North Texas Skeptic - Vol 25 No 02 - 2011

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 25, Number 2, dated February 2011, is published by The North Texas Skeptics and focuses on various topics related to science, skepticism, and the debunking of pseudoscientific claims. The cover headline is "Web news," and the issue delves into creationism, evolution, and related controversies.

Web News

The "Web News" section, authored by John Blanton, highlights the prevalence of creationism in online discussions. It discusses Casey Luskin of the Discovery Institute, an attorney and writer who contributes to the Evolution News blog. Luskin's article, "Condescension, Sneers, and Outright Misrepresentations of Intelligent Design Pass For Scholarship in Synthese," is critiqued. The article notes that Glenn Branch, Deputy Director of the NCSE, wrote the introductory article for the "Synthese" journal, which Luskin's piece addresses. The author points out that Luskin's critique of Branch's article, which compares Darwin-critics to geocentrists, is ironic given the creationist movement's own tendency to draw parallels between evolution and Nazism or the Holocaust. The piece also references the withdrawal of Dembski and Meyer from the Dover case, contrasting Barbara Forrest's explanation with Luskin's portrayal.

University of Kentucky Settles

This section reports on astronomer C. Martin Gaskell, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, who settled a lawsuit against the University of Kentucky for $125,000. The lawsuit stemmed from the university's decision not to appoint Gaskell to head an observatory due to his disdain for modern evolutionary theories and preference for creationism. Gaskell had sued for religious discrimination. An interview with Jason Mick on the Daily Tech blog reveals that Gaskell does not consider himself a creationist and believes in an old earth and the scientific consensus on evolution, stating that his issues were with aspects of evolutionary theory not being fully understood.

Freshwater Loses

This article details the case of John Freshwater, a public school teacher in Mount Vernon, Ohio, who was placed on unpaid leave and faced termination for teaching creationism and intelligent design, among other charges. The issue of teaching creationism ultimately led to his dismissal. The process involved a lengthy hearing that cost taxpayers at least $700,000. Freshwater eventually received a $450,000 settlement from the school district.

Were Adam and Eve Real?

This piece discusses the debate surrounding the historicity of Adam and Eve, particularly in light of genetic evidence. The BioLogos website is mentioned as a forum for this discussion. While scripture posits Adam and Eve as the progenitors of humanity, genetics suggests otherwise, indicating that human DNA traces back to a population that split from ancestors of modern chimps millions of years ago. BioLogos acknowledges that Adam and Eve could not have been the sole progenitors but leaves open the possibility of a historical Adam and Eve.

Creationists Create-Alternative Histories

Terry Hurlbut, writing for the Creationism Examiner, argues that creationism, rather than hindering science, could be beneficial by redirecting scientific inquiry. He suggests that astronomers would focus on a simpler cosmology and that zoology would become more exciting, potentially leading to the discovery of live dinosaurs. The article also mentions the creationist infatuation with cryptozoology and Loren Coleman.

What's New

This section, curated by Robert Park, presents several brief news items:

• Wireless: Business is Thriving on All Sides of the Issue: This segment discusses the booming cell phone market and the industry surrounding warnings about potential health risks, such as cancer, linked to cell phone use. It notes the latency period for such cancers and the revival of EMF paranoia.
• Zicam: Breakthrough! At Last, a Placebo with Side Effects: This article critiques Zicam, a homeopathic cold remedy, pointing out that its dilution levels are not as extreme as traditional homeopathy and that it contains zinc, which should be detectable. It questions the marketing of such products and the government's position on disclosing negative stories about them.
• Supreme Comedy: Enter Now the Nine Justices: This part discusses a class-action suit against Matrixx, the makers of Zicam, for failing to inform investors about reports linking the product to anosmia (loss of smell). It highlights Justice Scalia's disagreement with the government's position that companies should disclose negative stories, even if based on superstition.
• Autism: There is No Vaccination Against Fraud: This section details the case of Dr. Andrew Wakefield, whose 1998 Lancet article linking the MMR vaccine to autism caused a public panic. Wakefield was later found to have acted dishonestly, and his article was retracted. He now operates an autism clinic in Texas.
• Vaccination: Public Health May Never Fully Recover: An editorial in the British Medical Journal expresses hope that recent news will end the anti-vaccine movement, but Paul Offit is pessimistic. Jenny McCarthy is mentioned as a celebrity activist supporting Wakefield.
• ESP: This is About the Last Thing Science Needed: This piece expresses skepticism about the field of ESP, noting the closure of the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research lab (PEAR) and the lack of scientific accomplishments in the field. It questions the validity of a forthcoming paper claiming strong evidence for extrasensory perception.
• Photons: What Albert Einstein Knew About Cell-Phone Radiation: This segment discusses the lack of media refutation of claims linking cell phone radiation to health problems. It references Albert Einstein's work on the photoelectric effect and suggests that microwaves are good for warming pizza and do not cause cancer.

Skeptic Ink

This "Skeptic Ink" comic by Prasad Golla and John Blanton satirizes the difference between conducting research and relying on polls. The comic depicts people choosing to go with poll results rather than doing actual research.

Disconnect: Help! Science is Being Zapped Again.

This article revisits the 1960s microwave bombardment of the US Embassy in Moscow. It mentions Paul Brodeur's book "The Zapping of America: Microwaves, Their Deadly Risk, and the Coverup," which raised concerns about microwave radiation. The author criticizes Brodeur's work for conflating different types of electromagnetic fields and argues that science has shown power-line fields and microwaves are not cancer agents.

Disconnect: Could It Have Been Written by Paul Brodeur?

This section reviews Devra Davis's book "Disconnect: the truth about cell phone radiation, what the industry has done to hide it, and how to protect your family." The author compares it to Paul Brodeur's earlier work and argues that Davis's book is a rewrite of a 33-year-old book that was also incorrect. The author protests the book's premise, citing a quote from the Talmud.

January Elections

This section lists the newly elected board members and officers for The North Texas Skeptics for 2011. It encourages members to contact these volunteers with feedback and mentions discussions about improvements to the NTS website.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the critical examination of pseudoscientific claims, particularly creationism and intelligent design, and their intersection with scientific discourse. The magazine strongly advocates for evidence-based reasoning and scientific consensus, often critiquing organizations and individuals who promote scientifically unsupported ideas. There is a consistent emphasis on debunking health-related misinformation, such as the link between vaccines and autism and the efficacy of homeopathic remedies. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science, pro-evolution, and critical of what it perceives as fraud or misrepresentation in areas like creationism, alternative medicine, and ESP. The publication also highlights the importance of scientific integrity and the need for clear communication of scientific findings to the public.