Sussex Circular - 1997 no 71

Magazine Overview

SC, issue 71, dated December 1997, is titled 'THE MONTHLY JOURNAL OF CROP CIRCLES AND BEYOND'. The cover features a stylized 'SC' logo, a wireframe globe, and highlights include 'USA 1997', 'Internet 'Hoaxers' Infiltrate TV...', and '2012/ Predicted'. The price is £1.00.

Editorial and Media Criticism

Editor Andy Thomas opens with a piece titled 'An insightful article this month by Lucy Pringle serves as a warning to anyone considering taking part in a television programme about crop circles'. Thomas warns that media appearances can be detrimental, with editing often favouring debunking over genuine research. He recounts his own experience with a radio interview about psychic experiments with crop circles, which was heavily edited to remove key points. Thomas advocates for honest engagement with the media, despite the risk of misrepresentation, to prevent total domination by debunkers. He also shares a note from Ronnie Salter about a lobby group to resurrect the cancelled US TV series 'Dark Skies', which used crop circles in its storyline.

Andy Thomas is listed as the Editor, with contributions from Barry Reynolds and Kaye Thomas. Financial affairs are handled by Martin Noakes. Subscriptions are managed by Di Brown and Jason Porthouse for the UK and overseas, and by M Glickman for the USA.

USA Crop Formations 1997

This section, compiled by Barry Reynolds, completes the magazine's round-up of 1997 crop formations, focusing on the United States. It lists formations by county/state, nearest town/village, date, crop, and provides details:

• Illinois: A 1/4 mile long crop circle in winter wheat near Collinsville & Granite City, formed around June 18th.
• Indiana: Two areas near Columbia City, possibly non-geometric crop circle type damage, discovered on July 8th.
• Michigan: A 39' circle of wheat in a scrubland area, with two more nearby formations, on February 7th.
• Missouri: At least 9 separate sites with non-geometric crop circle type damage, including large and small circles with key-shaped paths, near St Louis on July 8th.
• Nebraska: A formation described as a complicated dumbbell, videoed for Philadelphia TV, near Waverly on July 6th.
• New Jersey: Five offset circles joined by pathways, with samples sent to Dr. Levengood, near Lawrenceville on July 9th.
• New York: A 64' double standing horseshoe opening near Silver Creek Falls, Salem on August 15th.
• Oregon: A string of circles forming a thought-bubble type formation near the John Day River on June 17th.
• Utah: No details known for a formation in Lehi on September 1st.
• Utah: The largest circular pattern in Utah, 'Saturn's Ring', a large circle with a 4' wide ring around it, near Logan Airport on July 3rd.
• Utah: Smaller versions of 'Joe' and 'Mike' formations, 20 miles south of originals, near Providence on July 3rd.
• Utah: A double formation with one circle ringed, crossed by pathway, near Richmond on July 11th.
• Utah: A 75' circle with a trident emerging from one side, and a bar with a curved end emerging from the opposing side, near Smithfield on July 6th.
• Wisconsin: A circle joined to a ring with other pathways, reported in the Wausau Daily Herald on August 13th.

Reviews: Three of a Kind (Crop Circle Calendars)

Andy Thomas reviews three crop circle calendars for 1998:

1. Kornkreise: Das ungeklarte Phanomen 1998 (Steve Alexander): Praised for excellent photographic quality and A3 size. Minuses include a design flaw with a white space at the top of pages, smaller uncropped photos, and captions hidden on the back page. The hook-hole placement makes page turning difficult.
2. Crop Circle Calendar 1998 (Wiltshire Crop Circle Study Group & Lucy Pringle): Noted for being the cheapest and having a refreshed template from the previous year. Pluses include a glossy cover, overseas formations, and room to write in the grid. Minuses are variable photo quality, some close-cropping, awkward photo montages, and an upside-down photo of the East Meon 'ant/insect'.
3. Crop Circle Calendar 1998 - The Phenomenon Continues (Michael Glickman & Patricia Murray): Follows a similar format to the WCCSG calendar with grey shapes and quotes. Pluses include English formations not covered elsewhere, a good photo of the Headbourne Worthy quintuplet, and Bishops Cannings. Minuses include variable photo quality, uncomfortable framing, and a quote that might encourage man-made paths. The hook hole is punched through the 'o' of 'Phenomenon'.

Thomas concludes that the easiest answer for consumers is to buy all three.

Circles Gallery

This section showcases stunning images from 1997 formations, including Alton Priors, Hackpen Hill, Liddington Castle, and Aylesbury Swastika. Full-colour copies are available from Lucy Pringle and Steve Alexander.

Mediawatch: Net Gains: Hoaxers at Large on the Internet?

This article by Lucy Pringle details her experience being interviewed for a TV program called 'Cyber Café' which aimed to feature 'hoaxers' alongside researchers. Pringle was initially reluctant, fearing it would promote hoaxing. She agreed under specific terms, including discussing the legal aspects of trespass and damage. However, she states that the programme, filmed in September 1997, did not include her key points about the criminal offence of hoaxing, the damage to farmers, or the lack of evidence provided by hoaxers. Instead, it focused on Rod Dickinson, one of the alleged 'Circlemakers', who claimed formations were 'art' and dismissed the need for farmer permission. Dickinson also claimed only six people were responsible for formations and refused a challenge to replicate a formation. Pringle criticizes Meridian Television for giving a prominent and favourable platform to a hoaxer, falling short of responsible behaviour and breaking their agreement with her. She notes that the NFU has also voiced concern. The article concludes that media coverage often prioritizes sensationalism over truth and integrity.

Features: Hieroglyphs of Dimensional Interface

Geoff Stray looks forward to the cataclysmic year 2012, linking it to crop formations and ancient calendars. He discusses how circles suggest rotation and cycles of time, drawing parallels between crop formations and the Aztec Calendar Stone. Stray mentions research by Maurice Cotterell and Adrian Gilbert, and the Mayan calendar's prediction of an end to linear time, with some researchers pointing to 2012. Michael Glickman interpreted the 1997 Etchilhampton 'Grid' formation as a pointer to 2012, noting its divisibility by the Mayan Sacred Calendar (TZOLKIN). Stray also references Jose Arguelles' work on the 'noosphere' and the 'Omega Point of Planetary Awakening' in 2012, and the McKenna brothers' analysis of the I Ching and its 'modular hierarchy' which culminates in a 'climax' in 2012. The article notes that a triangular 'craft' and balls of light were seen over Barbury Castle, linking it to the 'Mandelbrot Set' and the 'End of Time in 2012'. Jon King's experience of a 'dimensional gateway' in the West Country and his booklet 'The Aquarian Triangle' are also mentioned, connecting to a triangular formation at Barbury Castle. The article concludes by discussing how crop formations are increasing in complexity, referencing formations like the Stonehenge Julia Set and the Avebury triple Julia Set from 1996, and the Silbury Hill Koch snowflake and Milk Hill super-Koch snowflake from 1997. The final formation of 1997, the 'Strange Attractor' fractal at Hackpen Hill, is linked to Terrence McKenna's 'Omega Point'. Stray is also investigating complex sunspot cycles and their potential impact.

Scientific Research and Human Effects

An excerpt from an article submitted to Nature by Jim Lyons summarizes the scientific state-of-the-art regarding crop circles. It mentions Dr. Terence Meaden's studies on geological links and atmospheric effects, including vorticity and plasmas. Current models suggest formations are created by Kelvin type columnar vortices and Taylor-Couette flow. The dimensions of formations are shown to exhibit diatonic ratios, found in musical scales. Electrical and optical effects, such as double imaging and floating luminosities, are observed shortly after creation. Batteries can rapidly deplete and recover, and local magnetic fields can alter. Floating balls of light have been videoed. These phenomena are compared to ancient sites. Research into the effects of crop circles on humans, compiled by Lucy Pringle, includes sensations of nausea, fatigue, metallic tastes, disorientation, and elation. Isolated cases of mineral and vitamin deficiencies and burst eardrums have also been reported.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the detailed documentation of crop circle formations, particularly from the USA in 1997, and a critical examination of media portrayal of the phenomenon. The magazine strongly advocates for genuine research and expresses frustration with sensationalism and the promotion of hoaxers. There is a clear stance against those who claim to create formations without evidence and who disrespect farmers. The issue also highlights a growing interest in the mathematical and potentially predictive aspects of crop circles, with a focus on the year 2012. The editorial stance is one of promoting scientific inquiry while being wary of media manipulation and the spread of misinformation.