TBS Report Online

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 14 - No. 3
Date: Winter 2001-02
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics

This issue of the TBS Report Online presents a collection of articles that critically examine various phenomena, from scientific theories to paranormal claims, through a skeptical lens. The publication aims to promote critical thinking and scientific literacy.

Articles

Hardly a prayer on ABC-TV's 20/20 Downtown

This article, by Gary P. Posner, critiques a segment on ABC-TV's '20/20 Downtown' that seemingly gave undue weight to claims challenging Darwinian evolution. The piece references an editorial from the Tampa Tribune titled "Darwinian Theory and Its Critics," which concluded that while evolution should be taught, so should scientific evidence against it. The Tribune also cited 'A Scientific Dissent on Darwinism,' a declaration by 100 scientists who are skeptical of random mutation and natural selection explaining life's complexity, suggesting instead an intelligent designer. Posner questions the scientific basis of such claims, particularly noting that the spokesman for these scientists, Henry Schaefer, is a chemist, not a biologist or paleontologist. He argues that the assumption of an intelligent designer is a religious claim, not a scientific inference, and that true scientific theories critical of evolution would be welcome, but current challenges often disguise religious arguments. Posner advocates for teaching how scientists think by presenting arguments for and against various theories, including creationism, to illustrate the scientific method.

Teaching Evolution

Authored by Jack H. Robinson, Ed.D., this article delves into the debate surrounding the teaching of evolution in schools. It highlights a Tampa Tribune editorial that supported teaching evolution, emphasizing its importance for understanding science, but also acknowledged public sentiment for teaching scientific evidence against Darwinian theory. The article discusses the declaration by 100 scientists who are skeptical of evolutionary mechanisms like random mutation and natural selection, proposing an intelligent designer. Robinson critiques this stance, pointing out that the assumption of a designer is a religious claim and not scientifically testable, referencing Occam's razor and Isaac Newton's principle of admitting no more causes than are sufficient to explain phenomena. He suggests that a balanced approach, teaching arguments for and against evolution, as well as arguments concerning other theories like creationism, would be beneficial for teaching scientific reasoning.

Miss Cleo in more hot water

This report details ongoing legal troubles for Access Resource Services, the company behind the 'Miss Cleo' psychic infomercials and hotlines. The company is accused of violating New York's 'Do Not Call' telemarketing law more than 100 times, potentially facing fines of up to $224,000. The article notes that customers are misled into believing they will receive a 'free' psychic reading, only to be directed to a '900' number costing $3.99 per minute. C. Adrienne Rhodes, executive director of the Consumer Protection Board, stated that the service appears to be a scam designed to keep people on the phone. The report also mentions that New Yorkers can sign up for a registry that prohibits unsolicited calls and aggressive sales pitches.

Snippets

This section compiles several brief news items and observations:

• Cartoon by Don Addis: A cartoon humorously depicts a hotline operator receiving calls about 'psychics' and the 'War on Terrorism,' questioning where bin Laden is and where paranormal investigators are when needed.
• Intelligence Agencies and Remote Viewing: A report from the London Sunday Times reveals that U.S. intelligence agencies are reactivating the 'Stargate' program, which utilized 'remote viewers' in the 1970s. The current objective is to find Osama bin Laden and predict future terrorist attacks. The FBI reportedly asked Prudence Calabrese's company, Transdimensional Systems, to predict targets, with a sports stadium suggested as a possibility. The FBI and CIA declined to comment but confirmed investigators are encouraged to 'think out of the box.' Former Stargate members Angela Thompson-Smith and Lyn Buchanan also confirmed they had been approached.
• Local Hauntings and Prizes: An item mentions a potential sighting of Thomas Rowe and Lucinda at the Don Cesar hotel in St. Pete. Beach, and a haunting at the Bruklis family's home in Tampa, offering a '$1,000 Challenge' prize for capturing evidence.
• Seizure of 'Alternative Cancer Therapy' Materials: Agents from U.S. Customs and HHS seized boxes of 'alternative cancer therapy' materials from a clinic in Carrollwood. The clinic's owner, Dave Levi, suggested the medical establishment dislikes their methods, which include chelation, colonic therapy, therapeutic massage, and bioenergetic medicine.
• 'Satan' Image After 9/11: The September 11 terrorist attack led to spurious claims and urban legends, many debunked by organizations like CSICOP. A 'dubious image of "Satan"' in the smoke of the World Trade Center was published in the Tampa Tribune, taken by former photographer Mark D. Phillips. Phillips stated he sold the photo to the Associated Press as a news image and did not notice the 'face' until it was published.
• John Edward's 'Cold Reading': TV critic Walt Belcher's column discusses the Sci-Fi Channel's 'Crossing Over with John Edward,' criticizing Edward's 'cold reading' techniques. Belcher, a self-proclaimed skeptic, likens Edward to a 'slick artist' and cites CSICOP's Joe Nickel, who has debunked Edward in 'Skeptical Inquirer.' Despite this, Edward's show is thriving and syndicated, with a yearlong waiting list for private clients paying $300 per session.
• Near-Death Experiences (NDEs): Physician Barbara Rommer's book, 'Blessing in Disguise,' explores NDEs. She suggests that patients experiencing negative NDEs might subconsciously project fears related to religious beliefs, like hellfire. Rommer, however, believes in 'another realm' and finds it sad that people fear death.

TBS in the Media

This section reports on Gary Posner's media appearances. He was interviewed about 'Past Lives' for a PAX-TV series called 'Forbidden Secrets' and was interviewed on paranormal topics for an upcoming Discovery Science Channel series, with CSICOP playing a role in its production. An article about prayer studies in Ladies' Home Journal, previously mentioned, has been delayed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism towards pseudoscientific claims, paranormal phenomena, and challenges to established scientific theories like evolution. The Tampa Bay Skeptics, through its publication, consistently promotes critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and the scientific method. The editorial stance is clearly one of advocating for rational explanations and debunking unsubstantiated beliefs, whether they stem from claims about psychics, alleged supernatural events, or alternative scientific theories lacking empirical support. The publication also touches upon the intersection of science, religion, and public perception, particularly in the context of teaching evolution.