With His Head in the Stars: Obama’s Strange Spirituality

Apparently I’m also one of these individuals, though to be fair, my speculation on the matter extends no further than lighthearted humor. Nonetheless, it brings to mind a few aspects of Obama’s presidency thus far that have actually had to do with UFOs, and which could be examined in a somewhat more serious capacity than the notion of his residence on this planet as a law-abiding Earthling.

One of the earliest incidents that comes to mind took place during the 2008 presidential debates among Democratic candidates. When asked by the late Tim Russert whether he believed there was life beyond earth, Obama responded accordingly:

“I don’t presume to know. What I do know is that there is life here on earth, and that we’re not attending to life here on earth. We’re not taking care of kids who are alive and who are unfortunately not getting health care. We are not taking care of senior citizens who are alive and who are seeing their heating prices go up. So, as President those are the people that I will be attending to first.”

Based on this statement, Obama seems to make it pretty clear what his feelings toward UFOs and ufology are. Nonetheless, some have argued that this is not the case. For instance, while attending a lecture by Dr. Stephen Greer of the Disclosure Project a few months after Obama’s inauguration, I listened as Greer made claims that he and his team had already been to Washington, where the new President had been briefed about the UFO presence here on Earth. Greer implored those of us in the audience to assist in the disclosure effort by placing pressure on Washington through grassroots efforts, asking that the truth about UFOs be released during Obama’s tenure in office.

This reminds me of one particular question I am constantly asked, being an individual who takes a skeptical approach to both the study of the unexplained, as well as the study of politics. Often during interviews, I’m asked, much like Greer and others, whether I feel UFO disclosure will ultimately occur during Obama’s Presidency. I always respond with something like, “I should hope not, considering the other important issues at hand, such as the failing economy which continues to spiral toward a full-blown depression.” Add to this the new evidence (courtesy of the somewhat radical and hasty WikiLeaks organization) that suggests Pakistan may have groups working in collusion with the Taliban in Afghanistan, and it’s clear that Mr. President has plenty on his plate already. Besides, I’d argue that the almighty “disclosure” we’re waiting on here in the U.S. has been occurring gradually for decades already. By visiting this link, you can view not only UFO documents from various places around the globe, but a variety of documents already released here in the States by agencies including NASA, the FBI, the US Navy, the US Defense Department, the CIA and the National Security Agency, having been declassified and existing now in the public domain. This just goes to show that good things, it seems, always come to those who are willing to wait.

But something else this reveals is that while many people adhere to the notion of “conspiracy theories” (or worse, serious researchers are branded as conspiracy theorists), when obvious facts exist already, you can often circumvent having to call what you’re delivering a “theory” in the first place. During an interview I did last night with Nick Redfern and Raven Meindel on their program “Exploring All Realms,” I joked that Redfern and I, in spite of our mutual examinations of government cover-ups and the like, probably don’t fit well under the title of “conspiracy theorists” either. My reasoning for this, as outlined somewhat above, is simple: when you’re armed with facts (and facts stemming from government files, no less), what you’re describing is hardly a theory: if presented correctly and accurately, it becomes history instead. Perhaps “conspiracy historian” is the new term that should be applied to the research of Jim Marrs, Nick Redfern, and other guys like ourselves who spend our days reading and researching, and our nights digging through the facts we uncover to write about the stranger truths this world has to offer us.

Sadly, the notion that President Obama will be revealed someday to have been an alien from outer space probably isn’t one of these truths. Still, things could always be stranger; when compared with some of the weird stuff I’ve heard about, studied, and witnessed over the years, it might not be too hard to believe after all!

Image by Steve Jurvetson via Flickr.

Erik at the Contact website recently did an interesting piece on how polarization that stems from a “memetic” mindset (building on the popular notion of the “meme” first proposed by Richard Dawkins in the 1970s) may actually affect the message of those who it seeks to reach. “There is nothing inherently wrong with a memetic mindset unless the mindset is one of division, polarity or a superiority complex in nature,” he argues, pointing to how this notion of polarization, plainly visible in politics, science, religion, and even the study of unusual phenomena, leads to an unhealthy divide that ousts and ostracizes the rational skeptic, who gets lost in a quagmire somewhere between the extremes.

Their are two major infectious memes plaguing the Paranormal Community today and they are easily recognized as the two camps known as the True Believers and the Debunkers leaving the precious few Skeptics scattered haphazardly and thinly throughout the middle somewhere.

Along with Erik’s ideas, Rick Stokes at The Anomalist added today that, “When zeal, memetic mindsets, hubris, and fervor overcome an individual by those gifted in persuasion, yet without true knowledge, we allow the harm of their polarity to affect us.” Have you ever felt that the messages conveyed under certain circumstances, whether by believer or debunker, left or right, spiritualist or agnostic, etc, is inherently flawed by virtue of its extremity? How often can people effectively juxtapose differing perspectives to compare and effectively analyze, giving the overall argument some kind of solid merit?

The document and its content, which have riddled scholars for centuries, depicts a variety of flora and fauna, as well as many strange cultural elements and various symbolism that have been associated with everything from early attempts at botany and the study of natural herbs and remedies, to medieval magic and alchemical studies. As has been the case with many documents from this its presumed era, a handful of scholars have gone so far as to offer the somewhat blase’ theory that it was penned by a young Leonardo Davinci.

The new studies, as reported by Fortean Times, represent what are perhaps some of the closest observations performed on the manuscript since previous carbon-14 testing performed at the University of Arizona, which dated it to the early 1400s.

Voynich Under the Microscope

Although this date range is one in which carbon dating is particularly accurate, lending to a 95% accuracy rate, the presence of things like a Zodiac within the document, which indicates it was penned sometime during or after the 12th century, provide other clues to its origins (To view several detailed image scans of the Voynich document, click here). Now, based on information provided in a new documentary, recent forensic analysis is being credited with helping unlock at least a few of the strange document’s mysteries; with this new data, will new mysteries also begin to surface?

A new documentary produced by the European ORF company, whose website states they specialize in “factual programs on topics such as current affairs, sociological topics, science, arts, (and) religion,” has done the most recent presentation on the Voynich Manuscript. In it, however, are some concerning elements, as pointed out by Fortean Times blogger Barbara Barrett:

For example, in one corner of one fold-out page – a page filled with marvellous witches’ hats and Persian domed towers and bridges among other wonders – sits a tiny castle (right) with swallowtail merlons (a style of battlement crenell­ation). On that detail alone, the ORF documentary (in agreement with Voynich­ologists, who originated the idea) declared that the manuscript probably originated in northern Italy where such merlons are common. However, this ignores the fact that they are also common in Sicily in the same era, as well as in 14th-century Russia.

Will any new analysis, particularly that of the forensic variety, indeed provide new details about the origins of this strange manuscript, or will its authenticity–much like the Shroud of Turin–continue to be debated for years to come?

With a vast and involved history having to do with research of the unexplained, we are fortunate to also receive some clarification from the retired Colonel regarding allegations made in The Men Who Stare At Goats, many of which he says were outright fabricated to fit a Hollywood screenplay.

Referring to the book the film was based on, Alexander states “While listed as nonfiction, the facts were extrapolated almost beyond recognition.” He tells in a review of the film appearing at the Films in Review website that, “With support of senior leadership, we were consciously pushing the envelope. It should be noted that all of the explorations undertaken were done based on solid rationale.” There were, however, a few allegations made in the film which don’t appear to have met this “solid rationale” that Alexander mandates, to which he emphatically states there was no participation, or even basis of reality to confirm these activities. Chief among these, regarding the use of LSD in government mind-science programs that involved remote-viewing and the like, he says “not only NO, BUT HELL NO.”

Among the projects for which he says there is a fact basis are hamster and goat-staring, “Jedi” projects, spoon bending (Alexander says this was taught to hundreds), cloud busting, computer crashing, fire walking, and many other activities. Strangely (or not), the practice of running into walls–perhaps one of the more mundane activities portrayed in the film–was never attempted.

For instance, today marks the day Dr. Stephen Greer will present a lecture to students and the general public at a University in Asheville, North Carolina, which is much anticipated here in my community. With all the whispers making the rounds about various political figures and their involvement with “911 Truth” websites, I find particular interest in the notion that Greer’s lecture happened to be scheduled for this weekend, and can’t help but wonder if he’ll have any insights regarding the most terrible American tragedy. According to some, UFO documents aren’t the only information being withheld by intelligence agencies, and regardless of one’s personal perspectives of the matter, the notion that some seek “disclosure” applies to a web of silence and misdirection that extends far beyond aliens and UFOs; if anything, they are only one piece of the puzzle.

Enough time seems to have passed by now… people have learned to breathe again. Nonetheless, a Post-911 America–as some call it–is certainly a different world from what it may have been had the terrorist attacks never occurred. This, we all wish, seems to be the general consensus: that it all could have been prevented. History, however, can’t be changed… it can only be re-written. In spite of the tragedy, are there still a few ways we are better for it? Does our heightened awareness of the dangers we face prevent us somewhat of becoming apathetic to legitimate concerns? It seems so; post 9-11 America has seen the publication of books like my pal Bill Forstchen’s One Second After, and although Bill’s book is fiction, it nonetheless serves as a grim reminder of what pure chaos might feel like.

For a few days back in 2001, I think most of us had a brief taste of it.

More synchronicity: today I received Nick Redfern’s new book Science Fiction Secrets from Patrick Huyghe at Anomalist Books. In a chapter simply titled 9-11, Redfern describes how an offshoot of the popular X-Files program called The Lone Gunmen featured in its first televised episode a strangely familiar scenario: a hacker managed to take control of a Boeing 727 from its departure point in Boston, directing it straight for one of the Twin Towers. The show outlined the reason for the attacks as being intended to increase the US military defense budget by blaming the attack on foreign dictators. Indeed, this does sound strange, right down to the similarities between conspiratorial views of the 9-11 disaster; strangely, The Lone Gunmen episode aired six months prior to the September 11 2001 attacks.

“I woke up on September 11 and saw it on TV and the first thing I thought of was The Lone Gunmen” said one of the show’s executive producers, Frank Spotnitz. Many others have drawn the same parallel, causing us to consider if this indeed was strange synchronicity, life imitating art, or something far more serious?

Fitting that brother Redfern’s book arrived today of all days; it serves as a fitting reminder, and readers might be able to discern that I’m a bit reflective now, especially from my apparent wrambling on the subject (”w” is intentional in this misspelling, as it denotes written rambling).

I can’t imagine a better time to be reminded of something we should never forget.

China and Russia have both spoken out in the past regarding the removal of the US dollar from its place as the international standard monetary unit. However, the report suggests proposals that would encourage such surplus nations to stimulate their economies and cut their own imbalances; the present system has deficit nations such as the UK and US taking the main burden of readjustment.

Back in 1984 (a pivotal year of dark significance for Orwellian scholars), Iowa statesman and American political activist Donald Kimball wrote in his book The Money and the Power that “The real money of mankind has come to have certain true qualities. Those are that any money that will have any lasting worth to man’s economic existence must have the three essential qualities that are a store of value, a standard of measure and a medium of exchange. When money does not have, or ceases to retain, those three qualities it will no longer serve its true purpose.” Kimball warned that, with time, “the pure purpose of money became distorted.” As opposed being a unit of currency with precious metals in reserve to back its actual worth, a flippant fiat system was put in place, allowing the mass production of currency as needed, with no actual worth behind it. Remaining a deficit nation, all the while shouldering the financial burden for so many countries that are fiscally considered “surplus nations”, has cause the US to take the brunt of the economic discourse that has led to the worst global economic crisis in ages… and it only seems to be getting worse.

Nonetheless, modern conspiracy theorists may read this headline and suppose that measures to shift global currency standards are another step toward the ultimate goal: establishment of a one-world-government. Is there a vast international conspiracy at work here, or is the faltering American dollar’s present state a product of its use (or misuse) over the last several decades? What do you think?

In reality, less than two decades after the publication of Stevenson’s novella, a real Mr. Hyde–Dr. Bennett Clark Hyde–began using tools of his profession as a doctor to cause the premature deaths of those in the family he had married into. Hyde had eloped with young Frances Swope, whose uncle was Kansas City millionaire Col. Thomas Swope. Trusting their gut, the Swope family had strongly opposed the marriage, believing that Hyde only wanted to marry into money. Had they only known to what extremes the mad doctor would go, extremes that included murder by bleeding and poisoning, he might have been shot before he walked down the aisle.

Crime historian Dan Norder has written an interesting history of the real Mr. Hyde, which can be read by following the link below:

The Strange But True Case of Dr Hyde: Poisoner

Gibbs is already being criticized by folks posting in comment forums on a variety of websites carrying this video, mostly due to the fact that he appears to be “snickering” as the caller poses his question. However, it seems that, when addressing politicians about this sort of thing, Gibbs’ handling of the question was far better than what we’ve seen in the past, even from Obama, who has been asked similar questions on a few occasions. For instance, recalling the late October 2008 Democratic debates we are reminded that Obama was asked by the late Tim Russert if he believed in intelligent life elsewhere in the Universe. Obama quickly dodged the question, using the opportunity to instead reflect his concern for “life here on Earth.” In addition to a wry grin similar to that displayed by Gibbs in the video above, I remember detecting a slight air of criticism in his voice as I watched that evening, likely at the notion that the commentators would use time given for debate to discus aliens and UFOs instead.

Indeed, when discussing politics, if you throw in questions about UFOs or other strange phenomena it’s unlikely at best to assume that you’ll end up sparking a debate that leads to any great revelation. After all, most people in positions of authority strive to protect their public image, and if indeed UFOs are of any interest to the Obama administration, they likely won’t be planning to go public with such info any time soon. Therefore, Gibbs’ approach, in which he says “Ryan, I take your question seriously, not simply because of the topic, but also because if you’re calling from Seattle and it’s a little after seven here, it’s a little after four in the morning there,” seems legitimate, in that he attempts to express that he is of a mind to take the subject seriously. Though he then admits that “I haven’t talked to the President about this topic,” this doesn’t necessarily indicate that he’s dismissing the caller; with all the concern over Health Care, the recession, threats from countries like North Korea, and other subjects the media bombards Gibbs with daily as White House Press Spokesperson, it is indeed likely that he and President Obama haven’t discussed UFOs.

Nonetheless, let’s hope at some point that they do find time to chat about this; like everyone else, I’ll admit that I’d find it interesting to see what Gibbs (or Obama, for that matter) would have to say about the matter under better circumstances.

OneNewsNow discussed the dangers of human-animal hybridization with Dr. David Prentice of the Family Research Council, who warns that he expects there will be many who will fight against the bill. ”There are already scientists who are planning and starting experiments to combine human and animal hybrid embryos for experiment,” he says. The proposed bill will not affect use of animals or humans in legitimate research, “but would ban creation in the laboratory of part-human, part-animal creatures that would blur the line between the species.”

Hollywood films ranging from Planet of the Apes to Star Wars have somewhat helped condition humans to the idea of what co-existence with human-animal hybrids might be like. Historically, in addition to studies performed by the Soviets in the early part of the twentieth century, as I noted in my post from last year titled Humanzees and Hybrids: Science or Monkey Business, “similar reports have been uncovered having to do with facilities in Italy during wartime, as well as in China in the 1960s. One compelling case allegedly took place in the United States in the 1920s, as reported by University at Albany psychologist Gordon Gallup who told of a human-chimp hybrid that “was successfully engendered and born at the old Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Orange Park, Florida in the 1920s”, and “destroyed” afterward by participating scientists. Another interesting report featured in issue 44 of National Vanguard magazine in 1976 described a “man of sorts” who some claimed was also a ape-human hybrid. “Bassou”, as he was called, ”lives in the Valley of Dades, near the town of Skoura, in Morocco. He sleeps in the trees there and subsists on dates, berries, and insects. He wears no clothes, uses no tools, and speaks only in grunts.”

Perhaps hybrids have already existed… if this is the case, it also begs the question: would enacting legal measures really conclusively prevent such things from occurring again?

Now Bassett claims that wielding such evidence may bring UFO disclosure to the forefront of American (and global) politics. This weekend, he issued some remarkably bold statements while CNN’s cameras rolled, telling the audience “This is not a threat,” then joking that “you don’t threaten the United States government, they’re heavily armed.”

However, next he issued an ultimatum: “If disclosure has not taken place (by the end of May 2009), PRG has… a substantial network and quite a bit of documentary evidence connected to (UFOs); particularly politically, particularly to the Rockefeller initiative and the Clinton Administration, and we’re going to be extensively putting that out to the media. It’s going to make this is as difficult on them as possible.” Below is the direct link to Bassett’s statements from above:

Bassett’s Ultimatum

Expopolitics, in the sense that Bassett and others might consider it, isn’t described all-too-often on this blog, though I must admit that serious pushing for disclosure of anything UFO-related in such a way may (politically) be one of the most viable modern means of representing the field of Ufology. It seems that if headway is to be made, perhaps the issues must be required to extend beyond the demographic of fringe publications (like this one) and into the minds of the mainstream media of today.

Could such political activism result in that “ultimate disclosure” thing we’ve been waiting so long for?