From: demillo@juliet.ll.mit.edu ( Robert DeMillo )
Subject: Re: Big BOOMS over east coast in 1970's - what were they?
Organization: M.I.T. Lincoln Lab - Group 43
	<1992Mar31.164041.2076@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca>
	<1992Apr1.074832.11649@meteor.wisc.edu>
Date: 8 Apr 92 11:35:29

In article <1992Apr1.074832.11649@meteor.wisc.edu> stvjas@meteor.wisc.edu (Steve Jascourt) writes:
> In article <1992Mar31.164041.2076@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca> martin@space.ualberta.ca (Martin Connors) writes:
> >William Corliss, in his "Handbook of Unusual Natural Phenomena" (Doubleday 
>  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >1983) refers to this particular series of noises and guesses that they are  
> >"mistpouffers", about which there are 10 pages in the book. References are also  
> >Martin Connors
> >Space Research
> >University of Alberta

> I would hope someone from a Space Research organization would know better than
> to cite Corliss' book. A friend once read the book and started saying very
> peculiar things, so I critiqued part of it for him. It is filled with utter
> nonsense spewing extraterrestrial and magical explanations for common things.
> I would only recommend it for those with a peculiar sense of humor who know
> enough to realize how ridiculous most of what he says is. (He does say some
> things that are correct, however.)

> Stephen Jascourt     stvjas@meteor.wisc.edu

I'd read the book again, Steve. Corliss' sourcebook project is 
merely an attempt to collect folklore, categorize it, and bring
it up for discussion. Nowhere in the book does he try and
advocate "extraterrestrial and magical explanations," nor does
he attempt any explanations outside of stating eyewitness accounts.
(He does state scientific explanations for things like St. Elmos' Fire,
and will-o-wisps, etc...but if an obeserved phenomenon has no 
explanation, he merely states the observations.) If he brings
up "extraterrestrials," "ghosts," and the like, it's only in reference
to what the observer believed caused the phenomena.

If the case of St Elmos' Fire, he quotes 19th century and early
20th century sailor's predictions of safe passage through the
sea because their masts were glowing....after the observations
are reported, Corliss explains what they were probably observing
and why...

Also, a quick glance through the book shows that the vast majority
of the "eye witness" accounts occured in the late 1800's early 1900's,
which means they were probably second or third hand stories. 

The phenomenon related in the book include things like the 
Alaskan "mirage" of a British coastal town, Sun and Moon "dogs,"
the loud sky "booms," pizzeo-electric activity, "light" that
accompanies earthquakes, etc etc etc...a lot of this, if true, is
explanable, a lot of it isn't. 

If your friend started spouting nonsense, and you think it was 
due to the book...you had both better reread it. I read Corliss'
book when I was in high school and it was responsible for me pursuing
a career in science...



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 - Rob DeMillo			| Internet: 	 demillo@juliet.ll.mit.edu
   MIT Lincoln Lab 		| Also Internet: rjd@brown.cs.edu
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