North Texas Skeptic - Vol 15 No 02 - 2001

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, dated February 2001, features a prominent article titled "Impact" by John Blanton, which critically examines creationist literature. The newsletter covers various topics including science news, organizational updates, and a satirical comic.

Impact

John Blanton's article "Impact" scrutinizes a series of pamphlets from the Institution for Creation Research (ICR) titled "Impact" and "Acts & Facts." These pamphlets, authored by creationist scientists, argue that evolution is a religion, not science, and that it lacks scientific evidence. The article highlights key arguments from these pamphlets, such as "The Scientific Case Against Evolution" and "Basic Chemistry: A Testament of Creation." Henry M. Morris, Ph.D., founder of ICR, is quoted extensively, asserting that evolution is a speculative philosophy adopted as fact in public schools and that it has never been proved scientifically. Morris contends that evolution cannot be tested and that its proponents often avoid scientific debates.

The article also references paleontologist Niles Eldredge's acknowledgment of a lack of evidence for evolutionary transitions in the fossil record. It discusses the use of DNA evidence by evolutionists and notes that molecular phylogenetics can yield inconsistent results, with different genes telling different stories, as pointed out by Roger Lewin. The author notes that creationists actively seek out and publicize instances where mainstream scientists appear to err, such as the "Archaeoraptor" fossil case, which was later revealed to be a fake.

Andrew Snelling's "Impact No. 329" is reviewed, discussing an Australian fossil insect bed attributed to a catastrophic event, possibly the Genesis Flood, rather than gradual uniformitarian processes. The article suggests that creationists often focus on discrediting conventional science to support their own claims.

Edward A. Boudreaux, Ph.D., is mentioned for his argument that the sun's energy cannot be produced by nuclear fusion and that life could not exist if chemical element properties were even slightly different, suggesting Intelligent Design.

Energized MIOS

John Blanton also writes about a meeting of the Metroplex Institute of Origin Science (MIOS), a young Earth creationism (YEC) group. The meeting featured a talk by David Basset from the Creation Evidence Museum, who presented exhibits and discussed the work of Carl Baugh. Baugh's research involves a hyperbaric biochamber with a magnetic field, which he claims alters snake venom and energizes water. The article notes that Baugh's experiments with snake venom changed it from a poisonous to a non-poisonous structure. The concept of "energized water" is discussed, with Baugh suggesting that water falling as rain becomes energized and retains this energy. The article notes that MIOS members found these ideas to be sound science, and that the group aims to focus on science rather than religious dogma.

Buy it here

This section explains The North Texas Skeptics' participation in the Amazon Associates program, encouraging readers to use their links to purchase books and other merchandise from Amazon.com to support the organization.

Clustered Water – Correction and Update

This section corrects an error in a previous issue regarding an article on "Clustered Water." Biochemist Keith McCall's article was actually an excerpt from a letter by Werner Zimmt. McCall's website has seen increased traffic, and he has been directed to articles on homeopathy and "water memory."

What's new

This section provides brief summaries of recent science news items, including:

• Cell phones: A study of over 420,000 Danes found no link between cell phone use and brain cancer.
• Science and math education: Concerns are raised about the Bush administration's education reform plan, which may reduce funding for math and science teacher professional development.
• Climate change: The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that global warming is human-induced and predicted a further rise in temperature.
• Cell phones and cancer: A German study suggests a link between regular cell phone use and eye cancer, though a plausible mechanism is not identified.
• DOE labs: Concerns are expressed about the morale of scientists at DOE's Weapons Labs, possibly due to planned lie-detector tests. A seven-month FBI investigation into missing hard drives at Los Alamos found no criminal charges would be filed.

Election of officers

This section lists the results of the annual elections for The North Texas Skeptics, including the officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), the Board of Directors, and the staff (Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Meeting Coordinator).

Skeptical ink

This section contains a satirical comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, which humorously depicts a conversation about "energized water."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination of creationist claims and the promotion of skeptical inquiry. The North Texas Skeptic actively debunks what it perceives as pseudoscientific arguments, particularly those from creationist organizations like the ICR. The newsletter champions scientific rigor and evidence-based reasoning, contrasting it with what it describes as the faith-based assertions of creationism. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science and anti-creationism, aiming to inform readers about what the organization views as flawed scientific and educational practices, while also providing updates on relevant scientific news and organizational activities.