Gray Matters: NASA Does Lie

Lesley's new Grey Matters column for Binnall of America: NASA Does Lie

Congratualtions Tim of BOA: Best Podcast!

Congratulations to Tim Binnall of Binnall of America for winning the Zorgy Award for best podcast! Yes! He is the best, as I've said here before, and am happy for his win. As always, you can listen to the interviews here.

Torchwood: Good News, Bad News

The good news is that Torchwood will return in 2009 for its third season, and with John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness. Bad news: it's only coming back for five episodes! Adding to this gaping wound of despair is that all five episodes will run in the same week; a mini-series kind of thing. Oh, and America has to wait until Spring to see Torchwood on BBC America. Still, at least it's coming back, even if it's only five episodes. For more see Marc's Sci Fi/Fantasy blog on About.com.

Crystal Head Vodka

Yes, I want this. You know I do. I guess this has actually been around for awhile, but I just discovered it, thanks to the James Randi forum. Crystal Head Vodka, as promoted by Dan Akyrod. Retails for $12.00 a shot at the bar, between $50 and $250 a bottle.

Raymond Fowler's Dreams

(Fuseli, The Nightmare)

The blog UFOs, et al has a post about UFO researcher Raymond Fowler's "dream" journal. Excerpts from Fowler's dreams about UFO/abduction scenarios. As Fowler himself asks, are they dreams or more than dreams -- memories of contact?

They may be nightmares, or they may be memories of real events filtered up from my subconscious in the form of dreams," he says, adding that the latter explanation is supported by circumstantial physical evidence.

I'm extremely interested in this aspect of the ufo phenomena; that's why I started my Saucer Sightings blog, to keep a record of my own dreams, as well as direct sightings, etc. Are these indirect, or, differently direct, "memories" literal memories, as in actual sightings or encounters, or is there something else at work here?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Happy, Safe and Blessed New Year; for all of us, everywhere. . .

New blog: Saucer Sightings

The only reason I started this new blog, Saucer Sightings, was to keep all of my UFO sightings in one place. I got tired of rewriting any particular sighting I've had. This way, they're archived in one place. I can use it as a referral: "see my blog entry on my triangle sighting here" kind of thing. There isn't much there yet, and it really won't be much other than a chronology of specific sightings and encounters. It will also include specific paranormal encouners, like ghost sightings, etc. Which, this blog was kind of, sort of, intended to be when I started it a few years ago. But as you can see, it's become much more than that!

Open Up

I commented in my earlier post about something Stanton Friedman said in the interview with Tim Binnall: that UFOlogists shouldn't be embarrassed, and should stop being apologists for the UFO phenomena, even while studying it. I embrace this idea, even though I've been an apologist myself, and embarrassed, as to my telepathic New Agey side. Oh well, but there it is. It's true, it's me, there you go. I'd be a liar to pretend otherwise, and what do I care about smarmy self-appointed UFO authoritarian stuffed shirts who might make fun? Nothing I can do about the reactions of others. So I'll crunch my crystals all I like, thank you very much.

Meanwhile, all that aside, I understand some of the need to disassociate oneself from some aspects of the UFO phenomena. Under an often well meaning but misguided sense of credibility, many believe they need to slough off the gaudy, the loud, the silly, the weird, the uncomfortable. The logical thinking goes like this: "UFOlogy has enough problems being taken seriously, we can't afford such nonsense." Sounds quite sensible.

Just below the surface we find it isn't sensible at all. The UFO question isn't taken seriously at all by the infrastructure; never has, never will. At least, that's how it appears. It's because it's actually taken extremely seriously that they work very hard at giving the impression the opposite is the case. If that sounds like frustraintg gibberish, I'll agree it's frustrating, but it isn't gibberish. It's to be expected. That Trickster element is the swirling crazy making thing that it is, and yet, there are so many UFO researchers, pundits, investigators, etc. that don't get this. And as long as they continue to ignore the fact this Trickster trait is an innate part of the UFO phenomena, we'll remain stuck.

Not that we'll ever become completely unstuck. But is that the point anyway? To get the Big Question Finally Answered? Narrowly focused on a few minute details, some UFOlogists don't have patience or time to look around. They're missing a lot. Others say "Well, I did look, and it was fun/interesting/weird, but so what. It entertained, but didn't give The Golden Answer to the UFO Problem." Maybe that's part of the problem; seeing it as a "problem." Whether it's seen as a problem or a mystery, it's still full of contradictions, manipulations, high strangeness, and so much more. Expecting to get at the truth by excising the parts not understood or liked is pathological.

Others see themselves as doing some sort of service to "UFOlogy" -- attacking others, insulting, trotting out various witnesses or researchers and ripping them a new one. And these are the ones who accept that UFOs are a reality. With friends like that who needs a Shermer, Mcgaha or Nye? "But we need to be critical!" is the logical response. Yes, but unless one has proof, and I mean solid, real, actual, and legal proof that someone is a fraud, or a liar, it's a dangerous game to play. Libel and slander aren't far off. The rest is just bullying; being a big fat poopy-head simply because you can. Wow, good for you.

Along with all this: the Trickster element, the gaudy, weird, even embarrassing, the uncomfortable, is that "the UFO phenomena" includes us. "UFOlogy" isn't just the thing seen in the sky. We're also a part of the thing we call UFOlogy, or The UFO Phenomena . . . we are not separate from it. We are not objective, we are not immune, we do not stand outside while commenting on what goes on, we're in it. The very moment we decided to get involved, for whatever reason, we became a part of "ufology" just as much as all the rest of it. Some like to parse these things, labeling the various elements and rating them; dividing the players into inside or outside, liars or weirdos. . . doesn't matter. We're still all in it.

Instead of being combative and defensive while at the same time obsequious by whimpering at the infrastructure (government disclosure movement, academia, skeptoids, big science, religious institutions. . .) we need to relax. I don't mean relax standards or critical thinking, but relax so we can think. Think bigger, deeper, more openly. Consider. Open ourselves to more. To other.

We can't do that if we have our dukes up all the time.

John Podesta: UFO Disclosure

Stanton Friedman on BOA

Season 4 of Binnall of America's podcast is up and going, and Tim Binnall interviewed Stanton Friedman recently; you can listen to the interview here.

Overall it was a fantastic interview! Tim has been criticized by some for being too exuberant, and not enough grilling of guests. But that's what I like about Tim; I agree with his philosophy that he should let the guest talk. We can make up our own minds. It's not a court of law. And why not be exuberant? We need more of that everywhere, these days. Tim does his homework, he knows the work his guests have done, is familiar with their books, etc. and asks good questions.

Friedman was great; and there are two points he made in particular that I think are very important to keep in mind. The first point was about focus and intent on the part of researcher. (When I say "researcher" I mean anyone involved in exploring UFOs.) Don't be an "apologist" Stanton said, for the UFO phenomena. Own it, baby! lol. Seriously, an excellent point. It often seems to me that some UFO researchers and writers are embarrassed by aspects of the phenomena. Well, it's all part of the phenomena, so get over it. Focus on your particular UFO path, don't apologize for it -- for any of it -- and do the work, wherever that takes you, whatever that means for you.

The second point made was regarding the mystical, metaphysical side to the UFO phenomena. Out of body experiences, meditation, telepathy, etc. What did Stanton think of that in regards to UFOs? Stanton said (I'm paraphrasing) that why wouldn't a technologically advanced species be aware of these things? Why wouldn't they know how to use these abilities, manipulate them? (Or maybe they seem mystical to us but they just aren't; it's their uber-technology that strikes us a magic; magick. But I don't think it's that simple.) I was surprised at Stanton's easy, accepting response to the question because I've always considered a nuts and bolts kind of guy, and he is, but he also goes where data leads him.

Excellent interview, and as always, thank you to Tim Binnall for bringing us -- for free -- such interesting interviews!

Peace, Love & Light

The Great Breach

NASA reports that a breach, four times the size of planet earth, opened up in the magnetosphere. A Giant Breach in Earth's Magnetic Field They don't know why, and some are resisting really believing it. But happened it did.

From Church of UFOlogy: SYNCHRONICITY!

(image source: Crowded Skies.com; image color manipulated by me.)

A green glow while hunting, that psychic feeling, and synchronicity.

From the Church of UFOlogy, a story about green glows, ufos, and that psychic feeling that "they" know you know they're there.

Two hunters, one who had seen strange green glows coming from below the bluff he was camping at, see the glow again. The first time the hunter saw the glow from his sleeping bag, he was "too tired" to investigate. This strange apathy is common in UFO reports. (I'm reminded of a story a couple I knew about ten years ago told me. Camping in Colorado, they saw a green glow, also in a depression. They investigated, saw a disk shaped craft on the ground, with portholes. They saw beings behind the windows, and some with wands with green glowing tips. The couple acknowledged how strange it was but instead of calling the sheriff, or alerting others, they calmly went back to their tent and went to sleep.) With his hunting partner, they go to look, and see landed ufos, with "men" around them:

At this point I woke my partner up. He became hysterical and wanted to leave. I asked him to control himself for a moment while I looked through the binoculars. As I watched I had the uncanny feeling that the "men" were well aware of my observing them.

The two hunters become hysterical, after witnessing a lot of weirdness, and get the hell out of there. They find a strange object with an insignia that beeps (there's that beeping sound again) and his partner picks it up. Later, one of the hunters has a strange experience on the bus:

Later in Seattle, while riding on a bus, a man sat down beside me wearing a ring that was an exact duplicate of the insignia. His hair was brown and his fingers seemed to be a little long, but other than that, you would never have been able to detect he was other than a human. When I saw the ring my hair stood on end. He got off at a bus stop and I never saw him again. I felt like he was aware that I was "tuned" into who he might be.

The story gets much, much stranger, with elements of MIBS, spooks, psy-ops, contactee stuff,crime, covert head games, and just general flying saucer high strangeness. Definitely worth reading.

Is it true, is part of it true, . . . is part B a screen memory for part A . . . who knows. Does it matter?

BVM, e-books, the dangers of Bigfootry, esoteric women,

On UFO-Mary I have several new posts, including one on the Mexican edition of Playboy magazine, with it's Virgin Mary like model on the cover. Just in time for the pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I've been experiencing a few synchroniciites related to the image of Mary, as well as Goddess energy in general. It's not surprising to find that when ones attention is really directed at something; UFOs, what have you, the synchronicities appear!

Chris Holly is a new contributor to Women Of Esoterica. Her first post is a ghost story; visit Women Of Esoterica and read Holly's, as well as entries by Kithra, Richelle Hawks, Lesley Gunter, Karyn Dolan, Farah Yurdozu, and myself.

Snarly Skepticism; also the unofficial JREF Watch, I just decided, has an entry on the dangers of Bigfoot research. Yes, dangers. The harm Bigfoot research, and just a "belief" in Bigfoot, must be told! Beware!

Usually my Trickster's Realm column for Binnall of America goes up on Monday, but recently things have been changed around a bit. So my column won't be up until Thursday. I write about the Darklore, Volume II that just came out. Speaking of, it'll make a great gift! You can find out about ordering information at Amazon.com or the Daily Grail site.

It's been snowy here, which I don't like. It's wet, it's cold, what's the point? Fortunately I don't have to go anywhere these days; I"m off for winter break for three weeks. So I'm cozy in my house, trying to work on various writing projects.

And speaking of writing projects, visit my Lulu.com storefront. I plan to have a few more things available -- some for free -- in a few days.

I was going to be on the X-Zone radio show but still sick with some cold/throat thing. I'm much better but my throat still hurts and I sound like a frog. I'm sure in a few days I'll be fine, and will post the date when I know more.

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Read about juicy McMinnville UFO-gossip here!

Recent Local UFO Sighting

I received an e-mail from someone very near my own neighborhood, coincidentally, who found my blog . I've changed his name and corrected some spelling but other than that, the e-mail is the way he sent it.
Hello Orange ORb...or R. Lee. :)

My name is John, I live in the Whiteaker in Eugene, and on Friday night, almost a week ago I saw some weird stuff. Ive seen an Orange light twice before this, always going north to south, always between 10 and 11 pm, and one so bright it was through dense cloud cover so thick you couldn't see the stars but you could see the light. Anyway, this time as I'm walking past Scobert park I look up to the right and just above the tree line was I first thought was Mars, because Jupiter? and another have been rising so early. But soon I realized it was moving, but very slowly, so I see it's this same orange light as before, this time going South to north. It had a candle/shimmering quality, also kind of like when you squint your eyes at a street lamp it had those rays of light, but horizontal. So it gets brighter and duller, brighter, and takes about 1 minute to get over head. I started to point it out to people, and as I look back, the one light splits into two, and then a third splits off the first one again and they form up into a perfect equilateral triangle with the point leading forward. They had a quality to the lights now like a Flashlight with a dying battery, and they fizzled out. 3 others and I kept transfixed on that spot, and about 20 seconds later..Whoosh ...shooting star (no sound obviously, that's my dramatic effect :) A second and a third shooting star, all orginiated from this small space in the sky where the objects had just disappeared. The third shooting star, had almost a colorful look to it but it was through the trees for me. I think my friend saw the last one too though from 13th st. He said that it exploded at the end.
Another friend who was out of the city that night said there were alot of shooting stars that night, but being in the bright lights these were the only ones I saw that night, but they were super bright.

Anyway, my neck hurts from looking up so much the last week. If you or anyone you know saw they something I'd love to share the story. No media or internet outlet is going to help me figure out what i saw. Also, I was told that we were testing Missile Intercept Defense systems from Alaska and California that day...if thats true, all the more interesting.

take care
John

-- Now all I need is to find Sasquatch and i'll die happy :)