Skeptical Eye - Vol 02 No 3 - 1988

Magazine Overview

Title: Skeptical Eye
Issue: Vol. 2, No. 3
Date: Summer 1988

This issue of the National Capital Area Skeptics' publication, Skeptical Eye, delves into various topics related to pseudoscience, media coverage, and skeptical inquiry. It features articles by Lee J. Rickard and Douglas E. McNeil, among others, and includes updates on the organization's activities and upcoming events.

The Media and the Astrology Flap

Lee J. Rickard's article, "The Media and the Astrology Flap," examines the journalistic response to the controversy surrounding Nancy Reagan's alleged reliance on astrology for presidential scheduling. Rickard notes the difficulty in labeling such controversies without a catchy name, contrasting 'Astrogate,' 'Stargate,' and 'Heavengate.' He discusses how some observers, like those at Nature magazine and Garry Wills, viewed the story as a political excuse rather than genuine belief. However, he also presents evidence of Reagan's long-standing fascination with astrology, citing Edward Helin's statement about a professional relationship with astrologer Carroll Righter for over 40 years. Rickard observes that while most papers reported the story straightforwardly, differences emerged in sidebars and editorials. He highlights the Washington Post's skeptical review by Curt Suplee and the Providence Journal's similar coverage. The article also touches upon the media's tendency to present a superficial balance, citing examples from Nightline and the MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour. A chilling effect was noted among scientists, particularly astronomers, who were reluctant to criticize astrology for fear of jeopardizing their federally funded research. Despite these challenges, Rickard finds a hint of optimism, suggesting that the widespread view of the 'First Family's' belief as a scandal indicates that skeptical arguments are reaching the public.

Pentagon Peace Shield?

D.W. "Chip" Denman's article, "Pentagon Peace Shield?," addresses a Washington Post article about Pentagon employees attempting to construct a "spiritual peace shield" around the planet through meditation. Denman criticizes the Post for presenting the club's claims about "auras" and "psychic energy" as established fact, rather than critically examining them. The article featured a device sold by the club for $65, claimed to measure a person's aura, and also mentioned home meditation kits. NCAS protested this uncritical reporting to the Washington Post Ombudsman, Richard Harwood, who acknowledged the validity of the criticism and noted that the staff writer had left the paper. NCAS offered its resources for future coverage of pseudoscientific claims.

From the Files of "a Top American Scientist"

Lee J. Rickard recounts his experience being quoted in the National Enquirer in 1979 regarding an article about "orbiting meteors." He explains how he was contacted by a reporter named Pablo, who was investigating claims by John Bagby about natural Earth satellites. Rickard, initially hesitant due to the tabloid's reputation for distortion, tried to be accurate in his statements. Bagby's claims were based on visual observations and calculations suggesting dozens of such objects, which were challenged by geophysicist Jean Meeus on general and particular grounds, including the lack of expected brightness and apparent glitches in reported satellite orbits. Rickard also notes that astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, who searched for natural satellites, saw nothing around the time Bagby claimed an object broke up. The Enquirer's cover story sensationalized this as a UFO discovery, quoting Rickard alongside figures like Aleksandr Kazantsev and Aleksei Zolotov, who held fringe beliefs. Rickard expresses dismay at being associated with such individuals and the potential inference by millions of readers that he believed in aliens.

A Skeptic's Response

Lee J. Rickard provides a regular feature offering basic skeptical arguments. In this installment, he addresses the scientific validity of astrology. He argues that astrology fails two key requirements of science: predictive power and a plausible mechanism. Studies, including those summarized by R. Culver and P. Ianna, and by H. J. Eysenck and D. K. B. Nias, have failed to find correlations between astrological signs and personality, occupation, or physical attributes. Rickard dismisses the idea that hostile scientists are manipulating results, noting that many researchers were initially favorable to astrology. He also refutes the notion of "ancient wisdom," comparing it unfavorably to modern science and highlighting that astrology still relies on outdated concepts like earth, air, fire, and water. Rickard emphasizes the dangers of belief in astrology, citing instances where it has influenced personal decisions, hiring, and finances, and warning that it can lead to other dangerous pseudoscientific beliefs.

Creationism Update

Randy Lockwood reports on a survey from Current Anthropology regarding college students' attitudes toward evolution. The survey found that 38% of students believed human life originated in the Garden of Eden, with regional and rural differences noted. Nearly half of the students surveyed believed fossils were from animals that died in Noah's flood, and 45% believed some human races are "more evolved" than others. The report indicates that education has a distinct effect on the acceptance of evolutionary ideas. Lockwood also mentions that last summer's Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana's "equal treatment" law has led creationists to develop new strategies, such as pushing for "uniform origins policies" in schools.

More of Majestic-12

This section discusses the resurgence of the "Majestic-12" hoax, concerning supposed secret documents about a UFO crash cover-up in 1947. It notes that NCAS member Phil Klass had previously exposed the documents as fakes, a finding covered by major U.S. papers. However, the news had not reached England, where The People reported the story in its original, undebunked form. The British story was then picked up by American tabloids, leading to a recursive cycle. The article humorously suggests that Majestic-12 is joining the ranks of "unkillable hoaxes."

President's Message

D.W. "Chip" Denman's message thanks Stanley Bigman for his service as interim president and announces the formal adoption of NCAS's new bylaws, which establish procedures for electing a 16-member board of directors. Mail ballots are to be sent out, with the new board announced in the October issue. Denman also mentions upcoming events, including a public forum on astrology and activities organized by other Special Interest Groups (SIGs). He encourages members to get involved and lists the 1988 CSICOP Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Editor's Notes

Julie D. Stern, the editor, expresses pleasure in presenting the fifth issue of the newsletter, now under the new name "The National Capital Area Skeptical Eye." She thanks the contest participants and winner for the new name and logo. Stern invites feedback from members on what they would like to read, suggesting topics like investigative reports, book reviews, and news from SIGs. She also welcomes submissions and offers help to those interested in researching or writing, and seeks volunteers for research, graphics, cartoons, photography, or word processing. The next newsletter committee meeting is scheduled for August 22.

CSICOP Conference Announcement

The issue includes a detailed announcement for the 1988 CSICOP Conference in Chicago, from November 4-6, at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. The conference theme is "The New Age: A Scientific Evaluation," with various sessions covering cryptozoology, graphology, channeling, crystal healing, New Age experiences, media responsibility and the paranormal, and UFO-abductions. Notable speakers include Paul Kurtz, James Randi, Philip J. Klass, Ray Hyman, and Douglas Hofstadter. Registration fees, banquet costs, and accommodation details are provided, along with contact information for inquiries.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Skeptical Eye are the critical examination of pseudoscientific claims, particularly astrology and UFO phenomena, and the media's role in reporting on these topics. There is a strong emphasis on scientific methodology, evidence-based reasoning, and the importance of skepticism. The publication actively promotes the work of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) and its parent organization, CSICOP, aiming to educate the public and counter the spread of misinformation. The editorial stance is clearly pro-science and anti-pseudoscience, advocating for rational inquiry and a discerning approach to extraordinary claims.

This document, titled "News from Other Skeptics Groups," is a compilation of reports from various skeptical organizations, primarily focusing on their responses to pseudoscience and paranormal phenomena. The content is presented as a newsletter or magazine issue, with articles detailing the activities and campaigns of these groups. The primary author for the main article is Julie D. Stern.

Reports from Skeptics Groups

North Texas Skeptics (NTS)

The March/April issue of The Skeptic, the NTS newsletter, detailed the group's response to a local psychic fair. The NTS members attended a fair sponsored by a local chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Following NTS's questioning of the scientific research organization's involvement in such an event, the chapter's executive director announced the cancellation of a second planned psychic fair and stated the foundation would no longer present such fairs. NTS's follow-up revealed a lack of communication between the foundation's fundraising and research activities. NTS sent a letter to the foundation's national headquarters, asserting that "sponsorship of psychic fairs gives pseudoscience claims credibility with an unwary public and discounts the rational, scientific approach to the study of our world by implying that science and pseudoscience are equally valid."

Phoenix Skeptics News

The January/February issue of the Phoenix Skeptics News reported on the Arizona group's reaction to faith healer Peter Popoff's three-day visit to Phoenix. The day after an advertisement for Popoff appeared in the Arizona Republic, local skeptics created a press release and information packet for local media. They also attended Popoff's sessions, with one skeptic posing as a patient who was "healed" of an unspecified malady. Skeptics distributed flyers outside the venue and spoke with reporters. Their efforts reportedly led to smaller attendance and proceeds than anticipated, and Popoff's appearance received mixed media coverage, including a humorous paragraph in one paper and a scathing column by the religion editor of another.

Midwest Committee for Rational Inquiry

This group has been actively trying to get W.V. Grant's television program removed from the air in Chicago. As reported in the January issue of the Pseudo-Science Monitor, the committee sent a videotape of an investigative report on Grant and a copy of James Randi's "The Faith Healers" to WCIU, the station that had carried Grant's show for 10 years. WCIU responded that it was "holding off doing anything about Grant" but decided not to sell him time to publicize his upcoming visit to Chicago.

Rocky Mountain Skeptics

This group is running a "Library Project" aimed at public schools throughout Colorado. They offer free subscriptions to The Skeptical Inquirer, with the condition that schools display the publication in their libraries alongside other popular magazines. Members were asked in the January/February issue of the Rocky Mountain Skeptic to donate $10 to cover half the cost of one subscription.

Minnesota Skeptics Newsletter

The April edition announced the group's audience participation presentation, "My Favorite Fraud." Individuals were invited to present, discuss, or demonstrate a favorite claim of an anomaly, pseudoscience example, paranormal event, con game, trick, or scam, with each presentation limited to five minutes. Scheduled topics included creationism, dog psychology, telekinesis, computer fraud, "cures of the evil eye," and "religious bunk over the radio."

Philip Klass's Activities

Philip Klass, an NCAS Interim Board member, was mentioned in several other groups' newsletters. The Winter 1988 issue of the ISRAP Newsletter reported on Klass's UFO presentation at Iowa State University in December. The Phoenix Skeptics News announced Klass's appearance at Arizona State University in March.

Voices From the Skeptic Tank

Naptha Speaks

This section features a Q&A with "Naptha," described as the spiritual channel guide to NCAS member Jamy Ian Swiss. Naptha, who claims to be 39,000 years old and attributes his longevity to resting in a box of mothballs, provides commentary on various topics. Swiss carries two mothballs encased in brass to facilitate communication with Naptha. Readers are encouraged to submit questions.

In this installment, Naptha makes several pronouncements:

• On Paul McCartney: "Paul McCartney is dead."
• On psychokinesis and Uri Geller: "His mind don't matter."
• On near-death experiences: "It was if I was in a tunnel, a tunnel of glowing light. And as I reached the end, I entered a portal, and I remember looking for a sign. And then I saw the sign-and it said, 'Today is the first day of the rest of your afterlife.'"
• On possession: "Possession is 9/10ths of the law...next question."
• On clairvoyance: Quoting Ambrose Bierce, "a clairvoyant is a person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron: namely that he is a blockhead."

When asked about contacting other spirit guides, Naptha humorously suggests changing channels. The conversation then shifts, with Naptha seemingly handing over to "Marshall McLuhan" who states, "The medium is the message." The interaction continues with a brief exchange with "Alexander Graham Bell."

Naptha's Birthday Horoscope

For individuals born June 21 through July 22 (Cancer sign), the horoscope warns of a surprise and advises to "BEWARE UNSIGHTLY CELLULITE."

Subscription and Membership Information

An agreement form is included for those wishing to support the exploration of paranormal and fringe-science claims from a scientific viewpoint and disseminate factual information. Membership includes a one-year subscription to the NCAS Skeptical Eye. Members can check particular areas of interest: Astrology, Creationism, UFOs, Fringe Medicine, and Education. Checks should be made payable to "Nat. Cap. Area Skeptics" and mailed to Grace Denman at 8006 Valley St., Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Subscription prices are listed as Single: $20.00 and Double: $30.00.

Moving?

Readers are instructed to send the mailing label from their NCAS Skeptical Eye issue, along with their new address, to Grace Denman at the address provided. Allow four to six weeks for delivery.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the active engagement of skeptical organizations in debunking pseudoscience, challenging fraudulent claims (particularly faith healing), and promoting scientific literacy. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of a rational, scientific approach to understanding the world, actively countering what is perceived as misinformation and the uncritical acceptance of paranormal or pseudoscientific claims. The publication aims to disseminate factual information to both the scientific community and the general public.