North Texas Skeptic - Vol 06 No 08 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 6, Number 8
Date: August 1992
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

This issue of The Skeptic, the newsletter of the North Texas Skeptics, offers a critical examination of media credulity, pseudoscience, and paranormal claims. The publication features a strong skeptical stance, aiming to promote critical thinking and scientific reasoning.

Dallas Morning News Astrology Story Gaffe Draws Exec Editor's Apology

This lead article, by Mike Sullivan, details the controversy surrounding a full-page astrological predictions story published in the Dallas Morning News' 'Today' section on July 7th. The piece, written by New York astrologer Fredericka Fairchild, provided predictions for the three presidential candidates and included color astrological charts. The article was also highlighted on page 2 of the news section. The author notes that the predictions were largely based on biographical details readily available from press kits and failed to foresee significant events like Ross Perot's withdrawal from the presidential race.

NTS member and technical advisor John Thomas expressed his dismay to News columnist Steve Blow. Encouraged by Blow and other News staffers, Thomas wrote a letter to the News editors, questioning the decision to publish astrology and comparing it to the National Enquirer. He argued that the paper should know there is no scientific evidence for astrology and that publishing it lends it undue credibility.

In response, News executive managing editor Bill Evans issued an apology to John Thomas. Evans acknowledged that the 'Today' front page story was "overblown" and should have been qualified with an explanation of astrology and its purpose, which was intended as humor. He admitted that the paper failed to make clear it was not part of political coverage and apologized for misleading readers, promising greater care in the future. The apology letter was slated to appear in The News on July 19th, but the article notes that few would see it compared to the original astrology piece. The article concludes by emphasizing Dallas's status as a city with only one major daily newspaper, placing a burden on readers to act as checks on its content.

What's Old

Commentary By John Blanton

John Blanton's commentary addresses credulity in the media. He recounts a discussion with Karen Denard of KERA-FM regarding his previous article on the Gerson therapy. Denard felt his commentary was out of line, and NTS Technical Advisor Tim Gorski participated in a discussion with her on air. Blanton questions whether his references to the Gerson therapy were indeed "sneering."

He then discusses a home video of a moving light in the night sky over Plano that was presented to Channel 4 as potentially an alien craft. Even MUFON spokesman Melinda Chance did not claim it as an ET. NTS President Joe Voelkering, a pilot and aviation accident investigator, identified the object for Channel 4 as likely aircraft.

Blanton also revisits the Dallas Morning News' astrology predictions for the presidential candidates, noting that astrologer Fredericka Fairchild's predictions for Ross Perot and Bill Clinton proved inaccurate within weeks.

Letters to the Editor

This section features a letter from John Blanton, responding to previous comments about the Gerson Institute. Blanton expresses surprise at how readily the Gerson claim that a strict vegetarian diet constitutes "eating right" was accepted. He strongly criticizes the Gerson Therapy as "medical quackery" and "pseudoscience," arguing that there is no nutritional basis for its claims and that it involves discarding dietary fiber. He states that there is no reliable evidence for the Gerson Institute's medical claims, which rely on anecdotes and testimonials. Blanton points out that Max Gerson himself died, and despite advances in understanding the immune system and AIDS, Gerson promoters continue to market their methods to HIV-infected individuals. He labels Gerson's approach as a scam and a panacea, "curing the incurables," which he defines broadly to include anyone with cancer or chronic illness. He contrasts this with early cancer detection and the existence of long-term survivors even with conventional treatment.

The letter also criticizes the Gerson Institute's tactics, suggesting they circumvent U.S. consumer protection laws by operating in Mexican border clinics. Blanton concludes that the Gerson Therapy entices fearful cancer victims into delaying or forgoing effective medical treatment, and that Gerson promoters profit from these vulnerable individuals.

Tim Gorski, M.D., NTS Technical Advisor, is also listed in this section.

The disappearing dowser

By Mike Sullivan

This article details the North Texas Skeptics' challenge to Dallas dowser Bette Epstein to prove her daughter Cassie's alleged dowsing abilities under controlled conditions. Although Bette Epstein initially declined, she later informed NTS that her nine-year-old daughter Cassie was interested in the cash award. NTS offered to test Cassie's abilities, providing their paranormal challenge instructions.

Bette Epstein accepted the challenge, suggesting map dowsing as the easiest method to control. She stated that Cassie could dowse 'on site' for lost items or from a map, and that map dowsing would involve finding something in a mapped area. However, in a subsequent telephone conversation, Bette was unable to provide specific details about Cassie's capabilities or prior controlled test experience. Cassie had not participated in a controlled test before and reportedly "plays with" her dowsing rather than working at it.

When asked about the size of the area Cassie could dowse, Bette mentioned a baseball infield size for finding buried objects. Sullivan expressed skepticism, suggesting good eyesight would suffice. Bette also indicated that Cassie could not dowse a map of North Texas to locate an item anywhere in the Metroplex, nor could she find an item hidden in a specific building like the Infomart using architectural diagrams. Ultimately, Bette and Cassie failed to provide a specific, quantifiable claim for a test protocol. Sullivan notes that the $6,000 cash prize remains unclaimed, suggesting Bette and Cassie may have decided against the challenge or cannot articulate their claimed abilities.

Our Money Is Still Where Our Mouth Is

This section reiterates that the $6,000 cash prize is available for anyone who can prove a paranormal effect under controlled conditions. John Blanton, John Thomas, and Mike Sullivan are signatories, each contributing $2,000, and they invite others to support their public challenge.

The third eye

By Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder discusses recent UFO-related news and political events. He begins by referencing a previous article in The Skeptic about Ross Perot appearing to be a "space alien," which was picked up by the Associated Press. The article then details a story from the Weekly World News tabloid that featured a photo of Ross Perot meeting with a "big-headed alien," allegedly from the "Planet of Disgruntled Republicans." The tabloid claimed the alien discussed technology and trade with Perot.

President Bush was asked to comment on this tabloid story at a press conference, feigning indignation. The article notes that a week later, Perot suddenly withdrew from the presidential race, prompting speculation about whether aliens were involved or if Perot had a hidden reason for his withdrawal.

Reeder then discusses a new Miller Lite beer commercial that depicts aliens and a crop circle, interpreting it from a UFO believer's perspective as potentially evidence of alien influence or a subconscious expression of abducted experiences. He humorously suggests two conclusions: either the ad executives were abducted, or aliens enjoy Lite beer.

The article then returns to the Dallas Morning News' astrology coverage, commending the paper for its political discourse but criticizing the three-page astrology feature on Bush, Clinton, and Perot. It highlights some of the astrological predictions, noting that when the astrologer ventured into future predictions, she was proven wrong within weeks.

Reeder also touches on infomercials, specifically one for the "Psychic Friends Network" featuring Dionne Warwick. He criticizes the infomercial for its unsubstantiated claims and lack of demonstrations, noting that the "psychics" shared dramatized anecdotes. He humorously suggests that if they were real friends, they would call him.

He mentions David Letterman's segment with a "pet psychic" who communicated with pets, leading to humorous observations about the pets' concerns.

Two items from Entertainment Weekly are presented: The British rock band The Cult is being sued for $61 million by the parents of a Sioux Indian boy whose photo was used on an album cover and in a rock video, allegedly angering the Great Spirit and cursing the boy. Additionally, EW critic Ken Tucker reviewed NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries," praising its crime stories but criticizing its supernatural segments for being overproduced, making UFOs appear more real than unsolved.

Finally, the article mentions a Bigfoot Hot Line service and the Pennsylvania Center for UFO Research, noting that July and August are peak months for Bigfoot sightings. It also reports that Ronald DeFeo, convicted of the Amityville House murders, is seeking a new trial, claiming his sister was responsible and that the "haunted house" story was fabricated for profit.

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon

By Laura Ainsworth

This section contains a single-panel cartoon by Laura Ainsworth. The cartoon depicts two bird-like characters. One says, "OH, NO!! IT'S A LAWSUIT FROM URI GELLER!". The other replies, "DON'T WORRY, DANNY QUAIL... THAT GUY CAN'T BEND THE FIRST AMENDMENT, EITHER!"

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The Skeptic are media criticism, the debunking of pseudoscience (astrology, Gerson Therapy, dowsing, psychic phenomena), and the examination of UFO and paranormal claims from a rational perspective. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, promoting critical thinking, scientific evidence, and a healthy distrust of unsubstantiated claims, particularly when presented by media outlets or those seeking to profit from public credulity. The newsletter actively engages in challenging purported paranormal abilities and exposes what it views as journalistic irresponsibility in presenting unverified information as fact.