Tracy Twyman @ BOA

Full Preview: We kick things off by getting an update from Tracy Twyman on what she's been up to since her first appearance on BoA:Audio back in the Spring of 2009. We also discuss the current state of the economy in 2011 and how it compares to where Tracy thought it would be, back in 2009, when she first appeared on the program. She explains how the IMF's austerity measures are effecting the populations of countries in Europe that are deeply in debt.

This leads to discussion on when things will come around to drastically affect the United States and Tracy tells us about how the US dollar is on the precipice of being dropped as the world's reserve currency. She also details the insane levels of intricacy surrounding the 'global supply chain,' which sees goods shipped all over the world for reasons that aren't exactly necessary for the development of the end product. Tracy also reveals what has changed in the world, since her last appearance, which has made her feel better about the financial outlook for the world.

From there, we dive in to Tracy's new book, Money Grows on the Tree of Knowledge, and she details how it constitutes the next step in her study of the alchemical influences on the economy. Tracy takes us back to early alchemy and details how stories of child sacrifice and ancient Gods were influential on the study of alchemy and seems to have laid the metaphorical groundwork for the economic system in which we currently live. She explains this theory via a number of examples where the future is sold to pay for the present.

This leads to some insight on the Golden Age of Saturn and how Tracy sees it fitting into the world of alchenomics. Tracy ponders the idea that society is being engineered to conjure a new Golden Age, of sorts. We then turn to discussion on time and how it has become commodified in this new economic world. Along the way, we delve into Christmas & Saturnalia and how they connect to Tracy's concept of alchenomics. From there, we contemplate how ancient rituals seem to continue to play themselves out in our contemporary times.

Tracy also shares the chilling tale of alchemist Thomas Flamel and how his story suggests that he used child sacrifice in rituals. Somehow this leads to discussion on Tracy's father, Rich And Famous, and his stance that people should be allowed legal ownership of their organs for future use. This leads to us pondering why the human race cannot seem to break free of the economic system that has been imposed on it. Tracy also details the legend of the Lord of the Earth and how it ties into the paradox of people working for a massive conspiracy that may not be complete until long after they are dead.

Looking at the 'science' of alchemy, we ponder the idea that perhaps it is actually derived from the science of an ancient advanced civilization that lost over the ensuing centuries. Getting back to the Age of Saturn concept, Tracy talks about how she sees it fitting into the Noah's Ark story. We then find out about Tracy's skepticism about monatomic gold and the original outcry her stance received when she first voiced it.

The conversation then turns back to the world today, the current state of the economy, and how Tracy thinks things may unfold from here. Tracy also shares her practical advice on how to survive the economic collapse. We then get Tracy's take on the Road to Roota theory that Bix Weir detailed on a previous edition of BoA:Audio. We also examine the idea of a separatist United States and if that concept would create a more viable nation. This leads to Tracy talking about how the continuous attempts to stop the impending economic collapse are really just wasting time before the rebuilding recovery phase can begin.

Heading towards the close, we consider how 2012 may tie in to Tracy's ideas about the Golden Age of Saturn and the economic collapse, which leads to some talk about the moon-based calendar as well as the 'new Zodiac' meme from January. Nearing the end, Tracy tells us some of the signs to look for as the economic collapse reaches its nadir. Tracy also revisits events that have happened since her last appearance as an example of how scary events have happened and we are just used to them now. Wrapping up our conversation, we find out what's next for Tracy Twyman as 2011 unfolds, including an exciting trip to Turkey later this year. And, on a final note, she shares one more bizarre arcane connection between the economy and 2012.

Listen here.

The Houston Batman

I am always and forever intrigued with seemingly Superhuman or Ultra-terrestrial beings. From Spring-heeled Jack to the Mothman. I found this oft-forgotten but not any less exciting tale of the Houston Batman at Cryptozoology Online.

If you have a(n) Superhuman, Ultra-terrestrial, Giant or Shadow people tale to relate, feel free to contact me at yufology (at) gmail (dot) com.

One of the iconic sightings of a mysterious creature in the UFO era, that of the so-called Houston Batman, was made on June 18, 1953. Hilda Walker, Judy Meyers and Howard Phillips saw a “man with wings like a bat” sitting in the branches of a nearby tree, watching them. After a few moments there was a light display and the “Batman” was gone. The story is a classic in the annals of UFO encounters and associated creature sightings, and is dealt with in full in Ken Gerhard and Nick Redfern’s Monsters of Texas, and Loren Coleman’s Mysterious America, where it is dealt with in connection to that likewise-iconic phantom attacker, the British bogeyman known as Spring-heel'd Jack.

It turns out the likening to Jack and other phantom attackers may be particularly apt. The Lubbock Evening Journal for May 22, 1953 bore the headline “’Phantom Attacker’ Strikes in Full View of Two Officers.” The article told the story of Betty Lee Jamison, a young woman who was walking on Richmond Avenue when a man lunged from a crowd, knocked her to the ground, and fled with four men in pursuit – two policemen and two men coming out of a nearby bar. The man still escaped. Frank Murray of the Houston police department told the newspapers that it was the 13th such attack in the space of a year. I could find no references to the earlier attacks; perhaps some other intrepid CFZ member could, however.

The Mexia Daily News for June 12 (only a week before the sighting of the “Batman”) reported another attack. This time a woman was pulled bodily from a car. Again, the attacker fled. And still the attacks came, even after the sighting of the man in the tree. On May 7, 1954, the Galveston Daily News reported that an attack had taken place only two days before, but this was dealt with in no more than a passing manner. Once again, I could find no references in the intervening time, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

You can read the rest here.

Ben Bova on UFO's

Here.

The case for Nuclear war on Mars

While researching the affects of Nuclear war on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and birth defects, I happened upon something else altogether. The web is replete with pictures of the Martian surface. Barely visible areas of possible habitation that seem to have collapsed into the landscape or been swallowed up by the desert.

(Before)

I always wondered what all those geometric shapes were. Buildings? Homes? Most often I wondered how could anyone compare those images with that of thriving, Earth cities. The photos of before and after devastation in areas affected by Nuclear disaster speak volumes and attest to the possibility that perhaps all those Martian cities are the product of some ancient, Martian nuclear disaster.

(After)

***You never know.

... of Gods and Aliens

Lately I've been inundated by Ancient Astronaut theories galore. It's not that I don't have respect for the idea that an ancient, highly evolved band of 'outsiders' influenced our ancestors. Anything is possible in a world where people can make their phones turn on the lights or start up their car. However, there is one thing that just never seems to gel for me:

Gods being explained away as Extraterrestrials. 

I mean, right off the bat the very definition of 'extraterrestrial' can explain away a whole host of things that are not of this earth. So, I am not saying the description is wrong. What I am saying is that maybe referring to every god from every culture as some E.T.,---thereby denoting their god-like status--- is a bit... unrealistic.

What I mean to say is what really and truly separates GODS from ALIENS? And why can't one be a descriptor for the other and the reverse?

I do not subscribe to the theory that our ancestors were idiots. I never have and never will. The fact that they were capable of comprehending whatever it was these so-called 'ancient astronauts' had to teach them speaks volumes. Just look around you. Not everyone can grasp Quantum Physics. Hell, some people can't even grasp basic Algebra!

If our ancestors had 'help' building the pyramids, it doesn't make it any less likely that they were able to comprehend the skill behind creating such enigmas. Simply put, our ancestors were capable and those that came down and aided them knew it.

So who were those that came down?

In ancient texts around the world they are referred to as Gods. And what are Gods? All seeing, all knowing. Beings of immense power and influence. Beings who could traverse worlds, evoke fear in lesser beings, accept and invoke worship, create and destroy. Gods in the classic sense through and through.

For what is a god if not a 'man-made' creation? *Intellectuals take note.

Today, with advancements in Science we have separated God (any god) from the life equation. Since we can do it under a microscope than what good is some omnipotent, omniscient creator? The fact is our ancestors couldn't do such things. Such great allusions were left to the incomprehensible and to them those that resided between magic and myth were beyond imagining.

Whatever those beings were, they were Gods. They were the classical gods of epic poems and re-contextualized scriptures. Our ancestors knew what they were bowing down to. Angels and other less beings were straight away relegated to their place as more powerful than humanity, but less powerful, still, than the gods. There was a hierarchy.

So, if there was a level to the greatness, than it seems unfair that Ancient Astronaut theorists should straight away jump to conclusions that posit our ancestors couldn't tell exceptionally smart beings from space apart from incredibly powerful world builders from beyond.

Maybe there is no difference. Maybe Gods and E.T.'s are one and the same. Maybe there is a place in the future that we will come to... a precipice that we will stand on that lies between our Humanity and Godliness. Maybe the only thing that separates us from them and them from gods is a matter of time and perspective.

Or, maybe the gods in their flying ships are simply 'alien' in context, much like a person who is born in America and moves to Sweden is still an American. When I was a child, space was heaven and god was no different than the myriad of life forms I speculated populated the worlds within the Dark Matter. Even still, they were greater than me and I would never reach over like Adam and touch the finger of my creator and should my creator happen to be a simple E.T. with a penchant for world building, then so be it. But he/she is still a god because that's the only descriptor that fits.

It's the only title I can believe in.

NASA wants you to believe they are doing something incredibly important when they aren't really doing shit at all...

Sammy Hagar re-enacts his Alien abduction w/ comic-horror effect

Insidious thoughts

A lot of films have been made about the Paranormal. Some of them have faded into obscurity (The Dark, Them) whilst others (The Exorcist, Hellboy) have become iconic sentinels of the genre. Sometimes you see a film trailer and you think, "That might be good." And so, against your better judgement (really, is there even such a thing when it comes to Art?) you pay the $8-11 dollars and you settle into your seat with the loudest MOVIE food ever invented, Popcorn. And you watch.

Sometimes you regret it.

I saw the Insidious trailer and scoffed at the effort the filmmakers made to push the word INSIDIOUS into the paranormal lexicon by having it repeatedly jump out at you. INSIDIOUS IS. INSIDIOUS IS. 

Insidious is... stupid.

Now hear me out, if you are the kind to watch a film, no matter how ridiculous, because the story is kind of intriguing, I feel for you. I really do. But when it comes to the paranormal, cliches on top of hocus pocus does no justice to anyone. Most of all the people who actually study the phenomena. 

I read a few reviews prior to seeing the film myself. The reviewers (who shall not be named. They better feel the shame. Hey... I rhymed!) all expressed fear. The movie scared them. So I wanted to see it because I wanted to be scared. 

And I was. For 2.7 seconds. And that was it.

The story goes a father who is a gifted Astral-projectionist (is that even a legit title?) passes the gift onto his son who then wanders too far from his physical body, leaving it vulnerable to possession. Easy enough right? Oh contraire, mon fraire... no it isn't. Because in the midst of this poor kid's (who is asleep for months in a non-coma), medical woes is a family struggling against darker, stranger forces from the unknown.

The ghosts have come out to play and they all want his body for a playground. Worst of all, the main contender is a demon, who according to the film, has never had a body and therefore wants this kids for nefarious means. You get it?

There were some spooktastic moments that lost their spooktasticness (I just made that up) the longer the camera shots were, because this film was made on an $800,000 thousand dollar budget. That's candy money in Hollywood. So you have to give the filmmakers (the same masterminds behind Paranormal Activity. Cough. ) some cred. 

The movie isn't all bad. There's maybe 2-3 moments that are cool until the moment after sinks it all to oblivion. Here's why I didn't like it: It was too stupid to be true. There, I said it. I've had enough ghost hunts and ghost haunts in my life to be able to look at something so mainstream and see the defect in conventional thinking.

Demons don't wear body paint. Dead people don't smile like cracked out muppets. Mostly, entities without bodies don't conjure all that power on their own, to throw people against walls or physically manifest long enough to get you to chase them from room to room. 

I honestly felt like Insidious was an inside joke. The ghosthunters/experts are two geeks (who, for the record, are the only solid entertainment in the whole film. Sorry, Barbara Hershey.) who use odd instruments that border on Steampunk, to get results. They are funny, argumentative and perhaps a little like some ghosthunters you may know, but there methods are straight up comic-book. 

Insidious just left me with an insidious taste in my mouth. I wanted to like it, I really did, but in the end I just walked out of the theater thinking, "People have the nerve to critique Sucker Punch when stupidity like this gets rave reviews?" Oh Hollywood... you are made of FAIL. 

The ending will make you want to punch someone.

Katy Perry vs. The Aliens

To see or not to see

I used to think experience was enough when it came to the paranormal. If you saw a ghost then you knew better than anyone else what it was. Better than the skeptic. Better than the guy who has never seen a bat in flight, much less a hazy apparition of a long since dead relative.

That was back when people had integrity, or maybe it's because back then no one could afford to lie the way they do today. Today lying can get you anywhere. Lying can get you fame and fortune. In this new generation of 'proliferation of exaggeration' everyone's got a story. And therein lies the dilemma.

I've experienced my fair share of the paranormal and maybe I'm not much of a sharer when it comes to personal matters, but I've come to know that being an experiencer doesn't make me an expert. I never say I know anything definitely and  I never lie. I'm coming to the conclusion that experience and honesty are working against me.

Maybe if I had more stories to tell, just maybe more people would read my blog. But there are just some lines I won't cross. Maybe this will lead me down to the road to obscurity where no one will ever really KNOW what I have to offer, to say, to add to the growing mystery that is the supernatty. Maybe Ufology will continue to be a male dominated endeavor.  Maybe all the popular bloggers with webcasts and magazines will continue to ignore me because I didn't have a probe shoved up my ass. Maybe... maybe... and maybe.

Maybe I just don't give a shit.

Maybe I should.

I didn't just fall into the paranormal. I grew up in a haunted house. I was the 5th grader in the library looking for books by Jacques Vallee and Erich Von Daniken. I imagined a career writing books and exploring haunted and hidden places. Then I grew up and came to the conclusion that if I didn't have a 'story' to tell, well then I was assed out.

This isn't always the case, but for those who have made it through the cracks having never been fully interested in the paranormal, or having never seen anything out-of-place and yet still making the glorious climb through the ranks, I commend you. You have it. The spark. Or whatever it is.

I think that I, like most, am just waiting for that one thing to happen... that one experience to trump them all. Then, maybe then I can write about something that hasn't been written before. Because most abduction stories bare the same basest elements. Many of the UFO sightings are ripped from the same page in the book of UFOLOGY and many a ghost encounter has its roots firmly set in the lore of every other ghost tale.

It seems there is nothing new to share and maybe that's my problem. I have nothing NEW to share. Nothing to amaze the masses. Nothing to make jaws drop, heads spin or interviewers stalk me for the deets. Nothing. But I know I am not the only one.

And  I am waiting for it. I know it's coming. Hell, it's happened before and I feel a wind blowing. Something wicked this way... it comes. It's in the air. It's testing the waters around me. I know a story is coming. If and when it happens I will write about it.

I might even share.






A

Aliens vs. Demons

I've said it before... the older I get, the more I lean towards Aliens-as-demons or Fallen Angels, if you will. Seems like I'm not alone.


Nick Redfern on the Djinn and Guiley's and Imbrogno's new book

Nick Redfern on Aliens and Demons...

I'm not as prolific as Redfern on the topic, so I'll just let him (and the links above) do all the talking.

Was the Battle of LA a hoax?

Seems that every time an old mystery enters the global consciousness, it is turned down by the awful truth: That there was no mystery to begin with. Battle: Los Angeles opened last week to packed crowds hoping to catch a glimpse at evil aliens destroying humanity.

Some folks went to the theatre seeking entertainment, but some went hoping to be a part of some historical
event that at one time was considered a reality, until recently when old, originals of the Famous photograph were dubbed a flat out hoax. What next? The Easter Bunny isn't real?

You can read it all here.

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.,...)