Chasing Aliens

 

I have been to a second event at Conway Hall, London in the space of a month; see here for the first: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2026/04/strange-central.html. This new event was on a Friday evening. Despite being billed as just ninety minutes it was far more expensive than Strange Central which was an all-day one. It was called "Chasing Aliens" and was set up to launch a new book of the same name by Daniel Lavelle. The proceedings consisted of a dialogue between him and somebody I'm very familiar with, Jon Ronson. I used to watch Ronson's documentaries in the late '90's when I was first getting into the Conspirasphere. For several years I was a very active member of his forum and I made a few friends there whom I'm still in touch with. This is all despite disliking Ronson's early works. Them and Secret Rulers of the World was distorted and misleading, especially the one about David Icke. I was far more enthusiastic about his later book The Men Who Stare at Goats and its accompanying documentary Crazy Rulers of the World. However, I was deeply frustrated that at the very moment Jon broke into something truly revealing and extraordinary, he failed to grasp the significance of his own discovery and pulled back. The project was reduced to the level of a joke and even ended up being adapted into a comedy movie with George Clooney. Now Daniel Lavelle has written a book about his own attempt at gonzo journalism, probably inspired by Ronson. A few years ago he was going through a difficult time in his life, suffering from a mental breakdown and eventually he spent some time homeless and sleeping rough. He found solace and healing in a strange place, but one not entirely unique. He is a 2017er with no previous interest in UFO's, but he developed one after reading the famous New York Times article in December 2017. His life story reminded me of Steven Cambian who also went through a period of terrible mental health and addiction. He also managed to cling on to the dregs of his sanity by watching X-Con videos, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2023/06/david-grusch-reply-to-steven-cambian.html. Lavelle's path down the rabbit hole of UFOlogy did not last long. He was pulled back from complete belief by a disappointingly unoriginal process. He discovered that the "gimbal" footage merely showed jet engines and that the "go fast" was a seagull. He also came across and accepted the theory that alien abduction is just a form of sleep paralysis. All these propositions are extremely formulaic. They came off the skeptic production line many years ago from people like Mick West. I am convinced that they are also completely false.

The evidence of the Nimitz footage, including detailed interviews with the witnesses, discredits the mundane explanation. The idea that alien abduction is sleep paralysis was comprehensively debunked by many experts, including the research psychologist Andrew Hodrien, brother of David, see: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2024/03/hpanwo-show-541-podcast-dave-hodrien.html. As somebody affected by SP myself, I can vouch for that, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2015/03/sleep-paralysis-and-shadow-people.html. Daniel is also convinced that the missing scientists mystery is just coincidence and a misunderstanding of statistics. Again, this is another off-the-shelf skepper cope, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2026/05/ufo-disclosure-2026-may-surprise.html. I had no doubt by the end of the dialogue that the audience question-and-answer session would be the most interesting part of the evening. I'm pleased to say that one of the attendees took Lavelle and Ronson to task for embracing the Nimitz cop-out. I gave him a long and hearty clap, which felt strange because nobody else did. Everybody turned to look at me, but I'm glad I did it. The other questioners were a bit more Ronsonian, but they did bring up a few interesting points. Why are UFO's primarily an American phenomenon? The answer is that they are not. It appears that way because the US publicized and popularized UFO's long before any other country did. The politics of the Cold War emphasized this apparent American exceptionalism. Jon Ronson unhappily raised the issue of why UFO culture seems to consist of "mostly white men". I cringed! I have addressed this idiocy myself before, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2021/08/women-in-ufology.html. There was a long discussion over whether belief in aliens was harmful. They raised the Heaven's Gate cult, the Q-Shaman and mental healthcare for people reporting alien contact. Miles Johnston was also there and has published his own brief coverage, see: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1354555423243623. I got to ask the panel a question myself and I simply asked Jon if he'd heard that Marcus Allen had died. Jon said he knew the name, but hadn't heard. He said he was sorry to hear it. Marcus took part in Ronson's documentary For The Love Of... in 1997, see: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2026/02/hpanwo-show-618-marcus-allen-in-memoriam.html. Miles was also in another episode. After the event I went to the pub with Miles and Colin Woolford.

Ironically this was the same day that the big UAP file release happened, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2026/05/uap-files-release-livestream.html. I wish I had stayed at home instead to report on it. The "Chasing Aliens" event was unfortunately very boring and hackneyed. It was so repetitive that I could almost have written the script myself. I don't object to it being very skeptical in theme; what bothers me is that its skepticism was not more original. It just echoed the mistakes so many others have made. I'm glad Mr Lavelle has recovered from his malaise though. Even if he found a cure in falsehood, I'm happy for him. Colin, Miles and I had far more fun going through the fresh US Department of War data drops over a pint or three. I left early, long before the others, because I had to get all the way back to Oxford and I had work the following day. It was a good job I did because for some reason the coach left the motorway somewhere just beyond High Wycombe and went on a random jaunt through the darkest countryside before rejoining the A40 just before Oxford. I had no idea where it went or why; the driver never announced it. I didn't get home until almost one AM.

See here for background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2017/01/is-david-icke-dangerous.html.

Area 51 Earthquakes

 

Something very strange and worrying has been going on in the western United States. Geologists have detected a series of earthquakes emanating from the Nevada National Security Site. They took place during the last two days of last month. The epicentres of these earthquakes are quite close to Area 51, but because of the secrecy surrounding the location, no official announcement has been made from the facility. The quakes are unusual in that they appeared in a place thought to be seismically stable and they are strangely shallow; just a couple of miles down. Most natural earthquakes are much deeper, twelve miles of so. The tremours measured from 2.5 to 4.4 on the Richter scale, not powerful enough to cause damage, but enough to be physically felt by sensitive people in some places close by. Avi Loeb calculated that an average tactical device has a big enough yield to create those shockwaves. Source: https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/other/unusual-earthquake-swarm-strikes-near-area-51-sparking-fears-of-secret-testing/ar-AA226LV3. The cause of the earthquakes is unknown, but there has been some understandable speculation considering the Nevada test site nearby was used for over nine hundred detonations of test nuclear bombs from 1949 until the test ban in 1992. The public health impact is still being calculated to this day. When I visited the Atomic Museum, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2023/11/meadows.html, I saw photos taken in Las Vegas in the 1950's showing mushroom clouds in the distance. How many people got ill? How many died? The 1996 nuclear test ban expired last year so technically the US could begin them again in accordance with its international legal obligations; but nothing has been announced, there has been no debate in Congress and the local population has not been consulted. Are secret detonations being carried out like the original one at the Trinity site in 1945? Alternatively do the earthquakes have another cause, some other technology is being tested at the secret base? Some commentators have suggested there's a connection to the missing scientists, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2026/05/ufo-disclosure-2026-may-surprise.html. I see no reason to suppose that. I don't know what it is, but obviously something strange is going on and I'm willing to bet that whatever it is, it's bad news for the people, especially if you are a local resident.
See here for background: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2022/12/area-51-portal.html.

Why I Voted Reform

 

See here for essential background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2026/05/meeting-reform-candidate.html.
The results of last Thursday's election are in. The votes in all 136 councils, mayorals and the Welsh and Scottish legislatures have been counted and it has been, as predicted, a massive grand slam for Reform UK. Their victory dwarfs even last years coup, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/05/why-i-did-not-vote-reform.html. Reform gained 1,453 seats, mostly at the gross expense of Labour and the Tories. Labour barely cleared a thousand, reducing them virtually to a second tier party. The Green Party and independents did well. Many leftwing and Muslim voters have abandoned Labour for the Greens. "Great Yarmouth First" which is a local front for Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain, has scooped up all the area's seats, I'm pleased to say. West of the border, Reform have wiped out Labour in the Senedd. They couldn't quite beat Plaid Cymru to the leadership, but they are a close opposition, making it hard for Plaid to win future votes. Eluned Morgan has had the negative honour of being the first head of government in British history to be ousted in an election. She only got about 6000 votes while Plaid beat her with 31,000. As soon as a successor is chosen she will step down as First Minister of Wales and leader of the Welsh Labour Party. Unlike Boris Johnson, there were no contingency plans to parachute her into another seat via a by-election; I don't think you can do that in the Welsh government. The immovable mountain that it the Scottish National Party has held onto power, but it has lost a few seats. The Conservatives lost nine seats (I didn't know there was such a thing as a Scottish Tory anymore!) and only Reform and the Greens have gained. Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/cr45k7vqw1pt.

I voted for Reform UK. Yes, I know I promised I never would, and I am still not sure if I did the right thing. The problem is when I got to the polling station I was dismayed to find there was no IOA candidate at all. I was shocked; I had not researched beforehand because I assumed there would be one just like last year. The Alliance only have five people on the polls this time round and none of them were in my ward. I was left with the choice of the uniparty or nothing... or Reform. I was tempted to abstain, but then I remembered my conversation with the Reform candidate last Wednesday, see the link above. I know she is just a sample of one, but could it really be that she is not unusual? Are the ranks of Reform really packed with closet Loweists? If so then a genuinely dissident party lies in the form of great potential in Reform, just under the surface; and that Farage and his cronies are a very vocal and brash, but ultimately very thin and weak cage door trying to hold it back. If I am right then I predict we may see the long knives come out at some point and a revolution from below will oust Nigel with all his dithering and deception. Maybe the new Reform could form a coalition with Restore. What will I do next election? I'm not sure, but this is one of the most remarkable elections I've ever seen in this country. Our latest democratic exercise has really made me reconsider a lot of things.
See here for more background: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2019/10/brexit-portal.html.

Meeting a Reform Candidate

 

Today I met a candidate for tomorrow's local government election, none of the people depicted in the illustration. In fact I don't think I should name this candidate or reveal her seat because we were speaking privately and informally, and she said a few things to me I doubt she would raise at the hustings. She wasn't canvassing at the time, but was just sitting on a park bench trying to work out how to find her way around. She seems to be quite bad at map reading; in fact I had seen her a few days ago in the area doing the same so I guided her to her destination. She had a huge suitcase of flyers for her campaign and I helped her carry it because she is a small woman. She is running for Reform UK. Because of this, she engaged me in a discussion about politics. I told her that eighteen months ago I would probably have voted for her, but I wouldn't now because I don't trust Nigel Farage. I was honest and said I preferred Restore Britain. I dislike the way Nigel has treated Rupert Lowe, Ben Habib and many of his other former supporters. I consider them far more honest men than Nigel. I expected her to become scornful at that point, but she did not. She said "I completely agree with you" and then went on to explain that despite her agreement she thinks Reform UK are still the best hope for the country. This is not an uncommon position. Many people I know are voting Reform despite knowing full well that Farage's latest incarnation is something deceptive; possibly set up deliberately by the Deep State to be a controlled counterproposition. It's the usual dilemma of tactical voting: do we vote for the right thing and lose or the wrong thing and win? Reform may be false opposition, but it is the only opposition we have. It's our only chance of beating the uniparty. It currently has enormous momentum behind it; and no doubt tomorrow it will be the principle winner of the election. All the opinion polls are clear on this. Labour and the Tories are going to be eviscerated, justly so, and Reform is the weapon that will achieve it. Last year I also did not vote Reform for the same reasons, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/05/why-i-did-not-vote-reform.html. What happened to me today paints a very different picture that I didn't know existed because this lady is not just some average voter; she is an actual activist and official of the party who has been selected to contest a council seat. I wonder how many other people in Reform feel the same way as her; not just the voters, but the members, maybe even people quite senior and close to the centre. Is it possible that the only true blue Reformers could be Nigel himself and his inner circle, Richard Tice, Zia Yusuf etc. (I won't include their current influx of opportunistic ex-Tories.) Maybe this is what Landeur meant when he said "Reform's support is a hundred miles wide, but only an inch thick", see: https://www.youtube.com/@BritishLandeur. I'm tired of voting for deformed and watered down forgeries of what I really want. A Reform vote is just a vote for another proto-establishment centrist bureaucracy in waiting. Should Farage become prime minister he will backtrack, U-turn and shift his position very quickly on everything; in fact he has already started. There will be a "Nigel wave" and he will not save the House of Lords or repeal the Online Safety Act; in fact he will deliver none of the goodies we all hoped he would. I myself will probably back the IOA again. They won last time in my own ward, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2024/05/i-backed-winner.html.

The Tragedy & The Triumph Tour 2

 

There will be a second 2026 Oxford walking tour hosted by Mark Devlin and myself. It will be themed on Mark's allegorical novel trilogy. He has just published the third and concluding book, The Tragedy & The Triumph. We will be visiting many of the locations featured in the story. We will be giving alternative information about this fascinating city which is the world's primary Illuminati education centre. It will take place on Saturday 30th of May starting at 6.30 PM. To join the tour, come to the Oxo Bar, 48 George Street. Please book in advance if possible. Tickets coming soon. The whole event is outdoors so we will have to postpone if the weather is too bad. See here for details and tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/109869.
See here for a HPANWO TV film of the event: (coming soon).
See here for my accompanying HPANWO Radio interview with Mark: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2026/03/hpanwo-show-623-mark-devlin.html.
See here for a HPANWO TV film of the previous tour: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2026/04/mark-devlin-oxford-tour-3.html.

Missing 411- National Parks, Washington State

David Paulides is becoming more and more prolific as a filmmaker. It was only a couple of months ago that I reviewed his Bigfoot research movie American Sasquatch, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2026/02/american-sasquatch.html. Now he has released a new Missing 411 documentary, the fourth. Paulides understands that people who mysteriously vanish are a global phenomenon, but he has centred his research on the US national parks. There are sixty-three of these in the United States and they cover a combined area of 82,000 square miles. These parks are beautiful places, containing grand scenery and unspoilt wilderness. They are perfect for the traditional American pastime of outdoor sports and recreations. Millions of people visit them every year to go hunting, fishing, swimming, skiing, mountaineering, rambling, camping and sightseeing. In this new project Paulides teams up with somebody I have collaborated with myself, David Mason, see: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2022/05/programme-464-podcast-dave-altman-and.html. Mr Mason is an engineer who has invented many of the new tools used by modern skywatchers. He has helped find part of an aeroplane that crashed on Mount Rainer in 1946 killing thirty-two members of the US Marine Corps. He wonders if maybe it suffered a midair collision. If so, with what? Considering that six months later Kenneth Arnold had his famous sighting there that launched the modern UFO era, it makes me wonder too. The UFO presence has never left the mountain and still exists today, eighty years later. As Paulides explained in the previous Missing 411 film, there is a connection between UFO's and some of the disappearances. Like with the research of Nik Hayes, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-invisibles.html, Mason and Paulides discover that some UFO's cannot be seen in normal light and only manifest outside the band of the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes can see.
 
As in his previous productions, Paulides emphasises the human cost of this phenomenon. We, who love paranormal mysteries, talk about quirky and fun high strangeness stories all the time; but this particular element of it is frightening and heartbreaking. A young man called Jacob Gray vanished in the Olympic National Park and his father has left his bicycle trailer where his son abandoned it as a memorial. When Laura Macke vanished in the same region searchers found a few items of her clothing and equipment, and nothing else. This is a common recurring factor. We see it with last year's disappearance of Monica Reza, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2026/05/ufo-disclosure-2026-may-surprise.html. You could argue that there are mundane explanations for some of these disappearances. It is possible that Laura and Jacob fell into rivers. Another man, Bryan Lee Johnston, might have drowned in the sea while walking across to a tidal island; but Paulides takes that into consideration and weighs it up against other "profile points", strange anomalies that normal missing persons cases don't have. Not listed as one of the profile points, but still noteworthy, is the unusual reaction from the authorities. Vincent Dije, a student who vanished in 2020 on Mount Rainier, was declared officially dead prematurely. Despite the assistance of remote viewers, he has never been seen since. In his previous works, Paulides has noted how agencies get involved in the search-and-rescue missions that don't normally meddle in such matters, like the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. We saw this also with the Fillipidis case; which, I'm glad to say, ended happily, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2018/02/missing-skier.html.
 
The National Parks Service is inexplicably evasive when it comes to commenting on missing people. Absurdly, they once offered to help in exchange for an extortionately high price. Whatever is behind these disappearances is not new and predates research into it considerably. Paulides has a very well documented case from 1999, the journalist and writer Joseph Wood. Missing 411- National Parks, Washington State hearkens back to the first two films in the series in that there is no explicit theory about the cause of these disappearances. In some of the cases Paulides hints that supernatural forces might be at work, but this time different mysteries are nominated too. One of the phenomenon's victims, Gilbert Gilman, is something of a man of mystery. He was involved in the intelligence services, but it's unclear what his exact role was. He vanished in the Olympic in 2006. It's possible this was deliberate on his part because of his involvement. If he had disappeared more recently he may well have been added to "the list", see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2026/03/ufo-disclosure-2026-bring-neil-home.html. Obviously there are many reasons why people die or vanish in the wilderness. They fall and break bones so they can't move and succumb to exposure. They drown in water or are eaten by predators. These tragedies are far more numerous than the unexplained Missing 411 cases; and it is these Paulides focuses on. One man even vanished from a climbing rope while scaling a glacier. There are some reconstruction scenes in the documentary, one of which shows a man literally fading away into nothing. Either way, as they say on Crimewatch, don't have nightmares. For every person on the Missing 411 list there are a million who have a wonderful time in the countryside; rambling, fishing, hunting, bird watching; enjoying the great outdoors. The phenomenon is extremely rare and I wouldn't want to scare people away. Sometimes strange phenomena actually help people who are lost. One of them was Christopher Wearstler. He was led to safety by an esoteric helper. This film is a worthy addition to the Missing 411 canon and carries on neatly from the previous ones. It's a touching narrative, probably inspired by the fact that David Paulides has suffered his own ultimate tragedy, the loss of a child. The film was funded with the help of donors who are all named in the credits. Missing 411- National Parks, Washington State is available on streaming platforms for rental or purchase. I recommend purchasing it because the rental fee, at least in my country, is not much lower.
See here for more background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2023/01/ufo-truth-magazine-issue-58.html.
And: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2023/03/portal-caught-on-film.html.

UFO Truth Magazine- Issue 78

 

UFO Truth Magazine Issue 78 is now available. It can be purchased on this page as a single copy, but please subscribe and save money if you want to read it regularly, see: https://www.ufotruthmagazine.co.uk.
Issue 78 includes an article in my column entitled Crediting the Conman- Can we
Learn Anything from Hoaxes?.
 
Also you will find in Issue 78: Westall 66 2026 reunion, Nick Pope obituary, Trump UFO files release and much much more.
Also in this HPANWO Show programme I interview the UFO Truth Magazine's editor Gary Heseltine: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2023/06/hpanwo-show-514-podcast-gary-heseltine.html.
See here for details on UFO Truth Magazine Issue 77: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2026/02/ufo-truth-magazine-issue-77.html.

Pië Andrew Dominae

 

See here for essential background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/01/andrew-has-questions.html.
I've worked out that there is actually more than one kind of backslapper. The paranoid backslapper is the most common kind; but there is another rarer and more extreme variety, the messianic backslapper. This kind of backslapper appoints themselves as what can only be described as a "Truth Messiah". They see themselves as possessing special knowledge and have a unique destiny to bring enlightenment single-handedly to the Conspirasphere. Andrew Johnson is definitely one of that type. A few weeks ago he wrote: "I have become rather jaded and disenchanted about the lack of acceptance of (for me) obvious conclusions about what happened on 9/11 2001 which are based on voluminous evidence. I have also largely given up trying to explain these obvious conclusions to people that really shouldn't need things explaining to them." This is part of an article in which Andrew castigates Dr David A Hughes for disagreeing with just one little aspect of Dr Judy Wood's evidence, that relating to Hurricane Erin. Source: https://www.checktheevidence.com/wordpress/2026/04/01/dr-david-a-hughes-dr-judy-wood-9-11-energy-the-hutchison-effect-and-hurricane-erin/. So, as far as Andrew is concerned, his "jaded" feeling comes completely from a failure on the part of everybody else; and that he is blameless, weeping as if at the tomb of Lazarus because the 9/11 Truth movement stubbornly refuses to accept His Divine Word. Now, to be fair, Andrew has had to fight against some admittedly genuine stinkers in his time. He describes his journey in his Finding The Truth book. However, most of the people I speak to who have interacted with him and rejected his ideas report that Andrew's conduct towards them was the main reason. In the groups and forums he was sarcastic and belligerent when answering questions or discussing people's concerns. I think Andrew has yet to learn something that even the skeptics have grasped; summed by Phil Plait as "Don't be a dick!", see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2012/08/skeptics-evolution-and-revolution.html. Mick West operates on this principle all the time, which explains why he is more pleasant company than many woo-woos I could mention. If you insult and intimidate people you will not convince them. They will in fact be repelled by your attitude and stick to the "thermitically correct" position out of a sense of righteous indignation. There is a lot of psychological study that shows if you persecute somebody for their beliefs they are less likely to change their minds, not more. Source: https://theconversation.com/cognitive-biases-and-brain-biology-help-explain-why-facts-dont-change-minds-186530.

I actually agree with Andrew Johnson about 9/11, but then I am an ex-hospital porter, as I said in the background link above. I did not reach that conclusion because Andrew browbeat me into it. This intimidation doesn't necessarily have to be physically or mentally violent; it can be far more subtle and passive-aggressive. The People's Voice was a media project by David Icke that unfortunately sank on the slipway, but before it did, David made a video called: "You're either part of the solution or part of the problem". During this fifteen minute monologue he tried to persuade the viewers to send donations to the project. There's nothing wrong with such a request if done politely and respecting people's voluntary sovereignty, but David's plea included out-and-out moral blackmail. The reaction from the Conspirasphere was outrage. Entire Facebook groups appeared with names like "We're not Donating to TPV!". What I'm saying is that Andrew needs to learn a few social skills if he seriously plans to convince people of his evidence. He needs to take responsibility and accept that maybe his own behaviour is not helping his cause. Perhaps that way he can avoid his "jaded" feeling. Unfortunately, from what I've seen, he shows no current signs of doing so. In fact his saviour complex appears to be worsening. Most people know this so it's no secret, but I fell out with Andrew because of his treatment of Ian R Crane. I actually share a lot of Andrew's criticisms of Ian, but Andrew decided to launch into his usual tirade against Ian while the man was lying on his deathbed. The entitlement of Andrew is breathtaking! This is pure and extreme narcissism. He has not apologized to Ian's family and friends, and has simply doubled down. In fact his response was simply to write a piece about me that is loaded with factual errors. Worst of all, he had a tab open next to the one with my own video called Ian R Crane Dies with the words on it: "And this is a blessing". I don't believe this was accidental. I cannot bring myself to post a link to that publication; you can find it on his website with the search function. For this reason I will be avoiding all contact with Andrew in future. No doubt our paths will cross at some point, at a conference or similar event. I will simply have to stay out of his way. Andrew, could you please do the same for me? Do not approach me! You are not my messiah, and you are far worse than any naughty boy. Please! Look at yourself in the mirror and think about whom you really are and what rights you really have to demand what you do from other people.
See here for more background: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2021/09/911-portal.html.

To Sleep Perchance for Psi

 

For the second Saturday in a row I headed to London for a one day paranormal conference; see here for the previous one: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2026/04/strange-central.html. This time I was going to the headquarters of the Society for Psychical Research, one of the world's oldest paranormal investigation organizations, founded in 1882. The conference was called "To Sleep Perchance for Psi"; and, as its name suggests, it was all about the paranormal factors related to sleeping. This was a far smaller event than the one at Conway Hall. About twenty-five people were there, tucked into a small conference room, including my good friend and comrade Mark Froud of Crafty Nihilist fame, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/09/ben-emlyn-jones-and-crafty-nihilist-8.html. The HQ itself is a very modest affair, as you'd expect because the SPR is registered as a non-profit. It is set back from the main street in some "mews" next to the Olympia London and has three floors with a stair-lift for disabled people. On the top floor is the world famous library and it's a pity I didn't have a longer time to browse there. I've recently joined the SPR and it's worth doing that just to read those classic paranormal books. The Society has no "party line" and people involved have all kinds of viewpoints. They just share a fascination with all things spooky. I saw a couple of other people I recognized from other conferences, but most of the delegates were new to me. However, I did meet a lady called Ursula who had been at Weird Weekend North 2026. I didn't recognize her so our paths must simply never have crossed; things like that do happen at large events, see: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2026/04/hpanwo-show-627-weird-weekend-north.html. 

The first speaker was called Chris Roe. He did a talk about dream precognition, the strange phenomenon of having dreams that come true. He gives a number of examples; some of them very famous, such as the schoolchildren who refused to go to school before the Aberfan disaster because they'd had nightmares about it the night before. Chris has controlled for many of the mundane explanations often posed by skeptics, such as the "law of large numbers". Dr Sheila Pryce Brooks followed Chris to the stage and described her research into sleep paralysis. This is something that I myself regularly experience and so was keen to learn more, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2016/06/sleep-paralysis-again.html. She is interested in its connection to other phenomena like the near-death experience and ghostly encounters. Regular readers will know that I have had a very significant experience like that myself. I told Sheila about it and she was impressed. I'm going to write to her and tell her the whole story, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-ghost-train.html. We took a lunch break and headed for a nearby pub where I got to talk to some of the new people I'd met; then when we came back it was time for Anthony Peake, the main reason Mark and I had chosen to attend the conference. Anthony is somebody I'm very familiar with, for example see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/07/anthony-peake-at-watkins-books-2.html. Somehow Anthony always manages to inject some new information into every one of his numerous lectures and this time he described a strange altered state of consciousness he had in 1996 when living an ordinary life as an airport administrator. The memory of it later came back to him when he visited Argentina in more recent years and saw the same place. He thinks it might be connected to the famous writer Jorge Luis Borges who lived near where Anthony visited and who wrote stories with esoteric themes that Anthony really likes. Cal Cooper came on next and talked about another famous element of sleep, after death communication in dreams. This is actually one of the most common weird phenomena of all; somebody dies and their relative sees them in a very vivid dream. He also talked about the history of the SPR's research into such dreams by former experts like William Dewi Rees, a vicar whose congregation reported them. He's also interested in the experience of people in the "death industry" like undertakers and morticians. I suppose I should include myself in that as a former hospital porter (have I mentioned that before?). He cited an early SPR publication called Phantasms of the Living. Unfortunately at this point I had an opportunity to add to the relevant literature personally by suffering another drowsiness attack. This time it was not possible to hide it because the auditorium was so much smaller than Conway Hall. I hope Cal doesn't think I dozed because he was boring me. He was not. As I said last week, it's just a problem I always have at conferences. The final speaker was Dr David Luke, somebody I know of though my collaboration with Niall Murphy, see: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2024/07/hpanwo-show-55-podcast-niall-murphy.html. 

David runs "Breaking Conventions" at the October Gallery which Niall used to record for his own podcast. David talked about the history of dream research and interest. It dates back much further than I thought, to the ancient world. We all know about Moses and Joseph in the bible who have interesting dreams; but such knowledge is even older. There is a Mesopotamian dream analysis book dating to the 1700's BC. In ancient Greece and Rome there were sleep healing centres. David also understands a lot of the skeptic arguments and in the panel Q and A at the end we had an interesting back-and-forth about coincidence theory and the limits of pareidolia. He has coined the term "randomania" to describe the skeppers' bias towards false-negatives, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2014/04/pan-pareidolia.html. 

After the event there was a meeting in the room for members only, but I decided not to go and headed to the pub with Mark and some more of our new acquaintances. A different pub this time, The Cumberland Arms which is literally across the road from the SPR office. I bet the bar staff there are used to overhearing strange conversations! We had a really good time with the speakers and other delegates; and then Mark and I both left because we had long journeys home. I'm going to stay in touch with some of the conference attendees and hopefully go along to future SPR events. If I do I will report on them too. What an amazing fortnight it has been for me!

See here for more information: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2021/08/skeptics-portal.html.
And: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2023/06/afterlife-portal.html.

Ben Emlyn-Jones at Bases 2026 International Disclosure

 

I'm pleased to announce that I will be speaking at the upcoming Bases 2026 International Disclosure conference. My lecture is as yet untitled, but it will take place on the Sunday. (Unfortunately that is the only day I can attend because of other commitments.) It might be a dialogue with another speaker. Other speakers include Maria Wheatley, Laura Eisenhower, Dr Amir Jahangiri and Thomas Mikey Jensen. The event will take place om Friday the 19th, Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st of June. The venue is Bouverie Hall in Pewsey, Wiltshire, SN9-5EQ. Tickets will be available soon, see: https://www.basestv.org/tidc2026. 

See here for a video promo: (coming soon).

See here for a HPANWO Radio interview with Miles Johnston about the conference: (coming soon).

Concerning Violence

 

Concerning Violence is a documentary film from 2014 by the Swedish director Göran Hugo Olsson. It is highly acclaimed and has won three major international awards. How it came to my attention is unusual. I found its DVD lying in a box outside a house; one of those "please take" kind of things. The film is rated "E", exempt from classification. The movie consists of a series of scenes consisting mostly of archive footage of various wars for independence in Africa during the 1960's and 70's. Accompanying this is a narration by the American singer-songwriter and actress Lauryn Hill. She reads passages from a book called The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon. The author was a political activist from the Caribbean who one might describe as the first "new leftist" or "wokie". By that I mean he builds on the ideas of Karl Marx, but instead of seeing society as a product of class struggle, he believes it is born out of racial struggle. The bourgeoisie and the proletariat are substituted exactly by different demographics. Today this is one of the most widespread notions in the modern Western left; but Fanon, writing in the 1940's and 50's, pioneered the concept. The film is extremely well edited. It shows various scenes of colonial infamy with white people generally behaving badly, as we are wont to do. That is hardly original in this day and age, but it is depicted very powerfully. One scene that is etched on my mind is a heartrending shot of a young woman, probably just a teenager, nursing her baby while having just lost an arm. There is an older black-and-white video of some white South Africans patronizing and demeaning their black servants. The main thrust of the narrative is that guerrilla warfare is justified and good. It "gives a man back his self-respect" as the author puts it. It is released by a distributor with a great name: "Dogwoof", see here for the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLmYWL4TIEc. It is now available on a number of streaming platforms.
 
As I've said many times, the fixated sense of victimhood is a major malady, even if it has a legitimate cause. This is because it is highly addictive and often becomes central to the addict's identity; and even, in a strange way, their self-esteem. People dosed up on victimhood will often sacrifice everything, including their best interests, to any player who promises to rid their lives of whatever finger-pointed boogieman they have decided upon. That player is very often worse than the boogieman and knows very well the psychology of its targets. There are too many examples in history to list, including some of those featured in Concerning Violence, in which a manipulative Third World grievance-monger wins support by promising to free the people from "oppression!" They then institute a regime more terrible than any European colonial government. This pathology is not confined to the Third World, in fact it is a problem in my own country, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/02/irish-cvd-bull.html. The film is also a spiteful and frenzied white guilt trip, one of the worst I've ever seen; and, let's face it, they are everywhere! I reject and defy that call to self-loathing I constantly hear because of the colour of my skin. I should also emphasize that I oppose terrorism and political violence; not because I am a "privileged white male!", in fact I don't believe such an animal exists. I oppose it because, leaving aside the moral issues, it is impractical. It cannot work in the long-term. The state can do violence so much better than anybody else that is it invincible at that game. It's a battlefield we must never enter. "What is your solution then, Ben?" I hear you ask. I think because the current conflict is so unique and unprecedented in history, its solution has to be too. It is something we have not yet thought of; but it is there. I am looking out for it every day. I promise I will be writing about that very subject in the very near future.
See here for background: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2021/08/political-correctness-portal.html.

Disclosure Day Fourth Trailer

 

Last month a third trailer for Disclosure Day dropped, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2026/03/disclosure-day-third-trailer-livestream.html. I doubted there would be any more, but then last week at the Cinemacon festival Steven Spielberg turned up and did a presentation that included some video. He showed a clip compilation that, although not officially a trailer, has been received as one. In these clips more of the storyline is revealed, although Spielberg has stated that not one frame of the film's final act has been published so far in any of the promotional material. Spielberg is the co-producer of the film as well as the director and he's shown himself to be very proficient in both roles; in fact what he has done is a work of marketing genius. He has driven the entire UFO community into a frenzy of curiosity, and that includes me. The medley is just thirty seconds long and includes a lot of footage that we've already seen, but also adds some fascinating new shots. It opens with Colman Domingo's character, whose name has been revealed to be Hugo Wakefield, repeating his rant about the "seventy-nine year cover-up" and is followed by a shot over the shoulder of a military pilot in a fighter jet. You can hear radio chatter that may be authentic audio of the real life encounters like the Nimitz incident. It's hard to tell, but there is something ahead of the aircraft that might be an alien spaceship, or else it could just be city lights on the ground. Hugo then says: "It's the two of you; it's always been just the two of you." In the visuals we see Daniel and Emily Blunt's character, revealed to be called Margaret Fairchild. This implies there is something special and unusual about those two characters; and that has been hinted at in previous trailers. The fact that Margaret makes those strange alien noises and that Daniel can understand them. A feminine voice replies: "What happened to us?" This cuts to Noah Scanlon, Colin Firth's character, in a continuation of his meeting with Jane at her home. He says: "The human race cannot accept what we know!" This is often cited as a justification used by those running the Truth Embargo. The trailer ends with the most interesting element. We see the young girl, assumed to be Jane or Margaret, in the previous abduction scene, except this time a strange device is hovering above her head. It is a metallic ring with a number of peg shaped objects arranged evenly around it. It descends onto the girls face and the pegs move inward together. What this is I cannot guess; but then, at the same time, a pair of hands grasps her head from behind. They are clearly ET hands, very long and thin, resembling the controversial "tridactyls", see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2023/09/mexico-aliens-livestream.html. These thirty seconds reveal a little more of the film's plot and add to the tantalizing thrill many of us are feeling. This excitement has spilled out beyond the UFOlogical community and much of the mainstream cinematic press is now talking about Disclosure Day. At the current time the clips have only been published on Twitter (X), see: https://x.com/disclosureday/status/2046997486791983255. Expect a very detailed report on the movie from me when it hits the big screen.
See here for background: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2020/02/ufo-disclosure-portal.html.

HDA Review of S4- The Bob Lazar Story

 

I have written a review of the film S4- The Bob Lazar Story for The Wow! Signal, the official newsletter of the Hollywood Disclosure Alliance. Source: https://www.thewowsignal.news/latest-news/s4-the-bob-lazar-storydocumentary-film-review. See here for my previous movie review: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2026/03/hda-article-2.html. Many thanks to editor Dan Harary. See here for a HPANWO Radio interview with Dan: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2024/08/hpanwo-show-558-podcast-dan-harary.html.

Ben Emlyn-Jones on the Paranormal Peep Show 33

                        
I have been on the Paranormal Peep Show again. This programme features a second interview with the UFOlogist and conspiracy researcher David Griffin. It's the first of a multi-part feature.
See here for the audio version: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/paranormal-peep-show-how-marconi-suffered-from-the-black-goo-part-2-with-david-griffin--71348945.
And here for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO3W5GtNcfg.

See here for my previous appearance on the Paranormal Peep Show: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2026/03/ben-emlyn-jones-on-paranormal-peep-show.html.

Strange Central

 

I don't think I've ever been to Conway Hall and had a bad time. This London venue, tucked into a corner of an urban garden, seems to attract really interesting events; see the links at the bottom for other examples. This latest offering was no exception. Strange Days was a one-day conference organized by the London Fortean Society, of whose previous meetings I've often attended, for example see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-skeptics-guide-to-aliens.html. I was accompanied by my good friends, comrades and space brothers Colin Woolford and Miles Johnston, although Miles was fashionably late as usual, like a bride before a wedding. The conference was held in the main hall and most of the seats were full. A friendly lady called Chandra came up and introduced herself. She is a HPANWO-reader whom I had never met before and it was really good to do. We had some great discussions. The list of speakers was very interesting and opened with Dr David Clarke. He told the story of his investigation into the Calvine UFO photo. I have covered the details myself here: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2024/06/would-real-kevin-russell-please-stand-up.html and: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2023/04/ufo-disclosure-2023-senate-debrief-and.html and: https://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.com/2022/08/programme-474-podcast-another-typical.html. 

Later on I got the chance to talk to Dr Clarke face-to-face and raised the points I do in my own coverage. Surely if the object really did levitate silently into the air then that is one of the five observables; the implication being that maybe this is something of extraterrestrial manufacture. Dr Clarke replied that we don't know if it really manoeuvred like that because we heard it second hand from Craig Lindsay. Did the two cooks actually say that? Also the engine noise of the Harriers would have drowned out any noise the object made, so maybe it was not really silent. It might have been an endopter drone with internal rotors that are invisible from the angle it was photographed from. This is speculation on his part, in fact he is bordering on the clown's day off fallacy; but then it is also speculation by me. Until we get more information there's no way to tell. Clearly Dr Clarke is biased by his general disbelief in aliens; and I am biased by my opposite belief. The next speaker, Dominic Chorney, talked about treasures of the occult. He is an antiquarian who has a collection of old coins and some of them are strange in design with no obvious issuing bank. Could they be tokens used by occultists? He displayed one very interesting specimen from Japan that depicts some strange and scary creature that looks like a werewolf or ogre. It is in fact probably a snow macaque, a species of monkey from Hokkaido, one of the Japanese islands. The rim of the coin has the island's name on it. What stuck me is that snow macaques were the species studied by Lyall Watson when he came up with his "hundredth monkey" theory, see: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2011/08/lyall-watson.html. 

There was another coin from fifteenth century Germany with a Bigfoot like creature on it, a "woodwose". It is possible coins like this were used as a talisman by the superstitious rather than for financial exchange. In one case, its owner had driven a hole through it, probably so they could hang it round their neck on a string. It makes me wonder where they got the idea for the creature depicted, long before mass media. Darren Naish is a pop scientist who researches the fossil record and ancient extinct animals. He gave an interesting talk about aquatic reptiles and archaeocetes, ancient creatures from the whale family. Unlike most of his peers, Darren has an open mind about cryptozoology. He often associates with the CFZ. There is a rumour that he is one of the witnesses of the Cornish Owlman, although if this is true he has never admitted it. In the definitive book on the subject, Jonathan Downes' The Owlman and Others, this witness is anonymous and nicknamed "Gavin". Jamie Lewis and Andrew Bartlett are social scientists who did a dialogue about what they call "bigfooters", people who believe in Bigfoot and try to find it in the wild. They say they have no public opinions about whether Bigfoot exists or not, but in the course of their address they came across as very skeptical. They made a lot of the points disbelievers do: Where are the bones? Where is the DNA? etc. There are comprehensive rebuttals to these points that I have previously detailed, see below. They mention the Minnesota Iceman and repeat the standard explanation that is it a hoax. Not so in my view. See here for my position on these points and many other similar ones: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2022/11/cryptozoology-portal.html. 

Lewis and Bartlett's central study is about the people who are enthusiastic about Bigfoot and their psychology. I don't have a problem with such scholarship, but it does tend to come in a package with the foundational tacit subtext that what their subjects believe in is a cultural phenomenon based on a falsehood, see here for another example: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2018/09/prof-karen-douglas-at-greenwich-sitp.html. Next up was Mark Pilkington, somebody I'm very familiar with and I got to speak to him briefly. I've researched his work closely and look forward to his new book. He has adapted the thesis he applied in Mirage Men to the modern post-2017 world. How is today's Trumpian political class using "UFOria" for its own nefarious psychological warfare strategy? Good question, but I don't see any reason, from what Mark presented, to discount my suspicion that maybe we're being subjected to some kind of elaborate double-bluff. Has Mark considered this possibility?, see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2023/05/mark-pilkington-at-bases-2023.html. Finally there was a three-person panel on ghost hunting with Alice Vernon, Ben Machell and Sarah Sparkes. Alice and Ben are authors whose books look really interesting. There was a merch stall at the back of the room, as I expected, but I really shouldn't buy any more books until I've read the hundred or so I've bought so far and not yet picked up. The three talk about their own favourite investigators from the golden age of psychical research, the late 19th century to the 1950's. Sarah loves Harry Price, a classic character who has come to my attention too, mostly through my research into Helen Duncan. Alice's favourite is Molly Goldney. I was familiar with that name because she was Price's assistant in the famous 1930 backstreet experiments with Helen. I learned a lot from Alice's information because she has read Molly's private letters. It turns out Molly had a very low opinion of Price and was far closer to one of his main rivals than Harry would have liked. Alice said that Price forced Molly to do the internal body search on Helen against her will and Helen's. From what I gather, from talking to Maggie Hahn and other sources, Helen wanted and demanded this precaution. She even did it at her private performances. Helen was desperate to prove herself to be a real manifestation medium and was far more transparent than most of her peers, see: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2020/02/helen-duncan-portal.html. 

Ben's chosen expert was Tony Cornell, a very cautious and rational figure who was often featured in the media. Unfortunately I was hampered by my usual drowsiness. This seems inescapable when I'm sitting in a warm and comfortable auditorium, especially if I had to get up early to be there; which I did. I had to catch the coach to get to London on time. I tried to doze quietly and unobtrusively, keeping one ear alert so I could hear the speakers' words in my stupor. There were about two hundred people there and I looked for others that I knew. I recognized a few by sight rather than name; but somebody I identified easily was Deborah Hyde, also known as "Jourdemayne" the "skeptic witch". She has come up before on HPANWO several times, for example see: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2013/11/consciousness-beyond-individual.html. During the lunch break and afterwards we went to the Penderel's Oak pub on nearby High Holborn. I'm pleased to say it is now a Wetherspoons. It was a trip down Memory Lane for me because London Skeptics in the Pub used to meet in the basement bar there, for examples see: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2021/08/skeptics-portal.html. I wondered if Deborah would join us for the same nostalgic reasons, but she did not. Source: https://forteanlondon.blogspot.com/2026/02/strange-central-2026-mysteries-monsters.html. Colin, Miles, Chandra and another woman we met called Beersheba, had a great time sharing a few drinks and dinner. Another friend, Rhiannon, was watching at home on the live coverage, and the two of us shared our running thoughts during the proceedings. I finally headed home at about 8 PM. As I've often said, the social side of the conference scene is really the best part. In a way, the speakers are just an excuse for us to get together. Times spent at conferences are very precious to me and I look forward to the next one. I truly enjoyed the day. Many thanks to all the speakers, organizers and delegates for Strange Days. Hope there will be another one soon.

See here for more information: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2024/06/conspiracy-theory-and-culture.html.
And: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2011/09/british-humanist-association-conspiracy.html.

Digital ID MP Reply

 

I have had a reply to a letter I sent to my Member of Parliament about my concerns over Digital ID:
 
Dear Ben,
Thank you for taking the time to share your views on digital ID. I take the points you raise very seriously. I am sorry for the delay in responding to you.
It is important that any system of digital ID takes people's legitimate concerns on board. For example, it must ensure that the highest data security standards are followed, because I agree with you about the importance of respecting privacy. The Government has given a commitment that privacy will be put first at every step. This will be achieved through encryption and authentication, and by decentralising data storage.
I am pleased the Government has confirmed use of the proposed new digital ID will not be compulsory. People will be able to use alternative forms of ID such as a biometric passport to prove they have the right to work in the UK if they have reservations about the new system. I think this is the right approach. I believe it is also possible to pursue digital ID in a manner which empowers citizens, as shown by the vibrant democracies where people embraced it, such as in Estonia and Finland. I note those countries have placed their citizens' consent at the centre of the system, and that is what I want to see happen here in the UK.
Technology has changed the way we interact with each other and with public services. The new digital ID is intended to give people the option of a modern way to prove who they are, and to help them access services online more easily. In this sense, a digital ID will be no different to having a passport or driving licence. Additionally, it concerns me that too many people are currently unable to prove their identity and face exclusion from services, such as the 1 in 10 British citizens who do not have a photo ID. Digital ID could help to address such exclusion.
A public consultation on the proposed digital ID scheme is now open and will close on 5 May 2026. I appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns with me and strongly encourage you to submit your views. It is important to me that the new digital ID is inclusive, secure, and empowering, and I will continue to carefully consider all constituents' views as the programme develops.
Kind regards,
Anneliese Dodds MP
 
I am dismayed by this response, but hardly surprised. Mzzzzzzzzz Dodds is after all a former member of the EU parliament and was also Shadow women and equalities minister, or should I say "Women!" and "Equalities!" minister? She is virtually the textbook perfection of what a modern centre left Starmerista politician should be. No wonder she was put in one of the safest Labour seats in England. Despite her rigmarole of stately diplomacy and olive branch reaching out, it is pretty clear she has a positive opinion of the proposed digital ID system and explains her reasons. I comprehensively discredit each and every one of them in the background links below. Anneliese shares my approval that digital ID shall not be compulsory without addressing the point that once the infrastructure is in place the rules can then be easily changed. We must stop the entire scheme altogether to be safe. I do feel positive about this, because of the MP's debate, see link below. Starmer's power is clearly waning and this is just the latest in a series of climb-downs he's been forced into. They will lose the original bill in the Commons. This doesn't mean they'll give up. We must not let our guard down! Do continue to resist in whatever way you can.
See here for background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/10/id-petition-response-omissions-and.html.
And: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2025/12/mp-digital-id-debate.html.

Ben Emlyn-Jones at Vancouver UFO

 

I will be speaking at an online event hosted by the Canadian group Vancouver UFO & Preparing for Contact. My talk is entitled "UFO Disclosure: What They're Not Telling You". This will be an original discussion that will address the UFO subject and its connection to state operations as well as other strange phenomena. To take part you will need to join Meetup and make sure you can use Zoom. Follow the instructions on the event's page. It will take place on Saturday the 9th of May at 6 PM BST. It will be a public video afterwards. There is no charge, see: https://www.meetup.com/preparing-for-et-contact/events/314207932/. (Illustration by Brian Ruhe)

See here for background: https://hpanwo.blogspot.com/2020/02/ufo-disclosure-portal.html.

Ben Emlyn-Jones with Julia AnchorHaven

 

See here for the programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h8I3-UJIZ8.
I have been featured on Julia AnchorHaven's channel. Topics discussed include: underground bases in the UK, is AI conscious?, the life and works of Nick Pope and much much more. (Illustration by Julia)

Ben Emlyn-Jones on the Last Revolution Podcast

                         
See here for the programme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgUVds4TSLA.
I have been featured on the Last Revolution Podcast with Nathan Lucius. Topics discussed include: fingerprinting schoolchildren, psychology as a weapon, the trauma of the red pill and much much more.

Nick Pope Dies

 

I'm sorry to report that Nick Pope has died; and I am genuinely sorry. As regulars know, Nick and I didn't see eye-to-eye on much, to put it mildly; but I am still dismayed at the news of his passing. Nick joined the Ministry of Defence in 1985 and did several jobs, but he is best known for running "Secretariat (Air Staff) 2a", known as the UFO desk. This led to a prolific media career where he became known as "Britain's (or "the real") Fox Mulder", "the man from the Ministry" and many other nicknames. He took part in too many TV programmes and movies to mention, and he wrote a number of books. He was as absolute staple on the conference circuit. He's even had a song written about him by Mark Christopher Lee's band, The Pocket Gods, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab-v2xZHQdw. Despite this, he was always very cautious and used catchphrases like "I can neither confirm nor deny that" and "we can't rule it out" over and over again. His death was not unexpected, in fact he posted a few weeks ago that he was very ill and effectively in palliative care. He passed away peacefully at his home yesterday with his wife Elizabeth by his side. He was sixty years old. I used to get on well with Nick. We even had dinner together once in London with Tabitha, his partner at the time. We fell out because I resented what I believe was false information and disinformation he was spreading, especially about the Rendlesham Forest incident. I met up with him again briefly last year at Contact in the Desert and exchanged greetings. As I said at the time, we had both been invited to an exclusive private party at the conference venue and I felt obliged to behave well. Despite my antipathy towards Nick Pope, I will miss him. He has been part of the UFOlogical furniture for so long now; a figurehead of the movement, however flawed. Aliens will never be the same without him. His family have my deepest condolences. The Sun, one of the many journals he wrote for as a UFO correspondent, has published a touching obituary. Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/38742171/ufo-expert-dies-after-cancer-battle-wife-tribute/.