phact : Messages : 156-185 of 327

http://www.space.com/leonids/

The Leonids meteor shower around Nov 19th will not be quite as good as last year - but still of interest:

The following is information on the coming meeting this Saturday 2pm at the Philadelphia Community College:

The Pitfalls of Polygraph Testing."

by Professor John Ruscio

Distinguishing honesty from dishonesty is an incredibly important yet fiendishly difficult task that challenges individuals and institutions at all levels of our society. One popular technique used to detect deception is the polygraph, or "lie detector," test. The validity of conclusions drawn from polygraph examinations can vary substantially depending on the specific procedures that are used to conduct the exams and interpret their results. In addition to these sources of variance, the base rate of deception in the population being tested has a significant influence on the validity of conclusions that can be easy to overlook. Rather than simply accepting polygraph testing as an infallible guide to truth or dismissing it as a hopelessly flawed practice, cost-benefit analyses should weight the probabilities of various outcomes by their real-world consequences to determine whether such testing is advisable out for a particular purpose. Unfortunately, realistic cost-benefit analyses presented in an explicit and honest manner appear to be the exception rather than the rule. Based on an overview of the general scientific framework for evaluating diagnostic decisions and a summary of relevant empirical research, I would like to suggest that we often hear the most strident calls for polygraph testing in the very circumstances when it is least likely to yield a net benefit.

BIO: John Ruscio is a member of the Psychology Department at Elizabethtown College in Lancaster County, PA. His primary areas of research and teaching interest include human judgment and decision making, the classification and diagnosis of psychopathology, and statistical methods to study boundary issues involving qualitative vs. quantitative individual differences. He is also author of Clear Thinking with Psychology: Separating Sense from Nonsense and Applying What We Have Learned:

Bob Glickman and I will probably go to the James Randi "Amazing Meeting" the weekend of Jan 31st:

http://randi.org/jref/conference.html

Darwin day is coming up this February 12.

www.darwinday.org

Perhaps we could do a press release and get the word out to schools. Ideas for promotional events are found at:

http://www.darwinday.org/events/ideas.html

People willing to make books available for the distributed PhACT library should send submissions to:

<wes_powers@...>

Skeptical sites of interest:

http://www.youngskeptics.org/ - new effort to reach young people with critical thinking

http://www.csicop.org/ CSICOP

http://randi.org/ James Randi Educational Foundation

http://skeptic.com/ Skeptic Society

http://www.phact.org Us

http://www.network54.com/Forum/106498 our discussion board

#157

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Wed Dec 4, 2002 4:43 am
Subject: Phact update - Party on the 15th at 5pm

philipkrieg

http://www.darwinday.org/events/ideas.html

People,

the now annual PhACt Winter Solstice (also known as Newtonamas) Party will again be at the

in the retirement community building near Jack Rohr's place in North Wales.

From 202 North, go through the light at Sumneytown Pike, bear around to the left.

Then take a left at the light on to Hancock. After about a half mile

take a left before the church onto Prospect Ave. Then right onto Farm Lane. The meeting room is

on the right hand side. Bring some eats and even friends and family. 5pm - be there or be square.

Then January 18th, we have Dr. Barrie Cassileth speaking on alt. health claims.

It sounds like we will likely have Joe Szimhart Feb 15th for an update on cults.

Darwin day is coming up this February 12.

www.darwinday.org

Perhaps we could do a press release and get the word out to schools. Ideas for promotional events are found at:

People willing to make books available for the distributed PhACT library should send submissions to:

<wes_powers@...>

Bob Glickman and I will probably go to the James Randi "Amazing Meeting" the weekend of Jan 31st:

http://randi.org/jref/conference.html

join in the fray - check out the phact board:

http://network54.com/Forum/106498

Let me know if you'd like to be in on a informal lunch at the Jarrettown hotel during the week (they have a room said to be haunted)

Eric Krieg

#158

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Tue Dec 10, 2002 4:45 am
Subject: Reminder - PhACT party Dec 15th 5 pm - Ghost lunch in Jarrettown Inn Jan 3rd

philipkrieg

quick reminder here, oh ye of little faith:

December 15th at 5pm at the Farm lane meeting room (near Jacks) in North Wales will be

the scene of our winter solstice (or as close as we could get) party. Bring some food - maybe

even a gag gift. We'll have a shortened form of "Skepardy" MC'd by local radio personality,

Tony Romeo and maybe even a contest of best short personal stories of encounters with

weird people. Goofy Xmas clothes are encouraged.

Then for people who work in the northern burbs: 12:15 at the Jarrettown Hotel on Limekiln

Pike near Dresher, a bunch of us will "do lunch" . We will make sure to check

out some of the upper rooms said to be haunted by spirits including a "lady in White". It the

lady in white doesn't appear - at least our own Sue White is said to be willing to appear

(actually, she is white - damn, this is getting too spooky already!) That's Friday January 3rd.

Then Satuday, 2 pm January 18th will be a lecture by Dr. Barrie Cassileth talking about

Alternative Health Claims.

Eric

#159

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Tue Dec 31, 2002 4:08 pm
Subject: Phact reminder Jan 3rd lunch 12:15 in Jarrettown, Jan 18th alt medicine

philipkrieg

http://www.msnbc.com/news/852029.asp?cp1=1

People,

Jan 3rd will have at least 8 of us so far at the Jarrettown Inn at 12:15. One topic to discuss there, Howard W. will bring along his middle school child who plans on doing a proper test to answer the question, "can people sense (paranormally) if they are being starred at?". Another thing needing more discussion is CSICOP pulling out support for the 2003 Science Teachers convention in Philadelphia.

Keep open Jan 18th 2pm in the W2-48 room of the West Building at the Community College of Philadelphia: Dr Barrie R. Cassileth will speak about Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. She is from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and is said to be a great speaker and a real authority on the subject.

Thanks to Jack Rohr's planning, the Winter Solstice party was a lot of fun. We had a great assortment of food and drink. Elaine Brody not only was the winner of Tom Napier's Skepticology contest, but had one of the goofiest holiday decorations. Greg Lester won the "King of the Leiter Bashers" award which included a congratulatory statement from Leiter's wife. Filling the musical gap by the absence of Wisdom's musical trio was skilled bag pipe player, Jeff Clarke. Other music included some excellent Xmas song parodies. KYW reporter Tony Romeo MCed a rousing contest of "Skepardy" complete with sound effects. Leiter demonstrated his small reciprocating alcohol powered motor and some neat gifts were exchanged.

If you look at:

The Phoenixville area school district has been under pressure to add "intelligent design" as "an alternative to evolution". Anyone who wants to help jump in the fray, give me a call.

There is plenty of repartee, debating, mocking, reporting, kvetching, wise cracking and soul searching always going on at the Phactboard:

http://network54.com/Forum/106498

a happy new year to all,

Eric Krieg

#160

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Mon Jan 13, 2003 12:35 pm
Subject: Phact - reminder this Sat Jan 18th 2pm -alternative medicine

philipkrieg

http://nccam.nih.gov/clinicaltrials/factsheet/index.htm

People,

On the 18th, we will hear from Dr. Barrie Cassileth author of "Alternative Medicine Handbook: The Complete Reference Guide to Alternative and Complementary Therapies" . She is affiliated with the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine, the American Cancer Society, and two medical schools.

Although most alternative health claims are placebo at best with no valid support from proper double blind tests, there are some treatments considered fringe at one time that are finding some scientific basis: A few herbs have been found to have some medicinal value. Also Coley's Toxins from the turn of the century (usually listed with fraud like shark cartilage) are now thought to have been the then unknown workings of bits of bacterial DNA (the CG oglionucleotide) that we now know are detected by the immune system. The trick is how to use the tools of science to separate the wheat from the chaff. Our speaker for next Saturday sounds more on the belief side than most of us. She has been associated with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine which according to the following web site, claims to be in favor of the proper scientific testing :

That being said, many skeptics have serious reservations the NCCAM and the new NIH office of alternative medicine. Of course the kooks always claim that established medicine is only about preserving established assumptions. I'm sure the Q&A of this lecture should be interesting.

In other news:

Right near us in Princeton is the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research labs. They have long claimed to have proof of the paranormal. The following is a skeptical investigation: http://www.sfu.ca/~sbishopa/soapbox/pear.pdf

The media acted with complete credulousness to a cult that claimed to have cloned a person. A goofy cult known for making false claims said they have made a very difficult scientific break-through. Before giving the group free publicity, the press should have asked for real evidence, instead -they gave the story undeserved publicity just because cloning people is controversial. In the process, people have been conditioned to fear a general area of science and technology that could hold potential advancements. Speaking of cults:

Remember February 15, when we will learn about "Harmful Cults" from Joe Szimhart :

Joe Szimhart has worked as a consultant internationally
regarding harmful cults since 1986. He began helping people
to reject cultic influences in 1980 as a deprogrammer or
exit counselor. He has lectured and written widely on this
topic and has appeared in dozens of media presentations. His
reviews and articles have appeared in the Cultic Studies
Journal (www.csj.org) and the Skeptical Inquirer regularly.
He has had a long career as an artist. Currently he is
employed at a psychiatric emergency hospital as an intake
and crisis manager. He resides in Pottstown, PA with his
wife and daughters. He maintains a website about his cult
related work at <www.users.fast.net/~szimhart>

Joe will present a summary of the cult controversy and how
it has changed in the past 30 years. He will address social,
medical, scientific and legal aspects of the problem, and he
will comment on recent news about the Raelian "cloning" sect
with short video clips. Reading list to be provided.

Longer bio:
Joe Szimhart Careers Description:
Cult Information Specialist/Thought Reform Consultant
engages in consultation, education, research and
non-coercive intervention regarding controversial, high
demand groups, cults, psychotherapies, or relationships that
use undue influence or thought reform and mind control
techniques.
As an artist he continues to produce and exhibit paintings,
drawings and prints.
Currently, Szimhart is employed by a psychiatric emergency
hospital.

Experience:
Joe Szimhart's deep interest in the problem of harmful
cult activity began in 1980 when he rejected a system of
esoteric sects that he pursued. He began helping persons to
exit cults by the end of 1980. His professional career began
in 1986 when he first worked with intervention specialists
(deprogrammers and exit counselors) nationally. Szimhart was
chairman of an interdenominational cult information group in
Santa Fe, NM from 1985-92, and he supported a local CSICOP
group during that period. His continuing education in the
field comes from extensive research, experience, conferences
and workshops.

Szimhart has appeared in court as a witness on behalf of
cult victims four times and has defended himself
successfully against civil and criminal charges connected to
his work with victims.

He has personally helped many hundreds of people impacted by
a wide spectrum of cult activity.

He has lectured widely at colleges, prep schools, high
schools, Native American tribal centers, and conferences
about the dangers of groups that use thought reform and mind
control. Szimhart has also delivered papers for the
Association of Sociology of Religion in 1996 & 1997. He has
lectured many times for American Family Foundation
conferences and for many unrelated cult-awareness
organizations.

Exposure:
Since 1983 he has appeared on dozens of TV and radio
programs worldwide and has been consulted by the media
regularly, including 20/20, A Current Affair, TV2 Chicago,
the Canadian Broadcasting Network and the Black
Entertainment Network. The October 17, 1994 NBC TV movie
that has aired repeatedly, "Moment of Truth: A Mother's
Deception," is based on a Szimhart case--he consulted for
the production. More recently he has been consulted by
Dateline re. Rama Lenz; Court TV re. Chung Moo Quan. He
appeared on A&E TV in June 1997 criticizing Church Universal
& Triumphant's Elizabeth Prophet. In 1991, September DETAILs
magazine feature article on Szimhart called "New Age
Exorcist." He has been consulted by Newsweek, the London
Telegraph Review, The New Mexican, Forbes, the Washington
Post , the West Australian, the New York Times and the
Pottstown Mercury to name a few.

Several books have mentioned Szimhart including:
Understanding the New Age by R. Chandler (1988), What Do We
Mean When we Say God? by D. Sullivan (1991), Captive Hearts,
Captive Minds by Tobias & Lalich (1994), Snapping (1995) by
Conway & Siegelman. Many of Szimhart's book reviews and
articles have appeared in the Cultic Studies Journal, the
Skeptical Inquirer and other publications.

Szimhart wrote the introduction for Cult Encounter by Helen
& Rick Larsen [1997], and for 400 Years of Imaginary
Friends: A journey into the world of adepts, masters,
ascended masters, and their messengers by Kenneth and Talita
Paolini [2000].

#161

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Sun Feb 9, 2003 6:21 am
Subject: Phact - lecture on "Harmful cults" Feb 15th. 2pm

philipkrieg

http://www.phact.org/images/map2.gif

People,

Don't miss our coming meeting Feb 15th 2pm with a lecture by Joe Szimhart on "Harmful Cults" at the Philadelphia Community College. (more details at the end of this email)

The newest issue of Phactum is out. If you don't subscribe or have an expired date on the address label on your issue, just send $15 (payable to Jack Rohr) per year plus any donation to PhACT P.O. Box 1131 North Wales PA 19454-0131 That's not asking for much.

Send me any submissions to our PhACT lending library.

It looks like things are on for PhACT manning a booth at the March 13th National Science Teachers convention at the convention center. This effort is mostly paid for by CSICOP. We learned from last years convention for just PA that many teachers are worried about the freedom to teach the central tenet of biology and not sure how to respond to all kinds of goofy misinformation infecting the minds of their students. Anyone with good ideas on this subject, we have an email discussion list at:

Phact member Debbie Goddard managed to get Darwin Day (this Feb 12th) listed on the Penn State U. calendar.

www.darwinday.org

The JREF "Amazing Meeting" was really great. For those skeptical about my claim of going, I offer the following photographic proof:

Feb 15^th at 2pm

see following link for directions

"Harmful Cults" by Joe Szimhart :

Joe Szimhart has worked as a consultant internationally regarding harmful cults since 1986. He began helping people to reject cultic influences in 1980 as a deprogrammer or exit counselor. He has lectured and written widely on this topic and has appeared in dozens of media presentations. His reviews and articles have appeared in the Cultic Studies Journal (www.csj.org) and the Skeptical Inquirer regularly. He has had a long career as an artist. Currently he is employed at a psychiatric emergency hospital as an intake and crisis manager. He resides in Pottstown, PA with his wife and daughters. He maintains a website about his cult related work at <www.users.fast.net/~szimhart>

Joe will present a summary of the cult controversy and how it has changed in the past 30 years. He will address social, medical, scientific and legal aspects of the problem, and he will comment on recent news about the Raelian "cloning" sect with short video clips. Reading list to be provided.

Longer bio:
Joe Szimhart Careers Description:Cult Information Specialist/Thought Reform Consultant engages in consultation, education, research and non-coercive intervention regarding controversial, high demand groups, cults, psychotherapies, or relationships that use undue influence or thought reform and mind control techniques. As an artist he continues to produce and exhibit paintings, drawings and prints. Currently, Szimhart is employed by a psychiatric emergency hospital.

Experience:
Joe Szimhart's deep interest in the problem of harmful cult activity began in 1980 when he rejected a system of esoteric sects that he pursued. He began helping persons to exit cults by the end of 1980. His professional career began in 1986 when he first worked with intervention specialists (deprogrammers and exit counselors) nationally. Szimhart was chairman of an interdenominational cult information group in Santa Fe, NM from 1985-92, and he supported a local CSICOP group during that period. His continuing education in the field comes from extensive research, experience, conferences and workshops.

Szimhart has appeared in court as a witness on behalf of cult victims four times and has defended himself successfully against civil and criminal charges connected to his work with victims.

He has personally helped many hundreds of people impacted by a wide spectrum of cult activity.

He has lectured widely at colleges, prep schools, high schools, Native American tribal centers, and conferences about the dangers of groups that use thought reform and mind control. Szimhart has also delivered papers for the Association of Sociology of Religion in 1996 & 1997. He has lectured many times for American Family Foundation conferences and for many unrelated cult-awareness organizations.

Exposure:
Since 1983 he has appeared on dozens of TV and radio programs worldwide and has been consulted by the media regularly, including 20/20, A Current Affair, TV2 Chicago, the Canadian Broadcasting Network and the Black Entertainment Network. The October 17, 1994 NBC TV movie that has aired repeatedly, "Moment of Truth: A Mother's Deception," is based on a Szimhart case--he consulted for the production. More recently he has been consulted by Dateline re. Rama Lenz; Court TV re. Chung Moo Quan. He appeared on A&E TV in June 1997 criticizing Church Universal & Triumphant's Elizabeth Prophet. In 1991, September DETAILs magazine feature article on Szimhart called "New Age Exorcist." He has been consulted by Newsweek, the London Telegraph Review, The New Mexican, Forbes, the Washington Post , the West Australian, the New York Times and the Pottstown Mercury to name a few.

Several books have mentioned Szimhart including: Understanding the New Age by R. Chandler (1988), What Do We Mean When we Say God? by D. Sullivan (1991), Captive Hearts, Captive Minds by Tobias & Lalich (1994), Snapping (1995) by Conway & Siegelman. Many of Szimhart's book reviews and articles have appeared in the Cultic Studies Journal, the Skeptical Inquirer and other publications.

Szimhart wrote the introduction for Cult Encounter by Helen & Rick Larsen [1997], and for 400 Years of Imaginary Friends: A journey into the world of adepts, masters, ascended masters, and their messengers by Kenneth and Talita Paolini [2000].

#162

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:00 am
Subject: waahhhhh!! PhACT snow day - meeting cancelled this Saturday

philipkrieg

People,

Looks like the weather is going to be bad tomorrow so we are canceling the Phact meeting. So hold out for March 15th 2pm. As consolation, you should have at least gotten your Phactum in the mail.

Any submissions to the Phact lending library, send to Wes at wes_powers@... so we can keep our book list up to date.

Hope people had a happy Darwin day. Phact is going to man a booth at the National Science Teachers

Association's national convention in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, March 27-30 Let me know if you want

to help out.

Eric Krieg

#163

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Wed Mar 5, 2003 5:08 am
Subject: Phact update March 15th - lecture on "harmful cults" by Joe Szimhart

philipkrieg

http://www.youngskeptics.org/

People,

On March 27th - 30th, a bunch of us will help CSICOP people man a booth at the National Science Teacher's Convention in Philadelphia. We will be making Science teachers aware of a wide range of critical thinking resources available from the skeptical community. (we learned from our partipation in last years PA convention that science teachers are as frustrated as we are with growing belief in the paranormal amoung school kids)

Friday March 28th at 6:30 pm will be an informal dinner for a "meet Amanda Chesworth" night at a soon to be determined center city restaurant. Amanda is CSICOP's closest thing to a "youth ministry leader". Her popular dynamic web pages get young people interested in Science and skepticism:

Check out or add to our growing distributed Phact loaning library at:

http://www.phact.org/books.html

Hold out April 19th for another 2pm lecture and June 14th for the 4th annual PhACT Phamily Phun day picnic in Upper Dublin.

Join our web discussion board fracas at:

But this email's big announcement is for the 2pm lecture at CCP on March 15th on

"Harmful Cults" by Joe Szimhart :

Joe Szimhart has worked as a consultant internationally regarding harmful cults since 1986. He began helping people to reject cultic influences in 1980 as a deprogrammer or exit counselor. He has lectured and written widely on this topic and has appeared in dozens of media presentations. His reviews and articles have appeared in the Cultic Studies Journal (www.csj.org) and the Skeptical Inquirer regularly. He has had a long career as an artist. Currently he is employed at a psychiatric emergency hospital as an intake and crisis manager. He resides in Pottstown, PA with his wife and daughters. He maintains a website about his cult related work at <www.users.fast.net/~szimhart>

Joe will present a summary of the cult controversy and how it has changed in the past 30 years. He will address social, medical, scientific and legal aspects of the problem, and he will comment on recent news about the Reliant "cloning" sect with short video clips. Reading list to be provided.

Longer bio:
Joe Szimhart Careers Description:Cult Information Specialist/Thought Reform Consultant engages in consultation, education, research and non-coercive intervention regarding controversial, high demand groups, cults, psychotherapies, or relationships that use undue influence or thought reform and mind control techniques. As an artist he continues to produce and exhibit paintings, drawings and prints. Currently, Szimhart is employed by a psychiatric emergency hospital.

Experience:
Joe Szimhart's deep interest in the problem of harmful cult activity began in 1980 when he rejected a system of esoteric sects that he pursued. He began helping persons to exit cults by the end of 1980. His professional career began in 1986 when he first worked with intervention specialists (deprogrammers and exit counselors) nationally. Szimhart was chairman of an interdenominational cult information group in Santa Fe, NM from 1985-92, and he supported a local CSICOP group during that period. His continuing education in the field comes from extensive research, experience, conferences and workshops.

Szimhart has appeared in court as a witness on behalf of cult victims four times and has defended himself successfully against civil and criminal charges connected to his work with victims.

He has personally helped many hundreds of people impacted by a wide spectrum of cult activity.

He has lectured widely at colleges, prep schools, high schools, Native American tribal centers, and conferences about the dangers of groups that use thought reform and mind control. Szimhart has also delivered papers for the Association of Sociology of Religion in 1996 & 1997. He has lectured many times for American Family Foundation conferences and for many unrelated cult-awareness organizations.

Exposure:
Since 1983 he has appeared on dozens of TV and radio programs worldwide and has been consulted by the media regularly, including 20/20, A Current Affair, TV2 Chicago, the Canadian Broadcasting Network and the Black Entertainment Network. The October 17, 1994 NBC TV movie that has aired repeatedly, "Moment of Truth: A Mother's Deception," is based on a Szimhart case--he consulted for the production. More recently he has been consulted by Dateline re. Rama Lenz; Court TV re. Chung Moo Quan. He appeared on A&E TV in June 1997 criticizing Church Universal & Triumphant's Elizabeth Prophet. In 1991, September DETAILs magazine feature article on Szimhart called "New Age Exorcist." He has been consulted by Newsweek, the London Telegraph Review, The New Mexican, Forbes, the Washington Post , the West Australian, the New York Times and the Pottstown Mercury to name a few.

Several books have mentioned Szimhart including: Understanding the New Age by R. Chandler (1988), What Do We Mean When we Say God? by D. Sullivan (1991), Captive Hearts, Captive Minds by Tobias & Lalich (1994), Snapping (1995) by Conway & Siegelman. Many of Szimhart's book reviews and articles have appeared in the Cultic Studies Journal, the Skeptical Inquirer and other publications.

Szimhart wrote the introduction for Cult Encounter by Helen & Rick Larsen [1997], and for 400 Years of Imaginary Friends: A journey into the world of adepts, masters, ascended masters, and their messengers by Kenneth and Talita Paolini [2000].

be there or be square, man!

Eric Krieg

#164

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Fri Mar 14, 2003 3:50 am
Subject: PhACT reminder - this Saturday 2pm "Harmful Cults" speaker, Joe Szimhart

philipkrieg

http://www.phact.org/meetings.html

People,

This Saturday we have a fascinating talk by a cult "exit counselor" (maybe better known as "deprogrammer") speaking on Harmful Cults at 2pm at CCP. As always, details on our events are found at:

Then Friday March 28, at 6:30, a chance to have dinner in Philadelphia with CSICOP's rising star, Amanda Chesworth. Amanda is doing a great job promoting skepticism, science and critical thinking to young people - her very popular web page is :

http://www.youngskeptics.org/

Eric Krieg

#165

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Wed Mar 26, 2003 4:50 am
Subject: Phact announcements

philipkrieg

People,

This Friday at 6:30 is "Meet Amanda Chesworth Night" - a dinner. Amanda is a dynamic CSICOP person doing a great job of extending skepticism to young people. Becky says we have reservation at an exotic Burmese restaurant called, Rangoon....112 N. Ninth st (in Chinatown). Phone is 215-829-8939.

This Thursday is the big day when a number of Phact members will go down to the city for the National Science Teachers convention to promote skeptical materials and critical thinking to teachers for a few days. We may still need one volunteer with at least a station wagon to help get a table and some boxes Sunday late morning. Email me if you can be on call for that.

Our lending library book list is coming of age. You can see the current list at

Just contact people on the list to borrow anything or submit additions to: wes_powers@...

I got a chance to rail about Jonathon Edwards to a newspaper reporter in Easton doing a story, more on that later.

Our next meeting is April 19th and the speaker is Walter Rowe from the Capitol Area Skeptics. He is speaking on Junk Science in Court

Then in May we expect to have local Inquirer Science Editor, Faye Flam talk about issues about journalism covering Science.

Put June 14th 3pm on your calendar for the 4th annual Phact Phamily Phun day - a picnic in a rented pavilion in a park in Upper Dublin.

If you have a web site, give a link to Phact's at http://www.phact.org

Eric

#166

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Thu Apr 10, 2003 3:22 pm
Subject: Phact meeting coming up April 19th & recent news

philipkrieg

http://www.phact.org/meetings.html

People,

Phact's and CSICOP's booth at the National Science Teachers Convention in Philadelphia went quite well - we had a constant flow of interested teachers. A story about our efforts at the end of this message will likely run in CSICOP's "Skeptical Briefs".

I got a good reception for my speech on "how to use PseudoScience to teach Science" to the Bucks County Science Teachers Association" tonight.

Dr. Walter Rowe will give a talk on "Junk Science in Court" April 19th at 2pm:

Dr. Rowe, a chemist, is an expert in forensic sciences who teaches at George Washington University. He has been involved in a least one case where junk science led to the conviction of an individual who was later shown to be innocent. He has also served as a consultant in the debate over the efficacy of the proposed fingerprinting of firearms.

Dr. Rowe is a long-time member of the National Capital Area Skeptics and has served on their Board of Directors.

We hope to have Philadelphia Inquirer Science editor, Faye Flam speak on Science in Journalism May 17th. If she's out of the area on a possible special project, we will fill in with a showing of a hysterical episode of Penn and Teller's skeptical hard hitting series "BullSh**"

Don't forget June 14th 3pm - 8pm, our Phact Phamily Phun Day picnic in Upper Dublin.

Consider participating our Phact distributed book library at:

In recent news, 30% of Americans surveyed believe in Astrology.

The following is the write up on our recent outreach effort in Philadelphia (we could use donations to do more of the same)

CSICOP would like to thank volunteers from PhACT for encouraging CSICOP's involvement in the recent National Science Teachers Convention in Philadelphia and for their excellent representation of our programs and resources. The following is a report on the success of outreach efforts at the convention.

CSICOP and PhACT join forces for the science teachers' big Philly weekend.

by Becky Strickland, Eric Krieg, Tom Napier

One of CSICOP's newest efforts to spread skepticism is Amanda Chesworth's creative outreach program for young people. Amanda is a major force behind programs like Darwin Day and Inquiring Minds. Reaching children is an important mission for skepticism. The young are naturally inquisitive and have yet to reach the stage of, "My mind is made up, don't bother me with the facts." Besides, they have a lifetime of critical thinking ahead of them; today's skeptical activists are notoriously long in the tooth and won't be around forever.

In their quiet way America's science teachers are a priceless resource for the skeptical cause. Teaching critical thinking is part of their job; offering whatever we can to help is a no-brainer.

The Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT) was encouraged by the response to our appearance at the 2001 Pennsylvania Science Teacher's convention in Hershey, PA. We could hardly believe our good luck (or was it kharma?) when we heard that the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) convention would be held in Philadelphia in March 2003.

Discussion about representation at the NSTA convention were initiated by Eric Krieg with CSICOP agreeing to foot the bill and use the experience to gather data for directing further outreach and programming for the Inquiring Minds Program and increased collaboration with local skeptic groups. Becky Strickland, Tom Napier, Bob Glickman, Richard Slade and Eric Krieg from PhACT volunteered to set up and man the booth for Thursday through Sunday. Amanda had most of our materials shipped ahead of time and flew in from New Mexico to get things set up.

Our turn-over was the envy of some better funded, larger, booths. Unlike the majority, which were glossy, brassy and commercial, ours was a friendly little nook strewn with skeptical information -- all under the ever-watchful eyes of our trade-mark inflatable alien. Teachers interested in ordering books or in getting more information filled up many sign-up pages.

Being on a corner lot we had two display tables. One we dedicated to the Skeptical Inquirer. There was nearly always someone perusing the piles of back-issues; we gave away about two hundred pounds of free issues! Such was their popularity that by halfway through Friday we were having to ration magazines. Luckily we had plenty of subscription leaflets.

A surprising number of visitors were lapsed subscribers -- let's hope we've encouraged them to return to the fold. Some teachers wanted to Xerox SI articles as case studies for students so we urged them to take back-number order forms.

Our other table had a selection of skeptical and scientific books published by Prometheus. We had arranged them by the intended age of the reader and it was immediately obvious that, while there was a good selection of books for young children and many for adults, there was a distinct lack of the books most teachers wanted, ones suitable for middle-school grades.

Given a stock of books and permission to sell them we'd have done a roaring trade. We soon ran out of short-form catalogs and had to make do by handing out the Prometheus Books web address. One young lady appeared seven or eight times, each time pleading to be allowed to take one of our sample books with her.

Teachers entering the Convention Center ran the gauntlet of fanatics plying them with anti-evolution materials. Word soon got around that we had the antidote available. Amanda had left reels of "Darwin Day" ribbon printed with a DNA double-helix pattern. We must have handed out miles of it to teachers who wanted to make class awards from it.

A devout anti-evolutionist stopped by our booth to hold an amiable but unavailing debate with our staff. He made a tactical blunder by citing the Second Law of Thermodynamics as evidence against evolution -- to a physicist. We removed the "anti" book which apparently arrived on our display table when our backs were turned -- no point in giving a mixed message.

A more welcome visitor was Eugenie Scott, director of the National Center for Science Education and a frequent speaker at CSICOP conferences. Luckily her visit didn't overlap with that of the anti-evolutionist, we might have been hurt in the cross-fire.

Reactions from teachers we spoke to included: "How can I order this book?"; "I wish I knew about your group before."; "If I come back at the end of the show, could I take this book."; "I'm sick of all the pseudoscience garbage my kids are believing."; "I don't like taking heat for teaching evolution." and even, "I wish I could teach evolution but my state won't let me." Many teachers were interested to hear of local skeptics' groups in their areas and one even said, "This is the best booth in the place."

The Fox TV program alleging we never landed on the Moon was a frequent talking point. Our inside insight into what it takes to be hailed as an "expert" on Fox: a crazy idea, no credentials, a vanity-press book and lot of chutzpah, was widely appreciated. Programs like this almost do a service to skeptics, offering teachers such a good example when teaching their pupils to think scientifically.

A young guy from Florida presented a workshop on science vs pseudoscience; he directed people to our booth. We spoke to teachers from all over the USA as well as from Singapore, the Netherlands, Mexico and Puerto Rico. A couple of non-critical thinkers stopped by to argue but most visitors were interested and enthusiastic. We heard so often, "I've been looking for this kind of information," "Critical thinking is so important," and "I'm so glad you are here!"

As for the future, Eric Krieg has been invited to speak to a county group of science teachers on, "How to use pseudoscience to teach real science." PhACT hopes to have a booth at the New Jersey Science Teacher's convention in the fall. Next year's NSTA conference is scheduled for April 1 - 4 in Atlanta, Georgia and CSICOP hopes to be there.

A skeptical presence at conventions greatly helps teachers respond to irrationality but it does cost money. CSICOP (and PhACT) will be very grateful for donations to help us continue to guide children towards a more rational future.

Online Sites to Visit:

Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT): www.phact.org

Inquiring Minds: www.inquiringminds.org

#167

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Wed Apr 16, 2003 4:20 pm
Subject: Reminder about PhACT meeting this Saturday at 2pm

philipkrieg

http://www.phact.org/images/map2.gif

People,

Dr. Walter Rowe will give a talk on "Junk Science in Court" Saturday April 19th at 2pm at room W2-48 of the West Building of the Community College of Philadelphia. directions at:

Dr. Rowe is a long-time member of the National Capital Area Skeptics and has served on their Board of Directors.

Eric

#168

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Sun May 11, 2003 12:00 pm
Subject: Phact - next meeting is in Bensalem, May 17th 2pm with local Science writer Faye Flam

philipkrieg

People,

We are coming up on our last 2 meetings of the season: This coming Saturday in our old location, the Bensalem Public Library, we will hear from local Philadelphia Inquirer Science writer, Faye Flam. She will speak on "Science in Journalism". Before she goes on, we will hear a brief mini-speech on the subject of Epidemiology by David Cragin.

Don't forget June 14th 3pm - 8pm, our Phact Phamily Phun Day picnic. It will again be in Upper Dublin in the middle of Montgomery County. We will be in the pavilion of the south east corner of Mondauk Common park. There are cook out grills, we have the baseball field to ourselves and are right along the mile loop walking-jogging path. There are also near by play grounds, V-ball and B-ball courts and plenty of room for all kinds of sports. Hey, my kids will be there. We'll do the communal food thing .

Directions: From the turnpike, 309 N, take 2nd exit to turn right onto Susquehanna, going south - turn left onto Broad St. which is your 2nd light. Turn left after .25 miles into the 2nd park parking lot (right before dead end). The pavilion will be directly ahead of you across a little foot bridge. It should be fun - hope to see you there.

Consider participating our Phact distributed book library at:

If you have a website, add a link in it to ours at:

http://www.phact.org

Jump in the fray - check out our discussion board at:

Eric Krieg eric@...

#169

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Mon Jun 2, 2003 3:38 pm
Subject: PhACT - updates. Keep open June 14th.

philipkrieg

The last meeting featuring Faye Flam went really well. The next issue of Phactum should be out maybe late this week.

In other news, Bob Glickman hopes to stay in a haunted old prison with people from The Learning Channel working on a show about mystery hauntings.

The thing to remember is that Saturday June 14th from 3pm till 8pm is our 5th annual picnic. Its off Broad Street (not "the" Broad street) in the south east corner of Mondauk Common Park in Upper Dublin. We have a field and the pavilion in a wooded area to ourselves. There is a playground, Basket Ball and V ball nearby. Bring food to cook out and objects to throw. Someone announced a precognition of another alien appearance. Take 309 N from the turnpike, exit and right onto Susquehanna, left at 2nd light on broad, left into second parking lot. Bring family and/or friends.

We will be off till the start of next season on the 3rd Saturday of September.

The following is an open letter from David Leiter (local guy who is "skeptical of the skeptics") which didn't

make it into Phactum:

Leiter�s Believe It or Not�: A Thank You to Several Skeptics

In the April/May 2002 issue of Phactum, Greg kindly published my �Commentary�, re. the understandable reluctance of certain speakers to address Skeptics� organizations, and specifically, to address PhACT. My comments therein drew �righteous fire� from two PhACTors, Joseph Olszewski and Tom Napier, in separate Letters to the Editor, in the June/July 2002 issue of Phactum. That was the same issue of Phactum in which Armardeo Sarma of CSICOP (and of other skeptical affiliations) was granted space for a very lengthy rebuttal to my JSE essay, �The Pathology of Organized Skepticism�. I say �very lengthy� because it consisted of about 1650 words, only 50 words shy of my essay�s length! That�s some rebuttal, and some �latitude� on the part of Phactum! When, long ago, I submitted a rebuttal to Phactum, to a ridiculing review which appeared there of my address to PhACT, I was granted exactly zero words of space in that same newsletter by its former editor. Hmmmm? I guess some people are more equal than others. Anyway, it was very gratifying (and rather surprising) to get under Sarma�s skin that much, since he apparently needed all that space to vent his thinly-veiled indignation.

I say �rather surprising� above because he was snorting mainly about my few references in the essay to CSICOP, but the primary focus of the essay was PhACT, from which there was nary a peep of official rebuttal. I wonder if Sarma charged PhACT a fee for acting as their spokesman? Sarma�s presentation of his complaints in Phactum, rather than as a formal rebuttal in JSE is also surprising. It is normal professional practice to submit rebuttals to the publication in which the �offending material� was originally published. Of course, by so doing, Sarma would have exposed himself to a simultaneous formal response from me in JSE, as is common practice in such journals. Also, his ramblings would have needed to be far more brief and concise to be accepted for publication in JSE. On the bright side for him would have been the fact that the circulation of JSE is about 10 times that of Phactum, and his rebuttal would have been directly available to the majority of actual readers of the essay, and not just the few PhACTors who read it. Ah, well, his choice!

Per the above comments, I appreciate the efforts of these three responding Skeptics in confirming my contention (in my JSE essay) that organized Skeptics �can dish out criticism, but they certainly can�t take it� (at least without a whole lot of grousing on their part)!

I am especially indebted to Mr. Olszewski for a further confirmation. In his Letter to the Editor he said, �After all I was a believer in such things (paranormal phenomena) long before I became a skeptic.� Dr. Henry Bauer, Editor-in-Chief of JSE, in his editorial comments about my essay, specifically regarding my central hypothesis, that Skeptics �result� from youthful disappointment with a faith-based philosophy, said: �I would extend his (Leiter�s) observations beyond the realm of initial religious belief. I have noted that if those who believe strongly in some anomalous claim lose their belief, they too do not become balanced moderates, rather they become dogmatic disbelievers; �� Thus it would seem that Dr. Bauer had quite accurately anticipated Mr. Olszewski�s conversion from believer to disbeliever.

Hopefully, some day, Olszewski, Napier and Sarma will find intellectual peace �� in a middle ground I would call rational balance.�, between those two extremes. The preceding quotation is from my above essay.

L. David Leiter

For what ever it is worth, I respect Greg's editorial decision to decide where to cut off discussion on subjects. In discussion on the Phact board about Leiter's theory on what causes people to become active skeptics, we found that some members meet Leiter's model of having been young people traumatized by finding cherished paranormal beliefs to be groundless as well as plenty of members who would be described as "naturally born skeptics". I for one have found little good that has come from attempts to trace adult quirks to childhood disappointments. I've found a fairly high degree of heterogeneity among skeptics - only a fairly high incidence of smart people, educators, computer people and physicists. I don't understand Leiter's insistence that skeptics are closed off to critics. The two major world skeptics publications give a number of pages every issue to dissent, Phact has had dissenting voices at our meetings, in Phactum on our Phact board and emails like this. Why should a critical thinker fear any point of view. On the contrary, as a skeptic I have long gotten completely ignored or banned from proparanoral email lists, web pages, radio show, magazines and meetings. I think a number of us would happily become believers in the paranormal, should proper evidence ever arrive.

Eric Krieg

#170

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Wed Jun 11, 2003 3:06 pm
Subject: Phact reminder - picnic this weekend

philipkrieg

People,

you should have your latest issue of Phactum in the mail by now. If you don't get yours by Thursday, it could mean your membership has lapsed, in which case you should reup by sending $15 (per year) payable to Jack Rohr C/O

PHACT

P.O. Box 1131
North Wales PA 19454-0131

The latest issue has an article by grade school student Marissa W. on her experiment to see if people could paranormally discern if they were being stared at. We expect to soon hear from Bob Glickman who has been involved in a ghost haunting investigation sponsored by The Learning Channel.

But, as mentioned on the last email - don't forget our last function of the season - the picnic this Saturday 3 - 8PM It's off Broad Street in Upper Dublin in the south east corner of Mondauk Common Park. You can reach my cell if you get lost at (267) 992-5908. We have a field and the pavilion in a wooded area to ourselves. There is a playground, Basket Ball and V ball nearby. Bring food to cook out and trade. Take 309 N from the turnpike, exit and right onto Susquehanna, left at 2nd light on broad, left into second parking lot. Bring family and/or friends.

We will be off till the start of next season on the 3rd Saturday of September.

Eric Krieg

#171

From: "eric " <eric@...>
Date: Mon Jul 7, 2003 2:07 pm
Subject: PhACT Wednesday lunch at Compucraft Fabricators Inc. in Montgomeryville

philipkrieg

People,

    Although PhACT is officially off for the summer, there are a bunch of
us informally getting together this Wednesday the 9th at noon for
Pizza at Al  Erpel's company, Compucraft.
   Below is the link for a Yahoo map the location.  People should copy
and paste it in it's entirety into their browser address bar.

http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?
Pyt=Tmap&ed=5zWOJ.p_0TpVGU02puQNcYT3UC5zR9ZswCtToGtFDN7F4
QKcRUSti9CoXXw-&csz=18936&country=us


From the intersection of route 63 and route 309:

head west on route 63 (towards Lansdale) approximately .4 miles,
turn right on Park Drive, they are the 5th building on the left, sign by
street says "Compucraft Fabricators Inc.", front door has sign next to
it.  RSVP to Al via alfred@...
If you get lost, call 2156547778 x117


     In other news, I was going to stick a "Networking" page at the end
of one of the next emails to the PhACT list.  So, if you have a
business, a service or are looking for a job - email me a run-on
sentence and contact information.

Eric Krieg

#172

From: "eric " <eric@...>
Date: Mon Jul 7, 2003 2:07 pm
Subject: PhACT Wednesday lunch at Compucraft Fabricators Inc. in Montgomeryville

philipkrieg

People,

    Although PhACT is officially off for the summer, there are a bunch of
us informally getting together this Wednesday the 9th at noon for
Pizza at Al  Erpel's company, Compucraft.
   Below is the link for a Yahoo map the location.  People should copy
and paste it in it's entirety into their browser address bar.

http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?
Pyt=Tmap&ed=5zWOJ.p_0TpVGU02puQNcYT3UC5zR9ZswCtToGtFDN7F4
QKcRUSti9CoXXw-&csz=18936&country=us


From the intersection of route 63 and route 309:

head west on route 63 (towards Lansdale) approximately .4 miles,
turn right on Park Drive, they are the 5th building on the left, sign by
street says "Compucraft Fabricators Inc.", front door has sign next to
it.  RSVP to Al via alfred@...
If you get lost, call 2156547778 x117


     In other news, I was going to stick a "Networking" page at the end
of one of the next emails to the PhACT list.  So, if you have a
business, a service or are looking for a job - email me a run-on
sentence and contact information.

Eric Krieg

#173

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Tue Sep 9, 2003 3:15 am
Subject: Phact email - September 20th Lecture by Andrew Petto, Creationism

philipkrieg

People,

Time to start our 9th or 10th PhACT season. There is still value to critical thinking. The same thinking skills used on questions like "does astrology work?", "can people talk to the dead?", "will this treatment heat me?" . . . can also be used for questions like"does this country have WMD?" or even "should I bother getting that education?".

Our coming speaker, Andrew Petto of the National Center for Science Education is talking on a subject that seems to attract strong opinions: "Creationism". Our state along with many others have been subject to efforts to force teachers to promote Creationism as an alternative explanation on par with evolution. Andrew has been instrumental in helping decision makers understand the question more being political than scientific. The Creationists have resorted to all kinds of well-funded sleazy public relations efforts to try to force schools to teach non-scientific ideas. Andrew will talk about successful efforts to defend science. (more on Andrew's talk at the end of this email)

Your next issue of PhACT is in the mail and should soon be arriving.

After about a decade of service since our founding days, Jack Rohr at age 78 is finally having to step down. He has (dare I say, "faithfully") served as treasurer, post office box gopher and treasurer since the early days. He also was host to the last number of Winter solstice parties. His efforts are much appreciated.

On October I8th, I will be giving a talk on "the Fringe Free Energy Fanatics" that I have been invited to give to CSICOPs conference on hoaxes ,myths, and manias in Albuquerque New Mexico later the same month. I plan to describe the whole underground movement including it's links to other fringe areas, the science they misrepresent, cult aspects, cultural patterns, and some of the cool imbroglios I've gotten myself into.

. . . Amardeo Sarma , <sarma@...>, a prominent German skeptic will be in the area Oct 31 and Nov 1. Anyone wanting to get together with him on either evening, let me know. Also, another unofficial get-together idea: I now work in West Trenton NJ - anyone who also works not far, I'd be happy to meet at lunchtime.

In other news - Tom Napier just flew back tonight from the European Skeptics Congress in London - more on that in the late fall issue of Phactum. I got a paid trip to France to investigate a perpetual motion machine (it ain't) for an investigative show to sometime maybe air on Discovery.

Among things we are looking for with volunteers are: Someone to run a new post office box and be treasurer. Someone to host a winter solstice party location. Someone to help arrange for coming speakers.

Don't forget to plug our web site from your own, visit our discussion board or participate in our library.

I close with some information on our coming speaker:

The following is more about our upcoming speaker:

Andrew J. Petto, PhD
Editor, National Center for Science Education
editor@...
and
Associate Professor, Division of Liberal Arts
University of the Arts, 320 S Broad St
Philadelphia PA 19102-4994
apetto@...
215.717.6276 Fax: 215.717.6620

Andrew Petto is a science educator and currently teaches life sciences courses at the University of the Arts and scientific writing at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. His bachelor's degree is in Sociology and Anthropology followed by 2 years of post-baccalaureate studies in biology and chemistry. His PhD is in Biological Anthropology, and he completed post-doctoral studies in primate behavioral biology at the New England Regional Primate Research Center at Harvard Medical School and in primate ecology in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-M). He is currently enrolled in an Masters of Education program at Drexel University with a specialty in secondary science education. Prior to coming to UArts, Dr. Petto served as the associate director of the Center for Biology Education and later as an outreach specialist in the Department of Genetics, both at the UW-M. Dr. Petto began teaching undergraduate courses in 1981 and has taught anthropology, human evolution, primatology , and human anatomy and physiology at several colleges and universities in the US and Canada. He came to UArts in 1998 to assume responsibility for the undergraduate science program where he also teaches a course that explores pseudoscientific ideas. Dr. Petto also teaches in enrichment programs for advanced secondary students and outreach programs for pre-college teachers. He has been involved in multicultural science teaching programs and activities and has directed workshops on integrated, multidisciplinary teaching in the sciences. Since 1994, he has served on the board of directors at the National Center for Science Education and became the NCSE editor in 1995. During that time he has written, solicited, and published numerous articles on the acceptance and understanding of science � especially evolutionary theory � among the general public and in various Christian denominations active in the US. He is co-editor, with Laurie R. Godfrey of the forthcoming Scientists Confront Creationism, revised edition, to be published by WW Norton, Inc. His contribution to that volume is a chapter on the current calls by evolutionist opponents to "teach the controversy" about evolution under the guise of promoting "critical thinking." Dr. Petto helped organize members of NCSE and the PA chapter of the ACLU to oppose changes in the PA science education standards that would insert "intelligent design" creationism into the science curriculum under the guise of promoting "critical thinking."

Controversies in Science and Society: An Exploration of Critical Thinking About Scientific Theories

Andrew J. Petto

Associate Professor of Liberal Arts, University of the Arts, Philadelphia; and Editor, National Center for Science Education, Oakland CA.

When evolution was awarded its proper status as the fundamental theoretical foundation all of modern biology in national and state science education standards, evolution opponents proposed that standards should include considering "alternatives" to evolution under the guise of "critical thinking." Evolution opponents have consistently lost battles in both legal and scientific arenas over the past 30 years, but despite these failures, they have made considerable inroads in the political arena (including the infamous "Santorum Amendment"). What makes these non-scientific proposals so successful?

The answer, it turns out, is embedded in two generally well-regarded principles of modern educational practice: critical thinking and studying controversial and "alternative" explanations. In the first, students learn to pose questions, gather and analyze data, synthesize and apply conclusions to the problem at hand, and evaluate the outcome. Of course, the "critical thinking" of these "alternatives" consists only of looking for unanswered questions, inconsistencies, and potential errors in evolution (and related scientific fields, but only if they seem to support evolution).

The second approach is to present evolution as a "controversial" theory, but this approach confuses the source of the controversy in two important ways. The first confusion is semantic. Materials from the Discovery Institute, for example, typically trumpet the shortcomings of Darwinian theory conveniently ignoring over a century of research that has expanded, modified, and, in some cases, replaced strictly "Darwinian" ideas about evolution. The second source of confusion is more insidious. While it is clear that there is an ongoing controversy about teaching evolution, it is equally clear that this controversy is not a scientific but a socio-culturo-political one. These proposals continue the misinformation inherent in the "two-models" approach of the late 1970s and early 1980s that is, that there are competing scientific models for the history and diversity of life on earth that challenge evolution's role as the theoretical foundation of the biological sciences.

#174

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:24 pm
Subject: PhACT this Sat at 2pm - talk on Controversies in Science and Society

philipkrieg

http://www.demonologyresearch.com/DVDR/index.html

People,

Here's a really whacked out group right in our area: The Delaware Valley Demonology Research

Our state is has more than it's fair share of nonsense. Some of our members in the Lancaster area have

tried to counteract the efforts of a creationist advocacy group that maintains a staffed office. As

mentioned, at the Science Teachers Convention earlier this year, the teachers were met at the door

by people pushing anti-evolution information. Our speaker on Saturday has been instrumental in

keeping just pure science in Biology classes in our state.

The weather should be OK by Saturday for our first meeting of the season, so please come out for our meeting. The following is the announcement from our web page:

Sat Sept 20 2pm Andrew Petto (Science editor for the National Center for Science Education) will speak on Creationism vs Science in a talk called)

Controversies in Science and Society: An Exploration of Critical Thinking About Scientific Theories

Andrew J. Petto

Associate Professor of Liberal Arts, University of the Arts, Philadelphia; and Editor, National Center for Science Education, Oakland CA.

#175

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Tue Oct 7, 2003 2:38 am
Subject: PhACT next meeting Sat Oct 18th 2pm

philipkrieg

People,

On October I8th, I will be giving a talk on "the Fringe Fanatics of Free Energy " that I have been invited to give to CSICOPs conference on hoaxes ,myths, and manias in Albuquerque New Mexico later the same month. I plan to cover the whole underground movement including it's links to other fringe areas, the science they misrepresent, cult aspects, cultural patterns, and some of the cool battles I've gotten myself into. The following is the write up:

Sat Oct 18^th 2pm

Examining the Fringe Culture of Free Energy claimants

A wonderful new age in society would blossom forth if we had a clean fuelless infinite source of energy. Many people believe such technology exists today. Claims of free energy are not merely an urban legend; they are part of a fascinating fringe culture of claimants and believers. Their history actually goes back hundreds of years and is much more than a colorful cast of kooks, cons and morons. Their realm also includes books, journals, conspiracy theory, heroes, bogus science, snake oil demonstrations, incredible patience and creative excuses. Eric�s initial skeptical involvement in their world was probably like a kid poking a wounded animal with a stick, but he has gone on to document this under reported comical side of American culture.

Bio: Eric Krieg is an electrical Engineer currently helping design and develop fiber optic communications systems for JDS Uniphase. He helped found PhACT nearly 10 years ago and currently serves as its president. Eric�s other volunteer work includes teaching science to young people and serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster.

Sat November 2pm

Open Mike Night at PhACT

Members of our group don�t seem to fear ghosts or public speaking. This meeting will prove out the latter. There will be a list of general questions or scenarios on the screen up front. We�ll go around the room making sure everyone gets a turn at one. Come and swap some ideas

Let me know if you'd like to be part of a group of people informally meeting with Amardeo Sarma , <sarma@...> of the German skeptics who will be in the area Oct 31 and Nov 1.

For that matter: unofficial get-together idea: I now work in West Trenton NJ - anyone who also works not far, I'd be happy to meet at lunchtime.

We could also use a volunteer to host a location for our 5th annual "Winter Solstice Party" in late December.

#176

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Thu Oct 16, 2003 2:17 am
Subject: PhACT reminder - this Saturday

philipkrieg

http://www.phact.org/images/map2.gif

I will be giving a free lecture Sat Oct 18th on not just Dennis, but the long history and culture of other free energy kooks and con men at 2pm at the Philadelphia community college. [see directions to W2-48 room of the West Building ]:

Sat Oct 18^th 2pm

Examining the Fringe Culture of Free Energy claimants

A wonderful new age in society would blossom forth if we had a clean fuelless infinite source of energy. Many people believe such technology exists today. Claims of free energy are not merely an urban legend; they are part of a fascinating fringe culture of claimants and believers. Their history actually goes back hundreds of years and is much more than a colorful cast of kooks, cons and morons. Their realm also includes books, journals, conspiracy theory, heroes, bogus science, snake oil demonstrations, incredible patience and creative excuses. Eric�s initial skeptical involvement in their world was probably like a kid poking a wounded animal with a stick, but he has gone on to document this under reported comical side of American culture.

Bio: Eric Krieg is an electrical Engineer currently helping design and develop fiber optic communications systems. He helped found PhACT nearly 10 years ago and currently serves as its president. Eric�s other volunteer work includes teaching science to young people and serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster.

In other news, I'm trying to find a microbiologist (or as near as I can get) to sponsor a 10th grade girl who wants to do some immune system research that might involve some mice.

We hope to get the next issue of Phactum out in a week or two. We will be changing our mailing address and name for checks to be made out.

Eric

#177

From: "eric" <eric@...>
Date: Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:41 am
Subject: PhACT meeting November 15th 2pm "Open Mike Night"

philipkrieg

People,

We have had some great speakers, but it's still worth hearing from all our fellow members. It's my belief that unlike the general population, we generally have no fear of public speaking . . . and luckily have something to say as well. But find out if I'm right on that belief: For his Saturday's meeting, there will be a number of questions on the screen up front, we will take turns picking one and verbally covering it in 3 minutes or so. So show up and participate.

In other news, my trip to New Mexico to speak to the CSICOP gathering worked out well - they were a neat group of people - at least 300 of them.

The meeting this Saturday is at 2pm at the Philadelphia Community College at 17th and Spring Garden. Our next event is the winter solstice party December 21 from 5 to 10pm at the same place as last year. (Farm lane in North Wales). Plan on bringing food of some kind. We'll make sure to have a few kinds of entertainment.

As always, any help getting speakers for next year would be much appreciated. Next year is our 10th anniversary as a group so we will try to have some sort of commemoration meeting.

In other news, the following is a local grad student doing a survey on Astrology:

www.astrologysurvey.org

I close out with a copy of the latest CSICOP email update:

Events on Both Coasts This Week

Symposium to Examine Alternative Medicine and Mental Health Claims
at New York Academy of Medicine

Press Contact: Kevin Christopher
E-mail: kchristopher@...

A new Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH) will be
officially inaugurated in New York on Thursday, November 13, 2003, with a
symposium at the New York Academy of Medicine. The council is devoted to the
scientific examinations of unproven alternative medicine and mental health
therapies, which, according to the organizers, are increasingly popular in
the United States and the world (see the full official statement of the
council below).

A panel of experts from North America and Europe will meet at the symposium
to discuss the increasing use of complementary and alternative therapies in
medical and mental health practice. Titled "The Assault on Scientific
Medicine and Mental Health: Protecting the Public in the Age of
Pseudoscience," the symposium is sponsored by CSMMH and CFI Metro NY. The
event will be held in Room 20, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Academy, located
at 1216 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street. This event is free and open to the
public. For more information, contact Susan Jacoby at 212 265 2877
(sjacoby@...), or Austin Dacey (adacey@...).

Paul Kurtz, chairman of the Center for Inquiry and the new council, will be
joined by Wallace Sampson, M.D., editor of the Scientific Review of
Alternative Medicine, and Scott Lilienfeld, Ph. D., editor of the Scientific
Review of Mental Health Practice, along with a panel of doctors,
psychiatrists and medical journalists, at this inaugural event to set a
keynote for CSMMH's future efforts. Dr. Sampson recently appeared on PBS's
Frontline on the November 6th in a report titled "The Alternative Fix"
(http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/altmed/).

"For years federally funded institutes like the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine and major hospitals have been
mainstreaming the image of alternative therapies," says Paul Kurtz. "This is
incredible, because none of these so-called alternatives to real,
science-based medicine has ever been substantiated by credible research.
This new Council seeks to educate the media, the public, and practitioners
about the dangers of alternative treatments and where the evidence of their
efficacy really stands."

Americans pay $48 billion each year for acupuncture, chiropractic, herbs,
homeopathic remedies and other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Hospitals and medical schools around the country are increasingly embracing
these treatments-despite the fact that they are implausible and unproven.
Unsubstantiated practices are also rife in the mental health field, where
widely used psychotherapies like recovered memory-which have never been
established clinically-are being publicly discredited.

Other expert speakers at the symposium include:

- Kimball Atwood, M.D., anesthesiologist, Newton Wellesley Hospital,
Assistant Clinical Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine
- Robert Buckman, M.D., oncologist, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health
Science Center, Toronto, Canada
- Saul Green, Ph.D., biochemist (retired), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center; science editor of the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
- Cees Rencken, M.D., gynecologist, chairman of Vereniging tegen de
Kwakzalverij (The Union Against Quackery), The Netherlands
- Andrew Skolnick, M.D., science and medicine journalist, former associate
editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association

The Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health (CSMMH) is a project
of the Center for Inquiry, a non-profit 501(c)3 educational organization
that publishes two scientific journals sponsored by CSMMH: The Scientific
Review of Alternative Medicine and The Scientific Review of Mental Health
Practice. CSMMH is dedicated to the critical and scientific examination of
complementary and alternative therapies in medical and mental health
practice. The CSMMH Web site is http://www.csmmh.org. The council's official
statement can obtained from Kevin Christopher
(kchristopher@...).

###

In 2000, Paul Kurtz, Chairman of of the New Council for Scientific Medicine
and Mental was invited to participate at a December 2000 meeting of the
White House Commission on Complimentary and Alternative Medicine in
Washington, DC. The panelists were asked to provide answers to four
questions on whether CAM should be integrated into modern health care to the
commission (see http://www.csicop.org/list/listarchive/msg00136.html).

###
The official statement of the new Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental
Health:

A Statement from the
Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health

The application of modern science to mental and physical health has allowed
human beings to overcome age-old maladies and increase longevity. Despite
the clear progress in human mental and physical well being, many patients
and practitioners have embraced unfounded, and sometimes dangerous,
practices, both ancient and new. In recent years, a wide range of
unconventional therapies has appeared on the public scene. The fields of
medicine and mental health have witnessed a widening gap between research
and practice.

Aberrant remedies and techniques are often offered uncritically as
alternative or complementary to mainstream medicine. They include everything
from untested herbal medicines, homeopathy, and aromatherapy to the use of
acupuncture, therapeutic touch, prayer at a distance, faith healing,
chelation therapy, and purportedly miraculous cancer cures. A wide variety
of unsubstantiated or untested treatments and therapies (such as facilitated
communication and hypnotic age regression) and assessment methods (such as
human figure drawing tests) have flourished in popularity in recent years in
the field of mental health. Still other techniques (such as anatomically
correct dolls and the Rorschach Inkblot Test) are widely used even though
they are questionable on scientific grounds. Although some of these
techniques may ultimately prove to be effective, it is disturbing that their
use greatly outstrips their evidentiary base.

The Council believes that the need for objective, scientific evaluations of
alternative or non-conventional medicine, psychiatry, and psychotherapy has
never been greater. This conclusion seems inescapable because:

(1) There is a lack of readily available, scientifically supported
information about the efficacy of such treatments. This impairs patients'
free choice and increases risks to their health. The potential harm appears
to be growing. The trend is abetted by those who promote unproven
treatments.

(2) The media all too often dote on controversial and false claims but
unfortunately provide all too few careful examinations of them, usually
preferring to titillate or entertain. Often what the public hears is
anecdotal testimony of people allegedly helped or cured, not the results of
scientific research. Many best-selling books promote the power of such
alleged healings, but they hardly pass the scrutiny of peer review.

(3) Several new journals devoted exclusively to alternative medicine have
appeared recently, but they merely advocate unconventional treatments and
rarely assess them objectively.

(4) Both the public and some medical and mental health professionals seem
unaware that credible, scientific assessments of many alternative health
claims already exist and that new evaluations based on available information
are possible.

(5) There is a critical need to test new claims before they are marketed to
the public.

The new Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health will promote the
critical, scientific examination of alternative medicine and mental health
practices and will publish analyses, reviews, and studies in two
peer-reviewed journals: The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and
the Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice.

The Council proposes that the best tools of science should be applied to
evaluate the validity of hypotheses and the effectiveness of treatments. It
will dismiss no claim a priori, but consider it on its merits or because it
fits, or fails to fit, some paradigm. It will, using scientific methods and
reasonable criteria, seek justified answers to the question "Does this
treatment work?" It will call for double-blind and randomized trials of
alternative therapies.

Much dubious research has been widely promoted in the Internet, newspapers,
television and radio that has later been found to be flawed. Unfortunately,
news coverage demonstrates that many in the media are often misinformed
about the quality of the research and the need to qualify the importance or
to suspend judgment until a full review by the scientific community has a
chance to expose shortcomings. The Council will actively communicate the
need for balanced media coverage of provocative research in alternative
medicine and mental health practice.

Citizens rely on the expertise of health practitioners and the commitment to
objective journalism to make informed decisions about their medical and
mental health. The Council therefore calls upon physicians, psychologists,
researchers, health practitioners, journalists and citizens everywhere to
join us in supporting this important venture to advance scientific medicine
and informed choice.

###

For Immediate Release
Contact: James Underdown, Executive Director, Center for Inquiry -West
Tel.: (323) 666-9797
E-mail: jimu@...

Grand Opening of Steve Allen Theater at Center for Inquiry - West
Jayne Meadows to Join Others in Dedicating Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood

Los Angeles, CA (November 7, 2003)-The Center for Inquiry - West, the
largest facility promoting science, reason, and the philosophy of secular
humanism in the western United States, will officially open the doors of its
Steve Allen Theater on Saturday, November 15, 2003 at 1:00 p.m. The open
house and the afternoon and evening events in Allen's honor are open to the
public. For more information, contact Terry Rozelle at (323) 666-9797,
extension 102, or Vaughn Rees at extension 105. The Center for Inquiry-West
is located at 4773 Hollywood Blvd in Hollywood.

"Steve Allen was for many years a great public promoter of rational thought
and ethics," says Paul Kurtz, who published several of Allen's books,
including Dumbth, through Prometheus Books. "He was a man not only of great
wit, but also great integrity. He was one of the few voices in contemporary
culture interested in raising the standards of all public discourse, both in
entertainment and the news. We are proud to pay tribute to Steve for his
support of reason and virtue," Kurtz adds.

Kurtz notes that Allen-who died unexpectedly on October 30, 2000, from
complications after a traffic accident-was an active supporter of the Center
for Inquiry from its inception. Allen made scores of appearances for the
Center over the years.

The Center's open house will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. From 3 p.m. to 5
p.m., there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and building dedication
program featuring Kurtz, who is the founder of the Centers for Inquiry and
chairman of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Committee for the
Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. Kurtz will also be
joined other science and freethought leaders.

At 7:30 p.m., Jayne Meadows, will dedicate the Steve Allen Theater, and
unveil a bronze bust of her late husband. This brand-new theater with
parking is already a popular performance space in Los Angeles. A comedy show
will follow the Steve Allen Theater dedication. Actress-writer Julia
Sweeney, actor Robert Forster, sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison, and comedian
Gabe Kaplan, among other notable actors, authors, and comedians are also
expected to attend.

The Center for Inquiry-West is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational
organization established "To promote and defend reason, science, and freedom
of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor." CFI-West is the West Coast home
of the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the
Paranormal (CSICOP), publisher of Skeptical Inquirer magazine, and for the
Council for Secular Humanism, publisher of Free Inquiry magazine. Visit the
CFI-West Web site at CFIWest.org, or e-mail James Underdown at
JimU@....

###

#178

From: <erickrieg@...>
Date: Wed Jan 14, 2004 4:22 am
Subject: Phact - reminder, meeting this Sat

philipkrieg

People,

    Don't forget, it should be this Saturday that we have the first PhACT meeting
of the year.  - but check your email before leaving.  If it looks like the
weather will be real bad, I will email out a cancellation notice.    The newest
issue of Phactum is finally in the mail.

    We are starting our 10th year as an organization.   Later this year, we hope
to schedule a 10 year anniversary banquette.  Among other events could be a test
of Astrology, a ghost tour at the near by penitentiary and another summer
picnic.  The coming event next Saturday weather permitting at 2pm is:


Toxicology in the Media: Separating Fact from Fiction - by David Cragin

Modern science has changed our lives such that now personal decisions heavily
influence a person�s healthspan and lifespan.  However, media reports often give
seemingly conflicting information on �what is good for you� versus �what is bad
for you� and it can be difficult to make good decisions.  Using news reports and
other sources, Dr. Cragin will offer some simple techniques for spotting health
misinformation.  Having this information will enable you to make better
decisions about protecting your health and the environment.



Bio: Dave Cragin is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Departments of
Pharmacology/Toxicology and Health Sciences at the University of the Sciences in
Philadelphia and is a Principal Occupational and Environmental Toxicologist for
Merck & Co.  At the university, he teaches a class on risk assessment and
critical thinking.  Dr. Cragin received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology
from the University of California, Davis, his B.S. in Zoology from the
University of Rhode Island and is a Diplomate of the American Board of
Toxicology.   He is a Councilor for PhACT and also serves as Vice-President of
the Mid-Atlantic Society of Toxicology.  He is experienced in the integration of
toxicological and epidemiological data for assessing risks to health.

#179

From: "eric" <erickrieg@...>
Date: Sat Feb 14, 2004 10:07 pm
Subject: PhACT - next meeting, learn about assessing health risks

philipkrieg

I hope you can make our coming meeting:

Sat Feb 21st 2pm in the W2-48 room of the West Building at the Community College of Philadelphia:

Risky Business: Assessing Risks to Human Health

What is risk? Which risks matter? Mike Jayjock, Ph.D., CIH, will give a talk on how we view risk and how scientists calculate health risks.

Dr. Jayjock is a Senior Research Fellow in the Rohm and Haas Toxicology Department; he is also the Manager of Risk Assessment. He has a Masters and a Ph.D. from Drexel University in Environmental Engineering and Science and he is a CIH in the comprehensive practice of Industrial Hygiene.

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

We are still looking for the following:

someone to help out with editing PhACTUM
more speakers or ideas for speakers
more articles to run in PhACTUM
help in another month with a membership invitation mailing

Feel free to check out our improved list of books available to borrow:

Eric Krieg

#180

From: "eric" <erickrieg@...>
Date: Tue Mar 16, 2004 9:38 pm
Subject: Fw: PhACT meeting March 20th 2pm

philipkrieg

People,

This Saturday is not just the Spring equinox - it's another chance to engage your brain. Our speaker for 2pm this Saturday at room W2-48 of the Philadelphia Community college is Professor Dan Sullivan. He is the director of the Henry George School of Economics in Philadelphia. Henry George (1839-1897) developed a theory of economics based on land taxation. He argued that land belonged to society, which created its value and should properly tax that value, not improvements on the land. In his theories George sought to end poverty, without destroying the individual ownership and incentives. A quote from Henry George:

"No theory is too false, no fable too absurd, no superstition too degrading for acceptance when it has become imbedded in common belief. Men will submit themselves to torture and to death, mothers will immolate their children, at the bidding of beliefs they thus accept." [Henry George, Social Problems]

The Henry George School of Social Science is located at 413 South 10th Street (between Pine and Lombard Streets) in one of Philadelphia's early nineteenth century neighborhoods. Discussion courses and other programs are offered during the year at this and other locations throughout the Philadelphia area. The telephone number is 215-922-4278. Professor Sullivan is politically active and has chaired chapters of the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and has also been an active member of the GOP.

On Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m., our own Bill Wisdom, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Temple University, will speak on "Freedom, Determinism, and Moral Responsibility". This will have nothing to do with the paranormal, and little to do with skepticism, but will rather be an exercise in critical thinking about a cluster of notions that are more often used than carefully considered. The cluster is interesting in part because it lies at the point where the three main branches of
Philosophy meet: Ethics, Metaphysics, and the Theory of Knowledge. Bill will address the questions of what the terms "freedom", "determinism", and "moral responsibility" mean--or might mean, or ought to mean--and how they are related to each other, in hopes of provoking an active discussion of these and related topics.

And, mark your calendar for June 19th from 9am to 2pm - our annual picnic at Upper Dublin's Mondauk Common park.

In other news: The latest issue of Phactum went out last week. My picture is in the latest issue of SI where there was a mention of the Albuquerque meeting. Also, we could use a volunteer to help get one of the local colleges to host James Randi as a speaker. We are also interested in any volunteers who could meet March 24 in North Wales to help with a "mailing party" - where we would prepare letters to invite SI subscribers to join. Our last speaker really likes our group and decided to join. Former speaker, Faye Flam has had some great science articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer including one on fringe people claiming to see all kinds of signs of intelligence in the latest Mars images.

Our PhACT board discussion page is found at:

Our lending library page has just been updated at:

It's easy to use: you can either sign up to be on hand to loan out some of your books, or peruse the selection at ask the owner to loan you a book at the next meeting.

Eric Krieg

#181

From: "eric" <erickrieg@...>
Date: Tue Mar 16, 2004 9:38 pm
Subject: Fw: PhACT meeting March 20th 2pm

philipkrieg

People,

"No theory is too false, no fable too absurd, no superstition too degrading for acceptance when it has become imbedded in common belief. Men will submit themselves to torture and to death, mothers will immolate their children, at the bidding of beliefs they thus accept." [Henry George, Social Problems]

And, mark your calendar for June 19th from 9am to 2pm - our annual picnic at Upper Dublin's Mondauk Common park.

Our PhACT board discussion page is found at:

Our lending library page has just been updated at:

It's easy to use: you can either sign up to be on hand to loan out some of your books, or peruse the selection at ask the owner to loan you a book at the next meeting.

Eric Krieg

#182

From: "eric" <erickrieg@...>
Date: Wed Apr 14, 2004 1:18 am
Subject: PhACT Sat April 17th 2pm - lecture: "Freedom, Determinism, and Moral Responsibility".

philipkrieg

People,

On Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m., our own Bill Wisdom, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Temple University, will speak on "Freedom, Determinism, and Moral Responsibility". This will have nothing to do with the paranormal, and little to do with skepticism, but will rather be an exercise in critical thinking about a cluster of notions that are more often used than carefully considered. The cluster is interesting in part because it lies at the point where the three main branches of Philosophy meet: Ethics, Metaphysics, and the Theory of Knowledge. Bill will address the questions of what the terms "freedom", "determinism", and "moral responsibility" mean--or might mean, or ought to mean--and how they are related to each other, in hopes of provoking an active discussion of these and related topics.

On May 15, we expect to meet to get a tour of the old Eastern State Penitentiary on Fairmount Ave.

And, mark your calendar for June 19th changed to noon to 4pm - our annual picnic at Upper Dublin's Mondauk Common park.

A few nights ago, PBS ran a one sided show called "Secrets of the Dead" - it was about as balanced as super market line tabloids. I had hoped they were better than that.

I got the following write up in the Ambler Gazette for my participation in the Sandy Run Middle School Career and Interest Day:

Sandy Run parent Eric Krieg dropped by to debunk so-called evidence of supernatural occurrences during his "paranormal abilities" presentation. Here, students were given.the opportunity to "engage their minds and espouse critical thinking" when it comes to unexplained happenings. "The main thing I wanted to do is make the students question what they hear", Krieg said. Krieg, an electrical engineer, is president of the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, an organization that investigates claims of the paranormal. He considers skepticism a hobby. During the session, Krieg chose seventh-grade social studies teacher Alayne Greenberg as his "psychic assistant." Greenberg said Krieg's presentation seems to be one of the most popular sessions, attracting a high level of attendance. "he throws a lot of different topics at them," Greenberg said. "It's cute, he really gets the kids into it". Among some of Krieg's topics are homeopathic medicine, extrasensory perception and therapeutic touch.

CSICOP fellow Ben Radford is likely to be in the area to either speak to us or have a book signing June 10 or 11.

Our PhACT board discussion page is found at:

Our lending library page is at:

http://www.stanford.edu/~rhorn/a/topic/phil/artclTrapsOfFormalLogic.html

It's easy to use: you can either sign up to be on hand to loan out some of your books, or peruse the selection at ask the owner to loan you a book at the next meeting.

The following is a great url on critical thinking:

I've been having a debate with MJ12 promoter Stanton Friedman on another email list.

The following announcement was forwarded to our group:

Penn Humanities Forum on Belief, Spring 2004
__________________________________________
Should People Believe What Scientists Say?
The Problem of Elite Knowledge in a Democratic Society

Richard C. Lewontin
Alexander Agassiz Research Professor
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University
__________________________________________

Wednesday * April 14 * 5:00 p.m.
Dunlop Auditorium, Stemmler Hall, 3450 Hamilton Walk
University of Pennsylvania
(one half-block south of 34th & Spruce)

Registration required:
online: http://humanities.sas.upenn.edu/03-04/lewontin.html
email: humanities@...

Free * Public Invited * Please Circulate
__________________________________________

Many people now believe that science is today's religion, that its word
is gospel and the authority of its clergy/scientists inviolate.

Richard Lewontin, one of our most brilliant evolutionary biologists and
a leading critic of many of his contemporary scientific popularizers,
considers head on our rush to take the side of science "in spite of the
patent absurdity of some its constructs, in spite of its failure to
fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life."

A leader in developing the mathematical basis of population genetics
and evolutionary theory, Richard Lewontin pioneered the notion of using
techniques from molecular biology to apply to questions of genetic
variation and evolution. In a pair of 1966 papers coauthored with J.L.
Hubby in the journal Genetics, Lewontin helped set the stage for the
modern field of molecular evolution.

Details, Spring Events, Penn Humanities Forum on Belief:
http://humanities.sas.upenn.edu

"Belief" Topic Director:
Carol Muller, Associate Professor of Music, University of Pennsylvania

#183

From: "eric" <erickrieg@...>
Date: Sat May 8, 2004 12:56 pm
Subject: Fw: May 15 Phact meeting 1:45 tour of Eastern Penitentiary (said to be haunted)

philipkrieg

People,

This coming meeting is one of those that a non-skeptic significant other would probably enjoy:

Tour of the purportedly haunted Eastern Penitentiary (22nd & Fairmount)

We have long eaten at Jack�s firehouse after meetings right across from the looming Penn. If we have at least 12 people, the tickets will only be 7.50$ for a private tour- (9 if we don�t have enough). Make sure to meet there early for the 2pm tour. The site now has a number of forms of progressive artwork commemorating a bygone era. It is a real historical landmark: in 1787, a group of forward thinking people decided to build a at the time modern facility where criminals could have time for reflection to reform themselves according to Quaker principals in total isolation. The facility was built 30 years later as the largest building of its time. More than 300 other prisons were built worldwide according to the same plan. Eventually people began to question the arbitrary presumption of the reforming value of total isolation and silence. Charles Dickens wrote of the prison in 1842:

In its intention I am well convinced that it is kind, humane, and meant for reformation; but I am persuaded that those who designed this system of Prison Discipline, and those benevolent gentleman who carry it into execution, do not know what it is that they are doing....I hold this slow and daily tampering with the mysteries of the brain to be immeasurably worse than any torture of the body; and because its ghastly signs and tokens are not so palpable to the eye,... and it extorts few cries that human ears can hear; therefore I the more denounce it, as a secret punishment in which slumbering humanity is not roused up to stay.

The public eventually sided with Dickens and the Quaker plan for prisons was dropped in 1913. The East Penn modernized somewhat last century and included a death row - it housed a number of infamous people (probably a good number of innocents as well). It was eventually closed in 1971 and opened as a tourist attraction 3 years ago. Like practically every old building, it is said to be haunted, so we will keep an eye out. For more information, go to:

www.easternstate.org/

In other news, we need more submissions for the coming issue of Phactum. And we are trying to negotiate with a remote viewer and an astrologer over terms of proper tests of their claims (let us know if you want in on the action)

Channel 12 usually doesn't lower truth standards for the sake of ratings - but recently has been running a one-sided series promoting the paranormal. Ouch.

And, don't forget June 19th changed to noon to 4pm - our annual picnic at Upper Dublin's Mondauk Common park. Fun for the whole family.

A few of us will meet May 12 in North Wales to put together a mass mailing to the CSICOP local members.

Our PhACT board discussion page is found at:

Our lending library page can be at:

It's easy to use: you can either sign up to be on hand to loan out some of your books, or peruse the selection at ask the owner to loan you a book at the next meeting.

#184

From: "eric" <erickrieg@...>
Date: Wed May 12, 2004 2:08 am
Subject: Eric Krieg and Bob Glickman on WWDB this Friday

philipkrieg

http://www.phact.org/meetings.html

Hey folks,

This Friday at 3pm to 4pm, Bob Glickman and I will be on Paul Kircher's show for a talk about paranormal claims and critical thinking. This is 860 on the AM band. Feel free to call in and heckle, question or comment.

a reminder - This Saturday at 1:45, there will be a tour of the old Eastern Penn in Philadelphia - details at:

Eric Krieg

#185

From: <erickrieg@...>
Date: Mon Jun 14, 2004 2:41 am
Subject: PhACT - end of season picnic Sat June 19, noon to 4

philipkrieg

People,

    The Phact Picnic/ Family-Fun-Day is coming up next Saturday, June19 from noon
to 4pm.  Bring food.  There is a grill in the pavilion we can use.    The park
has fields to chuck stuff back and forth, a mile loop exercise path, play
grounds, etc.  We have reserved the little pavilion in the woods again, so we
are OK even if it rains.


Directions:
We are in the South East corner of Mondauk Common park.  From the turnpike, take
309 north, take 2nd exit and turn right on Susquehanna, turn left at 2nd light
on to Broad St. and make the 2nd left in the 2nd parking lot.  Follow the trial
straight up to the pavilion.


We will be off till our Sept 18 meeting back in the Philadelphia Community
College.  The latest issue of Phactum went out yesterday - the headline story
was a recent PhACT radio appearance .  We did a PhACT membership solicitation
mailing to CSICOP members in this area.  We could use some donated money to
offset our low membership fee.

best wishes,

Eric Krieg
PS: Our discussion board is at:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/106498