The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics

Magazine Overview

The Skeptic, Volume 1, Number 3, published by The North Texas Skeptics, is dated Winter 1987/1988. This issue focuses on the organization's activities and its stance against pseudoscience and paranormal claims.

NTS Completes First Year

This section highlights the successful re-formation of the Dallas Society to Oppose Pseudoscience into the North Texas Skeptics (NTS). The organization has grown to 75 members and has hosted five lectures and one field trip. They have secured a permanent meeting place at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) and have been consulted by local newspapers. A notable event mentioned is a radio talk show appearance where an NTS member challenged an astrologer. Mark Hateer has compiled a bibliography of skeptical literature. The organization has also debunked creationist claims related to the Paluxy River 'creationist tooth'. The article emphasizes the need for increased public relations efforts and volunteer recruitment to expand membership and financial resources. The goals of NTS are outlined: providing information on pseudoscience, promoting critical thinking and the scientific method, and investigating paranormal phenomena.

NTS Logo

This brief section solicits suggestions for a logo for the North Texas Parapsychology Association, showing a sample design and asking for member input.

Newsletter material wanted

NTS is seeking contributions for The Skeptic, including articles, letters, and book reviews. They also mention the possibility of electronic submissions via Xmodem. Tony Dousette has volunteered as Production Editor, utilizing desktop publishing technology to improve the newsletter's quality.

NTS Sinks Teeth Into Creationists Claims

This article details NTS's investigation into the 'human tooth' found by creationist Carl Baugh. Assisted by NTS members Rick Neeley and Jay Woods, Ron Hastings found a fossil fish tooth (dubbed IH2) on Halloween that shares characteristics with Baugh's find, specifically the crown shape and damage consistent with fish feeding. Both teeth are identified as belonging to pycodonts, an extinct line of fish. The article notes that Baugh's tooth was examined by David Menton of St. Louis, who concluded it was not human due to the lack of characteristic dental prisms. IH2 has been photographed for dissemination and sent for comparative analysis. The article also mentions a new creation study group in Dallas and an upcoming 'Creation Evangelism Conference' in Glen Rose, Texas, suggesting NTS's findings will be relevant in countering these pseudoscientific arguments. The core message is that 'a fish tooth by any other name scans the same,' implying creationists are misidentifying fossils.

Permanent Meeting Place

NTS has established a permanent meeting location at the University of Texas at Arlington, considered a good compromise for members in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Meetings are scheduled through 1988, with a review of the location's effectiveness planned afterward. Thanks are extended to Dr. Frank Harrold of UTA for facilitating this arrangement.

Future Meeting Schedule:

The newsletter lists upcoming meetings: January 17 (Annual Business Meeting), February 21 (Melville Zemek on stage magic and mentalism), and March 28 (Dr. Arthur Babick on researching psychics). Meetings are held in University Hall at UTA.

Speakers and Topics Wanted

NTS is soliciting suggestions for speakers and topics, including astrology, creationism, psychic detectives, and UFOs. They are particularly interested in knowledgeable speakers from outside the organization and have contacted CSICOP and James Randi about potentially hosting them.

Crystal Power

This is a review by Mark Mateer of the book 'Crystal Power' by Michael G. Smith. Mateer dismisses the book as "total, incredible trash," criticizing its claims about Atlantean Power Rods and the misuse of crystals. He quotes the book's assertion that Jesus transforming water into wine was a natural, albeit sped-up, process, highlighting what he sees as "ignorance of phenomenal proportions." Mateer concludes that the book is "forgettable" unless one has a "macabre sense of humor."

The Adventures of a Parapsychologist

This section introduces a review of Susan Blackmore's book, which details her personal journey from a believer in psi phenomena to a skeptic. Blackmore, a student of psychology and physiology at Oxford, found that her carefully designed experiments consistently yielded chance results, and she could not replicate positive results from other researchers. She concluded that a hundred years of psychical research had failed to produce a coherent theory or reliable experimental results, leading her to believe that psi does not exist. The book also offers insights into the parapsychology community and the rigorous demands of scientific research. Blackmore argues for a new definition of parapsychology focused on the phenomena themselves, rather than assuming the existence of psi.

Thoughts

This section features a quote from Bertrand Russell on the nature and importance of thought, emphasizing its subversive, revolutionary, and liberating qualities.

Discover

NTS members are recommended to read an article in the November 1987 issue of Discover magazine titled "Fleecing the Flock" by John Tierney. The article discusses James Randi's exposure of faith-healer Peter Popoff and is presented as a strong alternative to Randi's book, 'The Faith Healers,' detailing the tactics used to deceive the gullible.

Budget

The newsletter includes a Revenue and Expense Statement for the North Texas Skeptics for the period ending November 30, 1987. Revenues totaled $1951.58 from dues and contributions. Expenses amounted to $1488.17, covering newsletter production, postage, pre-organization costs, supplies, advertising, bank charges, and P.O. Box rental. The cash balance as of November 30, 1987, was $463.33. John A. Thomas is listed as Treasurer.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, particularly creationism and paranormal phenomena, and the promotion of critical thinking and the scientific method. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rational inquiry and evidence-based conclusions, as demonstrated by the debunking of creationist claims and the critical reviews of books promoting pseudoscientific ideas. The organization actively seeks to educate the public and engage with media to present a skeptical viewpoint.