There are unforgettable lines from movies, such as Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry saying, "Go ahead, make my day." Or Peter Finch yelling in Network, "I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!" Many of us probably wish we could have said those lines first.
Now, this year’s best (and already trite) line is said by Cuba Gooding, Jr. in Jerry Maguire: "Show me the money!" Perhaps fellow skeptics should use this variation of that phrase whenever the paranormal or pseudoscientific assertions become prominent: "Show me the evidence!" Can you imagine the ripple effect of shouting out that phrase whenever outrageous claims are made? Perhaps that’s only a fantasy, but it would be at least fun to think it.
In our big issue of the year, we include three features: David Bloomberg’s personal look at the conspiracy theorists on the Net; a primer on ESP (and why there is no good evidence for its existence) prepared by another skeptics group; and a reprint of an article on critical thinking by CSICOP fellow Henry Gordon.
By the time you finish reading this issue, you may just want to stand up and yell: "Show me the evidence!"
P.S. Don’t miss our exciting meeting on March 4 that features Bruce Walstad, a police officer who is an expert on street scams.
