Ralph René
Ralph René | |
---|---|
Born | August 24, 1933 |
Died | December 10, 2008 | (aged 75)
Nationality | American |
Education | Self-taught |
Notable works | The Last Skeptic of Science (aka MENSA Lectures); NASA Mooned America! |
Website | |
ralphrene |
Ralph René (August 24, 1933 – December 10, 2008) was an American conspiracy theorist, small press publisher and inventor. René was a vocal proponent of certain Moon landing conspiracy theories. René's last self-published work, a pamphlet he distributed called WTC Lies and Fairy Tales, details his belief in certain 9/11 conspiracy theories.[1]
René appeared frequently in shows produced by The History Channel, National Geographic Channel, Fox television and Showtime. In one such show, The Truth Behind the Moon Landings: Stranger Than Fiction, journalist and former NASA employee James Oberg referred to René and other conspiracy theorists as cultural vandals.[2] René reacted onscreen with amusement and stated that he liked the characterization. René was also featured in an episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! covering conspiracy theories.[3] René was introduced as a physicist on the 2001 Fox documentary, Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon?,[4] and had the designation "Author/Scientist" under his picture. However, René admitted in his biography that he did not hold a degree from any university[5] and always referred to himself as "self-taught."
Contents
Moon landing conspiracy theories[edit]
His 1992 self-published book, NASA Mooned America!, details why he felt that the Apollo Moon landings were faked and actually produced from a closed studio.
Other beliefs[edit]
In addition to contending that NASA never sent astronauts to the Moon, René also proposes a number of other ideas that fly in the face of conventional knowledge. René outlined most of these beliefs in his self-published book, The Last Skeptic of Science (1995). The original title of the book, MENSA Lectures (1990), resulted in a lawsuit against him by Mensa who felt he was misappropriating the name of their organization and using it to suggest they backed his beliefs.
Personal life[edit]
René referred to himself as an "extra bright kid from the slums." After attending Rutgers University for a time, he dropped out and went to work as a carpenter and millwright. He then continued to pursue his personal interests in structural and mechanical engineering, physics, writing and inventing. René held two patents for simple mechanical tools.[6][7] He maintained a website that archived many of his past columns and essays on a wide variety of subjects.
Bibliography[edit]
Books[edit]
Non-fiction[edit]
- René, Ralph; (as René) (1990). MENSA Lectures. Illustrations by Subi. Matlacha, FL: René. OCLC 21209369.
- ——; (as René) (1994). Lucas, Stu, ed. NASA Mooned America!. Drawings by Chris Wolfer. Passaic, NJ: René. OCLC 36317224.
- ——; (as René) (1998) [First published 1995 (formerly MENSA Lectures (1990))]. Lucas, Stu; Hughes, Ed, eds. The Last Skeptic of Science: "The Book Mensa Tried To Stop". Final edit by Steve Krisocki (1995 edition); Illustrations by Subi (Revised ed.). Passaic, NJ: René. OCLC 37029845.
Fiction[edit]
- René, Ralph. A Case of the Jitters.
- ——. A Case of the Missing Members.
- ——. Husa 1.
- ——. Husa 2.
Pamphlets[edit]
- René, Ralph; (as René) (2000). ON SQUARING THE CIRCLE & The new π it brings!: Exploring Dan W. Gaddy's Quadrature of the Circle (Pamphlet). René.
- —— (2002). WTC Lies and Fairy Tales (Pamphlet). René.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ René, Ralph. "Ralph René: Books". Ralph Renés' Website. Langley, British Columbia: Pioneer Abbey. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ^ The Truth Behind the Moon Landings: Stranger Than Fiction (2003) (TV) at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ "Conspiracy Theories". Penn & Teller: Bullshit!. Season 3. Episode 3. May 9, 2005. Showtime (TV channel).
- ^ Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon? (2001) (TV) at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ René, Ralph. "Ralph René: Biography". Ralph Renés' Website. Langley, British Columbia: Pioneer Abbey. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ^ "Patent US4191333 - Flame tip for soldering torch". Google Patents. Googleplex, Mountain View, CA: Google Inc. Retrieved May 13, 2013. US patent issue date: March 4, 1980.
- ^ "Patent US3164353 - VARIABLE PITCH ROOF BRACKET". Google Patents. Googleplex, Mountain View, CA: Google Inc. Retrieved May 13, 2013. US patent issue date: January 5, 1965.