Recent content by spookyparadigm

Gene, I know he did. And Forrestal had mental health issues. And so on. As I noted, I'm not calling Tonnies' untimely passing into question. But to build on Burnt State's point, it's already one thing when people who have clearly been murdered by nefarious people, and family and friends have to...

Which brings up a very interesting question Nick, I have seen almost no claims that Mac Tonnies was murdered because he got "too close." Yet he was a young man who died of a very unusual condition, right as he was finishing a book offering a new and highly anticipated take on the UFO question...

That's a republication by different publishers. The original was a Smithsonian Institution Press volume published to coincide with the 50th anniversary. Here's the Amazon record for that version (apparently a paperback version came out in 2002, which I was not aware of)...

Oh. That's about 12 years old. And basically has one worthwhile chapter, while the rest is just boilerplate fluff about myth and religion. The problems with that book are what made me do this (note it is in several parts, just follow link at the end of each section). Spooky Paradigm...

On the Socorro episode of the show. Anyone have an idea what that is?

About five minutes before the interview with him ends, he sounds a touch more reasonable. Basically trying to say, I guess, that eyewitness testimony is just unreliable, so that accounts are fine, but you then have to go to other sorts of investigation if you want to get any real results. Ok, I...

I'm definitely what you'd call a skeptic. I'm probably what you'd call a "science fundamentalist." I certainly don't believe UFOs have anything to do with mid-20th century space age fantasies. But this guy was painful to listen to. Ufology does not have a monopoly on the self-important or the...

The criticism is valid when it comes to the abductee groups, since they are indeed self-selecting groups. However, the survey of interest/belief in UFOs vs. education level and other demographics was a more across the board poll. I'm trying to remember the source. Zimmer studied college...

There is a correlation between education level and interest/belief in UFOs, except not that which was suggested. In the US, the more education one has, through to the BA/BS level, the higher interest/belief there is in the subject. Once you hit the graduate school level, it declines. At least...

Oh, and thanks for the note on the blog. I haven't updated in a long while sadly. I'm going to have a little more time on my hands soon (yeah, that means what it sounds like), so I might start up again.

I taught a course at Tulane University right after I graduated from grad school there, in 2007. It had a long title that when I've pitched it elsewhere got boiled down to Anthropology of the Paranormal (another university contracted for the course, but I had to pull out as I got a postdoc...

I really enjoyed O'Brien's first book. Even if you're entirely skeptical about it 1.) He's open about his methods, which is rare, and welcome. I've recommended the book just for that. 2.) It's some really interesting stories and folklore 3.) It's a good read The obvious thing to compare it...

That video was part of a documentary that did a pretty good job on the case, and was I believe evenhanded. The same folks did a documentary on the St. Louis area triangle of 2000, including hiring a forensic CGI reconstruction team to interview the witnesses, look at the one polaroid taken, map...

First off, the ability to pull this show off proves once and for all, that the Paracast is the gold standard as the new tagline states. Putting together that group, and giving them the ability to talk about Keel and the related topics with thoughtful and knowledgeable hosts moving the discussion...

I think it has been better recently, but then I listen more to select episodes rather than most of them, as I once did. But I greatly enjoy the increasing appearance of the "let's explore this topic fully and then if it is of no value beyond cultural/historical, if even that, dump it." The...