Prime Time Replay:
Christopher O'Brien
on sightings in the San Luis Valley
MsgId: *high_strangeness(9)
Date: Tue May 6 20:25:43 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.66
Hello! Our guest tonight is Chris O'Brien, author of The Mysterious Valley, which is entering its 3rd printing, as I understand. Are you there, Chris?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(10)
Date: Tue May 6 20:30:03 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.66
The mysterious valley is the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado, where all sorts of strange things are alleged to be happening. What kinds of things, specifically, Chris?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(11)
Date: Tue May 6 20:32:58 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.66
Electromagnetic failures? America Off Line? Who knows what gremlins lurk when one is dying on stage solo?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(12)
Date: Tue May 6 20:36:42 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.66
maybe we can add disappearing authors to the list of anomalies. Are you there, Chris?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(13)
Date: Tue May 6 20:38:35 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.66
OK, we're going to hang up and see if we can't reach Chris by snail phone. I'll be right back!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(14)
Date: Tue May 6 20:48:28 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
We're back. Chris should be here in a second.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(15)
Date: Tue May 6 20:52:16 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
I don't *think* he's been abducted. Chris?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(16)
Date: Tue May 6 20:58:07 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
For those who haven't read it, The Mysterious Valley recounts a number of strange occurrences n and over the San Luis Valley, reportedly the world's largest alpine valley. These incidents include animal mutilations, black helicopters, and of course unusual lights. Chris has also spent some time recently in Arizona investigating UFO cases there, which I was also hoping to ask him about. Are you here yet, Chris?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(17)
Date: Tue May 6 21:01:26 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
We'll wait a few more minutes to see if Chris shows up. If he doesn't, maybe we can reschedule him for, when would it be, May 20? I know I'd like to hear what he has to say if we can make contact.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(18)
Date: Tue May 6 21:05:22 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.158.98.85
Do you realize that your time synch is way out of whack!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(19)
Date: Tue May 6 21:06:16 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.158.98.85
It is 9:35 in the CST
MsgId: *high_strangeness(20)
Date: Tue May 6 21:06:16 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
HELLO: He made it!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(21)
Date: Tue May 6 21:06:43 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
Sorry, folks. Looks like it's not going to happen, for whatever reason(s). My apologies. We'll try to get Chris on later in the month.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(22)
Date: Tue May 6 21:07:38 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
He made it:
MsgId: *high_strangeness(23)
Date: Tue May 6 21:08:14 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
He made it:
MsgId: *high_strangeness(24)
Date: Tue May 6 21:08:35 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
Hi, Chris! What else is out of whack? Seemingly the whole San Luis Valley. Could you give us a brief run down?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(25)
Date: Tue May 6 21:08:55 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
Sorry folks for the delay!!!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(26)
Date: Tue May 6 21:09:15 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
Sorry folks for the delay!!!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(27)
Date: Tue May 6 21:12:01 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
Thanks! We can go on awhile if you're game. After you hit Pause for typing, wait for the box to redraw or you'll repeat yourself.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(28)
Date: Tue May 6 21:17:48 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
Sorry again, had am exe error message and had to re-boot
MsgId: *high_strangeness(29)
Date: Tue May 6 21:18:51 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
Chris, are you still with us? If so, maybe we could go to the most recent events in Arizona, those of widespread UFO sightings. What did you find out in your investigation?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(30)
Date: Tue May 6 21:18:56 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
Yes, I'm here and things have really started popping again around here
MsgId: *high_strangeness(31)
Date: Tue May 6 21:20:17 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
What kinds of things? You'll have to elaborate.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(32)
Date: Tue May 6 21:21:40 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
AZ is in good hands w/ Bill Hamilton and Tom King. We've had a whole slew of mutes here in the SLV.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(33)
Date: Tue May 6 21:24:25 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
We've had two official cases in the past week w/ at least 4 others that are not being reported
MsgId: *high_strangeness(34)
Date: Tue May 6 21:24:52 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
In what numbers & how recently? Are tissue samples being analyzed?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(35)
Date: Tue May 6 21:27:23 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
I'm happy to say that 4, count 'em, 4 different labs will be analyzing tissue samples. Could be the first single case that this has happened!!!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(36)
Date: Tue May 6 21:28:15 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
When you say 'official' I'm assuming that means they were reported to local law enforcement. What about the other four? How do you hear about them, through a local network?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(37)
Date: Tue May 6 21:30:40 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
Ranchers know about these cases immediately. They all talk w/ each other when this happens. They tell me. I go t2 them and hope they'll let me investigate their case
MsgId: *high_strangeness(38)
Date: Tue May 6 21:32:05 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
What do you think is at work here, and why?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(39)
Date: Tue May 6 21:33:37 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
There have been several Northern New Mexico cases this early spring, which may mean we'll see more than a few cases this spring
MsgId: *high_strangeness(40)
Date: Tue May 6 21:36:17 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
I'm the last person U should ask. I'm pretty confused about the whole phenomenon. It's multiple groups involved in multiple agendas. That's my best guess
MsgId: *high_strangeness(41)
Date: Tue May 6 21:37:44 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
The reasons are probably way beyond any of the current popular theories. I think we are ALL off the mark.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(42)
Date: Tue May 6 21:39:16 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
So what makes the San Luis Valley such a popular playground for this sort of thing?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(43)
Date: Tue May 6 21:43:40 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
We are radar invisible under 18,000 feet
MsgId: *high_strangeness(44)
Date: Tue May 6 21:44:52 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
The SLV is a perfect bio-regional petri-dish. Few folks and alot of room.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(45)
Date: Tue May 6 21:45:49 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
There is no measurable pollution either
MsgId: *high_strangeness(46)
Date: Tue May 6 21:47:14 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
One last question and we can turn this over to the night owls on the east coast. Was I correct in my earlier remarks that The Mysterious Valley was about to undergo its third printing? If so, what do you think explains its popularity? Is there a 'sequel' in the works?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(47)
Date: Tue May 6 21:49:28 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
This wonderful; place has quite a history of the unusual and unexplained. The documented history alone is pretty unbelievable. Only a few investigators (before I came along) really knew alot about the SLV. People like Tom Adams and David Perkins could tell you some stories!!!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(48)
Date: Tue May 6 21:53:27 PDT 1997
From: Dennis At: 206.127.4.145
Chris, I want to thank you for taking the time to talk to us. I enjoyed your book, especially the rules for investigation of anomalies you enumerated. Thanks again for talking to us! Good night!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(49)
Date: Tue May 6 21:54:25 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Sharon, Pam, you here? Shall we do our thing? /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(50)
Date: Tue May 6 21:54:58 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
In just a few minutes, we'll be talking with Pam Weintraub and Rob Killhofer about Project Open Book, so stick around.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(51)
Date: Tue May 6 21:56:29 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Hey, Rob, Pam.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(52)
Date: Tue May 6 21:56:54 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
TMV IS in it's third-printing. I dunno, maybe because I haven't figured it out and am not running around trying to find the data to suport a pet conclusion. I'm REALLY trying not to jump in any particular direction. I've let the SLV witness and the history of this place do the talking. Like, stay out of the way! TMV is really going to be 3 books. I'm working on part ywo, Saucer Full of Secrets. It will cover all the other things not covered in the first book. Treasure Legends, Haunted Houses, Religious Miracles, Notorious Charactors, more cypto-creatures, spook lights, the list is almost ENDLESS! Thanks for having me I apologize to U and everyone for the hassles tonight, and hope U'll have me back Dennis. I think I've got y
MsgId: *high_strangeness(53)
Date: Tue May 6 21:57:08 PDT 1997
From: christopher At: 166.93.48.132
TMV IS in it's third-printing. I dunno, maybe because I haven't figured it out and am not running around trying to find the data to suport a pet conclusion. I'm REALLY trying not to jump in any particular direction. I've let the SLV witness and the history of this place do the talking. Like, stay out of the way! TMV is really going to be 3 books. I'm working on part ywo, Saucer Full of Secrets. It will cover all the other things not covered in the first book. Treasure Legends, Haunted Houses, Religious Miracles, Notorious Charactors, more cypto-creatures, spook lights, the list is almost ENDLESS! Thanks for having me I apologize to U and everyone for the hassles tonight, and hope U'll have me back Dennis. I think I've got it!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(54)
Date: Tue May 6 21:57:15 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.158.98.85
One more under achieving Omni drivel chat. The one consistent thing about your chats is how often they fall short of the mark. Boo hiss Omni!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(55)
Date: Tue May 6 21:57:57 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Hi, Sharon. I don't see word from Pam ... yet. Or maybe she stepped AFK when she saw that Dennis' chat was running over. Why don't we just start without her? /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(56)
Date: Tue May 6 21:58:33 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Why don't I jump in. Project Blue Book was the Air Force's public UFO investigative agency from the late 1940's to the end of 1969. What is the origin of Project Open Book?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(57)
Date: Tue May 6 21:59:14 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 168.100.204.58
Hi, Sharon, I'm here. Is the interview done? PW
MsgId: *high_strangeness(58)
Date: Tue May 6 22:01:25 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Hi, Pam. We've just started ours -- Dennis' show ran over. Why don't you field that first question, since you were in charge of things when Project Open Book was begun. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(59)
Date: Tue May 6 22:05:36 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 168.100.200.182
This is Peter Leftwich, from Cloud 9 Internet. Is Pamela Weintraub herein?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(60)
Date: Tue May 6 22:05:43 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Um ... is anyone there? /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(61)
Date: Tue May 6 22:06:55 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Pam should be here -- she was a moment ago. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(62)
Date: Tue May 6 22:07:31 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Let's try this one. In the last few years, the popularity of aliens has surged with media offerings such as INDEPENDENCE DAY, X FILES, SIGHTINGS and numerous others. How come? Why now? Where does OMNI and Project Open Book fit into the scheme of things?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(63)
Date: Tue May 6 22:08:45 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 168.100.200.182
ZSharon, Don't forget "Alien Autopsy" hosted by WIlliam Frakes, popular from the show "Star Trek Next Generation."
MsgId: *high_strangeness(64)
Date: Tue May 6 22:10:14 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
Hi, am here now!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(65)
Date: Tue May 6 22:10:18 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Sharon, I don't know if Pam's still on. I'll try to start this thing off ... I wasn't at the magazine when Project Open Book was started, but I can say that it was our attempt to encourage and empower a kind of grass-roots UFO research program. We wanted to pick up where the Air Force had left off, drawing on the reports of first-hand witnesses and independent researchers. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(66)
Date: Tue May 6 22:10:52 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
ALIEN AUTOPSY -- yes. So what's with the popularity of UFO's and ET's? Is it the millenium thing?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(67)
Date: Tue May 6 22:12:12 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
As for the seemingly sudden popularity (and ubiquity) of aliens etc., I don't think it's really so surprising. The interest in UFOs etc. has been growing steadily since the 1970s, with plenty of large-scale cultural milestones along the way (e.g. Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Communion, etc.). It's just reached a kind of critical mass in the last few years. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(68)
Date: Tue May 6 22:12:24 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
It was our hope to investigate many of the claims that were coming in. There were so many outrageous claims, and at the same time, quite a bit of mystery. We were able to bring a measure of skepticism to bear on the matter, though a lot of people didn't like that.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(69)
Date: Tue May 6 22:12:25 PDT 1997
From: SweetPete At: 168.100.200.182
Rob, do you see XFiles as more of a horror TV show or simply entertainment, and action?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(70)
Date: Tue May 6 22:15:36 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Pam -- how has the investigations of OMNI changed the "credibility" of sightings and other phenomena?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(71)
Date: Tue May 6 22:16:12 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
The X-Files represent a masterful work of television entertainment incorporating many of the modern myths and perceived mysteries of our time.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(72)
Date: Tue May 6 22:16:14 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Pete: I don't think The X-Files is really an action TV show, but I do see it as part of a continuum from shows like The Twilight Zone and Kolchak: The Night Stalker, horror shows that liked the dabble in the "what ifs" and maybes of contemporary mythology. And that leads back in to Sharon's question: I don't know that the alien/UFO interest has anything to do with the "millennium thing" -- I'm not sure I really think there is a millennium thing -- but there are some very interesting parallels between tales of alien visitation, abduction, etc., and more ancient myths of angels and little folk, faeries and incubi. They're certainly related. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(73)
Date: Tue May 6 22:18:03 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 141.110.6.102
Anyone know anything about the men in black?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(74)
Date: Tue May 6 22:18:43 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
And, to follow up on what Pam said above, I think it's important to point out OMNI's skeptical approach: to many people, the mere willingness to investigate questions such as UFOs, the Loch Ness monster, near death experiences, and the like automatically made us seem a little flaky, but we were always careful to approach the subject(s) with the same brand of scientific skepticism that we brought to any other topic. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(75)
Date: Tue May 6 22:20:13 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Guest: what do you want to know about them? /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(76)
Date: Tue May 6 22:21:04 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
The alien concept is, perhaps, more believable as a religion these days than religions born of previous eras. To a certain degree, the alien hypotheses represents a metaphysics for our time. The symbolism and the message here can be powerful and compelling.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(77)
Date: Tue May 6 22:23:35 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 141.110.6.102
What's your theory about them and what's the story?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(78)
Date: Tue May 6 22:24:47 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
The question that comes to my mind about the obvious parallels between UFOs, aliens, and abductions and angels, demons, and elves is to what extent these reports stem from the same subjective experiences, interpreted in the cultural idiom of the experiencer. Medieval people used one language to describe their experience, and we today use another. The real question is: what experience lies behind all these stories? /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(79)
Date: Tue May 6 22:25:33 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Rob and Pam -- you both talk about UFO's and such from a metaphysical point of view. Many of those reporting in Project Open Book are taking a more literal look. Where do these two ways of viewing phenomena meet?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(80)
Date: Tue May 6 22:26:38 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
In all of the time we have investigated the UFO mystery, we have never found proof of an alien presence on Earth. This does not mean there's no intelligent life out there. One would have to be a fool, IMO, to believe that we are totally alone in the vastness of the Cosmos. Have we had visitors? There has been no proof tangible or solid enough to meet scientific standards.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(81)
Date: Tue May 6 22:28:55 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
As a way of acknowledging the comment on the MIB, let me throw this one out at the same time. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in 1966 and the amendment known as the Privacy Act in 1974 supposedly forced the surfacing of classified government documents. How did this change the playing field for UFOlogists and for OMNI?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(82)
Date: Tue May 6 22:30:33 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
We have always taken a literal approach. But we have insisted that evidence be held up to the light of scrutiny. Perhaps it is the continued lack of definitive evidence that causes us to respond metaphysically. In the meantime, Open Book will continue to conduct its searches literally.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(83)
Date: Tue May 6 22:34:00 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
This cast a fascinating light on the government. What was the government --ours and also the Soviet government-- hiding. Some say UFOs, but obviously, that does not need to be the answer. Much of the recent research has shown the government used and propogated the UFO explanation to hide other activities.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(84)
Date: Tue May 6 22:36:12 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
RE metaphysical vs. literal: Pam's right. Our investigations in Open Book and elsewhere in Omni have always treated the issue in the same terms as any other scientific inquiry. But as long as definitive proof of the literal truth of UFO encounters, we have to entertain other explanations for the phenomenon: that is, clearly there are many people out there who genuinely believe they have experienced this contact, or have been abducted, or whatever -- they're not lying, and they're not (necessarily) crazy. So, if there's no hard evidence that what they think happened to them in fact happened, we have to look at other possibilities -- such as psychological or "metaphysical" explanations. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(85)
Date: Tue May 6 22:37:15 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Ah yes, the layers upon layers of secrecy signifying ...? Where will you and the featured reporters for Project Open Book -- Dennis Stacey, Patrick Huyghe, Karl T. Pflock and Dava Sobel who covered Roswell, and A.J.S. Rayl who covered Bentwaters and other -- take Project Open Book next?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(86)
Date: Tue May 6 22:39:51 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
It sounds like you're both saying that it is possible that the truth is stranger than fiction -- stranger than aliens, even -- and that new need to create new paradigms to discuss the experiences that many have reported having.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(87)
Date: Tue May 6 22:39:57 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
The FOIA did bring to light a number of documents from the FBI, CIA, and other sources that shed some light on various UFO incidents over the years, but by and large they tended to explain those incidents as anything but UFOs. So, on the one hand, the FOIA has let some air out of the claims of government cover-up ... but, then again, there are the hundreds of other documents that the CIA continues to hold, claiming "national security" issues. And there are all the passages that remain blacked out -- censored -- in the documents that were released. So the FOIA has just fueled the fire on both sides -- it hasn't led to any watershed or consensus. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(88)
Date: Tue May 6 22:41:39 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 168.100.200.182
I just wanted to toss a topic out at this juncture. Is this a boxing match between Religious and Technological views?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(89)
Date: Tue May 6 22:42:37 PDT 1997
From: SweetPete At: 168.100.200.182
I just wanted to toss a topic out at this juncture. Is this a boxing match between Religious and Technological views?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(90)
Date: Tue May 6 22:45:21 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Perhaps rather than a boxing match, it's the seeking of a way of briding religion and technology in a way that not only makes sense to us, but is useful to our creating a future. Just a thought.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(91)
Date: Tue May 6 22:46:09 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Pete: It's no boxing match. It's just that the question's still open, and we don't know where the truth lies. Maybe there are actual alien ships and lifeforms visiting our planet -- or maybe it's all in people's heads -- or maybe it's something else. We just have to be prepared to consider the various options when seeking the truth. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(92)
Date: Tue May 6 22:48:09 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Personally, I'm hoping this ongoing chat will be an opportunity to explore the possibilities you mention, Rob.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(93)
Date: Tue May 6 22:48:35 PDT 1997
From: Sweet_Pete At: 168.100.200.182
Be careful, o' Chat Moderators, of using such words as "myth" "we" and so forth.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(94)
Date: Tue May 6 22:49:15 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Sharon: As for where we'll take Open Book next, we've got several interesting items coming down the pipe, including several case reports (sightings in Minnesota and New Jersey) and a piece on the difficulties of offering convincing proof about UFO contact. Good stuff. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(95)
Date: Tue May 6 22:51:02 PDT 1997
From: Sweet_Pete At: 168.100.200.182
BTW I commend XFiles's show for its encouraging mental exploration. Conspiracy theory can be very intriguing. Just take for example, the episode in which the fellow's car breaks down, two alien (the model type) beings approach the car and wonder why the car's occupants pass out. The viewer hears human voices from inside costumes...
MsgId: *high_strangeness(96)
Date: Tue May 6 22:51:13 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Pete: One person's myth is another's gospel, that's for sure. It's words like that that get the conversation going ... /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(97)
Date: Tue May 6 22:51:43 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
It would seem there are many issues surrounding the phenomena we might attribute to UFOs and aliens, and OMNI is working diligently to bring whatever facts there are, to light. Have investigators come up with new ways of evaluating the data or other innovations in scientific discovery?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(98)
Date: Tue May 6 22:52:15 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
No --We have covered UFOs, among many other topics, as our beat at OMNI. We have, over the past 18 years, extensively investigated this subject. We have had many fascinating stories on topics from abduction to government cover-up. But our investigations have not revealed evidence of alien visitation. This does not rob the topic of its fascination, but it does demand that we find a broader context for the topic. We just toss out ideas, toss out other ideas --it's all part of the discussion. One can explain one UFO, turning it into an IFO (identified flying object) --but then people will submit hundreds more UFOs...
MsgId: *high_strangeness(99)
Date: Tue May 6 22:54:17 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
... or are questions like these best answered as OMNI presents more and more material in Open Book that can cover more in detail the possibilities?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(100)
Date: Tue May 6 22:54:26 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.158.98.85
Macleod:Hey Pete, you are demonstrating the whole point of the believer phenomenon. You obviously believe and are irritated by anyone trying to bring an anlytical eye to UFO's an what people are really seeing. Blind, unquestioning belief, sounds more like a faith than a proved reality to me.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(101)
Date: Tue May 6 22:54:56 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
Just because something remains unexplained, it is not necessarily alien. One must do more than accumulate these mysteries --one must prove, beyond a doubt, that these OBJECTS are alien. When we cast reports to extreme scrutiny, we find we are not able to prove this. And we find that much of the so-called proof is extremely sloppy.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(102)
Date: Tue May 6 22:55:36 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Sharon: UFO investigators try to bring whatever technological and scientific tools they can to bear on their research. Trouble is they rarely have access to the latest tech -- lack of funding etc. makes it hard. Still, people like Bruce Maccabee have brought increasingly powerful techniques to bear on their analysis of photographs and videotapes, in an effort to weed out the frauds from the genuine evidence. Unfortunately, sometimes the innovation can lead to troubles of its own, as with the use of hypnosis and other interviewing techniques; they can cause more problems than they solve. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(103)
Date: Tue May 6 22:56:28 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 141.110.6.102
Remember, the government (ours, there's and other's) are masters of deception. Confuse and abuse are their most potent weapons. By the way, the MIB originated back in the 50's as a prank on a overly receptive UFO investigator.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(104)
Date: Tue May 6 23:00:49 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
I don't know that new scientific techniques will be the key to resolving the UFO question. There's a sad lack of material to analyze. Until we've got more tangible evidence to study, all the lab tools in the world won't help. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(105)
Date: Tue May 6 23:01:39 PDT 1997
From: Sweet_Pete At: 168.100.200.182
I have to go to bed. Could someone blast three quick answers back to me? (1) is this discussion going to be archived? (2) the time is not 2259 PDT, in PDT it would be 2129 pm PDT and (3) send email to omnifan@leftwich.com and I will volunteer to fix up this chat site! Good nite all!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(106)
Date: Tue May 6 23:02:19 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
Sounds like investigations are a complicated business, given technological limitations and other factors. Thankfully, OMNI continues to maintain a high level of integrity in reporting. Any last words, Pam or Rob?
MsgId: *high_strangeness(107)
Date: Tue May 6 23:03:36 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Pete: Good night. Eventually I think we'll have this chat archived -- check our chat archives page over the next couple of weeks. And, yes, I know the time is all off. We'll fix it. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(108)
Date: Tue May 6 23:04:43 PDT 1997
From: Pam_Weintraub At: 168.100.204.58
Goodnight, all.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(109)
Date: Tue May 6 23:05:13 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
Sharon: Thanks for hosting us! I hope this will become an ongoing discussion of the issues we raised here -- given the immense interest in the subject, I think we're in dire need of some sharp, incisive dialogue on the subject. I'll be happy to come back whenever you like. /ga
MsgId: *high_strangeness(110)
Date: Tue May 6 23:06:22 PDT 1997
From: Rob_Killheffer At: 38.254.181.13
It'll be even more fun once we get some new chat software. And on that note, goodnight!
MsgId: *high_strangeness(111)
Date: Tue May 6 23:07:36 PDT 1997
From: ZSharon At: 206.80.181.168
I couldn't agree with you more, Rob!!! Thanks to both of you for entering into this discussion, kicking it off into a direction that makes sense -- or at least aims to make sense. Goodnight. See you next week.
MsgId: *high_strangeness(112)
Date: Tue May 6 23:08:56 PDT 1997
From: guest At: 207.158.98.85
Macleod: One last comment. Our Govt. Is not near as all powerful and controlling as people keep making it out to be. To rework an old saying, they're lucky they can walk and chew gum at the same time. Just look at all the current scandals and leaks on campaign financing. Even most of the so called secret CIA projects of the 60's and 70's (Vietnam, and so called Mind Control come to mind) were'nt that secret, Think about it. I believe that they've been and gone, but I don't think we've seen any proof , Gotta watch the Trek. Goodnight!
Home || Prime Time || Live Science || Machine Dreams || Project Open Book || SF-Fantasy-Horror
Continuum || Antimatter || Mind-Brain Lab || Interactive IQ || Gallery || OMNI ToonsQuestions, comments and suggestions can be mailed to the webmaster.
Copyright (C) 1997 by Omni Publications International, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.