The Swamp Gas Journal

Magazine Overview

Title: The Swamp Gas Journal
Issue: Volume 6, Number 1
Date: January 1992
Publisher: Ufology Research of Manitoba
Country: Canada
ISSN: 0707-7106

This issue of The Swamp Gas Journal, dated January 1992, focuses heavily on the phenomenon of crop circles, exploring recent developments, investigations, and controversies surrounding them.

The Continuing Circle Saga

The lead article, "The Continuing Circle Saga," addresses the widely publicized admission by Bower and Chorley regarding their involvement in creating crop circles. The author expresses immediate suspicion about the "complete" explanation offered by the media, arguing that it's unlikely two individuals could have created all the circles reported, especially globally. The article questions the authenticity of the single agriglyph filmed with BC, describing it as "sloppy and suspicious." While the number of circles attributed to BC has been reduced, the author notes that even a few hundred would require significant effort. The article also investigates the source of the hoax story, suggesting a "public relations" firm called Maiden Bridge Farm may have orchestrated the claims to gain media attention, potentially setting up cerealogists. The author expresses frustration that settling the BC involvement issue should be simple (requiring accurate site descriptions from BC) but has not been done, leading to a situation where cerealogists have been "burned" and the media warned away.

The Canadian Connection

This section details crop circle investigations in Canada during the summer of 1991. Gordon Kijek and the Alberta UFO Study Group (AUFOSG) were involved in investigating formations, including a notable agriglyph near Lethbridge, Alberta, which was the first of its kind in North America. Other sites included single circles, quadruplets, and triplets. The AUFOSG found virtually no evidence of "paranormal effects," physiological effects, or equipment malfunctions at these sites. However, a contrasting investigation by Chad Deetken, reported by Michael Strainic, suggested the presence of "paranormal effects" such as "tension" and "dizziness" in some circles, though compasses and recording equipment reportedly functioned normally. Strainic's report is highlighted as valuable for understanding the British situation. The article notes that while Alberta had circles in 1991, other Canadian provinces did not, and the reported effects in Alberta were similar to those reported in England.

Radioactivity?

This section examines claims that several crop circles, particularly in Britain and recent American sites, are radioactive. Michael Chorost and Marshall Dudley presented findings in a MUFON paper suggesting higher-than-normal radioactivity caused by rare elements like Europium, Ytterbium, and Rhodium. The article discusses the possibility of this being evidence of alien creation, but also explores the theory that deuteron bombardment could create these elements. However, physicists consulted by the author expressed strong doubts. The author's own reservations centered on sampling techniques and the limited data. The physicists pointed out that if deuteron bombardment occurred, other elements like Cobalt-56 should have been found, which they were not. The article suggests that the claims of radioactivity are "downright impossible" and likely stem from misinterpretation or error. Greg Kennedy, a researcher from Quebec, also found claims of radionuclides in Alberta circle samples to be unsupported. The section also touches upon the radioactive "saucer nest" found near Falcon Lake in 1967, which was initially attributed to a hoax or spacecraft but later interpreted as natural uranium ore byproducts.

Snailmail et al.

This section features correspondence and mentions various researchers and publications in the ufology and fortean fields. It includes updates from Len Stringfield, John Schuessler, Bonnie Wheeler, Bob Girard, John Salter, Eric Aggen, James Moseley, Paul Fuller, Pat Delgado, Jenny Randles, Walt Andrus, Dennis Stacy, Linda Bird, Sheldon Wernikoff, Harsha Godaveri, Michael Chorost, and Vince Migliore. The author emphasizes the importance of examining all sides of the phenomena and criticizes "new experts" who lack background knowledge. The overwhelming amount of published UFO literature is noted as a challenge for researchers.

Miscellanea

This section lists several new books added to the UFOROM library, including "Angels and Aliens" by Keith Thompson, "UFOs Over Canada" by John Robert Colombo, and "UFO Report 1992" edited by Timothy Good. Colombo's book is described as a collection of anecdotal, first-person accounts of Canadian UFO sightings. The infamous Carp UFO crash/retrieval is also mentioned, with comments from Clive Nadin and Christian Page. The section includes a call for Canadian readers to send in their UFO and crop circle reports for the annual Canadian UFO Survey and NAICCR report. The Swamp Gas Journal is identified as an irregular ufozine published by Ufology Research of Manitoba.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are crop circles, their investigation, the role of hoaxes, and the scientific scrutiny of extraordinary claims. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical objectivism, questioning sensational claims, demanding rigorous evidence, and advocating for a balanced examination of all perspectives within the UFO and fortean communities. The author emphasizes the need for thorough research, independent verification, and a deep understanding of historical context when analyzing these phenomena.