Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 23 no 2

Magazine Overview

Title: Tampa Bay Skeptics Report
Issue: Vol. 23 No. 2
Date: Fall 2010
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics
Country: USA
Language: English

Noreen Renier Bankruptcy Ruling

The lead article, by Gary P. Posner, details the complex and disturbing legal proceedings surrounding the bankruptcy ruling of "psychic detective" Noreen Renier and her long-standing legal battles with skeptic John Merrell. The ruling, issued by Federal Bankruptcy Judge William E. Anderson, included an order for both parties to cease public comment about each other, with a $30,000 penalty for violations. The judge's order also controversially decreed that Merrell would be declared guilty of breaching an "agreement" that was never reached and would have to pay Renier $30,000 if her name appeared in a book Posner is writing about a 1984 "missing airplane" case.

Renier had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in August 2007, claiming inability to pay a debt to Merrell exceeding $40,000 in attorneys' fees and interest, stemming from her violation of a 1992 settlement agreement by disparaging Merrell in her 2005 memoir, "A Mind for Murder." Merrell alleged that Renier failed to list significant income sources, such as her book and appearances on Court TV's "Psychic Detectives." During the bankruptcy proceedings, Merrell, with the help of a private investigator, uncovered undeclared assets, leading Renier to amend her income declarations upward by over $100,000. However, Merrell claims that despite his efforts and the court trustees' apparent lack of diligence, tens of thousands of dollars earned from Renier's "psychic" phone sessions, TV appearances, and book royalties remain secreted. Merrell was denied access to information about Renier's clients and IRS income declarations, and Story House Productions refused to respond to a subpoena.

Roxie Cuellar, Merrell's sister and a former attorney, expressed frustration with the trustees' actions, which she described as "openly hostile" towards John. She believes the trustees were more interested in closing the case than ensuring Renier was honest about her assets and debts. Despite Merrell's efforts, only about $11,000 was recovered for creditors. Merrell was also required to take down his anti-Renier website and transfer the domain to Renier. Cuellar stated that Renier had threatened to sue if Merrell's name appeared in Posner's book. She maintains that the verbal agreement was for John Merrell to be delisted as the book's author and not to contribute disparaging comments, a recollection shared by John and his sister. Cuellar suggests the judge may have been swayed by Renier's claims of poverty and maltreatment.

Posner faces a dilemma: either abandon his book about the missing airplane case, or proceed and potentially subject Merrell to a $30,000 liability for breaching an "agreement" he never made, and for which he has no control over Posner's actions. Posner proposes a third alternative: using a pseudonym for Merrell, such as "Jack Monroe," in the book, while noting the pseudonym and referring readers to his website for full details. He humorously suggests this pseudonym "agreement" was mutually conceived with Judge Anderson.

Chairman's Corner: Martin Gardner (1914-2010)

Terry A. Smiljanich pays tribute to Martin Gardner, a prominent figure in the skeptical community who passed away at age 95. Gardner was a constant presence for those who grew up in the 1950s and '60s, known for his "Mathematical Games" column in Scientific American and his influential books like "Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science" and "Science: Good, Bad and Bogus." He was a founding member of CSICOP (now CSI) and a regular contributor to "Skeptical Inquirer." Gardner's love for mathematical puzzles led to his commercially successful book, "The Annotated Alice." Smiljanich notes Gardner's philosophical and religious views, describing him as a "fideist" who believed in God without evidence, influenced by Miguel de Unamuno. Gardner's belief, he posits, satisfied a deep-seated urge within him, a concept that even Carl Sagan found perplexing.

Smiljanich contrasts the "hubris" of modern skeptics with the ancient Greeks, suggesting that while ancient hubrists resorted to violence, modern ones employ "skullduggery." He lists contemporary skeptics like Michael Shermer, Phil Plait, Rebecca Watson, and Adam Savage as carrying on the legacy of Gardner and other iconic thinkers.

Hubris and the Supernormal

Valerie Grey explores the concept of "hubris," defined as "wanton violence arising from the pride of strength" and "wanton arrogance arising from passion or recklessness." She applies this to the James Randi $40K challenge/test of Australian dowsers. Despite the dowsers' cocky confidence and prediction of 100% success, the test results showed they performed no better than chance. Grey notes their creative rationalizations for failure, such as sunspots and astrological signs, and their unwillingness to question their own beliefs. She also recounts a reporter's smug conviction of not being fooled by magicians' tricks, even after Randi demonstrated a psychic spoon-bending trick and broke a spoon, highlighting the reporter's difficulty in accepting his own gullibility.

Grey argues that hubris is instilled from birth by parents who scorn science and logic, leading to a belief in the supernatural. She quotes a skeptic who states, "I cannot be fooled, even under non-rigorous conditions... it's enough that I feel that I'm correct even when my psychic intuitions cannot be verified." This mindset, she suggests, is the underlying precept of all supernatural claims.

Snippets

This section features a collection of brief news items:

• Astrology and Soccer: An astrologer in Singapore saw his clientele skyrocket due to his "psychic" parakeet, Mani, accurately predicting World Cup soccer match outcomes.
• Psychic Octopus: An eight-armed octopus named Paul has accurately predicted football match outcomes for two years, leading to a Spanish minister's call for a fishing ban on Paul to prevent him from being eaten by Germans.
• Tori Spelling and John Edward: Actress Tori Spelling reported that psychic John Edward conveyed a message from the late Farrah Fawcett, whom Spelling claimed was a neighbor.
• Meteorite Strikes: Radivoje Lajic of northern Bosnia reported his house being struck by meteorites six times since November 2007, leading him to believe he is being targeted by extraterrestrials.
• UFO Encounter Documents: Newly released British Ministry of Defence documents from 1999 include letters from the grandson of Winston Churchill's bodyguard, inquiring about an RAF flight crew's close encounter with a "metallic" UFO during WWII. The documents allege Churchill suggested classifying the event to prevent mass panic and a crisis of faith.

A New Vision for Science Engagement with the Public

This article, from the AAAS archives, features commentary by Alan I. Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Leshner argues that scientists must engage more proactively and energetically with the public to overcome skepticism on issues like climate change and stem cell research. He emphasizes the need for genuine dialogue, listening to public concerns, and being willing to modify their own positions. Key lessons include never pitting science against religion, avoiding debates with known ideologues, being clear about the nature of science, and listening.

Letters / Readers' Forum

• James Carrion's "Goodbye Ufology, Hello Truth": Sid Deutsch writes in response to an essay, arguing that alien spaceship UFOs violate basic principles of physics and chemistry due to the vastness of space and the immense energy required for interstellar travel. He cites his own article, "Why Visiting Alien Spaceships Are Impossible," which calculated that even harnessing the entire U.S. power system would take three years to reach even a fraction of light speed.
• Poltergeist Activity: Rob Colletti of Brandon describes experiencing strange phenomena in his home, including moving objects, shadow figures, and loud noises, which he attributes to an "entity." The editor's reply suggests such "poltergeist" cases are almost invariably caused by someone living in the home, typically an adolescent female.

Other Sections

• Tampa Bay Skeptics Executive Council: Lists the members of the executive council, including Chairman Terry A. Smiljanich and Executive Director Gary P. Posner.
• Other Skeptical Sources: Provides a list of resources for paranormal and skeptical literature, including Prometheus Books, Skeptical Inquirer, Skeptic magazine, and the James Randi Educational Foundation.
• Announcements: Details upcoming Tampa Bay Skeptics quarterly meetings, featuring Patrick McGirk on science education, and promotes the TBS website and T-shirts.
• TBS and JREF "Psychic" Challenges: Reiteration of the standing $1,000 Challenge for proof of paranormal phenomena and the $1,000,000 prize from the James Randi Educational Foundation.
• Center For Inquiry Tampa Bay: Information about CFI Tampa Bay's mission, events, and outreach.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Tampa Bay Skeptics Report consistently promotes critical thinking, scientific inquiry, and skepticism towards paranormal and fringe science claims. The publication actively debunks pseudoscientific assertions through detailed investigations, legal reporting, and the sharing of skeptical viewpoints. The editorial stance is one of objective examination, challenging extraordinary claims with evidence and reason, while also fostering a community of like-minded individuals through events and resources. The magazine highlights the importance of scientific literacy and effective public engagement with science, contrasting it with the "hubris" often found in those who readily accept unsubstantiated beliefs.