Shadow of a Doubt

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: March, 1997
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of 'Shadow of a Doubt', the monthly calendar of the National Capital Area Skeptics, focuses on skepticism, hoaxes, and the analysis of photographic evidence. It also marks the tenth anniversary of the NCAS.

Featured Events and Articles

Photographic Forgeries Talk

The lead item announces a talk by Walter F. Rowe from the Department of Forensic Sciences at George Washington University. Titled "FAKE!", the presentation will explore how photographs can be analyzed and identified as fakes, focusing on in-camera manipulations rather than later computer alterations. Rowe plans to discuss several famous examples of photographic forgeries, including the McMinnville-Oregon flying saucer photograph, German soldiers in the Battle of the Bulge (1944), the Cottingley fairies, motion pictures of British soldiers advancing in the Battle of the Somme (1916), and casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg (1863). The talk is scheduled for Saturday, March 22, 1997, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Maryland. Attendance is free for both members and non-members, with further information available via the NCAS Skeptic Line at 301-587-3827.

NCAS Tenth Anniversary

The issue celebrates the tenth anniversary of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) in March 1997. The organization was founded by Stan Bigman, Sean O'Neill, Phil Klass, Grace Denman, Jamy Swiss, and Chip Denman, who were brought together by CSICOP. Stan and Sean initiated a mailing to the Skeptical Inquirer subscriber list in the Washington, DC area, which led to approximately 120 people attending the first public meeting. Stan served as the interim president, and an interim board was formed to establish bylaws and organize elections.

Upcoming April Meeting: Roswell Incident

For its April 19 meeting, NCAS will host Col. Richard Weaver, co-author of the Air Force's Roswell report. Col. Weaver will discuss his investigation into the purported flying saucer crash at Roswell, New Mexico. He is expected to present prosaic explanations for many of the stories circulating among UFO enthusiasts, such as those involving alien bodies and autopsies, attributing them to events related to Air Force research programs and routine flight operations.

Skepticism on TV

An upcoming 2-hour A&E Special titled "Scams, Schemes & Scoundrels" is highlighted for Easter Sunday, March 30th. Hosted by James Randi, the program will focus on famous hoaxes and swindles.

Pigasus Award Nominations Sought

The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is soliciting nominations for the Annual Pigasus Award. The award seeks nominations in four categories for the year 1996:

1. The scientist who said or did the silliest thing related to the supernatural, paranormal, or occult.
2. The funding organization that supported the most useless study of a supernatural, paranormal, or occult claim.
3. The media outlet that reported as fact the most outrageous supernatural, paranormal, or occult claim.
4. The "psychic" performer who fooled the greatest number of people with the least effort.

Nominations can be submitted via e-mail to [email protected], by post to JREF, 201 SE Davie Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316, or by fax to 954-467-1660. The results will be announced on April 1, 1997. The last change noted for this announcement was March 10, 1997.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards extraordinary claims, the critical examination of evidence (particularly photographic), and the debunking of hoaxes and pseudoscience. The NCAS, through its events and the Pigasus Awards, actively promotes critical thinking and a rational approach to phenomena often associated with the paranormal, UFOs, and unexplained events. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific investigation and evidence-based reasoning, aiming to educate the public about common methods of deception and misinterpretation.