tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post1451169656608728088..comments2024-03-22T02:17:52.141-07:00Comments on Bad UFOs: Skepticism, UFOs, and The Universe: More Time Wasted with National Geographic's "Chasing UFOs"Robert Sheafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15324537021429419111noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-23147549788678026992013-03-25T03:23:01.145-07:002013-03-25T03:23:01.145-07:00had the skeptics looked a little closer,a similar ...had the skeptics looked a little closer,a similar sighting,was seen and video taped in Krasnodar,Russia around 1990.If we could see what if anyone in the Russian press,government had to say about what was filmed ,maybe we can figure out what this really was.I thought it was a fuel dump the first time I saw it,it is not,at the very end of the full length video,for a split second can see part of what the real object looked like.I thought to myself,could it be a balloon with the payload below it,from a distance it could have the effect of a small object circling a larger object,in reality it is just swinging violently back and forth.I am a skeptic and believe most UFO sighting's are fakes, misidentified aircraft,etc but I want to know what the object was,I'm not content with it looks like this,so that's it.godscountryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00472363924837089539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-79071961599349773522013-03-20T10:35:33.147-07:002013-03-20T10:35:33.147-07:00The Salinda,Colorado video, being labeled as a spi... The Salinda,Colorado video, being labeled as a spider web,that's a comparison that just doesn't work for me.I would love to see a few experts weigh in on the video.I'm sorry,the whole story around the sighting,along with his father's statements just doesn't come off as anything other then a strange object they happen to see and photograph,not to say this is a alien spacecraft,but we should be able to come up with a better explanation then a spider web..I tried to replicate what they photographed with spider webs,it doesn't look like anything,with the movements,reflections that seem to have a pattern,noway is this a spider webgodscountryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00472363924837089539noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-58875385246819820452012-08-05T11:30:51.657-07:002012-08-05T11:30:51.657-07:00Zoam,
I got your point the first time. I wasn'...Zoam,<br /><br />I got your point the first time. I wasn't arguing that, I was just offering an interesting tidbit about Keel.Rossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-81460825079861184292012-08-04T12:24:52.935-07:002012-08-04T12:24:52.935-07:00Zoam, good point: "Keel was a writer, period....Zoam, good point: "Keel was a writer, period." Actually, right on the money. As I wrote in my book Psychic Vibrations (p. 201), "I had a nice long chat with John Keel (1930-2009) at the bar during the 1980 National UFO Conference in New York City. He freely admitted to me that he knew that approximately 99% of what he's writing is absolute codswallop. Randi came by to chat, too. He was an old friend of Keel."Robert Sheafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324537021429419111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-40742604972597030962012-08-04T12:07:22.209-07:002012-08-04T12:07:22.209-07:00|| Interestingly, John Keel referred to himself as...|| Interestingly, John Keel referred to himself as a "demonologist," and he objected vehemently to being called a "ufologist."||<br /><br />Probably because he knew the very idea of "UFOs" was utter nonsense; he wrote "The Man Who Invented Flying Saucers" after all. Keel was a writer, period. In one recounting of how he, Barker and Moseley cooked up the "mothman" nonsense, he began with a sentence to the effect, "Well, I had a contract to write a flying-saucer book...." That tells us quite a lot about Keel's attitude on the "UFO" non-issue and reveals--if it wasn't obvious--what has propelled "UFOs" since the first airship hoax in 1896. It's not element 115.<br /><br />The point was that the "quantum UFO" hypothesis is just as worthless as the "interdimensional UFO" hypothesis of the 1970s because it's not falsifiable, one of the hallmarks of pseudoscience. It explains nothing. Keel's "ultraterrestrials" (and every other excuse) are no better than invoking magic fairies or Easter Bunny as a meta-rationale for the lack of evidence of real "UFOs" of any kind.<br /><br />The "elusive companion" hypothesis is more of the same and just as worthless.zoamchomskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519698426338891542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-70729246358597190942012-07-28T17:46:17.236-07:002012-07-28T17:46:17.236-07:00After flirting with "occult" conceptions...After flirting with "occult" conceptions of the UFO phenomenon, Jerome Clark has returned to supporting the extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH).Rossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-77519550297028949922012-07-27T18:46:33.388-07:002012-07-27T18:46:33.388-07:00Interestingly, John Keel referred to himself as a ...Interestingly, John Keel referred to himself as a "demonologist," and he objected vehemently to being called a "ufologist."Rossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-32302668576221062502012-07-27T11:24:59.668-07:002012-07-27T11:24:59.668-07:00Posted elsewhere, but presented here since it refe...Posted elsewhere, but presented here since it references one of my favorites.<br /><br />Quantum Ufoolery: If there's one foolproof indicator of new-age nonsense it's the appeal to quantum mystery to explain a mundane "mystery" of human wishfulness and folly. All quantum quackery depends on that false analogy of imagination and the imprecision of language. Explaining the non-mystery of people making "UFO" reports--which is all we have--or belief in the "UFO" delusion doesn't require QM.<br /> <br />In the 1970s, after the predictable failure of the "UFO" hypothesis ("UFOs" exist), high-profile advocates of the "UFO" myth (Hynek, Vallee, Keel, Clark and others) proposed that the "saucers" had disappeared into an "alternate reality." To which Sheaffer said, [This] "'alternate reality' talk is not a promising new hypothesis. It is total intellectual abdication." The "quantum UFO" hypothesis is more of the same.<br /><br />An hypothesis in search of a non-phenomenon. "There never were any saucers."<br /><br />http://www.debunker.com/historical/SmithsonianUFOtalk.htmlzoamchomskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519698426338891542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-87992139218950385402012-07-24T11:10:14.945-07:002012-07-24T11:10:14.945-07:00Robert,
That is evidently the case. (On a side n...Robert,<br /><br />That is evidently the case. (On a side note, it was a pleasant surprise to find myself quoted alongside you in the recent LiveScience article by Natalie Walchover on the Laredo infrared "triangle UFO.") In any event, as I mentioned earlier, the ratio of footage shot-to-used was greater than 120-to-1. I have to be judicious even about what I decide to include in my behind-the-scenes science blog because there is so much material to potentially resurrect. In light of this reality, I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to review the show critically. Perhaps with time (and weighing critical feedback) it will be decided that future programming can afford the inclusion of additional scientifically-oriented content. <br /><br />Ross - you may have hit the nail on the head.<br /><br />(And yes, this is Ben. Apologies for failing to identify on this thread! For the curious, my blog science on the science behind the show can be found here: http://tvblogs.nationalgeographic.com/author/benmcgee/ )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-17360918690402084032012-07-24T11:09:31.245-07:002012-07-24T11:09:31.245-07:00Actually, UFO researcher Joel Carpenter has writte...Actually, UFO researcher Joel Carpenter has written a recent paper suggesting that Adamski's famous photo shows not a chicken brooder, but a propane camping lantern. The resemblance is pretty darn good.<br />Google "Joel Carpenter" adamskiRobert Sheafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324537021429419111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-28261653716814006572012-07-24T11:00:41.608-07:002012-07-24T11:00:41.608-07:00Great! Once again, we badly need a "like"...Great! Once again, we badly need a "like" button for these comments!Robert Sheafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324537021429419111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-62103448463120810832012-07-24T10:28:40.117-07:002012-07-24T10:28:40.117-07:00"We are looking to follow an existing team of..."We are looking to follow an existing team of Investigators," not even realizing that there is no such thing." They could follow around the "Chasing UFOs" team and show us the stuff that doesn't make the cut.Old Rockin Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-42185332558053918612012-07-24T10:25:24.249-07:002012-07-24T10:25:24.249-07:00They could do Billy Meier. Revisit George Adamski ...They could do Billy Meier. Revisit George Adamski (Why did chicken incubator manufacturers build in lamps with such a remarkable resemblance to spaceships from Venus, anyway?). How about getting John Edward to contact Heaven's Gate?Old Rockin' Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-27834697956930969232012-07-23T18:46:48.570-07:002012-07-23T18:46:48.570-07:00Why didn't it make the final cut? Surely it wa...Why didn't it make the final cut? Surely it wasn't irrelevant. Oh, I know, it was too much of a "buzzkill." The truth often is.Rossnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-61299830296513901422012-07-23T18:43:06.587-07:002012-07-23T18:43:06.587-07:00(The above comment is by Ben McGee.)
Interesting,...(The above comment is by Ben McGee.)<br /><br />Interesting, Ben. So the directors and editors apparently didn't want the public to hear about proposed solutions - only about mysteries!Robert Sheafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324537021429419111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-37253834446486193612012-07-23T15:57:54.468-07:002012-07-23T15:57:54.468-07:00For what it's worth, we were aware of and disc...For what it's worth, we were aware of and discussed the Navy's statement on the bounce-and-crash rocket video on camera at the very onset, prior to meeting Ted Lohman. The conversation, however, simply never made the final cut.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-83331903314880846782012-07-23T10:31:42.076-07:002012-07-23T10:31:42.076-07:00Yes, the idea of a clandestine effort to create al...Yes, the idea of a clandestine effort to create alien-bovine hybrids is curious. I have a few questions as well. Why carve up cows when the complete genomic sequence (one rather similar to humans) was published and made available to the public a few years ago? Don't these technologically superior, space-faring entities have an internet connection? For years we have heard accounts of hybrids, but who has one in hand for definitive genetic testing? Tall tales around the campfire are fun and maybe profitable, but without some hard evidence you will never get a conviction.Tyler Kokjohnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-67972387875148519122012-07-22T11:14:52.714-07:002012-07-22T11:14:52.714-07:00I'm curious too, Chuck. My question for all hi...I'm curious too, Chuck. My question for all high-profile advocates of the "UFO" myth and delusion: Do you really hold these bizarre, demonstrably false beliefs about the world (utterly destroyed by the Null and Psychosocial hypotheses, and the failure of the ETH, etc) or is it just an antiscientific contrarian act for attention and bit of cash?<br /><br />ufoolery is historyzoamchomskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519698426338891542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-32978212170585196292012-07-22T07:45:13.166-07:002012-07-22T07:45:13.166-07:00Well, they just added Jeff Willes. He has some qu...Well, they just added Jeff Willes. He has some questionable videos out there as well. It seems they are out there finding all sorts of people who have had questionable encounters and videos over the years and given them air time. That encourages others to create hoaxes so they can appear on "chasing UFOs"! Instead of encouraging UFO research, the program is now encouraging people to create elaborate hoaxes in the hope of appearing on National Geographic!Tim Printyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06115389684481839803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-60621962591060969882012-07-22T07:40:37.175-07:002012-07-22T07:40:37.175-07:00Peter Merlin had issues with producers having him ...Peter Merlin had issues with producers having him "plant" items (although his debris was authentic debris he recovered from a crash site) so they could find them for a show. I would not be shocked if the producers of the program arranged this as well. IMO, Fox and McGee probably would not stand for being part of something like this. However, Ryder seems to be the wild card and her behavior implies she is there for her "acting" abilities rather than substance. So she would be the best person to select for this sort of thing. It is no surprise that she "found" the button. If it went down this way, I am wondering if Fox/McGee did not suspect it or were they just ignorant of what transpired?Tim Printyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06115389684481839803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-86919726554138836512012-07-22T00:49:03.048-07:002012-07-22T00:49:03.048-07:00You're not "Anonymous," you're C...You're not "Anonymous," you're Chuck!<br /><br />Well, I assumed your children were young, maybe junior high school, and filled with kid-energy. But your children are adults (like mine), not young kids. Your lecture left me with a different impression. I have changed the text above, to reflect that fact.<br /><br />So tell me why, in your opinion, do you think that the aliens are (allegedly) abducting cattle, and slicing them up? Are they extremely interested in bovine anatomy and physiology, and if so, why? Or is there some genetic program to produce an alien/bovine hybrid? None of this seems to make sense!Robert Sheafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324537021429419111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-79809309575601113622012-07-21T22:12:16.367-07:002012-07-21T22:12:16.367-07:00Just an (fyi), both my sons were deployed to Iraqi...Just an (fyi), both my sons were deployed to Iraqi, one again to Afghanistan, and my daughter just turned 23. How’s that for being delightfully surreal.Chuck ZukowskiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-51055448691389374252012-07-21T20:22:10.241-07:002012-07-21T20:22:10.241-07:00We need a "like" button on these Blogs!We need a "like" button on these Blogs!Robert Sheafferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15324537021429419111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-58425670576661450512012-07-21T19:38:47.653-07:002012-07-21T19:38:47.653-07:00The show has featured fabulists Jeff "Two Van...The show has featured fabulists Jeff "Two Vans" Gonzalez and Stan Romanek already! How low can you go? Sheldon Nidle? Kay Wilson? Maybe the guy who shot two grays in an underground base?Terry the Censorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361088223337740598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8104600450225406597.post-33220794932710715612012-07-21T19:34:23.927-07:002012-07-21T19:34:23.927-07:00> Randle seems to suspect the button was plante...> Randle seems to suspect the button was planted.<br /><br />No qualifiers, Mr. Printy. Randle says: "It is quite clear that the button was planted out there by someone who didn’t understand military history, military operations, or the proper wear of the uniform."Terry the Censorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13361088223337740598noreply@blogger.com