National Capital Area Sk e p t i c a l Ey e • encouraging critical thinking and scientific understanding • serving as an information resource on extraordinary claims • providing extraordinary evidence that skeptics are cool Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/2009 & Bob Park Receive Philip J. Klass Awards NCAS honored James Randi and Prof. Robert L. Park with the 2007 and 2008 Philip J. Klass Awards for outstanding contributions in promoting critical thinking

and scientific understanding. stories on pages 10 and 12

current events 2 prez sez 3 20 Years Ago 4 20th Greetings 9

photo by J. D. Mack Park Receives Klass Award 10 Skeptic on the Loose! 12 Brunch at Jackie’s 14 Randi Receives Klass Award 14 ESP 16 Sir Isaac Newton 18 “Expelled” 20 From the Copy- right Office 22 about NCAS 24 photo by Helen Hester-Ossa

A publication of the National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS) current & coming events That’s nice... Election Results Prove it! wo new board members were elected in Morton, Eugene W. Ossa, National Capital Area Skeptics Tthe recent voting: Nelson Davis, Jr. and and Jamy Ian Swiss. Of- 20/20 since 1987 Melissa Pollak. Reelected and incumbent ficers are: Scott Snell, members are: Chip Denman, Grace Denman, president; Gary Stone, vice Mike Epstein, Herb M. Federhen, Bing Gar- president; Walter F. Rowe, secretary; thright, Curtis Haymore, J. D. Mack, Brian and Marv Zelkowitz, treasurer. Join Us For Drinking Skeptically ome to Jackie’s Restaurant at 8081 Geor- sphere. We discuss the issues of the day and Cgia Avenue in Silver Spring on the 2nd whatever else is on our minds. But most of all, Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. we have fun while promoting skepticism, sci- to join fellow NCASers for their DC- ence, and rationality. area Drinking Skeptically event. What Don’t drink? Don’t let that stop you from is Drinking Skeptically, you may ask? joining us! Some of the world’s most famous (You are a skeptic after all; questions skeptics are teetotalers, and you are welcome! are expected.) Drinking Skeptically is an http://www.jackiesrestaurant.com informal social event designed to promote http://www.drinkingskeptically.org fellowship and networking among skeptics, Remember that drinking skeptically means critical thinkers, and like-minded individuals. drinking responsibly. If there’s one thing sci- It gives skeptics a chance to talk, share ideas ence has taught us, it’s the effects of alcohol (and yes, drink) in a casual, relaxed atmo- on the human body.

Monthly Meeting Times & Places 2009 February 2009: Saturday, Feb 14, 1:30 pm— National Science Foundation, Room 110 Public & FREE 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA Darwin At 200 Years, Human Nature At A Few Million Years, And A Socio-Legal Myth April 2009: Friday, Apr 10, 11:30 a.m.— Undermined At 40 Years NCAS 2009 Philip J. Klass Award Presenta- Dennis K. McBride, Ph.D., Potomac Institute tion to CFI’s , Ph.D., at the Center for Policy Studies, Georgetown University For Inquiry’s 12th World Congress, Bethesda, Medical School, & GU Public Policy Institute, MD (details to be announced) National Science Foundation, Room 110 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA May 2009: Saturday, May 9, 1:30 pm— Public & FREE (program to be announced) March 2009: Saturday, Mar 14, 1:30 pm— Bethesda Library, 7400 Arlington Rd., Public & FREE (program to be announced) Bethesda, MD (near Bethesda Metro)

National Capital Area Skeptical Eye (ISSN 1063-2077) NCAS Board of Directors Editor/Designer/ is published by the National Capital Area Skeptics, PO Executive Committee Photographer Box 8428 , Silver Spring, MD 20907. Scott Snell, president Helen E. Hester-Ossa Copyright © 2009 National Capital Area Skeptics. Signed Gary Stone, vice president articles are the opinions of the authors. Opinions ex- Walter F. Rowe, secretary pressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position of Marv Zelkowitz, treasurer the editors, the Board of Directors, or the National Capital Chip Denman, spokesperson Area Skeptics. Other Board members 24-hour phone number: 301-587-3827 Nelson Davis, Jr. Bing Garthright Eugene W. Ossa e-mail: [email protected] Grace Denman Curtis Haymore Melissa Pollak Skeptical Eye input: [email protected] Mike Epstein J. D. Mack Jamy Ian Swiss Internet: www.ncas.org Herb M. Federhen Brian Morton

2 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 prez sez by Scott Snell Dear NCAS Members: have an idea for a project that would further NCAS’s objectives, contact us (ncas@ncas. ’m Scott Snell, NCAS president for the org, or 301-587-3827). We’ll match you up 2008-2009 term. I’ve been an NCAS with one or more of our 16 board members to member since its founding in 1987, served see your idea through. I A simple case of this occurred a few months on its board of directors since 1998, and been vice president for the previous few years. ago. One of our members learned that The In taking the reins from my predecessor, George Washington University’s Lisner Audi- Gary Stone, I see NCAS continuing on the torium would be the site of an upcoming per- course set during his tenure. As always, we formance by “clairvoyant” Lisa Williams. In remain focused on our chartered objectives: response, some of our board members collabo- promoting critical thinking and scientific un- rated with another member to compose a letter derstanding, serving as an information resource to GW, suggesting that the university post a regarding extraordinary claims, and providing disclaimer that would prevent the public from extraordinary evidence that skeptics are cool. mistakenly assuming it was endorsing Wil- NCAS activities are also aligned with the liams’ claims. Shortly afterward, our suggested four goals that the board of directors laid out disclaimer appeared, verbatim*, at the Lisner website advertising the Williams event. This during our October 2006 strategy session. Re- Scott Snell is a cent examples are shown below: was a small but genuine victory in the battle to charter member 1. Expand and prioritize the demographic inform consumers and, we hope, prevent them of NCAS and groups reached by NCAS from throwing away their hard-earned money. serves as Holding some of our monthly public lec- The disclaimer also helped GW safeguard its president for the tures at National Science Foundation in Ar- reputation by dissociating itself from Wil- 2008-2009 term. He received lington has helped us connect with its diverse liams’ claims. Often our members suggest particular topics his Bachelor of workforce Science degree or speakers for our free public monthly lecture 2. Increase community and networking in physics from among NCAS members series. Please keep your ideas coming—we the University of NCAS has started a monthly Drinking still have a few unfilled slots for the remainder Maryland. He is Skeptically event at Jackie’s Restaurant in Sil- of the current season. employed as a ver Spring We also appreciate members’ help in publi- flight software cizing our events. If you’re willing to post our engineer by 3. Increase collaboration between NCAS Computer and external organizations event flyers, especially at local universities or scientific institutions, please contact us. Sciences NCAS will present its 2009 Philip J. Klass Corporation at Award to Paul Kurtz during the Center for In- Of special note is the aforementioned NASA’s Goddard quiry’s World Congress in Bethesda this April (CFI) World Congress, Space Flight 4. Expand and prioritize the relevant topics “Science, Public Policy, and the Planetary Center, tending addressed by NCAS Community,” which will be held at the Hyatt the onboard computers Sex/gender definitions and race-based urban Regency Bethesda, April 9-12, 2009. We en- of several legends were recent lecture topics. courage our members to attend, where they’ll see outstanding presentations by James Randi, astronomical and Another notable accomplishment is the Earth-observation new NCAS Channel on YouTube. Our pre- , Paul Kurtz, Christopher Hitchens, satellites. miere video is November’s excellent lecture, , and others. Register “Autism and Vaccines: How Bad Science online at http://www.centerforinquiry. Confuses the Press and Harms the Public,” by net/worldcongress or by calling Steven Salzberg, Ph.D., of the University of 1-800-458-1366. Maryland. Other past and future NCAS pro- During the Friday (April 10) lun- grams will soon be posted. Visit YouTube.com/ cheon, NCAS will bestow its 2009 NCASVideo. Philip J. Klass Award on Paul Kurtz, As a membership organization, NCAS can founder and chairman of the Com- derive energy and ideas from any of you. The process is relatively straightforward. If you continued on page 4 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 3 prez sez continued from page 3

mittee for Skeptical Inquiry and Prometheus bulletins. (Those of you who aren’t online, or Books. Admission for NCAS members is prefer to receive hardcopy, will still be able to free (or $35 to include lunch). More details to have it delivered to your mailbox from ongo- come in our monthly Shadow of a Doubt bul- ing limited production runs.) letins. In closing, I note that this is the final issue Scott Snell of the Skeptical Eye that will be distributed President in hardcopy to all our members. NCAS will National Capital Area Skeptics begin primarily providing an electronic (PDF) version, to reduce the time and cost of produc- tion and distribution. Instructions for obtaining *”The views expressed by the presenters of this event do not necessarily reflect the views of Lisner Auditorium nor The the e-Eye will appear in upcoming Shadow George Washington University.”

It Was 20 Years Ago Today . . . by Scott Snell o begins one of my favorite albums, journalist who’d written the eye-opening book the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely UFOs Explained, would be there, so I brought Hearts Club Band, which was celebrat- my copy in hopes of an autograph. S th ing its own 20 anniversary in 1987. As of The beautiful spring day compensated for March 29, 2007, the same can be said of the an unexpected change of plans on arrival. All National Capital Area Skeptics (NCAS). the school’s doors were locked! So we met in Even the most credulous might find it hard the outdoor amphitheatre, over a hundred of us to believe that two decades have passed. Try (SI) subscribers, including “a generation” or “one score” years ago and it my friend and fellow University of Maryland may sound even longer. How likely would it physics major, Tim Warner. It was Tim who’d have seemed at the time that an all-volunteer gotten me interested in SI over a year earlier. group dedicated to promoting criti- As Klass approached, I recognized him cal thinking and scientific under- immediately from his book jacket photos, but standing could’ve flourished in, of was surprised that he wasn’t as tall as I’d ex- all places, probably the most politi- pected. Yet he impressed with a sharp-looking cal community in the world? gray suit topped off with a fedora. He was Part of the answer can be found smoking a cigarette and reminded me of some- by looking back to the beginning of one out of an old film noir. I think he was still NCAS, and just before… of the time when men wore suits almost every I remember getting a postcard day. My friendly acquaintance with him, ex- announcing the first gathering of tending over many years afterward, began that like-minded skeptics at the Ed- afternoon. mund Burke School in Washington, Another familiar face emerged in front DC. (I still have it somewhere and of the crowd. It was Jamy Ian Swiss, one of will find it in time for our 25th an- the local magicians (doubling as bartenders) niversary!) I knew that a hero of I’d seen at the opening of Wheaton’s “Inn of ► mine, Philip J. Klass, the aerospace ” on April Fool’s Day almost exactly

4 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 20 Years Ago ... continued from previous page two years before. Jamy had performed a card listing (in its Spring 1987 issue) for a DC-area trick (called “Card Warp”) for me and my skeptics group, named “The Committee for friends that “blew us away,” so much so that Scientific Inquiry of the National Capital Area I kept (and still have) the torn playing cards (CSI/NCA), Sean O’Neill, Chairman.” from that evening. In fact, it was a “committee” of only one I also remember Stan Bigman, a retired at the time of its first public foray, a letter to sociologist from the Department of Health the editor in the November 6, 1986 edition of and Human Services, addressing us. Tim and (see sidebar) regarding a I recalled seeing his name signed to a sharply- “Style” section Halloween article that featured worded letter to the editor of a Mensa publi- a Fortean cryptozoologist. cation after it had printed a credulous article Bigman saw the letter and contacted on the paranormal. (Like Bigman, Tim and I O’Néill. Undaunted by the discovery that the quickly became disillusioned regarding the “committee” was only a one-man paper or- critical thinking capabilities of many Mensa ganization, he began working with O’Néill to members shortly after we’d joined.) turn the committee into a reality. It’s easy to recall the excitement of the Soon CSICOP put O’Néill and Bigman in first DC skeptics’ gathering. We learned from touch with Jamy and the Denmans, and togeth- the organizers that we wouldn’t be directly er they enlisted the help of CSICOP Executive affiliated with CSICOP (the Committee for Committee member (and DC resident) Philip the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the J. Klass. Paranormal, the publisher of SI), and yet the But before the first organizing meeting opportunity to be more than a passive reader (held at Bigman’s Chevy Chase apartment), of books and articles was thrilling. Now we O’Néill had been seriously injured in a motor- could organize and do something about uncriti- cycle accident and was unable to participate cal media coverage of sensational paranormal during much of the group’s formative period. claims and such. The ball had begun rolling However, he returned later and served on its on creating NCAS. The interested reader can board of directors for many years. learn more by reviewing our early newsletters O’Néill passed away in 2003, but his ex- at http://ncas.org/newsletters/shadow-mz.html. wife, Pamela Hirsch, talked to me recently What is the backstory on all of this? It was about him. She described him as having a SI that had brought everyone together, but strong sense of justice, being an activist dedi- what had brought the organizers to SI in the cated to righting wrongs. He was especially first place? And what had happened behind the concerned about misinformed consumers who scenes during the infancy of NCAS? were duped into spending money on cures or It wasn’t until recently that I learned that treatments that were known not to help. Ironi- two other important NCAS founders, both cally, he was never able to fully recover, both present on that first day, Chip and Grace Den- physically and emotionally, from his motorcy- man, had also met Jamy at the Inn of Magic cle accident. But he helped others through his on opening night. That chance encounter was private practice to overcome drug addiction one of the threads that eventually led to the and to control pain through hypnosis. formation of NCAS. Over the next couple of Bigman’s version of the story is now lim- years they’d discussed the possibility of form- ited to his early NCAS newsletter columns and ing a local skeptics group (inspired by the [San the recollections of other early board mem- Francisco] Bay Area Skeptics and others). In bers. He was interim president until he stepped the meantime, SI began publishing a call for down after about a year. He decided not to forming local groups, starting with its Fall continue after the direction of NCAS deviated 1986 issue. In response, Jamy and the Den- from his vision of it solely sponsoring academ- mans wrote to CSICOP. Individually, so did a ic discussions (moving also towards grassroots local psychotherapist named Seán O’Néill. activism and entertainment programs). O’Néill was probably the first to make con- Following Bigman’s departure, interim vice tact. It was his name that headed the initial SI president Chip Denman assumed the presi- continued on page 6 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 5 20 Years Ago ... continued from page 5

Shown above is the Halloween 1986 Washington Post “Style” article that inspired Seán O’Néill to write the letter on the right to the Washington Post editor, debuting his one-man paper organization that later became NCAS.

dency. He later won a seat on the first elected science. Both men were later galvanized into board of directors, which retained him as skeptical activism by the same book: James president. Randi’s The Magic of Uri Geller (later re-titled O’Néill, Bigman, and Klass are gone, but The Truth About Uri Geller). Jamy describes Jamy Ian Swiss and the Denmans are still this 1975 book as “radicalizing” him. He went available to tell their stories. from bookstore to bookstore getting them to Jamy was a lifelong skeptic, nurtured in sell copies. Chip vividly recalls its passion in large part by his interest in magic, and by covering a topic that he had previously seen reading about Houdini’s exposés of mediums. serious evaluations of only in dry and some- Chip’s continuing interest in magic began in what equivocal academic terms. “This was the childhood also, but then his focus shifted to first place I’d seen the BS of the [psychic] phe- ►

6 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 20 Years Ago ... continued from previous page nomenon exposed,” he said. in helping NCAS get jump-started was sig- Within a couple of years, Chip was working nificant. They provided a 64-page manual to as a statistician at NIH, and met Grace through NCAS (as well as to other eligible local groups a coworker. Grace already had an affinity for around the country) incorporating the lessons science and magic, and quickly took up an in- learned from the formation of the Bay Area terest in skepticism, thanks to Chip. Skeptics and other early groups. And CSICOP Jamy is unsure of how he learned of the Executive Council member Philip J. Klass was existence of SI, but thinks he read about it an important participant and mentor to NCAS in Randi’s 1980 book Flim-Flam! Chip and during its formative stages, even after NCAS Grace first learned of CSICOP and SI from resisted CSICOP’s urging against becoming a Douglas Hofstadter’s February 1982 Scien- membership organization. tific American column (reprinted in his book Only a few days after the inaugural NCAS Metamagical Themas) and started subscribing. gathering, an annual CSICOP meeting was Apparently many others did the same, for SI held in Pasadena, California. Chip and Jamy circulation increased sharply after that article realized it was important to “network” with the appeared. leading lights of the skeptics world, so they By the time the NCAS founders had first scraped together enough money to register come together, CSICOP recommended against and fly to the meeting, and benefited from the their forming a membership organization, generosity of a friend who let them stay at his which might conceivably be infiltrated by non- apartment. skeptics and redirected, subverting its mis- Highlights of the meeting included a sion. Instead CSICOP suggested creation of a keynote speech by , and awards self-perpetuating committee. But the interim banquet entertainment provided by magi- NCAS board of directors developed a mem- cians Penn & Teller, whom Jamy had met the bership organization after all, hoping to tap year before. (Upon seeing Jamy at the meet- into its participatory and activist advantages. ing, Penn Jillette exclaimed “Wait a minute! CSICOP’s concern about potential undermin- Magic, rock and roll, and skepticism. How ing of the nascent group was addressed by often does that happen?”) This was the start of conceiving NCAS with a large board of direc- a friendship among the four men. And it was tors (numbering 16), that then elects its offi- at this meeting that Jamy and Chip first met cers, safeguarding the integrity of the group. James Randi. CSICOP was eager to help start local skep- They met again the next year at the Chicago tics groups, but had recently become wary of CSICOP conference, this time with Grace formal ties or affiliation with them. In 1986 a along as well. Her first memory of Randi was Hawaiin parapsychologist filed suit against the after he apparently misread a sign directing Hawaii Skeptics for defamation and interfer- patrons to the registration desk, and instead ence with his contract to teach parapsychology ascended on an escalator heading away from at a community college. But he also named where he wanted to go. “I fear I have taken the CSICOP and two members of its executive wrong path again,” he ruefully said as he was committee (Paul Kurtz and James Randi) as carried away. defendants, even though they were not in- On New Year’s Day in 1989, Chip and volved in the events leading up to the lawsuit. Grace drove to Philadelphia, where Penn & Fortunately the case was later adjudicated Teller were performing, and bought them in the skeptics’ favor, but the lesson of strict brunch. The four discussed the duo’s upcom- autonomy was established in CSICOP’s insti- ing summer DC multi-week stand at the tutional relations with local groups thereafter. National Theatre, and how they might help (See the Bay Area Skeptics’ newsletter BASIS “pimp” NCAS. Penn & Teller graciously from December 1988 at http://linuxmafia.com/ worked out a ticket sale discount for NCAS pub/skeptic/newsletters/basis/basisdec.88.) members to a particular evening show that Despite their self-imposed arm’s-length helped raise funds for NCAS, and concluded relationship with local groups, CSICOP’s role with a special Q&A with the audience. They continued on page 8 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 7 20 Years Ago ... continued from page 7

also wore NCAS T-shirts to their May DC the audience who’d requested that he be sum- press conference, a detail noted in a Washing- moned, and then his message, “Spirits speak, ton Post “Style” section article. spooks do not.” Klass was incredulous and ap- In July, Penn guested on several DC morn- proached Jamy after the show. “Well, obvious- ing radio programs, promoting the Penn & ly she’s a confederate,” Klass proposed, which Teller National Theatre show, but also plug- meant the Casey message could be prepared ging a July 8 NCAS event held at NIH featur- beforehand, but Jamy assured him otherwise. ing Randi (with an introduction by Penn). This “Go talk to her, Phil…she’s not.” helped draw over 550 attendees, still the larg- …Noted parapsychology critic Profes- est crowd in NCAS history. sor on his whirlwind DC tour in Among the other favorite memories of January 1990, when he was a guest on several NCAS’s first twenty years are… DC radio shows, and was accompanied by …The first public NCAS event (June 7, members of the NCAS board of directors, all 1987), held at the Uniformed Services Uni- the while videotaped by a crew from CBS- versity of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, TV’s 48 Hours for its program on “Psychics featuring Dr. Bruce S. Maccabee and Philip and Skeptics,” broadcast the following month. J. Klass discussing “UFO Abductions: Fact Included were segments of his NCAS lecture or Fantasy?” However, Maccabee, a physicist to an overflow crowd at the Tysons-Pimmit generally recognized as the most technically Regional Library. competent researcher who believes that some …NCAS hosting the 1990 CSICOP confer- UFOs may be extraterrestrial in origin, es- ence in DC (held March 30 through April 1). sentially changed the subject at the start of Gary Stone coordinated more than 40 volun- his presentation, claiming that the historical teers in the effort, including setup and operation context of abductions should be examined of the audio-visual resources. CSICOP’s execu- first. He focused on comparatively mild cases tive director, Barry Karr, complimented NCAS of early UFO sightings instead of the recent for running their smoothest conference yet. sensational abduction claims. When it came …Standing with James Randi in his time of time for Klass to speak, he apologized to the need. During 1991 and 1992, Randi, CSICOP, audience members who had come to hear a and others were sued by Uri Geller in many debate on claims of alien abduction, which he U.S. jurisdictions and in other countries as had prepared for, but apparently Dr. Maccabee well. Although all the suits were eventually re- had not. Had he known of the change of sub- solved favorably for skeptics, this was a tense ject beforehand, Klass said he would’ve read time for the , generating through his files regarding these earlier UFO fears that critical evaluations of paranormal sightings and provided a very different per- claims might be silenced by potentially stag- spective about them than Maccabee. Instead, gering legal defense costs and having to pay Klass provided his prepared critique of abduc- settlements or court awards. But through this, tion claims, which Maccabee had sidestepped. NCAS provided financial and moral support …The October 1988 Seánce show (12 per- to Randi thanks to its member donations to his formances), which was written by Chip and legal fund, and with some board members ac- Jamy, based on 19th-century spiritualism, and companying him to his DC court dates. staged at the Silver Spring Armory. At the …Jamy’s NCAS benefit show (2001), special Halloween show, Philip J. Klass was which played to a huge crowd at the DC Jew- among the audience members who witnessed ish Community Center. slate-writing by the summoned spirit of Wil- …The weekend workshops, often held at liam J. Casey, the director of the CIA who retreats, covering topics ranging from Y2K had died before he could testify to Congress (Spring 1999) to “Ghostbusting 101” (Fall regarding the Iran-Contra affair, still very 1999), and featuring guests such as James much a news item at the time. When Jamy Randi, physicist Bob Park (2002) and Professor revealed the slates, written upon them in chalk Ray Hyman’s “cold reading” workshop (2003). was Casey’s signed greeting to the woman in …The April Anti-Fools event (2005), which ►

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provided an afternoon of consumer informa- There’s no way to say until we see it hap- tion on how to avoid being (harmfully) fooled, pen ourselves (or make it happen ourselves) and then an evening of illusionist entertain- because precognition is just…well, a “tricky ment to enjoy being (harmlessly) fooled. business.” And what do the next 20 years hold for NCAS?

NCAS 20th Anniversary Greetings:

appy 20th Birthday NCAS! You’re he notice regarding the 20th anniversa- wiser than your years, but you don’t ry of NCAS sparked a bit of nostalgia look a day over 19. Here’s to many Tin me. I took a few minutes to go back H and look through the file I have on the forma- more years of science and critical thinking advocacy... tion of NCAS. I found letters from such peo- ple as Stanley Bigman, Sean O’Neill, and Phil Paul Jaffe, NCAS President (1998—2003) Klass, along with responses from Mark Plum- mer, the former Executive Director of CSI- appy 20th Birthday NCAS! I still COP, Paul Kurtz, and myself. Some of these vividly recall the first organizational letters date back as far as November 1986 Hmeeting that led to the establishment (maybe you are a bit older than you realized!). of NCAS. We were milling around outside The names Chip and Grace Denman, Jamy Ian waiting for the doors of the meeting room to Swiss, and Randall Lockwood start showing open—a motley bunch of nerds, geeks, magi- up regularly in the file soon afterwards. cians, intellectuals and just plain folks with the Looking back it is clear that was an excit- courage to question. Who would have thought ing time—there are letters to the editor in the that such a ragtag group could come together Washington Post, announcements of meetings in Washington and change the world? Well... with such people as Steven Barrett and Jamy Nobody... because we’re skeptics and we Swiss. Within a couple of years plans were know that we can’t change the world—particu- begun to bring the CSICOP conference to DC, larly in Washington...and we were right, as we where we met at the Hyatt Crystal City Hotel. usually are. But the Mission of NCAS is more I know I speak for all of us old-timers here needed than ever in world where politics has at CSI(COP) who were able to play a role in declared open war on science and the media the formation of NCAS, we are proud of our have embraced pseudoscience and hucksterism involvement and we salute you for all of your to a degree unseen since the 1890’s. amazing efforts over the years. NCAS certainly opened a new world for It is one thick file—the one I have kept here me—one in which Premanand ate light bulbs detailing our relationship with NCAS over the in my kitchen, Paul Kurtz toasted humanism last 20 years. I am looking forward to an even in my dining room, Jamy Swiss mystified a larger file for the next 20 years! crowd in my back yard, and Randi made my Congratulations. baby daughter’s box of Cheerios vanish. I am Barry Karr ever thankful for geeks, magicians, intellectu- Executive Director als, and just plain skeptical folks. Here’s to Committee for Skeptical Inquiry another 20 glorious years and more... Sincerely, Randy (non-amazing) Lockwood—founding member and NCAS Vice President (1989—1991)

Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 9 Physicist Bob Park Receives 2008 NCAS Klass Award by Scott Snell n March 8, NCAS bestowed its 2008 conveners of NCAS in 1987 and a long-time Philip J. Klass Award on Robert L. mentor to the organization. In 1976 he, along “Bob” Park, Professor* of Physics at with Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov, James Randi, O Ray Hyman, Martin Gardner, Paul Kurtz, Sid- the University of Maryland. Park, a prominent skeptical commentator to the public for over ney Hook and others, was a founding member a quarter-century through op-ed columns in of the Committee for the Scientific Investiga- major newspapers, appearances on radio and tion of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), television, and his often controversial What’s now called CSI, the Committee for Skeptical New feature on science policy issues (posted Inquiry. weekly at BobPark.org), accepted the award NCAS President Gary Stone presented the before an audience of about 80 NCAS mem- 2008 Klass Award, thanking Park for his long bers and guests at the National Science Foun- career and “for outstanding contributions in dation’s headquarters in Arlington. promoting critical thinking and scientific un- derstanding,” quoting the citation engraved Bob Park [has been] a prominent skeptical beneath Park’s name on the award base. When Stone pulled back a concealing shroud (not commentator to the public for over a from Turin) to reveal the award, audible gasps quarter-century through op-ed columns in of approval emanated from the audience, joined by Park exclaiming “Wow!” major newspapers, appearances on radio Park followed with his lecture entitled, and television, and his often controversial “The Lingering Death of Superstition,” pre- What’s New feature on science policy senting a sneak preview of his upcoming (Oc- tober 2008) book, Superstition: Belief in the issues . . . Age of Science. Leading off with a rebuke of the current The award, presented each year since 2006, Bush administration’s handling of science is given in memory of Philip J. Klass, the policy issues, Park lamented what he perceives noted aerospace journalist and skeptical inves- as an ongoing lack of access to the president tigator of UFOs. He was one of the original and his advisors by leading scientists. He noted that the president’s science advisor, John Marburger, has no office in the White House (although he does have one next door, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building). Park recalled that Marburger had been in the unen- viable position of being asked for comment after his boss (Bush) had told reporters that “both sides [evolution and intelligent design] ought to be properly taught [to public school students].” Marburger rightly stated that “evolution is the cornerstone of modern biol- ogy” and “intelligent design is not a scientific concept,” but Park suggested that the deeper concern was the equal weight that the leader of the free world appeared to be giving to science and superstition. Park added, “He’s not alone among world leaders in his reverence for the supernatural.” ► all photos by J. D. Mack

10 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 Park continued from previous page

To Park, superstition should’ve ended over 2,500 years ago: May 28, 585 BCE to be ex- act. On that day, the first predicted total solar eclipse in human history was witnessed when the Moon’s narrow shadow passed across Asia Minor. It was the philosopher Thales of Mile- tus who had foretold the event (although some historians believe he may have “predicted” it after it had already happened), and stated the law of cause and effect: for every physical ef- fect there is a physical cause. Park calls this the first scientific announce- ment, and with it came the birth of science. Using causality as an operating principle for understanding the world necessarily excludes supernatural events. Park considers Thales’ law of cause and effect the first scientific law. The remainder of Park’s lecture focused on one of the several perils he sees posed by hu- manity’s continuing embrace of superstition in our modern technological age: overpopulation. gether science and religion. Recently deceased He noted that Genesis 1:28 says “Be fruitful, founder Sir John Templeton, Park claimed, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and sub- was “convinced that science will prove that due it,” but God “forgot to point out that Earth the Presbyterian God is the right one,” and es- is finite!” tablished the annual Templeton Prize to honor Park touched on Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 book, “a living person who has made an exceptional The Population Bomb, legal battles over ac- cess to abortion and contraception, and de- Using causality as an operating principle scribed the (literally) far-out ideas of Gerard O’Neill, whose visionary space colonies would for understanding the world necessarily presumably offload millions of people from excludes supernatural events Earth someday. (Park, an outspoken critic of the International Space Station (ISS), said that at least the ISS had stopped all discussion of contribution to affirming life’s spiritual di- creating space-station colonies.) mension,” sometimes honoring physicists and Contrasting the population issue’s “techno- other physical scientists, surprisingly enough. logical optimists” (O’Neill, economist Julian Templeton even offered a million dollars to the Simon, “skeptical environmentalist” Bjørn American Association for the Advancement of Lomborg, and others who believe that no Science (AAAS) so they would start programs measures for checking growth are necessary) on the dialogue between science and religion with Ehrlich and other “pessimist” counter- (“AAAS Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and parts, Park indicated that many physicists Religion [DoSER]).” Although the project’s were reluctant to join with the optimists “be- financial support remains intact, Park has suc- cause [physicists] understand exponentials… cessfully joined with others at AAAS to limit it doesn’t matter what the rate is, if you wait the amount of money that long enough, whatever you do to try to im- the Templeton Foundation prove the lot of mankind, it is going to be could invest in each indi- wiped out by population growth.” Park sees vidual program. women’s rights as a key to population control. In closing, Park described the efforts of *As of late 2008, Park is the John Templeton Foundation to bind to- Professor Emeritus.

Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 11 Beware: Skeptic on the Loose! n Sunday March 18, 2007, James After Randi’s talk and audience questions, Randi, skeptic extraordinaire, presented NCAS members and non-members were in- O“Beware: Skeptic on the Loose!” at vited to participate in an open discussion fo- the NCAS 20th Anniversary Celebration, 1:00 cused on the future of NCAS and how best to to. 4:00 p.m. at the Aiton Auditorium, National accomplish our mission of promoting critical Conference Center, 7100 Connecticut Ave., thinking and scientific understanding. Chevy Chase, MD. Randi was presented with the Philip J. Klass Award by then-NCAS president Gary Stone.

Jamy Ian Swiss

Gary Stone and James Randi all photos by Helen Hester-Ossa James Randi

James Randi, Chip Denman, & Jamy Ian Swiss Jamy Ian Swiss and James Randi Audience

12 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 Randi continued from previous page

Philip J. Klass Award

James Randi

NCAS presidents, past and present (as of 2007), Paul Jaffe, Gary Stone, Marv Zelkowitz, Grace Denman, & Chip Denman. Not shown: Joe Himes, Stanley Bigman.

Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 13 Brunch at Jackie’s Restaurant Before James Randi’s “Beware, Skeptic on the Loose!”

Bing Garthright, second from right Paul Jaffe and his bride, Rachael Schoenbaum all photos by Helen Hester-Ossa

Kevin Parker on right Bing Garthright and James Randi

Marv Zelkowitz in foreground

Jackie’s Restaurant, where Randi’s brunch was held before he was presented his Philip J. Klass Award at the Aiton Auditorium, is the site of monthly “Drinking Skeptically” gatherings every second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

14 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 Brunch continued from previous page

Clockwise from top: Jamy Ian Swiss, Grace Denman, Chip Denman, James Randi

J.D. Mack in blue on left, with Gary Stone next to him on right.

Walter Rowe

Jackie, of Jackie’s Restaurant, and her wonderful crew.

Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 15 Examining Extrasensory Perception (ESP) in a Course on Physical Science Michael Epstein by Mike Epstein graduated from uthors of introductory college science thy, and extrasensory perception as they relate the University of textbooks are beginning to realize to the scientific method, as well as our current Maryland in 1976 that traditional methods of teaching understanding of science. Unfortunately, since with a Ph.D. in A the scientific method and the fundamentals the course involves extensive laboratory time Analytical Chemistry and was a research of physics, chemistry, astronomy, and earth as well as lectures, it is difficult to design ex- chemist at NIST science are not enough to immunize students, periments to examine most pseudoscientific for more than particularly non-science majors, from the con- concepts. While the students do brief experi- 30 years. His tinuous barrage of pseudoscience in the popu- ments on astrology (random selection of horo- research interests lar media. Two of the more popular textbooks, scopes), psychic chemistry (James Randi’s are in improving such as Hewitt, et al., “Conceptual Integrated investigation of a Russian psychic), the Shroud the accuracy and Science” and Trefil and Hazen’s“The Sci- of Turin (polarization method to evaluate the precision of atomic ences: An Integrated Approach” both dedicate claim of a coin of Pontius Pilate in the eye of spectroscopy (AAS, ICP, ICP-MS) several pages to an examination of pseudosci- the Shroud), and magnetic therapy (measuring through instru- ence and, particularly, astrology, but still do not the strength of magnets in therapy devices), mental design and emphasize these to the extent needed to allow the most extensive experiment involves a automation. He has students to discern the real from the imaginary. study of extrasensory perception (ESP). been involved in For the last 4 years I have been developing Students are given an opportunity to do the the certification of and teaching an introductory course in Physi- following experiments and then are asked to over 120 Standard cal Science that is part of the core curriculum evaluate the results. While these are not done Reference Materials. He was group at Mount Saint Mary’s University, a Catholic with the rigor and repetition claimed for most leader of the Atomic and liberal arts institution in Emmitsburg, ESP experiments in the parapsychology litera- and Molecular Maryland. A significant feature of the course is ture, it does give the students a feeling for the Spectrometry group the incorporation of specific examples of pseu- type of experiments, as well as possible flaws from 1989-1990 doscience that are, to various extents, perver- in their implementation. and served as a sions of important scientific concepts. To that • Ganzfeld– with sensory de- scientific advisor to end we use Robert Park’s “Voodoo Science” privation of randomly chosen pictures the Director of the • Chemical Science as supplemental reading and examine topics Zener cards—traditional 25 card deck of and Technology such as perpetual motion, astrology, cold fu- 5 different symbols using an original J. B. Laboratory (CSTL) sion, polywater, magnetic therapy, homeopa- Rhine set of “ESP Cards” from the Duke from 1993 to 1994 University Parapsychology Laboratory and 2000 to 2002. Ganzfeld (Nicole Miller, sender and Adam Spacht, receiver) • Dice throwing He retired from • Billets–Sealed envelopes with good and government bad images service in • Various online and local ESP testing pro- 2002 and is now a guest grams researcher at • PEAR lab random event generator NIST and is on • Electronic Voice Phenomena–Recording the faculty in white noise and listening for voices of the the Department dead of Science at • Instrumental Transcommunication–Chaotic Mount Saint video feedback loop for viewing faces of Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, the dead on a television screen. Md. He was A few student conclusions from this semester’s formerly vice- experiments include the following: president of • ESP appears to be an imagined phenomena ► NCAS.

16 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 ESP continued from previous page

since results from all our experiments were within the probability limits de- fined by chance. • Psychic phenomena are merely a popular illusion that captivates the mass- es on television shows • If there is any such thing as ESP, we certainly don’t have it. • Everything can be ex- plained by coincidence. To use a rather well- known quote, but in perhaps a more valid context: “Mis- sion Accomplished.”

Ganzfeld (Nicole Miller, sender and Adam Spacht, receiver)

Mike Epstein is an assistant professor at Mount Saint Mary’s University, former NCAS vice-president and currently on the board of directors of NCAS. Special thanks to students Ralph Jones, Jess Root, Adam Kauffman, Marie Graney, Nicole Miller, Adam Spacht, and Nicole Sauriol for their work on this experiment.

Ganzfeld (Jess Root, sender and Adam Kauffman, receiver)

Zener cards (Adam Spacht, Marie Graney, Nicole Sauriol)

Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 17 From Magic To Science: Sir Isaac Newton by Richard Dengrove

as Sir Isaac Newton a magician in on the weapons’ salve. You applied a “sym- or sorceror, as some recent writ- pathetic powder” to the weapon, the sword or Wers have claimed? It is true he had gun. Then no matter how far away the victim something to do with occult magic, as these was, it reunited the vital spirits shed with his writers claim; however, it is not the same oc- blood, thus healing him. Hence, healing action cult magic as people believe in today. at a distance. From the Middle Ages until Newton’s time, Sir Francis Bacon, one of the founding the respectable position among scholars was fathers of science, was one of many who that everything had to have an observable vouched for the weapons’ salve theory. In Godfrey Kneller's 1689 cause that could be known in some detail. 1658, a Sir Kenelm Digby published a book portrait of Isaac Newton Most likely, it could be traced to the four ele- advocating that cure. While he had a less sa- (aged 46) from http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ ments: earth, air, fire, and water. This view vory reputation than Bacon, his book went into Isaac_Newton was attributed to Aristotle, although medieval twenty-nine editions. Arabs may have originated it. Academics should have considered Sir By contrast, one school that was not com- Isaac Newton an even worse offender because pletely respectable claimed causes could be he was not using action at a distance to justify hidden, or occult, unknowable in the requisite some peasant cure. No, he was applying it to detail. The causes could be such unobserv- the most important topics of natural philoso- able influences as the stars or our imagina- phy: the motion of heavenly bodies and the tion. Such phenomena were known as Natural study of light. These topics had been tackled Magic. While it was not completely respect- by great thinkers since ancient times. In addi- able, it had a number of famous and respected tion, he applied it to a less respectable topic, advocates, like Della Porta and van Helmont. the action of chemicals. That was associated One could even consider Johannes Kepler a with alchemy, Natural Magic of the first order. Natural Magician. However, change was in the air. In the two preceding centuries, all the ancients had been challenged: Ptolemy on an earth-centered uni- . . . one school that was not completely verse, Galen on the flow of blood, and Aristo- respectable claimed causes could be tle on the trajectory of projectiles. Newton was right on the cusp for dispens- hidden, or occult, unknowable in the ing with detailed causes. While a theory of requisite detail. optics of his was rejected in 1675 because he had described the cause in insufficient detail, a cause with even less detail was accepted Newton was just one in a long line. He by 1704. By then, natural philosophers had made his reputation in Natural Magic by ad- become sufficiently empirical to accept any vocating action at a distance. Aristotle had approach based on careful, repeatable observa- said in Physics, Book VII, that an object had to tion. And Newton, as opposed to Sir Kenelm, have been pushed to be in motion. That could certainly based his approach on that. include it pushing itself. However, that could Newton used action at a distance in one of not include action at a distance. Such action his most important achievements, his work was amended later to exclude pushing that was on gravitation. He claimed all heavenly bod- done by a hidden or occult cause. ies were attracted to one another by unknown There was opposition to this reading of Ar- means; (i.e., categorized under action at a istotle. Many in the 17th century had weighed distance). Although the cause was unknown, ►

18 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 Newton continued from previous page you could say something about it: its attraction back to the middle ages, God’s miracles could would follow the inverse square law, which permeate nature. Newton constructed from the ideas of Euclid, Galileo, and Kepler. Also, Newton applied action at a distance In the two preceding centuries, all the to his work on light. He suggested rays of light ancients had been challenged: Ptolemy going through a prism divided into different on an earth-centered universe, Galen on colors because the prism was attracting, in an unknown way, rays of certain colors more than the flow of blood, and Aristotle on the others. He wrote about this in his famous Prin- trajectory of projectiles. cipia, and expanded on it later. The main criticism of this work was on em- pirical grounds rather than theoretical. He was However, unlike modern purveyors of the criticized less for insufficiently detailed cause “unknown,” he admitted the possibility of an than for problems with experimental replica- unknown, natural explanation, as well as a tion. That was why the French would not ac- spiritual one; and so he did not mention this cept it until 1715. In that year, some members belief in public. of the Paris Académie des Sciences visited On the other hand, Newton, early on, had Richard Dengrove is a London to study an eclipse, and Newton’s ex- been forthright about his debt to Natural librarian in the perimenter, Francis Hauksbee, showed them Magic, which was less than respectable. For U.S. Department how to replicate Newton’s experiments on instance, his debt to Hermes Trismegistus, folk of Agriculture light. Ultimately, enough scientists replicated magic, and alchemy. This changed. In the 18th and a member this experiment for it to be accepted. century, because of his debate with Leibniz of NCAS since Furthermore, Newton applied action at a and his rivalry for preference at the Hanover- 1987. In recent distance to chemicals ( i.e., stating that their ian court, he and his disciples downplayed years he has researched any microscopic particles attracted each other). Natural Magic. That, of course, did not fool topic that took This speculation may have grown out of his Leibniz. However, it established how Newto- his fancy, from experiments in alchemy. However, while he nianism was presented during the Enlighten- the sublime to had long practiced alchemy, he did not publish ment and beyond. the ridiculous: this idea until 1706. There, he pointed out how The earlier objections to Newton were that from explorers, attraction explained precipitation, deliques- he was an adherent of Natural Magic. How- to the occult, to cence, and displacement in metals. ever, by the late18th and early 19th centuries, extraterrestrials, A difference existed, though, between the William Blake and Samuel Taylor Coleridge to the Newton apple tree, to the attraction in metals and gravity. For metals, the could claim that there was no room for God in propeller beanie. formula could not be 1/r2, like gravity. Rather Newton. He has published Newton and his followers claimed it had to be Selected Bibliography numerous articles 1/rn, with n more than 2. in The Skeptical Eye. Newton only became certain of the attrac- John Fauvel, Raymond tion of atoms of metals in 1717 because his Flood, Michael Shortland, experimenters, Hauksbee and Desaguliers, had and Robin Wilson, Let proven it indirectly in experiments with elec- Newton Be! Oxford, 1988, tricity, showing its attraction, capillarity, and 272 p. cohesion. Even with all these results on gravity, light, and chemicals, Newton was reluctant to make hypotheses in public that went beyond obser- vation. This is not to say that Newton did not hypothesize in private. For instance, he be- lieved that gravity was a continuous miracle of God’s that attracted the planets to one another.

For him, just like some occult thinkers going photo by Helen Hester-Ossa

Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 19 A Self-Contained Critique of “Expelled” by Scott Snell and James Hawks

he infamous 2008 “documentary” en- searching for this site? Is the movie likely to titled Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed leave viewers suspicious of its claims? T(hosted by Silver Spring’s very own Sadly, we must report “probably not.” Ben Stein, a 1962 alumnus of Montgomery The movie “hangs together” fairly well, and Blair High School*) purports to reveal a sys- its basic premise may be plausible for many tematic suppression by “the scientific estab- laypeople who vaguely recall cases of “po- lishment” of anyone who considers intelligent litical correctness” that emerge from college design (ID) a valid field of scientific inquiry. campuses from time to time. Given that type Reviews by knowledgeable critics have ex- of environment, it may not seem so farfetched posed it as little more than a groundless propa- that some of the academic establishment could ganda piece. be trying to suppress IDers purely on political or religious grounds. . . .the National Center for Science Education has Although cleverly edited and free of self-contradiction, there are created a valuable Web site (expelledexposed.com) a few telltale signs that the movie that responds point by point to the falsehoods and is not leveling with its viewers. Highlighting them might convince a distortions promulgated by the film. concerned viewer to check for more information. Imagine yourself en- countering an intelligent layperson Nevertheless, the movie grossed about who’s seen Expelled. What could you point out 7.7 million dollars at the box office this past from the film that can raise doubts and encour- spring, good enough to finish 12th in lifetime age critical thinking? One memorable point earnings among documentaries. October’s will probably suffice, but here are three: DVD release also performed fairly well, plac- ing 30th among all rentals in its opening week. 1. Separate Interviews Its long-term prospects for viewings could Stein interviews both evolution and ID pro- be favorable, particularly ponents, but always separately, never together. among church and com- This prevents the free flow of discussion be- munity activist groups. tween them that would quickly expose ID as Fortunately, the Na- unscientific. Maybe it just wasn’t feasible to tional Center for Science bring the parties together, but Stein never asks Education has created a any of the evolution experts point-specific valuable Web site (ex- questions about the ID claims at hand. It is al- pelledexposed.com) that ways the ID proponents who get to share their responds point by point full perspectives, including tales of their work to the falsehoods and dis- being suppressed. The evolution proponents tortions promulgated by are never asked to respond in terms of the spe- the film. We hope many cific claims. Thus ID is insulated from detailed viewers of the film will criticism throughout the film. eventually find their way 2. We Don’t Want Our Kids Taught to the site or to other The Earth Is Flat sources of reliable infor- Stein opines, “Maybe ID should be sup- mation that set the record pressed…we don’t want our kids being taught straight. that the earth is flat or that the Holocaust never But how likely is happened.” So there is at least one point on ► it that viewers will go

20 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 “Expelled” continued from previous page which we can agree with Stein, that patently election over to the Expelled DVD, but Stein false claims should be excluded from the edu- interrupted him with a dismissive gesture to- cational setting. However, he never asks any wards it, said "Don't bother," and continued evolution proponent what, if anything, makes their political discussion. Most likely this ID akin to reflects not a flat-earth Although cleverly edited and free of self- disavowal but theories. contradiction, there are a few telltale a realization All we see that context are unsup- signs that the movie is not leveling with matters. Stein ported its viewers. couldn’t make assertions his argument in that it’s a few minutes absurd, thanks to the film’s editor. See the ex- without sounding foolish. With luck, Stein will pelledexposed.com website to read about the eventually realize the irony of his predicament missing pieces. for promoting a film that does much the same (albeit with malice) to reputable scientists. 3. Darwinism Dehumanizes Victims Stein asserts that Darwinism paved the * Full disclosure: co-author Snell is a fellow way for dehumanizing the victims of eugenics, alumnus of Montgomery Hills Junior High communism, and Nazism. At that point he’s School and shares Stein’s opinion that it was set aside the question of whether evolution ac- “loathsome.” tually occurred and instead focuses on the no- tion that accepting evolution as fact is harmful. But do the hideous acts perpetrated by those movements invalidate the facts illuminated We hope Expelled will quickly sink into by Darwin and other evolutionary research- ers? Does this line of reasoning also suggest obscurity. Thankfully, it’s dull and its call that horrific transgressions of religionists (the for action is relatively feeble. Crusades, jihads, Inquisition, etc.) necessar- ily invalidate their religions? Even if we must limit the argument to scientific matters, we can find other examples. Unlocking the forces of atomic nuclei has allowed humanity to harness enormous destructive power, yet the findings of nuclear physics remain unchanged whether Scott Snell is a charter member of NCAS and those forces are used to destroy a city or for a serves as president for the 2008-2009 term. beneficial purpose such as obliterating an as- He received his Bachelor of Science degree teroid on a collision course with Earth. Stein’s in physics from the University of Maryland. He arguments from an ethical perspective only is employed as a flight software engineer by serve to underscore the larger and unspoken Computer Sciences Corporation at NASA’s truth that morality must evolve as new infor- Goddard Space Flight Center, tending the onboard computers of several astronomical and mation is obtained or new situations emerge Earth-observation satellites. (e.g., the ethics of cloning). We hope Expelled will quickly sink into obscurity. Thankfully, it’s dull and its call for James Hawks received his Bachelor of Science action is relatively feeble. We note with some degree in geography from the University of optimism that Stein himself has not been Maryland University College. He is employed as an information technology specialist at the Silver promoting the movie with verve. During a Spring headquarters of the National Oceanic and recent appearance on CBS’s Late Late Show Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), working for with Craig Ferguson, the host tried to detour the Coast Survey Development Laboratory within Stein’s conversation away from the upcoming the Office of Coast Survey.

Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 21 Considering (or renewing) an NCAS membership? If so, your support is greatly appreciated.

Marv Zelkowitz is a ven though our meetings are free and cal events as a group, and now includes a retired professor of open to all, and our Shadow calendar get-together, Drinking Skeptically, where Computer Science is freely available on the web, we still like-minded skeptics can informally meet at the University E need members to meet our commitments as an in Silver Spring one weekday evening of Maryland in organization. While we are a 100 percent vol- each month for drinks (alcoholic or not) College Park. He has been a unteer organization, we must pay for many of and talk (check the NCAS.ORG website member of NCAS our activities, including: for the date of the next meeting). Luckily, for 17 years, was • Hosting lectures with top-notch speakers, camaraderie is mostly free! a past president of which requires renting meeting spaces, When pseudoscience arises within our the organization, providing refreshments after each lecture, region, we try to inject some science and and is now on the recording the lectures, and having handouts Board of Directors. reason into the discussion. But supporting available all this does require some funds. We hope His research • interests are in the Staying in touch with our members and that you will join us, or renew your member- evaluation of new the public, which requires maintaining a ship, and continue to support our programs. technologies used telephone line, a postal box, mailing lecture Renewals start at $30 per year. Please fill by the computer announcements and board election materi- out the form in this newsletter and send it industry to produce als, and an active website in today. NCAS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit software. He has • Recognizing distinguished service, which organization, so your membership fee is tax been applying includes supporting our annual Philip J. skepticism deductible.* Klass Award to an individual deserving of professionally Again, we hope that you will become or within the recognition by NCAS (including providing remain a member and help us meet our goals. academic research a venue and the engraved award itself) Thank you in advance for your support. community for the • Community service and outreach, which Sincerely yours, past 38 years, has included judging local school science Marv Zelkowitz validating claims fairs and providing awards to encourage NCAS Treasurer made about those students to think critically about the world new technologies. around them • Camaraderie with members, which has in- *IRS Publication 526, page 4, example 1 cluded boating parties, attending other lo-

From the Copyright Office How do I protect my sighting of Elvis?

opyright law does not protect sightings. more information on registration a copyright, However, copyright law will protect see SL-35. No one can lawfully use your photo Cyour photo (or other depiction) of your of your sighting, although someone else may sighting of Elvis. File your claim to copyright file his own photo of his sighting. Copyright online by means of the electronic Copyright law protects the original photograph, not the Office (eCO). Pay the fee online and attach a subject of the photograph. copy of your photo. Or, go to the Copyright http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-pro- Office website, fill in Form CO, print it, and tect.html#elvis mail it together with your photo and fee. For

22 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9 Scene from a Vienna (Austria) Storefront, September 2008

Mind you, that’s not just any “Ron’s” bookstore. That’s Ron as in L. Ron Hubbard, developer of Dianetics, and founder of the Church of Scientology, thank you very much. This store carries nothing but his works. Photo by Max Anselm Photo by Max

Don’t be mystified...subscribe! Yes, I want to: ______join NCAS. ______renew my membership. Membership Options 1 year 2 years 5 years Lifetime Single $30 $50 $100 $200 Double* $40 $65 $120 $250 Full-time student ** $10 — — Make checks payable to NCAS and mail to: *A “Double” membership is for two members at the same mailing address, who will each have full NCAS member privileges, but NCAS receive one household copy of each NCAS publication PO Box 8428 Silver Spring, MD 20907 Name(s) (Please enter both full names, if this is a “double” membership) For further information or assistance, contact us: Street by e-mail: [email protected] by phone: 301-587-3827 City State Zip Thank you for your new Day Phone Evening Phone e-mail or renewed membership in we do not share member information—no spam NCAS. Shadow of a Doubt Event Bulletin e-mail I do not wish to receive the email version of the NCAS monthly calendar, Shadow of A Doubt Your additional tax-deductible donation **Students: List institution attending

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24 Skeptical Eye Vol. 20, No. 1 2008/9