Volume 10 Archive
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 1 • January 1, 2017 •
It’s been a busy few weeks in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Happy New Year! As we get ready to start a new year of crazy claims and wacky ideas, I invite you to start by taking a look back at the past twelve months in fringe history with my year in review. There’s a lot to look forward to in 2017, including more Ancient Aliens, a cabinet secretary nominee who believes Egyptian pyramids were grain silos, and white nationalists’ increasing use of hyper-diffusionist claims to support their political goals. It will be scary!
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of December 19-January 1:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 1 • January 1, 2017 •
It’s been a busy few weeks in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Happy New Year! As we get ready to start a new year of crazy claims and wacky ideas, I invite you to start by taking a look back at the past twelve months in fringe history with my year in review. There’s a lot to look forward to in 2017, including more Ancient Aliens, a cabinet secretary nominee who believes Egyptian pyramids were grain silos, and white nationalists’ increasing use of hyper-diffusionist claims to support their political goals. It will be scary!
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of December 19-January 1:
- Review of Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston
- Review of The Origin of the Sphinx by Robert Schoch and Robert Bauval (Part 1 and Part 2)
- Scott Wolter Tries to Prove That the Knights Templar Calculated New England Longitudes. It Did Not Go Well.
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 2 • January 8, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week the Curse of Oak Island had former Miracle Detectives star Randall Sullivan on to try to explain why the works of Shakespeare are a product of a conspiracy involving the Knights Templar, and that the original manuscripts written by Francis Bacon are hidden under Oak Island. Sure they are. What a dumb conspiracy. After the plays were printed, what purpose did the manuscripts serve? Why take them to Oak Island instead of simply burning them?
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 2-8:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 2 • January 8, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week the Curse of Oak Island had former Miracle Detectives star Randall Sullivan on to try to explain why the works of Shakespeare are a product of a conspiracy involving the Knights Templar, and that the original manuscripts written by Francis Bacon are hidden under Oak Island. Sure they are. What a dumb conspiracy. After the plays were printed, what purpose did the manuscripts serve? Why take them to Oak Island instead of simply burning them?
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 2-8:
- “Alien” Bodies and Body Parts Allegedly Uncovered in Peru (Again)
- Science-Fiction-Adjacent Reviews of the New Movie Slash and TV Series Beyond
- Scott Wolter Claims Ice Age Peoples Held Intercontinental “World Conference” Meetings
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 3 • January 15, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I don’t even know what to say this week. It was just bizarre all the way around. In Turkey, the government was spreading religious nonsense on television, claiming Göbekli Tepe was connected to the patriarch Abraham. Alt-Right “intellectuals” decided to start a party pad for white supremacists to investigate how history proves Aryans should be in charge. Nephilim theorists went hog wild making things up and asking for huge sums of money. All of these events spin in orbit around the orange hole of lies sucking through its event horizon whatever remains of a respect for facts and truth.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 9-15:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 3 • January 15, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I don’t even know what to say this week. It was just bizarre all the way around. In Turkey, the government was spreading religious nonsense on television, claiming Göbekli Tepe was connected to the patriarch Abraham. Alt-Right “intellectuals” decided to start a party pad for white supremacists to investigate how history proves Aryans should be in charge. Nephilim theorists went hog wild making things up and asking for huge sums of money. All of these events spin in orbit around the orange hole of lies sucking through its event horizon whatever remains of a respect for facts and truth.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 9-15:
- Turkish Government Funds Documentary Claiming Göbekli Tepe Was Built by Abraham’s Father and Destroyed by Abraham
- L. A. Marzulli Claims to Have Found “New” Giant Skeleton by Just Outright Making Up Measurements
- Jason Reza Jorjani and Richard Spencer Got an Apartment Together in Virginia to Turn into a Salon and Party Pad for the So-Called “Alt-Right”
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 4 • January 22, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week America entered a new era where facts no longer matter. True, it has been that way for some time as a de facto policy, but this is probably the first time that facts are now unwelcome de jure. The new president considers facts to be an enemy, and the new Congress slipped into legislation provisions to prevent the Congressional Budget Office from reporting unwelcome analyses of facts. The White House forbade the Interior Department from tweeting attendance facts about the presidential inauguration. How long can we give it before the government starts pushing creationism again?
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 16-22:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 4 • January 22, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week America entered a new era where facts no longer matter. True, it has been that way for some time as a de facto policy, but this is probably the first time that facts are now unwelcome de jure. The new president considers facts to be an enemy, and the new Congress slipped into legislation provisions to prevent the Congressional Budget Office from reporting unwelcome analyses of facts. The White House forbade the Interior Department from tweeting attendance facts about the presidential inauguration. How long can we give it before the government starts pushing creationism again?
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 16-22:
- Jason Reza Jorjani Adopts Hancock-Schoch-West Fringe Claims about Egypt, Falsely Implies Nineteenth Century German Philosopher Believed Them
- Indian American Professor Claims Vedic Indians Once Ruled the Ancient Middle East
- Did Henry Sinclair Inspire the Creation of Ice Hockey During His Fictitious Voyage to America in 1398? These Self-Described Hockey Historians Say Yes!
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 5 • January 29, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Later today, January 29, the National Geographic Channel is scheduled to debut a new documentary on the search for the lost city of Atlantis. It was probably not a good sign that the channel chose not to promote its alleged “discoveries” to reputable science news services but instead sent the story to People magazine and other entertainment news outlets. Since we know that the show will claim that the Nuragic civilization of Sardinia inspired the Atlantis story—a claim proposed at least as far back as 1793!—I don’t have much faith that the show will be much different than any other Atlantis documentary from the past decade.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 23-29:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 5 • January 29, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Later today, January 29, the National Geographic Channel is scheduled to debut a new documentary on the search for the lost city of Atlantis. It was probably not a good sign that the channel chose not to promote its alleged “discoveries” to reputable science news services but instead sent the story to People magazine and other entertainment news outlets. Since we know that the show will claim that the Nuragic civilization of Sardinia inspired the Atlantis story—a claim proposed at least as far back as 1793!—I don’t have much faith that the show will be much different than any other Atlantis documentary from the past decade.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 23-29:
- Minnesota Man Claims to Have Found a Medieval Norse Skull One Day’s Journey North of the Kensington Rune Stone
- Jason Reza Jorjani on the Aryan Buddha and the Need for an “Aryan World Order”
- British Magazine Profiles Erich von Däniken, Interviews Me as Counterpoint
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 6 • February 5, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Last weekend’s Atlantis documentary on the National Geographic Channel did its job in terms of sparking social media conversations about the reality of the lost continent. It also seems to have served as something of a dog whistle for both Jewish and Christian Zionists, who happily picked up on filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici’s claims that Atlantis was the origin point for Judaism and a contributor to Biblical theology, thereby decoupling the Jewish people (and thus Israel) from other Semitic peoples (and therefore Palestinians and Islam).
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 31-February 5:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 6 • February 5, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Last weekend’s Atlantis documentary on the National Geographic Channel did its job in terms of sparking social media conversations about the reality of the lost continent. It also seems to have served as something of a dog whistle for both Jewish and Christian Zionists, who happily picked up on filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici’s claims that Atlantis was the origin point for Judaism and a contributor to Biblical theology, thereby decoupling the Jewish people (and thus Israel) from other Semitic peoples (and therefore Palestinians and Islam).
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of January 31-February 5:
- Newsweek Profiles Man Who Believes an Ancient European Ship Is Buried in California. Big Surprise: Two Cable Channels Are Doing Shows About It
- Steve Quayle and L. A. Marzulli Spend Two Hours Discussing Giants and Promoting Their Various Products
- New Book Claims to Discover the Last Will and Testament of Alexander the Great
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 7 • February 12, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
With the Trump Administration dominating the news over the past three weeks, it’s no surprise that most of the fringe history this week related to various fringe historians’ reactions to Trump. But on another and smaller note, it seems that Xplrr Media is no more. The company, which is less than a year old, no longer features in its owners’ social media profiles, and its logo does not appear in recent video releases. Rest in peace, Xplrr. You were loud and obnoxious and produced nothing of value.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 6-12:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 7 • February 12, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
With the Trump Administration dominating the news over the past three weeks, it’s no surprise that most of the fringe history this week related to various fringe historians’ reactions to Trump. But on another and smaller note, it seems that Xplrr Media is no more. The company, which is less than a year old, no longer features in its owners’ social media profiles, and its logo does not appear in recent video releases. Rest in peace, Xplrr. You were loud and obnoxious and produced nothing of value.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 6-12:
- Stephen K. Bannon Believes We Are Heading Toward a Global Cataclysm Because of a Pseudo-Historical 1990s Book about Cyclical History
- Anti-Islamic Christian Conspiracy Theorist Attacks Anti-Catholic Christian Conspiracy Theory about Nimrod for Not Being Anti-Islamic Enough
- Alex Jones and L. A. Marzulli Freak Out Over Hidden Messages in the Super Bowl Halftime Show
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 8 • February 19, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week David Wilcock promised to reveal secrets about a lost antediluvian city buried under Antarctica, which he identified as the lost continent of Atlantis. He charged his fans between $144 and $267 to hear these secrets, which he promises to make public after he finishes milking them for cash on the subscription Gaia TV service. In other business news, I may have spoken too soon about the demise of Xplrr Media last week. The logo appeared on some social media postings this week, though it may have been from an old template.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 13-19:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 8 • February 19, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week David Wilcock promised to reveal secrets about a lost antediluvian city buried under Antarctica, which he identified as the lost continent of Atlantis. He charged his fans between $144 and $267 to hear these secrets, which he promises to make public after he finishes milking them for cash on the subscription Gaia TV service. In other business news, I may have spoken too soon about the demise of Xplrr Media last week. The logo appeared on some social media postings this week, though it may have been from an old template.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 13-19:
- Sure, It’s Funny That Ken Ham Is Planning a Nephilim vs. Dinosaurs Exhibit, But Did You Read the Revealing Tweet-Storm That Followed?
- David Wilcock Claims an Evil “Cabal” of Aliens and Democrats Are Trying to Stop Trump from Defeating Evil, Revealing Truth about Atlantis
- Why the Icelandic Dracula Adaptation Is Probably Not Evidence for a Lost Original Version of Bram Stoker’s Classic Vampire Novel
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 9 • February 26, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
For yet another week, fringe historians have had a hard time keeping up with the torrent of conspiracy theories coming out of the White House, especially after recent news last weekend that InfoWars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is serving as an occasional advisor to Pres. Trump, the same Alex Jones who speculates about a lost race of Nephilim cannibal giants, who thinks Sandy Hook was a con job, and who thinks juice boxes turn kids gay. I want to go back to the days when the crazy train was the “fun” stuff we talked about to distract ourselves from politics.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 20-26:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 9 • February 26, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
For yet another week, fringe historians have had a hard time keeping up with the torrent of conspiracy theories coming out of the White House, especially after recent news last weekend that InfoWars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is serving as an occasional advisor to Pres. Trump, the same Alex Jones who speculates about a lost race of Nephilim cannibal giants, who thinks Sandy Hook was a con job, and who thinks juice boxes turn kids gay. I want to go back to the days when the crazy train was the “fun” stuff we talked about to distract ourselves from politics.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 20-26:
- Massimo Pigliucci Advocates for Virtue Epistemology in Skepticism, Seems to Accidentally Justify Using Ad Hominem Attacks
- The Strange Case of Morning of the Magicians in Soviet Russia
- Review of Astronaut Gods of the Maya by Erich von Däniken
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 10 • March 5, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week the publicity machine started ramping up for Sekret Machines: Gods, the first book in Tom DeLonge’s nonfiction series exploring the so-called “UFO phenomenon.” DeLonge received a UFO research award in advance of next week’s publication of the book, which is fairly amazing considering he did almost none of the work on the book, which was mostly written by Peter Levenda. I’ve got to get in on this trend of collecting cash payments while doing little to no work on the products that bear my name.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 27-March 5:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 10 • March 5, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week the publicity machine started ramping up for Sekret Machines: Gods, the first book in Tom DeLonge’s nonfiction series exploring the so-called “UFO phenomenon.” DeLonge received a UFO research award in advance of next week’s publication of the book, which is fairly amazing considering he did almost none of the work on the book, which was mostly written by Peter Levenda. I’ve got to get in on this trend of collecting cash payments while doing little to no work on the products that bear my name.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of February 27-March 5:
- Countdown to Sekret Machines: Gods: Peter Levenda Claims a New Approach to Ancient Aliens, While Jacques Vallée Attacks Knowledge Itself
- Is W. Scott Poole Right to Claim Lovecraft’s Monsters Are “Without Antecedent”?
- Peter Tompkins’s Son Describes His Father’s Hunt for Atlantis and His Own Belief in Sex-Crazed Demons
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 11 • March 12, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week saw the release of Sekret Machines: Gods, the highly touted new entry in the ancient astronaut genre. I have to say that I sort of thought that there would be more media reviews of it than just mine. There are the usual Amazon reviews, of course, but as of this writing not even the UFO publications offered an early review of the volume, at least none that Google indexed with a keyword search for the book title and “review.”
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 6-12:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 11 • March 12, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week saw the release of Sekret Machines: Gods, the highly touted new entry in the ancient astronaut genre. I have to say that I sort of thought that there would be more media reviews of it than just mine. There are the usual Amazon reviews, of course, but as of this writing not even the UFO publications offered an early review of the volume, at least none that Google indexed with a keyword search for the book title and “review.”
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 6-12:
- Review of Sekret Machines: Gods by Tom DeLonge with Peter Levenda (• Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 •)
- Conspiracy Theorist Who Blames the Rothschilds for the Civil War Claims History Channel Is Paying Him to Hunt for Giants and Treasure
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 12 • March 19, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I can’t say that this was the most enjoyable week ever. Here in upstate New York, we experienced a massive late winter storm that left Albany paralyzed for a couple of days, and it was our worst snowfall in a decade or so. I haven’t done that much shoveling in decades. I lived in an apartment the last time it snowed this much, so I didn’t have to shovel it back then. Even now, many days later, the snow banks are waist high, and I am amazed at the number of people who never bothered to shovel their sidewalks.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 13-19:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 12 • March 19, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I can’t say that this was the most enjoyable week ever. Here in upstate New York, we experienced a massive late winter storm that left Albany paralyzed for a couple of days, and it was our worst snowfall in a decade or so. I haven’t done that much shoveling in decades. I lived in an apartment the last time it snowed this much, so I didn’t have to shovel it back then. Even now, many days later, the snow banks are waist high, and I am amazed at the number of people who never bothered to shovel their sidewalks.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 13-19:
- Peter Levenda Is Upset with Me. He Also Called Me “Arrogant” and Driven by “Personal Resentment.”
- David Wilcock on the Nephilim of Atlantis; Plus: Right-Wing German Politician Cites Atlantis in Anti-Globalization Article
- Marking the Anniversary of Lovecraft’s Death with a Reflection on Georgian Architecture
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 13 • March 26, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week I spoke with a TV producer about a potential role as a talking head for a new cable series on mysterious disappearances. The production wanted to know whether I would be able to speak about the Vikings’ use of sunstones to navigate, but the show is also interested in exploring the lost continent of Atlantis. I shared a great deal of information with them about the history of the Atlantis myth, but I have a feeling that my particular take on the Atlantis story is somewhat at odds with their preferred false dichotomy, that Atlantis could either be entirely fictional or the island of Santorini in Greece.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 20-26:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 13 • March 26, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week I spoke with a TV producer about a potential role as a talking head for a new cable series on mysterious disappearances. The production wanted to know whether I would be able to speak about the Vikings’ use of sunstones to navigate, but the show is also interested in exploring the lost continent of Atlantis. I shared a great deal of information with them about the history of the Atlantis myth, but I have a feeling that my particular take on the Atlantis story is somewhat at odds with their preferred false dichotomy, that Atlantis could either be entirely fictional or the island of Santorini in Greece.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 20-26:
- Tom DeLonge Says Fiction Is the “Next Best Thing” to Government Disclosure When It Comes to UFOs
- Mormon Bigfoot: A Strange Outgrowth of the History of American Racism
- FBI Investigating Russian Connection to InfoWars: Why Do So Many Outlets Tied to Russia Back Ancient Astronaut and UFO Conspiracies?
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 14 • April 2, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
It’s amazing what happens to the “truth” about the paranormal once rivers of cash start to dry up. For 37 years, author Gerald Brittle has sold his 1980 bestseller about Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Demonologist, as a true account of battles with the supernatural. But now that Lorraine Warren and Warner Bros. have turned the story into a billion-dollar movie franchise, Brittle filed suit in court alleging that he owns the copyright on the Warrens’ life story because they signed it over to him in 1978, and it’s all lies that he and the Warrens concocted together. I have no doubt that the Warrens’ claims of battling ghosts and demons are untrue, but it’s hard to feel sorry for Brittle since he now admits in court papers to complicity in trying to fool the public for cash.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 27-April 1:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 14 • April 2, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
It’s amazing what happens to the “truth” about the paranormal once rivers of cash start to dry up. For 37 years, author Gerald Brittle has sold his 1980 bestseller about Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Demonologist, as a true account of battles with the supernatural. But now that Lorraine Warren and Warner Bros. have turned the story into a billion-dollar movie franchise, Brittle filed suit in court alleging that he owns the copyright on the Warrens’ life story because they signed it over to him in 1978, and it’s all lies that he and the Warrens concocted together. I have no doubt that the Warrens’ claims of battling ghosts and demons are untrue, but it’s hard to feel sorry for Brittle since he now admits in court papers to complicity in trying to fool the public for cash.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of March 27-April 1:
- Review of Return to Roanoke: Search for the Seven
- Peter Levenda Tries to Explain Why Fiction Is the Key to Understanding UFOs
- Meet the Russian Political Scientist Who Wants to Restore Proto-Indo-European Social Castes and Is a Darling of the Alt-Right
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 15 • April 9, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
As we move into a period where there is less fringe history to discuss and where I will need to be devoting more time to other activities, I’m considering cutting back my blog from 7 days a week to 5. Currently, Saturdays look to be my least-read day of the week, but since Friday is the day when new episodes of Ancient Aliens are broadcast (which I review on Saturdays), I’m not sure which days to cut. I’m thinking perhaps Sunday and Monday. I’ll have to do some more data analysis, and I plan to announce a new schedule in the coming weeks.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 2-9:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 15 • April 9, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
As we move into a period where there is less fringe history to discuss and where I will need to be devoting more time to other activities, I’m considering cutting back my blog from 7 days a week to 5. Currently, Saturdays look to be my least-read day of the week, but since Friday is the day when new episodes of Ancient Aliens are broadcast (which I review on Saturdays), I’m not sure which days to cut. I’m thinking perhaps Sunday and Monday. I’ll have to do some more data analysis, and I plan to announce a new schedule in the coming weeks.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 2-9:
- Review of The Templar Mission to Oak Island and Beyond by Zena Halpern (Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3)
- New York Daily News Columnist Endorses Ancient Astronaut Theory for Some Very Bad Reasons
- The Sphinx and the Constellation Leo: Early Echoes of the Hancock-Bauval Mythos
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 16 • April 16, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
It looks like Zena Halpern’s book on the Templars of Oak Island landed with a bit of a thud. Two weeks after the book’s release, there is not a single news report about her claims in any media indexed by Google News, and even Amazon has only four customer reviews, one of which is by a participant in the events of the book and another by a fellow fringe historian. Even Scott Wolter and the Xplrr team promise a long series of corrections and complaints. Gee, I’m so glad I spent three days writing about it when it was released.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 10-16:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 16 • April 16, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
It looks like Zena Halpern’s book on the Templars of Oak Island landed with a bit of a thud. Two weeks after the book’s release, there is not a single news report about her claims in any media indexed by Google News, and even Amazon has only four customer reviews, one of which is by a participant in the events of the book and another by a fellow fringe historian. Even Scott Wolter and the Xplrr team promise a long series of corrections and complaints. Gee, I’m so glad I spent three days writing about it when it was released.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 10-16:
- Centralia College Offers Continuing Education Course Covering How Native Americans Bred Bigfoot to Battle Solutreans
- Tracing the Roots of the Sphinx as Leo: The Late Antique Evidence
- My Annotated Version of Pyramid Facts and Fancies
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 17 • April 23, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
On my blog this weekend, I announced that I am reducing my blog schedule from seven days per week to five. It has become increasingly difficult to find enough material to write about, and the amount of time needed to produce the blog is limiting my ability to other projects. So, for the time being I will be producing fewer blog posts so I can have more time for other things. My commitment to quality blogging, however, has not changed, and I intend for my blog posts to maintain their same depth and quality.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 17-23:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 17 • April 23, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
On my blog this weekend, I announced that I am reducing my blog schedule from seven days per week to five. It has become increasingly difficult to find enough material to write about, and the amount of time needed to produce the blog is limiting my ability to other projects. So, for the time being I will be producing fewer blog posts so I can have more time for other things. My commitment to quality blogging, however, has not changed, and I intend for my blog posts to maintain their same depth and quality.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 17-23:
- Scott Wolter Comes to Albany; Plus: Who Decided Aliens Built the Pyramids?
- Will Hart Claims Aliens Built the Pyramids, But Offers Little New Proof
- In Radio Interview, Giorgio Tsoukalos Tries and Fails to Use Medieval Pyramid Legends to Prove Alien Contact
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 18 • April 30, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Well, the wait is finally over. Ancient Aliens returned for its twelfth season, and it would be nice to report that there was anything newsworthy in the show, but producers seem determined to make the program more of the same. They didn’t even bother to start the new season with anything new, revisiting old material and old claims. At this point, it’s clear that the network sees the show as televisual wallpaper rather than a series worth investing creative talent into.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 24-30:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 18 • April 30, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Well, the wait is finally over. Ancient Aliens returned for its twelfth season, and it would be nice to report that there was anything newsworthy in the show, but producers seem determined to make the program more of the same. They didn’t even bother to start the new season with anything new, revisiting old material and old claims. At this point, it’s clear that the network sees the show as televisual wallpaper rather than a series worth investing creative talent into.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of April 24-30:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E01 “The Alien Hunters”
- “BuzzFeed Unsolved: Ancient Aliens” Tries and Fails to Investigate the Ancient Astronaut Theory
- An Academic Journal Explains How to Find Evidence of Ancient Aliens
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 19 • May 7, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week a producer for Russia’s REN-TV asked me if I would consider becoming a regular contributor to their Secrets of Humanity program, a sort of Russian version of Ancient Aliens. I am flattered by the offer, but I am wary about how any contribution I make would be used by a network that even Vladimir Putin’s own Ministry of Education gave an anti-award for the promotion of pseudoscience in its so-called “documentary” programming.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 1-7:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 19 • May 7, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week a producer for Russia’s REN-TV asked me if I would consider becoming a regular contributor to their Secrets of Humanity program, a sort of Russian version of Ancient Aliens. I am flattered by the offer, but I am wary about how any contribution I make would be used by a network that even Vladimir Putin’s own Ministry of Education gave an anti-award for the promotion of pseudoscience in its so-called “documentary” programming.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 1-7:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E02 “Forged by the Gods”
- Did Australian Aborigines Preserve a Memory of a Volcanic Eruption for 7,000 Years?
- Did the Nephilim Build the Pyramids? Or Were They Woolly Mammoths?
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 20 • May 14, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I can’t say it was a terribly exciting week this week. We watched as evangelical Christians Gary Stearman and L. A. Marzulli decided that Ancient Aliens is a great tool to bring people closer to Jesus. While Christian glosses on ufology go back more than half a century, it is still jarring to see Nephilim researchers and secular ufologists arguing over whether the Greys are really fallen angels or space aliens, which I take to be the modern equivalent of the hypothetical question of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. When we combine this with the recent Smithsonian Channel claim that an ancient depiction of the Tower of Babel had been found, it starts to look a lot like fringe history remains an elaborate attempt to justify the Bible, the supernatural, and spirituality in one way or another.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 8-14:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 20 • May 14, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I can’t say it was a terribly exciting week this week. We watched as evangelical Christians Gary Stearman and L. A. Marzulli decided that Ancient Aliens is a great tool to bring people closer to Jesus. While Christian glosses on ufology go back more than half a century, it is still jarring to see Nephilim researchers and secular ufologists arguing over whether the Greys are really fallen angels or space aliens, which I take to be the modern equivalent of the hypothetical question of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. When we combine this with the recent Smithsonian Channel claim that an ancient depiction of the Tower of Babel had been found, it starts to look a lot like fringe history remains an elaborate attempt to justify the Bible, the supernatural, and spirituality in one way or another.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 8-14:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E03 “The Mystery of Rudloe Manor”
- L. A. Marzulli and Gary Stearman Talk UFOs, Praise Ancient Aliens, and Prepare for the Rapture in New Interview
- Smithsonian Channel Claims Babylonian Tablet Preserves “Exactly What the Tower of Babel Looked Like”
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 21 • May 21, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week former television personality Scott Wolter came to my town of Albany, NY and gave a speech at the Masonic Lodge. While I was not able to attend due to a prior commitment, those who were there said that Wolter gave his usual stump speech, including claims about the Kensington Rune Stone and its supposed secret codes. Sadly, Wolter did not make good on his promise to buy me a beer should we ever be in the same city, and he left as quickly as he came, and his arrival didn’t even make the local news. He did, however, post to Twitter how “amazing” he found the stonework of the state capitol building.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 15-21:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 21 • May 21, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
This week former television personality Scott Wolter came to my town of Albany, NY and gave a speech at the Masonic Lodge. While I was not able to attend due to a prior commitment, those who were there said that Wolter gave his usual stump speech, including claims about the Kensington Rune Stone and its supposed secret codes. Sadly, Wolter did not make good on his promise to buy me a beer should we ever be in the same city, and he left as quickly as he came, and his arrival didn’t even make the local news. He did, however, post to Twitter how “amazing” he found the stonework of the state capitol building.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 15-21:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E04 “The Alien Architects”
- Michael Shermer Debated Graham Hancock on The Joe Rogan Experience. It Did Not Go Well.
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 22 • May 28, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Last week, MUFON’s John Ventre came under fire after posting a racist rant to social media in which he announced his belief that “everything this world is was created by Europeans and Americans” and blasted “F’ing blacks” for failing to develop an independent civilization. In a follow up social media posting in response to questions, Ventre came out as a demonologist and claimed that a conspiracy of ancient astronaut believing atheists are attacking him on Satan’s orders: “some of the ufologists that have come out against me are satans (sic) minions. They have clear atheistic and ancient alien beliefs. […] My new lecture blows the lid off the alien demonic connection and everything possible is being done to stop me from giving it…” But fear not! White supremacy and Christian extremism can overcome any multicultural Satanic conspiracy! But seriously: Does it surprise anyone that the constellation of Christian fundamentalism, white supremacy, and rightwing politics would bubble up yet again in ufology, a field that Michael Barkun has demonstrated to be suffused with these belief systems?
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 22-28:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 22 • May 28, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Last week, MUFON’s John Ventre came under fire after posting a racist rant to social media in which he announced his belief that “everything this world is was created by Europeans and Americans” and blasted “F’ing blacks” for failing to develop an independent civilization. In a follow up social media posting in response to questions, Ventre came out as a demonologist and claimed that a conspiracy of ancient astronaut believing atheists are attacking him on Satan’s orders: “some of the ufologists that have come out against me are satans (sic) minions. They have clear atheistic and ancient alien beliefs. […] My new lecture blows the lid off the alien demonic connection and everything possible is being done to stop me from giving it…” But fear not! White supremacy and Christian extremism can overcome any multicultural Satanic conspiracy! But seriously: Does it surprise anyone that the constellation of Christian fundamentalism, white supremacy, and rightwing politics would bubble up yet again in ufology, a field that Michael Barkun has demonstrated to be suffused with these belief systems?
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 22-28:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E05 “The Pharaoh's Curse”
- Did Marilyn Monroe Learn JFK’s UFO Secrets? Steven Greer Says Yes in New Film
- Graham Hancock Apologizes for His Temper But Still Sees Everyone As Out to Get Him
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 23 • June 4, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Well, this week Ancient Aliens went full creationist, producing an episode in which they specifically drew on creationist and biblical fundamentalist sources in order to provide evidence that science is conspiring to hide the truth. It was an inevitable turning point since Christian Nephilim theories and ancient astronaut theories are mirror images of each other, but the episode was notable not just for embracing creationist claims but for violating their own key principle that the narrative voice would remain neutral by having narrator Robert Clotworthy deliver anti-science attack lines. Something disturbing is going on there.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 29-June 4:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 23 • June 4, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
Well, this week Ancient Aliens went full creationist, producing an episode in which they specifically drew on creationist and biblical fundamentalist sources in order to provide evidence that science is conspiring to hide the truth. It was an inevitable turning point since Christian Nephilim theories and ancient astronaut theories are mirror images of each other, but the episode was notable not just for embracing creationist claims but for violating their own key principle that the narrative voice would remain neutral by having narrator Robert Clotworthy deliver anti-science attack lines. Something disturbing is going on there.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of May 29-June 4:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E06 “The Science Wars”
- L. A. Marzulli: Native Americans Could Not Have Built Ohio Mounds; Therefore, They Are the Work of the Nephilim
- Some Surprising New (to Me) Information about Medieval Pyramid Myths
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 24 • June 11, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I recently welcomed my son into the world, and with the new arrival, I have much more limited time, so my blog posts will become a bit more sporadic for the time being as I devote more time to my son. It is a joyous time for me, but also a chaotic one in which it’s been a bit difficult to devote a lot of time to thinking about historical issues.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of June 5-11:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 24 • June 11, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
I recently welcomed my son into the world, and with the new arrival, I have much more limited time, so my blog posts will become a bit more sporadic for the time being as I devote more time to my son. It is a joyous time for me, but also a chaotic one in which it’s been a bit difficult to devote a lot of time to thinking about historical issues.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of June 5-11:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E07 “City of the Gods”
- Review of UFOs: The Lost Evidence S01E04 “Ancient UFO Earth Landings”
- Ex-Porn Star Says Space Aliens Gave the Cherokee Marijuana
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
THE SKEPTICAL XENOARCHAEOLOGIST
• Vol. 10 • Issue 25 • June 18, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of June 12-18:
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
• Vol. 10 • Issue 25 • June 18, 2017 •
It’s been a busy week in the world of xenoarchaeology. Let’s see what’s new…
News
- I learned this week that the British pseudo-history series Forbidden History returned this week for another season, and new episodes are scheduled to air here in the U.S. starting at the end of the month. The first episode is about Hitler and the Holocaust, and it is a bit beyond my scope, so I will check in with the show when and if it returns to some of our more familiar territory.
- I’ll be taking next week off from writing the newsletter for summer vacation. The newsletter will return, in some form, on July 2.
On the Blog
In case you missed them, here are my best blog posts for the weeks of June 12-18:
- Review of Ancient Aliens S12E08 “The Alien Frequency”
- Cambodian Scholar Claims Romans Visited Cambodia, Funded Ancient Temple
- Hermetic Templars, the New Paranoia, and More!
Until next week, keep watching the skies!
Jason Colavito
• JasonColavito@outlook.com • JasonColavito.com • @JasonColavito •
