Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 24 no 4 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 24 - No. 4
Date: Spring 2012
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics and Center For Inquiry-Tampa Bay

This issue of TBS Report Online provides an update on the activities and claims of psychic Noreen Renier, critically examines a purported Yeti finger's DNA, and briefly touches on a peculiar case of police job termination.

Noreen Renier Update

The lead article, "Noreen Renier Update" by Gary P. Posner, details the ongoing legal and public relations efforts of Noreen Renier, a self-proclaimed psychic with forensic foreknowledge. Renier had filed an appeal with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking $30,000, after two prior courts had ruled against her in a dispute with her rival, John Merrell. Oral arguments for this appeal were scheduled for March 21.

In addition to her legal battles, Renier has been active on a promotional book tour, including an appearance at the University of Arkansas' Clinton School of Public Service on February 9. The article notes that a video of her 45-minute lecture, described as her standard and entertaining stump speech about her psychic career, is available online.

A significant portion of the article scrutinizes Renier's account of the FBI-related "missing airplane" case, which was previously discussed in the Spring 2010 issue and in Posner's book, "Psychic Sleuths." Renier claims the plane was eventually found in snowy woods by locals who were searching in areas directed by search planes using coordinates she provided. However, the article refutes this, stating that the father-daughter duo who discovered the wreckage had no knowledge of any search planes and were guided by news reports quoting witnesses who heard the crash.

Posner also debunks Renier's description of the airplane wreckage, where she claimed to have psychically seen "the two men in the front seat [of the wrecked plane], their necks broken." In reality, the front passenger seat was occupied by a woman, whose torso remained in her seat, and all four passengers had died immediately upon impact, according to the medical examiner.

The article further recounts Renier's story about a black family's home being haunted by a poltergeist, where a spirit allegedly told a police detective, "You're too stupid to solve this crime. Get your white ass out of this house!" Posner suggests it is more likely that such words would come from a mischievous human than a spirit.

During a Q&A session at the Clinton School, Renier was asked about the future acceptance of the psychic community by the scientific community. She responded that while it's on her wish list, scientists remain in a "safe zone," and she expressed doubt about significant progress happening anytime soon, referring to past requests to "heal a rat" as an example of the limited scope of interaction.

Renier's recollection of healing a rat is linked by Posner to a case in his book where Renier, while attempting to divine the identity of a decomposed body from a bone, initially had a vision of a rat instead of the person whose hand the bone belonged to. The article concludes that Renier's credibility issues likely contribute to the slow acceptance of psychic phenomena.

Randi Documentary Slated for 2013

A documentary titled "An Honest Liar" about the life of magician and professional skeptic James Randi is in production and is expected to be completed in the following year. The film aims to profile Randi's public crusades to expose psychics, mentalists, preachers, and faith healers, illustrating how perceptions can be easily fooled by various figures. More information and a trailer are available on the film's website, which also accepts donations for financing.

Snippets

Mummified Yeti Finger Found to Be Human

For over fifty years, a mummified finger housed at the Royal College of Surgeons Museum in London, believed to be from the legendary Yeti, has been a subject of interest. An American explorer reportedly smuggled the finger out of Nepal with the help of actor James Stewart. A BBC documentary team obtained a DNA sample from the appendage, which was recently rediscovered. Testing by experts at the Edinburgh Zoo, led by Dr. Rob Ogden of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, determined the DNA to be entirely human.

Police Officer's Job Termination Strategy

This snippet details a strategy allegedly employed by Officer Edith Torres to get terminated from her 24-year police career. Incensed by City Manager Lyndon Bonner's plan to eliminate police jobs, Torres reportedly obtained birdseed, intending to use it for a Santeria spell against her nemesis. However, the janitor she enlisted instead spilled the seeds before the city manager, leading to Torres being accused of conduct unbecoming an officer and ensuring her position would be among those eliminated.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around skepticism towards paranormal claims, particularly those made by psychics like Noreen Renier. The editorial stance is critical and evidence-based, as demonstrated by Posner's detailed debunking of Renier's accounts and the factual reporting on the Yeti finger DNA test. The inclusion of the James Randi documentary further emphasizes the publication's commitment to promoting critical thinking and exposing fraudulent claims within the realms of psychic phenomena and pseudoscientific practices.