The Gralien Report

They say that necessity is the mother of invention, but sometimes it seems that bizarre-looking science fiction ideals sometimes instill in the minds of engineers a desire to build foreign looking “space-age” aircraft, among other things. In keeping with man’s fascination with the classic saucer-shaped UFO design, Ananova reported today that China has designed and built a new flying saucer prototype, sporting a remote-controlled interface making it capable of hovering at up to 3200 feet:

New Chinese Flying Saucer Design

Designed by Harbin Smart Special Aerocraft Company, the craft (resembling an emergency flotation device with its cuddly, “rubber-ducky-like” yellow and red color scheme) was designed for aerial photography, geological surveys, controlling forest fires and creating emergency lighting for high-rise building rescues and other special operations.

This is merely one of two Chinese designs for conventional craft resembling UFOs which has been discussed in recent months on this blog. Click the link below to read about an earlier Chinese design, as well as a well-crafted American “flying bunt-pan”, that made recent news:

Home Grown Saucers: The Great Flying Bundt-pans of Tomorrow

When it comes to guessing about what might qualify for being called “paranormal Hollywood”, many things come to mind. For instance, the enigmatic phrase, “I warned him,” uttered by former “Joker” Jack Nicholson upon learning of Heath Ledger’s tragic and untimely death. Or maybe even the uber-eccentric weirdness commonly associated with guys like Tom Cruise and Gary Busey could qualify for being evidence that they’re actually aliens from another dimension. But when stewing over paranormal themes in Hollywood, I was a bit surprised to learn about Billy Bob Thornton’s ties to ghostly phenomenon.

Thornton, Hollywood’s reigning hillbilly king, is most often associated with his role in films like Monster’s Ball and Slingblade, or even his “ethereal ex” Angelina Jolie. Thornton is also known to be a good buddy of the legendy vampire and “King of the Country-Western Troubadors” Unknown Hinson. Of all these things that might be considered kinda spooky about the guy, I was still even more surprized to learn (partly due to his professed dislike for “old stuff”) that Thornton is living in a 1920s mansion that is purportedly haunted!  Read the rest of this entry »

Boy, it seems that there’s an awful lot going on in the news regarding UFOs lately! Just the other day, I ran into an older friend of mine, who told me it was strange how UFOs ”were big news back in the 1970s, but you don’t hear much about them today.”  I wanted to say, “what news have you been reading?” If anything, there is probably more UFO activity reported today than ever before in years past, and the readily accessible information, made available by a multitude of fine sources, has only conditioned us to being very used to their presence by now. They’re here to stay, and as you readers know, news about UFOs makes frequent appearances here at the Gralien Report.

This is why I am very proud to announce the next level of my own pursuit of the enduring UFO mystery: Nancy Birnes, editor-in-chief over at the very excellent and respected UFO Magazine, has given me a brand new column which we’ve decided to call Mirror Images. It will be featured in the print edition of the magazine, in addition to the blogs I’ve been writing for them over at their website for a while now. I invite everyone to drop by your local magazine and bookstores to it check out in months to come.

Also, I would like to give a VERY special thanks to my dear friend Lesley Gunter, as well as the indispensable Nancy and Bill Birnes. They, along with the rest of the UFO Magazine staff, work hard at making the most up-to-date UFO news available to us. They are certainly the leaders in the field, and without these folks, UFOs might never have reached the point of such massive appeal and fascination the public now has for them. 

With that said, here’s to the continued search for life elsewhere out there!

An interesting letter regarding the Edgar Mitchell “revelations” appeared recently over at the very talented Wm Michael Mott’s website, where he points out some interesting parallels between Mitchell’s past work and the timely release of the new X-Files movie in theatres today:

http://www.mottimorphic.com/Mitchell_1.html

I must admit that I was unaware of Mitchell’s association with the famous conspiracy program until recently myself, and although Mott references in his letter the same article from 1998 that I mentioned yesterday here at the Gralien Report, his interpretation of it nonetheless adds an interesting new set of possibilities to this growing media mess.

I think Michael would probably agree with me that the main reason this has gotten so much attention (in spite of those of us like Michael, you and I who are willing to look back a few years for the relevant details) has more to do with media sensationalism than anything.

Here’s to those “in the know”…

Two consecutive days in the news now.

That’s right; Dr. Edgar Mitchell’s revelation that aliens have been visiting Earth has sent a shock wave around the globe. Today the story has even been linked to popular news websites like The Drudge Report and of course, the Coast To Coast AM homepage. But it’s interesting to me that, not only had I heard these sorts of things first hand from Mitchell about two and a half years ago, but even as far back as a decade ago he had been discussing his views on UFO visitation in other outlets. Today’s article about the matter at The Daily Grail features a link to an interview that appeared in London’s The People Magazine where he said many similar things back in 1998:

http://www.dailygrail.com/news/the-astronaut-the-alien-and-the-hype

Amazingly, there are references to Mitchell floating about that liken him to being the astronaut who spent “one minute too long outside the capsule.” Let’s hope that as people begin to realize the weight of Mitchell’s assertions about UFOs, maybe he won’t continue to be viewed as NASA’s “odd man out.”

My friend Larry Lesh sent along to me this morning an interesting interview snippet from an Australian radio program called Kerrang Radio where former NASA astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell, sixth man to walk on the lunar surface, admitted to various interesting facts regarding the UFO phenomenon. Many hope the kinds of things Mitchell discussed during this interview may be a step in the right direction towards ultimate disclosure, as more and more individuals from positions in government continue to come forward with clandestine knowledge of this sort. Below is the link:

http://www.australia.to/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=207:et-&catid=1:latest

I had the fortune of interviewing Dr. Mitchell about three years ago with Joshua Warren on his Speaking of Strange radio program. Mitchell was just recovering from a surgery at the time, and though he sounded terribly winded and in need of rest, he was kind enough to join us for close to an hour and answer our questions. Never before, or since, have I participated in a more inspiring, fascinating, and even frightening interview with one individual.

Read the rest of this entry »

In a recent edition of his program, veteran television news commentator Larry King gave a riveting and well-done presentation of one of the lesser known aspects of Ufology, along with retired USAF personnel who had been directly involved with the matter over the last several decades. Joining them also was Robert Hastings, who has investigated UFOs and their appearances at weapons bases for years and author of the new book UFOs and Nukes, and together with King and his panel of former USAF employees, he discussed allegations of UFOs shutting down missiles and other weapons. The segment can be viewed in full by clicking the link below:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/07/20/lkl.ufo.long.cnn

“I can simply say after 35 years of research that these instances have taken place, there are hundreds of declassified documents which indicate that UFOs have demonstrated a distinct and ongoing interest in our nuclear weapons sites. I have also interviewed nearly one hundred gentlemen who were involved in these incidents at various Air Force bases. This is very widespread; what you’re seeing here this evening is the tip of the iceberg.” Read the rest of this entry »

I have various friends in Europe who follow Vampire lore, like the case of the infamous Highgate Vampire alleged to haunt Highgate Cemetery in North London. David Farrant of the British Psychic and Occult Society, who had remained for years at the heart of the investigation for years, has sent me numerous documents about this strange instance of possible vampirism over the years via mail.

But vampires in England aren’t any big surprise; vampires in other parts of Europe might be a bit more intriguing. Now there is new evidence that the legend of nighttime’s most notorious blood-suckers might have spread to other parts of the area.

The Sunday Herald reported today that “A 4000-YEAR-OLD “vampire” grave, believed to be the world’s first burial place for one of the presumed ‘undead’, has been discovered in eastern Europe. It bares spookily similar hallmarks to Celtic tombs in the British Isles designed to prevent bloodsucking ‘revenants’.”

You can read the entire article by clicking here. Does this indeed prove that evidence of belief in vampires extends as far back as the Bronze Age?

I recently got an email sent from Brad Steiger to his undisclosed list of fellow authors and other contacts and friends. In it, he describes his new piece in Phantom Stream Magazine, the first issue of which is available for download at the following link for a two week period:

http://www.mottimorphic.com/LostContLib/PHANTOM_STREAM_1_LTD.pdf

The magazine, presented by Walter Bosley and W. Michael Mott, features unique encounters of the ultra-dimensional variety. I read and really enjoyed Brad’s piece, as it has to do with a subject I am quite fond of: “time slip” phenomena. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too; and while you’re there, check out some of the other fine content that has been included, like the neat article written by Greg Bishop from over at UFO Mystic.

As I’m presently working on a book that deals with interdimensional entities myself, it will be nice to have a new magazine that is dedicated to this sort of thing. Enjoy!

Occasionally I like to post weird stories just for their Fortean quality. This one definitely qualifies:

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/07/17/6182866.html

With bizarre photo of lighting “fingerprint” on the doorbell!