(Note: For formatting purposes, long urls are truncated and the full url is included in the references at the bottom.)

Charles is at it again

Several CharlesUK readers have called our attention to the latest (it’s hard to keep up with them) inanity offered by their next ruler in line. This man embraces everything woo-woo that passes before his royal eyes. APS guru Bob Park wrote:

THE PRINCE: WEALTHY BRITISH FARMER LOOKS TO THE MOON FOR HELP. Tormented by fears of nanorobots turning the planet into "grey goo," and poisoning by genetically modified foods, Prince Charles fights science by embracing homeopathy, coffee enemas, organic farming, and now "biodynamics," which involves planting according to cycles of the moon and signs of the Zodiac. In a monarchy you are stuck with what you get, while in a democracy we can pick the best qualified among us to lead. But it's only a theory…


however – there's hope

As if to offer a glimmer of hope, reader Colin Aston-James gives us this:

In your excellent commentaries, you have run articles about Penta Water from time to time. I wondered if you might be interested in a note I received from the UK distributor Govannon Limited who trade as Team Penta UK (the link in the recent December article) – the interesting part reads:

…the Surrey Trading Standards Authority sent Mark Fairhead and Debbie Flint, Directors of Govannon Ltd a final ruling from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) stating that Penta contravenes the UK Bottled Water Regulations 1999 and should therefore cease to be sold. As a result, Penta USA confirmed they would no longer send shipments of Penta Water to the UK.

Penta Water

I note that Fairhead never responded to my offer at www.randi.org/jr/042905some.html#10 – but that’s no surprise. Now I’m sure he’s scrambling to figure out either how to get Penta back on the UK market, or where he can find another scam to promote….

Another UK reader, Neil Pullen, has more on progress in his part of the world:

There are lots of reports on Swift about how various outlets of the media promote unproven alternative therapies, and for once I have some good news. BBC's Watchdog (a consumer affairs program) aired on the 5th October, 2004, and their main story featured secret filming of alternative medicine practitioners that they promised would be very revealing.

The report was about Gershon therapy, specifically the National Cancer Therapy Trust (NCCT) who advise that cancer sufferers stop taking all forms of drugs and switch their diet to lots of organic fruit and vegetables, and that they take regular coffee enemas. Lovely. Prince Charles, our wacky regent-to-be, supports it. Apparently Gershon therapy once helped a friend of his. That's proof positive!

The secret filming was of an advice session given by a National Cancer Therapy Trust advisor to a young lady regarding breast cancer. The advice given was, needless to say, alarming. Drugs were out, specifically no Tamoxifen. Why? Because it's a toxin, and they're trying to detoxify. No trips to the doctor required, no sir. All you need to do is scoff that fruit and veggies and take those enemas and there's a "95% chance" the cancer won't come back. There seemed to be absolutely no basis for that figure.

A qualified doctor watched the secret filming and was horrified. He stated the proven benefits of Tamoxifen and highlighted the pseudoscience on display. They also included a couple of awful stories about people who followed the NCCT's advice, including a disturbing one regarding a woman with brain tumors. After following the diet she started to have seizures – most likely caused by tumor pressure on the brain. The NCCT advised her that these were the "tumors popping" and she was actually getting better. It beggars belief. She has since passed away, unfortunately.

The piece finished with an interview in the studio between host Nicky Campbell and a biochemist, Lawrence Plaskett, who completed some research work for the NCCT which had apparently shown benefits of the therapy they prescribe. Characteristically, Nicky Campbell pulled no punches. While Plaskett floundered and tried to detach himself from the NCCT, Campbell remained sharply focused on the lack of evidence around Gershon therapy. Plaskett lamely ended up saying, "It's two different points of view." Plaskett also said, "There's lots of evidence in favor of it," to which Campbell replied instantly, "There's more against."

The NCCT, in its defense, pointed out to the program makers that they are a registered charity and don't charge for their services. A charity that ensures patients suffer a painful death? I don't think I'll be donating any time soon. The final words fell to Campbell: "If something has been clinically tested and doesn't work, it's snake oil."

I can only hope the report opened some people's eyes and made them think, and not just about this particular alternative therapy, but others too.

And Neil closes with:

Before I go I'd like to extend my thanks for your support of myself and my brother Lee in our crusade against Glamorgan University for offering reflexology (and other) courses in their summer school. You were right regarding their reply, by the way; we've heard nothing from them. Once again your predictive powers have bested Sylvia Browne's!

I’m not sure that last sentence is any kind of compliment…. You can see the reference to Glamorgan University at www.randi.org/jr/082004nonsense.html#12.


Questions from Holland

Reader Piet Duyvesteijn, of Bunnik, the Netherlands, asks:

Some time ago I had a discussion with my sister about “the supernatural.” One of the topics was the presumed sixth sense of animals. As an example she told the story about animals fleeing in time for the 26th December 2004 tsunami because they ”knew” or ”felt” it was coming, whereas people were totally surprised by it and drowned in great numbers – except of course for some primitive tribes that aren’t infected by modern civilization and still have their ancient abilities… I protested and said that those stories always turn up in disasters like this and are no more than modern myths, reinforced by the media to crank up their sales. Of course at the moment I had nothing to back me up, so the next day I tried to find as much information on the Internet about the case as I could. But alas, stories about the fleeing animals/tribes were abundant, whereas a critical view on the matter was virtually non-existent. That makes it hard for a poor skeptic like myself to persuade someone. Have I been overlooking something?

Well, yes, Piet. When is the last time that you saw a report of a cow or a wild animal drowning? And if you were a wild animal, wouldn’t you flee when you saw a crowd of panicky humans coming into your territory? If a story about wild animals drowning were to be submitted to an editor, do you think he/she would use it…?

There’s another question I have been wanting to ask you for some time. When I read your weekly commentaries, I often notice that most – if not all – of the readers contributions are made by men. What do you make of that? Is it that – on the whole – men have a tendency to think more rationally? Or are the challengers for the million dollar prize mostly males as well? What are your thoughts about this, rather tricky, matter?

Nothing tricky at all, Piet. We’ve had many items and questions on our web page from females, and fully 26% of those who attended the TAM3 conference in Las Vegas were females. Personally, I suspect that women may not have as great a natural interest in active skepticism as men do. Regardless, I must point out that our TAM meetings have succeeded in attracting not only more women, but more young people, than other similar conferences, percentage-wise. We’re quite pleased with that fact!

Duck Feet

If you’re interested to know why gazing at your toes will build up your relations at work, at home, between you and your children etc. and why looking at her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands’ feet will tell you that she’s very tactful and diplomatic, but keeps her own needs always in focus, see www.readingtoes.com. Well, if even Cliff Richards shows his feet for a reading, there must be some truth in it, don’t you think?

Um, no. I’ll leave that esoteric research to you, Piet. Send me a report….


More WEll-Earned Lumps for Trudeau

The battle against Kevin Trudeau’s quackery continues – with considerable success. Readers are sending complaints to Costco and Brentano’s, and we’ll keep you informed of the results. Meanwhile, one of the more powerful attacks can be seen at http://aolsvc.news.aol.com. Drop in and be edified.


ASTROLOGY NOW OFFICIAL IN BRAZIL

Reader Luiz Duczmal is a member of an amateur astronomy club, the Centro de Estudos Astronômicos de Minas Gerais, in Brazil. I can’t read their internet material, but I’m consumed with envy over their fine instrument, of which I offer a photo here. Luiz notifies us:

Telescope

Being a fan of your great website, I'm concerned with a piece of news seen last week in my country. Politicians here gave their latest contribution to our apparently inevitable race towards the Middle Ages, regulating the profession of astrologer, according to the official Parliament website (in Portuguese): http://www.camara.gov.br.

The law, authored by Deputy Luiz Sérgio – from the ruling Labor Party, now immersed in a huge national corruption scandal – reads:

After two centuries of ostracism, Astrology…has recovered its symbolic values due to successive large scale scientific research studies that have confirmed, in an irrefutable fashion, the reality of astrological fact…. It is important to instill the correct astrological thinking in Brazilian culture. And the regulation will allow a rigorous inspection of this activity.

The law regulates the jobs done in public agencies [!] and stimulates astrological studies in public schools. It is now being ratified by the Parliament. Brazil has seen steady declining budgets for education, science and technology, and a rampant flourishing of fundamentalism and misinformation.

Luiz doesn’t need to be told that there is ZERO basis for the “confirmation” of astrology claimed in this law. This is most likely only something pushed through the system by a zealous believer who wants to make some political noise, but I agree that on an international scale it makes Brazil look as if it will require goats to be slaughtered at the next opening of Parliament. How embarrassing for Brazilian scientists – particularly astronomers!


YA GOTTA LUV IT

Reader Janice M. Eisen got curious about www.randi.org/jr/081905time.html#2:

When I read about the ghost-detection machine that Patrick Onkst found on eBay, I had to see it for myself. Anyway, I'm a recent addition to the ranks of your readers, and I had to try what so many have tried before, and challenge the machine's maker to take the JREF challenge. Here is the – unfortunately predictable – exchange, which can still be viewed on the item's page:

Q: You know, the James Randi Educational Foundation offers a $1 million reward for scientific proof of a claim of the paranormal. It sounds as if you've got that, in spades. Why don't you apply and force them to pay up? If you don't want the money you could give it to charity.

Frantically, the seller fired back:

A: I am not at all interested in hearing about the amazing James Randi and his stupidity he does not have a million dollar [sic] to give away and he wouldn't give it away even if he had it. He has been proven to be a liar and that’s all. I do not wannabe [sic] bothered again about the stupid Randi. I have already offered for scientists and engineer [sic] to come and look at this if that is not good enough then that's too BAD.

So please no more stupid e-mails.

Wow, that was close! We almost had to give up the million!


NEMEH’S BACK!

Reader John Kaminski writes:

I look forward to reading your commentary every week. I have been a fan of yours ever since I saw you speak at the University of Akron about 20 years ago. Please find below a link to an excellent article from the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the "faith healer" Dr. Nemeh. I enjoyed your previous link to the TV segment about him.

Randi notes: that video link is no longer available. However, John sends us to http://www.cleveland.com, where we see a telling article on Nemeh. And he continues:

I am glad to state that most of the Cleveland media’s portrait of Dr. Nemeh has not been positive and seems to grow less favorable as time goes by. Perhaps his avoidance of media personalities who will not fawn over him, his recent purchase of a large home in a fashionable neighborhood of an expensive suburb, and his cash-only practice (making it easy for tax avoidance) have tipped off reporters that he is not a humble healer. The media in Cleveland do need to be cautious in their handling of him as he is sanctioned by the local Catholic diocese which is a powerful institution in this heavily Catholic area. I think the media has overall done a good job of letting the facts speak for themselves.

I teach math in a high school in the Cleveland area and for my part, I intend to use the notoriety of Dr. Nemeh to help me in a statistics course this fall. Some of the recently published articles will provide an entrance into such topics as the placebo effect and the unreliability of anecdotal evidence. The students will also have to design an experiment (sadly hypothetical) that would allow the scientific testing of Dr. Nemeh's claims.


VERY WISE WORDS

I give you here a short but very perceptive excerpt from an article in The New York Times by Paul Krugman, commenting on current public misconceptions and professional misuse of science:

Finally, the self-policing nature of science – scientific truth is determined by peer review, not public opinion – can be exploited by skilled purveyors of cultural resentment. Do virtually all biologists agree that Darwin was right? Well, that just shows that they're elitists who think they're smarter than the rest of us.

Which brings us, finally, to intelligent design. Some of America's most powerful politicians have a deep hatred for Darwinism. Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, blamed the theory of evolution for the Columbine school shootings. But sheer political power hasn't been enough to get creationism into the school curriculum. The theory of evolution has overwhelming scientific support, and the country isn't ready – yet – to teach religious doctrine in public schools.

I direct your attention to the use of “yet” in that last sentence….


POOR KRAMER – CHAPTER TWO

This is another example of the drivel that arrives here at the JREF regularly, and ends up at Kramer’s desk. I marvel at his ability to resist screaming in frustration. Try this on for size, presented exactly as it was received, except that huge chunks of blank space are closed up. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation are as in the original. ….

Subject: IS NASA HIDDING FOOTAGE?

Wanted to know when NASA, Had Planed on Showing or Telling the US Public and The WORLD about the REAL!!! Alien Spacecrafts that were taped with NASAs Owen 3CCD cams  with  Special imaging technologies  for looking in space and into the near Ultraviolet ???

If you cant’t remember that!!!!,, let me refresh!!!!,,, STS 80  Formation of Intelligent spacecraft over Africa ???WTF!!!!!!! Cloaking? (Incandescent) when in motion to its destination and then TOTAL illumination( illuminati) once it had reached its point of origin?Poof!!! Very Very Nice!!!

Hmmmmmm…. let me see!!! STS 85  in 1996  the tether Incident,,, with  2 mile wide ships , also morphing and changing shape!!!and pulsating!!!!!,,,, damn!!! That was allmost 10 YEARS ago!!!!!!

What the HELL is going on!!!!

If nasa thinks this is going to stay quite ,you guys are totally nuts!!

Does NASA really think people are stupid???

People need to be Educated??? NOT SUPPRESED!!!

Why Is the US Government/ DOD/NASA  trying to keep America in the dark ?

Looks like a change is coming!

Please Reply

And Please??? Do Not Try And Undermine My Intelligence!!

Monsters!

NO More Goddamn  LIES!!!!!!!

Later……

First

I will give NASA from this date (1 Year) to come clean of their Crimes, for Suppressing Knowledge that they have known of other intelligent life visiting/ or coming to Earth.And has also tried to cover up real video footage of real alien extraterrestrial space craft that were taped by NASA !!LIVE!!!!!For  well over 10 years!!!And that these craft  have been comming here for centuries!!!

Second,,, Mr. Smart Ass!!!! I don’t do drugs!!! Are you trying to start a war with someone you have no idea or Clue of who they are!!!  Do you think yourself to be so smart??? That you could be so dumb!! Who the HELL are you?

Third,,, And just for your FYI  I have a  Masters Degree in Archaeology / and I have also recently been all over Africa for the last 2 years !! And I am on my way to the truth!!! WOW!!! Knowledge is POWER!! And the truth will be known real soon I promise ya that!!!

Fourth,, Do you really Believe (Everyone) in the US is Brain Washed by this corrupt country ,,,And if so,, Who are you ,,,,really? What Hidden Society Group do you belong too? And why should you deserve to have this information? And not the rest of the world? How could you have so much power to DEBUNKER anything? You are nothing!!!, why should anyone believe you???

From the pictures I have seen of you, you look like a NAZI PIG to me!!! Looks like you have very bad Genetics too…Maybe that’s why you are so mad at the world? Or maybe its what you are told to do, because you really don’t have power at all, because you are weak. Or at least that’s what Martyn Stubbs said!!! Don’t ya just LOVE him?

Fifth,,,mr james oberg!!! You are a loser! Or maybe something else? Lies stacked on top of more Lies,and coverups, That’s all your good For!!!! What a show!!! It looks to me like you are only smart enough to do as you tolled! And that is how you are going to go down in the history books. Not for knowing science,or annything good for that matter!!!! but for helping suppress knowledge, being a liar and doing as you are told! Good BOY!!!!Now Rollover!

The Truth is comming soon!!!I promis you that!!

Oh ,,, And the Reason I am telling you, Is so you can go tell them!! These DVDS of this footage  are going to be going to Schools, Science Teachers, Professers ,Radio Stations, Reporters, News Channels, Doctors, and Lawers ect!!!In the US and all over the world!!!! About how NASA  loves to lie to,, and coverup important information to  the public !!! Then we shall see!!!!
And its all going to be  For free!!!! So,,, Hello!!!!

Evidently

You must think that this is all real.And I find this very interesting.And with your email being open to the public and this being a free country, I guess you are saying that I cant  voice my opinion about this subject.

In my opinion, It would be wise for you to remove you personal email off the internet for the simple reason that you as a non public figure do not understand constructive Criticism.As every action deserves a reaction and must not allways be considered as the truth.Just another persons opinion.

Have a nice day

That was received from an Adrian Lunsford….


Obviously

Reader Chuck Doherty points out:

In an outstanding report on The Daily Show with John Stewart, the host noted the fine work by rescue personnel and the crew of the Air France Jet which crashed in Toronto recently, and how their skill and training in emergency procedures resulted in everyone on board being saved from what could have been a disaster. He also showed clips from the major news outlets, all of whom insisted on calling the rescue a “miracle” as though the efforts of those who actually did the real work counted for nothing. Stewart went on to say that the word “miracle” implies divine intervention, and that the only action that could be even remotely attributed to God was the lightning that struck the plane in the first place. By this logic, the rescuers were acting against God’s will by saving the very people that God tried to kill via his “miracle” — and not even an effective one at that. If you ask me, any smiting worth its salt should leave some people smote.

What an insult it is to these highly-skilled rescue personnel and crewmembers to have their actions discounted, and credit given to some invisible sky wizard. Bravo, Air France crew! Phooey, superstition!


WHERE’S MOREHOUSE?

Reader Craig Thibodeau wonders where our exciting potential applicant went to:

I was excited to see that Dr./Major David Morehouse is featured in this weeks commentary – I saw him on TV last week and I don't think I've ever been so angry at a television show. I wouldn't be surprised if somebody already told you about Major Morehouse's appearance on the truly pathetic TV show "Proof Positive" but just in case nobody has, I thought I might as well.

It involved a roomful of probably a dozen or so "viewers" with Morehouse leading the "experiment." The viewers were in a room in some building in Los Angeles and had an hour to write down or draw their impressions of the target. The target was a girl on a motorcycle driving around the city (the same city – I think that's important) for the entire hour of the "experiment." Turns out a "hit" on this "experiment" (which ended up being declared "Proof Positive") included anything the target might have seen or driven past in her hour long tour of the city. How many MILLIONS of images would one see during an hour-long tour of LA?

I was dumbfounded. Try as I might, I can hardly think of a "target" for remote viewers more vague and all-inclusive as anything a girl on a motorcycle driving though L.A. for an hour might have seen. Somebody drew a park. I dare you to ride around L.A. for an hour and not see a park! One person drew a fire – a mural on the side of some building was a “hit.” One person drew a tall and skinny triangle – a spire on some record company building was a hit (although I thought it looked more like the street lighes on one of the bridges they crossed).

Note that it was the same city that the "viewers" were in. They were from all over (some from British Colombia if I recall correctly) and they had to get to the test site somehow...probably by driving through parts of LA to get there. Convenient how some of those images might be fresh in their minds.

The show particularly emphasized that one of the "viewers" drew a woman's face with wild hair radiating from the head (sort of like a drawing of the sun). Turns out one of the techs who helped set up the equipment on the rider was wearing a t-shirt with a similar drawing so that was huge "hit." But they didn't ask if that tech had been around the rest of the crew as they filmed the "viewers" or even if he was hanging around outside the building when the "viewers" arrived. Or is that a popular t-shirt or part of a marketing campain in the area – there could be thousands of examples of that image in the area that the "viewer" could have seen on his way in. That didn't matter on the show – this was a huge hit.

This show was the most pathetic and blatant example of data-searching I have ever seen. Seems to me they should have taken a page from the JREF and ran a much simpler, and infinitely more precise experiment. "I've put an object in this box. Tell me what it is oh wonderous remote viewers...I dare you!"

By the way, that episode of Proof Positive also featured some fire-fighters who think their station is haunted. The photographic "expert" the show visited didn't even have the sense to say "It's dust" when they showed him their orb photographs. It was pathetic.

Thanks for being what and who you are. Keep it up.


TWO PROFESSIONAL CHICKENS

Still on the Morehouse subject, reader Jeffrey Reed, of Clark State Community College in Springfield, Ohio, writes:

Brown

I noted with interest that you are trying to get Dr./Major David Morehouse, PhD to take the test for the million-dollar prize by demonstrating Scientific Remote Viewing.

I can suggest another possible applicant for the million-dollars. Dr. Courtney Brown of Emory University also believes in SRV. He has written a number of books on the subject and runs his own Farsight Institute to train others in this exciting and clearly scientific technique. I mention him, because I am a PhD graduate of Emory, and he caused me no end of embarrassment during graduate school. He published a book Cosmic Voyages where he claimed that he was in contact with aliens, participated in a Galactic Senate with Jesus and Buddha (who, by the way are aliens!) and claimed that Martians lived under Santa Fe Baldy in New Mexico. He was also one of the people who Remotely Viewed the spaceship trailing the Hale-Bopp comet, which led to the Heaven's Gate cult mass suicide. I complained vigorously to the university about his activities, which I felt brought ridicule on Emory, to no avail. Their only comment was, it's a free country and he can do anything he wants. As of today, he is still on the faculty at Emory.

So, if Dr. Morehouse won't take the test, perhaps Dr. Brown will.

Um, not much chance, Jeffrey. We’ve been following Dr. Brown’s strange mental meanderings for years now, and he would seem to be made of the same material as Morehouse – who simply will not respond to our generous offer of one million dollars. Brown ignored the offer of his colleagues at Emory University to test his claims, so I'm sure that he'd also turn down the JREF challenge, though the reward is rather more substantial. They’re both chickens, knowing that they can’t afford to answer our challenge.


FACILITATED FAKERY AGAIN

Reader Tim Norfolk of the University of Akron commented on an item:

I read your comments on Dr. Biklen in this week's commentary. I would note that his new position is Dean of a college of Education. Speaking as one who has taught at American universities for 27 years, I offer my opinion that the average faculty member in Education is a prime example of fuzzy thinking and "ivory tower" mentality.

On our campus, they wield a great deal of power, thanks to the massive grants from the NSF and Department of Education, most of which generate totally useless research based on false premises. As examples, here are some paraphrased quotes from such professors:

If you properly motivate students, and they put out effort, then every one of them will learn.

Based on my teaching of mathematics and martial arts, I can safely say that this is not true, although motivation and hard work certainly increase the chance of success.

If a student tries hard, they should get an A.

Just look at any university which grants undergraduate Education degrees, and see the proportion of those students who gain academic honors by high grade-point averages.

We should grade students on effort, not ability.

How does that work when students get jobs?

If you teach someone how to teach, they can teach anything.

Even things they don't know, or understand?

Bearing in mind that these are the people who train our teachers, is it any wonder that the US is so far behind in mathematics and science? In those subjects, we try to grade on mastery of the subject matter, not on feelings or wishful thinking. Sad to say, my brother tells me the virus has spread to the UK as well.

The struggle that you have undertaken – battling pseudoscience and lack of critical thinking – is the same as the one that I deal with every day, with the additional joy I have that most of my academic colleagues outside the hard sciences are convinced that mathematics should be "easier," and that we are too hard on their students. When did we get to the point that people used all of this wonderful technology, and simultaneously deride those whose work makes that technology possible?

That being said, you can understand my pleasure at attending the Amazing meetings in Las Vegas, and my regret that I probably cannot attend next year.

Also regarding the matter of Dr. Biklen, Bill Taylor of Illusion Arts, Inc. Van Nuys, California, seriously asks:

I wonder how enthusiastic Dr. Biklen's supporters would be if he sincerely believed that autism was caused by demonic possession? Really sincerely, mind you.

Good question, Bill… This came in from Todd Weekley of Boston:

As I said I would do, here's an update on what I've heard back from the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Syracuse University:

<silence>

Sad that one cannot get even a simple, civil reply from these people without any letters after one's name.


AND GOOFY TOO?

Reader Gordon Grieder, Computer Systems Administrator at the National Research Council in Winnipeg, Manitoba, refers to astrologer Crawford, who we met back at www.randi.org/jr/081205another.html#5:

Mr. Crawford wrote: “We run statistical studies comparing planetary contacts with DJIA back to 1915.” I hope Mr. Crawford made adjustments for Pluto which was discovered in 1930.

Randi comments: Look back at www.randi.org/jr/021502.html – search for “Crawford” – and you’ll see that he was quite concerned that Pluto might be left out of his clever calculations. Gord continues:

This just popped into my head: Pluto's status as a planet is now in question, but rather than asking astronomers for the final verdict I have a better idea: ask astrologers to draw up two charts for a while, one with the view that Pluto is a planet, the other that it doesn't exist as a planet. After a few weeks we should be able to compare the astrologers' predictions to what happened in the world. That should clearly demonstrate Pluto's planetary status. After all, the planets don't lie.

What’s more, Gord, they don’t talk, either.


SCIENTOLOGY GETS TAX FUNDS

Back a month ago, the media noted that our administration has chosen to support a dangerous and vindictive “religion,” L. Ron Hubbard’s “Scientology” farce. Margarita Lopez, a Manhattan, New York, council member successfully lobbied for $630,000 in funding of a controversial Scientology “medical treatment” for rescue workers who worked on the 9/11 disaster, and then received nearly $100,000 in her political campaign account from Hubbard followers.

The “New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project,” which based its “therapy” on Hubbard’s book, "Clear Body, Clear Mind," called for the rescue workers to abandon traditional medical treatment in favor of large amounts of niacin, long sauna baths and exercise. Hubbard was against all pharmaceuticals and preached “natural” modes of treatment. Of further interest to us is the fact that the “Project” was co-founded by Scientologist Tom Cruise. Questioned about the wisdom of Hubbard’s system, Lopez asked, "This is a program that should be funded. Who are the stupid people who are criticizing it?" Well, Ms. Lopez, just about everyone who doesn’t believe that intergalactic alien octopi were here billions of years ago imprisoning criminal souls in volcanoes…

Not to our astonishment, the “Project” also has supporters in Congress. Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Charles Rangel have both come out in favor of it and Representatives Vito Fossella and Carolyn McCarthy have requested $1.5 million in federal funds for the New York programs. But, after all, Scientology is a religion, and offers “faith-based” reasons for acceptance, so it must be okay with the White House, right?


A RADIO NOTE

Inspired in part by the workshop on communicating with the media at TAM3, JREF member Dr. Seth Asser is launching a weekly talk radio program with a skeptical look at issues in Science and Society. The program, “Dr. Seth Speaks,” will air on WARL 1320 AM in Providence, RI each Thursday evening from 7 to 9 PM Eastern Time, but JREF members anywhere can listen in via live internet streaming at www.1320thedrive.com (Internet Explorer) and clicking “listen live online.”

I’ll be appearing there on Thursday, September 15th talking about my life as a professional mystifier/demystifier, current challengers for the million-dollar prize, TAM4, and more, and may even handle questions. Other upcoming guests and topics of interest to JREF members include Dr. Wally Sampson, editor of Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine (August 25), Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic magazine (Sept. 1, 7-8 PM), Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists (Sept. 22) and Marci Hamilton, law professor and author of God and the Gavel: Religion and the Rule of Law (Sept. 29). Dr. Seth welcomes your comments and ideas for future topics or guests at drsethspeaks@yahoo.com.


ANOTHER SMART KID

Reader David Craig:

Last week I was lucky enough to visit the Smithsonian Natural History Museum for the first time. I was privately disappointed in that many adults – in trying to explain to kids – clearly had a weak science education. With all the creationism stuff right now, it was kinda a bummer. But then I was looking at a display of primate skeletons, and overheard the following exchange between a man and his small child:

PARENT: How weird, they look almost like us...

CHILD: Geez, that's kinda the idea, dad!

I guess it's a small thing, but it made my day, and I thought you might like it. As always, thanks for the great work.

Thank you for this little ray of reason, David!


QUACK-KING ON KING

Last week Larry King Live repeated a discussion between “intelligent design/creationist” and real science advocates, on which – just to keep the expected standards – they included Deepak Chopra, the acknowledged King of Quacks. Nothing was accomplished; the anti-science contingent wailed and remonstrated about the insistent materialism, rationality, and logic of their opponents, and we were left in the same medieval state into which the administration has mired us. Perhaps King chose to bring Chopra in on the strength of his brilliant grasp of modern science, expressed so eloquently in these words, from an earlier assault on reason:

Floating Chopra

And then the quantum world, which is more the level of uncertainty…and if you're living only in the physical world, things happen that are inexplicable…So here we are, really looking at the subtle world vibrations…and our thoughts and our emotions are part of that quantum world ... So you say, well, where are the mathematical laws of the universe written? Where are they? Where is E=mc2 written?…well, it's not written anywhere but it still exists. That's the transcendent world. So – when you go beyond the quantum world, you've gone to the third level, the transcendent world. That also has many depths to it. You have a soul, you have a collective soul, and then there's the universal level that also exists…Where was E=mc2 before Einstein discovered it? It was there in the transcendent world. That's the creative response. We have the ability to tap into the consciousness of enlightened Masters. That's the visionary response, And then we have the ability to become one with God, which is the sacred response…Through these responses, I explain in the book phenomena like telepathy, remembering other lifetimes, precognition and synchronicity and healings and the so-called miraculous. I think that's when there's a creative expression of the laws of nature that exist in God's mind.

Ah, well, there it is. Now we sally forth fully armed to understand the wonders of science as delineated by our guru…


IN CLOSING…

There’s another new feature available – in addition to Dr. Seth’s offering, seen above – a cool skeptic’s chat room which can be accessed at www.skepticsrock.com, or at www.randi.org/chat. It's not an official JREF chat, but you'll see many familiar forum names in there. Take a look…