Phactum - 2007 07 - July

Magazine Overview

Title: Phactum
Issue: July/August 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 diverse range of articles, from an exposé on a controversial cult to a guide to skeptical podcasts, and discussions on intellectual integrity and cultural events.

The Not-So-Gentle Gentle Wind Project

The lead article discusses the Gentle Wind Project (GWP), a healing cult that was the subject of a complex anti-cult lawsuit. News items indicate that some of GWP's "healing instruments" are being exhibited as art at the Feature Inc. gallery in New York. The article highlights the "Photon Accelerator Ver. 6.5" from 2003, describing it as an assembly of common materials. The author expresses amazement that an art gallery would display such items without acknowledging the cult's backstory, which is described as disturbing. GWP has lost lawsuits in the US District Court in Maine and has reportedly moved to Sparks, Nevada, where it has infiltrated a public school. The article references James Randi, who called GWP "one of the nastiest little cults to take root in the U.S.", and provides a link to his article. The original cost of the healing apparatus was approximately $7,600.

PhACT Council and Membership

The PhACT Council members are listed: Eric Krieg (President), Bob Glickman (Secretary), Ray Haupt (Treasurer), Dr. David Cattell, Dr. David Cragin, Tom Napier, Harry Rothwell, and Becky Strickland. Phactum is published six times a year and serves as the main propaganda organ for the association. Membership is available for $15 per year ($10 for students). Submissions for the newsletter, including letters, essays, poetry, and opinion pieces, should be sent to Ray Haupt at [email protected].

PhACT Calendar

Monthly PhACT meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month from September to May. The first meeting of the 2007/2008 lecture series was scheduled for September 15 at 2 PM at the Community College of Philadelphia. Meetings are free and open to the public. The agenda was not yet established at the time of publication.

• Several events are listed:
• August 7, 2007: The Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia (FSGP) will show the documentary "The God Who Wasn't There" at Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr, PA.
• September 6, 2007: Michael Palin will discuss his book "Diaries 1969-1979: The Python Years" at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Palin is known for his work with Monty Python.
• Ongoing until September 30, 2007: The "Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs" exhibit is at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
• Ongoing: The Wagner Free Institute of Science offers free science lectures.
• Ongoing: The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology presents the exhibition "Amarna, Ancient Egypt's Place in the Sun."
• Ongoing: FSGP and the Humanist Association of Greater Philadelphia (HAGP) co-sponsor a monthly book discussion club, meeting on the third Saturday of each month at Willow Grove Barnes & Noble. The August book was "Dark Ages America" by Morris Berman.
• Monthly: Philadelphia Brights Meetup Group meets at 7 PM on the second Monday of the month at Barnes & Noble Cafe at 1805 Walnut Street.

Announcements for events of general interest to the skeptical or scientific community within a reasonable radius of Philadelphia are welcome for the PhACT Calendar, provided they are brief.

Letters and Articles Wanted

PhACT members and non-members are encouraged to submit letters and articles for publication. Topics can be diverse, excluding partisan politics and heavy religion bashing. Original poetry is also welcome. Submissions can be sent via email to [email protected].

Quackwatch

Joel M. Kauffman, PhD, of Berwyn, PA, writes about Quackwatch.com, noting that while some of its information is acceptable, much of it should not be cited without qualification.

Various Ruminations

This section, collected and written by Ray Haupt, includes several short pieces:

Judicial common sense in New Zealand?

This piece discusses a news item from ABC News about a New Zealand judge blocking a parent from naming their son "4Real." The judge ruled the name was unfair to the child, contrasting with celebrity baby names like "Apple" and "Moxie Crimefighter." The article notes that parents are under pressure to be different and often turn to consultants or numerologists for baby names.

The Send-Me-To-Another-Planet Department

This section reports that Winston Churchill has been removed from a list of key historical figures for teaching in English secondary schools, as part of a curriculum overhaul. Other figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, and Joseph Stalin are also being dropped, while Henry VIII and Elizabeth I might be removed. William Wilberforce remains on the list. The author questions the potential removal of figures like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln from an American History curriculum.

Global Warming

The article discusses the ongoing debate about global warming. While the common explanation involves CO2 emissions causing a greenhouse effect, some scientists, like Henrick Svensmark from the Danish National Space Center, suggest that solar activity and cosmic rays play a role by influencing cloud formation. Svensmark's research, funded by the Carlsberg Foundation, suggests that high solar activity reduces cosmic rays, leading to fewer clouds and a warmer planet. The article notes suspicion surrounding Svensmark's work, with some critics suggesting he is funded by an oil company, which is denied.

California anti-diploma-mill law expires

Dr. Stephen Barrett reports that California's 1989 law protecting students from "diploma mills" has expired. The state Bureau for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education has been shut down, though legislators are working on temporary restoration.

The Dubious Achievement Department

• This section highlights several dubious achievements:
• Mentally Ill Mouse: The Times (of London) reports that scientists have bred the world's first mentally ill mouse.
• Dr. Kent Hovind: A fiercely aggressive Young Earth Creationist, Dr. Kent Hovind, has taken residence in a Federal Penitentiary for tax evasion.
• "Pinky and The Brain" reference: A humorous exchange between "Brain" and "Pinky" references a computer corporation run by a "nerd" and Gumby's lack of profit participation.
• The Kingdom of God: A prediction is made that the "Kingdom of God" begins on March 23rd, 2008, with Armageddon occurring on March 21st, 2008, 6,000 years after Adam sinned. A website, www.truebiblecode.com, is cited.

Skeptical Podcasts: You'll Hardly Believe Your Ears

By Greg Lester, this article reviews skeptical podcasts, comparing them to the role of skeptical websites in the late 1990s. Podcasts are described as audio and video files downloadable for portable devices.

• Skeptic's Guide to the Universe (SGU): A weekly hour-long production from the New England Skeptical Society and the James Randi Educational Foundation. It features discussions on science news, conspiracy theories, and interviews, including one with President Jimmy Carter about UFO experiences. Available at www.theskepticsguide.org.
• Skepticality: The official biweekly podcast of The Skeptical Society's Skeptic magazine, hosted by Derek Colanduno and Robynn McCarthy. It features commentary and interviews, often with figures like Michael Shermer and James Randi.
• Skeptoid: A one-man show by Brian Dunning that provides thorough analyses of pseudoscience topics, often in the realm of Forteana. It is described as sober, insightful, and direct.
• The Penn Jillette Show: Mentioned as a now-defunct terrestrial radio program that ran from January 2006 to March 2007, known for its diverse content, including "Monkey Tuesday" and interviews with Richard Dawkins. Archived at www.pennfans.net.

The article concludes by promising a future look at other fringe podcasts like Skeptiko and Audiomartini.

Right or "Bright"

By Tom Napier, this essay explores the concept of "intellectual integrity." Napier quotes Bertrand Russell's definition: "the habit of deciding vexed questions in accordance with the evidence, or of leaving them undecided where the evidence is inconclusive." He argues that intellectual integrity involves adopting positions supported by evidence and avoiding illogical or inconsistent stances. Napier criticizes those who readily accept claims without sufficient evidence, such as psychic detectives, and discusses the difficulty of convincing skeptics of paranormal claims. He also touches on the term "Bright" as an all-inclusive term for skeptics and atheists, finding it irritating and silly, and suggests a compromise term "B-right" to signify intellectual integrity rather than a specific viewpoint.

Eric Hamell, a member of PhACT and organizer of the Philadelphia Brights Meetup Group, is mentioned. This group meets monthly at Barnes & Noble Cafe in Philadelphia to discuss critical thinking. Hamell is working on a critical thinking tract, a draft of which is available online.

Soundbites

• Compiled by Becky Strickland, this section presents a collection of quotes on various topics:
• Lawrence Krauss on the Creation Museum in Kentucky.
• Nancy Pelosi on embryonic stem cell research funding.
• George Bush on the ethical progression of stem cell science.
• Tim Worner on a multiple sclerosis treatment lobbying effort.
• Natalie Angier on the need for scientific literacy.
• Kevin Pardian on the emergence of Islamic creationist books.
• Robert Jaffe on the fundamental nature and assault on evolution.
• Lawrence Krauss on rejecting candidates who flaunt scientific illiteracy.

Strange Places - The Coney Island Mermaid Parade

By Jeff Clarke, with editing by Eric Krieg, this article describes the 25th anniversary of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade. The parade involves a celebrity King Neptune and Queen Mermaid, and participants dress in various costumes, including mermaids and pirates. The article notes the event brings out people from fringe and alternative lifestyles. It also touches on the potential redevelopment of Coney Island, with concerns that it might be paved over for condos, though the famous Cyclone roller coaster and the Freak Show building are expected to remain, ensuring the parade's continuation.

"Continental Drifters"

A cartoon on the final page illustrates the concept of tectonic plates and continental drift with the caption "CONTINENTAL DRIFTERS" A STORY OF MOLTEN LOVE ON GEOLOGICAL TIMESCALES.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes critical thinking, skepticism, and the scientific method. It actively debunks pseudoscience, cults, and unsubstantiated claims, often referencing well-known skeptics like James Randi. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and a rational approach to understanding the world. There is a strong emphasis on media criticism and the importance of accurate reporting. The publication also engages with current events and cultural phenomena through a skeptical lens.

Title: Phactum
Issue: July/August 2007
Volume: 11
Date: July/August 2007
Publisher: Phila. Assoc. for Critical Thinking
Country: USA
Language: English

Global Warming Fears - Part 2: Scientific or Manic?

This article, the second part of a series by Joel M. Kauffman, Ph.D., challenges the prevailing narrative of human-caused global warming. It asserts that claims of warming driven by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are false, and that historical temperature and CO2 concentration data are incorrect. The author presents evidence, primarily drawing from the work of Professor Zbignew Jaworowski, MD, PhD, DSc, to support these claims.

Questioning CO2 Data and Historical Records

The article focuses on the work of Professor Jaworowski, who examined CO2 concentration data. It highlights that Guy Stewart Callendar, considered by some as the father of modern "global warming," claimed fossil fuel burning had changed CO2 concentration from 274 ppm to 325 ppm in 1935, causing a 0.33 K warming. To support this, Callendar allegedly selected specific data points from Figure 1, rejecting higher and lower values, which the article labels as "obvious fraud."

Figure 1, illustrating average atmospheric CO2 concentrations measured in the 19th and 20th centuries, shows data points that Callendar allegedly manipulated. The article notes that values of 550 ppm in 1815, 1860, and 1866 were ignored, as were over 20 values above 400 ppm as late as 1941.

Ice Core Data and Alleged Manipulation

The article delves into the analysis of ice cores, particularly from Camp Century, Greenland, and Byrd, Antarctica. It notes that air bubbles in a 6000-year-old ice core from Greenland showed a CO2 concentration of 420 ppm, while a supposedly 6000-year-old core from Byrd, Antarctica, showed only 270 ppm. The validity of ice core dating is questioned, referencing the discovery of World War II planes buried in Greenland ice, found 47 years later at a depth inconsistent with oxygen isotope dating.

Jaworowski is cited stating that air from ice at Summit, Greenland, deposited over the last 200 years, shows a range of 243-641 ppm in CO2, suggesting this variation reflects sampling artifacts or natural processes rather than atmospheric changes.

Data Selection and Fraud in Ice Core Analysis

Figure 3 illustrates how data selection can skew results to match the global warming theory. The article details how measurements of CO2 concentrations in pre-industrial ice cores from Byrd, Antarctica, initially showed maximum values up to 500 ppmv (dots and bars). However, in later publications (1988), only values of 290 ppm or less were reported (gray areas), aligning with the global warming theory. This selective reporting is described as a "flagrant example of data selection."

Until 1985, published CO2 concentrations in air bubbles in pre-industrial ice reportedly ranged from 160-700 ppm, with occasional spikes up to 2450 ppm. After 1985, these high readings allegedly disappeared from publications.

The Siple Ice Core Example

Figure 4 provides an example from Siple, Antarctica, where original CO2 data from pre-industrial ice (Figure 4a) showed a peak at 330 ppm in 1891. These data were arbitrarily shifted to the right by assuming the occluded air was 83 years younger than the ice, to match infrared measurements commenced in 1957 (Figure 4b). This manipulation is presented as the basis for claims by the IPCC that pre-industrial CO2 concentrations were around 280 ppm and have since "skyrocketed." The article criticizes these infrared data, noting they were taken near a CO2-emitting volcano at Mauna Loa and were not confirmed by other assays.

Discrepancies and Alternative Explanations

The article mentions a discrepancy of 12 ppm higher CO2 concentration from chemical titration data compared to best chemical titration data of the period, which has not been resolved. It suggests that during the Little Ice Age (1700-1850), lower temperatures would have led to more CO2 dissolving in seawater, making steady concentrations before 1900 unlikely.

The author posits that solar cycles, not CO2 levels, determine climate. Laurence Hecht, Editor of 21st Century Science & Technology, is quoted stating that the hypothesis of human-produced carbon dioxide as the forcing mechanism for warming is "the most deeply and extensively studied, and by far the most discredited."

Conclusion and Editorial Stance

The article concludes by questioning the validity of the current CO2 record and the global warming theory, suggesting that scientific integrity has been compromised by data manipulation. The editorial stance, reinforced by a quote from George Santayana, emphasizes the importance of skepticism.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this article is the critical examination and questioning of the scientific consensus on anthropogenic global warming. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards the prevailing narrative, highlighting alleged data manipulation, selective reporting, and outright fraud in the scientific community's presentation of CO2 and temperature data. The article champions the idea that alternative factors, such as solar cycles, are more likely drivers of climate change, and advocates for rigorous scientific inquiry and a refusal to accept established theories without critical evaluation. The publication itself, Phactum, appears to align with this skeptical viewpoint, as indicated by its affiliation with the Phila. Assoc. for Critical Thinking and its focus on challenging widely accepted scientific claims.