Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 03 no 3

Magazine Overview

Title: Tampa Bay Skeptics Report
Issue: Volume 3, Number 3
Date: Winter 1990-91
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics, Inc.
Country: USA
Language: English

Main Articles

A Critical Inquiry into Several Statements of Richard Hoagland

This lengthy article by Gary P. Posner scrutinizes claims made by Richard Hoagland, author of "The Monuments of Mars." Posner investigates Hoagland's assertions about his interactions with NASA and the media. Hoagland claimed that NASA's Dr. John Klineberg credited his research for the President's decision to return to Mars; however, Klineberg stated his remark was "of insufficient gravity to be quotable" and Forestieri, Director of External Affairs at NASA Lewis, suggested it was made "with tongue in cheek." Hoagland also claimed a Sept. 11 NASA/Lewis invitation was to address a "major national NASA education conference" with a "packed auditorium," but Forestieri clarified that only about 50 people attended and Dr. Eddie Anderson's comments were those of a "genial host."

Hoagland announced a three-part PBS "miniseries" titled "Hoagland's Mars," but it was revealed that only a single 30-minute show would air, with a disclaimer distancing NASA from the views expressed. The article also addresses Hoagland's accusation against Omni magazine regarding its article on the "face" on Mars, noting Omni described it as a "mesa" and not man-made.

Furthermore, the article delves into Hoagland's claims about co-conceiving the Pioneer 10 plaque message with Eric Burgess. While Hoagland stated Burgess first suggested the idea, he later claimed he had already thought of it. Burgess himself described Hoagland as being "in tow" and supporting the idea. However, Frank Drake and Carl Sagan, along with Linda Sagan, are credited by NASA sources with designing the plaque and message, with no input from Hoagland or Burgess.

Dr. David Morrison, Chief of NASA's Space Science Division, stated there is no "official NASA position" on Hoagland or the "Face," and that Lewis Research Center's invitation was likely an independent decision. Morrison expressed that he knows of no evidence for widespread interest or support for Hoagland's ideas within NASA or the scientific community.

Hoagland also promotes a "perpetual energy machine" called the "N Machine," suggesting a connection between "Monuments of Mars," "crop circles," and the machine's physics. The article notes that Hoagland edited a book on the machine, and the author is attempting to arrange an interview with Dr. Cumming, who wrote an article on his experiments for the Skeptical Inquirer.

Hoagland was offered an opportunity to respond to the article's findings but had not done so by press time. In a previous exchange, Hoagland did not name NASA scientists supporting his Mars claims and did not address questions about his education or scientific credentials.

Interview with John Bouseman, Ph.D.

This interview with philosophy and psychology professor John Bouseman, conducted by Miles Hardy, explores his views on reality and the paranormal. Bouseman, who has a Ph.D. in religious studies, describes his journey from fundamentalism to a more open inquiry into reality. He recounts early experiences of a physical push and hearing his name called, as well as "out of body experiences." While he lost much of his fundamentalist faith, he still grapples with profound questions.

Bouseman attended a UFO enthusiasts meeting after seeing a video and reading about Billy Meier. He believes there was an attempt to "scramble the brains" of people at a UFO research center in Nevada. He discusses extraterrestrial theories from books like Ruth Montgomery's, which suggest ETs are born through humans or inhabit disillusioned individuals, and predict a global calamity around the end of the century. He also references Edgar Cayce and theories about parallel realities, suggesting that UFOs might exist on a different, invisible material level, and that the search for extraterrestrial signals might be looking in the wrong place.

Bouseman also touches upon quantum physics and "Jung's Collective Unconscious," proposing that dreams reflect ancient mythology imprinted in our genetic material. He feels his students are receptive to these unconventional ideas, which aim to make them philosophers and encourage critical thinking. The interview notes that Bouseman's search for personal answers appears to have influenced his thinking, but that the rigorous discipline of the scientific method may not have been fully integrated.

Do Cars Really Roll Up "Spook Hill"?

This short piece discusses the phenomenon of "Spook Hill" in Lake Wales, Florida, where cars appear to drift uphill. The article notes national press coverage in the Wall Street Journal and on CBS Morning News. The WSJ reported that the Spook Hill Beautification Committee secured $32,000 for improvements. Arch Abernathy, City Editor for the Lake Wales Daily Highlander, believes it's an "optical illusion." Guss Wilder, a TBS member, explains that the contours of the road create the illusion of a dip, causing cars to drift backward, seemingly uphill, when the true low point is actually further back.

UFO Flap Sweeps Belgium

This article reports on a series of triangular UFO sightings in Belgium, which garnered attention in the Flemish press and involved military and civilian witnesses, including radar cases and a photograph. Physicist Leon Brenig noted one sighting involved rapid acceleration. Air Force Col. Wilfried de Brouwer is coordinating the investigation. J. Dommanget of the Royal Observatory of Belgium stated there was no "strong evidence" of extraterrestrial objects but an "abnormal observed phenomenon." The Belgian Air Force reportedly decided not to pursue the investigation further.

Merrell vs. Renier Update

This update details a counterclaim filed by psychic Noreen Renier against skeptic John Merrell. Renier alleges slander and that Merrell has attempted to interfere with her business relationships. A judge allowed Renier to proceed with taking depositions. The article also clarifies a previous report, stating that Merrell's lawsuit was not dismissed, but a motion to strike punitive damages was granted.

Snippets

This section contains various short news items:

• Citizens for Excellence in Education (CEE): A California-based group selling a "Public School Awareness Kit" for $195 to help exert political pressure on schools.
• Cold Fusion Research: Drs. Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann, pioneers of "cold fusion" research at the University of Utah, were absent from a review meeting. Fleischmann returned to England for medical treatment, and Pons reportedly left town abruptly. The article notes that "cold fusion" power "did accomplish one thing - it made a scientist disappear!" A later update mentions Pons rematerialized in France and refused comment.
• Political Leaders and God: A quote from Czechoslovakia's president Vaclav Havel suggests that "because hatred is willed by man, God himself is unable to stop it."
• Prayer Therapy: The American Society of Internal Medicine decided that prayer therapy should not be considered a reimbursable health care expense, cautioning against reliance on prayer alone over conventional medical therapy.
• Dubious Medical Therapies: Medical reporter Carol Gentry highlights profit-driven, dubious medical therapies for AIDS and other diseases, including ozone treatments and unproven cures. She notes that case reports of alleged AIDS cures were erroneous, with patients remaining HIV positive.
• Medical Quackery: Dr. John Renner estimates that $25-40 billion is spent annually in the U.S. on worthless medical products and treatments. An anecdote illustrates how a fake book on "moonbeam therapy" generated interest from a public relations firm.
• Weeping Painting: A painting of a saint in a Greek Orthodox cathedral in Queens, New York, is reportedly weeping, drawing visitors.
• Near-Death Experiences: Research published in Lancet suggests that perceived near-death experiences, including seeing a light and floating, were also recounted by a control group who only believed they were near death.

Other Sections

• Randi Writes of the Wrongs of Nostradamus: James Randi's new book, "The Mask of Nostradamus," argues that Nostradamus's "predictions" were inaccurate and wrong in all 103 cases where dates, times, places, and people were mentioned.
• UFO Sightings Throughout Europe: A Nov. 7 Reuters story reported mystery shapes, orange balls, and triangles sighted across Europe. The article notes that a Belgian flap of triangular UFOs was being investigated.
• ...are explained: The St. Pete. Times reported that European UFOs were identified as the atmospheric re-entering of the "third stage of a Soviet booster rocket."
• "Crop Circles" Profiled in USA Today: A USA Today piece on "crop circles" features a Mutual UFO Network member who believes they are of intelligent origin, possibly from UFOnauts. The article quotes Chris Rutkowski, who likens belief in UFOs to a religious belief.
• Senator Pell's Aide Claims New Backward Technology: C. B. Scott Jones, an aide to Senator Claiborne Pell, claims to be developing technology to reveal hidden thoughts by playing audio tapes backward. He noted the name "Simone" in President Bush's speeches, which he mistakenly thought was a secret code word.

Letters / Readers' Forum

• Editor's Note on Kodak UFO Tape: The editor responds to a letter from Chuck Harder regarding the Kodak UFO tape. The editor clarifies that Kodak placed ads but did not endorse the tape's production, and that distribution rights can expire, leading to market changes.
• Letter from George W. Earley: Earley writes in response to the "Spook Hill" article, advocating for proper investigation and criticizing academics who offer "solutions" without investigating.
• Letter from CAIRP (Argentina): A new organization, Centro Argentino para la Investigacion y Refutacion de la Pseudociencia (CAIRP), has been established in Argentina to investigate and debunk pseudoscience claims, seeking contact with similar groups worldwide.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report consistently promotes a skeptical and critical examination of paranormal and fringe-science claims. The publication actively debunks pseudoscientific assertions, highlights logical fallacies, and provides factual information to counter unsubstantiated beliefs. The editorial stance is one of rigorous inquiry, evidence-based reasoning, and a commitment to scientific methodology, as exemplified by their "$1,000 Challenge" and their focus on debunking claims related to UFOs, psychic phenomena, and other anomalous events. The magazine also serves as a platform for sharing information about skeptical organizations and resources.