Wow. Beijing. My greeter met me at the gate and she steered me through a totally hassle free and painless customs and immigration gauntlet and then plunked me in an Audi limousine for the 15 minute ride to my glossy hotel.
Sitting in a German bar having a house brewed Pilsner before I go to bed. I successfully slept only a couple hours on the flight--which only took 10 hours due to an awesome tailwind. So i should actually be able to sleep. Everyone I've met speaks English at about the same level I speak Spanish--barely passable and comically inept, just enough to barely communicate. So, there is a definite level of comedy in all my transactions so far. It's midnight and I'm outside on a plaza. Now, it's off to bed and see what tomorrow holds. Should be interesting and strange. I've wanted to be here all my life: this is great. Your first night in a foreign country is Always a little jangled and surreal--not quite so surreal as Istanbul or Bombay or Tangiers due to the modernity and gloss. And I love it. More soon. I'm about ready to fall asleep. Jack
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Alien Lore No. 231 - Senator Bobby Kennedy on aliens and UFOs
By Jack Brummet, Alien Lore Editor
A letter from Senator Robert Kennedy has just sold on eBay. It was a typed letter, written to Anne Epple of NYC, on a question she asked about UFOs. The September 10, 1966 letter sold for $220. The Epple letter is the second known letter written by Robert Kennedy on the UFOs/ETs.
Dear Mrs. Epple,
Thank you for your thoughtful letter on "unidentified flying objects".
Many reputable scientists also believe that there must be other beings in the universe. Dr. Harlow Shapley, for one, has stated that there is a high probability that there is other life in the universe. To believe that there is other life in the universe is not, however, to believe that "UFO's" are manned vehicles. One explanation of this phenomenon, in addition to those you mentioned, connects the lights that are seen with the gaseous tails of comets. A careful analysis of sighting to date has not given us any indication that "UFO's" are manned.
I appreciate hearing from you on this matter and look forward to hearing from you again.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Robert F. Kennedy
The letter is similar to another letter written on May 9, 1968 from Senator Kennedy to Gray Barker. Barker was the publisher of Saucer News. In the Gray letter, Kennedy writes about his interest in UFOs. He writes: “I am a card carrying member of the Amalgamated Flying Saucers Association. Therefore, like many other people in our country I am interested in the phenomenon of flying saucers.”
The excellent TV series Dark Skies (1996-97) had several plot points around the Kennedy brothers, and posited early in the series that JFK was killed because he became aware of a government cover-up of aliens and UFOs by the Majestic 12 organization. In Dark Skies, Bobby Kennedy was a sworn enemy of Majestic 12 and believed people "deserve to know the truth." In one episode Frank Bach, the head of Majestic, told the rogue agent John Loengard that "Bobby Kennedy will never become President."
---o0o---
Monday, June 11, 2012
Poem: A meditation on the I Ching and Mitt Romney’s comment that “the earth can handle pretty much anything we dish out”
By Jack Brummet
She may be a deep chasm,
But every bucket has a bottom.
So far, so good,
But every bucket soon fills up.
2.
The earth's factory setting
Is receptive.
She takes everything we dish out.
So far.
3.
Dragons fight in the meadow
Their blood is black and yellow.
---o0o---
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Poem: Tethers
By Jack Brummet
Our tenuous hold on earth
Is disguised in our shadows,
Tethered to the ground
By the soles of our feet,
And a theory of gravity.
---o0o---
Is disguised in our shadows,
Tethered to the ground
By the soles of our feet,
And a theory of gravity.
Friday, June 08, 2012
Alien Lore No. 227 - Bill Clinton on UFOs, aliens, and a possible government cover-up
By Jack Brummet, Alien Lore Editor
"Well I don't know if you all heard this, but, there was actually, when I was president in my second term, there was an anniversary observance of Roswell. Remember that? People came to Roswell, New Mexico from all over the world. And there was also a site in Nevada where people were convinced that the government had buried a UFO and perhaps an alien deep underground because we wouldn't allow anybody to go there. And uhm… I can say now, 'cause it's now been released into the public domain.... This place in Nevada was really serious, that there was an alien artifact there. So I actually sent somebody there to figure it out."
"I did attempt to find out if there were any secret government documents that revealed things. If there were, they were concealed from me too. And if there were, well I wouldn't be the first American president that underlings have lied to, or that career bureaucrats have waited out. But there may be some career person sitting around somewhere, hiding these dark secrets, even from elected presidents. But if so, they successfully eluded me…and I'm almost embarrassed to tell you I did (chuckling) try to find out." - September 2005 to CLSA group in Hong Kong
"I got a letter from 13-year-old Ryan from Belfast. Now, Ryan, if you're out in the crowd tonight, here's the answer to your question. No, as far as I know, an alien spacecraft did not crash in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. And, Ryan, if the United States Air Force did recover alien bodies, they didn't tell me about it, either, and I want to know." - Speaking in
Belfast Northern Ireland November 1995
"You know, I’ve always been really interested in this stuff, and I’m going to read this." - August 2007 to Hollywood producer Paul Davids when he was given the books “Witness to Roswell” and “The Roswell Legacy”, and a new affidavit that had been released following the death of Roswell witness Walter Haut.
"Sarah, there’s a government inside the government, and I don’t control it." - Bill Clinton as quoted by senior White House reporter Sarah McClendon in reply to why he wasn’t doing anything about UFO disclosure.
"It's interesting that you said that because when we celebrated the anniversary of that event out in New Mexico, I actually got all the government documents and read them and I'm convinced there wasn't a UFO there. On the other hand, you shouldn't give up hope because just a couple months ago, our government astrophysicists spotted a planet revolving around a star that is one of the closest to our solar system that they believe has conditions close enough to earth that it might contain life. Unfortunately, its 20 million light years away so unless you, your kids and your grandkids, and maybe one more generation, want to take a trip for us, we'll have to wait for them to come to us. And then we'll know the truth." - Answering the question “When will we ever know the truth about UFOs?" February 6, 2008
"NASA even sent Chuck Berry's music on a space probe searching for intelligent life in outer space. (Laughter.) Well, now, if they're out there, they're duck walking." - at the Kennedy Center Honors held in the White House Clinton- December 3, 2000
"Well I don't know if you all heard this, but, there was actually, when I was president in my second term, there was an anniversary observance of Roswell. Remember that? People came to Roswell, New Mexico from all over the world. And there was also a site in Nevada where people were convinced that the government had buried a UFO and perhaps an alien deep underground because we wouldn't allow anybody to go there. And uhm… I can say now, 'cause it's now been released into the public domain.... This place in Nevada was really serious, that there was an alien artifact there. So I actually sent somebody there to figure it out."
"I did attempt to find out if there were any secret government documents that revealed things. If there were, they were concealed from me too. And if there were, well I wouldn't be the first American president that underlings have lied to, or that career bureaucrats have waited out. But there may be some career person sitting around somewhere, hiding these dark secrets, even from elected presidents. But if so, they successfully eluded me…and I'm almost embarrassed to tell you I did (chuckling) try to find out." - September 2005 to CLSA group in Hong Kong
"I got a letter from 13-year-old Ryan from Belfast. Now, Ryan, if you're out in the crowd tonight, here's the answer to your question. No, as far as I know, an alien spacecraft did not crash in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. And, Ryan, if the United States Air Force did recover alien bodies, they didn't tell me about it, either, and I want to know." - Speaking in
Belfast Northern Ireland November 1995
"You know, I’ve always been really interested in this stuff, and I’m going to read this." - August 2007 to Hollywood producer Paul Davids when he was given the books “Witness to Roswell” and “The Roswell Legacy”, and a new affidavit that had been released following the death of Roswell witness Walter Haut.
"Sarah, there’s a government inside the government, and I don’t control it." - Bill Clinton as quoted by senior White House reporter Sarah McClendon in reply to why he wasn’t doing anything about UFO disclosure.
"It's interesting that you said that because when we celebrated the anniversary of that event out in New Mexico, I actually got all the government documents and read them and I'm convinced there wasn't a UFO there. On the other hand, you shouldn't give up hope because just a couple months ago, our government astrophysicists spotted a planet revolving around a star that is one of the closest to our solar system that they believe has conditions close enough to earth that it might contain life. Unfortunately, its 20 million light years away so unless you, your kids and your grandkids, and maybe one more generation, want to take a trip for us, we'll have to wait for them to come to us. And then we'll know the truth." - Answering the question “When will we ever know the truth about UFOs?" February 6, 2008
"NASA even sent Chuck Berry's music on a space probe searching for intelligent life in outer space. (Laughter.) Well, now, if they're out there, they're duck walking." - at the Kennedy Center Honors held in the White House Clinton- December 3, 2000
---o0o---
Shaggy Dog Story No. 17 - Charlie goes to Vegas
By Jack Brummet, Folk Tales Editor
Charlie is working in his store when he hears a booming voice from above: “Charlie, sell your business.” He ignores it. It goes on for days. “Charlie, sell your business for $3 million.” After weeks of this, he relents, sells his store. The voice says ‘Charlie, go to Las Vegas.” He asks why. “Charlie, take the $3 million to Las Vegas.” He obeys, goes to a casino. The Voice says, “Charlie, go to the blackjack table and put it down all on one hand.” He hesitates but knows he must. He’s dealt an 18. The dealer has a six showing. “Charlie, take a card.” What? The dealer has — “Take a card!” He tells the dealer to hit him. Charlie gets an ace. Nineteen. He breathes easy. “Charlie, take another card.” What? “TAKE ANOTHER CARD!” He asks for another card. It’s another ace. He has twenty. “Charlie, take another card,” the voice commands. I have twenty! Charlie shouts. “TAKE ANOTHER CARD!!” booms the voice. "Hit me," Charlie says. He gets another ace. Twenty one. The booming voice goes: “un-f***ing-believable!”
Charlie is working in his store when he hears a booming voice from above: “Charlie, sell your business.” He ignores it. It goes on for days. “Charlie, sell your business for $3 million.” After weeks of this, he relents, sells his store. The voice says ‘Charlie, go to Las Vegas.” He asks why. “Charlie, take the $3 million to Las Vegas.” He obeys, goes to a casino. The Voice says, “Charlie, go to the blackjack table and put it down all on one hand.” He hesitates but knows he must. He’s dealt an 18. The dealer has a six showing. “Charlie, take a card.” What? The dealer has — “Take a card!” He tells the dealer to hit him. Charlie gets an ace. Nineteen. He breathes easy. “Charlie, take another card.” What? “TAKE ANOTHER CARD!” He asks for another card. It’s another ace. He has twenty. “Charlie, take another card,” the voice commands. I have twenty! Charlie shouts. “TAKE ANOTHER CARD!!” booms the voice. "Hit me," Charlie says. He gets another ace. Twenty one. The booming voice goes: “un-f***ing-believable!”
---o0o---
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Preston Sturges's eleven rules for box office appeal
Preston Sturges, director, screenwriter and the father of screwball comedy put down these 11 rules for box office appeal:
(Source: The Cinema of Preston Sturges: A Critical Study; Image: Preston Sturges, via PBS.)
(Source: The Cinema of Preston Sturges: A Critical Study; Image: Preston Sturges, via PBS.)
- A pretty girl is better than an ugly one.
- A leg is better than an arm.
- A bedroom is better than a living room.
- An arrival is better than a departure.
- A birth is better than a death.
- A chase is better than a chat.
- A dog is better than a landscape.
- A kitten is better than a dog.
- A baby is better than a kitten.
- A kiss is better than a baby.
- A pratfall is better than anything.
---o0o---
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