Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 12 no 2 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 12 - No. 2
Date: Fall 1999
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of TBS Report Online delves into various topics related to skepticism, paranormal claims, and UFO investigations, featuring articles that critically examine purported psychic abilities and alleged UFO phenomena.

Noreen Renier's "Psychic Sleuth" Triumph

The lead article by Gary P. Posner discusses Florida "psychic detective" Noreen Renier's involvement in the case of missing Houston man Phillip Lester. While local police did not work with Renier, Lester's family credited her with providing clues that led to the recovery of his remains. The article recounts how Lester, suffering from a degenerative brain disorder, wandered away from a church outing in November 1998. After authorities failed to find him, the family, desperate for any lead, was referred to Renier by a police sketch artist. Reporter Stephen Johnson's account in the Houston Chronicle described Renier receiving maps and providing verbal instructions for searchers. However, the article contrasts this with a Gainesville Sun account, suggesting Renier had been in communication with the family for weeks, providing "worthless clues" before hitting the mark. Renier reportedly used psychometry, attempting to discern the body's location from personal effects, and explained her initial failures by stating the family didn't understand her clues clearly. The article notes that Renier "knocked $150 off her $500 fee" and that by the time of the successful find, 5 1/2 months had passed, potentially leaving few places to search. Posner concludes by questioning whether Renier's success was due to genuine psychic ability or a lucky guess after extensive searching.

Ad Hominem Attack on TBS at National MUFON Conference

Gary P. Posner also reports on his experience at the national MUFON conference. He recounts an exchange with Richard H. Hall, a former NICAP figure, where Hall accused skeptics, including Posner and the "Florida skeptics' group," of "dishonesty" and being "debunkers." Posner, who had a past interest in UFOs and was once a NICAP activist, confronted Hall about the slanderous remarks. Hall responded by calling Posner's position "outrageous" and telling him he was "full of shit," and later suggested Posner could sue him. Posner notes that Hall's accusation of dishonesty was broadened to include the "Florida skeptics' group" and specifically mentioned "the skeptic at yesterday's press conference" (referring to Phil Klass). Posner also critiques Hall's presentation, which he claims strayed from prepared remarks to attack CSICOP. Hall's published remarks stated that CSICOP's view was "wrong, but profoundly so," and that they were not scientific but debunkers. Posner questions how Hall squares this with the work of Philip Klass, Robert Sheaffer, and James Oberg. The article then details three UFO cases discussed by Hall: an airline pilot's sighting in 1952, the Socorro, New Mexico case of 1964 (which Posner believes is a likely hoax), and the 1966 Ohio-Pennsylvania "UFO chase" which Posner identifies as the planet Venus. Posner concludes by expressing his relief at having resigned from NICAP years ago.

Snippets

The "Snippets" section includes several brief items:

• Alien Implants: A report on a U.S. Attorney's statement regarding alleged "alien implants." Donald Stern refused to deny U.S. government knowledge, but confirmed the DEA did not implant a tracking device in Vincent "Gigi Portalla" Marino, adding, "But we cannot speak, however, for any extraterrestrial beings."
• Retention Pond Discovery: Detective Barbara Bergen received a tip that led to the discovery of an SUV containing the bodies of three missing Massachusetts men in a retention pond near Disney World. While psychics from three states had contacted the family with suggestions, the tipster was a dentist who realized he had missed a turn and suggested searching the pond.

Letters to the Editor

Sherry Babbitt from Tampa Bay Magazine asks if The Tampa Bay Skeptics have researched Captain Bill Miller's book, "Tampa Triangle -- The Dead Zone." She inquires about any findings.

Gary Posner's Reply: Posner states he has not read the book but has read its promotional literature, noting parallels to the thoroughly debunked Bermuda Triangle myth. He expresses no reason to believe the "Tampa Triangle" myths are genuine. He mentions that no "paranormal" occurrences have been confirmed by skeptics and references the $1,000 reward offered by Tampa Bay Skeptics and the $1,000,000 offered by the James Randi Educational Foundation for such demonstrations. Posner also debunks myths of "alien abductions" and "Spontaneous Human Combustion," citing PBS's "NOVA" and works by Philip Klass, Joe Nickell, and John Fischer.

Judith Becker Bryant, Ph.D. from Tampa writes about the state of science in Russia, noting that many young scientists have moved west and there is concern about the future of science and scientific training. She also mentions similar situations in other former Soviet bloc countries and correspondence from scholars in Iraq, where e-mail and scientific literature are scarce. She seeks thoughts on these situations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, critical examination of alleged psychic abilities, and the debunking of UFO phenomena. The Tampa Bay Skeptics, through its publication, consistently promotes a rational, evidence-based approach, challenging unsubstantiated claims and highlighting the importance of scientific scrutiny. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting critical thinking and questioning extraordinary claims without concrete evidence. The publication also engages with the broader scientific community, as seen in the letter regarding the state of science in Russia.