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Info-ParaNet Newsletters Volume 1 Number 247
Info-ParaNet Newsletters, Number 247
Tuesday, June 19th 1990
Today's Topics:
Science vs 'Non-Science'
ParaNet Survey
An Open Letter to Mr. Ed
Ed Walters/Gulf Breeze
Re: Triangular UFO?
Re: GB Video
Gulf Breeze Hoax?
ParaNet Survey Part 2
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From: Gene Gross <gross@dg-rtp.dg.com>
Subject: Science vs 'Non-Science'
Date: 15 Jun 90 18:29:40 GMT
I've been going through some of my old paperbacks. I origianlly thought
I'd get rid of some--and later replace them with new books. 8-) But I
keep finding sound reasons for keeping them.
In one of them, 'Black Holes' by John G. Taylor, professor of
mathematics at Kings College, University of London, I found something
interesting. I will quote from this book but understand that I have not
obtained permission from the author. I do this solely to provoke some
discussion and debate. The credit and copyright belong to Mr. Taylor.
'Mankind has, ever since he began to think, worshipped that which he
cannot understand. As millennia have passed he has understood an
ever-increasing amount about the world around him. He has even hoped,
in his most optimistic moments, to comprehand it all. Yet man is now in
the position of facing the ultimate unknowable, which can never be
penetrated as long as he remains in his present physical form. That
ultimate unknowable is the black hole. However hard he may struggle he
will never be able to get out of this most fearsome object of the
heavens once inside it. Nor can he ever find out what is happening in
its interior if he stays outside, fearing to make the one-way trip.
'Man's woship of the mysterious in the past has always bred decay and
destruction. In the light of this, how are we to face up to the black
hole? Are we to worship it also from afar, or ahould we this time try
to comprehend it seriously?
'The constantly augmenting knowledge of the world has only been achieved
by centuries of dedicated work by men of science. [Sorry, Ladies, that
is the author's statement not mine--after all this book was written in
the late 60's and published in 1973.] Their efforts have been so
successful that man's way of life has been changed out of all
recognition by the technological application of their discoveries. From
cradle to the grave the results of science are used to provide an
artificial environment giving safety and comfort from the buffetings of
nature. It is as if man departs from his mother's womb to enter
straight into another one created by the scientists.
'Even before birth new drugs are used to help the foetus survive. Once
born and for the whole of his life medical discoveries allow him to drug
himself, have bad parts cut out of his body, or good ones transplanted
into it.
'His final demise can be long delayed. He may even spend his dying
years as a vegetable, his body being almost completely run by automatic
machinery keeping his blood circulating, his lungs still breathing, his
vital organs functioning correctly, and his bowels satisfactorily empty.
The equipment to run his life is powered by forms of energy only
recently discovered. Electricity, especially, has allowed him to turn
night into day and let him communicate across vast distances with others
of his own sort.
'When he has grown safely to adulthood he can wake up in the morning to
his heated or air-conditioned house, use the latest techniques to
prepare food for himself, [not to mention personal hygiene appliances
folks--Gene] drive off in his heated or air-conditioned car, and spend
the day in a glass and plastic office using electronic methods of
communication to spread the consumption of such advanced technology even
further over the earth's surface or advance it to ever more highly
developed forms. If he wishes he may travel at faster than the speed of
sound to any point on the globe, or even exceptionally be one of the
select few who have voyaged to the moon. And to cap it all he may, if
he really so desires, stay at home and change into a she!
'To obtain an ever faster increase in the rate of scientific advance man
is forcibly exposed in his earlier, more vulnerable years, to the
wonders of this scientifically contrived world to which he is heir.
Such universal education is regarded as his birthright and woe betide
the unwary who try to remove it, or deny it to certain sections of the
population. And indeed the headlong acceleration of scientific
discovery would be stopped dead in its tracks it there were not an
assured supply of the educated coming forward to offer their lives and
join the ranks of the high priests and practitioners of science.'
'All this, and so much more, has been done in the name of science and
technology. Yet in spite of these many-colored wonders of the world the
first item of news that the average person turns to in the newspaper is
not of the latest scientific discovery or natural disaster, or even of
the most recent political shenanigans. It is the astrology column. The
average man or woman wants to know what fate the stars have in store for
them. Even though there is absolutely no scientific basis for it,
astrology is gaining great support in the Western world; in the East it
has always had strong foundations. 'Palaces of Astrology' are opening
in the main cities of Western countries. Throughout the earth people
are increasingly looking to the stars for supernatural influences.
'This growing support for astrology is only one of many pointers to a
general disenchantment with science and all that it stands for. There
is greater interest everywhere in anti-scientific activities, as evinced
by the general hippy and drop-out culture of the last decade [remember
this was published in 1973--Gene], with its bizaare music, resort to
drugs and great interest in the literature of fantasy. A world
inhabited by Hobbits, with their dislike of machines more complicated
that a forge-bellows, a watermill or a hand-loom, and by Dwarves, Elves,
Wizards and terrible creatures of the dark has more appeal to many of
the younger generation than one in which the atoms wend their certain
way to unleash ever-greater power for man over his surroundings. If
Middle Earth was ever found on this earth by a lucky explorer it would
be deluged by the vast number of humans wishing to live there. There is
also the fascination of the world of towers and crags of Gormenghast,
full of its ritual and symbolism. Many would dearly love to be its
seventy-eighth lord.
[And here comes the reason that I posted all of this--Gene]
'Fantasy may even take so great a control that strange objects and
visitors from outer space are seen and, in extreme cases, communicated
with. Unidentified flying objects are still of great popular interest,
and it is felt by some that there is a conspiracy afoot among the
hard-headed establishment to smother reports on such contacts and bring
the world back to its senses. An alternative fantasy is the world
beyond the senses, of the 'psi' faculty--telepathy, telekinesis,
precognition and other powers of the mind. This activity merges into
witchcraft, which is still practiced by a surprisingly large number of
educated people in the world.
'Even greater numbers turn to orthodox religions of various sorts, all
of them appealing to supernatural authority of some form or other to
find meaning in life. As science has advanced it is to be expected that
religion would have retreated. But apparently, while that may have
occurred to a certain extent in the early stages of the Scientific
revolution, it no longer does at anything like the same rate. Religion
is even gaining popularity in some countries, surprisingly in the most
technologically advanced of all--America.'
----------------------============================-----------------------
I'll stop here. I think Taylor has said a lot in the text I've quoted.
I wonder how others feel about what he has said. He seems to take both
sides to task.
Thoughts and comments!?
Gene
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From: paranet!p0.f37.n114.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Clark.Matthews
Subject: ParaNet Survey
Date: 14 Jun 90 02:10:00 GMT
Well gang, here are my answers to the ParaNet UFO Survey. I gave
them a good deal of thought and even went to the books on a couple
of them.
# 1. Some flying saucers have tried to communicate with us.
Definitely True.
I should say here that my own thinking has been very heavily
influenced by the writings of Jacques Vallee: That is, I believe
that the ENTIRE MODERN RECORD of UFO sightings and related
phenomena is probably an exercise in communication. The things,
whatever they are, clearly are here to be noticed -- even though
they feign indifference to us. But why? Are they here to inform
us? Or misinform us? Are they spaceships? Timeships? Space-
timeships? Holograms? Dimensional voyagers? Angels? Demons?
Elves? Perhaps what they appear to be is simply what they want us
to THINK they actually are. But why? Beats me.
# 2. All UFO reports can be explained either as well understood
happenings or as hoaxes.
Definitely False.
# 3. The Air Force has done an adequate job of investigation of UFO
reports and UFOs generally.
Probably false.
The important distinction to be made here is whether the AIR FORCE
is investigating UFO reports and the UFO phenomenon -- adequately
or otherwise. What if it's the Navy? Or NSA? Personally I think
that the overall question of UFO phenomena, their influence on
human behavior, and their interference with our military and
government is beyond the competence of the Air Force. I think the
overall phenomenon is probably being handled secretly by an
oversight group.
# 4. No actual, physical evidence has ever been obtained from a UFO.
Definitely false.
# 5. A government agency maintains a Top Secret file of UFO reports
that are deliberately withheld from the public.
Definitely true.
The exhibits in the book "Clear Intent" prove this, I believe.
# 6. No airline pilots have seen UFOs.
Definitely false.
Many airline pilots -- not to mention military and private pilots
-- have come forward over the years at great personal risk to put
the lie to this contention. More disturbing is the pressure
brought on private carriers and the airline pilots' union to
discredit such witnesses.
# 7. Most people would not report seeing a UFO for fear of losing
a job.
Probably true.
To some degree I think most people try to maintain a degree of
credibility when it comes to their job. Most of the folks I work
with and know would think very carefully about bringing up this
subject with a client, a boss or a supervisor. Maybe I'm wrong,
but that's what I think. For fliers, air traffic controller, and
similar aviation and military personnel, the answer must be a
definite "yes".
# 8. No authentic photographs have ever been taken of UFOs.
Definitely false.
# 9. Persons who believe they have communicated with visitors from
outer space are mentally ill.
Possibly true.
I'll not gain many fans with this one. Maybe I've been through
Penn Station and Grand Central once too often -- many people live
in the halls and tunnels there, talking to spacemen. I don't deny
or demean Jacques Vallee's excellent interviews with many
contactees who are quite persuasive and, in some cases, can offer
corroborative evidence of their ongoing contacts ("Dr. X," for
instance). It's just that everyone I've met who makes these
claims is either certifiable or a power-hungry, greedy cult leader
or psychotherapist.
# 10. The Air Force was told to explain all UFO sightings reported to
them as natural or man-made happenings or events.
Definitely true.
The sad history of the Condon Committee make this answer obvious.
# 11. Earth has been visited at least once in its history by beings
from another world.
Definitely true.
Just don't ask me what or where that other world is.
# 12. The government should spend more money than it does now to study
what UFOs are and where they come from.
Definitely false.
Present expenditures on the UFO question are probably very large
indeed. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DISCLOSE THE BUDGET AND SPEND IT
PUBLICLY. As it is, government UFO studies, research and
security are unacknowledged, secret, powerful, sinister,
antidemocratic, uncontrolled, unscrutinized, dangerous to our
liberties and PROBABLY OBSCENELY EXPENSIVE.
Perhaps this is the real nub of the matter. UFOs don't seem to
be very dangerous (except perhaps to livestock...). But
questioning the UFO coverup can be hazardous to one's well-being,
career and health. Secrecy, coercion, lies, power for its own
sake -- these are the real dangers. And these are the dark,
permanent, amoral trappings of the Cult of National Security,
totally dedicated to preserving itself at all costs.
# 13. Intelligent forms of life cannot exist elsewhere in the universe.
Definitely false.
# 14. Flying saucers can be explained scientifically without any
important new discoveries.
Definitely false.
Probably 20% of all UFO reports remain unexplained by present
science. Even if they were ALL caused by natural phenomena, the
discovery of the cause(s) of so widespread and diverse a natural
phenomenon would have to rank as an important scientific
discovery.
# 15. Some UFOs have landed and left marks in the ground.
Definitely true.
It's almost a matter of routine. In fact, Vallee makes a good
case that these landings are deliberate, with the purpose of
attracting attention. Statistically, too many of them are
witnessed -- Vallee's numbers point to a total of over 20,000
landings a year! Far too many for routine exploration. And
people too often see patently silly "scientific" activities, like
10 little guys digging with shovels. Messengers of deception?
# 16. Most UFOs are due to secret defense projects, either ours or
another country's.
Probably false.
Even if our government and other governments are experimenting
with ultra-high-performance craft like these (or laser
projections), it wouldn't account for all of the sightings since
such experiments are usually confined to a few sites in isolated
areas. Also, this explanation still leaves us with the enormous
UFO waves of the past still unexplained.
# 17. UFOs are reported throughout the world.
Definitely true.
# 18. The government has done a good job of examining UFO reports.
Probably true.
Just don't try to get any answers from them.
# 19. There have never been any UFO sightings in the Soviet Union.
Definitely false.
The Soviets have had many UFO sightings, some of them quite
remarkable. Others have been quite disruptive. Although it
properly falls outside of the Soviet Union, the most disruptive
Soviet UFO wave I know of occurred during the combined Warsaw
Pact war games in East Prussia in the 1960s -- ALL
COMMUNICATIONS, COMMAND AND CONTROL systems were hopelessly
disrupted and the war games were a shambles. Also, electrical
interference with motor vehicles stopped most of their tanks,
APCs and jeeps. A Russian friend of mine was there, and he says
people in the USSR still talk about it.
# 20. People want to believe that life exists elsewhere than on Earth.
Definitely true.
# 21. There have been good radar reports of UFOs.
Definitely true.
# 22. There is no government secrecy about UFOs.
Definitely false.
# 23. People have seen space ships that have not come from this planet.
Probably true.
UFOs have been tracked into space, so they can properly be called
"space ships". But what evidence do we have that they are only
"space ships"? If they are actually dimensional phenomena -- or
if they are from a different time -- they may not really be
"space ships" at all! Dr. Vallee often says that he will be
disappointed if "all UFOs turn out to be" is space ships. I
share his opinion.
# 24. Some UFO reports have come from astronomers.
Definitely true.
But many UFO reports by astronomers have been suppressed, along
with physical evidence. That's how Jacques Vallee became
interested in this stuff -- he saw astronomers at a French
national observatory destroy tracking tapes that showed a UFO.
# 25. Even the most unusual UFO report could be explained by the laws
of science if we knew enough about science.
Definitely true.
Of course -- when science progresses to an understanding of the
workings of these things, we will be able to explain them, and
maybe even build our own!
# 26. People who do *not* believe in flying saucers must be stupid.
Definitely false.
On the contrary, skeptics and non-believers tend to be well
educated, scientifically trained professionals who most people
would believe and trust most of the time. Despite this fact,
opinion polls show consistently that MOST people believe UFOs
exist and that they're interplanetary spacecraft!
My point is this: The evidence is overwhelming that UFOs exist,
but we have no idea what they are or what they're really doing.
We need resist the urge to jump to conclusions. And we need the
critical thinking of the skeptics rather badly, because this is
not the sort of subject where we should be "checking out brains
at the door," as many credulous people are all-too-willing to do.
# 27. UFO reports have not been taken seriously by any government
agency.
Definitely false.
The government is so interested in this stuff it's scary. See
Question #12.
# 28. Government secrecy about UFOs is an idea made up by newspapers.
Definitely false.
# 29. Science has established that there are such things as
"Unidentified Flying Objects."
Probably true.
The reason for my hesitation here is that it's difficult to speak
for "science". Physical science creates and uses physical laws,
which in turn have quantified the UFO phenomenon. For instance,
science recognizes the efficacy, accuracy and limitations of
radar and other microwave technologies -- yet "science" has
difficulty with radar blips that zip off into space at 7,000
miles per hour. Science gives us known laws to extrapolate the
power required to produce light. But when you apply those laws
to a maneuvering, controlled object half a mile up that created
light so intense that it tripped photosensors and turned off
streetlights -- a power output in light alone corresponding to
.75 - 1.0 Megawatt -- "science" doesn't believe you. "Science"
being individual scientists, of course.
# 30. Abduction reports are the result of hallucinations.
Probably false.
This is a tough one. I almost wrote "probably true". On the
strength of a few cases, particularly Travis Walton and the Hill
case, I think some of these reports are physically real. But the
MECHANISM of abductions may be telepathic, or hallucinatory.
Pascagoula, for instance -- where observers didn't see anything
unusual as the abduction was supposedly going on. And let's not
forget delusion -- it probably plays a big part in the abduction
phenomenon. But there's simply no way to know...
# 31 Finally, what do you believe UFOs to be?
I think they're some kind of conditioning mechanism to shape
human attitudes, behavior and values. They're very hard to
ignore in their present guise and they make people want to
believe in aliens (good and bad) and see the earth as a planet
that needs protecting and conservatorship. I have to assume that
is precisely what UFOs want, since that's what they're getting
these days.
I have no idea of what they are, where they come from, who sends
them, what pilots them, how they work, why they're interested in
us, or why they act like they're not interested in us. I don't
know if they're spaceships, timeships, dimenships, or holographic
stage magic. I don't know if they're operated by aliens, future
humans, past humans, highly evolved dinosaurs, angels, demons,
elves, sylphs, trolls, Elementals, or the Immortal Gods of Olde.
I believe that they are unidentified, for obvious reasons.
I believe that they fly, because that's what I saw one do 24
years ago.
I believe that they're objects, because they squash plants when
they land on them.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Clark Matthews
P.O. Box 3934
Jersey City, NJ 07302
--
Clark Matthews - via FidoNet node 1:30163/0
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Clark.Matthews@p0.f37.n114.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: paranet!p1.f134.n109.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Steve.Rose
Subject: An Open Letter to Mr. Ed
Date: 13 Jun 90 22:48:49 GMT
In a message to All <12 Jun 90 00:45:00> Jim Speiser wrote:
JS> AN OPEN LETTER TO ED WALTERS
JS> point home. You have the opportunity now, with the upcoming MUFON
JS> conference, to come clean, to yell "gotcha," and when you're
JS> finished reveling in your victory, tell us the why of it, the how of
JS> it, and what you think the end result of it all is.
Oh come on! Do we scold the people around Lockness because they prepetuate
the monster myth? Tourism! Tourism! ;-)
--
Steve Rose - via FidoNet node 1:30163/0
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Steve.Rose@p1.f134.n109.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: paranet!f26.n123.z1.FIDONET.ORG!John.Komar
Subject: Ed Walters/Gulf Breeze
Date: 14 Jun 90 01:42:00 GMT
In view of the controversy surrounding the finding of a styrofoam
saucer-shaped article in the attic of Ed Walters' former house, following is
the official position of MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) as pertains to the Case
of UFO Sightings in and around Gulf Breeze, Florida, and the investigation
performed by MUFON and it's findings:
"MUFON (The Mutual UFO Network), based on evidence available throughout the
investigation, analysis of scientific data, the creditability of hundreds of
witnesses involved, the extremely high creditability of the investigators
and researchers involved, MUFON stands behind Mr. Ed Walters and his family
One Hundred Percent."
Regards, John Komar
State Director/Tennessee MUFON
--
John Komar - via FidoNet node 1:30163/0
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: John.Komar@f26.n123.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: paranet!f24.n30163.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Jerry.Woody
Subject: Re: Triangular UFO?
Date: 14 Jun 90 01:59:00 GMT
In a message to Jerry Woody <06-12-90 00:34> John Hicks wrote:
JH]> That sounds suspiciously like the Hudson Valley UFO, and
JH]>to some extent similar to UFOs seen over Belgium recently.
Hmmm.... I have a couple of files online I think that deals with the Hudson
Valley UFO and have browsed a couple of books pertaining to it, but never
really paid much attention to it. As I recall one of the sightings was that
of a bright ball of light over a lake... but that be another case.
JH]> No known aircraft would have 10 bright lights on its
JH]>under side, or the other lights. You'd expect red, green
JH]>and maybe a couple of white strobes.
True, I was out looking for the triangular UFO the other night. Didn't see
it but did see a large cargo plane fly over with 1 blue light and 1 red
light on the wings as well as a small white light on back. Very
distinguishable from the triangular ufo.
Jerry
--
Jerry Woody - via FidoNet node 1:30163/0
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Jerry.Woody@f24.n30163.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: paranet!f29.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG!John.Hicks
Subject: Re: GB Video
Date: 13 Jun 90 18:26:00 GMT
> Do you know of any polygraph tests done on them (forget
> their names)?
Ed has passed three polygraph tests done in a six-hour period by an
admittedly very skeptical examiner.
jbh
--
John Hicks - via FidoNet node 1:30163/0
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: John.Hicks@f29.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: paranet!f725.n209.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Tim.Hamewka
Subject: Gulf Breeze Hoax?
Date: 14 Jun 90 07:33:41 GMT
>From what I've been reading lately, I assume that most experts are
in agreement that Gulf Breeze was a hoax, but I've only caught bits and
pieces of the controversy. Could someone lay out the facts for me,
1-2-3, why they believe Gulf Breeze to be a hoax. So far, all I've
heard about is a model that was supposedly found in the attic of Ed
Walters old house. Is there more?
--
Tim Hamewka - via FidoNet node 1:30163/0
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Tim.Hamewka@f725.n209.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: paranet!p0.f0.n1010.z9.FIDONET.ORG!Paul.Faeder
Subject: ParaNet Survey Part 2
Date: 15 Jun 90 04:01:47 GMT
In a message of <13 Jun 90 19:16:00>, Clark Matthews (1:114/37) writes:
> I think they're some kind of conditioning mechanism to shape
> human attitudes, behavior and values.
You mean that UFO's are to us as the monolith was in the 2001: A Space Odyssey
series? Always leading us somewhere but not allowing us to actually touch it.
Could we call this the "Carrot on a Stick" theory? :-)
Actually I don't mean to make the monolith - UFO connection *for* you; it was
something I was thinking about yesterday.
--
Paul Faeder - via FidoNet node 1:30163/0
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Paul.Faeder@p0.f0.n1010.z9.FIDONET.ORG
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