Here's a far left-wing Connecticut radio station that's apparently joined the ranks of HBs both lunar and Martian. Hoax picture. Weird.
Anyone in the NE ever listen to these guys?

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Are you sure they're serious? They sound a little too deluded (ie convinced that the conspiracy theory is mainstream) to be serious. But then, sometimes you can never tell with conspiracists.

How... odd

This is the first I have heard of anything like this and I read the NY times on a daily basis.

Exactly. That's why I was wondering if anyone's tuned in and listened to them to catch the general flavor of the station and this spot in particular. They're out of range for airwaves where I am, but I might try some of their streaming audio.

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One of my theories is that the lunar and other lunatic conspiracy theory movements thrive at the moment because of the absence of a credible political left (i.e., the dissent that exists in all societies is currently siphoned off into various conspiracy theories).

I'm not sure what the existence of this radio station says about my theory. but but it sure does support my premise about the lack of a credible left.

I get a definite satirical flavor in that write-up.

Why would anyone need an indoor sound stage to take pictures in the Nevada desert that look like Mars?

I'll be down in that part of the state tomorrow - I'll give the station a listen to see if I can figure out if they're serious or not.

I would say, that the reason why more people no longer believe that the moon landings ever ocured, is due to the perceived credibility gap of the US Government.

We have also seen CT's saying how Bush perpetrated the 9-11 attacks as well :roll:

The falure to find the WMD's in Iraq just adds to the general atmosphere of distrust. (I suspect the WMD's got moved to Syria) On a compulsory works course I heard that there was a HB somewhere at work. On another training course I had to attend, the trainer said they had seen the Fox programme and seemed convinced by it. I have given her the link to this site.

Any hue

As the US Government is seen as the most corrupt entity and that they lie all the time, then the Moon Landings must be just part of the big lie machine.

This distrust is so pervasive, that even though one has intellect and knows it is all silly, one still gets an irrational uneasy feeling of doubt. The nearest analagy is going into a dark old house. We know that there are no such things as ghosts, but still we feel that they are about to leap out at us and claim our souls.

Even better example, I once read up an urban legend about chanting a certain name so many times in front of a mirror in a darkened room caused evil to the person doing it. All daft stuff I know, but when i went to the bathroom, I was incredibly paranoid about the mirror that was in there - and that night I left the bathroom light on ops:

How does one overide "gut-feelings" that are totally irrational and when looked at in the cold light of day Plain wrong. :-?

Well, I listened to WPKN on and off on Saturday – never caught any of the talk programming. (I can only subject my family to so much – I’ve got enough problems already!) Eclectic / Schizophrenic best describes the programming. Maybe schizophrenic is a bit harsh but eclectic doesn’t really cover it either. The station reminded me of my college radio station in the mid 70’s –you know - the DJ’s would show up with their milk crate full of lp’s and would play whatever they felt like from the Archie’s to Cream to Mozart to Show tunes.

Now I remember why I’ve never listened to them – I’d scan the radio dial looking for something to listen to – hear something I like, and with the next song I would have no choice but look for something else. For example, during Sat AM the music on WPKN ranged from a Cabaret style piece (new – but would have fit into the musical), a very guitar heavy rock piece and a song with strong African influences - and that was just one set.

In fact the first sentence in the note from the station manager on their web site states “WPKN is a challenge for the new listener”. An understatement.

To answer the HOAX question – I guess I’m not sure if they really think Apollo was hoaxed or not. From listening I got the impression that the station was more non-establishment / anti-establishment than a typical “political left-wing” station. I think it’s a station that will give air time to just about anyone – especially groups on the fringe just because the station feels that they at least deserve to be heard.

Ignoring the rather silly misspelling on "notorious", why would they build, not just an indoor, but an underground set for a desolate outdoor location when you're already in a desolate, unpopulated area?

They do give some great evidence in favor of the hoax theory, though. :roll:

I am a staffer at WPKN. It is interesting that the Lunar Hoax article and picture that everyone was opining about is from a DJ's personal web page linked to the WPKN web site. He is a clever man who does a music show with a mix of avant guarde music, electronica, and music difficult too catagorize. He also happens to do Stand Up Comedy and is a Comedy Writter! Only one of the posters saw the satire!
You can hear his program on Thursday afternoons, check the WPKN site program guide.
"SCOTT SHAPLEIGH
Thursdays, 10 AM - 12 Noon (1st Thurs.: 12:30 PM ; 5th Thurs.: 1 PM)

Leaving The 20th Century With No Regrets. An atom splits. An Armstrong walks. An Aeon awaits. Future now radio. "

"Are THEY serious?"
Well probably tongue in cheek would be a more apt description. People should shake off the chains of rigid mind sets. Think creatively, stretch minds and maybe their hearts

It is sad to see that people will hear a song they like and when they hear another that might be new, strange, or different, have to change the dial. It demonstrates an unwillingness to be challenged or allow your mind or taste in music to be stretched. If Pablum is your thing, then that is OK, there is plenty of that in commercial radio. Homoginous sounds and thought that can be interchangeable. usually from a list of top 40 whaterver type of music you select. The same can be found in the intellectual search of bad/good astronomy.
I guess it might be more accurate to describe WPKN and the staffers performing "finger in your mind's eye Radio" We take pride in pushing the envelope of the expected and make you think and question.
Oh, and for SERIOUS ASRTRONOMY? tune into "Skies over Bridgepor," a regular segment over 20+ years on friday evenings.
"RAY TERLAGA
Fridays, 7:40 PM - 10 PM

Some world music. Some old music. And, about once a month, live music. AIDS Update Fridays at 8 PM; and Skies of Bridgeport, a weekly astronomy feature, at 8:30 PM. "

Oh yeah, if you would like to be challenged, remember we brag that we are the station you will have to turn off because we ARE so challenging, tune into www.wpkn.org for live streaming! You can call in and comment on Saturday midday, on our listener comment segment. =D>

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Doug Echols
WPKN Radio
244 University Ave.
Bridgeport, CT USA

I recognize that picture, its an image from Viking that shows the "Twin Peaks" and directly under the peak in the center of the pic is the famous RCH "Sphinx on Mars" rock.

Welcome to the board Doug. Good explaination for your station's programming style. It may be good to "think outside the box", or "expand your horizons", but when it comes to believing in something that simply isn't true, harm can be done. 3 good examples are: Heaven's Gate, Y2K, and Planet X. A reasonable person would be skeptical, a gullible, or misinformed person may fall for it, and do something stupid like clean out their savings account to build a Y2K bunker in the basement, or something far worse, like commit suicide ala Heaven's Gate. Nobody knows how many people messed up their lives following Nancy Lieder, or Mark Hazelwood and others on the Planet X thing about 2 years ago. They did have followers and I'm sure some of them took their advice. He may have been trying to be funny, but bad things can happen if the reader/listener doesn't realize that he is reading/hearing satire.

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Doug,

you may think it's funny that people didn't spot the parody... but I'll bet you haven't listened to many of the PCTs (Paranoid Conspiracy "Theorists"). It's impossible to put on a more effective parody then most of these folks' dead-serious work.

Oh, and welcome to the board.

Or maybe they just don't like what they hear. I find statements like that elitist.

Sorry, I know that's off topic.

CJSF

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Two years ago moved from my town
I was looking up past the city lights
But the city lights got in my way

See the constellation ride across the sky
No cigar, no lady on his arm
Just a guy made of dots and lines

-from "See The Constellation"
by They Might Be Giants

I found that statement a little jarring in its assumption also. I can't remember ever running from music that was "new" to me.

Of course, when I was a kid I was dipping into my parents record collection -- Commander Cody, Scott Joplin, John Cage, Pete Fountain; Bourbon Street to Bengali street merchants, Fragile Yes to music for Noh.

Which has dang all to do with hoaxes or false hoaxes. On sober thought I don't really care if people go around making satirical hoaxes...the HB's, of all ilk, are going to find something stupid to believe in whatever is done or not done.

Never underestimate the combination of a vague longing to "believe" and a large dose of apathy. Know how many believers in homeopathic remedies have never looked at the back of the bottle? I love telling them what the little "3C" actually means.

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"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Off topic - but I believe this was directed at me. I do like a challenge and have always allowed my musical experience to be stretched. (belonging to a national music fraternity has that effect) The problem I have with WPKN is the seeming randomness in each particular set. Generally my listening tastes go along with the way I feel and I'll listen to the type of music that fits my current mood. From classical, rock, electronic, jazz, rag, big band, soundtracks, etc. - I just don't like hearing it all jumbled up one after another. Sorry.

Doug, while many people might appreciate the satire, you must be aware that there's a small, but substantial segment of the population that is regrettably all too willing to believe everything they hear. Particularly from a media outlet with any kind of official status.

Now that you're here, take a read through some of the posts in this section and the Planet X category and ready yourself for one heck of a wake up call to the world of people who buy into this stuff hook line and sinker.

No one here is looking for a head to roll, but a few minutes of searching will give you a much better explanation at some of the responses you've read here. The response here isn't personal, its something of a mission these people are on to try and correct some of the misconceptions that a few very shady characters have abused and made a heap of money from, while spreading some harsh slander to people who really were involved in the Apollo missions.

And for myself, welcome aboard.

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Wow, what a condescending reply from the station rep!

And this bit:
demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the differences between aesthetic taste and empirical observation.

Empirical observation is NOT like the radio: you can't just change the dial if you don't like what you see.

I think what gives it away as satire to me is the use of past tense for events that I don't recall ever happening.

Now, give me some Pablum.