THE SKEPTICAL INTELLIGENCER

The Quarterly Magazine of ASKE THE ASSOCIATION FOR SKEPTICAL ENQUIRY Vol 23, 2020, Number 1, (Spring)

Incorporating the Skeptical Adversaria: the ASKE Newsletter ______

Edited by Michael Heap

To access a Word or pdf copy of this issue, please contact the Editor at [email protected]. If you are an ASKE member in the UK and would like a paper copy, again email the Editor.

CONTENTS Regular features and announcements From the ASKE Chair 2 Language on the Fringe 6 Logic and Intuition 4 Of Interest 14 The European Scene 4 Upcoming Events 18 Medicine on the Fringe 5 About ASKE 19

Book reviews and commentaries Placebos for Pets? The Truth about Alternative Medicine in Animals by Niall Taylor 10 Mark’s Bookshelf Mark Newbrook 11

Editor’s Announcement ASKE’s Skeptical Intelligencer is widely circulated electronically to skeptical groups and individuals across the globe. Formal and informal articles of interest to skeptics are welcome from people of all disciplines and backgrounds. Details about house style are available from the Editor. We also welcome writers who would like to contribute a regular column - e.g. an ‘On the Fringe’ feature.

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

FROM THE ASKE CHAIR Michael Heap

COVID-19 and Brexit and divided the nation for the last four the first video he sits facing a large It comes as no surprise that the internet years. white disc ‘of paper or foam’ is awash with all manner of conspiracy More on the ASKE Paranormal suspended by a thread. The disc theories and alternative medicine Challenge slightly and slowly twists back and forth around its vertical axis. In the quackery about the coronavirus Since my recent accounts of second video the object is a large pandemic. Just a few of these are applications to undertake the ASKE rectangular piece of foam or card mentioned in ‘Of Interest’. (Another Paranormal Challenge (see the Spring which rotates more extensively than example I have come across is the idea and Summer issues of the the disc. This person wanted to travel that the virus is a biological weapon Intelligencer) ASKE has received to the UK to be tested but I had to developed by the Chinese in further requests from several people explain that ASKE only tests collaboration with Democratic Party to wishing to be tested for a paranormal applicants who are resident here (I am scupper Donald Trump’s re-election.) ability. One person who forewarned the more strict about this rule now ______world about the catastrophic impact of following problems I had testing a a future global pandemic was Hans The only objects she claimed to person from abroad). I suggested he Rosling in his book Factfulness, be able to affect were hosepipes contact some of the European skeptical reviewed by Ray Ward in the Winter (with or without water running societies that also test claims of 2019 issue of the Intelligencer. Whilst through them). paranormal ability. He then said that he the aim of the book is to demonstrate would be able to demonstrate his how, in so many ways, the world is a ______telekinetic ability on objects in the UK much better place than it ever was, Two claims of telekinesis while still in Moscow. I replied that I Professor Rosling listed five ‘global Two of these requests have been myself did not wish to pursue this with risks’ that should concern us. These are claims of telekinesis, the ability to him. My attempts to find someone in global pandemic, financial collapse, move objects by thought. In fact the this country to assist him were world war, climate change, and claimant in the first of these referred to unsuccessful. By this time he had extreme poverty (which he her ability as ‘self-kinesis’ and the only alerted me to a YouTube video of acknowledged remains a problem objects she claimed to be able to affect himself demonstrating his ability while despite considerable alleviation). were hosepipes (with or without water his back was turned on the targeted At the time of writing this piece, running through them), something she object. He is still keen to pursue a test the UK government, along with many had been doing since she was a child. and I welcome any interested reader to others across the world, has She sent me a video clip that showed contact me and I will pass on their acknowledged the likely devastating her holding in her left hand a details to him. effect the coronavirus pandemic will somewhat rigid hosepipe in the upright A test of remote viewing have on nearly every facet of our lives position, with around 4 feet of piping A third applicant (‘K’), with whom I and has announced drastic measures to above the hand. The pipe swayed began a preliminary test, claimed to cushion its economic impact. These mainly towards and away from her. have the ability known as remote require the spending (and hence After studying the video several times I viewing (RV), defined by Wikipedia as borrowing) of hundreds of billions of came to the conclusion that the ‘the practice of seeking impressions pounds. The consequences of all this movement of the pipe was consistent about a distant or unseen target, will be felt for many years to come. with slight movements of her hand that purportedly using extrasensory In contrast, I have always believed increased and decreased the angle of perception (ESP) or “sensing” with the that whether the UK remained or left the piping to the vertical. I emailed mind’ (note 1). An internet search the EU was not something that would these opinions to her, inviting reveals that many people have an have much impact on us one way or comments and she said that she would interest in this possibility; a number of another and that ten years post-Brexit, send me a video of a more convincing sites provide materials for self-testing experts and everyone alike will still be demonstration. However, I did not hear and there are training courses that one debating whether it was a beneficial from her again. can access to hone one’s RV skills. move or not. Set against the impact of The second claim was received Readers may be aware of the Stargate coronavirus, climate warming and from a gentleman in Moscow who sent Project, sponsored by the US other global changes it seems like a two links to online videos of himself government, that ran from 1975 to minor adjustment. Yet it has obsessed demonstrating his alleged ability. In 1995 and aimed at using RV methods 2

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 for military intelligence purposes. The In addition to the three sets of five disengaged when attempting the pre- project was deemed a failure, though pictures, a single pre-test trial was to test trial. An account of these tests is not unanimously so (op cit). be conducted in the same manner as given in the Spring 2019 issue of the My correspondence with K raised the test trials. The purpose of this was Intelligencer. two possibilities. Firstly he claimed he to ensure that K was satisfied with the N and I agreed on the protocol was able to correctly describe the procedure adopted to test his claim and described for the second of the above location of a specified person that no difficulties had been over- claimants, namely that he was required ‘anywhere on the globe’ using RV. looked in the planning. Whatever the to look at a picture of a common object Secondly he claimed that he could outcome, the pre-test trial would not (with its name) and a ‘receiver’ would correctly describe a photograph contribute to the final score on the test. choose which he was thinking of from contained in a sealed envelope. I ______a picture of a set of six. For the suggested that a test of the former receiver I chose an acquaintance who claim might prove difficult for ASKE The test does not prove that he was not an ASKE member; he is a because of our limited resources, but lacks the ability he is claiming, keen believer in the possibility of describing a hidden photograph was only that he was unable to telepathy and in fact has done some something we could manage. demonstrate it on this occasion. self-training in RV. This person The protocol we agreed on for a ______seemed to be ideal for the task since he preliminary test involved images of was not obviously motivated by any common scenes provided by the Before going ahead with this, one wish to see the test fail. internet. I would print five of these off potential problem became apparent. There was one pre-test trial and 12 and choose at random one of them (the This arose from my assumption that K test trials and the agreed criterion for a ‘target’) and write on it a ‘target would be travelling to do the test from pass was a minimum of eight pictures reference number’ (TRN) in the form his part of the UK, which was some (from twelve) correctly identified by of a randomly generated 8-digit distance away, and the RV procedure the receiver (p = 0.00014). The number enclosed in square brackets takes quite some time for the remote receiver correctly identified four and having a slash (/) between the viewer. K asked me if it was necessary pictures (p = .09). The pre-test target fourth and fifth digit—e.g. for him travel to us for the preliminary was misidentified. [2599/0512]. This photo would be test, and it then transpired that it didn’t This test might be construed as RV placed in a sealed envelope with the matter to him where the target photo in reverse (cf. the case of claimant K TRN also written on the envelope was located so long as he knew the above) but with an actual viewer of the itself. K would be informed of the TRN. Accordingly we were able to target picture. This was the standpoint TRN and then spend some time carry out the test in our respective adopted by the receiver, who relied on focusing on his task, making drawings localities by communicating via email impressions of the structure of the of the impressions he was getting. (with attachments). target (lines and shape) rather than its Once he had completed his RV The results of the test were as meaning and semantic associations. procedure he would be shown the five follows. On the pre-test K correctly I assured N, as I do with all pictures, including the target item identified the target. On the first of the applicants, that not passing the test (without the TRN), and would choose three test trial he was incorrect. I sent does not prove that he lacks the ability which one he believed was the target. him the TRN for the second test trial he is claiming, only that he was unable This procedure would be repeated two but have not heard from him since. to demonstrate it on this occasion. more times using different pictures, A test of thought transference Any reader interested in assisting making three trials in all. The criterion The fourth claimant, ‘N’, contacted ASKE in the testing of people claiming for success (and entering for the ASKE ASKE, claiming the ability to transmit to have a paranormal ability is prize) would be identifying all three his thoughts to other people. ASKE has welcome to get in touch. targets. The probability of his previously attempted to test two Notes achieving this by random guessing is 1 applicants making this claim; one 1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote in 125 (hypothetical, since guesses completed the test but was _viewing . generally are not strictly random). unsuccessful while the other

3

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

LOGIC AND INTUITION

How to make money on the toss sequence comes up first. Then you sequence your choice will be THH and of a fair coin have another go, and so on. The HTT respectively. Thus you will win 7 Would you like to make some money only condition is that, under the times in 8 if O chooses HHH or TTT. betting on the repeated toss of a fair pretence of generosity, you insist It turns out that with any other coin? Your immediate response may be on giving your opponent ‘an choice O makes you still have the that since the outcomes are random, advantage’: they choose their upper hand! Letting X and Y stand for your accumulated winnings are most sequence first. heads or tails: if O chooses XXY you likely to be zero or not much either There is an easy-to-remember rule choose YXX (a 3 in 4 chance of side. However, there are some bets you have to follow each time. You winning); if O chooses XYX you where, on the face of it, winning or have to be very good at maths to work choose XXY (2 in 3); and if O chooses losing appears to be down to pure it out but you might make some XYY you choose XXY (2 in 3). chance but such is not the case and if headway using simple reasoning. The above can be condensed into a you know a simple rule you are almost A naïve person might think that you simple rule: bring the last member of guaranteed to win over time. and your opponent (O) have the same O’s choice to the front and if you get a There is a game in which you and chance of winning since if you toss a palindrome change it. For example, if an opponent have to predict a coin- coin three times, each sequence of your opponent chooses HTH your tossing outcome and which, unless you heads (H) or tails (T) has an equal choice is HHT. Now, THH first gives give it some thought, appears to probability (1 in 8) of coming up. But you HTH (a palindrome) so you need provide each of you with an even the motive behind giving O first choice to change it to TTH. chance of winning. However, all you each time is that, probably unknown to I imagine that you still have some need do is stick to a simple rule and them, it gives you an advantage. advantage if O insists on alternating over time you’re most likely to be Now, O may not be so naïve as to who has the first choice so long as they ‘quids in’ as they say. Here it is. fail to realise that it is unwise to choose remain naïve about the rule. Someone starts tossing a coin HHH or TTT; unless this sequence My source for this information is repeatedly after you and your comes up in the first three tosses (a 1 in Haigh, J (1999) Taking Chances: (only) opponent have each chosen a 8 chance) HHH will be always be Winning with Probability, Oxford: sequence of three consecutive immediately preceded by T and TTT Oxford University Press. The game is outcomes—e.g. heads, tails, tails. will always be immediately preceded credited to W. Penney (sic) in 1969. The winner is the one whose by H. So if they do choose the former ______

The EUROPEAN SCENE

European Council for Skeptics The ESP - European Skeptics Thinking Society convinces the PSA to Organisations Podcast impose strict conditions on the Society Address: Arheilger Weg 11, 64380 of Homeopaths, they also team up with Roßdorf, Germany Richard Wiseman to support magicians Tel.: +49 6154/695021 with the Good Magic Awards. A new Fax: +49 6154/695022 Building a bridge for skeptics project aiming at spreading the word of Website: http://www.ecso.org/ (which http://theesp.eu/ science in the Spanish speaking has an email contact facility) The latest from the ESP team: communities, how the global fight Facebook: We are bringing you a selection of against disinformation is doing, Snopes https://www.facebook.com/skeptics.eu/ topics this week, some Corona-related and their need for help in keeping up ECSO also has a Twitter handle, and some aren’t: their fact-checking work, a Hungarian @SkepticsEurope. In the meantime, QED organisers foundation running an online course to teach children critical thinking skills in The ECSO website now has a ask you to hold your travel the times of COVID-19, GWUP comprehensive calendar of skeptical arrangements at this time… pledging to stay on track with science events taking place across Europe, The Vatican issues a decree that in their reportings, quacks in the time replicated at the ESP website (below). makes confessions obsolete, the Good 4

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 of Corona, a possible connection Sweden book stores. The author received the between blood type and COVID-19 From Pontus Böckman of the Swedish Swedish Skeptics’ anti-award for 2018, infections, and Spanish skeptics Skeptics: ‘I would appreciate it if but that does not seem to have had providing you with enough to read people would take the time to read the much effect.’ while you’re in quarantine. attached blog post*, just published on *http://tinyurl.com/sevv4rn The VtdK and the Royal Dutch the ECSO website. These pseudo- Medical Association countering a scientific books have been translated to bogus therapy. English and other languages and are Enjoy! currently being sold and marketed in http://theesp.eu/events_in_europe places like Amazon and traditional ______

Medicine on the fringe Michael Heap

Bioresonance treating ailments by retuning the body’ is something readers should be aware As I have mentioned in previous issues and refers to a child treated for sleep of.’ of the Intelligencer, I still receive the apnoea and who is photographed ‘Dear Editor, local paper (the Rossendale Free wearing a magnetic bracelet. It is Your December 27th issue included Press) from the area I grew up in, these reported that doctors who later a feature on an alternative medical days mainly to read the obituaries. examined her pronounced her procedure called “bioresonance” and Over the years I have noticed that the condition to be ‘improved’. The article a facility situated above a food shop newspaper has a habit of providing its is in fact a space-filler; it originally in Rawtenstall where this is offered readers with uncritical accounts of appeared exactly one month previously to people with medical problems. In local quack practitioners and how on a website for local businesses titled the article, bioresonance is described marvellous they are (note 1). A few ‘Valley at Work’ (note 3). as “the scientific approach to treating years ago the newspaper carried a story The website ‘Biores’ (note 4) ailments by retuning the body”. In about the miraculous healing of a states, ‘Bioresonance is a gentle, non fact bioresonance is based on beliefs woman who refused conventional invasive therapy that involves the that are not supported by science, and cancer treatment in favour of expensive positioning of non resonance holding the idea of “retuning the body” alternative medicines and restricted metal plates/ bars close to or on the makes no sense from an informed diet. Sadly she died on the same day skin, thus enabling the diagnosis and medical perspective. There is no the newspaper was informing its treatment of numerous ailments caused convincing evidence that bio- readers about her apparent recovery. I by fungi, bacteria, viruses and resonance is a reliable diagnostic wrote a short piece in the Intelligencer parasites.’ These devices appear to be tool. In fact, since 2015 the about this (note 2). The newspaper also no more than skin conductance meters. Advertising Standards Authority has has form when it comes to carrying ______upheld three complaints from the stories about local campaigns to raise The newspaper has a habit of public concerning false diagnostic tens of thousands of pounds to send providing its readers with and therapeutic claims made by sick children for ‘pioneering treatment’ practitioners of “bioresonance (i.e. treatment unsupported by any uncritical accounts of local therapy” (https://tinyurl.com/r9ypkfd). convincing scientific evidence) in quack practitioners and how The feature also refers to treatment clinics in the USA and Germany. marvellous they are. for sleep apnoea and snoring that In their issue of 27.12.19, the paper ______involves wearing a magnetic bracelet. featured something called ‘a “Magnetic therapy” is big business, bioresonance clinic’ that had been I sent the following email to the as an internet search will reveal, but running locally for about a year. It was Editor of the newspaper, copying in the there is no scientific evidence to reported that the clinic had proved so reporter responsible (Jon Macpherson). indicate that it has any beneficial popular that a second treatment room ‘I am a lifelong reader of the effect on a medical condition beyond had been established on the premises, Rossendale Free Press and I hope placebo. which were over a food shop in you will include this letter in your ‘In our National Health Service the Rawtenstall. The article describes correspondence column as I think it principle of informed choice is now bioresonance as ‘a scientific way of paramount. This should also be the 5

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

case in the commercial medical intolerances, including hay fever, January 2020 to place their sector. But the information provided sinusitis and asthma. Examples company details on this section of should be complete and accurate.’ include: the ASA website. These details will I received no acknowledgement and ‘Bioresonance can “seek out and remain in place until such a time as my letter was not published. I expected treat fundamental energetic DRT Ltd has amended the claims this since the same happened a while disorders such as chronic food on drtclinics.co.uk to comply with back when I wrote to point out that the allergies, chronic toxic contam- the CAP Code.’ newspaper had incorrectly confused ination and therapy blocks” Notes the Big Bang Theory with evolution ‘The bioresonance method “has 1. I don’t know how representative of and, on another occasion, that their become well-known for its ability local newspapers this is. Regarding the nature columnist was in error by to treat allergies swiftly and national press, I have the strong referring to spiders as insects. effectively”..... impression that reporters are much Shortly after sending my letter my ‘The CAP Compliance team more skeptical and critical about quack attention was drawn to a very recent instructed DRT Clinics Ltd to medicine than they were, say, in the ruling by the ASA on ‘The DRT amend their website to remove the 80s and 90s. Clinics’ (note 5). According to this: problem health claims. DRT 2. http://www.mheap.com/MrsL.html ‘The DRT Clinics website contains Clinics made some amendments but 3. http://tinyurl.com/ss8gpun several claims about the effectiveness the claims regarding allergies and 4. https://www.biores.co.uk/ of bioresonance devices and methods intolerances continued to appear. 5. http://tinyurl.com/t6fwehd to diagnose and treat allergies and As a result the CAP Compliance team took the decision on 23 ______language on the fringe

Mark Newbrook

Riders on recent entries and cultures) are not so well supported by I also mentioned the Welsh other items evidence and in some cases are in fact expression cor y bantes, allegedly the implausible in both technical and source of the Latinised Greek word Riders on recent items (S.I. 22:2, cultural terms. Caution is always Corybantes. I should add that the word 2019) I mentioned claims regarding needed in such areas, especially where cor appears to be a Latin loan and is those upholding such ideas have ‘axes thus too late to be relevant here traditional Australian Aboriginal to grind’. (compare pharma and other such loans knowledge of pulsating variable stars. This stance appears to be gathering Review of The Discovery of Troy and from English into Modern Greek momentum. Bradley Schaefer of its Lost History (S.I. 22:3, 2019) illegitimately invoked by the Ethiopian fringe linguist Legesse Allyn). Louisiana State University has I referred in this review to Anthony subsequently argued that this scenario Adolph’s 2015 book Brutus of Troy One of the predecessors of Jones, is not only completely possible but also and the Quest for the Ancestry of the mentioned in my review, was Felice highly probable (note 1). On a broader British. I should perhaps point out that Vinci, who re-interpreted the actions of the Trojan Cycle as occurring in the front, Schaefer points out that many despite Adolph’s undoubted erudition (oral) Aboriginal accounts of the he does present some strange ideas, for area surrounding the Baltic Sea. Vinci believed, in fact, that the entire archaic remote past are not purely mythical but instance where he derives parts of the appear to be based on real events story of Noah in Genesis from Greek culture was Baltic-based and that the Greek peoples moved south which can often be dated, notably the Hesiod’s Theogony – not meteorite impact some 4,000 years BP chronologically impossible, given the after the time of the Trojan War, which which formed the Henbury Craters in uncertainty as to the real date of he dates earlier than do other the Northern Territory and which is Genesis, but not necessarily at all commentators (though in fact his dating appears inconsistent in places). apparently alluded to in local probable in historical-cultural terms I have subsequently located and Aboriginal stories. However, Schaefer and not adequately argued by Adolph, cautions that some claims made for the whose equation in this context of examined an interesting 2010 online astronomical knowledge of Australian superficially similar Greek and Hebrew review of Vinci’s book by an Estonian writer calling himself ‘AP’ (note 2). Aboriginal people (like some such names is especially suspect. claims relating to other indigenous 6

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

AP invited Vinci to respond but massacres) or adding very substantial caution in the reading of these works, apparently he did not do so. external elements to its DNA. arguing that the later works are heavily AP’s historical linguistics is at the Now this has for some time been a derivative in character and have no usual amateur level, and I will not leading (if not dominant) paradigm in independent authority, and that all address the specifics. In respect of respect of the supposed invasions by these works have often been over- other domains, he argues that the successive waves of ‘Celts’ during M1 interpreted in the light of established references to climate (compare the BCE, such as were once envisaged. A assumptions regarding invasions, and ideas of Wilkens and Jones, discussed linguist, specifically, will not find in addition frequently refer to in my review) and the details of the much to comment on here, still less to individual events rather than to story-lines place the Odyssey but not worry over: very few (and short) wholesale incursions and/or to Pictish the Iliad in the Baltic (or a similar written texts have been found in or Scottish attackers rather than to the area) rather than the Mediterranean. Britain from this period, and (partly for ‘English’. She also points out that Not unreasonably, he invokes this this reason) we simply do not know continental sources on ‘Dark Ages’ conclusion as supporting the now what languages were spoken in Britain Britain are scanty and obscure, and fail commonly held view that the two or Ireland (Shelta if that is not a later to resolve the historical issues. Her poems (in their final oral and written phenomenon; Pictish if that really is interpretation of the events in question forms) had different authors, contrary non-Celtic; lost languages?) before the involves the development of the to the ‘single-author’ view generally two known groups of Celtic languages English-speaking society out of late held in ancient times (before the (Q- and P-Celtic, as in Gaelic and Romano-British communities, with originally oral nature of the poems was Welsh respectively) arrived (by only minor input from intruding understood) and essentially endorsed whatever means) in the islands early in outsiders (see below). by Vinci. M1 BCE (as is still thought to have Oosthuizen supports this view with But AP is seriously mistaken in occurred). archaeological as well as textual (and stating: ‘I, like most scholars, accept ______place-name) evidence, and cites the Baltic origins of the Odyssey’. In various recent scholars as substantially fact, I know of no professional Over the last few years, there supporting her interpretations. Her classicist who would agree with Vinci has been a strengthening assessment of the archaeological and AP on this point, and I cannot see consensus ... that the genetics of evidence in particular would now be how AP has come to this assessment of the population of Southern endorsed by most scholars. this field of scholarship. And, like Britain remained largely the But if the ‘no invasion’ scenario those of Vinci himself and of other re- same for at least 2,500 years. really applies to M1 CE as well as to locators of the Trojan Cycle, his own the previous millennium, there is a ______arguments appear unconvincing. further obvious issue. With no There is yet more to read on this Oosthuizen holds that much the wholesale incursion of genetically front! See for example the material on same can be said for M1 CE, the period distinct peoples from mainland Europe the non-mainstream-history ‘Ancient when what is now England came to in the late-Roman and immediate post- Origins’ site (note 3). have that identity, with English Roman period, how did English – a (Germanic) replacing P-Celtic (early How did the English come to West Germanic language related to Welsh, etc.) as the main everyday Frisian and to Dutch/German and speak English? language. An obvious issue here hitherto used by people on the eastern The archaeologist Susan Oosthuizen’s involves the actual (familiar) accounts side of the North Sea – come to replace 2019 book The Emergence of the given in sources such as Gildas (C6 P-Celtic across the whole of what is English is a leading exemplar of a new CE; this is the period when the now England (excluding Cornwall) by and dramatic reinterpretation of early legendary King Arthur is portrayed in late M1 CE? As early as 600 CE, in British/English history. Over the last subsequent works as having resisted fact, a law-code in Kent was framed in few years, there has been a the Germanic invaders), in later (partly English. Oosthuizen (who is not herself strengthening consensus, driven by secondary) works such as Bede’s a linguist but is egregiously widely- DNA studies and the like, that the Ecclesiastical History of the English read in all the relevant disciplines) genetics of the population of Southern People (C8) and in the early sections addresses this issue – perhaps not Britain remained largely the same for of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which wholly convincingly (see below) but at least 2,500 years (1000 BCE - 1500 have long been understood as referring certainly rationally. She argues that CE). This would imply that in that to genuine invasions of late- and post- English-speakers arrived in small period there were no large-scale Roman Britain by groups speaking groups, speaking a range of (related) ‘invasions’ of the country, replacing what became Old English (formerly West Germanic ‘languages’, and – the existing population (by way of called ‘Anglo-Saxon’; see below). even after usurping political power – However, Oosthuizen urges great would have been unable to impose 7

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 their language on a much larger A considerably more extreme work of Oosthuizen also points out (very indigenous Celtic-speaking population. this kind is that of the maverick Mick early in her book, on p 3) that there is Instead the Celtic-speakers ‘saw the Harper, whose book [note 6] Sarah an issue with the expression Anglo- future’ and rapidly adopted the new Thomason & I reviewed in this forum Saxon (now rather dated, to say the language for pragmatic reasons, in 2005; Harper suggests that Modern least; back in 1983 I myself was obviously via a bilingual phase (but see English has existed since ancient times, warned against using it!). It appears to further below). This would account at when it was already current in what is exclude smaller English-speaking least as well as do other accounts for now England.) groups such as the Jutes or (when used the Celtic-like features which ______to refer to an entire culture or period) distinguish the syntax of English from the many non-Germanic-speakers that of its continental cousins such as Latin clearly did become the present in Southern Britain at the time Dutch and German (the best known of dominant language in formerly in question. But for Oosthuizen herself these is the non-Germanic construction Celtic-speaking areas such as the expression is especially unwelcome illustrated by expressions such as I am Iberia; otherwise Spanish and in that it appears to assume the singing, contrasting with I sing; such would not exist today! (multiple) continental character of Spanish, which also experienced what became Old English. With ______important contact with Celtic, has Oosthuizen, Young questions whether similar forms. Young is also concerned about the the concept of an ‘Anglo-Saxon’ This would make the situation of question of how seriously bilingual (P- identity is justified at all. English in early England rather like Celtic & Latin) Roman Britain may Some other scholars are even more that of Hungarian in Hungary. The have been. Oosthuizen talks as if a P- perturbed by the expression Anglo- DNA of the Hungarians is remarkably Celtic- and largely Latin-speaking Saxon and in particular by the similar to that of the surrounding Southern Britain became trilingual in transparently racist use of the term in Slavic-speakers (Slovaks, Croatians, the post-Roman period by adopting C19 and after; Michael Wood’s 2019 etc.), even though their language is not Old English and later dropped both P- paper (note 7) is a good example of Slavic and indeed is not even Indo- Celtic and Latin; she suggests, this skein of thought. It may be, as European. It appears that a small dramatically, that the latter may have some of Wood’s correspondents urge, intruding elite, arriving around C9 CE, survived in England as a spoken that any usefulness the term may have were able to persuade the locals to language as late as C8. But even if a had has long been outweighed by its adopt their initially alien language and good knowledge of spoken Latin were negative associations; it should be themselves assimilated genetically over indeed the norm in Roman Britain (at dropped. time. least among the better-educated) this Quite another issue in this general One of the most important reviews would still not explain why Old area, involving a much earlier period, of Oosthuizen’s book is due to the English became as dominant as it did involves the newly-proposed deduction historian and folklorist Francis Young as quickly as it did. Questions thus that Britain’s Stone Age population (note 4). Young is full of praise for remain. was almost completely replaced some Oosthuizen’s book, but does raise Latin clearly did become the 4,500 years ago (in the pre-Celtic some questions, insisting that the dominant language in formerly Celtic- period for which, as noted, we have no ‘radical discontinuities’ in respect of speaking areas such as Iberia; linguistic evidence). For a popular language require stronger explanations; otherwise Spanish and such would not treatment, see note 8. exist today! Of course, in the case of pleading the current limitations in More racism and more bad respect of hard evidence is not enough. Iberia the Germanic ‘invaders’ – the linguistics in ancient As he says: ‘but (unless we accept the Visigoths – did not remain a force for extremely contentious idea that the long enough to establish their ‘historiography’! Iron Age inhabitants of southern language. In 2019 the ever-busy Jason Colavito Britain already spoke a West Young, who is himself a specialist drew attention (note 9) to some Germanic language) there was an in the history of religion and material in Barnes Review, a prominent arrival of the English language’. (A supernatural belief, finds Oosthuizen’s ‘racist and anti-Semitic’ publication leading exemplar of the minority treatment of such matters too scanty. with a record of supporting fringe tradition to which Young is referring Overall he argues that a much larger accounts of ancient history. In the here is the work of the geneticist work by a combination of specialists in July/August 2019 issue, Marc Roland Stephen Oppenheimer, who proposes a range of disciplines would be needed had an article claiming (in a vein that the main language of the region in if a new positive, specific account of familiar to readers of such works going pre-Roman times was not Old English these matters were to emerge; I myself back to C19) that the ancient Maya city itself but an earlier West Germanic would agree. of Tulum was built by white people – language akin to Old English [note 5]. specifically, by ancient Egyptians 8

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

(white?). Roland has issued various neither of these is related to Armenian Trojan appears in almost exactly the papers of this general type in the past. or to IE generally (well-known UA same words. Indeed, Roland uses Roland’s article includes a series of languages include Finnish, Hungarian, unacknowledged material from other equations of words from unrelated Turkish and Mongolian). If Mayan sources in several places in his article. languages, relying on the usual really were related to Armenian it I have seldom seen a passage impressionistic methods of comparison would not be Ural-Altaic. containing so many gross errors of fact and glibly proclaimed as if no specific As Colavito remarks, the idea that about language matters. I wonder what evidence were required. He Mayan was Ural-Altaic was indeed possessed Roland or indeed the better- commences with a dubiously-attested mooted in early C20 – but it never known Joseph to imagine that they Aztec honorific title Calion (reportedly made ground with qualified linguists knew enough about the subject to make used to address the invading C16 (rightly!). such pronouncements (without any hint conquistadores), which he announces ______that they might even possibly be is derived from the Greek name mistaken). Or did they just not care? Deukalion (the mythical equivalent of In the Homeric poems the The worry is that readers of such Noah, who had no connection with Trojans naturally are material, most of whom are already Egypt in any case). Next he equates represented as speaking in motivated to believe in hyper- (again without argumentation) the Greek (IE); the real language of diffusionist accounts of the remote past Egyptian god-name Amen (better, Troy may have been Luwian. and will be even worse informed than Amun) with the Mayan term ahmen, writers like Roland, will regard the ______referring to a member of one of various material as genuinely authoritative and classes of learned priests and such. Roland compounds his errors by may use it to bolster ludicrous, racist But things then get still worse! saying ‘[Mayan] was therefore related, fantasies about human history. perhaps closely, to the Etruscan and Roland claims that the Maya were in Norms, ‘political-correctness’ fact ruled by an elite caste of whites Trojan languages, both Finno-Ugric’. and dictionaries from Armenia – and that Mayan is This is fearfully confused and wrong. Of late, campaigners have been urging probably an Indo-European language. Some maverick scholars have actually that authoritative dictionaries such as He suggests that ‘linguistic parallels called into question the very existence the OED should exclude usage which with Caucasian speech’ indicate that of FU or even Uralic as language is nowadays deemed gratuitously the Maya elite were of ‘Caucasoid’ ‘families’, but the consensus position insulting, especially negative or identity. It should be pointed out here of qualified linguists is that FU is a demeaning terms applied only to that as a linguistic term Caucasian branch of Uralic. The best known females or to members of minorities does not refer to Indo-European but to undoubtedly FU language is Finnish. (defined by ethnicity, sexual an unrelated group of languages used After many decades of scholarship we orientation, etc.). Even without in and around the Caucasus mountain can still only barely read Etruscan, succumbing to ‘political-correctness’, range; the best known modern which is written in a modified Greek one obviously hopes that in most Caucasian language is Georgian. The alphabet and thus can readily be contexts such items will no longer be IE language Armenian is also based in pronounced but is not apparently actively used (quoting others is another the Caucasus region but is quite related to any known language (despite matter). But the issue is in fact more separate from Caucasian. Maybe many fringe claims) and is definitely awkward than these campaigners seem Roland was confused by the now rather not FU. And there is no identifiable to realise. The OED in particular is dated use of Caucasian (or Caucasoid) record at all of the Trojan language. In informed by scientific linguistic to refer to white people (presumably the Homeric poems the Trojans considerations and thus sets out to including Armenians) as a ‘racial’ naturally are represented as speaking in describe usage, not to prescribe or group? In any event, there are no Greek (IE); the real language of Troy proscribe it. On the other hand, the significant parallels between Mayan may have been Luwian, which is editors of such books (or their online and either IE or Caucasian, only some represented in inscriptions in the area equivalents) cannot ignore the fact that shared general typological features and is a member of the Anatolian their work is often used, naively or (never decisive) and a few chance branch of IE (a completely different otherwise, as a source for norms. In similarities between word-forms. branch from Armenian). Again, there is another context, I have heard forms Roland then confuses the matter yet no reason at all to think that Trojan such as Northern English while = further by repeating that Mayan was was FU. ‘until’ as in We’ll wait while ten (by no Armenian-like and thus Ural-Altaic. And in fact, again as Colavito means transparent to speakers from But the Ural-Altaic languages are a observes, Roland is copying here from other areas) treated as suitable for loose group of languages which arose Frank Joseph’s 2004 book Survivors of universal use, precisely because a from convergence between two further Atlantis, where the same sentence prestigious dictionary records the language ‘families’, Uralic and Altaic; about Mayan, Armenian, Etruscan and 9

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 existence of the usage. In my view, the Notes 6. M. J. Harper, The History of Britain solution lies in explicit, prominent 1.https://tinyurl.com/yda3c65q; Revealed: The Shocking Truth about annotation (‘non-standard’, ‘regional https://tinyurl.com/roo7q7r the English Language; the review only’, ‘nowadays deemed sexist’, etc.) 2. https://tinyurl.com/sz89555 mentioned refers to the 2002 (London) – and users of dictionaries (whether or 3. https://tinyurl.com/s3ga957 edition. not native-speakers) should be strongly 4. https://tinyurl.com/qufg8sj 7. https://tinyurl.com/t6q9yqd encouraged to pay attention to such 5. Stephen Oppenheimer, The Origins 8. https://tinyurl.com/v5wyvmk notes before choosing their own usage. of the British (London, 2006); see 9. https://tinyurl.com/r2juhmp especially pp. 10-18, 320-323. ______REVIEWS AND COMMENTARIES Placebos for Pets? The Truth about Alternative Medicine in Animals by Brennen McKenzie. Ockham , 2019, pp 481. ISBN: 978-1-912701-36-0, pbk.

______Reviewed by Niall Taylor

I have known Brennen McKenzie for deals with the ways we can all be taken uses, and their claimed modes of nearly two decades now and have in by slick salespersons and outlines a action. It addresses how the principles come to respect his views highly. A number of warning ‘red flags’ to be on of CAM, implausible as they are in general veterinary practitioner in the the alert for. The remaining chapters humans, are beyond ludicrous when US, he also lectures in veterinary cover individual therapies— applied to animals. How, he asks, does medicine, is the former president of the homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal one perform a homeopathic proving in Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine medicine and so on in more or less a hamster who is incapable of telling Association and runs the respected detail depending on their popularity. you whether or not he has an itch on SkeptVet blog. In short, what he doesn’t ______the outside of his foot, and how can the know about alternative medicine in ‘gallbladder’ channel described in animals isn’t worth knowing – so this How can the ‘gallbladder’ horses possibly be of use in that book’s arrival is not before time. channel described in horses species devoid, as it is, of a And Placebos for Pets is an possibly be of use in that species gallbladder? The text has a readable, important book, being the latest of only devoid, as it is, of a gallbladder? common-sense style; it is enlivened three on the subject of critical thinking ______throughout by anecdotes from the and complementary and alternative frontline of general veterinary practice veterinary medicine (CAVM; note 1). The book is a delight; it is and a number of black and white Proponents of alternative medicine everything one would expect from one illustrations and is comprehensively often claim that because it can appear as knowledgeable on the subject as the referenced. to work in animals this is proof of author. Individual chapters adopt a McKenzie is emphatic about the effectiveness since animals can’t tell if structured, methodological approach, dangers of believing that placebo they’ve been given a placebo. As the in each case asking three questions: effects are a sign of real improvement title suggests, Dr McKenzie’s book What is it? Does it work? and Is it when they are not, so it came as a puts this idea firmly to bed with safe? In this way the foundations of considerable surprise to me that the curtains drawn, lights out and no CAVM are carefully dissected and author himself practices acupuncture cocoa. exposed for what they are—’more on his animal patients. His The first two chapters cover the likely to do nothing much at all and rationalisations for this, coming at the generalities—the definitions of and the sometimes they can make things worse end of the chapter dealing with the politics behind CAVM, how to assess for the animals we love’. fallacies and implausibilities of this medical therapies of any sort for use in Drawing on his years of experience practice (something he acknowledges animals, and a broad-brush summary in the subject Dr McKenzie describes as ‘mostly a placebo’) make for of the scientific method and how it how the practices under consideration interesting reading. helps in this process. The final chapter are alleged to work, their supposed 10

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

Placebos for Pets is highly just how easy it is to fool ourselves Niall Taylor is a general veterinary recommended to anyone interested not into thinking something has worked practitioner, now semi-retired, working just in a critical assessment of the use when in reality it hasn’t. in the south-west of England. He is the of CAM in animals but also in its Note co-author, with Alex Gough, of the general underpinnings and some of the 1. The other two being Complementary book No Way to Treat a Friend: Lifting mistaken rationalisations employed to and Alternative Veterinary Medicine the Lid on Complementary and justify its use—mistaking placebo Considered by David Ramey and Alternative Veterinary Medicine and effects for genuine improvements and Bernard Rollin and No Way to Treat a runs the Rational Veterinary Medicine apparent effectiveness in animals being Friend by Niall Taylor and Alex blog (rationalvetmed.net). proof of effectiveness, but principally Gough. ______Mark’s Bookshelf Mark Newbrook

Extraterrestrial Languages The specific topics with which putative or reported extraterrestrial Daniel Oberhaus Oberhaus engages include various languages; in general terms, Oberhaus MIT Press, Cambridge (MA) aspects of the history of ideas about (as he readily acknowledges) is by no 2019 pp 252 what is now called SETI (the Search for means breaking totally new ground Daniel Oberhaus is a science and Extraterrestrial Intelligence), starting here. I refer readers here to the relevant technology journalist whose work has with late-C19 ideas about section of Chapter 5 of my 2013 book appeared widely in (mainly American) communicating with imagined Strange Linguistics, which includes publications. He is not an expert on intelligent Martians using Morse Code, discussion of many earlier observations linguistics but he has informed himself mirrors, etc. and continuing with the about the possible nature of sufficiently on this topic to write a book emergence in C20 of SETI itself, CETI extraterrestrial languages (if any exist), worthy of serious attention and review. (attempted communication with my own thoughts on the matter, reports At the time of writing Oberhaus’ extraterrestrial intelligence) and METI, of many claims involving book was too recent to have attracted messaging extraterrestrial intelligence, extraterrestrial languages (by ‘UFO- many reviews (even online). For some as in the messages on the plaques contactees’ and such), and references to very brief reviews, see (note 1). One of attached to interstellar spacecraft in the the literature up to the date of my book. these comments (a highly positive one 1970s, ‘the one-way space voyage of More recently (in Skeptical which is reproduced as ‘blurb’ on the Ella’ (an artificial intelligence agent Intelligencer 20:1, 2017) I reviewed the book cover) is by the Italian linguist that can play cards, tell fortunes, and movie Arrival, which deals with initial and neuroscientist Andrea Moro, who recite poetry), microwave systems, etc., contact between humans and aliens, has a research interest in artificial and also projects involving artificial mainly from a linguistic point of view languages, that is to say languages partly based on a priori or a (the main human protagonist is a invented/constructed languages posteriori analyses of the world and/or linguist). (‘conlangs’) as developed (a) by on formal logic (see below on Admittedly, much of the literature advocates of a universal (first or Astraglossa and Lincos). Oberhaus also reviewed in my 2013 book deals with ‘auxiliary’ = second) language and (b), discusses more general aspects of how the specific claims put forward by the in a different vein, by fiction writers considerations from philosophy, authors in question, and is not itself (especially in science-fiction and linguistics, mathematics, science and art linguistically informed; but I do also fantasy); see below on the relevance of have informed the design of attempts at include in my text references to the conlangs in this present context. interstellar messaging or have papers presenting the (ultimately Oberhaus engaged in a discussion of suggested limits to its likely unfruitful) survey project which Gary his work with leading skeptic Michael effectiveness. Anthony & I began in the early 2000s, Shermer. The interview appeared on ______and to various other analytical works by 22/10/19 on eSkepic, the online forum authors such as Christian Macé, Mario of the California-based American There is already a large tradition Pazzaglini, Anassa Rhenisch, Stephen Skeptics, and provides a brief of work on putative or reported Battersby, Anthony Judge, Steve exposition of Oberhaus’ ideas; start at extraterrestrial languages. Connor and the computational linguist (note 2). Another condensed statement ______John Elliott. Few such authors are of Oberhaus’ ideas in this area (from themselves trained in core-linguistics; 2016) is at note 3. It should be pointed out that there is their linguistic points are often already a large tradition of work on 11

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 embedded in discussions of SETI which Hertzing herself, while obviously communication between species from involve domains other than linguistics sophisticated, is not trained in different planets (even those with in which they are more qualified – linguistics per se. While Oberhaus scientific knowledge), who would including semiotics, the study of certainly ends up with a wide surely be utterly alien to each other in communication systems more perspective on the issues in this area, many respects. This same naivety often generally, and other (altogether non- including points which a specialist in arises where such scenarios are linguistic) aspects of SETI There thus language might well have missed, it explored in science-fiction, for example remains considerable scope for new does have to be noted that a in H. Beam Piper’s well-known short work on this front. professional linguist, recruited as a co- story ‘Omnilingual’, involving the However, Oberhaus too concerns author, would have had much to add periodic table of elements. (Piper knew himself largely with the general issues here in terms of depth and focus. See that the periodic table is of universal involving SETI and has rather less to also below on Oberhaus and Chomsky. validity and assumed, perhaps over- say about strictly linguistic matters. The ______optimistically, that it would be only writer listed in my last paragraph perceived and presented in a similar whom he cites is Elliott – which relates A professional linguist, recruited manner by almost any intelligent to his heavy focus throughout upon as a co-author, would have had species.) Oberhaus perhaps does not considerations in computational much to add here in terms of adequately acknowledge this issue. linguistics rather than matters of depth and focus. This reference to science-fiction and general linguistics (form and meaning ______the reviewer Moro’s interest in artificial as encountered in natural language). languages do raise the more general Oberhaus does cite his reviewer Moro Oberhaus does concern himself with point that considerations regarding as mentioned above, particularly in some conlangs which were developed conlangs – especially those invented by respect of his 2016 book Impossible specifically with a view to SETI and the more sophisticated science-fiction Languages, which starts from the indeed to the possibility of actual or fantasy writers whose themes notion (especially associated with interaction with extraterrestials. Early involve extraterrestrial aliens Noam Chomsky; see below) that some in his book he refers to Astraglossa, (particularly where portrayed as ‘types’ of language which are perfectly which the zoologist Lancelot Hogben strikingly non-humanoid in possible in principle (they can be developed out of his earlier auxiliary physiological and/or psychological deliberately invented) are not in fact language Interglossa (often written with terms – a very relevant aspect of the possible human languages, because of the ‘picture language’ Isotype). matter to hand here), or indeed deep features of human psychology Oberhaus also discusses another terrestrial non-humans such as J.R.R. which create universal constraints on invented language intended for use in Tolkien’s ‘dwarves’ – overlap consider- linguistic form. Most of Oberhaus’ communication with aliens, Lincos, ably with those regarding putative or other post-2013 references to which its developer Hans Freudenthal reported extraterrestrial languages. In communication per se are to less and his colleagues intended to be some cases grammars of these conlangs specifically SETI-oriented general intelligible to any intelligent have been written by their inventors or considerations involving linguistics, to extraterrestrial life-form (even if such their associates. There are also many the work of semioticians concerned an entity were not familiar with any linguistically sophisticated general with more general principles relating to existing human language) and to be works on conlangs, notably the writings communication rather than with strictly used in interstellar radio transmissions of Alan Libert, Walter E. Meyers, Arika linguistic theorising (Douglas Vakoch for transmitting summary accounts of Okrent, Tim Conley & Stephen Cain, looms large here), or to material human knowledge. A third language of Michael Adams, etc. Oberhaus makes involving other human faculties such as this kind, known as aUI, was designed very little reference to this body of art, music and mathematics/logic. These by John Weilgart as the ‘Language of work, arguably to his disadvantage. latter two bodies of work are definitely Space’. More recently, systems based It does have to be acknowledged relevant but much of the cited material more closely on logic, such as that many science-fiction authors, even is inevitably short on specifically Alexander Ollongren’s new version of if otherwise scholarly, are amateurish as linguistic insight. There is some Lincos, have been developed by SETI far as language matters are concerned: discussion of older core-linguistic practitioners (see Oberhaus’ Appen- their work features implausible ideas, of the decipherment of dices). linguistic systems, folk-linguistic mysterious linguistic material (e.g. the Those involved in developing all notions, palpable terminological or Cretan ‘Linear B’ script), and more these systems were/are astute but factual errors on specific points (for crucially of the work of authors such as were/are physical scientists, arguably example, phonetic features), conceptual Denise Hertzing, who has studied the naïve in various ways about the nature errors including failure to grasp the language-like capabilities of dolphins of language and over-optimistic about distinction between script and language, (‘the Wild Dolphin Project’) – but the possibilities for serious etc. These faults arise in accounts of 12

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 both ‘human/humanoid’ tongues and fact, that intelligent aliens might regard (2015). See also my review of Daniel (more relevantly here) more markedly all humans as speaking variants on the Everett’s recent book in The Skeptical ‘alien’ languages. Some major authors same language! These core features of Intelligencer 22:4 (2019). are implicated in such errors. the Chomskyan approach have survived Oberhaus does question some Nevertheless, the various attempts to the very many changes and aspects of the Chomskyan orthodoxy. invent prima facie plausible alien diversifications in this form of For example, he is persuaded by the languages have inevitably generated linguistics since Chomsky’s initial work of Hertzing (see above) and others much that is of interest in this context. publication (Syntactic Structures) back (including the maverick and arguably (For a summary of this area of work, in 1957. deluded John Lilly, whose marginal including Interglossa, Lincos etc. and ______status Oberhaus does not acknowledge) science-fiction/fantasy languages, see that dolphin communication shares Chapter 11 of my 2013 book, written Chomsky has suggested, in fact, some of the ‘higher’ properties of with help from Alan Libert.) that intelligent aliens might human language (supposedly species- A further issue involves the fact that regard all humans as speaking specific), such as ‘displacement’, the Oberhaus is not only a non-linguist but variants on the same language! capability of referring to objects which also an American and thus has been ______are not present at the time of utterance. exposed predominantly to a specifically (On the other hand, Chomskyan Chomskyan approach to linguistics. But most people who study linguists, with their heavy focus on This issue arises repeatedly in this linguistics in the UK, Europe, Australia, syntax as a defining property of human context. I attended an explanatory etc. come to a very different view of the language, are less interested in features lecture by the American linguist Jessica subject. For them, Chomskyan of this kind than are some non- Coon, who was one of the consultants linguistics is merely one of a number of Chomskyan linguists, and therefore for the above-mentioned movie Arrival; important ‘schools’ of linguistic might find such data less challenging her presentation, aimed of course at thought (even if they themselves come than hard evidence than dolphins have listeners with no linguistics, was superb to accept it). Some of these schools syntax, if this were available.) More but assumed the validity of a differ from Chomskyan linguistics on seriously, Oberhaus suggests that an Chomskyan treatment of language as an the basic points rehearsed in my ‘Interplanetary Universal Grammar’ introductory lecture on astronomy previous paragraph, and indeed on the may (somehow) exist, corresponding might assume the heliocentric model of grammatical analysis of simple with a conceptual ‘language of the the Solar System. Some young sentences in languages as familiar as universe’. He hints that if this is in fact American-trained linguists are indeed English, as well as on research not the case extraterrestrial languages barely aware of non-Chomskyan methodology and many other matters. might prove to be unlearnable (and of linguistics. Oberhaus too has fallen prey There is no sign of linguists as a world course human languages might by the to this tendency, or at least has accepted community of scholars arriving at a same token be unlearnable for aliens). too readily the Chomskyan account of consensus on such issues (Chomskyan However, Chomskyans (and indeed human language. This includes or otherwise), and indeed there seems other linguists) might regard the notion Chomsky’s arguably idiosyncratic idea to be surprisingly little interest in of an Interplanetary Universal Grammar that language is essentially a vehicle for moving towards such a consensus as too implausible to warrant concerned the organisation and expression of (particularly – but not only – among attention. thought rather than for communication, Chomskyans, who often give the Oberhaus’ contribution to the and, perhaps more importantly, the impression that their mind is made up, literature on extraterrestrial languages is notions that (a) language, with its core and who frequently treat alternative important; he introduces many points features such as hierarchical views with disdain if they are called which are new to me and would organisation, structure-dependency, upon to consider them). Therefore, non- probably be new to most core-linguists etc., is species-specific (as far as Earth linguists such as Oberhaus who seek to with an interest in such matters. The is concerned; no other known species discuss these matters certainly need to book will undoubtedly repay attention. be more aware of non-Chomskyan has a communication system Notes linguistics. approaching the level of flexibility and 1.http://www.danieloberhaus.com/revie For my own earlier comments on useful complexity of structure found in ws/ these matters, with references to the language) and (b) the language faculty 2. http://tinyurl.com/sya4p9y literature, see especially my review of is species-uniform to a very high degree 3. http://tinyurl.com/y8dsgmtj indeed – which involves, especially, the Vyvyan Evans’ book The Language reality of a (highly abstract) ‘Universal Myth: Why Language is not an Instinct Grammar’. Chomsky has suggested, in in The Skeptical Intelligencer 18:2

13

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

ANNOUNCEMENTS OF INTEREST

SKEPTICISM, SCIENCE thinking and creativity, and deliver funded groups tended to have positions positive messages. favourable to the sponsor. Patient AND RATIONALITY ‘The Good Magic Awards recognizes, groups have an important role in (GENERAL) rewards and encourages this work. advocacy, education, and research; Sense About Science These new awards have been set-up by therefore strategies are needed to Keep visiting the Sense About Science psychologist and magician Professor prevent biases that could favour the website for new developments and read Richard Wiseman in collaboration with interests of sponsors above those of the about the achievements of 2020: The Good Thinking Society. Richard public.’ http://www.senseaboutscience.org/ has recently reviewed the use of magic https://tinyurl.com/vq66lqq for social good, exploring work Medical malfeasance Good Thinking promoting both wellbeing (1) and See the Lown Institute’s third annual Make sure that you are on Good education (2). Shkreli Award list of the top ten ‘worst Thinking’s Newsletter email list: 1. https://peerj.com/articles/6081/ examples of profiteering and http://goodthinkingsociety.org/ 2. https://peerj.com/articles/8747/) dysfunction in health care, named for ‘Those who wish to use magic for Website of interest Martin Shkreli, the price-hiking social good are invited to apply for an Professor Chris French of the “pharma bro” that everyone loves to award to support further work in this Anomalistic Psychology Unit at hate’. area.’ Visit: Goldsmiths College now has his own https://lowninstitute.org/2019-shkreli- http://tinyurl.com/t9mtal6 website packed with information and awards/ features about ...... yes, Anomalistic Statistics Beliefs in alternative medicine Psychology. ‘2019 was another big year for the Psychological variables can predict http://profchrisfrench.com/ Office for National Statistics (ONS), belief in alternative medicine. See also a brief account about Chris filled with better data, new headlines https://tinyurl.com/rlv3rkd written by Wendy Grossman at: and exciting innovations. As we enter http://tinyurl.com/rsphynl 2020, Simeon Bowen takes a look back The wellness industry Scientific fraud at the ONS’ key items of new analysis ‘The wellness industry is selling you the myth that a healthy life is ‘A row over scientific fraud at the from the last 12 months.’ expensive. ... Ignore the wild claims highest level of British academia has https://tinyurl.com/rzqouxh for seaweed wraps and spin classes. led to calls for one of the country’s MEDICINE Real wellbeing is about fun, fairness leading geneticists and highest-paid and relationships.’ university chiefs to leave his posts.’ The Nightingale Collaboration http://tinyurl.com/sbuumwl https://tinyurl.com/uwydkug Keep visiting the Nightingale Collaboration website. If you have not Magic and magicians Get Well magazine already done so, why not sign up for ‘Serious concerns about health From Good Thinking: ‘Some free delivery of their electronic misinformation had previously led to a performers use magic tricks to improve newsletter? magazine being removed from shelves. the lives of others, including work with http://www.nightingale- A rebranded, relaunched version was disadvantaged groups, charities, collaboration.org/ soon widely condemned. Tesco has hospital patients, schools, community now confirmed they are no longer groups, and those facing physical and Industry funding of patient selling Get Well magazine. We hope psychological challenges. This use of groups other retailers will soon follow suit.’ magic brings wide-ranging benefits, ‘In general, industry funding of patient https://tinyurl.com/tnpzxvg such as building confidence and self- groups seems to be common, with esteem, inspiring happiness and prevalence estimates ranging from (Also see item under ‘Autism’.) optimism, supporting physical 20% to 83%. Few patient groups have Quackery in general rehabilitation and co-ordination, and policies that govern corporate ‘To win the fight against health and tackling loneliness and social sponsorship. Transparency about wellness bunk, we must leave the post- exclusion. Within an educational corporate funding is also inadequate. truth era in the past ... Social media context it can foster a greater Among the few studies that examined advertising pushes anti-vaccine myths, understanding of science or associations between industry funding celebrity health brands aggressively mathematics, help develop critical and organisational positions, industry 14

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 sell rubbish ideas and products, health- traditional Western medicine - have evidence for the therapies tried out by care providers and research institutions taken to YouTube to promote Goop staff, including Gwyneth Paltrow hype unproven therapies and there are alternative medical treatments to the herself’ (BBC Sounds). At: wild conspiracy theories about virus. Some of the advice, like https://tinyurl.com/tqz6cjw everything from GMOs to fluoride to recommending certain herbs and Autism milk. And the media reporting on all extracts like oregano oil, mullen leaf, A woman has criticised Waitrose for these topics often adds more confusion garlic, and elderberry, may be stocking a magazine with a cover that than clarity.’ harmless, so long as people aren’t reads: “Reversing autism – reigniting https://tinyurl.com/w55pe7m using them instead of hand-washing, your child’s brain”. Sophie Walker for instance. But experts are concerned Talcum powder and cancer from London, was shopping in her that some of these micro-influencers ‘Using talcum powder does NOT raise local Waitrose supermarket, when she are telling their followers to take the risk of ovarian cancer as study of came across the “Get Well” magazine megadoses of vitamins A, C, and D in 250,000 women debunks fears after cover on the newsstand. Walker, who order to protect themselves from decades of uncertainty.’ has a 17-year-old daughter, Grace, with COVID-19, as the virus is known.’ At: http://tinyurl.com/wbzow45 an autism diagnosis, told The https://tinyurl.com/t3g7ao5 Cancer quackery Independent: “I was so shocked when I Also: ‘As the global death toll from an saw it, it made me stop in my tracks.” ‘Denial of the benefits of alarming new coronavirus surged this She took a photograph of the magazine chemotherapy is very prevalent in week, promoters of the pro-Trump and shared it on Twitter, with the “natural health” movements. This QAnon conspiracy theory were urging caption: “What is this absolute crap on denial is based on fear mongering, their fans to ward off the illness by the shelves of my local Waitrose? pseudoscience, and conspiracy theories purchasing and drinking dangerous Have you any idea how offensive this and thus shares many similarities with bleach. The substance—dubbed is? “My daughter is well. Her brain is the antivaccine movement. How can “Miracle Mineral Solution” or fully ignited – and firing such that she the misinformation spread by “chemo “MMS”—has long been promoted by creates and thinks in ways that inspire truthers” be countered on social fringe groups as a combination miracle and astound me daily. Scrap this ableist media?’ At: cure and vaccine for everything from shit now.” https://tinyurl.com/t5pp7ro autism to cancer and HIV/AIDS.’ At: https://tinyurl.com/vg98g3r Meanwhile: ‘Taking omega-3 supple- https://tinyurl.com/yx2nmtna Stem cell therapy ments offers “little to no” benefit No more rubbish now. There are plenty ‘Some private clinics are charging UK against cancer, say experts.’ At: of good websites providing up-to-date patients thousands of pounds for http://tinyurl.com/vkkou98 information to enquirers on all aspects unproven and unregulated treatments And: ‘The Canadian market is awash this pandemic. One to add to your using the “healing powers” of stem with claims that some natural health visits is The Centre for Evidence- cells, the BBC has found. And experts products (NHPs) can treat or cure Based Medicine’s webpage Oxford are warning some of these “therapies” cancer even though these claims are COVID-19 Evidence Service at: can cause significant harm.’ illegal, a new study from the consumer https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/ http://tinyurl.com/sg3qynt protection organization Bad Science Also see items under ‘Vaccination’ and Watch reveals.’ At: ‘Religion and Cults’. Vaccination http://tinyurl.com/vnfs6k3 ‘The nation’s oldest anti-vaccine Gwyneth Paltrow advocacy group often emphasizes that Also: ‘A naturopath who told ‘Gwyneth Paltrow’s new Netflix series it is supported primarily by small vulnerable clients that their cancer was poses a “considerable health risk” to donations and concerned parents, a fungus that could be cured with the public, NHS England chief describing its founder as the leader of a bicarbonate soda rather than through executive Simon Stevens has said. The “national, grass roots movement.” But conventional medical treatment has Goop Lab, filmed at the headquarters over the past decade a single donor has been barred from practising for life, of the actress’s wellness brand, Goop, contributed more than $2.9 million to according to the New South Wales explores the effectiveness of the National Vaccine Information Health Care Complaints Commission.’ alternative therapies for physical and Center, accounting for about 40 At: mental illnesses. Netflix says the series percent of the organization’s funding, http://tinyurl.com/y3sqspmy is “designed to entertain, not provide according to the most recent available medical advice”‘. At: Coronavirus tax records. That donor, osteopathic https://tinyurl.com/wyxksl8 ‘A community of naturopathic physician Joseph Mercola, has amassed practitioners - medical professionals Meanwhile: ‘As the Goop Lab TV a fortune selling natural health (?) who may use herbs, food, and series lands in Netflix accounts, Greg products, court records show, including natural supplements rather than solely Foot and guests look at the scientific 15

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 vitamin supplements, some of which England said the full two doses of the improved so that healthcare providers he claims are alternatives to vaccines.’ vaccination were needed to maximise and commissioners can make informed At: protection.’ At: choices on the interventions which can http://tinyurl.com/td7nbu5 https://tinyurl.com/veqhpzb legitimately be provided to patients And: A controversial anti- vaccination Also: ‘The novel coronavirus continues living with chronic pain.’ film backed by disgraced doctor to spread around the world, with new http://tinyurl.com/ud9f4hm Andrew Wakefield is to be shown in cases being reported all the time. Fertility Britain. The documentary, called Spreading just as fast, it seems, are Antioxidant supplements do not Vaxxed II: The People’s Truth, is due conspiracy theories that claim powerful improve semen quality among men to be screened at a council-owned actors are plotting something sinister to with infertility, according to a new venue. Campaigners warned the film do with the virus. Our research into study. ‘puts children’s lives at risk’, while the medical conspiracy theories shows that http://tinyurl.com/qmwmxfp NHS said the “con-artists” behind it this has the potential to be just as “risk the health of our whole society” dangerous for societies as the outbreak 5G But the Royal Borough of Kensington itself.’ At: ‘The anti-5G looneys have been out in and Chelsea, which owns the screening http://tinyurl.com/vp8htoo force lately, claiming that the ultra-fast mobile signals will fry our brains, venue in Notting Hill, west London, Likewise: ‘Anti-vax groups on social sterilise our nice bits and cause the said it did not plan to intervene to pull media are claiming that the spread of apocalypse, or something. As always the screening.’ At: the disease will lead to mandatory happens when new technology goes https://tinyurl.com/yxx238lb vaccinations and “unlimited mainstream, the tinfoil hat brigade is surveillance”.’ At: Also: ‘An examination of vaccination fully against 5G, just like they were http://tinyurl.com/uf7wbcj trends in Denmark shows just how against mobiles in general (remember damaging vaccine misinformation can Acupuncture that TV programme where they put be.’ At: ‘The aim of this review is to synthesise people next to a switched-off mobile https://tinyurl.com/tucdzmz SRs (systematic reviews) of RCTs mast, and they started experiencing Likewise: (from the US): ‘Britain’s evaluating the clinical efficacy of ‘symptoms’?). Well, it seems there’s anti-vaxx movement is not as prolific acupuncture to alleviate chronic pain no need for concern, because Ofcom as the US, but recent stats show that and to consider the quality and has just completed its first 5G safety rates of coverage for childhood adequacy of the evidence, including tests and found that the radiation levels vaccinations may be falling.’ At: RCT design. ... Electronic databases at the base stations are “tiny fractions” https://tinyurl.com/ubrahuh were searched for English language of the amounts deemed safe for And: ‘The number of measles cases in SRs and meta-analyses on acupuncture humans. In other words, everything’s England has risen six-fold since 2014, for chronic pain. The SRs were fine, have a cup of tea.’ At: with health officials urging the public scrutinised for methodology, risk of https://tinyurl.com/yx8edk8u to check their vaccinations are up to bias and judgement of efficacy. ... A And: ‘A poster for charity date. Public Health England also total of 177 reviews of acupuncture Electrosensitivity-UK, seen in July and warned of outbreaks in areas where from 1989 to 2019 met our eligibility August 2019, featured a headline vaccination coverage was low and criteria. The majority of SRs found that which stated “How safe is 5G?” above revealed a 61-year-old man died from RCTs of acupuncture had an image of a family of three holding measles-related complications in methodological shortcomings, incl- hands as they walked their dog. The ad August this year. There had been 667 uding inadequate statistical power with featured four quotes from various confirmed cases of measles by a high risk of bias. Heterogeneity professionals detailing their comments September compared with 101 cases between RCTs was such that meta- which opposed the rollout of 5G for the whole of 2014.’ At: analysis was often inappropriate. ... network technology and listed a range http://tinyurl.com/u83xe6h ‘The large quantity of RCTs on of health effects such as “reduced male Meanwhile: ‘Health officials are acupuncture for chronic pain contained fertility, depression, disturbed sleep urging people to have both parts of the within systematic reviews provide and headaches, as well as cancer”.’ MMR vaccine after cases of mumps in evidence that is conflicting and Following complaints from members England reached their highest level in a inconclusive, due in part to recurring of the public to the Advertising decade. Outbreaks in universities and methodological shortcomings of RCTs. Standards Authority, the ASA ruled colleges raised the number of cases of We suggest that an enriched enrolment ‘The ad must not appear again in the the painful viral illness to 5,042 in with randomised withdrawal design form complained of. We told 2019 - four times the number in 2018. may overcome some of these Electrosensitivity-UK to ensure they Most were in young adults who missed methodological shortcomings. It is did not make claims which implied out on the MMR jab. Public Health essential that the quality of evidence is there was robust scientific evidence 16

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020 that demonstrated negative human PSYCHOLOGY AND may fervently believe that these claims health effects caused by 5G signals or reflect the overwhelming scientific that specific medical conditions had PSYCHIATRY consensus. However, sometimes when been shown to be caused by 5G Talking therapies you dig a little beyond the surface, the signals, unless they held adequate ‘Comedy writer and journalist Ariane evidence underpinning even the most substantiation for such claims.’ At: Sherine created and organised the ubiquitous headlines can seem https://tinyurl.com/rwtww7f Atheist Bus Campaign, persuading surprisingly shaky. Perhaps the best Diet Richard Dawkins and the British example of such an assertion is that of an impending agricultural Arma- ‘GenoPalate is a company that claims Humanist Association to support her – and buses with variations on the slogan geddon, caused by decades of to give “personalized” dietary ‘There’s probably no God. Now stop irresponsible farming practices that recommendations based on DNA worrying and enjoy your life’ ran in 13 have degraded soils across the planet testing. Unfortunately, what is (or so the press narrative goes).’ provided by such companies is more countries across the globe. As a result, Ariane received an http://tinyurl.com/yx52hrfb akin to astrology than science.’ Inbox full of hate mail from Christians, http://tinyurl.com/vofj2ap which eventually led to a major Conspiracy theories Meat substitute health scare nervous breakdown and suicidal Sandy Hook School massacre ‘Plant-based meat substitutes are ideation. She ended her journalistic ‘A Texas judge ordered conspiracy becoming increasingly popular as the career, and didn’t write again for over theorist Alex Jones to pay $100,000 quality increases and costs fall. You three years.’ (£76,000) in another court setback over can even buy an Impossible burger Ariane now, amongst other the Infowars host using his show to from Burger King now. This situation activities, presents talks on how promote falsehoods that the 2012 has clearly caused some alarm among therapy and medication saved her life, Sandy Hook school massacre was a meat producers, and they’ve dug up and has written a book, Talk Yourself hoax. Jones is being sued for some old pseudoscience to try and Better: A Confused Person’s Guide to defamation in Austin, Texas, by the convince people that meat substitutes Therapy, Counselling and Self-Help. parents of a six-year-old who was are bad for them. A livestock trade See: among the 26 people killed in the publication called Tri-State Livestock https://tinyurl.com/wjznfpz Newtown, Connecticut, attack.’ News (TSLN) has resurrected the https://tinyurl.com/v7gtbks claim that soy causes feminization in DISC assessment tool See item under Sweden in The And since then, he has been ordered to men. Don’t clutch your pearls—there’s European Scene. pay more than $20,000 in attorney fees no evidence for that.’ after losing another appeal. http://tinyurl.com/s46jg8t Neuro-linguistic programming http://tinyurl.com/rutbv7n Black cumin From Thomas Witlowski of the Polish ‘There are countless dietary Skeptics: ‘I am pleased to inform you RELIGION AND CULTS supplements and herbs out there with that a few months ago a book was published which contains a chapter of Shunning countless clinical claims, but often my co-authorship devoted to the ‘On the second International Atheist little in the way of plausibility or critical assessment of neuro-linguistic Day, 23 March 2020, which was supporting clinical evidence. The latest established in 2019 by a number of ex- “mole” to pops its head up in this programming (NLP). Excerpts from the book can be read on Amazon (1). Muslim and atheist organisations, we endless game to whack them is black For those interested, the title page of call on families, communities and cumin (also referred to as black seed, our chapter and the Conclusions in pdf societies to end the heinous practice of black caraway, black sesame, and other shunning atheists, ex-Muslims and common names).’ format (are also available)’(2). freethinkers.’ For details visit: https://tinyurl.com/tdkocmm (1) https://tinyurl.com/uz2d6nz (2) https://tinyurl.com/ry2w664 https://www.ex-muslim.org.uk/ BioCharger Conversion therapy ‘BioCharger’s Claims Are Too Silly to ECOLOGY ‘The discredited practice of conversion Take Seriously’: ‘The BioCharger is a Soil panic therapy for LGBTQ children is now subtle energy device based on fantasy, ‘When it comes to science reporting, banned in Utah, making it the 19th not science. At $15,000, pretty there are some headlines that are so state and one of the most conservative expensive for a placebo.’ frequently repeated, so intuitively to prohibit it.’ https://tinyurl.com/se2tg9c plausible, so closely aligned to our https://tinyurl.com/rlluyqg cultural beliefs, that they can seem like

incontrovertible truths. The general public, and indeed many scientists, 17

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

Creationism in schools http://tinyurl.com/skrdjjw missioned an inquiry led by Professor ‘An independent Jewish school is (Please, no more about coronavirus— Iyiola Solanke of the University of teaching creationism as science and Ed.) Leeds, to look at UCL’s historical role refusing to enter pupils for GCSEs in, and the current status of, the because leaders are not allowed to POLITICS AND SOCIAL teaching and study of the history of censor papers, according to a damning POLICY eugenics, as well as the current status Ofsted report. An inspection report of UCL’s benefit from any financial Finland’s 4-day week found Bnois Jerusalem Girls School in instruments linked to the study of ‘How Finland’s fake four-day week Hackney in north London “inadequate” eugenics. The Inquiry’s report and its became a ‘fact’ in Europe’s media: We in all areas. The school caters for 840 recommendations were published on take a look at how media outlets in the pupils and had recently been warned 28 February 2020 and accepted in UK - and in Europe, Asia, Australia by the government over a litany of principle by the Provost. UCL is now and USA - were all caught out by a failures. The report ... adds that “pupils establishing a working group, which Finland story that was just too good to do not learn anything about the will consider how the university can be true. Because it wasn’t.’ scientific theories about the origins of respond to the recommendations.’ http://tinyurl.com/rxme99t life”.’ http://tinyurl.com/yxyryq7vp http://tinyurl.com/s3tvk96 Race MISCELLANEOUS Coronavirus How to Argue with a Racist (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2019) ‘Amid anxieties in Iran over the Precognition research ‘smashes race myths that plague coronavirus outbreak and a flurry of Video now available to view: ‘On 27th society. Adam Rutherford’s new book precautions to prevent its spread, a June, Professor Chris French gave a busts persistent myths about race, controversial ayatollah (Abbas talk on a multi-site replication attempt sexual prowess and intelligence that Tabrizian, described by his supporters he conducted with co-investigators Dr beset society, giving us a way to fight as “the father of Islamic medicine of Stuart Ritchie and Professor Richard back’. Iran”) has declared a new method to Wiseman. The replication was of the https://tinyurl.com/yx4g88ub “cure” the virus: applying violet oil to now infamous study by Professor the anus.’ At: Ducks and locusts Daryl Bem, which reported evidence of http://tinyurl.com/rzxcxqb ‘The Associated Press published a pre-cognition. In an insightful talk, Chris walks us through the lessons he Meanwhile: From ‘Right Wing Watch: story early Thursday morning using learned from his experience, and A Project for the American Way’: reporting from Chinese-based Ningbo comments on broader issues with ‘Right-wing pastor Perry Stone hosted Evening News that Chinese authorities unfortunately routine, suboptimal a “Firehouse Prayer” meeting at his were deploying 100,000 ducks to research practices.’ At: church in Cleveland, Tennessee, Pakistan to help combat the locust http://tinyurl.com/ttgop5e Thursday night that was dedicated to swarms plaguing the country. Outlets waging spiritual warfare against the around the world picked the ducks vs. Also: ‘Sign-up to participate in the coronavirus outbreak through prayer locusts battle up before AP amended Transparent Psi Project. The primary and intercession. During the service, its reporting to note “questions were aim of our project is to develop and Stone proclaimed that the COVID-19 raised” about the Chinese report. Well, test new methodologies that would virus is a demonic attempt to kill we have answers. And folks, I’m here make it possible to carrying out elderly Americans who won’t accept to inform you all that no mighty duck completely transparent, highly credible the Mark of the Beast so socialism can army is headed to Pakistan to help research. These methodologies are take over this nation. Stone claimed defeat the destructive reign of evil implemented in a large scale fully that in the Bible, the Israelites were locusts.’ transparent replication of Bem’s (2011) attacked by the Amalekites, who https://tinyurl.com/tnfhuuu Experiment 1. The detailed description of the project can be found (below)’ “started killing the old, the weak, and Eugenics https://psyarxiv.com/uwk7y/ the feeble.” The demonic spirit of ‘In 2018, UCL’s President & Provost Amalek, Stone said, is behind the Professor Michael Arthur com- current coronavirus outbreak.’ At: ______UPCOMING EVENTS

Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, there are no upcoming meetings to be announced here.

18

Skeptical Intelligencer, Spring 2020

About ASKE Founded in 1997, ASKE is an association of people from all walks of life who wish to promote rational thinking and enquiry, particularly concerning unusual phenomena, and who are opposed to the proliferation and misuse of irrational and unscientific ideas and practices. This is our quarterly magazine and newsletter. To find out more, visit our website (address below). If you share our ideas and concerns why not join ASKE for just £10 a year? You can subscribe on our website or email: [email protected]

email: [email protected] website:

19