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When Knight and Butler Threatened Me with Legal Action

1/16/2014

115 Comments

 
I’m sure many readers have seen Steve St. Clair’s comments on a previous blog post questioning my claim that the authors of Civilization One, Christopher Knight and Alan Butler, tried to sue me back in 2004 for reviewing the book without their permission. I routinely disclose this information when discussing either Knight or Butler, but I haven’t revisited the correspondence from that time since by and large it isn’t relevant to the crazy claims Knight and Butler make, most of which I had already criticized before the incident.

However, I have dug out the documentation from that time, and I thought you might like to see it. As it happens, my memory is somewhat faulty. While I described Knight and Butler as threatening to sue me, it was actually much worse. Knight and Butler actually accused me of a crime and threatened not just civil action but implied that they would seek to have relevant authorities open a criminal inquiry. I also implied that the authors apologized for their actions, but here again my memory unfairly attributed more grace to them than the documents warrant. In fact, the publisher’s publicist apologized on their behalf, and the two authors never apologized directly to me.

The story opens on July 22, 2004. Cook Public Relations, a firm hired by Watkins Publishing of London, an esoteric publisher, to promote the U.S. release of Civilization One, sent Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine an advance set of uncorrected, bound galley proofs of Civilization One along with publicity material for the book. “I have enclosed an advance copy of the book and press materials for review,” Sharon Cook wrote. This was typical for publishing, where advance copies are sent out for review to garner publicity for forthcoming titles. Occasionally, a publisher will “embargo” a title, meaning that a review cannot be published before a specific date, but this was not a condition of Civilization One.

The press materials were dated July 15, 2004 and promised “cast iron proofs, illustrated by the easiest of maths” that civilization had been founded by an advanced race utilizing a megalithic yard of the “very precise unit of 82.966656 cm.” It also contained Watkins’ list of suggested questions for an author interview. I will save everyone the embarrassment of repeating the sycophantic inquiries the publisher suggested reviewers ask.

Shermer passed the book on to me because he thought that I might be a good fit for reviewing it, given my interests in ancient astronauts and fringe history. I had just published “Charioteer of the Gods,” the article that would grow into The Cult of Alien Gods and a review of Anatoly Fomenko’s strange idea that the Middle Ages never happened. I was 23 years old, and I had never had the opportunity to publish a book review before.

I read the book and wrote my review. I sent it in to Skeptic, at which point I was no longer in control of the material. The review would be published in the first Skeptic of 2005 (11.3), after the publication date of the book. To be entirely honest, I don’t recall exactly what happened next. In those years I was an occasional participant in discussion boards on Graham Hancock’s website as well as The Hall of Ma’at. So far as I remember, at one of those websites, while working on the review, I indicated that Skeptic had asked me to review the book and that I had read galleys of the book. In so doing, I had asked for help in fact-checking a claim made in the book, which turned out to be false, that 730 million Egyptians had been mummified. (The authors confused all mummies—animal and human—with humans, in copying material from a website that was in turn copying from the Encarta encyclopedia, nearly verbatim.) This is what set off the authors. One or both of them saw the posting asking for help verifying facts and freaked out.

On August 17, 2004, Christopher Knight sent me an email on behalf of himself and Alan Butler demanding to know how I obtained “illegal” copies of his book

You claim to have been asked to read galley proofs of the, yet to be published, book called Civilization One by Christopher Knight and Alan Butler.

Your comments, however wild and ill-informed, appear to indicate that you seen [sic] some parts of the manuscript. Any contact you have had with the manuscript appears to be illegal and we require you to explain how you have come to view this confidential material.

Only mathematicians and astrophysics have had the confidential opportunity of reviewing this ground-breaking material and we would like to know how a low level journalist has gained access.

Knight concluded by stating that “steps will be taken” to use the legal process to “investigate” how I obtained their material, which was clearly meant to be read as a threat of legal action, either civil, criminal, or both—as, indeed, Skeptic publisher Michael Shermer and publicist Sharon Cook interpreted the message. The authors immediately contacted their publisher, unbeknownst to me, to tell them that I had published an “illegal” review of the book, when I had only asked for help fact-checking a claim.

Statistics cited from an outside source and not original to the author are not protected by copyright and cannot be embargoed or otherwise restricted.

I replied a few hours later:

Despite my lowly status, I was asked to review the manuscript by Skeptic magazine, which received your galleys from Sharon Cook of Cook Public Relations.  Her letter of 22 July 2004 makes expressly clear that the advanced copy is for review and places no embargo on discussing the contents of said book. Please forward any inquiries about how Skeptic received your galleys to your publicist, Ms. Cook.

I copied the correspondence to Michael Shermer, who was outraged that Knight and Butler appeared to be making legal threats over a book review that in fact had not yet been published. He sent a message to the authors and their publicist outlining the seriousness of making threats of legal action. He then told Knight:

If you have a complaint you should take it up with your own publisher, as that is who sent me a copy of the bound galley, which is standard procedure for publishers seeking to have their books reviewed. As I do with such bound galleys, I arranged to have someone read the book and review it for Skeptic magazine. If you do not wish to have your book read and reviewed, then you should contact your publisher, not the magazines to whom they sent copies.

The next day Sharon Cook, the publicist, contacted me to apologize on behalf of the authors. Cook explained that the book was embargoed in Britain but not the United States and that the authors were not aware of this.

Sincere apologies for the correspondence you received from the author, Christopher Knight.

The author did not know that there is no embargo in the United States, however, there is one in the UK until September 15th.  This was an unfortunate mix-up.

It is possible that Knight was simply being grandiloquent and that Butler never knew what Knight had sent in his name. The publicist, though, went on to say that Knight had reported to the publisher that I had published a “review” of his book and wanted access to that review. I replied that the review would be published in Skeptic 11.3 (Winter 2005), available sometime in late December 2004. All I did was ask for help fact-checking. Cook passed this information on to the publisher to help resolve the situation.

In my memory, I remembered this incident as a threat of civil action, but I guess I was wrong. Knight and Butler apparently wanted me criminally investigated. Funny how I remembered them as being less harsh and more gracious than they really were. So, there you go.
115 Comments
josephs
1/16/2014 03:27:10 am

I wonder what mathematicians and astrophysics they sent their work to? Surely they would have been shot down the same day for the terrible misuse of mathematics and history to proof a crackpot thesis.

Reply
Will
1/16/2014 03:42:09 am

subscribing

Reply
Watcher
1/16/2014 04:32:25 am

A real villain and baddie, raining on people's parades

Reply
Steve
1/16/2014 04:55:15 am

Curious that you switched from your green direct quotation of the August 17, 2004 email from Christopher Knight to a summation statement of -

'Knight concluded by stating that “steps will be taken” to use the legal process to “investigate” how I obtained their material, which was clearly meant to be read as a threat of legal action, either civil, criminal, or both—as, indeed, Skeptic publisher Michael Shermer and publicist Sharon Cook interpreted the message.'

Did Alan Butler 'try to sue' you? Sorry to beat this horse yet again, but this sounds squirmy - 'which was clearly meant to be read as a threat of legal action' is VERY different from saying that Alan Butler tried to sue you, Jason.

I don't think Alan Butler or Scott Wolter tried to sue you. If you continue to work your way around the statement you made that they tried to sue you, I'll write you off as a lost cause and leave you to your squirming language.

The definition of "tried" is - To have made an effort to do or accomplish (something). Thinking about, pondering, etc. are not the same as trying.

The definition of "accomplish" is - achieve or complete successfully.

The definition of sue (or lawsuit) is - "a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy."

So when you posted to your tens of thousands of readers that both Wolter and Butler "tried to sue" you, you were saying they set out to accomplish a civil action in a court of law to demand a legal or equitable remedy against you.

You have yet to produce anything, other than descriptions of the verbal opinions of others who are not in the legal profession, that could prove that these gentlemen made any effort to do or accomplish a legal action against you.

Reply
Jason Colavito link
1/16/2014 05:05:09 am

You're right, Steve. My memory softened the situation and made it seem less harsh than it was. Knight, writing on behalf of him and Butler, threatened me with legal action, civil or criminal, and accused me of a crime. That's even worse than merely threatening a lawsuit. They accused me of a crime.

Perhaps I should go back and edit my earlier statement to clarify that Knight and Butler accused me of criminal action against them and threatened to involve law enforcement.

I thank you, though, for bringing this back to light. I had clearly forgotten that the two of them wanted to have me prosecuted for a crime rather than simply sued for violating their intellectual rights.

I'm not sure, though, that this makes them look better. If anything, my memory was more generous to them than the facts. But if it would make you happy for met to go back and revise the text to indicate that they had accused me of a crime in reviewing their book, then I suppose I can make that concession.

Reply
Steve
1/16/2014 05:37:38 am

Still squirming out of the actual question. You told your tens of thousands of readers that Wolter and Butler set out to accomplish a civil action in a court of law to demand a legal or equitable remedy against you. They did not.

Now, more squirming language, 'Knight, writing on behalf of him and Butler, threatened me with legal action, civil or criminal, and accused me of a crime.' That is quite different than setting out to accomplish a civil action in a court of law to demand a legal or equitable remedy against you.

You also left out Scott Wolter. Did he set out to accomplish a civil action in a court of law to demand a legal or equitable remedy against you? No, he did not.

I leave you to your squirming on this issue Jason.

Actually, Dan, I didn't lose. The readers of this blog lost.

Only Me
1/16/2014 06:02:43 am

Thanks for your opinion, Steve.

Jason Colavito link
1/16/2014 06:17:18 am

Steve, regardless of your legalistic semantics over whether threatening legal action is the same as trying to sue (threats being the typical first step), Knight and Butler threatened me. Do you condone this? Are you happy they falsely accused me of a crime?

Scott Wolter is the only person who had standing to sue over the copyrights and trademarks he owned, and A+E's lawyer said that the threatened lawsuit came at his instigation. Are you accusing A+E Networks of dishonesty?

Perhaps you would like to disclose your own involvement with these characters. Why are you so deeply invested in their lives and their success? Would you care to share with everyone how close your relationship is with each and whether you have a conflict of interest in advocating for their causes?

Matt Mc
1/16/2014 06:23:32 am

My guess would be he likes being an ass.

Will
1/16/2014 06:28:14 am

Put in Steve logic ----

My hypothesis is that, when enough myths persist, there may be a grain of truth in them. There may be some basis in reality to the information I have come across from Scott and Alan, other second hand sources, readers of Jason's blog who are conspiring to tarnish the image of Steve, Alan, and Scott, and more.

Using Steve's previously established logic (unique to him), all of us readers should take this as Steve has no evidence to suggest that this is true--and furthermore wrong to suggest Steve is actually researching this.

This makes it likely that Steve actually believes that Jason is correct, he is just covering the bases.

Jason Colavito link
1/16/2014 06:32:00 am

And Steve was the one who went on at length last year trying to argue that he shouldn't be held to the definition of "hypothesis."

Will
1/16/2014 06:43:13 am

Jason -- That was what I was thinking when I read Steve's comments regarding this topic.

Harry
1/16/2014 05:02:45 pm

Jason,

I practiced law for more than 20 years. I think I get Steve's point, though I still think it is lame. In the opening paragraph of your review of "Secret Blueprint of America," you stated that Butler and Knight "have tried to sue me." If I understand it correctly, Steve is saying that, since Knight and Butler did not file suit, file charges or, apparently, hired a lawyer, they never "tried to sue" you or otherwise tried to bring legal proceedings against you.

At worst, you used language imprecisely but, in my mind, you clarified yourself by stating, in the very next paragraph of the same review, that "they asked A+E Networks to threaten suit" against you.

I have followed your blog long enough to know that, when you do misspeak (or, to be precise, mistype), you accept corrections graciously. In this case, I am not convinced that there is anything about this point that needs further correction or clarification than you have already made.

Of course, Steve is just a troll, so he will continue to make a federal case (metaphorically, of course -- I do not mean to accuse him of trying to institute a lawsuit against you in US District Court) out of every little mote he imagines he sees in your eye.

Dan
1/16/2014 05:01:37 am

You lost, Steve. Go home. Its over.

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Will
1/16/2014 05:15:01 am

^^^ +1

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Scott Hamilton
1/16/2014 05:47:44 am

Good grief, 730 MILLION mummies? Human or not, that seems like an awful lot. Assuming mummification rituals were performed for around 4000 years, that still seems like a ton resources dumped into funeral rituals every year. How did they find the time to build pyramids?

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Jason Colavito link
1/16/2014 06:18:37 am

The Encarta figures were much higher than other estimates. I have no idea where they got them.

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Gregor
1/16/2014 06:51:46 am

I have no idea as to the veracity of the figures, either, but I do recall seeing a program in which they discussed how mummification of animals (for the purpose of religious devotions and rites) was practically a cottage industry of raising animals, slaughtering them en masse, and quickly mummifying them for the 'buying public'. There was one chamber that was stacked to the roof with hundreds (they claimed thousands, as the niches were quite deep) of mummified eagles, many so poorly mummified as to only contain perhaps a wing bone or talon of an actual body. Just looking around it seems the global yearly output of cars is ~60 million...but obviously only a few thousand are going to be Mercedes (Pharaohs), a lot more are going to be Yugos (mummified bird legs).

Martin R
1/16/2014 08:52:31 am

Didn't you know, time travelers built them, right after they built the moon.

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Gary
1/16/2014 11:05:53 am

I've read that many of the animal mummies turned out to be ancient fakes, so the numbers need to be re-estimated.

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RLewis
1/16/2014 06:12:31 am

Jason, I think you should include "World renown, low level journalist" on your resume.

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Gregor
1/16/2014 06:54:43 am

"Fringe history...ISN'T...what we've been told," says Jason Colavito, "This is....Bullshit Unearthed!"

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A.D.
1/16/2014 09:15:35 am

Looks like they got butthurt because you weren't advocating their book and ideas as they expected but instead debunked their pseudo history

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Dave Lewis
1/16/2014 09:55:09 am

One thing I've learned from this blog.... If I ever decide to become a fringe writer/personality (which ain't ever gonna happen) I will ignore all criticisms. When the fringees try to defend their positions they come off looking pathetic. Case in point: Steve St. Clair. Every time I see the name Steve on a comment in this blog I cringe because he just keeps embarrassing himself further.

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DAN D
1/16/2014 10:18:13 am

Funny that Steve St.Clair is a spokesperson for Mr.Wolter and now Mr.Butler. All second hand info relayed here to further his feud with Jason and his readers. It seems to me anyway .

If a mediator was needed, I'm afraid Judge Judy wouldn't allow this on her docket.

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Gunn Sinclair link
1/16/2014 11:52:51 am

Here's my take, since everything is public, anyway. Jason is scornful of the "grain of truth" which Steve believes in, and ultimately, Jason's outlook and approach are seen as being overly scornful, and so the bitterness continues.

Steve was technically correct in his persistence here; however, Jason also correctly picked up on real return-threats to his own directed and perceived real threats. Everything was based on either threats or perceived threats. No legal action was necessary...misunderstandings.

Yes, "threats" is "trying" to bring legal actions, whether criminal or civil, if there could be the possibility of going to court. The strict legalize and technicality of the matter desired by Steve wasn't required for Jason to have seen the dark cloud approaching...after his own threats....

Perhaps in Jason's mind (if I may be presumptuous), this dark cloud is still there, bugging him, causing him even yet to be full of scorn and anger at these audacious men. I now see the image of an angry man in robes with a stout rod, scowling up into the dark wind...batting at the eerie sky like Frankenstein's Monster. (Well, Jason likes horror and monsters.)

This may be the same PERCEIVED outlook and approach (raw scorn) Jason's adversaries (Wolter and Butler) most likely saw when first initiated into Jason's techniques...meaning, his chosen style of debunking fringe history with an "in yer face" approach--which as I mentioned, easily could have been seen as an overly scornful style and viewpoint that could be seen as potentially damaging to their respective products.

I wish there was some coming together of Jason and Steve over the Henry Sinclair issue. Maybe the Chippewa have answers; they began a migration from "that area" of the East Coast, probably around the proposed Sinclair/Newport Tower timeframe of 1400. Historically, we know these Native Americans did actually migrate, but the issue is over whether it was as the result of prodding from a dream, or as possible prodding from Sinclair/Glooscap, or a like personality. Apparently, there are two different versions, from the Chippewa themselves. I'm saying the Chippewa may hold answers as much or more so than the Micmac in describing what happened. Bottom Line: There may be this grain of truth Steve believes in.

Obviously, Steve is not impervious to Jason's style of debunking, as were neither Wolter or Butler. However, being an optimist by nature, I'm hoping all concerned may be able to eventually "mellow-out." (Old age will sometimes do it, if nothing else works.)

What do you think, Reverend Phil?

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Discovery of America
1/16/2014 01:03:59 pm

Sceptics and mythologists will never come together, there will always be believers in absurdities no matter what

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Ghost of Olof Ohman
1/16/2014 01:07:59 pm

My forgery will be admired for eternity. I am impressed by my success in forging the Kensington Rune Stone

Ghost of Phineas T Barnum
1/16/2014 01:18:29 pm

I like the photo of the KRS showing where it was found, before it was moved from the place of its discovery

Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/16/2014 03:30:00 pm

I prefer a discussion of controversial questions to be open minded and calm and STRICTLY about the facts -- and their interpretation, remembering that there are NO uninterpreted facts -- rather than snarky comments about persons ...

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Gunn
1/17/2014 02:52:23 am

This sounds like a good, "if the shoe fits," response, which after trying on, didn't fit me. Whew! It will probably fit Jason, though. Ha! Ha! He is the publicly perceived snarky frontrunner against fringe history, the one who attracts return snarkiness in abundance here, especially in the way of this "mob protection" Steve speaks of. Just an observation.

Anyway, so this obvious and I think somewhat purposeful snarkiness is built into the foundations of this blog, and into Jason's fledgling career...as what? A snarky debunker of fringe history and alien crap. Believe it or not, I don't say this with any malice; it's just that this is the image Jason projects...one image, I should say.

But this image presented by Jason seems to be part of a personality of choosing, as part of his public persona, and unfortunately, the ensuing snarkiness is a resultant mainstay of the blog activity here. Snarks are everywhere here, like racists, hiding behind every tree. But I guess it's to be expected as the tone is set. Also, most everyone's comments here can be taken to be snarky at one time or another, even if only in the most mild-mannered way.

Folks are constantly being corrected, and this, too, is part of the game. Yes, and this can be a happy place at times, good for a few displaced belly-laughs. Rev Phil, maybe we're more inherently wicked than we give ourselves credit for.

Rev Gil Photsch
1/17/2014 12:40:15 pm

Lighten up....

Its just a blog.....

.......................................... (I couldn't think of anything else to write)

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Matt Mc
1/16/2014 11:57:15 am

Gunn I agree with you almost completely.

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Joe
1/16/2014 12:05:46 pm

Ok Steve it appears that Jason has altered his comments on his previous post to be more specific to previous events. But several people have asked you to comment on the content of his review that you have failed to respond to. Since you are such a close friend of Mr. Wolters I am curious to hear your thoughts on Jason's critique of some of his claims. Specifically the Washington Monument's “penetration” of a perceived vaginal walkway. Wolter claims this shows evidence of Freemason goddess worship in the original design of Washington DC. But as Jason shows this is a recent change in the national mall grounds.

You are quick to claim that Jason is fast with the facts, would you not agree that you could make the same claim about Wolter's assertions?

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DAN D
1/16/2014 12:41:24 pm

^^^^^Good luck with that.......lol

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Heidi Carter link
1/16/2014 12:13:20 pm

In response to Steve, I don't think you are squirming out of the question at all Jason. Recently I have been attacked with some strange threats of my own legally and it's very upsetting. When someone goes there for whatever reason it's a big deal and when one makes their living the way you do, I for one am not going to doubt your fact checking your own statements for clarity when you were honest enough to have quoted yourself from memory.

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Steve
1/16/2014 03:43:33 pm

Uh, Jason, at some point are you going to explain to Heidi that you don't 'make your living' saying that Butler and Wolter set out to accomplish a civil action in a court of law to demand a legal or equitable remedy against you? 'Cause, that's a big deal.

Heidi is not going to doubt your fact checking on Wikipedia. After all, you were honest enough to have quoted yourself from memory. That would stand up in a court of law. Just ask Dan. He's The Litigator.

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CFC
1/16/2014 12:49:05 pm

The review of this last episode of AU was probably the best one yet. Most people (there are many) come to this blog to enjoy Jason’s talent. Jason is a conscientious journalist who responds factually and directly to criticism. Those who appear here to attack, or to use this blog as a platform to gain attention for their own pet projects, are allowed to come here, but I feel too often, they take the focus away from what matters most, a creative and thoughtful man’s honest and critical review of these nonsense programs.

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Uncle Ron
1/16/2014 01:49:43 pm

Hear, hear!

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Steve
1/16/2014 03:36:42 pm

Jason wiggled and squirmed, 'Knight and Butler threatened me. Do you condone this? Are you happy they falsely accused me of a crime?'

Uh, Jason, the issue is not what I condone. The issue is that you lied when you said that Butler and Wolter 'set out to accomplish a civil action in a court of law to demand a legal or equitable remedy against you'. You lied.

Squirm all you want. Certain of your 'tens of thousands" of readers will know you are desperate to twist and squirm out of the facts with the obsessive and distracting help of your acolytes.

Can we expect you to be equally fast and loose with the facts in future reviews of America Unearthed? Of course we can.

After all, you have your tiny mob behind you.

I count less than 20 acolytes rushing to your support, Jason. That's (generously speaking) 20 out of "tens of thousands" who you claim (without any proof) visit this Oxford of fringe education (let's guess 20 out of 30,000), or more precisely 0.06%. Staggering support you have here, Jason. But…er…only about 0.06% of you ever show up for the pile on against anyone who dares challenge Jason with the facts.

It might be useful for this mob and their leader to consider the actual statistics of their effectiveness. I know it must be comfortable to think how cohesive you acolytes are. Such is the nature of mob behavior. "Gosh, we're a huge mob." But you are not. You are an infinitesimal group.

Jason wrote to his tens of thousands of readers, 'both of tonight’s protagonists—Alan Butler and Scott Wolter—have tried to sue me.'

You have yet to prove this to anyone other than your vocal acolytes, Jason.

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Only Me
1/16/2014 04:10:18 pm

As you did not answer the first time, I shall ask again:

"In your efforts to determine the facts, have you been privy to any documentation filed on Scott's behalf, or is that also protected by attorney-client privilege? "

You make hay out of Jason saying he had a verbal confirmation from Monica B. Richmond, yet all we have from you is also a verbal confirmation:

"Steve checked with Scott who clarified that Jason's version is not how it happened. Scott learned of these events after Jason had already backed off. Scott took no action to sue Jason."

I trust that Scott can send you copies of all documentation concerning the alleged lawsuit, since he can choose to do so, despite the attorney-client privilege?

You want proof...so do I.

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Tara Jordan
1/16/2014 04:18:49 pm

"acolytes"
Let me get this straight,this is not a secret,Jason & myself,we dont even like each other.We had mutiples "disagreements" both private & public.Jason thinks I am too arrogant,too blunt,too much "in your face".He has a point.Personally.I think Jason is too soft & too nice,way too diplomatic for his own good.But Jason & I,we have something in common,our scorn for charlatans & crackpots like yourself, is greater than our personal antagonism

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Gunn
1/17/2014 03:12:11 am

Tara, this is a lame endorsement of a purposefully scornful blog host. And you are encouraging him to be harder and not so nice? What are you trying to turn him into, a Frankenstien's Monster? Who would do such a thing? Oh, wait a minute....

Dave Lewis
1/17/2014 12:48:32 pm

Tara said....

Jason thinks I am too arrogant,too blunt,too much "in your face".

... and those are your good qualities!!!!!!!!

Dan
1/16/2014 04:52:52 pm

"The issue is that you lied when you said that Butler and Wolter 'set out to accomplish a civil action in a court of law to demand a legal or equitable remedy against you'. You lied."

Steve, having lost the semantic arguments is now actually putting words in Jason's mouth and using quotations for them, no less. It is impossible to discuss something rationally when the other person is so completely intellectually dishonest as to provide false quotes. Its like playing whack-a-mole with shifting claims. Its sort of the rhetorical equivalent of Jason's playing whack-a-hoax with the Hubbards, Wolters, Bulters and Sinclairs of the world.

Steve, you've lost here yet you continue to dig yourself deeper. I've gone back to read some of your older "work" in the comments section of this blog and you're nothing if not consistent.

But this is just a waste of your important time, is it not? There has to be some Mi’kmaq DNA that you haven't examined in your attempt to prove the fairy tale of "Prince Henry".

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Jason Colavito link
1/16/2014 10:43:03 pm

I'm a bit confused, Steve. Are you a lawyer representing either Alan Butler or Scott Wolter? If so, you are welcome to send a formal demand letter asking for a correction on pain of a libel suit. Otherwise, it sounds like you're engaged in a campaign of harassment due to your intense love of Scott Wolter, which frankly I cannot understand.

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Tara Jordan link
1/17/2014 04:28:38 am

Jason
Get a retraining order,Steve has a sinister fixation on you.

"it sounds like you're engaged in a campaign of harassment due to your intense love of Scott Wolter, which frankly I cannot understand."
Well,I have an idea about the nature of this "intense love for Wolter".
You may call it homo-eroticism or crypto homosexuality (snark).

Harry
1/17/2014 12:09:27 am

No, Steve, you are the only one who is lying. Jason never used the words you ascribe to him ("set out to accomplish a legal action..."). He used an ambiguous phrase or, at worst, used the wrong phrasing ("tried to sue me") and then promptly clarified that ("threatened to sue me") in the very next paragraph of the blog post (his review of "Secret Blueprint of America") in which he used the phrase to which you object. It is clear that he never meant what you claim he meant, or he would not have clarified himself so quickly.

I dare you to cite any blog post in which Jason used the words you quote him as using.

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Steve
1/17/2014 01:28:06 am

Quite right about the mis-use of the quotations. I should have left those off. It was not a direct quote and Jason never used those precise words.

My point was that Jason used different words which mean exactly the same thing as the ones I chose.

Harry
1/18/2014 12:19:31 am

My point, Steve, is that Jason did not mean to use those words the way you interpret them - and I know that because Jason said what he really meant AT . . . THE . . . TIME! He explicitly said that Knight and Butler threatened to sue him in the very next paragraph after he said they tried to sue him. Thus, he clearly meant "tried to sue" to mean "threaten to sue" and you would realize that if you were not trying to play "gotcha!"

Now, you can argue that that was incorrect usage on Jason's part, but a claim that Jason was intentionally misleading people or that he cannot be excused from making mistakes is a little rich coming from someone who just admitted that he misused quotation marks. Let it go, Steve.

Tara Jordan
1/16/2014 03:48:15 pm

Wolter's sycophants audacity is breathtaking.
Jason,with all due respect,you're too soft for your own good.
These individuals are parasites,they spread lies & confusion
Inside your own blog.Be careful,you are playing a dangerous
game,these moral lepers are professionals at fabrications &
distortions.

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Steve
1/16/2014 03:57:57 pm

Just cutting and pasting Tara, Matt Mc. No defense necessary -

"These individuals are parasites"

"they spread lies & confusion"

"these moral lepers"

"professionals at fabrications & distortions"

I have no comment on Tara's choice of phrases from just one of her many comments. I leave that to others to interpret. I dare not for fear I may offend.

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Tara Jordan
1/16/2014 04:10:01 pm

Steve.
Correction.You are a mouse of a man.Your behaviour is a monument to stupidity & pettiness.You are like 60 yr old,yet you behave like a 17 yr old Bimbo.You are hysterical....

Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/16/2014 11:12:27 pm

Steve -- LOL …

This gets really bizarre, doesn't it … ??? One wonders why some of the supposedly logical "skeptics" tip so easily into an irrational rant …

I dunno ...

Matt Mc
1/16/2014 11:23:44 pm

Steve not sure why you mentioned me, Other than stating I think you enjoy being an ass and the I agree with Gunn in that there is a way to be respectful and have a debate or discussion I have stayed out of this.

I honestly see no further reason to interact with you because you are only here to disrupt and cause trouble.

Thank you for the mention however

Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/16/2014 03:50:32 pm

"I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition … !!!" …
LOL ..

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Tom
1/16/2014 04:11:43 pm

"Only mathematicians and astrophysics have had the confidential opportunity of reviewing this ground-breaking material and we would like to know how a low level journalist has gained access."

How immature of Knight to blatantly insult you like that. And Steve referred to him as a gentleman.

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Tom
1/16/2014 04:21:32 pm

BTW, "astrophysics" should be "astrophysicists," because it's referring to people in that field, not the field itself.

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Shane Sullivan
1/17/2014 06:19:44 am

Maybe he meant "astropsychics."

Tom
1/17/2014 06:31:27 am

Indeed.

CFC
1/16/2014 04:35:53 pm

If there are only a few individuals visiting this blog Steve, then why put in all the effort to attack this tiny, insignificant group? It seems Scott Wolter is very threatened by this blog and you’ve agreed to play the attack dog on his behalf.

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Tarawa Jordan
1/16/2014 05:07:40 pm

Why put in all the effort?.
Because Steve is like any other "courtisanes",
It's about retribution.....Occasionally Steve gets
His 10 minutes of fame on Wolter's program.

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Matt Mc
1/16/2014 11:28:44 pm

CFC, I honestly do not think that Steve is acting on Wolters behalf at all. I believe despite his out there ideas that he is smart enough to realize that this blog generates attention for him and his show. Positive or negative it keeps him relevant and maybe keeps viewers watching his show longer that they normal would of.

No, I believe Steve is doing all this because he can. He knows Jason will react and some of Jason's readers will react. This in turns takes the blog away from real discussions about whatever the topic of the day is. At the end of the day Steve just enjoys being an ass and he gets attention for doing it. Just like that misbehaving five year old.

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CFC
1/17/2014 02:35:16 am

Good points Matt. Let's keep the focus on the outstanding reviews and ignore these diversionary tactics.

Steve
1/17/2014 01:24:57 am

'If there are only a few individuals visiting this blog...' That's not what I said. There are about 20 people who comment here. That''s different than the number who read the blog. Only Jason has those actual statistics and he has said it's tens of thousands.

There are free tools that can give you some idea of traffic to websites. One is SpyFU.com They say that Jason received approximately 410 "SEO searches" meaning that they did a search for a particular phrase and then clicked on Jason's link when it came up.

They say his number 1 organic search page by far is - http://www.jasoncolavito.com/ancient-aliens-reviews.html

But again, only Jason can give you the real stats.

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Paul Cargile
1/16/2014 11:44:12 pm

The definition of "try" as a defense is laughable. No matter how it is said or expressed, the conveyed fact is that authors and television personalities attempted to silence Jason. That's plainly understood by context.

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Will
1/17/2014 03:09:58 am

I agree wholeheartedly. Some frequenters of this blog write in a convention of the English language that the rest are not familiar with and do not understand.

It's mostly a communication barrier, just a hidden one, because we all are writing in English.

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Joe
1/17/2014 12:43:12 am

Steve again I think you have proved your point on the topic of specific wording and in fact had Jason reword his blog posting to convey a more accurate description of his interactions. You have decided to press Jason to be more forthcoming and accurate in his statements. But again I have to ask you if you do the same to Scott. Did you take him to task on the Washington Monument walkways? Do you take him to task on any his statements that he makes that Jason takes the time to point out the errors in? I understand he is your friend and it appears you have several conversations about Jason's blog. Do you never bring up the substantive points in Jason's articles. I mean the most basic argument that Scott states is false. He continually states over and over again that academics and the public in general deny any pre Colombian voyages to North America. But there is plenty of evidence at L'anse Aux Meadows that every agrees shows evidence of pre Colombian voyages. Do you argument the semantics of Wolter's statements to him?

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Steve
1/17/2014 01:18:02 am

We discuss that kind of thing very often. For instance, he knows that, up until recently, I had not seen a single piece of evidence that the St. Clairs were associated with the Order of the Temple.

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Will
1/17/2014 02:54:11 am

You still have not seen a shred of evidence that Jason is lying either so why do you believe he is?

Gunn link
1/17/2014 03:54:47 am

It would be nearly impossible in history to separate St. Clairs from the Knights Templar. By extrapolation, if the Templars had anything to do with the far inland exploration and attempted up-taking of land in the Upper Midwest area of the US, Sinclairs may have been part of the process, or at least privy to the expeditions, or some of them. Spies are not a modern invention, and the Templars must've had an extensive network.

Bottom Line: this powerful group (both before and after 1307) knew what was going on, and they could've been a part of it. Maybe Wolter is right about this, maybe he is wrong. But the idea cannot be ruled out as un-worthy for fringe speculation.

And we should remember that "St. Clair" and its various renderings, is historically a noble name...and very difficult to live up to. I think this is why Tara rips into Steve by calling him Sir and Majesty, etc., because it goes to the core of the specialness of the name, and she wants to make fun of this historically noble name in order to shackle poor Steve...like in a form of fetish-bondage, perhaps, but only in a true meltdown, not a fake one. Tough girl, or way-sensitive? We shall see....

Tara Jordan link
1/17/2014 04:24:23 am

Why are we even debating with this pseudo aristocratic goofball?.Steve is a laughing stock with his" Henry Sinclair's secret holy bloodline,Knights Templar`s conspiracies & their transatlantic journey to North America,one-legged Amazons ridding unicorns....This is insanity,one way ticket to mental institution.
I suggest to ignore the simpleton.Steve is a barometer for egocentric activity,without the attention he is expecting,he will go away.

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Martin R
1/17/2014 04:44:12 am

Tara, Steve has perfected the art of speaking out of both sides of him mouth.

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Martin R
1/17/2014 04:45:02 am

His

Tara Jordan
1/17/2014 04:57:30 am

I suggest we ignore this megalomaniac who toils in obscurity.

Joe
1/17/2014 04:42:16 am

Tara, I do not think being rude and snarky is the correct way to move the conversation forward. All it does is cause Steve to react with the same response full of insults and pushes away from getting answers on his and Wolters opinions.

By the way Steve, I have asked specific questions and still have not received an answer. You tried to call out jason on perceived errors and I am asking about the substantive points where he counters Scott's claims. Also do you call out scott when he makes false statements.

Sending from my phone so please excuse grammatical errors

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Tara Jordan
1/17/2014 04:49:56 am

Steve is a total basket case.For other a year he has been engaged in some kind of personal vendetta against Jason Colavito,including lies,distortions defamation,harassment etc..This is a pathological behavior.

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Joe
1/17/2014 05:06:33 am

I agree that Steve has done many of these things. That he does distort and attack, but if you attack back with personal comments it just fuels his behavior. I find if you stick to the subject and continue to request answers to the subject he will run out of steam or if he continues to talk about personal attacks and loses any point in the conversation and eventually will leave. He justs wants to keep the argument on his framing

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Tara Jordan link
1/17/2014 08:20:37 am

Jason is a very decent guy,soft spoken & very diplomatic.Hate him or like him but he doesn't even moderate the comments.He provides a platform for freedom of speech & critics,but Wolter`s sycophants are using it to harass him.This is unacceptable.

Byron DeLear link
1/17/2014 04:48:41 am

Quick note to say I thought the Washington D.C. episode of America Unearthed was the best one yet --- and I thought Jason's excellent Dan Brown-ism was his best review. I thought Scott’s soliloquy in front of the conventional D.C. historian was inspired. Gunn in an earlier comment had mentioned the clear Masonic implications of many of the design symbolism, etc. embedded into our capital, etc. I have studied for years the semiotics surrounding the foundation of the United States, generally, in connection to esoteric symbolism within Masonry, and specifically, concerning the first flag of America, the Grand Union. As many here may realize, vexilollogy deals with symbols and the import of semiotics, etc. and the reasons why certain symbols are used often times have been lost to history, as is the case with the Grand Union. I recently spoke in Boston regarding the important national icon as part of a commemoration concerning the hoisting of the first flag of America, and have a book covering my research. Here is the NPR WGBH story on the topic with a link to on-air story as well: http://wgbhnews.org/post/somerville-still-raises-grand-union-flag-238-years-later
What I have found in my research metabolizing reams of revolutionary era primary sources is that there could very well have been specific intent with regard to the incorporation of symbols and allegory woven through the fabric of the craft, into the designs of our nation—as builders in a metaphorical sense, the Freemasons, building a new age and a new republic undoubtedly imbued their creation, as it were, with these symbols. Speaking for my own experience as a Mason, I can tell you that there is a very concrete perception that these symbols and allegory have a very real impact on the world around us. There are varying interpretations of the degree and level of influence (viz. psychological, spiritual, etc.). Although conclusions about the Megalithic Yard etc. may be overreaching—or for that matter whether it even existed or not—the carefully worded contributions to the episode by the oft-appearing Akram Elias were 100% accurate by my lights. There is a context for the contemporary use of these symbols and those who study semiotics and what could be called “civil religion” understand that, for some, they embody “talismanic” properties.

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Enon
1/17/2014 09:33:14 am

Bro. Byron, I dare say that the vast majority of Freemasons, and especially Masonic scholars, disagree with your inference about the incorporation of Masonic symbols by the "Founding Fathers." Likewise, the views about this topic expressed by Akram Elias are pretty much considered "fringe Freemasonry" by most (S. Brent Morris and Art deHoyos have taken issue with them on several occasions.) Remember that Freemasons really made up a minority of the "Founders;" for example, only 16% of those who signed the Declaration of Independence and a third of those who signed the Constitution were known to be Freemasons. When it came to designing Washington DC, George Washington was the only Master Mason involved. (A related issue that I'm a bit surprised Scott Wolter didn't bring up is the Great Seal, particularly as it is seen on the Dollar Bill...) Unfortunately, some Masons seem to want to find far more Masonic influence than is warranted in these sort of things.

Jason gave a very good review of this episode, and I was impressed with the factual, evenhanded way he dealt with the Masonic issues involved. For the record, the regular Freemasonry has never involved goddess worship, dualism, nor the sacred feminine. The things Scott was apparently so fascinated by simply don't have any Masonic significance. But then again, the medieval Templars have no real connection to Freemasonry (nor to the Sinclairs -- how ever you spell it) either, apart from romantic tales spread decades later without the benefit of any supporting evidence. Alas, that sees to be exactly how this show works.

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Byron DeLear link
1/18/2014 02:19:28 am

I appreciate you replying Enon, but you should do your homework a little more carefully before making counterfactual claims. To suggest that G. Washington was the only “Master Mason” involved with designing Washington D.C. betrays either a total ignorance of the subject or a willful agenda to spread falsehoods.

The designer of Washington D.C., Pierre L’Enfant, was initiated into Freemasonry on April 17, 1789 at Holland Lodge No. 8 in New York and although we don’t have documentary evidence of his further degree work to become a “Master Mason,” it thoroughly debunks Hodapp’s ‘Freemasons for Dummies’ assertion that, “out of the men primarily involved in the design [of Washington D.C.]—George Washington, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, and Andrew Ellicott—only Washington was Freemason.”

The lack of primary source records for this period is notorious and to fully understand history we must flesh-out surrounding circumstances to determine probabilities—if we examine L’ Enfant’s most influential mentors and individuals responsible for recruiting him toward the cause of America, we see well-known Masonic actors. Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais—undoubtedly a polymath, as wiki reports, “a French playwright, watchmaker, inventor, musician, diplomat, fugitive, spy, publisher, horticulturalist, arms dealer, satirist, financier, and revolutionary (both French and American)”—was a staunch advocate for the cause of America and rallied L’ Enfant to the support the revolutionary enterprise. Beaumarchais, a Freemason, is probably most well-known for composing the enlightenment play The Marriage of Figaro, which, of course, was set to music by another member of the craft, Wolfgang Mozart.

When L’ Enfant arrived in America he served under another well-known French Mason, Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was also recruited by a famous Freemason Benjamin Franklin—the most famous American in the world at that time—and American agent Silas Deane, most likely a member of the craft, although no primary source records indicating as much survive. Lafayette and L’ Enfant were very close to Washington, whom the former considered to be a mentor and father-figure. During the war, Lafayette commissioned L’ Enfant to paint a portrait of Washington, who had L’ Enfant design the seal of the Society of the Cincinnati—devices sensitive to the needs of political semiotics. Point being, L’Enfant was being charged with significant symbolic and artistic designs at our nation’s birth in addition to the frank functionality demanded by an effective layout for Washington D.C. Col. Tobias Lear V, Washington’s secretary from 1784 until Washington’s death in 1799 was also a Freemason, as I recently discovered in primary source record research into my discovery of the first documentary evidence of the phrase “United States of America.” Lear handled many of Washington’s business dealings both private and presidential; he dealt with L’Enfant regularly as Washington’s representative. Many of the important icons and edifices built during the foundation of America were conducted by well-known Freemasons such as Irish immigrant James Hoban who designed the White House. As a historian, I think it’s important to separate myth from reality, but efforts at debunking fringe authors can also overreach. The symbols, patterns and designs within Masonry are used as educational devices representative of belief systems and a drive toward perfection. In laying the foundation stones of the new republic—both literal and metaphorical—individuals sensitive to the communicative power of semiotics and symbolism most assuredly incorporated their knowledge into their designs. Many of these designs have roots in the craft as many of the designers were in the craft. Sensational reports about satanic symbols, Satanism etc. are laughable and meant only to stir neurons in people’s heads to sell copy, etc. Enon, you “dare say” the “vast majority of Freemasons” disagree about “the incorporation of Masonic symbols by the “Founding Fathers.” This is hyperbole, and from my experience, not supported by any evidence.

Enon
1/18/2014 04:34:13 pm

Bro. Byron, I assure you that I have "done my homework." There is no evidence that either L’ Enfant was a Master Mason and to assert otherwise, unless you have very recently found new evidence, appears to show "either a total ignorance of the subject or a willful agenda to spread falsehoods," as you have so unkindly put it.

The records of Holland Lodge No. 8 lodge indicate that someone with a similar name, who may or may not have been Pierre Charles L’Enfant (it is given as both "Major [Francis, crossed out] L’Enfant" and as “Enfant, T. L.,” but not as "Pierre L'Enfant"), was entered into Freemasonry, but may not have advanced any further. The records of that Lodge appear to be complete for this time period and those men who were entered with him are recorded as advancing, but L'Enfant is not. (By the way, those records were not known when Chris Hodapp published his claim that L’ Enfant was not a Mason, and other scholars, including S. Brent Morris, were also making the same claim.) He may have completed his degrees later elsewhere, we don't know. But, this lack of evidence does not lend credence to the idea that Masonic symbolism was so important to L’ Enfant that it was embedded into his plan for the District of Columbia. Who his associates were also proves nothing in regards to his being a Master Mason or his intentions in the design of the City. (I would also like to note that other than a brief mention in an unattributed posting – which has apparently been copied verbatim on several web pages, including the message board on David Icke's site – I can find no evidence that Beaumarchais was a Freemason. I did find that he is referred to several times in a paper printed in a volume of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum where I would have expected to see him listed as a member had there been a record of that fact. Such mention being missing is, of course, not proof that he wasn't a member, but it is somewhat as telling.)

As for the remaining Master Mason involved with the layout of Washington D.C., there is no evidence of George Washington being so inclined regarding the use of Masonic symbolism. Although he spoke well of the craft, the records we hove do not show him to have been overly active Masonically. He was twice named the WM of Alexandria Lodge No. 22, but records indicate that he never actually served as such.

The data on L’ Enfant may be incomplete and, as you imply, must be filled in by assumptions, but that is not fact. Likewise, although we can make many assumptions, there is really little to no factual evidence of Masonic symbolism in the design of the city; the case for it is simply not as strong as the case against. The fact that the White House and other structures designed by men known to be Freemasons do not incorporate Masonic symbolism either lends no additional support to belief in the use of such symbols in the overall layout of the District.

My assertion that the majority of Masons do not support the theories presented in the posting I replied to may be seen as hyperbole, but it is really any more of an assumption than that of hidden Masonic symbolism in the design of Washington. Asserting that many Masons are deeply affected by the symbols of the Craft does not confirm that George Washington, Pierre L'Enfant , or anyone else purposely put such symbols into the design of the city. It remains that the majority of Masonic writers who have weighed in on the topic, particularly those who are well respected in the field, oppose the idea of an intentional inclusion of much Masonic symbolism in the design of Washington D.C. Others, including Past Grand Master Elias may disagree, but they just don’t have the facts to prove it.

Finally, Brother, I would request that should you wish to refute my assertions further please do so in a manner befitting a member of the Craft. I am not perfect and do not know everything, but some of the language used above did not seem to be fitting with our promise "to remind him, in the most tender manner, of his failings, and aid his reformation."

LynnBrant link
1/17/2014 05:38:28 am

I have no problem with what Steve tries to do here. After all, Jason has pecked Scott's bones clean, so it's only fair that Scott send a shill to harass Jason. It's just that Steve is not very good at it. Of course he is defending an impossible position, but even so one would think that Scott could find a sharper tack than this. Or at least "try."

Reply
Tara Jordan
1/17/2014 05:48:46 am

Good,let's reproduce the same type of disruptive behavior on Steve's
Blog & Youtube channel.
If St Clair wants to play hardball,we should give him a taste of his own
Medicine.

Reply
Gunn
1/17/2014 06:55:10 am

Tara, hardball isn't required. You should know upfront that what Steve is doing with the DNA research, etc., has everything to do with fringe history, yet occasionally seeking clues within fringe history can be productive. Anyone is entitled to pursue speculation.

I don't find Steve's notions completely without merit, as it's hard to say an event or events didn't possibly happen in history. Steve is simply defending what he's doing, but at the same time, he wants to stick up for someone he considers to be a friend. Similarly, Wolter has many alternative views, and so both of these two friends come upon attack on a fairly repeated basis, often delivered with contempt and what I consider to be an over-measurement of scorn. I think this is enough provocation for Steve, as he is apparently a person to respond to personal scorn...maybe even for an idea and not necessarily because of a personal attack on himself.

In other words, some views are worth defending, especially if the views are perceived as possibly having a grain of truth to them. I don't think Steve deserved the initial scorn that naturally came from the debunking skeptic, Jason, any more than anybody with fringe ideas deserves a personal hammering, with a few exceptions for those doing harm, like HH of Burrows Cave infamy.

I think Jason gets hammered by Steve in part because Scott, his friend, gets hammered by Jason. Then too, occasionally someone comes along who doesn't want Jason to get away with the perceived unnecessary hammering, and so mutually-assured damage can occur...feelings get hurt...then outsiders butt-in and even more feelings get hurt.

Everything is initially predicated on somebody's feelings getting hurt, and it progresses downhill, sometimes swiftly, as we're seen here. Perhaps Jason can be a tad more accommodating in general tone and use a less directly confrontational approach. But we need to understand that this is up to him, and he may very well like his somewhat groomed public persona as being this tough debunker, butting heads with important people...kind of like how Wolter probably likes to be seen as a tough alternate history guy butting heads with "the establishment."

Tara, I hope you don't work yourself into an ulcer or a nervous breakdown. This degree of wrath we've seen here isn't good for you, and my guess is that it may even be responsible for clouding your good judgment when it comes to something like: first purposely exuding sexuality in your comments, and then rearing back to defend yourself, as a ploy. You can't have it both ways: sexuality, followed by complaints of sexual harassment. You yourself open the door to all kinds of sexual innuendoes here, like a spider spinning a careless web. Along comes Steve and you try to poison him and then wrap him up...and he keeps getting away!

Yer laying a bad web, woman, a weak web full of wicked weaknesses....

Gentleness may throw Steve off guard, perhaps better than the "nasty girl" approach. Maybe you can start by telling him what a nice ring "St. Clair" has to it. You could postulate: Tara St. Clair, Lady of the Blogs. This sounds much better than Tera-the-Terror. I'm sure it would feel good to be nice to Steve. You could stretch your neck out and ask him if he would like to be yer neighbor.





Only Me
1/17/2014 07:44:40 am

Gunn, you make excellent points...but...consider the situation from another point of view.

Remember when I told you I had been considered as part of a "colony"? That was Harry Hubbard's answer to the commenters that asked him questions and pointed out the flaws in his arguments and hypotheses. Remember the "Euroracist" jab? That came from one individual using multiple aliases on another thread, in an attempt to label myself and others. Why? Because, again, we pointed out flaws in his/her Afrocentrist arguments.

Now, along comes Steve, calling blog regulars sycophants, acolytes and readers who "routinely take every stroke of your keypad as gospel". I can't speak for the others, but I have no reason to utter an unkind word toward Jason, and for that, I'm deserving of all the aforementioned labels? Why drag myself and others into the mudslinging intended for Jason? I'm sorry, but I'm not part of any "mob" or "mob mentality". I watch the episodes of AU and AA, read Jason's reviews and follow the links he provides. I am quite adept at making my own conclusions, based on the evidence, myself, thank you very much.

I've seen the worst of the worst from offenders on both sides, so until all of them are held equally accountable, no one has the right to come here and appoint blame.

Tara Jordan
1/17/2014 07:49:07 am

Do you expect me to have an "intellectual debate" on history or cultural anthropology with Steve St Clair?.Do you expect Steve to commit suicide?.The man doesn't have what it takes,& he knows it.
I publicly challenged Scott Wolter on many occasions,& too be fair,he is not stupid as he looks,because he ran away with his tail between his legs.
On second thought,let`s have more than a debate on the Knights Templar or any other subjects.I propose Steve St Clair,Scott Wolter & myself to separately write a paper & submit it to academic peer reviewing.You know what?,St Clair & Wolter wont pass the litmus test.

Tara Jordan
1/17/2014 08:07:31 am

Only Me
"I've seen the worst of the worst from offenders on both sides".
I respectfully disagree.
Jason,myself & the rest of "the worst offenders" have never posted anything on
Steve St Clair or Scott Wolter`s blogs.
I am asking you.Who are the offenders around here?.Steve St Clair has been engaged in a private virtual war against Jason,for over a year now,and on Jason`s blog.
Steve is harassing Jason.Spreading lies,distorting facts,taking words outside the original context,manipulating "evidences".
Again,I am asking you,who is the offender?

LynnBrant
1/17/2014 08:11:22 am

It's not the person "with" the fringe ideas that deserves hammering, it's the fringe ideas themselves. That's what science is supposed to do - pile on to the new unproven claim and test its mettle. Science proceeds on the null hypothesis. The scientist is bound to attempt to disprove his own theory. But in this subject area, it's all about emotions and feelings. That's because there's not much else there.

Only Me
1/17/2014 08:28:52 am

What I'm saying, Tara, is that too often, visitors like yourself and me are painted in broad brush strokes. The activity I'm referring to happens on this blog only. I don't know what happens on Scott's or Steve's, nor do I care.

Just take a look around, there are plenty of one-shot artists that frequent Jason's older threads, insulting everyone they disagree with, and engaging in the "mob mentality" you, I and other regulars are accused of having. This has spilled over into newer threads, too.

For some reason, certain individuals are above criticism here, but when their supporters choose to use abusive language, veiled threats and 4Chan tactics, nothing is said from the likes of Steve or Rev. Phil. Apparently, only the regulars that appreciate all that Jason does can be guilty of those sins.

Those are the offenders, Tara. Those who delight in the personal attacks and invective at others' expense. They offer nothing else. I don't include you, Jason or anyone else who is defending themselves in that group.

Tara Jordan
1/17/2014 06:07:32 am

Jason.
I could easily mobilize 100's of students from my faculty to submerge
Steve's blog & YouTube channel with asinine comments.
Just say the word.Let the fun begin....

Reply
Jason Colavito link
1/17/2014 06:18:03 am

While I appreciate the thought, that would be untoward and rather unprofessional.

Reply
LynnBrant
1/17/2014 08:01:29 am

Jason has to preserve deniability. I say go for it.

Reply
Martin R
1/17/2014 06:21:32 am

I agree with Joe. Anyway, can't wait for the Saturday's review.

Reply
Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/18/2014 03:39:01 am

Be careful, though, boys and girls …

I think that the cyber-bullying proposed/encouraged above is actually illegal and could land the planner and participants … in trouble ...

Reply
Tara Jordan
1/18/2014 05:31:08 am

Because his Majesty Steve St Clair is above the law?.

Reply
Tara Jordan
1/18/2014 05:35:55 am

You and your friends are harassing,defaming,libeling Jason on daily base,& you have the audacity of positioning yourselves as victims?.

Reply
LynnBrant
1/18/2014 06:10:07 am

The issue is why should a forum taking position X be expected to tolerate antagonists from position Y, when forums advocating position Y get no such antagonism from advocates of position X? To look at that inequity and wonder why we should not provide quid pro quo is hardly illegal. In fact it seems, to use a word overly in vogue these days, "fair."

Reply
Tara Jordan
1/18/2014 06:17:59 am

The issue is about a couple of professional jackasses who are waging a personal war against Jason Colavito,on his own property.As far as I am aware,Neither Jason nor his "acolytes" never posted anything on Steve St Clair & Scott Wolter`s blogs.

LynnBrant
1/18/2014 06:42:05 am

Tara, That's what I said. Jason should either ban the offenders from here, or the tolerance of Steve's and Scott's blogs should be tested. I note that Scott has already said he will ban any comments he doesn't like.

Tara Jordan
1/18/2014 07:01:23 am

Lynn
Jason doesnt have the ability to ban offenders.He doesnt even moderate the comments.He provides a platform for freedom of debate & obviously some individuals are abusing his generosity & his open-mindedness.I would suggest him to delete what he sees fit.

Jason Colavito link
1/18/2014 07:16:46 am

Please note: I have removed a post that suggested a medical diagnosis for Steve St. Clair, which is potentially libelous.

Reply
Steve
1/18/2014 08:58:24 am

Wise move, Jason. Thank you.

I have a screen capture of the libelous statement which shows the date and time stamp of when it was posted. Also, I have your removal note which was posted today at 3:16 pm.

Reply
Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/18/2014 10:22:51 am

Jason --

Seriously … You may be wise ALSO to discourage your Sycophants from pursuing the cyber-attacks that have been proposed (above) … lest you been seen as ENCOURAGING such activities ...

Reply
Jason Colavito link
1/18/2014 10:37:36 am

I did say above that I did not endorse any such action and asked readers not to engage in any hostilities against other blogs. I'm not sure, though, that it's terribly fair of Scott Wolter's biggest fan to throw around the word "sycophants."

Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/18/2014 10:53:22 am

Jason --

One of your acolytes (above) began tossing out the "sycophant" designation … I simply returned the favor ...

And … No …

I am not a "fan" of Scott Wolter (and the AU TV shows) … I AM his personal friend and professional colleague … and I know him VERY well in a variety of settings for 25+ years … AND I am also a *bit* critical of the hide-bounded-ness of SOME of the North American scholarly establishment, as you know by now ...

Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/18/2014 10:53:37 am

Jason --

One of your acolytes (above) began tossing out the "sycophant" designation … I simply returned the favor ...

And … No …

I am not a "fan" of Scott Wolter (and the AU TV shows) … I AM his personal friend and professional colleague … and I know him VERY well in a variety of settings for 25+ years … AND I am also a *bit* critical of the hide-bounded-ness of SOME of the North American scholarly establishment, as you know by now ...

Gunn
1/18/2014 12:36:12 pm

This "sycophant" was a hard one for me to nail down.

"a servile flatterer; a toady." Hhmmm.

Toady.

"a sycophant; an obsequious hanger-on." (...a charlatan's attendant who ate toads.) Hhmmm.

Obsequious.

"servilely obedient or attentive." "...low, cringing, toadying, sycophantic, groveling, crawling, fawning, flattering, submissive, mealymouthed, slimy, bootlicking." (Disclaimer: I picked and chose a bit here, for effect.)

So, we see that "obsequious" is a much better word to use when describing Jason's followers, than "sycophant"...much overused, anyway.

Ha! Ha! Just kidding...getting ready for another dose of AU.

CFC
1/18/2014 08:23:38 am

A reminder to those of us that follow this blog and support Jason's work, we can show support by making a DONATION and/or BUYING Jason's BOOKS for ourselves or to give to friends and colleagues.
Looking forward to the next review!!!

Reply
Sigmund Freud
1/19/2014 06:23:53 am

Steve Sinclair:

I need to apologize to you for my ad hominem attack yesterday. That was a severe lack of judgment. I am an old, sick man and sometimes the meds I take cloud my judgment. Please let me know that you accept my apology.

I really enjoy learning from all the intelligent people that post here.

Jason Colavito:

Please feel free to delete any posts I make that display my occasional bad judgment.

SF

Reply
Sigmund Freud
1/19/2014 07:12:02 am

Oops, I spelled your name wrong! Sorry!

SF

Reply
Steve
1/20/2014 12:33:16 pm

Jason,

Who is posting here under a false name "Sigmund Freud"?

You have their email address. Please post it in public below.

Reply
Jason Colavito link
1/20/2014 12:37:33 pm

I removed the offending post, and the poster has apologized to you. That ought to settle the matter. I don't post others' email addresses without permission.

Rev. Phil Gotsch
1/20/2014 04:24:21 pm

Just remember … "Sometimes a 'cigar' is only a 'cigar' (but it can still give you cancer) …"


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      • Ultra-Terrestrials and UFOs
      • Rebels, Queers, and Aliens
    • Scholomance: The Devil's School
    • Prehistory of Chupacabra
    • The Templars, the Holy Grail, & Henry Sinclair
    • Magicians of the Gods Review
    • The Curse of the Pharaohs
    • The Antediluvian Pyramid Myth
    • Whitewashing American Prehistory
    • James Dean's Cursed Porsche
  • The Library
    • Ancient Mysteries >
      • Ancient Texts >
        • Mesopotamian Texts >
          • Atrahasis Epic
          • Epic of Gilgamesh
          • Kutha Creation Legend
          • Babylonian Creation Myth
          • Descent of Ishtar
          • Berossus
          • Comparison of Antediluvian Histories
        • Egyptian Texts >
          • The Shipwrecked Sailor
          • Dream Stela of Thutmose IV
          • The Papyrus of Ani
          • Classical Accounts of the Pyramids
          • Inventory Stela
          • Manetho
          • Eratosthenes' King List
          • The Story of Setna
          • Leon of Pella
          • Diodorus on Egyptian History
          • On Isis and Osiris
          • Famine Stela
          • Old Egyptian Chronicle
          • The Book of Sothis
          • Horapollo
          • Al-Maqrizi's King List
        • Teshub and the Dragon
        • Hermetica >
          • The Three Hermeses
          • Kore Kosmou
          • Corpus Hermeticum
          • The Asclepius
          • The Emerald Tablet
          • Hermetic Fragments
          • Prologue to the Kyranides
          • The Secret of Creation
          • Ancient Alphabets Explained
          • Prologue to Ibn Umayl's Silvery Water
          • Book of the 24 Philosophers
          • Aurora of the Philosophers
        • Hesiod's Theogony
        • Periplus of Hanno
        • Ctesias' Indica
        • Sanchuniathon
        • Sima Qian
        • Syncellus's Enoch Fragments
        • The Book of Enoch
        • Slavonic Enoch
        • Sepher Yetzirah
        • Tacitus' Germania
        • De Dea Syria
        • Aelian's Various Histories
        • Julius Africanus' Chronography
        • Eusebius' Chronicle
        • Chinese Accounts of Rome
        • Ancient Chinese Automaton
        • The Orphic Argonautica
        • Fragments of Panodorus
        • Annianus on the Watchers
        • The Watchers and Antediluvian Wisdom
      • Medieval Texts >
        • Medieval Legends of Ancient Egypt >
          • Medieval Pyramid Lore
          • John Malalas on Ancient Egypt
          • Fragments of Abenephius
          • Akhbar al-zaman
          • Ibrahim ibn Wasif Shah
          • Murtada ibn al-‘Afif
          • Al-Maqrizi on the Pyramids
          • Al-Suyuti on the Pyramids
        • The Hunt for Noah's Ark
        • Isidore of Seville
        • Book of Liang: Fusang
        • Agobard on Magonia
        • Book of Thousands
        • Voyage of Saint Brendan
        • Power of Art and of Nature
        • Travels of Sir John Mandeville
        • Yazidi Revelation and Black Book
        • Al-Biruni on the Great Flood
        • Voyage of the Zeno Brothers
        • The Kensington Runestone (Hoax)
        • Islamic Discovery of America
        • The Aztec Creation Myth
      • Lost Civilizations >
        • Atlantis >
          • Plato's Atlantis Dialogues >
            • Timaeus
            • Critias
          • Fragments on Atlantis
          • Panchaea: The Other Atlantis
          • Eumalos on Atlantis (Hoax)
          • Gómara on Atlantis
          • Sardinia and Atlantis
          • Santorini and Atlantis
          • The Mound Builders and Atlantis
          • Donnelly's Atlantis
          • Atlantis in Morocco
          • Atlantis and the Sea Peoples
          • W. Scott-Elliot >
            • The Story of Atlantis
            • The Lost Lemuria
          • The Lost Atlantis
          • Atlantis in Africa
          • How I Found Atlantis (Hoax)
          • Termier on Atlantis
          • The Critias and Minoan Crete
          • Rebuttal to Termier
          • Further Responses to Termier
          • Flinders Petrie on Atlantis
        • Lost Cities >
          • Miscellaneous Lost Cities
          • The Seven Cities
          • The Lost City of Paititi
          • Manuscript 512
          • The Idolatrous City of Iximaya (Hoax)
          • The 1885 Moberly Lost City Hoax
          • The Elephants of Paredon (Hoax)
        • OOPARTs
        • Oronteus Finaeus Antarctica Map
        • Caucasians in Panama
        • Jefferson's Excavation
        • Fictitious Discoveries in America
        • Against Diffusionism
        • Tunnels Under Peru
        • The Parahyba Inscription (Hoax)
        • Mound Builders
        • Gunung Padang
        • Tales of Enchanted Islands
        • The 1907 Ancient World Map Hoax
        • The 1909 Grand Canyon Hoax
        • The Interglacial Period
        • Solving Oak Island
      • Religious Conspiracies >
        • Pantera, Father of Jesus?
        • Toledot Yeshu
        • Peter of les Vaux-de-Cernay on Cathars
        • Testimony of Jean de Châlons
        • Rosslyn Chapel and the 'Prentice's Pillar
        • The Many Wives of Jesus
        • Templar Infiltration of Labor
        • Louis Martin & the Holy Bloodline
        • The Life of St. Issa (Hoax)
        • On the Person of Jesus Christ
      • Giants in the Earth >
        • Fossil Origins of Myths >
          • Fossil Teeth and Bones of Elephants
          • Fossil Elephants
          • Fossil Bones of Teutobochus
          • Fossil Mammoths and Giants
          • Giants' Bones Dug Out of the Earth
          • Fossils and the Supernatural
          • Fossils, Myth, and Pseudo-History
          • Man During the Stone Age
          • Fossil Bones and Giants
          • American Elephant Myths
          • The Mammoth and the Flood
          • Fossils and Myth
          • Fossil Origin of the Cyclops
          • Mastodon, Mammoth, and Man
        • Fragments on Giants
        • Manichaean Book of Giants
        • Geoffrey on British Giants
        • Alfonso X's Hermetic History of Giants
        • Boccaccio and the Fossil 'Giant'
        • Book of Howth
        • Purchas His Pilgrimage
        • Edmond Temple's 1827 Giant Investigation
        • The Giants of Sardinia
        • Giants and the Sons of God
        • The Magnetism of Evil
        • Tertiary Giants
        • Smithsonian Giant Reports
        • Early American Giants
        • The Giant of Coahuila
        • Jewish Encyclopedia on Giants
        • Index of Giants
        • Newspaper Accounts of Giants
        • Lanier's A Book of Giants
      • Science and History >
        • Halley on Noah's Comet
        • The Newport Tower
        • Iron: The Stone from Heaven
        • Ararat and the Ark
        • Pyramid Facts and Fancies
        • Argonauts before Homer
        • The Deluge
        • Crown Prince Rudolf on the Pyramids
        • Old Mythology in New Apparel
        • Blavatsky on Dinosaurs
        • Teddy Roosevelt on Bigfoot
        • Devil Worship in France
        • Maspero's Review of Akhbar al-zaman
        • The Holy Grail as Lucifer's Crown Jewel
        • The Mutinous Sea
        • The Rock Wall of Rockwall
        • Fabulous Zoology
        • The Origins of Talos
        • Mexican Mythology
        • Chinese Pyramids
        • Maqrizi's Names of the Pharaohs
      • Extreme History >
        • Roman Empire Hoax
        • American Antiquities
        • American Cataclysms
        • England, the Remnant of Judah
        • Historical Chronology of the Mexicans
        • Maspero on the Predynastic Sphinx
        • Vestiges of the Mayas
        • Ragnarok: The Age of Fire and Gravel
        • Origins of the Egyptian People
        • The Secret Doctrine >
          • Volume 1: Cosmogenesis
          • Volume 2: Anthropogenesis
        • Phoenicians in America
        • The Electric Ark
        • Traces of European Influence
        • Prince Henry Sinclair
        • Pyramid Prophecies
        • Templars of Ancient Mexico
        • Chronology and the "Riddle of the Sphinx"
        • The Faith of Ancient Egypt
        • Spirit of the Hour in Archaeology
        • Book of the Damned
        • Great Pyramid As Noah's Ark
        • Richard Shaver's Proofs
    • Alien Encounters >
      • US Government Ancient Astronaut Files >
        • Fortean Society and Columbus
        • Inquiry into Shaver and Palmer
        • The Skyfort Document
        • Whirling Wheels
        • Denver Ancient Astronaut Lecture
        • Soviet Search for Lemuria
        • Visitors from Outer Space
        • Unidentified Flying Objects (Abstract)
        • "Flying Saucers"? They're a Myth
        • UFO Hypothesis Survival Questions
        • Air Force Academy UFO Textbook
        • The Condon Report on Ancient Astronauts
        • Atlantis Discovery Telegrams
        • Ancient Astronaut Society Telegram
        • Noah's Ark Cables
        • The Von Daniken Letter
        • CIA Psychic Probe of Ancient Mars
        • Scott Wolter Lawsuit
        • UFOs in Ancient China
        • CIA Report on Noah's Ark
        • CIA Noah's Ark Memos
        • Congressional Ancient Aliens Testimony
        • Ancient Astronaut and Nibiru Email
        • Congressional Ancient Mars Hearing
        • House UFO Hearing
      • Ancient Extraterrestrials >
        • Premodern UFO Sightings
        • The Moon Hoax
        • Inhabitants of Other Planets
        • Blavatsky on Ancient Astronauts
        • The Stanzas of Dzyan (Hoax)
        • Aerolites and Religion
        • What Is Theosophy?
        • Plane of Ether
        • The Adepts from Venus
      • A Message from Mars
      • Saucer Mystery Solved?
      • Orville Wright on UFOs
      • Interdimensional Flying Saucers
      • Flying Saucers Are Real
      • Report on UFOs
    • The Supernatural >
      • The Devils of Loudun
      • Sublime and Beautiful
      • Voltaire on Vampires
      • Demonology and Witchcraft
      • Thaumaturgia
      • Bulgarian Vampires
      • Religion and Evolution
      • Transylvanian Superstitions
      • Defining a Zombie
      • Dread of the Supernatural
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves and Vampires and Ghouls
      • Science and Fairy Stories
      • The Cursed Car
    • Classic Fiction >
      • Lucian's True History
      • Some Words with a Mummy
      • The Coming Race
      • King Solomon's Mines
      • An Inhabitant of Carcosa
      • The Xipéhuz
      • Lot No. 249
      • The Novel of the Black Seal
      • The Island of Doctor Moreau
      • Pharaoh's Curse
      • Edison's Conquest of Mars
      • The Lost Continent
      • Count Magnus
      • The Mysterious Stranger
      • The Wendigo
      • Sredni Vashtar
      • The Lost World
      • The Red One
      • H. P. Lovecraft >
        • Dagon
        • The Call of Cthulhu
        • History of the Necronomicon
        • At the Mountains of Madness
        • Lovecraft's Library in 1932
      • The Skeptical Poltergeist
      • The Corpse on the Grating
      • The Second Satellite
      • Queen of the Black Coast
      • A Martian Odyssey
    • Classic Genre Movies
    • Miscellaneous Documents >
      • The Balloon-Hoax
      • A Problem in Greek Ethics
      • The Migration of Symbols
      • The Gospel of Intensity
      • De Profundis
      • The Life and Death of Crown Prince Rudolf
      • The Bathtub Hoax
      • Crown Prince Rudolf's Letters
      • Position of Viking Women
      • Employment of Homosexuals
      • James Dean's Love Letters
      • The Amazing James Dean Hoax!
    • Free Classic Pseudohistory eBooks
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