North Texas Skeptic - Vol 14 No 09 - 2000

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 14, Number 9
Date: September 2000
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic delves into various topics related to skepticism, pseudoscience, and conspiracy theories, with a particular focus on the aftermath of the Y2K scare and the enduring nature of doomsday predictions.

Still Waiting for the End of the World: The Apocalypse Industry Revisited in the Aftermath of Y2K

Daniel R. Barnett opens the issue by revisiting the concept of the 'Apocalypse Industry' in the wake of the Y2K event. He notes that despite widespread predictions of computer-related doomsday scenarios, the most significant digital damage of the year was caused by viruses like ILOVEYOU, rather than the Y2K bug itself. Barnett observes that life and economies have largely stabilized, and the focus has shifted from doomsday preparations to more mundane events like reality television show outcomes. He questions the fate of prophets of doom whose predictions have failed to materialize.

Preparedness Expo: Ready for Everything Except the New Millennium?

Barnett reports on the changes observed in Preparedness Expo, an event previously covered in the May 1999 issue. The expo, which featured survivalists, conspiracy buffs, Y2K experts, and alternative medicine peddlers, has undergone significant changes. It was rebranded as Lifeline Expo and came under new management by LightStream Productions. Barnett suspects that the shift in management might be due to financial disruptions following the non-occurrence of Doomsday scenarios. The article mentions upcoming events and speakers, including militia celebrity James "Bo" Gritz and anti-immunization crusader Dr. Len Horowitz.

The Prophecy Club: Tying Up Some Loose Ends

This section addresses prophecies related to America's future, particularly those of Dumitru Duduman, a Romanian-born prophet who claimed to have visions of America's destruction. Barnett discusses discrepancies found in the accounts of Duduman's prophecies as relayed by his autobiography and The Prophecy Club, a ministry founded by Stan Johnson. A specific prophecy titled "When Will It Happen?" had a misquote regarding the timing of Judgment Day. Michael Boldea, Duduman's grandson, clarified that the prophecy did not set a specific date for the year 2000 but rather used a biblical analogy of days and years. Barnett apologizes for the misquote and notes the difficulty in tracing the origin of the error.

Credonia Mwerinde: Cult Tragedy in Uganda

The article shifts focus to the tragic events involving the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, a splinter group in Uganda led by Credonia Mwerinde. This cult experienced a mass murder-suicide that resulted in the deaths of at least 924 followers, surpassing the body count of the Peoples Temple incident. Mwerinde, described as a reputed prostitute, claimed to receive visions from the Virgin Mary, which included predictions of the world's end. The cult's doomsday predictions were repeatedly rescheduled, with the final date set for December 31, 2000. On March 17, 2000, a fireball erupted in a cult chapel, killing approximately 500 followers, with others found murdered or buried in mass graves. Mwerinde and her assistants were reportedly on the run from law enforcement.

Professing Themselves to be Wise, They Became Fools

Barnett lists several individuals who have made specific prophecies about the end of the world, all of which have failed. He encourages readers to research these figures themselves, emphasizing the importance of skepticism as a philosophical discipline to investigate and debunk unsubstantiated claims. The section concludes with a reflective statement about the abundance of untested claims in life and a desire to conclude the evening's work.

No comment

This section includes an advertisement for the book "EXPLORER RACE: PARTICLE PERSONALITIES" by Robert Shapiro, which explores concepts of physical matter as mystical beings and mentions various entities like Gold, Mountain Lion, Liquid Light, Uranium, and the Great Pyramid's Capstone.

What's new

This section, compiled from Robert Park's "What's New" at www.aps.org, provides several brief updates:

• Survivor: creationists are voted off the island: In Kansas, three of the four creationist board members who had removed evolution and the big bang from science standards were defeated in a primary election, suggesting a reversal of that decision.
• Livin la vida loca: White House panel on alternative medicine: President Clinton appointed James Gordon to chair a White House Commission on Alternative Medicine. Gordon's book, "Manifesto for a New Medicine," supports alternative therapies, including hypnosis for curing warts and increasing breast size.
• Who wants to be a millionaire?: The article references the James Randi Educational Foundation's $1 million offer for proof of paranormal powers, noting that a contestant on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" did not know the correct answer. It also mentions JREF's offer to Florsheim for demonstrating claims about MagneForce Footwear.
• Florsheim: one of the most powerful farces in the universe: This part discusses the claims made for MagneForce shoes, which assert that magnetism is a fundamental force keeping order in the universe. The information is reportedly compiled from Gary Null, Ph.D.

Web news

By John Blanton, this section highlights unreliable web sources and discusses several topics:

• Step on it: Magnetic therapy has gained popularity, with companies like Florsheim and Dr. Scholl's entering the magnetic footwear market. The Consumer Justice Center filed a lawsuit against Florsheim for false advertising regarding its MAGNEFORCE shoes as a pain remedy.
• Flight 800, where are you?: Four years after the TWA Flight 800 crash, conspiracy theories persist. The "TWA 800 Eyewitness Alliance" published an ad demanding the government reveal the truth, claiming that witnesses saw missiles. The article presents evidence and links to witness accounts and triangulations suggesting a missile launch from near the shore.

Skeptical ink

This section features a comic by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, depicting a conversation about a man with a dowsing ability to locate mines.

Whale back-masking

From the Weekly World News, this article discusses claims of satanic messages hidden in whale songs. Scientists have reportedly discovered 60 different whale songs recorded between 1987 and 1999 that, when played backward, appear to contain messages praising the Devil. Dr. John Saltersetts, founder of Soldiers Against Satan, asserts that these messages are clear evidence of the Devil's work. The article compares this to "backward masking" in 1960s and 1970s rock music but notes that whale songs lack the electronic footprint of studio tampering.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the debunking of doomsday predictions, cult activities, and pseudoscientific claims. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, advocating for critical thinking, investigation, and the importance of questioning unsubstantiated assertions. The newsletter actively challenges claims related to prophecy, alternative medicine, and conspiracy theories, promoting a rational and evidence-based approach to understanding the world.