The Trickster Visits McMinnville

I thought this would be the last of the ‘Trent Tempest’ that recently went on, (see notes below) but I’m inspired to write a bit more on this. One of my observations about this whole thing has been the Trickster aspect in this little affair.

The Trickster is everywhere in UFO and Fortean events, and I think this point is often missed by many researchers. As irritating as the hoaxes and hucksters are, and as bewildering as the surreal moments in UFOlogy are,these elements are a necessary part, an innate part, of the phenomena.

Often both UFOlogists and the pathological skeptics call for some sort of what I call a cry to "cleanse the cultural landscape of woo." Get rid of the hucksters, the embarrassing ones, the harmless pranksters -- all of them. On the pro-UFO side, a rational (usually) call for saner behavior is made. On the rabid, anti UFO side, there are those who want a crusade against anything “woo.”

Personally, I’d like the Raelians to go away, for a long list of reasons. Reluctantly, however, I realize they’re simply a part of the big UFO picture.

The Trickster in Brief
The Trickster is not a person. It’s not an individual, not a human. It’s not a cartoon character, or a comic book icon.

The Trickster is a manifestation of a phenomena, an element, an idea. It’s cross cultural. The Trickster goes by many names, and many guises, and many guises within any one culture.

The Trickster is both a specific character -- say, the Coyote as in many Native American traditions -- or it can be more of a concept. Humans can exhibit Trickster traits and behaviors for a short time.

The idea of ‘The Trickster” is an archetype. It’s an idea, a behavior, that presents itself both in events and in isolated moments within a person’s character.

When the idea of “Trickster” is brought up in UFOlogy, I mean both specific, individual characters, as well as manifestations of a concept. One or both can be present at any time.

One concept is the hoaxer or prankster in UFOlogy. One of the key issues in UFOlogy is proof: is the photograph real or fake? Does that video of a light in the sky really show a light in the sky, or is it a remote controlled, glowing frisbee thrown up in the air? Is that UFO really a triangle of unknown origin, or just Air Force pilots having fun flying in formation? Is that UFO researcher, who speaks at conferences and has published loads of books in reality a disinfo agent? Is that abductee really an abductee, or at least an individual with strange, unexplainable experiences, or an outright lair?

We rarely know. And even when we do, when it comes out that so and so was lying, or the photo was hoaxed, or the video showed pilots flying in formation having a bit of fun and not a flying saucer, we’re often left with endless questions, and the event is not so neatly solved after all.

There’s also a playful element in the Trickster. The Trickster thumbs its nose at society (which certainly UFOlogy and Forteana do), at “the rules,” at convention. Often those who don’t “believe” in this stuff will join in, just for fun. Festivals in towns where UFO events have occurred are an example. (Roswell, Aztec, Hopkinsville Kentucky, Nevada) For a short time, no one takes it seriously and everyone uses the
the event to let loose, to be silly, to meet others, to be anonymous if they wish. Or to come out completely with their experiences and beliefs in a safe place, knowing they can leave and go back to “normal.”

Trent Photos
The Trent photos, taken in 1950 in McMinnville, Oregon of a UFO, have been considered as genuine by many researchers.

On that day in 1950, Paul Trent took two photographs of a UFO. More than fifty years later, according to the bloggers at the UFO Iconoclast blog, a “third, lost” photo of the Trent UFO was found. This photo was sent to the bloggers from an unnamed individual allegedly in Arizona.

It turned out the photo was not a “third, lost” Trent photo at all, but one of a UFO taken in Germany in the 1970s. Meanwhile, a small flurry of comments were made on their blog, the bloggers generated some attention for themselves, and the whole thing seemed to have quickly died down.

I wrote a couple of items on this, and my intuition tells me, as it did then, that the whole thing was a hoax; meaning, there never was a “lost” photo sent to them, it was all a silly exercise. It isn’t necessary to ask what the point was, for the point is: the Trickster is simply at work.

Another way the Trickster has fun with the McMinnville/Trent UFO case is in the annual McMinnville Festival in McMinnville, Oregon. This is the “party” element of the Trickster mentioned earlier. People come from all over Oregon and beyond to have fun. There is even a typical Trickster inversion of the Blessing of the Animals in many religious celebrations with the “alien pet parade” part of the festival.

UFO Researchers on the Trickster
Colin Bennett, George P. Hanse,Jacque Vallee, and John A. Keel, are some of the UFO writers who have written on this Trickster element within UFOlogy.

A recognition of this innate Trickster element in UFO and Fortean phenomeana doesn’t have to exclude a nuts and bolts construct. Both can coexist. In fact, it seems more evident every day that they do. I used to think that the two were exclusive, but the reality seems to be that we can’t afford to be that limited. All this infighting over theories doesn’t take into account that the two can be related, and part of a larger picture.

The next time some irritating and seemingly pointless event occurs surrounding UFOs, it may be some small bit of comfort to remember the Trickster’s role in UFO and Fortean experiences.

Notes
Regan Lee, UFO Digest:
Still a Mystery, and a Big Question: The Trent Farm/McMinnville Oregon Case

One hint that this was all a hoax -- the blog's contention there was a third lost photo, not the Trent photos themselves -- is the timing. My Trent article on UFO Digest appeared right after (was inspired by) another article on the Trent case. Not long after, the idea of a "lost" photo appeared. (I could be wrong, so be it if that's the case. In typical fashion, I doubt we'll ever know.)

UFO Iconoclasts blog:
A Lost Trent Photo?
Regan Lee, UFO Digest:
A New Lost Trent Photo Surfaces? and:
The Trent Tempest

Wendy Conners Announces Retirement

Wendy Conners, “Wicked Witch of UFOlogy” as well as another “CSICOPian Slayer” who of course, is responsible for the Faded Disk Project,announced her retirement from UFOlogy on UFO Updates recently.

Thank you Wendy for all you’ve done!

Bright Birthday Ball

Yesterday was a strange day. My birthday, and not sure how I felt/feel about turning 53. Ahem. Of course, growing older is one of the few but solidly sure things in life that you can't do one damn thing about. It's going to happen. The alternative is death, which is also going to happen, but those are the choices: another year older alive, or, being dead. I lost my spiffy new glasses with the copper rectangle frame in a bizarre "I'll just decide to fly off you face today, thank you very much" and into the purse rack at the department store. I spent two hours in there looking for the things. No one's turned them in. They have to be somewhere! Where the hell are they? Shit. And lots of other, little things and glitches, like email hassles, and other things, that just added up to not a terrible day, but a weird day. The lost glasses though; that's terrible.

So I'm lying in bed last night, and very "buzzed" not sure why. Was very tired, and yet I felt very "electrical." I noticed a very bright star through the crack in the blind; and couldn't help but keep staring at it. I got up to look outside; beautiful night, so sharply clear, lots of stars out, all twinkling. I still felt "buzzy" and got back into bed, looking at the bright star light twinkle through the slats of the blind. Suddenly, this very large, bright ball of white light just came from nowhere, swooshed by, in front of the window, and was gone. It was so damn weird!

This was a solid object (or appearing to be solid) not an "orb" like a ghost/spirit orb. As I say, it seemed to be lit from within.

It was low, not up in the sky, but what seemed to be about seven feet or so high. It was as if someone had thrown a very large ball -- one lit from within -- and thrown it in front of my window. But no one could throw that fast.

So I'm still in bed, see this thing go "swoosh!" right past my window, big and bright, and I can't get up. I'm just wired awake, yet frozen.

All very weird, indeed. It could have been a bird, but if so, that was one big ass bird. And glowing? From what source? No lights out back there.

Who knows. Just another one of those little strange, weird moments.

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image source:http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/fairies4.shtml

The Trent Tempest

image source:UFO Casebook

Another UFO tempest in a teapot: here's the last item (hopefully) on the so-called "lost" Trent photo: The Trent Tempest on UFO Digest.

Utterly Pointless Time Wasting Blog Quiz

Your Hair Should Be Orange

Expressive, deep, and one of a kind. You pull off "weird" well - hardly anyone notices.

What's Your Funky Inner Hair Color?

Nah, at my age I'd just look like a cheap imitation of Ethel Merman.

Sketch of Oregon Triangle

As many of you may know, I saw a triangle a few years ago in Dexter, Oregon. (Dexter is in Lane County, Oregon.) Here's a graphic I did of the triangle.

I tried to show how the triangle was almost the color of the surrounding sky, but not quite. It was just a shade or so darker, and blotted out any stars and background. It was completely silent, very huge, no lights. It was right above us, at an angle; and then shot off incredibly silently, and incredibly fast. A blink of an eye. Just sort of "slid" off, and away.

UFO Digest: "Lost" Trent Photo

More on the McMinnville, Oregon “lost” photo by moi.
A “Lost” Trent Farm Photo Surfaces? on UFO Digest.

“Mock Them As Barflies From Venus and Mars”

Alfred Lehmberg, of An Alien View blog, has written another great piece, this one on the perception by chronic skeptics who spend large units of time sneering at abductees. No understanding, just the lowest and easiest form of attack. I also saw this piece as a metaphor for other issues, including non-UFO ones.

“Forget that the saucers still fly in your skies; forget the abducted, and pretend that their cries... are musings of idiots, cretinous loons who scratch at your wallet then howl at your moon. But it's you, not *abductees*, "out to lunch" here today! It is YOU, and not them, sopped in naiveté!”

What is so often missed in all this craziness and high strangeness, is what it does to all of us, and why. I don’t pretend to know the “why,” and often am unaware of it doing anything at all to me. We need these experiences, whether it’s us that’s having them, or someone else. Among other things, these abductees, and encounters with entities, and all the rest of it, are gifts. Not just for the individual experiencer, but everyone. These “gifts” are not often appreciated, wanted, or even good ones -- give it back! But they are gifts, of a kind, reminding us that it’s not just us solid citizens out here doing the hard core reality thing.

These events have been going on for thousands of years, and we’ve been trying to figure them out -- or suppress them -- for just as long. Doesn’t seem we’ve gotten anywhere, and insisting that those that experience the anomalous are money hungry, emotionally needy, lying fruitcakes with mental diseases is getting a bit tired.

"Lost" Trent Photo?

While I don't like to give the non-issue so-called UFO bloggers like the following any nods of recognition, hey, a scoop is a scoop.

They have a "lost" photo - a third photograph - of the Trent/McMinnville Oregon.

According to them on their blog, the photo came from someone in Arizona and it shows that the whole thing was a hoax. Naturally there are all kinds of questions around this: who's this "SMC" person who provided the photo, why, under what circumstances, has any analysis been done regarding the photo, and so on.

The blog promises "more to come." And of course, at last check, there were 11 comments.

I can't help myself but notice the juxtaposition with this and the "hoax" posts by the Andreasson-Luca step-son.

Standing by . . .

Bramley: The Gods of Eden

A current review of William Bramley's The Gods of Eden by Philip Coppens. I read this book years ago, and liked it then; I still like it. I think, as Coppens comments, Bramley’s book

is overlooked as being too out there. Or, as Coppens says, it has a cult status. Either way, it doesn't seem, even after all this time, to be among the first dozen or so books on UFO researchers lists. And yet, as Coppens points out, Bramley’s book preceded David Icke and all the others, and with far less silliness.

The Gods of Eden is about alien creation/design/intervention but before you roll your eyes and sigh “Oh no, David Icke and green lizards” give the book a chance. One of Bramley's main areas of focus is the binary opposition of the human condition: war/peace. Religion preaches love, tolerance while at the same time, religion promotes and supports killing, oppression and tyranny.

Speaking of UFO studies itself, Coppens quotes Bramley:

"There are few subjects today as full of false information, deceit, and madness as ‘flying saucers’. Many earnest people who attempt to study the subject are driven around in circles by a terrific amount of dishonesty from a small number of people who, for the sake of a fleeting moment of notoriety or with the deliberate intention to obfuscate, have clouded the field with false reports, untenable ‘explanations’, and fraudulent evidence. Suffice it to say that behind this smokescreen there is ample evidence of extraterrestrial visitations to Earth. This is too bad. An in-depth study of the UFO phenomenon reveals that it does not offer a happy little romp through the titillating unknown. The UFO appears more and more to be one of the grimmest realities ever confronted by the human race.”

That’s bleak . And a big elephant in the room none of us want to talk about. What if it’s true? Quite possible. If so -- if that is all there is - - it’s a long cold unpleasant existential road to be on. (Already my mind is swirling around this tangent. . .)

As to the “reality” of that final photograph that will provide the proof:

As to the notion that if UFOs are extraterrestrial aircraft, there should be an undisputed photograph of one by now: “Anything can be disputed. The dispute simply means that someone has chosen to quarrel.” It is logical, and though we do not subscribe to it, we can understand…

Coppens has many good insights of his own into Bramley’s book that are worth reading.

Among other things, Bramley’s work is concerned with the Trickster force; the oppositional tensions of existence on earth. Not only the afore mentioned war, but UFO studies, as previously noted. As Coppen writes, speaking of the book:

But it showed powerful examples of the central bank scams, it showed how contradictory humanity really is, and does indeed seem to be tricked into working in one direction, even though neither side really wants that outcome. (italics mine)

That part: how we are "tricked" so often, about so many things, and especially about 'all this' -- all this Fortean, weird, UFO stuff -- is another elephant in the room. It's maddening, all the more so because this very Trickster prescence is as much a part of it as anything else. It wouldn't be without it. And yet we forget that constantly, or refuse to acknowledge it at all. While all the time we're bedazzled by disinformation, silliness, our own fears and desires, their fears and desires. . . it's a mess. It's confusing and deceitful. It's seductive. The pathological skeptic-troll who dogs the UFO researcher with snide rants about wasting time, or lying, or being mentally unbalanced is as much in this mess as the rest of us. We're all being manipulated. (But I'm starting to swirl again so I'll leave off for now.)

It's a very good review and it was good to see someone remind us of William Bramley and his work.

If you haven’t read The Gods of Eden, I hope you do soon.

How the X-Files Killed Ufology by Tina Sena

I enjoyed this piece on BOA by Tina Sena. Tina writes about my favorite Fortean televison program of all time, The X-Files. Don't let the title or the beginning of the article fool you into thinking it's something it isn't.

Blog Discovery

Fun quiz; What Tarot Card are You? This time I'm the Moon. Can't argue with that. I'm always glad to find new blogs (new to me anyway) and just found this one: The Curio, where I also found this quiz.

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Book of Thoth Contest Winners

The Book of Thoth Contest Winners results are in.

Congratulations to all the winners, including, ahem, me. The only winners I know are Lesley, author of The Debris Field blog, and Odd Things, of the blog by the same name. But congratulations to all!

Lesley’s article: Nazi's and The Philosophers Stone
Odd Things: Mythology, the ages of man and the extraterrestrial hypothesis
My article: Flying Saucer Kooks, and A Look Into Colin Bennett’s Looking for Orthon

Fewer Crop Circles These Days

It appears there are fewer circles lately. Nick Redfern on UFO Mystic has a thread on this news. I commented over there that my take on the circles is that they're man made; not by hoaxers, as in guerrilla artists, shills, or pranksters, but some sort of technological weapons testing, or something of that kind related to the good old military industrial complex. Nick mentions that, while the crop circles are fewer in number, there's been a rise in UFO sightings.

Bunny Cakes

From the Saucerian Outsider blog, this item came my way:


The Explanatory Theory of the Supposed Extraterrestrial Hypotheses as Contemporary and Anagalous Socio-Mythos Construct of the Pop Cultural Milieu

Average citizens in Western, non-Western (Occidental) Industrial and Third, Fourth and emergent Fifth World countries still cling to specific religious, spiritual, philosophical systems involving “aliens” from other worlds. These tales vary yet sub-currently share similarities of iconography. The enthusiastic mavens of UFOlogy mistake these symbols of mere cultural communications for proof of alien (ie extraterrestrial) beings that are the causes for seemingly mysterious and conspiratorial events: cattle “mutilations,” alien “abductions,” crop circles, etc. Whereas in point of fact, all these occurrences are nothing more than unfortunate yet solidly prosaic occurrences lacking in any so-called “Fortean,” paranormal, anomalous or UFOlogical basis.

We know that these interpretative subjective experiences are nothing more than mundane events containing several elements of easily explainable and verifiable (hence: real) data that nonetheless, due to human frailty as well as a grossly undereducated general population, persist in being presented as paranormal or UFOlogical to the detriment of society and human advancement in terms of critical thinking.This severely and grossly prohibits the otherwise innate biological imperative towards quantum leaps in humanisticonic evolutionary advancement.

While one may engage in semantic games surrounding language tags such as “unidentified,” UFOs on the surface do exist; however, despite this name game, if you will, they are all quite identifiable and are therefore IFOs (Identified Flying Objects) and contain not an iota of any extraterrestrial entity or other loosely and weakly fabricated metaphysical beliefs.

Those willful “researchers” of UFOlogy who refuse to accept as realistic and valid the verifiable facts of the scientific community are responsible for the continued mythos of the UFO and its implicit symbol the ET in contemporary culture as well as its slow yet nonetheless persistent inroads into less educated societies.

Furthermore the media, particularly entertainment media which often poses as quasi-scientific documentarians of UFO programatic episodes, which in itself is a paradoxical irony since the UFO phenomena is unverifiable and therefore immune to quantification of documentation, is responsible for supporting these wrong headed ideas believed as factual evidence within the contextual construct of afore mentioned “documentary.”

The researchers at Saucerian Outsider believe that only with continued pressure on all those responsible for such illiterate and anti-cultural deeds should be held responsible for their actions upon a world society that has been misled by these harmful “researchers” who inflict their data onto the collective consciousness of the masses as well as interfere with the efforts of science-based immersions within the infrastructural interface of an enlightened dichotomous populous.

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Disclaimer: There isn't any Saucerian Outsider, and I was just being silly.