But not me. I was just disappointed. It looked so patently fake, so ridiculously cheap and goofy. In the course of the presentation, Stan had laid out so much other evidence that was so much more compelling (including examples of automatic writing, mathematical equations, additional photos and videos of UFOs and more) and plenty that wasn't (recorded phone calls from aliens, photos of aliens in his back yard that looked like nothing more than plaster dime-store garden gnomes, a purchase order for a computer bought for him by mysterious "helpers") that the final reveal — the little squash-headed "alien" blinking and staring into the house — just seemed to me like bullshit icing on a highly questionable birthday cake.

Setting aside any question of whether or not the footage is real or faked, Peckman's recent showing worked out well. It's gotten press all over the planet (and possibly beyond), and Peckman is the one getting all the ink. My question, though, is where's Stan in all this?

Oh, that's right. He's the one holding the video, refusing to post it to the web or allow it to be shown in public, accepting no sort of peer review or criticism beyond a few attempts at having the expurgated footage authenticated by local film experts. The reason? He's in the process of trying to complete (and sell) a documentary about himself: Starseed: The Stan Romanek Story, coming soon to theaters near you.

And to me, this is the most disturbing part. I understand the impulse to try and make a buck off what, if true, would be the biggest news story in history, but seriously? Some things are more important than a dollar. And if this video truly is as real as Romanek and Peckman claim it is, it needs to be released, in toto and immediately, so that everyone can have their look, have their say and make up their own minds as to whether or not "they" really are out there.

Originally published in www.westword.com. Used with permission.

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