REALL News - Vol 04 No 12 - 1996

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 4 Issue 12, published in December 1996, is a newsletter from The Rational Examination Association of Lincoln Land (REALL), dedicated to rational thinking and the scientific method in evaluating paranormal and fringe-science claims. This issue features a lead article by Gary P. Posner of the Tampa Bay Skeptics examining a case where a "psychic detective" claimed credit for locating a missing person's body, alongside a tribute to the late skeptic Carl Sagan and a discussion on the Exeter UFO case.

Does "Psychic" Reading Lead Police to Missing Body?

This article by Gary P. Posner critically analyzes the case of Noreen Reiner, an Orlando "psychic detective," who claimed her tips led police to the body of Norman Lewis, who had been missing for two years. Posner, a skeptic, investigates the details, noting that while Reiner provided clues such as "water in something like a pit," a "cliff wall," "bricks," and the numbers "45" and "21," the actual discovery of Lewis' truck and remains occurred in a different limestone quarry than initially suggested by some of Reiner's clues. The police, with the help of Navy divers and a $70,000 detection device, found the body in a quarry located further east than the one initially indicated by Reiner's "psychic" vision. Posner suggests that the "clues" might have been "retrofitted" after the fact, transforming general observations into specific hits once the location was known. He points out that information about Lewis being a military veteran, which Reiner also claimed to have divined, was available in newspaper accounts. The article also touches upon a potential "copy-cat" psychic prediction in Graniteville, Missouri, that may have led authorities to drain a quarry in search of a missing girl.

Posner's involvement began when he was contacted by Maria Zone, a producer for the A&E Network series "Unexplained," which was planning a segment on "renowned psychic detectives," including Reiner. Posner was invited to provide a skeptical perspective for the program, which was scheduled to air in January 1997.

Further investigation by Posner, using maps of Williston, Florida, suggests that the quarry where Lewis was found was not the one that best fit Reiner's "psychic" clues, particularly the "railroad track" clue which was associated with the Whitehurst pit, not the one where the body was found. The "21" clue is also questioned as playing no beneficial role in the discovery. Posner posits that the police, perhaps influenced by Reiner's clues, may have searched the wrong quarry initially, and that the discovery was more a result of common sense and logical deduction (i.e., a missing truck would likely be in water) combined with intensive searches, rather than psychic insight.

Carl Sagan Dies at 62

This section announces the passing of astronomer, author, and skeptic Carl Sagan at the age of 62 after a battle with leukemia. The editor notes that Sagan's death is a significant loss to the skeptics community. A remembrance by James Randi is included, describing Sagan as confident, cheery, and optimistic despite his illness. Randi encourages readers to read Sagan's last book, "The Demon-Haunted World," which he believes was Sagan's final statement against pseudoscience, crackpots, and frauds. Randi reflects on Sagan's ability to captivate with his words and his role as a teacher of critical thinking.

Ongoing and Upcoming

This section provides an update on the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), detailing its expansion of efforts to gather materials, including video facilities, archiving of "psychic" demonstrations, and a growing book library. JREF is seeking contributions of books, videos, and journals.

From the Editor

Bob Ladendorf, the editor, expresses shock at Carl Sagan's death and notes how Sagan's criticism of Velikovsky's ideas influenced his own understanding of skepticism and critical thinking, ultimately leading to the founding of REALL. He highlights the lead article by Gary Posner as an example of how to investigate paranormal claims. Ladendorf also mentions that corrupted computer files had delayed the newsletter's production, requiring him to redesign it from scratch. He details the production process, including the software and hardware used.

From the Chairman

David Bloomberg, Chairman of REALL, introduces the lead article from the Tampa Bay Skeptics, criticizing the media for giving "psychic" individuals undue publicity. He also shares his own experience being contacted by Maria Zone from A&E's "Unexplained" to discuss other psychics, but expresses uncertainty about how he will be portrayed on the show, which is scheduled to air in January.

Letter to the Editor

This section includes a combined version of two e-mail letters, primarily addressing Martin Kottmeyer's two-part "explanation" of the Exeter, New Hampshire, UFO case, which attributed it to a human hoax, possibly a Boy Scout-launched balloon or kite. The letter writer, Dennis Stacy, editor of the MUFON UFO Journal, challenges Kottmeyer's explanation, questioning the consistency of the object's 60-degree angle and the plausibility of using a ground-based battery to power lights on a kite. Stacy argues that if the object was a kite, its angle should have varied during maneuvers, and that the idea of a hoaxer is as implausible as an extraterrestrial craft. He also points out that kites are not necessarily silent and can be difficult to control. Stacy suggests that the "sequencing lights" and silence rule out natural phenomena and motor-driven objects, and that balloons are not maneuverable enough. He concludes that the facts point towards RPVs (Remotely Piloted Vehicles) or something else entirely, but not a simple kite hoax.

Martin Kottmeyer responds to Stacy, agreeing that the kite-line angle could alter during maneuvers and that witnesses might not have meant "literally every second." He suggests that the prankster might have had easy access to strobes and possibly connections to local facilities or individuals involved in photography or lighting. Kottmeyer remains open to alternatives but feels the sequenced lights and silence point away from natural phenomena or balloons.

David Bloomberg also adds comments, criticizing Stacy for creating "straw man" arguments and misrepresenting Kottmeyer's points. Bloomberg questions Stacy's assertion that if one hoaxer exists, hundreds would follow, and challenges Stacy's comparison of a kite hoax to an extraterrestrial craft.

Editor's Note (Exeter Case)

An editor's note corrects a previous error regarding the publication date of "The American Boys Handy Book," stating it was actually 1892, indicating the long history of such phenomena.

Masthead Information

This section provides details about the electronic version of the newsletter and subscription information. It also outlines the purpose of REALL as a non-profit educational and scientific organization dedicated to rational thinking and the scientific method. REALL conducts research, convenes meetings, and publishes a newsletter, primarily serving central Illinois. The organization believes in the scientific method and commits to objective, critical inquiry into paranormal claims.

REALL Contacts and Patrons

Contact information for REALL, including its P.O. Box in Springfield, Illinois, is provided. The newsletter also thanks its patron members who contribute $50 or more, listing their names and locations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, the critical examination of "psychic" abilities and media portrayals, and the importance of scientific methodology. The editorial stance is clearly one of critical inquiry, seeking rational explanations and challenging unsubstantiated claims, while also acknowledging the loss of prominent figures in the skeptical community like Carl Sagan. The newsletter aims to educate its readers on how to investigate such claims and to promote a scientific worldview.