Phactum - 2006 05 - May

Magazine Overview

Title: Phactum
Issue: May 2006
Publisher: Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking
Description: The newsletter of the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, aiming to promote critical thinking and skepticism.

Contents

Cover Cartoon

The cover features a "B.Z. Toons" cartoon by Brian Zaikowski. It depicts a person in a UFO towing a broken-down car, with the UFO pilot apologizing and asking if the car owner has a roadside assistance plan, humorously juxtaposing advanced technology with mundane problems.

PhACT Council and Subscription Information

The "PhACT Council" lists its members, including Eric Krieg (President), Bob Glickman (Secretary), and Ray Haupt (Treasurer), along with other council members. The newsletter is described as the main propaganda organ for the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, printed 6 times a year. It invites non-subscribers to join by sending a $15 membership fee (or $10 for students), noting that it includes content for skeptics and recipes for lasagna, as well as "End of the World speculation."

Upcoming PhACT Meeting

An announcement details an upcoming meeting of PhACT (Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking) hosted by the Physics Department of the Community College of Philadelphia on Saturday, April 15, 2006, at 2:00 PM. The meeting's topic is "Terrorism and Emergency Preparedness," featuring Ralph Gumbert, Director of Emergency Medical Services for the City of Trenton. The discussion will cover initial emergency response, local preparedness efforts, and the potential impacts of terrorism events. The event is free and open to the public, with executive meetings held prior to the lecture at 1 PM. Refreshments will be served.

Louisiana Academy of Sciences Statement on "Intelligent Design"

This section presents the resolution adopted by the Louisiana Academy of Sciences on March 10, 2006, regarding "Intelligent Design." The resolution states that the Academy's goal is to encourage scientific research based on the scientific method. It asserts that "Intelligent Design" is not amenable to verification by observation and experimentation, unlike organic evolution. While respecting individuals' right to hold beliefs, the Academy resolves that "Intelligent Design" does not fall within the realm of science and urges opposition to its inclusion in state science programs. The article notes that the Louisiana Academy of Sciences issued a similar statement about creation science in 1982 and provides a link to the Academy's statement (PDF).

Reader Submissions and Cartoons

An invitation is extended to readers to submit their experiences with chiropractors to Phactum at [email protected]. A "MOTHER GOOSE AND GRIMM" cartoon is included, featuring a conversation about a chiropractor.

Walter's Cosmic Energy Intensifier

By William A. Wisdom, this article recounts an encounter with a character named Walter at the Blue Grass and Old Time Fiddlers Convention in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Walter, a retired physicist, has a homemade trailer and has created a "Cosmic Energy Intensifier" – a pyramidal wooden frame with red beads, designed to absorb, intensify, and redirect cosmic energy. The author and his wife, Fritzi, humorously recount how their electric water heater mysteriously started working after they placed the Intensifier on top of it, attributing the fix to Walter's device.

Who sez there are no miracles??

This short piece, submitted by Keith Newman, a middle school science teacher, tells a personal anecdote from his childhood. He describes ordering a banana split for $.01 from a "5 and 10" store, where popping a balloon revealed the price. He won the $.01 split, noting it was a 1 in 49 chance, and humorously wished for such odds in the lottery, while acknowledging it could be explained by science.

A New Threat to America's Leadership?

By Tom Napier, this article discusses a perceived trend where pseudoscientific journals are increasingly featuring contributions from foreign authors, with few or no American authors. Napier cites "Frontier Perspectives" as an example, noting recent issues contained papers from Russia, Norway, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Argentina, and Australia, with minimal American representation. He questions whether American "pseudoscience" is declining and suggests skeptics might need to look abroad for "raw material." An update notes that the Fall/Winter 2005 issue of "Frontier Perspectives" also contained no papers by U.S. authors. The article concludes by paraphrasing George Santayana's quote about remembering past mistakes.

N-rays and Biolocation

Continuing the theme of questionable science, the article mentions a gentleman in Armenia who has allegedly rediscovered N-rays, which minerals supposedly emit and can only be detected by "biolocation." The author notes that biolocation has been used for centuries to find water and metals and that this phenomenon is "not yet accepted in mainstream science."

Membership Renewal

A section at the end of the magazine provides a form for readers to join or rejoin PhACT, stating the annual membership is $15 ($10 for students). It includes fields for membership dues, donations, and specific purposes, along with mailing instructions for checks to PhACT at 639 W. Ellet Street, Philadelphia, PA 19119.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Phactum revolve around critical thinking, the scientific method, and the debunking of pseudoscience. The newsletter actively promotes skepticism towards claims not supported by empirical evidence, as seen in the coverage of the Louisiana Academy of Sciences' resolution against Intelligent Design and Tom Napier's critique of foreign contributions to pseudoscientific journals. There's a clear editorial stance favoring scientific rigor and a cautious approach to extraordinary claims, even when presented humorously, as in the "Cosmic Energy Intensifier" story. The newsletter also serves as a platform for announcing PhACT's events and encouraging membership, positioning itself as a voice for rational inquiry.

Title: Phactum
Issue Date: May 2006
Page Number: 11

This document is page 11 of the May 2006 issue of the magazine 'Phactum'. The publication is associated with the 'Phila. Assoc. for Critical Thinking', whose address is listed as 639 W. Ellet Street, Philadelphia, PA 19119.

The page contains standard header information, including the page number and publication date. The majority of the visible content consists of the publisher's identification and address, followed by a placeholder for mailing list information, indicated by bracketed text such as "«Mailing Name»", "«Address1»", "«Address2»", and "«City», «State» «ZIP»".

Content

The content of this specific page is primarily administrative and organizational. It serves to identify the publisher and provide contact information. There are no articles, features, or specific news items detailed on this page. The placeholder text suggests that this page might be part of a template or a section related to subscriber or member information.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Based on this single page, the recurring themes and editorial stance cannot be determined. The page focuses on the identity and contact details of the 'Phila. Assoc. for Critical Thinking', suggesting a focus on critical thinking and potentially the dissemination of information to its members or the public.