EFR Eyes Octopus Conspiracies

It has already been an incredible month for Expanding Frontiers Research and we're not done yet! We will be recording the inaugural episode of the EFR Interactive Research Project on Wednesday, August 26. Read on to learn more.

Interactive Research Project

The EFR Interactive Research Project is a participant-driven series of periodic virtual meetings exploring alternating topics of public interest. Purposes include facilitating best research practices in ways that are practical and entertaining while audiences learn about topics of interest. Each topic will be announced prior to a scheduled Zoom discussion, giving attendees ample time to familiarize themselves if desired with material obtained through public records requests, archives, video and similar resources. Participants will then be encouraged to share their resulting interpretations and opinions during subsequent discussions, as the topic and resources are collectively considered. Each Zoom meeting will be recorded and uploaded to the EFR YouTube channel for public access.

Netflix documentary

The first meeting of the EFR Interactive Research Project will take place Wednesday, August 26 at 8pm Eastern Time, and will explore Danny Casolaro and the Octopus Murders. EFR is pleased to feature Alison Godfrey Brandel, who many will recognize from Wayward Sons Book Group, as lead facilitator of the inaugural meeting and topic.

To receive a Zoom invitation to the EFR Interactive Research Project, simply drop this writer an email at jackbrewerblog at yahoo dot com and state you would like to receive the invitation. That will get you placed on the email list and all set to participate in the Zoom discussion.

The Octopus Conspiracies

The Octopus conspiracies cover a vast and sweeping set of circumstances and allegations that reach into upper levels of American politics. They are complicated by circumstances ranging from lack of evidence and unreliable narrators to actual crimes committed that may or may not have resulted in charges ever being leveled. The viewing of a four-part Netflix documentary, American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders, is recommended to develop a familiarity. Total run time is under four hours. The film focuses upon the late writer Danny Casolaro and his questionable contacts. Prior to his death (an official suicide that is a point of contention itself among researchers), Casolaro was investigating circumstances such as the October Surprise and misappropriated casino revenue by way of contacts including controversial convicted criminal Michael Riconosciuto.

Suffice it to say there's a lot of moving parts. The Octopus conspiracies arguably serve as a template for the way verifiable circumstances may be mixed with unconfirmed allegations, then stirred into a reality-bending cocktail by sources that include career criminals, writers, filmmakers, journalists, government agencies, those with financial stakes and even elected officials. This complicated saga provides plenty of opportunity for sharpening research skills, in both professional and recreational capacities, and EFR is pleased to facilitate the circumstances.

EFR eagerly looks forward to recording with Alison Godfrey Brandel on August 26. Discussion attendees are expected to include writer and filmmaker Adam Gorightly, whose research explores fascinating insights into not only the questionable world of Casolaro's contacts, but their overlap with Fred Crisman and dubious UFO narratives. Join us and/or stay tuned!

Meanwhile, don't miss other August events from EFR, which have included:

A video discussion of Erica Lukes and this writer considering the EFR four-year milestone

The Politics of UFO Disclosure with Erica Lukes, Alison Godfrey Brandel, Tanner Boyle, and your host and author

An EFR interview with Stephen Kinzer, bestselling author of such work as Poisoner in Chief: Sidney Gottlieb and the CIA Search for Mind Control

And be sure to check out the EFR Patreon for more freely offered resources and material obtained this month through public records requests