REALL News - Vol 09 No 08 - 2001

Magazine Overview

Title: The REALL News
Issue Date: August 2001
Volume: 9, Number 8
Publisher: Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL)
Country of Publication: USA
Original Language: English

This issue of The REALL News, the official newsletter of the Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land, focuses on critical examination of claims related to creationism, UFOs, and purported mysteries. The publication emphasizes rational thinking and the scientific method.

Quote Mining: The Tradition Continues

This feature article by Karen E. Bartelt, Ph.D., critically analyzes a lecture given by Frank Sherwin III, a representative of the Institute for Creation Research (ICR), at Eureka College on April 5, 2001. Bartelt details how Sherwin allegedly employed "quote mining"—taking scientific statements out of context—to support creationist arguments. The article provides specific examples of Sherwin's misrepresentations, contrasting his claims with the original scientific context from papers by Nei et al. (2001), Palumbi (1994), Weld and McNew (1999), Lemley (2000), Klein et al. (1998), Stern (2000), Maddox (1994), Springer (2001), Endler and McLellan (1988), and Yokoyama (2000).

Bartelt argues that Sherwin's evidence for creationism consisted primarily of these out-of-context quotes, with minimal scientific exposition. The lecture, attended by an estimated 250-300 people, included a brief discussion of the bacterial flagellum, where Sherwin made an analogy to jet engines to argue for design, and also touched on bats as examples of design. The author notes that Sherwin's arguments often relied on misinterpreting or omitting crucial parts of the original scientific works, and that his presentation was more about convincing a sympathetic audience than engaging in rigorous scientific debate.

New Fox Show Tries to Solve Non-Mysteries

This article by David Bloomberg reviews the Fox television show "Million Dollar Mysteries." Bloomberg critiques the show for its sensationalist approach and for presenting purported mysteries that he considers easily debunked or not genuine mysteries at all. The review highlights several segments:

• Extraterrestrial Spacecraft: The show mentioned a reward for a scientifically verifiable piece of an alien craft offered by the International UFO Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico, which Bloomberg dismisses as unlikely to be claimed.
• Roswell Incident: The show presented the Roswell incident as "hotly debated," referencing the Air Force report about Project Mogul but failing to emphasize the overwhelming evidence pointing to Mogul as the explanation for the event.
• Noah's Ark: A $2,000,000 reward was offered for proof of Noah's Ark. The show discussed satellite images of boat-shaped rock formations on Mt. Ararat and expeditions by the Biblical Archaeological Search & Exploration (BASE) Institute, concluding that the formations are indeed boat-shaped rocks, not an ark.
• Princess Diana's Death: The show covered the circumstances of Princess Diana's death, noting Al Fayed's father's offer of a reward for information and his belief that the accident was not accidental, but rather a conspiracy. Bloomberg dismisses this as a typical conspiracy theory.

Bloomberg concludes that the show's credibility is low, especially when it airs content that promotes conspiracy theories, such as the moon landing conspiracy.

From the Chairman

David Bloomberg, Chairman of REALL, discusses an upcoming special meeting. He apologizes for a scheduling change from the usual first Tuesday of the month due to the visit of Massimo Polidoro, a noted Italian skeptic. Polidoro, co-founder and Executive Director of the Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, will give a talk titled "Houdini: A Magician Among the Spirits," focusing on Harry Houdini's life and his battle against psychic fakery.

Special August Meeting!

This section provides details for the special August meeting featuring Massimo Polidoro. The meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 11, at 1:30 PM in the Lincoln Library's Carnegie North Room in Springfield, Illinois. Polidoro's talk will cover Harry Houdini's life and his debunking of psychic phenomena.

A Nod to Our Patrons

This section thanks REALL's patron members for their financial support, listing several individuals and their locations.

Skeptical Briefs

This brief note mentions that REALL has received its first batch of "Skeptical Briefs" from CSICOP, which will be sent free of charge to REALL members (excluding subscribers).

Purpose of REALL

This section outlines the mission of The Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL). It is a non-profit, tax-exempt educational and scientific organization dedicated to promoting rational thinking and the scientific method in examining paranormal and fringe-science phenomena. REALL conducts research, convenes meetings, publishes a newsletter, and disseminates information. Its primary geographic coverage is central Illinois.

Board of Directors and Editorial Board

Lists the members of REALL's Board of Directors and Editorial Board, including David Bloomberg (Chairman), Jim Rosenthal, Bob Ladendorf, Wally Hartshorn, and David McMaster.

REALL Contacts

Provides contact information for REALL, including a hotline number, email addresses for the Chairman and Editor, and the organization's website.

Our Next Meeting

This section reiterates the details for the upcoming meeting with Massimo Polidoro, focusing on his talk about Harry Houdini. It provides the date, time, and location: Saturday, August 11, 1:30 PM, at the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois. The event is free and open to the public.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of pseudoscientific claims, particularly those related to creationism and paranormal phenomena. The editorial stance of The REALL News and REALL is clearly one of skepticism, advocating for the scientific method and rational inquiry. The publication actively debunks what it considers to be misinformation and sensationalism, as seen in the critiques of the ICR's quote mining and the Fox television show. The organization positions itself as a source of reliable information for those interested in understanding fringe science and paranormal claims from a skeptical perspective.