Folklore Frontiers - No 018

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore Frontiers
Issue: No. 18
Date: February, 1993
Publisher: Paul Screeton

This issue of Folklore Frontiers is a non-profit magazine dedicated to folklore, particularly contemporary legends and urban belief tales. It features a diverse range of articles, from humorous anecdotes and 'dumbtown legends' to in-depth discussions on UFOs and paranormal phenomena.

Contents

'One's CORGI' by Mike Harding

The issue opens with a humorous fictional piece by Mike Harding, titled 'One's CORGI'. The story features characters named Stinker and the Count, involving a comical exchange via a brassiere-mounted microphone, leading to a taxi order for Indian food. The narrative highlights the absurdity of the situation and the frustration of the characters.

The Diary

This section includes extracts from a diary, with correspondent Stuart Gray-Thompson contributing an item. The diary entries touch upon the perceived erosion of religious protection, the use of intemperate language, and a peculiar scientific theory about spontaneous combustion in heavy drinkers, linking it to static electricity and flammable gases. It also includes a postscript mentioning Galileo as a Freemason.

A VIEW FROM NORTH LOCHS & AIMSIR EACHAINN

These sections appear to be short reader contributions or editorial notes. One mentions the publication of 'Folklore Frontiers' and subscription details, while another discusses the potential impact of Catholic faith on morals and a learned journal's findings on spontaneous combustion.

West Highland Free Press, Friday, 6 November 1992

This section includes a reader's humorous anecdote about a 'Littleferry passage' and a lost item advertisement for an 'Icelandic Tup'.

Cartoons and Commentary

• Several cartoons and short commentaries are present:
• 'One Boy and His Dog' by Graham Allen and John Dodd: A cartoon about crop circles, humorously questioning if a dog knows it's not aliens. It notes the decline of 'cornography' and the sociological memory of crop circles.
• Commentary on Crop Circles: Mentions Donald Cyr's 'whistler theory' and his upcoming book on ley hunting. It also references Nigel Pennick and his work on 'Practical Geomancy'.
• Loch Ness Mystery: Discusses a line of objects found on the silt bed of Loch Ness, theorized as pipe moorings or World War I mine-laying practice moorings.
• Hartlepool Monkey-Hanging Legend: Mentions the ongoing sale of a book on the Hartlepool monkey-hanging legend.

Letters

From Mike Collier, Seine-Maritime, France:
Collier shares a photograph taken in 1951 and discusses ley lines, suggesting they might be related to nuclear power stations. He also mentions his work on ley hunting and the phenomenon of 'dubious transmissions'.

From Alan Bowers, Isle of Wight:
Bowers writes about the island of St Helena, where some residents have never visited the capital, Jamestown. He also mentions the Isle of Wight and the unique case of 'Jonathon', a blind giant tortoise who has lived on St Helena for over 250 years. He notes the absence of railways on St Helena but mentions light railways on Ascension Island used for guano collection.

The Puzzle & Brain Teaser

• The Puzzle: A mathematical teaser that leads to a specific country and animal, with the answer revealed to be Denmark and Elephant.
• Brain Teaser by Kim Bartlett: Describes a mysterious quiz that consistently yields the same answer, believed to have originated from adults and spread through word of mouth. The puzzle involves a number trick leading to the letter 'D', suggesting Denmark, and then an animal.

John North: Pushing a row too far

This is a humorous anecdote about a publisher who, in a fit of anger, mistook another woman for his wife and pushed her into a frozen chicken cabinet.

Dubious Transmissions by Paul Screeton

Screeton explores the phenomenon of 'dubious transmissions', where broadcasts are picked up by unintended devices like church organs, baby alarms, or even human dental fillings. He lists various receiving mediums and discusses early examples of eavesdropping, including car radio phones and accidental reception of pornography on television screens. The article touches on the 'Dianagate' tape and the case of Koo Stark's appearance on TSW.

Gorilla sex in tabloid prose by Celia Haddon

Haddon analyzes tabloid newspaper headlines about animals, categorizing them into themes such as animals as loved ones, saviours, terrorizers, or sex objects. She notes the prevalence of stories about animal freaks and imaginary animals, concluding that these headlines reflect ancient mythological themes and reveal aspects of our unconscious selves.

Dumbtown Legends by Jan Harold Brunvand

Brunvand discusses 'dumbtown legends', stories about alleged silly acts that brand local residents as foolish. He recounts two European examples: the German town of Hornberg, famous for prematurely firing a cannon salute, and Hartlepool, England, where a monkey was allegedly mistaken for a French spy and hanged. He also briefly mentions Johnny Carson's jokes about Burbank, California.

E.T. questioned at Sheffield? by Nigel Watson

Watson reports on the Independent U.F.O. Network (I.U.N.) conference in Sheffield. He discusses the presentations by UFO researchers John Keel and William Moore. Keel argued for Fortean and psychic explanations for UFOs, while Moore focused on the Roswell incident and MJ12 documents. Watson notes the conference's descent into a 'maelstrom of capitalist activity' and the lack of clear-cut solutions. He details Norman Oliver's investigation of a UFO sighting linked to a morse code message and Albert Budden's account of the 'Mince-Pie Martians'. Jenny Randles presented the Rendlesham Forest case, suggesting an alien element. William Moore presented the Roswell case, with evidence of aluminium foil. John Keel countered by discussing the Japanese Fugo project and US spy balloons as potential explanations for sightings. Robert France discussed encounters with reptile-like beings and Men in Black (MIB). Dr John Shaw, a psychologist, presented four viewpoints on UFOs, including transformation experiences and altered states of consciousness. Ralph Noyes gave an overview of crop circle phenomena. The final talk by William Moore discussed the MJ12 documents and the government's alleged project to recover flying saucers, also detailing Moore's role in discrediting UFO researcher Paul Bennewitz.

Oldies but goodies

• This section compiles several anecdotal stories:
• Clement Freud column: An anecdote about a lawyer's eccentric father and a dispute with a family who left a mess on his property.
• Alan Northern Wright: A humorous political story about an MP who replied to a letter from a ward secretary who had signed herself 'Horse-face'.
• Lift-off for a tall story: A story attributed to Eddie Murphy about men in an elevator who were not robbers but were simply telling him to press the lift button. It notes that this story is often attributed to various black actors.
• American: A story about a woman tricked into paying for a cookie recipe at Neiman Marcus, which is noted as untrue.
• Political groupie story: An anecdote involving Lord David Sutch, Tony Dangerfield, and a sledgehammer incident related to a Cortina car.
• A man driving his mother home: A story about a man who forgot his mother at a service station.
• He's still on the trail of the tall tale teller: Murray Baker recounts a story about a man who was electrocuted by an electricity pylon, which turned out to be his father hitting him with a spade. He also mentions a similar story from John O'Malley about a man ironing and being hit with a broom handle.
• A crumby one: A man who went out for bread 14 years ago and returned with a loaf after traveling through Italy with a circus.

Police stories

• Macau: 100 headless cats were found destined for the dinner table, smuggled from China.
• Old tale but new twist: A story about a man who crashes his motorbike into his house, then blows himself up in the toilet after his wife flushes petrol down it.
• Shocking Blunder: A woman burned her bottom when flames shot out of a toilet pan due to static electricity igniting methane gas.
• Roof repairs: A story about a man using his car towbar as an anchor for a safety line while repairing his roof.
• Rhyl trip: A reveller is found legless in a car park, and it turns out his family is also on holiday in Rhyl.
• Exam papers: A teacher's note about a student's 'FATAL illness'.

Beaten home

A Norwegian man forgot his wife at a petrol station and drove 30 miles before realizing, only to find she had already hitched a ride home.

Docks monkey business alert

In Hartlepool, a suspended dummy in a monkey mask caused an emergency alert, as it is a tradition for workers to hang a monkey from offshore structures.

Spot

A brief mention of a man named Mike Kelly who was shot dead in Florida after making turkey-like sounds to attract prey.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of folklore, contemporary legends, urban myths, and the paranormal. There is a strong interest in UFO phenomena, with detailed accounts of sightings and investigations. Humorous anecdotes and 'tall tales' are also a recurring feature, often highlighting the absurdities of everyday life or historical events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting various viewpoints and encouraging reader contributions. The magazine also shows an interest in the psychological and sociological aspects of belief and storytelling.

Title: Fortean Times
Issue: 65
Publisher: John Brown Publishing
Country: UK
Date: Not specified

This issue of Fortean Times delves into a variety of anomalous phenomena, with a strong focus on potential extraterrestrial influences on Earth's history and culture.

Cover Story: Structures on Mars

The cover prominently features an article discussing "Structures on Mars of alleged alien origin," exploring their supposed relationship to significant earthly prehistoric earthworks. This suggests a theme of ancient alien intervention and its lasting impact on our planet.

Key Articles and Features

UFO Investigations and Interviews

UFO philosopher and investigator John Keel is interviewed, offering insights into the UFO scene. The magazine also covers a range of other UFO-related topics, including a return to skywatching, and discusses the phenomenon of "missing baby" abduction tales.

Paranormal Phenomena and Folklore

The issue delves into various paranormal events and folklore, including reports on meteorological falls, blood miracles of St Januarius, the Hampstead Heath seal hoax, Finnish lions, and rooftop sleepwalking. Mick Goss reviews sensationalist tabloids, assessing their impact on folklore, while Kevin McClure challenges readers to consider the messenger of anomalous information. Paul Devereux expounds on his "spirit lines" doctrine, and Brian Inglis expresses optimism for psi research.

Regular Columns and Reviews

Columnists provide commentary on a range of subjects. Paul Screeton continues his focus on modern legends, while Nigel Watson offers his perspective on UFOs. Brian Inglis discusses the distinction between mind and brain. The magazine also includes book reviews and letters from readers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

Fortean Times consistently explores the fringes of science and belief, presenting a wide array of unexplained phenomena, folklore, and historical mysteries. The magazine appears to maintain an open-minded yet critical approach, encouraging readers to question conventional explanations and explore alternative perspectives on the world. The editorial stance seems to be one of curiosity and a desire to document and analyze unusual events and claims from a Fortean viewpoint.