Yeah my bad. Of course i forgot to consult Calvin & Hobbes and of course, you before dragging my cynical, empty, bitter and husk like arse over to my computer this morning to write my fuddy duddy reply to your insightful and penetrating riposte. As i cast my tired, drooping eyes over the content of your post, it was all i could do from falling back into a state of deep slumber. But then i came across this: ...and i nearly snorted a corn flake out of my left nostril. Perfect. The thought of a life sized stuffed tiger eyeballing me like a drill sergeant, admonishing me with comic strip anecdotes was part hilarious and part frightening all at the same time. Although it left me with a cleanup of my workstation that was more annoying than anything else.
I have been listening to the paracast for the last two years rather incessantly. After a healthy dose of about a hundred odd episodes, I have found both the Biedney years and Christopher's co-hosting to be well tempered by Gene. Both incarnations have their own unique charm. As a purist I find the best episodes are the Richard Dolan, Jerome Clark and Vallee episodes. These have caused me to actually buy people's books and rethink all the edges of these strange phenomenon, be they experiential or concrete. These three push at those edges in ways that are highly engaging, thoughtful and fairly concrete, as opposed to most of the unsubstantiated fluff and inventions of fancy that have since become lore for some and facts for others. While Clark is pretty slippery at times I find his willingness to try to inject some critical and imaginative thought, as Vallee does, combined with the relentless academic research, as Dolan provides, to be an important benchmark and measure of others. He's inventive and the most engaging of guests for me. At the same time I can listen to the mellifluous voice of Brad Steiger almost any time of day.
I've pretty much listened to them all give or take a few newer ones. Here is my top 5 5. Carey/Schmitt Witness to Roswell interview 2007 4. Any James Fox interview 3. Mike Fortson on the Phoenix Lights 2. Jesse Marcel Jr. (the latest interview) 1. Bill Knell for the lolz Honorable mentions- the Aaron Kaplan show any Bill Birnes interview Peter Robbins on Rendlesham Richard Dolan
There's something about Jesse Ventura... Can't put my finger on it, but this guy's common sense has no equal ...his father.... Must be it !