Sussex Circular - 2000 no 89

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Bimonthly Journal of Crop Circles and Beyond, issue number 89, dated March-April 2000, is published by Southern Circular Research (SCR) and edited by Andy Thomas. The cover headline "Y2K: THE BUG THAT DID BITE" suggests a focus on the aftermath and implications of the year 2000 bug. Other prominent cover stories include "KNIGHTS TEMPLAR CIRCLES..?", "HOAXING LECTURE FAILS TO CONVINCE", "THE CIRCLES AS DOT MATRIXES", and "VIDEO ANALYSIS: TOO EASILY FLAWED? 'ASTEROID' FORMATION DECODED". The price was £2.00.

Y2K: The Bug That Was...

This section addresses the widespread concern and subsequent anticlimax surrounding the Y2K bug. Barry Reynolds, who was involved in Y2K testing for a global car manufacturer and a major US bank, explains that the lack of major chaos was due to the extensive work done by programmers to fix potential issues. He details how his team fixed numerous date-related bugs, preventing significant problems for the car manufacturer and the bank. Reynolds recounts minor issues encountered after Millennium Eve, such as third-party software incorrectly sorting records, and the bank's mortgage accounts being affected by incorrect storage of the Bank of England Base Rate. He also mentions isolated incidents like kidney dialysis machines malfunctioning at Monkland's District Hospital and BT Broadcast Services' website incorrectly displaying the date. Other reported incidents include a New Yorker being fined for an overdue video and issues with vehicle registration documents in Maine, USA. The section concludes with a humorous anecdote about Bruce Beach, who had buried old school buses for an 'Armageddon shelter'.

Reports: Don't Spare The Rod

This report covers a talk given by artist Rod Dickinson, a member of the 'Team Satan' alleged circlemaking outfit. Dickinson presented his experiences over the last decade creating crop formations in the West Country of England, focusing on geometry and placement in the landscape. The talk, held at the London Earth Mysteries Society, was attended by around 50 people. Dickinson's presentation included familiar photographs of crop circles, but he was reluctant to admit to making them, stating that "What we do is illegal, we have to work covertly." He mentioned two formations he helped make: the 1998 BBC Country File circles, which took three people 2.5 hours, and the 1999 Avebury triangle, which took seven people 4.5 hours and was allegedly flattened for the Daily Mail. The report criticizes Dickinson's lack of concrete evidence and his vague explanations regarding the geometry and construction of the formations, particularly referencing John Martineau's work on Sacred Geometry. The author notes that Dickinson claims to make between three and 20 formations each year, but the identity of other 'teams' remains unknown.

Features: Cometary Predictor

Astronomer Jack Sullivan investigates a 1995 'asteroid' crop formation at Bishops Sutton, Hampshire, which appeared on June 20th. He interprets this formation as a heliocentric depiction of the solar system, identifying Mars and Earth. A small adjacent body with a wiggly tail is interpreted as a comet, specifically Comet Bradfield C/1995Q1. Sullivan's analysis using astronomical software 'Red Shift 3' indicates that the comet was in the depicted position on July 26th, 1995, a month after the formation appeared and two months after the comet's discovery. This suggests the formation provided information about a future celestial event unknown to science at the time. The comet's 'C/' prefix signifies a 'Long Period' visitor, with an orbital plane likely differing from the solar system's, and it was positioned below the South Pole, potentially only visible from low southern latitudes.

Letters

This section features correspondence from readers. Michael Glickman's recent column is criticized by Pearl Harding for being "childish" and for not elaborating on his points. Glickman replies, stating he accepts his "childishness" but doesn't fully understand Harding's letter, particularly her reference to "only one such event" and her views on the value of crop circles. He questions whether she has noticed the "wider implications of this phenomenon".

Rupert Knapman discusses a crop formation at Avebury Trusloe, Wiltshire, likening it to a virus or fertilised egg, and comparing it to a 13th-century French Bible painting. He mentions Benoit Mandelbrot's fractal research and describes the formation as "God the great mathematician creating the world."

Features: Secret of the Sussex Templars?

Sam Goodwin explores a crop formation at Sompting, West Sussex, which appeared on June 14-15th, 1999, on the same site as a 1993 formation. He connects this to the ancient church of St. Mary's, Sompting, and its Knights Templar history. A stone carving inside the church, depicting a seated figure surrounded by winged creatures (lion, bull, eagle, angel) and semicircles, is analyzed. Goodwin suggests this carving may symbolize the 'World' card from Tarot, representing completeness and oneness. He proposes that the carving's symbolism, particularly the placement of the winged creatures and the intersecting semicircles, mirrors the structure of the Sompting crop formation. The article speculates whether a mediaeval crop formation might have appeared at Sompting, prompting the Knights Templar to commemorate it, or if the circlemakers deliberately placed the formation to draw attention to the carving.

Views: Dot Matrix

Michael Glickman argues that crop formations, while often associated with fractals, may be closer in form to a dot matrix. He draws parallels with stadium card displays, computer screens, and Pointillism, where individual components gain meaning only when organized by a controlling intelligence. Glickman questions how plants are persuaded to lie down in precise patterns, suggesting that the phenomenon requires an applied intent rather than an inherent organizing principle found in fractals or holograms. He notes that while fractal forms have appeared in fields, crop circles do not inherently possess fractal or holographic nature. The single stem is seen as a meaningless component without the 'creative will of the circle-making force'.

Cerealogy A to Z

This section provides a glossary of terms related to crop circles:

• JAPAN: Describes strange sightings of minibuses with humanoid figures and Nippon TV crews investigating crop formations.
• JELLY: Substance allegedly found in early formations, possibly ectoplasmic or melted sweets.
• JESUS: Discusses the belief that crop circles herald Jesus' second coming, alongside other religious and occult figures.
• JOSS STICKS: Refers to the practice of placing smouldering sticks in crop circle centers as offerings.
• JOURNALS: Highlights the continued interest in crop circles, with journals playing a role in maintaining this interest against fads and media attention.
• JULIA SET: Mentions a person receiving letters about Fibonacci spirals.
• JUNG: Connects Carl Jung's work to crop circles, symbols, and archetypes.
• JUPITER: Links the 'thought bubble' designs of 1994 to comet Shoemaker-Levy 9's impact on Jupiter, noting a resemblance to a West Sussex formation.

Features: What The Eye Doesn't See

Jason Porthouse critically examines Chris Everard's analysis of the Oliver's Castle video, arguing that while Everard claims the video proves authenticity, the investigation may be flawed. Porthouse emphasizes the sophistication of modern visual effects and the difficulty in distinguishing reality from deception. He discusses how video is digitized and compressed, introducing artefacts that can alter the appearance of objects, especially those in the periphery of the frame. He points out that the Oliver's Castle video available to the public are copies, making analysis of the original tape impossible. Porthouse suggests that while some photographic evidence may be genuine, others can be explained by prosaic causes, such as flash photography illuminating dust particles. He calls for greater discernment and thoroughness in analyzing evidence to avoid discrediting the phenomenon.

Formations 1999 Gallery #5

This section showcases full-colour original copies of photographs of crop formations from 1999, taken by Steve Alexander and Lucy Pringle. It includes images of formations at Roundway, Beckhampton, Barbury Castle, Rockley Down, Marlborough, and Pewsey, with brief descriptions and photographer credits.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the interpretation of crop circles as complex symbolic messages, often with astronomical or historical connections. There's a continued exploration of the 'man-made vs. non-man-made' debate, with a critical examination of video evidence and photographic analysis. The journal also touches upon the Y2K phenomenon, historical sites like Avebury and Sompting, and the role of symbolism in understanding the crop circle phenomenon. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging critical thinking and detailed analysis, while remaining open to the possibility of genuine, non-human intelligence behind some formations. The journal aims to provide a platform for researchers and enthusiasts to share their findings and interpretations, often linking crop circles to broader themes of consciousness, spirituality, and ancient knowledge.

Title: SC
Issue: 89
Date: March/April 2000
Content Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of SC magazine features an article by Michael Glickman titled 'cornography', which delves into his predictions for crop circle formations in the upcoming 2000 season. Glickman, a contributor to the magazine, also reports on a remarkable alleged sighting of Elvis Presley in a crop circle.

Crop Circle Predictions for 2000

Glickman begins by reflecting on his experiences in the landscape, including seeing deer and bison, and the initial disbelief that led him to consider hoaxed Highland Cattle as a more 'reasonable' explanation for some sightings. He then transitions to anticipating the trajectory of the crop circle phenomenon.

He focuses on the geometry of formations, starting with the five-pointed star, the pentagram, which John Martineau identified in the early 1990s as containing the Golden Section proportion and acting as a guiding constraint. While the pentagram itself first appeared as a formation in Bythorn in 1993, Glickman notes that the pentagon, a five-sided figure, has historically been a supporting element rather than a primary form. He designates 'Prediction 1' as a pentagon in its own right.

In contrast, he notes that 'The Seven' has been represented by Heptagons or forms based on the Heptagon (a seven-sided figure), designating 'Prediction 2' as a Heptagram (a seven-pointed star).

Glickman admits he was wrong in predicting eleven formations for the previous year, though he acknowledges that the number eleven was crucial in formations like the Barbury Castle Menorah and Devil's Den. He therefore posits 'Prediction 3' as eleven-fold geometry.

Finally, based on intuition rather than hard evidence, Glickman believes the 2000 season will include reference to the number 13, representing Transformation.

He acknowledges the potential futility or arrogance of such predictions, stating that his ideas are put forward because his work implies they might appear. He emphasizes that involvement with the phenomenon inspires awe and that any suggestion borders on hubris. Glickman contrasts his openness with the strategy of maintaining secrecy for fear of criticism or being proven wrong. He expresses that if these predicted shapes appear, he will be delighted as it would confirm his ideas, but if they do not, he will not publicly retract or retire.

Alleged Elvis Presley Sighting in a Crop Circle

In a surprising revelation, Glickman reports that Elvis Presley was allegedly seen in a crop circle the previous year. He states that he promised not to reveal this earlier but now feels compelled to share it.

Several reliable and independent witnesses reportedly saw a black stretch limo with darkened windows by the roadside near the Cherhill formation. Individuals in suits prevented access to the field. Among the witnesses were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kreuzer from Kansas City, and Joseph Trellis with his girlfriend Christine Haythorne from Lincolnshire.

These witnesses moved to a vantage point and observed the circle through Mr. Kreuzer's binoculars. They saw a 'rather paunchy, long-haired individual in sun-glasses and a white sequinned jump-suit with flare bottoms'. Several other dark-suited individuals were guarding the perimeter and peering outwards.

Suddenly, the party in the circle decided to leave. Mr. Kreuzer, a former marine, described their departure as 'a trot', stating, "It looked to me like Elvis was being carried." The limousine and two accompanying cars then left at speed towards Beckhampton.

Glickman concludes this section by noting it is 'encouraging to know that at least one member of the Presley family is truly interested in the circles.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's content, as exemplified by this issue, focuses on the phenomenon of crop circles, exploring their geometric properties, potential predictive patterns, and even extraordinary claims such as celebrity sightings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting speculative theories and witness accounts without immediate dismissal, while acknowledging the inherent challenges and potential for criticism in such investigations. The inclusion of Michael Glickman's detailed analysis and his report on the Elvis sighting suggests a commitment to exploring the more unusual and intriguing aspects of the crop circle mystery.