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From: World Net Cafe <cinecafe@worldnet.net> Organization: World Net

Subject: First issue

Hi dude !

I just had a look at this 'strange Web' and I've only one question: Are you Human ?!?

This is incredible and this Web site is amazing ! I like these kinds of articles and I feel something magic in this. Please, go on and trust no one. See you soon and may your karma be good.

Jim 'frenchie' Peace.





From: "Jeremy Reaban" <TheDeadman@msn.com>

Subject: Great Web Site

Hey, I just thought I'd let you know I love your web site. I'm an assistant at the UFO/Aliens/Weird stuff forum on the Microsoft Network, and you've got a lot more cool stuff than we do. I'm Jealous.

Jeremy





From: jimoro@kaiwan.com (Jim O'Roark)

Subject: Thunderbird

Mark,

Seeing the thunderbird photo got me thinking. It seemed to me that I too had seen the photo before but upon further reflection I remembered a similar photo that was much more prosaic. I think that when I was in elementary or junior high school that there was a book that had a photo or drawing of a barn with a huge grizzly bear skin pinned across it. It may have been an illustration for a work of fiction. At any rate the size of the bear and feel of the picture had a quality very similar to the thunder- bird photo. Perhaps this accounts for its seeming familiarity? Just another take, great magazine!

Jim





Date: Wed, 10 Jan 96 19:49:31 0700

From: Tim Johnson <codex@primenet.com>

Subject: (no subject)

Mark Chorvinsky,

I've been a reader of Strange Magazine since your expose on "Doc" Shiels. I appreciated the skepticism with which you approached the subject (and his detractors [yourself included]). I read of recent sightings of Morgawr by a Shiela Bird and her brother Dr. Eric Bird. Do I hear the faerie footsteps of "Doc" tiptoeing around Falmouth?

Your magazine is generally excellent. My only complaint is I don't get a fresh copy in my hands more often.

What I would like to see is an essay or a series of essays by experienced researchers on how best to approach Fortean material. Such articles would serve both as a field manual and writers' guidelines for your publication. I realize there are as many research tactics as there are researchers, but I can't help wondering how many crucial pieces of fascinating evidence have been lost, neglected, or trod upon by amateurs with no idea of how to make a plaster impression, take a radiation reading, approach and interview a witness, etc.; or of how to contact an agency capable of reliably performing these tasks. What sorts of evidence consititute "proof" or open additional gateways of understanding of Fortean phenomena (I presume anecdotal evidence is all but worthless) and what are the best means by which to gather it? What should researchers specifically look for?

In short, I would like to see an article that turns every reader into a Fortean investigator-- not because I believe these phenomena are capable of being unlocked any time soon, but because competent investigation practices lead to a more perplexing and mysterious worldview. The best cases are always the more meticulously researched.

Tim Johnson

Tucson, AZ






From: Trashdog@gnn.com (John R. Barr)

Date: Mon, 01 Jan 1996 21:14:57

Subject: Just saying hey

Just thought that I'd drop you a note to say how much I enjoy your web site, also need more info on the Nixon ghost. For instance: is he more active now that the Oliver Stone movie is out, or does he care. Important info that we all must know.

Best of Luck

John the trashdog





Date: Mon, 01 Jan 1996 23:52:06 -0500 (EST) From: Clark Hugh Stiles <CHSTILES@delphi.com> Subject: Splish splash I was takin' a bath

Been rereading that article about vanishing islands a lot, along with that excellent sidebar by Vincent Gaddis. Can't seem to get it out of my head. Found some websites pertaining to maps that may interest you and the authors.

http://rowan.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/historical/ http://www.lib.utexas.edu/Libs/PCL/Map_collection/islands.html

http://marlowe.wimsey.com/rshand/streams/scripts/scripts.html (Mysterious Manuscripts)

http://sunsite.unc.edu/expo/deadsea.scrolls.exhibit/intro.html (the Dead Sea Scrolls are the most anomalous conventional studied documents)

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~cbsiren/myth.html (Myths and Legends)

http://www.ibg.uu.se/elektromagnum/

(Elektromagnum - this is very interesting, but I may have sent it before)

http://www.interknowledge.com/bahamas/andros/ (the following is from the official website of Bahamas tourism)

"The Reef Isle of The Bahamas

"Largest of the many Islands of The Bahamas (104 x 40 miles), mysterious, mangrove-choked Andros is also the least explored, which means that you'll be sharing space with more terns and whistling tree ducks than humans--and maybe even a chickcharnie or two, those mischievous mythical inhabitants that are exclusive to this island. Reputed to be elfin creatures with three fingers, three toes, and red eyes, chickcharnies bring lifelong good luck to anyone lucky enough to see one. Andros even has its own 'Loch Ness Monster,' a dragon-like sea monster called the Lusca. No wonder the island was called 'La Isla del Espiritu Santo' (the island of the Holy Spirit) by the Spaniards."





Date: Sat, 30 Dec 95 22:14:32 0800

From: Federation Sand <cyanosis@slip.net> Organization: System Zero

Subject: Stockton Fireball '83/84

I would like to share an unusual event with your readers in the hope that someone out there may have additional information regarding it and that they might contact me. The event occurred quite some time ago now, perhaps 12 years ago...my guess would be spring/summer 1983/84 in the San Joaquin Valley (Stockton) California. It was, I believe a Friday or Saturday night, because though it was quite late (between 12 and 2 a.m) there was a lot of 'cruising' traffic on Pacific Avenue at the time.

Some friends and I had been playing games and went to a nearby schoolyard afterward to relax and take in the night sky. I went with my firend Ray, and two others, Greg and Rex came on a motorcycle slightly behind us. Ray and I had settled at the base of a large oak tree in the school's field and he was facing eastward with me facing south.

Suddenly the whole sky lit up brighter than daylight, a very white light. Ray began swearing incessantly and I felt heat coming from the east. I immediately became terrified, thinking that a nuclear blast had detonated and I was somewhat frozen in place. 100 yards away, through incredibly long shadows, I could see Greg and Rex as sillhouettes as they stopped in their walk toward us.

Ray continued his awestruck swearing, and I finally mustered the willpower to look in the direction he was facing. What I saw astounded me. There was, falling out of the sky, a glowing white fireball larger than a harvest moon. When I say fireball, I do not mean 'meteor'-this thing appeared to be enveloped in a sheath of billowing blue-white flames. It lit the whole place so brightly that it would have appeared like daylight inside anyone's house who was awake-perhaps brighter.

As the fireball neared the horizon, the glow lessened and finally it disappeared from view altogether. My friends and I talked in stunned amazement about the event, certain that we would hear of it in the next day's news.

We were to be gravely disappointed. Not only was there no mention of the fireball...no one we talked to had any recollection of the 15 second event. None. We have never found another person who shared our eperience or knew anything about it.

If anyone out there has any information regarding this event, please e-mail me at cyanosis@slip.net

Thanks for a great magazine!

Darin De Stefano





Date: Mon, 25 Dec 1995 16:14:42 -0800

From: Rob Eads <collcomm@onramp.net>

Subject: Miracle Healing?

Stumbled across your Web Page and found it interesting. However, as a follow up to the story in your "10 Strangest Events of 1995" page, (the one about the tibetan monks healing the sick tiger) I heard that the tiger still ended up expiring about a week after the visit.

Sorry to rain on your parade...

Best, Ron





From: GARRETT@bms.com

Date: Mon, 18 Dec 1995 14:57:41 -0500 (EST)

Subject: Thunderbird photo

Just picked up issue # 16 of your fine magazine and thought I'd drop you a line regarding the Thunderbird Photo. This may seem trivial but may help a little.

I'm only 28 years old and yet I have a memory of the photo also. But I also believe I've never seen it and agree with some of the letter writers that what we may have is a case of false memory. In particular, I think that when I was young, I read a very detailed description of the photo, so vividly outlined that I could picture it easily in my mind (having seen movies like THE VALLEY OF THE GWANJI didn't hurt either). I was very interested in Fortean phenomena from a young age (I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of BOOK OF THE DAMNED while in fourth grade!) and this interest was fueled by any number of "scholastic scope" type books on strange things aimed at grade schoolers. In particular, I'm thinking of the books of Daniel Cohen and, specifically, one called something like "MONSTERS, GIANTS AND LITTLE GREEN MEN FROM MARS" which was a treasure-trove of strange stories to excite my little mind. Let me clarify that I don't think this book contains the photo, if it even exists, but that it, or a similar book, contains a very detailed description that may account for the vividness of the false memory (especially if it was read at it's intended age level).

In fact, while I realize that writers like Cohen and Frank Edwards can't be taken seriously as researchers, I believe that the "occult paperback" boom of the mid to late 70's may have had a larger effect on popular culture and the population's unconcious than is generally considered. I remember reading somebody's (Berlitz?) Roswell book in my youth, although I don't take it very seriously now. In fact, I have very vivid memories of the day in the early 1980's when, on entering my local Walden books, I discovered that they had changed the section title from "Occult" to "New Age" (ugggh).

Keep producing your fine magazine

Shawn M. Garrett





From: monkee@indy.net

Date: Sat, 16 Dec 95 00:30:59 -0800

Subject: Love that strange

From: Tim Swartz, Indianapolis, In

Mark,

Just found the STRANGE WEB and I thought I'd drop you a few comments. I really enjoy STRANGE magazine. I have subscribed almost from the start. Out of all the Fortean press out there, STRANGE is the best. And I should know, I read them all.

I would like to tell you about the "monster" from the small town I grew up in. Elwood, Indiana is about sixty miles north of Indianapolis. The towns population is aprox. 12'000. Elwood is located smack in the middle of the corn belt. The landscape for miles around is flat. Very flat. Elwood's monster was called the "Pigman". Said to have the head of a pig and the body of a man. (some said just the opposite, body of a pig, head of a man) "Pigman" was suppose to be the son of a farm couple who, because of his deformities, kept him locked away in their rural farmhouse. Late one night the house caught fire, killing the old couple. But their son escaped, though burned badly. "pigman" roamed the backroads of western madison county. Leaping out at teenagers in their cars, and scaring the hell out of them. I never saw the "pigman", And I don't recall anyone really claiming to have either. But the stories continued. Probably as a good excuse to take your friends or your girl for a drive in the country at night. I did know of a place where a white German Shepherd lived. This dog loved to chase cars. At night it made for a good scare for anyone not who didn't know what was going on. "OH MY GOD, IT'S THE PIGMAN!" We'd yell when old shep ran in front of the cars headlights. It's white coat made it look like something right from out of this world. By the way, the area "pigman" was suppose to roam was right inbetween Elwood and a small town called Hobs. Which I believe is another name for the Devil. Keep up the good work. I'll be back to your web soon.

Tim Swartz





From: "Daniel S. Reilly" <dsreilly@postoffice.ptd.net>

Date: Thu, 14 Dec 1995 19:57:28 -0800

Subject: Strange Magazine

Greetings Strange Ones!

This is a great Web site. It is now going to be a regular stop for me.

I particulary enjoyed the strories out of Puerto Rico. Couldn't happen to a nicer place. (I'm not a bigot or anything, I just hate their beaches. No waves.)

I had a UFO experience approx 20 years ago in the Hudson Valley. A member of MUFON said it may have been "Big Bertha" that was sighted regularly in that area.

Keep up the good work.

Regards, Dan Reilly





Date: Wed, 13 Dec 95 20:51:05 -0800

From: Jim Logue <logue@uis.edu>

Organization: University of Illinois at Springfield Mime-Version: 1.0

Subject: Red Rain

My name is Jim Logue. When I was in 5th grade my teacher talked alot about the US Civil War. He mentioned that after Lincoln was assinated the sky was filled with Red Rain. My teacher Mr. Schefer was way back in 1965. I don't know where he got his references but I never heard anything ever again about Red Rain util I read your Web Page.

Jim Logue





From: Rick Clark <clarkr@cyberhighway.net>

Subject: StrangeMag Web

Date: Wed, 13 Dec 1995 19:56:03 -0600

I just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how interesting your web site is. I'll come here often as I find your information quite interesting (and fun!).

Rick Clark

clarkr@cyberhighway.net





Date: Sat, 9 Dec 95 15:39:20 UT

From: "Dan Montopoli" <danmontopoli@msn.com> To: strange1@erols.com

Subject: Jelly Beans From Heaven

After reading that the "Jelly Beans From Heaven" has made your 10 Strangest Stories list, I thought you might like to know that an almost identical phenomena occurred in Western Washington within the past 2 years. I can't remember exactly when but the article appeared in Seattle's Post-Intelligencer newspaper.

As I remember it, the article described a strange jelly-like substance that fell from the sky and inundated a town in Western Washington. The article suggested a few theories that might explain the event: perhaps an airplane jettisoned its waste facility or perhaps off-shore test bombing by the Military destroyed jellyfish and there remains entered the atmosphere. The article also mentioned that samples of the substance were taken for analysis, but does not mention the results.

It seems that this strange event has happened at least twice on the west coast within the past 2 years.

- Dan





From: "Wright, Bruce" <32000BKT@macnet.cpa.state.tx.us>

Subject: great issue!!!

Date: Fri, 01 Dec 95 16:38:00 PST

It seems to me that, at any given time in this sad little century, there's been one indispensable publication for people of our weird bent. For a decade between the wars, it was Weird Tales; in the forties, Unknown Worlds, maybe; for awhile in the fifties, maybe Fate; Castle of Frankenstein in the early sixties; Filmfax for a few fleeting moments in the eighties. Right now, I think it's Strange.

Bruce Lanier Wright





Date: Sun, 19 Nov 1995 10:27:07 EST
From: QPDQ32A@prodigy.com (MR ROBERT J GEIS)
To: strange1@erols.com
Subject: *.*

What a fantastic webpage! A friend told me about your address, and I am glad I url'd it. I can't believe all the interesting and weird/strange topics-- apparently with a lot of truth to them.

I really enjoyed this tour, and hope you expand on the web. Don't ever leave the web!





From: 73751.3374@compuserve.com
Date: Sun, 5 Nov 1995 13:28:58 -0500
To: strange1@erols.com
Subject: Hello

Following up on your invitation to send mail re: Strange's web site:

It's great! at least what I've found in to 10 minutes or so I have been playing around here. It'll be interesting seeing the periodic updates.

A question: how to get a printing on the entire book catalog easily?

A comment: is it feasible to devote a section to unorthodox archaeology? Not to compete with Stonehenge Viewpoint's catalog or anything, but something where books on such subjects as pre-Columbian visits, megaliths and the like could be grouped.

Another comment now that I think of it: this subject seems to be one that Strange has dealt with rather seldom. Any particular reasons?

A last comment: Strange is a terrific magazine. I'm pleased to see the resurgence of interest in forteana over the last 5 years or so and I think Strange has led the way, setting the standards for reporting and production quality.

Chuck Flood
chuckflood@aol.com (my usual email)

Chuck, acting on your request, it is now possible to access a Booklist of all of the Strange Bookshop books, as well as a file containing all of the books carried by Strange Bookshop. As far as covering aspects of fortean archaeology, we have several features planned on this subject. This has always been an interest of mine and the recent publication of Forbidden Archeology by Cremo and Thompson has created a surge of interest in this fascinating and controversial field.-Mark C





From: rhuberty@omnifest.uwm.edu
Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995

STRANGE Magazine is terrific! I just got a subscription! The first issue I saw was the Time Travel one, and you better believe it had my friends and I talking for a long time. Unlike other biased publications, you take an objective perspective, which makes your magazine credible. You don't believe in anything, you just report it. For this reason alone, you're the best. I know that when I'm reading STRANGE, you're trying to give me the facts, because you want the facts just as badly as I do. You don't report things as "True-to-life" (like other mags) unless you've got hard evidence. As a reader and fellow Fortean, I really appreciate that.

Cryptozoology - YES! Underground Civilizations - YES!

Dead Alien Corpses - YES! Time Travel - YES!

I won't believe it until I have hard evidence, but I love reading about it. Plus, the recent article defending The X-Files was great! That means I won't have to write in and defend my favorite show.

Thanks again for the great work, Mark. I'm at UW-Madison in the fall and I'm going to be trying to conduct some Fortean research. If there's any way that I could contribute, I'd love to.
More Things in Heaven and Earth....
Mike Huberty





From: robby@unix.asb.com (Robby)
Subject: Re: Hard to Read Pages

Terrific mag--but some of your pages like Mixed Bag and Reader Mail are difficult to read because of that atrocious background. Please don't take the description "atrocious" as any way reflective of the rest of your magazine. It's terrific! I wanted to read every word I could get my mouse on, so if I'm upset, it's because I wanted to see more of what you had to say!

I've been a longtime fan and devotee of Charles Fort, own "The Book of the Damned", an edition from 1941 which I will never part with, and have authored a horror story based on one of his planetary observations. True, he never intended for all of his theories to be taken literally, but he opened my eyes at a young age to the gross inconsistencies the science establishment is often guilty of, the main one being, that if science supports the empirical collection of data in order to form theories, why is it they ignore TONS of data reported by people all over the world if it might upset their cart?
Keep reporting,
Robby

Robby, I have taken care of the background problems and you should be able to read the pages easily now sans backgrounds. Let us know if you have any more problems, folks.--Mark C





From: "Cropper, Paul"
Subject: Greetings from Down Under
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 95 17:22:00 EST

Hi! Congratulations on a great Web page. Are any other cryptozoologists on email?
Cheers,
Paul

Cryptozoologists everywhere take note. Paul is the co-author of the excellent book Out of the Shadows: Mystery Animals of Australia.--Mark C




From: bz050@freenet.carleton.ca (Ben S. Roesch)
Subject: Strange 15


Oh, man, this issue was great!!!!! I really liked the article on sea sepent carcasses, and Karl Shuker's new column is so good, it's better than Loren's!!!!! Shuker's column is incredibly info-packed! When I first turned to it, in high anticipation, I thought it was going to just be 2 or 3 pages, but instead it was four! And with the sideshow thing, no space is wasted in telling us the most detailed facts on cryptozoological occurences, expeditions, new species and latebreaking news (as well as obscure references and info!).

I noticed that Karl Shuker has a new book coming out; do you know when it will be out, and whether Strange Bookshop will have it? Thanks.

The reviews were all excellent, the underground mysteries thing really interesting, and the article on haunts in Toronto were especially interesting to me, as that's where I live. I had heard of the Dorothy ghost at the Hockey Hall of Fame, when this tribute to hockey was being built, my class was on a field trip around there.

BTW, the strange investigation, My Favourite Martian, with Caldwell, looks very interesting! Also, the article: "Your kangaroo is in the mail" is quite humorous too! And finally, for my encore on your great job, nice little excerpt from the Gibbs interview in letters! I think that it *just* maybe shows that his machine is bullshit...however, it was the Gibbs interview was the only bad part of the time travel feature; I thought the rest was pretty interesting (Bebe Williams piece was a little out there; but it was fine!)

Once again, great, great issue!!! I can't wait till the next one! BTW, what do you have in store?

Keep up the great work, and never let go of Karl Shuker!!!
Ciao!

Ben




From: mystic@interaccess.com (Shawn M. Lape)
Subject: New Web Site

Dear Mark,

Thanks for the new web site. Although it's still appears to be under construction, I like it better than the Fortean Times site. I've been a subscriber since the very first issue. However, I've only been on the web since march, 95.

I look forward to being able to order from the Strange Bookshop online as do my credit card bankers.

As to the current issue of the magazine, I've just about totally read it. My opinion as a Fortean (g), is biased but I think, as usual, that the content is first rate. I subscribe to Fortean times, INFO and the Journal of Fortean Research and even Fate....I also receive the newsletters from Science Frontiers and buy the occasional book from them also (just so I can get the newsletters!). Strange Magazine however remains my favorite but it's so long between issues (sigh). Without the 6 months publishing schedule, though, Strange would not be what it is. Thank all the volunteers and all the rest of the people who help make Strange what it is, the BEST DAMN fortean mag. there is, end of story.

Shawn




From: scotth@ceti.csustan.edu (Richard Ravalli)

Just wanted to congratulate everyone at Strange for another WELL-DONE magazine. IMHO, this latest edition of Strange is the best I've ever seen. Especially enjoyed all the material from Dr. Karl Shuker, and glad to see some new titles out dealing with cryptozoology. Great job!

Richard Ravalli



From: UQFS09A@prodigy.com (MR PATRICK J MCLAUGHLIN)
Subject: Web site


Interesting site. I hope to see some strange things here. I was very curious to find out if other people share my strange ability to place my tongue in the back of my throat and up into the back of my nose. My daughter is able to do this, and one lady in Tennessee that I have communicated with about this odd ability. I was just wondering how many other people out there are able to do the same thing, and what would be the advantage of being able to to do this? Also, is there a medical term for this ability. I have read that some Indian Yogas are able to do this as some type of cleansing, but they must be taught, and this is natural to me. If you have any information about this I would be very interested. Drop me a note if you have any info about this odd ability.




From: aztec aztec@postoffice.ptd.net
Hi Mark (or whomever)!

Glad to see that you're finally available electronically!!

I just browsed in your bookstore and I wanted to let you know that the background pattern that's being used (sort of a cross hatch pattern), makes the text almost completely unreadable. I'm using netscape 1.1N and I've never seen this sort of thing before so I don't *think* it's my setup. Anyway, I thought I'd let you know - perhaps you can call in yourself and look at it.

I'm gonna have to stop by again and browse when I have more time.

-Paul Faeder (loyal subscriber)

Paul, we have removed the background in the offending files until we figure out while some browsers are making this hard to read. There is a way to set Netscape so that you see the correct color, but for now there have been enough problems for me to err on the side of legibility. At a later date we will put in some new backgrounds that do not effect legibility. Thanks for the feedback.-Mark C





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