WHO:  Professor Jim Krupa, PhD, of the UK Biology Department
(with assist from KASES member and President of  the Kentucky
Paleontological Society, Dan Phelps).

WHAT:  A continuation of last month's discussion on
Creationism and Intelligent Design

WHERE:  The Humanist Forum of Central Kentucky, at the
Unitarian Universalist Church of Lexington, 3564 Clays Mill
Road, Lexington, Kentucky.

WHEN:  Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Free Admission.  All welcome.

Directions to UUCL

UUCL is located near the intersection of Clays Mill Road and
Man O' War Boulevard. Coming from Man O' War, head north
(towards downtown) on Clays Mill, and you will see the church
entrance on the right about 200 yards after you turn.

(Note: There is another church on the right prior to UUCL; look
for the driveway surrounded by woods, and the UUCL sign.)

If you are coming south on Clays Mill Road from Lexington, the
UUCL is 2 miles south of the intersection of Clays Mill Road and
Pasadena Drive.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=3564+Clays+Mill+Ro
ad&csz=Lexington%2C+Kentucky&country=us&new=1&name=&
qty=

_______________________________________________
Forum mailing list
Forum@...
http://uucl.org/mailman/listinfo/forum_uucl.org

Russian astrologer Marina Bai is suing the U.S. National Aeronautic and
Space Administration http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html?skipIntro=1,
claiming that the agency's bombardment of the Tempel 1 comet has
"deformed" her horoscope and violated her spiritual rights.

A NASA probe rammed the comet last week as part of an experiment that
scientists hoped would help reveal how the universe was formed.

The suit asks for damages of $300 million, which approximates the cost of the
mission.

The James Randi Educational Foundation has posted this reaction from one
of its readers: "I certainly agree with . . . Ms. Bai that NASA has caused a big
difference in her life. Before Deep Impact hit the comet, she was an unheard-
of buffoon; now she's a well-known buffoon."

Dr. Kerley,

I request that the Bluegrass Community and Technical College end its
association with Virginia Drake. If there is a promise to be fulfilled by
BGCTC, it is one of continuing academic excellence in service to the
Commonwealth. This educational mission is being systematically undermined by
a purveyor of pseudo-scientific, paranormal, claptrap. When Ms Drake was
teaching ghost hunting, it could be argued that no one was being hurt and
maybe some students learned a little about the older, more obscure historic
areas of Lexington. Now, however, with classes on “Intuition 101” and “Intro
to the Body’s Electromagnetic Field” she stands to directly interfere with
the health and welfare of her students. Intuition is a subjective, random,
and unrepeatable phenomena that suffers the limitations of selective memory
and is most often wrong (those being the events that are conveniently and
selectively forgotten). The body’s energy fields, therapeutic touch, and the
like have been thoroughly discredited and have no diagnostic or therapeutic
value. People with real and sometimes life-threatening health problems are
given false hope and may be dissuaded from seeking effective and timely
medical treatment. Persons without conditions stand to be blatantly
defrauded. By dropping the offering for these classes, you will be making an
investment in Kentucky’s future and not [potentially] in Ms Drake's personal
bank accounts at $75 per hour (for example, see
http://www.light-bodyworks.com/index.htm).

Brandon C. Nuttall
Frankfort, KY

cc: Dr. Michael B. McCall, President KCTCS Cabinet
      Dr. Keith W. Bird, KCTCS Chancellor
      Dr. Sandry Carey, Dean, Academic Affairs, KCTCS
      Kentucky Association of Science Educators and Skeptics

I rarely append, but want you to know I appreciate the information
coming through this forum. I do a Saturday morning radio program on
590 WVLK-AM here in Lexington and, on occasion, will pass along
tidbits of information I pick-up here and elsewhere. The story about
Marina Bai suing NASA over comet damage will certainly show up on
tomorrow morning's program. Thanks. Keep the informative psotongs coming!

I'm new to this group and would like to direct your attention to the
above named individual, who I listened to on a local talk radio show
last evening. Samuel Benjamin, MD is " a corporate director for
developing intrgrative health strategies" for Humana. He received his
medical degree from U. de Gudalajara and trained in Pediatrics ot SUNY
Stpnybrook. He claims to be an acupuncturist and a homeopath, and
advocates many psuedo-scientific methods for treating patients. Please
check his webpage: www.drsamshow.com and let me know what you think. I
am disappointed that such a person would be developing health
strategies for, and have the ear of Humana senior management.

From creationism to healing, the concept of energy can be used to
bamboozle the public, since knowledge of energy and energy flow is
substantially zero. In California, we had problems of people offering
pseudo-scientific energy classes (much like those described) in adult
education, over which we had little control. The answer was to get
knowledgeable people to sign up for the course, and ask questions
dealing with the 2nd law, energy principles, etc., of which these
people knew nothing. Just attending the first meeting is enough to
blow them out of the water! One time our nursing staff wanted to offer
a "Laying on of Hands" course, and our dean of instruction, a
biologist, warned us to be ready...in the curriculum committee
meetings, we fired questions about energy at the Nursing rep, and of
course she know nothing about energy flow in biological systems (you
should have seen her face when we asked her to describe how the energy
of holding one's hands above a patient correlated with the 2nd law,
since the hands would be at a lower temp than the person!). The course
was denied. Nothing is better to get to these people than having a
couple of scientists in the class! The liability question is
important, too, and may be the thing that works....imagine someone
with terminal cancer who doesn't get treatment, but relies instead on
working with his/her electrical field. What might his/her family do?
Brian Myres
Carlisle, KY
Biology emeritus
Cypress College, Cypress, CA

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Excellent post Brian.  As you noted, pseudo-science is alive and well within
the field of Nursing.  Brandon's earlier letter to BGCTC regarding Virginia
Drake was also excellent.

You, Brandon and Frank all point out the concern of the creation of false hope
and possible delayed treatment for serious medical or psychological
conditions.  We are fighting the promotion of bad science on top of money
making endeavors pushing this junk and profiting from it.  In the end, the
patient is the one that suffers.

If someone does Tarot Card readings or Ghost Hunting within the free
marketplace, then it is "buyer beware."  The problem is when pseudo-science
is associated with legitimate medical or academic settings or within other
authoritarian or tax payer supported institutions.

So...pardon my following long rant (climbs on soapbox):

This junk science has taken deep root in Kentucky.  Other KASES members
can attest to "Alternative" and "Complementary" therapies being introduced
into academic settings and practice fields in Kentucky.  Tom Wheeler has long
fought these things as evidenced within the links to his work posted on the
main KASES website.  Here are just a few fairly recent examples:

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/4669674.htm

Posted on Thu, Dec. 05, 2002
Markey offering unusual therapies
ACUPUNCTURE CAN BE USED TO TREAT CANCER
By Barbara Isaacs
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

Markey Cancer Center's newest cancer treatment options would have been
nearly unthinkable at the University of Kentucky even a few years ago.

Acupuncture, massage and energy therapy -- treatments once thought to
have little or no medical benefit -- are the first offerings of the Integrative
Medicine Program at the Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson Cancer
Facility for Women.

Four rooms outfitted with CD players, soft lights and relaxation fountains will
be designated for the therapies. Energy therapy is similar to acupuncture, but
without needles.

< snip >

Cohen first saw acupuncture in action more than 20 years ago in Asia. He
saw a heart surgery performed with acupuncture as the only anesthesia.
"That's not mind over matter," Cohen said. "That's the real thing."

< snip >

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:q440rY5STK4J:www2.mc.uky.edu/
nursing/news/NewsWinter02~03WEB.pdf+regina+lowry+faculty+member+
practices+energy+therapy+at+new+integrative+medicine+clinic&hl=en&ie=
UTF-8

[PDF]Editor M.
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
... practices energy therapy at new Integrative Medicine Clinic 26 ... co-
principal investigator of two federally funded studies. ... Foundation was like
a
prayer answered ...
www.mc.uky.edu/nursing/news/NewsWinter02~03WEB.pdf - Similar pages

Faculty Member Practices Energy Therapy at New Integrative Medicine Clinic

< snip >

* Photo not within text on web.  The caption to the photo from the hard copy
brochure:

"Faculty member practices energy therapy at new Integrative Medicine Clinic
Regina Lowry, M.S.N., R.N., an energy therapist, balances the energies
inside the skull."

Ms. Lowry's bio is here:  http://www.mc.uky.edu/nursing/bios/lowry.html

< snip >

Her research interests include therapeutic touch and nursing presence. She
has an energy healing practice and is a certified healing therapy practitioner
and a Reiki II practitioner. She is also trained in therapeutic touch and has
taken coursework with the Rev. Rosalyn Bruyere, a noted energy healer, as
well as seminars in touch for health and Pranic Healing. 

< snip >


Mixed in with light exercise, stress reduction, distracting and placebo
enhancing strategies such as Guided Imagery, Massage, Meditation, Music
Therapy, T'ai Chi, Yoga, etc., Nursing "Continuing Education" (which is
required for relicensure in most states) is replete with "woo-woo."

About any CE booklet or offering list includes things such as: Accupressure,
Aromatherapy, Ayurveda, Feldenkrais, Feng Shui, Herbology, Homeopathy,
Hypnosis, Magnet Therapy, Naturopathy, Reflexology, Reiki, Therapeutic
Touch, etc.  Here are just a few examples:


Nursing Education of America
The leading continuing Education provider for license renewal since 1975!
(800) 234-8706
http://www.nursingeducation.org

COMPLEMENTARY/ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES AACN-A View Description
of this course     
   
30 Contact Hours (HS-929) (COURSE STYLE - MEDIUM) Course Fee $47.00
   
Alternative approaches to healing have been practiced for thousands of
years, while conventional medicine is only about 200 years old.  Presents an
overview and practical guide of the most widely-used methods in alternative
medicine including principles, techniques, research, and health promotion
methods.  Therapies such as:  Ayurveda, herbs and interventions,
aromatherapy, massage, pressure point therapies, yoga, and meditation are
included.  45 Hour course includes dreamwork movement-oriented therapies,
bioelectromagnetics, and animal-assisted therapy.  Therapies for common
health problems as allergies, arthritis, stings, and migraine are outlined. 
Text:
Complementary & Alternative Therapies for Nursing Practice (2nd Ed.
included).  NEA Staff with Karen Lee Fontaine, RN, MSN.

30 Contact Hours (HS-929) (COURSE STYLE - MEDIUM) Course Fee $47.00
45 Contact Hours (HS-4929) (COURSE STYLE - MEDIUM) Course Fee
$55.00

METAPHYSICAL HEALING
    
30 Contact Hours (HS-906) (COURSE STYLE - ADVANCED) Course Fee
$27.00

Learn how Ro-Hun results in healing old emotional wounds. This alternative
healing course discusses basic principles and characteristics of the human
energy field, how to release or change unhealthy energy patterns, and how
this effects healing. Describes how the technique can be integrated into a
program that addresses clients' physical, emotional, mental and spiritual
needs. Presents and describes several different types of energy-based
healing techniques such as Ro-Hun, Healing touch, Color & Sound, and
Spiritual Regression. Reference: Healing, Body, Mind & Spirit (included)

30 Contact Hours (HS-906) Course Fee $27.00

< snip >

The "American Holistic Nurses Association" heavily promotes pseudo-science
and "certifying" programs which can be found here:  http://www.ahna.org/edu/
education.html

< snip >


All of this pseudo-science is being "taught" in nursing schools by nursing
faculty who use their positions of authority to promote this junk.  They claim
it
is backed by "evidence based research" then cite examples of bad research
without adequate peer review or consistent replication of claims.   Alternative
and Complementary therapies are taught as proven research and patient
care enhancing modalities.  Nurses are encouraged to be "entrepreneurs"
and engage in money making endeavors promoting "woo-woo" to garner
positions of respectability and as evidence of "success" and
"professionalism."  They pad their CV's with presentations of this pseudo-
science to other nurses.

State Boards of Nursing approve these CE "offerings" routinely.  The Board
doesn't check these things closely and usually takes the statements of the
nurse submitting the paperwork on face value.  All you have to do is submit
your proposed offering following the Board's published guidelines, verify that
the content meets these standards and (for a nice fee) they will grant you the
ability to give this educational offering to other nurses for Continuing
Education credit towards relicensure.  Often, the Boards give "blanket" CE
authorization to large hospitals to conduct internal CE (for large yearly
institutional fees) and expect the institution to police itself.  In other
words,
they make big bucks doing this.

Once ONE State Nursing Board approves the CE, it is given reciprocity in
most all other states.  So, if you get the Oregon State Board of Nursing to
approve your CE on Therapeutic Touch...most other states agree to accept
that offering for CE as well - based on Oregon's initial stamp of approval.  The
CE is often offered online or via mail too.  Any problems with the CE falls onto
the nurse who actually believes this junk has been sanctioned as legitimate,
puts it into practice ("`cause I was taught it in nursing school and the Board
approved it...it must be TRUE!") and causes harm to a complaining person
who reports them to their licensing Board.

State Boards usually put a legal disclaimer at the end of all CE offering to
avoid lawsuits and responsibility.  The disclaimer for the Kentucky Board of
Nursing usually reads:  "... "approval of an individual nursing continuing
education provider does not constitute endorsement of program content."

Then the indoctrinated individual nurses use their access to vulnerable
patients and teach this garbage to them as proven therapies.  IF there is any
patient complaint or claim of harm, the onus belongs to the individually
licensed nurse who utilized this "therapy" with the complaining and/or harmed
patient.  The argument of "well, the Board approved it" doesn't work as the
Board then claims it is up to the "prudent nurse" to do the confirming research
and/or not do anything that could harm the patient.   In other words, the
"prudent nurse" should have known better.

Most patients don't complain as they don't know how to complain or that they
can complain.  Many hospital based complaints never see the light of day and
are kept as internal complaints.  Lot of patients feel silly if they
complain...especially if the trusted and authoritarian presence of the bedside
nurse placing their "healing hands" on them did make them feel a bit better at
the time - because they got attention and their anxiety was reduced.  So,
complaints are dismissed and buried.

Overall, this sets up a whole system of the self perpetuation of questionable
therapeutic modalities based on entrepreneurial pyramid scheme type
workshops/presentations usually for fees...with the State Boards avoiding
legal responsibility for endorsing this crap in the first place.

It gets quite circular.

First, the "woo-woo" nursing faculties teach this junk to their students as
"truth"
from their positions of authority.  Most nursing students do not understand
things like academic freedom nor do they realize that long time faculty with
tenure can teach about junk such as "Energy Therapies" without question
from the academic setting administration.  They assume that if something is
being taught by these authority figures in a setting of higher learning, it
shouldn't be questioned...it's true...it's proven.  Most nursing students have
no
clue about what solid research looks like either.  Nursing students who
question these faculty members face their wrath and possible difficulty in
completing their degree course work.  So they learn to just accept what they
are told and don't question it.

Thus, these nurses are taught in their under-grad course work that
Therapeutic Touch is legitimate.  When they graduate, they see CE on
Therapeutic Touch being "approved" by individual licensing Boards (for a fee)
and then Therapeutic Touch Workshops being given by respected presenters
with an authoritarian alphabet soup of letters behind their name (for a fee). 
In
the work setting, many nurses in management positions endorse this junk
science and expect their nursing staff to also promote it.  If you challege
management endorsed junk science, you can face work place difficulties,
disciplinary action, termination or even threat to your own nursing license
(been there...done that).

These pseudo-science workshops are  sometimes sponsored by the
Professional Nursing Associations (non-licensing entities) or published in
professional nursing publications.  Authoritarian articles published in
"professional" publications are "peer reviewed" by other nurses in the field
who have also accepted this pseudo-science as fact.  So mainstream nurses
"reason" that Therapeutic Touch must be a legitimate science.

These indoctrinated nurses then introduce this in various clinical settings.
They promote this to their patients and thus create a demand for these
"essential" therapies.  There are over 2 MILLION NURSES out there at the
bedside of vulnerable patients surrounded by equally vulnerable loved ones.
Each nurse usually interfaces with numerous patients each day (from a
minimum of 1 to 50) along with visitors/loved ones.  Nursing is consistently
shown as one of the most trusted professions.  Thus, this trusted indoctrinated
nurse (with access to patients) teaches Therapeutic Touch as an essential,
legitimate, scientific therapy to vulnerable individuals and thus passes the
meme onto wide audiences.

To "break" this chain of promotion of pseudo-science in nursing (and other
medical/professional fields), there needs to be a concerted effort by the
scientific community to remove the money making aspect from the Continuing
Education business as well as attacking the establishment of so-called
"Alternative" or "Complementary" therapies being offered  in otherwise
legitimate clinical settings   We also need to address the insurance industry
and get them to ditch payments for pseudo-science and/or the ability to bill for
it.

Addressing pseudo-science in the academic setting will be hard...especially
with tenured faculty.  The only thing that will work with that is shame,
ridicule
and consistent allenge to the garbage they do promote and publish.  We are
also going to have to approach other solid faculty members and encourage
them to challenge text book and course work submissions to their curriculum
committee meetings.  We need to tell critical thinking faculty to look for this
junk and deny it air.  Nursing faculty in particular need to be held to a higher
standard.

The Rocky Mountain Skeptics, lead by Bèla Scheiber, took on Therapeutic
Touch, the Colorado Board of Nursing and the University of Colorado.  You
can read about their fight against pseudo-science here:
http://www.rationalmagic.com/RMS/rms-tt1.htm

This all won't be easy as money is being made from the promotion of pseudo-
science.  A public demand has been created with individuals wanting access
to these pseudo-science therapies as they have been told they are effective
and/or helpful.  The clinical and hospital settings respond to this public
demand because they  will get PAID for this junk.  Many pseudo-science
promoting lobbying blocks concentrated money and effort to get legislation
passed for third party billing from the insurance industry for their quackery.
Also, deep pocketed entities (like the Templeton Foundation) are giving large
grants to "research" things like "spirituality" and "prayer studies."

Institutions and individuals usually caterwaul loudly and fight you tooth and
nail when you start messing with their access to funding and billing abilities.

The only "good thing" is that many followers of Fundamentalist religions deem
things like this ("energy therapies," Reiki, etc., ) as an affront to their
religion
and see them as "New Age" and "of Satan."  Unfortunately, they support and
endorse things like "spirituality" and intercessionary prayer.  The more
extreme of these Fundamentalists even reject proven therapies (especially in
the field of psychology/psychiatry) and even pass resolutions against
legitimate approaches.  This was most recently seen in Kentucky at the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville:

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/state/11541528.htm

Posted on Mon, May. 02, 2005

Seminary to recast its counseling program

MOVE EMPHASIZES BIBLE OVER PSYCHOLOGY TEXTS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

< snip >

The seminary's move comes in part from a 2002 resolution by the Southern
Baptist Convention, its national affiliate, Moore said.

The resolution said Christian counselors should rely "upon the Word of God"
rather than theories that "ignore human sin and its effects." The resolution
added that, while some disorders require medication, "we reject the
assumptions of the therapeutic culture that offers" a drug as a solution for
every human problem.

< snip >


* End of long rant (climbs off soapbox) *

"Peg"

Through the efforts of KASES member, Dick Renfro, KASES has received a
copy of Paul Carleton's book:  "Concepts: A ProtoTheist Quest for Science-
Minded Skeptics."

The author requests that we circulate it among KASES members and states
that it presents "an alternative to the theistic worldview ingrained in our
culture."  

The author describes his book as "challenging reading."  He has forwarded
several copies to various Humanist groups and libraries across the U.S.

In the letter sent to KASES with the book, the author summarizes the purpose
of his book.  Therefore, in his own words...

============================================================
============================================================

That theistic worldview is based on millennia-old concepts back when most
folks thought the Earth was flat, was created just a few millennia earlier and
was controlled by the gods/God. Those concepts are clearly obsolete as
science has shown in just the past few centuries. Yet that worldview (and
after-worldview) still persists in spite of overwhelming evidence. Perhaps
what's lacking is a carefully reasoned, science-based, comprehensive
worldview — a scientific Weltanschauung.  

Which is what I'm proposing. The book dust-jacket's inside front-flap sketches
the thought-process of my proposed alternative worldview. On the back are
comments by a few early reviewers. It's available thru Amazon.com and
EvolveFISH.com. And I've given copies to many local libraries including the
Lexington Public Library at 140 East Main Street.  

============================================================
============================================================

More info on the book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0974558303/qid=1122102264/sr=
2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-8932500-9385736

Anyone willing to tackle this book to review and report back to the rest of us?

Let me know and I'll send the book to you.  Contact me through the KASES e-
mail account at < kases@... >

Thanks!

Below is a message passed on by KASES member, Tom Wheeler.

============================================================
==================================

Item for KASES:

I have recently been reading Skeptical Odysseys (Kurtz, ed.)
(Prometheus, 2001).  This is a special collection of essays to mark the 25th
anniversary of CSICOP, in which leaders in the skeptic movements discuss
their personal interests and activities.  KASES members may find it of interest
that Robert Baker had the distinction of writing the concluding essay, "In
Retrospect: From Skeptic to Humanist."  Bob mentions some of the activities of
KASES.  Joe Nickell also has a chapter, "Adventures of a Paranormal
Investigator."  Among his numerous activities, he mentions his collaboration
with Bob in investigating haunted hauses.

Posted by  Stephen Barrett, M.D.(Quackwatch, Consumer Health Digest)

Skeptic NewsSearch returns.

Joe Littrell is again publishing his newsletter identifying news articles
related
to paranormal claims, questionable heath-related activities, urban legends,
and hoaxes. Issues will be distributed 2-3 times per week. To subscribe, send
a message to skepticsearch-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. The newsletters
are also posted at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skepticsearch/ and
obtainable through an RSS newsfeed.

Posted by  Stephen Barrett, M.D.(Quackwatch, Consumer Health Digest)

Skeptic NewsSearch returns.

Joe Littrell is again publishing his newsletter identifying news articles related
to paranormal claims, questionable heath-related activities, urban legends,
and hoaxes. Issues will be distributed 2-3 times per week. To subscribe, send
a message to skepticsearch-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. The newsletters
are also posted at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skepticsearch/ and
obtainable through an RSS newsfeed.

__________________________________________________
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http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12278497.htmPosted on Mon,
Aug. 01, 2005

Bush endorses teaching `intelligent design' theory in schools
By Ron Hutcheson
Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - President Bush waded into the debate over evolution and
"intelligent design" Monday, saying schools should teach both theories on the
creation and complexity of life.

In a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with a small group of
reporters, Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian conservatives to give
intelligent design equal standing with the theory of evolution in the nation's
schools.

< snip >

Bush declined to state his personal views on "intelligent design," the belief
that life forms are so complex that their creation can't be explained by
Darwinian evolutionary theory alone, but rather points to intentional creation,
presumably divine.

< snip >

Bush compared the current debate to earlier disputes over "creationism," a
related view that adheres more closely to biblical explanations. As governor
of Texas, Bush said students should be exposed to both creationism and
evolution.

On Monday the president said he favors the same approach for intelligent
design "so people can understand what the debate is about."

< snip >

"I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of
thought," Bush said. " You're asking me whether or not people ought to be
exposed to different ideas, the answer is yes."

< snip >

Bush didn't seem eager to talk about the topic.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005

WUKY
Curtains at Eight, 8 to 9 pm
with Nick Lawrence

Interview with CSICOP Senior Research Fellow and KASES founder, Joe
Nickell.  The interview featured Joe's new book "Secrets of the Sideshows."
Joe said he was hoping to be at the Kentucky Book Fair this fall.

(Unsure if audio will be available from the program.  Can call WUKY for
additional information.)

http://www.kentuckypress.com/expertnickell.cfm

JOE NICKELL

Area of expertise: Sideshows, History of Popular Culture, Historical Research,
Crime Science

His latest book is SECRETS OF THE SIDESHOWS
Published August 2005 by The University Press of Kentucky

PRESS RELEASE

Step Right Up! Amazing Sideshow Secrets Here!

Lexington, KY-To millions of annual patrons, modern theme parks may seem
like drastically improved versions of the itinerant shows and attractions of the
past. Featuring manicured thoroughfares, towering thrill rides, and plenty of
cross-marketing opportunities for media corporations, today's gleaming,
family-friendly entertainment villages stand in stark contrast to the shoddy
facilities and seedy atmosphere frequently found at the carnivals, circuses,
and sideshows that once attracted hordes of visitors.

However, many would argue that today's sanitized amusement empires lack
the character, uniqueness, ramshackle charm, and sense of wonder that
pervaded traveling shows during a bygone era of history. In an age far less
saturated with media, circuses and sideshows were on the vanguard of
popular entertainment, and they were a big, booming business. In his new
book Secrets of the Sideshows, Joe Nickell, once a carnival magician and
pitchman, now an acclaimed author, forensic analyst, and paranormal
investigator, chronicles the rise and fall of the sideshow as a prevailing
element of popular culture.

Nickell examines the gripping stories behind the sideshows' amazing sights
and spectacles while analyzing their cultural antecedents and the social
forces that led to their massive popularity throughout most of the twentieth
century. The author's insights are the result of years of research, interviews,
and first-hand experience. Ever the ambitious investigator, Nickell even
learned to swallow fire, walk on hot coals, and recline on beds of nails during
his journeys on carnival midways across the world.

The geeks, freaks, giants, midgets, sword swallowers, fire eaters, bearded
ladies, and alligator-skinned men are all here, and Secrets of the Sideshows
presents both their public careers and private lives in full, and fully bizarre,
detail. Nickell also reveals the long history of the presentation of human,
animal, and other oddities-both authentic and bogus-by shrewd
entrepreneurs looking to capitalize on the natural curiosity of paying
customers. In the tradition of Harry Houdini and others devoted to debunking
dubious feats and fraudulent claims, Nickell calls a fake a fake while still
honoring the sideshows' legacy of mystery and magic.

Secrets of the Sideshows neither romanticizes the past nor sacrifices upon
the altar of political correctness the real pleasures that millions of people
gained from the sideshows. Some of the real-life characters in the book are
shameless, exploitative hucksters; others are saddled with pitiable maladies
of the flesh and in desperate need of both financial and emotional support.
Nickell effectively conveys the humanity common to all participants in the
once thriving culture of the sideshow, preserving part of our history before it
fades permanently into the twilight.

Joe Nickell, senior research fellow of the Committee for the Scientific
Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), writes the "Investigative
Files" column for Skeptical Inquirer magazine. His numerous books include
Real-Life X-Files and The Kentucky Mint Julep.

SECRETS OF THE SIDESHOWS
JOE NICKELL
Publication Date: August 2005
$32.95 cloth, ISBN 0-8131-2358-5

For additional information, please contact: Leila Salisbury, Marketing Director
phone: 859/257-8442
fax: 859-323-4981
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Didn't know of it earlier.  Just happened to be next
to the stereo with WUKY on when the show started.  I
tried to catch as much as I could on one side of a
tape I keep in the cassette deck just for "emergency
taping" situations.  Hope WUKY offers the audio in
their archives and that you can link the KASES website
to it.  It was an interesting interview.

"Secrets of the Sideshows" is a great book too!...Dr.
Baker let me read the draft copy that Joe sent him.
:-)  Can't wait for the finished version with the
photos.  We can all descend on the Kentucky Book Fair
and demand autographed copies from Joe.



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Didn't know of it earlier.  Just happened to be next
to the stereo with WUKY on when the show started.  I
tried to catch as much as I could on one side of a
tape I keep in the cassette deck just for "emergency
taping" situations.  Hope WUKY offers the audio in
their archives and that you can link the KASES website
to it.  It was an interesting interview.

"Secrets of the Sideshows" is a great book too!...Dr.
Baker let me read the draft copy that Joe sent him.
:-)  Can't wait for the finished version with the
photos.  We can all descend on the Kentucky Book Fair
and demand autographed copies from Joe.





____________________________________________________
Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

Didn't know of it earlier.  Just happened to be next
to the stereo with WUKY on when the show started.  I
tried to catch as much as I could on one side of a
tape I keep in the cassette deck just for "emergency
taping" situations.  Hope WUKY offers the audio in
their archives and that you can link the KASES website
to it.  It was an interesting interview. 

"Secrets of the Sideshows" is a great book too!...Dr.
Baker let me read the draft copy that Joe sent him.
:-)  Can't wait for the finished version with the
photos.  We can all descend on the Kentucky Book Fair
and demand autographed copies from Joe.



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Yeah, lots of stories...  And don't get me wrong, Bush
is not the guy I want to defend, but has anyone here
looked at the transcript of his actual remarks?  A lot
mroe tame than you might be led to believe based on
these sensationalized stories...  The quote:

     Q I wanted to ask you about the -- what seems to
be a growing debate over evolution versus intelligent
design. What are your personal views on that, and do
you think both should be taught in public schools?

     THE PRESIDENT: I think -- as I said, harking back
to my days as my governor -- both you and Herman are
doing a fine job of dragging me back to the past.
(Laughter.) Then, I said that, first of all, that
decision should be made to local school districts, but
I felt like both sides ought to be properly taught.

     Q Both sides should be properly taught?

     THE PRESIDENT: Yes, people -- so people can
understand what the debate is about.

     Q So the answer accepts the validity of
intelligent design as an alternative to evolution?

     THE PRESIDENT: I think that part of education is
to expose people to different schools of thought, and
I'm not suggesting -- you're asking me whether or not
people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the
answer is yes.


****

And there you have it.  Not a declaration that ID is
to be taught in schools, but something a tad more
nuanced.  My question is, is he an idiot for saying
something like that or are we for make-believing he
said something like that and then jumping up and down
like angry baboons?

Blenster

--- DANIEL PHELPS <edrioasteroid@...> wrote:

> Bush endorses teaching 'intelligent design'
> San Jose Mercury News - United States
> WASHINGTON - President Bush waded into the debate
> over evolution and "intelligent design" Monday,
> saying schools should teach both theories on the
> creation and ...
> See all stories on this topic
>

----- Original Message -----

From: Blenster

Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 5:19 PM

To: kasesforum@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [kasesforum] Bush on "intelligent design"

 

Yeah, lots of stories...  And don't get me wrong, Bush
is not the guy I want to defend, but has anyone here
looked at the transcript of his actual remarks?  A lot
mroe tame than you might be led to believe based on
these sensationalized stories...  The quote:

    Q I wanted to ask you about the -- what seems to
be a growing debate over evolution versus intelligent
design. What are your personal views on that, and do
you think both should be taught in public schools?

    THE PRESIDENT: I think -- as I said, harking back
to my days as my governor -- both you and Herman are
doing a fine job of dragging me back to the past.
(Laughter.) Then, I said that, first of all, that
decision should be made to local school districts, but
I felt like both sides ought to be properly taught.

    Q Both sides should be properly taught?

    THE PRESIDENT: Yes, people -- so people can
understand what the debate is about.

    Q So the answer accepts the validity of
intelligent design as an alternative to evolution?

    THE PRESIDENT: I think that part of education is
to expose people to different schools of thought, and
I'm not suggesting -- you're asking me whether or not
people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the
answer is yes.


****

And there you have it.  Not a declaration that ID is
to be taught in schools, but something a tad more
nuanced.  My question is, is he an idiot for saying
something like that or are we for make-believing he
said something like that and then jumping up and down
like angry baboons?

Blenster

--- DANIEL PHELPS <edrioasteroid@...> wrote:

> Bush endorses teaching 'intelligent design'
> San Jose Mercury News - United States
> WASHINGTON - President Bush waded into the debate
> over evolution and "intelligent design" Monday,
> saying schools should teach both theories on the
> creation and ... 
> See all stories on this topic
>

I see the jumping up and down in just about all of
those articles, several others I've read, and in
various free-thought and science forums of which I am
a member.  There is a lot of hand-wringing and panic
over something that has been widely known for some
time.

Taking a literal and careful look at the transcript I
see his LEGAL answer as being that it should be up to
individual school districts, after which he supplies
his PERSONAL opinion, one we all ought to know by now.
  Not a mystery.  Furthermore he is not, at least
anywhere I have seen, stating that it should be taught
as science.  I have no problems with a philosophy
class teaching various creationist belief systems.
Same goes with a comparative theology class.  I will,
of course, strenuously oppose it being taught as a
science.

As to the judges, it wasn’t a close case before and I
doubt it would be this time around, either.  The
judges would have to actively ignore massive amounts
of evidence, far greater than before, and show such a
hugely biased viewpoint as to exclude them from
congressional review.  Frankly I’m more concerned
about Roe v. Wade.

In my opinion, by the transcript, especially in light
of the leading nature of the reporters questions and
the cautious reply on our President’s part, this has
led to a far more overblown response than necessary.
Yet.  I don’t put it past him, but he hasn’t done it
yet.  Frankly his personal opinion is well known, it’s
not until he tries to make an actual Bill that I will
be concerned.

Blenster

--- DANIEL PHELPS <edrioasteroid@...> wrote:

> No one appears to be "jumping up and down like angry
> baboons",  Where do you see this?  However, Bush
> supported creationism while Governor of Texas, and
> is now giving lip service to ID creationism.  Bush
> says that "both sides" should be taught -- as if
> there were two sides.  He is also ignoring his chief
> science advisor, who bluntly stated that ID is not
> science.
>    Moreover, Bush will be picking several Supreme
> Court Justices before his term as President is over.
>  These will be the very people who decide if ID is
> constitutional in the Public Schools.  In 1987 when
> the Supreme Court ruled on "scientific" creationism
> in the schools the vote was 7 to 2 against
> creationism, with Rehnquist and Scalia dissenting.
> Rehnquist thought it should be sent back to a lower
> court, while Scalia wrote a dissent that indicated
> he thought creationism had merit and could be taught
> in science classrooms.  I wonder what the result of
> a similar trial in a few more years will be like?
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Blenster
> Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 5:19 PM
> To: kasesforum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [kasesforum] Bush on "intelligent
> design"
>
> Yeah, lots of stories...  And don't get me wrong,
> Bush
> is not the guy I want to defend, but has anyone here
> looked at the transcript of his actual remarks?  A
> lot
> mroe tame than you might be led to believe based on
> these sensationalized stories...  The quote:
>
>     Q I wanted to ask you about the -- what seems to
> be a growing debate over evolution versus
> intelligent
> design. What are your personal views on that, and do
> you think both should be taught in public schools?
>
>     THE PRESIDENT: I think -- as I said, harking
> back
> to my days as my governor -- both you and Herman are
> doing a fine job of dragging me back to the past.
> (Laughter.) Then, I said that, first of all, that
> decision should be made to local school districts,
> but
> I felt like both sides ought to be properly taught.
>
>     Q Both sides should be properly taught?
>
>     THE PRESIDENT: Yes, people -- so people can
> understand what the debate is about.
>
>     Q So the answer accepts the validity of
> intelligent design as an alternative to evolution?
>
>     THE PRESIDENT: I think that part of education is
> to expose people to different schools of thought,
> and
> I'm not suggesting -- you're asking me whether or
> not
> people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and
> the
> answer is yes.
>
>
> ****
>
> And there you have it.  Not a declaration that ID is
> to be taught in schools, but something a tad more
> nuanced.  My question is, is he an idiot for saying
> something like that or are we for make-believing he
> said something like that and then jumping up and
> down
> like angry baboons?
>
> Blenster
>
> --- DANIEL PHELPS <edrioasteroid@...> wrote:
>
> > Bush endorses teaching 'intelligent design'
> > San Jose Mercury News - United States
> > WASHINGTON - President Bush waded into the debate
> > over evolution and "intelligent design" Monday,
> > saying schools should teach both theories on the
> > creation and ...
> > See all stories on this topic
> >
>
>
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