North Texas Skeptic - Vol 22 No 04 - 2008

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 22, Number 4, dated April 2008, features a cover story titled "Flunked out" by John Blanton. The magazine, published by The North Texas Skeptics, focuses heavily on the new creationist film by Ben Stein, "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed."

"Flunked out" by John Blanton

The article begins by dismissing Ben Stein's film "Expelled" as a joke, criticizing its premise that people are losing their jobs for pushing creationism. The author cites previous issues of The North Texas Skeptic to provide examples of individuals who have allegedly faced professional repercussions for their views on intelligent design and evolution.

One such case is Nancy Bryson, who reportedly lost her position as head of the Department of Science and Mathematics at Mississippi University for Women in 2003 after speaking out against evolution. She is quoted as saying that other faculty members found it "not safe" to discuss the situation openly.

Another example is Roger DeHart, a California high school teacher who was reassigned from biology to earth science for allegedly telling students about the "misrepresentation" of evolution. He was later warned by a new colleague to be kept an eye on. DeHart eventually transferred to a religious school and became a spokesman for the Discovery Institute.

Guillermo Gonzalez, an Iowa State University astronomer, is mentioned as having been allegedly denied tenure due to his belief in intelligent design. He has announced plans to sue the university, with the Discovery Institute releasing email excerpts suggesting the decision was based on his beliefs rather than his science.

The article then delves into Ben Stein's background and his views, noting his education and career in economics and showbiz. It highlights Stein's assertion of a strong link between "Darwinism" and negative ideologies such as Nazism, Communism, and imperialism. The author quotes Stein's perspective that Darwinism offered a compelling argument for imperialism, with Britain acting in accordance with the dictates of life itself.

Stein is also quoted on his view that Darwinism, despite not proving the creation of distinct species, dominates academia and the media, and offers no meaningful explanation for the origins of life.

The article recounts an incident where P. Z. Myers and Richard Dawkins attempted to attend a pre-release screening of "Expelled" at the Mall of America in Minneapolis. While Dawkins was allowed in, Myers was denied entry. The film's producer, Mark Mathis, acknowledged recognizing Dawkins but allowed him entry, stating Dawkins had handled himself honorably and was a guest in the country. Mathis later claimed Dawkins "withered" when confronted after the screening, shrinking in front of his eyes.

Myers missed the screening, which reportedly presented a defense of intelligent design and suggested a link between evolution and Nazism, a claim Dawkins called "a major outrage."

The article touches on the creationist movement's efforts in Florida to circumvent a decision regarding the use of the word "evolution" in biology classes, noting that Stein has taken his film there to support the cause. Stein is quoted as saying that an academic freedom bill is needed because people asking "innocent, sensible questions about the flaws and gaps and lacunae in Darwinism" are "severely punished."

However, the article also notes that John Stemberger, president of the evangelical Florida Family Policy Council, stated that Intelligent Design cannot be taught, though "criticisms" of evolution could.

The Miami Herald-Tribune blog is cited for its description of the film's introduction, which uses provocative images, including a fetus and footage of Adolph Hitler, to illustrate what Stein views as the stifling of free speech and the ostracization of scientists who challenge Darwinism.

The article concludes by suggesting that Ben Stein's film is a powerful marketing tool for intelligent design, and encourages readers to visit the film's website.

Skeptics in Hollywood by John Blanton

This section details a visit by three members of The North Texas Skeptics to the Center for Inquiry West in Los Angeles. They attended a presentation on vertebrate evolution given by a retired zoo guide and noted the Steve Allen Theater, a venue for jazz, comedy, and skeptical gatherings.

What's new by Robert Park

This section features several short news items:

• Perpetuum Mobile: This Year Like Every Year: The article discusses claims of perpetual motion machines, mentioning Steorn, a Dublin company that went bankrupt after claiming free energy from "rotating magnets." It then introduces Thane Heins and his invention, the Perepiteia, which reportedly sped up an induction motor when a permanent magnet was brought near it. An MIT professor, Marcus Zahn, viewed a demonstration and was surprised.
• NCCAM: Josephine Briggs Named Director: Josephine Briggs has been named the second Director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, expected to continue her predecessor's policy of rigorous science. When asked if anything from CAM works, she noted that "the tai chi for shingles was very nice."
• Other Dimensions: The Government's UFO Coverup: The author recounts being invited to a panel on a Comcast TV show called "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" to discuss the topic "Are we alone?" The panel included a "token scientist" (the author), a philosophy professor, a doctor who saw unexplained lights, and the head of the Paradigm Research Group. Callers shared stories of strange lights and aliens, with some attributing these phenomena to quantum physics or aliens from other dimensions.
• Miracles: There Are None in Science: The author critiques the use of the word "miracle" in a morning ABC News commercial for the Oprah Winfrey Show, where an NFL player who recovered from a serious injury was described as having experienced a miracle. The author states that the correct word in science for such a recovery is "misdiagnosis."

Skeptic Ink

This is a comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, featuring humorous takes on creationist cartoons and a creationist walking into a bar.

Letters

This section invites readers to submit letters on various topics, including creationism and homeopathic remedies. It outlines rules for submission, emphasizing staying on topic, limiting length to about 1000 words, and requiring real names for publication (though not addresses).

Skeptical News Page

This page directs readers to the Skeptical News page on the NTS website, where they can find current events related to skepticism. The page notes that the news feed often includes topics on creationism and alternative medicine, and encourages readers to submit news items they think are being missed.

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

This is a description of the committee, which encourages critical investigation of paranormal and fringe-science claims and disseminates factual information. It promotes science, scientific inquiry, critical thinking, science education, and the use of reason.

The Skeptical Inquirer

This section provides information about "The Skeptical Inquirer" magazine, published bimonthly by the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, including subscription prices and website information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the conflict between science and creationism/intelligent design, the role of media in shaping public perception of science, and the importance of critical thinking and skepticism. The magazine's editorial stance is clearly pro-science and critical of what it perceives as pseudoscientific claims and anti-evolutionary arguments, particularly those presented in the film "Expelled." The publication actively promotes skepticism and the scientific method as tools for understanding the world, while also providing a platform for readers to engage with these topics through letters and news updates.