Shadow of a Doubt

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow of a Doubt
Issue: April 2002
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Magazine Issue (Monthly Calendar)

This issue of "Shadow of a Doubt" serves as the monthly calendar for the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS), providing information on upcoming events and organizational updates. The publication focuses on promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding.

Public Lecture: A Survey of Questionable Medical Devices

One of the featured events is a public lecture by Mark Banash, titled "A Survey of Questionable Medical Devices." The lecture is scheduled for Saturday, March 30, from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at the Silver Spring Library, located on Colesville Road in Silver Spring, Maryland. Banash, who holds degrees in Chemistry and is pursuing an MBA, also produces a skeptical radio series called "The Funnt File." His talk will explore medical devices that have persisted from before medicine became a science, ranging from the merely ineffective to the outright dangerous, appealing to "common sense" rather than scientific rigor.

Skepticism 2002: Beyond the Basics Workshop

The main event highlighted is the "Skepticism 2002: Beyond the Basics" workshop, taking place on April 6-7, 2002, in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. This workshop aims to delve into advanced skeptical topics and the latest developments in areas that often generate controversy. Speakers include Chip Denman, Jim Giglio, Paul Jaffe, Marv Zelkowitz, and author Bob Park. The special guest is the renowned magician and skeptic, James Randi. The registration fee is $40, which includes conference materials and handouts. Hotel accommodations are separate and should be arranged directly with the Hilltop House Hotel. The workshop offers different meal packages depending on the length of stay.

NCAS Organizational Updates

The issue also covers several organizational matters for NCAS:

• Board Elections: It is election time for the NCAS Board of Directors. The board has 16 members, with half elected annually. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact NCAS via email or phone.
• Randi's Encyclopedia Project: NCAS is initiating a project to create an online version of James Randi's "An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural." Volunteers are sought to help with editing the final version.
• Alternative Realities Conference: Information is provided about the "Alternative Realities Conf." (formerly Ufology Day Picnic and Skywatch and the E.T. Conference), hosted by the United States UFO Information and Research Center and the Alternate Realities Center. This event is scheduled for June 21-23, 2002, at Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee/North Carolina, focusing on sharing information and experiencing Earth energies.
• Membership Renewal: Members are reminded to check their mailing labels for renewal dates and to send in their $30 (individual) or $40 (household) renewal fee to avoid being dropped from the membership.

Contact Information

Contact details for NCAS are provided, including a P.O. Box in Silver Spring, Maryland, a telephone number (301-587-3827), an email address ([email protected]), a specific email for "Skeptical Eye" submissions ([email protected]), and the website (www.ncas.org).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism, critical thinking, and the debunking of pseudoscience and questionable claims, particularly in the realms of medical devices and paranormal phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific understanding and evidence-based reasoning, as promoted by the NCAS, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. The publication actively encourages participation in events and projects that further these goals.