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[ From ThirdAge Web Guide newsletter ]

Bad News and Good News Rocks the World of UFOs

How Uncle Bernie knew a thing or two about flying saucers
and what you can do to search for extraterrestrials.

By Rad Dewey
ThirdAge Staff

Admit it. You've been fascinated by ideas of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) ever since Uncle Bernie tricked you by throwing a pie pan into the air from behind the barn and shining a flashlight on it. Right?

Well, here's the bad news. The British Flying Saucer Bureau, which had been hunting for extra-terrestrial activity for half a century, has closed down due to a flagging reports of saucers and extraterrestrial activity.

Ah-ha! There's good news, X-PPAC, The Extraterrestrial Phenomena Political Action Committee has opened an office for lobbying congress. The next thing you know they'll be pushing for worker's visas for aliens -- extraterrestrial aliens.

People have been caught up in a fantasy of flying saucers and space aliens since the dawn of science fiction writing. H.G. Wells penned the classic novel "War of the Worlds," in 1898. It was left for Orson Wells (no relation that we know of) to set off a wave of mass hysteria with his October 30, 1938 radio broadcast of the Mercury Theater's production of "The War of the Worlds. Wells' (the former) story was made into a movie in 1953 and a TV series in 1988.

Moviegoers also got a chilling (for then) taste of the power of visitors from outer space in the 1951 film classic, the Day The Earth Stood Still. Klaatu, the visitor from outer space warned earthlings that their civilization was doomed unless they adopted peaceful ways. There's no record of our civilization ever having heeded Klaatu.

But, what about the pictures, you ask? Isn't there photographic "proof?" Sure enough, the online Museum of Unnatural history has some dandies. Another site, of the Uncle Bernie pie-pan variety, shows how fifteen-year-olds Kipp Teague and David Bost documented a saucer sighting.

Still, there are real efforts to prove we are not alone in the universe. On April 8, 1960 NASA launched a project to search the sky with radio telescopes. The direct descendent of the first NASA program fell victim to congressional budget cutters. It lives on in a privately sponsored form as the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Project.

There's even a way for you to become involved, using your home computer. (Don't try this at work, boys. Many IT managers have thrown a fit about tie-ups caused to their networks.) Check out the SETI at home project. You'll link your computer to a worldwide effort to examine radio signals from space.

And, while you're waiting to spot some potentially alien activity, sit back, relax and enjoy a cup of Flying Saucer Gourmet Coffee or Tea.

Send mail to radewey@radewey.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: April 13, 2008