Nick Redfern's World of Whatever...: Ufologists: Do NOT Do These Things!

Nick Redfern shares his list of things UFO researchers should not do. I like all of his ideas, including this one:

4. SAYING THE RIGHT THING TO THE (ALLEGEDLY) INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE
No, no, no, no, no!! I've seen it time and time again at UFO conferences. And, no doubt, I'll continue to see it time and time again. It's the ufological equivalent of letting the boss win a game of golf (which nobody should be doing either). Or, as it's also known: seeking out the people in Ufology who you think can best help you advance your career (conference organizers, magazine editors, the leading-lights in the big UFO groups), and saying what you think they will want to hear, and not saying what you really think. Have some dignity! Say what you think about George Adamski, the Men in Black, or Area 51. Not what this or that person thinks! Okay, claiming old George merely took photos of a few lampshades tossed into the air probably won't get you booked at the next Contactee-themed event. But, you have, at least, been honest to yourself. So, when it comes to kissing ass, Ufologist: Don't do it!

And you know I love the following!:

9. BIGFOOT!
As someone who has done far more cryptozoological research than UFO research, I often like to bring up the fact that someone has seen Bigfoot race across the road at the same place - and in the same precise time-frame - that someone else saw a UFO land in the woods. One of the reasons I like to bring it up is because it makes many a Ufologist and Cryptozoologist cringe. The reason: it suggests their carefully constructed beliefs might need to be revised. And, neither of these two "ologies" want that! But, why? What's wrong with pointing out that there are a significant number of cases on record where one Fortean puzzle most certainly crosses paths with another? Answer: there's nothing wrong with it! For those fearful of what their peers might think, however, it is a problem. So, they stay weak and silent. I say: Ufologist: Don't do it!

I agree 100% with every single one of his points! Good for him for saying so.

Orange Orb Review: Binnall of America round up of columns

Orange Orb Review: Binnall of America round up of columns

Random notes...

Little postings here and there on my sphere o' blogs: UFO-Mary, Animal Forteana, Octopus Confessional, SkeptiWatch, Mothman Flutterings. I have a new Trickster's Realm column on last night's C2C. The segment with skeptic-debunker Edward, really dismal. What was with Noory's pandering? Anyway, I rant about all that on TR. Not sure when Tim will put it up but should be up Monday. This Sunday I'll be a guest on Strange Frequencies. Yes, I'll admit I'm nervous!

Oh Dear...

Two recent comments here at the Orb that I chose not to publish. So here's my thing on that:

If you leave a comment with a link to your site asking me to link to yours that's spam. Maybe not truly, technically spam and the intentions might be innocent, but it's still spammy, even while being naive.

The second post was a negative and sarcastic one-liner about someone's article. If you have something constructive to say: reasons why you don't like something, something to contribute, fine. But a throw away smarmy comment that isn't productive -- I won't publish it. Serves no purpose.

Marla Pena's Shadow of the Shinigami

Marla Pena's Shadow of the Shinigami

Very interesting article on Tim Binnall's site, by Maria Pena:

The first days of my life are somehow related with the UFO phenomenon. My given name, "Marla," comes from an unusual source: A UFO contactee in México. My mom said that, in the 70's, there used to be a very famous contactee who's name was "Maria del Socorro Perez" aka "Marla." This woman allegedly received teachings from the "Hermanos Mayores" ("Elder Siblings" – referring to people from another planet) and, somehow, she found a popular national show on TV (Esta Noche con Manolo Fabregas) to convey the aliens' messages.

Besides conveying these messages, Marla had her own healing methods based in those teachings. She called it "Electronic Medicine" or "Quantum Medicine." She created a healing center and, I suppose that, for awhile, her business was popular and prospered. Her experiences as a contactee resonated with my Mom (who, at the time, believed such a possibility could exist) and she even took us all to the big city of México, D.F. to meet with Marla. The main purpose of that visit was to help one of my cousins (who at the time suffered from epileptic seizures) to get better. Did my cousin get better? I don't know. I don't remember what my mom said at that time. I haven't talked to her about this topic since two blue moons ago. However, I remember my cousin always taking medication so I am going to guess not.

Plans for those flying machines

Found this free e-book for Kindle on Amazon which contains plans for building your own flying machines:

Red Pills of the Week — August 11th | Mysterious Universe

I love the concept of red pill junkie's Red Pills of the Week for Mysterious Universe. Here's the latest, discussing Mars and more:Red Pills of the Week — August 11th | Mysterious Universe

My Whitley Strieber Dream

No idea where this came from! And no idea if my working with my cards (Druid Animal oracle, Angel and Deviant Moon tarot)  before going to sleep had anything to do with the dream. Who knows.

I'm in a large school gym/auditorium. It's the 1980s. Whitley Strieber is practicing various tumbling exercises on large blue mats. Some of the mats have cracks or tears in them, and the stuffing is coming out. Sloppy repairs with duct tape have been attempted but the mats are still funky. There's a screen in front of the mats, where Strieber and some of us are watching him -- the screen is behind the scenes kind of thing. We're in rehearsals, waiting for the audience (maybe spectators is a better word since it's a gym) to arrive.

After Whitley does several exercises, which he is proud of --  if nothing else, at least for trying --  we're encouraged and do our own exercises. None of us know, really, how to do any of this, including Whitley Strieber, but we're all trying, and we all want to. We don't care what others think or how it looks. We're doing it, and that's what matters. And throughout all of this it is very clear that these tumbling exercises have everything (in some weird surrealistic dream logic) to do with aliens, UFOs, and especially, particularly, alien abductions.

At one point I say to Whiltey, and the others, after watching Strieber do some pretty difficult moves, "Oh my god, all that happened years before to me!" Meaning, yes, the exercises, but also, and more to the point, the connection between all of us here now (even though it's also 1980 something) and aliens.

Alfred Lehmberg at UFO Magazine: ...Immoderation...

Alfred's latest, and as usual, it's the greatest. UFO Magazine - UFO Magazine Blog - ...Immoderation...

It's interesting one Orrin Hatch (that Senator from Utah?) has a message of *concern* for Utah's parents. If their children want environments that are "clean" and "unpolluted"—"then their drug abuse affliction is apparent"! What says "stunned credulity" but this lack of any conscience. I think it must be obvious; he is, himself, unconscious!

.
Yes! If kids are asking questions where the bigots fear to tread, then they're smoking marijuana—"popping pills," or so he said! I suspect if showing conscience is resultant from "as such," then plants like marijuana be encouraged with all trust!
.
I bring this up to illustrate an ocean of dementia that's an obstacle to common sense, discouraged... in absentia! Like... Folks who won't see UFOs? I'd want them disabused; that notion's unintelligent, unbrave and mal-enthused. See? I understand the "problem set"! Its "questions" can get hard. Though, oblivious to evidence, ones head's impacted lard...

New links at Orange Orb Review

Lots of new links at my Orange Orb Review. New look as well but not sure I like it.Orange Orb Review

Kay's Blog, Alien Abduction Blog, BetweenTwoLiesBlog, It Doesn't Happen

From the Alien Abduction Blog: This is good. And no doubt some items that will be controversial for some of us, and some we'll disagree with. But it's worth reading and thinking about. Kay's Blog, Alien Abduction Blog, BetweenTwoLiesBlog, It Doesn't Happen

Bannings and Eradications

Was exploring the UFO Casebook site and wandered over to their forum page. Mildly curious if I had once joined in the past I clicked on the log-in link, using what I thought might have been my sign-in --if I had ever signed in. Then tried to click on the "register" -- and saw a message that said "Sorry, but you have been banned from this forum." Moi?

I sign-up for so many things then forget I've done so. There is so much out there; social media sites, forums, etc. So I don't know if it's a glitch on their site in general, and has nothing to do with me, or if, indeed, I have been banned. If the latter, absolutely no idea why.

Speaking of banishment, my new Trickster's Realm column is now at Tim Binnall's site. I discuss a comment; long, rambling and a woeful lack of punctuation, that promises I "will be eradicated." And with that, let's all have a nice day!

The UFO Proletariat: CSI Skeptic Robert Sheaffer Doubts the U.S. Government Uses the Media to Debunk UFOs

By way of UFO Chronicles and Robert Hastings:The UFO Proletariat: CSI Skeptic Robert Sheaffer Doubts the U.S. Government Uses the Media to Debunk UFOs

Reviews: Beckley, Chasing UFOs

I have two new reviews at Orange Orb Review.

Red Pill Junkie at Intrepid: Sex and UFOs

But really, so much more than that! Read more and follow link at Vintage U.F.O.