North Texas Skeptic - Vol 16 No 09 - 2002

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 16 Number 9
Date: September 2002
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic delves into various topics, primarily focusing on the critique of creationist claims, the investigation of alleged cryptids, and the pervasive nature of photo fakery and pseudoscience.

Impact Update

The lead article, "Impact Update" by John Blanton, critically examines the arguments presented by D. Russell Humphreys, a physicist associated with the Institute for Creation Research (ICR). Humphreys, a proponent of Young Earth Creationism (YEC), asserts that the Earth is at the center of the universe and that the universe is only a few thousand years old, despite evidence suggesting billions of years. Blanton highlights Humphreys' use of concepts like "quantized redshifts" to support his geocentric and young-universe model, contrasting it with standard cosmological models based on Einstein's general relativity. The article points out that Humphreys' interpretation of astronomical data, such as Hubble's Law, is at odds with the consensus view among astronomers. The piece also touches upon Humphreys' book "Starlight and Time," which attempts to reconcile a young universe with observations of distant stars.

In Search of the Congo Dinosaur

Another significant article features the work of William J. Gibbons, who has undertaken expeditions in search of the Mokele-mbembe, a cryptid believed by creationists to be a living dinosaur. Gibbons' efforts, described as adventurous and persistent, have faced numerous challenges, including logistical issues and local superstitions. The article notes that creationists are interested in finding living dinosaurs as they believe it would undermine the theory of evolution. The search for the Mokele-mbembe is presented as a key endeavor for the creationist cause, with Gibbons expressing optimism about future expeditions. The article also references past reports of similar expeditions, such as one by David Basset of MIOS, whose photographic evidence was reportedly ruined by the climate.

What's New

Robert Park's "What's New" column covers several distinct topics:

Book Review: "The Hunt for Zero Point"

This section reviews Nick Cook's book "The Hunt for Zero Point," which explores fringe theories related to anti-gravity and zero-point energy. The review expresses skepticism towards Cook's work, characterizing it as "horse manure" and noting that he relies on figures associated with unconventional research, such as Hal Puthoff and Paul LaViolette. The article criticizes the notion of anti-gravity machines that rely on spinning a "zero point energy field" as magical rather than scientific.

Anti-gravity: A gravity shield would be very nice, but...

The column discusses the persistent corporate interest in the "Podkletnov gravity shield," despite repeated failures to replicate the effect. Companies like Boeing, BAE Systems, and NASA have invested significant funds in testing this concept, which is attributed to an "obscure Russian physicist." The article lists seven warning signs of bad science, all of which it claims the Podkletnov shield fits, questioning the rationale behind continued investment, especially when the Pentagon is involved.

Herbal highs: "natural" is not a synonym for safe.

This part of the column addresses the dangers associated with unregulated herbal supplements, particularly ephedra. It criticizes the 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act for exempting such products from safety and efficacy testing. The article highlights the case of Metabolife International, a leading supplier of ephedra, which allegedly hid thousands of consumer complaints, including deaths and serious injuries. The author calls for the repeal of the 1994 act.

Herbal lows: $multibillion industry threatened by testing.

This section notes that despite the booming herbal supplement market, scientific testing by institutions like the NIH's Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine is revealing a lack of efficacy for many popular herbal products. Examples include St. John's Wort, echinacea, ephedra, and ginkgo biloba, with studies showing they do not provide the claimed benefits and, in some cases, can cause harm or interfere with other medications.

Which Almighty? Pledge of allegiance ruled unconstitutional.

The column briefly mentions a federal appeals court ruling that the addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, citing President Eisenhower's intent that the phrase would proclaim the nation's dedication to the Almighty.

August Program: Photo Fakery

John Blanton's article "August Program: Photo Fakery" details a presentation by Mike Selby at the North Texas Skeptics (NTS) meeting. Selby demonstrated how easily modern computer hardware and software can be used to create convincing photo hoaxes. The article traces the history of photo fakery from early examples, such as the American Civil War photos using the same body in multiple scenes, to the notorious Cottingley fairies case of 1917. In this case, two young girls created fake photographs of fairies, which were taken seriously by many, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Selby's demonstration included digitally adding wings to a dragonfly to create an image of a fairy. The article also touches upon internet hoaxes, such as the "tourist guy" photo related to the September 11th events, and the "evil Bert" meme featuring Bert from Sesame Street alongside Osama bin Laden, illustrating how quickly and widely such fabrications can spread online.

Skeptical Ink

This section contains a cartoon by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, which satirizes a school board decision requiring teachers to give equal weight to alternatives to evolution, portraying it as a victory for "creation science" while humorously suggesting other absurd origins of life, such as alien visitors or Bill Clinton.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently adopts a skeptical and critical stance towards pseudoscientific claims, creationism, and unsubstantiated beliefs. The magazine actively debunks theories that lack scientific evidence or contradict established scientific principles. The editorial stance champions critical thinking, scientific rigor, and the importance of evidence-based reasoning. Recurring themes include the critique of creationist arguments, the exposure of hoaxes and misinformation, and the promotion of scientific literacy. The publication appears to be a platform for disseminating rationalist viewpoints and challenging what it perceives as irrational or unscientific thinking within its community.