People,

    As there is still need for more rationality in the world, we are starting
another season.  Grab that calendar.    OK, now block out Sept 17, Oct 15 and
Nov 19.    Saturday September 17, we have Joe Szimhart speaking about that
irritating best seller, The Da Vinci Code.  This is a chance to learn a little
real history while seeing the bottom fall out of another multi-generational
conspiracy theory.  Joe has spoken for PhACT in the past and has done a lot of
good work raising awareness about destructive cults.
http://www.culticstudiesreview.org/csr_bkreviews/bkrev_davincicode.htm

   Then, Oct 15, we have a chance to hear about Bio Ethics and Human
Consciousness from local Drexel professor, Stacy Ake.
http://www.meta-library.net/bio/ake-body.html

   November 21, we will hear from the controversial prolific author, Charles
Eisenstein. He teaches in the Department of Science, Technology, and Society at
Penn State University.  A sampling of some of his contrarian (sometimes fringe)
writings are found at:
http://www.yogaofeating.com/writings.html

   We also plan to have another winter solstice party either Dec 21st or possibly
the Saturday before - depends on any possible volunteers to host it.

     In other news, our Phactum editor, Greg Lester is trying to get out the
latest issue (give him a break for being behind, he's a new dad).   We had about
a dozen people out for the June picnic at Ringing Rocks in Bucks County - then
in an amazing coincidence last month, a production company for a Discovery
Channel travel show started an episode including Ringing Rocks.  They videoed me
for a few hours talking about alleged paranormal activity there.

     Another point for the importance of science:   There was a prescient 2001
Scientific American article on how New Orleans is a disaster waiting to happen,
why the city is sinking, and how the Levees have contributed to the daily loss
of acres of protective delta:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=00060286-CB58-1315-8B5883414B7F0000
We are hoping to line up a speaker in the future to talk about relative risks
(even possibly nuclear ones) to our way of life.

Eric Krieg

Hey folks,

So far, the voice of reason seems to be prevailing in Dover against pernicious people  trying to sneak a religious-based perspective into science classes.  People who were only happy with evolution censored have been losing every battle to sneak the camel's nose back in the tent.  Regardless of the outcome, many students come to school biased against understanding the prime concept in biology.   The youngest of us must be ready for a lifetime of vigilance for unfettered science.

   2 weeks ago, Tom Napier, David Leiter and I visited PEAR, Princeton Anomalies Engineering Research.   They do among the more responsible efforts to find proof for the paranormal out there.  In thousands of test spanning decades, they seem to find very slight evidence for intent seeming to have a remote impact on devices that one would expect to operate only according to randomness.  The effect they claim to detect is quite small and only appears above slightly above chance in thousands of trials.  The people doing the tests seemed educated, responsible and quite aware of proper test protocol, they (unlike run of the mill paranormal claimants) do not mind being "audited" and make their procedures and data public.  Although I personally can offer no "here-is-where-your-claim-falls-to-the-ground" response, there may be skeptics more knowledgeable in such studies that could offer reasons to "suspend belief".   More on this will appear on our newsletter.

   The following is our speaker for Saturday Oct 15th:

Saturday, October 15, 2004 in room W2-48

at 2:00 PM

Professor Stacy Ake from Drexel University will give a talk on

"Bioethics and Human Consciousness"

In her philosophical work, Professor Ake attempts to show continuity from the biological to the spiritual in the evolution of human consciousness while simultaneously trying to keep the tension of discontinuity. The relationship between language and consciousness, with its moral or ethical implications and its religious ramifications, is her preferred area of interest.

Professor Ake received a Ph.D. in Biology from Penn State University. She has also studied at the Søren Kierkegaard Research Center at the University of Copenhagen, where she was later employed as a guest researcher, lecturer, and translator from 1997-2000. She also worked with the Spontaneous Order of Life group at the Niels Bohr Institute and the Biosemiotics group at the Institute for Molecular Biology.

 People,

Don't forget Saturday a week, a lecture from the other side:

Saturday Nov 19^th 2pm Belief Intention and Reality

Synopsis: Until recently, there has been a clear divide between science, which posited an objective universe that was separable in principle from the observer, and "spirituality" or religion, which held that intentions, beliefs, prayers and so forth affect or even create reality. Today, this divide is crumbling. In this talk, I will draw on some extraordinary (and some mundane) anecdotes from my personal experience to illustrate the inseparability of belief and reality. I will also argue that a major sea-change is occurring in our civilization's conception of self, a transition from the discrete and separate self of Descartes to one conceived in terms of interconnectedness or even interbeingness. The result will be a collapse of the matter/spirit distinction, which has rendered spirit into a separate and therefore materially inconsequential realm, and rendered matter into a despiritualized and dispirited arena of self-interest and survival.

Speaker's Bio: Charles Eisenstein is a faculty member of Penn State's Department of Science, Technology, and Society, and the author of The Yoga of Eating (NewTrends 2003). His next book, The Ascent of Humanity, will be published in April 2006, and explores the history and possible future of civilization from the perspective of the cultural concept of self.

Although I'm not aware of any "crumbling" in the mechanistic-Cartesian model of reality - I'm interested to hear our speakers talk as he is quite well read on the skeptical position.  He introduces his students to the general message of organized skepticism.  Having met him in person - I found it fascinating how he seemed to take the opposite position from me in every single societal, historical or political issue we discussed.  Those are the people I learn more from.

   The solstice party for this year will be at Bonnie's house again at 1021 Melrose Ave in Elkins Park 6:30pm December 17th. Because of changing road construction in the area, directions will be emailed later. Email RSV P's to me at erickrieg@...

   As a possible coming PhACT investigation, we are negotiating with Bich Ba Do, a local QiGong practitioner who has applied for the Randi million dollar prize.   Randi would like us to perform an initial test.  We hope to agree to fair terms for a test of his claimed paranormal ability to induce a tingling sensation in subjects.  

   As always, we could use some web help, more money for future projects, more speakers and submissions for Phactum.

 In other news: the battle is on to protect schools from creationist foot in the door.   I don't think the schools should have to promote fringe challenges to established science - especially religious ones.  Organized skeptics groups have been trying to hold a line on this issue for years.   The follow fake news story makes some good points:
http://www.phact.org/images/IDkooks.jpg

Eric Krieg

http://www.phact.org/images/antiScience.jpg

BBF - 1021 Melrose Avenue
Melrose Park PA 19027
Phone: (215) 635-2882

Anyone coming north from Philly should go up Broad Street, veer right after (I think it's) 66th St. when Old York Road veers off, just after the Oak Lane Diner on the left.  Take Old York Road to Melrose Avenue (3rd light on right after Cheltenham Ave.).  Then, turn a sharp right onto Melrose and follow these directions from MCCC:

Take 202 south to 73, Skippack Pike.

Turn left, and take 73 to Bethlehem Pike, about 5 miles (1st light after going under bridge).

Turn right at Bethlehem Pike, go to next light, and turn left, onto Church Road.

Stay on Church Road for 5.7 very curvy miles, until you cross Old York Road (Rt. 611).

Turn right on Old York Road, pass one light and go under RR bridge.
(EP Square on right, with Blockbuster Video)

After RR bridge, count lights and turn left at 4th one (Elkins, Spring, Ashbourne, Melrose).
(Gratz College-Mandell Education Campus sign)

Once on Melrose Avenue, go 2 blocks. After you cross the 2nd street, it's the 2nd house on the left, 1021 Melrose.

BBF - 1021 Melrose Avenue
Melrose Park PA 19027
Phone: (215) 635-2882

Anyone coming north from Philly should go up Broad Street, veer right after (I think it's) 66th St. when Old York Road veers off, just after the Oak Lane Diner on the left.  Take Old York Road to Melrose Avenue (3rd light on right after Cheltenham Ave.).  Then, turn a sharp right onto Melrose and follow these directions from MCCC:

Take 202 south to 73, Skippack Pike.

Turn left, and take 73 to Bethlehem Pike, about 5 miles (1st light after going under bridge).

Turn right at Bethlehem Pike, go to next light, and turn left, onto Church Road.

Stay on Church Road for 5.7 very curvy miles, until you cross Old York Road (Rt. 611).

Turn right on Old York Road, pass one light and go under RR bridge.
(EP Square on right, where Blockbuster Video used to be)

After RR bridge, count lights and turn left at 4th one (Elkins, Spring, Ashbourne, Melrose).
(Gratz College-Mandell Education Campus sign)

Once on Melrose Avenue, go 2 blocks. After you cross the 2nd street, it's the 2nd house on the left, 1021 Melrose.

Subject: Creationists Defeat: Judge Bars 'Intelligent Design' From PA Classes!

www.nytimes.com/


CHRISTIAN CREATIONISTS CRASH & BURN WITH 'INTELLIGENT DESIGN' BANNED
FROM ALL PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL CLASSES / SEEN AS POSITIVE REAFFIRMATION OF
FAMOUS "SKOPES MONKEY TRIAL" / SHOWDOWN NOW SEEN IN KANSAS ?  By
Laurie Goodstein, N Y Times Staff Writer, Wednesday, December 21, 2005


HARRISBURG, PA., Dec. 21 ? A federal judge ruled today that it is
unconstitutional for a Pennsylvania school district to present
intelligent design as an alternative to evolution in high school biology
courses because intelligent design is a religious viewpoint that
advances "a particular version of Christianity."

In the nation's first case to test the legal merits of intelligent
design, Judge John E. Jones III issued a broad, stinging rebuke to its
advocates and a boost to scientists who have fought to bar intelligent
design from the science curriculum.

The judge also excoriated members of the school board in Dover, Pa., who
he said lied to cover up their religious motives, made a decision of
"breathtaking inanity" and "dragged" their community into "this legal
maelstrom with its resulting utter waste of monetary and personal
resources."

Eleven parents in Dover, Pa., a growing suburb about 20 miles south of
Harrisburg, sued their school board a year ago after the board voted to
read students a brief statement introducing intelligent design in ninth
grade biology class. The statement said that there are "gaps in the
theory" of evolution and that intelligent design is another explanation
they should examine.

Judge Jones concluded that intelligent design is not science, and that
in order to claim that it is, its proponents admitted that they must
change the very definition of science to include supernatural
explanations. He said that teaching intelligent design as science in
public school violates the First Amendment of the Constitution, which
prohibits public officials from using their positions to impose or
establish a particular religion.

"To be sure, Darwin's theory of evolution is imperfect," Judge Jones
wrote. "However, the fact that a scientific theory cannot yet render an
explanation on every point should not be used as a pretext to thrust an
untestable alternative hypothesis grounded in religion into the science
classroom or to misrepresent well-established scientific propositions."

The six-week trial in Federal District Court in Harrisburg gave
intelligent design the most thorough academic and legal airing it has
had since the movement's inception about 15 years ago, and was often
likened to the momentous Scopes case that put evolution on trial 80
years before.

Intelligent design posits that biological life is so complex that it
must have been designed by an intelligent source. Its adherents say that
they refrain from identifying the identity of the designer, and that it
could even be aliens or a time traveler.

But the judge said the evidence in the trial proved that intelligent
design is "creationism relabeled." The Supreme Court has already ruled
that creationism, which relies on the Biblical account of the creation
of life, cannot be taught as science in a public school.

The decision by the judge, a longtime Republican nominated for the
federal bench by President Bush during his first term, is legally
binding only for school districts in the middle district of
Pennsylvania. It is unlikely to be appealed, because the school board
members who supported intelligent design were unseated in elections in
November, and replaced with a slate that opposes the intelligent design
policy and said it would abide by the judge's decision.

But lawyers for the plaintiffs said at a news conference in Harrisburg
that the decision should serve as a deterrent to other school boards and
teachers who are considering teaching intelligent design.

"It's a carefully reasoned, highly detailed opinion," said Richard
Katskee, assistant legal director of Americans United for Separation of
Church and State, "that goes through all of the issues that would be
raised in any other school district."

Richard Thompson, the lead defense lawyer for the school board, derided
the judge for having issued such a sweeping judgment in a case that he
said merely involved a "one-minute statement" being read to students. He
acknowledged that his side, too, had asked the judge to rule on the
scientific merits of intelligent design, but only because they had to
respond to the plaintiffs' arguments.

"A thousand opinions by a court that a particular scientific theory is
invalid will not make that scientific theory invalid," said Mr.
Thompson, the president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center,
a public interest firm in Ann Arbor, Mich., that says it promotes
Christian values. "It is going to be up to the scientists who are going
to continue to do research in their labs that will ultimately determine
that."

Before the start of a celebratory news conference in Harrisburg, Tammy
Kitzmiller, a parent of two daughters in the Dover district and the
named plaintiff in the case, Kitzmiller et al v. Dover, joked with other
plaintiffs that she had an idea for a new bumper sticker: "Judge Jones
for President."

Christy Rehm, another plaintiff, said to the others, "We've done
something amazing here, not only with this decision, but with the
election" of a new school board -- a surprising outcome in which Dover
voters ousted eight board members who had backed the intelligent design
policy. The winners ran on a Democratic ticket, while Dover usually
votes majority Republican.

The judge's ruling said that two of the most outspoken proponents of
intelligent design on the Dover school board, William Buckingham and
Alan Bonsell, lied in their depositions about how they raised money in a
church to buy copies of an intelligent design textbook, "Of Pandas And
People," to put in the school library.

Both men, according to testimony, had repeatedly said at school board
meetings that they objected to evolution for religious reasons, and
wanted to see creationism taught on equal par.

Judge Jones wrote, "It is ironic that several of these individuals, who
so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public,
would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real
purpose behind the ID Policy."

Neither Mr. Bonsell or Mr. Buckingham responded to telephone messages
today seeking their comments.

In his opinion, the judge traced the history of the intelligent design
movement back to what he said were its roots in Christian
fundamentalism. He seemed especially persuaded by the testimony of
Barbara Forrest, a historian of science, that the authors of the
"Pandas" textbook had removed the word "creationism" from an earlier
edition and substituted it with "intelligent design" after the Supreme
Court's ruling in 1987.

"We conclude that the religious nature of intelligent design would be
readily apparent to an objective observer, adult or child," he said.
"The writings of leading ID proponents reveal that the designer
postulated by their argument is the God of Christianity."

Opponents of intelligent design said it would not put an end to the
intelligent design movement, and predicted it would take on various
guises. The Kansas Board of Education voted in November to adopt
standards that call into question the theory of evolution, but never
explicitly mention intelligent design.

Eugenie Scott, executive director, National Center for Science
Education, an advocacy group in Oakland, Ca., that promotes teaching
evolution, said in an interview, "I predict that another school board
down the line will try to bring intelligent design into the curriculum
like the Dover group did, and they'll be a lot smarter about concealing
their religious intent."

Even after courts ruled against teaching creationism and creation
science, she said, "For several years afterward, school districts were
still contemplating teaching creation science."
------------------------------------------
? Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company / Click below for "Printer
Friendly Version."



http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/20/education/20cnd-evolution.html?pagewanted=prin\
t

People:

   Happy Friday the 13th if you are not "stupid-stitious".    Try to come on down
for the PhACT lecture Saturday 2pm, Jan 21 on "Toxicology and the Environment:
Separating fact from fiction."

  This is a down to earth issue for the common person, including questions like:
Is organic food healthy? Is diet soda OK? Are environmental health risks
increasing or decreasing? What about pesticides and cancer? Ethanol-powered cars
- the next great step? Dr. Cragin will discuss many of the common questions
people have about toxicology and the modern world.

  bio:
David Cragin has a Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of
California, Dr. Cragin is a Past-President of the Mid-Atlantic Society of
Toxicology.  He is very involved in efforts by the Society of Toxicology to
educate the public about risks to health and regularly talks in classrooms to
kids to help motivate them to consider careers in science.  At the university,
his teaching focuses on risk assessment and critical thinking.



   The Korean cloning debacle shows the importance of the self correcting nature
of the scientific community.   The system worked, the truth came out . . .
perhaps thanks to skeptics looking for the extraordinary evidence to be expected
for such an extraordinary claim.   In the "woo woo world", it is considered
impolite to ask ,"why do you believe that?"   The epistemology embraced by
science holds truth in highest esteem and is a foundation to the unappreciated
advances that make life better . . .  and many of our lives even possible.    
Were the world more rational, it wouldn't need people to stake out a defensive
line in support of science.     Luckily, such a line recently held in Dover. -
but challenges to the unfettered teaching of science haven't stopped.

   Sometime, the Inquirer will run a story on "Indigo Children". Indigo Children
are supposed to be special children born with some remarkable higher ability to
sense that which the rest of us miss.  I offered the reporter what I thought was
a rational response to such new age beliefs.

   A "Secular Book Club" is starting in Willow Grove, PA.  Their first discussion
Feb. 18th will be at the Willow Grove Barnes and Noble at 7:00 PM. The first
reading will be Chap. 1-5 of "Doubt: A History by Jennifer Hecht." To join,
follow this link:
http://bookclub.meetup.com/435/t/if_2528278
----------------------------------------------------------------

PhACT can use help in the following ways:   web assistance, locating and booking
speakers, activities ideas, money donated (for specific projects), etc.   To
help, either contact me telepathically or via erickrieg@... (for some
reason, I don't know what's been happening to email that went to eric@...)


Eric Krieg

Eric:

Attached is a copy of the flyer that I have distributed throughtout the
College. A general email and events announcement has also been sent.


Unrelated comment:
<Pat Robertson needs to stop choking on his foot.>



---------------------------------
David F. Cattell, Ph.D.
Physics Department Chair and
Associate Professor of Physics
Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Happy Darwin Day.  Actually around 400 churches are celebrating it. On this day
in 1909, both Abe Lincoln and Darwin were born.  see:
http://darwinday.org/

I'll be out of state myself next Saturday - but we do have our own former rocket
scientist, Tom Napier speaking on the subject of the great pyramids.  The
pyramids (particularly the Great Pyramid of Khufu) have been a focal point for a
lot of nutty theories for centuries including: it being a UFO beacon, a giant
pump, made with anti-gravity, a predictor of the future, evidence for astrology,
or even a shape to focus unseen energy.

   Tom Napier will discuss the purpose of the Pyramid , explain the mathematical
basis of its construction and consider what we can learn from prophecies based
on its dimensions. We will show what ?pyramid power? tells us about how to test
the validity of our beliefs.

bio:

Tom Napier is a physicist and an engineer. During the 1970's, he worked at the
European Space Technology Center in the Netherlands and the European Center for
Nuclear Research in Switzerland. He spent eight years at an electronics company
in Horsham, PA where he developed equipment to communicate with space probes. 
Now he offers electronics consulting services and contributes design articles to
electronics magazines.
   Tom has been interested in the paranormal and in pseudo-scientific theories
since he was a student.  In 1994, he helped found the Philadelphia Association
for Critical Thinking (PhACT).  This organization encourages people to apply
scientific reasoning to the ideas they encounter.  He frequently speaks to lay
audiences about fringe ideas in science.

In other news, after many years of great service, Greg Lester will be stepping
down as our newsletter editor, so we need a new editor.

Also, we have restarted negotiations with a local energy healer who appears open
to being tested.  Let me know if you are open to being a subject in a future
test.

Tuesday March 21, Dennis Lee will finish up yet another nationwide tour in our
fair city.  I highly recommend forewarned people to check out one of America's
greatest con man and the snake oil pitch of a lifetime:
http://www.freelectricity.com/2006Tour.html

I'll close with an account from George C. of confronting Scientologists in
Philidelphia the other day:

     Eric,

     You would have been proud of me yesterday, I confronted members of The
Church of Scientology in the market street east train station in Philly.

     I went to the Car Show by taking the Septa R5 line from Lansdale to the
Market Street East station. From there you can walk indoors to the Convention
Center. While I was waiting for the train back after the show was over, I
noticed two young men seated at a table with a sign that said "Take a Stress
Test." They had what looked like a volt-ohm meter connected to two large
electrodes. I noticed there was a stack of "Dianetics" books on the table. I
knew right then they were Scientologists.

     Now, I know a bit about Scientology (and Psychiatry). I didn't have time to
prepare a speech but I lit into them with a barrage of insults like "You guys
(Scientologists) are the most immoral, indecent, people on the face of the
Earth. You don't like Psychiatry because they are a threat to your power. You
want to replace Psychiatry which has been heavily documented for many decades to
have helped millions of people every year. You have caused more pain in the
world than you could imagine (not to mention kidnapping and murder). You use
your gang of lawyers to attack anyone who ever says even the slightest negative
thing about you. Your money and lawyers are the main reason many medical plans
don't cover Psychiatric fees or if they do very little.

     What followed next was a loud heated argument that covered several points he
had no answer for. I finished by saying " If you guys were really honest about
what you are doing (recruiting for a cult) you wouldn't have to disguise it as a
"Stress Test." You can't discuss Scientology honestly. Some day we (the people)
are going to get you."  I think I scared him which was my intent.

     I got both of them really upset, caused quite a seen and was quite proud of
myself. Nobody would come over to the table while I was there.

     My son says I like to a argue too much but I like to do what I can to expose
these cults in disguise whenever the opportunity arises. They do a lot more harm
than I can express here.

     George C

I've seen the Scientologists many times during my daily rounds and have
been tempted to confront them. But since I'm always on the clock when I
see them, I couldn't really lay into them the way he did. Bravo for him.

They also had a fancy anti-psychiatry display on the west side of City
Hall several times last fall.

Eric Hamell


Eric Krieg wrote:

I'll close with an account from George C. of confronting Scientologists
in Philadelphia the other day:
        Eric,
        You would have been proud of me yesterday, I
confronted members of The Church of Scientology in the market street
east train station in Philly.
        I went to the Car Show by taking the Septa R5
line from Lansdale to the Market Street East station. From there you can
walk indoors to the Convention Center. While I was waiting for the train
back after the show was over, I noticed two young men seated at a table
with a sign that said "Take a Stress Test." They had what looked like a
volt-ohm meter connected to two large electrodes. I noticed there was a
stack of "Dianetics" books on the table. I knew right then they were
Scientologists.
        Now, I know a bit about Scientology (and
Psychiatry). I didn't have time to prepare a speech but I lit into them
with a barrage of insults like "You guys (Scientologists) are the most
immoral, indecent, people on the face of the Earth. You don't like
Psychiatry because they are a threat to your power. You want to replace
Psychiatry which has been heavily documented for many decades to have
helped millions of people every year. You have caused more pain in the
world than you could imagine (not to mention kidnapping and murder). You
use your gang of lawyers to attack anyone who ever says even the
slightest negative thing about you. Your money and lawyers are the main
reason many medical plans don't cover Psychiatric fees or if they do
very little.
        What followed next was a loud heated argument
that covered several points he had no answer for. I finished by saying "
If you guys were really honest about what you are doing (recruiting for
a cult) you wouldn't have to disguise it as a "Stress Test." You can't
discuss Scientology honestly. Some day we (the people) are going to get
you." I think I scared him which was my intent.
        I got both of them really upset, caused quite a
seen and was quite proud of myself. Nobody would come over to the table
while I was there.
        My son says I like to a argue too much but I
like to do what I can to expose these cults in disguise whenever the
opportunity arises. They do a lot more harm than I can express here.
        George C

“Life is the final pop, or maybe death is the final pop. It's so good
that they save it for last.” –Jane Hamilton

To All:

I once spoke to a Scientologist who had a stand set up in Battery Park
in New York City, near the entrance to the Staten Island Ferry. She was
also giving a "stress test" and when I first saw her sign I thought it
was a legitimate blood pressure test.

After she did one test I explained to her that all she was doing was
measuring the electrical resistance between my hands. She insisted that
she was measuring some kind of mental activity, but I tried to explain
that there are too many variables that determine the electrical
resistance of a person's skin. Of course, she did not agree but shut up
after I explained I had a Ph.D. in physics.

I was very pleasant with her and did not make a scene. I know we all
get frustrated and some of these people do need to get their butts
kicked in public. But for variety we might also try gentler approaches.


erehliamon@... wrote:


><html><body>
>
>
><tt>
>I've seen the Scientologists many times during my daily rounds and
have<BR>
>been tempted to confront them. But since I'm always on the clock when
I<BR>
>see them, I couldn't really lay into them the way he did. Bravo for
him.<BR>
><BR>
>They also had a fancy anti-psychiatry display on the west side of
City<BR>
>Hall several times last fall.<BR>
><BR>
>Eric Hamell<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>Eric Krieg wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>I'll close with an account from George C. of confronting
Scientologists<BR>
>in Philadelphia the other day: <BR>
>        Eric, <BR>
>        You would have been proud of me yesterday, I<BR>
>confronted members of The Church of Scientology in the market street<BR>
>east train station in Philly. <BR>
>        I went to the Car Show by taking the Septa R5<BR>
>line from Lansdale to the Market Street East station. From there you
can<BR>
>walk indoors to the Convention Center. While I was waiting for the
train<BR>
>back after the show was over, I noticed two young men seated at a
table<BR>
>with a sign that said "Take a Stress Test." They had what
looked like a<BR>
>volt-ohm meter connected to two large electrodes. I noticed there was
a<BR>
>stack of "Dianetics" books on the table. I knew right then
they were<BR>
>Scientologists. <BR>
>        Now, I know a bit about Scientology (and<BR>
>Psychiatry). I didn't have time to prepare a speech but I lit into
them<BR>
>with a barrage of insults like "You guys (Scientologists) are the
most<BR>
>immoral, indecent, people on the face of the Earth. You don't like<BR>
>Psychiatry because they are a threat to your power. You want to
replace<BR>
>Psychiatry which has been heavily documented for many decades to
have<BR>
>helped millions of people every year. You have caused more pain in
the<BR>
>world than you could imagine (not to mention kidnapping and murder).
You<BR>
>use your gang of lawyers to attack anyone who ever says even the<BR>
>slightest negative thing about you. Your money and lawyers are the
main<BR>
>reason many medical plans don't cover Psychiatric fees or if they do<BR>
>very little. <BR>
>        What followed next was a loud heated argument<BR>
>that covered several points he had no answer for. I finished by saying
"<BR>
>If you guys were really honest about what you are doing (recruiting
for<BR>
>a cult) you wouldn't have to disguise it as a "Stress Test."
You can't<BR>
>discuss Scientology honestly. Some day we (the people) are going to
get<BR>
>you." I think I scared him which was my intent. <BR>
>        I got both of them really upset, caused quite a<BR>
>seen and was quite proud of myself. Nobody would come over to the
table<BR>
>while I was there. <BR>
>        My son says I like to a argue too much but I<BR>
>like to do what I can to expose these cults in disguise whenever the<BR>
>opportunity arises. They do a lot more harm than I can express here.
<BR>
>        George C<BR>
><BR>
>“Life is the final pop, or maybe death is the final pop. It's so
good<BR>
>that they save it for last.” –Jane Hamilton<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
></tt>
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---------------------------------
David F. Cattell, Ph.D.
Physics Department Chair and
Associate Professor of Physics
Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130

Just a reminder for the PhACT meeting this Saturday. 2PM room W2-48 at the SW
corner of 17th and Spring Garden. Directions are found at
http://www.phact.org/images/map2.gif

   We are looking into future speakers on disasters, concepts in meaning,
naturalism and possibly a debate on fluoridating water.  We still need a new
editor.

<previous post>
>
>Hi folks,
>
>   The April meeting will be on risks of disasters - more on that later.
>
>   We do need help getting a new editor of PhACTUM after the nextissue.   For
that matter, we can also use help lining up more speakers.
>
>
>   A week from now, Saturday March 18th at2pm, I'll be the speaker for the
subject of "Dennis Lee - running motors on snake oil".
>
>Ex convict Dennis Lee is currently on a nationwide tour promoting an engine
promised torun on water, a process to neutralize radioactive materials and a
device said to make freeelectricity without fuel.
>  He has been promising such amazing technology for over 20 years
whilecollecting significant sums of money from followers. Dennis Leepromises to
put on a demonstration March 22 at theMessiah Maranatha Christian Fellowship
3610 North 15th StreetPhiladelphia.
> Electrical Engineer and speaker on the subject, Eric Krieg agrees with adozen
state
>attorneysgeneral and branches of the BBBthat call Dennis Lee a con man. Krieg
encourages
>forewarnedpeople to attend presentations to hear an unforgettable
unintentionally
>entertaining pitch. Kriegsays, “Lee's scam is a must-see tent revival
experience mixing
>Jesus-talk, pseudo-science,conspiracy theory, tricks and illogic from one of
our nations
>leading hucksters. This kind of pitch is a dyingslice of American criminal
culture since con
>men have become more boring and high tech”.Lee has ignored Krieg's offer of
$50,000
>for proof of the free electricity machine and insteadlaunched a failed federal
lawsuit to
>stop Krieg's web pages about Lee:
>www.phact.org/e/dennis.html
>
>Bio: Eric Krieg has an electrical engineeringdegree from Lafayette college and
has worked in the greaterPhiladelphia area as an engineer for the past 25 years.
He ispresently helping to develop fiber optic transmitters and amplifiersfor the
telecommunications industry.  He was one of the dozen peoplewho help found PhACT
a decade ago.  His interests in paranormal claimsinclude free energy,
alternative physics, dowsing and conspiracytheory. He is married with 3 children
and enjoys running, mountainbiking and rock climbing.
>
>Join the discussionon the PhACT board:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/106498/
>
erickrieg@...
>Eric Krieg
>

For those of us who don't like confrontations, perhaps humor is a good
way of getting up the nerve to expose them. I'm thinking of saying
(loudly) something like this: "Say, if I take your test, do I get to
meet Tom Cruise? How about Jenna Elfman?" When they demur, I can say,
"Oh well, I don't want to join your cult if I don't get to meet Jenna
Elfman!"

Eric Hamell

“Life is the final pop, or maybe death is the final pop. It's so good
that they save it for last.” –Jane Hamilton

To All:

I once spoke to a Scientologist who had a stand set up in Battery Park
in New York City, near the entrance to the Staten Island Ferry. She was
also giving a "stress test" and when I first saw her sign I thought it
was a legitimate blood pressure test.

After she did one test I explained to her that all she was doing was
measuring the electrical resistance between my hands. She insisted that
she was measuring some kind of mental activity, but I tried to explain
that there are too many variables that determine the electrical
resistance of a person's skin. Of course, she did not agree but shut up
after I explained I had a Ph.D. in physics.

I was very pleasant with her and did not make a scene. I know we all
get frustrated and some of these people do need to get their butts
kicked in public. But for variety we might also try gentler approaches.


erehliamon@... wrote:


><html><body>
>
>
><tt>
>I've seen the Scientologists many times during my daily rounds and
have<BR>
>been tempted to confront them. But since I'm always on the clock when
I<BR>
>see them, I couldn't really lay into them the way he did. Bravo for
him.<BR>
><BR>
>They also had a fancy anti-psychiatry display on the west side of
City<BR>
>Hall several times last fall.<BR>
><BR>
>Eric Hamell<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
>Eric Krieg wrote:<BR>
><BR>
>I'll close with an account from George C. of confronting
Scientologists<BR>
>in Philadelphia the other day: <BR>
>        Eric, <BR>
>        You would have been proud of me yesterday, I<BR>
>confronted members of The Church of Scientology in the market street<BR>
>east train station in Philly. <BR>
>        I went to the Car Show by taking the Septa R5<BR>
>line from Lansdale to the Market Street East station. From there you
can<BR>
>walk indoors to the Convention Center. While I was waiting for the
train<BR>
>back after the show was over, I noticed two young men seated at a
table<BR>
>with a sign that said &quot;Take a Stress Test.&quot; They had what
looked like a<BR>
>volt-ohm meter connected to two large electrodes. I noticed there was
a<BR>
>stack of &quot;Dianetics&quot; books on the table. I knew right then
they were<BR>
>Scientologists. <BR>
>        Now, I know a bit about Scientology (and<BR>
>Psychiatry). I didn't have time to prepare a speech but I lit into
them<BR>
>with a barrage of insults like &quot;You guys (Scientologists) are the
most<BR>
>immoral, indecent, people on the face of the Earth. You don't like<BR>
>Psychiatry because they are a threat to your power. You want to
replace<BR>
>Psychiatry which has been heavily documented for many decades to
have<BR>
>helped millions of people every year. You have caused more pain in
the<BR>
>world than you could imagine (not to mention kidnapping and murder).
You<BR>
>use your gang of lawyers to attack anyone who ever says even the<BR>
>slightest negative thing about you. Your money and lawyers are the
main<BR>
>reason many medical plans don't cover Psychiatric fees or if they do<BR>
>very little. <BR>
>        What followed next was a loud heated argument<BR>
>that covered several points he had no answer for. I finished by saying
&quot;<BR>
>If you guys were really honest about what you are doing (recruiting
for<BR>
>a cult) you wouldn't have to disguise it as a &quot;Stress Test.&quot;
You can't<BR>
>discuss Scientology honestly. Some day we (the people) are going to
get<BR>
>you.&quot; I think I scared him which was my intent. <BR>
>        I got both of them really upset, caused quite a<BR>
>seen and was quite proud of myself. Nobody would come over to the
table<BR>
>while I was there. <BR>
>        My son says I like to a argue too much but I<BR>
>like to do what I can to expose these cults in disguise whenever the<BR>
>opportunity arises. They do a lot more harm than I can express here.
<BR>
>        George C<BR>
><BR>
>“Life is the final pop, or maybe death is the final pop. It's so
good<BR>
>that they save it for last.” –Jane Hamilton<BR>
><BR>
><BR>
><BR>
></tt>
>
>
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---------------------------------
David F. Cattell, Ph.D.
Physics Department Chair and
Associate Professor of Physics
Community College of Philadelphia
1700 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130

People,

    Just a reminder - as noted at:
http://www.phact.org/meetings.html
There is a PhACT meeting 2pm tomorrow on Terrorism and
Emergency Response by Ralph Gumbert.

    Our May 21 meeting is held at 2pm at the Philadelphia Academy of Natural
Sciences.   Then we will be off for the Summer with the exception of our Picnic.

Eric Krieg

Hey folks,

  a final reminder: we will meet at 2pm this Saturday in the lobby of the
Academy of Natural Sciences for some learning.  Find us in the lobby so
we can make sure to get you in for the lower cost group rate.  This
should be a good chance to study evolutionary oddities, natural
selection, well adapted creatures in a great museum close that's been in
our area nearly 200 years.  Details on the museum are found at:
http://www.acnatsci.org/

     An article appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer about Ted
Daeschler  who discovered the fish to lizard transition species,
Tiktaalik.  If you think about it, he really discovered the Darwin
"evolving fish" emblem that some of our members sport.   I'm going to
propose that we try to offer him an award sometime.   Ted also speaks on
behalf of the Academy of Natural Sciences.  The article mentioned Ted's
sharing my favorite iconoclastic TV show, "The Simpsons".   Sunday's
episode featured Ned Flanders being offended by an evolution display in
a museum - this led to the town debating teaching intelligent design.
Although the town agreed with Lisa Simpson that science and
"intelligent" design could not both be taught-  they ended up allowing
only creationism to be taught.  Lisa gets arrested at gun point during a
secret meeting to study Darwin.  Legal machinations started looking bad
for Lisa until an ironic ape-like fit by Homer convinced all of our
simain heritage.  The episode should be as well received by skeptics as
one from several years back where Lisa tries to debunk a phony angel
skeleton - leaving the judge to issue a welcome restraining order that
"religion and science must keep at least 500 feet apart" That earlier
episode featured a fictitious reference to "Jr. Skeptic magazine" which
inspired the real thing at the end of Skeptic magazine.

      The only PhACT phunction for the summer is our annual Picnic - but
this time in Buck's County's Peace Valley Park.  (take 611 north, to 313
north, go about 2 miles, turn left on New Galena Road, go 1.75 miles and
follow the road on a right turn into the park.  We will be in one of the
parking lots on the left hand side.  There is a  map at:
http://www.phact.org/picnic.jpg
Call my cell (215) 667-1151 if you get lost.

    Today's news included Indonesian people refusing to leave an active
volcano and attempting to use ancient ritual to appease the volcano's
spirits:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/merapi-volcano-1.html

cheers,
Eric Krieg

The "Gentle Wind" folks showed up in Knoxville, TN a few years back. A local "Instrument Keeper" had contacted a gullible reporter and there was quite a splash piece in the paper. The seminar was $20 and you could try out some of the "Treatment" posters while waiting for the main event. I got to talk with the Instrument Keeper and got a soft sell as I was obviously there to scope out their activities (SCAM). An old battle axe was accepting the suggesssted $20 donation per person which she placed in a 1 gallon glass jar with a flourish as she gave out the tickets. Also selling or accepting donations for several books.

People trying out the posters got into all kinds of grotesque positions to place an affected body part in proximity to the "Healing Vibrations." Never got to see an "Healing Instrument."

Most pififul was the elderly man and his wife who appeared to be in the early stages of alzheimer's disease. They (he) was looking for the seminar room and had to lead her to the ladies room and set her on her way. Didn't appaer to be able to afford the cost of the seminar, let alone any of the promotions.

A googling for Gentle wind project turns up several sites. Photos of "Instruments" which are nothing but fancy looking artifacts of plastic, sand, and other assorted worthless components.

I didn't know PhACT had gotten coverage in connection in connection with
Gentle Wind, which I was first to bring to the group's attention. I'd
like to see that if someone can direct me to it.

They've been back in town recently, or will be shortly. I saw a flyer
for them.



Eric Hamell

The guest at the next meeting of the Philadelphia Science Fiction
Society will be Max Mintz, a Penn engineering professor, speaking on the
subject of quantum computing.

The group meets Friday, 11 August, at The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street.
Enter by the door on the left side of the building. Program starts at 9
pm.

Eric Hamell

The lead character in this upcoming movie is reportedly (according to
the *Campus Freethinker*) based on real-life skeptical investigator Joe
Nickell.

\\||/,
Eric Hamell

http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Reaping,_The/

<http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp>
<http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/07jul_marshoax.htm>

Bill

 Stephen Jay Gould called Shermer "a powerful activist and essayist in the service of reason . . . an important figure in American life."   In addition to his skeptical contributions to the world, Michael is also a really cool guy:  He's down to earth, he used to be on "the other side", he has bicycle raced across the continent, he started the Southern California Skeptics, is a columnist for Scientific American, and he's a family man.  PhACT highly recommends people to bring friends for this rare chance to meet him in Philadelphia while he promotes his new book. Please consider buying some of his books, (they make great gifts) and getting them signed by him.  Our own Becky will be running the book table where you can have a chance to buy one and have it autographed - if it looks like they won't all be taken, try to think of people to buy them as gifts for.  Email Eric Krieg at erickrieg@..., if you want in with a few of us informally treating Shermer to dinner earlier ahead of time

People,

  Happy Halloween - though people say skeptics are boring, I dressed up in a Star
Trek uniform today and will pass out candy tonight.

   Former PhACT President, Bob Glickman was video'd for a TV show to run tonight:
He will appear on CN8 on Arthur Fennel's show at 10PM talking about ghosts. 
It's good when responsible media people at least give some air time for the
skeptical point of view.

    Don't forget, November 18th 2pm for our next lecture: It will be a talk by
Don Simanek  on SCIENCE ASKEW  - Gems of science humor, satire and parody from
his just-published book  of the same title by Donald E. Simanek and John C.
Holden.

Friday December 22 - We will have a private RSVP winter solstice party at 6:30
pm in Elkins Park – email eric at this email address for more information

January 20 2006 ACLU chapter board members, Bill Ewing, will speak on issues of
free speech.

February 17 2006 we will have Tom Delworth speak on Global Warming - I will be
interested to see if he has been more swayed by the evidence since his talk 4
years ago.

   In other news, the Shermer lecture we hosted went well. It was standing room
only and we sold all the copies of the books we had on hand and passed out
plenty of our own literature.  The FSGP had a great anti-superstition bash
afterwards.

as always, our events are listed at:
http://www.phact.org/meetings.html

Another thing of interest, Richard Dawkins will speak at the Free Library,
Philadelphia Central Library,
1901 Vine Street Thursday, November 02, 2006
Time: 12:00 PM For more information go to:
http://libwww.library.phila.gov/calendar/calbydate.cfm?ID=14084&loc=CEN


Eric Krieg

Mike Shermer tells us "Why Darwin is important"   On Friday the 13th of October, PhACT was proud to host a lecture by leading international skeptic, Mike Shermer  at the Ethical Society on Rittenhouse Square.    The local Free Thought society had gotten him for a book signing at their same night anti-superstition bash and were nice enough to allow us to extend the venue with an early lecture. 
A standing room only audience of over 200 people were in rapt attention to Michael Shermer.
 I felt honored to do a quick plug for PhACT and introduce Shermer to the standing room only audience. Mike who was on a nationwide book promotion tour disappointed no one with his unique fast pace of promoting science and reason. Shermer is a renowned science writer and founder of the international Skeptics Society. He did some reading from his new book he's promoting "Why Darwin Matters"  He talked about his and
 Darwin's excursions to the Galapagos Island chain.  Many people weren't aware that Darwin likely delayed and limited promotion of his ideas out of concern for his own and his families religion.  Shermer doesn't just limit himself to the general skeptical position on evolution . . . explaining it and deflating creationist attacks against it.  He goes on and covers deeper topics like how evolution is part of greater effect where emergent order can arise from random processes (like a free market economy).  He proposes a means where religionists can embrace evolution without necessarily having to give up religion.  This is a pragmatic response to the nearly half of American's who presently reject evolution and who are unlikely to question sacrosanct religious beliefs and culture.

     During the Q&A portion at the end of reading, many of the questions were along the line of "How do we make them believe?” Shermer reminded us that it is not enough to be against something - we have to be for something . . . .  science, reason, understanding, solving mysteries, advancing the cause of humanity.  To do that, we must avoid the temptation to
refer to peoples' most valued beliefs as "silly superstitions". If we take such an adversarial approach, we lock ourselves out before we ever even start a dialogue. He told us, it would probably be prudent to come up with more sound-bite friendly statements that easily fit on a t-shirt or bumper stickers, because honestly, there is nothing brief about books like Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time".    Shermer took on fears of evolution that lead close to half of our population to reject it.  There is a common but little spoken deep fear in the minds of masses to the effect of "if the masses didn't have religious convictions - the remaining unfettered animal nature would lead to social destruction.    Shermer noted that "if people really did not have any moral values without religion, then the least religious people of all—the scientific community should be out running amuck, committing senseless crimes.  Though the general audience loved this sarcastic syllogism - I did hear an interesting response from one young student who attended, "Most members of the freethinking scientific community were at one time religious and have already voluntary or involuntary had moral values instilled in their minds. "  

 Shermer gave many excellent defenses for evolution, but his purpose was more than to merely debunk creationist misinformation.  He went on to explain how a good bit of negative human behavior is a atavistic result of evolution supporting characteristics like hoarding, putting on excess weight, slaughtering competing groups and philandering.   Even people's natural difficulty grasping the infinitesimal, eons of times or the vastness of space would be explained from our 10's of thousands of years developing as simple tribal people having no need for such visualizations. Some have posited the deep irony that proclivity for religious belief could its self have evolutionary advantage.  But, he went to describe the utility of evolution explaining emergent properties like market economies or altruism.  As someone sharing Shermer's fundamentalist roots in teenage years, I found it fascinating when Shermer talked about how it should be possible to pitch evolution to the fundy Christians (the only religion to really reject evolution).   The nascent science of "Evolutionary psychology" offers great support for the fundamentalist tenet, "we are born with a sinful nature"  - Shermer reaching out to believers offers he doesn't claim to know how the universe sprung into being and that aspects of it are truly inspirational and wondrous.  He challenges that a God capable of a single creation/intervention that would play out using fixed physical laws to  give rise to us would be way more powerful than a God having to resort to a long string of interfering miracles along the way. In further declaring no necessity for a fight between religion and science, Shermer reminds us that science has shown us that all of creation is far longer, far greater and far more infimintessimal , and far more complex than any original deity promoter dreamed of.
 

Bill's current activities include membership on the Boards of Directors of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia , the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, the Greater Philadelphia Branch of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mt. Airy Community Services Corporation.

March 17 2007 Vaccine Safety: Science, Politics and the Media. by Paul A. Offit, MD who is the Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia