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September 1982 "BASIS", newsletter of the Bay Area Skeptics
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         Bay Area Skeptics Information Sheet
                   Vol. 1, No. 4
    Editor:  Bob Steiner     Publisher:  Dan Byrd

Bay Area Skeptics is the first local chapter of the Committee for
the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP)



"THE CASE OF THE UFOS"

[Ed. note:  WGBH Boston was kind enough to furnish us with this
release.]

NOVA opens fall season with "The Case of the UFOs" on Tuesday,
October 12, 8 PM, on PBS (check local listings).

Are they watching?

The Air Force says the reports are groundless.  The CIA says
they're not responsible.  The sightings, however, continue
unabated.  Now NOVA, America's award-winning science documentary
series, presents television's first rigorous, scientific
investigation into the fact, fiction, and hoax of unidentified
flying objects.

UFO sightings are often reported in sensationalist newspapers.
NOVA, however, introduces serious investigators who are carefully
sifting, researching, and interpreting UFO reports, because they
feel there us more to UFOs than fantasy.

One scientist says that normal explanations can be found for 99
percent of UFO reports.  He's interested in the one percent that
are left.

NOVA takes a penetrating look at several famous UFO reports.  Were
Apollo astronauts shadowed by mysterious spacecraft on their way
to the moon?

Was Travis Walton...abducted by aliens and taken into their
spacecraft?  He passed a lie-detector test on his story....
NOVA... also reveals little-known facts about the lie test and the
newspaper's involvement.

What about Police Deputy Val Johnson, whose cruiser reportedly was
damaged in an encounter with a brilliant ball of light?

The U.S. military closed its official investigation of UFOs 13
years ago, but NOVA proves that serious study of these mysterious
phenomena is very much alive, and may just now be on the verge of
significant discoveries.


Says Robert Sheaffer about this investigation:  "I have not seen
this show yet, but Groom certainly impressed me as an objective
researcher, and he stated his aim of presenting the facts fairly
and honestly.  Among those who will be appearing in the show are
Philip J. Klass of CSICOP, and Allan Hendry and Bruce Maccabee of
the Center for UFO Studies.  Perhaps we will for once see a show
on the subject of UFOs that is based upon facts, instead of the
sensationalized rubbish we have all become accustomed to seeing."



CALENDAR

Oct. 12.  "The Case of the UFOs" on TV.
Nov. 20.  "The UFO Verdict:  Examining the Evidence."  The Gorilla
          Grotto is sponsoring Robert Sheaffer.
Dec. 15.  "Does ESP Exist?  A Demonstration and Debate."  The
          Gorilla Grotto is sponsoring Bay Area Skeptics.



THE UFO VERDICT:  EXAMINING THE EVIDENCE

Saturday, November 20, at 8:00 PM, the Gorilla Grotto is presenting
a program examining the current theories and controversies
surrounding unidentified flying objects, close encounters, and
human abductions, using slides of famous UFO cases, together with
a talk and a question-and-answer period.  The latest theories, such
as "extraterrestrial", "intraterrestrial", and "multi-dimensional",
will be explained and examined.  The speaker is Robert Sheaffer.

Location:  Habitat Center, 3895 18th Street (at Sanchez), San
Francisco.  Admission:  $3.00.



DOES ESP EXIST?  A DEMONSTRATION AND DEBATE

Wednesday, December 15, at 8:00 PM, the Gorilla Grotto is
presenting a program that will begin with a purported demonstration
of ESP, including telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, and
psychokinesis.  It will then be examined and debated by a
representative of the Bay Area Skeptics.  The audience is invited
to challenge and question either side.

Location:  5033 California (at 12th Avenue), San Francisco.
Admission:  $3.00.



DOES BAS HOLD MEETINGS?

Several people have expressed interest in attending meetings of
BAS.  They want to meet other interested parties in the Bay Area
and want to exchange ideas, discussion, and friendship.

All of this seems to be a perfectly reasonable request.

Please send some feedback to your editor regarding your thoughts
on this:  whether, how, where, the nature of the meeting, format,
open to the public, and such other ideas that occur to you.



H.A.N.D.



LIBRARY PROPOSED FOR BAS
by Robert Sheaffer

A suggestion made at a recent BAS Directors' meeting was that we
set up a library of newspaper clippings and other information
concerning local area "psychics" and psychic researchers.
Obviously, the reputation of a "psychic" is based upon his or her
success in past predictions or other miracles, but unfortunately
at the present time we have relatively little information on the
previous success/failure of local "psychics".  Perhaps some of our
readers can help us out.

I volunteer to help the effort get started, to try to sort the
information in some comprehensible format.  Perhaps some day we may
publish a summary of our files, or an index; it was even suggested
that we might eventually get it all sorted on a computer.

All this is for the future; for the present, I would like to
receive information, especially local newspaper and magazine
clippings, about Bay Area "psychics" and those who investigate
"psychics".  What did such well-known local wizards as Kay Rhea and
Sylvia Brown predict in 1980?  In 1979?  In 1969?  What did local
parapsychology labs do in recent years, and what findings did they
announce?

If we are able to fulfill one of our key aims of being a reliable
source of information for local educators, researchers, and
reporters, we must begin to get our files better organized.  Please
send contributions (news, not money) to me at 1341 Poe Lane, San
Jose, CA 95130.  If the effort is a success, we will periodically
report on how things are progressing.  Also, since I often do not
see all of the local papers, even the major ones, please clip and
send anything you see in the future that looks significant.

[Ed. note:  Hear!  Hear!  Excellent idea.  Thank you, Robert.]



LETTERS

To the editor:

My article entitled "Tracking a `Psychic'" dealt with Jeanne
Borger, not Jeane Dixon, as implied in the editorial preface to
Mike McCarthy's article.  It would appear that the editor misread
the name in my article.  [Note:  That issue has been corrected in
reprints.]

Additionally, I believe that it would be wise editorial policy to
allow people mentioned in "BASIS", including the purported psychic
named in my article, the opportunity to respond.  While replies in
the same issue would be desirable, this undoubtedly would be too
time-consuming for a publication of the nature of "BASIS".

I intend, in the future, to send a copy of any prospective article
of mine to all parties mentioned, with a request for comments.
However, I will not wait for replies, unless necessary for the
article.  I think that all articles should be so treated.

Finally, what does H.A.N.D. stand for?  Heathens Against Normalcy
and Decency?  How About New Donations?  Happiness And Naked
Depravity?

-- Dr. Kenneth D. Bomben

ED. REPLY:  On your first point, you are of course right.  We
misread (or more precisely, probably did not read) the name in your
article.  Our (Ugh!  The editorial "we" does get silly at times.)
-- my apologies.

Your point about notifying people in the articles about the
publication is well taken.  Consider that to be policy effective
this issue.  Thank you for suggesting that.

Congratulations on questioning the "H.A.N.D."  Please see next
article.

And lastly, Ken has moved away from the Bay Area.  Much luck and
success to you in your new location!  Give us a shout when you
visit.  (Ken intends to stay in touch with Bay Area Skeptics.)



AND YOU CALL YOURSELVES SKEPTICS

What started out as a whimsical editorial insertion turned out to
be an experiment (of sorts) in curiosity.

Please look at the last item on page one of this issue.  How many
of you out there know the meaning of "H.A.N.D."?  How many of you
were curious about it?  How many of you thought about it at all?
How many of you even noticed it?

"H.A.N.D." has been tucked away in large type in every issue of
"BASIS".  Why didn't you ask?

To my knowledge, there are only two people who receive "BASIS" who
knew the meaning of "H.A.N.D."  Ken Bomben was one of only three
people who asked!

For your information, "H.A.N.D." was originated by Martin
Grosswirth of New York.  Having been bombarded by everyone from
executives to waitresses to cab-drivers, to everyone else with the
greeting "Have a nice day", Martin envisioned the day when
computers would sign off with that.  Computers being what they are,
this would eventually be shortened to "H.A.N.D."  Martin then
envisioned a dictionary three hundred years hence defining:

"hand.  n.  a concluding or parting remark. (Origin unknown.
Probably from the time when humans lived in caves and waved good-
bye with their hands.)"

To Stan Bercovitch goes the credit for the Southern version:
"H.A.N.D.Y."  That's "Have a nice day, y'all."

I know, I know!  But Ken did ask, and you were entitled to a full
explanation.



Seen on a T-shirt worn by Ron Hipschman, Scientific Consultant to
Bay Area Skeptics:  "WHEN EVOLUTION IS OUTLAWED, ONLY OUTLAWS WILL
EVOLVE."



"People who leave their bodies are not all there." -- Bob Steiner



BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Robert A. Steiner, Chair
Robert Sheaffer, Vice-Chair
Andrew Fraknoi
Lawrence Jerome
Wallace Sampson
Terence Sandbek




A CHALLENGE TO ALL PSYCHICS

We are the Bay Area Skeptics (BAS), a group of people who support
the testing of paranormal claims, but are unconvinced by any of the
supposed proofs of psychic powers that have been presented so far.
We are committed only to finding out the truth about so-called
psychic powers, whatever that truth may be.  Nothing would be more
exciting than to discover the existence of a genuine psychic power,
if such a thing exists.  However, experience has sadly shown that
the field of psychic research is so filled with self-delusion,
evasion, and fraud, that we are frankly skeptical that any genuine
paranormal powers exist at all.

We hereby issue the following challenge to any and all psychics and
psychic researchers in the Bay Area:  Show us just one psychic
power, of any kind, that can be demonstrated to be real under
controlled conditions.  Claims of psychic powers are abundant --
but we want to see somebody who can DEMONSTRATE a genuine ability
at prediction, clairvoyance, telekinesis, paranormal healing, or
any other alleged psychic power.

If you are a psychic, why is it to your advantage to accept this
challenge? First, because of the monetary reward being offered, and
second, because of the recognition and prestige you will achieve
as the first person to successfully demonstrate such powers to a
group of knowledgeable skeptics.

Robert A. Steiner, director of Bay Area Skeptics, is a professional
magician of many years' experience.  He is personally offering a
reward of $1,000.00 to any person who can demonstrate ANY psychic
power under controlled conditions, provided that Steiner is unable
to duplicate or explain it by normal means.  Furthermore, James
Randi of New Jersey, a famous stage magician known as "The Amazing
Randi," has for years offered $10,000.00 for proof of any psychic
power performed under properly controlled conditions.  Bay Area
Skeptics will promptly report to Randi anyone whose powers seem
worthy of testing.  (In both cases, the conditions of the test will
be arranged in advance with the would-be psychic, and the test will
not begin until both parties are satisfied that the arrangement is
fair.)  Thus, anyone with genuine psychic powers can easily collect
$11,000.00 from these two men.

The Bay Area Skeptics is a local chapter of the Committee for the
Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), a
worldwide organization of scientists and researchers who are
skeptical of paranormal claims.  CSICOP is the largest and best-
known group of its kind in the world.  Anyone who appears to
possess genuine psychic powers will be reported to CSICOP's
Executive Council, which will arrange further testing.

Think of the enormous recognition that would be given to the first
person to convince the world's most outspoken skeptics of the
reality of psychic powers!  Think also of the tremendous benefit
to science and humanity if the existence of miraculous powers for
healing and for obtaining knowledge could at long last be proven!

There is probably no other place in the United States where the
number of alleged psychics, and the degree of belief in psychic
powers, is as high as here in the Bay Area.  Psychic readers,
healers, etc., abound in San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose, and
throughout the Bay Area.  Purportedly scientific investigations of
psychic powers are frequently carried out at SRI in Menlo Park, as
well as at many other organizations in the Bay Area. Many of the
area's colleges offer credit or extension courses in astrology,
astral projection, aura reading, etc.  We at BAS are proclaiming
that "The Emperor Has No Clothes", and we challenge anyone to prove
us wrong.

We are not difficult to reach.  We all live in the immediate area.
If you believe you have genuine psychic powers, the advantages of
accepting this challenge are considerable.



WELCOME, ANDY!

Andrew Fraknoi, Ph.D., Executive Officer of the Astronomical
Society of the Pacific, has joined the Board of BAS.

Andy's investigations into the paranormal are considerable.  His
media appearances have been numerous.  He handles himself quite
well in front of the microphone and camera.

His enthusiasm and ideas are a welcome addition to the BAS Board.

Welcome, Andy!



WE AT UP-OVER RECEIVED...

We are pleased to hear from Mark Plummer, Editor of "The Skeptic",
newsletter of the Australian Skeptics.  From across thousands of
miles of water came warm good wishes:

"Congratulations on getting a Bay Area chapter of CSICOP going.
Congratulations too on a brilliant name for your chapter:  `Bay
Area Skeptics'  Now where did you get the divine inspiration for
such a title?

We are all tickled pinker than a galah's belly that there is
another group of `Skeptics'"

Mark, we from the Land Up-Over wish you and the Australian Skeptics
well.  Thank you.



SACRAMENTO SCENE
by Terence J. Sandbek, Ph.D.

Gullibility knows no boundaries:  It infects young and old, rich
and poor, male and female, educated and uneducated.  What happens
in Sacramento happens in San Francisco and Chico.  People who fall
for psychic foolishness here are no different from people all over
the world.  As we report happenings in our area, remember that we
in metropolitan Sacramento are neither more nor less gullible than
people elsewhere.

Several months ago, Bob Steiner and I appeared on a local radio
talk show.  The hostess introduced us as "two gentlemen who claim
to be psychics".  She went on to say that "if anyone wants to call
in and talk, feel free to do so."  Almost instantly, the telephone
lines were full.  This is interesting in itself.  Since I had been
on that particular show several times concerning other issues, I
was familiar with the trickle of responses common to most talk
shows.  At other times, I have listened, and it appeared that the
host or hostess was trying desperately to get people to call in.

This day, that was not a problem.  The first caller, of course,
wanted information about her life in terms of how something was
going to turn out in the future.  Bob did a standard "cold
reading", which lasted several minutes, and the caller's response
was one of satisfaction.  After twenty minutes and six cold
readings, the hostess asked Bob if he would mind giving his
credentials as a psychic.  His response was:  Sure, I'll be glad
to.  I'm a fake!  I'm no psychic.  I can't read people's minds."
Bob went on to explain that what he had been doing was something
almost anyone can learn to do.

After some more questioning by the hostess, it was quite obvious
that Bob had fooled everybody into thinking he was really a psychic
by using the age-old trick of cold readings.  The difference was
that Bob claimed nothing supernatural, merely a skill capable of
being learned by almost anyone.

No sooner was this explained than the phone rang and a man asked
Bob to tell him how his job was going to go next year.
Incredulous, the show hostess asked the caller if he had been
listening to the show.  When he said "yes", Bob inquired whether
the man had understood the explanation of what had occurred.  The
incredible response from the caller was:

"Yes, I understand fully what you are doing, but do it anyway."



NEXT MONTH:  Update on Scientific Consultants and media
appearances.

                             -----

Opinions expressed in "BASIS" are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect those of BAS, its board or its advisors.

The above are selected articles from the September, 1982 issue of
"BASIS", the monthly publication of Bay Area Skeptics. You can
obtain a free sample copy by sending your name and address to BAY
AREA SKEPTICS, 4030 Moraga, San Francisco, CA 94122-3928 or by
leaving a message on "The Skeptic's Board" BBS (415-648-8944) or
on the 415-LA-TRUTH (voice) hotline.

Copyright (C) 1982 BAY AREA SKEPTICS.  Reprints must credit "BASIS,
newsletter of the Bay Area Skeptics, 4030 Moraga, San Francisco,
CA 94122-3928."

                             -END-