Shadow of a Doubt - 2003 05

Magazine Overview

This document is a flyer for a public lecture series hosted by the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS), dated May 2003. The primary focus is an upcoming lecture by Science Journalist Christopher Wanjek, author of "Bad Medicine: Health Myths & Quack Alternative Medicine." The flyer also contains news and announcements relevant to the NCAS organization.

Public Lecture Announcement

The main event advertised is a lecture by Christopher Wanjek on Saturday, May 3, from 2-4 PM. The lecture will be held at the B-CC Services Center, located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda, Maryland. Wanjek, a graduate of Temple University and Harvard School of Public Health, writes for The Washington Post and NASA, and has appeared on various media outlets including Discovery Channel Canada and BBC World Service. His recent book, "Bad Medicine," critiques alternative medicine practices such as magnet therapy, homeopathy, aromatherapy, liver detoxification, mind-body healing, touch therapy, distance healing, and "oxygen-fortified" soft drinks, labeling them as sham.

The flyer highlights common health myths that Wanjek is expected to address, including the 'ten percent of the brain' myth, the idea that junk food causes acne, and the belief that magnets and aromatherapy can cure diseases.

Admission to the lecture is free and open to everyone, members and non-members alike. For more information, attendees can call the NCAS Skeptic Line at (301) 587-3827, email [email protected], or visit www.ncas.org.

NCAS News and Announcements

NCAS Elections: The issue notes that spring is the time for annual elections for board positions within NCAS. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the NCAS board at [email protected].

Grad Student Needed for PBS Documentary: Michael Shermer is seeking recommendations for an articulate East Coast graduate student to participate in a PBS documentary series on science and religion. The documentary will be based on a Harvard course taught by Armand Nicholi on Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis, and the segment will involve a mock classroom discussion from an agnostic viewpoint. The producer, Dominique Lasseur, can be contacted at [email protected] or (212) 222-6978.

Time to Renew?: Members are reminded to check their mailing labels for their renewal date. A $30 fee for individual members or $40 for households is required for a one-year renewal to avoid being dropped from the membership.

More Creationism: A report details the Blount County (Tennessee) Board of Education's decision in early April to deny the adoption of three new biology textbooks. The denial was based on the textbooks teaching evolution without covering creationism. The vote passed 2-1, with four board members abstaining. The rejected textbooks were not among the 37 other science, consumer science, wellness, and agriculture books that were adopted.

Organization Information

The National Capital Area Skeptics is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding. Contact information for NCAS includes a P.O. Box in Silver Spring, Maryland, a telephone number (301-587-3827), an email address ([email protected]), and a website (www.ncas.org). Submissions for the 'Skeptical Eye' can be sent to [email protected].

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the promotion of skepticism and critical thinking, the debunking of pseudoscience and health myths, and engagement with current events related to science education and public discourse. The NCAS's stance is clearly in favor of scientific evidence and rational inquiry, as demonstrated by their lecture series topic and their reporting on the creationism in textbooks issue. The organization actively promotes its mission through lectures, publications, and public outreach.