The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics," titled "The Skeptic," is dated April 1997 and is Volume 11, Number 4. It is published by The North Texas Skeptics and focuses on skeptical inquiry into various phenomena, including science, religion, media, and pseudoscience.

Forensic Science at NTS

This article, by John Blanton, details the NTS March lecture given by President Joe Voelkering. Voelkering, drawing on his first-hand experience, discussed the investigation of the 1980 Saudia Airlines flight fire that killed all aboard. The lecture highlighted how accident investigators, much like archaeologists and paleontologists, reconstruct events from material evidence. The article notes the pressure investigators can face to find evidence supporting their employer's position, but commends the Saudia team for their diligent work in uncovering the truth. It also touches on how aircraft designers, while meeting legal requirements, may not have pushed product safety significantly beyond those mandates, as demonstrated by tests conducted on the cargo hold's fire retardant liner.

The Third Eye: News and Commentary From the Weird World of the Media

Written by Pat Reeder, this column discusses the prevalence of "mass" phenomena in the media, contrasting it with religious "mass" ceremonies. Reeder comments on the recent Heaven's Gate cult suicide, noting that it was not surprising to skeptics and predicted more such events as the millennium approached. The column also criticizes the conflation of "The X-Files" with documentaries and satirizes the cult's leader and appearance. Reeder then shifts to politics, criticizing President Clinton's association with televangelists and the Democratic party's use of scare tactics in fundraising, citing the case of Eva Piccin. The column also addresses Rev. Jerry Falwell's homophobic stance on the TV show "Ellen" and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's objection to describing tornadoes as "acts of God."

Heaven's Gate

Authored by John Blanton, this article delves into the Heaven's Gate cult tragedy. It highlights the cult's use of the Internet and Web pages to disseminate their philosophy and recruit members. The cult members believed they were aliens in human suits planning to rendezvous with a UFO near the Hale-Bopp comet. The article contrasts Heaven's Gate with other cults like Scientology and the Branch Davidians, noting the apparent lack of overt coercion and the voluntary nature of their mass suicide, driven by leader Marshall Applewhite's messianic personality. It draws parallels between the cult's belief system and mainstream religion, suggesting that the difference lies in the extremity of their beliefs. The article concludes with a wry observation about the cult members neglecting to take their bags when they departed.

Cult Sites on the Web

This section provides a list of URLs for readers interested in learning more about the Heaven's Gate cult and other cult awareness issues. It includes links to cult information centers, ex-cult archives, and the Institute for Creation Research.

From Vic Stenger and the Hawaii Rational Inquirer

This section, reprinted with permission, covers several topics:

Critical Thinking At The Core

Discusses the University of Hawaii's proposal to revamp core requirements, including critical thinking, and the challenge of finding postmodernist instructors who may not value critical thinking.

Physicists' Elvis Sighting Debunked

This piece examines an article in "Science" by Gary Taubes about experiments in the 1980s that reported statistically significant peaks in energy spectra during heavy ion collisions. These peaks were initially thought to be the extraction of antimatter from the vacuum. However, after a decade of failed attempts to reproduce the results, the conclusion is that the peaks were artifacts introduced by the physicists themselves during data analysis. Physicist Rudi Ganz demonstrated how these artifacts could be produced. The article draws parallels to the 150 years of attempts to confirm psychic phenomena and the concept of "pathological science" as described by Irving Langmuir, warning against the dangers of wanting to believe too badly.

Web News

By John Blanton, this column continues to explore Internet sources of interest to readers of The Skeptic. It focuses on creationism, providing links to discussion groups like "talk.origins" and various Web sites that offer arguments for creationism and critiques of evolutionary theory. Blanton notes that creationists often provide the best arguments against themselves through their own misstatements.

Richard Dawkins on PBS

This section summarizes an interview with Richard Dawkins on PBS's "Think Tank" discussing "Evolution and Religion." Dawkins explains his "Climbing Mount Improbable" metaphor for evolution, contrasting the apparent improbability of complex biological structures with the gradual process of natural selection. He engages in a debate with Michael Beahy, whom Dawkins labels a creationist despite Beahy's claims otherwise, regarding the concept of a "hidden designer."

APS on Creationism

A press release from the American Physical Society (APS) states that the Executive Board unanimously reaffirmed the society's 16-year-old position opposing the teaching of creationism in public schools as science. The APS emphasizes that scientific inquiry and religious beliefs are distinct and should not be presented in the same context.

The Skeptic by E-Mail

This section provides instructions for members who wish to receive "The Skeptic" newsletter via e-mail instead of postal mail, outlining the process and benefits.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, cults, and religious extremism, as well as a strong emphasis on scientific reasoning, critical thinking, and media literacy. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science and anti-pseudoscience, advocating for a rational approach to understanding the world and debunking unsubstantiated claims. The newsletter actively promotes critical thinking and provides resources for readers to investigate these topics further. The publication also demonstrates a critical view of how media and political figures engage with science and religion.

This document is an excerpt from 'The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics', specifically the April 1997 issue. It is a brief, single-page entry with a headline and a short article.

As seen on TV

The main content of this page is a short article under the headline "As seen on TV." It reports on Jessica Yu, a filmmaker who was featured in the North Texas Skeptics (NTS) March program. The article notes that Yu recently won an Oscar for one of her film documentaries. The newsletter concludes with a playful invitation: "If your career needs a lift, give us a call. We will try to fit you in." This suggests a lighthearted and possibly self-promotional aspect to the newsletter, implying that association with the organization could be beneficial.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance appears to be one of engagement with current events and notable figures, particularly those who have achieved recognition in fields like filmmaking. The tone is informal and somewhat witty, as indicated by the closing remark about career lifts. The mention of Jessica Yu's Oscar win connects the organization to broader cultural achievements. The newsletter also serves as a communication channel for "The North Texas Skeptics," as indicated by the contact information provided.