On UFO Digest: High Strangeness on the Ranch

My most recent, on comparing the Skinwalker ranch events with an older, yet similar case in Colorado: High Strangeness on the Ranch.

http://www.ufodigest.com/news/0408/highstrangeness.html

UFO Mag Blog

Thanks to the efforts of Lesley and Nancy Birnes, editor of UFO Magazine, there is a new site/blog up where the public can participate. Take a look, read the blog entries,take part in discussions, have fun!

http://ufomagazine.squarespace.com/

Richard Dolan: What Are They Are?

A question we've all been asking for a long time. . .

UFOs, what are they? They are, but what?

I came across this article by Richard Dolan: What Are They? written in 2002, where Dolan theorizes, like Ivan Sanderson, that UFOs and the beings are artifical life forms. An idea I've come across from time to time but haven't considered very deeply. For example, what force or being (s) are behind the artifical life forms?

No matter what you think about this idea, it's worth reading about.

Beliefs and The Messengers

Skeptic and atheist Richard Dawkins has a piece in the Los Angeles Times:
Gods and earthlings: the science of intelligent design is science-fiction. I'm not going to comment on the whole article, just one thing Dawkins said.

Dawkins tries to make the case that arguments for Intelligent Design by the religious are wrong (no surprise there) and they use the aliens from space argument to support theirs. As does Dawkins himself to use against them, as he points out. Naturally, it's no surprise Dawkins thinks both arguments are equally insane and irrational.

Dawkins alludes to the cargo cults, and comments that if we were to land a jumbo jet in a primitive village, we'd be considered gods, or a God. He quotes Arthur C. Clarke:

"Any sufficient advanced technology is indisitngule from magic."

UFO and abduction researcher Budd Hopkins makes this case as well in his book, co-written with Carol Rainey,Sight unseen: science, UFO invisibility and transgenic beings
What seem almost magical to us when witnessing UFOs and related phenomena is really advanced technology. And I think most of us understand that. Some of us put it all off on "aliens" and, it just might be aliens some of the time. We can't imagine that we have anything close to that technology, so aliens it is. Still, for most of us, that doesn't make them gods, or God. Then again, they could be exactly what some people think of as "God." Are aliens God, or is God an alien? Not much difference. But I'm getting off track here.

I only want to point out something about what he wrote here:

To deserve the name of God, a being would have to have designed more than just a jumbo jet or even a starship. He would have to have designed the universe.

What's wrong with this is the assumption that we know anything about what aliens are, even when disbelieving in them. This is a characteristic of the fundamental skeptic. They vehemently dismiss any "belief" of psi, psychic phenomena, ghosts, or aliens, yet at the same time have elaborate systems in place concerning their behaviors, the expectations, the mechanics of how these things work.

No, it's not that "he" (the alien) would have had to design the universe. It' that the people the alien appears to has them believing he designed the universe.

This may sound nit picky on my part, but it's an important distinction.

Richard Dolan on FOX

Here's the link to Richard Dolan's appearance on Fox yesterday morning. Thank you Karyn Dolan for sending the link. Karyn Dolan encourages people to let Fox know what they thought of Richard's segment; would viewers want to see more like this, what's their take on the whole thing, etc.

http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/ufo-sightings/

mcmenamins.com



9th Annual UFO Festival at McMenamins Hotel Oregon



Featuring RICHARD DOLAN, author of UFOs and the National Security State and host of “Sci Fi Investigates” series

and ROBERT NICHOL, producer of Star Dreams, a feature documentary about crop circles

McMINNVILLE, Ore.—Wednesday, April 23, 2008—McMenamins Hotel Oregon will host the 9th Annual UFO Festival (May 16 & 17, 2008) that explores and celebrates the possibilities of life beyond Earth. We are honored to host Richard Dolan as our keynote speaker at Friday evening’s Forum and Q&A to discuss the relationship between UFO research and the United States military. The evening will be moderated by Peter Davenport, director of the National UFO Reporting Center in Seattle , WA . We are equally as pleased to host Robert Nichol, a producer and filmmaker with Genesis Communications based in British Columbia , Canada , for a screening of his documentary Star Dreams about the mystery of crop circles, followed by questions on Saturday morning. Tickets are $10 per event or $15 for a combination ticket, available at www.ufofest.com.



Richard Dolan is the author of a 500-page study entitled UFOs and the National Security State, the first volume of a two-part historical narrative of the national security dimensions of the UFO phenomenon from 1941 to the present. Included are the records of more than fifty military bases relating to violations of sensitive airspace by unknown objects, demonstrating that the U.S. military has taken the topic of UFOs seriously. Dolan holds master’s degree in history from the University of Rochester and a bachelor’s degree in history from Alfred University . He earned a Certificate in Political Theory from Oxford University and was a Rhodes Scholar finalist. Prior to his interest in anomalous phenomena, Dolan studied U.S. Cold War strategy, Soviet history and international diplomacy. Our speaker has appeared on numerous television documentaries for the History Channel, Sci Fi Channel, as well as BBC and European networks. He appears regularly on radio stations throughout the U.S. , including “Coast to Coast,” and has been a featured speaker at conferences internationally. In 2006, he hosted a six-episode series, “Sci Fi Investigates,” produced by NBC for the Sci Fi Channel.



On Saturday morning, Robert Nichol will screen Star Dreams, his 85-minute documentary about the crop circle phenomenon, and he will take questions afterwards. The film deals with the many possibilities of how these beautiful crop circles are created (more than 11,000 have been reported all over the world since 1980) and what they might signify, with commentary by top-rated ufology experts. Nichol is an award-winning director, producer and filmmaker with 25 productions to his credit. Nichol’s motivation is to encourage the development of a new spiritual consciousness while bringing about a new awareness for humanity’s purpose. Go to www.stardreams-cropcircles.com for additional information on the documentary and the filmmaker.



Skeptics and believers alike are invited to enjoy all the fun events happening throughout the weekend – an outdoor festival tent and McMenamins gift shop, live gypsy/punk/tango/hiphop music from New York City’s own Luminescent Orchestrii, a truly outlandish alien costume parade, a one-mile alien fun run (participants are encouraged to wear glow-in-the-dark costumes!), an alien pet costume contest, a live performance of “The Thing” by Willamette Radio Workshop and more! And have a pint or two of our 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 outfit. All events are free and open to all ages, unless otherwise noted in the schedule below. Additional information can be found at www.ufofest.com.



Rooms at McMenamins Hotel Oregon are sold out – please refer to the McMinnville Downtowners Association or the Chamber of Commerce for alternate local lodging. Hotel Oregon is also accepting reservations for our 2009 event.



Please note: Richard Dolan and Robert Nichol are available for interviews, radio and television appearances on Friday, May 16. 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 2007 event, along with schedule details, festival history and beyond…





2008 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

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



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



Friday, May 16

SPEAKER’S FORUM & Q&A PANEL with RICHARD DOLAN and ROBERT NICHOL
Light refreshments will be available for purchase at the venue.
7 p.m. • McMinnville Community Center • $10 per person; tickets available online or at the door
(Or purchase a combination ticket for this forum and the screening on 5/17 for just $15)

LIVE MUSIC
7 p.m. • The Luminescent Orchestrii • As part of the Great Northwest Music Tour • Mattie’s Room at Hotel Oregon
7 p.m. • Kirby Swatosh & The Moon Rock Patrol • Cellar Bar at Hotel Oregon • 21 & over



1-MILE FUN RUN

Come in glow-in-the-dark costume for this quick sunset sprint (or walk) through downtown McMinnville! A portion of proceeds will go to Henderson House, a local nonprofit organization that educates families and the community about domestic violence.

7 p.m. • Starts at Lower City Park , ends in front of McMenamins Hotel Oregon • $10 per person; pick up an entry form at Henderson House (610 Se 1st St. , McMinnville) or online • Prizes will be awarded for best costumes!

Saturday, May 17

OUTDOOR FOOD & CONCESSIONS TENT
Shop for McMenamins souvenirs and pick up something to eat or drink before, during and after the day’s events.
9 a.m. ‘til 6 p.m. • Evans Street

SCREENING OF STAR DREAMS FOLLOWED BY A Q&A with FILMMAKER ROBERT NICHOL
Light refreshments will be available for purchase at the venue.
9:30 a.m. • McMinnville Community Center • $10 per person; tickets available online or at the door
(Or purchase a combination ticket for this screening and the forum on 5/16 for just $15)

UFO COSTUME PARADE
All are welcome to join this fun, rousing, rocking parade! Just gather your group together and register – it’s that simple.
1 p.m. • Third Street • Download and submit Registration and Release PDFs to participate

ALIEN PET COSTUME CONTEST
No one wants to leave Fluffy and Fido out of the fun. Dogs, cats, turtles, snakes… let’s see who wins the prize in ’08!
2 p.m. • U.S. Bank Plaza on Third Street ; registration sheets available at the event

A PERFORMANCE OF “THE THING” BY WILLAMETTE RADIO WORKSHOP
Don’t miss this wonderful “live theater” act in the style of ‘30s and ‘40s audio drama – truly fun and fascinating to watch, listen to and laugh with.
2 p.m. • Mattie’s Room at Hotel Oregon

LIVE MUSIC
Our perennial favorite is back to perform his selection of alien-inspired songs.
7 p.m. • Kirby Swatosh & The Moon Rock Patrol • Cellar Bar at Hotel Oregon • 21 & over

ALIEN COSTUME BALL • With music by Big Mama Gayle & Her Sugar Daddies

Join in the fun – costumes, conga lines, catcalls and more. You may just win a prize!
7 p.m. • Mattie’s Room at Hotel Oregon • 21 & over





*****



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 annual UFO Festival, now in its 9th year and the second-largest alien-related gathering in the nation! More than 5,000 visitors convened in downtown McMinnville for the 2007 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 www.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 (and counting!), the siblings are considered to be pioneers of the Pacific Northwest microbrew, historic hotels and music venue industries. Go to www.mcmenamins.com for additional information.

Hurricanes in Valley of the Dolls

I have two new items up at Mothman Flutterings. One is Hurricanes in the Valley of the Dolls, about a dream and hurricanes and Charles Manson and . . . Mothy tends to do that to you I'm beginning to realize.

The other is Andrew Colvin's (Mothman's Photographer II) newsletter; he grasciously allowed me to repost it at the blog.

Phoenix Lights Redux

Not a very imaginative title; I just like using "redux" and here's the opportunity. Anyway, I told myself I wouldn't comment on the return of the Phoenix lights, for the same reasons I told myself I wouldn't comment on the Stephenville lights. Everybody else is already commenting, and, I'm not there. I can only do armchair punditry. Though it can be said that punditry is just that; commenting on things just because you feel like it.

I haven't even read much about the new lights over Phoenix, just casual glances. Even with that, some things about this are interesting:

The timing. A month or six weeks or so after the "first" sighting years ago.

The expected responses that the lights are flares, military planes, lanterns -- anything but a true UFO.

Visitors from outer space. In other words, aliens.

The lights, if they are the same -- and how can anyone know? -- are interesting to be sure, if for no other reason than they have everyone very excited. (And for the jaded faux UFO "researchers" and snarly skeptics, bored.)

It's an interesting look into UFOlogy itself, the infrastructure in its responses to the lights, and the witnesses; then and now.

One thing to remember is that, like many areas (Montana, Utah, Colorado, just to name three) UFO sightings, strange lights in the sky, go back hundreds of years in some cases. Same with Phoenix. Ten years ago wasn't the first; things like that have been going on in that region for a very long time.

Regardless of what this new incident in Phoenix turns out to be, it does seem we're in a "flap" UFO wise, and have been for awhile now.

Richard Dolan on Fox Wed. April 23

Just received an e-mail from Karyn Dolan, who announces that Richard Dolan will be on Fox morning show tomorrow morning (April 23) on the "Mike and Juliet" show. Show is on 9:00 am EST. He's appearing with Dr. Lynne Kitei to discuss the reappearance of the Phoenix Lights.

Where Have I Been?

Sometimes I post every day, sometimes several times a day. Lately however I don't know where I've been. Around, just not here. And, for the first time ever, I missed a deadlne. Not only did I miss it, I forgot. Usually my Trickster's Realm column goes up on Monday, but not today. I . . . just . . . forgot.

I have been having fun with Mothman Flutterings. Also experiecing some strange things in relation to Mothman. Finished Colvin's Mothman's Photographer II and looking forward to his third volume, which should be out sometime this year, according to the blurb in his book.

Speaking of Tim Binnall (where Trickster's Realm appears) I'm listening to Adam Gorightly's interview with him right now. So far, great interview! I urge everyone to listen to it. I agree with Tim on his opinion that those who want to "clean up UFOlogy" need to knock it off.

And speaking of Adam Gorightly, there's a column in the current issue of Paranoia magazine written by Gorightly. It's all about Tuesday Weld and Hollywood and Druids. It's pretty fantastic; I wrote a little bit about it on Vintage U.F.O.

Greg Bishop: Whose Weirdness Is It Anyway?

Excellent article by Greg Bishop on Anomaly: Whose Weirdness Is It Anyway?

Mothman Flutterings

I have a new blog, this one's a Mothman blog. It was a good excuse to finally get around to playing a Wordpress blog. I like it okay; there are features about both that make it easy. Anyway, Mothman blog, called Mothman Flutterings.Here's the url:

http://orangeorb.net/blog/

Visitors

Visitors acrylic on masonite 30"x30"

I did this painting about fifteen years ago. I was painting a lot more back then than I am now (sadly.) I wasn't thinking of anything in particular,just did it, but I remember how I was feeling then; very spacey, . . . a lot going on UFO wise in my life and in the lives of those around me. It seemed that at the time, a lot of our friends, and family, were seeing UFOs, having UFO related experiences. It was a very strong UFO-y time.

I looked at the finished painting, saw that the images had a strong Native American feeling, and immediately thought "Visitors," as literally, visitors from the sky.

For a long time I had it up in our kitchen, which was painted a terrific color: royal blue. With a deep terra cotta trim. Sounds weird, but it was great. The painting looked good on that wall. . .

Mothy, Stop!

As they say, synchronicities begin to happen and they just keep happening, even though much of the time they don't mean much. Of course, the fact that they happen at all is enough; a reminder that we don't live in the tidy little universe where all is well and rational at all times after all. That, and a big dose of humor.

I've been having Mothman synchronicities, here's two more that happened last night: page 333, Colvin mentions Chica Bruce, who has been in my blogging news lately; Lesley wrote a piece on her at WOE, Adam Gorightly has interviewed her recently, and before all that, just a few days ago, I had stumbled upon her somewhere. Then I watched Unexplained last night, a segment on the Philadelphia Experiment and Carlos Allende. A couple hours later, reading Mothman's Photographer II and right away, there it is on page 362, Carlos Allende.

Around the Orb

Thin Skinned Skepticism
A new post at Snarly Skepticism. It's a repost from Jan. 2007 of my blog entry on my Daily Grail blog, which I rarely post to, but now and then I do. Truthfully, I forget I have that over there! Speaking of The Daily Grail, if you haven't already, be sure to check them out for great links as well as commentary.

Remote Viewing
My new Trickster's Realm piece for Binnall of America will be up sometime tomorrow. This week I write about the government's "non-involvement" with remote viewing. As always, be sure to visit the forum and read all the other great articles there. And don't forget that Tim Binnall does an amazing job interviewing some great people in the field; you can listen to the podcasts for free.

Beeping Weirdness
I'm working on something about the electronic beeping sounds many UFO and Bigfoot witnesses experience. I've had this experience myself. I'm not sure where I'll post it, UFO Digest or maybe my Bigfoot blog Frame 352. I'm almost finished with it; should be up later today.

Speaking of beeping Bigfoot and high strangeness, Joseph Capp has an interesting piece on a Colarado ranch:

High Strangeness on a Colorado Ranch
Capp writes about Skinwalker Ranch type high strangeness in The Other Skinwalker Ranch: Contact. Capp points out that the ranch was near a military base, and, there were personal connections with some family members and military. Something I've thought of as well; and as Andrew Colvin mentions, among others, there seems to be a faction of covert military ops manipulating paranormal forces around humans -- and at humans. Paranoid? Maybe. But you know what they say . . . No doubt there are all kinds of variations on this idea; ultra classified psy ops projects, what better place than to experiment, and test them out, than in remote places, like the deserts and isolated ranches?The fact that often these places have a history of paranormal acitivity going back hundreds of years supports the theory that military factions have tapped into this in some way. Who's going to believe the residents of a ranch, or some rural area, when they come out with these kinds of stories? No one has yet; no one that counts that is.

On WOE: Alexandra "Chica" Bruce
(I love that name!) Lesley has a new post up about Chica Bruce, esoteric authoress. Bruce is also interviewed by Adam Gorightly; take a look over there on WOE (Women Of Esoterica) for links.