Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 20 no 2 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 20 - No. 2
Date: Fall 2007
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics and Center For Inquiry Tampa Bay

A Skeptical Journey to the Galapagos

This article, written by Terry A. Smiljanich, recounts a seven-day cruise through the Galapagos archipelago sponsored by the Center for Inquiry's "Explorer's Club." The trip was designed for skeptics and free-thinkers, with renowned evolutionary theorist Richard Dawkins as the guest speaker. Smiljanich describes the unique biodiversity of the islands that inspired Darwin's theory of evolution, noting the complete tameness and nonchalance of the animals, such as blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, penguins, and Darwin's finches.

The cruise ship, M/V Santa Cruz, accommodated 90 passengers and served as a venue for lectures by invited speakers like Daniel Dennett, Susan Blackmore, and Paul Kurtz. The author highlights the opportunity to engage in lively conversations with fellow travelers who shared an appreciation for the natural world and an abhorrence of superstition. The journey began with a stay in Quito, Ecuador, before flying to Baltra Island in the Galapagos.

Richard Dawkins delivered three lectures on board, focusing on evolutionary biology, Galapagos tortoises, and his book "The God Delusion." He expressed a strong distaste for religion and "intelligent design," advocating for scientific understanding. Smiljanich recounts having dinner with Dawkins twice, finding him to be a companionable conversationalist who was intrigued by TBS's "$1,000 Challenge."

The author concludes by recommending CFI's "Explorer's Club" adventures as a wonderful concept for those who wish to visit natural sites without encountering supernatural claims.

Snippets

This section presents several brief items:

• Fortune Tellers and Raccoons: An item from the St. Pete. Times reports that fortune tellers in Salem, Massachusetts, are finding dead raccoons on their doorsteps, which the author suggests might question their credentials.
• James Randi and Uri Geller: Magician James "The Amazing" Randi, known for exposing psychic feats, jokingly stated that if he dies before Uri Geller, his ashes should be thrown in Geller's eyes, further eroding Geller's "psychic cred" if he couldn't foresee it.
• MJ-12 Documents: Biblical scholar Michael S. Heiser, Ph.D., hired Dr. Carol Chaski to authenticate 17 "MJ-12" UFO documents. These documents, leaked in the 1980s and later shown to be a hoax by Philip Klass, were allegedly written by high-ranking officials. Dr. Chaski's analysis validated only one document, leading Heiser to conclude that basing claims of alien existence or crashes on these documents would be foolish.

TBS in the Media

• Terry Smiljanich: On August 16, Terry Smiljanich appeared on the "Atheist Forum" program on Hillsborough County public access TV.
• Gary Posner: Gary Posner was quoted in articles regarding the 60th anniversary of the Roswell UFO case (Tampa Tribune) and the "SPIRITeam" of paranormal investigators (Sarasota Herald-Tribune).

Letters to the Editor

• Jude's Telepathy Claim: A letter writer named Jude claims to have telepathic abilities and offers to demonstrate them by communicating directly with the recipient if sent a picture. Gary Posner replied, inviting Jude to send a photo and speak clearly.
• Paranormal Phenomenon Demonstration: An editor responds to a claim of demonstrating a paranormal phenomenon, inquiring about James Randi's prize and stating that the demonstration is repeatable under specific conditions involving two individuals.
• Timothy John Michael's Phenomenon: Timothy John Michael from St. Petersburg writes about a paranormal phenomenon he calls a "tool that everyone, anywhere, can use" and a "key to the entire universe." He believes it is valuable and best kept secret, potentially possessed by world leaders. He claims to have witnessed it unexpectedly on his birthday and is confident he can demonstrate it on a repeatable basis. He invites interested individuals to contact him for more information. Gary Posner expressed interest in learning more but received no further communication.
• "God Exists" Challenge: An anonymous letter writer asks how much skeptics are willing to pay if the existence of "God" can be proven. Gary Posner's edited reply indicates a willingness to evaluate a scientific experiment proving God's existence and to split any Nobel Prize or cash awards 50/50.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The TBS Report Online consistently promotes skepticism and critical thinking, evident in its coverage of evolutionary theory, debunking of paranormal claims, and challenges to pseudoscientific beliefs. The publication actively engages with its audience through letters to the editor and media appearances, reinforcing its commitment to rational inquiry and scientific analysis. The editorial stance is clearly against unsubstantiated claims and in favor of evidence-based reasoning, as demonstrated by their engagement with topics like psychic phenomena, UFO hoaxes, and the existence of God.