Credibility in Ufology: Why it matters

No offense to Steven Bassett, but credibility IS an issue in the disclosure process. Infact, (lack of)credibility is what has doomed Ufology, as far as disclosure goes. It's one thing to have credible researchers, asking the big questions. But it's an entirely different ball game when some questionable characters are added to the mix.

Ufology does not garner the respect it deserves. Not until E.B.E.'s hover over a major city and threaten to annihilate a couple million people...not until then will the government turn to its only line of defense: The people who study the phenomena day in and day out.

Ufologists are a rare breed. Intelligent individuals seeking the truth no matter how uncanny. Some of us are very well educated and some are self-taught but highly motivated. We're a mixed bag of characters. Nothing wrong with that.

Look at the Scientific community. Feynman was a showman. But he was a brilliant physicist. And therein lies the dilemma. How to be a credible Ufologist and still be charismatic enough to draw in the numbers; to get the world at large to sit down and pay attention.

What you don't do is let the loons speak for the majority. I'm not speaking about anyone, specifically. But I am pointing out a 'type'. A certain kind of person that has plagued Ufology since its inception. The kind of person who craves attention. The kind of person who wants everyone to embrace their explanations, no questions asked.

Most of the time, their credibility is questionable. They are the very same individuals who make the layperson cringe. They are the reason you can't go one day without someone asking, "So, you still studying UFO's?" And snickering as you try to find a qualitative answer that will remind them that the universe is greater than the mind can fathom, and nothing is left to chance or human perception.

But that doesn't make it any easier to explain why you choose to fight the good fight. It makes it harder. It makes it harder because credibility is everything when you want nothing more than for the world-at-large to respect your work.

Those of us who want answers...we don't wake up in the morning thinking about how many hits our blogs can get, or how many podcasts we can circulate between before our idea of ZOLOFTA THE HORNED REPTILIAN OF ALPHA ZUMEDIA gets mass attention, as our faux entities send us telepathic messages of peace, love, unity and stupidity. Those of us who want answers, wake up...pat ourselves on the back for even making it on so little sleep, before sitting down to write yet another appeal to the masses, to listen and not judge. To understand with an open mind. To appreciate that we aren't doing this for our health, the wealth or some psuedo-celebrity.

We're doing this for the greater good. And we fight hard to give credible answers, credible explanations and credible information. Credibility. It doesn't come in a Happy Meal, no matter what your Alien liaison from Andromeda tells you.

BOA: Audio Season IV

CLAS SVAHN

BoA:Audio once again goes global as we welcome Clas Svahn, head of UFO Sweden, for his first-ever American radio interview. We'll be discussing, in amazing detail, the world of Swedish Ufology. We'll find out about some of the key UFO cases in Sweden's rich history such as the 1808 mass UFO sighting, the 1933 phantom lights flap, the famous Gosta Karlsson case, the ghost lights of 1946, the 1958 Domsten close encounter case, Project Argus of the 1970's, the 1984 Minsk case, the 1999 UFO "crash" in Sweden, and many others. Clas will also give us his first hand perspective on the birth & evolution of UFO studies in Sweden, including how Sweden was a major player in the very early days of the modern UFO phenomenon, the reaction of the Swedish military and government to UFOs, how the media coverage of the phenomenon has changed over the years, and what the everyday Swede thinks of UFOs.

Of the many international editions of BoA:Audio, this one surely will rank among the very best. Clas Svahn showcases the world of UFOs in Sweden, a country who's contributions to the history of Ufology have been all-too-often overlooked.

Full Preview: We kick things off with the bio / background on Clas Svahn and find out how he became interested in the UFO phenomenon. Clas talks about UFO Sweden and how they try to stand for a "third way" of UFO research, centered around scientific investigation of the phenomenon. He also details why he feels that this method is the most reasonable way of looking at the UFO issue and most fruitful for actually finding answers.

We then begin looking at some of the most famous UFO cases in Swedish history, beginning with the first documented UFO sighting from 1808. Clas provides tremendous detail on the case which saw an amazing array of strange objects witnesses by a large group of people. Following that, we discuss the "Ghost Flyer" wave over Sweden in 1933, which pre-dates even the Foo Fighter era of modern Ufology. Clas shares insights he gleaned from speaking with people from the Swedish military who were tasked, in the 1930's, with watching for the "ghost flyers." This segues into some discussion on the Foo Fighters of WWII and we get Clas' take on that phenomenon.

Following that, we discuss Sweden's most famous UFO case: the Gosta Karlsson case of 1946. Clas is in a unique position to speak on the event, having written a book on the case with Gosta Karlsson, himself. Clas first provides the basic details of the case, which saw Gosta Karlsson witness a landed UFO, approach the craft, and have some kind of encounter. We find out about the two objects that Gosta claimed to recover from the event, a ring and a rod, which Clas has personally handled and UFO Sweden put on display in 1996, but have since gone missing. Clas gives his honest assessment of the two items, based on his handling of them. We also find out about Gosta's claims of having gotten recipes for medicines from the ETs and how it ended being the foundation for his future pharmaceutical company.

Clas also talks about the book he wrote about the case with Gosta and what makes it different from many books written with first-person UFO witnesses. We get Clas' verdict on the case, as to whether it happened as Gosta said it did or if it was more of a confabulation. We also find out the fate of the purported alien ring & rod, as of today, and why Clas thinks they have become so hard to recover from Gosta's heirs. Clas also talks about the fame that befell Gosta after the case and how it still resonates in Sweden today.

We move on to discuss the 1946 "ghost rockets" flap in Sweden. Clas talks about what was being reported during the wave, what made it unique for the time period, and the overarching trend of objects falling into lakes during the "ghost rockets" flap. He talks about one specific case, which he has thoroughly investigated, from August of 1946 where objects crashed into a lake and the military staged an unsuccessful search for the object. Clas also gives his opinion on military theories of the time that these objects were Russian rockets and also talks about the close working arrangement between Sweden and the US/UK during the ghost rocket flap of 1946.

Once known as the "best UFO picture in Sweden," the Mora Picture from 1952, is our next case to be discussed. Clas explains how, in recent years, UFO Sweden may have figured out what the Mora picture is and how he ended up potentially solving the case. He also explains how the Mora photo exemplifies some of the key tenets of UFO investigation, namely getting all the information as soon as possible following a case. This leads to some discussion on how advancements in celestial computer programs have allowed for a fresh look at many UFO cases and shown that there are more natural reasons for many previous UFO sightings. We also find out about how UFO Sweden's style of thorough investigation has drawn criticism from others in Sweden, who accuse them of being skeptics because they prove classic UFO cases to be prosaic events.

The next case we look at is the 1958 Domsten case, a close encounter that is fairly well known by even American UFO researchers. Clas first provides the details of the case and some of the more interesting facts about the aftermath, including how the witnesses were the first-ever to be put under hypnosis following an encounter. He then details his investigation into the case and the surprising information he has uncovered about the case and witnesses. We also find out what the reaction was, in Swedish Ufology circles, to the results of Clas' investigation into the event.

We then look at the 1965 Erik Einmark case which produced "four extravagant pictures" purportedly of a UFO and Clas gives his take on this event. He explains how there is a connection between this case and Maj. Kehoe, who was in Sweden when the sighting happened.

Following that, we talk about the 1970's Project Argus, which was a quasi-UFO investigation by the military in Sweden. Clas provides some amazing detail on what the project was and who was involved in it. Clas also talks about UFO Sweden's remarkable investigation into Project Argus and what they uncovered. He also explains why he doesn't put much credence into the conventional reasons for the UFO flap that necessitated Project Argus.

Staying within the time frame of Project Argus, we find out if Sweden underwent the "abduction spike" that the US did during that time period. We then move on to the 1980's and talk about a case involving a cigar shaped object crashing into a lake. This segues into some discussion on the repeated reports of objects landing in water in Sweden and we find out what Clas thinks of this interesting trend. This leads to Clas detailing an amazing 1999 UFO crash in Sweden which was witnessed by seven different people over three locations around a lake.

Wrapping up our discussion of famous Swedish UFO cases, we talk about the 1984 Minsk case. Clas also tells us about a 1948 UFO crash witnessed by the Swedish Commander in Chief of their Armed Forces. In light of the preponderance of objects falling into the water, we find out if there are any reports of objects coming out of the water, ala USOs. We also find out if there has been an evolution of UFO shapes in Sweden like there seems to have been here in America. This leads to some discussion on contactees in Sweden and one that Clas has been researching for over two decades.

We also get Clas to speculate on how much of the UFO activity over Sweden can be attributed to their closeness to Russia and their potential testing of experimental craft. We also get his take on the possibilities that the Swedish UFOs are the result of some kind of strategic military alliance between that country and the US / UK. Closing out the specific UFO event discussion, we find out about the "mothership" case which was mentioned by Klas Hager in the original email which inspired this interview.

Looking at other aspects of Swedish Ufology, we start with the history of UFO studies in that country. We begin with the pre-UFO Sweden era, leading up to 1970 and Clas tells us about how and why UFO Sweden ended up being formed. Clas details how UFO Sweden was "very different" in the 1970's when it first began and, has since, undergone a radical change in outlook regarding UFOs. Clas details how Swedish Ufology has become much more open to non-ETH interpretations of the UFO phenomenon in the last few decades. Paying tribute to one of the original Swedish Ufologists, Clas talks about Gosta Rehn. This leads to some discussion on the ETH and Clas shares his critique of American UFO studies and Ufologists.

Next we find out about the working relationship between UFO Sweden and their neighboring counterpart UFO Norway. In turn, Clas talks about the Hedallen Project, the first joint UFO research effort done between two countries' UFO organization. Clas also tells us about some of UFO Sweden's bi-annual UFO projects which reap a wealth of new information from Swedish citizens. He also explains the means by which UFO Sweden accomplishes this remarkable feat every other year. This leads to some discussion on how UFO Sweden has really raised their public profile in the last 20 years to a level of high respectability in the minds of the media and public in Sweden.

In turn, we end up discussing UFO Sweden's unique relationship with the military in that country. Clas explains why UFO Sweden and the Swedish military have formed a strong working agreement. He also details a stunning connection between the two groups and how beneficial it is for UFO Sweden. Staying within the realm of military discussion, Clas speculates on what the military in Sweden really knows about UFOs. We also find out if Sweden has had any document releases like some of the other European countries have had over the last few years and how Sweden differs from those countries with regards to UFO files. We also get Clas' take on the folks in Swedish Ufology who object to UFO Sweden working with the military and claim that there is some form of cover up over there. Wrapping up the government & UFOs discussion, we find out about Anders Gernandt, a Swedish politician who pushed for UFO disclosure in the 1960's.

Looking at another big pillar of Ufology in Sweden, we find out about the Swedish media and how their portrayal of the UFO enigma has changed over the years and decades since the phenomena burst onto the scene. Clas talks about the "giggle factor" which remains in the US but seems to have subsided substantially in Sweden. Clas also reflects on and traces the media coverage of UFOs in Sweden from the 1950's to today. He talks about what caused an explosion of interest in UFOs from the media in the mid-1990's. We also find out what the world of academia in Sweden thinks of UFOs and Clas reveals a surprising area of the academic community there that is taking a "huge interest" in UFOs.

Closing out our discussion on the world of Swedish Ufology, we talk about the mindset and opinions of the general and public and find out from Clas how it has evolved over the last few decades. He also makes some amazingly deep observations about the present world of Ufology, the Internet, and young people.

Wrapping up this massive interview, we discuss UFO Sweden's Archives for UFO Research, the world's largest archive of UFO material in the world. Getting personal, we find out if Clas thinks he'll see an answer to the UFO phenomenon in his lifetime. We also get Clas' advice for researchers who are looking at the UFO enigma. Finishing things up, we find out what's next for Clas Svahn and UFO Sweden.

The Paracast

Gene and David talk to Greg Bishop!

Coming June 14th: BUDD HOPKINS!

Decoding antiquity: Eight scripts that still can't be read - life - 27 May 2009 - New Scientist

Decoding antiquity: Eight scripts that still can't be read - life - 27 May 2009 - New Scientist

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Jason Offutt @ BOA

BOA Audio is back with Jason Offutt, talking Shadow People and why you shouldn't listen to this before going to bed. Actually, he doesn't say that, but he should. Because I'm listening to it right now, and being someone who has witnessed shadow people throughout my mortal existence on this planet we call Earth...I don't think I'll be getting much sleep.

As if I sleep anyway.

Tim Binnall rules! Nar der.

An Alien Abduction Story: Extraterrestrials, Spirit Abduction or Sleep Paralysis?

Howz about all three? Seriously.

Robert Hastings and Don Ecker @ The Paracast

And...on May 31 L.A. Marzulli. I've read some of the NEPHILIM TRILOGY, and I'm interested in what he has to say about E.B.E.s and Fallen Angels, et al.

Bigfoot looks like my Uncle Julio!

Buy one here. Gulp.

...And they said WILLIAM COOPER was crazy!

When they start putting chips in your brain...

When they start trying to put chips in your brain...

When they put one in your brain...remember...you were warned.

This is the kind of shit that ruins my day...

PARIS (AFP) – The bust of Queen Nefertiti housed in a Berlin museum and believed to be 3,400 years old in fact is a copy dating from 1912 that was made to test pigments used by the ancient Egyptians, according to Swiss art historian Henri Stierlin.

Stierlin, author of a dozen works on Egypt, the Middle East and ancient Islam, says in a just-released book that the bust currently in Berlin's Altes Museum was made at the order of German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt by an artist named Gerardt Marks.

Regan Lee on the 'Marian' effect

Quan Lin (also Kuan Yin) is the Chinese goddess of love, mercy and compassion, traits shared with Mary. Kuan Yin is "she who listens to the sounds (suffering) of the world," again, like Mary. Various names for Quan Lin are: Hearer of Cries, Most Holy Goddess, Holy Mother, Merciful Mother. The similarities between the Christian Mary and the Asian Kwan Yin are clear: both are women that are compassionate, merciful, and "listen to the sounds of suffering of the world." And Maya is also the mother of the Buddha; Mary is the mother of Christ.

Regan Lee had me trippin'...seriously...reading her latest in THE TRICKSTERS REALM.
Marian apparitions, for me are a hit and miss subject. My grandmother wants to
smack me everytime I knock one of the latest Marian apparitions, in hospital
windows, on trees in the middle of bad neighborhoods, or on rocks in front of
churches. Whatever. I've tried to keep an open mind about it, but I even went
so far as to criticize the whole FATIMA apparitions, WHILE I WAS AT FATIMA!

So, maybe I am NOT the best person to sit down and wax philosophical about
the Holy Mary and her power of...whatever...but I do believe something is
at work here. But I think it is far older and goes far deeper. I'm talking
way way older than biblical kind of deep. I'm talking HIS WISDOM...the female
entity that was God's right hand and has been mistaken time and again for
Jesus Christ.

I'm talking Sophia...the one the gnostics said was running sh*t. And if no one
really listened to the gnostics, someone's gotta explain to me how that movie,
THE BIBLE, has a chick as the serpents voice. Seriously. I remember that.

But I digress.

Marian Apparitions. Otherworldly, perhaps. But the Mother of Christ, miraculously
showing up across the globe? I don't get it. If this were some plan of the man upstairs, to get us all to see the error of our ways, than why not Jesus himself?
Or...I don't know, MOSES! Where are all the MOSES sightings? Is it because we'd
mistake him for Charlton Heston?

Peter Robbins @ the PARACAST

Veteran UFO researcher Peter Robbins, co-author of “Left at East Gate,” discusses the classic Rendlesham Forest incident, considered by some to be one of the best documented UFO cases, and its strange aftermath.

Love, love love this episode.

Strange pic of the day

Sacsayhuaman
is located near Cuzco. To say the place is mysterious is an understatement.
After all, Sacsayhuaman is home of some the most enigmatic stone structures
known to man.

These stones fit into each other as if the stones themselves were heated, and
made pliable, like playdoh. Then each stone was set against each other with
precision.

I sometimes find myself staring at various pictures of Sasayhuaman and cursing
under my breath. How they achieved this is beyond my ability to even speculate.
All I can tell is some of the stones have odd indentations on them. Circular in
fact. Some of the stones have odd (rectangular) indentations on where their
bottoms fuse into another stone. Tools? Maybe. I could get all 'out there' and
even say some of those marks look like humongous human-like fingerprints. Because
they do.

I can't wait to see them in person.

The TESLA COIL...in Ancient Egypt

Anyone remember the TREE OF LIFE in Egyptian/Navajo/Assyrian (Babylonian) lore? Anyone remember how it looked?

THE TREE OF LIFE

NAVAJO:


ASSYRIAN/BABYLONIAN:


MAYAN:


And now...

THE TESLA COIL:


For decades, Egyptologists and Scholars alike have wondered how the Egyptians lit their tombs. There is no evidence of burns related to lanterns. It's a mystery. Or is it? What if the Egyptians had electricity? What if the technology was old? What if many, if not all Ancient civilizations had a TESLA coil at their disposal?

They say what is new was once old.

Just a thought.

The Neuropsychology of Zombies

I love shoes, and designer clothes and pretty colors just as much as the next girl. But dammit, I dig Zombies. I love the thrill that only comes with poppin' a new ZOMBIE flick into the DVD player, or eagerly anticipating the upcoming PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES movie being shopped around hollywood. I own all of the RESIDENT EVIL movies. I love GEORGE ROMERO...and even though DARIO ARGENTO's flesh eaters are demons...I can watch those movies over and over and over. So, without further or do, I introduce the latest workings from Dr. Steven Schlozman, the assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard.

He loves Zombies and he knows his stuff. He spoke @ the Coolidge Corner theatre this passed monday, and brought up the MIRROR NEURON theory. I've always associated MN with various kinds of science fiction elements. Essentially, humans are wired to bounce behavioral patterns off each other. So, mass hysteria begets mass hysteria. Ten people around you acting crazy will make you act crazy etc.

It's how riots get started. It's how revolutions evolve. But it's also how a group of survivors will try, against better judgement, to fight off brain eaters to the death. Even Schlozman says so.

What gets me is, if Zombies are so primal and incapable of thinking beyond the devouring of brains and the attaining of said brains knowledge (thank ya kindly Robert Rodriguez, for PLANET TERROR!), then how to explain DAY OF THE DEAD and other zombie flicks in which some Zombies start to remember how to behave? LAND OF THE DEAD was an exercise in futility, yes...but it also had some Zombies getting mad and getting even; incensed over the fact that they had no place to call their own without being hunted. So they followed one rather intelligent Zombie, to a new home.

That's how far ROMERO was getting with his ZOMBIE psychosis. But then he did DIARY OF THE DEAD, and all the brainlessness intelligence was kaput.

Anways...read the brief article, and try to catch up on Schlozman's work because the fact that a Harvard educated professor is talking about Zombies is cooler than unicorns in central park. Well. Almost.

Lamest piece of crap explanation ever...in the history of b.s.

Area 51.

Seriously.

Is that what they use it for?

Really?

Is this a late April fool's joke?

Did someone wake up on the wrong side of the spaceship they built using reverse technology, this morning?

Is it becoming that much harder to explain yourselves?

Are we in 2009 or 1899?

Since when did Science become the fall guy for stupidity?

How many secret scientists on secret bases in secret deserts does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

If Aliens don't exist, then how the f*ck come you guys still have a job?

So the Aurora was built on ingenuity and hours and hours of Star Trek?

So, if I have a billion dollars, can I get one of those super-secret-stealth ships? With a side of fries?

The man/men/agency/group/starfleet that comes up with all the lame ass stories to keep us nosy seekers-of-the-truth from seeking the truth need a hobby. Seriously.


Area 51, you are made of FAIL.

SPACEMAN fantastico

In the midst of all the UFO hoaxes out there, I would like to draw your attention to something worth wasting braincells on. Okay, maybe not wasting, but I heard braincells die all the time...so here goes:

The Killers---SPACEMAN


My article @ BOA regarding THE KILLERs, SPACEMEN, and ZOMBIES. Um. Yeah.

Vampires in Boston...and other stupid things

Why are kids so stupid these days? Remember back when vampires were confined to the freaky old house down the block? Or the cemetery near your uncles house? Thems were the days. But now, that school we all took that test to try to get into...you know...Latin Academy...it's invested with idiots. Pardon me. I meant to say, vampires. Which is worse? Really. Kids reporting on each other, " Judy... she wears Urban Decay eyeliner in Venom, and she rocks Doc Martens and never goes out when it's sunny. I think she's a vampire." Seriously. If this is the future we are in for some serious disappointment. These kids aren't going to find cures for cancer, aids and MS. Nope. Instead they're going to spend their adulthood picking on each other, making lame shit up about each other and oh, before I forget...hunting vampires. Or atleast selling them out.

The meaning of the 3 dots in symbology and other things...

I've been watching Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles since its first episode. I like it enough. I mean, what's not to like when you've got kickass female leads in a show about robots and time travel? Plus, SHIRLEY MANSON! Anyways, recently Sarah found herself totally immersed in this mystery about 3 DOTS. I have three dots. On my forearm to be exact. Three equidistant freckle-looking things. They've been there forever. They've been there so long I don't even pay them much mind. But now I find myself looking up the symbology of the 3 dots.



This is how they connect (w/ MSPAINT...gah.)...



This is how they appear on my arm (w/ my blackberry camera)...



I found something about a MOON ILLUSION, and that group of dudes who think they're the ILLUMINATI and like to recruit
idiots from YALE...

I better not be an alien. That would be such a cop out. JK

Strange photo of the day...

I've got giants on the brain.

Andrew Barnes and Paul Taitt @ BOA

I used to be the Queen Mother of sleep paralysis. At first I thought I was
an abductee. Then some years later, I started to delve heavily into old
biblical tales of demons overcoming humans. Now, I can say I have been
free from 'SP' for over seven years.

For those who think this sort of thing is awesome and would like to
experience it for yourselves, please don't take this the wrong way...
but...can I slap you?

You can listen to the streaming audio here.

March madness

It's that time of year when everyone and their mother has something eloquent (and mostly B.S.,) to say.
On tuesday, the creators of Battlestar Galactica and two of its stars presented at the UN.
Ron Moore and David Eick spoke about how the issues in BSG mirrored the problems we face today.
But it was the passion with which Eddie Olmos spoke against racial divide that really resounded with those in attendance.
Mary McDonnell, infinitely smart and graceful, reminded us all that the leaders decisions were made in desperate times; that being the President doesn't make you exempt from having a conscience.
They spoke about real world problems. Problems no one wants to think about. Because we all like to believe the world is capable of great change.
BSG is a science fiction show. Perhaps one of the last great tv shows ever. It takes its final bow on friday, March 20th, 2009. With it, the many issues regarding war, torture, human rights and equality may fade from the last medium to address these problems. Science ficiton television.
Why didn't they address the UFO/ALIEN agenda? Perhaps it's because BSG is not a show about Aliens. It's a show about humans. About machines striving to be human. If the UN is going to address the ALIEN problem, doesn't it make sense to address the human problem first?

Rethinking Teleportation

Everytime the question of what superpower I'd wanna have if I were a superhero comes up, I always pick the same thing: Teleportation. Frak flying. That's so 1972. Same goes for superstrength, because I can just see myself shaking someone's hand and accidentally snapping their arm in half. Anyways, teleportation (and time travel), has always been a favorite subject of mine. Everytime a new book comes out, explaining some new way of possibly going about the transference of photons from one destination to the next, I buy it. Everytime Scientific American or Discover magazine publishes an article on teleportation, I buy the entire issue. I wouldn't say I am obsessed, but I would say that I know there is some element missing in all the theorizing and it's driving me bat shit. For instance, why does teleportation have to work on the principle that an object emerging on the other side is a fascimile of the original? How come I can't teleport my original self from, say, here in Boston Massachusetts, to Honolulu in the exact molecular composition that is ME and not some copy? How come there isn't a theory to express the possibility that it could be the space in which a teleported object travels that may shift and have to reconstitute itself and not the object itself? I mean, rather than me dividing into a zillion pieces and then coming back together on some beach in honolulu, why can't the space between boston and honolulu shift and break apart and expand enough so that I can come through? I admit, I am NOT a scientist. And perhaps a science major or two will come across this post and go, "My god, this girl has no idea what the heck she's talking about." But what if I do have a point? I mean, I'm not stupid and I do love science. I did once fancy myself being a scientist. I think that I'm just as aware as the next enthusiast. So I say, there has to be another way. Someone's not looking into this with all eyes open. Teleportation can very be the simplest way to move through space, but people are so caught up trying to make it sound so scientific and perhaps, in some way, re-invent the wheel, that they don't want to entertain other possibilities.

Like I said, I don't know much about it all. I do enjoy reading about it. I do enjoy thinking about it. But damn it...can some genius get on the ball already so I can actually DO it?!

Richard Freeman's global monster template

Richard Freeman's monster list reads like a who's who of cryptocreatures, and it's a dang good list too. But then he goes on to explain that many of these *things* could be thought forms or tulpas...and that's when I have to disagree.

First of, here's the list:

1. Dragons: The most ancient, powerful and widespread monster archetype. These giant reptiles, or analogues of them, occur in every culture on earth. They are reptilian, elongate and associated with the element of water.
2. Hairy giants: Yeti, Yowie, Yeren, Sasquatch, Di-Di, Troll, Almasty, the list goes on. Big, man-like, powerful and hair covered.
3. Little people: Goblins, Pixies, Bush Men, Junjudee, Ebu-Gogo the list is nigh on endless. Small, sometimes hairy often considered dangerous.
4. Monster cats: Out of place panthers, American ‘lions’, cigau, singa ect. Uncatchable felines.
5. Monster dogs: Werewolves, Black Dogs, Waheela, Mirrii dogs ect Usually huge, spectral hounds.
6. Monster Birds: Thunderbird, Roc, Tengu, Guruda, Owlman ect. Giant, often aggressive, birds.

*ahem* Mermaids and Unicorns are NOT on the list, however, people rarely see them
these days, so I'll just let it go for now.

But seriously, this Tulpa thing rankles my ass. Everytime someone mentions tulpa I can't help but think, "Yeah okay, maybe all of us together are strong enough to create a thoughtform, but seriously, are ALL OF US THINKING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING?" One man's YETI is not another man's SASQUATCH. Hence the variation in names. Some people see an upright monkey, other's see Harry Henderson. It's not all relative and so it annoys me that it can be so easily explained as such.

My theory is this: If people are invoking the same being, it's only because they've been conditioned to believe in or be aware of that particular kind of being. Whether it be a DRAGON, YETI or BIG CAT. And the only way people are conditioned is through folklore or oral tradition or hollywood or books or all of the above. And the only way that happens is when someone, somewhere back in time saw something and told someone else. Now, does that mean that only THAT one person's sighting happened to become everyone else's manifestation simply through the re-telling of the story? It could, if only some other person, 5000 miles away didn't start telling the SAME story about the SAME creature. And therein lies the dilemma. How is this a thought form from two independent sources so far removed from one another?

Tales of every creature on that list are world-wide and traditional. They've been told across the globe for ages. There is NO WAY that collectively, our ancestors got bugged out on peyote, ayahuasca or coke and started thinking, "Hey, a really huge, scaley lizard thingie that flies ate my whole village," if there's no one to corraborate...like the whole dang village.

Tulpas. No. I hate that explanation. I really wish people would stop using it. It leads nowhere. Seriously.

Can we for once consider that this world is not built just for humans? There could be all kinds of things living all around us that don't spend entire lifetimes questioning their existence. They just are. And we need to start excepting them as such, because trying to own them all up to a simple explanation like mass hysteria isn't going to make them go away.

Cryptozoology toys!

The MOTHMAN looks cheesy.

Oh, who am I kidding. I'd put every single one of them on my desk.
And I'd probably play with them too.
Maybe make some stop-motion-animation shorts with them. Like
Robot Chicken.

Mothman: I'm blue, om-da-da-da-di-om-da-do-dah
Sasquatch: I'm do for a waxing. Got a date with this hot Abominable snow-girl.
Chupacabra: Tu quiero taco bell.


Yeah, I'm lame.

Did Black holes form before galaxies?

Um. After reading this article, my head spun a few times and then I thought: "Black holes must spit sh*t out more than suck things in. So...um...what if black holes are giant teleportation devices?" ---Sucking in galaxies and spitting them out on the other side?

Or am I just too dumb to get any of this?

The Natural History of Unicorns

I can't help but wonder if there were UNICORNS (cuz there are!), that perhaps they may have been hunted to extinction by stupid people who believe stupid things. I mean, you see a strange creature in your back yard and you kill it, and then you drink some water from its horn because you're weird. Next thing ya know, your canker sores are gone, so you tell the neighbors. Now, this creature has relatives roaming the backyards of all your neighbors, so it gets easy for your neighbors to kill one of their own, and so on and so on. Until every dumb, gullible person kills off every little fabulous, weird creature.

Yup. I think that's how it went down.

Loren Coleman interview @ The Phoenix

I don't care what anyone says...I still believe in Unicorns and Mermaids. I'm still waiting for someone to prove to me they DON'T exist. I won't hold my breath.

The Viking Tower...

On saturday I saw the most curious thing: The Viking Tower. I had heard many detailed stories about it. That the Chinese built it, or the Norse, or Benedict Arnold. To tell you the truth, it looks like no Windmill I've ever seen, and I
have spent the day looking all over the web for similar ones.

It's supported on 8 pillars with 8 arcs and inside (if you can get close enough), are these curious little portholes and windows that are completely covered from the outside. Also, there appears to be a fireplace in there. Seriously.

There are also ledges on the outside that may have supported beams. That is the concensus anyway.

An excavation was carried out in the late 1940's and Colonial clues were found, like a shoe print and it was also carbon dated. Now, the carbon dating gets me because I thought carbon dating rocks was a no-no. But apparently they did the mortar. So, many of the peeps who studied the tower believe it was built in colonial times. However, there is evidence of a structure in China that looks just like it, again lending a bit of speculation in the direction of Chinese settlers in the Americas.
It has been said that there are runes on the stones, but I didn't see anything. I had I know, I would have looked harder. All I saw was a beautifully elaborate structure with no rhyme or reason to it. Let everyone else argue about it. I just enjoyed looking at it.
If you're ever in Newport, Rhode Island, go to Touro Park and check it out.

Nick Redfern and Greg Bishop @ BOA

Too awesome for words!!!

Punch hole clouds

Awesome pics of high-cloud-strangeness at DARK ROASTED BLEND.

Seeing faces

I went to profile rock two weeks ago. It wasn't a planned investigation. On the contrary, I was visiting my best friend in Fall River and happened to see signs w/ a very distinguished Native American profile everywhere. Then I saw the sign pointing the way, so while my best friend spent a good hour arguing with T-mobile about a mistake on her phone bill, I saw profile rock.
When I made it to the top of the hill overlooking the rock I was awestruck. Maybe a tad gobsmacked. My heart palpated in my chest and I was overwhelmed by the awesome. So what did I do? Being the adventurer I WISH I was, I got a closer look. I found a stone staircase leading down the hill and so I went on down and close to what became a hill of rocks, broken and graffiti'd and eventually gave way to the true profile of the rock. It wasn't the regal one used to advertise all the businesses in the area. On the contrary, that profile is an illusion. Broken rocks jutting out left and right make it look that way.

But still, there is a profile. Only it resembles a Maya and not a Native American.

I saw a long sloping forehead and a flat nose. But then again, you can see faces in anything, so I have no idea if what I was looking at was carved or made by mother nature as the rocks crumbled. All I do know is that I loved being there and seeing it and I can't wait to see something crazier or stranger or far more mysterious in the near future.

Mac Tonnies Interview w/ Richard Thomas

Mac Tonnies IS a meme all his own.

Stanton Friedman @ BOA

It's one BoA's proudest traditions, the 4th annual BoA:Audio Holiday Special featuring the "Father of Modern Day Ufology" Stanton Friedman. Coming on the heels of the publication of his self-proclaimed "magnus opus," Flying Saucers and Science, we discuss a number of elements to the new tome. We find out about Project Blue Book Special Report # 13, the mysterious "lost" Blue Book text, Stan's relationships and thoughts on legendary Ufologists James E. McDonald & J. Allen Hynek, his "feud" with Isaac Asimov, the crash of the nuclear rocket industry, plus big picture analysis like how to solve Ufology's public relations problems and Stan's thoughts on the state of Roswell in relation to mainstream media & science acceptance.

On top of all that, in the 2nd half of the program, we turn the questioning over to the members of the official BoA forum theusofe.com who had their chance to ask Friedman one question each. Via their contributions, we'll find out about his thoughts on the connection between UFOs & altered consciousness, his disagreements with Kevin Randle on Roswell, Ufology in a post-disclosure world, getting the media interested in UFOs, his opinion on what is the best abduction case ever, his feud with Paul Kimball, sabermetrics in baseball, the alleged 1969 Sverdlovsky UFO crash, why he doesn't subscribe to the Corso version of Roswell, the journal article 'Sovereignty and the UFO', Project Blue Book Special Report #14, and where the US would be in space if it kept going to the moon.

The Solstice at Newgrange

Maybe it's just me, but why's this picture look like there's a boy in it, with his head bowed down? I need some coffee.

Top Ten Astronomy pics of 2008

The pics of the universe are so dang beautiful. I wish I could just float among the stars forever and forever...or just stand over the earth, like Superman, only I'd be Superwoman...and I'd be cuter.

Understand Dark Matter

The vastness and darkness of space has always intrigued me. I don't know what it is about DARK MATTER that just causes one to stop and think about just how much about the universe we don't know...and never will.

He Built Himself An Electric Barbarella!

Gian Quasar @ BOA

In our first two-part episode of Season IV, BoA:Audio heads to previously uncharted waters (on our program) and an area of mystery once huge in esoterica but now relegated to the peripheral ... the Bermuda Triangle. Our guest is Gian Quasar, author of the outstanding book Into the Bermuda Triangle.

In this, our first installment of the interview, we'll discuss the history of the Triangle, both as a phenomenon and as an enigma of public interest. We'll also discuss some of the most famous (and infamous) Triangle disappearances, like the Carol A. Doerring case, Flight 19, Christopher Columbus' Triangle experiences, the Ellen Austin story, the tale of the USS Cyclops, and many others. In Part One, we'll also cover the government's take on the Triangle, Gian's arguments against the various Triangle explanations put forth by debunkers, and disappearance flaps in the Triangle, including the "December Hex."

It's a richly detailed edition of the program unearthing one of esoterica's "lost" mysteries: the Bermuda Triangle.

Full Preview: We kick things off with the standard bio/background of Gian Quasar and how he got interested in the Bermuda Triangle. Following that, Gian gives us a thumbnail definition of what the Bermuda Triangle is, for those folks living under a rock somewhere. Then we find out if Gian has ever ventured into the infamous Triangle. Based on Gian's exhaustive research, we learn what the general average is for missing planes and boats per year and he tells us about disappearance flaps in the Triangle, such as in 1978/79. He also enlightens us as to how the disappearance rate has changed quite a bit in the last year or so and what that seems to be the case. We also find out if there are any other significant trends with Triangle disappearances and Gian tells us about the "December Hex."

Beginning to look more closely at the Triangle disappearances, we first talk about how many of those that go missing are seasoned pilots & seamen, which flies in the face of popular claim of human error as the cause of Triangle vanishings. Next we talk about the changing shape of the Triangle and how it is more amorphous than the generally held public perception of a "triangle."

We then discuss the evolution of the Bermuda Triangle as a pillar of the esoteric community, beginning with its introduction to the scene, the explosion in popularity of the Triangle, and then the post-70's "deep freeze" where the phenomena seemed to vanish from the the public eye. Gian speculates on what elements may have caused the "Triangle fever" of the 1970's.

Looking at disappearances in the Triangle, Gian tells us about any patterns that might be found and he described both "standard disappearances" and "bizarre disappearances." Gian shares some of the more truly strange aircraft disappearances attributed to the Triangle. He also points out one key aspect of BT disappeances: the lack of any signal from emergency devices used to locate missing ships and planes. This segues into Gian speculating on just why it is that the Bermuda Triangle seems to resonate with people, at times moreso than the more popular mysteries like Bigfoot or UFOs.

Following that we discuss another odd layer to the BT mystery: derelict (or abandoned) ships that turn up in the Triangle. He recalls one such famous case, The Carol A. Doerring case. He also tells us about a couple of amazing stories of derelict planes that may have been Triangle-related as well.

Looking at famous and noteworthy plane disappearances in the Triangle, we first talk about a May 27th, 1962 plane vanishing which saw the only wreckage found to be a nosewheel of the plane with bizarre characteristics. Then we talk about perhaps the most famous of all Bermuda Triangle flight disappearances: the vanishing of Flight 19. This leads to another interesting element of some flight disappearances: the fact that some make radio communications to land, though hours after the planes should have run out of fuel. Before we move on to the missing boats, Gian explains why it is easier to document missing planes rather than missing ships.

Moving on, we look at the oceanic elements to the Triangle. We start with the Sargasso Sea, a truly bizarre element to the waters of the Triangle. Next, we look way back in history at the strange events that befell Christopher Columbus' voyage through the Triangle. Following that, Gian recounts the infamous case of the Ellen Austin, which was reported to be a derelict ship discovered, recapitulated, and then mysteriously abandoned again. We also take a thorough look at perhaps the most infamous missing ship case in the Triangle: the USS Cyclops. Gian explains why he thinks there were more human elements at work behind the Cyclops disappearance, rather than attributing it to the Triangle itself. Lastly, we look at cases of submarines that have gone missing in the Triangle.

We then briefly talk about divers that go missing in the Triangle and whether or not they may have fallen victim to "rapture of the deep." Gian then talks about one of the roadblocks to Bermuda Triangle research: the difficulty in establishing a boat "disappearance." Looking at the big picture of Bermuda Triangle disappearances, Gian estimates how many planes and boats he has documented disappearing in the area since WWII and the number is staggering. He also explains why it is harder to get information on pre-WWII cases and why there are so few flight cases before WWII.

We find out what, if any, the government's official stance is on the Triangle, especially in light of so many planes disappearing there during WWII and beyond. Gian also details how he played a part in changing the government's official statement on the Triangle, which had grown horribly outdated over the last few decades. We then find out how extensive the investigations were into the Triangle during the boom of the 1970's. We also learn what these investigations uncovered about the Triangle.

Following that, we talk about Lawrence Kusch's infamous book Bermuda Triangle: Mystery Solved and Gian explains the weakness of that work and why the title is highly misleading. Looking at another tact taken by skeptics of the Triangle, Gian argues against the theories surrounding methane gas as the cause of disappearances.

Wrapping up Part One, we look at plane disappearances and radar, we talk about how the actual time it takes for the plane to disappear is seen to be very fast, usually within seconds. Gian contrasts a plane disappearing in the Triangle to a plane crashing as far as how they appear on radar.


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Gian Quasar Bio
Gian Quasar is recognized as the leading authority in the world on the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, the man responsible for taking the subject out of the haze of two decades of debunker driven obscurity and placing it in its actual and often disturbing light. He is the first person to completely document the Bermuda Triangle, incident by incident. His research began over 15 years ago, and he has compiled the largest private repository of reports and official maritime documents, containing over 350 cases spanning over 2 centuries. Over 150 of these have been disappearances which have happened in the last 25 years.

Gian’s tenacity in finding every scrap available has gained him popular recognition as Generation X’s number 1 investigator of the most famous phenomena topics long established by the 1970s, uncovering them for an entirely new generation, but now with actual documentation instead of the endless hype and hyperbole of their public marketing. He presents them as all facts must be presented: in a mature and objective manner.

His website is bermuda-triangle.org

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Next Week :

Gian Quasar PART 2!!!

Robotics expert builds android twin to study the soul

This is awesome-freaky-amusing. There's just no other way to describe it. Personally, if I had the genius for such a pursuit, I'd be torn between
the ramifications of possibly enabling my studies/experiments to allow
some future nutjob/genius the opportunity to create cylon-like being to
replace us all. But, hey, if his ideas get off the ground and someone
one-ups him, hopefully I'll be really really old. Or dead.

And it's not like I don't admire such pursuits, but I do see a day when
our inventions may get the best of us. And that, no matter how you shake
it, spells the end of humanity as we know it.

ROCK ON!

Check out "DARK LORE"

Welcome to the official website for Darklore, a journal of exceptional observations, hidden history, the paranormal and esoteric science. Bringing together some of the top researchers and writers on topics from outside of mainstream science and history, Darklore will challenge your preconceptions by revealing the strange dimensions veiled by consensus reality. Contributors include Daniel Pinchbeck, Loren Coleman, Nick Redfern, Robert Schoch, Blair Blake, Michael Grosso, Paul Devereux, Stephen Braude, Mike Jay, Lynn Picknett & Clive Prince and many others. Darklore offers only the best writing and research from the most respected individuals in their fields.

George Knapp @ BOA

BoA:Audio celebrates our 100th episode with massively popular investigative journalist George Knapp. George will discuss the evolution of his journalism career, his investigation into Area 51 and the subsequent fall-out in Ufology, his take on UFO studies, reflections on his research into the Skinwalker Ranch, and the latest news on his coverage of the Needles UFO case from earlier this Summer.

We celebrate our centennial with a bonafide A-list esoteric name in an episode you do not want to miss.

Full Preview: We kick things off with a little bit of background on George Knapp and his evolution as a TV reporter. We dive right into the UFO discussion by first talking about George's investigation into Area 51. He begins by telling us about the background to his research into Area 51, including the influence of esoteric players like John Lear, Bill Cooper, and Bob Lazar in helping to fuel George's discovery of the infamous esoteric landmark and the subsequent explosion of Area 51 as a paranormal meme.

This leads to us hearing some remarkable stories about the reaction to George's Area 51 work from his colleagues in the news media. We get George's fascinating insider perspective on the long-standing belief, in some Ufological circles, of a media coverup of the UFO subject. We also get his take on the apparent changes in the media in the last year with regards to UFOs and how the coverage seems to be getting more positive. He also talks about some of his dealings with the basic cable UFO shows and his disappointment with how some of them are put together.

Next we talk about George's initial introduction to the world of Ufology, including attending the infamous 1989 MUFON convention which saw Bill Moore reveal his government connections and John Lear stage a mutiny and attempt to form his own convention within the convention. He also talks about the fallout from his reports on Area 51 and how various camps in Ufology used the story to their own ends. This leads to a general discussion on some of the problems of UFO studies today.

Looking at the future of Ufology, we ask George if there's any way to "save" Ufology or if it has degenerated too far beyond the point of saving. He tells us about how organizations like NIDS might be the ideal scenario for serious investigation of the UFO phenomenon. This segues into a discussion on the "economy of Ufology" and how the problems of the field take their toll on the good researchers who need funds to continue their work.

Moving on, we get George's opinion, based on his research, on how much the government really knows about UFOs. He reveals what aspect of the UFO phenomenon and the potential government coverup has always interested him the most. We also get his take on the idea of a "global conspiracy" to keep the UFO subject secret by certain countries. We then find out why George does not foresee UFO disclosure by the government at any point in the future and what it probably would take to blow the lid off the UFO secret.

We also get his thoughts on the Exopolitics movement that has sprung up in the last decade. He details some of the political problems with dealing with UFOs and shares an amazing story of a 2000 Congressional hearing on UFOs that almost happened but was thwarted by the very people pushing for UFO disclosure. Staying on the topic of UFO disclosure, George tells us about some of the potential political stumbling blocks that would likely prevent such a release of UFO information. He also shares his opinion that if UFO disclosure happened, then there might be some kind of criminal charges filed against some of the people who have kept the "truth" hidden from the public. He also makes the Devil's Argument that perhaps the truth behind UFOs is "too much" for the public to bear.

Up next, we cover George's groundbreaking work covering the Skinwalker Ranch (about which he co-wrote Hunt for the Skinwalker with Colm Kelleher). We start by finding out why the story seems to still resonate so much with people, nearly three years after the book was written. We then talk about George's experience investigating the infamous ranch and he tells us about how the book came about in the first place. He talks about one story from the ranch that they debated including in the book, because it was almost "too outrageous," but they decided to include it after all. He also shares some great stories about his personal experiences visiting the ranch.

We then discuss some of George's most recent work in the UFO realm: his investigation into a reported UFO crash in Needles, California. He gives a detailed look at the story, including the "post-crash" fallout of the story. He recounts some of the reports of Men In Black in the area after the event and his remarkable run-in with government agents and gives his frank assessment of what happened during that incident.

Heading towards the close, we get George's perspective on hosting Coast to Coast AM twice a month. He also tells us what guest he'd like to have on the show and hasn't had the chance to interview yet. We also find out what's next for George Knapp in the esoteric field.


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George Knapp Bio
George Knapp was born in Woodbury, N.J., and raised mostly in Northern California. He graduated from high school in Stockton, Calif.; earned a bachelor's degree in communications from West Georgia College; and later earned a master's degree in communications from the University of the Pacific, where he also taught speech and debate and served as director of forensics. George also taught speech at California Polytechnic University, coached the debate team at the University of California at Berkeley and taught broadcast journalism at UNLV.

Along the way, George also worked as a hodcarrier, farm laborer, carpenter's assistant and house painter. He moved to Las Vegas in 1979 and landed a job as a taxi driver. Later, he worked at KLVX-TV Channel 10 as a part-time studio cameraman and production assistant. KLAS-TV hired him in 1981 as a general assignment reporter. George also has co-anchored various newscasts for Eyewitness News.

He has earned two regional Edward R. Murrow awards and a national Edward R. Murrow award for his investigative stories on the voter registration fraud. Nine times, he has won the Mark Twain Award for best news writing from the Associated Press. And in 1990, his series about UFOs was selected by United Press International as best in the nation for Individual Achievement by a Journalist. In addition to that, he has won 14 Emmy Awards.

He is also the co-author of Hunt for the Skinwalker and hosts Coast to Coast AM every 3rd & 4th Sunday of the month.

ADAM DAVIES @ BOA

( I am suffering from serious BSG withdrawal because I almost typed ADAMA DAVIES! )

"BoA returns to the UK to talk with Adam Davies, author of Extreme Expeditions: Travel Adventures Stalking the World's Mystery Animals. We'll be covering some of the adventures that are detailed in his book, including his travels to the Congo to search for the Mokele Mbembe, hunting the Orang Pendek in Sumatra, investigating the Mongolian Death Worm, and other treks around the world seeking truly unique cryptids. We'll also delve into the human side of crypto expeditions, talking about what makes a good team, the political roadblocks to international work, how Adam's family feels about his adventures and much more. Plus, we cover Alien Big Cats, the Seljord Serpent, American Bigfoot, the "kill v. no kill" debate, and, as always, tons and tons more."

GET THIS BOOK!

You can buy it here!

THE PARACAST

Ever since I left my last job, I've been unable to listen to the Paracast. I completely missed MAC TONNIES (Oct 26,2008). So here it is. Enjoy!

Peculiar Pic Of The Day- WERNHER VON BRAUN'S SPACE ROCKET

U.S. pilot ordered to shoot down UFO!

Is it any wonder how Roswell may have come to be? Seriously. The whole MOGUL balloon thing may sit nice and tidy with some. I am as tired of Roswell as the next UFO enthusiast, but sometimes I have to keep my mind open to the probability that someone shot down something. And if this news story doesn't make anyone else think the very same thing, and in almost the very same instance, than I am truly alone with my dark and diabolical ROSWELLian thoughts.

ANOMALOUS PIC OF THE DAY

How much crazy can you see? I am still in awe. Three words: EGYPT ON MARS!

Jesus the Magician

My grandmother says I am beyond help and that I lack faith. I usually scoff when she says this, because it usually comes up in an argument when the nightly news headlines a story about a group of habitual gullible religious simps, standing in front of a hospital, worshipping an image of Mary in a window. I tell her it's condensation in between the panes. She tells me I don't believe in anything. I wanna tell her that I pray every night for the world to wake the frak up. But I don't. Instead I let her mourn my supposed doomed soul, as I look on in disbelief at how life imitates art.

So, of course when I found the article regarding the bowl that was found, inscribed with the words, "DIA CHRSTOU O GOISTAIS," BY CHRIST THE MAGICIAN/ THE MAGICIAN BY CHRIST, I laughed. I laughed hard. Because all I could think about was the X-FILES episode, HOLLYWOOD A.D., in which Mulder stumbles on a bowl embedded with the voice of Christ, commanding Lazarus to rise from the dead.

So, now, here we have a bowl, of the exact same color, incribed with the text regarding the likelihood that Jesus was doing better in the desert than Chris Angel, and what have you got? Me...sceptical as ever. And no, I am not going to bother arguing with my grandmother about this one.

Weird Science: Top unexplained mysteries

*From hairy beasts to humming deserts, these mysteries go unexplained



Ya don't say...

MEN IN BLACK

I haven't seen a really accurate representation of a MAN IN BLACK, maybe ever. Most hollywood representations are missing that creepy, alien or robotic element. So, I was a little elated to see the FRINGE use a character, this week that was the most accurate representation of an MIB to date. THE OBSERVER has no sense of taste or time---has no hair---wears a suit---can read your mind---shows up, inexpicably, at the scene of some uncanny event. Check, check, check, check and check. If you aren't watching the FRINGE, you really should. If nothing else, it gives the esoteric a nice polish.

WANTED: A volunteer to be the Deputy News Editor of The Anomalist.

The ANOMALIST is looking for a Deputy News Editor. If you think you've got what it takes...

Abstract or Prophetic?

There's this globe at the Vatican museum, that spins counter-clockwise and looks like one planetary body has collided into another, much bigger planetary body. And, personally, it's just out of place there. Why at the Vatican?

THOMAS HORN: Why Lake of Fire, Nephilim may return -- this year

I read Tom Horn's revelations regarding ENOCH and the Nephilim, back when he was writing it in weekly/monthly segments and putting it up on the RAIDERS NEWS website. It was just as intriguing than as it is now.

IS GHOST HAUNTING GYM?

The HALLOWEEN spirit is alive and well. Makes this girls heart all warm and gushy.

Giants in Atlantis?

Yeah, okay, let me clarify. There's a place called GILGAL that is about 5000 years old. It was supposedly the place where KING OG of BASHAN ruled. He was a giant/rephaim. Curiously enough, GILGAL is also referred to as REFAIM. Anyways, my point is GILGAL looks an awful lot like what PLATO said ATLANTIS looked like (minus the water).

Here are two aerial views of GILGAL, easily accessible by air because it is sorrounded by mountains...and there is a military training post there too...oddly enough. But, supposedly it is open to tourists on weekends.




Here is PLATO's description of ATLANTIS...note the 3 concentric circles around a city-like center...etc.

Lesley's sighting

Lesley relates her intriguing sighting at her home, in her latest entry of GREY MATTERS.

PHILIP MANTLE @ THE PARACAST

UFO researcher Philip Mantle and Wing Commander Alan Turner MBE (RAF Retired) discuss an incredible radar-based UFO encounter in 1971 and other fascinating aspects of the UFO mystery. You'll also learn about the International UFO Conference in the UK.

FRINGE

The first two episodes of JJ ABRAMS *FRINGE* are up on FOX.COM and so far I'm enjoying it. I mean, it's not the X-FILES, but it's got that old school esoterica attached to its first two storylines, and seriously, I haven't seen that in ages. I mean, where can you see I genius scientist using a camera to capture images on a dead woman's retina? Or, better yet, using electric probes to connect a comatose mans subconscious to his partner/lovers so she can recapture the image of his assailant? Best of all, there's this PATTERN; a string of world events utilizing some incredible scientific prowess. In other words, someones using the entire planet as their laboratory.Best of all, the show is centered in MASSACHUSETTS. The main lab where all the magic happens is in the basement at Harvard. In the second episode, a professor at Boston College is part of a program to create supersoldiers. It's actually interesting and I really don't put all my eggs in the basket when it comes to Abrams. He's notorious for losing his edge a few seasons in. He seems to get tired of his own ideas. I mean, every ALIAS fan knows of what I speak. Heck, even LOST has lost me. But all that aside, I am seriously hoping FRINGE takes off. Because after BATTLESTAR GALACTICA is gone, I won't have nothing else to watch. Well, there is WHEDON's *DOLLHOUSE* but the halt in production is making this WHEDON fan a tad weary. We'll see.

CHECK OUT FRINGE.

GEMINI DIVISION

If you haven't seen it yet, get thee over to the site and check it out. I've been hooked since day one. Rosario Dawson plays a cop whose boyfriend may or may not have been a simulated being. I'm not giving it away. You gotta check it out for yourself.

Since ANGELS seem to be making the rounds in the news of late

Real or Crap? You decide...

LARGE FOOTPRINT DISCOVERED

Why is it so easy to conclude that this is a BIGFOOT print from thousands of years ago...or maybe even the famed (and in my opinion, flawed belief in) Gigantopithecus? And yet, no one's said, "Um, maybe it's just a GIANT human." There's stories of human giants all over the place. Native American legends. Old stories of excavations in the America's. THE BIBLE. And yet, people will believe in a giant, hairy beastman first. And I am not really talking about bigfoot...I'm actually adding my two cents to the whole gigantopithecus theories. One minute the big G resembles a human with extra body hair, and the next it looks like a giant ape. So which is it? Who's foolin' who?

OLDEST SKELETON IN AMERICA's

Possibly the oldest skeletons ever found in the America's and yet, looking at this pic, that skull is just a little too big or is it the angle of the camera?

Looking into the dark can get you into trouble...

That's what my grandmothers been saying since I was seven. That was the year I ran out of the house with my uncle Kevin, after he swore he saw something roaming the rooms on the third floor. Supposedly no one was there but us (My uncle, my cousin and me). Everyone else was at a wedding. The entire house was deserted 'cept for the kitchen, which is where we were when my uncle came dashing out of the living room like a bat out of hell, yelling, "Go outside. Hurry up! Go!"
Once we were outside, we looked up at the windows of the unoccupied 3rd floor just as the curtains rose and fell. Someone was watching us. We sat outside until my entire family returned. When my grandfather checked the third floor, no one was there. And that is when my grandmother turned to my uncle and said something to the effect of, "...looking into the dark can get you into trouble." It wasn't until I was much older and fully immersed in the world of the Esoteric that her words rang true. You go looking for ghosts, eventually they will find you. You go parading around the BLUE HILLs at night, looking for UFO's...eventually, you'll find something. You sit in your room in the dark, thinking about all the things that can live in that dark corner of your room that is just a little too dark...and something in the dark will be thinking about you too.
Some people dismiss this as superstition and the workings of an overactive imagination, but there are stories out there of people looking into the abyss and finding something looking back. I can't help but think that, unfortunately, this is the only way to get answers and that in the end, maybe all the mad people out there...maybe the ones who speak to invisible people and live in a world only they can see...maybe theyre the only ones who have seen what lives in the dark, and maybe their insanity should be a lesson for us all.
But it's not like any of us are listening.

Portal to mythical Mayan underworld found in Mexico

ASTROBIOLOGY RAP! WORD!

Pfft (There Is No God) Shirt

"Pfft...There Is No God. BIGFOOT is real though!"

The 5 Scientific Experiments Most Likely to End the World

Ten Truly Underrated Sci-Fi Movies

Are we so shallow that it only takes a few laser pistols, flying cars, and matching jumpsuits to get our creative juices flowing? Are we so in love with the ideas behind the futuristic concepts of sci-fi movies that we're willing to overlook massive flaws in storytelling? (That's the crutch that most Trekkies have been leaning on for years.) Or are sci-fi movies just vastly, vastly underrated by critics and audiences who can't get past the androids and nanobots? To be frank, while there's been a ton of bad sci-fi product coming out of Hollywood over the years (looking at you, Wing Commander), there's been just as much that hasn't nearly received the credit it deserves. Sure, there are the hallowed sci-fi classics - Star Wars, Star Trek, 2001, Terminator 2, Forbidden Planet - but there's a whole subset of underappreciated sci-fi gems that have gone sadly unheralded without any geeky conventions to call their own. As a public service to the new generation of sci-fi geeks who've only grown up with Star Wars prequels and Scott Bakula as their Starfleet captain, here are MovieRetriever's picks for ten sci-fi movies that don't nearly get the credit they deserve:

MythBusters vs. Moon conspiracies...

WHO OWNS THE MOON?

They do. *cough*

NICK POPE @ The PARACAST

INTELLIGENT DESIGN IS TRUTH (in Science fiction anyway)...

A new crop of science fiction novels focus on what it would mean if Intelligent Design turned out to be the truth. Jay Lake's Escapement is a perfect example, as is Walter Jon Williams' Implied Spaces — both are novels about people in clockwork worlds designed by some kind of higher power associated with spiritual realms. Other recent tales, such as Charles Stross' Saturn's Children and Iain M. Banks' Matter, flirt with the idea of an Intelligent Designer by suggesting that under some circumstances it is the most logical explanation for reality: For instance, if you are a creature who lives in a synthetic world (or body) designed by sophisticated engineers, your existence has been literally created for you rather than randomly evolved. Are these scifi authors carving out a pro-science version of Intelligent Design theory?

In some ways, no. Consider Jay Lake's novels Mainspring and Escapement, which are about a kind of alternate Earth where it's obvious somebody (whom they call "God") has created their universe. After all, the sky is filled with gears and their world is run literally by a massive clockwork mechanism. When I talked to Lake about his novels recently, he said that they were explicitly a response to Intelligent Design. He thinks of them as a critique of the belief that our world was built rather than evolved. "By making ID into something that was clearly fiction, I wanted to show that the idea itself was fictional," Lake said.

When you try to create a world that is believably the product of ID, Lake seems to be saying, you get something that looks nothing like our Earth. That it's designed is completely obvious, and is not difficult to prove. So this is a thought experiment in ID that in some sense proves that our Earth was not created by a Designer.

Interestingly, however, Lake's critique of ID has not freaked out religious people nearly as much as Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. (Sure, it's true that more people have probably been exposed to Pullman's work, but let's assume that isn't the only reason why it's gotten more negative attention from religious groups.) In Pullman's universe, which is also a parallel Earth, there is a God and there are angels. But it turns out that God is just a senile old white dude, and his angels are fighting to seize his throne and control the Kingdom of Heaven.

Pullman's critique, like Lake's, works by saying, "OK let's assume that Christianity is real — what would that mean, logically?" For Pullman, that means God and His henchmen are a bunch of power-hungry politicians. And for Lake, that means that the universe is a giant clock. Both series, in a way, argue with Christianity on its own terms. They don't attempt to say, "Well hey, look at the world from the perspective of science — see how that's better?" Instead they say, "When you really think about what Christianity implies, this is what you get." And that's a powerful critique, though Pullman's is ultimately much darker. I believe Pullman has irked Christians for saying that their beliefs are in some ways downright evil, whereas Lake simply calls them the fantasy backdrops for rollicking adventure tales. This alone may account for the novels' different receptions among Christians.

As I said earlier, however, there is another way that this ID scenario is being tweaked by scifi authors. In Stross' Saturn's Children, there's a great subplot about robot religions. The robots, who have taken over our solar system after the extinction of humans, have to believe in a Designer — they were, after all, literally designed by humans. So a belief in ID, for robots, is the equivalent of believing in evolution for humans: It is the scientific truth. And yet there are certain religious zealots among the robots who insist on believing that they have evolved, and go through bizarre rhetorical gymnastics to prove it.

What Stross is saying is that as our planetary and bodily infrastructures become more synthetic, more "designed," we approach a state where ID begins to verge on scientific truth. This idea is echoed in novels like Iain M. Banks' Matter and Karl Schroeder's Pirate Sun, where our characters live inside massive synthetic worlds — a huge nested sphere in the former, and a giant blob of atmosphere floating in space in the latter.

What these authors are doing is even more tricky, if you look at their work as a sneaky critique of ID theory. Essentially they're saying, "Let's invent a universe where ID is truth. Oh, that would be the universe that science will build for us." And ultimately, in these novels, the Designer is not a God or even gods, but instead a whole bunch of sentient creatures harnessing the power of science and technology to design worlds and bodies intelligently.

This is the truly proscience version of ID theory: The notion that humans will eventually live in an ID universe, where our bodies and everything around us is designed. Only it will have been designed by us, in the service (hopefully) of bettering humanity. We won't be the playthings of some third party entity whose motivations are unclear. In the end, we will become our own intelligent designers.

Top image by Jasper Morello.