Tampa Bay Skeptics Report - vol 25 no 2 - INCOMPLETE

Magazine Overview

Title: TBS Report Online
Issue: Vol. 25 - No. 2
Date: Fall 2012
Publisher: Tampa Bay Skeptics

This issue of the TBS Report Online newsletter focuses on an upcoming event featuring Benjamin Radford, a prominent figure in skeptical inquiry, and discusses the formation of a local Independent Investigations Group (IIG) affiliate. It also includes various short news items and a letter to the editor debating the principles of skepticism.

Benjamin Radford Coming to Tampa

The main article announces that Benjamin Radford, a research fellow with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and deputy editor of Skeptical Inquirer, will be visiting Tampa in October. He is the author of six books and numerous articles and has appeared on television. Radford will speak at the University of South Florida on October 16 and meet with members of the Tampa Bay Skeptics (TBS) and other invitees on October 17. His talk, titled "Reflections on a Decade of Paranormal Investigation," will cover "unexplained mysteries" such as ghosts, Bigfoot, crop circles, and psychic powers, examining them from a scientific perspective. The event on October 17 will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa from 7 to 9 p.m.

Local IIG Affiliate Taking Shape

Martha Keller, a TBS member who founded the Pinellas County Skeptics, is working to establish an Independent Investigations Group (IIG) affiliate in Florida. She has been in contact with James Underdown, who chairs the original IIG associated with the Center For Inquiry-Los Angeles. Additional IIG affiliates exist in Atlanta, Colorado, Washington DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Alberta, Canada. The Florida IIG is intended to encourage local skeptics to become more active in investigations. An informational meeting for interested skeptics is scheduled for Saturday, November 10, at 2:00 p.m., at the Seffner-Mango Branch Library.

Snippets

This section presents several brief news items:

• Haunted House Lawsuit: A couple in Toms River, New Jersey, is suing their landlord to break their lease, claiming their home is haunted. They reported experiencing eerie voices, flickering lights, and tugging bed sheets. The Shore Paranormal Research Society investigated but found no evidence of a haunting. The landlord has filed a countersuit, suggesting the couple was spooked by the rent.
• Financial Scheme Warning: A warning is issued against financial schemes that sound too good to be true, particularly one advertised as a "white elephant." An SEC complaint details how Gurudeo "Buddy" Persaud allegedly defrauded 14 investors of over half a million dollars between 2007 and 2011. His strategy involved trading contributions based on lunar cycles and gravitational pull, but the operation was a Ponzi scheme that diverted funds.
• End of the World Prophecies: A warning is given against a free ticket offer to Bugarach, France, for a "flying saucer ride" to escape an alleged world-ending event on December 21. This is contrasted with recent discoveries of Mayan wall writings in Guatemala, unearthed in Xultun, which include calendars predicting events well after the year 3500. Archaeologist William Saturno is quoted saying, "So much for the supposed end of the world."

Letter to the Editor

Miguel Margarido from Barcelona, Spain, writes to the editor, expressing his background in theoretical physics and his cautious approach to UFO claims. He critiques an article on Richard Hoagland, finding Hoagland's background less convincing than that of physicist Stanton T. Friedman. Margarido describes Hoagland as an eloquent orator but questions his "mathematical relationships" and interactions with other scientists. He states that while the "Face on Mars" might be real or a natural formation, Hoagland's claims lack solid scientific backing.

Margarido also comments on the editor's website, particularly an interview with Philip J. Klass. He feels the interview started poorly by focusing on critics rather than Klass's own attacks on UFO believers. He questions the editor's statement about remaining open to the "unlikely possibility" of paranormal phenomena being real, suggesting it mixes personal opinions with scientific inquiry. He acknowledges the existence of hoaxes and delusional accounts but believes there are unexplained sightings. He hopes the editor is an honest seeker rather than a tool for an ideology.

Editor's Reply: The editor responds by stating that readers can judge the interview with Phil Klass themselves. Regarding open-mindedness, the editor explains that scientific inquiry assumes a "null hypothesis"—that a phenomenon is nonexistent until data prove otherwise. The editor also notes that while Stanton Friedman has a scientific background, his approach to UFOs is considered credulous rather than parsimonious.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue strongly emphasizes skepticism and the importance of scientific inquiry. The coverage of Benjamin Radford's visit highlights the critical examination of paranormal claims. The formation of the IIG affiliate reinforces the idea of organized skeptical action. The "Snippets" section serves to debunk or cast doubt on various phenomena, from alleged hauntings to end-of-the-world prophecies, framing them as potential hoaxes or misinterpretations. The letter to the editor and the editor's reply engage in a debate about the definition of open-mindedness within skepticism, advocating for a rigorous, evidence-based approach that avoids premature conclusions or biases. The overall stance is one of critical thinking, scientific rigor, and a healthy skepticism towards extraordinary claims.