Shadow of a Doubt

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: May, 1998
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Monthly Calendar

This issue of "Shadow of a Doubt" serves as the monthly calendar for the National Capital Area Skeptics, providing information on upcoming events and relevant news for the skeptical community.

Featured Event: Global Warming Debate

The main featured event is a lecture by Dr. Owen Thompson, Professor of Meteorology at the University of Maryland. Titled "The debate over global warming: Sleight of the left or right hand?", the talk will focus on critical thinking and the public confusion surrounding the science and rhetoric of global warming. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 1998, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Bethesda Branch of the Montgomery County Library, located at 7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Maryland. Attendance is open to both members and non-members with no admission charge. Further information can be obtained by calling the NCAS Skeptic Line at 301-587-3827.

Upcoming Events

June Meeting Social

The June meeting will be a social cookout hosted by Chip and Grace Denman at their home in Silver Spring on June 20. This event marks the final gathering for the 1997-98 season and offers an opportunity for attendees to discuss skeptical, credulous, or other topics of interest. More details are promised for the June issue of "Shadow".

World Skeptic Congress

The second World Skeptic Congress is announced, to be held in Heidelberg, Germany, from July 23 to July 26, 1998. The congress will feature sessions on alternative medicine, critical thinking workshops, environmental issues, and plenary sessions. While most sessions will be in English, some will be conducted in German. The cost for the meeting is $149, with an additional $49 for a boat trip/banquet. The event is sponsored by the GWUP (German Skeptics Society). Information is available via the GWUP website (www.gwup.org) and the CSICOP website (www.csicop.org), or by phoning CSICOP at 716-636-1425.

Media, Myth, and Magic Conference

The James Randi Educational Foundation is hosting a conference titled "Media, Myth and Magic" from August 6-9, 1998, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Notable speakers include Dr. Michael Shermer, science fiction writers Ben Bova and Frederik Pohl, stargazer Jack Horkheimer, futurist Marvin Minsky, and James Randi himself. Conference registration is $199 per person, and registration can be done by calling 888-USA-JREF. Hotel rates are $89 per night, with reservations to be made by calling 800-EMBASSY and requesting the James Randi conference rate.

Thoughts to Ponder

The issue concludes with a series of humorous and thought-provoking questions related to psychic abilities and mental states:

• Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
• I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.
• All those who believe in psychokinesis raise my hand.
• When I'm not in my right mind, my left mind gets pretty crowded.
• If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism, critical thinking, and the debunking of pseudoscientific claims. The NCAS calendar promotes events that encourage rational inquiry and scientific literacy, such as lectures on global warming and conferences featuring prominent skeptics. The "Thoughts to ponder" section injects humor while subtly questioning the validity of paranormal claims. The overall editorial stance is one of promoting critical evaluation of information and challenging unsubstantiated beliefs.