From Our Readers

Editor's column: Exploring irritation. Creationism, on the other the fringes of science hand, is part of a powerful and intoler­ ant belief system, and one that has real While there is much that is admirable and attainable political goals. in Kendrick Frazier's long editorial on Doing battle with Russell Targ and "Exploring the Fringes of Science" (SI, Fate magazine may be amusing. It may Winter 1984-85) 1 find his optimism, even be useful. But it's also easy, and guarded though it is, unjustified and a the victories are cheap and without bit disturbing. much significance. Perhaps pseudoscience books do Don't pat yourself on the back for not sell as well as they did a decade swatting mosquitoes when there are real ago, though most diet and self-help tigers out there after your blood—and books are pseudoscience and are doing mine. very nicely thank you. The hottest growth area in. publishing today is Daniel Cohen religion—and what religion! I don't Port Jervis, N.Y. think trading von Daniken for Falwell is much of a bargain. The social upheavals of the sixties and early seven­ 1 find myself in the position of having ties are over, as Frazier says, and just to disagree with Mr. Frazier's statement look what we have: a president who that "there may be somewhat less public has not only supported the teaching of acceptance of pseudoscience now than creationism in public schools but appar­ ten years ago." The problem seems to ently feels the biblical apocalypse is be just the opposite: Much of the public almost upon us. And he was reelected accepts the paranormal tenets matter- by an overwhelming majority of the of-factly, almost with a "So what?" atti­ American people. The Age of Aquarius tude. is no longer with us, but is the Age of When the Air Force sent me to Fundamentalism an improvement? Europe, I'd hoped that I'd be leaving What's disturbing about Frazier's the cacophony of occultists far behind. editorial is its lack of proportion. Adding to this hope was the fact that Though he acknowledges the pernicious the military's newspaper, Stars and influence of creationism, he doesn't Stripes, has no astrology column seem able to make a proper distinction (although it often reports developments between a creationist and a UFOlogist. in the psychic world as "news"). This is a difficulty that some other SI Until I went to the on-base book­ writers seem to have. Belief in UFOs, store! The National Enquirer, other spoon-bending, Bigfoot, even astrology, scandal sheets, and various books on never represented a serious threat to astrology and horoscopes all clamored rational thinking. They are at worst an for the buyers' dollars. They didn't have

Summer 1985 391 to try very hard. Our nation was founded on a free­ The base broadcasting system dom of belief, just as it was founded regularly scheduled airings of "In Search on a freedom of action. But these of . . . ," and would sometimes use it as expressions are inspirational and should a filler when other programs failed to be handled with care. From "You have arrive. a right to do as you please," it does not When conversations turned to The follow that you have a right to do just Amityville Horror and The Philadelphia anything; and from "You have a right Experiment, the general consensus to believe as you please," it does not seemed to be meek acceptance of the follow that you have a right to believe versions presented by the authors and just anything. film producers. I recently took a trip to Scotland, William D. Gray spending one night in Inverness. After Dept. of Philosophy I returned, my co-workers wanted to San Diego City College know whether I'd seen Nessie. The San Diego, Calif. question of its existence was not a factor; it was as much reality to them as the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I was very pleased to read of Si's Perhaps Frazier's reports of a trend growth. This is a good sign for rational toward skepticism are simply harbingers thinkers and thus for the future of of an attitude that has not yet become society. prevalent among the U.S. military in I was disturbed by two aspects of Europe. If so, I apologize for my cri­ your editorial "Exploring the Fringes ticism and eagerly await the arrival of of Science: Critical Inquiries, Shifting rationality. Trends." Specifically, I was worried that Thank you for your efforts at you were taking to heart criticism that injecting a-little sense into life. you have been "too harsh" and that you "don't take claims seriously Steve R. Graham enough." If anything, I fear that you APO, NY. have been far too charitable and for­ giving in your treatment of various paranormal claims. I enjoyed your column "Exploring the I have been planning to write you Fringes of Science . . ." but 1 would since 1 read the letter in the Fall '84 like to comment on your statement "We issue called "Science and Pseudo- ardently support each person's right to science," by P. Naslin. I too was an hold any belief he or she wishes." This ardent supporter of the SKEPTICAL seems at least misleading, if not com­ INQUIRER from the moment I received pletely false. After all, we are concerned my first issue. I too, however, have been over the alarming proliferation of belief finding myself growing bored by the in the paranormal, and much of the rather staid and serious treatment that text of SI criticizes belief where logic you and your authors give to truly wild and/ or evidence is lacking. Such criti­ and extraordinary claims. cism, moreover, has a strong moral I feel that you are faced with a dimension because of the possible or somewhat difficult choice. On one hand, actual consequences affecting our lives you desire (correctly, in my opinion) to and well-being. be a reliable and quotable scientific Now, if we criticize Jones for reference source. On the other hand, believing x, then we are saying that you wish to reach as large an audience Jones ought not believe x (else we have as possible. To do this, to reach and no justification for being critical), i.e., hold an ever wider audience, you must that it is wrong for him to believe x, entertain. and therefore that he has no right to I believe that the best way for you believe x. to entertain is to treat your subject mat-

392 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 9 ter with as much humor as possible. I is dedicated to protect. do not believe that this approach would be in any way counter to the scientific David Gerr principles that you wish to maintain. Throgs Neck, N.Y. Quite the contrary: Levity as a result of a paper or report that utilized reductio ad absurdum to maximum effect would I'm getting a bit fed up with people be both extraordinarily effective and who write to say that you should tone highly entertaining. It is your humorous down your articles. If something is reports and anecdotes that have left the obviously absurd why not say so? To greatest impression. Further, reading do less is not being intellectually honest. and quoting such humorous bits to my If these people need their debunking friends and acquaintances has left us spoon-fed to them, then they're obvi­ all rolling with laughter. Some of these ously not totally out of their paranormal individuals, 1 regret to say, formerly closets. kept an "open mind" about Uri Geller I find honest, frank opinion and others of his breed. But after a few refreshing. By toning down your articles sessions of uproarious laughter they you may give more credence to the ceased to be potential "believers." phenomena that you're investigating It is for this very reason that you than you intend. That would be dis­ are attacked so sharply when you use honest, counterproductive, and against humor and reductio ad absurdum in the standards that you have set for your magazine. It is extraordinarily yourself and that we have come to effective. The average individual simply expect. Keep up the good work! cannot take paranormal claims seriously when they are exposed to the light of August Berkshire reason in such a way that they become Minneapolis, Minn. impossible, absurd, and funny. Just imagine what the effect would be if the next time a "psychic detective" Keep up the good work and continue approached the police and the press he to stress what you expressed in your or she was greeted with uncontrollable first-rate editorial, especially: "And the mirth. idea that all ideas are equal has begun The second item that gives me to be replaced by a willingness to throw- cause for concern is your editorial policy out those that don't work." toward religion. I believe that you are The magnitude of the task ahead faced with a major contradiction and came into sharp focus once again this that to maintain the integrity of your morning as 1 received advertising journal you must grapple with it in no material from Reader's Digest for a uncertain terms. paranormal book. As long as a buck is Religious belief almost universally to be made from the gullible, it would contravenes physical laws, logical seem that spurious claims will never thought, and Occam's Razor—in other really die. words, the very scientific principles and approach that the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Walter Shropshire is dedicated to protect and uphold. Minister You have of course taken on many Mount Carmel United religious beliefs and causes, not the least Methodist Church of which has been creationism. By Sunshine, Md. refusing to come to grips with the basic underlying issue of religion itself, how­ ever, you are tying your hands and, The Winter 1984-85 SI is as entertaining what's worse, you are not being logically and instructive as the publication always consistent and true to the ideals and is, but in your editorial I found one principles that the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER contradiction in terms that rattles my

Summer 1985 393 cage a little. You said that claims of Loch Ness reappraisal the paranormal "may be getting wilder and even less credulous." Don't you The patient and exact study ("Sonar mean "less credible"? Webster's Third and Photographic Searches for the Loch New International defines "credulous" Ness Monster: A Reassessment," SI, as "based upon or proceeding from Winter 1984-85) by Rikki Razdan and credulity." That's about as accurate a Alan Kielar is yet another step in prov­ description of the pottiness that passes ing spurious the Loch Ness "research" for parapsychological evidence that 1 of Robert Rines and his Boston Acad­ know. And I don't see anything either emy of Applied Science. Razdan and in your "Inquirer" or the one in the Kielar are much more polite and scien­ supermarket to suggest that claims—or tific in their assessment of Rines and claimants, for that matter—are getting company's evidence of a monster in any less credulous. Alas, if only they Loch Ness than were the photographic- were. enhancement experts I spoke with at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of Kathleen Stipek NASA in the fall of 1982. Haines City, Fla. In fact, photographic controversy notwithstanding, the entirety of Robert Rines's efforts in Loch Ness cannot sup­ port serious scrutiny, and one wonders if his "Academy of Applied Science" Kendrick Frazier replies: itself is any less mysterious than its research methods. A few comments. I share Daniel The Loch Ness media hoopla of Cohen's views on the danger of crea- 1976 was initially "sponsored" by a tionism. The battle to prevent creation­ $25,000 "gift" to Rines's expedition by ists and other fundamentalists from the New York Times. The money was undermining science and education is supposed to ensure exclusive first-pub­ still being fought and must be prose­ lication rights to films, videotapes, cuted forcefully. But at least the scien­ charts, and other data produced by the tific community awakened to the threat "scientists" involved in the search. To and began effectively to respond, in offset this meager expenditure the Times books, testimony, and local action. sold film rights to NBC, allowing them Furthermore, an entire journal is pub­ exclusive television rights to the story. lished to critique creationist claims At the time, John Noble Wilford, who (Creation/Evolution, P.O. Box 146, was then Science News Director for the Amherst Branch, Buffalo, N. Y. 14226). Times, wrote features on Loch Ness ad and the National Center for Science nauseam, and both the Academy of Education, Inc. was formed to coordi­ Applied Science and the Times nate local efforts in defense of evolution promised "to confirm or upend once through state-by-state Committees of and for all" the existence of a monster Correspondence and the Creation/ in Loch Ness. However, long after Evolution Newsletter (Box 32, Concord Rines's fruitless undertaking, neither the College, Athens, W. Va. 24712.) As for Times nor the Academy ever com­ Prof. Gray's concerns, I sympathize but mented on the existence of a Nessie. I do not agree that our criticism of the One surmises that efforts at Loch beliefs of those with whom we disagree— Ness by American mass media from no matter how strongly—is paramount 1976 to 1980 were merely to generate to saying they have no right to those news interest. In 1976 and 1977 alone, beliefs, folly though (in our view) they magazines like Science News, Nature, may be. At the same time, they have Wildlife, Science Digest, Smithsonian, no right to force their beliefs on us or Technology Review (MIT), National anyone else. And finally, yes, I did mean Geographic, and Photography ran fea­ to write "less credible." ture articles on the joint venture of the

394 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 9 New York Times and the Academy of ful after so long is a sincere triumph; Applied Science. One may estimate that but surely such questioning should not at least 40 million regular readers of seem tentative. If one examines Rines's these periodicals were exposed to the and his Academy's efforts in Loch Ness, goings on at Loch Ness at this time. firm conclusions may be drawn that TV and newspapers also helped swell indicate little application of the kind of the number of Americans who expected scientific effort that would be sustained something extraordinary to be pulled by real scientists—that is, qualified from the loch at any moment. And the investigators who would not attempt to respectable Smithsonian magazine was profit by sensationalizing such an gullible enough—along with other investigation. periodicals—to pay for and print the Academy's questionable flipper photos. Edward Kelly But National Geographic experts were Prof, of English unconvinced of the authenticity of the and Journalism photos and turned them down. William SUNY College at Oneonta S. Ellis, an editor who wrote the Loch Oneonta, N.Y. Ness feature for the Geographic, told me he recalled that the asking price of See also exchange between Rines and the Academy for photo privileges was Razdan and Kielar, "Follow- Up, " this around $50,000. issue.—ED. Of course nothing was found in Loch Ness in 1976, 1977, or 1978. How­ ever, Rines and his Academy were not finished. Rines proceeded with his I'd like to add one footnote to Razdan infamous "dolphin experiment," wherein and Kielar's excellent article. On the he proposed to dump two dolphins subject of the different versions of the equipped with miniature cameras into famous "flipper" photographs, the arti­ Loch Ness. The trained dolphins would cle states: "We feel this discrepancy is swim around, photograph Nessie, and very important because it was these flip­ bring the exposures to Rines and com­ per photographs that led Sir Peter Scott pany at lochside—no matter that dol­ to assign a zoological classification to phins are salt water mammals and Loch the creature, Nessiteras Rhombopteryx Ness fresh water! Don't ask how the (Ness Beast with the Diamond Shaped cameras would be triggered; suffice it Fin)." to say that one dolphin (on the endan­ I believe that Sir Peter undertook gered species list at that) died while his task of zoological classification with "training" for the expedition and the tongue firmly in cheek. The letters in experiment was abandoned. Of course NESSITERAS RHOMBOPTERYX the media did not sensationalize this are an anagram for MONSTER HOAX grim event as they had the earlier stages BY SIR PETER S. of the search. American journalism rarely follows up, even on the very news David Healy it creates. Manhasset, N.Y. In any case, facts about the Academy of Applied Science itself might be surprising. When 1 visited it in In fairness we should add, as Robert Boston, after making an appointment, Rines pointed out when this anagram I was not allowed in, for the doorman was first reported in 1975, that the same told me it was Robert Rines's private letters can also spell, "Yes, Both Pix apartment. What is the Academy's pur­ Are Monsters. R. " In fact, in an article pose? What does the Academy do when on this controversy in Technology it isn't pursuing Nessie? Don't ask the Review (MarchIApril 1976), all six of New York Times or NBC. the article's subheads were anagrams of To prove the flipper photos doubt­ the proposed name.—ED.

Summer 1985 395 Rhine and the Levy Affair from Richard Broughton, of the Foun­ dation for Research on the Nature of In the Winter 1984-85 SI, you sum­ Man (formerly Rhine's Institute for marize (pp. 182-183) some material 1 Parapsychology), slated that the evi­ published in Fate magazine about J. B. dence Rogo cited was nonexistent and Rhine's handling of the Levy affair. This said Rogo was publishing a retraction material stemmed from 1974, when in Fate's April issue. This letter, in Rhine discovered that [W. J. Levy] his which Rogo states he wishes "to clarify director of research (at the Institute for what I originally wrote, " did appear in Parapsychology) was falsifying his data. the April 1985 issue of Fate, pp. 113- The summary you published is 114. extremely inaccurate and misleading. Following Broughton's commu­ You say: "Rogo reveals that Rhine nication, we received a second letter failed to listen to colleagues' suspicions from Rogo, printed below. We will fol­ that something was amiss and that later, low this controversy with a certain when the fraud was apparent, made a detached interest. series of attempts to keep it from becoming known." 1 said no such thing. I have been sent a copy of the letter While it is my position that Rhine that Dr. Broughton sent to you. Since was hesitant to fully explore hints that this letter severely misrepresents the Levy was falsifying his research, no current status of the Levy matter, I feel attempts were ever made by Rhine to a reply is necessary. hide the exposure once it was proved. In no sense is my letter to Fate a Rhine took pains to contact other "retraction of my claims." It is a letter researchers following up on the Levy of clarification in which I throw added work. My major concern was with light on the Rhine/Levy matter. I do Rhine's conduct during the aftermath formally retract the statement that of the scandal. Some researchers at the Rhine bowed to outside pressure to fire time, including myself, felt that Rhine Levy and do acknowledge that Levy's was less than open about the fact that firing came shortly after Rhine learned replications of the Levy work were fail­ of his fraud. What I do not retract is ing at the Institute and that he tried to that Rhine did not fire Levy on the downplay the fact. There was also some spot, that some sort of idea to keep reluctance on Rhine's part to explore Levy on after giving him a leave of the possible extent of the Levy fraud, absence was considered for a short time, though his staff threw themselves into and that he tried to interfere with free this re-analysis with commendable zeal. reporting of the fact that the Levy work My position is that Rhine made was not replicating. some poor judgments during this I also point out in that letter, in famous crisis, not—as you imply—that deference to FRNM, that the rumors a Watergate was going on at the Insti­ of Levy's fraud before the exposure tute. were probably not backed by hard enough evidence to warrant Rhine's D. Scott Rogo immediate action. As 1 said, this is a Northridge, Calif. letter of clarification, and neither Fate nor I approve of it being called a "retraction" except in the most limited The Editor responds: sense. This matter was brought before the We maintain that our two-sentence note Parapsychological Association council was an accurate summary of Rogo's let­ in December, and they urged me to ter to Fate, and we could excerpt quotes publish this clarification and even sug­ to demonstrate that. Rogo's claims in gested some of the wording. Despite a Fate, however, are in dispute. A request from FRNM, the council would separate letter to us (not for publication) not act on their urging that 1 be offi-

396 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 9 cially censured for what I wrote. Dr. African tortoises—the logic and rhetoric Broughton's claim that there was only of the reported researches have nonexistent and self-serving testimony remained, as ever, disturbingly analo­ to support my views is contradicted by gous to that used by parapsychologists. the written evidence provided to the For this reason alone, his insistence council both by me and by them. that "qualified magicians" be employed I do think, however, that the clari­ as "observers" where extraordinary fications to be published in Fate should claims are put forward should be assid­ be brought to the attention of your uously applied in this relatively readers. 1 am also concerned about the neglected domain of fringe-psychology, fact that your summary of what I wrote which features animals alleged to be in Fate, as I have already written to language-inculcated, but which, thus far, you, misrepresented my views. What have invariably turned out to be rein­ should be said in summary is that Rhine carnations of Clever Hans. made some poor decisions regarding the Levy matter, not that he acted uneth­ Thomas A. Sebeok ically or in a deceitful manner. He Indiana University merely acted the way he always did— Bloomington, Ind. stubbornly and uncircumspectly—after having made up his mind on his course of action. Medical quackery

D. Scott Rogo Since SI is one of my favorite maga­ zines, it is especially discouraging when the editor shows a pronounced lack of Animal language claims skepticism on a topic of big money and strong beliefs—quackery. Your favora­ Michael Dennett, in his "Final Interview ble review (Winter 1984-85) of the con­ with Milbourne Christopher" (SI, gressional report "Quackery: A $10 Winter 1984-85), enumerates a wide Billion Scandal" not only supported the variety of topics investigated by the late facts, with which 1 have little dispute, magician. By way of amplification, may but also supported the proposed solu­ I note that Milbourne Christopher, in tions, which are not scientific but politi­ his splendid ESP, Seers and Psychics cal. (Crowell, 1970), also scrutinized, with You have failed to discriminate a sharp critical eye—although, as Den­ between exposing foolish mistakes and nett notes, ever gently in tone and advocating criminal penalties to sup­ spirit—the "talking animals" illusion press them. Although alcohol consump­ and craze. tion is provably harmful in many ways, Concerned chiefly with some the national prohibition of alcohol was domesticated mammals (horses, pigs, found to be a serious error. Many quack dogs) and birds (e.g., geese), his well- remedies are likewise provably harmful informed chapter, "ESP in Animals," but advocacy of their prohibition is was drafted less than a decade after unscientific and unwarranted. loquacious dolphins surfaced but before these marine mammals removed their Harry Reid wetsuits and came ashore in the guise Safety Harbor, Fla. of chattering chimpanzees and gabbling gorillas. He would have been amused but hardly, I feel certain, surprised to Your editor rails against medical register that, while the scope of the quackery in America today. Once again species implicated has spread beyond the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER has extra­ the familiar to the alien—a category that polated its opposition to the anti- includes even elephants (cf. SI, 8:110) physical-science movement (astrology, and harbor seals, woodpeckers and creationism, ESP, etc.) to the realm of

Summer 1985 397 anti-establishment medicine, equating in 57 readers for help. I would appreciate the process the field of medicine with suggestions of topics to be explored, the disciplines of physics and astron­ possible demonstrations, experiments, omy, as if they equally laid claims to or activities suitable for eighth grade, scientific fastidiousness and credibility. and ideas for dealing with controversial But, in reality, the field of estab­ topics. lished medicine in America today is shot On request, 1 will send a copy of through with questionable and unscien­ my topics list, a set of my objectives, tific procedures, which one rarely finds and brief description of the demonstra­ in the physical sciences and which lead tions and activities I use. I'm planning any serious observer to wonder where on eventually submitting the unit to my the majority of quacks can be found— state department of education and other outside, or within, the medical profes­ sources for possible use by other sion! teachers. 1 truly need expert help in refining it and am looking forward to David Solan any and all responses. Norwalk, Conn. Patrick Wilkinson Platte Valley Jr.-Sr. High Unit on scientific Kersey, CO 80644 fallacies

As a science educator—mostly at the Astrology in Quebec junior-senior high-school level—I've encountered in my students on numer­ One of the most famous astrologers in ous occasions scientific misconcepts, Montreal is Huguette Hirsig, who superstitions, and beliefs in the pseudo- appears frequently on TV, on the radio, scientific and the paranormal that 1 and in the newspapers. think mirror a nationwide problem that In December 1984, I came across doesn't speak well for science education her book entitled Previsions astrolo- in our public schools. giques modailes 1984 ("World Astro­ Three years ago I began developing logical Predictions for 1984") published a unit titled "Scientific Fakes, Frauds, at the end of 1983, and I decided to and Fallacies" for use in my eighth- verify her predictions for 1984 concern­ grade science class. This unit is based ing Quebec and the United States. I on a list of topics gleaned from SI and reduced her text to 30 distinct ideas. other sources. Then I met individually with three The unit begins with an investiga­ experts with different political affilia­ tion of how scientists determine truth, tions: a historian, a professor of eco­ which includes scientific methods of nomics, and an accountant. problem-solving, critical thinking, and As far as possible, the experts were development of skeptical attitudes. We in a "blind" condition. First, they did then attempt to apply these skills to not know they were judging an astrolo­ selected items from the list. ger because I told them they were judg­ The unit has developed into a for­ ing an expert in futurology, referred to mat of lecture-discussion, with class during the interview as "Mr. X." demonstrations and activities to illus­ Second, before presenting each state­ trate and clarify points and concepts, ment, I asked the expert one or two with a primary goal of trying to explain questions that would make him express all things by normal means. We also clearly his perception of the subject. try to design experiments to test some Only after that did I read Mr. X's state­ of the topics or to research topics that ment and ask for a judgment. don't lend themselves to our level of Here is a summary of the judg­ demonstrations. ments of the three experts for the 30 The purpose of my letter is to ask statements: 6 of the statements were

398 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 9 judged to be banalities or generalities Rich, famous, and privileged highly probable or impossible to verify; 9 were judged totally false; 11 rather I wish to report that the media have false; 2 neither false nor true, 1 rather again presented only one side of the true, and 1 totally true. Only 2 successes story. On November 14, 1984, at 7:00 out of 30 attempts—a success rate of P.M., KMBC-TV in Kansas City, 6.7 percent. Missouri, aired "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous." This program showed all Guy Chatillon, Chairman of the houses and property Uri Geller Dept. of Mathematics has been able to buy with the money and Computer Sciences he has made giving lectures. This pro­ Universite du Quebec gram presented an example of Uri's Trois-Rivieres, Quebec "ability." He bent a key belonging to Canada the program's producer. No disclaimer was given nor any doubts expressed. It is interesting that this same pro­ Paranormal critiques gram included Arthur Jones, inventor in Pittsburgh of the Nautilus exercise equipment. Jones made several statements with The Paranormal Investigating Commit­ which some people would disagree. Yet tee of Pittsburgh (P1CP) is now in its "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" third year. Our group includes many felt obligated to run a disclaimer for university professors, mostly in psy­ the Jones segment but not for the Uri chology, and others with academic Geller interview. interests. 1 am a "mentalist" and a magician and act as chairman. We are Stephen Chappell still offering a prize of $5,000 to anyone Columbia, Mo. for a valid demonstration of a paranor­ mal claim. To date, we have had 40 claimants, all unsuccessful. Uri award for BBC? P1CP is active as an educational resource in our area and tries to help I read your report on the Koestler fight the battle against pseudoscience bequest (Fall 1984), which, by accepting, on radio, on television, and in the press. the great and ancient University of We try to offer an alternative viewpoint Edinburgh has disgraced itself. It may to a largely misinformed public that amuse your readers to hear the story doesn't often have the opportunity to that is circulating here about the pro­ hear responsible voices from the scien­ fessorship: Rumor has it that the post tific community. will be awarded to Koestler himself but PICP would like to thank the that the salary will be paid to the CSICOP Fellows, as I'm sure would medium who transmits his lucubrations. all the local groups, for their support. More seriously, I regret that I must We specifically would like to single out nominate BBC-TV for a Uri award. A Paul Kurtz and James Randi for their completely uncritical program featuring guidance and wisdom. We also have the "medium" Mary Stokes was recently the "good luck" of having Dr. Donald broadcast, preceded by equally uncri­ McBurney, professor of psychology at tical puffing in the corporation's weekly the University of Pittsburgh, as a col­ "Radio Times." O temporal O mores! league. His contributions to our work are invaluable. M. Hammerton, Head Dept. of Psychology Richard Busch, Chairman Univ. of Newcastle Paranormal Investigating Upon Tyne Committee of Pittsburgh Newcastle Upon Tyne Pittsburgh, Pa. England

Summer 1985 399 Saint Jonathan Swift Encyclopaedia Britannica, 14th ed., has to say about Swift in its entry on 1 would like to say thanks to the people Astrology: "In England Swift may fairly who bring me the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, claim the credit of having given the which publication gives monthly death-blow to astrology by his famous reminders that I am not alone. Prediction for the Year 1708, by Isaac Perhaps we should adopt a patron Bickerstaff, Esq. " saint of skeptics. I nominate Jonathan Swift for the honor, based on his Murray Projector "Bickerstaff Papers." Here's what the Claremont, Calif.

Local Organizations (groups with aims similar to CSICOP's)

Arizona Tucson Skeptical Society (TUSKS), Ken Morse, 2508 E. 23rd St., Tucson, AZ 85713. California Bay Area Skeptics, Robert A. Steiner, Chairman, Box 659, El Cerrito, CA 94530. Southern California Skeptics, Al Seckel, Chairperson, P.O. Box 7000-39, Redondo Beach. CA 90277. Colorado Colorado Organization for a Rational Alternative to Pseudoscience (CO-RAP), Bela Scheiber, Director, P.O. Box 7277, Boulder, CO 80306. Idaho (see Oregon-Idaho) Minnesota Minnesota Skeptics, Robert W. McCoy, 549 Turnpike Rd., Golden Valley. MN 55416. New York New York Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (NYCS1). Terence Hines, 51 Westchester Ave., Thornwood, NY 10594. Ohio South Shore Skeptics, Page Stephens, 1346 W. 64th St., Cleveland, OH 44102. Oregon-Idaho Northwest Skeptics, John Merrell, Oregon-Idaho Coordinator, P.O. Box 5027, Beaverton, OR 97007. Pennsylvania Paranormal Investigating Committee of Pittsburgh (PICP), Richard Busch, Chair­ man. 5841 Morrowfield Ave.. #302, Pittsburgh. PA 15217. Texas Austin Society to Oppose Pseudoscience (A-STOP), W. Rory Coker, President, P.O. Box 3446, Austin, TX 78764. Dallas Society to Oppose Pseudoscience (D-STOP), James P. Smith, Science Div. of Brookhaven College. Dallas, TX 75234. Houston Society to Oppose Pseudoscience (H-STOP), Steven D. Schafersman, Chairman, P.O. Box 541314, Houston, TX 77254. Washington Northwest Skeptics, Michael R. Dennett, Chairman. Washington Coordinator. P.O. Box 70191. Seattle, WA 98107. West Virginia Committee for Research. Education, and Science Over Nonsense (REASON), Steven Cody, Chairperson, Dept. of Psychology, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25701.

400 THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER, Vol. 9