At Ghost Hunting Theories: Creepy Things

A blog that's quickly become a favorite is the Ghost Hunting Theories blog. Her recent post Ghost Hunting Theories: Creeped Me Out In Childhood-How About You? of creepy things like mall Santas and Bear Jamboree, reminded me of this painting Jim did a few years ago. The painting is taken from a photograph of me when I was four or five year old, sitting in Santa's lap. The Santa in he photo is clearly tired, ill, or drunk. Or all three. Jim really captured the creepiness of that photo. (Although, I have to say, I don't like this painting. It's very rare that I don't care for something Jim has painted, I usually love his work, but this one, I won't allow him to hang it in the house!)  At the same, as can be seen in the painting and photo, I was immune to any creepiness; just feeling that Christmas magic in the air. If I can find the photo I'll post it, but here's the painting:

James Rich, Dreams of the Future, Shadows of the Past, acrylic on wonderboard

Second quake jolts San Francisco Bay area - Yahoo! News

Second quake jolts San Francisco Bay area - Yahoo! News

3.9 in SF

About two hours after the previous post on earthquakes, a 3.9 in San Fransico.

Magnitude 4.8 - SOUTHERN TEXAS

Surprising earthquake in Texas today, listed in the "significant earthquakes" section of USGS: Magnitude 4.8 - SOUTHERN TEXAS. I posted last night that I've been feeling a strong sense that earthquakes -- or some sort of earth event to do with the ground/land, not clear on what that means -- that kind of activity will happen soon, within two weeks, sooner than not. Although I sensed west coast and/or Hawaii, Japan, not inland. Looking at the U.S. earthquake maps, there has been unusual inland activity lately. Texas: fires, dust storms, earthquakes. Very strange. 

Earthquake?

I'm of two minds commenting on this, but the past week or so feeling very strong earthquake (or some other earth event, but earthquake comes to the front) premonitions. Along west coast of U.S. (and Hawaii,) Japan. Not neccesarrily Fukusshima area.  And both -- one triggers activity in the other. Between 4 and 6.5... within two weeks but feel closer to next few days to week.

Halloween Card

An owl, a pumpkin headed being... and? what is that thing Mr. Pumpkin Head is curious about?

Oregon witnesses: 'Strange memory' problems after watching rectangle UFO - National ufo | Examiner.com

A report from an Oregon UFO witness: not a triangle but rectangle, that seemed to have caused "strange memories: Oregon witnesses: 'Strange memory' problems after watching rectangle UFO - National ufo | Examiner.com
What's interesting is the white light emanating from the craft:

It only had an unbelievable white light coming out the bottom."

The object, like so many, seemed to have wanted to be seen: flying over a highway, hovering above a field, showing off colored lights, and that "unbelievable white light." On the other hand, it could be it didn't want to be seen, it just didn't care. Or, unaware of the effect it had on witnesses. The latter I think, is the least possible. It's difficult to accept (though not impossible) that such things: huge, seemingly "performing" for witnesses, and technologies that affect memory, are an unintended result of UFOs.

I was particularly drawn to this story for two reasons: one, it occurred here in Oregon, and two, the witnesses experience concerning memory and the white light resonated with my own Oregon experience so many years -- decades -- ago. I didn't see a rectangle, but an orange orb; yet paralysing (literally paralyzing) dreams of brilliant white beams of light, and missing time, followed that sighting.

UFO Magazine - UFO Magazine Blog - Hi Jack...You're doing it�wrong...

Erik Stitt has a good article that's a needed reminder to us all: Hi Jack...You're doing it wrong... on the UFO Magazine blog. Stitt's main idea is that no one in the paranormal field knows what's going on. Obvious and yet we need to be constantly reminded of that fact. Furthermore, as Stitt puts it, the outside world (or "real" world if you prefer) doesn't care about the "bar fight in a bubble" as Stitt quotes Bill Birnes, referring to UFO World in a BoA interview. Erik comments that to the rest of the world, it's "geeks fighting nereds" and you know, that's true.

It's for the reasons Stitt addresses: the constant in-fighting (oh yes, of which I've engaged in), the exclusions, the egos,the clashing theories, the UFO Police, --- all that brawling that goes barely undetected by the majority of the culture -- that I continue to insist that in this crowded yet tiny pond of Forteana, everyone gets to play. (Well, except skeptibunkers, they never count.)

Now, I think Stitt is kind of sort of defending Jacobs or at the least, chiding those (like myself) who call Jacobs on his stuff. To that, I'll continue to do so and while hypnosis itself isn't good or bad (and something I continue to think about in context of my own personal experiences) Jacobs behaved ludicrously as well as unethically. Stitt's point about the rest of the culture viewing all this as "...over muscled idiots and plumbers wielding misused tech and tinfoil hats with cameras on tripods in Americas Southwest Deserts rubbing crystals and waiting for an official communique from Ashtar Command" reminds us that we're in this sometimes scummy pond together, like it or not, as well as alone. Doesn't matter if you're a professor at a university or a self-made paranormal researcher; you're a fruitcake, a saucer-head geek, and it's all the same to the rest of the world.

But that reality doesn't stop me from doing what I do.

Sign in Van

On our walk today, we took a slightly different route. I almost always have my camera with me, but I didn't today. Wish I had thought to bring it! We passed by a parked van on the street, in the rear window was a hand lettered sign that read (the best I recall from memory):

Chemtrails! Google it! Look up, watch the skies!

And a little drawing of an airplane with a white plume coming out of it.
I'll see if it's still there tomorrow and if it is, take a photo.

Happy Halloween!

I love this image; pretty witch flying through the air, taking one to slumber. An astral journey of witchiness!

Alejandro Rojas: The Top States for UFO Sightings

Alejandro Rojas reports on UFO sightings across the U.S.:The Top States for UFO Sightings, with Oregon coming in at thirteen out of fifteen states listed, according to MUFON. According to NUFORC, Oregon didn't make the list of their ten. (Ironically, I reported a sighting to Peter Davenport's NUFORC years ago, here in Oregon, -- one which he argued with me about, and insinuated I wasn't patriotic enough.)

Happy Halloween! Day 2

Time for Halloween Cards!

Ten days into October, and I've been remiss in posting Halloween images. Busy with house repairs and painting and work... so here's a vintage Halloween image, fitting for The Orange Orb. I hope to post an image a day, and on Women of Esoterica as well. If I can stay focused and have the time, it'd be neat to do a them related image for each of my blogs. We'll see. . .  in the meantime, enjoy! And Happy Halloween :)

Project Core

Jack Brewer at The UFO Trail: Paratopia Launches Project Core reports on Jeremy Vaeni and Jeff Ritzman's latest development: Project Core:

Paratopia is ambitiously undertaking Project Core, a broad study into all kinds of reported paranormal phenomena. The initiative includes Dr. Tyler Kokjohn, Dr. Kim Cooper and Paratopia personnel Jeff Ritzmann and Jeremy Vaeni. In Jeff's words:

Project Core has Launched. For the next 10 months we will collect your stories and answers to questions. No, this is not a gathering of accounts for a book, film or anything else – only research into paranormal experiences and those who’ve experienced them. It’s an anonymous submitting process, but one that requires raw truth...

What I like about this is the grass roots perspective: "...requires the raw truth..." as Ritzman continues, "no matter how odd or unbelieveable." I contributed some of my UFO and ghost experiences to the project. The only suggestion I had which I passed on to Jeremy was to add something about Rh Negative blood types. I'm not sure what the Rh Negative connection has to UFO experiences, except that, according to some researchers, it's a factor. Since I'm Rh Negative, I'm naturally curious about the possibility.

I'm looking forward to reading what comes of Project Core.

SOS: Original material, please – De Void - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL - Archive

Billy Cox has a good article on comedy, MSM, and their take on UFOs:SOS: Original material, please – De Void - Sarasota Herald-Tribune - Sarasota, FL - Archive

Teeing off on UFOs — or perhaps more accurately, on the people who suspect there’s something extremely weird going on upstairs — is easy. Actually, it’s expected, because it’s always been done this way. It’s like Gallagher’s watermelons or Henny Youngman’s violin or Ed McMahon’s “you are correct, sir!” jack-in-the-box. The humor is victimless, like Nazi-bashing, because everybody knows these UFO rubes are crazy and how are they gonna complain anyway since there’s no electricity in Appalachia. It’s as reliable as Moe pronging Curly’s eyeballs with his forefingers — and it never fails to amuse.

(thanks to Lesley for the link)