North Texas Skeptic - Vol 12 No 04 - 1998

Magazine Overview

Title: The Skeptic
Issue: Volume 12 Number 4
Date: April 1998
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

This issue of The Skeptic newsletter delves into various topics related to skepticism, pseudoscience, and media criticism. It features articles debunking popular paranormal claims and examining the role of media in promoting or scrutinizing such phenomena.

The Mars About Face

This article, written by John Blanton, addresses the persistent belief in the 'Face on Mars.' It begins by quoting from a web page by Malin Space Science Systems, Inc., which describes how the Viking Orbiter 1, in July 1976, photographed a region on Mars in the Cydonia area that, due to a play of light and shadow, resembled a face. The article links this phenomenon to 'pareidolia,' defined as an illusion or misperception where a vague stimulus is perceived as something recognizable, citing examples like seeing religious figures in everyday objects.

Astronomer Carl Sagan is quoted as believing that the human tendency to see faces is an evolutionary trait, hardwired into our brains for survival. However, the article notes that Sagan's explanation for the 'Face on Mars' itself is that it is the result of erosion and natural forces. Despite NASA's explanation and later, higher-resolution images from the Mars Global Surveyor confirming it as a natural formation ('a butte, a mesa, a knob'), proponents of intelligent life on Mars often dismiss these findings as fakes or part of a conspiracy.

The article also touches upon the idea that the 'Face on Mars' might bear a resemblance to the Shroud of Turin. It concludes by humorously suggesting that the 'Face on Mars' will likely reappear in popular culture in about two years, similar to other debunked phenomena like crop circles and the Loch Ness Monster.

The Hawaii Rational Inquirer

Authored by Vic Stenger, this section introduces 'The Hawaii Rational Inquirer,' a free newsletter from the University of Hawaii and international academic communities. It provides subscription details and contact information for the editor, Vic Stenger, and notes that past issues are archived online.

Skeptic Emily Media Star

This piece highlights the media attention received by Emily Rosa, an 11-year-old girl whose research on 'Therapeutic Touch' was published in JAMA. The research involved 21 experienced Therapeutic Touch practitioners attempting to detect an 'energy field' from Emily's hands through a divider. The practitioners were only correct about 44% of the time, a result below chance. The article notes that this study, which Emily conducted as a fourth-grade science project, was featured on PBS's 'Scientific American Frontiers' and published in JAMA, making her the youngest researcher ever to be published in the journal. The co-founder of Therapeutic Touch, Dolores Krieger, criticized the study's design and methodology, but the article dismisses these criticisms.

Randi's Pigisus Awards

This section lists the winners of the 1998 Pigisus Awards, presented annually by the James Randi Educational Foundation on April 1st. The awards recognize individuals and organizations for their involvement in supernatural, paranormal, or occult claims:

• Category #1 (Silliest statement/action): Dr. Michael Guillen of ABC-TV News, for supporting 'New Age' notions.
• Category #2 (Most useless study funding): The National Institutes of Health, for funding alternative healing research.
• Category #3 (Most outrageous claim reported): ABC-TV News, for endorsing 'cold fusion,' ESP, astrology, and other questionable claims.
• Category #4 (Psychic performer who fooled most people with least talent): All psychics, astrologers, and palm readers who failed to foresee danger for Princess Di.

20/20 Exposes Van Praagh

This article discusses the ABC news program '20/20's' exposé of James Van Praagh, a best-selling author who claims to communicate with the dead. The program demonstrated that Van Praagh uses 'cold reading' techniques, which involve questioning, guessing generalities, and observing responses, rather than genuine psychic abilities. Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic Magazine, provided commentary, exposing Van Praagh's methods. Despite being caught using information obtained directly from a subject, Van Praagh denied cheating. The article criticizes the media's tendency to portray such figures compassionately, even after exposing their lack of genuine abilities.

A Good Week in the Battle Against the Forces of Darkness

This section briefly mentions that Skeptical Inquirer editors were interviewed on over twenty radio broadcasts discussing topics like Therapeutic Touch, UFOs, and spiritualism. It also notes that Joe Nickell, a skeptical author, was named a special paranormal consultant to the BBC for upcoming documentaries.

The Third Eye

Written by Pat Reeder, this article reflects on a series of events in April that were 'cruel' for nonskeptics. It begins by recounting the claims of cult leader Hon-Ming Chen, who announced that God had landed invisibly in Garland, Texas. The article satirizes this claim and the idea of cult members shuffling off to Buffalo, New York.

It then discusses the financial difficulties of the Church Universal and Triumphant, founded by Elizabeth Clare Prophet, which is selling off assets due to declining membership. The article humorously questions the timing of cult predictions, noting that many fixate on March.

The article returns to 'Therapeutic Touch,' reiterating Emily Rosa's study and its findings. It also mentions the 'X-Files' movie and a UPN 'documentary' called 'Danger In Our Skies,' which featured footage of a UFO allegedly hovering over Mexico City. The author critically analyzes a UFO proponent's detailed mathematical analysis of the footage, comparing it to the special effects in Ed Wood's film 'Plan Nine From Outer Space.' The article concludes with a lighthearted remark about increasing one's IQ and deciphering the analysis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of paranormal claims, pseudoscience, and the media's role in disseminating such information. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, advocating for scientific evidence and rational explanations over belief in unsubstantiated phenomena. The newsletter aims to educate its readers about logical fallacies, flawed research methodologies, and the psychological factors that contribute to belief in the paranormal. It consistently promotes critical thinking and a scientific worldview, often using humor and satire to debunk claims and critique media coverage.