North Texas Skeptic - Vol 16 No 03 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue Date: March 2002
Volume: 16
Issue: 3

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, a publication dedicated to promoting skepticism and critical thinking, features several articles that challenge pseudoscience, flawed reasoning, and religious fundamentalism.

The madrasa

By John Blanton, this article critiques a presentation by Richard Stepanek, who spoke at a Christian Bible church in Dallas. Stepanek, from the Alpha Omega Institute in Grand Junction, Colorado, presented a view that lumped Hinduism, Buddhism, and New Age beliefs together, labeling pagan symbols as demonic and evolution as the root of evil. He also characterized Muslims as worshipping a pagan god. Blanton expresses surprise that this 'madrasa' was a Christian Bible church and that Stepanek's talk was aimed at explaining the 'downside of evolution and alternative religions' to the congregation. The speaker claimed that symbols like the 'peace sign' (interpreted as a broken cross) and 'hook 'em horns' could invoke demons, citing an alleged incident in Tanzania. He also asserted that ghosts and UFOs are manifestations of spiritual life in outer space. Stepanek's list of societal dangers included Alcoholics Anonymous, Mormons, feng shui, Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Disney movies, Harry Potter, and Pokemon, all framed within a creationist worldview.

Stepanek's anti-evolutionary arguments, as recounted by Blanton, included claims that the Grand Canyon was not formed over millions of years but by pent-up water in days, citing studies on Mount St. Helens. He suggested that sedimentary layers don't necessarily form sequentially, implying that thick layers could form rapidly. He also described 'stacked forests' in Yellowstone as evidence of a single flood, dismissed trilobite fossils in shoe prints as misinterpretations, and questioned the validity of radiometric dating. Blanton notes that Stepanek presented a flawed interpretation of paleomagnetism to support his anti-evolutionary stance. The article concludes by observing that such religious fundamentalists use home schooling and church schools to insulate children from the secular world, creating a worldview that does not align with scientific progress.

This month

This section details upcoming events and activities involving The North Texas Skeptics (NTS) and its members. NTS members and advisors were scheduled to present talks and debate creationists at the Eight Annual Atheist Alliance International Convention. Technical advisor Tim Gorski was to speak on the connection between 'alternative medicine' and religious superstition, presenting an account of how 'aberrant medical claims' deceive the public. NTS Vice President Danny Barnett was to present a humorous show on medical quackery and 'patent medicines.' NTS Secretary John Blanton was slated to debate creationist Don Patton on the age of the universe. The convention was to be held at the Harvey Hotel DFW Airport from March 29-31.

What's new

By Robert Park, this column offers brief reports on various scientific and pseudoscientific developments.

• Bubble fusion: A report in *Science* magazine detailed d-d fusion events in collapsing bubbles, but two experienced nuclear physicists using the same apparatus found no evidence for significant neutron emission, suggesting the initial findings were flawed. The editor of *Science* published the work with fanfare, possibly to attract readers from *Infinite Energy* magazine.
• EMF: Italian company Allegri has developed carbon fiber jackets claimed to protect wearers from EMF emitted by wireless devices. The column assures readers that using these jackets will not prevent cancer from cell phones.
• Creationism: The 'Intelligent Design' movement, previously focused on 'new Earth' creationism, is now arguing for 'irreducible complexity.' The column traces its roots to 17th-century England and uses a humorous analogy involving Isaac Newton and apples to illustrate the concept of irreducible complexity.
• Micro-nukes: An article in *Frontier Perspectives* reported that seventy grams of live worms lost 93.6 micrograms of mass when killed by formaldehyde in a sealed tube, attributing this loss to energy. The author equates this to two tons of TNT, questioning why humans don't explode when they die.
• The great SPAM scam: A SPAM email announced an 'unlimited source of energy' related to 'ball lightning.' The column notes that claims pitched directly to the media are a warning sign of 'voodoo science.'
• Airport lie detector: A proposed system using thermal imaging cameras to detect lies based on blood flow to the eyes is dismissed as ineffective, comparable to a polygraph.
• Irish voodoo: A demonstration of the Jasker Power System, a motor claimed to replenish its own energy source, was reported. The system's details were kept secret, allegedly to prevent suppression by the U.S. government. The column identifies this secrecy and media pitching as signs of 'voodoo science.'
• Prayer: A report in *Time.com* by Leon Jaroff highlights contrasting findings on prayer's efficacy. While Mayo Clinic research found no benefit for coronary patients who knew they were being prayed for, research funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggested a positive healing effect from distance healing on AIDS and cancer patients. Jaroff advises that such work needs monitoring by qualified scientists.

Nine Hallmarks of Highly Incompetent Losers

By Daniel R. Barnett, this article reviews a presentation by author and comedy writer Pat Reeder. Reeder, who also wrote the column 'The Third Eye,' introduced his research on human failure, summarized in his list 'Nine Hallmarks of Highly Incompetent Losers.' Reeder's premise is that learning from others' mistakes is key to avoiding failure. He identified nine core principles that lead to incompetence:

1. Never plan ahead.
2. Lose sight of your goal.
3. Don't sweat the details.
4. Don't communicate clearly.
5. Work while drunk or high.
6. Call undue attention to yourself.
7. Lose your cool.
8. Claim talents you don't really have.
9. Bend over too far backwards.

Reeder illustrated these points with humorous examples. For 'Never plan ahead,' he cited the failures of the XFL, New Coke, and the Edsel, as well as the Napa Naturals fruit drink company, which exploded on shelves due to fermentation in summer heat because the company failed to consider the big picture. For 'Don't sweat the details,' he mentioned science textbooks with glaring errors, such as placing the Equator in Florida or misidentifying Linda Ronstadt. For 'Claim talents you don't really have,' he recounted stories of an Ethiopian faith healer and a Hong Kong woman attempting to fix the ozone layer. He also applied this hallmark to products like a hair replacement process that involved gluing a toupee to a customer's scalp. Reeder concluded by stating that avoiding these hallmarks increases the chances of not being ridiculed, while succumbing to them guarantees it, especially through media channels.

Skeptical Ink

This is a comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton. It depicts a conversation about traffic construction and its impact on a city's feng shui, with one character suggesting the route would be 'disorganized and disruptive.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes scientific literacy, critical thinking, and skepticism towards pseudoscience, religious fundamentalism, and irrational claims. The magazine actively debunks creationism, alternative medicine, and various 'voodoo science' phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and the scientific method, often using humor and satire to critique opposing viewpoints. The publication serves as a platform for disseminating skeptical viewpoints and encouraging readers to question extraordinary claims.