Volume 7 The Swamp Gas Journal ISSN 0707-7106
Number 1 March 1994
Electronic Superhighways, and all that stuff
Living as we are in the age of technology, it has become unavoidable
to hear about the great "electronic information superhighway." Not a
single newscast seems to go by without a story about the "exciting"
prospects that this new information vehicle will be heralding.
The best comment I have read about this came from a cynical media
analyst who asked: "So who are the people who are going to get on this
electronic superhighway? The same people who can't program their VCRs?"
As I see it, the only difference that this superhighway will make is
that now we will have electronic online dross to contend with in
addition to the paper versions.
To whit: Stanton Friedman received harsh criticism when he said
that UFO-oriented computer bulletin boards contained nothing but
garbage that tended to confuse the issue. (Now, I realize I'm
paraphrasing, and I CERTAINLY don't want to get sued by anybody, but
that is the gist of what happened and as I understand it, okay?)
Of course, any rational person would have to agree with him.
The vast majority of messages in the FIDONET UFO echo, alt.paranet.ufo
and especially alt.alien.visitors are next to worthless. There are
messages with channelled information, flame wars, endless discussion
about TV shows with UFO themes and lots of "did not" "did too"
arguments about Bill Cooper, Bob Oechsler and Bob Lazar.
Realistically, the "information content" in the computer newsgroups
is abysmally low.
Almost completely absent are case reports, rational articles and
databases for analyses.
The ideal situation would be to have an international UFO database
where new reports could be constantly added and disseminated for
researchers to use anywhere in the world.
Online newsletters would be good, too. Right now, the Swamp Gas
Journal is almost the only electronic ufozine available. Of course,
since most people are not part of the information superhighway yet,
zines still have to be published in print format. The SGJ has about 100
print subscribers and about the same number of KNOWN e-subscribers.
The last point is particularly interesting because it brings to light
one of the ways in which the information superhighway network (let me
coin a term here: ISNET, for Information Superhighway NETwork - maybe
even shortening it to ISN'T) disseminates information. The SGJ has been
deposited in a number of major computers around the world. It is
probably accessed every day by someone in Tuktoyaktuk or Timbuktu. The
information in the SGJ is now available to anyone ANYWHERE in the
world.
One way to get it is to log in to something called gopherspace. A
gopher is a kind of electronic "encyclopedia" that guides you through
various directories until you find the information you are looking for.
Gopherspace is so vast and complex, there is a monthly "scavenger hunt"
contest to see what is actually available. Want the train schedules in
London? The periodic table of elements? Articles from the NEW YORKER?
The restrictions on watering your lawn in Australia? It's all there.
Information on UFOs is there, too, if you know how to look for it.
The Internet Wiretap, in (what's left of) California, has an online
electronic library that contains lots of UFO stuff: Project Blue Book
unknowns, the silly Krill Report, MJ-12 docs and much more material
than I could list here. Included here are my latest Canadian UFO
Surveys, NAICCR Reports and five different issues of the SGJ. I
recently uploaded four issues of the CROP WATCHER into the ISN'T, and I
have been told they're already part of the great global database. (Paul
Fuller gave me permission to do it, by the way.)
Another good source is an ftp site at Rutgers University. "FTP" is
short for "file transfer protocol," and is simply a way to transfer
data files from one computer to another. As of this writing (February
1994), there were literally hundreds of files on UFOs and related
matters in a directory called simply "ufo."
However, it's easy to see what the problem is. The fact that
information is available does not mean that it is useful. Take a look
at any newsstand and you will see what I mean. Even the most generous
literary critic will tell you that 90% of all publications are wastes
of trees.
Why should this be any different in the electronic medium? This has
been true in ufology since its official inception in the 1940's. Most
of what you read about UFOs is inaccurate, misleading or just plain
nonsense. This is true whether it comes from "believers" or
"debunkers." The electronic medium only allows this information to be
disseminated faster, globally and more efficiently.
The GOOD news is that there IS useful information out there. Of
course, you have to look for it. But this is true for print media as
well.
You don't have to buy *everything* in Bob Girard's ARCTURUS
catalogues (even though he might appreciate it!), because his
annotations and reviews, plus other commentary you might have heard or
read, allow you to select the most useful stuff.
The same is true for the ISN'T. What you will need is a good
(electronic) guide to the ISN'T that will allow you to locate and view
the information you desire. Sure you have to wade through pointless
John Winston posts in a.a.v, but if you are a dedicated researcher, you
will persist.
It's just more challenging, that's all.
The Pile of Books
There's a pile of books next to my computer in my study. They are
there because they are either recent acquisitions to the UFOROM library
or I have been using them as references in articles. Or, in some cases,
they are just recreational reading. They are there also because some
people have asked me exactly what books I collect and read, and I have
been goaded into listing them in the next SGJ.
Well, here they are (in order from the top of the pile):
Gillmor, Daniel S. (ed.) SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS.
Bantam, NY, 1969.
Sure, you've all heard of it, but how many of you have actually read it? Who
was right? Saunders or Condon? Still one of the most important works of
its kind.
Evans, Hilary & Spencer, John. (eds.) UFOs 1947-1987. Fortean Tomes,
London, 1987.
BUFORA's best compilation to date, with lots of rational discussion. A
who's who of ufology in terms of contributors.
Emenegger, Robert. UFOs PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE. Ballantine, NY, 1974.
This is the book that some have said forms the basis for the
crash/retrieval scenario, and the implication that the government
really knows all about the aliens on Earth. Apart from that, it's an
entertaining book with thoughtful commentary from scientists who
speculate about what would happen if aliens really were detected.
King, Stephen. THE TOMMYKNOCKERS. Signet, NY, 1988.
Okay, I broke down and bought a used copy. I'm not a King fan, but it
*has* a ufological slant and people keep telling me to get it. Whether
or not I actually read it is another matter.
Spencer, John & Evans, Hilary (eds.) PHENOMENON: FORTY YEARS OF FLYING
SAUCERS. Avon, NY, 1989.
A companion and parallel volume to their earlier compilation.
FATE MAGAZINE, Issue #500, November 1991.
A collectors' item, with a retrospective UFO commentary by Jerome
Clark.
Bishop, Roy L. (ed.) OBSERVER'S HANDBOOK 1994. Royal Astronomical
Society of Canada, Toronto, 1994.
Why this isn't required reading for all ufologists is beyond me. The
only way to really understand what's in the sky is to have a guidebook
to what's in the sky. Basic information, star maps, astronomical data,
and lots more. (Yes, I'm an RASC member. How did you guess?)
Bondarchuk, Yurko. UFO SIGHTINGS, LANDINGS AND ABDUCTIONS. Methuen,
Toronto, 1979.
With no previous research background in ufology, Bondarchuk produced a
book which set the standard for countrywide case studies. Containing
lots of annotations, illustrations and references, the book is a useful
guide to Canadian UFO cases. But where did he go? Bondarchuk hasn't
surfaced since!
Colombo, John Robert. FRIENDLY ALIENS. Hounslow, Toronto, 1981.
A collection of SF, fantasy and horror stories set in Canada. Authors
include Derleth, Lovecraft, Merritt and Jack London. The constant
theme: aliens!
Panati, Charles. THE GELLER PAPERS. Houghton, Boston, 1976.
We've all heard the debates and read about the lawsuits. Is he or isn't
he? This book is a collection of "pro" views on Geller's powers,
written by scientists, magicians and psychics.
Siegel, Ronald. FIRE IN THE BRAIN. Dutton, NY, 1992.
(That's right, read the title again.) This is a book about clinical
research into hallucinations, written by a scientist who took drugs
and floated in tanks in an effort to experience the unkown
firsthand. He did - and he didn't. The book starts with his account of
floating in a tank, waiting to encounter extraterrestrials. An
important book for those studying abductees.
Barton, Winnifred. DREAM POWER. Psi Science, Ottawa, 1967.
A guide to understanding dreams, as "channelled" to the founder of the
Bartonian Metaphysical Society. A rare item I got because of its
Canadian connection.
Reidelbach, Maria. COMPLETELY MAD. Little, Brown, Toronto, 1991.
My Christmas present in 1993. Okay, so it's a history of MAD MAGAZINE.
But within its pages is a fascinating history of how censorship
flourished in America under the direction of powerful lobbyists.
Carlson, Diane & Geary, David. THE WONDER THAT IS PARIS and MY HOUSE.
Bureau of Cultural Propaganda Press, Saskatoon, 1987.
Geary is a very sick man. A very clever satirist and humourist, but
in need of serious medical attention. ;) He also sells UFO attractors
and space pollen from Saskatchewan crop circles. I'd like to meet him
and shake his hand some day.
Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. MOONSCAPES. Prentice-Hall, NY, 1991.
I didn't agree with her interpretation of the crop circles, but she is
a good writer about the paranormal. This book is a survey of folklore
and tradition about the Moon (my special interest).
Rukl, Antonin. HAMLYN ATLAS OF THE MOON. Hamlyn, London, 1990.
THE book for selenophobes like myself. Charts, data and much more about
Earth's "barren sister."
That's the bottom of the pile. Enough of a mix to confuse and baffle
most anybody, I'd say!
Zines
Here is a sampling of the zines received recently. I describe the
latest issue received, unless otherwise noted.
GEO-MONITOR, Vol.4, No.1 January 1994. I haven't received February's
yet, but it should be a doozie! The January issue had a review of
earthquake prediction, and good old Vince Migliore is probably sifting
through hordes of data and possible prediction claims for the next
issue.
65 Washington Street, Suite 400, Santa Clara, CA 95050
JUST CAUSE, No. 38, December 1993. Bary Greenwood devotes almost the
entire issue to EBOLs (Expanding Balls of Light) seen at sea. They are
reported basically as "a nuclear outburst but with none of the other
consequences." Weird stuff, and he's found classified military reports
of them. "Ground-based," "dome-shaped" "aurora?"
P.O. Box 218, Coventry, CT 06238
IUR (INTERNATIONAL UFO REPORTER), Vol.18, No.6, November/December 1993.
I continue to enjoy this zine. Although there are those who would
ignore it because of a perceived "pro-UFO" approach, it remains an
excellent source of information about UFO cases, particularly those
getting a lot of attention these days. A pair of issues recently
carried "pro" and "con" articles about Gulf Breeze, for example, a feat
unheard of in either SI or most popular ufozines. Other articles focus
on the Roswell crash/retrieval.
2457 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659
HUFON REPORT, Vol.3, No.12, December 1993. Not in the same class as
IUR, but a good try. Its lack of critical view towards such things as
crop circles suggests it's not as objective as it could be, but the
Houston group is at least doing *something* to keep interest alive.
P.O. Box 942, Bellaire, TX 77402-0942
THE CROP WATCHER, No.19, September/October 1993. What can I say? *The*
best circlezine around even without the high-quality, gee-whiz photos
of others of its ilk. I STILL disagree with Paul Fuller about the wind
vortices and Devereux's earth lights, but his sly commentary on all
things cerealogical and/or ufological makes it highly readable,
informative and entertaining. And skeptics/debunkers would do well to
read it, too! Now available online to those who care.
3 Selbourne Court, Tavistock Close, ROMSEY, Hampshire, SO51 7TY
SAUCER SMEAR, Vol.41, No.1, January 15th, 1994. If I had started
receiving this zine when I first got interested in the subject, I'd
have got out very quickly. Moseley digs out the real poop on every
prominent figure in ufology and debunking, and shows us their human
sides. Threatened to be sued by nearly everybody, he keeps on, for our
sake. The letters and flame wars alone are worth it.
P.O. Box 1709, Key West, FL 33041
CAMBRIDGE UFO RESEARCH GROUP NEWSLETTER, No.46, October, 1993. I don't
know how Bonnie Wheeler does it. A zine of at least 75 pages per issue,
chock full of new articles, reprints, ufological junk mail and great
cartoons. Something about working in a post office, I think ...
170 Strathcona Street, Cambridge, ON N3C 1R4
MUFON UFO JOURNAL, No.308, December 1993. Whenever people ask me about
a UFO group to join, I send them right to MUFON. I may not agree with
what some of the authors have to say, but they probably wouldn't agree
with me, either! Dennis Stacy puts together a mixture of hard science
and speculative writing that sometimes defies categorization. My
enjoyment of the JOURNAL is countered almost completely by their never
asking me to speak at their annual symposia. Whenever I'm told that
"scientists" are never interested in UFOs, I simply hold up a JOURNAL
back cover and point out the endless supply of new PhD advisors.
103 Oldtowne Road, Seguin, TX 78155-4099
NORTHERN UFO NEWS, No. 163, Winter 1993. Jenny Randles continues to
edit this classic British zine which includes book reviews, case
reports and commentary on everything from circles to abductions. She
never shirks from giving her own views on the British scene and takes
some well-aimed pot shots at other groups. She and I actually
started a zine exchange back in the 1970s, but she told me she couldn't
remember receiving any SGJs back then. Perhaps the aliens removed her
memory of that.
37 Heathbank Road, Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire SK3 0UP
INTERNATIONAL UFO LIBRARY MAGAZINE, Dec/Jan. 1993. They couldn't even
get the date right on the front cover. If you ever wondered what
happened to the glossy UFO schmags of the 70s, they're baa-ack! Great
art, fine colour drawings, hilarious ads ("Sitting at the right Hand of
the Father, we wait for the Mothership! The Truth! How much more can
you take?"), Pleiadian paraphernalia and incredibly silly and naive
articles. But - it's what sells these days.
P.O. Box 461116 Escondido, CA 92046-9892
THE ARIZONA SKEPTIC, Vol.6, No.5, March/April 1993. I'm not sure why I
haven't received any more after this issue. I think it's a fine
debunking work, and it covers everything from UFOs to astrology and
more. It's also available online to those on the net, though I don't
know the ftp site for it and it's not on gopher as far as I am aware.
P.O. Box 62792, Phoenix, AZ 85082-2792
SKEPTICS UFO NEWSLETTER, No.21, May 1993. I get this one irregularly,
usually through Arcturus. Phil Klass is in fine form, shooting down
classic UFO cases and has fun doing it. In this issue he went after
Travis Walton and also the whole abduction scene, finding lots of
deserving targets for his criticism. If only he'd stick with only one
font per page AND stop USING that ANNOYING intermittent CAPITALIZATION!
404 "N" Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
UFO NEWSFILE, No.13, April 1993. BUFORA's version of Lou Farish's
clipping service. They should copy on both sides of the page to cram
more in, but still worthwhile. If you don't get one, get the other.
16 Southway, Burgess Hill, Sussex, RH15 9ST
DELVE REPORT, December 1993. I was pleasantly surprised to find out
that Gene Duplantier was still at it, and publishing not one but two
fortzines (or is it three?). Similar to BUFORA's NEWSFILE, but with a
broader spectrum of topics.
17 Shetland Street, Willowdale, ON M2M 1X5
SAF BULLETIN, Vol.25, No.3/4 1993. Almost completely in Swedish, but
somehow, the newsclippings still make about as much sense as the
American or British versions. A major difference is that SAF also
includes case reports, interesting astronomy articles - and paid
advertisements!
Box 2238, S-171 02 SOLNA Sweden
UFO RIVISTA DI INFORMAZIONE UFOLOGICA, No.12, Luglio 1993. Completely
in Italian. A thicker academic European version of IUR or
MUFON JOURNAL. It looks more rational than sensational, and is
well-reproduced.
CP 82 - 10100 Torino ITALIA
THE CEREALOGIST, No.9, Summer 1993. Still the most detailed and
popular circlezine. Now, they're into shamanic studies and the decoding
of the agriglyphs. The "mystery" will live on forever.
11 Powis Gardens, London W11 1JG
BULLETIN OF ANOMALOUS EXPERIENCE, Vol.5, No.1, February 1994. As many
of you know, I don't subscribe to very many journals directly, and I
certainly haven't added any new ones to my list - until now. The first
issue I saw was enough to convince me that this is a very worthwhile
publication. Edited by Dr. David Gotlib, M.D., this ufozine looks and
feels like a professional medical review. Its contributors include
names like Hufford, Durant, Stacy, Evans, Basterfield and Boylan. It is
a truly scientific forum for UFO research, especially abduction
studies. TOO scientific for some to handle, I think, but it fills a
long-empty niche in ufology and Gotlib is to be commended.
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 607, Toronto, ON M4V 1L5
There are other one-of-a-kinds and one-shots that I have received, but
these were sitting in my "to be read" pile. I would like to thank every
one of the editors of these zines for their exchanges. I strongly
recommend that people interested in ufology and related subjects take a
look at all of these zines in order to gain a complete overview of what
is happening in the field. There are two sides to every issue, and a
wide range of ideas and approaches. Read them, them make up your own
minds. You're old enough to know better.
But THEY Know Everything
As further evidence of the use of the information superhighway in
ufology, I've been prodded to relate the story of my recent visit to
Ottawa. I've connected to the Ottawa FreeNet several times and read the
UFO SIG (Special Interest Group) messages there. It's much like FIDO in
content, with lots of questions from people interested in the
phenomenon, usually answered by people with limited background in the
subject. "Has anyone heard of a book by a guy named Ruppelt?" and "Are
UFOs propelled by antigravity?"
I've entered into correspondence with some of the FreeNet
people, and one person, Patrick Milloy, seems particularly interested
and willing to do some legwork in checking out sightings. I copied down
phone numbers of some others, and thought I could phone them if ever in
Ottawa. The opportunity arose sooner than I expected.
I coaxed Milloy to go to the NRC and take a look at the 1994
cases to date. While there, he noted that the 1993 cases still had not
been transferred to the National Archives. Since I needed the 1993
cases for the annual Canadian UFO Survey, I asked him to try and go
through them before they were removed. Unfortunately, he couldn't make
it before the deadline, so it looked like we'd have to wait until the
cases showed up in Archives - in April or May, and at much more
expense.
But, having made a whole $300 from sales of my book, I wondered
if I could get a quick, cheap flight to Ottawa. I was pleasantly
surprised to find it was possible, and booked it immediately. Denise
Cardinal (bless her soul!) promised the files would still be at
Herzberg waiting for me, and that I could view them before they were
sent away.
I arrived around midnight on Feb. 17, and was met by my
faithful sidekick George Kriger, a longtime friend and occasional
UFOROM associate. The next morning at the crack of dawn, we went to the
NRC. We met Denise and quickly went to work on the 1993 and 1994
reports. It took an entire day to read through the hundreds of pages of
documents, copying down the data needed for the analyses. We celebrated
our hard work by going to sleep by 8 PM. Ufologists are not always
party animals, you know.
My flight out wasn't for another few days, so I had time to
check out bookstores and various other attractions in the Nation's
Capital. There was a one-man band in the Market, and some good deals in
the Glebe, as usual. The line-up for beaver-tails was too long, so we
just opted for some fast food.
While at the NRC, I was shown a copy of an article from the
Ottawa Citizen, from just before the Guardian video had been originally
aired. In the article, a local hot-air balloonist had claimed that the
video might have been of his own balloon during a night flight, since
he flies with a strobe and light sticks. It sounded like a reasonable
possibility, and I thought I'd check into it if I had a chance.
I tried tracking down some Ottawa contacts Saturday night.
Milloy was out of town. Winnifred Barton (founder of the Bartonian
Metaphysical Society) was not listed and no one knew if she was around.
I couldn't find a listing for Arthur Bray (the document master). I
tried tracking down the balloonist, with no success, though a rival
balloonist told me that the strobes on balloons didn't match the one in
the Guardian video, confirming my own recollection of the last time I
saw such lights on night flights.
I gave up my quest and sat down to read a book I had brought
with me. Just before leaving Winnipeg, I received an order from Bob
Girard of Arcturus Books (Buy everything from them! Shameless plug:
1443 S.E. Port St. Lucie Blvd., Port St. Lucie, FL 34952). It included
the infamous CLOSE EXTRATERRESTRIAL ENCOUNTERS by Richard and Lee
Boylan, a tome I had read so much about on the Net, including many,
many flames. I was skimming through it when I found a listing in the
back of North American abductee (sorry, "experiencer") researchers. For
Canada, only two names were noted: David Gotlib, whom I respect for his
BULLETIN OF ANOMALOUS EXPERIENCES (q.v.), and another name, Howard
Schacter of Nepean, ON.
This seemed the perfect opportunity to meet Schachter, so I
called him. We had a great chat on the phone, and had started to settle
on a time when we could alter our schedules to meet when he mentioned
CSETI, Steven Greer's UFO group.
"I don't really believe his stuff," I said, with room for one
more shoe.
"I'm on CSETI's executive council. I was with Greer during the
contacts," Schachter replied.
I think I managed to dig myself out of that one by the end of
our conversation. Much of what he said made sense, I admit. He made the
distinction of "proactive" versus "reactive" ufology. The latter is
what most ufologists do: investigate cases after they are reported. The
former involves going to an area where UFOs are being reported, and
wait to see if any come by. The idea isn't particularly new; Project
Starlight International ran in the 1970's, Project Hessdalen is more
recent, and UFO buffs' skywayches are frequent along Lake Ontario,
Gulf Breeze and near Groom Lake. Grant Cameron and his assistants
stalked Charlie Redstar every night for months in 1975 and 1976,
experiencing dozens of close encounters.
CSETI goes a little bit farther, and that is what gets many
people rankled and leery. They claim communication with the aliens via
strong flashlights and less traditional methods such as telepathy. The
CSETI group is denounced by other groups, and this can be viewed as
a kind of "jealousy" in some ways. How serious is the
rift between CSETI and "mainstream ufology?" Viz: (from the Net)
========================================================================
From alt.paranet.ufo Thu Apr 15 09:28:58 1993
>> I was recently asking the phone number to C.S.E.T.I. which is
>> - to my understanding - one of the UFO reserach organizations
>> in the US. I got no replies.
> C.S.E.T.I. is NOT, repeat NOT, a UFO research organization.
CSETI is an altogether different thing - a group started by Steven Greer,
and M.D. from Asheville, NC. He and his cohorts insist that "Aliens are
strictly benevolent." They go to likely sites, such as Gulfbreeze, Florida
and amongst the crop circles in southern England, and try to _telepathically_
contact the aliens. With the object, apparently, of inviting them to land.
Greer has been criticized by ex-members of his group for the way he
handles the money that comes in, and for his latest fund-raising effort,
in which he "requests" a thousand bucks from each of his followers to
pay for "research."
Greer and the CSETI people claim to have videotapes that show conclusive
evidence of UFOs responding to their telepathic messages. However, so far
as I am aware, they have not released any photos or videos that would
prove their claims.
Michael Corbin described and commented on this group recently -- either
here or a.a.v. -- very succinctly. To wit: they are not by any stretch
to be considered as a legitimate UFO research group.
(end quote)
========================================================================
At any rate, Schachter agreed to meet with me to explain CSETI's
position a bit better. So, on 21 February, George and I visited him at
his office in the basement of his house.
I asked him if I could be blunt with my questions, and he said
he'd be open to anything. So, I started by discussing our backgrounds,
then went right for the abduction stuff. I asked if he had any trouble
with criticisms of his objectivity in treating abductees
("experiencers") given that he believes aliens are definitely involved.
He was almost surprised. "No," he said. "They're definitely
here."
He told me that a "select" group of "scientists" definitely
have physical evidence of alien intervention, including tissue samples
from EBEs, pieces of crashed saucers and various photographic
evidence.
"Who?" I asked.
"I can't tell you."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Does Friedman know? Stringfield? Clark? Andrus?"
"They may or may not."
"Bullshit," said George.
And so it went. It seems that this secret group (which may or
may not be CSETI) is keeping this information from the public "until
the right time."
"When?" George asked.
"Soon."
"How soon?"
"Sooner than you think."
"Today?"
"No."
etc.
Howard showed us a CSETI video which included the Gulf Breeze
video and the Guardian video.
"If you don't believe already then these videos won't convince
you," Howard told us.
The Gulf Breeze video was supposedly one of four views from
separate cameras. Two of the views were copyrighted by others in the
group and could not be reproduced freely. The screen showed a
triangular formation of whitish lights which seemed to move in tandem
but changed perspective as if they were in fact on a large deltoid
object that was not illuminated. Accompanying the video was a running
commentary by people including Steven Greer who were saying things
like: "Oooh!" "Aaaaah!" and "Look how they're moving together!"
George thought they were lights on balloons. I didn't bother
asking about the tethered balloon theory.
The Guardian video was the one that has been seen on Fox
recently. If you want to believe it's an alien spaceship, that's your
right. But here's how it was discussed on the Net following its recent
airing:
=======================================================================
In ab961@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Robert Allison) writes:
>>Well, it *was* a scream, though for various other reasons. First of
>>all, the Guardian video is only a recent incident in a long history of
>>claims about the Ottawa area. I was one of the recipients of the
>>original Guardian "crash documents" back in the late 1980's, and
>>immediately recognized it as a silly fabrication. Since then, I
>>received more "official" documents from "The White Brotherhood" and the
>>Guardian, which claim that an "Inner Circle" of military/government
>>officials know "the truth" about alien contact and crashes in the West
>>Carleton region.
>I live in West Carleton Township, just west of Ottawa. There was
>a Guardian/UFO flap here for a few weeks some time ago - I assume
>that's what was on TV. The local weekly, the Carp Valley Press,
Wrong assumption. What was on TV was the alleged video of a landed
saucer from 1991. The original Carp "crash" dates back to about 1989.
The recent sightings in the area (1993) are another matter entirely. I
have gleaned several UFO reports in the region from the NRC files.
>>The reality is that Clive Nadin, an Ottawa researcher, went to the
>>alleged site of the crash, interviewed many witnesses and surveyed the
>>area. There was *absolutely no evidence* of any crash or close
>>encounters.
>All local reports that I read were of 'funny lights in the sky', plus
>(I think it was at about the same time) a 'chased by UFO following
>my car until I turned into my driveway - then the UFO was *gone*'
True. The recent cases were of "funny lights" but the original stories
are of much more involved incidents.
>>While the docs are undoubtedly fakes, the forger (perpetrator) likely
>>lives in the Ottawa area. Evidence for this is the detail with which he
>>describes the activity around Carp. The *is* an underground military
>>base in the area, and there appears to be some flight training going
>>on, as evidenced by numerous sightings of helicopter and jet
>>overflights.
>The 'underground military base' is the Canadian Forces Station (CFS)
>Carp, aka the 'Diefenbunker'. It's a 4 story underground bomb shelter
>built in the '50s for the safety of the government of the day (Prime
>Minister John Diefenbaker (Tory), hence the nickname). There was a
>military staff of about 130, until Tuesday's federal budget closed
>CFS Carp (among others). It's only got offices, hotel-like rooms, and
>so on. It has never had any fighting capability.
>It's also never been secret - it's practically in the village of Carp
>with an enormous grassed berm over it that's covered with big antennae
>for communication. No only does everyone know where it is, and why,
>it's always been known. They may still (they used to) run public tours
>every now and again.
Absolutely. It's underground, all right, but not secret by any stretch
of the imagination. But some people are convinced that nefarious deeds
are being done there.
>>don't think it was a helicopter. Another possible explanation is a
>>hot-air balloon. In fact, a balloonist in the area has claimed in an
>>article in the Ottawa Citizen that he regularly does night flights in
>>the West Carleton with a strobe on his balloon and with fluorescent
>>light sticks arranged in various designs. Indeed, hot air ballooning is
>>popular in the region. However, another balloonist I spoke with says
>>the rate of the strobe was wrong for the types they use.
>Perhaps there's a night balloonist who overflies West Carleton. I've
>never seen it, or heard of anyone who lives here who has.
The article in the Citizen describes it in detail.
>>Yet another possibility is an obvious link with the rest of the video:
>>it starts with a fire in a field. It's very possible that the object is
>>a fire truck responding to a brush fire. Its structure is partly
>>illuminated on the underside, where the hose connections need to be
>>lighted. I've seen a fire response team in a field at night, and it
>>looks very similar to what's on the video.
>West Carleton is a large rural township. A field on fire would be (1)
>BIG news, much bigger than a mere UFO, (2) well reported in the local
>paper, and (3) a major topic of conversation (the long time locals
>(like 4-5 generations here) still talk about a major fire that took
>out farms and forests - over 100 years ago!) for a very long time. So
>while it might look like that in the (faked?) video, I think that is
>an unlikely explanation.
Not necessarily. Remember, there is no evidence the video was
*actually* filmed in West Carleton. The *only* connection is that
Oechsler's witness says she saw a "similar" object in 1991 in the area.
(end quote)
=======================================================================
So, suffice to say that there is a difference of opinion about the Carp
affair.
Schachter says he has no trouble "knowing" about the reality of
ETs and treating experiencers ("abductees"). He told us that he is more
concerned with healing his clients rather than deconstructing their
memories.
He told us that CSETI members in Ottawa have gone out to the
West Carleton region already and that they will return to the area to
"make contact" in 1994. My guess is that they will produce a video
similar to the Gulf Breeze tape. He denied, incidentally, that Greer's
followers have to pay thousands of dollars to join the contact
experiences. In fact, he invited George to accompany them this summer.
Now, there *have* been a string of UFO reports from the Carp
area, as well as a crop circle in 1993. The NRC files have a half-dozen
or so from the area for 1993, and there is a history of observed UFOs
in the region. One can easily conclude that the area is prime for UFO
spotters wanting to do some proactive ufology. It's unlikely, though,
that Carp is "Baby Groom." That's Suffield. (But I won't elaborate on
that right now. Besides, THEY KNOW.)
Letters ...
I know I was supposed to make this issue an all-letter issue, but
there's just too much happening to allow that. In addition, since I
only manage a SGJ twice a year or so, the number of letters I get is
far too big for a single issue - or ten.
I could mention, for example, that the 1993 Candian UFO Survey
is in the works (and would be finished by now if certain ufologists had
submitted their data!) and Paul Ferrughelli will be swapping data with
me in a brazen attempt to initiate ufological NAFTA.
Or how about this:
>>Dear Sir,
I'm an interested young person who would like more information
on UFO documents released by the Canadian Gov't. Although young,
I'm still interested. I'm only 14. I live in the United States,
here in California. Our gov't seems to hide things from us, but
I didn't know that the Canadian Gov't didn't hide things from
you, the Canadians. I'm just fascinated by this subject of UFO's
or IFO's should I say quoted in your last text file. Thank You.
>> CJ
This one is about average in terms of the typical letters I receive
each day. Grant Cameron has a good comeback and answer to letters which
ask simply: "Please send me everything you have about UFOs." He writes
back: "Certainly. How many filing cabinets would you like?"
IHF: Marcus Matthews of Wiltshire, who is writing a book on "Big
Cats Loose in Britain" and wanted to know if I had any background info
in NA reports; John Robert Colombo, who accepted my contributions to
his new book SHAPELY PLACES; Alexander Matlac of Romania, who wanted
"what informations you could send"; high-school student Matthew Astier
found my name in Timothy Good's book and also wanted wads of general
info; ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS PRODUCTIONS LTD of London are researching a
film on "Alien Phenomena" and wanted the names and phone numbers of UFO
witnesses; Dave Geary of Saskatoon sent me copies of his
SASKATCHETOONS, full of Fortean silliness; various correspondence from
Maureen Ferraro of CBC Regina in preparation for my appearance on WHAT
ON EARTH?; Andrew Hochheimer of Wallaceburg, ON, is compiling a book on
the Philadelphia Experiment and wanted to know what I knew about it;
sweetheart Pamela Thompson of L.A. who (among other things) sent me
reports on how her city is coping with the aftereffects of the quake,
and still would rather live there than Philadelphia!; archskeptic
Robert Young of Harrisburg, PA, who sent me his analysis of the
Kecksburg UFO crash - and still insists that the Carman UFO film was
spliced despite evidence to the contrary; Pascal Vescio of Etobicoke
wanted to know everything, too; same for a convict who sent me a note
from insisde Fort Leavenworth; Paul Fuller of Hampshire is the editor
of THE CROP WATCHER and is one of the few vociferous cerealogy
skeptics, and thanked me for uploading CW16-19 into the Internet ...
Paul's a supporter of Paul Devereux (of whose work I've expressed
concern) but concedes: "OK, I accept that he has some way to go
to demonstrate his basic earthlights mechanisms - and of course he's
changed his mind several times - but I'd be astonished if there was
nothing at all in what he is saying." (Me, too!); Paul sent me another
letter to accompany his disk with CROP WATCHER 19 and a draft version
of 20 (which I will not publish) - Paul's comments on John MacNish's
new book CROP CIRCLE APOCALYPSE are interesting with regard to my
conversation with a CSETI executive: MacNish and two other colleagues
claim they "sent up lighted helium balloons to fool the CSETI team at
Alton Barnes during 1992." Apparently, some farmers knowingly employed
hoaxers to "guard" their fields. He says he "wouldn't bet a penny on
these formations being 'genuine' - I'm not even sure I believe there IS
a 'genuine' crop circle anymore!" As if Schnabel's first tell-all book
wasn't enough, MacNish's blows cerealogy to pieces. I've seen copies of
some pages, and it really makes cerealogists look bad - REALLY bad. And
Schnabel's second book DARK WHITE is out with rave reviews of its
destruction of ufology's sacred cows, too!; Paul Cuttle of
Toronto, purveyor of excellent clippings, sent me an article from what
looks like the old FLYING SAUCERS magazine, from sometime in the 60's,
which discusses a saucer convention in New York (Thx, Paul! Tell me
more about your casting! I photograph well!); a fax from Christian
Page, who tells me he's doing all right, considering ... (thanks for
the UFO cases, Christian; if only more ufologists were like you!);
a letter from Janet Bord of the Fortean Picture Library, commenting on
my book which has apparently made it overseas.
Hot News! Swedish Government Funding UFO Research!
Yes, it's true. The latest AFU Newsletter arrived in the mail,
with its usual excellent articles plus some fascinating information
about its new archives. For those who don't know, AFU (Archives for UFO
Research) is a non-profit private foundation that has three goals: 1)
to build a Swedish and international UFO library and research archive;
2) to support and encourage serious UFO research; and 3) stimulate
critical and scientific discussion on UFOs.
AFU has a neat, impressive library now with over 1000 square
feet of material. It is funded by 25 ufologists and several corporate
sponsors (!) who contribute "between 50 and 400 SEK each month." The
archive contains desks with computers, microfilm readers and other
office emenities, plus a small staff. It received a grant from the
Swedish National Archives to pay for some research projects.
In many cities, including mine, there is some talk of
government make-work projects for welfare recipients. In Sweden, there
is "ALU." AFU's Anders Liljegran explains:
"ALU is a new Swedish government scheme intended to keep
unemployment rates (and social problems) down. ALU means that
out-of-work people are offered works on projects that could not
normally be financed, often work of a more idealistic nature.
Organizations that arrange ALU work do not have to pay any salary to
those employed. Salary, during the six-month ALU work period, is paid
for by the government. "ALU people" are now searching for lost wrecks
along the Swedish coast, cataloguing old and dangerous mine holes in
the terrain and - doing UFO research!"
Liljegran notes that as of January 1994, four people have
completed ALU UFO projects and others are working now or will start
soon. Some are cataloguing UFO press clippings, coding and adding 600
cases into their SCANCAT UFO computer database, transcribing tapes of
UFO witness interviews and computerizing an index for their library.
In a word, I'm jealous.
I'm maintaining the MANUFOCAT database myself, indexing the
UFOROM library, compiling the NAICCR and Canadian UFO Survey each year
as well as contributing articles to books and zines and investigating
new cases. I could use some competent help.
Maybe I'll move to Sweden.
BOO!
>> yyyyyyyy
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This was appended as a .sig from some email from: Patrick Milloy,
ad469@freenet.carleton.ca, a UFO SIG lurker.
Harvard Medical School and UFOs
Speaking of UFO abductions, I should mention that the
March/April issue of PSYCHOLOGY TODAY has a major article about John
Mack, the guru of the field. Mack is a respected researcher who won a
Pultizer Prize for his psychological study of T.E. Lawrence. Some
believe his reputation is all but destroyed with the publication of his
book on abductee research. The article by Jill Neimark doesn't help. It
implies Mack has been taken in by people like Budd Hopkins and is now
guillible enough to accept things such as some abductees' claims that
their underwear was switched while they were on board the saucers. In
the article, Mack dismisses his critics and suggests that witnesses'
incredible experiences and memories "are experimentally true but they
didn't factually happen in this reality." Profound, groundbreaking
science - or bafflegab? You be the judge.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Swamp Gas Journal is copyright (c) 1994 by Chris A. Rutkowski.
Mail correspondence to: Box 1918, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 3R2
Email correspondence to: rutkows@ccu.umanitoba.ca
The Swamp Gas Journal, UFOROM and NAICCR are not affiliated with the
University of Manitoba, and don't represent its ideas, opinions, etc.
(Standard disclaimer)