I sense that you have questions.
I seem to have some psychic abilities, probably
limited by my not believing in them. But I'll try my
best.
OK, I've made contact with a mind, apparently a
skeptical mind! This mind will speak for all skeptical
minds, because I don't have conference-telepathy
capability.
Q. Wait, what is this? It's not educational? We're
not watching an informative program, instead it's old
junk that was new junk about 50 years ago?
A. Correct. If there is anything insightful or
educational about it, that would be a happy accident.
(Actually I think it's possible it will lead to some
rational thought and checking reputable references
later, but that's not the point.)
Q. Well, what's the program, and why did I have to
ask?
A. You can know without being told...use your latent
powers of insight! Everyone has them, they just need to
be unlocked!
No wait, don't spoil the fun...it's meant to be a
surprise. You'll know at 7 PM on Thursday, regardless
of whether your insights are unlocked or not.
It's more fun if no one peeks at the show ahead of
time. Let's riff on this spontaneously.
Q. Whoa, are you saying you (Scott) have not
carefully reviewed this?
A. I have carefully reviewed it to make certain that its
original G rating (we're going to watch a theatrically
released film) still applies, and that the YouTube
posted video appears to have no added material,
unsuitable or otherwise. But the technique I used did
not sully my blissfully ignorant self, and enough time
has passed that even some of the imagery will only be
vaguely available to my conscious mind! I've never
truly experienced this movie, now or ever.
Q. Why am I finding out about this today, and why
June 3rd?
A. I checked the weather forecast for the DC, Baltimore,
and Philadelphia (yep, we're inviting PhACT to join in)
that evening. It's going to be rainy. Plus there will
probably still be some yucky cicada nymphs crawling
around as night falls (that probably hasn't happened for
the PhACT pholks...just think what they've missed!).
Who would want to go out in that? So it's a perfect
night for the movie.
Q. You said it's roughly 50 years old. How's the
video and audio quality?
A. It's OK. If you watch an average YouTube video from
the 1970s, it looks like that.
Q. No HD and no stereo separation?!?!
A. This is not an experience of the senses, it is an
experience of the MIND. You will find TRUE CLARITY,
transcending sight and sound, by the end of this event.
Q. ...which will be?
A. 9 PM. It's a 90-minute film.
Q. Any clues or other things to mention?
A. Yes...it has a local (DC) angle (just briefly).
There are aspects that skeptics will appreciate, despite
the BS. And I really have never seen or heard of this
before, so it's possible the whole thing will fall
flat. (I like danger.) But I read a few online reviews
that suggest this will be fun to watch and laugh at.
Q. Will webcams be part of this?
A. No, just the chat window. Get ready to type!
Q. You only gave 48 hours (or less, if I didn't
happen to check my email for a while) notice for this
event, what if I can't make it?
A. Sorry, the short notice came from choosing a reliably
rainy evening in the forecast. (Maybe 72 hours would've
worked too.) There won't be a recording of the actual
event, but of course the YouTube video will still be
available. You can laugh at it on your own, or bring
others to your own Watch2Gether party!
Q. OK...OK. Maybe I'll join in to see how it goes.
A. Great! We'll have this, rain or shine. (Though I
think it will be rain, just as forecast.)
Q. What if the thunderstorms in the forecast knock
out the power?
A. You mean "the electricity." YOU have THE POWER.
We'll continue the program without electricity, focusing
THE POWER OF THE MIND.
Q. Sure, ha-ha. This will be moderated, I hope.
A. Correct, please keep all of your chats G-rated.
We're inviting NCAS members, so I'm sure that won't be a
problem. I think PhACT pholks will be good too. In any
case, I'll be moderating.
Q. OK, thanks! And I think the "skeptical mind" you made
contact with may have been your own.
A. That makes sense, I do talk to myself sometimes.
So...if your
skeptical mind has any questions not covered here, send an
email to
ncas@ncas.org.
"See" you Thursday!
Board of Directors Election
Results of April's NCAS member vote on candidates for the
board of directors have been tabulated. Re-elected and
incumbent members are: Tom Bridgman, Nelson Davis Jr, Chip
Denman, Grace Denman, Bing Garthright, Brian Gregory,
Curtis Haymore, Beth Kingsley, J. D. Mack, Melissa Pollak,
Walter F. Rowe, Scott Snell, and Marv Zelkowitz.
At its May 17 meeting, the NCAS board of directors
selected its officers, who are: Scott Snell, president; J.
D. Mack, vice president; Walter F. Rowe, secretary; and
Marv Zelkowitz, treasurer.
Message to
Current and Prospective NCAS Members
In response to the economic hardship and other
uncertainties that our members may be facing, NCAS has
automatically extended by one year all memberships that
expire in 2020 or later. Payment will be accepted for
new memberships as well as renewals for 2019 and before:
new and renewed will have a bonus year added. Each life
member may sponsor a new one-year membership at no
charge. (Double life memberships may sponsor two.)
Send your sponsored member's name and contact
information to
ncas@ncas.org.
This offer will continue until further notice.
Prez
Sez
By Scott Snell
I hope many of you, hopefully all of you, are
sharing a renewed sense of optimism about the future.
So far, the vaccines against COVID-19 are apparently
effective against all of the known viral varients. CDC
guidelines are leading federal, state, and local
governments to lift restrictions that have been in place
for a year or more.
We're skeptics! So we're unusually vigilant and
cautious. But so far, this looks like another stunning
victory for the scientific method and human ingenuity,
against a backdrop of human weaknesses.
The US is on the road to recovery, and will surely be
helping the rest of the world do the same.
Will there ever again be a moment for science to
shine so brightly in such a sudden and dramatic way,
other than defeating another pandemic? The answer is
definitely yes, though it may not happen in our
lifetimes.
If you Google "planetary defense," you can read more
about it. It's not a question of "if," but of "when."
There might be the equivalent of anti-vaxxers when a
comet or asteroid is found to be on a collision course
with Earth. (We already have "Flat Earthers," although
some or much of that might be intended as a joke to get
news media attention, to get skeptics upset, etc.) Some
might doubt that the impact will be significant, or even
whether the object is really going to hit Earth. Some
may be concerned (perhaps with justification) about the
competence or motives of the group(s) planning the
deflection. For example, an object that is not on
collision course with Earth can be deflected into a
collision course, effectively weaponizing asteroids and
comets.
So I think science will not shine for everyone,
whether defeating a pandemic or deflecting an asteroid
from Earth. But the vast majority of people will
celebrate the end results, whether they fully understand
how science works (or at least how it should work) or
not.
(By the way, as we lift our glasses in celebration of
anyone and everyone who contributed to the vaccination
effort and saved the world, why do we not know the name
or names of whoever brilliantly conceived of
mass-producing vaccines that were still undergoing
testing?)
I mentioned the "backdrop of human weaknesses," but
count me as generally optimistic for the future. For
example, I think modern virtual artificial-intelligence
assistants (Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, etc) will continue
to improve, and essentially become pocket skeptics. All
online news, whether fake or not, will be accessible to
you the consumer, and you will assess/analyze it in
conversation with your pocket skeptic. Think of the
positive influence pocket skeptics will have, because
people are imitative and take on the habits of those
around them, maybe even non-human associates. (Let's
face it, we've seen humans take on the characteristics
of their pets, so my claim is plausible!)
If/when AI assistants become capable of asking
excellent questions, skepticism will have made a huge
breakthrough.
Imagine the domestic disputes that might be avoided
or resolved by having an AI "friend" in the household.
Marriages might be saved by its knowledgable and wise
advice. (Or by uniting the partners in mutual hatred
towards it!) AIs might also become valuable members of
diplomatic corps and negotiating teams.
In the meantime, we'll just have to settle for human
skeptics.
Speaking of which, NCAS is planning to resume
in-person lecture events on the 2nd Saturday of
September, October, and November at the Bethesda-Chevy
Chase Regional Services Center.
We're planning to livestream these in-person events,
if the speaker consents, and if technical challenges are
overcome.
For December, January, and February, we're planning
to hold online-only livestream events...we'll avoid
inclement weather and resume our access to skeptical
presenters from all around the world.
AmazonSmile: Thanks to our members who are
supporting NCAS!
When holiday
shopping at
smile.amazon.com, you'll
find the same low prices, vast selection, and convenient
shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus
that a portion of the purchase price (0.5%) goes to
NCAS! It's simple and automatic, and it doesn't cost you
anything!
AmazonSmile's disbursements to NCAS in the first quarter
of 2021 came to $19.14, meaning that $3800 of purchases
were designated in support of NCAS. (As an example of
how NCAS can put that money to good use, it's enough to
cover about an hour of a Montgomery County lecture room
rental.)
Thanks again to our members who have chosen to support
NCAS!
For more information:
https://smile.amazon.com/about
https://press.aboutamazon.com/news-releases/news-release-details/amazon-launches-amazonsmile-simple-automatic-way-customers
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