North Texas Skeptic - Vol 14 No 05 - 2000

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 14, Number 5, published in May 2000, is a newsletter from The North Texas Skeptics organization. This issue features articles critically examining claims related to the Waco siege, critiquing a book on 'Voodoo Science,' and discussing various 'Web news' items including purported benefits of negative ion technology and the use of homoeopathy.

The big lie by John Blanton

This article addresses the phenomenon of people believing what they want to believe, even in the face of contrary evidence, and applies this to the controversy surrounding the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas. The author discusses the video 'Waco: The Big Lie' by attorney Linda Thompson, which claimed government tanks used flamethrowers to torch the building, causing the deaths of those inside. John Blanton, along with former NTS President Joe Voelkering, examined the video and found evidence of severe editing to place events out of chronological order. Flashes of light, interpreted as gunfire, were identified as siding or wall board flashing in the sun. The article also mentions Mike McNulty's documentary 'Waco: The Rules of Engagement,' which claims the FBI machine-gunned Branch Davidians. The author notes that Timothy McVeigh was reportedly influenced by 'Waco: The Big Lie,' which may have contributed to his motivation for the Oklahoma City bombing.

The article delves into the technical aspects of Forward-Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) technology, explaining how it detects heat signatures. The author, having experience with FLIR, interprets imagery from 'Waco: The Rules of Engagement.' He points out that while FLIR can detect the warmth of moving vehicles like tanks, it fails to show any heat signatures for supposed shooters on the ground, nor does it show the heat from a gun barrel. This suggests that the purported gunfire seen in the video is not supported by the FLIR evidence. The article concludes by mentioning that surviving Davidians are suing the government and plan to use FLIR imagery as evidence, but government tests at Fort Hood using similar equipment and real gunfire do not support their claims. The author expresses his personal opinion that the Davidians chose to fight rather than surrender, leading to the tragic outcome.

Voodoo Science: The Road from Foolishness to Fraud by Robert L. Park (Review by Dr. Eugene F. Mallove)

This section is a review of a pre-publication galley proof of Robert L. Park's book 'Voodoo Science.' The reviewer, Dr. Eugene F. Mallove, Editor-in-Chief of Infinite Energy Magazine, strongly criticizes Park's work. Mallove questions Park's sources for information on cold fusion, suggesting he relies on 'fact-resistant' critics like Dr. Douglas Morrison of CERN, who allegedly makes elementary mistakes in his analysis of cold fusion data. Park is accused of passing misinformation and using snide remarks to dismiss the field.

Mallove specifically attacks Park's critique of Dr. Randell Mills of BlackLight Power Inc., stating that Park ignores experimental and astrophysical data supporting Mills' theory and misrepresents the findings of NASA Lewis Research Center. Park's arguments are described as primarily theoretical, betting against established laws of physics.

The review also criticizes Park's views on spaceflight, his dismissal of manned space missions, and his flawed understanding of basic physics, exemplified by his simplistic experiment to disprove magnet therapy. Mallove argues that Park's assessment of cold fusion and his methodology are incompetent, and that he applies a similar dismissive brush-off to other controversial areas like 'memory of water' and alternative medicine.

Park's treatment of government-funded projects like tokamak hot fusion and the Superconducting Supercollider (SSC) is also criticized for being overly lenient, contrasting with his harsh critique of cold fusion. Mallove speculates that Park may be suffering from psychological issues like projection or cognitive dissonance, leading him to attack areas outside his expertise. The review concludes by stating that Park's 'bigotry and lies' against others may ultimately expose him.

Web news

Wisconsin a new home for Bigfoot?

This short piece reports on a sighting by James Hughes in Wisconsin of an 8-foot-tall, two-legged, shaggy creature carrying a goat, which he believes might be Bigfoot. Authorities are reportedly investigating, but no tracks were found as evidence.

X-ion™™ to the rescue

This section introduces X-ion™, a product available at Comp USA stores, which claims to produce a continuous flow of negatively charged ions. The article explains that life on Earth has adapted to weak natural electromagnetic fields (EMFs), but manmade fields have altered these. It discusses how radio frequency (RF) and 60-Hz are classified as non-ionizing radiation but mounting evidence suggests low-level EMFs can have observable, potentially harmful biological effects. X-ion™™ uses a natural element as a catalyst to produce negatively charged ions from humidity, which are claimed to clean the air by neutralizing positively charged ions and pollutants. Scientific studies are cited suggesting these ions are related to general feelings of good health and well-being. The article includes a diagram illustrating how ordinary appliances can create an imbalance of ions in the air, producing positively charged ions. It also presents results from a Surrey University study showing reduced headaches and improved task performance in a computer room with negative ion generators, and Russian scientists' studies on athletes showing improved reaction time, balance, and endurance with negative ion training.

Hard-hit farmers try homoeopathy to cure sick herds.

This article, by Cahal Milmo, reports on British farmers embracing homoeopathy to treat animal ills. It notes that over 5,000 farmers are using homeopathic veterinary treatments, which involve extreme dilutions of substances. A vet, Barbara Jones, admits that the science is largely unproven and that the dilutions make it mathematically unlikely for even a molecule of the original substance to remain. The British Association of Homoeopathic Veterinary Surgeons has over 150 members. However, other vets express skepticism about the therapeutic value of homoeopathy.

Notices

This section announces the death of Catherine Crook de Camp, described as an author and a skeptic. It also informs readers that The North Texas Skeptics now has its own domain name on the Internet: www.ntskeptics.org.

Skeptical Ink

This is a three-panel comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton. The first panel shows a person stating, "Nobody was present when life first appeared on Earth. Evolution is just a theory." The second panel depicts a figure with arms outstretched, stating, "Creation better explains the complexity of living things. school children should be taught other theories of live's origin." The third panel shows a figure with a book titled 'Origin of Species' and a halo, with the artists' names 'Blanton & Golla' below.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards extraordinary claims, critical analysis of evidence (particularly in the context of the Waco siege and FLIR technology), debunking pseudoscience (like 'Voodoo Science' and the claims made about cold fusion), and questioning the scientific validity of alternative medicine (homoeopathy). The editorial stance is clearly in favor of critical thinking, scientific methodology, and evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by the detailed critiques of the Waco video, Robert Park's book, and the X-ion product claims. The newsletter actively promotes skepticism and encourages readers to question unsubstantiated assertions.