http://sightings.com/general10/obz.htm
(The following was brought to our attention by Theresa at
http://www.surfingtheapocalypse.com THANKS!)

Now we are even more curious.
E.

Parkes Observatory 'ET Signal' -
A False Alarm
Our thanks for Diane Harrison for this
updated report from Australia

By Diane Harrison

Director AUFORN
tkbnetw@powerup.com.au
5-1-01

Hi Jeff - This is what I found out:

Parkes Observatory In Oz Detects 'ET Signal'?

Quote: Carol Oliver of CETI Australia said: CETI is not involved.

Quote: John Sarkissian of Parkes Observatory said they are not involved.

Story goes like this.

John said: "Nothing has happened here we have had NO signal at all".

But he had heard that 2 student's at a Swiss Science festival in Geneva were quoted as saying that they had heard that Parkes Observatory are looking for signals of an extraterrestrial origin.

John said: "I think the media just misunderstood the student's and ran with the ET story".

He then gave me Carol Oliver's of CETI Australia telephone number to call for more information.

Carol said: "We at CETI in Australia have not received any signal of ET origin. However I was tipped off by a science friend in London last night that the media were running with the ET signal story over there, so I have been expecting some phone calls just like yours."

Carol explained and emphasised neither Parkes nor CETI Australia knew anything of the joke until last night and are in no way involved.

After speaking with Carol it would appear that the Internet media are all part of an experiment. "Yes, a joke."

Carol informed me that she had heard that all would be revealed on Friday when a 3 meter high statue of some-kind will be mounted in a town square in Geneva to end the Festival of Science.

The joke was to see how fast the media spread the story.

Carol said, "The Australian media have been quite good and have not participated in the joke much."

However, Carol pointed out that her conversation with me would add to part of the experiment, in which we both light-heartedly laughed.

She also pointed out that her phone had been running hot and she has been unable to get on with her job. "No more calls, please."

So, the joke is on the media it seems.

Carols final comment: "Never believe everything you read."

Cheers

From: jr@rense.com X-Sender: sightings@mindspring.com Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 23:37:00 -0700 To: jneff@arkansas.net, webmaster@sightings.com, nde@ipa.net, jr@rense.com Subject: URGENT ADD COMMENT SETI signal-it is a HOAX

Comment

From ryb
takusan@sympatico.ca
5-1-1

Jeff it is a HOAX - an infomercial to advertise a book (?!)at the next Salon du Livre(Bookfair) in Switzerland that starts on May 1st. I listened to the "infonews" and right away some problems- errors in time as to when the signal was received,also interview of a pseudo-astronomer engaged into gobblydook.. But the sure thing was there were the same voices/reporters for ALL the news in regards to that item. Also, NONE of the news started with the Swiss signal like voice, music, and a summary of the news.

Last thing: go to the Radio Suisse Romande web site at: http://212.74.180.106/index.asp and see on their site the small banner, sort of red, in which you have "Salon du Livre" (Bookfair), and right under it in a blue banner "Le signal de Parkes." This indicates that it is the promotion of a book under that title for the upcoming bookfair. Let us hope that other radio hosts will be more discerning or use that infomercial to boost up their ratings upon the unwearies a la "Art Bell" method.