Skeptical Eye - Vol 07 No 3 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: National Capital Area SKEPTICAL EYE
Issue: Vol. 7, No. 3
Date: 1993

This issue of the Skeptical Eye delves into critical thinking, the nature of scientific literacy, and the historical and cultural perceptions of Spiritualism and the paranormal. It features articles that challenge conventional understanding and encourage a skeptical approach to extraordinary claims.

Scientific Literacy Isn't Enough! by Steve Shore

Steve Shore recounts his experience giving talks at a local university where he observed a disconnect between students' physics knowledge and their understanding of broader scientific concepts like deep time and evolution. He notes that at a fundamentalist university, courses on geology were absent, and evolution was only mentioned euphemistically. This leads him to question the accreditation process and the superficiality of science education, arguing that science is not just a collection of facts but a process of questioning and re-examining certainty. He emphasizes that science is animated philosophy, not merely a toolbox for technology, and warns against producing compartmentalized individuals who can pass tests but lack true understanding.

To the Editor: Letters and Responses

Kevin Tucker writes to express mixed feelings about an article by Penn Jillette, appreciating its critique of claims concerning hidden codes but disliking Jillette's use of abusive language. Tucker argues that such abuse undermines the goal of encouraging critical and scientific thinking. Penn Jillette responds humorously, stating that "sometimes 'subjective thinking' is funny."

Randi Legal Fund Update

A brief update directs contributions for the James Randi Fund to a new address, noting that the fund is still needed to cover legal costs incurred by Randi in his legal battles.

Communicating Skepticism: 2nd Annual NCAS Weekend Workshop

This section announces the upcoming NCAS workshop, "Communicating Skepticism," scheduled for February 19-20, 1994, in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The workshop aims to help skeptics communicate science and rational thinking effectively. Topics include skeptics and the media, skeptical thinking for young people, and effective scoffing. Program participants and hotel information are provided, along with registration fees and deadlines.

At the Movies: Sitting in the Dark by Chip Denman

Chip Denman explores the cinematic portrayal of Spiritualism and seances. He traces the history of Spiritualism from the Fox sisters in 1848 to its decline by the time the movie industry rose. Denman notes that early films, like those by George Méliès, used trick photography to simulate spiritualist phenomena. He discusses various films that featured seances, mediums, and ghost themes, ranging from Charlie Chan mysteries and the Bowery Boys exposing fake mediums to darker films like "Nightmare Alley." Denman points out that while many films depicted Spiritualism skeptically or as scams, the movement itself was once taken seriously by intellectuals and scientists. He concludes by cautioning against smugly dismissing past beliefs, as the allure of the supernatural persists.

Skeptic at Heart, Believer in Spirit by Mike Epstein

Mike Epstein examines the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the rational Sherlock Holmes, and his later overwhelming belief in Spiritualism. Epstein details Doyle's early agnosticism, his interest in psychical research, and his involvement with mediums. He highlights two key incidents that reveal Doyle's susceptibility to belief: the Cottingley Fairies hoax, which Doyle enthusiastically accepted as evidence, and the "Brockley Manor Ghost" photograph, later exposed as a double exposure. Epstein notes that Doyle's beliefs were at odds with religious doctrine and scientific skepticism, yet he continued to advocate for the reality of psychic phenomena, even developing a Darwinian theory of afterlife evolution.

Book Reviews

Possessed: The True Story of an Exorcism by Thomas B. Allen is reviewed by an unnamed author. The review discusses the book's basis in a 1949 exorcism case and criticizes Allen's narrative style, which it deems too much like a suspense novel for a factual account. The review details the alleged events, including the use of a Ouija board, poltergeist activity, and multiple exorcism attempts by both a priest and Jesuit priests. The reviewer notes the book's accurate rendition of the Rite of Exorcism and its explanation of demon harassment stages.

References and Recommended Reading

This section provides a list of books and resources related to parapsychology, Spiritualism, and film analysis, including works by Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini, and James Randi.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of claims, the importance of scientific literacy, the historical and cultural context of Spiritualism and paranormal beliefs, and the role of skepticism in understanding the world. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of rational inquiry, scientific methodology, and a critical approach to extraordinary claims, while also acknowledging the complexities of human belief and the historical significance of movements like Spiritualism.

Title: Skeptical Eye
Issue: Vol. 7, No. 3
Date: 1993
Publisher: NCAS
Country: USA
Price: $3.50

This issue of Skeptical Eye delves into various topics from a skeptical perspective, including UFOs, urban legends, health quackery, scientific controversies, and historical accounts of food industries.

Articles

"Possessed": A Review

Seán O'Néill reviews the book "Possessed," which details the case of Robbie Mannheim, a boy believed to be possessed in 1949. O'Néill appreciates the author's scholarship and attempt at balance but criticizes the "unconscionable treatment" of the boy, viewing it as child neglect rather than a genuine case of possession. He suggests alternative diagnoses like multiple personality disorder or schizophrenia, and laments the descent into superstition instead of proper treatment.

The Baby Train and Other Lusty Urban Legends by Jan Harold Brunvand

This section reviews Jan Harold Brunvand's fifth book on urban legends. The reviewer introduces the concept of urban legends as current folklore, often attributed to a "friend of a friend" (FOAF), and notes their function as carriers of moral lessons or reflections of societal anxieties. The book includes classic legends like "The Hook" and "The Vanishing Hitchhiker," as well as "The Baby Train" (a "Sex and Scandal" legend), "The Butcher's Prank," and "The Infamous Toothbrush Story." The review highlights Brunvand's useful Type-Index of urban legends and his advice on how to politely debunk such stories using "Polite Persistent Questioning."

JP Update, or Fun with Cloning, part II

This article discusses the public fascination with cloning, spurred by the movie "Jurassic Park." It reports on the cloning of human embryos by Jerry Hall and Robert Stillman at George Washington University, intended to increase the success rate of in-vitro fertilization. The ethical implications were widely debated, with media coverage including a six-page story in Time magazine. The article also touches on a bizarre report from the George Washington Hatchet about the Vatican supporting cloning to reproduce Jesus from the Shroud of Turin.

E Rex?

This piece discusses the discovery of a theropod dinosaur skull in Antarctica during a 1991 expedition. Paleontologist William R. Hammer nicknamed the specimen "The Elvis Presley of the Jurassic" due to its distinctive head crest, which resembles Presley's pompadour hairstyle. The dinosaur, approximately eight meters in length, lived during the early Jurassic period.

Pacific Monsters

This short item notes a 25-stamp series from Palau featuring a mix of prehistoric creatures like pterosaurs and plesiosaurs, alongside legendary monsters such as the Giant Crab and Kraken, disregarding chronological accuracy.

Past Life Reporting: Quacking Up

Byron Tart of the FDA met with NCAS to discuss how the FDA handles fraudulent medical claims and devices. He explained the FDA's role in protecting the public and its organization into five major centers. The primary focus of Mr. Tart's office is preventing false advertising. He noted that manufacturers can only legally claim uses for which a device has been approved through clinical tests. A loophole exists for devices on the market before May 28, 1976, which are "grandfathered." The article lists examples of fraudulent devices, including copper bracelets for arthritis, permanent magnets, germanium headbands, and self-applied acupuncture devices.

Tea Leaves and Entrails

This section provides upcoming NCAS meeting dates and encourages members to get involved in planning events.

"Illusion, Delusion and Data"

Chip Denman, co-founder of NCAS, gave a talk on visual statistics, explaining how preconceived ideas influence perception and how data can be misleading. Examples included the misinterpretation of Martian "canali" as "canals" due to translation errors, and the deceptive presentation of graphs in publications where object size is disproportionate to value. Denman concluded that "illusions are mistakes in our perceptual system; delusions are beliefs not supported by data."

Smart dresser.

This is an advertisement for new editions of NCAS shirts with two design options: "You Are Here" and "I'm so skeptical... I can hardly believe it."

UFO NEWS: UFO Sanity

This article discusses a study from the Journal of Abnormal Psychology that concluded people who report seeing UFOs or space aliens are not abnormal. The study, by Patricia Cross and Nicholas Spanos, found no significant differences in intelligence, psychological health, or fantasy-proneness between UFO witnesses and a control group. A key difference noted was that UFO witnesses had a previously held belief in aliens and UFOs. The article suggests that skepticism is the only sure way to avoid UFO abduction.

UFO NEWS: Mission Mars

This report details NASA's loss of communication with the Mars Observer probe just 68 hours before it was scheduled to enter Mars's orbit. The failure of on-board transmitters to power up and subsequent communication failures led to speculation, including theories that NASA was hiding the discovery of Martians or that someone within NASA sabotaged the mission. Some individuals attempted to contact the probe via psychic energy.

Remote Viewing: Where the Flakes Come From

Lys Ann Shore traces the history of the cereal industry in Battle Creek, Michigan. The industry's origins are linked to the Seventh-Day Adventist sect's advocacy of vegetarianism, health quackery, and industrial expansion. Key figures include John Harvey Kellogg, who experimented with health foods and invented "Caramel Cereal Coffee" and "Granola," and his brother Will Keith Kellogg, who founded the Kellogg Company. The article also mentions Charles W. Post, who developed Postum and Grape-Nuts, and the proliferation of cereal companies in Battle Creek.

Humming Along

Researchers investigating a persistent hum reported by residents of Taos, New Mexico, found no external source for the sound. The team plans to test Taos hum-hearers to see if the hum might be produced within the human ear itself.

A Skeptic's Response: What is QiGong?

Elena M. Watson provides an overview of QiGong, an ancient Chinese practice related to vital energy (Qi). She explains its basis in balancing yin and yang forces, the concept of meridians, and its connection to Taoist philosophy. The article notes the historical development of QiGong and its association with practices like acupuncture and Tai Chi. It also discusses the deceptive demonstrations of acupuncture in China in the 1970s and the mixed results of scientific tests on QiGong masters conducted by CSICOP.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Skeptical Eye consistently promotes critical thinking and scientific inquiry. The magazine debunks pseudoscience, examines the evidence behind paranormal claims, and provides historical context for various phenomena. Recurring themes include the importance of empirical evidence, the dangers of health quackery, the analysis of urban legends, and the critical evaluation of UFO reports. The editorial stance is clearly one of skepticism towards unsubstantiated claims and a commitment to promoting rational explanations.

Title: The Skeptical Eye
Issue: Vol. 7, No. 3
Date: 1993

This issue of The Skeptical Eye, published by NCAS, delves into two primary areas: the burgeoning field of alternative medicine and the cultural phenomenon of supermarket tabloids. It also touches upon the electronic frontier and the NCAS's efforts to engage its members through digital means.

Alternative Healing Grants Announced by the NIH

The lead story details the first list of research grants awarded by the Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Thirty grants, each approximately $30,000, were selected from over 800 applicants. Dr. Joseph Jacobs, director of the office, stated that these grants would fund preliminary studies to identify areas for more carefully controlled research. The grants cover a wide range of alternative therapies, including:

• QiGong: As a treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy (Wen-hsien Wu, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey).
• Visualization and Muscle Relaxation: As immune system boosters (Mary Banks Jasnoski, George Washington University).
• Prayer: For recovery from drug abuse (Scott Walker, University of New Mexico).
• Yogic Breathing: For obsessive-compulsive disorder (David Shannahoff-Khalsa, Khalsa Foundation for Medical Science, Delmar, California).
• Antioxidant Vitamins: In vitro study to enhance anti-cancer drugs (Kedar Prasad, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center).
• Acupuncture: As a treatment for severe depression in women (John J. Allen, University of Arizona) and for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children (Neil A. Sonenklar, Virginia Commonwealth University).
• Hypnosis: For chronic back pain and its effect on pain perception regions of the brain (Helen Joan Crawford, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), and to accelerate healing of ankle bone fractures (Carol Ginades, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts).
• Chinese-style "Electrochemical" Stimulation: In vitro study to shrink tumors and boost the immune system (C. K. Chou, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California).
• Biofeedback: For control of chronic pain (Richard A. Sherman, Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado) and assisted relaxation to curtail insulin dependence in type I diabetes (Angela V. McCrady, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo).
• Visual Imagery/Relaxation: For women completing breast cancer treatment (D. Blair Justice, University of Texas Health Sciences Center).
• Guided Imagery: For asthma patients (James P. Halper, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York).
• Chiropractic Manipulations: An attempt to measure the forces involved (Martin H. Krag, University of Vermont).
• Massage Therapy: To improve immune function in combination with antiviral drug treatment for AIDS (Thomas J. Birk, Morse Physical Health Research Center, Toledo, Ohio); to reduce anxiety and depression for bone marrow transplant patients (Denise Matt Tope, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire); and for women who have had uterine cancer surgery (Douglas E. DeGood, University of Virginia).
• Therapeutic Touch: To reduce stress-induced immune suppression in nursing and medical students (Melodie Olson, Medical University of South Carolina).
• Dance and Movement Therapy: For adults with cystic fibrosis (Sharon W. Goodill, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia).
• "Energetic Therapy": As a supplement to conventional treatment for basal cell carcinoma (Steven L. Fahrion, Menniger Clinic, Topeka, Kansas).
• Belief/Personality Type: Its role in healing (Michael S. Goldstein, University of California at Los Angeles).
• Ayurvedic Medicine: General health and herbal bean derivative for Parkinson's disease model in rats (David B. Simon, Sharp Healthcare, San Diego, California; Bala V. Manyam, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine).
• Macrobiotic Diet: And cancer treatment (Lawrence J. Kushi, University of Minnesota).
• T'ai Chi Exercises: And mild balance disorders (Timothy Carl Hain, Northwestern University).
• Music Therapy: To improve social adjustment and mood associated with brain injury (Paul J. Eslinger, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine).
• Infant Massage: Daily 15-minute massage to improve development and immune function in preterm newborns with HIV positive mothers (Frank A. Scafidi, University of Miami).
• Yoga: As an adjunct to methadone maintenance treatment for drug addiction (Howard Shaffer, North Charles International Health Research and Training Foundation, Cambridge, Massachusetts).

The Last Word: A Supermarket Tabloid Ate My Brain

This article by Elena M. Watson explores the world of supermarket tabloids, prompted by an article in Smithsonian magazine. Watson reveals that writers for publications like the Weekly World News (WWN) often come from reputable backgrounds, including Harvard and the New York Times, and are paid substantial salaries (up to $75,000 annually) to produce sensational content.

Eddie Clontz, editor of the WWN, explains the high pay is necessary because the work is career-ending. The WWN, though not the oldest tabloid, became a household name under Clontz. He studied historical tabloids, drawing inspiration from figures like William Randolph Hearst and, more significantly, Bernarr Macfadden. Macfadden, a proponent of naturopathy and physical culture, also pioneered the "composograph" with the New York Evening Graphic, which involved altering or posing photographs.

Generoso Pope Jr., dubbed "The Father of the Supermarket Tabloid," bought the New York Enquirer in 1927 and transformed it with sensational headlines and stories. In 1957, he renamed it the National Enquirer. By the late 1960s, seeking wider distribution, Pope cleaned up the Enquirer's content to get it into grocery stores, eventually moving to Lantana, Florida. The success of the Enquirer led Rupert Murdoch to create The Star in color, prompting Pope to upgrade the Enquirer to color as well. The older black-and-white press was then repurposed for the Weekly World News.

Watson notes that the WWN, despite lower sales compared to tabloids like the National Enquirer, Star, Globe, and National Examiner, has cultivated a "cult readership among intellectuals." She draws a parallel between tabloid stories and urban legends, citing examples like "X-RAY SHOWS LIVE SNAKE TRAPPED IN MAN'S STOMACH" echoing a 17th-century tale. S. Elizabeth Bird's book, "For Enquiring Minds," is mentioned as a study of tabloids as folklore, highlighting recurring themes like the immortal hero.

The article also touches on the idea that some tabloid content might be "fiendishly clever political satire," a notion denied by managing editor Sal Ivone, though he admitted to being a fan of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."

Watson concludes by pondering the implications of headlines such as "EARTH'S WATER SUPPLY CAME FROM DINOSAUR WEE-WEE."

• For Further Reading:
• Bessie, Simon Michael. *Jazz Journalism: The Story of the Tabloid Newspapers*. New York: Russell & Russell, 1969.
• Bird, S. Elizabeth. *For Enquiring Minds: A Cultural Study of Supermarket Tabloids*. University of Tennessee Press, 1992.
• Lardner, James. "The Man Behind the Enquirer." *The Washington Post*, April 2, 1978.
• Gardner, Martin. *Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science*. New York: Dover, 1957.

The Electric Skeptic: NCAS Electronic Mail Project & GWU FREENET

This section details the NCAS Electronic Mail Project, initiated by Gary Stone, which aims to distribute information about local events and skeptical news to NCAS members via email. The project also experiments with sending advance copies of 'The Shadow of a Doubt' newsletter. The article mentions how e-mail facilitated timely reactions from the NCAS Board, such as scheduling a program featuring James Randi and James Alcock in response to a Qi-Gong demonstration.

It also provides instructions on how to join the NCAS E-mail Project by sending a request to [email protected]. The same address can be used to contribute timely information of skeptical interest. For those without an e-mail account, the section explains how to obtain a free account on George Washington University's Public Access system, CapAccess. Instructions are given for signing on as a guest and for registering for a personal account. It also mentions that CapAccess can be used to participate in the Global SKEPTIC E-mail Discussion Group.

Electronic Directory

A listing of NCAS officers and board members is provided, along with their contact information, primarily email addresses. Joe Himes is listed as president, Mike Epstein as vice president/print archives, Gary Stone as secretary/AV archives, and Grace Denman as treasurer. Other board members and the editor, Elena Watson, are also listed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Skeptical Eye consistently promotes critical thinking and scientific skepticism. This issue, in particular, scrutinizes the validity of alternative medicine by highlighting NIH-funded research, implying a cautious approach to unproven therapies. Simultaneously, it deconstructs the sensationalism and questionable reporting of supermarket tabloids, framing them as a cultural phenomenon rooted in folklore and sensationalism rather than factual reporting. The magazine also champions the use of electronic communication for disseminating skeptical information and fostering community engagement among its members.