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...