Review of Michael Cremo's Forbidden Archeologist

I bought Forbidden Archaeologist and a condensed version of Forbidden Archaeology together.  I saw Michael Cremo on one of my favorite shows, Ancient Aliens, and then listened to him as a guest on The Conspiracy Show.  He is quite the intellect on ancient history, especially in archaeological findings that question both history and science.

The book is a collection of writings that are separated into chapters and placed chronologically in the book.  Much of the book debunks Darwin's Evolution Theory.  Cremo has studied and somehow been involved in multiple skeletal findings of human beings.  In Evolution, scientists pinpoint the "modern day" human evolving somewhere between 100,000-150,000 years ago.  Because of "survival of the fittest", the modern day human being wiped out other hominids who were intellectually inferior.  Where do they get the time line? Supposedly through carbon dating and other generally accepted methods.  
Using the same dating methods, Cremo talks about several other "modern day" humans found millions of years ago.  The significance of this suggests that human beings did not evolve from ape-men, but were here the whole time along with dinosaurs and other pre-historic creatures.  This little tidbit proves that we didn't mutate or evolve or magically develop from a ape or fish or amoeba, etc.  

Cremo admits to being a very spiritual man of the Hare Krishna faith.  Scientists claim he and others who back these findings are biased.  He shoots back throughout the book that it is the science community who is biased.  They tend to continue their own studies as if these other skeletons did not exist.  These very skeletons are a nuisance to Evolution.
Cremo also implies that ancient alien theory tends to work along side his hominid findings.  For example, Indian temples might be even older than originally believed which means that they were all the more difficult for man to have constructed.
My Review:
I would have liked this book better if Cremo would have taken the time to rewrite all of his articles into one fluid book.  There is a lot of repetition because each article/chapter was written separately.  At times the separated chapters came off more like rants than information.  In Cremo's defense, he is not a novelist but a researcher.  I didn't buy the book to be entertained; I bought it to be informed.  
The research involving human skeletons was fascinating.  I learned much about the scientific community.  They, like most groups, are not based on facts.  Once again politics come into play.  Scientists group off and weed out findings that don't fit their theories because their egos are more important than truth.  I also learned much about Evolution.  Personally, I could never get passed the whole "Big Bang" thing.  In math, if 0 + 0 = 0, how can nothing + nothing= explosion that created the earth and all life?  I plan on reading Cremo's Forbidden Archaeology next.  

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is suspicious about Evolution.  I really liked how Cremo took that whole carbon-dating thing that scientists love to use as a means of "proving" their theories and then turned the tables. 4.5/5 Stars

Jacqueline Druga Stops by with a New Book and New Radio Show

Thank you so much, Jackie, for being my guest!  So excited to have you. 

Thank you, so nice to be here!

Nana Apocalypse: the radio show from Prepper Broadcasting. Where did the show's name come from?
http://prepperbroadcasting.com/show-schedule/thursdays/apocalypse-nana-with-jacqueline-druga/

I have always been infatuated with ‘end times’ scenarios. And the ‘Nana’ part is because I am a young grandmother. Already schooling the little ones.

Do you consider yourself a prepper?  For how long have you been prepared?

Somewhat. I am prepared and always have food and water on hand. I moved out of the city as the biggest means of prepping. I live in an area where farms are plentiful and there is well water. When I lived in the city I had the basement ready. But here, my first floor is semi underground and I am very remote and hidden.

What's in your bug-out-bag?

3 days’ supply of water and food, that I feel I can stretch out.  Simple first aid, light sticks, flashlight, tool kit, blanket. Other little things … and airplane bottles of Jack.

How realistic are shows like Doomsday Prepper?

I think, if the doomsday circumstances are right, then these folks have it together. But the whole factor in surviving is life goes on. We need to rebuild humanity and civilization.  It seems to me to be very realistic but, I feel that most of these folks wouldn’t help out others which would be a disservice to rebuilding humanity.

How long have you been doing radio?

I was a ‘live’ DJ for 12 years and this is my first run at radio. I know, embarrassing.

What kinds of discussions can listeners expect from your radio talk show?

Oh, gosh, all kinds. From doomsday to odd things. Anything that causes or can cause a disruption in civilization. Although, to keep things fresh, I will deviate.

What topics are you most interested in for broadcast?

I’m most natural talking about Nuclear War, germs, and The Book of Revelation. But I have to expand my horizon.

Besides your show (which is excellent!), who do you listen to?

I love listening to old music and I also tune into Prepper Chicks on Tuesdays and one of my guests, G. Michael Hopf, started a new show, I’ll have to check that out as well.

Jackie the Writer

Much of your writing revolves around apocalyptic situations.  Do you feel the end is near?

I did for a while, I really did. Now, not so much. Although, I see a lot of symbolism in the Book of Revelation that can apply to today.

Do you do a lot of research for your books?

Tons. I love to research. But I think I over research and then I am stuck with tons of useless information. Maybe not useless, but I won’t be using it. And I won’t force information to my readers.

What/who got you interested in the End?

My mother. She was scared to death that the world was going to end, so much so she was a prepper before preppers were big. But back in the day that was insane, so my dad took her to the doctor and they said she needed to get pregnant. She had me. The my dad would always talk preparedness to me. That drove my interest.

Your best-selling novels got you a spot on the History Channel.  Please share what that experience was like.

Jackie was their expert for a show!

Awesome. They flew me out to LA, put me up in a really nice hotel, I got a driver and a PA (Production Assistant). Being interviewed was easy. I was in front of the green screen. The only thing I didn't like was the amount of makeup they put on me. BUT i did look young and hot LOL.

It was my fifteen minutes of fame, that came one night in December (When the showed aired) and I didn't tell anyone. It was amazing how many people saw it. I think the coolest thing was my son's facebook post, 'Just saw my mom on the history channel. Pretty sweet, not gonna lie.'

Name a news event that might escalate into the end of civilization.

Sanctions on Russia, mixed with the Israel/Gaza situation. The US is a powerful force that is divided on these. And right now our public stance seems to be a little wobbly. These factors can lead to war. The downed plane? Remember World War I.

Are you religious?  Why or why not?

I am. I used to be church every week, but even though I lack in that,  I am very strong to my faith. Religion is a very strong foundation in my writing. Lots to learn from The Bible whether you are religious or not.

Who most influenced your writing?

As far as writers go, Pat Frank (Alas, Babylon and Hw to Survive the H Bomb), but Charlton Heston mainly because I wanted to create heroes in my books like him.

Of all of your titles, which is the most realistic and why?

I’ll Cry Alone. While not my best seller, and often slammed, it is the best look at Nuclear War and how I think the country would handle and rise from it.

Who is your favorite character in your series?

Frank Slagel. Without a doubt, hands down, Frank. I love him. He is in my Beginnings Series (27 books). He is the ultimate hero. He’s funny, too. To me, he is as real as any huband I have had.

Are you like your protagonist in the The Last Woman?

Ha, ha. No. I am more like the character Dodge. Many people seem to think I am like the females in my book. I am not. I am more like one of the male characters or other females.

Would you please share your links and an excerpt?

Absolutely. My website is your best source.

www.jacquelinedruga.com

I am on twitter as @gojake

And facebook under ‘Jackie Druga’

Thanks so much!

Yezidi/Yazidi: Who Are These People? Inspiration for Halo of the Damned

http://www.amazon.com/Halo-Damned-Dina-Rae-ebook/dp/B0075XQYDM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407640709&sr=8-1&keywords=halo+of+the+damned

The news continues to report the Iraq/ISIS situation as they kill, rape, and torture the Yezidi (also spelled Yazidi) Kurds in Iraq. Some of you may even remember Saddam Hussein killing them off in the early '90s during the first Gulf War. The media misrepresented the Yezidis back then as they misrepresent them today, preferring to define the religion as meld of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.  
I remember Saddam Hussein calling the Yezidis a bunch of devil worshipers as he killed them off decades ago.  The media did not expand on Hussein's comment, but it stayed with me.  In fact, I was intrigued about this obscure religion.  Intrigue turned into inspiration for Halo of the Damned, a horror/paranormal book starring an evil fallen angel who appears to his angel cult.  The cover shows a fallen angel standing in front of a Yezidi congregation.

In my novel as in real life, I am not sympathetic or tolerant of those who worship the devil.  Am I being politically incorrect? 
Disrespectful towards another culture?  

The Yezidis believe there is a God, but He is not who they worship.  Instead, they pray and worship Malak Tawas, the peacock and archangel, known as Satan in the West.  Muslims believe they are devil worshipers which is one of the reasons they want to kill them.  
Yezidis have a book like the Bible, Torah, and Qu'ran.  It's called the Black Book, but it's currently lost. Yezidis go by oral tradition.  Their leader is a secular emir and their society is based on a caste system. Yezidis must marry in their faith.  Like Muslims, honor killings among women are part of the culture.
This religion worships archangels and not all archangels live in Heaven with God.  One third of all angels sided with Satan when he waged war against God.  Am I suggesting they deserve to be targets of murder and rape by ISIS?  No, but...  

Melek/Malak Tawas

U.S. soldiers should NOT be compromised in trying to save them. Let Europe or some one else come to their rescue.
As far as ISIS is concerned, many underground reports claim they were trained by the U.S. in Jordan.  Wouldn't that make them the U.S.'s mercenaries?  Why would the U.S. bomb them after training them?  Did they go rogue-a Dr. Frankenstein situation?  Several reports from all major news channels focus on some of ISIS's monstrosities such as lopping off the heads of men, women, and children, and then throwing them around or kicking them as they celebrate their deaths.  This isn't new.  But when they were doing the same thing a few years back it wasn't publicized.  Why is the news bombarding us with these horrors now?  I'm not sure where I'm going with this, but I believe we are being deceived.  The news is just the abridged/censored version of the true story.  Conspiracies are welcome.  Opinions are welcome.  Leave a comment.

Elizabeth Eckhart Stop By: Essay on Orson Scott Card's Unaccompanied Sonata

Unaccompanied Sonata, a short story by Orson Scott Card, is one of those tales that has the ability to stick with a reader for years. In the story, Card explores the life of a musician who turns out to be too curious for his own good. Originally published in 1972, this story from the perspective of life in a dystopian society contains heartfelt emotion and the vivid writing style for which Card has since become well known.

In a 2003 book tour to promote his book Shadow Puppets, Card discussed Unaccompanied Sonata with fans in Kansas City, mentioning that the story sprang from the thought, “What if I were forbidden to ever write again?” Since, according to Card, this is the thing he most loves to do in life, he knew he would be devastated, and he crafted this reflection into the story Unaccompanied Sonata, in which he details the fate of a talented musician who, after hearing the music of Bach, is forbidden by the government to ever make music again (for fear his music will tainted and unoriginal).

In light of the recent dystopian craze that has swept over moviegoers in the past few years, it comes as no surprise that director Yaron Zilberman, known for the similarly musically inclined A Late Quartet, has plans to write and direct a screenplay of Card’s Unaccompanied Sonata. What the movie industry and sci-fi fans everywhere want to know is whether this new movie, with the working title Sonata, will have more box office success than the film version of Ender’s Game, based on Card’s book by the same title.

Sci-fi fans waited for Ender’s Game to be released for over a decade. Card himself wrote the screenplay, which was completed by 2003. Card, however, refused to begin filming until he was confident he had enough skilled child actors to fill the many roles of youngsters. Meanwhile, Gavin Hood rewrote the story into a fresh screenplay, which was ultimately used in the 2013 movie. However, despite the long awaited release of the movie and quality acting by the child actors and veterans Harrison Ford and Viola Davis, it flopped at the box office, diving quickly into the realm of Redbox DVDs and DirecTV streaming.

Members and supporters of the LGBT community have held that the reason for this box-office flop was Card’s anti-gay stance. However, sci-fi fans have long been aware of Card’s personal beliefs, and the Mormon writer’s book sales have never appeared to be adversely affected by his fans’ awareness. Additionally, producer Roberto Orci and Lions Gate Entertainment both released statements that they were not in agreement with Card’s stance against gay marriage and that the movie itself did not approach that subject.

More likely the box office failure of Ender’s Game had to do with unfortunate timing and delivery. It was released in November of 2013, at the same time as several other long-awaited science fiction flicks. Both The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Catching Fire, the second in the Hunger Games trilogy, were also released that month. Both were marketed to the same audience as Ender’s Game, and most sci-fi fans were anxious to see these sequels. Ender’s Game also failed to impress critics for less controversial reasons, mainly issues with pacing and characterization that displeased longtime fans.

There are no guarantees in the entertainment, but there are some heavy hitters in the industry. Orson Scott Card has proven over four decades that he has what it takes to write quality science fiction that attracts readers. It isn’t a far leap from there to a successful movie adaptation.

Review of Chariots of the Gods

One of my favorite shows is Ancient Aliens.  Fans, you know Giorgio Tsoukolos, David Childress, Phillip Coppens, George Noory, and Michael Dennin as some of the regulars who solve the great mysteries of the world by pointing to the aliens as the constant culprits of progress.  

Erich von Daniken stands apart from the the rest of the cast as the quintessential granddaddy of alien theory.  I love the show and wanted to read some of the books that go with it. Chariots of the Gods seemed like the logical place to start. On a side note, my mother remembered the book well.  She read it back in the '70s when it was originally published.  Forty years later, I, like my mother, was blown away.

According to Daniken, the gods or 'ancient astronauts' are aliens who wormed their way into Greek and Roman mythology, Sanskrit writings, the Bible, Torah, Koran, Mayan Calendar, Aztec rituals, Easter Island statues, Egyptian culture, and much more.  He takes the reader all over the world, pointing out various structures, carvings, markings, artifacts, legends, and writings that question Evolution, Creation, and technology.  His arguments are compelling. For example, there is a book in the Bible that describes a flying machine seen by the prophet Ezekiel. Over in India, there are writings that describe vimana or flying machines.  Obviously, the point he argues throughout the book is this: maybe the stories were real and the ancients did their best to draw/record them in the language and symbolism of the era.

Daniken at work.

Daniken uses math to dispel the notion that humans built the great Pyramids, ancient temples, ruins in Peru, and more. I agree with him that the roller method never made any sense.  Daniken goes as far to theorize that these buildings were built by the gods and for the gods as a possible place to worship.  Bits and pieces of his book have been turned into episodes of Ancient Aliens.
Chariots of the Gods is a plausible theory of human existence.  If schools have to teach Evolution, then they should also have to teach ancient astronaut theory.  Daniken is not much of a writer. His research is at times incoherent, almost babble, making it difficult for the reader to follow.  However, what he lacks in narration, he more than makes up for in research.  

Erich is WAY more INTERESTING!

Erich von Daniken should REPLACE the old guy in the Dos Esquix beer commercials.  He's seen it, been there, done it, and is the ultimate go-to in philosophy, history, and astronomy.  Have to give him the full 5 stars for exceptional and original thinking.