North Texas Skeptic - Vol 07 No 12 - 1993

Magazine Overview

The Skeptic, Volume 7, Number 12, published by The North Texas Skeptics in December 1993, is a newsletter focused on promoting rational inquiry and skepticism. The issue features articles on health-related skepticism, paranormal phenomena, and commentary on current events.

Healthy Skepticism

It's A Conspiracy!

This section, authored by Tim Gorski, M.D., discusses the implications of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) for the vitamin and "nutritional" supplement industry. The NLEA, signed into law in 1990, was set to apply to this industry, but Senator Orrin Hatch had previously secured an exemption. This reprieve was due to expire at the end of the year. The FDA proposed implementing the NLEA such that only claims with "significant agreement among qualified experts" would be permitted. The FDA was also seeking safety information from manufacturers to prevent debacles like the tryptophan tragedy. Gorski argues that while the NLEA cannot stop quacks from writing misleading books, it can curb deception in the health food and supplement business by limiting the referencing of such materials in product labeling. He criticizes Senator Hatch and Representative Bill Richardson for introducing legislation (S.B. 784 and H.R. 1709) that would permanently exempt the industry, allowing any claim supported by "scientific evidence, published or unpublished." Gorski contends that such a policy assaults the nature of scientific inquiry, as evidence must withstand public scrutiny and be replicable. He notes the hypocrisy of those who claim to be excluded from mainstream science but flee from criteria of facts and reason.

Local Congressman Martin Frost, along with Congressmen Joe Barton and Dick Armey, supported H.R. 1709. Texas Senators Hutchison and Gramm also supported the Hatch Bill. As of November 21, 1993, the legislation had not yet been reported out of committee.

"Fat-Burning" Skin Creams

This article reports on a trend of weight-loss products using aminophylline, an anti-asthma drug, in skin creams. Researchers at Harbor-UCLA had reported modest reductions in thigh fat in women using such a cream. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram featured an article on "Skinny Dip," an aminophylline-containing cream promoted by a Mansfield couple. The article cautions that the original report did not concern weight loss per se, only fat deposits in the thighs, and was only observed in women. The work had not yet been critically examined or validated. Furthermore, aminophylline is a methylxanthine, similar to caffeine, and can cause adverse effects like increased irritability, seizures, and heart arrhythmias at higher doses. The absorption from a skin cream would depend on various factors. The article concludes that the "easy answer" to weight loss seems unlikely, given the $24 cost for a 4-ounce bottle of "Skinny Dip."

New Book: The Health Robbers

This section reviews "The Health Robbers," a 506-page book from Prometheus Press edited by Drs. Stephen Barrett and William T. Jarvis. The book covers virtually every aspect of health fraud and quackery, with contributions from 20 experts. It includes chapters on vitamins, herbal supplements, "organic foods," chiropractic, homeopathy, acupuncture, and more. The review notes that while comprehensive, some topics are less detailed, such as the chapter on homeopathy. It also mentions the omission of the Benavides affair from the homeopathy chapter. Victor Herbert's chapter on "Vitamin Pushers and Food Quacks" was previously published elsewhere. A chapter on cults, "The Mind Robbers," is described as worthless, reiterating generalities about destructive cults. Despite its shortcomings, the book is recommended for its comprehensiveness and index. Information is provided by the D/FW Council Against Health Fraud, and Dr. Gorski is identified as its chairman and a North Texas Skeptics Technical Advisor.

Letters to the Editor

This section invites readers to submit comments and letters related to topics of interest to NTS members. Submission guidelines are provided for mail, telephone, CompuServe, and Prodigy. The deadline for submissions for the following month's issue is the 15th of each month.

Letters To the Editor:

• Pat Reeder's diatribe on Political Correctness (PC): The author criticizes Pat Reeder's argument on PC, calling it a political argument and right-wing cynicism masquerading as skepticism. The author agrees with some points about environmental groups but questions the broad generalizations. The author also references Gloria Steinem and George Bush in the context of PC and censorship.
• Gary Romero (Dallas): Romero comments on the use of terms like "differently-abled" and "companion animal," suggesting they might be future trends.

The Third Eye

This section, by Pat Reeder, presents a collection of random news items from around the world.

• Apocalypse Prediction: The Great White Brotherhood, a religious cult in Ukraine, predicted the end of the world on November 13th, with the resurrection of their god, Marina Tsvygun. The predictions did not come true, and Ukrainian Deputy Interior Minister Valentyn Nedrehaylo declared, "The end of the world is hereby canceled."
• San Francisco Shrine: City officials are puzzled by a four-foot concrete traffic barrier in Golden Gate Park that has become a shrine for New Agers who gather to pray and meditate around it. Officials are unsure how to remove it without provoking the New Agers.
• Ghost Money in Taiwan: To combat air pollution from burning traditional paper "ghost money," Taipei officials are offering citizens a flammable "Kingdom of the Dead" credit card that burns without creating pollution.
• London Ghost Vigil: A prayer vigil was held in a London church to help exorcise the ghost of Thomas Howard from Coutts Bank, who had allegedly been appearing there for 400 years.
• Hawaii Ghost Story: A woman was arrested for walking naked across a footbridge, claiming she channeled a 15th-century pirate who told her it would cure her asthma.
• Newport, Kentucky Ghost Lawsuit: J.R. Costigan filed a lawsuit against Bobby Mackey's Music World Bar, claiming he was attacked by a ghost in the men's room. The club's lawyer, Robert Lotz, responded humorously, noting the difficulty of serving a subpoena to a ghost. Costigan later dropped the case.
• The X-Files: The article comments on the Fox Network series "The X-Files," noting its evolution from a show based on "actual FBI files" to a more fantastical horror/sci-fi series. It warns that the show's reliance on a different monster each week could lead to diminishing returns, suggesting a "Kolchak, The Night Stalker syndrome." The author recommends a "Dark Shadows" approach of stretching out plotlines for longevity.

Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon

This section features a cartoon by Laura Ainsworth, with the caption "Up a tree: a skeptical cartoon." The cartoon depicts a debate about NAFTA, with one character stating, "And if you believe that, you must believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy!" Another character responds, "Wait a minute! I believe in the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy!" The third panel shows the first character saying, "And quit interrupting me!"

Close to Home News

• Terri Hoffman Conviction: Local spiritual guru and self-proclaimed psychic Terri Hoffman was convicted by a federal jury on 10 counts of bankruptcy fraud for hiding assets. Sentencing was set for January 14, and she faced prison time and fines. She also faces lawsuits accusing her of using mind control to cause or benefit from deaths.
• Robert Tilton Caricature: The author notes that a character in "The Dallas Morning News" comic strip "Judge Parker" appears to be a caricature of Rev. Bob Tilton, a greedy religious cult leader.
• Barry Karr's Invitation: Barry Karr, media director of CSICOP, invited the author to write a new column for CSICOP's national newsletter, "Skeptical Briefs," focusing on local skeptics groups.

The author concludes by thanking "the little people" and referring to Martians.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the importance of critical thinking in evaluating health claims, the dangers of pseudoscience and fraud in the health industry, and the debunking of paranormal phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly pro-skepticism, advocating for evidence-based reasoning, scientific rigor, and a critical examination of claims, whether they relate to health, religion, or the supernatural. The newsletter actively promotes skepticism by highlighting instances of deception and misinformation and by providing a platform for rational discourse.