There are lots of websites dedicated to warning folk of
dire eventualities - such things as
chemtrails,
secret reptilian hierarchies,
alien abductions,
polar shift (see Planet X below). On the scale of likelihood
80 would rate these as "not very". If the
people
that pump this stuff out want to really give everyone the willies they
should try looking up and out - to our backyard, the Solar System. One
collision from a hurtling space rock could make their doomsday warnings seem
a little, shall we say, trivial. The
BBC amongst
many others, has information
on a recent near hit from a piece of cosmic debris. Possibly influenced by
the World Cup the size of the asteroid was compared to a football pitch(a few countries still use the term soccer).
2002MN to give the official designation was only spotted AFTER the
close encounter, a fact that 80 finds less than
reassuring. The BBC page reckons (they don't explain how) if this particular
space clod had struck our planet the devastation would have been on the
level of the 1908
Tunguska event which flattened 2000 square
kilometers of forest. The effect of a strike on a major city can only be
shuddered at. 80 has a recurring nightmare of
humankind, so busy arguing with itself over which faction has the better
god, or whatever, when the debate is
cut short by the impact of an asteroid in the back of its stiff neck.
To learn more of the dangers of these loose cannons in our solar system, and
what little is being done about it see Spaceguard
UK plus the
Australian Spaceguard Surveyand the
Planetary Society pages dedicated to the late
Gene Shoemaker. Last
but not least is NASA's Near
Earth Object Program.
X=KBO?
On
matters extraterrestrial there is speculation in some circles as to whether
there is a tenth planet,
Planet X , in our solar
system and also whether news of its
existence is, surprise surprise, being
suppressed. There is a well organized site summarizing the Planet X scene
here. It should be a good
time for Planet X adherents for with the advances in telescope technologies Solar
System objects beyond the orbit of Pluto are being discovered
with increasing frequency. Thesetrans-Neptunian andKuiper
Belt Objects have
rather more in common with icy comets than the usual idea of a planet.
(In fact there is a movement to
reclassify Pluto as a mere
trans-Neptunian Object, its moon Charon too). So far nothing has been found in
these far reaches that would fit the bill as Planet X but with the amount of
attention now being given to the outer Solar System something could
conceivably turn up.
Although 80 would bet, if found, there will be no
alien civilization as promoted by some afficionados as inhabiting
Nibiru,
as they term the tenth planet. There
is alsoa
school of thought that Nibiru is actually a
Galactic
Federation Flagship (!). or even dear old
Mars . Take a pinch of
Velikovsky,
add a dash of
Gene Roddenberry and
ferment with a deep misunderstanding of
Sumerian mythology,
sprinkle with conspiracy theory and voila - you have produced the Planet
X/Nibiru dish. Sadly in 80's view this particular
culinary creation is indigestible. (Thanks to Brian C. the man who alerted
80 to
Cat ESP (a
fine satirical rebuff to the Pet Psychic kind of drivel) and whose musings
on Starwars and movie merchandising may be found
here ).
Animal
Crackers
Occasionally, when 80 has had a surfing surfeit,
it can be enlightening to tune into a factual TV channel -
The Discovery Channel
and its various offspring often passing a
pleasant hour or two. With this in mind 80
settled down to watch
Animal Planet with hopes of
a good wildlife documentary perhaps or a piece on animal behavior or natural
history. All thoughts of an instructive and entertaining evening went straight
out of the window as the channel's latest hot offering was aired -
Pet Psychic. This program
is an attempt to wring one bit more out of the whole psychic/medium scam.
Sonya Fitzpatrick's clever twist is to communicate telepathically not with
humans, living or dead, but with their pets. A short viewing shows the same
old
cold reading techniques
being applied. (Applied to the pet
owners, that is, not the pets - you would have to be psychic
or something to do that, surely?)
This show is no worse than similar trash from
John Edward and others - what
80 finds particularly sad is that an apparently
factual tv channel chooses to promote it. As for
Sonya Fitzpatrick, who manages to project a
persona of endearing, sincere, caring English dottiness, she is either deluded
and really thinks she is talking to dear departed/troubled Fido or she is
manipulating the credulous and simple for her own gain.
80 tends to the latter view. To use a natural empathy for animals to
help them and their owners with problems is not objectionable - to claim that
you are using paranormal powers to do so and cashing in on it certainly is.
The existence of a very small print disclaimer on the
Animal Planet website describing the show as for "entertainment
purposes and is not intended to convey medical advice or other factual
information" does not excuse the deception.
Essential Essays
Many of the sites that have been featured in previous issues have since disappeared, such is the
ephemeral nature of the Web. Some have suddenly restricted access, perhaps in
an attempt to generate income or even
for fear of ridicule (who
would do such a thing? ) But yet others have
thrived and grown, some deservedly so. One such is
Language
Miniaturesmentioned in
Ghosts UFOs Boo Boo as
Lilliputian Essays back in April 2000. It is a collection of short
pieces about the English language, its grammar, vocabulary, history and
intriguing oddities. There are also enlightening excursions into other
languages. What all these essays have in common is a pleasant, informative
style that communicates superbly William Z Shetter's obvious knowledge and
love of the subject. If you wish to dip in 80
recommends these titles,
The Language of Paradise- Myths of the confusion of tongues,
British Left Waffles on Falklands - Why do some headlines sound so funny?and,
particularly fascinating for the skeptic,
All of This is True - But you'll have to take my word for
it . In April 2000 there were 36 essays, now
there are 90 and every one a gem - highly recommended.
Astrocrud
Another site maybe worthy of your attention is the uncompromisingly namedAstrocrud. This takes an equally uncompromising
look at the "scholarship" of the likes of
Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval and other pseudoarchaeologists
and in particular the math behind their
claimed planetary alignments and other badly flawed evidence supposedly based
on astronomy. Stephen Tonkin, the site's creator has this to say
-
"To those who wish to tar me with the sobriquet
'debunker' (a pejorative term when used by the conspiracy theorists, etc.), I
joyously plead guilty – utter bunkum deserves nothing other than to be
debunked."
A
sentiment with which 80 is wholly in sympathy.
Also included on this site is
30
Flaws of Argumentation - a list,
with examples, of the devices used by
pseudoscientists in promulgating their
theories and discoveries with some good
examples.
Chosen Racists
Now and again 80 will come across a website that
is so offensively stupid, so bigoted, so ignorant that the possibility of a
parody has to be considered.
Yourgoingto hell.com ,
regrettably still extant, was
one such featured in
Dinosaur Hell Ark in April 2001 as
Hell in a Bucket. Now here is
Kingdom Identity
Ministries which is, if anything, worse. It
is at once ludicrous for the sad attempt at biblical "learning",and
frightening for the intolerance and racism
demonstrated. The one good thing about the Web and free speech is that
at least these morons are visible and their ignorant ravings can be countered
and in 80's
case laughed at. But the laughter is hollow - people holding the beliefs and
values promoted on these pages are an affront - even,
and perhaps especially, to other
christians. The cartoon for
Liberals
Only ranks alongside the trash published by the
Third Reich and shows a similar mind set. Click on the
Seedline and Race link if
you need any further evidence. Equally
unbelievable is the sad plea for
White Christian Ladies Only
to join their cult. Here is a short selection from their
Doctrinal Statement of Beliefs -
WE BELIEVE the White, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic
and kindred people to be God's true, literal Children of Israel. Only this
race fulfills every detail of Biblical Prophecy and World History concerning
Israel and continues in these latter days to be heirs and possessors of the
Covenants, Prophecies, Promises and Blessings YHVH God made to Israel. This
chosen seedline making up the "Christian Nations" (Gen. 35:11; Isa. 62:2; Acts
11:26)
WE BELIEVE that the Man Adam (a Hebrew word
meaning: ruddy, to show Blood, flush, turn rosy) is father of the White Race
only. As a son of God (Luke 3:38), made in His likeness (Gen. 5:1), Adam and
his descendants, who are also the children of God (Psalm 82:6; Hos. 1:10; Rom.
8:16; Gal. 4:6; I John 3:1-2), can know YHVH God as their creator.
WE BELIEVE that the United States of America
fulfills the prophesied (II Sam. 7:10; Isa. 11:12; Ezek. 36:24) place where
Christians from all the tribes of Israel would be regathered.
When our Savior returns to restore
righteous government on the earth, there will be a day of reckoning when the
kingdoms of this world become His (Rev. 11:15; Isa. 9:6-7) and all evil shall
be destroyed (Isa. 13:9; Mal. 4:3; Matt. 13:30, 41-42; II Thes. 2:8). His
elect Saints will be raised immortal at His return (I Cor. 15:52-53; I Thes.
4:16; Rev. 20:6) to rule and reign with Him as kings and priests (Rom. 8:17;
II Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10; Exodus 19:6; Dan. 7:18, 27).
In
80's view it is this last quote that is
the kicker - "His elect Saints will be raised immortal
at his return to rule and reign with Him as kings and priests". So,
this is what it is all about - they hope to be Jesus' henchmen when he
comes back to take the place over. Wow!
will he be proud at the rows of ignorant, racist bigots standing there,haloes in hand, ready to help him rule. He'd better not let on he is
jewish.................
And finally...............from the pen of David
Hatcher Childress (see Past View -
OOPARTS Evilution Geode) comes this gem of a
page on......wait for it...
Ancient Egyptian Flying Machines . The text and
lavish illustrations on this page can only serve to confirm
80's original opinion of Childress' scholarship
and learning. Here are "actual
photographs" of Egyptian carvings showing gliders, submarines, helicopters and
even perhaps a zeppelin! This is all backed up by an extract from Childress' magisterial
work,The
Anti-Gravity Handbook,
which also features fascinating
information on ancient Indian flying craft known from legend as Vimanas which
are also detailed, if somewhat disjointedly, here.
Quotes
ABSURDITY, n. A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own
opinion. Ambrose Beirce,
The Devil's Dictionary
"Education ent only books and music - it's asking
questions, all the time. There are millions of us, all over the country, and
no one, not one of us, is asking questions, we're all taking the easiest way
out." Arnold Wesker from "Roots", 1959
“The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour
upon it, the more it will contract.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Some Quotes for Kingdom Identity
Ministries
“No man shall be
compelled to frequent or support any religious worship.” Thomas Jefferson
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from
religious conviction." Blaise Pascal
"Man is a Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only
animal that has the True Religion - several of them. He is the only animal
that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn't
straight." Mark Twain
"You believe in a book that has talking animals, wizards, witches, demons,
sticks turning into snakes, burning bushes, food falling from the sky, people
walking on water, and all sorts of magical, absurd and primitive stories, and
you say that WE are the ones that need help?" Mark Twain
