Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

[Barry Karr <SkeptInq@aol.com>]

Be sure to visit www.csicop.org and check out our 4th World Skeptics Conference: http://www.csicop.org/events/conference-2002/


From CSICOP Fellow Andrew Fraknoi


ASTRONOMERS RESPOND TO CLAIMS
THAT THE UNIVERSE IS YOUNG

Material for Teachers About How We
Know the Age of the Universe Is Now On Line


In several U.S. states there have been demands
that discussions of the Big Bang and the vast age
of the cosmos be excluded from science curricula
in K-12 classrooms. In response, the Astronomy
Education Board of the American Astronomical
Society (AAS) has put together an article for teachers
on how astronomers know that the universe is old
and that it changes with time.

The illustrated article has been posted on the Web at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/publications/tnl/56/
It is a special issue of "The Universe in the Classroom,"
a newsletter on teaching astronomy in grades 3-12,
published by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

The article explains the evidence showing that we live in a
universe that is between 10 billion and 15 billion years
old and that both the universe and its contents undergo
evolutionary change.  It is designed to help teachers
explain these ideas to their classes and concerned
community members.  A list of written and web resources
is also included.

The article grew out of a formal statement on behalf of
the astronomical community issued by the Council of
the AAS in 2000, when the Kansas State Board of
Education in 1999 adopted state standards that
eliminated both evolution and Big Bang cosmology.
While those standards have now been repealed,
following the election of new Board of Education
members, the scientific perspective continues
to be questioned in states and communities around the
U.S.  Both the AAS Council, and the Society's
Astronomy Education Board feel that astronomers
have an obligation to assist teachers in sorting out
the evidence supporting our modern view of an ancient
universe.


2) Articles of Note

The Electric Christian Rapture Test
Kate Silver, Las Vegas Weekly
February 21, 2002

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12459

They say all it takes is a little bit of faith, some cash and a signature, and if everything goes as planned, subscribing Christians (and maybe a few trusting infidels) will be free of the evil power companies -- and their power bills -- for life. Call it the Electric Christian Rapture Test.


KFC bosses aren't chicken, but they sure are tender
by Les Kennedy
The Age [Australia]
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/02/27/1014704967158.html

"It was meant to develop leadership skills, but the fire-walking exercise
for 30 managers of the KFC fast food chicken restaurant chain was too hot
to bear."



Hitler's clairvoyant
By Stephen Lemons
Salon
http://www.salon.com/people/feature/2002/02/27/hanussen/index.html

"In the weeks leading up to Adolf Hitler's appointment as Reichschancellor
on Jan. 30, 1933, there was nothing inevitable about the Austrian
corporal's ascension to power. Results of the 1932 November Reichstag
elections were disappointing for his National Socialist Party, with the
Nazis suffering losses in the German parliament while retaining about a
third of the seats there."


Shamed star's aliens claim
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/funny_old_game/newsid_1842000/1842050.stm

"A triple gold medallist who was kicked out of the Winter Olympics for
failing a drugs test claims he is being told what to do by aliens."


The graffiti ghost of Treuddyn
BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/weird/ghosts/ghostmonk.shtml

"A phenomenon regularly takes place at Penyffordd Farm, the home of the
Gower family."


Does prayer work?
By Giles Wilson
BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1844000/1844076.stm

"The world's religions got together a month ago to pray for peace. Has the
planet seen any impact - and is there any evidence that praying works anyway?"


Back Off, Chiropractors!
by Leon Jaroff
Time
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/jaroff/article/0,9565,213482,00.html

"Chiropractors have been taking their lumps lately. And not all of the
criticism has come from their usual critics in the medical profession.
Indeed, some chiropractors themselves are cautiously calling for reforms."


FTC Settles With Two Sites Selling Bioterrorism Products
By David McGuire
Newsbytes
http://www.newsbytes.com/news/02/174823.html

"As part of its ongoing crusade to purge the Internet of fraudulent Sept.
11 profiteers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced that it
had settled a claim against a Web site that marketed its "colloidal silver"
product as a cure for Anthrax."


FTC shuts off bioterror hype
Associated Press
http://money.cnn.com/2002/02/27/news/wires/ftc_anthrax_ap/

"Federal regulators have settled deceptive advertising charges against the
marketers of a do-it-yourself anthrax test kit and a dietary supplement
touted as curing hundreds of deadly diseases."



Did Miss Cleo see it coming?
By TANYA BARRIENTOS
Philadelphia Inquirer
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/dailytimes/2748210.htm

"Back in August I tried to call Miss Cleo."


Physicians' groups voice opposition to proposal to license naturopathy
By Scott Rothschild
Lawrence Journal-World
http://www.ljworld.com/section/stateregional/story/84514

"Associations representing medical and osteopathic doctors Monday voiced
opposition to the licensing of naturopathic physicians."


Criminals don't appear to be moonstruck
By Sid Schwartz
Janesville Gazette
http://www.gazetteextra.com/fullmooncrime022502.html

"Kids ran away from home more, people made more crank calls and committed
more vandalism, but overall full moons didn't cause a spike in crime last
year in Janesville."


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