North Texas Skeptic - Vol 24 No 01 - 2010

Magazine Overview

Title: The North Texas Skeptic
Issue: Volume 24, Number 1
Date: January 2010
Publisher: The North Texas Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, published in January 2010, marks the return to regular programming after a year celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, which had been a point of contention for creationists. The newsletter aims to elevate skeptical issues that were sidelined in 2009.

Feature Articles

A Visit from the Chiropractor

The lead article details an experience at a "lunch and learn" program hosted by the author's employer, featuring a chiropractor named Dr. B. The chiropractor presented chiropractic as a drug-free alternative medicine that restores the body's ability to heal itself, contrasting it with conventional medicine, which he claimed was inferior. Dr. B. shared several anecdotal accounts: his mother's epilepsy, his father's paralysis after a fall, and his own success in treating childhood asthma. He also mentioned his assistant Becky's improvement with asthma. The presentation concluded with an offer for discounted services and freebies, including a water bottle and stress ball. The author notes that details like the author's name and employer were omitted to protect the writer's job.

Challenge Activity

This section, written by John Blanton, discusses the NTS Paranormal Challenge, a $12,000 prize offered for demonstrable proof of the paranormal. Blanton recounts several inquiries received in 2009, including those from Matthew, who claimed to influence boxing matches on TV; Daniel Soto, who described an ability to produce voices and project thoughts; Raymond Powell, who has had difficulty with communication requirements; and James Underdown, who reported that a previous claimant, Raymond, withdrew from testing. Tommy Cook also contacted the NTS about his family's ability to "walk a table." Blanton expresses skepticism, noting that most demonstrations have failed to prove the impossible.

Regular Columns and News

New for 2010

This introductory section sets the tone for the year, mentioning the recent focus on Darwin's anniversary and the ongoing debate with creationists. It highlights the newsletter's commitment to exploring skeptical issues, including alternative medicine and the NTS Paranormal Challenge. It also briefly mentions a piece on creationism and excerpts from Robert Park's "What's New" column.

Skeptic Ink

This section, by Prasad Golla and John Blanton, features several short pieces:

• The Darwin bi-centennial year is over: A brief note on the conclusion of Darwin's anniversary year.
• We need a new cartoon topic to kick off the new year: A call for cartoon ideas.
• I know! How about alternative medicine: A cartoon depicting a person suggesting alternative medicine.
• Prayer: should prayer treatments be covered?: Discusses the proposal to include "religious and spiritual health care" in the healthcare bill, questioning whether prayer treatments should be covered and noting that if they are effective, real medical care is unnecessary, and if not, they are a subsidy.
• Warmer: the trend shows no sign of ending: Reports on climate change, citing Michel Jarraud's statement that 2000-2009 was the warmest decade on record and that 2009 was likely the fifth warmest year. It also touches on the climate research unit email hacks and the use of "dirty tricks" to cast doubt on global warming.
• Climate change: APS tells deniers to cool off: Reports that the American Physical Society council rejected a proposal to reconsider its statement on global warming, which called the evidence "incontrovertible."
• Fuel: the most important book you haven't read: Recommends David Michaels' book "Doubt Is Their Product," which discusses how manufactured uncertainty delays government intervention on public health threats, particularly in the context of the fossil fuel industry and global warming.

Web news

By John Blanton, this section highlights top stories about creationism from 2009, sourced from InfoZine and the National Center for Science Education (NCSE). It details the celebrations for Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of "On the Origin of Species." The top ten stories include topics like "Evolution in Scientific American," "The Origin sesquicentennial approaches," critiques of Ray Comfort, "Science setback for Texas schools," and "Academic Freedom" issues in Louisiana and Texas. It also notes the recognition received by Dr. Eugenie C. Scott, NCSE's executive director.

What's New

By Robert Park, this section presents various news clippings and commentary:

• Faith: do we need to have another talk?: Discusses Nicholas Kristof's op-ed in the NY Times about a new crop of less combative books on science and religion, and Robert Wright's "The Evolution of God."
• Creationism: need a little help in spreading the word?: Mentions Ray Comfort's distribution of free copies of Darwin's work and critiques his argument that "Nothing we have in creation is half evolved."
• Malthus: a hero before his time: Briefly touches on Thomas Malthus's observations on population growth.
• Divining: this time, it's a bomb detector: Reports on the Iraqi government's purchase of ADE 651 devices, marketed as explosives detectors but described as worthless "divining rods," and their use for "probable cause" searches.
• Memory: why is it necessary to keep debunking this stuff?: Questions the persistence of debunked ideas like dowsing, noting its continued use.
• Magnets: never pay another electric bill: Discusses Joseph W. Newman's perpetual motion machine claims and similar "energy machine" kits.
• Naturally: alternative medicine is in the health reform bill: Notes Senator Tom Harkin's provision mandating insurer reimbursement for alternative medicine providers.

Events Calendar and Membership

Events Calendar

An NTS Board Meeting and Election is scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the Center for Nonprofit Management in Dallas. The meeting will include the election of NTS board members and the appointment of operating officers. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Future Meeting Dates

Upcoming NTS meetings are listed for February 20, March 20, and April 17, 2010. Board meetings and social dinners are scheduled for February 27 and March 27, 2010.

Application for Membership

The back page includes an application for membership in The North Texas Skeptics, detailing different membership levels (voting member, email-only member, newsletter recipient) with corresponding annual fees. It also offers a free three-month gift subscription for introducing a friend and accepts tax-deductible donations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic strongly upholds a skeptical viewpoint, critically examining claims in alternative medicine, creationism, and paranormal phenomena. The publication actively debunks pseudoscience and promotes critical thinking and scientific inquiry. The editorial stance is clearly against the acceptance of unsubstantiated claims, particularly those that contradict established scientific principles. There is a consistent theme of advocating for evidence-based reasoning and questioning the validity of practices and beliefs that lack scientific support, as seen in the critiques of chiropractic, creationism, and the paranormal challenge. The publication also engages with current events related to science, such as climate change and the intersection of science and religion.