by Robert A. Goerman
I get mail.
Not so very long ago, a woman from Roswell, New Mexico sent me a quaint handwritten letter (remember those?) that divulged her very interesting secret.
I appreciate what you might be thinking.
Roswell, right?
Wrong!
Allow me to share this July 23, 2009 correspondence with you.
Dear Mr. Goerman:
I don’t know if you will consider this a monster activity or not, but here it goes. This happened in Roswell, N. Mex. In the summer of 1997, at about 5:30 A.M., I took my cup of coffee outside to a picnic table in the back yard. My Chihuahua Bella followed me. At first, I thought my neighbor had bought a dog, a little Schnauzer. Taking a better look, I noticed it was not a dog but a “little man.” Bella thought it was a dog also as she ran to the fence to get a better look. We both noticed a little man about 12 inches tall, stocky built with bushy eyebrows (gray) and a beard. He was wearing a gray woolen type shirt (no buttons) and gray pants with a rope for a belt. He had brown boots that looked like socks.
Bella ran back into the house and under my bed, shaking, and remained there most of the day. The little man had a funny walk from side to side and quickly ran into a big Chinaberry tree and disappeared. I could not see a door or entrance but the little man disappeared into the tree.
I will never forget this as long as I live. Thank you for taking the time. You may use my story.
Sincerely yours,
Minnie Simpson
First things first. Thank you, Minnie, for having the courage to share your encounter with us. Your bravery might persuade timid witnesses to step forward. As a professional investigative scholar of the unknown and unexplained, I inform my readers that I respect all confidences and honor every request for anonymity.
Secondly, as we celebrate the arrival of 2010 and a new decade, Minnie’s testimony is a sobering reminder that, even in our techno-wondrous society of wireless laptop computers and cellular telephones, people can still report being startled by the sudden appearance of diminutive creatures, generally in humanoid form.
Tales of “wee people” have been recorded by most, if not all, cultures throughout human history. Some of our ancestors called them fairies. Medieval fairy-faith populated our world with a puzzling array of visitors (elves, gnomes, goblins, leprechauns, pixies, and others) from the fairy realm or fairyland. Read the rest of this entry »
You spot that UFO! You reach for your binoculars…
Binoculars are an optic instrument that blends an image seen by both eyes into a single image. Perhaps the best of all of the observing tools, they are simple to use, easily transportable, and reasonably priced. Binoculars belong around your neck and at the ready whenever you are in the field.
There are presently two major types of binoculars. They look slightly different and are classed by the prism type that they use. The classic porro-prisms have objective lenses that are spaced farther apart than the eyepieces. Porro-prisms are bulky but usually perform better and cost less then roof-prisms. Also, porro-prisms yield a better three-dimensional image. Roof-prisms dominate the consumer market and look quite simply like two telescopes mounted next to each other. The objective lenses line up directly with the eyepieces, resulting in a streamlined, compact and lightweight binocular. But roof-prisms usually cost more and lose more light to reflection. Read the rest of this entry »
Orbs!
The word detonates a frenzy of emotion and debate.
Are the orbs that mysteriously appear in digital photographs merely flash backscatter from dust and mist or lens flares and reflections — or is it concrete proof that spirit beings DO exist? On the other hand, are all of these answers simply naive?
Is the unknown knowable?
For the record, I prefer my anomalous mysteries corporeal. When it comes to ghosts, give me reports of “phantom hitchhikers” and poltergeists any old day. Love to offer one of those lovely ladies a ride! (Be careful what you wish for.) Read the rest of this entry »
Welcome to our newest Blogger! Robert Goerman
Robert Goerman
Born March 3, 1952, Robert A. Goerman is a native of New Kensington, Pennsylvania. As an author and investigative scholar of the unknown and unexplained, he has been fortunate enough to have his research and writings featured in national magazines, including FATE, and serve as source material for many books and television shows. Read the rest of this entry »
This installment will concentrate on ethical behavior during field investigations.
Know the general trespassing statutes of every state where you intend to conduct field investigations.
Most land (even woodlots and fields out in the middle of nowhere) that you may find yourself traversing during an investigation probably belongs to someone. All property is protected by the common law.
If you enter any private property (lands and buildings) by any means (for example, on foot or by vehicle) without the permission of the person who has lawful control of said premises or without lawful excuse, you commit a trespass at common law, regardless of your intention or whether damage is done to the property. Read the rest of this entry »
Let us suppose that John Q. Public encounters a Transient Anomaly such as a so-called UFO or monster. This is the luck of the chance encounter, the pure coincidence of right place and right moment to witness and record the event of a lifetime. John Q. Public is carrying an inexpensive Kodak C713 digital camera.
Here is the question that I posed to researchers across the Internet:
“Would you prefer that John Q. Public snap a (7MP) still photograph or that he switch his camera to (VGA) video capture? Eyewitnesses can give us what we want with the simple twist of a dial and the push of a button. Let us tell the people out there what digital verification that we prefer and why.” Read the rest of this entry »
This month’s column provides instruction and tips designed to assist the field investigator in casting impressions in soft material like soil, mud, or even snow. This information is a set of guidelines and accepted practices derived from the law enforcement community.
What you will need: dental stone, mixing container, nylon spatula or other stirring utensil, water, paper clips, cardboard or plastic strip, a roll of paper towels. If you are near a water source, you may not need to carry water with you. Read the rest of this entry »
Dealing with the media is a two-edged sword. Positive publicity builds your credibility. Many people are more likely to trust independent authorities such as reviewers, columnists, reporters or broadcasters. Be proactive. Just responding to media queries is not enough. Suggest story ideas to reporters and editors. Help them understand the issues and how they affect the interests of the public. Some events that you may investigate will mean an ongoing interaction with the news media. It is a good idea to set the tone for these ongoing relationships with the media by being as open and honest as possible from the very beginning. Read the rest of this entry »
Choosing your camera
Photography plays a huge role in this investigation business and the quality of your photography matters. If you already own a 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) camera and a variety of lenses, that is great. If not, then don’t run out and buy the store. Cameras have proliferated to such a degree in recent years that it would be impossible to single out any specific model as the agreed upon “best” for this or that purpose. Some so-called “point-and-shoot” auto-focus cameras with built-in zoom lens and automatic flash virtually rival their manufacturer’s professional lines in terms of the final product. Even one-time-use or “disposable” cameras have their place in field investigations. For the best of both analog and digital worlds, many photo-finishing centers can create a digital album CD of your 35mm photographs at the time of processing. Always keep your camera loaded and close at hand. Take extra batteries and more film than you ever think you will need. Read the rest of this entry »
Hoaxers Exist. While monsters and alien spacecraft are not yet proven to exist, hoaxers certainly are.
Shortly after dawn on a February morning in 1948, residents of Clearwater, Florida discovered a marvel. Three-toed footprints, fourteen inches long and eleven inches wide, emerged from the sea and meandered along that serene sandy beach for more than two miles before returning to the waves. Read the rest of this entry »
