REALL News - Vol 08 No 07

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 8, Number 7, published in July 2000, is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). This issue features a lead article by Martin S. Kottmeyer questioning the widely circulated claim that H.G. Wells's "The War of the Worlds" was inspired by UFO sightings.

Was The War of the Worlds Inspired by UFOs?

Martin S. Kottmeyer investigates a claim originating from Bruce Rux's book "Hollywood vs. the Aliens" and a 1996 John Keel article in UFO Sightings. Rux suggests that Wells, while hospitalized in London around 1895-1897, received clippings about a "mystery airship mania" in the U.S. and concluded that these airships must have been of extraterrestrial origin, thus inspiring "The War of the Worlds." Rux further posits that Wells was the first to seriously propose Mars was inhabited in fictional garb, based on UFO reports of his time.

Kottmeyer refutes this theory by examining Wells's biography and scholarly analyses of "The War of the Worlds." He notes that Wells's life is well-documented, and no standard works mention airship clippings as an inspiration. David Smith's biography suggests the inspiration came from the British extermination of Tasmanians and the "Mars mania" of the era. The magazine also highlights the extensive scientific and public interest in Mars during the late 1880s and 1890s, with observatories, prize offers for communication, and speculation about Martian canals by Percival Lowell.

The article points out that "The War of the Worlds" primarily features Martians in walking tripods, with flying machines playing a minor role. Kottmeyer also debunks Rux's claim that Wells was the first to propose Martian life, citing numerous "interplanetary" fiction works from the mid-1880s and 1890s that explored this theme, including works by Henre de Parville, Percy Greg, Robert Cromie, Camille Flammarion, Gustavus Pope, George du Maurier, and Kurd Lasswitz. These earlier works often depicted Mars as an older, more advanced, or even decadent world with intelligent inhabitants.

In conclusion, Kottmeyer states that Rux's tale is "nonsense in every detail" and that "The War of the Worlds" was not inspired by UFOs.

From the Editor

Editor Wally Hartshorn welcomes readers to the issue, mentioning personal challenges with his computer and desktop publishing software. He highlights Martin Kottmeyer's article and David Bloomberg's "REALLity Check" column. Hartshorn also announces his engagement to Dawn.

From the Chairman

David Bloomberg congratulates Wally Hartshorn and Dawn on their engagement. He reports on the low turnout for the June REALL meeting and announces that the Second Annual Skeptic Jeopardy game has been postponed due to rain and the July 4th holiday, with the rescheduled game set for the August meeting.

Bloomberg also announces new board members Rich Walker and Clark Olson, and the departure of Steve Egger. Clark Olson provides a brief introduction about his background in biology and his work in environmental protection.

REALLity Check

David Bloomberg's "REALLity Check" column covers several topics:

• Museum of Falsehoods: It discusses Ken Ham's plan to build a "creation science" museum in Kentucky, featuring exhibits on superfast plate tectonics and radiometric dating, and criticizes the circular reasoning used to support young-Earth creationism.
• No Miracles, Only Death: This section reports on four deaths in Kenya that occurred while people were waiting for evangelist Benny Hinn to provide miracle cures, highlighting the desperation for healthcare in the region.
• It's a very dangerous thing, Part 2: This part of the column addresses President Mbeki of South Africa's stance on AIDS, which flirts with scientifically discredited ideas. It discusses the controversy surrounding Mbeki's views, the scientific community's response, and the clash between culture and science in addressing the AIDS crisis.
• From Doc to Quack: The column discusses an article by Dr. Dean Edell on how doctors can become quacks, citing reasons such as midlife crises, divorce, spiritual experiences, boredom, and the "prophet motive."
• More Dr. Dean: This section mentions Dr. Dean Edell's radio show, TV segments, and website, and briefly covers topics like ear candling (coning) and the FTC's action against companies making bogus health claims about magnets.
• FTC In Action: It details the FTC's actions against manufacturers of "dietary supplements" for false claims and the settlement reached with makers of "The Enforma System" for deceptive advertising.
• Not So Healthy, Part 4: This segment discusses the potential dangers and side effects of various herbs and supplements, including St. John's wort, Ma Huang, Mate, Guarana, and Shankapulshpi, and notes their interactions with medications. It also mentions a Chinese herb, Aristolochia fangchi, linked to kidney failure and cancer.
• Only in Illinois: The column reports on HMO Illinois contracting with Alternative Medicine Inc. to allow chiropractors to serve as primary care physicians.
• Where'd They Go?: Dr. Dean Edell's article questioning the stance of some chiropractors who believe vaccinations are evil is discussed, with statistics showing the dramatic decline of infectious diseases following vaccination campaigns.
• This is the Best They Could Do?: This section criticizes the Ramsey parents for posting a sketch of a suspect based on a "psychic" vision, questioning the validity of such evidence.
• Speaking of Psychics and Dead People: The column mentions James Van Praagh's appearance in USA Weekend magazine and his claims of communicating with the dead.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The REALL News consistently promotes rational thinking, critical inquiry, and the scientific method. The magazine actively debunks pseudoscience, quackery, and unsubstantiated claims across various fields, including ufology, alternative medicine, and creationism. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, advocating for evidence-based conclusions and cautioning against belief in "nonsense."