David

A sober investigation of UFO phenomena

Thursday, January 1, 2009 10:59:43 PM

Well, I managed to slip into 2009 with all of my appendages still attached, and no hangover to speak of. It is a very cold winter day here, and is the kind of day to curl up by a fire with a book, or watch a video on the tube.

I came across a video that is old, but well done, regarding the UFO phenomena. I thought you might like it if it is cold and snowy in your location. So, fire up some popcorn and take a look at this:

Let's make it a double feature!

I hope you liked them. Now, I'll share a photo provided by an acquaintance that purports to prove his assertion that he met ET while backpacking, and that they had been working second jobs in TV advertising as the Pillsbury Dough Boy and the Michelin Man.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What will matter in 2009Oh, Doctor!

Comments

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JenJavaen # Thursday, January 1, 2009 11:36:53 PM

I'm brand spankin new to opera. Excited to read a blog that's in english. Good luck thid year keeping your appendages.

DavidRavo # Thursday, January 1, 2009 11:41:26 PM

Thanks for visiting my blog, Javaen!

Stardancer # Thursday, January 1, 2009 11:44:11 PM

Happy New Year, David and Mrs. David! I hope the UFO's you encounter in 2009 are friendly!

Angelikiellinidata # Friday, January 2, 2009 12:31:45 AM

a great video David! Thanks for sharing! Sorry to hear about your bad weather, I hope you give Mrs Ravo many hugs to keep her warm

Happy 2009

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 1:35:27 AM

Hi, Stardancer,
Same to ya'! Thanks for your continuing friendship!

Hello, Angeliki, Glad you liked it. Don't worry. I have Mrs. Ravo in a firm grip!

Kiyokokiyoshi # Friday, January 2, 2009 3:19:54 AM

happy new year! I used to imagine that if there is an alien in front of me, what I should say...

and now I hope that no matter when we meet an UFO, it'll be a friendly one. happy new year!

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 4:07:13 AM

Anonymous writes: Mythologist, Joseph Campbell taught us how sad it is for those who think they must focus "out there somewhere" when the best and most rewarding journey is in the other direction.

Cleanclean # Friday, January 2, 2009 12:16:55 PM

Happy New Year, Ravo and Mrs Ravo!

(I didn't get the vid, somehow ... do you have a direct link? Maybe it's one of those 'Not allowed to view outside the US' ones ...

Cleanclean # Friday, January 2, 2009 12:18:55 PM

Oh, and it was 39 (C) here the other day (102.2 F) ... I wish I had some of your snow!

)

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 1:09:23 PM

Anonymous writes: In the classic film "The Day the earth stood still" superior beings from "out there" visit our earth in attempt to pursuade the inhabitants to get their act together. External, linear thinking has never been my cup of tea. I'm more for the recognition of just how interdependent we all are. Things will actually get accomplished that way rather than depending on external forces all the time. Sooner or later it gets to the point for some right-brain thinkers that popping a pill (Rush Limbaugh prefers OxyContin to "make his smarter") others believe numbing their minds with Jack Daniels leads to some sort of enlightenment. LOL!

H82typ # Friday, January 2, 2009 1:46:54 PM

Where's the problem, anon?

Happy New Year!

David, my phone can't see embedded links.

Is there a youtube for it?

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 2:00:38 PM

Anonymous writes: There is never any "problem". Only choices. Some choose numbing their minds with ethyl alcohol thinking they are geniuses as the side-effect kicks in - others work of the purification of the mind.

H82typ # Friday, January 2, 2009 2:15:23 PM

And some of us drink to forget, or to quiet the voices.

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 2:20:06 PM

Anonymous writes: And that illusion of "forgetting" or "quieting those voices" is temporary. Always temporary. The sages call this activity (getting loaded day after day) Cheap Grace. A disciplined program of replacing those negative emotions with positive thoughts is the only sure-fire method for finding lasting peace and happiness. But it takes time and patience is not one man's best and enduring qualities.

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 3:16:07 PM

Hi David,
The video website seems to be flaky in uploading this video. Here is the same thing on Youtube: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7100303682843029418

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 3:34:53 PM

Superstition ain't the way writes: Being visited by aliens from galaxies far, far away is similar to the blind belief in a creator god. Both are figments. Both are wishful thinking. Both are based on the desire for power and control. Though open to the possibilites of both, my internal mechanism (vs external thought processes) tells me something smacks of B.S. Though Erich von Daniken's Chariots of the Gods is an amusing read and Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is great fun, I would have to put these in the same category as Big Foot, The Loch Ness Monster, The Abominable Snowman and Joseph Smith. "When you believe in things that you can't understand then you suffer - superstition ain't the way." - Stevie Wonder

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 6:25:21 PM

Hi Anon.
Belief is a short-circuit between the earlobes. It is easier than critical thinking and testing assumptions. It also promotes the idea that mystical constructs based on belief systems somehow have validity in the real world (external to our skin). As this post was meant to entertain and amuse, I won't seriously debate the existance of UFOs, or Gods, for that matter.

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 6:28:47 PM

Hi there, Dennis. I got rid of the crappy link and emdedded the YouTube version. I think they are the same, althought the YouTube iteration may be truncated a bit.

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 6:31:24 PM

Hi Kiyoshi,
I hope the Year of the Ox is the best one yet for you!

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 7:08:31 PM

Kook & Cranks writes: The difference between a “kook” and a “crank” is mainly one of attitude. The Kook believes that anyone who reads or listens to his theories will find them so self-evident, it’s a wonder that everyone didn’t realize the “truth” before now. The Crank knows that you are going to disagree with him, while the harmless Kook is generally surprised at your laughter, and probably feels sorry for you. It is to my understanding that in your neck of the woods Ravo, it is chock-full of people who are positive that a "prophet" of theirs was instructed by a white salamander to put magic rocks in his hat that would assist him in finding some magical golden plates that with special reading glasses could reveal the "truth" that all religions of the day were false and that this new one revealed on those plates indicates that the entire world would someday realize this "truth" , fall in line, and heaven on earth would reign supreme. And of course, these golden plates mysteriously disappeared like the UFO's in Rod Serling's theatrical presentation. My hope is that these people aren't starting to get to you, Ravo. :>

H82typ # Friday, January 2, 2009 8:42:55 PM

Damn, David! The 2nd. day of the year, and look at the shit you're stirring!

Stardancer # Friday, January 2, 2009 8:43:43 PM

"Shake it up!"

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 8:54:54 PM

Anonymous writes: UFO Conspiracy? Photos of Saucers via PhotoShop? I thought I warned you Ravo. Never EVER drink the bong water! :>

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 9:07:55 PM

Sorry Anon, but your lofty perch is actually misplaced in this rather lowly blog. Rather than wading through the muck of this intellectual hog wallow, You should start a blog of your own and lead the masses to enlghtenment, or at least increase the sales of the Alka Seltzer Company!

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 9:21:05 PM

Anonymous writes: Yes, Anonymous. This is Habib. May the fleas of my father's camels nest in your beard!:furious:

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 9:24:31 PM

Anonymous writes: You're doing that mirror thing again Ravo. But I am glad to see you are familiar with the ancient myth of the lion and the jackal. You, know ... deep down, the lion knows he's the lion and the jackal knows he's the jackal. Your blog states that it includes philosophy. I guess that must mean philosophy according to Ravo. :>

H82typ # Friday, January 2, 2009 9:24:36 PM

*throws shoes @ Habib*

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 9:54:06 PM

Gentlemen, gentlemen. Such vitrol! I can see Franz Kafka watching the whole thing: React!, React!. Like you Anon, he enjoys stirring a stick in the ant pile!

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 10:03:25 PM

This Is Philosophy? ... writes: Pointing fingers outwardly is fun isnt it Ravo? A common phenomenon in today's modern Western culture. Never point within. Too scary. Too transparent. Pointing fingers outwardly gives a feeling of power and control, doesn't it? Then when the chips are down ... what's next? Another visit to The Jack of Daniels? Lot's of that sort of thing going around too. :>

Cleanclean # Friday, January 2, 2009 10:54:06 PM

Anonymous actually strikes me as reasonably intelligent (if a bit of a shit stirrer). I, too, would like to see him/her with his/her own blog, if only to see what 'Philosophy According to Anonymous' is like on a regular basis.

(There you go, Anon, free blog title).

DavidRavo # Friday, January 2, 2009 11:18:10 PM

There you are Anon--A challange you can rise to....it's free and easy to download Opera....

Unregistered user # Friday, January 2, 2009 11:40:36 PM

Anonymous writes: Hey, you're awesome! You are too! Aren't we all? You bet we are. Ain't it grand? Sure is ...! LOL!

Unregistered user # Saturday, January 3, 2009 12:10:33 AM

Anonymous writes: I have heard stories of people raised in the Utah culture. Utah is well-known as "the reddest state in America." I understand a part of that culture goes something like this: "Do as we say. Don't argue with us. We are not interested in any outside input ..." that sort of thing. Blogs such as this can be quite interesting when in an open format. Ravo appears to be part of that unilateral culture and knows the Utah culture quite well. He isn't shy in telling those he disagrees with to go ... well lets just say, ... someplace else. This sort of thing is what makes America great!

DavidRavo # Saturday, January 3, 2009 12:34:02 AM

Let us know when you have your blog going, Anon, and I'll respond to your preaching there! Now, get some popcorn and enjoy the movie!

Unregistered user # Saturday, January 3, 2009 12:40:09 AM

Anonymous writes: Look up the word projection Ravo. It'll do you no harm.

DavidRavo # Saturday, January 3, 2009 1:52:36 AM

I'm amused at the way you continue your attacks against me, rather than the arguments I present. And now, it includes the State of Utah as well. Interestingly, that comment allowed me to identify you beyond the servers in Victorville, CA. Your fixation is unhealthy, to say the least, Anon.

Cleanclean # Saturday, January 3, 2009 11:04:49 AM

So ... let me get this straight:

Everyone - absolutely everyone - in Utah is a Mormon (have you not been watching Big Love enough, Anon?)

This sort of thing is - apparently - typical for the 'reddest' state (I don't know what that means; perhaps it has something to do with people painting their houses in one of the primary colours, or something).

And if people don't like it, a suggestion as to making your own platform to speak from is interpreted as telling people to go to buggery ...

You know it makes sense ...

... at least according to Anon's 'logic'.

Remember, the white pills are taken in the morning, the blue ones are taken at night ...

H82typ # Saturday, January 3, 2009 11:52:08 AM

...and don't do the brown acid...

Unregistered user # Saturday, January 3, 2009 5:51:50 PM

Anonymous writes: To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. Rather than speaking badly about people adn in ways that will produce friction and unrest in their lives, we should practice a purer perception of them, and when we speak of others, speak of their good qualities. If you find yourself slandering anybody, first imagine that your mouth is filled with excrement. It will break you of the habit quickly enough. Then I would reject communications such as these (blogs, emails, chat groups, etc.) as they inevitably lend themselves to horrendous attitudes toward each other and a false sense of real community that is self-serving. To inner peace. Good luck and hopes for a better next life.

DavidRavo # Saturday, January 3, 2009 6:49:17 PM

Be sure you apply the same lens to you own conduct, Anon.
Peace, etc......

Unregistered user # Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:34:24 PM

Anonymous writes: Ravo, your wacky obsessive internet power games and inflated ego allowed me to identify you beyond the servers in Sandy, Utah. So what? Your fixation is unhealthy, to say the least, and you most definitely have way too much time on your hands. Better find a new, more productive hobby. Maybe a multi-level marketing scam where the bullshit can really fly.

DavidRavo # Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:34:48 PM

To Kiren, David, and Dennis:

In this on-going discussion over several posts, I neglected to mention that Zen Buddahism and General Semantics are NOT bi-polar opposites, but are rather intimately connected. To quote Joseph Hutchinson:
" Mime Marcel Marceau, master communicator sans words, once posed a thought-provoking question, "Do not the most moving moments of our lives find us without words?" To those cognizant of the fact that Zen and general semantics must be experienced in order to be understood, a definition cluttered with words and subjected to over-interpretation is not helpful. However, in a literal and figurative sense, a grey area exists where Zen and general semantics affably co-exist, uncommon common ground where distinctions between the two are imperceptible. Perhaps when all is done and said, you too will be left speechless.

Zen is spontaneity in living. To look at the world as the Japanese master Nan-in suggests, without allowing thoughts to obscure the view, one must remain passive and ignore the natural urge to interpret using symbols and labels. Like thoughts, words tend to get in the way. Without them, birds are not birds, trees are no longer trees, nor are clouds called clouds, etc. Each entity is what it is at a precise moment, and that is all. One must see them for the first time, like a child, and view action with no expectations. The old adages "actions speak louder than words" and "words cannot express" assume new meaning in this context. That is the essence of Zen and the realization to which students of general semantics aspire.

General semantics looks at "language-as-behavior" and takes into consideration how language is used in relation to its influence on people. Furthermore, general semantics is the study of how we perceive, construct, evaluate, and communicate our life experiences. (Institute of General Semantics, 2005) Perception occurs through and is limited by the five senses, and "knowing" is limited by our awareness and memory of previous experience. (Hipkiss, 1995) As in Zen, words, as symbols of reality, can get in the way because true understanding is beyond words; enlightenment defies description because language is too restrictive to relate the experience.

Several books have been written on the subject, and you can access the full article by Mr. Hutchinson at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6405/is_/ai_n29282495

H82typ # Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:51:26 PM

Thanks, David. I'll read it later.

Oh, and

to Marcel

H82typ # Saturday, January 3, 2009 7:58:41 PM

Dude! Where's the bong?!

Unregistered user # Sunday, January 4, 2009 4:50:36 PM

Anonymous writes: Ravo, your typically windy preaching clearly shows you know nothing of Zen or of Buddhism (not "Buddahism" as you spell it). Less is more, Ravo. The typical Western mind loves to complicate EVERYTHING. D.T. Suzuki and his writings are a good start to understanding this wonderfully simple philosophy. It can alter one's life for the better with its simplicity as so many people are discovering today. A program of formal meditation is even better.

Unregistered user # Sunday, January 4, 2009 5:04:31 PM

Koan writes: The Zen Master held up two sticks and asked the novices "What do you see?" One of the students (with an attitude that suggests he believed he had some sort of superior brain-power) responded: "I see a short stick and a long stick!" To which the Zen Master immediately grasped the novice's nose, twisted it, forcing some degree of pain while shouting to the novice: "KAATZ!" (which roughly translates to: "WAKE UP!" Such is the beauty of Zen.

DavidRavo # Sunday, January 4, 2009 5:48:03 PM

That I suffer from poor spelling I admit, especially typing on the fly. Anon, none are so blind as those who will not see. Instead of a peaceful center, you feed a strange rage, and enjoy making people squirm. My Opera friend Kiren, who knows more about this subject than you & I ever will, had your number several posts ago.

You still rant and rave about something which you simply pay lip service to. Your attacks have become inane, and instead of trying to find out more about an aspect of Zen you obviously know nothing about, you continue to delude yourself that you somehow have a superior knowledge.

Let us see it in a blog of your own, as my Opera friend David suggested. Let's see how you might feel when someone tries to take a dump on your efforts to enlighten others. I guarantee you, I will be there to waste your disk space like you are wasting mine! Or, you can join one of the many Opera forums dedicated to the subject. I'll discuss your personal attacks the next time I see you.

DavidRavo # Sunday, January 4, 2009 5:52:55 PM

Hi Koan,
Being 'awake' is precisely what is sought by both Zen and General Semantics. Thanks for your comment.

JenJavaen # Sunday, January 4, 2009 7:18:06 PM

*applauds* Our typical Western minds simply cannot understand why snipey comments thinly veiled beneath vanity and stubborness apparantly make you feel like more of a man. I agree, write your own blog and let the masses flock to you. Then you'll get the attention you desperately crave.

Cleanclean # Sunday, January 4, 2009 7:45:53 PM