December 2019 NMSR Reports, Vol.25, No. 12 www.nmsr.org Page 1

NMSR Reports, David E. Thomas, Editor, 801 Fitch Ave., Socorro, NM 87801 © 2019 have the answers spoon-fed in DECEMBER MEETING: from the start, and are not NEW MEXICANS FOR SCIENCE capable of finding truly AND REASON will hear innovative solutions. This invalid argument is based on the Dave Thomas simple “Weasel” demonstration on “The War of the Weasels: How in Richard Dawkin’s 1987 book The Blind Watchmaker. Dawkins showed that a random an Intelligent Design Theorist was process (like monkeys banging on typewriters) Outfoxed by a Genetic Algorithm.” would never produce a detailed message like the th line “Methinks it is like a 7:00 PM December 11 , 2019 weasel” from Hamlet. ==>CNM MAIN CAMPUS, However, when cumulative selection was introduced into Student Resource Center<== the process (via choosing the closest candidate ==>Room 204<== for the “weasel” phrase to be the starting point for the next round), the process converges to the Bring a friend! target phrase in just a few dozen rounds. Because Genetic Algorithms demonstrate the FUTURE MEETINGS ANNOUNCED problem-solving power of evolution, creationists December 11th, 2019 NMSR Meeting: must deny them, and they all say that all such Dave Thomas, on “The War of procedures need the answers to be provided to them. Dave will discuss his development of the Weasels: How an Intelligent Design solutions to the Steiner problem, and how they Theorist was Outfoxed by a Genetic clearly refute the creationist “target” attack. Algorithm.” Join us at 7:00 PM December 11th, 2019, Dave Thomas will discuss CNM MAIN CAMPUS, Student Resource the creationist assault on Center, Room 204. Genetic Algorithms, a class th of computer programs that January 8 , 2020 NMSR emulates evolutionary Meeting: processes to solve difficult Professor Peter Fawcett, UNM problems, and to design Earth & Planetary Sciences elaborate devices and drugs. Creationists of all department chair, on “The varieties (including Intelligent Design Paleoclimate Records of New proponents) claim that all such programs must Mexico.” 7PM January 8th, 2020. December 2019 NMSR Reports, Vol.25, No. 12 www.nmsr.org Page 2 New Mexicans for Science & Reason PUZZLE TIME! (NMSR) [Please send solutions to Dave Thomas at: [email protected], or at NMSR is a non-profit group with the goals of 801 Fitch Ave., Socorro NM 87801.] promoting science, the , rational thinking, Cyber-Cypher: DECEMBER PUZZLE and critical examination of dubious or extraordinary claims. NMSR meets at 7 PM on the second Wednesday of (Submitted by Dave Thomas) each month, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at CNM’s The following letters are a simple substitution cypher. If Student Resource Center, room 204 (@ Richard Barr R stands for L, R will stand for L everywhere. Your Boardroom). NMSR Reports is its official newsletter. Cyber-Cypher Clue: Clue? Oh, well - if you must, see p. 2. NMSR officers: Dave Thomas, President "YCBHZHL, TGQHRAQTAT 801 Fitch Ave., Socorro, NM 87801 [email protected] FINQA AYHW GFRRCA OH TMLH John Covan, Vice-President BYHAYHL AYH HFLAY'T [email protected] Debbie Thomas, Treasurer AHNXHLFAMLH QT LQTQRS IMH 3205 Alcazar NE, Albuq., NM 87110 [email protected] AC GWGPQGFP XLCGHTTHT, CL Eddy Jacobs, Resident Neutron Generator [email protected] BYHAYHL YMNFRT FLH Mark Fraser CNM Sponsor QREPMHRGQRS QA." - IHZQR [email protected] John Geohegan, Past President R M R H T [email protected] Kim Johnson, Industrial Physicist SUPER SECRET WORD! [email protected] Marilyn Savitt-Kring, Science Mom However you prefer to do the cypher itself (above or below), simply duplicate those actions on the Membership: $25/year (hardcopy newsletter), or $15/year alphabetized row of cypher letters below. You’ll build an (downloadable PDF), make your check payable to answer key, and you’ll also reveal - the Super Secret NMSR, send to treasurer (Debbie Thomas). Word! NMSR Advisors: • Mark Boslough, ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Physicist (Impacts, Climate Change, Global Warming). Sandia National Labs. NOVEMBER CYPHER SOLUTION • Kendrick Frazier "SCIENCE IS THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE, AND IF Editor, Skeptical Inquirer YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN SCIENCE, THEN YOU'RE • John Geissman HOLDING EVERYBODY BACK." - BILL NYE Professor of Paleomagnetism Esteemed November Code Crackers: Mike • Alan Hale Arms*, Terry Lauritsen* and Austin Moede*! Southwest Institute for Space Research *Secret Word: "FOLK GRAB DESTINY" • Randy Thornhill Professor of Biology, UNM Cyber-Cypher Clue: W = Y, Z = V. Need more Secret Word Cryptograms? Bonus Puzzle Clue: 2C1, 4C2, etc. New puzzles every week at WANTED: READER ARTICLES & COMMENTARY www.nmsr.org/SocorroStumper.h tm Got something to share with NMSR members? Send it in! ATTN: Dave Thomas, Editor, NMSR Reports. REMEMBER, our next NMSR meeting is at 7 PM on WEDS., DECEMBER 11th, 2019, at Student Resource Center, room 204 at CNM! December 2019 NMSR Reports, Vol.25, No. 12 www.nmsr.org Page 3 October Bonus: November 13th, 2019 NMSR Meeting: “Fantastic Football Picks” Ben Radford, on “The Long Alissa and Greg are Island Medium.” participating in an office Ben Radford's topic for November was NFL pool. This week, with TLC's " Medium" Theresa Caputo, 14 of 16 games played so who appeared in New Mexico, at the Isleta far, they are tied for first Resort & Casino, on October 26th. Ben is deputy place, with 12 correct picks editor of Skeptical Inquirer science magazine, each. For the remaining two games in the week, Greg and a Research Fellow with the non-profit and Alissa have chosen educational organization the Committee for different teams for both Skeptical Inquiry. He has written numerous games. books and articles on skeptical investigations and The December Bonus: (A) What is the probability the . that Greg and Alissa will be tied at week’s end? Steve Brügge started the evening with a (B) If there were four games remaining, and Alissa demo of clever paper and Greg picked different teams for all four, what is cutting wizardry. Ben the probability that Greg and Alissa will be tied at then introduced his week’s end? topic, remarking that he (Extra Credit) If there were n games remaining (n = has been investigating any positive even number), and Alissa and Greg like and picked different teams for all n, what is the for 20 years. These mediums are performers; probability that Greg and Alissa will be tied at their readings are carefully improvised acts of week’s end? necromancy and . (Assume that overtimes will be used until a clear One of Ben’s first encounters with winner emerges for each football game; no ties allowed.) mediums was at a place called “Inspiration Stump,” where psychics (once) gave free December Bonus : “Vive la Resistance” Submitted by Dave Thomas readings. Two to four mediums were present, and it was open to the public. Ben observed that the in-person dynamics were important, and subtle nuances were supreme. Some of the mediums performed better than others. Sometimes the clues were fairly obvious; for example, one medium told a black obese woman that she was suffering The November Bonus: if the resistances R in the from diabetes. circuit above all equal 15 ohms, what is the resistance between contacts A and B? Ben’s main interest in psychics are the “ detectives” who claim to be able to find Answer: 11 Ohms. missing or murdered persons. These are the most Congrats: Eiichi Fukushima (NM), Harold H. Gaines “toxic,” in Ben’s opinion. Theresa Caputo, the (KS), Allen Robnett (NM), Keith Gilbert (NM), Gene Aronson (NM). “”, is in a different class, and Ben suspects that she and many other mediums actually believe in their own abilities. December 2019 NMSR Reports, Vol.25, No. 12 www.nmsr.org Page 4 Caputo’s performances are a blend of Caputo showed up 15 minutes late at showmanship, psychology, and scam. Ben thinks Route 66. After the national anthem, and a clip that she, like many other psychics, believes her from her TV show, she “read” 12 people (more powers are genuine. Medium John Edward is women then men). 3,000 people attended, at $90 most likely a scammer; when Ben used a hidden apiece. Caputo probably earned $100,000 for the microphone to tape evening. She has a Martyr complex, and feels she Edwards, the psychic signed is a giver, resolving conflicts. And her audience the same book, and had no eats up every minute of her show. clue as to its real contents. In NMSR thanks Ben Radford for a riveting Caputo’s case, she presentation. “discovered” her powers DUES check the date on your mailing label. If it's time for you when she attended a session to renew, or to make a contribution, please make your check payable to NMSR, and send it to Debbie Thomas, NMSR by “spiritual leader” Pat Treasurer, 3205 Alcazar NE, Albuquerque., NM 87110 Longo, who said Caputo had Name ______the Gift. Caputo accepted Longo’s Address______pronouncement. Now, her “spiritual energy” Membership $25 per annum (hard copy newsletter), or shows her signs and symbols, which she $15 per annum (online newsletter). interprets for her audience. She adjusts her Fall Skeptiverse Haiku! interpretation of the “signs” based on audience feedback. Since her listeners are themselves by Keith Thomas believers, they reinforce and ratify Caputo’s Will our border states The science suggests readings, which feed back into her self- Get to vote/On the snake and That vitamins be taken confidence as a medium. Nothing is ever Gator border moat? With a pinch of salt. falsified. It’s a perfect storm of how to generate Which physics concepts How many buildings, belief in psychic powers. Can help us to comprehend Triskaidekaphobicly, Ben said psychics use several techniques The nothingburger? Hide their thirteenth floor? (some unconsciously). These include Cold Science trumps beliefs; No Bio-Uplinked Readings (using obvious clues like age, diabetes, Should President Trump’s beliefs Long Life Sonic Harmonic Get to trump science? Immersion Treatments! etc.), Hot Readings (active data collection before the show; see, for example, Randi’s article “Peter The NMSR e-mail list is fun! It’s an e-mail list with news Popoff Reaches Heaven Via 35.19 MHz”), announcements of interest to NMSR members, discussions Retrofitting (wherein the audience members about news of the times, and more. To join, send a request to [email protected]. make the psychic’s “signs” fit in) , and Delayed Confirmation (“You’ll see, later on.”). Thanks to: John Covan, Eddy Jacobs, Debbie Thomas, Keith Thomas and all our Puzzlers!