Georgia Skeptics - Vol 04 No 01

Magazine Overview

This is the January/February 1991 issue of the Electronic Newsletter of the Georgia Skeptics, Volume 4, Number 1. The publication is from a non-profit local group that promotes critical thinking and scientific inquiry, aligning with the philosophy of CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal).

Contents

The issue features several articles and reviews:

• Psychic Predictions Fizzle for 1990, by Robert Sheaffer of the Bay Area Skeptics.
• Book Review: Bare-Faced Messiah, The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard, reviewed by Charles Shapiro of Georgia Skeptics. The book is by Russell Miller and was published by Penguin Books Ltd. in London in 1987.
• Marie Celeste: Mystery Solved?, by Hugh Trotti of Georgia Skeptics.
• Book Review: The Nemesis Affair, reviewed by Keith M. Parsons of Georgia Skeptics. The book is by David M. Raup and was published by W.W. Norton & Co. in 1986.
• Meeting Announcement: Dr. George Ganaway is scheduled to speak on Alternative Explanations for Unverified Trauma Memories, including UFO Abductions and Ritualistic Satanic Abuse.

Georgia Skeptics Organization

The Georgia Skeptics is described as a non-profit local group that shares a common philosophy with CSICOP. They aim to promote critical thinking and scientific inquiry to understand the world. The organization encourages the investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a responsible, scientific viewpoint and disseminates the results. Material from the newsletter can be used with proper attribution.

Further information can be obtained through the Astronomical Society of the Atlantic BBS at (404) 321-5904 or by contacting Becky Long, President, at 2277 Winding Woods Dr., Tucker, Georgia 30084, (404) 493-6847.

Membership dues are $17.50 for individuals, $21.00 for families, and $12.50 for full-time students, which help fund the dissemination of skeptical inquiries and educational events.

Book Review: Bare-Faced Messiah, The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard

This review, by Charles Shapiro, discusses Russell Miller's "unauthorized biography" of L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Dianetics and Scientology. Shapiro notes that Miller's book aims to tell the "real story," which is described as "much more bizarre, much more improbable, than any of the lies." Miller, who has been reporting for over 30 years, also wrote biographies of Hugh Hefner and J. Paul Getty. The book was written despite threats from the Church of Scientology. The review highlights that much of the information was gathered from face-to-face interviews, making the book exciting. Miller's thesis is that Hubbard was "one of the most successful and colourful confidence tricksters of the twentieth century." The book covers Hubbard's life from his childhood, Navy career, marriages, children, pulp writing, and messianic periods. It emphasizes Hubbard's prolific lying and his unhappiness, as well as his belief that people were conspiring against him. The review mentions harrowing and hilarious stories, such as the presentation of the first person made a "superman" by Dianetics and untrained individuals piloting a trawler. The review points out weaknesses, including Miller accepting a story about a "cruel, post-hypnotic trick" at face value, suggesting it might have been fabricated under hypnosis. The reviewer also wished for more detail on Scientology's neologisms and ideas. Despite these points, the book is called an "entertaining and frightening tale" and a good gift for anyone connected with Scientology, noting the church has an office in Atlanta.

Department: "What Else Could It Be?" - Marie Celeste: Mystery Solved?

This article by Hugh Trotti investigates the enduring mystery of the ship *Mary Celeste* (mistakenly recorded as *Marie Celeste* in some British records), found adrift in December 1872 with no crew aboard. The ship was in good condition, though showing signs of storm damage, and was found over five hundred miles from Europe, between the Azores and Portugal. The captain's cabin had boarded windows, but a skylight was open with water inside, suggesting a recent storm.

Trotti notes that ships found without crews have occurred throughout history, citing a Roman general and a ship found in a Spanish harbor. The *Mary Celeste* carried ten people: a crew of seven, the captain, his wife, and their baby daughter. Its cargo was approximately 1,700 barrels of crude alcohol.

While piracy and mutiny were theorized, no one was ever tried, and no proof emerged. The article dismisses fictional tales and hoaxes, and even a humorous anecdote about an octopus in an aquarium, as unlikely explanations.

The article then presents a modern theory from John Harris's book, *Without a Trace*, which suggests the cargo of alcohol is the key. Barrels of industrial alcohol, intended to fortify wine and not for drinking, were known to leak and create fumes that could explode. The theory posits that a small explosion or the smell of fumes caused the captain to order the hatches opened to air out the cargo. A small boat was found on the main hatch, and a lifted rail indicated it had been launched. The captain and crew may have launched the boat to wait away from the ship in case of a larger explosion. The article suggests that the sea might have overwhelmed this small boat, leading to the loss of everyone aboard, as no trace was ever found.

Trotti concludes that Harris's explanation is simple and possibly true, offering a plausible solution to the mystery. The book *Without a Trace* is recommended for its explanations of other sea mysteries.

Book Review: David M. Raup, The Nemesis Affair

This review by Keith M. Parsons discusses David M. Raup's book, which explores how new scientific theories are accepted. Raup, described as a brilliant paleontologist, co-formulated the "Nemesis" hypothesis with H. John Sepkoski. This hypothesis proposes that mass extinctions occur every 26 million years, possibly caused by a dark companion star to the sun that disrupts the Oort cloud, sending comets into the inner solar system.

The review highlights Raup's personal journey from skepticism to participation in the Nemesis theory. It notes that the theory clashes with the prevailing uniformitarian view in geology, which favors gradual processes over catastrophic events. Raup attributes his initial resistance to uniformitarian biases and prejudice, suggesting scientists should be more open to new ideas.

Parsons offers a counterpoint, arguing that guiding assumptions like uniformitarianism are essential for science to prevent chaos. He states that these presuppositions are based on extensive experience and that methodological conservatism is justified. He believes scientists should be slow to abandon established principles and that radical new ideas should be treated as guilty until proven innocent.

The review concludes by recommending Raup's book as part of a tradition of books that portray the workings of science honestly, like Watson and Crick's *The Double Helix*.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, critical examination of historical mysteries, and the process of scientific theory acceptance. The Georgia Skeptics, through its reviews and articles, consistently advocates for a scientific, evidence-based approach to understanding phenomena, contrasting it with unsubstantiated claims and pseudoscientific theories. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting rational inquiry and debunking extraordinary claims with logical explanations.