Dec 23 2008

Friedman & UFOs

Once again, it’s time for a new episode of Binnall of America (me and Greg jointly recorded an episode recently, which I’ll alert you to when its posted); and here’s Tim to tell you all about it:

Stanton Friedman
BoA:Audio’s 4th Annual Holiday Special
1 Hour, 45 Minutes

It’s one BoA’s proudest traditions, the 4th annual BoA:Audio Holiday Special featuring the “Father of Modern Day Ufology” Stanton Friedman. Coming on the heels of the publication of his self-proclaimed “magnus opus,” Flying Saucers and Science, we discuss a number of elements to the new tome. We find out about Project Blue Book Special Report # 13, the mysterious “lost” Blue Book text, Stan’s relationships and thoughts on legendary Ufologists James E. McDonald & J. Allen Hynek, his “feud” with Isaac Asimov, the crash of the nuclear rocket industry, plus big picture analysis like how to solve Ufology’s public relations problems and Stan’s thoughts on the state of Roswell in relation to mainstream media & science acceptance.

On top of all that, in the 2nd half of the program, we turn the questioning over to the members of the official BoA forum theusofe.com who had their chance to ask Friedman one question each. Via their contributions, we’ll find out about his thoughts on the connection between UFOs & altered consciousness, his disagreements with Kevin Randle on Roswell, Ufology in a post-disclosure world, getting the media interested in UFOs, his opinion on what is the best abduction case ever, his feud with Paul Kimball, sabermetrics in baseball, the alleged 1969 Sverdlovsky UFO crash, why he doesn’t subscribe to the Corso version of Roswell, the journal article ‘Soverignty and the UFO’, Project Blue Book Special Report #14, and where the US would be in space if it kept going to the moon.

One of the very best editions of BoA:Audio, ever. Happy Holidays from us to you.

Full Preview: We kick off the interview by diving right into the UFO discussion as we talk about an amazing nugget revealed in Flying Saucers and Science: Project Blue Book Special Report #13, which was never released by the government (volumes 1 to 12 & 14 were) and which may constitute a critical “lost text” in the history of Ufology. Next, we follow up on Stan’s statement in his new book where he suggest a wholly different landscape for Ufology in today’s world, had esteemed Ufologist James E. McDonald not died in 1971. Throughout this answer, Stan gives amazing background detail on McDonald and how he investigated UFOs.

After that, we find out from Stan why he thinks the nuclear rocket industry, which he was intimately involved with in the 1960’s, fell apart and hasn’t been revived in present times. He also speculates on why it is improbably that nuclear rockets are being developed “in the black” today.

We then talk about Stan’s “feud” with Isaac Asamov and his chapter in the book dealing with UFOs and science fiction writers. This segues into a discussion on Ufology’s public relations problem and we get Stan’s opinion on what it would take to make people care about UFOs, not just believe in them. Within this answer, Stan also talks about some of his recent run-ins with hardcore skeptics.

Following that, we get Stan’s perspective on if he is surprised that Roswell hasn’t been solved after approximately 30 years of research into it. Within this answer, Stan details his issues with the media and their perspective on UFOs.

Looking at another key figure in Ufology’s history, we find out about Stan’s relationship with J. Allen Hynek and if he ever tried to get Hynek to stop being an “apologist Ufologist.” Wrapping up binnall’s questions for the interview, we look at the final sentence of the book, which is a call to action for Ufology, and find out what Stan thinks Ufology needs to do next. Stan puts forth a number of innovative concepts dealing with public relations and handling the media.

The second half of the conversation revolves around Stan answering questions put forth by official BoA forum (theusofe.com) members. The first question is for Stan’s thoughts on the potential connection between UFOs/ETs and altered states of consciousness. Next, we find out why Stan and Kevin Randle disagree on so many aspects of the Roswell story. After that, we get his take on what role classic Ufology has in a post-disclosure world.

Next, we get Stan’s opinion on what it would take for UFOs to get good coverage in the mainstream media. He then get his pick for the best abduction case on record and why. After that, we get his side of his “feud” with Paul Kimball that erupted this past Summer. Going off the beaten path, we then find out what Stan thinks of sabermetrics in baseball.

Getting very specific, we find out what Stan thinks of the 1969 Sverlovsky, Russia “UFO crash.” Next, we find out why Stan is not a subscriber to the Col. Corso version of the Roswell story. We then get an update from Stanton on the journal article called “Soverngty and the UFO” and what the fallout from that article has been. Heading towards the close, we find out about the legitimacy of Project Blue Book Special Report #14. The final forum question sees Stan speculating on where the US would be today had it continued onward in its space exploration after going to the Moon.

Wrapping things up, Stanton tells us what’s next for him, including a teaser of his next book.

This interview was recorded on 12.11.2008.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 am and is filed under Abductions, Alien Encounters, Author Interviews, Beliefs, Books, Breaking News, Close Encounters, Conspiracies, Crash Sites, Evidence, Eyewitness Accounts, Government Projects, History, Roswell, The Redfern Files, UFO Sightings, UFOlogists, UFOlogy. You can follow responses via RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your site.
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