North Texas Skeptic - Vol 18 No 05 - 2004

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 18, Number 5, published in May 2004, is a magazine dedicated to exploring paranormal and pseudoscientific claims from a scientific perspective. This issue features articles on the conflict between creationism and evolution, UFO phenomena, and the regulation of dietary supplements.

Ghosts, Mysteries and Creationists

This lead article by John Blanton recounts an invitation to debate creationist Ralph Muncaster on the Daystar Television Network. Muncaster, a young Earth creationist, argues that the Bible's prophetic accuracy and historical consistency provide evidence for its divine origin, despite his initial skepticism. The article also mentions Muncaster's books on creationism and the Bible. The author notes the challenge of debating on a religious network where the audience is likely to be resistant to scientific explanations of evolution.

The Joni Lamb Show Debate

Joe Barnhart and John Blanton participated in a debate on the Joni Lamb show. Blanton addressed Muncaster's claims about abiogenesis, while Barnhart argued that mainstream science does not challenge the faith of many Christians. The article suggests that Joni Lamb's audience is immune to scientific education on evolution and that Barnhart's arguments based on historical research were not well-received.

UFO Encounter and Thermal Imaging

The article details an experience where NTS board member Prasad Golla and the author viewed thermal imaging footage from the Discovery Channel's "Mystery Hunters" program. The footage, collected in San Antonio, showed a haunted hotel with vertical stripes, a geometric shape with a white orb, and a dark ellipse. The authors humorously deduce that the dark ellipse was likely an insulated ice bucket, demonstrating how thermal imaging can be misinterpreted.

"Ghost Children" Video

Readers are reminded of the "perilous adventure" of Danny and Ginny Barnett, who worked with a ghost children video crew in San Antonio. Their encounter was featured on the "Mystery Hunters" show. A tape of this footage will be available at a future NTS meeting.

Events Calendar: May Program

The magazine announces a May Program event on Saturday, May 8, at 2 p.m. at the Center for Non-Profit Management in Dallas. The event features a presentation of a creationist video titled "Unlocking the Mystery of Life," which discusses the theory of "intelligent design." The meeting is free and open to the public.

Web News

Family Hopes Psychic Can Provide Answers About Teen's Death

This section reports on a family in Garner, North Carolina, who consulted a psychic to investigate their son Joshua Davis' death. The psychic suggested a car hit him, a theory the police had also considered. The article notes the family's skepticism but hope for a prediction of an arrest.

Evolution Education Down to a Science on Web

UC Berkeley's Museum of Paleontology has launched a website offering information on teaching evolution and natural selection. The site was developed from a conference addressing resistance to evolution curricula in schools and aims to provide resources for teachers and the public.

The View From 2025: How Design Beat Darwin

This section presents a hypothetical scenario written by leaders of the Intelligent Design Movement, imagining a future where Darwinism has been discredited. It features contributions from Phillip Johnson, Jonathan Wells, Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz, and William Dembski, who are proponents of Intelligent Design.

Herbal Industry Fending Off FDA

An article from The Boston Globe discusses the conflict between the herbal industry and the FDA. It highlights the exemption of certain supplements like DHEA from stricter regulations and the industry's lobbying efforts to oppose bills that would give the FDA more authority. The article mentions political contributions from the industry to lawmakers like Senator Orrin Hatch.

Divine Intervention: Man in Search Party Prays, Then Hears Child Crying

A brief news item from the San Francisco Chronicle describes a man, Dave Churchill, who prayed during a search for a missing child and then heard the child crying, attributing the event to "divine intervention."

What's New

Dietary Supplements: Consumer Reports Lists the "Dirty Dozen."

This segment mentions a cover story in Consumer Reports identifying 12 supplements that should be banned, increasing pressure to amend the 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act.

Creation Science: Is It Science or Religion, or Just Business?

This piece questions the scientific basis of creation science, mentioning Kent Hovind, a creation-science evangelist who operates a theme park and sells books and videos. Hovind is facing IRS charges for allegedly evading taxes.

Dietary Supplements: Aren't Hormones Natural Substances Too?

This article critiques the 1994 Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act for exempting natural supplements from safety and efficacy testing. It focuses on Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its popularity.

Hafnium-178: Just When You Think Life Can't Get Any Sillier.

This segment discusses a Popular Mechanics article about "quantum nucleonic reactors" (hafnium-178 isomer reactors), which the author claims do not exist and are based on flawed science, similar to other "free-energy fantasies."

Peer Review: “Improved” OMB Guidelines Are Merely Outrageous.

This piece criticizes the White House Office of Management and Budget's proposed "peer review" guidelines, which aim to control the flow of scientific information within the federal system. The author argues that the guidelines unfairly exclude academic experts who receive federal grant money.

Creationists Admit Radioactive Decay

This article by Kevin R. Henke, Ph.D., addresses the efforts of young-Earth creationists (YECs) to discredit radiometric dating. It discusses the work of YEC figures like John Woodmorappe and the RATE committee, who are now acknowledging that significant radioactive decay has occurred, shifting their focus from geology to nuclear physics to support their claims.

"Woodmorappe's Crapshoot"

The article critiques Woodmorappe's methods, describing his attacks on radiometric dating as "ridiculous" and his arguments as a "shotgun" approach. It also mentions Robert Witter's charge that geochronologists could obtain results by throwing darts.

RATE Committee's Shift in Focus

The RATE (Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth) committee, comprising YECs with Ph.D.s, has reportedly realized that geological and geochemical arguments are insufficient to undermine radiometric dating. They are now focusing on nuclear physics and the possibility of accelerated decay rates.

"The Investigator Effect"

This concept is mentioned in relation to the hafnium-178 reactor claim, suggesting that the paranormal world sometimes experiences phenomena that seem to occur due to investigation itself.

Skeptic Ink

This comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton satirizes the debate between evolutionists and creationists, depicting a creationist accusing evolutionists of working for the devil and a manufactured evolutionary evidence department.

YEC Failures and New Strategies

This section of "Skeptic Ink" notes that after years of failing to undermine radiometric dating through geology and geochemistry, YECs are now relying on nuclear physics and "groundless miracles" to support their claims. It highlights an admission from Humphreys et al. (2003) that significant nuclear decay has occurred in zircons.

References

A list of references is provided for articles and claims made within the "Skeptic Ink" section.

Stephen Jay Gould

This section provides information about the unofficial Stephen Jay Gould Web site, highlighting his contributions as a paleontologist, educator, and spokesperson for evolutionary theory. It mentions his numerous books and columns in Natural History magazine. A quote from Gould about objectivity is included: "Objectivity cannot be equated with mental blankness; rather, objectivity resides in recognizing your preferences and then subjecting them to especially harsh scrutiny - and also in a willingness to revise or abandon your theories when the tests fail (as they usually do)."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The North Texas Skeptic include the ongoing debate between creationism and evolution, the critical examination of pseudoscientific claims, and the importance of scientific evidence and rigorous testing. The magazine's editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific skepticism, advocating for rational inquiry and the systematic testing of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The publication actively debunks creationist arguments, highlights the importance of established scientific principles like radiometric dating, and scrutinizes claims related to UFOs and other unexplained phenomena. The magazine also addresses issues of science education and the influence of industry on regulatory bodies, such as the FDA.