THE PARACAST NEWSLETTER
April 30, 2011
Learn How to Explore the Paranormal on the Cheap on The Paracast
Special Announcement: The Paracast is heard Sundays from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM (Central Time) on the GCN radio network.
The Paracast Humbly Requests Your Donations: Although ads help cover a small part of our expenses, the income they produce is never enough. Also, we do not receive any revenue from the ads placed on the show by our network. So we hope you'll be willing to help fill the gap if you can to help us cover increasing server costs and other expenses -- or perhaps provide a little extra cash for lunch. No contribution is too small (or too large
. We have a Donate link on our home page, below the logo and audio player. There's also a Donate link on our forums, right below our logo. Or just send your PayPal donation direct to sales (at) theparacast (dot) com.
Attention U.S. Listeners: Let's Bring The Paracast to Your City! Last summer, The Paracast joined the GCN radio network. This represented a huge step in bringing our show to a larger, mainstream audience. Now we want your help to add more affiliates to our growing network. Please ask one of your local talk stations if they are interested in carrying The Paracast. Feel free to contact us directly with the names of programming people we might be able to contact directly. We can't do this alone, and if you succeed in convincing your local station to carry the show, we'll reward you with one of our special T-shirts, and other goodies. With your help, The Paracast can grow into one of the most popular paranormal shows on the planet!
You Can Now Order The Official Paracast T-Shirt: You asked, and we answered. We are now taking orders for The Official Paracast T-Shirt and a collection of other specially customized merchandise. To get your T-Shirt, just pay a visit to our new online store at Welcome to The Official Paracast Store to select your size and place your order. We now also offer a lineup of other premium merchandise featuring The Paracast logo.
Sunday, May 1, 2011: The Paracast covers a world beyond science, where UFOs, poltergeists and strange phenomena of all kinds have been reported by millions across the planet.
Set Up: The Paracast hosts interview long-time researchers in the field, to shed light on the mysteries and complexities of our Universe and the secrets that surround us in our everyday lives.
Join us as we explore the realms of the known and unknown, and hear great stories of the history of the paranormal field in the 20th and 21st centuries.
This Week's Episode: Gene and Chris present long-time paranormal investigator Joshua P. Warren, author of “Poor Man’s Paranormal: A Manual on Using Household Items to Document Ghosts, UFOs, Cryptids & Psychic Activity Right Now.” You’ll discover how to explore the strange and unknown without buying budget-busting gear.
Christopher O'Brien's Site: Home - Our Strange Planet
Joshua P. Warren's Site: The Official Website Of Joshua P Warren Paranormal Investigator Broadcaster and Author
Coming May 8: Gene and Chris attempt to explore what the U.S. Presidents and other government officials knew and didn’t know about UFOs and their possible reality with Grant Cameron, who presents his evidence on The Presidents UFO Website.
Christopher O'Brien's Site: Home - Our Strange Planet
Grant Cameron's Site: The Presidents UFO Website
Reminder: Don't forget to visit our always-active Discussion Forums for the latest news/views/debates on all things paranormal (and note our new Internet address): The Paracast Community Forums.
The Threshold of Evidence
By Gene Steinberg
During the 2008 campaign, aides of then-Senator Barack Obama released such personal records as his birth certificate and tax returns. From these documents, you could see he was a wealthy man, but some felt the so-called “short form” birth certificate he submitted was unacceptable.
That conclusion drove a movement known as “birthers,” people who believe that Obama is not a “natural born” U.S. citizen and thus ineligible to run, let alone be elected as, the president. What they continued to demand was a copy of the actual birth certificate as supposedly submitted by the hospital at which he was born to the Hawaii Department of Health.
Now understand that I do not know anyone in my immediate family, let alone my limited circle of friends, who possesses one of these so-called “long form” birth certificates. When I sought a copy of mine from the authorities New York State, I was sent a standard computerized form. But that document is acceptable as proof of one’s birth in order to receive a driver’s license, apply for Social Security, and even obtain a passport. Nobody has ever questioned the location of my birth.
I am not going to address the possible reasons why some people demanded more of Obama, but even when his “long form” birth certificate was released this week, the critics weren’t satisfied. They opened up the scanned document posted online, and pronounced it a Photoshop hoax. The reason, they claimed, is because the image was made of “layers,” in which a graphic image file consists of separate parts that are convenient for editing or enhancement.
Now understand that, in order to give a copy to every journalist who attended the White House briefing at which the birth certificate was presented, someone had to photograph or scan the original. That copy was then posted, or presented in printed form, to a journalist. In turn, that document would be scanned by a publication’s art department, and enhanced for better display online or in print. Regardless, the image would likely be opened in Photoshop – or another Adobe image editing application – and perhaps resaved after the appropriate enhancement process.
It’s also true that an original scan, unaltered, may also consist of layers, as would the copy, assuming the document wasn’t “flattened,” which simply means combining the separate layers into one.
However, this trivial explanation won’t be accepted. There has to be a conspiracy, even though there’s really no evidence that Obama could possibly have been born elsewhere. One alleged document, allegedly proving that he was born in Kenya, is not taken seriously.
So what does any of this have to do with our paranormal universe? Well, it so happens that there are a number of controversial cases that supposedly have conventional explanations. Whether the late Captain Thomas Mantell, who died in an airplane crash in 1948 after supposedly chasing a UFO, was really chasing Venus when he simply made a wrong maneuver, has been debated for years. In that case, you probably have to separate the sighting from the crash. It doesn’t matter what Mantell saw; he would have crashed anyway. There’s no evidence that ET shot him down
There are a number of UFO contact cases with photograph evidence. Even when the evidence against such a photo is overwhelming, the goalpost will change. Well, sure, maybe you can create a similar picture with Photoshop, or perhaps a tossing a model or two skyward, but how about making the imitation exact? Not close, but 100% the same? Of course, that might involve getting the same model, going to the exact location in which the pictures were shot, and doing it in the exact same place, at the same distance, and under similar weather conditions.
Even if the imitation is, to all intents and purposes, identical to the original, some would still object. The original photo “has” to be real. They made their minds up, and no amount of evidence or logic will change alter their belief system.
However, the barrier of proof for any paranormal event is high. Extraordinary claims, and all that stuff. Unfortunately, cases that involve a single or small number of individuals witnessing a one-time event, however incredible, may not be sufficient. You need large crowds of eyewitnesses reporting the same or a similar occurrence, not to mention photos and movies that can’t possibly be faked – and that’s really hard to do these days when sophisticated image editing software is not very expensive, and most any trained graphic artist or special effects editor can do the deed.
Two episodes of The Paracast, featuring paranormal investigators Micah A. Hanks, and Joshua P. Warren, have focused heavily on assembling the right investigative tools, then collecting and evaluating evidence. Even with huge bundles of documents detailing extraordinary encounters, the skeptics may not be convinced. When you reach one hurdle, they’ll just add another. Believers in conspiracy theories may also change the rules mid-game.
The best way to truly understand our paranormal universe is to treat the evidence fairly, with a healthy dose of skepticism, and be quick to discard the “noise” that doesn’t help advance our understanding of anything.
The Paracast Copyright 1999-2011 Making The Impossible, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy: Your personal information is safe with us. We will positively never give out your name and/or e-mail address to anybody else, and that's a promise!
April 30, 2011
Learn How to Explore the Paranormal on the Cheap on The Paracast
Special Announcement: The Paracast is heard Sundays from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM (Central Time) on the GCN radio network.
The Paracast Humbly Requests Your Donations: Although ads help cover a small part of our expenses, the income they produce is never enough. Also, we do not receive any revenue from the ads placed on the show by our network. So we hope you'll be willing to help fill the gap if you can to help us cover increasing server costs and other expenses -- or perhaps provide a little extra cash for lunch. No contribution is too small (or too large
. We have a Donate link on our home page, below the logo and audio player. There's also a Donate link on our forums, right below our logo. Or just send your PayPal donation direct to sales (at) theparacast (dot) com.Attention U.S. Listeners: Let's Bring The Paracast to Your City! Last summer, The Paracast joined the GCN radio network. This represented a huge step in bringing our show to a larger, mainstream audience. Now we want your help to add more affiliates to our growing network. Please ask one of your local talk stations if they are interested in carrying The Paracast. Feel free to contact us directly with the names of programming people we might be able to contact directly. We can't do this alone, and if you succeed in convincing your local station to carry the show, we'll reward you with one of our special T-shirts, and other goodies. With your help, The Paracast can grow into one of the most popular paranormal shows on the planet!
You Can Now Order The Official Paracast T-Shirt: You asked, and we answered. We are now taking orders for The Official Paracast T-Shirt and a collection of other specially customized merchandise. To get your T-Shirt, just pay a visit to our new online store at Welcome to The Official Paracast Store to select your size and place your order. We now also offer a lineup of other premium merchandise featuring The Paracast logo.
Sunday, May 1, 2011: The Paracast covers a world beyond science, where UFOs, poltergeists and strange phenomena of all kinds have been reported by millions across the planet.
Set Up: The Paracast hosts interview long-time researchers in the field, to shed light on the mysteries and complexities of our Universe and the secrets that surround us in our everyday lives.
Join us as we explore the realms of the known and unknown, and hear great stories of the history of the paranormal field in the 20th and 21st centuries.
This Week's Episode: Gene and Chris present long-time paranormal investigator Joshua P. Warren, author of “Poor Man’s Paranormal: A Manual on Using Household Items to Document Ghosts, UFOs, Cryptids & Psychic Activity Right Now.” You’ll discover how to explore the strange and unknown without buying budget-busting gear.
Christopher O'Brien's Site: Home - Our Strange Planet
Joshua P. Warren's Site: The Official Website Of Joshua P Warren Paranormal Investigator Broadcaster and Author
Coming May 8: Gene and Chris attempt to explore what the U.S. Presidents and other government officials knew and didn’t know about UFOs and their possible reality with Grant Cameron, who presents his evidence on The Presidents UFO Website.
Christopher O'Brien's Site: Home - Our Strange Planet
Grant Cameron's Site: The Presidents UFO Website
Reminder: Don't forget to visit our always-active Discussion Forums for the latest news/views/debates on all things paranormal (and note our new Internet address): The Paracast Community Forums.
The Threshold of Evidence
By Gene Steinberg
During the 2008 campaign, aides of then-Senator Barack Obama released such personal records as his birth certificate and tax returns. From these documents, you could see he was a wealthy man, but some felt the so-called “short form” birth certificate he submitted was unacceptable.
That conclusion drove a movement known as “birthers,” people who believe that Obama is not a “natural born” U.S. citizen and thus ineligible to run, let alone be elected as, the president. What they continued to demand was a copy of the actual birth certificate as supposedly submitted by the hospital at which he was born to the Hawaii Department of Health.
Now understand that I do not know anyone in my immediate family, let alone my limited circle of friends, who possesses one of these so-called “long form” birth certificates. When I sought a copy of mine from the authorities New York State, I was sent a standard computerized form. But that document is acceptable as proof of one’s birth in order to receive a driver’s license, apply for Social Security, and even obtain a passport. Nobody has ever questioned the location of my birth.
I am not going to address the possible reasons why some people demanded more of Obama, but even when his “long form” birth certificate was released this week, the critics weren’t satisfied. They opened up the scanned document posted online, and pronounced it a Photoshop hoax. The reason, they claimed, is because the image was made of “layers,” in which a graphic image file consists of separate parts that are convenient for editing or enhancement.
Now understand that, in order to give a copy to every journalist who attended the White House briefing at which the birth certificate was presented, someone had to photograph or scan the original. That copy was then posted, or presented in printed form, to a journalist. In turn, that document would be scanned by a publication’s art department, and enhanced for better display online or in print. Regardless, the image would likely be opened in Photoshop – or another Adobe image editing application – and perhaps resaved after the appropriate enhancement process.
It’s also true that an original scan, unaltered, may also consist of layers, as would the copy, assuming the document wasn’t “flattened,” which simply means combining the separate layers into one.
However, this trivial explanation won’t be accepted. There has to be a conspiracy, even though there’s really no evidence that Obama could possibly have been born elsewhere. One alleged document, allegedly proving that he was born in Kenya, is not taken seriously.
So what does any of this have to do with our paranormal universe? Well, it so happens that there are a number of controversial cases that supposedly have conventional explanations. Whether the late Captain Thomas Mantell, who died in an airplane crash in 1948 after supposedly chasing a UFO, was really chasing Venus when he simply made a wrong maneuver, has been debated for years. In that case, you probably have to separate the sighting from the crash. It doesn’t matter what Mantell saw; he would have crashed anyway. There’s no evidence that ET shot him down
There are a number of UFO contact cases with photograph evidence. Even when the evidence against such a photo is overwhelming, the goalpost will change. Well, sure, maybe you can create a similar picture with Photoshop, or perhaps a tossing a model or two skyward, but how about making the imitation exact? Not close, but 100% the same? Of course, that might involve getting the same model, going to the exact location in which the pictures were shot, and doing it in the exact same place, at the same distance, and under similar weather conditions.
Even if the imitation is, to all intents and purposes, identical to the original, some would still object. The original photo “has” to be real. They made their minds up, and no amount of evidence or logic will change alter their belief system.
However, the barrier of proof for any paranormal event is high. Extraordinary claims, and all that stuff. Unfortunately, cases that involve a single or small number of individuals witnessing a one-time event, however incredible, may not be sufficient. You need large crowds of eyewitnesses reporting the same or a similar occurrence, not to mention photos and movies that can’t possibly be faked – and that’s really hard to do these days when sophisticated image editing software is not very expensive, and most any trained graphic artist or special effects editor can do the deed.
Two episodes of The Paracast, featuring paranormal investigators Micah A. Hanks, and Joshua P. Warren, have focused heavily on assembling the right investigative tools, then collecting and evaluating evidence. Even with huge bundles of documents detailing extraordinary encounters, the skeptics may not be convinced. When you reach one hurdle, they’ll just add another. Believers in conspiracy theories may also change the rules mid-game.
The best way to truly understand our paranormal universe is to treat the evidence fairly, with a healthy dose of skepticism, and be quick to discard the “noise” that doesn’t help advance our understanding of anything.
The Paracast Copyright 1999-2011 Making The Impossible, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy: Your personal information is safe with us. We will positively never give out your name and/or e-mail address to anybody else, and that's a promise!
