REALL News - Vol 03 No 10 - 1995

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Issue: Volume 3 Issue 10
Date: October 1995
Publisher: The Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of The REALL News, dated October 1995, features a primary focus on the organization's participation in the Illinois Science Teachers Association (ISTA) annual conference held in Springfield. The newsletter covers various topics including the ongoing debate between creationism and evolution, the importance of critical thinking, and the examination of fringe science claims.

ISTA 1995

Written by David Bloomberg, the Chairman of REALL, this section details the organization's experience at the ISTA conference. REALL, along with partners like the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) and Gateway Skeptics, had a booth to disseminate information and counter creationist arguments. Bloomberg notes that while this year's conference was less 'exciting' than a previous one (which involved a creationist yelling), it was still a valuable opportunity to connect with teachers. He thanks several individuals for their support, including Ron Larkin, Frank Mazo, Bob Smet, Bob Ladendorf, and Romesh Kumbhani, who provided biological knowledge for potential debates. The NCSE provided creation/evolution pamphlets, CSICOP offered the Skeptical Inquirer and a skeptical UFO booklet, and the Skeptics Society provided an article on creationist arguments. The primary goal was to equip teachers with factual information to combat pseudo-science, as many educators already faced challenges from parents and school boards regarding the teaching of evolution.

Bloomberg recounts that some creationists initially misunderstood REALL's stance due to the titles of some materials, such as "The Misconceptions of Evolution." To clarify their position, they added more overtly skeptical materials like "Facts, Faith, and Fairness: Scientific Creationism Clouds Scientific Literacy" and a "Darwin fish" bumper sticker. He humorously asks if anyone has a life-sized cut-out of Darwin to borrow for future events.

The article also describes an encounter with a creationist teacher from Streator, Illinois, who claimed that "many of the top scientists are creationists" and that evolution was "based on faith." Bloomberg and Ron Larkin engaged with him, challenging his claims and pointing out logical fallacies. The teacher's assertion that top biologists were at Western Illinois University was questioned.

REALL emphasized critical thinking and the scientific method, encouraging teachers to apply these principles to fringe science claims. The next ISTA meeting is planned for the Chicago area, and REALL's attendance is uncertain unless volunteers step forward.

From the Editor: Sources

Bob Ladendorf, the Newsletter Editor, provides a 'Sources' section, which is the second in a series aimed at helping readers study science and pseudoscience.

Creationism

Ladendorf recommends the National Academy of Sciences' 28-page booklet, "Science and Creationism: A View from the National Academy of Sciences," originally published in 1984. It is described as a "clear, concise summary of the issues" and useful for school boards and teachers. The booklet can be ordered from NAS Press for $4.

UFOs

He also mentions the 20-page U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) report on the supposed UFO crash at Roswell, titled "Results of a Search for Records Concerning the 1947 Crash Near Roswell, New Mexico." The first copy is free, with additional copies costing $2.

From the Chairman: REALLity Check

David Bloomberg's "REALLity Check" column touches on several topics, beginning with a lighthearted Halloween theme.

Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA)

He announces an upcoming REALL meeting on November 7th at the Lincoln Library, which will feature a recent Frontline show examining claims of Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA). This is noted as a different show from the longer one on recovered memory claims.

"Silly Season" and the Alien Autopsy Video

Bloomberg addresses the "silly season" phenomenon where reporters focus on less substantial news. He discusses the "alien autopsy" video, stating he did not watch it, partly because it was widely considered a hoax even by many UFO believers by the time Fox aired it. He argues that focusing on the video's special effects is less important than pressing the film's proponent to allow actual testing of the film. He references UFO skeptic Phil Klass, who identified an anachronistic telephone in the video, suggesting it was filmed after 1956, not 1947.

Too Much Thinking!

This section highlights Laura Catherwood, a Springfield School Board candidate, who reportedly wants schools to focus on memorization rather than critical thinking and problem-solving. Catherwood also suggested teaching evolution alongside creationism as "theories." Bloomberg criticizes this, stating that schools can only include creationism by removing critical thinking from the curriculum, and that creationists misunderstand the meaning of a scientific theory.

Shoot the Moon

This brief item mentions that Cambodian authorities ordered police and soldiers not to fire guns at the moon during a solar eclipse to scare it, and women hid indoors to prevent "eclipse sickness" (mental retardation) in their children, illustrating a lack of critical thinking.

Milk It for All It's Worth

This piece discusses India's "milk miracle," where statues of Ganesha appeared to drink milk. The article notes that the All India Scientists and Rationalists Association explained this as capillary and surface tension. Scientists from the National Council for Science and Technology Communication demonstrated capillary action with red dye. The Delhi Science Forum suggested it was a conspiracy, and the government indicated it might be politically motivated.

Homeopathic Writing

Bloomberg critiques an article from the State Journal-Register's "Active Times" magazine on alternative medicine, describing the writing style as "homeopathic writing" because it was so diluted it said nothing. He summarizes the article as "Many people are looking to alternative medicine. Some people say it works, others say it doesn't." He specifically addresses claims about homeopathy having no side effects, arguing that this is because the doses are so diluted that there's a negligible chance of even one molecule of the substance being present, meaning it's unlikely to have any effect, positive or negative.

I Spy with My Third Eye

This section addresses the question of what harm belief in psychics can cause. Bloomberg shares a story about psychic detectives leading a woman to an empty lot where her daughter was supposedly lost, only for the psychics to later claim the daughter was dismembered and burned. He then introduces a new story about the CIA and Pentagon spending tax money on "psychic spies" for decades, citing Jack Anderson's column. He notes that Anderson seems to believe these claims, including the use of "extrasensory perception" for intelligence gathering. The project reportedly involved scientists like Russell Targ and Harold Putthoff, who tested Uri Geller. Bloomberg criticizes the tendency to laud successes while ignoring failures, calling it typical.

REALL Writing

This section reviews Steve Egger's book review of Richard Walker's new book, "The Running Dogs of Loyalty: Honest Reflections on a Magical Zoo." Egger, a REALL Board Member, praised the book for its "little tidbits" and its promotion of critical thinking. The book is recommended, and REALL members can receive a discount when ordering through REALL.

Masthead Information

This section includes details about the electronic version of the newsletter, subscription information, and the purpose of REALL. REALL is described as a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to rational thinking and applying the scientific method to paranormal and fringe-science claims. Its primary geographic region is central Illinois. REALL believes the scientific method is the most reliable system for obtaining knowledge and commits to objective, critical inquiry.

REALL Contacts

Contact information for David Bloomberg (Chairman) and Bob Ladendorf (Editor) is provided, along with their email addresses.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the promotion of critical thinking and the scientific method, the debunking of pseudoscience (creationism, UFO claims, alternative medicine, psychic phenomena), and the importance of science education. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical of unsubstantiated claims and advocates for evidence-based reasoning and rational inquiry. REALL positions itself as an organization dedicated to disseminating accurate information and fostering a scientific worldview, particularly within the educational context.