Phactum - 2009 03 - March

Magazine Overview

Title: Phactum
Issue: March 2009
Publisher: Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of Phactum, the newsletter of the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, prominently features the topic "The Devil in Dover," delving into the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial. The cover includes a quote from Dr. Joseph Goebbels about the state's suppression of truth and a cartoon related to evolution. The issue also includes a calendar of upcoming events, discussions on science and religion, critical thinking, and various other articles and letters.

The Devil in Dover

The lead article discusses an upcoming PhACT meeting on March 21, 2009, featuring journalist Lauri Lebo, author of "The Devil in Dover." The meeting will focus on the Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District trial (September 26 - November 4, 2005), presided over by Judge John E. Jones, III. Lauri Lebo, a reporter who covered the trial and a resident of the Dover area, offers a perspective that emphasizes the personal impact of the trial on the participants rather than solely the legal issues. She suggests that while science may have been the winner, the cost to the individuals involved was significant, with no clear "winners" emerging from the dispute. The article also references a book by Mike Rosulek titled "Very Gradual Change: We Can Believe In."

A continuation of the article on page 4 elaborates on the Dover trial, describing it as a "fascinating and expensive legal debacle" that ultimately affirmed science in the teaching of evolution but left a "lingering divisive force in the community." The book "The Devil in Dover: An Insider's Story of Dogma v. Darwin in Small-town America" is described as a 256-page hardcover published by New Press in May 2008 for $24.95. It is summarized as a "brilliant account of the 'Intelligent Design' case in Dover, Pennsylvania." The book traces the backstory of the school board's decision to teach intelligent design in ninth-grade biology classes, which led to a federal constitutional challenge filed by eleven parents. Lebo, as a small-town reporter, provides insight into the legal case, the science, and the people involved. The trial is characterized as a "perfect storm of religious intolerance, First Amendment violations, and an assault on American science education." The judge's condemnation of the school board's decision as "breathtaking inanity" is highlighted. Lebo's personal connection as a "local girl" with a fundamentalist Christian father adds a unique dimension to her account, as she explores the cultural conflicts and the responsibilities of journalists covering such stories. Lebo's journalistic background includes solving civil rights-era murders and covering intelligent design's First Amendment battle.

PhACT Calendar and Events

The newsletter includes a comprehensive calendar of upcoming events hosted by PhACT and related organizations in the Philadelphia area.

• March 21, 2009: A meeting featuring journalist Lauri Lebo discussing "The Dover Evolution/Intelligent Design Trial" at the Community College of Philadelphia.
• April 18, 2009: A talk on "Teaching critical thinking" by Sharon Schwarze and Harvey Lape, authors of "Thinking Socratically."
• May 30, 2009: An annual luncheon meeting with Philadelphia Inquirer Science Writer Fay Flamm.
• March 13, 2009: Delaware Valley Mensa General Membership Meeting.
• March 31, 2009: A presentation on "The Art of Kabuki" at the University of Pennsylvania Museum.

Additionally, a series of lectures by Dr. Keith Ward on "The Big Questions in Science and Religion" are scheduled from March 16-21, 2009, covering topics such as the existence of God, the origin of the universe, the role of science, and the nature of miracles. These are free and open to the public.

• March 17, 2009: "Why There Almost Certainly Is a God: Doubting Dawkins"
• March 18, 2009: "How Did the Universe Begin?"
• March 19, 2009: "Is Science the Only Sure Path to Truth?"
• March 20, 2009: "Considering God 200 Years After Darwin"
• March 21, 2009: "Do the Laws of Nature Exclude Miracles?"

Another event is a lecture by Dr. May R. Berenbaum on March 28, 2009, at the Wagner Free Institute of Science, discussing "BSI" -- The Case of the Disappearing Bees, focusing on the pollinator crisis and colony collapse disorder.

Courses sponsored by the Wagner Free Institute of Science are also listed, including "Park, Cemetery, and Garden: The Landscapes of Philadelphia" and "Spring Flora of Fairmount Park." These courses are free and open to the public.

A Socrates Cafe discussion group meets every Monday at the Springfield Township Library.

Science and Health

• Free Energy Huckster: PhACT President Eric Krieg and Dr. Robert Park will appear on "Dateline" in a segment about "Free Energy" proponent Dennis Lee.
• Antioxidant Use and Cancer Risk: Dr. Stephen Barrett reports on a study linking long-term use of beta-carotene, retinol, and lutein supplements to an increased risk of lung cancer.

Various Ruminations

This section, collected by Ray Haupt, covers several diverse topics:

• Snake Charming: A report from The Telegraph details a protest by 1,000 snake charmers in Calcutta against a wildlife protection bill that would ban their profession, impacting the Bedia community. Charmers are lobbying for exemptions or state support for retraining, suggesting snake farms for anti-venom development.
• Conservapedia: The newsletter highlights Conservapedia as a website similar to Wikipedia but with a fundamental religious viewpoint, citing entries that question the timeline of human existence and endorse the film "Expelled."
• Scientific Progress: A quote from Dr. Ted Daeschler, curator of paleontology at the Academy of Natural Sciences, affirms the strength of the scientific process and the enduring validity of Darwin's ideas on evolution.
• Titanoboa cerrejonensis: Scientists announced the discovery of 60 million-year-old fossils of giant snakes in Colombia, estimated to be 42-45 feet long and weighing 2,500 pounds. These creatures lived after the dinosaurs and may have been the largest land animals of their time. The discovery suggests that the Earth was hotter during that epoch, with higher atmospheric CO2 levels.
• Big Snake in Borneo: An aerial photograph from Borneo is presented, possibly showing a legendary 100-foot-long snake called the Nabau. While some suggest the image is altered or a log, others believe it depicts the mythical creature.
• Outrageous!!! Saudi Court Sentences: A Saudi Arabian court sentenced a 75-year-old Syrian woman to 40 lashes and imprisonment for "mingling" with unrelated men who were delivering bread. The men also received punishments. The article questions the country's dependence on such a regime and advocates for energy independence, particularly civilian nuclear power.

Letters to the Editor

Several letters are included:

• Stephen Barrett, M.D.: A letter from Stephen Barrett, who operates quackwatch.org, clarifies that a previous Phactum letter contained false, misleading, and defamatory statements as part of a libel campaign against him.
• Becky Strickland: Comments on a local news story about lottery winners, questioning the newscaster's statistical accuracy.
• Howard J. Wilk: Discusses the definition of the meter in the International System of Units and its relation to the speed of light, noting a slight discrepancy in the speed of light in kilometers per second.
• Howard J. Wilk: Responds to Alfred Erpel's essay on morality, questioning the sole focus on human well-being and the potential implications for environmental ethics and social minorities.
• Janet Gillease: Praises the newsletter and suggests morphing it into a blog site.
• Eric Hamell: Critiques Ayn Rand's individualism and atheism, arguing that while appealing to some skeptics, she was not an exemplar of critical thinking and that her views on private property and civilization reflect ideological prejudice.
• Tom Napier: Refers to an earlier mention of Milton Rothman and his article on "Cold Fusion: A Case History in 'Wishful Science'?" from the Skeptical Inquirer.

Response to Erpel's "Morality"

Paul Schlueter III responds to Alfred Erpel's essay on morality. Schlueter appreciates Erpel's premise that "there is nothing more important than people" but raises concerns about the environmental and ecosystem implications. He questions the morality of exterminating a portion of the population (specifically the wealthy) to benefit the majority, and also touches upon the potential elimination of social minorities based on intelligence.

"The Origin of Humanness"

This section reports on a lecture by Dr. Alan Mann, an anthropologist at Princeton University, who discussed uniquely human behaviors and primitive art found in caves in Spain and France. A portrait of a Bison from Altamira, Spain, circa 15,000 BC, is shown.

January 2009 Meeting Report

Eric Krieg reports on a talk by Dan Falk, a Toronto science journalist, about his book "In Search of Time." The talk covered the history and physics of time measurement, relativity, and time travel. Falk's research involved interviews with anthropologists, historians, clock builders, physicists, mathematicians, and philosophers. The report touches on the definition of time, astronomical observations, the development of clocks, and the challenges of defining units of time, including relativistic effects and the possibility of time travel.

February 2009 Meeting Report

Becky Strickland reports on a talk by Dr. Barrie Cassileth, Chief of Integrative Medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Cassileth clarified that integrative medicine is not pharmacologic or CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) and stated that there are "no viable alternatives to mainstream cancer care." She explained that integrative medicine treats physical and emotional symptoms from cancer treatments and includes therapies like massage, meditation, acupuncture, and yoga. Research on massage and acupuncture was discussed, with acupuncture shown to be effective in relieving shortness of breath, hot flashes, pain, and dry mouth. Massage research indicated a 50% drop in pain, fatigue, stress, nausea, and depression for up to 48 hours. Nutritional supplements were noted as not preventing or curing cancer but potentially strengthening both cancer and healthy cells. Cassileth advised against eating "anything your grandmother wouldn't recognize as food" and cautioned against herbal supplements due to potential harm and interference with chemotherapy. The report also provides information on Arnica Montana, a homeopathic remedy, detailing its purported uses, constituents, mechanism of action, warnings, adverse reactions, and herb-drug interactions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Phactum revolve around critical thinking, the separation of science and religion, and the debunking of pseudoscience and unsubstantiated claims. The newsletter consistently promotes a skeptical viewpoint, evident in its coverage of the Dover trial, its discussions on the limitations of alternative medicine, and its critique of figures like Ayn Rand and Dennis Lee. The editorial stance favors evidence-based reasoning and scientific literacy, encouraging readers to question dogma and embrace rational inquiry. The inclusion of event listings for local skeptical and scientific organizations further reinforces this commitment to promoting critical discourse within the community.

Title: Phactum
Issue: March 2009
Publisher: Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking
Document Type: Magazine Issue

The Good: Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

The issue begins with a brief description of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in southern New Jersey. This refuge spans over 43,000 acres and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is highlighted as a crucial habitat for migratory birds, featuring tidal salt marshes, shallow coves, and bays that support water birds, fish, and shellfish. The refuge's location on the Atlantic Flyway makes it an active flight path for birds. Visitors can access the refuge via Great Creek Road from Route 9 in Oceanville, New Jersey.

The Bad: Major Quack Device Marketer Jailed

This section details the conviction of James Folsom on 26 felony counts for selling quack medical devices. For over ten years, Folsom conspired with others to distribute Rife-type biofrequency devices. Royal Raymond Rife (1888-1971) claimed these devices emitted vibrations that could destroy cancer-causing bacteria. Folsom was a former associate of Kimberly Bailey, who was sentenced to life in prison for plotting a murder. John Bryon Krueger, associated with the 'Royal Rife Research Society,' received a 12-year sentence for his role. Further details and court documents are available at http://www.devicewatch.org/reports/rife/folsom.shtml. This report was noted in Dr. Stephen Barrett's Consumer Health Digest on February 26, 2009.

The Ugly: Dr. Karl Brandt

This section recounts the story of Dr. Karl Brandt (1904-1948), Hitler's personal physician. In August 1944, he was appointed Reich Commissioner for Sanitation and Health, becoming the highest Reich authority in health matters. Brandt was involved in the Nazi euthanasia program, which systematically executed the aged, insane, incurably ill, and deformed children. These individuals were deemed 'useless eaters.' Karl Brandt was one of 15 defendants found guilty of war crimes at the Doctors Trial and was executed by hanging on June 2, 1948, at Landsberg prison in Bavaria.

It's All Relative, Isn't It? By Tom Napier

This article delves into the history of physics, dividing it into Classical Physics (Newton to Max Planck) and Modern Physics (Max Planck to the present). The transition point is marked by Max Planck's 1900 proposal of quantized light energy and Albert Einstein's 1905 Theory of Special Relativity, which challenged the Newtonian concept of absolute velocity. The author discusses the Michelson-Morley experiment, which failed to detect the 'luminiferous ether' that physicists believed permeated space and transmitted light. The experiment's null result, which showed no detectable ether drift, was later explained by Einstein's theory, which posits that light travels at a constant speed relative to the observer and that there is no absolute reference frame for velocity. The article also touches upon the 'Twin Paradox' in Special Relativity, explaining that the space-faring twin would be younger due to accelerations experienced, requiring General Relativity for a full computation. The author uses the example of GPS satellites to demonstrate the real-world application and confirmation of both Special and General Relativity, as their clocks require constant software corrections for time dilation due to motion and altitude.

Of Lightning, and the Method (Now Used in America) of Securing Buildings and Persons from Its Mischievous Effects

This historical piece, attributed to B. F. Franklin and dated Paris, September 1767, explains the nature of lightning and electricity as a subtle fluid. It details how this fluid seeks equilibrium and can be conducted through various materials. Metals and water are identified as good conductors, while glass, wax, and dry wood are non-conductors. The article explains the concept of 'striking distance' and how lightning can discharge between clouds or from clouds to the earth. It emphasizes the effectiveness of pointed rods made of metal, extending from the highest point of a building into the moist earth, as a means to safely conduct lightning and prevent damage. The text also provides advice for people seeking shelter during thunderstorms, recommending they avoid areas near chimneys or metal objects and suggesting the safest place is the middle of a room, ideally with mattresses for insulation.

Luminous Birds and the Paranormal By Don Nigroni

This article explores the phenomenon of mysterious nocturnal lights, suggesting they might be luminous birds rather than supernatural entities like angels or fairies. It references historical sightings, such as those in Norfolk, England, between 1907 and 1908, which were attributed to barn owls with potential bioluminescent fungal infections. The author lists several theories for bird luminosity, including contact with bioluminescent fungi, secondary bioluminescence from marine organisms, the application of luminous paint, and speculation about powder down patches in herons. The article notes that while no birds are definitively known to be bioluminescent, the sight of a moving glowing light at night could easily be mistaken for ghosts or alien spaceships in different eras. The author, Don Nigroni, is introduced as an economist with a background in philosophy who retired after working for the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Does Science Make Belief in God Obsolete? By Dr. E. Robert Libby

This lecture by Dr. E. Robert Libby examines the relationship between science and religion. It posits that science is a powerful method for discovering truth, while religion is a primary source of meaning. The article highlights the conflict between modern science, which often denies religious claims due to a lack of empirical evidence, and pre-modern religions that may deny the validity of the scientific framework. It discusses how science has provided explanations for phenomena previously attributed to divine intervention, such as the origin of the universe and the diversity of life, challenging literal interpretations of religious texts. However, the author also acknowledges that religion provides meaning and support for billions of people and that the Golden Rule, a common ethical principle across religions, promotes consideration for others. The article concludes that science does not threaten faith, nor does faith need to reject science, suggesting that both will continue to coexist.

Sense About Science: Detox

This section reports on concerns raised by Professor Edzard Ernst regarding Duchy Original Detox Tincture, sold by Prince Charles' company. Ernst, the UK's first professor of complementary medicine, described the tincture, made with globe artichoke and dandelion, as "outright quackery" with no scientific evidence of efficacy. Tom Wells of Voice of Young Scientists criticized the company for selling meaningless products at a high price. The article notes Prince Charles' enthusiasm for homeopathy and mentions that European royals have historically been treated with homeopathic remedies. It contrasts this with the development of effective typhoid vaccines by Sir Almroth Edward Wright and Frederick F. Russell, and notes the deaths of Prince Albert and Wilber Wright from typhoid, suggesting that modern medicine was more effective than homeopathic treatments available at the time.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a skeptical and scientific viewpoint, critically examining claims that lack empirical evidence. This is evident in the articles on quack medical devices, the discussion of physics and relativity, the critique of homeopathy, and the examination of the science versus religion debate. The publication, Phactum, serves as the propaganda organ for the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, indicating a clear editorial stance in favor of rational inquiry and evidence-based reasoning. The 'Coming Soon' section also highlights the magazine's commitment to publishing articles of interest to skeptics and science-minded people, while avoiding partisan politics and religion-bashing.