Most of the known universe (at least United States citizens) know something about the place called Area 51. It's a hotbed of controversial conspiracy theories and governmental cover-ups. At some points in recent history our government has denied its very existence but that idea can be thrown out as soon as you try to come within a mile and a half of its physical barriers. Submachine gun carrying military representatives will quickly dispel the notion that uninvited guests may have conjured up in their head that the “No Trespassing” signs were just a joke. Area 51, as a result of such tactics and encounters, has become something of a pop culture/alien culture icon. Without question Area 51 produces its fair share of unexplained events and controversial happenings, however to get behind the story of Area 51’s intrigue it will take more than a compulsory examination of the out of context claims and awkward ranting on conspiracy theory forums.

The area surrounding Area 51 began its life as a nuclear testing area sanctioned by the United States atomic energy commission during the cloud of the Cold War. The Groom Lake area and the Area 51 facility was used in the 50s to test potential nuclear weapons and determine their destructive capabilities. The actual name for Area 51 came from its simple map designation and stayed intact for whatever reason.

In the mid-50s due to increasing concerns in the Cold War, the US government's military funding had awarded Lockheed, a military contractor with the contract to produce the ultra modern U2 plane. Tony Levier a pilot with a penchant for the experimental, suggested to Lockheed engineers that they consider "Area 51" it was then that the original infrastructure was built.

The plane became a boon to the CIA and already the government was working with the media to produce a cover story regarding weather balloons. Militarily the U2 plane was considered by many to have averted a World War III. Subsequent designs within the same family of airplanes have been tested at the Groom Lake facility including the A12 and SR71. In the 60s and 70s the long history of reverse engineering purportedly began as a result of the United States’ clandestine organizations somehow obtaining Russian aircraft technology. It was in the 70s that the United States era of stealth technology came into being, with so many residents and onlookers surrounding Groom Lake reporting sightings of awkwardly shaped aircraft above the base.

Decades ahead of its time even upon its release in 1988 the B2 stealth bomber appeared to replicate in its design, the "awkward shape" that have been seen nearly 20 years earlier in the sky above Area 51. To this day Area 51 is purportedly maintained as a testing ground for technology which can fly an aircraft at over mach 12. While the government of course will not admit such theories as a reality, it will at least humor the media and the mainstream by admitting such a technology would be "useful".  Such ambiguous statements made so publicly by a government who so vehemently protects the privacy of Area 51, fuels conspiracy theorists, aviation aficionados and proud patriots. In the late 90s Nevada officially gave a nickname to state Route 375 calling it "Extraterrestrial Highway" because of the abundance of UFO culture and reported sightings of UFOs.

Many of the modern conspiracy theories tied to the Groom Lake area and Area 51 have some tacit connection to Bob Lazar, who, in 1989, claimed he had been an engineer tasked with reverse engineering a fallen alien craft. Bob Lazar claimed he was stationed at an area called S4 an even more secret facility in the Groom Lake area.

While it is beyond the scope of this particular article to go into detail about Bob Lazar to any specific depth, suffice it to say he is a persona non gratain the eyes of the US government.  His claims to be a Massachusetts Institute of technology graduate and an engineer at the S4 base, have of course been "officially" removed from public record.

In the late 90s amid speculation that the government was covering up more than it should to avoid the public from understanding its inner workings, the US government released the statement which claimed that "thousands upon thousands" of "UFO sightings" were perpetrated by government agencies to encapsulate and cover up real militarily significant aircraft testing.

Thousands of acres in the middle of the dry desert surrounding Groom Lake have simultaneously been used as the focal point in winning the Cold War and fueled a community of conspiracy theorists, UFO hunters and aircraft lover’s imaginations for over 50 years.

While it is clear that many unexplained occurrences have been the subject of speculation since Area 51's opening, it can neither be proven nor disproven that such occurrences have anything to do with extraterrestrial technologies, regardless, area 51 is a fascinating topic of discussion.

Pakal the Great was the Mayan ruler of Palenque during the seventh century. As ruler of the Mayan city he was responsible for much of the art and architecture that decorated the city.

Pakal ascended to the throne at an early age and ruled into his eighties, a very old man by Mayan standards of the time. Pakal sat on the throne at 12 years old and ruled for about 70 years. Pakal became one of the most distinguished rulers of the Mayan empire because of the contributions of art and construction that came during his rule. The famous temple of the Inscriptions was one of the famous construction projects built during his reign.

The temple is comprised of nine levels and is just south of the Palace. The temple is built into the hill and it was revealed that the tomb of Pakal was contained within. Mexican Archaeologist Ruz discovered that the floor panels were movable and underneath he discovered the interior dimensions of the temple. Just inside, he found Pakal’s tomb and the staircase below. The chamber holds the sarcophagus of Pakal. The lid of the sarcophagus is the most interesting feature.

Pakal’s sarcophagus is the subject of some mystery and a common theory surrounding him is one that makes him an ancient astronaut.

This theory has sprung into life because of the intricate art work that can be found on the lid of this sarcophagus. The lid is a classic example of Mayan art and it is the source of the discussion around his origins.

The immense stone lid in the Temple of Inscriptions is classic Mayan Art. The accepted story of the lid is that Pakal is descending into the Mayan underworld. Around the sides are representations of the Sun, Venus, Moon and other constellations. Below Pakal is the dragon jaws that are opened to accept him into the underworld. The Mayan water guard protects the entrance to the underworld.

Upon the death of Pakal, he was buried in a pyramid called the Temple of Inscriptions. The temple of Inscriptions has been instrumental for archaeologists studying Mayan civilization because of the incredible hieroglyphic text found on the inscription tablets found on the piers of the building.

However, the controversy around Pakal is not around construction or art. Since the discovery of the sarcophagus of Pakal, UFO theorists have concluded that Pakal might have been an ancient astronaut and his sarcophagus shows him sitting in a spacecraft in flight. If you look at the picture of the lid, it appears to show Pakal taking off, operating the controls of a spaceship.

Pakal is sitting upright or slightly leaned and he appears to be leaning over a possible control platform in which he is holding controls. As well, the king seems to be wearing an odd helmet that has a set of tubes running backwards. In front of his nose is what could be an oxygen apparatus and his hands are on controls.

It almost seems as if he is manipulating the controls of a motorized bike of some kind. His feet are sitting on what appears to be a pedal that has several stages.

Was Pakal the king Pakal the Astronaut?

Many believe, both within and without the confines of the active UFO/alien community, that extraterrestrials had much to do with the population of this planet.

Some percentage of those even believe that the very origins of humankind were conceived, from some map deep within the master plan of that alien race, and even that these aliens have played an active role in every facet of human society. Even if you're in the vast majority of people who might find these ideas far-fetched they’re certainly entertaining reads.

Many well-educated and learned scholars have produced works to highlight their specific ideas that base at least part of their theories upon more widespread and significant records. Take for instance the author and scholar, Zechariah Sitchin, whose books "the Earth Chronicles" (specifically "the 12th planet") talk about ancient astronauts. Sitchin essentially bases his theory on ancient Samaria and texts and passages from the Bible that at least in some instances appear to support the text. He argues that a planet in the farthest areas of our solar system which he calls “Nibiru” crashed into another planet called Tiamat, half of which formed our planet the other is now purportedly the asteroid belt.  “Nibiru”, having survived the collision, purportedly travels now in an orbit which allows contact between it and our solar system every 3500+ years or so.

Sitchin believes the race of aliens called the Annunaki reside on “Nibiru” and in early times (of our Earth's birth) came to earth to extract materials to perpetuate their own work. Such materials include gold, of which the earth has a spectacular amount. Furthermore, it is his argument that because of the long and tedious work they masterminded a plan to genetically engineer minors who could on their behalf, perform the labor: humans.

Is this far-fetched? Incredibly so: however it raises many questions. As many millions and billions of people on earth, since the beginning of time as we know it have questioned their origins their purpose and the hereafter, this theory perhaps falls in line in a long list of theory and belief which deserves further exploration.

These theories actually gain some momentum in retellings of other mythical stories including those of Greek and Roman mythology. In such tales the "far-fetched" idea of a master race creating a subordinate laborer race features prominently: the mythical gods and goddesses in their own words according to these myths, created humans to accomplish the work so that they would not have to. The Bible speaks of God's, deities, and Angels as well as other heavenly hosts which also bear striking similarities to alien races, when a holistic examination between all documents is taken. Is it possible that these written records portray meetings and encounters as well as the record of history between extraterrestrials and the human race? Were biblical miracles and under explained passages potentially simply alien technologies manifested on an uninitiated humankind? Does a date like 2012 mark the year that the Annunaki return to our solar system – has it been 3500+ years? Were humans genetically engineered by an alien race? Is any of this believable?

Many scientists mock what they call fake scholars, a group within which many of them include Sitchin. They call his interpretations and renderings of ancient texts misleading and flawed in its core. It's a difficult question to be asked then of course, with so many nonscientific evidences like artifacts, cave drawings, monuments and oral stories – and yet so few scientific evidences. The believer tends to focus only on nonscientific evidence and the nonbeliever of course in opposition. Who can explain in this modern world, things like the Giza Pyramids, the Nazca Lines, Stonehenge, and Woodhenge?

So many pictures exist of cave drawings around the world that seem to show ancient astronauts, flying saucers and other unexplainable depictions. Prophets in the Bible seemingly described events and occurrences which were far beyond their or our interpretations. Though seemingly easily explained by religious scholars, it leads one to wonder could our views on religion be inherently controlled or guided by an alien entity.

Truth exists everywhere regardless of your specific beliefs: while we may never know here on this Earth or otherwise, whether these ideas are true or warrant some other explanation, it's important to realize the vast volumes of information which can be seen as ambiguous, unexplainable or unable to be attached to a certain set of standards or beliefs. We can but wonder, until the next great piece of insight is thrust upon us.

Since about the first time a UFO encounter was reported, stories have existed about visitations from equally mysterious "men" – the so-called "men in Black".

In almost every documented case of these "men in Black", threats by these men or their unknown organization (usually dire threats) surface in relation to the witness’ ongoing sharing of their encounter.

In many of the re-tellings of the visit from the "Men in Black", the storyline seems consistent.

• These men all seem to dress alike
• many of them have Asian facial features
• they often use awkward and out of place language which seems almost composed from a soundboard of an older movie
• they always wear dark sunglasses
• they drive dark large sedans

In 1953, Albert K. Bender, one of the founders of the (IFSB), a now defunct organization which produced a publication entitled "International flying saucer Bureau", discontinued the publication and his relatively public work on identifying UFOs and their source because of a visit by three “Men in Black”. It was Bender who coined the term "Men in Black", but it was widely viewed as a poor attempt by Bender to exit an organization that was financially unable to compete. Within 10 years however, Bender's own story had many others very similar in composition to back it up.

So many aspects of the UFO and alien culture tend to be overblown, poorly documented or communicated or just outright lies, that it's easy for a fantastical outlook on the “Men in black" to have been given credence by the community.

But in almost every publicized event within the spectrum, when pressed hard enough, those involved with the encounter also reveal a "Men in black" encounter.  It’s an intriguing trend, without question.

Those who have reported on these “Men in Black” have always explained that these visitors show credentials from various government organizations including the CIA FBI and even NORAD. The cars these men drive also sometimes have logos and symbols corresponding to their credentials produced. It's interesting to note however, that no matter how much a person remembers there has not been one case where the vehicle has been able to be tracked or identified. Certainly a vehicle has never been linked back to any of these government agencies.

Even more strange however, those visited by the men in black usually report to healthcare professionals headaches, nausea, awkward lapses in memory and weird changes in their sense of smell. Sometimes even, those involved in encounters report smells they've never been able to determine following them around and being overpowering at times.

Many people within the community (UFO and aliens), even those who are extremely highly regarded, speculate that perhaps these MIB (Men in Black) may not even be human. These "experts" and community members point to the psychic power aliens are believed to exhibit and potentially of mental manipulation and shape shifting, to explain the interactions. Perhaps the most interesting point surrounding the MIB, is that there is a wide variance between the accounts given by adults, and those given by children. While adults may have lapses in concentration, focus and memory – children tend to fill in the blanks. These blanks however most times lead to many more questions.

There are often times where these encounters play out something like this:

Interviewee: "The man who spoke most often to me out of the three, was wearing sunglasses; 6 foot tall and had blond hair.”

A child present at the encounter: "The guy that was talking to my father was really tall-2 feet taller than my dad, he was really, really skinny, and his skin was green and he had huge scary black eyes."

Another trend in these encounters is that those involved sometimes report people they know functioning as the men in black. Basic investigation later however, shows that those people supposedly involved were at a separate location to far away to have been mistaken.

With so many encounters (roughly equal to 70% of all reported alien encounters when reported together), and such a consistent description it leads one to believe that such an encounter has and does frequently occur in relation to a UFO/alien encounter.

It could be argued that as much possibility as there is that these men actually hail from some governmental agency, they could just as easily be alien life forms impersonating their human counterparts. There is a huge amount of support for the latter statement.

Because these encounters with the men in black are almost always as mysterious as the original alien/UFO encounter, it is reports and stories like this that tend to take on a life of their own within the alien and UFO community. No matter what you believe, it seems these "men in black" exist: and they are here to stay.

The Earth has many wondrous artifacts associated with or suspected to be the result of some ancient technology. These technologies often appear to be beyond the capabilities of modern man of the time so it is suspected that they are brought here or created by aliens from another world. One such location is the Carnac Stones that are located in Carnac, France.

The Stones of Carnac are an enormous collection of gigantic rocks that have been set in place in specific and deliberate configurations. Some of the configurations resemble lines and rows while others are fan like shapes.

The Carnac configurations themselves, when taken as a whole resemble a series of triangles that make up a complex mathematical formula known as the Pythagorean Theorem.

Another interesting issue around the configuration of the stones is the complex calculations needed and the timeline of the placement.

The timeline for the age of the Carnac Stones put them at about 3300 BC which place creation of the stones during the time of Stone Age Man. Since Pythagoras did not discover the Pythagorean Theory until 530 BC it is improbable that Stone Age Man possessed the capability necessary to determine the calculation and create the shapes necessary to complete the complexity of the Pythagorean Theorem. Based on the size of the stones and the limited tools available to Stone Age man, it is also unlikely that they were able to erect the stones

Researchers have not determined the exact function of the Carnac Stones. The stones could be signs or even burial chambers for some ancient race. The Carnac Stones have structures within the configuration that could have been ancient tombs or burial chambers. These chambers are known as dolmens and were created with upright stones and contain both the burial chamber and access to the chamber.

The Carnac Stones might even have been used to guide alien spacecraft as they are one of three structures which can be seen from space. There is research also being done on possible astronomical components of the structures. The Carnac Stones are located at the latitude at which the solstice sun in winter and summer forms a Pythagorean triangle not unlike other complex sites such as Boyne Valley and Silbury Hill which show orientations to the solstices as well.

Is this site evidence that ancient aliens came to our planet and gave our ancient ancestors some knowledge and wisdom of technology or guidance from other worlds?

Unidentified Submerged/Submersible Objects are equally as fascinating as UFO’s.

What lends credibility to this phenomena, is that several famous people have seen them, not to mention when a crew is on a ship, and a USO comes rolling around the surface of the water, or jumps out of the water and hovers around for a bit, it isn’t a singular person with history of delusional behavior seeing it: It’s a whole ship crew.

Even further increasing the intrigue around USO’s is the unknown surrounding the ocean, and the cool history associated with USO hotspots, like the Bermuda Triangle.

The human race has been to the moon and beyond, yet we have never been to the bottom of the deepest of the world’s oceans.  Fascinating but true, so much exists beneath the surface of the water, that we have yet to discover.  Even more fascinating, since the dawn of sea exploration nd travel, there have been sightings of USO’s.  Are you sensing a trend here?  Since the dawn of time…we can’t travel beyond a certain limit…unidentified vehicles…it’s all pretty familiar to the alien enthusiast.  But what is all  this hype about USO’s?  Are they as real and verifiable as UFO’s?

Christopher Columbus seemed to think so:

In excerpts from his personal and ship journals, he noted that a light like a candle’s light bobbed and danced around at a distance from him, and then would suddenly vanish.  This light incidentally appeared and disappeared very shortly before land appeared (only a matter of hours), and the “New World” was discovered by European travelers.

Was the light a figment of more than 3 trusted ship passengers?  Or was it perhaps an alien craft moving around and submerging itself into the water for any number of reasons.  While Mr. Colombus may have been seen as a “nutjob” by some of his peers, he certainly had no trouble proving he was a man of his word.  Just ask The King and Queen of Spain, he certainly delivered for them.

While his might be the most famous (don’t forget King George the 5^th of England was also rumored to have seen a USO Near the Australian coast with a red brilliant light that was so impressive that it cast a glow onto the entire ship it appeared next to in the water), it is simply one of thousands.

The coolest part of the Colombus sighting? Aside from the fact that a Bonafide hero of history saw it, along with trusted members of his crew and members of the King and Queen’s court: Its location.

Essentially within striking distance of the Bermuda Triangle, which for many years has been a hotbed of Alien activity, and strange occurrences; the plot thickens.  The Bermuda Triangle has its fair share of Alien culture and lore, and simply provides the best location for a purist to see an Alien craft.  So many stories exist about the Triangle, and while no one researcher or scientist can definitively explain the increased rate of occurrences, one thing can be agreed upon: this area seems to emanate an energy level noticeably higher than surrounding areas.

Some say the magnetic fields are incredibly strong here, others say there is a compelling reason to believe the lost city of Atlantis exists here, but almost all of them say, they don’t doubt the mystery or capability of the Triangle.

Guantanamo Bay Cuba has also recently been a hotbed of sightings and occurrences, and there have been several “military involved” sightings of late.  While the Military won’t talk about it, and essentially denies any involvement, many members of the base’s staff have come forward to give their testimonials.

Puerto Rico and Cuba both have significant club and enthusiast membership in search of their own sighting and thousands are reported each year.

From white lights under the surface of the water, to glowing phosphorus green bubbling exits from the water, to red glowing orbs of light which can dance around and shoot into and out of the water with high speeds, yet without disrupting the water line.

There are theorists who say that an induction engine using a ram-jet technology with water instead of air, would be capable of creating the speeds necessary to travel like these lights travel, but wouldn’t explain the places these vessels are traveling to, or who or what is inside of them.

The topic and subject is fascinating, and this is just the beginning of the discussion, but what more can be said about USO’s now?  They are documented, mysterious, and occur in places we know have a history of occurrences.  Is this just further proof of the technology of the alien races-where we cannot go, they have already been-but for how long?  At least since 1492.