UFO's, Ghosts and Monsters

[JimN]

Wow. You're making me an offer I can't refuse here...

LOL! We could get "Stan Lee" as a guest.

Jim

[zack kruse]

LOL! We could get "Stan Lee" as a guest.

Jim

Ah, good ol' Shtan. We could hear all about the old days a Mahvel and Mahten Goodman

[JimN]

Ah, good ol' Shtan. We could hear all about the old days a Mahvel and Mahten Goodman

Well-spelled!

[NiceAndBlue]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/ghost-hunters-enjoys-surprising-100-success-rate,19976/ 

[Kenney]

My (sorta) ghost story.

My mother let her friend move into our house when I was about 14, and my sister was 9. He was infected with HIV, and would eventually die from aids a few years later. Now, I'm a pretty skeptical guy, but this freaked me out.

After Zarak died, sometime later on the anniversary of his death (or his birthday, I forget which), my sister stood at the top of the steps and kept saying "Daddy's/He's here" and "Daddy's coming" (she obviously called him daddy). Now, this is what she always said when he was coming up from the basement from washing clothes or watching tv or whatever.

The thing that was creepy about is is my sister is mentally challenged, so she had no idea of the significance of the day, or her saying what she always used to say when he was around. And the fact that she stopped saying it after he passed, but only starting saying it again out of the blue on that specific day was a little unsettling.

Ultimately, I think it was all just a coincidence, but still...

[JimN]

My (sorta) ghost story.

My mother let her friend move into our house when I was about 14, and my sister was 9. He was infected with HIV, and would eventually die from aids a few years later. Now, I'm a pretty skeptical guy, but this freaked me out.

After Zarak died, sometime later on the anniversary of his death (or his birthday, I forget which), my sister stood at the top of the steps and kept saying "Daddy's/He's here" and "Daddy's coming" (she obviously called him daddy). Now, this is what she always said when he was coming up from the basement from washing clothes or watching tv or whatever.

The thing that was creepy about is is my sister is mentally challenged, so she had no idea of the significance of the day, or her saying what she always used to say when he was around. And the fact that she stopped saying it after he passed, but only starting saying it again out of the blue on that specific day was a little unsettling.

Ultimately, I think it was all just a coincidence, but still...

I can see how that might be a bit unsettling.

Thanks for sharing your story!

[JimN]

Hey, Zack!

This story about the old FBI memo we were discussing (and the origins of the crashed saucer story in the memo) will amuse you, although the title is slightly misleading:

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/13/fbis-vault-website-ufo-doc-most-likely-a-hoax/

I say the title is slightly misleading because the FBI memo itself is genuine but, as you suspected, the crashed saucer story it reports isn't ... I know, it's shocking.

Jim

[zack kruse]

Hey, Zack!

This story about the old FBI memo we were discussing (and the origins of the crashed saucer story in the memo) will amuse you, although the title is slightly misleading:

Slightly misleading, indeed... (grumble, rassafrassa headline writers, grumble, grumble)

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/04/13/fbis-vault-website-ufo-doc-most-likely-a-hoax/

I say the title is slightly misleading because the FBI memo itself is genuine but, as you suspected, the crashed saucer story it reports isn't ... I know, it's shocking.

Jim

It's better than I could have imagined! Not only a hoax, but an part of an overly elaborate scheme to con oil investors? That's hilariously awesome.

But, yeah, that is pretty much what I figured about the reasoning for the memo existing to begin with.

Thanks for the follow up on it!

[JimN]

Slightly misleading, indeed... (grumble, rassafrassa headline writers, grumble, grumble)


It's better than I could have imagined! Not only a hoax, but an part of an overly elaborate scheme to con oil investors? That's hilariously awesome.

But, yeah, that is pretty much what I figured about the reasoning for the memo existing to begin with.

Thanks for the follow up on it!

You're welcome. I was amused and I figured you would be too.

Jim

[ThePatheticClub]

What are some of the best books on UFOs and various unexplained phenomena? I'm looking for non-fiction written in a journalistic way.

[Jeppe]

What are some of the best books on UFOs and various unexplained phenomena? I'm looking for non-fiction written in a journalistic way.

Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World.

Philip Plait's Bad Astronomy.

Ben Radford's Tracking the Chupacabra.

Kendrick Frazier (ed.) The UFO Invasion.

James Randi's An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural. (also available here).

[ThePatheticClub]

Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World.

Philip Plait's Bad Astronomy.

Ben Radford's Tracking the Chupacabra.

Kendrick Frazier (ed.) The UFO Invasion.

James Randi's An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural. (also available here).

Most of these books seem to approach the subject in an effort to find confirmation bias. Am I wrong?

[Jeppe]

Most of these books seem to approach the subject in an effort to find confirmation bias. Am I wrong?

I'd put it this way. Those are some of the few serious non-fiction books you will find on the subject, and they are all worth reading. Sagan's Demon-Haunted World is perhaps more of a general introduction to skeptical thinking, but it is also one of the best general non-fiction books I have ever read.

[ThePatheticClub]

I'd put it this way. Those are some of the few serious non-fiction books you will find on the subject, and they are all worth reading. Sagan's Demon-Haunted World is perhaps more of a general introduction to skeptical thinking, but it is also one of the best general non-fiction books I have ever read.

Have you read Annie Jacobsen? Was thinking of picking up her books.

[zack kruse]

Ben Radford's Tracking the Chupacabra.

I've got that one waiting for me to dig into. I can't wait. I love Radford.

[JimN]

What are some of the best books on UFOs and various unexplained phenomena? I'm looking for non-fiction written in a journalistic way.

Try the recently released Fringe-ology by journalist Steve Volk. It may be exactly what you're seeking. I'm reading it now and it's excellent. It doesn't push either a skeptical or a "believer" agenda. In other words, it's interesting, well-researched and the author is perfectly comfortable saying "I don't know". It also covers a wide range of subject matter. I highly recommend it.

I'd put it this way. Those are some of the few serious non-fiction books you will find on the subject, and they are all worth reading. Sagan's Demon-Haunted World is perhaps more of a general introduction to skeptical thinking, but it is also one of the best general non-fiction books I have ever read.

I read it when it came out and thought it was lousy but I had Sagan issues at the time. I suppose I still do since I think he often, and irresponsibly, wrote in an authoritative voice about subjects he hadn't really researched at all. The man was an excellent thinker and a powerful advocate for science but when it came to the unexplained, he had trouble getting out of the way of his own biases. Maybe I'll give it another shot one of these days...

I think there are many serious non-fiction books about the unexplained. The problem is nearly all of them come with a bias or an agenda. It's understandable but frustrating. I think the best course of action for anyone interested in the subject is to seek out different points of view, take them all with a grain of salt and draw your own conclusions.

Most of these books seem to approach the subject in an effort to find confirmation bias. Am I wrong?

No, you're correct, although that doesn't mean they aren't worth reading. As I said, it's difficult to find books on UFOs and various unexplained phenomena that don't have a bias.

If you want to read more about UFOs in particular, I highly recommend Richard Dolan's UFOs and the National Security State: Chronology of a Coverup, 1941-1973. I haven't finished his follow-up to that book (which covers the period from '73-'91) so I can't really comment on it but the first volume is excellent.

Leslie Kean's recent UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record is supposed to be very good too. It's on my shelf but I haven't read it yet.

Regarding Annie Jacobsen: I've heard pretty mixed reviews of her latest. That's all I can tell you. I haven't read that one either.

I hope some of that's helpful!

Jim

[Jeppe]

Have you read Annie Jacobsen? Was thinking of picking up her books.

I haven't read her new Area 51 book, but I've heard some criticism of it, at least it's "implausible" and "hastily put together" UFO thesis (not my words, since I didn't read the book yet). It seems to be a pretty good if a little run-of-the-mill investigation of the military and historical aspects of Area 51, with an UFOlogical theory slapped at the end of the analysis to make sure the book reaches a wider audience.

[Jeppe]

I've got that one waiting for me to dig into. I can't wait. I love Radford.

Seriously, this is such a brilliant book! After reading it, I can't think that anyone would ever put the Chupacabra "phenomenon" into the unexplained category again (well, I can, but they shouldn't).

[ThePatheticClub]

Try the recently released Fringe-ology by journalist Steve Volk. It may be exactly what you're seeking. I'm reading it now and it's excellent. It doesn't push either a skeptical or a "believer" agenda. In other words, it's interesting, well-researched and the author is perfectly comfortable saying "I don't know". It also covers a wide range of subject matter. I highly recommend it.

That's what I'm looking for. Thanks.

[JimN]

I haven't read her new Area 51 book, but I've heard some criticism of it, at least it's "implausible" and "hastily put together" UFO thesis (not my words, since I didn't read the book yet). It seems to be a pretty good if a little run-of-the-mill investigation of the military and historical aspects of Area 51, with an UFOlogical theory slapped at the end of the analysis to make sure the book reaches a wider audience.

I've heard more or less the same take on the book.

That's what I'm looking for. Thanks.

You're welcome. I think you'll probably enjoy it. I'm certainly finding it a good read!

Jim