Sunday, October 25, 2009

ABC's 'V' reboot

I am not exactly clear as to why ABC has a 'problem' with 'V'. The claim is they don't think people are into epic Alien invasion stories. I'd like to ask them who exactly it was that thought a show about idiots on an island that may or may not be another dimension or whatever other crap J-Brams can come up with, was a good idea. The fact that 'LOST' even has ratings should prove that 'V' is on the right network. But still, there are misgivings. Apparently ABC will air 3 episodes and if it looks like anyone's watching, they'll air the rest. Whatever.

Here are the first 8 minutes. It looks promising, and it'd be a shame if ABC doesn't have any high hopes for such a venture. If todays tv viewing audience can get through a few seasons of LOST, I think they can get through anything.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Mac Tonnies

When I first started this blog, I was already intrigued with another one: POSTHUMAN BLUES. It was Mac Tonnies baby and it was a wonderland...full of futuristic, science fiction and paranormal references, links and thoughts. So I emailed him and I asked him what I could do to make Yufology as interesting. He was kind, intriguing and helpful. From then on I commented on our shared taste in music or movies. We twittered recently about District 9. He was never a friend I hung out with, but he was someone whose unique perspective gave me a reason to tune in and pay attention. I am very saddened by this irreplaceable loss to the esoteric community. A great thinker is gone. Mac Tonnies may you find all your answers.

Rest in peace.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

They did the Mash...the Monster Mash...





I don't get out like I used to. Maybe it's got to do with the fact that the better half of my twenties was spent suffocating ( to this day large crowds freak me out). Or maybe it's more so the fact that it's really hard to find like-minded people. Which is why, every year at about this time I look forward to the MASS MONSTER MASH.

It's like a convention for super cool people who just so happen to like delving into the unknown. Because honestly, no matter what you may think about Ufologists, Cryptozoologists, Ghost hunters or just plain old enthusiasts of the Paranormal...they aren't your garden variety weirdos.

In fact, they are some of the finest, most intelligent people you will ever meet. Because what a lot of people fail to realize is it takes a certain amount of intelligence to try and comprehend the universe, its curiosities and the things that dwell therein. No idiots allowed. It's the lay of the land.

Tonight's MASS MONSTER MASH (or TRIPLE M, as I prefer to call it) was no exception. While Loren Coleman engaged us all in a trip through the life and times of Tom Slick, Nick Redfern had our attention at 'Chupacabra'. Jeff Belanger, humorous as always, enlightened us on White House ghosts. Matt Moniz spoke about the recent Bigfoot sightings in Massachusetts, while Christopher Balzano managed to scare the crap out of me with his presentation on Zombies and PukWudgies! (I think I am more afraid to go to bed tonight than I was when I saw 'Paranormal Activity'!)

The Hibernian Hall was packed and honestly, this year was far more interesting than the last. I found myself so engaged in the topics at hand that my best friend's iphone became our encyclopedia to the unknown. We spent the better half of the conference looking up data in reference to what the speakers were sharing with the world-at-large.


There were also great guests, who although weren't presenting, did not fail to round out the night with their knowledge and information. Derek Gunn was on hand with more great information on all of the unknown, untapped and just plain underappreciated archaeological mysteries around New England. Jeremy Vaeni (of Paratopia fame) and I talked about Ufology's unnerving need to never be second-guessed, with no small thanks to the people involved who fail to see the wheel turning.


I chatted with James Boyd (always a pleasure), signed up with the folks at BostonParanormal.org, and got to check out the awesome wares from believeittour.com, bigfootsurplus.com.


But the night would not have been complete with out Mr. John Horrigan, and Mr. Tim Binnall. Both personified the evening with their impeccable delivery, smooth execution of what was another great convention, the respect with which they handled both the guests and those in attendance, and mostly their friendship.


If I forgot anyone, or anything, it has less to do with my gratitude waning and more to do with the it being past midnight, because these days I have a mental curfew. Needless to say, I can't wait till next year!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Why Scientists can be whack-a-doodles and other things...



So, the LHC (Large Hadron Collider) is being sabotaged by its own future. Yes, you heard it right. Because, "...God hates Higgs particles... " and because, well...crackpot theories can only come from respected scientists. Seriously. Consider the fact that had anyone in Ufology said, "The Large Hadron Collider is doomed to fail because its creation has already rippled back through time, thereby stopping it before it could create a Higgs boson!" there would have been enough backlash to keep CERN scientists in the spotlight for months.

Just imagining the flurry of smack-talk is enough to justify why some people prefer to keep their theories to themselves. There'd be wisecracks about this particular ufologist being a conspiracy theorist. There'd be jokes about scientists from the future, traveling back in time to sabotage the LHC. You name the jack ass theory and they'd have it all written, polished and ready to go. Because that's just the way things are.

But, you get some respectable scientists and you showcase their theory in, let's say THE NEW YORK TIMES and you got yourself a bonafide explanation for why such an expensive ass machine, which should only be running particles in circles, like a giant washing machine, would be so damn hard to put into commission.

Maybe it is being sabotaged from the future, and maybe the theory is sound. But that doesn't change the fact that it sounds ridiculous...even coming from the mouths of physicists.