Exploration, an Essential Endeavor.

Greetings. Exploration. The attempt to learn all there is to learn, to know all that is knowable.

We have only begun to scratch the surface, only taken a few small tentative steps into the unknown that surrounds us, the universe. The Pioneer probes, the Voyager probes, and the many planetary probes that have explored the solar system from orbit and from the surfaces of Mars, Titan, Venus, and the Moon. All worthwhile endeavors, all scientifically revealing, all memorable accomplishments in human history.

Now it is time to take another step forward, to move beyond low Earth orbit, to make the journey to Mars, to Ceres, and to the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Why? Because we need to. Exploration is an essential aspect of the human condition. We will cease to advance without the challenge of exploration. We will stunt our growth as a society without the challenge of exploration. It is a part of us. It always has been.

Ever since our prehistoric ancestors emerged from the landscapes of Africa, we have explored our environment, whether by foot, by horseback, or by boat. We climbed the highest mountains. We crossed the seas and oceans. We eventually left the planet and journeyed in outer space. We need to keep pushing forward.

During the heady days of the Space Race in the 1960's, the United States and the Soviet Union completed against each other, and against themselves, all in a herculean effort to land a human being on the surface of the Moon. When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon, the entire human race came together, an event which has not occurred since that magnificent July day in 1969. We need that. We need to come together once again.

Can we explore deep space? Do we have the technological capabilities? Do we have the ability to come together as a planet to make headway? Yes, yes, and I don't know. We can explore deep space, if we come together and work towards a common goal. We do have the technological capabilities, after all, we create nuclear weapons, weather satellites, and radar surveillance systems, all of which require a high level of technology. The real question is, can we come together? Can we put aside our political and ideological differences for the betterment of humanity? I am not sure, and I sincerely wish it were different.

Perhaps, one fine day, we will come together to kick off a new age of exploration. Perhaps.

Thank you for your time and indulgence.

Comments

Liars, Frauds, and Misrepresenters.

Greetings. I am occasionally asked why I write about so many of the troubling issues within the UFO subculture. One reason, actually two. One, because the troubling issues exist, and I cannot in good conscience simply ignore them. Two, I am passionate about the UFO question, and I care deeply about the integrity of the entire UFO subculture, even though I am not an active participant in the movement. There are many outstanding people involved in UFO research, individuals with integrity, an unshakable commitment to the work, and a high level of professionalism. They consistently grind the research stone in the never-ending effort to solve, or at the very least, learn about the UFO problem and it's innumerable questions. I cannot offer enough kind words of support and encouragement to those people, they are all deserving of our accolades, for they conduct their workmanlike efforts behind the scenes, without attention, out of the limelight, and beyond the prying eyes of the UFO subcu

Cringeworthy Promotion, Dolan Style.

Greetings. Mr. Richard Dolan is one of the most well-known figures in the UFO subculture. Known as a historian of the UFO topic, Mr. Dolan has commented at length about the UFO problem on various platforms, on broadcast media, during his own show, and on various social media outlets. Mr. Dolan is a highly active participant on the UFO circuit, making appearances at many UFO themed festivals and conferences, actively promoting himself throughout. Now the simple act of promotion is not necessarily a negative course of action, but it is strongly suggestive of a change of course. In UFO circles, the act of self-promotion is a slippery slope, one that many well-known public figures have fallen into, some seemingly by accident, others by choice. Mr. Dolan seems to have chosen his course of action, and is apparently quite comfortable in his new surroundings. Some UFO researchers have lost their professional credibility and integrity in the name of fame, notoriety, and financial gain. It ha

MUFON: Peddling Nonsense or Unknowingly Ignorant?

Greetings. The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) was once a legitimate investigative organization. Back in the 1970's, the organization worked alongside, but not in cooperation with, the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO) and the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP.) By the 1990's, MUFON was the only game left in town, with APRO and NICAP having passed into UFO history. In recent years, the organization's focus has shifted away from UFO investigations towards the UFO entertainment industry and the nonsensical content it embraces. The organization has experienced several setbacks in recent years, self-inflicted wounds that tended to occur at the upper echelons of the organization, with the names Jan Harzan, John Ventre, and Steve Hudgeons immediately coming to mind. Despite this situation, there are several local chapters that have maintained a level of investigative focus and legitimacy, keeping the chaos of the higher organization at arm's

William G. Pullin

Search This Blog