North Texas Skeptic - Vol 06 No 11 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 6 Number 11
Date: November 1992
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The Skeptic newsletter provides a range of articles examining skeptical viewpoints on various topics, including UFO claims, health and medical pseudoscience, creationism, and the activities of skeptical organizations.

The Third Eye by Pat Reeder

This article opens by referencing a successful CSICOP conference and then dives into recent headlines, particularly from the Weekly World News. The lead story highlights a claim that five U.S. Senators are space aliens: Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), Nancy Kassebaum (R-Kan.), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and John Glenn (D-Ohio). The alien allegedly revealed this information to secure a cabinet post and also provided tips for identifying shape-shifting aliens, including abnormal sleep patterns, discomfort near electrical hardware, anxiety with Earth transportation, constant information gathering, ownership of high technology, and fumbling with common items.

The article then shifts to the controversy surrounding heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne. The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal concerning Osbourne's lyrics and backward-masked messages, ruling that his records are protected by freedom of speech. The article notes that Osbourne declared himself a Christian, not a Satanist. The author expresses a wish that the court had heard the case to definitively rule that backward-masking is meaningless, quoting Penn Jillette: "Use your head: If backward masking really worked, Ozzy Osbourne would be the Prime Minister of England."

Next, the article discusses faith healer Morris Cerullo's visit to India, where he advertised cures and drew a crowd of 30,000. However, the session devolved into chaos when attendees did not feel healed, and Cerullo narrowly escaped being lynched, being subsequently ordered out of the country. The author suggests that America could learn from India's approach to faith healers.

The death of former New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison, known for his JFK theories, is mentioned. The article then touches upon NASA's launch of a huge SETI project, questioning why the government would spend money on this while ignoring "irrefutable evidence of repeated alien abductions."

Finally, the article reports on lawsuits filed by Scientologists against the Cult Awareness Network, alleging religious discrimination and kidnapping. The Cult Awareness Network denies these claims, stating they receive more complaints about Scientology. The article concludes with a note about Lisa Marie Presley's Scientology-influenced silent childbirth.

Healthy Skepticism by Tim Gorski, M.D.

Gero Vita Resurfaces

This section addresses the resurfacing of Gero Vita GH3, an "antiaging" quack remedy. Promotional mailings, appearing as newspaper ads with personal notes, are being sent to area residents. The product's claims are based on those of Rumanian doctor Ana Aslan, who purportedly developed a "secret formula" that rejuvenated elderly individuals. The article critically examines these claims, noting that the treatment has never been proven to work outside of Romania and that the original injectable form contained procaine, a local anesthetic, while the current oral product may contain PABA. The author points out the lack of scientific evidence and the reliance on anecdotal testimonials.

Rejuvex

Florida-based Ginsana USA is aggressively marketing a product called Rejuvex, an herbal/vitamin/mineral supplement. Advertisements imply that estrogen therapy for menopausal women is dangerous and promote Rejuvex as a "natural" alternative. Despite this, the product contains "raw mammary, raw ovary, raw uterus, raw adrenal and raw pituitary powders." The article questions the safety and efficacy of such a product, especially given its claims to offer benefits similar to estrogen without the risks.

Pro-Quackery Bill Under Consideration

This part of the article discusses Senator Orrin Hatch's proposed bill, S2835, The Health Freedom Act of 1992. The author argues that this bill would significantly weaken the FDA's ability to protect consumers from fraudulent health products. It would prevent the FDA from classifying vitamins, minerals, and herbs as drugs, regardless of dosage or claims made. Furthermore, it would lower the standard for evaluating promotional claims from scientific consensus to "scientific evidence, whether published or unpublished," and allow manufacturers to seek immediate court review of FDA warning letters. The D/FW Council Against Health Fraud is mentioned as a resource for combating false health claims.

ICR's New Museum by Dan Phelps

This article reviews the new Museum of Creation and Earth History opened by the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) in El Cajon, California. Described as a "big-budget operation" with "lavish displays," the museum offers a tour titled "A Walk Through History." The tour guides visitors through a creationist timeline, starting with the newly created universe, the Garden of Eden, Noah's Ark, the post-diluvian world, the Ice Age, and then into the "domain of pagan pantheistic evolutionism" centered at the Tower of Babel. The museum includes live animals, exhibits on the Fall and Curse, a representation of Noah's Ark, models of the Grand Canyon and the Tower of Babel, and artifacts related to ancient cultures. The tour concludes with a gospel message urging unsaved visitors to accept Christ. The museum is free, but has a bookstore selling related materials.

CSICOP Honors World's Scientists, Journalists and Magicians at Awards Dinner by Mike Sullivan

This article reports on the 16th annual CSICOP conference and awards dinner held in Irving, Texas. The event highlighted international achievements in skeptical inquiry. Awards were presented to citizens from Great Britain, Canada, Russia, France, and the United States.

Richard Dawkins, Oxford zoologist and author, received the "In Praise of Reason" award, emphasizing the virtue of reason.

Sergei Kaptiza, a Russian physicist and editor, was presented with the "Outstanding Skeptic of the Year" award.

Henry Gordon, a Toronto magician, author, and broadcaster, received the "Responsibility in Journalism" award for promoting skeptical explanations of unusual events.

Andrew Skolnick, associate editor for The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), also received the "Responsibility in Journalism" award for his exposé on pseudoscientific claims within JAMA regarding Marharishi Ayur-Veda medicine. Skolnick documented deception by authors who had undisclosed financial interests in the promoted products. However, Skolnick mentioned that JAMA is being sued for $200 million over the story, restricting his ability to discuss details. He also highlighted the plight of James Randi, who resigned from CSICOP due to lawsuits from Uri Geller.

The evening concluded with a mentalism act by Steve Shaw, a professional mentalist and magician, who demonstrated remarkable feats of apparent psychic ability, previously showcased in the "Project Alpha" studies. Shaw's performance included identifying objects, tracing sketches, and revealing personal information, all while blindfolded and gagged, impressing both the general public and scientists.

When Our Heroes Come to Town by Mike Sullivan

This article reflects on the author's experience at the Dallas CSICOP conference, expressing awe at meeting prominent figures in the skeptical movement. The author mentions Richard Dawkins, Walter Stewart, Ray Hyman, James Randi, Phil Klass, Henry Gordon, Susan Blackmore, Eugenie Scott, Bob Steiner, L. Sprague, Catherine Cook de Camp, Joe Nickell, and Sergei Kapitza. Phil Klass is quoted emphasizing that the real strength of the skeptical movement lies in local groups like the North Texas Skeptics (NTS), who are on the "front lines of reason." The author acknowledges the inspiration provided by these "big names" but stresses the importance of the "in the trenches" work done by local members.

Answering The Call by Mike Sullivan

This piece thanks various individuals and groups involved in hosting the CSICOP conference in Dallas. Special thanks are given to Ronnie Hastings for organizing the bus trip to Dinosaur Valley State Park, Joe Voelkering for arranging a presentation by Ole Anthony, and Pat Reeder for coordinating conference T-shirts. Mary O'Grady is thanked for arranging a tour of the Superconducting SuperCollider lab. The article also thanks the entire CSICOP team, including Mary Rose Hays, Doris Doyle, Paul Loynes, Barry Karr, and Lynette Nisbet. The author proposes that CSICOP consider holding future conferences in a few select cities where events have been successful, suggesting Texas as a potential location again.

To: All Hands

This section features a conversation with Becky Long, President of the Georgia Skeptics, who expresses surprise at the North Texas Skeptics' ability to accomplish tasks with a smaller membership. Joe Voelkering, President of NTS, provides four reasons for their effectiveness: the members' self-motivation, their resemblance to "Richard Feynman clones" who solve problems, their ability to motivate themselves beyond what he could hope for, and the fact that things run smoothly when he "simply not get in the way."

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon by Laura Ainsworth

A short, three-panel cartoon depicts a UFO sighting. The first panel shows a UFO crashing. The second panel shows aliens emerging, described as thin, gray, with big heads and suits for eyes. The third panel shows the aliens being interviewed on a show called "Unsolved Mysteries."