Phactum - 2007 05 - May

Magazine Overview

Title: Phactum
Issue: May 2007
Publisher: Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking
Editor: Ray Haupt

This issue of Phactum, the newsletter of the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, features a prominent "Wanted - a Sugar Daddy to donate $50,000" headline, explaining the need for funds to send paleontologist Ted Daeschler and his colleagues on a research expedition to the Arctic Circle. The article highlights the importance of paleontology, its connection to the study of evolution, and the ongoing controversies surrounding it, referencing the Scopes and Dover trials.

Contents and Articles

Cover Story: Wanted - a Sugar Daddy to donate $50,000

The lead article appeals for donations to the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, earmarked for Ted Daeschler's research expedition. It emphasizes paleontology's role in understanding human origins and its controversial nature due to its link with evolution. The article notes that Tom Napier and Becky Strictland will offer further details on Dr. Daeschler's work on pages 10 and 11.

PhACT Calendar

• The calendar section lists several upcoming events in and around Philadelphia:
• May 19, 2007: Mutter Museum visit with PhACT members.
• June 24, 2007: Annual PhACT Picnic at Mondauk Commons Park.
• May 24, 2007: "A Learning How To Learn" Conference Call sponsored by a Mastermind Group.
• May 25, 2007: Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden Party at the Mutter Museum.
• May 31, 2007: College Lecture at the Mutter Museum featuring Nobel Laureate Baruch S. Blumberg.
• Ongoing until September 30, 2007: "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibit at the Franklin Institute.
• Ongoing: Lectures at the Wagner Free Institute of Science.
• Ongoing until October 2007: "Amarna, Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun" exhibition at the University of Pennsylvania Museum.
• Ongoing: Monthly book discussion club co-sponsored by the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia and the Humanist Association of Greater Philadelphia.

The calendar also includes a note about submissions for events of general interest to the skeptical or scientific community within the Philadelphia radius.

Various Ruminations (Collected/written by Ray Haupt)

• Anti-vaccination Bill rejected: Reports that an anti-vaccination bill (SB911) was defeated in the Arkansas legislature. The bill aimed to lower mercury levels in vaccines for children and pregnant women, but health professionals testified against it, citing no proven health hazard and potential discouragement of life-saving vaccinations.
• The Elixir of Life: A brief, lighthearted note about 101-year-old Alden Coach from Washington State who recently passed his driver's test and received a new license.
• Global Warming - 1: Discusses the state environmental approval for the Cape Wind project, the first offshore wind farm off Cape Cod. It notes opposition from Senator Edward Kennedy, who claims the turbines would be an eyesore from his property, despite his public stance on energy independence and environmental protection.
• Global Warming - 2: Mentions a public forum between Newt Gingrich and Senator John Kerry discussing Global Warming, noting it as a reason for optimism due to their serious and reasoned discussion.
• Global Warming - 3??? Poses a speculative question about whether Global Warming and increased Carbon Dioxide levels might be causing a decline in civility and romance.

Global Warming Music Videos

A section lists links to pre-Global Warming and contemporary music videos, with warnings about their content.

Rain on the Evolution Parade

This piece reflects on a presentation by Ted Daeschler about human evolution. The author initially felt optimistic about science prevailing over superstition but was later concerned by an article in The Economist suggesting that Creationism is going global. The author recalls a remark that the Evolution vs. Creation controversy was mainly an American phenomenon.

H. L. Mencken on Metaphysics

An excerpt from H. L. Mencken criticizing metaphysicians for using vague and unintelligible jargon to express their ideas, often resorting to mathematical formulas that make their concepts incomprehensible.

Page 5 Snippets

• Kenya: Paleontologist Richard Leakey faces opposition from evangelical leader Bishop Boniface Adoyo regarding the display of Turkana Boy bones, with Adoyo stating, "I did not evolve from Turkana Boy or anything like it."
• "Atlas of Creation": A 770-page book distributed in Turkish and French schools claims Darwinism is false and linked to communism, fascism, and terrorism.
• Vatican and Russia: Pope Benedict XVI has backtracked from Pope John Paul II's notions of evolution, and the Russian Orthodox Church supported a lawsuit against schools teaching evolution.
• Discovery Institute: The Intelligent Design think tank is reportedly regrouping after the Dover trial and heading to Istanbul to work with Turkish Muslim scholars, possibly seeking support for an expedition to Mount Ararat to find Noah's Ark.
• Pet Monkey Bites IRS Agent: A pet monkey in Rankin County, MS, attacked an IRS agent, resulting in the owner receiving a citation.
• Psychics Part 1 - Nina Wang leaves billions to fortune teller: The richest woman in Asia, Nina Wang, left her $4.2 billion estate to her fortune teller, Mr. Chan. Mr. Chan has publicly predicted the Dow Jones Industrial Average might hit 13000 and plans to use part of his inheritance to purchase shares.

Page 6 Snippets

• Psychics Part 2 - Psychics shut down in Philadelphia: The city is closing storefront psychics, astrologers, and tarot readers based on an old law banning fortune-telling "for gain or lucre." However, a legal argument led to the city advising to back off, suggesting the law is better suited for fraud prosecution.
• Snippets (Collected By Becky Strictland):
• Charles Darwin did not hold back his theory of evolution due to fear of reaction, but was simply busy writing other books.
• Lab tests on the blackcurrant drink Ribena led to a $156,000 fine for its manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, as some versions contained little detectable vitamin C.
• Al Gore testified to Congress on the need for a bold agenda to tackle climate change, using an analogy about seeking medical intervention for a fever.
• About the Mutter Museum: Provides details about the Mutter Museum's founding, its collection of unique anatomical and pathological materials, and its exhibits.

Page 7 Snippets

• A Learning How To Learn Conference Call: Details of a conference call sponsored by a Mastermind Group, focusing on learning efficiently in an information-overloaded world.
• A Summer Stroll: Philadelphia's Broad Street: An announcement for a lecture by forensic architect Robert M. Skaler about the history and development of Broad Street in Philadelphia.

Page 8 Snippets

• The PhACT Annual Picnic: Announcement for the picnic on June 24, 2007, at Mondauk Commons Park, with a map and details.

Page 9 Snippets

• February Meeting Report: Dr. Tom Delworth discusses Global Warming and Projections of Future Climate Change: Tom Delworth presented evidence for climate change, stating that water vapor is the dominant greenhouse gas and that city pollution has little effect. He admitted limitations in current climate modeling due to computer speed and discussed the motivations of global warming deniers, urging a focus on science.
• Strange Places by Eric Krieg: An account of a personal experience during a business trip to the Virginia Technology campus, which was shut down due to a mass shooting event. The author reflects on the media presence and the emotional impact on those working at the campus, contrasting it with the message of critical thinking.

Page 10 Snippets

• Thoughts on a Disaster: The author reflects on a campus shooting event, expressing remorse for the students and the difficulty of conveying the message of critical thinking in the face of extreme irrationality.
• Simply Science by Tom Napier: Discusses Ted Daeschler's presentation on the Tiktaalik fossil, highlighting its significance in understanding the evolution of four-legged animals. Napier contrasts this focused, small-scale scientific achievement with large, multi-billion dollar research projects, emphasizing that nature's secrets are accessible through diligent observation and fieldwork.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Phactum include the importance of scientific research and funding (particularly in paleontology), the ongoing debates surrounding evolution and creationism, and the critical examination of societal issues like global warming, vaccination policies, and the spread of irrationality. The editorial stance, as reflected in the content and the publication's name, strongly advocates for critical thinking, skepticism, and evidence-based reasoning, while often highlighting perceived irrationality or pseudoscience.

This document is the Spring 2006 issue (Vol. 16, No. 1) of the PhACT Newsletter, published by the Phila. Assoc. for Critical Thinking. The newsletter focuses on critical thinking, scientific discoveries, and debunking pseudoscientific claims. This issue features articles on paleontology and the Flat Earth theory.

Membership and Support

The newsletter includes a form for readers to renew or join PhACT, with annual membership at $15 and $10 for students. It also solicits donations for additional support or specific purposes.

How I Came to Appreciate Old Fossils

By Becky Strictland

This article recounts the author's experience meeting Dr. Ted Daeschler, a paleontologist from the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Dr. Daeschler and his team discovered the Tiktaalik fossil, a significant transitional species between sea and land animals, which is a major contribution to Evolutionary Biology.

The article details the logistical challenges of fossil hunting in remote areas like the Arctic, including fundraising, obtaining permits, planning expeditions, and the actual excavation process. The Ellesmere Island trips took place during the Arctic summer, with long daylight hours and temperatures around the freezing point.

Dr. Daeschler presented photographs illustrating the discovery and identification of *Tiktaalik rosea*. He emphasized that Tiktaalik is a significant transition species linking sea and land animals, but not necessarily 'the missing link'. His respect for the indigenous Inuit led him to create a website for the fossil in both Inuit and English languages. The author expresses that Dr. Daeschler's enthusiasm for paleontology is contagious, leaving her eager to learn more about recognizing fossils.

Becky Strictland is identified as a long-time member of PhACT and a frequent contributor to the newsletter.

The Earth is Flat

This section presents a quote from George Bernard Shaw's "Everybody's Political What's What (1944)" which suggests that people today are more gullible than in the Middle Ages, citing the widespread belief in a round Earth as an example of modern credulity. The quote argues that the average person cannot provide a reason for believing the Earth is round and simply accepts the theory.

Accompanying this text is an illustration depicting a disk-shaped Earth, with the North Pole at the center and continents like North America, Europe, and Africa visible. The diagram includes details such as the sun being "27 MILES ACROSS" and its orbit, as well as the "ICC RIM AROUND EDGE OF WORLD."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the PhACT Newsletter reinforces the organization's commitment to critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning. The article on the Tiktaalik fossil highlights the scientific process and the importance of empirical discovery in understanding evolutionary biology. Conversely, the inclusion of the Flat Earth quote and illustration serves to critique what the organization perceives as modern credulity and the uncritical acceptance of widely held beliefs, contrasting it with the rigorous scientific approach championed by PhACT.