If you can spare a couple of hours of "doing your own research", here is a real treat for you: a five-part YouTube series signed Steven Greenstreet, a reporter at the New York Post who covers the UFO phenomenon from a mostly skeptical angle. I´ve also included a short follow up to the series as video number six.
The five-part series deals mostly with Skinwalker Ranch in Utah, which is supposedly a hot spot of paranormal activity of various kinds. The series is somewhat eclectic, with parts 3, 4 and 5 being a kind of documentary. Greenstreet was allowed to visit the ranch in person and conducted several interviews with its present owner, real estate mogul Brandon Fugal (who actually seems to be an interesting character). Fugal bought the ranch from Robert Bigelow, another millionaire with a strong interest in UFOs and the paranormal more generally. There is an indirect connection to the present "pro-UFO" period among some lawmakers and other officials in Washington DC. Bigelow received federal funding through the Pentagon to investigate Skinwalker Ranch, something made possible by his friend, Senator Harry Reid. I get the impression that the pro-UFO group around Bigelow still have some kind of connections to the Utah ranch. Meanwhile, the Bigelowites are lobbying Congress and others to disclose more information on the real or perceived alien presence on Earth.
The most interesting episodes in the series are 3 and 4, where we learn that Greenstreet used to live in both Salt Lake City and Provo in Utah. He is actually a former Mormon. Fugal is a life long Mormon, and all members of his team at the Skinwalker Ranch are either Mormons or some kind of hang-arounds. Harry Reid was also a Mormon! There does seem to be a connection between the religious faith of these people and their belief in paranormal phenomena or even aliens. Mormons believe in multiple gods and "worlds without end". Both Fugal and others seem to be on a spiritual quest of sorts. Fugal has previously brokered an alternative history group which tried to find archeological evidence for the Book of Mormon, including the famed "giant mummies" (which I mentioned in a previous blog post - they could be real, but perhaps not "giants" in the super-literal sense). While Greenstreet tries to be respectful to the Mormon faith of his hosts, he does slip sometimes, for instance when subtly accusing Fugal of breaking the Mormon rule against drinking beverages containing caffeine...
Yes, I did notice.
Eventually, Greenstreet ends up becoming even more convinced that the Skinwalker Ranch simply isn´t paranormal. He describes it as a whole bunch of nothing. No evidence, just stories. And why is Skinwalker Ranch incorporated as an entertainment business? It´s featured in a popular reality show on TV, and the cast members show up at UFO-positive fan conventions. The intrepid reporter stays overnight at the "worst" part of Skinwalker Ranch, and does experience a few weird things, but nothing that could sway him from his skepticism. To be honest, part five comes across as a run-of-the-mill Skeptic (TM) presentation, complete with the usual mockery.
What are the main take aways from this peculiar show? One thing that struck me from watching both this and Greenstreet´s other uploads (linked in a previous blog post) is that the "religious" ufology group he attacks is very good at lobbying the rich and the powerful: generals, Congressmen, millionaires. Apparently, many civil servants in DC believe in UFOs and are fans of the Skinwalker Ranch reality show! The Mormon connection is of course interesting. Unfortunately, I also think Greenstreet is right when he says that there is no 100% conclusive evidence for paranormal activity at the Skinwalker Ranch. But, as British UFO researcher Nick Pope points out in the first or second episode, maybe we´re dealing with a "trickster" phenomenon? Of course, it´s also possible that the whole thing is a wild goose chase and that a conspiracy of a very different type is being spun here: the US military wants people to believe in UFOs as a way to cover up secret American test flights. If so, the Bigelows and Fugals are being used without their knowledge by some truly Deep State faction.
I suppose we could call them the Gadianton Robbers!
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