North Texas Skeptic - Vol 14 No 08 - 2000

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 14, Number 8, published in August 2000, is a newsletter from The North Texas Skeptics organization. The issue features a mix of personal anecdotes, critical analyses of pseudoscientific claims, and news items of interest to skeptics.

Articles

Mr. O'Lucky saved my miserable life by Virginia Barnett

Virginia Barnett shares a personal account of her recovery from illness, attributing her healing to a totem named "Mr. O'Lucky." She describes how the totem, hung on her IV pole, coincided with her health improvement, which she believes was due to the totem's power rather than medical treatment. She also recounts an incident where she believes "Mr. O'Lucky" saved her from harm and mentions that the needle punctures on her rear end, when squinted at, resembled "Mr. O'Lucky."

Mr. O'Lucky's power by John Blanton

John Blanton continues the theme of "Mr. O'Lucky," sharing an anecdote where his car crashed after swerving to avoid a falling crate. He attributes their survival, despite the car being totaled, to the influence of "Mr. O'Lucky," even though they were unaware of its existence at the time. Blanton invites readers to share their own stories of "Mr. O'Lucky's" influence.

Press releases from CSICOP

This section includes two press releases from CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal).

#### Two Philadelphia Psychologists Challenge Thought Field Therapy

James Herbert and Brandon Gaudiano, psychologists from MCP Hahnemann University, critique Thought Field Therapy (TFT), an alternative psychotherapy. They argue that TFT is not a coherent scientific theory but a "hodgepodge" of concepts, drawing from Chinese medicine and physics. They question the lack of controlled studies and criticize existing studies as flawed, lacking placebos or controls. They suggest that claimed effectiveness rates are not scientifically validated and that factors common to all psychotherapies, such as placebo effects and therapist enthusiasm, are not ruled out. They conclude that until controlled clinical trials are conducted, TFT cannot be taken seriously by the scientific community.

#### Die-hard Skeptic Bears Stigmata

Joe Nickell, a senior research fellow at CSICOP, discusses his research into stigmata, the miraculous wounds resembling those of Christ. He claims to have reproduced convincing stigmata on himself with very slight cuts, which healed quickly. Nickell concludes that alleged stigmatic wounds are not miraculous and cannot be authenticated, suggesting they are often pious hoaxes or superficial phenomena.

What's new

This section provides brief news items on various topics:

• Alternative medicine: The NIH has created a new center for complementary and alternative medicine with a budget of $68.7M, driven by consumer demand. There is a push to integrate these therapies into medical school curricula.
• Warp drive: BAE Systems is pursuing propellantless propulsion technology, attempting to replicate the Podkletnov gravity shield, which could lead to perpetual motion machines.
• Creationism: The Oklahoma House of Representatives voted for a bill that would allow the state textbook committee to insert disclaimers into biology textbooks, requiring acknowledgment that human life was created by God. The bill was sent back to committee.
• Dietary supplement: A new oxygen supplement called BiOxygen has emerged, similar to the previously debunked "Vitamin O." It is significantly more expensive than "Vitamin O" and contains water, sodium chloride, and activated oxygen molecules.
• Global warming: A new IPCC report suggests that global warming since 1860 is the result of human activity, with less uncertainty than previous reports. While conservative organizations have previously criticized the IPCC, the debate is shifting from whether warming is occurring to its implications.
• Area 51: A Pentagon spokesman commented on UFO rumors related to Area 51, stating they have had over 40 years to deal with overhead surveillance.
• Nuclear phobia I: A 13-year study found no increase in cancer deaths near the Three Mile Island nuclear plant due to the 1979 accident. Nuclear activists criticized the study's scope.
• Nuclear phobia II: The Alameda County Board of Education called for a moratorium on field trips to the Lawrence Hall of Science due to concerns about tritium contamination from a nearby facility, despite assurances from officials that levels comply with federal guidelines.
• Los Alamos: The House Armed Services Committee approved the Nuclear Secrets Safety Act, requiring polygraph exams for individuals with access to restricted data, which senior scientists at Los Alamos view as pseudoscientific.
• Campaign 2000: Reform Party presidential candidate John Hagelin, a new-age physicist, is vying for the party's nomination against Pat Buchanan.
• Climate change: A massive federal assessment on the potential consequences of warming was released, offering arguments for both technological optimism and Malthusian pessimism. Senator Chuck Hagel criticized the report as an "evangelical document with apocalyptic overtones."
• Alternative medicine: Recent evidence links the Chinese herb Aristolochia fangchi to kidney failure and cancer in Belgian dieters, raising concerns about the regulation of dietary supplements.
• Dietary supplements: A bill to limit state regulation of dietary supplements, the "National Uniformity in Food Act," has moved forward in the Senate, potentially overriding state safety warnings. This coincides with a study showing ginseng contamination with pesticide residues.

Skeptical ink

This section features a cartoon by Prasad Golla and John Blanton that satirizes homeopathic remedies, suggesting they are purer than tap water and do not require a doctor's prescription, while implying they can cure serious ailments.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, critically examining claims of alternative medicine, pseudoscientific therapies, and paranormal phenomena. The editorial stance is one of scientific inquiry, demanding evidence and controlled studies to validate extraordinary claims. The publication aims to inform readers about potentially misleading or unsubstantiated beliefs and practices, encouraging critical thinking and adherence to scientific principles.