“We shall pick up an existence by its frogs. Wise men have tried other ways. They have tried to understand our state of being, by grasping at its stars, or its arts, or its economics. But, if there is an underlying oneness of all things, it does not matter where we begin, whether with stars, or laws of supply and demand, or frogs, or Napoleon Bonaparte. One measures a circle, beginning anywhere.” ~Charles Fort, Lo!
UFOlogists don’t like to talk about bigfoot. Cryptozoologists looking for sasquatch don’t like talking about ghosts. Ghost hunters won’t talk about UFOs. And conspiracy researchers are constantly lamenting, and rightfully so, being linked to all of the above by the media as a discrediting tactic. It’s a fair criticism (for those not wishing to taint there own activist chocolate with those other fringers’ peanut butter.)
A corollary criticism often follows that television shows and movies with wacky paranormal conspiracy subjects generally condition the public to associate those topics and issues with so much silly entertainment. And again, I generally agree with that sentiment.
But some TV shows and movies can make excellent touchstones for educating that same neophyte public about both the paranormal and parapolitical. And while our myth-making media do condition the public to pigeon-hole conspiracy claims and UFO sightings research into the molds sculpted in the image of X-Files “True Believers,” some examples from these pop-culture continuums can be turned back on themselves as vast repositories of referential material and launchpads for further exploration. These exemplary cult-classics can serve to educate instead of obfuscate. For there are many True Believers and they each have their own cliques, but there are also those watching all the various cliques - and those watchers aren’t all working for the NSA.
Explore the fascinating world of UFOs, Close Encounters and Strange Entities through a dazzling array of historic imagery; from ancient cave art, to classical paintings on to the modern era of digital photography and fakery. How do scientific groups like Austin’s Mutual UFO Network and Anomaly Archives investigate these mysterious encounter events? Come join the exploration and discussion of these fascinating topics being presented by Austin MUFON and the Anomaly Archives lending library. This IONS-SAI lecture will be at 6:30 PM at the Austin History Center, 9th and Guadalupe, Austin, Texas. Admission is free. For more information call 512-258-9878.
Mike DeGroff is the current State Section Director for the Travis and Williamson County Chapters of MUFON.
SMiles Lewis is a past leader of Austin MUFON and the Austin UFO Experiencer Support and Study Group and founder of the Scientific Anomaly Institute’s lending library, the Anomaly Archives.
This 30 second TV spot for the ill-fated 38th National UFO Conference aired a few times on Time Warner cable before being pulled due to the cancellation of the conference because of the events of September 11th, 2001.
This 30 second TV spot for the ill-fated 38th National UFO Conference aired a few times on Time Warner cable before being pulled due to the cancellation of the conference because of the events of September 11th, 2001.
The 30 second TV spot featured an animated version of the official poster (left) by Mack White. This rare television spot featured one of the first big hits by local Austin band PONG (formerly the infamous Ed Hall), Blues Underground - a song that had lyrics such as, “The Knights of Templar, They Run The Game, They’ve Got The Money, And All The Fame, Long Ago Across The Sea, The Invented Monopoly!”
That’s SMiles Lewis and Jerome Clark talking UFOs and more on the latest “Strange Days… Indeed” podcast with veteran radioshow host Errol Bruce-Knapp! - SMiles
This promo for the 38th annual National UFO Conference was to be shown to audience members at the original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in downtown Austin, Texas in the final days leading up to the ill-fated 38th NUFOC scheduled for the weekend of September 14th through 16th, 2001. In fact, it was probably hand delivered to Drafthouse owner Tim on Monday night, September 10th, 2001. I don’t know if it was ever actually shown.
Well, I finally went and did it … I uploaded my first video to Google Video. I’ve created a specific account for nostalgia related to the ill-fated 2001 National UFO Conference in Austin, Texas. This was directed by a friend of mine who may or may not want to remain anonymous. I just love that famous Ronald Reagan quote. It was shown at the Alamo Drafthouse several times in the run-up to the conference but was pulled shortly after 911 once we realized the conference had to be canceled. Unfortunately, the resolution of the uploaded copy did not transfer well. Also, this version does not have the corrected mis-spelling; FREE STUFF for whomever emails me first as to the word that is spelled incorrectly in the trailer.
This is the first in a series of videos related to NUFOC 38 that will be uploaded this week. We hope to get the 30 second TV spot uploaded which featured an animated version of the official poster (left) by Mack White and that appeared several times on local cable television in the weeks preceding the (non)event. This rare television spot featured one of the first big hits by local Austin band PONG (formerly the infamous Ed Hall), Blues Underground - a song that had lyrics such as, “The Knights of Templar, They Run The Game, They’ve Got The Money, And All The Fame, Long Ago Across The Sea, The Invented Monopoly!”
- SMiles
60 second spot for NUFOC 38. The 38th Annual National UFO Conference organized and hosted by SMiles Lewis and The Elfis Network. Originally scheduled as a 3 day / 3 night UFO extravaganza at the Original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in downtown Austin, Texas the weekend of September 14th, 15th, and 16th. Due to the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 (aka 911 and 9/11) the conference was canceled. The shutdown of domestic air-traffic prevented the travel of the 23+ speakers.For details on the “Best UFO Conference nEver” goto …www.NUFOC.com/nufoc38/For information about SMiles Lewis and The Elfis Network goto …
NUFOC 38 - The 38th annual National UFO Conference
The 38th Annual National UFO Conference organized and hosted by SMiles Lewis and The Elfis Network. Originally scheduled as a 3 day / 3 night UFO extravaganza at the Original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in downtown Austin, Texas the weekend of September 14th, 15th, and 16th. Due to the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 (aka 911 and 9/11) the conference was canceled. The shutdown of domestic air-traffic prevented the travel of the 23+ speakers.
For details on the “Best UFO Conference nEver” goto … www.NUFOC.com/nufoc38/
For information about SMiles Lewis and The Elfis Network goto …
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September 11th, 2001.
