Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 06 No 01 - 1996

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Volume 6, Number 1
Date: August/September 1996
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic newsletter focuses on skepticism, media criticism, and the debunking of pseudoscientific claims. It features reports from the CSICOP Congress, discussions on the challenges of public perception of science, and reviews of books addressing topics such as the occult, the militia movement, and Darwinism.

CSICOP Speakers Criticize Media

The main article, "CSICOP Speakers Criticize Media" by Porter Henry, details the theme of the CSICOP's twentieth annual Congress: "Science in the Age of (Mis)Information." Held in Amherst, NY, and Buffalo, the congress drew over a thousand attendees. Speakers criticized the media for sensationalizing paranormal stories to boost audiences. Paul Kurtz, CSICOP founder, noted an undercurrent of anti-science sentiment despite scientific advancements, citing typical TV programs that heavily favor believers over skeptics. Italian journalist Piero Angelo shared findings from a skeptical TV program that, while initially reducing belief in the paranormal, saw belief increase again after two months, concluding that science needs to be made clearer and more interesting.

Philip Adams, an Australian TV commentator, offered sharp one-liners, including "People are attracted by the impossible, convinced by the absurd." He also stated, "We're asking people to accept science on faith."

Discussion of Homeopathy and Chiropractic

Professor Whim Betz of Belgium discussed homeopathy, explaining its origin in using small drug amounts to counteract symptoms. He noted the extensive questioning of patients and the occasional use of remedies like crushed cockroaches. Homeopathy is popular in Europe, with exemptions from drug efficacy regulations.

Stephen Barrett, a psychiatrist, presented his hobby of studying chiropractic, noting its wide following but lack of media investigation. He explained the core belief that ailments stem from pinched nerves and that spinal manipulation aids natural resistance. Barrett highlighted the variability in diagnoses and treatments among chiropractors.

"Believer" and Skeptic Perspectives

Jessica Utts, Professor of Statistics at the University of California in Davis, presented a thought transference experiment where a receiver identified a selected photograph 35% of the time, compared to a 25% chance. The article questions whether distinctiveness of the image might influence results.

Steve Allen provided humor as the closing dinner speaker, with a segment involving matching answers to questions.

President's Corner: Twelve Hundred Skeptics and a Few Complaints

Joe Gastright, the president, reflected on the first World Skeptics Conference held by CSICOP in Buffalo, celebrating its 20th anniversary. He lauded CSICOP for providing an organizing center for rational thought against pseudoscientific alternatives. However, he also offered constructive criticism regarding conference development, noting that with 1200 attendees, personal contacts became difficult due to the dispersed hotel locations and the packed schedule. He suggested that while regionally produced training sessions were successful for idea exchange, the larger conference format limited such interactions. Gastright also mentioned that the "dross" of the conference was balanced by "wonderful things," including presentations and opportunities for finding like-minded individuals.

From the Un-easy Chair

Wolf Roder, the editor, announced that this issue marks the beginning of the sixth year and the start of a new volume. The CS will transition to a monthly newsletter starting with the October issue, requiring stricter adherence to deadlines. He outlined the production schedule: meeting date is the second Saturday, newsletter layout is the third week, printing is the third Monday, and mailing is the fourth Monday, with a week for delivery.

Roder included a quote from bio-astrologer Esmeralda von Lowenzahn-Dentdelion: "... of course primitive humans were contemporary with the dinosaurs. that's why they are extinct because they ate them."

Email From Randi

James Randi shared news of being honored by the International Astronomical Union, which named asteroid 3163 "Randi" in his honor. He provided details about the asteroid's orbit and discovery. Randi also announced the upcoming launch of the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating pseudoscience. The Foundation, funded by an anonymous sponsor, will be based in Florida and will house an extensive library of books and videos. It plans to conduct research, offer classes and seminars, and provide scholarships for students.

Randi also mentioned receiving a "marvelously quacky 1923 book" that promoted homeopathy and auto-suggestion.

Book Reviews

An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural

Reviewed by James Randi, this 284-page compilation covers paranormal topics alphabetically. It includes a bibliography and an appendix on the Curse of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen's tomb, noting that personnel involved lived long, healthy lives. It also lists 49 failed prophecies of the end of the world.

The review highlights insights from the book, such as the real Dr. Johannes Faust, the I Ching, the ideomotor effect in divination, and an explanation for Swift's prediction of Mars's moons. It also mentions the circuitry of Scientologists' e-meters and the existence of mandrake plants.

Randi's commentary includes observations like, "A silly concept cannot be made sillier by expanding it; the quality of silliness is totally saturating and all-encompassing." He critiques Hal Lindsey's theories and comments on the "god business." Regarding garlic's purported ability to ward off witches, Randi humorously notes its effectiveness and "delicious flavor."

On the subject of quacks, Randi quotes Benjamin Franklin and discusses how the litigious nature of American society protects them, leading to public suffering.

A Force Upon the Plain: The American Militia Movement and the Politics of Hate

Reviewed by Kenneth S. Stern, this book examines the American militia movement. Stern, a researcher on hate groups, details the history, ideas, and activities of militias, linking them to historical extremist groups and violent acts like the Oklahoma City bombing. The review notes that fears about gun control, environmental regulations, and fundamentalist religious beliefs drive people to join militias. It also points out the underlying racist and anti-Jewish attitudes within the movement, which sees the federal government as controlled by "international bankers" or "eastern elites." The book suggests that militia ideology is not confined to western regions and that communication is rapid via the internet. Stern warns of peril when politicians align with irrational ideologies promoted by armed hatemongers.

Dictionary of Darwinism and of Evolution

This short book note describes a comprehensive "Dictionary of Darwinism and of Evolution" compiled by 150 international specialists under Patrick Tort. The dictionary aims to restore the logic of evolution and investigate national Darwinisms. It asserts that Darwin is not responsible for modern anti-egalitarian theories, negative eugenics, Victorian Imperialism, or "Social Darwinism."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of claims related to the paranormal and pseudoscience, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the importance of rational and scientific thinking. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, advocating for evidence-based reasoning and actively debunking unsubstantiated beliefs. The publication champions the work of organizations like CSICOP and individuals like James Randi who dedicate themselves to promoting critical thinking and scientific literacy. The inclusion of reviews on topics like the militia movement and Darwinism further indicates a commitment to addressing significant societal issues through a lens of critical analysis and factual investigation.

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 6, No. 1
Date: 1996

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic, published by A.R.T. (Association for Rational Thought), features several key articles and reports. It includes an in-depth look at the American militia movement, a review of a comprehensive dictionary on Darwinism and evolution, and a discussion on science literacy in the United States. The publication also contains annual reports from A.R.T.'s leadership, detailing the organization's activities, finances, and membership over the past year.

The American Militia Movement and the Politics of Hate

This section reviews Kenneth S. Stern's book, "A Force Upon the Plain: The American Militia Movement and the Politics of Hate." Stern, a researcher on hate groups for the American Jewish Committee, details the history and present activities of the militias. The review highlights that militia members view themselves as patriots defending the country against a "treasonous government" and often inherit the roles of historical extremist groups like the John Birch Society, Ku Klux Klan, and neo-Nazis. The movement is linked to violent acts, including the Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh and the murder of talk show host Alan Berg. Stern notes that average citizens are drawn to militia speakers due to fears about gun control (the Brady Bill), environmental regulations, and perceived government overreach, citing events at Waco and Ruby Ridge. Underlying these concerns are strong racist and anti-Jewish attitudes, with beliefs that the government is controlled by "international bankers" or "the illegal Federal Reserve." The militia culture is widespread across all states, with a rural and small-town emphasis. Communication within the movement is rapid, utilizing the internet and shortwave radio to disseminate information and paranoia. The review points out that the movement has considerable mainstream support, with some right-wing Congressmen and local officials aligning with or playing to militia ideology for votes. The author concludes that while the U.S. has survived worse episodes of extremism, politicians aligning with such ideologies promoted by armed hatemongers pose a peril.

Dictionary of Darwinism and Evolution

This section features a "Short Book Note" on a "Dictionary of Darwinism and Evolution," published in Paris in January 1996. This extensive work, the result of ten years of effort by 150 international specialists under Patrick Tort, aims to restore the logic of evolution and initiate a historical investigation of national Darwinisms. The editor's statements emphasize that the dictionary was compiled to combat distortions of Darwin's ideas. It asserts that Darwin is not the father of modern anti-egalitarian theories, nor the founder of negative eugenics or "Social Darwinism," nor the justifier of Victorian Imperialism.

Letters and Correspondence

This section includes correspondence from David Wall, who forwarded comments from the American Atheists regarding the "Mysterious Origins of Man" program. This led to an exchange with an individual who expressed strong creationist views, calling evolution an "idea of 'evolution'" and stating that "Man was created by the hand of God not spawned of some ape." Wall's response was sarcastic, recommending books by David Attenborough, Richard Dawkins, and Stephen J. Gould. Another correspondent, writing under the subject "Medical Fraud in America," promotes a tape about alleged medical cover-ups and encourages visiting a website for more information, claiming people are suffering and dying needlessly.

Science Literacy in the U.S.

This segment reports on a New York Times article titled "Americans Flunk Science," based on a survey of 2006 adults for the National Science Foundation. The survey found that only about a quarter of respondents passed science and economic questions. The article presents a list of true/false and multiple-choice questions from the survey, along with the percentage of college graduates who answered correctly. Brad Bonham comments that while Americans appear scientifically illiterate compared to citizens of other countries, the rate of decline is not alarming, and some students in individual states rank high in international comparisons. The answers to these questions are promised for the next issue.

A.R.T. Annual Report 1995-1996

President's Report (Roy Auerbach): A.R.T. had a satisfactory year with good talks from members and outside speakers, including Joe Gastright, Wolf Roder, and Artie Kidwell. The newsletter successfully transferred editorship to Wolf Roder. Membership has slightly slipped, leading to a change in recruitment strategy, focusing on ensuring interest before sending newsletters. A membership committee has been formed. Investigations have focused on quack medicine, and media contact has had limited success. A.R.T. needs to present programs of interest, improve its newsletter, enhance community impact through investigations and media contact, establish a website, and find new members.

Vice-President's Report (Bob Riehemann): The Vice-President attended the inaugural Family Friendly Library Association meeting, criticizing its anti-science stance. He participated in interviews and had letters published in various outlets, including the Cincinnati Enquirer and Physics and Society. He also debated Mike Shannon on Ohio HB 692, which was defeated. He views his role as a general spokesperson for the group.

Treasurer's Report (Richard McGrath): The past year was balanced, with income and expenditures nearly equal. Income from memberships and donations was $1345, and expenses were $1072, leaving a slight balance with no debt. Newsletters have improved in quality and content. Efforts are underway to overhaul membership dues to increase income and continue member acquisition.

Secretary's Report (Virginia Jergens): The secretary's role was divided, with Brad Bonham sending meeting reminders and others taking minutes. The newsletter committee decided to stop mailing newsletters to large numbers of "cold" addresses due to poor recruitment results, shifting focus to personal contacts. Future plans include obtaining subscriber lists from the Skeptical Enquirer and encouraging members to submit names of potential recruits.

Membership Secretary's Report (Donna Loughry): Membership increased from 77 to 83 between September 1995 and September 1996. Paid members decreased from 64 to 58, while lapsed members increased from 13 to 25. Six new members joined, primarily through personal contacts. Nineteen members contributed over the $15 dues.

Meeting Organizer and Publicity Coordinator's Report (Mary Pacinda): A.R.T. had an active Program Committee for the first time, organizing events like Joe Gastright's talk on Halloween customs, Artie Kidwell's magic demonstration, Roy Auerbach's talk on creationism, and Wolf Roder's exploration of science vs. non-science. Publicity efforts were limited due to program demands, but Donna Loughry improved the press release process by faxing them. The need for a stronger publicity program is emphasized.

Investigations Officer's Report (Joe Gastright): An extensive report on Therapeutic Touch activities was presented.

Media Resources Coordinator's Report (Wolf Roder): The coordinator stayed in touch with the media, informing them about pseudoscience and quackery. News Release Drafts (formerly Skeptical Blurbs) were rewritten to focus on immediate issues. A list of these drafts was published in December 1995. A FAX list of media numbers was created for distributing news releases on topics such as Alien Autopsy Film, Homeopathy, Psychic fairs, and Creationism.

Newsletter Editor's Report (Virginia Jergens): Cincinnati Skeptic completed its fifth year, publishing four 12-page issues. Print quality improved with laser printing. The newsletter committee decided to stop using the newsletter for recruiting new members, reducing mailings from up to 400 to 200 copies. The saved funds will be used to set up a website. The committee met with the next year's incoming editor, Wolf Roder, and discussed plans. The report expresses gratitude to committee members and other A.R.T. members who contributed articles and reviews.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism towards pseudoscience, quackery, and irrational ideologies, including the militia movement and creationism. The publication strongly advocates for scientific literacy and critical thinking, as evidenced by the review of the Darwinism dictionary and the detailed presentation of science literacy survey data. The editorial stance, represented by A.R.T., is clearly pro-science, pro-rationality, and critical of anti-intellectualism and extremist political movements. The organization's reports highlight their efforts to promote these values through talks, publications, and investigations, while also addressing challenges like membership decline and the need for effective communication and publicity.