September, 1998

Maryland's Eastern Shore is alive with fantastic legends of ghosts, monsters, witchcraft, and buried treasure. Folklorist Stephanie Hall, Ph.D., will give a slide talk that re-creates a "legend-trip", a traditional journey taken by adolescents seeking thrills and truth. What we learn about legends of the Eastern Shore will help us appreciate better the folklore of our own home towns.

Stephanie A. Hall, Ph.D. is a graduate of the Department of Folklore and Folklife at the University of Pennsylvania. The research for this talk was part of her master's thesis at American University. She is a Librarian at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.

Saturday, September 19, 1998, 2:00pm -- 3:30pm
Montgomery County Library - bethesda Branch
7400 Arlington Road
Bethesda, Maryland

Everyone Welcome -- Members and Non-members -- No admission charge

Call the NCAS Skeptic Line at 301-587-3827 for further info.

NCAS Movie Night

Friday, September 25, 8 p. m. -- Chip and Grace Denman again invite NCAS members and their guests to join them for movies that skeptics can laugh at. They will supply the popcorn and sodas; bring anything else you would like to share. Some suitable flick of aliens or other beings from the '50s or '60s will be on the agenda. Space is limited}, so be sure to call the NCAS line by Wednesday, September 23 to reserve a spot and to obtain directions.

NCAS BOARD -- 1998-1999

After last spring's elections, the new NCAS Board is as follows:

• Paul Jaffe, President
• Gary Stone, Vice President
• Grace Denman, Treasurer
• Marv Zelkowitz, Secretary
• Chip Denman, Spokesman
• Helen Hester-Ossa, Skeptical Eye Editor
• Board:
• Jonathan Boswell
• Michael Epstein
• Herb Federhen
• Jim Giglio
• Zoann Lapinsky
• Rita Malone
• Sean O'Neill
• Eugene Ossa
• Walter Rowe
• Scott Snell
• Jamy Ian Swiss

NCAS 1998-99 SCHEDULE

Our 1996-97 programs will take place at the Bethesda Branch of the Montgomery County Library, 7400 Arlington Road, a short walk from the Bethesda Metro station. Meetings begin at 2 pm and last about one and a half hours:

• September 19
• October 17
• November 14
• December 19
• January 16, 1999
• February 20
• March 13
• April 17
• May 15
• June 19

Some aliens on TV

Thursday 9/17 on the History Channel -- 8:00/5:00 Ancient Aliens. Since the dawn of time, star-gazers have looked to the sky wondering if earth has had heavenly visitors. Scientists investigate ancient ruins, artifacts, and texts from around the world exploring the plausibility that extraterrestrials were here before--and may return!

Alternative medicine online

There is a 5-part (or more) alternative medicine series running in the LA Times. It appears that all the parts to it are currently available on-line from this page, and may still be when the ``Shadow'' is delivered. If interested, check: http://www.latimes.com/HOME/NEWS/REPORTS/MEDICINE/

Is public TV always in the public interest?

Try this web address: http://www.current.org/prog/prog804g.html. It is an interesting story on how non-commercial media like PBS have jumped on the New Age and self-help guru bandwagon to make a buck.

More junk science

Try this web address: http://www.phillynews.com/inquirer/98/Aug/31/entertainment/PSYC31.htm. It concerns Temple University's Center for Frontier Science.