tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62409795109564108772024-03-05T16:18:33.850-08:00PeterHustonA blog about my life, writings and whatever strikes my fancy.Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.comBlogger338125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-18751124671024356132023-01-01T14:19:00.000-08:002023-01-01T14:19:18.391-08:00Foreign Manipulation and Social Media -- Veterans Before Refugees<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Quick post here, hopefully one of several discussing the way
the internet is shaping and changing society, American society in particular. Let’s start with a simple subject ---Foreign created memes that target the
ignorant and emotionally driven, and then after getting their attention, use
them to divide society. There are many
of these as there are foreign governments that have agencies that create these
all day and insert them into social media. Their intent is to destabilize,
demoralize, and divide American society, weakening our social fabric. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">These generally are not too complicated as they are, after
all, often aimed at people with low education and low critical thinking skills.
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Let’s try a simple two part pattern. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">First, we need an issue, a cause, something few people could
disagree with. This makes the reader go “Yeah! I want that to be changed.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Second, we need a scapegoat, someone to blame. After all the
purpose here is to divide society, spew hatred, tap into unfocused frustration
and anger, and then give it a focus and divide society further. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So let’s try this simple two step method.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The pull, the cause. “Many veterans are suffering
unnecessarily. They should be helped more.”</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
Few out there would disagree with this. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">In fact, a normal follow up to this would be,
could be, even should be, “Contact your elected officials and encourage them to
do more” or “Give to the following charities” or “volunteer your time at the
following agencies or charities.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">Any one of these things would help suffering
veterans. Additionally, many other actions would help suffering veterans
including several actions that are not even focused specifically on helping
veterans would help suffering veterans. These could include donating time,
money, or canned goods to food banks, increased access to housing for low
income people, better access to mental health services for everyone, and
countless other things. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">HOWEVER, THE GOAL WITH TROLL FARMS IS NOT
TO ACTUALLY HELP VETERANS. IT IS NOT TO ACTUALLY HELP ANYONE (except arguable
foreign governments that wish to undermine the USA). </p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-size: medium;">The goal is to foster
hatred and division, tap into unfocused anger, and divide society. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><o:p> </o:p></p><p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Hmmmm? What could we use? <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let's take a real example. How about this one here:</span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgBxRxiFGfl1yWfUhZ2xljxzR0KYFpE2GQRkguitAoVy5WKKfZC0cF3xL5wDtpfPVvptJWg4KEOk2tNtxOO6jrKShbC9AQuuZjyufQE1liuuMXrfY-UM5uk-eQat4JlOSh3BLzbcsnfebONCT4Ou__tfkV0odsplIrl0q147vrPseWbrjgUFhtNJV/s526/16939328_1306432139395878_8665691416404868552_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgBxRxiFGfl1yWfUhZ2xljxzR0KYFpE2GQRkguitAoVy5WKKfZC0cF3xL5wDtpfPVvptJWg4KEOk2tNtxOO6jrKShbC9AQuuZjyufQE1liuuMXrfY-UM5uk-eQat4JlOSh3BLzbcsnfebONCT4Ou__tfkV0odsplIrl0q147vrPseWbrjgUFhtNJV/s320/16939328_1306432139395878_8665691416404868552_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What is the message? Veterans are suffering. (Although it is vague on which ones or why, but nevertheless, the message is veterans are suffering. The whole intent here is to appeal to emotions, Details only muddle things when one appeals to emotions.) And what should we do about it according the meme? </span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Should we: </span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">a) Petition our elected representatives to provide more services to suffering veterans? </span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">b) donate time or money to charities that help suffering veterans? </span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">c) work to create a society in which all suffering people, including suffering veterans, get access to services that might help them?</span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">d) consider more carefully and plan better before sending our military off to war, thereby reducing the number of suffering veterans? </span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">or</span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">d) blame refugees who probably weren't even in the country when these guys were serving in the military, and their only connection to the US military might have been to help them as translators or provide other services when they were overseas, and who, generally speaking, tend to become hard working, tax paying, legal residents and citizens who open businesses, buy property, take a strong interest in their children's public schools and so on pretty quickly. I mean, seriously, probably the only people on earth who have suffered more in war than military veterans are the civilian refugees trapped in the war zones, but, hey, again, this is supposed to be emotional. No need to think things through here. (And I suppose, I'd be way out of line if I mention that I just got contacted by the US Peace Corp asking me to give a refugee now naturalized citizen a reference for their programs. Sounds like a patriotic thing to do to me, by the way. If anyone wonders, I gave her a glowing one. I mean she's already lived through most of the worst things a Peace Corp volunteer might see or experience.) </span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Well, if you look at the above meme, the answer, illogical as it is, is pretty clear and the additional message is that you are patriotic if you accept this without thought. </span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">And, by contrast, y</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">ou are not patriotic if you think it through and realize that it makes no sense. </span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Never mind that there is no more connection between veterans and refugee issues than there is between veterans issues and farm subsidies or veterans and the licensing of ice cream trucks, somehow the foreign troll farms have drawn a connection and a lot of people out there have unthinkingly latched on to it. Sad, but true, and we as citizens of this great nation need to learn to educate ourselves and our neighbors on critical thinking to avoid being manipulated by foreign agents.</span></span></p><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHS64TuGIvccEzcOfmjQNH0bA8W1mrYH3FrWipNOUVN7N-6GJ55IpgkVLBt8H1u8L74Jhaaigj4w0kUxrpSK-uwfdRMw5mFHmDJEAf5y5o1CRYbranA398sqVaLDhQ1GUvz_3BV8hTGUNMyFoKQzODpEc8s7hP93dhDOWEeEwqeEOrByoPLTh7Jg-9/s234/download-vet-ref-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="234" data-original-width="216" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHS64TuGIvccEzcOfmjQNH0bA8W1mrYH3FrWipNOUVN7N-6GJ55IpgkVLBt8H1u8L74Jhaaigj4w0kUxrpSK-uwfdRMw5mFHmDJEAf5y5o1CRYbranA398sqVaLDhQ1GUvz_3BV8hTGUNMyFoKQzODpEc8s7hP93dhDOWEeEwqeEOrByoPLTh7Jg-9/s1600/download-vet-ref-1.jpg" width="216" /></a></span></div><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><br /></span><p></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Sad, isn't it? </span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now I first saw this meme on the page of a Facebook friend that I have never met, someone who at one point I interacted with and thought I might enjoy other interactions with. Sadly, he did not seem aware that he was being manipulated and that the entire premise that if veterans aren't getting the help they need it is somehow due to refugees. Clearly, this is a false dichotomy, an illogical premise based on nothing but a desire to connect one poorly understood issue with another poorly understood issue in the minds of people who know little about either of them. </span></p><p><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For those who wonder, this meme, according to the New York Times, did indeed originate in a Russian troll farm. </span></p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/us/russian-social-media-posts.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/17/us/russian-social-media-posts.html</a><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some of the Popular Images and Themes the Russians Posted on Social Media</span></p><p>Using an array of accounts on multiple platforms and targeting a variety of demographics, the Russians have generated millions of interactions with their posts.</p><p>Scott Shane</p><p>By Scott Shane</p><p>Dec. 17, 2018</p><p>"<span color="var(--color-content-secondary,#363636)" face="nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.25rem; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Here are a few of the Russians’ greatest hits.</span></p><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div class="css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; display: flex; flex-direction: row; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: 28px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1rem; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="css-53u6y8" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px calc((100% - 600px) / 2); max-width: 600px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><h3 class="css-92uw3k e1gnsphs0" id="link-2c40cd93" style="border: 0px; color: var(--color-content-secondary,#363636); font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">Posted Sept. 8, 2016, by the Being Patriotic Facebook page</span></h3></div><aside aria-label="companion column" class="css-ew4tgv" style="-webkit-box-align: center; align-items: center; border: 0px; display: flex; font: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 0px auto; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 210px;"></aside></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; 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border: 0px; color: #333333; display: flex; flex-direction: row; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; height: 639px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 1rem; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 1200px;"><div class="css-53u6y8" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px calc((100% - 600px) / 2); max-width: 600px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><h3 class="css-92uw3k e1gnsphs0" id="link-1104b92d" style="border: 0px; color: var(--color-content-secondary,#363636); font-family: nyt-franklin, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><span style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">With the message:</span></h3><blockquote class="css-1ggt3fz etf134l0" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-image: initial; border-left: 1px solid var(--color-stroke-quaternary,#DFDFDF); border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--color-content-tertiary,#5A5A5A); font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.25rem; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0.9375rem; quotes: none; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><p class="css-12wzsk6 evys1bk0" style="border: 0px; color: var(--color-content-tertiary,#5A5A5A); font-size: 1.125rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.75rem; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 525.6px;">“At least 50,000 homeless veterans are starving dying in the streets, but liberals want to invite 620,000 refugees and settle them among us. We have to take care of our own citizens, and it must be the primary goal for our politicians!”</p></blockquote><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0" style="border: 0px; color: var(--color-content-secondary,#363636); font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><span class="css-8qgvsz ebyp5n10" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;">640,390 ‘Shares’</span></p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0" style="border: 0px; color: var(--color-content-secondary,#363636); font-family: nyt-imperial, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.875rem; margin: 0px 0px 0.9375rem; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;">Using a weathered veteran’s face, this post contrasted the desperate condition of many American veterans with the supposedly more fortunate fate of refugees, using a number that Mr. Trump had cited in an attack on Mrs. Clinton. (The number was <a class="css-yywogo" href="https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/sep/27/donald-trump/trump-says-clinton-would-bring-620000-refugees-her/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-color: var(--color-signal-editorial,#326891); text-decoration-style: solid; text-decoration-thickness: 1px; text-size-adjust: 100%; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="">judged by PolitiFact</a> to be false). Like a huge number of posts, it appealed to conservatives, used dubious statistics and tapped into the presidential election two months away. Despite its somewhat awkward name — the Russian meme makers were not native speakers of English, after all — the Facebook page called “Being Patriotic” garnered 6.3 million “likes,” presumably from Americans who believed they were supporting fellow patriots.</p></div></div>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-52800456112117984452022-11-06T05:29:00.006-08:002022-11-06T05:41:42.690-08:00Election Day New York 2022. -- I endorse Kathy Hochul <p> <span color="var(--primary-text)" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good Morning! Good Morning! Serious political post today. </span></p><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><div class="x1iorvi4 x1pi30zi x1l90r2v x1swvt13" data-ad-comet-preview="message" data-ad-preview="message" id="jsc_c_130" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 4px 16px 16px;"><div class="x78zum5 xdt5ytf xz62fqu x16ldp7u" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: -5px; margin-top: -5px;"><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" color="var(--primary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Election's coming up. While I have tried to keep my FB page less political, and just enjoy my time here, I'm breaking that for a moment. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Here in New York we have a choice between Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and Lee Zeldin, a Republican, and it's going to be close. Having thought it through, my plan is to vote for Hochul. (At least Cuomo is off the ballot.) </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>While I have voted for Republicans for high office in New York in the past, and often have complained about the direction that NY Democrats (condescending bunch of Manhattanites) have taken the state, many say that to a large extent this election is a referendum on who do you prefer, Trump or Biden. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As for Trump, while I admit it can be a great deal of fun to start each day with seeing what outrageous lies or crazy misinterpretations of reality he is making each day even years after he's out of office, and it is kind of entertaining to see if this ersatz comic-book super villain sort of corrupt billionaire, man-child can get away with his endless series of charges for tax fraud, sexual assault, election fraud, attempted overthrow of the US government, and even theft of atomic secrets from the federal government, no less, it is really not a healthy thing for a past or former or, God forbid, future, political figure to be constantly doing. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And then there's the endless parade of perversities from the "mini-Trumps," Boebert, Gaetz, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who seem to have watched and learned and modelled themselves after the Trump style of politics. (Including being over-represented on the list of accused or convicted sex offenders, a la Boebert's husband and Gaetz). The crazy attention getting lies, the flirtation or outright venturing into racist or anti-Semitic statements, the sheer blatant transformation of elected figures who were once supposed to be respectable into something more akin to a classic late 1970s Punk Rock Star. ("Wow!!" their fans cry. "They are so naughty and outrageous! I admire that and wish I could act like them. Alas, I'd lose my job and get arrested but in the mean time I am going to (buy all their albums and tickets to their show) or (vote for them and follow them on twitter and YouTube).")</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Obviously, these people are not Lee Zeldin, but they are people who he has accepted as colleagues and shown a willingness to embrace as part of the system. And, at this point, that's just too much for me. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">As for Biden, I like what he's done and continues to do. Obviously not the most dynamic President, I concede he's past his prime, but he knows how to get things done. During the early days of the election process, I watched him on stage in the early debates, hesitating on words, looking unsteady, being attacked by seven other well spoken intelligent people each of whom dreamed of being President. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">"Why in the world did the Democrats choose this guy?" I asked. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Approximately a week later, I watched as all seven of them without public display of any kind, were suddently announcing their support for Biden. Wow! This guy and his team know how to make deals and build coalitions and that's what this country needs now. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">And he did inherit a mismanaged nation with a record high budget deficit, a foreign policy that was in complete disarray, a mismanaged pandemic, and a badly divided country that had just gone through an attempted coup, not to mention the usual, long term problems of aging infrastructure, a shifting economy, a shifting media structure, and more. And things do seem to be getting better for the USA around the world, despite serious challenges. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Thefore, when Tuesday comes, I will vote for Kathy Hochul. I hope that in four years, I am able in good conscience to vote for a Republican if a good one comes along and runs for governor, but at this time, I cannot do that. The stakes are too high.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">(I do fully admit that Donald Trump is an amazing man who has an instinctive understanding of how fame and information work in the early 21st Century that few others have. He is a fascinating figure and historians will find the next few years to be a subject of endless study.)
Please consider reading or buying my book on Trump.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08K7N5KBV/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i1
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padding-bottom: 1px; position: relative;"><span dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Scams from the Great Beyond --The Presidential Edition: A Skeptical Look at Our 45th President Using the Tools of a Paranormal Debunker and Historian</span></span></span></div><div class="xu06os2 x1ok221b" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xi81zsa x1yc453h" color="var(--secondary-text)" dir="auto" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.9375rem; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; word-break: break-word;"><span class="x1lliihq x6ikm8r x10wlt62 x1n2onr6 xlyipyv xuxw1ft" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Donald Trump is the only pers</span></span><span class="x1lliihq x6ikm8r x10wlt62 x1n2onr6 xlyipyv xuxw1ft" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="x1lliihq x6ikm8r x10wlt62 x1n2onr6 xlyipyv xuxw1ft" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span><span class="x1lliihq x6ikm8r x10wlt62 x1n2onr6 xlyipyv xuxw1ft" style="display: block; font-family: inherit; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-75138090101683538392021-10-09T13:41:00.000-07:002021-10-09T13:41:02.637-07:00A UFO Abductee's Newsletter: Richard Price's Newsletter, Vol.V, No. 1.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been returning to writing about strange claims and fringe claims from a skeptical, rational viewpoint over the last year. There have been a couple book reviews in The Skeptical Inquirer, and I've made steps to resurrect my website, a place where I shared many of my skeptical writings. You can check some of the website out here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html" target="_blank">http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html</a>. and the UFO stuff here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html">http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been invited to contribute to a book, a collection of academic essays on the reliability of UFO witnesses put together by Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos. The book should be released sometime next year and hopefully I will be able to share more details as they develop. (And, as always, please don't forget to purchase and read my books, Scams from the Great Beyond and More Scams from the Great Beyond, available at Amazon and other book dealers. For more details, please see <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B000APT3YY?_encoding=UTF8&node=283155&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" target="_blank">My Amazon Author's Page</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/339311.Peter_Huston" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">My Goodreads Author's Page</a> for more details on my books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My essay will be called, "Contacts with Contactees" and focus on my impressions on the self-identified UFO abductees that I have met. These include Richard Price, a local man who obtained some publicity for himself not only through his belief that he was abducted by space aliens but also by his belief to have an implant that the aliens allegedly put inside his body. For the record, I believe Price to be quite sincere. I do not, however, believe he was ever abducted by space aliens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With that stated, I am sharing images of each of the three copies of Richard Price's newsletter that were in my files. He would share with the general public, friends, acquaintances, and subscribers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For historical purposes and to aid with research into this type of claims I am sharing images of these materials. I do not claim copyright to them. I do not endorse their contents, but merely share them to aid with understanding such claims. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNywQd_LhX7AosbMrwQiWTjzoDiKkP0maDNnajfe0lWG_pUbwKwzg5QQtl6gtUKl5l7vQvEBTTrwqsIMhByUxzPhrt5r06InsNXsWOU16sGjAcM0mUtDuHaIplKLEQzEK0Y_zz_uUEb7Y/s2048/20211009_122220.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNywQd_LhX7AosbMrwQiWTjzoDiKkP0maDNnajfe0lWG_pUbwKwzg5QQtl6gtUKl5l7vQvEBTTrwqsIMhByUxzPhrt5r06InsNXsWOU16sGjAcM0mUtDuHaIplKLEQzEK0Y_zz_uUEb7Y/w480-h640/20211009_122220.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVR_gDpDj-v8x3Y49gav0D6xQm71gJyBn24Uojh1sgQwXwQovQl_3XqIHT_qq0VX8DyrOH9UEPDswTWN3y0cNP7vY70nrqM4CzdSLyPZd8xDIrFwwjNL2E0_w5ncyOyPrwYot9ZXxqeM/s2048/20211009_122238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrVR_gDpDj-v8x3Y49gav0D6xQm71gJyBn24Uojh1sgQwXwQovQl_3XqIHT_qq0VX8DyrOH9UEPDswTWN3y0cNP7vY70nrqM4CzdSLyPZd8xDIrFwwjNL2E0_w5ncyOyPrwYot9ZXxqeM/w480-h640/20211009_122238.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0GPME3OdETzfQPBkZjSqTKua9FQnY_59PnTNkpY9OW73cXkdiarmD5jzYEnaeYdq3RKMDC5UrQZcWWxXPENdCPg8CZBE1yFrwMH-VV5FGQewCbFUO6lz6RDx_xXEBTKIAuOdCv9VMco/s2048/20211009_122238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0GPME3OdETzfQPBkZjSqTKua9FQnY_59PnTNkpY9OW73cXkdiarmD5jzYEnaeYdq3RKMDC5UrQZcWWxXPENdCPg8CZBE1yFrwMH-VV5FGQewCbFUO6lz6RDx_xXEBTKIAuOdCv9VMco/w480-h640/20211009_122238.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXIvw4GGfY0Cy6xKfo50sdL4Noii0xpDl2KVuGQsv-D72_blyye5Hvm4vDTIA1JTbG7BV9ikwd8D8bLRp8p6kGG_4E58dQdUCi3zfilGTn8YpaDhoc3h-DRS1TLieeg-MC57XfefV4RM/s2048/20211009_122247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXIvw4GGfY0Cy6xKfo50sdL4Noii0xpDl2KVuGQsv-D72_blyye5Hvm4vDTIA1JTbG7BV9ikwd8D8bLRp8p6kGG_4E58dQdUCi3zfilGTn8YpaDhoc3h-DRS1TLieeg-MC57XfefV4RM/w480-h640/20211009_122247.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfe3mKV4Q341n-fiYrqLGTwQ8aWXjVxiDbxfHzIbebsIXi0NqcIsSy6G7K7GGn0Zh77TV1XJ7u1DihGYKYMsO0HoOrDM0ku-OPczjzoPE1lcklD06icbFj6prbMFp1aynIfqms4417Fc/s2048/20211009_122247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfe3mKV4Q341n-fiYrqLGTwQ8aWXjVxiDbxfHzIbebsIXi0NqcIsSy6G7K7GGn0Zh77TV1XJ7u1DihGYKYMsO0HoOrDM0ku-OPczjzoPE1lcklD06icbFj6prbMFp1aynIfqms4417Fc/w480-h640/20211009_122247.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTzO9LYyF1vSwxJkmbw6K-HC3rjkgp3cePiG7rssYkFEEufkwHbdIgB1i6yp2MhUAMJfbZ7WCKW-6TBs24yiIJtCuLFUFb_ElirVMxe9UkBsU1GL35fWH7eT6WkcFT_vMpkiYwTTkDHQ/s2048/20211009_122300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTzO9LYyF1vSwxJkmbw6K-HC3rjkgp3cePiG7rssYkFEEufkwHbdIgB1i6yp2MhUAMJfbZ7WCKW-6TBs24yiIJtCuLFUFb_ElirVMxe9UkBsU1GL35fWH7eT6WkcFT_vMpkiYwTTkDHQ/w480-h640/20211009_122300.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFHfuFitf1y1hzaffQmcORguMD4tbV700Li8GY4uY0Nu6WqpeaeiYweIGyMidfT2h0qlIdTvCcnCsUZuXkgwO9-KXVKM670rhshJF9PXCn9-iV-a0f5ipEwl5Rq5wQF0VfZHorkJY_NY/s2048/20211009_122308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFHfuFitf1y1hzaffQmcORguMD4tbV700Li8GY4uY0Nu6WqpeaeiYweIGyMidfT2h0qlIdTvCcnCsUZuXkgwO9-KXVKM670rhshJF9PXCn9-iV-a0f5ipEwl5Rq5wQF0VfZHorkJY_NY/w480-h640/20211009_122308.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhQmof7zkC-lMXfGDfOQNtllNt1UOqJNPLH5qy7gNKIclTgv0GfY86uxFqKyL5zZgQiHogTmSj05oKJ7EAKgy1bMbqw7XU3UKu0OleZ52Fv9X5R9twE813YFiJdQ8uJ69z_EKWgstG2I/s2048/20211009_122317.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPhQmof7zkC-lMXfGDfOQNtllNt1UOqJNPLH5qy7gNKIclTgv0GfY86uxFqKyL5zZgQiHogTmSj05oKJ7EAKgy1bMbqw7XU3UKu0OleZ52Fv9X5R9twE813YFiJdQ8uJ69z_EKWgstG2I/w480-h640/20211009_122317.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: 16px;">Note: Multiple efforts were made to contact Richard Price or discover his whereabouts prior to writing this piece. Sometime around 2002 or so, he moved out of New York state, and no one I know has heard from him since. Attempts to contact him through local skeptic, astronomy, and New Age circles led to nothing. Reaching out to MUFON, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP), and even David Pritchard produced polite responses indicating that they had no idea where he was. Requests for leads on several social media sites achieved nothing as well. Attempts to phone his former manager and friend from the astronomy group went unanswered. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">If he were 8 years old at the time of the alleged abduction in 1955, then he is or would be 77 today.</span><p></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-42726403916818649822021-10-09T13:38:00.000-07:002021-10-09T13:38:42.964-07:00A UFO Abductee's Newsletter: Richard Price's Newsletter, Vol. V, No. 2..<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been returning to writing about strange claims and fringe claims from a skeptical, rational viewpoint over the last year. There have been a couple book reviews in The Skeptical Inquirer, and I've made steps to resurrect my website, a place where I shared many of my skeptical writings. You can check some of the website out here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html" target="_blank">http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html</a>. and the UFO stuff here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html">http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been invited to contribute to a book, a collection of academic essays on the reliability of UFO witnesses put together by Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos. The book should be released sometime next year and hopefully I will be able to share more details as they develop. (And, as always, please don't forget to purchase and read my books, Scams from the Great Beyond and More Scams from the Great Beyond, available at Amazon and other book dealers. For more details, please see <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B000APT3YY?_encoding=UTF8&node=283155&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" target="_blank">My Amazon Author's Page</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/339311.Peter_Huston" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">My Goodreads Author's Page</a> for more details on my books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My essay will be called, "Contacts with Contactees" and focus on my impressions on the self-identified UFO abductees that I have met. These include Richard Price, a local man who obtained some publicity for himself not only through his belief that he was abducted by space aliens but also by his belief to have an implant that the aliens allegedly put inside his body. For the record, I believe Price to be quite sincere. I do not, however, believe he was ever abducted by space aliens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With that stated, I am sharing images of each of the three copies of Richard Price's newsletter that were in my files. He would share with the general public, friends, acquaintances, and subscribers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For historical purposes and to aid with research into this type of claims I am sharing images of these materials. I do not claim copyright to them. I do not endorse their contents, but merely share them to aid with understanding such claims. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is particularly interesting as it contains a contribution by Nancy R. Ziegler, AKA "Raspberry" Ziegler, a woman who was arrested in connection with a series of sex crimes where she and her husband used discussions and investigation of paranormal claims as well as claims of shamanistic healing powers to make contact and develop a rapport with their victims. See: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a name="_Hlk82882792"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a name="_Hlk82882792">"Couple
Charged With Committing Bizarre Sex Acts With Young Girls" AP, </a>March
2, 1994 at h<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2e05718b85ac91c72f78d5390a8f75e5">ttps://apnews.com/article/2e05718b85ac91c72f78d5390a8f75e5</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I never heard Richard Price mention the couple and was surprised to see their contribution to his newsletter. Notice how they made some pretty far fetched claims about him and their alleged haunted site. They would invite people on tours or trips to Duddleytown. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMaJt1AN0GGb9B2Ooknju9aWFSAsH25SIOk6FiAVnm0JF0MCeFJXLo3NgrL2ZqaOISRYAROIcsxB4E5K5A_EmucoloIZKW7qGHhuIWrebQANPhmEY0sLqUQ-lhJuE0sV08mSlPWj2UPI/s2048/20211009_121716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMaJt1AN0GGb9B2Ooknju9aWFSAsH25SIOk6FiAVnm0JF0MCeFJXLo3NgrL2ZqaOISRYAROIcsxB4E5K5A_EmucoloIZKW7qGHhuIWrebQANPhmEY0sLqUQ-lhJuE0sV08mSlPWj2UPI/w480-h640/20211009_121716.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIkaKx8EzRgnMFQdWpMXwmDQ1LMESLF5obyfocmJH3oeDN7tteOFAqRqRbagHpIdgwWrpgkPFaMM8oOO1xdTzS82zajgY2aw66MoU7O0j4Hl21gSu2xk55S06kH4fHyB-MAr3ToVCfFk/s2048/20211009_121734.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRIkaKx8EzRgnMFQdWpMXwmDQ1LMESLF5obyfocmJH3oeDN7tteOFAqRqRbagHpIdgwWrpgkPFaMM8oOO1xdTzS82zajgY2aw66MoU7O0j4Hl21gSu2xk55S06kH4fHyB-MAr3ToVCfFk/w480-h640/20211009_121734.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYLS_vUixHOOKtsOlC8bMzgDV688CGIfDKWZtEKZNl34mQYuCpliEGQvnyRn8hX6Vju2TPOK_RrjLH8av65T2yuJe1FWAXMBHHyf7UcYBBMaS_U0Z7B_0_HicDCITh56-ZxWIeZTsUxQ/s2048/20211009_121744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYLS_vUixHOOKtsOlC8bMzgDV688CGIfDKWZtEKZNl34mQYuCpliEGQvnyRn8hX6Vju2TPOK_RrjLH8av65T2yuJe1FWAXMBHHyf7UcYBBMaS_U0Z7B_0_HicDCITh56-ZxWIeZTsUxQ/w480-h640/20211009_121744.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVx5Yh_mgcXz2xXdHvoK9nabbt9LRkhIHq-SfefzwCr7Y-twRO62PzPaHiPmZovhpKJQW2HVodSupjreBWIlM4Jrry6ZjLYmr572aX3q-2c2wlxbC-HXBwzNo1XP-7RA3J6odZo5xL0E/s2048/20211009_121800.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <span> </span> </span><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVx5Yh_mgcXz2xXdHvoK9nabbt9LRkhIHq-SfefzwCr7Y-twRO62PzPaHiPmZovhpKJQW2HVodSupjreBWIlM4Jrry6ZjLYmr572aX3q-2c2wlxbC-HXBwzNo1XP-7RA3J6odZo5xL0E/w480-h640/20211009_121800.jpg" width="480" /></a><p></p><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Note:
Multiple efforts were made to contact Richard Price or discover his whereabouts
prior to writing this piece. Sometime around 2002 or so, he moved out of New
York state, and no one I know has heard from him since. Attempts to contact him
through local skeptic, astronomy, and New Age circles led to nothing. Reaching
out to MUFON, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP), and even
David Pritchard produced polite responses indicating that they had no idea
where he was. Requests for leads on several social media sites achieved nothing
as well. Attempts to phone his former manager and friend from the astronomy
group went unanswered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he were 8
years old at the time of the alleged abduction in 1955, then he is or would be
77 today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /></div>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-28834748264524743412021-10-09T13:34:00.001-07:002021-10-09T13:41:38.522-07:00A UFO Abductee's Newsletter: Richard Price's Newsletter, The Jupiter II file. Vol. VI, No. 1.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been returning to writing about strange claims and fringe claims from a skeptical, rational viewpoint over the last year. There have been a couple book reviews in The Skeptical Inquirer, and I've made steps to resurrect my website, a place where I shared many of my skeptical writings. You can check some of the website out here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html" target="_blank">http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html</a>. and the UFO stuff here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html">http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been invited to contribute to a book, a collection of academic essays on the reliability of UFO witnesses put together by Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos. The book should be released sometime next year and hopefully I will be able to share more details as they develop. (And, as always, please don't forget to purchase and read my books, Scams from the Great Beyond and More Scams from the Great Beyond, available at Amazon and other book dealers. For more details, please see <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B000APT3YY?_encoding=UTF8&node=283155&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" target="_blank">My Amazon Author's Page</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/339311.Peter_Huston" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">My Goodreads Author's Page</a> for more details on my books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My essay will be called, "Contacts with Contactees" and focus on my impressions on the self-identified UFO abductees that I have met. These include Richard Price, a local man who obtained some publicity for himself not only through his belief that he was abducted by space aliens but also by his belief to have an implant that the aliens allegedly put inside his body. For the record, I believe Price to be quite sincere. I do not, however, believe he was ever abducted by space aliens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With that stated, I am sharing images of each of the three copies of Richard Price's newsletter that were in my files. He would share with the general public, friends, acquaintances, and subscribers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For historical purposes and to aid with research into this type of claims I am sharing images of these materials. I do not claim copyright to them. I do not endorse their contents, but merely share them to aid with understanding such claims. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9IGRLhgaU-XmzIbfxYOQi8U35vjdI9iCHSPeSTiXVriRJuIsYrcvxqtJJYAB0aUPWayWjgghiqZyksy3Ws1UZoaZQ6-D7Lkn3HrqNTdvkHhr26AcebflTNpJdVzgjnjtCr4wt_A_rDY/s2048/20211009_122954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9IGRLhgaU-XmzIbfxYOQi8U35vjdI9iCHSPeSTiXVriRJuIsYrcvxqtJJYAB0aUPWayWjgghiqZyksy3Ws1UZoaZQ6-D7Lkn3HrqNTdvkHhr26AcebflTNpJdVzgjnjtCr4wt_A_rDY/w480-h640/20211009_122954.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfEPwrAMkaEiAJkFRz1uSqqulwf-xqUmHmfvHcyljWga4v8k2EThfX8e8UwyqcaEkKFcL83Zmcibf5A-sqVUQwGfenaPh80_5aISZ15RHUPbx5tROa2fZYH0uHaclIB-X6THk7M6Bnck/s2048/20211009_123009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfEPwrAMkaEiAJkFRz1uSqqulwf-xqUmHmfvHcyljWga4v8k2EThfX8e8UwyqcaEkKFcL83Zmcibf5A-sqVUQwGfenaPh80_5aISZ15RHUPbx5tROa2fZYH0uHaclIB-X6THk7M6Bnck/w480-h640/20211009_123009.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y69at1aqInvOPbkNaZZx07yPd-C-AdhRoC7jwEnXMznI9L9GnFg4CBIUvJti2rTDnd-INRYp3adq5hVIDBGTsE6AHGiGJgYUT94Hpdgu-sAlraMZ1ACklnz_NrkKUurCNFRmt7CafAY/s2048/20211009_123021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y69at1aqInvOPbkNaZZx07yPd-C-AdhRoC7jwEnXMznI9L9GnFg4CBIUvJti2rTDnd-INRYp3adq5hVIDBGTsE6AHGiGJgYUT94Hpdgu-sAlraMZ1ACklnz_NrkKUurCNFRmt7CafAY/w480-h640/20211009_123021.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2wyyxF9WLgFN5GIJVMFsjIOkN_72gduumbP2Q2JuN5U7KxXKw4wHvxaM808fgLUN46xEgcJ22NpzZ8w6LZVr1DwlnmHtSczGC6IHLCBtS2GsrCaFnsy4__5MyYMOj3u7Un9aeeC4Wfk/s2048/20211009_123034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2wyyxF9WLgFN5GIJVMFsjIOkN_72gduumbP2Q2JuN5U7KxXKw4wHvxaM808fgLUN46xEgcJ22NpzZ8w6LZVr1DwlnmHtSczGC6IHLCBtS2GsrCaFnsy4__5MyYMOj3u7Un9aeeC4Wfk/w480-h640/20211009_123034.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5eqJMJ50lyeHhtkQk0PCoTpWnGrW5GLtVHbKxM_shmWMJO8KXEbrKa5i1YHkYD_KNl_kNc4gvJutzemAa4fTtMg5cg4XoIxrAsFnxZM2Q4nc_0gMIIpEhULkZE4aNRNTl24z6XkzrBU/s2048/20211009_123047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5eqJMJ50lyeHhtkQk0PCoTpWnGrW5GLtVHbKxM_shmWMJO8KXEbrKa5i1YHkYD_KNl_kNc4gvJutzemAa4fTtMg5cg4XoIxrAsFnxZM2Q4nc_0gMIIpEhULkZE4aNRNTl24z6XkzrBU/w480-h640/20211009_123047.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsz7j4bLS1X7GR7LE6742UdxoR_kY0EgLB47VzHBJ_uXhvDKpsB6qx7Y7qT5V4BpjRc36_WgfxWjUO0x-alIJRc-D0AGf8M_4B2HixBuJiA0288IwgIJwV6m7XRQkhVQzA3g_UmtRBp0/s2048/20211009_123101.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsz7j4bLS1X7GR7LE6742UdxoR_kY0EgLB47VzHBJ_uXhvDKpsB6qx7Y7qT5V4BpjRc36_WgfxWjUO0x-alIJRc-D0AGf8M_4B2HixBuJiA0288IwgIJwV6m7XRQkhVQzA3g_UmtRBp0/w480-h640/20211009_123101.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcYJTcCwgAZOHE9XH7mW8r_gaJgG-y-no3btk-82oT9EpCoJTKup3XGnZnQ3EePmpg65Nr_vcZG6JNhcGUQhQzPdPOkz4dqmO5EDkSeBEtX2xV6UcBRbWrHYghTn5cBD7ztiZwezymws/s2048/20211009_123112.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcYJTcCwgAZOHE9XH7mW8r_gaJgG-y-no3btk-82oT9EpCoJTKup3XGnZnQ3EePmpg65Nr_vcZG6JNhcGUQhQzPdPOkz4dqmO5EDkSeBEtX2xV6UcBRbWrHYghTn5cBD7ztiZwezymws/w480-h640/20211009_123112.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwUmlV71XK-LshfbI4wYwwWvk7oLgSFqoSagW9Pta_3sHrfrx4R4oD7FYg3xCynPuoYcZkcoIzD2TLGuR40zUskQF9ws2hHzUc72Qc4JEkyNhm4soD465vhQ2YZGyOBuw_FziEy7jl4Q/s2048/20211009_123123.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXwUmlV71XK-LshfbI4wYwwWvk7oLgSFqoSagW9Pta_3sHrfrx4R4oD7FYg3xCynPuoYcZkcoIzD2TLGuR40zUskQF9ws2hHzUc72Qc4JEkyNhm4soD465vhQ2YZGyOBuw_FziEy7jl4Q/w480-h640/20211009_123123.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-size: 16px;">Note: Multiple efforts were made to contact Richard Price or discover his whereabouts prior to writing this piece. Sometime around 2002 or so, he moved out of New York state, and no one I know has heard from him since. Attempts to contact him through local skeptic, astronomy, and New Age circles led to nothing. Reaching out to MUFON, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP), and even David Pritchard produced polite responses indicating that they had no idea where he was. Requests for leads on several social media sites achieved nothing as well. Attempts to phone his former manager and friend from the astronomy group went unanswered. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">If he were 8 years old at the time of the alleged abduction in 1955, then he is or would be 77 today.</span><p></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-21978299837316496542021-10-09T11:10:00.002-07:002021-10-09T13:42:46.864-07:00A UFO Abductee's Self-promotional Materials: Richard Price's Publicity Kit from the 1990s<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been returning to writing about strange claims and fringe claims from a skeptical, rational viewpoint over the last year. There have been a couple book reviews in The Skeptical Inquirer, and I've made steps to resurrect my website, a place where I shared many of my skeptical writings. You can check some of the website out here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html" target="_blank">http://hamchuckwc.com/skep-index.html</a>. and the UFO stuff here: <a href="http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html">http://hamchuckwc.com/UFO-page-hamchuckwc.html</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been invited to contribute to a book, a collection of academic essays on the reliability of UFO witnesses put together by Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos. The book should be released sometime next year and hopefully I will be able to share more details as they develop. (And, as always, please don't forget to purchase and read my books, Scams from the Great Beyond and More Scams from the Great Beyond, available at Amazon and other book dealers. For more details, please see <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/entity/author/B000APT3YY?_encoding=UTF8&node=283155&offset=0&pageSize=12&searchAlias=stripbooks&sort=author-sidecar-rank&page=1&langFilter=default#formatSelectorHeader" target="_blank">My Amazon Author's Page</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/339311.Peter_Huston" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">My Goodreads Author's Page</a> for more details on my books. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My essay will be called, "Contacts with Contactees" and focus on my impressions on the self-identified UFO abductees that I have met. These include Richard Price, a local man who obtained some publicity for himself not only through his belief that he was abducted by space aliens but also by his belief to have an implant that the aliens allegedly put inside his body. For the record, I believe Price to be quite sincere. I do not, however, believe he was ever abducted by space aliens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With that stated, I am sharing images of the publicity materials he would share with the general public and others when he was soliciting opportunities to speak on his experiences. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For historical purposes and to aid with research into this type of claims I am sharing images of these materials. I do not claim copyright to them. I do not endorse their contents, but merely share them to aid with understanding such claims. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cOJNANm4DlolCesbNEqVMhsTcwsnEZ2X1AgxY9VIYO-ROWdihwbMMtfQgUxfjA6y8cao4ArfGUhyvu8BwYS2VGVRH4pwGyTmZtpiE9BWyMCwBVzfFssyQz5wvDG6OLpdeYlLIf8OZdo/s2048/20211009_115738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1669" height="645" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1cOJNANm4DlolCesbNEqVMhsTcwsnEZ2X1AgxY9VIYO-ROWdihwbMMtfQgUxfjA6y8cao4ArfGUhyvu8BwYS2VGVRH4pwGyTmZtpiE9BWyMCwBVzfFssyQz5wvDG6OLpdeYlLIf8OZdo/w526-h645/20211009_115738.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Note: Multiple efforts were made to contact Richard Price or discover his whereabouts prior to writing this piece. Sometime around 2002 or so, he moved out of New York state, and no one I know has heard from him since. Attempts to contact him through local skeptic, astronomy, and New Age circles led to nothing. Reaching out to MUFON, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP), and even David Pritchard produced polite responses indicating that they had no idea where he was. Requests for leads on several social media sites achieved nothing as well. Attempts to phone his former manager and friend from the astronomy group went unanswered. </span><span style="font-size: 16px; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">If he were 8 years old at the time of the alleged abduction in 1955, then he is or would be 77 today.</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-31771076863163532162021-07-22T17:12:00.003-07:002021-07-22T17:12:33.438-07:00Skepticism as a Technique of Intellectual Self Defense<p>I'm not sure of the exact date I wrote this, but I'd estimate some time around 1999. It dealt with a lot of issues I was dealing with at the time, and, if I do say so myself, it seems to offer good answers. In hindsight, it's interesting to wonder why organized skepticism did not grow into a recognizable social movement as pictured here. But that's another interesting issue, one I hope to grapple with and write on at a later date. </p><p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> *<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> *<span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> * </span></span></span><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
Skepticism as a Technique of Intellectual Self Defense.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">By Peter Huston<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<b>1. Why define skepticism?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Or</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>"This Crazy,
Little Thing Called Skepticism!"</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
What is "skepticism"? Having been involved in "skepticism"
for some time, this is more than an abstract question to me. In fact, as I
spend a great deal of time and effort on "skepticism", and have been
doing so for years, the question is quite an immediate and important one. Since
"skepticism" is basically an undefined entity, at times it is
difficult to explain to others what I am involved in or why I spend valuable
time and effort on it! Some days I genuinely don't know myself what it is that
I hope to accomplish through this vague endeavor called
"skepticism." <i>(And I do hope, that when I find out what it is
that I am trying to accomplish, it turns out to be worth all this time and
energy I am expending on it!).</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Defining the scope and content of
the "ism" called "skepticism", will only become more
important as self-identified skeptics become more and more self aware.
Skepticism as an organized entity exists on a local, national, and
international level and seems to be growing. Many colleges have "skeptics groups."
And on the internet there are not just skeptics websites, but also several
skeptics post lists, a skeptics' sites webring and several skeptics chat rooms
that meet at regular times. Yet despite all this, there is really very little
consensus on what the terms "skeptic" and "skepticism"
mean. This is true even of many people within the movement. I recently heard
someone described in a national skeptic publication as "an up and coming
skeptic". Although she was quite pleased with this label, I had to wonder
what exactly the phrase meant. A folklorist I know describes skeptics as
"an emerging community struggling to define itself". If we accept the
definition of "a skeptic" as "someone who "practices or is
involved in skepticism" we are still left with the curious need to define
and think about what is skepticism. I recently was involved in an internet
discussion on "whether skepticism should go mainstream." Before we
can effectively go mainstream, I think it would help if we could explain or
define skepticism to the mainstream.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In short, what does it mean now
that "being skeptical" has become an "ism"? An adjective,
"skeptical", has now become a noun, "skepticism." When
people unite under the banner of skepticism what do they hope to accomplish?
What is "skepticism"?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">To some people skepticism is:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A way of looking at paranormal claims. -<i> (Why
just paranormal claims?)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A movement -<i> (If this is so, is it a
sociological movement, a political movement, or exactly what kind of movement
is it?)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A way of defending science - <i>(And is it
really defending science, and if so how and from what?)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->To some people "skepticism" is a way
of defending society, academia, Western civilization, democracy itself or any
one of a number of other good things. -<i> (Thank goodness at least
someone is trying to defend these things!)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->To some people skepticism is CSICOP, (the
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims Of the Paranormal) or
perhaps CSICOP and various local groups or other political or formally
organized entities. -<i> (Well they did start it all. I'll give them
credit for that! But are they the be-all and end all of skepticism?)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->To some critics, skepticism is a means by which
the establishment seeks to suppress new ideas and neutralize threats to its
hierarchical domination of knowledge through self selected arbitrary paradigms.
-<i> (Gee! I'd hate to be responsible for all that!! Some of my best
friends are kooks, after all! )</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">There is some truth, and some
falseness, to all of these notions. But I think, based on my experiences, all
of these definitions are less than perfect. In my opinion, (and admittedly this
paper is nothing more than one man's extended opinion) many of these ideas are
just too big and broad in their scope. They attempt to make skepticism into
something much bigger than it is or set goals that seem quite unrealistic. (Are
we, for instance, <i>really </i>saving democracy by debunking UFO
sightings?) Others, by contrast, are too small. (Although influential, most
skeptics have no formal affiliation with CSICOP, for instance.) Or condemn all
skeptics for the actions of a few. <i>(I never owned any Black people and
I never interfered with the inter-state commerce in Orgone energy boxes
either!) </i>With some exceptions, however, generally the term skepticism,
as well as the goals of skepticism, are left undefined by skeptics. Inevitably
this will have to be corrected.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
<b>2. Well, then, what is Skepticism? And Why?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>Or</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>Maybe
Now I Don't Have to be So Grouchy When that Special Time of the Month Comes!</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>(Our
Skeptics Meeting! What Else?)</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We, as skeptics, are left with our key focus undefined. What
I'm going to suggest in this paper is that :<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Skepticism is a technique.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Skepticism is a way of evaluating ideas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Skepticism is an intellectual tool.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In short, <b>Skepticism is a
technique of intellectual self defense.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In other words, skepticism is a way
by which people can screen and defend themselves from bad, false or potentially
harmful ideas. I choose this definition carefully. Although I do not consider
this definition the "be-all" and "end-all" of
"definitions of skepticism", I consider it useful in many ways.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Why do we need a "technique of
intellectual self defense."? The answer is simple. We live in the
information age. As most of us realize (especially those of us with access to
the internet) this could easily have been called the "misinformation
age." We live in an era where science, the media and intercultural
exchange are increasing at an incredible rate. There has simply been no other
era in the history of mankind where individuals have been exposed to such a
steady and continuous flow of new ideas on a regular basis. We need a means of
filtering this information so that we don't waste time and energy on
ineffective, incorrect, inaccurate, misrepeated or even harmful ideas.
Skepticism, as it's commonly taught, is such a means of filtering out this
"bad information".<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">At this point it might not be a bad
idea to briefly review, in a crude simplified form, the basic ideas of
skepticism. Skepticism, as a technique, basically involves the following system
of evaluating ideas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Assume something is false unless proven to be
true.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Use Occam's razor, the doctrine that if two
explanations are possible, usually the simpler one is true.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Assume extraordinary claims require
extraordinary proof.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Assume the burden of proof lies on the person
advocating the idea.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">As can be seen there is a clear cut
emphasis on disproving ideas or not accepting ideas. This is one of the reasons
I chose my statement that "skepticism is a method of intellectual self
defense" quite carefully instead of something more neutral, such as
perhaps claiming that skepticism is a means of weighing ideas. The emphasis is
on the negative, and, in a self defense system, perhaps it should be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Do these ideas work 100% of the
time? Arguably no, some ideas do not lend themselves to such a clear cut method
of evaluation. Furthermore, many people could point out isolated cases where
some of these assumptions were not true, where perhaps Occams's razor did not
stand up in a given case. But then again no self defense system is perfect
either, nor should it be expected to be. By and large, though, skepticism is
still a useful technique to evaluate ideas and filter out the harmful ones.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I would also argue that many
aspects of life, including aesthetics, emotions, athleticism, spirituality,
ethics, and relationship issues, do not lend themselves to skeptical analysis
very well. Skepticism and rational analysis can help with these issues, but its
uses within these fields are somewhat limited. (I.E. Rational analysis can
assist a trained artist with many aspects of creating a painting. These might
include choice of materials, composition or design, and similar things, but the
need to express oneself is rarely based entirely in rationality.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
<b>3. If Skepticism is a technique and little more, then what is it not?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>Or</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>"Need
a Life? Well, You're not gonna get one here so don't even try!!"</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
If we accept the positive premise that Skepticism is a technique of
intellectual self defense then we must also give some thought as to what
skepticism is not. It is a technique, and little else. I would argue the
following:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Skepticism is not a complete philosophy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Skepticism is not a religion.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Skepticism does not teach that people need to be
100% rational.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Skepticism is not a lifestyle.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I repeat that skepticism, in my
opinion, is nothing more than a method of intellectual self defense, and
skeptics are the people who have studied the techniques that make up this
method and value them. When I presented an early version of this paper to the
Massachusetts branch of the New England Skeptics Society, they seemed to be
quite familiar with what I meant by the above statements and laughed in
agreement at them. Nevertheless, let me elaborate on these statements some
more.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Skepticism is neither a complete
philosophy nor a complete religion. Although it deals with many important
philosophical questions, such as matters of belief and determining the nature
of reality, it is not a complete philosophy. Due to its inherent emphasis on
disproving things, and its inherent negativity, it is my belief that people who
are looking for something to believe in or motivate them in their lives should
look outside of skepticism and the skeptical movement. I would argue that they
should not abandon their skepticism when they do this, but bring it with them.
Skepticism is an important part of pursuing any spiritual quest in a safe
manner. Nevertheless, skepticism is about disbelief and focuses on disproving
ideas. To find positive ideas, we must go elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Skepticism does not teach that
people should be 100% rational. I do not claim to be 100% rational. I don't
even claim to be 99% rational. (In fact, I suspect few of my friends or
acquaintances would judge my rationality to reach even the 80% level tops.) If
I were 100% rational I would have to give up beer and fatty foods and avoid sex
in the absence of reproductive intent if I could instead be reading a good book
or exercising. I would pay my bills on time and only purchase CDs and toys when
I could afford it. I would be an accountant instead of a writer. Yet, as a
human, I long ago set my goals for a much lower level of rationality than 100%
and have never once regretted it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Similarly, skepticism is not a
lifestyle and should not be pursued as such. There are people who delight in knocking
down the beliefs of others. Sadly, many of these are attracted to skepticism
and some achieve levels of prominence. Nevertheless, if you focus your
interactions with strangers on probing their beliefs for weaknesses,
approaching each new interpersonal encounter as an intellectual search and
destroy machine, miss manners would not approve, to say the least. After many
years within the skeptical movement, it is my belief that each skeptic should
seek a balance between skepticism and their outside interests. Skepticism can
supplement these outside needs but it cannot and should not substitute for
them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Skepticism can be a valuable
adjunct to any life, but it cannot, in isolation, be a full life. Elaborating
further, from time to time, I sit down and try to evaluate myself. To do this I
divide myself into a few realms. These tend to be :<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Mind<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Body<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Emotions or Spirit<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">And sometimes I include another
realm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Societal or Interpersonal issues.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Rational analysis, and its
sub-branch, skepticism, can be useful within any of these realms. The
connection between "mind" or intellectual pursuits and rational
analysis is obvious.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">For the "body" realm, a
simple look at any copy of Muscles and Fitness magazine, a publication which
focuses on bodybuilding and fitness, will reveal a surprisingly strong respect
for scientific study among the editorial staff and readers. Now, Muscles and
Fitness is not a scientific journal. Sometimes when they make a mistake in
their science they go astonishingly way off in their conclusions. But it is
clear to even the most casual reader of this publication that the readers and
editorial staff wish to know the latest developments in fields such as
nutrition, physiology and related sciences, knowing that these will benefit
them in their own personal quests. Goal oriented people value results and
skepticism and rational analysis help one achieve results.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In the realm of the emotional and
spiritual, there is still a usefulness for skepticism. On a simplistic level, I
have noticed, through rational analysis, that when I get regular exercise and
proper nutrition I feel much better than when I don't . Skepticism can assist a
person to avoid traps including many of the various New Age hoaxes (of which
Carlos Castaneda is undoubtedly the best known). A knowledge of skepticism can
often make a person more aware of some common cult recruiting ploys. So even
here, a realm of life traditionally ignored or even scorned by many self
identified skeptics, skepticism is clearly useful to achieve desired goals.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In the societal or interpersonal
realm, things are more ill defined but there is a use for skepticism and
rational analysis. You can catch people in lies more easily, for instance, if
you are skeptical. And clearly skepticism can help one evaluate some social
issues and interpersonal matters but these must be determined on a case by case
basis.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Nevertheless, skepticism itself is
not, in exclusion to other interests, a lifestyle. In fact, I would argue that,
if we accept the premise that skepticism is a technique for intellectual self
defense then it cannot really exist in exclusion, but can only be seen when
interacting with another idea. I would argue that we as skeptics should start
trying to see how skepticism interacts with other ideas, rather than see it as
a separate endeavor.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
<b>4. If skepticism is so much and yet so little what should skeptics groups be
publicly skeptical of?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>Or</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>"Which
is worse? Genocide in the Balkans or the X-Files?"</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
If we accept the premise that skepticism is a technique of intellectual self
defense, and the fact that people are forming local groups to practice these
techniques, apply "skeptical activism" and spread the word that
"skepticism" is useful and good, then we must give some thought as to
where and how we, the members of such groups, should publicly apply these
techniques. (Although individuals who attempt to speak out on "skeptical"
causes might also find these ideas useful.) Since skepticism is inherently a
negative series of techniques designed to disprove ideas, this question can be
resummarized as which ideas then, do we choose to attack?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Traditionally, skeptics have
focused their criticisms on the vaguely defined realms of paranormal,
supernatural, and pseudo-scientific claims. Although I will return to these
realms later, for the moment I prefer to begin with a clean slate. If we accept
the idea that skepticism is a technique of intellectual self defense then there
is no need to focus on these sorts of ideas any more than any other sort of
idea. (For several reasons, I do believe that these ideas have a special place
in skepticism, something I will elaborate on later.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">If we begin with the notion that
skepticism is a technique of intellectual self defense then we can easily
assert that our first duty is to use it to protect ourselves. And there will be
many opportunities. As I write there are literally about 6 messages on my phone
machine waiting to be erased. Two are from business associates who lie
regularly, and one is from a pyramid / multi-level marketing scheme recruiter.
The president of the United States is being charged with perjury after a kinky
fling where he mixed a college age groupie and some contraband cuban cigars and
then lied about it. My recreational reading includes a reference to Koko the
guerrilla calling distasteful people "Toilet devils!" -a wonderful
term useful to any simian including myself. Yet there is a controversy over whether
this, or any of Koko's statements is true interspecies communication. The need
for skepticism in our personal lives is all around us!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">But a skeptics group, I feel,
should have some concern for societal issues and some consideration of
activism. Such activism should be targeted carefully and causes carefully
selected.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Let me present two examples of well
targeted skeptical activism.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">-In Colorado, organized skeptics
have made a special cause of targeting therapeutic touch claims among
"mainstream" health care practitioners. Many mainstream health care
practitioners are currently receiving continuing education credits for
therapeutic touch, an alternative health care system that claims to work by
manipulating the energy fields in the human body. The existence of both these
"energy fields" and the utility of therapeutic touch is seriously
disputed by modern science and medicine. If a person seeks treatment from a
health care practitioner, and receives therapeutic touch as treatment, they
have a right to ask if the treatment works.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The issue of therapeutic touch
impinges on several important causes. Among these are the way in which
non-scientifically proven techniques have been casually accepted by some health
care practitioners. There is also the issue of how many health care professions
require continuing education credits for their members, but do not monitor the
validity or utility of the subjects which members can study to receive these
so-called continuing education credits. This blurring of so-called alternative
health care and mainstream health care is troubling to many. In fact, it is not
uncommon for some people to assume that therapeutic touch and other
"alternative" health care techniques have validity simply because
they are accepted by many health care practitioners.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In effect, what the skeptics in
Colorado are asking is, "Does this work as claimed and can you prove
it?" and "If not, why are you teaching it?" By doing so, many
interesting issues are being touched upon, and the techniques of skepticism are
being well illustrated and publicized. (For one version of the details on this
see, "Therapeutic Touch -Skeptics in Hand to Hand Combat over the Latest
New Age Health Fad" In "Skeptic" Vol. 3, No. 1. Pp. 40 -49.
Please note, there are ugly allegations that this article presents a very
distorted version of events due to the political rivalries of the two Colorado
Skeptics groups. )<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Equally importantly, as the above
article shows, the skeptics in Colorado know what they are doing when it comes
to this claim. They do not embarrass themselves by speaking out on it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">-Eric Krieg, of PhACT, the
Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking, has targeted perpetual motion
machine scams (so-called "Free Energy" Claims) many of which are
aimed at farmers. Such claims, obviously, defy our knowledge of physics as
currently understood and deserve to be looked at. Socially, many farmers live
close to the edge of the profit margin. When a financially desperate farmer
sinks a substantial sum of money into a "free energy" machine, and if
the machine does not work as claimed, the problem is self evident. This is
clearly a valid cause for a skeptic to look into.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">On the other hand, not everyone can
speak on this subject knowledgeably. Krieg is well suited for understanding
this claim as he is an Electrical Engineer who grew up in a rural area. In
other words, he understands both the machines and the problems they can cause.
(For more details on Krieg and this issue, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6240979510956410877/3177107686316353216">HERE </a>r <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6240979510956410877/3177107686316353216">HERE </a>or <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/6240979510956410877/3177107686316353216">HERE </a>.
The last site is an article on the subject which appeared in the July/August
issue of the Skeptical Inquirer. )<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">A proper cause, I feel, should:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Be self evidently important and need no
justification in the eyes of the general public. 1<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Be something where the available skeptics have
the skills to speak on the subject knowledgeably.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Be something where the available skeptics have a
chance of making a difference.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">If a selected cause meets these
standards then the ultimate goal of skeptical activism can be achieved. This
ultimate goal should be <b>Making a Difference while Getting the Message
Out!!</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">At times skeptics choose causes
where they do not meet these goals. In such cases, they wind up looking foolish
and their efforts may actually be counterproductive. To give a negative
example, recently CSICOP, a prominent skeptics group, decided to issue a press
release stating that the X-Files action adventure sci-fi movie undermined
people's belief in science and was harmful to society. Using the above
standards this press release :<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Did not appear to be justified in the eyes of
the general public. Few lay people outside skepticism saw the X-Files movie as
harmful to science and science education. Many lay people found the notion
humorous or foolish and, in their eyes, the credibility of CSICOP immediately
declined.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Was not something that CSICOP seemed likely to
be knowledgeable about as the press release was clearly written prior to the
release of the movie. It is unlikely if any of the release writers had seen the
movie in question.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo7; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Finally, this press release did not accomplish
much anyway, because despite mediocre reviews, the film made enough money for
the producer to soon announce plans for a sequel. In fact, it is uncertain to
me what action CSICOP even hoped to achieve by writing the release.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In fact, even among skeptics' web
sites and post lists few people expressed agreement or support for the release,
and many voiced criticism. Many skeptics, in fact, are X-Files fans. I
conclude, for the reasons stated above, that the CSICOP release condemning the
X-Files movie is exactly the sort of action we as skeptics wish to avoid.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">A cynic would ask not only why
CSICOP issued this release but why weren't they working on real problems
instead? A simple review of issues and current events reveal a wide spectrum of
events and problems where the special skills, knowledge and perspectives of
skeptics could be of great use.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Some better targets for skeptical
activism could have been:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Business Frauds. -These could include examples
such as Ponzi or Pyramid schemes where simple mathematics indicates the scheme
is ultimately doomed to failure.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Quack cancer cures -We live in an age where
so-called "alternative medicine" is becoming widely accepted. The
distinction between the alternative therapies and quackery is often lost and
many members of the public left vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l13 level1 lfo8; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Child Protective/False Accusation issues
-Although very draining emotionally, the amount of pseudoscience and illogic in
these fields, is hard for people to imagine until they begin exploring the
state of the current child protective system and the mind set of the folks who
work in it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Other will come to mind. To repeat
the key factors, in my opinion, before a skeptics group publicly devotes a
great deal of time and effort to a cause:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The cause should be important in the eyes of the
general public.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The skeptics involved should be knowledgeable on
the issue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo9; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The cause should be something where skeptics
have a chance of making a difference.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">There is probably nothing more
counter-productive to a good public image of skeptics than to see some self
appointed skeptic shoot his mouth off inaccurately on some subject he knows
little about and few people care about anyway. Might I suggest to my fellow
skeptics that we develop a new term for such people? -"Toilet
Devils".<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b>5.
What About Paranormal Claims?</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>Or</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>"Who
ya gonna call?"</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
Skeptics have traditionally spent a great deal of time and energy focusing on
paranormal claims. In fact, an interest in paranormal claims was one of the
things that first led me to become interested in skepticism. For many reasons,
I believe that skeptics, should, in a limited and carefully thought out way,
continue with this tradition of studying paranormal and fringe claims. Since
only a few paranormal claims are immediately harmful, and my theme in this
paper is that skepticism is a method of intellectual self defense, I feel that
the primary use of investigating paranormal claims by skeptics is to promote
awareness and knowledge of the techniques of skepticism. A good paranormal
claim is wonderfully suited for this. Let me explain the reasons I think skeptics
should continue looking into many paranormal claims.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A good claim is a real attention grabber. The
public is very interested in paranormal claims. This interest can, and should,
be utilized to teach critical thinking skills.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A good claim is a good teaching tool. When used
as a teaching tool, a good paranormal claim can be a valuable aid in getting
skeptical ideas and critical thinking skills before many people who would not
otherwise show an interest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo10; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A good claim is a dramatic example of skepticism
in action. There are reasons as to why the experts in a field do not generally
accept the reality of paranormal phenomena. When looked at carefully there
usually is a rational explanation waiting to be found.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Nevertheless we do need to keep
paranormal claims in perspective. It is not a realistic goal to assume that
through frequent skeptical analysis of paranormal claims, skepticism will cause
all people everywhere to become 100% rational. In fact, it is unlikely that any
single field of paranormal claims has yet met extinction through over-hunting
by skeptics who take aim at its individual cases. We can, at best, cull the
herd.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">For instance, although we have had
public differences in the past, skeptic Joe Nickell has written a book (and
some shorter essays) giving very convincing arguments that the so-called shroud
of Turin is a hoax. After being exposed to these arguments it is difficult to
understand how anyone who has been exposed to these arguments can continue to
believe the shroud is an actual burial shroud for Christ transformed through
miraculous means. Yet it seems clear to anyone who has perused a Barnes and
Noble bookstore lately, these arguments, convincing as they are, have made no
dent in the publication of books arguing that the shroud is, in fact, real. It
seems quite clear that a convincing argument, in this case, made only a small
impact, at best, on the spread of a claim.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln,
"You can convince all the people some of the time. And you can convince
some of the people all of the time. But you cannot convince all the people all
the time." And skeptics need to learn this and accept it. If we cannot
possibly destroy all paranormal claims everywhere, then this should not be our
stated or assumed goal.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Sometime ago, the Inquiring
Skeptics of Upper New York, our local skeptics group, was visited by a
folklorist who studies skeptics groups in an academic manner. "Why aren't
you folks as dogmatic as the people in Buffalo?" she asked. We thought for
a while and then many people named a single name. Within our group there is an
individual who believes in most paranormal phenomena, including UFOs as
spaceships. He attends meetings of ISUNY on a regular basis and has done so
since the beginning of our organization. We weren't quite sure how to deal with
him. (One CSICOP fellow actually recommended that we drive him out, but we knew
this was not what we wanted to do.) Well, it's been several years, and despite
the brilliance of our arguments and the incredible size of our libraries, he
still remains unconvinced. In turn, I think we, the officers of ISUNY, slowly
realized that if we could not convince this one individual of our teachings, we
were not going to convince the world. We had to find a new purpose.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">One cannot expect to accomplish
wonders through providing rational alternative explanations for common
paranormal claims. Life, and humanity, for better or worse, don't work that
way.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Nevertheless, for the reasons
stated above, their use as teaching tools, researching and investigating
paranormal claims should hold a place within skepticism.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><br />
<b>6. Bad Paranormal Claims!</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>Or</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>"Er.....
What do we do now??"</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
In the previous section I made frequent references to "a good paranormal
claim." This was intentional. There are good paranormal claims and there
are bad paranormal claims. As a skeptic group, avoid the bad paranormal claims
at all costs. Don't get near them. You will only get hurt.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Let me offer a few examples of a
"bad paranormal claim."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo11; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The local UFO abductee.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In our area there lives a prominent
UFO abductee. He has received much attention, including articles in the (now
defunct) magazine OMNI, a profile on the (now cancelled) Sightings, and a
mention by name (critically of course) in Carl Sagan's "The Demon Haunted
World." He is, allegedly, the only possessor of a genuine alien monitoring
device and this artifact has been studied by an MIT physicist. Yet we have
refused on two occasions to allow him to speak to our local skeptics group.
Why? Some would argue that a more appropriate course, would be to allow him to
talk, but then argue merciless, seeking to poke huge gaping holes in his claims
for all the world to see. Yet, once again, we knew this was not what we wished
to do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The man in question, the alleged
UFO abductee, has a history of mental health problems including being
institutionalized against his will. His past also includes reports of
homelessness, troubled marriages, and allegedly being under the influence of
alcohol at inappropriate times. The alleged implant happened to have been
lodged inside his penis, an embarrassing location few wish to discuss, for
several years. Studies concluded that it could easily be a cotton fiber which
entered the urethra somehow and developed a sheath of collagen. Previous talks
by the man to other groups have included some reportedly bizarre statements
including the claim that he could obtain irrefutable, earth shaking proof of
alien life if only one of his ex-wives would let him in her house to retrieve
his abandoned belongings. He is quite proud of the fact that a company which
sells UFO abduction insurance has declared his claim "genuine" and
promises to pay him one million dollars, just as the policy states, even if
they are paying at the rate of one dollar each year. He, apparently, takes great
comfort in his identity as a UFO abductee and although he claims that the
incident destroyed his life and is responsible for the problems listed above,
he gives talks about the experience whenever possible.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Yet we have refused his offer of a
talk on two occasions. In short, the officers of ISUNY felt the cause of
preserving logic and reason would not be advanced noticably by attacking this
individual or his belief system. And from a public relations standpoint the
case spelled a disaster. If we criticized his beliefs we would look like
bullies. If we did not, we would look like fools. And, finally, there was a
thought that perhaps we could even be criticized for choosing a man with
apparent problems of a deep seated sort to represent UFO believers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l11 level1 lfo12; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>The Lonely Woman<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Sometime ago, I was contacted
individually by mail by a woman in another state. She wished information from
me, a moderately known skeptic, on coincidences and "psychic
parallelism." She stated she was trying to explain a paranormal claim
she'd had. Naturally I was intrigued and asked for details.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">To make a long story short, due to
health problems, this woman in her 50s had not been in a romantic relationship
for virtually twenty years. She, apparently, lived alone. She had developed the
belief that she and another individual were "soul mates" and had
known one another in a past life. Everywhere she went she was reminded of this
man and she saw these reminders as significant incidents. She described them as
"psychic parallelisms and much more than mere coincidences." She'd
had dreams of him and believed these dreams may have reflected incidents that
had occurred together in a past life. There were other incidents as well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">The obvious explanation, clearly,
is obsession caused by loneliness due to her tragic circumstances. When I, as
tactfully as possible, suggested that it was coincidence and perhaps she would
be better off if she stopped referring or thinking of him as a
"soulmate", she replied that there were just too many things that
reminded her of this man so it could not be coincidence and he must be her
"soulmate." She concluded that science and reasons could not offer
her an explanation, and she would just have to look elsewhere. (For the record,
she had made no effort to meet the individual, refused to identify him, but
stated that he was quite distant geographically from her. I suspect that he may
have been some sort of celebrity.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Clearly, there would be nothing to
be gained from pursuing this poignant claim further or attacking this woman's
belief system through exchanging letters.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo13; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>The mental health patient<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">For sometime now I have been
receiving mail from a mental health patient who believes he can shape time and
space with "the awesome powers of his mind." He wishes these powers
tested. He cannot, however, specify what exactly he can do and refuses to
answer questions about this in a specific manner which would enable the alleged
powers to be scientifically tested. I have been told that this is a common
problem among mental health patients who take great comfort in a delusional
system involving great, but hidden, powers. Rather than see it threatened, they
often keep the delusions spawned "powers" vague and beyond the
comprehension of mere mortals such as myself.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Why did I give him attention in the
first place? I made the mistake of suggesting that he might stand a better
chance of getting his "powers" tested if he were to provide proof
with his letters of a clean bill of mental health. My intention with this
suggestion was to get an obviously ill man in treatment. Instead, I got a new
pen pal and he did, as requested, include a "clean" bill of mental
health from his psychiatrist and therapist stating that they he had been in
their care for several years and they felt it was acceptable for him "to
pursue his interest in the paranormal."<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">I have heard similar tales from
other skeptics groups, notably the Australian skeptics. Avoid mental health
patients as subjects of paranormal claims! You have little to gain except for
embarrassment!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">All of these "bad claims"
involve people with obvious problems. It is relatively common for people with
problems to develop delusional thought patterns and seek out skeptics. If this
happens to you, take the mature route -hide or flee town!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">When dealing with people with
problems and delusional beliefs there are several very real risks you can take.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->You can overreach your knowledge. It is very
tempting to offer possible diagnoses of psychiatric problems or claims of
"fantasy proneness." Rarely, if ever, do skeptics have access to the
sorts of information or education to do this knowledgeably.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->You can get sued. If you call a nut a nut or a
kook a kook or even a schizophrenic a schizophrenic then lawyers might come
after you, unless you can back the statement up!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l12 level1 lfo14; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->You can easily look like a bully. Why call a
kook a kook if he's obviously acting like a kook?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Besides, generally speaking, its
not your problem if somebody else is acting kooky. Picking on people with
problems is rarely admired, even if skeptics do it to prove the man in question
is not really a being from Jupiter (or wherever!)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Many paranormal claims directly
involve individuals with very real problems. Don't pick on them. It's bad
Karma. Just smile and remember that a) life's tough for all of us sometimes and
b) in some cultures the mentally ill are cherished as blessings from the Gods.
Imagine yourself as a member of one of these cultures. Nevertheless, the
mentally ill and the emotionally troubled are not blessings for skeptics and
skeptics groups. Instead, they are a no win situation. Avoid no win situations.
Try to keep your distance from confused or ill people who believe they have
powers beyond your comprehension. You'll be glad you did. (They might, after
all, think you into a cornfield.) Smile. It's a good life.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">And remember, since I argued in the
above section that you cannot and should not attempt to explain all paranormal
claims, it's okay to be selective. But if you are pressed and forced to offer
an explanation, on a person with problems and their wacky claims, remember this
line from Carl Sagan. Memorize it and repeat it when needed. "Clearly
something is going on. And it is fascinating. But the question we need to ask,
is it going on in outer space (or the outer world) or is it going on in inner
space (or the inner world)?" Then smile knowingly. Do not continue your explanation.
Just smile and nod your head as if showing a ponderous, all knowing wisdom. Do
not mention any specific mental illnesses. Do not pull out your Fantasy Prone
Personality Assessment Scale Decoder ring. Smile, nod, look wise and
compassionate. Go home and congratulate yourself on a job well done.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Be kind to these people. Even
Sagan, after all, heard voices of the dead. We all get weird sometimes.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><b>7.
Skepticism as a technique of intellectual self defense -Some hidden advantages.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>Or</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><i>"Ya
mean I don't really need to claim I'm saving the world?!"</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
In this paper, I have offered a simple perspective on skepticism. My primary
suggestion is that we stop trying to think of skepticism as a philosophy and
instead simply treat it as a technique with limited utility and scope.
Specifically, I suggested that we see skepticism as a technique of intellectual
self defense.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">It is my hope that if we attempt to
do things this way then skepticism will become streamlined and simplified in
several ways. At the current time, skepticism, arguably, often appears to bite
off more than it can chew and in return it sometimes resembles a hodge-podge of
little bits and pieces of various philosophies, doctrines and sciences.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">One of my key points is that we
de-emphasize paranormal claims as the be all and end all of skepticism. This
may be controversial. First of all, I feel this is already happening, so what
I'm suggesting is simply that we recognize it and address it. Secondly, there
often appears to be a great deal of insecurity among some prominent skeptics
about being involved in skepticism. At times, it seems that claims are made
that virtually state that the future of mankind is in danger and can only be
preserved if we conduct a systematic debunking of any and all haunted houses or
UFO sightings. One of my hopes is that if the recommendations in this paper are
followed, then some of this apparent insecurity and grandiose justification
will be reduced.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">If we realize the limitations of
skepticism, seeing it as a technique and not a philosophy, then we will
hopefully be able to accommodate differing philosophical viewpoints more
easily. Skepticism, as an "ism", has been indebted to the works of
many philosophers. Unfortunately, at times it seems as if these philosophies are
brought into skeptical discussions whether or not they are really relevant. Why
can't skeptics be allowed to develop their personal philosophies in a diverse
and natural manner? Why is any philosophy needed if all we are practicing is a
technique of intellectual self defense? One of the underlying controversies
within the skeptic movement is just how philosophical is this movement intended
to be.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Another underlying controversy
within skepticism is the controversy over who are we aiming skepticism at?
There is ambivalence on this within skeptical publications. Some imply that
skepticism and critical thinking should be practiced by all people. Others seem
to see skepticism primarily as a means by which a carefully selected elite hand
down wisdom to the masses. I am clearly advocating a populist approach to
critical thinking. I feel that if we see skepticism as a technique of
intellectual self defense then we have an obligation to attempt to show the
value of these techniques to the public at large.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Remember! -"A
man with a good car don't need no justification" So sang the 80s rock
group Gang of Four. It rings forever true~<o:p></o:p></b></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-84520506419176971312021-07-05T15:53:00.000-07:002021-07-05T15:53:23.461-07:00Budd Hopkins and the UFO Abduction Movement, Part One<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Are other
worldly beings abducting humans, tampering with their memories, and collecting
their DNA? Is our planet threatened by extraterrestrial invasion? </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And why
did this issue seem so much more important 20 years ago? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>If one
had travelled, physically or intellectually, in certain circles during the early
1990s and the beginnings of the new millennium, it would have been easy to come
to the conclusion that alien abduction was a very real and important issue.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And if
you had begun to look into the issue a few names would be prominent, John Mack,
David M. Jacobs, and Budd Hopkins. All were known as prominent UFO researchers
who had published books on the subject with mainstream book publishers and who
had developed a following, often with their own network of researchers, administrative
staff, and, of course, abductees and support groups for abductees. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John
Mack was a Harvard professor of psychiatry who had come to the belief that his
patients were being abducted by beings from another world or dimension, perhaps
come via UFOs. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>David
M. Jacob was a Temple University professor of history who had developed the
belief that the world was being menaced by extraterrestrials who were cross
breeding with humans and that their cross-breed offspring was infiltrating our
society without much notice. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Budd
Hopkins, who we will focus on a bit here, was an artist by training, and apparently
a surprisingly successful one with work in several prestigious museums. Ultimately
his career as an abstract painter and sculptor, began to become overshadowed by
his enthusiastic effort to explore UFO phenomenon and claims. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the Budd Hopkins Wikipedia page
(accessed on July 5, 2021), Hopkins first became interested in UFOs after
apparently seeing something he could not identify and that he found quite mysterious
and important on Cape Cod in 1964. When he reported the sighting to the
government, he was not satisfied with their answer, and suspected a government
cover-up. His response to that was to begin to investigate such claims himself.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">In 1975, Hopkins was approached by
George O’Barski, a man who claimed he had met the occupants of a UFO after the
object, an alien spaceship, had landed and taken soil samples. This was the beginning
of seeking out people who either claimed or simply wondered if they had
encountered alien visitors or had been abducted by such beings. According to
his New York Times obituary ( Hopkins died August 21, 2011, at the age of 80. See
Fox, Margalit. “Budd Hopkins, Abstract Expressionist and U.F.O. Author, Dies at
80,” New York Times. August 24, 2011. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/arts/design/budd-hopkins-abstract-artist-and-ufo-author-dies-at-80.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/25/arts/design/budd-hopkins-abstract-artist-and-ufo-author-dies-at-80.html</a>
) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopkins was “the father of the
alien-abduction movement.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">On the other hand, being “father of
the alien-abduction movement” is not necessarily a good thing, particularly if
people are not actually being abducted by aliens and the entire movement was
based on delusion, paranoia, and poor investigation techniques. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">With luck, fate, karma, and God
willing, I’ll share more on this in future installments. <o:p></o:p></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-58425411016704877812021-06-28T11:32:00.007-07:002021-06-28T11:32:54.572-07:00Tom Calarco's Tales of a Red Hot UFO Investigator<p> </p><h1>True Tales of a Red Hot UFO Investigator</h1><br /><div><i>Tom Calarco is a friend and writer. He is the author of the following piece. Tom and I disagree on </i><i>several things. Not only does Tom Calarco believe that U.F.O.s are most likely spaceships or at the very least items of great significance but he also has spent a considerable amount of time investigating such sightings. And he tells a lot of very funny stories about these incidents. And therefore I asked him to share some of these stories in these pages. Tom is the author of Hi-Hee Hi-Ho Ha-, a childrens book and his current project is a book length work on the underground railroad in New York. You can learn more about his books and writing at his amazon author's page: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Calarco/e/B001HPLU2O%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Calarco/e/B001HPLU2O%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share</a></i></div><div><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br /></p><div align="center"><h1>Is Someone Out There Watching Over Us?</h1><h2>By Tom Calarco</h2><br /><br /></div>The year was 1978 and like any good story, the story of my career as a UFO investigator begins with meaningless sex and violence. I had recently separated from my wife of two years. A nurse had moved in with me and wanted to get married. I remember one night, a little after midnight, my girl friend, the nurse, had just come home from working the second shift. Soon it was time for a mutual check up. We slid into it perfectly. A rhythm had built up, and the bed was rocking faster and faster . . . Effortlessly it built up, and we found that moment when your soul gets swept away. Millions of miles, it seems, you go. And time freezes. You forget that someday you and everyone, and everything is going to go out of existence . . . My girl friend had started screaming, her loud moans rocking the walls. The phone rang. We hesitated, trying to ignore it, but the ringing continued. The mood shattered, annoyed as well as alarmed, I slid out carefully and reached over to answer the phone. "I've had enough of your shit!" a voice blasted.<p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Who is this?" I asked confused.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Listen, peckerhead," the caller shouted, "the next time you wake me up, I'm gonna come up there and break your fuck'n head!"</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Go, go fuck yourself," I said and slammed down the receiver.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">It was the guy downstairs, a muscle-bound young roofer. My heart raced as I heard him stampede up the stairs. He was pounding on my door. "You little shit," he shouted, "when I get hold 'a you, I'm gonna . . ."</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Whatta you gonna do, asshole!" screamed my still-naked girl friend through the closed door, her boobs bouncing all over the place as she charged out of the bedroom. "Call the cops," she yelled to me.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">I was already dialing as the guy started kicking the door and I heard the sound of wood cracking.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"We've got the cops on the phone, asshole!" she yelled.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Suddenly the guy stopped and I gave the police our address loudly enough so that the guy could hear. "Okay, officer, you're sending someone right over? Thank you, thank you."</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Did ya hear that asshole?" she shouted through the door.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"I heard it," the guy said. "But if you don't stop this shit, someone's gonna get hurt."</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">He retreated downstairs. We went back to bed, and turned off the lights. Within minutes, we saw the reflection of the oscillating red light from the police car tinge the blinds in the window. They must have been there about a minute, but never entered the premises. Afterwards, everything became quiet, and I lay there unable to fall asleep. My neighbor wanted to kill me. My girlfriend wanted to marry me, and my ex-wife was still lurking in the background waiting to persecute me anyway she could. I had seen better days and was thinking of fleeing town or at least finding someway to get a much needed change of scenery.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">I turned on the radio, lowering the volume so not to awaken my girl friend who was snoring. Recently, I had seen the movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I had taped its soundtrack and had been overwhelmed by the music and what it foretold. Over and over, I'd been listening to it. It made what happened next seem more than coincidence. Distantly the radio picked up the voice of a woman saying something about "aliens." I adjusted the dial and the station started to come in more clearly. It was Betty Hill, a woman who claimed to be abducted by aliens. -My brain snapped. Why not contact Betty Hill and see if she'd take me? I was going to become a UFO investigator!</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">It seemed like a natural move. The space program had always intrigued me as a boy. And ever since I saw this movie about huge Martian goons controlled by a head in a fishbowl with flowing tentacles, I've been fascinated by outer space and the possibility of aliens.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">In fact, one of my life's most auspicious turns happened not long after seeing this movie. I was ten years old and had just finished reading Willy Ley's Rockets, Missiles and Moons, and was walking down a side street in my native downtown Schenectady where I came upon this unusual shop. It sold candy and snacks, and from a distance looked like a typical mom and pop grocery of the time with a big window full of ads and some of its items. But when I crossed the street, I found that the items were magazines with shocking covers. Displays of naked, huge-breasted women, which burned into my eyes.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">It's a wonder that somehow in the middle of all those shocking covers, I spied a glossy picture of a missile thrusting off a launch pad. It was on the cover of a magazine called Space Age. It looked perfect for my scrapbook of missiles and satellites. I don't know what it was doing there. Perhaps the proprietor had looked quickly and mistaken the phallic like rocket for something else. But I knew I must have it. I forced myself into the store and bought a copy. The proprietor, an old guy who was licking his lips, made me feel real creepy, and I couldn't wait to get out of there.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">At home I discovered photos of missiles and rockets that were even better than those in Life Magazine. Their stories had much greater detail than those in newspapers. And despite the proprietor, I went back to the porno shop every month to get the latest issue. It wasn't long before I made a paper model of an actual satellite at school, and they hung it at the entrance. I began telling everyone that someday I was going to the moon . . .</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">My spaceship strayed off course. College was a foolish search for perfection, when the religious faith inspired by the statues, crucifixes, nuns, priests, and weekly holy communions of childhood, came up empty. In college I wrote a memorable term paper which concluded UFOs were interplanetary in origin, but for the most part my interest in UFOs was set aside . The years continued to pass; my life became lost in the Counterculture. I became a struggling itinerant waiter, trying to become a writer . . . But now faced with the twin threats of love and death , well, it just seemed like the perfect chance to renew my interest in UFOs while fleeing town at the same time.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">The next day, I got the phone number of a Betty Hill through New Hampshire directory assistance and called it immediately.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Is this the Betty Hill?" I asked, nervously.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">She chuckled and was friendly but guarded. When I asked she said she didn't take people to the UFO landing sites any longer. Too many had gone with her, and she thought it was decreasing the frequency of the landings. She urged me instead to write her a letter and promised to write back, with directions.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">I wrote soon, wondering if she would ever answer. This uncertain waiting was the hardest part of the project. I felt like going at once. I had to go, I couldn't miss the chance to see a real UFO, to maybe have that closest of encounters. With trillion of galaxies and infinite numbers of planets, there had to be other intelligent life. It's absurd and medieval to assume that we are the only ones! In the meantime, I spent my time reading every UFO book I could find, and to my surprise, Betty answered my letter. She wrote that the sites "were [in an area] about ten miles from the ocean, Pease Air Force Base and the city of Portsmouth; near corn fields, swampy areas, railroad tracks and power lines; and in deserted areas with few houses." I could now begin my search for possible extraterrestrial life and Betty Hill had helped me!</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">A couple of years before, I had seen the made-for-TV movie about Betty and husband Barney, played by James Earl Jones. They were driving home after a vacation in Montreal through a desolate stretch in the White Mountains in 1961 during the wee hours of the autumnal equinox when the sun crosses the equator. Betty noticed a bright light about the size of a star moving in the horizon. It appeared to get bigger, and they saw blinking colored lights. Betty urged Barney to stop. They watched the object, which looked the size of an airliner land in an adjacent field. At Betty's urging, Barney went outside for a closer look. As he crossed the road, a voice communicated with him telepathically:</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"></p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Do not be afraid. You are safe."</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Barney froze, then ran back to the car. He floored the accelerator. . .</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">The next thing the Hills remembered was driving down the road two hours later. But they had gone only 35 miles, not the 120 they should've traveled! Two years later, after series of sessions under hypnosis, they revealed a story about alien abduction. This was the first of hundreds of such cases which in the 1990's have become commonplace and as a result more dubious. At the time, however, it seemed more than simply credible� it was too incredible not to be true: being taken aboard a spaceship by aliens less than five feet tall with grayish skin, big black eyes and no noses or ears. Both being examined, and Barney operated on. Betty, being taken into confidence by one of the aliens who showed her a star map where the aliens had come from. Betty was able to reconstruction the configuration under hypnosis.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">The case gained international attention. In 1969, an Ohio schoolteacher matched up the configuration with known star maps, except for three stars. Coinicidence perhaps, but what belied such coincidence was that the three stars were later discovered and listed on published astronomical maps in 1972. Now, in 1978, Betty was claiming that UFOs were landing in various locations in New Hampshire, and that on any night, she could take and had taken people out to see them.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">And I was communicating with her and receiving her assistance with my project. To me, at this point, Betty Hill was the ultimate celebrity.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">By summer, I settled my affairs with my wife and girl friend, outfitted my car with a CB for impossibly possible communication, and composed a message in the form of a poem called "Ode to the Aliens." (Attached below.) On August 6, 1978, with the Schumann Piano Concerto blasting from my car stereo, (I'm a serious fan of classical music and today often work in public relations for various local symphonies and operas.) I set out for the New Hampshire seacoast. Zooming along superhighways through the Berkshires and other mountainous roads, I imagined encounters with faceless green goons; little, bug-eyed big-brained beings; and slimy lizard-like creatures. Wanting to get away from both my wife and girlfriend, to go to a strange, new world, it was all so convenient. Perhaps it was not happenstance that my best nights in bed with my wife were spent watching Star Trek.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Finally, as the beautiful wooded New Hampshire mountains flattened out, the distinctive damp fishiness of the salt air grew, the horizon widened, and the lines of car preceded me as I slowly drove up to Hampton Beach. Two solid miles of blue-green-white foam sea fizzing along smooth tan sands, and the smell of fried dough, pizza, hot dogs, caramel corn, fudge and cotton candy. Adding an otherworldly touch to the whole scene was the huge platform that resembled a rocket launch site looming into the horizon from out on the ocean. It was here that they were working on the huge pipelines that would bring the cooling waters of the Atlantic to the reactors of the Seabrook Nuclear Powerplant then under construction.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Fatefully perhaps, however, a couple of miles before I reached the beach, I stopped to pick up a hitchhiker, a teenaged girl with thick shoulder-length black and an easy smile named Penny. She had a pretty, unblemished round face and dark eyes made darker by thick eyebrows and an outwardly friendly manner. She was on her way to work, her first day as a waitress at Giovanni's Restaurant, a large white stone building which resembled an Italian mansion. Much to my surprise, she seemed excited by my new career as a UFO investigator. I dropped her off and wished her well, but not before Penny she wrote down her phone number on a slip of paper.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Adjusting to Hampton Beach was easy enough. Ironically, I had honeymooned there celebraing the start of my ill-fated marriage. So, I knew my way around and quickly found an inexpensive room in an old hotel which I rented for the week across the street from the beach. A stop at the employment office located in the "Casino" complex at the center of the beach, and soon I was applying for an immediate opening at Giovanni's.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">It was a nice place with a nightclub downstairs and a restaurant upstairs. I learned it had just been built the year before and everything had this clean untouched look about it. Upstairs, the restaurant offered a huge dining area with picture windows in the front overlooking the beach, and more than 150 checkerboard tables (red and white in the front; blue and white in the rear). A plush red rug which changed to blue in the rear, large plants, white statues in the classic Roman design, and wall montages depicting Italy, all new and fresh made the restaurant very appealing.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">The owner, was a middle-aged lady, who grew up in of all places, Schenectady. Without hesitation, she told me I could start the next day. It was just the beginning of a series of fortuitous events that marked perhaps the most exciting month in my life.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">I'll never forget that first night there. I had rocked away the night at "Gio's" nightclub where everyone seemed so friendly, and was walking down the strip of sidewalk that ran along the beach a little past 1 a.m. when everything closed and everyone was leaving or going to their rooms.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Gio's was maybe three-quarters of a mile from my hotel. A railing separated the sidewalk from the beach and every so often there was a bench. Now the benches were empty and the sound of the surf more hypnotic. In the distance, what looked like almost directly across from hotel, I thought I saw someone sitting in a bench. A woman. As I drew near I saw that she was wearing a revealing halter that hung down just above her waist.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Nice night," I said hesitantly.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Beautiful," she responded. "I just love the beach, don't you?"</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">I was a bit surprised by her friendliness. The conversation moved on quickly. To get down to the bare essentials, our conversation led to my first night out in search of Betty's landing sites. Having already pinpointed several locations with topographical maps, I parked in the vicinity of one near a power grid. I turned on my CB and read my ode. Then I put the tape of the music from Close Encounters. Before long, in the throes of stargazing, I found myself entangled in an encounter that was even better than the one I had bargained for and that lasted into the wee hours as night progressed into the break of day.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Much to my surprise, women really seemed to be turned on by this UFO investigator schtick.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">This was the beginning of days at the beach, evenings at the restaurant, parties after work, and nights in search of Betty's locations, sometimes with latest lady I had picked up either on the beach or at the restaurant. But I didn't just meet women at the beach or at the restaurant, there were others who might be staying at the rooming house where I moved in after the week at the hotel.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Many nights that August I drove to possible sites, watching shooting stars streak into oblivion, observing planes from Pease, the nearby Air Force base, calling out to the beings of incomprehensible dimension, asking them to reach out over the lonely spaces of darkness and yield their secret. And whenever possible, I brought a lovely lady along to accompany me in my search to contact the space brothers. And, for the record, I truly did wish to meet with extraterrestrials. But nothing happened, except a lot of sex. Which, in its own way, was okay too. So, all things considered, I guess it wasn't turning out to be futile after all. I was looking for UFOs, but instead I was getting laid a lot. It turned out to be a great come-on, even though I was truly sincere about the part that I was hoping to see a real-live alien being. And everyone at the restaurant where I worked knew about it, and every girl in the place wanted to go out with me, it seemed.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Before I came, all the girls were in love with another waiter. I am anything but gay, let's get that straight, but as a straight guy I would have to say he was one of best-looking guys I've ever known. Next to him, Robert Redford looked ordinary. Blonde and blue eyes and kind of built like Mickey Mantle in the early days of his career, he was a centerfielder himself and was being followed by scouts for a possible signing as a minor leaguer. To this day, I don't know if he ever made it. But despite this awesome competition I still met a lot of women. The point is that not looks alone attract people. It's excitement, and I was deeply excited about my quest for extraterrestrial life.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">We became friends, and we and the girl who all the other guys in the restaurant wanted to go out with, would come with us as we looked together for signs of extraterrestrial life. I think she was pretending to like me, so she could get to my new friend. One night we found some hole dug into the ground around some railroad tracks. They had me scoop up the soil, and I went so far as the nearby University of New Hampshire to have it analyzed. Surprisingly, the University staff actually analyzed it, but didn't find a trace of radioactivity, or any unusual composition. So what if I didn't see a UFO, that month was one of my golden periods. At the time, however, I found these spurts of epiphany too brief. It is only in my maturity that I have realized: it is only moments we are to know of heaven.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Labor Day came, most of the crew left for college, and the beach emptied out. In September, business still was fairly good on weekends, and I started to go out with a waitress who was still staying on the beach. Ann was a tiny woman about 4 feet, 10 inches tall who splashed all over with energy. She had eyes like the color of the ocean. And being on the short side myself, many said we made a nice couple.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">She was working at Gio's the Sunday afternoon Betty Hill came to the restaurant and asked for me. I had gone home for a break, having worked the lunch and scheduled to come back to work dinner.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">I had recently moved from the rooming house to a very nice cottage, fully furnished with new furniture, appliances, and dinnerware. And for which I was paying about one-fifth the summer rate.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Wow, was I ever flabbergasted when I found Betty Hill at my cabin door. To me she was more than a celebrity. She was a living link between humanity and the great unknown. She was accompanied by a pudgy, young man from Ohio named Bill. I couldn't believe it! Betty Hill! Bill, my girlfriend soon led them directly to my cabin. I couldn't believe it. This was actually Betty Hill! She was a friendly, little, gray-haired lady, older than I expected. But she was smiling and appeared friendly enough and she had come all the way here just to see me!</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Not surprisingly, the discussion immediately turned to UFOs, and the aliens who occupy them. Betty described them as short, most of them under five feet, and horribly ugly with no lips or nose and mere slits for a mouth. She said they communicated telepathically, were everywhere close-by and would soon land in every major city, proclaiming their existence to us. She seemed uncertain about what would happen next, only convinced it was necessary for the salvation of the world. Bill claimed, in his homespun drawl, to have descended from three generations of UFO-related experiences, and to have undergone psychiatric treatment to unearth a suspected UFO abduction during early childhood. Bill lived upstairs from Betty Hill where he shared a flat with another alleged UFO abductee named Reed. Speaking as though he had first hand knowledge, he pointed out their emotional and conceptual differences. In a light-hearted vein, he claimed that many of the vehicles in which they landed were small, makeshift, box-like structures he called, 'crittercraft.' The aliens, he added, had an excellent sense of humor. The conversation never strayed, but both Betty and Bill were convinced of one thing:</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">that Betty was a very important person and the CIA and FBI were watching over her.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Before they left, I received an invitation from Betty to visit her and view her slides and movies of UFOs! There was no way I could pass up such an opportunity!</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Soon after Rose and I were taken to lunch by Bill and his roomie Reed, a bizarre young man. Like Bill, Reed was peculiar. More articulate and more cynical, he had short, curly, red hair, big glasses, and a thin frame, and resembled Elton John. He gave me the creeps. He told me a story about a hypnotist in Maine who had investigated a Betty Hill-like abduction. One night the hypnotist was visited by a short alien in a black overcoat, a classic tale from UFO lore. Holding out a coin, the alien made it dissapear. This he warned Hopkins would happen to him if he persisted in this investigation. Reed then talked about other investigators who had met untimely death and cautioned me about publishing anything about Betty.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">A couple of weeks later, I was on my way with my girlfriend to Betty's house. Our anticipation increased as we closed in, and our imaginations were racing as we imagined what lay ahead of us. Betty lived in a quaint and comfortable-looking, gray house surrounded by foliage. She greeted us warmly while her tiny dog barked with fear and retreated into a back room. Animals, according to some reports, have been known to exhibit anxiety during UFO encounters. Perhaps, I joked to Betty, her dog sensed us to be aliens, considering my friend was only 4' 10" and myself 5' 3".</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Inside, Betty soon turned on the slide projector. Most of what we saw looked like photos of planes at night, their lights silhouetted against the sky. There was one of interest, though, of these small balls of light that appeared to be flying around some trees. Trick photography? I couldn't tell.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">A movie followed. It was shot with a super-8, and in order to catch glimpses of the barely flickering points of colored light she claimed were UFOs, we had to sit with our noses in the screen. Her explanation that the fleeting quality of the images was due to their fantastic speed was difficult to accept. It was as if the film were taken of the night sky with bits of light being picked up from planes passing across in the distance. Though she promised to take me to one of her secret spots some other time, my first doubts about her story emerged.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">While keeping in touch with Betty by phone, I continued my own search for UFOs and signs of extraterrestrial life with, people at work supplying much information. I was told about fairly recent sightings in Hampton Falls and Kingston, New Hampshire, as well as Rockport, Massachusetts, and took day trips to investigate them. One of my fellow employee had lived in Exeter all his life, where there had been a famous UFO flap in 1965. He had not only been there during the famous UFO encounters, but in fact, his stepfather had made one of the sightings, having seen something one night hover above some trees, all lit up like a Christmas tree. But he confided to me, his stepfather was a heavy drinker, as was Norman Muscarello, another famous witness to the incident. Besides, he told me, Muscarello had a reputation as a troublemaker. What had become of Muscarello? No one in town seemed to know, and thus my investigation into the incident was blocked.. I also talked over the phone briefly but regularly with people at Pease Air Force Base. One officer was especially friendly. He said that though the government was not investigating UFOs, many of the pilots from the Air Force base were interested. He also said he was interested in Betty Hill and encouraged me to call back with information I might have about her.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Nevertheless, I was becoming discouraged. I hadn't seen anything and I didn't feel that I had accomplished much.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">But then it happened. It was approaching nine o'clock EST on October 28, 1978, and I was about to enter the small house on the beach I was renting by myself. It was a cool, clear night, the sky full of glistening stars, and I was marveling at their beauty. Then, a tiny, solitary, green light moved above the construction site of the Seabrook nuclear power plant. Only a month before, off the coast of Australia, a pilot had disappeared after seeing such a light. It had been reported on the front pages and network news. My eyes latched onto it, following its quickening pace, causing my head to turn and my body to race with it. Suddenly it swooped down and transformed into two white ghosts of light leaving a quickly vanishing trail. I gasped, and before I realized it I had jumped to my feet and was running down the street, chasing its mute identity, shouting at its fleeting image. It was before my eyes, and it was passing away so swiftly.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">"Come back! Come back!" I shouted, but it continued to streak over Gio's and sort of dematerialize over the ocean . . . My heart heaved. Energy surged through me. I ran into Gio's and shouted "I saw a UFO! I saw a UFO! I saw a UFO. Eureka! I had found it!</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">My enthusiasm renewed, I re-intensified my investigation. At Betty's suggestion, I made several vigils in the Newmarket area. In the book, UFOs -Interplanetary Visitors by Ray Fowler, from nearby Wenham, Massachusetts, I discovered that there had been a sighting of a white, egg-shaped UFO hovering a few feet above the ground in that village on May 31, 1971 near the railroad tracks on the outskirts of the small town. .Naturally, I decided to investigate. A few nights later, with some friends from Gio's for company, I spotted some lights in the distance upon these tracks looking much like one of Betty's photos of an alleged landing. But it was no landing. Merely a train at rest. But for a moment, we thought we had found something. I tried other locations and took a trip to Maine, where there had been reports of sightings in September.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Undaunted, I took a trip to Portland, Maine, where there had been reports of sightings in September. I visited the local television station looking for information on the local sightings. I was told UFO reports were widespread , one sighting originating with the teenage daughter of one of the station's cameramen. Then I went to the Portland Press-Herald office and was allowed access to the morgue where I found an extensive UFO file. From it I not only learned of repeated sightings in early September by police and the Coast Guard - September 8 being the day of highest activity - but also came across a detailed account of a UFO abduction and hypnotic regression case like the Hills.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">According to the report On October 27, 1975, twenty-one year-old David Stephens from Norway, Maine, was allegedly taken aboard an alien craft and examined. However, he only recalled the experience after undergoing a series of sessions under hypnosis with a then unknown individual named Bud Hopkins. Since that time, Hopkins has become internationally famous for his involvement with the abductee phenomenon.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">The next day I drove to Gloucester, Massachusetts, where two fishing boats were lost at sea that September not far from where rumors said UFOs had been sighted in Rockport, Massachusetts. I talked with the Coast Guard and local fishermen about the possible connection between the missing boats and UFOs, mentioning the one rumored around Rockport. No one knew of any sightings, however, and I was referred to the Gloucester Times for the details about the boats.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">At the Times I read the accounts of the disappearances of the boats, the Captain Cosmos and the Alligator. The Cosmos was the more intriguing. "Failure to find any trace of the vessel or its crew," one report stated, "has led to speculation among some fishermen that whatever happened, happened very quick!" The boat was the first to disappear in sixteen years, and equipped with the best in survival gear: a recently-checked life raft; floating, insulated survival suits; and provisions for two weeks. Its last location was 180 miles east of Cape Cod while encountering a violent storm. This was on September 8. What a coincidence! The same date UFO activity had reached its peak in Maine. I also talked with UFO Investigator and author Ray Fowler, who referred me to a UFO investigator named John Paul Oswald he knew who was then living in the village of Hampton, less than five miles from the beach. Several days later, I phoned the investigator, asking if I could speak to him. He agreed but said his time was limited. He suggested a time and gave me directions to his apartment that was hidden by a motel along U.S. Route One about a mile from the heart of the village.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Oswald was cool and formal when he answered the door. Tall, with thick glasses and an introspective look, he could've been a less gifted version of Stephen King. Walking in, I saw piles of magazines and stacks of books littered on the floor, the most prominent being a three-foot edifice of old-looking hardcover books. It was a shabby, one-bedroom apartment. In the middle of the books and magazines, he sat in a large easy chair and I sat down on the couch that was kitty-corner to him. I took out my notebook and he began a discourse about how he became interested in UFOs.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">He said he came to this area to investigate UFOs in 1969 after reading about the sightings in Exeter. At the time he was working as an engineer. He had a M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin. However, he had become so fascinated with UFOs that he left his job as an engineer in Wisconsin and got a job in a factory there so that he could continue his investigations. He was currently an official investigator with the Mutual UFO Network, to which Ray Fowler belonged. During his time in Hampton, he also had compiled reports for the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena and the Center for UFO Studies which was directed by the late Dr. Allen Hynek, the astronomer who became the nation's foremost authority on UFOs. He emphasized that he was a serious, sober, professional researcher. It was his belief that UFO sightings were a rarity, and that if there were three or four genuine sightings in an area in one year, then you have a flap, the word for a UFO epidemic.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">After ten years there, he said he was nearing completion of a complex, philosophical work not meant for public consumption. He was reluctant to talk about his conclusions and cast himself as thoroughly professional in his approach.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Somehow, though, the conversation turned to religion. This excited him, and he began spouting off his theories of creation and the universe. He said he had been involved in an intense study of Theology and noted that the three-foot edifice in the middle of the living room was theological works. In the self-published pamphlet he showed me, "What You Need To Know," he wrote that after years of investigation and painstaking study, he had come up with "the comprehensive explanation of the UFO phenomenon," which will take some time for scholars and scientists to reconcile with the new coherent view of reality put forth by him. Lost in an emotional outburst, he spurted forth his revelation. UFOs are manned by angels preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! Not knowing quite how to respond to this, I left quickly. In the coming weeks I was beset by increasing paranoia, and events did nothing to calm me down.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">For instance, the editor of the Portsmouth Herald, who told me that perhaps I was snooping around in something that was none of my business. And it didn't help when I was interviewed by a weekly newspaper reporter who wanted to do a story on me that I don't believe was ever published. I kept thinking about Reed's story and at night I imagined the men in the black overcoats coming to visit me. Not wanting to live alone any longer, I moved into a two-bedroom apartment with Penny and her new boyfriend. Then I was interviewed by a weekly newspaper reporter who wanted to a story about me. It made me feel uncomfortable that I would be drawing attention to myself and making me easy to find. It got me and I just had to get out of that place by the time fall rolled around. But it was a golden summer, and in fact, I would return for three more seasons to work as a waiter, enjoy the beach and the women, and the fizz of life that's oh so full of mystery. But never since have I seen a UFO. Do I think aliens are currently visiting us? Or, are all the sightings of strange objects and stories of little gray bug-eyed creatures with bodies like insects abducting people and performing medical experiments merely the delusion of our time? Who can say? Maybe it's just a psychological event, a trick of our mind, the phantom of our age. I do believe though that if we continue to explore these phantoms, they will provide us with an answer to the age-old question of where we came from and where we are going, the question about life we all want answered most.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Imagine a starry summer night, so many diamonds filling the blackness of space. Your immortal soul reaches out to them. You wonder what's out there. If there's a purpose to it all. You reason; you hope; you pray that someone's out there, watching over us. Admit it, we all do. We all long for the day of deliverance. I began to feel this way in second grade when I had imaginary conversations with an omnipotent being, who protected me at all times and promised to bring my soul to perfection. It felt natural, this longing to reach out to something greater. And though, that summer, I had not found it, I had made the effort. In this way, I found my own reward.</p><p style="margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><span style="font-size: 16px;">ODE TO THE ALIENS</span><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">By Tom Calarco</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br /><br />Behold, the sparkling diamonds,</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Glistening, changing color</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Across the blackness of infinity</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br />Incomprehensible beings,</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Yield your secret.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Reach out across the lonely spaces,</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Honor us with friendship</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br />Our desire is communication</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Harmony.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">To learn our purpose.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br />Forget the governments,</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">the banks or corporations.</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Rather, come for the masses</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Who march toward destruction</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br />We have been taught that</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">The greater reward is in giving</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">What can we offer you?</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><br />We await your answer</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Listening across the eons . . .</p><div><br /></div></div></div>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-24499227431159314212021-06-28T10:54:00.023-07:002022-10-22T16:50:49.420-07:00Sex, Science, and UFO Abductions<p><br /></p><p>In the late 1990s, I was approached by Hustler, Larry Flynt's well known pornographic magazine, to write a piece on UFO abductions. "Keep it lurid," they said. "Focus on rectal probes and such, but feel free to write anything you want." I did my best but their standards of lurid are much higher than mine. Also they did not really want something that explained away the alleged mystery but instead rewrote it to make things look less explicable than they actually were. Oh well, if you can't trust America's most notorious pornographers to make your reputation look good, who can you trust? <br /><br />For those interested, here's an excerpt from the piece I submitted, one full of scientific goodness. </p><h1><br /></h1><h1>SEX, SCIENCE, AND UFO ABDUCTIONS</h1><h1>by Peter Huston</h1><h1><span style="font-size: 16px;">Robert Baker is a psychologist and frequent contributor to "The Skeptical Inquirer" concerned about therapists who believe their patients are being abducted by space aliens. "Most of the presenting symptoms reported by alleged abductees can be satisfactorily accounted for without resorting to the highly improbable and physically unsubstantiated claims of abduction by alien spaceships." He notes that often such claims begin with a report of someone waking up, terrified, feeling a presence, unable to move and often include waking-dream type hallucinations. The already terrifying memories of this experience are then later modified by hypnosis.</span></h1><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Sleep paralysis, the feeling of awakening and being unable to move, is a normal experience often shared by fifteen percent of the population at different times. Sometimes called the Nightmare, the Old Hag, the combination of paralysis, pressure on the chest, feeling of presence, and dream-type hallucinations in an otherwise waking person has been interpreted in different cultures in different ways, yet most involve common themes. And it is these common themes that do seem to emerge in many of today's UFO reports of Greys entering bedrooms. David J. Huford, a folklorist, categorized these themes in his classic work, "The Terror that Comes in the Night �An Experience Centered Study of Supernatural Assault Traditions."</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;"><i style="font-size: 12pt; margin-left: 10pt; margin-right: 10pt;">"One 1995 victim was a quiet-spoken peasant, a farmer named Mjaka Hamad, who said he does not believe in spirits. He first thought he was having a dream. However, "I could feel it," he said, "something pressing on me. I couldn't imagine what sort of thing was happening to me. You feel as if you are screaming with no voice." He went on to say: "It was just like a dream but then I was thinking it was this popobawa and he had come to do something terrible to me, something sexual. It is worse than what he does to women." Space aliens? No, the parralels are obvious but this comes from an investigation done by prominent skeptic Joe Nickell into a report of a lustful demon in Zanzibar. (Skeptical Briefs, 1995)</i></p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Stories of European Demonic Incubbi and Succubi, Chinese Fox spirits, some vampire reports, even some Eskimo spirit beliefs, they all follow this same pattern, of a person waking up, unable to move and sensing a presence. Such reports have received comment for centuries. In 1949, Ernest Jones tried to explain the phenomena in Freudian terms: "The latent content of a nightmare consists of a representation of a normal act of sexual intercourse, particularly in the form of characteristic for women; the pressure on the breast, the self-surrender portrayed by the feeling of paralysis, and the genital secretion directly indicate its sexual nature, and the other symptoms, the palpitation, sweating, sense of suffocation, etc., etc., are merely exaggerations of manifestations commonly experienced in some degree during coitus when fear is present." (Robbins, Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology, p. 356)</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">But why sex? Neurophysiology offers the following: "Awakening in a state of sleep paralysis can cause one to hyperventilate� The hyperventilation then dminishes the supply of oxygen going to the brain � If the oxygen supply is further restricted, the sexual pleasure centers in the brain are stimulated. Knowledge of this phenomena is often used in autoerotic asphyxia i.e. the very dangerous practice of tying a rope around the neck during masturbation in order to heighten the orgasm. It is also why the alien abduction syndrome is replete with images of alien rape, probing of sex organs, and so forth. Freuqently this sort of sexual arousal is carried over from the REM sleep and, in the male, usually results in penile erection."</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">Michael Persinger, is a neuroscientist and researcher in Ontario. "The important thing about these states is that they all share a feeling of a sense of presence." He went on to explain that during some states the left brain actually detects the activity of the right brain and the result is a feeling of presence. Sleep paralysis, he stated, was a minor subset of these states, but there are many others including some types of seizure and epileptic type states. As for the tales of rape and anal probes, Persinger adds, "During dream states more access to internal states, visceral states and the person becomes more aware, more sensitive to their internal physiology. In women this can manifest as a sensation in their deep, deep vagina. With men this can manifest as a sensitivity deep within their anal regions."</p><p style="font-size: 16px; margin-left: 24pt; margin-right: 24pt;">But why rape? "They aren't all violent," says Michael Persinger. "Our data indicates that many females often see them as lovers. What I suspect we are seeing is a bias in reporting,"</p><h1><br /></h1>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-72725804337300782742021-06-23T20:07:00.008-07:002021-07-05T15:54:57.021-07:00Peter Huston's latest accomplishment and fan mail<p>This was also shared on <a href="http://www.HamchuckWC.com" target="_blank">www.HamchuckWC.com</a></p><p>====</p><p> Greetings, Howie is letting me post directly here, so it's me, Peter Huston. (Thank goodness. Is it just me or has he been getting a bit snooty, yet whiny, and ultimately judgemental lately?) Therefore I am going to interrupt my viewing of old episodes of a television show called "Son of Zorn" (what a treasure!) to share my latest accomplishments and fan mail. </p><p>First, my latest publication, a book review of something called "A Lot of People are Saying --The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy," by Russell Muirhead and Nancy L Rosenblum. It appeared in Vol. 5, No. 4 (latest issue) of The Skeptical Inquirer. The book is heavy reading but quite interesting and covers important stuff. You can find my review here although it is hidden behind a paywall : <a href="https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/06/government-without-facts/" target="_blank">https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/06/government-without-facts/</a></p><p>Full details on the book: [A Lot of People are Saying -The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy. By Russell Muirhead and Nancy L Rosenblum. Princeton and Oxford, Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton University Press. 2019. ISBN -9780691188836. 211 pp. Hardcover. $14.95]</p><p>Well despite the pay wall, apparently at least one person read it (or at least skimmed it) because I soon got this in my e-mail. And, no, seriously, this is not a joke, and I am not making it up. This is real fan mail!!</p><p><br /></p><p dir="LTR" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">Mr. Huston,</span></span></p><p dir="LTR" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">I have not gotten</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">to your book,</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i></i></span><span lang="en-us"><i> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">A Lot of People Are Saying</span></i></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">, but I did read its review in the</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><u> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">Skeptical Inquirer</span></u></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">. I cannot disagree with any</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">of your assertions as expressed in the review.</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> Falsifications and</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">misrepresentations</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> are damaging our democracy.</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> However, it seems to me that</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> there is a blaring</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">argument</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">omission to the “Assault on Democracy</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">,</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">”</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">and you are not alone in</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">the non-inclusion of an</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">important argument. </span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">As you point out, there are major distortions of the truth coming at us from many directions. But wha</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">t about the predispositions and biases that are left</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">unspoken b</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">y</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> many</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> (if not most)</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> of our politicians/leaders. Where is the truth and how is one to</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">de</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">termine it</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> when no</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">logical</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">arguments or reason are given to explain policy decisions</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> and administrative actions</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">. </span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">For example</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">, where is President Biden’s explanation for the</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">southern border policy? Do Americans really believe the poppyco</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">ck</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> we are being served?</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> Defunding the police, really? Releasing arrested criminals in droves</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> – is there some logic to this</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">?</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> I for one have not heard it and I would like an explanation. </span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">One cannot help see that the</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">ir</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> responses are mere</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">deflections</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> at best,</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> lies at worst. Some of th</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">ese decisions are</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> simply bizarre</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> and</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">incomprehensible</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">. My question, and I would love to see you and others address</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">this is: Does not</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">the</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">withholding</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">,</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">veiling</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">,</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">and concealing</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">of truthful</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">,</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"></span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">impartial</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">answers</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> to citizen</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">inquiries</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> constit</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">ute an</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">“Assault on Democracy</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">,” in equal measure to</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">fabrications? Is this</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">practice</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">not equally deceptive? </span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">Would not many of these self-serving</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">politicians/leaders</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"> be removed from office if they</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"> <span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">spoke the truth and answered unequivocally?</span></span></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></p><p dir="LTR" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">Just another concerned citi</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">zen,</span></span></p><p dir="LTR" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX </span></span></p><p></p><div class="yj6qo" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></div><p></p><p dir="LTR" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">Naples, Fl</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;">orida</span></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span><span lang="en-us"></span></p><p dir="LTR" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span lang="en-us"><span style="color: #2f5496; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p>Again, I am not making this up. This came from a real person, who took enough time to take offense at my article and look my name up, find my contact information, and reach out to argue with me about the book's content, despite misreading my book review and mistaking me for the author of the book and not the reviewer, and despite never having read the book at all. I removed his name from this post, because I don't really think it's healthy to make fun of people from a writer's forum unless they have access to their own forum to make fun of me back. It's sort of the line between a crusading journalist and a nasty cyber-bully. ( Good rule of thumb. Something I decided to try to follow after interviewing Bob Black, an obscure anarchist writer known for vindictive attacks on people who offended him, something frighteningly easy to do sadly. I could easily have wound up like Bob Black, but there for the grace of God go I, etc.)</p><p>I did leave in his city and state, because, you know, "Florida Man." etc., and the wonder of people who live out stereotypes. </p><p>I did respond. Here it is: </p><p><i style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">First, that was not ""my" book --that was a book review I wrote about someone else's book, a book I found quite good. A shame you haven't read it as you seem anxious to discuss the ideas in it. It discusses, as stated, the problem of people not just ignoring facts, but thinking they are unnecessary for a discussion to take place. For instance, people arguing about books they have not read. </i></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i>If you don't want to buy it, you might ask your local librarian about an admittedly socialist service called interlibrary loan where you could probably get a copy for free. </i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i>If you want to know about "my" book, one of several, it's called "Scams from the Great Beyond -The Presidential Edition" and you can find it here. <br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08K7N5KBV/ref%3Ddbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1&source=gmail&ust=1624581520832000&usg=AFQjCNGurCAx21IyXJULD-ABqiBpLPpECw" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08K7N5KBV/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/gp/<wbr></wbr>product/B08K7N5KBV/ref=dbs_a_<wbr></wbr>def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1</a> <br /></i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i>Or you can read it here. </i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i>Thanks for the feedback. I wish you the best. </i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i>Peter Huston </i></div><div style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh the joys of being a fringe writer!</span></div></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-14292008425933246422021-06-05T22:17:00.096-07:002021-07-05T15:55:38.930-07:00Transcript of Interview with Betty Hill, famed UFO abductee, conducted on October 1, 1998<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-large; line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Transcript of Interview with Betty Hill. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;">Famed UFO abductee, conducted on October 1, 1998.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Betty
and Barney Hill are probably the best known UFO abductees of all time. According to popular claims, on September 19, 1961, while driving through the mountains of New
Hampshire, the couple were taken aboard an alien spacecraft and inspected and
interviewed by the extraterrestrials who manned the craft. Betty Hill, who was born on June
28, 1919, was 42 at the time. Her husband, Barney, was 39 at the time. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span> <span> </span></span> My
“encounter” with Betty Hill occurred when I called her up, introduced myself as
a journalist, and asked for an interview. She invited me to come to her house
in small town New Hampshire, where we could chat. We met on October 1, 1998.
Betty Hill was 79 at the time. It had been over 37 years since the alleged
incident that had changed her life and made her famous.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Like almost everyone who had the privilege of meeting Betty Hill, I really enjoyed our time together. We spoke for a couple hours and then went out for dinner, getting some of the local fried seafood. As a full transcript of the interview is available online in at least two places, here and at archive.org where remnants of my old website can still be found: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http://www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML">https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http://www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML</a> The two transcripts are the same, aside from minor corrections to punctuation and correcting the spelling of "Roswell," the city in New Mexico. (not "Rosswell") </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">INTERVIEW WITH BETTY HILL</span><o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdPDhOwv8RUpamXPdomIaBcC7cEivTfWB96YYDoWjSdR0RSxQdgc9sbzpRtDmAWq3e6zkbZZvWuPag-7FQeeKmPA7n5-4AfPmIJrsx43hKxJqQ-bfqgFrkkLmRU0sYCPO3fIW5Q69x74/s1438/Picture2-Betty+Hill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="991" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbdPDhOwv8RUpamXPdomIaBcC7cEivTfWB96YYDoWjSdR0RSxQdgc9sbzpRtDmAWq3e6zkbZZvWuPag-7FQeeKmPA7n5-4AfPmIJrsx43hKxJqQ-bfqgFrkkLmRU0sYCPO3fIW5Q69x74/w276-h400/Picture2-Betty+Hill.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betty Hill and her model of one of the "space people." <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMtKlUA3L96A-iIYOqZcrx8dJ6DA4Amvp6x32Ailv9tCYOo5L-Q35zuXkBk5NQs4OqTN9mMrLgFzlXXfiWPcUznU6yLL8e7guamQYGi9lj-SJ8TwDjtWZbmwF6sWVxuLo2WAXI6X5o3E/s1653/Picture1-Betty+Hill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1653" data-original-width="1091" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMtKlUA3L96A-iIYOqZcrx8dJ6DA4Amvp6x32Ailv9tCYOo5L-Q35zuXkBk5NQs4OqTN9mMrLgFzlXXfiWPcUznU6yLL8e7guamQYGi9lj-SJ8TwDjtWZbmwF6sWVxuLo2WAXI6X5o3E/w422-h640/Picture1-Betty+Hill.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betty Hill at her home.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div align="center"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if mso & !supportInlineShapes & supportFields]><span
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</v:shape><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span><![endif]--><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Interview with Betty Hill, (BH) Held at her Home in Portsmouth NH on Thursday October 1, 1998 by Peter Huston (PLH). We meet at about 11:15AM at her old New England style Portsmouth NH home. Betty Hill, age 79, invites me in and is a gracious hostess from beginning to end. Frequent "mm.. hmms", "okays" and head nodding sounds (rattle rattle) by the interviewer have been removed. At times it was difficult to understand a word or two. (?) means a word is unclear and this is my best guess. I was in no hurry, and neither was she, and I really did enjoy talking to her so at times the conversation drifted far from the topic of UFO abductions. Besides, my feelings were that the abduction story has been rehashed dozens of times. What I wished to learn was how the experience has changed her life and what sort of person she personally was like. And I saw nothing wrong with taking side trips to learn about life in New England, interracial families, and race relations in this part of the world. Not only do I come from an inter-racial adoptive family, but my father's family comes from New England, so these subjects interested me greatly as well, and I greatly enjoyed hearing Betty Hill share her experiences with these subjects with me. Therefore, much of this interview had little to do with UFOs, but patient people will notice that as the interview continues it does tend to focus more and more on that subject starting with page 5. Sadly, I am unable to set her New England pronunciations and inflection to paper properly and felt no attempt at reproducing the accent would be better than a clumsy one. Many people ask why I didn't interview Barney. Sadly, Barney passed away in 1969.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />*** <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_22"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img align="right" height="20" src="file:///C:/Users/SKIPPY~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image007.gif" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_22" width="20" /><!--[endif]-->I fumble around a bit, and ask for permission to tape record the interview, which is easily granted. I explain to her that I am primarily interested in the UFO abduction claims from a sociological perspective and that I am interested in the history of the UFO abduction claims, of which she is, of course, a key part.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: (tape recorder starts in mid-sentence.) .... How this whole thing has grown about UFO abductions and I understand you have some strong opinions on that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Smiles) Oh you did? Where did you hear that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I'm not sure. I'm not sure where I heard that to be honest. I forget. (puzzled) I really don't know.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I sure have some. Actually, I wouldn't say it's strong opinions. It's based on facts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And that's the difference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Lets go back to.... If you don't mind.... I've got this book here (hold up a copy of "The Interrupted Journey", the popular book which tells the story of Betty and Barney Hill's 1961 alleged abduction experience) My friend in Cambridge, lives with his girlfriend, and she has this book..<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (pleased) Oh!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: It is probably in every library in America.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Is it autographed?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: No! No. Actually that's an excellent idea!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, I'll do it now.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: (Pleased) That's a good idea.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(She blows nose with tissue)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I got allergies. They uh... I had the cast (?) in August. And then they got better in September. And every time we get heat and humidity... Everybody around here has allergies. It's because of the air pollution.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Is there a lot of air pollution around here?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: At times we are the second worse in the country. Los Angeles is first.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I didn't know that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah, they tell us. A lot of times they tell us...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Why is it so bad up here?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Because we get all the pollution from the mid-west. And the industries out there have been ordered by the government to clean it up and instead of doing that they are fighting it through all the courts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Build taller smoke stacks.....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(I laugh cynically and she holds up the book and a pen.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Shall I put her name on it? Or just sign my name?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Put "To Sue" if you could.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(She hands me the book.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, good, great.... I am sure she'll be thrilled....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I did it "To Sue, All the Best..."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(We laugh.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Anyway, I was reading this book (holding up "The Interrupted Journey.") and it sounded like...regardless of the UFO incident, you are an interesting person. It spoke about a former social worker...who was involved in civil rights and union activities and similar things. Could you talk about your life before it happened a little bit?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I was on the state board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Really?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I'm a member of an organization called "Vote Smart."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What is "Vote Smart"?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They're going to bring this country back to being a Democracy. Vote Smart started in the state of Oregon with a group of college students who asked themselves, "When we send somebody to Washington, how the hell do we know what the hired help is doing while they are there?" (she laughs) So they started keeping records of how everybody voted. Well, it spread from Washington all over the country. And now we've spread not only to Federal offices but to state offices. And we are... Vote Smart has sent out thirty thousand questionnaires to every candidate running for office. On what their opinions are... Then all the big news media have been in touch, and they said they don't know how people vote. So that they can actually make it known to the American people before they vote what they're voting for.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Does it advocate a particular position?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="es-419" style="mso-ansi-language: #580A;">BH: Oh no! No! No!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: It just monitors them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I mean like who votes for abortions, who votes against abortions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: But it doesn't have a position or any policy on abortions?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No, no... it’s strictly up to the voters and that's going to bring back Democracy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That sounds like a good thing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Not only that we publish who pays the congressmen. How much money they get from all the different PACs. Like we got Bob Smith here from New Hampshire whose contributions from labor... he gets not one single penny from them... so that's what labor thinks of him... and then uh...um...you might say in his favor with the environmentalists, the senior citizens, uh... whole group like this.. but he supports the ... uh... he's against abortion. He's got a rating of 100% with the Christian Coalition. And all like this... Here we get this information out to the voters and they'll know what the heck they're doing! 'Cause nobody votes down there because they're just confused.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, so there's the ACLU, you're involved in and Vote Smart. What are some other things?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Some of my others.... I am a life member of the New England NAACP. Uh.... I'm a member of the US committee of the United Nations...um...I just got the publication... um... Morris Dee's group... Southern Poverty...um... um...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(We both fumble trying to remember the proper name.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That's not Klan Watch, it's something similar?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah! Klan Watch! They're part... part of that ....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Southern Poverty Law Center or something....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: yeah!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right... all right....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Those are some of my interests. Politically I am a Social Democrat.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Nothing wrong with that... um... so... So could you talk a little bit about your life before 1961. (The date of the alleged abduction.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh yeah..... Well, first of all, I'm a direct descendant from the first settlers of Hampton, New Hampshire, Newington (?), New Hampshire, York, Maine and then in 1847 my great grandfather came over from Galway.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Galway?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="1B"></a>BH: Ireland!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Ireland. Okay!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And three grandchildren in my family, they immediately, as soon as they came here were the leading town officials. The Dows down here in Hampton were the leading public officials for over a hundred years. And I'm descended from Henry Dow and then of ... another descendant of Henry Dow started Dow-Jones averages, Dow-Jones publications, the Wall Street Journal, and another Dow started Dow chemicals... and they all sold them and retired. (she laughs.) I mean that's the kind of background I came from. We've always been interested in ... we're not proling (?) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#1A">Footnote 1</a> ... We've got sort of an international outlook on life ....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: It sounds that way...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: ..... Like my father ... when I was a baby, my father was chairman of the board of select global talent (?) When he got tired of (?) the woman who lived two doors down from us became jail minister (?) My father held just about every town office, and he worked for his uncle who was a big industrialist in a big factory. My grandfather also worked in his brother's plant and I would say... We all came from above average families... and uh... not only that...um... my mother was a fighter for women's rights. (She laughs.) When I was a kid my mother's got the cigarette holder and the cigarette and the bobbed hair, short skirts and she's doing the Charleston and my father was saying don't get too modern or I'll give you one of those things called a DEE-Vorce. (We both laugh.) But uh... I'm the oldest of five... um... we grew up in a home... five of us...we were never punished. Never, never punished.... And you know you hear about these parents ... killing their kids and all... those things didn't happen when I was growing up. People didn't beat their kids....We had a value to our parents. Today kids are like one step above a dog.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now you were a child protective worker at one time, now weren't you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: When was that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Twenty years. Um... I started in 1950 and I retired in 1974.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay... and one other thing I was wondering... I didn't get the chance to read the whole book, but where did you meet Barney?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: First of all, I graduated from a private high school....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: In New Hampshire?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And then I went to the University of New Hampshire for two years, and then the war came along...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: World War Two...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: World War Two. I didn't go. Meanwhile I married and I adopted three kids who were all from one family and then later I was divorced. I was single for six years and during those six years I went back to college and got my degree in Social Work and then... while I was single... Barney came here to Portsmouth on vacation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: From where?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: From Philadelphia. That's when I met him originally. But I knew him for six years before I married him. He was married before. He had two sons.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And his two sons were African-Americans?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh yeah!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And you lived together in Portsmouth?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yup. He was in Philadelphia and, after we married, he moved here.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now I'm just curious. Now did you still have the three adopted children?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, they were adults by then...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, all right... all right... So were they boys? Two boys?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I had one son and two daughters.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And Barney had two boys.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Two boys. No, my kids were grown up, during the summer his two boys stayed here with us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: When they lived here, were they adults?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No, they were in high school.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Were there many African Americans in Portsmouth at the time?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well we had Pease (sp?) Air Force Base and there were lots of Blacks out there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, this is just very interesting to me, because while it has nothing to do with what I came here for, my parents adopted a couple children, one of whom was African American and one of whom was mixed race so...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Really!? (Pleased)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Yeah, this was in the suburbs of Schenectady NY, so it was the kind of thing where they were the only children of that race in the elementary school and then in the middle school there were a couple more and then in the high school there were about three more and you know... so it was that kind of deal...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="2B"></a>BH: See...a couple weeks ago, Barney's son, Darryl, came up from Philadelphia and he brought his sone with him... and uh... Barney's son Darryl teaches Spanish at a high school. He's a high school teacher.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Hmmm. That's what I might do. (Writing makes no money!) But uh.. okay... what did Barney do for work... oh yeah! (remembering) he worked for the post office!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Barney... he was... back in those days, Barney was a rural mail carrier. Now back in those days, to become a rural mail carrier you had to be approved by congress. Just as though you were a postmaster. I mean you might say he had a travelling post office, but also Barney was very, very active. He was a legal officer for the NAACP, and they had a lot of problems after Pease. ( <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#2A">Footnote 2</a> )<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">He was always out there. And there were problems at the shipyard and there were problems in those days with housing and police and all those things....um... He organized the Rockingham County Community Hate Action Program, and he was elected director in fact for three years. He set the term... No more than three years (she laughs.) Or he'd a been there forever...um... a lot of things... he was a lot of things.... Everybody knew Barney. We were active in the Unitarian Church and ... uh... I mean he went to ... well... when Martin Luther King spoke ... "I have a Dream." .... Barney was there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What year was that please?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh... I don't remember. It was in the 60s. I didn't go, because his son Darryl was here. His two boys were here, so I stayed here.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That wasn't the March on Washington, was it?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: One of my aunts was there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Really?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Yeah. She's a Quaker.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: She was what?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Was a Quaker. Is a Quaker.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Do you want to know something?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: When I spoke about Dows, Joseph Dow, the first born Dow in the United States, started the first Quaker colony down here over here on the other side of Hamilton. ... (laughs) Obscure sociology? Now let me tell ya another thing... The other side of my family, Rollins? James Rollins came over from Norfolk county England in 1634. He was arrested and brought to trial in Boston, Massachusetts and his crime was called "That of Association". He had provided hospitality to a Quaker family and that was illegal. (She laughs.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Well, it should be! They're a bunch of trouble makers. (We both laugh.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They found him guilty, but he wasn't fined, because he was not aware of the law.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: This was 16...?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: This was about 1650.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: 1650? Okay. (We laugh.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Let me tell you one thing. I'm gonna tell you another thing...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: This side of the family, I think, might have a bearing later on me. When he arrived in this country the first thing he did was buy himself some slaves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Well that's...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Ya know, back in those days, I mean, he's gonna be a farmer. You can't ... you know... Everybody's over here to make money for themselves. You couldn't hire anybody to work. So he could afford to and he bought himself some slaves.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Some African slaves?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="3B"></a>BH: Yeah. And whenever I see a Black on TV with the last name of Rollins, I wonder. You know, when slavery ended, they took the last name of their owners. So there was a lot of Rollins owning a lot of slaves. (Laughs.) But they didn't call them slaves. They called them "servants".<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I was just reading about the indentured servants.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: So, I said to people, I know why I married Barney. 'Cause I couldn't buy him! (We both laugh much longer than we probably should have.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#3A">Footnote 3</a> )<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: (I finally force myself to stop laughing, stumble over my words, and say.) Okay... Okay... let's get back to the subject at hand.... Uh... 1961... you were on vacation in the White Mountains.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh, I'm sorry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: We left here to go to Niagara Falls. And we went to Toronto, and then we went to Montreal. And we were planning to stay overnight in Montreal, but... the weather report said there was a possibility of a hurricane, so we decided...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: To just come right straight home...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: At least we would start home, and we'd been driving during the night. We figured if we got tired we could always just pull over somewhere.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And it was 1964 you saw the psychiatrist who used hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And in the meantime, there were several government UFO investigators? What was it there was NICAP and .. um.. Webb... right?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: When this first happened, actually the very first day we were home, I talked to the police officer and told him about this craft...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So, you talked to the local police about it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah, and they told me to call Pease Air Force base. And tell them about it. Which I did. And they called back several times, and said the calls were being monitored, and some of the calls were being briefed and transferred to another area. So that's the September 20th. Right from the very beginning... Now what was your question? (laughs.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: No, that answers my question. ...Now why was it that you and Barney sought psychiatric help?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (remembering) Oh... NICAP! I wrote to NICAP originally, because I was concerned, basically, with is it an outer space craft, what if, healthwise, and what had we been exposed to? What about cosmic rays? What about radiation? Those things. I was thinking of my health, But nobody had any answers. And that's how I wrote to NICAP, but then later, just very soon after that, like three weeks later, we started getting phone calls from government agents. I mean top government people. The top people of the United States government. White house. National Security Agency. NASA. And from that moment on, I would say... how many years... five or six years anyway. They were coming here and bringing other scientists with them. So actually, we didn't have any contacts with UFO organizations. It was all strictly government.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, could you be a little more specific about who exactly contacted you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Hmmm.....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I looked at the "Interrupted Journey" book and they mentioned NICAP. Now you are mentioning the White House, NASA ....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well according to Philip Corso's book, I don't know if you've seen that or not?....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I'm not familiar with it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, in there he talks about CJ...oh...it just slipped my mind... it'll come to me....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What is it?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: The first person who contacted us was the assistant to President Eisenhower ... in the White House.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So an assistant to President Eisenhower...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: C.J. Jackson!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: CJ Jackson. And how did he contact you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: He picked up the phone and called us!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: hmmm... okay ...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Said he was a scientist, he didn't say anything about the White House, he just said he was a scientist and that he had a hobby of UFOs. And he was the one in charge of bringing up... at one time we spent a weekend with twenty six scientists!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Who?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Twenty six scientists.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: You said "we did."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Barney and I did.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh... we is Barney.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. Barney and I.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: You spent a weekend with twenty six scientists...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Where was this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Um, we camped out. Up in my mother's backyard. Up in Kingston, New Hampshire.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So then all the scientists came to Kingston?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yup! Also Jacque Vallee came. And John Fuller. And Doctor Simon. And Doctor Simon's son. Oh yes! It was quite a gathering.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: This was all at the same time. Jacque Vallee writes books?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh yeah. He works for the space program.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: When was this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I would say about 1967. I'm guessing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Barney died in 1969, so this was maybe two years before he died.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: In 1964 you and Barney sought psychiatric help.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: We went to Doctor Simon. Okay. Now we went to Doctor Simon... actually... Barney's health deteriorated. And he was going to the doctor all the time. And he was not responding to medication. And he was getting worse, getting worse, and then he became totally disabled. By the time we went to Doctor Simon I think Barney had been totally disabled for at least six months.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Disabled in what way?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: He wasn't able to work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Why not? I'm sorry, you sound like my father's family comes from Maine and he and his sister and his brothers have this terrible time trying to figure out their family health histories because ... It's like "What was wrong with great uncle so and so?" ... "Well, he was sick and old."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Betty laughs.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, Barney had ulcers. He had fluctuating blood pressure. He'd have periods where he had extreme headaches. Nothing was working. So, his doctor thought maybe there was something emotional, so it was preventing him from healing, so he sent Barney to a psychiatrist in the same building...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="4B"></a>PLH: For the physical ailments basically.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So, he had psychosomatic problems.... All right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>( <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#4A">Footnote 4 </a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> )<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Barney started going to him. .... Talking about his early childhood and all. And then one day, he happened to mention to Doctor Stevens that we'd been up in the mountains looking for the place where we had seen the UFO, so Doctor Stevens started picking up on this, and he was telling him, and he recognized amnesia. So he knew Doctor Simon. So he referred both Barney and me to Doctor Simon in Cambridge.... And that's where we started going. Now, Doctor Stevens had sent for hypnosis, for at that time there were a lot of programs on TV with "first stage hypnosis." And that... I wasn't happy about this. So the first thing Doctor Simons had to do was explain hypnosis. First stage is the stage where suggestibility. In fact, in "The Interrupted Journey" while we were writing the book with John Fuller, we said "This is going to totally destroy hypnosis." Because people who don't understand this, they don't know what they're doing and anybody can do hypnosis, and everybody can be hypnotized. So you're going to totally destroy it. So Doctor Simon got a segment. Of the three stages of hypnosis, the testing and the meaning of the stage -what it's used for.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now you said you thought the book would totally destroy hypnosis. What do you mean by that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, it did.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I mean... it made it look like nothing?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, the people would put somebody in a light trance and say, "Tell me about your abduction." And you would! First stage hypnosis is the stage of suggestability. It shows the creativity of your mind. It has nothing to do with the facts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, all right, so what you are saying is that the first stage of hypnosis is where people tend to invent things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: It is based on suggestibility. It does work sometimes.. uh... in diet control, to stop smoking, things like that. That's what it's used for. Second stage is to control pain. On the third stage is used for medicine, it is not known to the public. Now this is what Doctor Simons did. Now before we went to him, I'm a social worker right? I checked out his references. I did his whole background before I ever saw him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Good idea!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(She laughs.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="5B"></a>BH: So I knew he was highly qualified as a psychiatrist. Much more so than everybody else. And, uh, medical hypnosis is used in the treatment.... (The cat knocks something down in the next room, the kitchen, making a noise.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Was that the cat?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. The cat... It's used as surgery... (cat enters the room and she picks up the cat and begins talking to it.) well hello... yeah. Whacha doing? Ya fell off the stove. You understand me. Oh dear. .... Now Doctor Simons had been the Director of Mason General Hospital in New York, a psychiatric treatment center for servicemen coming back from the war, world war two. The US Army made a documentary about this science (?) work.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#5A">Footnote 5 </a>It was two hours. But in the two hours they showed how Doctor Simons did the hypnosis. In the 1980s, the US Army shortened this to one hour. And it has been shown on TV. And it's called "Let there be Light."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: "Let there be Light."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And it doesn't show how he does it, but it shows how he uses medical hypnosis. And it's a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful document.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: It sounds very interesting. Okay, so you saw Doctor Simon for Barney's physical ailments and then...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: We started for Barney's ailments then I started coming along too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And then he decided to put you in third stage hypnosis. And recover the memories?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Actually, actually, when he first put us into hypnosis, he didn't know what he was going to get. There were no mention. I don't know if we even mentioned UFOs. It was to find out why Barney was emotionally upset.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Let me ask you a question. You seem like you've done a lot of reading on these things. Are you familiar with a group ..... the false memory claims that are coming out now?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, that's first stage hypnosis. And that, um... almost all the stages, and maybe now all of them, the courts have ruled that recovered memories, false memories, uh...through hypnosis are invalid. In fact, if you have a crime committed against you, and you go to have hypnosis, you can't testify. Because there's no way to test what is real, what's fact, what's fantasy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So you would not recommend that someone uses hypnosis to recover memories of a missing event?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: You can't recover memories of a missing event. That's a fallacy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right. I'm very surprised to hear you say that. I mean I agree with it. But...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Only medical hypnosis is capable of opening up amnesia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />[SADLY THE FIRST SIDE OF THE TAPE ENDS AND WE NEED TO FLIP IT OVER AT THIS POINT, INTERRUPTING THE CONVERSATION.]<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="color: white;">, it's working now...</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Okay. Medical hypnosis. 15 minutes will open up the amnesia and you'll have full recall.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: It's just like that. (fast gesture.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Are you sure?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Positive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I haven't heard that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. Doc Simon did it all the time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, all right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: The big problem is, I have met two other psychiatrists who did the same kind of hypnosis as Doctor Simon did and that's it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right. In your entire life.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And one of 'em was a psychiatrist up in Canada. Who using second stage hypnosis in childbirth. Put them over, in second stage hypnosis and there's no pain.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: To reduce the pain? Okay. What was his name?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Hers. ... I don't remember. It was a woman.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay. And could you name the second one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Uh... not right this moment... but he's deceased. But sometimes he worked with .... I'll think of his name later... I've had so many contacts... You know in two months, June and July, part of August, I have done... I stopped counting. I have done over 125 radio shows.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Since June and August? Just in those two months...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. I'm doing another one tomorrow. A week or so ago I did a two hour book review in Baltimore Maryland.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What book?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="6B"></a>BH: Oh. My book. Just my book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh an interview about the book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And uh... so it comes to me instead.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#6A">Footnote 6</a> PLH: Now let me ask you a question, I was going to save this for later, but you mentioned you did a hundred and twenty five interviews.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I stopped counting. I'm still doing them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Between '61 and '64, you talked to some government people but it was just about the sighting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, they're the ones who kept telling us to get medical hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh they suggested it?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. Down at Kessel (? Word unclear ?) air force because there were two hours missing. There were two hours that couldn't be accounted for. They're the ones. I mean we knew the trip took longer than what it had, should have , but we hadn't really thought about it that much. Then I figured out later, uh, (unclear -sounds like) it got reviewed in the White House. And the report of the sighting at Pease Air Force Base, they could just pick up the phone and call Pease, and find out that they picked the craft up at 2:14 AM in the morning. They sent two planes out to check it out. The reports of those pilots are still classified.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: They did all that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I mean I reported seeing the craft in the beginning around midnight. He could've figured out that two hours were missing, but we didn't know this! They did, but we didn't.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Long Pause)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now in '64, this was apparently... How would you describe what they recovered, the memories that they recovered? What happened? How would you describe it?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Uh, well first of all, they came out in Indian head area. They came out over the highway and they stopped and that's when Barney got out, with the binoculars to try and identify the craft. I mean, he'd been in the military in World War Two, he's puzzled.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What did he do in the military?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: He was a, uh.. actually he was training the kids coming in in war maneuvers. In war manuevers. I'm not sure just what it was.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: He was training people...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Uh, yeah, so he got out to look at the craft, to try to identify this craft, this is when he saw the people and panicked and ran back to the car. And we turned off and 30 miles south they're standing in the middle of our road blocking our way, stopped the car, got out, took us through the path in the woods, where the craft was on the ground. Took us on board. In separate rooms, gave each of us a simple form of physical examination, were puzzled why Barney's teeth were removable but mine were not. Showed me a book, which I looked at briefly, looking for pictures. And.. uh.. showed me a star map of where they were from and uh... when I'm leaving the craft, I'm telling the leader... incidentally there were eleven of them, they were leaving the craft and I'm saying to the leader, "This is the most wonderful experience of my life. I hope you'll come back. I got a lot of friends who would love to meet you."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now wasn't it just a traumatic experience?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: NO! It was at first. When they first grabbed us, yeah, it terrified, but they calmed me down. And I'm walking along and we're laughing, kidding, joking, and see he understood the leader, the one we called the leader, had some knowledge of English, although limited. So, I would say a word and he'd say, "What's that?" And then I would try to explain to him the meaning of the word.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, so you were speaking in English?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah, and he was too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Like I used the term, "yellow" and he said "What's yellow? I don't know what a yellow is." And I'd say, "It's a color. ... Well maybe sunlight could be considered yellow at times." I'd try and explain it to him. And, um... I mean I was totally relaxed. And I invited them to come back. "Please, please come back."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now in the late 70s, now I don't want to get too personal here, in the late '70s my friend Tom came out to New Hampshire and he met you and you said you meet a lot of people so you weren't quite sure who he was, not a very tall man, dark hair, Italian-looking, and apparently he was here with a short woman as well, but he said, "I've met Betty Hill." He was quite thrilled by that by the way, he still talks about it today (she laughs.) This was over twenty years ago, I guess, but he was saying that, "uh... saying, "I've met that woman. I believe something really happened because she was so shook up that something happened that really shook her up." But now you are telling me it was a pleasant experience.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah, but now... Okay, the experience itself was a pleasant experience. But then, in reliving this, you go through all the emotions that you had originally, like when they took us out of the car. ... You're being kidnapped. If you're being kidnapped by a bunch of hoodlums down the street you're going to be scared, and these weren't even ... us! So you don't know what's going to happen. So it's sheer terror, but then, this is the whole reason that we went so long to Doctor Simons, was to get rid of all these ... mixed feelings that we had.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I have heard from many abductees, and I've read this about your report, I hesitate, I don't want to embarrass you, but there was claims of sexual abuse and such things?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Hell no.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Hell no? Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They had absolutely no sexual interest in me. I hear this all the time. They had no sexual interest in us at all. There was no mental telepathy. They spoke loud and clear and they had a language of their own.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: A spoken language?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now the pictures that you see of the Greys.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No.. no... that's pure fantasy. Would you like to see what one looks like?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I'd love to.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: You stay here. I'll go get "Junior."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now there's a statue of the...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: That's what I'm getting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />[I turn off the tape recorder, while she leaves to go to the bedroom and fetch "Junior", a lightweight bust of an alien made of paper mache. When I turn the tape recorder back on another conversation has started. I believe it refers to a TV documentary crew that interviewed interesting people in New England, including her. ]<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />BH: ...an elephant buried in his backyard.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Was it.. uh... uh.. what's the place up there? Um... no no no... up in Maine there's someplace called .. "Somebody's Nuthouse"?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh Yeah, but..<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Perry's Nuthouse!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: That's nuts, the kind you eat, so ... um... they went up and apparently this elephant had gotten loose from the circus and this guy had never seen an elephant before so he shot it and killed it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: When was this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh I don't know when this happened. They were up there a month or so ago talking to him.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now did he shoot the elephant himself or was it somebody else?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: This man whom they interviewed shot the elephant and killed it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So this couldn't have been too long ago. It must have been the last thirty years.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, allright, allright.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And then he buried it in his backyard.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: (I laugh at the strange story.) I don't know? So in 1964, the.. the... Doctor Fuller, or was it Doctor Simon?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: John Fuller.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, John Fuller recovered these memories.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Doctor Simon!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, Doctor Simon recovered the memories.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: He opened up the amnesia.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: This is the first time you'd heard of anything like this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: First time anybody'd heard of anything like this.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Of course, we had the contactees of the 40s and 50s going on trips on UFOs around the galaxy. I mean real.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Long pause.)<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Where did this statue come from? (Gesturing towards "Junior".)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Marjorie Fish who did the research on my star map and I did Junior<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So you did it together?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So you are a sculptress?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Basically she did it at my suggestion.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right, like one of those... um... police drawings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So then later, after 1964, there were other UFO abductees....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No! No. No. After our experience became known we got all kinds of reports of sightings of UFOs, but it was after the movie, "The UFO Incident," in 1975 then everybody remembered how they'd been abducted every year since they were three months old.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: But before 1975 you never met another abductee.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No... well, yes.... Uh.. Charlie Hixan and Calvin Parker. Down in Pasagoula, Mississippi. Travis, that was in '72, then in 1975, the same year that the movie came out was Travis Walton. All of them had contacted me. ... After they had their experience, they contacted me. And said, "What do we do now?"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So there was Travis Walton and who was the other man?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Charlie Hixan and Calvin Parker.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What do you think of their claims?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Real.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Including Travis Walton?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh yes, I know Travis's is real.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: How do you know that? I've just read things that make me indicate that he might have been making it all up. I don't know the man. I don't want to get sued, but...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. No. Travis Walton's experience is real. How do I know? The first thing I said to Travis when he called was, because I wanted to know if it was real, "I heard you got hit by a blue green beam. What did it feel like?"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Did you contact him or did he contact you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: He contacted me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: He called you. Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I said, "What did it feel like?" and he said, "I felt like I'd been hit on the head with a sledge hammer." I said, "Okay."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="7B"></a>PLH: That's how yours felt?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No, we weren't hit by a blue green beam.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#7A">Footnote 7 </a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: But others have been. 7<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: So I knew that if you got hit by the big bolt, in fact, a friend of mine, before Travis, was standing in her backdoor, talking on the telephone, describing, this is in the daytime, describing a UFO that's right outside of her house, and a blue-green beam came out of the UFO and hit her on the head. They found her unconscious. She was in the hospital for three years in a coma, before they did surgery. They said that, uh.., the surgery, if they did the surgery she might die. She might be a vegetable the rest of her life. But she might become one. So they did the surgery. First she, uh, came out of the coma, but she couldn't see or hear anything, but then she gradually improved. Actually she went on to lead a fairly normal life. And the last thing she remembered was that little green light. It felt just like a sledge hammer.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Was hypnosis involved in her case?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. It wasn't.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right. And what did the doctors say caused her coma in her case.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They didn't.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: They didn't. They just said cause of coma unknown?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I mean, what causes a coma? Like a stroke.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right. All right. So it was after 1975, when the movie came out, all right, ... now just one thing I'm trying to remember... who played you and your husband in that movie? Do you remember? I've been trying to remember that....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Barney's part was played by James Earl Jones.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That's what I thought.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Before he did this, he went up to the White Mountains, all by himself, and drove down. I think he left there about ... just to get a feel for the area...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: You know what's funny? Like I said, I grew up in an interracial family, but the only thing I remember about that whole movie, and I was born in '63, so I guess I was about twelve years old when it came out, the only scene I remember from that whole movie is the scene of the actor and the actress who played you and your husband discussing inter-racial marriage. (She laughs.) The UFO stuff, I don't remember any of it! But I guess it was just a little close to home.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, uh, Estelle Parsons... who grow up over here in York, Maine, played my part ...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Estelle Parsons, okay...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And she says, to play my part she had to get back her New Hampshire / Maine accent. And after the movie was over she couldn't get rid of them...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(We laugh.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I guess actors have that problem sometimes. ... who was it? Oh you know what I heard? Do you know Hunter Thompson? ...the crazed journalist?... It has nothing to do with UFOs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: He lives out in Colorado. He's written a lot of crazy books, in fact, the first one was on the Hell's Angels, then a lot, a lot of... he wrote a book on the presidential campaign, but a lot of his writings he'll interrupt himself to start talking about how he was taking drugs in the hotel room. It's just weird crazy stuff. They made a movie about him recently. Johnny Depp, the actor who portrayed him, was complaining of how long it took him to get the Hunter Thompson mannerisms out after the move was over.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, I spent some time with Estelle Parsons at the hotel in New York, so she could meet me and copy my mannerisms and things like that....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And Barney had already passed away by then?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So, from '64 to '75, what was your involvement in UFOs? What would be the term, "the UFO scene"? "The UFO movement? What would you call that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Ufology?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Uh.. now this is strange. From 1961 to 1965 Barney and I had not seen another UFO. Now in the middle of the publicity, now we didn't release this story, this investigative reporter with the Boston Herald Traveler, and later he told me he heard about it through Pease Air Force Base at a cocktail party. Some officers were there, they were drinking, and they started telling him about Barney and me, and all our experiences. So it ran for five days on the front pages of the newspaper without ever having any contact with us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Or the psychiatrist?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And how did you feel about that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: So now, Barney and I had to go to the store and buy the newspaper just to see what they were saying about us. Well, of course, the very first day, I came home from the office and I couldn't even park around here. The place was all, cars everywhere.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What kinds of people?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: All media.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, so then I mean this is the way it was so every night Barney, and I would go somewhere to get away from us. And so, in the middle of the week,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: This was '65?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: We went away to my parents’ home. I think it was a Wednesday night. And now we're leaving their home, and we come out and stop at the stop sign, and right in front of us there was a second UFO. And it goes back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, and then it goes down in the trees. Barney said, "I'm gonna go in there and knock on the door and give 'em hell for what they did to me!" (We laugh.) I said, before you do then, I'll wait for you at my mothers house. (we laugh.) So we went back to my parents home and my mother and my sister went with us. Barney's gonna go up and knock on the door! But we made a discovery. We went up all through these back roads and actually may have landed right in the middle of a deep swamp. We couldn't get there. So that's why Barney...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Did you see a spaceship?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah! We saw a UFO.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What did it look like?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, all you could see was the lights.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So, what you saw was a light?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. It was going back and forth, back and forth, and then it lands....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And when it landed it still looked like a light.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, all right... It wasn't like it had windows and a door?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. No. We recognized it. And that was the beginning. From that night on, wherever Barney and I went UFOs paced us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Hmm...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Every single night!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: '65 on?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yup.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And there was huge numbers of UFOs around my parents’ home in Kingston. Which is towards Massachusetts.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Kingston, Massachusetts?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No, New Hampshire.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Kingston, New Hampshire?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: It's about thirty miles south of here.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I was thinking of Kingston, New York, sorry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: But then we found this spot where the UFOs come and land almost every night.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Let me just ask you a question... A skeptic would ask, "Have you ever studied astronomy or anything with lights in the sky?"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I know a little bit about astronomy. But, uh, .. well anyway. This ... we knew UFOs were sort of flying around this general area, but the people who lived in this area are the ones who told us, "This is where the UFOs are coming in and landing."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: In New Hampshire?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Um... just about the time that I found out about this, was just about the time that Barney had died. And, well, so I started , well, mmm, the very first night, we went out. Actually the woman who told me about this was a family who was adopting a child through our department. And I had to go out to write the final report to the court to approve the adoption. As I'm leaving, she says, "I don't want you to think I'm crazy but every night right out there that's where the UFOs land." So I gotta go back that night and check it out. To see if she's having hallucinations or if she's seeing UFOs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And did she know about your interest in UFOs? About your background in UFOs?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh yeah.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh! Did that cause you problems at work?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. Word got out, I thought it would, but instead I got promoted!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Really? You got promoted because of that? Or just incidentally?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Uh... I don't know if I would have been promoted or not. Whereas my first thought was, "as a social worker, I'm going to get fired." But everybody supported me. All my supervisors came out publicly and so forth. "If Betty Hill says this happened, then it happened. That's it."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, one of the questions I've been wondering is do you think that your UFO experience improved your life or made your life worse?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Both! (She laughs.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: In what ways?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well... like the last two or three months, because of the radio programs and so on, and all the telephone calls and everybody, it totally disrupted my life. I mean I haven't been able to do anything this summer, that I normally would do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Let me just.... Now first of all, I am very grateful to be here. I am very grateful to have the chance to meet you, but you could have said no.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I know.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay. Right?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I could've said no to the radio shows too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: But... So why did I say okay? Okay, basically I would say what I'm trying to do is put a little common sense back in the UFO field.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a name="8B"></a>PLH: Okay, good.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: That's the main reason I'm doing it. That's the main reason I wrote my book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I think we've gotten up to '69. You were seeing UFOs from '65, well the newspaper report came out until '69,( <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#8A">Footnote 8 </a><span class="MsoHyperlink">) </span>then this continued until '75? Or...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh later than that...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, uh... see this place where the UFOs came down, where the UFOs were coming in, everybody knows about that, well first of all, get back to me about hypnosis, so I have to go back out that way. And verify what she says. So, I go out, I drive up the dirt road behind her house, and over here, a lot of trees, and I back into the trees, sitting there, in the dark, and I saw twenty six UFOs come in and land in the field!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What did they look like?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Every shape you can imagine. I couldn't believe it. I didn't even dare to light a cigarette. (She laughs.) And they stayed there for a while, then they took off again, and they're gone! And I said, "My god. She's right. She knows what she's talking about." So I started going out there. And, uh.. actually I would say, I call them volunteers, at least half the people, in the town, were going out there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Portsmouth?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. For this area.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What area?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Central Point, a little restaurant.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What area was this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Outside of Register (?)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Outside of Register. Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: There was a central little restaurant that we used to meet. And we would swap, you know. What this afternoon, I had one mine out in my backyard. Because they do fly around you know, just in daylight, too, and, uh.. well, over the years, you name it, we had it. We had every level of police. Up from bicycle riders to ATF, uh... we had all levels of air force. Uh... we had medical doctors... We had all kinds of scientists. We had all kinds of equipment. We had associated Press. We had the United Press International. Um... We had TV cameramen. We had, but everybody was sworn to secrecy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: By who?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: By us. You're not to tell. This is research. It's not for publicity. We will tell each other. Oh... and we filmed. And we recorded. And we did this for at least, I'd say we covered that area almost every night for about fifteen years. And... uh... I mean where we came from. You saw a UFO person, "Hi boys! How are you?" (She laughs.) They flash their lights, got the car lights back in the same pattern. They'd fly right down. Halloween night.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Let me ask you a question. If.. If UFOs are this easy to see, how come many people don't believe in them?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Did you ever see anything that everybody could believe in? Name one thing that's universal thought. You can't. Because there's nothing in this world that everybody believes in. I mean like take Columbus discovered America. Like Hell he did. We just had a viking ship duplication come over here. Well, really up in Canada.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: If somebody were to come to you and say, "I don't believe in UFOs until I have proof." What would you recommend that they do?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I'd say, "Look in the sky!" All you got to do is look! They fly around in the daylight.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: If you don't look at the sky, that's not my fault.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right... Okay...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Look in the sky.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right. Let me see. So... until '75 there was, actually I guess we're talking about ... you said fifteen years... so I guess we're talking about '65 until... that would be... about 1980.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Actually, it was later than that. Because, uh, ... I was going out there in the eighties. Not every night. They were beginning to taper off, because uh... you see, when the UFOs were coming in, there were hayfields and cornfields...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And then the town got commercial. And sold the land. And one of the favorite spots for UFOs to come in now has two hundred houses.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh.. okay. So development has.. cut this down.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right. I mean, at least in our going out there. Instead of flying all around and coming in and landing in the fields, they can't houses are there. But when I got out there, um... If I'm driving through the area, at night, okay, then it's a certain sequel and I watch. And in an hour, three, four, eight UFOs come in.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Every night.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Whenever I've done this.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Whenever you've done this?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right. I mean it's not an experiment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />TAPE ENDS- END OF TAPE ONE, SIDE TWO. NEXT TAPE BEGINS MID-CONVERSATION<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin-left: 24pt; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">BH: This one usually comes in and lands. And then the others, do you have the tape recorder on?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Yes, I do. Yes, I do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Okay. And then the others come in and fly up to the landed one. And then go off in different directions. So we figure it comes in and then somehow gets its orders away before coming back (This part is unclear.) And another thing, I assume this is for their own self protection, if you see one UFO somewhere around there's another one to two hundred. They fly in big squadrons. They are not one individual UFO.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now a lot of people say, "why don't they just land on the White House lawn and tell us... ?"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Interrupting) Do you know why they don't land on the White House lawn?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: No, I don't.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: We'd arrest them for violation of immigration laws!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Pause.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Are you serious?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Wouldn't we?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I don't know. I would think...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Interrupting.) Of course, we would!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: They would have the technology to...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Interrupting.) They don't need to land on the White House Lawn, if they don't want to get arrested they can sneak in over the Mexican border. (She starts laughing.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What's the purpose to all this flying around? Do you know?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, I assumed... UFOs, huge UFOs... are out here circling this planet. And they come down. They have a big craft. And the smaller, the smaller, the smaller, the smaller until they get down (she illustrates this diminishing size by stacking her hands.) here they use the little crafts, okay, so I assume they're coming... We're their shopping mall. They're coming down here to get what they need for their survival up there. That's my opinion. I don't know what they're taking. But I know they take water. There are a lot of sightings (near water). And they take electricity.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now changing, getting back, you said that in the late 70s after the movie came out, you started being contacted by UFO abductees, and three you thought were sincere, Travis Walton and two others.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. They were real.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Then the Mulwakey (?), then it was, "I think I've been abducted, but I'm not sure." So I used Doctor Simon's, I'm a social worker, I used Doctor Simon's formula. When people tell weird tales, they can be fantasies, hallucinations, delusions, dreams, recall of something they've seen, heard, or read. And when you rule out all of them, then you may have .. the truth. So over the years, in working with people, um... I was able to set up, criteria, um... the difference between a fantasy or a real abduction.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Could you share those?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Some of them. Most of the real abductions. Most, the majority involve two people, although there are, I know one situation where there were three people involved, and, on a rare occasion, there's just one person. They usually happen at night, while the person's driving out on the road somewhere. Um... after the abduction, the person almost every single one of them, the real abductions! Went to the police, or the military, or both and reported 'em. They didn't say they'd been on board, but they said, "I was followed by a UFO" or "I was harrassed by a UFO" or "A UFO hit me with a beam." These things. Um... fifty percent of them ended up in the emergency room at the hospital.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: From what?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right away. After it happens.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, from what? From the beam? Or something else?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: From the experience itself.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: From fear or something?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. Linda, couldn't breathe. She had terrible breathing problems. She had been in, been to the emergency room. Um... there now. Other cases... loss of balance, eyes won't focus, upset stomachs, discoloration on their skin... all those things. And not everybody completely. There were like two men, they remembered what happened. I mean because they, they went from the abduction right from directly to the home of the mother. And she said, "My god! What's happened to you?" And they said, "a UFO got us." Not only did the UFO get them, they're driving the UFO actually pulled their car sideways way out into a field, and left marks on the ground.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Hmmm, that's interesting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And quite often, but not always, quite often, with a real abduction, they will take something that belongs to the person... And sometimes, they'll leave, bring it back, leave it. Now Charlie Hixon, he's still mad at 'em 'cause they took his new fishing pole, and they never returned it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right. Is there anything else they did to Charlie Hixon or er...they just took his fishing pole?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Took his fishing pole. Never returned it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: There were three women in Kentucky, they took their jewelry. And then, a couple out a week or two later, they left it back, all the jewelry, from the three women on the back porch of the home of one of them.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh so... the ... UFOs took the jewelry for three weeks and then left it on the back porch?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Returned it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right. Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: With me...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They took my blue earings. And about six weeks later, Barnie and I were up in the mountains, thinking if we could find the spot, where we had... been stopped, we could remember what happened, and since we went and came home, right there in the kitchen, a pile of leaves, and in the pile of leaves were my blue earrings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So, you were up in the mountains, you came back from the mountains and the earrings were on a pile of leaves in your kitchen. Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: So, you know, they returned my earrings. So, also, they knew where I lived. They knew where I lived!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Um... Now, when somebody contacts you, what do you usually do for them?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, they contact me. (This is unclear.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I know in the late '70s, when my friend Tom came, he said that, that you were down here, and he said there were a couple men living upstairs, I believe. Upstairs. I think it was upstairs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. I've got two small apartments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Two men, so that must have been Bill and Reed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Yeah. Bill and Reed. Those were the names.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Now, they, they came, they actually, uh... Bill owned his own business. And he sold it, to come here and help me with my research into UFOs. And Reed was an actor, a professional actor and he was travelling in, uh.. "Charlies' Aunt" or something, some play, and he quit that and he came here. And actually Reed is still, not in this house, but ... he still lives in the area. And, uh... it was wonderful. Um, I mean, um... when we were here. We decided, we went out to the ... right in the middle of the area! Where the UFOs came in, that's Halloween night, and on the radio is the program, "War of the Worlds." (We laugh.) We sat there with the windows down and the radios as loud as it would go and there were UFOs all over the sky everywhere. They were jumping right up and down! And we kept saying look at them, and we were sitting there laughing like hell. (She laughs and laughs and laughs.) ... So that pinpoints too. Bill and Reed came here in seventy eight.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I think this might have been '79. Summer of '79. I know it was the summer. Um... So... do you often meet with other UFO contactees?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Um...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: You said when they come to you and ask you for help you use the following ... whatever....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yeah. If somebody says I think I've been abducted, the first thing I say is, "Have you had hypnosis?" And if they say yes, I say, "I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do to help."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Why's that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Because I can't! Because once that... some story, some kind of tale, is put into your brain through hypnosis, you can't get rid of them. And this is why so many who have hypnosis and tell of abduction have to have therapy. I... there's not one single, real abduction has ever had therapy. Not only that, every single one of them considers it to be a positive experience, and uh... we live in... we say we live in a peaceful co-existence with UFOs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, clearly something is going on where .... I'm not sure... I'm not saying something real is going on, but something is going on in that, uh... the early UFO contactees, who I don't think you ..... Actually, what's your opinion on the contactees before you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Okay, um...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Adams... Adamski! And those people...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh. Okay. Um.. Dan Curtis was the movie producer in the movie called "Before the Landings." At um... which was shown at the European film festival. And what he did was go through ...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: "In Advance of the Landings?" Yeah! I haven't seen that book, but I want to see that book!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Okay. Now what he does is, um... go back to all the public appearances of these contactees. And um.. this one woman says, "Listen. You don't have to worry about them. They're going to land all over the world and make themselves known in 1950. They told me so themselves." That kind of thing. And then there was the man who, uh... the UFO landed in his backyard every night and took him on a little trip somewhere, brought him back before daylight, ya know. ..<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So, you don't believe them?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Hell no! Not one of 'em! See, if you had an abduction, you've got some proof of this. It isn't just a matter of telling. I mean like, all right, John Sullivan, he's another one. He's a real abduction. He and his son were driving through North Dakota to Mississippi, and all the way down, they were followed by a UFO, stopped and, um... for one thing, they gave John an injection right here. It left a round circle with a puncture mark in the middle of it. Now he had that mark there for years. Totally changed his life. Uh... John, um... he was a college professor. He's getting ready to retire, right? He's getting old. Older, he's getting wrinkles. They're gone! He had a scar, from an automobile accident on his face. Nothing. Now John's Indian. Now Indians do not have body hair.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: From India or American Indian?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: American Indians. All of a sudden John has to start shaving. And some other Indian gal says to him, "My god! Your arms are as hairy as an ape's!" (She laughs.) I mean he has something like, I don't know, twenty to twenty five actual physical changes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now these things are... now... the reports of abductions have been getting progressively more disturbing. You know you have a lot of things about anal probes and other awful things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (She laughs.) That's simply the hypnotist.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That's the hypnotist?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right. I mean like Bud Hopkins, all his abductions are the same. Now David Jacob's abductions tell totally different stories but they are all the same.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, now let me interrupt for a second. Here and I don't wanna get too into this. Now, with David Jacobs, the historian from Temple University...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I know David Jacobsen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Here's ...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: He was here a couple weeks ago...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, his book states...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Which one?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Huh?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: What was the name of his book?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH:...uh... it's a red book. It's his book on UFO abductions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: The last one he wrote the name of it is "The Threat." In fact, he gave a lecture here in Portsmouth. At which he's telling about this details of hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I think he states that the aliens gave you and Barney... They took a sperm sample from Barney...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, that's not true...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And gave you a pregnancy test...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They put a needle in my navel, which they said was a pregnancy test. And I said, well there's no pregnancy test here. It wasn't. But now there is. In 1970, they invented it in Houston Texas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Houston, Texas. Okay, so that's where that came from.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: But it had nothing to do with sex.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, all right, so your opinion is all of that is confabulation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Hogwash!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay. That's all an artifact of hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Cause first of all, you see there were a few, couple things about the UFO people... I don't call them aliens... the UFO people were definitely different from us. And two totally different kinds of species cannot interbreed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Right. Right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And UFO people cannot interbreed with Americans. It's physically impossible.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I believe it was Carl Sagan who said it was a little bit like a clam and a horse trying to ... (She laughs.) I forget how he said it. Something like that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Did you by any chance see on TNT, two or three weeks ago, a... "UFOs in the Soviet Union."?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: No, I didn't. I missed that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They did the autopsy of a body...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: In the Soviet Union ?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: OK.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They said the internal organs were totally different from ours. And they, uh, you know... Santilli's autopsy tape. Same thing. The organs are totally different.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That's the Roswell one, right?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right. They look like us, but any advanced form of human life would have to have the same characteristics that we have. Hands, eyes, that kind of thing. Those things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What's your opinion on the Roswell autopsy?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: It's real.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: You think it is real?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I'm positive.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, but, but here ..... this guy (pointing at statue) doesn't look like the Roswell aliens. Or the alien in the autopsy film.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Okay, let me explain something to you. We saw a group of eleven. There was as many individual variations among those eleven as there would be among any group of eleven men. They do not look alike. No way! .... That's another fallacy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So you believe that a spaceship did crash at Roswell in 1947?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yup!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And as I told Dr. Jesse Marcel, a couple of weeks ago. You know why I'm sure a UFO crashed?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Why's that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Because no fool lieutenant on a military base is going to come out all by himself and say, "We have a crashed flying saucer." He had to clear it with the top guy. The general, who had to okay him, or he never would have released that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: But then they changed that....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Excited) But then the Pentagon came and said that it never happened. But the base said it did.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Now... I'm listening to you and I'm looking for a pattern .. to determine how you determine what is real and what is not real and I'm having trouble finding one. I mean, from what I understand you're saying Hopkins, Jacobs, Mack and the Streiber stuff are wrong because it's unpleasant and involves hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right! Now, now, I've worked .... Well, I know from three people who've had real honest to god abductions. Valuable information was learned in those, and then somehow...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Those were yourself, Travis Walton...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No, these were three others, had real abductions.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: They want to remain anonymous.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Fair enough.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Then they had hypnosis, .... I was actually sick when I saw the hypnosis... It had absolutely nothing to do with the real experience.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: You said you saw the hypnosis. How? Real life? Or on a video or....?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. In a book. This woman I worked with had a tremendous UFO experience. She went right immediately to the police department.... As soon as it happened. Then later they gave her hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Who’s they?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Ignoring me) And um they gave her the hypnosis and uh ... Philip Hooksmith, whose the writer from Wales. Published her hypnosis and I'm sitting there reading what she said under hypnosis and thinking back to what really happened. There were no similarities. Under hypnosis, can you imagine that, she's telling about, she's flapping her arms and flying all over the city over the roofs of all the buildings. And the hypnosis... I mean they tell absolutely unbelievable fantasies. And, well, you know what happened with her happened, don't ya? She got so disgusted, and to protect herself if anything like this ever happened again, she changed her name and moved, so no one could ever find her.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Really?... Do you think that was necessary?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, it protected her from all the weirdos in the UFO field.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Are weirdos a big problem for you?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Will you tell me a little bit about that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, uh, one day at 11:30 at night I'd just gotten into bed and the phone rings. Anyway, (changing her infliction slightly, speaking rapidly. )"You've got to help me. Do you know the world is going to be destroyed? But you see there's UFOs coming here, huge UFOs, they can carry thirty thousand people, and they're coming, rushing here, to save certain people from total destruction, but not only that, somehow I've got to get on the internet, because Clinton is sitting down there in the White House when these aliens materializing right in the Oval Office every night and he's denying it and not telling the people and I've got to get it on the internet so everybody will know about this!" (I begin to laugh. She looks at me.) Would you call that weird?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I would call that weird... (I laugh.) Now most of the people who come to you, what kind of people are they?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Most of the people I have contact with are very, very nice. That's why I'd say, 'Okay, come on.'"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, great... and you said that, ...um.. there were a couple other things I wanted to ask you. Do you know Phillip J.Klass?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Quite excited.) Now listen! The last time I did a program with Phillip J. Klass he grabbed me and kissed me.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Really!?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right in front of the TV.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: In a nice way?!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh yeah!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Do you know why?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: No, why?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: This is the TV program. I said, "Phillip Klass, look. Before me nobody ever heard of you. (I laugh.) Not only that, you've written a lot of books, and you always put me in 'em. And if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be making all that money." And he grabbed me and kissed me and said that's right! (We both laugh.) I got a lot of response from that. Everybody said, "Why didn't you slap his face?" (We laugh some more.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I've never met him. What do you think of his attempts and the other skeptics attempts to ...um... explain your experience?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: The only trouble with Phillip Klass is that he tries to explain experiences that he doesn't know what happened in the beginning. Anything, he doesn't like, that doesn't fit in, with his thinking, he discards it. He ignores it. It didn't happen.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Can you give an example?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: oh... there's been so many of them... (long pause.) no, not right this moment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, all right, all right. How do you think skeptics should treat UFO abductees? There's a lot of skeptics out there and ...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: You mean people who say there's no such thing as UFOs? So how can you say that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Right, and the organized skeptics, like the Skeptical Inquirer people and those groups?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They have a right to their opinion. (Long pause.) Well, people say to you,"I don't believe you" and I say, "If it happens to you my phone number is in the book." (We laugh.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That's a good answer. And you said you wanted to bring more sense into the UFO movement. Can you give some examples of that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Get rid of hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Get rid of hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And get rid of every report, of course, it's impossible, every report of abductions that's been revealed through the use of hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: If you've had a real experience, run like mad, don't let anybody play around with your brain.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, meaning hypnotists.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right! Hypnotists. And, uh, then say, aren't you, isn't there, a lack in this country. Of general information. People don't even know. In New York City, researchers there, they've found out that all children. Years ago they used to dream about a monster under the bed or in the closet. Not any more. It's a monster in a UFO in the backyard. Every child who has a nightmare today, has a monster in the backyard. Ranging in age from a two year old to a twelve year old. Now if the child repeats this dream, it means the child has a fear of separation from the parents and should have therapy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Are you agreeing with this?!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yes, I am.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I am. If these little kids when they have nightmares through television think that they've heard, it's all a monster in the backyard. And is a fairly common nightmare. You know what happens is that the danger is that the parents believe it happened. Now you've got an upset kid.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: But you said if they repeat the dream, they should have therapy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Now they should have therapy because of fear of separation from the parent.... That's all it is. It never happened. It's not reality.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What would be your thoughts on the problem of hypnosis and other forms of therapy? Because there is a big problem with other claims of abuse coming out now through hypnosis and other forms of therapy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Do just what the police do. Throw them out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Throw them out?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Right! Now here in New Hampshire, this girl suddenly remembers, a woman, suddenly remembers that when she was in school, one of her teachers threw her on the floor and raped her. That's what started this bit, would you like a cigarette?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: No, no thank you. I'm fine.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: That's what started this theory of 'did it happen?" This is when New Hampshire did all these investigations, had all these top experts come in, testifying and it never happened. She only learned this through hypnosis. Which was a fantasy. But not only that. It's gone one step further than that. Oh first of all, if you've had hypnosis you can't testify in court, but also the prison gates are opened up and those people who got convicted based on testimony of someone who had hypnosis are being released. Including murder!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Are you familiar with the False memory syndrome foundation? What do you think of that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: False memory? You can give anybody a false memory!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: No, no... I mean the False Memory Syndrome Foundation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I don't know about the foundation, but I know about false memory syndrome.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, they're down in Philadelphia. They publicize the problem.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Um... If you say to a child, do you remember when you are three years old and you went shopping and you got lost in the store. I couldn't find you and the police found you and I had to go to the police station and pick you up. And the child will say, "No, I don't remember that." But you tell them four or five times and in six months the kid's gonna give you all the details. Of the experience that never happened.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Did you see the Nova episode on UFO Abductions?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Probably. But that's false memory syndrome.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That was Elizabeth Loftus's experiment. She was the one who did that with the kids in the shopping mall.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh really? But you can do that with any kind of experiment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Right. Right. And how would you to respond to critics who attempt to explain away your experience through the use of hypnosis?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, I'd simply say that they don't understand the differences in hypnosis. We had medical hypnosis. Basically, it's almost unknown in this country. However, um, Soviet Union do it all the time, but of course, Doctor Simon was a Soviet Jew. Most people don't know that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh, I didn't know that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: He came to this country as a child. His parents were Jewish. And, Dr. Simon told me, when he was twelve years old, he had his Bar-Mitzvah, and he said after the Bar Mitzvah, he said, to his father, "That means I am now an adult, right?" And his father said, "Yes." And then said, "From now on I am no longer Jewish."<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Huh? What'd his father say about that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: What could he say?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And.....<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />[End of First Side of Second Tape]<o:p></o:p></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin-left: 24pt; mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td><td style="padding: 0.75pt;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br />BH: (continuing) He liked the girl, but he didn't want his son to be Jewish and you know quite a few people who used to be Jewish are saying that it's the Jewish philosophy that in time always leads to, no matter where they go, to be persecuted. In fact, I knew a girl whose parents were Jewish, and they brought her up to be a Methodist to break the cycle.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: (I fumble around trying to think of an appropriate question/response.) What do you think it would take before UFOs become accepted by most scientists? Carl Sagan for example, spoke out very much against UFOs as did Isaac Asimov. What do you think it will take before Ufology becomes an accepted science?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I don't know. All you've got to do is see 'em.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All you've got to do is see 'em? All right, I think I'm done. Is there anything else you think I should be asking?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, I know one thing we didn't talk about.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What's that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Our investigation of our own experience.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Oh, please tell me about that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I mean, like, uh, all these things like a Chinese box in the trunk of the car that caused a compass to act real erratically -the scuff marks on the tops of Barney's shoes. My dress which was torn, covered with a pink powdery substance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Somewhere, it may have been in Phillip Klass's book, he may have said something, somewhere, somebody quoted Dr. Simon as stating that he thought perhaps your memories had been created through hypnosis. Have you heard that before?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Hell no. I haven't heard that. Don't pay any attention to what Phillip Klass says.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay, (I laugh.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Do you know what I told Phillip Klass?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Phil, I wish I knew where you lived. I'd send a UFO down there to take you on board, fly you around and then drop you off in the middle of a field when a baseball game was going on and you will tell everybody you got abducted by all these beautiful nude women. (We laugh.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: There aren't beautiful women on the spaceships, are there?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I don't know.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: However, I went to a lecture and this woman is telling about her abduction and she was abducted by these beautiful women. There was only one problem.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: What's that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: She recalled all this through hypnosis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: And actually it was a segment of Star Trek. The only difference was that in the hypnosis she played the part of Captain Kirk. (We laugh.) We told her this. That was the end of her lecture tour.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Which Star Trek? Was that the one with Spock's brain or something?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: On this one the beautiful women were the Antrons. She even had all the names right!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">(We laugh.) But to get back to our own experience, we went back to our capture spot, we went back several times, and other people saw UFOs flying around in this area. Talked to people who lived in the neighborhood who saw UFOs coming in there and landing. In fact, we collected hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of UFO sightings in New Hampshire, beginning back in 1932, um, then we got the radar report at Pease airport base. Later I went on a TV program where I was questioned by F.Lee Bailey, and then I sat down in front of the cameras, nationwide, and took lie detector testing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: And you passed?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: (Continuing) And the question which was asked was, "Is it true that on the night of September 18 you and Barney were taken on board a UFO in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where you were shown a star map of where they said they came from?" I said, "Yes, that's true. I got high marks. And the next question was, "Did you have any prior knowledge of this pattern of stars or is this a hoax in any way? " That covers the whole thing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Any thoughts on why they might have chosen you two?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yup.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Why's that?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, this is between the tourist season. All the facilities are closed. We gassed up the car and at in Coldburg (?) and we left there at ten O'Clock at night. We're driving down, there's no traffic, we're the only car on the road for miles and miles and miles, total darkness, there was a very bright moonlit night, and we see this very strange light in the sky. It's dark. We stop, get out to look at it, get back in the car, it follows us, we stop to look at it, we're driving along, and it's pacing us for about thirty miles and, we got to Indian head, and I'm curious, and so, just before Indian head, I put the car window down and said, "Hi! Hi!"<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: You think it's because you waved to them?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I think so. I think that... well... they zeroed in on us because we showed an interest in them. And their probably saying, and where else could they get two different specimens at the same time. (She laughs.)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I think what I'd like to do is purchase two books. If you could sign one to me and one to Tom.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: They're $15.95 each.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: All right, that'd be nice. Just one question I have. As I was looking at this book quickly I noticed, it's self published.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Yup! I did it myself!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Why'd you do that? I would think that since you are a celebrity, you could, somebody else would be anxious to publish your book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Well, ya see. In the beginning I wasn't writing a book. It was January. It was cold. The winds blowing. It's snowing and I'm bored. So I decided I would write a little booklet with some of my experiences and make 'em into a little booklet and give 'em around to my grandchildren, my family, friends, relatives, acquaintances, ... well... I continued to write, then I got too much for a booklet, so this friend of mine said she'd put it on disk for me, and I took, we have a local author around here, who's very well known, by the name of Peter Randall so I decided I'd got out and have a few copies of the book published and do this through Peter Randall. Well then Peter Randall says, "Rita! (??) Fifty copies?! You don't want fifty copies. The minimum amount was 2000 copies. Anything under that it would be... you'd pay as much for fifty books almost as you would for 2000. So that's what I did!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So you printed 2000? Well, it seems to me that ...<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: I was just looking in here for one... (??)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: It sounds like with since, with the way you published this book, and I think you've ... tell me if you're wrong, but could you have gotten a mainstream book deal if you wanted do you think?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh sure.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: I would think so.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Actually. See, if we were going to do that I would publish some of the pictures that I've taken of UFOs. I don't know. Depending on how they'd come out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: So you weren't too anxious to make money on that.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Oh no. I wrote it actually at the beginning, just for my friends and relatives. I was just looking here. I started this guest book in '81 to see if your friend was in here.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: He said it was definitely the late 70s. In fact, it was kind of funny the story he wrote about it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: You can also sign my guest book.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: That'd be great. Now you had Reed up stairs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: No. Used to be.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">PLH: Okay. Reed and somebody else.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">BH: Bill. Now Bill, used to be upstairs. His father got sick, so Bill went back to North Carolina, and stayed with his family. And then his father died. The last time I heard from Bill, Bill, he was out in Phoenix Arizona. Do you have a pen on you? (As she signs my books. We discuss signing and paying for the books.) Actually, I've got pictures of this, I filmed it. This is the carrier, down here is the little blue pays (?) or color and the base of this here opened up and died this drop out.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br />[THIS IS THE END OF THE TAPE]<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>FOOTNOTES<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><a name="1A">1 I've listened to this four times and it's not clear. "provincial" would fit. Could "provey" be a term for provincial? </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#1B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><br /><a name="2A">2 I assume she means Pease Air Force Base. </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#2B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><br /><a name="3A">3 I considered excising this section from the transcript, but it should be obvious to thinking people that Betty Hill is clearly not a racist. Those likely to be offended are probably people I wouldn't respect anyway. </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#3B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><br /><a name="4A">4 Clearly I should have said, "suspected psychosomatic problems." </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#4B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><br /><a name="5A">5 It might be "side of" instead of "science". The tape is unclear. </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#5B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><br /><a name="6A">6 I'm not sure what this refers to. She may have been talking to the cat for a moment. </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#6B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><br /><a name="7A">7 This is an interesting statement as she states there were only two other abductees known to her at this point in time. </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#7B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><br /><a name="8A">8 It appears that here I mispoke myself. '69 is not the correct year. The newspaper article was in 1965. </a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070121013509/http:/www.capital.net/com/phuston/bettyhill.HTML#8B"><i>BACK TO TEXT</i></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-54161704303477224862021-04-03T15:25:00.000-07:002021-04-03T15:25:44.913-07:00Product Review --belt buckle push dagger from Burlsusa<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Greetings, I seem to be on a self defense kick lately, Expect at least a couple book reviews, but today I'll start with a product review. (Yet, as always, if you like what I say here, consider purchasing a book or maybe two. Check them out on my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Huston/e/B000APT3YY?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4&qid=1617062514&sr=8-4" target="_blank">Peter Huston author's page at Amazon.com</a> . Thanks.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YvoF_D1wRuPJyHBD9kJQOj8J6sJ3G2SkegkSDRF0QChAvtJOnsY3ZvgpKAfkiBFXM1qtmaBsbZq4FW0Gk2XXNnOjuuLTZfsg1zz__kuM-O6f0T7IhjbgM3Xv7wwZoc24eCdzrBqcYO4/s2048/20210327_172724.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="747" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YvoF_D1wRuPJyHBD9kJQOj8J6sJ3G2SkegkSDRF0QChAvtJOnsY3ZvgpKAfkiBFXM1qtmaBsbZq4FW0Gk2XXNnOjuuLTZfsg1zz__kuM-O6f0T7IhjbgM3Xv7wwZoc24eCdzrBqcYO4/w420-h747/20210327_172724.jpg" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Legal of no, push daggers are pretty cool. By that, I mean basically a knife with the handle on sideways, designed to be held in the fist with the blade pointing out over the knuckles. Traditionally a hidden, hold out weapon designed for close combat, these were considered a weapon of Missisipi riverboat and old west gamblers as much as anyone else. Several are available from various manufacturers, including Cold Steel, a company that generally provides good quality for a fair price. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Instructional materials on how to use a push dagger are available from <a href="http://www.jamesakeating.com/c2.html" target="_blank">http://www.jamesakeating.com/</a> or <a href="https://brianvancise.com/2013/07/01/irt-tactical-push-dagger-dvd/" target="_blank">Brian VanCise at Instinctive Response Training.</a> I've seen both of these and feel comfortable recommending them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9JE71SOQqyoJ5ysq6TZkDvFErtvM5u1A5IFjzEAvVT6tzUSsEhA2rM0Dh7E753S6w78V6Jlbpsofk4Xmrribz5eNYlcThXfj4BvjdrzY8dQTt_vcSYzl9n11DYTXFAMDQ5G9PODbbMo/s2048/20210329_211802.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9JE71SOQqyoJ5ysq6TZkDvFErtvM5u1A5IFjzEAvVT6tzUSsEhA2rM0Dh7E753S6w78V6Jlbpsofk4Xmrribz5eNYlcThXfj4BvjdrzY8dQTt_vcSYzl9n11DYTXFAMDQ5G9PODbbMo/w467-h263/20210329_211802.jpg" width="467" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a photo showing how the blade slides inside the belt buckle. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, be advised, and I cannot emphasize this enough, the biggest drawback to push daggers for self defense is that they often illegal and even when not illegal attract attention from people who do not approve of carrying weapons in a way that a more mundane knife might not. This is especially true as most push daggers are double edged, and double edged knives are often illegal. If one is forced to defend oneself and uses a push dagger, you may expect questions to be asked as to why one was carrying a weapon and thus could be perceived as armed and ready for trouble, perhaps even looking for it. <br /><br />Having said all that, and been all mature and sensible, let me also say push daggers are cool and fun to own. 'Nuff said.<br /><br />Yet for years now, there's one kind of push dagger I have been looking for, and that is one that doubles and hides as a belt buckle. In other words, one where the blade slid and hid inside a belt while the handle of the knife doubled as a belt buckle. Definitely a concealed weapon, no ifs and ands or buts about it, therefore definitely illegal in many states and localities, and therefore, simultaneously, both extremely problematic as a self defense tool, but way cool as a novelty item. Why anyone who owned one could feel like James Bond! It could easily bring back childhood memories of the Marx Wild West 12" action figure, Sam Cobra, a cowboy villain with a hidden weapon in his plastic belt buckle. (Okay, it was a derringer, not a push dagger, but whatever.) <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UsYzFDXrwf5cW3j9_tGaZ9wMkTBaTlcX5pEwVX33LD3vfwvOy47bB-KxcskrhpPLJwfRh8Oij9xtnowskF7scB7sq1A-W0gYqRxUiJA5TZqtbB8b1NXuHSb2kXFX4HO1fx71pwNizXM/s2048/20210329_211743.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UsYzFDXrwf5cW3j9_tGaZ9wMkTBaTlcX5pEwVX33LD3vfwvOy47bB-KxcskrhpPLJwfRh8Oij9xtnowskF7scB7sq1A-W0gYqRxUiJA5TZqtbB8b1NXuHSb2kXFX4HO1fx71pwNizXM/w522-h294/20210329_211743.jpg" width="522" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another photo of the belt showing the snaps and the way the blade slides inside the belt. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Ww4zhouIHO-zyJE3XvPV38ObB3X3rLHjIXZDU5dnoXNMgj81qy9M60Hj5Im9_R8lTn5OO5VJXl4XVP9qErsERewT4IKOvLezB0LegGWoiKRmK2hDBhw98yGhjot78t1SK07t_44UjU/s2048/20210329_212552.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4Ww4zhouIHO-zyJE3XvPV38ObB3X3rLHjIXZDU5dnoXNMgj81qy9M60Hj5Im9_R8lTn5OO5VJXl4XVP9qErsERewT4IKOvLezB0LegGWoiKRmK2hDBhw98yGhjot78t1SK07t_44UjU/w504-h284/20210329_212552.jpg" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the inside of the belt showing the snaps. <br />Instead of a working buckle, the belt is held in place by a snap on the right hip.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For years, a company named Bowen manufactured and advertised them. While I never actually saw or purchased one, my understanding is that over time their service and perhaps quality declined and eventually they went out of business. Alas! Gone forever, it seems, and with it my chance to buy a push dagger that could easily be disguised as a belt buckle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I learned of a company named Burls. Burls advertised such an item, and sold it on their website at <a href="http://burlsusa.com" target="_blank">burlsusa.com</a> Burlsusa advertised exactly what I wanted. ( <a href="https://www.burlsusa.com/product-page/belt-buckle-knife" target="_blank">https://www.burlsusa.com/product-page/belt-buckle-knife</a> ) Having missed my chance on a Bowen knife, I had to get one of these. (For the record, I paid for mine standard price. I did not tell them I was writing this review. No promotional reward or consideration was offered me nor asked for. Believe it or not, while I have written books, remember you can buy my books, I am far, far, far from a household name. ) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So what did I get. I got what appears to be a pretty good belt. You can check it out below. Note the studs on the side. Also their customer service seems pretty good. My original belt was too small, so I requested a replacement one size larger. They not only sent the new one quickly, but they gave me a choice of how to handle the refund and replacement. Either I could send back the first one and have a second one sent when it arrived, or they could put a second one on my credit card, send it immediately, and then refund the cost of one belt when the first one arrived. I chose the second option and everything went smoothly. The belt even came in that small burlap bag and the knife in a cardboard box. Nice packaging, and both serve well as long term storage for the items.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVsfqQ2uOXVnR4kBJHgVL_6exkL5O2MP4tK5cnTeucMi_Ooqa2KrzzgTPw2Qsmrdx91G8frZWnHnOKGz5dLBaZ7KC1-CbuNKCLVJdZ02pW4xQw6R8YnGDU5WkJUUWp1Ko6gbibhrwFcg/s2048/20210327_163608.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVsfqQ2uOXVnR4kBJHgVL_6exkL5O2MP4tK5cnTeucMi_Ooqa2KrzzgTPw2Qsmrdx91G8frZWnHnOKGz5dLBaZ7KC1-CbuNKCLVJdZ02pW4xQw6R8YnGDU5WkJUUWp1Ko6gbibhrwFcg/w529-h298/20210327_163608.jpg" width="529" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Burlsusa belt and knife, notice the studs on the hip. (apologies for the pandemic lockdown gut.) </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89U4_WZLBsMkZRAwX4eDAe2x7Rga_76Hump0qWZWpzQ32mtGQJuuMVvIB3eOw0x8YiOlRe07K7AZmoxGyHYRUfRRHa-FeznVcnwZZ8T8Zckz6tQS7PFDdHCdsjXKi8c_mKJEoResArBU/s2048/20210327_163629.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89U4_WZLBsMkZRAwX4eDAe2x7Rga_76Hump0qWZWpzQ32mtGQJuuMVvIB3eOw0x8YiOlRe07K7AZmoxGyHYRUfRRHa-FeznVcnwZZ8T8Zckz6tQS7PFDdHCdsjXKi8c_mKJEoResArBU/w451-h254/20210327_163629.jpg" width="451" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot of the studs on the hip<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The studs on the hip are actually snaps. They hold the belt in place as while the knife hides as a buckle, in fact, it is not a functional belt buckle. As the blade slides in and out of the end of the belt without friction, it cannot provide tension or work to keep the belt in place and hold one's pants up. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had wondered about this. After all, what good is it, really, if one finds oneself in a tight situation, yank a frightening knife out of nowhere, flash it around to frighten and disorient your enemies, and then, alas, your pants fall down around your ankles making you unable to move quickly or do any footwork unless you interrupt what you are doing to pull them back up, then continuing the fight with one of your hands already out of commission as you use it to hold your pants up. </div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1ziIt5-QNkvxs6XMePjy7g-tHz7Qa_lWR0P5GnR9VdHC5LTAiSPvVkv0cM6itvYp4Ni9E-x3-OEu1F1lckpVyvxIe1tlDTSuK9MbL23zJEIJQczcd0JIZiF4_FzUs_MK3QX5K3GLY8o/s2048/20210327_172534.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1ziIt5-QNkvxs6XMePjy7g-tHz7Qa_lWR0P5GnR9VdHC5LTAiSPvVkv0cM6itvYp4Ni9E-x3-OEu1F1lckpVyvxIe1tlDTSuK9MbL23zJEIJQczcd0JIZiF4_FzUs_MK3QX5K3GLY8o/w438-h246/20210327_172534.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here you can begin to see how the knife hides inside the belt, disguised as a buckle.</td></tr></tbody></table><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>At this point, the belt is held in place by the snap, not the buckle as there is no buckle. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt96PiN6ADD3itWomEVS1R4dKZ3fBm6tTeD0Cb5bsryNzaqL22LroogLyKG7uCiLpmjIHwNhgisXHOrT2GrVO0D_tIqD6e-kENOoATEhztn7rrqth7WgKFp_8fAOL36VZ4H0UJeyy7Jg/s2048/20210327_172559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEt96PiN6ADD3itWomEVS1R4dKZ3fBm6tTeD0Cb5bsryNzaqL22LroogLyKG7uCiLpmjIHwNhgisXHOrT2GrVO0D_tIqD6e-kENOoATEhztn7rrqth7WgKFp_8fAOL36VZ4H0UJeyy7Jg/s320/20210327_172559.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu4mn8Zi3IrRgEWq48mCyLAMolnTRezYDQt9XJBtl4UMVFeF7cOYFzo6V0RFcScx7H_9xn8MzWFR0IEBZ1Ut56qSlsBqzOgHw1EgWXUjo1U4iGhGK39VDBJnhQH3XOhZimyIKqJFhIe4/s2048/20210327_172604.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu4mn8Zi3IrRgEWq48mCyLAMolnTRezYDQt9XJBtl4UMVFeF7cOYFzo6V0RFcScx7H_9xn8MzWFR0IEBZ1Ut56qSlsBqzOgHw1EgWXUjo1U4iGhGK39VDBJnhQH3XOhZimyIKqJFhIe4/s320/20210327_172604.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The knife can be drawn without the belt falling down.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGw8t3MdUVcE1MmR7Pi0UcKeYoNDdO2jgnUa-VBkR3CeXODEG8Y1sHVUQZsIxCd2pFJ80_CdKjD22GYt6r6115dxsQhihF652VRFjNs7HzLABqxNqnGbhMwc5dkdA6GQuunWpOjNxZj4/s2048/20210327_172613.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGw8t3MdUVcE1MmR7Pi0UcKeYoNDdO2jgnUa-VBkR3CeXODEG8Y1sHVUQZsIxCd2pFJ80_CdKjD22GYt6r6115dxsQhihF652VRFjNs7HzLABqxNqnGbhMwc5dkdA6GQuunWpOjNxZj4/w418-h235/20210327_172613.jpg" width="418" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sliding forward as it is drawn.</td></tr></tbody></table>And how is the knife itself? Is it good quality. Truth be told, not great, but serviceable if need be. It doesn't have a great heft or feel and just doesn't feel like a real weapon. The curve on the handle that allows it to pose as a belt buckle unfortunately also gives it a very strange feel when gripped in one's hand. <br /><br />Personally, I would put this entire contraption, while much fun to look at and delightful in many ways, in the category of gimmicks or perhaps last ditch hold-out weapons. While it might make part of a great costume, they fact that this is a real weapon with real sharp edges is likely to cause trouble in that role. But if you need to get in touch with your inner James Bond, or are a collector of strange weapons, then this is something fun to own. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7-m6XnzDzfobrnQhGn1P2DR1DahNdJK-KLBGgplLNOT-VfL-H6AsfzTXxTcHeGAzaS-G3m4X_YO_MOX66i_afoLiQWwlwTempyQ7t9m2FrUjnJOesBQkFPOZ2NlHT29sbDLZoWem17s/s2048/20210327_172734.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7-m6XnzDzfobrnQhGn1P2DR1DahNdJK-KLBGgplLNOT-VfL-H6AsfzTXxTcHeGAzaS-G3m4X_YO_MOX66i_afoLiQWwlwTempyQ7t9m2FrUjnJOesBQkFPOZ2NlHT29sbDLZoWem17s/w210-h373/20210327_172734.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO145JlefpryA1H03QZiRfElaz1R6FwP7j0hysSvOuDr0ygduo2jiwk2daZ2xnOgKS-wsF6HoMqzSD7fXFPZofLLR5aBkllyiYC0AAz9LRvpkzyxC3zVW6D9sbXjDdF4KiZfKkT9COBs/s2048/20210327_172737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO145JlefpryA1H03QZiRfElaz1R6FwP7j0hysSvOuDr0ygduo2jiwk2daZ2xnOgKS-wsF6HoMqzSD7fXFPZofLLR5aBkllyiYC0AAz9LRvpkzyxC3zVW6D9sbXjDdF4KiZfKkT9COBs/w180-h341/20210327_172737.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1BauaDyzeCFOwn5bLdUzmWtwx-mbdgXMNFISMtrVARSyW0djcW2a9wltY8fMk1BCV-W1Eh0gDPrwsmGOcXuH8CP8zffWvAL76IHUILfQ31pyvmWPxs7HvQiIo-yC1xKkno4HlPAVi5s/s2048/20210327_172749.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1BauaDyzeCFOwn5bLdUzmWtwx-mbdgXMNFISMtrVARSyW0djcW2a9wltY8fMk1BCV-W1Eh0gDPrwsmGOcXuH8CP8zffWvAL76IHUILfQ31pyvmWPxs7HvQiIo-yC1xKkno4HlPAVi5s/s320/20210327_172749.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5VQYnOD0D7HpTrdN6TLctHa6ZdybK2l7zzFQRO3YY2_8VKu-8rPyuF3Isx16QC_h7AgPua_K3bKJPTDb1L7sFx9hfNOyyFiE-fA3GMe_NFid96OKwi-_sL2mPJGFNdZgp4SmQMKf7aA/s2048/20210327_172759.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5VQYnOD0D7HpTrdN6TLctHa6ZdybK2l7zzFQRO3YY2_8VKu-8rPyuF3Isx16QC_h7AgPua_K3bKJPTDb1L7sFx9hfNOyyFiE-fA3GMe_NFid96OKwi-_sL2mPJGFNdZgp4SmQMKf7aA/s320/20210327_172759.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-37754633627622459922020-10-16T18:18:00.000-07:002020-10-16T18:18:00.534-07:00-"Scams from the Great Beyond --The Presidential Edition." -- Peter Huston's newest book <p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The New Book is Here!!</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At last! Just what the world needs! Another book on Donald
Trump!! </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MMTkqhZmmHdz7goTErDgEVX3rc8KbAc5v1C7wiVF8UfN59Od5sd-x6potis9yS9q6-PhFGePOoAQqirKUE63qhmPsRRxIkafUWtRHtZizvD9YTy4MtPce-FpEcdaXu4VKP3Ck8vsf_w/s346/41hvoR%252BIF2L._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="231" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MMTkqhZmmHdz7goTErDgEVX3rc8KbAc5v1C7wiVF8UfN59Od5sd-x6potis9yS9q6-PhFGePOoAQqirKUE63qhmPsRRxIkafUWtRHtZizvD9YTy4MtPce-FpEcdaXu4VKP3Ck8vsf_w/w428-h640/41hvoR%252BIF2L._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So . . . you’re wondering, what makes this one, yet another
book on Donald Trump, special? Well, dear reader, it’s very simple. This one
was written by me! Yes, Peter Huston has written a book on Donald Trump. Check
it out. . .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the back cover . . . <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is he really just an idiot? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Donald Trump is the only person in history to become
President of the United States with absolutely no public service or military
experience. How did he do it? By having a solid and well-honed set of skills
that enabled him to sway crowds, manipulate people, and dodge consequences and
the truth. In this book, Peter Huston, author of two previous book on how
hoaxers and scam artists pull their tricks and get large numbers of people to
deny reality itself, takes a look at Donald Trump and the Donald Trump
Phenomenon. Love him or hate him, it’s important to understand him, and, whatever
you do, do not underestimate him.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>“The book. Very popular book. Hundreds of </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>people everywhere
love it. Believe me, Nobody </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>knew what a great book. Such a book.”</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Available in print, ebook, or downloadable PDF format. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scams-Great-Beyond-Presidential-Paranormal/dp/B08JVPHMD1/">Print or Ebook available at Amazon</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://critters.org/store/huston.pdf"><span style="font-size: medium;">Free, pre-election downloadable PDF</span></a><br /></p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-37725817254546649932020-08-26T20:37:00.004-07:002020-09-18T16:23:33.484-07:00Understanding Trump's Evangelical Base<div style="text-align: center;">More Trump Stuff, Way More Trump Stuff, on my other blog </div><div><br /></div> <a href="https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/search/label/Donald%20Trump">https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/search/label/Donald%20Trump</a> <div><br /></div><div><br />
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<i>In writing, there is a phrase
called “kill your darlings.” (It has other variant names as well.) It refers to
a piece of writing that the author has created and admires, but just doesn’t
fit the book and needs to be removed because it is slowing the flow of the work
and detracts from the overall project. I am currently working on a project called
“Scams from the Great Beyond -The Presidential Edition,” a sequel to my two
other “Scams from the Great Beyond” books that focuses on how Donald Trump has
tricked, scammed, lied, and manipulated a large portion of the American public
and conned his way into the presidency. The first draft included a lengthy
section on how and why Evangelical Christians make up such an important part of
his base. While the concept is important, what I wrote was much too much long and
will be cut to improve the overall book and keep It better focused. This is the
original, very lengthy essay on the subject. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<h2>
EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS AS TRUMP’S BASE<o:p></o:p></h2>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
There is a strong
correlation between being “Born Again” and supporting Trump. Why? To most
people the idea that any group of people would see Trump as a force for
improving American morality is baffling and mind-boggling, yet it’s undeniable
that Evangelical Christians make up an important part of Trump’s base. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Evangelical
Christians are an interesting American minority, their sub-culture distinct
from other Americans. If one were to talk to them, they would probably say that
what makes them distinct is that they accept Christ as their personal savior.
I’d disagree, arguing that there are many non-evangelical Christians who also
accept Christ as their personal savior or, at least, role model and that’s just
as important. At that point, the fireworks, shouting, and recriminations would
begin, because they are convinced, they are very, very special. Now every
ethnic and minority group has both good and bad people and they are often not
bad people, and I don’t mean to imply that they are. But their thinking patterns show a special pattern that primes them to be susceptible to Donald Trump’s lies.
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
makes Evangelical Christians distinct is their insistence that every single
word in the Bible is to be taken as literally true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the record, Christianity, like most of
the great religions of the world, consists of a wide spectrum of peoples and
interpretations and practices, most of which the American Evangelicals consider
to be wrong and misguided, wrong, and ultimately unimportant as they are wrong,
wrong as in “not right” and wrong as in “not correct,” and even though the
other large part of the spectrum outnumbers them and historically was on this
planet long before they were, which, to an Evangelical Christian, does not make
them right or their views even worth considering, because such views are wrong.
Did I mention they tend to believe they are right and others are wrong? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some
among the Evangelical Christian sub-culture might argue that belief in a
literal Bible is historical tradition dating back to the days of Christ
himself. However, the evidence of this is lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one thing, all four of the gospels were
written after the time Christ lived, as were the letters of Paul (not all of
which, according to some scholars, were even written by Paul.) At places they
contradict one another in several ways, most unimportant to the flow and theme
of the actual narrative, and, more curiously, some leave out things that today
we find extremely important such as the stories of the birth and death (and
resurrection of Christ) as well as the story of Judas. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And clearly the story of Christianity in its
over two thousand years is one of great diversity and change and adaptation.
This included changes to the content and books included in the Bible. One has
to ask, if the books of the Bible have varied throughout its history, when was
and when was it not the literal word of God? When a book is removed from the
Bible is it no longer the literal word of God? How does this happen? <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Christianity
has varied and is diverse. It has included the Nestorian Church, the Eastern
Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and countless other sects and heresies and
schisms and what-have-you, several of who were such a source of trouble and
problems to the 17<sup>th</sup> and 18<sup>th</sup> century British that they
were exiled to America. Never forget that the pilgrims were heretics and
troublemakers who began settling in the so-called New World as illegal aliens
with the permission of the people who lived there. It’s an important part of
our national heritage.<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Others
would say that the founding fathers of this great nation were Christians. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, they say, America was a Christian
nation and should continue to be one. Well, some were, some weren’t. Some were
somewhere on the fringes of what was considered “acceptable Christianity” or
seriously questioning even way back in the eighteenth century. A couple even
referred to the Bible as a fable, putting them on the same wavelength as some
of the Methodist ministers I grew up around <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Getting
back to the present, if you begin, and end, your analysis of the world with the
idea that the Bible in its entirety is literal truth, then you’re going to
believe some things that make you different from your neighbors who don’t. And
some of these things, including the notion that America is, was, and always
will be an (Evangelical) “Christian” nation, the humans will naturally drift
towards accepting American style Evangelical Christianity as it is the one
truth faith, that the Biblical story of creation in the book of Genesis is
literally true, that Noah’s ark, and the diversity of human languages began
with a historical incident called the Tower of Babel,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>will inevitably bring your beliefs into
conflict with not just science, but also history, anthropology, most of your
neighbors if you live in any place with a sizable population (more on this
later, it is important), most of the media, and most of the educational
curriculum of any good school, college, or university. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Which
means if you are an evangelical Christian and go out much or like to explore
new things, sooner or later, you are going to come into things that contradict
or challenge your deeply held beliefs, beliefs that are often the foundation of
your existence. And while, I’ve been a bit disrespectful in the last few pages,
let’s make it clear. Christianity, with its emphasis on being able to start a
new life and found a new identity and transform oneself, is sometimes exactly
what some people need to get their lives where they want them to be.
Christianity does allow one to begin life with a clean slate.<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
Some, without their beliefs, might fall apart or slip back into dangerous
addictions or other problem behaviors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On
the other hand, Evangelical Christians hold beliefs that are in conflict with
the bulk of society and sometimes in conflict with hard evidence and social
science findings. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>So,
how does one behave when your deeply held beliefs are exposed to evidence that
could threaten them? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Two
ways<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Reduce contact<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47555892;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Undergo Cognitive dissonance <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47555892;"></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
These are key
points so I will repeat them again. When people are exposed to ideas that
threaten their deeply held beliefs, they tend to do two things: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Reduce
contact<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Undergo
Cognitive dissonance <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It’s very
important to remember this. So important, in fact, that we are going to repeat
it again, BUT THIS TIME IN BIG CAPITAL LETTERS. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONFRONTED WITH
SOMETHING THAT CHALLENGES THEIR DEEPLY HELD EMOTIONAL BELIEFS, THEY TEND TO DO
TWO THINGS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">REDUCE CONTACT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 1.25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">UNDERGO COGNITIVE DISSONANCE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Real quickly,
“reducing contact” means you try not to go near or speak to or hear the ideas
of those people any more than you have to. I think that’s pretty clear and
straight forward. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“Undergoing
cognitive dissonance” is a bit more complicated and requires explanation.
First, “cognitive” refers to “cognition” or “thought.” “Dissonance” means
“tension, lack of harmony, or conflict among the elements or parts of
something.” Therefore, the term “cognitive dissonance” refers to when a
person’s thoughts contradict each other, and they start to become aware of
this. When this happens, people tend to react in specific ways (technically,
reducing contact with the source of a conflicting idea is one of these) and
we’ll come back to those throughout this work. For the moment, just be aware
that people whose minds are exposed to ideas that contradict their deeply held
beliefs react in certain ways when they start to believe or consider those
ideas. Again, more about this and these behaviors will be said throughout this
work. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
For the moment,
just understand that Evangelical Christians do these things constantly. Avoid
contact? They tend to live in their own personal little world but, as the joke
goes, “it’s okay, because they know everyone else who lives there.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
I first became
aware of this in the 1980s. (Yeah, I was alive back in the 1980s. I was cool
then, and I knew all the bands, pretty much every single one, even on the
college radio. Pretty cool, huh?) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Remember how we
said that believing that every single word in the Bible was intended as literal
truth requires some heavy-duty mental gymnastics? Starting with the proposition
that if one does not believe every single word in the Bible is literal truth, you
cannot <u>really</u> be loyal to God and be a good person? <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Let’s look at some
examples of how a belief in Biblical literacy might lead to conflict with the
larger world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Using a literal
Biblical framework, the world is about 6,000 years old. People have calculated
it based on the genealogies and data about the ages of the various people
mentioned, and they’ve gotten pretty consistent answers, give or take a few
decades at most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet Darwinian evolution
would take billions of years to produce the diverse kinds of life that exist on
our planet? And the fossil record supports that? And the geological record
supports this age as well? And a great deal of astronomy also supports the idea
that the world is over four and a half billion years old? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
What’s one to do?
Well, it seems to me that logical thing to do would be to just sort of figure
whoever wrote the book of Genesis lived long before these things were
discovered and were doing the best job he or she could to share about something
they thought was important, and leave it at that. As an author, I know darn
well writers make mistakes sometimes or, for one reason or another, express
opinions on things they know nothing about. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Biblical scholars
have been discussing this for years. In fact, some have pointed out that
ignoring the scientific evidence against a six thousand year old Earth, the
Bible itself seems to offer two different Creation stories, both in the same
book of the Bible. If you look at Genesis, starting with Chapters 1 and reading
up until Chapter 2, Verse 4 (Genesis 2:4), you get a creation story where a big
spirit like God creates the universe in seven days. On the second day, he
creates a dome to make a space among the water (the early Israelites believed
the universe was composed largely of water, which would explain springs leaking
up and rain falling from the sky, as well as their fear of massive floods.) and
creates the land, having water touch the sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the third day, he puts plants on Earth. On the sixth day, God created
the animals of land and sea, and THEN . . .AFTER . . . God has finished, he
creates mankind, several of them, it seems, both male and female. On the
seventh day, he stops work, declares the job done and takes a rest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
But if you read
from Chapter 2, Verse 5, and read with an open mind, the story seems to start
over again. The Universe has been created it seems, but there’s nothing in it.
God sets out to fix that creating man, and just one man alone, and THEN the
animals and plants. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Which is an
interesting contradiction and in both my Bibles, (yes, I own two) that’s just
in the first two or three pages. It also means that if we take the Biblical
story of Creation as a scientific theory to be tested, we have a problem before
we start in that we need to clarify what it is that we are saying. And, no, I’m
not the first to point this out.<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a> And
don’t expect to go running to your Evangelical Christian friends and shock them
into abandoning their world view by pointing this out. You might confuse them,
stress them, cause them to run to their pastor or a book or the internet to
find a clumsy explanation that seems rather arbitrary, one they are like to
come running back to you with and then expect you to accept it. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
Just understand that while Evangelical Christians tend to portray things as a
black / white, yes / no, good / bad dichotomy of “You believe the Bible and
support God or you don’t do either” when the actual fact is that position is
both arbitrary, unnecessary, and either requires a degree of lack of
understanding of the facts or a bit of interpretation,
selection, appeals to authority, and recasting or reframing of things some
of what seems quite arbitrary to people who are not part of their sub-culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
That seems kind of
important, so let me put it in big letters. Big letters are cool.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 200%;">INTERPRETATION, SELECTION, APPEALS TO
AUTHORITY, AND RECASTING OR REFRAMING OF THINGS are an important part of being
an Evangelical Christian in modern American society. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
As we will see,
this Evangelical Christian tendency towards <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk47636209"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47636209;">“interpretation,
selection, appeals to authority, and recasting or reframing of things</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47636209;">” </span>is an important part of being able
to firmly support Trump. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
And, just so I say
it, should one wonder, I first was told of the presence of two differing
Biblical stories of Creation in Genesis at age twelve while at church camp. The
Methodist minister who taught me this explained that the first one, where God
is a vast and powerful spirit, is the newer one as it shows a more evolved and
sophisticated image of God than the Garden of Eden story where God appears in
human form and even speaks of “let us make man in OUR image,” a hint at early
Israelite polytheism. He’s the same minister who told me that the early Israelites
also had a story where their number God, Jahweh (aka years later as “Jehovah”
yeah, that guy) killed a giant sea monster called Leviathan that was
interfering with his plan to separate the waters and create heaven and Earth.
Shame they left that one out. Fucking editors, never know what is really good
and should just let writers do their jobs without interference. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But how do Evangelicals deal with this?
Simple. They just pick a version, or mash the two together, and teach the results
in science class. If you can’t do this at a public school, then you can do it
most private schools or perhaps a Sunday school. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let’s spend a moment talking about “private
schools,” specifically right wing private “Christian schools.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Hmmm? Private
Schools? Hmmm? Remember what we said about reducing contact with people and
sources of news and views that conflict with one’s deeply held beliefs? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As in “excluding non-believers”? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Hmmm? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Fits right in,
huh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--after all, at a private school
you can control the curriculum and select the student population, rejecting or
making those you don’t want to feel unwelcome, and if you have a “Christian
School,” you cannot just avoid the presence of ideas that conflict with yours,
but also the presence of people who conflict with your ideas, including the
millions of uppity people who disagree with the things you hold dear, including
your attempt on monopolizing the word “Christian.” <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It is my belief,
one I will argue here, that the “Christian” (Evangelical Christian) style of
thought and private school education primes and prepares people for accepting
Trump or someone like him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Now, if you are
going to set up a school, you will need a curriculum. Which is difficult enough
to create if one is teaching a mainstream subject. I know, I’ve done it more
than once, usually for English as a second language or basic academic writing
classes. But it’s especially difficult if you are going to teach “alternate
theories” that contradict mainstream science yet do it in the science class.
You can’t just say that you made it up to fit your pre-existing beliefs. This
is, after all, modern times and even if many people, particularly Evangelical
Christians, don’t quite understand what science is and is not EXACTLY, they do,
at least, have a vague idea of what it should look like. “Science” should come
from THEORIES and be promoted by EXPERTS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which, as stated, leads to problems if one is seeking to promote
THEORIES that are not really THEORIES, but instead rationalizations to get you
back to a pre-conceived conclusion. (Remember what we said about
“interpretation, selection, appeals to authority, and recasting or reframing of
things”? Remember how these things are obstacles to real science? No matter,
you’ll see a lot of that when Evangelical Christians try to teach science,
global cultures, or ancient history.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
So, how do you
justify a science curriculum that defies the principles of science in many
ways? Easy. You find ALTERNATIVE EXPERTS who offer and promote ALTERNATIVE
THEORIES that lead to ALTERNATE CONCLUSIONS. Now, of course, you don’t need to
call them “alternate experts.” A better term would be “Creationist scientists”
or “Biblically sound scientists.” The term “scientists,” just plain, ordinary,
every-day scientists will often work fine because most people, whether they
understand science or not, are impressed by “scientists” and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>know that they tend to know lots of really
cool and interesting stuff. If you can’t get away with using “scientist,” try
“experts.” “Experts” is a vague, catch-all term, and one that pretty much
everyone with a bit of world experience knows is widely abused.<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn12;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[12]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
So, to recap, to
reduce cognitive dissonance, you create a “Christian school” (ALTERNATIVE
SCHOOL) that uses “Biblically sound theories” ( ALTERNATIVE THEORIES) to teach
“Creation science” (ALTERNATIVE SCIENCE) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Now the challenge
of all this is you need to make sure that your “experts” are respected by your
target audience. This is easier than sounds because THEY WANT TO BELIEVE. YOU
ARE OFFERING THEM A WAY TO REAFFIRM THEIR PRE-EXISTING, DEEPLY HELD BELIEFS -In
other words, YOU ARE HELPING THEM REDUCE COGNITIVE DISSONANCE. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In his book “House
of Cards -Psychology and Psychotherapy Built on Myth,” Robin Dawes, a professor
of psychology offers an important critique of how the entire concept of “seeking
experts” can be misused and become misguided, particularly if no expert exist
and there is no possibility of developing expertise in the actual area in
question, as is often the case when the basic thing that you are trying to
prove is ridiculous. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn13;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: -4.5pt;">
Still, there are
ways to help in such situations. Credentials help. If you don’t have any, or at
least any that you are proud of, it’s easy enough to get some. Despite it now
being easier than ever before, few people check credentials carefully,
especially when they fit their pre-conceived views and desire to believe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if they do check, impressive sounding credentials
are easy to obtain. I’ve got a legal right to use the title “Reverend” should I
wish, thanks to the Universal Life Church, although for the record, I never do.
Elsewhere on this blog, you can read of Tammy Yard-McCracken and her use of the
title “doctor” obtained from a non-accredited university and not useful for licensure
in the field of psychotherapy. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn14;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[14]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
I wrote a whole blog post about her and other “experts” with flimsy or
discredited or easily discredited credentials as well.<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn15;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
More than once, I’ve offered if she can show me that she has an accredited
doctorate relevant for licensure in psychotherapy in a relevant forum, I’ll
remove these references to her on the blog. Therefore, I’ll make the offer
again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many members of the Evangelical Christian
sub-culture are taught to respect credentials and authorities. I have no idea
why, as I personally believe Jesus was an anarchist rabble-rouser, but I think
it’s clear they don’t want or value my opinion much anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
if you wish to increase the status of your ideas and positions in the ideas of
others, there is the classic format, THE DEBATE.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Creationists
love the format of the debate. I mean, think about it. Even if they lose, when
compared with the latest version of modern evolutionary theory, the idea that
the world is six thousand years old and God created everything in a week
through his awesome powers comes in SECOND PLACE, which is a lot higher on the
list of possibilities as to how life on Earth originated than any REAL
scientist is going to put it, for sure. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not
to mention that it gives the impression that two widely different positions
that cannot possibly be reconciled, should be treated equally and weighed
carefully against each other. This is something else that few real scientists
would do when considering Biblical Creationism as an alternative to science
and, no pun intended, evolving evolutionary theory. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
style and format of a debate use a completely different method of determining
the winner and loser as well as achieving the goal of determining who wins and
loses. Arguing, confusing one’s opponent, making the opponent look bad and
appear poorly informed, while trying to shift the discussion to areas where the
opponent shows increasing weakness are all methods of winning a debate. None of
these are part of the scientific method and none of these ultimately determine
the truth or falseness, the utility or lack thereof, of a scientific theory. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally,
it should be mentioned that a debate is a “zero-sum game.” It has definite
winners and definite losers. It is not an attempt to share ideas, reconcile
them, and improve understanding, but instead an attempt for one side to show
superiority over the other. Donald Trump sees the world in such terms, and a
debate with a definite winner and loser is a forum that he relates to well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Now, I could write
a great deal here of the pros, cons, and methodology of the Creationism debate
and how cheats and swindlers, and they thrive in the Evangelical Christian
community, use them to make money, influence and cheat people, and gain a
following, but the odd fact is that I’ve done it before. Remember how this book
is a sequel to others? Go find<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><u>More
Scams from the Great Beyond -How to Make Even More Money Off of Creationism,
Evolution, Environmentalism, Fringe Politics, Weird Science, the Occult, and
Other Strange Beliefs</u> and there’s a full chapter, 21 pages or so, on this
very subject. The original was published by Paladin Press in 2002 but a few
years ago I re-released it as a print on demand title. Buy it please. It’s easy
enough to find, and if this subject and the way I write about it interests you,
there’s a lot more there.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>But
wait, is that the only contradiction that Evangelical Christians find between
their (allegedly) literal interpretation of the Bible and the way the rest of
us see the world? Oh, absolutely not. Just skipping around at random. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about dinosaurs? Dinosaurs are cool,
really cool. For one thing, they are big and noisy. They stomp on things and
eat a lot. Kids love them. But doesn’t the evidence indicate that dinosaurs
died out 66 million years ago and haven’t been seen since except for all those
pesky fossils and dinosaur bones and dinosaur eggs and such? (Oh, those pesky
fossils, such a nuisance for God fearing people. Why did God scatter them
everywhere, one must wonder?) Surely, to be a “good Christian,” which in this
context means an Evangelical Christian, one would be expected to abandon belief
in dinosaurs, right? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of
course not. No need. Just <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk47732701"></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47732701;">use “interpretation, selection, appeals to
authority, and recasting or reframing of things” and consult with a few
“alternative information sources.” </span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47732701;">You
know, usual pattern. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47732701;"></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There
are many of these “alternative information sources” that offer a “Christian”
(meaning “Evangelical Christian”) explanation for dinosaurs. The standard
“alternative explanation” seems to be that they did exist and like all animals
were created by God six thousand years ago, same time as everything else. While
some say the Biblical flood, the one described in the story of Noah’s Ark,
killed the dinosaurs, others argue that many survived the flood, having been
taken on the ark with the other animals, and after the flood most or all of
them continued to survive but in diminishing numbers. This, of course, explains
stories of dragons from around the world. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn16;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[16]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
It’s quite interesting stuff, even a lot of fun if you’re in the right mood and
don’t take it too seriously, but, as science or history, and what’s said is
that these books and other “alternative information sources” are often
carefully labelled as science or history, these ideas fail completely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Which
brings us to the Great Flood itself and the story of Noah’s Ark. A classic
story shared by several of the middle eastern cultures of ancient times, it’s a
fine story and makes a great basis for many wonderful children’s toys if
nothing else. I mean, I don’t want to be a hater here. A good story is a good
story and we all know the “family survives the end of the world and then
rebuilds after the holocaust” is a classic genre, one of which Noah and his Ark
set the pattern and laid the ground for later examples of the genre. I mean,
how many seasons, exactly have there been of Walking Dead at this point? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
But as science or
history, well, several big problems there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where did all that water come from? Where did it go after the flood
ended? How did Noah, a man who lived in the middle east and had limited time
and travel capability, collect all those living specimens of all those animals
and get them on the ark?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could go on
and on with this, passing through truly wonderful questions like “Were those
dinosaurs on the ark?” and continuing on into minutiae like “if Noah had Koala
bears from Australia on the ark, and if one believes in the literal truth of
the Bible then you must, and since, of course, all truly good and righteous and
devout people, by definition, believe in the literal truth of the Bible, then
one must believe Noah’s ark to be a true event and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>one that must have included Australian
animals as the Bible is quite clear that it included all animals of the world,
and Australia, while quite far from us, is, indeed, part of the world, then we
have the question of how did Noah feed the Koalas? Koala bears, it seems, are
unusual animals because they eat mostly eucalyptus leaves. They often eat a
pound (about half a kilo) of eucalyptus leaves a day. Eucalyptus leaves grow
primarily in Australia, with a few growing in nearby Indonesia or Papua New
Guinea. How did a man in ancient times in the middle east acquire such a large
quantity of these leaves from trees that grow only on the other side of the
world? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Now some of you
might be thinking, “gee, that sounds like a ridiculous question. Surely no one
can answer it. Therefore, Pete, you must be joking. How can anyone possibly
offer an answer to such a question?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Ha, ha, if so, you
are a silly reader with too much faith in human rationality. Not only has it
been answered, but it’s been answered in detail. It’s all written in clear
black and white in the fine book, “Noah’s Ark -A Feasibility Study,” by John
Woodmorappe (1996, Institute for Creation Research, El Cajon California.) on
pages 114-116. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn17" name="_ftnref17" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn17;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[17]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Again the key is
to use “interpretation, selection, appeals to authority, and recasting or
reframing of things” and consult with a few “alternative information sources.”
You know, usual pattern. Same old, same old. Mental gymnastics to get you to
where you need to be to make yourself feel good. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Of course, there
are others. Go through the Bible or any secondary source on Bible stories, find
one that is tough to take literally, and, if you search a bit, you can find someone,
somewhere who has put a great deal of time and effort into rationalizing any
logical, historical, or scientific problems, and offers their own explanation
of why the story should be taken literally and believed without question
because to question or not believe is to deny the literal truth of the Bible,
in the eyes of these people, something bad people do, and few wish to be bad
people. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
And how do they do
it? Simple, with the use of use “interpretation,
selection, appeals to authority, and recasting or reframing of things” and
consult with a few “alternative information sources.” Yup. Like I said,
it’s a pattern. You’ll see it a lot in this chapter. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
But that’s the
past and how they perceive it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happens when this group is faced with problems in the present? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The tendency to isolate themselves, avoid sources of things
that conflict with their deeply held, emotional beliefs and to use
“interpretation, selection, appeals to authority, and recasting or reframing of
things” and consult with a few “alternative information sources” lead to
problems. <o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47791516;"></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
instance, in the 1980s, James Randi, magician, author, and exposer of frauds,
set his targets on some of the so-called faith healers who operated within the
Evangelical Christian sub-culture in the United States. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn18" name="_ftnref18" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn18;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[18]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then covered the subject quite well in his
book, “The Faith Healers,” (1989, Prometheus Books, Buffalo New York. Foreword
by Carl Sagan). I wrote about it as well in chapter 9, pages 159-182, of my
book, “More Scams from the Great Beyond,” although I’ll be the first to tell
you that much of what I wrote is cribbed, with proper accreditation and
respect, from that book. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Some
of what Randi exposed was simply amazing, and the way he exposed it was also
amazing. (I mean, that is his nickname, “amazing,” after all, isn’t it?) For
instance, he discovered the way that one of his targets, a so-called faith
healer named Peter Popoff seemed to be performing miracles. Popoff would hold
large revival meetings where many would come, gather, and then donate money to
his ministry. These donations were only part of the income, Popoff received
from his supporters, as he also had a mailing list which he would use to
solicit donations from targeted donors. During these gatherings, people would
be selected to come onto the state and “be healed.” Randi quickly noticed that
as the people came on stage, Popoff seemed to know a great deal about them. It
appeared that he was receiving messages about the people from God. He would
call out their names, facts about them, and the reason why they had come to the
revival and what exactly it was that he wished to be healed of as they stood
before him. To the audience, this appeared to be a miracle. After all, how
could Popoff have known any of this? Surely, God must be telling him? (Again,
we see that reflexive pattern. “If it cannot be explained by us, then it must
be a miracle from God, and need no further explanation.” I don’t wish to
comment too much, except to say this is not good science, as it causes one to stop
thinking just when things are getting interesting.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Randi
became determined to understand what was really happening. How was Popoff able
to gather so much information so quickly on the people in the audience as they
approached the stage? It took some investigating, but he determined that what
was going on was that people would fill out cards with personal information as
they entered his gatherings. These cards would contain a great deal of
immediately relevant information about who they were, why they were there, and
what they hoped to accomplish by attending the prayer and faith healing
gathering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These cards were collected by
the workers who ran the gathering and turned over to Popoff’s wife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was able to communicate the knowledge on
these cards to her husband using a radio transmitter. He, in turn, had an
earphone in his ear so he could here her messages and then be able to use the
information to excite the crowd and the participants with the impression that a
miracle was taking place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Once
Randi and his team found the frequency used to broadcast the information using
a radio scanner, they recorded these communications while filming the
interactions between the husband and the audience. The results were amazing.
And not only were they amazing, but they were aired on the Johnny Carson Show,
one of the highest rated late night shows in the country where literally
millions of people saw them. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
And what they saw
wasn’t very pretty. Not only was Peter Popoff taking advantage of sick people’s
trust in him, not only was he stealing their money, not only was he exploiting
their illnesses and health problems in ways that could cause permanent harm or
death, but while this was all going on, his wife was not just helping him, but
mocking his victims by hidden radio. And Randi his team showed it on national
television to an audience of millions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
And what was the
effect? Did Peter Popoff’s ministry close the next day? The reaction was
surprisingly subdued and slow. At first, there appeared to be no effect on the
ministry at all. And while membership did decline, it only did so over a long
period of time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The issue it seems
was that there were very few social connections between the millions of people
who made up the Johnny Carson Show audience and the people who attended the
Peter Popoff ministries also watched the Johnny Carson Show, despite it being
one of the highest rated shows in America at the time. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn19" name="_ftnref19" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn19;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[19]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
Remember what was said in an earlier chapter on the nature of fame in the early
twenty first century? How everything has gotten segmented and sub-divided and
groups self isolating from one another? Remember how I said Donald Trump seems
to instinctively understand this better than anyone else out there? Well, I
hope you remember it, and if you don’t, it might not be a bad idea to go back
and review it again. And when you do, remember the Evangelical Christian
sub-cultures were way ahead of the curve, pioneers it seems, in this area.
They’ve been isolating themselves and restricting their information sources for
years before anyone else did. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
And, again, this
tendency to isolate themselves, avoid sources of things that conflict with
their deeply held, emotional beliefs and to use <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk47794790">“interpretation,
selection, appeals to authority, and recasting or reframing of things” and
consult with a few “alternative information sources” </a>has had its effects.
Many of them negative. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
In the 1980s,
especially, there was in some areas, great but undeserved fear of Satanic
Cults. There were police seminars on the subject of Satanic crime and training
programs for therapists on Satanic ritual abuse (abuse of children by Satanic
cults.) The problem is that these things often did not exist, especially not in
the scope or form described. Of course, every once in a while, some mentally deranged
person does something unwholesome, even terrible of criminal, but this is one
person, perhaps two, not an organized cult or sect that has lasted for
centuries, hidden until now. And there were and are organizations, generally
attention seeking organizations that sometimes produce books or documentaries,
that claim to worship or revere Satan but these are not engaged in organized
criminal behavior. Quite frankly, the sorts of groups that were being taught
about, simply did not exist in any way, shape or form close that being
described. Again, I wrote about it in “More Scams from the Great Beyond.”
(Chapter 11, Pages 193-214) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
So where did these
ideas come from? How did they spread?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Again, often
through the Evangelical Christian community and their information networks.
I’ve written about it elsewhere, <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn20" name="_ftnref20" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn20;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[20]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a> but
when I was growing up, I’d always believed that Satanic cults that did terrible
things were a real thing. I mean, I’d never had any reason to question it or
look into the issue. However, it wasn’t until I began associating with
Evangelical Christians, that I met people who actually spoke of them as
something that people actually encountered and had an immediate need to be
aware of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did they say this? Simple,
they believe it. How had they come to believe it? Simple, people they trusted
who had no reason to lie had told them of these things. Again, it was
misinformation spreading through the Evangelical Christian sub-culture and
their information networks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
And, again, the
pattern included “alternative sources of information” and “alternative
experts.” For example, while he wasn’t alone in the field, one of the most
colorful of these “alternative experts” was Mike Warnke. Warnke was, of all
things, a “Born-Again Christian stand up comedian” who told people of how they
too could overcome sin and a dark past by accepting Christ as their personal
lord and savior. And he should know, he would explain, because he had been a
Satanic high priest in a Satanic cult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a compelling story but it was also a lie and entirely fabricated.
The whole thing was exposed by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>--remember we said we were dealing with a sub-culture that tended to
isolate themselves?—Evangelical Christian investigative journalists. You can read
all about it in their book, “Selling Satan -the Tragic History of Mike Warnke.”
( Mike Hertenstein and Jon Trott, 1993, Cornerstone Communications, Chicago
IL)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn21" name="_ftnref21" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn21;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[21]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
today, the pattern not only continues but in many ways it seems to have
actually increased, spreading from not just information that contradicts the
religious beliefs of Evangelical Christians and their sub-culture, but in some
cases, particularly some of the more conservative or right-wing of them, that
contradict their political beliefs. (which, in fairness, they might argue stem
from their religious beliefs and therefore evidence that contradicts with one’s
political beliefs also contradicts one’s religious beliefs, although, I’ve got
to say this does imply that both would seem to be wrong if there’s lots of
evidence that contradicts them. To most people, it would seem better to simply
grow and modify one’s beliefs to something closer to reality.) <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For
instance, when it comes to the issue of “Global warming” or “climate change”
and the role of humans and carbon emissions on this issue, not only do members
of the Evangelical Christian sub-culture show belief patterns that are
different from the mainstream population,<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn22" name="_ftnref22" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn22;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[22]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a>
but<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>some Evangelical Christians in
private “Christian” schools teach it very differently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>According
to one source: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>Pastor
Robert Jeffress, a member of Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board, appeared on
Fox News to discuss the movement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<i>“Somebody needs
to read poor Greta Genesis, Chapter 9 and tell her the next time she worries
about global warming, just look at a rainbow. That's God's promise that the
polar ice caps aren't going to melt and flood the world again,” he said in
response to the Sept. 20 protests. <a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftn23" name="_ftnref23" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn23;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[23]</span></sup></b><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
when they teach this in private “Christian” schools, they follow the same pattern.
They use “interpretation, selection, appeals to
authority, and recasting or reframing of things” and consult with a few
“alternative information sources,” mix it together to get the desired
end-goal, and then called it “science.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Of
course, it’s not science, and it’s dangerous, and, right now, the best thing
you can do because of it, is study, and vote, and encourage others to do the
same. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Not
only has this sub-culture shown a great willingness to accept the statements of
Donald Trump, no matter who outrageous, misinformed, or self-contradictory, but
Trump has shown an odd willingness to use their sources as well. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Much
of the anti-mask, anti-social distancing misinformation material that is
undermining our nation’s pandemic response is being passed around through these
networks. Again, “interpretation, selection, appeals to authority, and
recasting or reframing of things” and consult with a few “alternative
information sources”; the pattern continues, and people are dying because of
it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<h3>
Finally, my books . . . </h3>
Yeah, I've written books. Please check them out and see if they interest you.<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hamchucksur04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1511984023&asins=1511984023&linkId=2db693c84ef107c43e6d30383b559d04&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hamchucksur04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1511985313&asins=1511985313&linkId=f2e3e3cc1215a00312675b8e3fa07a06&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=hamchucksur04-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=172710739X&asins=172710739X&linkId=999de28d5c73c282930f3d71a762f16d&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Although
I’ve found some can be unbelievably sneaky and shiftless in a work environment.
You can usually spot them quickly as they are prone to quickly citing Matthew
22:21, “ And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” <sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup> Which in
a workplace setting if said by a co-worker often means, “I’ll act like a
Christian on Sunday morning in church, and like a sociopath anywhere else,
including here.” Be careful if you see an Evangelical Christian say this,and,
if they do, keep them at a distance. Jesus practiced a lifestyle and did not
just go to church on Sunday. In fact, I’m not even sure if Jesus went to church
at all, come to think of it. He was probably too busy hanging out with ex-whores,
lepers, and the poor, and trying to help people.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, if you really wish to check
this you can simply get a Bible and actually read the four gospels of Mathew,
Mark, Luke, and John. They’re not that long and an important part of the
literary heritage of Western Civilization, if nothing else, but if you prefer
second hand sources, many exist. For instance, <br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_consistency_of_the_Bible"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_consistency_of_the_Bible</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
I’m sure someone somewhere has already written on this. I really am. On the
other hand, I have not heard it. Some Evangelical Christians I have met argue
that the King James Bible is the only true version inspired by God, but my
understanding is that this belief offers its own logical problems and requires,
as they say, a leap of faith. ‘Nuff said. Most Bible scholars, Evangelical or
otherwise, do have an interest in the original languages and word choice of the
books of the Bible.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
Save your angry letters. I am of Mayflower descent, so I can say this. Did you
see the film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and think ‘Only a Greek person could
mock the Greeks this way.” Yeah, it’s like that. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>
https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Founding-Fathers-Deism-and-Christianity-1272214#:~:text=Founders%20who%20fall%20into%20the%20category%20of%20Christian%20Deists%20include,than%20either%20Adams%20or%20Washington.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Years
ago, I had a friend who was a member of a thoughtful and progressive Christian
sect. In college, he dated a woman who was a “Born Again,” Evangelical Christian.
He enjoyed their relationship, but he often complained of meeting her friends. Many
had a tendency to soon after meeting him launch into “before I met Christ, I
was a sinner, but now am reformed, and I’m going to tell you how low I was and
how happy I put those days behind me” stories. Usually these involved drugs, prostitution
(both providing and procuring), and worse. His normal reaction was “But we’ve
just met? Isn’t this a bit personal to share so soon?” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
One of many sources on this is “Cults -Faith, Healing, and Coercion,” by Marc
Gallanter. ( 1999, 1989. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> I
actually gave this one some thought once upon a time. If God wrote the Bible
and then insists people believe it, why did he not only fill this creation of
his with contradictions but scatter things around the planet that make people
doubt it’s literal truth? Either God did not intend the bible to be taken
literally, or maybe, perhaps, he never wrote it all, and the Bible is in fact a
historical and evolving document where people wrote about their beliefs about
God, at time contradicting or even arguing against one another, or maybe, just
maybe, God’s a mean and nasty fuck who likes to toy with people’s minds? Think
about it. Take your pick. I know which one I believe. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn9" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[9]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> “The
two contradictory creation accounts.” From The Skeptics Annotated Bible. <br />
<a href="https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/accounts.html"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/contra/accounts.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn10" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[10]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
See<br />
Do Genesis 1 and 2 Contradict Each Other? From Answers in Genesist.<br />
<a href="https://answersingenesis.org/contradictions-in-the-bible/do-genesis-1-and-2-contradict-each-other/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">https://answersingenesis.org/contradictions-in-the-bible/do-genesis-1-and-2-contradict-each-other/</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn11" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[11]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Okay, definite aside. Someone’s going to want to know my religious beliefs and
practices. As I’ve made clear, I was raised in an extremely liberal branch of
the Methodist Church. At age 18, when, like most 18 year olds, I had strong,
clear beliefs on everything and knew all that needed to be known about the
nature of all important things, I went through a phase where I was a young,
loud, obstinate atheist. Later as I aged, mellowed, and found the world more
and more confusing, I shifted my beliefs. These days I would probably be most
accurately described as an agnostic who sees a value in attending religious
services. For several reasons, including stereotypes and my actual lack of
official linkage with the group, I will not mention which version of
Christianity I attend services at, save to mention that it is that same one
that Presidents Herbert Hoover and Richard Nixon. If you want to know which one
that is, please do your own research. Thanks.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn12" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn12;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[12]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> For
a good essay on the problems with “seeking experts” see <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn13" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn13;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[13]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Dawes, Robyn. “House of Cards -Psychology and Psychotherapy Built on Myth.” (
1994, The Free Press, New York) <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn14" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn14;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[14] </span></span></span></span></a>Se<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">e <o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://peterhuston.blogspot.com/search/label/Violence%20Dynamics%20Seminar">https://peterhuston.blogspot.com/search/label/Violence%20Dynamics%20Seminar</a></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn15" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn15;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[15]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p><a href="https://peterhuston.blogspot.com/search/label/Violence%20Dynamics%20Seminar">https://peterhuston.blogspot.com/search/label/Violence%20Dynamics%20Seminar</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn16" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn16;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[16]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Author Adrienne Mayor has written several
books in which she argues that the origins of many stories of large monstrous
creatures in ancient times, lie not with encounters with actual, living
monstrous books, but instead with humans finding the fossilized remains of
large prehistorical creatures such as mammoths, mastodons, and dinosaurs, among
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>L. Sprague De Camp also offered
similar explanations for some of the monsters of ancient myth and legend in his
work, “The Lands Beyond.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both authors are
well worth reading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn17" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref17" name="_ftn17" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn17;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[17]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Ideas
offered are that Noah grew Eucalyptus on the ark, or that prior to the flood
the Koalas ate a more varied diet, or that they were simply fed something else as
apparently has been done at zoos according to this book, although it admits
such a diet usually results in a dead Koala, or perhaps God personally selected
Koala who he knew could tolerate a more varied diet and guided them to Noah or
vice versa, and then, after the flood, the Koalas began or returned to the
strict diet. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn18" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref18" name="_ftn18" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn18;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[18]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
James Randi was once a hero of mine. But as we get older and learn more,
sometimes perceptions change. Within the skeptic community and communication
networks, unsavory rumors about his private life were common, and at times, it
seemed Randi’s number one priority was to promote Randi. Yet he undeniably did
a great deal to expose fraud and paranormal fraud in particular. If one is
interested in Randi and his life and career, I highly recommend watching the documentary
“An Honest Liar,” which came out in 2016 and presents a balanced picture of all
of these things.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn19" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref19" name="_ftn19" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn19;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[19]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Again, you can read all about this in Randi’s book, “The Faith Healers,”
Chapter 9, ‘Peter Popoff and his Wonderful Machine,” pages 139-181.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also covered in part in the documentary,
“An Honest Liar.” <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn20" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref20" name="_ftn20" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn20;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[20]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://skepticalinquirer.org/1994/04/a-personal-perspective-on-satanism/"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">https://skepticalinquirer.org/1994/04/a-personal-perspective-on-satanism/</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref21" name="_ftn21" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn21;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[21]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Years ago, I reviewed this book. You can read the review here. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk47790774"></a><a href="https://skepticalinquirer.org/1995/01/selling-satan/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47790774;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">https://skepticalinquirer.org/1995/01/selling-satan/</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk47790774;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref22" name="_ftn22" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn22;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[22]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/religion-and-views-on-climate-and-energy-issues/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/10/22/religion-and-views-on-climate-and-energy-issues/</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/33797259/WEBB-DOCUMENT-2016.pdf?sequence=1"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">https://dash.harvard.edu/bitstream/handle/1/33797259/WEBB-DOCUMENT-2016.pdf?sequence=1</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://grist.org/article/what-evangelical-christians-really-think-about-climate-change/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">https://grist.org/article/what-evangelical-christians-really-think-about-climate-change/</span></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0096340215599789"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0096340215599789</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="file:///D:/Trump%20and%20Evangelical%20Christians.htm#_ftnref23" name="_ftn23" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn23;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""calibri" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;">[23]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> </span><br />
<a href="https://religionunplugged.com/news/2019/9/27/climate-change-and-evangelicals-why-do-so-many-of-them-believe-its-a-hoax"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: 11pt;">https://religionunplugged.com/news/2019/9/27/climate-change-and-evangelicals-why-do-so-many-of-them-believe-its-a-hoax</span></a><br />
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<br /></div>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-22109714722886299912020-08-22T06:04:00.003-07:002020-08-22T06:04:57.011-07:00Trump Watch -- first excerpt from upcoming "Scams from the Great Beyond --The Presidential Edition." <p>Greetings, an excerpt from my current project. Please check it out. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2020/08/donald-trump-at-business-school-scams.html">https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2020/08/donald-trump-at-business-school-scams.html</a> </p>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-42329429320481483002020-07-11T14:40:00.000-07:002020-07-11T14:40:08.211-07:00Trump Watch -Current Events, Foreign Students, Distance learning and visas<br />
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The United States ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
has just announced a controversial policy affecting foreign students. I oppose
this decision.<o:p></o:p></div>
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A very <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>quick, hastily
produced introduction to the current US ICE (Immigration and Customs
Enforcement) policy on foreign students who are taking classes through distance
learning. Please note that this policy primarily affects foreign students who
came to the USA to study in conventional programs but whose programs have
switched exclusively to distance learning due to the on-going Covid-19
Pandemic. Not a final or complete study on the issue, and I created this merely
as a starting point for those interested on this issue. Please feel free to share.
Please feel free to contact me at <a href="mailto:plh25.0@gmail.com">plh25.0@gmail.com</a>
with additional resources. Thank you<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is the official government press release from ICE. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/sevp-modifies-temporary-exemptions-nonimmigrant-students-taking-online-courses-during?fbclid=IwAR3eQmfV7B9cEWIUpjB-lAq5oZyTvF1RnqQppJIlCbbR2FSlb9NRPxzcAbE">https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/sevp-modifies-temporary-exemptions-nonimmigrant-students-taking-online-courses-during?fbclid=IwAR3eQmfV7B9cEWIUpjB-lAq5oZyTvF1RnqQppJIlCbbR2FSlb9NRPxzcAbE</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are some stories of reactions from the media. This is
not intended as a comprehensive survey but only a brief, quickly collected
group of such stories although an effort was made to include different angles
and viewpoints.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/christian-groups-oppose-removal-foreign-students-200710200829464.html">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/christian-groups-oppose-removal-foreign-students-200710200829464.html</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/99-members-congress-demand-withdrawal-restrictions-international-students-n1233358?fbclid=IwAR34AH6WH8tt_wAPgu7wVlrRINNNHwgAJrBVFcQ03ATBtKI9EtjJjfX9-yY">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/99-members-congress-demand-withdrawal-restrictions-international-students-n1233358?fbclid=IwAR34AH6WH8tt_wAPgu7wVlrRINNNHwgAJrBVFcQ03ATBtKI9EtjJjfX9-yY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wcvb.com/article/harvard-mit-sue-feds-over-new-immigration-rule-targeting-students/33246356?fbclid=IwAR2YL5-Za40P9jf-7EIyoavKPKcReL09_byDIKRCYQav610LyJSFvjR4CG4">https://www.wcvb.com/article/harvard-mit-sue-feds-over-new-immigration-rule-targeting-students/33246356?fbclid=IwAR2YL5-Za40P9jf-7EIyoavKPKcReL09_byDIKRCYQav610LyJSFvjR4CG4</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/politics/harvard-mit-lawsuit-ice-foreign-students/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2ggdT_8Gy77IjHgXQJnPRrKQX6ruhGwLKAQTmDdmDyhaCDZkIM9GWUvxY">https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/08/politics/harvard-mit-lawsuit-ice-foreign-students/index.html?fbclid=IwAR2ggdT_8Gy77IjHgXQJnPRrKQX6ruhGwLKAQTmDdmDyhaCDZkIM9GWUvxY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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To better understand this issue, please keep in mind this action
will not just affect foreign students, but also their landlords, local
restaurants, the places they buy their clothes and groceries, and the many
other businesses and services where they spend money. This is a report from
NAFSA, a respected organization for professionals in the international
education field, on the economic value of foreign students. (FYI, I have
personally visited two different large NAFSA gatherings. They were expensive,
but I enjoyed them.) <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.nafsa.org/policy-and-advocacy/policy-resources/nafsa-international-student-economic-value-tool-v2?fbclid=IwAR1jDW4yIB-7UTVS0fG9-GGqzck3OGwTrpEyC9FRNDB-UpenQ4kRr7xMNLY">https://www.nafsa.org/policy-and-advocacy/policy-resources/nafsa-international-student-economic-value-tool-v2?fbclid=IwAR1jDW4yIB-7UTVS0fG9-GGqzck3OGwTrpEyC9FRNDB-UpenQ4kRr7xMNLY</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are some academic organizations that are working on
this issue. By sharing these links, I am not endorsing these organizations or
their approach to this issue. Again, this is quickly assembled and shared for
informational and initial networking purposes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The National Humanities Alliance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(both links)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.nhalliance.org/take_action_to_reverse_ices_decision_on_international_students">https://www.nhalliance.org/take_action_to_reverse_ices_decision_on_international_students</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://p2a.co/NwHGF6D">https://p2a.co/NwHGF6D</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Statement from the Associations for Asian Studies<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.asianstudies.org/aas-statement-on-modifications-to-student-and-exchange-visitor-program-rules/?fbclid=IwAR07nBwGQ9UdSQZW4yhbd3gZKtIEK66YUOcp_UJaTOH50jvC7T1Xwf7INMw">https://www.asianstudies.org/aas-statement-on-modifications-to-student-and-exchange-visitor-program-rules/?fbclid=IwAR07nBwGQ9UdSQZW4yhbd3gZKtIEK66YUOcp_UJaTOH50jvC7T1Xwf7INMw</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is a list of academics who have signed an open letter.
If you are an academic you can consider signing it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HNQjP2yPtS67C4UpaNMn0Khn1c2LDwgU-p9Htzh4_2A/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3DXcEGRWU3UKnN1BQMFXKOi9Dh3ko8olgb3QlzdpiZvlOM4J6zcDZu7vA&edit_requested=true&hl=en">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HNQjP2yPtS67C4UpaNMn0Khn1c2LDwgU-p9Htzh4_2A/viewform?fbclid=IwAR3DXcEGRWU3UKnN1BQMFXKOi9Dh3ko8olgb3QlzdpiZvlOM4J6zcDZu7vA&edit_requested=true&hl=en</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is a Twitter feed discussion from an immigration lawyer
that is well worth reading. Again, I do not endorse the man but am sharing for
informational and networking purposes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1280207487573069827?fbclid=IwAR10B_S1fQD4hgxIBh5kRlLZefYfvDiwSFWWcvJelzz2pq9PHP24cIQm7A0">https://twitter.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1280207487573069827?fbclid=IwAR10B_S1fQD4hgxIBh5kRlLZefYfvDiwSFWWcvJelzz2pq9PHP24cIQm7A0</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Here are a pair of petitions one can read and/ or sign if
one wishes<o:p></o:p></div>
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Change.org<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.change.org/p/student-and-exchange-visitor-program-sevp-allow-f-1-and-m-1-students-to-remain-in-the-us-with-online-only-classes?recruiter=50438578&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=signature_receipt&recruited_by_id=44270b50-9df8-0130-3580-00221968d0e0&fbclid=IwAR2XHrD89ev-Y2UodATKPKnweNoUed98QMHNIBhJImYlyzPnNsWacx-MVYI">https://www.change.org/p/student-and-exchange-visitor-program-sevp-allow-f-1-and-m-1-students-to-remain-in-the-us-with-online-only-classes?recruiter=50438578&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=signature_receipt&recruited_by_id=44270b50-9df8-0130-3580-00221968d0e0&fbclid=IwAR2XHrD89ev-Y2UodATKPKnweNoUed98QMHNIBhJImYlyzPnNsWacx-MVYI</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Whitehouse.gov <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-f-1-students-stay-us-through-fall-semester-if-instruction-online-due-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR2zDzXbjZLT-rlpIsUYH1LL-Rr1a5kUGE-bnyK3b-Aix6x9JYRDrl106hI">https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/allow-f-1-students-stay-us-through-fall-semester-if-instruction-online-due-pandemic?fbclid=IwAR2zDzXbjZLT-rlpIsUYH1LL-Rr1a5kUGE-bnyK3b-Aix6x9JYRDrl106hI</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Thank<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>you, <o:p></o:p></div>
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Peter Huston, MA, MS,<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-60720991230148308872020-05-28T19:54:00.004-07:002020-05-28T19:54:58.145-07:00New Blog Post on the History Blog --Biker Films: The Wild One (1953) <div>
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<span data-offset-key="98uq6-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">New blog post. With luck, first in a series on biker films. I would be honored if you check it out. Yes, this is a personal inviation to you alone.</span></div>
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<a href="https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2020/05/biker-films-wild-one-1953.html">https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2020/05/biker-films-wild-one-1953.html</a></div>
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Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-68488226059972307822020-05-17T13:31:00.000-07:002020-05-17T13:43:29.056-07:00Trumpwatch --Divide and Deflect --Donald Trump WANTS you to be arguing about whether or not he is a racist. <br />
I hate to give the sad, pathetic man in the White House the attention he craves, but . . . This intelligent, attractive, outspoken woman is Weijia Jiang, who grew up in West Virginia.<br />
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Many people are currently arguing about whether or not the President of USA dealt with her in a manner that was racist. The President of the USA is often accused of behaving in a racist manner and people often argue about it. This happens much too much to be mere coincidence. The purpose of this blogpost is not to weigh in on the issue of whether or not Trump is a racist, but to suggest that if you do spend time and energy weighing in on this issue, you are playing Trump's game. Yes, I am arguing that one of Trump's biggest and most commonly used tools ("tricks" if you prefer) is to get people to argue amongst themselves, and I am also suggesting that he loves the attention when people are arguing about him, and that he intentionally does something provocative so that people will argue about his behavior instead of focusing on truly important issues that are happening around us.<br />
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This tactic is called "Divide and Deflect." And the American people fall for it again and again and again and again . . .<br />
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Our president has a few tricks he does again and again. Some will argue that they're not terribly clever but he uses them well, he uses them often, and they got him, against all odds, into the White House. It would benefit us all if more people recognized them.<br />
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Chief among them is “divide and deflect.” Whenever, he and/ or the nation has a problem, whenever people are beginning to notice the problems, whenever he is unable to cope with a problem or control the problem or the narrative about the problem, the next best thing for him is to hide it or divert attention from it. When this happens, he knows, it’s time to play “divide and deflect.” Again and again, one effective way to do this is to do something that is ARGUABLY RACIST to many but to others ARGUABLY NOT RACIST. In American not only are race and racism hot topics, but the line as to what is and is not racist is also a hot topic. Few can discuss these things rationally and without emotion. Thus he pulls a stunt like this and suddenly at least some people are arguing over whether or not it is racist and suddenly attention is diverted from other things which our president would like attention diverted from. These are: 1) there’s a pandemic and people are dying in large numbers, 2) the economy is falling apart because there is a pandemic and people can’t work, 3) the issue of exposing the president’s finances is actively being discussed in the supreme court today as well as the issue of whether or not a US president should be immune from prosecution or investigation (very important issue), and 4) idiots have decided that quarantine procedures implemented under a law signed by George Washington in 1796 are unconstitutional probably because Russian propaganda has told them this is something they should think. By contrast,Governor Cuomo of NY, a man I normally cannot stand but whose response to this crisis I have to respect, would simply have answered the question ( perhaps with "Because we want the American public to not only know that we are doing everything we can for them but also that our response is as efficient as possible when compared with other nations" ) and then moved on to the next question. You can see what happened on this BBC article with video.<br />
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<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-52627604/trump-spars-with-asian-american-reporter-over-nasty-question?SThisFB&fbclid=IwAR1f6_lDXaElmLRevNbO3HuI5Abf4tk4OliPDpHTzFhsrSnvVWXrJInd5ec">https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-52627604/trump-spars-with-asian-american-reporter-over-nasty-question?SThisFB&fbclid=IwAR1f6_lDXaElmLRevNbO3HuI5Abf4tk4OliPDpHTzFhsrSnvVWXrJInd5ec</a><br />
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Of course, you can leave a comment below. But, if you leave a comment arguing about whether or not the president was or is racist, REMEMBER, you are playing his game and letting him control what you do and think.Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-35135964690698267142020-02-16T05:19:00.000-08:002020-02-16T05:23:03.550-08:00Ping Pong as a survival skill --a story from the Chinese Cultural Revolution<div class="_2cuy _3dgx" data-block="true" data-editor="8oj0l" data-offset-key="bq66s-0-0" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we think of survival skills, many don't think outside the box or limit the range of such skills. </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently, I spoke with a Chinese friend who is from Wuhan, epicenter of the coronavirus. While he teaches at a college far from Wuhan, his parents still live there. As the entire city has been quarantined with no one going in or out, there is good cause to worry.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">He said they are doing well but running low on food. He said he has been ordering food off the internet to deliver to them but it takes a long time to get there and he is worried. I asked if there was anything I could do. Of course, there's not really, and reminded him that his parents had survived worse and that his mother had once survived based on her ping pong playing skills.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apparently, during the Cultural Revolution, a period of total chaos and dysfunction in Chinese history due to insane political extremism, at some point she'd found herself homeless and adrift in territories far from home. (I'm not sure how this happened, but it was not uncommon at this time. The authorities would occasionally order urban people, particularly intellectuals, to move to the countryside to "learn from the peasants" and since the peasants (farmers) often didn't particularly want them there, and society was falling apart, people would find themselves far from home without resources or food or means of making a living. It didn't help that young people were joining the Red Guards, roaming around unsupervised and trying to force the implementation of poorly thought out government mandates. They'd sometimes quite and try to find a way home too. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So this young woman, all by herself, far from home, found herself in need of food and shelter. Often one step in doing this was to find the local ping pong table where she happened to be and use it to make friends with strangers. Which often led to offers of a meal and food for the night. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">(As an aside, due to China's high population density, people tend to often live in small, crowded houses or apartments. In a city like Wuhan, this would have made it difficult to stockpile a long term food supply, although a lot of the Karen (Burmese hilltribe) refugees I know in the USA have a few 50 pound bags of rice around somewhere in their houses or apartments. It's not a bad idea dn it makes them happy.) </span></span></h2>
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Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-91392015701300718192020-01-09T00:52:00.003-08:002020-01-09T00:52:54.839-08:00New Post on the history blog -- Vinh Moc War Tunnels in Vietnam, preservation efforts, part one <br />
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<a href="https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2020/01/vinh-moc-tunnels-vietnam-museum-and.html">https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2020/01/vinh-moc-tunnels-vietnam-museum-and.html</a>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-50251847318437142452019-12-25T15:27:00.000-08:002020-01-07T05:35:37.354-08:00Christmas in Vietnam, December 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Greetings, it's December 2019 and I find myself in Vietnam, travelling and taking care of some personal business. And with that said, I offer a selection of Vietnamese Christmas photos. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On December 24, I took a train from HCM City (Saigon) to Hue to see the historical sites. The conductors were all wearing Santa hats. It was, like a lot of things on sees in Asia, surreal. As you can see in the picture below, I asked one of the conductors if I could take his picture and while he readily agreed, he also seemed to think it would be much better if we took the picture together, both wearing Santa hats. How could I say no to that<br />
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If you look carefully you can see a row of conductors with Santa hats.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUA1dbQXXz8oFXQufVTNlu4mRYT8YmsH_aZjjx7ahnxoV9w8HdB8V89RcIaerb4qbDoACbiEfoTqcxpU2IGBDTAFgQ_KmjJc-SN0gYSfa1h4iv4-bMmbhGYrVloJXEQwCBeyIrIzAQzw/s1600/IMG_4273%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUA1dbQXXz8oFXQufVTNlu4mRYT8YmsH_aZjjx7ahnxoV9w8HdB8V89RcIaerb4qbDoACbiEfoTqcxpU2IGBDTAFgQ_KmjJc-SN0gYSfa1h4iv4-bMmbhGYrVloJXEQwCBeyIrIzAQzw/s640/IMG_4273%255B1%255D.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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This is a bit unusual because here you can actually see a reference to Jesus in the Christmas celebrations. While Vietnam does have a significant Catholic population and a growing number of members of other Christian sects, most people in Asia do not recognize Christmas as a religious holiday, but instead celebrate it in a secular way. Without a history of religious exclusivity in which one is expected to choose a single religion and stick with it, in my experience, many Asians finds the concept of a religious holiday celebrated by some members of a society and not others to be, well, foreign. Therefore they often tend to neglect to include Jesus and the entire spiritual side of Christmas altogether.</div>
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Now personally, I find this a bit irksome. I tend to be a fan of the left-wing Jesus, the one I personally feel is historically sound, the one who hung around with prostitutes, the poor, and the lepers, and was a general pain in the ass to the people in power, and who exposed hypocrisy and did radical things like encourage people to live up to their ideals and be nice to one another, and did so to such extent that the people in power finally killed him because of it. And, every Easter, I spend some time contemplating how a scruffy looking troublemaker who was probably covered in dirt and filth like his peers and probably not terribly sensible in his life choices, then, somehow, after death became an icon that, while highly interpreted according to people's needs, desires, background, and prejudices, has still proven an inspiration for literally billions for literally over two thousand years. However, like many things in Asia, and in life in general, the vast bulk of people do not really care what I think of the situation, but will continue doing whatever it is that they were doing before they met me.</div>
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Here you can see the above picture in context. Below are a variety of photos of Santa Claus and Christmas imagery taken around HCM City (Saigon) in December of 2019. </div>
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Santa suits and hats for sale on the streets of HCM City. It's amazing what's for sale on the sidewalks of Vietnam.<br />
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A convenience store Christmas tree.</div>
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A restaurant Christmas tree.</div>
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Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-4129401600631549582019-07-20T16:26:00.001-07:002019-07-20T16:32:38.827-07:00Trump Watch: Trump and Social Media Culture, responding to Trump in a fractured worldA series where I use the tools and skills I have learned through studying history to try and understand Donald Trump. Love or hate him, he's definitely a person historians will be talking about for a long, long time.<br />
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Thoughts on social media, culture, etc. A friend recently mentioned that I was trying to understand "the Right Wing." Surprised me but it might be true but it needs context.<br />
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Social media is changing many things.
First, everyone can find a group that tells them that whatever they are doing is normal. No matter how extreme, unusual, unhealthy, and previously abnormal it used to be, whatever you happen to be thinking or doing or using for entertainment, you can now find a group of people who will tell you this is normal.<br />
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I grew up about 200 miles north of New York City. I still live here in fact. And when I was growing up, New York City was the strangest, most bizarre place we could imagine and known for being home to the craziest people one could imagine and many you could not.<br />
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When I was in middle school, one of my cousins considered moving to New York City.
I said to my father "Why in the world would anyone wish to live in New York City?"<br />
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And he said "Peter, you can find people who are interested in anything you want down in New York City. Groups of them and clubs for everything. Any hobby you want, there's a club for it and you can play almost any board game you wish any night of the week if you find people who like to do it. Heck, if you wanted to run around in a room naked waving feathers you could find a hundred people in New York City who thought that was a great thing to do too and you could probably all do it together."<br />
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And it was probably true. But now with the internet, you don't need to go to New York City to find those people. You can find them much more easily on your computer and with just a wee bit of exploring and research.
Which means everyone's views on what is normal behavior and thinking is changing. Often it's becoming more solidified, more ossified, more rigid, and more extreme. And, upon being reinforced, many people seem to think that the entire world should adhere to their views on what various symbols and political figures (who are kind of human symbols) mean and how such things should be interpreted and what is normal behavior and normal word usage and definition even in cases where there is not a universally accepted definition.
Which means we are, as people, both American people and global citizens,becoming more polarized.
But simultaneously with the internet, people can now watch each other and see each other and react to each other in ways they never could before.
Which means we often fight and argue and band together and sneer at outsiders more than we used to ever do.<br />
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And to some extent this means we get more fighting over symbols and norms of behavior and things that really should not affect us at all.
And to some extent this means we get more fighting over symbols and norms of behavior and things that really should not affect us at all.<br />
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This week I found myself interacting multiple times with people who had strong views on, of all thing, Black Mermaids.
Additionally I found myself interacting with people who felt they had the one true view on the issue of Black Mermaids and some were quite emotional about it too and wanted to argue about it. Which was quite strange. And my reaction, "But i don't want to talk about Black Mermaids. I'd much rather talk about Chinese Mermaids like in this cool Stephen Chow film," seemed to satisfy no one and I actually had people try to draw me into conversations and arguments about Black Mermaids when I made it.
And this fighting is not good.<br />
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Now most people know I do not think Donald Trump is a good president but I also believe he is one of the few modern politicians (celebrities?) who understands and utilizes the concepts I've discussed so far. (AOC is another one.) It is one of the keys to his success. He has consistently destroyed and beaten the people who have underestimated him because he's playing a completely different game than most of the politicians in the USA (or the world) today.<br />
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And every week at least once, something passes through my FB feed that says "Donald Trump is so bad, that you should not talk to any of your friends, family, or neighbors who support him."<br />
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And then there are those who say "No, you don't need to cut your friends, family, and Trump supporting neighbors out of your life completely. But when you do see them, you should loudly should your views at them and fight a lot. Hurt, humiliate and insult them whenever possible. That's all you need to do, but make sure you do it whenever possible"<br />
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And the more of this I see, honestly, the more likely I think is that Donald Trump will get re-elected.
Such behavior does not win hearts and minds. It does not make friends and influence people.
And it's a little scary and said that our traditional communal organizations, the schools, churches, volunteer fire departments, little league clubs, and whatever are not functioning to bring us all together and force us to interact.
If I am showing in interest in understanding "the right" it's merely part of tryin t to understand the world around me and the people who we all live with.
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HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING</h2>
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Wonderful background stuff on how people form groups, develop norms of behavior and thought for the group, and respond to criticism of the group and/or its symbols. I can't recommend this sort of material highly enough in this divided day and age.</h2>
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<a href="http://people.stern.nyu.edu/jhaidt/postpartisan.html">Jonathan Haidt -Post Partisan Politics</a></h2>
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FINALLY</div>
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books by me. If you really want to support this blog,or enjoy it and wish to see what else I've done, please check this out. Thanks.</div>
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<br />Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-58989522643315498912019-07-18T20:51:00.002-07:002019-07-20T16:52:54.434-07:00EMT Safety Books --when violence erupts Hmmm, this seems to have been published a bit earlier than I'd intended for it to be. No big thing.<br />
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Someone asked me about books specifically aimed at EMTs to teach them safety and survival techniques. While there are a few, and none are bad, this is one I'd recommend highly. There are two editions, the newer edition from 2002 and an older edition from 1990. Both are slightly different and I'd recommend reading them both, particularly if you can find a cheap copy of the older one (and they are out there, I gave mine away and replaced it cheaply and easily) This explains the clumsy twin links (Amazon makes it tough to link to the older edition but if you buy the book (s) through this link, you should be supporting this blog.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Violence-Erupts-Emergency-Responders/dp/0801661951/ref=tmm_pap_title_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">https://www.amazon.com/When-Violence-Erupts-Emergency-Responders/dp/0801661951/ref=tmm_pap_title_1?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=</a><br />
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boo!
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Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6240979510956410877.post-69142030955233122012019-07-14T09:45:00.000-07:002019-07-14T09:45:36.767-07:00U.S. Army Esperanto School --history blog post <br />This post appears here:<br /><a href="https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2019/07/us-army-esperanto-school.html">https://history-for-fun-profit-and-insight.blogspot.com/2019/07/us-army-esperanto-school.html</a>Peter Hustonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13254036069907136408noreply@blogger.com0