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The remnants of one of those tropical storms is finally coming to Boston, mostly in the form of rain, wind, and thunderstorms. I couldn't be happier, though I wish it'd happened last night so I could get some good sleep. Now, I just wanna nap while the wind whips up.
This week's News Watch kicks it off with the Hot 5 from the Debris Field, featuring Bigfoot hoaxes, Pat Robertson's blame for Katrina, debunkers ruin a statue story, a Dutch TV star plans on doing heroin, and a Harvard doctor thinks she knows everything about alien abductions. Also, Future News Now looks at Vegans being persecuted by the government. That's Entertainment tackles the new Monday Night War shaping up next week. My Fandom : Year 2 covers the calm before the storm as the Red Sox and the hated Yankees are heading toward a climactic showdown next week. Noory Story Showdown scores and an editorial on the much vaunted "Weather War" theory.
Stick around ... it could be good for you.
Hot 5 Stories from The Debris Field
The links are straight from Lesley's blog The Debris Field. The commentary is pure binnall.
1>Bigfoot researchers weed through hoaxes (Pittsburgh Tribune)
http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/entertainment/events/s_375790.html
Sadly, no mention of our good buddy Tom Biscardi in this insightful article on how Bigfoot hunting has gone so far this year. As an armchair cryptozoologist, I found this article pretty fascinating. Good view of what it takes to study this phenomenon seriously.
"It's been 'The Year of the Hoax,'" says Altman. "One came out of a wildlife magazine in Indiana -- two state police officers chased down a group of young men that were dressing in a bigfoot costume, and running across the road in front of cars."
"It's become pretty easy to weed out the bad stuff," he says. "'Bigfoot was walking across the street with TP (toilet paper) stuck to his foot.' 'I heard strange noises coming from our outhouse last night -- strange grunts and groans.' 'Bigfoot was seen carrying off my daughter.' Et cetera." 2>ROBERTSON BLAMES HURRICANE ON CHOICE OF ELLEN DEGENERES TO HOST EMMYS (Global News Matrix)
http://www.globalnewsmatrix.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2649
I love Pat Robertson's insane ramblings. I wonder how anyone can take him seriously at all anymore. Apparently, he says Katrina was caused by Ellen DeGeneres hosting the Emmy's. Like God cares who hosts the Emmy's.
For a good laugh, check out that last quote from Robertson and tell me it isn't the funniest thing you've seen all day. I figured for sure it was a joke, but, no, he's serious.
He said employees at the Christian Broadcasting Network had put together a list of 283 nominees, presenters, and invited guests at the Emmys known to be of sexually deviant persuasions.
"God already allows one awards show to promote the homosexual agenda," Robertson declared. "But clearly He will not tolerate such sinful behavior to spread beyond the Tonys."
3>Naples blood boils at miracle's 'debunking' (London Times Online)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1788141,00.html
Ah, debunkers delight in ruining the fun for everyone. Now, they claim one of those "crying statues" is actually the result of finagled chemical reaction. Yeah, right. And, of course, the town that makes big bucks off the crying statue is hopping mad. You would be too if your gift shop's sales plummeted.
But yesterday's ceremony, which marked the 1,700th anniversary of the martyrdom of San Gennaro, was overshadowed by a claim made by an Italian scientist that the liquefaction was nothing but a fake.
Margherita Hack, an astrophysicist, said: "There is nothing mystical about this. You can make the so-called blood in your kitchen at home." ...
The Marchese said: "The trouble with scientists is that when they cannot find an explanation they invent one. They simply cannot accept that some things are beyond human understanding." 4>Dutch Talk-Show Host to Take Heroin on Air (earthlink.com)
http://funreports.com/fun/14-09-2005/1270-0
Remember this next time some pop singer's boob leaps from her outfit. Looks like in Amsterdam, where everything's legal as long as you don't get caught, some TV host is going to do heroin on air to show how it is bad for you. Something tells me this is an awful idea. Then again, most celebrities are all hopped up on junk nowadays anyway, at least this host is just being honest.
A television presenter on a new Dutch talk show plans to take heroin and other illegal drugs on air in a program intended to reach young audiences on topics that touch their lives, producers said Wednesday. ...
The Shoot Up & Swallow show's main hostess will interview guests about drug use and abuse, while Wesselink and another presenter will carry out in-the-field experiments with sex and drugs. ...
In other segments of the show, Wesselink plans to go on a drinking binge in a series of pubs. He also plans to take the hallucinogenic drug LSD - on his couch under the supervision of his mother. 5>Alien abduction claims explained (Harvard Gazette)
http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2005/09.22/11-alien.html
Ugh. Harvard continues it's campaign to urinate all over the legacy of John Mack. I happened to see this know-it-all woman on Larry King over the Summer and was sufficiently repulsed. The old sleep paralysis hokum you expect from the debunkers, despite the promising title of the article. Sleep Paralysis does not explain Betty and Barney Hill or any of the other folks who were abducted in their cars or yards. It's official, I hate this woman. I expect her to be on Coast at some point down the line to promote her book, but I hope not.
Many of the people who believe they have been abducted by aliens are bombarding Susan Clancy with hate e-mails and phone calls. The Harvard researcher, who has spent five years listening to the stories of some 50 abductees, has described her (and their) experiences in a new book to be published in October.
Clancy, 36, likes most of these people. "They are definitely not crazy," she says. But they do have "a tendency to fantasize and to hold unusual beliefs and ideas. They believe not only in alien abductions, but also in things like UFOs, ESP, astrology, tarot, channeling, auras, and crystal therapy. They also have in common a rash of disturbing experiences for which they are seeking an explanation. For them, alien abduction is the best fit."
In her book, "Abducted: How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens," to be published by the Harvard University Press, Clancy describes a typical reaction. "Can you believe the nerve of that girl (Clancy)," one abductee says. "She comes to me, like, 'Oh, I believe you've been abducted! Let me interview you to learn more.... Oh, what really happened [she says] is sleep paralysis.' Riiight! How the - - does she know? Did it happen to her? There was something in the room that night! I was spinning. I blacked out ... it was terrifying.... I wasn't sleeping. I was taken. I was violated, ripped apart - literally, figuratively, metaphorically, whatever you want to call it. Does she know what that's like?"
ACLU sues Homeland Security for arresting, spying on vegans who protested ham (infowars.com)
http://www.infowars.com/articles/ps/aclu_sues_dhs_arresting_vegan_ham_protestors.htm
Who protests ham ? Vegans, I guess. Thankfully, the ACLU and Alex Jones are keeping an eye on the persecution of the Vegans. Expect more niche groups to emerge on the radar of the government as their never ending quest to ruin everyone's life continues.
The lawsuit stems from a Dec. 2003 incident, when vegans Caitlin Childs and Christopher Freeman were protesting on public property outside a Honey Baked Ham store in Georgia's DeKalb County.
After the protest, the duo noticed they were being watched and photographed by a man in an unmarked car. They approached the car and wrote down the make, model, color and license plate number on a piece of paper. They then noticed the unmarked car was following them.
That's Entertainment !
(Our Hollywood icon Khyron is hard at work producing some quality stuff over @ his site www.khyron.net. As is expected, we shant disturb this delicate artist just yet, but suggest all go check out his work prior to our return to filching material from www.khyron.net.)
The New #2 and another Monday Night War ?
During the late 1990's, an odd fad developed practically overnight in America. For the first time in almost fifteen year, Americans everywhere rekindled their love of the carny tradition affectionately known as "pro. rasslin'". Being that I am a lifelong wrestling fan, I couldn't help but shake my fist at these "fair weather fans" who jumped on the bandwagon. However, they caused wrestling to surge in popularity, at one point sustaining three national promotions. And, as is wont to happen, the bubble burst and caused the collapse of two of those national companies, leaving the sole owner of pro.wrestling in America in the grimy hands of the evil McMahon family's WWF (now known as WWE).
Until now, when we are only about 6 days away from the serious inroads being made at the establishment of the long awaited "new #2" national wrestling promotion, TNA. Total Nonstop Action, as it is known fully, has actually been around for about 3 years, but now is just getting attention as it debuts on Spike TV on Saturday nights @ 11 PM.
This is all amidst what is being dubbed as the new "wrestling war" erupts between cable channels USA and Spike TV. USA grabbed the rights to WWE, which moves there next week. Spike TV, however, has latched onto the growing sport of Mixed Martial Arts under the banner of UFC. You may have heard of UFC, as it is quickly becoming a household name as far as sports brands go. Spike TV also picked up TNA, perhaps as a jab at WWE and also in an effort to harness some of the money that can be generated by cheap to produce pro. wrestling. The battle begins next week, when the two channels will put have a serious battle going on over Monday Nights. On USA, it's WWE from 7:55 pm till midnight, a full doubling of the usual time WWE is on TV on Mondays. This is in reaction to Spike TV airing an astounding 5 hours of UFC programming and then an hour of TNA, all starting at 7 pm.
The October 3rd battle didn't just start out that way, as it first began with simply an opening salvo from Spike TV where they announced a UFC live special for that night, the first night they didn't have WWE. USA responded by increasing WWE to 3 hours that night and adding a "best of" show following that. Spike responded by adding a new episode of the UFC reality show to follow the special and then a replay of TNA's debut show from the previous Saturday. USA, the clever bastards, actually announced that they would be starting the WWE at the ultra rare 7:55 that night, ostensibly to "steal" the audience from UFC. And, finally, this week, Spike TV added another hour of programming to begin at 7 pm, a counter to the 5 minute jump USA thought they'd have on Spike TV.
My best guess would be that WWE will win the night, being that they already have a huge audience. However, many didn't think WCW would last on Monday nights 10 years ago and they eventually ended up beating WWE for almost 2 years. So, don't discount the possibility that this turns out to be a really competitive showdown after October 3rd. If UFC does decent ratings and hurts WWE's numbers, I expect to see the battle continue down the line.
In that event, expect TNA to be the benefactor of this new war and, hopefully, the wrestling business will finally have a viable number two promotion it so desperately needs. I'll throw my support behind TNA, for sure, as they have (gasp !) wrestling on it, instead of cheesy skits and what have you. The wrestling time is kept high as opposed to WWE, who seem like they are bothered by, ya know, having wrestling matches on their show. If you are an old school fan who quit watching pro. graps because of the WWE, now is the time to return as TNA looks to be filling the needed niche of satiating those fans. Either way, it is a great time to be a wrestling fan again.
My Fandom : Year 2
And so it has come down to this. The marathon has turned into a sprint. The 162 game season comes down to 7 games between the Red Sox and the hated Yankees. No, no, it's not the actual playoffs yet, but it is pretty damn close.
Despite being just plain awful all season, somehow the hated Yankees have managed to tie the Red Sox for first place in the AL East. With only seven games left, the Sox first face the fugly Toronto Blue Jays and the Yankees first play the feeble Baltimore Orioles. That's today through Thursday. Those games will be key, as any combination of wins and losses on both sides changes the entire perspective of this coming weekend. Red Sox v. Yankees for AL East. The collective city of Boston will be on pins and needles, my friends.
With the recent surge in wins for the Cleveland Indians leaving the Wild Card slot to be an uncertain fate, this weekend's series may be "winner goes on, loser stays home", adding even more pressure to the events. The Tribe plays the beyond feeble Tampa Bay this week and then is involved in their own critical battle for #1 in AL Central next weekend.
I started out rather peeved that the Sox had managed to lose the top spot in the American League East after holding on for 3 months or so. Everyone in Boston knew the hated Yankees wouldn't go quietly and they slowly crept up and stole the top spot from the Sox right here at the end of the season. What a cruel fate this could turn out to be. What once seemed assured, a Red Sox berth in the playoffs, now has become "uncertain" at best.
Having watched this team throughout the season, I know they can do it. However, I'm not sure sure they will. The stress, mind you, is gnawing at me like an old mother-in-law. My mind is focused nearly solely on the next week or so until we know how this incredible story will play out. I suppose this week's "My Fandom" would best be called "the calm before the storm" as by this time next week, we will have answers and I'll be more inclined to rant and rave.
Predictions on next weekend : The Sox take 2 out of 3. Whether it is good enough, I've no clue. I suspect that Baltimore is due to win against the Yankees, since the Orioles are on an 8 game losing streak going into this series. The Sox are fired up and will be playing at home. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox sweep the Blue Jays, but that all really depends on how the pitching holds up. In a situation like this, a lot depends on how the other team does in their game. If they win, a win is necessary and a loss is huge. If they lose, a win is huge and a loss is a huge waste.
Next week, I'll return to either celebrate or mourn. Cross your fingers till then Red Sox fans.
The Noory Story Showdown
This Week's Point Getters : Officially halfway through the NSS II. Still anyone's game with the emergence of theorist as a new force in the race.
I forgot to add 1 point for Baemark who scored with a story about the US changing it's nuclear policy that Ian Punnett mentioned last Saturday. Add 1 point to Baemark for my blunder.
Streamlinkers : FAZER, 4 points : "PLANET-DISSOLVING DUST CLOUD IS HEADED TOWARD EARTH !", "Tremors may mean 'Big One' on its way", "Mice Infected With Bubonic Plague Missing", "Big growing bulge found in Oregon"
qwerty : "Huge rally against Iraq war"
sheepskin : "Light smoking triples health risks"
theUSofE.com : baemark (7 points) : "World has slim chance to stop flu pandemic", "Fed boosts key rate a quarter-point", "US Deploys warfare unit to jam enemy satellites", "Earthquakes strike near LA", "Guardsmen Sense Ghostly Presence in New Orleans", "Bus with evacuees explodes on highway - 20 dead", and "Scott Stevens leaves weatherman job to pursue theories".
theorist (4 points): "Tropical Storm Rita heads for Florida Keys", "Iraqi defense officials have embezzled $1.27 billion", "Rita Swirls Into Category 5 Storm in Gulf", and "Ga. Closes Schools for 2 Days to Save Fuel"
Oscar (3 points) : "NO MAYOR NAGIN suspends return for RITA", "NASA to unveil plans for 2018 moon mission", and "'Fireball' lights up night sky"
PB@J : "Witchcraft & nail clippings"
Current Standings as of 9.26.5 : Oscar (52), Baemark (49), theorist (14), mirage (10), FAZER (6), Tony1 (6), somnus (6), dark matter (5), jerikai (4), Majestic Peak (3), qwerty (3), WTL (2), Green Moon (2), Shredder (2), Japanese American (2), SomeAverageJoe (2), 1234 (2), anotherlight (1), cns (1), Nettie (1), PB@J (2), infinity 7th (1), joelnet (1), and sheepskin (1).
Score 1 point for posting a news story that gets read by George Noory, Art Bell, or a guest host on the show. Stories posted after they are read by the hosts do NOT count. If you are not credited by me in News Watch, YOU are responsible for letting me know that I missed it. You can ONLY post your news stories in either the Streamlink message board "Current Events" folder or the U.S. of E. message board "Current Events" folder. (News Stories posted in individual episode folders or "Anything Goes" do not count)
The WINNER is the person with the most Noory Story points (cumulative) in the January 2nd, 2006 Edition of News Watch.
The 1st PRIZE is a $40 dollar shopping spree @ the official binnallofamerica.com store.
The 2nd & 3rd place PRIZES are binnallofamerica.com T-Shirts and a mystery surprise item.
Any questions / comments can be sent to tbinnall@hotmail.com This contest is REAL. No wagering, please. Editorial
Weather War ? Um, no.
"I've read all their statements and I've not said a word, but now, Lord God, let my poor voice be heard." -- Bob Dylan, "Let Me Die in my Footsteps".
It's been almost a month since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast. It became the story of the year and, as such, fodder for C2C guests everywhere. Everyone from Ed Dames, to Sean David Morton, to Sylvia Browne, Steve Quayle, Linda Moulton Howe, and, of course, Richard C. Hoagland, has some form of opinion on the big storm and how it corresponds to their "ground breaking" work.
Now, we can always discount the prognosticators, as their stuff is usually so full of spin you can't believe anything they say as it is. Save for Dr. Turi, who I now dub as "France's greatest gift to America", no C2C prognosticator has even come close to suggesting this was about to happen. So there's no point in hearing from them after the fact.
Instead, we turn our eyes toward the camp that has emerged, whom I've dubbed "the weather war" crowd. Led by erstwhile former weatherman Scott Stephens.
Let's talk about Scott Stephens. I liked him at first, really I did. He had some interesting stuff regarding possible manipulation with weather. Then, after Katrina, he started going off the deep end. I could possibly entertain the idea that Katrina was "influenced" by nefarious forces. Sure, that possible. Then, it became Russia. Uh oh.
Russia wasn't "dangerous" enough, I suppose, because things got worse when it now turned out that it was the Japanese Yakuza controlling the weather. Oh crap. Even worse, the Japanese Yakuza used Katrina as retaliation for Hiroshima.
Stop right there. Who let this half baked conspiracy theory even get past the initial stages of its fruition ? It's beyond Hoagland-esque. It's just plain stupid. It should have been left in the basement with the bong, not allowed to hit the mainstream. It is, as Alex Jones once quipped about David Icke, the "turd in the punchbowl". In short, if you believe the Japanese Yakuza caused Katrina to veer wildly off course and strike New Orleans, you are a moron.
Now that we've got that out of the way, we are left with the overarching concept of a "weather war" in general. When we strip away naming the "nefarious forces" behind the weather war, it is at least manageable as a theory. A leaky vessel of a theory, yes, but it has some legs.
Then we come to the main problem of the "weather war" theory, what the hell are we supposed to do if it is true ? Storm HAARP and demand they destroy their "weather machines" ? That will land you in the looney bin. Write your congressman and let him know you are outraged at the "shadow government" controlling the weather ? Good luck. Alert your friends and neighbors to the fiendish plot going on in our skies ? Not unless you like not having friends.
My best advice to those esoterically minded in these troubled times is "mind your own plate". If someone is controlling the weather, we ain't gonna stop it. This is a battle far beyond the means of man. Your best to focus on other matters, as this may be another one of those magicians tricks where we are all chasing the "weather war" while the other wing of the "puppet masters" pulls strings not yet seen.
We wrap it up once again this week after another grueling slog through the trenches of today's news. The storm continues here, much to my delight ... so long as the power doesn't go out.
Plugs : Lesley has an awesome, in-depth look at the new Richard Doty book "Exempt from Disclosure" in an all new Grey Matters coming to BoA on Tuesday. Khyron has been on fire the last few weeks and he looks to continue his streak of exemplary work with this week's Ghost Files on Wednesday @ BoA. Thursday, it's Hot Newz. Friday, the binnall report. Saturday, an all new edition of BoA : Audio, Season One, this week featuring Terry Hansen, where we discuss UFOs and the media, over an hour of thorough discussion. Sunday, a double dose of Saturday Night Punnett and then smoker dave. And, finally, News Watch again next Monday. binnallofamerica.com ... it's alive.
Off to watch one of the last few Sox games of the year and furtively check the Yankee score as well. Until we do it all again next week, be safe, be prepared, and be real.