http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/samheath/13370 While life and death continue to be the two greatest unsolved mysteries of all, for many millions of people Elvis still lives; in so many ways he continues to represent a happy time in America, an America where we were not only allowed, but encouraged to be happy, even happily silly. And in many ways millions continue to cling to that period in America when we wanted to be happy, even happily silly. Elvis much like Mayberry reminds us of a happier time in America, and one we don’t want to let go. But in “The Shootist” John Wayne is reminded by Jimmy Stewart that no matter how strong a person is “even an ox dies,” something of which J. K. Rowling was acutely aware while writing her marvelous Harry Potter books, in which she pointed out that in many ways her characters were “defined by their attitude to death.” As the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ death is remembered there is another 30th anniversary not nearly as well publicized, but one that has much in common with Elvis, that of the “Wow” factor in astronomy. From Cosmiclog: “Exactly 30 years ago today, astronomer Jerry Ehman was looking over a printout of radio data from Ohio State University’s Big Ear Radio Observatory when he saw a string of code so remarkable that he had to circle it and scribble ‘Wow!’ in the margin. The printout recorded an anomalous signal so strong that it had to come from an extraordinary source. Was it a burst of human-made interference? Or an alien broadcast from the stars? No one knows. The source of the ‘Wow’ signal has never been heard from again - even though astronomers have looked for it dozens of times. Now the SETI Institute is gearing up to look for it one more time, using the latest tool for seeking signals from extraterrestrial civilizations: the Allen Telescope Array in California...” In responding to the article I pointed out that if Michio Kaku and other physicists are correct in surmising if other civilizations existed in the universe they may well have reached our point of nuclear development and destroyed themselves, and if so that signal might have been the last cry of a dying world, thereby possibly explaining why the anomalous signal was not repeated. While I continue to believe our solar system and our earth, that humankind may be unique in the universe, I’m hardly in a position to discount other possibilities. But despite the many “Elvis sightings” there is nothing of empirical proof concerning these. Like the many UFO reports including my own, we need something solid and substantial the government can’t hide in Area 51, something like the landing of Klaatu. Many have experienced things that fall into the category of the supernatural, of the paranormal; I have had such experiences myself. But such things are “facts” only to my own experience, and I don’t ask others to believe these things. However, I can ask others to believe the superstitions of religion, some carried to the extreme of actually murdering others in the name of some deity, are nothing more than superstitions. And while I have nothing against four-leaf clovers and lucky charms, I do get angry with people demanding I bow to their gods of whatever description! I find some solace in the face of a world led of lunatics in believing someday God will destroy the Devil and all his evil works, that there will eventually be new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness will prevail and that someday I will be reunited with my departed loves ones and friends. I continue to believe the opening chapters of Genesis derive from actual facts. But I don’t ask, let alone demand others share these beliefs. The whole matter of any kind of religious “orthodoxy” now causes me to shudder that I could ever have considered myself orthodox in any fashion though for years I held the legitimate questions about orthodoxy in abeyance. Yet my departure from orthodoxy did not drive me to the bottle. I’ve never been much of a drinker and there have been many incidents where my sobriety has been of value to others while frequenting bars. But, I do confess, it crosses my mind occasionally that getting falling down drunk might have its attractive side, especially when people start talking religion. However, if getting falling down drunk was foolish when I was younger why should it be any less so now? But for those of you acquainted with my theological writings and the stories about prostitutes and drunks in my book “Birds With Broken Wings” it will come as no surprise that I still, occasionally, do some things that run somewhat counter to the dogmatic theological positions of good Baptists. I was at one of the lounges where I often played guitar and sang when a need for me as a properly ordained minister, a holdover from my former life, presented itself. Seems a couple wanted to get married in one of the local bars where they had first met, and not surprisingly none of the local preachers were willing to splice the pair in such an environment. Ah, the deplorable lack of romanticism among the clergy. Asked if I would be willing to perform the service, and having long ago alienated myself from the more respectable brethren, I figured one more piece of evidence of my fall from grace couldn’t hurt. The ceremony took place at 2 J’s, a beer bar here in the Kern River Valley. About 30 people attended; all close friends of the bride and groom. One couple came from Wyoming just to take part in the festivities. Notwithstanding the locale it was a solemn occasion. Several people remarked at how quiet and reverent everyone was throughout the entire ceremony; a real novelty in such an environment. This quickly changed at my official pronouncement of the couple as husband and wife. The music, dancing and food were excellent. Everyone entered into the spirit of wishing the couple well; there was the unwrapping of wedding gifts, the cutting of the cake, the champagne and, all-in-all, an entirely satisfactory start to what we all hoped would be a happy life together for the newlyweds. In thinking back on the event, I’m not so sure that it wasn’t more representative of that marriage at Cana where Jesus provided gallons of wine for the festivities than the more dignified environs of most weddings. Someday, if there is a hereafter and I don’t go to hell, I may find out for sure. And who knows but what I may actually meet Elvis, though it might be either in heaven or hell. However, since I believe hell is reserved for the Devil and politicians I don’t believe Elvis ended up there. And this offers some hope for me as well. In the meantime, if someone claims to have seen Elvis so be it. There remains the “Wow” factor in many things science has yet to explain. And given the lunacy of world leaders, especially our own, I’ll take the “Wow” of things beyond our understanding that at least hold promise of wonders beyond what the lunatics of greed and avarice, the lunatics of religion and politics have to offer. While life and death continue to be the two greatest unsolved mysteries of all, for many millions of people Elvis still lives; in so many ways he continues to represent a happy time in America, an America where we were not only allowed, but encouraged to be happy, even happily silly. And in many ways millions continue to cling to that period in America when we wanted to be happy, even happily silly. Elvis much like Mayberry reminds us of a happier time in America, and one we don’t want to let go. But in “The Shootist” John Wayne is reminded by Jimmy Stewart that no matter how strong a person is “even an ox dies,” something of which J. K. Rowling was acutely aware while writing her marvelous Harry Potter books, in which she pointed out that in many ways her characters were “defined by their attitude to death.” As the 30th anniversary of Elvis’ death is remembered there is another 30th anniversary not nearly as well publicized, but one that has much in common with Elvis, that of the “Wow” factor in astronomy. From Cosmiclog: “Exactly 30 years ago today, astronomer Jerry Ehman was looking over a printout of radio data from Ohio State University’s Big Ear Radio Observatory when he saw a string of code so remarkable that he had to circle it and scribble ‘Wow!’ in the margin. The printout recorded an anomalous signal so strong that it had to come from an extraordinary source. Was it a burst of human-made interference? Or an alien broadcast from the stars? No one knows. The source of the ‘Wow’ signal has never been heard from again - even though astronomers have looked for it dozens of times. Now the SETI Institute is gearing up to look for it one more time, using the latest tool for seeking signals from extraterrestrial civilizations: the Allen Telescope Array in California...” In responding to the article I pointed out that if Michio Kaku and other physicists are correct in surmising if other civilizations existed in the universe they may well have reached our point of nuclear development and destroyed themselves, and if so that signal might have been the last cry of a dying world, thereby possibly explaining why the anomalous signal was not repeated. While I continue to believe our solar system and our earth, that humankind may be unique in the universe, I’m hardly in a position to discount other possibilities. But despite the many “Elvis sightings” there is nothing of empirical proof concerning these. Like the many UFO reports including my own, we need something solid and substantial the government can’t hide in Area 51, something like the landing of Klaatu. Many have experienced things that fall into the category of the supernatural, of the paranormal; I have had such experiences myself. But such things are “facts” only to my own experience, and I don’t ask others to believe these things. However, I can ask others to believe the superstitions of religion, some carried to the extreme of actually murdering others in the name of some deity, are nothing more than superstitions. And while I have nothing against four-leaf clovers and lucky charms, I do get angry with people demanding I bow to their gods of whatever description! I find some solace in the face of a world led of lunatics in believing someday God will destroy the Devil and all his evil works, that there will eventually be new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness will prevail and that someday I will be reunited with my departed loves ones and friends. I continue to believe the opening chapters of Genesis derive from actual facts. But I don’t ask, let alone demand others share these beliefs. The whole matter of any kind of religious “orthodoxy” now causes me to shudder that I could ever have considered myself orthodox in any fashion though for years I held the legitimate questions about orthodoxy in abeyance. Yet my departure from orthodoxy did not drive me to the bottle. I’ve never been much of a drinker and there have been many incidents where my sobriety has been of value to others while frequenting bars. But, I do confess, it crosses my mind occasionally that getting falling down drunk might have its attractive side, especially when people start talking religion. However, if getting falling down drunk was foolish when I was younger why should it be any less so now? But for those of you acquainted with my theological writings and the stories about prostitutes and drunks in my book “Birds With Broken Wings” it will come as no surprise that I still, occasionally, do some things that run somewhat counter to the dogmatic theological positions of good Baptists. I was at one of the lounges where I often played guitar and sang when a need for me as a properly ordained minister, a holdover from my former life, presented itself. Seems a couple wanted to get married in one of the local bars where they had first met, and not surprisingly none of the local preachers were willing to splice the pair in such an environment. Ah, the deplorable lack of romanticism among the clergy. Asked if I would be willing to perform the service, and having long ago alienated myself from the more respectable brethren, I figured one more piece of evidence of my fall from grace couldn’t hurt. The ceremony took place at 2 J’s, a beer bar here in the Kern River Valley. About 30 people attended; all close friends of the bride and groom. One couple came from Wyoming just to take part in the festivities. Notwithstanding the locale it was a solemn occasion. Several people remarked at how quiet and reverent everyone was throughout the entire ceremony; a real novelty in such an environment. This quickly changed at my official pronouncement of the couple as husband and wife. The music, dancing and food were excellent. Everyone entered into the spirit of wishing the couple well; there was the unwrapping of wedding gifts, the cutting of the cake, the champagne and, all-in-all, an entirely satisfactory start to what we all hoped would be a happy life together for the newlyweds. In thinking back on the event, I’m not so sure that it wasn’t more representative of that marriage at Cana where Jesus provided gallons of wine for the festivities than the more dignified environs of most weddings. Someday, if there is a hereafter and I don’t go to hell, I may find out for sure. And who knows but what I may actually meet Elvis, though it might be either in heaven or hell. However, since I believe hell is reserved for the Devil and politicians I don’t believe Elvis ended up there. And this offers some hope for me as well. In the meantime, if someone claims to have seen Elvis so be it. There remains the “Wow” factor in many things science has yet to explain. And given the lunacy of world leaders, especially our own, I’ll take the “Wow” of things beyond our understanding that at least hold promise of wonders beyond what the lunatics of greed and avarice, the lunatics of religion and politics have to offer. en-us