Poem: a slippery slope

Anger management is itself a slippery slope
Next, we'll manage laughter so those not laughing
Won't feel left out or have something to cry about
---o0o---

Poem: Tidiness is a phobia...or is it a mania?

1.
Tidiness is phobia,
Cleanliness delusion,
And order, madness.

So much is lost--
Love, music, art,
Books, walks, and idle moments

Of shocking profundity and beauty,
Put on hold or abandoned.
Dr. Lister would be appalled.

2.
We've become a nation of
Rub-a-dub-Georges,
Wielding sprayers, wipes, and germicides,

Madly laving away
The sepsis and cooties--
Scrubbing for dear life.

3.
Cleanliness and tidiness
Are a bulwark
Against the inevitable.

Tidiness to the extreme
Exterminates the connections
Between the parts.

4.
No one ever said
On their deathbed
I wish I'd had fewer dust bunnies.

- Jack Brummet
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Alien Lore No. 185 - The Greatest Story Never Told - Roswell and Commander George W. Hoover

By Jack Brummet
Alien Lore & Unexplained Phenomena Editor

[thanks Jeff Clinton for the find]

Commander George W. Hoover, the "grandfather" of satellite technology--a friend and close associate of Dr. Werner von Braun--revealed that the truth about Roswell is a lot weirder, and closer to the accounts long ago dismissed as wack-job conspiracies, than we ever guessed. 

Hoover worked many years with with the U.S. Office of Naval Research, won a bazillion awards and medals, made huge contributions to atmospheric balloon research and to Werner von Braun's Project Orbiter--which led to the launch of Explorer I.   After he retired from the Navy, he worked with NASA and various companies in the military-industrial-space complex. He helped develop the first flight simulators, and was a very accomplished pilot himself.

In the 1950's, Dr. Werner Von Braun said "Everybody talks about satellites, then nobody does anything. George Hoover's contribution should never be forgotten."   The Vice Chief of the Navy, Admiral Harry D. Fel, said praised Hoover's contributions and organizational and logistical  brilliance.

Commander Hoover is seated at the far left at the table

Some UFOlogists believe that Hoover also assisted Fred Durant in the early UFO government study group "The Robertson Panel" as well as other official--both public and secret--UFO studies.

" [Hoover offered] the driving spirit, organizing genius, imagination and foresight which set in motion the mighty effort toward the first man-made earth satellite, man's first step toward space flight."  - Vice Chief of the Navy, Admiral Harry D. Felt

According to Anthony Bragalia, and Aurimas Svitojus, George W. Hoover Jr. recently revealed some remarkable tidbits about his father, including: the fact that Hoover Sr., in his official capacity, learned the real story (if there is one) about the Roswell crash sometime in the 1950s, or even earlier.  He also told his son that he had seen "evidence about the Roswell crash event that convinced him that it was neither a balloon nor a hoax."  Hoover, Sr., however would not go beyond that, and offered no further details.  George Hoover also says his dad had "both a personal and professional interest in UFOs." 

George Hoover Jr. says that his father spoke numerous times of the Roswell crash during the 1960s. Remember, this was well before the explosion of UFOlogy/coverups/conspiracies in the mainstream media in the 80's.  In the 50's and 60's, it was rarely spoken of, and UFOs and Alien Lore were not a part of pop culture, or the American psyche in general. 

An article by Anthiony Bragalia says there may be evidence that Hoover assisted Fred Durant of the early UFO government study group "The Robertson Panel" as well as on other official UFO studies.
 

In 1995 George W. Hoover Sr. left his papers with an associate of the History Channel. Some of Hoover's hints about Roswell that he had made to his own son were later corroborated in private, off-the-record conversations that Commander Hoover had with researcher Dr. William J. Birnes.

Commander George Hoover finally revealed what he really knew about Roswell. He explained the truth, or at least whatever version of the truth he had learned about decades ago.  According to more than one source, that truth was mainly the following:

• UFOs are not the "biggest secret" the government has been sitting on--it is the entities behind them (or, as wel prefer to call them, The Greys, that are of most concern
• Roswell was  a crash event of "visitors from somewhere else"
• The Greys were "not so much interplanetary as much as they were...time travelers." They visitors had transcended time!
• The visitors are clearly "from the future." There is reason to believe that they may even be "us" from a future Earth, and are not actually visiting, but Coming Home.
• These "future humans" have the ability to "manipulate reality around us."
• The government feared the intentions and abilities of the "visitors."  Wouldn't you?
• These visitors are able to use the power of consciousness in extraordinary ways to morph reality.
• And, maybe the best, or, most hopeful part:  human beings are far more powerful in potential than we ever dreamed. We can't yet even comprehend our amazing future capabilities.

---o0o---

Drawing: Scratchboard face

Drawing by Jack Brummet: analog

scratchboard/digital reverse of analog

scratchboard image - click to enlarge

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Three chunks of digital art: the split; mural; talking head

click images to enlarge

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Alien Lore No. 184 New book claims UFOs will come out of the closet this week?

 By Jack Brummet
Alien Lore, Paranormal & Unexplained Phenomena Editor


[Thanks to Dr. Stephen Clarke-Willson for spotting this and sending it along.]


A recent book by retired Air Force officer/NORAD staffer, Stanley A. Fulham,  predicts that  next week, on October 13, 2010, we will witness a "massive UFO display over the world’s biggest cities." 

According to Fulham, the aliens will not, buzz, strafe, or communicate on that date, because they know from their previous experience with other planets that sudden intervention will cause fear and panic.
---o0o---

"[This event will] occur this year, in what will surely be one of the great dramas of our galaxy, the introduction of their alien civilizations and technologies to mankind. We are not alone, and our world will have changed forever." - Stanley Fulham

“Challenges Of Change” reports that this coming out is only the beginning. The aliens will help us remove our poisonous gasses, he says, and that all this will be done by 2015, or earlier.

"The aliens will reveal themselves in a massive UFO display over our principal cities as a first step. They won’t land but they will do so [later]. And I predict that this will happen on October 13, 2010…. It may not happen on October 13. It may happen in November or December. But it will happen this year." - Stanley Fulham in a YouTube video

Stanley Fulham claims to have had extensive communication with The Greys, and that they have told him about things such as climate change, international terrorism, and other topics, because they want the information out without coming down themselves and causing an uproar.

Sarah Palin's befuddled take on "Reagan Country"

By Pablo Fanque
All This Is That National Affairs Editor

Once again, Sarah Palin jumps the shark.  On the other hand, is that really surprising? If Ronald Reagan was running today, he would be ridiculed and excoriated by the Tea Party/Wingnuts as an unregenerate centrist and advocate of liberal appeasement. But then, Hermann Göring and Joseph Goebbels would probably also fail the litmus test.

Sarah Palin posted the following on Facebook earlier today:

This is still Reagan Country



by Sarah Palin
Saturday, October 9, 2010

Just woke this morning in Bakersfield to see that the local newspaper, The Californian, has endorsed Carly Fiorina. Check out the article here to see why Carly is the best choice for California. And please check out the campaign website for Star Parker who is running for Congress from California’s 37th district. I’m in Bakersfield today for the Bakersfield Business Conference, and tonight I’ll be in San Diego for an event for the Combat Veterans For Congress.


California is at a major crossroad in this election, and the eyes of the nation are on this state because the Golden State has unfortunately become a case study in failed liberal policies. This great state for generations has been the epitome of America’s optimism and entrepreneurial spirit. It has led the nation in agriculture, technology, and entertainment. But for years now California has been over-taxed, over-regulated, and overwhelmed by an ever increasing government bureaucracy. Sound familiar? California can turn this around, and so can America. It starts in November. This is still Reagan Country!


- Sarah Palin

---o0o---

"I need more shows" - a thorny issue for a subset of Grateful Dead fans (and, also, a hilarious piece of animation)

A wonderful examination of a problem some Grateful Dead fans may experience.  Thanks to Dean Ericksen for this great find.


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Seattle Police Reveal Photo Of New Person Of Interest

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Photo: The Refugee(s)

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Notes from World War II (Pacific Theatre) in my dad's US Navy Bluejacket's Manual

By Jack Brummet
Folk Life Editor


My father, John Newton Brummet, Jr. [I'm his namesake] enlisted in the army when he was about 17.  He was honorably discharged sometime before World War II began.  After war was declared, he enlisted in the Navy, according to his notes, on August 26, 1942, about nine months following Pearl Harbor.  Following his notes, he sailed from Alaska to the South Pacific, and visited many of the hotspots of the war against Japan.  It would be fascinating to know more about his adventures, but alas, he died at the age of 42 in 1964.   This Bluejacket's Manual is one of the very few artifacts of his I possess. 

John Brummet clowning in the army

Even though he dropped out of school in the 8th grade, his penmanship far surpasses mine, despite having graduated from college.  Different times, for sure.  His notes in the manual start on the flyleaf, and continue for four pages. He first lists his family's addresses, and then every location he visited.  The last page, facing the title page, lists each ship he was on during the war.  I am guessing he kept notes partly because he was bored, and because you were not allowed to disclose either your ship, or your locations in letters.  I transcribed the writing as best I could, but several references are too garbled to verify.

As always, click the images to enlarge. 

He lists where he was stationed at the time he started making notes in his manual. He then lists the addresses of his two brothers--Gould and Romey. Romey was not drafted and did not enlist (I think I remember he was 4F maybe?] He lists his parents last-- with addresses in both Laramie, Wyoming (where my dad grew up) and one address in Everett, Wash., where they seem to have moved sometime during the war. At the bottom of the page, he writes out his hometown Laramie, Wy. again.

He writes other notes, and starts listing the sites and countries he visits:

John Newton Brummet Jr.
Armed Guard Center Pacific


Gould B. Brummet
Co. J. 378th Inf. Camp Swift. Texas


Romey J. Brummet
2423 East 13th St.
Cheyenne, Wyoming


Mr. and Mrs. J.N. Brummet [yes, I am the namesake of a namesake, or the 3rd]
2606 Rockefeller
Everett, Wash.


506 Canby Street
Laramie, Wyoming


Laramie, Wy.

[next page]
U.S. Navy


Johnny Brummet


Enlisted August 26, 1942


Discharged
A.G.C. Pac.


San Francisco


What a day --


Jap. German War


5-8-43 [not sure what the significance of this date is, or why it is out of sequence]


Dutch Harbor A. [Alaska]
November 31 - 1942


Kodiak Dec. 7. 1942
Pearl Harbor


Jan 1 1943
Pearl Harbor [Hawaii]


Feb 18 1943
Oahu Hawaii


Honolulu Hawaii
March 30 1943


Equator June 24 -43


Habert Tasmania
July 15 43


Freemantle ?? [Austrailia] Aug. 1


New Hebrides [a group of islands that became independent in 1980, after years of British and French rule. It is now the nation of Vanuatu.]
January 12 1944


22 years old 1-27-44


[garbled -- trip?]


December 24 - 43


Espiritu Santo [this was the largest island in the New Hebrides/Vanuatu]


[garbled] Pallukula Bay? Pollupula Bay?


42 [garbled]


Russell Isl. [note: in South Queens Land Australia


March

[next page]

Guadalcanal

March 1 44


[garbled -- Could See Salvo?? - Lulogii??? - I can't find references to these]


[garbled] Site Bay NH [New Hebrides]


Havanna Harbor NH

Aukland NZ [Nw Zealand]
April 24


Fila New Hebrides


[garbled - Pallukula Bay??]


30 Days


Guadal. May 13

Pearl Harbor Aug. 14 44


Eniwetok Aug 24 44 [one of the Marshall Islands and the sight of savage battles]


Saipan Sept 14 44

Marshall Isl. Oct. 1 44


Fensehhaven?? New Guinea [there IS a Finchhaven New Guinea]
Nov 24 44


[entry completely garbled]

[second column on this page]


Eniwetok March 16-45


Ulithia March 20-45

Pallau March 23-45


Manilla Philippines March 31-45


Eniwetok May 3-45


Manilla June 29-45


Palawan P.I. (Phillipine Islands) 7-15-45

Manilla Luzon 7-20-45

Palawan P.I. 7-13-45 (??)


Leyte P.I. 8-19-45

SS J Fletcher Ferrall

11-2-44 - 5-27-43


SS Charles D. Postom
6-1-43 - 9-15-43


SS Mathew B, Bready
10-25-43 - 11-17-43


SS Lawrence Gianelli
12-14-43 - 7-9-44

MV Cape Florida
8-24-44 - 1-27-45


SS Sea Shark
2-20-45
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Christine (better dead than red) O'Donnell warns of Chinese plot to take over America

By Pablo Fanque
National Affairs Editor

[thanks to tipster Jeff Clinton for this story]

Ben Evans reported for the Associated Press yesterday that Christine O'Donnell of Delaware, in a 2006 debate, claimed that China was plotting to take over America.  She drew this conclusion from classified information, the source of which she wouldn't disclose.  She later alluded that this "classified" information came from nonprofit groups that sent sent missionaries to China.  Neither O'Donnell, nor the nonprofit religious group, of course, hold any U.S. government security clearances.  Her bizarre claim was made in a 2006 Republican Senate primary debate.  O'Donnell subsequently lost that primary. 

Specifically, Christine O'D said China had a "carefully thought out and strategic plan to take over America."   She even accused one of her opponents of appeasement for saying that China and the U.S. should find a way to be allies.  "We have to look at our history and realize that if they pretend to be our friend it's because they've got something up their sleeve."

One of her, saner and more thoughtful opponents--Jan Ting-- said "I think our China policy has to be handled very carefully," Ting said. "We have the capability of making an enemy or a friend out of China."  

On the basis of these third-hand reports from some half-baked Jehovah's Witnesses and evangelical missionaries, O'Donnell is perfectly happy to place China in the enemies column.
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Alien Lore No. 183 - The World's UFO Greeter (bunked and debunked?)

By Jack Brummet

Alien Lore and Unexplained Phenomena Editor

"Hi.  Welcome to earth.  Have a good day!" or ala Idiocracy, "Welcome to earth.  I love you."

As you may have heard, we now have an official alien greeter, thanks to the United Nations. 

The current head of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), Mazlan Othman--a Malaysian astrophysicist--has been allegedly selected as the U.N. ambassador, to meet and greet visitors from other planets. . .presumably, she will also direct them to the various departments and countries in which they may be interested. 

At first, the U.N. General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, called the now widespread news reports hokum.  It has been reported by The Sunday Times that next week Othman will make an announcement about her appointment as chief alien ambassador at a scientific conference, in Buckinghamshire, England.

The science magazine Wired UK, which says Othman has said in recent lectures that extraterrestrials will someday give signs of their existence to mankind.  As you know, there is a fairly large contingent of people, ranging from generals to scholars to out and out fruitcakes, who believe the visitors have already shown those signs. 

“When we do [see those definitive signs], we should have in place a coordinated response that takes into account all the sensitivities related to the subject”, Othman said in a recent lecture.

Update--just this morning the Associated Press...Othman said she thought it would be a really cool job, but no, she is not the Alien Ambassador.

"Yes, she heads the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. No, she has not been appointed to represent the Earth in future negotiations with aliens.

"That's the word from Mazlan Othman, who Tuesday debunked British press reports indicating she would be Earth's ambassador to beings from outer space if they land in "Take me to your leader" mode.

"Still, it's apparent she kind of likes the idea.


"I think it's cool, but no, I am not about to be appointed the ambassador to aliens," Othman said Tuesday before speaking at a Royal Society conference dealing with extraterrestrial life."


"The issue of Othman's possible role as a point person for aliens was raised nine days ago by the Sunday Times in London, which reported that the U.N. was poised to give Othman the position."

---o0o---

Locked, Loaded, & Ready!

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Drawing: Fraternal Twins

drawing by Jack Brummet - click to enlarge

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Drawing: wheel of beardos

click to enlarge

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The Village Voice: "The white brain, beset with worries, finally goes haywire in spectacular fashion"

Via prolific news-tipster Jeff Clinton. 

An interesting take (and awesome cover illustration) on the teabagging insanity afoot in the land, from this Wednesday's Village Voice (jump here to read the full article).  - Pablo Fanque, All This Is That National Affairs Editor

"About 12:01 on the afternoon of January 20, 2009, the white American mind began to unravel."



"It had been a pretty good run up to that point. The brains of white folks had been humming along cogently for near on 400 years on this continent, with little sign that any serious trouble was brewing..."

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Painting: Parole Officer

Painting by Jack Brummet - click to enlarge

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Tata, Rahm...Godspeed on the road to the Chicago Mayor's office

By Pablo Fanque
National Affairs Editor

Well, it hasn't been a secret--for six months or so (and, really, longer), the rumors have been out there. Obviously BHO knew about it too.  Rahm has never kept it a secret--even when he was a congressman.  This is the job he really wanted.  And I have to admit, I think he'll be a pretty damned good big city mayor.

Other chiefs of staff have gone on to "bigger" things--Dick Cheney, James Baker, Gen, Haig, Rumsfeld, Donald Regan...

Two years is about the norm, really. It's just about as much as anyone in their right mind can take.  And he's not exactly well-loved, even around the white house.  Yeah, it does make it look like people are abandoning ship...what are you going to do? The ship is definitely taking on water, but it's fundamentally sound.  And it's probably time to re-energize the place with fresh meat.
---o0o---

Analog<---->Digital Drawing: Work Release: the first week

drawing by Jack Brummet - Click to enlarge

---o0o---

What Would Jesus Eat?

What Would Jesus Eat?   We don't really know what Jesus ate, but there is, naturally, a panel of wildly divergent experts on the Internet who will tell you they know.  In fact, someone wrote a book, and put out a "What Would Jesus Eat? diet." 

What do we know about what Jesus ate?  Not much at all.  The Bible does not specifically detail whether he ate on the day of the Sermon On The Mount or not; we know he fed a large crowd that day with a few loaves of barley bread and two fish. 

"...he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people."  

The Feeding of the 5,000 (the story of the loaves and fishes) is the only miracle (besides his  resurrection) that happens in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15).  But we still don't know if he ate, held out for a steak, or maybe lentils, back in town.

We know He changed water into wine.  We just don't know whether he drank it or not. 

The Gospel of Luke says Jesus ate broiled fish and honeycomb (Luke 24:42).  As far as I can tell, this is the only mention in the Bible of him actually eating.  This knocks out some of the most vociferous claims of Christ's vegetarianism.   But there seem to be many people who believe that Christ was a vegan or vegetarian, and many others that believe he probably ate fish, and maybe some lamb once in a while.  We know he served bread and wine at the Last Supper, but we do not know whether he ate or drank any of it himself.

Both crackpots and scholars believe that Jesus ate a Mediterranean Diet version of strictly kosher Jewish food, which would include olives, olive oil, lamb and fin fish, and possibly beef (we know the kosher diet could include "fatted calf"), grains, vegetables, and fruit.  But other crackpots and scholars claim he ate no meat or fish at all.   People don't seem to have eaten chicken in the bible, which would rule out matzoh ball soup. 

Many people claim Jesus Christ as a vegetarian.  In 1999, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) launched a campaign to claim that Jesus was a vegetarian. Billboards stating "Jesus was a vegetarian. Show respect for God's creatures - follow Him" were put up around the country.

The Gospels specifically mention Jesus keeping three Passover feasts in Jerusalem. In order to keep the feast, the participants were given roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread to eat (Exodus 12:3-4). The entire lamb had to be eaten during the feast. If there were any leftovers, they had to be burned (Exodus 12:10). If Jesus did not eat the lamb, he may have been violating the Law and could have been accused of sin.  But we just don't know....no one mentions whether he sat at the table and ate, or not.

"... observe the Passover to the LORD. 'In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 'They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it. 'But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and yet neglects to observe the Passover, that person shall then be cut off from his people, for he did not present the offering of the LORD at its appointed time. That man will bear his sin." (Numbers 9:10-13)

Jesus possibly ate lamb, and definitely ate fish:

"But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, 'Have you any food here?' So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence" (Luke 24:41-43).

Whether Jesus ate fish or lamb, or was a strict vegetarian, we know he believed in fishing, and helped his disciples and other fish.  Vegetarian, or not, he was at the least, an enabler:

"So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. ... So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples ventured to question Him, "Who are You?" knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise." (John 21:5-6, 9-14).

---o0o---

The owner of Segway dies on a Segway

Not funny, but sadly ironic. . .from the New York Times today:

"Call it irony, fate, or simply an accident: in Britain, the owner of Segway died over the weekend when he apparently drove one of the devices off a cliff near his home, The Associated Press reported."

"Jimi Heselden, who owned Segway, Inc. until his death on Sunday.In West Yorkshire, police reported that James W. Heselden, 62, who took over control of the company earlier this year, accidentally steered the Segway off a 30-foot cliff and into a river while riding on his estate, about 140 miles from London."

---o0o---

jack brummet drawing: the beardo (clay scratchboard and stylus)

by Jack Brummet - click to enlarge

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Jack Brummet drawing -- Faces No. 46

This canvas has been lost for, literally, years...I found it tonight in an old backpack.

By Jack Brummet - drawn in about 2004-5 - click to enlarge

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