I WANT TO BELIEVE
Orange glowing lights were seen in the night skies from New Bedford, MA to Swansea, MA this past weekend (December 2 - 4, 2011). Witnesses were convinced that these glowing lights are UFO's. I want to believe.
But, with anything supernatural or other worldly, I'm always a skeptic first. I believe these lights are Chinese Sky Lanterns. They move the same way and are about the right shape.
southcoasttoday.com's coverage on the sightings:
Odd airborne lights spark UFO talk in SouthCoast
More on the Chinese Sky Lanterns after the "JUMP!"
The Chinese Sky Lantern is originally called the Kongming Lantern (孔明燈). It's a mini hot air balloon invented by the gifted strategist/meteorologist, Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮) during the 3rd Century BC in China. Zhuge Liang was also known as Wolong (臥龍, Hidden Dragon) or Kongming (孔明). Those were his style names; what we call street names now a days. Hence the name of the lanterns, "Kongming Lantern (孔明燈)'. The lanterns were used as signaling balloons (spy blimps) for warfare. As time went on, the lanterns became popular with children and they were used in festivals and celebrations. They are still being used during these occasions and even for religious ceremonies. Releasing a Kongming Lantern is a symbol for good luck. Another notable Zhuge Liang invention is the crossbow. Thanks to Zhuge Liang we can dispose of zombies and vampires with efficiency, speed and discretion.
If the name Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮) seems familiar to you, it's because you might have met him in the Dynasty Warriors games or the Romance of the Three Kingdoms games. The games are based on one of the four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature of the same name, Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義) written by Luo Guanzhong (羅貫中). The war of the three kingdoms is a significant part of Chinese History and the book is taught to Asian Business Students. It is said that if you read the book once while practicing business, you'll have a better understanding for the practice. After the 2nd reading, you'll be a successful business man. After the 3rd reading you'll trust no one and lose all your friends. I'm not sure if this is true or not but what is true is that Zhuge Liang had a gift for understanding human behavior and the weather which gives him a clear advantage during the time of the warring kingdoms.
Even though the lights seen over the skies of Massachusetts might not be UFO's, we should still do what Zhuge Liang did before us, keep watching the skies!
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