Folklore Frontiers - No 040

Magazine Overview

This issue of Folklore Frontiers, No. 40, dated March 2002, is an independent magazine focused on folklore, urban myths, ancient and modern traditions, and 21st-century culture. It is edited and published by Paul Screeton. The cover features a prominent headline about the financial impact of internet rumours on big businesses, with an article by Roger Dobson.

The Diary

Paul Screeton, the editor, begins with a personal reflection on the start of 2002, noting the termination of his lucrative freelancing activities and his role as a local correspondent. He mentions plans to publish an article commissioned by Traction magazine about modern rail traction and locomotive names. He also hopes the new layout will be well-received and shares an anecdote about actor John Hurt.

Sport - 1st half

• This section presents several short, often humorous, anecdotes related to sports:
• Pete Waterman is quoted on a false rumour about him buying a club, which coincided with a winning goal.
• Superstitious soccer players in the Congo Republic who urinated on the pitch to ensure victory were banned for life after losing 11-0.
• Players of the Spanish side Bejar Industrial wore their wives' or girlfriends' panties for luck, with one match won and another lost.
• Subbuteo table football enthusiasts are being offered streakers by a shopkeeper in Lichfield.

Have you heard? Internet rumours are costing big business millions

• This article by Roger Dobson highlights the significant financial damage caused by internet rumours and urban legends. It states that over 1,000 urban legends circulate online, targeting products from beefburgers to tampons, bananas, Teletubbies, and Harry Potter. Examples include:
• A rumour about a "flesh-eating Klingerman virus" in bananas costing the industry over £20 million.
• A false rumour about a Teletubbies file containing a virus spread via email attachments.
• A rumour that tampons contain dioxin and asbestos to induce bleeding.
• An allegation that Kentucky Fried Chicken changed its name to KFC to hide that its products are not 100% chicken.
• A story about Taco Bell Girl developing a swollen jaw after eating a taco, allegedly incubating cockroach eggs.

The article quotes Professor John Llewellyn from Wake Forest University, who emphasizes that companies are not adequately addressing the damage caused by these myths, leading to significant financial losses, estimated to be over £300 million annually.

Rumours of Names

• This extensive article by Paul Screeton details the history and speculation surrounding the naming of British locomotives, particularly Class 91 and HST power cars by Great North Eastern Railway. It discusses:
• The initial naming policy and subsequent amendments, including the addition of "Royal and Ancient Course, St Andrews".
• Specific instances of rumoured names for various classes (08, 20/3, 20/9, 33, 37/0, 37/4, 37/7, 40, 42/43, 43 (HST), 44, 45/1, 47/0, 47/3, 47/4, 47/7, 55, 56, 57, 58).
• Details on how some names were applied, others were rumoured but never fitted, and some were changed or rejected.
• Examples include "Steep Holm" for a Class 08, "Mary Queen of Scots" for a 37/4, and the speculation around "Sir Vincent Raven" for a Thornaby Class 47.
• The article notes the role of enthusiasts and railway magazines in documenting and disseminating these naming rumours.

Articles Elsewhere

• This section features a collection of short, often anecdotal, stories and urban legends:
• NOT AS IT SEEMS: Ruses used to make furniture and show houses appear larger.
• BEYOND THE PAIL: The origins of the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme, with local legends and connections to Neolithic times.
• PHANTOM GASSERS: Police state there is no evidence of thieves using gas to incapacitate victims on trains, despite persistent claims.
• BOFFINS' BLUNDER: Experts mistakenly identified a cow's gallstone as a dinosaur egg.
• OH, SHIT!: A thief attempting to siphon fuel from a mobile home accidentally tapped into the sewage tank.
• FINGER LICKIN' RODENT: A discussion of the urban myth about Kentucky Fried Chicken using rats, and the negative perception of KFC.
• KNOCKOUT VIEW: A boxer disqualified for forgetting his shorts.
• DODGY TRANSMISSIONS: A TV controller accidentally broadcast hardcore porn.
• JEALOUS GUY: A killer threatened to murder his wife's lover via a radio station.
• MARATHON SURVEILLANCE: Police arrested women for nude sunbathing after watching them for six days.

Newslines

• This section presents various short news items and anecdotes:
• PENGUIN TALE FALLS DOWN: Scientists found that penguins do not topple over while watching low-flying aircraft, debunking a myth from the Falklands War.
• COLD NIGHT: A theory suggesting King Arthur was a nomadic tribesman from Russia, with the story of the sword in the stone originating from Sarmatian histories.
• IT'S NAVY BLUE: A navy's main computer crashed due to thousands of downloaded porn films, causing communication loss with warships.
• CALL OF THE MOON: Research shows a link between the number of telephone calls and the phases of the moon, with a peak before the full moon.
• 'LACED' CIGS: Campaigners claim tobacco companies add chemicals to cigarettes to increase addiction.
• SEX CHANGE!: A town in the Philippines named Sexmoan is being changed due to saucy jokes.

Oldies But Goodies

• This section revisits familiar urban legends and anecdotes:
• QUEEN'S BLOW-JOBS: A story about a bride-to-be mistaking other men for her fiancé at a fancy dress party.
• STRADDLED: A review of Hugh Massingberd's book "Daydream Believer", mentioning an anecdote about Lady Cusack-Smith.
• HOME REVENGES: An anecdote about a jilted girlfriend scattering seeds in her ex-partner's flat.
• BOFFINS' BLUNDER: Experts mistook a cow's gallstone for a dinosaur egg.
• OH, SHIT!: A thief accidentally siphoned sewage instead of fuel.
• FINGER LICKIN' RODENT: The urban myth about KFC using rats.
• KNOCKOUT VIEW: A boxer disqualified for forgetting his shorts.
• DODGY TRANSMISSIONS: Accidental broadcast of hardcore porn.
• JEALOUS GUY: A killer threatened to murder his wife's lover.
• MARATHON SURVEILLANCE: Police arrested women for nude sunbathing.
• A WIFE dressed as Queen Elizabeth I gave blow-jobs to five blokes dressed as Satan at a fancy dress party: This story details a woman's confusion at a fancy dress party, mistaking multiple men dressed as Satan for her husband.
• Son attacked by worried father: An anecdote about a father mistaking his son, who was shaking his leg near an electricity pylon, for being electrocuted and hitting him with a spade, breaking his arm.
• Judge: A divorce court judge in Sydney questions a woman about mistaking other men for her husband during a sexual encounter.
• A MAN In Daytona, Florida, has changed his phone number from 54321 because people keep ringing him up and shouting: "Blast off!"

Books

• This section reviews several books:
• WE BORROW THE EARTH: By Patrick Jasper Lee, exploring Gypsy Shamanism. The reviewer, Paul Screeton, shares personal experiences with a Gypsy shaman named Tom Cole and discusses the book's exploration of Romany traditions, healing, and prophecy.
• NEW COSMIC CRYSTALS: By R. A. Bonewitz & Lilian Verner-Bowds. The reviewer expresses skepticism towards Richard Dawkins and New Age beliefs but finds the book practical in its approach to crystals and co-operation in nature.
• THE QUEST FOR THE GREEN MAN: By John Matthews. The reviewer acknowledges the contentious nature of the 'green man' figure and offers an opinion based on the book's content, noting its exploration of male connection to nature and excellent illustrations.

Proto-Legends

• This section presents various short, often dubious, historical anecdotes and legends:
• COMBAT Z Z Z ZONE: A tale from the Roman empire about Emperor Caligula conducting auctions of properties and forcing people into bankruptcy or suicide.
• CIGS CYNICISM: A columnist questions the claim that tobacco companies allocate 45% of their annual marketing budgets to advertising in February.
• PEER RAGE: An anecdote about a photographer, Lord Lichfield, posing with a red nose for Comic Relief, which led to a newspaper caption being misinterpreted.
• CORRIGENDA: A correction to a story about Pte Henry Tandey VC sparing Adolf Hitler's life, stating the story has no basis in reality.
• LIFTING THE SPIRIT: A story about a woman who walks naked around her late uncle's home to give his ghost a thrill.
• J.D. RECLUSIVE: An anecdote about Miramax's boss Harvey Weinstein's pursuit of film rights.
• CUFF LINKS: A bondage sex session backfired when a vice girl could not find the keys to her handcuffs.
• WAVE GOODBYE: An armed robber fled from a bar when he heard a microwave bell, mistaking it for a security alarm.
• OLD SPICE: An anecdote about a woman told to buy a Spice Girls Christmas gift who ended up with a cookery book.
• WHAT AN ASS: A woman who wanted to bathe in ass's milk discovered the donkey was male.
• EXPERT ADVICE: An efficiency expert's joke suggestion to a city council was taken literally, leading to his dismissal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features a mix of contemporary folklore, urban legends, and historical curiosities, often with a humorous or skeptical undertone. There's a strong emphasis on debunking myths and presenting factual accounts, even when dealing with sensational topics. The editor, Paul Screeton, injects personal reflections and anecdotes, creating a conversational and engaging tone. The magazine appears to have a critical stance towards unsubstantiated claims, particularly those spread online, while also celebrating the enduring nature of folklore and tradition. The detailed exploration of locomotive naming suggests a niche interest in railway history and enthusiast culture. The inclusion of "Oldies But Goodies" and "Proto-Legends" sections indicates a recurring interest in revisiting and re-examining established stories and historical anecdotes.

This document is a listing and brief review of several niche magazines, presented as page 19 of a larger publication. The magazines covered include "Letters to Ambrose Merton", "Fortean Times", "Magonia", "Northern UFO News", and "The Regionlist". Subscription details, prices, and brief summaries of content are provided for each.

Letters to Ambrose Merton

This folklore miscellany is available for £7.50 for 4 issues, payable to David Comwell at the Psychology Section, University of Strathclyde. Issue No. 25 features twenty-two pages of Indian Anglophone urban, culturally hybrid, orally-transmitted folk material, including a story about someone mistakenly eating potato chips that are a Bombay baby's leprosy scabs. It also covers photographic soccer copyright, Nessie, text messaging, business malpractice, and the myth that a baby's sex is not linked to its mother's shape. Issue No. 26 includes chain letter variations, Paul Screeton on moral indignation cases of snowmen, Bob the Builder and pubic embarrassment, a recycled battered beer mat tabloids saga, George Bush-isms, a mix-up of B.F. Skinner's devices, and discussions on execution myths, Nike sweatshops, and the fate of coolies. Both issues contain cuttings and reviews.

Fortean Times

Available for £2.70 per newsstand issue, "Fortean Times" is reviewed across several issues (Nos. 147-155). Issue No. 147 discusses temporal lobe epilepsy, Philip K. Dick, "outsider" writers and artists, Nigel Watson on fatal UFO encounters, extra-dimensional denizens, an Edinburgh ghost hunt, the life of Jean Rhys, and a cautionary tale about a self-styled paranormal investigator, Ian Sinclair. Issue No. 148 covers true-believers to debunkers, narco-hypnotic manipulation of U.S. pin-up Candy Jones, ex-U.S.S.R. religio-political extremists, U.S. ufology, alchemy, and the mapping of Antarctica without ice. Issue No. 149 examines UBTs on knock-out perfumes, drugged mammaries, HIV-infected needles, unconvincing Pokemon panic as mass hysteria, and conspiracy theorists. Issue No. 150 details a "Scratching Fanny" poltergeist case in Cock Lane, an occult writer's descent into madness, a primitive artist with an encripted script and a mimic octopus, a spooky Aussie site, psychologists and the paranormal, and new Nessie photos. Issue No. 151 explores belief and disbelief in transient anomalies like yeti and UFOs, the Peruvian Ica or Cabrera stones, and mentions England's Great Wyrley carved stones mystery, the U.S. Noetic Institute, Mary Celeste, extraordinary gluttons, firewalking, ghost hunts, and Irish mariner monks. Issue No. 152 reports on Satanic ritual abuse, Peak District 'UFOs', Holy Land archaeology, crop circles, and the Rendlesham incident. Issue No. 153 discusses Paul Devereuxon on haunted highways, sonic warfare weapons, hollow earth theories, and Vietnam fantasists. Issue No. 154 covers Papua New Guinea pteranodon reports, Norwegian Nessie, Darwinist debates, sandstorm panics, a "lost" Grand Canyon underground city, Minorca megaliths, and Japanese cults. Issue No. 155 presents the 2001 weirdness index, Jack the Ripper suspects, seal people, conspiracies, shape-shifters, displaced cryptids, and fat felids. Each issue includes reviews, readers' letters, and an irreverent diarist.

Magonia

"Magonia" is available for £5, with cheques payable to John Rimmer. The address is John Dee Cottage, 5 James Terrace, Mortlake Churchyard, London SW14 8HB. Issue No. 75 features articles by David Clarke and Andy Roberts, who conclude that the famous Darbishire and Birch UFO photos were faked, and discuss hoaxing at Warminster 30 years ago. Author Ann Drueffel defends herself against a columnist. Issue No. 76 includes an examination of Tony 'Doc' Shiels' veracity as a monster raiser, with a demolition of vampire hunter Sean Manchester's claims. It also touches on the myth of blond aliens on Friendship Island in southern Chile and the innocence of late Sixties ufology, mentioning Dunkin Wedd and his tree. Regular features include a back page diary, letters, and reviews.

Northern UFO News

This publication offers 5 issues for £5, payable to 'NUFON' at 1 Hallsteads Close, Dove Holes, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 8BS. Issue No. 186 features editor Jenny Randles discussing the state of U.K. UFO groups and how age affects time perception. It contains more UFO reports than usual, along with regular book reviews and other articles.

The Regionlist

"The Regionlist" is described as a journal for European regional diversity, radical traditionalism, and authentic renovation, with sporadic publication. It is part of The Library of the European Tradition. The price is unknown. The first issue, No. 1, begins with an introduction to the tenets of regionalism and radical traditionalism by Nigel Pennick and acts as a catalogue of publications, including short reviews. The printing is by Emjay Reprographics, 117 Harwill Crescent, Aspley, Nottingham, NG8 5LA.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazines reviewed cover a range of niche interests, primarily focusing on the paranormal, ufology, folklore, and alternative viewpoints. "Fortean Times" appears to be the most comprehensive, covering a wide array of unexplained phenomena, historical oddities, and conspiracy theories. "Magonia" specifically addresses UFO sightings and alleged hoaxes, while "Northern UFO News" focuses on the UK UFO scene. "Letters to Ambrose Merton" delves into folklore and urban legends, and "The Regionlist" promotes regionalism and traditionalism. The editorial stance, as presented through the summaries, is one of exploration and documentation of these subjects, often with a critical or debunking perspective applied to certain claims (e.g., UFO photos in "Magonia"), but also acknowledging the existence of belief systems and unusual phenomena.