Decipher this...

HHI's pseudo intellectuals are again trying to connect spiritualism, paranormal activities, religion, Mormonism, PT Barnum-ism, Bartram's Stupid-ism (okay, we threw that last one in there), to make an exceedingly weak case using highly selective bits of U.S. history to justify their obsessive hatred of treasure hunting, and more specifically, Odyssey.

They insist, with thoroughly unconvincing evidence, that the so-called "fraud" of treasure hunting is a uniquely American phenomenon. (Of course, we all know there's no such thing as a gullible Brit. Just ask Neville Chamberlain, and he only cost what, a few hundred thousand lives?) We're inclined, however, to see these HHI's efforts for their true purpose: to bash Americans -- their second favorite pastime.

The Angry Twit Bartram started this boring monologue with himself a while ago, but seemed to lose steam, probably because he bored himself to death, or more likely, he exhausted his sherry supply. Perhaps both. Hey, it's a lot of work posting all those pretty pictures online (for if he doesn't make it like a comic book, Doc refuses to read it...it's not a lot unlike them having to pour whiskey on garnishes to get him to eat his fruits and veggies.)

Regardless, the conversation is picking up again, much to our amusement. The latest post is from "Scribe" (karma: 188) who quotes long passages from an obscure book about "enthusiastic religions" in western New York (sounds riveting, no? Think it has pictures?). Old Scribe bought it probably because he thought merely possessing it would increase his IQ a few points.

About the book (which has nothing whatsoever to do with treasure hunting, by the way), he writes:

"With (blind) faith an integral part of the process, it also explains how treasure hunting, US-style, studiously ignores science and reason. It also explains how critics of treasure hunters are attacked so viciously, for they are the heretics, or even the anti-Christ."

The soap-opera worthy dramatic second sentence, in addition to being a classic non sequitur, raises a question: Does HHI, who nobly claim devotion to history and archaeology, have a right to lecture others about the scientific pursuit of reason when it stoops to post an innocuous photo of a part-time Odyssey captain reveling during the holidays? And then have the little minions scurry off to post it on Yahoo (upon which it was immediately deleted)? Is this a point achieved through science, logic and reason?

Yeah, okay. Sure.

Be sure to drink some more of that Guyana Kool-Aid, Scribe. Your Queen Bee compels it.