RIP Lemmy

Lemmy, a true rock star, is no more. But, he left a great legacy! Motorhead were due to play here in Dallas a couple of months ago, but were forced to cancel as a result of Lemmy's failing health. A bad day for rock music, and for Lemmy's family and friends. RIP.

The Creepiest Kids in the Village

And another new Mysterious Universe article, which starts like this:

There can be no doubt that one of the more intriguing mysteries of recent years is that of the Black-Eyed Children. Who, or what, these menacing, pale-faced, black-eyed things are is a matter of deep debate. Some say they’re ETs. Others suggest alien-human hybrids. Then, there’s the demonic angle. In other words, we’re pretty much still in the dark when it comes to their real origins and motivations. But, that’s not what I’m focusing on today. Instead, I’m talking about the earlier Black-Eyed Children. The ones who came before the modern-day wave. Interestingly, they surfaced not in the real world, but in the domain of fiction.

Just three years before the dawning of the 1960s the well-known science-fiction author, John Wyndham, wrote a book titled The Midwich Cuckoos. Before I get to that, in case you aren’t familiar with Wyndham’s work, he’s perhaps best known for his 1951 title, The Day of the Triffids. The Midwich Cuckoos was well-received, to the extent that in 1960 it was turned into a movie. Its title: Village of the Damned. A sequel followed: Children of the Damned.

UFOs and Supernatural Black Dogs

"On more than a few occasions I’ve been asked why – for the most part – I don’t take a mainstream 'nuts and bolts' approach to the UFO phenomenon. Well, it’s true: I don’t. The reason being that I see clear cross-overs between certain Ufological events and multiple other paranormal phenomena. Take, for example, the more than a few reports on record of Bigfoot seen at the same time and place as strange lights in the sky. Or, the parallels between alien abduction encounters and reports of incubus- and succubus-style activity. Then there’s the matter of UFOs and synchronicities. As I see it, we’re dealing with something far stranger than an extraterrestrial equivalent of NASA. A perfect example of all this is a case from 1980. It’s one that has been hailed as a UFO classic (and in many respects it is). But, when we look deeper, we find it’s steeped in high-strangeness; much of which takes it far away from Ufology."

That's how one of my recent Mysterious Universe article begins, and which you can find here.

A Strange Tale Of UFO Files

There's a new Mysterious Universe article from me, which begins as follows:


"As anyone and everyone with knowledge of the UFO phenomenon will be aware, the entire subject is steeped in controversy. But some aspects of the UFO phenomenon are more controversial than others. And then there are those aspects that are really controversial. All of which brings me to today’s article. In 1997 I interviewed the well-known British UFO investigator, Jenny Randles, regarding a strange series of events she found herself in, back in late 1986. It was a very curious saga involving allegedly classified documents, dead aliens, crashed flying saucers, and much more.


"It all began in October 1986, when Randles came into contact with a man who had then recently left his employment with the British Army. According to the man, he had in his possession a large stash of still-classified material on UFOs that he had acquired under very controversial circumstances. Well, despite the nature of the story, Randles agreed to meet with the man – named Robert – at a location in the English town of Eccles, which wasn’t at all far from where Randles lived. Also along for the meeting with Robert was Peter Hough, a friend of Randles and a fellow UFO investigator..."

And here's the link.

UFO Truth Magazine

A few new, cool items in the mail this afternoon from Gary Heseltine of UFO Truth Magazine. 2 hats (1 black, 1 gray) a t-shirt, a mouse, and stickers. Cheers mate!

Bigfoot, Nessie, and More

Had a very cool day yesterday, headed off early, and lecturing again with good friend Shelly Covington-Montana for the kids in Dallas' Highland Park District. Me talking about the Loch Ness Monster and Shelly on Bigfoot. Then dinner at a local bar followed by a trip to Half Price Books. A good day!

Nessie and the World of the Supernatural

It's fair to say that many of my books are controversial. One of the books I have out in 2016 might be one of the most controversial. It deals with all the varied material that suggests the Nessies of Loch Ness, Scotland might be supernatural creatures, rather than flesh and blood animals. I can see steam coming out of certain ears as I write this! And this is the cover design, with the book published by Llewellyn, who also published my Chupacabra Road Trip book a few months ago.

'Tis the season, etc., etc.

Yep, it's that time of year again in the Redfern apartment...

UFO Fashion

One of those I met at the Brazilian UFO Forum last week was long-time Facebook friend Thiago Luiz Ticchetti. As well as being a UFO author/researcher, Thiago also has his own UFO-themed t-shirt line. He generously let me choose one, and so I picked the Maury Island case/shirt. Thanks, mate!

UFOs, National Security, and FOIA

Those are all the subjects of a new article you can find from me at Jim Harold's website - and here's the link.

MIB In Brazil...

Here's a bunch of photos from my week at the UFO Forum at Foz do Iguacu, Brazil (got back home yesterday). It was a great time, made many new friends, and spoke on the subject of the recently published Brazilian edition of my 2011 book, The Real Men In Black.

Mike Clelland and "The Messengers"

Mike Clelland's new book, The Messengers: Owls, Synchronicity and the UFO Abductee is an excellent read. It's also a book for which I provided a lot of input. Don't miss this one, if you're interested in some of the more intriguing and thought-provoking aspects of the UFO phenomenon in general and the "abductee" issue in partricular.

Here's the publisher's info on Mike's book:

"Without question, this is a classic by one of the most exciting new authors in the UFO field today. After reading it, your view of reality will never be the same. The owl has held a place of reverence and mystique throughout history. And as strange as this might seem, owls are also showing up in conjunction with the UFO experience. Mike Clelland has collected a wealth of first-hand accounts in which owls manifest in the highly charged moments that surround alien contact. There is a strangeness to these accounts that defy simple explanations. This book explores implications that go far beyond what more conservative researchers would dare consider. But the owl connection encompasses more than the UFO experience. It also includes profound synchronicities, ancient archetypes, dreams, shamanistic experiences, personal transformation, and death. From the mythic legends of our ancient past to the first-hand accounts of the UFO abductee, owls are playing some vital role. This is also a deeply personal story. It is an odyssey of self-discovery as the author grapples with his own owl and UFO encounters. What plays out is a story of transformation with the owl at the heart of this journey."

Catching Up...

Been out of the country for a week, and finally catching up on things...

When Bigfoot "Speaks" English

A new article from me, on one of the weirder sides of Bigfoot. Here's how it starts...

In their efforts to seek out the truth of Bigfoot, investigators have secured a wealth of material that, while it does not absolutely prove the existence of the creatures, most assuredly goes a long way towards doing exactly that. Footprints, film-footage, photographs, and witness testimony have all added greatly to what we know about these elusive beasts. And then there is the matter of the voice of Bigfoot.

A number of recordings have been made of what are purported to be the vocalizations of Bigfoot. While some have been explained away as known animals, there is one set of recordings that, more than any other, really catches the attention of people. They have become known as the Sierra Sounds. The story of the Sierra Sounds dates back to the 1970s, and is focused around two Bigfoot investigators, Ron Morehead and Al Berry. On a number of occasions, the two men captured astonishing audio recordings of what many believe to have been Bigfoot creatures – in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California.

UFOs Invade Oak Ridge

One more new article I have at Mysterious Universe, and here's how it starts...

For me, one of the most important aspects of a UFO encounter is the location. And when the location is one of significance and importance, it makes the encounter even more intriguing. A classic example is a series of startling UFO incidents which occurred at the Atomic Energy Commission facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, from the latter part of 1950 to early 1951. The cases are documented in the now-declassified UFO files of the FBI and make for notable reading.

An FBI teletype of October 13, 1950 refers to the detection of a definitive squadron of unknown objects tracked over the Oak Ridge installation at 11:25 p.m. on October 12. The documentation states: “USAF radar installation at Knoxville…picked up indications of eleven objects and perhaps more traveling across controlled area of Atomic Energy installation at Oak Ridge.” The report continued: “Altitude of objects varied from one thousand to five thousand feet…and density from reading made by light aircraft equal in size to C-47, speed from one hundred to one hundred twenty-five miles per hour…”

Not Nessie - Much Worse!

There's a new Mysterious Universe article from me which starts as follows...

Back in 1982, a man named Cliff Twemlow wrote a horror-novel titled The Pike. It was a cryptozoologically-themed story of a giant, man-eating northern pike lurking deep in the waters of England’s Lake Windermere. It’s certainly not the greatest example of its genre, but it’s an entertaining story filled with blood, guts, and characters who you just know aren’t going to last too long. The back-cover blurb will give you an idea of what’s in store:

“FIRST VICTIMS – A screeching swan…A fisherman overboard…A drunken woman in a dinghy…One by one, the mysterious killer in Lake Windermere claims its terrified victims. Tearing off limbs with its monstrous teeth, horribly mutilating bodies. Fear sweeps the peaceful holiday resort when experts identify the creature as a giant pike…A hellish creature with the strength to rupture boats – and the anger to attack them. But for some the terror becomes a bonanza – the traders who cater to the gathering crowds of ghouls on the shore. And they will do anything to stop the divers finding the killer. Meanwhile the ripples of bloodshed widen…”

The Strange Tale of the UK's "Giant Rabbits"

One of the weirder articles I've written, it starts like this...

Well, after a number of articles from me on the menacing Men in Black, ominous Black Eyed Children, UFO conspiracies, and diabolical monsters, it’s time for a bit of light relief. And, no, the title of this article is not a joke! Nor is it April 1st! The United Kingdom is indeed home to “giant rabbits.” At least, it is in a very strange and surreal fashion. As you read on, you’ll see why. And how. I’ll begin with a story from a good mate of mine, Jon Downes. He’s the director of the UK-based Center for Fortean Zoology, a full-time group dedicated to the study of unknown animals. We’re talking about Bigfoot. About Nessie. About the Chupacabra. And, yes, about those “giant rabbits” too.

Jon’s story dates from the late 1970s, when he was valiantly hanging onto the final months of his teens. From a friend named Mike, Jon received a startling story, one which was focused on an area near to where Jon lived at the time: Powderham Woods, located in the English county of Devon. It was while walking through the woods that Mike encountered something remarkable. In Jon’s own words: “Mike had been hunting for chestnuts when he was startled to see what looked like a rabbit, was shaped like a rabbit, and even hopped like a rabbit – it just happened to have been about three feet tall! I sat back slightly dazed. Mike was one of the most reliable witnesses that I have ever had the honor to interview, and he had just told me a spiel of utterly bizarre nonsense. It just didn’t make sense.”

Black Eyed Children: Kids of the MIB?

That's the subject of a new Mysterious Universe article from me...

Here's how it starts...

Just a few nights ago, I was interviewed by a UK-based radio-show on my recently published book, Men in Black: Personal Stories and Eerie Adventures. During the course of the interview, the host asked me if I realized there seemed to be a deep connection – as well as profound similarities – between the infamous MIB and one of the creepiest mysteries of the 21st century. Namely, the Black Eyed Children. Well, yes, I did know!

There can be very few people within the field of paranormal research who have not heard of the BEC. But, the MIB parallels might be new to some. In the same way that the Men in Black wear black suits and black fedoras, the Black Eyed Children often wear black hoodies. So, we have a black outfit and black head-gear present in both phenomena. Both the MIB and the BEC very often surface late at night. Trying to convince people to let them into their homes is one of the most chilling aspects of the activities of both the MIB and the BEC. And they are very good – almost too good – at making their escape. But, certainly, no-one has done more to highlight the MIB-BEC connections and parallels than David Weatherly, whose 2012 book, The Black Eyed Children, is essential reading.

Roswell's "Victims of the Wreck"

That's the subject of a new article from me, at Mysterious Universe. Here's the link and below are the first two paragraphs:

If, like me, you’re fascinated by the seemingly-never-ending soap-opera known as “Roswell,” you surely won’t have missed the recent injection of life given to the so-called “Ramey Memo.” It’s a solitary piece of paper that some Roswell sleuths think is the Holy Grail of Ufology. If you’re not aware of what’s afoot, read on. UFO author/investigator Barry Greenwood says that the Ramey Memo is “…a folded piece of paper held in the hand of Brigadier General Roger Ramey, head of the 8th Army Air Force based at Fort Worth, Texas.” He continues: “On July 8, 1947, photographs were taken of Ramey, his chief of staff, Thomas DuBose and Roswell AAF officer Jesse Marcel Sr…in response to an AAF press release that the debris recovered from the alleged Roswell UFO crash was a weather balloon…” Greenwood adds: “One can see in photo prints that the document being held has lines of text at the edge of visibility.” Greenwood also notes that while the text “…remains at the extreme limit of resolution,” it is a fact that a number of words “…do seem to be visible, asserting the document’s relevance to the Roswell incident, but little else is clear.”

What’s particularly interesting about this small number of visible words is that they appear to refer to what many researchers believe to be the “victims of the wreck.” Now, I’m not going to get into the debate surrounding whether the words are being correctly interpreted or not, as that’s an issue currently being hotly and deeply debated at both Rich Reynolds’ and Kevin Randle’s blogs. Instead, I’m going to focus on something else.

Kids And Cryptozoology

A few photos from yesterday, when me and good friend Shelly Covington-Montana gave a lecture for the kids in Dallas' Highland Park District, on Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. After dinner, it was a prowl around a used bookstore where - for next to nothing - I picked up a 1924 edition of Edgar Rice Burroughs' The Land That Time Forgot. A cool day!

 

 

More on the W.I.B.

Coincidentally, I'm not the only one writing about the Women in Black right now...

Check out this at Chris Woodyard's Haunted Ohio website...

Women in Black - Update

As some of you will know (because you have been interviewed for it!) I have a book coming out in 2016 titled Women In Black, a study of the less well-known companions of the MIB. As a taster of what is to come there is a new article from me on this very subject at Jim Harold's website, and here's the link.

A Freaky Fire And The Feds

A new, 2-part article from me on a famous case of Spontaneous Human Combustion that...actually wasn't...

Here's part-1 and here's part-2.

Professionals - Complete!

Finally! I just now received in the mail a copy of the brand new, 3-CD collection of everything ever recorded by The Professionals (Steve Jones' and Paul Cook's post-Sex Pistols band). It's almost 50 songs, including their 4 singles and their 1981 album, plus the shelved original album, and a ton of demos, BBC sessions and much, much more. As tempted as I am to listen to it all now, I have to work! So, it's going to be a night of cranking up the music!

Roswell, Sheridan Cavitt, and "Bodies"

That's the subject of a new 2-part article from me on one of the most intriguing and central figures in the Roswell affair: Sheridan Cavitt. Here's part-1 and here's part-2.

Here's how the article starts:

"When it comes to the matter of the strange events that occurred on the Foster Ranch, Lincoln County, New Mexico in the summer of 1947, there are widely differing opinions on what was found. And for those who may be wondering what I’m talking about, it’s the 'R Word.' Roswell. I’m not going to go into detail about all of the various theories that have been offered to try and explain the still-enigmatic event (you can find my 2-part 'theories for Roswell' article here and here). Instead, I’m going to focus on the words of one man who likely took to the grave what he really knew about the Roswell affair. That man was the late Sheridan Ware Cavitt. In the summer of 1947, he was Captain Sheridan Cavitt, an officer with the Counter-Intelligence Corps, based at the old Roswell Army Air Field.

"Getting people to agree on the intricacies of Roswell is like getting people to agree on their favorite food, movie or band. But, there is one thing that just about everyone – believer, disbeliever, or skeptic – agrees upon when it comes to Roswell. Namely, that Sheridan Cavitt was at the crash site of whatever 'it' was that came down. Even Cavitt himself admitted to that – albeit sometimes grudgingly and hesitatingly. The big questions are: What did Cavitt see on the Foster Ranch? What did he know? And, did he keep a deep and dark secret until his dying day? Let’s see."

It's a weird story involving (a) Cavitt, (b) an old colleague of his in the CIC named Lewis Rickett, (c) certain "bodies," and (d) a US Air Force-initiated interview with Cavitt to get his views on what really happened at Roswell.

The photo above shows my worn (very worn!) copy of the USAF's near-1,000-page-long report on Roswell, which was published in 1994 and titled The Roswell Report: Fact Vs Fiction In The New Mexico Desert.

Bigfoot at the Bedford Public Library

A great last night with Buffy. And with good mate Lyle Blackburn speaking at the Bedford Public Library, on Bigfoot in the south. And the room was packed.

A Californian Skinwalker - Maybe...

Over at Mysterious Universe, I tell the odd story of my 2010 search for a Californian Skinwalker...

A Monster Called Wally

"Wally" isn't a particularly good name for a lake-monster, but I guess it's better than nothing.

Or maybe not!

Here's the story...

The Texas ParaUnity Halloween Expo

Yesterday's Texas ParaUnity Halloween Expo in Dallas, where I spoke on the "Texas Chupacabra" and other unusual animals, and - as you'll see from the other photo - made a new friend LOL.

UFOs, the Yeti, and Espionage...

A concise review from me of last weekend's annual MUFON New Mexico gig...

And...

A look at the strange and secret life of Tom Slick, who moved effortlessly in the worlds of espionage and the Yeti...

Man-Made Flying Saucers Pt. 1 and 2

There's a new 2-part article from me at Mysterious Universe on the ever-controversial issue of Flying Saucers of the home-grown kind. Here's how it begins...

"As most people with an interest in the subject of UFOs will be aware, pretty much since the term 'Flying Saucer' was coined in the summer of 1947 rumors have circulated to the effect that some UFOs are secret, military hardware. We’re talking about man-made UFOs. Of course, those who roll their eyes at such possibilities very often bring up the matter of the decidedly ill-fated 'Avrocar.' It was a saucer-shaped vehicle that promised a great deal but ultimately turned out to be a disaster. It’s intriguing to note, however, that in the 1950s – when UFOs were at their height, so to speak – a great deal of enthusiasm for saucer-shaped craft was exhibited by the U.S. military.

"A perfect example of this enthusiasm can be found in the pages of the Air Intelligence Digest, Volume 7, Issue 12, dated December 1954. It states, under the 'Editor’s Notes' section: 'We have not joined the ranks of publications that print speculative stories of strange flying contraptions, nor have we had any polka-dotted strangers from outer space visiting our office. This is for real. A new aircraft configuration with a circular platform is taking shape on the drawing boards of Western aircraft designers that may well be the beginning of a new era of flight.'"

Here's part-1 and here's part-2.

"No Witness"

While we were at David Marler's home Sunday - after the New Mexico MUFON gig - David very generously gave me an uncorrected proof copy of Gerald A. Hausman's "cattle mutilation"-themed book, No Witness. A cool item!

UFOs: A Great Gig and an Amazing Collection

Here's a bunch of photos from the New Mexico Albuquerque MUFON gig this past weekend.
Many thanks to John and Susan LeMaster for the dinners, accommodation, and good times! There were 3 of us speaking at the gig, me, Nick Pope, and John Alexander. And around 300 people turned out for the event.

Definitely one of the stand-out events was a visit to the home of UFO researcher/author, David Marler.

David has a massive (and I do mean massive) collection of UFO books, magazines, periodicals, memorabilia, UFO collections from various old-timers from Ufology, and an incredible collection of material on the Contactee movement, and much much more - including a garage full of filing-cabinets filled with things like old APRO mags, clippings, old and rare journals and way more.

Good mate Greg Bishop would be foaming at the mouth at the sight of it all!

David very generously let me photograph some of his collection for posting here. As you can see from the photos, it includes first issues of both Fate and Gray Barker's Saucerian.

Also, as you'll see, David has a couple of items of note for those interested in the "Flatwoods Monster" saga of 1952 - including one publication which has a 3-page hand-written statement from Kathleen May, one of the original witnesses.

If you know the history of the CIA's and US Air Force's involvement in the UFO controversy, you'll know the name Dewey Fournet. David owns Fournet's briefcase which he (Fournet) used when he was interviewed by the CIA's Robertson Panel and which contained copies of the old USAF files that Fournet handed over to the panel.

Check out too the "gate clearance" card for access to the old Roswell base way back when. You'll see the signature is that of Major Edwin Easley, who - as Provost Marshal - was one of the central figures in the Roswell crash saga.

I could go on and on...and on. But, that's enough of me. Here's the photos...