North Texas Skeptic - Vol 06 No 04 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 6 Number 4
Date: April 1992
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Skeptic, the newsletter of the North Texas Skeptics, covers a range of topics from legal cases involving paranormal claims to critiques of pseudoscience and conspiracy theories.

How Not to Sell Your Home

This article by John Thomas discusses the New York court case *Stambovsky v. Ackley*. Helen Ackley bought a Victorian house in Nyack, New York, in 1967 and later claimed it was haunted by friendly ghosts. She publicized this claim through articles and tours. When she decided to sell the house in 1990 to Jeffrey Stambovsky, who was not familiar with its reputation, he sued to rescind the contract upon learning of the ghosts. The trial court refused, but the New York Appellate Court allowed the rescission. The court reasoned that since Ackley had promoted the house as haunted, she had a duty to inform prospective buyers, as haunting could not be ascertained by reasonable inspection. Thomas argues the decision is wrong because court judgments should align with reality, but acknowledges that Ackley created the problem for herself. He also notes that a similar ruling might occur under Texas law, citing the Catfish Plantation in Waxahachie as an example of a business promoted as haunted.

The Third Eye

Pat Reeder's column addresses several contemporary issues. He begins by apologizing for missing the previous month's issue due to personal family matters. Reeder then discusses the public defense of evangelist Robert Tilton against Attorney General Dan Morales' lawsuits. He criticizes those who defend Tilton on grounds of religious freedom, questioning what would happen if such claims were made by a doctor. Reeder highlights the case of Mary Elizabeth Turk, a widow who allegedly delayed cancer treatment due to faith in Tilton's promises, leading to her death. Reeder poses a rhetorical question: "What if this woman were YOUR mother?" He also mentions a radio interview with UFO researcher Stanton Friedman, who discussed the Roswell incident and a new eyewitness. Reeder expresses skepticism about MUFON's claim to use the "scientific method," citing their dismissal of researchers who declared the Gulf Breeze photos a hoax.

Grave Secrets and JFK

This section critiques media portrayals of paranormal phenomena and conspiracy theories. It discusses a made-for-TV movie, "Grave Secrets," about a haunted house, questioning the claim that ghosts caused a death when chemotherapy was also involved. The article notes that the alleged paranormal activity ceased when the owners moved, similar to the Amityville case. It then turns to the JFK assassination conspiracy theories, criticizing Oliver Stone's film "JFK" and its claims of a higher truth. Jack Valenti, president of the MPAA, denounced the film as a "hoax" and "smear." The article mentions an article in Film Threat magazine about a Kennedy conspiracy symposium, describing it as similar to a Star Trek convention. Finally, it criticizes a TV special hosted by James Earl Jones that linked the JFK assassination, the Bay of Pigs, and Watergate, calling it "Appalling."

Various Short Items

This section presents a series of brief, often humorous, skeptical observations:

• Happy Days Reunion: Erin Moran's absence and her comments about the cast being "evil."
• Abominable Snowman: A Russian reporter investigated reports of a "forest monster" which turned out to be a beaver.
• Elvis Presley: An offer was made to Elvis to become a spokesman for the pork industry, highlighting his love for pork and his cause of death.
• Astrology Lawsuit: A judge dismissed a $9 million lawsuit filed by a horoscope reader against Sydney Omarr, who claimed astrological advice led to his failed marriage.
• Witchcraft Conviction: A man in Salem, Massachusetts, was convicted of using witchcraft to defraud an heiress.
• Red Sea Parting: Meteorologists suggest wind could have parted the Red Sea, and the author humorously suggests a sudden freeze before Jesus walked on water.
• Voodoo Ritual: A substitute teacher in New Jersey performed a voodoo ritual in class, leading to her arrest.

An Ageless Story (Part 1)

By John Blanton and Jeff Umbarger, this article begins an investigation into the claims of the Metroplex Institute of Origin Science (MIOS) regarding the age of the Earth. MIOS chairman Don Patton presented arguments against radiometric dating, citing criticisms from scientists. The authors examine a specific critique of uranium dating presented by MIOS, which they found to be a misrepresentation of a *Scientific American* article by J.D. MacDougall. The original article discussed the fission track dating method and mentioned potential exceptions to the assumption of constant uranium concentration, which MIOS allegedly used to discredit radiometric dating in general. The authors note that the MIOS presentation omitted qualifying phrases from the original text, making the critique appear stronger than intended. The article promises to continue by examining MIOS's claims about moon rock dating.

A Coinkadink?

Mike Sullivan recounts several coincidences he experienced while editing *The Skeptic*. He first mentions "The Todd," a comedian who makes humorous observations about coincidences. Sullivan then details three instances:

1. His wife mentioned a management seminar where participants took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test, which Sullivan had just read about in a *Science* article (sent by NTS Technical Advisor Dr. Ray Eve) that questioned its validity.
2. He had been corresponding with Rick Moen of the Bay Area Skeptics about the 1992 CSICOP conference preparations. He downloaded an article by Robert Sheaffer from Moen's system to fill a space in the February issue. Pat Reeder, who writes a monthly column, also based his February column on Sheaffer's article.
3. When arranging the CSICOP conference site, a hotel sales manager mentioned he had learned about the meeting from a previous issue of *The Skeptic*, which had been passed to him by a friend. This hotel was not on the DCVB lead list.

Sullivan explains these as pattern recognition, where humans naturally find connections in normal events, and that extraordinary connections would be the absence of such intersections.

Letters

Jeff Baker writes a letter to the editor responding to a previous letter from Bette Epstein and the North Central Tejas Chapter of the American Society of Dowsers. Baker expresses disappointment that Epstein declined an offer of $2,000 cash to prove dowsing skills under scientifically controlled conditions. He defines himself as a skeptic who requires proof and criticizes those who make claims without scientific validation. Baker argues that Epstein's claim of seeing energies is a false analogy, as common senses do not require proof, while claimed paranormal abilities do. He finds it amusing that Epstein, who refuses scientific testing, offers to teach dowsing, suggesting she is a "simple capitalist." The editor adds a note that they have received another letter from Ms. Epstein, stating her daughter Cassie is willing to be tested for dowsing, with specific conditions regarding witnesses and distance due to "negative energy."

Clarifications

An editing error in the March issue's "Laser Specs" story is corrected, with proper attribution given to Dr. Tim Gorski, Chairman of the Greater Dallas/Ft. Worth Area Council Against Health Fraud.

Up a Tree: A Skeptical Cartoon

A cartoon by Laura Ainsworth depicts three birds pondering different mysteries. The first ponders the "Mysteries of the Universe," the second "The Existence of God," and the third "The Purpose of Life." The fourth bird looks at "The Content of Robert Tilton's Financial Records."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptics, through this issue of *The Skeptic*, consistently promote a skeptical viewpoint. The magazine actively debunks pseudoscience, criticizes unsubstantiated paranormal claims, and questions conspiracy theories. The legal case of *Stambovsky v. Ackley* is analyzed to highlight the potential for legal systems to deviate from reality when dealing with subjective claims. The critique of MIOS's misrepresentation of scientific data underscores the importance of accurate interpretation of evidence. The strong condemnation of Robert Tilton reflects a concern for protecting the public from charlatans and exploitation. The challenges to dowsers and the examination of UFO claims demonstrate a commitment to demanding rigorous evidence for extraordinary claims. The overall tone is one of critical inquiry, emphasizing scientific methodology and rational explanation over belief in the unproven.