale cryonics group thriving despite controversy
by Craig Harris and Peter Corbett
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/1019alcor-main19.html
"Forty-three heads. Eighteen bodies. Eleven dogs. Eleven cats. One monkey."
Dispute simmers among Williams kin
by Peter Corbett and Craig Harris
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019alcor-williams.html
"Nearly 16 months after his death, it is still unclear whether baseball legend Ted Williams ever knew that his remains, his head and body severed, would be frozen at a Scottsdale cryonics lab."
Former executive who went public now hiding in fear
by Peter Corbett
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019alcor-johnson.html
"Former Scottsdale cryonics executive Larry Johnson says he is doing his "Saddam Hussein impersonation.""
Alcor gains advantage as tax-exempt organization
by Craig Harris
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1019alcor-money19.html
"At first blush, the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale and the Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Mich., appear to have much in common."
Doubters don't faze Alcor's president
by Craig Harris
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1020alcor-lemler19.html
"As president of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, where members believe future technology will bring the dead back to life, Dr. Jerry Lemler has heard his share of scoffs."
They freeze dead people
by Dale M. King
Boca Raton News
http://www.bocaratonnews.com/index.php?src=news&category=LOCAL NEWS&prid=6579
"Just eight days shy of Halloween, the Boca Raton Planning & Zoning Board will hear one of its most chilling requests."
Peace initiative irks foes
By Karen E. Crummy
Denver Post
http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~64~1710230,00.html
"Stupid and based in fantasy."
SHOWTIME Renews 'PENN & TELLER: ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊!' for Second Season
Press Release
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/031020/nym186_1.html
"SHOWTIME has renewed its multiple Emmy®-nominated series PENN & TELLER: ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊!, from the Wolper Organization, for a second season, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, President, Entertainment for Showtime Networks Inc. The controversial series, featuring master showmen Penn & Teller, initially premiered on SHOWTIME in January 2003. It offers viewers an aggressive, irreverent expose of taboo topics using the duo's trademark humor, knowledge of carnival tricks and con-artistry, as well as hidden cameras and blatant confrontation. According to TV Guide, the series "is what 60 Minutes might be like if it were run by the creators of South Park.""
Psst, want to buy a big bridge?
by Clay Thompson
Arizona Republic
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1020clay20.html
"I am thinking of going into sales, specifically sales of the Brooklyn Bridge. After considering today's question, I'm thinking there are enough suckers out there for me to make a go of it."
Attorney General announces Internet scheme busted
Associated Press
http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=1485227
"State Attorney General Paul Summers says his office has signed an agreement with a West Tennessee couple accused of operating a pyramid scheme on the Internet."
Vice President Bukenya Opens New 'Gift Circle'
The Monitor [Kampala]
http://allafrica.com/stories/200310170954.html
"Vice President Gilbert Bukenya has launched a new women's group similar to the banned 'gift-circle' groups."
Customers Cheated In Grocery Pyramid Scheme
WEWS
http://www.newsnet5.com/news/2562568/detail.html
"An Internet shopping scheme promises to save consumers money but is not delivering on that promise, reported NewsChannel5's Adam Shapiro."
Self-improvement program draws mixed reviews
by PAUL POST
The Saratogian
http://www.saratogian.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10344189&BRD=1169&PAG=461&dept_id=17708&rfi=6
"Last year, it made $4 million, a far cry from the Fortune 500 list. But Executive Success, also called Nxivm, has drawn national attention with allegations that its self-improvement and business strategies have the earmarks of a cult."
Women to pay $20K for operating pyramid scheme
St. Louis Business Journal
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2003/10/20/daily25.html
"Two women from St. Louis County will each pay a $10,000 civil penalty after admitting to operating an illegal pyramid scheme known as "The Original Dinner Party," said Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon."
Conjuring the past
By Dinah Cardin
North Shore Sunday
http://www.townonline.com/lynnfield/news/local_regional/nss_artnsouijiboarddoc10232003.htm
"Salem resident Bob Murch is arguably the world's foremost Ouija Board expert."
Islamic astrology is serious business
by Hannah Wettig
Daily Star [Lebanon]
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/features/21_10_03_a.asp
"Eva Orthmann doesn’t like it when people dismiss her studies as esoteric."
Reagan film says Nancy guided him with astrology
By Alec Russell
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...ag22.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/10/22/ixworld.html
"A two-part television film about Ronald Reagan shows his wife Nancy relying on her astrologer to plan the presidential diary and has him suggesting that Aids victims deserve to die."
7 School Board candidates would oppose teaching creationism
By GREG C. HUFF
Stillwater Gazette
http://www.stillwatergazette.com/story.asp?cat=NEW&story=6551
"Neither registered nor write-in candidates for the District 834 School Board believe that Minnesota educators should teach creationism. Two candidates, however, said teachers should not deny students the opportunity to discuss in school theories that challenge evolution."
Hello (again) kitty?
By Lindy T. Shepherd
Orlando Weekly
http://www.orlandoweekly.com/news/story.asp?ID=4129
"About a year ago, I stumbled upon a show called "The Pet Psychic." In that episode, animal communicator Sonja Fitzpatrick, former model-turned-television pet guru, was onsite at Gatorland, "chatting" with Old Joe, a gator who'd fallen into a slump to the great concern of his seasoned wrangler, Tim Williams. Fitzpatrick, of handsome middle age (63, actually), with British correctitude and classy style, was leaning into a rustic pond "communicating" with crusty Old Joe."
Mother Teresa's Ancestry Creates Stir
By DANICA KIRKA
Associated Press
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/Intl/AP.V9976.AP-Mother-Teresa-T.html
"Just about everyone in this city accepts that Mother Teresa was a good person. That's about all they agree on."
Clairvoyant foresees school for spiritual arts
By Nicole Fitzgerald
Whistler Question
http://www.whistlerquestion.com/mad...49F0827E5013F02088256DC1006922DB?OpenDocument
"Whistler’s spiritual community is an underground one. Unlike many cities, which burst at the seams with metaphysical stores, spiritually-based “churches” and columns of newspaper advertisements on everything from Reiki treatments to past-life regression workshops, there is no central location in Whistler to access information on the spiritual arts."
Now pundits make 'sex kundli'
By Khalid M Ansari
Hindustan Times
http://sify.com/news/hindustantimes/fullstory.php?id=13286499&vsv=71
"Want to know how good your wife is in bed? No problem! Just ask the friendly, neighbourhood Man of God. With Indian couples eager to know their carnal compatibility before marriage, 'sex patri' is the way to go."
Ethical issues in fortune telling
By DAN LAIDMAN
Monterey County Herald
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/local/7051731.htm
"The Greenfield healer may or may not have committed fraud, but she certainly seems to have broken one law: fortune telling without a license."
S.C. man admits Smart case hoax
Associated Press
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/local/7083699.htm
"An S.C. man faces up to 25 years in prison after admitting he posed as Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper and demanded $3 million for her safe return."
Culver girl perpetrates cancer hoax
WNDU
http://www.wndu.com/news/102003/news_22357.php
"A Ball State University student from Culver has been charged in a bizarre crime where she claimed to be deaf and suffering from cancer in order to get money."
Militia member pleads innocent
Associated Press
http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0310/23/d10n-305119.htm
"A self-styled militiaman accused of plotting to kill police in retaliation for the fatal shooting of another man with anti-government views has pleaded innocent to federal weapons charges."
Houdini fans hope for reappearing act during Woodinville séance
By KRISTIN DIZON
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/lifestyle/144202_houdini17.html
"Odds are, the guest of honor will not make an appearance."
'Dirty bomb' radiation not so scary, experts say
By Lois M. Collins
Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,520033020,00.html
"One of the scariest scenarios to emerge after 9/11 centers on what radiation from a "dirty bomb" would do to people and their cities. Wednesday, radiation oncologists meeting in Salt Lake City debunked what they called "myths" about dirty bomb damage."
Naturopath/ author to talk about cancer
BY KAREN SHIDELER
Wichita Eagle
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/living/7061383.htm
"Michael Murray, author of "How to Prevent and Treat Cancer With Natural Medicine," "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine" and the upcoming "How to Prevent and Treat Diabetes With Natural Medicine," will be in Wichita next week for a free presentation."
Sotheby's to sell rare occult book collection
by Maev Kennedy
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1068649,00.html
"Charlotte Miller, an expert on antique books, spoke soberly of rare editions, fine bindings, scholarly interest and early scientific theory, and then giggled helplessly: "It's going to be interesting seeing who turns up at the viewing.""
Psychic purges curse from Wrigley Field
UPI
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20031014-121042-3105r.htm
"An Illinois psychic's purging of negative spirits from Wrigley Field appears to be working, and she says the Cubs will make the World Series."
Curse is foiled: Psychic helps cleanse Wrigley
By MELISSA WESTPHAL
Rockford Register Star
http://www.rrstar.com/localnews/your_community/belvidere/20031014-26989.shtml
"Denise Guzzardo drove to Wrigley Field, bottle of negativity repellent potion and sage wand in hand."
TV episode to feature exploits of Norwich psychic
By GREG SMITH
Norwich Bulletin
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/stories/20031020/localnews/485113.html
"From part-time bus driver to world-renowned psychic, Pat Gagliardo had led "quite an interesting life, to say the least.""
Woman, Father Get Prison for Slave Claims
By JUSTIN BERGMAN
Associated Press
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/ap/ap_story.html/National/AP.V1283.AP-Slave-Reparatio.html
"A tax preparer was sentenced Thursday to 13 years in prison and his daughter received just over three years for defrauding the IRS by claiming $500,000 in slavery reparations."
In Congo, unwanted children branded `witches,' suffer horrible abuse
By Sudarsan Raghavan
Knight Ridder Newspapers
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/7061713.htm
"After her mother married for a second time, Aline Kabila felt her life would be better. But in this war-ravaged nation, where poverty and superstitions are plentiful, her stepfamily saw her as a curse: another mouth to feed, another body to clothe."
Vedic City says 500 can come as soon as fund-raising finishes
By Erik Gable
Fairfield Ledger
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10402338&BRD=1139&PAG=461&dept_id=142642&rfi=6
"Officials within the Transcendental Meditation movement say 500 Vedic pandits, or meditating students from India, will be able to move to Vedic City north of Fairfield within two months of the money being raised to feed and house them."
Eglise Raelienne Canadienne - 'No' to media harassment
Press Release
http://www.newswire.ca/releases/October2003/15/c1236.html
"The Canadian Raelian Religion protests with indignation against the incitement-to-hatred campaign that was recently launched by several media against Canadian Raelians and their religion. These articles obviously reflect an invasion of Raelians' right to privacy with a strong desire to try to have them lose their jobs SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF THEIR RELIGION. In fact, these articles are very reminiscent of the pervasive hatred of pre-Nazi Germany against the Jews."
Raelians condemn investigative articles
CBC
http://montreal.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=qc_raelian20031610
"Members of the Raelian movement demonstrated Thursday morning in front of the offices of the Journal de Montreal because they are upset by a series of investigative articles published recently in the tabloid."
Duke City company to get IRB
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
Albuquerque Tribune
http://www.abqtrib.com/archives/news03/101403_news_county.shtml
"The Bernalillo County Commission is in the process of making a deal with a city of Albuquerque company for industrial revenue bonds, the first time the county has exercised its rights under a law passed this year that allows the county to issue IRBs for firms located within the city of Albuquerque."
Witch Gets State Grant
Reuters
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=583&e=2&u=/nm/20031021/od_nm/life_norway_witch_dc
"A witch has won subsidies from the Norwegian state to run a business of potions, fortune-telling and magic."
Fourth Time: There's No LSD in the Slot
By Bob Levey
Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61884-2003Oct21.html
"The power of the press rivals that of Superman, or so they say. All we typists have to do is hammer out a few turgid sentences and shazam -- bum rumors become dust."
DUI still plaguing Utah
By Lucinda Dillon Kinkead
Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,515039063,00.html
"A 7-year-old child was the youngest person to be arrested for drunken driving in Utah in the past year. The oldest was 91."
Add 7-year-old drunken driver to the list of urban myths
by Paul Rolly and JoAnn Jacobsen-Wells
Salt Lake Tribune
http://www2.sltrib.com/columnists/RollyWells/main/index.asp
"Urban myths are alive and well in Utah, thanks to a typo in State Driver License Division records that made its way into a front-page story last week in the Deseret Morning News."
Microsoft launches self-destructing email (false)
By John Leyden
The Register
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/33507.html
"An urban myth has grown up around today’s launch of Microsoft Office 2003 which suggests that the product features technology that allows embarrassing emails to “self destruct” after a specified time period."
E-mail stops Crime Stoppers
By Shelley Hodgson
Melbourne Herald Sun
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,7654034^421,00.html
"CRIME Stoppers fears a mischievous e-mail circulating in Melbourne may have tied up its hotline when people with vital crime information were trying to get through."
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