What's New 6 November 2009

WHAT’S NEW   Robert L. Park    Friday, 6 Nov 09   Washington, DC

1.  DIVINING:  THIS TIME, IT’S A BOMB DETECTOR.
There it was, on the front page of the New York Times; the Iraqi government 
has purchased more than 1500 devices known as the ADE 651 to use at 
checkpoints.   That stands for Advanced Detection of Explosives. The 651 is 
the latest detection device marketed by ATSC (UK) Ltd.  It consists of a 
thin rod mounted on a swivel held by pistol grip, and is said to point to 
explosives. That's all it is, there are no sensors.  According to Rod 
Nordland who wrote the article, a retired USAF officer said the device is 
nothing more than an explosives divining rod,.  The stupid Iraqis don't 
know this and paid $16,500-$60,000 each for them, even though American 
officers told them the devices are worthless.  Boy, are they dumb!  Wait, 
the NYT failed mention that the US Department of Defense was sold on these 
devices back in the 90s Although it was classified, they tipped off their 
favorite novelist, Tom Clancy, that the incredible device could detect 
people through thick walls by sensing their heartbeats.  It was the basis 
of "Rainbow Six," http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN98/wn092598.html .   It 
was a scam.  Thousands of similar devices are still in use by local police 
around the country to satisfy "probable cause" requirements for a property 
search. ATSC also sells a narcotic detector, but it's exactly the same 
device with a different number.

2.  MEMORY:  WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO KEEP DEBUNKING THIS STUFF?
Is there no memory?  Where I grew up in Texas no one would think of digging 
a well until the local dowser using a willow fork approved the spot.  Since 
then, dowsing for water has been debunked over and over, most thoroughly by 
James Randi. But dowsing is now used for everything.  Last year, the power 
company needed to find a buried power cable on our road.  I watched the 
lineman reach under the seat of his truck, pull out a stiff wire bent in 
the shape of a fork, and start dousing for the cable.  If it works for 
everything, there is no physical cause and it’s not science.

3.  MAGNETS: NEVER PAY ANOTHER ELECTRIC BILL.
The first time I heard that promise it was made by Joseph W. Newman on the 
CBS Evening News with Dan Rather in 1987.  A Mississippi backwoods-mechanic 
with a grade-school education, Newman took a course in electricity.  When 
he heard that doubling the number of turns in a coil would double the 
magnetic field, he left to wind a mighty coil that would generate more 
energy than it took.  Newman never got to Lenz’s law, and CBS did not 
bother to check with a scientist.  About every five years since, that 
machine is reinvented. You can now build your own "energy machine" with a 
kit from Magnets4Energy, but it still won't work.

4.  PRAYER:  SHOULD PRAYER TREATMENTS BE COVERED? 
Some powerful members of the Senate propose language in the healthcare bill 
would prohibit discrimination against "religious and spiritual health 
care." The unstated purpose is to cover the cost of Christian Science 
prayer treatments in the healthcare bill.  This shouldn't be a problem.  
The church, says the treatments are effective; if so these people will not 
need real medical care.  If, on the other hand, prayer treatments are not 
effective, they are a subsidy to the Church of Christ, Scientist and the 
program should be reimbursed by that amount.  

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.
Opinions are the author's and not necessarily shared by the
University of Maryland, but they should be.
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