Folklore Frontiers - No 035

Magazine Overview

Title: Folklore Frontiers
Issue: No. 35
Date: April, 1999
Publisher: Paul Screeton

Folklore Frontiers is an independent magazine dedicated to exploring various aspects of folklore, contemporary legends, and culture. Edited and published by Paul Screeton, this issue, No. 35, dated April 1999, covers a diverse range of topics from ancient inscriptions to modern-day urban myths and book reviews.

Norse Code Cracked on Standing Stones

This feature article by Stephen Fraser delves into the mystery surrounding the inscriptions on ancient standing stones found across Scotland. For generations, historians and mystics have debated their meaning, with theories ranging from religious pronouncements to alien visitations. However, Dr. Richard Cox, an expert in Celtic studies at Aberdeen University, proposes a groundbreaking theory: the carvings are ancient graffiti in Old Norse, akin to 'Kilroy was here'. Cox's research, detailed in his new book, suggests that by applying Old Norse language to the ogam script (a writing system using slashes), the inscriptions can be meaningfully translated. He has studied 19 standing stones dating from 1050 to 1225, finding that most are memorial gravestones naming the dead or indicating ownership. For example, the Brandsbutt stone reads 'Olafr made this'. While Cox believes this revolutionizes the understanding of the link between Norse and ancient Scotland, other historians, like Robert Black from Edinburgh University, remain cautiously optimistic, awaiting further conclusive proof, especially for evidence in Ireland.

The article also touches upon the broader context of Scottish standing stones, noting that many remain mysterious and predate those examined by Cox. It mentions prominent sites like the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney and the Callanish stones on Lewis. The Pictish era, when most surviving standing stones were erected, is also discussed, along with the Picts' identity and their legacy in place names.

The Diary

This section opens with an announcement that the Midwestern Epigraphic Society in Ohio has honored Donald L. Cyr with its NES Barry Fell Award for his scholarly contributions. Paul Screeton expresses his appreciation for Cyr and shares an article claiming Irish ogam script was carved by Vikings. The diary also includes a 'proto-legend' about drunken Albanian stowaways in London and a report about hoaxers sending spoof official call-up letters, causing distress to individuals like Daniel Furr.

Tait's Gallery

This column, written by John Tait, offers a humorous take on media and modern myths. It discusses the controversy surrounding guests on the BBC's Vanessa show being revealed as stooges, leading to Vanessa Feltz's on-air apology. Tait contrasts this with the public's preference for entertainment over serious discussions, noting the declining ratings of the Vanessa show. He also mentions Channel 4 pulling the show 'Daddy's Girl' due to the revelation that the 'Daddy' was the young lady's boyfriend. The column touches on the movie 'Babe', clarifying that multiple pigs played the lead role, and discusses the controversial reconditioning of the Orca from 'Free Willy'. Tait also brings up the 'Breach' organization, which allegedly includes whale meat in school dinners, and questions whether this is a pro-whaling group or a misprint. The section concludes with a humorous anecdote about finding mysterious inscriptions on a Barbie doll's backside, linking it to ancient 'Cup & Ring' marks.

Spring-Heeled Jack

This article by Paul Screeton revisits the legend of Spring-Heeled Jack, a 19th-century figure known for his devil-like appearance and ability to leap great distances. The article recounts his last reported sighting in Everton, Liverpool, in 1904. It then draws parallels with a 1983 incident near Tow Law, County Durham, where a flasher with similar athletic abilities and odd attire (pink tights and women's knickers on his head) was reported. The article details the encounter with farmers and the subsequent police search, which only recovered the man's sandals and knickers. The author speculates whether this modern pervert could be a descendant or evolution of the Spring-Heeled Jack phenomenon, even drawing a comparison to Superman's costume.

Newslines

This section provides a collection of brief news items and anecdotes:

• A man named Brian Salmi fabricated a story about being attacked by two blondes and being forced to take Viagra, which was exposed as a hoax.
• Concerns are raised about the potential health effects of genetically-engineered rape crops, with a quote from Paul Heiney's dispatch suggesting respiratory problems and headaches in children.
• An anecdote about a stripper named Fay Lawrence and jockey Richard Dunwoody is mentioned, along with a sub-editor's punny headline.
• A humorous item about a man in Daytona, Florida, changing his phone number due to prank calls.
• A brief mention of a company in Wuhan, China, issuing a reversed directory after a customer changed their name.

Oldies but Goodies & Proto-legends

This section presents a compilation of anecdotal stories, categorized as 'Oldies but Goodies' (likely urban legends or humorous anecdotes) and 'Proto-legends' (stories presented as true or having a basis in reality).

Oldies but Goodies include:

• A story about New Agers urinating in a supermarket freezer and reclaiming packets.
• An anecdote about a dog owner's collected dog poo being stolen by a teenager.
• A similar story about a woman's poop-scoop bag being nicked.
• A police constable admitting he used the word 'staff' instead of 'truncheon' in a report because he couldn't spell it.
• A couple getting stuck during sex and requiring hospital intervention to be separated.
• A story about a young driver whose gearstick shot up his bum during a car-based sexual encounter.
• A report about a 'Mexican pet' that turned out to be a rare species of Pakistani rat chewing a child's ear.
• A bride-to-be discovering her groom already wearing her bridal gown and embracing his best man.

Proto-legends include:

• Jim Davison's story about ex-SAS man Harry Taylor climbing Mount Everest without oxygen, only to be thwarted by his wife refusing to let him out of the bath.
• An anecdote about an Iraqi terrorist whose letterbomb returned due to insufficient postage, leading to his demise.
• A story about a police officer falling to his death while trying to talk a depressed man out of suicide.
• A report of two men being freed from rape charges because the alleged victim failed to appear, only to be informed she had AIDS.
• A judge in Denver, Colorado, referring to a Venetian blind in the courtroom as 'blind on the right side'.
• A football fan mistaking 'bovril' for 'Borsalino' hats.
• A cinema manager in South Korea cutting songs from 'The Sound of Music'.
• A story about a dog owned by a lock-keeper at Swansea docks possibly being eaten by the crew of a Korean ship.
• An anecdote about a customer at Ikea needing to apply significant weight to a pen to write on a receipt.
• A businessman receiving a note at a hotel that read, "I'm sorry I'm unable to adjust your flies."
• A mention of edible junk mail marketed in Hamburg.
• A story about parents grave-robbing to provide bones for their son's medical studies.

Books

This section reviews several books:

• 'Whisht Lads and Haad Yor Gobs: The Lambton Worm and other Northumbrian Dragon Legends' by Paul Screeton: Reviewed by Ade Dimmick, this book is a republication focusing on North-East England's dragon legends, including the famous Lambton Worm. Dimmick praises the book as an invaluable guide and a good starting point for research, though he notes some tales could have been expanded and criticizes the A4 magazine format, double columns, and lack of page numbering and contents.
• 'The Active Side of Infinity' by Carlos Castaneda: Described as likely the last book from the 'fraudulent anthropologist', this review notes Castaneda's continued use of plagiarism and money-making tactics, despite Richard de Mille's exposé 'The Power and the Allegory'.
• 'Tiamat's Brood: An investigation into the Dragons of Ancient Mesopotamia' by Alastair McBeath: This book is noted for its meticulous study of Mesopotamian cylinder seals, with serpents generally depicted as peaceful. The review suggests it might be challenging for the average reader due to its detailed astronomical charts and texts.
• 'My Area. Volume 6 -- Cleveland, Durham, Northumberland & Tyne & Wear' by Alan Gilmour & Simon Thrower: This guide for lineside enthusiasts includes vantage points, traffic signals, and travel information, with contributions from the magazine's editor.
• 'Gods of the Dawn' by Peter Lemesurier: Mentioned in relation to theories about pyramids dating from 11,500BC, the reviewer finds the 'Stargate' theory unconvincing.
• 'The Pagan Book of Living and Dying' by Starhawk: This book is presented as a resource guide for death and dying, combining rituals, prayers, and meditations.
• 'Altars Made Easy' by Peg Streep: This personal development guide focuses on creating personal sacred spaces and altars.

Magazines

This section provides brief descriptions and subscription details for various folklore and paranormal-related magazines:

• Letters to Ambrose Merton: A quarterly folklore miscellany covering topics like urban myths, nursery rhymes, and child abduction scares.
• Fortean Times: Features articles on Santa Claus as a beast-god, remote viewing, vampire movies, and UFO crash investigations, among other paranormal topics.
• Strange Magazine: Includes detailed searches for the basis of 'The Exorcist' and cryptozoology reports.
• Magonia: Discusses scientists' involvement in UFO research, the concept of the 'ETH' (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis), and bizarre historical accounts.
• The Dragon Chronicle: Focuses on dragonlore, geology, and includes fiction, poetry, and reviews related to dragons.
• Network News: Explores occult themes, historical events, and their potential connection to simulations.

Articles Elsewhere

This section summarizes articles from other publications:

• Bogus Social Workers: An article from the Sunday Telegraph discusses abduction tales and a spate of bogus social worker visits.
• Cult of Diana: An article from the Scotsman analyzes the 'cult of Diana' following Princess Di's death as a symptom of educational failure.
• Less Horny: The Guardian reports on rising male sterility in China, blaming pollution, smoking, and sexually transmitted diseases, with premarital sex also cited as a factor.
• Take a Squint: The Times discusses the 'evil eye' and talismans to ward it off, with a personal anecdote about a blue ceramic charm.
• Bounty: The Sunday Telegraph reports on the abandonment of a £370,000 reward for sightings of the legendary Tasmanian tiger due to insurance issues.
• Meteorshite: The Sunday Telegraph discusses Dr. Duncan Steel's theory that Stonehenge was built to predict meteor storms.
• Blue Moon: The Sunday Telegraph explores the origin of the phrase 'once in a blue moon'.
• Not in Harmony: An article in Scotland on Sunday discusses a classical musical group's involvement with the Rosslyn Chapel mysteries and coded harmonic messages.
• Soccer Behaviour: The Sunday Telegraph examines folklore beliefs about soccer, such as the importance of the first goal and the vulnerability after scoring.
• Wickered: A preview of a sequel to the film 'The Wicker Man' is mentioned.
• Who Calls?: The Independent reports on the World Health Organisation's request to mobile operators to fund a study on the effects of mobile phone use.

Update

This section features a brief item about a locomotive numbered 47299, which was involved in a dream that predicted its crash and a death. The locomotive had a history of being exorcised and was featured in the TV program 'Strange But True'.

Beowulf Location

This item notes that two articles in FF27 discussed the location of Beowulf, with place-names like Heorot being identified around Faversham, and arguments suggesting the poem might be based on a travel diary set in Kent.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Folklore Frontiers include the investigation of ancient legends and their modern interpretations (standing stones, Spring-Heeled Jack, dragons), the analysis of media phenomena and urban myths, and the review of books and magazines within the folklore and paranormal genres. The editorial stance, as evidenced by Paul Screeton's contributions and the selection of articles, appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into folklore, with a critical eye towards sensationalism and a preference for well-researched or anecdotally interesting content. The magazine encourages reader participation and discussion, as seen in the 'Diary' and 'Letters' sections (though letters are not explicitly included in this issue's scan). There is a consistent effort to connect historical folklore with contemporary events and beliefs.

This document appears to be a page from a magazine, likely focused on anomalous phenomena, archaeology, and folklore. The page is numbered '20' and contains several distinct sections: reviews of niche publications, a 'Stop Press' news item, and a report on a religious phenomenon. The overall tone suggests an interest in the unusual and unexplained.

Publication Reviews

The page begins with reviews of three publications:

3rd Stone

'3rd Stone' is described as a quarterly magazine for the 'New Antiquarian', costing £10 for four issues or £2.75 for a sample issue. It is payable to '3rd Stone' and can be mailed to PO Box 961, Davizes, Wilts., SN10 2TS. Issue No. 33 covers topics such as Templar mysteries in Wiltshire, Newgrange, archaeological research at Holt, Dorset, hogbacks as commemorations of 'saints' in a Morse warrior cult, Victorian trains, Graham Hancock's 'lost civilisation' theories, the Monuments at Risk Survey of England, and Sligo ritual landscape. It also includes a diary column, news updates, and abstracts.

Northern Earth

'Northern Earth' is a quarterly publication, costing £26 for four issues, payable to 'Northern Mysteries Group' and sent to 10 Jubilee Street, Xytholroyd, Hebden Bridge, West Yorks., HX7 5MP. Issue No. 76 is noted as being 'rather too international', featuring Netherlands Bronze Age solar symbolism and Japanese restrictions on women visiting sacred mountains and tunnels. It also discusses the Pennine Raven name-grouping as a Celtic boundary possibility and access to the countryside. An obituary for Ted Hughes describes him as a pagan Bardic poet with a shamanic dimension. The issue includes miscellany, readers' letters, and book reviews. Issue No. 77 focuses on East Yorkshire, discussing desecration, rubbish accumulation at sacred sites, barrows in folklore and archaeology, and includes readership survey results.

Northern UFO News

'Northern UFO News' offers six issues for £26, addressed to 1 Hallsteads Close, Dove Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8PS. Issue No. 181 is critically reviewed. The editor, Jenny Randles, is quoted as abhorring the public perception of ufologists as 'morons', 'anorak wearing, mentally challenged trainspotters'. The review corrects Randles on the setting of the TV series 'Heartbeat', stating it is set in the North York Moors, not the Pennines. The issue also covers Rendlesham Forest, crop circles, and the Santilli alien autopsy scam, along with book and magazine reviews and latest UFO investigations.

Stop. Press

This section reports on an attempt to end speculation about alleged sacred artifacts hidden at Rosslyn Chapel. The Rosslyn Chapel Trust is seeking the opinion of Historic Scotland to allow a team of archaeologists to conduct a sophisticated, non-intrusive study of the chapel's vaults. The goal is to use computerised scanners to find clues about whether Biblical treasures exist. The timing is considered appropriate with the approach of the millennium and the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Christ. The report is credited to A.S.L. Rae and references The Courier and Advertiser, dated 15/3/99.

Religious Phenomenon Report

Under the heading '*', Ruth Gledhill of The Times (17/4/99) reports on a new 'miracle' craze spreading in Britain, originating from Canada and California. This phenomenon, linked to the 'Toronto Blessing' of 1995 (which involved worshippers laughing, barking like dogs, and falling down), is now manifesting as God filling worshippers' teeth with gold fillings and producing golddust on their hands and faces. These gold fillings are said to replace amalgam fillings during prayer. The report mentions the British Christian website 'Ship of Fools' and lists churches in Wimbledon, Bath, and Croydon as affected. The miracles reportedly began in March at a meeting of evangelical church leaders, with over 300 people allegedly receiving gold fillings.

Printing Information

The page concludes with printing information: 'Printed by Emjay, 17 Langbank Avenue, Rise Park, Nottingham'.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this page are the exploration of alternative histories and beliefs (New Age, archaeology, folklore, ancient mysteries), UFO phenomena, and unusual religious or spiritual manifestations. The editorial stance, particularly in the review of 'Northern UFO News', appears critical of sensationalism and pedantic about factual accuracy, while also engaging with fringe topics. The 'Stop Press' and 'miracle' reports indicate an interest in current events related to unexplained phenomena and religious claims.