North Texas Skeptic - Vol 11 No 05 - 1997

Magazine Overview

This issue of "The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics," titled "The Skeptic," Volume 11 Number 5, dated May 1997, features several articles critical of paranormal claims and pseudoscience. The cover headline is "The Skeptic," and the issue includes articles on "Intuitive Archaeology," "The Third Eye" (UFOs), "Perpetual Nonsense" (free energy), and "The '3-D' Post-Santa Syndrome."

"Intuitive Archaeology" by Jim Burton

This article critiques a presentation by George McMullen, who claims to use "spirit guides" for "intuitive archaeology" to find artifacts and uncover their history. The presentation, given in Helena, Montana, featured Raymond Worring, an investigator who attempted to lend scientific legitimacy to the field by comparing it to "remote viewing." The author, Jim Burton, expresses skepticism, noting that paranormal studies have yielded no verifiable results. He criticizes Courtney Brown, a remote viewing researcher, for making extraordinary claims about Buddha and aliens without evidence. Burton suggests that McMullen's "ability" might be a subconscious process of noticing subtle clues, which he then explains through the narrative of "spirit guides." The article highlights a dramatic story told by McMullen about a family caught in a bison stampede, which Worring presented as evidence but admitted had not been confirmed by excavation. Burton concludes that the presentation offered no compelling evidence and was a "shoddy appeal to the audience's emotions."

Burton also criticizes the Montana Historical Society for hosting the event without offering a counter-perspective, thus allowing believers to leave as believers. He provides contact information for the Montana Rationalists and Skeptics Network for those interested in skepticism.

THE THIRD EYE: News and Commentary From the Weird World of the Media by Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder's column discusses how the Heaven's Gate cult suicides unexpectedly boosted skepticism by prompting the mainstream press to scrutinize UFO and paranormal claims. Previously, the press had largely ignored such topics, deeming them tabloid fodder. However, the cult's actions led to a surge in media coverage, with programs like "20/20" debunking stories like the "Alien Autopsy" film by showing how special effects were used. Reeder notes that while the press was actively debunking, some interviews with surviving cult members were hushed and reverent, possibly due to fear of being labeled "mean-spirited."

The column mentions James Randi hosting a special on con men and Ray Hymen explaining cold reading. It criticizes shows like "Strange Universe" for promoting pseudoscience, specifically mentioning "The Alien Interview," a video allegedly showing an interrogated alien at Area 51, which Reeder dismisses as a hoax due to its poor quality and suspicious circumstances (e.g., filming in the dark). Reeder also introduces a new cliché of pseudojournalism: the "Darn Good Fake" (DGF) comment, where an alleged expert states that if something is a fake, it's a "darn good fake."

Reeder also touches on other news items, including the IRS granting tax-exempt status to the Western Bigfoot Society, which plans to expand its museum to include UFOs and crop circles. He also mentions the Zapruder film of the JFK assassination being preserved by the government.

Perpetual Nonsense by John Thomas

This article by patent attorney John Thomas examines the case of Joseph W. Newman, an inventor who persistently sought a patent for a "free energy" device that he claimed produced more energy than it consumed, violating the second law of thermodynamics. Newman filed his patent application in 1980, and his case involved eight years of litigation and three trips to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. The Patent Office had an internal rule allowing rejection of perpetual motion or free energy claims on the grounds of lacking utility. Newman was required to build a working model for testing at the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). However, despite demanding to observe the tests, neither Newman nor his representative showed up. The NBS physicist, Robert Hebner, concluded that the energy output, if any, was across the coil. The NBS measured efficiencies between 27 and 77 percent, finding no free energy. This report convinced the court that Newman's invention did not work. Thomas uses Newman's case to illustrate a misconception that invention is the work of solitary genius, rather than slow, collaborative research. He also points to online resources for those interested in free energy and anti-gravity ideas.

The '3-D' Post-Santa Syndrome by Tommy Jeff Stratto

This humorous article explores the author's hypothesis about why people hold "REALLY WEIRD dogmatic beliefs." Stratto calls this the "'3-D' Post-Santa Syndrome" or "Dogma Deficit Disorder." He suggests that childhood beliefs in figures like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, when abandoned, create a void that can be filled by other, often irrational, beliefs in adulthood. Stratto recounts his own experiences of questioning these childhood figures and how the loss of these beliefs coincided with the cessation of material rewards (gifts, money). He humorously describes experiments with gravity and pain, concluding that his "safety rope" experiment to test gravity failed to show any effect. He contrasts this with situations where TV preachers claim a "miracle cancer cure" failed due to lack of faith, which he labels a "big scam."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, the critical examination of pseudoscience, and the role of media in shaping public perception of these topics. The North Texas Skeptics, through its newsletter "The Skeptic," clearly advocates for a rational, evidence-based approach, debunking claims that lack scientific support and highlighting the importance of critical thinking. The editorial stance is consistently critical of unsubstantiated beliefs, whether they stem from "intuitive archaeology," UFO phenomena, "free energy" schemes, or religious dogmatism.