I spent part of yesterday meeting with my lawyer again after I received a multi-page letter from the attorney representing the same occasional cable TV figure who has made legal demands against me for the past four years. This time, he is claiming that I am involved in a “civil conspiracy” to defame him. Anyway, it’s a long, involved thing, and that has sadly limited my time for writing today. Therefore, I will share two brief stories that are interesting, but about which there isn’t a lot to say.
First up, former America Unearthed host Scott F. Wolter has introduced merchandise to go with his book Cryptic Code of the Knights Templar as part of the ongoing transformation of pseudohistory into a 360° lifestyle brand. Wolter created challenge coins featuring the graphics created for the cover of the book, including various Masonic symbols and his omnipresent variant of the runic A, which he has termed the Hooked X™. On one level, this is just a silly tie-in product, not too far removed from fellow cable host Josh Gates’s cash-grab Cameo bookings, but on the other hand, it does promote a more dangerous trend of turning pseudohistory ideas into a form of personal identity, where one pledges public loyalty to a pseudohistory brand and its claims. This is the same problem that I have with the Ancient Aliens lifestyle brand, which promotes a bad idea as a personal identity—a “fandom.”
And just for kicks, each coin comes with a “Hooked X™” patch so you can display your Holy Bloodline Templar Conspiracy Oreo Cookie Code pride on your clothing or accessories. Less funny is the report Ancient Origins recently ran on its 2019 trip to the Tayos Caves in Ecuador, where they once again attempted to hunt down Erich von Däniken’s caves full of alien gold from The Gold of the Gods. Just as Neil Armstrong concluded after investigating the same caves for the same reason, there wasn’t anything to see. The crew from Ancient Origins, which includes expatriates living in Ecuador, discovered that the supposed “carvings” they found in their previous expedition are (big surprise) natural formations. The ten members of the expedition claimed to have fun and to have shared unique experiences, which the team declined to share with readers, but they discovered no evidence of space aliens or Atlantis as they tramped about the rainforest. I will give them this: They were at least honest enough to admit that they came away with even less evidence of aliens and Atlantis than they thought they had when they started.
80 Comments
Jim
1/9/2020 09:36:54 am
I wanna git me one of them Pirate Templar Eye Patches.
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Joe Scales
1/9/2020 10:04:28 am
Truth is an absolute defense against a claim for defamation. Scott Wolter is a liar. Scott Wolter is a fraud. Scott Wolter is an imbecile.
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Machala
1/9/2020 11:15:58 am
On behalf of the pueblos of Morona-Santiago province, we would like to thank all the gringos from "Ancient Origins" and their friends for visiting Cueva de los Tayos and enriching us by spending lots of dollars and then LEAVING!
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Renee
1/9/2020 11:20:23 am
About 15 years ago conspiracy theorists were a fairly homogeneous bunch, and one of their traits was that they were comically terrified that the Masons wanted to take over the world. Scott Wolter would have been banned from any conspiracy convention or website.
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Kent
1/9/2020 02:21:10 pm
"[M]any conspiracy theorists hated Neil Armstrong because they believed in the moon-landing hoax and saw him as part of the "Illuminati." Interestingly, he now is also a conspiracy theorist."
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Renee
1/9/2020 03:00:00 pm
NASA, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and any other astronauts were considered part of "them" or "they" that are trying to enslave the world. Look at the comments section on any conspiracy theory website and you will see what I mean. Or even "articles" that link NASA with mind-control. Some websites have topics archived, some don't. Buzz Aldrin had to punch out a conspiracy theorist who followed him around saying he lied about going to the moon.
Renee
1/9/2020 03:08:25 pm
I know you're going to say that conspiracy theorists don't say that the Apollo astronauts aren't in on the hoax if I don't give you at least one link, so, as much as I hate driving traffic to these sites, here is just one: https://centerforaninformedamerica.com/
Kent
1/9/2020 03:16:04 pm
I was right. It was interesting. Renee, surely there's more to share!
Renee
1/9/2020 03:25:55 pm
Kent, there is lots more to share, but I'm not going to. Why on earth do you think I want to promote those sites?
Kent
1/9/2020 03:30:07 pm
You still think Neil Armstrong "now is also a conspiracy theorist"?
Renee
1/9/2020 05:19:07 pm
South America does have gold, they just don't have Erich von Daniken's gold left there from Ancient Aliens, because that doesn't exist.
Renee
1/9/2020 03:35:22 pm
Kent, if Neil Armstrong goes to South America looking for space gold, then, yes, he's a conspiracy theorist.
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Kent
1/9/2020 05:00:20 pm
Because of the South American tradition of not having any gold? You have a remarkably flexible definition of "conspiracy theory".
Renee
1/9/2020 06:09:03 pm
Kent, okay, you're right. Neil Armstrong wasn't a conspiracy theorist; he just held strange beliefs that at times overlapped with conspiracy theories. My point was about the overlap between all these beliefs, and how pseudohistory, pseudoscience, and conspiracy all have strange ideas that can intersect, not necessarily the individuals themselves. It's becoming almost mainstream, sadly, because of the shifting boundaries.
Can we end this now?
1/9/2020 06:12:59 pm
I think what he was driving at is that Neil Armstrong is now dead and the following statement makes no sense:
Kent
1/9/2020 06:49:23 pm
Well spotted and you waited a reasonable time to spell it out.
Kent
1/9/2020 09:00:42 pm
"Neil Armstrong wasn't a conspiracy theorist; he just held strange beliefs that at times overlapped with conspiracy theories."
Kneel armstrong
1/11/2020 04:37:44 am
There is gold in South America and then there are claims of gold tablets in South America that are evidence of ancient aliens. Different issues. Armstrong seems to be (being dead doesn't stop you from being something in the minds of people or later becoming something in their eyes) more guilty by association. His involvement in the expedition seems to have been more of a traditional quest for lost treasure than belief in the ancient aliens spin that others put on it. Hope this helps.
AMHC
1/9/2020 07:28:37 pm
I couldn't help but notice that while your generalizations are coherent, you strike me as holding religious bodies IN GENERAL MIRALLY CULPABLE for ALL conspiracy. I don't take well to what I find to be a questionable assault on individualism, no matter how politely you delivered your point. But I do appreciate the civil nature of your discourse. Conversation here is all too rare.
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Renee
1/9/2020 09:06:35 pm
AMHC, if your comments were directed at me I don't understand what you meant by " holding religious bodies in general miraly culpable for all conspiracy" (was that a typo? I myself have tried to edit after hitting the submit button, so I don't blame you if it is), and how exactly did I assault individualism?
AMHC
1/10/2020 09:14:38 pm
Yeah that's a typo. I intended to say Morally CULPABLE. Your positing humanism in a position where it's in conflict with religion. ThatsT unnecessary but a common tool when having civil conversations with strangers.
Kent
1/9/2020 10:42:38 pm
"
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Kent
1/9/2020 10:48:13 pm
^Wish I could say that was a fake post^ but it was an egregious copying error. Imagine an apology here. Should have read:
The ghost of Neil Armstrong
1/9/2020 11:32:00 pm
It was quite a joy to read the post and comments copied and pasted into the same comment section of the same post. Thanks for that.
Kneel armstrong
1/11/2020 04:46:36 am
Smooth move on the part of someone who is quick to belittle people for minor errors or for having a different opinion. Thanks for the irrelevant wall of text that reminds me of joe scales posting the same nonsense over and over. Probably because you are joe scales.
Kent
1/11/2020 04:50:25 pm
It never gets old, does it?
Hal
1/9/2020 12:49:15 pm
You, White, Faegans, Feder, and pudgy Sarah have conspired to humiliate, denigrate, and destroy Pulitzer’s reputation and ability to work. The entire basis of your approach is because White can find replica swords it proves his is fake. All of you pseudoskeptics deserve to be exposed.
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Joe Scales
1/9/2020 12:57:32 pm
Hey Jovan, shouldn't you be working on that white paper?
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Hilda Hilpert
1/9/2020 02:30:28 pm
Of course there are fake roman swords, just like fake suits of armour. All that needs to be done is to have Pulitzer's sword tested scientifically, just as the Rick and Marty on the Curse of Oak Island have had their finds by their team tested.The curse keeps getting more and more interesting. Activity there has pre-dated the money pit,for example the lead cross found and tested in Germany at the Mining Institute to go back to the 12th or 13th century. Whether romans ever came there, don't know, but if testing carbon or other wise proves the sword is geniune, then I think that's something very curious. Not all these people are frauds, and some of the ideas might be out there, but in a few cases their ideas later turn out to have merit.I try to keep an open mind, and have no axe to grind with anyone.
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Jim
1/9/2020 03:12:17 pm
"All that needs to be done is to have Pulitzer's sword tested scientifically, just as the Rick and Marty on the Curse of Oak Island have had their finds by their team tested."
No One Cares
1/9/2020 05:58:53 pm
Sounds like something someone involved in a civil conspiracy would say.
Andy White
1/10/2020 09:00:32 am
If I had done and said stupid and/or incorrect things that damaged my credibility, I would work to rebuild my credibility by correcting the record, saying things that are true, and apologizing for misdeeds.
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BootyJudge
1/11/2020 06:42:06 am
"Pudgy Sarah?" All that I can say is that we are honored by your presence here, Mr. President.
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Paul
1/9/2020 01:12:18 pm
First, would seem that truths and opinions are your friends, can falsified statements be found and proven? Second, to be a conspiracy should there be co-conspirators? Google roman sword and JHP and there are 78,900 hits, are the folks that reported on this all your co-conspirators? Third, someone placing themselves in the public has a different standard. Fourth, perhaps an anti-SLAPP action should occur. Turn it back. Just a few thoughts that come to mind. Have a good day.
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Hal
1/9/2020 02:29:24 pm
Those 80,000 or so “hits” all resulted from the efforts of the conspirators. I used to think Joe Scales had some sense but now I know the truth about him. Too bad.
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Joe Scales
1/10/2020 10:05:23 am
And I, the truth about you.
Kals admin
1/9/2020 02:52:08 pm
Hello Mr. Colavito.
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Homer Sextown
1/9/2020 05:18:31 pm
It's fortunate that a prominent legal authority such as yourself frequents this board. Surprising that someone of your preeminence wouldn't lay out a definition or discussion of civil conspiracy. but Jason can take comfort in no longer having to pay onerous legal fees. The internet brings the answers to his electronic front door!
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Joe Scales
1/10/2020 10:07:35 am
"I am not associated with this case in any way. "
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Whizzer White
1/11/2020 05:22:57 am
Nice to see people with no legal training lecturing others on their lack of legal training. Thanks Joe Kent Bailey.
Doc Rock
1/9/2020 08:41:36 pm
Please tell me that neither wolter nor his syncophants are actually billing these things as "challenge coins."
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Kent
1/9/2020 09:09:42 pm
The term he uses is "collector coin". That may be code in the community. Ixnay on the ocksnifferjay!
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Doc Rock
1/10/2020 05:15:10 pm
Thank god and Chesty for that!
Kent
1/10/2020 07:01:16 pm
Ahh, Chesty Morgan! That brings back memories...
HaroldEdwards
1/10/2020 07:34:15 am
The first use of the term "hooked x" that I know of was on page 44 of Dr. Richard Nielsen's paper entitled "Response to Dr. James Knirks's Essay on the Kensington Runestone" which was published in Scandinavian Studies volume 72 in 2001. Nielsen might have used it in an earlier paper or he might have adopted it from someone else. The best information I have is that Nielsen coined the term.
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HaroldEdwards
1/10/2020 10:47:22 am
Wolter has a registered trademark on "Hooked X" (number 4380468) for Goods & Services: "publications, namely, books in the field of historical artifacts. FIRST USE: 20130610. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130610" Using it for coins and patches may be outside the scope of his TM.
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HaroldEdwards
1/10/2020 09:20:16 am
Bloggers should purchase liability insurance against lawsuits. The most important reason is the insurance company's duty to defend. The company bears the cost of legal defense. The rates are typically less than $1000 a year:
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Joe Scales
1/10/2020 10:15:26 am
"Bloggers should purchase liability insurance against lawsuits."
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Hal
1/10/2020 06:33:39 pm
Joe, just a friendly reply here. Your home owners insurance doesn’t cover a writer for libel if the writer does it for a living. The truth is that insurance companies will do whatever costs them the least. In libel and defamation that almost always means they will settle. A civil conspiracy is pretty complicated and often whoever has the most money and is willing to spend it will prevail. Once a suit is filed it becomes a money pit. You can disagree but I have no animosity and I’m not JHP.
NAS
1/10/2020 06:46:27 pm
I can’t stand Joe Scales, but I agree with him here that it is possible that a homeowner’s insurance carrier would indeed provide a legal defense for an insured in a defamation claim. They would do so with a “reservation of rights” stipulation in which they make clear that defending against the claim does not constitute an admission that they will provide coverage for the claim itself should there be a recovery.
Joe Scales
1/10/2020 09:51:49 pm
"A civil conspiracy is pretty complicated and often whoever has the most money and is willing to spend it will prevail. Once a suit is filed it becomes a money pit."
Nas
1/10/2020 11:24:26 pm
One small caveat is that after a lawsuit is filed, an insurance company (assuming its providing the defense) might make a nuisance value settlement offer to an idiot pro se plaintiff just to make the whole thing go away. I doubt they’d do it in this instance because Treasure Force Commander is such an insufferable ding dong.
Judge Dredd
1/11/2020 05:38:51 am
True. Insurance companies are not adverse to paying out a decent chunk of change to make a lawsuit go away before trial or can sometimes be talked into throwing the plaintiff a bone in the form of a decent check in the 11th hour of a court case. For someone to get any type of monetary settlement even a symbolic dollar bill would raise their status in the world of the crazies. A decent strip mall lawyer who is willing to play run out the clock until the insurance company cuts a check before the court costs get out of hand can get a check for a lot more than a dollar.
Joe Scales
1/11/2020 10:07:13 am
The main players in the insurance industry have house counsel defend the majority of claims. These lawyers get paid the same whether they're getting coffee in the office or calling the bluff of lawyers who are stupid enough to file frivolous claims; and they try cases. Lots of them. And if you're insured, you don't have to pay them to defend you. All good to know.
Judge Dredd
1/11/2020 04:21:38 pm
According to the American Bar Association it is common practice to bill higher for court appearances. There can even be differences in billing for office work conducted by lawyers as opposed to scut work dumped on paralegals or secretaries. Then there can be costs for hiring investigators if deemed necessary. So, again, it is common for insurance companies to offer a small settlement to since they generally have bigger fish to fry. Lawyers who know how to play the system can make a decent living off of what are essentially a steady stream of small settlements with insurance companies who are out big money to send a legal team to numerous court hearings. None of this is a big secret.
Kent
1/11/2020 04:49:17 pm
I have to rise in defense of my lovvvvvvverrr and say Mr. Scales' point was that in-house lawyers are on salary and don't "bill".
Judge Dredd
1/12/2020 09:27:02 pm
The issue is overall cost of going to court versus settling out of court. If overall costs were the same then every lawsuit would be fought to the bitter end in court
Joe Scales
1/12/2020 10:45:19 pm
Sure Judge. How many posts of yours under various names have been deleted? You, the imbecile googling the ABA to tell me about law. You'll never learn because you're beyond learning. You're an imbecile. Now be gone and get yourself a new moniker for your next embarrassment.
E.P. Grondine
1/10/2020 03:37:06 pm
Countersuit to recover expenses and inconvenience.
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This does not constitute legal advice
1/10/2020 03:58:30 pm
He can’t recover expenses outside of statutory costs which are minimal — filing fees and service of process. Attorneys fees can only be recovered when they are specifically provided in contract or a statute — none of that applies here. A plaintiff can be sanctioned for filing a frivolous lawsuit under CR 11, but the standard to meet is extremely high. They are only assessed when the claim is not well grounded in existing law or fact or when there is not a good faith belief that the case will result in the extension of the law — it’s close to impossible to prevail because it’s theoretically possible that an appeals court could change the common law to provide for an actionable claim. Other than that, he would need to assert an independent legal claim such as tortious interference with a business relationship or something like that — but simply pursuing a lawsuit against someone is not a tort in itself.
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Kent
1/10/2020 04:17:35 pm
IF there were a suit, the state or country in which it was filed would be an important data point.
E.P. Grondine
1/13/2020 01:47:53 pm
Look asshole, I do not appreciate your recycling of "fake indian" claims. I have given you my DNA, and I am of 1/8 Sewikely Shawnee descent.
Kent Mrs. Grundy Alert, Mr. grondine again says "Look Asshole" and asks me to suck out of his ass!
1/13/2020 03:31:59 pm
Listen up you idiot. You are a fake Indian because you cite as your only proof an ancestor who self-reported on the Census as "white".
HaroldEdwards
1/10/2020 04:46:12 pm
In 2016 I filed two ethics complaints against his Professional Geologist license: one in Tennessee and one in Minnesota. I am licensed myself and have a duty to report ethical misconduct under the rules. Tennessee sent him a warning letter. Minnesota did not fine or suspend or revoke his license, but it may have sent a warning letter. The state's data privacy act precluded the Board from sharing its reasoning for not issuing stronger sanctions with me. I believe someone had also filed a complaint a few years earlier, and he was issued a warning letter from Minnesota. The point being is that copies of the correspondence with these state boards can be obtained in discovery. These in turn can undermine any claim of harm to his reputation or at the very least reduce the amounts he would get if he prevails at trial. Also ethics claims have no statutes of limitations and since there was no hearing on these matters in Minnesota, anyone else can still raise anew my issues if they have better evidence and/or argumentation.
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Doc Rock
1/10/2020 06:08:45 pm
I would have thought that since SW really started to twist off by spinning the KS into Templar nonsense that the governing body would be getting a lot of complaints about him. Or maybe they see those activities as totally separate from studying concrete and dont see them as ethical concerns that fall within their authority to regulate?
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Kent
1/10/2020 06:25:06 pm
Taking an unauthorized core sample from a slab of graywhacke?
Doc Rock
1/10/2020 11:29:25 pm
If the powers that be aren't troubled by the agate incident then I don't see them losing sleep over mishandling of a chunk of rock that they probably consider a fake. I Since his business is/was supposed to be centered on concrete analysis and that type of stuff maybe the fact that there is no concrete in the picture in this matter is the important point here.
Jim
1/10/2020 06:15:19 pm
Harold: I'm not sure if you misinterpreted Jason's Post to mean Wolter is threatening legal action.
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HaroldEdwards
1/10/2020 06:33:04 pm
It does not matter. This general advice applies. Always treat civil litigation as a white collar criminal issue even if everything is perfectly legal. This focuses on what to look for in discovery and if it turns out there has been wrong doing, Bingo: you win. Behind every financial transaction is one or more tax issues. Therefore since financial harm is alleged, always ask for as many years as you can for the plaintiff's state and federal income tax returns. Character is destiny. If people lie about science, they lie about everything else as well, so keep digging. Good luck.
Joe Scales
1/11/2020 10:25:46 am
Along that line, I'd imagine a legally compelled deep dive into their internet activity might reveal things they'd rather not have uncovered. You got that Hal?
Hal
1/11/2020 12:24:43 pm
Yep. I’m good.
Paul
1/10/2020 08:36:46 pm
If anyone has extra time on their hands, go to FB and Scott Wolter’s Official Fanpage. There is a link there for the cryptic code presentation that he gave in Lexington, I believe it was. Brody and Ruh are also in the video. There is so much craziness, it can not be summarized succinctly. And it sounds like there is much more to come. I really do wish that Wolter, Ruh, Brody, Muir, HP, at a minimum, would be assigned to the same padded cell to live out their natural lives. Just my humble opinion.
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Kal
1/12/2020 05:44:00 pm
I did not say I was a lawyer.
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Kent
1/12/2020 08:13:49 pm
Jeez Louise! Since you don't know WHO is involved or WHAT the "legal demands" are, you don't have any idea WHAT "this case" IS. I'd say THAT is "basic copyright law". Be better.
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Jim
1/13/2020 10:59:05 am
Don't forget to mark your calendars.
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Jim
1/13/2020 11:22:20 am
Also, an Article from the " Book of Mormon Evidence org," by, Richard D. Moats, Rev./Avocational archaeologist/Archaeoastronomer, using Wolter's nonsense as evidence for their nonsense.
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Jim
1/13/2020 11:27:54 am
LOL,,,, This Moats character is trying to attribute Oak Island to ancient Hebrews !
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Jim's Three Manic Posts Are a Cry for Help
1/13/2020 01:45:23 pm
Pogue mahone.
SouthCoast
1/13/2020 09:58:44 pm
Just what I need! To go with my Orphan Annie decoder ring.
Reply
1/14/2020 01:20:45 am
Thank you for every other excellent article. Where else may anybody get
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AuthorI am an author and researcher focusing on pop culture, science, and history. Bylines: New Republic, Esquire, Slate, etc. There's more about me in the About Jason tab. Newsletters
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