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Info-ParaNet Newsletters Volume 1 Number 586
Info-ParaNet Newsletters Volume I Number 586
Tuesday, August 25th 1992
(C) Copyright 1992 Paranet Information Service. All Rights Reserved.
Today's Topics:
NSA - Crypto 2/4
NSA - Crypto 3/4
NSA - Crypto 4/4
NAICCR Report on Recent UGMs
NAICCR List
Jim Speiser
Air&space article
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Don.Allen@p1.f81.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Don Allen)
Subject: NSA - Crypto 2/4
Date: 23 Aug 92 04:55:01 GMT
Further, NIST was required under Section 2 of the Computer
Security Act to develop standards and guidelines to "assure the
cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive information in
federal systems." However, the algorithm selected by NIST as the DSS
was purposely designed to minimize privacy protection: its use is
limited to message authentication. Other algorithms that were
considered by NIST included both the ability to authenticate messages
and the capability to incorporate privacy-enhancing features. Was
NSA's interest in communication surveillance one of the factors that
lead to the NIST decision to select an algorithm that was useful for
authentication, but not for communications privacy?
Most significantly, NIST also disclosed that 1,138 pages on the
DSS that were created by the NSA were in their files and were being
sent back to the NSA for processing. Note that only 142 pages of
material were identified as originating with NIST. In addition, it
appears that the patent for the DSS is filed in the name of an NSA
contractor.
The events surrounding the development of the Digital Signature
Standard warrant further Congressional investigation. When Congress
passed the Computer Security Act, it sought to return authority for
technical standard-setting to the civilian sector. It explicitly
rejected the proposition that NSA should have authority for developing
technical guidelines:
Since work on technical standards represents virtually
all of the research effort being done today, NSA would
take over virtually the entire computer standards job
from the [National Institute of Standards and
Technology]. By putting the NSA in charge of developing
technical security guidelines (software, hardware,
communications), [NIST] would be left with the
responsibility for only administrative and physical
security measures -- which have generally been done
years ago. [NIST], in effect, would on the surface be
given the responsibility for the computer standards
program with little to say about the most important part
of the program -- the technical guidelines developed by
NSA.
Government Operation Committee Report at 25-26, reprinted in 1988
U.S. Code Cong. and Admin. News at 3177-78. See also Science
Committee Report at 27, reprinted in 1988 U.S.C.A.N. 3142.
Despite the clear mandate of the Computer Security Act, NSA does,
indeed, appear to have assumed the lead role in the development of the
DSS. In a letter to MacWeek magazine last fall, NSA's Chief of
Information Policy acknowledged that the Agency "evaluated and
provided candidate algorithms including the one ultimately selected by
NIST." Letter from Michael S. Conn to Mitch Ratcliffe, Oct. 31, 1991.
By its own admission, NSA not only urged the adoption of the DSS -- it
actually "provided" the standard to NIST.
The development of the DSS is the first real test of the
effectiveness of the Computer Security Act. If, as appears to be the
case, NSA was able to develop the standard without regard to
recommendations of NIST, then the intent of the Act has clearly been
undermined.
Congress' intent that the standard-setting process be open to
public scrutiny has also been frustrated. Given the role of NSA in
developing the DSS, and NIST's refusal to open the process to
meaningful public scrutiny, the public's ability to monitor the
effectiveness of the Computer Security Act has been called into
question.
On a related point, we should note that the National Security
Agency also exercised its influence in the development of an important
standard for the digital cellular standards committee. NSA's
influence was clear in two areas. First, the NSA ensured that the
privacy features of the proposed standard would be kept secret. This
effectively prevents public review of the standard and is contrary to
principles of scientific research. The NSA was also responsible for
promoting the development of a standard that is less robust than other
standards that might have been selected. This is particularly
problematic as our country becomes increasingly dependent on cellular
telephone services for routine business and personal communication.
Considering the recent experience with the DSS and the digital
cellular standard, we can anticipate that future NSA involvement in
the technical standards field will produce two results: (1) diminished
privacy protection for users of new communications technologies, and
(2) restrictions on public access to information about the selection
of technical standards. The first result will have severe
consequences for the security of our advanced communications
infrastructure. The second result will restrict our ability to
recognize this problem.
However, these problems were anticipated when Congress first
considered the possible impact of President Reagan's National Security
Decision Directive on computer security authority, and chose to
develop legislation to promote privacy and security and to reverse
efforts to limit public accountability.
** Cont in NSA - Crypto part 3 **
Don
--
Don Allen - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Don.Allen@p1.f81.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: Don.Allen@p1.f81.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Don Allen)
Subject: NSA - Crypto 3/4
Date: 23 Aug 92 04:57:02 GMT
National Security Directive 42
Congressional enactment of the Computer Security Act was a
response to President Reagan's issuance of National Security Decision
Directive ("NSDD") 145 in September 1984. It was intended to reverse
an executive policy that enlarged classification authority and
permitted the intelligence community broad say over the development of
technical security standards for unclassified government and
non-government computer systems and networks. As noted in the
committee report, the original NSDD 145 gave the intelligence
community new authority to set technical standards in the private
sector:
[u]nder this directive, the Department of Defense (DOD)
was given broad new powers to issue policies and
standards for the safeguarding of not only classified
information, but also other information in the civilian
agencies and private sector which DOD believed should be
protected. The National Security Agency (NSA), whose
primary mission is one of monitoring foreign
communications, was given the responsibility of
managing this program on a day-to-day basis.
H. Rep. No. 153 (Part 2), 100th Cong., 1st Sess. 6 (1987). The
legislation was specifically intended to override the Presidential
directive and to "greatly restrict these types of activities by the
military intelligence agencies ... while at the same time providing a
statutory mandate for a strong security program headed up by [NIST], a
civilian agency." Id. at 7.
President Bush issued National Security Directive ("NSD") 42 on
July 5, 1990. On July 10, 1990, Assistant Secretary of Defense Duane
P. Andrews testified before the House Subcommittee on Transportation,
Aviation, and Materials on the contents of the revised NSD. The
Assistant Secretary stated that the "the new policy is fully compliant
with the Computer Security Act of 1987 (and the Warner Amendment) and
clearly delineates the responsibilities within the Federal Government
for national security systems."
On August 27, 1990, CPSR wrote to the Directorate for Freedom of
Information of the Department of Defense and requested a copy of the
revised NSD, which had been described by an administration official at
the July hearing but had not actually been disclosed to the public.
CPSR subsequently sent a request to the National Security Council
seeking the same document. When both agencies failed to reply in a
timely fashion, CPSR filed suit seeking disclosure of the Directive.
CPSR v. NSC, et al., Civil Action No. 91-0013-TPJ (D.D.C.).
The Directive, which purports to rescind NSDD 145, was recently
disclosed as a result of this litigation CPSR initiated against the
National Security Council.
The text of the Directive raises several questions concerning the
Administration's compliance with the Computer Security Act:
1. The new NSD 42 grants NSA broad authority over "national
security systems." This phrase is not defined in the Computer
Security Act and raises questions given the expansive interpretation
of "national security" historically employed by the military and
intelligence agencies and the broad scope that such a term might have
when applied to computer systems within the federal government.
If national security now includes international economic
activity, as several witnesses at your hearings suggested, does NSD 42
now grant NSA computer security authority in the economic realm? Such
a result would clearly contravene congressional intent and eviscerate
the distinction between civilian and "national security" computer
systems.
More critically, the term "national security systems" is used
throughout the document to provide the Director of the National
Security Agency with broad new authority to set technical standards.
Section 7 of NSD 42 states that the Director of the NSA, as "National
Manager for National Security Telecommunications and Information
Systems Security," shall
* * *
c. Conduct, *approve*, or endorse research and
development of techniques and equipment to secure
national security systems.
d. Review and *approve* all standards, techniques,
systems, and equipment, related to the security of
national security systems.
* * *
h. Operate a central technical center to evaluate and
*certify* the security of national security
telecommunications and information systems.
** Cont in NSA - Crypto part 4 **
Don
--
Don Allen - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Don.Allen@p1.f81.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Don.Allen@p1.f81.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG (Don Allen)
Subject: NSA - Crypto 4/4
Date: 23 Aug 92 04:59:03 GMT
(Emphasis added)
Given the recent concern about the role of the National Security
Agency in the development of the Digital Signature Standard, it is our
belief that any standard-setting authority created by NSD 42 should
require the most careful public review.
2. NSD 42 appears to grant the NSA new authority for information
security. This is a new area for the agency; NSA's role has
historically been limited to communications security. Section 4 of
the directive provides as follows:
The National Security Council/Policy Coordinating
Committee (PCC) for National Security Telecommuni-
cations, chaired by the Department of Defense, under the
authority of National Security Directives 1 and 10,
assumed the responsibility for the National Security
Telecommunications NSDD 97 Steering Group. By
authority of this directive, the PCC for National Security
Telecommunications is renamed the PCC for National
Security Telecommunications and Information Systems,
and shall expand its authority to include the
responsibilities to protect the government's national
security telecommunications and information systems.
(Emphasis added).
Thus, by its own terms, NSD 42 "expands" DOD's authority to
include "information systems." What is the significance of this new
authority? Will it result in military control of systems previously
deemed to be civilian?
3. NSD 42 appears to consolidate NSTISSC (The National Security
Telecommunications and Information Systems Security Committee)
authority for both computer security policy and computer security
budget determinations.
According to section 7 of the revised directive, the National
Manager for NSTISSC shall:
j. Review and assess annually the national security
telecommunications systems security programs and
budgets of Executive department and agencies of the U.S.
Government, and recommend alternatives, where
appropriate, for the Executive Agent.
NTISSC has never been given budget review authority for federal
agencies. This is a power, in the executive branch, that properly
resides in the Office of Management and Budget. There is an
additional concern that Congress's ability to monitor the activities
of federal agencies may be significantly curtailed if this NTISSC, an
entity created by presidential directive, is permitted to review
agency budgets in the name of national security.
4. NSD 42 appears to weaken the oversight mechanism established
by the Computer Security Act. Under the Act, a Computer Systems
Security and Privacy Advisory Board was established to identify
emerging issues, to inform the Secretary of Commerce, and to report
findings to the Congressional Oversight Committees. Sec. 3, 15 U.S.C.
Sec. 278g-4(b).
However, according to NSD 42, NSTISSC is established "to consider
technical matters and develop operating policies, procedures,
guidelines, instructions, and standards as necessary to implement
provisions of this Directive." What is the impact of NSTISSC
authority under NSD 42 on the review authority of the Computer Systems
Security and Privacy Advisory Board created by the Computer Security
Act?
Conclusion
Five years after passage of the Computer Security Act, questions
remain about the extent of military involvement in civilian and
private sector computer security. The acknowledged role of the
National Security Agency in the development of the proposed Digital
Signature Standard appears to violate the congressional intent that
NIST, and not NSA, be responsible for developing security standards
for civilian agencies. The DSS experience suggests that one of the
costs of permitting technical standard setting by the Department of
Defense is a reduction in communications privacy for the public. The
recently released NSD 42 appears to expands DOD's security authority
in direct contravention of the intent of the Computer Security Act,
again raising questions as to the role of the military in the nation's
communications network.
There are also questions that should be pursued regarding the
National Security Agency's compliance with the Freedom of Information
Act. Given the NSA's increasing presence in the civilian computing
world, it is simply unacceptable that it should continue to hide its
activities behind a veil of secrecy. As an agency of the federal
government, the NSA remains accountable to the public for its
activities.
We commend you for opening a public discussion of these important
issues and look forward to additional hearings that might address the
questions we have raised.
Sincerely,
Marc Rotenberg, Director
CPSR Washington Office
** End of article **
Don
--
Don Allen - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Don.Allen@p1.f81.n363.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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From: ccu.UManitoba.CA!rutkows
Subject: NAICCR Report on Recent UGMs
Date: 24 Aug 92 21:50:52 GMT
From: Chris Rutkowski <rutkows@ccu.UManitoba.CA>
NAICCR (North American Institute for Crop Circle Research)
Report on Investigations of Crop Circles
in the Area of Strathclair, Manitoba
18 August 1992
Following media reports about several new crop circles in
western Manitoba, NAICCR representatives travelled to the area
for onsite investigations.
Five crop formations were discovered, one of which was
easily explained as lodging. Of the other four, three were in
the shape of the symbol for Mars: a circle with an attached arrow.
Two were alongside a major highway, while the others were
next to less-travelled farm roads. The two near the major
highway were apparently made on the night of 14-15 August 1992.
Rumours of the circles spread through the community, and
many people went to see the formations. By Monday, 17 August
1992, an estimated 200 people had visited the sites. News media
mentioned the sites in newscasts on 17-18 August, but the
formations did not attract the wide publicity that other, less
impressive and explainable formations had garnered a month
earlier. NAICCR investigators were able to visit the sites on 18
August 1992, after a four-hour excursion from Winnipeg.
Wheat and soil samples were taken from all sites. Mapping
was done, though, because of excessive trampling of the
formations, measurement errors of about six inches were possible.
Compasses were employed, but no magnetic anomalies were detected.
Both VHF and AM/FM radios were tested, but no interference was
detected. Tape recordings taken at the sites were unaffected.
No unusual sounds were heard, and no unusual 'feelings' were
sensed. Insects were present in normal quantities at the sites.
According to residents, animals were not afraid to enter the
areas.
At one formation, two youths guarded the entrance and
brandished a sign reading: 'A Loonie a Look'; they charged a
dollar to anyone wanting to enter the site. [Note: 'loonie' is a slang
term for a Canadian dollar coin.]
At Strathclair No.4, two NAICCR investigators decided to try
an experiment in circle creation. They walked between the rows
of wheat into an unaffected area and began walking around in a
circle. After five minutes, they had produced a circle of
comparable size to Strathclair No.4. The new circle was swirled
and flattened, and examination of wheat stalks showed no breakage
whatsoever. The stalks were only gently bent at a height of
about one to two inches above the ground, and did not appear to
have been subjected to any force. The appearance of the new
circle was relatively 'messy', but after a few minutes of 'touch-
ups', it began to look more like the 'real' circle. Suggestions
were offered as to ways in which more even flattening could be
produced. Since Strathclair No.4 was created on the night of 14-
15 August 1992, only a few days after full Moon, it was proposed
that a hoaxer could easily have created the formation without any
flashlights and ducked down below the level of the five-foot-high
wheat when an occasional car passed by.
The hoax theory is complicated by a CE1 UFO
sighting over the field where the Ipswich formation was
discovered. One close witness and two other witnesses observed
an unusual object moving over the field and then fly away on the
night that that formation was likely created.
On the night of 14 August, a television program about crop
circles had been aired. Residents of the area had recalled
seeing the episode. However, at least two of the formations had
been discovered before the program was aired. It is not thought
that the television program had necessarily precipitated the later
formations.
Wheat samples will be given to several researchers for
testing. As some cerealogists have claimed that seeds from
plants inside circles grow faster/better than those from a
control sample, double-blind tests of this theory will be
performed. Further investigations are continuing.
Descriptions of the formations follow, along with a number of UFO
reports from the same time period.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Strathclair, Manitoba UGM 920801.1
Found: 1 August 1992
A circle of flattened wheat was discovered in a field southwest
of Strathclair. It was 28 feet in diameter. The wheat was
flattened and swirled in a counterclockwise direction. The
circle was approximately 40 feet from a municipal road.
Known as Strathclair No.1.
Reported to the media on 16 August 1992. NAICCR investigation
was on 18 August 1992. The site had been badly trampled by
visitors during the interim.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Strathclair, Manitoba UGM 920808.1
Found: 8 August 1992
A flattened area of wheat in the shape of the symbol for Mars was
discovered in a field southwest of Strathclair. The main
circle was 28 feet in diameter, with no detectable eccentricity.
The wheat was flattened and swirled in a counterclockwise
direction. The formation was approximately 40 feet from a
municipal road, directly opposite a circle which had been
discovered a week earlier.
In the arrow, the wheat was flattened away from the circle,
following the lines of the arrow. The arrow pointed away from
the circle on a bearing of 260 degrees. The arrow was 18.5 feet in
length, with left and right arms of 6 and 6.5 feet in length,
respectively. The width of the arrow was approximately 36
inches. The arrow pointed almost directly away from the road.
Known as Strathclair No.2.
Reported to the media on 16 August 1992. NAICCR investigation
was on 18 August 1992. The site had been badly trampled by
visitors during the interim.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Ipswich, Manitoba UGM 920815.1
Found: 15 August 1992
A flattened area of wheat in the shape of the symbol for Mars was
discovered in a field just east of Ipswich. The main area
was 26 feet in diameter along its major axis and 24.5 feet along
its minor axis. The wheat was flattened and swirled in a
counterclockwise direction.
In the arrow, the wheat was flattened away from the circle,
following the lines of the arrow. The arrow pointed away from
the main area on a bearing of 65 degrees. The arrow was 17.5 feet in
length, with left and right arms 7.5 and 11 feet in length,
respectively. The width of the arrow corridor was 28 inches.
The arrow pointed toward a farm road, its tip being only 36 feet
from the road.
Known as Ipswich.
Reported to the media on 16 August 1992. NAICCR investigation
was on 18 August 1992. The site had been badly trampled by
visitors during the interim.
A UFO had been seen at the site on 14 August 1992.
See: ND Case 920814.1 in UFOROM files.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Strathclair, Manitoba UGM 920815.1
Found: 15 August 1992
A flattened area was found in a wheat field near other crop
circle UGMs. It was roughly 20 feet in diameter. Wheat was laid
down in random clumps, and some sections had rebounded upright.
The area was visible from a nearby road. Examination suggested
the area was caused by lodging.
Known as Strathclair No.3
Reported to the media on 16 August 1992. NAICCR investigation
was on 18 August 1992. The site had been trampled by visitors
during the interim.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Strathclair, Manitoba UGM 920815.1
Found: 15 August 1992
A flattened area of wheat in the shape of the symbol for Mars was
discovered in a field southwest of Strathclair. The main
circle was 24 feet in diameter, with no detectable eccentricity.
The wheat was flattened and swirled in a counterclockwise
direction. The formation was approximately 100 feet from a
provincial highway.
In the arrow, the wheat was flattened away from the circle,
following the lines of the arrow. The arrow pointed away from
the circle on a bearing of 120 degrees. The arrow was 16 feet in
length, with left and right arms of 8.5 and 10 feet in length,
respectively. The width of the arrow was approximately 66
inches. The arrow pointed away from the road.
Known as Strathclair No.4
Reported to the media on 16 August 1992. NAICCR investigation
was on 18 August 1992. The site had been badly trampled by
visitors during the interim.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Brandon, Manitoba UGM 920817.1
Reported: 17 August 1992
A television station received an anonymous call that a crop
circle had been found on the property of the Brandon airport.
Investigations pending.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Miniota, Manitoba UGM 920799.1
July, 1992
It was reported that a crop circle was discovered in a field of
oats. The circle is perfectly round and 32 feet in diameter.
The oats are flattened and swirled in a clockwise direction. The
center of the circle is devoid of vegetation.
The circle was found 'in mid-summer'. It was reported to NAICCR
on 21 August 1992.
------------------------------------------------------------------
UFO Reports:
Ipswich, Manitoba ND Case 920814.1
14 August 1992
2115 local time
A woman was driving east from Shoal Lake to Strathclair when she
saw a pair of bright yellow lights over a field to her left. The
lights appeared to be about 50 to 100 feet above the ground. She
stopped her car to get a better look, and watched as the lights
moved in tandem, one above the other, progressing over the field
heading west. As it was not quite dark, she was sure that she
could see a dark object behind the lights, with another very
small flashing light at its 'tail'.
The witness' daughter and son-in-law were following in their own
car, and they also saw the object before it moved out of view
behind some trees. The object was visible for about two minutes
as it progressed slowly over the field. No noise was heard.
Reported to the media on 15 August 1992.
The next day, a crop circle UGM was discovered in the wheat field
over which the UFO had travelled. See NAICCR case 920815.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shoal Lake, Manitoba NL Case 920814.1
14 August 1992
2300 local
A witness reported seeing a brilliant green flash of light which
illuminated the countryside.
Source: Greg Nesbitt
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shoal Lake, Manitoba NL Case 920815.1
15 August 1992
2200 local
A witness reported seeing a brilliant green flash of light which
illuminated the countryside. It was visible for 'a few seconds'.
Source: RCMP, Shoal Lake Detachment
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Winnipeg, Manitoba NL Case 920826.1
26 August 1992
0535 local
A witness reported a bright green object, 'like an airplane going
to crash'. The object was rapidly moving from the west to the
east, but looked like it was 'going up'. The object had a 'long
tail'. It appeared to be over the Winnipeg airport. It was
visible for only a few seconds.
Source: Anonymous phone call from the witness to UFOROM.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
A full report on the incidents, with detailed drawings of the crop
formations, will be available in hard copy from NAICCR at a later date.
The full report will be published in a major UFO journal and cerealogy
journal. The Strathclair flap of UGMs and UFOs will be noted in the
annual NAICCR and UFOROM reports when published in 1993.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For further information, contact:
NAICCR (North American Institute for Crop Circle Research)
Box 1918
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3C 3R2
On INTERNET, e-mail can be addressed to:
rutkows@ccu.umanitoba.ca
=======================================================================
--
Chris Rutkowski - rutkows@ccu.umanitoba.ca
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
University of Manitoba - Winnipeg, Canada
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: ccu.UManitoba.CA!rutkows
Subject: NAICCR List
Date: 24 Aug 92 21:51:08 GMT
From: Chris Rutkowski <rutkows@ccu.UManitoba.CA>
1992 North American Crop Circles and/or UGMs
Reported to NAICCR as of 24 August 1992
920426 Jonesboro, Georgia
- a 'formation' of crop circles, 'exactly' like those found in
1991 in the same location, was discovered.
Source: Rosemary Ellen Guiley; Vance Tiede
9204?? , New Hampshire
- UGMs were found following a small local flap of UFO reports.
Source: Rosemary Ellen Guiley; Vance Tiede
920506 near Edmonton, Alberta
- a 'space cookie' UGM was discovered in a meadow. It is a
perfect circle, 6 metres in diameter. Its depth varies from 5 cm
to 31 cm. Grass is growing straight up both inside and outside
the circle. No tracks were found leading to the area. The UGM
is not a sinkhole.
Source: Gordon Kijek
920525 Limerick, Pennsylvania
- at least 12 'matted down' areas were found in a wheatfield north of
Philadelphia. Three were circles about five feet in diameter, arranged
in a triangle. One feature was 'T-shaped'. Soil samples taken by a UFO
investigator 'showed no irregularities'. Geiger counter readings were
also normal. Although a hoax was suspected by the UFO investigator,
the owner of the field believes that the UGMs were caused by lodging,
wind and fertilizer damage, and that 'It happens every year'.
Source: Steve Bernheisel on FIDONET; UFO Newsclipping Service #275
920627 Raeford, North Carolina
- a circle of flattened grass was found in a hay field following
a CE2 UFO sighting. A loud noise, 'like a freight train', was
heard, and two witnesses ran to look out their front door. A
object 'the size of a swimming pool', 'like orange windows lla
around it', was in a field about 300 feet away from their house.
When they went to call other witnesses, the object disappeared.
Source: Patrick Kirol on FIDONET
9206?? , Massachusetts
- a small area of flattened cattails was found in a marsh close
to a major highway and reported as a crop circle.
Source: Tom Randolph on DEC COM via INTERNET
920701 St. Adolphe, Manitoba
- nine 'horseshoe-shaped' patches of flattened grass were found
on either side of a brook in a Winnipeg suburb. Because of rece
storms and heavy rainfall, lodging was thought to be the cause
Source: Guy Westcott; NAICCR
920705 Hobbema, Alberta
- two ovals of flattened barley were found in a field after
unusual lights were observed descending to the ground. The
largest UGM has a major axis of 47 feet. The crop is pushed away
uniformly from the centers of the patches, but the centers are
'clumped', like breaking waves. Barley inside the circles is
'white', and devoid of colour. It was later suggested that the areas
were due to spilled seeds and fertilizer, combined with lodging.
Source: Gord Kijek
920715 St. Adolphe, Manitoba
- a field beside a highway was discovered to have numerous patches of
flattened crop, in irregular patterns. The formations were discovered
by the same person who found case 920701. Investigation by NAICCR and
interviews with the owner of the field established that the crop had
been laid down by strong winds and heavy rain. The person who
discovered the formations was convinced that aliens created the
flattened patches.
Source: NAICCR
920721 Friedensruh, Manitoba
- a farmer found a triangular area of flattened/swirled grass which
was surrounded by an electric fence. The dimensions were 31x27x17
feet. Local residents could not explain the phenomenon. However,
NAICCR investigators found evidence that animals had trampled the site.
Source: NAICCR
920799 Pilot Peak, California
- according to the Phoenix Project, a number of 'landing zones' were
discovered near the site of an alleged underground alien base. Visits
to the site by independent invesyigators have found only patches of
grass trampled by deer and other animals. Two 'landing zones' were
claimed.
Source: John Pickens on INTERNET via Paranet
920799 Miniota, Manitoba
- it was reported that a crop circle was discovered in a field of
oats. The circle is perfectly round and 32 feet in diameter. The oats
are flattened and swirled in a clockwise fashion. The center of the
circle is devoid of vegetation.
Source: NAICCR
920801 Strathclair, Manitoba
- a circle of flattened wheat was discovered in a field southwest of
Strathclair. It was 28 feet in diameter. The wheat was flattened and
swirled in a counterclockwise fashion.
Source: NAICCR
920808 Strathclair, Manitoba
- a flattened area of wheat in the shape of the symbol for Mars (a
circle with an attached arrow pointing away from it) was discovered in
a field southwest of Strathclair. The main circle was 28 feet in
diameter, with no detectable eccentricity. The wheat was flattened
counterclockwise. In the arrow, the wheat was flattened away from the
circle. The arrow pointed on a bearing of 260 degrees.
Source: NAICCR
920815 Ipswich, Manitoba
- a flattened area of wheat in the shape of the symbol for Mars was
discovered just east of Ipswich. The main circle was elliptical, with
axes 26 and 24.5 feet. The wheat was flattened counterclockwise. The
arrow pointed on a bearing of 65 degrees.
A large, dark object with yellow lights was seen hovering over the site
the night before the formation was discovered.
Source: NAICCR
920815 Strathclair, Manitoba
- a flattened area of wheat was found near other crop circle UGMs. It
was roughly 20 feet in diameter. Wheat was laid down in random clumps.
Examination suggested the area was caused by lodging.
Source: NAICCR
920815 Strathclair, Manitoba
- a flattened area of wheat in the shape of the symbol for Mars was
discovered west of Strathclair. The main circel was 24 feet in
diameter. The wheat was flattened in a counterclockwise fashion. The
arrow pointed on a bearing of 120 degrees.
Source: NAICCR
920817 Brandon, Manitoba
- a television station received an anonymous call that a crop circle
had been found on the property of the Brandon airport.
Source: CKX-TV
--
Chris Rutkowski - rutkows@ccu.umanitoba.ca
Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
University of Manitoba - Winnipeg, Canada
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Jim.Speiser@f100.n1010.z9.FIDONET.ORG (Jim Speiser)
Subject: Jim Speiser
Date: 25 Aug 92 05:43:00 GMT
NC>From: kuryakin@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Rick Pavek)
NC>Er, Jim...
NC>I didn't write down your GEnie address... could you send it again?
Sure, I think its just J.SPEISER.
Jim
* OLX 2.1 TD * Extraordinary Research Requires Extraordinary Funding
--
Jim Speiser - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: Jim.Speiser@f100.n1010.z9.FIDONET.ORG
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: John.Powell@f601.n109.z1.FIDONET.ORG (John Powell)
Subject: Air&space article
Date: 25 Aug 92 08:07:02 GMT
-=> Quoting Jim Speiser to John Powell <=-
JP>Of course, this is patently absurd. There is no such thing as "close to
JP>going off" - it was either armed or it wasn't. If it was armed then it
JP>would have reduced the habitable acreage of our country by almost one
JP>state and if it wasn't armed then it would have done no more damage than
JP>that of an ordinary airplane crash in the desert. Except for, at least,
JP>one small detail - the crash site would still be clearly and easily
JP>detectable with a geiger counter, and it isn't.
JS> EXCELLENT point. Scratch one more prosaic theory.
Thanks Jim. This particular prosaic theory doesn't fly for other
reasons as well.
We've all seen "ordinary plane crashes" and no matter how hosed up the
wreckage is it is still clearly identifiable as an airplane. (A wing
here, landing gear there, dead human over yonder, the distinct lack of
alien creatures thereabouts <grin>, etc.)
If I remember, R&S have 3 cargo flights leaving with debris to Wright
Field and no other significant cargo transportation in the area at the
time. It seems to me that there's no way 3 cargo loads could possibly
haul all the debris from a B-29 _plus_ tons and tons of contaminated
soil... But even if they could why would it go to Wright Field???
John Stepkowski also passed along to me this interesting item:
From the book "Ruin From The Air - The Atomic Mission To
Hiroshima" (Sphere Books, 1978) which tells the story of one "accident"
during bombing practice with a dummy A-bomb on March 10, 1945.
"Within hours, Manhattan Project agents had sealed off the area,
and were searching for the unit. It had buried itself ten feet
underground. It was recovered and bulldozers filled in the hole. No one
in Calipatria knew how close the town had been to being hit by a dummy
atomic bomb."
If I remember, R&S have the base at Roswell sleeping comfy in their beds
and then dunking donuts (etc.) _not just until_ Mac decides to come into
town and say, "Guess what I found?" but _UNTIL_ Marcel goes out with
Mac, spends the whole day playing in the dirt, and then comes back with
cool stuff that he found - something like 36 to 48 hours _after_ the
crash. Quite a bit different than the "within hours" response time in
the _real_ example above.
The real bottom line here is that we have a poorly researched, badly
written, derogatory and insulting article (in an otherwise very good
publication) attempting to tie up it's self-made loose ends with the
most tired of all tricks - the Anonymous Source - (wooooo...) whom; it
turns out, is either a liar or _extremely_ uninformed. If I hadn't read
the article myself I'd have sworn that Howard Blum wrote it... <grin>
JS> Extraordinary Research Requires Extraordinary Funding
Outstanding Tag.
Thanks, take care.
John.
-
<Absence of Evidence is not Evidence of Absence>
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.10
--
John Powell - via ParaNet node 1:104/422
UUCP: !scicom!paranet!User_Name
INTERNET: John.Powell@f601.n109.z1.FIDONET.ORG
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