Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 22 no 1

Magazine Overview

Title: Tampa Bay Skeptics Report
Issue: Vol. 22 No. 1, Summer 2009
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics, Inc.
Country: USA
Language: English

"A Mind for Murdergate" Revisited by Gary P. Posner

This article revisits Gary P. Posner's previous examination of alleged discrepancies in psychic detective Noreen Renier's memoir, "A Mind for Murder." Posner focuses on the alterations between the first and second editions concerning alphabetical clues Renier claimed to have provided for a 1984 missing-airplane case. In the first edition, Renier listed the letters "H, D and A," while the second edition presented them as "G, T and O." Posner initially suggested this was "Watergate-worthy doctoring" to align with the actual crash site location, which was near Gardner and Templeton, Massachusetts. He notes that Herbert, the woman for whom Renier provided the reading, had informed Renier the day before the reading that witnesses saw a plane go down in that precise location. Posner questions whether this alteration was an "innocent correction" or a deliberate attempt to rewrite history, ultimately concluding that Renier's credibility remains suspect due to this and other issues.

Chairman's Corner: "Ida, or Darwinius masillae: The 'Missing Link'"? by Terry A. Smiljanich

Terry A. Smiljanich critiques the media's sensationalized coverage of the discovery of the primate fossil "Ida" (Darwinius masillae), dated at 47 million years old. He argues that the media circus surrounding the discovery revealed widespread ignorance about evolution. Smiljanich points out that the fossil, discovered in Germany in 1983 and appreciated by professionals in 2006, represents an early primate species from the Middle Eocene Period. While scientists consider it a "transitional species," the media proclaimed it the "Eighth Wonder of the World," the "Lost Ark for archeologists," and the "Holy Grail," claiming it "finally confirms Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution" and is the "missing link in human evolution." Smiljanich refutes these claims, highlighting that older fossils exist and that the concept of a single "missing link" is outdated. He emphasizes that primate evolution is complex and that every fossil discovery contributes to understanding our past.

Another View of Skepticism by James W. Moseley

James W. Moseley, publisher of "Saucer Smear" newsletter, shares his personal experiences and views on skepticism. He recounts an ESP experiment with Dominick Lucchesi, whom he caught cheating but who still demonstrated unusual abilities. Moseley also describes a personal experience where he briefly perceived cards in his mind, an experience he found unnerving and which disappeared. He argues that skeptics are too emotionally opposed to the psychic realm and that this would not upset scientific laws but rather open new avenues of inquiry. Moseley believes that if psychic skills could be translated into practical abilities like gambling, individuals could amass great wealth. He also defends the idea of investigating paranormal events, stating that if people were ashamed to discuss them, these mysteries would never be solved. He concludes by stating that his psychic adventures are faithful renditions of his memory and that people can choose to believe them or not.

Gary Posner responds to Moseley, noting their long-standing amicable correspondence despite differing worldviews. Posner suspects Moseley's motive for sharing these stories is to elicit free psychiatric advice. Posner clarifies that his comment about Moseley being "ashamed" was intended as private, educational advice, not a public attack. He reiterates that while the scientific community has not accepted psychic abilities, psychological literature contains accounts of them. Posner emphasizes that TBS focuses on scientifically testing alleged abilities, distinguishing it from religious belief. He also notes that Moseley has sometimes endorsed individuals who have been accused of faking paranormal feats, like Uri Geller.

Snippets

This section provides brief news items:

• Area 51: Five individuals have come forward claiming involvement in reverse-engineering foreign technology, including Soviet MiG fighter jets, at Area 51, though no UFOs were reportedly reverse-engineered. The CIA declassified information about the A-12 OXCART spy plane program in 2007.
• Area 52: The Pentagon's Darpa division is developing "user-to-user communication" technology using neural signals for battlefield communication, with a $4 million allocation. Military research also includes "mind-reading binoculars."
• Area 53: A review of long-term NIH trials involving over 50,000 participants found vitamin and mineral supplements ineffective for preventing cancer, stroke, or heart attacks, and potentially harmful in high doses.
• Copper Bracelets vs. Titanium: The article questions the health benefits of titanium-laced necklaces and wristbands, noting that while athletes endorse them, experts suggest any perceived benefits are likely psychological.
• Miss Cleo: The former star of "Psychic Readers Network" has rebranded herself as a "voodoo priestess" and is now involved in other ventures, including voice acting and coming out as a lesbian. Her previous claims were declared fraudulent.

Letters • Readers' Forum

• Allen from Leesville, South Carolina: Identifies as a sensitive/empath and seeks to prove life after death, inquiring about the "$1,000 Challenge" and offering evidence on his website.
• Guss Wilder (TBS photoanalyst) responds to Allen: Explains that the "orbs" in Allen's cemetery photo are likely caused by a flashlight reflecting off dust particles and foil wraps on flower pots, and that the person in the background was holding a flashlight, accounting for the orange glow and blurred motion.
• Darlene Ann Sterner: Expresses interest in the "Paranormal Challenge" and claims to have abilities in time-space dimension change and mentalist control. She proposes an experiment involving live TV and a TV.

Gary Posner responds to Sterner's claim, recounting an email exchange where Sterner believed she influenced a live TV broadcast. Posner, however, found no evidence of this and suggested Sterner might be suffering from a delusional disorder.

Tampa Bay Skeptics Membership/Subscription Information

Details on membership options, subscription rates, and back issues are provided, along with payment instructions.

Announcing... Tampa Bay Skeptics Quarterly Meetings

Information about upcoming meetings, including the next meeting on Saturday, June 27, featuring a James Randi video and a talk by Bill Hall.

Visit TBS's Website

Encourages readers to visit the website for related links and graphics.

TBS and James Randi "Psychic" Challenges

Reiterates the standing "$1,000 Challenge" for scientific proof of paranormal phenomena and mentions James Randi's $1,000,000 jackpot for successful demonstrations.

Center For Inquiry / Tampa

Describes CFI/Tampa as a Special Interest Group of Tampa Bay Skeptics, offering opportunities for rationalists to engage in social events and intellectual programming. It also mentions their lecture series.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report consistently promotes a skeptical and evidence-based approach to paranormal claims, fringe science, and pseudoscientific theories. The publication aims to critically examine such claims through objective inquiry, often debunking sensationalized media reports and highlighting scientific illiteracy. The editorial stance is one of open-minded skepticism, willing to accept valid scientific evidence but demanding rigorous proof for extraordinary claims. The magazine also serves as a platform for readers to share their experiences and challenges, with responses from the organization's experts.