[ the Last Laugh Benjamin Radford
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May June pages BOX_SI new design masters 3/29/12 9:05 AM Page 66 [ THE LAST LAUGH BENJAMIN RADFORD SKEPTICAL ANNIVERSARIES HIDDEN MESSAGES by Dave Thomas by Tim Farley The following letters are a simple substitution cipher. May 17 : In 1967, Tennessee repealed the Butler Act, under If R stands for L, it will do so everywhere. Solution is by trial which John Scopes had been prosecuted for teaching evolu - and error. Hint: Look for patterns in words; for example, the tion in 1925. scrambled phrase “JRXJ JRQ” might represent “THAT THE.” May 23 and 26 : In 1922, Arthur Conan Doyle spoke in Chicago PUZZLE on Spiritualism; years later in an interview, J.B. Rhine said at - tending these talks inspired his involvement in parapsychol - ogy. “ISG IXLOGRZ JE ISLI GPGXZ May 26 : In 1992, Sylvia Browne was indicted in a criminal complaint over an investment scheme, leading to her felony UXLJD KGMM RGPYIGR IY UG - conviction. MJGW JD ISG ECHGXDLICXLM JE June 16, 23, and 30 : In 1962, Rachel Carson’s controversial environmental book Silent Spring was first serialized in The New Yorker. L UXLJD KGMM YDG KLDDYI June 19 : In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Edward v. CEG IY TLFG MJWG XJKSGX YX Aguillard that states cannot require the teaching of creation - ism in public schools. GLEJGX YX SLHHJGX.” June 24 : In 1947, pilot Kenneth Arnold’s seminal UFO report leads to the coining of the term flying saucer (by a misquoting —FLZ DYMIG ETJIS newspaper reporter), influencing decades of UFO reports. Tim Farley is a research fellow with the James Randi Educational Foundation and created the website CLUE: O = G whatstheharm.net. ANSWER KEY As you decipher letters, keep track of them with the handy answer key below. If you've decided that R stands for L, simply write down an “L” above Hidden Messages Puzzle Contest or below the “R” in the alphabetized row below, just as you would for the Submit your solution by email to [email protected] cipher itself. This builds a handy, easy-to-use reference guide for you and will also reveal the "Super Secret Word,” a puzzle within a puzzle! or via postal mail to: Benjamin Radford The Last Laugh P.O. Box 3016 Corrales, NM 87048 Winner will be chosen at random from the first three correct A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z submissions received by both email and postal mail. PREVIOUS PUZZLE SOLUTION: “IT IS THE TENSION BETWEEN CREATIVITY AND SKEPTICISM THAT HAS PRODUCED THE STUNNING AND UNEXPECTED FINDINGS March/April 2012 Hidden Messages Puzzle Contest Winner: Adam Spontarelli OF SCIENCE.” — CARL SAGAN This issue's prize: A one-year subscription (or extension) to SKEPTICAL INQUIER . SUPER-SECRET WORD : AMBIDEXTROUSLY (Instructions: www.nmsr.org/secretword.htm) GET FUZZY BY DARBY CONLEY ©2009 Darby Conley. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK for UFS. All rights reserved. 66 Volume 36 Issue 3 | Skeptical Inquirer.