In 1977, psychic archaeologist Jerald Croissant guided an Alaskan fishing boat to the location of an underwater treasure chest. Three years later, he pointed out a spot near the Australian coast where seven architeuthis (‘giant-squid’) carcasses were found. Since then, Croissant has thoroughly exploited his ability to locate submerged items with a ‘second sight’. And he has even found dozens of sunken cities, each of which have been identified by ‘experts’ as the Lost City of Atlantis (at one point or another). But his most puzzling discovery is also his most recent.

            Two months ago, Croissant used his psychic powers as part of a search for a famous sunken ship. In fact, the multi-million dollar excavation (conducted by the Latvian Academy of Underwater Exploration, or LAUE) could find no evidence of the ship until Croissant completed his remote viewing of the ship’s location. This psychic episode lead Croissant and LAUE to the waters off the coast of Spain where, four hundred feet beneath the ocean’s surface, a rusty rotting ship was found.

Initially, LAUE was motivated to find the ship because it would be their 100^th discovery (a true milestone!). But the name of the sunken vessel made it an instant headline, and all across the world, newspapers declared “‘S.S. Rabbinical School Dropout’ Found off Coast of Spain!”

            In the following weeks, a number of intriguing claims surfaced regarding the ship’s curious title. And eminent radiocarbon expert Peter Langston quickly dated the boat to 1580 CE. (It should be mentioned, however, that many of Langston’s estimated dates have been disputed. For instance, he dated the infamous Shroud of Terin to about 30 CE while everyone else in his field dated it to the Middle Ages). Langston has theorized that the ‘S.S. RSDO’ was a British explorer ship that came into contact with the RSDO legend (as seen in the ancient text Reticulus) on its travel to the Holy Land. Interestingly, other researchers have supported Langston’s claim by insisting that there was a proto-clarinet on board the sunken ship (although it was later declared missing).

            However, Professor Herman Harman of Libralia University does not see the ship’s title as anything peculiar. In fact, the respected author of This Book is Nothing Special: Why the Things You Cherish Would Happen Anyway firmly believes that the ‘S.S. RSDO’ has nothing to do with the band or the related ancient text. And in a recent interview in Quasar’s Trolley, Harman stated “Like everything else, the ‘S.S. RSDO’ is the product of coincidence. I am named Herman and many others are also named Herman. Pure coincidence, just like the ‘S.S. RSDO’.”

            Still, others consider the words on the boat a simple hoax. And the notorious ‘Crop Circle Brothers’ Larry and Douglas Smertson have already taken credit for painting ‘S.S. RSDO’ on the sunken ship. Larry was quoted as saying “We used this special kind of paint, and wrote ‘S.S. RSDO’ in fancy letters on that crusty boat! It was totally cool! I mean, we were swimming and we found the 60-foot boat and did a number on it! DUDE!” Yet the letters on the boat are not fancy (they resemble the courier font: ‘S.S. Rabbinical School Dropouts’), and the ship is only 30-feet long. Thus, it is likely that the brothers never even saw the sunken ship.

            There is also a small group of researchers who assert that ‘S.S. RSDO’ could not have been painted on the boat more than ten years ago. According to them, in 1993 the RSDO performed a large concert for the American Society of SCUBA Divers and Snorkelers (ASSS). And it is believed that, as a result of the show, some of the society’s members (who were extreme fans of the band) decided to paint ‘S.S. RSDO’ on a sunken ship they found on a routine dive. As such, it is assumed that the divers did not declare their discovery of the sunken boat (therefore violating international law) because they wanted the boat to surprise who ever saw it next.

            Yet the band does not recall ever playing for ASSS. And drummer Nicolas Carvajal recently stated that “We do so many shows, it’s hard to keep track. We are international superstars you know.”

            Needless to say, there is still much to be learned concerning this underwater mystery, and I find myself wondering why I presented it to you. My apologies, and Godspeed to you all.