Shadow of a Doubt - 1999 03

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: March, 1999
Publisher: The National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of the NCAS monthly calendar, "Shadow of a Doubt," for March 1999, details upcoming events and lectures for skeptics in the National Capital Area.

NCAS Meeting: Plane Facts Not So

The featured event for March is a meeting on Saturday, March 13, 1999, from 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM at the Montgomery County Library - Bethesda Branch. The speaker is Jim Giglio, described as a humble software engineer and former high school science teacher. Giglio will present his findings on how extraordinary claims about repressed memories, particularly those concerning World War II aircraft descriptions, were debunked through straightforward skepticism and careful fact-checking. His work led to a peer-reviewed article rebutting these false memories. This program was originally scheduled for January but was postponed due to an ice storm and power outages. Attendance is free for both members and non-members. For more information, the NCAS Skeptic Line at 301-587-3827 can be contacted.

Upcoming Event: 1999 NCAS Weekend - Millennium Madness

The calendar also announces the annual NCAS weekend, scheduled for May 8-9, 1999. Titled "Millennium Madness," the event will take place at the Sheraton Inn Conference Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia, approximately 50 miles south of Washington, D.C. The weekend will explore the question of whether religious cultists or cyber doomsayers are correct about the end of the world, focusing on topics like religious predictions and the "Y2K" computer problem. Guest speakers are expected, and a full program is being planned. More details are promised for the April 1999 issue of "Shadow."

Capital Science Lecture

On Tuesday, March 23rd, the Carnegie Institution will host a Capital Science Lecture featuring Pamela A. Matson. Matson, from the Department of Geological & Environmental Sciences and the Institute of International Studies at Stanford University, will speak on "TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? FERTILIZER AND GLOBAL CHANGE IN THE NITROGEN CYCLE." The lecture will address how industrial fertilizers, fossil fuel burning, and nitrogen-fixing crops have doubled the global availability of nitrogen over the past 40 years, leading to profound environmental consequences. The talk will also explore how knowledge-intensive farming practices might reduce these environmental impacts and be economically beneficial, even in developing countries. The lecture will be held at the Carnegie Institution, 1530 P Street N.W., Washington, DC 20077. These lectures are free and open to the public, but seating is limited. For details, attendees can call (202) 328-6988 or email Sherrill Berger at [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and the debunking of pseudoscience and unsubstantiated claims. The NCAS consistently promotes a skeptical approach to extraordinary claims, whether they stem from psychological phenomena like repressed memories or technological anxieties like the Y2K bug. The organization also engages with scientific topics relevant to public understanding, as seen in the Capital Science Lecture announcement. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting rationalism, evidence-based reasoning, and informed public discourse on science and societal issues.