From: Rich Reynolds <rrrgroup.nul>
Date: Thu, 9 Dec 2004 09:53:21 -0500
Fwd Date: Thu, 09 Dec 2004 10:01:34 -0500
Subject: Smith & Rogerson


James Smith and Peter Rogerson bring a sobriety to UFO UpDates
that I enjoy, and this despite the fact that I'm a fan of Alfred
Lehmberg, Kyle King, and Jerry Clark in particular.

Practicalities and tempered 'belief' about UFOs are rational and
the way of the world. That's why UFO buffs are seen as fringe by
the hoi polloi, and media (which is one level up from the great
unwashed).

While there is a kind of civility here at UFO UpDates, which
I've followed for a few years now, there is often a palpable
hostility amongst Listers. But the back-and-forth, the
colloquies, are usually stimulating, and often enlightening.

But that aside, there is a point to be made: capitalistic
enterprises are favored by government agencies (even during
"liberal" administrations, here and abroad) and businesses
obviously.

If UFO studies/investigations had a "raison d'etre" that was
seen as potentially profitable, everyone, unbelievers also,
would jump on board.

This is where James Smith hits his stride... he understands
that.

And Peter Rogerson opens the door to a number of scenarios which
may or may not be related to UFOs.

I've never understood why UFO aficionados don't work together to
establish a central facility and authority which could
accumulate funds and expertise to address the practicalities,
the science of "flying saucers" and the extracurricular aspects
that attend to the phenomenon.

How much trouble would it be to create a non-profit - not like
those which have been tried or started by those not fully
committed to the UFO mystery but, rather, inclined to self-
aggrandizement - which would gather funds and equipment and
make it available to whomever comes credentialed to the table:
those who are identified, legitimately, with UFO study? (Need I
name them?)

The non-profit facility would not exclude James Smith or
Rogerson surely, and would certainly include the visionaries
like King and Lehmberg, plus the bonafide UFO studiers,
Friedman, Hall, Clark, Maccabee, et al.

If persons are truly interested in resolving the UFO question,
because it would be beneficial or satisfy the insatiable
curiosity of those who hate unresolved mysteries, they would
gather their monies and wherewithal and make it happen, rather
than discoursing ad infinitum, ad eternum, ad nauseum.

But that's just my mundane rumination for today.

(I think I've been infected by the Lehmbergian verbosity, which
is quite wonderful, is it not?)


Rich Reynolds
Fort Wayne MediaWatch