Phantoms and Monsters

George Adamski and the Venusians
Deadly Fungus Emerging in Oregon...Expected to Spread
Djinn Hysteria Strikes the Gaza Strip
Why Skeptics are the Most Boring People on Earth!

Posted: 24 Apr 2010 10:30 AM PDT

George Adamski with his artistic depiction of a Venusian

George Adamski was a Polish-born American citizen who became widely known in ufology circles, and to some degree in popular culture, after he claimed to have photographed ships from other planets, met with friendly Nordic alien "Space Brothers", and to have taken flights with them. The first of the so-called contactees of the 1950s, he styled himself to be a "philosopher, teacher, student and saucer researcher."

Adamski claimed that he had been contacted by the Venusian occupant of a flying saucer that landed in the California desert November 20, 1952. Subsequently Adamski claimed to have had contact with spacemen from Mars and Saturn and to have traveled 50,000 miles into space in their craft. After Adamski's revelations, the convention of spaceman contacts, messages from outer space, and warnings about the welfare of the cosmos became firmly established.

One of the most curious UFO conferences of all time occurred on August 7-8, 1954. This meeting was held at the top of Mount Palomar, at an altitude over 6,000 feet, in front of the Skyline Lodge.

The congress was promoted by three of the most famous contactees: George Adamski, Truman Bethurum and Daniel Fry. More than a thousand persons attended, from American journalists, FBI agents, saucer witnesses and just the curious.

Each of the contactees told their own experiences and took the occasion to sell their autographed books.

At Adamski's turn, the "professor" explained that the Venusians were much alike human beings. So much so they had infiltrated our society and were living in the big cities. He also presented a painting with an artistic depiction of a Venusian.

At the end of the first day there was some commotion when the audience noticed the presence of two men and a woman with an exotic appearance. The rumor started that they were disguised Venusians. Those that Adamski had talked about a few hours before.

One of the men used glasses. The three were white and the woman had long blonde hair, but the strangest thing were her black eyes

Dolores Barrios

One of the attendees asked them, without much embarrassment: "Are you or are you not Venusians?". The woman, smiling, calmly replied. "No".

"Why are you here?"

"Because we are interested in this subject."

"Do you believe in flying saucers?"

"Yes."

"Is it true that, as Mr. Adamski says, that they come from Venus?"

"Yes. They are from Venus."

Brazilian journalist João Martins was also present and he interviewed them as well, obtaining the following information:

Her name was Dolores Barrios, a dress designer; the names of her friends were Donald Morand and Bill Jackmart [they were musicians]. The three of them lived in Manhattan Beach, California.

Martins asked if he could photograph them, but they refused. They were bothered and tired of being called Venusians. According to Martins, Dolores Barrios looked very much like the painting that Adamski had shown.

Donald Morand and Bill Jackmart

For the rest of the conference the three became isolated and didn't talk with the other attendees. In the following day, at the end of the meeting, the strange visitors let themselves be photographed.

Nowadays it's said that Martins photographed Dolores using a flash, surprising her. Dolores was scared and ran to the forest. Soon afterwards, a flying saucer was seen rocketing upwards, but no one was able to capture a photo.

Click for video

Sources:
http://forgetomori.com/
www.ufo.com.br
http://en.wikipedia.org
www.ufos-aliens.co.uk

NOTE: I'm not going to state an opinion about George Adamski simply because there as a chasm of thought on his theories. It's obvious to me that the 'Venusians' were not from Venus...or is it possible? BTW, I think Dolores Barrios looks a lot like Uma Thurman, who many people feel is a space cadet :) ...Lon

George Adamski and the Venusians

Deadly Fungus Emerging in Oregon...Expected to Spread

Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:37 AM PDT

livescience - A deadly, airborne new strain of fungus has emerged in Oregon. It has killed nearly one out of four known affected people so far and might also attack animals ranging from dogs to dolphins. And it is likely to spread, researchers now warn.

The new strain known as VGIIc of the fungus Cryptococcus gattii not only targets humans but has also proven capable of infecting dogs, cats, alpacas, sheep and elk. Other strains have even infected porpoises.

Although it can spread to mammals, it does not jump from animal to animal. Instead, people and other animals get it from inhaling spores released by samples of the fungus that infect trees.

"It's in the environment, and we're exposed to the environment," researcher Edmond Byrnes III of Duke University Medical Center told LiveScience. "And the environmental range of this has been expanding."

California next?

While scientists aren't sure how the highly infectious or virulent fungus emerged in Oregon, they caution the new strain now looks set to expand to California and other neighboring areas.

"This novel fungus is worrisome because it appears to be a threat to otherwise healthy people," Byrnes said. "Typically, we more often see this fungal disease associated with transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients, but that is not what we are seeing yet."

Symptoms can appear two or more months after exposure. Most people never develop symptoms, but those infected may have a cough lasting weeks, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, headache related to meningitis, fever, nighttime sweats and weight loss. In animals the symptoms are a runny nose, breathing problems, nervous system problems and raised bumps under the skin.

Treatment requires months to years of antifungal medications, and even surgery to remove the large masses of the fungus [VGIIc] known as cryptococcomas that can develop in the body. So far it cannot be prevented, as there is no vaccine.

Origin?

The fungus C. gattii was originally linked with eucalyptus trees in tropical and subtropical climates. It first caused an outbreak in temperate climes on Vancouver Island in 1999 that has now spread into Washington and Oregon, where it infects local trees. This earlier strain, VGIIa/major, has killed nearly 9 percent of 218 patients.

After comparing the genes of the new VGIIc strain from Oregon with others, researchers suggest the new strain most likely arose recently, parallel to the outbreak that began on Vancouver Island. So far it has killed five out of 21 patients analyzed in the United States, a nearly 25-percent mortality rate. Lab studies with immune cells and with live mice revealed it is extremely virulent — that is, it can cause severe disease.

Determining the exact origin of the VGIIc strain has proven difficult. Investigations so far have failed to find it in Oregon soil, water or trees. It may have arrived from abroad or originated locally, researchers said.

Because this fungus had been confined to the tropics until now, researcher Wenjun Li at Duke University speculated that environmental changes might be responsible for the evolution and emergence of these new strains.

"We are trying to put together the evolutionary story of where these types come from by closely studying the genetics of all samples possible," explained researcher Yonathan Lewit at Duke University Medical Center.

It remains uncertain why VGIIc and VGIIa/major are more virulent than other strains. One possibility, given how this fungus can reproduce sexually, new hypervirulent combinations of genes emerged due to sex. The researchers also noted that cell components known as mitochondria in these strains could adopt a distinctive tube shape. Since mitochondria help generate energy in cells, it is possible these strains are more energetic, "but that's just speculation right now," Byrnes said.

When it comes to a public response to outbreaks of these strains, "public health officials in that area have formed a working group with state epidemiologists from all those states in the Pacific Northwest," Byrnes noted. "It's important that public awareness expand on this."

The scientists detailed their findings online April 22 in the journal PLoS Pathogens.

Deadly Fungus Emerging in Oregon...Expected to Spread

Djinn Hysteria Strikes the Gaza Strip

Posted: 24 Apr 2010 09:08 AM PDT

trueslant - Chalk one up for the survival of local folklore in the Gaza Strip: Residents of the town of Deir al-Balah are convinced there are genies on the lose.

Genies – or djinn in Arabic – are being blamed for a series of fires in Deir al-Balah (عربي).

The Hamas-linked Palpress news agency reports that the town's residents are convinced that two unexplained housefires on March 29th and April 1st were set by malicious djinn.

Apparently, the rumors of paranormal causes for the fire were so widespread that Gaza police were forced to issue a statement criticizing the "abusers" and "rumormongers" who were spreading the word about the djinn, with policemen telling Deir al-Balah's residents that the threads on local Arabic-language websites (of course) were bunk.

Here's the obligatory awkward Google English translation:

Palestine Press – denounced the Palestinian police in the government article (Central Province) have been raised about a "jinn" set fire to a house in Deir al-Balah, indicating that promotes such gossip and rumors, "they are weak people, and some sites forums on the Internet" .

Police said the article: "We will not allow anyone to broadcast rumors to cause confusion among the citizens and will take legal action against the abusers and the rumor-mongers

Belief in djinns has a long history in Gaza. A few years ago, ABC Radio Australia ran an amazing documentary on supernatural Gaza and how folk beliefs from the past took on a new life in the Strip:

Venturing deep into the heart of Gaza, Middle East correspondent Jane Hutcheon uncovers a world of fortune tellers and spiritual healers, a world where evil spirits, or Djinns, take possession of the bodies of unsuspecting locals.

Locals like Fadi Hussein, a former Palestinian policeman who lost his job after he was possessed by an evil Christian Djinn from Israel called George.

Or Nazih Salman, whose problems with the dark side are solved with help of a 107 year old fortune teller.

Hutcheon visits the fortune teller for some advice of her own, and then witnesses a dramatic on-camera exorcism that banishes one man's demons, leaving him ready to face another day on Gaza's embattled streets.

Islam's doctrines leave more official room for the paranormal than either Christianity or Judaism. The djinn have a sura dedicated to them in the Qur'an; in Muslim tradition, they are supernatural creatures made out of either smoke or fire whom posess free will and individual motives, whether good or malicious. Satan (Shaytan) is a djinn according to the Qur'an as well. Archaeological research indicates that belief in djinn reaches back to both the Zoroastrian and pre-Islamic Arab traditions.

Djinn Hysteria Strikes the Gaza Strip

Why Skeptics are the Most Boring People on Earth!

Posted: 24 Apr 2010 08:25 AM PDT

Chris Holly's Paranormal World - Before we get into why a skeptic is the most boring person on earth lets discuss the supplies you're going to need if you happen upon one. I think of it as a skeptic survival kit.

The skeptic survival kit contains dark sunglasses, earplugs, a good pair of earphones that block out everything but your music, a load of music loaded onto whatever you use to listen to your music , a book, and a large size 15 steel toed man's boot (this can be interchanged with a bat if need be).

Once you have your kit at hand you will be equipped to deal with the most boring people walking on this earth- the skeptic.

I know you want to know why this group of humans owns the title of the most boring of all humans but first let's get the survival kit taken care of.

After assembling your kit you will need to follow the instructions with care as you may come upon one of these creatures at any time.

As soon as you realize you are in the grasp of a skeptic quickly rip open your kit and place your dark sunglasses on to block direct eye contact with this being. It may prevent you from having to have direct contact with them. If that fails keep the glasses on so that the skeptic is unable to detect if you are keeping eye contact with him or searching the area for an escape outlet. The glasses are an easy way to conceal your eye rolling as the skeptic will soon be on a rambling rant of repetitive drivel that will cause this eye rolling to occur uncontrollably by those forced to endure prolonged contact with the skeptic.

The earplugs are to provide needed sanity as if caught listening to a skeptic for any amount of time can result in mind numbing headaches that approach torture. One can only listen to the same old denial repeated so many times before madness sets in.

Take whatever action needed no matter how drastic to break away from the skeptic so you can quickly attach to and turn on whatever music device you have in your kit. Remember you can always loudly sing over the constant stinging whine of the skeptic before you if all else fail. You may need to whip out the book you packed in your skeptic survival kit to aid along with the music to keep your brain from numbing up as the skeptic bores you nearly to death with whine denial and talking in circles.

The last objects in your kit are for the mean down and dirty skeptic who comes at you in nasty attack mode and personal insults simply because you find his reasoning ridiculous and do not go along with his opinions.

This is when you are forced to use the last items in your kit. Upon giving up on adult conversation, debate or explaining how the universe works to a snapping mean skeptic no other choice may be left but to apply repeatedly that large size 15 man's steel toed boot or bat as needed until the skeptic is silenced.

Why you ask are these tactics needed to deal with skeptics? Well it is because a true skeptic is the most boring, close minded, limited thinkers out there and without precautions taken can bring you pain and agony if cornered by one.

I have been dealing with skeptics for a good portion of my life. I have learned to tune them out, walk away, and ignore their existence.

I am not talking about the average person who is confused by unknown things and really does not have a hard opinion on that which they do not know. I think many people simply do not think about the unknown and are suspicious of things they read and hear but do keep an open mind that many things may be possible. That is a normal intelligent attitude about subjects we do not understand or have not experienced.

I am referring to real skeptics. The ones who have decided they know all there is to know and that no matter what anyone else has experienced, seen, endured, or studied, they know better. I am talking about the people who just refuse to listen, expand their knowledge base or consider other views.

Living a life with a closed mind is a foolish dangerous approach but one many skeptics hold on to with a grip that is unshakable. The skeptic does not seem to live in silence however. Skeptics have a life mission to bore every single thinking person around them to the point of tears. The reason for this is that the skeptic is so terrified of thinking outside of the box or in a new fashion that he tries to insist he is right and the world wrong at any cost. That is where the repetition of limited information, refusal to listen when others speak and anger stems from in the skeptics world.

If you study the average hard core skeptic you soon find they all have the same features and behaviors. First they force their presence on those who are trying to expand their thinking and follow those who think differently. The skeptic does this for the sole purpose of being annoying.

This need for forcing themselves where they are not wanted is routed in many basic problems in the skeptic's makeup. The first one is obvious. The skeptic has a deep need to stop others from thinking differently than they do. They are forced by either limited ability to think past the opinions they have, fear of the unknown, or a need to have life the way they can handle it. This can result in total denial of things they are not able to cope with, understand or reason out past the tightly formed opinions they made with limited knowledge and no experience in the subjects at hand.

I will not include those who work in science and simply hide, lay low and refuse to step out of the closet due to the fact it could cost them their jobs. Science and free thinking or open investigation has long been apart. The old sods of science keep it a rather dull group at best. Until the new thinkers in science are no longer punished for wanting to think outside the confines of accepted thinking science will remain constrained.

I am discussing your every day skeptic who thinks they are smarter, better educated and somehow born with the knowledge of the universe and decide not to listen to or expand their knowledge or views past their cemented small thinking. Skeptics are not the worldliest people. I once had one tell me all about China. Of course he had no idea what he was talking about. He never had been out of the United States. I had just returned from China the week before yet no matter how hard I tried to explain to him his ideas and facts were simply not true he continued spreading his ignorance and false facts while attacking me with insult. I guess he found his information by way of fortune cookies! He was the typical skeptic acting out in a typical skeptic manner. It is a shame as he had built a huge opinion of a large world power on false data and beliefs. This is dangerous and sad in a world floating in a universe of rapid change. The same thing applies to the subjects of the unknown.

The next time you come up against a skeptic watch how he operates. He will torture everyone in sight with his limited boring whine of why everyone else is wrong and he is right. If you listen with care you will soon find out that most skeptics have similar traits. First they have a little rant of assorted facts that they use to prove they are right. If others around them disagree or even point out the skeptic is confused or flat out incorrect the skeptic simply rewinds. The skeptic will wait a few moments and then will repeat over and over the same loop of why he is sticking to his skeptical way. They never listen; they rarely research to see if the other people are correct, they just repeat over and over the same stale whine.

If the skeptic is losing ground and their safety net of denial is shaken they attack. They turn aggressive and mean. That is when the only thing left to do is use that boot or bat!

I have written this article in jest yet it is obvious that I do find skeptics to be some of the most boring people on the face of this earth. It is as if they were taught to count to ten and refuse to count past that no matter what- returning to one each time they hit ten. They are not able to grow and they seem terrified that life is not nearly what they need it to be.

I am sure there are thousands of reasons why skeptics do what they do and think as they think. I do not think it has anything at all to do with the subjects of the paranormal or science. I think that kind of denial and insistence is rooted in other areas of their lives. Keeping their thinking of unknown subjects tightly closed seems to be the only way they can deal with life. The reasons for this may differ from skeptic to skeptic but I would guess most are based in fear.

I always say that those who find the paranormal hysterical are those who have never had an experience. I also know they soon stop laughing when one dark lonely night they are the ones looking into the eyes of the unknown. And yes, that can happen to anyone, even a skeptic.

For now keep your survival kit close at hand and try to pity those who refuse to look forward as life will keep happening and the unknown will unravel like it or not.

Be careful out there, pay attention to your surroundings and always keep looking up.

Thanks to Chris Holly at Chris Holly's Paranormal World
Copyright © 2008-2010 Chris Holly all Rights Reserved
chrishollyufo@yahoo.com

Why Skeptics are the Most Boring People on Earth!

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