DOCSLIB.ORG

Where Meeting Awesome Skeptics Is As Easy As

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Where Meeting Awesome Skeptics Is As Easy As March April pages_SI new design masters 2/1/12 12:48 PM Page 15 CONFERENCE REPORT] along and even following the parade. We Where Meeting hope to have the same public reaction to our critical thinking! Awesome Skeptics This is what CSICon is about: showing Is As Easy As that skepticism is not only important but also fun. Saying ‘Hello’ The party included music, dancing, jam- JULIA LAVARNWAY balaya, and Halloween costumes. Blake Smith, of the IIG in Atlanta, won the best r e skeptically themed costume award for his ven before CSICon 2011 in New l g n E “Occam’s Shaving Cream” outfit. E Orleans officially began, I was al- . D n Unlike in other conference reports, the ready having great conversations with a i r B : cuisine deserves a mention too. CSICon de- skeptics from all over the country. While o t o h parted from the usual bland conference fare, helping at the registration table I met p offering crab cakes with a spicy remoulade, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER readers and sup- eggs benedict with andouille, and an ice porters from as close as a few blocks cream buffet with freshly made waffle cones. away from the conference hotel to as The conference concluded with CSI’s an- far away as the United Kingdom. It nual Houdini séance hosted by Joe Nickell. was amazing to see people from so The session included talks by cold-reading many places convening in one place to expert Ray Hyman and psychic-buster Mas- celebrate reason, science, and skeptical simo Polidoro. Unfortunately but unsurpris- inquiry. ingly, Houdini didn’t turn up, yet again. It sure is something to be surrounded y a Disappointed that the festivities were by so many like-minded people. Dorion w n r a over, enthusiastic skeptics continued the Cable, who authored a great write-up v a L a i revelry with a post-conference tour of the on CSICon 2011 on her Detroit-based l u J : beautiful flora and fauna of the Louisiana blog (http://bit.ly/CSIConMCB), com - o t o h swamps and marshes. men ted that she recalls no place other p In general, the conference was a wonder- than CSICon that people have actually ful opportunity to learn and share learning, recog nized her Flying Spaghetti Mon- reconnect with old friends, and establish ster necklace. But even some non–con- new friendships. Attendees left the confer- ference-goers had their interest piqued ence armed with new information and per- by the high concentration of skeptics. spectives, reinvigorated to step outside of One hotel employee remarked, “You the conference hall and take skepticism to guys have the guy from the X-Files and the streets. Bill Nye the Science Guy? My nerd self This was a highly successful and refresh- just freaked out.” ingly different conference. Nego tiations are The first session after opening re - k a s already underway for next year. It is ru- marks on Thursday was “The In vesti - s I m mored that CSICon 2012 is being planned gators” panel with stellar talks from Joe a d A : o to be even bigger and better and that CSI- Nickell, Massimo Polidoro, Karen Stol- t o h Con is poised to become a preeminent lznow, and Ben Radford on various in- p skeptical conference for years to come. vestigations they’ve undertaken. Be cause the topic of women in the skeptics Karen Stollznowis a CSI fellow and member of the CSI Executive Council. A linguist and researcher at the Uni- movement is of particular interest to me, versity of California, Berkeley, she also cohosts CFI’s I was happy that I was able to ask Karen Point of Inquiry podcast, writes CSI’s online “The Stollznow during the Q&A session after Naked Skeptic” column, and is a SKEPTICAL INQUIRER her talk if she has noticed any advan- contributing editor. tages or disadvantages to being a female Richard Saunders gets help from SI Deputy Editor Ben Radford during his talk on Power Balance; James r e l g “The Amazing” Randi conjures an origami Pigasus; Indre Viskontas and Karen Stollznow take a break from n E . D skepticizing to smile for the camera; SI columnist Steven Novella tries his luck in the costume contest, n a i emceed by Skepchick Rebecca Watson, with his Dr. Horrible costume. r B : o t o h p Skeptical Inquirer | March/April 2 012 15 March April pages_SI new design masters 2/2/12 2:54 PM Page 16 don’t want to talk to you anymore.” CSI Fellow Richard Saunders, Life It was my conversations at CSICon about women in Member of the Australian Skeptics and skepticism over dinner with Karen [Stollznow], the sole skeptical judge on Australia’s Miracle Detectives star Indre Viskontas, and CFI psychic-seeking reality show The One, was another delight to meet. I think ebul- Communications Director Michelle Blackley that in spired lient is the best word to describe Richard. me to get more involved in the movement. You’d be hard up to meet a more enthu- siastic and personable skeptic. Richard not only allowed me to film him creating a JREF Pigasus (http://bit.ly/Saunders paranormal investigator—a minority own talks are engaging and entertain- Origami), he also invited me to appear within a minority. She answered that she ing. on The Skeptic Zone podcast (http:// hasn’t noticed her gender making a big Another highlight of the conference bit.ly/skepticzone158). His Sunday difference either way but that many of was once again seeing CSI Fellow James presentation debunking Power Balance the people she meets tend to assume she Randi—they sure don’t call him “The bands, in which he had some help from is a believer. Amazing” for nothing. His talk during SI Deputy Editor Ben Radford in the Meeting Karen after many years of the “Sleights of Mind” panel on Friday form of audience participation (http:// exchanging the occasional email was a was nothing short of inspiring. He re - bit.ly/powerbalancedemo), was a big conference highlight for me. As I gushed minded us all that no matter how much hit. (See also, “Power Balance Down on my Twitter page: “Finally met @karen pride we take in our skepticism and crit- and Out in Australia,” SI, September/ stollznow in person! She’s just as awe- ical thinking skills, every one of us can October 2011 and “Power Balance some as I knew she’d be.” It was my con- fall prey to tricks and smoke and mirrors: Bracelets a Bust in Tests,” SI, January/ versations at CSICon about women in “I don’t tell you how the tricks are done skepticism over dinner with Karen, Mir- for a very simple reason . I want you to February 2012). acle Detectives star Indre Viskontas, and know that you can be deceived.” One of My vote for “quote of the conference” CFI Communications Director Michelle my very favorite conference keepsakes is came from SI Editor Ken Frazier during Blackley that in spired me to get more a picture I was able to snap of Randi the close of his opening re marks on involved in the movement and to start “conjuring” CSI Fellow Richard Saun- Thursday: “One of the secrets we’ve kept the blog We Are SkeptiXX (http://bit.ly/ ders’s famous origami Pigasus, the mas- from the public all these years is that skeptixx). cot of the James Randi Educational skepticism is not just important, it’s also Phil Plait’s talk on the “Death from Foundation (JREF). fun!” CSICon 2011 in New Orleans cer- the Skies!” panel on Friday had me in Another panel I really enjoyed was tainly proved the truth of Ken’s aphorism. stitches. “How do you keep [asteroids Saturday’s “Skepticism and the Media,” Where else but CSICon would I have from hitting the Earth]?” he asked his which featured William B. Davis of X- had the opportunity to have incredibly captivated audience. “Well, if you ask Files fame, Miracle Detec tives star Indre interesting conversations with luminaries Hollywood . you will get the wrong an- Viskontas, and New York Times science in the skeptics movement while fast- swer.” After showing a clip from the hor- writer Sandra Blakeslee. Led by CFI dancing with the “big boss,” CFI presi- ribly inaccurate 1998 movie Arma ged don, Communica tions Director Michelle dent and CEO Ron Lindsay; rockin’ out Plait pointed out that perhaps the most Blackley, it was the first CSI/CSICOP to the Heathens (led by Inde pendent In- ludicrous detail in the scene is the fact conference panel with a female modera- vestigations Group founder Jim Under- that it is violently raining on the asteroid tor. After Davis’s engaging talk in which down); eating ice cream with the emi- as Bruce Willis attempts to get the bomb he admitted he once unknowingly agreed nent Massimo Polidoro; and admiring into place. What’s wrong with that? Just to moderate a panel of 9/11 Truthers— the awesomeness that was Steven the little fact that asteroids don’t have “You must do your homework!” he re- Novella’s Dr. Horrible costume for the their own atmospheres and therefore minded us—Indre Viskontas wondered “Smarti Gras” party? I will most defi- there is no weather on them. I was able aloud, “How can I follow Cancer Man? nitely be back at CSICon 2012, and I to talk with Plait for a couple minutes Well, at least I wore my cigarette pants.” hope to meet even more of you SI readers and compliment him on his ability to On a more serious note, she went on to and supporters there.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • In the Supreme Court of the United States
    NO. 17-_____ In the Supreme Court of the United States EDWARD LEWIS TOBINICK, MD, a Medical Corporation d/b/a INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL RECOVERY, INR PLLC, d/b/a INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL RECOVERY, EDWARD TOBINICK, M.D., Petitioners, –v– STEVEN NOVELLA, M.D., Respondent. On Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI CULLIN A. O’BRIEN, ESQ. COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS CULLIN O’BRIEN LAW, P.A. 6541 NE 21ST WAY FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33308 (561) 676-6370 [email protected] SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 SUPREME COURT PRESS ♦ (888) 958-5705 ♦ BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS i QUESTIONS PRESENTED In our age of the Internet, false disparagement against individuals and businesses can be lucrative. An Internet entrepreneur can funnel web-traffic for profit, through sophisticated uses of disparaging “click baiting,” “Internet trolling,” hyperlinks, hypertext, clickable banner ads, podcasts, Facebook, Instagram, email listservs and other systems. Individuals seeking legal redress from false Internet defamation can confront state court anti-SLAPP procedures that accelerate adjudication of the defendant’s “actual malice.” In contrast, businesses seeking federal court protection from false Internet disparagement under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(1)(B), are entitled to the summary adjudication safeguards of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. The questions presented to this Court are: 1. When a defendant is sued for both common law defamation and business disparagement under the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a)(1)(B), does the application of state civil court anti-SLAPP procedure irreconcilably conflict with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56? 2.
    [Show full text]
  • CFI-Annual-Report-2018.Pdf
    Message from the President and CEO Last year was another banner year for the Center the interests of people who embrace reason, for Inquiry. We worked our secular magic in a science, and humanism—the principles of the vast variety of ways: from saving lives of secular Enlightenment. activists around the world who are threatened It is no secret that these powerful ideas like with violence and persecution to taking the no others have advanced humankind by nation’s largest drugstore chain, CVS, to court unlocking human potential, promoting goodness, for marketing homeopathic snake oil as if it’s real and exposing the true nature of reality. If you medicine. are looking for humanity’s true salvation, CFI stands up for reason and science in a way no look no further. other organization in the country does, because This past year we sought to export those ideas to we promote secular and humanist values as well places where they have yet to penetrate. as scientific skepticism and critical thinking. The Translations Project has taken the influential But you likely already know that if you are reading evolutionary biology and atheism books of this report, as it is designed with our supporters in Richard Dawkins and translated them into four mind. We want you not only to be informed about languages dominant in the Muslim world: Arabic, where your investment is going; we want you to Urdu, Indonesian, and Farsi. They are available for take pride in what we have achieved together. free download on a special website. It is just one When I meet people who are not familiar with CFI, of many such projects aimed at educating people they often ask what it is we do.
    [Show full text]
  • 802 Transcript
    "BEYOND SCIENCE?" SHOW 802 Teaser Episode Open Water, Water Everywhere Aliens Have Landed New Energy Age Paper Personality Healing Touch TEASER ALAN ALDA I'd like you to meet a new acquaintance of mine. Some people think he, or she, or it, just recently arrived from outer space. Others aren't so sure. On this edition of Scientific American Frontiers, we're going to try to find out what's real in science, and what's not. ALAN ALDA (Narration) We'll ask if balancing a patient's energy pattern can lead to healing. We'll challenge dowsers to find water, and to try our rigorous test. We'll see if, by putting pen to paper, we give ourselves away. And we'll look for zero point energy -- is it real, or is it a dream? ALAN ALDA I'm Alan Alda, join me now as we venture into the realm of pseudoscience. back to top INTRO ALAN ALDA (Narration) We've asked DIANNA PAZ to visit a palm reader. She doesn't know it, but the reader -- who's a University of Oregon psychology professor -- says palm reading is pure fiction. And Dianna doesn't believe in it herself. But something strange is about to happen -- Dianna's going to become a believer. RAY HYMAN You have a hard time hanging onto money. You have spaces between your fingers and... ALAN ALDA (Narration) Ray Hyman gently raises common topics, like money or career, on the lookout for give-away responses -- a nod here, or a word there. RAY HYMAN ..
    [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]
  • Comet Elenin Will Not Destroy Earth This Year DAVID MORRISON
    SI Sept. Oct 11_SI new design masters 7/26/11 1:09 PM Page 5 [ NEWS AND COMMENT Comet Elenin Will Not Destroy Earth This Year DAVID MORRISON y r o In the middle of the gathering Internet t a v r fear about the doomsday of December e s b O 12, 2012, there have been two new apoc- n i a t alyptic distractions. First there was a n u o M widely reported prediction by fundamen- e l b talist preacher Harold Camp ing (the a T L P founder of “family radio” in Cali fornia) J / s r that the end of the world would begin on e m o S May 21, 2011. Camp ing claim ed that on d n a this date the good people would be trans- , s k c ported to heaven in what is called “the i H , n Rapture.” It now seems clear that this did a m s not happen or that the number of good s i e people is vanishingly small. W In addition, there is growing fear of Comet Elenin on May 5, 2011, when it was 170 million miles from Earth. It is nothing unusual and no dramatic events are expected. newly discovered Comet Elenin, which is variously predicted to collide with Earth exerted strong gravitational or electro- Elenin. Some websites have substituted in October 2011 or to in duce massive magnetic effects on our planet. When photos of the much brighter comet Wild earthquakes and pole shifts from its grav- scientists pointed out that this little 2 and called it Elenin.
    [Show full text]
  • FDA, FTC, and the Regulation of Pseudoscience
    In Pursuit of Science-based Regulation: FDA, FTC, and the Regulation of Pseudoscience What does “natural” mean? The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has posed this seemingly innocuous question to the public in a recent request for information.1 Aside from it being a truly interesting, if overly philosophical question to ask the public, the move is emblematic of a recent trend, both from the (“FDA”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), to regulate based on some articulable scientific premise, rather than allowing various actors to make wide-ranging claims about their products without repercussion. 2 In particular, the agencies have begun targeting dietary supplement manufacturers, homeopathic remedies, and most recently, Lumosity. Lumosity and the FTC Lumosity advertises copiously on networks and websites that include “CNN, Fox News, the History Channel, National Public Radio, Pandora, Sirius XM, and Spotify.” 3 Created by “Lumos Labs,” Lumosity is a web-based product consisting of 40 games, which Lumosity claimed that, when played “10 to 15 minutes three or four times a week could help users achieve their ‘full potential in every aspect of life.’”4 The FTC got involved because Lumos Labs claimed playing Lumosity’s games would 1) improve performance on everyday tasks, in school, at work, and in athletics; 2) delay age- related cognitive decline and protect against mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease; and 3) reduce cognitive impairment associated with health conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain
    [Show full text]
  • Palmistry: Science Or Hand-Jive?
    the Skeptical Inquirer PALMISTRY: SCIENCE OR HAND-JIVE? SRI GELLER TEST / LOCHNESS TREE TRUNK / A PILOT'S UFO WHY SKEPTICS ARE SKEPTICAL VOL. VII No. 2 WINTER 191 Published by the Committee lor the Scientific Investigation of :of the Paranormal Skeptical Inquirer THE SKEPTICAL. INQUIRER is the official journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Editor Kendrick Frazier. Editorial Board George Abell. Martin Gardner. Ray Hyman. Philip J. Klass, Paul Kurtz, James Randi. Consulting Editors James E. Alcock, Isaac Asimov, William Sims Bainbridge. John Boardman, Milbourne Christopher. John R. Cole. Richard de Mille, C.E.M. Hansel, E.C. Krupp. James Oberg. Robert Sheaffer. Assistant Editor Doris Hawley Doyle. Production Editor Belsy Offermann. Business Manager Lynette Nisbet. Office Manager Mary Rose Hays Staff Idelle Abrams. Judy Hays. Alfreda Pidgeon Cartoonist Rob Pudim The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Paul Kurtz, Chairman; philosopher. State University of New York at Buffalo. Lee Nisbet, Executive Director; philosopher, Medaille College. Fellows of the Committee: George Abed, astronomer, UCLA; James E. Alcock, psychologist, York Univ., Toronto; Isaac Asimov, chemist, author; Irving Biederman, psychologist. SUNY at Buffalo; Brand Blanshard, philosopher, Yale; Bart J. Bok, astronomer. Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona; Bette Chambers, A.H.A.; Milbourne Christopher, magician, author; L. Sprague de Camp, author, engineer; Bernard Dixon, European Editor, Omni; Paul Edwards, philosopher. Editor, Encyclopedia of Philosophy; Charles Fair, author, Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading Univ., O.K.: Kendrick Frazier, science writer. Editor. THE SKEPTICAL. INQUIRER; Yves Galifret, Exec. Secretary, I'Union Rationaliste; Martin Gardner, author.
    [Show full text]
  • SECULAR HUMANISM with a PULSE: the New Activism from Confrontation to Community Service, Finding Ways to Engage
    FI AS C1_Layout 1 6/28/12 10:45 AM Page 1 RONALD A. LINDSAY: Humanism and Politics CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY August/September 2012 Vol. 32 No.5 SECULAR HUMANISM WITH A PULSE: The New Activism From Confrontation to Community Service, Finding Ways to Engage CHRIS MOONEY | ARTHUR CAPLAN | KATRINA VOSS P Z MYERS | SIKIVU HUTCHINSON 09 TOM FLYNN: Are LGBTs Saving Marriage? Published by the Council for Secular Humanism 7725274 74957 FI Aug Sept CUT_FI 6/27/12 4:54 PM Page 3 August/September 2012 Vol. 32 No. 5 CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY 20 Secular Humanism With A Pulse: 30 Grief Beyond Belief The New Activists Rebecca Hensler Introduction Lauren Becker 32 Humanists Care about Humans! Bob Stevenson 22 Sparking a Fire in the Humanist Heart James Croft 34 Not Enough Marthas Reba Boyd Wooden 24 Secular Service in Michigan Mindy Miner 35 The Making of an Angry Atheist Advocate EllenBeth Wachs 25 Campus Service Work Franklin Kramer and Derek Miller 37 Taking Care of Our Own Hemant Mehta 27 Diversity and Secular Activism Alix Jules 39 A Tale of Two Tomes Michael B. Paulkovich 29 Live Well and Help Others Live Well Bill Cooke EDITORIAL 15 Who Cares What Happens 56 The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: 4 Humanism and Politics to Dropouts? Enjoying Life without Illusions Ronald A. Lindsay Nat Hentoff by Alex Rosenberg Reviewed by Jean Kazez LEADING QUESTIONS 16 CFI Gives Women a Voice with 7 The Rise of Islamic Creationism, Part 1 ‘Women in Secularism’ Conference 58 What Jesus Didn’t Say A Conversation with Johan Braeckman Julia Lavarnway by Gerd Lüdemann Reviewed by Robert M.
    [Show full text]
  • Neurologica Blog » Why Are We Conscious?
    NeuroLogica Blog » Why Are We Conscious? http://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/why-are-we-conscious/ Home About The Author – Steven Novella, MD Topic Suggestions Feb 06 2017 Why Are We Conscious? Published by Steven Novella under Neuroscience Comments: 26 In Daniel Dennett’s latest book,From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds, Dennett explores a number of issues surrounding consciousness. I have not yet completed the book and so may come back to it again, but wanted to discuss one topic that Dennett covers – why are we conscious in the first place? Dennett makes a distinction between competence and comprehension. Competence is the ability to perform some task, while comprehension is understanding the task and the process. The former is unconscious, while the latter is conscious. This touches on Chalmers’ “P-zombie” problem – if we can imagine an organism that can do everything a human does without experiencing its own existence (a philosophical zombie), then why did consciousness evolve at all? There are several possible solutions to this problem. The first is that humans were “designed” to be conscious by whatever agent made us. This introduces unnecessary elements and contradicts established science, so I think we can set that aside. The second solution is that consciousness is an epiphenomenon. We don’t need to be conscious, but we evolved consciousness as an evolutionary accident. This may be true, but is unsatisfying as it just side-steps the question of what use is consciousness. The third solution, which I find compatible with the evidence and compelling, is that consciousness is inherent to the functioning of our brains and brings with it specific advantages.
    [Show full text]
  • Public Debate on Science Issues Myths of Child Psychology
    Superbug Crisis | Ten Tactics for Skepticism | Claims of Chi | Fake Bomb Detectors the Magazine for Science and Reason Vol. 41 No. 1 | January/February 2017 Public Debate on Project Science Greenglow Issues Creationism Myths of in Europe Child Psychology Doubt and American Fears Uncertainty Survey INTRODUCTORY PRICE U.S. and Canada $5.99 Skepticism Is Nonpartisan Published by the Center for Inquiry in association with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry Robyn E. Blumner, 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 Fellows James E. Al cock*, psy chol o gist, York Univ., Tor on to Mur ray Gell-Mann, pro fes sor of phys ics, San ta Fe In sti tute; Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA Mar cia An gell, MD, former ed i tor-in-chief, No bel lau re ate Lor en Pan kratz, psy chol o gist, Or e gon Health New Eng land Jour nal of Med i cine Thom as Gi lov ich, psy chol o gist, Cor nell Univ. Sci en ces Univ. Kimball Atwood IV, MD, physician; author; Newton, MA David H. Gorski, cancer surgeon and re searcher at Barbara Robert L. Park, professor of physics, Univ. of Maryland Steph en Bar rett, MD, psy chi a trist; au thor; con sum er ad vo cate, Ann Kar manos Cancer Institute and chief of breast surgery Jay M. Pasachoff, Field Memorial Professor of Al len town, PA section, Wayne State University School of Medicine.
    [Show full text]
  • The Skeptical Inquirer
    the Skeptical Inquirer Hypnosis and UFOs Schmidt's PK Experiments Deciphering Ancient America A Sense of the Ridiculous Published by the Commit tec for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormall VOL. V NO. 3 SPRING IW1 Skeptical inquirer * THE ZETETIC THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER (formerly THE ZETETIC) is the official journal of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Editor Kendrick Frazier. Editorial Board George Abell, Martin Gardner, Ray Hyman, Philip J. Klass, Paul Kurtz, James Randi. Consulting Editors James E. Alcock, Isaac Asimov, William Sims Bainbridge, John Boardman, Milbourne Christopher, John R. Cole, Richard de Mille, Eric J. Dingwall, C. E. M. Hansel, E. C. Krupp, James Oberg, Robert Sheaffer. Assistant Editor Doris Hawley Doyle. Production Editor Betsy Offermann. Business Manager Lynette Nisbet. Staff Mary Rose Hays, Leslie Kaplan, Maureen Hays. The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal Paul Kurtz, Chairman; philosopher, State University of New York at Buffalo. Lee Nisbet, Executive Director; philosopher, Medaille College. Fellows of the Committee: George Abell, astronomer, UCLA; James E. Alcock, psychologist, York Univ., Toronto; Isaac Asimov, chemist, author; Irving Biederman, psychologist, SUNY at Buffalo; Brand Blanshard, philosopher, Yale; Bart J. Bok, astronomer, Steward Observatory, Univ. of Arizona; Bette Chambers, A.H.A.; Milbourne Christopher, magician, author; Daniel Cohen, author; L. Sprague de Camp, author, engineer; Eric J. Dingwall, anthropologist, author; Bernard Dixon, European Editor, Omni; Paul Edwards, philosopher, Editor, Encyclopedia of Philosophy; Charles Fair, author; Antony Flew, philosopher, Reading Univ., U.K.; Kendrick Frazier, science writer, Editor, THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRER; Yves Galifret, Exec.
    [Show full text]
  • CFI Brochure
    Reason. Science. Secular Values. To make a better world, we need to use our heads and our hearts. To confront the challenges that face us as a planetary civilization, we need to use the tools of science and reason guided by com- passion and respect for the dignity of every individual. To move forward, we need to discard old superstitions, prejudices, and magical thinking and embrace facts, evidence, and critical thinking. It’s about more than whether or not God exists. It’s about more than whether ghosts roam among us, aliens hover above us, or psychics can see within us. The Center for Inquiry (CFI) strives to foster a society free of the dogmatic influence of religion and pseudoscience; a society inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment, the wonders of science, and the limitless potential of human intelligence and creativity; a society in which beliefs are not granted the same rights as people, where the freedom of expression is enjoyed by all, and all ideas are open to the scrutiny of reason. Secular government. Free inquiry. Critical thinking. Humanist values. This is the Center for Inquiry. The Center for Inquiry was founded at a critical moment in time... Seeking guidance through the crises of the tumultuous 1970s, many Americans looked to horoscopes, mystical gurus, spirits of the dead, super-advanced aliens, and countless other forms of pseudoscience, conspiracy theory, and the paranormal. Rationality was in dangerously short supply. In 1976, humanist philosopher Paul Kurtz brought together an unprecedented assembly of some of the greatest minds of the era to promote scientific inquiry and critical thinking.
    [Show full text]