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From: Chris Rutkowski <rutkows@cc.UManitoba.CA>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 1997 16:31:59 -0500 (CDT)
Fwd Date: Sat, 19 Jul 1997 00:20:56 -0400
Subject: Re: Teens find crop circle [plasmas]

> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 22:46:50 -0500 (CDT)
> To: UFO UpDates - Toronto <updates@globalserve.net>
> From: Dennis <dstacy@texas.net>
> Subject: Re: UFO UpDate: Re: Teens find crop circle in Nebraska

> >From: Chris Rutkowski <rutkows@cc.UManitoba.CA>
> >Subject: Re: UFO UpDate: Re: Teens find crop circle in Nebraska
> >To: updates@globalserve.net (UFO UpDates - Toronto)
> >Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 08:40:08 -0500 (CDT)

> >They got it from the writings of Paul Devereux and Peter Brookesmith
> >(with help from Michael Persinger), who created the concept in order to
> >explain UFOs as mysterious "natural" phenomena. However, since I've

> Whoa, Chris!
> I think the father of the 'ion plasma vortex' --as a crop circle
> explanation--was none other than Dr. Terence Meaden. See his self-published
> "The Circles Effect and Its Mysteries," Bradford-on-Avon, 1989.
> He's got one passing reference to Devereux's "piezoelectric waves," none to
> Persinger.

No, that's true. But tell me, what is the difference between "ion
plasma vortices" which are "unusual natural energy phenomena" that
supposedly flatten grain and occasionally are accompanied by small
lights - and "rotating plasmas" which are "unusual natural energy
phenomena" that supposedly explain some nocturnal light UFOs?>

My argument is that *neither* have any basis in physics, and they are
sometimes described using similar terms. I'm quite aware of Meaden's
work as well as that of Levengood, who also waves his arms rapidly and
talks about microwaves and plasmas. Besides, in Persinger's book SPACE
TIME TRANSIENTS AND UNUSUAL EVENTS, he even has a diagram explaining
how an "electrical field column" will create "low level ionization"
which will give rise to UFOs, ghosts and whatever else you want.
Ionization is ionization, whether you invoke it to create crop circles
or moving lights.

I discussed this in my analysis of the TST, published almost 15 years ago
and obviously too out of date to be cited with reference to present-day
TST or earth lights research, as noted by saints Peter and Paul.

I'm sorry, but I don't see *either* theory as having enough going for
it to accept without reservation. Maybe if Andrews and Levengood write
a paper demolishing the earth lights theory, they'll be even.

And now for the qualifications: No, Paul, I don't think UFOs are
necessarily alien spacecraft. Yes, I do think that *some* UFOs may be
explainable with the TST or as earth lights, but not many at all; my
detailed analyses of UFO case reports finds very little room for that.
I'm rather content to simply note that a small percentage of UFOs are
not explainable and add that there is no theory which can explain the
remainder satisfactorily at this time. Yes, I applaud Paul for his
excellent research into the earth lights problem; I think he's doing
good work, but it just needs a lot of refining still. Yes, I think the
same of Persinger and his temporal lobe and tectonic strain research; I
don't think it is as supported by data as he thinks, but he is to be
commended for doing the research.

Finally, no, I don't think this makes me either a debunker or, as noted
earlier by someone, "grumpy." I'm simply a scientist looking for
answers, and I don't see how any of the theories mentioned answer very
much at this time. Maybe, with continued research, but not *yet*.
If anything, I'm "skeptical", in the dictionary (not popular)
definition of the word, although I'd side with those who call me a
"cynic."

--
Chris Rutkowski - rutkows@cc.umanitoba.ca
(and now, also: Chris.Rutkowski@UMAlumni.mb.ca)
University of Manitoba - Winnipeg, Canada