Shadow of a Doubt - 1999 05

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: May, 1999
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Date: May, 1999

This issue of 'Shadow of a Doubt' is primarily an announcement and schedule for the NCAS's 'Millennium MADNESS' weekend retreat, held on May 8-9, 1999, at the Sheraton Inn in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The newsletter aims to inform members and potential attendees about the retreat's purpose, schedule, and registration details.

Millennium MADNESS Weekend Retreat

The retreat is designed for skeptics to discuss the approaching end of the century and the various reactions to it. The organizers highlight the range of public interest, from religious cults predicting apocalyptic events and technophobes fearing the Y2K bug, to entrepreneurs seeking to profit from the turn of the century. The central question posed is how much of this is hype, how much is real, and how rational individuals should respond to the perceived hysteria.

Schedule of Events

Friday Evening, May 7: Arrival at the hotel and an informal get-together with NCAS members.

• Saturday, May 8 (9 am - 6 pm):
• Registration opens at 8:30 am.
• Workshop session: "What was the millennium like 1000 years ago?"
• Workshop session: "Is new age thinking overwhelming us? Are we becoming a more credulous society?"
• Discussion on "Religious cults and the coming millennium."
• A two-hour field trip to historic sites in Fredericksburg is planned for the afternoon.

• Sunday, May 9 (9 am - noon):
• Workshop session: "Y2K and all the techno-problems of year 2000."
• Workshop session: "Marketing the new millennium."
• Workshop session: "A skeptics response to millennium madness."

Registration and Hotel Information

Registration for the retreat costs $50 for one person or $90 for two. To register, participants must send their name, address, telephone number, and email address (if any) by May 1 to: Millennium Madness Weekend, NCAS, 8006 Valley Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

The registration fee includes workshop sessions, continental breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday, lunch on Saturday, and one set of handouts.

Hotel registration at the Sheraton Inn should be made by April 23. The room rate is $99 plus 8.5% tax per night. Attendees should mention the NCAS weekend when booking. The Sheraton Inn is located off I-95 at Virginia Route 3 in Fredericksburg, and its phone number is 540-786-8321.

Alternative, less expensive hotels in the Fredericksburg area are also listed: EconoLodge (540-786-8374), Best Western Thunderbird (540-786-7404), and Ramada Inn (540-786-8361). A website for lodging information is also provided: http://www.ego.net/us/va/fb/lodging/index.htm.

Fredericksburg is situated about an hour south of Washington, DC, and less than 90 minutes from most suburban Maryland locations.

For additional information about the retreat, individuals can call NCAS at 301-587-3827 or email [email protected].

Other NCAS Activities and Related Events

Note: There is no regular NCAS meeting at the Bethesda Library in May due to the weekend retreat; regular meetings will resume in June.

Capital Science Lectures

On Tuesday, May 18, May Berenbaum from the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will deliver a lecture titled "Phytochemicals: Plant Sex, Human Drugs, and Insect Rock and Roll." The lecture, part of the Capital Science Lectures series at the Carnegie Institution (1530 P Street N.W., Washington, DC 20077), is free and open to the public, though seating is limited. For details, attendees can call (202) 328-6988 or email Sherrill Berger at [email protected].

Interesting Web Sites

• Two websites are recommended for further exploration:
• http://www.ari.net/nordicalite/
• http://www.junkscience.com (described as having an interesting spin on claims seen in magazines and on TV).

Discovery Series

• The Discovery Cable Channel is airing a series of documentaries on the paranormal:
• "Levitation": May 13 at 9 pm and May 15 at 5 pm.
• "Open to Suggestion": May 20 at 9 pm and May 22 at 5 pm.
• "ESP": June 10 at 9 pm and June 12 at 5 pm.
• "Physical Feats": June 24 at 9 pm and June 26 at 5 pm.

Additionally, on April 28, Discovery Channel aired a "Discover magazine television special called 'A Skeptics Guide'" which reportedly covers ghosts, therapeutic touch, UFOs, magic, and belief in the paranormal, featuring James Randi.

Skeptic Ring

The NCAS website is now part of the "Skeptic Ring," a collection of over 70 skeptic-related websites accessible via links on the NCAS home page.

Washington Ethical Society

Information is provided for the Humanistic Religious Community at the Washington Ethical Society, with meetings on Sundays at 11:00 am at 7750 16th St. NW, Washington DC. Their website and phone number are also listed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overarching theme of this issue is skepticism towards phenomena associated with the turn of the millennium, including New Age beliefs, cult activities, and technological anxieties like the Y2K bug. The NCAS positions itself as a rational voice encouraging critical thinking and a fact-based approach to these widespread concerns. The inclusion of lectures on scientific topics (phytochemicals), skeptical analysis of paranormal claims, and links to skeptical resources reinforces the organization's commitment to promoting critical inquiry and debunking pseudoscience.