Phactum - 2006 06 - June

Magazine Overview

Title: Phactum
Issue: June 2006
Publisher: Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Newsflash!! Exclusive to Phactum

The issue opens with a sensational "Newsflash!!" claiming that researchers at the "PhACT Institute, a world renowned Think Tank," have determined that the number 666 signifies a date, predicting the end of the world on June 6, 2006. It urges readers to "Protect yourself and BE RAPTURE READY" by sending in PhACT dues or contributions, emphasizing caution in "these Cosmic Matters."

Editorial and Submission Call

The editorial section, likely written by the editor or a council member, encourages readers to engage in creative writing about science, pseudoscience, culture, art, or other subjects. It specifically calls for more short essays and book reviews from both frequent and infrequent participants in PhACT activities. The deadline for submissions for the August 2006 edition is July 15, with submissions to be sent to [email protected], with a request to avoid "heavy partisan politics."

The PhACT Council

The issue lists the members of The PhACT Council: Eric Krieg (President), Bob Glickman (Secretary), Ray Haupt (Treasurer), Dr. David Cattell, Dr. David Cragin, Greg Lester, Tom Napier, Harry Rothwell, and Becky Strickland.

PhACT Calendar

Saturday, June 17, 2006—Noon to 4 PM: Picnic!!

A PhACT picnic is scheduled for June 17 at Peace Valley Park, near Doylestown, PA. Attendees are encouraged to bring food, drinks, and bikes. Sailboats are available for rent at the lake. Directions are provided, and non-car attendees can arrange rides from the Doylestown R5 train station. Eric's cell number is given for those who get lost.

Saturday, September 16, 2006: The 2006/2007 series of lectures will resume at the Community College of Philadelphia on the third Saturday of each month, excluding December.

Letters

Who sez there are no miracles??

Keith Newman shares a personal anecdote about a "miracle" involving a banana split special from his youth, where the price matched the cost of a popped balloon. He concludes that while it can be explained by science, he wishes he had such odds in the lottery.

Books wanted

Bill Wisdom is seeking clean copies of specific books for an inmate in Illinois who is an avid reader. The requested books are: "Wonderful Life" by Stephen Jay Gould, "Atheist Universe: Why God Didn't Have a Thing to Do With It" by David Mills, and "The Triple Helix" by Richard Lewontin. He provides his email address (<[email protected]>) and phone number (610-527-7080) for those who can help.

January 2006 PhACT Meeting: "Toxicology and the Environment” by Dave Cragin, PhD

Dr. David Cragin, a PhACT council member, presented on toxicology and the environment. He distinguished between "toxins" (biological) and "toxicants" (external poisons). Cragin stated that 100% of internet/email health scares are bogus and recommended www.snopes.com. He addressed common concerns, noting that science rarely provides absolute answers. Specific points included:

• Aerosol cans do not deplete the ozone.
• Cancer death rates are increasing because people live longer and survive other diseases.
• Mercury was used in medications in significant amounts before the 1950s; autism increase is likely due to broader diagnostic criteria, not vaccines.
• There is no link between breast cancer and antiperspirant use.
• Sunscreens do not cause blindness, and microwaved plastics do not leach chemicals into food.
• DDT, though banned, saved more lives than any other compound by combating malaria and was safer than lead and copper arsenate, which it replaced. Its indiscriminate use created environmental problems.
• Currently approved pesticides are expensive, and farmers use them sparingly.
• There is no compelling scientific evidence to recommend organic produce; people eating more fruits and vegetables, even if contaminated with pesticides, generally have lower cancer rates.
• Fluoride is safe and beneficial, despite opposition from groups like the Sierra Club, which prevented its addition to water in Yardley, PA.
• All substances are poison; the dose differentiates remedy from poison. Toxicology focuses on determining safe levels.

This report was submitted by Becky Strickland.

A new threat to America's leadership? By Tom Napier

Tom Napier discusses a perceived trend where U.S. scientific and technical jobs are being outsourced, and this trend extends to pseudosciences. He notes that the latest issues of "Frontier Perspectives" contained no papers from American institutions, with contributors from Russia, Norway, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Argentina, and Australia. He questions if American pseudoscience is declining or if American "crackpots" have lost credibility. Napier is a physicist and life long Critical Thinker.

Walter's Cosmic Energy Intensifier By William A. Wisdom

William A. Wisdom recounts his experiences with a character named Walter, a retired physicist who creates "Cosmic Energy Intensifiers." These devices, described as pyramidal wooden frames with red beads, are intended to absorb, intensify, and redirect "cosmic energy." Wisdom shares an anecdote where placing an intensifier on a faulty electric water heater seemed to coincide with its successful repair, humorously attributing the fix to the device.

A Tale of Two Kellers By Dave Thomas

Dave Thomas reports on the activities of David and Rebecca Keller of the Intelligent Design Network (IDnet-NM). David Keller spoke at Sandia on "Is Intelligent Design Science?", presenting two research projects: one on DNA polymerases and the other on the origin of life, framed within the ID paradigm. He defined ID as detecting "Intelligent activity" and noted that ID differs from science by considering teleology and purpose. Rebecca Keller represented the Discovery Institute at school hearings on ID in South Carolina.

Thomas critiques Keller's approach to probability, using an analogy of "average Americans" based on ten parameters, each with a 1 in 10 chance of being "average," to highlight the statistical improbability of finding even one such person. He likens Keller's argument to a "strawman" and an "inappropriate method" for assessing evolution, comparing it to the "tornado in a junkyard" analogy for evolution.

Thomas also discusses the controversy surrounding DNA polymerases, noting that while Keller claimed "almost NO sequence similarity," a query to the "Panda's Thumb" list revealed a more nuanced situation where some similarities exist, but variations are significant. He also mentions the ID proponents' assertion that ID is science, not religion.

Rebecca Keller's involvement in revising educational standards in South Carolina is also detailed, where the focus shifted from 'students will know' to 'students will critically analyze' or 'understand.'

It's a bird (the SKEPTIC)! It's a plane (The Skeptical Inquirer)! It's Superman (JSE?)! By L. David Leiter

L. David Leiter, a non-member of PhACT and a "skeptic of skeptics," reviews the latest issue of the Journal of Scientific Exploration (JSE). He notes that three out of six articles in the Spring 2006 issue were skeptical in nature, focusing on anomalistic data. He discusses articles on the Hessdalen Phenomenon (questioning the "earth lights" explanation), HIV/AIDS (Dr. Henry Bauer's contention that HIV tests indicate antibodies to oxidative stress, not necessarily infection, and concerns about unnecessary treatment of newborns), and an essay on "Organized Opposition to Plate Tectonics."

Hydrogen (a sonnet) By Mike Verona

A sonnet titled "Hydrogen" by Mike Verona is included, reflecting on the element's fundamental importance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes critical thinking and skepticism towards claims lacking scientific rigor, while also engaging with topics like Intelligent Design and pseudoscience. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging diverse viewpoints but grounding discussions in scientific evidence and logical reasoning. There's a clear skepticism towards sensationalism (as seen in the "Newsflash") and a focus on debunking pseudoscientific claims. The publication also serves as a platform for members to share their thoughts and research, fostering a community around critical analysis.