To break the spell and curry an editor’s favor [Editor's note: you got it!], I have decided to veer away from my typically ghostly writings to ponder another odd fascination of mine.

If possible, I would like all readers with the ability to do so, to tune an AM shortwave radio to 4625 kHz. You will hear short, repeating bursts of static, a simple buzz of white noise, that repeats at a rate of 21-34 times a minute — all day. Upon its initial discovery in Cold War-era 1982, this phenomenon was as perplexing and frightening as a KC and the Sunshine Band reunion.

Although not paranormal in origin — the signal’s purpose is still unknown — it has been monitored by the US government and fans of shortwave radio since the initial discovery. It’s like something out of “Lost,” but it probably won’t preempt any State of the Union addresses.

The modern white noise “buzz” began in 1990. Previously, it was a simple “bip” sound, similar to that of a sonar machine in a submarine. These sounds have been consistent and repeating, with little interruption, since they were discovered. However, there have been rare occasions when the buzzes stopped and voices were heard.

These utterances are sometimes heard in the background behind the buzz — hinting that the broadcast may be a live microphone. On November 3rd, 2001, a voice was heard speaking in Russian saying: “I’m 143rd. I don’t receive the oscillator (generator).” “That’s what the operating room is sending.” Or, “Those are the orders from operations.” Such messages are rare, but appear to be conversations that were not meant to be broadcast — meaning they don’t illuminate the true purpose of UVB-76.

On Christmas Eve of 1997, the buzzes stopped for a brief moment of silence. What followed was a series of short beeps followed by a male Russian’s voice who said the following: “Ya — UVB-76. 18008. BROMAL: Boris, Roman, Olga, Mikhail, Anna, Larisa. 742, 799, 14.” It was repeated several times, after which, the buzzing resumed. It was following this broadcast that the origin of the signal was traced to a small town 40 km outside of Moscow named Povarovo.

The talking went dark until 2006 when another voice broke the signal, speaking the perplexing message, “75-59-75-59. 39-52-53-58. 5-5-2-5. Konstantin-1-9-0-9-0-8-9-8-Tatiana-Oksana-Anna-Elena-Pavel-Schuka. Konstantin 8-4. 9-7-5-5-9-Tatiana. Anna Larisa Uliyana-9-4-1-4-3-4-8.”

Click here for a link to the broadcast.

Theories abound concerning the purpose of Russian signal. Websites across the internet claim it to be the mouthpiece of the Soviet military, a governmental chess player’s hand moving rooks and pawns throughout the world by way of timed static interchanges. Some suggest that it does the same for the worldwide spy network established by and operating on behalf of the Russian government. A more frightening theory is that the signal is a beacon used to confirm the continuing, non-ceasing purpose of some other facility or individual — a dead man’s switch, if you will — its intended listeners are to respond accordingly if the signal should someday stop broadcasting.

The most vital component of UVB-76’s broadcasts is that, despite the decades since the end of the Cold War, when the Supreme Soviet crumbled in the ring ala Ivan Drago, even after the fall of the Berlin Wall and Communism in general, the static dashes of UVB-76’s tower is still broadcast throughout the world. Therefore, it cannot be considered a relic of a bygone Cold War society. On the contrary, it is still operational and still has purpose, however elusive.

And there is someone still at the switch, and someone is still listening waiting to respond — and as a child and product of the Cold War, the entire idea chills my bones more than any paranormal activity.

As I promised to the fine people of Twitter, here is my latest composition. It may not be “finished,” but I figured I’d offer a taste:

The Contrarian: “The Family” MP3

And now for some background. This track is a likely contender for my next full-length, Revelation Musicks. I expect that there will be greater involvement from our own Library Scientist/dronemeister, Wes Covey of The Ten Thousand Things. I’m anticipating a looser, psych/blues kind of feel for this one. But there will still be songs.

Remember when records had two sides? This album will have two virtual “sides.” Anti-gnosis and gnosis.

The anti-gnosis is control, religious mindtraps, the abuse of Earth, the deification of power, the cult of Mammon, etc.

The gnosis is liberation, and an explosion of righteous anger and ecstasy.

As you were.

A sweetly smiling Catrina in honor of El Dia de los Muertos. Last night we went to a beautiful Day of the Dead dinner where we ate and drank and remembered. Take a moment to remember and say ‘hello’ to your departed friends, family, and pets.

• Who amongst us hasn’t considered making his or her own orgone device?
• No skulls for you!
• Well, duh.
• Hard times for Scientology.
• Podcast interview with Mitch Horowitz, author of Occult America: The Secret History of how Mysticism Shaped our Nation.
• Podcast interview with Stephen Asma, author of On Monsters: An Unnatural History of our Worst Fears.
• Danger! Throw out that leftover Halloween candy right now!
• The occult in Judaism
• Exorcism tales from the Phillipines
• Kevin Jackson’s “Top Ten Vampire Novels“. Seem like pretty solid choices to me.
• The music of the spheres….
• El chupacabra?
• Very sad: Tanzanians born with albinism being hunted for their bones.

That’s all for this week!

I love you. Please be good to each other.

Molly

Listen to Christian Bale chew out the director of photography on the set of Terminator: Salvation. In Bale’s defense, he HAS spent several months under the direction of that crown prince of Hollywood douchebaggery, McG.

Batman goes American Psycho! [TMZ]

Bale: I want you off the fucking set, you prick!

DP: I’m sorry. . .

Bale: No, don’t just be sorry. Think for one fucking second! What the fuck are you doing? Are you a professional or not?

DP: Yes, I am.

Bale: No, no. Am I gonna fucking rip your lights down in the middle of the scene? Then why the fuck are you walking right through, ‘Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh,’ in the background? What the fuck is it with you? What the fuck don’t you understand?

Unknown male: Take a minute. . .

Bale: You got any fucking idea about. . . Hey, it’s fucking distracting having somebody walking up behind Bryce [Dallas Howard] in the middle of the fucking scene. Give me a fucking answer. What don’t you get about it? Look G. . . You got fucking something to say to this prick?

McG: I didn’t see it happen.

Bale: Well, somebody should be fucking watching him and keeping an eye on him! I’m trying to do a fucking scene here and I’m going, why the fuck is Shane walking in there? What’s he doing there? Do you understand my mind is not in the scene if you’re doing that?

DP: I absolutely apologize. I did not mean anything by it.

Bale: I’m gonna fucking kick your fucking ass! I’m gonna, do you want me to go and trash your lights? Do you want me to go and trash them? Then why are you trashing my scene?

DP: I’m not trying to trash your. . .

Bale: You are trashing my scene. You do it one more fucking time and I ain’t walking on the set if you’re still hired. I’m serious. I’m fucking serious. You’re a nice guy, you’re a nice guy, but that won’t fucking cut it when you’re bullshitting and fucking around like this on set. Seriously, you and me man, we’re fucking done professionally.

He sounds like Joe Pesci in full Goodfellas rant mode. Makes me wonder about that alleged assault against his mother and sister from last year. . .

This kind of thing is typically Mr. Interlandi’s beat, but he’s MIA. Come to think of it, so is Mr. Caldwell. Maybe it’s time to change the masthead?