Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 22 no 4

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Tampa Bay Skeptics Report, Volume 22, Number 4, Spring 2010, is published by the Tampa Bay Skeptics, a Special Interest Group of the Center For Inquiry Tampa Bay. The magazine focuses on critical examination of paranormal claims, fringe science, and pseudoscience, promoting skepticism and rational inquiry. The issue includes articles, snippets, letters to the editor, and organizational updates.

Noreen Renier's Presentation at Remote Viewing Conference

This article, written by Gary P. Posner, reviews Noreen Renier's presentation at the International Remote Viewing Association's 2006 conference. Posner notes his long-standing interest in Renier, a 'psychic detective,' due to her local ties and her legal battles with skeptic John Merrell. Posner previously reviewed Renier's memoir, 'A Mind for Murder,' finding it entertaining but lacking compelling scientific evidence. He also scrutinized a specific case about Renier assisting an FBI agent in locating a missing airplane in 1984. The review of Renier's DVD lecture, titled 'The Psychic Connection in Criminal Investigations,' highlights her charming presentation and persuasive style, particularly her claims of 'psychometry' – the ability to read vibrations from objects. Renier describes her ability to 'become' the victim or perpetrator, or to 'float above' a crime scene. While finding her stories entertaining, Posner notes that some claims, like reading the minds of a horse or an oak tree, were far-fetched. During the Q&A session, a questioner alluded to a skeptic from Tampa Bay who had tried to discredit Renier's work, leading to court cases. Renier, though not naming her detractors, refers to 'the skeptic' associated with the Northwest Skeptics. Posner later clarifies an error in his previous reporting on the airplane crash case, admitting he misquoted an NTSB report. He details how Renier weaves a 'fantasy' about the crash, describing a 'dark landing strip,' 'quicksand and rocky stuff,' and a mountain, which contradicts the actual terrain. He also notes Renier's description of an old gas station and a toothless woman, which Lt. Gerald Poirier of the Gardner Police Department stated he never encountered. The article culminates with Renier's 'psychic' portrait of the crash victims, describing one occupant carrying a 'headless' companion, which contrasts with the medical examiner's determination that all four occupants died immediately upon impact. Posner concludes by questioning Renier's use of 'artistic license.'

The Adaptable Human

Written by Terry A. Smiljanich, this article challenges the common misconception of human evolution as a linear progression. It explains that human evolution is a complex process with false starts and parallel tracks, citing the coexistence of Homo sapiens and Neanderthals, and the discovery of Homo floresiensis. The article highlights that hominids adapted to changing environments, such as grasslands, by developing upright stances and tools. Anthropologist Rick Potts emphasizes 'survival of the versatile' rather than 'survival of the fittest.' The piece touches upon current climate change debates, suggesting that humans will likely adapt to rising sea levels, unlike other species.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine As Snake-Oil Science

Valerie Grey reviews R. Barker Bausell's book, 'Snake Oil Science: The Truth About Complementary and Alternative Medicine.' The article defines Integrative Medicine and lists various CAM therapies. Grey expresses initial susceptibility to media claims about CAM efficacy but concludes, based on Bausell's work, that such claims are scientifically ignorant or false. Bausell, a biostatistician, describes a large-scale NIH-funded study of acupuncture that proved it to be a powerful analgesic placebo. The book's metanalysis of thousands of CAM clinical studies concludes there is no reliable scientific evidence that CAM therapies work better than placebo, and that many studies violate scientific methodology standards. The article details the key components of a reliable clinical trial, including randomization, placebo control groups, large study populations, credible placebos, low attrition rates, double/triple blinding, publication in reputable journals, and study duplication. Grey suggests renaming CAM to SCAM, SHAM, or SHAZAM, and enthusiastically recommends Bausell's book.

Snippets

This section presents brief news items and observations:

• Spontaneous Human Combustion: The 1951 case of Mary Reeser in St. Petersburg is discussed, noting the unusual consumption of her body and chair, and questioning the 'spontaneous' categorization.
• Asparagus Tossing: Jemima Packington, an 'asparamancer' from Pershore, England, is mentioned for her predictions using asparagus spears, including predicting royal engagements and deaths.
• Facilitated Communication: The phenomenon of 'facilitated communication' (FC) is revisited, with expert Arthur Caplan likening it to Ouija board use and noting that a neurologist has concluded FC does not work.
• UFO Sightings: Britain's Ministry of Defence has closed its UFO hotline and stopped investigating sightings due to cost-cutting measures, despite concerns about national security.
• Alternative Healing: Serbian pharmacologist Marijana Kovacevic's use of a 'miracle gel' containing horse placenta fluid for treating sports injuries is described, noting her practice without a medical license and subsequent disappearance.

Wisdom from the Archives

This section highlights a previously published article by James Lett titled 'A Field Guide to Critical Thinking,' which addresses media irresponsibility, irrationality, and the ineffectiveness of public education in teaching critical thinking skills. The article is noted as still being relevant.

Scientology Claims Healings in Haiti

This brief report mentions that the Church of Scientology's 'volunteer ministers' in Haiti claimed to use the power of touch to reconnect nervous systems, with some doctors expressing skepticism.

Tampa Bay MUFON Reconstitutes Group

This announcement states that a Mutual UFO Organization (MUFON) affiliate has been re-established in the Tampa Bay area, with Bonnie Korniak as the organizer.

TBS in the Media

This section details TBS founder Gary Posner's interview for a St. Petersburg Times article about psychics. Posner offered advice to the unemployed, suggesting they give their last $20 to him for 'priceless advice' rather than a psychic counselor, and reiterated his view that self-styled psychics are either intentionally deceiving or deluding themselves.

Letters • Readers' Forum

• John Merrell writes about man-made global warming (MMGW), expressing skepticism based on conversations with climate specialists who believe critical historical measurement databases are being 'mined' to favor MMGW as the principal cause of warming. He suggests alternative mechanisms may be equally plausible.
• Todd C. Riniolo, Ph.D. comments on an article about CFI's Credibility Project, emphasizing the importance of applying skeptical standards to global warming claims.
• Editor's reply (Gary P. Posner) addresses the MMGW discussion, stating that while he doesn't equate it with paranormal claims, skepticism is warranted. He mentions Robert Sheaffer's rebuttal to articles critical of MMGW skeptics and quotes Philip J. Klass on withstanding prevailing opinion. The editor notes that some readers may know Klass, who was his mentor.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report consistently promotes critical thinking and skepticism towards paranormal claims, pseudoscience, and unverified phenomena. The editorial stance is one of rigorous examination of evidence, challenging extraordinary claims with demands for extraordinary proof, and advocating for scientific methodology. The magazine actively debunks claims related to psychic abilities, alternative medicine, and other fringe topics, while also engaging with broader scientific and societal issues like climate change and human evolution from a rationalist perspective. The organization offers challenges and resources for those seeking to prove paranormal phenomena, underscoring their commitment to evidence-based reasoning.