In light of what’s going on in LA and everything else, we need everyone on the streets for this march. Find your local march (by zip code) at https://www.nokings.org
Check out the downloadable artwork under Art then Posters.
BTW- Everyone needs to watch the use of language in media/government sources now. Especially, note if “riot” replaces “protest”. It is a common ploy by fascism to weaponize language to escalate tensionsand then call for “law and order”.
They also have great resources like trainings here:
Registration is required for the June 14th military parade in DC. Maximum of 2 tickets per cellphone # (you will be required to verify the phone # with a code they send). Easy process, it took me less than 2 minutes. It would be interesting to know what happens, if say people in large numbers requested tickets and then didn’t show up. His orange majesty might rage- or huff and puff….
Most of us are struggling to understand what is going on in the country. A country that seems to have gone off-rail and is headed for disaster. This is the go-to book to start to understand the history and current dynamics at work behind it all. Best of all, Stanley’s book is easily readable and short. It also seems to be on sale on Amazon. Because it’s a bestseller, you can probably get a copy at your library as well. Grab it, it’s your sanity blanket as we navigate these turbulent times. It has been said that no other single book is more relevant to this moment in history.
Stanley used to teach at Yale but has recently relocated to Canada because of the current political situation. You’ll have a deeper understanding of how universities, who are on the frontlines of free speech always become targets under fascism, once you read his chapter on anti-intellectualism. Stanley also brings his unique perspective of being the child of WWII refugees who fled Europe to come to the US and begin a new life.
Photo by Paul Sableman
How Fascism Works contains ten chapters outlining the structure of fascist politics, how they become established, complete with historical examples including those from Poland, Hungary, Myanmar, India, and (sadly) the US. Stanley explores the powerful tactics used by a fascist regime that if not checked successfully can ultimately lead to authoritarianism. These tactics involve many policies including:
Fracturing a society into believing there’s an “US” versus a “Them,” which can be based on color, religion, or culture.
Creating a mythic past about the nation, steeped in nostalgia, intangible, and not based on reality. A place where patriarchy was strong and unthreatened.
Using propaganda to deliberately pervert meaning. Masking corruption under the guise of anti-corruption is a hallmark strategy. Ultimately, the twisting of democratic language through propaganda is aimed at dismantling the “rule of law” and replacing it with authoritarian rule. Propaganda elevates the irrational over the rational, emotion over intellect. Fascists reject Enlightenment ideals because they conflict with “natural law.”
Crafting a society that is anti-intellectual. Universities and experts are attacked and debased. Education is remade to support the mythic past where only that viewpoint is tolerated. Certain areas of study are suspect or eliminated (especially gender studies, African American studies, Middle Eastern studies, Women’s studies, etc.). In the US, fascist policy attacked government, science, academia, and the media. Fascism dumbs down the message and loves repeating slogans.
Building a state of unreality in which truth is in constant doubt. Fascism attacks information spaces that allow lively debate. Lying without consequence destabilizes causing a sense of loss and mistrust. Conspiracy theories target an outside group to benefit an in-group. Trusted media sources are questioned or vilified. These techniques stoke fear and allow the regime to curb freedoms with support from the populace. In Fascist politics, speech isn’t about truth it’s about stirring emotion. Truth is not necessary. In this world of unreality, news becomes sport, tribal identification extreme, and the strongman becomes the star.
Photo by Jvrijman
Supplanting democracy’s fundamental principle of equality with hierarchy. Hierarchy is the idea that a given society is at the top with regard to power and dominance and that this is a consequence of nature. The idea is inconsistent with everyone being equal or having human dignity. When a society faces outside pressure or is in decline, and its loss of exceptionalism is possible, liberal democracy frequently falls prey to fascist attacks. Fascist forces flourish in a fearful, uncertain society.
Cultivating victimhood. Fascism exploits feelings of victimization by a dominant group when a subordinate group achieves or tries to achieve a sharing of power. In the US, there has been a popularization of the fact that by 2050 the racial makeup of the country will be very different. This has been done purposely by certain activists to create and exaggerate fear and uncertainty. Additionally, there has been a general lack of education about how far blacks have come economically. Figures suggest we are still at Reconstruction levels, although most Americans think we have achieved close to equity. Affirmative Action has been attacked for decades and presented as something detached from merit when it never was. Immigrants have been targeted as criminals and usurpers stealing jobs. All of these kinds of things have allowed a part of society to decide it is being victimized. Fascism allows the victimhood to be manipulated to justify the past, to continue policies, or implement new policies of oppression.
Advancing a policy of “law and order” based on the underlying assumption that minority groups are criminals. Fascist policies reinforce “US v. Them.” In 2016, Trump ran on expelling criminal aliens. During his second term, Homeland Security has created an office to track crimes by aliens. These stories flood the headlines distorting reality and sparking fear. Fascism utilizes the intentional use of words like riot over protest, invasion over entry.
Exploiting a climate of sexual anxiety. Fascism promotes a fear of interbreeding where defending white purity becomes a calling. Anything that departs from the patriarchy and traditional values degrades purity and is seen as threatening. Fascism distorts male anxiety especially when the society already has outside pressures. This perceived existential crisis rallies the fearful into rejecting those outside the traditional structure. LGBT, trans, feminists, etc. become targets.
Rejecting pluralism (power sharing among parties) and tolerance. The rural v. urban divide is exploited as fascism promotes the idea that cities are parasites-filled with weak unproductive people, crime, and urban blight. The rural country is seen as full of healthy, productive, sacrificing citizens who haven’t been corrupted. Diversity is a city thing where low birthrates prevail. Cities become proxy targets as representing liberals, elites, cosmopolitans, religious diversity, sexual expression, and diverse culture. Everything fascism hates. The fact that cities are the economic powerhouse of the nation doesn’t matter because facts have been left behind.
Photo by All-Night Images
Curing laziness with hard work. (Albeit Macht Frei– work shall make you free, written on the gates of Auschwitz) Fascist ideology bases an individual’s worth on struggle and achievement over others. If you win, you get resources. Fascist society doesn’t grant worth based on merely being a human being (that’s a liberal democratic value). Therefore, anyone’s worth is strictly associated with productivity. Those who are not deemed productive or are branded lazy and are of no use to the state. They become disposable. Social programs are not seen as necessary to support productive citizens. Anything that supports the old, the weak, or the ill drain resources from a productive fascist society. Also under this category, is an attack on unions by fascists. Unions bring together diverse people in an attempt to gain resources. That solidarity threatens a fascist regime, and so unions become targets.
During the campaign of 2024, the American public seemed allergic to the use of the word fascism. It seemed extreme and was associated with the past and foreign regimes. Now, the word is everywhere, and it should be. We are in peril. Is there any one of the ten tenets above that we don’t see at work every day in American society? Some of them are a little better veiled than others but they are all in play. This is an important book. If you read only one book this year, let it be this one. The insights you’ll gain will help you to understand emerging Republican policy. It will all make sense.
This was a truly odd and engaging read. But I’ll say from the beginning, you have to like weird, and you have to be able to tolerate a generous amount of gore. Those aren’t usually for me, but I found this to be the most unique thing I’ve read in a long time. Because it was so different, I found it very compelling.
The setting is nineteenth-century New England where witch hunters still stalk their prey and where women with psychic powers try to blend into a community where nothing is normal anymore. Ascension was meant to be a quiet, rural village—a respite from frenetic city life and maybe it would have been. Except that the house on the hill is haunted with dozens of ghosts all with their own stories to tell. They are just a distraction because the town’s problems run far deeper and reach back into time. And now the dead aren’t dying anymore.
Rose, Sadie Grace, and Rabbit arrive in Ascension to take care of Rose’s sick cousin. Only the cousin, previously on her deathbed, has risen and made a miraculous recovery…or has she? Turns out the town is full of people who should be in their graves but are not. Stories circulate that Ascension isn’t the only town experiencing these phenomena. Meanwhile the reason why the death no longer visits earth is headed straight to Ascension for an epic confrontation.
Witches, witch hunters, ghosts, demons, and angels are all afoot in the world created by Alex Grecian. An exciting and creative read.
I’m one of those people who believe that forewarned is forearmed. That anxiety and worry is often set aside if we have a plan. In fact, the mere act of planning involves us in a positive process that assures that we are not frozen in a time of crisis. But I’ve also come to understand that my way of seeing the world is not necessarily the only way. There are some of us right now who are already tuning out, going to ground. Some can’t stand to think about next steps. For those of you of that ilk, we part ways here. Reading on is not for the faint-hearted.
OK, let’s talk about what happens if Trump enacts the Insurrection Act.
Last weekend the Hands Off! protests brought an estimated 5 million Americans (approximately 2% of the population) flooding into the streets protesting a whole host of violations to fundamental rights, the destruction of the government, infrastructure, the obliteration of the economy, and many other things. These were peaceful protests and remarkable feats.
A looming deadline of April 20th is approaching when a joint report from the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security is due concerning the safety on the southern border. They are tasked to specifically address whether the Insurrection Act of 1807 should be invoked. Note that April 20th is Easter AND Hitler’s birthday. The next nationwide day of protest is the day before (April 19th). Some think that if Trump gets the recommendation to invoke this act, he will likely do it either on or about this date. This would allow him to use the military at the border and potentially in blue “sanctuary” cities. While the Insurrection Act has been used at times by Presidents, its use is reviewed by the courts only in retrospect.
photo: AramiFeraxa
THE FALSE FLAG EVENT:
What may be even more concerning is that with mass demonstrations becoming more and more popular, Trump may choose to create a false flag crisis that conveniently leads to martial law. This could be easily done if he calls up groups like the Alt-Right, Neo-Nazis, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, right wing militias, and others. Some believe that Trump is just waiting to deploy these troops against peaceful demonstrators in order to provoke a violent clash that would lead to a call for martial law to reestablish order. After Charlottesville and January 6th, it’s hard to dismiss the idea. Many people seem to think Trump has waited this long to invoke the act because he needed to have his people in key positions to get the job done. His cabinet was seated, and his minions are now in place.
THE PLAYBOOK:
Of course, causing the violence that requires the full use of martial law ultimately is how democracy falls. It doesn’t happen in one day, but it does happen quickly. There is a playbook by which totalitarian rulers have historically accomplished this goal and if we are going to stop America falling, we have to recognize the pattern.
CREATE THE SITUATION & MANIPULATE THE POPULACE:
As the initial violence kicks off, it’s likely that we will see other escalations to follow. Simple crowd control at an event or two would hardly get Americans behind the idea of giving up freedoms (and that’s what this administration is after). So, we should expect things like “terrorist” bombings, targeted assassinations, and other high-profile acts of violence that shock us. All of these events would be used to manipulate the public to call for law and order. The media will then be flooded with images of rioting, cities burning, all kinds of out-of-control behavior, much- if not all of this, will be orchestrated by the right. If done correctly by the playbook, Trump will appear to be a hero answering the growing cries of citizens to reestablish order. Trump will be only too happy to step in and assume total control. He has no plan to ever cede that control back.
photo: Martin Falbisoner
At this point, Trump can now mobilize and order troops into major American cities where his opposition is the greatest. These people are vilified as the enemy and are rebranded seditionists, traitors, and the woke mob. Good Americans are now asked to grab their guns and defend ‘Merica. Trump uses the militias that have been reformed after being freed from the Jan. 6th incarcerations. That way any military professionals who balk at using force against their own people can be sidestepped. Now citizens (largely from the right) have been cast into roles of helping the police or keeping order.
ELIMINATE OPPOSITION:
What follows next is likely to be the arrest of high-profile opposition. We should expect that journalists, Democratic officials, activists, academics, and anyone who has publicly taken on Trump or his policies publicly to be arrested. The media will cover all aspects of this round up of those people now made criminal under this administration. Democratic governors may become a special target because removing them removes all resistance at a state level. This would allow Trump the freedom to do what he wants in each and every state. To solidify control, military and law enforcement are then made to take loyalty oaths.
As the cities are locked down, the military and National Guard might be used to establish firm control. Curfews, lockdowns, and checkpoints would be created to maintain order. Militarized presence on the streets defines a new normal. Highways to Canada and Mexico are strictly patrolled by Trumpian forces. Red states are especially enthusiastic to answer the call to man checkpoints and identify traitors, seditionists, and anyone they deem a threat to Trump. Recall the move to open Guantanamo Bay, the 106 ICE detention centers, and various for-profit prisons to retain illegals? That “system” is now used to house the thousands of American citizens deemed traitorous under the Insurrection Act. And still there isn’t enough room. Texas comes through with “open air” jails (tent cities) scattered throughout the state.
photo: Jesse Collins
CONTROL THE MESSAGING:
While all this is under way, the press comes under increasing pressure. The administration needs total control of the messaging to silence dissent. We should expect to see journalists and media heads threatened with legal action, blackmailing, and pressure to comply. The social media that Trump controls (X, Truth Social, etc.) will become increasingly loud in an attempt to drown out any contrary opinions. Some social media will go dark. Some media will cave to the pressure. We enter the police state where monitoring of everyone’s communication becomes routine. Trump exploits his friendships with tech giants to conduct surveillance on all Americans to root out dissent. Arrests are made when people express non-Trumpian ideas. Incentives are created to have Americans report on each other’s behavior.
CLOSE THE BORDERS:
Borders close. No one, especially anyone who opposes the dictator is leaving. Passports are revoked. No-fly lists are created and enforced. Apprehensions at the borders and airports are commonplace. ICE and DHS arrest political enemies. Many are lost or have disappeared.
END FREE ELECTIONS:
The 2026 election is postponed due to national security concerns. This is a pretext to do away with democratic elections forever. By 2028, the first rigged American election (similar to a Russian election) takes place. The 250-year American democratic experiment has died. Americans live under totalitarian rule.
Although I’ve laid this out as a linear plan, it’s likely that many events would be overlapping, and other parts may occur even earlier than I outline. Some steps may be invisible to us, at least for a while. Might it not happen at all? Of course! But remember, they have a plan in Project 2025 and Trump and his bunch have been making remarkable progress checking off all those tasks that he supposedly knew nothing about. Well, Ellis- this just sounds crazy! Yeah, I know!! But this is the same bunch that engineered Jan. 6th. Who thought that would happen? Who thought Trump would be elected? Who thought all the insurrectionists from Jan. 6th would be pardoned? Let’s not say- who thought they’d end democracy?
I am indebted to Angela Woodward and others for their keen insight and understanding of these times we live in.
“This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history.,” according to the organizers. “Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights—enabled by Congress every step of the way.”
Things are moving fast and gaining momentum. A recent article in the Times Weekly, reported that 2,085 events protesting the Trump administration happened nationwide in Feb. 2025. More than 500 events were scheduled during the recent congressional recess that became notable for the Republicans who refused to meet their constituents and the lively interaction that resulted from those Congressmen and women who actually showed up.
April 5this a day of what organizers hope will be the biggest single day of protest since DJT took office. More than 1000 events are planned across the US and in multiple foreign countries. That’s what happens when you turn on your friends, become a bully, and threaten democracy worldwide. In Washington DC, Maryland congressman Jamie Raskin will headline the event along with multiple other speakers scheduled.
The crisis is here. Up close and personal, and it’s time to act. Fascism is on the march in the US. The last I saw, 14 countries had travel advisories out warning their citizens about traveling to the US. Social media is full of every-day-Americans warning citizens of other countries, “don’t come here, we’re not safe.” Not safe to travel, not safe to work, not safe to study abroad, not safe to do research. We are busy stripping human rights away, allowing the consolidation of power, building concentration camps, eliminating protective social systems, and gutting economies. And make no mistake about it, there is a level of cruelty that underlies all of this. When some Americans see photos of the El Salvadoran prison that the Trump administration has funded which looks remarkably like Holocaust pictures, they react with glee. Humanity and empathy have been surrendered at the feet of the anointed savior, DJT.
Another milestone passed this week. We have known since the election that people are leaving the country. Although it’s too early to assess the brain drain occurring as a result of those fleeing (and the effects of not receiving the necessary infusion of academic minds from other nations who normally would have come to the US), three professors from Yale jumped ship. One of them, Jason Stanley, is considered an expert on fascism (I’ll be talking about his book soon). If a leading expert on fascism thinks it’s getting too dangerous and is leaving the US for Canada, what does that say about the current state of the country?
Links are below to find an event near you. You should also consider joining a rapid respond team in your area to help protect immigrants, your neighbors, and yourself. They teach basic rights in the face of the continued assault by ICE. Once upon a time in America, immigration was an activity done without a paramilitary organization armed to the teeth, sidestepping the rule of law. Those days may be gone forever.
This Is Canada Maple Syrup ‘N Log Cabins, Eh Kick Your Ass All Hockey Season, Eh Mounties Be Ridin’ Horses, Eh Yeah, This Is Canada Furry Woodland Critters In Our Zone We Got The Best Weed Ever Grown We Got The Best Bacon Ever Known This Is Canada
The adventure starts. Four days on the road from Denver with two senior cats who made traveling rough. But then, they weren’t consulted about the trial escape made necessary after Trump was elected. Total shock about that election led to a plan that was whittled down to leaving for just three months to the great white north. Here, we’ll avoid the 24-hour news cycle and do a bit of local travel. Read some books, take an online class.
We’re about six miles north of the border and about an hour east of Vancouver in a rural area that grows blueberries, hops, brussel sprouts, and where neighbors sell eggs to each other at prices Americans would go crazy over right now. Bird flu has not ravaged small Canadian poultry farms.
Canada has always been a nation known for its friendliness, its niceness. They were (and should be) our closest ally. In a way, we’re like cousins—sharing a continent, history, and values. I remember 9/11 when flights were grounded in Canada and how Canadians took people into their homes. I remember how recently Canadian firefighters helped with the LA fires. There are countless other times, Canadians have had our backs and we’ve done the same. But the times are changing.
“Elbows up!,” Canada cries in a hockey phrase that means defend yourself. Immigration to Canada is difficult and has become more difficult recently. Canadians are cracking down just like a lot of the rest of the world. Americans can still cross the border to travel in Canada, but residency is altogether a different thing. You can come as a student, with a Canadian job (a company here would have to sponsor you), or a relative in Canada could sponsor you. Even after my son attended a four-year university and obtained his degree, he found it virtually impossible to remain in Canada (and that was a decade ago BEFORE the new restrictions involving quotas). The only way for me to feasibly immigrate to Canada would have to involve a sponsorship where my son would immigrate first (by first obtaining a Canadian job), and that would open a grandparents’ option. I bring this up because there has been interest from people in how to leave the US and Canada does feel like the easy answer. I wish it were.
Canada feels a lot like the US but there are differences. We’re saved from the language issue we faced in Belgium when we lived there. But products contain French directions and ingredients. Packages are in grams and kg. The sizes and choice of items are different. 3% milk (it’s a choice here)? Spreadable butter seems exotic and difficult to find. We haven’t found a breakfast sausage that suits yet. There’s a mixture of pork and ground beef widely available. That’s not commonly found in the US, but we did see meat mixtures in Europe. Many American products are on the shelves but we’re trying to buy Canadian (since we are ashamed of the deranged orange one). Canadian products are increasingly being marked by a red maple symbol in the store and there is an active movement among Canadians to buy Canadian. Every time we go shopping; I experience sticker shock. The exchange rate means that I have to discount everything by about 30% just to accommodate for the currency difference. Still, things feel more expensive.
Yesterday, we filled up the gas in the car for the first time on this side of the border. My husband got out to pump it. An attendant came out to do full service and my husband was stunned. When was the last time you didn’t pump your own gas?
Driving around we notice many American chain stores and restaurants but there are uniquely Canadian ones, too. At this point, we’ve only explored a small mall and there aren’t any significant differences to report. London Drugs was the biggest “drug” store I’ve ever been in. It resembles a small department store. You can buy furniture and TVs there.
We have settled into the day-to-day necessities and will be turning more towards travel. I hope to post more about what we see and experience. But at the same time, this away from home time is a time of preparation for what’s to come. I’m trying to fill in some gaps in education that I think are necessary. I’m finishing up a course on the Constitution, a book on fascism, and a dive into class war is upcoming. All heavy topics-but that’s where we are.
Owen Archer was Captain of Archers before an act of betrayal lost him an eye and his enthusiasm for battle. He finds himself singled out by the powerful Archbishop of York who has a singular mission for Owen. The Archbishop has just learned that his wayward ward has died in mysterious circumstances at the abbey in York. He needs someone he can trust to investigate and report on what happened there. Owen reluctantly agrees but soon finds himself overwhelmed by the goings on at the abbey, a nearby apothecary, and a city of colorful characters. This professional soldier often feels out of his depth negotiating not one but two murders and a cadre of slippery suspects.
The book has the feel of a Cadfael story because the apothecary plays a central role in the story and so does the Church. There are lots of fascinating details about the medicines, gardens, and how the guild oversees the running of apothecaries at this time. Owen also must understand and work within the politics of the church hierarchy as he investigates the murders. Thrown into the mix, is an examination of the role of women- how the Church viewed them and what society allowed at the time (some aspects might surprise).
This was an enjoyable, light read. There is a romantic attraction that runs through the novel (not my thing). I loved the setting, the Church politics, and the apothecary details. The mystery was well developed and came to a satisfying conclusion. This is book 1 of 15. The problem is that I’m not enamored with Owen Archer, so I won’t be reading the rest of the series. But that’s a matter of personal taste and many have loved this series.
Join me next time when I’ll be coming to you from Canada! Remember MARCH AND APRIL WILL BE TURBULENT!! Buckle up. Make time for self-care.
Given the reaction of the American public to some of the recent disclosure information concerning UAPs, I’m prone to agree with Ignatius. Where are YOU people?? Testimony out of Congress shouted, WE ARE NOT ALONE! No reaction….none????
Luis Elizondo was the former head of DOD’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). He is an Army veteran with wide experience rising to top levels of government in the intelligence arena with high security clearances. He has testified before Congress as an expert on UAPs (unidentified anomalous phenomena).
Imminent is his recent book on the UAPs. Partially a work of biography and partially a historical look at what we have come to understand about the UAPs, this is an important book by a government insider. Elizondo was privy to highly classified programs within the government and military/industrial complex that have serious implications for national security and our understanding of the universe itself.
After being recruited into a highly classified program with a mission to study these phenomena, Elizondo learned that certain parts of the government (and defense contractors) work to block access to what his team needed. Nevertheless, what they had led to some disturbing conclusions. Since at least WWII, the government (including some Presidents), have known that unidentified vehicles have been in flying in US airspace. These craft operate in ways that defy conventional physics. Elizondo’s team identified five distinct performance characteristics (observables) associated with UAPS.
Hypersonic velocity: UAPs routinely reach Mach 17 and above, no sonic booms associated with the speed (the USAF SR-71 can reach Mach 5 at high altitude; X-15, some missiles, Space Shuttle can exceed Mach 5 at high altitude only)
Instantaneous acceleration: UAPS can accelerate to 13,000 mph or faster and can stop on a dime. Also typical are tight, high speed turns impossible for known conventional aircraft. Instantaneous acceleration is associated with high g-forces. UAPs seem to possess the ability to withstand g-forces as high as several thousand g’s. (Structural failure on the F-16 occurs at approximately 17g’s.)
Low observability: Contrary to known technology that leaves a signature, UAPs leave virtually few or no observable signature. UAPs tend to be silent, with no sonic booms, no contrails, no heat ablation, no atmospheric ionization.
Transmedium travel: UAPS can operate equally well in space, air, and water environments. UAPs can move from one medium to another with no degradation in performance. (Example) Craft have been observed to operate first in air and then enter water without slowing down or creating waves. And vice versa.
No propulsion system/lift mechanism (defying gravity): UAPs have no wings, propellers, rotors. There are no control surfaces or means of maneuvering the vehicle.
Another component to UAPs are the biological effects of encountering these objects. There are military and intelligence members who have been injured and are receiving compensation due to these injuries. Some of the injuries associated with a UAP encounters entail radiation burns, internal organ damage, eye problems, psychological issues, and time anomalies (which may also be fundamental to understanding the phenomena).
About halfway through the book, Elizondo describes a theory that Hal Puthoff and others developed that account for all of the observables. With this theoretical technology, space and time could be warped locally creating a bubble around a craft. The craft then is immune from gravity (no wings required). Faster than light travel becomes possible. The pilot’s body does not feel excessive g-forces. In essence, two realities exist at the same time. It also explains why UAP photos tend to be blurry. This is because every photo shows the barrier layer. Elizondo explains in detail how the theory accounts for the features commonly reported with UAP phenomena and why the craft vary so much.
The book does suffer from a confusing timeline as Elizondo hops between his own life and some of the UAP historical happenings. For those who scoffed at Roswell, scoff no more. There is also a survey of famous cases and not so famous cases. Yes, the government has crash retrieval programs and yes, we have biologicals. There is evidence of reverse engineering of off-planet technology. Within the government, this is known as the Legacy Program. Consisting of government and contractor personnel, the program focused on retrieving and reverse-engineering crashed vehicles not made by humans. Materials in the possession of these contractors became the possession of the contractors to the point that the government has no record of them. Sounds like something from the X-files but it’s apparently very real and sinister at that.
Three videos released from the Navy would eventually change the world (TikTac/FLIR 2004, Go Fast 2015, GIMBAL 2015). Elizondo and his team, had for years, faced difficulty in obtaining materials related to the UAPs. Certain parts of the government wouldn’t talk or release data. The Air Force was notorious in this regard but so were other agencies and contractors. In 2014, the Navy was preparing the USS Roosevelt for deployment in the Persian Gulf. In practice exercises in the Atlantic, aircrews reported 22 separate encounters with UAPs which were seen with eyes and sensors abroad aircraft. When reports of this came in, Elizondo remembered a similar 2004 case of the Nimitz/Princeton where UAPs engaged in similar behavior. The incidents were becoming so numerous that pilots were scared, and safety threats loomed. The Navy was looking for answers. Certain reports and films of events were sent through channels to see what operators of secret programs were endangering their crews. Turns out there weren’t any.
At a certain point, Elizondo felt the tide turn against his efforts to take his team’s findings to the Secretary of Defense. He made the decision to leave government to help disclose the truth about UAPs directly to the American public. Chris Mellon, a friend to the ATTIP efforts, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence released the now declassified Navy videos to the world. Elizondo went on to work with the History Channel on the Unidentified series and has worked with Congress on educating the American public. He, along with eyewitnesses have testified before Congress.
The UAP Disclosure Act was passed in Dec. 2023. The most notable part of the legislation concerns funding for UAP programs. No longer can Legacy Programs be funded without government approval by appropriate committee. Congress finally has oversight of all UAP matters. It also directs that the National Archives be the receiving agency for all documents concerning UAPs, technologies of unknown origin, and nonhuman intelligence. And any UAP documents not previously disclosed must be disclosed within 25 years, unless there are national security reasons that prevent such disclosure.
This is a paradigm altering book. A top government intelligence insider has no doubt that American airspace is routinely penetrated. His opinion is that UAPs are not human phenomena and that this is a security threat. He has been instrumental in bringing forward competent, professional witnesses who have testified before Congress twice at this point. Legislation has been enacted as a result. Why people continue to act as if the world is the same is incredible. So, if you see a UAP, what should you do? Read the book (and stay away from the blue lights…).
This is from a recent interview I did with Awesome Gang.
Interview With Author Ellis Nelson
(and me as an AI rock star)
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written. Ellis Nelson has served as an Air Force officer, government contractor, and teacher. She writes for children and young adults largely under the newly emerging category of visionary fiction. Having returned from living abroad in Europe, she now calls Colorado home. Ellis has four books currently published.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it? My latest book is called, Down the Treacle Well. It is an Alice in Wonderland retelling. The inspiration for the story started with reading a biography about Lewis Carroll. I found we had several things in common besides both of us writing for children. I was so fascinated by him, I decided he really needed to feature in his own story and so, I took him back to Wonderland to engage with the world he created. It was a blast!
Do you have any unusual writing habits? I am not a regular fixed routine type of writer. I don’t have a daily practice of it. I do like to gather inspirational items around me that connect to the place or characters I’m writing about. During the phase of writing Down the Treacle Well, my office was filled with Alice in Wonderland memorabilia and photos of Lewis Carroll. When I wrote Into the Land of Snows, I had photos of the Himalayas and ritual objects connected to Buddhist practice.
What authors, or books have influenced you? I like fast moving plots with lots of adventure. So, at the top of my list are writers like Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, and Preston/Child. I have always loved reading and read about as much non-fiction as fiction. I think it’s great to strive for a balanced diet in what we read just like in what we eat. So, I do read widely looking for ideas across many interests and genres. If you read one of my books and I haven’t exposed you to something new or taught you something, I feel that I’ve failed.
What are you working on now? I’m trying something entirely new. I’m writing my first novel for adults that will explore what it feels like to be alive at a time of massive social and political change.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books? My best method has probably been my website where I’ve written a blog for the last dozen years or so. I have international followers and lively engagement there. I write about a wide variety of topics and ideas.
Do you have any advice for new authors? Persistence helps and so does trying new things.
What is the best advice you have ever heard? Find your superpower and lean into that.
What are you reading now? I’m reading a book by an intelligence operative who recently testified before Congress about UAPs. The book is Imminent: (Inside the Pentagon’s Hunt for UFOs) by Luis Elizondo.
What’s next for you as a writer? I’m currently circulating two novels for young adults looking for a publisher. Recently, I’ve started work on the adult novel I described above.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring? That is a tough question. I very rarely re-read a book. So, my best guess is that I would grab the next 3 or 4 books off my to-be-read list.
ellisnelson 