Alien vs. Deity
Dec. 29th, 2005 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vovatThe History Channel has been showing some pretty cool programs for Armageddon Week. I wrote about the Antichrist one a few days ago, and I saw shows about the Devil and the destruction of Babylon. There was another one that I kind of half-watched last night about a proposed code in the Bible. Apparently, if you look for patterns in the letters of the Bible, you can come up with words relevant to various historical events in close proximity to each other. I really think the prospect was a pretty ridiculous thing for the History Channel to devote a special to, but even if it were true, would it necessarily benefit anyone? I mean, what if someone had seen the words "Kennedy," "Oswald," and "assassination" prior to the actual event? Would they have had any idea how to put those words together to figure out what would happen? It sounds like the whole thing is only a tiny step above numerology in terms of plausibility. Or, to put it in the words of Penn and Teller, it's bullshit.
At least one person on the Bible Code special said something about how it might have been aliens who put the code into the Bible. The "it's not God; it's aliens" philosophy has been around for some time, dating back at least to Chariots of the Gods in the late sixties, and now being used by Creationists who insist that Intelligent Design doesn't have to be religion in disguise. Isn't this just six of one and half a dozen of the other, though? If there are alien life forms who are capable of creating life, predicting minor details about the far future, and/or teaching humanity how to build pyramids, aren't they close enough to gods as not to make much of a difference? As someone in that History Channel show said, I think this idea comes into vogue during periods when religion is considered uncool, while aliens are the height of coolness. And, really, if aliens have this advanced technology, where did they learn it? Did they develop it themselves (in which case, why couldn't humans do the same on their own?), or learn it from another alien race (which raises questions as to how it all came into being in the first place)? While searching for information on Fomenko (the Russian mathematician who proposed that history was actually much shorter than everyone says, but accounts of events were accidentally duplicated by careless historians), I came across this page, which proposes that a lot of the ideas about pyramid-building alien gods in Chariots of the Gods and similar works actually derives from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. You know, Cthulhu and all that? When I attempted to read something by Lovecraft, I found it difficult to get through. The theory sounds pretty likely, though.
I'm reminded of Weird Al's clever parody of the Chariots of the Gods idea from an old AL-TV special, where he showed that playing "Don't Fear The Reaper" backwards would reveal a message from the ancient astronauts. That segment was included in The Compleat Al, the fictional biographical movie of Al that came out in the mid-eighties. They should really put that out on DVD. Or, for that matter, they could just release all the old AL-TV specials, although there might be rights issues with that.
Speaking of crazy sci-fi...well, stuff,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bethje and I watched The Stuff last night. It's a cheesy eighties movie about a dessert product that's alive and kills people. Sort of like the Blob, I guess, except it's edible. You could tell it was from the eighties, because the commercials for The Stuff had music sung by a Pat Benatar sound-alike.
I had some weird dreams last night, including one where I was going to be Milo in a school presentation of The Phantom Tollbooth, but I couldn't remember my lines. For some reason, I have dreams about being in school plays pretty often, which is weird, because I was never actually in them in school. I think they're usually plays for English class, though, and I really WAS in one of those. Well, everyone was, so I was obviously included. And we really did do The Phantom Tollbooth in sixth grade, but I was the Mathemagician, not Milo.
I got Christmas presents from my dad today. He gave me a scarf and a copy of Al Franken's new book (which Beth got from her uncle, and probably would have let me borrow, but it's still cool to have my own) and a gift certificate to the Olive Garden.
zaph did one of those end-of-the-year surveys I was talking about, so here are my answers, for your viewing pleasure.
1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? Many things, but nothing all that significant.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I never really make resolutions. I kind of think that I should next year, but maybe that would just be setting myself up for failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No
4. Did anyone close to you die? No
5. What countries did you visit? None of them. I haven't left the States in almost twenty years.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? A full-time job
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory? I don't know that any of them will.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting a better job at my one workplace, I guess.
9. What was your biggest failure? I guess I'd have to go with that full-time job thing again.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a pretty bad ear infection back in the summer.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Hmm, what DID I buy? Probably a book, I guess.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? All of the authors and musicians I like who released stuff this year
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? The President and his yes-men
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, probably.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The new Harry Potter book was pretty exciting. So was seeing a few bands in concert that I hadn't before.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005? I really don't associate songs with years. Events, sometimes, but not years.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you
1. happier or sadder? Probably about the same. Maybe a little happier, although driving in the rain tends to bring me down somewhat.
2. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
3. richer or poorer? I might actually be VERY slightly richer, but I don't know for sure.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing and practicing guitar.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Being frustrated.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? It's already happened. I spent it with my mom's family in Virginia. I might well do the same thing next year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2005? Not anew.
22. How many one night stands? None. I guess I should get on that for next year. :P
23. What was your favourite TV program? My Official Favorite Show remains The Simpsons, and there were a few really good episodes this year, even if the show in general is somewhat past its prime. As far as new shows go, Stella was really funny, and I like what I've seen of The Colbert Report. I'm also happy about the return of Family Guy; the FCC episode is one of the best I've seen. And I've grown to appreciate Arrested Development more (so, of course, it was cancelled :().
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Not that I can think of.
25. What was the best book you read? It's predictable, but I'd have to say Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Probably the Ditty Bops, closely followed by the Dresden Dolls
27. What did you want and get? A better-paying job
28. What did you want and not get? A FULL-TIME job
29. What was your favourite film of this year? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is still fresh in my mind as being really good.
30. What did you do on your birthday? Worked, and went out to eat with my dad
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? See my answers to questions 6, 9, and 28.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? I don't have much of one. Button-up shirts for work, and T-shirts on my days off. I've started wearing boxers and white socks more often. Does that count as a fashion concept?
33. What kept you sane? Tending my fruit? No, I'm thinking of Colin Moulding.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Bill O'Reilly. He's dreamy!
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Probably that Patriot Act garbage, and the whole "we're at war, so that means anything the President wants to do is excusable" attitude.
36. Who did you miss? I missed Beth on numerous occasions.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Did I even meet anybody?
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005. You can't win, so don't try. Wait, I already knew that.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I wish I could think of one, but I can't.
And this other survey comes fromrockinlibrarian.
1. Something purple within 5 feet of you: Beth's hairbrush. It was there yesterday when I first answered this question, anyway.
2. The sexiest item of clothing you own: I don't know that I own any sexy clothing.
3. Your nails were last painted: in my freshman year of college.
4. The weirdest thing you've ever heated in the microwave? I can't think of anything unusual that I've put in the microwave. I'm boring that way.
5. How much Japanese do you know? Very little. I would imagine that any anime-loving twelve-year-old knows more.
6. Do you look good in yellow? I think so. I have a yellow shirt that I like to wear.
7. Do you sing? Yes, but I'm not any good at it.
8. Ever danced naked in front of a crowd? Nope.
9. Do you spit? Very rarely, except when rinsing out my mouth
10. Is your hair long enough to chew on? Not anymore
11. Least favorite color? This is too tough for me to give an absolute answer, but the shade of green that the walls were painted in the old building of my elementary school was horrible.
12. Ever had Dippin' Dots? No, and I don't really want to, either.
13. Ever played an instrument? As I mentioned in the last survey, I have a guitar that I never practice. I also took harmonica lessons in high school.
14. Ever had a H2O massage? No
15. Do you believe in Big Foot? No, but the real question is, does Bigfoot believe in ME?
16. Ever been to a palm reader? No. I'm boring, aren't I? {g}
17. Last Pez Dispenser you bought: I can't recall ever having bought one, believe it or not.
18. Have you had sex in your current car? As opposed to my future car?
19. Did you have a good weekend? It was all right. I did get presents, after all.
20. What are you thinking about right now? Whether there are any questions in this survey that I've left blank.
21. Have you ever had a black eye? Yeah, I remember getting one in Tae Kwon Do class.
22. How is today going for you? Okay, although nothing much happened. Driving in the dark and the rain wasn't much fun, though.
23. Any plans for tonight? I'll probably just be on the computer all night. Maybe I'll read some more of Son of a Witch, or go through my stuff.
24. Ever photograph something that was dead? Not that I can recall. I don't take that many pictures. It's quite probable I did at some point, though.
25. Ever given someone a Full-Body oil massage? No.
26. Do you find Smurfette sexy? No.
27. Current disappointment: My inability to come up with good answers for many of these questions.
28. Do you have an air freshener in your car? Not currently
29. Do you have plants in your room? No
30. Do you like kittens? Of course I do! I like full-grown cats better, though.
31. If you could drink anything right this second, what would it be? Hmm, really good lemonade, maybe?
32. Last piece of mail opened: My presents from Beth
33. Does anything hurt on your body right now? No, but I'm hungry.
34. What city was your last taxi cab ride in? Philadelphia
35. Last alcoholic drink you had? A strawberry dacquiri at the Christmas social
36. If someone you hated died, would you laugh and spit on their grave? No, I don't think I would.
37. What were you doing at 9 pm last night? Eating at Ruby Tuesday, I think.
38. What's your favorite Starbucks drink? The caramel apple cider. That's pretty much my favorite by default, since I don't drink coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. It is pretty good, though.
39. Do you exercise as much as you should? Yeah, right! Does anybody?
At least one person on the Bible Code special said something about how it might have been aliens who put the code into the Bible. The "it's not God; it's aliens" philosophy has been around for some time, dating back at least to Chariots of the Gods in the late sixties, and now being used by Creationists who insist that Intelligent Design doesn't have to be religion in disguise. Isn't this just six of one and half a dozen of the other, though? If there are alien life forms who are capable of creating life, predicting minor details about the far future, and/or teaching humanity how to build pyramids, aren't they close enough to gods as not to make much of a difference? As someone in that History Channel show said, I think this idea comes into vogue during periods when religion is considered uncool, while aliens are the height of coolness. And, really, if aliens have this advanced technology, where did they learn it? Did they develop it themselves (in which case, why couldn't humans do the same on their own?), or learn it from another alien race (which raises questions as to how it all came into being in the first place)? While searching for information on Fomenko (the Russian mathematician who proposed that history was actually much shorter than everyone says, but accounts of events were accidentally duplicated by careless historians), I came across this page, which proposes that a lot of the ideas about pyramid-building alien gods in Chariots of the Gods and similar works actually derives from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. You know, Cthulhu and all that? When I attempted to read something by Lovecraft, I found it difficult to get through. The theory sounds pretty likely, though.
I'm reminded of Weird Al's clever parody of the Chariots of the Gods idea from an old AL-TV special, where he showed that playing "Don't Fear The Reaper" backwards would reveal a message from the ancient astronauts. That segment was included in The Compleat Al, the fictional biographical movie of Al that came out in the mid-eighties. They should really put that out on DVD. Or, for that matter, they could just release all the old AL-TV specials, although there might be rights issues with that.
Speaking of crazy sci-fi...well, stuff,
bethje and I watched The Stuff last night. It's a cheesy eighties movie about a dessert product that's alive and kills people. Sort of like the Blob, I guess, except it's edible. You could tell it was from the eighties, because the commercials for The Stuff had music sung by a Pat Benatar sound-alike.I had some weird dreams last night, including one where I was going to be Milo in a school presentation of The Phantom Tollbooth, but I couldn't remember my lines. For some reason, I have dreams about being in school plays pretty often, which is weird, because I was never actually in them in school. I think they're usually plays for English class, though, and I really WAS in one of those. Well, everyone was, so I was obviously included. And we really did do The Phantom Tollbooth in sixth grade, but I was the Mathemagician, not Milo.
I got Christmas presents from my dad today. He gave me a scarf and a copy of Al Franken's new book (which Beth got from her uncle, and probably would have let me borrow, but it's still cool to have my own) and a gift certificate to the Olive Garden.
zaph did one of those end-of-the-year surveys I was talking about, so here are my answers, for your viewing pleasure.1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before? Many things, but nothing all that significant.
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I never really make resolutions. I kind of think that I should next year, but maybe that would just be setting myself up for failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No
4. Did anyone close to you die? No
5. What countries did you visit? None of them. I haven't left the States in almost twenty years.
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005? A full-time job
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory? I don't know that any of them will.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting a better job at my one workplace, I guess.
9. What was your biggest failure? I guess I'd have to go with that full-time job thing again.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a pretty bad ear infection back in the summer.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Hmm, what DID I buy? Probably a book, I guess.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? All of the authors and musicians I like who released stuff this year
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? The President and his yes-men
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, probably.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? The new Harry Potter book was pretty exciting. So was seeing a few bands in concert that I hadn't before.
16. What song will always remind you of 2005? I really don't associate songs with years. Events, sometimes, but not years.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you
1. happier or sadder? Probably about the same. Maybe a little happier, although driving in the rain tends to bring me down somewhat.
2. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
3. richer or poorer? I might actually be VERY slightly richer, but I don't know for sure.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing and practicing guitar.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Being frustrated.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? It's already happened. I spent it with my mom's family in Virginia. I might well do the same thing next year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2005? Not anew.
22. How many one night stands? None. I guess I should get on that for next year. :P
23. What was your favourite TV program? My Official Favorite Show remains The Simpsons, and there were a few really good episodes this year, even if the show in general is somewhat past its prime. As far as new shows go, Stella was really funny, and I like what I've seen of The Colbert Report. I'm also happy about the return of Family Guy; the FCC episode is one of the best I've seen. And I've grown to appreciate Arrested Development more (so, of course, it was cancelled :().
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Not that I can think of.
25. What was the best book you read? It's predictable, but I'd have to say Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Probably the Ditty Bops, closely followed by the Dresden Dolls
27. What did you want and get? A better-paying job
28. What did you want and not get? A FULL-TIME job
29. What was your favourite film of this year? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is still fresh in my mind as being really good.
30. What did you do on your birthday? Worked, and went out to eat with my dad
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? See my answers to questions 6, 9, and 28.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005? I don't have much of one. Button-up shirts for work, and T-shirts on my days off. I've started wearing boxers and white socks more often. Does that count as a fashion concept?
33. What kept you sane? Tending my fruit? No, I'm thinking of Colin Moulding.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Bill O'Reilly. He's dreamy!
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Probably that Patriot Act garbage, and the whole "we're at war, so that means anything the President wants to do is excusable" attitude.
36. Who did you miss? I missed Beth on numerous occasions.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Did I even meet anybody?
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005. You can't win, so don't try. Wait, I already knew that.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. I wish I could think of one, but I can't.
And this other survey comes from
rockinlibrarian.1. Something purple within 5 feet of you: Beth's hairbrush. It was there yesterday when I first answered this question, anyway.
2. The sexiest item of clothing you own: I don't know that I own any sexy clothing.
3. Your nails were last painted: in my freshman year of college.
4. The weirdest thing you've ever heated in the microwave? I can't think of anything unusual that I've put in the microwave. I'm boring that way.
5. How much Japanese do you know? Very little. I would imagine that any anime-loving twelve-year-old knows more.
6. Do you look good in yellow? I think so. I have a yellow shirt that I like to wear.
7. Do you sing? Yes, but I'm not any good at it.
8. Ever danced naked in front of a crowd? Nope.
9. Do you spit? Very rarely, except when rinsing out my mouth
10. Is your hair long enough to chew on? Not anymore
11. Least favorite color? This is too tough for me to give an absolute answer, but the shade of green that the walls were painted in the old building of my elementary school was horrible.
12. Ever had Dippin' Dots? No, and I don't really want to, either.
13. Ever played an instrument? As I mentioned in the last survey, I have a guitar that I never practice. I also took harmonica lessons in high school.
14. Ever had a H2O massage? No
15. Do you believe in Big Foot? No, but the real question is, does Bigfoot believe in ME?
16. Ever been to a palm reader? No. I'm boring, aren't I? {g}
17. Last Pez Dispenser you bought: I can't recall ever having bought one, believe it or not.
18. Have you had sex in your current car? As opposed to my future car?
19. Did you have a good weekend? It was all right. I did get presents, after all.
20. What are you thinking about right now? Whether there are any questions in this survey that I've left blank.
21. Have you ever had a black eye? Yeah, I remember getting one in Tae Kwon Do class.
22. How is today going for you? Okay, although nothing much happened. Driving in the dark and the rain wasn't much fun, though.
23. Any plans for tonight? I'll probably just be on the computer all night. Maybe I'll read some more of Son of a Witch, or go through my stuff.
24. Ever photograph something that was dead? Not that I can recall. I don't take that many pictures. It's quite probable I did at some point, though.
25. Ever given someone a Full-Body oil massage? No.
26. Do you find Smurfette sexy? No.
27. Current disappointment: My inability to come up with good answers for many of these questions.
28. Do you have an air freshener in your car? Not currently
29. Do you have plants in your room? No
30. Do you like kittens? Of course I do! I like full-grown cats better, though.
31. If you could drink anything right this second, what would it be? Hmm, really good lemonade, maybe?
32. Last piece of mail opened: My presents from Beth
33. Does anything hurt on your body right now? No, but I'm hungry.
34. What city was your last taxi cab ride in? Philadelphia
35. Last alcoholic drink you had? A strawberry dacquiri at the Christmas social
36. If someone you hated died, would you laugh and spit on their grave? No, I don't think I would.
37. What were you doing at 9 pm last night? Eating at Ruby Tuesday, I think.
38. What's your favorite Starbucks drink? The caramel apple cider. That's pretty much my favorite by default, since I don't drink coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. It is pretty good, though.
39. Do you exercise as much as you should? Yeah, right! Does anybody?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-12-30 04:05 pm (UTC)Also, the Al-TVs probably would be hard to release. MTV probably holds the broadcast rights to all of them, and they have been notorious for not releasing even shows with a large following.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-30 09:37 pm (UTC)In fact, in the show, some guy pointed out how you could do the same thing with Moby Dick.
Besides, why would writers of several different books from 2000 - 3000 years ago or so, which were never intended to be collected the way they are, care about the assassination of a leader in power for 3 years, thousands of years later and on the other side of the planet?
Because it was actually God who did it! Or an alien! Or an alien god! {g}
MTV probably holds the broadcast rights to all of them, and they have been notorious for not releasing even shows with a large following.
And I think Beavis and Butt-Head episodes have only been released without the videos. It's a shame, really.