A compendium of local UFO sightings from an area writer

Mount Shasta resident Brian Wallenstein is not neutral about weird things. He was interviewed early last year by Lee Romney of the Los Angeles Times, who wrote that in 1987 Wallenstein "saw a family of Yeti emerge from an abandoned cabin on the mountain. He says a reversal of gravity on one grade often pulls his Subaru uphill. As for spacecraft, he's 'watched UFOs … head into the mountain.'" Living near Mt. Shasta, that mystical place, it's no surprise that Wallenstein would collect accounts of strange events from residents who witnessed them.

"Mount Shasta Sightings: A Local and Regional Chronology of UFO Sightings and More" ($29.99 in paperback from Universal Template) checks in at more than 600 pages. The bulk of the book compiles hundreds of sightings, many from the Chico area (such as witness to a "dark triangle shaped UFO" over Chico on May 25, 1996).

Introductory materials offer a brief history of some of the groups, ancient and modern, that have found the mountain a place of spiritual energy. As for human origins, Wallenstein asks, "why is it incomprehensible to consider, we have been genetically accelerated, when there is possible evidence to that effect?"

Humans, he writes, "are a synthesis of several Off-World races." But "with the blanket of secrecy our own shadow government has over disclosure," it is hard to make sense of the data. UFO and even Bigfoot sightings may be the evidence that we are "being groomed by what ever it is in this universe, to be civilization builders." Frankly, "it's obvious that the presence of Off-Worlders is in our midst."

But the government, he says, is hiding information, even putting out what seem like silly stories to discredit what may have more than a hint of the truth. Wallenstein writes that he was contacted by exopolitics.com to pass along information from someone at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA), to the effect that as a young boy President Obama "participated in a Space Camp in 1980, at the College of the Siskiyous preparing him for a journey he allegedly took to Mars from 'The Jump Room' located at a Hughes Aircraft facility in El Segundo...."

It is a worldview only the intrepid may wish to explore.

Chicoan makes a list and checks it twice

For a long time the Carol Williamson had in mind publishing a fill-in-the-blanks reference book that would keep the information about one's life close at hand. As a publicity release puts it: "With all the special dates and events to remember, important checklists to accomplish, valuable documents to keep track of, life just seems to be one giant juggling act."

Now the Chico resident's dream has come to fruition with "Know It All: The Book About You" ($19.99 in paperback from Xlibris at cwknowitall.com; also available in Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook e-book formats). About the cover, she notes that "my daughter-in-law, Kaci Koistinen ... took the picture of the Oregon Coast with my granddaughter Sarah and her dog Cooper. It signifies how big the world is and how we'll never really 'Know It All.'"

The book begins with a list of topical areas throughout the remainder of the work. Williamson begins with an opportunity to write in must-have telephone numbers (she suggests appliance dealer, baby sitters, piano tuner, plumber, and many more). Scattered throughout are already populated lists, like "Anniversary gifts by years" (for thirty years of marriage, it's still pearls), "Herbs and spices," and a checklist of "Items packed in my car."

I asked Williamson by email why she would want to produce primarily a printed book when so many "get organized" apps were available for computers and smartphones. "People like myself," she responded, "feel more secure that this book is something that whatever the reason, they could just grab it and go. Although there are various apps out there, I really think that people would be more apt to buy this book for convenience. No matter if they are knowledgeable at electronics or not."

Some of the lists are serious, such as "Important things your family should know." It suggests everything from adoption papers and auto registrations to warranties and wills and then provides space to fill in a location code (wallet? file cabinet?). Others are more whimsical, like "Memories to my grandchildren," which includes space to enter "my favorite hiding place" and "my favorite hymn,"; and "Sayings I've made up or lived by."

You could say that here is a book that fills you out without putting on weight.