Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 19 no 1 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 19 - No. 1
Date: Summer 2006

This issue of TBS Report Online, published by the Tampa Bay Skeptics and Center For Inquiry, focuses on skepticism towards paranormal claims, featuring articles that investigate alleged psychic phenomena and legal disputes involving individuals in the paranormal field.

'Close Encounter of the 2nd-Hand Kind' with "psychic medium" George Anderson

By Gary P. Posner

This article critically examines a session between psychic medium George Anderson and a grieving mother, referred to as 'Eve', who lost her son 'Adam' in an auto accident. Eve paid $1,200 for a nearly one-hour session, which she recorded with Anderson's concurrence. Posner analyzes the session, highlighting Anderson's use of vague statements, 'fishing' for information, and 'guessing games' to divine details about Adam's identity and passing. Anderson's own admission that he finds the process 'challenging' and 'exciting' to 'work out' rather than receiving direct information is quoted as evidence of his method. Posner points out the absurdity of Anderson's claims, such as Adam saying he passed 'young' and then playing 'Hot and Cold' or '20 Questions' to reveal his name. The article concludes that the session provided no genuine information about the afterlife, and Eve, though financially depleted, emerged as a skeptic.

Noreen Renier denies allegations in lawsuit; files countersuit

By Gary P. Posner

This piece details the legal battle between "psychic detective" Noreen Renier and her long-time adversary John Merrell. Renier, who had previously been sued by Merrell over her 2005 book 'A Mind For Murder', filed a countersuit. Merrell's original suit alleged that Renier's book breached a March 1992 settlement agreement that prohibited either party from publicly disparaging the other. Renier's countersuit denies Merrell's claims, asserting his case is 'frivolous' and that he was the first to breach the agreement by providing false information about her for the 1994 book 'Psychic Sleuths'. The article notes that Merrell's actions allegedly caused publishers Penguin Books and Berkley Publishing to cease distribution of Renier's book, leading to business losses for her. The legal venue for the case is also contested, with Renier arguing for federal court while Merrell prefers county court. The article mentions Renier's media appearances, including on Court TV's 'Psychic Detectives'.

"Psychic Detectives" and the Media

By Jack Robinson

This article discusses the phenomenon of 'psychic detectives' and their portrayal in the media, using an example involving Noreen Renier. Robinson recounts how Gary Posner presented a case to his 'Science and Pseudoscience' class at the University of South Florida. The case involved a local news report crediting Noreen Renier with locating a missing man's body in a quarry using psychic abilities. Posner's investigation revealed that the police already had information about the man's suicidal ideations and that the body was not found in the quarry suggested by Renier's clues. The presentation led students to conclude that such media reports often prioritize entertainment over hard journalism.

Snippets

This section contains brief news items:

• A paleontologist proposed that Scotland's Loch Ness Monster might be an elephant that swam in the loch in the 1930s, citing similarities between descriptions of Nessie and elephants, and the presence of a traveling circus in the area at the time.
• Florida 'psychic' Linda Marks was sentenced to prison and probation for scamming elderly victims out of over $2 million.

Letter to the Editor

By Tony Fanto

Tony Fanto writes about his experience with his wife seeing strange blinking lights on their property. After contacting Tampa Bay Skeptics and Gary Posner, Posner visited their home and, through a level-headed and factual approach, identified the lights as lightning bugs. Fanto expresses relief and gratitude for Posner's scientific problem-solving, acknowledging how easily minds can be deceived and lead to incorrect conclusions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the critical examination of paranormal claims and the promotion of skepticism. The Tampa Bay Skeptics, through its publication, aims to debunk pseudoscientific assertions, expose fraudulent practices in the paranormal industry, and highlight the importance of critical thinking and scientific methodology. The editorial stance is clearly against unsubstantiated claims and in favor of evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by the detailed analyses of psychic mediums, legal disputes involving paranormal figures, and the debunking of alleged UFO sightings.