Scotland: Aliens' Official Favorite Destination

scubacuda writes: "This Reuters article says that Scotland has the highest concentration of UFO sightings--300 per year, the most per square kilometer and per head of population of anywhere in the world. That means 0.004 UFOs for every square kilometer of Scotland -- a rate four times as high as in France or Italy, earth's other UFO hotspots. (In comparison, only 2,000 UFOs are spotted every year in the United States represent, making just 0.0002 sightings per square kilometer. Bonnybridge--30 miles west of Edinburgh--seems to be the Scotland equivalent of Roswell, New Mexico). UFO nuts explain it in terms of aliens being attracted to remote areas. But can anyone say *autosuggestion*?"

Comments

A book recommendation for the submitter:

[TDScott]

"The Demon-Haunted World" by Carl Sagan does an excellent job of debunking such myths and mysteries, as does the Skeptic's Dictionary.

Funny what people believe, isn't it?

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Anonymous Cowtard]

Funny what lengths people go to in order to make sure everyone knows that the don't believe in all that "silly stuff." Almost like they have to do it constantly to remind themselves.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Zathrus]

I'd argue that it's better to use logic to dissuade those who believe inane things like this, but, frankly, if you look at the UFO sightings distribution you'll note that most of them come from poorly educated areas of highly educated countries.

The point being that, yes, you can try to use logic against UFO nuts. Most of them wouldn't be able to follow you. The educated UFO nut is a rare breed, and they tend to educate their own way out of the hole.

That said, it's fun to read sites like that in much the same way it's fun to read the Darwin awards.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[uncoveror]

To be believable, UFO stories need pictures. Without that, it's a bunch of drunken scotsmen seeing airplanes, helicopters, and flocks of birds, then freaking out. Speaking of pictures, check out these! http://www.uncoveror.com/ufos.htm http://www.uncoveror.com/invaders.htm

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Dark Paladin]

The battle against human stupidity is never ending.

We have to fight against:

• people who believe aliens are really kidnapping people in the countryside
  
• people who believe that herbal viagra will add 2 inches to your penis
  
• people who believe that 2000 jews called in sick to work at the world trade towers
  
• people who believe that Microsoft software is secure
  
• people who believe that 500,000 illegal movies are downloaded from the Internet every day and that it's cutting in profits
  
• people who believe Daikatana was a great game, and John Romero is just getting picked on because he's famous
  
• people who believe that women/children/ethnicgroupsotherthanyourown have no rights because God Said So
  
• people who believe that you have to protect children from porn by using filters that all too often block the good instead of just the bad
  
• people who believe that women are just "asking for it".
  
• people who believe that all anime is porn, all games are violent, and all computer geeks are lonely males who never get dates
  
• people who believe that the search for truth and the destruction of lies is a worthless pursuit
  

Sadly, the human condition where only 5% of the population actually examines evidence, weighs the options, and picks the most logical choice that is proven true by experimentation and analysis is going to continue for a long time. Mainly because most people are too fucking lazy to think for themselves.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Surt]

You forgot the classic:

* People who believe that the creator of the universe chose _one_ single person in all of history to be his official representative, and that if you don't believe that, you're going to suffer for all eternity.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[aiabx]

I never believed in UFO's before, but now I do.
I was particularly convinced by the comment "Digital photo's can't be faked". Anyone who can say that and mean it *must* be from another planet.
-aiabx

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[MindStalker]

Oh god, that was funny. Of course the best line is
"It should be noted, " remarked Dr. Von Vickersburg, "that digital photographs can not be faked, And these are digital photographs. I find their existence very disturbing!"
Digital photos can't be faked? WHAT!!!!!

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Dark Paladin]

Great point - my argument with 99% of religions is "well, our profit (oh, my bad, prophet) said he was going to be the Last Prophet Ever, so that's why God doesn't talk to us anymore".

Great - I love the idea that God pretty much hates everybody in the present/future, so we're pretty much left without any more useful information from the All-Knowing. (Though personally, my view of someone All-Knowing would at least have their "one person in all history" include a chapter on "weird fucking shit that doesn't exist yet, but will in 2000 years, like 'cloning', 'nuclear energy', and 'Britney Spears/Backstreet Boys sexual fantasies'.)

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[carlos_benj]

Digital photos can't be faked? WHAT!!!!!

Yes, it's programs like PhotoShop and the GIMP that are just figments of your imagination.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[brokeninside]

Great point - my argument with 99% of religions is "well, our profit (oh, my bad, prophet) said he was going to be the Last Prophet Ever, so that's why God doesn't talk to us anymore".

Odd, for the life of me I can't think of one major world religion with that tenet. Most religions are not cessationist.

-l

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[carlos_benj]

I've seen a UFO. Still don't have an answer as to what it might have been (that's the 'U' part I believe). Do I believe it was a spaceship from some distant planet? Nope.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[JWSmythe]

Hehe. Ok, I have to love that one. I've personally modified digital pictures.. I have one where a coworker is having sex with a fish.. I have another where a bunch of girls are dancing in one of our colo's.. I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to put a fuzzy dot on a black background..

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[macdaddy357]

As my grandpa used to say, "I saw a UF, but I couldn't quite make out any O."

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Grax]

I believe in UFOs.

Here are the criteria for establishing whether you have seen an honest to goodness UFO.

1. Could you identify it?
2. Was it flying?
3. Was it an object?

If, indeed, you could not identify it, it was flying, and it was an object then, yes, it was a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object).

With the above criteria I would expect greater amounts of UFO sightings among the near-sighted as they/we are more prone to be unable to identify a flying object.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[tshak]

And the:

* People who somehow "Know" that to believe in such a savior is "obviously rubbish" and are closed to all related truths not immediatly proveable by science.

Really, it goes both ways. It's popular in science to bash Christianity. If I were you, I wouldn't be so smug about your "knowledge" of this alleged falsehood. Just because religious zealots believe in a bunch of unsubstantiated dogma doesn't mean that everything they believe is false. I'll be the first to critique religiosity, but I still believe that Christ existed, and is who he says he is. It's not an easy conclusion for a scientist to come to, but its worth the investigation, and it's definitely worth more respect then you're giving it.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[JPriest]

Christ was the bastard child of Mary. She became pregnant while away from home, and said she had been faithful. If in fact Joseph decided not to believe her she would have been stoned to death for adultery. Joseph still loved her and didn't want to see that happen. When Christ was born he was told of his unusual conception and played the part.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[KlippoKlondike]

Odd, for the life of me I can't think of one major world religion with that tenet. Most religions are not cessationist.

It's not in writing, but it's the common belief among xians. For more common beliefs not exacly as they should be, check out 'touched by an angel' (I think that's the name) and other angel shows. Everyone knows we've each got a guardian angel protecting each of us..

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[tshak]

I'm sorry you feel that way. Could you please provide me with some evidence or is this purely speculation?

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[JPriest]

Joseph didn't create the story, he chose to believe it. She didn't admit to him that she had been unfaithful.

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[SedentaryZ]

I may be wrong, but isn't that one of the primary teachings of Islam? That Mohammed was the culmination of a line of prophets and there are to be no more prophets?

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Fjord]

I disagree. She was raped. This didn't really count as losing viginity (if every raped girl was considered to have lost her virginity, then there would have been problems marrying them off).

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Alsee]

Here are the criteria for establishing whether you have seen an honest to goodness UFO.

1. Could you identify it?
2. Was it flying?
3. Was it an object?

Note that 2 out of 3 criteria are required for UFO certification.

-

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[brokeninside]

It's not in writing, but it's the common belief among xians.

It is a common belief among some Baptist groups and in the odd small denomination such as the Campbellite movement (Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ) that miracles (and prophecies) have ceased after the end of the apostolic era. These groups are referred to as "cessationist" and comprise a very small minority of Christians worldwide.

The common belief among most Christian groups from the Shakers to Jehovah's Witnesses to the Roman Catholic Church to Pentacostals to Mormons is that the Holy Spirit continues to bring forth prophets.

If you don't believe me go down to your local Assemblies of God congregation and ask them how many prophets they have in their congregation. I'd wager you can only represent the answer on one hand if you use binary instead of decimal.

Regards,

-l

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[brokeninside]

Technically, yes. In practice, no.

While it is true that Islam officially teaches that after Mohammed, there will be no more prophets. Yet Islam also allows a role for Imams to teach the direct will of God in specific circumstances. For example, in Shia Islam there is a supreme Imam who is infallible in his pronouncements. Also, if there was no more prophecy in the sense that most people understand the word, there would be no Fatwas issued by various Imams.

Lastly, one can argue that Baha'i (which rejects the principle that Mohammed was the last prophet) is a form of Islam, at least in the same sense that Islam and Christianity are both forms of Judaism.

Regards,

-l

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Fred_A]

1. Could you identify it?

2. Was it flying?

3. Was it an object?

Note that 2 out of 3 criteria are required for UFO certification.

Right in front of me is a beer can. I can identify it, it's an object... Oh no! I've been drinking from a UFO!

Re:A book recommendation for the submitter:

[Alsee]

Yeah, #1 is phrased badly. That one should be "Were you unable to identify it?"

Don't blame me, I just used copy and paste :)

-

It's all the Alien tourists...

[SpankTech3000]

going to see the Loch Ness Monster.

Re:It's all the Alien tourists...

[elocutio]

Actually, the Loch Ness Monster is the alien tourist! There is a large group of "Nessies" who visit Scotland, because they love the fog, and they're partial to lochs and fjords. Plus, they really like the sound of bagpipes.

If you just turn your brain off for a minute and try to think, it really makes sense.

Re:It's all the Alien tourists...

[kzinti]

No, it's all that single-malt Scotch they drink on their way to the Loch.

--Jim

Re:It's all the Alien tourists...

[linzeal]

You know overdosing on heroin and scotch must be pretty common over there, those lucky bastards.

Re:It's all the Alien tourists...

[Reality Master 101]

I thought it was for the golf.

Although, the golf in the US much better than the golf in Scotland. Well, no one says Aliens have taste.

Re:It's all the Alien tourists...

[yintercept]

I don't know, I would think the popular spot for alien tourist is up for grabs. This report is based on reported sightings...I mean could you really tell the difference between aliens and locals in places like London, Berlin, Las Vegas, NY or Hollywood? For that matter, aliens could visit Tehran...if they keep a scarf wrapped around the upper part of their body and stay silent, then they could pass for one of the local babes. I mean, this whole thing is based on reporting...I mean, I am pretty sure my last boss was an alien...but I figured, hey, that's cool-live and let slither-and just never reported it.

Re:It's all the Alien tourists...

[Anne_Nonymous]

Having been to both Scotland and Roswell, I can unequivovally say that Scotland is by far the better tourist destination.

Interesting UFO/Aliens viewpoint

[DeafDumbBlind]

http://theness.com/articles/ufospsychoculturalhy po thesis-nejs0304.html

Re:Interesting UFO/Aliens viewpoint

[jspectre]

wish i could read it, but i get a 404.. sorry.

Someone has to!

[Watts Martin]

Can anyone say *autosuggestion?*

Sure: "Autosuggestion."

Re:Someone has to!

[lelitsch]

Can anyone say Whisky?

Re:Someone has to!

[0x20]

Yeah, but you didn't say it, you just typed it. (pause) There, I actually said it. Please transfer mod points to me.

Re:Someone has to!

[mE123]

Whisky?

English and Metric

[TheDick]

I just love how they mix miles and kilometers in the same damn post. One or the other, geez.

Re:English and Metric

[popeydotcom]

That's "Imperial" and Metric to you.

Re:English and Metric

[RebelTycoon]

You'd think NASA would have standarized on the unit of measurement...

Mars crater anyone?

Sheep...

[Kenshin]

I'd say it's most certainly the sheep that attract aliens.

Re:Sheep...

[ralico]

In that case, then New Zealand should have significant UFO sitings reported. BBC article on counting NZ's lost sheep

Quoth Groundskeeper Willie...

[Codex The Sloth]

''...I have crippling arthritis in my index fingers. I got it in 1979 from Space Invaders.''-Groundskeeper Willie

''Yeah, that was a pretty addictive video game.''-Chief Wiggum

''Video game?''-Groundskeeper Willie

I think I've got it figured out.

[spagma]

Quote "The country -- better known as the home of legendary Loch Ness monster -- has the highest concentration of UFO sightings on the planet, according to figures released Monday."

They all just need to get their eyes checked.

Statistics lie...

[eyeball]

Unfortunately the report fails to mention that many of those alleged abductions were actually made by sheep, who tell tails of being abducted from their pens and rectally probed.

Re:Statistics lie...

[eyeball]

Ok, and before anyone busts my balls about my spelling, I'll do it first:

I suck at the spelling.

Re:Statistics lie...

[eyeball]

I suck at the spelling.

That was on purpose :)

Re:Statistics lie...

[zulux]

That was on purpose :)

No worries, my spelling is horrible. It's so bad, that I can count it as a foreign language for purpouses of college admissions.

This can only mean one thing...

[LeninZhiv]

They mean to win Wimbledon!

(A reference to a Monty Python's Flying Circus episode where aliens are turning people into Scotsmen, to those of you scratching your heads.)

It's the haggis...

[NewbieV]

The wee beasties love it, especially with a nice single malt

Re:It's the haggis...

[Guy Innagorillasuit]

Either that or it's the deep-fried candy bars.

Welcome to All Sightings UFO...

[errxn]

...If it's not Scottish, It's CRAP!

That just the locals

[christophercook]

I've been to bonnybridge, these aren't aliens- thats just what the locals looks like - do these mysterious aliens wear kappa shell-suits and push prams by any chance? The aliens have landed and they're disguised as irn-bru and vodka swigging 15-yr old's called sonya.

Sorry, it's a lovely place, honest.

Re:That just the locals

[doctor_oktagon]

.. in that case we'd be seeing far more in Greenock than I've ever seen!

And the next person on here to say "Scotch" rather than "Whisky" is getting my toe up their arse, as we say in Scotland ;-)

Re:That just the locals

[xtremex]

Can anyone hear actually admit that they can UNDERSTAND a Scottsman speaking?? I've seen some of those scottish movies, and damn it, they have SUBtitles! Trust me, they're needed!

Re:That just the locals

[alpha_to_omega]

A more accurrate discription would be.

The female of the species wearing white nylon shell suit. On one hand 4 rings with fake gold coined rings, and on the other hand a nuckel buster which spells out their name. Pram usually an accessory item, normally one of those mordern that cost an absolute bloody fortune.

The male of the species. Again wearing shell-suit, usually blue or green but sometimes white. Skinhead.

This alien species comunicates through the nazal passages of the noice. Popular to countary belief the drink is not irn-bru and vodka, but a strange tonic known as "Bukkie" (usually renowed for giving them super powers such as running through bus shelters).

This species of alien has been classified by scientists as the NED!!!!

Oh, you mean extraterrestrials!

[darkonc]

I think that most of these sightings were actually Americans...

Strange creatures in strange garb, from a faraway place, speaking a strange language (the accent gets deep enough...) and with no apparent knowledge of human (or at least local) customs.
and they're always trying to 'probe' the local women (not to mention the sheep)!

Re:Oh, you mean extraterrestrials!

[Jeppe Salvesen]

I thought scotland was the land of the scared sheep? You guys don't even wear underwear under your kilts. Talk about convenience!

what a coincidence..

[bje2]

in related news, Scotland also leads the world in Lochness Monster sightings per capita...

Possible Conclusions

[guttentag]

1. Aliens have finally realized that New Mexico is not a great vacation spot
2. Aliens watch way to much Highlander and SciFi Channel
3. Aliens drifted off-course on their way from Cuba to Miami (or the Coast Guard keeps driving them away)

Re:Possible Conclusions

[guttentag]

... way to much ...

Er, "too much"

Re:Possible Conclusions

[Fred IV]

don't forget... 4. Aliens, tired of endless Mike Meyers sequels, have decided to side with Fat Bastard and Dr. Evil in order to kill Austin Powers. "Yeeeah baby ARRRRGGGGH!!!"

Re:Possible Conclusions

[paradesign]

in # 3, those arent Aliens, theyre Elians

Re:Possible Conclusions

[hplasm]

Could be that the Scottish Tourist board has really done a good job this year..

We need a correlation study to verify....

[zerofoo]

UFO sitings may be higher in remote areas, but I think the frequency of sightings can be more closely correlated to the alcohol consumption rate in a given area.

-ted

Re:We need a correlation study to verify....

[ALoverOfPeace]

Marge: Homer, it's 2 am. What happened? Homer: It was an alien, Marge! It appeared in front of me and said "Don't be Afraid." Marge: (smells) Have you been drinking? Homer: No! Well, ten beers.

Galaxy Quest...

[NanoGator]

It's probably just a bunch of Thermians visiting the birthplace of Mr. Scott.

Visiblity at night?

[mr_infiniti]

I think one reason that UFO sightings are more prevalent in Scotland has to do with visibility of the night sky. In large urban areas, you can't see the stars because of the glare/haze caused by cities, and therefore can't see possible UFO's. More people live in New York City than live in all Scotland.

Ah Scotland...

[i_want_you_to_throw_]

Come for the Haggis, stay for the anal probes.

Re:Ah Scotland...

[LittleGuy]

Come for the Haggis, stay for the anal probes.

Methinks the aliens saw the scene in "Braveheart" where William Wallace and his men mooned the English, and considered it a welcoming invitation to visit.

Drunkards?

[photon317]

Hmm... Scottland, Italy, France - has anyone done a study to correlate the average number of UFOs sighted with the average number of alcoholic beverages imbibed?

Re:Drunkards?

[Seanasy]

Sorry, Ireland and Russia weren't mentioned in the article. However, there may be a place on the inebriation scale between comical (Irish) and dead (Russian) where UFO sightings would fit.

UFU

[The_Shadows]

Unidentified Flying Udders?

And from the sky shall rain forth the sheep or cows.

Can anyone say

[rjamestaylor]

• But can anyone say *autosuggestion*?

Can anyone say *Military Flyover Country*?

Scottland

[ajs]

Well, if you lived in Scottland, you'd be looking up in the skies for some excitement. Heck, these are the people who throw rocks and logs around for fun!

Ok, relax... it's just a joke. Here in the U.S. we need to wear pads and have time-outs to play rugby, so what do ya want? :-)

Re:Scottland

[daveed]

Mod this git down for not being able to spell the country he's talking about! Damn Yanks

Nutball to Land ratio

[Anonymous Coward]

So... Scotland has relatively few nutballs but it's quite small hence a high nutball/per km ratio whilst the US is many, many times bigger than Scotland yet the nutball/per km ratio is just half that of Scotland (0.0002), so in conclusion, the US much have a ridiculously high level of nutballs and slack jawed yokels to maintain such a high ratio in a huge country.

Forget Scotland... what does this really indicate? Don't travel out into the country side too far.

Well. it can't be because of the food.

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually the favourite dish in England and Scotland these days is curry so maybe it is
the Vindaloo .
Last I heard it's tough to get a good Vindaloo
in Roswell.

Loch Ness Monster flies a UFO

[swb]

I mean, didn't anyone else automatically make this connection?

I'm sure we'll find out that there's been a bunch of sightings in the Himalayas as well due to Nessie picking up the Yeti in the UFO.

Those ratios are slightly off!!

[binner1]

If you remove all of the United States except for the trailer parks where most sightings occur, I think the US ratio would make Scotland's look like EuroDisney!

-Ben

I've seen 'em!

[quantaman]

Yup a few times! They always seem to come after I've drunken large quantities of whiskey in a remote place in the wilderness. In fact it seems that the both the frequency of the sightings and the degree of the encounter are directly proportional to the amount of alcohol I've consumed I wonder why...

Ah! the aliens must be studying complex carbon chain based beverages.

Re:I've seen 'em!

[Tablizer]

(* Yup a few times! They always seem to come after I've drunken large quantities of whiskey in a remote *)

There is no evidence that people who report UFO's are more likely to be drunk.

Perhaps more drunk people see UFO's (and other things), but seeing and reporting are not necessarily the same thing.

Somebody who has an alcoholic problem is probably more likely to keep their mouth shut, I would figure, as they tend to be kind of defensive about their state of mind.

New 'The Scotsman' song...?

[Mu*puppy]

Gives a new mental image to the line: Oh lad I don't know where ye been, but I see you won first prize!

And to think, abductees in America seem to only get anal probes...

Other causes?

[afidel]

Could it be all the spirit's consumed in Scotland that explains these sightings?

I, like many scientists, am a skeptic

[PhysicsGenius]

If someone comes to me claiming to have cheap land in Florida, I insist on flying down and checking it out. When someone says they have written a great program that they are giving away for free, I look askance.

However, I think that the skeptical nickel has already been spent on UFO's. We are beyond the point where we should be doubting basic facts like the existence of these objects and we should instead be concentrating on figuring out what they are and what the occupants want with us.

Many abductees speak of messages of peace but these are strangely juxtaposed with rough treatment in the area of the rectum. Could it be that these are interstellar proponents of Open Source software, here to talk of love but then commit rape? I think the chances are good.

Re:I, like many scientists, am a skeptic

[Tablizer]

(* Many abductees speak of messages of peace but these are strangely juxtaposed with rough treatment in the area of the rectum. *)

The jist of what have I read suggests that the 'grays' tend to be like a large beurocracy where they say one thing and do another. They are able to screw with abductees emotions to make them feel peaceful.

Of course, this is based purely on interpretations of witness testinomy recovered usually under hypnosis. Budd Hopkins and David Jacobs are considered the "leaders" in this field of research. I hope they are wrong, because their conclusions are not pretty. I would note that some of the X-files story lines appear to borrow from their works.

Re:I, like many scientists, am a skeptic

[hplasm]

Maybe it's the alien handshake..

As a famous song's last line says,

[Apuleius]

"Well, lad, I don't know where you've been,
but the aliens gave you first prize."

not a single UFO spotted from Vatican City?

[uncledrax]

Geez.. if so.. then Vatican city would have a whopping 2.27... UFOs per Sq Km.. certainly an unbeatable density by any other nation!

[
Numbers based on MapQuest atlas.. Vatican City == .44 sq. KM
On a side note.. MapQuest also lists Vatican City has having a 100% Lit. rate..

Oh dear

[Rogerborg]

I live not far from Bonnybridge. I wouldn't call it the arsehole of the universe, because arseholes have a use. Bonnybridge is a classic oversized-small-town, i.e. crammed full of disillusioned young people with nothing to do. UFO spotting is pretty much the only thing to do there of an evening that doesn't involve pointy implements or GTA (the Live Action version).

Note the military airlanes, note the undulating foggy roads, note that UFO sighting go up after firework displays. It's pretty much a local game now, with people playing along and making up more and more outrageous claims. And note also the ulterior commercial motive: a (dear god) theme park.

I'm picturing the pitch now: "Come to Bonnybridge, home of surly teenagers and desparate hollow eyed single mothers. Taste the delights of warm Irn Bru and soggy chippies. A free stabbing with every ticket!"

Shudder. Nothing to see here. Move along. For your own good, move along.

Re:Oh dear

[r5t8i6y3]

please mod this up.

The Disclosure Project

note: i know i posted this once already, just trying to get some folks to see something related that seriously addresses the topic at hand.

Re:Oh dear

[The Mgt]

i'm up for the single mothers

No, really, you aren't. Trust me.

sure they do...

[Patrick13]

....that Scotland has the highest concentration of UFU sightings...

sure Scotland sees a lot of UFUs, but what about UFOs? Everyone knows UFOs always visit the trailerparks of the southeast US with greater frequency, weather permiting....not easy to abduct people while a tornado is destroying their home and plastic pink flamingo lawn ornaments....

Scotland == UFOs != Alcohol

[nick_davison]

The Scottish predilection for whisky, beer and falling down drunk has nothing to do with the hard, scientific fact that they're seeing things. Nothing whatsoever. Especially not that weird floaty feeling that they're about to fall off the world as they're actually beamed up to the mothership.

Just wanted to make sure that was absolutely clear. We'll have no dispersions cast here!

Re:Scotland == UFOs != Alcohol

[nick_davison]

Surely you're thinking of Ireland, not Scotland!

Surely you've never been to Scotland. Although there may be a curious pattern emerging here with people who have to sit next to us English their entire lives.

That means...

[RAMMS EIN]

``That means 0.004 UFOs for every square kilometer of Scotland''
No, that just means that Scots drink more Whiskey

No doubt that...

[BigBir3d]

""Traditionally Scotland has had a lot of odd incidents, right through history, from ghosts and poltergeists to supernatural beings and the Loch Ness monster. So, Scotland is well-known as a place where strange things happen," Ron Halliday, author of "UFO Scotland," said."

...this is due to the large amounts of liquor consumed in Scotland.

Is this related to the # of drunken Scotsmen?

[qurob]

Scotland: The country where Saucer doesn't refer to the UFO's

Are they alien tourists...

[Rude Turnip]

or just visiting relatives?

What I'd like to see...

[Mockura]

... are statistics broken down on a Per Capita basis - in some ways that would be more telling.

Re:What I'd like to see...

[mabinogi]

Then read the article....

Re:What I'd like to see...

[Mockura]

How the HELL did is miss that? I'm a clueless idiot!

Loch Ness Monster kidnapped by UFO

[oliverthered]

I am an alien and I have kidnapped Nessie.
I demand 15000 fags, 20 crates of haggis, a few bottles of single malt and that wee pritty lass you have sitting on you knee.

All ransom goods must be dropped of at the bottom of the big mars lake or you will never see nessie again.

Re: Loch Ness Monster kidnapped by UFO

[grytpype]

Ach! Dinna price yersel out of the market! I'll give you the caber of the clan MacReekie and a set of nickel-plated bagpipes to ransom poor Nessie!

Alien preferences?

[cmburns69]

Sounds like they have good taste! Scotch, spaghetti and wine sounds like a winner to me!

CMB

interesting statistics choices

[bilbobuggins]

scot 1: 'Agh, I've stepped on something!'

scot 2: 'Bloody hell Angus, I think that's 0.004 of a UFO!!'

weatherballoon

[ComaVN]

It's a weatherballoon. It's always a weatherballoon. If it moves at mach 10 across the sky, it's the reflection of a weatherballoon on ice particles.

that would be quite obvious for anyone

[Edmund Blackadder]

that watches monty python...
and now for the bonus question:

which nation's people are the worst tennis players in theuniverse. The answer will appear on your tv screen. If you do not want to see the answer please turn your tv upside down.

Re:that would be quite obvious for anyone

[leshert]

Hmm... could Nessie really be a giant blancmange?

Coincidence?

[sdjunky]

They also have a higher concentration of McDonalds?

Coincidence?

I think not.

Re:Coincidence?

[Tablizer]

(* They also have a higher concentration of McDonalds....Coincidence? *)

Now that is a Whopper of a theory :-)

Scotland and UFO's

[rscrawford]

Personally, I think the Scots are just letting their haggis sit for too long in the sun before eating it.

There's a difference?

[wiredog]

They're both gross.

They're just feeding Nessie.

[Target Drone]

According to Nessie on the Net.

UFOs have already been seen elsewhere in Scotland and could help explain how prehistoric creatures like the Loch Ness Monster have managed to survive for thousands of years.

So obviously aliens abducted Nessie(s) thousands of years ago and because their planet is thousands of light years away (and their UFOs travel at light speed) it only relatively recently returned her to the lock. This also means that Nessie didn't age because she was traveling at light speed.

I'm also sure that the reason there are so many UFO sighting in Scotland is because everytime some research expeditions sets out to try and find Nessie the aliens come back and help her hide. If people would just stop trying to find Nessie there wouldn't be any where near as many UFO sightings in Scotland.

A Surprise? Hardly.

[citizenc]

So... Scotland... you say you've seen tons and tons of UFOs, huh? How's that monster in the lake coming?

Can anyone say "Scots are a bunch of drunks"?

[cprice]

I've known a few Scotsmen (and women), and they have a certain affinity for strong drink if you know what I mean. :)

Actually...

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

If it's true (*laugh*), then it is because of a higher population density... simply more people there to see them. Too many rural areas in the US for us to catch em all.

But since I find it hard to buy that aliens go for an interstellar joyride in Scotland all the time, this means it's obviously the supersecret british skunkworks aerospace base causing these sightings. They have stuff 60 yrs ahead of anything we have, after all. (*ROFLMAO*)

Re:Actually...

[Patrick13]

it is because of a higher population density...

i don't think its population density as much as a dense population...

What about werewolves?

[Lord Omlette]

Anyone seen that movie SciFi had on a week ago? Dog Soldiers? UFOs are weak compared to that shit.

I saw a UFO

[Kickstart70]

Note the 'U'...that means I just saw something in the sky that I couldn't recognize. I didn't automatically assume it was little green men coming to molest our livestock and rednecks.

It was about June in 1987 and my father and I were out working on the ranch I grew up on. I looked to the sky and saw a small silver dot to the north of us about 60 degrees above the horizon. As I watched it it moved rapidly to the west about 5 degrees then a little more slowly to the east over the mountain next to us. It was really small, so I couldn't see anything other than it was reflecting a lot of light from the sun (this happened mid-afternoon).

I didn't bother to report it because I suspect there is some normal explanation for it (but weather balloons don't move that fast I think), but I still do wonder what that rational explanation is.

Kickstart

side effects of

[guest12]

usquebaugh and haggis

Roswell that Ends Well

[Zancarius]

This is actually quite a funny topic today considering I don't really live all that far away from Roswell (at least, in New Mexico's terms -- to us, 100+ miles "really isn't that far"). The reason for my humor: UFO sightings -- last I checked -- have actually dropped in this State of the Union. I'm not sure if it's because Scotch sales have dropped over the last few years or because we have so many DWI's that the possible "sightings" are really just police checkpoints =D

Aside from that, I would definitely have to agree with some of the other /.ers that it is kinda funny how UFO sightings are common only in remote regions of the country. Then again, New Mexico has seen some of the government's strangest experiments anyway, so the local sightings might not be sightings at all =) Let's see ... Trinity Site ... F-117s ... God knows what else.

...still, that doesn't explain Scotland unless the aliens have a bizarre taste for bagpipes.

It's the Zygons!

[Anonymous Coward]

Someone call Dr. Who! Season 13, episode 1, "The Doctor tangles with alien race the Zygons and solves the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster." from http://www.tvchronicles.com/episodeguides/drwhotom baker.htm

I never seen one without assistance...

[dbaigrie]

Well I live just on the outscirts of Edinburgh, Scotland and I have never seen any UFO's without the assistance of some shrooms ;-)

They mean to win Wimbledon!

[bpfinn]

Charles: Yes. So these blancmanges, blancmange-shaped creatures come from the planet Skyron in the Galaxy of Andromeda. They order 48,000,000 kilts from a Scottish menswear shop ... turn the population of England into Scotsmen (well known as the worst tennis-playing nation on Earth) thus leaving England empty during Wimbledon fortnight! Empty during Wimbledon fortnight ... what's more the papers are full of reports of blancmanges appearing on tennis courts up and down the country - practising. This can only mean one thing!

Voice Over and caption on sceeen: 'THEY MEAN TO WIN WIMBLEDON'

Charles: They mean to win Wimbledon!

another ufo = experimental weapons theory

[t_allardyce]

Maybe thereâ(TM)s some sort of connection between the number of ufo sightings and the number of bases the US has managed to set-up in that particular area. But that would make the middle-eastern holey lands the greatest ufo hot spot. Oh well, maybe they've been confusing visions from the heavens with all the experimental American planes and weapons tests :)

Project Aurora and Argyll

[The Evil Dwarf from]

The UFO sightings are the strongest arguement for the existenct of Project Aurora, the top secret latest hypersonic aircraft out of the US black budget.
Aurora Project Hypersonic Aircraft
has a good image of the "Donut on a rope" contrail that a pulse ramjet is supposed to make, which is thought to be the power plant of the aircraft.
Janes Aerospace has given the Aurora an official entry after sighting the characteristic contrail.

Scotch? as in Whisky?

[juliao]

I wonder what the relation of UFO sightings to whisky drinking might be...

It is mentioned that the number is three times larger than in France. That is to be expected, since whisky has three to four times more alcohol in it than the equivalent quantity of wine. The same rationale may be used for Italy, also an established wine producer.

(Yes, France makes cognac and Italy makes grappa, but these are mostly export products ;) )

Does anyone know what the number of UFO sightings is like in Lynchburg, Tennessee?

Re:Scotch? as in Whisky?

[Mzilikazi]

Does anyone know what the number of UFO sightings is like in Lynchburg, Tennessee?

Lynchburg is in a dry county:

Lynchburg is located in Moore County, Tennessee which is officially a "dry county". That means, no alcoholic beverages may be sold within Moore County. Ironically, there are 48 warehouses with over 200 million liters of Jack Daniel's Sour Mash Whiskey stored in barrels on the hill outside of Lynchburg. The distillery is permitted to sell special collector bottles of whiskey only to tourists from outside the county.

A set of my relatives lived near there back in the day, and purportedly let a young Jack Daniels live in their barn for a few months. However, said relatives didn't drink alcohol and refused to enter into a partnership with the enterprising young man. I weep for the fact that if my ancestors had stayed true to their Scotch-Irish roots, I could have lived the easy life of a hard liquor heir. Of course, if I remember correctly one of the men in that branch of the family was hanged for stealing a horse a few years later, so I guess the karma worked itself out. ;)

Don't know about the UFO sightings, though.

One Word:

[IsleOfView]

Guinness

The Humours of Whisky

[Ranger]

The question is: Are there large blancmanges from the Andromeda galaxy turning Englishmen into Scotsment? Monty Python's Science Fiction Sketch.

I've been told by a reliable source that in large doses Scotch Whisky enhances your ability to see UFO's. This probably explains why some people can see them and other's can't.

HEEAD! SPACESHIP! NOW!

[gdyas]

"Looka that great heead! It's a virtual planitoid, 'tis! Got its own weather system!"

Tourism

[the_womble]

These numbers come from Visit Scotalnd.

Maybe with Nessie hunters becoming rarer UFO enthusiasts are what the Scottish tourist industry needs?

Scotland vs. Mexico?

[The Mutant]

What a second! Just a few short years ago I remember all sorts of media coverage mentioning Mexico as a UFO hotspot.

In fact, these two google searchs show far more web pages mentioning UFO's and Mexico (maybe 75,000 ) than UFO's and Scotland (about 14,000)

I'm not convinced!

It's because of the kilts...

[fmaxwell]

The reason that extraterrestrials visit Scotland so often is that Scottish men wear kilts. That makes the anal probes much easier to perform. No fumbling with belts, zippers, etc.

Re:It's because of the kilts...

[Smid]

Ah. Don't believe everything you watch on the simpsons...

Smid

Statistics

[Washizu]

Everyone knows you can make the statistics saw whatever you want them to. Many of the sightings were probably for the same alien encounter.

Don't knock haggis

[Rupert]

I don't know why haggis has this terrible reputation. Over here, the local "Scottish" bar doesn't even serve haggis on Burns night. Does anyone know if Waitrose still sells haggis? I used to eat one of those almost every week.

Re:Don't knock haggis

[radja]

as opposed to what.. hot dogs?

//rdj

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

They mean to win Wimbledon!

[UsonianAutomatic]

In other news, Angus Podgorney just received an order for 48,000,000 kilts from the planet Skyron.

Fuck!

[Rupert]

I just blew 5 mod points.

Taco, would you please warn us before we post to a story that we've already modded?

Monty Python

[jmu1]

I seem to remember a skit of beings from outerspace turning everyone into Scottsmen. Quite scary!

You mean...

[Sycraft-fu]

there are computer geeks that actually DO get dates???? Fuck, now I'm even more lonely and depressed. ;)

Re:You mean...

[Anonymous Coward]

there are computer geeks that actually DO get dates???? Fuck, now I'm even more lonely and depressed.

My thoughts exactly. But if this is true, post a link to the Geek Dating FAQ or HOWTO, please. I couldn't find it on LDP.

Re:You mean...

[Anonymous Coward]

Your wish is my command Anonymous Coward one. See here. For the goatse.cx averse, cut-and-paste: www.tuxedo.org/~esr/writings/sextips/

Scotland and the uncanny

[Creosote]

Remember, Scotland invented the word "uncanny", and in older Scots it meant not only weird but dangerous. UFO just stands for Uncanny Ferlies, Och!

All I know is that I had a UFO experience during my one and only visit to Scotland. I was in Glasgow for a meeting, and rented a car for the one free day I had, to drive as far into the western Highlands as I could go. I was driving through Glen Coe, which is about as wild and romantic a place as it gets (on both aesthetic and historic grounds), when WHOOSH something flew past me at incredible speed, and not too high up; it seemed to be three pitch-black fighter planes. But I couldn't be sure I hadn't just imagined it. What would jet fighters be doing swooping through idyllic Glen Coe as if it were part of a Star Wars set?

As it happened, I shared a compartment on the train back to London with a guy in the RAF, and he told me that sure enough, the glens up there were used a lot for low-level military flight training. (Of course, he could have been an Alien plant trying to convince me that everything was Just Fine.)

But it doesn't take desert flats or Highland glens to produce odd sightings. The most uncanny experience I've ever had was riding a city bus in New Haven late in the afternoon, and casually noticing the sun going down out the window to the east, and then as it penetrated my consciousness what that meant experiencing a couple of seconds of disorientation and pure panic until the reason-seeking part of my brain figured out that I was simply seeing a reflection of the sunset to the west. But if I'd only had that split-second perception of the world reversed, I might for the rest of my days had sworn that I had slipped through a crack into an alternate universe for a moment.

I drive by Bonnybridge everyday

[skippy81]

and I often see strange flashes in my rear view mirror. Could have been the speed cameras though....

Aliens like Whisky too.

[notany]

Oly paashegh int the ynvierse where y can get the finhesth Scotch Whisky. Sory yer me spelling but i have Famous Grouse in my glass.

RUMOR ! Flying Saucer Propulsion Engine in SV !!!

[geekster_2000]

Space Propulsion Engine for Flying Saucer - New Physics

Rumor in Silicon Valley -

Inventor of 3D volume holographic optical storage
shopping his concept for Space Propulsion Engine
using Propellantless Mass to USA and other countries.

for further look at biography background goto

http://colossalstorage.net/colossal.htm

He says he has researched all propulsion concepts at NASA, Lockheed,
Europe, Asia, and Russian Space Agencies and
knows their WW II propellant mass and other
propellantless technologies.

He is working in top secret and he says no physicist or scientist
he has ever studied or researched had this approach and knows his
concept will work to give near light speed travel thru Galaxy with
500K/Miles per Hour to start or 138 miles/sec. Nasa fastest time
are 25,000 mile/hr or 3.9 miles/sec

He says it is a mankind first concept !!

Three words:

[ZaMoose]

Guiness is Irish.

Connectivity.

[Night0wl]

If these unidentifiables are the one's I'm thinking of, they must have some great wireless connectivity from all those "It was only a weather balloon(s)" floating around.

Not exactly

[hackwrench]

More like calling a Californian a Texan.

I bet they're coming for...

[DigitalHammer]

The Scottish skirts! Theyre all the rage on planet GC67842124098...Old AM radio brodcasts from Scottish bagpipe music stations...bagpipe notes translate in their language...come to Earth for great deals on Blogugian Xen skirts, 50% off!

It's all that drinking!

[alan_dershowitz]

and blunt head trauma from soccer riots. Can't forget those.

"They" have come to purchase kilts

[decipher_saint]

Yes, thousands of kilts as the aliens (who look like giant blancmanges) plan to turn everyone on earth into a Scotsman and win doubles at Wimbledon.

Of course this was all documented earlier by Monty Python

Negra Modelo will solve the problem.

[rice_burners_suck]

That just means they drink too much Guinness in Scotland.

They should drink Negra Modelo instead. Then, maybe the aliens would stop by and have some with them, and they'd get to talk to the aliens and figure out where the hell they're from. But aliens obviously don't like Guinness. Oooooooooh well.

Re:Negra Modelo will solve the problem.

[Vuarnet]

They should drink Negra Modelo instead. Yeah. Just the reason they've been looking for to declare war on our species. If you're gonna serve them beer, give them some XX Lager or Sol.

Maybe it's because there really is a reason....

[hackwrench]

the United States calles the system it uses the English system and not the Imperial system. They really are two different systems.

Get in mah bellly....

[Gehenna_Gehenna]

oooOOOOooooh

Look at the little green baby.

Ah tell you what. You can KEEP yer spaceship, you can keep yer photos, but ahh want the little green alien baby.

Ahh want mah green baby green baby green baby green baby .. ribs.

GET IN MAH BELLY!
Ahm higher on the food chain than you.. GET IN MAH BELLY...

Sorry. Hindsight tells me that the previous post is very silly. Please ignore.

do the UFOs look like DC10s?

[niloroth]

Are there many Scientologists there? It could be that Xenu is actualy imprisioned in Scotland, and the UFOs are just the Loyal Officers stopping by to check up on him.

Obligatory Bill Hicks Quotes

[stereoroid]

1. "I'll tell you, too, that's starting to depress me about UFO's, about the fact that they cross galaxies or wherever they come from to visit us and always end up in places like Fife, Alabama. " (maybe that should read "Fife, Scotland"?)
2. "With a five-minute UFO experience I got a taste of holiness I never got in 20 years of religion."
3. "Would you let the aliens land, please? They might be here to pick me up."

Is there anything that The Great One didn't have an opinion on?

Seeing things in Scotland?

[GiantPez]

So what's the alcohol consumption per capita there? Do they also have the highest numbers for "wee flying pigs"?

On the contrary

[elsegundo]

Aliens have finally realized that New Mexico is not a great vacation spot

Actually, NM is an excellent vacation spot. Lots of mountains and lakes and cool desert places. (Hot in the summer, but still nifty).

My guess is that that the aliens went to Scotland to eat all that bland Scottish cooking after blowing their stomachs out from eating the green chile in NM!

Correlation

[bill_guts]

How about a study that compares the number of UFO sightings against alcohol consumption?

The Foxyworthy Theorum of Relativity

[Ilan Volow]

UFO nuts explain it in terms of aliens being attracted to remote areas.

I think it's more that remote areas are unusually attracted to large masses of drunk rednecks.

If you want to flame, do it accurately.

[Goldenhawk]

This deserves a response. I might as well burn some of my hard-won karma.

I for one believe that. Are you implying that I'm therefore foolish?

What I find foolish is the man who believes he understands a religion merely from observing its imperfect adherents. I'm sure you feel justified in your view of Christianity, based on how some Christians have behaved. How about Islam - I would bet you also think that the average Muslim is not a bad person - it's a few bad eggs who give it a bad name. If so, I submit that your view is hypocritical. If you want to understand Christianity, you ought to find out what its users' manual says before you make broad sweeping statements to a few million readers.

Here's the way the Bible presents the situation - which is NOT how you've presented it. First, the creator did NOT choose one single person. He chose HIMSELF. The Bible plainly states that God became man, and gave up his own human life on earth, to make a simple and easy way for man to be restored to a relationship with Himself. "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:17). Read the surrounding few verses for some more context.

Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God created man expressly so that He could have a relationship with us - not to rule us, but to have us become His friends. See Genesis 1:26 and John 15:13. In the working of His creation, we are free to turn away from God, as you plainly have done. That is your choice - God loved you enough to be willing to let you walk away from Him. But the consequence of your choice is eternal separation from Him. He didn't condemn anyone to eternal pain - each person who walks away from Him chooses his own suffering. If your preference is to live without God, he grants you that wish, despite His strong interest in a loving relationship with you.

I'd invite anyone who wants to know more about this to visit a simple presentation of the Gospel, at http://www.simusic.com/john316/. You may also find this letter about God's love enlightening: http://www.simusic.com/lenora.html.

Re:If you want to flame, do it accurately.

[GMontag451]

Here's the way the Bible presents the situation - which is NOT how you've presented it. First, the creator did NOT choose one single person. He chose HIMSELF. The Bible plainly states that God became man, and gave up his own human life on earth, to make a simple and easy way for man to be restored to a relationship with Himself. "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." (John 3:17). Read the surrounding few verses for some more context.

Actually, God chose several people to be his ambassadors, 5 to be precise. I am referring to the authors of the works of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (or rather the people who wrote down what they said approx 30 years later), and Paul. Because the ambassador is the person who actually tells everyone else what you said. This was NOT Jesus. Jesus didn't write a single word of the Bible. Kind of strange when you think about it, hmmm?

Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God created man expressly so that He could have a relationship with us - not to rule us, but to have us become His friends. See Genesis 1:26 and John 15:13. In the working of His creation, we are free to turn away from God, as you plainly have done. That is your choice - God loved you enough to be willing to let you walk away from Him. But the consequence of your choice is eternal separation from Him. He didn't condemn anyone to eternal pain - each person who walks away from Him chooses his own suffering. If your preference is to live without God, he grants you that wish, despite His strong interest in a loving relationship with you.

Being free to turn away from God is impossible according to the Bible. The Bible says that God is omniscient, which therefore negates any possibility of free will for humans, and for that matter, for God as well. Another interesting thought, eh?

The simple fact is that the Bible is rife with contradictions, absurdities, and horrific morals. On top of that, several major portions are copied wholesale from other religions. In short, its not very good as a history book, it definately isn't good as a science book, and it certainly isn't good as a book of morals. Its useless trash.

Re:If you want to flame, do it accurately.

[Reality Master 101]

I'm always curious to ask something from people like you, who I assume believe the bible is the word of God: Why does God condone slavery? And if we all agree that slavery is bad, doesn't that indicate that either 1) we are going against God's wishes, or 2) the bible really is just another book, and has nothing to do with the question of God.

Of course, I always get a lot of hedging about this ("well, that was a long time ago and the slavery laws were needed at that time, but doesn't apply to today's society"). One of these days I'd like to hear someone do better. :)

Re:If you want to flame, do it accurately.

[Goldenhawk]

>I'm always curious to ask something from people like you, who I assume believe the
>bible is the word of God: Why does God condone slavery? And if we all agree that
>slavery is bad, doesn't that indicate that either 1) we are going against God's wishes,
>or 2) the bible really is just another book, and has nothing to do with the question of God.

As I understand it, the Bible does not condone slavery.

The Old Testament at first glance does appear to support slavery. If you start reading the Bible at Genesis and give up before Matthew, you would probably get the idea that the world of God is a pretty ugly place. God many times in the Old Testament used the Hebrew people to inflict His righteous judgement on peoples (hard for many "Isn't God so warm and fuzzy" types to reconcile), so the Hebrews were often commanded to subjugate entire cities. Within this context, slavery appears to be condoned. However, I would point to the fact that even in modern-day Israel and Judaism, which (at least in theory) believes in the Old Testament scriptures, and not the New Testament, slavery is not permitted. So apparently a "kosher" interpretation of the Old Testament does not even really support slavery.

However, moving ahead to consider Christianity, in the Old Testament God dictated a lot of laws to govern the life of the Hebrews, but His perfect creation had not yet come - Jesus as the One who made the Law to be obsolete - or more accurately, the One who fulfilled the Law perfectly. So the New Testament, with its record of the life of Jesus, is a more accurate representation of "God's World as it Should Be." It sets forth God's perfect pattern, with His Son as the model for our behavior and salvation through trust in His death on the cross, instead of our slavish adherence to rules and good works. Therefore, the New Testament should be depended upon for insight, in preference to the Old Testament.

Given this framework, the New Testament includes several discussions of slavery, most by the Apostle Paul, who advises those who are already in slavery to do their work dilgently so as to be a good witness to their masters, and advises those who are slaveholders to treat their slaves with respect, recognizing that they are equals in God's eyes. The problem most modern readers have is that we tend to forget that the Bible was written in context. Slavery was a common fact in all cultures at the time. It is addressed as such. Within that context, Paul and many other writers in the New Testament repeatedly stress that God does not play favorites, that all men are equal before God, and that any instance where one man abuses his relationship with another is wrong. If all Christians followed this advice, I doubt we'd even be having this conversation. But we are not perfect, even those of us who believe and try to follow the Bible's teachings.

One final thought. The fact that something happens in the Bible does not mean it is God's desire, will, commandment, or creation. As I described in my parent post, God gave us free will. That unfortunately includes the ability to royally screw everything up. If He stepped in to fix everything we did wrong, it would not be free will. And one of the consequences of our chosing to screw things up is that people get hurt - or killed - or enslaved.

One fairly indisputable fact is that any society that is based squarely upon the Judeo-Christian principles of ethics, government, and religion has the best overall track record for humanitarian treatment of all peoples regardless of their individual characteristics or status. Look at any Muslim, atheistic, or Hindu nation, and compare the average human rights record with those of the United States and much of Europe. Neither side is perfect, and never will be, but I believe a fair assessment of the conditions experienced by their residents bears up this point of view.

Re:If you want to flame, do it accurately.

[Wavicle]

Actually, God chose several people to be his ambassadors, 5 to be precise. I am referring to the authors of the works of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, John (or rather the people who wrote down what they said approx 30 years later), and Paul. Because the ambassador is the person who actually tells everyone else what you said. This was NOT Jesus. Jesus didn't write a single word of the Bible. Kind of strange when you think about it, hmmm?

Oh they have some very clever dogma to take care of this one. In order to give some absoluteness to their biblical canon they decided to close that loophole by claiming that those who wrote the books (which were neither Jesus, nor the apostles) were filled/guided/possessed with the holy spirit which made them infallible. I would think such an action would earn them fame in the bible, but apparently it did not.

Additionally many english religions were not founded by scholars who understood Aramaic and ancient Greek, so they depended on the King James Version (translation) of the Bible and therefore add to their Dogma that the translators to english were also guided by the holy spirit and therefore infallible.

With all this infallability going on, pay no attention to the fact that the lords prayer appearing almost identically twice in the bible should provide some evidence of fallibility somewhere along the line (see KJV Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-13).

Re:If you want to flame, do it accurately.

[mr100percent]

The simple fact is that the Bible is rife with contradictions, absurdities, and horrific morals. On top of that, several major portions are copied wholesale from other religions. In short, its not very good as a history book, it definately isn't good as a science book, and it certainly isn't good as a book of morals. Its useless trash.

Well, there's always the Koran, sent by God Himself, and perfectly preserved, no pieces missing nor contradict.

Re:If you want to flame, do it accurately.

[nelsonal]

Also in the Law, the rules for slavery were something more like indentured servanthood. They were all to be set free every fifty years so prices would reflect the years of service left until the next year of jubilee. Which is a pretty cool concept, a year of rest (no farming allowed), worship, and all the families got their clan territory returned, and enslaved members made free. The year of Jubilee is described fully in Leviticus Ch 25.

Under the Skin

[sielwolf]

Of course the aliens are showing up in Scotland. That's where all the delicious vodsuls are. Humans have been eating them for years!

Of course if you have never read Michael Farber's Under the Skin this may make no sense. I would suggest it. Quite good in a Lovecraftian sort of way (not really but... hey.).

Of course they're visiting Scottland

[Crag]

It's part of their plan to win Wimbledon by turning everyone into Scots so the alien pastries are the only competent tennis players.

"Angus Pudgorny, whatever do ya mean?"

"He wasna so much a man... as he was... a blanc mange."

Re:Of course they're visiting Scottland

[kc8apf]

I was wondering how long it would take someone to make that reference.

please mod this up

[r5t8i6y3]

The Disclosure Project

call home first

[Lewis Mettler, Esq.]

It is nice to think that aliens have landed here or there but the odds are against it.

For one, it is so much more likely that we will establish a form of communication hundreds, thousands perhaps even millions of years before we get a visit from anyone.

Radio communication does travel at the speed of light. And, despite the success in the Star Trek type shows, it is not very likely that anyone (no matter how intelligent they are) will be able to physically travel anything close to the distances they can communicate over.

Besides, who would risk sending a group of beings to a planet that has nuclear weapons and is itching to use them for a good cause? It just does not make any sense to risk your people that way.

Do you think we could send people out pass our solar system without having any knowledge of who is out there and which direction they live? Or, whether they might be friendly?

I think you call first to find out if you may be welcome. Even if they sound friendly, you just would not know would you?

Even on our own planet most of the explorers were looking for places they thought they knew about. They were just hoping to find better routes not new and strange people. And, of course we did not have any communications ability to check out the new worlds before sending over some sailors. We have that now. Of course, SETI hears nothing yet.

And, any intelligent beings are going to have enormous communication technologies that permit long distance communication before they can travel across the universe.

Heck, you are more likely to get spam from an alien than you are likely to have a visit from one. Or, a phone call. Even on your cell phone or PDA.

You also have to keep in mind that in addition to the SETI program both amateur and professional radio operators have been talking and listening on a whole range of radio frequencies for many years. And, to date, I do not recall even one of them claiming to have talked to an alien.

The real problem with the UFOs and sitings is that we have a tendency to think that the lack of an explanation is positive proof of an alien visitor. But, of course there is absolutely no basis for that because we have no documented proof of a communication or visit ever. So we simply have no idea what an alien encounter (or communication) is even like.

more rational explanation

[fist_187]

wouldnt the testing of military aircraft be a better explanation? the southwest USA has several "secret" bases. how can you live in the same state as a covert installation and think that unidentified aircraft come from space?

i would imagine that scotland has a similar situation, either on land or somewhere in the north atlantic.

Minor nitpick

[Vuarnet]

The Bible says that God is omniscient, which therefore negates any possibility of free will for humans, and for that matter, for God as well.
Uh, Omniscient means that God would know everything everywhere anytime, which doesn't rule out the possibility of free will. Just because God would know what you're gonna do, doesn't mean that you don't have free will.

I think what you meant is that God is Omnipotent or something like that.

Re:Minor nitpick

[Ann O'Nymous-Coward]

No, he meant omniscience. By definition, there cannot exist a universe containing both an omniscient being and free will.

Omniscience is defined as knowing everything, past, present and future, with zero possibility of error. If a god knows that you will eat pizza tomorrow, then you must eat pizza tomorrow. Since there is no possibility of error in the god's knowledge (that you will eat pizza tomorrow), then there is no possibility that you could choose to eat hamburger tomorrow instead. Thus, if omniscience existed, any idea you might have that you have free will to choose what you'll eat tomorrow (or make any other choices) is just an illusion of your limited mind.

Fortunately, no evidence has ever been presented of any being possessing anything remotely resembling omniscience.

Sceptical Claim

[_Sprocket_]

I have a hard time believing Scotland would lead in UFO sightings. It doesn't strike me as an area of the world with the right popluation center. After all, do they even HAVE trailer parks there?

Re:Guinness is Irish...knucklehead!!!

[rice_burners_suck]

Dude, I know Guinness is Irish! But folks drink it all over the world. I mean, if you go to the middle of China, you'll probably find THEM drinking Guinness!

As far as superior stouts are concerned, I've had this Murphy's that you're talking about (though admittedly from bottles--I haven't had a real Murphy's yet). I agree that it's very good.

What I don't like about Guinness is something about its aftertaste. It tastes salty for some reason. I don't recall Murphy's giving me that. Oh well...

Four words:

[503]

Guinness has two n's.

US and UK bases

[JohnBE]

Scotland is dotted with US and UK airbases. It's quite possible the sightings are just bog standard military jets flying at high altitude.

- John

Alcohol induced?

[pdrome4robert]

Did anyone compare the alcohol consumption per capita with UFO sightings per capita? Perhaps someone should survey for pink elephant and leprechaun sightings too.

Airforce testing?

[503]

A few years ago I read a report how the super-duper-sonic Aurora spy plane was spotted flying between Groom Lake and Scotland. Aparently a bunch of geologist tracked it using seismographs and pegged its speed at Mach 12 or something crazy like that.

Maybe Scotland is being used for experimental aircraft testing. That would explain these sightings.

Lies, damn lies, and statistics

[doorbot.com]

Wow, our story submitter really tortured that data. Fortunately, it confessed before things really got ugly:

In comparison, only 2,000 UFOs are spotted every year in the United States represent, making just 0.0002 sightings per square kilometer

And exactly how much bigger is the USA compared to Scotland?

I recommend visiting the Circle Makers website. It's very interesting, and humorous, especially when one considers how worked up people get about aliens coming down (in the middle of the night of course) and carving intricate patters into our fields.

The best part is how it all started out as a joke while intoxicated, but soon they purposely propagated the myth of alien artists, and then would "stage" alien lights, etc using props to please the believers who had come to observe the "aliens." Great stuff to be found on the site.

UFOSpotting

[ShaggusMacHaggis]

Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose aliens, phaser guns and electrical anal probes. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and Alien Abduction insurance.

Choose your future.

Choose life.

'Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof'

[Trespass]

Is this not in itself an extraordinary claim?

"Daimonic Reality"

[Badgerman]

I suggest a good reading of Patrick Harpur's "Daimonic Reality" if you can get a copy. He takes a look at "Otherworldly" phenomena that's very eye-opening.

ford perfect

[Cyberop5]

Ford Perfect couldn't get a ride for fifteen years my arse... obviously he wasn't trying... at the very least he could have visited scotland for a week.

Videos!?

[itsmarcos]

According to this page www.ufoscotland.co.uk has some video evidence (I don't read chinese, an assumption!).

Pity that ufoscotland went low on cash and went offline now. You can have a look on some pictures of the "evidence" at the wayback machine archives here.

By the way, I am living in the West coast of Scotland for the last six years. I 've never seen UFOs, ghosts or Nessie :) Maybe aliens prefer beautiful Edinburgh and the Highlands.

I think the story is good for a tourist boost! Weather has been horrible last couple of months!!

It has nothing to do with remote areas....

[2names]

Everyone knows that the delicacy of choice for non-earth creatures is Haggis!!

Come on!

[jackbang]

Everybody knows that the aliens aren't that stupid. When they've got you strapped to the table they can do whatever they want to your mind. Clearly they're not going to let people remember anything they don't want them to remember. They're obviously letting people in certain areas remember the sightings or abductions to cover up their real activities. Find the place with the lowest reported incidence of UFO activity and that's where you'll find the launching ground for the pending invasion.

Duh.

Numbers in Imperial Units

[Bob Uhl]

Using the standard measurement system, that works out to .00154 sightings per square mile.

Comparison to alcohol consumed?

[ruiner13]

I'd like to see these figures crossreferenced to the amount of alcohol consumed in the same locations. Scottland? France? Italy? They all like to drink, now don't they. Hmmmm... must be something in alcohol ;)

That's funny...

[tibbetts]

...to hear Pat Buchanan* tell it, the U.S.** is aliens' official favorite destination.

* Insert your favorite anti-immigration, usually right-wing, political candidate here.

** Insert your favorite country here.

Well..

[mindstrm]

Doesn't anyone remember the Hitchiker's Guide? They like scotland because it has good liquor.

Direct correlation?

[ahde]

Scotland, coincidentally(?) has the highest percentage of the populace living off the government dole. In America, similar statistics are evidenced.

The answer is out there...and in the Loch

[CodeShark]

Everybody who has seen the documentary movie "The Abyss" knows why Scotland has so many sightings. *cough*

However, the all powerful cabal of movie studio profit minders made the editor snip the scene showing the Scotland re-entry nexus under pressure from vast right wing conspiracy.

Otherwise people would realize that the reason they can't find Nessie is that she's out cruizing the solar system part of the time. And that the re-entry tail is only visible when viewed through the rose colored haze local to the Scotch (sic) er... I mean Scots. ;-)

Don't believe a word!

[sbryant]

I went to Scotland on my honeymoon, and didn't see a single alien.

:-)

They've got it all wrong.

[ar1550]

So-called "UFO sightings" are really just the result of one Montgomery Scott borrowing the NCC-1701 (no bloody A, B, C, D, or E, mind you) to fill up on some of his favorite alcoholic beverages.

The truth about Scotland and most UFO sightings...

[Anonymous Coward]

here is a quote:
"... Aurora was being flown from a base in the Nevada desert to an atoll in the Pacific, then on to Scotland to refuel before returning to the US at night. Specially modified tanker aircraft are being used to top up Aurora's tanks with liquid methane fuel in mid-air... The US Air Force is using the remote RAF airbase at Machrihanish, Strathclyde, as a staging point... The mystery aircraft has been dropping in at night before streaking back to America across the North Pole at more than six times the speed of sound... An F-111 fighter bomber is scrambling as the black-painted aircraft lands, flying in close formation to confuse prying civilian radars."

here is the link:
http://www.fas.org/irp/mystery/aurora.htm

Plausible explanation?

[Ogerman]

It's funny how anytime "UFO's" come up in discussion, people quickly move to talking about crazy / drunk people. It's amusing, although in contrast, I know enough ordinary, sane people who have seen so-called "UFO's" at fairly close range that a level-headed inquiry is in order. So anyhow, to make a long story short, after a little bit of research, it is my conclusion that most UFO sightings are nothing more than a type of ball lightning. Granted, "ball lightning" itself is not fully understood, but all indication suggests that it is some form of low temperature plasma that can form under certain atmospheric conditions or more often after a lightning groundstrike due to some sort of back-EMF effect. Ball lightning can apparently take various shapes, sometimes as a disk-like form (ie. the classic glowing UFO saucer). So, lets look at the known characteristics of ball lightning plasma and see how they compare to descriptions of UFO sightings:

1.) It can 'levitate' and pass through some solids.
2.) It tends to lose mass as the plasma breaks down, causing it to rise into the air before disintegrating or occasionally bursting with a loud pop.
3.) It often accelerates at an extremely high rate, likely due to electromagnetic fields. This typically occurs near the end of the plasma's 'life' and often after rising back into the air.
4.) It is often attracted to nearby metal objects and has been known to follow automobiles and perhaps airplanes.
5.) The plasma, depending on its makeup, often releases noxious gasses readily identifyable by their odor or color. Some of these gasses cause dizzyness, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness at high enough concentrations.
6.) It seems to form most often in flat terrain. (such as farmland!) Large formations may be of sufficient temperature to burn away grass or crops after descending.
7.) It sometimes rotates visibly on an axis.
8.) It usually emits a high pitched or even wavering sound.

Sound anything like the typical UFO encounter? I'd say so. Granted, many distant sightings are probably just aircraft or weather balloons. So sorry to burst your bubble X-Files fans. The truth IS out there but it's not that exciting.

Re:Plausible explanation?

[Tablizer]

(* So anyhow, to make a long story short, after a little bit of research, it is my conclusion that most UFO sightings are nothing more than a type of ball lightning. Granted, "ball lightning" itself is not fully understood, but all indication suggests that it is some form of low temperature plasma that.... *)

Ball lightening is subject to a bit of skepticism in itself. Almost all evidence is based on witness testimony, and nobody has been able to create anything like it in lab, except stuff that disappears in milliseconds.

I am not saying I agree or disagree. It is just that the physical evidence for it is not any stronger than say clear-weather flying saucers.

Re:Plausible explanation?

[Ogerman]

Ball lightening is subject to a bit of skepticism in itself.

Indeed, whatever this "ball lightning" is precisely has yet to be discovered and there are many wild-haired ideas out there. For example, if it IS a plasma, how is it self-contained? Now of course, if we could figure this out, it might be useful for some sort of energy production. As for creating "anything like it" in the lab, there is one rather weird home experiment involving microwaving a lighted candle with a glass bowl above it to catch the plasma that forms. The theory is that the carbon particles from the candle smoke are sort of a "seed" for the plasma's formation and the microwave radiation builds and sustains it. The parallel suggested is that a lightning strike vaporizes dust and dirt on the ground and some sort of back-emf currents energize the plasma's formation. Who knows. But there's probably a Nobel prize waiting for whoever figures this stuff out. As a sidenote, I believe ball lightning seen during clear-weather is usually seen descending from the sky. Which perhaps makes sense because our atmosphere is extremely electrically active.

Conspiracy!

[BCoates]

So those checks are hush money, eh?

Oh my god! I saw one!

[Daetrin]

I was driving home from work last night, and i saw blinking indicator lights in the sky!

It could have been a plane _or_ a helicopter! Actually, you know what, it might even have been a blimp! I have no idea which!

...now I see this....it's Wimbledon!

[neanderdude]

First this topic on Scotland and ufo's, then this:

http://sports.yahoo.com/

Quick! Check the biometric data on the players! One (or more) of them isn't a human!!

How to tell if it IS an object?

[mangu]

The word "object" can have several different meanings. My "Webster's New Twentieth Century Dictionary - Unabridged - DeLuxe Color Edition", published by Simon & Schuster, mentions, among several others, two definitions which may be applicable in the "UFO" context:

1) anything visible or tangible

2) in philosophy, anything that can be known or perceived by the mind.

The first definition is well behaved and allows many instances of UFOs:

"Was that lightning or a photo flash?"

"Is that plane a Lockheed C-130A or a Lockheed KC-130F?"

"Is that Superman or Spiderman?"

The second definition, however, allows almost anything to be an UFO. If I think of a spacecraft coming flying from an alien planet, but cannot identify it, that's an UFO. According to Webster's, an UFO doesn't need an objective existence to be real. I just need to perceive it philosophycally, and it will be an "object".

Re:How to tell if it IS an object?

[Barryo_Stereo]

It's an object if it has been instantiated and takes up RAM! But I've never seen an object fly, so, no, I've never seen a UFO!

Re:How to tell if it IS an object?

[senducemhere]

But I think I will have seen everything When I see an elephant fly... -N. Washington from the movie Dumbo

Had to read that headline twice

[sgtron]

I thought it said "Alien's official favorite distribution".

I was certain it was going to be Debian...you know.. those Debian Slime Devils...

I know why....

[r_j_prahad]

You try eating haggas for the first time, and see how much unidentifiable stuff comes flying out of your mouth.

it's simple...

[v8interceptor]

They come for Haggis.

Does anyone here know what Haggis smells like after being heated up in the Microwave...

I'm gonna be sick now.

Will check the parents...

[caferace]

...seeing as how I'm picking them up at SFO in two hours. They have been visiting Scotland with a fair amount of frequency. eek.

No big secret

[wackybrit]

It's no secret that UFOs are mostly sighted near to air bases or in places where flights are popular. Scotland is ripe for this, since a) there are a lot of secluded air bases there, b) most flights from Europe/UK go over Scotland to reach places like LA, Canada, etc!

Military Aircraft the explanation

[aebrain]

RAF Leuchars is where many of NATO's night flying exercises are conducted. There's a Map of RAF (Royal Air Force) bases, weapons ranges and radar stations in Scotland available - it's full of em.

Quote from North East Scotland Air Danger Zones

Main users are Tornados from Lossie, making it the busiest weapons range in the UK. Other users include Jaguars, Harriers, American F-15 Eagles, MC-130 Hercules and when on detachment at Kinloss, Special Operations MH-53 helicopters.

It would be surprising if there wasn't a disproportionate number of Unidentified Flying Object sightings as the result. Black helicopters included.

Re: autosss...

[Wouter Van Hemel]

But can anyone say *autosuggestion*?"

auto... autosuk... autoguses... autoseggus... autusoggistion... auto pfff... No. You win.

UFS

[Tablizer]

try removing the space in the URL. Slashdot inserts spaces into URLs to prevent page-widening posts.

Unidentied Floating Spaces?

Well, now they are identified.

An explanation

[Usekh]

Just stare into this eye testing device *FLASH* It was simply swamp gas rising from the peat bogs, caught in the moonlight with uranus rising above.

Did anyone else re-read the news topic?

[4_Scythe]

I first thought the news topic read:

"Alien's favourite distribition"

Now there's a story I'd like to read!

Irn-Bru?

[flokemon]

I'd rather consider the UFO sightings as an effect of a high consumption of Buckfast rather than Irn-Bru. It might be a bit too up north, but Bonnybridge does not appear to be that far from the Buckfast Triangle.
(Yes more proof of strange happenings in Bonnie Scotland, a "Buckfast Triangle" between Glasgow and Edinburgh).

Having said that, I know some people who thought they were seeing UFO's in Glasgow while it was just lights on the streets. I blame the drugs for that one, not just wine.

The UFO sceptic ....

[vortexau]

by their definition that "UFOs don't exist because I have never seen
one" must also deny the existence of AIR and ELECTRICITY because they
cannot be viewed by their eyes.
.

Interesting! Cover-ups work.....

[vortexau]

(I had to REPLY to your post because it wouldn't work with the first)

I 'patched' the gap and read that link- They missed much!....

The first airforce officer to the Roswell site confirmed that they'd found a crashed alien spacecraft. His superior forced him to recant and announced that ridiculous 'weather balloon' story. A major military clamp-down was set into place on the district. Anyone who had in their possession strange artifacs had them confiscated. Successive cover-up stories just got more weird. The last one I read in a 'science' journal claimed that the bodies were Japanese men affected by high altitude.

You have to understand the reason for the cover-up. WWII was just over. The USSR had become the new boogyman. The US authorities didn't want any news to reach the public concerning ANYTHING that they could not defend against.

Prior to the Roswell incident, Air Force radar had been troubled by strange unexplained blips. When the first military personal on the site reported back, a massive operation was set into place.

IF YOU don't believe the US authorities could successfully Cover-up so long then you should look into Project Shamrock ... that had International Telephone and Telegraph, Western Union, and RCA make available their international communications traffic for inspection by U.S. military intelligence services. This went on for 28 years unknown by US Presidents until terminated under the Ford administration in '75.

How much do you know about Project Rainbow or Project Horizon?
.

Interesting blindness....

[vortexau]

...that link- They missed much!....

The first airforce officer to the Roswell site confirmed that they'd found a crashed alien spacecraft. His superior forced him to recant and announced the ridiculous 'weather balloon' story. A major military clamp-down was set into place on the district. Anyone who had in their possession strange artifacs had them confiscated. Successive cover-up stories just got more weird. The last one I read in a 'science' journal claimed that the bodies were Japanese men affected by high altitude.

You have to understand the reason for the cover-up. WWII was just over. The USSR had become the new boogyman. The US authorities didn't want any news to reach the public concerning ANYTHING that they could not defend against.

Prior to the Roswell incident, Air Force radar had been troubled by strange unexplained blips. When the first military personal on the site reported back, a massive operation was set into place.

IF YOU don't believe the US authorities could successfully Cover-up so long then you should look into Project Shamrock ... that had International Telephone and Telegraph, Western Union, and RCA make available their international communications traffic for inspection by U.S. military intelligence services. This wenton for 28 years unknown by US Presidents until terminated under the Ford administration in '75.

How much do you know about Project Rainbow or Project Horizon?
.

Re:Blogs...

[Lagwolf]

Well I flog my blog at the end of my post. Does that count?

What do you expect...

[KlausBreuer]

...from the country that invented Scotch?

Of course the population will see plenty of bright lights and blurry objects in the sky...

Even Dennis Miller apparently liked this one...

[fmaxwell]

While watching "Dennis Miller Live" on June 28, four days after I wrote the parent comment, I was amused to hear Dennis Miller say:

"And new figures indicate that Scotland has the highest concentration of UFO sightings on the planet Earth. Well sure it does. With those easy-to-lift-up kilts, they're just asking for an anal probe!"