Shadow of a Doubt - 2002 12

Magazine Overview

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

This issue of "Shadow of a Doubt" from the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) focuses on upcoming events and recent news relevant to skeptical inquiry. The cover prominently features an announcement for a public lecture by Dr. Stuart Jordan, a solar physicist from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, addressing the complex issues of global warming, solar physics, and political choices.

Public Lecture Announcement

The main event highlighted is a lecture titled "Hot Global Warming, Solar Physics & Political Choices" by Dr. Stuart Jordan. The lecture is scheduled for Saturday, December 7, from 2-4 PM at the B-CC Services Center, located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Jordan, a solar physicist, will discuss the established reality of global warming, acknowledging the minority view but focusing on the open question of primary responsibility. He will explore the potential role of the Sun compared to human-produced greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. The talk will also review current political efforts to manage global warming, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the "Kyoto Protocol," and include a demonstration of how arguments can be manipulated to support specific positions, challenging the audience to critically assess these presentations.

The B-CC Services Center is conveniently located across from the Bethesda Metro station in a two-story County office building above a parking garage, with free parking available on weekends.

NCAS offers free admission to its lectures, welcoming both members and non-members. For more information, the 24-hour NCAS Skeptic Line is available at (301) 587-3827, or via email at [email protected]. Their website is www.ncas.org.

NCAS is identified as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding.

News and Reports

Greatest Briton

A BBC TWO live debate on November 24th, hosted by Anne Robinson and Peter Snow, announced the winner of the "Greatest Briton" poll. Among the top 10 were scientists Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. The final vote counts are listed:

1. Churchill: 456,498 (28.1%)
2. Brunel: 398,526 (24.6%)
3. Diana: 225,584 (13.9%)
4. Darwin: 112,496 (6.9%)
5. Shakespeare: 109,919 (6.8%)
6. Newton: 84,628 (5.2%)
7. Elizabeth I: 71,928 (4.4%)
8. Lennon: 68,445 (4.2%)
9. Nelson: 49,171 (3%)
10. Cromwell: 45,053 (2.8%)

The date of this announcement, November 24th, also marked the anniversary of the original publication of Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species" in 1859.

Newtonmas

A brief note mentions that December 25th would mark the 360th birthday of Sir Isaac Newton, humorously referred to as the "real pilot of the Apollo 8 spacecraft" by Jim Lovell.

Study Concludes No Difference Between Ionized Bracelet And Placebo For Musculoskeletal Pain Relief

Researchers from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, published a study in the November 2002 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The study, which randomly assigned 305 participants to wear an ionized bracelet and another 305 to wear a placebo bracelet for 28 days, found no significant difference in effectiveness for treating muscle and joint pain. Details are available via a provided URL.

Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

A TIME MAGAZINE article by Christine Gorman from November 14, 2002, addresses the parental concern about vaccines causing autism. The article highlights a large Danish study, described as the most rigorous to date, which found no link between the triple vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella - MMR) and autism in children. Despite the scientific evidence, the article notes that many parents remain convinced of a connection.

Membership and Renewal Information

Time to renew?

Subscribers are prompted to check their mailing labels for renewal dates. The cost for a one-year renewal is $30 for an individual or $40 for a two-member household. Multi-year discounts are available, and members are encouraged to consider 2, 5, or lifetime memberships to avoid annual renewal hassles.

Contact Information

National Capital Area Skeptics
P.O. Box 8428
Silver Spring, Maryland 20907

NCAS Information:
Telephone: 301-587-3827
Email: [email protected]
Skeptical Eye submission: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ncas.org/

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around critical thinking, scientific evidence, and the debunking of pseudoscience. The NCAS consistently promotes a skeptical approach to claims, whether they concern climate change, alternative medicine (like ionized bracelets), or controversial topics like vaccine safety. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning and scientific consensus, as demonstrated by the promotion of Dr. Jordan's lecture on global warming and the reporting on studies that refute popular but unsubstantiated beliefs. The organization actively encourages public engagement in these discussions through its lecture series and publications.