REALL News - Vol 09 No 02 - 2001

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 9, Number 2, dated February 2001, is the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). It is a publication dedicated to promoting rational thinking and the scientific method in examining paranormal and fringe-science claims. This issue, marking REALL's 8th anniversary, features a special edition with a focus on anti-evolutionary arguments and the scrutiny of psychic phenomena.

Jack Chick and Evolution

This article by John Blanton examines the work of Jack Chick, a prolific creator of illustrated gospel tracts who also actively promotes anti-evolutionary views. Chick's tracts, available in nearly 100 languages, are described as pushing 'old time religion' and also expressing strong opposition to evolution. The article highlights Chick's website, which showcases his work, and references his review of Scott M. Huse's book, 'The Collapse of Evolution.'

The piece discusses Chick's use of the bombardier beetle as an example of a creature creationists argue could not have evolved through small steps. It also analyzes Chick's cartoon booklet, 'In the Beginning,' which uses a narrative of a 'Computer Man' to debunk evolution, stating that 'Evolution is the religion of scientists who laugh at God.' The article notes that Chick equates evolutionary belief with a lack of faith in God, citing Psalms 14:1. The author points out that Chick's writings, while primarily focused on fundamentalist Protestant ideology, frequently address the anti-evolution theme, citing 'Primal Man?' as another example where evolution is deemed impossible.

From the Chairman

David Bloomberg, Chairman of REALL, reflects on the 8th anniversary of the newsletter and encourages members to contribute articles. He notes that while he has a reserve of 'Straight Dope' articles, the organization is always looking for contributions from members who possess unique knowledge on topics covered by REALL.

8th Anniversary Meeting

The newsletter announces a special anniversary meeting featuring Professor Malcolm Levin, who will speak on 'How to Prepare to Give a Lecture to a Creationist Organization.' Levin's presentation will draw from his experience giving lectures about evolution to creationist groups, focusing on how to effectively present scientific arguments and address creationist challenges.

Evolution Presentations in Rockford

Information is provided about 'PaleoFest 2001' at the Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford, Illinois. The event features Niles Eldredge, who will give talks on 'punctuated equilibria' and general evolution, discussing topics from his book 'The Triumph of Evolution and the Failure of Creationism.' Other speakers at the festival are also listed.

REALLity Check

This section, written by David Bloomberg, reviews various claims and events related to psychic phenomena and skepticism.

I see... bars

The article reports on the sentencing of 'psychic' Tammy Williams to 19 years in prison for defrauding people of over $100,000 through fortune-telling scams. It notes that the Gypsy Council of America offered restitution, but the DA refused. The scam is compared to others, emphasizing how such cons continue to work.

I see... money

This part contrasts Tammy Williams's legal troubles with the success of John Edward, a psychic with a television show, 'Crossing Over.' Edward's show has been sold into syndication, reaching major markets. The article criticizes Dateline NBC for its handling of psychic investigations, suggesting they did not thoroughly debunk claims.

I see... that too few people will read this

This segment reviews an article from Brill's Content magazine about psychic Sylvia Browne. Joseph Gomes examined Browne's claims, finding that her pronouncements were often vague and lacked verifiable evidence. The article notes that talk-show hosts often endorse Browne's claims without critical examination, citing an example where a detective stated Browne's predictions were inaccurate.

REALLity Checklist—2000 in Review

David Bloomberg presents his annual review of the best and worst stories and events of the year 2000.

Best Central Illinois Story

The story highlights the State Journal-Register's report on Sangamon County Sheriff's Deputy Tony Sacco, who fell for an urban legend about HIV-infected needles on gas pumps. Sacco sent an internal memo warning about the danger, which was later exposed as a hoax. The article also amusingly recalls Sheriff Neil Williamson falling prey to an urban legend years prior.

Best Rest of Illinois Story

This award goes to the Chicago Tribune for its front-page story featuring Dorothy Bimbo, a self-proclaimed psychic arrested for fraud. The article notes that psychics often use the 'cursed' scam to bilk victims, with fortune tellers making significant amounts of money.

Worst Local Stories

The Bloomington Pantagraph is criticized for multiple articles that lacked skeptical content, including features on a psychic fair, an 'energy healer,' and creationism. The article points to a pattern of uncritical reporting on paranormal and fringe topics.

Worst National Political Move

This award is given to New York City for its welfare-to-work program that hired welfare recipients to work on psychic hotlines. The article notes the irony of using taxpayer funds to train people for jobs that involve deceptive practices.

Worst International Political Move

South African President Thabo Mbeki is criticized for bringing AIDS denier Peter Duesberg into a scientific discussion about AIDS. The article also mentions the South African Health Minister's refusal to confirm that HIV causes AIDS and her reluctance to use antiretroviral drugs. It references the declaration signed by over 5,000 scientists affirming that HIV causes AIDS.

Best Political Move

The voters of Kansas are recognized for removing anti-evolution state school board members. A Chicago Tribune editorial is quoted, suggesting that this action sent a message about the state's stance on creationism.

Best Research

The Fordham Foundation receives an award for its study on the teaching of evolution in U.S. states. Illinois received a 'D' grade, with the article noting pressure from a conservative Christian group that led to the avoidance of the word 'evolution' in state standards.

Psychic Claims and Evidence Don't Add Up

This article by David Bloomberg, reprinted from 'The Straight Dope,' investigates claims related to psychic phenomena.

Edgar Cayce, the "sleeping prophet"

The article questions the claims surrounding Edgar Cayce, noting that while he performed trance sessions for diagnoses and treatments, many of his predictions were vague. It points out that his readings were often assisted by stenographers and that the transcripts themselves do not prove accuracy. The article cites sources like 'The Skeptic's Dictionary' and Michael Shermer, who suggest that Cayce's knowledge could have come from his extensive reading and assistants rather than psychic ability. Failures in his family healing and instances where he advised on readings for deceased individuals are also highlighted.

Nostradamus

This section addresses a legend about Nostradamus's tomb being discovered on a specific date, with a soldier who opened it being killed. The article dismisses this as an urban myth, citing the Nostradamus Repository, and notes that his tomb was moved multiple times. It also points out the contradictory translations of a relevant quatrain (Century 9, Quatrain 7) and suggests that the legend lacks evidence.

Ganzfeld Experiments

The article explains 'ganzfeld' experiments, which aim to test for ESP by creating a sensory deprivation environment. It discusses studies by Daryl Bem and Charles Honorton, which reported hit rates above chance. However, it also references critiques by Ray Hyman and a follow-up meta-analysis by Julie Milton and Richard Wiseman, which found results consistent with chance performance. The article questions the methodology and the interpretation of results, particularly regarding potential experimenter bias and the vagueness of verbal descriptions.

Jeane Dixon

This part briefly touches upon Jeane Dixon's prediction of President Kennedy's death, acknowledging its fame. It mentions other alleged predictions, such as those related to the Exxon Valdez and AIDS, but implies that many other predictions were false.

Jack Chick and Evolution (Continued)

This continuation of the first article details more of Jack Chick's anti-evolutionary materials. It discusses his book 'The Ark,' which involves an expedition searching for Noah's Ark and mentions creation seminar video series by Kent Hovind. Hovind's series covers topics such as the age of the Earth, the Garden of Eden, dinosaurs and the Bible, evolution in textbooks, the link between evolution and communism/Nazism, and the 'Hovind Theory' explaining geological phenomena. The article also mentions Chick's 'Evolution Poster,' which uses humor to critique various fossil finds like Heidelberg Man, Nebraska Man, Piltdown Man, Peking Man, Neanderthal Man, and Cro-Magnon Man, concluding that these are presented as evidence against evolution.

The article notes that Chick also criticizes Catholicism, Masonry, Islam, and certain versions of the Bible. It contrasts the 'obvious nonsense' of extremists like Chick with serious scientists who critique evolution, suggesting that the quality of an idea can be gauged by its enemies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The REALL News consistently promotes a skeptical and rational approach to claims of the paranormal and fringe science. The publication actively debunks pseudoscience, particularly creationism and psychic phenomena, by presenting scientific evidence and critical analysis. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of established scientific consensus and critical thinking, often highlighting the lack of verifiable evidence or the presence of scams in pseudoscientific claims. The newsletter aims to educate its readers and encourage them to question unsubstantiated assertions, as demonstrated by its detailed reviews and critiques of various topics and individuals within this issue.

Title: The REALL News
Issue Date: February 2001
Publisher: Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL)

This issue of The REALL News focuses on debunking pseudoscientific claims and promoting critical thinking, with articles critiquing media coverage of psychics and discussing the evolution vs. creationism debate.

"REALLity Check" and Media Criticism

The section "REALLity Check" (continued from page 3) expresses frustration with media outlets that "don't solve cases, and the media consistently gets it wrong." The author wishes their article could reach a wider audience.

"I see... A Big Failure"

This article critiques the Chicago Tribune's decision to have a psychic make predictions for the new "Survivor" series. The author highlights the psychic's incorrect prediction that Debb Eaton would win, contrasting it with spoiler information from Survivor websites. These websites analyzed promotional materials, photographs, and interviews to deduce that Eaton was the first to be voted off, a conclusion the author deems more reliable than the psychic's "magical powers." The author expresses satisfaction in seeing a psychic "going down in flames" and intends to follow other vague psychic predictions mentioned in the article, noting that most people quickly forget such misses.

"Psychic Claims" and Debunking

Debunking Mrs. Dixon's Predictions

This section (continued from page 9) addresses the claims of a psychic named Mrs. Dixon. The article notes that the Skeptic's Dictionary states Ms. Dixon was "never correct in any prediction of any consequence." Her obituary in USA Today is cited as an example of how she was presented in a "skepticism-free media," specifically mentioning her prediction that President John F. Kennedy would die in office.

The article points out that the original blurb in Parade magazine on May 13, 1956, was less specific, stating that "As for the 1960 election Mrs. Dixon thinks it will be dominated by labor and won by a Democrat. But he will be assassinated or die in office 'though not necessarily in his first term.'" The author characterizes this as "less equivocal than most 'psychic' predictions, but really just a lucky guess which grew in the retelling."

The core criticism is that in 1960, Mrs. Dixon forecast that Kennedy would *not* win the election. This specific prediction is often ignored by those who perpetuate the myth of her accuracy. The article argues that she made a lot of vague predictions, some contradictory, and relied on people to remember only those that could be retrospectively fitted to a "hit" with hindsight, while forgetting the numerous misses. This technique, the author states, is used globally and still fools people, with P.T. Barnum being invoked as a comparison for such manipulation.

"Jack Chick and Evolution"

This section includes references for an article on "Jack Chick and Evolution" (continued from page 10). The references point to websites and articles discussing the evolution/creation controversy, creation science education, and cryptozoology. John Blanton, identified as the Secretary of the North Texas Skeptics, is credited as the author, and the article is reprinted by permission from The North Texas Skeptic.

Event Announcement

Our 8th Anniversary Meeting

How to Prepare to Give a Lecture to a Creationist Organization

By Professor Malcolm Levin

This announcement details an upcoming event hosted by the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). Professor Malcolm Levin will discuss how he gave a lecture about evolution to the Creation Club at Lincoln Land Community College. His presentation will cover issues in the context of seminars and lectures he has given at his University of Illinois at Springfield class on creation/evolution.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, at 7:00 PM, at the Lincoln Library (7th & Capitol) in Springfield, Illinois. It is free and open to the public. The REALL organization's address is provided as P.O. Box 20302, Springfield IL 62708.

Quote

The issue concludes with a quote attributed to Francis Bacon: "If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, particularly psychic predictions, and a critical examination of media reporting on such topics. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific reasoning and evidence-based analysis, actively debunking what it perceives as pseudoscience and manipulation. The promotion of critical thinking is evident, especially in the context of the evolution vs. creationism debate, as highlighted by the announcement of Professor Malcolm Levin's lecture.