The Lost Star of Myth and Time

Recently, the Coast to Coast radio program aired a segment (www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2005/10/04.html) showcasing a gentleman that has decided he has an explanation for 1) the alternating cycles of dark ages and golden ages in the history of humanity, and 2) the precession of the equinox. You may reference his web site here: http://www.loststarbook.com/.

The first three thoughts that occured to me are (in this order): 1) Is this fiction? 2) I didn't know we needed an explanation for the precession of the equinox (I thought we had that one solved decades ago), and finally, 3) of the millions of things that lead to cycles in the ages of humanity, I wonder why he needs to cook up an extremely exotic and potentially unlikely one?

The bottom line theory here is that precession and cycles in humanity are themes that resonate through history. OK, so right off the bat, the theory is already painfully obvious and nothing new to anyone with a decent education. What makes the difference here, as postulated by the author, is that these events are actually caused by a hidden sister star to our own sun. "Golly", I think to myself, "yet another variation of the 'twin Earth hidden behind our sun' theory... goodie goodie, this ought to be a laugh." Yet, the author is serious. He is not intending this to be a work of fiction. I then wonder aloud, "he has credentials to back up his research, right?" Well... the author claims he is (and I kid you not) an "Amateur Theoretical Archaeo-Astronomer". Gulp! What the hell is that, I ponder? I guess the self-made title gives it all away with the inclusion of the word 'amateur', topped off with the use of 'theoretical'. In the same light, I myself am an "Amateur Theoretical Brain Surgeon", yet they just won't let me in the operating room at the local hospital for some reason. Why won't they believe me? Maybe I should drive down to the county courthouse, stroll into an ongoing trial, and announce loudly that (Hey everyone!!) I am an "Amateur Theoretical Lawyer and I am here with the answers". How far do you think I would get before security handcuffs me and escorts me from the building? I am laughing out loud now. This IS a farce. Then, to add to the fanciful nature of all this, the author (remember, the archaeo-astronomer?) reveals his background has been 'banking'. You know... money? "What", I exclaim in shock, "He does not have any science education? No BS in physics or astronomy, no masters, no PhD, no published papers?" No, but he does have an interest in astronomy. Yes, and I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night too.

The whole idea here is that some mysterious binary star (that has somehow escaped the attention of every astrophysicist, astronomer, and scientist on Earth throughout all history, to include NASA and every freakin' university that teaches any science or is involved with research) swings in every so often and shakes things up a bit. And, well, we're supposed to believe that Mr. Banker here has discovered why (because all those other scholarly ideas and studies throughout the ages are just plain lacking, right?) precession exists and why there are cycles in the long ages of humanity. It's that doggone binary star... that's all, right? So, we have another junior "Hoagland" here. A ton of fanciful ideas but NO science background, NO experience, NO references. Nothing. And I repeat in loud words: NOTHING that jives with anything having to do with even ONE single scientist in the WHOLE WORLD. But, a fanciful story, I have to grant.

The problem with this kind of thinking is that these folks can makeup whatever they want and always find enough gullable people to believe it. Would you like me to direct you to all the necessary links that will unveil this stuff as pure bull hockey ? Well, I won't because then I will have done WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, for you. You need to get off your fat dumb lazy ass and start looking up, questioning, and learning about the world for yourself instead of fallng for this kind of garbage this gentleman is dishing out. It's ALL out there... available to you right now. Hey, start looking for yourself. Usually the best place to start is NOT the internet (why? because it is so littered with garbage and pseudo-everything that it is hard to tell what is real and what isn't). So guess where good sources are?

Try COLLEGE.

Hey, even the LIBRARY is terrific.

But yeah... they're probably ALL lying huh? Through out all the decades, all the schools, and all the professors in the schools... and Mr. "digital-star amateur archaeo whatever" guy is right. Huh? Yeah, OK... I have a bridge to sell you.

Finally, the icing on the cake. This guy takes himself so seriously, he goes out and founds (my own term would be 'thunk up') a "Conference on Precession and Ancient Knowledge", then he stars in it as a guest speaker. HAHAHAHAHAHA my my my... I have your ancient knowledge... right here!!! http://www.loststarbook.com/author.shtml

Katrina fuels global warming storm?

Lest we forget, hurricanes are a natural event. They occur every year, every hurricane season (hey... they even named it "hurricane season", what a surprise.) Some are big, some are little. Some strike land, some wander off to sea. Some kill thousands, some kill none. It has always been that way, it will always be that way (until we have effective ways to secure the safety and a measure of common sense in our fellow citizens).

As expected, there is the typical, irrational, knee-jerk reaction amongst the more weak-minded of us, the less educated, those of us with a political agenda, and those of us with long term memory deficit issues (like, longer than a year). The fragmented reasoning goes like this: "Katrina was a big hurricane, a mean one. It targeted black people and could have been prevented if George Bush would have signed the Kyoto Treaty to stop global warming." Back to that again huh? That Kyoto "politicalese" again. Well folks, here's a couple of facts. Mull over these records: Natural Disasters. Big disasterous hurricanes are nothing new. Did you know (of course you don't) that the 1886 hurricane season has been analyzed to be the busiest on record for the continental United States: NOAA Analysis. Uh oh... that was before SUV's! As far as the most deadly... did you know the worst killer hurricane was the Galveston Hurricane of 1900? History. That was a full hundred years ago, long before George Bush. Sorry, scalar waves projectors, thought rays, and HAARP weren't around then (better don your tin foil hats now!).

So... what is different? I can tell you. 1) Everyone, everywhere is now a virtual reporter. The internet and communications networks join all of us in real time. 2) Our 24 hours a day news services relish sensational news and may be prone to embellishment - for the ratings. 3) Weather has become political. 4) Everyone can have a say on the internet; there is no fact checker censoring the flood of nonsense spewing out of our computer monitors. Additionally, people are posing as "experts" when they really have no credentials, or experience, to speak of. 5) Our educational system has been failing this country. Generally speaking, our capacity to think rationally has been diminishing.

Add it all up. What used to be a "big storm" during hurrican season has now turned into a racist (targets blacks), evil (caused by George Bush), man created (either global warming, scalar beams, Japanese Mafia, HAARP.. take your pick), most horrendous killer in history (faulty memory/no knowledge of history, take your pick).
Are we devolving or what?!

Finally, do a little fact checking: Strongest Hurricanes. Since it is difficult for some to say this, I will. Hurricanes are: NOT caused by George Bush. NOT caused buy the alleged global warming. NOT caused by scalar beams from Japanese Mafia (hahahaha, that one is a riot). NOT caused by God to punish certain people. NOT caused by HAARP. NOT caused by elves. NOT caused by Satan. NOT caused by SUVs. NOT caused by big business. NOT caused by the alleged chemtrails (hahaha thats even funnier than all of them). Have I covered them all yet? Hurricanes ARE a weather phenomena. End of story.

Weather Report for the Dead

Sylvia Browne, in her book Life on the Other Side and on the George Noory "Coast To Coast" radio program addresses just this question. She says (with a straight face I assume) that "There is no precipitation on The Other Side, no rain, no snow, sleet or hail. There is no wind stronger than an occasional gentle breeze," and the temperature is an eternal 78 degrees. And no one ever has to worry about floods, tornados or any type of weather disruption. She also notes that the sun, moon and stars are not visible but the light is a "constant blend of soft, reassuring pastels" like a vibrant summer dawn or dusk."

Great... now we have weather forecasts from the dead, from the Other Side. My first question might be, "Well, how hot does it get in Hell, in the summer?" Oh sure, further complications. Notice that Sylvia doesn't address that issue but merely refers to her startling predictions as coming from the OTHER side. How non-denominational, thanks! Might she be trying to say that hell, or heaven, or nirvana, or pergatory, or other "belief system places" don't exist? That there is merely the "other" side? Wow... with that kind of omnipotent viewing powers one wonders why Sylvia has to waste her time writing silly books for a living. My second question might be, "Hey, what if I don't like reassuring pastels but prefer bold hues instead?" Well, the afterlife, in Sylvia's authoritative statement simply will not be accomodating to me. I'd be in hell. She sure is amazing!

I will try to be gentle here. Let's just say that extraordinary claims (like claiming to see what the weather is like in the afterlife or claiming that there IS weather in the afterlife) better come up with some better PROOF than "I saw it in a dream", or "Because I know". Lets see a picture taken with an afterlife camera. Or how about a "Travel Guide to The Other Side" with annual highs and lows listed for the past 5 years. Hahahahahahahaha... OK, I will not try to be gentle, because I do not subscribe to political correctness. The woman is NUTS. And, should you be inclined to want to believe Sylvia then I have some news for you. Ready? I too know what the weather is like on the Other Side and I can assure you that Sylvia is lying. There is no air. There is a bright blisteringly hot star baking everyone to carbon and it only rains in Tuesdays. And guess what... I can even draw pictures of it. What?! You don't believe me?

Well then... why would you want to believe Sylvia then?

I could understand that people are "wishing" for a peaceful afterlife, and nice weather fits into that well. But for someone to say, "Yeah, been there, done that. Weathers fine, how about a dip after lunch?", is enough to make me want to slap her face of insanity with my hand of reason. And, there should be some shame heaped onto the Coast to Coast radio show for 1) allowing nut cases to babble on the air 2) giving inferred credibility to these nut cases by allowing them to come on the air.

No proof, not even an inkling of proof, nothing but imagination run amok - so prove me wrong!