Science Friction versus Science Fiction. Distinguishing Doubtful Facts from Fantasy.

Academics may not want to be interviewed after watching Science Friction, a fascinating and very revealing documentary about how others can get made.

Watch Science Friction | Prime VideoScience Friction is an excellent documentary that examines if that favourite network program on History, Travel Channel or A&E is getting their facts right. Skeptoid Media wants to debunk more than just the supernatural. This work targets all those other specials about archaeology, geology and zoology. Programs like Ancient Aliens and Ghost Adventures are their least of their worries.

Those scholars who’ve appeared in these specials say a lot of what they have expressed is taken out of context. Dr. David S. Anderson, Jonathan Davis, and Dr. Ken Feder are misrepresented. They make up a third of the people interviewed to expound what these shows have gotten wrong. It’s easy for viewers to fact check themselves, but these days, not even Google is safe, unless the information presented is annotated and given a bibliography. In this piece’s case, it’s to have a website to list the credentials of the people they’ve interviewed.

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Nothing New in 2021’s Spooktober Offerings Save For…

We’re tuning in to watch how the people and teams function rather than to catch circumstantial evidence.

The Alaska Triangle (TV Series 2020– ) - IMDbBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Very few paranormal reality investigative shows are worth tuning into as All Hallow’s Eve nears. The problem is that it’s very rare to see a certifiable apparition on live television broadcasts. We’re tuning in to watch how the people and teams function rather than to catch circumstantial evidence. By watching any series, we’re accepting that this strange dimension manifests itself with the odd “what was that?” moment. 

The ideas offered in The Alaska Triangle are crazy enough to have me want to write up into a Call of Cthulhu role playing game adventure! The second season began with a doozy, by saying a Black Pyramid is hidden beneath the snow. This has me thinking that would make for a great scenario. I’m thinking the Mi-Go is an appropriate enough alien species controlling everything with their mad science and kidnapping of innocents. 

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The Vintage Tempest’s Guide to Spooktober

T&E (or Travel Channel in the States) does not hold the monopoly in their idea of what defines Ghostober. Yes, Halloween’s coming, but we need not depend on one network to get our scares–real or not. Instead, we have a nice menagerie of programming to get our thrill seeking on. It’s easy to make a top ten list, but to half that is challenging.

Halloween
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

T&E (or Travel Channel in the States) does not hold the monopoly in their idea of what defines Ghostober. Yes, Halloween’s coming, but we need not depend on one network to get our scares–real or not. Instead, we have a nice menagerie of programming to get our thrill seeking on. It’s easy to make a top ten list, but to half that is challenging.

There are far too many staples to gravitate to. If you love your paranormal reality investigation show, there isn’t just one to enjoy. If I was to recommend one series above the rest, it’d be Kindred Spirits. I’ve grown tired of seeing macho dominate this scene, and this program is a welcome change of pace.

But for sheer fun, my number one choice of new shows coming to television begins with…

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Welcome to Travel Channel’s Hotel Paranormal. It’s Such a Lovely Place …

Hotel Paranormal Promotional PosterBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Please check local listings for broadcast times.

Dan Aykroyd is the host and spokesman behind T+E’s (Canada) Hotel Paranormal. In the States, it recently debuted on Travel Channel. I doubt his involvement goes beyond that. If he was an executive producer, he’d most likely demand a better approach curtailing interest in the supernatural. I’m on his side when he hosted Psi Factor during the first season, but producers took it to a different direction he said he disliked–despite continuing and the show became more of a fictionalized drama.

For myself, it’s less about getting scared, but rather in understanding why locations are haunted. Kindred Spirits does a terrific job as keeping this focus and consistency. In Sarah Zammit‘s (series producer) product is across the board.

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The Past Revealed in Buried Worlds with Don Wildman

Buried Worlds With Don Wildman' Illuminates Real Paranormal Mysteries of  The World, Exclusive Interview and Preview - Tv Shows AceBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

If Don Wildman is not careful, he’s going to step on toes and piss off the wrong people (living or dead) in Buried Worlds. Before joining Travel Channel, he was the voice behind the series Cities of the Underworld and Mysteries at the Museum. With this latest series at its halfway point, the formula is firmly established. It sends this host into the field, getting involved in seances and perhaps meeting people that he really shouldn’t in the quest for answers to well-known unsolved mysteries.

He better be careful in what he digs up. It may not be pleasant not only for the viewer, but also those better versed than him when dealing with the occult.

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