Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 08 No 03 - 1998

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 8 No. 3
Date: November 1998
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought
Theme: This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic focuses on debunking paranormal claims and promoting a scientific worldview, featuring articles on UFO hoaxes, media criticism, and the intersection of science and religion.

Articles

He Saw It Go: Fred Carroll Tells All

This article details Fred Carroll's confession about orchestrating a series of UFO sightings in Middletown, Ohio, in 1996. Carroll, a former Air Force pilot, along with two co-workers, created these sightings as a "super-secret, self-directed, creative project" named "CITGO" to study public and media responses. They used helium balloons, flashlights, aluminum foil, and furnace tape to create various "series" of UFOs, including the "Ghost Series" (colored lights), the "Black Hole Series" (radar-invisible), and the "Teaser Series" (foil-wrapped balloons that appeared on radar). The "Mother Ship Series" used flashing blue and white lights. The project successfully generated numerous reports and newspaper clippings, fooling both the public and, to some extent, the military. The conspirators managed to cover their tracks, avoiding charges like littering and interfering with air flight.

Amazing Randi on 20/20 miracle broadcast: The Santos Girl

James Randi critically analyzes a "20/20" television program featuring Audrey Marie Santos, a comatose 14-year-old girl believed by some to intercede with God for healing. Randi describes the coverage as biased and superficial, highlighting the girl's ten-year coma following an accident and her reliance on life support. He dismisses the "miracle" of olive oil appearing on religious statues as easily explainable by simple application, demonstrating this himself. Randi questions the "experts" (psychologists and clergy) who found no fraud, pointing out they also found no evidence of healing. He criticizes the lack of investigation into how the Santos family supports itself and the substantial fees asked for appearances. Randi concludes that a family tragedy is being exploited for financial gain and questions why a surveillance camera was refused to investigate the alleged miracles.

President's Corner: Sagan and Scientism

Joe Gastright discusses the concept of "Scientism," often used to attack popular science spokesmen like Carl Sagan. He explains that scientism is sometimes defined as the elimination of metaphysical claims or as the use of science for policy development. Gastright argues that while "scientism" can be a straw man, a current problem is the use of science in policy, citing the example of global warming reports being amended to include human influence. He also touches upon "Poetism," a belief in imaginative insight providing answers, and contrasts it with scientific skepticism.

From the Un-Easy Chair: The Pseudo-Scientist Mind

This piece describes a visit to the Institute for Creation Research museum. The author notes that while the museum uses standard scientific sources, its interpretations are strictly biblical, rejecting measurements of geologic time like carbon 14 dating and red shift. The author finds no "creation science" but rather a religious missionary undertaking. He uses Kurt Vonnegut's metaphor of a "totalitarian mind" with deliberately filed-off "gear teeth" of knowledge to describe those who reject obvious truths. The article suggests that people who accept "creation science" are not interested in challenging their faith.

Too Many Books.... Too Little Time....

This is a review of Richard Abanes' book "End-Time Visions: The Road to Armageddon?" The reviewer, Wolf Roder, states that the book debunks modern concerns about the impending end of the world and the millennium. Abanes recounts the history of failed end-time predictions, citing examples like Jim Jones, Waco, Aum Shinrikyo, the Order of the Solar Temple, and Heaven's Gate. The review highlights the repeated failure of religious prophets to predict the end times accurately, yet followers remain devoted. It also traces the history of doomsday prophecies from ancient civilizations through the Millerites and their descendants like the Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses. Roder concludes the book is good background, history, and reading.

Skeptics and True Believers: The Exhilarating Connection Between Science and Religion

This is a review of Chet Raymo's book "Skeptics and True Believers." The reviewer, Wolf Roder, highly recommends the book, praising its clear and lyrical prose. Raymo, a physics professor, rejects the mythical and supernatural but argues that science and religion need not conflict. He defines "skeptics" as those who follow science and "true believers" as those whose worldview includes the supernatural. Raymo's definition of science as organized skepticism is presented, and he argues that science has always mistrusted too much rhetoric. The review notes Raymo's view that science is incompatible with traditional religion and biblical interpretations but suggests that science, skepticism, and tolerance can be associated with a religion that provides a moral compass for the future. Raymo sees God as the ground of nature and the source of wonder.

A Puzzle for Thinkers

This section presents a classic puzzle attributed to Euclid about a horse and a donkey carrying sacks of grain, asking how many sacks each was carrying based on two conditions. The solution to the previous month's puzzle is also provided, relating to Jennifer's age and the year 1980.

Crazy of the month

This piece satirizes an advertisement for an "End of the World" lecture, mocking its claims about the millennium, God, and "cyber-space research." The author finds the accompanying map to be a "marvel by itself" and questions the mindset behind such events.

Minutes

This section provides minutes from the Association for Rational Thought Membership Meeting on October 10, 1998. It announces upcoming speakers: Joe Gastright on biomagnetism (November), George Bishop on creation beliefs and scientific literacy (December), and Gary Klein on intuition (January). It also mentions the possibility of obtaining copies of Gary Klein's book "Sources of Power: How People Make Decisions."

Now on Video! James "The Amazing” Randi Live at Lexington

This is an advertisement for a VHS recording of James Randi's lecture, available for purchase.

Fred Carroll (from pg 1)

This continuation of the Fred Carroll article elaborates on the "CITGO" project. It details the "Ghost Series" balloons, the "Black Hole Series" designed to be invisible except to radar, and the "Teaser Series" which used aluminum foil to create radar signatures. The article mentions the use of duct tape and foil, and the military's misinterpretation of these objects as fast-moving UFOs. It also notes the "Shazzam Series" as a charming UFO with battery-operated lights.

Mean Martians Murder Measly Mutt

This short piece discusses a Martian meteorite that struck a dog in Egypt in 1911. It quotes researchers' careful phrasing about "carbonate globules" that could be "fossil remains of past Martian biota," contrasting it with a tabloid-like headline.

BUILD YOUR OWN HOT AIR BALLOON / SOLAR SHUTTLE / INVADER KITE

This section contains advertisements for science fair project kits: a hot air balloon kit, a solar shuttle that uses solar heat to lift, and a dynamic "Invader Turbo Kite" that emits strobe flashes and whirring sounds.

<--------------In light of our last meeting on C-it-go...

This is a short note from "Donna" referencing an advertisement for the "Solar Shuttle" from Edmund Scientific's catalog. She expresses curiosity about what the Association for Rational Thought (ART) could do with it, given their learned knowledge, and wonders about lights in the night sky and foil.

From the Amazing Randi....

This is a continuation of James Randi's critique of the "Santos Girl" case. He reiterates his demonstration of applying oil to a religious figure, showing it running down the face and hands. He criticizes the ABC analysis of the oil as "75% olive oil and 25% unidentifiable" as poor forensic work. Randi emphasizes the lack of evidence for healing and the financial exploitation of the situation. He also questions the refusal to allow a surveillance camera.

...Sightings program

This section briefly mentions the program "Sightings" and a "Bridey Murphy like account" of past lives revealed through hypnosis, where patients claimed to have lived in the same community during the Civil War. The article notes that when the "Sightings" crew investigated, they found "abundant evidence" that contradicted the claims.

"proving" these claims were true.

This section appears to be a continuation of the "Sightings" program critique, discussing a past life experiencer who claimed to have been involved in blowing up tunnels with dynamite during the Civil War. The author points out the anachronism, as dynamite was patented by Alfred Nobel two years *after* the Civil War, suggesting a gaffe by the TV writers and researchers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Cincinnati Skeptic consistently promotes a rational, scientific worldview. The magazine debunks paranormal claims, criticizes media sensationalism, and advocates for critical thinking. There is a clear stance against pseudoscience, religious fundamentalism when it clashes with scientific understanding, and the exploitation of belief for financial gain. The publication encourages skepticism and the application of scientific reasoning to all areas of inquiry, including alleged miracles, UFO sightings, and historical interpretations of prophecy. The editorial stance is one of rigorous examination of evidence and a commitment to empirical verification. The magazine also serves as a platform for local skeptical organizations and their activities.

Title: Cincinnati Skeptics
Issue: Vol. 8 No. 3
Date: November 1998

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptics newsletter, published by The Association for Rational Thought (A.R.T.), outlines the organization's mission and activities. A.R.T. is described as an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to investigating paranormal claims from a responsible, scientific viewpoint, sharing findings with the public, and sponsoring workshops. It is affiliated with CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) and publishes the journal Skeptical Inquirer.

Membership and Meetings

A.R.T. holds meetings on the second Saturday of each month from September through June, starting at 10:00 AM at James Tavern in Blue Ash. These meetings are open to the public. The organization also maintains a database of paranormal claims for local media and investigates local paranormal claims. Founded by Cincinnati area skeptics in 1991, A.R.T. charges annual dues of $15.00, which include a subscription to the Cincinnati Skeptic newsletter.

Contact information is provided for President Roy Auerbach and Nurit Bowman. Roy Auerbach also handles address changes, corrections, and membership questions via phone or email ([email protected]). The newsletter includes a form for new members, renewing members, contributions, or gift memberships, with options to request subjects for future meetings and to opt-out of mailing list exchanges.

Skepticism and ART on the Electronic Media

A significant portion of the newsletter is dedicated to A.R.T.'s presence on electronic media. Readers are encouraged to join SANE (Skeptical Area Network Effort), an email list managed by David Wall ([email protected]), which delivers skeptical news and rational messages from CSICOP, James Randi, and local skeptics. This serves as a means of communication between newsletter issues.

The newsletter also highlights A.R.T.'s website, http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org, which provides information about the organization, its bylaws, meeting locations, contact methods, how to sign up for the email list, and how to send sample copies of the newsletter. The website is intended to eventually host draft skeptical objections and offer downloadable electronic versions of the newsletter. David Wall is identified as the Web Site Manager.

Preview Of Coming Attractions

The issue previews the third meeting of the 1998-1999 season, scheduled for Saturday, November 14, 1998. The program runs from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by lunch and social time from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. The meeting will be held at James Tavern, located at Cooper Road and Reed Hartman Highway, noted as being accessible for individuals with walkers or wheelchairs. Coffee will be available with a small donation.

The topic for this meeting is "Biomagnetism," with speaker Joe Gastright. The session aims to address questions about whether small permanent magnets can cure diseases and reduce pain, how magnetic fields interact with living tissue, and why research on magnetic medicine may not be more promising. It will also include a review of the history of magnetic cures.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around promoting scientific skepticism, rational inquiry, and critical thinking regarding paranormal claims and fringe science. The Association for Rational Thought positions itself as a resource for accurate, scientifically-based information, actively engaging with the public through meetings, publications, and online platforms. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based investigation and against unsubstantiated claims, as evidenced by its affiliation with CSICOP and its focus on debunking pseudoscience.