39: The Hat Man Takes a Seat

As with any great mystery, it can turn some individuals into steadfast researchers and citizen detectives, dedicating years to a quest for answers.  We were lucky enough to interview one such person, Professor Derek Abbott of the University of Adelaide in Australia.  In addition to teaching Electrical Engineering at the University, Professor Abbott also has a background in Physics, biomedical engineering, complex systems, and probability theory, which can involve the fields of cryptography and forensics.   He first became interested in the Somerton Man case around 1995, and then fully immersed himself in an effort to crack the cryptography aspect in 2007, even enlisting the aid of some of his students as a school project.  In Part Two of our series, Professor Abbott gives us an overview of the story, then shares some of his findings and conclusions.   Tonight's Quote: “Yes, this man has someone to love him.  He is known only to God.”  — Captain E.J. Webb of the Salvation Army at The Somerton Man’s Funeral, as cited in Gerald Feltus’ book, The Unknown Man Show Links: We've found that some sites are not showing these links as clickable unless they are URLs, so until those outlets improve their show notes section, we are providing actual URLs next to the clickable description of each link to make things easier for our listeners! The Dark Myths Collective:  The Dark Myths Collective!  http://darkmyths.org SIGN THIS PETITION FOR EXHUMATION OF THE SOMERTON MAN SO HE CAN BE PROPERLY LAID TO REST! http://bit.do/somerton Show Links - Links are the same as Part 1 as similar material is covered. New Links will appear for final Part 3 on Theories. • Link to purchase Gerry Feltus' book, "The Unknown Man: A Suspicious Death at Somerton Beach"  http://bit.ly/1YGiX7m • One of the better of MANY websites devoted to the case   http://bit.ly/1UEn83I • A HuffPo Article on the case by Professor Abbott who's interview will be heard in Part 2! http://huff.to/1ID8nqM • Another solid article at Phys.org about the case that discusses DNA findings http://bit.ly/1KDq8qj • Much of Professor Abbott's collected knowledge on the Case http://bit.ly/1pOYPVf • Audio Book versions of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam http://bit.ly/1pOZ42P • There are many more links to come, but we are saving some for the other parts of the series http://bit.ly/1R2hTZi • For more information on this episode visit our website! Credits: Episode 034 - "The Somerton Man, Part 2" Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Ryan McCullough Sound Design; Research Assistance by Tess Pfeifle and the astonishing League of Astonishing Researchers, a,k.a. The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short.  Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2016. All Rights Reserved.  #somertonman #tamamshud

20 Apr 20161h 37min

Of the six questions — who, what, when, where, how and why — we only know three when it comes to the mystery of "The Somerton Man." What and where: a middle-aged man found dead on Somerton Beach, which borders the Adelaide, Australia, suburb of Glenelg. When: he was found by passersby at 6:30 a.m. on December 1, 1948. As for the remaining questions, authorities, academics, authors, Australians and curious citizens the world over have been seeking answers ever since. The mundane yet mysterious items found on his person and in an unclaimed suitcase (thought to be his) at the Adelaide railway station would yield few clues and many more questions. He had no wallet or identification, and all the tags on his clothing were meticulously removed. Investigators had virtually nothing to go on, except for one intriguing thing: a scrap of paper torn from the last page of a first edition translation of eleventh-century poetry, the Rubaiyat of Omar Kayyam, which was found rolled up in the man's watch pocket. On it were the words, "Tamám Shud," meaning "ended" or "finished" in Persian, and giving this mystery its other renowned moniker: "The Tamám Shud Case." When the book from which the page was torn surfaced some time later, there appeared to be an unbreakable coded message written on one of the last pages. Further adding to the mystery, there was the assessment by a senior pathologist that the victim most likely died from an untraceable poison. Whether "The Somerton Man" was just a napping tourist with a degenerative disease, a jilted lover out to end it all, or a Cold War spy whose mission had been terminated, we may never know. This is Part 1 of our our 3 Part in-depth series on The Somerton Man Tonight's Quote: 'Tis all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays: Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays.  A selected quatrain from Edward Fitzgerald’s 1st edition translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Show Links: We've found that some sites are not showing these links as clickable unless they are URLs, so until those outlets improve their show notes section, we are providing actual URLs next to the clickable description of each link to make things easier for our listeners! For more information on this episode visit our website! The Dark Myths Collective! http://darkmyths.org SIGN THIS PETITION FOR EXHUMATION OF THE SOMERTON MAN SO HE CAN BE PROPERLY LAID TO REST! http://bit.do/somerton One of the better of MANY websites devoted to the case http://bit.ly/1UEn83I A HuffPo Article on the case by Professor Abbott who's interview will be heard in Part 2! http://huff.to/1ID8nqM Another solid article at Phys.org about the case that discusses DNA findings http://bit.ly/1KDq8qj Much of Professor Abbott's collected knowledge on the Case http://bit.ly/1pOYPVf Audio Book versions of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam http://bit.ly/1pOZ42P There are many more links to come, but we are saving some for the other parts of the series http://bit.ly/1R2hTZi Credits: Episode 033 - "The Somerton Man" Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Ryan McCullough Sound Design; Research Assistance by Tess Pfeifle and the astonishing League of Astonishing Researchers. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2016. All Rights Reserved.

17 Mars 20161h 29min

New Episode Friday 3.18.16! Audio of a quick promo of our pending episodes on The Tamam Shud: Somerton Man Mystery. Associated Video of Promo here - http://bit.do/somertonpromo2

16 Mars 20161min

What's down there? Lost treasure? Legend has it. 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater sitting on 4.3 miles of sediment? Science confirms it. What about humanoid creatures almost 10 feet tall, wearing silvery suits with helmets out for a deepwater swim, who don't care to be messed with? Well... yes — if you believe a report from the Soviet military. Unbelievable as this sounds, this story is only one of many frequently occurring reports of supernatural events at this magnificent body of water. Lake Baikal has a long history of being known as Russia's hotspot for all manner of unexplainable anomalies, like UFO & USO sightings (Unidentified Submerged Object), glowing orbs, spirits, Bermuda Triangle-like phenomena, melted rings in the ice three miles wide which are seen from space, and of course, a lost race of amphibian giants. But what else would you expect from the oldest, deepest, and most voluminous lake on earth, known as "The Pearl of Siberia?" Tonight's Quote: “It reflects like an optical instrument and responds to changes in the weather so sensitively that it seems like a part of the sky rather than of the land.” Author Ian Frazier on Lake Baikal from his book, Travels in Siberia. Show Links: We've found that some sites are not showing these links as clickable unless they are URLs, so until those outlets improve their show notes section, we are providing actual URLs next to the clickable description of each link to make things easier for our listeners! For more information on this episode visit our website! FIRST The Dark Myths Collective:  The Dark Myths Collective! http://darkmyths.org The Nighttime Podcast http://apple.co/1LO2fMz The Eastern Border http://apple.co/1RxKyFk Our Fake History http://apple.co/1TfWe3e Show Note Links: Lake Baikal on Wikipedia http://bit.ly/1OCfb88 Lake Issyk-Kul on Wikipedia http://bit.ly/1RuwkVH Article from the Siberian Times: "Aliens and UFOs at world's deepest lake" http://bit.ly/20YMFoj Mysterious giants inhabit Eurasian lakes (part I) http://bit.ly/1TJl4rY Mysterious giants inhabit Eurasian lakes (part II) http://bit.ly/1oNUvp8 Seagull Magazine "Newcomers from the depths of Lake Baikal" - Use Google Chrome to translate this Russian website http://bit.ly/1peoWEQ Another Mark Steinberg article for Seagull Magazine - Use Google Chrome to translate this Russian website http://bit.ly/1pepgn3 Anomalies, mysteries and places of Lake Baikal - Use Google Chrome to translate this Russian website http://bit.ly/1OCeFa2 Russian website overview on Lake Baikal highlights - use Google Chrome to translate page http://bit.ly/1QMqUZw "Dead alien found in UFO hotspot in Russia" http://bit.ly/1T2ugYv CNN Slideshow: "Lake Baikal, the jewel of Siberia" http://cnn.it/1n3eluI Underwater bases and ancient civilizations http://bit.ly/1OCgfc8 "Metallic spheres found in Siberia are of alien origin?" http://bit.ly/1WPG0M8 "Thirsty UFOs" http://bit.ly/1XQFEpu Will o' the Wisp http://bit.ly/24tPvWO Categories of a "Close Encounter" http://bit.ly/2112DOD Dr. J. Allen Hynek - UFOlogist pioneer http://bit.ly/1TEJgua The legend of "Ihtiander" http://bit.ly/1QjiJ4N A Journey to Lake Baikal http://amzn.to/21yrtaQ The Study of UFO's in the Soviet Union http://bit.ly/1WPH6rf Remember Tunguska? http://bit.ly/2113fDY Lost Treasure in the Lake? http://bit.ly/1XQGl2b Threats to the Pearl http://bit.ly/1QMtdeQ Jeremy Hsu's Article about the Rings http://bit.ly/1Td54yJ Some Amazing (if not verified) Facts about Baikal http://bit.ly/1TJnve3 See Episode 4 of 'What on Earth?' http://amzn.to/1oNYGBx Do Whirlpools Really Change Direction in the Opposite Hemisphere? http://huff.to/1WPHNRn UFO's in Siberia http://bit.ly/1oNYQc3 The Underwater UFO Base in Malibu. Real or not? http://huff.to/1ssaSY8 The Legend of Lake Baikal Hotel http://bit.ly/1QmvWpT Something We Didn't Mention, But Worth Considering! http://bit.ly/21oM1WE A Solid Scientific Article on Baikal http://bit.ly/1KRFUmt On Russian Naval Reports of USO's http://bit.ly/24tQeYf The Fires http://bit.ly/1S7FFVU Did Christopher Columbus See a USO/UFO? http://bit.ly/1Lkd1PM A Scientific Paper on Magnetic Anomalies in the Baikal Rift Zone http://bit.ly/1Ruz4CH Will Baikal Become an Ocean? http://bit.ly/1VJJmzS The Nerpa http://bit.ly/1VJJvmW A Stonehill Article On It All http://bit.ly/1T2xPxH Prof Anthony Lights Methane on Fire in Alaska http://bit.ly/1Nbope7 Credits: Episode 032 - "Lake Baikal" Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Ryan McCullough Sound Design; Research Assistance by Tess Pfeifle and the astonishing Astonishing Research Corps. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2016. All Rights Reserved.  #lakebaikal #uso #ufo #siberia #mysteries

27 Feb 20161h 45min

Our ancient ancestors spoke of a legendary place -- where the young and young at heart could test their skills against a magical, electronic device, using strategy, and their reflexes at 25¢ a pop. These wondrous havens were called "Video Arcades" and these hulking machines were called "Video Games." Believe it or not kids, it was the only place you could play a decent-looking, somewhat sophisticated video game, housed in a heavy, laminated wooden cabinet, because at the time the only thing you could play on your "push-button" phone was the tune, "Mary Had a Little Lamb." There is another legend however, that at least in one or more of these Video Arcades in Portland, Oregon in 1981 A.D., there lurked a mysterious Arcade Game called "Polybius" and it had a much more nefarious purpose than to provide amusement and rook a kid out of a short stack of quarters -- it may have been there to try its hand at brainwashing you, and then report its findings to a sinister government agency. There were reports of players who suffered terrible side effects from the visual phantasmagoria of the gameplay, like severe headaches, nausea, memory loss, nightmares, an aversion to playing any video games afterwards and in some extreme cases, suicide. But were these reports true? Did this diabolical game ever exist? Was the legend of Polybius just an "Urban Legend?" One thing we do know is true, prior to the legend of Polybius, a secret government agency really did try to zap unsuspecting people's brains and take notes.  Tonight's Quote: “The obvious objective of video games is to entertain people by surprising them with new experiences.” Miyamoto Shigeru, the "Father of Modern Video Games" and Co-creator of The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Super Mario Brothers and many more. For more information on this episode visit our website! Show Links: We've found that some sites are not showing these links as clickable unless they are URLs, so until those outlets improve their show notes section, we are providing actual URLs next to the clickable description of each link to make things easier for our listeners! "The Cosmos' Most Ridiculously Implausible Videogames: Polybius - the most mysterious game of all time?" an article by Jason Helton http://bit.ly/1JZlNST "Polybius: Video Game of Death" by Brian Dunning from his Skeptoid Podcast #362 http://bit.ly/1SZ8eFN "Polybius: Portland's Own Seizure-Inducing Mystery Game" an article by Richard Grunert in Willamette Week http://bit.ly/1PVKKRB Polybius, the real Greek historian http://bit.ly/1Pjh2Aa Text of Original Polybius Comments from Steven Roach and Cyber Yogi http://bit.ly/20HOSpY The Simpsons and all it's Math http://bit.ly/1mqpuEw Duane Weatherall's Interview with Steven Roach http://bit.ly/20s6U2K Power Gloves & Tinfoil Hats: Case #001 http://bit.ly/1S1SnWB Download the Supposed ROM of the Game. PC Required http://bit.ly/23Ka7tA Interview with Ed Rotberg about Battlezone and the Military http://bit.ly/1SZaGMi Vector vs Raster http://bit.ly/1UMB2Pr Another Good Summary Article http://bit.ly/1NRnZXj Halcyon Days The Book http://bit.ly/1nOykP7 TEMPEST http://my.ign.com/atari/tempest BATTLEZONE http://my.ign.com/atari/battlezone Episode 031 - "Polybius" Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Ryan McCullough Sound Design; Research Assistance by Tess Pfeifle. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2016. All Rights Reserved.

4 Feb 20161h 34min

On March 12, 1909, The Arizona Gazette published an article titled, "G. E. Kincaid Reaches Yuma." It was a short, mildly interesting announcement that Mr. "Kincaid" was only the second person to make the perilous boat trip down the entire course of the Colorado River, starting from Green River, Wyoming and eventually reaching Yuma, Arizona. A feat worthy of mention in the papers of course, but aside from stating that he took over 700 photographs and "Some interesting archaeological discoveries were unearthed," there was not much indication of the news which was to come next. Twenty four days later, on April 5, 1909, the newspaper ran a follow-up to their first article on the adventurous Mr. Kincaid, except this time it was full, front-page coverage on just what discoveries he'd unearthed previously. This article (also uncredited) reported that along with "G.E. Kinkaid" (his name now spelled with a "k") a "Professor S.A. Jordan" and a team from the Smithsonian had investigated what appeared to be a large network of tunnels and rooms, some filled with ancient mummies and artifacts that did not appear to be from the Western Hemisphere. And that was the end of the story. No further stories were printed by the newspaper, no knowledge by the Smithsonian about any such expedition, and no one knows if "Kinkaid" or "Jordan" ever existed, let alone the cave itself. That leaves us with two questions: is this story real, and if real, what would be the implications to world history? Tonight's Quote: "First, I would impress that the cavern is nearly inaccessible. The entrance is 1,486 feet down the sheer canyon wall. It is located on government land and no visitor will be allowed there under penalty of trespass." "G.E. Kincaid," Explorer, referring to a cave full of anomalous artifacts he discovered in the Grand Canyon. Show Links: We've found that some sites are not showing these links as clickable unless they are URLs, so until those outlets improve their show notes section, we are providing actual URLs next to the clickable description of each link to make things easier for our listeners! For more information on this episode visit our website! THE DEVIL IN THE DINER - http://bit.ly/1T0vNNv -- An animated short by Peter Sabatino & Zeke O'Donnell and the first video on our newly launched YouTube channel as mentioned in the intro of this episode. Blog entry containing a photocopy image of the first AZ Gazette article to mention "G.E. Kincaid" http://bit.ly/1V2PzGA Text of the 1st Arizona Gazette article that mentions "Kincaid's" trip, from The Isis Journals website http://bit.ly/1JVQkkc Text of the 2nd AZ Gazette article describing "G.E. Kinkaid's" find http://bit.ly/1PiJnpk "Canyonitis: Seeing evidence of ancient Egypt in the Grand Canyon" by Philip Coppens http://bit.ly/1NgNPnc Article on io9 about Kinkaid's Cave http://bit.ly/1nuIUdH David Hatcher Childress' article on the Kinkaid Cave http://bit.ly/1JdJlTw "The Location of Kincaid's 'Cave' Revealed" by Jack Andrews http://bit.ly/1KnT70v Ancient American magazine http://bit.ly/1P1s28C "Egyptian Grand Canyon Connection" - article by CNY Artifact Recovery http://bit.ly/1Qaakig “Looks Like a Mulhatton Story” from the Grand Canyon Historical Society newsletter by Don Lago http://bit.ly/1SZozt3 Hoaxes of Joseph Mulhattan http://bit.ly/1OBATdI "Joe Mulhatton" article in The Chicago Tribune, dated April 22, 1891 http://trib.in/1PBSSR0 Larry Walters, the "Lawn Chair Pilot" http://bit.ly/23aOMt7 Reprints of the Gazette's articles and brief commentary from Jason Colavito http://bit.ly/1RQ0tBQ Jason Colavito's critical view of the legend http://bit.ly/1JdJlTw John Wesley Powell http://bit.ly/1Zx3Ht0 Brief history of the Smithsonian Institution http://s.si.edu/1OtSVBA Cataldo Mission http://bit.ly/1Kodc6M The El Tovar Hotel http://bit.ly/1OsSbvz The Mississippian Culture of North America http://bit.ly/1ZxDbzy Russell Burrrows' Cave http://bit.ly/1P1KJt3 Aztalan State Park in Wisconsin http://bit.ly/1OsSbvz Ivan Terence Sanderson, biologist and adventurer http://bit.ly/1OBN7mu Scott Wolter talks about trying to find "Burrows Cave" http://bit.ly/1Ot31lb The Missoula Floods, a.k.a. The Spokane Floods http://bit.ly/1KnF0YS "Beringia" or the Bering Land Bridge http://bit.ly/1Qa6S7j * Little Ice Age http://bit.ly/1Qa6S7j Discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb http://bit.ly/1JyH3rg Bes, Egyptian Nile Valley deity http://bit.ly/1P1sh3I "Ancient Egypt in America" by Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer http://bit.ly/1Qk6Bkk "American Drugs in Egyptian Mummies" by S. A. Wells http://bit.ly/1uCZt4J Ancient Egypt and King Joseph in America? http://bit.ly/20aWfG4 Credits: Episode 030 - "Kinkaid's Cave" Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Ryan McCullough Sound Design; Research Assistance by Tess Pfeifle. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2016, All Rights Reserved.

19 Jan 20161h 46min

They had lawyers, guns and money, as well as cartographers and engineers, tradesmen, politicians and professionals of all station, all embedded in American society and the money in the earth itself. One day these would all be needed by the Knights of the Golden Circle and if the people, their skills and their ideals would not survive the generations then their amassed fortune would. And here is where one legend intersects with another: The Lost Dutchman Mine and the Knights of the Golden Circle. Was the Lost Mine a massive KGC treasure cache? It's treasure may never be found, but those that have gone looking may have found its sentinels, and along with it, an often mysterious demise. Tonight's Quote: "...The secessionists of (El) Monte are only awaiting the withdrawal of troops from Los Angeles before they commence operations..." For more information on this episode visit our website! Edwin A. Sherman, San Bernardino County Newspaper Editor in a letter to Union Army General E. V. Sumner, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Division  Show Links: We've found that some sites are not showing these links as clickable unless they are URL's, so until those outlets improve their show notes section, we are providing actual URL's next to the clickable description of each link to make things easier for our listeners! Tom Kollenborn Blog - http://bit.ly/1UMwc4Y Kollenborn on Elisha Reavis - http://bit.ly/1UMwyIR James Tufts, Inventor of the Arctic Soda Fountain - http://bit.ly/1TVwLII El Monte RV - http://bit.ly/1IeYe7K Adolph Ruth - http://bit.ly/1RYItni Jacob Waltz 1 - http://bit.ly/1T7HxeU The Lost Dutchman Mine - http://bit.ly/1KXM1UN The Peralta Stones - http://bit.ly/1T7HCiI Don Miguel Peralta (not a real person) - http://bit.ly/1T7HFej The Baron of Arizona - http://bit.ly/1QRvi6V James Addison Reavis - http://bit.ly/1UMxEnS

19 Dec 20152h 12min

The Confederate Army’s losses at the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg in July 1863 marked a turning point in America’s Civil War, one that was not favorable for furthering the cause of “Southern Independence.” With the hopes of an overall military victory for the Confederacy now beginning to fade, the clandestine leaders of the KGC took the movement fully underground, secreting not only their commands and communications, but also their amassed wealth and weapons. There is sufficient circumstantial evidence to suggest that significant amounts of gold and silver as well as armaments had been collected by the KGC from agents, members and sympathizers, but that then begs the question, where did it all go? If a vast, non-centralized network of money and guns needed to be kept from the hands of a dominant and soon to be victorious Union government, what methodology could a secret organization use to hide it all, and who and what system could be trusted to find it again when it was needed? Part Two of our series on the Knights of the Golden Circle takes a look at where they may have gotten their gains, and what legendary names, famous and infamous, may have helped them. Tonight’s Quote: “It’s my damn story, and if they don’t believe it I’m not gonna worry about it, damn it. Pardon my French.” – Bob Brewer Show Links: We’ve found that some sites are not showing these links as clickable unless they are URL’s, so until those outlets improve their show notes section, we are providing actual URL’s next to the clickable description of each link to make things easier for our listeners! Maximilian I, of Mexico - http://bit.ly/1IOid7P Jesse Woodson James - http://bit.ly/1CLN084 J. Frank Dalton - http://bit.ly/1OJm4JY Forum on the KGC from treasurenet.com - http://bit.ly/1IOrDAp Link to Del Schrader’s “Jesse James Was One Of His Names” on Amazon - http://amzn.com/B0006CEQ4I Article on Betty Dorsett Duke and Jesse James - http://bit.ly/1m62IDv Blog entry on Orvus Lee Howk, a.k.a. Jesse James III - http://bit.ly/1YT3y4C “Was Orvus Lee Howk Really a Barnhill, as Dalton Claimed?” by Philip Kromer - http://bit.ly/1m63nF1 “What You Didn’t Know About John Wilkes Booth & Jesse James” by Mark Owen - http://bit.ly/1OcKEy5 For more information on this episode visit our website! Credits: Episode 028 – “Knights of the Golden Circle – Part 2” Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess; Ryan McCullough Sound Design; Research Assistance by Tess Pfeifle. Copyright Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess 2015, All Rights Reserved.

7 Dec 20151h 25min