- 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 1987Shadow of a Doubt - November 2023
Shadow of a Doubt - November 2023
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
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?
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
Refreshments will be available.
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
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
Bethesda, MD [map] [directions]
(Bethesda Metro station)
FREE admission – Everyone welcome, members and non-members
Twitter: @briansharpless
website: www.briansharpless.com
https://www.ncas.org/2023/10/october-21-clinical-lycanthropy.html
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 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!
By Scott Snell
NASA to Investigate UFOs
The rationale for selecting McInerney isn't obvious. As described in the NASA news release...
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
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
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.
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
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.
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
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
September 9 - Combating Psychic Fraud
Presented by Mark Carlon and Catherine Woytowicz
Society of American MagiciansParanormal Investigation Committee
Fraud Awareness Program
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
The
Great Australian Psychic Prediction Project
Rob Palmer
Skeptical Inquirer Columnist ("The Well-Known
Skeptic")
Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA [map] [directions]
(Virginia Square-GMU Metro station)
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.
Refreshments will be available.
NCAS president Scott Snell was served in "Head on a Platter" at Museum of Illusions Washington.
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 [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
By Scott Snell
Lessons from the Covid War: An Investigative Report
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
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.
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
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.
"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."
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/):
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!
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.
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.
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