Ray's X-Blog

If you prefer my blog posts in a zine format check out Ray's X Zone where you can view and download recent issues. I just uploaded Ray X X-Rayer #103 , the White Space Issue.  Here's a link to view it directly. I'm down to a handful of paperzine subscribers and I'm debating whether or not to drop the entire zine format both in print and PDF.  Or I might drop the blog and just do an email newsletter.  This would eliminate some duplication of effort.  Any feedback from out there?

And on the subject of a (non)fiction TV series covering eXtraordinary events (see previous post)... Over at his site, Blue Blurry Lines [ http://www.blueblurrylines.com/ ], Curt Collins has been looking into the Cash-Landrum incident.  In a recent blog post he takes to task the UFO "documentary" series, Close Encounters , on a few points with its report on the incident. If you're unfamiliar with the Cash-Landrum case: December 1980.  Evening.  Texas, a country road.  Three people in a car (two adults and a child) encounter a hovering diamond-shaped object emitting heat, flames spewing out from its base.  Days later the three witnesses seek medical attention at a hospital, suffering from symptoms suggestive of radiation exposure. In his post, Cash-Landrum As Seen on TV: Close Encounters ,  [ http://www.blueblurrylines.com/2014/08/cash-landrum-as-seen-on-tv-close.html ] Curt provides a list of thirteen inaccuracies he noted from one viewing of th...

Since I'm supposed to be writing about topiX instead of my health problems and zining irritations... I don't have cable TV so I miss out on the "good" stuff like the (non)fiction series UFO Hunters that originally aired on the History Channel from January 2008 through October 2009. Instead I've been making do with — and sometimes struggling through  — UFO Hunters by William J. Birnes, a companion book to the series, courtesy of my local public library.  (I'm careful with purchases with my limited budget.  Of course, there is spending time on a book but I digress.)  Birnes, former publisher of the late UFO Magazine , gives behind-the-scenes insights into the filming of the docudrama series. While skimming through this tome that covers topiX of dubious value like Bob Lazar, I came across a brief reference to a bovine-human fetus. But no more details were provided.  I notice that the tome is designated "Book One," meaning that I have to read ...

I do appreciate feedback but sometimes I have to respectfully disagree. One reader was disturbed by my ranting in a couple of posts.  Hey, I'm not into that happy hippie shit.  Readers who have been here from the beginning know that I don't hold back eXpressing myself.  Rants are part of the great zine tradition. And speaking of zine tradition one person said it looks unprofessional to loosely format my zine, i.e., if it only takes 2 1/2 pages to fill an edition then I'll leave the white space. Zine = professionalism? I have more important criteria whether or not a zine neatly fills each page like Time magazine.  I think easy-to-read type and layout is more important. It was suggested I should fill in the white space with an illustration, making it as large or small as needed.  This reminds me of the old days of newspapers where the editor would throw in a pithy fact or quote - a filler - to avoid the dreaded white space. With my blog I'm not worrie...

In this case "break" doesn't mean taking a rest from blogging and other activities.  The correct synonym would be crash. I've been recovering from a severe viral infection that has lasted for weeks.  Before I was hit I wasn't that motivated to write, mentally tired.  Compound that with physical lethargy and my blog remains quiet. I'm doing OK but it will be a while before I'm up to speed again.