North Texas Skeptic - Vol 20 No 08 - 2006

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue Date: August 2006
Volume: 20
Issue: 8

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, published in August 2006, features a critical examination of Ann Coulter's book "Godless: The Church of Liberalism," alongside various news items and opinion pieces related to science, skepticism, and pseudoscience.

Day-old Bread: A Critique of Ann Coulter's "Godless"

The lead article, "Day-old Bread" by John Blanton, delves into Ann Coulter's book "Godless: The Church of Liberalism." Blanton notes that while Coulter's comments often contain elements of truth that make liberals uncomfortable, they don't necessarily lead to change. The book debuted at number one on the New York Times Best Seller List. Blanton, who purchased the book out of curiosity, intends to draw on a critique by Robert Savillo.

The article highlights Coulter's treatment of evolution, particularly in Chapter 8, "The Creation Myth: On The Sixth Day, God Created Fruit Flies." Coulter likens the theory of evolution to Scientology in terms of scientific rigor, a comparison Blanton finds problematic. The author suggests that Coulter's arguments are often based on the work of creationists like Jonathan Wells, author of "Icons of Evolution."

Archaeopteryx

Coulter's critique of evolution includes the fossil Archaeopteryx, which she claims is not a relation of modern birds and was a failed bird incapable of flight. The magazine counters that while Archaeopteryx may not be a direct ancestor, it possesses characteristics of both reptiles and birds, thus representing a transitional fossil. Coulter's argument is presented as an attempt to dismiss this evidence without offering an alternative explanation.

Peppered Moth

The issue of the peppered moth, often cited as an example of natural selection, is also discussed. Coulter, referencing Jonathan Wells' "Icons of Evolution," claims that the famous photographs of dark and light moths were staged by gluing dead moths to tree trunks. The magazine acknowledges that the photographs were staged but argues that the staging was to illustrate the moths' visibility on different colored bark, not to support a fraudulent claim for evolution. It is noted that biologists have known since the 1980s that peppered moths do not naturally rest on tree trunks in the way depicted in staged photographs.

Haeckel's Embryos

Another point of contention is Ernst Haeckel's theory of embryology, "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," and his drawings of embryos. Coulter, again drawing from Wells' "Icons of Evolution," suggests that Haeckel's work was fraudulent and used to support Darwin's theory. The article clarifies that while Haeckel's drawings were indeed inaccurate and his theory disavowed, the inaccuracies do not invalidate the broader evidence for Darwinian evolution. Michael Richardson's research, which exposed Haeckel's doctored drawings, is cited, but the magazine notes that Wells and Coulter may have misinterpreted Richardson's findings.

Coulter is criticized for not offering an alternative explanation for the diversity of life if she rejects evolution. The article suggests that Coulter's audience may be more interested in the political implications than the scientific accuracy of her arguments.

Web News

This section presents a collection of brief news items from the internet:

Yogic flyers build ‘shield of invincibility' around Israel

Reuven Zelinkovsky, a former Israeli army colonel, has renounced military service to join a squadron of yogic flyers aiming to create a "shield of invincibility" around Israel through Transcendental Meditation. The article notes that the practice involves "hopping" and requires a specific number of participants, but the effort to recruit volunteers was unsuccessful.

Surprising Finding: Acupuncture May Not Help Stroke Patients

A review of scientific literature found no clear proof that acupuncture improves rehabilitation for stroke patients, despite its common use in China. The lead author expressed surprise at the findings, which cast uncertainty on a widely accepted medical intervention.

Lubbock, Texas, plans to pray for rain

Public officials in Lubbock, Texas, organized a day of prayer for rain due to a severe drought, believing that God controls the rain clouds.

What's New

This section, by Robert Park, features commentary on recent scientific and pseudoscientific developments.

BLEEP: IT IS PHYSICS THAT UNLEASHED THIS PLAGUE ON MANKIND.

Park criticizes the film "What the Bleep Do We Know," which attributes spiritual and pseudoscientific claims to "quantum mechanics." He argues that while quantum mechanics has transformed the world, its principles are often misunderstood and misused to justify unscientific ideas, likening it to a mystical religion.

THE CAST: PHYSICS IS NOT AN INOCULATION AGAINST FOOLISHNESS.

This piece discusses the continued promotion of pseudoscientific ideas by individuals with physics backgrounds, such as William Tiller and John Hagelin. Hagelin's claim of reducing violent crime in Washington, D.C., through meditation is debunked with statistics showing the murder rate was actually the highest ever recorded during the period he cited.

KANSAS: WILL VOTERS WAKE UP FOR TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION?

A brief note highlights a problem with a 6-4 majority of creationists on a school board in Kansas, with four creationists up for election.

GLOBAL WARMING: PASSING THE HAT FOR A FOSSIL FUEL APOLOGIST.

This item criticizes Patrick Michaels, described as a global warming denier and a professor of environmental science, for seeking funds from coal-burning utilities to "analyze" scientific critics. The article suggests he is acting as a lobbyist rather than a scientist.

Skeptic Ink

A cartoon titled "Skeptic Ink" by Prasad Golla and John Blanton illustrates the idea that "It's important for people to know evolution is controversial." The cartoon depicts scientists discussing the dissemination of their message, with one questioning the scientific basis of their work and another emphasizing the importance of getting the message out.

Other Articles and News Items

Proposed Template for Ohio Teachers Ignites Intelligent Design Debate

A proposal before the Ohio Board of Education to create a "template" for discussing controversial topics like evolution, global warming, and stem-cell research has sparked debate. While critics fear it will allow for the teaching of intelligent design, proponents argue it will simply allow for criticism of Darwinian evolution.

Ken Ham talks about the creationist perspective

An interview with Ken Ham, President and CEO of Answers in Genesis, discusses the launch of their magazine "Answers" and their mission to disseminate information from a Christian worldview. Ham also mentions plans for a creationism museum in Kentucky.

Creationist's fight with Uncle Sam may evolve into painful defeat

This article reports on Kent Hovind, also known as "Dr. Dino," who is facing charges of tax fraud. Hovind has previously lost legal battles regarding building permits for his "Dinosaur Adventure Land." A judge has deemed him a flight risk, ordering him to surrender his passport.

Events Calendar

The magazine includes an "Events Calendar" listing upcoming programs:

• August Program: Saturday, August 12, 2006, at 2 p.m. at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas. Topic: "The Ex Gay Movement," with Kristine Danowski.
• NTS Social Dinner /Board Meeting: Saturday, August 26, at 7 p.m. at Good Eats in Dallas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of creationism and intelligent design, particularly in response to popular books and figures like Ann Coulter and Jonathan Wells. The magazine consistently advocates for scientific rigor, evidence-based reasoning, and a skeptical approach to pseudoscientific claims. The editorial stance is clearly pro-evolution and critical of attempts to undermine established scientific consensus through misrepresentation or selective use of data. There is a strong emphasis on debunking what the publication considers to be "day-old bread" arguments – recycled or flawed points used to support creationist viewpoints. The "Web News" and "What's New" sections highlight current events and trends that intersect with science and skepticism, often with a critical or debunking perspective. The magazine also promotes its own activities and events, such as social dinners and lectures, reinforcing its role as a hub for the skeptical community in North Texas.