April, 1997

Roswell: Fact versus Fiction
Richard Weaver, Col., USAF, retired

This talk will discuss the methodology of the Air Force's research into the so-called Roswell Incident. There will be a short overview of the findings of the Air Force inquiry. Interesting anecdotes and fallout from the inquiry will also be presented.

Saturday, April 19, 1997, 2:00pm -- 3:30pm
Bethesda Library,
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.

JAMES "THE AMAZING" RANDI-- APRIL 19

Magician, pseudoscience investigator, and NCAS friend James Randi will be in town on April 19 to accept an award from the American Physics Society for Martin Gardiner, who is unable to travel. Randi will be at the Denman's home in Silver Spring from 7 to 10 pm that evening for light snacks and informal discussions. Buy one of Randi's books and have him sign it, or bring your own copy to be signed. Call the Skeptics Line at 301-587-3827 and leave your name in order to get directions.

UFOS GROUNDED ON MAY 17

"UFOs Brought Down to Earth" --- Phil Klass, the world's leading demystifier of UFO claims and one of the original co-founders of NCAS, helps celebrate NCAS's 10th year with an informal question and answer afternoon at NCAS's May 17th meeting. Bring your questions, queries, and crashed saucer debris!

1996 PIGASUS AWARDS

On April 1 (appropriately) the James Randi Educational Foundation announced the 1996 Pigasus Awards in four categories for the most outrageous claims related to the supernatural, paranormal or occult:

1. To the scientist who said or did the silliest thing -- Ed May, who headed up the CIA "remote viewing" project which consumed $20 million of our tax money on "remote viewing," a technique said to bypass time and space to obtain secret information via "gifted psychics" on the CIA payroll.

2. To the funding organization that supported the most useless study -- Robert Bigelow, of the Bigelow Tea family, for giving large sums of money to Harvard University's Professor John Mack and to million-seller author Bud Hopkins on the strength of their "alien abduction" beliefs, and also purchased (for a purported $230,000) a "haunted ranch" in Utah where UFO attacks and "interdimensional portals" had shown up.

3. To the media outlet that reported as fact the most outrageous claim -- Divided among the multitude of newspapers, magazines, TV programs, and radio shows who have continued -- despite the wealth of contrary evidence (see April talktopic above) -- to perpetuate the myth known as The Roswell Incident.

4. To the "psychic" performer who fooled the greatest number of people with the least effort -- Sheldon Nidle of Walnut Creek, California, who predicted that the end of the world would come on December 17th, 1996. When December 17th apparently came and went without the promised events being evident, Sheldon explained that we naturally were unaware of the fulfillment of his prophecy, since are now living in a special holographic projection created by the angels.

NCAS ELECTIONS

All paid up members of NCAS should have received their election ballots. Please fill out and return the ballot today. Even better, call the Skeptics Line at 301-587-3827 and volunteer to help the organization. We always need more volunteers.
Last Change: April 4, 1997