Hi Barrett,

Happy New Decade.

The bit on prohibition sounds interesting. I didn't know anyone is still arguing that it worked. I thought it was very clear that it increased crime, increased drinking, and decreased the quality of alcohol, the very opposite of what was intended.

Michael

On Dec 31, 2009, at 4:55 PM, Barrett Brown wrote:

Howdy-

I had occasion to reference the discussion you were involved in with Dembski a few years back, during which Daryn Kagan made the most ridiculous interruption I've ever seen during the course of your attempt to relate a pertinent story about the conference in the Galapagos Islands.

http://trueslant.com/barrettbrown/2009/12/31/rick-sanchez-puts-senator-ensigns-feet-to-the-fire-in-enhanced-interrogation/

I've been meaning to write that piece on David Icke for you; just been busy and disorganized while finishing up my second book, which will be out in April and which will deal with the great number of false and misleading claims put forth by respected pundits like Thomas Friedman, Charles Krauthammer, Richard Cohen, and William Bennett. Would you perhaps be interested in looking at some potential chapter excerpts for publication in Skeptic? For instance, I've got a nice bit on William Bennett's attempt to claim that Prohibition reduced crime and alcohol consumption, whereas the federal records clearly indicate otherwise. Let me know if that might interest you.

Thanks,

Barrett Brown

Brooklyn, NY

512-560-2302

Michael Shermer

Skeptics Society

Scientific American

2761 N. Marengo Ave.

Altadena, CA 91001

626/794-3119 (phone)

626/794-1301 (fax)

mshermer@skeptic.com