North Texas Skeptic - Vol 18 No 10 - 2004

Magazine Overview

The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 18, Number 10, published in October 2004, is a publication dedicated to the critical examination of paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. This issue features a prominent "Paranormal Challenge" with a significant monetary prize, a detailed account of a dowsing test, a review of a scientific debate, and critiques of intelligent design arguments, alongside various news briefs on science and policy.

The Dowsing Challenge

This section, authored by John Blanton, details the North Texas Skeptics' ongoing "Paranormal Challenge," which offers a $12,000 prize to anyone who can demonstrate evidence of paranormal phenomena under controlled conditions. The challenge is inspired by James Randi's similar prize. The article focuses on a test conducted with Rechey Davidson, who claimed to be able to dowse maps to locate lost items. Davidson's test involved trying to locate a hidden Nikon digital camera in a house. The test was conducted via e-mail, with Davidson providing his guesses for the camera's location, and the author recording the results. Over 12 tests, Davidson's accuracy was no better than chance (zero correct guesses out of 12). The author concludes that map dowsing is "completely ineffective for finding lost or hidden objects" and suggests that Davidson reconsider his claimed level of success. Subsequent correspondence indicates Davidson is puzzled but willing to continue testing.

Events Calendar

The issue includes an "Events Calendar" for the October Program, featuring a meeting on Saturday, October 9th, at 2 p.m. at the Center for Community Cooperation in Dallas. The topic is "WHAT THE #$*! DO THEY KNOW, ANYWAY? When Science and Dogma Collide in Popular Culture," to be presented by NTS President Daniel Barnett. The meeting is free and open to the public.

Officers and Staff

Details are provided for the North Texas Skeptics' officers, including Daniel Barnett (President), John Brandt (Vice President), Mike Selby (Secretary), and Mark Meyer (Treasurer). The staff includes Keith Blanton (Newsletter Editor) and John Blanton (Webmaster). The Board of Directors and Scientific and Technical Advisors are also listed, featuring academics and professionals from various scientific disciplines.

I Am Deeply Honored

Authored by John Blanton, this section begins with a Mark Twain anecdote about enduring an unpleasant situation for the sake of honor. Blanton then recounts finding an online description of a debate he participated in, which he claims was inaccurately reported. The debate was between Dr. Don Patton, a scientist and Christian, and John Blanton, described as an atheist, evolutionist, humanist, and Bible skeptic. The report claims Patton won the debate decisively, with Blanton rambling off-topic and being ill-informed about science. Blanton refutes this, stating he does not recall this version of events and that the report falsely accused him of misquoting scientific references. He criticizes the report's portrayal of his scientific knowledge and accuses Patton of having a "phony degree" and forging documents. Blanton asserts that Patton has no formal geology training and that his degree is questionable, while Patton is a trained geologist. Blanton apologizes to Patton if he misstated anything during the debate and humorously questions his own status as a scientist.

Meyer's Hopeless Monster

This section, written by Alan Gishlick, Nick Matzke, and Wesley R. Elsberry, is a review of Stephen C. Meyer's "review article" on intelligent design (ID), published in the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. The authors congratulate ID for finally getting an article into a peer-reviewed journal but state that Meyer's paper, which argues that evolutionary biology cannot account for the Cambrian explosion, is not a strong case for ID. They criticize Meyer for relying on negative arguments and failing to present a positive model for intelligent design. The review highlights Meyer's focus on the Cambrian explosion, his assertion that higher taxa are "real," and his claims about the complexity and specificity of genes and proteins. The authors argue that Meyer's paper omits significant relevant scientific work and that his arguments are based on a flawed understanding of evolutionary biology. They plan to provide a more expanded critique later.

What's New

This section, compiled by Robert Park from "What's New" columns, presents several news briefs:

• MISSILE DEFENSE: An interceptor missile has been added in Fort Greely, AK, but a flight test was postponed. The author sarcastically notes that the system is considered "working" because no missile attacks have occurred since its installation.
• NSF: BEMENT NOMINATION MAY BE A BRILLIANT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY: Arden Bement, Jr., was serving as acting director of NSF while remaining NIST director. Due to a time limit on acting appointments, he was nominated for NSF Director. The situation is described as potentially confusing regarding agency leadership.
• ETHICS: NIH BANS MOONLIGHTING WITH PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES: The National Institutes of Health has imposed a one-year moratorium on private consulting arrangements for its scientists, citing potential for abuse.
• OPEN ACCESS: MEDICAL JOURNALS LAY IT OUT FOR DRUG COMPANIES: Several major medical journals will refuse to publish clinical trial results unless they are registered publicly, following revelations that drug makers withheld information about adverse effects of antidepressants.
• COLD FUSION: DOE REVIEW IS HIDDEN BEHIND A CLOAK OF SECRECY: Concerns are raised about the secrecy surrounding the Department of Energy's review of cold fusion, with questions about the identity of reviewers and the process.
• SUPPLEMENTS: ANCIENT CHINESE WISDOM - OR A DEADLY HERBAL SCAM?: The article discusses PC-SPES, a herbal supplement for prostate health that was found to be laced with prescription drugs, including synthetic estrogen and warfarin, leading to dangerous side effects.

Skeptic Ink

This cartoon by Prasad Golla and John Blanton depicts three figures expressing uncertainty about the economy, the war on terror, and the election, with one seeking advice from a psychic. The overall sentiment is one of unease and a search for answers in uncertain times.

Climate Change: The Conference Board Starts Paying Attention

A report from The Conference Board, an organization of major corporations, warns businesses about the risks of ignoring climate change. The report states that the Earth is on a trajectory toward a warmer climate that cannot be avoided, but its trajectory can be mitigated. The political climate for acknowledging warming is improving.

NASA: HURRICANES ON THE CAPE AND A ROUGH LANDING IN UTAH

The Genesis mission, intended for sample return, crashed in the Utah desert due to a parachute failure. It is unclear if any data can be salvaged.

NIH: FREE PUBLIC ACCESS TO AGENCY FUNDED RESEARCH IS PROPOSED

A proposal for free public access to agency-funded research could impact journal profits and scientific societies, but change is seen as inevitable due to public expectations.

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

This section describes the mission of The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), which promotes critical investigation of paranormal claims, disseminates factual information, and advocates for science, critical thinking, and education. It also advertises subscriptions to "The Skeptical Inquirer" magazine.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The North Texas Skeptic revolve around the rigorous application of scientific methodology to claims of the paranormal and pseudoscientific. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, emphasizing the need for evidence, controlled testing, and critical thinking. The magazine actively challenges claims in areas like dowsing and intelligent design, offering prizes for demonstrated proof while scrutinizing the methodologies and findings presented by proponents. The news briefs also reflect a critical perspective on scientific and policy issues, highlighting potential ethical concerns, secrecy, and the importance of evidence-based decision-making. The publication aims to educate its readers on scientific principles and to debunk unsubstantiated claims.