SI DIGEST 9-17-98
SkeptInq@aol.com
Thu, 17 Sep 1998 15:24:03 EDT
SKEPTICAL INQUIRER ELECTRONIC DIGEST
SEPTEMBER 17, 1998
SI Electronic Digest is the biweekly e-mail news update of the Committee for
the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP.) Visit
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and Reason. The Sept/Oct 1998 issue features a special section titled "What
are the Chances?" and includes articles on coincidence, numerology and
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This week's SI DIGEST includes:
--Skeptics Eagerly Await ABC News John Stossel Special "The Power of Belief"
--Highlights of CSICOP Print Coverage From Summer 1998
--New England Journal of Medicine Focuses on Alternative Medicine
--Latest Gulf War Syndrome Findings Describe Symptoms in Non-Veterans
ABC NEWS JOHN STOSSEL SPECIAL "THE POWER OF BELIEF"
Special airs Tuesday, Oct. 6, 1998 (10-11 p.m., EDT).
Segments will also air on ABC 20/20 Friday, Oct. 2 (10-11pm EDT)
and ABC Good Morning America Tuesday Oct. 6 (7-9am EDT)
Why do so many Americans consult astrologers, hunt for ghosts, fear
extraterrestrials, try to recall past lives, and seek miracle cures? From the
silliest superstitions to the strongest of faiths, belief in things for which
we have no evidence can have a huge impact on our minds, bodies and wallets.
Join ABCNEWS’ John Stossel for an hour of remarkable claims and surprising
explanations in "The Power of Belief."
Stossel explores the topics of firewalking, psychics, channeling, alternative
medicine, spiritualism, past life regression, voodoo curses, and therapeutic
touch. A 1969 graduate of Princeton University(NJ) with a B.A. in psychology,
Stossel received many kudos from skeptics for his past ABCNEWS special on
bogus scientific claims titled "Junk Science: What You Know That May Not Be
So." For more on Stossel go to:
<A HREF="http://www.abcnews.com/onair/2020/biographiesDetails/stossel_john_bio
_2020.html">
http://www.abcnews.com/onair/2020/biographiesDetails/stossel_john_bio_20</A>
CSICOP is proud to have donated many hours of staff time in working closely
with ABCNEWS over the past few months in providing research assistance, hefty
background materials from Skeptical Inquirer and various books, as well as
topic ideas and recommendations on experts. CSICOP's collaboration with
ABCNEWS is just the latest in a long history of actively working to bring
scientific examination of paranormal claims to television. Other recent
collaborations include working with NBC Dateline, PBS' Nova and PBS'
Scientific American Frontiers.
"I know junk science when I see it. So do you. But it takes CSICOP to
provide the data, the anecdotes, the information that helps us all to respond
to the barrage of unbelievable garbage that regularly assaults us."----- Leon
Lederman, Nobel laureate
HIGHLIGHTS OF CSICOP PRINT COVERAGE FROM SUMMER 1998
The following are a few summaries and citations for print coverage of CSICOP
in newspapers and magazines from summer 1998. CSICOP is the world media's
leading source for scientific criticism of the paranormal and pseudoscience.
CSICOP fields nearly 1,000 press inquiries a year from around the world
translating into thousands of print and electronic news stories. CSICOP
offers the media nearly 200 prestigious fellows, consultants, and others from
the academies of science and social science that bring scientific expertise
and insight to extraordinary claims.
For more information, contact Matt Nisbet at 716-636-1425 X219.
--"Fate... or Blind Chance? What Seems Like Eerie Predestination Is Merely
Coincidence"
Washington Post "Horizon: The Learning Section" 9/9/98
Bruce Martin, Special to the Post
The Post reprints Martin's cover article from the Sept./Oct. '98 issue of SI
titled "Coincidences: Remarkable or Random?"
-- "Call It Freedom? Or Beyond the Fringe? Activity at Temple's Center for
Frontier Science is the Target of a Columnist"
Philadelphia Inquirer 8/31/98
Faye Flam, Staff Writer
Lengthy article measures reaction to SI columnist Martin Gardner's criticism
of Temple University in his Sept./Oct. '98 column titled "What's Going On at
Temple University?" CSICOP fellow and Temple mathematician John Allen Paulos
comments on the Center for Frontier Science that "It's been like the scandal
of the lobotomized cousin up in the attic." Reporter Flam writes that Gardner
finds the articles distributed by the Center for Frontier Science not to be
science but pseudoscience.
-- "Audrey Santo, Miracle Child"
The Independent, UK 8/26/98
Joseph Gallivan, Staff writer
Gallivan reports to the UK on the Audrey Santos miracle claims originating
from Worcester, MA. SI columnist and CSICOP Senior Research Fellow Joe Nickell
is quoted extensively. "Besides the fact that crediting an idol with animism
is idolatry, which the church condemns, I think it's grossly unfair that the
burden of proof should be on the rest of us. I just hope the church does a
proper job of investigating this latest one. My bet is that if I could take
control over one of Audrey's icons it would immediately dry up."
--"Racionais S.A. Ceticos se reunum em congressos para combater os misticos
que acreditam que o mundo vai acabar no final do milenoio"
Revista da Folha, Brazil 8/23/98
Popular Brazilian magazine Revista features a nine-page cover story on the
World Skeptics Congress held in Heidelberg, Germany, July 23-26. Paul Kurtz is
pictured on the front cover with photos inside of CSICOP members and
conference presenters Joe Nickell, Dave Thomas and Alan Hale. (In portuguese)
--"Skeptic Saturnalia: Rejecting Dire Doomsday Predictions, Conference-goers
Say the Real Danger Lies in Comets, Global Warming, Muddy Minds"
San Jose Mercury News 7/25/98
Charley Lindsey, Mercury Staff Writer
Reporter Lindsey traveled across nearly two continents and an ocean to cover
the World Skeptics Congress in Germany. His second article on the conference
describes Paul Kurtz's opening address, presentations by astronomers Alan Hale
and James McGaha, and Bible Code-breaker Dave Thomas.
--"The Truth Isn't In There"
Baltimore City Paper 7/22/98
Cyberpunk columnist Joab Jackson
Jackson devotes his much-talked-about column to CSICOP's take on The X-Files
and corresponding newsgroup reaction from the fringes of the Internet. "With
The X-Files science is continually shown in a negative light" comments Public
Relations Director Matt Nisbet. The CSICOP website address is featured.
--"Panel Says Some UFO Reports Worthy of Study"
Science 7/3/98
David Kestenbaum
In the "News of the Week" section, Science covers the Journal for Scientific
Exploration's (JSE) mystery-mongering report on UFO research. SI Editor
Kendrick Frazier and CSICOP fellow Robert Park are quoted in response.
"Kendrick Frazier, editor of the Skeptical Inquirer, worries that the report
will unjustly legitimize UFO research. Some of the scientists who organized
the workshop have a record of enthusiasm for these exotic topics."
--"Exposers of Fraud in Need of Exposure"
San Jose Mercury News 7/20/1998
Charley Lindsey, Staff Writer
Lindsey's first of two articles featuring the World Skeptics Congress in
Heidelberg, Germany. The article explores the make-up of CSICOP and SI
readership, enlists comments from CSICOP friends and detractors, and focuses
on the goal of broadening skepticism's appeal. The article quotes CSICOP
fellows Glenn Seaborg, Andrew Fraknoi and Eugenie Scott.
--"Some Swear by Animal Psychics; Pay Them Well"
Associated Press 7/6/98
Tara Bradley-Steck, AP Writer
In a feature on psychics that purport to be able to read the thoughts of
pets, Steck quotes CSICOP Public Relations Director Matt Nisbet in response.
After warning against practitioners with a profit motive, Nisbet comments that
"they feed on the credulousness and gullibility of the American people."
--"X-Files Misses Extraordinary Chance to Highlight Science"
Miami Herald Commentary 6/19/98
Matt Nisbet, CSICOP Public Relations Director
Nisbet contributes a commentary article criticizing The X-Files for its
negative portrayal of science. (Also printed by the Buffalo News and by
MSNBC.com.)
--New York Times Science Section Q&A
New York Times 6/2/98
"Is spontaneous human combustion real?" asks NY Times Science in its popular
weekly Q&A section. "There is not any scientific evidence whatsoever that any
person ever spontaneously combusted, and no scientifically known means by
which it could happen" answers CSICOP Senior Research Fellow and SI columnist
Joe Nickell.
--"Ghostbusters"
Forbes Magazine 5/18/98
Technology columnist Joseph R. Garber
Garber explains the difference between science and pseudoscience while citing
CSICOP as a source for valid information. "To help you on your way, here's a
quick guide to voices of reason in a world of loonies. First stop, the
granddaddy of them all: the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of
Claims of the Paranormal. Headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y. and boasting a board
awash with Nobel laureates, CSICOP has been debunking spooks, psychic frauds
and charlatans of every hue for almost 25 years."
--"Outer Limits: A Lone Voice In the Desert Lures 10 Million Listeners"
Sunday Washington Post 5/29/98
Marc Fisher, Staff Writer
Lengthy article on radio talk show host Art Bell whose program centers on
paranormal claims such as aliens, government cover-ups, and crop circles.
CSICOP's Robert Baker is quoted from his article in the March 1998 Skeptical
Briefs. "The plague of pompous pieties, platitudes and propaganda never
ceases" says Baker.
--"To Large Following, Medium's Ability Is No Small Feat"
Dallas Morning News 5/6/98 circulation 536,002
Bill Marvel, Staff Writer
The article outlines claims and anecdotes made by "psychic medium" James Van
Praagh. CSICOP Senior Research Fellow Joe Nickell says that cold readings are
really just "an artful way of fishing for information while watching a person
for clues."
--"Monster of the Tub"
Discover Magazine
April 1998
Dick Teresi, science writer, co-author of the God Particle
Article discusses "Champ," a Loch-Ness monster type animal claimed to be
found in Vermont's Lake Champlain. Sightings of the monster are said to be
explained by a seiche (large standing wave) in the lake which might bring logs
and other debris to the surface. CSICOP Senior Research Fellow Joe Nickell
considers this a "plausible" explanation along with swimming deer. CSICOP
consultant and self-described "anticryptozoologist" Michael Dennett adds that
"there is a monster sighting for almost every body of water." Lake monsters
can sometimes be explained by lake currents uprooting debris from the bottom.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
In the September 16 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, editor
Marcia Angell, MD and Jerome P Kassirer, MD write in an editorial on
alternative medicine that "It is time for the scientific community to stop
giving alternative medicine a free ride. There cannot be two kinds of
medicine--conventional and alternative. There is only medicine that has been
adequately tested and medicine that has not, medicine that works and medicine
that may or may not work. Once a treatment has been tested rigorously, it no
longer matters whether it was considered alternative at the outset. If it is
found to be reasonably safe and effective, it will be accepted. But
assertions, speculation, and testimonials do not substitute for evidence.
Alternative treatments should be subjected to scientific testing no less
rigorous than that required for conventional treatments." For the full text
of the editorial go to:
<A HREF="http://www.nejm.org/content/1998/0339/0012/0839.asp">
http://www.nejm.org/content/1998/0339/0012/0839.asp</A>
In addition to the editorial, the Associated Press reports that the journal
also carries these reports on alternative medicine:
Doctors from Alberta Children's Hospital in Canada reported two cases in
which parents opted to treat their children's cancer with shark cartilage or
the herb astragalus instead of standard medicines. In both cases, the cancers
progressed, and one child died.
The California Department of Health Services tested 260 traditional Chinese
medicines and found one-third were contaminated with heavy metals, such as
lead and arsenic, or pharmaceuticals not listed on the labels.
Doctors from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey tested a
mixture of eight herbs, sold as PC-SPES, on men with prostate cancer. They
found it worked like estrogen, decreasing testosterone and cutting sex drive.
While not proving whether it relieves cancer, the study shows the herb blend
has potent hormonal effects.
The FDA described an episode, publicized last year, in which the herb
plantain was contaminated with a naturally occurring form of digitalis, a
heart stimulant that can cause cardiac arrest.
A group of doctors from Arizona reported the case of a man found driving
erratically after taking a supplement promoted as a way to increase growth
hormone. A letter from the manufacturer, RenewTrient Research of Cocoa Beach,
Fla., said the man ignored a label warning to take the substance only before
sleeping.
LATEST GULF WAR SYNDROME STUDY DESCRIBES SYMPTOMS IN NON-VETS
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, the Washington Post reported that epidemiologists
from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta
surveyed four Air Force units in 1995 and found that 45 percent of Gulf War
veterans had chronic physical complaints. However, about 15 percent of
soldiers who had never been deployed to the Gulf had the same problems, the
researchers found. Results of the study were published in Tuesday's Journal
of the American Medical Association.
"It is clear that the distribution of cases among (Gulf War) veterans and
non-deployed personnel in this study cannot easily be explained by risk
factors unique to Southwest Asia," the researchers concluded. Some think that
Gulf War syndrome represents the usual health problems in the population that
have been magnified by widespread attention to a "mystery" illness. (For a
good discussion of this possible "hysteria" see Elaine Showalter's 1997 book
Hystories)