Cincinnati Skeptic - Vol 10 No 01 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: Cincinnati Skeptic
Issue: Vol. 10 No. 1
Date: August/September 2000
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought

This issue of the Cincinnati Skeptic, the newsletter of The Association for Rational Thought, features a quote by Giordano Bruno on truth and belief. The cover highlights articles on social sciences, accreditation, and a historical look at Warner Brothers' anti-Nazi campaign.

In this Issue

The table of contents lists the following articles: "What are the Social Sciences" (pg. 1), "Great Moments in Accreditation" (pg. 1), "Too Many Books" (pg. 2), "Elections Results" (pg. 5), "Puzzle for Thinkers" (pg. 6), "Annual Reports" (pg. 7), and "Membership Information" (pg. 11).

June Meeting: What Are the Social Sciences?

Wolf Roder, editor of Cincinnati Skeptic and professor of geography at the University of Cincinnati, discusses the nature of social sciences. He notes that phenomena like the Elian Gonzalez affair are social movements beyond the reach of traditional institutions. Social scientists study human activities and behavior, focusing on averages and norms of groups rather than unique individuals. Bill Jensen, from the University of Cincinnati's Chemistry Department, is cited as describing a hierarchy of sciences, with physics at the top, followed by chemistry and biology, with social sciences ranked lowest. Roder extends this to note that natural sciences often look down on social sciences, which constitute only about 20% of all scientists, with a disparity in income levels also observed. The average salary for chemists, physicists, and astronomers is around $68,000, significantly higher than for social scientists.

Roder further explains that social scientists aim to understand the systematic behavior of human beings. He contrasts this with social constructionist arguments that scientific knowledge is man-made and used for controlling people. He argues that science, including social science, relies on quantitative and qualitative analysis, and that knowledge is a seamless web. He categorizes sciences into physics, chemistry, biology, and social sciences, with social sciences being a subset of biology focusing on humans. He also distinguishes research methods, noting that social sciences often rely on field studies and historical analysis due to ethical limitations on experimental laboratory research. Public response to social sciences differs from natural sciences; people often believe they understand social sciences intuitively, leading to skepticism when findings contradict common sense. Predictions in social sciences are limited to groups, and individual outcomes are not reliably predictable. Methods like participant observation are discussed, along with the challenges of questionnaire design and the use of secondary analysis, such as U.S. Census data. Problems like memory recall and the difficulty of establishing causality from correlation are also highlighted.

Great Moments in Accreditation: The Case of IAC, ACI, and The Three Stooges

By John Bear, this article details the history of fraudulent accreditation mills. In 1982, the International Accrediting Commission (IAC) was founded in Missouri and aggressively marketed its services. By 1989, Eric Vieth established the Eastern Missouri Business College, listing fictional faculty like Arnold Ziffel and Eddie Haskell, and received accreditation from IAC. The college's motto was "Education is only for the birds." Vieth's operation was a sting by the Missouri assistant attorney general. Following IAC's closure due to an injunction, the Accrediting Commission International (ACI) emerged in Arkansas, continuing to accredit institutions. Bear notes that ACI accredits over 200 institutions and declines to make its membership list public. He emphasizes that consumers must ask if an accrediting agency is recognized by the Department of Education or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

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

By Martin A. Lee, this review discusses Lee's book "The Beast of the title is Naziism and other kinds of fascism allied to new and old extreme right creeds." The book chronicles the survival of individual German and other European Nazis and their post-war activities, leading to the regrowth of new racist and nationalist movements. Lee defines fascism and right-wing extremism, viewing the entire spectrum as "ideological miscreants." The article explains how former Nazis were recruited by Allied powers after WWII and how some hid in fascist dictatorships or among Arab enemies of Israel. The post-Cold War era has seen a resurgence of extreme ethnic nationalism, racist ideology, and anti-Jewish denial, with the author documenting neo-Nazi ties to figures like McVeigh and Pat Buchanan. The article concludes that the new neo-fascist code speaks of self-determination and ecology, using immigration as a rallying issue.

Celluloid Soldiers: The Warner Brothers' Campaign against Nazism

By Michael E. Birdwell, this article examines how Warner Brothers used its films to oppose Nazism in the 1930s. Despite other major studios being led by Jewish men who preferred to avoid controversy, Harry Warner insisted on opposing Hitler. The industry's reliance on overseas earnings and the German market, coupled with the U.S. public's post-WWI sentiment against intervention, made this stance difficult. The Production Code Administration also posed challenges by objecting to controversial content. Many prominent figures, including Walt Disney and Henry Ford, supported the America First organization, which advocated peace at any price. The article notes that many Jews tried to de-emphasize differences to assimilate, fearing that complaining about Hitler would provoke latent anti-Jewish forces. Birdwell highlights three specific Warner Brothers films: "Black Legion," "Confessions of a Nazi Spy," and "Sergeant York."

Annual Reports, 1999-2000

This section contains the annual reports from the officers of the Association for Rational Thought for the 1999-2000 year.

• President's Report (Roy Auerbach): Reports on an interesting speaker program, including talks on Tarot cards, UFO evidence, and intelligent design. Mentions the establishment of the web site and a steady stream of e-mail inquiries. Notes a positive financial situation with a small balance providing breathing room. Expresses hope for future expansion of operations.
• Vice-President's Report (Nurit Bowman): Focuses on learning the organization's workings and needs. Mentions attending executive council and membership meetings.
• Secretary's Report (Virginia Jergens): Details minutes taken at meetings, distribution of official records, collection of officer reports, and preparation of the annual report. Mentions writing newsletter articles summarizing talks and helping with meeting setup and cleanup. Contributed 162 volunteer hours.
• Treasurer's Report (Rick Prairie): Reports the checkbook balance as of June 30, 2000, was $1667.81, with no outstanding bills. Details income from membership dues, cash donations, in-kind donations, web donations, and blurb sales. Lists expenses for membership, postage, printing, P.O. Box rental, and newsletter costs. Notes a more modest net increase compared to the previous year and spent about twenty hours keeping the books.
• Meeting Organizer and Program Chair's Report (Brad Bonham): Highlights the continuity of monthly programs and increased attendance. Mentions an average of 22 members, two visitors, and 12 "lunchees" per program. Notes the success of the first-ever field trip to the U.S. Playing Card Museum and plans for future field trips. Mentions "free-for-all" sessions as fun ways to get to know members.
• Membership Committee Chair Report (Brad Bonham): Mentions that the membership of ART has increased to approximately 100 members. Notes that a large campaign will be needed in the fall season to collect renewal dues. Expresses gratitude for donations above membership fees, which are important for survival and have helped support the web site.
• Publicity Coordinator's Report (Gary Himes): Continued to place ads for meetings and sent notices to local publications. Stepped down from the post, succeeded by Inez Klein.
• Investigation Officer's Report (Richard McGrath): Reports on three investigations: two cases of supposed house hauntings (resolved as poltergeist activity) and one case of supposed stigmata (attributed to a teen-age girl's belief after seeing the movie "Stigmata"). No other cases were reported.
• Newsletter Editor's Report (Wolf Roder): Details the six bimonthly issues of the newsletter, noting their content, including short pieces, longer reports, and news from the internet. Mentions the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter and the exchange program with CSICOP. Contributed about 120 hours editing.
• Webmaster's Report (David Wall): Discusses the web site's statistics, including total visits and overall hits. Notes that the "blurbs" section remains the most popular. Explains the use of a program to manage links to other sites. Mentions the ongoing effort to get older newsletter issues online and seeks help with this task.

A Puzzle for Thinkers

This section presents the classic "Girl or the Goat" probability puzzle, asking whether a contestant should change their door choice after a goat is revealed behind one of the unchosen doors. The solution to the previous issue's puzzle (an equation with four sevens equaling 100) is provided: (77 / .7) + 7 + 7 = 100.

Not the sharpest knife in the drawer

A brief anecdote about a city manager and a smoker, where the smoker claims their "joint" is not a cigarette, leading to an arrest for marijuana possession.

Bio-astrology comment

A short, humorous comment about Kansas not teaching the Big Bang, Earth's age, or Evolution, but implying they might teach "bio-astrology."

Superstition Bash!

An announcement for an upcoming "Superstition Bash Party" for members and friends, to be held on Friday, October 13, 2000, at 7:30 PM at St. John's Unitarian Church. The event includes a costume contest, games, and food. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around critical thinking, skepticism towards pseudoscience and unsubstantiated claims, and the importance of rational inquiry. The Association for Rational Thought (ART) actively promotes these values through its newsletter, meetings, and public outreach. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting scientific literacy, debunking common misconceptions, and encouraging a rational approach to understanding the world. The newsletter features articles that analyze various phenomena from a skeptical perspective, including the nature of science, the dangers of fraudulent institutions, and the historical context of extremist ideologies. The annual reports reflect a commitment to educating the public and fostering a community of like-minded individuals.

Title: Cincinnati Skeptics
Issue: Vol. 10 No. 1
Date: August/September 2000
Publisher: The Association for Rational Thought (ART)

Organization and Mission

The Association for Rational Thought (ART) is presented as an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization that aligns with the ideas and philosophies of CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal), The Skeptics Society, and JREF (James Randi Educational Foundation). ART shares information about these organizations, including their publications (Skeptical Inquirer and The Skeptic Magazine) and contact details.

ART itself is dedicated to encouraging rational, well-informed evaluation of fringe-science, pseudoscience, and paranormal claims. It promotes the investigation of such claims from a responsible, scientific viewpoint and the distribution of findings to the public. ART was founded by Cincinnati area skeptics in 1991.

Membership and Contributions

The newsletter includes a membership form for individuals to join ART as new or renewing members, or to give a gift membership. Annual dues are $15.00, which includes a subscription to the Cincinnati Skeptic. The organization emphasizes keeping dues low but also welcomes additional contributions to support its work. A section is provided for members to indicate if they wish to make a contribution in addition to their dues. Checks should be made payable to the Association for Rational Thought and mailed to their P.O. Box in Cincinnati, OH. It is noted that contributions are not currently tax deductible, but ART is working on this.

Meetings and Events

ART meetings are open to the public and are held on the second Saturday of each month from September through June, starting at 10:00 AM at James Tavern in Blue Ash. The meetings include a program from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by a lunch and social portion from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Coffee is available with a small donation. The location is described as accessible.

• Specific upcoming meetings for the 2000-2001 season are announced:
• First Meeting: September 10, 2000. Details will be sent via postcard.
• Second Meeting: October 13, 2000, billed as a "Superstition Bash!!" for Friday the 13th.

A note clarifies that there will be no meeting on Saturday, October 14, at James Tavern.

Skepticism and ART on the Electronic Media

The newsletter promotes engagement with skeptical news via e-mail through SANE (Skeptical Area Network Effort). SANE provides "cheerful, rational messages" from CSICOP, James Randi, local skeptics, and ART, serving as a means of communication between issues of the Cincinnati Skeptic. Readers are encouraged to visit the ART skeptical website at http://www.cincinnatiskeptics.org. The website features "BLURBS" on various subjects, links to skeptical thinking resources, information on joining SANE, the definition of ART, its bylaws, directions to meetings, and how to send sample copies of the newsletter.

David Wall is identified as the Web Site Manager, providing his e-mail address as [email protected].

Contact Information

For general information, President Roy Auerbach can be contacted at (513) 731-2774. Nurit Bowman can be reached at (513) 731-0642. The website is also a primary source of information. For address changes, corrections, and membership questions, Roy Auerbach can be contacted via phone or e-mail at [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around promoting skepticism, rational inquiry, and scientific evaluation of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning, as evidenced by the alignment with organizations like CSICOP and JREF. The newsletter serves as a communication tool for the local Cincinnati skeptic community, encouraging participation in meetings and online resources. The emphasis on accessibility and community engagement is also apparent, particularly in the description of the meeting venue and the call to action to "find out what's real and what's not."