Shadow of a Doubt - 2001 03

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: March 2001
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of "Shadow of a Doubt," the monthly calendar of the National Capital Area Skeptics, covers events and news relevant to critical thinking and scientific skepticism.

Public Lecture: Childhood Vaccine Controversy

Arthur Allen, a freelance writer contributing to The Washington Post, Salon.com, and other publications, is scheduled to speak on Saturday, March 17, from 2pm to 3:30pm at the Bethesda Branch of the Montgomery County Library. His lecture will address recent controversies surrounding the safety of childhood vaccines, examining the scientific issues, as well as the motivations, ideology, and historical role of anti-vaccine activists in America.

National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) Events

NCAS, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization promoting critical thinking, is hosting a series of events. Information can be obtained by calling the NCAS Skeptic Line at (301) 587-3827 or emailing [email protected]. Their website is www.ncas.org.

Jamy lan Swiss Performance

An advance notice is given for a special fund-raising performance by Jamy lan Swiss, titled "The Honest Liar," on Saturday, April 21, at 7:30 pm at the Cecile Goldman Theater, District of Columbia Jewish Community Center. Jamy lan Swiss is described as a master of deception and an original co-founder of NCAS. His show is a sophisticated display of magic and "honest lying." The performance is a fundraiser for NCAS, with a suggested donation of $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Advance reservations can be made by calling 301-587-3827 or emailing [email protected]. Testimonials from Vanity Fair, Penn & Teller, and The Washington Post highlight his "astonishing" and "absurd" performance style.

2001 NCAS Workshop

The 2001 NCAS Workshop is scheduled for May 19th and 20th in Winchester, Virginia. The theme is "Understanding Belief - How we know what isn't so." The workshop aims to explore how people form beliefs, the practice of science, the perpetuation of false beliefs, and logical reasoning. Registration costs $55 before May 1 and $65 thereafter, including breaks, Saturday lunch, and workshop materials. Hotel accommodations are available at the Hampton Inn in Winchester at $72 per night. Recommended reading is Thomas Gilovich's "How We Know What Isn't So." Mail registration to NCAS 2001 Workshop Registration, PO Box 8428, Silver Spring, MD 20910, or call 301-587-3827 for details.

News and Updates

Alternative Medicine Research

An article reports on NIH funding for research into "Distant Healing" for 150 HIV patients, led by Elisabeth Targ. Targ speculates that healers can effect healing through various means, including divine agency, consciousness, or electrons. A previous study by Targ published in the Western Journal Of Medicine claimed significant improvement in HIV patients who unknowingly received distant healing. The NCCAM's FY 2001 budget is noted as $89 million, a 29 percent increase and the largest for any NIH institute appropriation.

Science Funding

A brief excerpt from Bob Park's "What's New" for March 2, 2001, discusses the president's budget. It suggests that while the budget offers little cheer for scientists, it appears to particularly affect the DOE's Office of Science, with a proposed drop of $0.7 billion (3.5%). However, the DOE would also receive new spending for fossil fuels, home weatherization, and defense programs, leaving Science, Energy Supply, and Waste Management to absorb a $1.3 billion shortfall, potentially resulting in a nearly 13% cut to science funding.

Membership Renewal

An announcement urges members to check their mailing labels for renewal dates and to send $20 (for individuals) or $30 (for households) for a one-year renewal to the NCAS address to avoid being dropped from membership.

Contact Information

NCAS contact details are provided: P.O. Box 8428, Silver Spring, Maryland 20907. Information line: 301-587-3827, email: [email protected], and Skeptical Eye submission: [email protected]. The website is http://www.ncas.org/.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes critical thinking, scientific understanding, and skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims, particularly in areas like alternative medicine and vaccine safety. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and challenges pseudoscientific or unproven concepts. The content focuses on educating the public and encouraging a rational approach to belief systems and scientific information.