Robert S. Lancaster
Encyclopedia
Robert Starrett Lancaster (born February 11, 1958) is an American computer programmer and skeptic
who created the websites Stop Kaz and Stop Sylvia Browne.
shut down member websites. Lancaster also created several shareware
DOS
computer games known collectively as The MicroLink Games.
His first skeptical web site, Stop Kaz went online in September 2004. It is devoted to critical examination of the public statements of Kaz Demille-Jacobsen. She claimed to be a survivor of the September 11 attacks and gave speeches on that topic. "Everything that she claimed seemed to be a lie", Lancaster found. He documented his efforts to create the site in a paper presented at The Amazing Meeting 4 in 2006.
Lancaster opened Stop Sylvia Browne, a web site devoted to critically examining the claims of self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne
, in November 2006. He says he did so because, "I found her work with missing children to be incredibly offensive." Lancaster has subsequently been interviewed as an expert on Browne's missteps in the Shawn Hornbeck case on CNN and elsewhere. The site has also documented other failings of Browne, including the Holly Krewson missing person case. In a 2002 episode of The Montel Williams Show
, Browne said Krewson was at that time working as a stripper in Los Angeles; however, in 2006, her dental records were matched to a body that had been found in 1996.
Lancaster has spoken at skeptic conferences including The Amazing Meeting in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. He has been interviewed on The Paul Harris Show, Penn Radio
, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
, Beyond Reality Radio and The Paracast
.
On August 4, 2008, Lancaster suffered a stroke, and was hospitalized for some time after. He spent much of the next year in recovery, which his wife (Susan Lancaster) documented via online posts.
In October of 2008, during Lancaster's recovery, the domain registration for StopSylviaBrowne.com lapsed and was purchased by Boris Kreiman
, who replaced the site with one advertising psychic services. When challenged by supporters of Lancaster, Kreiman offered to sell the domain back for $20,000 and put it up for auction. Lancaster's wife decided not to negotiate with Kreiman, and instead moved the site to an existing alternate domain, StopSylvia.com.
On July 11, 2009, Lancaster received the first annual Citizen Skeptic Award from the James Randi Educational Foundation
at The Amazing Meeting 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada
for his work as a skeptic. He had recovered sufficiently from his stroke to receive the award in person (see photo).
In September 2010 Robert was interviewed in Stockyard Magazine. “People want answers,” Lancaster says. “Answers to questions which, often, nobody else has been able to answer for them. Answers which law enforcement officials, medical providers, and loved ones cannot provide.”
In March 2011 Robert began hosting the Internet radio show Resident Skeptic on the Para-X Paranormal radio network, in which he gives
the skeptical point of view on various paranormal topics.
In May 2011 Lancaster stepped down from hosting the Internet radio show Resident Skeptic, to spend more time on his stroke recovery.
On June 5 2011 Lancaster suffered a minor heart attack in his home in Salem, Oregon. The attack, and his subsequent three-day hospitalization, were documented by Lancaster and his wife Susan in a thread titled "RSLancastr in hospital...again" on the JREF forum. (resource to be added.)
Scientific skepticism
Scientific skepticism is the practice of questioning the veracity of claims lacking empirical evidence or reproducibility, as part of a methodological norm pursuing "the extension of certified knowledge". For example, Robert K...
who created the websites Stop Kaz and Stop Sylvia Browne.
Biography
Lancaster's first web presence was The Bob Lancaster Gallery of Unusual Playing Cards, a site devoted to displaying some of his large collection of decks of playing cards. The site existed from 1996 until 2008 when AOLAOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
shut down member websites. Lancaster also created several shareware
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
computer games known collectively as The MicroLink Games.
His first skeptical web site, Stop Kaz went online in September 2004. It is devoted to critical examination of the public statements of Kaz Demille-Jacobsen. She claimed to be a survivor of the September 11 attacks and gave speeches on that topic. "Everything that she claimed seemed to be a lie", Lancaster found. He documented his efforts to create the site in a paper presented at The Amazing Meeting 4 in 2006.
Lancaster opened Stop Sylvia Browne, a web site devoted to critically examining the claims of self-proclaimed psychic Sylvia Browne
Sylvia Browne
Sylvia Browne is an American author who describes herself as a psychic and spiritual medium...
, in November 2006. He says he did so because, "I found her work with missing children to be incredibly offensive." Lancaster has subsequently been interviewed as an expert on Browne's missteps in the Shawn Hornbeck case on CNN and elsewhere. The site has also documented other failings of Browne, including the Holly Krewson missing person case. In a 2002 episode of The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show
The Montel Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Montel Williams. On January 30, 2008 it was announced that The Montel Williams Show would stop production on new episodes at the end of the 2007-2008 television season after seventeen years...
, Browne said Krewson was at that time working as a stripper in Los Angeles; however, in 2006, her dental records were matched to a body that had been found in 1996.
Lancaster has spoken at skeptic conferences including The Amazing Meeting in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. He has been interviewed on The Paul Harris Show, Penn Radio
Penn Radio
Penn Radio was an hour-long talk CBS radio show which ran from January 3, 2006 to March 2, 2007, hosted by Penn Jillette and Michael Goudeau and produced by "Happy" Jack Landreth and Patrick DiFazio...
, The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe
The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly, 80 minute podcast hosted by Steven Novella, MD, and a panel of "skeptical rogues". It is the official podcast of the New England Skeptical Society, and is produced in conjunction with the James Randi Educational Foundation...
, Beyond Reality Radio and The Paracast
The paracast
The Paracast is a radio talk show and podcast discussing topics related to the paranormal. The show is hosted by American technology journalist and writer Gene Steinberg and features discussions with various figures involved in the paranormal field. Shows are recorded on a weekly basis...
.
On August 4, 2008, Lancaster suffered a stroke, and was hospitalized for some time after. He spent much of the next year in recovery, which his wife (Susan Lancaster) documented via online posts.
In October of 2008, during Lancaster's recovery, the domain registration for StopSylviaBrowne.com lapsed and was purchased by Boris Kreiman
Boris Kreiman
Boris Kreiman is an American Grandmaster of chess. Kreiman a 3rd place winner in a U.S. Chess Championship in Seattle is also a winner of the Frank P. Samford, Jr. Chess Fellowship....
, who replaced the site with one advertising psychic services. When challenged by supporters of Lancaster, Kreiman offered to sell the domain back for $20,000 and put it up for auction. Lancaster's wife decided not to negotiate with Kreiman, and instead moved the site to an existing alternate domain, StopSylvia.com.
On July 11, 2009, Lancaster received the first annual Citizen Skeptic Award from the James Randi Educational Foundation
James Randi Educational Foundation
The James Randi Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled...
at The Amazing Meeting 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
for his work as a skeptic. He had recovered sufficiently from his stroke to receive the award in person (see photo).
In September 2010 Robert was interviewed in Stockyard Magazine. “People want answers,” Lancaster says. “Answers to questions which, often, nobody else has been able to answer for them. Answers which law enforcement officials, medical providers, and loved ones cannot provide.”
In March 2011 Robert began hosting the Internet radio show Resident Skeptic on the Para-X Paranormal radio network, in which he gives
the skeptical point of view on various paranormal topics.
In May 2011 Lancaster stepped down from hosting the Internet radio show Resident Skeptic, to spend more time on his stroke recovery.
On June 5 2011 Lancaster suffered a minor heart attack in his home in Salem, Oregon. The attack, and his subsequent three-day hospitalization, were documented by Lancaster and his wife Susan in a thread titled "RSLancastr in hospital...again" on the JREF forum. (resource to be added.)
External links
- Stop Sylvia Browne
- Stop Kaz
- The Bob Lancaster Gallery of Unusual Playing Cards (via the Wayback MachineWayback MachineThe Wayback Machine is a digital time capsule created by the Internet Archive non-profit organization, based in San Francisco, California. It is maintained with content from Alexa Internet. The service enables users to see archived versions of web pages across time, which the Archive calls a "three...
) - Resident Skeptic