DOCSLIB.ORG

The Skeptic Volume 28 Number 3

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Skeptic Volume 28 Number 3 Spring 2008, Vol 28, No 3 Feature Articles 8. A Skeptic Reads the Bible 34. Yet More Imaginography Martin Bridgstock Bill Richardson 12.Quantum Quodlibet 38. Tracks of the Big Cat Michael Lucht Phillip Peters 17. The Amaz!ng Meeting 41. KJibbutz Children Karen Stollznow Eran Segev 23. Area 51: The Truth is Out There 46. The Trick or Miracle Paradox Michael Wolloghan Peter Booth 25. Being The One 48. Skepticism and Babies Richard Saunders Katherine Shade 30. Jonathan Sarfati: Scientist? 50. Review: Malice in Weirdland Brian Baxter Barry Williams Regular Items Forum 4. Editorial — Busy Times 52. Global Warming and Climate Change Barry Williams 61. On Matters Concerning God 6. Around the Traps Bunyip News 65. Letters 44. WA Young Writers Bust Myths 69. Notices Cover art by Richard Saunders Editorial ISSN 0726-9897 Editor Barry Williams Editor Elect Busy Karen Stollznow Contributing Editors Tim Mendham Steve Roberts Technology Consultants Times Richard Saunders Eran Segev Chief Investigator Ian Bryce t has certainly been a hectic time Annoy an Anglican” or “Peeve a All correspondence to: Ifor Skeptics and Skepticism since Presbyterian”, but in the end I Australian Skeptics Inc last I penned an editorial here. couldn’t be bothered. In any case, PO Box 268 While a Papal visit for World such was the outcry that sanity Roseville NSW 2069 Youth Day didn’t exactly cause me to prevailed and the proposed law was Australia renounce my lack of faith and seek not enacted. (ABN 90 613 095 379 ) entry into holy orders, I wasn’t too I was more peeved still by their Contact Details fussed about the influx of hordes of expenditure of upwards of $60 Tel: (02) 9417 2071 devout young people into Sydney. million of taxpayers’ funds on the Fax: (02) 9417 7930 Live and let live is my motto, and it affair. Money contributed by Meth- e-mail: [email protected] caused me no particular discomfort, odists, Mormons and Muslims (not although I thought that closing the to mention atheists and agnostics) Web Pages Harbour Bridge to traffic for a day, among others, and it’s not as though Australian Skeptics so they could make a pilgrimage NSW is actually flush at the mo- www.skeptics.com.au across it, was a bit over the top. ment. Still, it might be worth the No Answers in Genesis™ They were Christians, after all; why Skeptics’ while to request matching http://home.austarnet.com.au/stear/default.htm couldn’t they simply walk across the funds to help celebrate Charles the Skeptic is a journal of fact and opinion, published Harbour? Darwin’s bicentenary next February. four times per year by Australian Skeptics Inc. Views Two things I learned about the Don’t hold your breath, though. and opinions expressed in articles and letters in the visit engendered competing emo- Of more immediate interest was Skeptic are those of the authors, and are not necessar- tions. That the Pope was accompa- the coincidence of Science Week and ily those of Australian Skeptics Inc. Articles may be re- 2 printed with permission and with due acknowledgement nied by a coffin containing the a St James Ethics Centre IQ to the Skeptic. remains of a bloke who died in 1925, Debate, which saw not one, but two struck me as being one of the most prominent US Skeptics visiting our Editorial consultants: bizarre rituals of which I had ever shores in the same week. Dr Stephen Basser (medicine) heard. The revelations that the Pope Michael Shermer, head of the Dr Trevor Case (psychology) Dr Richard Gordon (medicine) had to step outside the retreat California-based Skeptics Society, Dr Pete Griffith (biochemistry/microbiology) where he was staying, so he could Scientific American columnist, and Dr William Grey (philosophy) Prof Colin Groves (anthropology) have a quiet smoke, and that he had publisher of Skeptic magazine, came Mr Martin Hadley (law) Dr Colin Keay (astronomy) brought his own supplies of his as a guest of the government for Dr Andrew Parle (physics) favourite Austrian beer, confirmed Science Week. During a whirlwind Prof Ian Plimer (geology) Dr Stephen Moston (psychology) my view that underneath the funny tour of the country, he managed to Dr Alex Ritchie (palaeontology) clothes, he’s just a bloke, regardless make contact with the WA and NSW Dr Steve Roberts (chemistry) Mr Roland Seidel (mathematics) of who he selects as a travelling Skeptics. WA co-opted him to Dr Karen Stollznow (linguistics) companion. present awards to winners of their Branch correspondents: Actions of the NSW government student awards (story in this issue), did perturb me more. First, by while members of NSW Skeptics ACT: Mr Michael O’Rourke Gold Coast: Mr John Stear threatening to enact a law making it attended a couple of talks where Hunter: Dr Colin Keay an offence (attracting a $5,000 fine) Michael spoke, and then entertained Qld: Mr Bob Bruce SA: Mr Allan Lang for ‘annoying’ Catholic pilgrims, was him to a private lunch at the Rocks, Tas: Mr Fred Thornett grotesque — I was tempted to wear where we were also joined by Vic: Mr Ken Greatorex WA: Dr Geoffrey Dean a T-shirt proclaiming “Save Money. Page 4 - the Skeptic, Spring 2008 Skeptics Around Australia New South Wales Australian Skeptics Inc PO Box 268, Roseville NSW 2069 Tel: (02) 9417 2071 Fax: (02) 9417 7930 [email protected] Hunter Skeptics PO Box 166 , Waratah NSW 2298 Tel: (02) 4957 8666. Fax: (02) 4952 6442 Victoria Australian Skeptics (Vic) Inc GPO Box 5166AA, Melbourne VIC 3001 Tel: 1 800 666 996 Michael Shermer among some unique Australian animals, including the Editor, NSW [email protected] Skeptics Secretary, John Sweatman and Darwin the Boozy Koala. Borderline Skeptics Margaret Kittson from Brisbane. years, has obviously taken the PO Box 17 , Mitta Mitta VIC 3701 Eran Segev, NSW VP, escorted thought of retirement very seriously Tel:(02)60723632 Michael around the sights of Sydney, indeed. It has been exhibiting signs [email protected] which he seemed to enjoy very of senility, leading to a semi-disap- much. pearance of a half completed Skeptic Queensland The second visitor was Victor one day. After a fair bit of flounder- Queensland Skeptics Assn Inc Stenger, retired physicist and author ing around, I managed to resurrect PO Box 6454 , Fairfield Gardens QLD 4103 of several books on science and it without too much loss of content. Tel (07) 3255 0499 [email protected] religion , who was here to speak in a It’s now a toss up whether the machine retires before I do, in which debate in the IQ2 series, on the topic Gold Coast Skeptics case my next (and last) editorial “We Would be Better off Without PO Box 8348, GCMC Bundall QLD 9726 might come to you inscribed on Religion”. His side won the debate Tel: (07) 5593 1882 Fax: (07) 5593 2776 by a handy margin helped, no doubt, parchment. [email protected] by the number of Skeptics in the audience. Thank you ACT NSW Skeptics were fortunate Let me conclude this, my penulti- Canberra Skeptics that Vic arrived a few days early and mate editorial, by thanking all those PO Box 555, Civic Square ACT 2608 agreed to speak at our August Skeptics who, after reading about (02) 6121 4483 Dinner Meeting, on the subject of his my impending retirement, have sent [email protected] latest book, God, The Failed Hypoth- me messages about my stewardship South Australia esis: How Science Shows That God of the Skeptic , and their good wishes Skeptics SA for the future. You have all been Does Not Exist. It was a sellout 52B Miller St Unley SA 5061 function and was thoroughly enjoyed most kind with your comments and I Tel: (08) 8272 5881 by everyone present. have been touched more than is [email protected] I was a great pleasure to meet seemly for a Skeptic. Thus far no one and exchange ideas with these two has qualified their remarks with Western Australia stars in the US Skeptical firmament. “And about time, too”, but there is WA Skeptics The fact that we see so few of our still time before I leave my post at PO Box 466, Subiaco WA 6904 overseas colleagues is the down-side the end of the year. Tel: (08) 9448 8458 of being so remote from everywhere For those of you who expressed [email protected] else. the hope that I do not sever all A hectic few weeks, but like connections with the Skeptic and Tasmania Australian Skeptics in Tasmania everything the Skeptics do, a lot of Australian Skeptics, let me say that PO Box 582, North Hobart TAS 7002. fun too. that is not my intention. I plan to Tel: (03) 6234 4731 continue contributing articles and [email protected] Apology effort to our cause for as long as I I must apologise for the slight delay remain upright and my colleagues Darwin Skeptics Contact in the mailing of this issue. My put up with me. Tel: 08 89274533 computer, a loyal servant for many Barry Williams [email protected] the Skeptic, Spring 2008 - Page 5 News and Views Around the Traps Conspiring for Truth Various commentators, who and right decisions, minor and major operate under the generic title errors, selfishness and selflessness ‘Truthers’, with a wide variety of — common human attributes that ometimes we growl at our expertise and experience, spoke of happen all the time in any complex friends at the ABC, especially S ‘anomalies’ in the official reports undertaking.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • MUFON UFO Journal
    MUTUAL UFO NETWORK UFO JOURNAL OCTORFR 100R J NIIMRFR^AA $1 TAB EXONTENIS MUFON UFO Journal October 1998 Number 366 (USPS 002-970) (ISSN 0270-6822) Editor's brief: 103 Oldtowne Rd It is my pleasure to welcome Dick Hall back to the Journal as a regu- Seguin, TX;78155^4099 lar contributer. His column will be similar to one which he did when I '-' Tel: (830)379-9216 edited Skylook, the forerunner of the Journal, many years ago. Dick, of course, also edited the Journal just prior to Bob Pratt. He will provide, FAX (830) 372-9439 experience, insight, and balance which will serve our readers well. Editor: ? The Cover: Top: Crop formation at Littlebury Green, Essex, UK, July Dwight Connelly 1996. (280 ft. across) Bottom: Crop circle in wheat field at Alton Priors, 14026 Ridgelawn Road Wiltshire on July 11. 1997. (500 ft. across) ©Steve Alexander. Martinsville, IL 62442 V Tel: (217} 382-4502 Physics of crop formations by John A. Burke 3 e-mail: [email protected] What about creatures being reported? by Cynthia Luce 7 Editor in Chief: Mexico City video analysis by Jeff Sainio 9 r Walter H:Andrusi Jr. Filer's UFO reports by George Filer. 11 103OldtowneRoad Lasers and the 'Phoenix lights' by David Rapp 12 Seguin, TX 78155 Book Review: The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident 16 :&•• 830-379-9216 MUFON Forum 17 Perspectives by Richard Hall 18 Columnists: Calendar of upcoming events 20 Walter N. Webb Readers'Classified ads 21 "':.' Richard HalP '.V •• The Night Sky by Walter N. Webb 22 Director's Message by Walter Andrus 24 Art Director: Vince" Johnson MUFON's mission is the systematic collection and analysis of UFO data, with the ultimate goal of learning the origin and MUFON UFO Hotline: nature of the UFO phenomenon.
    [Show full text]
  • A Scholarly Affair: Proceedings of the Cultural Studies Association Of
    The blogs of war: Narrating the Afghanistan and Iraq wars Richard Gehrmann University of Southern Queensland Abstract: The post 2001 ‘War(s) on Terror’ have seen changes to the manner in which war is communicated, and this offers opportunities to those writing the social history of war. These events reflect the contemporary realities of war and communication. Borderlands of scholarship have opened and the community of those at/of war can now be more openly engaged and interrogated by the scholarly community. Past conflicts have been marked by the contest between official government representations of reality and the image presented by the mainstream media. This dual dominance is increasingly challenged by virtual individuals, a challenge that provides scholars fresh space to engage with a community that is too often excluded. Social media offers a remarkable degree of access for scholars to complement official reports and mainstream media accounts of war. This paper explores these areas of scholarly engagement and assesses the development of the new virtual community at war, with an examination of the 2010 case of Richard Strandlof and his fraudulent identity as wounded American war veteran Rick Duncan who was actively opposing war. New media has been used by community activist groups who detect and publicise such impersonations in both Australia and the United States, and in a more prosaic manner by soldiers and their families who just want their voices to be heard. The recent conflicts in the Middle East, the ‘War(s) on Terror’, have been accompanied by changes to the manner in which war is communicated, and this offers opportunities to those writing the social history of war.
    [Show full text]
  • On Faith-Healing New Secular Humanist Centers?
    New Secular More on Humanist Faith-Healing Centers? James Randi Paul Kurtz Gerald Larue Vern Bullough Henry Gordon Bob Wisne David Alexander Faith-healer Robert Roberts Also: Is Goldilocks Dangerous? • Pornography • The Supreme Court • Southern Baptists • Protestantism, Catholicism, and Unbelief in France 1n Its Tree _I FALL 1986, VOL. 6, NO. 4 ISSN 0272-0701 Contents 3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 17 BIBLICAL SCORECARD 62 CLASSIFIED 12 ON THE BARRICADES 60 IN THE NAME OF GOD 6 EDITORIALS Is Goldilocks Dangerous? Paul Kurtz / Pornography, Censorship, and Freedom, Paul Kurtz I Reagan's Judiciary, Ronald A. Lindsay / Is Secularism Neutral? Richard J. Burke / Southern Baptists Betray Heritage, Robert S. Alley / The Holy-Rolling of America, Frank Johnson 14 HUMANIST CENTERS New Secular Humanist Centers, Paul Kurtz / The Need for Friendship Centers, Vern L. Bullough / Toward New Humanist Organizations, Bob Wisne THE EVIDENCE AGAINST REINCARNATION 18 Are Past-Life Regressions Evidence for Reincarnation? Melvin Harris 24 The Case Against Reincarnation (Part 1) Paul Edwards BELIEF AND UNBELIEF WORLDWIDE 35 Protestantism, Catholicism, and Unbelief in Present-Day France Jean Boussinesq MORE ON FAITH-HEALING 46 CS ER's Investigation Gerald A. Larue 46 An Answer to Peter Popoff James Randi 48 Popoff's TV Empire Declines .. David Alexander 49 Richard Roberts's Healing Crusade Henry Gordon IS SECULAR HUMANISM A RELIGION? 52 A Response to My Critics Paul Beattie 53 Diminishing Returns Joseph Fletcher 54 On Definition-Mongering Paul Kurtz BOOKS 55 The Other World of Shirley MacLaine Ring Lardner, Jr. 57 Saintly Starvation Bonnie Bullough VIEWPOINTS 58 Papal Pronouncements Delos B. McKown 59 Yahweh: A Morally Retarded God William Harwood Editor: Paul Kurtz Associate Editors: Doris Doyle, Steven L.
    [Show full text]
  • *P Ocket Sizes May Vary. W E Recommend Using Really, Really Big Ones
    *Pocket sizes may vary. We recommend using really, really big ones. Table of Contents Welcome to Dragon*Con! .............................................3 Live Performances—Concourse (CONC) .................38 Film Festival Schedule ...............................................56 Vital Information .........................................................4 Online Gaming (MMO) .........................................91 Walk of Fame ...........................................................58 Important Notes ....................................................4 Paranormal Track (PN) .........................................92 Dealers Tables ..........................................................60 Courtesy Buses .....................................................4 Podcasting (POD) ................................................93 Exhibitors Booths ......................................................62 MARTA Schedule ..................................................5 Puppetry (PT) <NEW> .......................................94 Comics Artists Alley ...................................................64 Hours of Operation ................................................5 Reading Sessions (READ) .....................................96 Art Show: Participating Artists ....................................66 Special Events ......................................................6 Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time (RJWOT) ................96 Hyatt Atlanta Fan Tracks Information and Room Locations ...................6 Robotics and Maker Track
    [Show full text]
  • For Bibliography by Year, See the Website)
    THIS IS THE TEXT OF A BIBLIOGRAPHY IN THE WEB SITE “THE DISCOVERY OF GLOBAL WARMING” BY SPENCER WEART, HTTP://WWW.AIP.ORG/HISTORY/CLIMATE. FEBRUARY 2014. COPYRIGHT © 2003-2014 SPENCER WEART & AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS Bibliography by Author (for Bibliography by Year, see the Website) This bibliography may seem long (more than 2500 items), but it has a great many omissions. Please see the discussion of sources in the “Method” essay. Note in particular that the IPCC reports have by far the most complete bibliography for recent scientific work. Abbreviations used in the notes: AIP: Niels Bohr Library at the American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD LDEO: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY SIO: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Archives, La Jolla, CA Abarbenel, Albert, and Thomas McCluskey (1950). “Is the World Getting Warmer?” Saturday Evening Post, 1 July, pp. 22-23, 57-63. Abbot, Charles G., and F.E. Fowle, Jr. (1908). “Income and Outgo of Heat from the Earth, and the Dependence of Its Temperature Thereon.” Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory (Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC) 2: 159-176. Abbot, Charles G., and F.E. Fowle, Jr. (1913). “Volcanoes and Climate.” Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 60(29): 1-24. Abbot, Charles G. (1967). “Precipitation in Five Continents.” Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections 151(5). Abelmann, Andrea, et al. (2006). “Extensive Phytoplankton Blooms in the Atlantic Sector of the Glacial Southern Ocean.” Paleoceanography 21: PA1013 [doi:10.1029/2005PA001199, 2006]. Abelson, P.H. (1977). “Energy and Climate.” Science 197: 941. Abe-Ouchi, Ayako, et al. (2013). “Insolation-Driven 100,000-Year Glacial Cycles and Hysteresis of Ice-Sheet Volume.” Nature 500: 190-93 [doi:10.1038/nature12374].
    [Show full text]
  • FALL 2007 Sp2007orts Schedules
    VOL. XXVII, NO. 4 NO. XXVII, VOL. MonmouthMAGAZINE UNIVERSITY Groundbreaking For The MAC Unearthing Joseph Bonaparte’s Royal Residence Memories Of Vietnam Celebrating 10 Years Of Ex-Ed MonmouthMAGAZINE CALENDAR UNIVERSITY O F E V E N T S VOL. XXVII, NO. 4 2007 ALUMNI EVENTS PAUL G. GAFFNEY II President NOVEMBER 1-8 FEBRUARY 16 Alumni trip to Peru, including Machu Wine Tasting JEFFERY N. MILLS Picchu Wilson Hall—6-8 PM Vice President for University Advancement JANUARY 19 Publisher Beer Tasting MARILYNN W. PERRY Magill Commons—7-9 PM Director of Alumni Affairs SPECIAL EVENTS For more information, contact 732-571-3509 or 571-3494 MICHAEL SAYRE MAIDEN, JR. Editor NOVEMBER 9 DECEMBER 1 Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Holiday Ball HEATHER MCCULLOCH MISTRETTA Wilson Hall—6:30 PM-10:30 PM Wilson Hall—8 PM Assistant to Editor Master of Ceremonies—Jack Ford HEATHER MCCULLOCH MISTRETTA SEAN P. SMITH, ‘97 MUSIC & THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS Contributing Writers LAUREN K. WOODS THEATRE NOVEMBER 8 JIM REME Metheny Trio—8 PM University Photographer NOVEMBER 8-18 NOVEMBER 16 R. DAVID BEALES All in the Timing by David Ives Photography 8 PM (3 PM—November 11 and 18) Hampton String Quartet—8 PM DECEMBER 6 DECEMBER 7 R. DAVID BEALES Father Alphonse & Orchestra of Saint ROCHELLE RITACCO Winter Concert (on the Grand Staircase of Peter By the Sea—8 PM Digital Imaging Wilson Hall)—8 PM FEBRUARY 22 DESIGN OF 4 POLLAK THEATRE Screening of State of Fear—7 PM Design For more information contact the box office at 732-263-5730.
    [Show full text]
  • When Entertainment Meets Science: Summit Boosts Innovative Education JAMES UNDERDOWN
    SI May June 11 CUT_SI new design masters 3/25/11 10:01 AM Page 5 [ NEWS AND COMMENT When Entertainment Meets Science: Summit Boosts Innovative Education JAMES UNDERDOWN Can the entertainment media, with their formidable skills, help educate young people about science? That was just one of the hopes as the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) hosted the unusual Summit on Science, En ter - tainment, and Education at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Cal- ifornia, on February 4, 2011. The all-day symposium featured a top- shelf lineup of speakers from all over the United States on the status and direction of science education today. Each of its From left: Superstring theorist Brian Greene, writer/director/producer Jerry Zucker, and educator Tyler Johnstone three categories (science, entertainment, discuss ways to attract students to the world of science. and education) was well represented by in- novators in their respective fields with rel- her students to testify how they are drawn tainment who need help with content. evant knowledge and experience. toward science. In this day and age of Thanks to a $225,000 grant from the From the world of science, luminaries myriad distractions, catching the eye of Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, such as Ralph Cicerone, NAS president; students is more of a challenge than ever. the Ex change “is seeking proposals to es- Sean B. Carroll, biologist; and Charles But the program didn’t begin and end tablish collaborative partnerships among Vest, president of the National Academy with a group of experts bemoaning the scientists, entertainment industry profes- of Engineering and president emeritus of failures of the education system and sionals, and educators to develop educa- the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, pointing fingers at Hollywood schlock tional products or services that effectively were present.
    [Show full text]
  • Psychic’ Sally Morgan Scuffles with Toward a Cognitive Psychology U.K
    Science & Skepticism | Randi’s Escape Part II | Martin Gardner | Monster Catfish? | Trent UFO Photos the Magazine for Science and Reason Vol. 39 No. 1 | January/February 2015 Why the Supernatural? Why Conspiracy Ideas? Modern Geocentrism: Pseudoscience in Astronomy Flaw and Order: Criminal Profiling Sylvia Browne’s Art and Science FBI File More Witch Hunt Murders INTRODUCTORY PRICE U.S. and Canada $4.95 Published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry C I Ronald A. Lindsay, President and CEO Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Bar ry Karr, Ex ec u tive Di rect or Benjamin Radford, Research Fellow Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow www.csicop.org James E. Al cock*, psy chol o gist, York Univ., Tor on to David H. Gorski, cancer surgeon and re searcher at Astronomy and director of the Hopkins Mar cia An gell, MD, former ed i tor-in-chief, Barbara Ann Kar manos Cancer Institute and chief Observatory, Williams College New Eng land Jour nal of Med i cine of breast surgery section, Wayne State University John Pau los, math e ma ti cian, Tem ple Univ. School of Medicine. Kimball Atwood IV, MD, physician; author; Clifford A. Pickover, scientist, au thor, editor, Newton, MA Wendy M. Grossman, writer; founder and first editor, IBM T.J. Watson Re search Center. Steph en Bar rett, MD, psy chi a trist; au thor; con sum er The Skeptic magazine (UK) Massimo Pigliucci, professor of philosophy, ad vo cate, Al len town, PA Sus an Haack, Coop er Sen ior Schol ar in Arts and City Univ.
    [Show full text]
  • Dragon Con Progress Report 2021 | Published by Dragon Con All Material, Unless Otherwise Noted, Is © 2021 Dragon Con, Inc
    WWW.DRAGONCON.ORG INSIDE SEPT. 2 - 6, 2021 • ATLANTA, GEORGIA • WWW.DRAGONCON.ORG Announcements .......................................................................... 2 Guests ................................................................................... 4 Featured Guests .......................................................................... 4 4 FEATURED GUESTS Places to go, things to do, and Attending Pros ......................................................................... 26 people to see! Vendors ....................................................................................... 28 Special 35th Anniversary Insert .......................................... 31 Fan Tracks .................................................................................. 36 Special Events & Contests ............................................... 46 36 FAN TRACKS Art Show ................................................................................... 46 Choose your own adventure with one (or all) of our fan-run tracks. Blood Drive ................................................................................47 Comic & Pop Artist Alley ....................................................... 47 Friday Night Costume Contest ........................................... 48 Hallway Costume Contest .................................................. 48 Puppet Slam ............................................................................ 48 46 SPECIAL EVENTS Moments you won’t want to miss Masquerade Costume Contest ........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Gardner on Exorcisms • Creationism and 'Rare Earth' • When Scientific Evidence Is the Enemy
    GARDNER ON EXORCISMS • CREATIONISM AND 'RARE EARTH' • WHEN SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE IS THE ENEMY THE MAGAZINE FOR SCIENCE AND REASON Volume 25, No. 6 • November/December 2001 THE COMMITTEE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS OF THE PARANORMAL AT THE CENTER FOR INQUIRY-INTERNATIONAL (ADJACENT TO THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO) • AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION Paul Kurtz, Chairman; professor emeritus of philosophy. State University of New York at Buffalo Barry Karr, Executive Director Joe Nickell, Research Fellow Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow Lee Nisbet, Special Projects Director FELLOWS James E. Alcock,* psychologist. York Univ., Susan Haack, Cooper Senior Scholar in Arts Loren Pankratz, psychologist. Oregon Health Toronto and Sciences, prof, of philosophy. University Sciences Univ. Jerry Andrus, magician and inventor, Albany, of Miami John Paulos, mathematician. Temple Univ. Oregon C. E. M. Hansel, psychologist. Univ. of Wales Steven Pinker, cognitive scientist. MIT Marcia Angell, M.D.. former editor-in-chief, Al Hibbs, scientist. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Massimo Polidoro, science writer, author, New England Journal of Medicine Douglas Hofstadter, professor of human under­ executive director CICAP, Italy Robert A. Baker, psychologist. Univ. of standing and cognitive science, Indiana Univ. Milton Rosenberg, psychologist, Univ. of Kentucky Gerald Holton, Mallinckrodt Professor of Chicago Stephen Barrett M.D., psychiatrist, author, Physics and professor of history of science. Wallace Sampson, M.D., clinical professor of consumer advocate, Allentown, Pa. Harvard Univ. Barry Beyerstein,* biopsychologist. Simon Ray Hyman,* psychologist. Univ. of Oregon medicine, Stanford Univ., editor. Scientific Fraser Univ.. Vancouver, B.C., Canada Leon Jaroff, sciences editor emeritus, Time Review of Alternative Medicine Irving Biederman, psychologist Univ.
    [Show full text]
  • Fowler,The Allagash Abductions,MUFON UFO Journal
    MUTUAL UFO NETWORK UFO JOURNAL APRIL 1993 ~f NUMBER 300 $3 THE ALLAGASH ABDUCTIONS by Raymond E. Fowler OUR 300™ ISSUE! MUFON UFO JOURNAL OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MUTUAL UFO NETWORK SINCE 1967 APRIL 1993 NUMBER 300 THE ALLAGASH ABDUCTIONS Raymond E. Fowler SLOW FIREBALL STARTLES MANY Walter N. Webb REJOINDER TO CRITIQUE OF BUDD HOPKINS Walt Andrus 8 REPTILIANS 8. OTHER UNMENTIONABLES John Carpenter 10 STANLEY INGRAM 8. THE PLANTOS GAMES Don Worley 12 NEWS 8, VIEWS 14 THE UFO PRESS 16 CURRENT CASES 17 MUFON FORUM Letters 19 READERS'-CLASSIFIEDS 20 THE MAY NIGHT SKY Walter N. Webb 21 DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE" Walter H. Andrus, Jr. 24 COVER- Charles Rak (Charlie Foltz being operated on.) MUFON UFO JOURNAL Copyright 1993 by the Mutual UFO Network. All Rights Reserved. (USPS 002-970) No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of (ISSN 0270-6822) the Copyright Owners. Permission is hereby granted to quote up to 200 words of any one arti- 103 Oldtowne Rd. cle, provided the author is credited, and the statement, "Copyright 1993 by the Mutual UFO Seguin, TX 78155-4099 Network, 103 Oldtowne Rd, Seguin, Texas 78155," is included. Tel: (210) 379-9216 The contents of the MUFON UFO Journal are determined by the editors and do not necessari- ly reflect the official position of the Mutual UFO Network. Opinions expressed are solely those EDITOR of the individual authors. Dennis Stacy The Mutual UFO Network, Inc. is exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
    [Show full text]
  • A Skeptical Look at Overnight
    SI May June 2011_SI JF 10 V1 3/25/11 11:53 AM Page 1 Miracle Oil | UFO Abductology Implodes | Water Memory | Book Review: Emperor of All Maladies Vol. 35 No. 3 | May/June 2011 THE MAGAZINE FOR SCIENCE & REASON A Skeptical Look At Overnight Power Lines and Cancer, Distant Healing and Health Care The Numerology of 23 Slaying the Vampire: Solving the Chupacabra Mystery Gho$tly Book Endeavors Published by The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry SI May June 11 CUT_SI new design masters 3/25/11 10:01 AM Page 2 AT THE CEN TERFOR IN QUIRY /TRANSNATIONAL www.csicop.org Paul Kurtz, Founder Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow Richard Schroeder, Chairman Massimo Polidoro, Research Fellow Ronald A. Lindsay, President and CEO Benjamin Radford, Research Fellow Bar ry Karr, Ex ec u tive Di rect or Richard Wiseman, Research Fellow James E. Al cock*, psy chol o gist, York Univ., Tor on to Thom as Gi lov ich, psy chol o gist, Cor nell Univ. Lor en Pan kratz, psy chol o gist, Or e gon Health Mar cia An gell, MD, former ed i tor-in-chief, Wendy M. Grossman, writer; founder and first editor, Sci en ces Univ. New Eng land Jour nal of Med i cine The Skeptic magazine (UK) Robert L. Park,professor of physics, Univ. of Maryland Kimball Atwood IV, MD, physician, author, Sus an Haack, Coop er Sen ior Schol ar in Arts and Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Newton, MA Sci en ces, professor of phi los o phy and professor Astronomy and director of the Hopkins Steph en Bar rett, MD, psy chi a trist, au thor, con sum er of Law, Univ.
    [Show full text]