Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 20 no 3 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 20 - No. 3
Date: Winter 2007-08
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics and Center For Inquiry Tampa Bay

This issue of TBS Report Online, a publication from the Tampa Bay Skeptics and Center For Inquiry, focuses on skepticism regarding paranormal claims, with a particular emphasis on cold reading techniques and a critique of certain public figures associated with psychic phenomena.

Chairman's Corner: The Full Facts on Cold Reading

The lead article, "CHAIRMAN'S CORNER The Full Facts on Cold Reading" by Terry A. Smiljanich, explores the art of cold reading, a method used by psychics to appear to discern personal information about clients. Smiljanich contrasts this with criminal profiling, as discussed in a recent article in The New Yorker concerning a book by FBI profiler John Douglas. While criminal profilers use behavioral analysis to create psychological portraits of criminals, psychics often employ cold reading techniques to fool their audiences. The article highlights "The Full Facts Book of Cold Reading" by British magician and mentalist Ian Rowland, recommending it as a comprehensive resource for understanding these methods. Smiljanich notes that becoming a good cold reader requires significant knowledge and training, involving vague statements, feedback gathering, and a smooth delivery. The book details over 38 techniques, including the "Rainbow Ruse," "Sugar Lumps," and "Barnum Statements," as well as phrases like "I am right, but you have forgotten" to make guesses appear accurate. The author emphasizes that successful psychics are skilled craftsmen who use psychological insights and scripts rather than genuine paranormal powers.

Snippets: Out of Body Experiences and Psychic Mediumship

The "Snippets" section touches on two distinct topics. The first discusses how scientists can now induce "out of body" experiences (OOBs) in healthy individuals using virtual reality technology, a phenomenon previously associated with near-death experiences. The second snippet addresses the controversial figure of Sylvia Browne, a psychic medium. It references a "devastating exposé" by British journalist Jon Ronson, who investigated Browne's claims about missing children, suggesting she often gets it wrong despite her large following. Ronson's article is recommended as a "must read."

Richard Hoagland and the 'Face on Mars'

This section details the activities of Richard Hoagland, a promoter of the "Face on Mars" phenomenon. An update notes that his website, "enterprisemission.com," may require adding an "s" to the URL due to recent hosting issues. The article reports on a conference sponsored by Hoagland at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he presented images of what he claims are "large, nearly invisible glass objects" from NASA's Apollo moon missions, alleging "NASA cover-ups to suppress the truth." While mainstream American press entities attended, the Russian media reportedly showed more enthusiasm. Hoagland acknowledges that the images, including frame numbers, are available on official NASA websites, and he has authored a book titled "Dark Mission."

The article also mentions Ken Johnston, who claimed to be in charge of the Apollo program's photoimagery, but space journalist Jim Oberg reportedly stated Johnston was a low-level clerk at NASA with a disputed Ph.D. from a "Reform Baptist Seminary."

Renier/Merrell Update

This update covers the legal and financial troubles of "psychic detective" Noreen Renier. Having lost a federal court case to John Merrell and owing him a substantial amount for legal fees, Renier is seeking Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The report details her declared income for 2005-2007, which Merrell believes is significantly understated. Merrell suspects Renier has failed to list substantial income sources, including her work on Court TV's "Psychic Detectives" and earnings from her book "A Mind for Murder." Merrell hopes that if Renier's bankruptcy petition is denied, he may be able to garnish her funds or collect assets, potentially including her rights to the book.

Letters to the Editor

The "Letters to the Editor" section features two individuals claiming paranormal abilities. Gary G. Greenwood claims he can detect hidden boxes (mirror or aluminum) at a distance by leaving his physical body, and he is slated for testing by several skeptical organizations, aiming to qualify for the James Randi Educational Foundation's $1,000,000 Challenge. David Long claims to be able to tell the future with 100% accuracy. The editor notes that Long had previously made a similar claim in 2007, and despite an invitation to provide predictions, none have been received.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are skepticism towards paranormal claims, the exposure of deceptive practices in psychic phenomena (particularly cold reading), and the critical examination of individuals and organizations promoting pseudoscientific ideas. The editorial stance is clearly one of promoting critical thinking and debunking unsubstantiated claims, as evidenced by the detailed analysis of cold reading techniques and the critical reporting on figures like Sylvia Browne and Richard Hoagland, as well as the legal issues surrounding Noreen Renier. The publication actively encourages its readers to question extraordinary claims and to rely on evidence-based reasoning.