North Texas Skeptic - Vol 11 No 07 - 1997

Magazine Overview

Title: The Newsletter of The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 11 Number 7
Date: July 1997
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of "The Skeptic" delves into various topics with a critical and skeptical lens, primarily focusing on debunking popular myths and sensationalized claims. The main article, "The Third Eye," by Pat Reeder, addresses the media circus surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Roswell incident, expressing exhaustion with the constant coverage and questioning the validity of alien crash narratives. The newsletter also features a "Confidential Memo" that satirically discusses UFO proponents and their beliefs, and a section on "Seriously, Though" which critiques the "Heaven's Gate" cult incident and the dangers of uncritical thinking, as well as the controversial "Waco - The Big Lie" video. Finally, "What's New" provides brief updates on scientific topics, including the conclusion of research on EMF and childhood leukemia, and the latest developments in cold fusion research.

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

By Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder expresses a profound weariness with the media's extensive coverage of the Roswell incident's 50th anniversary. Initially, Reeder anticipated excitement at the confirmation of alien existence, but the prolonged media barrage has led to a cynical reaction. The article critiques the Roswell Chamber of Commerce's P.R. efforts and the way the story has evolved from a balloon crash to an alien encounter narrative, largely attributed to figures like Stanton Friedman. Reeder highlights a *Time* magazine article by Bruce Handy that drew parallels between UFOlogy and religion, suggesting a psychological urge to believe in conspiracies. The piece also dissects the claims made in Phil Corso's book, "The Day After Roswell," which alleges that modern inventions were reverse-engineered from a crashed UFO. Reeder, along with other skeptics, points out numerous factual and scientific inconsistencies in Corso's account, including misrepresentations of technological development and historical timelines. The article dismisses the idea that Corso's claims are credible, even noting his mention of a time machine. The author also expresses frustration with the ongoing Roswell hoopla, which he believes is a tourist magnet rather than a genuine mystery. He mentions Chris Wyatt's claim of possessing a metal fragment from the UFO crash, which James Randi has offered a substantial reward to verify, a challenge Randi is confident will not be met. The article concludes with a sarcastic wish for Randi to make the "Roswell puffery" disappear.

Confidential Memo

This section contains a memo from Joe Voelkering to the editors of "The Skeptic," forwarding an epistle from "mi" via the "MOOFON" network. The memo includes a disclaimer suggesting the following content might be satire and warns against potential calls from tabloid news media. The memo itself details the unusual circumstances under which the dog was found and the state of its doghouse and food bowl, hinting at a strange event.

The epistle from "mi" introduces himself as an adopted nephew of individuals referred to as "do" and "ti," who hold unconventional views. "mi" claims to be "El Segundo Grande" of the Heaven's Gate group, led by "la," who uses "earthly containers" like Shirley MacLaine and Demi Moore. The text satirically discusses "la's" alleged plan to switch to "earthly zip-lock bags" for transitions and prefers the pronunciation "laye" for "la." The memo then shifts to a discussion of the Hale-Bopp comet and the disappearance of Speaker of the House Hale Boggs and pilot Don Jonz in Alaska. "mi" presents a conspiracy theory suggesting a UFO abduction and government cover-up, citing the lack of evidence as proof. The theory posits that Jonz, a pilot who allegedly flew in icing conditions, disappeared with Boggs, and that the subsequent search efforts yielded nothing. The narrative then incorporates a "reconstruction" by "MOOFOlogist" Budd Hopkins, which describes Jonz and Boggs being "beamed-up" by a UFO from a frozen lake, and the "ice aircraft" being melted down for "Susan B. Anthony" dollars. The piece concludes with the belief that the Hale Boggs comet exists and is connected to a "Mother Starship" that will transport them to a "Level Above Human," commanded by Captain Don Jonz and flown by Pontius Pilate. The author and others are preparing to "abort their earthly containers" to be "beamed up."

Seriously, Though

This section begins by referencing the "Heaven's Gate" incident, framing it as an example of Darwinian evolutionary theory by removing individuals from the "gene pool." It then discusses the hazards of uncritical thinking, drawing parallels between belief in astrology and alien UFOs. The author notes that while many observed objects appeared to be aircraft, they were technically "Unidentified Flying Objects" due to darkness, but personally felt they were aircraft. The piece quotes James Randi on the dangers of accepting pseudoscientific claims and turning over one's life to charlatans. It directly links the "Heaven's Gate" cult's unquestioning belief in alien UFOs to their fatal outcome. The article then shifts to the Oklahoma City bombing, mentioning that perpetrator McVeigh repeatedly watched a video titled "Waco - The Big Lie." The newsletter's members reviewed this video and found it to be a poorly edited presentation that falsely claimed federal agents used a flame-thrower to start the fire at Waco. The unedited footage revealed it was a combat engineering vehicle. The author concludes that McVeigh's belief in these allegations cost many lives.

What's New

By Bob Park

This section provides brief updates on scientific news. The first item, "EMF: THEY SAY IT'S NOT OVER TILL IT'S OVER — WELL, IT'S OVER," reports on the conclusion of a National Cancer Institute epidemiological study that found no significant link between magnetic fields (EMF) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. The study, which took seven years, determined that any potential link is too weak to be a concern, effectively ending an 18-year controversy fueled by earlier studies and public paranoia. The second item, "COLD FUSION: IT'S BACK! AND NOW IT NEUTRALIZES RADIOACTIVITY," discusses James Patterson's work with cold fusion, now termed "low-energy nuclear reactions." Patterson's cell reportedly allows hydrogen or deuterium to fuse with radioactive nuclei, transmuting them into stable isotopes and neutralizing radioactivity. Dr. Olson at Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs is cited as being optimistic about its potential for eliminating nuclear waste. The section ends with a note that the opinions expressed are the author's and not necessarily those of the American Physical Society.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is skepticism towards extraordinary claims, particularly those related to UFOs, alien encounters, and conspiracy theories. The editorial stance is clearly one of critical inquiry, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based reasoning and debunking sensationalized media narratives. The newsletter actively challenges unsubstantiated beliefs, as seen in the detailed critique of Roswell-related claims and the "Confidential Memo." There's a strong emphasis on scientific rationality, with articles highlighting the conclusions of scientific studies (EMF, cold fusion) and questioning pseudoscientific assertions. The newsletter also touches upon the dangers of uncritical thinking and the potential for belief systems, whether cult-related or conspiracy-driven, to have severe, even fatal, consequences. The overall tone is one of informed skepticism, aiming to provide a counterpoint to popular fascination with the unexplained.