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Editorial

 

Mercury, Sep/Oct 1995 Table of Contents

(c) 1995 Astronomical Society of the Pacific

People say the darnedest things. In addition to all the kids' letters -- "Can you give me information about the hole world. Espesholy why cocer spanuils pant a lot." -- and the I-never-thought-of-that questions that you only seem to get from people first encountering a subject -- "Concerning helioseismology, has such also been discovered within Saturn and Jupiter?" -- the ASP public-information department gets its share of oddball letters.

Many are sweet, if confused; others are raunchy or racist; some are simply incomprehensible. But a significant number, the proofs that plate tectonics doesn't really operate or that the universe is a vector sum of S (space) and T (time), make you think. The care that people put into their theories and illustrations is breathtaking. Their "papers" use jargon, math, and logic; they speak of recognizing patterns, making important discoveries, and investigating all the possibilities. In short, these unsolicited manuscripts have everything the public associates with research. When you read enough of them, you can't help but think of the potential that might, were it only for discipline, have been harnessed for the sciences and arts.

  • If you imagine that the device was not controlled by a powerful military force from outer space you are not acquainted with the facts concerning the matter.... It was a controlled device and I was chosen of God to reveal its purpose.
  • To obtain the speed of light measure count 1,862 turns of the earth from the center of Christs ministry at Capernaum to the speed of light feature which is about 82 percent of one earth turn. This multiplied by one hundred plus the 12 minutes 8.049 seconds transit of the objects maneuver exactly duplicates the measure for the speed of light. This was done deliberately, it was done for a reason.
  • I am a man thirty-five years old gigolo (bioastronautic).... I am not gangster because I look for bioastronautic by permision.
  • Clear your mind. Dark matter is the focal of vacuums friction to concussion waves which ignite then cool to residue and orbit in a wave reflection fashion.
  • I think there is a pattern to where these meteors have hit, and a "dark side" or Satanic connection to some of the impact sites. For example, it is now believed that the asteroid that eliminated the dinosaurs hit near the Yucatan in Mexico. This is near the Mayan culture area, which was a brilliant culture, but which went over to the "dark side," practicing human sacrifice.
  • May the astronomical unit mean stay in distance for peace and shine in distinction to extended hear-afterism and good will toward all living species kind.
  • A human being belongs to another planet other than here Earth and so the State of New Jersey wants to be the first to find out which one of those planets out there own this human being.
  • Do nothing until you hear from me for I am a shrill mountain marmot and so you may never will.
  • Please find enclosed a proposal to scale down the second (unit of time) by a small amount in such a way that a perfect four-yearly leapyear cycle can be achieved.
  • During a visit to the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution this past May, my attention was captivated by a display of the Sun in which the planets were arranged along the diameter of the Sun.... The accompanying plaque reported the diameter of the Sun was able to contain about three and one-half of these groups... Pi is 3.14... I decided to further investigate this numerical coincidence.
  • Considering the ethnic, religious, social, national, political and economic upheavals we have been witnessing in Europe and Africa in the last few years... zodiac reclassification would go a long way in not only minimizing the human suffering but also in receiving celestial help....
  • To me, volcanoes do not exist except as Majority Rule creates them. Mount Saint Helens blew its stack due to Guilt of Americans epitomized by Hanoi Jane.
  • By the inspiration given to me I have been led to believe that the centres of Galaxies are like giant marble factories.... I have also been led to believe that the birth place of the Moon is the Arizona Crater.
  • Astrology, creationism, know nothing thinking, light-years, origin, this was tomorrow. So join the party.
  • Dear Gentlemen, For collection personal, desire know, possible entertain photography carry out by:- Hubble. Possible choose? award? Thank you, for information.

    And the response from NASA's public-information office:

    We are unclear as to the type of information you are requesting. I am enclosing information which I think will be responsive to your request.

    The information that NASA enclosed included the address of the ASP.

 

 
 
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