North Texas Skeptic - Vol 19 No 03 - 2005

Magazine Overview

This is the March 2005 issue of The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 19, Number 3. The magazine focuses on skeptical inquiry into paranormal claims, pseudoscientific theories, and societal issues from a scientific perspective.

The Future in a Black Box: The Global Consciousness Project

The lead article, "The future in a black box" by John Blanton, discusses the Global Consciousness Project (GCP), also known as the EGG Project. The GCP is a network of machines, referred to as "Eggs," which are Random Event Generators (REGs) or Random Number Generators (RNGs). These devices are claimed to indicate when major world events with strong emotional impact are about to occur. The project is a volunteer collaboration involving about 75 researchers and is not funded by Princeton University. Dr. Roger Nelson is cited as a primary author of presentations on the GCP site.

The article explains that REGs/RNGs used in PEAR (Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research) and the GCP do not rely on computer algorithms but on physical processes, often based on quantum mechanics, that are truly random and unpredictable. These processes, like radioactive decay, are governed by chance. The central question posed is how human thought and events can affect these random outcomes.

The author expresses skepticism, suggesting that the claims of PEAR and the GCP are reminiscent of pathological science, citing Irving Langmuir's six features, particularly the magnitude of effects being close to the limit of detectability and requiring many measurements due to low statistical significance. The article notes that the observed effects are in the marginal range of statistical significance and that there is a great opportunity for "sharp shooting" (data manipulation) in such cases.

Attempts to model these phenomena are described as immensely complicated by the evidence that human volition is the primary correlate, challenging conventional scientific and epistemological criteria. The author critiques the underlying thinking as anthropocentric, suggesting a desire for humans to be at the center of the universe.

The article also mentions the Indian Ocean tsunami and a gamma ray burst as events that the GCP claims to have registered. It notes that the gamma ray burst occurred 50,000 light years away, raising questions about the temporal aspect due to special relativity. The experiments also show anomalous results in "off-time" trials, ranging from 73 hours before to 336 hours after machine operation, indicating potential issues with the methodology or interpretation.

Events Calendar

The magazine includes an "Events Calendar" section detailing upcoming North Texas Skeptics (NTS) events. The March Program includes a meeting on Saturday, March 12, at 2 p.m. at the Center for Community Cooperation in Dallas. A March Board of Directors/Social Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Black-Eyed Pea Restaurant in Dallas.

Organization and Staff Information

Pages 2 and 8 provide detailed information about the North Texas Skeptics organization. This includes lists of officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), staff (Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Meetings and Social Director), Board of Directors, and Directors Emeritus. It also lists Scientific and Technical Advisors, including professors, a geologist, a physician, and an attorney. The organization is described as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) scientific and educational organization.

Science Meets Society: Intelligent Design vs. Evolution

Several articles address the debate surrounding Intelligent Design (ID) and evolution. One piece discusses an editorial by Alan Leshner, AAAS CEO, on the increasing conflict between science and "certain human beliefs." The article "Design for living" by John Blanton, referencing Michael J. Behe, argues that Intelligent Design is not a religiously based idea, but the author expresses skepticism, suggesting that if it's not religious, the "religious club is missing a really great opportunity" to introduce religion into schools. The article "Full range of scientific views' includes theory of a creator" by Vicki Palatas, also touches on the debate.

Another section notes that legally, Intelligent Design should be taught in Kansas schools to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act. It contrasts ID's teaching of a creator based on scientific observation with evolution, which it claims is propagated by those who believe in it despite evidence against it. It quotes Richard Dawkins labeling critics of Darwinism as "ignorant, stupid or insane."

"Evolution takes a back seat in U.S. classes" by Cornelia Dean reports on a biology teacher in Alabama who is ignoring evolution due to fear of trouble with the principal, indicating that anti-science elements pressure public school teachers. The article suggests that opposition often comes from parents.

"Skeptic Ink" features a comic by Prasad Golla and John Blanton that satirizes the complexity argument for design. The accompanying text argues that anti-science activists often lose because of the religious foundations of creationism, and that lawsuits challenge the government support for religion, not necessarily the quality of education. It highlights that students may slip through high school without learning basic principles of life on Earth.

Charles Colson writes about the ACLU's success in having stickers stating "evolution is a theory, not a fact" removed from biology textbooks in Georgia, calling it an "intellectual blindness." He frames the debate as "science versus science," not science versus religion, and praises Michael Behe's concept of "irreducible complexity" as an argument against gradual improvement in biological structures.

Other Topics

"Is 'John of God' a healer or a charlatan? Is ABC News nuts?" by Robert Park critiques a Primetime Live report on a Brazilian faith healer, calling it unscientific and lamenting the dismissal of Michael Guillen as science editor. The article criticizes ABC for presenting superstitions as open scientific questions.

References and Membership

The issue includes a "References" section with links to various online articles and publications related to the topics discussed. The final page is an "Application for Membership" for The North Texas Skeptics, outlining membership benefits, subscription rates, and contact information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal and pseudoscientific claims, a critical examination of Intelligent Design and its relationship to science and religion, and a defense of scientific methodology and education. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science, critical of pseudoscience, and advocates for rigorous empirical testing of claims. The magazine aims to inform its readers about potentially misleading or unfounded theories and to promote rational thinking.