Shadow of a Doubt - 2004 01

Magazine Overview

Title: Shadow Of A Doubt
Issue: JANUARY 2004
Publisher: National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS)
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Key Events and Features

Professor James Starrs Lecture: "Exhumations: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"

The primary feature of this issue is the announcement of a public lecture by Professor James Starrs, a member of the George Washington University Law Faculty and a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. The lecture, titled "Exhumations: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, from 2-4 PM at the B-CC Services Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Professor Starrs will delve into three forensic exhumations of historical significance. He personally conducted the first of these, the results of which have been published in scientific literature. He opposed conducting the other two proposed exhumations based on his study of the historical and physical evidence related to the deaths, prompting the question of "Which was which?" The article teases the audience, encouraging them to attend to hear the details.

Professor Starrs' extensive experience in forensic science is highlighted. He has been involved in investigations of numerous high-profile criminal cases, including the Lindbergh kidnapping, the Sacco and Vanzetti robbery-murders, the Alferd Packer cannibalism case, the Huey Long assassination, the "Lizzie Borden" hatchet murders, the CIA-LSD related death of Frank Olson, the identification of Jesse James, the death of Meriwether Lewis, the location of the remains of Samuel Washington, and the Boston Strangler case. He has also authored many articles on forensic science and edited the Scientific Sleuthing Review for 26 years.

The B-CC Services Center is described as being located at 4805 Edgemoor Lane in downtown Bethesda, across from the Bethesda Metro station, within the Metropolitan complex on the plaza level, above a County parking garage. Free parking is available on weekends.

NCAS 2004 Weekend Workshop: "Art Becomes Reality"

The calendar section announces the NCAS 2004 Weekend Workshop, "Art Becomes Reality," to be held in Leesburg, Virginia, on Saturday, March 27 (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM) and Sunday, March 28 (9:00 AM - noon) at historic Carradoc Hall, Holiday Inn. The workshop aims to explore instances where fictional characters, ideas, events, or concepts have become reality for many people, distinguishing this from frauds or hoaxes. Examples provided include "The Blair Witch Project" evolving into a tourist site and "Atlantis" being created by Plato. The NCAS is soliciting volunteers for presentations at this workshop, requesting that potential speakers submit a short description of their subject and personal information to [email protected] by January 23, 2004. Interested individuals can also present their material at the January 24 NCAS meeting in Bethesda.

Friday the 13th Social

An upcoming event is the "Superstitious Skeptics Social" on Friday, February 13, at 7:00 PM at Mayorga Coffee House in Silver Spring, Maryland. This event encourages attendees to share their own irrational biases or superstitions in a friendly atmosphere, with food and drinks available for individual purchase.

Membership Renewal

The issue includes a reminder for members to check their mailing labels and renew their membership if the renewal date has passed. The renewal fees are $30 for an individual and $40 for a two-member household for a one-year renewal.

Contact Information

Contact information for the National Capital Area Skeptics is provided, including a telephone number (301-587-3827), email addresses for general inquiries ([email protected]) and Skeptical Eye submissions ([email protected]), and a website (www.ncas.org). The organization is identified as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization promoting critical thinking and scientific understanding.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the promotion of skepticism, critical thinking, and scientific understanding by the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS). The editorial stance is clearly in favor of evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by the focus on forensic science, the debunking of pseudoscience, and the encouragement of rational inquiry through lectures, workshops, and social events. The NCAS positions itself as an organization dedicated to promoting scientific understanding and challenging irrational beliefs.