1 For “ Out There,” an essay in our November issue, journalist George Knapp looked back on his decades of reporting on Area 51, and the craziness that followed his first story on UFO whistleblower Bob Lazar, 25 years ago. “Love all your stuff, George,” effused commenter Moe Flanagan. “I also believe Bob Lazar.” Joining the amen corner was Patricia Howe Butcher: “Great reporting and investigating.” Reader Paul Terry thinks the mock-ready topic of Area 51 might overshadow Knapp’s other journalistic achievements. “Like an actor forever typecast due to one singular, stand-out role,” Terry writes, “despite a great body of eclectic investigative work you will be forever typecast by certain dismissive colleagues as the nutty UFO reporter.” Of course, vindication will arrive with the first verified alien. “The irony,” Terry adds, “is one day, when and if extraterrestrial intelligence is confirmed and undeniable, it will be regarded as perhaps the most important news story of the century, and you were at the leading edge of that pioneering effort.” Less pie-tin-in-the-sky was Facebooker William Garbacz, who thinks, “Twenty-five years later and we know nothing more than we did then.”
2 Also in November’s issue, staff writer Heidi Kyser looked at the division between licensed psychologists and various therapists over who can employ hypnotherapy. Recent court actions have favored limiting the practice to psychologists. But commenter Loretta Peters Martin, a certified and advanced clinical hypnotist and life coach at the Hypnosis Center of Nashville, writes on Facebook that there’s a downside to that. “A huge problem with this is that ‘licensed’ psychologists might only take a class or two in hypnosis, so they don’t have the training to be effective with hypnosis. In some cases, ‘licensed’ psychologists have caused more harm than good to their clients because they didn’t know what they were doing. During my 14 years of practicing, I’ve had occasional clients come to see me after they said they were ‘traumatized’ by their therapist attempting to use hypnosis, by taking them back to a rape, incest or traumatic occurrence in a way that made them relive it all over again.” Since the story went to press, the Nevada Board of Psychology Examiners has reportedly rescinded its cease-and-desist order for unlicensed practitioners and negotiations are ongoing.
3 Our Geek Issue, meant to celebrate triumphant nerd-dom in Las Vegas, turned out to be a rueful read for one April Herbert. “Sadly, the best, most awesome place in Las Vegas Geekdom no longer exists,” she commented on Desert Companion’s Facebook page. “Star Trek: the Experience closed its door six years ago, but for 10 years before that it was Mecca for anyone who wanted to visit the 24th century. When it closed, many thousands of Trekkies suddenly cried out, and were suddenly silent. (Yeah, I know I’m mixing universes. Whatever.) It was the best job in the galaxy.” Well, perhaps having been struck down, Star Trek: the Experience will become more powerful than we can possibly imagine, and somehow live long and prosper.
4 “Great article. It made me mad as hell, but still a great article.” — Reader Eric James Miller on Steve Sebelius’ November report on government tax breaks for businesses.