Rescued From The Trash: Moon Pics

A pirate flag at an old McDonald's site on NASA property and thousands of old moon images, rescued from the trash. Eventually the images will all be made available on-line, right now there's about thirty that NASA, along with "private corporations" (which NASA is as well) have put up on-line. The images were taken during the moon landing forty years ago, and reels upon reels of tape were about to be thrown out when they were "rescued." There's a lot of strange things about this story, from the pirate flag in the old McDonald's building, now a part of NASA property, to the idea that thousands of feet of film of the moon were "lost" all this time. And all of it shown on a pieced together machine:

Three researchers huddle around a wheezing 45-year-old Ampex FR-900A tape machine, a one-of-a-kind reel to reel 2-inch model designed to record data for the National Security Agency.

These tapes hold the best images of the moon ever taken, even to today,” says Dennis Wingo, a lanky 55-year-old engineering physicist who heads the Lunar Orbiter Image Recovery Project.

Nimoy on Fringe

My favorite television show FRINGE (besides the BBC's Torchwood, if that ever comes back as promised) will have a new character: William Bell, played by Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy's character will be introduced this season, then FRiNGE will return in the fall, along with Nimoy. Pretty cool!

Building Juxtapositions in the Neighborhood

I'm not sure what this means, but the other day as I was taking my walk I noticed the oddness of the fact that the Army Reserve building sits directly across from the Scottish Rite Temple (Mason.) The two fronts face each other. Behind the Army Reserve building is the side street -- newly constructed, with the remodel of the elementary school-- that leads to the school. So elementary school faces the back of the Army Reserve grounds, the front of the Army Reserve building faces the Scottish Rite Temple.

10th Annual McMinville, Oregon UFO Festival

It’s Headed Right For Us!

The 10th Annual UFO Festival at McMenamins Hotel Oregon

UFO enthusiasts are making plans to converge in Oregon wine country

All are welcome -- event tickets now on sale at www.ufofest.com

McMINNVILLE, Ore.—Thursday, April 2, 2009—The buzz is building as we get closer to the 10th Annual UFO Festival on May 15 and 16, 2009, hosted by McMenamins Hotel Oregon. The festival, set in a small town in the middle of Oregon wine country, explores and celebrates the possibilities of life beyond Earth. On our decade anniversary, we welcome keynote speaker and journalist Linda Moulton Howe, who will discuss a 1974 military encounter with a UFO; Kathleen Marden and Stanton Friedman, co-authors of Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience. The True Story of the World's First Documented Alien Abduction (2007); and UFO witnesses Kris and Marc Bales. Tickets are $10 per event, $15 for two ticketed events or $25 for all three events; UFO tickets are available at www.ufofest.com.

Skeptics and believers alike are invited to enjoy all the events happening throughout the weekend – an outdoor festival tent and UFO gift shop, live blues and Americana from Gavin Wahl-Stephens, an outlandish alien costume parade, an alien pet costume contest, a performance of the 1938 Orson Welles classic “War of the Worlds” by Willamette Radio Workshop and more! And have a pint or two of McMenamins Alienator Ale, handcrafted especially for the event. To cap off the weekend, attend our Alien Costume Ball for live rock ‘n’ roll by Big Mama Gayle & Her Sugar Daddies and a chance to win prizes for the most comical or well-done space outfit. All events are free and open to all ages, unless otherwise noted. Additional information and photos can be found at www.ufofest.com.

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Please note: All of our speakers are available for print, radio and television interviews. Contact Renee Rank, McMenamins Marketing Director, at (503) 492-5457 or ReneeR@ed.mcmenamin.com for scheduling and availability. See www.ufofest.com for additional photos and a video from our 2008 event, along with schedule details, festival history and beyond…


About the Speakers:

Linda Moulton Howe • Saturday, May 16 • 4 p.m.

Reporter/Editor for Earthfiles.com and Investigative Reporter for “Coast to Coast AM with George Noory” and “Dreamland Online” with Whitley Strieber

Linda Moulton Howe is a graduate of Stanford University who has devoted her film, television and radio career to science, medicine and the environment. With videotaped interviews, slides and illustrations, Howe will present one family’s eyewitness account of a 1974 military encounter with a UFO in Albuquerque, NM.

Kathleen Marden • Friday, May 15 • 7 p.m. (in conjunction with Stanton Friedman)

UFO Researcher and Co-Author with Stanton Friedman of Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience. The True Story of the World's First Documented Alien Abduction (2007)

Marden is the niece of Betty and Barney Hill, the focus of one of the most well-known alien abductions in UFO history. With UFO research luminary Stanton Friedman, Marden co-authored the story of her aunt and uncle’s harrowing 1961 experience. During her long career as a social worker, educator and certified hypnotherapist, Marden implemented model educational programs and taught adult education classes on UFO and abduction history. For 10 years, she served on the MUFON Board of Directors as the Director of Field Investigator Training.



Stanton Friedman • Friday, May 15 • 7 p.m. (in conjunction with Kathleen Marden)

Internationally Recognized UFO Researcher and Lecturer

In 1970, Friedman left his career as a physicist to pursue the scientific investigation of UFOs. Since then, he has lectured at more than 600 colleges and 100 professional groups in 50 states, nine provinces and 16 foreign countries. Friedman has published more than 80 UFO-related papers and has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs. He has also provided written testimony to Congressional hearings and appeared twice at the United Nations.



Kris and Marc Bales • Saturday, May 16 • 10 a.m.

UFO Witnesses, Northern Idaho, September 2000

While on an overnight hunting trip, four men witnessed an enormous, triangular object hovering 200 feet above them. The report they filed with the National UFO Reporting Center reads: “My brother and I ... like to think we are normal, educated, businesspeople. ... We all have excellent eyesight. This was also a ‘dry’ camp. Although this exceeded the limits of our known comprehension we felt privileged to have witnessed this most incredible piece of equipment.” Two of these eyewitnesses will relate their incredible experience.



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2009 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

All ticketed events will be held at the McMinnville Community Center (600 NE Evans St.), just two blocks away from McMenamins Hotel Oregon.



All events are free and welcome to all ages (unless noted).



Friday, May 15

Kathleen Marden & Stanton Friedman

Co-authors of Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience

Doors at 6 p.m.; event at 7 p.m. • McMinnville Community Center

$10 per person; tickets available online or at the door (multi-event discount available)



Live music by Gavin Wahl-Stephens

As part of the Great Northwest Music Tour

7 p.m. • Mattie’s Room at Hotel Oregon



Live music by Kirby Swatosh & The Moon Rock Patrol

7 p.m. • Cellar Bar at Hotel Oregon • 21 & over



Saturday, May 16

Food & Concessions Tent

9 a.m. ‘til 6 p.m. • Evans St.



UFO Witnesses Marc and Kris Bayles

Doors at 9 a.m.; event at 10 a.m. • McMinnville Community Center

$10 per person; tickets available online or at the door (multi-event discount available)

Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Following the Bales presentation: Peter Davenport, Director of the National UFO Reporting Center (Seattle, WA)

Davenport will discuss UFO cases that were reported in 2008.



Vivid Curve Digeridoo-Making for Kids

Kids can make a cool digeridoo and then walk in the parade and play them.

11 a.m. • U.S. Bank Plaza on Third St. • First come, first serve (up to 50 kids)



UFO Costume Parade

1 p.m. • Third St.

From school groups to marching bands to crazy floats to dancing Hammerheads, all are welcome to participate in the parade! Go to ufofest.com for an application!



Alien Pet Costume Contest

2 p.m. • U.S. Bank Plaza on Third St.

Dress little Spot or Fluffy up as a UFO, an alien or what-have-you! Give your pet a moment in the alien spotlight.



A Performance of Orson Welles’ classic “War of the Worlds” by Willamette Radio Workshop

2 p.m. • Mattie's Room at Hotel Oregon



Speaker’s Forum with Keynote Speaker Linda Moulton Howe, investigative reporter and editor of Earthfiles.com

Doors at 3 p.m.; event at 4 p.m. • McMinnville Community Center

$10 per person; tickets available online or at the door (multi-event discount available)

Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Following the Keynote Forum: A Q&A panel emceed by Peter Davenport, including Kathleen Marden, Stanton Friedman and Peter Robbins.



Live music by Kirby Swatosh & The Moon Rock Patrol

7 p.m. • Cellar Bar at Hotel Oregon • 21 & over



Alien Costume Ball

Featuring the live music of Big Mama Gayle & Her Sugar Daddies

7 p.m. • Mattie's Room at Hotel Oregon • 21 & over



Rooms at McMenamins Hotel Oregon are sold out – please refer to the McMinnville Downtowners Association or the Chamber of Commerce for alternate local lodging.



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ABOUT McMENAMINS HOTEL OREGON

Set in Oregon’s idyllic wine country 40 miles south of Portland, McMenamins’ historic 1905 hotel in McMinnville is the perfect retreat for guests wanting to uncork and unwind. Cozy guestrooms, a comfortable restaurant and pub, live music on weekends, the legendary Rooftop Bar and more offer visitors from far and wide several reasons to simply relax. Hotel Oregon is also home to the quirky and fun UFO Festival, now in its 10th year and the second-largest alien-related gathering in the nation! More than 5,000 visitors convened in downtown McMinnville for the 2008 festival and parade. The festival began as a way to honor the 1950 Trent UFO sighting in which two local citizens witnessed and photographed an unknown craft hovering in the sky above, said to be some of the most credible images of UFOs to date. See ufofest.com for more information.


ABOUT McMENAMINS HOTELS, PUBS & BREWERIES

The name “McMenamin” is well known throughout the Pacific Northwest, signifying a great place to enjoy handcrafted ales, wine, spirits and pub fare with family and friends. The dream began more than 20 years ago in the hearts of brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin. With 56 properties (including Hotel Oregon) and counting, the siblings are considered to be pioneers of the Pacific Northwest microbrew, historic hotels and music venue industries. Go to mcmenamins.com for additional information.

New blog find: Hidden Experiences

A very interesting and cool new blog: Hidden Experiences. Thanks to UFO Mystic for the link. ">

New podcast: Cafe Esoterica!

Clearly, I mean it's so obvious, there simply aren't enough paranormal/UFO/conspiracy podcasts, so naturally I had to start one. Well, I'm in the process of going about figuring out how to start one. Something like that.

So be on the lookout. That either means you'll run and listen to something else, anything else, when you know the air date, or you'll tune in.

Format is talk. Not interviewing, just talking. Me and Jim. Seriously, for thirty something years, people have been telling us we should have our own show. They meant in a comedic, Stiller and Mera (that's a dated reference!) kind of way, but still. I want guests of course; it's not going to be just me. Or Jim. Don't be scared. It'll be fun.

Things like self promotion and a spiffy logo and when, how often and how long...details.

All right, off to figure things out now.

Adam Gorightly on L.O.W.F.I. and John Rhodes

Adam Gorightly has an item up at his blog on the L.O.W.F.I. uber-blog on John Rhodes, the reptilian crypto guy who will be on Coast to Coast tonight. This is an interview I'm looking forward to hearing.

John Rhodes on Reptilians

Monday's guest on Coast to Coast will be John Rhodes, Reptilian underground guy. Rhodes site is reptoids.com.

Uh oh, the first link on his site that I click on: "Mutilation Bio-Hazards" takes me to a page about MRSA. Great, that's all my paranoid leanings need -- I had MRSA last year and, while it's gone and fortunately wasn't anything as awful as some have experienced, it was still painful, very unpleasant, and a little scary, mainly because I kept getting different answers from the medical profession. Anyway, seeing MRSA tied in with Reptilians and cattle mutes is a bit much for this conspiracy Fortean junkie to take. Think I'll just go have some ice cream now.

I have a new post at Saucer Sightings; about a painting I did several years ago inspired by ... all those weird visitor type things. You know, the usual stuff.

New posts at UFO Mary and Octopus Confessional as well.

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The Universe Solved
Jim Elvidge, author of The Universe Solved, was on Coast to Coast last night. I heard very little of the interview; fell asleep. What I gathered from the small bit I heard was that we live in a "holographic reality" created by "the programmers." Okay, fine, but who programmed the programmers?

Here's what one review, posted on Elvidge's site, has to say about the book:

"FINALLY, a book that will do more than just pose questions and present hypotheses! All that is needed to digest this fine melange of the scientific and metaphysical is an open mind. Elvidge presents his own mix in grand style building upon and crumbling to pieces the time-worn yawns of "why are we here" and "is there more than this". He draws from every angle of the the "known"- from Hollywood and dreams to particle physics and nanotechnology to the cosmos; all laid upon a finely diced bed of humor and pop-culture reference- for a mind-expanding, door-opening, myth-blasting journey that puts words to that "niggling sensation" of our own concepts of reality. Some if it may be a bit disconcerting or just a bit humbling but this book is sure to make a huge impact on many fronts. It is a must-read for anyone who has ever posed the question of existence."- K. Hughes

Lots on his site; articles, a forum, etc. I'd probably find the answer to the "who programmed the programmers?" question if I explore enough.

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The Office
Yes, the television show, and it has nothing at all to do with UFOs, aliens, or anything paranormal or Fortean, though anyone working in an office knows that there are definitely surreal and esoteric moments. For some reason the following line just cracked me up and struck me as being very off the wall:
"My German is pre-industrial, and mostly religious."
I don't know what it means either, but I like it.

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BIGFOOT
A great interview by Blogsquatcher with Henry Franzoni. This is a must for anyone at all interested in Bigfoot research. I'm telling you, dahlings, a must!

Speaking of Bigfoot, my Trickster's Realm will be about Yeti; sort of. That should appear Monday.

Buzz Aldrin on UFO; Bruce Duensing Comments

Bruce Duensing, who manages the Intangible Materiality blog, (who is one of those writers -- Aeolus Kephas is another - who, after reading, I ask myself "Why do I bother, when we have people like Duensing writing?") posted this clip at the Department 47 forum, along with some good insights.

Charles Manson Synchronicity

So much to say about Manson, but it'll have to wait for another time. For now, I find it an interesting synchronicity that I'm in the middle of reading the "Manson" section in Andrew Colvin's book Mothman's Photographer III, and click on Yahoo News this morning to find the following item: New photo of Manson released -- with a little "Manson slideshow" in the sidebar. As no doubt Colvin and other researchers of esoteric connections, (the octopus type patterns within) synchroniciites, symbolism know -- something's afoot here.

"Just because it sounds crazy doesn't mean it isn't true." ~ Jim Rich

Bill Birnes: Berlin

Bill Birnes, of UFO Hunters, has a beautiful and moving piece (it made me cry)about the show in Germany for the upcoming "Nazi" UFO episode, on the UFO Magazine's blog

Skylaire Alfvegren, Goddess of L.O.W.F.I. and elfin yellow journalist, has a new gig at the Los Angeles UFO Examiner (cool title). Be sure to check it out.