- Lecture November 18 - "The times they are(n't) a-Changin'," presented by NCAS President Scott Snell
- Eldrich investigations and a discount for NCAS
- November PhACT lelcture - "How are we deceived" presented by Brian "Happie" Foshee.
- A Report on CSICon 2023
- NCAS membership
- Shadow Light
- Time to Renew
National Capital Area Skeptics
Promoting Critical Thinking and Scientific Understanding
20/20 Since 1987Saturday, November 18, 2023
Shadow of a Doubt - November 2023
Shadow of a Doubt - November 2023
November 2023
Scott Snell
Saturday, November 18, 1:30pm - 4:00pm US/Eastern
(UTC-05:00)
Connie Morella Library
Back and forth we go. Are you tired (literally tired) of switching your clocks one hour back every Fall and one hour forward every Spring? Why do we go to all the trouble? Do we have any good alternatives? What’s been tried before, or tried elsewhere?
Refreshments will be available.NCAS
Public Lecture Series
The Times They Are(n't) a-Changin'
Scott Snell
President, National Capital Area Skeptics
Saturday, November 18, 1:30pm - 4:00pm US/Eastern
(UTC-05:00)Connie Morella Library
7400 Arlington
Road
Bethesda, MD [map] [directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Bethesda, MD [map] [directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Also a YouTube Live
Event with Q and A
NCASVideo YouTube Channel:
Back and forth we go. Are you tired (literally tired) of switching your clocks one hour back every Fall and one hour forward every Spring? Why do we go to all the trouble? Do we have any good alternatives? What’s been tried before, or tried elsewhere?
Polls
show that the public is divided on what to do. But
even the experts can’t agree among themselves.
Meanwhile, the US Congress and some state
legislatures have introduced legislation to alter
standard time.
You're
encouraged to Google the topic to prepare for this
event. We’re seeking a lively informed discussion,
online and in person, focused on problem-solving.
Scott
Snell is a flight software engineer at NASA’s
Goddard Space Flight Center, tending the onboard
computer of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. He
received his BS in physics from the University of
Maryland. A charter member of NCAS, he has served as
its president since 2018.
"Cults and cryptids collide
when a curious Washingtonian investigates local unexplained
phenomena. Explore the lure of the unknown and its
entanglement with DC history in this multi-chapter adventure
across the city."
At the start of the pandemic, the local Rorschach Theatre company created a unique theatrical experience that extended over the course of 9-10 months. It was originally a way for the show to go on when the pandemic shut down stage performances, but it has been so successful that they are continuing into their 4th year with an all-new story beginning this month (November 2023).
Rorschach often incorporates elements of fantasy, horror, and/or supernatural. This coming season the Eldrich Investigations project involves themes particularly close to NCAS. The company has extended a 20% discount to NCAS members.
Subscribers receive a monthly box or envelope with maps, directions to locales around DC, and other artifacts such as postcards, telegrams, and various trinkets that help unfold a story over the course of 9-10 months. You investigate these locations at your own pace, on your own time. They also provide online videos for those who can't visit in person.
For the discount, use code NCAS when subscribing here:
https://rorschachtheatre.com/23-24-psychogeographies-project/
Sounds a bit like an expanded version of our NCAS Skeptours!
At the start of the pandemic, the local Rorschach Theatre company created a unique theatrical experience that extended over the course of 9-10 months. It was originally a way for the show to go on when the pandemic shut down stage performances, but it has been so successful that they are continuing into their 4th year with an all-new story beginning this month (November 2023).
Rorschach often incorporates elements of fantasy, horror, and/or supernatural. This coming season the Eldrich Investigations project involves themes particularly close to NCAS. The company has extended a 20% discount to NCAS members.
Subscribers receive a monthly box or envelope with maps, directions to locales around DC, and other artifacts such as postcards, telegrams, and various trinkets that help unfold a story over the course of 9-10 months. You investigate these locations at your own pace, on your own time. They also provide online videos for those who can't visit in person.
For the discount, use code NCAS when subscribing here:
https://rorschachtheatre.com/23-24-psychogeographies-project/
Sounds a bit like an expanded version of our NCAS Skeptours!
November PhACT Lecture
Our skeptical neighbors to the north, the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), will host their next online event on Saturday, November 18 at 2 PM ET. Brian 'Happie' Foshee will present "How Are We Deceived?" He'll "explore how others deceive us, and the world of magic. Unraveling the psychology and techniques involved, we'll gain insights to navigate the intricate web of deceit that surrounds us. Welcome to the enigmatic world of deception and magic." Event details at http://www.phact.org/meetings.php.
Our skeptical neighbors to the north, the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), will host their next online event on Saturday, November 18 at 2 PM ET. Brian 'Happie' Foshee will present "How Are We Deceived?" He'll "explore how others deceive us, and the world of magic. Unraveling the psychology and techniques involved, we'll gain insights to navigate the intricate web of deceit that surrounds us. Welcome to the enigmatic world of deception and magic." Event details at http://www.phact.org/meetings.php.
A Report on CSICon 2023
By Curtis Haymore
This year’s CSICon was my first in a few years and it
was as fun and interesting as previous CSICons and TAMs.
Attending CSICon conferences requires a big commitment of
time and money, but each one I have attended proved worth
it.
Attendees about filled the large hall and nearly a third of them appeared to be first-time attendees, based on how many raised their hands in response to emcee George Hrab's question. Every conversation I had that started with “How did you become interested in this conference?” led to a multitude of interesting stories about people’s histories and revelations.
Attendees about filled the large hall and nearly a third of them appeared to be first-time attendees, based on how many raised their hands in response to emcee George Hrab's question. Every conversation I had that started with “How did you become interested in this conference?” led to a multitude of interesting stories about people’s histories and revelations.
The presentations were mostly half-hour, which led to
snappy and very focused talks, and allowed a wide range of
speakers.
I signed up for the two workshops. “Magic for Skeptics” was entertaining and insightful from even the simplest things. Psychologist Richard Wiseman in particular always makes me smile. Jim Underdown and Kenny Biddle led the “Investigating and Testing Extraordinary Claims” workshop. Kenny is fun, entertaining, and curious. CSI is in good hands with Kenny as its new chief investigator.
Thursday night was the Richard Dawkins lecture, “Science, the Poetry of Reality, Jewel in Humanity’s Crown.” It was really wonderful, deeply thoughtful, filled with his well-crafted language. He reminded me of Christopher Hitchens…having a rare gift to form thoughts around interesting stories and analogies, and speak so well.
Friday night was devoted to Bill Nye receiving the Richard Dawkins Award from Dawkins, followed by their conversation. Nye was passionate, relaxed, and entertaining. As CEO of The Planetary Society, he advocated for robotic and human travel to other planets. I’m skeptical about human space exploration, but he has me reconsidering it—at least to Mars.
One highlight of Saturday’s program was an informative talk on vaccines by Dr. Paul Offit. Even though I thought I knew a lot about the vaccine rollouts—I really didn’t understand the background he gave about the research on the variants and the vaccines and decisions for use—I wonder if he is available to talk with some of my relatives (please!). There was a theme around education and communication of scientific understanding and critical thinking skills, which gave at least some hope for better reasoning among future generations. Health/wellness reporter Rina Raphael described how she became a skeptical reporter on that industry, which was fascinating. Naomi Oreskes’ talk about her impressive new book, “The Big Myth,” co-authored with Erik Conway about “the magic of the market,” provided information I hadn’t seen or at least hadn’t seen put together in the way she had.
Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post talked about fact-checking. We should all be grateful for the exhausting work of all of the fact-checking groups and organizations, and depressed on how little shame and repentance that work engenders.
Between Nye, Wiseman, Penn & Teller, comedian Leighann Lord, and George Hrab, there were plenty of laughs to go along with the learning.
If you need a skeptical boost in your life, try attending the next CSICon.
I signed up for the two workshops. “Magic for Skeptics” was entertaining and insightful from even the simplest things. Psychologist Richard Wiseman in particular always makes me smile. Jim Underdown and Kenny Biddle led the “Investigating and Testing Extraordinary Claims” workshop. Kenny is fun, entertaining, and curious. CSI is in good hands with Kenny as its new chief investigator.
Thursday night was the Richard Dawkins lecture, “Science, the Poetry of Reality, Jewel in Humanity’s Crown.” It was really wonderful, deeply thoughtful, filled with his well-crafted language. He reminded me of Christopher Hitchens…having a rare gift to form thoughts around interesting stories and analogies, and speak so well.
Friday night was devoted to Bill Nye receiving the Richard Dawkins Award from Dawkins, followed by their conversation. Nye was passionate, relaxed, and entertaining. As CEO of The Planetary Society, he advocated for robotic and human travel to other planets. I’m skeptical about human space exploration, but he has me reconsidering it—at least to Mars.
One highlight of Saturday’s program was an informative talk on vaccines by Dr. Paul Offit. Even though I thought I knew a lot about the vaccine rollouts—I really didn’t understand the background he gave about the research on the variants and the vaccines and decisions for use—I wonder if he is available to talk with some of my relatives (please!). There was a theme around education and communication of scientific understanding and critical thinking skills, which gave at least some hope for better reasoning among future generations. Health/wellness reporter Rina Raphael described how she became a skeptical reporter on that industry, which was fascinating. Naomi Oreskes’ talk about her impressive new book, “The Big Myth,” co-authored with Erik Conway about “the magic of the market,” provided information I hadn’t seen or at least hadn’t seen put together in the way she had.
Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post talked about fact-checking. We should all be grateful for the exhausting work of all of the fact-checking groups and organizations, and depressed on how little shame and repentance that work engenders.
Between Nye, Wiseman, Penn & Teller, comedian Leighann Lord, and George Hrab, there were plenty of laughs to go along with the learning.
If you need a skeptical boost in your life, try attending the next CSICon.
(CSICon 2023, sponsored by the Committee for Skeptical
Inquiry / Center for Inquiry / Skeptical Inquirer
magazine was held October 26-29 at the Flamingo Las Vegas
Hotel & Casino.)
NCAS Membership
At its September 20 meeting, the NCAS Board of
Directors approved a change in membership classifications,
effective October 1. Formerly in two classifications,
Single and Double, membership now comprises one or two
individuals at the same home address. In addition to
simplifying transactions for the NCAS treasurer, this
represents a per-person reduction in membership costs.
The former Single membership cost now covers up to two
people. Consider adding a 2nd person in your household to
your NCAS membership at no extra cost! Both will be able
to vote separately in the annual NCAS board of directors
election. Send an email to ncas@ncas.org
to add a 2nd person to your membership. We hope to add
members, and of course a student or other young person is
always welcome for the future of skepticism. Also see https://www.ncas.org/p/join-ncas.html.
Shadow Light
Some members and
contacts of NCAS receive a postal notification of this and
every new monthly Shadow of a Doubt. The Shadow
Light postcard announces the monthly lecture and
highlights of the electronic Shadow of a Doubt,
which is available online at ncas.org/p/shadow.html.
NCAS thereby reduces Shadow production and postage
costs. To further reduce costs, members and contacts can
opt out of postal notification altogether, while continuing
to receive Shadow of a Doubt via e-mail. To opt
out, send us an e-mail at ncas@ncas.org.
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Friday, November 10, 2023
November 18 - The times they are(n't) a-changing
Scott Snell
President, National Capital Area Skeptics
Saturday, November 18, 1:30pm - 4:00pm US/Eastern (UTC-05:00)
Connie Morella Library
7400 Arlington Road
Bethesda, MD [map]
[directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Also a YouTube
Live Event with Q and A
NCASVideo
YouTube Channel:
President, National Capital Area Skeptics
Saturday, November 18, 1:30pm - 4:00pm US/Eastern (UTC-05:00)
Connie Morella Library
Bethesda, MD [map] [directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Back and forth we go. Are you tired (literally tired) of switching your clocks one hour back every Fall and one hour forward every Spring? Why do we go to all the trouble? Do we have any good alternatives? What’s been tried before, or tried elsewhere?
Polls show
that the public is divided on what to do. But even the
experts can’t agree among themselves. Meanwhile, the US
Congress and some state legislatures have introduced
legislation to alter standard time.
You're
encouraged to Google the topic to prepare for this event.
We’re seeking a lively informed discussion, online and in
person, focused on problem-solving.
Scott
Snell is a flight software engineer at NASA’s Goddard
Space Flight Center, tending the onboard computer of the Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter. He received his BS in physics from the
University of Maryland. A charter member of NCAS, he has
served as its president since 2018.
Refreshments will be available.
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Shadow of a Doubt - October 2023
- October NCAS lecture- Brian Sharpless will talk about "The werewolves among us"
- November talk - NCAS President will talk about "The times they are(n't) a-changing. "
- November Bay area skeptics lecture
- NCAS board elections
- Csicon 2023
- NCAS membership
- Happy belated Friday the 13th
- Torn from Today's Headlines
- Shadow Light
- Time to Renew?
Shadow of a Doubt - October 2023
October 2023
Brian A. Sharpless,
PhD
Saturday, October 21, 1:30pm - 4:00pm US/Eastern
(UTC-04:00)
Connie Morella Library
Join
us as
Brian A. Sharpless discusses unusual psychological
conditions described in his new book, Monsters
on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders
Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies.
We'll delve into Clinical Lycanthropy, a
psychiatric syndrome within which the patient has
the delusional belief of turning into a wolf, and
Clinical Zoanthropy, a broader category of
delusional belief in turning into an animal.
(Hollywood has dramatized werewolf stories many
times, but were-gerbils remain "stories untold.")
What are these real-life disorders, how do they
compare with myth and popular culture, and what
treatments are available?
Brian A. Sharpless is a
licensed psychologist, author, and
a visiting research fellow at Goldsmiths,
University of London. He received his PhD in
clinical psychology and MA in philosophy from
Pennsylvania State University and completed
post-doctoral fellowships at the University of
Pennsylvania. He has authored more than fifty
professional publications including three books
for Oxford University Press. His research
interests include common and unusual psychological
disorders, psychotherapy, professional issues, and
the history of mental illness. This
research has been featured on TV, radio, and in other
media outlets, and he is a frequent speaker at
conferences and public events in the United States and
abroad.
Twitter: @briansharpless
website: www.briansharpless.com
Refreshments will be available.NCAS
Public Lecture Series
The Werewolves Among Us
Brian A. Sharpless,
PhD
Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of
London
Saturday, October 21, 1:30pm - 4:00pm US/Eastern
(UTC-04:00)Connie Morella Library
7400 Arlington
Road
Bethesda, MD [map] [directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Bethesda, MD [map] [directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Also a YouTube Live
Event with Q and A
NCASVideo YouTube Channel:
Twitter: @briansharpless
website: www.briansharpless.com
https://www.ncas.org/2023/10/october-21-clinical-lycanthropy.html
At the
speakers' request, this live-streamed event will not be
recorded for the NCAS YouTube channel.
November NCAS
Lecture
NCAS President Scott
Snell will present "The Times They Are(n't) a-Changin'."
Should we stop changing our clocks forth and back between
Daylight Saving Time and Standard Time? We’ll sort through
conflicting advice from experts. Saturday, November 18 at
1:30 PM (that's Standard Time!) at Connie Morella Library.
September Bay Area Skeptics Lecture
The [San Francisco] Bay Area Skeptics will host their
next online event on Thursday, November 9 at 10:30 PM ET.
Jennifer Pan, Sir Robert Ho Tung Professor of
Chinese Studies, Professor of Communication and (by
courtesy) Political Science, and a Senior Fellow at the
Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University, will
present "The Science behind Social Media and Political
Behavior." Details of the livestream will be posted at https://baskeptics.org/upcomingskeptalk/.
CSICon 2023
CSICon 2023, sponsored by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry / Center for Inquiry / Skeptical Inquirer magazine will be held October 26-29 at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Speakers include Bill Nye, Penn & Teller, Richard Dawkins, Mick West, and many others. Register at csiconference.org.
CSICon 2023, sponsored by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry / Center for Inquiry / Skeptical Inquirer magazine will be held October 26-29 at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Speakers include Bill Nye, Penn & Teller, Richard Dawkins, Mick West, and many others. Register at csiconference.org.
NCAS Membership
At its September 20 meeting, the NCAS Board of
Directors approved a change in membership classifications,
effective October 1. Formerly in two classifications,
Single and Double, membership now comprises one or two
individuals at the same home address. In addition to
simplifying transactions for the NCAS treasurer, this
represents a per-person reduction in membership costs.
The former Single membership cost now covers up to two
people. Consider adding a 2nd person in your household to
your NCAS membership at no extra cost! Both will be able
to vote separately in the annual NCAS board of directors
election. Send an email to ncas@ncas.org to add a
2nd person to your membership. We hope to add members,
and of course a student or other young person is always
welcome for the future of skepticism. Also see https://www.ncas.org/p/join-ncas.html.
Happy Belated Friday the 13th!
NCAS had no events planned for Friday, October 13, but we hope our members celebrated the silliness of superstition responsibly. Always wear eye protection if you smash a mirror, be careful when walking under a ladder, etc!
NCAS had no events planned for Friday, October 13, but we hope our members celebrated the silliness of superstition responsibly. Always wear eye protection if you smash a mirror, be careful when walking under a ladder, etc!
Torn From Today's Headlines
By Scott Snell
NASA to Investigate UFOs
By Scott Snell
NASA to Investigate UFOs
On September 14, 2023,
NASA's "Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study
Team" released its final report, about 11 months after the
study began. The report is a relatively quick read:
From the Framework of
Recommendations: "Although [the Defense Department's
All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)] leads the
whole-of-government response to [Unidentified Anomalous
Phenomena], the panel recommends that NASA play an
essential role within that framework. NASA should leverage
its core capabilities and expertise to determine whether
it should take a leading or supporting role in
implementing [the panel's] recommendation[s]." NASA's
reputation for openness was also cited as justifying a
role for the agency in UFO investigations.
Also from the report,
"The panel finds that public engagement in the effort to
better understand UAP will be vital. NASA, by lending its
name to UAP studies, is already helping to reduce stigma
associated with reporting."
NASA announced its
first "Director of UAP Research," Mark A. McInerney, a
meteorologist and climate data scientist at Goddard Space
Flight Center. Here's a NASA public outreach interview
with McInerney from 2020:
Author's comments:
The rationale for selecting McInerney isn't obvious. As described in the NASA news release...
The rationale for selecting McInerney isn't obvious. As described in the NASA news release...
...he was the "liaison
to the Department of Defense covering limited UAP
activities for the agency." I assume he was chosen as the
liaison and then the director of research because of his
experience in the technical management of NASA's Earth
science data. My assumption follows from the first
recommendation in the report: "We specifically recommend
that NASA utilize its existing and planned Earth-observing
assets to probe the local environmental conditions
associated with UAP that are initially detected by other
means."
To me, the most
remarkable aspect of the report is the opening sentence of
its foreword, written by Nicola Fox, Associate
Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate:
"Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) are one of our
planet’s greatest mysteries." Given that her expertise is
in heliophysics and plasma physics (see https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicola-Fox-3),
she may have requested briefings on the UAP
topic--briefings that apparently underemphasized prosaic
explanations.
https://vimeo.com/723865564
(starting at the 34:30 mark). This is an interesting
presentation because it represents a
scientist-to-scientists defense of the NASA UAP study.
Now that NASA has
established a program to search for UAP, there will be
associated programmatic funding. I wonder how much
funding, and what other programs will have their funding
reduced within the overall NASA budget?
At this point, NASA
seems mainly interested in studying Earth science data for
UAPs. But it could also be worthwhile to examine lunar
science data. (Disclosure: I'm part of the Lunar
Reconnaissance Orbiter's engineering team at Goddard.)
LRO's sensors, including high-resolution cameras, have
studied the Moon since 2009. Unlike Earth or Mars, the
Moon's dusty surface preserves displacements of all kinds,
from impact craters to footprints. Perhaps the
aftereffects of alien landings and departures, sample
scoopings, etc are still visible on the surface, hidden
away in the many terabytes of LRO camera data that are
analyzed solely for geological features (except for
occasional localized searches for a crashed spacecraft
from Russia or other countries, for example). For that
matter, alien artifacts may be on or near the surface. I
suppose aliens may have taken care to leave no trace
whatsoever of their scientific study of the Moon. If we
find nothing in our mining of LRO data, that might be an
explanation. Or perhaps they have no interest whatsoever
in the Moon, although that seems inconsistent with a
species curious enough to travel here. (Maybe their
remote sensing is so good, they don't need to land on the
Moon to study it thoroughly. But then why are they
landing on Earth?) In any case, the Moon is an excellent
place to look for ancient* or recent evidence of alien
visitation. We just may need to look at our data in a new
way. (I'm not proposing a rehash of Richard Hoagland's
pseudoscientific interpretation of lunar images: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_C._Hoagland.)
*Mark Robinson, an Arizona
State University scientist and the principal investigator for
LRO's camera, stated "probably there will be no traces of the
Apollo exploration in, let's say, 10 to 100 million years [due
to erosion from micrometeorites]." That may also be an upper
limit on how long alien traces would last on the Moon.
Some members and
contacts of NCAS receive a postal notification of this and
every new monthly Shadow of a Doubt. The Shadow
Light postcard announces the monthly lecture and
highlights of the electronic Shadow of a Doubt,
which is available online at ncas.org/p/shadow.html.
NCAS thereby reduces Shadow production and postage
costs. To further reduce costs, members and contacts can
opt out of postal notification altogether, while continuing
to receive Shadow of a Doubt via e-mail. To opt
out, send us an e-mail at ncas@ncas.org.
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
October 21- Clinical Lycanthropy: The Werewolves Among Us
Brian A. Sharpless, PhD
Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London
Saturday, October 21, 1:30pm - 4:00pm US/Eastern (UTC-04:00)
Connie Morella Library
7400 Arlington Road
Bethesda, MD [map] [directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Also a YouTube Live Event with Q and A
NCASVideo YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/WfmbQNDHaoA
.png)
Brian A. Sharpless is a licensed psychologist, author, and a visiting research fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. He received his PhD in clinical psychology and MA in philosophy from Pennsylvania State University and completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored more than fifty professional publications including three books for Oxford University Press. His research interests include common and unusual psychological disorders, psychotherapy, professional issues, and the history of mental illness. This research has been featured on TV, radio, and in other media outlets, and he is a frequent speaker at conferences and public events in the United States and abroad.
Twitter: @briansharpless
website: www.briansharpless.com
At the speaker's request, this live-streamed event will not be recorded for the NCAS YouTube channel.
Saturday, September 09, 2023
Shadow of a Doubt - September 2023
We're sorry to
have to report this at this late date, but today's talk has to be
cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We hope that this can be
rescheduled at a later date.
Combating Psychic Fraud
October NCAS Lecture -Psychologist Brian Sharpless will discuss his new book, Monsters on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies.A free symposium entitled "Enabling the Nanotechnology Revolution: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the 21st Century Nanotechnology R&D Act" will be held on Tuesday, October 10 at the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in DC.Shadow LightTime to renew
Read Shadow here: https://www.ncas.org/2023/09/shadow-of-doubt-september-2023.html
Shadow of a Doubt - September 2023
We're sorry to have to report this at this late date, but today's talk has to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. We hope that this can be rescheduled at a later date.
Combating Psychic Fraud
Mark Carlon and
Catherine Woytowicz
Society of American Magicians
Paranormal Investigation Committee
Fraud Awareness Program
Saturday, September 9, 2:30pm - 4:30pm [NOTE
SPECIAL TIME]Central Library
Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA [map] [directions]
(Virginia Square-GMU Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world, founded in 1902. Several months after S.A.M.'s founding, Harry Houdini was elected to membership. Houdini was well-known for his escapes and magic acts, but he also worked to expose frauds who claimed to have supernatural powers.
Based in part on his own experiences with psychics attempting to contact the dead, Houdini helped form the S.A.M’s Paranormal Investigation Committee (P.I.C.) and establish its mission to investigate and expose those “supernatural” frauds. Houdini even testified before Congress, exposing a method fraudulent psychics used to imply they were in communication with the dead. S.A.M.'s P.I.C. has carried on that work for more than 100 years.
Mark Carlon and Catherine Woytowicz will talk about P.I.C.’s current work to raise awareness of fraud. They have created a presentation on typical fraud cases and are partnering with community law enforcement agencies to raise awareness of these scams – especially psychics who are preying upon people who lost loved ones during COVID.
Mr. Carlon will be joining us virtually while Ms. Woytowicz will join us in person.
Mr. Mark Carlon is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) and S.A.M. who has performed magic from Chicago to Las Vegas. He has a degree in developmental psychology and is a retired attorney. Mr. Carlon is the chair of the Paranormal Investigation Committee.
Ms. Catherine Woytowicz is a magician, mentalist, and comic who began her magic career at 14 in a girl-to-tiger change illusion. She performs corporate magic and facilitates critical thinking/structured thinking techniques with her company, Just the Trick. She has a PhD in pharmaceutical design and discovery. If you believe she could talk about drugs for hours, she will promise not to.
Refreshments will be available.
https://www.ncas.org/2023/08/september-9-combating-psychic-fraud.html
At the speakers' request,
this live-streamed event will not be recorded for the NCAS
YouTube channel.
October NCAS
Lecture
Psychologist Brian
Sharpless will discuss his new book, Monsters
on the Couch: The Real Psychological Disorders
Behind Your Favorite Horror Movies. Saturday,
October 21 at 1:30 PM at Connie Morella (formerly Bethesda
Regional) Library.
September PhACT Lecture
Our skeptical neighbors to the north, the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), will host their next online event on Saturday, September 16 at 2 PM ET. CSI Fellow Nathan H. Lents, PhD, Professor of Biology and Director of the Cell and Molecular Biology program at John Jay College of the City University of New York, will present "Hacking Humanity - Advances in Technology Lead to Big Breakthroughs in Medicine." Event details at http://www.phact.org/meetings.php.
Our skeptical neighbors to the north, the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), will host their next online event on Saturday, September 16 at 2 PM ET. CSI Fellow Nathan H. Lents, PhD, Professor of Biology and Director of the Cell and Molecular Biology program at John Jay College of the City University of New York, will present "Hacking Humanity - Advances in Technology Lead to Big Breakthroughs in Medicine." Event details at http://www.phact.org/meetings.php.
September Bay Area Skeptics Lecture
The [San Francisco] Bay Area Skeptics will host their next online event on Thursday, September 14 at 10:30 PM ET. Michael Worobey, Professor and the Head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, will present "Origins of the COVID-19 Pandemic." This will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg0OlyCRhww
The [San Francisco] Bay Area Skeptics will host their next online event on Thursday, September 14 at 10:30 PM ET. Michael Worobey, Professor and the Head of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, will present "Origins of the COVID-19 Pandemic." This will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg0OlyCRhww
Nanotechnology Symposium in DC
Quinn Spadola, PhD, the Deputy Director of the National
Nanotechnology Coordination Office, contacted NCAS to let
us know that a free symposium entitled "Enabling
the Nanotechnology Revolution: Celebrating the 20th
Anniversary of the 21st Century Nanotechnology R&D
Act" will be held on Tuesday, October 10 at the
National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine
in DC.
Dr. Spadola gave an NCAS lecture in November 2016,
"Debunking the Nanobot," available on the NCASVideo site:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7z5mCYpiIOI.
Some members and
contacts of NCAS receive a postal notification of this and
every new monthly Shadow of a Doubt. The Shadow
Light postcard announces the monthly lecture and
highlights of the electronic Shadow of a Doubt,
which is available online at ncas.org/p/shadow.html.
NCAS thereby reduces Shadow production and postage
costs. To further reduce costs, members and contacts can
opt out of postal notification altogether, while continuing
to receive Shadow of a Doubt via e-mail. To opt
out, send us an e-mail at ncas@ncas.org.
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Thursday, August 24, 2023
September 9 - Combating Psychic Fraud
Presented by Mark Carlon and Catherine Woytowicz
Society of American MagiciansParanormal Investigation Committee
Society of American Magicians
Paranormal Investigation Committee
Fraud Awareness Program
Fraud Awareness Program
Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 2:30 PM ET (note special time)
Central Library
Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA
(Virginia Square-GMU Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
The
Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic
organization in the world, founded in 1902. Several months after
S.A.M.'s founding, Harry Houdini was elected to membership. Houdini was
well-known for his escapes and magic acts, but he also worked to expose
frauds who claimed to have supernatural powers.
Based
in part on his own experiences with psychics attempting to contact the
dead, Houdini helped form the S.A.M’s Paranormal Investigation Committee
(P.I.C.) and establish its mission to investigate and expose those
“supernatural” frauds. Houdini even testified before Congress, exposing a
method fraudulent psychics used to imply they were in communication
with the dead. S.A.M.'s P.I.C. has carried on that work for more than 100
years.
Carlon
and Woytowicz will talk about P.I.C.’s current work to raise
awareness of fraud. They have created a presentation on typical fraud
cases and are partnering with community law enforcement agencies to
raise awareness of these scams – especially psychics who are preying
upon people who lost loved ones during COVID.
Mr. Carlon will be joining us virtually while Ms. Woytowicz will join us in person.
Mr.
Mark Carlon is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians
(IBM) and S.A.M. who has performed magic from Chicago to Las Vegas. He
has a degree in developmental psychology and is a retired attorney. Mr.
Carlon is the chair of the Paranormal Investigation Committee.
Ms.
Catherine Woytowicz is a magician, mentalist, and comic who began her
magic career at 14 in a girl-to-tiger change illusion. She performs
corporate magic and facilitates critical thinking/structured thinking
techniques with her company, Just the Trick. She has a PhD in
pharmaceutical design and discovery. If you believe she could talk
about drugs for hours, she will promise not to.
This event will also be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8A1drUslw
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Shadow of a Doubt - May 2023
- May NCAS lecture- The Great Psychic Prediction Project with Rob Palmer
- April Shadow?
- April SkepTour Recap
- NCAS board elections
- Bay Ara Skeptics Lecture
- Torn from Today's Headlines
- Shadow Light
- Time to Renew?
Shadow of a Doubt - May 2023
May 2023
The
Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project
In 2021, "The Skeptic Zone" producer and CSI Fellow Richard Saunders completed his 12-year project dubbed the "Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project" (GAPPP) – an analysis of 3811 published paranormal predictions made by 207 people claiming paranormal powers in Australia during 2000 to 2020.
The scoring of the predictions was performed by an international team of volunteers, including Rob Palmer. In this presentation, an expanded version of the talk he gave at CSICon 2022, Rob will share details and the results of this unique investigation into the precision (or lack thereof) of the published predictions of prominent, public, paranormal practitioners.
Rob Palmer is a retired aerospace engineer. He has been a spacecraft designer, spacecraft tester, computer programmer, and software systems engineer. Rob became a skeptical activist in 2016 upon joining the "Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia" team, and in 2018 became a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer. To date he has had over 70 articles published by Skeptical Inquirer as well as in other publications, and the Wikipedia articles he's written have garnered over 13 million pageviews.
NCAS
Public Lecture Series
The
Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project
Rob Palmer
Skeptical Inquirer Columnist ("The Well-Known
Skeptic")
Central Library
Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA [map] [directions]
(Virginia Square-GMU Metro station)
Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA [map] [directions]
(Virginia Square-GMU Metro station)
FREE admission –
Everyone welcome, members and non-members
In 2021, "The Skeptic Zone" producer and CSI Fellow Richard Saunders completed his 12-year project dubbed the "Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project" (GAPPP) – an analysis of 3811 published paranormal predictions made by 207 people claiming paranormal powers in Australia during 2000 to 2020.
The scoring of the predictions was performed by an international team of volunteers, including Rob Palmer. In this presentation, an expanded version of the talk he gave at CSICon 2022, Rob will share details and the results of this unique investigation into the precision (or lack thereof) of the published predictions of prominent, public, paranormal practitioners.
Rob Palmer is a retired aerospace engineer. He has been a spacecraft designer, spacecraft tester, computer programmer, and software systems engineer. Rob became a skeptical activist in 2016 upon joining the "Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia" team, and in 2018 became a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer. To date he has had over 70 articles published by Skeptical Inquirer as well as in other publications, and the Wikipedia articles he's written have garnered over 13 million pageviews.
Mr. Palmer will be
joining us remotely via Zoom.
Refreshments will be available.
Refreshments will be available.
April Shadow?
Was there an April 2023 Shadow of a Doubt? No,
there was only an email to our members announcing the
April 1 NCAS SkepTour. Speaking of which...
The latest NCAS SkepTour
brought a group of 14 into the Museum of Illusions Washington,
where skeptical eyes and minds were tricked to the brink of
believing unbelievable sights on (appropriately enough) April
Fool's Day.
There were plenty of gasps and
laughs at the various ways human perception can fall prey to
human ingenuity (and mischief).
Those of you who couldn't join us that morning, by all means
make time to visit the museum when you can! (And trust our good
judgment to eat *after* the visit, not before!)
NCAS president Scott Snell was served in "Head on a Platter" at Museum of Illusions Washington.
NCAS president Scott Snell was served in "Head on a Platter" at Museum of Illusions Washington.
NCAS Board Elections:
Electronic Voting
The 2023 NCAS election is underway. In mid-April, your e-mail inbox should've received a single-cast secret ballot from "elections@ncas.org via SurveyMonkey <member@surveymonkeyuser.com>". (NCAS will receive information indicating who voted, but nothing to indicate who cast each ballot.) Please vote by May 15, 2023.
Note that voters will not be at risk for spamming as a result of participating...SurveyMonkey has a zero-tolerance spam policy:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/legal/acceptable-uses-policy/
The 2023 NCAS election is underway. In mid-April, your e-mail inbox should've received a single-cast secret ballot from "elections@ncas.org via SurveyMonkey <member@surveymonkeyuser.com>". (NCAS will receive information indicating who voted, but nothing to indicate who cast each ballot.) Please vote by May 15, 2023.
Note that voters will not be at risk for spamming as a result of participating...SurveyMonkey has a zero-tolerance spam policy:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/legal/acceptable-uses-policy/
Be sure to check your spam folder
if you didn't receive the election email. A reminder was sent on
May 1 to anyone who didn't cast a ballot yet.
Bay Area Skeptics Lecture
The [San Francisco] Bay Area Skeptics, now in their 41st year(!), will host their next online event on Thursday, May 11 at 10:30 PM ET. Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, will present "Extraterrestrials?" This will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjQsJR7svY
The [San Francisco] Bay Area Skeptics, now in their 41st year(!), will host their next online event on Thursday, May 11 at 10:30 PM ET. Alex Filippenko, Professor of Astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, will present "Extraterrestrials?" This will be livestreamed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qjQsJR7svY
Torn From Today's Headlines
By Scott Snell
Lessons from the Covid War: An Investigative Report
By Scott Snell
Lessons from the Covid War: An Investigative Report
Released on April 25,
2023, written by a team of 34 experts calling themselves
the "Covid Crisis Group," Lessons
from the Covid War: An Investigative Report is
intended to be the best possible substitute for a report
from a National Covid Commission that may never be formed.
News media
organizations are covering the report (see, for example,
this Washington Post editorial
and review)
and some of the authors are discussing the book at public
and/or online events:
Wednesday, May 3, 7 PM:
Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington,
DC. https://www.politics-prose.com/philip-zelikow
Thursday, May 4, 6 PM:
George Mason University, Van Metre Hall Auditorium,
3341 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. https://ibi.gmu.edu/event/book-launch-lessons-from-the-covid-war-an-investigative-report/
Most thorough were the panels discussions at the
National Academy of Sciences Building on April 24: https://vimeo.com/819923414
Some members and contacts
of NCAS receive a postal notification of this and every new
monthly Shadow of a Doubt. The Shadow Light
postcard announces the monthly lecture and highlights of the
electronic Shadow of a Doubt, which is available
online at ncas.org/p/shadow.html. NCAS
thereby reduces Shadow production and postage costs.
To further reduce costs, members and contacts can opt out of
postal notification altogether, while continuing to receive Shadow
of a Doubt via e-mail. To opt out, send us an e-mail at
ncas@ncas.org.
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Friday, April 28, 2023
May 13 - The Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project
Presented by Rob Palmer, "Skeptical Inquirer" Columnist
Saturday, May 13, 2023, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Central Library
Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA
(Virginia Square-GMU Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
The speaker will be joining us virtually. This event will also be
live-streamed at https://youtube.com/live/dR3PtgRl-vM?feature=share
In 2021, "The Skeptic Zone" producer and CSI Fellow Richard Saunders
completed his 12-year project dubbed the Great Australian Psychic
Prediction Project (GAPPP) – an analysis of almost 4,000 published
paranormal predictions made by over 200 people claiming paranormal
powers in Australia.
The scoring of the predictions was performed by an international team of
volunteers of which Rob Palmer was a member. In this presentation, an
expanded version of the talk given at CSICon 2022, Rob will share
details and the results of this unique investigation into the precision
(or lack thereof) of the published predictions of prominent, public,
paranormal practitioners.
Rob Palmer is a retired aerospace engineer. He has been a spacecraft
designer, spacecraft tester, computer programmer, and software systems
engineer. Rob became a skeptical activist in 2016 upon joining the
Guerrilla Skeptics on Wikipedia team, and in 2018 became a columnist for
"Skeptical Inquirer." To date he has had over 70 articles published by
"Skeptical Inquirer" as well as in other publications, and the Wikipedia
articles he’s written have garnered over 13 million pageviews.
Rob is registered with the Center for Inquiry’s Speakers Bureau and has given presentations for various skeptic and humanist groups and conventions, including: We Can Reason, Dragon Con, and three times at CSICon (the annual science and skepticism conference in Las Vegas). His topics have included: Critical Thinking, the Wikipedia editing project he volunteers for (GSoW), the harm in believing in psychics and mediums, and the Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project. He has been interviewed about these subjects on various podcasts and YouTube shows, including "The Skeptic Zone," "Big Picture Science", "Be Rationable," "The Phil Ferguson Show", "Banachek’s Brain,"" 502 Conversations," Recovering from Religion, Point of Inquiry, and "The Thinking Atheist."
All of Rob’s skeptical work can be found at: https://linktr.ee/thewellknownskeptic.
Friday, March 24, 2023
Shadow of a Doubt - March 2023
- March NCAS lecture- How to talk to a science denier, presented by Lee McIntyre, Ph.D.
- April 1 visit to Museum of Illusions, Washington, DC
- The Woman who saw it all coming to Bethesda
- March Phact Lecture, March 18
- NCAS board elections soon
- Stuart Vyse Interim Editor of Skeptical Inquirer
- Shadow Light
- Time to Renew?
Shadow of a Doubt - March 2023
March 2023
YouTube Live Event with Q and A
For our March event, NCAS invites you to read the book How to Talk to a Science Denier BEFORE March 11, 2023. Then join us on Saturday, March 11 at 1:30 PM ET for an online Q & A with author Lee McIntyre.
NCAS
Public Lecture Series
A Discussion of How to Talk to a Science Denier
YouTube Live Event with Q and A
Lee McIntyre,
PhD
Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston
University
For our March event, NCAS invites you to read the book How to Talk to a Science Denier BEFORE March 11, 2023. Then join us on Saturday, March 11 at 1:30 PM ET for an online Q & A with author Lee McIntyre.
Think of it as the
ultimate book club meeting...your friends and
acquaintances show up to discuss a book, and the author
shows up too!
From the book's
website:
"Can we change the minds of science deniers? Encounters with flat earthers, anti-vaxxers, coronavirus truthers, and others.
'Climate change is a hoax—and so is coronavirus.' 'Vaccines are bad for you.' These days, many of our fellow citizens reject scientific expertise and prefer ideology to facts. They are not merely uninformed—they are misinformed. They cite cherry-picked evidence, rely on fake experts, and believe conspiracy theories. How can we convince such people otherwise? How can we get them to change their minds and accept the facts when they don't believe in facts? In this book, Lee McIntyre shows that anyone can fight back against science deniers, and argues that it's important to do so. Science denial can kill.
Drawing on his own experience—including a visit to a Flat Earth convention—as well as academic research, McIntyre outlines the common themes of science denialism, present in misinformation campaigns ranging from tobacco companies' denial in the 1950s that smoking causes lung cancer to today's anti-vaxxers. He describes attempts to use his persuasive powers as a philosopher to convert Flat Earthers; surprising discussions with coal miners; and conversations with a scientist friend about genetically modified organisms in food. McIntyre offers tools and techniques for communicating the truth and values of science, emphasizing that the most important way to reach science deniers is to talk to them calmly and respectfully—to put ourselves out there, and meet them face to face."
"Can we change the minds of science deniers? Encounters with flat earthers, anti-vaxxers, coronavirus truthers, and others.
'Climate change is a hoax—and so is coronavirus.' 'Vaccines are bad for you.' These days, many of our fellow citizens reject scientific expertise and prefer ideology to facts. They are not merely uninformed—they are misinformed. They cite cherry-picked evidence, rely on fake experts, and believe conspiracy theories. How can we convince such people otherwise? How can we get them to change their minds and accept the facts when they don't believe in facts? In this book, Lee McIntyre shows that anyone can fight back against science deniers, and argues that it's important to do so. Science denial can kill.
Drawing on his own experience—including a visit to a Flat Earth convention—as well as academic research, McIntyre outlines the common themes of science denialism, present in misinformation campaigns ranging from tobacco companies' denial in the 1950s that smoking causes lung cancer to today's anti-vaxxers. He describes attempts to use his persuasive powers as a philosopher to convert Flat Earthers; surprising discussions with coal miners; and conversations with a scientist friend about genetically modified organisms in food. McIntyre offers tools and techniques for communicating the truth and values of science, emphasizing that the most important way to reach science deniers is to talk to them calmly and respectfully—to put ourselves out there, and meet them face to face."
How
to Watch and Participate in this Online Discussion
Event:
1) Use a supported
browser... https://www.youtube.com/supported_browsers
2) Use the link https://youtu.be/NEiV9o6vwKk
3) The live stream
begins shortly before 1:30pm US/Eastern (UTC-05:00)
on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
4) To post questions,
you must be signed in to a Google account.
5) Post your questions
in the chat window to the right of the video player when
the live stream is active.
6) Click into where it says "Say something..." and begin
typing (up to 200 characters). Then click the send icon .
Along with your question, please post what city or
town you're in.
Let's get fooled on April 1 at
the Museum of Illusions.
The Museum of Illusions DC is newly opened in the heart of Washington, and NCAS has arranged a group visit with discounts for Saturday morning, April 1.
From the museum website (https://moiwashington.com/):
Discover a brilliant collection of perspective-changing
rooms, enthralling installations, and spellbinding images.
Our exhibits will teach you that nothing is ever quite as it
seems, especially in the Museum of Illusions. Get ready to
be mesmerized!
The Museum of Illusions Washington is a 21st-century museum conceptualized to offer an interactive and unique experience that tricks the mind, challenges the vision and makes you question all your senses. The museum is a collection of more than 50 exhibits on over 6000 square feet. All exhibits are based on science, mathematics, psychology and art allowing you to learn a lot about vision, perception and the human brain, but in a fun and interactive way!
The Museum of Illusions Washington is a 21st-century museum conceptualized to offer an interactive and unique experience that tricks the mind, challenges the vision and makes you question all your senses. The museum is a collection of more than 50 exhibits on over 6000 square feet. All exhibits are based on science, mathematics, psychology and art allowing you to learn a lot about vision, perception and the human brain, but in a fun and interactive way!
Location: CityCenterDC, 927 H Street NW, Washington DC
One block from the Gallery Place Metro (Red/Green Lines)
We will meet at the museum at 10:45 for our 11 AM entry time. The museum suggests that we can experience the exhibits in about 45 minutes, but guests are welcome to stay longer.
One block from the Gallery Place Metro (Red/Green Lines)
We will meet at the museum at 10:45 for our 11 AM entry time. The museum suggests that we can experience the exhibits in about 45 minutes, but guests are welcome to stay longer.
NCAS has 15 discounted tickets at $24 each, including
processing fee and sales tax. (Full price is $27, $25 for
students, military and age 65+.)
Send an email to NCAS with your name and phone number to SkepTour@ncas.org.
We'll respond with the payment link. We'll have the ticket(s)
for you when you arrive at the museum.
Afterwards, please join us for lunch at Clyde's of Gallery
Place.
"The Woman Who Saw All"
Coming to Bethesda
"The Woman Who Saw All" is
"An amazing evening with magician Andy Morgan as he tells the
story of his grandmother, Psychic and Spiritualist, Mamie Bell
Johnson." The Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh Street, March 31
and April 1 at 8 PM.
March PhACT Lecture
Our skeptical neighbors to the north, the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), will host their next online event on Saturday, March 18 at 2 PM ET. CSI Fellow (and NCAS Philip J. Klass Award laureate) Susan Gerbic will present "Science Activism does not stop during a world-wide pandemic: or How I spent my lockdown." Event details at http://www.phact.org/meetings.php.
Our skeptical neighbors to the north, the Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT), will host their next online event on Saturday, March 18 at 2 PM ET. CSI Fellow (and NCAS Philip J. Klass Award laureate) Susan Gerbic will present "Science Activism does not stop during a world-wide pandemic: or How I spent my lockdown." Event details at http://www.phact.org/meetings.php.
Are you an NCAS member who
wants to take a leadership role in the skeptics movement? The
NCAS annual board of directors election is fast approaching.
As a board member, you can channel (non-psychically) your
talent and energy (the non-woo kind) into educating the
public, and pick up some fun skills along the way. Send an
email to ncas@ncas.org by March 15 for
more information.
Stuart Vyse is Interim Editor of Skeptical
Inquirer
Following the passing of longtime Skeptical Inquirer
editor Kendrick Frazier, Stuart Vyse was named Interim
Editor. Coincidentally, both Dr. Vyse and Deputy Editor
Benjamin Radford have recently given NCAS lectures. Dr.
Vyse discussed his book, The Uses of Delusion, last
June (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1-1fof15U8),
and Mr. Radford discussed his book, America the Fearful,
last November (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOKmz9kk25s).
Some members and contacts
of NCAS receive a postal notification of this and every new
monthly Shadow of a Doubt. The Shadow Light
postcard announces the monthly lecture and highlights of the
electronic Shadow of a Doubt, which is available
online at ncas.org/p/shadow.html. NCAS
thereby reduces Shadow production and postage costs.
To further reduce costs, members and contacts can opt out of
postal notification altogether, while continuing to receive Shadow
of a Doubt via e-mail. To opt out, send us an e-mail at
ncas@ncas.org.
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
Time to Renew?
Be sure to check your renewal date above your postal address on the Shadow Light postcard. Send any queries to ncas@ncas.org. Use the online membership form to renew.
https://www.ncas.org/p/shadow.html
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