Shadow of a Doubt - The Electronic Edition The Monthly Calendar of the National Capital Area Skeptics - June 1994 Send mail to the NCAS Skeptic Line at ncas@cs.umd.edu for further information. ============================ NEWS FLASH ============================ Our apologies to those who have had trouble logging onto the NCAS BBS (see below). In full compliance with Murphy's Law, the NCAS BBS had developed a hard drive failure on the eve of its debut, which has now been corrected and the BBS is back on the air. ==================================================================== And now we resume our normal programming... Ever get the feeling that we're talking to ourselves about an unending job? Then it's antidote time, time for the NCAS ANNUAL MEETING WHAT HAVE WE DONE? -- Highlights of the past year's programs and projects WHAT'S PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR? -- Media Watch, education workshop, and more HOW DO WE COMPARE? -- Activities of other groups, skeptical and maybe not HOW ARE WE DOING? -- Laugh or swear, just be there... we need your feedback 2 p.m., Saturday, June 18 at the Bethesda Library (7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Maryland), 1/4 mile from the Bethesda Metro. Softdrinks provided. Free and open to the public. Electronic critiques, questions, and suggestions are welcome. Please send them to Joe Himes at 75460.60@compuserve.com BRIEF NOTES... NEW DIRECTORS ELECTED TO THE BOARD... NCAS members recently elected Maggie Ragaisis and Curtis Haymore to two-year terms on the Board of Directors. Maggie Ragaisis (mragaisi@nyx.cs.du.edu) will lead the NCAS electronic bulletin board project. Curtis Haymore (curtish@aol.com) shows off one of his several talents in his write-up in the current Skeptical Eye about the recent NCAS Workshop at Harpers Ferry. Incumbent directors were reelected. SEE IT NOW ON A SCREEN NEAR YOU... This promises to be one of the best shows in town! Maggie and Chris Ragaisis now have NCAS' own Skeptic Tank Bulletin Board System ready for logins (*). As announced in the current Skeptical Eye, the purpose of the BBS is to provide a forum for electronic skeptics who do not currently have access to major online services. It's a limited BBS -- we prefer to say "homey" -- so try it out. Set your modem for 2400 baud, N-8-1, full duplex, and call 703-471-8562. Give the BBS some ID information so it will recognize you the next time, and wade in. Challenge, argue, whatever... other Tankers can only reach you through the BBS. The System Operator, Chris Ragaisis, will keep order. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? The next time those words come to mind when you read about an extraordinary claim purporting to be scientific, please clip or copy the ad or article and send it to us. Tell us where you found it and add any commentary you wish. The media help form the public's opinions and beliefs, for better or worse. NCAS intends to be a constructive force for the better by calling attention to the best and worst of critical thinking displayed in the media. So when you think, "That writer deserves a medal!", send us that one, too. Send items to one of these board members: Joe Himes, 3731 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031 Mike Epstein, 13507 Old Annapolis Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771 Chip Denman, 8006 Valley Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910 New monthly programs will be planned based on discussions at this Annual Meeting. They will begin in September on dates to be announced as soon as space can be reserved. Of locations thoughtfully suggested by members to date, Bethesda Library is still the best overall but we'd like to do better. Send suggestions to Joe Himes or call 703-280-2503. =============================================== For more details on any of the upcoming talks or information on this conference, contact: > ======================================================== < > Mike Epstein mse@enh.nist.gov < > Research Chemist, NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland < > and < > Vice President, National Capital Area Skeptics < > [Opinions expressed are mine ... not necessarily theirs] < > PHONE: (301) 975-3385 FAX: (301) 975-3845 < > ======================================================== < > "Tis easy to see ... Hard to foresee" < > .... Benjamin Franklin < > ======================================================== < Updated: 6/14/94