Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

[Barry Karr <SkeptInq@aol.com>]

 CSICOP In the News for January 2001

 (with some stragglers from December 2000)

 Ha'aretz Magazine (Tel Aviv, Israel)
 December 1, 2000
 "Abra kadabra and Geller sues again!"
 By Sara Leibovich-Dar

 Ha'aretz explores the letigious history of Uri Geller starting with his
 lawsuits against James Randi and CSICOP, then furniture manufacturer
 Ikea, and now Nintendo for its marketing of a Pokemon character that he
 alleges bears a resemblance to him.

 ***

 The Virginian-Pilot
 December 14, 2000
 "The Daily Break: Humbug!"
 By Roberta Vowell

 The Pilot reports on the paranormal investigations of Joe Nickell.

 ***

 Journal (Winston-Salem, NC)
 December 17, 2000
 "Ghosts? Maybe it comes down to bad gruel"
 By Kim Underwood

 Kim Underwood reviews Joe Nickell's talk for the Triad Area Skeptics
 in Winston-Salem.

 ***

 St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, MO)
 December 30, 2000
 "Psychic Predictions: Fortuneteller Forecasts fell flat in 2000."
 by William Allen

 Post-Dispatch Science Writer William Allen reviews failed predictions for
 2000, quoting Gene Emery and citing his article for SI.

 ***

 Mensa Bulletin (Arlington, TX)
 January 2001
 "Are Mensans Skeptical Enough?"
 By Tom Napier

 PhACT founder Tom Napier notes that a high IQ is not enough to filter out
 the bunkum: highly intelligent people can be easily fooled if they don't
 have the basic critical thinking skills of skepticism.

 ***

 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT)
 January 1, 2001
 "Trend-spotters seeing a little less sunshine on 2001's horizon
 by Mary K. Feeney

 Feeney reports on the various prognostications for 2001, reviewing the
 various claims from Newsweek magazine, to The Trends Journal, to the Trends
Research Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. Feeney punctuates her story with Emery's
list a failed predictions from 2001 in Skeptical Inquirer.

 ***

 Journal (Winston-Salem, NC)
 January 4, 2001
 "What's Hot: Skeptical Inquirer takes a look back"

 Column highlights Gene Emery's News and Comment piece in Skeptical Inquirer.

 ***

 World-Herald (Omaha, NE)
 January 7, 2001
 "Sunday Spots"

 Column reports Emery's list of failed predictions for Skeptical Inquirer.

 ***

 The Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
 January 8, 2001
 "Nature Watch: 'Miraculous' autism treatment stirs concern"
 Gerry Rising

 News columnist Gerry Rising critiques the claims of facilitated
 communication and cites Martin Gardner's 1993 Skeptical Inquirer column
lambasting the practice.

 ***

 KGO 810 AM Newstalk Radio (San Francisco, CA)
 January 11, 2001
 "The Pete Wilson Show"

 Major Bay-Area radio personality interviews Paul Kurtz on 25 years of CSICOP
 and battling paranormal and pseudoscience claims.

 ***

 The Washington Post (Washington, DC)
 January 11, 2001
 "Keeping Tabs on The Tabloids and the Future"
 by Don Oldenburg

 Don Oldenburg reports on Gene Emery's review of failed psychic
 predictions for the year 2000. Oldenburg quotes Emery and Joe Nickell
 on uncritical public acceptance of the paranormal, the Barnum effect, and
 some of the more ridiculous psychic claims appearing in tabloids and more
respectable papers.

 SYNDICATED IN:

 Columbia (SC) State (Jan 27, 2001)
 Greenville (NC) Reflector (Jan 14, 2001)
 Palm Beach Post (Jan 14, 2001)
 Philadelphia Inquirer (Jan 15, 2001)
 Stockton (CA) Record (Jan 14, 2001)

 And other newspapers in Indian , Michigan, New York, Ohio
 and Texas

 ***

 Nashville Tennesean (Nashville, TN)
 January 20, 2001
 "Summaries of the News: Spirit Possession Fakery"

 Column summarizes Joe Nickell's Jan/Feb 2001 SI column on exorcism and
 fakery.

 ***

 BBC World Radio Service (London, England)
 January 23, 2001
 "Outlook"

 Joe Nickell is interviewed on the subject of miracle claims and the findings
 from his investigations and research.

 ***

 Gazette (Charleston, WV)
 January 22, 2001
 "Potpourri"

 Column notes Gene Emery's review of failed predictions in Skeptical
 Inquirer.

 ***

 New Times Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA)
 January 25, 2001
 "Psychic Mutt Discovered!"
 By Tony Ortega

 Ortega provides angelenos with an informative feature story on CFI West and
 its director Jim Underdown and copious quotes his thoughts on psychics,
 an upcoming test of a bizarre "wonder dog" and other wierd claims and
 hoaxes.

 ***

 Reuters
 January 30, 2001
 "Argentine rationalists debunk 'pseudoscience'
 By Mayra Pertossi

 Reuters reports on Argentinian skeptics organization (CAIRP) and
 mentions its affiliation with CSICOP in the United States.