Phactum - 2007 03 - March

Magazine Overview

Title: Phactum
Issue: March 2007
Publisher: Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking
Focus: The newsletter of the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), covering topics of scientific interest, skepticism, and critical thinking.

Upcoming PhACT Meeting

The next PhACT meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, 2007, at 2:00 PM at the Community College of Philadelphia. The topic will be "Vaccine Safety: Science, Politics and the Media," featuring Dr. Paul A. Offit, MD, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Offit is also a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a recipient of numerous awards. He has published extensively on vaccine safety and is the co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq. The meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss controversies and fears surrounding vaccines with a world-renowned expert.

PhACT Council

The PhACT Council members are listed as Eric Krieg (President), Bob Glickman (Secretary), Ray Haupt (Treasurer), Dr. David Cattell, Dr. David Cragin, Greg Lester, Tom Napier, Harry Rothwell, and Becky Strickland.

PhACTum Publication Details

Phactum is printed six times a year and serves as the main propaganda organ for the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking. Membership subscriptions are available for $15 per year, with a student rate of $10. Letters, ideas, essays, poetry, opinion pieces, and praise can be sent to the editor, Ray Haupt, at [email protected].

PhACT Calendar of Events

March 17, 2007: PhACT meeting on Vaccine Safety at Community College of Philadelphia.

April 21, 2007: PhACT luncheon honoring Dr. Ted Daeschler, a scientist from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, who discovered "Tiktaalik," a transitional species in evolutionary biology. The event will be held at The Pike Restaurant outside of Philadelphia.

Ongoing Events:

• Wagner Free Institute of Science: Offers free introductory college-level science lectures, varying from single nights to eight-week courses. Donations or memberships are appreciated.
• Botany Before, During, and After Linnaeus: A six-Monday course starting March 26, 2007, at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, discussing plant classification systems.
• Evolution and Society: The Social History of a Scientific Idea: A six-Monday class starting March 28, 2007, at the Independence Branch of the Free Library, exploring the social impact of Darwinian evolution.
• University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology: Presents "Amarna, Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun" exhibition through October 2007. Also hosts the "Year of Egypt: Hollywood on the Nile Free Film Series" on the first Sunday of each month.
• Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: An exhibition at The Franklin Institute until September 30, 2007.
• Human Origins and the Emergence of Religious Awareness: A lecture by J. Wentzel van Huyssteen at Chestnut Hill College on March 22, 2007.
• Scientists Confront Intelligent Design and Creationism: A free event on March 30, 2007, at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, featuring Andrew Petto discussing his book.

The PhACT Calendar accepts announcements for events of general interest to the skeptical or scientific community within a reasonable radius of Philadelphia.

Special Event: Honoring Dr. Ted Daeschler

PhACT is hosting a luncheon buffet on Saturday, April 21, 2007, from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM at The Pike Restaurant in Spring House, PA. The event will honor Dr. Ted Daeschler, a scientist from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, who, with his team, discovered "Tiktaalik rosea," a fossilized transition species from 450 million years ago that bridges the gap between fish and air-breathing land animals. This discovery has had a significant impact on evolutionary biology. The cost for the event is $20 for adults and $12.50 for children and students. Reservations are required by Monday, April 16, 2007.

Book Reviews and Mentions

• "The Cutter Incident: How America's First Polio Vaccine Led to the Growing Vaccine Crisis" by Paul Offit, M.D.: Published in October 2005, this book examines the Cutter Incident, where a batch of Salk's polio vaccine contained live virus, causing illness and death. Offit discusses the company's role and how this led to the current vaccine crisis and the shift to Sabin's live-virus vaccine.
• "Vaccines: What You Should Know, 3rd Edition" by Paul A. Offit and Louis M. Bell: This revised edition provides facts about vaccines, their safety, necessity, composition, and risks, including information on vaccines and autism, mercury, and combination vaccines.
• "Blind Faith: The Unholy Alliance of Religion and Medicine" by Richard Sloan, Ph.D.: Reviewed by Dr. Stephen Barrett of Quackwatch, this book examines claims that religious activities promote health, concluding there is no compelling evidence for prayer curing ailments and suggesting research funds would be better spent on sound science.
• "Scientists Confront Intelligent Design and Creationism" edited by Andrew J. Petto and Laurie R. Godfrey: This collection of essays provides a rebuttal to "intelligent design" and creationism, highlighting the scientific evidence for evolution and the underpinnings of creationism.

Science Stifling

Angus McFarland, student council president at the University of Sydney, Australia, criticizes the university's promise not to conduct stem cell research on land bought from a Catholic college, calling it an "ideological attack on the principles of freedom of academic research."

Transfat Purge

The article discusses the trend of purging transfat from the American diet, noting that while it's generally a good idea, the author questions whether legislative bans are necessary when the free market is already addressing the issue (e.g., Starbucks, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, Oreo, Crisco). The author also questions the city council's piety about controlling dietary transfats while hosting the Wing Bowl.

Witches and Vaccines

This section connects Howard Wilk's letter about witches to the upcoming talk by Dr. Paul A. Offit by discussing Cotton Mather. Mather investigated witchcraft cases in 1688 and later, in 1721, became interested in smallpox inoculation, having his slave Onesimus describe a method of conveying immunity by rubbing pus from an infected person into a scratch. This method was tried in Boston during a smallpox epidemic with positive results, though Mather later freed Onesimus for disobedience.

Far-Right Activist Jailed in Germany

A news item from the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Ernst Zundel, a far-right activist, was convicted of incitement and sentenced to five years in prison for anti-Semitic activities, including contributing to a website dedicated to Holocaust denial. Denying the Holocaust is a crime in Germany.

Psychic Museum Closes

The York Psychic Museum, opened in 2003 by Astrologer Jonathan Cainer, has closed due to unforeseen circumstances, with Cainer planning to reopen in 2008. The museum was reportedly only attracting 100 visitors a week.

The Fruitless PEAR of Princeton

The website of PEAR (Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research) announced it would be concluding its experimental operations at Princeton University after over a quarter-century of study. The article expresses skepticism about the findings, questioning why the program is closing if its research was successful. Robert Park, a physicist, is quoted calling the program "an embarrassment to science."

Ian Stevenson Dies at 88

Dr. Ian Stevenson, an academic psychiatrist known for his work on reincarnation, died at age 88 in Charlottesville, Va. He was described as an intellectual leader of American Reincarnationists, seen by supporters as a misunderstood genius and by detractors as misguided.

Psychics Hired to Find Bin Laden

A news item from the British Ministry of Defence revealed that psychics were recruited to locate Osama Bin Laden's secret lair as part of an experiment to see if volunteers could "see" hidden objects.

UFO Science Key to Halting Climate Change

Former Canadian Defense Minister Paul Hellyer is demanding that governments worldwide disclose and utilize secret alien technologies obtained from alleged UFO crashes to combat climate change. He believes these technologies could provide advanced propulsion systems or fuels to eliminate the burning of fossil fuels.

Defusing Global Warming - Gasoline vs Ethanol

During a PhACT meeting about Global Warming, Dr. David Cragin, a toxicologist, explained that burning a gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of carbon dioxide. He also provided calculations comparing the energy content and CO2 emissions of gasoline and ethanol, concluding that switching to ethanol is not a realistic way to reduce carbon emissions, despite potential other advantages.

Gentle Wind Project (GWP) Morphs to "Family Systems Research Group (FSRG)"

This article details how the Gentle Wind Project, a group that sold "healing cards" and "healing pucks," has transformed into the "Family Systems Research Group" (FSRG). The leaders, Jim Bergin and Judy Garvey, are changing the group's name and location to maintain control and attract new recruits, while continuing to sell services like "I Ching alignment instruments" and "phone consultations." The article notes that a portion of the fees still goes to GWP, and that FSRG's sales material lists an address in Portsmouth, NH, previously used during failed lawsuits.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Phactum include skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, critical examination of public health issues like vaccine safety, exploration of scientific topics such as evolutionary biology, and commentary on societal issues like the regulation of food products and the influence of religion on science. The editorial stance appears to be one of promoting critical thinking, scientific literacy, and a healthy skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, while also providing a platform for discussions on controversial topics and events relevant to the scientific and skeptical community.

Phactum, March 2007 issue. This magazine focuses on critical examination of scientific and pseudoscientific claims, with a strong emphasis on skepticism towards widely accepted theories.

Strange Places - The Secret Cloud Buster of Pennington, NJ

This article, written by Eric Krieg, details an encounter with a solar-powered orgone cloud buster discovered in Mercer County, NJ. Krieg describes the device, which is a 24-foot-high apparatus with tubes pointed skyward, camouflaged on a military surplus trailer. He explains that the cloud buster is based on the theories of Wilhelm Reich, who believed that "orgone energy" could be channeled to affect weather. Krieg, who runs a website debunking such claims, notes the presence of the "American College of Orgonomy" in Princeton, NJ. He expresses skepticism about the device and its underlying principles, linking it to other "crackpot theories" of Nicola Tesla.

Global Warming Fears — Scientific or Manic?

Authored by Joel M. Kauffman, Ph.D., this extensive article challenges the prevailing scientific consensus on global warming. Kauffman questions the hypothesis that increased carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary driver of warming, arguing that water vapor is a much more significant infrared absorber. He critiques climate models, citing the work of Chris Essex and Ross McKitrick, who reportedly had difficulty reproducing Michael E. Mann's "hockey stick" graph. The article presents historical temperature data, including the "medieval warm period" and the "little ice age," suggesting that current temperatures are not unprecedented. It also highlights issues with ground station data, such as the urban heat island effect, and points to satellite data (Figure 6) showing no significant warming trend since 1979. Kauffman suggests that solar activity and cloud formation, influenced by cosmic rays, play a more significant role in climate than acknowledged by "Warmers." He also notes that many scientists who question the CO2-warming hypothesis have faced pressure or dismissal.

About Saint Patrick

This section provides a historical overview of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It discusses his life, his role in bringing Christianity to Ireland, and his symbolic act of driving snakes from the island, interpreted as an end to pagan practices. The article mentions his writings, the Confessio and Epistola, and details accounts of his death and burial in Ireland and England. It also notes that many places of worship worldwide are named after him.

Illustration from first edition of EVE'S DIARY by Mark Twain

A brief excerpt attributed to Mark Twain, presented as "Adam's Soliloquy," humorously discusses the dinosaur's absence from Noah's cargo list, attributing it to the dinosaur being an "American animal" and America not yet being discovered.

PhACT Membership and Contact Information

The magazine includes a section encouraging readers to join or rejoin PhACT, providing membership dues ($15, $10 for students) and a mailing address for checks. Contact information, including an email address for inquiries about damaged copies, is also provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Phactum are skepticism towards established scientific consensus, particularly regarding climate change, and an interest in debunking pseudoscience. The magazine's stance is clearly critical of what it terms "global warming mania" and promotes a more cautious, evidence-based approach that questions mainstream narratives. The inclusion of articles on orgone energy and the historical figure of Saint Patrick, alongside the climate change critique, suggests a broad interest in examining claims outside of conventional scientific or historical acceptance. The editorial tone is one of intellectual independence and a challenge to what the publishers perceive as dogma.