North Texas Skeptic - Vol 09 No 12 - 1995

Magazine Overview

The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics, Volume 9, Number 12, dated December 1995, is a publication focused on promoting skepticism and rational inquiry into various phenomena, often debunking pseudoscientific claims.

In this month's issue:

The issue features several articles and columns:

The third eye by Pat Reeder

This article, written on Thanksgiving weekend, humorously notes the abundance of material provided by 'morons' for comedy writers. It begins by recounting the case of Robert Joe Moody, who was found guilty of murder and claimed alien possession as an alibi. Moody believed he would survive lethal injection due to 'extrasensory biological entities.' The author sarcastically comments on the jury's rejection of this defense and Moody's belief in alien intervention for drug money. The article then discusses the repeated airing of Fox's 'Alien Autopsy' special, questioning the release of new footage each time. It also references an 'X-Files' episode that mirrored the 'Alien Autopsy' theme, suggesting that even fictional shows are questioning such content. The author proposes a satirical experiment: fabricating a UFO conspiracy story and seeing if it gains traction on bulletin boards or shows, noting that once it hits the Fox Network, it will be considered 'The Truth.'

Healthy skepticism by Tim Gorski, M.D.

This section, subtitled 'Dallas County Medical Society Quacked,' critiques an article in the September Dallas Medical Journal by Ann A. McNabb, titled 'The Case for Food Supplementation.' McNabb's article claims most people are malnourished, their diets are nutrient-deficient due to modern agriculture, and everyone needs supplements for optimal health, also raising concerns about herbicides in produce. Dr. Gorski argues that McNabb misrepresents research, citing fluctuations in vitamin intake as proof of malnutrition, which he disputes, stating that body stores last for years and RDAs are set at levels far exceeding deficiency prevention. He criticizes the 'certified clinical nutritionist' (CCN) designation as not being a recognized educational degree and potentially associated with groups promoting unsubstantiated claims. The article mentions that the Dallas County Medical Society (DCMS) is aware of the blunder and expected to respond. The section also covers Congressman Joe Barton's demand for an investigation into the 'malicious prosecution' of Dr. Stanislaw Burzynski, who promotes 'anti-neoplastons' as a cancer cure. The author notes that Burzynski's ideas, originating in 1976, involve extracts of human urine and synthesized amide molecules, which have been debunked by the Journal of the American Medical Association. The information is provided by the Dallas/Fort Worth Council Against Health Fraud.

Skeptical Cogitations

Assembled by Joe Voelkering, this section presents a series of quotes from notable figures on various philosophical and scientific topics:

• Plato: "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when [adults] are afraid of the light."
• Jay von Glieker: Discusses the legal system's standard of 'proof beyond a reasonable doubt' versus absolute proof, and how rational skeptics use a similar standard.
• Steve Allen: Contrasts the harm caused by absolute certainty with the minimal harm from recognizing degrees of probability, and later discusses the provisional nature of physical theories and the importance of scientific inquiry.
• Stephen Hawking: Comments on the existence and non-existence of God, accepting the probability of a Deity as the least preposterous assumption and emphasizing the importance of scrutinizing evidence.
• Steve Allen (again): Argues that science deals with nature, the only reality of which we have certain knowledge, and criticizes those who speak contemptuously of science.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, particularly UFOs and alien encounters, and a strong critique of pseudoscience in medicine and nutrition. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of critical thinking, scientific evidence, and rational explanations, actively debunking claims that lack empirical support. The newsletter positions itself as a source of information for those who question extraordinary claims and are interested in a rational perspective on various phenomena.