Kong: Skull Island (2017)

After watching Awakening the Zodiac, it was time to change genres. Having felt such a connection to Caesar, I decided to grab another flick with some Simian heritage. That movie was the 2017 blockbuster Kong: Skull Island.  

Plot/ A team of scientists explore an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong, and must fight to escape a primal Eden.

I am sure that this is going to be a polarizing film split between the love or hate communities. Personally, I loved this one and think that this is one of the better blockbuster creature features to come out in some time. I will admit that there were a ton of plot holes and the characters were not only flat, but their decision making was unfathomable, but I was able to look past those elements. All of the creatures were amazing, with this representation of Kong being one of my favorites. The fight scenes were fierce and at times gory, and the performances were solid. Overall, this was exactly as advertised a blockbuster creature feature that brought one of the all-time greats back from the dead. In the end, the film will likely disappoint some hardcore Kong fans. Yes, it has some flaws, but if you are in the mood for a mindless creature feature with some tremendous fight scenes this one is for you.

Another Look at Hollow Earth

The world is a crazy place, and just one look around will show that science and history are at a crossroad. Many of the scientific or historic items that were once embraced as fact are now slowly being proven to be myths. Water on Mars and the potential that life once existed on the famed red planet are just a couple of items that have made headline news in the past few years (NASA, n.d.). What about here on Earth, do similar hypothesis exist? Absolutely, and one such concept is the potential of life existing inside the planet, or something known as Hollow Earth theory.

For years, skeptics around the world have dismissed this theory as insanity or impossible. After all, geologists study the structural make-up of the planet and have for hundreds of years, and no definitive proof has been discovered to back up this theory.  However, the same thing could have been said about water on Mars until NASA made their announcement in September (Chang, 2015). This discovery definitely changed history, and in many ways, opened the door for more exploration of our own planet and the solar system in search of life.

Why does Hollow Earth sound familiar?

While many in society have probably heard of this theory inside some of the epic science fiction tales crafted by authors such as Jules Verne, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and even Edgar Allen Poe. What most people do not realize is that Hollow Earth theory has actually been debated and researched for generations (Storr, 2014). One look at ancient history will show that there are many accounts recorded on stone tablets from the earliest cultures depicting strange creatures that live inside the Earth. These accounts are not just discussed by historians, scholars such as Plato, Edmond Halley, and Leonard Euler all made suggestions on the possibility that the Earth could be hollow.

Even scientists in this modern era debate topics exactly like this one. Honestly, what do we really know about the planet or Solar System? Most of the facts that are written about in textbooks are theoretical at best, and when challenged, some seem to fall flat. In 2015 alone, multiple laboratories broke long accepted laws of physics with their experiments (Moskowitz, 2015). When you couple those discoveries in physics with the discovery of water on Mars, it should not be a surprise to see that many modern scientists have theorized on the hollow nature of the Earth (Walia, 2013). Of course, like most of the discoveries made by ancient astronaut theorists, the majority of discoveries made outside of government agencies remain far from the mainstream news cycle.

Who is Admiral Byrd and what is in his diary?

No discussion of Hollow Earth theory could be complete without talking about renowned explorer, Admiral Richard Byrd; the first person credited for flying over the North Pole in 1926  (PBS, n.d.). While this was a great achievement, it was what Byrd reportedly wrote about in his diary after one of his explorations, and at times talked about in mostly dismissed interviews that plant the seed that he discovered more than just poles on his many expeditions (UFOman, 2014). Could this be true? Could he have discovered something inside the Earth? According to many, including ancient astronaut theorists, the answer is yes.

Inside his diary, there are claims of a great society full of strange and mysterious beings. In fact, it goes as far as saying that he saw many different creatures and vast technologies that we could only dream of ("Admiral Byrd Diary | Admiral Byrds diary," n.d.). With all of the unexplained ancient cultural achievements, would it be too much to consider that they received help from some type of advanced civilization? This type of thought cannot be easily dismissed when one looks at the ancient societies and their appreciation and reverence of the underworld.

Hitler, Hollow Earth, and the Mayan Calendar.

Hollow Earth theory may still seem like a stretch of the imagination, which would be a valid conclusion since no published map has an entrance outlined in bold. Yet, maps do exist that do show that these openings do exist. Many people have heard the stories about Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party searching for mystical artifacts and occult items during World War 2. However, it was a quest for Hollow Earth that led the German soldiers and scientists to Antarctica during the war and actually creating a map of their discovery (Indigo Society, 2014). Incredibly, this map matches another, more famous, ancient artifact that most people across the globe have at least heard of.

If you compare the German map with the Mayan Calendar, you will see that they almost align perfectly ("Mayan long count," n.d.). Both have multiple openings to the underworld, with the primary openings sitting at the North and South Pole positions, as well as smaller openings that relate to locations such as Brazil, Mammoth Caves, Dero Caves, and the volcanoes in Italy, which are rumored to be openings into this underground region. While this may seem like a theoretical observation, the reality is that some of it would explain the cultural practices, historical artifacts, and God worship in the Mayan civilization (Guillermoprieto, 2013). This visual relationship should also be enough to lend more credibility to those who subscribe to ancient astronaut theory, as many of the historical sights discussed by these researchers sit in and around many of the ancient cultures that demonstrated a still unexplained technological output.

Why not go to the entrances of Hollow Earth to solve the mystery?

With a theory that many believe is crazy, one would think that there would be an easy way to prove the answer. Unfortunately, many obstacles stand in the way of researchers, especially when they attempt to take on some of the more logical questions of this theory. Exploring the major openings, specifically the large alleged entrances at the North and South Poles would be the most obvious. However, that is virtually impossible, with governmental controls and treaties in place to prevent civilian exploration of these areas (United Nations, n.d.). In fact, that United Nations Treaty is one of the only continent-based agreements that have been ratified by every major super-power.

The question that should come to mind is why? Why is it so hard to explore these major entrances and why is it virtually impossible for civilians to explore these regions? Those are great questions, with a simple theoretic answer. With almost every cave system on the continents connected in some way, it would be almost impossible to navigate them with any accuracy, and few if any maps exist to assist in that type of venture. Under the guise of the United Nations, governments prevent civilian exploration and limit access to the potential resources and technologies that have been rumored to exist in Hollow Earth.

More than that, unveiling the truth that a technologically advanced world survives in the depths of our planet could cause catastrophic ripples within major parts of society. Everything from history, to science, and religion could fall into the crosshairs of questioning, and a majority of what was taught throughout the centuries would have to be discounted. Not only would this cause turmoil in these areas, it could also potentially cause mass hysteria across the globe in a world that already has a lack of trust with the governments of the world.

Is it true; is the Earth Hollow?

With such diverse data existing inside the historical and scientific realms of study, it is hard to discount Hollow Earth theory as impossible or insanity. While there is not a ton of concrete evidence floating around for the world to digest on the topic, there is enough to make people wonder. Coupled with the way that it is constantly being proven that what society is being told is not necessarily the truth, and the way governments and organizations suppress knowledge and documents, the idea that the Earth is hollow definitely appears a valid theory, and a potential discovery that could change the world forever.

References

Admiral Byrd Diary | Admiral Byrds diary. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.admiralbyrddiary.com/AdmiralByrdDiary/index.php

Chang, K. (2015, September 28). Mars shows signs of having flowing water, possible niches for life, NASA says. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/29/science/space/mars-life-liquid-water.html?_r=0

Guillermoprieto, A. (2013, August). Secrets of the Maya Otherworld. Retrieved from http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/sacred-cenotes/guillermoprieto-text

Indigo Society. (2014, April 15). Inner Earth?(South/North Pole). Retrieved from http://indigosociety.com/the-living-earth/inner-earth-south-north-pole-t78754.html

Mayan long count. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://mayan-calendar.com/ancient_longcount.html

Moskowitz, C. (2015, September 9). 2 accelerators find particles that may break known laws of physics. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/2-accelerators-find-particles-that-may-break-known-laws-of-physics1/

NASA. (n.d.). Mars, water & life. Retrieved from https://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/why.html

NASA. (n.d.). Earth Rise. Retrieved from http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=86453&picture=earth-rise

PBS. (n.d.). The American experience | alone on the ice | people & events | Richard E. Byrd. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/ice/peopleevents/pandeAMEX86.html

Storr, W. (2014, July 13). Hollow Earth Conspiracy theories: the hole truth. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10961412/Hollow-Earth-conspiracy-theories-the-hole-truth.html

UFOman. (2014, April 19). Admiral Richard E Byrd - Hollow Earth video interview [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzWHqooAJtM

United Nations. (n.d.). Disarmament Treaties Database: Antarctic Treaty. Retrieved from http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/antarctic

Walia, A. (2013, August 26). Mind blowing research suggests that Earth could actually be hollow. Retrieved from http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/08/26/mind-blowing-research-suggests-that-earth-could-actually-be-hollow/

The Answer is Easy - Hollow Earth

Lately, one theme has been continually popping up in all of the different areas that I research, the theory of Hollow Earth. When I originally heard this idea, like many, I was skeptical. After all, how could years of scientific study be wrong? Every day, geologists from around the globe study the structural make-up of our planet, a practice that has taken place for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Yet, no accepted evidence pointing to this possibility exists. However, mirroring everything else considered a fringe scientific field that fact means very little.

To me, I view everything with an open mind and am at least willing to consider the possibilities that survive. That is when everything got weird. It seemed that everywhere I looked, everything I read, they all had a reference to Hollow Earth. Even in the pages of Haunted Times Magazine that I build for every issue, I started to see traces of the theory sprinkled throughout different volumes. In past installments, we have covered subjects such as the Lemurians, areas such as Mount Shasta and even the possibility of an underground facility under Monterey Bay. Ironically, all of these subjects were unrelated at the time, but the some of all parts raise an interesting question.

Not surprisingly, this theory has been debated and researched for generations. Looking to history, there are even accounts scribed into clay tablets from the dawn of man referencing different creatures that take refuge inside the Earth. Through the years, scholars such as Plate, Edmond Halley and Leonard Euler all made suggestions on the possibility that the Earth could indeed be hollow. Unfortunately, these ideas (like many others) fell onto deaf ears.

For the longest time, great works of science fiction by acclaimed authors Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs only popularized the theory. Even my favorite author of all time, Edgar Allen Poe, ventured into this realm in his tale The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. Amazingly, I had never drawn that conclusion until I discovered it paying homage to Poe on the bicentennial of his birth. At that point, I started to pay more attention to my surroundings and realized how often this subject comes up, and it comes up quite a bit.

Even here in New Jersey, I have discovered two links to the state that have both, in some ways, discussed Hollow Earth Theory. Unfortunately, they have both passed on and cannot pass anymore of their secrets. These men, Admiral Richard Byrd (whose secret diary supposedly contains detailed information) and Cryptozoologist and USO researcher Ivan Sanderson all ventured into strange lands and came up with many theories on the possibilities that exist. Could this be true, could the Earth be hollow? As mentioned above, practical thinking says no. However, a closer look at some of the possibilities raises some interesting questions.

To start, let us explore the strange coincidence of increased Bigfoot sightings in locations of UFO sighting. Some researchers have documented that there is an increase of activity between these seemingly unrelated phenomena during times of high sightings or flaps, like the 1973 Pennsylvania Bigfoot/UFO Sighting Flap (documented by researcher Stan Gordon). When you combine this idea with a location such as Mount Shasta, the connection is clear. Mount Shasta in a fascinating location. This snow-capped peak could be the Mecca of potential Hollow Earth active, there are Bigfoot sightings, UFO sightings and even legends of strange young men with piercing blue eyes venturing out of the wilderness.

For some, this is just lore to draw tourists, to the locals; this is life near the famed mountain. This thought is not unusual in the Hollow Earth arena. Even Admiral Byrd claimed to have witnessed brown, giant, and hairy creatures residing in the upper area of Hollow Earth. In fact, as his grandson has pointed out, he saw many different creatures and vast technologies that we could only dream of. With a civilization full of knowledge and strange beings all around, there is no ceiling onto what could exist.

It is that thought, which reportedly drew Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party in search of the opening to Hollow Earth, an idea that may be surprising to some people. However, it is also easily believable when looking at the different locations that the party ventured to during his reign. Two such locations, Antarctica and Brazil, are rumored to contain entranceways into this realm. In fact, like Mount Shasta, the Brazilian Mountains are known for UFO and strange sightings. Coincidence, possibly, but I do not believe in coincidence. Other famed locations that are rumored to hide entranceways are in Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) and The Himalaya Mountains (Tibet), both locations that seem to have some type of strange activity that exists within there confines.

In looking at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, it raised an intriguing thought. Could the Dogman of Kentucky be a similar creature to Bigfoot that exists in Hollow Earth? To me, the possibilities are endless. With so much land being virtually unexplored, how many entrances could exist? Even here in New Jersey, the famed Pine Barrens sit here uninhabited by humans (but, we do have the Jersey Devil). Could the different creatures that Cryptozoologists search for be hiding inside the Earths crust, could the UFOs or USOs be doing the same?

The thought of those questions reminded me of a story I heard of the closing of the famed Montauk Complex in New York. Legend states that the government was testing a long-range mind control weapon utilizing a high-powered antenna and a psychic in their underground facility, when something went terribly wrong. Evidently, the psychic projected a creature into the minds of the workers and hysteria commenced and many ended up dead. The next day the facility was closed forever and the underground lair was cemented in. Not long ago, a researcher on the Montauk facility actually, discovered spent shell casings that traced to that timeframe (mid 1980s) just before he was run-off by a security detachment on a state park. At first glance, that was just something that happened, but the casing proved that something was there and something was set free. With the facility being underground, and some of the black projects challenging the grounds of physics and reason, maybe the government made contact and were working with the creatures of Hollow Earth.

While that might seem like a stretch, understand that Captain John Cleves Symmes, a war hero of the War of 1812 believed in Hollow Earth and convinced millionaire James McBride of the possibility. McBride, and friend (future Vice President) Richard Johnson, together petitioned Congress for funding to explore the region, a little known fact that brings the potential cover-up of Hollow Earth into perspective.

While there is, so much information on the subject circulating the globe, documenting all of the possibilities may take forever. However, if you listen closely when people start talking about strange happenings, you may too find a connection to the Hollow Earth Theory, and maybe another hint at the power that lies beneath the depths of the planet.

Article first appeared in Haunted Times Magazine – Summer 2009 Issue