North Texas Skeptic - Vol 14 No 02 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptics
Issue: Volume 14, Number 2
Date: February 2000
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

Anatomy of a Claimant

This article by Mike Combs discusses the behavior of individuals who seek to claim the James Randi prize. Combs categorizes claimants into two types: those who are genuinely self-deluded and those who secretly know their claims are false and employ deceptive tactics. He outlines the typical strategies of the latter group, which include making the process difficult, insisting on numerous conditions, and attempting to portray Randi as unwilling to test their claims. The author presents two hypothetical scenarios for responding to the Randi Challenge: one for a genuine believer and one for a deceiver. The article also touches upon a specific case involving a homeopath who applied for the prize, detailing the protracted and ultimately unsuccessful negotiation process.

The Homeopath Case

The homeopath claimant, initially contacted via email, charged that Combs' essay was directed at him. He claimed to have sent in a signed, notarized application, leading Combs to label him a "composite claimant." The homeopath's interactions with Randi involved numerous conditions and inquiries into the accounting firm holding the prize money, Goldman, Sachs & Co. Negotiations eventually terminated, with the homeopath continuing to claim Randi refused to hand over the prize money.

NTS Under New Leadership

This section announces a change in leadership for The North Texas Skeptics (NTS). Danny Barnett declined to run for President again, and Curtis Severns was elected as the new President with a majority vote from the board of directors. The article lists the new Board of Directors and Officers, including Vice President Danny Barnett, Secretary John Blanton, and Treasurer Mark Meyer. It also notes the purchase of new domain names for the NTS website: ntskeptics.org, ntskeptics.com, northtexasskeptics.org, and northtexasskeptics.com. Additionally, it promotes an upcoming talk by Dr. A. H. Giesecke on the JFK assassination.

INCOMING! The Return of Uri Geller

By Daniel Barnett, this article discusses the resurgence of psychic Uri Geller, who gained fame in the 1970s for allegedly bending spoons and keys with psychokinetic powers. Geller, now 53, appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on January 5, 2000, demonstrating his abilities. Barnett recounts Geller's appearance, including his personal anecdotes and his claim that skeptics are a minority. A significant part of the segment involved Geller attempting to fix watches collected from the audience. Barnett expresses skepticism about the demonstration, noting Geller's apparent control over which watches were used and shown.

Fixing Watches on National Television

Geller claimed his mother was forced to undergo eight abortions, and he felt his brothers and sisters were guardian angels. On the show, Leno provided Geller with a tray of watches that had stopped working. Geller grabbed several, covered them with his hand, and led the audience in a chant to make them work. He then claimed to have fixed one watch, joking that its owner owed him a dollar. Barnett observed that Geller seemed to select the watches himself and did not show them clearly to Leno or the camera before the demonstration.

Geller's Past Appearances

The article recalls Geller's previous appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1973. In that instance, James Randi, a magician and skeptic, assisted Carson by preparing a test involving sealed film cannisters and spoons. The film cannister test was unsuccessful, and while Geller and Ricardo Montalban claimed to see a spoon bend, Carson had difficulty perceiving it. Geller attributed his poor performance to feeling "pressed" by Carson. This led to a 27-year hiatus from the show.

Mind Medicine and Pokémon

Uri Geller has also released a book titled "Mind Medicine," co-authored with Lulu Appleton, which reportedly discusses relaxation, meditation, and stress management. The book features photographs of Geller's hands, with accompanying text that Barnett likens to the "Point of Contact" routine used by faith healers. The article also brings up Geller's lawsuit against Nintendo over the Pokémon character Kadabra. Geller claims that Kadabra, an "evil pokémon" with a bent spoon and the Japanese name "Un-Geller" (meaning "Evil Geller"), is damaging his reputation. The outcome of this legal battle is uncertain but is expected to generate more media attention for Geller.

What's New

This column by Robert Park presents various news clippings of interest to skeptics.

Warning!!! This issue may contain theories.

This section highlights concerns about the teaching of evolution in schools. In Oklahoma, the state textbook committee considered affixing stickers to biology textbooks to warn students about evolution being a "controversial theory." Similarly, Alabama requires an "only a theory" disclaimer. The article notes that despite these efforts, a significant percentage of Kansans accept a literal interpretation of the bible while also believing in evolution.

Free Energy: Good Morning America Exposes Scam

Dennis Lee, who claims to have developed a "free energy" device, is featured. Despite a full-page advertisement in USA Today, his tour faced negative press. ABC News consumer reporter Janice Lieberman interviewed Lee, who refused to talk to her. The report concluded that while Lee had broken laws, he had not broken the laws of physics.

Free Electricity: Dennis Lee Generates Skepticism in Philly

Lee's nationwide tour concluded in Philadelphia with a low turnout. The article criticizes his claims as based on old perpetual motion schemes and a misunderstanding of classical physics. Lee appeals to Christian fundamentalists by claiming divine inspiration for his energy extraction methods.

Science Lobby: Newt Gingrich Urges Scientists to Speak Out

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich encouraged scientists to become more active citizens by engaging in public discourse, attending town hall meetings, and contacting members of Congress to explain their work and its importance.

Secrets: Federal Judge Denies Bail for Wen Ho Lee

Wen Ho Lee, accused of downloading secrets, was denied bail due to missing tapes. The judge urged authorities to accept his offer to take a polygraph exam.

Predictions

The newsletter shares its predictions for the coming year, boasting a perfect score for its 1999 predictions. These include the restoration of evolution and the big bang in Kansas school boards, delays and cost overruns on the International Space Station (ISS), postponement of the National Missile Defense deployment, an IPO announcement from BlackLight Power, and the continued challenge to Jacques Benveniste regarding homeopathic information transmission. A book coining the term "voodoo science" is also predicted.

Snake Oil: FDA Caves in to the Supplement Industry Again

The article discusses the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994, which exempted "natural" dietary supplements from safety and purity regulations. The FDA's attempt to regulate conditions like morning sickness and menopause was met with industry lobbying, leading the FDA to drop the broader definition.

Training Psychics: It's Hard to See Where This Is Headed

New York City's Human Resources Administration is recruiting and training welfare recipients to work as telephone psychics. The article notes that this field faces rapid technological displacement by Internet psychics.

More Skeptical News

This section, by John Blanton, presents condensed news items.

Church of Scientology

Despite many considering the Church of Scientology a cult, President Clinton recognized it as a tax-exempt church, reversing previous IRS rulings. The article expresses skepticism about Scientology, noting that many churches are standing up for it, possibly seeing parallels to their own origins.

Psychic Craze

Instructor Joel Hipps offers classes on reading thoughts and understanding feelings at the Southern California Psychic Institute. The article notes a nationwide surge in "enlightenment schools" and metaphysical institutions. Examples include Advanced Metaphysical Studies in New York ($275/semester) and the College of Metaphysics in Florida (400 students). Hipps previously taught at the Berkeley Psychic Institute, which has trained thousands in intuition and perception.

Deepak Chopra Lawsuit Dismissed

A jury dismissed a lawsuit filed by Deepak Chopra against a former employee, Joyce Weaver, who he accused of blackmail. Chopra claimed Weaver was subjecting him to emotional stress as part of a conspiracy, allegedly threatening to reveal that he had sex with a prostitute. Chopra stated his intention to "dismantle the corruption in the San Diego judicial system."

Skeptical Ink.

This section features a cartoon by Golla Blanton. The cartoon depicts a discussion about evolution. One character states, "Today we begin the study of the most important topic in Biology... the theory of evolution." Another character, seemingly representing a school board member, responds, "As we begin this discussion, I am required by the Board of Education to remind you that evolution is only a theory..." A third character adds, "...and EVEREST is only a mountain."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, paranormal phenomena, and unsubstantiated beliefs. It critically examines individuals and organizations that promote such ideas, often highlighting logical fallacies, deceptive practices, and the lack of empirical evidence. The NTS appears to advocate for critical thinking, scientific literacy, and evidence-based reasoning. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of debunking pseudoscience and promoting a rational worldview, as evidenced by the coverage of topics like the James Randi prize, Uri Geller, creationism, and various "new age" or psychic phenomena.