In Memoriam

(Photo courtesy of Crystalinks.com)

Every time a discovery is made of some lost, forgotten sunken land, people hop on the 'Atlantis' band wagon. Atlantis has become the Roswell of archaeology. If the place is ancient, under water and comprised of rings or concentric circles, than it is Atlantis. 

It is Annoying!

Consider the fact that many forgotten, sunken landmasses of yore lie scattered across the globe. Surely they can't all be Atlantis. Now, I venture to admit that much like we have our world divided into continents and countries and cities, etc.,. it may stand to reason that Atlantis may have been a continent or great country as well. 

That however, does not mean that every time we uncover some proof of ancient habitation on the sea bed that we are looking at a fabled land of Poseidon. We can't limit ourselves in that way. We have to realize that much in the way that our world is currently divided, our ancestors were perhaps not so different.

A discovery made in Spain has already been dubbed "Atlantis". How Atlantis came to be in the mud flats of Southern Spain is not only beyond me, but beyond Plato. It doesn't match anything every written about the whereabouts of the lost legend and there isn't much written about it to begin with.

This new find was located some 60 miles inland by and American Research team and the entire discovery has been documented by National Geographic to air on the channel as a special on Atlantis. But is it Atlantis? According to Richard Freund, the discovery may be a memorial city. Essentially, built in commemoration of the actual Atlantis. Perhaps by survivors.

But what if this 'memorial' isn't the only one? In fact, as I mentioned a while back, the city of Gilgal (Israel) and maybe even Stonehenge (with its concentric design) and many other spots on the planet may all be commemorations to an ancient way of life, an ancient land mass and an ancient people and perhaps the survivors of the catastrophe that wiped out Atlantis spread across various places on earth and went forth with whatever knowledge they had and tried to preserve it somehow. Somewhere.

Wherever they could.

Or, maybe Atlantis never existed. Maybe it's just a story. About a place. That time forgot.

You can read more on the discovery here.

Dr. Bob Curran @ BOA

Full Preview: We kick things off by finding out what Dr. Bob Curran has been up to since his previous appearance on BoA:Audio. We then learn what inspired Bob to pen his latest book Man-Made Monsters. Bob also addresses some of the fundamental psychological questions behind the interest in man-made monsters. Diving in to the book, we first look at some of the inspirations for Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, notably Giovanni Aldini, an 18th century scientist who attempted to revive corpses with electricity. This also leads to some discussion on how, during those times, science and magic (for lack of a better term) were fairly well intertwined.

Next we look at the Golem and Bob starts out by detailing the origins of this mysterious creature. We also examine why the Golem has not achieved the same kind of cultural impact that creatures like the Werewolf and Vampire have. We also hear the amazing story of the 'Golem of Prague' and how it even resonated with invading Nazi soldiers during World War II.

We then discuss the alchemists and their infamous Humunculi. We begin with some background on the alchemists and how their quests go far beyond the classic stereotype of 'transmuting gold.' Then we delve into the homunculus and ponder what the goal was behind creating such a creature. We also find out about the concept of 'growing life' from the alchemists. Looking at alchemy, as a whole, we then examine the idea of when, or if, the 'science' ever died out.

This segues into talk about contemporary man-made monsters: clones. Returning to the realm of the homunculus, we find out what Bob thinks of the Jack Parsons homunculus experiment story. We then talk about another element of Man-Made Monsters: ancient computers and robots. Bob details some of the ancient computers found from Rome and China. He also shares some tales of amazing robots that existed long, long ago and where some of them can be found today. Bob also shares one story about a man who was told by the Church to stop making robots because they were 'too perfect.'

Digging into some of the other details from the book, we then cover the Voynich Manuscript. Getting back to contemporary man-made monsters, we talk about how the potential to make a truly monstrous creature is actually pretty strong. Beyond mere monsters, we also talk about the possibility of detailed tinkering with child development and the implications of such possibilities. Wrapping up the discussion on Man-Made Monsters, we find out where people can get it and also put over another series of amazing drawings done by Ian xxx that can be found in the book.

Angels and Demons

Photo courtesy of Zazzle.com

Last week, over at Mysterious Universe Micah Hanks talked briefly about UFO's, Extraterrestrials and their associations with the occult. If you would like to read the entire article, click the title above. It's an interesting thought considering the older I get the less I come to view E.B.E.'s as visitors from other Earths and more like evil, vengeful, fallen deities from other realms.

Yeah, sometime even I have a hard time understanding myself. Truth be told, had I not had the experiences that I've had in my lifetime, then maybe I wouldn't be so surefooted. But, I've never met an experience that was positive. There were no glowing entities with wings, promising to save humankind.

I get that there are people who claim to have such experiences, but they are few and far between. The rest of us see darkness, evil, fear and basically, something that shouldn't be there, and not because it's hard for us to grasp the reality of such things existing, but more so because something so downright evil has no place in our world.

Just think about it, we are flesh and blood creatures who live everyday with the same constant struggle: Awareness. We want to know who we are, what we are and where we came from. The unknown scares us. The unknown is like looking into the darkness and knowing, no matter how quickly you can look away, that there is a slim chance the darkness will look back.

As children we are told the darkness doesn't exist. It sets us up for failure. Because soon enough the day comes when we see what really lurks there (some of us sooner than most), and when we do, our world becomes even more chaotic and the answers seem farther from reach. We still have no clue who/what we are or why we are here, but even worse now we have to contend with the question of WHAT ELSE IS HERE WITH US.

And therein lies the inevitable fact that monsters can take on any guise. Superior monsters, those of old, ancient days are even keener to the ability of warping our perspectives. There was a time when they may have been beautiful men who glowed mysteriously and came down in chariots, but that's because our ancestors didn't know much about flight. But then again, even as I say that I am not fully satisfied or content with that answer.

Our ancestors met strange beings, called them gods, worshipped them, feared them and erected monuments in their honor. To say those beings didn't exist is like saying the celebrities that grace the covers of tabloids and sell films don't exist. Maybe in 15,000 years people will think Oprah was a myth too. Who knows.

The fact is, the beings of yore with their destructive powers didn't go anywhere. They just changed tactics. The wolf has changed clothes, but it is still a wolf.

(to be continued...eventually.)

The Pillars of Hercules

Space Porn

Ray Kurzweil on climate change and why you shouldn't sweat it (pun intended)...

Check it out here.

Micah Hanks talks Evolution @ Mysterious Universe

Photo courtesy of sporkinthedrawer.typepad.com

“If you read science fiction you might think that humans in the future will be slender, short, bald, with big heads and big eyes that sort of the stereotype that you get from the comic books,” Kaku said, (not the obvious reference to popular “Gray Aliens” that are prolific throughout abductee lore). However, when it comes to how humans will adapt and change, Kaku suggests there may be less change than we might expect, since humans are a product of our surroundings.

“In the old days, when we lived in the forests, there was enormous selection and pressures placed on us to develop a large brain, to understand how to use tools, to run, to be able to navigate, to survive in the forests. Enormous pressures on us because if you were not fit to live in the forest, you died.” True, there aren’t the sorts of pressures on humans that forged us into what we are today, as a result of our continuing adaptation. Hence, as Kaku says, “gross evolution, that is, evolution that will give us big brains, big eyes, bald heads and little bodies, that kind of gross evolution is pretty much gone.”

So in other words, we aren’t going to evolve into the sorts of “aliens” that we see buzzing around in flying saucers (scratch the “visitors from the future” hypothesis).

But perhaps there are in fact pressures on humankind today that are evolving and shaping us. While Kaku suggests that manipulation of humankind through genetic engineering may be a possibility a good ways down the road, the kinds of evolution taking place among the human species today may not be outwardly visible, like Kaku notes. Nonetheless, there could be potentials being crafted through the advancement of technology that will fundamentally restructure the way we think, act, and evolve, especially in terms of brain function and intelligence.

Read the rest here.

Deconstructing debunkers with Budd Hopkins

Probably no one seriously involved in investigating UFO reports has escaped the hydra-headed debunking machine and its many busy attendants. It’s long been understood that debunking and skepticism are two very different things, the former, an artifact of rigid ideology and the latter an objective, scientifically-inclined position. At the outset of any investigation of a UFO incident, the skeptic can accept the case as possibly legitimate or reject it as possibly a hoax or a misunderstanding or whatever, but the debunker has only one fixed option; he/she knows that the incident, whatever it was, could not have involved a genuine UFO. This rigid stance is akin to a kind of quasi-religious fundamentalism, and in my paper I intend to examine the various tenets of such true-believer negativity.

The reason I’m writing this article at this point in my life has to do with both health and age. I am about to celebrate (?) my 80th birthday and currently suffer from two almost certainly fatal diseases, so I’ve decided, while I still have the time and energy, to do a bit of deconstruction of the nature and habits of the debunking mindset. Also, along the way I hope that my piece will provide a little helpful information for those who, like me, are involved in the serious investigation of the UFO abduction phenomenon. 

 You can read all parts here.

My latest article @BOA

Some time ago, back when I first started writing for Binnall Of America, Tim Binnall asked me what my thoughts were on Bigfoot phenomena. I was never that forthcoming with my theory of the origins of the Hairy Beast man. Truth be told, I was exploring the Bigfoot as far back as second grade. It began with a bible passage about giants that has led me on a lifelong quest to solve the riddle of the human family tree.

You can read the rest here.

Ancient Mesoamerican (AWESOME) sculpture uncovered in southern Mexico

"It appears to me to be a depiction of an event or a way to convey other types of information," Hodgson adds. "This dates to a time prior to a developed written language, but like the modern symbol used internationally for the Red Cross, symbols are very efficient at communicating complicated ideas."

The main figure on the tablet is depicted wearing an elaborate headdress, loincloth and ornate accessories, including a pair of large, comb-like ear ornaments, a rope-like necklace and a thick belt with a jaguar-head buckle. A face on the headdress includes features such as sprouting plants that identify it as a corn god. The tablet also includes a smaller secondary figure and a series of asymmetric zigzag designs that the authors suggest could represent lightning, local mountain ranges, or other features of the natural world.

"This is closely connected with agriculture and the cult of the corn god," Coe says, pointing out the zigzags. "Thunderstorms bring the rain."

Phil Imbrogno @ BOA

Full Preview: We kick things off by scratching at the surface of Phil's remarkable career studying high strangeness by finding out what originally sparked his interest and how his career as an investigator evolved over three decades in the paranormal trenches. Phil provides a fascinating glimpse of what the UFO research scene was like in the mid-1970's when he first became actively involved in UFO studies. We then discuss Phil's transformation from a 'nuts and bolts' mindset to something more akin to examining the paranormal aspects of UFOs. This leads to some discussion on the difficulties in using 'mainstream' science to study the UFO phenomenon.

The conversation then turns towards the need to abandon specialization in paranormal research and begin connecting all the genres into a more unified field. This leads to some discussion on the potential benefits of giving a closer examination to UFO witnesses and how they react to their paranormal encounter. Diving in to some of the topics found in Phil's latest book, we talk about the apparent change in UFO shape from classic 'flying saucers' to black triangles and what that change might signify.

We then examine one bizarre trend that Phil's research has uncovered: that encounters with reptilians are surprisingly more prevalent than 'mainstream' Ufology and abduction research seem to suggest. This leads to some discussion on Nordics as well as why Reptilians seem to veritably under reported in UFO literature. This leads to some discussion on the importance of outlier cases in Ufology as well as some insight into the origins of Phil's study of the Stone Chambers of Hudson Valley. This leads to us talking about how the insights of the Native Americans may be critical to finding fresh clues as to the nature of paranormal mysteries.

Next we look at Phil's research into the controversial and enigmatic area of channeling. Specifically, he talks about his investigation of Dean Fagerstrom, who allegedly channeled amazingly detailed technical diagrams as well as other remarkable information from some mysterious entity named 'Donestra.' In classic BoA:Audio style, we turn the floor over to Phil as he goes in-depth on detailing this mind-blowing case and provides some tremendous first-hand information on Fagerstrom's stunning revelations and abilities apparently gleaned from channeling. Following that, Phil talks about some of the issues he has with channeling that make the practice suspect. He also shares the tale of how 'Donestra' appeared at a completely separate channeling session to 'personally' issue a bizarre warning to Phil.

Our discussion then turns towards the research of the late John Keel, who was Phil's friend, and how Phil's research differs from Keel's work. Phil also shares some hilarious observations from Keel about the world of UFO studies. This turns to some talk about the world of Ufology and Phil talks about what would be an ideal method of unlocking the phenomenon and how a similar concept had already been tried in the past.

Looking at Phil's ongoing research into the jinn, we specifically target the rumor, which Phil has heard on a handful of occasions, that the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United States are actively trying to capture an interdimensional being. This tangent ends with us discussing the idea of a secret faction within the government that looks at the paranormal and Phil shares some stories that suggest elements of this concept. We also find out about Phil's investigation into Steward Airport, where suspicious, surreptitious events seemed to be taking place in the past, including massive shipments of cattle being sent there.

Hearing another story from Phil's remarkable past, we find out about a strange phone call and documents he received, in the 1980's, from someone allegedly in the military and, ironically, said to be calling from Burlington, Massachusetts, which is the home of BoA HQ. Phil reveals how one of the items found amongst the documents revealed that the government had intercepted mail that was sent to a UFO researcher. Given Phil's lengthy career investigating UFOs, we have him speculate on how much the government really knows about UFOs and the paranormal.

Heading towards the close, our conversation then journeys into the concept of 'disclosure' and how it fits into the paradigm of the paranormal that Phil sees. We also then look at 2012 as well as the concept of a 'quickening' and what Phil thinks of these ideas. We also find out about Phil's appearance on Oprah back when she was first starting out and before she became famous. This leads to some general discussion on the problems of Ufology and the paranormal, while Phil shares some stories of dealing with the new world of paranormal reality shows. Wrapping things up, we find out what's next for Phil Imbrogno, including a number of tantalizing books due out over the next year.

Let's have a toast for the douchebags...

Tonight, the finest (or most popular) in the Music Industry are celebrated at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. Some will show up in outrageous outfits while others, in muted styles, will expect their talent to speak for itself. The only thing these people have in common, other than their love for music, is their dedication to the Art form.

You will find dedication and hard work in every medium. Sometimes you will know the difference between those that do all the work and those that enjoy all the glory. In Ufology it's no different. Just as you can listen to a song and tell whether the artist is worthy of the $20 bucks it will take to own the album, it's not hard to scour the web, reading blogs and buying books to figure out who the major voices are in the World Wide Weird.

But sometimes... just sometimes... something else slips through the cracks. The Showman. The one who is an elaborately built pile of bullshit. The one who can make up more stories than he/she can collect. The one who can write an entire book based on lies and disinformation. I am not going to hate on the inevitable rise of the UFOLOGY star, because there's always one. But, I will voice my disdain at the fact that many people are full of shit and somehow they manage to rise above the rest.

Some will say, "In Ufology there is no glory, celebrity or fame." That is bull shit. There are plenty of celebs in this game. Plenty. They are the inevitable hoaxers, the so-called professionals, the self-professed know-it-all's, the 'scholars', the Contactee's, the Gurus and those that Call DOWN... U-F-O's...

...yup.

They exist. They like the attention. They will never shut up. And frankly, they are the bane of my existence. Ufology has become a boring, crash course in testing ones nerves. For every sincere sighting that makes my heart rise, there is that inevitable fall of blood pressure when skeptics crawl out from under their rocks to knock everything down and 'experts' step in to add extra sparkle to the story.

I won't step to lower levels by naming anyone. Why should I? They know who they are. They know they are ruining it for everyone else. I suppose I am ranting because I still care. But soon enough my blog will be silent. I will have no more to say. Because I won't bother going on about something I no longer give a damn about.

Ancient robots

There are few things that make me happy. They are Robots, Spaceships and Zombies. In that order. Yes, there are the other things like Family, Babies, Comic books and flavored water, but for the most part it's all about the R's, S's and Z's.

It is because of my endearing love of robots that I fail to see ancient men in spacesuits when I look at the Dogu figures, Kachina figures and various artifacts out of Africa and India. I don't see ancient astronauts. I see ancient machine men.

You could say I'm biased, but c'mon, little figurines with knobs and joints and all the various accoutrements of a metal man cannot only be designated as ancient beings in spacesuits. For one thing, do EBE's actually even wear spacesuits? Do they need them?

I've heard all the stories of coveralls that blend into the surrounding area that would allow said beings to hide in plain site. I've heard the theories that greys wear suits because they can't function in their weakened, space-battered bodies. But, it still doesn't make up for the fact that our Astronauts do not wear spacesuits on space stations.

Astronauts wear spacesuits whenever the possibility of making contact with the harsh environment of outter space is inevitable, like space walks and entering and exiting our atmosphere. So, with that in mind, why would highly evolved beings who have far better means of spacetravel be wearing bulky spacesuits with far too many designs and knobs and... crap?

This Dogu figure is a modern interpretation in non traditional material. I am posting it because it pretty much solidifies my thought that we may be looking at a Robot.

The Kachina figures come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and designs and are mostly anthropomorphic. But they are most certainly not men in spacesuits.

The Kachina dolls/figures stray into odd human-animal motifs but many hold on to the odd aspects of not quite men, not quite animals. It would interest anyone to take the time to surf the web to take a look at the various different versions.

The Kachinas are said to be the physical embodiments of Deities. They also represent the spirits of animals and ancestors, hence the anthropomorphic figures. But it is the idea that they represent the gods of the Hopi that holds the most interest. Hopi gods/deities look, for the most part, like Robots.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments section.

Bohemian monsters

Recently, Brad Meltzer and crew covered the mystery of Bohemian Grove. Never mind the fact that the most powerful and richest men have gathered there to get drunk, cavort, dress in drag and devise a plan to rule the world (some more), what got my attention was the giant 40 ft Owl.

Yeah, it's an OWL. When you think Owl, you think Strigiformes. Birds (of Prey). But when I see a giant owl in the middle of a grove, surrounded by hooded figures, I think EVIL. And with good reason. Owls are bad omens across the globe, from Africa to the Ancient Americas. It is a harbinger of Death and Destruction.

Most intriguing of all, from certain angles, the 40 ft Owl resembles Reptilian beings of Sumerian mythology.

The similarities are uncanny.

(more to come.)

The Awesome to conquer all awesome

There is nothing Dr. Beachcombing touches that doesn't turn into brain protein. This time the subject is Unicorns.

Mysterious Universe EP 504

Grundy talks hoaxes and secret Pyramid passages on ep. 504 of Mysterious Universe.

Crystal Pyramids and Dead Men

Philip Coppens has an interesting article about an alleged discovery of a Crystal Pyramid near Bimini. Not sure if the story holds any merit, considering the ONLY witness is now dead, but...hey...Bimini does have a road constructed from giant blocks. And, ya know... this planet is mostly water. Water that has claimed a lot of land in the past millenia. So, ya never know.

You can read it all here.

Flying invisible Manta Rays on Long Island...

excerpted:

Finally, after a few minutes, he looked over my head and yelled "oh my god! What *is* that?!" - I turned to look and 'flying' directly over my head was this huge creature I'd never seen! I will detail as best I can:

It appeared translucent/transparent; no color whatsoever - no visible structure outside of the motion which indicated what it looked like; now, I myself am a visual artist, so this left a very distinct impression on me. This 'creature' was shaped and moving in the way a Manta Ray would; yet completely transparent! No color at all; I could see the stars through this thing; the only thing to allow the structure any appearance was the moonlight shining somehow on its' exterior! 

Adam Davies @ BOA

Full Preview: We kick things off by finding out how 2010 was, in general, for Adam and how it stands as another landmark year for his work. We then begin our trek into discussing Adam's big 2010 expedition to India in search of the mysterious creature known as the Mande-Burung. We first find out what planted the seed for Adam to search for this very obscure cryptid and he details the extensiveness of the pre-planning for the trip as well as the dangers and environment faced on the expedition. Adam also illustrates the truly remote nature of the area when he shares the tale of a beautiful place he encountered that had previously barely been explored.

Adam then talks about how his reservations about the Mande-Burung's viability were changed as a result of the expedition. He also shares anecdotes about some of the promising evidence uncovered during the expedition. Looking specifically at the Mande-Burung, itself, Adam shares a number of remarkable stories from local witnesses who have seen the creature. We also hear an amazing tale of one man who witnessed the Mande-Burung over the course of three days. We then examine the theory that part of the problem in searching for bipedal primates is that they are migrational creatures and constantly on the move. Adam also contrasts the prevalence of the Mande-Burung in India with the Orang Pendek in Sumatra.

Digging into the finer details of his expedition, we ponder how Adam would handle a return trip in search of the Mande-Burung in the future. We then find out how long it actually took for Adam to go from Manchester, UK (where he lives) to the jungles of India looking for the Mande-Burung as well as having him reflect on spending nearly three weeks in the jungles. Adam shares the tale of the '100 Drums Festival' that he attended during the expedition. Adam also details what physical evidence his team recovered from the India expedition as well as a stunning story of how the trip may have inadvertently played a hand in discovering a new deer species in the area.

We also find out about filming that was done on the expedition and where that film may eventually be seen. This leads to some discussion on the relationship between Adam's expedition team and the filmmakers who accompany them. Covering another potential danger behind the trip, Adam talks about the diseases he had to be weary about when traveling there. We wrap up our Mande-Burung discussion with a look at where the search for the creature stands now.

Next, we dive into discussing Adam's proverbial white whale: Sumatra's Orang Pendek and he tells us about the amazing recent news of the DNA testing on the evidence he recovered during his 2009 expedition. He muses on how this new evidence is the latest shift in how the Orang Pendek is looked at by academia and animal experts. Being the leading expert on the search for the Orang-Pendek, Adam explains, in detail, where we stand with DNA, hair, and other evidence for the creature's existence. We also ponder what would constitute taking the search for the Orang Pendek to the 'next level,' should Adam return to Sumatra.

Wrapping up the conversation, we find out what Adam has on his dream agenda for 2011. During this segment, he reveals some very exciting potential plans for a series of future expeditions that will excite BoA:Audio listeners. We then spend some time discussing the logistics of this potential new expedition and how it may evolve. 

Artemis, Marian sightings and that girl at Fatima...

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus is one of the seven wonders of the world.
Well, one of the seven ORIGINAL wonders anyhow. It is said that the temple
was burned down but now scholars suspect a lightening storm may have brought
it down, whatever the case, there is one mystery of Artemis that remains unexplained.

Some statues depict the goddess wearing strange dress. Protuberances that were
once thought to be bulls testicles and even breasts. No one is exactly clear what
the bulbous shapes represent but there is no question they resemble another (iconic)
figure.

The original (and true) description of the Lady of the Olives, the Marian apparition
that visited three children at Fatima Portugal, was described as, above all things,
having balls or bulbous things on her dress.

The above images depict Artemis.

This image ^ is based on a description of the apparition witnessed at Fatima, Portugal.

(To be continued.)

No migrating= Epidemic(?)

Animal migrations are often spectacular, and migratory species harbor zoonotic pathogens of importance to humans. Animal migrations are expected to enhance the global spread of pathogens and facilitate cross-species transmission. This does happen, but new research has also shown that migration allows hosts to escape from infected habitats, reduces disease levels when infected animals do not migrate successfully, and may lead to the evolution of less-virulent pathogens. Migratory demands can also reduce immune function, with consequences for host susceptibility and mortality. Studies of pathogen dynamics in migratory species and how these will respond to global change are urgently needed to predict future disease risks for wildlife and humans alike.

A mini-mammoth in Rekhmire's court...

In 1994, Baruch Rosen published a brief article in Nature in which he drew attention to the small, tusked, hairy elephant in the painting, shown as being waist-high to the accompanying people. The people next to the elephant seem to be Syrian traders, carrying objects that include tusks (note that a small bear is shown in the painting as well: that's very interesting but I don't have time to discuss it here). African elephants Loxodonta and the now extinct Middle Eastern population of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus were both known to the ancient Egyptians, but Rekhmire's elephant doesn't seem to be either. Its apparent hairiness, convex back and domed head make it look like a juvenile Asian elephant, but then why it is shown with huge tusks? It seems to have a fairly large ear [the best close-up I could get is shown below], though whether this ear is shaped more like that of Loxodonta orElephas is difficult to say.

Caligula's final resting place (?)

A dumb ass... sorry, I meant, a tomb raider, may have stumbled on an important find. A statue referencing (Gauis Germanicus) Caligula (little boot) was confirmation enough. The looter led authorities to the site and excavations are under way.

Now, the Italians have NO problem following a trippy lead like that, but if someone came running down a hill, with a sword that said 'Property of Queen Boudicea', would we be so lucky? I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

You can read more here.

The Mystery of Neanderthal Nostrils

"The $64,000 question is what sinuses do — that is, what is their biological function. Scientists have been arguing over that for hundreds of years," researcher Todd Rae, a paleoanthropologist at Roehampton University in London, wrote in an e-mail. "There are dozens of suggestions for what they may do for the animals that have them, including adding resonance to the voice and acting as flotation devices!"

Essentially, all the assumptions made regarding Neanderthals (where they came from or how their anatomical differences, compared to humans, made them special), are usually wrong. I can't wait till scholars stop calling them Cannibals.

You can read more here.

Wikileaks UFO leak

Read more!

Lessons in a higher science

PIC OF THE DAY! Cairns of Mars

Cairns are ancient, man made landmarks of (possible) Welsh/Gaelic origin. They are found throughout the world and most often date far back in antiquity. In Greek Legend they are associated with the god Hermes. Some Cairns are anthropomorphic and may represent people. They are also used as burial markers. Apparently, they aren't a human invention. Case in point, the Cairn of Mars.

Krispies Henge

CLICK HERE

Loren Coleman's "Loughner Space Coincidences"

Coleman finds similarities that are more than mere coincidences and dare I say... it brings a chill up the spine. Twin astronauts, the significance of dates and how life imitates art.  For more: Copycateffect

What would really happen after the Death Star exploded--- Physics Facts

Complete Visual Map of the Night Sky

The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) project put together the most complete map of the Universe and it's searchable. So take a shower, set the microwave and mini-fridge close to you and make sure your seat is comfortable. Because once you log on... you won't be logging off any time soon!

One of the difficulties in studying the entire universe is getting enough information to make a picture. Astronomers designed the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to address this problem in a direct and ambitious way: the SDSS gathers a body of data large enough and accurate enough to address a broad range of astronomical questions.

The SDSS has obtained high-resolution pictures of one quarter of the entire sky in five different colors. From these pictures, advanced image processing software will measure the shape, brightness, and color of hundreds of millions of astronomical objects including stars, galaxies, quasars (compact but very bright objects thought to be powered by material falling into giant black holes), and an array of other celestial exotica. Selected galaxies, quasars, and stars are observed using an instrument called a spectrograph to determine accurate distances to a million galaxies and 100,000 quasars, and to provide a wealth of information about the individual objects. These data give the astronomical community one of the things it needs most: a comprehensive catalog of the constituents of a representative part of the universe. SDSS's map will reveal how big the largest structures in our universe are, and what they look like. It will help us understand the mechanisms that converted a uniform "primordial soup" into a frothy network of galaxies.

Space Mysteries

Green Blob from Outerspace/Ether/Dark Matter/Spielberg Alien

Read more about this object at Bad Astronomy

The Birds and the Bees

The media has been bombarding us with doomsday scenarios for decades. Hollywood has reared generations of people into the Invading Aliens hypothesis. Zombies have become the new bio-terror and television shows featuring scary, rich men in suits, smoking cigars and discussing the fall of the American Empire are ratings darlings. In short, we are all obsessed with the beginning of the end of the world.

Birds are falling from the skies. Bees are disappearing. Conspiracies abound and yet I cannot help but ask, " Isn't this what you've all been asking for?" Every where I turn people are discussing how 'bad' the world is and how 'evil' humanity is. Humans call humans parasites. Humans have more sympathy for animals in the wild. People put their pets on pedestals and their neighbors on shit lists.

We don't like ourselves and what happens to a species bred on self-loathing? You get a tad suicidal. On a massive scale. Religions breed indifference to human empathy and we've invented gods that punish us for obeying our basest human instincts. Eating too much, talking too loudly, spending too frivolously. The human machine at once wondrous, special and noble in its own right is now an epic fail on a universal scale.

So, again, I have to ask...why so concerned about 2012 and this end-of-the-world future we've invented for ourselves? Aren't we getting what we asked for? Didn't the Bible teach us anything? God sent a flood to wipe out all the mischievous beings he felt were fucking things up. Maybe he/she is just a little too miffed right now to let it slide. This time, no Noah...no Ark...no warning.

But it's not that simple is it? We've seen the warning signs for a long, long time. They've been around since the dawning of man. Essentially, the world has been 'ending' since it was born. Just as we've all been 'dying' since we came into this world. It's the lay of the land. It's a universal law beyond physics and biology and religion and wishful thinking.

If the world is going to end, it's going to do it in its own time with or without our intervention. But somehow I feel this is nothing more than a hiccup and that much in the way the earth buried the giant lizards, she will have no shame in burying the hairless, thinking apes. And their iPhones.

(to be cont.,...)

BOA Holiday Special feat. Stanton Friedman

If you didn't see the red UFO being pulled across the ether on the backs of Reindeer, than chances are you aren't in much of a Holiday spirit. Head on over to BinnallOfAmerica and listen to Stanton Friedman discuss his latest book, "Science was Wrong"...

Happy Holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Were the "3" Magi Chinese?

I remember when the last theory was that they were women and now...they're chinese (?)




.

A Martian sunset

Previously unknown type of human discovered.

Anyone ever get the feeling that the world-at-large has NO respect for the past or our ancestors? Everywhere I look, even if it's in good humour, someone thinks it's funny and intellectual to talk down about humanity. We are stupid. We are lazy. We are destructive. Aliens are better.

Well then, why so many different versions of US?

The latest addition to the human tree is the Denisovans. A fossilized finger discovered in the Denisova cave in the Altai mountains. The owner of said bones was part of  a distinct group of humans that were neither Neanderthalis nor Modern humans. Basically, the Denisovans were the only kind of humans living in that cave.

They shared a common ancestor with Neanderthalis and were genetically similar to current residents of Melanesia. The current model of human (not-so)evolution is that we killed off the Neanderthalis, despite the random groups of cannibalized Neanderthal groups--- mostly families, and the fact that, aside from the Donner party and what happened in THE ROAD, we don't go around eating people.

In fact, I venture to guess that a certain other, as yet undiscovered type of hominid/humanoid once described as red-headed and gigantic in stature may have been the cause for such mass buffets of neaderthal flesh.

(to be continued...)

To add to what I already said about the Vatican and Aliens...

Extra-terrestrials  blog elaborates on the whole Vatican/E.T./God-made-aliens debate.

Marfa/Ropen Connection...

Phantoms and Monsters blogspot ALWAYS has something interesting to read. Even if you don't agree
with it, you can't help but think about it and then go back and read it again. The Marfa Lights/Ropen-Pterosaur connection isn't anything I haven't heard before, but it sure has never been this in-depth or absorbing.

Read it. It's awesome.


As usual.

The Third Secret of Fatima

The Vatican has since washed its hands of the responsibility of telling the world the 3rd Secret Of Fatima. They've convinced everyone that the attempt on Pope John Paul's life was, in fact, the final secret. However, anyone interested in what actually happened at Fatima, Portugal can probably surmise what the 'true' 3rd secret was.

A young woman appears to three children. She's a child herself. Described as somewhere between 12-15 years of age. When she speaks her mouth does not move. She is more of a hologram than an actual person. She holds a globe or sphere in her hands. She wears a cloak. She looks nothing like the classic Marian depiction we've come to see on Franklin Mint statues, etc.

Then there is the Miracle of the Sun. Essentially, a UFO sighting. A metal/silver disc covered in lights, acting erratic...

If you ask me; the fact that the Vatican is interested in Extraterrestrial life and coupled with all Marian apparitions that have become historical events...it seems the 3rd Secret of Fatima is this:




WE ARE NOT ALONE.

Scary funny: Aliens in Cinema

ET: The Extraterrestrial, Mac & Me, The Aurora Encounter, War of the Worlds, District 9 and over a thousand other movies have introduced generations to humanity's take on Aliens. Fire in The Sky had spindly, scary beings that seemed to mimic the examples of close encounter descriptions. But Greys, as they have been known to the UFO community have never been fully realized for film.

There's always something benevolent or Disney-like about large headed ET's with humongous eyes and spindly bodies. They make you want to be their friends. They don't make you want to crawl into your own skin and hide. But then there is Simon Pegg's/ Nick Frost's PAUL.

Two geeks go on a cross country road trip with an Alien and comedy should ensue. In fact, it is inevitable that comedy will ensue because Pegg and Frost are hilarious. There's just one problem...

...PAUL is scary!

No, not PAUL the film. PAUL the actual creature/alien/nightmare. His animatronic/CGI facial expressions...his uncanny resemblance to all that is evil, scary and just plain wrong about Close Encounters...it's all there. Despite the humour and the fact that PAUL is voiced by Seth Rogen...it's SCARY!

Take a look at the trailer and let me know what you think. I thought the wooden boy in the upcoming NUTCRACKER movie was scary, but this...this takes the cake. And yeah, I'm totally watching it. Nightmares be damned.

Gian Quasar @BOA

Full Preview: We kick things off by finding out how and why Gian, the world's foremost Bermuda Triangle researcher, decided to examine the Sasquatch phenomenon. We dive right intoRecasting Bigfoot by discussing Gian's general thesis and how it is shaped by early Native American accounts of Sasquatch which detail a much different concept for 'Bigfoot.' Gian then traces how those original versions of Sasquatch got confabulated over time and turned into the mainstream version of 'Bigfoot' that we know today.

Gian specifically talks about how the explosion of the Abominable Snowman phenomenon in the 1950's, built on remarkably credible evidence, planted the seeds for the birth of Bigfootery in America but also had a deleterious effect on the original (and subsequent) concept of what Bigfoot was. He also discusses how Ray Wallace's fraudulent Bigfoot prints set the stage for additional misconceptions which further twisted the idea of Bigfoot in North America. Gian also details why he believes the Patterson film to be fake and examines why the actions of the principal players surrounding the film suggest that they fabricated a hoax.

Having dismantled the popular concept of Bigfoot, we then turn towards what Gian thinks account for some of the various Bigfoot-like creatures reported around the world. Gian starts by detailing the infamous Loysi photo, the story behind it, and how he thinks it fits into the Sasquatch phenomenon. Gian also differentiates the Skookum creature from the Sasquatch legends and talks about what he believes that animal is. Moving on to creatures in Asia, Gian looks at the Yeti and the Almas and talks about what his research indicates about these mystery animals.

Gian goes into great detail about the Russian studies of the Almas and how they reveal how the Soviet conclusions were profoundly different from the American perspective but also similar in their flaws. This leads to finding out about the Feral Human / Neanderthal aspect of Sasquatch and Gian recounts the notorious story of Zana, a 'wild woman' that was captured in Russia around the 1860's. Ultimately, Gian ties it all together to show how the combined mistakes of the Russian and American research communities resulted in the obliteration of the Neanderthal suspect for some Sasquatch-like creatures.

Creepy humanoid caught on deer cam

What catches my attention immediately about this story is the  fact that I've had people describe
similar creatures in the woods. In fact, the details are astonishingly similar. Humanoid. Pale. Bald.
Glowing eyes. Skeleton-like or frail, elongated limbs. So if it fact or faked? You decide.

For more go to NBC33tv.com

UFO in TURKEY

It's totally spinning. It's totally UFO-ish. Give it a few days and it will totally be DEBUNKED.

Nazis and UFO's

Till Kingdoms Come

As a science fiction writer and avid enthusiast, I often wonder where the idea of multiple worlds came from. I am not talking about in our current era where you can pick up a book on multiple dimensions at any book store. I am referring to the days before Science became the giant it is today. I am talking about back when our ancestors kept warm before a fading fire. When did they start to think about other worlds?

Our current literature, our television shows and movies all deal with this idea of worlds betwixt our own. Fringe is currently embarking on a theme of a mirror world that is threatening to collide with our own. Riese is a world inhabited by humans no different than us, fighting a religious sect that threatens to ruin their world.

The Event deals with Extraterrestrials who are exactly like us, except for some slight genetic variations and where the story will go is anyones guess, but I am willing to bet that it too deals with a mirror world concept. Narnia, Oz... and the various worlds created by George MacDonald and C.S. Lewis, the Tower that Stephen King refers to in many of his writings and even LOST and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA all delve into the mystery of alternate humans in alternate timelines or alternate worlds.

Star Wars popularized this for my generation by saying first and foremost, "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away..." 

Is this a memory we all carry with us? I sometimes wonder, when I see ancient ruins of a highly technical nature, whether or not our ancestors were just like us. Perhaps they walked around with small communications devices and talked about their favorite celebrities, in a world far away, before something cataclysmic forced them to come here.

Maybe history (prehistoric or otherwise) does repeat itself. Rama in his Vimana may have been the ancient version of Obama in a Hybrid car. Or, perhaps Isis and her ability to go between worlds is the ancient equivalent of Olivia Dunham and her ability to go between universes. And yes, our versions are mostly fictional because we can only compare our entertainment to the mythology of the past, but therein lies the mystery. Our entertainment mirrors the myths and legends we have carried down through cultures, eras and generations.

Why?

Are they old, fictional stories and nothing more? Or, are they memories? The more we learn the less it seems we are willing to accept. Why is Orion so prominent a celestial fixture with megalithic structures? Why are there beings who are half human and half animal decorating the walls of great and ancient civilizations?

Mostly, why does God...any god, look JUST LIKE US?

Maybe it's time we consider the possibility that all stories start somewhere and that in the most likelihood, that somewhere started with the truth.

History may be written by those who make it and that only means our history is rich with unimaginable twists and turns that may have been too good to be true...which is why we are still intrigued, thousands of years later. No one ever said Legends weren't true. Remember that.

I would like to thank The Academy

I received the most awesomest gift of acknowledgement in this wayward field we called Ufology. My
very own caricature from the folks at THE UFOLOGISTS.
Words cannot express how awesome an honor this is, because I never can tell if anyone is paying
attention to anything I am saying. At least this way I know whatever crap I say is semi-relevant.
Even if for two seconds.

Thank you! I would so totally fist bump an EBE. (You know me so well!)

*Had I not gone without the INTERNET for the last few days, I would have posted this sooner...

Why does it have to be so complicated

I could never understand, no matter how long I may live, why people are assholes. I just don't get it. I've had two experiences that brought me as close to death as any human can come and I've come out of both experiences realizing two things: #1 Humanity is far more precious than we know, and #2 The evil we do is not human at all.

It's very hard to explain to people that when they are being assholes, they aren't being human. You can't just tell them, "Listen assholes, you're inhuman." Because they look at you like you have a dick on your head. In fact, you can never argue with other people in this age of super-information, where everything is need to know and ever present on any search station. People will google 'inhuman' and throw it right back at you.

Never mind the fact that people nower days don't take care of their kids and don't know how to function as normal civilians that help to comprise a civilized society. Worst of all, academics compare the assholes of our generation to Neanderthalis! I doubt very much that our big-brained cousins were this dumb, naive, disrespectful or immoral. If you think about it, at least the Neanderthals buried their dead.

We have assholes in this day and age who kill people and leave them for the birds.

This may make you think twice about trying to help the old lady across the street or dedicate your time to saving the refugees of some devastated region, but don't let it. Take a moment to realize that the bastard that cut you off and almost made you crash into oncoming traffic does not represent the whole of humanity.

The media makes it even harder to like our own species.

First off, we are naive enough to divide humanoids/hominids into races. Really? Not even crack heads would be so dumb ass to separate HUMANS from HUMANS. As Edward James Olmos said, when adressing the U.N., " We are all one race!" The fact that it has taken SMART people so long to put this together is not only appalling, but it's pathetic.

I am starting to wonder if they give out PHD's in cereal boxes.

If you are that fucking smart, you should also be capable of telling the truth. We are one and the same. The end. Don't add colorful grammatical discrepancies to appease the decrepit, old white men who hold up academia and will die soon enough. Because they have no power. They are after all, only human.

And that is the problem.

If you are an Ufologist. If you study the paranormal in any manner, than how can you be so stupid as to discredit the human race for anything? "Aliens did it." Everything is Aliens this and Aliens that. Well guess what? Aliens from other Universes/Galaxies wouldn't have such an easy time adapting here. Check your biology books. So, if anyone did come here and help humanity to evolve, they were as close to human as one can get.

On other words, they were humanoid. They were us.

In fact, I would bet my entire existence on the probability that OLD humans are doing all the work that we credit extraterrestrials for. Our world is so old that many human-like civilizations could have evolved so many times over. The Annunaki look HUMAN. The Nordics look HUMAN. The greys, no matter how freaky, look human. Yes, their eyes are humongous and black and their heads are too big to seem human at all, but go to Peru and you will see large human skulls.

To say that humans are so stupid and that only 'aliens' are capable of pyramids and monoliths is to short change what is most probably OUR ancestors who perhaps left their original home, whether it be Orion or Andromeda, to seed this galaxy... to seed earth and to leave reminders of OUR past. Not their past.

Stonehenge and the pyramids of Giza could perhaps be telling us, "Hey, this is where YOU came from." But sadly enough, we don't like ourselves because we don't like each other so we fail to see the obvious.

Don't let the assholes of the world deter you from seeing the truth, for the truth shall set you free. Besides, Karma is a bitch and she is a given. She will seek them out eventually. Fuck them.

I have tried to walk away from the paranormal and ufology in general, several times. I have even contemplated studying Cryptozoology because the assholes there are few and far between, but you know what? I have a big mouth. I want the truth and I want to share it. So look out assholes of the world. I am here. I am listening and I will put you in your place.


And if nothing else, before I get old and decrepit myself,  I will leave a little truth behind. Somehow. And it shall set you free.