North Texas Skeptic - Vol 18 No 12 - 2004

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 18, Number 12
Date: December 2004
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic features a cover story on Nostradamus, exploring his birthplace and early life in St. Rémy de Provence, France. The article, "Nostradamus slept here" by John Blanton, details his birth on December 14, 1503, his studies in languages, mathematics, astronomy, and astrology, and his eventual career as a physician. It touches upon the tragedies he faced, including the loss of his wife and children to the plague, his subsequent travels, and his remarriage and larger family. The piece highlights the obscure nature of his "Centuries" and offers an example of a quatrain with its French and English translations, noting that interpretations of his prophecies are often made after events have occurred.

Articles and Features

Nostradamus slept here

This main article by John Blanton provides a biographical sketch of Nostradamus, born Michel de Notredame. It recounts his birth in St. Rémy de Provence, his education under his grandfather, and his medical studies at the University of Montpellier. The article mentions the plague that claimed his first wife and two children, leading him to travel and eventually settle in Salon, France, where he remarried and had six more children. At age 52, he began writing his "Centuries," collections of 100 quatrains. The author emphasizes the obscurity of these verses, illustrating with a French and English translation of Quatrain 24 from Century 2. The article also references the "Mysterious & Unexplained" website for further explanations and mentions James Randi's book, "The Mask of Nostradamus."

Events Calendar

The December Program for The North Texas Skeptics includes an "NTS End of Year Party" on November 11, 2004, at the Center for Community Cooperation in Dallas, encouraging attendees to bring food, drink, and skeptical videos. The "NTS Board Meeting" is scheduled for January 8, 2005, also at the Center for Community Cooperation, for the election of board members and officers.

North Texas Skeptics Organization Details

Page 2 provides contact and organizational information for The North Texas Skeptics. It lists the officers (President Daniel Barnett, Vice President John Brandt, Secretary Mike Selby, Treasurer Mark Meyer), staff (Newsletter Editor Keith Blanton, Webmaster John Blanton, Meetings and Social Director Mike Selby), and Board of Directors. It also lists Directors Emeritus and Scientific and Technical Advisors, including academics from various fields. The organization is described as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity that publishes a monthly newsletter and offers membership benefits. The mailing address is P.O. Box 111794, Carrollton, Texas 75011-1794.

Web News

This section, curated by Robert Park, presents various news clippings:

• "The god gene": new book says faith is hardwired in our genes. This piece discusses Dean Hamer's book, which explores the genetic basis of spirituality and the predisposition to believe in God. It also mentions an eBay sale of a grilled cheese sandwich with the image of the Virgin Mary for $5,100.
• Shell game: industry plays its part in the hydrogen circus. This report critiques the promotion of hydrogen cars by GM and Shell, highlighting that while a public hydrogen pump exists in Washington, D.C., hydrogen cars are not yet commercially available. The article suggests this is an "educational outreach" by the Bush administration, with GM focusing on profitable SUVs while promoting a few hydrogen concept cars.
• Moral values: Darwinism continues to stir up the faithful. This segment covers instances where evolution is being challenged in schools, citing examples in Cobb County, Georgia; Grantsburg School District, Wisconsin; and Charles County, Maryland, where creationism and "intelligent design" are being pushed as alternatives to evolution.

Sticker Shock

This article reprints content from Colin Purrington's "Sticker Shock" page, which provides disclaimer text for science textbooks. These disclaimers suggest that topics like evolution, the age of the earth, plate tectonics, gravity, heliocentrism, and special relativity should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered, often framing them as theories rather than facts. The article encourages readers to print these disclaimers and use them to challenge science education in schools, suggesting contacting the ACLU if school districts consider such measures.

Disclaimer stickers for science textbooks

Page 5 presents a series of sample disclaimer stickers for science textbooks, each addressing a different scientific concept (evolution, age of the earth, plate tectonics, gravity, heliocentrism, special relativity). These stickers often cast doubt on established scientific theories, framing them as unproven or controversial. Some stickers explicitly mention the promotion of religious alternatives or creationism. One sticker quotes President George W. Bush on evolution, suggesting the verdict is still out on how God created the Earth.

Skeptic Ink

This section, by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, includes a comic strip and short articles:

• The comic strip humorously depicts individuals using their minds for various purposes, including maintaining focus for gambling and avoiding financial loss.
• Acupuncture: you don't have to know where the rabbit came from. This piece expresses skepticism about acupuncture, questioning its scientific basis and noting that it predates modern scientific understanding of anatomy and disease. It cites a New York Times report suggesting acupuncture is moving toward the mainstream but dismisses it as not science.
• The vote is in: it's now time to unite behind the winner. This announces the winner of the Excalibur Prize as the "Black Hole Weapon" (BHW), nominated by George Wallerstein, for its potential use against alien planets. The winner receives a free year's subscription to WN.
• The Excalibur Prize: inspired by bold “outside-the-box” pioneers. This section details the inspiration for the Excalibur Prize, citing examples like the Excalibur X-ray laser and the Podkletnov gravity shield. It mentions nominations for speculative weapons and the diverse selection panel. It also humorously recounts a nomination for the "Atkins bomb" and a potential conflict of interest.

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

This is an informational blurb about CSICOP, promoting critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims. It highlights that The Skeptical Inquirer is published bimonthly by the committee and provides subscription information and a website URL.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, paranormal phenomena, and religious arguments against scientific consensus. The magazine consistently promotes critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and evidence-based reasoning. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of established scientific principles, particularly in areas like evolution and cosmology, and critical of attempts to inject religious or unverified beliefs into science education. There is a strong emphasis on debunking or questioning claims that lack scientific rigor, as seen in the articles on Nostradamus, acupuncture, and the "sticker shock" campaign against evolution education. The publication also serves as a platform for the North Texas Skeptics organization, promoting its events and membership.